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decisions

Kmart Loses Toilet Paper Tax Lawsuit

Mary Bach, the woman who sued Kmart for charging tax on toilet paper, has won her lawsuit and $100. Kmart offered to settle with Bach, but she declined. More »

10:14 PM on Fri Nov 30 2007
By Meg Marco
6,981 views, 29 comments

worst company in america

RIAA 1, Single Mom 0: RIAA Defendant Loses, Must Pay $222,000 For Allegedly Sharing 24 Songs

The first RIAA jury trial has ended and the single mom accused of sharing 24 songs has been ordered to pay $222,000 by a jury of her peers. More »

11:43 AM on Fri Oct 5 2007
By Meg Marco
8,184 views, 121 comments

decisions

Four Questions To Ask Before Buying Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a waste in most situations, but before dismissing it outright, ask yourself four questions:
    What Could Go Wrong? Is an elderly parent sick? Could you be called into work? By identifying specific incidents that could arise, you can better evaluate whether insurance is worthwhile.
    What Coverage Do You Already Have? What parts of your trip are not already covered by your credit card, health insurer, or auto club?
    How Expensive Is The Trip? Travel insurance is a waste for discount air tickets, but might be worthwhile for a pricey cruise.
    What Is Already Prepaid Or Nonrefundable? Know what you can realistically expect to get back.
More »

2:06 PM on Sun Jul 8 2007
By Carey
1,273 views, 7 comments

Latest by revmatty: Having just come back from China, I'll add another time travel insurance is a reasonable thing: When adopting from a foreign country. The kids are often not in great health, and even in a third world country medical more »

decisions

Should You Buy New Or Used?

Buying used items can save a great deal of money, when done properly. Personal finance guru Gregory Karp suggests several factors to consider before buying items with wear and tear:
  • Savings. Above all, consider whether the savings justify buying used.
  • Buying quickly depreciating items can be the best bargains. Cars can lose 30% of their market value in one year.
  • Ewww factor. Toilet seats, for example, should be purchased new.
  • Used quality. Books and movies usually age well.
  • Trust. Do you trust the seller? Consider if the item has been cared for or neglected.
  • Uncertainty of use. Buying used is perfect if you are starting a new hobby, but aren't yet sure if it will keep your interest.
  • Complexity. Simple items with few breakable parts, like hammers, are ideal.
    Sites like Craigslist and eBay have made many of us experts on buying used items. What tips do you have? Tell us in the comments. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER
    Buying used saves dollars, makes sense [Chicago Trib]
    (Photo: Mussels)
    • More »

    6:59 PM on Sun Apr 29 2007
    By Carey
    1,769 views, 21 comments

    Latest by etinterrapax: Used everything! I was raised by inveterate yard salers. I only buy new if I am very particular about what I want. Used books--I just scored one from Amazon UK for less than a fifth of what it costs on more »