Emily's list: Midterm election edition
Updated: 2010-11-30 21:28:24
: Living with credit 335 New , interesting products 82 Research , regulation , industry reports 208 Rewards 32 Protecting yourself 131 The fine print 53 Credit card miscellany 335 Add category 1 Print Email Emily's list : Midterm election edition Emily Starbuck Gerson November 5, 2010 Living with credit Many Americans don't pay much attention to midterm elections . This year was a little different . Though it's been less than two years since he took office , many Americans have voiced frustration that President Obama hasn't done enough to fix the economy . His approval ratings have slipped . On the other hand , conservatives think too much has changed that there has been overspending , and that the government has become far too big with things such as the health care reform bill and Wall
: Living with credit 336 New , interesting products 84 Research , regulation , industry reports 209 Rewards 32 Protecting yourself 131 The fine print 56 Credit card miscellany 335 Add category 1 Print Email Emily's list : Privacy is dead edition Emily Starbuck Gerson November 19, 2010 Living with credit I'm a Newsweek subscriber , and last weekend I did some catching up on issues I hadn't read . I found an article from last month that truly shocked me . Sure , I knew that privacy as a whole was diminishing due to the Internet . I just didn't realize exactly how much information-gathering is now possible , nor how much room there was for misinterpretation of that information . Newsweek writer Jessica Bennett wrote a piece called What the Internet Knows About You which reveals that there are
: Living with credit 335 New , interesting products 82 Research , regulation , industry reports 208 Rewards 32 Protecting yourself 131 The fine print 53 Credit card miscellany 335 Add category 1 Print Email Emily's list : Trim your debt and fat edition Emily Starbuck Gerson November 12, 2010 Living with credit I see two parallel movements , and I like both : We're trimming the fat from both our diets and our . finances First , finances . There has been a great emphasis on establishing good financial health for individuals , and in February , the Credit CARD Act of 2009 went into effect . Among many other things , the regulations require credit card issuers to give their cardholders a 45-day notice of any major changes to the terms of agreement . Over-the-limit fees were restricted .
It's one thing to be hip and cool, but don't let the cool thing of the moment lead you to make bad money decisions.
That's the message behind a warning issued today by a leading consumer advocacy group about the Kardashian Kard, a new prepaid debit card being marketed to teens and young adults. As its name implies, the card is backed by the Kardashian sisters, Kim, Kourtney and Khloe, the stars of the E! cable network reality series about their lavish lifestyles, "Keeping up with the Kardashians."
Last week, when the Kardashian trio announced they were lending their names and celebrity to a new prepaid debit card, the general reaction from smart money watchers was: Keep away.
Flu season is upon us and you or a loved one might be rolling up your sleeves to get the annual vaccination against the influenza virus.
Here's my question for you: How are you paying for it?
If you have health insurance coverage through your employer, you might think you're doing the right thing if you go to your doctor's office for the shot. But are you?
Credit Cards Blog New Card Offers 5 Reasons The Kardashian Kard Is A Ripoff 5 Reasons The Kardashian Kard Is A Ripoff Monday , November 29th , 2010 If you have not yet heard , Kim Kardashian and her sisters have teamed up with MasterCard to offer a prepaid debit card aimed at teens and young adults . To fans , this may sound exciting until you realize it may just be one of the worst prepaid cards on the . market If anything , this will teach those trying to learn about financial responsibility how to spot a ripoff and what not to look for in a . card 1. The Fee To get started with this card , you must pay a 59.95 annual fee . What is this , you might ask , a premium credit card Nope , it’s a debit card . Perhaps this initial fee goes to funding the Kardashian family’s shopping . addiction
Credit Cards Blog Tips Advice Salvation Army Santas Now Taking Credit Cards Salvation Army Santas Now Taking Credit Cards Saturday , November 27th , 2010 In an effort to up their donation factor , the Salvation Army Santas and bell ringers will now be asking the all important question Cash , check , or charge Yes , you heard me . Santa now takes . plastic More than 50 Salvation Army bell ringers across thirty cities will be equipped with wireless credit card machines , allowing them to process your donation via major credit card . The Salvation Army organization is desperate for more donations this year . With the state of the economy and the still-high unemployment rates , the Salvation Army has decided to implement the credit card acceptance option for their street corner Santas in the
