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Most Recent Articles
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- A Breach In Medicare Data
A federal investigation has shown that there were flaws in the computer security system that holds information of those enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid. The results have shown that personal information could be modified, misused, or even worse deleted. That disruption in information could lead to problems with Medicaid and Medicare services. Although that breach in security is being fixed, there is still information out there that can be attained my any hacker because the system is used by most of the Medicaid agencies, private contractors and health care providers. - A Sign Of The Times...
Traditionally, California has had a low foreclosure rate. However, in the last quarter of 2006, 37,273 Default Notices were sent to California Homeowners; an increase of 36.9% since the previous quarter. - Americans Feel Optimistic About Growth And Prosperity
The effects of higher interest rates and energy prices, combined with decreased home price availability have reflected a cooling-off period of the housing market. - Are We A Generation Of Do It Yourselfers (diy)
Tired or fed up of paying contractors for doing jobs you can do yourself? At some time most of us will feel like that. Guess what, you really don't have to anymore. We seem to have a never ending access to all the information we need to do these jobs ourselves. Many hardware stores are now giving free instructional classes on the weekends, there are also all those instructional television shows plus countless CD sets that make doing it yourself seem really easy. Not only do we get to save money, in most cases a lot of money but we also get to take great pride in what we have done. Here are some suggestions and statistics about doing it yourself. - Are We Being Legally Mugged?
As the FAT CAT Oil Companies get richer by the day, the average American is working harder and longer for less money. Hello!!!!! What's wrong with this picture????? How long can this go on! - At Last Good News On Breast Cancer
Survival rates of breast cancer sufferers are now up to 50 percent and two-thirds of all women survive cancer for at least 20 years. The Mayo Clinic in Minnesota is now working on predicting which types of lumps should be of more concern. After following almost 10,000 women with benign lumps, researchers found that those with cells that looked different from normal cells are four to five times more likely to develop breast cancer. There are some other factors that need to be taken into consideration as well, such as age and a family history of cancer. Due to recent discoveries, doctors can now more accurately determine whose a strong candidate for additional screenings or other preventive measures. - Bush Makes Big Changes To College Savings Plans
Saving money for our children's higher education is a little like walking through a mine field, which plan best suites our needs. President Bush has just signed the Pension Protection Act, the act outlines strengthening the financing rules for defined benefit plans. The main problem I found with this act is that the Pension Protection Act eliminates the 2010 sunset provision for tax-free withdrawals from the Section 529 tuition savings plan. - Can Green Tea Really Help Prevent Strokes
We have all seen those television adverts that tell us drinking Green Tea can prevent or even cure cancer. Are these claims actually true, although Green Tea naturally contains many antioxidants there is no real proof that it can or will help prevent cancer. But it does now appear that Green Tea can help prevent the risk of clot related strokes. - Credit Repair: Is Self Help Best For You
It now seems almost impossible to turn on the TV or open a newspaper any more without seeing another advert for some credit repair service. My email box is overloaded with subject titles like “Credit problems? No problem!” or “We can erase your bad credit — 100% guaranteed.”. This must be a great business to be in, some of these companies are now using telemarketers to offer their services. They all seem to make the same misleading claims, “Create a new credit identity — legally.” or “We can remove bankruptcies, judgments, liens, and bad loans from your credit file forever!” - Death And Taxes
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”
Benjamin Franklin - Directory Scams Are Costing Small Business Millions Of Dollars
Are you tired of getting charged or invoiced for a directory listing you never placed? What about those purchase orders for supplies you never even ordered. Well guess what? You are not alone. - Divorced And Deep In Debt, It's Not All Doom And Gloom!
Almost half the letters I receive daily are from recent divorcees and for the most part their stories go something like this! - Divorced And Deep In Debt, It's Not All Doom And Gloom!
