Smart On Money

Gift Cards: Watch Out For Scams

December 5, 2011

One of the best gifts you can give to others is the gift card. I’m a big fan of gift cards. Unfortunately, no matter what you are buying, or where you are buying it, it always seems as though there’s some scammer out there trying to take advantage — and the same is true when [...]

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Appreciate What You Have, And Enjoy It!

November 30, 2011

Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of the season, we forgot to just appreciate the things we already have, and just enjoy!

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Retirement: Know Your Housing Options

November 28, 2011

As you prepare for retirement, one of your challenges is going to be figuring out where to live. The process of aging means that you might need special care as you get older. Where you live can affect the sort of care you get, as well as your ability to access services that you need [...]

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Navigating Black Friday With Your Android Smartphone

November 18, 2011

Black Friday and all the deals to be had are nearly upon us. Here’s how to get the most out of the day with your Android smartphone.

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3 Tips For Giving Gift Cards This Holiday Season

November 18, 2011

Are you getting ready to provide gifts this holiday season? If you’re anything like me, you’ve started your Christmas shopping already. I actually give gift cards a lot during the holidays. For my little nieces and nephew, I do a little more and buy actual toys. But for the adults — my siblings (and their [...]

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Looking For A Job? Don’t Forget The Tax Deductions!

November 16, 2011

In this tough economy, a number of people are looking for jobs. If you’ve spent some time and effort — and money — on your job search this year, you might be eligible for a few tax breaks. Indeed, many of the expenses that you are likely to incur during a job search are tax-deductible. [...]

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Ally Bank Now Offers Easy E-Check Deposit: Scan And Deposit Your Checks At Home

November 11, 2011

A while back I wrote a review of Ally Bank and talked about how we had just opened an account with them as a place to keep our large emergency fund. While we were getting out of debt we had only saved a $2000 emergency fund to cover small contingencies, but once we got out [...]

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Reduce Your Debt And Save For Retirement

November 9, 2011

As an investor, two of the biggest and most daunting goals you may face are paying off your debt and saving for retirement.

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Consumers May Have Won This Round, But The Bank Fee War Is Far From Over

November 8, 2011

It’s true that consumers appear to have won a battle against bank fees. Bank of America announced that it will not go through with its intention to charge a monthly fee of $5 for debit card usage. Thanks to great deal of outcry, and people actually moving their money, Bank of America is back-pedaling on [...]

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Bank Of America Drops Plans For New $5 Debit Usage Fee After Other Banks Do The Same

November 1, 2011

Many banks recently announced that they were going to start charging new fees for debit account usage. Many of them have now reversed that decision.

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Is It Time to Reconsider the ARM?

October 31, 2011

Right after the mortgage meltdown, adjustable rate mortgages were vilified far and wide. You couldn’t find anyone, anywhere, recommending an ARM. Now, though, some are saying that ARMs have had a bad rap. After all, the ARMs that were especially devastating were those with extra low teaser rates, or interest-only ARMs that featured large balloon [...]

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