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Hacking and vote rigging not a worry in Luzerne County, election official says

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Capitol Roundup: As temperatures cool, AAA urges motorists to prepare for new season of driving

<p>Given an opportunity to save a buck, or write off a $916 million tax loss, you would do it, right? (Assuming, of course, the tactic was legal under the law and/or U.S. tax code.)</p><p>If you answered yes and you happen to be a billionaire real-estate titan who is running for president, you already receive loads of financial guidance from highly paid lawyers, accountants and other advisers. If, however, you happen to head up an enterprise of more modest means &#8211; say, a family in Northeastern Pennsylvania &#8211; you might appreciate free advice on how to conserve cash.</p><p>Fellow Americans, the Consumer Watchdog makes no promises.</p><p>However, the following online resources and tips could put your family on the path to great fortune, or at least allow it to keep the American dream within reach.</p><p>&#8226; Parents.com., the website brought to you by the people at Parents magazine and its related publications, acknowledges both the joys of parenthood as well as how having a child can put a strain on your checking account.</p><p>The site contains one section devoted to &#8220;<a href="http://www.parents.com/parenting/money/saving/#page=2" target="_blank">expert tips for reducing debt, lowering bills, and finally saving for your future</a>.&#8221; You will find articles and videos with titles such as &#8220;7 Easy Ways to Save Money on Diapers and Wipes,&#8221; &#8220;How to Buy Baby Formula on a Budget,&#8221; and &#8220;Saving for College with a 529 Plan: Frequently Asked Questions.&#8221;</p><p>&#8226; TheSimpleDollar.com. Launched in 2006 as a site for people burdened by debt and tied to bad spending habits, it today offers an assortment of <a href="http://www.thesimpledollar.com/little-steps-100-great-tips-for-saving-money-for-those-just-getting-started/" target="_blank">sensible ideas for more frugal living</a>.</p><p>See how many of its &#8220;100 great tips to get you started&#8221; are practical for your family. Can you, as suggested in tip No. 26, &#8220;plan your meals around your grocery store&#8217;s flier?&#8221; Or perhaps, as per tip No. 89, &#8220;Air seal your home?&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;None of these tactics will be life-changing on their own,&#8221; according to information posted at TheSimpleDollar.com, &#8220;but they can make quite a difference over time if you&#8217;re able to implement more than one.&#8221;</p><p>Also, The Simple Dollar produces guides on consumer topics such as &#8220;best rewards credit cards&#8221; and &#8220;best renters insurance.&#8221;</p><p>&#8226; AmericaSaves.org, a campaign of the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America, aims to help people &#8220;save money, reduce debt, and build wealth.&#8221;</p><p>For starters, peruse its &#8220;<a href="https://americasaves.org/for-savers/make-a-plan-how-to-save-money/54-ways-to-save-money" target="_blank">54 Ways to Save Money</a>.&#8221; These recommendations are divided into categories including food, banking, transportation and entertainment.</p><p>Under the &#8220;housing category,&#8221; for example, you will see this suggestion: &#8220;Live relatively near your workplace. While this isn&#8217;t always possible, driving 5,000 miles less a year can lower transportation costs by more than $1,000.&#8221;</p><p>That&#8217;s $1,000 your family can put toward a rainy-day fund, a retirement account, or maybe a magnificent real-estate deal.</p><p>Start small, dream huge.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Consumer Watchdog</p><p>Mark Jones</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Mark Jones is the Times Leader&#8217;s opinion page editor. Reach him at 570-991-6122 or mjones@www.timesleader.com.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Consumer Watchdog: Families can save with tips like these