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Survey: Many Americans Unprepared for Crises
Tweet Share on Facebook March 31, 2009 Comment (5)A new survey from AARP Financial contains enough motivation for anyone to start preparing for worst case scenarios, including divorce, death of a spouse, and illness of a child. Depressing stuff, but also worth thinking about, since avoiding the topic leads to financial catastrophe on top of the emotional crisis. (As I recently reported, most people have much too little life insurance.)
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Audio: 5 Scams You Might Be Falling For
Tweet Share on Facebook March 31, 2009 CommentOver the weekend, I spoke with WTOP in Washington about scams that the recession is making popular. Some examples include websites that charge money for free information on government grants and fraudulent mystery shopping offers.
5 Scams You Might Be Falling For
Subscribe to Personal Finance With Kimberly Palmer
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How to Save $30 a Month on Cable
Tweet Share on Facebook March 31, 2009 Comment (7)My co-worker Russell Heimlich accomplished something amazing: He shaved $30 a month off of his Comcast cable bill. I asked him to explain how he did it.
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Britney Spears: Fighting her Dad's Control?
Tweet Share on Facebook March 31, 2009 CommentAccording to a recently posted voicemail that Britney Spears allegedly left in January, she is worried that her father, who currently controls her estate under a conservatorship, will try to take her children away from her. (Spears may have since resolved matters since her father, who has been on tour with her, according to TMZ, which posted the voicemail message.)
In the message, Spears says, "I just wanted to make sure that during the process of eliminating the conservatorship that my father has threatened me several times, that you know, he'll take my children away. I just want to be guaranteed that everything will be fine with the process and that you guys are taking care of everything [and] that things will stay the same as far as my custodial time." -
Most Tax Refunds Won't Go to Retailers
Tweet Share on Facebook March 30, 2009 Comment (2)Do you know how you'll spend your tax refund? In another sign of the tough economic times, this year, most Americans say won't be splurging on a new LCD television or leather sofa with that money. Instead, they'll save it, invest it, or use the money to pay off debt, according to a survey by ING Direct.
The survey found that half of those who anticipate a federal refund will use the cash to buy food for their families. One in three will pay off debt with the refund and one in four will save the money. -
The Best Money-Saving Kitchen Gadgets
Tweet Share on Facebook March 27, 2009 Comment (16)It's time for an Alpha Consumer Challenge: Nominate your choice for the best money-saving kitchen gadget. The randomly-selected winner will receive a copy of Slow Cookers for Dummies, which gives you a hint at my first nomination. Here are a few other ideas to get you started. Leave your own suggestions in the comments below for a chance to win.
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Recession Scams Prey on Desperate Consumers
Tweet Share on Facebook March 27, 2009 Comment (3)This morning, I went on Good Day LA to talk about recession-related scams. Unfortunately, fraudsters tend to take advantage of people's vulnerability during tough times. Here are the three big ones to watch for:
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Uncle Sam Wants Your Opinion on Card Fees
Tweet Share on Facebook March 26, 2009 Comment (23)Today's guest blog entry comes from Jeremy Simon, a reporter with CreditCards.com who writes about payment-card-related topics for consumers. He also contributes to Taking Charge, the website's blog.
If your debit card use has ever resulted in an unexpected overdraft fee, you now have the chance to give the government a piece of your mind: Through Monday, consumers can go online at the Federal Reserve’s Web site to share their thoughts about proposed changes to rules governing overdraft "services" provided by banks, credit unions and other financial institutions.
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Restaurant Week Can Save Money
Tweet Share on Facebook March 25, 2009 Comment (1)I just got this tip from Alpha Consumer reader Veronica Neilan:
Restaurant owners are hurting a lot due to the economy and cut in consumer spending. It's currently Dine In Brooklyn week, where a three-course meal can be had for $23 (not including drinks, tax, tip). A lot of restaurants in my neighborhood run daily specials regardless of Dine in Brooklyn week. I'm not advocating spending money if you can't afford it, but there is nothing wrong with going out once in a while to take advantage of a good deal. My friend and I went on Monday night to a restaurant and paid a total of $85 for our three-course meals, two glasses of sangria each, tax, and tip. We did leave 20 percent on the post-tax amount because the food and service were phenomenal. I am likely to go back again on their Wednesday night "all you can eat quesadilla/all you can drink sangria" special that is $16.95.
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John Cleese: How to Save Money on Divorce
Tweet Share on Facebook March 25, 2009 Comment (3)John Cleese, the incompetent hotel manager from Fawlty Towers, has proved himself a savvy divorcée. He has reportedly cut his million-pounds-a-year-plus payouts to his former wife in half. So, as thousands of divorcing men and women might like to know, how did he do it?
The key appears to have been convincing the courts that he no longer earned the kind of money that he used to -- and that he was under no obligation to support his former wife in the manner to which she had become accustomed. (For her part, Alyce Faye Eichelberger says that she was used to "'being entertained by royalty and dignitaries in castles" while married to Cleese, according to the Daily Mail.)
