Eat, Save, and Be Healthy

Whether you plan to purchase toys for a holiday or another special occasion here are some things to consider before you buy:

Age and Development of the Child
Of course you want the child to enjoy the toy. Toys may be marked as to appropriate ages for that toy, but what if you are not sure? Children of the same age are not identical. Consider each child’s actual age, physical and cognitive development as you shop. Think about their habits and routines. Consult with the child’s parent if buying a toy for a child that is not your own. When you initiate the conversation it allows parents to express ideas for toys that are age appropriate for their child and toys that they would not want the child to have. Parents may also know that someone else is planning to get a particular toy, thus saving the need to return a duplicate item.

Cost of the toy
Does it fit into your budget? Are you using a charge card because you want to or because you have to. Remember, paying more isn’t a guarantee that you are getting a better item. Use common sense and avoid ‘impulse’ or ‘guilt’ shopping. Sometimes young children may be as interested in the box as they are with the toy. Consider a “certificate” for the child to do something with you as part of your gift, such as: bake cookies, go to the park, ride bicycles, build a snowman, or paint a picture. Creative gifts can extend the joy of gift giving and receiving.

Safety of the toy
Some common hazards to be aware of:
• Any toy or part that fits through a toilet paper tube should be avoided for children under age 3 or when the child puts things in their mouth to prevent choking hazards. Avoid button batteries around young children. Balloons can also pose a threat. Be aware that some building toys contain small but powerful magnets that could fall out and look like shiny candy to a child.
• Toys that seem too noisy for you are probably too loud for children’s sensitive ears. If you still want to get the toy, consider removing the batteries.
• Cords and drawstrings on hoods and jackets can pose a strangulation hazard. Mobiles should be removed from babies’ cribs before the child can push up (around 5 months.)
• Lead is hazardous for children. Hardware stores usually carry a home lead tester. PVC plastic contain phthalates which may cause developmental problems.
• When giving toys such as bikes, scooters, skateboards, and inline skates remember to include safety equipment such as helmets, knee/elbow pads, etc.

Websites to check for more information:
http://cpsc.gov Since 1995 the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has set CPSC standards and monitored toys that have been made or imported into the United States. They issue safety recalls. You can report unsafe toys at CPSC’s hotline 1-800-638-CPSC.
http://safekids.org As part of The National SAFE KIDS Campaign this website provides adults with fact sheets, links to other sites, and details about car seats and crib safety.
http://toysafety.net This site provides information about toy safety and is a project of the National Association of State Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs).

Sources:
Choosing Safe Toys for School-Age Kids, Children’s Medical Center, Dayton, Ohio. http://www.childrensdayton.org/cms/kidshealth/1a4f706239b2045d/index.html, accessed December 12, 2012 2:42 p.m.
Smart Toys for Every Age, Children’s Medical Center, Dayton, Ohio.
http://www.childrensdayton.org/cms/kidshealth/9537e1915e26ea2/index.html, accessed December 12, 2012 2:30 p.m.
Tips For Toy Safety, U.S. Public Interest Research Group. http://uspirgedfund.org/resources/usf/tips-toy-safety, accessed December 12, 2012 2:50 p.m.

Authored by Pat Holmes, Family & Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension

Many people use “retail therapy” as an emotional tool to make themselves feel better. Later, they may experience buyer’s remorse when they see how much they have spent, so they go back to the store to return the items they just purchased. I don’t return things very often, so I wasn’t aware what a growing problem this has become for merchants. A very nice reader who previously worked as a manager in a Columbus-area specialty clothing store sent me an email in which she illuminated the issues of returns from a retail perspective. I thought her comments were so pertinent that I decided to raise the issue publicly so you can view returns from the other side of the counter.

When someone has to return something to a store, they feel a little aggravated because they have to take time out of their day to do something that is not fun. But it is even less fun for the retailer. What are the consequences on the retail end when someone makes a return? According to my source, this is what a store potentially loses when someone makes a return:

• the first “serving” time of the sales person (and possibly their bonus or commission),
• time spent making the return,
• steaming articles that have been in the bag too long, or have accumulated smells like cigarette smoke or gasoline (if it was in the car trunk).
• inventory control and daily statistic figures,
• and, last but not least, questions from the district manager as to why they “didn’t do their job properly.”

But hold on, it gets worse. This former manager says the return that “broke the camel’s back” for her was a grandmother returning a $500-600 purchase she made with her granddaughter one weekend. The woman spent two hours trying on multiple outfits, and the store associates couldn’t figure out why she brought everything back. When they examined the merchandise, they saw tell-tale creases from sitting and bending, make-up smudges, and other signs of usage. It was obvious she had worn the clothing for a period of time and then returned everything. Apparently fraudulent behavior knows no age-limits.

