Starting tomorrow, Jan 1, 2010, you can cancel your Sprint cellphone contract without early termination fee. They are increasing monthly regulatory fees from $.20 to $.40. This constitutes what is known as a “materially adverse change of contract” and means you can break the contract without penalty. An official Sprint spokesperson officially confirmed this for us. A few things to know: [More]
money
Program Yourself To Be A Better Consumer With SaveEveryWay's Free Money-Saving Reminders
By 12.30.09
Research has shown that signing up for text message reminders to save money can increase your savings balance by 16%. SaveEveryWay makes the experimental a reality. You can sign up there for free to get reminders sent to you via text message, email, RSS, or Twitter that encourage better consumer behaviors. Some samples: [More]
Personal Finance Roundup
By 12.30.09
It’s More Important to Be Happy Than to Be Rich [Get Rich Slowly] “While it’s certainly true that money can help you achieve your goals, provide for your future, and make life more enjoyable, merely having money doesn’t guarantee happiness.”
Nine Simple Things to Do to Get Ready for Tax Season Right Now! [The Simple Dollar] “There are many things we can do – starting right now – to make things easier for us when we actually file.”
10 lessons from a dismal decade [MSN Money] “Before we put the pain behind us, consider what we’ve learned.”
10 Best Financial Books of the Year [Smart Money] “Here are choices from our editors and writers for top books of the year.”
What You Need to Know About Roth IRAs in 2010 [Wise Bread] “A crash course in what exactly has changed in 2010 regarding the Roth IRA conversion opportunity and why it matters to you.”
— FREE MONEY FINANCE (Photo: Lisa Brewster)
How To Save Money Using A "Clean" Credit Card
By 12.29.09
If you’re the type of person who carries debt on your credit card from month to month, you should always have one “clean” credit card in your wallet, says Bob Sullivan of Red Tape Chronicles in his new book, Stop Getting Ripped Off: Why Consumers Get Screwed, and How You Can Always Get a Fair Deal. A “clean” credit card is one that you know can always get paid off in full if you use it, and you only whip it out for emergencies. For some consumers, this results in paying less interest and fewer penalties. In an excerpt he’s sharing with Consumerist readers, Bob explains how it works: [More]
Personal Finance Roundup
By 12.23.09
A Habit of Generosity [Wall Street Journal]“Turning generosity into a daily habit can be good for your career.”
3 ways to outsmart the market [CNN Money] “At times the market acts like the fool. Protecting yourself from its folly is simpler than you might think.”
The 19 most-overlooked tax deductions [MSN Money] “Don’t throw money away by missing these easy tax breaks.”
5 Alternatives to CDs [Kiplinger] “There are better things to do with your money than invest in another certificate of deposit if the one you have is maturing.”
7 Ways to Empty Flexible-Spending Accounts Now [Smart Money] “Assuming a last-minute doctor’s visit is out of the question, try these seven tactics to spend down your FSA.”
— FREE MONEY FINANCE (Photo: This Year’s Love)
Buy A New Car Without Getting Ripped Off
By 12.18.09
There is a rare breed of individual who enjoys shopping for a new car. Likening it to one of our last remaining instances of socially acceptable bare-knuckle-boxing, Rob Gruhl is one such person. He shares his tips for not getting screwed at the dealership in this fun and lively and short presentation. [More]
Personal Finance Roundup
By 12.16.09
Putting Santa on a Budget [Kiplinger]“Six ways to keep holiday spending on your kids under control.”
Lies that could kill your life insurance [MSN Money] “Insurance applicants often fudge on issues ranging from DUIs to drug use. But it’s hard to hide baldfaced lies — even though some folks go so far as shaving their heads.”
5 Beloved Tax Perks With Ugly Downsides [Smart Money] “[Here] are the five largest of our 165 tax expenditures, along with their projected cost to taxpayers over the next five years. All are beloved programs, but none are beyond criticism.”
Why It May Pay To Convert to a Roth IRA [The Wall Street Journal] “Some financial advisers say growing numbers of their clients are leaning toward a Roth conversion, even if they have to tap their traditional IRAs to pay the taxes.”
