Personal Budget Training: February 2008

Bumbling Along

Tonya was approached about getting a credit card for her company. She was told that if it's used three times, she would get a free plane ticket. Should she accept the offer?

Labels: Big Plastic, Credit Cards, Dave Ramsey TV Show

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Spoiled Brat Syndrome

Susan's 18 year old son asked for a new car. Her ex-husband said he'd pay half, but she won't. Who is right?

Part I:

Part II:

Labels: Dave Ramsey TV Show, relationships

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Wow! A Free Activity To Do With Your Kids.

Kids Workshops are free "How-To Clinics" designed for children ages 5-12. Read on for more specifics about this great program.

The workshops are offered on the first Saturday of each month between 9:00 a.m. and noon at all The Home Depot stores. Children accompanied by an adult construct projects from pre-fabricated kits. The kits are designed to be both educational and practical.

The Home Depot's Kids Workshops offer useful projects including the creation of toolboxes, fire trucks and mail organizers, as well as more educational projects, such as a window birdhouse, bughouse or Declaration of Independence frame kit.

The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, this fun time allows for quality one-on-one time between adults and children.

In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons and an achievement pin.

Since 1997, 12 million projects have been built at Kids Workshops More than 750,000 children built their first toolbox at The Home Depot Nearly 600,000 birdhouses have been constructed at Kids Workshops More than 290,000 children have built a step stool at Kids Workshops to help them reach higher 75 children per store attend a Kids Workshop on average while many stores have 200 kids attend regularly.

Check out the nearest Home Depot to see what they have planned.

Labels: Home Depot, money saving tip

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Hidden Addictions

Ernie's wife was addicted to crack and ran up thousands in credit card bills. Dave gives his advice on how to get rid of those debts and get his life back.

Labels: Addictions, Dave Ramsey TV Show

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Life after Prison

After 8 years, Sandra is out of prison and has lost her business. How can she rebuild her life?

Labels: Dave Ramsey TV Show, life after prison

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7 Tips to Keep Your Freezer or Fridge Running Strong

If you have an upright freezer, chest freezer, refrigerator or the refrigerator-freezer combinations you may want to follow these tips to keep them in top condition so you can keep your turtles cool.

There are various things to be taken into considerations, when maintaining the refrigerators and freezers. They have to be taken care of properly. They should never be kept very close to the wall, as space should be given for air circulation and for cleaning.

1. Manual-defrost freezers need defrosting once a year or when the ice has reached one fourth inch high, whichever is earlier. If the frost is accumulated, this increases the power consumption and also reduces the storage space. The freezer should be disconnected from electricity connections, before cleaning. Then the cleaning should be done quickly, as per the manual. Care should be taken to ensure that the freezer is cool before restocking it.

2. A frost-free freezer, on the other hand, does not require defrosting. However, it should be cleaned often so as to remove any odor or dirt from the freezer interiors. Odors are not good to remain in close areas like a freezer, as they might even start project their taste on the other food materials. The freezer should be cleaner thoroughly with baking soda and vinegar.

3. Some freezers have trays to collect the defrost water, else, thick towels should be placed to absorb all of the water. Once the interiors have been defrosted completely, it can be sponged and then the freezer can be restarted. Frost-free freezers or refrigerator-freezer combos may also have a drip pan underneath. It is advisable to wipe out this during your annual cleaning.

4. Every three to four months, clean your freezer's coils. The coils may be located on the back of the freezer or underneath the unit. Some of the models have these coils at the bottom of the appliance, while some older models have them behind. Some built-ins have these coils relegated behind a grille at the top of the unit. To clean them, simply vacuum them thoroughly with your vacuum's brush attachment.

5. Use mild detergent and water to clean your refrigerator gasket and freezer doors clean. Never use bleach. What this ensures is maintaining a good seal, preventing in leak of energy.

6. You can a run a check on whether your gasket is watertight by closing your refrigerator on a bill; in case the bill falls off or can be easily removed with the door closed, you know it's time to replace your gasket. Call your service center and ask them to replace it for you.

