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Getting that first credit card is a big step for your child; one that can have serious negative consequences for years to come.

Your high school graduate wants a credit card. Is that good or bad?

Experts say it all depends on the child and how he or she will use the card.

“If they look at the card as a ticket to more spending, you should be worried,” said Laura Levine, executive director of the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. “If they know how credit cards work and are responsible, then it can be a good thing.”

Even though they don’t have a credit history yet, college-bound students may find offers that are comparable to what someone with excellent credit might get. The credit limit will be much lower, but the terms – including rewards – may be the same.

“This is because kids headed to college have a much higher earnings potential than those who are not,” explained Odysseas Papadimitriou, CEO of CardHub.com. “Banks know this and they want to build a relationship with them to get into their wallet as early as possible. “

CardHub.com just published its 2013 list of the Best Credit Cards for High School and College Graduates. None of the cards has an annual fee.

“A card without an annual fee allows the student to start building credit for free – and that is the number one priority,” Papadimitriou told me. “You build credit faster by using the card and paying in full each month, but you still build credit even if you throw it in a drawer or cut it in half. The card company will report to the credit bureaus that you are in good standing.”

Some other options
College kids are a prime target for credit card companies, so they will get offers as they prepare to head off to school.

The law says anyone under 21 who applies for a credit card must have a co-signer on the account or be able to show their ability to pay the bills. A part-time job could be enough to qualify.

“Parents need to remember that a lender may approve their kid for that credit card, even if they don't approve,” said Gerri Detweiler, personal finance expert at Credit.com.

Detweiler and other financial experts encourage parents not to become co-signers because of the potential risk: you put your credit on the line with no real control over how your child uses the card. Legally, you are liable for any debt they incur.

There is a better way.

John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education at SmartCredit.com, advises parents to add their age-appropriate children as “authorized users” on the card. He calls it “a credit card with training wheels.”

“This allows your child to have a credit card with their name printed on the front of it, but as the primary cardholder you maintain all the control,” he explained. “You can essentially manage your kid’s use of the card, almost in real time, and kick them off the card if they start to abuse it.”

Of course, as the primary cardholder, you are still responsible for paying the bill.

Go this route and your child gets all the benefit of having their own credit card, but you don’t have the downsides of a cosigner.

“Your child is actually building a credit history by being an authorized user because the account is showing up on their credit reports,” Ulzheimer said.

We need to talk
Getting that first credit card is a big step for your child; one that can have serious negative consequences for years to come.

Credit scores, which are based on a person’s credit history, will determine their ability to get credit in the future and what price they will pay for it.

Someone with a low credit score may not be able to rent an apartment, get a car loan or open a wireless phone account. Credit reports are now used by employers to screen job applicants and some insurance companies to set rates (where allowed by law).

It’s important to have a conversation with your child about the consequences of not managing that card properly. They need to understand that bills are to be paid in full and on time each and every month.

“One late payment can literally drop your credit score 50 to 80 points or more,” Detweiler explained. “A lot of adults don’t realize that, much less kids who are just starting out. So you want to talk to your kids about how this impacts their credit and how important it is to pay those bills on time.”

Where things stand
A new study from Sallie Mae finds that more college students these days “exercise caution with credit cards” and that’s encouraging.  A third of student card holders have a zero balance, 42 percent have a balance of $500 or less and just 24 percent have a balance of more than $500.

The survey found the percentage of college kids with credit cards has declined during the last two years, from 42 percent in 2010 to 35 percent in 2012. Freshman are least likely to have a card in their name (21 percent) compared to 60 percent of seniors.

Sallie Mae reminds students to only charge what they can afford, pay the bill before it’s due to avoid accidental late fees and to remember that a credit card is a convenience, not a source of spending money.

Herb Weisbaum is The ConsumerMan. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter or visit The ConsumerMan website.

We are an addicted nation when it comes to caffeine.

Eighty-three percent of the U.S. adult population now drinks coffee, according to a survey by the National Coffee Association of U.S.A.

We love our coffee and are willing to pay for it. But making it at home is the best option if you want to save money.

