A Consumer Guide to Handling Disputes with your
Employer or Private Health Plan
http://www.kff.org/consumerguide/7350.cfm
2005 update to Kaiser Family Foundation report; includes state-by-state
information on external review programs. |
ABCs of Real Estate
http://realestateabc.com/
Site has information and resources needed to be successful buying your first
house or trying to become a real estate broker. Learning library covers mortgages
and financing; calculators to crunch numbers; latest news about interest
rates and direction they are going; directories to locate properties or find
an agent. --Kraynak's Best of Category (Best of the Internet) [consumer] |
(American Woman) Road & Travel Magazine
http://www.roadandtravel.com/
ROAD & TRAVEL magazine is committed to the advancement of women by providing
content from which they can make informed and intelligent decisions regarding
their automotive, travel, and personal safety needs. [consumer; women]
|
AMS Farmers Markets
http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/
Use this site to find a farmer's market in your state and learn more about farmer's
markets. Includes fact sheets, regulations, statistics, and more. From the
Agricultral Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. [consumer] |
AnnualCreditReport
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly
called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide
consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You
can also request your report by phone or mail. Monitoring and periodically
reviewing your credit report is an effective tool in fighting identity theft.
[consumer] |
Ask The Builder - Home Building, Remodeling and Improvement
http://www.askthebuilder.com/
Archives of this syndicated columnist (Tim Carter) help you tackle problems around
the house--project archives and streaming videos cover cleaning decks, for
example. [consumer] |
BobVila.com
http://www.bobvila.com/
Host of the popular TV show "This Old House" and "Bob Vila's Home Again" is almost
synonymous with home restoration and improvement projects. You can visit Bob
and his crew online, check out the TV shows, peruse his howto library, sample
his software design tools, post a question, and shop for home improvement tools
and products. Easy to navigate, plenty of useful information, and graphics crisp
and clear make it Kraynak's Best of Category in Best of the Internet. [consumer] |
Boot Camp For New Dads
http://www.bootcampfornewdads.org/
"Boot Camp for New Dads is a unique father-to-father, community-based
workshop that inspires and equips men of different economic levels, ages
and cultures
to become confidently engaged with their infants, support their mates and
personally navigate their transformation into dads. Boot Camp is validated
by research and has been named a best practice by many organizations that
consider it an exceptional means of supporting dads-to-be and fostering behaviors
that greatly benefit children and help prevent a wide range of social ills.
Founded in 1990, the non-profit Boot Camp for New Dads has graduated over
150,000 men, making it by far the nation’s largest program for new fathers,
and is now offered in 42 states and on U.S. military bases, and is expanding
internationally." Site is primarily descriptive; online help for new
dads may be found at Dads
Adventure Magazine and
blog site. [consumer] |
Center For Debt Management
http://center4debtmanagement.com/
Free debt counseling through a nonprofit agency. Reduce your payments, lower
your interest, and stop late fees. Well-organized and user-friendly site
provides 500 pages of information about consumer debt and money management.
[consumer] |
Columbia University Medical Center : Patient
Care Resources
http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/health/index.html
Hospital affiliations, Find a Healthcare Provider/Dentist links, Clinical
trials, Online Doctor-Patient Services (doesn't seem to be called the "complete
home medical guide" anymore, though old link still worked) [consumer] |
Consumer Action Website (U.S. Government)
http://www.consumeraction.gov/
The Consumer Action Website is based on the 2007 Consumer Action Handbook. It features general advice and information on how to solve consumer problems, as well as addresses, telephone numbers, and websites where you can file consumer complaints. |
Consumer World
http://www.consumerworld.org/
"Consumer World is a public service, non-commercial* guide with over 2000 of
the most useful consumer resources. Consumer World created by Edgar Dworsky,
(a.k.a. "MrConsumer"),
a consumer advocate/educator and an attorney." (*See disclaimers on site.) |
Credit and Debt Management
http://credit.about.com/
From About.com, site helps you reduce and eliminate your personal debt by budgeting
and consolidation. Huge collection of articles dealing not only with credit
management but also with personal and family finances, living a frugal lifestyle,
investing, and planning for retirement. [consumer] |
Do It Yourself.com -- Home Improvement, Repair,
Remodeling, Electrical, Gardening & Outdoor, Plumbing, HVAC, Hardware &
Woodworking
http://www.doityourself.com/
"DoItYourself.com is the leading independent home improvement and home repair
website. It has been repeatedly honored among the Best on the Web, and was named "One
of the Top 50 Sites in the World" by Time Magazine. In addition to its extraordinarily
broad list of topics, it operates the most active home improvement forums on
the Internet, enabling consumers to get personalized advice from professionals
in over 100 subjects. DoItYourself.com was established in 1995 (by founder David
Goldsholle) with a goal to provide consumers with unbiased home improvement and
repair information in a community environment." (Appealing site) [consumer]
|
Do It Yourself Network
http://www.diynetwork.com/
Extensive help of all kinds from DIY, the do-it-yourself Web and television network.
