Randalls Food Market:
  Safeway Thin Spaghetti $1.09
  Eating Right Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce $2.00
  Eating Right Harvest Medley Salad $2.00
  Safeway Green Beans 2 Cans @ .59 $1.18
  Fresh Baked Artisan Garlic Bread $1.50
  Fresh Fruit - Approximate Cost $2.00
  Safeway Sparkling Flavored Water 1 Liter $ .99
  Grand Total $10.76

Kroger:
  Pork Baby Back Ribs $5.99
  Dole Salad $2.50
  Fresh Baked Wheat Bread $1.29
  Bush Beans $1.49
  Coke 2 Liter $ .70
  Grand Total $11.97

Food Town:
  Ground Chuck 2 lbs. $3.99
  Roma Tomato $ .69
  Guerrero Flour Tortillas 20 count & .99
  6 lb Bag of Rice $2.99
  Oak Farms Ice Cream ½ gallon $1.77
  Coke 2 Liter $ .99
  Grand Total $11.42

99 Cents Only Store:
  Spaghetti $ .99
  Spaghetti Sauce $ .99
  Salmon & .99
  Dole Salad $ .99
  Thousand Island Dressing $ .99
  Texas Toast $ .99
  Duncan Hines Brownies $ .99
  Grand Total $ 7.88

Whole Foods:
  Tuna Steaks 12 oz. $5.99
  Green Bell Pepper $ .99
  Red Bell Pepper & .99
  Onion $ .99
  All Natural Peach Mango Salsa $1.25
  Organic Couscous $ .99
  Grand Total $11.20

Also, bad news for 43 neighborhoods within the city, not enough homes are participating in the program and they could lose the service.  If the recycling rate is not at least 10%, the city will reassign its curbside pick up to neighborhoods that are asking for the service.

Click here to see how your neighborhood is doing on its recycle rate.

If you are about to make a purchase and discover a lower advertised price offered by a local retail competitor on the same available brand and model, let us know and we'll match that price on the spot. Already bought? If an item you purchased at Best Buy is advertised at a lower price at another Best Buy store in your local area or on BestBuy.com, we'll refund you the price difference from our own sale price, or 110% of the difference from our competitor's sale price, up to 30 days after your purchase (14 days on select categories*, 60 days on HDTVs purchased from 3/2/08 through 5/10/08). Either way, simply bring in proof of price while that lower price is in effect.

Circuit City

We are committed to offering consumers competitive prices.  And we are pleased to offer our customers our “Unbeatable Price Guarantee.”  Here’s how it works:  find a lower advertised price from another local store with the same item in stock, and we'll gladly beat their price by 10% of the difference. Plus, if you see a lower advertised price within 30 days of your purchase with us, we'll refund 100% of the difference.

Fry’s Electronics

Fry's offers our valued customers a "low-price" guarantee on all products. By doing so, we are assuring our customers that they are receiving quality products for the lowest possible retail price in the area in which they live. Our 30-Day Low Price Guarantee will match a competitors price, plus 10% of that price. Given these guarantees and our lowest prices, we are not in a position to negotiate further reductions.

Home Depot

At Home Depot, we have a low price guarantee. If you find a current lower price on an identical, in-stock item from any retailer, we will match the price and beat it by 10% - guaranteed.

Lowe’s

Lowe’s guarantees Everyday Low Prices.  If a consumer finds a verifiable lower everyday or advertised price on an identical stock item at any local retail competitor that has the item in stock, we'll beat their price by 10%.  A consumer should bring us the competitor's current ad or we'll call to verify the item's price that the consumer has found.

Star Furniture

Our price protection policy is as follows: ".....if you find the identical item at any other store in Texas for less than our price, within 21 days of purchase, simply bring us the ad or other verification and we will refund the difference plus 10% of that difference. Offers to special orders do not apply.

Target

Target offers everyday low prices on great items. Due to these already low prices, we do not match prices offered by competitive stores or Internet retailers.

Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart will price match from any competitor for the same item in their store. Internet retailers are excluded.

   The state maintains a web site that lists every service station with a problem.

   Click here to see if your corner store is on the list!

   Follow the link to the HTML option and check out the stations that had issues.

  If you want to complain about a service station, call the Texas Department of Agriculture at 1-800-TELL-TDA.

Happy motoring!

Apparently someone broke into the home, changed the locks, then posted an ad to lease the house on the Internet.

   The home was leased to at least two victims who lost hundreds of dollars each.

   Before you lease a home, check out the person leasing it.  If they claim to be a Realtor, go to these sites, enter their name and see if they are registered locally or in Texas.

http://search.har.com/memberfinder/

Also, take a good look at the lease itself, the typical lease used in Harris County is 14 pages long, anything less could be the sign of a fake.

http://www.trec.state.tx.us/newsandpublic/licenseelookup/search.aspx

This weeks "Angel" story was about 80 year old Korean Veteran Emit Schuyler who was forced to live by candle light for two years because he couldn't afford to get his breaker box replaced.  He was away for a time, and while he was gone, a tree cutting service came around his neighborhood clipping branches that were hanging over electric wires. A heavy branch fell against his house and ripped off his electric box He survives on social security and didn't have 14 hundred dollars for repairs.

It's a shame that anyone has to live this way, especially the elderly who can't afford help and don't know where to turn.

If you have a neighbor or know of someone who is alone, disturbed, elderly or disabled , you can get help for them by calling Adult Protective Services at 1-800- 254-5400. They investigate claims of elderly neglect or abuse, but also can bring over groceries and pay rent or utilities. The folks at APS want to help and do. I want to thank Mary Breaux and Yolanda Simien, and Gwen Carter at APS for their concern and Schuyler's neighbors Costella Obryant and Arthur Poydres for caring enough to call for help.

let us know, too, where our angels can help you out of a bind. ABC13.com the consumer tab, then click on angels and e-mail me.

