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| Wednesday, October 29, 2008 |
| Gift card: Overview of consumer protection laws for different states |
With the christmas less than 2 months away, many people will be buying and receiving gift cards. While gift cards provide flexibility to the recipient in terms of what he/she wants to buy with it, the problem is that some of those cards may have expirations, dormancy fee, etc. However, such restrictions vary from state to state. Came across a nice link listing a brief overview of the consumer protection laws for different states. For example, according to the Consumers Union Web site, in Connecticut, gift cards currently can't have expiration dates or fees.
For details, see:
ConsumersUnion.org: State Gift Card Consumer Protection Laws |
posted by Ruby @ 9:57 AM
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| Sunday, October 26, 2008 |
| Weekend quote - talent |
Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.
- Leo Buscaglia |
| posted by Ruby @ 1:55 AM
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| Wednesday, October 22, 2008 |
| Opportunities galore in the US for Warren Buffett |
With the blood on the street and most investors running scared these days, Warren Buffett seems to be having a gala times these days picking up the beaten down stocks. While most investors are fleeing the market, Warren Buffett is busy analyzing and making investments.
Last week, the investment guru, Warren Buffett, opined in the New York Times that now is the time to buy quality US stocks for his personal account.A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. And most certainly, fear is now widespread, gripping even seasoned investors. To be sure, investors are right to be wary of highly leveraged entities or businesses in weak competitive positions. But fears regarding the long-term prosperity of the nation’s many sound companies make no sense. These businesses will indeed suffer earnings hiccups, as they always have. But most major companies will be setting new profit records 5, 10 and 20 years from now. Considering Warren Buffett's record, now may be the good time to buy stocks. Of course, the thing is to do only if you have some free money to invest without having to go into debt, have long investment time horizon (5+ years), and have the tolerance to withstand the extreme volatily. That, however, is easier said than done. In the current environment, investors are fleeing the market and putting their money in cash and other ultra safe alternatives such as Treasureres. Warren Buffett, however, doesn't seem to think that's the right strategy for most investors.Equities will almost certainly outperform cash over the next decade, probably by a substantial degree. Those investors who cling now to cash are betting they can efficiently time their move away from it later. In waiting for the comfort of good news, they are ignoring Wayne Gretzky’s advice: “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been.” For related articles, see:
NY Times: Buy American. I Am
Yahoo.com: Buffett's "buy now" call gets lukewarm reception |
| posted by Ruby @ 8:38 AM
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| Tuesday, October 21, 2008 |
| Credit card search site |
Given the current economic conditions and credit crunch, it has become hard for businesses and consumers to get credit. Banks have become increasingly reluctant to engage even in overnight lending to other banks due to the fear of counterparty default risks. Hopefully, the recently passed $700 billion rescue plan in the US as well as other measures taken by the federal reserve banks around the world will ease the credit crunch, and help consumers and businesses get the necessary credit.
In the mean time, another thing consumers have to worry about is the increasing number of layoffs due to the economic slowdown. As a result, regardless of your job stability, it is important to have sufficient emergency funds as a precautionary measure.
Another thing to ensure is that you have credit cards with sufficient credit limits, along the home equity line of credit (if owning home) in place. While they are relatively easier to get while you still have a job, it becomes tough to get them after a job loss. Of course, both the credit cards and home equity line of credit should be reserved for emergency use rather than for vacation or other binge spending.
Additionally, if you are carrying balances on credit card, you can consider doing 0% APR balance transfer. By transfering balances from a high interest credit card to a card offering 0% APR, you can reduce your overall interest charges and debt. In addition, some credit card companies offer opportunities to earn rewards even on balance transfers. Of course, before jumping into any balance transfers, you need to take into consideration any balance transfer, transaction and other fees to ensure that you are still coming out ahead in savings.
Fortunately, there are many good Web sites that enable consumers to search and apply for credit card offers with 0% or low APR balance transfer; cash, airline, hotel, gas, and even charity rewards; or with low or no annual card fees. One such site is CreditBreak.com.
CreditBreak.com has a very intuitive and user friendly interface. Using the various Easier card selection tabs and links on the CreditBreak.com's Web site and specifying the appropriate selection criteria such as 0% APR on Balance Transfer, you can easily and quickly search and apply for various credit cards that meet your selection criteria.
Another useful feature of CreditBreak.com's Web site is what it calls Fast-and-Easy Solutions. This feature enables consumers, who may not have enough time or knowledge to apply for credit card, to simply specify their needs and expectations. CreditBreak can then recommend them potential credit cards based on their specified criteria.