Credit Cards Blog Tips Advice Biggest Credit Card Deals for 2010 Holiday Shopping Biggest Credit Card Deals for 2010 Holiday Shopping Friday , November 26th , 2010 The holiday season is beginning , and that means great deals on all sorts of merchandise . It also means that credit card companies are teaming up with retailers to offer deals for shoppers when they visit a store , or even shop online . Without further ado , here are the top deals of the 2010 holiday . season American Express Daily Wish Instead of there only being one day for awesome deals Black Friday American Express has the Daily Wish Every day until the end of the holiday season , the Daily Wish will announce a new deal . Great prices on gift cards , electronics and travel vouchers are included on this site . You can even
Credit Cards Blog Tips Advice Credit Cards For Holiday Shopping Almost Indispensable Credit Cards For Holiday Shopping Almost Indispensable Thursday , November 25th , 2010 Black Friday , the nation’s largest shopping day , is nearly upon us . Holiday shoppers will be descending to their local malls and department stores in search of the perfect gifts for the 2010 holiday season . While many people save up for holiday shopping via Christmas Clubs or other savings accounts , credit cards are really the tool shoppers should be utilizing during the shopping . chaos Face it we can all go a little crazy shopping for our loved ones and friends . We also may become so frustrated and overwhelmed just trying to make it to the check out line with something . It is because of the madness of Black
Credit Cards Blog Tips Advice Watch Out for Credit Card Rip Offs Watch Out for Credit Card Rip Offs Wednesday , November 24th , 2010 Consumers still must be on watch for credit card rip offs . With the credit card reforms in place , many consumers thought that the card companies would play nice” . Unfortunately this isn’t the . case To beef up their incomes some companies are charging fees for services that most consumers can do for themselves for free . Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray says that the companies are not offering anything that consumers cannot do on their own . He also identified that his office has received many complaints regarding credit card companies offering bogus claims and charging . fees Some of the services offered by the companies are negotiating with
Credit Cards Blog Tips Advice Is Balance Transfer Arbitrage Still Possible Is Balance Transfer Arbitrage Still Possible Tuesday , November 23rd , 2010 To understand what balance transfer arbitrage is concerning credit cards it is first important to understand what arbitrage . means According to Investopedia , arbitrage : is Buying in one market and simultaneously selling in another , profiting from the temporary difference . 8221 Credit card arbitrage involves borrowing money from credit card companies , then investing that money in an instrument offering a higher interest rate than what you’re paying . Credit card arbitrage used to be easier in the past before the CARD Act changed the rules but it is still a possibility if you know how to do it right How It Works Step : One Accept a 0
Credit Cards Blog Tips Advice The Ultimate Credit Card Auto Rental Insurance Guide The Ultimate Credit Card Auto Rental Insurance Guide Monday , November 22nd , 2010 Credit cards often provide valuable insurance and purchase protection that you just can’t get when you pay with debit cards or cash . Auto rental insurance is one of the commonly offered insurance plans you can get at no extra cost when you pay for your car rental on a credit card Actual insurance coverage and protections vary from one credit card to another , so you’ll want to check your card’s terms and agreements for specific details , but the following 5 tips provide the ultimate guide to credit card auto rental : insurance Use a Credit Card with Auto Rental Insurance Protection When Renting a Car Many consumers are making
Credit Cards Blog Tips Advice Ever Wonder What Happens to Your Credit Cards When You Die Ever Wonder What Happens to Your Credit Cards When You Die Thursday , November 18th , 2010 They say there is nothing certain in life but death and taxes . When you die , there are a lot of issues to deal with and many experts encourage people of all ages to take care of their business just in case something should happen . It makes things easier on those you leave behind . This is especially true with your credit card debts . Debt doesn’t go away just because you pass . away So what happens when you die Do your credit cards die with you All people’s financial situations are different so there is no one right answer to this question . Let’s consider the many factors involved in your credit card debt in
Credit Cards Blog Debt Consolidation Credit Counseling Tricks and Traps Credit Counseling Tricks and Traps Wednesday , November 17th , 2010 If you are dealing with high credit card balances that you can not afford to pay off or even pay down , it’s time to consider your options . There is bankruptcy which is typically the last resort to take because of its stiff consequences . There are also debt consolidation programs that can be used to pay down debts based on your income and other financial obligations . For people who can not afford or don’t want to file bankruptcy , credit counseling and debt consolidation programs may be the best . options Unfortunately , as with many situations that involve desperate consumers , there are unsavory practices that can cause more damage to a consumer’s