SHOPPING SMART

Read up before you shell out--a little research might save you money and steer you away from a "lemon."

The Consumers Union, a nonprofit organization, publishes Consumer Reports, a monthly magazine that evaluates brand-name products ranging from bicycles to organic food.

A summary of the findings is published in a yearend Buying Guide. Subscriptions, which include the Buying Guide, are $12, or the guide can be ordered separately for $3.50. (Copies may also be available at newsstands and libraries.)

To order or get a list of the Union's publications, write to Consumers Union, Orangeburg, N.Y., 10962.