Products That Rip You Off

In this day and age, it seems hanging on to the mighty dollar is getting more difficult to do. We are constantly searching for ways to save a buck. Turning up the AC in the summer and weather stripping your home are not the only ways to save money. Did you know that some of the everyday items you use could be costing you in the long run?
Groceries

Do you remember when you could spend $50.00 in the grocery store and have enough food to last more than a week... not any more, the boxes are getting smaller and the prices are getting higher. Here are just a few examples.

* Kellogg Frosted Flakes, Frosted Mini-Wheat's and Rice Krispies
They shrunk the box, but forgot to shrink the price. Kellogg's shrunk the box size of 14 items by 2.4 ounces, and did not lower the price. It is not a lot, but we are paying the same price for less product, it somehow just doesn't add up!

* Hellmann's Easy Out! Squeeze
Promised no mess, but what they forgot to tell us was that about 5 tablespoons didn't make it out of the easy out bottle!

* Oreo Sugar-Free Cookies
They did not put any sugar into them, but the calorie count is almost the same, and the price is almost doubled!

* Bagged Salads
How can something possibly stay fresh when it is enclosed in a plastic bag with no air? It can't, it gets all slimy and stinky as it sits waiting to be purchased. Almost 85% is inedible. Why not just buy a head of lettuce, some tomatoes and make a fresh salad. Sometimes doing things the old fashioned way seems to make more sense.
Household Items

* Automatic Shower Cleaner
Just hang it up, and it is like having your very own maid, right? Think again. This Scrubbing Bubbles shower cleaner leaves your tub sticky and spotty. Try some good old elbow grease; it's much cheaper and cleaner!

* Tide-To-Go Instant Stain Remover
Well, that stain is not likely to disappear! Out of 48 stains tested, it only removed 6!

* Cell Phones
Yes, it seems we can't live without them. But when you go purchase your phone because of the "low" price advertised on TV; be sure and ask the carrier for a list of the hidden charges. You will find out it is not so "low" after all! Things like "network access charges," and other tricks to add hidden surcharges has customers paying more than they should for plans that are supposed to help save money.

* Gain Touch of Softness
This detergent adds a bit more than just softness; it actually causes colors to bleed onto other items, costing you money to replace the items ruined.

* Whitening Toothpaste
Do they really make your teeth whiter? Recent studies show that toothpaste that claim to remove stains only remove surface stains and cannot change the natural color of your teeth.
A $500.00 vacuum cleaner...That won't even pick up pet hair? That's what the Dyson DC15 didn't do! Sometimes the most expensive isn't the best!

Jill works for Inside Realty. They work in the Fort Worth real estate and Arlington real estate market.