[consumer; autos; crafts; home improvement; gardening; woodworking] |
Edmunds Car Buying Guide
http://www.edmunds.com/
Like the Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com provides true market value pricing, unbiased car reviews, ratings, and expert advice when purchasing a vehicle. The company publishes auto repair manuals. [consumer, autos] |
eHow - Clear Instructions on How to Do (just about) Everything
http://www.ehow.com/
eHow is a site that offers clear instructions on how to do almost everything.
They have sections covering cars, jobs, computers, relationships, business,
food, health, hobbies, holidays, home, pets, sports, and travel. The entries
can be searched or browsed. (Very appealing site!) [consumer] |
EMachineShop - Online Machine Shop
http://emachineshop.com/
Online Machine Shop with free CAD software "the remarkable new way to get the custom parts you need - the first true online machine shop. Download our free software, draw your part, and click to order." I don't usually recommend commercial sites, but this seems a truly useful idea. See what USA
Today says about it. [consumer] |
Family First - Family friendly site reviews
http://www.familyfirst.com/
Welcome to FamilyFirst.com, the web's oldest and leading site for family-friendly web site reviews. Since 1995, we've reviewed over 2000 sites. You may search our database for sites, or check back each day for a new site. |
FCIC - Federal Citizen Information Center
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/
For over 35 years, the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) has been a trusted
one-stop source for answers to questions about consumer problems and government
services. Consumers can get the information they need in three ways: by calling
toll-free 1 (800) FED-INFO, through printed publications, or through information
posted on FCIC’s family of websites: www.USA.gov, www.pueblo.gsa.gov, www.kids.gov, www.consumeraction.gov. |
FEMA - Are You Ready: An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness
http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/
FEMA’s most comprehensive source on individual, family, and community preparedness.
The guide has been revised, updated, and enhanced in August 2004 [site in 2006]
to provide the public with the most current and up-to-date disaster preparedness
information available by walking the reader through how to get informed about
local emergency plans, how to identify hazards that affect their local area,
and how to develop and maintain an emergency communications plan and disaster
supplies kit. Other topics covered include evacuation, emergency public shelters,
animals in disaster, and information specific to people with disabilities.
[consumer] |
Fine Woodworking, Fine Homebuilding, Fine Cooking,
and Fine Gardening from Taunton Press
http://www.taunton.com
Resources and websites for these publications from Taunton Press: Fine Woodworking,
Fine Homebuilding, Fine Cooking, and Fine Gardening. [consumer] |
FirstGov [NEWS FLASH: FirstGov
is now USA.gov]
http://www.USA.gov/
"Government made easy." The official portal to U.S. government information.