Houseware retailers such as Sur la Table have seen a double-digit increase in sales of coffeemakers and accessories over the last year.

“You can make a fantastic espresso at home, cappuccino, whatever your favorite drink is,” said Mary Janice Reisdorf of Sur La Table.
Price ranges and complexity have increased in recent years.

“You can go up towards, you know, $6,000 for these full-automatic bean-to-cut machines,” Reisdorf said. Alternatively, a manual press sells for about $35.

The true stars in the industry are the single-serve pods. Americans spent $1.8 billion on pods this year. That’s five times as much as three years ago.

“If you're really all about convenience you don't want to have to mess with any beans or grinds,” said Lisa Lee Freeman, the editor in chief of Consumer Reports’ SaveSmart site.

The pods are popular because of their ease, variety and speed. Each cup costs about 50 cents  to 80 cents.

But for a stronger cup of coffee, you will have to brew the old-fashioned way in a conventional drip pot, which requires more coffee and less water. It’s also a lot less expensive per cup when you brew your own.

"Before you choose any coffeemaker, make sure you have room for it in your kitchen, check out how easy it is to clean, and if buying a pod model, make sure you know which pods it will accept and how much they cost,” TODAY’s consumer correspondent Janice Lieberman said.

Freemen offered an overview of some of the best choices for homebrewing, based on Consumer Reports’ test of 110 models.

With a retail price of about $200, the Consumer Reports top choice overall was The Cuisinart Crystal SCC-1000 Limited Edition Perfec Temp, Freeman said.

Other options include a $40 Black & Decker CM4000S carafe-style coffee maker, which is the most economical choice for making multiple cups.

For the grind-and-brew crew, the Krups Grinder & Brewer KM7000 is a good option at  $180.

Freeman had several picks for good pod-style makers:

• Delonghi Nescafe Dolce Gusto Piccolo EDG200T - $100
• Mr. Coffee BVMC-KG5 - $80
• Starbucks Verismo 580 -  $200

Lieberman also showed off the Jura® GIGA 5 Automatic Coffee Center with Cup Warmer and Stand, which is on sale at Sur La Table for nearly $5,500.

Santa’s not the only one with a list. Consumer Reports released its annual “Naughty & Nice” list today, a way to highlight company policies and practices that deserve cheers or jeers. 

The list is based on suggestions from the magazine’s staff as well as Facebook fans. The 100 nominees were whittled down to 10 naughty and 10 nice. 

Tod Marks, Consumer Reports’ senior editor, says the companies on the naughty list have “hidden or tricky fees, fine print or generally unfriendly practices.”  Those on the nice list “went the extra mile” to make sure their customers were happy patrons. 

Consumer Reports stresses that this list is not an evaluation or rating of a company. It’s a thumbs up or down on a specific policy or practice. 

“We have companies that we like a lot when we rate them, but they make the naughty list, and vice versa,” Marks explained. 

In preparing this year’s Naughty & Nice list, Marks read a lot of the comments posted on the Consumer Reports Facebook page. He told me he noticed a lot of angst and aggravation. 

“People are really ticked off because they don’t feel they have a voice,” he said. “When they want to get information or complain about something, they can’t get a live human being on the phone or they’re kept on hold for an inordinate amount of time. They feel like their complaints are falling on deaf ears." 

Here are some of the companies that made the Nice list:  

• Honda got a shout out for putting rearview cameras – a safety feature normally reserved for high-end vehicles – on most of its 2013 models. The cameras are now standard on all Honda trucks and SUVs, as well as the top-selling Accord and Civic. 
• Publix, one of the top-rated supermarket chains in Consumer Reports surveys, won praise for its policy of giving customers an item for free if the scanned price at checkout is more than the shelf price or advertised price. Years ago, this was common practice at many supermarkets. 

Many of the companies won praise for their generous return policy. 

