Lottery tickets might be the ultimate no-labor gift, and they add extra oomph to a greeting card. They’re fun for the giftee, too, allowing him or her to fantasize, even momentarily, about early retirement in Grenada or paying off college bills. Never mind that the odds of winning a major jackpot are about one in a few hundred million. On the bright side, the odds of winning enough to buy a mocha latte with whipped cream are actually within reach, at one in 55. Almost $40 billion in prizes were awarded through state lottery funds in 2013, the last year for which figures are available. 

But think carefully about who will be on the receiving end. Although it may seem harmless to give a teenager an instant lottery ticket, for example, those who receive them as gifts may be more likely to gamble at an earlier age than those who don’t, according to the Journal of Adolescent Health. And just as it’s illegal for minors in most states to buy lottery tickets, it’s also illegal for them to cash in winners.

What If It's Literally a Winner of a Gift?

What if you do happen to give away a winning ticket? Legally speaking, a gift is a gift, so don’t expect a cut of the haul. Bennett Gershman, a professor at Pace Law School in New York, says that the winner is under no legal obligation to share.

So if you think you’d feel resentful if someone you gave a ticket to hit the jackpot, don’t do it in the first place. “Gifts are given without expecting anything in return,” says Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick of the Etiquette School of New York. “Of course the gift could be given with conditions, but what kind of gift would that be?”

Even if the winner wants to throw a few bills your way to say thank you, Internal Revenue Service rules cap the amount of money that can be given tax-free ($14,000 per recipient in 2015).

And what if you receive a lottery ticket and you’re a lucky winner? Sign it right away. Otherwise, if you lose it, someone else can cash in on your holiday good fortune. 

Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the December 2015 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

If you drive in snowy conditions frequently or just want peace of mind should you get caught driving in wintry conditions, then snow tires can be your best friend. Based on Consumer Reports’ testing, they easily outperform most all-season tires when it comes to traveling, stopping, and cornering on snow-covered roads. And they are even a smart choice for all-wheel-drive cars and trucks.

When shopping for snow tires, you can identify winter-ready models by a mountain-and-snowflake symbol on the sidewall. This indicates that the tire meets an industry requirement for snow-traction performance.

Further re-enforcing snow tire virtues, the 2015 Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC) Winter Tire Report features a survey covering snow tire usage in Canada. The survey highlights the benefits of snow tires to reduce accidents and injuries, and to save lives.

A 2011 study in Quebec (where snow tires are mandatory) found widespread snow tire use reduced winter accidents by 5 percent and lowered deaths and serious injury by 3 percent.

Despite the clear advantage, many drivers still don’t consider riding year-round on snow tires. Reasons given in the recent survey for not using these tires included all-season tires are “good enough,” cost, and low frequency of driving in snow.

Other provinces in Canada are finding ways to encourage drivers to fit their vehicles with snow tires. For instance, Ontario will require lower insurance premiums, starting in 2016, for those who use winter tires, and Manitoba offers low-interest loans for winter tires through Manitoba Public Insurance. Increased awareness through highway signs are used in British Columbia, which require snow tires on certain roads.

The TRAC report also identifies “all-weather” tires that have the winter tire mountain-and-snowflake symbol and can be used all year long. TRAC still recommends dedicated snow tires for the best performance in wintery weather. All-weather tires are relatively rare, but they may start a trend.

We’ve experienced this emerging tire type with the Nokian WR G series of all-weather tires, which do deliver better snow traction than typical all-season tires based on our findings. Toyo since introduced a new all-weather tire this year, called Celsius, and we are in the midst of evaluating it.

The report underscores the importance of having the right tires on your car to face winter weather. Check our ratings to find the best tire for your needs.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

LifeLock, the identity theft protection firm, promises to keep your sensitive personal information safe from thieves. Over the past five years, the Federal Trade Commission has brought a series of allegations against them, the most recent of which came to a conclusion only late last week. According to the FTC, LifeLock wasn't providing the kind of security its wall-to-wall advertising implied that it did. LifeLock agreed to pay $100 million to settle allegations that it "misled consumers with deceptive advertising" and failed to establish and maintain proper information security requirements to protect its users' sensitive data, the FTC announced yesterday.

The judgment is the largest monetary award obtained by the FTC in an enforcement of its kind, and it's equal to 47 percent of the $214 million that LifeLock spent on advertising, sales, and marketing in 2014.

History of Problems

LifeLock's latest legal troubles stem from a previous settlement the company made with the FTC and 35 state attorneys general in 2010. That case also involved charges that LifeLock used false claims to promote its identity-theft protection services, and last July, the FTC formally accused LifeLock of violating four terms of that agreement. 

In its 2015 complaint, the FTC also alleged that LifeLock falsely advertised that it protected consumers’ identity 24/7/365 by providing alerts “as soon as” it received any indication there was a problem.

Further details of exactly what LifeLock had allegedly done wrong were not immediately available, because they've been sealed by the court, at LifeLock's request. 

In May of 2014, the company removed its LifeLock Wallet mobile app from the App Store, Amazon Apps, and Google Play after it determined that certain aspects of the product may not have been fully compliant with security standards required of companies that handle credit cards. But LifeLock attorney David Boies said the FTC case is not related to that. 

Protect Yourself for Less

If you're concerned about LifeLock or identity protection services in general, remember that you can take important steps to protect your identity at little or no cost.

Monitor your financial statements and credit reports for suspicious activity that can lead to identity theft. If your credit cards are lost or stolen, you don’t need LifeLock to notify your financial institutions to cancel and replace them. If your Social Security number is out there, we suggest that you put a security freeze on your credit reports at the big three credit bureaus–Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. That will prevent creditors from accessing your file if a crook tries to open a new account in your name. Without access, creditors are likely to deny a credit application. If you’re not yet a victim of identity theft, you might have to pay $3 to $20 (depending on where you live) to freeze your accounts at each bureau. When you apply for new credit, insurance, or utility service, there might be similar fees to remove the freeze.

But there is usually no charge if you’re already a victim of ID theft. Credit bureaus consider credit- and debit-card theft as identity theft, so it should be easier for you to get free freezes. You generally must provide a police report to prove your claim, so make sure you file one right after your credit or debit card or wallet is stolen. Ditto if your home has been burglarized; your computer, cell phone, or other device has been lost or stolen; you receive notification that your personal data has been breached; or you discover unauthorized transactions in your bank or investment accounts. 

Visit our Internet security guide for comprehensive advice about identity theft, malware, privacy, and cybercrime related to your personal finances. 

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

Christmas is just days away, but there's still time to win massive points with the young gamers in the your life by sneaking the perfect video game under the tree. If the goal is to pick something cool without giving the gift of excessive violence, these award-winning games should do it for you. They are some of the best video games for kids that you can buy right now.

