By Mitch Lipka

(Reuters) – You don’t have to spend much time listening to Angelina Jolie or Bono to know that celebrities can help raise awareness for charities. Just about anyone with the name recognition to make it into “People” magazine has used that power to promote a cause or two.

But the recent fall from grace of cyclist Lance Armstrong, who established the cancer-fighting Lifestrong charity, highlights the risks of that approach. The charity that lives by fame can be hurt by it too. Armstrong recently cut all ties to the organization after he was stripped of his Tour de France titles amidst charges that he cheated.

Nov 15 (Reuters) – You don’t have to spend much time
listening to Angelina Jolie or Bono to know that celebrities can
help raise awareness for charities. Just about anyone with the
name recognition to make it into “People” magazine has used that
power to promote a cause or two.

But the recent fall from grace of cyclist Lance Armstrong,
who established the cancer-fighting Lifestrong charity,
highlights the risks of that approach. The charity that lives by
fame can be hurt by it too. Armstrong recently cut all ties to
the organization after he was stripped of his Tour de France
titles amidst charges that he cheated.

By Mitch Lipka

(Reuters) – Larry Elliott spent 30 years working at Eastman Kodak Co., and he retired from the finance division in 1991, confident in the company’s promises of health insurance for life and a survivor income benefit that could help support his wife when he dies.

But 21 years later, Elliott is now 75, and Kodak filed for bankruptcy protection in January. As part of the company’s restructuring, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Alan Gropper recently approved ending those two benefits as of Dec 31, 2012 for some 56,000 retirees. Pensions are not affected by this ruling.

By Mitch Lipka

(Reuters) – Natural disasters can bring out the best in people, and also the worst.

Following disasters like superstorm Sandy, opportunists and scam artists prey on victims as well as those who want to help. You can expect scams related to home repair, tree removal, used auto sales, charities and investment – not to mention price gouging.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – It is one thing to show up at a friend’s apartment and sleep on the couch for a few days after a natural disaster displaces you from your home.

But it is another thing entirely to expect your host to take in Fluffy and Fido, too.

By Mitch Lipka

(Reuters) – As mailboxes across America fill to the brim with holiday cards each December, the online marketplace selling them is crowded as well in what can be both a consumer’s bonanza and nightmare.

Competition drives prices down, but there simply may be too many choices.

Just as other retailers try to lure buyers earlier and earlier ahead of “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday,” the business of holiday cards starts cranking up as summer first turns to autumn.

Oct 15 (Reuters) – As mailboxes across America fill to the
brim with holiday cards each December, the online marketplace
selling them is crowded as well in what can be both a consumer’s
bonanza and nightmare.

Competition drives prices down, but there simply may be too
many choices.

Just as other retailers try to lure buyers earlier and
earlier ahead of “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday,” the business
of holiday cards starts cranking up as summer first turns to
autumn.

(The author is a Reuters contributor. The opinions expressed are his own.)

By Mitch Lipka

(Reuters) – Do not expect shopping rewards like Kohl’s Cash, Old Navy Super Cash, Gymboree Gymbucks or CVS Extra Bucks to stuff your pockets with actual currency this holiday season. Most are gimmicks that aim to lure shoppers back to the store to spend more money than they intended.

The deals appear better than they really are. Consumers can lose by overspending to earn or redeem the bonuses or by not redeeming them at all.

Oct 4 (Reuters) – Do not expect shopping rewards like Kohl’s
Cash, Old Navy Super Cash, Gymboree Gymbucks or CVS Extra Bucks
to stuff your pockets with actual currency this holiday season.
Most are gimmicks that aim to lure shoppers back to the store to
spend more money than they intended.

The deals appear better than they really are. Consumers can
lose by overspending to earn or redeem the bonuses or by not
redeeming them at all.