Get the 411 on what to look out for when buying a new car, shopping for home appliances (both big-ticket items and smaller purchases!), and picking out the right furniture for your style. We divulge all of our secrets -- from the best ways to bargain shop to our featured deal of the week!

It’s a new era, and paper books are falling by the wayside. Our children may never even know what it’s like to hold a book made out of paper in their hands! So what’s your digital reader of choice, Nesties? More competitors are arriving on the market -- the Amazon Kindle led the way, with the Sony Wireless E-Reader hot on its tail. Now, Barnes & Noble has released the Nook, and the boards are buzzing. Onto the comparison!

Now, what would hot, new technology be without an entry from the gurus of gadgets themselves, Apple? Rumors of the Apple Tablet e-reader are hotter than ever, so stay tuned if you’re a Mac-lover. Plus, another reader called the iRex will soon be entering the market. Lots to choose from -- book-lovers, rejoice!

[ Amazon Kindle ]

[ Barnes & Noble Nook ]

Do you and your spouse find yourselves up all night? Do your sheets end up all rumpled and in piles at the end of the bed from all the moving around the two of you are doing? If so...you may need a new mattress (but if you're up all night for another reason, our congratulations). Many couples find themselves experiencing a Princess-and-the-Pea-type situation with their marriage bed, especially if they're using a mattress that's over nine years old.

Does this sound like you? Don't worry, we've got a helpful guide to help you navigate all the pitfalls of buying a new mattress -- from pillowtops to memory foam, we'll help you figure out how to get a bed that will allow the two of you to get a good night's sleep.

Photo: iStockphoto

You throw out clothes you no longer wear and electronics that no longer work, so why hang onto a car that has long surpassed the point of drivability? It takes up way more space than those old clothes and gadgets, plus it can be a drain on your finances.

Now I know saying good-bye to an old car can be hard -- my parents sold the ’97 Toyota Camry I drove for most of high school when I left for college, and I never even got to drive it one last time (cue violins). But my parents had their reasons, and their guidelines --along with these others -- are good ones to follow when weighing the pros and cons of keeping your car:

• We didn’t need it Think about your commuting/driving needs. Do you have more vehicles than drivers? If so, consider getting rid of one (or more!) of your extra cars.
• It needed costly repair work to pass inspection If your car needs a large amount of work in order to pass the state inspection that year, consider selling, donating, or scrapping it.
• They were able to sell it Just because you don’t want your old car doesn’t mean someone else won’t! My parents were able to sell ole Cameron the Camry in the local paper for a pretty good price.
• It wasn’t eco-friendly This didn’t actually apply to my Camry -- it got great gas mileage, and back in 2002 gas was roughly $1/gallon (jaw, meet floor, right?), but if your car is a gas-guzzler, you should definitely consider getting a more eco-friendly model.
• You’re not driving it When I visit my parents in the burbs, I always see cars sitting in people’s driveways that have basically become one with the ground. The tires are flat, there are leaves stuck in the hubcaps, and it’s pretty clear they are well past the point of use. Does this sound like your car? Unless it’s an antique -- in which case, you *may* want to look into a better storage facility -- you should probably say good-bye to your jalopy.
• It needs constant maintenance Do you see your mechanic more than your best friend? Your car should not be a time and money drain. If it spends more time in the shop than on the road, ditch it now.

So you’ve read the above reasons and decided that yes, it is indeed time to say good-bye to your clunker. Here’s another incentive: As a part of the 2009 economic stimulus plan, all new passenger car purchases qualify buyers for an additional tax deduction on your 2009 income tax return. So what are you waiting for? Put that clunker out to pasture ASAP!

We always defer to the experts at when it comes to our buying guides -- so how could we pass on doing this for one of your most important purchases as a couple? Think about it! When it comes to camcorders, this is what will make your first vacations and newlywed moments together live on in time. So if you’re up for making movies together, check out this article to find out what types of camcorders are on the market, the features they carry, and shopping tips for purchasing the perfect one for you.

Find tips on what to look out for when buying home appliances, furniture, and electronics in our buying guides section!

Whether you’re remodeling the kitchen or just looking to upgrade, check out this guide so you can turn up the heat.

Range vs. Cooktop
First, decide whether you want a traditional all-in-one range (aka, a stove) or a counter cooktop and a separate wall oven. Costs for either option can easily go to into the thousands, though there’s a greater selection of affordable ranges.

Usually, the most practical option is an oven-and-cooktop combo, especially if you’re simply replacing an old stove. Slide-in ranges are designed to slip into a space in between cabinets, while others, like this AGA, require major space.

A built-in cooktop and a professionally installed wall oven can give the room a modern look and make the best use of space. But, be careful, the update may require a major renovation if your kitchen is already set up for a traditional range.

Electric vs. Gas
You may not have a choice with this one: If you don’t have access to a gas line, an electric range is your only option; if you don’t have a 220-volt outlet, you’ll want to stick with gas. How to decide? Consider the type of cooking you do most.

Baking, low-maintenance cooking: Pros say electric ranges are best for baking because they allow for a more even oven temperature. The drawback: Electric coils stay hot after being turned off, so watch out!

Searing, boiling, frying: True foodies often prefer gas cooktops because they allow for more control of the heat. The flames add to the poetry of cooking, and, more important, the burner quickly cools once it’s turned off.

The Right Range, the Right Price
After deciding on a type of range, research online which brands and features fit your budget (Cooking.com has more than 300 models, including Viking, DeLonghi, and Jenn-Air). Once you’ve found a few different options, take a trip to a local store to see the range and check its aesthetics; then consider whether you’d prefer to purchase it on the spot or to search for a better deal online. If you decide to purchase over the Internet, make sure the site’s customer service representatives are available to discuss delivery, installation, and warranty information in detail.

Nestperts Skip Heinrich, Merchant-Cooking The Home Depot; Audrey Reed-Granger, spokesperson for Whirlpool