These titles below are both exciting and competitive, giving teens the perfect excuse to ignore relatives during the holidays. Options include battling the forces of evil with Luke Skywalker, saving the world with some friends, and destroying Pikachu with a giant laser beam. You won't find these games on any streaming devices like the Apple TV, but we do present choices for every console.

Star Wars Battlefront
Genre: First-person Shooter
Price: $59.99
Platform: Xbox One, PS4, PC

With the arrival of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, every person under the age of 90 probably has lightsabers on the brain. Give the gift of education with Star Wars Battlefront, which chronicles the original (and better) trilogy in an action-packed shooter game. You can control vehicles, shoot down AT-ATs, and control the Force as Jedi or Sith. Multiplayer battles can support up to 40 players, making battles feel like huge events every time.

You won’t play as some generic Stormtrooper, either. Characters such as Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Han Solo are at your command. Use the force, slice some enemies up with your lightsaber, or shoot first with your blaster as you defend the Empire or support the Rebel forces.

Destiny
Genre: First-person Shooter
Price: $49.99
Platform: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One

Destiny hails from the makers of Halo, one of the biggest first-person shooter franchises ever. On a world invaded by alien warriors, you play as a Guardian, one of a group of warriors dedicated to protecting the world. Online play is required, but free, so playing with friends is recommended.

You can collect gear, special powers, and other abilities to better protect yourself on the battlefield. If you have a PlayStation Vita, you can even play the game while someone else is using the television.

Destiny’s plan is to run for a few years, so the character you create now is destined to be the one you use throughout the entire franchise. Talk about saving your game.

Splatoon
Genre: Third-person Shooter
Price: $59.99
Platform: Wii U

If you’re buying games for a younger adolescent, or want to get a gift past a picky parent, Splatoon is a great third-person shooter available for the Wii U. You play as an Inkling, a cartoonish person that can transform into a squid to traverse ink-splattered levels. Online play features team battles that get pretty messy with all the ink flying around.

There’s no blood and gore, so squeamish parents won’t have to worry, and there’s a ton of customization available to make your Inkling look one of a kind. There are even Splatoon Amiibo toys you can buy to get bonus content.

Super Smash Bros.
Genre: Fighting
Price: $59.99
Platform: Wii U, 3DS

Super Smash Bros. gets better and better, and the fourth installment is no different. Nintendo’s multiplayer fighting game features classic characters like Mario, Luigi, Bowser, and other popular characters as they throw fireballs, dodge dragons, and get knocked into space in a battle royale.

In addition to the traditional roster of Nintendo characters to smash, characters from games like Final Fantasy VII, Pokémon, and Street Fighter make appearances via downloadable content. You can use Amiibo to customize your favorite character for use against your friends (or enemies).

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

No one knows more about snow business than the department heads of the country's snowiest cities. To find out how to do the right stuff with the white stuff, Consumer Reports spoke to four northerners plus a director from Dallas, which gets more ice than snow. Here's what they told us about the mistakes people make when winter storms strike.  

Don’t Return Snow to Sender

For Boston Public Works, which dealt with 110 inches of snow over about five weeks last winter, a second wave of snow hits when homeowners and local businesses hurl the snow piles left by plows at the end of their driveways back into the street. “We’d go back to a street after plowing, and it looks like we weren’t ever there,” says Mike Dennehy, the department’s commissioner. When streets marked as cleared fill up again, emergency vehicles can’t get through.

But some homeowners don’t think it through. “They feel it’s not their snow, so they’re giving it back,” says Mike Burns, public works supervisor for Rochester, Minn. “They need to find someplace for it on their own property.”

Heed Warnings

It's rare for a municipality to forbid driving in a storm but everyone we spoke to recommended staying off the roads if possible. Fargo, North Dakota, applies a mixture of brine and beet juice, 48 hours before a storm, that acts like Teflon and is easier to plow cleanly. But with temperatures that can plummet to -25 degrees F or colder, that makes driving uncertain. “At that temperature, it’s very easy to lose control,” says Mark Williams, Fargo's public works services manager.

And while Dallas doesn’t get lots of snow, at least three times a winter the temperature plummets below freezing after a heavy rain—producing icy conditions. An additional hazard for drivers is that temperatures can be high enough to run automatic lawn sprinklers even in December. “These sprinklers will wet sidewalks and roads that, if the temperature drops, will result in black ice and similar hazards,” says Dennis Ware, director of street services for Dallas.

Use Common Sense

Chris Kelly, street superintendent for Madison, Wis., reminds drivers to tailor their driving to prevailing conditions. “Give yourself time to get where you’re going,” he says, which means allowing extra time to slow down and steer. “Use your winter-driving skills.” If you drive often in wintry or icy conditions, snow tires might make sense for you due to their superior grip. 

Think Twice About Passing Plows

While some drivers welcome the sight of a salt truck or plow ahead, knowing the road will be clear, others become impatient or complain that the spraying salt corrodes their cars. But everyone we interviewed decried drivers who rush around the plow only to slide off the road. “My goal,” says Fargo’s Williams, “is to keep your car out of the body shop, not the car wash.” If you do ride behind a salt truck, stay at least 50 to 75 feet back.

Pre-Plan Your Parking

Some municipalities ban street parking when it snows, and anyone who works a plow wishes the roads were clear of vehicles. “A car parked where plows need to go takes up three parking spaces,” explains Chris Kelly, street superintendent for Madison, Wis. “Besides one for the car itself, plows have to swerve around a space in front and one behind.”

Pick your spot carefully and don't make the same mistake twice. One car, routinely parked across the street from a South Boston auto-repair shop, was completely buried each time the shop cleared its multiple driveways.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

My wife hates her Samsung Galaxy S 5, an oldie-but-goodie Android smartphone that still scores near the top of our Ratings. Oh, she’s grateful that her Galaxy’s battery, unlike the iPhone 5's can last a day on a single charge. And she appreciates that the relatively big display on the Samsung helps her squint less. But she’s still not an Android person. The gesture controls and widgets and other customizing options that define Android smartphones are lost on her.

She's not alone. Consumers are loyal to their smartphone operating system, according to a nationally representative survey on mobile devices by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

The survey found that among those who purchased a new smartphone in the past six months and stayed with their previous operating system, 73 percent had been using that operating system for three or more years. But when people did switch operating systems, they migrated from Android to iOS more often than the other way around.