7. If you have an ice maker/water purifier, you should replace water filter at least twice a year. Use the replacement filters recommended by your refrigerator's manufacturer.

Care has to be taken with refrigerators and freezers, just like how each electronic device demands attention. They have to be cleaned often and defrosted when ever required, in order to maintain the freshness and longevity of the appliance.

Labels: money saving tip

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10 Ways to Reduce Your Medical Costs Now

According to the National Coalition on Health Care, Americans spend $6,700 per person annually on health care. This NFL football player will probably be paying more. Take a look and see how you can lower your expenses.

Mint.edu had this posting with some good ideas and links.

At the Doctor's Office
1. Ask for generic drugs.
2. Avoid unnecessary tests and visits.
3. Barter for services.
4. Get free samples.
5. Negotiate.

At Home
6. Outsource common tests.
7. Seek tax breaks.
8. Fill prescriptions online.

In the Future
9. Review your insurance plan.
10. Live a healthier lifestyle.

Labels: medical bills, mint.edu

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Dave's Housing Realities

Alexis Glick talks to Dave Ramsey about the do's and don'ts of real estate.

Part I:

Part II:

Labels: Dave Ramsey TV Show, Mortgages

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How Much Do You Owe?

Here are the results of CNN's poll on how much credit card debt people owed.

How much credit card debt do you have?
21% More than $10,000
35% Less than $10,000
45% None
----------------------------
Total Votes: 172933

Labels: CNN, Credit Cards, Debt

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I Bought What?

In one notorious case of identity theft, the criminal, a convicted felon, not only incurred more than $100,000 of credit card debt, obtained a federal home loan, and bought homes, motorcycles, and handguns in the victim's name, but called his victim to taunt him saying that he could continue to pose as the victim for as long as he wanted because identity theft was not a federal crime at that time before filing for bankruptcy, also in the victim's name. Read on to see what one can do to keep this from happening.

While the victim and his wife spent more than four years and more than $15,000 of their own money to restore their credit and reputation, the criminal served a brief sentence for making a false statement to procure a firearm, but made no restitution to his victim for any of the harm he had caused. This case, and others like it, prompted Congress in 1998 to create a new federal offense of identity theft. Read on for a brochure on how to avoid this type of headache.

Recently, I received a handy brochure (PDF) in the mail from the FTC's ID theft section. Deter, Detect, Defend. It offers a bunch of handy reminders of what to look out for when it comes to protecting your identity, and what to do if you suspect it's been stolen.

Labels: Federal Trade Commission, identity theft

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Turn Your Toilet Tank Lid into a Fountain of Benefits

A new sink that makes hand washing easy and convenient.

The automatic handsfree operation eliminates the need to go the bathroom sink and thus, the use of faucet knobs. This not only removes the top documented source of germ and bacteria transmission but comes as a welcome relief to persons with arthritis or other dexterity concerns. Give it a look at SinkPositive.

Labels: money saving tip, sinkpositive

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14 Hidden Hotel Fees You Can Avoid

Fodor's had this article posted recently and I thought it would be helpful for those traveling a lot this year and looking to decrease their travel expenses.

In recent years, hotels have become increasingly adept at finding ways to nickel and dime their customers. According to a study published in 2007 by PriceWaterHouseCooper's Hospitality Division, hotels are gorging themselves on surcharges and hidden fees. Hotels worldwide were on track to rake in nearly $2 billion in surcharges and hidden fees in 2007, more than tripling the $550 million they took in just four years ago. Here are 14 charges that may show up on your bill.

Groundskeeping
Pool Towels
Business center, fitness room
Safe fees
Housekeeping, bellman gratuity fees
Water and newspapers
Energy surcharge
Early check in or out/extended cancellation
Shuttle service
Baggage-holding
Bartenders
Room block fees
Mini Bar
Random incorrect charges

What to do to remove them:

1. Be aware of your rights.
2. If you are not using the service you are being charged for, ask to have it removed from your bill.
3. Look at your bill before you check out, and question any unexpected charges.
4. Vote with your wallet.

