If you’re managing cellphones for a family or your parents, or let’s say hypothetically you have a boyfriend who says he reads Consumerist but really he doesn’t or else he would have known better, you’ll probably run into stupid subscription and content fees from time to time. You know how people are when it comes to fake “free” offers.
advice
Is That Person At Your Door A Real Census Worker?
By 5.29.09
The Census is starting up again, and the Better Business Bureau wants to remind people to use reason and caution when answering the door. You’re required by law to answer Census questions, but scammers may pose as legit Census workers and take advantage of the situation. “Law enforcement in several states have issued warnings that scammers are already posing as Census Bureau employees and knocking on doors asking for donations and Social Security numbers.” Here’s how to identify a real U.S. Census worker.
Look Out For These Check Scams
By 5.29.09
Check fraud has been around as long as checks, and even though technology is fast rendering the old-school payment method obsolete, check fraudsters have still gotta eat, so they’ve just got to try that much harder to con you out of your money.
Get Ahead By Working For Yourself One Hour Each Day
By 5.27.09
For most people, their career is their most valuable financial asset. But for those willing to make the effort, even a small one, there might be something even more valuable—a side business that could potentially turn into a very large source of income.
Seth Green Gives Sound Financial Advice In Special Cribs Clip
By 5.22.09
Seth Green takes you on a tour of his crib in this clip from Un-Broke, a financial program airing next Friday on ABC. “BOOM! That’s math all over your face!”
Wells Fargo Will Let You Refinance For No Closing Costs Online
By 5.20.09
If you’re saddled with a Wells Fargo mortgage, now would be a good time to slash your rate and payment through little effort by hitting up the bank’s streamlined refinancing program, which under certain circumstances lets you refi without being gouged for closing costs.
Checking Yo Self Is A Way To Wreck Yo Self
By 5.13.09
Had the whole rapper/actor thing not worked out for Ice Cube, he could have gone into personal finance counseling. He clearly had a grasp on credit card principles when he penned the 1993 hit Check Yo Self, which seems to refer to those “courtesy checks” credit card companies bombard customers with, hoping you’ll use them to write yourself costly cash advances.
Multilevel Marketing Is Bad
By 5.12.09
Everyone seems to have a friend or family member that’s been suckered into a multi-level marketing road to nowhere. While you may have no trouble identifying Amway, Zrii, Arbonne and the like as pyramid schemes, convincing naive loved ones, blinded by get-rich-quick dreams, is another matter entirely.
By 5.11.09
../../../..//2009/05/11/did-you-know-that-in/
Did you know that in California, if you ask the Subway sandwich mechanic (or whatever they’re called) to toast your sandwich, you’ll be charged a sales tax, whereas if you go untoasted you won’t? Crazy! Thomas Hawk says you should always order your coffee to go at California restaurants, even if you plan on drinking it there, to avoid a similar crazy tax. [Thomas Hawk] (Thanks to Glenn!)
Don't Clean Your HDTV With Windex
By 5.5.09
Windex works great on your windows, but will it clean your TV? How about those expensive cleaning kits they sell at Best Buy? Our sister publication, Consumer Reports, says that both of them are bad ideas, but for different reasons.
Don't Buy Your Magazines From Door-To-Door Salesmen This Summer
By 5.5.09
A couple of years ago, the New York Times did a piece on the poor treatment of teens hired to travel the country and sell magazine subscriptions door-to-door, but they’re not the only ones getting the raw end of the deal.
Five Money Lessons For New Grads That Everyone Should Follow
By 5.3.09
New graduates are about to walk smack into the Great Recession, and they need every bit of financial advice they can get. The Wall Street Journal has five excellent money tips that should apply not just to new graduates, but to everyone.
Tips For Buying A Suit Online
By 4.30.09
You can save a lot of money if you buy your next suit online, but you can also end up with an ill-fitting suit that makes you look like an idiot. Dealnews spoke with a fashion writer for AskMen.com and put together a short list of tips on how to make it worth your while.
"Box Of Rocks" Scam Caught On Walmart Security Camera
By 4.30.09
Here’s another “I bought a box of rocks!” story, only this time there’s proof that the victim wasn’t pulling a dirty trick on Walmart. Instead, it was someone before her who bought and then returned a Nintendo DS, only they swapped out the unit with rocks before making the return.
The CEO Of Delta Reveals His Secrets
By 4.27.09
Richard Anderson, the CEO of Delta Air Lines, was interviewed by the New York Times and shared his tips on hiring (ask about their family life), running meetings (no Blackberries!), and dealing with customers: “I find myself, more and more, writing hand-written notes to people,” he says. “I must write a half a dozen a day.” These are apology notes, we’re guessing.
Consumer Reports Offers Tips For Saving On Pet Food
By 4.24.09
The Consumer Reports Health Blog has some good suggestions for pet owners who might not have quite as much money to spend on their animals as they used to.
Make Sure You Secure Your Smartphone
By 4.24.09
Do you own an iPhone, G1, Blackberry, Windows or Nokia smartphone? Fancy phones are a nice target for thieves, and unfortunately they’re often packed with sensitive information that can be too easily accessed and exploited. Why not take the time this weekend to make sure it’s secure?
Personal Finance Columnist's Financial Advisor Accused Of Fraud
By 4.21.09
Last week, New York Times personal finance columnist Ron Lieber discovered that his family’s financial planner was being investigated for fraud, because millions of dollars had been transferred out of clients’ accounts without authorization. What’s funny is Lieber found the financial planner while writing a column on how to comparison shop for one.
