Annual Transportation Expenses Add Up
The beginning of March means springtime showers, basketball betting pools, and “Transportation Freedom Days” across the country. March 5 marked Transportation Freedom Day in the Chicago area (where my Sebring Convertible and I live). Transportation Freedom Day is the date a typical area household…
Our office spoke with NACA.com this week to learn more about its operations and the "no point, no cost" loans it offers. What we learned is that this isn't going to be the loan for everyone. While it does sound legitimate, and it is run by people who have worked in the affordable housing arena in…
Many 'Household CFOs' Lack Emergency Funds
A recent survey found 68 percent of "household CFOs," those responsible for managing their families' budgets, don't have an emergency fund.
Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Greater Atlanta sponsored the survey, which led the group to launch its Household CFO consumer information campaign.
The…
Who Will Teach Your Kids About Money?
Money must still be taboo in many American families. Only 20 percent of parents involve their teens in financial discussions, according to a Charles Schwab survey released last month. Ask many college students about their finances, their financial aid, their taxes - and you'll often hear "my parents…
Jobless Claims Return To Post Hurricane Katrina Levels
In December 2001 a group of us went to a conference room in a high rise tower in Fairfax, Va. We knew it was coming. Layoffs.
It wasn't that we hadn't worked hard. We had. Instead our company bought a competitor with similar technology and our product was killed. And so the team that worked on it was…
Can Payday Lenders Be Non-Profit?
For millions of Americans, pay day can't come quickly enough. In fact, many employees run out of cash before the next paycheck is handed over.
Payday lenders have recognized that future profit center and jumped into the void. They will "cash" your future paycheck, at a fairly exorbitant rate of…
New Year's Eve 2006 On The Ilyce Glink Show
If you want to improve your finances in 2007, consider paying a visit to CCCS of Greater Atlanta (www.cccsatl.org). They offer FREE budgeting counseling, which will help you figure out how to pay off your bills.
Dec. 31, 2006.
It's Starting To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Halloween decorations went up in mid-September. Now, day after Thanksgiving sales have started in early November.
Wal-Mart announced last night that it was rolling back prices 15 to 30 percent in order to give holiday shoppers a little present -- to kick start them into shopping now for holiday…
What's Better Than Cheap? Try Free!
Wal-Mart threw the opening salvo: $4 prescriptions for more than 300 drugs, all of them generic substitutes.
Yesterday, Mark Murray, president of Meijer, announced that anyone could take a prescription for more than 70 generic antibiotics to their Meijer pharmacy, and the prescription would be free.
…
Cutting Your Budget To The Bone
I went to one of my best friend's weddings last night. What struck me about Pam and Paul's wedding (her second, his first) was how warm and wonderful it was -- and how low-key. It was billed as a cocktail party, but when the guests got there, they were treated to Pam and Paul exchanging vows in…
