Independent consumer education
Consumer guides from the filings, not the ads
Insurance, credit, and lending in plain English. Figures come from federal series and from what carriers file with regulators. We name a company when a filing or a complaint record names it. We do not rank carriers.
Browse guides
What moves a premium, and which levers actually lower one.
How much coverage a household needs, and for how long.
What a debt costs, and which balance to clear first.
Both insurance guides, and why they are kept apart.
Who writes this, how it is sourced, and how it is funded.
Top story
-

Dealer-Sold vs Third-Party VSCs: Price, Cancellation, Who Stands Behind the Claim
Who is the obligor, who administers claims, and who is the backup insurer matter more than the logo on the brochure. Compare dealer-sold and third-party vehicle service contracts on price, cancel rights, and claim backup.
More coverage
Latest Guides
-

Home energy upgrades: which ones repay, and which gadgets do not
Looking for smart home upgrades to save on energy bills? With just a few affordable changes, you can…
-

Resale renovations: what buyers pay for vs what you enjoy
Home renovations that add value have shown remarkable returns over the last several years. The average ROI jumped…
-

DIY home upgrades: when the redo costs more than hiring would have
When planning home upgrades, deciding between DIY vs hiring a pro can be tough. This guide helps you…
-

Kitchen remodel bids: the cost drivers quotes often leave vague
men renovating the kitchen
-

HVAC still uneven after a new unit? Look at duct leakage
Energy Star puts typical duct losses at 20 to 30 percent of the air moving through the system.…
-

Heat pump vs furnace: the three inputs that settle the choice
AFUE and HSPF2 are different units and cannot be compared directly. What actually decides between a heat pump,…
-

SEER2 rating: does the higher-efficiency upcharge pay back?
SEER2 is not a worse SEER, it is the same idea under a harder test. What changed in…
-

HVAC repair or replace in 2026: what the refrigerant rule changed
A refrigerant rule changed this decision in 2025, and not because the equipment changed. What the AIM Act…
-

HVAC maintenance by consequence: DIY vs call a tech
Most maintenance lists give no indication of which items matter. Two prevent the failures that strand people in…
-

HVAC sizing: why buying bigger often costs comfort and money
Oversizing is the most common installation fault in American homes, it is invisible on the invoice, and it…
-

Roof replacement bid: the lines that change the real total
None of it is hidden. The eight lines a complete bid contains, the three costs that appear on…
-

Roofing contractor red flags: tactics that rush you past verifying
Every roofing scam has the same structure: it needs you to act before you can verify. The FTC…
Browse by topic
How we work
Every guide explains how a product category works: the mechanics, the typical costs, and the questions worth asking before you commit. Figures come from federal agencies and state regulators, and each article lists its sources. Read our editorial and review policy
How we are funded
ConsumersWeek is supported by advertising and affiliate partnerships. We disclose how we make money, label sponsored content clearly, and keep paid placements separate from editorial conclusions. Read our advertiser disclosure




