Happy weekend, y’all! You know it’s just about February when two things show up – W-2s and Thin Mints. Of course, the Girl Scout cookie s are much more welcome – I’m partial to Samoas. I remember selling them for 50 cents a box as a kid. And, you always knew which houses to head to first because they were the ones who bought five! Brace yourself: One million boxes of Girl Scout cookies arrive in San Antonio As for taxes, it’s that time. This week, we visited with the folks at VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program) and they were already pretty busy. If your household made less than $55K last year, you are eligible to get some free help preparing and filing . It’s especially helpful for folks who are not computer-savvy because the fastest way to get your refund, if you’re due one, is to file electronically and use direct deposit. Free tax prep help available at 19 SA VITA sites Before you plunk down cash for tax software, you might want to check to see if you can use free filing options through the IRS website at www.irs.gov . One more thing about taxes, if you are due a refund, the faster the better. You don’t want to find out someone has stolen your identity and filed for you, pocketing your refund before you could. It happens. Important news for parents of new babies – more recalls of those inclined sleepers . This is something we’ve reported on again and again. Sadly, more than 70 infant deaths have been linked to some inclined sleep products. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is pushing to ban them. This week, Graco, EvenFlo, Summer Infant and Delta pulled theirs as a precaution. Despite all of the recalls and warnings, there are some still in stores, and I see them for sale secondhand on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. More inclined sleepers for babies recalled due to suffocation risk Are you planning to watch the Super Bowl? I’m not particularly invested in either team, but I’ll watch. Like a lot of people, I may be more interested in JLo, Shakira and the commercials. If you have a new TV, or even if you don’t, you want a good quality picture. Coming up on KSAT on Friday at 5 p.m., I’ll show you 3 features on your TV you may want to turn off. Have a super weekend! Marilyn More Consumer Headlines: * Bar Louie files for bankruptcy and closes one-third of its restaurants * Eat this fish, seafood for best nutrition * How to keep yourself safe from password hackers, once and for all Check out KSAT’s NEW weather section! Like this information? Want more? Sign up for more great KSAT newsletters HERE!

12 On Your Side: Infant product recall, free tax help, Girl Scout cookies and Super Bowl viewing

Happy weekend, y’all!

You know it’s just about February when two things show up – W-2s and Thin Mints.

Of course, the Girl Scout cookies are much more welcome – I’m partial to Samoas. I remember selling them for 50 cents a box as a kid. And, you always knew which houses to head to first because they were the ones who bought five!

Brace yourself: One million boxes of Girl Scout cookies arrive in San Antonio

As for taxes, it’s that time. This week, we visited with the folks at VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program) and they were already pretty busy. If your household made less than $55K last year, you are eligible to get some free help preparing and filing. It’s especially helpful for folks who are not computer-savvy because the fastest way to get your refund, if you’re due one, is to file electronically and use direct deposit.

Free tax prep help available at 19 SA VITA sites

Before you plunk down cash for tax software, you might want to check to see if you can use free filing options through the IRS website at www.irs.gov.

One more thing about taxes, if you are due a refund, the faster the better. You don’t want to find out someone has stolen your identity and filed for you, pocketing your refund before you could. It happens.

Important news for parents of new babies – more recalls of those inclined sleepers. This is something we’ve reported on again and again. Sadly, more than 70 infant deaths have been linked to some inclined sleep products. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is pushing to ban them. This week, Graco, EvenFlo, Summer Infant and Delta pulled theirs as a precaution. Despite all of the recalls and warnings, there are some still in stores, and I see them for sale secondhand on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.

More inclined sleepers for babies recalled due to suffocation risk

Are you planning to watch the Super Bowl? I’m not particularly invested in either team, but I’ll watch. Like a lot of people, I may be more interested in JLo, Shakira and the commercials.

If you have a new TV, or even if you don’t, you want a good quality picture. Coming up on KSAT on Friday at 5 p.m., I’ll show you 3 features on your TV you may want to turn off.

Have a super weekend!

Marilyn

More Consumer Headlines:

Check out KSAT’s NEW weather section!

Like this information? Want more? Sign up for more great KSAT newsletters HERE!

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