Labels: fodor's, money saving tip

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35 Tips To Improve Your Finances

Consider new ways to make more money. Read on for some lesser known suggestions to save and invest more. At the ririanproject.com website, I read an article offering 35 "sneaky" ways to improve your finances. Many of them were ones I could recite in my sleep and you probably could, too:

1. Don't get into debt to begin with.

Right, I just told you that I didn't do #1 this time around. So it's not a lecture, rather than a statement of the obvious. Sticking to the budget, and saving up for large purchases is a much more effective way of being a consumer.

2. Pay yourself first.

If you're in debt and worried about the creditors it's easy to forget to do this. However, it's important to remember to put in at least 10% of our income into savings. Truth is, if you have been doing this all along, you might have had a savings account that will take care of that holiday spending without incurring interest on the credit cards.

3. Make extra debt payments.

Mortgages and other debts tend to accumulate thousands of dollars in interest debt. By making extra payments each month toward our dept we will be able to eliminate some of the interest and save in the long run.

4. Live beneath your means.

Consider that you don't need the engine upgrade on your car, an extra bedroom in the house you aren't using, or the latest ipod when you already have one. There are certainly endless ways to cut costs, and what you're cutting can be tucked away.

5. Direct deposit your earnings.

When you direct deposit your paychecks, you can mark a certain amount to be automatically transferred to a savings account. This way you aren't tempted to spend, and you don't have to worry about it.

6. Ignore your raise.

If you happen to get a raise at your job ignore the difference. Instead of taking this opportunity to spend more, use the opportunity to pay off more debt, or put more into savings, while not changing your life style one bit.

7. Create a second income stream.

If you happen to have a hobby that you enjoy doing, and can monetize it at the same time, this would be the ideal way to make a secondary income. Another good way is to create an information source, such as a blog, or ebook, in which you can share your expertise, and receive a monetary compensation in return.

8. Find out where your local library is and actually go there.

I regularly use my library in order to borrow free books, books on CD and free audio CDs to listen to in my car. For someone who's biggest passion is personal development, this adds up to a big savings.

9. Downgrade your toys.

There are many things you can downgrade that will not only save you money, but save you time as well. You can downgrade your phone plan, your cable television, your blockbuster online membership, the monthly tanning salon charge, or whatever else you aren't using, but are getting charged for.

10. Sell what you do not use.

Many of us having things around the house that we have not used in ages such as clothes, gadgets, jewelry, etc. Not only can you declutter, but you can earn some extra money by auctioning your items off on ebay, or hosting a garage sale.

11. Freelance.

If you have a skill that is in demand there are many freelancing job boards, such as craigslist, where you can pick up a client in your spare time, and make some extra money.

12. Keep a little black book.

Keep records of people who borrowed money from you, and make sure gently remind them that the money is owed to you. Might as well tie up all loose ends.

13. Request a raise.

If you've been putting in good work at your job, it may be time that you deserve a raise. An employer can often overlook giving you a raise if they believe that you are willing to work for what they are paying.

14. The Fundamental.

Earn more than you spend. It's that obvious, so do it!

15. Cut down on meat.

Not only is meat more expensive than vegetables per serving, but you'll also be saving the environment in ways you might not have considered.

16. Weather-proof your home.

Insulating windows, doors, attic entrance, basement entrance, and garage doors. Keep your heat in, in the winter, and keep your cold in, in the summer. Do you know that it does not pay to air condition the whole neighborhood?

17. Use a digital thermostat.

You can program your AC and heat to turn off while you are away at work, and turn on right before you arrive. This way you are still comfortable, but save when you are not using it.

18. Trees in the yard.

If it's climate appropriate, planting deciduous trees such as maple, oak, or elm will provide shade in the summer to save on AC, while being leafless in the winter to not block the sun.

19. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Instead of regular incandescent light bulbs. If every US household switched just one bulb, it would be equivalent to taking 7.5 million car off the road, and saving energy to light about 2.5 million homes for a year. To you it means you will be saving money on electricity while saving the environment.