Almost half the letters I receive daily are from recent divorcees and for the most part their stories go something like this! - Don't Stress It
Did you know that stress can make you sick? I mean physically sick, not mentally sick. Most of the time when we are stressed, we say things like “I'm sick and tired” and that could be a lot truer than we think. - Elections - It's High Time We Demanded Reforms
We never really seem to be too far away from another election whether it’s in our communities, for the city or the state. Then there's always the “BIG” show - the Presidential election. Can anyone remember when it stopped being about issues and became a Media Circus. It's just like playing poker where the man (or woman) with the most money usually wins. - Everyone Wants To Be An Inventor
We will all at some time sit around thinking of something that we need and then wonder if we can invent something like it that will make us rich beyond our dreams. The number of people who do try to make this dream come ture runs into the tens of thousands, all trying to develop a thought into a real invention. Something we will all need and want to buy. - Expect The Unexpected: There's A Real Need For Emergency Cash
Student loans!! Mortgage payments!! Credit card bills!! All of these payments create anxiety and irritation but they are all real. They are payments we keep in mind when we budget for the month. Then suddenly, an emergency occurs, be it small or large. Are you as prepared as you should be to spend those extra dollars? - Flat Tax, It Could Work!
With great expectations for the coming year, I have begun thinking about that great annual past time, the dreaded Tax Return! - Getting Out Of Debt,
Getting Out of Debt, The Smart Credit-Card Plan, the perfect paydown strategy
Behavioral economist Meir Statman, recently said “getting out of debt is the financial equivalent of trying to quit smoking." Just like any bad habit, good intentions alone will not be enough. To ensure success, we need to break our underlying patterns of behavior. How is it we live in the richest most powerful country in the world, but the average American is more than $11,000 in debt. Our European friends who live by a mainly debit card system have an average savings of $13,000. On a recent visit to Germany, I was shocked to find that less than 35% of all the shops and restaurants accepted credit cards. What would we need to do to reverse this trend and get into a (plus) situation. - Gift Cards Have Some Strings Attached
Don't know what to buy everyone for Christmas? Just found out about a birthday party and need a last minute birthday gift? The easy solution is to buy a gift certificates or gift card, especially if the person you are buying for has a favorite place to shop. But there are some issues you should remember before buying that gift card. Example, some gift cards expire, others can only be used at the location you bought them from. There may be activation fees, transaction fees, inactivity fees, and replacement fees that can eat up a lot of the value of the card. Now the gift card isn't looking like such a good idea, is it? It's not all doom and gloom, lets have a look at what you should be looking for before you hand over your hard earned cash. - Grant Your Self A Better Education For Less
“I'm not going to college because I just can't afford it.” How many times do we hear those words form worried high school juniors and seniors. It's no wonder they think like that when tuition fees have been rising anywhere between 2% to as much as 26%. Before we all get lost in the Doom and Gloom there is a lot of GOOD news out there, you just have to know where to find it. - Have We Issued One Blank Check To Many!
With Mid Term elections just around the corner maybe it's time for us to start taking a harder look at what has happened to “OUR” civil liberties. What we once took for granted as the cornerstone of being an American would seem to be in the process of disappearing on an almost daily basis. - Health Insurance Up 78 Percent Since 2000, Along With Policy Terminations!
Health insurance went up 7.7 percent this year, thats twice the rate of inflation. Premiums have increased by 78 percent since the year 2000 compare that to salary increases of just 20 percent and the real picture starts to have an impact. - How The Tax System Really Works For Us Californians!
