The elections are over, the holidays are next. But the economy might make us all say “bah-humbug” this year.

The website: http://www.ConsumerReports.org says in its survey, most of us will cut back on our holiday spending.

• In fact 76% of us will be spending less on things like travel, and presents, and on giving to charities.
• 59% of those surveyed say they will give fewer gifts in general.
• 49% say they will cut back on travel.
• 84% say they will cut back on buying for themselves.
• 40% say they will cut back on buying for friends, family and co-workers
• 6% or 12-million shoppers are still carrying debt from last Season.


Again, if you want to know more about this survey to go:
http://www.consumerReports.org

And have a happy holiday!

AS WE ALL KNOW TOO WELL, THE LOWER TEMPERATURES THAT COME ALONG WITH WINTER BRING HIGHER UTILITY BILLS.

IN TONIGHT’S WALLET WATCH, NINE IS ON YOUR SIDE WITH A WAY TO KEEP THOSE BILLS UNDER CONTROL, AND HELP THE ENVIRONMENT AT THE SAME TIME.

THIS WEEKEND, THE STATE IS OFFERING A BONUS TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET RID OF YOUR OLD APPLIANCES AND BUY MORE EFFICIENT ONES.
IF YOU DO, YOU WON’T HAVE TO PAY ANY SALES TAX.
ELIGIBLE ITEMS INCLUDE REFRIGERATORS, FREEZERS, CLOTHES WASHERS, AIR CONDITIONERS AND PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTATS, WITH THE “ENERGY STAR” LABEL.

THE STATE’S SALES TAX HOLIDAY FOR ENERGY STAR APPLIANCES STARTS TOMORROW AND GOES THROUGH SUNDAY.

RETAILERS PLAN TO GET AGGRESSIVE ABOUT EARNING YOUR DOLLARS THIS HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON.  IN WALLET WATCH: ACCORDING TO SHOPZILLA’S HOLIDAY STUDY, YOU CAN EXPECT MORE FREE SHIPPING.
DESPITE HIGHER TRANSPORTATION COSTS, 78% OF RETAILERS PLAN TO OFFER IT.
MANY HAVE ROLLED OUT NEW WEBSITE FEATURES TO IMPROVE CUSTOMERS’ EXPERIENCES.
MORE THAN FORTY TWO PERCENT ARE ADDING BETTER SEARCH FEATURES, AND PRODUCT VIDEOS, AND ABOUT A THIRD ARE OFFERING CUSTOMER REVIEWS.
AND ABOUT A THIRD ARE ADDING CLEARANCE AND SALE PAGES.

THE HOLIDAY SEASON WILL BE HERE SOON, AND EVERY SHOPPING DOLLAR COUNTS THIS YEAR.

IN TONIGHT’S WALLET WATCH: IT’S IMPORTANT TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WARRANTY ON AN ITEM, BEFORE YOU BUY IT.
ARAG LEGAL GROUP RECOMMENDS ASKING HOW LONG THE WARRANTY LASTS, AND DO YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF EXTENDING THE COVERAGE?
WHO DO YOU CONTACT TO HAVE THE PRODUCT SERVICED?
ARE PARTS AND SERVICES BOTH COVERED IN THE WARRANTY?
AND DOES THE WARRANTY COVER “CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES,” EXPENSES YOU PAY BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PRODUCT?

FOR MOST PEOPLE, THEIR HOME IS THEIR MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENT.

TONIGHT’S WALLET WATCH COMES FROM SMART MONEY:

TO SAVE ON YOUR HOMEOWNERS’ POLICY WITHOUT PUTTING YOUR HOME AT RISK: MAINTAIN A HEALTHY CREDIT SCORE.
A POOR SCORE CAN PROMPT AN INSURER TO RAISE YOUR PREMIUMS, A STELLAR SHOWS YOU AREN’T A BIG RISK.