20. Cook at home.

By cooking all your meals at home, and bringing food with you to work, you will be eating cheaper and healthier at the same time. It is hard to make a healthy choice when you are out and in a hurry, but cooking yourself you know exactly what you are using for ingredients.

21. Plan ahead.

It's easy to overlook periodical and seasonal expenses when formulating your budget. Think about the holiday shopping, important birthdays, car maintenance, and school supplies that you may need in the future. Put extra money in your budget for these things so you don't deviate later.

22. Figure out your debt.

Take a sheet of paper and identify where you owe debt to. Use this information to formulate a pay-back strategy.

23. Highest interest first.

Take the highest interest debts that you owe and pay those first. You'll end up saving a potentially significant amount of money.

24. A necessity list.

When you are craving for the latest fashion accessory or gizmo that isn't necessary to your immediate survival, write it down on your list. After a month has passed, see if the urge to get it has subsided. Chances are this is something you could do without and would be bored with in a month anyway.

25. Join a group.

Meetup.com offers free meetup groups and seminars for just about anything. Join a finance or get out of debt group in order to surround yourself with like minded people. Maybe you'll meet some new friends whom you can enjoy low-budget activities with instead of the ballers you hang out with now.

26. Get the last model.

Some people live impulsively and must have the latest everything. From cell phones to cars, if they're not in the newest model they are not satisfied. Take advantage of the fact that items depreciate in value very quickly and buy some things used. You get something functional for a fraction of the price.

27. Shop smart.

Ebay, buy.com, bens bargains, and an array of other frugal shopping sites give you the ability to find great deals. Save hundreds of dollars by shopping around and never pay retail.

28. Bring your lunch.

Whether you have to cook ahead for the week, or make time in the evening to just cook a day ahead, bringing your own lunch is cheaper and healthier. You know you use fresh ingredients, pay super market prices, and avoid traveling to get lunch. Save between $3 and $5 a day for lunch and that is over $1,400 a year saved.

29. Change that habit.

The daily latte ($4), the pack of gum ($0.75), the super-size meal ($0.60), the late night drive-through ($7.50) - you get the point. That alone will cost you nearly $4,444 a year. Think you can live without it?

30. Have a monetary goal.

What is the reason that you want to save money for? Is it for retirement, an exciting adventure, or a material item that you're just dieing to have? When you have your goal clearly defined you feel more motivation to achieve it. You'll feel better saving money for the big pay out instead of blowing it away on instant gratification.

31. Save your change.

Let us say that on average you have 75 cents left in your pocket at the end of the day. If you collect that money, and use the Coin star machines will have saved over $250.

32. Public Transportation.

Instead of owning a car, paying a lease, splurging on gas, and insurance on top of that, simply take the bus, train, subway, or ferry. You'll save big while saving the environment.

33. Use Rich Dad's Percentages.

60% Expenses/assets/investments. 10% Donation. 10% Long-term savings. 10% Short-term savings.

34. Keep temptation away.

Stay away from places, such as malls, where you will be tempted to spend.

35. Curb your addictions.

Every vice, such as tobacco, drugs, alcohol, porn, and junk food takes a toll on your health, wallet, and time. Eliminate the vices, and greatly improve your life.

Labels: Debt, money saving tip, personal finance

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Telemarketers Are Crying

Rid yourself of telemarketers forever!

On Friday, February 15, 2008, the President signed into law: H.R. 3541, the Do Not Call Improvement Act of 2007, which prohibits the automatic removal of telephone numbers registered on the Federal registry; and S. 781, the Do Not Call Registry Fee Extension Act of 2007, which extends permanently the authority of the Federal Trade Commission to charge fees to telemarketers required to access the Federal registry and specifies the fees to be charged.

Give the Do Not Call a try, it has worked for me.

Labels: do not call, news, telemarketers

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Cheater, Cheater!

