Hello and happy Friday! Buy now. Get your stuff now. Pay later – interest free. That’s enough to get most anyone’s attention. It did mine. So, this week, we looked into a new way of paying for purchases that’s popping up at plenty of retailers’ websites. (Wow, that’s a lot of unintentional alliteration!) Anyway, It’s called Afterpay . It’s a digital credit service that launched in Australia and is quickly making its way into U.S. stores – stores like Urban Outfitters, Revolve, Steve Madden and about a thousand more. You get your purchase up front and you agree to make four equal payments. Of course, there’s a catch . There are fees if you miss your payment. It’s not for the financially undisciplined! READ MORE: Growing number of stores offering Afterpay at online checkout I remember as a kid the two big department stores where we shopped were Sears and JC Penney. We’ve talked about Sears and its ongoing battle to restructure and reinvent itself . Now, JC Penney just announced it’s closing 18 department stores and 9 home/furniture stores . No locations have been announced just yet. The new CEO is making big changes — like dumping appliance sales — to keep the retailer in business. READ MORE: JCPenney plans to close 27 stores as sales sink Some SA City Council members are talking property tax breaks. You already get a homestead exemption that whittles those sizeable school district taxes. (If you’re not claiming that exemption, contact your Appraisal District asap. ) But other taxing entities like the city, county, etc. can also allow a homestead exemption up to 20 percent of the total value. Many cities do. San Antonio has not . Should also note that the city has not raised the tax rate in a long time, either. A city exemption may not save you much money each year, but stay tuned to see if any changes are made. ‘Money: It's Personal' — What to bring with you when filing your taxes Enjoy your weekend everyone. Stay safe and stay money-savvy! -Marilyn Check out KSAT's NEW weather section! LATEST CONSUMER HEADLINES Gas price surge, more increases to come Spring hasn’t even sprung, but gas prices have. Local drivers have seen an average 16-cent jump at the pump in just the past week, marking the biggest one-week surge since Hurricane Harvey. Growing number of stores offering Afterpay at online checkout It is an online shopper's conundrum. You find those killer blush booties, but they bust your budget. Enter Afterpay, a payment system that lets you buy now and pay later -- interest-free. Give your cellphone a tune-up to save money With the latest flagship cellphones from Apple and Samsung priced at $1,000 and up, consumers are looking for ways to save. Recall Roundup: Kia, Hyundai recall more than 500,000 SUVs over engine fire risks Hyundai and Kia are recalling more than a half-million SUVs nationwide because of new problems that may lead to engine fires. Consumer Reports reveals top picks for 2019 cars, pickup trucks, SUVs Subaru and Toyota are the dominant automakers as Consumer Reports releases its influential list of top picks for 2019 cars, pickup trucks and SUVs. How to improve your coffee break Whether you like a latte, energize with an espresso, or kick-start with a cappuccino, you want a coffee maker that can deliver. Like this information? Want more? Sign up for more great KSAT newsletters HERE!

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12 On Your Side: This week's consumer round-up from Marilyn Moritz!

Hello and happy Friday! Buy now. Get your stuff now. Pay later – interest free. That’s enough to get most anyone’s attention. It did mine. So, this week, we looked into a new way of paying for purchases that’s popping up at plenty of retailers’ websites. (Wow, that’s a lot of unintentional alliteration!) Anyway, It’s called Afterpay. It’s a digital credit service that launched in Australia and is quickly making its way into U.S. stores – stores like Urban Outfitters, Revolve, Steve Madden and about a thousand more. You get your purchase up front and you agree to make four equal payments. Of course, there’s a catch. There are fees if you miss your payment. It’s not for the financially undisciplined! READ MORE: Growing number of stores offering Afterpay at online checkout I remember as a kid the two big department stores where we shopped were Sears and JC Penney. We’ve talked about Sears and its ongoing battle to restructure and reinvent itself. Now, JC Penney just announced it’s closing 18 department stores and 9 home/furniture stores. No locations have been announced just yet. The new CEO is making big changes — like dumping appliance sales — to keep the retailer in business. READ MORE: JCPenney plans to close 27 stores as sales sink Some SA City Council members are talking property tax breaks. You already get a homestead exemption that whittles those sizeable school district taxes. (If you’re not claiming that exemption, contact your Appraisal District asap. ) But other taxing entities like the city, county, etc. can also allow a homestead exemption up to 20 percent of the total value. Many cities do. San Antonio has not. Should also note that the city has not raised the tax rate in a long time, either. A city exemption may not save you much money each year, but stay tuned to see if any changes are made. ‘Money: It's Personal' — What to bring with you when filing your taxes Enjoy your weekend everyone. Stay safe and stay money-savvy! -Marilyn Check out KSAT's NEW weather section! LATEST CONSUMER HEADLINES Gas price surge, more increases to come Spring hasn’t even sprung, but gas prices have. Local drivers have seen an average 16-cent jump at the pump in just the past week, marking the biggest one-week surge since Hurricane Harvey. Growing number of stores offering Afterpay at online checkout It is an online shopper's conundrum. You find those killer blush booties, but they bust your budget. Enter Afterpay, a payment system that lets you buy now and pay later -- interest-free. Give your cellphone a tune-up to save money With the latest flagship cellphones from Apple and Samsung priced at $1,000 and up, consumers are looking for ways to save. Recall Roundup: Kia, Hyundai recall more than 500,000 SUVs over engine fire risks Hyundai and Kia are recalling more than a half-million SUVs nationwide because of new problems that may lead to engine fires. Consumer Reports reveals top picks for 2019 cars, pickup trucks, SUVs Subaru and Toyota are the dominant automakers as Consumer Reports releases its influential list of top picks for 2019 cars, pickup trucks and SUVs. How to improve your coffee break Whether you like a latte, energize with an espresso, or kick-start with a cappuccino, you want a coffee maker that can deliver. Like this information? Want more? Sign up for more great KSAT newsletters HERE!

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