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Debt Collectors Under Increasing Scrutiny

Debt collection agencies will come under federal supervision for the first time beginning Jan. 2.  The aggressive tactics used by some debt collection agencies have earned them scrutiny from consumer...

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Don’t Get Defrauded By A Work-At-Home Scam

When you are looking for a way to boost your income, it is easy to get caught up in a work-at-home scam.  Working from home is something desirable for many people, who may want to spend more time with...

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Protecting Your Financial Information Online

Many consumers are concerned about the safety of their money and personal information when banking and bill paying over the Internet.  Although they appreciate the convenience and speed of the...

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Know The Risks Of Parent PLUS Loans

Parent PLUS loans are fixed-rate loans are offered through the federal government to parents of dependent undergraduates.  Parents can use these federal loans to pay for the costs of a child’s college...

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Getting To The Bottom Of Store Loyalty Programs

Store loyalty programs are advertised as a way to save money by shopping at your favorite retailers.  But are they really worth signing up for?  That is the question that many consumers have been...

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Be On The Lookout For Medicare Scams

It can be difficult for elderly parents to avoid Medicare scammers, so it is important for both the parents and their family members to be on their guard.  Medicare fraud can take many forms, from...

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Can Cancer Risk Be Reduced By Taking A Daily Multivitamin?

One of the largest long-term clinical trials of multivitamins in the United States found that taking a common combination of essential vitamins and minerals every day decreased the incidence of cancer...

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Shopping Tips For The Online Shopper

For those who prefer to avoid the crowds and the freezing temperatures and shop from the comfort of their homes, online shopping is the way to go. Online, there is no commute, no parking, and no...

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Avoid Becoming A Victim Of A Used Car Scam

There is a multitude of ways to buy a car these days, giving you many more options than in previous years.  Unfortunately, this also gives bad guys more ways to rip you off.  If you are considering...

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How To Tell If A Store Credit Card Is A Good Deal

If you go shopping at a retail store today, there is a good chance that the person at the checkout counter is going to ask you if you would like to sign up for the store’s credit card.  Many people say...

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Don’t Spend More Than You Planned At Restaurants

Eating out is not only a fun and relaxing, it can be surprisingly costly if you’re not paying attention. The National Restaurant Association states an average family spends nearly $2,500 every year...

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Save On New Car Pricing By Shopping Online

With auto shows in full swing, buying a new car is on everyone’s mind. There are new models out and new incentives driving new business to dealerships and saving consumers money. Beyond auto...

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Track Your Spending Fee Free

Traditional banks offer a place for us to keep our money and gives us peace of mind that our money is safe. They also offer fees for transactions and many basic services. Many people are accepting of...

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How To Get Top Dollar For Your Trade-In

Trading in your current vehicle for a new replacement can be a bit of a disappointment when talking about its value. There are some easy steps you can follow to increase your vehicles value when...

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Take Advantage Of Free College Tuition Help

Paying for college can be expensive, but with some help you can go for free. Getting more education will place better paying jobs within your reach. As some colleges are raising tuition costs, others...

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Retailers Offer Savings With Mobile Wallets

Big name retailers are making it easier for you to save money when shopping. Wal-mart, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond and other familiar names are investing in your Mobile Wallet. New technologies allow...

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Mislabeled Foods Finding Their Way Onto Consumer’s Plates

Oceana, an international organization dedicated to ocean conservation, released a report with the headline “Widespread Seafood Fraud Found in New York City,” reigniting the debate about deceptive...

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Different Ways To Save Fuel With Little Effort

Who wouldn’t want to save fuel with the least amount of effort possible? Getting around town in your car will always cost you money and trying to save money on fuel can be challenging. There are a few...

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Reducing Your Cable Bill Can Result In Big Savings

Cable television provides an assortment of entertainment for everyone in the family, no matter what their interests may be.  Having cable television gives people access to hundreds of shows with the...

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Techniques That Will Save You Money On Your Next Renovation Project

If you want to save money on your next renovation project, you’ll need a budget to control costs.  Coming in under budget is a goal that will be rewarding to your bank account and fun to accomplish....

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Car Insurance Doesn’t Cover Everything

You purchase car insurance to protect your vehicle when accidents occur, but full coverage insurance does not always protect from financial expense. Insurance policies have exclusions that many people...

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Senators Ask For-Profit Colleges About Student Loan Default Rates

Students defaulting on loans at for-profit colleges over the past years has gained government interest. Agencies have threatened financial penalties against institutions that are manipulating loan...

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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Wants To Help You With Credit...

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau now encourages consumers dealing with identity theft protection services and credit bureaus to contact them when problems occur. The agency already handles...

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Car Leasing: Things You Need To Know

Auto manufacturers offer leasing deals to entice you to buy new cars and to get you back sooner. However, dealing with an auto lease may not be as straightforward as you may think. Knowing what to look...

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Credit Card Payment Surcharges Prohibited Under Senate Bill 354

With the passage of Senate Bill 354, businesses will be prohibited from imposing an additional fee on customers that use a credit card to pay for their purchases. When customers are charged an...

