Matthew Paulson
I am a very busy undergraduate, I'm involved with nine different campus organizations and work five different jobs. Most notably, I am the editor-in-chief of DSU's Trojan Times.
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- 10/15/2006
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Dakota State UniversityInterests
Personal Finance, Writing, Journalism, Poltiics, Science and Technology, Forensics, TheaterFavorites
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Colleges Caught Red Handed Taking Kickbacks from BanksMany banks and colleges have had backdoor deals in which the college would only tell students about student loans from a particular bank and then in turn the bank would rip-off students by charging them exorbitant amount of interest rates and fees.
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Trying to Get in Shape? Why a Personal Trainer Might Not Do You Any GoodWhen getting in shape, some decide to pull out their wallet and pay for a personal trainer to help them get in shape, but many personal trainers are wholly unqualified to help you get in shape!
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How to Buy Foreclosure Real Estate Without Going Broke or Getting Ripped OffBuying a foreclosed home certainly comes with risk, but there are also some great opportunities to get a lot more real estate than you could have otherwise been able to afford. -
How to Keep Your Money Federally Insured After the $100,000 FDIC LimitNever leave more than the FDIC insured limits in any one bank, no matter how financially stable it is. If you're going to leave a substantial amount of money in savings, make sure it's diversified across a number of different banks. -
Making Long Distance Relationships Work Without Breaking the BankMaintaining a long distance relationship is close to a full-time job and can get very expensive, but with some simple planning, the process can be much cheaper. -
How to Get a Gorgeous Wedding Dress for $300 or LessYour wedding isn't about the dress, the caterer, or anything that you buy--It's about you and the person you're marrying. You don't need to spend $3,000 on a dress to have a great wedding, here's how to get one for $300! -
Are Your Charitable Donations Going to the Right Place?Many charities that solicit your donations are inefficient and others are outright scams. Make sure your donations are going to an organization which will use your money efficiently and for the right cause. -
How to Get Event Tickets Without Paying Ticketmaster's Junk FeesSometimes you're just going to have to suck it up and pay Ticketmaster's 30% markup on the tickets that they sell, but in a lot of cases you can get tickets for a lot less money, or even for free. -
Federal Reserve Mandates More Consumer Friendly Credit Card RulesCredit card companies will now be providing better notices when it comes to rate changes and be required to spell out all of the terms and conditions of your agreement in plain and understandable english. -
How to Prevent Having Your Checks Washed and Money Stolen from YouCheck washing is still a very real albeit low-tech means of theft. Make sure to follow these best practices with your checks to prevent money from being stolen from you via means of check washing. -
New Naked DSL Offerings Provide Consumers More Internet ChoicesIt may be a few years before Naked DSL is a commonly available product, but it will likely be an excellent deal when it arrives in your market. -
Diversify Your Investments to Minimize Risk in a Volatile EconomyWe don't know where the economy is heading, but having a solid diversified portfolio will minimize the amount of risk you are taking and allow you to still get a decent rate of return. -
Fight Back Against Debt Collectors Who Try to Collect Expired DebtsIf a debt collector tries to collect a debt that's past the statute of limitations, you have no obligation to pay it. They will probably illegally change the date of the debt and try to collect it, but you don't legally have to pay it, and you can fight back. -
How to Use Your Cellphone Overseas Without Getting Ripped OffIf you use your cell-phone overseas, you'll like come back with a bill for thousands of dollars. Fortunately, you can get a replacement SIM chip that will get you rates that are 1/15th of what you would pay your cell phone provider. -
Get Free Music Online from Spiral FrogSpiral Frog is a great way for users to get the music they love without having to pay exorbitant fees to online music stores or resorting to music piracy. -
Online Loan Sharks Swindling CustomersPayday loan companies have moved online and are charging consumers interest rates of 650%, often in violation of state laws. -
Protect Your Senior Parents from Financial ScamsMany seniors are sitting ducks for con artists and shady financial sales people. Keep a close eye on your senior parents financial life to make sure everything is on the up and up. -
Find the Right Hearing Aid for You (Without Paying $4,000)Purchasing a hearing aid does not need to be a $5,000 expenditure. There are plenty of options for you to spend a lot less money and hear the world around you.
