Monday, July 23, 2007

Tips to Improve Your Credit Score

Broderick Perkins has published several valuable tips for improving your credit score. Read More

Web Networkers At Risk From Identity Theft

From The BBC

People who use internet networking sites are being warned that they could be at risk of identity theft.

Credit information group Equifax said members of sites such as MySpace, Bebo and Facebook may be putting too many details about themselves online.
It said fraudsters could use these details to steal someone's identity and apply for credit and benefits.

About 80,000 people in the UK were victims of identity theft last year, at a cost to the economy of £1.5bn. Read More

The Link Between Car Theft and Identity Theft

In this article, Attorney Randall S. Udelman describes the link between identity theft and auto theft and provides tips to prevent car thieves from stealing your identity. Read More

Ways to Save Money

Here are some creative ways to save money from Dawn C at Frugal For Life

Let's start a wave of information- What are 25 different ways you save money?Whether it be daily or once in your lifetime, either jot it down in the comments or post to your own blog and I will link to it here. (just let me know in some form) It is always good to take a step back and see what good you ARE doing and where you can do better.Here are my ways I have and continue to save money :
1. Change light bulbs to CFL bulbs to save money
2. Use Heat and Air Conditioning sparingly
3. Use the light of Day instead of lights in the house
4. Pay bills online or in person, instead of using stamps
5. Keep razorblades dry and clean so that they last longer
6. Write checks for over the amount instead of using an ATM with fees
7. Use plastic containers to store left over food for eating later
8. Turn off all lights when not in a room
9. Leave the car at home at least one day out of the week
10. Borrow books from the library instead of buying them
11. Use coupons and check grocery circulars to get the best deals
12. Cook meals at home, cutting back on eating out
13. Take lunch to work
14. Watch movies at home instead of in the theater
15. Wash clothes every 7-10 days
16. Wash clothes in cold water to save on heat
17. Every 6-12 months verify I am getting the best deal on utilities and insurance
18. Cut out all subscriptions to magazines unless I can get them free
19. Buy foods in bulk or when items are clearanced and save in freezer
20. Pick up money from the ground and save in a coin jar
21. Round up in check book and place excess in savings at end of the month
22. Making use of Employer’s 401k matching limit
23. Put raises or bonuses in savings or apply towards debt
24. Do research online for best value for money on medium to large priced items
25. Jump at the chance to take home food from work potlucks when asked

Since everyone saves money a little differently and we all can learn a thing or two from each other, check out other people's thoughts on ways THEY SAVE:
1-MBHunter spills the beans on his Twenty-Five ways to save money
2-Blue takes the path to savings in 25 ways and hasn't looked back
3-In Maggie's Madcap life, she still has 25 ways she saves money
4-Chuck pulls together his top 25 ways to save money
5-Deb's living the life with 25 ways she saves money
6-Elizabeth finds the true luxuries in life that are bonus' to her 25 ways she saves
7-Hammy from 'down under, lets loose his warrior spirit and finds 25 ways to save
8-Getting to Enough blogger shares their ways of saving and ways to improve
9-David tightens his belt and goes over the 25 ways he saves, until he finds a job
10-Ariane lists 25 neat ways she saves money and simplifies her day11- Tiredbuthappy takes a look at her 25 ways to save money
12-Meredith gathers her valuable ways to save money
13-Jane suprises herself and finds out she has 25 ways she saves money
14-Thrifty Mommy takes on the challenge to find her own 25 ways she saves money
15-Jennifer gets ahead by trying some of her 25 ways to save money
16-Jenn presses forward and jots down her frugal ways to save money
17- Angela bytes on the idea to jot down her 25 ways to save money
18- 25 Slightly Unconventional Ways to SAVE your Pennies comes from the east in a perspective from New Hampshire
19- The Queen of Carrots stretches her vegetable to comes up with 25 ways she saves money.
20-Susan has some Fruitful savings by listing 25 ways she saves
21- Lynette chronicles her 25 ways to save money....and catagorizes them as well.
22- Eve takes time from decluttering to jot down her list of 25 ways to save.
23- Busy Blogger got to work on 25 ways to save money as well
24- Sharon shows us her royal 25 habits for saving money
*25* - Matthew gets green with his 25 Realistic Ways to Spend Less and Save Money in College
26- Prince of Thrift posts his Frugal 25 Ways to Save Money
27- Kim goes through her Frugal Life to find her 25 Ways she Saves Money
28 - Bibliozona indexes her 26 ways to save money
29 - The NYC Insider gives us the bite on the 25 Money-Saving Travel Tips
30 - The Family CEO manages a gathering of 25 Things I Do to Save Money
31 - Michael seeks a better life by listing his 25 Ways to Save Money and live Better
32 - Golbguru takes money, matter and more musings to crank out the 25 Things We Do To Save Money
33 - Mrs Hoppes is saving resources and still finding 25 Ways to Save Money
34 - Tiffany not only saves money, but saves time with 20 Ways We Save Money

7 Ways to Save Money

Here are 7 ways to save up to $12,000 per year from MSN Money.

Wells Fargo Stops Offering 2/28 loans

Wells Fargo has quit offering 2/28 loans, one of their most popular subprime products. A 2/28 loan had a fixed interest rate for the first two years and an adjustable rate (which could be adjusted twice per year) for the remaining 28 years if the loan was not refinanced. These loans made up 65% of the subprime mortgage loans. Other companies such as Countrywide, Washington Mutual, First Franklin, and Option One Mortgage have also followed suit.

Use Your Email to Filter out Scams

Several times per week, my email contains "Nigerian Scam" offers, and emails related to other types of scams. An easy way to get rid of that email without reading it is to set a filter so that it is automatically deleted. Simply open your google email. Next to the search box is a link which says "Create a Filter". When you click on that link, you get a box which says "Choose Search Criteria". The first choice in that box says "From". Type the country codes for the country from which you do not want to receive email. Click on "Next Step" and check the box marked "Delete It". For a list of country codes follow this link.

Dateline to Catch and ID Thief

Dateline NBC rebroadcast its "To Catch An Id Thief" episode. If you mised it you can see the internet version here. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17822386/

Forbes.com: Personal Finance News