Consumerist
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spending habits
Newly Frugal Behavior Is Permanent, Say Some Consumers
A new study says that 26% of US consumers "have no plans to return to their free-spending ways," which probably doesn't sound like good news to retailers. Even worse (for retailers), about a third say they've become less loyal. More » -
savings accounts
Don't Let Maintenance Fees Ruin Your Automatic Savings Program
If you participate in an automatic savings program like Bank of America's Keep the Change service, where debit card purchases are rounded up and the difference is deposited into your savings account, keep an eye on maintenance fees. James says he was hit with a $5 charge last month because he hadn't met the minimum monthly deposit requirement of $25: "It turns out that I wasn't even accruing $5 worth of change per month, so I was losing more money due to the maintenance fee than I was saving via Keep the Change!" More » -
this is not a way to save
Wachovia's "Way2Save" Account Triggers Over $5,000 In Penalty Fees
Wachovia has a new financial product called Way2Save that automatically moves $1 from your checking account into a high interest personal savings account every time you make an electronic bill payment. Susan tried to maximize her contributions by making a lot of little bill payments, but Wachovia cut off access to her funds without notice and triggered an avalanche of penalty fees. Now she owes over $5,000 to her credit card companies, far more than she would likely have ever earned through Wachovia's complicated savings program, and of course Wachovia is denying any responsibility. More » -
how to
Build Your Own Extended Warranties
On his personal finance blog Consumerism Commentary, Flexo wisely advocates never falling for the extended warranty trap, instead setting aside the money you might have spent on the warranty and putting it into high-yield savings. The tactic lets you subsidize the cost of a replacement with interest, creating your own extended warranty. More » -
personal finance
Consumers Pay Down Credit Card Debt For 11th Straight Month
The Federal Reserve has released data on consumer debt for August, and for the 11th month in a row we've paid down credit card debt and increased savings. Take that, rate-hiking credit card companies! More » -
saving money
"Millionaire By 30" Shares His Saving Secrets
Through a combination of extreme cheapness, hard work, and determination, Alan Corey became a millionaire at an age when most of us are still trying to figure out how to start paying back our student loans. How did he do it? He shared some of his saving secrets with Mainstreet.com, and they're useful whether you aspire to wealth or just need more money to pay down debts. More » -
usaa
USAA Online Checking & Savings Open For Non-Military
If you've heard us rave about USAA's stellar financial services but grown sad when you learned that it's only available for military-members and their family, have heart: you can get still get access to some of their services like banking and checking. More » -
fees
Citizens Bank Now Charging An Overdraft Protection Fee
Lynne writes, "Citizens Bank is now charging customers an annual overdraft protection fee. This is a charge for linking your savings account to your checking account. Customers can be removed from the program and can get the fee back." We don't know when this started—they just say there might be fees involved and call for details on their website—but if you're a customer of the bank you might want to make sure you haven't been enrolled without knowing it. -
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savings
Link Your Online Savings Accounts Together
Back in the days of 5% and 6% APY interest rate savings accounts, rating chasing was a great way to get a little extra out of your savings. Be ready when those days return by linking your online savings accounts. More » -
coupons
Who Uses Coupons The Most? Affluent Suburbanites
The Nielsen Company—the people responsible for getting good TV shows canceled—just released a survey of coupon users. It turns out affluent consumers (those who make $70k or more annually) use coupons more frequently than the average U.S. household. Those who use coupons the least are from either low-income, one-member, male-only, African-American, or Hispanic households. More » -
savings
How to Minimize CD Early Withdrawal Penalties
Ten years ago, opening a certificate of deposit required $5,000 and an hour at the bank. Today, you only need $1 and five minutes. Take advantage of that to help minimize early withdrawal penalties on CDs. More » -
chase
Chase Bank By Phone Telephone Tree Map
Should you ever get lost in the Chase bank-by-phone tree, this function map may help you. Or it may explode your brain all over the receiver. The choice is yours. More » -
money
Do You Talk To Friends About Your Finances?
A recent Huffington Post article wondered if talking about personal finance was "the final taboo." Talking about money can feel as revealing as a strip-tease with none of the fun, but for something as complex and individual as your financial future, a one-way conversation with the internet or personal finance columnists isn't enough. More » -
gambling
Crafty Michigan Credit Unions Implement A Lottery Worth Playing
Save to Win gives Michigan residents the chance to win the lottery simply by purchasing a certificate of deposit. Here's how it works: residents who contribute at least $25 into a Save to Win CD are automatically entered into monthly drawings for a $400 raffle, and an annual drawing for a $100,000 jackpot. Even if you don't win, you still have an interest bearing CD. More » -
personal finance
The Five Universal Financial Truths
Saving can be boiled down to a few universal financial truths. The sooner you know and internalize them, the sooner you can start enjoying a responsible, sustainable lifestyle. More » -
testing the air
Pulling The Plug On Central Air May Be Worth The Gain For the Pain
As you lounge in your house during the summer days, it's hard not to associate that ambient air conditioner hum in the background with a paper shredder destroying your money. More » -
confidence
Consumers Are Scared To Lose Their Jobs, Still Saving For Their Inevitable Unemployment
The deepest "employment slump of any recession in the last eight decades" has consumers convinced they're about to lose their jobs — and that's affecting consumer confidence, says Bloomberg. More »
savings
We don't recommend keeping your savings in your pantry, but in case you were wondering, here's how much money you can fit into an Apple Jacks box. [
New York, 2:58 PM
Mon Nov 23
8 posts in the last 24 hours
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