Blog Posts by Reader s Digest Magazine

Smart ways to save.Beware these common money missteps: It's easy to fall into the trap of saving only to have it cost more weeks, months, or years later.

1. Getting suckered into buy-one-get-one (BOGO) deals. BOGO, when it's genuine, is hard to resist. but even then, whether it's BOGO free or BOGO half price, you have to stop and ask yourself, Would I really have bought this much of this item at this price anyway? If you're shopping for jam and see BOGO free on jam, that's probably a great time to stock up. But if you're looking for a new pair of sneakers and see BOGO half off, stop and think. You went out looking to spend $60 on sneakers. Now you're spending about $100 after taxes. Did you even want two pairs? Will you wear them both? Do you even like the second pair?
PLUS: 13 secrets to stop wasting cash now >>

2. Building an emergency fund but not contributing to a retirement plan. It's essential these days to have an emergency fund. Financial experts say you need six months' to one year's worth of

Grilled watermelon.Grilled watermelon, who knew? These easy grilling ideas will be unexpected hits at your summer barbecues.

1. Watermelon: Heat, smoke, and a hint of salt make this sweet fruit unexpectedly savory, even meaty. Grilling "sobers it up and makes it lose its sloppy sweetness," writes Mark Bittman in the New York Times; he brushes 1-inch-thick slices with olive oil, minced onion, salt, and pepper, then grills them for about 5 minutes per side until caramelized and beginning to dry out. Serve as a side, or top Bittman-style: with melted cheese and a bun for a "watermelon burger."

2. Romaine lettuce: The greens take the heat surprisingly well-and grilling them creates a smoky flavor that's perfect for a substantial salad, like this one from Food Network's Alton Brown: Slice two heads of romaine lengthwise, then brush cut sides with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place the lettuce halves cut-side down on a grill; cook over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan and

Pink slime is just the beginning: Here are six more gross ingredients that the FDA deems "safe" and that might be in your next bite of food.

1. Ammonia
You've heard about "pink slime," the nutritionally questionable, ground beef filler treated with ammonia that has graced school cafeteria and burger joint menus for decades. Regardless of the supposed safety of ammonia in beef, did you know: Ammonia may also show up in small amounts in peanut butter, chips and other foods.

2. Beaver glands
You'll find "castoreum," the dried perineal glands of beavers, used as a strawberry, raspberry or vanilla flavoring in some candy, gum, gelatin, and pudding.

3. Human or hog hair, or duck feathers
When you see "L-Cysteine" on the ingredient label for bread or bagels, know that it's an amino acid derived from hair or feathers.

4. Sprayed-on viruses
To combat the threat of listeria, the FDA allows food producers to spray deli meats with the same bacteriophages that hospitals use to kill germs.

5.

Walking.Walking may be the most popular form of exercise, but that doesn't stop it from getting a little boring. Challenge your workout with these new ideas to walk off the weight.

1. The Meet-You-There Walk: Instead of driving with your spouse to the market or some other nearby destination, leave a bit early on foot and meet him there, then catch a ride back home. First step: If you normally walk a three-mile loop in the neighborhood, draw a circle on a map extending that far out in all directions from your home. This is your sphere of possibility (and it'll grow larger as you get fitter). The feeling and purpose you'll gain from doing this kind of walk will eventually lead to …

2. The Errand Walk: Instead of walking to get in shape, once or twice a week, walk to get things done. The ATM, the supermarket, the post office, the nail salon. This is healthy, stress-free multitasking at its best. First step: You'll need something to carry your stuff, so get a backpack, or buy a chic and

TVCrank up the volume: Learn retail secrets for selling big screens in this TV buying guide.

1. Buy your new TV in September or January. That's when the new models come out and the prices go way down on discontinued models. Another time to get a deal: Black Friday, if you're willing to brave the crowds.

2. Shoppers' questions boil down to this: LED, LCD, or plasma? LEDs and LCDs use the same technology, but LEDs are thinner and more expensive. LEDs can also be too reflective in a bright room. Plasmas offer the best picture for your money, especially if you're watching at an angle, but they're thicker than the others, and ghost images can be an issue.

3. Which brands do I recommend? For LCDs, LG, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony have consistently been among the best in rankings by Consumer Reports. Among plasmas, Panasonic tops the list.

4. Our margins on TVs are so thin, they're almost nonexistent. The prices are designed to get you in the store, and then we try to sell you the expensive

Veggies.Mix up your baby carrot and dip routine this summer with these 10 fun, fresh vegetables that are perfect for a crudité platter.

1. Fennel: The crisp anise flavor of fennel is perfect with creamy dips. Fennel also pairs exceptionally well with any type of roasted red pepper dip or tapenade.

2. Jicama: Crunchy jicama is a sweeter alternative to celery. Peel, cut into strips, and serve straight-up, or top with a squeeze of lemon.

3. Endive: Bitter endive leaves are perfect for scooping up hummus, dip, and even salsa. And they go especially well with anything blue cheese.
More: Healthy veggies you never knew you liked >>

4. Kohlrabi: Young kohlrabi can be eaten raw and tastes like crunchy broccoli stems. Peel off the outer skin and then cut into sticks for your vegetable platter.

5. Tiny purple carrots: Purple carrots will add color and a wow factor to your crudités platter. Quickly blanch, then chill until ready to serve. Try the red and yellow varieties for extra color.
More: Fun

Here's a prediction: You'll get more accurate insight from your five-day forecast with these secrets from local weather reporters.

1. In many cases, the meteorologist is the highest-paid person on the broadcast, because weather is one of the top reasons why people watch local news. That's probably why the stations with the best weather people usually have the best ratings.

2. Looks do matter when it comes to TV weather. I've been told to trim my eyebrows and wear more makeup. (Yes, men and women both wear makeup on TV-lots of it!)

3. Bad weather is good for ratings. Really good. When there's a big storm coming, some TV stations will get three or four times as many people watching as normal. Our news directors love it.

4. The hurricane season forecasts that come out every year predicting the year's storm activity are almost always wrong. Even I was surprised when I realized how inaccurate they are.

5. Once you're under a severe weather "warning," assume it's going to happen. Unlike