Consumer Noe

Happy Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:17:00 +0000

Wishing all my readers a wonderful, turkey-filled Thanksgiving.

Happy Shopping!!!

SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:15:00 +0000

What do sites like Groupon, WagJag, LivingdDeal and Deal of the Day have in common? They are deal of the day sites that users can buy discounted gift certificates from to use at local and national companies. These sites have saved users thousands of dollars. For example, I have purchased car detailing for $39 (reg. $89) and I just recently scored a one-night getaway at Niagara Falls, staying at the Hilton (executive suite for 2 adults and up to 5 children), with manager's reception, $40 voucher for the Keg and a full hot and cold breaksfast complete with omelette station for $115CDN. Now tell me that's not a great deal?!!!!

What these sites believe is that there is buying power in numbers and that the more people that are interested in a product, the cheaper that product should be. Great concept!

Check them out, you might just find yourself at the spa for 50% off or having dinner with friends for 90% off the regular price. Let me know what great deals you get.

Happy Shopping!!!!

Kid Watch Child Safety Services

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 02:19:00 +0000

Expectant parents, are you frustrated by looking for someone to install that car seat. Police and fire departments no longer do installations and car seat clinics are few and far between. Usually, by the time you hear of one, it has already happened. Search no more. Finally, a company that not only installs car seats, but they will come to your location to do it. Kid Watch is a company that is aimed at educating and informing parents on the proper use of car seats as most people simply assume a well installed car seat is all they need to ensure their child is safe. This couldn't be further from the truth, as proper installation is only 50% of what ensures a child is safe in a vehicle. Correct use is the other half of the equation. Transport Canada states that 85% of all car seats are incorrectly installed, assuming that the other 15% are correctly installed, you could only imagine that a smaller percentage of that are correctly used.

Technicians are Kid Watch are trained to not only correctly install your child's safety restraints, but also to walk you through the process of ensuring you are informed on how to best use them. Their guidelines are strictly set by government requirements for children's safety.

As a former pet owner, I never gave consideration to the fact that there is a potential danger in unsupervised interaction between my baby and the family pet, in our case a cat. They explained to me that as a baby grows and begins to crawl or walk, they will sometimes bother and harass the pet. Often the pet will simply get up and move away, but it is also know that in frustration, pets will lash out and children can be seriously hurt even by the most benign of pets. Kid Watch also believes in taking a proactive approach to baby proofing rather than a reactive one, which most parents do. Why wait until your toddler is walking on the kitchen counters before baby proofing? Reminds me of the old adage, prevention is better than a cure. As parents, we are often caught up in the more "exciting" aspects of a baby's arrival-painting the baby's room, picking the colours, and so on-sometimes spending hundreds, at times thousands of dollars, on these more frivolous details and then "nickle and diming" it when it comes to baby proofing and child safety.

As a mother, I want more time to spend with my children, and I like the fact that this company takes the guess work out of choosing the right baby proofing products and gives me the convenience of installing my car seat for me at my home, at a time of my choosing.

Visit Kid Watch's website.

Back to school lunch ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:54:00 +0000

As a peanut-free environment, one has to be creative with their lunch ideas for school. Below are a few suggestions for Mom and the students in your house.

Grain Products

Courtesy of Free-Extras

Bread

Bagels

Buns/rolls

English muffins

Low-fat muffins

Pita bread

Crackers

Cooked pasta/rice

Rice crackers

Soft tortilla shells

Whole-grain cereal

Nut-free granola bars

Kraft dinner

Popcorn

Vegetables & Fruit

Courtesy of Free-Extras

Fresh fruit

Fruit cups

Applesauce

Dried fruit

Canned fruit

Juice boxes

Vegetable juice

Fresh veggies

Salad

Pickles/olives

Milk and Milk Products

Courtesy of Free-Extras

Yogurt

Cheese

Cottage cheese

Cheese slices

Cheese strings

Fat-free pudding

Meat & Alternatives


Courtesy of Free-Extras

Hard-boiled egg

Chicken

Cold-cuts

Leftover pizza

Baked beans

Canned bean

Salad

If your children are picky eaters (like mine are) use small, reusable containers and put different foods in them. That way, they can choose what they want while at school and you will get a good idea of what people like and dislike.

Thermos is excellent for keeping hot things and hot and cold things cold!