Thanks

Lori

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/services/vehicle_titles_and_registration/protect_buyers.htm

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/txdoteforms/GetForm?formName=/130-U.pdf&preference=PDFForm&appID=/vtr&fileID=1233334&status=/reportError.jsp&configFile=WFServletConfig.xml

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/forms/vehicle_titles.htm

   Natural gas prices are going up and that mens the cost of generating power in Texas is going up.  Those in a long term contract are sheltered from market fluctuations.  To find the best rates, go to www.powertochoose.org.

Taylor and Taylor also stage homes, they can be reached @ 713-962-6852

This is usually for higher end homes, but the services do offer tips for homes selling closer to the average price.

Energy experts say the cost of natural gas is going up and that means higher prices for electricity.  The reason?  Here in Texas most power plants are fueled by natural gas so as the price for that rises, your price per kilowatt creeps up.  It's already up by 70 percent this year.

If you are not in a long term contract, consider finding one that has a small termination fee.   That way if the price of natural gas goes down you can break the contract and get a lower rate, but read the terms carefully and understand EXACTLY how much it will be if you break the contract.

On Tuesday the 17th, go to the Student Center Banquet Room at San Jacinto College South Campus.  It is located at 13735 Beamer Road. 

You can also get plenty of grant information here.

That's a link to Congressman Nick Lampson's web site that includes a list of Federal Resources for grant seekers.

Remember, grants usually go to non-profit agencies, local governments, colleges, and small business owners.  Money going to individuals usually is for people curing a disease.  It takes time to write a grant proposal and usually you have to submit a financial plan.

Buying "Angel Food" is a way to save money, which we all are trying to do these days. The food is bought in bulk at the ministries headquarters in Georgia and shipped out day of across the country and to the 15 Houston locations.

"it's restaurant quality food - fresh and delicious " says Kip Johnson of SFUM

I went to a home where they buy angel food and they love it.  The kids, too.

There's a new menu each month with about 22 items. June's menu includes steaks, chops vegetables and a lot of other food.

And here's where the deal gets better.  Anyone can buy it. professional people, those on a tight budget and folks on food stamps. There are no requirements nor qualifications. All you need to do is  order, pay in advance and pick up the box of groceries. If you buy the basic box you can purchase specials. Goodrum says ordering and and paying for the box 'on line' is in the works.

Click on "Angel Food Ministries" for the menu and "Angel Food" pick up points in your zip code.

www.angelfoodministries.org 

And let me know if you or someone you know needs help from an angel.

Thanks, and have a good weekend

lori

A few of the sites are offering limited time looks at the deals.

Here's your invitation!

www.gilt.com/join

You will need to enter you e-mail address

https://www.ruelala.com/registration?aid=1042&referrerId=210292

You will need to enter an e-mail address here too.

We also just got word that ideeli is offering free trail membership, go to:

https://www.ideeli.com/in/media?mi=abc13

It does take a few minutes to get it set up, but they should work.

Happy shopping

"Not many guys in my unit didn't know anything about "Military Suspension"

said Army Private Johnathon Alsobrooks of Spring. His account was suspended during a tour in Iraq but by mistake it was re-activated. He was charged hundred of dollars, but we got his money back plus a new contract and phone

A simple call to the customer service at AT&T and Sprint with account or phone number should be enough for a military suspension. Verizon's and T-Mobile's policies are as follows:

VERIZON'S MILITARY POLICY
Verizon Wireless Adjusts Contract Policy To Accommodate Customers On Extended Military Duty
Active Armed Forces Members Can Suspend Contracts Up To 48 Months
BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless announced today that the company has revised its contract policies to make it easier for customers in the military to manage their accounts when called to active duty. Under the new policy, active military personnel may suspend their accounts for up to 48 months.

“By offering two 24-month suspension periods for accounts held by active military personnel, we're making it easier for our valued customers in the armed forces to do business with Verizon Wireless,” said Charles Falco, Vice President-National Customer Service for Verizon Wireless. “It’s one of the best and most flexible policies available.”

Customers currently deployed in active duty who have already suspended their Verizon Wireless accounts will be grandfathered into the new program, unless a specific automatic reconnect date has been requested. In addition, customers whose military deployment is extended beyond their original request may renew their suspension for a second 24 months. Military personnel requesting suspensions or contract cancellations -- without paying an Early Termination Fee -- are asked to verbally provide their home base and commanding officer's information in order for Verizon Wireless to confirm deployment.

Tips on how to suspend service in connection with deployment:

• Call Verizon Wireless customer service at 1 800 922-0204, or from a Verizon Wireless phone at *611.
• Have account number and/or mobile telephone number handy.
• Be prepared to provide military base and commanding officer information.
• Provide a restart date if available.

* Military personnel may also want to make sure they have assigned account management privileges to a US-based relative or friend so someone else can help manage the account in the event of a duty extension or to make other account adjustments while the customer is overseas.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

T-MOBILE'S MILITARY POLICY

• The account may be suspended for up to 18 months.
• There is no suspend fee.
• Customers will retain their mobile number, rate plan, any current promotions, and the ability to dial 911 for emergency and 611 for Customer Care.
• Customers will not have access to voicemail or the ability to send/receive text messages.
• Customer's contract will be extended by an amount of time equal to the suspension period.

Incentives

Used SUV Prices

If you get an unwanted text message, report it!  The FCC wants to know.  Here's a link for that: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/canspam.html