FEDINFO E-Letter
Issue 2008-6
Welcome to the November/December 2008 edition of the Federal Citizen Information Center's (FCIC) FEDINFO E-letter! These subscription e-letters from Pueblo are sent six times a year with helpful updates, practical information, and special offers to make your life a little easier. You can always find the latest information on our family of websites: Pueblo.gsa.gov, USA.gov, ConsumerAction.gov, Kids.gov, and GovGab.gov.
This issue includes:
- What Else? The Economy
- Get Ready for the Big TV Transition
- Holidays are for Feasting
- Know the signs of COPD
- Keeping Kids Safe on the Road
- Car Shopping Tips
- Holiday Shopping Savvy
- Support the Troops with Timely Holiday Mailings
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You may not want to read or hear anymore about the economy, but if you’re worried about the safety of your bank account balances or insurance policies, you may want to check out these web sites.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s site is the place to go for information on the state of the banking industry. Its Quick Links for Consumers & Communities page has a failed bank list and a tool to check if your bank is insured. The agency’s latest consumer publication, “Get a Good Night’s Sleep: Rest Assured, Your Money is Safe in an FDIC-insured Account,” answers questions about how FDIC coverage works, what is not covered, and what happens if a bank fails.
If your money is in a credit union, check the National Credit Union Administration site. The NCUA is the federal agency that administers the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF), which insures member savings in federally insured credit unions. You can check online to see if your credit union is insured.
In light of the near-collapse of the American International Group, you may want to read What Happens if Your Insurance Company Goes Bust?
For investors thinking about their portfolios, check out Ten Things to Consider Before You Make Investing Decisions from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
And don’t miss the information on the U.S. Financial Crisis on USA.gov. It links to the web site of the $700 billion bailout bill passed by Congress, the resume and remarks of the Treasury official overseeing the program, and the testimony of former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox and others during recent House committee hearings.
On a bright note, the Internal Revenue Service is trying to return $266 million in undeliverable refunds and rebates to taxpayers. If you think you are missing a payment, check it out.
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Get Ready for the Big TV Transition
The change in administrations is not the only transition rapidly approaching. The switch from analog to 100% digital TV broadcasting occurs at midnight Feb. 17, 2009. If you own an analog TV and use an antenna for reception, you will need a converter box to continue watching after the switch. You can get up to two $40 coupons to help pay for the converter boxes, but you need to act soon. It will take about six weeks to receive the coupons, buy converter boxes and try them out with your TVs.
You can contribute to energy conservation while preparing for the change by buying an Energy Star-qualified converter box. Or, if you decide to move up to a new, digital-ready TV set, you can buy an Energy Star-rated TV that’s up to 30 percent more energy efficient than others. Research your options with this Energy Star TV search tool.
Still confused about the whole thing? See this analog to digital TV posting for an easy-to-read explanation or go to DTV.gov.
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Send your guests home with leftovers—not food poisoning—after the holiday feast. Check out the new, 48-page Kitchen Companion Handbook for guidelines on everything from egg storage to food thermometers to food safety in a power outage or flood. You’ll find sections on shopping for food, storing food, cooking, serving and transporting food safely. The charts on turkey thawing and turkey roasting should come in handy soon.
Looking forward to the parties but not the holiday weight gain? Find common-sense advice and strategies to avoid overeating in “Sensible Eating Over the Holidays.”
Of course, getting some exercise will help offset the pumpkin pie, eggnog and other treats we can’t resist−not to mention doing our hearts and lungs some good. According to the newly released Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults will benefit from a very attainable 2.5 hours a week of moderate aerobic activity, such as walking briskly and gardening. Kids should get one hour of aerobic activity daily.
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COPD—Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease—kills one American every 4 minutes. It’s the 4th leading cause of death in the United States. Millions of Americans have the disease and don’t even know it. Don’t be one of them—learn the 4 risk factors, 4 things you can do if you’re at risk for COPD, and 4 things to help manage it, at the National Institutes of Health COPD Awareness Month site.
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Hitting the road with young kids this holiday season? Before you go, make sure they’re in the right type of safety seats. This one-minute child safety seat checklist provides the height-weight-age guidelines for each type.
If you have kids in booster seats, which are recommended for children over 40 pounds and under 4’9”, you’ll want to check out this report on booster seat effectiveness. Booster seats are designed to elevate kids so that seat belts made for adults restrain them properly in a crash. Of the 41 booster seats evaluated in this study, 13 provided such a poor fit that they are not recommended. The report names them, as well as the ones in the “Best Bets” and “Good Bets” categories.
You can check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration site for more information on child passenger safety.
And some other things to think about for a safe and speedy trip:
- Hazardous Driving Conditions Accompany Deer Season
- National Traffic and Road Closure Information
- Getting Your Vehicle Ready for Winter
- Inclement Weather Driving
- Thanksgiving Travel Tips
- Avoid Toll Traffic
- Hit the Road, Not the Wildlife
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If you’re in the market for new, safe, fuel-efficient 2009 car, these recent reports can help guide your selection:
- Car Shoppers Can Save Money and Time with 2009 Fuel Economy Guide
- Tax Credits for New Hybrid Vehicles
- Eleven Vehicles Earn Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick Award
- Most Small Cars Aren't Economical for Crash Repairs: Ford Focus Performs the Best; Rabbit & Prius Are the Worst in Bumper Tests
- Tips On Buying A Fuel Efficient Car
And for general new-car shopping guidelines, see Car Ownership and Buying a New Car.
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With the soured economy stretching everyone’s budget thin, now more than ever calls for smart holiday shopping strategies. You can start by setting up a spending plan. Then, follow these 2008 Holiday Shopping Tips to find the good deals, and make sure you can return them if necessary. If you plan to do your shopping from the comfort of your home, see these Safe On-Line Shopping Guidelines. And be sure to review these Before You Buy tips.
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Support the Troops with Timely Holiday Mailings
If you have a loved one in the armed forces overseas, you’ll want to make sure your cards and packages arrive in time for the holidays. Follow this worldwide holiday mailing guide to make sure they are postmarked for timely delivery. For guidelines on packing and addressing your gifts for overseas delivery, see these U.S. Postal Service tips.
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From the ArchiveFEDINFO e-letters.
Consumer Focus articles
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