• Android phones are more popular than iPhones among shoppers. Of those who purchased a new smartphone in the past 6 months, 56 percent bought an Android device. Only 40 percent chose an Apple iPhone.
• Among smartphone buyers who switched operating systems, the most common move was from a phone that is not an Apple iPhone or Android device to a new Android device (47 percent of those who switched). Those people include users switching from BlackBerry and Windows devices.
• About a quarter (26 percent) of people who had bought a phone in the past six months and had switched providers had moved from an Android phone to an iPhone. Meanwhile, only 16 percent went in the other direction, changing to an Android device from an iPhone.
   

Editor's Note: The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a nationally representative phone survey to assess consumer loyalty regarding purchases of smartphones. Opinion Research Corporation of Princeton, New Jersey, administered the survey in October 2015 through its CARAVAN Omnibus Survey.  

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

Of the two dozen agitator top-loaders Consumer Reports has tested only one meets the latest Energy Star standards. The GE GTW485ASJWS used less water than the other agitator top-loaders in our tests and was very good at extracting it, cutting dryer time, and saving energy. At $600 the price is right, but here’s what you’ll want to know before you decide.

The GE GTW485ASJWS was impressive at cleaning while using little water, about 14 gallons with our typical 8-pound test load. You do have the option of increasing the water up to a deep fill—about 28 gallons in our test—and the extra rinse cycle is handy if you’re sensitive to detergent residue or need to wash away stubborn pet hair from garments and blankets. At this price, it’s nice to see there’s a pretreat option for tomato, dirt, wine, and grass stains. We tried the wine pretreat and it delivered a notable improvement in cleaning.

The tub is stainless and capacity is large. The manufacturer claims 4.2 cubic feet. Wash time is 50 minutes using the normal wash heavy-soil setting; you can save about 15 minutes using the normal-soil setting. Agitator washers aren’t the gentlest on fabrics and the GE frayed our fabric swatches more than the other agitator machines in our tests. The washer is more gentle on the normal-soil setting. Agitator top-loaders are also typically noisy, and the GE was among the noisiest. Check out the video below for a sound check.

More choices
We’ve tested dozens of agitator top-loaders, high-efficiency top-loaders, and front-loaders. See our washing machine Ratings to compare washers by price and brand. Click on the Features & Specs tab so that you can find out the claimed capacity in cubic feet and each washer’s dimensions. Send any questions to kjaneway@consumer.org.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

The last few weeks of the year tend to race by. Planning an affordable vacation or booking flights and hotels to join family and friends over the holidays might seem impossible now.

But there is still time. Use our travel tips to book an affordable last-minute flight and hotel room in time for Christmas or New Year’s Eve; it can help you find great last-minute travel deals next year, too. Bon voyage!

1. Travel on 'Off' Days

Shifting your travel dates by a day or two will often allow you to nab a much lower airfare. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday are generally the cheapest days to fly.

If you're traveling with a group, consider splitting up your party when you're searching for deals. If you have four in your group and there are only two cheap seats available, online reservation systems will give everyone higher-price seats. Instead, check the price for one, two, and three seats on the plane, as well as for all four, and then book accordingly.

You might also find deals if you fly on a holiday. If you’re flexible enough to fly on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and return on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, airfares can be 25 percent to 50 percent less, according to Travelchannel.com.

2. Check Multiple Airports

When you use price-comparison or airline sites, specify the city you want to depart from, not the airport. Most sites will then show you the flight options for any of that area's airports. A round-trip from one of those airports is likely to be significantly cheaper. For example, a recent search for nonstop, round-trip fares from "Los Angeles area" airports to "South Florida area" airports on Jet Blue (for its cheapest "Blue" seats) departing December 31 and returning Jan. 3 varied from $580 to $1,141 (including taxes and fees).

3. Time Your Purchase

The best time to shop for flights? Check prices at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday; that's when the greatest number of cheap seats might be available. But bargains can appear at any time, so keep searching and set up alerts that will send you an e-mail or text message when prices on your route drop.

4. Consider Heading Overseas

The winter months are also the off-season in European travel hot spots such as London, Paris, Berlin, Venice and Rome. It may be tough to find cheap flights, but deeply discounted hotel rooms may make paying a bit more for flights worthwhile.

Trip Advisor recently listed deals for a rate of $133 a night for a December 31 through January 3 stay at the London House Hotel, and $169 a night for the Park Grand London Kensington. Kayak showed several 4-star hotels in Rome from $66 to $180 a night for the same dates.

5. Haggle With Hotels

Only 28 percent of respondents to one of our surveys tried bargaining for better hotel room rates, yet 78 percent of those who did won an upgrade or a lower rate. Success rates were higher for people who haggled over the phone than for those who bargained in person.

Ask about nonadvertised specials, and use free parking, a different bed size, or room location (for example, if it's next to the laundry station) as bargaining chips.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

To find the best toaster on the market, you need to make a lot of toast. In Consumer Reports' latest review of toasters and toaster ovens, we went through more than 600 slices of Freihofer’s white bread, which has just the right texture and consistency for our precision tests. We also toasted another couple dozen English muffins, whose nooks and crannies and somewhat moister dough create a different set of challenges. In the end, a new two-slice Krups toaster took over the top spot from Cuisinart.

The Krups 2-Slice KH732D50, $70, and the Cuisinart CPT-420, $80, delivered comparable results in our color range test, which measures a toaster’s ability to produce toast that’s very light, very dark, or somewhere in between. But the Krups toaster was better at maintaining even results in our full batch test and it’s incredibly easy to use, thanks to a variety of convenience features, including defrost, reheat, and bagel settings. With its removable crumb tray and push-button controls, it's also easy to clean. 

Design doesn’t factor into our overall Ratings score, but we will say that the blue LED indicators add a touch of high-tech sophistication and the brushed-and-chrome stainless steel housing should look sharp on most countertops. Those features might delight users in the beginning, but down the line, it's the practically perfect toast that pops out of the Krups 2-Slice KH732D50 that will make for a fine start to every day.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

You don't have to shop way in advance or at a fancy store to get a great Christmas gift. You can, if you're a little creative, just head to your local supermarket. There are all kinds of benefits to making the grocery store your choice for last-minute gifts. Among them, you don't have to worry about a gift being the right size and in most cases, it won't have to match the decor. 

Even if food isn't quite what you had in mind, if you have a large supermarket nearby, chances are that it has an aisle or two devoted to toys and as-seen-on-TV items that would make great last-minute gifts. Even a small, local market is likely to have a few items that you can gather together and display in a basket or box and perhaps wrap in colorful paper. Here are some ideas to spark your imagination:

Gourmet Eats

• Gourmet beverages. Grab three or four bags of gourmet coffee and place in a box along with filters, flavored creamers, a variety of teas, hot chocolate, and maybe some fancy turbinado sugar. Check in the housewares aisle for a couple of mugs, maybe a nice teapot, and some colorful tea towels. If you're purchasing loose tea, add a tea strainer.

