KOMO - News - Consumer News http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer RSS Feed for KOMO - News - Consumer en-us Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:01:33 GMT Tips and ideas for Thanksgiving dinner http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/70669152.html Thanksgiving is now just six days away. Haven't planned your menu yet? No problem. Good Housekeeping has come up with some great recipes you might want to try. 'Tis the season for gift cards: Make sure you know your rights http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/70588737.html Despite a 5-year-old state law prohibiting enforced expiration dates on most gift certificates and gift cards, some retail employees may not have gotten the message. It's a ruby - but it's not real! http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/70686312.html It looks like a ruby, sparkles like a ruby and technically, it is a ruby. But a "composite ruby" is not natural; its beauty is created in a lab. And it can be damaged by lemon juice, household cleaners and jewelers' chemicals. Woman denied credit, told she's dead http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/70677532.html A local woman trying to refinance her mortgage got the shock of her life when she learned her credit report had her listed as dead. To make matters worse, the 78 year old had just survived a battle that nearly killed her. Rain may put pumpkin pie in peril, Nestle says http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/70572347.html The holidays may not be so sweet this year. Nestle - which sells nearly all the canned pumpkin in the U.S. - says poor weather hurt its harvest, creating a potential shortage of its Libby's pumpkin pie products through the holidays. Easy ways to donate to charity without spending a dime http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/70522387.html 'Tis the season to give and give back. It's never too early to teach your children the importance of giving to those less fortunate. Ten toys to avoid this holiday season http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/70424417.html Some of the toys kids want for the holidays are the same toys consumer watchdogs say you should avoid this year. The first "Top 10" toy list comes from a Boston-area group called World Against Toys Causing Harm, or WATCH. Ford, Subaru win picks for safest cars http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/70302202.html Ford, Subaru and Volkswagen sit atop the insurance industry's annual list of the safest new vehicles, according to a closely watched assessment used by car companies to lure safety-conscious consumers to showrooms. Dry eyes? Consider preservative-free artificial tears http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/70368447.html Often, the problem revolves around our tear production. Either we don't make enough tears to keep our eyes lubricated, or the makeup of our tears isn't just right. 'We're paying for what people think is trash' http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/70241202.html You might think that old MP3 player or cell phone is worthless, in fact, it could land you some cold hard cash, all the while keeping those devices and their toxic chemicals out of our landfills.