Adam from Free Press sent us his tips for lowering his cable bill. Using these strategies, Adam reduced his monthly bill from $190 to $90, and added three movie networks, a sports package, and two additional boxes.
savings
![Consumer Borrowing Dropped $7.9 Billion In November](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/010809-003-pigbank158.jpg?w=158&h=158&crop=1)
Consumer Borrowing Dropped $7.9 Billion In November
“Consumers have clammed up,” said Ken Mayland, president of ClearView Economics LLC in Pepper Pike, Ohio, who forecast a decline. “The reduction in consumer credit doesn’t stop here, and will spill over into 2009. Households are bolstering their balance sheets.”
![Oprah & Orman Give Out Free Book: "2009 Action Plan"](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/010809-002-wiigorman158.jpg?w=158&h=158&crop=1)
Oprah & Orman Give Out Free Book: "2009 Action Plan"
“Suze Orman’s 2009 Action Plan” is free to download from Oprah.com for the next week. Unlike last year’s “Women & Money,” this book is intended for pretty much everyone. We haven’t read it, so here’s a line from the Amazon editorial review: “There are safeguards to put in place, actions to take, costly mistakes to avoid, and even opportunities to be had, so that you are protected during the bad times and prepared to prosper when things take a turn for the better.”
![Pump Up Your Savings With High-Yield Online Savings Accounts](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/449085680_6e2b77f8fe_m.jpg?w=191&h=225&crop=1)
Pump Up Your Savings With High-Yield Online Savings Accounts
Are you earning at least 4% in your savings account? If NO, do yourself a favor: Open a high-yield online savings account and start adding some serious muscle mass to your savings. Here’s the skinny:
![Use UPromise To Pay Down Your Student Loans](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/upromise.jpg?w=86&h=97&crop=1)
Use UPromise To Pay Down Your Student Loans
UPromise is a site from student lender SallieMae, and we always assumed that it was just for parents to save for their children’s inevitable college expenses, but the Wall Street Journal says that anyone can join and use the money to pay down their student loans… or whatever.
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Are you so loaded that you exceed the FDIC’s guarantee limit for deposits? Consider the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service. Deposit the funds at one of 2,500 CDARS member banks and they’ll automatically spread your cash among other member banks as needed to stay within FDIC coverage limits. Kiplinger says, “You’ll earn one rate (set by the home bank) and get one statement and one form at tax time.” [Kiplinger]
![Consumer 101: 3 Ways To Lower Your Out Of Control Cable, Internet And Phone Bills](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/somebills.jpg?w=300&h=225&crop=1)
Consumer 101: 3 Ways To Lower Your Out Of Control Cable, Internet And Phone Bills
How much to spend on cable, internet and telephone is something nobody had to worry about only a few generations ago. Today, the Pew Research Center says that after housing, cable and satellite TV service was most frequently cited as a regular household expense (78%), followed by cell phones (74%) and internet service (65%). By contrast, just four-in-ten adults (42%) say they make a car payment. If you’re looking for a way to cut the amount of money you spend on these “information age” expenses, we’ve got three of them to choose from.
![Save $1,000 In 30 Days?](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/moneymoneymoney.jpg?w=200&h=150&crop=1)
Save $1,000 In 30 Days?
Ramit over at I Will Teach You To Be Rich has thrown down a challenge. Can you save $1,000 in 30 days? He, like us, is annoyed with crappy frugality tips that will save you $1 a week, and promises to post decent money saving tips every day in November. If you follow them, he thinks you’ll be able to save $1,000 in 30 days.
![How To Save $323.40 On Your Comcast Bill Just By Asking](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/comcastwillow.jpg?w=250&h=163&crop=1)
How To Save $323.40 On Your Comcast Bill Just By Asking
Reader aishel says that he saved $323.40 yearly on his Comcast bill just by asking! Yes, it can be just that easy.
![Report From Finovate '08: Round 3](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/finnovate2008conference3.jpg?w=158&h=100&crop=1)
Report From Finovate '08: Round 3
We spent yesterday at Finovate, a yearly roundup of new personal finance services available online. Here’s a recap of some of the afternoon presentations, including a mortgage comparison service that promises greater transparency, a new credit simulator feature from Credit Karma, and a site that uses reverse auctions to get banks to bid on your money.
![Report From Finovate '08: Round 2](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/finnovate2008conference2.jpg?w=158&h=100&crop=1)
Report From Finovate '08: Round 2
Round 2 of the Finovate presentations includes online financial planning, the “match.com” of stocks, and Facebook banking. Let’s dive in and find out what they’re all about:
![Report From Finovate '08: The Latest Personal Finance Tools](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/finnovate2008conference1.jpg?w=158&h=100&crop=1)
Report From Finovate '08: The Latest Personal Finance Tools
I’ve been dispatched by our cigar-chomping editors to midtown NYC to check out the 14 new personal finance software apps getting demoed at Finovate 2008. I’ll be reporting here and letting you know about the latest tools from the frontlines of the personal finance revolution.
![Banks Compete For Your Deposit At Moneyaisle.com](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/moneyaisle.jpg?w=300&h=134&crop=1)
Banks Compete For Your Deposit At Moneyaisle.com
Saw this site, moneyaisle.com, where banks compete with the best rate to get your business in a high-yield savings account or a CD. Sounded interesting, so I tried it out. I said I had $5k to deposit. The best rate they had was 3.51%. In less time it took for that rate to load, I went to Bankrate.com and found a place – yes, the banks on both sites are FDIC-insured – offering 3.91%, and only requiring a $1000 deposit. FAIL.
![Could You Survive Spending Only $25 A Week For Food?](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/hungeraction.jpg?w=168&h=78&crop=1)
Could You Survive Spending Only $25 A Week For Food?
The Illinois Food Bank Association issued a challenge to Illinoisans — could they survive by spending only $25 a week for food? $25 a week is the average weekly food stamp benefit that an individual receives in Illinois. Could you make such a small amount last while still eating nutritious meals?
![New Amazon Coupon Codes For October](../../../../consumermediallc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/salesoffers.jpg?w=158&h=140&crop=1)
New Amazon Coupon Codes For October
32 new Amazon coupon codes for October. Notable: 25% off K-cups, 20% off Silk Soymilk and 15% off Amy’s Organic Soups. Mmm, I loves me some Amy’s soups, especially that no-chicken noodle.