CreditBreak.com is more than simply a site to apply for credit cards. It also provides a valuable library of credit-related articles, including the pros and cons of credit use. Interested in credit card trivia? CreditBreak.com offers an interesting history of credit cards, including the reasons for their introduction and the fact that they didn't initially start out as plastic cards - the cards were initially made of cardboards!
To find out more about the history of credit cards, to review the articles, or to apply for credit cards with 0 APR balance transfer; cash, gas, hotel or airline rewards, etc, check out the following CreditBreak.com links:
0 balance transfer
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| posted by Ruby @ 7:37 AM
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| Sunday, October 19, 2008 |
| Weekend Quote - US stocks |
Fears regarding the long-term prosperity of the nation's many sound companies make no sense…The market will move higher, perhaps substantially so, well before either sentiment or the economy turns up. So if you wait for the robins, spring will be over.
- Warren Buffett, NY Times: Buy American. I Am |
| posted by Ruby @ 12:25 AM
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| Tuesday, October 14, 2008 |
| Hugh Hefner - another victim of credit crunch |
Seems Playboy's Hugh Hefner has become yet another victim of the current credit crunch. According to a Yahoo article, due to his deteriorating finances, Hugh Hefner may be laying some of his staff, while also charging fee for attending exclusive parties at his mansion. According to reports, Hefner was advised last month to fire some of his staff in his Los Angeles and New York offices to avoid financial ruin.
The Playboy boss has since extended an invitation to the exclusive parties held at the mansion, in return for money.
The tickets to the notorious parties range from 5,000 dollars to 25,000 dollars, depending on the celebrities in attendance. Hopefully, the above steps will help improve Mr. Hefner's financial situation. Otherwise, may be to raise money, Mr. Hefner can consider doing what his magazine does to its models - pose on the centerfold of adult magazines.
For related article, see:
Hugh Hefner fuels bankruptcy reports by selling tickets for mansion visits |
| posted by Ruby @ 3:46 AM
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| Saturday, October 11, 2008 |
| Weekend Quote - Looking forward |
When a thing is done, it's done. Don't look back. Look forward to your next objective.
- George C. Marshall |
| posted by Ruby @ 7:49 PM
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| Deadline approaching for filing for the economic stimulus payment |
With the Oct 15 extension deadline for filing taxes approaching soon, the IRS has issued a warning for people who haven't or who don't have to file taxes. They will miss out on the economic stimular payment if they don't file their taxes by Oct 15.The IRS estimates that as many as 4.3 million recipients of certain Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits who may be eligible for the economic stimulus payment have not yet claimed their stimulus payments. People must file an income tax return in order to receive an economic stimulus payment.
For people who have no tax liability and who have no requirement to file a tax return because their income is too low or nontaxable, there is a stimulus payment of up to $300 ($600 for married couples), plus a $300 payment for each qualifying child. After filing for tax extension earlier this year, we filed our tax returns in summer. Within 3-4 weeks, we had received and used up our stimulus check payments. It didn't take much time for our checks to evaporate, considering the high gas, energy and food prices. Given the current stock market meltdown, job losses and depleted account balances, I and many people through out the globe won't mind receiving another stimulus check payments.
For related article, see:
WebCPA.com: IRS Warns of Stimulus Payment Deadline |
| posted by Ruby @ 3:29 AM
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| Saturday, October 04, 2008 |
| Adjusting to the preschool life |
Writing after quite some time. Life's been very hectic over the last several weeks. My older son who's 3+ has started preschool in September. So far, not only he, but we all are adjusting to his new schedule. It's been hectic getting him ready in the mornings and dropping and picking him up. Seems more than half of the day is over in doing just this seemingly simple work.
However, am glad we sent him to the preschool. I was very apprehensive about whether he will like going there since we hadn't sent him much to babysitters. But he took liking to his school right from day one and had no issues with us leaving him along at the school. He's actually looking forward to going there every time, so getting him ready in the morning and taking him to the school etc hasn't been a problem. Every day, he's learning some thing new and comes home with new craft work. With all the stuff he's learning as well as looking at his excitement every day he goes to school, investing in his preschool has definately been worth it for all of us. |
| posted by Ruby @ 1:48 AM
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| Favorite Quote |
"If you look at what you have in life, you will always have more. If you look at what you do not have in life, you will
never have enough".
- Author Unknown
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