Health Canada provides useful information on nutritional requirements and also has a link to get your free copy of the Canada Food Guide. Click here.

Happy Shopping!!

Price-match to save money

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:35:00 +0000

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Price-matching is an excellent way to save money. It allows you to save gas and energy by not running around from store to store to get the best deals.

How price-matching works:
- Look for the deals posted, you are interested in in your various flyer(s).
- Take competitor flyer(s) to your grocery store.
- At checkout, notify the cashier you are price-matching.
- Save!

Be sure to check your receipt to ensure savings were applied.

If you have any problems, remember, never argue with the cashier, always ask to speak with the manager for clarification.

Some stores may allow you to price match with a receipt.

Happy Shopping!!!

Money Mart Class Action Settlement

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:54:00 +0000

Money Mart has settled their Class Action Lawsuit in Ontario.

This notice is directed to all persons ("Settlement Class Members") who received a fast cash advance or payday loan from a Money Mart store in Ontario between August 19, 1997 and December 15, 2009...read more

Home Insurance Surprise!!

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Courtesy of Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I recently switched car and home insurance companies and put them under the same company (for a discount). On the surface, it was a good deal, I saved over $600/yr on car insurance and the home insurance appeared unchanged. I signed the papers and all seemed fine. A closer look at my home insurance however, revealed that the coverage amount was now half my previous amount. Had I known this prior to signing, I might have stayed with my old insurance companies.

vichie81/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When switching insurance companies, perhaps for a discount, ensure that you understand all amount coverages in order to avoid any surprises.

Happy Shopping!!

Review of Aveis 7" Portable DVD Player

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 07:15:00 +0000

I bought the Aveis 7" Portable DVD Player for our roadtrip. I bought 2 of them, one in pink and the other in black. I have a 6 and a 4 year old and knew they would need entertainment for this very long trip.

The player comes with an AC adaptor, Car DC adaptor, AV cable, carry bag and remote control. It has a built-in rechargeable battery and integrated stereo speakers and headphone jack (headphones are not included.

I played a Spider-Man DVD, the picture was clear, without skipping or loss of frames. The battery power is great and I was able to watch two-30 minute episodes of Entourage before needing to charge it. The sound is clear and the buttons on the player and remote are easy to read...easy enough for my 4 year old to use.

It retails for $49.00 regular price at Superstore but with my PC Points combined with their no tax event, I picked mine up for $30.38 each. A great deal!

Happy Shopping!!

Joe Fresh

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 03:06:00 +0000

I recently found some good deals at Joe Fresh at Superstore, while back to school shopping for my children. Their clearance racks had many summer deals on sale. I scored several boys and girls shirts for $1.94/ea. I also bought sleepers, flip flops, shoes, fall jacket and windbreaker. The windbreaker was regular $19.00 regular price (I know, because I had bought one for my son) and had been reduced to $4.94.

I like Joe Fresh clothing not only for the price but the styles. They're hip, fun and trendy, but not too trendy that the clothes can't be worn the following season. If you get a chance, check out Joe Fresh. You also receive PC Points for shopping at Joe, which can be redeemed at Joe for even greater savings, or for anything else in Loblaws and their company of stores including Superstore and No Frills.

Happy Shopping!!

Why I like Burger King

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 02:08:00 +0000

The other day I had Burger King, and I was quickly reminded why I like them so much. To compare the two, there is something about eating a Whopper (that has been made well) compared to a Big Mac. Now, I don't know much about the calorie count of the burgers but in appearance and taste alone, I always feel like I am eating a 'fresher' burger with the Whopper. The cut tomatoes, lettuce and onions give it the appearance of a 'healthier' burger. It reminds me of the McDLT...remember that burger?

Happy Shopping!!

My Son's Chocolate Cheerios Review

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 04:47:00 +0000

My 6 year old son is picky when it comes to food and cereals are not exception. We often end up getting several different kinds before we find a winner. Here is his review of the New Chocolate Cheerios. The box was $2.97 at No Frills, however, we had the pleasure of getting our box for free through a web promotion on websaver.ca.

