For years small businesses and individual phone customers have been complaining of phone bill cramming, or phone companies’ addition of unauthorized charges to their phone bills. Unfortunately, despite the illegality of this action, and the hefty fines it can carry for guilty companies, it is still occurring. For this reason, you will want to check your bills carefully to make sure you are not falling victim to cramming efforts. Continue reading
Budgeting
Budgeting for College Students
As a new school year is set to begin for many college-bound students, the biggest concern for many freshmen as well as returning students is budgeting. Many students do not come into college with a steady part-time job, and the waning number of on-campus jobs has left many out in the cold dealing with the busy college lifestyle with little money in their pockets. Continue reading
Becoming A Smart Consumer
We make thousands of purchases throughout our lives, but the trick is being good at it— buying the products that suit our needs, at the best price, with the least amount of hassle.
The Solvency Shark offers these strategies for making great purchases, whether a new home or a pack of gum. Continue reading
What is Overdraft Protection?
Overdrafting your debit card is basically the same thing as exceeding your monthly credit card allowance: you have withdrawn more money from your checking account than you have there. The difference? Where with a credit card the amount you spent simply gets rolled into your bill, if you withdraw more money than you have in your checking account—whether you go over by a couple cents or fifty dollars—you can get charged an overdraft fee of between $10 and $38. Continue reading
Budgeting on a Fixed Income
Fluctuating gas prices and rising costs in everyday commodities such as groceries and prescription drugs have placed a steady burden especially on those individuals with fixed income. If you are living on a fixed income, it is essential to keep unnecessary expenses at a minimum. By adopting a budget plan and exercising smart buying habits, you can take control over your money. Continue reading
Legal Costs of DWI Defense are Staggering
Driving while impaired, or commonly known as a DWI, is the act of driving a motor vehicle with a blood level of alcohol exceeding the legal limit. Measure of the driver’s Blood Alcohol Content, or BAC, is used to see if it exceeds the threshold that defines the offense. In many states, the Blood Alcohol Content legal limit is 0.10%. However, there are states who have adopted a lower limit of 0.08%. If the driver is cited for driving at or above this BAC limit, the individual will get into a lot of legal and financial trouble. The effects of a DWI are very stressful and costly, and can be avoided simply by taking a cab or getting a ride. If you are charged with a DWI, it is important to understand the legal costs to be defended. Continue reading
Building Wealth Through Saving
In the present economy, often the idea of being able to set aside money seems unrealistic, but in truth saving money can be simpler and less straining than it first appears. The best way to begin is to open a savings account in a bank of your choice. Different banks have varying policies and initial deposit requirements, so talk with bank representatives to be sure you understand all the specifics of your account. Keep in mind that the IRA—Individual Retirement Account—is a tax-free savings option. There are a number of different types of IRAs, and once again it is important to consult a bank representative about which choice is best for you. Continue reading
Should You Buy an Extended Warranty?
Don’t Throw Bricks At Your TV – Or At Your Finances
One of the biggest topics in Washington – especially right now – is health insurance. When placed on big-ticket items such as, for example, a person’s life, your house, or even your car, buying insurance doesn’t just make sense, in some cases it’s required. Continue reading
Don’t give into your frugal fatigue
I have said many times that it is not human nature to be conservative. Saving up or cutting back goes against our tendencies to buy things. This is most evident in our physical health, as 32% of the adult population in the United States is now obese. It’s difficult to stick to a certain regimen or diet, and eventually it could end up in a splurge, immediately negating all of the hard work. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling has uncovered a recent development in the financial world called frugal fatigue, something that may affect the severity of a possible credit bubble bursting. Continue reading
3 Steps for Paring Down the Family Budget
In harsh economic times, the number of families who find themselves hard pressed for cash increases. As individuals lose jobs, the number of families who live from paycheck to paycheck and on less each week than they are used to has increased drastically over the past several years. For those in this situation or those who just want to cut back a bit on their family budget and save some cash for emergencies, here are some tips for reducing the family budget. Continue reading
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