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Why it Makes Sense to Keep the Same Car for 15 YearsBuying a car and keeping it for a decade and a half just makes sense financially. It won't have a lot of sex appeal after the first few years, but it will save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
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New York Times and USA Today Accepting Advertisements from Penny Stock ScammersMany major American newspapers have been outed for taking advertisements from scam artists trying to artificially inflate the price of penny stocks to make a quick buck.
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Married Women Need Credit in Their Own Name to Protect Their Credit ScoreAfter an upcoming change in credit score calculation methods, 3 million women will have literally no credit history to speak of. Women need to get credit in their own names to protect their credit score in the event of the loss of their husbands.
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Transunion and Equifax Expand Credit Freeze Programs to All 50 StatesFreezing your credit is a great way to stop identity thieves dead in their tracks and now consumers in all 50 states will be able to make use of this powerful tool in combating identity theft.
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Investment Companies Launching Impostor Money Market FundsMany investment companies are launching money market plus funds which purport to have the security of money market funds and better interest rates, but this is simply not the case.
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Minute Clinics Open Nation Wide, Provide Additional Healthcare Choices to ConsumersMinute clinics are a great way for people to get seen by a doctor when their general practitioner isn't available and makes health care available to some some people who could not otherwise afford to see a doctor.
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Starbucks in Your Home: Single Serving Gourmet Coffee MakersIf you can't stomach the coffee made at work or a typical cup of Folger's in the morning, a gourmet coffee maker is a great way to enjoy a wide variety of gourmet coffees without having to pay a huge premium to Star Bucks or another coffee shop for doing so.
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Reshop Your Life Insurance Policy and Save Up to 50%The cost of life insurance is dropping through the floor due to increased competition. Here's how to save up to half by reshopping your life insurance policy.
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Be on the Lookout: Con Artists Stealing Guardianship of Senior ParentsCon artists are now stealing power of attorney on many senior adults and leaving them penniless. Make sure it doesn't happen to the senior adult in your life.
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Buy Solar Cells: Be Your Own Power Plant and Be Done with Electricity BillsTurning your home into a power plant via solar cells isn't the best investment in the world right now, but it's becoming a lot more economically viable and will save you quite a bit of money over an extended period of time.
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Outsourced Senior Parents to Foreign Nursing Homes: A New Form of Medical TourismMany families who can't afford the cost of sending their parents to a nursing home are now sending their parents to nursing homes overseas for a fraction of what it would cost in the United States.
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Avoid Free Credit Report Rip-OffsMany companies will claim to offer you a free credit report, but they are likely trying to get you to sign up for an expensive credit monitoring service to do so. Here's how to avoid the scams and truly get a free credit report.
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Extended Warranty Sales Decreasing in Retail StoresConsumer advocates have been arguing for several years now that extended warranties are almost never a idea as a form of insurance, and now it appears that consumers are finally starting to listen and follow this advice
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Save Money and Protect Yourself Within Your Existing MortgageBanks and mortgage companies can sometimes play dirty tricks with your mortgage, here's what they are and how you can protect yourself.
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Don't Buy Custom-Made Backup Disks from Best Buy and Circuit CityBest Buy and Circuit City are now hard-selling store-made backup disks to their consumers, but most computers already come with them!
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Mortgage Companies Now Offering Great Rates on CDs and SavingsIn an attempt to secure more capital to create loans with, many mortgage companies are now offering certificates of deposit with interest rates up to 5.5%
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Is it Time to Drop Your Traditional Health Insurance Policy and Get a Health Savings Account?If you're young and health, getting a health savings account and a high-deductible health plan is a great way to save a substantial amount of money in the cost of health insurance each year.
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Medical Tourism: Getting Healthcare Overseas to Save MoneyMany people are now traveling overseas to have surgery performed and are savings as much as 75% on the cost of their operations.
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How to Resolve a Customer Service Dispute with a CompanyYou're going to have a dispute with a company at some time in the future and have to talk and negotiate with their customer service department. Here's how to resolve the dispute.
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Avoid Going Broke When You Attend Graduate SchoolFollow some of these tips so that you don't wind up in six figures of student loan debt while getting a graduate degree!