• OXO guarantees all its ergonomically-designed housewares. If you are not completely satisfied, return it for a refund or replacement. 
• Safeway promises “fresh and delicious” produce every time. If you don’t like that mushy melon or bruised apple, bring it back for a refund or replacement. 
• Red Wing Shoe Company offers an unconditional 30-day comfort guarantee. If you don’t like the way those shoes feel, bring them back for a refund or exchange, no questions asked. 
• Nordstrom got a tip of the hat for its free shipping and free returns on all orders. 
• Kohl’s made the list for its “No Questions Asked – Hassle-Free” return policy for all purchases, whether online or in-store. There is no time limit. The editors say such a generous policy is uncommon for middle-of-the road retailers. 

Here are some of the companies on the Naughty list: 

• Spirit Airlines offers super-low prices, but it landed here for its new fee – as much as $100 – for carry-on bags that won’t fit under the seat and must be stowed in the overhead bins. “That’s more than you would pay for a checked bag!” Marks exclaimed. The carry-on fee depends on when you let the airline know you’ll need the over-head bin space: in advance, at the airport or at the gate. 
• Ticketmaster was cited for charging customers $2.50 per order to print their tickets at home. The editors said that charge is “especially hard to justify” since Ticketmaster will mail those same tickets for free if you book far enough in advance. The company says tickets are sent out a leisurely 10 to 14 days after purchase. 
• Forever 21, the apparel store, got dinged for its return policy. If you return an online order to a retail location you can only exchange the item or get a store credit. But if you mail it back, you can get a refund. “It would be nice if the policy was consistent all around,” Marks said. 
• CompUSA was called out for automatically adding a “free” download for antivirus software to some purchases. Consumer Reports shopped the site and found that it was not made clear this free subscription only lasted six months. If it wasn’t cancelled before then, there would be a charge of $49.99. “We have a pet peeve about those freebies that are automatically added to orders that force people to unclick the item so it’s not added to the shopping cart,” Marks explained. 
• Tiger Direct.com got slammed for its restocking policy which is “vague” and has one of the highest penalty fees around. Among other things, Tiger Direct requires returned items to be in the same condition as when sold and in the original packaging. The company says all returns “will be inspected and products found to be non-conforming will be rejected or subject to a restocking fee” of up to 25 percent at the company’s sole discretion.  It’s not clear what triggers that maximum fee. 

Lessons to be learned 
Tod Marks has been watching retail practices for decades, so he doesn’t expect companies to change their policies based on the magazine’s Naughty & Nice list. He does hope it encourages people to be better consumers. 

“If nothing else, this exercise will show people how important it is to read the fine print and understand that companies do have very divergent policies,” he said. “It makes sense to understand them and be an informed shopper before you make the purchase."

Read the complete list of Consumer Reports Naughty & Nice List 2012

Herb Weisbaum is The ConsumerMan. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter or visit The ConsumerMan website.

Gus Ruelas / Reuters

Shoppers pay for their purchases at an Old Navy store last holiday season. This year, overall spending is expected to be cautious, except when it comes to spending on ouselves.

Holiday shoppers plan to deck the halls and splurge a bit more on themselves this year, but overall spending will remain cautious this holiday season as shoppers hunt out the bargains they know they’ll find this time of year, according to the results of a new survey.

The average holiday shopper will spend $749.51 on gifts, décor, greeting cards and more, up slightly from the $740.57 they actually spent last year, according to the survey conducted by BIGinsight for the National Retail Federation.

“We’ve seen this pattern of cautious optimism all year and despite the challenges that still exist in our economy, it looks as if consumers are eager to celebrate with friends and family,” said Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation.

Recently, the NRF forecasted that holiday spending would rise 4.1 percent, slower than last year's growth, but higher than the average gains over the past 10 years.

‘One for You, Two for Me’
This year, holiday shoppers are looking to treat themselves, according to the survey. Six in ten shoppers, the most in the survey’s history, plan to spend an average of $139.92 on “self-gifting” this holiday season. The trend is even more pronounced among young adults between 18 years old and 24 years old, about 71.5 percent of those in this age group are planning to buy gifts for themselves.

Trendiest Halloween costumes for kids

“It looks like young adults have the ‘one for you, two for me’ mentality about the holiday season this year, which is surprising, given that this is also the age group that typically doesn’t have the income or ability to splurge,” said Pam Goodfellow, director of BIGinsights Consumer Insights division.

