Consuming Interests

Free McDonalds McCafe Mocha on Mondays

2009-07-10T14:08:49Z

Get a free McDonalds McCafe Mocha on Mondays at participating McDonalds locations through August 3!

That's right, stop into any participating McDonalds location between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on July 13, July 20, July 27 or Aug. 3 and enjoy a free McCafe 8 oz. Mocha or 7 oz. Iced Mocha while supplies last.

Thanks to intrepid business reporter @hanahcho for the tip!

The McDonalds site does not list which locations are participating, and warns that the offer is only valid while supplies last, so please report back here when you find Golden Arches that recognize the deal.

Recalls! Kolcraft play yards and Kidde smoke alarms

2009-07-10T12:53:29Z

On the heels of a recall of 400,000 Simplicity drop-side cribs, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a voluntary recall of nearly 1 million play yards made by Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc.

The yards, which were sold under the brand names Kolcraft, Carter’s, Sesame Street, Jeep, Contours, Care Bear and Eric Carle, have side rails that can fail to latch properly, causing a fall hazard, according to the CPSC. There have been nearly 350 reports of this happening, with 21 injuries to children reported (including one concussion).

The model numbers and pictures of affected units are available on the CPSC's Kolcraft play yard recall Web site. They were sold at retailers and online from January 2000 through January 2009.

Some of the models have changing tables, vibrating areas or parent organizers.

Families should order a Kolcraft play yard repair kit by calling 800.453.7673 or by filling out this online form for a retrofit kit. Consumers can also e-mail Kolcraft at customerservice@kolcraft.com.

The CPSC also announced this week the voluntary recall of about 94,000 Kidde PI200 dual-sensor smoke alarms, sold between August 1, 2008 and May 4, 2009.

In two situations the smoke alarms, which have "HUSH" and "PUSH TO TEST WEEKLY" buttons on the front, have been damaged by electrostatic discharge during installation and failed to respond to smoke.

Anyone who owns one of the affected Kidde smoke alarms can contact the company for a free replacement by calling (877) 524-2086 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or by going to the Kidde smoke alarm recall Web site.

Free movies next week! Food, Inc., Handmade Nation

2009-07-09T19:56:07Z

Watch two FREE movie screenings next week!

To kick off DIY@Artscape, on Tuesday, July 14, there will be a free screening of Handmade Nation, a documentary exploring do-it-yourself culture.

The free Handmade Nation screening starts at 7 p.m. at the University of Baltimore auditorium, 21 W. Mount Royal Ave. A question-and-answer session with the director will follow the 65-minute film.

Discovered via The Broken Plate Company via Baltimore DIY Squad.

Then on Thursday ...

... July 16, head to the Charles Theatre for a free showing of Food, Inc., sponsored by Chipotle Mexican Grill.

The documentary Food, Inc. is about industrial food production and its impact on workers, human health and the environment.

Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis so get there early.

And don't miss other free & cheap summer movies in Baltimore and beyond. There are lots of outdoor screenings to choose from!

Calling all twentysomething-thirtysomething investors

2009-07-09T19:08:23Z

I'm writing an article about investing in a bear market, and am looking to speaking to those in their 20s and 30s about whether they have cut back on investing or are putting even more money in the market because they have years for stocks to turn around.

Send me an email if you'd like to talk at eileen.ambrose@baltsun.com. Thanks.

Fear, terror and economic anxiety

2009-07-09T17:06:36Z

(art by Regina Boyce)

Last night I had a fascinating discussion with attendees of a community conversation organized by Art On Purpose, a local arts organization.

The group had held art workshops at several library branches exploring themes from Edgar Allan Poe’s work, including love and loss, madness and obsession, and fear and terror.

Several Baltimore residents created pieces addressing fear about the economy, and so for last night’s talk at the Waverly branch library, we dug deeper into what money provides and what folks were doing differently in the face of economic uncertainty.

We talked about priorities, and I offered up my frugal philosophy for life: how money gives us choices, whether it’s the kind of food we eat, the place we live and the health care we can enjoy. It’s better to start saving early, because you can’t take a loan for retirement.

Several attendees talked about the struggle to budget, how jarring it can be to suddenly become aware of how little money remains after addressing fixed expenses such as rent and utilities.