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Metro Dream Homes: A New and Dangerous Real Estate ScamAny company that tries to tell you that you can attain all of your dreams without doing a ton of work to get there should be treated with a great amount of suspicion, and Metro Dream Homes is no different!
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How to Use a Short Sale to Avoid ForeclosureIf you can't keep up with your house payments and are facing foreclosure, there's help. You can likely sell your home and have the mortgage paid off in full through a short-sale.
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Money Merge Accounts: More Disadvantages Than They're WorthMoney merge accounts aren't a scam, but that doesn't mean they're a great deal either. You're putting your sole focus on your mortgage, which often should be secondary to other debts and obligations and paying a high cost to do so.
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Accelerated Mortgage Payment Plans: Don't Waste Your MoneyIf you own a home, you will likely receive some sort of letter in the mail telling you about a great new option from your mortgage company that will pay off your mortgage early and save you thousands of dollars in interest. It's a rip-off.
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Be on the Lookout: IRS Email Scam Running RampantEmail scams are all over the place; Don't fall for them! If you receive something in your email that sound too good to be true, it most definitely is.
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Sick of High Gas Prices? Get an Electric Car that Drives for Two Cents a MileAmerican Electric is now producing a vehicle that costs just $9,800, never needs an oil change, and can be operated for less than 2 cents a mile.
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How to Keep Your Possessions Safe During a Move to a New HomeMoving is hard enough as it is, you don't need a bunch of broken stuff and a fight with a moving company to go with it. Here's how to move and keep you and your stuff protected.
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How to Get Out of Your Cell Phone Contract Without Paying Early Termination FeesIf you're stuck with a cell-phone provider that you're not happy with, there is hope to get out of your contract without paying a huge early termination fee.
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How Much Money You Should Spend on Your Next ComputerBuying a new computer is an almost impossible task for the non-technical person. Here are some guidelines as to how much money you should spend on your next computer purchase.
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Car Insurance: What You Need and What You Don'tLet's face it, there are a lot of unsafe motorist on the road. Make sure you have the right types of automobile insurance for the vehicle that you're driving.
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Why the Real Estate Market Slowdown is Great for ConsumersMany financial analysts are predicting doom and gloom for the real-estate market, but it's not all bad. The housing correction will actually be good for consumers in the long run.
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Real Estate Buyer Beware: Note Buying Scams on the RiseThere's a new dare-to-be-rich scheme hitting convention halls and hotel ballrooms nation-wide. If someone tells you that you can get rich by buying privately-held mortgage notes, run for the hills.
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How to Stop Abusive Homeowners Associations Before Problems BeginMany homeowners have had their homes foreclosed on by homeowners associations because of disagreements for just a few hundred dollars. Don't be the next victim.
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How Flexible Spending Accounts Can Reduce Your Tax BurdenSick of paying so much in taxes? Here's how you can spend money tax free on medical expenses.
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A Simple Guide to Homeowner's InsuranceGetting quality home-owner's insurance is a great way to protect yourself from all of the things that just happen related to your home, but make sure do your due diligence when picking out a policy for your home.
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How to Find Jobs that Aren't Listed in the ClassifiedsThere are a lot of great ways to get a job that doesn't involve ever opening up the newspaper classifieds. Expand your search to add some newer and non-traditional means of finding employment, and you'll be more likely to find a job you love.
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Self Employed? Get Inexpensive Health Insurance with Sam's ClubThere's a new health insurance option for self-employed individuals that can save about 25% compared to buying health insurance on the open market.
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Ten Tips to Protect Yourself when Renting a HomeRenting an apartment or home can be a great way to have shelter without getting tied up in some of the major costs and commitments involved in owning a home. If you decide to rent a home, follow these ten must-do tips in order to protect yourself from getting ripped off.
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Why Debit Cards Are Inferior to Credit Cards as a Payment MethodYour Visa or MasterCard check card might seem like an easy way to pay for purchases, but looks can be deceiving. Learn why it almost always makes sense to pay with a credit card rather than a debit card.
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Why Your MySpace or Facebook Profile Might Get Your Identity StolenA recent study found that over 50% of Facebook users are showing more than enough information to steal their identities. Don't be one of them.