But it does make sense when you consider that retailers have conditioned shoppers to expect great deals on products during the holiday season. Consumers have been working hard over the past four years to hone skills to help them stretch their dollars and are likely taking advantage of the promotions, which have already started far ahead of Black Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving that has traditionally been considered to be the start of the holiday shopping season.

Waiting to begin holiday shopping until after Thanksgiving is a tradition that clearly has been broken. About 41.4 percent of 8,899 consumers polled in early October told NRF that they will begin their holiday shopping before Halloween.

Despite the scorn, consumers embrace 'Christmas creep'

Although the NRF didn’t cite specific reasons why shoppers are starting their shopping early, retailers have been offering many incentives to get shoppers in the buying mood. Not only have stores such as Wal-Mart, Sears and Toys 'R Us offered layaway programs, but there also were lots of promotions being offered as early as Labor Day weekend.

Stretching out the holiday shopping period also is a good strategy for more budget conscious shoppers who want cut any corners they can, comparison shop and spread out their purchases to soften the blow of holiday spending, and avoid the hangover of Christmas debt.

Retailers are pulling out the stops to get shoppers into the store early. Target began running its holiday ads this week, and it joined others such as Best Buy and Toys ‘R Us in offering price matching guarantees.

Trouble in Toyland: sales slowing heading into holidays

Economy less of a factor
Although these kinds of tactics may not move the needle significantly, it may make some more cautious customers feel more confident about making those purchases early.

This year, fewer shoppers in the NRF survey cited the economy as a factor in their spending plans, but the number remains high. Some 52.3 percent said the state of the U.S. economy would affect their spending, down from 62.2 percent last year.

That may reflect that consumers are simply accustomed to living on a budget and watching their spending, and may be better prepared for holiday spending.

According to the survey, the biggest portion of the holiday budget will go towards gifts for family members, with the average person planning to spend $421.82 on their kids, parents, and other family members. About $75.13 will be allocated to friends, $23.48 on co-workers, and $28.13 on others, including their pets and members of their community.

And don’t forget the decorations. Consumers are looking to be festive this year, and are pulling out the stops on décor. The average person will spend $51.99, up from $49.15 last year, and the most in the survey’s history. That means total spending on décor could reach $6.9 billion.

More shopping than ever will occur online, as has been the trend in recent years. More than half of all shoppers will do a portion of their shopping online, up from 46.7 percent last year.

And the most-wanted gift of all? Gift cards. Some 59.8 percent of those surveyed want to receive a gift card, more than other popular gifts such as clothing, books, DVDs, videogames and electronics. Nearly one quarter want jewelry, the highest response for this category since 2008.

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Dr Pepper

This ad has created an online uproar.

Dr Pepper marched directly into controversy a week ago when it launched its “March of Progress” ad campaign. And the uproar has not abated. 

On Sept. 13, the soft drink maker posted to its Facebook wall an ad using the classic “March of Progress” image tweaked to promote the “evolution of flavor.” The whimsical ad showed a chimpanzee dragging his knuckles, followed by a semi-erect hominid reaching for a Dr Pepper, followed by a fully upright man walking and gulping a Dr Pepper. The images are captioned “Pre-Pepper,” “Pepper Discovery,” and “Post-Pepper” respectively. 

Sounds harmless. Even banal. But about 7,000 comment and nearly 33,000 likes later, the ad is still provoking reaction by creationists who say it promotes the theory of evolution. Some are even threatening to boycott Dr Pepper. That in turn has stoked evolutionists to make counter comments. Then there's folks jumping on the pig pile just for laughs. 

After all, we are talking about a soda pop ad, right? 

At first, most of the comments on Facebook were lighthearted jokes about the image. A few comments from disappointed Christians began to crop up. Soon an evolution vs. creationism debate dominated the conversation, along with heaps of jeers at anyone taking the issue seriously. 

“No we didn't come from apes,” wrote one user. “Lord Jesus pep can be blinded. If we came from apes why is there still apes [sic]” 

“This is showing the theory of men evolving from apes I have lost all respect for Dr Pepper,” wrote another, who threatened to use his connections with various colleges to get them to pull Dr Pepper from their schools. 

