Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Happy New Year to all and may the New Year bring you peace, love, happiness and an abundance of good health. As we enter a new year we can sit and think about what we want for this brand new year. We want our families to be happy and healthy, we want to help our families with all kinds of things and we want to be able to find ways to save money so we can buy the extras.

This year 2012 the Consumer Corner will bring you ideas and ways to save money for your family needs. We will also bring you the best products to buy for quality and price. We want you to save money, to buy good products and to have a great year.

Where to save money in 2012. Here are some ways and some may come automatically. Why? The federal government as put in place new regulations to prevent money sapping maneuvers by big businesses. This new year of 2012 may help you save money on:

1. Cell-phones: when you receive your monthly cell-phone statement are you sometimes concerned about the amount and why it may be so high? Well, in many cases your wireless carrier was not giving you a “heads up” on just what the limits were. Go over the limits on texting, voice, data or international roaming – up goes the costs.

Come October 17, 2012 all cell-phone companies will have to give “free” alerts to customers right before you reach any of these limits. This will save you money in overage fees!

2. Airline Tickets: buying airline tickets and then you get hit with additional fees. This won’t happen anymore. Airlines have received notice that they must post on their websites all fees that come with the purchase of an airline ticket including baggage, meals, cancelling or changing reservations or advanced or upgraded seating. You get the price – the real price, up front. No surprises. Savings come to you.

3. Health Insurance: this may not be an issue with you or your family. Unfortunately many people in the USA face hard times with health insurance – the majority of people do not have health insurance.

Buying health insurance can be difficult, the language is so confusing. On March 23, 2012 the insurance companies will have to use simple plain English to inform the customer about coverage, premiums, deductions and co-pays.

4. Chicken and beef: this year we all resolve to eat better – lean beef and chicken. Well the government has helped the consumer. On January 1, 2012 the USDA is requiring detailed nutrition information on popular cuts of meat. If the label reads 75% lean then the percentage of fat will be listed. Good food planning to you.

For your quick and easy information and what to buy in the next few weeks – here goes:

* Televisions: for the next 3 weeks of January – buy that television you’ve been wanting. The first three weeks of January the retailers reduce the prices to get you into the stores. A big boost to help you – the Super Bowl is just down the road and those TV’s need to go!

* Carpet and flooring: you can save up to 40% on carpeting, tile, wooden or laminate flooring in January. There are two times to buy flooring at a good price – before Christmas and in January. Flooring dealers give deep discounts to help with business. You can check it out at your favorite store.

* Cameras, appliances and electronics: in early January the electronics manufacturers have their conventions to show off the new cameras, gaming systems, navigation systems and other gadgets. The stores have 2011 items on the shelves and before the new 2012 items arrive, the store owners lower the prices. Now is the time for you to save on excellent quality cameras, electronics and appliances and at a great price. Enjoy.

Take a couple of hours and check the stores for the items on sale. Christmas decorations, trees and lights are up to 70% off – some places more. You may find a bargain on something you need. Happy hunting!