Ask Finney: Prearranged funeral plan benefits, tire pressure gauge reliability, switching to solar

7 On Your Side's Consumer expert Michael Finney answers your questions, every weekday on ABC7 Mornings. Submit your video questions and tune in at 6 a.m.

Question 1:

Michael from San Jose asked: Are prearranged funeral plans worth it?

Answer 1:

Making your own funeral and cemetery arrangements are worth it for peace of mind. You're not only ensuring your final wishes will be carried out, you're sparing your family from a financial burden. There are rules on how your prepayments must be held. So, it is important to check with the "Cemetery and Funeral Bureau" for licensed establishments operating in California. They also have a helpful guide for preneed arrangements.

Question 2:

John asked: Are the built-in tire pressure gauges on cars reliable?

Answer 2:

Many new cars come with these electronic systems and they can be a life saver. It is a reliable system for alerting you to pressure losses, but is no substitute for doing a monthly tire pressure check with a stick-type, digital or dial tire pressure gauge.

Question 3:

Savannah from Hayward asked: Do you have any advice on going solar? Our electric bill is getting higher and higher each month.

Answer 3:

Check out Go Solar California. It's a state initiative to help home and business owners make the switch to renewable energy. They provide a step-by-step guide to get the most cost effective system and list all the incentive and rebate programs available. Also, the California Energy Commission keeps an official database of local, qualified solar companies and installers. All you need to do is plug-in your zip code and compare. I'd look at two or three noting how many solar systems they've completed and the average cost of installation.