[consumer] |
Foundation For Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR)
http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/
"The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR) is a nationally recognized consumer group that has been fighting corrupt corporations and crooked politicians since 1985. Over the years, FTCR has saved Americans billions of dollars and improved countless peoples' lives by speaking out on behalf of patients, ratepayers and policyholders. Big Business has an endless amount of money and thousands of lobbyists working everyday to protect and increase their profits - no matter who it hurts. We get in their way and work to protect and improve the lives of American consumers and taxpayers." |
Fraud.org - Home of the National Fraud Information
Center and Internet Fraud Watch programs
http://www.fraud.org/
Originally formed in 1992 to battle telemarketing fraud, the NFIC now has a
toll-free hotline for reporting telemarketing fraud, asking for advice about
telemarketing calls, and investigating Internet fraud. The website also offers
a section on fraud targeting the elderly, counterfeit drugs, and scams against
business. It offers a 2007 Scam-Free Calendar, top 10 telemarketing and Internet
scams of 2006. NFIC/IFW is operated by the National Consumers League, America’s oldest nonprofit consumer organization. [consumer] |
GoCityKids
http://www.gocitykids.com/choose/
Your guide to the city at its best. Family-friendly activities and information on parks, stores, professional services, restaurants, babysitters, places to stay, entertainment, and services. Helps parents navigate large metropolitan areas without spending a great deal of time researching. Useful for those living in or near cities in the directory, or planning a trip. |
Groom Guide
http://www.thegroomguide.com/
Advice about the groom's responsibilities above and beyond showing up at the
appointed time. (Chicago) --Marylaine Block New New Stuff [consumer] |
Home and Garden Television
http://www.hgtv.com/
Home and Garden Television's website (HGTV) is arranged in "villages," letting
participants home in on decorating, gardening, remodeling, craft, and entertainment
information. [consumer] |
Home Computer Security
http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/
This work was produced for FedCIRC and the General Services Administration by the CERT® Coordination Center, Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Copyright 2002 Carnegie Mellon University. Last updated November 22,
2002 --though the host site has a 2007 date on it [this kind of publication should
be revised every 6 months, but I'm leaving it up until I find a replacement].
[consumer] |
Home Doctor
http://homedoctor.net/
Find useful information about making your home more energy-efficient, getting
rid of insects, using natural gas, and determining if the paint in your house
has lead in it. [consumer; home improvement] |
Home Energy Saver
http://hes.lbl.gov/
The Home Energy Saver calculates how much energy your home uses. It then
offers recommendations on how to decrease that amount. The first web-based
do-it-yourself energy audit tool. [consumer] |
Household Products Database--Health and Safety Information on Household Products
http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/
The Household Products Database, with information on more than 4,000 consumer
brands, including health effects from Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
provided by manufacturers. [consumer] |
Insure.com
http://www.insure.com/
Insure.com provides free ratings from Standard & Poor's and Duff & Phelps
Credit Rating Co. Their ratings will help you evaluate the quality and financial
soundness of the insurers you are considering. You'll also find in-depth articles,
and insurance tips on auto, homeowners, health, life, and business insurance.
Best of all, this site does not sell insurance and is not owned or operated by
an insurance company. [consumer] |
Kelley Blue Book
http://www.kbb.com/
The place to find current values for new and used cars/vehicles. "Nearly one
out of every three people who buy a new or used car in the United States
visits
the site. According to J.D. Power and Associates' AutoShopper.com studies,
more car-buyers use kbb.com than any other three sites combined! The Web
site has been named the most visited for eight years in a row." The company
celebrated 80 years in 2006. [consumer, autos] |
List of ISPs--The Definitive Internet Services Buyer's Guide
http://www.thelist.com/
The List™ is intended as a resource for people looking for an Internet
service provider. It is not to be used for commercial purpose without any prior
authorization from IN... is provided for informational purposes
only. Information has been obtained for The List™ from sources believed
to be reliable. However, because of the possibility of error by our sources,we
cannot guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, or completeness of any information included
in The List™, and are not responsible for any errors or omissions or the
results obtained from the use of such information. We do not endorse any ISPs
on The List™, and you should verify the ISPs' reputation and services prior
to contracting with any ISP. From JupiterWeb [consumer] |
LocalHarvest - Farmers Markets
http://www.localharvest.org/
Search or browse to find "all the farmers' markets, family farms, locally-grown
produce, grass-fed meats, organic growers, and other sources of sustainably grown
food
in
your
area." Iincludes farmers' markets, U-Pick farms, farm stands, meat/dairy/egg
producers, and more. Listings include locations, contact information, and lists
of available products by season. [consumer] |
Lowe's Home Improvement
http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=home
One of America's top 30 retailers serving home improvement, home decor, home
electronics, and home construction markets, Lowe's Companies, Inc. offers
a website with step-by-step guides for home improvement projects, featured
products, and tips from Lowe's Home Safety Council. Store locator included.
[consumer] |
Miss Manners
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/style/columns/missmanners/
Washington Post column, Miss Manners, has been teaching us how to behave for
years, continues to keep us updated on what's considered rude and distasteful
as our culture changes. Search the archive or latest recommendations to readers.
