The WARNING e-mails are making the rounds again! They REMIND you that “Cell phone numbers go public” next month, that they’ll be “released to telemarketers” and that “you will be charged” for those calls if you don’t register your cell number with the National DO NOT CALL REGISTRY. While you CAN register your number, NOT doing it won’t mean you'll be flooded with telemarketer calls! The e-mail has been circulating since about 2004 and seems to stem from efforts by the wireless phone industry to establish a wireless 411 phone directory. But here are the FACTS according to the FCC:
• As of right now, a wireless 411 directory is only in the IDEA stage.
• Even if a wireless 411 directory is established, most telemarketing calls to wireless phones would still be illegal. For example, it is unlawful for any person to make a call using any automatic telephone dialing system or any artificial or prerecorded voice...

Wow! What a difference a year can make! FORD dealers have got to be grinning after getting yet another big HONOR! Today, Motor Trend Magazine named the Ford Fusion as its 2010 Car of the Year. It was picked from a field of 22 cars that were newly introduced or had major redesigns. Editors say the Fusion drove like an entirely new vehicle! And just last month, Consumer Reports gave the Fusion and its twin—the Mercury Milan—top scores for RELIABILITY in the family-sedan category. Consumer Reports described the cars as “better than the poster childs for reliability - the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord." Ford credits the Fusion with getting the company back into the car
market. That’s good news for all of us! It might be time to take a test drive…..
 

A reminder, if you need a new appliance—this MAY be the weekend to buy it. Tomorrow, North Carolina’s annual Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday begins! The savings can really add up because you’ll probably save three ways: 1) on the taxes, 2) on the price because many stores are marking down eligible appliances to boost sales and 3) energy star appliances use less energy—so you’ll also save on your power bill!
State lawmakers approved the tax break to promote energy efficiency. It only applies to certain categories of appliances though-- and they must carry the Energy Star for efficiency. Washers, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, heat pumps, even ceiling fans and programmable thermostats are all included. Dryers and dishwashers are NOT part of the savings program. Many people have asked, why not?   There actually was an effort in the legislature earlier this year to add those items along with a list of others, including compact...

Do you have too many canned goods stocked up in your pantry? Tomorrow, you can trade them in for a free meal AND help the hungry get a meal at the same time! At participating Triangle Area Chick-fil-A restaurants, you can exchange 3 non-perishable food items for a FREE Chick-fil-A biscuit or chicken sandwich. The promotion runs from 7a to 7p! Donations will go to two area rescue missions and a local food pantry!

It’s another TRIPLE chance to save money! Just a reminder—Harris Teeter starts another week of TRIPLE COUPONS tomorrow! The savings can really add up. And I noticed a lot of items on the list are things you might want to stock-up on for the holidays! For an early peak at the bargains, go to www.savvydollar.org where “insiders” post lists by categories. It makes it really easy to create your grocery list and match up coupons before you go. By the way, if you’re an H-T regular and you haven’t signed up online for the e-VIC program, you should. Each week, they send out a special that only e-VIC customers are eligible for. For example, this week, you can get one 5 pound bag of HT sugar for just 99 cents! Savings like that will make the holiday treats you bake with it, that much sweeter!