Even the greenest thumbs need help sometimes—and a lot of it—with where to buy plants, how to keep the lawn lush, and how to keep the landscape in shape. The best-run garden centers, landscape contractors, and lawn-care services have the answers.

In this episode: How to find great lawn-care services, and what to consider when hiring a landscaper. Plus, for DIYers, how garden centers rate for price and quality.

Here are more resources on lawn care services, landscapers, and garden centers. Checkbook’s ratings find that the quality of the work—and the prices charged for essentially the same services—vary greatly.

Higher gas prices have a lot of people thinking about making the switch to electric vehicles, and automakers are racing to provide customers with options—sedans, sports cars, SUVs, and trucks.

In this episode, we look at where things stand right now, what’s coming down the road, and things to consider before buying a plug-in hybrid or fully electric vehicle.

Special Guests: Paul Eisenstein, Automotive Journalist and Publisher of thedetroitbureau.com, and Mike Monticello, Manager of Road Tests & Reviews at Consumer Reports Autos

Additional resources:

How to Decide If a Hybrid, Plug-In Hybrid, or Fully Electric Car Is Right for You

Most & Least Satisfying Electric Vehicles and Hybrids

With Chevrolet’s Under-$30,000 Equinox EV, Battery-Electric Vehicles Go Mainstream

How Much Do Cold Temperatures Affect an Electric Vehicle’s Driving Range?

Just like humans, pets get hurt or sick and need routine healthcare. While most vets get high marks for competency and caring, Checkbook's undercover shoppers found huge differences in prices for the same procedures.

In this episode we share tips to help you choose—and deal with—a veterinarian who will provide the care, service, and reasonable charges you want. We also discuss the pros and cons of pet insurance, and what to look for if you decide to buy a policy.

Read Checkbook's full report on vets, plus our in-depth investigation into pet insurance.

Identity theft is a serious and growing crime—and we’re all at risk. The losses are staggering: By one estimate, identity theft victims in the U.S. lost $56 billion in 2020. Last year, the FTC received more reports about identity theft than any other type of complaint.

Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center, explains how criminals get your personal information, how they use it, and how to fight back.

Additional resources:

Identity and Cyber Theft: How to Protect Yourself (including links for freezing your credit files)

Identity Theft Resource Center’s 2021 Annual Data Breach Report Sets New Record for Number of Compromises

FTC Identity Theft Homepage

Solar-energy technology continues to advance in ways that can greatly benefit homeowners. Solar panels sold today cost less than those available just five or six years ago, plus they produce more electricity. These efficiency gains mean most families can install fairly small projects to cover all their electricity needs. However, solar projects still come with hefty upfront price tags.

In this episode, we'll discuss the options and look at how much you can really save by going solar. Plus, we have tips on how to find a good installer and ways to pay for a solar project.

Read Checkbook's full report on solar energy contractors, plus see our ratings.

Good credit is important. Bad credit can make it difficult—or more expensive—to get a loan or credit card, rent an apartment, or get cell phone service. Surveys show few people truly understand how the system works: What makes their credit scores go up, and what causes them to plunge. In this episode we’ll demystify the process, and separate credit facts from credit myths.

Special Guest: Liz Weston, a personal financial columnist for NerdWallet, and author of the best-selling book “Your Credit Score.”

Additional Resources:

Credit Myths Persist, Even After Pandemic Forces a Closer Look at Finances

New Government Report: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion Rarely Act on Complaints About Credit File Errors

How to Spot a Credit Repair Scam and What You Can Do to Improve Your Credit Scores

Buy Now, Pay Later Spending Traps

Our homes rely more than ever on energy for heating, cooling, lighting, hot water, and to power all our gadgets. Most of our abodes still unnecessarily waste lots of energy, contributing to pollution and climate change while sucking away our money.

In this episode, we look at some simple repairs and improvements that will yield big energy savings for most families, plus projects with bigger upfront price tags that still make sense from a cost-benefit standpoint.

For more tips, read our article 32 Ways to Save Energy at Home.

We all spend money on stuff we don't need, from top-of-the-line appliances with features we'll never use to designer clothing we'll rarely wear. But there's a big difference between splurging on luxuries and throwing away money on products and services that are worthless or unnecessary—or that you could get for free. Here are some of them and why they're a waste of money.

Read our complete list of 65 Things You (Probably) Shouldn't Pay For on Checkbook.org.

No one looks forward to going to the dentist, but oral hygiene is an important part of your overall healthcare. Most dentists do a good job, but some are better than others at making their clients feel comfortable. Price may also be a consideration. Checkbook’s undercover shoppers found astounding price differences from practice to practice for the same procedure. Based on our subscriber surveys, there is no relationship between price and quality. In this episode, we’ll also talk about the pros and cons of dental insurance.

Read Checkbook’s full report on how to find a good dentist, plus see our ratings.

Online fraud is a serious problem, and it keeps getting worse. Cyberthieves are getting better at stealing money and sensitive personal information, which is why it’s so important to understand the risk and what steps you can take to protect yourself.

Special Guest: Brett Johnson, a cyber security consultant and former identity thief. Few people know more about cybercrime than Johnson, who was once on the Secret Service’s Most Wanted list. Johnson made millions developing online fraud techniques before getting busted (several times) and spending more than six years behind bars. Johnson started AnglerPhish Security to share his insider’s knowledge about fighting cybercrime.

Additional resources:

Identity and Cyber Theft: How to Protect Yourself

Data Breaches Skyrocket; Here's How to Safeguard Your Online Accounts

Online Privacy: How to Guard Yours

Computers & Devices: How to Keep Yours Safe