If you’re still not shredding, locking, and canceling, maybe a giant graphic will get the point across. Follow these five tips and you’ll be well on your way to securing your side of things when it comes to ID theft.
advice
Financial Advice For College Students
By 9.14.09
The San Jose Mercury News has compiled a list of financial tips for people just entering college. These are the sorts of things that will help you avoid racking up huge debts or wasting money you don’t have on fees and penalties—and of course they can apply to pretty much anyone, not just college students.
Renters With Cool Stuff, You Can't Afford Not To Have Renters Insurance
By 9.3.09
Kimberly Palmer, author of U.S. News & World Report’s Alpha Consumerist blog, makes a convincing case that renters really should insure their stuff.
Scam Artists Want Your Money — Here Are Their Tricks
By 8.31.09
The Buffalo News put together a roundup of common scams that scoundrels are using to swipe your money and includes advice on how to avoid them.
Driving Your Rolls Royce Through The Wall Is Not A Good Way To Lodge A Complaint
By 8.28.09
This is probably something we shouldn’t have to tell you, but apparently some people are confused. For example, this guy: He decided to drive his 1983 Rolls Royce Silver Spirit through the wall of a store after a dispute over the delivery of a mattress.
Reader Wants To Convert Retailer's Billing Mistake Into Charitable Act
By 8.19.09
Here’s a good rule of thumb for determining whether something is a charitable act: if you have to steal money to do it, and you’re not Robin Hood, it’s probably not gonna count as a good deed.
Don't Bother Visiting These Tourist Attractions
By 8.19.09
Andrew Harper at Yahoo!’s travel site has published a list of U.S. tourist destinations that aren’t worth the time it would take to tromple* through them on your way to the gift shop. We’re disappointed he left Seattle’s Pike Place off the list, but the rest are pretty spot on.
By 8.13.09
../../../..//2009/08/13/dont-just-start-randomly/
Don’t Just Start Randomly Shoving Aspirin In Your Face Aspirin has been getting a lot of good press lately, but please, don’t just start eating it like candy. Talk to your doctor first. Nom, nom, nom. [NYT] (Photo:and parsecs to go)
How To Fight Back Against Debt Collector Ninjas
By 8.11.09
Debt collectors, like vampires, have certain rules they must follow. For example, both are vulnerable to sunlight and garlic, but only vampires glitter when they’re playing baseball.
Do Not Back Your Car Into A KFC Employee Because She Forgot Your Condiments
By 8.7.09
Here’s some advice for you. If the KFC employee forgets your condiments, do not back your car into her. This is an overreaction on your part.
The NYT Offers Budgeting Advice For Would-Be Car Owners… In 1907
By 8.7.09
We were poking around the NYT archives when we stumbled across this gem, car maintenance budgeting advice for people interested in owning a car … in 1907. Some of the advice remains the same. Other parts, like how much to pay your driver and how much to budget for repainting the car once a year — not so much.
Don't Say These Things In A Job Interview
By 8.6.09
Don’t hit on the interviewer. Don’t ask whether they might be able to discover your past arrests. Don’t ask what the company does, or see if they can pick you up when it rains. In fact, here are 43 things you shouldn’t say during an interview if you actually want the job.
What To Do When The AT&T Rep Won't Help You
By 8.4.09
Last week we wrote that AT&T charged Spoco’s Amex card twice for the same payment, but their CSRs refused to investigate the issue for him. After we posted his story, AT&T took notice and reversed the charge. That raises the question these stories always raise, which is, “How do I get the same result if my problem isn’t published on Consumerist?”
The Book: One Of Many Money-Wasting Traps To Avoid
By 8.3.09
Given all its recent layoffs, the Baltimore Sun knows a thing or two about slashing budgets. So its money-saving tip slide show rings with some authority.
The Five Universal Financial Truths
By 8.2.09
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.
Save On Cooling Costs By Installing A White Roof
By 7.30.09
The New York Times says a white roof on your house “can cost as little as 15 percent more than its dark counterpart” yet “reduce air-conditioning costs by 20 percent or more in hot, sunny weather.” This is because, scientifically speaking, the color white hates the stupid sun and won’t have anything to do with it.
Why You Should Pay Off That Mortgage Before You Retire
By 7.28.09
If you planned on retiring soon you’ve probably had to readjust your expectations. But even if you’re still on target to take it easy soon, you should reconsider until you’ve paid off your mortgage.
Grocery Shopping Tips From The 1950s
By 7.25.09
Society may have come a long way since the 50s, but the grocery shopping tips remain the same. Inside, the wisdom that helped a generation of college-aged mothers conquer the scary supermarket.