ASK FOR DISCOUNTS FOR BUNDLING POLICIES, SAY, HOMEOWNERS AND CAR POLICIES, FOR A DISCOUNT OF AS MUCH AS FIFTEEN PERCENT.  SOME INSURERS OFFER LOYALTY DISCOUNTS OF 5 TO 10% TO CUSTOMERS WHO’VE HELD POLICIES THREE YEARS,

AND JUST A SMALL INCREASE IN YOUR DEDUCTIBLE CAN SAVE FIFTEEN TO TWENTY FIVE PERCENT.

DO HIGH ENERGY PRICES HAVE YOU SPOOKED?
THIS HALLOWEEN EDITION OF WALLET WATCH CAN HELP.
IF YOU’RE HAUNTED BY GHOSTS: THE WARM AIR ESCAPING YOUR CHIMNEY, CLOSE THE FLUE DAMPER WHEN YOU’RE NOT USING YOUR FIREPLACE AND SAVE $190 A YEAR.
TO GET RID OF THE MONSTER OF INEFFICIENT HOME HEATING AND COOLING, INSTALL A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT SET TO ENERGY STAR STANDARDS, AND SAVE $190 A YEAR.
AND CONQUER ZOMBIES: COMPUTERS THAT FEED ON ENERGY WHEN YOU’RE NOT USING THEM.
PUT YOUR COMPUTER TO SLEEP AUTOMATICALLY: AND SAVE $40 PER YEAR.
THESE TIPS TO KEEP YOUR BLOOD FROM RUNNING COLD, COME COURTESY OF GOOGLE.

THE PRICES OF EVERYTHING INCLUDING HALLOWEEN COSTUMES ARE DOWNRIGHT SCARY.

IN TONIGHT’S WALLET WATCH: IT CAN COST YOU FORTY TO A HUNDRED DOLLARS JUST TO RENT A COSTUME!

SO HERE’S ONE WEBSITE I FOUND THAT COULD HELP YOU SAVE A LOT OF MONEY AND STILL COME UP WITH A FUN AND CREATIVE COSTUME.
IT’S W-W-W DOT COSTUME IDEA ZONE DOT COM.
MOST OF THE COSTUMES CAN BE MADE EASILY WITH ITEMS YOU ARE LIKELY TO HAVE ALREADY IN YOUR HOME, AND AT LITTLE OR NO COST.

WITH OUR WEATHER, AND OUR ECONOMY TURNING COLDER: MANY FAMILIES MIGHT NEED HELP WITH HEATING BILLS THIS WINTER.

THE LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
IT PROVIDES FUNDING TO HEAT HOMES FROM OCTOBER TO MARCH, BUT ONLY REACHES 20 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO ASK FOR HELP.
IT HAS 5 POINT 1 BILLION DOLLARS FOR THIS WINTER.
THE WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OFFERS FUNDS TO HELP HOMEOWNERS IMPROVE THEIR PROPERTY’S ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
IN THE LAST 30 YEARS, IT SERVED 5 POINT 6 MILLION LOW- INCOME FAMILIES.

Some of our viewers have come up with some pretty unusual ways to trick themselves into saving money.
Here are a few of the more unusual ones:

One woman rounds up every entry in her check book. If she buys groceries for 55 dollars and 23 cents, she rounds it up to 54 dollars.
In two years she saved $500.

One lady puts every five dollar bill she gets into a piggy bank. In three years she has saved $12,000.

And one woman i know saves any paper money with the year she was married in the serial number. She and her husband use it for a trip on their wedding anniversary
We want your ideas, just use the key words, Wallet Watch. 

Who doesn’t want to save a little more cash as the economy tightens.
• So, using less hot water could save you a thousand dollars in a year.
• Taking a short shower instead of a long bath and save up to 12-thousand gallons of hot water a year.
• Use a dish washer. .in fact, teach the family to wash your dishes every other day.
• And how about the new “tankless” water heaters....they can save 20-to 50 percent compared to the tank water heater you currently have.
• they are expensive but like a hybrid car, they can pay for themselves over time