Believe it or not, we're being pick-pocketed by the government! Should that really come as such a shock! For every dollar that we (the tax paying public) spent in 2004, 79 cents went back to the state in spending. In other words, there was a $51 billion shortfall, which according to the California Institute of Policy Research, is the largest in the nation. - How To Clean Smarter, Not Harder
We would all like to leave for work in the morning press a button on the way out and return at the end of the day to find our homes clean and tidy. Until that day arrives, here are some tips that may help you clean smarter not harder. Due to those TV adverts, most of us over accessorize for the job We have gadgets for everything and most don't really do what they say or not in my hands anyway, so lets keep it simple. - How To Figure Health Insurance: The Married Way
Experts say that it is very important for a two-income family to pay attention to details when deciding on medical insurance coverage. The reasons are as follows: 1. Pay attention because there are more options than ever before. 2. Certain companies penalize those who are married, and are fortunate enough to have double coverage. (Meaning; if a husband and wife work for separate companies and one of them tries to cover the other in insurance, the company they work for will charge them a higher premium). - How To Save Money When Buying A Car New Or Used
Don't know what to look for when buying a new car? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an organization that prevents fraudulent and unfair business practices. Every year they revamp or print publications that range from directory scams to buying new cars. So here are some tips on how to keep your eyes peeled for those scams. - Identity Theft Hits Record Levels
In a country that prides itself on innovation and a citizen’s right to privacy, why are we still living with the most antequated personal credit scoring system in the world? Our SSN (social security number) is the key to our financial existence. It allows the world to see the good, the bad and sometimes the downright ugly. We have no choice but to use this system to obtain credit, mortgages, insurance and even jobs. Having established the importance of this 9 digit number to us as individuals why are we still using a system that appears to have been designed for the sole benefit of thieves and robbers? We may just as well walk around with a BIG sign pinned to our backs telling any criminal with half a brain “Great Credit - Please Rob Me- All information required listed below.” - Identity Theft Hits Record Levels
In a country that prides itself on innovation and a citizen’s right to privacy, why are we still living with the most antequated personal credit scoring system in the world? Our SSN (social security number) is the key to our financial existence. It allows the world to see the good, the bad and sometimes the downright ugly. We have no choice but to use this system to obtain credit, mortgages, insurance and even jobs. Having established the importance of this 9 digit number to us as individuals why are we still using a system that appears to have been designed for the sole benefit of thieves and robbers? We may just as well walk around with a BIG sign pinned to our backs telling any criminal with half a brain “Great Credit - Please Rob Me- All information required listed below.” - In America There Are Two Tax Systems
"In America there are two tax systems, one for the informed and one for the uninformed. Both systems are legal." - Interest-only Or 50 Year Mortgages - Do They Really Make Sense?
With hotspots like Las Vegas, much of California and Florida still enjoying a good real estate market, many banks and mortgage companies are now spreading out payments over 50 years to make them more affordable. Prior to these 50-year mortgages, interest-only mortgages were promoted and sold as the way to go. The real question here is which is better? - Investing In Tax Liens/tax Deeds For Higher Returns
With large numbers of Americans now looking for safer investments for their long term wealth building programs. Most want higher returns than they can get from putting their hard earned money into Bank CD's, many are seeking information about Tax Liens. Investing in Tax Lien/Deed certificates will enable you to realize safe, annualized returns all guaranteed by the United States Government. - Is Homeland Security “the Last Comic Standing?”
The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”), the brainchild of this current administration, has an operating budget for 2006 of $40.6 billion. After three years and more than $100 billion, have we really reached the point were we can sleep better at night with the knowledge that our “Leaders” are doing everything possible to protect us against those terrorists attacks. - Is Money Really The Issue?
How many times have you let a cousin or one of your siblings borrow some money. A few days pass with no sign or word from the borrower. The days turn into a week, still no word the weeks then turn into months, still nothing. During this time you begin to build up a resentment towards the borrower. - Is Term Insurance Right For You!
For some reason I always seem to receive a lot of mail this time of year on the subject of “Life Insurance”. Most want to know the benefits or pitfalls of Term Life Insurance over Permanent Life Insurance. - Is The Idea Of A Traditional Family, Dead Or Just Sleeping
A recent survey has shown that traditional marriage is not the preferred living arrangement in the U.S. That's right, read it again. Better yet, let me rephrase it. The so called, traditional family household, is beginning to diminish in numbers. - It's A Worry
lmost all of us go through life constantly worrying about something or other, our job, our relationships, getting older, our bank account, and our children among other things. Do we really need to do all this worrying. After all, most of it is just in our heads and many of the problems never ever really happen they way we think they will. Here are some tips that could help you reduce your worry levels. - It’s A High Price To Live In The City
In any city where the majority of people are renters, the projected rise of a 5% increase in rent is anything but good news. - Little Or Nothing Saved At 50, You've Got To Act Fast. Here's My Simple Catch-up Plan.
