Archive for January, 2010
Social Networking Can Damage You Outside Your Social Circle
Think your daily rants about your egocentric boss are funny? Well your next employer may not think so. The social networking phenomenon may seem like all fun and games until it ends up costing you your current job, your future job, or even your next line of credit. How can it work against you? Here [...]
NYTimes.com to Charge Loyal Readers in 2011
The New York Times website will take a large leap of faith beginning in January 2011. The newspaper will begin to charge frequent visitors a flat-rate fee for unlimited access to the site’s content. A few initial articles will be free but after that, it’s a game of pay to play unless you already subscribe [...]
Credit Card Offers Coming To A Mailbox Near You
In recent years you have probably noticed a decline in credit card offers arriving in your mailbox. Before the recession took hold of the country, American consumers were regularly inundated with offers of credit in their mail each day. As the economy took a nose dove, credit issuers reigned in the credit free for all [...]
Bankrupt Blue Hippo Latest Lawsuit in Texas
BlueHippo Funding, LLC, the popular computer supplier for consumers with less-than-perfect credit has been again brought into a lawsuit alleged violation of the Deceptive Practices Act, this time in the state of Texas. BlueHippo commercials run nationally and target consumer with poor credit. They claim to offer low cost monthly payments to essentially lay away [...]
Research Reveals Link Between Antidepressants and Delayed Lactation
A new study, the first to look at the impact of antidepressants and breast feeding had findings that indicate that there could be a link between antidepressants and lactation in women. The study found that delayed lactation after giving birth was twice as common in moms who were taking SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants [...]
Eating Less Salt Could Save Your Life
Researchers reported in the New England Journal of Medicine this past week that reducing salt intake by as little as 1/2 teaspoon a day could prevent as many as 66,000 strokes, 99,000 heart attacks and 92,000 US deaths in the United States. It would also save approximately $24 billion dollars a year in health care [...]
Fertility Issues Linked To Flame Retardant Chemicals
Each day we are exposed to chemicals that range from relatively safe to downright harmful. Our natural environment is no longer “natural” and many of the chemicals used in day-to-day products have been found to cause more harm than good. There are many recent examples of the negative consequences caused by overexposure to chemicals, with [...]
Michelle Obama Kicks of Campaign Against Childhood Obesity
This past week Michelle Obama kicked off a campaign to begin a national movement to fight childhood obesity. Obesity has been on the rise and year after year the numbers reach new shocking highs. Current statistics show that 2/3 of all adults and 1 in 3 of all children in this country are overweight or [...]
Why Consumer Complaints Often Go Unheard
Each day hundreds of consumers report complaints to Consumer Affairs. Regardless of the reason for your complaint, there is one thing most consumers can agree on; having a complaint that is unresolved is more frustrating than the original issue in many cases. Everyone has experienced this situation at least one time in their life. When [...]
Find More Rewards With Debit Cards
Americans are scaling back on their credit card application and usage since the credit crisis of the last few years. More consumers are switching over to debit cards, trying to maintain a cash-only existence. It is estimated that there are now more debit than credit card users according to the latest research statistics. Since debit [...]
Loss of Smell May Determine Memory Loss
People diagnosed with memory related disorders such as Alzheimer’s or dementia suffer from several different symptoms. A loss of smell now suggests the potential for Alzheimer’s disease. An olfactory test is now said to be a new and economical option to identifying an early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. A recent study published by the Journal [...]
New Study Links Flame Retardants to Fertility Issues
A new study conducted by researchers at the University of California Berkley has shown a link between flame retardants and fertility. The study results can be found in the January 26th Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives. Results of the study found that women had difficulty getting pregnant when they had high levels of flame retardant [...]
Help Is On The Way For The Middle Class
President Obama in his State of the Union address is quoted as saying “We are fighting every single day to put Americans back to work, to create good jobs, and strengthen our economy for the long-term. The additional steps laid out today focus on easing the burdens on middle class families who are struggling in [...]
Is The Mortgage Foreclosure Crisis Over?
The foreclosure crisis looked as though it maybe turning the corner after the initial crash, but are we out of the woods yet? While things have improved a little, the mortgage foreclosure crisis is far from over. The initial round of foreclosures affected primarily subprime mortgage loans. Subprime loans are loans that were given to [...]
