Consumer Information

Links to useful information on the Internet.

American Association of Retired Persons: AARP is a nonprofit membership organization of persons 50 and over dedicated to addressing their needs and interests. There is information on health and legal issues, travel, money and work, family and home, fun and games, learning and technology, and issues and elections.
Carfax: This site provides vehicle history reports.
Clothing care and stain removal guide: Iowa State University Extension Clothing care and stain removal site. There are stain removal tips and a quick and easy stain removal guide.
Consumer Information Center: This Consumer Information Center in Pueblo, Colorado contains free full text version of hundreds of the best federal consumer publications available on cars, children, employment, federal programs, food and nutrition, health, housing, money, small business, travel, hobbies and more. There is an A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies.
Consumer Product Safety Commission: An independent federal regulatory committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC works to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals. Recalled products and safety alerts on specific products are included.
ConsumerReports: Subscription required to see full articles. Provides ratings, buying guides, product reviews and consumer information from the experts at Consumer Reports magazine. Find out what the best products are for appliances, automobiles, baby and child care products, electronics, foods, health & family, and recreation & home improvement.
ConsumerSearch: This site pulls together all sources of reviews on products. You can choose a quick comparison or a detailed review. ConsumerSearch lets you look at what online and offline reviewers say about everything from bread makers and digital cameras to snow blowers and weight- loss programs
Consumer's Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: This Web site includes tips on using the latest advances in energy-saving products and practices. We provide tips for using less electricity in your home — including home offices and electronics. Tips for saving fuel on the road will keep more money in your pocketbook. And we tell you how to use the power of renewable resources, like the Sun, at home.
Edmunds.com: The mission of this comprehensive car site is to: empower automotive consumers by providing complete, clear, timely, accurate and unbiased information needed to make informed purchase and ownership decisions. There pricing, car reviews, and ratings for new and used cars. There are discussion forums and tips for purchasing cars.
Fuel Economy: This site contains gas mileage (MPG) information, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution ratings, and safety information for new and used cars and trucks. You can compare vehicles, find the lowest gasoline prices, and find out about hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles
FirstGov for Consumers: A "one-stop" link to a broad range of federal information resources available online. It is designed so that you can locate information by category -- such as Food, Health, Product Safety, Your Money, and Transportation. Each category has subcategories to direct you to areas within individual federal web sites containing related information.
Food Safety: Iowa State University Extension provides information food safety information to consumers, foodservice managers and employees, and other site visitors on safe food handling practices. Questions regarding the safe preparation and handling of food can be answered here.
Home Energy Saver: This is a do-it-yourself energy audit tool. There are resources to help make your home more energy efficient.
Homefair: Compares the cost of living in hundreds of U.S. cities.
Kelley Blue Book: This Kelley Blue Book site has pricing for new and used cars. There are reviews and ratings and as well as insurance and financing information.
Kiplinger: This site provides you with down-to-earth advice on managing your money and achieving financial security. There are interactive calculators, up-to-the-minute business news, stock and mutual fund quotes, deposit account yields and credit rates. “Getting Started” articles will introduce you to common financial concepts and show you how to get the best deals.
Iowa Attorney General - Lemon Law: This Iowa Attorney General site gives the conditions that must be met for your car to be considered a lemon and what you can do about it
Mymoney: This site was set up by the Financial Literacy and Education Commission with the purpose of improving the financial literacy and education of persons in the United States. To reach the widest number of people possible, the Commission established a website and a toll-free telephone number to coordinate the presentation of educational materials from across the spectrum of federal agencies that deal with financial issues and markets.
Insure.com: Insure.com is a comprehensive online consumer insurance information service that caters to the needs of self-directed insurance shoppers. Insure.com provides a comprehensive array of comparative auto, life and health quotes, including a vast library of originally authored insurance articles and decision-making tools that are not available from any other single source. Visitors can now obtain instant quotes from more than 200 leading insurers, achieve maximum savings and have the freedom to buy from any company shown. The Company provides up-to-the-day accurate quotes for several lines of insurance including auto, motorcycle, life, individual & family medical, group medical, short term medical insurance, dental, Medicare supplement, homeowners, travel
Student gateway to the U.S. government: This is an official U.S. government web site designed for college students and their families. Our mission is to provide you with easy access to information and resources from the U.S. government – all the info you need, in one place, from all parts of the government
Social Security Online: The official site of the U.S. Social Security Administration. It has information on social security numbers, retirement benefits, disability, Medicare, and other issues related to social security.
Tom’s Hardware: For computer buffs and IT professionals looking for the latest hardware tips, gaming enthusiasts who want to meet other fans, businesspeople who need the best mobile devices, and electronics enthusiasts who are building a state-of-the-art home office. It is a comprehensive source of today’s news and analysis of current computer technology.
Underwriters Laboratories: This agency develops standards and test procedures for materials, components, assemblies, tools, equipment and procedures, chiefly dealing with product safety and utility. You can check to see what products are already certified, submit products for testing, and read warnings regarding unsafe products.
Weather Underground: Weather Underground is committed to delivering the most reliable, accurate weather information possible. There are weather conditions and forecasts for over 60,000 U.S. and international cities.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): An independent federal agency established by Congress to assist, counsel, support and protect the interest of small business concerns and to assist them in their start-up and growth. There is information on the state and national level for starting, financing, and managing small businesses.