Another guest spoke about blowing up fixed expenses such as utilities altogether and going entirely without gas and electricity for most of last summer.

An experiment like that would certainly make you appreciate the simpler things. Another guest shared a story about a group of pre-teen girls who put aside their fancy video cell phones for more than hour to play with an old-fashioned deck of cards.

What are you doing differently because of the recession/economy, whether it's finding more economical entertainment, or cutting back on extras and rethinking eessentials?

You can see more art from the Art On Purpose workshops at other branch libraries this month as well as at the Baltimore Museum of Art this fall. The events are free and open to the public.

Don't put porn or taxes on your credit card

2009-07-09T16:02:35Z

Credit card companies are clamping down on any consumer who suddenly seems like a financial risk.

But according to Robert Manning, author of Credit Card Nation, card companies are doing data mining to look at where we spend our money to determine if we might have lost our job or appear to be having money problems.

In an interview with Marketplace, Manning compiled a list of 10 things you shouldn’t buy with your credit card lest it send up red flags to your card company.

Among them:

Purchases at 99 cent stores or Wal-Mart, if you never shopped those bargain places before. From the card issuer’s viewpoint, it’s suspicious that you are suddenly a discount shopper.

Retread tires. What, you can’t afford new ones?

Porn or strip clubs. Are you trying to take your mind off financial problems?

Marriage counseling. Could it be that you are your spouse are fighting about money?

Taxes. Bad sign if you add debt on a card to pay off another debt obligation.

Check out the list and tell us what you think. Do you really believe card companies are scanning statements for such purchases?

Summer wine tasting: Cheap Trick Thursday

2009-07-09T13:03:02Z

The restaurants at the Tremont hotels --- Tug's Bar and Grille, the Grand Cafe and the Plaza Deli --- will host a complimentary wine and cheese tasting from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, July 9.

The restaurants and cafes plan to offer similar events every Tuesday and Thursday in July, according to the Downtown Partnership.

Search Baltimore Housing violations & code enforcement

2009-07-08T13:58:13Z

I'm wearing my Watchdog hat while sharing this Consumer Web Site of the Week: Baltimore Housing's list of active code violations.

On this site, you can search for code violations at specific city addresses, or find code violations within a specific neighborhood. Addresses with stepped-up code enforcement and court orders are listed there too.

From the Code Enforcement Legal section page, choose "case tracking" to see court orders and outcomes.

Other goodies from the Baltimore Department of Housing and Community Development Web site include links to the Housing Code Enforcement handbook as well as the Permits and Inspections handbook.

Restoration Hardware warehouse sale, now through the weekend!

2009-07-08T12:54:45Z

Restoration Hardware Warehouse Sale in Edgewood! July 8 through July 12!

RH will throw open its doors for a final closeout sale, letting visitors peruse its stock of more than 5,000 discontinued, returned or otherwise rejected furniture, lighting and home accessories.

Discounts range from 50 to 75 percent off.

Hours of the sale are ...

... 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 8 to July 12. On Sunday, it's open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Here's the address: 1701 Trimble Road, Edgewood. The number is 410-671-9687.

Southwest's $30-$60-$90 sale is 48 hours only

2009-07-07T17:07:17Z

OK, I get a lot of airfare sales in my inbox. I'm sure you do too. I don't even look at all of them, so I can't say this one is the best. But it's certainly one I haven't seen from Southwest before and the price is right.

Here's the deal: One-way fares are based on the distance you're traveling. Travel up to 400 miles is $30 each way. For example, BWI to Boston or New York. (Take that Megabus.com. Well, not really, but it's close.) Travel between 400-650 miles is $60 = BWI to Fort Lauderdale or Milwaukee. Anything more than 750 miles is $90 = BWI to San Diego or Seattle.

You have to travel between Sept. 9 and Nov. 18. Great for a fall leaf-peeping trip. (I can't believe I said "leaf-peeping" and it's not even August yet. Groan.) Book now - sale only lasts 48 hours - through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.

Credit card foreign conversion fees

2009-07-07T16:03:57Z

World travelers, check your credit card. You might be charged a foreign exchange conversion fee even when making purchases in U.S. dollars.

