Blue Pencil Review

CONSUMER REPORTS CANADA

We recently received a promotional booklet from this publication. Of course, they wanted us to subscribe. Following are some tidbits of info from the booklet.

"Cottonelle Ultra toilet paper proved to be a strong toilet paper, BUT you can buy good toilet paper for HALF the price." You may remember that a few years ago, toilet paper manufacturers increased the diameter of the cardboard rolls, thus giving you less toilet paper for the same money. More recently, manufacturers of bottled foods, such as peanut butter and mustard, created bottles with a depression in the bottom; thus giving you less product for the same money.

"Don't overlook less expensive brands that perform well and deliver good value. White Cloud was soft, had good strength when wet, and was less than half the price of Cottonelle. A family of three could save roughly $130 per year."

"The Eureka Boss Smart Vac 4870 upright vacuum cleaner for $170 outperformed upright vacuums that cost $700." My Eureka had poor suction and quit working after three years. Did I get the exception to the rule, or has Eureka improved its products?

"Of the 70 regfrigerators CONSUMER REPORTS tested, with prices ranging from $500 to $8,300, one of the top performing models, the Amana ABB2221FE {W}, cost only $1,020."

"Overall the pro-style ranges tested performed no better than less expensive conventional models and several brands had sub-standard repair records."

"In blind taste-tests, experts rated a $5 bottle of wine better than wines costing more than 5 times as much. It's a 2007 red carmenere wine called Frontera Concha Y Toro."

"The Kenmore (Sears) 1374 (2) for $700 cleaned dirty dishes better than the Maytag MDD8000AW(S) that cost $1,400." Further: "Skip the extended warranty on appliances; washers and dryers don't break during the extended-warranty period and when they do break repairs tend to cost about the same as the warranty." Also: "Don't bother with an extended warranty when buying electronics. Salespeople push them because they are high-profit items. The exception to this rule: Consider an extended warranty if you want the best tech support from Apple computers."

"Switching to grocery store brands can help the average family save $2,500 a year in groceries. In tests, the store brands sold for 27% less on average, and many tasted just as good as name-brands. In fact, many store brands are made by those very same national-brand companies."

"If you want the tastiest oatmeal, longer-cooking oatmeal tastes better. Consider Quaker Steel Cut Oats (25 to 30 minutes). For an on-the-go alternative, try Quaker Quick (one minute).

"The best way to boost the value of your home is to add square footage that will bring your house up to - but not beyond - neighborhood norms. Renovations that merely update styles will only sell your house faster if you sell when the style is, well, in style. Over-improving yields diminishing returns. You'll get the biggest bang for your buck by keeping up with the Joneses - not by going them one better. For example, DON'T add a swimming pool or a third storey if you're the only one on the block to have one." A cheaper way to add living space to your home is to convert part of your unfinished basement to living space (rec room or additional bedroom and bathroom).

"We compared 525 chickens from 27 brands, and in January 2007 we reported that only 17% of the chickens were free from salmonella and campylobacter. Whatever brand you buy, protect yourself: Make chicken one of the last items you pick up before you check out, and always cook with a thermometer to 165 degrees F."

"Try a sound machine (which makes sounds that seem like you're in a forest or at the beach to help you sleep better. It worked almost as well as drugs at putting many respondents to sleep."

"Don't expect to be notified if someone is using your social security number under another name. That violates the privacy of the other account holder, the one who stole your identity. You will only be clued in after the fraudster fails to make payments and you get harassing calls from debt collectors."

"Cut car insurance costs when you can. As a rule, it's a good idea to drop collision coverage for any car more than 10 years old, when it's usually worth little more than your deductible."

"Even heating and excellent defrosting make the Samsung SMH9187(B) for $280 our top-scoring over-the-range 30-inch microwave - and a CONSUMERS REPORT best buy!"

For kitchen remodelling: "Thirteen counter materials were tested (including granite, marble, tile, laminate and others) and quartz was found to be best for busy kitchens. It excelled at stain and heat resistance, and is available in vibrant colours that mimic natural stone."

"Don't assume that the more expensive camera is the best performer. CONSUMER REPORTS found a compact that performed just as well as the $450 Nikon Coolpix P6000: The Canon PowerShot A1000 IS for just $150. You can save $300.

"Lower grades of paint do not cover as well as premium paints. A premium paint may require two coats, but lower-quality paints are likely to need even more coats. That makes them a poor value even if they cost less to buy. Behr Premium Plus Enamel Satin was one of the best-value low-luster paints in tests. It was a winner in one-coat ability and at just $24 per gallon, it was a CR best buy."

"Consider Verizon's Nationwide Basic Family Share Plan 1400. When 152 cell-phone service plans were compared, it appears that a family could save up to $1,393 per year with this plan."

"Ditch credit cards that carry a fee."

"Consider Comet Scratch Free Disinfectant with Bleach. This shower cleaner was affordable and rated 'excellent' at removing mildew and preventing scum."

"Reduce pesticides in the food you eat. Buy organic produce including apples, bell peppers, nectarines and strawberries. If cost is an issue, you can save money by NOT buying organic bananas, citrus fruits and onions, whose skins or outer leaves are not eaten."

"Consider Michelin HydroEdge tires because of their all-weather performance, good fuel economy and tread life."

"Don't negotiate a new car's price based on the monthly payment. It gives the salesman a chance to spoil a good deal on a new car with a bad deal on your trade-in or loan. Negotiate each separately, and focus on getting a firm quote based on the car's price, not monthly payment."

"Don't bother buying premium gas if your car specifies regular. It won't make your car go faster or operate more efficiently - and it costs more per gallon."

"The Toro Recycler 20332 was the top-rated lawn mower."

BEST CARS FOR 2009:

small sedan : Hyundai Elantra SE (c. $18,000)

midsized SUV : Toyota Highlander ($26,000 - 42,000)

pickup truck : Chev Avalanche ($36,000-47,000)

family sedan : Honda Accord ($21,000-31,000)

upscale sedan : Infiniti G37 ($33,000-36,000)

fun to drive : Mazda MX-5 Miata (($22,000-29,000)

minivan : Toyota Sienna ($26,000-38,000)

green car : Toyota Prius ($22,000-24,000)

(With their accelerator sticking problems, would Toyota still make the list?)

For $39 (Canadian), you get 11 monthly issues, 1 Annual Auto Issue, 1 Buying Guide 2010, 1 Buying Guirde 2011, 1 How To Clean Book.

If you're in the market for buying new products with an eye to saving money, a subscription to CONSUMER REPORTS CANADA might be for you!