Family Finances: Preconception

Choosing insurance -- Thinking about life insurance isn't easy: It forces you to face your own mortality and the thought of leaving loved ones behind. But difficult as it is, it's crucial to make time for a heart-to-heart with your spouse, especially with a new baby in the picture. By planning for the unspeakable, you can ensure that in the case of your death or disability, your family will continue to live in the manner to which they're accustomed — and be able to pay the mortgage, the health bills, other debts and, of course, college tuition... Read more

Consumer Reports: Camcorder shopping guide -- Those grainy, jumpy home movies of yesteryear are long gone--replaced by home movies shot on digital or analog camcorders. You can edit and embellish the footage with music using your computer, then play it back on your VCR; you can even send it via e-mail... Read more

Consumer Reports: How to buy a versatile vacuum -- Which type of vacuum cleaner to buy used to be a no-brainer. Uprights were clearly better for carpets, while canisters were the obvious choice for bare floors. That distinction has blurred somewhat as more upright models clean floors without scattering dust and more canisters do a very good job with carpeting. Central vacuum systems, an increasingly popular third option, add a measure of convenience, along with higher prices... Read more

Consumer Reports: How to find a durable dryer -- Dryers are relatively simple. Their major differences are how they heat the air (gas or electricity) and how they're programmed to shut off once the load is dry (thermostat or moisture sensor). Gas models typically cost about $50 more than electric ones, but they're usually cheaper to operate... Read more

Consumer Reports: The dish on dishwashers -- Spend $300 to $400 and you can get a dishwasher that’s a little noisy but still does a good job cleaning dirty dishes without prerinsing. To get the best of everything--cleaning prowess plus the quietest operation, convenience features, water and energy efficiency, and designer styling--you’ll have to spend $600 or more... Read more

Consumer Reports: Tips for finding the best microwave -- Microwave ovens, which built their reputation on speed, are also showing some smarts. Many automatically shut off when a sensor determines that the food is cooked or sufficiently heated. The sensor is also used to automate an array of cooking chores, with buttons labeled for frozen entrées, baked potatoes, popcorn, beverages, and other common items. Design touches include softer edges for less boxy styling, hidden controls for a sleeker look, stainless steel, and, for a few, a translucent finish... Read more

Consumer Reports: Washing machine buying guide -- You’ll find more variety in the washing-machine aisle when you visit an appliance store these days. Traditional top-loaders with agitators are going strong, but front-loading washers are gaining ground, thanks to their very good washing performance, large capacity, water and energy efficiency, and quiet operation... Read more

Consumer Reports: What to look for when buying a camera -- Digital cameras, which employ reusable memory cards instead of film, give you far more creative control than film cameras can. With a digital camera, you can transfer shots to your computer, then crop, adjust color and contrast, and add textures and other special effects. Final results can be made into cards or T-shirts, or sent via e-mail, all using the software that usually comes with the camera. You can make prints on a color inkjet printer, or by dropping off the memory card at one of a growing number of photofinishers. You can upload the file to a photo-sharing Web site for storage, viewing, and sharing with others... Read more

Consumer Reports: What to look for when buying an oven -- If you're in the market for a range, you're faced with several choices. You can buy a freestanding range that combines a cooktop and oven. The oven can be equipped with a convection feature. If you have access to a gas hookup, you need to decide whether you want gas, electricity, or a combination of the two. All of these choices bring innovations and upgrades as competition among manufacturers heats up... Read more

Family finances overview -- A new baby can drastically alter your family's financial status. Suddenly, you may be living on a lower income — if one spouse works less or not at all — and have more expenses, including costly baby gear and possibly childcare. Here are a few things to consider... Read more