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Use Your Smartphone To Save Money Shopping

It’s getting harder for people to save money while shopping. The cost of every item we buy seems to grow day by day. Those items affect our budgets and they leave us looking for solutions. One solution...

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More Consumers Reporting Issues With Credit Bureau Reporting

According to a recent government report, errors on credit reports affect millions of us. Some errors are serious enough to cause a decrease in your credit score, resulting in you having to pay more for...

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Payday Loan Lenders Finding Some Surprising Allies

Although payday loans have been banned in 15 states, they are finding unexpected allies in some surprising places. Behind the scenes, major banks have become allies of internet-based payday lenders....

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How Is My Credit Score Created?

How credit scores are created is a mystery to most people. While many know that a credit score can affect their ability to get a loan, credit card, car, or job, fewer know what actually goes into...

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Things To Be Aware Of When Shopping Online

Shopping online is becoming more and more popular each year, making these transactions attractive targets for thieves and unscrupulous retailers. While the vast majority of these transactions are...

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Colleges Attempting To Entice New Students With Guarantees

A growing number of colleges and universities are attempting to entice new students to enroll with guarantees that they will be able to finish their pursuit of a degree within four years. If the...

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Considering Rent To Own? Read This First

Purchasing furniture and electronics through a rent-to-own contract is typically more expensive than buying the same items from a traditional retail store. However, some people choose rent to own plans...

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Direct Selling To Consumers Is Increasingly The Goal Of Many Small Businesses

Small retailers are now seeking ways to sell their merchandise directly to customers, instead of having to go through the larger mass merchandisers. Some retailers open their own storefronts, while...

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More Money Than Ever Going Into College Savings Plans

College savings have hit an all time high as parents and grandparents are putting more away to counter soaring tuition costs. The average balance among 529 college savings plans grew to a record...

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Congress And Medical Professionals Examining Scooter Ads For Seniors

Ads for motorized scooters that are targeted towards seniors are receiving increased scrutiny from medical professionals and Congress as critics complain that they are convincing many seniors that they...

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Online Shopping Tips That Can Keep You Safe

As online shopping has become more popular, the number of crimes committed on online shoppers has increased dramatically. Fraudsters and identity thieves are always looking for ways to take advantage...

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Avoid These Travel Scams When On Vacation

If there is one thing that scammers excel in, it is getting unwary vacationers to fall for their scams. While new travel scams are arising all the time, there are some that have been used for years...

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Tips For Keeping Yourself And Your Smartphone Safe

Smartphones have become a very valuable item for thieves. The devices are small, easily portable, and easily fenced for cash. The information found on smartphones is a gold mine for identity thieves...

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The Problems With Cheap Car Insurance

With everyone trying to save money these days, cheap car insurance policies are looking more and more attractive to many consumers. Most of them believe that they are good drivers and may never have to...

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Retailers Raising Prices To Discount Them Later?

An undercover investigation by Cincinnati’s WCPO recently revealed J.C. Penney’s practice of hiking the prices on their merchandise in order to discount them later. The practice presents the appearance...

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Would You Like To Pay Airline Fees By Subscription?

Nearly everyone is annoyed by the sneaky fees that airlines have implemented to squeeze more money out of travelers. There are fees for snacks, fees for particular seats, and fees for bringing luggage...

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Banks Earning Billions From Overdraft Fees

A new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has found that well over half of banks’ fees from consumer checking accounts are coming from overdraft penalties. According to the report, an...

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Expanded Credit Access For Stay-At-Home Spouses Announced

When Congress passes complicated, sweeping legislation, sometimes provisions designed to protect one group unexpectedly create hardships for others. The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility...

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Wide Range Of Health Plans Being Adopted By State Health Exchanges

In the fall, many Americans will start buying coverage through the new state insurance exchanges under President Obama’s health care law. Millions of people that plan on purchasing policies in the...

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More People Turning To Privacy Apps And Services As Surveillance Leaks Continue

Privacy apps and services were once considered the tools of the paranoid, conspiracy theorists and stealthy corporate executives. Today, more mainstream Americans are turning to software that allows...

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Overdraft Fees A Big Problem For Many Americans

Many people are finding that overdraft fees are a big problem that is costing them a great deal of money. Overdraft protection means that, in exchange for a fee, a bank will cover a customer’s...

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More Workers Being Paid By Debit Card

More workers across America are being confronted by an irritating problem. They are being paid by debit card and must pay fees to access their money. Devonte Yates, 21, who earns $7.25 an hour working...

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A New Trend Affecting Investment Advice

Something astounding has happened since the beginning of the financial crisis in the United States. Over the past few years, the average investor has started to see that the market predictions of...

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More People Assuming Other’s Auto Leases

Renting a car can be very expensive and buying a car may be out of your reach, leaving assuming the auto lease of another person as your most viable option for obtaining a car at a reasonable cost....

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Russian Share Slump: Value Investing or Russian Roulette?

MICEX 1 Year Chart (Source: Bloomberg)Post the break up of the old Soviet Union, Russia has always been seen as an attractive but risky place to invest. Russia is a huge country with an abundance of...

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