Most of us use at least one form of social media to stay in touch with friends and family we don't get to see every day. Whether it's Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, or Instagram, social media gives us the ability to share updates with all our friends ...
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Home Repair Scams: Here Are the 9 Biggest
I've had numerous home repair scammers come to my house through the years offering "great deals" that were really anything but.
You know the type. Most of these guys wouldn't know what a contractor's license looked like if it hit them in the ...
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How I Fought My Parking Ticket and Beat City Hall
Usually, the only warm-blooded creature in the house that ever bothers to get up and acknowledge me when I come through the front door is my dog, Jack.
So I knew something was wrong when I walked through the door and the Honeybee greeted me with a ...
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Money Mirages: 6 ‘Money-Saving’ Ideas That Are Anything But
Yesterday I was at the gas station and I observed a soccer mom topping off the tank of her bright yellow Hummer.
And when I say "topping off," I mean really topping it off. She must have squeezed that hose handle a dozen times - and each time she ...
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How I Got Scammed at My Local Gas Station
People who believe in personal responsibility are often unfairly accused of being heartless and uncaring.
For proof, all one has to do is look at my inbox. I usually get at least one scathing letter every week from a reader who mistakes my ...
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10 Reasons Why I Hate Bottle Redemption Fees (and You Should Too)
Currently, ten states have some form of bottle bill on their books that require deposits on certain aluminum and glass beverage containers that can be returned later for a refund. In addition to my home state of California, the other states that have ...
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6 Ways to Avoid Becoming a Pickpocket Victim
Imagine you're on vacation -- in a foreign country, no less -- and you've been the victim of a pickpocket. Cash, credit cards, passport -- all gone. What do you do? It's a nightmare scenario nobody wants to go through. Thankfully, you can lessen the ...
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The Embarrassing Anatomy of a Phishing Scam
You've got to hand it to scam artists. They often succeed in spite of themselves.
If I had a nickel for every time I retrieved a message from my inbox warning me that my PayPal account has been limited, or that my credit card has been suspended, ...
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Why You Should Be Careful Before Gambling Online with a Credit Card
Using online services such as shopping and streaming services often requires the use of credit cards. And online gambling - which has become increasingly popular in recent years - is no different.
Of course, time and time again we are warned about ...
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100 Words On: A Surefire Way to Beat the Lottery
I realize I've made this point before but, come on, talk about a sucker's bet: The odds are before you ever strike it rich playing the lottery you'll most likely be struck by lightning. Twice. Now consider this: Over a ten year period, somebody who ...
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Lottery Fraud: Don’t Get Caught Paying ‘The Stupid Tax’
There's an old joke that goes something like this:
In order to raise additional revenue, the government is introducing a National Lottery with a daily grand prize of $50 million. Winners will get $1 annually for 50 million years.
Heh. I smile ...
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Romance Scams On the Rise: How to Stay Financially Safe Online
As more and more of our lives go online, it's no wonder that we look for ways to stay safe. In fact, 57% of us prefer to carry out our banking over the Internet, and that number is increasing all the time. Yet, recent reports of an increase in ...
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Tip Inflation: We’ve Got Nobody to Blame But Ourselves
In the US, tipping is as American as apple pie.
As a kid I remember going to restaurants with my folks and figuring out the tip for Dad. And he obliged me almost every time simply because he knew I loved to do that sort of thing. His rule was 10% ...
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Falling for This Tax Scam Will Have You Singing an Unhappy (i)Tune
Tax season is upon us -- and scammers know it. While we'd all like to think we could outwit someone who tries to defraud us, the truth is that these criminals prey on some of our biggest fears and often see substantial results. In fact, the US ...
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14 Reasons Why Monitored Home Security Systems Are for Suckers
Even though today's DIY home security systems make it easier than ever to monitor your home from anywhere and at any time with a smart phone, I still see the occasional ad from companies offering home burglar alarm installation and monitoring ...
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Shocking! 10 Everyday Items That Are More Expensive Than Gasoline
I drove by the corner gas station today, as I do everyday on my way home from work, and I couldn't help but notice that the price of gasoline rose another few cents over the weekend. This time the sign was unapologetically advertising a price of ...
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4 Presumptuous Gifts that Can Strain the Recipient’s Budget
I remember the worst gift I ever received. It was a vacation to the Bahamas that an old girlfriend of mine gave to me. It was one of those too-good-to-be-true ultra-low-cost package "deals" that was exactly that -- too good to be true. Our "hotel" ...
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Buyer Beware: Here Are the 6 Biggest Consumer Electronics Markups
What do a grocery store, a funeral home and a college bookstore have in common? They each sell products with some of the highest markups in retail.
While we dont want to think of a funeral as a financial transaction, the reality is that we all pay ...
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100 Words On: Why It’s Time to Eliminate the Penny
It's been a decade since Canada announced it would no longer mint pennies. That makes a lot of sense; perhaps America should follow suit. In 1913 the once-proud penny had 23 times the purchasing power it does now. Today, the penny is essentially ...
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4 Sneaky Car Dealer Tricks (and How to Avoid Them)
The majority of car dealers are scrupulous professionals who simply want to sell you the vehicle of your choice. So why is it that taking a trip to the dealership often fills car buyers with dread?
It's an unfortunate fact that many car buyers ...
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