So our reviews and other stories are typically written by journalists, not specialists in their field. Our DNA is that of a news organization and we trust journalists to collect information from experts and distill it into a package that we think readers will find compelling and useful.That said, we do look for journalists with relevant experience in the subjects they write about.

So for instance, in the Money group we generally do not ask financial planners to write for us. However, several of the people who've written for us happen to hold a certified financial planner designation or have previously worked in the financial services industry.

But authors aside, I think the main way we try to build credibility and give our rankings heft, is the process we use to produce them.We ask writers to go through extensive research and testing to pick the products that are the best based on what we think are the most important features. The process isn't always perfect-—not everyone is going to favor the features we favor.

But it allows us to narrow the number of picks we offer readers down to four or five. And it allows us, when we go to write the story up, to always clearly explain why we made the choices we did. That way, even if you don't like our picks, once you've read the story you should clearly understand how all the top products compare and then you can make your own choice. — Ian Salisbury Buy Side from WSJ Money Editor

Your best bet is to go with percale sheets, which feel crisper and cooler to the touch than sateen or other materials. We recently tested a variety for our roundup of the best cotton sheets, and the Milano Hemstitch Sheets by Matouk came out the winner. These are 600-thread-count Egyptian cotton, which is softer and more durable than standard cotton. Percale does feel stiffer than sateen at first, but over time, as you wash it, becomes silkier. If you're willing to spend more, Sferra's Giza 45 Percale Sheets are exceptionally smooth, lightweight and breathable, with a beautiful stitched detail. —Betsy Goldberg, editorial director at Buy Side from WSJ

Our aim isn't to compare ourselves to any one particular site, but in general, our mission is to save readers time and money, so we heavily curate our recommendations down to just the best. In our roundup of the best cookware sets, for example, we tested a wide range of sets but ultimately recommended only the three best to buy. Another differentiator is that we don't just tell you how to spend your money but also how to budget and invest. We're unique in that we cover both money and consumer goods products. —Betsy Goldberg, editorial director at Buy Side from WSJ

We love this question because we've been spending a lot of time scouring all the sales! Generally, you can find a lot of good deals on electronics, small kitchen appliances and fitness gear, but you'll want to make sure you're buying a high-quality product that you'll enjoy using, not just one with a currently low price. We know it can be hard to tell, so we've rounded up the best deals so far on products we've already recommended on our site.

We're also seeing sales from a number of top-quality home brands that don't often offer discounts, such as Parachute, Smythson and Serena & Lily, so it's a good time to stock up on higher-end items you've been wanting or to buy them as gifts. On buysidewsj.com you can find roundups of the best deals in all the big categories (Fashion, Home, Fitness, Tech and more), and we are continuously updating these as more deals go live.

In terms of items to avoid, our senior editor always points out that you'll to be wary of product variants for pricey electronics especially, like TVs and stand mixers, for example. You want to make sure the product that’s on sale is the one you actually want, and not a slightly tweaked version with lesser specs or a poorer build quality, so look carefully at the model number. Even one digit or letter different could mean you’re getting a completely different product. —Betsy Goldberg, editorial director at Buy Side from WSJ

You can find our guide to holiday tipping here. But that's a great question, which I have to admit, we didn't think to address. I think a lot of people approach holiday tipping with anxiety because they feel that tips are expected of them by this or that person.

But the idea of tipping someone who is not on the regular list of people you are told to tip is intriguing. It raises the prospect you could really show gratitude to someone who might not expect it and will therefore appreciate it all the more.

I am not sure there is a certain type of professional I can point to. My kids' teachers come to mind as extra deserving, but there are rules in place to govern these gifts.

I would say a lot of us have a person in our lives that isn't on the regular holiday list, but whom we deal with all the time--someone who regularly brings you food from your favorite restaurant, the cashier at your supermarket. I think this person might appreciate a tip (or if more appropriate a gift), and the fact that you went out of your way to remember them.

I don't know enough about the issue to say they are "too high" or "too low." Buy Side is really about helping consumers make financial decisions in their own lives. So we would pay close attention to which credit card is good for you, without necessarily focusing on what may or may not happen in Washington.

That said, I have heard arguments that the fees hurt small business and also that they disadvantage lower-income consumers by raising prices across the board for retail staples. I think these are plausible arguments, but I am just not enough of an expert in this area to understand all the alternatives.

As to possible legislation, our colleagues in the WSJ newsroom have written about a recent bill to address these fees. -- Ian Salisbury, Buy Side from WSJ's money editor