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• Why I turn down free money

  Posted Jul 31 2008, 06:19 AM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Debt, Banking, Credit, Wise Bread
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  This post comes from Philip Brewer at partner blog Wise Bread.

  There are certain ways to get free money or free stuff simply by paying attention, keeping track, and being careful. I don't do these things. It's not because they don't work; it's not even because the risk-adjusted earnings don't pay for the time spent.

  It's because time -- and especially time spent paying attention -- is very precious. 

  The clearest example of the sort of thing I'm talking about is getting a cash advance from a new credit card with a 0% teaser rate. Slap that money in your high-interest savings account, pay off the loan when it's due, and you can pocket the interest. Borrow $100,000, and you could pick up close to $2,000 of free money in six months.   Read More...

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• What's the best way to get out of debt?

  Posted Jun 26 2008, 05:42 AM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Debt, Banking, Credit, Wise Bread
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  This post comes from Linsey Knerl at partner blog Wise Bread.

  Debt is the hottest topic on personal-finance blogs around the world. Why? I would venture to guess it's because so many people are drowning in it.

  The unfortunate truth is that few people care to read about debt until it has already had a negative effect on their financial situation. This can make the final solution to their debt problems even more difficult to hear about.   Read More...

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• How to spot counterfeit money

  Posted Oct 11 2007, 08:24 AM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Banking, Spending, Wise Bread
  Rating:
  This post comes from Philip Brewer at partner blog Wise Bread . It used to be that spotting a "good" counterfeit bill was impossible for ordinary people. If it was good enough to pass the "look and feel" test, an ultraviolet light or a magnetic ink detector would be needed to detect fraud. But for the past 10 years, the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing has been making bills that are easy to check for authenticity. The amount of counterfeit money in the United States is low enough that most people feel safe taking money with barely a minimal check for counterfeits. Does it look and feel like money? Then it probably is. But have you ever gotten a bill and thought something -- either the bank note or the person giving it to you -- seemed a little off? Ever wished you could quickly check to see if it's good? Well, here's how: Look and feel. This is as far as most people go, and it's good enough most of the time. U.S. bank notes are printed on special paper that's 75% cotton and 25% linen   Read More...
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