CONSUMER

Tucked along the Little Traverse Bay in Northern Michigan, Petoskey is a hotspot in the summer for tourists with its scenic water views, boating and other water activities.

Gun safety has come to the forefront more and more in recent weeks in the wake of mass shootings around the country.

Fawaz and Yang tested videoconferencing applications on major operating systems such as iOS, Android, Windows and Mac, to see if the microphones were still accessed by the apps while muted.

Having the correct property and casualty coverage is critical when it comes to protecting your assets.

The head of the Food and Drug Administration is facing congressional lawmakers for the first time over the national shortage of baby formula, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

In honor of Monday being National Barbecue Day, here is an explainer on what the four regions of barbecue is in the U.S.

A cheat day is essentially a day in which someone abandons their diet or disciplined eating, and eats items that aren’t very healthy.

While many are turning to cellphones because they are cheaper and can be used anywhere, there still is some value to having a landline.

Here’s a synopsis of both the historical elements of Easter that people might not know about, and the modern financial windfall Easter is expected to be in 2022.

If you’ve been to the gas pumps lately, or even listened to any news outlet, you’re likely well aware that gas prices are at a painful high.

Bicycle service is a standard benefit for AAA members, with no extra cost.

The popular breakfast food had sales over $9 billion in 2020 and then $8.66 billion in 2021, according to IRI, a market research firm in Chicago.

According to data from globalpetrolprices.com, 46 countries has gas prices that are $6 a gallon or more, 26 have prices that are at least $7 a gallon while nine countries have gas prices that are $8 a gallon or more.

According to the American Automobile Association on Sunday, the national average price for regular gasoline climbed to $4.01 a gallon.

If you’re expecting a generous refund this season, you’ll want to make that money work as hard as you do.

Tax havens, also known as offshore financial centers, are a country or jurisdiction that has minimal tax liabilities to foreign individuals or businesses.

As is always the case, those who like to make wagers for the Super Bowl can bet on more conventional happenings in the game, such as who’ll cover the spread, who’ll win the coin toss, who’ll score the first touchdown, how many touchdown passes each quarterback will have; the list goes on and on.

If you love to go to the gift card section of a store when doing your holiday shopping, we have some bad news and some good news.

Scammers are out selling fake test kits, promising quick testing, and trying to get personal information, Florida's attorney general cautions.

Stephen Fitzpatrick predicts an "enormous crisis" in 2022 unless the government helps consumers.

Each holiday season tends to produce different fads -- ones that sometimes make people say, “Why in the world was that so popular?”

Whether you’ve already booked holiday travel plans, or you’re waiting for the last minute to make sure there aren’t restrictions, there are certain things to keep in mind about which days will be best to travel, and what resources might be more scarce than in years past.

Friday marks Earth Day, and according to data released by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2018, the recycling rate in the U.S. was 32.1%, down from 34.5% in 2015.

Why I love Farrah Fawcett and hate Sheryl Crow

While the main features of Halloween are candy and costumes, there is something else that typically increases when the day rolls around: Fatal car crashes.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of Play-Doh being introduced, and Thursday is National Play-Doh Day.

According to a JAMA study​, a record $140 billion in medical expenses went unpaid last year. Here's how to be prepared.

There are understandable concerns from homebuyers about inventory and sky-high prices, but there might have been recent some encouraging news to help alleviate those worries.

Can you imagine what life would be like without the World Wide Web?

A massive supply of Ford F-150 trucks ready to be delivered to dealers around the country were involved in a devastating train accident in Missouri on Aug. 2.

Has someone ever come up to you and said that you work too much?

Whether you’re stocking up for hurricane season or replenishing canned food or pantry items just to keep on hand, sometimes it’s hard to know what to buy.

Happy Prime Day! Not sure where to start or why you should care? Let us explain.

Y'all, the next best thing to Christmas is quickly approaching: Amazon Prime Day 2021.

Community advocates in Florida are asking the public to speak up against a proposed increase in the cost of electricity starting next year.

The summer months figure to still be hot for remodeling projects, but before starting one, it’s imperative to have an in-home consultation with an expert.

Golf is a notable Father’s Day pastime that’s not going anywhere any time soon.

Popular retailers change restaurant availability inside stores nationwide.

For those who will have to pay money on their tax returns, a big question usually follows once the amount owed is determined: Should I put this tax bill on my credit card?

Are you knee-deep in receipts, 1099 forms and W2s? Or are you all done?

When it comes to tax write-offs, many people will stretch the limits to see what they can get away with.

As you’ve recently perused the produce area at your store, did you happen to notice any fruits or vegetables that said “hydroponically grown?”

(AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)NEW YORK – More than 190,000 ceiling fans sold at Home Depot are being recalled after reports that the blades fell off while spinning, hitting people and causing property damage. The Hampton Bay Mara indoor and outdoor ceiling fans were sold this year between April and October at Home Depot stores and its website. About 182,000 of them were sold in the U.S. and 8,800 were sold in Canada. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said owners of the fans should stop using them immediately and inspect them for blades that aren’t secure. King of Fans, which is based in Fort Lauderdale and makes the ceiling fans, said it will replace any of the faulty ones for free.