New Blood Test Could Lead to Easier Colon Cancer Detection
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. While the cancer is pretty evenly spread, men do have just a slightly higher risk over women in developing the disease. Over our lifetimes, each of us has about a 1 in 19 chance of being diagnosed [...]
How a Savings Plan Can Help Global Recovery
The beginning of 2010 has seen the dust settling on the global financial crisis. The worst appears to be over, and world-wide, governments and business have recovery plans under way. Confidence is returning to business and households, with both groups looking to the future. This is an excellent time for salary earners to re-assess their [...]
Amazon Ups The Ante On Kindle Royalties
With the scheduled launch of Apple’s new tablet device which will also have e-reader capabilities right around the corner, Amazon could not have timed the news of their improved royalty share program more perfectly. Proof that competition does in fact result in a better situation for all involved, this new program is considerably better for [...]
Toyota Announces Another Recall
Toyota announced on January 21, 2010 that they are recalling 2.3 million vehicles. Irv Miller, Toyota Motor Sales Group Vice-President said, “In recent months, Toyota has investigated isolated reports of sticking accelerator pedal mechanisms in certain vehicles without the presence of floor mats. Our investigation indicates that there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal [...]
Weight Watchers Files Complaint Against Jenny Craig
Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig are at war. Weight watchers filed suit against Jenny Craig on January 19, 2010. The lawsuit alleges that Jenny Craig defamed Weight Watcher’s weight-loss program. The complaint is concerning the recent adds featuring Valerie Bertinelli where Bertinelli claims that Jenny Craig clients lost over twice as much weight as those [...]
Stricter Guidelines Being Announced for FHA Mortgages
The Federal Housing Administration, which insured one-third of 2009 mortgages, is getting ready to announce the stricter guidelines for securing an FHA-backed mortgage loan. Since the mortgage crisis, the popularity of FHA loans rose dramatically. The loans back lenders if a borrower failed to pay. Because of the mortgage crisis, the agency is having difficulties [...]
Kraft to Take Over Cadbury… a Sweet Deal?
If brand names like Ferrero, Hershey and Kraft all make your mouth water, imagine the effect their association with the Cadbury company has had on investors over the past week. Cadbury, the UK based chocolate giant, faced a hostile takeover bid that stretches back into the last quarter of 2009, which is an eternity in [...]
Consumer Safety At Risk When Companies Fail To Issue Speedy Recalls
McNeil Consumer Healthcare has issued a voluntary recall of specific over-the-counter medications. This recall comes on the heels of a consultation between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and McNeil Consumer Healthcare. McNeil Consumer Healthcare is a Division of McNeil-PPC Inc, which is a Johnson & Johnson company. The recall affects consumers who purchased certain [...]
Technology Aids Relief Effort
For several days we have seen various reports and warnings about email relief scams. Just as technology can make something as simple as donating to a relief effort complicated and risky, it can also expedite the process and raise millions of dollars in record breaking time. People across the globe have joined in the effort [...]
Consumers Being Warned to Stick With Good Practices
After a long haul of putting money away, shopping with price in mind, and practicing the art of frugality, many experts are worried that consumer may be tired of sitting back and saving. As the new year rolls on and things seem to be leveling off in the more troubled industry, such as credit and [...]
Tax Preparers to Be Regulated By IRS
The tax season is in full swing, and many people will choose to have their taxes completed by a paid tax preparer, seeking the largest refund possible. Most of these tax preparers are unregulated, but that may soon change, according to the Internal Revenue Service. It is unclear as to how many tax preparers are [...]
E-cigarettes Under Fire
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States today, responsible for 467,000 premature deaths each year. Many people understand the risks and dangers of cigarette smoking, and often seek other options to help them finally kick the habit. E-cigarettes have been marketed by many companies as a safe alternative to cigarettes. [...]
Haiti Relief Brings About Scams
As with any big disaster, opportunities are presented for con artists to take advantage of those with generous hearts and open wallets. With the recent situation in Haiti, consumer groups are warning the donators to perform due diligence before handing over any monies. Unfortunately many so-called organizations are set up haphazardly and even fraudulently, leaving [...]
This was a great article. I was just trying to figure out how my family could set up a budget ...
I find that I can nickle and dime myself to death! 
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aesthetics. Cleaning the carpet regularly maintains its form and beauty. Dirt,
sand ...