Shop Smart January 2015

FICO scores are a hot new giveaway. Customers can now get them free from major credit-card issuers—including Barclaycard, Citibank, Discover, and First Bankcard—as well as student-loan originator Sallie Mae, Hyundai Motor Finance, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, Digital Federal Credit Union, and First National Bank of Omaha. FICO says more financial institutions will be offering them soon. You also can get a free credit score from several websites, including Capital One, Credit. com, Credit Karma, LendingTree, Mint, Quizzle, and WisePiggy. But the scores are not from FICO; instead, they are generated by credit bureaus or another company. They are so-called educational scores that might not be used by lenders to judge your creditworthiness. And there may be another catch. Certain companies, such as Discover, automatically send your credit score in statements,…

In addition to testing and rating products, we stand up for consumers by fighting for new laws and better products in the marketplace. Here are some of the achievements of Consumers Union, our advocacy arm, this year. SAFER CARS Deaths and injuries from backover accidents have been on the rise. But because of pressure from us and other groups, a new rule, which takes effect in 2018, will require all new cars sold in the U.S. to have rearview cameras to help cut the risk of those accidents. FREE CREDIT SCORES To get your all-important credit score, you often have to pay for it, and what you get might not even be the score you expect. So-called educational scores are not the same scores that lenders use. We got a…

Space heaters have become a lot safer, thanks to switches that turn them off if they tip over, which all of our Smart Picks have. But they still account for roughly one-third of all home-heating fires and about 80 percent of associated deaths. Here are three ways to play it safe: Follow the 3-foot rule. That’s how far the space heater should be from flammable items, including bedding, drapes, and furniture. Kids must keep their distance as well. New space heaters aren’t as hot to the touch as older ones, but burns to hands remain common. Skip extension cords. Space heaters usually come with 6-foot power cords. You might be tempted to use an extension cord to bring yours into the middle of a large room. Don’t do it. In…

When the light changes in winter, it can make your home look dreary. A simple solution is to change the lightbulbs in your lamps to LEDs. “Play with the color,” says our lighting expert, John Banta. Bulbs labeled 3,000 kelvins (K) cast a bright, cheery light; for a softer, warmer white, go with 2,700 K. But steer clear of bulbs labeled “daylight,” which can cast a harsh, bluish light. LED prices have been dropping, so now is a good time to shop; some are well under $10. Plus you can save as much as $150 for each bulb over its lifetime because an LED uses less energy and usually lasts 25 times longer than an incandescent. Also, the top LED bulbs in our tests, shown on the facing page, have…

1. DON’T CHEAP OUT. Skip no-name bulbs no matter how good a deal they may seem to be. Stick with well-known brands and/or Energy Star-qualified bulbs. LEDs from Cree, Feit, Philips, and other big names do well in our tests, as do widely sold store brands from Home Depot (EcoSmart), Lowe’s (Utilitech), and Walmart (Great Value), which are made by major manufacturers. Those that meet Energy Star’s tough standards use at least 75 percent less energy than a comparable incandescent and have at least a three-year warranty. 2. MATCH THE BULB TO YOUR FIXTURE. When replacing a bulb, choose one that’s the same size or smaller to be sure it fits the fixture. Also consider the shape. LEDs known as A-type—for their bulbous shape—are used in most lamps and fixtures.…

We know you’ve heard it before, but making lifestyle changes, such as increasing exercise and reducing calories, is the best strategy for losing weight and keeping it off. Follow these tips to make it easier: ■ Keep a food diary for three to five days. Write down everything you eat or drink, and determine how many calories you’re consuming each day. If you’re gaining weight, you’re eating too many calories. ■ Cut 500 to 1,000 calories daily though diet and exercise. Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week. But don’t eat fewer than 1,000 calories per day. ■ Pick a diet program you’ll stick with. According to a new analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, people were able to lose a good amount of…