• Pastas and sauces. Who doesn't like putting together an easy, cozy Italian meal on a week night? Gather a couple jars of gourmet pasta sauce, a few different types of pasta (gluten-free, if you must), a hunk of parmagiano-reggiano (parmesan) cheese, a jar of pesto and another of fancy olives, a fancy bottle of extra-virgin olive oil, whole peppercorns (best in a container with a built-in grinder), and maybe even a hard sausage. In the housewares aisle, pick up a hand grater for the cheese, and a metal colander or hefty pasta pot. Arranging the items in the colander or pot makes for a charming display.

• Chocolate. Whether it's an ingot of fair trade, 72 percent cacao, sustainably farmed from a plantation run by indigenous farmers in Madagascar or your basic, reliable Hershey bar, chocolate of all kinds is a great present in a pinch. A large supermarket may offer deep selections of bar chocolate from Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and elsewhere. For fun, choose one brand for each of the 12 Nights of Christmas, wrap them in different types of paper, and present them in a single box to savor over time. Or, if the folks you're celebrating with are game, unwrap them all and do a blind taste test, Consumer Reports style!

Practical Buys

• Batteries. When it comes to choosing last-minute gifts, this idea certainly isn't glamorous. But extra batteries will be appreciated throughout the year. In my house, we're always searching for AAs and Cs, and you can be sure at least one child's gift at your holiday gathering will come without batteries included. Add a couple of flashlights and a package of candles to turn this into a gift home-emergency kit.

• Magazine subscription. My sister came up with this winning suggestion. Buy a magazine you know the recipient will read, and wrap with a note saying you've arranged for a gift subscription. Of course, you'd better follow through!

• Prepaid cards. They may seem uncreative, but prepaid gift cards are popular items that don't necessarily scream "last minute."  

Just a couple of reminders: If you're buying last-minute gifts you may be in a rush. But with any food gift, take the time to read food labels to ensure you're mindful of your recipients' food allergies and preferences. (Just to be on the safe side, avoid anything with nuts.) And be sure to pick up wrapping paper, ribbon, tape, cards, and scissors, if you need them. In my family's routine, I'm often wrapping gifts at the last minute in the passenger seat while my husband is driving to the holiday event. It's not a pretty scene, but the recipients never know.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

Shoppers looking for a last-minute gift for a child may be tempted by an email advertising a “handwritten letter from Santa to your child” or promising a personalized Christmas Day phone call from the Jolly Old Elf. Before you hand over your credit card number, however, check that your scam alert button isn’t glowing redder than Rudolph’s nose. While several legitimate companies offer these services, many others may be part of a Santa scam.

The Santa scam starts when you click on the email link. The link takes you to a website that promises a special package deal, say a customized letter from Santa and an “official” certification that the recipient is on his “nice” list. To nudge you to act quickly, there may be a free shipping special that ends in just a few hours. (Check out the Consumer Reports 2015 Naughty & Nice List.)

In the best-case scenario of the Santa scam, the Santa impostor site simply takes your money without rendering the service you paid for.  In the worst-case scenario, you have just shared your credit card information with scammers, who can now use it for identity theft.

Another way in which you could be scammed: The fraudulent website convinces you that it’s legitimate because it doesn’t ask for credit card information. Instead, it asks for plenty of personal information, such as your full name, address, and phone number—information it then sells to other scammers or identity thieves.  

Checking It Twice

Follow these five tips to spot—and avoid—the Santa scam and other online scams:

• Ignore calls for immediate action. Many scams try to get you to act before you think by creating a sense of urgency. Don’t do it.
• Look before you link. Hover the mouse over the email link to check the source. Scammers make the link look real but the true destination will be revealed on the lower left corner of your email screen.
• Confirm the contact information. Check that the address and phone number real. You can also do a quick search at the Better Business Bureau.
• Pay through a secure connection. Before you enter your credit card information, be sure the URL starts with “https”—the “s” stands for “secure”—and has a lock icon in the browser bar.
• Check grammar and spelling. Typos and bad grammar are a clue that you have landed on a scam website.

A letter or call from Santa can make the holiday memorable for a young child. But if you're aware of the Santa scam, you can take care that you don’t end up with coal in your stocking. 

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

It looks like smart TVs will try to become even smarter. LG Electronics is updating the webOS smart TV platform that runs its 2016 Internet TVs. It's the first of what we expect to be several announcements about new smart TV systems during CES 2016.

LG isn't quite ready to say which new models will get the updated software, dubbed webOS 3.0. But it has unveiled some of the new features, which include a wider assortment of content, a new mobile app for displaying content from a smartphone or tablet on the TV, and greater ability to use your TV's Magic Remote to control a pay-TV settop box, including DVR functions.

Another feature, called Magic Zoom, lets you increase the size of objects and letters without any loss in picture quality.

With more content coming from diverse sources, a new Channel Plus feature will provide a single channel list that combines over-the-top, or Internet-based, content with your regular broadcast TV channels. The new feature will let you surf through the over-the-top content just like you would regular channels in a program guide. LG says that Channel Plus can be controlled with an app to provide program recommendations via on-screen widgets.

To expand its content offerings, LG has partnered with Xumo for both premium (BuzzFeed, PopSugar) and free (Bloomberg Politics, The Wall Street Journal) digital programming.

Among the other new webOS 3.0 features:

• Channel Advisor, which analyzes viewing patterns to provide program info about frequently watched programs;

• Multi-view, which lets you watch two different sources—such as two channels, or a channel and a Blu-ray movie—simultaneously;

• A music player app that lets you play music through the TV's speakers even when the screen is off;

• And My Channels and Live Menus, which let you create up to 10 favorite channels via the TV's electronic program guide (EPG), and check what's on other favorite channels without leaving the show you're watching.

LG also says that it will have an Internet of Things app that lets you control smart-home appliances—both from LG and other compatible manufacturers—via the TV screen.

LG will be kicking off CES 2016's press day on January 5, and Consumer Reports' will be there to cover all the action. So keep checking back for all of our CES coverage over the coming weeks.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

Brawny and unsophisticated muscle cars used to be the sole domain of Detroit. However, nowadays a homegrown Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang exhibit manners reminiscent of European sports cars and a purebred Swabian can outmuscle Motown's iron. Clearly, there is a synergy of concepts at play here and it’s good news for driving enthusiasts. Case in point: the 2016 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 S.

This is the laudable Mercedes’ C-Class compact sedan taken to the performance extreme by AMG, the automaker’s motorsports wing. AMG turns the luxurious, comfortable and capable C-Class into a fire-breathing muscle car, one that won’t back down to a challenge issued by a Chevrolet Corvette or Porsche 911, let alone the iconic BMW M3 or its new domestic challenger, the Cadillac ATS-V. Yet for all of that power and road-holding competency, you can still use it for running errands. To sample this intense C-Class and share our impressions, we rented one from Mercedes-Benz.