Karen found her husband was cheating but let him come back to live in the basement. What should she do with her finances?

Labels: Dave Ramsey TV Show, relationships

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What's In Season?

Fruits and vegetables that are in season not only offer superior flavor and nutrition, they cost less. As seen here, Elvis is picking up some ingredients for his favorite, peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Check out the list of when these items are in season and start saving.

Fruit
---------
Apples- September to March
Apricots- June and July
Blueberries- July
Blackberries- June to August
Cantaloupes- June to August
Cherries- June and July
Cranberries- September and December
Figs- June to October
Grapefruit- October to May
Nectarines- July and August
Peaches- July and August
Pears, Anjou- October to April
Pears, Bartlett- July to October
Plums- May to September
Raspberries- July
Rhubarb- May
Strawberries- April to June
Watermelon- June to August

Vegetables
----------
Acorn Squash- October to November
Artichokes- March to May
Asparagus- April and May
Beans, snap- June to September
Beets- June to October
Broccoli- October to April
Brussels sprouts- September to February
Cauliflower- October
Corn- May to September
Eggplant- August to September
Leeks- October to May
Okra- June to August
Peas- May to September
Peppers, green- September to October
Squash- July to August
Sweet potatoes- September to December
Tomatoes- May to August

Labels: Elvis, fruit, money saving tip, vegetable

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Silver Spoons

Myrna has a forty-seven year old son that still goes to her for money. How can she stop supporting him?

Labels: boundries, Dave Ramsey TV Show, relationships

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Inspection Protection

Tom bought a home but didn't read the home inspection before closing. The house is now costing him tons of money in repairs. What should he do?

Labels: Dave Ramsey TV Show, Home Ownership

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Love and Work

Dave interviews Career Coach Dan Miller on finding the work you love.

Labels: career advice, Dave Ramsey TV Show

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Get Your Repo While They're Hot

As I mentioned in an earlier post about where to get a good deal on a car. Car and truck repossessions this year are headed for the highest level in at least a decade.

According to USA Today this year's predicted 10% rise in vehicle repos to 1.6 million would be a third higher than 10 years ago. The good side to this story is that you know you can get a good deal on a car and there are job opportunities as a repo man.

Labels: auto loans, repossession, used car

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Debt Free Finally!

Levi and Tori have paid off $90k in two years.

Labels: Dave Ramsey TV Show, Debt Free

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Keeping An Eye On Social Security

Is the government calculating your Social Security benefits correctly? If it is not, you may not get the amount to which you are entitled once you retire. If you have already retired, you may not be receiving as large a monthly check as you should. Read on and see what you can do.

Social Security benefits are based on your 35 highest-earning years, as reported to the government by your employers. If an employer has given the government incorrect salary data or if the government has erred in recording the information it received, you may miss out on full benefits.A $100 mistake early in your career is unlikely to have much impact on benefits, but a $10,000 error made during a peak-salary year could lower benefits by several hundred dollars a year.

Look at the Social Security Administration (SSA) statement that the government sends you each year around your birthday. For each year of employment, the statement lists the earnings on which Social Security taxes were based. It also estimates your benefits if you retire at the earliest age of eligibility (62) or if you wait for full benefits.Compare earnings listed in the SSA statement with income listed on W-2 forms in your tax records. If you spot a discrepancy, call the nationwide number (800-772-1213) to contact your local SSA. Most corrections can be made by phone. You also can use this number to request a statement if you did not recieve one during the year.

Labels: money saving tip, Social Security

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Undercover Funeral Home Inspections in Nine States Yield Mixed Results

The Federal Trade Commission announced that in 2007, law enforcement sweeps of 174 funeral homes in nine states found significant violations of the FTC's Funeral Rule at 26 funeral homes and minor compliance deficiencies at 66 others.

Consumers making funeral arrangements are entitled to price information by phone and a written price list at the funeral home. To ensure compliance, the FTC will keep making unannounced visits to funeral homes throughout the country.