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Quit Wasting Ink: Shake Your Printer Cartridge for Maximum ValueMany printers will tell you that your cartridge is empty when 60% of the ink is still left in the cartridge. Shake your cartridge to regain the lost ink!
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How to Stop Unwanted Telemarketing Calls When DoNotCall.org Doesn't WorkThe Do Not Call List is not the be all and end all to get rid of telemarketing calls, but it's a good start. Getting a device like the Telezapper or the CallMeNot is a great way to bolster your efforts in eliminating telemarketing calls.
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How to Know When Food is Actually ExpiredHave you ever noticed that the dates that come on food have very little to do with when you should actually stop using the product?
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MagicJack: Unlimited VoIP Phone Calls for $40 a YearMost VoIP companies are charging $15 or $20 a month for unlimited phone calls, but now one phone company says they can do it for just $3.33 a month.
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Get DRM Free Music for 94 Cents a SongEMI and Universal are now offering DRM free music through Wal-Mart's online music service for 94 cents a song.
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How to File Your Taxes Online (Often for Free)Filing your taxes online will prevent you from making arithmetical mistakes since it calculates those for you, will find you additional tax deductions you may not have known about, and save you a lot of un-necessary processing time.
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How to Find Your Unclaimed Assets that the Government Might HaveThe government may have thousands of dollars of yours in unclaimed assets. Here's how to find out if the government has any of your assets and get them back, all for free.
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How to Never Receive Another Unwanted Credit Card Offer AgainSick of getting junk mail from banks you've never heard of? Find out how to stop all of the junk mail from credit card companies.
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Donate Your Old Computer: You'll Help Others and Save the EnvironmentDon't just throw out your computer into a dumpster when you're done with it. Find a way to put it to good use, or use a recycling service to make sure that your computer is disposed of properly.
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Freeze Your Credit Report to Prevent Identity TheftSeveral states have provided its residents a guaranteed means of preventing identity theft. It's called a credit freeze, and will stop would be thieves in their tracks.
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How to Get Credit Collection Agencies to Stop Harassing YouMany debt collection agencies use emotionally draining, disingenuous and generally unfair practices in their attempts to collect unpaid debt. If a creditor is harassing you, here's how to get them off your back for good.
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Scam Collect Calls: What to Watch Out ForThe FCC has begun investigating a new collect call scam. Here's how to protect yourself.
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Your Investments: A Comparison of Top Discount BrokeragesEveryone should be investing for retirement and the kids' college, but what brokerage do you go with? Here are some of the top discount brokerages to consider
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How to Know When You Should Refinance Your HomeIn many cases refinancing your mortgage can save you thousands of dollars in interest, but in other situations, it's a waste of time. Learn whether or not it makes sense to refinance your home.
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Banking Reviews: Savings Square's No-Minimum Online Savings AccountKirkpatrick bank recently created a 5.10% online savings account their their online division, Savings Square. Find out whether or not you as a consumer should reconsider where your savings are at.
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Long Term Care Insurance: How Do You Know if it's a Smart Decision to Buy?A long term stay in a nursing home can be financially devastating, but you can protect yourself with quality long term care insurance. Learn if it makes sense for you and how to get the best deal if it does.
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Cheap Phone Calls: A Comparison of Inexpensive Long Distance PlansStill paying 10 cents a minute for long distance? You're paying too much. Here's a comparison of some of the best deals in long distance service.
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How to Choose a Natural Gas CompanyCompanies which offer natural gas are most certainly not all the same. Some offer quality service at a decent price, and others you'll want to avoid like the plague.
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How to Get a Living Will (And Not Become the Next Terri Schiavo)Getting a living will is an absolute must. You don't want the state or doctor's that you don't know deciding how your life is going to be handled in the event that you're incapacitated, so make your wishes known ahead of time.
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How to Use Your Cell Phone when Traveling OverseasIf you're travelling overseas, you're probably going to want to have a lifeline to call home if need be. Here's how you can use your existing cell phone while traveling overseas.
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How to Save Money and Make Your Clothes Last Longer when Doing LaundryDoing laundry might not be the most fun thing in the world, but since we have to do it regardless, it makes sense to do laundry in a manner that saves money and makes our clothes last as long as possible
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How to Donate Wisely and Avoid Getting Defrauded by Phony CharitiesMake sure that your money goes where it's supposed to when giving to charities.