The C63 starts at $65,250 with a “mere” 469 hp. Opt for the S designation, as we did, and you get a blistering 503 hp. That power comes at a price: $73,250 before options.

With the memory of the previous-generation C63 still burned into our synapses, the expectations for this generation were high. With a lowered and stiffened suspension, beefed up brakes, fat and sticky Dunlop Sport Maxx tires, and aerodynamic enhancements all around, this four-door super-sedan from Stuttgart looked poised to storm our test track.

Unlike the previous-generation’s normally aspirated 6.2-liter V8, the new C63 employs a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8. Another change is that the wonderfully communicative, hydraulic-assisted steering has been replaced by an electric set up. Those changes don’t sound like a recipe for pure, unadulterated thrills; indeed, the connoisseurs among us still preferred the old car’s steering. That said, we reveled in the new C63’s outright performance, sound, and cornering prowess.

Any trepidations about the smaller-displacement turbo engine not being up to the task vanish as soon as you unleash this force-fed beast and feel it catapult without lag or hesitation. Unlike its six-cylinder competitors, the big 4.0-liter feels, sounds, and pulls like a big-chested V8. Tromp on the pedal at any point and “V8 versus V6” arguments get blasted into the Internet-forum weeds. We didn’t verify the claimed 0-60 mph acceleration time of 3.9 seconds, but with such stratospheric performance, those numbers are just bragging rights. Suffice it to say the C63 can humble most muscle cars.

The AMG folks used a dual-clutch automated manual in the new C63 AMG. It works wonders in all conditions, but it especially shines when driven with gusto on a track. Think of it as a virtual robot shifting a manual transmission for you and doing a darn good job at it. Various modes, from Comfort to Race, alter shift points, engine sound, and suspension tightness. We particularly liked driving the car in Sport Plus, which turns the heat up with rev-matching downshifts and perfectly coordinated exhaust bark, pops, and crackles. Regardless of speed or throttle position, the C63 leaps forward with an eagerness that’s accompanied by an equally invigorating soundtrack.  

Don’t think that this is merely a ‘bahn-storming muscle car. The C63 takes the already agile C-Class to another level, endowing it with handling chops that put many sports cars to shame. Turn-in response is immediate, and the hunkered down, stiff C63 remains planted.

The steering is quick with a well-judged effort, but it lacks the real-time feedback the old car displayed. On our track, the C63 practically begged to be driven to its high limits. In Race mode this ‘Benz lets its hair down. The stability control becomes a bit loosey-goosey, allowing just enough tail slide in corners to provide thrills without spills. Advanced or adventurous folks can defeat the stability control entirely and turn the C63 into one splendid drift machine (not recommended if you don’t have a track in your backyard).

The interior ratchets up the snazzy ambience of the C-Class with sporty features such as heavily bolstered, two-tone sport seats with built-in head restraints; a lovely suede steering wheel; gorgeous matte wood trim; and AMG logos strewn in various places.

And yet, the C63 can serve as a daily commuter without any significant sacrifices. Of course, you’ll forgo quite a bit of ride plushness and noise isolation, and ease of access is made challenging by those seats. Plus, this supercar engine isn’t exactly frugal with fuel. But leave the car in Comfort mode and the C63 settles into its role of a stealth bomber, flying incognito under the radar without eliciting any complaints from the neighbors.

The C63 AMG is fun—if challenging—track tool that when mastered is rewarding to drive. Possessing a real punch, a glorious soundtrack, and a capable, playful chassis makes it an authentic and serious performance machine, without looking ostentatious. 

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

Americans spend billions of dollars on toilet paper every year. Sales of luxury rolls—whether quilted, lotioned, perfumed, or ultra-soft—alone totaled $1.4 billion in 2014, according to the Wall Street Journal. So brands like Georgia-Pacific and Procter & Gamble probably aren’t too bothered by the announcement from Japanese toilet maker Toto that it sold its 40 millionth Washlet, a bidet-inspired wand that, with the press of a button, extends from the beneath the seat to provide a warm flow of cleansing water. Still, if the device does catch on in the U.S., as Toto hopes, it could save consumers money, not to mention forests of trees.

We haven’t tested the Toto Washlet, though we’ve seen it in action at plenty of trade shows. The remote-controlled wand has five spray settings, including rear cleansing, front cleansing, and oscillating, and the water temperature is adjustable. There’s also a warm-air drying cycle, which all but eliminates the need for toilet paper. The Washlet isn’t cheap, starting around $600, so it will be some years before you start recovering the cost. The environmental benefits of less paper would be immediate, but the Toto Washlet does use a small amount of energy, so it’s not a total win-win compared with toilet paper.  

Using the provided mounting bracket, the Toto Washlet can be retrofitted to any standard toilet (though the color and design might not match as seamlessly as with a toilet made by Toto). There are a few high-end models with an integrated Washlet, but they’re very expensive. The Toto NeoRest 750H, for example, is listed at $9,800. You can save thousands by choosing a top-rated Toto from our toilet Ratings and pairing it with a separate Washlet. 

The Toto Drake CST744S, $250, is a 1.6-gallon toilet with top-notch solid-waste removal, fairly quiet flushing, and superior cleaning. And it performed well in our drain-line carry test, which measures how far flushed water and simulated waste travel when flushed. If you’d prefer a comfort-height toilet, consider the Toto Drake II CST454CEFG toilet, $320. It uses just 1.28 gallons per flush and still manages superb flushing power.

Not quite ready to give up on toilet paper? We have Ratings of that too, including details on the White Cloud Ultra Soft & Thick, a luxury roll that sells for just 25 cents per 100 sheets at Walmart.     

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

The IRS has announced that the tax season will start on January 19, 2016. To be sure, tax prep is probably the last thing on your mind when you're just trying to survive the holiday shopping frenzy. But if you take a little bit of time now—and use the free tools that tax prep software makers offer online and via mobile—you'll get a much better idea of what you might receive or owe on your taxes next year.

That could be a real help when it comes to filing your return come the opening bell. Early filers have a head start when it comes to getting tax refunds too. Yours might arrive just as you're having to pay those holiday credit card bills.  

If you haven't spoken to a tax professional, the free preview features by tax software companies like TurboTax and H&R Block will give you an idea of what you'll owe. When I recently tried them, I found both relatively easy to use, each taking less than 15 minutes. The refunds they calculated differed by about $200–a margin of less than 10 percent. More important, the process inspired me to think of some moves you could make now before year-end to bulk up your refund even more.

