Online financial news
Gift Card Comparison Made Easy.
By now we’ve all heard about the various “gotchas” often applied to gift cards. We’ve all heard the warning bells of hidden fees, expiration dates and the like, but how do you know if that gift card you’re about to buy is booby trapped?
Well, here’s a really simple and handy web site you probably want to check out.
It lists many popular gift cards from credit card issuers, retailers and even restaurants. It then breaks down whether each has purchase fees or if it can expire. There’s also a link to the issuer’s site to buy a card online and the table lists whether the card is shipped for free or not.
This can potentially save a lot of headache and hassle this gift giving season, for you and the gift recipient!
RevolutionCard Brings Change to Credit Card Industry
RevolutionMoney has finally launched its highly anticipated RevolutionCard, which is a secure alternative to standard credit cards.
Why the RevolutionCard is Different
Examples include the fact that the RevolutionCard has no account number, name, or signature line on it. The payments are therefore authorized by entering a PIN number, similar to that of a debit card. To make purchases online or by phone, customers can simply use their PIN number. In other words, the cardholder does not have to provide an online retailer with a credit card number, thereby making the transaction more secure.
The RevolutionCard may act like a debit card, but customers receive the same rewards offered by standard credit cards. In fact, customers of the RevolutionCard are afforded plenty of loyalty programs, which include exclusive offers and discounts on many types of purchases.
Benefits of the RevolutionCard
The RevolutionCard was designed to combat identity theft that has plagued so many millions of Americans.
The 12 Days of Christmas Price Index Barely Budged
Watch prices go up? Not.
Around this time of year, the media likes to get into the holiday spirit by tracking the “12 Days of Christmas Price Index” as a way to look at the real CPI (consumer price index) through whimsical glasses. So this year, the cost increase of the 12 Days of Christmas rose a minute 0.9%, with the price for all the gifts for your true love during this holiday season ringing in at $87,402.81 (this is the total cost of all the gifts mentioned in the song from the 1st through the 12th day).
If you consider only the current cost for one set of each gift mentioned (take the stuff mentioned in one verse), then the price is $21,465.56, with the items bought offline. Purchased online, these same items will amount to $31,434.85 when you include shipping costs for the various live creatures in the list. This is one time that shopping online will really(!) cost you. Tha
Money Makeover: Cathleen and John Banister-Marx
The Boston Globe Money Makeover: With planning, helping friends still affordable profiles Cathleen (48) and John (50) Banister-Marx, teachers who live in school housing at The Governor’s Academy in Byfield, MA. While the couple live within their means and are frugal, they have made expensive commitments which they now realize will make retiring early somewhat impossible:
The couple sometimes provide extra cash to family members who are having a tough time making ends meet. They have even volunteered to fund the college educations of four boys – godsons who are children of friends in Colorado and Mexico – who might not otherwise be able to afford tuition.“We’re teachers and we don’t have children,’’ said Cathleen, a speech pathologist with the Gloucester public schools, explaining that their ability to help others is an important part of their life.
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Financial projections run by fee-only financial planner Jill Boynton of Newington, N.H.-based Cornerstone Financial Planning provided some straightforward answers. In order to
Copenhagen Diary #7: Blah Blah Blah, Act Now!
At yesterday’s march for climate justice in Copenhagen. We’ve had the first day of sunshine for a week. Entering Parliament Square, the crowd is massive. We find our group pretty quickly, the marchers with the green builders hats stand out. A speaker on the platform punches out her lines, each one broken by a roar of agreement:
“Nature does not negotiate.”
“You should not play politics with our plant.”
“We want a real deal in Copenhagen.”
As we march, banners fly in the wind. They say:
“Politicians talk, leaders act.
“Act now, change the future.”
And my favourite: “Unions have solutions. Just transition.” This one on a massive green banner spread across the width of the march, and held by the Belgian unions in their green builders hats with stickers that say, “union solidarity. Just transition”.
We’
Last-minute holiday bargains
Well, the nation’s children might be excitedly awaiting Christmas but the grown-ups just want to get away from it all. Research by travelsupermarket.com found that 51% of adults would prefer to take a break to receiving presents.
The Welsh are feeling the strain the most, with 57% saying they would much rather have a holiday than wake up onChristmas morning to a packed Christmas tree.
Bob Atkinson, travel expert from travelsupermarket.com, said: “With the economy still in turmoil, it is perhaps unsurprising that Brits want to escape the doom and gloom here – as well as the miserable weather.
“However, people will need to take a few important measures to make sure their Christmas getaway doesn’t turn into a festive flop.
“Most important is to remember to cover your holiday booking by paying with a credit card if possible and make sure you have adequate travel insurance, especially if you’re taking some presents away with you as well.