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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How to Find a Low-Cost Pest Control Company That Won’t Rip You Off
Eventually, pests happen. Whether it's a rat or rodent infestation, a serious bug problem or something more serious like termites, you will need to hire a professional pest control company. In most cases, you can rely on them to rid your home of a ...
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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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8 Stupid Fees Consumers Hate to Pay (But Often Do Anyway)
In this tough economy, businesses of all types continue to nickel and dime us to death with add-on charges. Needless to say, they want you to believe that those fees are necessary to cover the additional costs of doing business; pizza delivery fees ...
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True Story: My Spouse Skipped Town and Left Me Penniless!
I'd always considered myself pretty street smart. You know, the kind of girl that didn't have an easy life and had learned many lessons via the School of Hard Knocks.
Then I married my Prince Charming. He didn't make much money, but we shared the ...
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Tips for Protecting Yourself from Investment Fraud
Becoming a victim of securities fraud is a serious and devastating matter. The market is known to fluctuate, and especially in light of the impact of COVID-19, you may not realize that it isn't the economic roller coaster impacting the growth of your ...
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What I Learned from the Worst Vacation of My Life
Summer is almost here and many people are gearing up for another vacation season full of fabulous food and frolicking fun in the sun with friends and family.
With that in mind, I thought it would be a kick to relive the worst vacation of my entire ...
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21 Reasons Why Corner Lots Are For Suckers
For the six people left in America who are still looking to buy a home, I thought I'd pass on a little advice and save you a serious case of buyer's remorse.
Don't be fooled by real estate agents who try to tell you that a corner lot is highly ...
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100 Words On: Why You Should Never Buy a Timeshare
No matter what that slick salesman tells you, vacation timeshares aren't a good deal. Surprised? Don't be. Many timeshares owners lose the freedom to vacation wherever and whenever they choose -- or even skip one, considering annual maintenance fees ...
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How to Protect Your Financial Info During the Holiday Shopping Hustle
With all the fun and excitement the holidays bring, the last thing you want on your mind is if somebody is robbing you blind out in cyberspace. Protect yourself and your purchases this year -- specifically when shopping online -- with these helpful ...
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5 Money Saving Tips Your Mortgage Broker Doesn’t Want You to Know
Buying a home is a big decision and you do not want to make a mistake while you are home shopping. That's why lots of people turn to mortgage brokers to help them through the process of finding a loan. In order to help you avoid being taken advantage ...
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