Despite countless warnings that nothing in life is free, many of us continue to fall for the promise of something for nothing. With money tight in many households, offers of free laptops, iPods, gift cards and even medication sound even more alluring. But the reality is far from the promise.

If you are a baby boomer or the child of one, it's just a matter of time before you will have to contact the Social Security Administration. Brace yourself.

Let me just put it out there: Air travel this summer is going to be downright miserable.

For years, credit card companies have bragged about their dispute policies -- you know, the ones that let customers challenge charges on their accounts when the services aren't rendered or a product was otherwise misrepresented.

Most people probably know that North Carolina law allows buyers to get a refund on a product or service if they change their mind within three to seven days of their purchase.

Jennifer Shoultes is fed up with customer service departments. We can all feel Shoultes' frustration, because we have all been there.

Savvy Consumer:There is nothing like the promise of free money to get the rumor mill buzzing. That would explain all the bad information swirling around about the coming stimulus rebate checks.

There's a terrible idea apparently spreading amid the mortgage meltdown that the best solution to foreclosure is to stop paying your mortgage and abandon your home.

Savvy Consumer:Always be on the lookout for the gotcha -- that's how I operate. It's cynical, but it saves me money.