[MORE: These 3 apps will help you find the best holiday shopping deals, experts say | Doing a little online shopping? If you’re shipping gifts you want to arrive in time for Christmas, here are some recommended send-by dates for expected delivery by Dec. 25:USPS (excluding Alaska and Hawaii)Domestic Mail Class/Product Send-by Date USPS Retail Ground Service Dec. 15 First-Class Mail Service Dec. 18 Priority Mail Service Dec. 19 Priority Mail Express Service Dec. 23Click here for USPS holiday shipping dates for Alaska and Hawaii, military bases and overseas addresses. UPSShipping Option Send-by Date UPS Ground Dec. 15 UPS 3 Day Select Dec. 21 UPS 2nd Day Air Dec. 22 UPS Next Day Air Dec. 23Click here for more details on UPS holiday shipping. FedEx (U.S. to U.S.)Shipping Option Send-by Date FedEx SmartPost (certain exceptions apply) Dec. 9 FedEx Home Delivery Dec. 15 FedEx Ground Dec. 15 FedEx Express Saver Dec. 21 FedEx 3 Day Freight Dec. 21 FedEx 2 Day Dec. 22 FedEx 2 Day A.M. Dec. 22 FedEx 2 Day Freight Dec. 22 FedEx 1 Day Freight Dec. 23 FedEx Extra Hours Dec. 23 FedEx Standard Overnight Dec. 23 FedEx Priority Overnight Dec. 23 FedEx First Overnight Dec. 23 FedEx SameDay Dec. 25 FedEx SameDay City Priority Dec. 25 FedEx SameDay City Direct Dec. 25Click here to see last-day-to-ship dates if you’re planning to send gifts to Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico or other destinations. AmazonAmazon has not released its 2020 holiday shipping calendar, but last year, the company recommended buyers send products no later than Dec. 22 or Dec. 23 for a Dec. 25 arrival.

There is a lot that has changed about society over the past few decades, but one thing that has stayed constant is people’s love for fast food.

Y’all, the next best thing to Christmas is quickly approaching: Amazon Prime Day 2020. You can already start “watching” items you’d like to get an alert on, whenever they go on sale on Amazon Prime Day. In the app or on the website, when you look up an item, check for the Prime Day badge, which means it’s a Prime Day Deal. Amazon Prime Day 2020 notification directions. Now you, my friend, are full of knowledge and power to take on Amazon Prime Day 2020.

The clock’s winding down on the extended tax season, and for those who might have procrastinated, we’re here to fill you in on your options, so you can decide for yourself which tax preparation service is best for you. With the help of Consumers Advocate, we’ve provided a comprehensive list for you. Click on the following company names to learn more about how the services they provide stack up: Jackson Hewitt | TaxPoint | Taxbrain | OnePriceTaxes.

If fishing might be or already is on your to-do list this weekend and you don't already have your fishing license for this year, you can snag a license quickly and have it in your posession within minutes.

For those who are stumped about what kind of gift to buy for Father’s Day, maybe one suggestion that could help is this: Start with what not to buy for the occasion. Coupon Lawn surveyed more than 1,000 fathers in the United States to see what their most unwanted gifts were for Father’s Day. The survey found that 46% of people buy clothes as Father’s Day gifts. The responses found that 30% of fathers dislike receiving these, even though 59% of people who get gifts on Father’s Day buy cards. Coupon Lawn said as part of its survey that $5.3 billion is spent on unwanted Father’s Day gifts, although that is half of the $10.5 billion the site said is spent on unwanted Mother’s Day gifts.

While restaurant reservation books are usually filled for Mother’s Day, there traditionally isn’t as much ink required for those same books on Father’s Day, according to one website. Father’s Day does see an uptick for restaurant activity, according to Womply, which said the holiday brings in 22% more revenue for restaurants. In fact, only 29% of fathers surveyed said they wanted to be taken out to eat on Father’s Day, according to Zagat. While they’re happy to spoil mothers on their special day and spend money at a restaurant, many fathers said they’d prefer to keep some money in the bank, Father’s Day or no Father’s Day. Cooking up some burgers or hot dogs is a joy for many fathers, and Father’s Day provides a great excuse to do exactly that.

With more states lifting stay-at-home orders and loosening restrictions, it could lead to the return of youth sports sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic. While organizations in just about every state are formulating plans to return, some states have already set in motion dates for a return to action. The Ohio Department of Health said youth leagues for non-contact and limited-contact sports were able to start May 26, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said youth sports and camps could start back up May 31, with games likely starting in mid-June, while Florida Gov. For more serious and expensive travel sports, this might be about the time organizations start seasons and playing prominent tournaments, but the clock is ticking.

Historically, economic downturns have been among the best times for people to start franchises. With the COVID-19 pandemic causing unemployment rates to soar quickly, starting a franchise might be on people’s minds. Diana Trondsen, a small business and franchising expert who is also a consultant with FranNet, offered five suggestions for those interested in starting their own franchise. When first considering whether to start a franchise, whether it’s a food or retail store, taking the time to analyze your life situation and then brainstorm the best ideas are essential. When researching what type of franchise to open, one needs to see how well competitors have done in that community.

Here are five tips to avoid problems that can come up with sitting vehicles:Make sure to run your car every once in a while. But just in case a car isn’t being used or a two-car household has turned into a one-car household where the other vehicle is just sitting idle, running the car is still vital. Gas does degrade over time, and in some cases, it will go bad in less than two months if a car remains idle. In addition to running the car, treating it with fuel stabilizer can extend the life of your car’s gas. If the gas already is bad, there are ways to remove the bad gas from the tank, according to itstillruns.com.