Comments like these prompted cries of “get over it!”, “really?” and, “The day your faith is shaken by a Dr Pepper ad is the day you should probably start reconsidering your faith.” 

The debate also blew up on popular link-sharing site Reddit, whose users flooded the thread to mock the outrage and post parody comment, further inflaming the debate and spreading the conversation to their friend's Facebook newsfeeds. 

“Frankly I'm surprised at how quickly it escalated and how big the thread became,” Reddit user undercoverrocker, who first posted the image to Reddit, told NBC News. The Redditer requested to remain anonymous to protect his privacy. Within a couple of hours any semblance of a real debate had evaporated, undercoverrocker said, becoming “trolls trolling trolls.” The term “trolls” and “trolling” refers to comments posted online where the person doesn't so much believe their substance as delight in the angry comments they provoke from others. 

Adfreak nailed it, writing, "Once again, though, it goes to show how protests can spread like wildfire in social media, where outrage — and counteroutrage — are just a click away." 

Dr Pepper has posted over 450 images to its Facebook wall since 2009. Previous images have asked for followers to identify their favorite Dr Pepper flavor, to identify which time of the day is best for drinking Dr Pepper, and asking if they liked their Dr Pepper fizzy or not. Most garnered a few hundred comments. Messages left with Dr Pepper Snapple Group seeking comment were not returned.

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Like many an American, I want to eat healthily and shop locally. But, so often, life gets in the way and I wind up not doing either. However, a few weeks ago, I resolved to change that. I joined the 30-Day No Grocery Store Challenge. For a full month, I’m trying to shop at small, locally owned businesses and purchase as much fresh, healthy and locally produced foods as I can. 

The hope is that I can learn some new shopping and eating habits that I’ll carry with me once the challenge is over. I know that not everything I consume will be locally grown, but much of it has been. I know I can’t be a purist, so even if some of the foods I buy aren’t local, they are at least bought at small, local businesses, which I want to support. 

While the challenge started off with a bang, by week two, my family and I were floundering a bit. 

The third week of the challenge started off at a pretty low point. In the interest of a full confession, I admit I caved and shopped at a supermarket. I was running late to a potluck and realized I’d forgotten the food I was supposed to bring. All of the challenge-friendly stores were far away. So, feeling like a bit of a failure, I slunk in and bought one thing. 

Just as I was about ready to call the whole challenge off, I saw that there was a recall of pre-sliced, packaged apples due to a listeria scare. Suddenly, I was back on track. 

Over the past several weeks, readers have left helpful tips and ideas. One of the major recurring themes of those comments has been about embracing a do-it-yourself way of life. This week, I decided to try just that. It’s a bit late in the season to plant vegetables and one look at my near-death geranium out front tells me gardening isn’t my thing, so that’s out. But, I do grow a few herbs like basil, mint and rosemary in small pots. I’ve found them to be low-maintenance and economical compared to buying those “fresh” packets at the supermarket. 

This week, I also embraced bread making. I borrowed a friend’s bread maker so I could test it out. I made two wonderful-smelling doorstops, which is a bit embarrassing, since I thought those machines were foolproof. In my defense, I didn’t have the instruction manual… I love to bake though, and found a recipe that used an actual oven. Success! It was a thing of beauty and tasted good to boot. Baking is my go-to rainy day activity and living in Seattle that means it’s something I do quite a bit.  This winter, I’ll be baking fewer red velvet cupcakes and more bread. That’s at least one small step in the right direction. 

This week, I also enlisted the help of my most homesteader-ish friend who taught me how to make mozzarella. Let’s just say that in the future, when I buy artisanal cheese, I’ll have a newfound appreciation for the prices and efforts that go into making them. Still on the subject of delicious, Italian foodstuffs, the other thing I attempted this week was making my own pasta. Using a pasta maker, I made spaghetti, which my kids loved helping with. Even preschoolers can turn the crank, while someone feeds the dough through. I froze some and, if that turns out all right, I’ll be doing more of that in the future also. 

