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Whether it’s last minute holiday repairs or getting a jump start on those nagging home improvement ideas you’ve been putting off – Angie’s List is your go-to site to get it all done!

Have you ever wished that when hiring a professional for home improvement jobs, you could see a report card on their performance? What about having the ability to read reviews from the people in your neighborhood without having to go door to door for advice? Perhaps you are pessimistic due to a prior disaster involving a contractor with less than classy behavior around your children. Or maybe you have had a surprisingly satisfying experience with a team of local landscapers who not only helped you realize your dream but made it better than you could have imagined. Whether you need a job done or you have just had one completed and would like to share your experience, Angie’s List is the answer to everything.

What is Angie’s List?
Angie’s List is a website where you’ll find thousands of unbiased reports and reviews about service companies in your area. You can find information and costumer reviews on over 450 categories of service. Angie’s List members share their experiences with each other so that you can choose the service company that’s right for your job the first time around. This is more than just a resource site for home improvement. You will also find services such as health care, child care, fitness centers, catering and much, much more. You can even search from a list of strictly eco-friendly companies for those of you who are dedicated to green living.

When browsing through the Angie’s List you will find all kinds of extra helpful information. For example, there is Angie’s Tips and I think you’ll agree that the tips provided are not what you would expect from any normal website of this nature. Here are just a few topics that could help answer those little questions that nag you from time to time:

How to buy green flooring
When to keep a sick child home
How to break up with your hairstylist
Holiday decorating safety tips
Online shopping tips
Diabetes warning sign and tips

Angie also has what is called a penalty box. Rather than only listing those service providers that are excellent, she also finds it very important to list those that have failed to meet a costumer’s satisfaction. The penalty box is operated by a complaint resolution process. There are four possible outcomes in the resolution process.
The first outcome is “pending” meaning that the complaint is in process and a final outcome has not yet been determined. The second is “resolved”, this simply means that the service company has met the member’s request for resolution to the complaint. The third is “stalemate” and it means that the service company has responded to the member’s request for resolution, but they have declined to fulfill the member’s requirements for resolution. The fourth and final outcome is “penalty box” and this is reserved for companies that have failed to respond to a costumers request for resolution, or sometimes they have responded but failed to follow through with their promise to the costumer. Bottom line is you don’t want to end up in the penalty box if you are a company on Angie’s List and as a consumer you would want to steer clear of these companies for your service needs.

There is quite a bit of buzz surrounding Angie’s List. Aside from all the wonderful advice, helpful tid bits and dozens of other reasons to visit this website there is a wonderful section where you can check local news reports as well as local costumer reviews just by picking your city and state from a drop down list. Once you choose your town you will be directed to a page where you can read thousands of reports to help you in your decision making process.
Check out some of the reviews from nationwide reports:

And here are some costumer reviews:

“I’ve heard horror stories about women being taken advantage of on price and service, and I didn’t want this to happen to me. So I talked to a friend, and she directed me to Angie’s List. What a blessing! Now I can avoid being the victim of another horror story. Thank you Angie’s List!”
–Jessica K., Atlanta, Ga.

“When I had a problem with a service provider, Angie stuck up for me, and I got action immediately. I wish I would have called earlier!”
–Robert H., Columbus, Ohio

“Before Angie’s List, selecting a service provider was like throwing darts blind folded. Those who report on Angie’s List have helped me make informed, logical, educated decisions. I am truly grateful.”
–Nancy B., St. Paul, Minn.

“I think it’s great that people can use Angie’s List for medical referrals. I absolutely love my pediatrician, and I think people should know about
my holistic dentist!”
–Joan L., San Jose

There is also a fabulous blog section, podcasts, and Angie’s List Magazine. You might be wondering if there is a fee to join Angie’s List and the answer is yes, but the fees are minimal and with so much information at your fingertips it’s hard to imagine why anyone would use any other resource for their service needs.

So go check out Angie’s List from our retailer line-up. I’m confident you will be impressed and the next time you need any type of service for your home you’ll know exactly where to turn for help.

For Just about every student out there the 2009-2010 school year has already begun but it’s never to late for school shopping, particularly for those attending college. Tuitions and supplies such as textbooks become more costly with each passing year so I’d like to help by sharing my findings in ways to stretch your education dollar this fall.
There are a handful of online retailers out there that are dedicated to supporting scholars worldwide and, in the process, are doing their part to ensure some social and global responsibility one step at a time. Collectively their mission is essentially the same: to help make the life of the eager, knowledge thirsty consumer easier while giving back to our communities for today’s generation and those to follow.

Their mission is simple — expanding communication and understanding on a global scale. Though they realize there are many organizations offering beneficial services to the community, RosettaStone chooses to focus their support on organizations and events that incorporate one of three basic principles: language learning, diversity and culture, education and literacy. RosettaStone, in so many words, is a well-rounded company with simple and moral social responsibility standards. Whether you’re learning a new language as part of your studies or just looking to expand your cultural palette, you’ll surely find what you need at RosettaStone. With a proven track record at being the easiest and most successful way to learn a new language, you really can’t go wrong. They have products for the home, schools, business and home schooling. Choose from over 30 languages and maybe reward yourself with a trip to that country to test out your new skills on the locals.

Online retailer’s textbooks.com boasts the largest selection of used textbooks on the planet and that’s saying a lot. With up to 90% off of over 9 million textbooks it’s hard to find a better place to buy the essentials. Textbooks.com also carries the largest selection of eTextbooks . What are eTextbooks? They are digital, downloadable versions of print textbooks, so you can access the same information as regular textbooks anywhere and anytime with out the hassle of carrying the weight of the real ones on your back. They sell new and used books on just about every subject out there and everything in between. When you are done with your books just sell them back to the company. As a thank you for recycling your books textbooks.com will automatically give you an extra 10% back! How great is that?

The largely popular Apple MacBook is not only the perfect laptop computer for students, but it’s “greener” than most other electronics out there. Apple’s company as a whole has taken a stand to create products that help reduce our carbon footprint so we can continue to use the tools we rely on the most without further contributing to the demise of the home we all love and cherish. Since October of 2008 Apple has been providing costumers with estimates of greenhouse gas emissions generated by each new product sold. For example, the manufacturing and use of the fabulously popular MacBook results in 460 kg C02e emissions over four years. Based on EPA findings, that’s about the same amount the average car emits in just one month! That’s pretty impressive. It’s good to know that Apple cares, especially considering how many products they create that we as students and people of the work force rely on daily.

To tie this all together we must consider the fees incurred in order to be a student. Finding a loan that’s right for you as an individual can be down right nauseating some times. With so many predatory lenders out there the last thing you need is for all of your hard work and dedication as a student to seem fruitless when you proudly accept your degree. SimpleTuition.com recognizes the importance of focusing on education rather than dwelling on debt. By using their system they can help you find a loan that is catered specifically to your needs, goals, and financial capabilities. Here is what some people have had to say about their experience with SimpleTuition.com…