Here's an email I got from Mary E.:

For our occasional international travel, we purposely keep a Capitol One Visa credit card that charges no foreign currency conversion fee. On a recent trip in Switzerland, several times when we used the card, we were asked whether we wanted to pay in U.S. dollars or Swiss francs. We did not know which would be to our advantage. In each case, we were told by the business that it would usually be to our advantage to pay in dollars. We chose dollars, but noticed when presented with the receipt that the transaction processing entity charged a currency conversion fee that was included in the exchange rate. Would we have been better off paying in Swiss francs, since our Capitol One card charges no conversion fee?

I'm somewhat familiar with Mary's issue because of an article I wrote yesterday on credit card issuers changing terms on consumers before credit card reforms kick in February.

In my reporting, Greg McBride of Bankrate.com told me that issuers have been getting more creative with fees. One of them is foreign conversion fees.

Usually, you only trigger a fee when you are making a purchase in a foreign currency. But McBride says card issuers have started adding the fee even if you are making purchases with U.S. dollars outside the country. The Caribbean, for example, is one place where you have the option of paying in dollars or other currency.

"Now we are seeing issuers assess the fee regardless of the currency...as long as the transaction takes place on foreign soil," McBride says.

If any of you know of a card that doesn't charge a foreign coversion fee, let us know. We'll pass the word onto Mary.

Live Chat: Eileen Ambrose on finding a financial adviser

2009-07-07T15:38:22Z

Eileen Ambrose: Finding a financial adviser

A good way to earn a free night at a hotel

2009-07-07T14:33:01Z

Yeah, you can save reward points, you can win it, you can get your Mom to pay for it, but here's a really cool way to earn a one-night stay at more than 50 hotels across the U.S.: Just spend 8 hours as a volunteer or doing community service between now and the end of the year.

The group you volunteer with has to be a 501c3 organization - a place like Habitat for Humanity, for example - and you'll need a letter from the organization proving that you did the work. Then make your reservation at least 48 hours in advance at places like the Hilton Garden Inn in Orlando, the Marriott in Charlotte, the Renaissance Pittsburgh, the Doubletree Atlanta etc.

You'll have to pay the taxes and rooms are limited at each hotel - but the offer is good through Dec. 20. Plenty of time to "give a day and get a night" from Sage Hospitality, the group that operates the hotels. (They also offer 50% off for military and first responders.)

Costco membership renewal fewer than 12 months long: Naughty Business of the Week

2009-07-07T13:40:25Z

Costco has reached a settlement agreement with consumers who were short-changed on their membership renewals, with agreements that expired fewer than 12 months from the re-up date, according to Consumer Reports.

Basically, consumers would come in to the warehouse retailer months after their memberships had lapsed and sign up for another year. But the company would back-date the new agreement to when the original membership ended, so consumers who didn't spot the error would pay for a full annual membership that would expire in fewer than 12 months.

It's like paying to resume a subscription to a magazine and only getting 8 or 10 issues!

Under the terms of the Costco settlement agreement ...

... folks who renewed a Costco membership between May 2001 and May 2009 that expired in fewer than 12 months would receive anywhere from one to four months' free membership. Eligible members, both former and current, will receive a postcard in the mail.

Costco has also changed its policy, and if you renew more than two months after your old membership expired, your expiration date will be a year from the date you make the agreement.

This still seems shady to me.

I could see, perhaps, renewals lasting fewer than 12 months being reasonable if there was some incentive to restart right away, i.e. if renewing members paid a smaller annual fee than those who were starting afresh. However, that's not the case -- you pay the same for 12 months of membership whether or not your data is in their system already.

Shady!

(photo: Paul Sakuma/Associated Press)

Flight attendants bare it all for safety

2009-07-07T10:31:11Z

Airlines keep trying to get your attention for that all-important safety info at the beginning of each flight. Typically, we're fidgeting, popping gum, checking our bags, talking - anything except listening to the flight attendants or watching the video. Seems to be a problem for airlines everywhere. First, Delta had the beautiful blonde with the sexy voice talking about oxygen masks and exit doors. Now comes Air New Zealand with an in-flight safety video that features flight crew wearing nothing but body paint. It's part of the airline's "Nothing to Hide" campaign to promote their no-hidden-fees airfares. Take a peek, it's in pretty good taste. Nothing you'll want to hide from the kids. You can read more about the video from this NYT story.