Prior to this challenge, all I knew about canning is that I’m pretty sure Ma in Little House on the Prairie did it. But, I’ve learned I’m way behind the times on this. I’ve been invited to a canning party and am going to give it a try. The hostess travels to local farms and gets discounts on “seconds” of fruits like pears and peaches from local farmers. Generally, these are fruits that are just too small or misshapen to be sold at grocery stores but are perfect for canning. We’ll see. 

Ordering beef from a local rancher was another healthy, local option I wanted to try. I found a rancher who sells people a quarter of a grass-fed cow, butchered to their preference and ready for deep-freeze. A friend of mine does this and it feeds her family of four for a year. Alas, we don’t have a separate freezer and there’s no way that much cow is fitting in our regular fridge/freezer. 

Once again I’m enjoying the challenge. It’s been an adventure trying different ways of both buying and making foods. As I go, I’m discovering new things, some of which I’ll keep up with and others that are a one-time deal. 

Dana Macario is a Seattle-area writer who is terrified, yet determined to eat healthy and local for a full month.

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The holidays are over and your credit card most likely got a good workout in the past month. But now is the time to take advantage of some screaming good deals — especially for electronics.

TODAY financial contributor Farnoosh Torabi has the details.

By Kara Reinhardt, Cheapism.com

Lured by the promise of luxury goods at discount prices, shoppers spend $22.4 billion at outlet centers, according to a 2010 State of the Industry report by trade publication "Value Retail News." But how much do shoppers save? Recent research on outlet shopping vs. retail by Cheapism.com revealed that consumers can save nearly 30 percent overall by doing their holiday shopping at an outlet mall. Cheapism found individual items for up to 85 percent less than comparable products at a regular retail mall.

Cheapism.com

Coach bags can be 44 percent cheaper at the outlet

The report compares the cost of shopping for a list of potential holiday gifts — an iPhone case, a wallet, a V-neck sweater, for example — and a few other things consumers might need for the season, such as holiday outfits for the kids. The total after discounts and before taxes came to $1,240.15, compared with $1,756.62 at retail — a savings of more than $500, or 29.4 percent, on comparable items. Cheapism also surveyed prices on dozens of additional items. Some of the biggest discounts included a Calphalon open-stock sauté pan for 85 percent off.

Price isn't the only consideration when you're shopping for gifts, however, and often can be misleading. Here are some of Cheapism’s tips for finding the best deals at the outlets:

Know what you’re buying and where it came from. Is that Coach bag a deeply discounted jewel or a made-for-outlet design? Each of the leading brands mentioned in the report is represented by a particular mix of products in its outlet stores. Some items are liquidation merchandise, but others are made specifically for factory stores and some are the same stuff you’d find at retail. Don’t be afraid to ask a salesperson about the origin of an item before you buy.

Pay attention to detail. Made-for-outlet products are sometimes constructed with less expensive material and less embellishment. For example, a red sweater dress from the Gymboree outlet emulated a dress from the previous season’s retail line but was woven from thinner material and lacked pockets and faux-crystal buttons. On the other hand, cosmetic flaws on discounted Dutch ovens at Le Creuset were scarcely noticeable.

Take the list price with a grain of salt. Outlets try to entice shoppers by printing two prices on the tag: the MSRP, or manufacturer’s suggested retail price, and the lower outlet price. Ostensibly this tells you how much you can save off retail, but remember that much of the merchandise some stores carry is made for the outlet and was never sold at retail.

Shop sales and use coupons. Much of the actual savings at outlet malls comes from sales and coupons the stores hand out at the door or offer online. Before discounts, the savings at the outlet mall were closer to 20 percent in Cheapism’s survey.

Retail stores sometimes offer better value. Depending on what you’re looking for, it may not always be worth it to make the trip to the outlet mall. Check Cheapism’s rundown of outlets vs. retail to find out when it pays to shop the outlets.

Universal Studios

Are you dreading the idea of being nice this holiday season? You're not alone.

You endured Black Friday. You survived the pepper spray and the taser guns. You may have even nabbed an awesome bargain or  decided to cut back a bit this season because of the grim economy.

But it's not even December yet. There's still a lot of misery left to endure.

