Author Archive
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preparing for layoffs: new income sources
My company fired nearly 1,000 people this past week. That was in addition to 5,000 last year. There already is speculation that more will come. Fear of a job loss is a frequent topic of conversation around the office and I have found myself in a position of counseling many of my coworkers. Here is s...
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Credit Card Company Reversing Fee
Some good news for credit card users. Chase Bank has agreed to drop the flat monthly service fee, which it added to more than 184,000 accounts in January. In addition, anyone who was charged the fee will have the money refunded. It took the attorney general of NY to broker this deal on behalf...
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I am refinancing
Several articles on this site discuss refinancing from a theoretical point of view. I thought I would share my experience with an actual refinance. I am refinancing for a reason I haven't seen discussed anywhere- to substantially lower my payment. I am moving from a 15 year mortgage to a 3o year mor...
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Advanced Budgeting
In a previous post I explained my method for setting up a budget. Not only can a budget help you spend and save, but once it is working for you, a budget can provide financial flexibility. In order to get maximum flexibility from your budget, first try to get yourself into a position where ...
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Setting Up a Budget
Do you have a budget? Many people think of a budget as almost a form of punishment that keeps them from spending money on things they want. If used correctly, a budget is a powerful tool that can help you get the things you want in life. So why not start one today? I like to use a combinati...
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Saving on Groceries
Today's paper brought more reports that the food manufacturers are refusing to stop the price increases. So in addition, to using coupons how can you save money on your grocery bill? If you have more than one store near your home, look through the store fliers and choose the store with the best s...
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Saving Money On Groceries With Coupons
Prices at the grocery store, at least where I live, still have not come back down. They spiked last Fall due to the high gas prices but several food companies have announced they are not going to decrease the prices now that gas is cheap again. Three young men live with me, and keeping them fed...
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Debt Collectors- One Called Me
What a coincidence, since I just wrote about how to handle debt collectors. I picked up a voice mail left on my home phone while I was at work. This is one of the great features of VoIP, the ability to have phone messages recorded and forwarded in a email. Anyway, the message was hilarious, and a...
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Saving money on utility bills: Part 2
Heating bills The furnace is still running full-blast in my home which is one of the joys of winter in the Northeast. Although I enjoy being warm, I don't enjoy paying the gas bill. I have found that the easiest way to save on your heating costs is with a programmable thermostat. If you do no...
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Saving Money on Utility Bills: Part 1
Saving money is hard, but there are some relatively easy ways to save without having to count every penny or give up your morning coffee. Probably the easiest way to save is to do an audit of your utility bills. Phone bills Many of us have both a cell phone and a home phone. Do you really need...
