It's tough to say exactly what the Consumerist is. Though it falls under the purview of the folks at Consumer Reports, the blog doesn't solely focus on product reviews or consumer complaints (though it does cover both those things, and well). Instead, it includes a mix of problem-solving, deals, tips and just plain awesome news. When Subway decided to tessellate the triangles of cheese on its sandwiches (ensuring maximum coverage and eliminating a longtime consumer complaint), the Consumerist was one of the first blogs to pick up the story. It's a fun, fresh blend of buyer-orientated content that just works. Unlike, say, AT&T, a frequent target of scorn.
From the savvy to the satirical, the eye-opening to the jaw-dropping, TIME makes its annual picks of the blogs we can't live without