We’ve rounded the corner on Halloween and put our Thanksgiving leftovers behind us (although, unfortunately, not all those pumpkin-pie-pounds). Now, it’s officially time to bust out the stockings, warm some cocoa, and hang the mistletoe! In honor of the season, CUB is spreading some holiday cheer to our dedicated followers across Illinois. To say ‘Thank you’ for…...
Energy-efficient holiday buying guide
By Samantha Vercellino If Black Friday was a bust (which it was for me), you’re still racking your brain for what to get your family and friends. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of our top five energy-efficient stocking stuffers. Powerless stereo speakers. iPhone enthusiasts can amplify their holiday music…...
News that hits us like a big lump of coal: Gas prices up by as much as 30% this December
By Samantha Vercellino As cold grips the Midwest in the opening days of December, we’re forced to welcome natural gas prices that are up to 30 percent higher. Major Illinois utilities are charging consumers 13-30 percent more to heat their homes this December compared to last. Peoples Gas showed the…...
Energy saving tips to eat up this Thanksgiving
By Samantha Vercellino Thanksgiving is fast approaching and many Americans are gearing up to cook a traditional holiday feast that will leave family and friends in a food coma. But gathering around the table can be a pricey affair, especially when total U.S. spending on Thanksgiving dinner is $2.4 billion. So, before heading…...
Don’t cut that cord yet: Why we still need landlines
The Illinois Telecommunications Act—important legislation that protects your rights and keeps telephone rates low—is up for review in 2015. We are gearing up for a big legislative battle as we expect companies like AT&T and Frontier to attempt to completely deregulate local phone service. If Big Telecom has its way, companies would be free from the…...
Deceptive Billing: 3 Tips to Protect Yourself
Imagine you’ve just signed up for Broadband Internet Service for $34.99 per month. You’re pretty content with the deal, and soon spend your days in a quiet reverie of Pinterest, Netflix documentaries, and cat videos… …until you get your first month’s bill: $94.95! That’s what happened to Jeremy Zielinski of New York…...