I Can't Understand My Electricity Bill

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 21:38:00 +0000

The other day I received my electricity bill. It was $587.70. Here is a breakdown of the bill:
Energy Charge: $297.70
Delivery: $89.12
Regulatory Charges: $$22.37
Debt Retirement: $21.82
Global Adjustment: $125.39
Global Adjustment Recovery: $6.18
Interest Charge on Overdue Amount: $15.56
Ontario Clean Energy Benefit (-10%): -$63.57
HST: $73.13
______________________________________
Total: $587.70

I will be honest, the only charges I understand are the Energy Charge (the cost of my actual energy use), Interest Charge on Overdue Amount (interest accrued on my previous balance outstanding) and H.S.T.(Harmonized Sales Tax).

I have no clue what the rest of my bill means. It's all gibbirish. When I call Veridian for an explanation of what these terms are, they direct me to the back of my bill (which only shows the definition of Delivery, Debt Retirement and Regulatory Charges. Global Adjustment is nowhere to be found - surprise, surprise!! All these charges that my electricity company is charging me is called one thing - profit. Nobody, not the electricity company, not my MPP or my MP can explain why my bill is double the energy use.

I am sick and tired of having to shell out money to large, monopolistic companies, who make their billions in profits off mine and everybody else's hardwork. Are you kidding me? Double my energy charge...when is the money enough? The worst part about this, is that this and many other companies have the Government's blessing to steal from consumers. As an individual, if I was to attempt this type of theft, I would be arrested, labelled a thief and a fraudster and sent to jail. But as a corporation, it's ok. Wrong very wrong!!!

Cashiers and coupons

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:30:00 +0000

I've realized why many people are "embarrassed" to use coupons. I mean, who would, with all the attitude you get from some cashiers. I am an avid coupon user, but I don't want to be judged by my "financial savvy". The amount of roll of the eyes, the huffing and puffing and even a few smirks I've received from cashiers, is enough to make me slap a person.

Sometimes, it's not even the cashier, it's the shopper behind me in line. I can tell because I can hear and see the shifting of the feet and the looking around. I'm sorry, am I taking too long with my transaction? Whatever, kiss my a** and find another line if I'm taking too long. You of all people should be supporting this, not trying to make me feel uncomfortable.

As for the cashier, don't treat my coupon use like it's food stamps or a welfare cheque. I'm not buying a yacht with the $0.75 I saved on soy milk. However, to save a little bit of money does help in other aspects of life. So next time, I am in line with my coupons, smile, take them and keep your attitude to yourself.

Happy Shopping!!

Free Huggies Rewards Code

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 03:40:00 +0000

All codes expire Dec.31/11.

HDPXX-BBGHR-HLFDD

TRSGP-MHZDX-WWNGB

RPFTG-DBNSC-RDXPT

Happy Shopping!!

The Lazy Consumer

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 03:08:00 +0000

I just watched an episode of Extreme Couponing. It's the TLC show about what people will do to save money by using coupons. As I watched the show, it got me thinking about my couponing habits and the habits of Canadians in general. Of course, in many stores across the country, we can't double-up and triple-up on coupons, like our US counterparts, but the clever consumer will utilize strategies to get the most bang for their buck. We, as consumers, should demand more from our stores. We should be demanding they be more flexible with their policies. But, as Canadians, we will complain and never do anything about it. We are just lazy consumers.

Financial Consumer Agency of Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:00:00 +0000

About FCAC

Who we are

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) is an independent body working to protect and inform consumers of financial services.
We were established in 2001 by the federal government to strengthen oversight of consumer issues and expand consumer education in the financial sector.

What we do

As a federal regulatory agency, FCAC is responsible for:

ensuring that federally regulated financial institutions comply with federal consumer protection laws and regulations;
monitoring financial institutions' compliance with voluntary codes of conduct and their own public commitments;
informing consumers about their rights and responsibilities when dealing with financial institutions; and
providing timely and objective information and tools to help consumers understand, and shop around for, a variety of financial products and services.

FCAC Website

Shopping with your rewards points

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:28:00 +0000

AirMiles

I just finished doing some online shopping...for gift cards and gift certificates. I enjoy collecting points, because I like knowing my loyalty yields rewards. I just got a $50 gift card from Home Hardware through my CapitalOne Mastercard, and with my AirMiles, I picked up a $25 gift card for Cara foods, a $20 gift certificate for Metro and a $20 gift certificate for Shell.

CapitalOne

Not to mention, the $10 taken off my purchases (a couple days ago) through the Optimum Program at Shoppers Drug Mart.

Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum

I can't wait for them to arrive. It pays to be a Consumer.

Happy Shopping!!

McDonald's® 2 Can Dine Coupons

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:25:00 +0000

McDonald's.ca

McDonald's® recently issued their coupon book of 2 For 1 deals and Buy 1 Get One Free. The deals are pretty good, and would be even better, if McDonald's got their accounting right.

One of the coupons offered is 2 Can Dine For $8.98. Anyone who has taken simple mathematics in school knows that at this price of $8.98, in Ontario with 13% tax equals $10.15 (actually, $10.1474). I received a complaint from a friend that when she had presented this coupon, McDonald's® overcharged her by $0.20. When she tried to bring it to the attention of the cashier and then the manager, they were both rude and unapologetic. The problem here is not the money (although, overcharging customers by a mere $0.20, will add up to a lot over a short period of time.) The problem was the level of customer service she had received from the employees. They did not appear to be knowledgeable and when the error was brought to their attention in a very professional manner, they became rude and belligerent.

McDonald's®, if you are going to have this type of promotion, ensure all your locations are aware of the correct pricing as to not have this type of confusion in the future. In addition, if a discrepancy does occur, your employees (especially those who have the title "manager") should conduct themselves and handle the situation in a professional manner so as to not leave the customer angry and disgruntled.

McDonald's complaints and feedback

Unhappy Shopping!!

Participating in Clinical Trials - Extra Cash

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:30:00 +0000

A great way to make extra cash is by participating in clinical research trials. You can earn anywhere between $600 to $3000 (or more) depending on the study. Pharmaceutical companies are always looking to test new drugs or new variations, to see their effect on humans. At a research study, you are provided shelter, meals and a small dose of whatever medication is being studied, to assess the medication's absorption in the blood. You stay in a controlled environment, for a period of time (usually one night or two) and are monitored. The facilities are clean, the employees are nice and it's a great way to get a check-up. You have to undergo medical screening, prior to being accepted into a study.

jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If you are looking for a tax-free way to supplement your income, this just might be for you.(If you are afraid of needles or get queasy at the sight of blood, then this is definitely not for you.)

Check your local newspapers for company advertisments or online under the search paid clinical studies or research studies.

Below is a site I came across with a listing of companies. Good Luck.

Clinical Research

Pizza dinner on a budget

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:17:00 +0000

image: federico stevanin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

With so many of us, trying to fit so much in a day, it can be difficult to get a hot, delicious and nutritious dinner on the table some nights. My children recently began taking swimming lessons, and wouldn't you know, swimming is around dinnertime. I can feed them earlier, which would probably leave them hungry later on in the evening (which means a late night snack) or we can have dinner right after swimming. I have chosen the latter.

Our favourite place to eat (on a budget) is Pizza Nova. They have a wonderful promotion, walk-in, 1 topping pizza - $7.99 for medium and $9.99 for large. We order 2 large pizzas and half & half the toppings (that way, everyone gets a topping they like - my son likes sausages and my daughter likes cheese.) With 4 drinks and 3 dipping sauces, our dinner came to $28.82. We ate there, so there was no dishes to do after and we took the leftovers home, for lunch tomorrow. Yum!

Check your local Pizza Nova for their walk-in specials, and you too could be having family pizza night soon.

Mountain Blue Eyes has nursing moms covered

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 20:44:00 +0000

Quality tops make breastfeeding easy for the active mother

Breastfeeding should be a comfortable experience for both mom and baby, and conducive to any lifestyle. This is the vision behind Mountain Blue Eyes, an Alberta-based company that specializes in nursing apparel for the active mom.

Specially cut to fit post-pregnancy curves while keeping optimal modesty in mind, the collection of tanks, tees and fleece sweaters use light-weight, breathable fabrics, that dry quickly and wick moisture away from the body. The material is also antibacterial and resistant to piling, a common problem with fabric used in athletic clothing. All of the tops feature discreet openings that provide easy access while keeping other areas including the stomach and back, covered.

With a keen understnading that hungry babies won't patiently wait to eat while mom tries to find a secluded feeding spot halfway up the side of a mountain, owner Catherine Decelles saw an opportunity to provide nursing mothers with quality, functional clothing that could keep pace with a dynamic lifestyle. Inspiration struck on a ski trip, when Catherine attempted the awkward transition from outdoor activity to feeding.

