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How to Navigate the Recent Product Recalls
Tweet Share on Facebook July 27, 2010 CommentWhen neighbors offered to give us their $600 crib that they no longer needed, my husband and I, who were busy preparing for the birth of our baby daughter at the time, jumped at the opportunity to save some cash. We were so new to parenthood that we didn’t even know the difference between a drop-side crib and a bassinet.
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How to Spend Money So It Makes You Happy
Tweet Share on Facebook July 21, 2010 Comment (7)The debate over whether money can buy happiness just got more complicated. A new paper from two economists suggests that spending money on certain things – namely, leisure activities – does, in fact, improve happiness levels. Spending on more materialistic items, such as cars, food, and clothes, does not.
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Credit Card Rules Still Confuse Consumers
Tweet Share on Facebook July 19, 2010 Comment (1)Today’s guest post comes from Odysseas Papadimitriou, CEO and Founder of CardHub.com, an online marketplace for credit card offers.
When applying for a credit card, you want to know the full story before you hand over your Social Security number and other personal information to the credit card company. However, if you look at a credit card application on most issuers’ websites, you will find that even though the new credit card law (Credit CARD Act) has been effective since February 2010, these applications still do not spell out the things you need to know about your rights related to interest rate increases.
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How Americans Are Having Fun This Summer
Tweet Share on Facebook July 15, 2010 Comment (1)Have you finalized your summer vacation plans? Or are you skipping a trip this year to save money? According to a newly released Chase Freedom-U.S. News Consumer Monitor survey, 56 percent of respondents said they aren’t vacationing at all this summer. Among those who are traveling, the most popular choices included visiting family and friends, taking a road trip, or going to the beach.
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Video: Stop Paying Airline Fees
Tweet Share on Facebook July 15, 2010 CommentYesterday, I spoke with WUSA9's Lesli Foster about how to avoid airline fees:
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How Airline Passengers Can Dodge Fees
Tweet Share on Facebook July 14, 2010 Comment (1)As Congress debates how – and whether – to regulate how airlines disclose fees, there are steps consumers can take now to protect themselves from unexpected costs while traveling.
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How to Spend a Windfall
Tweet Share on Facebook July 14, 2010 Comment (1)Say you unexpectedly received $100 this weekend. How would you spend it? Would you get a massage, buy a new outfit, or go out for a fancy dinner? Most Americans say they would save at least part of it, and one in three would save all of it, according to the Chase Freedom-U.S. News Consumer Monitor released this week. That might be worrisome news to retailers, but it’s the latest sign that Americans are getting on top of their finances.
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To Achieve Your Goals, Focus on Reasons
Tweet Share on Facebook July 1, 2010 Comment (1)Quick, name your top money goals: Do you want to earn more? Save more? Stop wasting cash on stuff you don’t care about? Now, instead of focusing on how to go about achieving those goals– by keeping a spending diary, perhaps, or leaving your credit cards at home – meditate instead on the reasons behind them. Do you want to be debt-free? Save enough to afford a vacation? Stop worrying about overextending your bank account?
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Alpha Consumer
Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, writes about making smarter financial decisions. She’s the author of Generation Earn: The Young Professional's Guide to Spending, Investing, and Giving Back.
Generation Earn
Senior editor Kimberly Palmer’s book, Generation Earn: The Young Professional's Guide to Spending, Investing, and Giving Back, is now available.
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