Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from March 2003

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from March 2003

Promises, promises ...(Brief Article)(Editorial)
March 1, 2003... Everywhere you look there's more evidence that you can't believe everything you read (or hear)--and I'm not even talking about politics. There are a few glaring examples in this issue. We revisited that classic area of hype and...

Just teething. (choice cuts).
March 1, 2003... A recent Australian study, reported in the Jan/Feb 2003 issue of CHOICE Health Reader, supports earlier findings that teething doesn't cause significant illness in most children, and that there's no link between certain symptoms and teething....

Making the most of used water. (choice cuts).
March 1, 2003... If you use an average top-loading washing machine six times a week, it'll probably send close to 1000 L down the drain in one week alone. Add to that your dishwashing, shower and bath water, and you're soon up to 4000 L a week for the average...

Charities. (Update).( Australian Council for Overseas Aid )(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2003... CHOICE, November 2002 Following the publication of our November 2002 article, The give and take of charities, we were contacted by the Australian Council for Overseas Aid (ACFOA). Unfortunately, our article had failed to mention the...

Sick of floppy disks? (choice cuts).(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... If you're frustrated by the unreliability and limited storage space of floppy disks, a USB drive or flash memory card might be a suitable alternative--they're more reliable and have greater storage capacity. Computer CHOICE recently tested...

Travel insurance update. (choice cuts).
March 1, 2003... Since we last looked at international travel insurance in 2001, policies in general have become more restricted and provide less cover. And in the current climate when many people's minds are focused on the risk of terrorism attacks, all the...

When it's worth using a credit card ... (your letters).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... With bank fees increasing every year, I've been increasingly sceptical of the benefits of having a credit card. However, a recent experience caused me to rethink. Shortly after paying a $400 deposit by credit card to a local carpet...

... And when not. (your letters).(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... The big banks certainly go out of their way to reinforce our opinions of how bad they are! Last November I received a letter from ANZ with "important news" about my Qantas ANZ Visa card. In it they told me that because of increases in costs...

Mail order warning. (your letters).(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... I'm writing to warn consumers about the dangers of buying products from some mail order companies. Earlier last year I saw an infomercial and decided to buy an advertised product. A key reason for buying it was that it was supposed to be...

Thumbs up! (your letters).(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2003... * Diane Rowe of Muswellbrook, NSW, gives the thumbs-up to Everyday Living in Kotara/ Newcastle, which replaced free of charge a table and chairs set made of Russian fence posts when cracks appeared, even though the product packaging had warned...

Water filters: if you don't like the taste or smell of your tap water, or you're concerned it's contaminated, a water filter may improve things. But be aware of the problems and cost involved. (Report: water filters).(Includes contaminants table and buyers guide.)(Cover Story)
March 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * If you're not happy with the quality of your tap water, find out exactly what the problem is and try to fix its source. Using a water filter should only be a last resort, especially if there's a health concern. * When...

Light and shadow: some cars are cheaper to fix than they were last year. But three popular sedans now have higher repair bills--and insurance premiums. (Drivelines).(Includes Repair costs table )(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * Overall, repair bills ranged from under $$000 to more than $7000. * Low-speed crash tests don't indicate a car's safety--we'll report on the latest safety results for small four. wheel drives in a future issue of...

Tip: watching your salt intake? (food bites).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Watch for hidden sources of salt like stock cubes, soy sauce, oyster sauce and fish sauce--they can all contain a lot of salt. You can often get salt-reduced versions.

News on kebabs. (food bites).(Food Safety Victoria survey)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Food Safety Victoria has published the results of a survey on kebabs it conducted in 2001. Local Government Environmental Health Officers tested samples of raw and cooked chicken, lamb and beef taken from vertical spits for bacterial...

Refresher: phytochemicals. (food bites).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Food articles often refer to `phytochemicals': naturally occurring chemicals found in plants--`phyto' means plant in Greek. They're produced to protect the plant against viruses, bacteria and fungi. While they don't provide energy, essential...

Big savings for big mortgages: special deals from the banks are now available to almost everybody with a large mortgage--you only need to ask. (Money: home loan packages).(Home loan packages)
March 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * Many lenders now offer home loan packages to some borrowers giving them considerable discounts on their interest rates. * Some packages look after nearly all your banking and finance needs, offering discounts or...

Healthy eating--how hard can it be? New theories and fad diets have been undermining a lot of the old wisdom recently. What's the real story? (Nutrition: what's new?).
March 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * Contrary to the way it's often portrayed in the media, the experts agree on a lot: we need to eat more fruit and vegetables, our grains should be whole rather than refined, our protein foods should be lean and our fat...

Healthy eating guidelines. (Nutrition: what's new?).
March 1, 2003... After all the controversy and emerging theories, here's advice you can still rely on to have a healthy diet. 1 Eat plenty of fruit and vegies Why? Studies of large populations throughout the world consistently show that people who...

Hopes, dreams and $100 creams: anti-aging creams and potions are rife in department stores and specialist clinics. Do they deliver what they promise? (Report: anti-aging creams).(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * Some promises for anti-aging creams sound too good to be true. We consulted the experts and literature to sort out fact from fiction. * Some of the ingredients in anti-aging creams have so far proven quite promising....

New web tool helps you save. (hip pocket).(Top interest rates. Includes table.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... CHOICE Online has many tools designed to help with budgeting and saving. Our newest tool shows top interest rates for term deposits (over three months, six months and one year), cash management accounts, cash management trusts and...

Capital gain pain. (hip pocket).(Capital gain tax)
March 1, 2003... After falls in share markets overseas and in Australia, last year's statement from his managed fund proved to be a disappointment for Patrick Price, a self-funded retiree from Nelson Bay in NSW. And things got even worse: "My managed fund...

Look, Mum, no hands! A baby carrier can help you get the shopping done while keeping your baby content. (Trial: baby carriers).(Includes buyers guide.)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * On trial: 10 soft baby slings and pouches. One was rated `very good' and four `good' overall (see What to buy, below left). * A sling for baby to doze off in, a pouch to sit in or one where they can observe the world?...

14 new washers: still catching up on the washing after your summer holiday? Maybe one of the models in our latest test will make life a bit easier. (Update: washing machines).(Includes buyers guide )(Product/Service Evaluation)(Buyers Guide)
March 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * Some of the newly tested models have some interesting new features--see below left. * Tips on saving water when washing--below right Here are the results of our latest test of 14 new models--six front loaders and...

Recalls & bans.
March 1, 2003... Nowadays there are so many product recalls we may not be able to print all of them in CHOICE. For comprehensive recall information go to the Federal Treasury website: www.recalls.gov.au. If you don't have web access, call the Safety Policy Unit...