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Posted
Oct 02 2007, 09:31 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Banks will collect a record high $4.4 billion in ATM fees this year. That's one of several findings in a new survey by Bankrate.com . Most banks now charge $2 each time a nonaccountholder uses one of their ATMs, and Bank of America raised its fee to $3. The average bounced-check fee is now a record high $28.23. Thankfully, you can take steps to avoid bank fees .
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Posted
Oct 02 2007, 09:33 PM
by
admin
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
This post comes from partner blog Get Rich Slowly . I hate plumbing. Whenever a faucet leaks or a drain clogs, my stomach sinks. I know it can mean hours of frustrating work. It's not that plumbing is difficult. I'm just not well-versed in the ways of home improvement. Somehow I missed that part of manhood training. Despite my apprehension, in 13 years of home ownership I've made it a point to do as much repair work as I can. It has saved me a lot of money. And while I'm a ball of nerves going into a project, I get tremendous satisfaction when I finish something and know that I did the work with my own hands. Yesterday we woke to find water on the floor of the upstairs bathroom. When we couldn't immediately locate the source of the leak, we debated calling a plumber. Because it was the weekend, and because we're trying to save money, my wife and I decided to tackle the problem as a team. While Kris buried herself in the Reader’s Digest Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual , I took the toilet
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Posted
Oct 02 2007, 09:42 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
A cost comparison by a frugal blogger shows it's usually cheaper to drive than to fly, but that's not always the case. Use the AAA Fuel Cost Calculator and an online airline ticket service like Priceline to compare, and figure in other costs like meals, hotels and taxis. The comparison offers other tips, like how to save on car rentals.
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Posted
Oct 03 2007, 09:01 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
You have until Oct. 12 to chime in on Federal Reserve proposals to make credit card companies clearly disclose important information like what rates and fees you'll actually pay, and when and why they'll take the liberty to raise them. Meanwhile, Congress is expected to consider credit card legislation in October. MSN Money's Liz Pulliam Weston explains why a crackdown is overdue.
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Posted
Oct 08 2007, 09:57 AM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Nickel at Five Cent Nickel got home last night to find two calls from a collection agency on his answering machine. That's a scary thing. He has always paid his bills on time, so he wondered if he's been a victim of -- even scarier -- identity theft . He checked his credit reports and found no discrepancies. Now he's left to wonder why two folks with generic names left urgent but vague messages on his phone.
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Posted
Oct 09 2007, 06:53 AM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Five Cent Nickel got voice mail from an errant bill collector the other night, which prompted him to look into what rights consumers have if they've fallen behind on their debt. (Nickel hasn't and figures it was a case of mistaken identity.) Collection agencies can't threaten you with a baseball bat, a la Tony Soprano. They can't call you at work if you've told them not to or harass you in other ways. The Federal Debt Collection Practices Act spells out your rights.
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Posted
Oct 09 2007, 07:46 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Flexo at Consumerism Commentary recently played American Public Media's online game, Consumer Consequences , and found out that his footprint is quite large: It would take the resources of seven planet Earths to support the world's population is everyone lived the way he does. He got brownie points for using CFL bulbs and not buying a lot of clothes, but other activities like commuting alone offset his good behavior. He asks, " How many Earths would it take to support a world consisting of 6.6 billion yous?"
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Posted
Oct 10 2007, 09:09 AM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
A newspaper article about a do-it-yourself funeral got Matthew at Finance Is Personal musing about alternatives to the traditional -- and expensive -- funeral. Why allow your family to spend $10,000 at a funeral home when you can instruct them to leave out the middleman and use the money for a more worthwhile purpose. Other bloggers have chimed in on the subject and note that the Funeral Consumers Alliance can be a helpful resource.
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Posted
Oct 18 2007, 12:25 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
This post comes from James Wood at partner blog ConsumerAffairs.com . The wireless phone might be one of the greatest inventions of all time, but these little gadgets also are the cause of massive confusion and financial trouble. It is not a pretty sight to look at the number of complaints filed against cellular companies, especially over the issues of contracts and termination fees. Although court cases and potential legislation are challenging early-termination fees and other horrors, they are all most likely years away from completion. But there's one step you can take today to avoid the hassles of a contract: Choose a prepaid wireless plan. Prepaid plans -- also called pay-as-you-go plans -- allow you to purchase minutes in advance, as you need them. There is no contract, credit check or deposit, and most plans won't make you pay an activation fee. Prepaid wireless isn’t for everyone, especially if you’re a heavy wireless user or want certain types of phones. However, you should consider
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Posted
Oct 23 2007, 10:48 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Credit card balance-protection insurance may sound like a good deal: It will make payments on your credit card bill if you're laid off, disabled, seriously ill or -- dead. But how much does it really pay? Blogger Nora Dunn at Wise Bread examines the fine print and informs us that the insurance will cover the minimum payment each month while interest on your balance continues to grow. You can probably do better on your own. The death benefit will pay your entire balance if a dirt nap is your fate, but term life insurance generally is a better deal.
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