The Miami-Dade Consumer Services Department wants all consumers to be Smart Holiday Consumers.

While the holidays can be fun, amid the rush, consumers can become victims of bad deals, excess debt, scams or worse...yes, the holiday season has arrived. Evenings and weekends are about to be filled with trips to the mall, visiting relatives, and happy children. The holidays are so busy that you may not have time to finish everything you need to do, let alone make time for thoughtful preparation. Internet shoppers who stop and think before they buy can prevent an online Scrooge from interfering with their purchases and ultimately, their holiday fun.

In this edition of Consumer Wise we offer several tips that we hope you'll keep in mind so your celebrations will be fun for everyone. Happy Holidays!

Cathy Grimes Peel is the Director of the Miami-Dade County Consumer Services Department. The Department functions as the consumer information and protection arm for Miami-Dade County residents and visitors.