Consumers are warned to be wary of deals that seem too good to be true because they probably aren't. Here's an exception to that rule.

If you could use more time and money, The Seattle Times has a deal for you. It's a new page called "Make it Count: Your guide to saving time and money." All you have to do is come to seattletimes.com or turn to the back of the Northwest Life section each Sunday and read it. Make it Count will appear once a week, but it is just the cornerstone of expanded consumer focus throughout The Times. These are financially challenging times, and we want the newspaper to be as useful in your life as possible.

Andrea Otanez, consumer editor, says our consumer coverage will have a simple purpose: "We want to help people. We want people to think of us as a watchful advocate and personal guide. We're looking out for them."

Otanez calls it community-based journalism, journalism about how we live our lives. It's where she lives.

"I love a good bargain. There's no doubt about it, and I know what my limits are," she said.

But she's quick to add that our consumer initiative is about a lot more than just smart shopping. "It's about protecting yourself from scams, protecting your savings, protecting your privacy and identity. That's all bound up in this effort."

The breadth of the topic is reflected in a special Make it Count Consumer Guide in tomorrow's Times. From A to V (animal welfare to voting), the guide is a compilation of tips, strategies and contacts to help consumers solve problems. Here are some of the topics:

Bankruptcy, cable TV, charities, credit, day care, disabilities, environment and recycling, funerals, insurance, junk mail, licenses, moving companies, recalls, rental agreements, taxes, taxis, travel and more.

In addition to special content like the guide and Make it Count, the Times staff is encouraged to look for consumer-friendly approaches to stories throughout the newspaper.

"Across the board, everybody is trying to be more aware of it," Otanez says.

Beyond the printed newspaper, seattletimes.com will enable readers to share ideas, ask for help and find resources.

Otanez says, "There is a sea of consumer information online but it isn't well organized. We'll open a portal to frame it in the right way and help people get a handle on it."

While Otanez is responsible for the overall scope of consumer coverage, helping to lead the effort is Katherine Long, research editor. Otanez calls Long the Gadget Woman, because of her expertise in technology and databases.

Also on the consumer team are Peter Lewis, reporter and lead watchdog on consumer protection; Jolayne Houtz, reporter and lead reporter on "how-to" stories; J.J. Jensen, Make it Count reporter; Cheryl Morningstar, researcher; and Tracy Cutchlow, Web producer. Designer Boo Davis is responsible for the distinctive look of Make it Count, with Todd Coglon designing the Web site.

Regular features on the Make it Count page will include:

• Here to Help, a response to reader questions.

• Consumer Reports, a weekly column from the authoritative magazine.

• Tester, a product review.

• Recall, news about recalled products.

• Keep Your Money, advice for doing just that.

• Shop Smart, tips for spending your precious dollars wisely.

"I really enjoy boiling this down for people and giving them the goods," says Otanez. "It's a lot of fun and — most important — useful."

Above all else, the guiding philosophy behind our consumer coverage is that there are no sacred cows.

Our mission as an independent newspaper is to serve readers and to be your definitive source of consumer news and information.

Inside the Times appears in the Sunday Seattle Times. If you have a comment on news coverage, write to Michael R. Fancher, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111, call 206-464-3310 or send e-mail to mfancher@seattletimes.com. More columns at www.seattletimes.com/columnists