July 2009

Cash for Clunkers (CARS) Program Extended with $2 Billion Additional Funding Following Senate Approval – No Recalls or Suspension

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[Update - August 7th 2009] – An extension to the the much debated and hugely popular cash for clunkers – CARS – program gained Senate approval today, which clears the way for a vote later this week. President Obama has indicated that he will sign-off on the $2 billion extension, giving eager car buyers until [...]

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2011 vs. 2012 401k, 403b Contribution Limits and Catch-up Amounts

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[Updated for 2012 contribution limits] The IRS has now released the official 2012 401k, 403b and other retirement plan contribution limits, which reflect a $500 increase over the 2011 standard contribution limit. This is a result of higher inflation and the latest cost of living adjustment (COLA) figures. The 2012 contribution limit is the first increase in three years. Each [...]

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Ten ways to Avoid Getting Ripped Off at the Ball Park

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I recently went to a ball game in my hometown and had a great time watching the local team win. However one thing I have noticed for the longest time is the rising price of things sold at the ball games and I am sure at many other sporting events. From food to ticket prices [...]

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Hacking Social Security Numbers and How to Protect Your Identity

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CBS news reports that according to a recent journal article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, it is possible to use publicly available data on state and date of birth to predict someone’s Social Security number, particularly if they were born after 1988 and in smaller states. The ability to use [...]

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Are IOUs Coming to My State Replacing Real Money and Benefits?

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I remember as a kid, my brother and I used to exchange IOUs (I owe you) for favors owed. In most cases this was for some form of candy or an exchange to do assigned chores around the home. Because we had no money, the IOU’s provided the exchange platform for barter. Of course after [...]

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Understanding Obama’s 2009 Health Care Reform Plan – What’s in it for You and How Much Will it Cost Tax Payers

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[Updated August 2009] Confused about the Obama health care plan and where it is at? Well, you can join millions of other’s in this boat. Despite all the media coverage many Americans are still not sure what Obama’s health care reform is about and this makes them wary of supporting it. Today the main version [...]

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Buy Now versus Interest Free or Pay Later (Deferred) Plans

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After moving into my new place, one the big ticket items that I planned to purchase – nay, splurge on – was a big screen plasma TV for the family room. I did my research and found a Panasonic 58” model that I was able to negotiate down to around $2000 (with a Blu Ray [...]

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A Saturday Interview with No Debt Plan – From Personal Finance to Blogging to the Future

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No Debt Plan is about getting and staying out of debt with a plan. Kevin, the author, is passionate about budgeting, saving for the future, and using goals to reach financial freedom. You can subscribe to his blog by RSS or Email. This interview is part of a feature he’s developed called Subscriber Swap Saturday. [...]

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Food Stamp Program Now Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Helping to Feed Millions of Poorer Americans

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[Updated August 2011] The Federal Food Stamp Program is now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). With the stimulus aspects of this program set to expire at the end of this year following the debt ceiling related cuts, folks need to now work through their local state offices to get food stamp/SNAP assistance. [...]

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Saving Money on Calling Costs Via VOIP Phones

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As a relatively new small business owner working from home, one of the money saving technologies I have been looking into is (Voice Over Internet Protocol) VoIP telephony. A broadband or VoIP phone is like a regular phone except it uses high speed Internet to make calls at a fraction of the cost. A number [...]

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