At least that's the take of the venerable Consumer Reports, which asked its readers what they dread most about the holiday season.

Most of the top stress-inducing fears are obvious:

• 68 percent of the respondents dread crowds and long lines
• 37 percent fear gaining weight
• 37 percent fear going into debt.

But No. 10 on the list is a bit of a surprise. According to the survey, 15 percent dread the notion of "having to be nice." Yep, the idea of a forced smile and a "Have a nice day!" is just too much for some Americans. And nearly a quarter of those surveyed (23 percent) just can't stand Christmas music. The Grinch would be so proud.

"For all the chatter about nostalgia, family fun and gift giving this time of year, many people don't like too much of a good thing," said Tod Marks, senior editor at Consumer Reports.

"This commercial overindulgence wears on most of us," Marks said. "The long season appears to sour teh Tiny Tim in all of us."

The poll's results of the survey were based on a nationally representative telephone survey of 1,013 adults.

For the full list, see the story here 

What are you dreading most this season? (Be civil, folks.)

Getty Images

Is your coffee too cold? Then tell your server.

Telling your waitress that the lukewarm coffee she just brought is OK might cost you more than aggravation — it might cost you money, too.

Consumers who lie to avoid confrontation are more likely to reward the people who have irritated them, scientists now say. So in the case of the server who brings unpalatable food or drink, that can translate into a bigger tip, said Jennifer J. Argo, co-author of a new study that explored the impact of these little consumer white lies.

Argo and a colleague set up a series of experiments to see whether people’s discomfort with lying made them more likely to try to make it up to the person they had lied to, even when the lie was to cover up displeasure, according to the study published in the Journal of Consumer Research.

In one experiment, study volunteers were given a free — high quality — manicure. But in the middle of the procedure, the manicurist disappeared for 10 minutes without explaining why or apologizing for her absence. Ten minutes is just enough time for people to become annoyed at having been left at loose ends, said Argo, a professor of marketing at the University of Alberta School of Business.

Volunteers were asked if everything was OK at the end of the manicure. Those who lied and said everything was fine were willing to tip more than those who said they were unhappy about the 10-minute wait.

As it turns out, waitresses and waiters didn’t need a study to tell them about this little quirk of human nature. After completing the study, Argo and her co-author, Baba Shiv of Stanford University, did some field work, questioning wait-staff at some local restaurants.

“Servers clearly knew that this was going on,” Argo said. “And they understood that the best way to get good tips was to always ask if everything is OK.”

"Most consumers have told an inquiring server that their cold meal is fine, a hairdresser that they like their unexpected 'new look,' or a friend that his/her too-snug jeans look great," write authors Argo and Shiv. But these little white lies have negative repercussions for the people who tell them, the researchers say.

Joel Boh / Reuters

A new Harris poll shows the top ways consumers are slashing their household budgets. Of those polled, 67 percent are buying more generic products. Brown-bagging lunch is the second most popular way to save. 

More than 20 percent of Americans have stopped purchasing coffee in the morning.

See the full article from DailyFinance.

Our friends at DailyFinance also show you how you can shave a few bucks from your monthly bills.

What are you doing to save money this summer?

Photo courtesy Wendy's

Remember Wendy’s  “Where’s The Beef?” slogan from the 1980s? Well, for the next few months burger-loving Americans will be asking “Where’s the tomato?” 

“The nasty winter in Florida and Mexico has had a severe impact on our ability to get quality tomatoes,” said Wendy’s spokeswoman Kitty Munger.  Because of the shortage, the world’s third-largest hamburger chain will add the tomatoes to chicken sandwiches or burgers “by request only,” Munger says.

And it may not be a problem only for Wendy’s. The unusually bitter winter has restaurant suppliers across the nation seeking other sources for tomatoes.

According to Munger, all 6,500 Wendy’s outlets will have signs posted alerting customers.  How long will this last? “We are hoping we can get back to normal by mid-April,” Munger said. “But it really depends on Mother Nature.”

The shortage does not include salad menu items because the chain uses smaller grape tomatoes. Oh, and don’t worry french fry fans. Ketchup supplies won’t be affected.