[consumer] |
Money Magazine's Money 101 Tutorial
http://money.cnn.com/pf/101/
Step-by-step tutorial on how to take control of your personal finances consists
of 23 lessons covering everything from drawing up a budget to investing in
stocks. Learn how to plan for retirement, save for a child's education, finance
a new home, reduce your tax burden, and much more. [consumer] |
Mrs FIXIT Home Repair
http://mrsfixit.com/
Home repair advice and "practical solutions to your everyday household projects." From
cleaning tips to gardening tips to household pests, Mrs. FIXIT has the answer.
And that's not all ... Mrs. FIXIT updates her latest household hints and home
repair tips and provides a complete online library of past FIXIT
Tips for your convenience. The category Quick Find button will take you right
to the do it yourself solution you need. Can't find an answer to your question
there? Check our Q&A Archives or you may e-mail Mrs. FIXIT your question. "It's
just that simple!"™ [consumer]
|
NetGrocer- Grocery Shopping Online
http://www.netgrocer.com/default.cfm?s=netgrocer
Thousands of food and general merchandise products to choose from. Just shop
for food at NetGrocer and enter shipping information at the checkout page
-- a way to make sure your family members away from home (child in college)
get the food they need, no matter where you live. From MyWebGrocer--"We
make online shopping work." [consumer] |
Old House Web
http://www.oldhouseweb.com/
Ideas, advice & community for old-house enthusiasts -- products and suppliers, do-it-yourself guides, feature articles, online forums, and more. |
OrganizedHome.com
http://organizedhome.com/index.html
Get organized with resources available from this site: ideas (and free printables) for cleaning, cutting clutter, freezer cooking. [consumer] |
Original Tipping Page
http://www.tipping.org/TopPage.shtml
This page is the first of its kind, and probably still the only one and the most
complete. There is no right or wrong when it comes to tipping, just common
sense. Also note that tipping is an option, not a must. There are circumstances
that are obviously not as simple as black and white. Use your judgment when
deciding to tip or not to tip. [consumer] |
Picasa
http://picasa.google.com
The easy way to share and manage your photos.
Picasa is a free software download from Google that helps you:
Locate and organize all the photos on your computer.
Edit and add effects to your photos with a few simple clicks.
Share your photos with others through email, prints, and on the web: it’s fast, easy and free. (from Google Labs; another way to get Picasa with other Google Labs software is with the Google Pack) [consumer] |
Plumbing 101
http://www.friendlyplumber.com/plumbing101.html
Do it yourself [diy] advice (home improvement and repair articles) for choosing plumbing fixtures and solving common plumbing problems. Also check out the eye-opening water conservation facts and figures. --from DIY network [consumer] |
Printable Ring Sizer and Ring Size Chart
http://www.shavonne.com/rings/ringsizer.php
Yes, it's on a jeweler's site -- but a useful tool. To find your ring size, you can use the Printable Ring Sizer, or measure your finger and use the Ring Size Chart. [consumer] |
Readerville: The social life of the mind
http://www.readerville.com/
Online book discussion: "Readerville is founded on the idea that literature — and discussion thereof — is one of life's finest pursuits. The Readerville Forum provides a broad and flexible space for readers, writers, librarians, publishers, critics and anyone else who loves books to have thoughtful and engaging discussions about everything from favorite books and authors to why they buy what they buy to current writing conundrums to the latest literary news. It's a welcoming, challenging, entertaining and endlessly fascinating environment that has proven deeply addictive to avid readers from around the globe." [consumer] |
Real Estate Guide - Find Neighborhood Profiles and City Information
http://realestate.yahoo.com/re/neighborhood/main.html
Neighborhood profiles include demographics, cost of living, and
quality of life data. Site also offers a home/apartment finder, reserach schools
tab, home values/finder, and connections to realtors. [consumer] |
Safercar.gov - Tires
http://www.safercars.gov/Tires/
Proper tire pressure is the most important part of maintaining your ties. Use
the links to the left to learn more about tire safety. From Safercar.gov (NHTSA, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), which offers more government auto-related resources for equipment and safety, crash test reports since 1990, defects and recalls. [consumer] |
ScamBusters.org
http://www.scambusters.com/
Free online newsletter dedicated to exposing Internet fraud and protecting consumers