I've been receiving a great many letters lately that go something like this! "I'm about to turn 50 and I've just started planning for retirement! Any ideas?" Great question! Something you should have asked 15 to 20 years ago but never mind, better late than never. - Live To Eat And Still Lose Weight, It Can Be Done
What really goes down well with wine? Cheese and bread, that's the typical French diet so how is it that the French are not overweight? - Loans Just Aren't What They Used To Be
There have been some recent changes regarding federal loan payment options. A “guidance” report was published on September 29, 2006 that spoke on the issue of mortgage payment options available to the public. The Federal Reserve, the Office of Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Office of Thrift Supervision all contributed to the the “guidance” report. - Money Makeover
You come home after a long day at work only to find numerous unwanted bills in your mailbox. As you sift though them, you start to get that sinking feeling. You know there is no way you can afford to pay all of them on time. It's at this time that you remember that you have a vacation coming up and you want to make the most of it. What you really need now is a money makeover and this is how you do it. - Nothing Seems To Scare Parents More Than The Prospect Of Paying Their Children's College Tuition Fees.
In a recent survey, 300 parents of school-age children were asked to list in order the fears which inspired the most horror. Believe it or not, the high cost of college tuition came well above the safety of their family, terrorism, and crime. - Obesity Takes A Toll On Women
The World Health Organization says, “more than 1 billion adults [this means one in six of the world's population] are overweight of which 300 million are now classed as obese.” If these numbers are correct, this would mean that the overweight population now out numbers the under-nourished population of the world by some 800 million people. - Online Safety, How Safe Are We
How sure can we really be as to how safe we are when you use the Internet. Hackers can and will get into all your private information, and use it for their own ends. There also seems to be an endless number of viruses that can kill your computer. These are usually transmitted by opening an email or clicking links from these emails. So here are some safe surfing tips. - Our Own Homes Are The Mother Of All Tax Shelters
When it comes to tax shelters, there’s no better or safer place than our own homes. There are a vast number of companies out there spending a lot of money on advertising trying to convince us that we should be sending our hard earned dollars to some island in the sun, where (for a nice fat fee of course) they will keep our money safe and out of the hands of the IRS. Most of these programs, for lack of a better word, are illegal or at the very best not as tax efficient as the claims they make. - Pre-planned Funerals
No-one ever wants to deal with what will happen when they, or loved ones, pass away. However, when it comes down to planning a funeral, things can get really hectic when hasty decisions need to be made. - Preventing Diabetes
For all those diabetics out there, do the names Avandia or Altace ring a bell? A recent study has shown that both drugs may well help by giving additional prevention for those that are “pre-diabetics”,- which accounts for almost 40 million of our population. As many as half of the people who are “pre-diabetics” will develop diabetes within a three year time span. - Retirement: How To Work Together As A Couple
There are those days when we sigh out loud at the thought of living the easy life when we retire. But planning our retirement just might consist of more work than we expect, especially if we plan to retire with our significant other. - Save Early, And Often!
A recently released study by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) cited that one of the highest concerns associated with getting older was the lack of money required to support oneself during retirement. - Save Money Everyday, Literally
Believe it or not, you really can save money almost everyday of the year! Here are some of my secrets to saving money on almost every thing you buy. - Schwarzenegger Gives Villaraigosa More Power
Most people would now agree that the Los Angeles Unified School District is in need of some overdue changes. While classes continue to be overpopulated and text books remain in short supply, there is a real need for change. With lights and ceiling tiles falling off regularly our students just aren't able to learn, there is a real need for change. - Smaller Than Expected Medicare Premium Increases.
With the recent increase in premiums for Medicare, for most the payments have jumped up by 5.6% to $93.50 monthly or ($1,122 a year). Overall though most agree, this increase in premiums is a lot smaller than many expected. Almost all the Insurance companies were predicting that the premium increases would hit high double digits, but fortunately for our senior citizens the volume of services and tests that are normally ordered by doctors for their patients through Medicare have been slowing down. - Some Very Simple Steps To Live Longer
No, the fountain of youth has not yet been discovered. Genetic codes have not been altered so that our bodies stay young forever. There are, though, some very simple steps that you can take to prolong your lifetime. - Starting Your Own Business, The Great American Dream Or A Nightmare!
