Sharing insights since 2007 on carefully saving money, investing, frugal living, coupons, promo codes because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom!
Are you paying for bogus fees and overage charges every month? Would you even realize if an additional fee slipped into your monthly budget? Recent news of popular bank J.P. Morgan & Chase’s (known as Chase Bank) court-ordered refund of a staggering $309 million to consumers should have us all running to check our monthly statements for hidden charges.
The banking company was ordered to pay $389 million in refunds and fees for bilking credit card customers with illegal and unapproved identity theft protection fees and unauthorized add-on services that customers didn’t ask for and didn’t approve.
This is a prime example of how lax financial practices can lead to you lining the pockets of corporations — while you scrimp to make ends meet or fund your dreams. Why should your hard-earned money wind up in the hands of someone who didn’t earn it or deserve it?
You lock the doors of your home to keep thieves from taking your possessions, but what are you doing to protect your money? Here are a few tips to help you keep your cash where it belongs — in your possession. [ continue reading… ]
There are many rewards that come with using credit cards responsibly. With rewards cards, you can rack up points to earn free travel, gift cards, and even cash. On the surface, using credit cards to pay your bills looks like a great idea. Why not get paid to buy what you’re going to buy anyway?
The problem is that while taking advantage of credit card rewards is completely possible, it’s not the best choice for everyone.
When we think of salary negotiations, many of us think mainly of annual pay. How much money will we receive for our work?
If you’re looking for a more satisfactory life, however, you shouldn’t get caught up in trying to negotiate more pay. Instead, look at the entire benefits package.
Think about how your overall situation would improve if you negotiated the following portions of your benefits package: [ continue reading… ]
When it comes to credit cards, we’re quite a nonchalant society. They’ve become so commonplace that we tend to be looser than we should. Once upon a time, they were handled with kid gloves, treated with respect, and almost never used online. We were afraid to send our info out into the Great Beyond, but, as of 2012, consumers spent $226 billion online (Forrester Research).
That number is expected to soar by 2016 to 327 billion dollars — excluding the sales of cars, homes, gasoline and groceries. $327 billion!
With this rampant credit card use, we have to tighten things up and protect ourselves from overspending. When we fail to make any rules for our own spending, bad things happen. We run up debt and create psychological pressure on ourselves to pay it off, knowing we probably won’t.
But with smart use of our cards, we can avoid that abysmal feeling of loss and torment when we look at our bills. [ continue reading… ]
Have you ever wondered what happened to the station wagon and the light-duty pickup truck?
Not very long ago, these two types of vehicles were beloved haulers for families, and the ride of choice for the workingman on a budget. But these days, the only station wagons and compact pickup trucks you see tend to be lovingly preserved antiques belonging to enthusiasts.
What happened?
While there are several factors that have brought about the death of these useful vehicles, for the most part, they’ve been the casualties of CAFE fuel efficiency standards. CAFE, which stands for Corporate Average Fuel Economy, is a government mandate for fuel economy targets for automobiles and trucks.
The intention behind the CAFE standards is an excellent one: the government is trying to partner with the automobile industry to improve fuel economy, which is better for the environment, consumers’ wallets, and lessening our dependence on foreign oil.
However, the way the standards are currently written, this noble intention is backfiring — with the most obvious evidence the fact that station wagons and light pickups are going the way of the dodo.
The holidays are swiftly approaching, and many early bird shoppers are already making their lists. With a multitude of financing options available, it can be confusing to determine which is best for you.
Although the best way to finance your shopping is by planning ahead and utilizing holiday savings accounts or good old-fashioned cash, many people find themselves choosing between racking up credit card debt or using retailers’ layaway plans.
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