When investigators find significant Rule violations, the FTC gives first offenders the option of entering the Funeral Rule Offenders Program (FROP) as an alternative to the prospect of an FTC lawsuit that could lead to a court order and civil penalties. With minor compliance deficiencies, the funeral home receives a notice requiring it to provide evidence that it has corrected the problem.Since the FROP program began in 1996, the FTC has inspected 2,059 funeral homes and referred 286 homes to the FROP program.

Read through the consumer section about funerals from the Federal Trade Commission.

Labels: Federal Trade Commission, money saving tip, Prepaid Funerals

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Ebay Strike?

EBay Inc. said Tuesday it will cut by up to 50 percent the fees it charges sellers to list their goods online, in an effort to boost listings and keep pace with other burgeoning e-commerce sites. Read on to see how you could be affected if you post your goods there.

Ever since eBay announced changes to its feedback rules and fee structure last week, sellers have been irate, exploding onto message boards and blogs with discussions about how the new policies will affect their businesses. But when the idea of a strike was floated, some sellers and buyers decided to get more organized about expressing their displeasure.

Apparently, a discussion thread on eBay's own forums to sign the pledge no sales Feb 18-25. The strike is scheduled to overlap eBay's planned Feb. 20 launch date for its new policies, which include fee hikes, a 21-day hold on some funds sent through its PayPal payment service, and disallowing sellers from leaving negative feedback for their buyers.

To balance the fee cut, the company plans to increase its commission on items that do sell, a method the company says sellers prefer because it lowers their risk if items do not sell.

The greatest fee increase will come for goods selling for less than $25. EBay's fee for those transactions will rise 67 percent, to 8.75 percent of the final sale price.

The online auctioneer has faced increasing competition from other e-commerce sites such as Amazon.com, which does not charge a listing fee.

EBay's various fees have long been a point of contention for its sellers, which range from mom-and-pop vendors to online stores with large inventories.

Labels: Ebay, money saving tip

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Gambling and Marital Assets

Julie's husband is a recovering gambling addict. Should she separate their money or work together?

Labels: Dave Ramsey TV Show, relationships

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Fiscal Responsibility in Marriage

Matthews wife wants to live for today. She doesn't think that they should budget their money. How should he convince her to think about the future?

Labels: Dave Ramsey TV Show, relationships

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Want To Avoid A Speed Trap?

There is a new website that lists known speed traps throughout the world. This is a real money saver for all you lead foots.

Over 50-thousand speed traps have been contributed to Njection.com since its Thanksgiving public launch in 2007. Let us know if the was of help to you in keeping out of trouble.

Labels: money saving tip, njection, speeding, traffic ticket

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Get Your Rebates

Get them while they are hot. Read on for more information about the tax rebates.

To be eligible for a full rebate, single tax filers must have 2007 adjusted gross income (AGI) below $75,000 and joint filers must have AGI below $150,000.

Adjusted gross income is not your annual salary. It's equal to gross income minus above the line deductions, which are reported on page 1 of the 1040 tax form. Above-the-line deductions include deductible IRA contributions, alimony paid and, for the self-employed, some portion of money spent on health insurance or Social Security.

Single filers with AGI below $75,000 will get rebates of as much as $600. Couples with AGI below $150,000 will receive rebates of up to $1,200.

In addition, parents will also receive $300 rebates per dependent child; there is no cap on the number of children eligible.

Tax filers who do not owe income taxes because of various credits and deductions but have at least $3,000 in income, which can include Social Security and disability payments, will get $300 rebates per person or $600 per couple.

Your rebate is a one-time tax cut - an advance on a credit you'll receive on your 2008 return.

It is based on your 2007 income initially. If it turns out that your 2008 income and number of children would have qualified you for a larger rebate than the one you received, you'll be sent the difference. If it turns out your 2008 income was lower than in 2007 and you should have gotten a lower rebate, you get to keep the difference.

The IRS will start sending out checks in early May. It should take about about 10 weeks to process out all the checks. In all likelihood then, you will see the money sometime between May and early July.