• Increase itemized deductions, including charitable contributions, business expenditures, and qualified medical expenses (bother with that last one only if you're close to or above the threshold at which you can get a deduction: 10 percent of your household adjusted gross income or, for households where one filer is 65 or older, 7.5 percent of AGI).

• Adjust your withholding for the last week of December. Check the IRS's withholding calculator for help.

• Sell investments to harvest losses; you can deduct up to $3,000 in losses and carry over the rest to subsequent years.

• Pay 2016 property taxes due in January before year-end, unless you expect to be subject to the Alternative Minimum Tax. In that case, you won't benefit from that accelerated payment. If you expect to be a victim of the AMT, speak to a tax professional before making any moves.

• If you need to take out required minimum distributions from retirement accounts, donate some or all of that money for an additional tax savings. (That temporary move was made permanent in the budget signed by the President last week.)

Get More Money for College

Another major reason to estimate your taxes early is so you can fill out and submit the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) with preliminary income figures as soon as the application becomes available on January 4. You can add your real figures later, after you complete your tax returns. Mark Kantrowitz, CEO of MK Consulting and an expert on student financial aid, says his research shows early applicants get more.

Other motivations for planning way ahead: If you owe, you've got more time to figure out how you're going to come up with the money. And if you expect a refund, you'll have more time to dream about how you're going to spend it.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

Gas fireplaces are popular because they eliminate the muss and fuss of wood-burning versions. But that convenience comes with a risk you may not be aware of: More than 80 percent of gas fireplaces sold last year have fixed glass panels that can become extremely hot—as hot as 1,328° F—because they don’t allow heat to escape. And the glass can remain dangerously hot for up to an hour after the gas is turned off. Touching the super-heated glass can instantly cause third-degree burns. Each year, those burns lead to about 17,000 medical visits, and up to 11 percent of the burns require surgery. Young children are especially at risk.

New gas fireplaces manufactured after January 1, 2015, must come with mesh safety screens that fit over the glass, according to mandatory industry standards developed with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. That’s a protective step we’ve been pushing for along with the American Academy of Pediatrics and others.

But the rule isn’t retroactive to the more than 10 million gas fireplaces in American homes, resorts, and other public places. If you have one in your home or business, it’s up to you to add a safety barrier. Despite the industry’s education efforts, some fireplace retailers may not know about the new rule. Contact the manufacturer; it might provide a barrier at no charge. Or you’ll have to buy one; they cost $100 to $900 or more depending on the size and style. Go to safefireplacetips.com for more information about what you need and where to get it. If you converted a wood-burning fireplace to gas and it has glass doors that you open when the gas is on, this warning doesn’t apply.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

With Apple reportedly hitting the pause button on its much-rumored streaming Apple TV service, many of us are wondering what's taking the company so long. But an even better question is, "What does Apple need to do to make it a success when it does arrive?"

Rumors about an Internet-based Apple TV service have been around since last March, when the Wall Street Journal first broke the news about Apple's plans. As we've previously reported, Apple was initially looking to offer about 25 local and cable cannels for $30 to $40 per month. According to Bloomberg, which cited an unnamed source, Apple more recently was preparing a package of 14 or so channels for the same $30 to $40 a month, but it couldn't convince broadcasters and networks to lower their prices enough for Apple to hit its monthly pricing goals.

It appears, though, that Apple isn't completely throwing in the towel. At a recent business conference, CBS's top executive, CEO Les Moonves, reportedly said he believes that Apple will eventually be able to put together a package of content that works for both content companies and consumers. It will just happen later rather than sooner.

Here are a few things we think Apple needs to do to make an Apple TV service a success.  

1. Include Local Broadcasts

While securing all the content it needs to launch a viable service is clearly a challenge for Apple, it's not an insurmountable one, as Dish's Sling TV plan and some other services mentioned below have shown. But few of these new services include local channels in most major markets.  

In fact, finding a way to include local broadcasts as part of its streaming TV package may be Apple's most formidable obstacle. One big stumbling block is that local affiliate deals are typically negotiated individually, which can be a time-consuming and unwieldy process. Instead, Apple is reportedly trying to simplify the process by convincing the major national broadcasters—ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox—to negotiate with their respective local affiliates on Apple's behalf. This would enable Apple to offer local broadcasts on a national basis without all the complicated separate negotiations. It's not clear if Apple will be successful with this approach.

2. Launch a New Apple TV Box

Yes, we know—Apple just introduced a new settop box. While the fourth-generation player does include Siri voice, a new remote control, and an app store that's now open to third-party developers, we think it's missing two important elements: 4K video support, and better integration with Apple's HomeKit home-control system.

Given that the TV world is rapidly moving to a 4K future, support for higher-resolution UHD streams is a no-brainer, especially considering that Apple TV's key streaming competitors—Amazon Fire TV and the Roku 4—now offer this feature.

We were also surprised to see that the newest player didn't support Apple's Remote app, which lets you use your iPhone keyboard to enter text. The new Apple TV, at least at the time of our testing, also didn't let you connect a Bluetooth keyboard. And the new horizontal layout of the alphabetical keyboard makes inputting text incredibly tedious.

There are already rumors that Apple is working on an even newer Apple TV that could be introduced as early as the first quarter of 2016. If so, it's likely it will include one or more of these features, along with a faster processor.

3. Provide Better Integration with HomeKit

Better support for HomeKit—Apple's vision of an iOS-based home-control system that lets smart devices within the home understand and work with each other—may not be as obvious. But when the most recent Apple TV player launched, we were expecting to hear more about it becoming a gateway device within the home.

In fact, Apple TV already can be used with HomeKit-enabled devices, but you can’t give HomeKit commands to Siri on the Apple TV. It's possible that this can be addressed via firmware updates, but it's also probable that if Apple does launch a new Apple TV player, it will include better HomeKit integration.

Shifting TV Landscape

Apple's streaming TV efforts come amid tectonic shifts in the TV-viewing landscape. Earlier this week, we reported that Amazon is now selling discounted Showtime and Starz subscriptions to its Prime members, and Google recently announced the launch of an ad-free $10-per-month YouTube Red subscription service.

These latest moves follow earlier cord-cutting services from Sling TV, Verizon Custom TV, Sony's PlayStation Vue, and Cablevision's Optimum cord-cutter's plan. These services generally run anywhere from $20 to $70 per month. In addition, there are single-channel subscriptions available from CBS, HBO, Showtime, and Starz.

With more people looking for alternatives, the market for streaming media players also continues to grow. A recent report from Parks Associates says 31 percent of U.S. broadband households own one of the devices, up from 27 percent at the start of 2015.