7 Ways to Help Unemployed Friends and Family [NY Times] “Most of us who are still lucky enough to have jobs know someone in a similar spot and want to find a way to help. So what’s the right way to do it?”
— FREE MONEY FINANCE (Photo: FastFords)
Reach Chase Executive Customer Service
By 12.16.09
Here’s another Chase Executive Customer Service contact to add to our collection: [More]
Wife Sues Debt Collector For Husband's Death
By 12.15.09
As we told you in September, a woman is suing a debt collector for her husband’s final heart attack and death. [More]
Merchants Demand Credit Card Fee Relief
By 12.10.09
Merchants are pushing for more credit card fee reform, for the fees they have to pay. Every time you swipe at checkout, whether it’s a credit or debit card, the merchant has to pay two fees. One is a flat per transaction fee, the other is a percentage of the total sale, called the interchange fee. Those rewards cards you’re so fond of? They have the higest interchange fees. Those rewards and cashbacks don’t come from a magical reward tree, they’re paid for by the interchange fees. In other words, the Quickie Mart is paying for your “free” airline miles. [More]
Personal Finance Roundup
By 12.9.09
The holiday shuffle [The Washington Post] “In the gift card game, the rules keep changing. So do the winners and losers.”
It Pays to Be True to Your School: 5 Ways Your Alma Mater Can Save You Money [Wise Bread] “Alumni associations are doing everything they can to make things better for graduates of their college during this difficult time. Amazingly enough, some of the savings are pretty substantial.”
Personal Finance 101: What Does FDIC Insurance Really Mean? [The Simple Dollar] “What exactly is FDIC insurance? How does it work?”
Give Wisely at Work [The Wall Street Journal] “Be careful when playing Santa at the office. Giving certain gifts could get you in trouble.”
10 creative ways to wrap gift cards [MSN Money] “Does giving a gift card seem cold or impersonal? The trick is all in the presentation. For a few extra bucks, add a personal touch to an otherwise generic package.”
— FREE MONEY FINANCE (Photo: RichSeattle)
Gift Idea: A Book About Money
By 12.8.09
Books on managing your money better are an especially apt holiday gift this year. If you need some ideas, Vanguard recommends these 16 books. Mastering your personal finances, the gift that keeps on giving. [More]
Chase Executive Customer Service Drops APR From 26% To 9%
By 12.8.09
Crippled by a high interest rate that ate up his monthly payments with finance charges, reader Eric says he used the patented executive customer service technique on Chase to get his APR reduced from 26% to 9% and 3 months of fees refunded. Here’s his story: [More]
Ooh Shiny: Sears Card Gives Free Credit Scores
By 12.8.09
How would you like a free credit score with not very much baloney? The Sears Card from Citibank gives you just that, with no annual fees. [More]
Reach HSBC Executive Customer Service
By 12.7.09
HSBC Card & Retail Services
James R. Lane
Vice President, Executive Resolutions
831-772-6248
james.r.lane@us.hsbc.com
Quantifying Credit Score Killers
By 12.5.09
Whenever “credit score experts” give advice, you rarely hear hard numbers. They are eager to advise keeping your credit utilization low or how you shouldn’t apply for too much credit, but can never tell you how much it helps or hurts.
Personal Finance Roundup
By 12.4.09
Six personal finance books with lasting lessons — even for tots [The Washington Post] “A sampler of books for all ages to whet your personal-finance appetite.”
How Divorce Affects Your Social Security (Or Not) [Wall Street Journal] “Here are the general requirements for collecting retirement benefits based on an ex-spouse’s earnings.”
20 Money-Saving Ways to Reuse Old Pantyhose [Wise Bread] “Here are 20 creative ways to repurpose today’s worn out nylon pantyhose, even if you’re not planning to rob a bank.”
How to give when the giving gets tough [CNN Money] “13 creative ways to maximize your charitable impact without writing a huge check.”
10 Tips for Selling Your Home in the Sluggish Winter Months [US News] “What you need to know to sell your home in the off-season.”
— FREE MONEY FINANCE (Photo: Mike Rollerson)
