As New Year’s Day fast approaches, perhaps it is time to chisel in stone our Top 10 Resolutions for the Maine consumer.

The doubting Thomases out there will note that only 7 or 8 percent of all New Year’s resolutions are kept for the full year, and, by the beginning of March, fully half of the commitments usually have fallen by the wayside.

We hope to do much better than that here.

1. Do your homework before making that large purchase.

Proper planning by the consumer will save many problems down the road.

Research the product and research the company selling the product. Talk to others who have bought the product or service you are interested in and assess how happy they are.

Once you have separated from your money, your ability to receive satisfaction has lessened.

2. Remember the adage: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

In 34 years of helping thousands of consumers, we have yet to find one make-money-working-at-home scheme that actually allows Mainers to make money at home.

Whether it’s raising red wriggler worms or stuffing envelopes, the bottom line is you will pay money to get on board with the schemer’s program, and then you will not receive any meaningful benefit for your labors.

3. If the unsolicited e-mail from Nigeria says that large sums of money are tied up in international red tape and you can help free up those funds, avoid this ruse at all costs.

Do not respond.

These schemes prey on the gullible and have been fleecing Americans for decades, the latest versions now on the Internet. With all due respect to the United Nations and positive international relations, if the e-mail scheme says Nigeria, it is bogus.

4. Teach your children about consumer rights and responsibilities in the marketplace.

It’s never too early to evaluate questionable advertising claims that are aimed at children on television and elsewhere.

A new but broken or underperforming Christmas toy gives a great opportunity for parents to educate.

Spend a few minutes chatting about toy safety and small parts that can choke small children. Your own home might be childproof to hazards, but the neighbor’s or baby sitter’s home may have dangers.

5. Think twice about purchasing extended warranty for products.

Rarely are these warranties worth the expense. Maine’s implied warranty law may also provide protection to consumers when relatively new televisions go dark in the night.

6. File important receipts, warranties, product instructions, and consumer-related correspondence in one easily accessible place.

Read them front and back, cover to cover. Use a black permanent marker on the back of new large appliances and mark with the date of purchase, the name of the seller, and perhaps how much you paid.

7. Give the seller of a product an opportunity to fix mistakes and stand behind their products when you have a problem.

More patience and listening on your part and less fire and brimstone often pays big dividends. Some merchants excel at satisfying an unhappy consumer. Give them that chance.

8. Help the elderly.

None of us are getting any younger, but the seniors in our lives are particularly vulnerable to consumer scams, schemes, and also unethical contractors. Recognize their needs to be independent, but offer to be of assistance.

Also give them a hand with the new health care rules and regulations. Should you feel overwhelmed with this task (relax, most of us are) link them to organizations who have staff and resources to assist.

9. Give carefully to charities.

Yes, your gifts are important, but carefully research each agency before you send your well-intended, hard-earned cash. There are many charitable groups with very high fundraising and other administrative costs that greatly reduce the amount of funds for direct service. There are several good online resources to help you evaluate your gift giving choices.

10. Support consumer information and advocacy organizations.

Subscribing to Consumer Reports magazine and joining or renewing as a Northeast COMBAT member can be very good investments for increasing consumer education, satisfaction, and success in 2006.

Have a Happy and Safe New Year.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT-Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded, nonprofit organization. For help, write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.