How often have you dreamed of living a more rewarding life. Perhaps you simply want to accomplish more or maybe it’s your wish or dream to leave that lasting legacy for future generations of your family. Have you, just like so many Americans, written down those “Goals” in good faith and then put them off until tomorrow? Well, by now I am sure you are well aware that “Tomorrow Never Comes”. - Student Loans, They Seem Like A Good Idea (at The Time)
This is the time of year when every day seems to bring new graduation invitations for the class of 2006 in the mail. I began to wonder what it must be like to finally leave school with all that energy and excitement only to find out that you are now going to spend years paying off those student loans that seemed like such a good idea at the time. - The Flight Of The Flu
Even though there have been computer simulations that suggest the link between the flu and traveling, there has never really been a study proving that until recently. - The Potential Of Affiliate Marketing As A Home Based Business
With more than 15 million Americans now running Home Based Businesses, what are the benefits, if any, to choosing an Affiliate Marketing Program as a part-time Internet Business! - The Power Of Vitamin D
Most of us know that taking Vitamin C helps when we are getting sick because it builds up our immune system. Eat your carrots (or broccoli), it's good for your vision because the vegetable consists of high levels of Vitamin A. Vitamin E helps strengthen your hair and nails. - The Top 3 Estate-planning Tips
Benjamin Franklin said on more than one occasion, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Knowing this, why do so many Americans fail to keep an up-to-date Estate Plan. You would think the last thing we would want to do is pass away without ensuring the well being of our loved ones. Most of us would agree that death is not the easiest subject to talk about, but we really should be prepared for all that legal stuff that follows our death. - Travel Insurance Fraud, Don't Let It Happen To You
The California Insurance Commissioner has ordered Trip Assured to stop doing business in the state of California. This Tennessee-based travel insurance company was apparently defrauding companies. But Trip Assured claims that what they were selling in California was not travel insurance. The Commissioner finds their claim undeniable since what they were selling could easily fall into the insurance category or definition. Trip Assured 's main marketing target is senior citizens. - Watch Out For The Salt!
Have you ever taken the time read the nutrition section on the Noodles packs? Did you ever realize that there was so much sodium in noodles! It can range anywhere between 800 mg to way over 1000 mg. Keep in mind that our suggested sodium intake should be no more 2,300 mg. For those who suffer from high blood pressure and hypertension, the sodium intake should not go over 1,500 mg. - What Really Happens When You File For Bankruptcy
Having a hard time paying your bills? Do they seem like they just keep adding up? A lot of people in this situation think that filing for bankruptcy is the easy way out. In all reality, bankruptcy should be your very last resort. Most people do not understand the long term effects of this course of action they are also unaware that there is a very extensive process that happens before and after you file for bankruptcy. - What You Should Know About Those Debit Card Overdraft Fees
I know that there are times that I would rather use my credit card to make a purchase but my conscience tells me to use money that I have, not spend money that I don't have. For the most part I listen to my conscience. I have like most people experienced a few overdraft fees in my life time because of it. You would think that, just like a credit card if you don't have the funds, the card would be declined. All the banks use that card to their utmost advantage by letting you spend money that isn't there. They happily cover what you don't have and then charge you those large overdraft fees. - Why Less Students Are Graduating
How did the United States shift from being the world leader in higher education to falling so far behind in enrollment and completion rates? Budget cuts in our education system has now forced most public schools to raise their tuition fees to compensate for the loss of funds and as a result, our students just can't afford to go to college anymore. - Working Women Fueling Economic Growth
The percentage of women in the workplace is on the rise since hitting an all time low in March of 2005. Social Science experts think the drop was due to a cultural shift. Those women that are now going back to work are considered to be part of the baby boomer generation that should be heading into retirement. - Your Old Cooking Oil Replaces The Need For Gasoline
Imagine a world where your old cooking oil replaces the need for gasoline. Instead of pumping your car at a gas station for $3.30 a gallon, you drive to one of your local restaurants and fill up for pennies. The funny thing is, you don't need to imagine anymore. That's right!!!! No matter how many times you read this, the facts remain the same. Who ever thought cooking oil could be so multi-functional, the same stuff you use to fry your chicken and french fries can be now be used in your gas tank. - “service Animals” Where Do We Draw The Line?
When we see the visually impaired with their seeing eye dog, we think nothing of it. The dog does not make us uncomfortable because they are the most common pet. Dogs are man's best friend – so to speak. Seeing eye dogs can go everywhere: the bus, restaurants, the mall, and even the restroom. Those that are visually disabled need these four legged creatures as service animals, as animals they can depend on.
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