There has always been a small segment of the population who cheat merchants. Whether it is shoplifting or using items, wearing them and then bringing them back to the store, the end result is fraud. I’m not talking about people who occasionally have to return items because they are defective, not the right color, or the wrong size. I’m referring to shoppers who buy things to use or wear once, and then return for credit. This age-old trick actually has a name, “wardrobing;” which sounds related to clothing, but can be used to describe all use-it-and-return-it purchases. Two-thirds of merchants report they had items wardrobed last year, and the numbers continue to rise. The National Retail Federation (NRF) started tracking this trend in 2006, and the numbers of claims rose 56% in the first full year (2007). As the recession lingers, those numbers are increasing.

The NRF blames the economy and a “customer-is-always right” mentality gone too far. A loss-prevention executive for Bealls Department Stores in Florida says that customers are rooting around in their closets and trying to return things they have worn multiple times to make a little money. But the most common abuse is still one-time usage, sort of like “renting” the item for a short period of time. Women will buy an expensive outfit for a wedding, prom, job interview, or other function, wear it, and then return it for full credit. One sales associate said part of her job is to smell the armpits of clothing being returned to ascertain if it has been wardrobed. Eeuuww.

Technology returns are the newest form of wardrobing, and are more male-dominated. One man purchased a $600 LCD projector, used it for a business presentation, then returned it a few days later. Richard Hollinger, a criminology professor at the University of Florida, says that return fraud cost retailers $10.8 billion in 2007.

Because of this enormous problem, 17% of retailers tightened their return policies in 2009 according to the NRF. Besides wardrobing issues, 43% of retailers indicated they had more shoppers use fake receipts to bring back stolen merchandise and 75% said they sold merchandise to shoppers with stolen credit cards or counterfeit money. This in turn makes shopping more costly and inconvenient for the rest of us because the costs of retail fraud are passed on to the consumer. It also makes the process of returning items more difficult for honest customers. One national electronics store had to shorten up their appliance return policies because people were buying air conditioners, using them all summer, and then returning them in the fall for refunds.

Most retailers now use a computer database to track returns. When a customer makes a return, the cashier swipes their driver’s license. This goes into a national database that helps identify customers whose behavior indicates return fraud, wardrobing, or other abuse. If you’ve been given a hard time trying to make a legitimate return over the last couple of years, blame the abusers, not the store. Some stores are shortening return periods, charging restocking fees, or limiting the number of returns one customer can make.

So, bottom line, if you have a hard time controlling your purchasing impulses or use shopping as recreational therapy, you might want to consider some other method of controlling your spending than just returning everything. A therapist may be able to help you identify why you constantly feel compelled to purchase items you can’t afford. And for those of you guilty of wardrobing, please stop. The “I should be able to have or use whatever I want and the heck with the rest of you” entitlement mentality is self-serving and dishonest. There are many legitimate ways to meet your needs without resorting to stealing someone else’s property for a period of time.

Written By:

Donna Green

Family & Consumer Sciences Educator

Ohio State University Extension

Food prices are expected to rise this year, and there are few foods that will not be effected.  Turns out this past year was a tough growing year in many parts of the globe. Russia experienced a drought. There are floods in Australia. Florida has had some freezing weather. Even the Midwest experienced flooding earlier this year.  Staple crops like corn, soy, and wheat have lower yields, causing a rise in a large portion of the foods we consume, including beef (corn-fed cows) and bread.

This may be a good opportunity to focus on the foods that keep you healthy and strong without busting your budget at the grocery. Cooking at home will also save you money, as restaurants will pass on the cost to the consumer.  Try adding these foods to your grocery list (and while you’re at it, stick to the list you create prior to stepping foot in the store!):

1. Whole wheat pasta. Serving: 2 ounces of dried pasta.  Servings per box: 7-8.  Price per serving: About 30 cents.  You can get a 1 pound box for $.99 or $1.99 on sale.  Nutrition per serving: 190 calories, 9 g protein, 4 g fiber.

2. Eggs. Eggs are not expected to rise in cost as much as other foods.  Serving: 1 large egg.  Serving per carton: 12. Price per serving: About 20 cents. Expect to pay more if you choose specialty eggs. Nutrition per serving: 70 calories, 6 g protein, ~10% Vitamin A needed daily.

3. Oats (quick or old fashioned). Use as hot or cold cereal, granola,  muffins, etc.  Serving: 1/2 cup dry oats. Price per serving: 20 cents. Nutrition per serving: 140 calories, 5 g protein, 4 g fiber.

4. Frozen vegetables.   Buy fresh when they are in season.  When they are not, buy frozen; they don’t spoil as quickly, you can choose large or small portion, and they contain almost as many or more nutrients as the fresh version.  Serving: 1 cup. Price per serving: 25 cents. Frozen vegetables comin 12 to 24 ounce bags priced at $.99 to $2.49 and contain 6-8 cups depending on the vegetable.  Buy on sale. Nutrition per serving: varies; frozen mixed vegetables have 80 calories, 4 g protein, 6 g fiber, and significant amounts of vitamins A and C and potassium.

For additional ideas, visit “Cheap and Healthy” on WedMD.com

Cheers, Julie