This is my absolute favorite time of year for yard sales. People get in the mood to declutter and toss their stuff across lawns and driveways ahead of the winter hibernation season. Some haul them to flea markets—my absolute favorite bargain-shopping destination for gorgeous fall weekends! But after working as a consumer expert at Consumer Reports for a decade, I don't look at these flea-for-alls like I used to. Yard sales can be a real minefield when it comes to safety. Here

I’m super excited to announce the launch of my new podcast—Hot Shopping Tips with Mandy Walker. We're packing each episode with our best advice, including money-saving tips you’ll want to try ASAP and insider info to help you shop smarter for food, cosmetics, supplements, clothes, furniture, spa services, cars, insurance, appliances, and a lot more! Mandy and I are consumer news junkies so we’ll also keep you up to date on headlines that could affect your health and safety as