If you're in the market for a streaming media player, check out our latest streaming player buying guide and Ratings, which incude reviews of many of the most popular players.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

Q. My eyes get very dry, especially during the winter. How can I keep them moist?

A. Your discomfort may be occurring because your eyes may be unable to produce enough tears—or tears of the right consistency—for sufficient lubrication. This can cause a range of uncomfortable eye symptoms such as stinging, burning, gritty feeling, pain, light sensitivity, blurry vision, redness, eye fatigue, discharge, difficulty tolerating contact lenses, and even excess watering of the eyes, according to the National Eye Institute.

Dry winter air is one of the environmental conditions—along with smoke and wind—that can contribute, along with age (most sufferers are over the age of 65, says the American Optometric Association); deficiencies of nutrients such as vitamin A; medical conditions such as allergies, diabetes, eyelid inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis and some other autoimmune disorders, and thyroid issues; along with being female; and medications such as antidepressants, antihistamines, birth control pills, blood pressure drugs, decongestants, and hormone replacement therapy. People who’ve worn contact lenses for many years are also more likely to experience dry eye, and it can crop up temporarily after vision-correcting Lasik surgery. And a research review from the independent UpToDate suggests that eye medications, especially those containing preservatives, can also lead to dry eyes.  

Reduce Dry Eye Discomfort

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms above, you might want to start by setting up a humidifier in your home and office (be sure to clean it regularly as directed). Over-the-counter, preservative-free artificial tears may help reduce irritation within a few days but it can take longer—three to four weeks—before you see significant improvement.

In addition, ask your doctor about alternatives to any eye-drying medications you need to take regularly. Use a lubricating and rewetting drop through the day if you wear soft contact lenses. The AOA also recommends wearing sunglasses when outside—preferably with wraparound frames—to protect your eyes from sun and wind, and reminding yourself to blink often if you’re spending a lengthy time reading or looking at a computer screen.

If the dryness doesn’t respond to these strategies, have a conversation with your doctor about how to proceed. UpToDate recommends wearing swim goggles or goggle-like moisture chamber eyeglasses, which can help maintain a humid zone around your eyes. The prescription eyedrop cyclosporine (Restasis), which has been widely advertised in recent years, can reduce symptoms in some people (though it's not clear who will benefit and who won't), but can take several weeks to work. Some other therapies, such as plugging up the tear ducts to help keep tears in the eyes longer, are less commonly used and should be administered only by eye specialists.

Finally, in some studies, daily omega-3 fatty acids taken orally made the natural tears that lubricate eyes last longer. But experts say that more research is needed to determine just how much of the nutrient is useful for dry eyes.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

The holidays are a stressful time, but there are ways to make them simpler, happier, and healthier. Consumers Reports experts share with you some of their top tips to get you through the holidays and ready to start the new year.

1. Make returns easier.
Always ask for a gift receipt when shopping for others. It streamlines the return process and ensures any refund or credit will equal the full amount paid rather than the lowest selling price the merchant has ever offered.—Don Ball, senior acquisition agent

2. Watch holiday specials without commercials. Use Netflix or another streaming service. You’ll get to sit back without worrying about grabbing the remote during commercials and many services will serve up similar programming automatically when you’re finished watching “A Christmas Story” (yet again). They even have yule log videos and Netflix has exclusive specials like "A Very Murray Christmas," a personal favorite.—Chris Andrade, assistant test project leader

3. A trick for happier travels. Holidays often mean traveling and getting stuck in traffic. To keep our kids, and teenagers, amused, we'd let them open one present before they got into the car. The newness of whatever it was would often keep them busy until we arrived at our destination. And to keep us amused, my hubby and I would have a silent bet about which child would first ask, "Are we there yet?" and about how long that would take.—Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman, deputy content editor, Home and Appliances 

4. Handle uninvited guests and unexpected gifts with ease. Your neighbor pops by on Christmas morning and drops off a Panettone. Your new pal at works gives you a box of chocolates. Then there are those long-lost friends passing through town who drop by just at dinner time. What to do? Buy multiples of small gifts such as bottles of Prosecco or a pretty tin for your home-baked cookies. As for that dinner, your freezer is your friend. Freeze batches of spaghetti, chili, or stew and soon dinner will be served—Mary Farrell, senior editor, Home and Appliances

5. Budget for holiday tips. Our national surveys have shown that most people tip their house cleaners, and a lot give gifts to their hairdressers and children's teachers during the holidays. But where I live in suburban New York City, it's not uncommon to give a holiday tip or gift to other service providers, including garbage collectors, school bus drivers and monitors, and mail carriers (our newspaper deliverer sends us a holiday card with a return envelope inside, just to be sure). So I make holiday tips part of our budget. They come to about $200 each season. In lean times, I've regifted bottles of wine or other small house gifts. Michael my hairdresser, I hope you're not reading this.—Tobie Stanger, senior editor, Money 

6. Have the game console ready to play. Your kids will no doubt want to start playing as soon as they unwrap their new game console. You can make that wish come true by setting up the console the night before. That way you can take your time creating an account, setting up parental controls and even installing some games. Then box it up again and wrap it. Your children will never know and they can play it right out of the box.—Matt Ferretti, senior test technician

7. Check connections ahead of time. Plenty of gifts will require a connection, to Wi-Fi, TV, or smartphone. Check ahead of time to be sure your Wi-Fi is strong enough where people will open gifts, and that you have the password handy. If some devices use a HDMI cable to connect to a TV, or a USB cable to a computer, make sure the gift comes with one or buy one separately. If a gift requires establishing an online account, be ready to provide credit-card information, and choose passwords that are difficult to guess.—Dean Gallea, senior test program leader, computing technology

8. Embrace imperfection. My holiday tablecloth–the one that's big enough when I expand my dining table to its limit–has faded stains of meals past. Those stains give everyone permission to be gregarious and not worry about spilling. So the emphasis is on enjoying the food, wine, and company. And if you do want to get the stains out, here’s how to do it.—Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman, deputy content editor, Home and Appliances 

9. Keep kids safe in the kitchen. I have a couple young kids at home, and lots more visiting during the holidays, so the 3-foot rule is in full force around the hot stove. Any little ones get closer than that and they’re banished from the kitchen. For good measure, I’m also extra careful about keeping pot handles turned in and I’ll try to keep boiling dishes on the back burner. Accidents can happen in a flash and as I say to my kids often this time of year, “I don’t need any trips to the emergency room."—Dan DiClerico, multimedia content specialist, Home and Appliances

10. A shortcut to make pie crust. I never thought about making pie crust from scratch—until I discovered how easy it is to do in a food processor. I use ex-New York Times’ columnist Mark Bittman’s recipe, though you can find others online. Just pop the ingredients (flour, salt, sugar, butter, and ice water) into the food processor and blitz it for 10 seconds. Form it into a ball, refrigerate for 30 minutes, and you’re ready to roll. During the busy baking time of year, I’ll often make a few batches and keep others in the freezer. It’s a real time saver and the results are so much tastier (and cheaper!) than the store-bought crusts I used to rely on.—Dan DiClerico, multimedia content specialist, Home and Appliances

