Today’s neat site is a handy one to bookmark. The Federal Citizen Information Center offers free pdf files and publications about a variety of topics including cars, computers, education, health, housing, money, travel and more.

It’s basically an online library for a variety of consumer information published by federal government agencies (IRS, FDA, FTC and so on).

Also, right now on the Center’s Consumer Action Website, you can order a free Consumer Action Handbook for 2007. This everyday guide includes helpful tips about buying a car or home, preventing identity theft, filing for bankruptcy, finding a lawyer, and planning a funeral, along with many other useful topics.

• Federal Citizen Information Center
• Free Consumer Action Handbook for 2007
  

Have a site to recommend? Post it in the Comments below!

Ok, it sounds a little like a sales pitch…but honestly, it is the best advice we can pass on to you.

So how does having a complete home inventory list save you money?

Think of your living room. Can you name all your possessions in that room? What about the brand names and serial numbers of your electronics? How much did you pay for your furniture?

Pretty hard questions, huh? That’s where your home inventory list comes in. Having a detailed record of all your major possessions (i.e. expensive items, electronics, furnishings ) will help your memory as you fill out your insurance claim forms after a theft, fire or natural disaster.

More importantly, the list will act as written or visual proof of your belongings and as a result, the documented proof of loss will help you get the most financial assistance from your insurance claim.

So, what are you waiting for? Get started!

• How to create a home inventory list…

With over 358 million pets in the United States, it is important to consider pets when thinking of disaster preparedness on a national scale.

After Hurricane Katrina, for instance, over 15,000 companion animals were in need of rescue after being left behind, for there was no pet evacuation plan in place.

So, in order to ease the relief efforts for the next big disaster, Congress passed The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act, which took effect in October. In order to receive grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), state and local governments must devise evacuation plans for household pets in case of a disaster.

• Prepare your pets for the unexpected…

Earlier this week, AirTran Airlines employees kicked a Boston family off their flight because of their crying toddler.

It seems quite unfair but the real question is: does the pilot have the authority to do this?

The answer is yes. The pilot is responsible for the safety of his/her staff and the safety of the hundreds of passengers. Therefore, the pilot has the right to decide who can or cannot board the flight.

Some situations where a passenger might be asked to get off the plane include:

• if a passenger is sick (they want you to be near access to medical care, especially if it’s a long flight)
• if a passenger is intoxicated
• if a passenger is smoking
• if a passenger is extremely rude
• if a passenger is violent or posing threats (terrorist, hijacking, bombing, etc.) of any kind

If you are asked to get off the plane you should comply. Also, you may not receive compensation for your flight. This is up to the airline and its policies.

So those are the rights of the airline and its pilots. But what are your rights as a passenger?

Well, one group is trying to advocate for a Passenger Bill of Rights. Click here to read more about their stories and efforts on their blog.

Nothing is harder to clean than water, smoke and soot damage after a fire.

Most hire professionals to do this dirty work but in case you need to do some cleaning on your own, here are some water damage and soot cleanup tips from Greg Kistler, a Servpro cleanup and restoration specialist for South Washington County in MN.

• Cleaning Up Soot and Fire Damage.mp3 (click on the link to listen)
• Dealing with Water Damage.mp3 (click on the link to listen)
• More tips…
  

Tell us what you think of the podcast. E-mail me or write your thoughts in the comments section below!

Ever wish you could make sense of legal jargon or better navigate legal issues?

Well today’s neat site, Nolo.com, offers free tips and do-it-yourself solutions on most legal matters including property and money, rights and disputes, estate planning, family law and more.

• Nolo.com

Have a site to recommend? Post it in the Comments below!

Starting today, Jan. 23, 2007, everybody, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and other countries (including Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean) must present a valid passport. (Kids will need one too!)

• How to apply for a passport

Car maintenance isn’t only important for preventing car accidents and car fires, it also helps improve your gas mileage.

Three important maintenance tips include:

1. Keeping your tires properly inflated and aligned. (Important for preventing car accidents, too - especially in winter!)
2. Following the speed limit: gas mileage tends to drop at speeds over 60 mph.
3. Keeping your engine properly tuned: “Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent” - FuelEconomy.gov

More car maintenance and better mileage tips:

• Fuel Economy.gov
• How to Be Pennywise, Not Pump Fuelish: Federal Trade Commission (pdf file)
• The AutoSmart Guide (Canadian Govt.’s Office of Energy Efficiency)

If so, your personal information may be at risk.

On Wednesday, Jan. 17, TJX, a retailing company that operates more than 2,500 stores (including those listed above), reported that an unauthorized intrusion into its computer systems had compromised personal information of its customers dating as far as back as 2003.

To learn more about the security breach, visit their web site: www.tjx.com or call their special helpline: 1-866-484-6978.

If you’d like to cancel your credit cards or check your credit report, read our guide on what to do if your identity’s been stolen.

Homeowners are 26 times more likely to experience a flood than a fire, according to the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America.

So, in the instance that your home experiences some water damage (which it probably will!), here are some water damage and mold tips from Greg Kistler, a Servpro cleanup and restoration specialist for South Washington County in MN.

• Dealing with Water Damage.mp3 (click on the link to listen)
• More tips…
  

Tell us what you think of the podcast. E-mail me or write your thoughts in the comments section below!