Consumer United Newsletter :: December 19, 2008

Consumer United, 181 South St. Boston, MA � 617-482-4700 � www.consumerunited.com

In This Issue

Are you on Santa's naughty or nice list when it comes to energy efficiency? Does the idea of high energy prices this winter make you feel anything but jolly? See how much you can save by taking the following steps from Santa.

FREE TURBO TAX

Make tough times a little easier. File your simple return for FREE with TurboTax� Federal Free Edition. Click here to start saving.

Community Links

Greetings!

Welcome to our bi-weekly newsletter. As a Consumer United member, you are eligible for a discounted 15- or 30-year regular fixed-rate mortgage. Rates are at an all-time low with a 30-year fixed-rate mortage as low as 4.75%. Click here to start saving now. .

Holiday Lights Go Green

As more and more consumers are becoming familiar with the benefits of using LED bulbs, manufacturers are offering an increased selection of energy efficient holiday lights. Not only are they better for the environment, LED bulbs cost far less to operate than traditional holiday lights. Even though the purchase price of LED holiday lights may be higher in some instances, they last five to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. In addition, the savings they provide on energy bills is substantial Read more here.

Tips To Save During Holiday Season

With many retailers hoping to keep their sales figures high despite the weak economic conditions, there are lots of opportunities for shoppers to stretch their holiday budgets this year. One of the best ways to get a deal is to do plenty of comparison shopping online. Many brick and mortar stores, especially large electronic and clothing stores, offer much of their merchandise online. Shoppers can save money on gas and shipping if they wait for the store to offer free shipping on online purchases, as well. Click here for more information.

Airlines Slash Fares For Holiday Travelers

Good things come to those who wait ... especially for last-minute procrastinators booking flights and heading home this holiday season. Travelers are finding the lowest airfares in years, due to the price of oil at a third of what it was last summer. With the economic slump, last-minute travel cancellations are being made because people are losing their jobs causing a low demand to fly. Click here for the complete article.

Inside Consumer United

Kristin Williams began at Consumer United in September, working full time as a Consumer United Advocate. She loves to save Consumer United members money on basic services, especially insurance products. Since Williams' arrival, Consumer United has expanded its reach to New Jersey and hired more people. "It's amazing to see how much the company has grown in such a short time." What's Williams' favorite personal finance advice? She believes one should shop around, especially at the grocery store. Williams usually sticks to the store brand. "I always look at the price per pound/ounce to know that I'm getting the best deal for my money, and I hardly ever buy name-brand products." Read more here.

Save 33% On Skype Subscription

Switching from a traditional landline telephone connection to Skype, the internet-based calling service, can be very cost-effective. On Skype it's free to call other Skype members and their rates for calling landlines, even international ones, can be much lower than traditional providers. Click here for 33% off three or 12-month calling subscriptions from Skype.

Save 5%	Renting a car this holiday season? You're in luck. Save 5% off any vehicle rental at Dollar Rent A Car. Use Consumer United's special saving code CJ05 and click on the promotional link here to start saving! Also, click here to get a free upgrade coupon from Dollar Rent A Car.