"I was quite frustrated with my nursing wear that was quite frily, but didn't easily allow me to snowshoe or cross-country ski with my kids, and then come indoors and comfortably breastfeed. I started to do a bit of research to see what types of fabrics were availabe and found there wasn't any nursing clothing in a wicking fabric or a comfortable fleece, which is basically what I live in myself," says Catherine. "As an active new mother, I wanted clothing that would facilitate both outdoor activities and breastfeeding. I started Mountain Blue Eyes to meet this need. We have designed technical quality clothing that makes breastfeeding easy, whether snowshoeing in the Canadian Rockies or urban hiking with your baby. I hope you will enjoy wearing these clothes as much as I do!"

Active wear by Mountain Blue Eyes is available at several Canadian Retail Locations. For more information about where to purchase or wholesale opportunities, visit http://www.mountainblueeyes.com/ .

Eco Tax to be paid by taxpayers!!

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 05:07:00 +0000

So, it has been announced that the very poorly managed and blundered "eco tax", which caused many consumer confusion is gone. However, the government has decided that they will keep the project going, to the tune of $5 million dollars.

Now, instead of the tax being paid by consumers, it is being paid by taxpayers...but wait a minute...aren't they one and the same?

What the @#$@!! is MHSM?

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:32:00 +0000

If you've bought paint or varsol or any other type of "hazourdous waste" at Wal-Mart or other retailers, you would have probably noticed a charge for MHSM. The first time I saw this charge, I asked the cashier what it was and she mumbled something about me buying Varsol. Anyway, I knew this was my cue to do further research. Basically, what MHSM does is, it ensures "unwanted “household hazardous” or “special” wastes are either reused, recycled or disposed of responsibly." Stewardship Ontario

I don't mind paying these fees, first the plastic bags, now this MHSM. (The environment is just as important to me as it is to the next person.) What I do have a problem with is the way some of these fees are implemented and subsequently collected. There is little information about them and when you inquire, you are not given a clear answer, and are left to do your own research. That's not fair, it's not right and as consumers, we deserve better, considering that all these fees and taxes end up falling squarely on our laps or in our wallets. We are the ones that fund these "initiatives". Would you ever pay a bill which you didn't know what it was for? Then next time, you see an unwanted fee on your receipt, question it!

I think many retailers are pocketing a good portion of the monies collected and once again, consumers are funding BS causes.

Click here to find out more about MHSM.

Unhappy Shopping!!

A Ladybug in my Mexican food

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:23:00 +0000

Tonight I had dinner at what was my favourite restaurant. Although I looked forward to the meal, I wasn't as excited as usual and the proceeding events would confirm my feelings.

We received our appetizers after our meals, my rice was undercooked and my Piña Colada was gritty and watered down. I was willing to deal with all these disappointments, as the meal itself was not bad, until I saw it....a ladybug, right in my meal. I lost my appetite right there! I called the waitress over and showed her my uninvited meal. Of course she was very apologetic, asked me if I wanted anything else (to which I replied, "no, nothing, I would NOT like anything else") and took my plate back to the kitchen. She came back, still apologizing and said that my meal would be taken off my bill and I would not be charged. When she walked away, I told my husband that they should be crediting us our drinks and be taking at least 50% off our meal if not free.

When she came back to the table I told her what an awful dining experience I had endured and that after a more than 10 year love affair with this establishment, I was not returning there again. I also explained to her that if the manager or owner did not have the good grace to come and apologize in person (after a patron found an insect in their meal, of all things) they should at least be crediting us some or all of our meal, and not just the bug infested meal-I found a bug, did they think I was going to pay anything for it?

To make a long story short, our bill was credited 50% and I divorced my favourite Mexican restaurant.

Well, good riddance to bad bugs is what I say.

P.S. If you encounter a similiar problem, don't be afraid tell the establishment what you think and demand what you want. I think my ex-restaurant will be paid a visit from Public Health.

Happy Shopping!!

Free McDonald's Coffee

noreply@blogger.com (Myra) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:22:00 +0000

From March 1 - 14, McDonald's is offering their small, premium roast coffee for free, all day.

Coffee wars are on...McDonald's vs. Tim Hortons (Roll Up the Rim). Let the games begin.

Happy Shopping!!!