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Selling Your iPad 2? How to Earn More
Tweet Share on Facebook February 22, 2012 CommentThe latest buzz in the tech scene is the much-anticipated unveiling of Apple’s iPad 3, expected to reveal on March 7. With all eyes on the upcoming iPad 3, owners of the iPad 2 can snag a chance at greater earnings to squirrel into savings accounts by selling their iPad 2 sooner than later.
Apple aficionados recall the weeks before the iPad 2 was unveiled and a similar trend developed. First-generation iPad enthusiasts had to choose between keeping their existing tablet or upgrading to the iPad 2. However, those wise to the gadget game know that resale values are best before the new version releases.
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7 Common Interview Questions That Trip Up Job Hunters
Tweet Share on Facebook February 22, 2012 CommentNo matter how long you spend rehearsing answers to all possible interview questions, it’s likely that you’ll end up having to answer some very obscure and tough interview questions a t some point in your career. Many employers ask nontraditional, creative questions at the first stage of the interview process to see how well you can think on your feet. Some can be trick questions, while others are designed to highlight some desirable characteristics for the position. Whatever the case may be, you need to be prepared to handle any type of question when you’re sitting in the hot seat.
Here are just seven of the most common interview questions that trip up even the most prepared job seeker:
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6 Benefits and Rewards of Having Awesome Credit
Tweet Share on Facebook February 21, 2012 CommentYou’ve been diligent about paying the your bills on time, took steps to clean up your credit report of errors, and have even paid down your credit card balances. Having a high credit score and good credit history can set you up for many perks and low-interest loans and offers in the near future. While you can still survive with poor or less-than-stellar credit, those extra points will end up saving you money in interest charges over time and can also give you some more negotiating power.
[See 50 Ways to Improve Your Finances in 2012.]
Whether you’re moving to a new city, are ready to get your first mortgage, or just want to avoid some of the inconveniences of setting up a new account with a security deposit, having awesome credit will help you in more ways than one.
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The Pros and Cons of Preparing Your Own Taxes
Tweet Share on Facebook February 16, 2012 CommentTax season is upon us, and hopefully you've kept your finances organized throughout the year so that filing will be a streamlined and relatively painless process.
However, it's important not to rush things, and take advantage of every tax deduction and credit at your disposal. Furthermore, you'll need to decide whether to prepare your taxes on your own. Make no mistake, filing yourself can be advantageous--if you do it right. There are a number of positive and negative aspects to consider before you decide whether to do it yourself or use the services of a professional.
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How to Cut Your Junk Mail in Half
Tweet Share on Facebook February 15, 2012 Comment (3)How much junk mail do you get each day? One piece? Two? Sometimes three or four? Several years ago, when I was playing balance-transfer arbitrage (where you take out 0% balance transfers and put the money in high-yield savings accounts), I would get at least five credit card offers a day. Back then credit was cheap, credit card companies gave cards to anyone with a pulse, and my mail box was full of them. I was getting tired of sifting through the junk mail to get at my real mail, so I sought to find a way to cut down the volume. Here are the strategies I uncovered.
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Should You Quit Your Job to Follow Your Dreams?
Tweet Share on Facebook February 14, 2012 Comment (1)Do you want to quit your job to follow your dreams and live a life that you're passionate about? If so, are you waiting because you're uncertain of how things will go? Or maybe you're wondering if you'll be able to make it work financially?
Living out your dreams won't be easy, but it could be worth it. Continue reading and discover what the world is really like on the other side of the cubicle.
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4 Free Last-Minute Valentine's Day Date Ideas
Tweet Share on Facebook February 13, 2012 CommentLet’s face it, in the midst of a hectic work schedule and Valentine’s Day falling on a Tuesday, planning an extravagant date for your sweetheart that doesn’t drain your savings account seems nearly impossible.
If you’ve dropped the ball in planning for a special Valentine’s Day date, there are plenty of fun date ideas that don’t require months of advance reservations or planning. Best of all, they’re free.
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Homeowners Receive $25 Billion Mortgage Settlement, But Is It Enough?
Tweet Share on Facebook February 10, 2012 Comment (3)About one million distressed homeowners are expected to receive mortgage relief in the form of a major settlement on behalf of big banks. In what is the largest attempt to aid the U.S. housing crisis to date, the government will be collecting approximately $25 billion from Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Ally Financial, and putting it in the hands of struggling mortgage holders.
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Dining Out on a Budget
Tweet Share on Facebook February 10, 2012 Comment (1)Restaurant dining is often one of the biggest unnecessary spending items in your budget. This indulgence is usually one of the first things people cut when they need to tighten their budget. Here are a few ways you can still enjoy dining out without breaking the bank.
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How New Hampshire's Proposed Swipe-Fee Cap Could Hurt Consumers
Tweet Share on Facebook February 9, 2012 Comment (1)The highly contentious Durbin Amendment went into effect only four months ago, but its effects are already reverberating throughout the banking sphere. Most visibly, some banks are raising their checking account fees: Chase nixed its debit rewards program, while Bank of America and Citibank raised fees or minimum balance requirements.
But the Durbin aftershocks don’t end there. The rise of prepaid debit, the credit union groundswell, the growing number of unbanked Americans, and the ever-improving credit card offers can all, in part at least, be traced back to interchange regulation. But for all the sound and the fury, many merchants say their profits have stayed flat or even fallen.