from misinformation and hype. Subscribe to the newsletter, share your own
Internet scam experience, or enter the Internet ScamBusting Contest. [consumer] |
Skype - Free Internet telephony (VOIP)
http://skype.com/
Version: 3.1.0.152. Release date: April 04, 2007 features:
Make free Skype-to-Skype calls to anyone else, anywhere in the world; Call
ordinary phones and mobiles at pretty cheap rates per minute; See who you are
talking to with video calls; Send SMS messages to friends on the move; Set
up call forwarding so you never miss another call; Group chat with up to 100
people or conference call with up to nine others; Search the web with the Google
Toolbar (optional install); Free to download. System requirements: PC
running Windows 2000 or XP (Windows 2000 users require DirectX 9.0 for video
calls); Internet connection (broadband is best, GPRS is not supported for voice calls,
and results may vary on a satellite connection); Speakers and microphone -
built-in or separate; To make video calls you’ll need a computer with
at least a 1GHz processor, 256 MB RAM and of course a webcam; Recommended:
at least a 400 MHz processor, 128 MB RAM and 50 MB free disk space on your
hard drive. [consumer] |
Snopes.com - Urban Legends Reference Pages
http://www.snopes.com
Urban legends site by Barbara and David P. Mikkelson, 1995-2007. [consumer] |
Stay Safe Online
http://staysafeonline.info/
This website from the National Cyber Security Alliance gives you the information
needed to secure your computer. Stay Safe Online provides free and non-technical
cyber security and safety resources to the public, so consumers, small businesses
and educators have the know how to avoid cyber crime. [consumer] |
Study Guides and Strategies
http://www.studygs.net/
The Study Guides and Strategies website contains a comprehensive compendium of resources and study guides for learners available in 25 languages. The site is authored, developed and maintained by Joe Landsberger as a learner-centric educational public service. These student guides are collaboratively maintained across institutional and national boundaries, and last revised March 16, 2007. [consumer] |
Test Prep Review - Source for Free Practice
Tests
http://www.testprepreview.com/
There are many resources that you can use as you begin the test preparation
process. You will find much information about most tests completely free
and online at official websites, containing test dates, the types of questions,
how long the test will take, and most other questions concerning the details
of the test. The internet also provides access to test study guides and
free practice tests that will help you prepare as well. Here, you'll find
a lot of resources and information about the test preparation process.
Most of your initial studying can come from free online test prep resources.
Site includes prep for: ACT, Accuplacer, ARDMS, ASVAB, CAHSEE, CBEST, CCRN,
CDL, CEN, CFA, CFP, CFRN, CGFNS, CLEP, CNOR, COMPASS, Contractor Exam,
CPA, CSCS, CSET, DANB, DAT, Dietitian Exam, EPPP, FCAT, FPGEE, FSWE, GED,
GMAT, GRE, HOBET, Home Inspector Exam, HSPT, ISEE, Life and Health Exam,
LSAT, MAT, MCAT, NAPLEX, NBRC, NCBTMB, NCE, NCIDQ, NCLEX, NPTE, NREMT,
Nursing Exam, NYSTCE, OAT, PANCE, ParaPro, PCAT, PHR-SPHR, PMP, Praxis,
Property Casualty Exam, PSAT, PTCB, SAT, SERIES, SERIES 7, SSAT, TEAS,
TOEFL, USMLE, Wonderlic.
4Tests is another site for
free, online, practice tests; complete listing available. [consumer] |
This Old House
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh
An interactive doorway into "This Old House," featuring articles and columns
from the magazine, as well as topics related to building, renovation, and restoration.
Current news, information on personal appearances by the TV series crew, and
project house updates are posted regularly. [consumer] |
Understanding USA
http://www.understandingusa.com/
Richarl Saul Wurman's Understanding USA (Markle Foundation: Improving Life in the Information Age; and SmartPlanet): "Public Information should be made public. This site is a celebration and a visual demonstration of questions and answers leading to understanding. Understanding information is power." (Related to Wurman's books on Information Anxiety, the site covers Population, Children & Education, Business & Trade, Cost of Living & Poverty, Health & Costs, War & Defense, Crime & Punishment, Environment Issues, Information Technology, The Media, and more.) [consumer, information]
|
USPS - The United States Postal Service
http://www.usps.com/
Shipping tools, Mailing tools, ZipCode Finder, etc. [consumer] |
VisioBrand - Brand Directory
http://www.visiobrand.com/
Directory of official sites for brand names--"15,000 brands 'official sites.'
[consumer] |
|