Over the past couple of weeks, households have been receiving nasty surprises in the mail.

Want to be dazzled by an unimaginable range of crafts? Then visit Etsy.com for a jaw-dropping experience. It has more than 25 million items for sale, writes Diana Clement.

Next time you're ordering wine with a meal out, don't be afraid to order the cheapest - it's probably the best value.

Apple's iPad Air has come out on top of a review of 28 tablet computers by Consumer NZ.

Solar power systems can save households money, but don't expect them to eliminate your power bill.

Aliexpress.com is where small- to medium-sized Chinese retailers sell almost every known product.

Sport, music and art fans have no choice but to front up for added charges to attend this weekend's event bonanza, as ticketing agents continue to tack on extra fees.

Pet owners are paying hundreds of dollars every year for insurance to ward off expensive vet bills.

The most romantic day of the year is a problem many men and women throw money at. Yet there are plenty of ways to save money on Valentine's Day and still be romantic.

Sick of shopping? You shouldn't be. January is the time of true bargains.

A few months ago, we tried to make a booking for a holiday home via Holiday Houses. By accident, my wife clicked February 12 and 13 instead of January 12 and 13.

Want to know which are the best mozzie repellants? Volunteers bravely exposed their arms to 50 of the pests for this Consumer NZ survey.

Consumer NZ says power prices for Kiwi households should fall after years of relentless increases including a 3% annual rise revealed in the latest official data.

Kiwis snapped up almost a million boxes of cutlery in the latest Countdown sticker promotion.

Guys, do you plan to propose to your loved one on Christmas Day?

A DIY approach to gift baskets will save you money this Christmas, writes Susan Edmunds.

Three inexpensive sunscreens sold in supermarkets have come out tops in Consumer NZ testing.

Still paying for your mobile phone calls and texts? It won't be long before you're in the minority.

Gourmet-isation of pet food is on the rise. Owners of pets, like parents of babies, are made to feel guilty if they don't buy the right foods.

As NZ television goes digital, independent TV channels are recording big increases in audience numbers - which can then translate into advertising dollars.

Buying an Angelcare monitor for their daughter gave Sarah Lorigan peace of mind - until she walked into her bedroom and found the cord wrapped twice around the baby's neck.

Santa is prising open the purse strings at financially strapped Government departments and private firms to bring back some festive joy to office parties.

Homeowners who have stretched their budgets to get into the housing market in the past two years are likely to feel the squeeze as interest rates rise.

When it comes to clothes shopping, there are times to spend and times to save.

Kiwi parents are paying thousands of dollars to store their child's cord blood in a private bank - but medical experts say the evidence of cordbanking's benefits is hazy at best.

Are you gorging yourself on asparagus, strawberries and avocados? We are. They're in season and what's more, at their most flavoursome for the year.

Recently released industry statistics show the country's pubs and bars have an average 100 per cent mark-up across food and drink.

Yolanda Alba has already started her Christmas shopping, and says she is enjoying a very positive start to the festive season.

Consumer spending rebounded last month, led by purchases of durable items.

Parents are fuming at early-childhood education centres that charge for public holidays, when the doors are shut and children are not able to attend.