11. Try dairy-free nog. Buy almond nog instead of eggnog. It still tastes great and saves calories. Or you can make it yourself with a recipe online. (You can find more healthy picks here.)—Samantha Kennelly, test technician

12. Mind what you eat. I find it helps to be extra mindful about what I’m eating—a concept borrowed from the yoga studio. Instead of absently reaching for more hors d'oeuvres, really savor the flavor, texture, temperature, and aroma of each bite as it passes over your tongue. During meals, I’ll put my utensil down between bites to slow down the experience. This encourages proper chewing, which reduces food to smaller pieces that are coated with salivary amylase, an enzyme that begins the chemical breakdown of carbohydrates. Reaching for a smaller plate at the buffet helps control portion size, so you can enjoy the holiday cooking without packing on the pounds. (We have plenty of other healthy eating tips too.)—Peter Anzalone, senior test project leader

13. Clean up common holiday messes. The guests are gone but what’s that on the rug? Red wine? Yikes. And a blob of tree sap. Oh no! It pays to act quickly so before you put your feet up, try these tricks. And here’s a bonus tip: Stock up on cleaning supplies and stain removers before the festivities begin.—Mary Farrell, senior editor, Home and Appliances 

14. Stay safe and healthy. Don’t rush to schedule elective surgeries or procedures during the holiday weeks, though it may be tempting to dodge the 2016 deductible. Sure, your doctor’s schedule may lighten up, offering you quicker service, but hospital staffing does as well. It could take longer for doctors to see you if you have a complication, and nursing coverage will likely fall to the bare-bones minimum.  

Open gifts with care. You can cut yourself, especially with sharp plastics like those clamshell packages.

Watch where you place candles. The Red Cross says candle fires are four times more likely to occur during the winter holidays.  

Use caution when climbing ladders. The greatest number of injuries I see are related to broken bones and back sprains following falls. In November and December of last year, around 13,000 people were treated in emergency rooms around the country for injuries tied to holiday lights, Christmas trees, ornaments, and other decorations, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Follow these ladder safety tips.

And get your flu vaccine before you travel. My medical colleagues frequently lament the bugs they pick up on planes, likening jets to closed petri dishes.—Orly Avitzur, M.D., medical director, Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

Motorola Moto 360 (2nd gen) (46mm)

For the luxury-minded who demands custom styling

While this second-generation Moto ($300) retains the distinctively round shape of the first Moto 360, it does come with a few new features and a myriad of customization options. These include a model with built-in GPS for fitness tracking independent of a smartphone, wireless NFC for unlocking doors without a key, and an impressive range of wristband materials, colors, and patterns.

This version is made of 316L stainless steel, a tough, lustrous metal used in many fine watches. Its 46mm-diameter case supports conventional 22mm watch bands. Bands purchased from Motorola have a sliding bolt to make swapping them much easier than wrestling with the tiny, spring-loaded pins used to hold conventional watch straps in place.

For women, there's a Moto 360 that's nearly identical to the 42mm version except that its lug is narrower to accommodate the thinner, 16mm watch bands popular in female fashion.

In addition to onboard GPS for tracking your progress on the running trail, the Moto 360 has an LCD display that can switch into a battery-saving, always-on “transmissive” mode. The mode, made possible by the latest version of Android Wear OS 2, significantly dims the watch face.

This watch is fairly comfortable to wear, and easy to charge: Just drop it into its small cradle. The Moto 360's color touchscreen is easy to use, and the watch also accepts voice commands.

Apple Watch Sport (42mm)

For anyone looking for a cheaper Apple 

The steel Apple Watch starts at $500 and the price can climb into the thousands if you dive into premium metals and finer bands.

The entry-level Sport version of the Apple Watch is made of aluminum and comes with a rubber-like fluoroelastomer band, which helps it weigh and cost less (about $350) than the company's other Watch variety. It's also slightly less tough. The Sport's face is constructed from what Apple describes as "Ion-X" glass, which is similar to the Corning Gorilla Glass found on many smartphones.

The Sport has fewer watchband options than the Apple's flagship Watch. A 38mm version is available for thinner wrists—and smaller budgets. It costs about $50 less.

In other respects, the Sport delivers all of the functionality of its more expensive sibling—and it's just as handsome. The Sport discerns among a number of taps and swipes used to unlock capabilities ranging from fitness tracking and coaching to making phone calls (when paired to an iPhone).

You can turn the Digital Crown to quickly zoom in and out on a map or scroll through a list, without blocking your screen with fingers. A short press on the Digital Crown brings you back to the previous screen and eventually to the home screen, while a long press summons Siri (Apple's intelligent personal assistant) to handle searches and other tasks hands-free.

Press the button below the Digital Crown to access up to 10 favorite contacts; a feature called Digital Touch enables you to send them a line drawing or animations, or even a sample of your heartbeat that they'll feel on their wrist. 

The Apple Watch Sport has a lot of other tricks, as well. It can serve as a viewfinder and remote control for an iPhone camera; it can be used to control music on other Apple devices; and it will remind you to stand up and stretch if you've been inactive for too long.

Pebble Time

For the budget-minded

If this Pebble were any cheaper, it would only tell you the time. But the watch does offer a lot for the money—if you can look past its bulky, 1970s digital look. It does a great job of alerting you about e-mails, texts, and other app notifications fielded by your smartphone. And it has an easy-to-master interface that can be traversed via a button push or two (it lacks a touchscreen). The watch is also rugged, with the ability to survive a dunk in 164 feet of water for about 30 minutes.  

Its always-on color e-paper display has an LED backlight, but it’s only 0.8 × 0.9 inches and provides a so-so resolution of 182 pixels per inch that allows for just cartoonish watch faces. The display is quite easy to see in sunlight, but nearly illegible under the subdued lighting conditions you frequently encounter indoors. And the color is nothing close to the dynamic hues you’ll find on an Apple or other LCD-based smartwatch. In fact, the dull tint is reminiscent of a comic book with pages that have been bleached by the sun.

Pebble Time Round (20mm strap)

Best for small wrists

This version of the Pebble Time is also one of the slimmest and most watch-like smartwatches in our Ratings. Its round case is 0.29 inches thick. But it’s also less water-resistant than its Time siblings, which can survive a 30-minute dunk in 164 feet of water. This one needs CPR below 3.3 feet. But it has the same simple Pebble interface, which is easy to master and can be traversed via a button push or two (it lacks a touchscreen).

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.