Labels: Income Tax, tax rebate

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Bankruptcy Limbo

Erica is 25 years old and has $20k worth of car debt and student loans. Should she file for bankruptcy?

Labels: Bankruptcy, Dave Ramsey TV Show

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Willpower

John went through Financial Peace University but his wife won't follow the plan.

Labels: Dave Ramsey TV Show

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A Different Kind of Shopping Blues

Feeling blue, how about go shopping to cheer up yourself? It has always worked for Britney Spears and her sister Jamie Lynn. Or you can read on to see why this is not a good idea.

Retail therapy is shopping with the primary purpose of improving the person's mood. Often seen in people during periods of depression, it is normally a short-lived habit. Items purchased during periods of retail therapy are sometimes referred to as comfort buys.

In a recent study, it was found that feeling sad leads to self-centered thinking and this, in turn, can lead to a greater likelihood of dropping extra cash on something to make you feel better.

Labels: Britney Spears, Jamie Lynn Spears, money saving tip, retail therapy

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Personal Responsibility

Author John G. Miller stops by The Dave Ramsey Show to talk about his book on teamwork and personal accountability.

Labels: Dave Ramsey TV Show, John G. Miller

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Picking Your Battles

Lisa is $660k in debt and has three mortgages. Should she file for bankruptcy?

Labels: Bankruptcy, Dave Ramsey TV Show

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Banking Deposit@Home???

How would you like to make your deposits from home? Read on for more information.

Make fast, easy, and secure deposits in minutes from the comfort of your home using your PC and scanner - and it's FREE! Voted best of the Web by the online banking report. USAA - a military-personnel bank - now provides members with software which alleviates the hassle of visiting a local branch or mailing a check for deposit. How would you like to have this feature with your bank? Do you think that the local banks can compete if all national banks have this feature?

Labels: banking, checking, USAA

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The Little Car that Environmentalists Love to Hate

Here is another hybrid related article about a car I reported on earlier.Car A gets a fuel efficiency of 46 miles per gallon. Car B gets about 50 miles per gallon. Car A is called the Toyota Prius and is hailed by environmentalists as a step towards solving global warming. Car B, a new car called the Tata Nano unveiled by an Indian company, is reviled by environmentalists as disastrous for global warming. The New York Times devotes an entire editorial condemning the Tata Nano. Columnist and author Tom Friedman calls for the Tata Nano to be "taxed like crazy." The reason for this extreme criticism? The Tata Nano is cheap - very cheap. It is a revolutionary new car design that will cost only about $2,500 and will bring car ownership within reach of millions of new people in the developing world.

The Little Car that Environmentalists Love to Hate

Labels: hybrid, money saving tip, tata nano

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Friday, February 29, 2008

Bumbling Along

Spoiled Brat Syndrome

Wow! A Free Activity To Do With Your Kids.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Hidden Addictions

Life after Prison

7 Tips to Keep Your Freezer or Fridge Running Strong

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

10 Ways to Reduce Your Medical Costs Now

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Dave's Housing Realities

How Much Do You Owe?

Monday, February 25, 2008

I Bought What?

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Turn Your Toilet Tank Lid into a Fountain of Benefits

14 Hidden Hotel Fees You Can Avoid

Friday, February 22, 2008

35 Tips To Improve Your Finances

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Telemarketers Are Crying

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Cheater, Cheater!

What's In Season?

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Silver Spoons

Inspection Protection

Love and Work

Get Your Repo While They're Hot

Monday, February 18, 2008

Debt Free Finally!

Keeping An Eye On Social Security

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Undercover Funeral Home Inspections in Nine States Yield Mixed Results

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Ebay Strike?

Friday, February 15, 2008

Gambling and Marital Assets

Fiscal Responsibility in Marriage

Want To Avoid A Speed Trap?

Get Your Rebates

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Bankruptcy Limbo

Willpower

A Different Kind of Shopping Blues

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Personal Responsibility

Picking Your Battles

Banking Deposit@Home???

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

The Little Car that Environmentalists Love to Hate