green living, smart spending
Beware of the email or text scam that says “check your order”, “your order status”, “your order cannot be shipped” or something similar, from businesses you are likely to shop, including Walmart, Costco, Amazon, Target Walgreens, FedEx and NetFlix. Since more of us are ordering more online these days, it is more important than ever to be vigilant about responding to online orders, which could be a scam.
If you don’t want to cook Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, check out these deals at national restaurant chains. Be sure to order ahead for take-out, or make reservations for eat-in. And also be sure to tip well, since the restaurant staffs are giving up their holiday to serve you.
There’s always more happening than we can report here on ecoXplorer. So here’s what we’ve been reading about travel, automotive, food, fraud and the environment that you might have missed, along with news about my hometown New York City – from publications you might not follow, but we do. We link only to intel that’s
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Get ready for crowded roads, airports and cruise ship terminals for the Christmas-Hannukah-Kwanzaa-New Year’s holidays – as many as 3 million more than last year’s holiday season. AAA projects a record 119.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home between Sat., December 21 and Wed., January 1. This year’s domestic travel projection is a bit more than the previous record set in 2019.
If you are considering donating your vehicle for a tax deduction, think carefully before donating it to Kars4Kids. The car donation charity gets low ratings from charity watchdog rating services and has been accused repeatedly of misleading donors and misusing funds.
Eating out is an important part of our lives, and there’s a restaurant to fit our needs, from a casual family night out to a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary in an elegant and romantic bistro. This year’s list includes 53 cities, ranging from Michelin-starred spots to a neighborhood ramen shop.
From December 7 through December 13, 2024, kids will get up to seven free lift tickets at 15 of Alterra Mountain Company’s North American mountain destinations to use during the new Kids Ski Free Week.
If you haven’t already purchased your Ikon Pass for the 2024/25 ski/snowboard season now underway, do it now before sales end on Dec. 17. The Ikon Pass gives you 58 destinations across the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, plus discounts on heli-skiing and gear and services from top outdoor clothing and travel
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Domestic biggies American, Delta and United and budget airlines Spirit and Frontier have been pocketing billions of dollars in so-called “junk fees” by charging extra for customers extra to select a seat or to carry on bags, according to a just-published Senate subcommittee report.
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday deals start the holiday shopping season – and also the season when your become a treasure trove for thieves. These basic common sense vehicle safety tips and reminders will help keep your vehicle – and any valuables inside it – safe and secure from “smash and grab”
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