Now that ghosties and goulies have disappeared for another year, it’s time for holiday gift-buying. When in doubt about paying with plastic — or just the best plastic — BillShrink’s credit card solutions help consumers make the right choice.

As promised, this week's column begins the expanded versions of BillShrink's (www.billshrink.com) free offerings to consumers.

When I discover great resources -- especially those that save consumers money -- I love to pass that information along. BillShrink (www.billshrink.com) is one of those gold mines. A free decision-oriented site designed to put money back into our pockets, BillShrink allows subscribers to view unbiased recommendations customized to their particular needs, and its database is continually updated to meet your demands.

Q: We're in the process of adding a fireplace on to our house and can't decide between gas or wood logs. My husband prefers a "real" fire, but I think a gas fireplace is much safer. Can you please settle our dispute? -- Samantha Safety

My sister-in-law has offered her daughter’s old stroller for my new baby. Money is tight and I really can’t afford a new one, but what should I look for to protect my little one? Mindful Mom

Continuing with last week's column featuring the best ways to catch common billing mistakes, I'm still amazed at the number of errors companies make. Whether through intentional thwacks or pure idiocy, consumers come out on the short end of the stick if we're not thoroughly alert.

Q: I don't know what the problem is but I've noticed several billing mistakes in the past few months. I do get the bills corrected but it's frustrating. Am I wrong in thinking some companies are "on the take?" -- Samuel Scrutinize

Because my husband's and my home has been for sale until recently with folks we don't know coming in and out, we've been extra cautious about security measures. Little did we realize that house stealing can occur from far, far away, but once folks become aware such a threat exists, the battle to thwart the highjacker's plans is actually a pretty simple one. So let's see the methods these crudballs use to boot us out of house and home and what we can do to prevent this theft:

Q: Our old refrigerator just died. What are some tips to keep in mind as we shop for a new one? -- Greta Greenhorn A: Dear Greta: One good thing about a bad economy is the downswing of prices. Obviously, many, many companies verge on bankruptcy these days

Ellen Phillips won't have her weekly Consumer Watch column in the paper today because she's preoccupied with a move.

My family plans a "staycation" Labor Day weekend with short car trips within a 100-mile radius.

Q: With the credit card changes, I'm afraid I'll have to start paying fees. Other than checking out interest on different bank cards, etc., what can I do to specifically keep my rates in check? -- Worried Wally

I'll "depart" summer (or anytime) travel safety advice with one final topic -- cruises. While a cruise ship is probably the safest place for a vacation, travelers still need to adopt basic measures to avoid becoming a crime victim.

Today's column concludes last week's security measures that pretty much guarantee any trips away from home stay enjoyable and, perhaps even more essential, safe and sound.

Q: Last summer's vacation would have been great except some inexpensive jewelry was stolen from our hotel room, and my husband's credit card mysteriously debited an unconfirmed charge of $570. Obviously, the issuing bank removed the charge, but my bracelets are gone forever. I'd like some tips before we leave again next month. -- Alma Anxiety