We have all been horrified to watch the devastation in Japan and Alabama over the past weeks and months, and it’s natural to start wondering what it would be like if a natural disaster happened in our neighborhood. While the toll that natural disasters take on lives, families and communities is certainly more important, it is a good idea to understand the financial consequences of major events like earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and floods. What can you expect financially if you are ever in a natural disaster?
After a disaster strikes, it’s important to know that you are eligible for help. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers both funds and counseling for those affected by disasters, as does the Red Cross. You can expect to receive help with any number of basic necessities, from finding medical care, food, and temporary housing, to helping you to remove debris and repair your home and possessions.
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My husband received, in the mail recently, an offer to become a mystery shopper. Now, there are plenty of legitimate opportunities to become a secret shopper, as my mom and I were both a mystery shopper one time or another. Unfortunately, this offer was a fake. We assumed that the scammers got his name and address from the PlayStation Network breach, but however they got our name, the offer arrived in the mail.
When Josh opened the envelope, a check for $3,990 was enclosed along with a letter explaining that he was being invited to evaluate the service at a retail store and at Western Union. The scammers claim that all he has to do is deposit the check at the bank. Then, from his checking account, he needs to wire $3,560 via Western Union. This will supposedly allow an evaluation of the company’s efficiency and security. The rest of the money in the check would be used to 1. pay the service fee for wiring the money, 2. pay him for participating in the first week, and 3. provide him with $50 to spend at the designated retail store for evaluative purposes.
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Everyone knows Christmas is a budget buster, but between graduations and weddings, May/June can leave your wallet crying for mercy, to and that’s before you even think about taking a family vacation!
Here are a few tips to keep things sane when it comes to honoring new graduates.
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Gas prices are on the rise again, and even though there is no actual correlation between supply, production, demand, and cost, the result is the same when it comes to your budget. Even a $0.10 increase per gallon can have an impact, and in the last few weeks the increase has been double that.
Fortunately, there are ways to minimize your gas usage and costs.
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If you’re like the majority of Americans, you have not put together a last will and testament. Let’s face it, thinking about what will happen to your money and property after your death is not a pleasant way to spend your time. However, it’s irresponsible to leave these decisions up to chance. Here are some reasons why you should make sure that your wishes are spelled out in a will.
Dying intestate can leave your minor children vulnerable. My husband and I were shocked to find out that if something were to happen to us, the state of Indiana would decide the best situation for our 8 month-old son. Within our family, we have already decided and asked a family member to be his guardian should the worst happen, but without putting it down in writing, the state has no way of knowing what we want—and what is best for him. If you have children under 18, it’s absolutely imperative that you write a will and name a guardian, just in case.
Without a will, your money and property will be split up. While these decisions are different from state to state, generally you can expect the following money and property breakdowns:
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Rather recently, I received some disturbing news: The PlayStation Network had been compromised. I have a credit card stored on PSN, so I was immediately concerned about what could happen to my credit card number. I figured that I would need to be on the look out for fraudulent charges. But then, after some thought, I decided that I didn’t want to wait for someone to use my card. Here’s what to do if you need a replacement credit card:
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