Sander Kushen
Public Health Advocate, CALPIRG Education Fund
Summer is here! To help you enjoy the season a bit more, CALPIRG compiled these handy tips to make sure you and your family stay safe and healthy this summer.
Public Health Advocate, CALPIRG Education Fund
Consumer Watchdog, PIRG
School’s out and summer is here! Millions of Californians will be hitting the beaches, blasting their air conditioning and visiting their friends and families across the state and country. But it’s not all fun and games. As we all take some time to recharge our batteries, it’s important to keep in mind the realities of our time: skyrocketing prices, counterfeit goods on the market and the inevitable ebb and flow of COVID cases that could potentially throw a wrench in peoples’ summer plans.
To help you enjoy the season a bit more, CALPIRG compiled these handy summer tips to make sure you and your family stay safe and healthy this summer. We organize our tips by category, and link to our full reports where you can read even more.
How do I keep my summer plans under budget?
While record-setting inflation and high gas prices are making almost everything more expensive, we know many are still itching to go on that well-deserved vacation, albeit on a budget. And no matter what you do or where you go this summer, saving money is always a good idea. Here are a few tips to stay under budget:
How do I avoid counterfeits and knockoffs this summer?
In our rush to order the pool toys, lawn chairs and other supplies we need for the summer, we may be vulnerable to counterfeit and knock off goods. While not every counterfeit product is dangerous, they are more likely to contain dangerous chemicals or not meet U.S. safety standards.
One example of a dangerous summer product you may encounter is counterfeited sunglasses and eyewear, which made up 24% of the health and safety products seized by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol in 2020. Without adequate UV protection, these sunglasses could lead to someone suffering serious eyesight damage.
Here are some tips to avoid dangerous counterfeits:
How do I avoid recalled items this summer?
Sometimes, even legitimate items can end up being recalled due to safety defects.
We’ve seen this before in our summer products: Last year, several types of Johnson & Johnson sunscreens were pulled off shelves because some samples contained traces of benzene — a cancer-causing agent. Here are some resources to make sure that your summer products and snacks are safe for you and your family:
If my flight or event is canceled, how can I get a refund?
Whether you are visiting relatives and friends, taking that long-deserved vacation or traveling for a concert or festival, many of us will be flying or driving. But in the case of another COVID-19 flare-up, many of us may consider postponing these plans. Here’s how to make the most from your refund and avoid scams during your trip:
How do I protect my financial information and avoid scams?
It’s hard to sit back and relax during your summer vacation after losing money or sensitive information to a scam. You can avoid these headaches by being vigilant with your information and following our tips below:
Public Health Advocate, CALPIRG Education Fund
Sander is based in Sacramento and works with California decision-makers, the media and coalition partners to further CALPIRG’s legislative priorities. In his free time, Sander enjoys karaoke, science fiction novels and hugging his cat, Arthur.
Teresa directs the Consumer Watchdog office, which looks out for consumers’ health, safety and financial security. Previously, she worked as a journalist covering consumer issues and personal finance for two decades for Ohio’s largest daily newspaper. She received dozens of state and national journalism awards, including Best Columnist in Ohio, a National Headliner Award for coverage of the 2008-09 financial crisis, and a journalism public service award for exposing improper billing practices by Verizon that affected 15 million customers nationwide. Teresa and her husband live in Greater Cleveland and have two sons. She enjoys biking, house projects and music, and serves on her church missions team and stewardship board.