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How to Transfer Your Existing Phone Number to a New ProviderSick your existing cell-phone provider? Here's how to switch carriers and keep your same phone number
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How to Get Your Invention Patented and Sold Without Getting HadThere's a lot of fraud in the world of getting your invention patented and sold. Here's how to not get ripped-off.
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How to Cancel Your AOL Account (and Get a Real ISP)If you're tired of your service with AOL, here's how to cancel it and get yourself a better ISP.
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529 College Savings Plans Demystified529 plans are a great way to save money for your child's college education, but with hundreds of choices, it can be quite a burdensome task. Here's what you need to know about saving for college with a 529 plan.
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Low Income Earners: Use the Retirement Savings Contribution Credit to Save Big on TaxesThis retirement savings contribution credit is a great way for people who make lower incomes to get some extra money for retirement.
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How to Purchase Home Monitoring Services Without Getting Ripped-OffDon't let yourself get ripped off when buying home protection services. There are good honest companies out there, but there are a lot of shady ones too, so be very careful who you do business
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Comparisons of Top VOIP Service PlansIf you've purchased phone service in the last two years, it's time to price compare again; chances are you can save quite a bit of money, especially if you're still using a land line.
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How to Protect Yourself from EBay FraudEBay fraud is running rampant. Find out how to protect yourself.
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What to Do If Your Identity Has Been StolenIf your identity has been stolen, it can be a time-consuming and painstaking experience to clean up, but it can be done. Here's how to do it.
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Taxes that You Probably Aren't Paying on Your EBay ItemsWhether you actually do it or not, there are a number of taxes that you have to collect and pay on the items you sell on eBay.
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What to Do when Your Wedding Gets CancelledEnding a relationship that's heading toward marriage can be an extremely emotional time, and be financially painful as well. Take proactive steps to manage your feelings and all of the lose ends, and the process will be a lot easier to swallow.
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Why Satellite Radio is a Waste of MoneyWith modern technology, all of your favorite radio shows and songs are available on demand, when you want them, for free, and often without commercials. Who needs satellite radio?
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Why You Should Keep Your Money Invested in a Declining MarketThere are some financial storm clouds on the horizon, but that doesn't mean you should pull out all of your money from the stock market.
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Frugality on Wheels: How Save Money While Traveling for WorkIf you have a job that requires you to travel for work, it's going to get expensive sooner or later. Here are some ways to travel frugally for work. You might even come back earning some extra money while you're there.
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The True Cost of a Mountain Dew AddictionA lot of people think dependence on caffeine isn't a big deal. It's time to face the facts. It's an addiction, and it'll ruin your health and your pocketbook.
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6 Percent Online Savings Accounts: Fact or Fiction?You can earn a 6% guaranteed rate of return on your savings, but it does take some work.
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Two Key Factors that Can Dramatically Improve Your Credit ScoreDon't buy a fancy tape-set offering you tricks of the trade to improve your credit score. There are two simple things you can do to improve your credit score which can give you 100% of the points on 2/3rds of your score.
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Your Savings Account is Costing You MoneyWe know that not everyone is the best with money, but did you know that the majority of Americans actually have savings accounts which lose them money? It's true.
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FICO Score Calculation Methods Changing SoonFair Isaac is making some major changes to their credit score calculation methods later this fall. Learn how your score might be effected, and what you can do about it.
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How to Qualify for a Mortgage Without a Credit ScoreMany people are fixated on having great FICO scores, but the reality is that you really don't need one. You can even get a prime-rate mortgage without having any credit to speak of.
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Why You Shouldn't Ever Get a 30 Year MortgageMost people get 30 year mortgages because that's what everyone else does. If you follow the crowd, you'll pay over twice what your home is worth when all is said and done. Learn how to get a mortgage that will minimize the interest you pay and save you money.
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Creating Effective Long Term Non-Retirement SavingsIf you're funding your retirement accounts just fine and still have money left over, don't let your savings go to waste inside a money market or savings account.
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How to Create a Monthly Budget with Nothing but EnvelopesTired of being broke but think budgeting your money is too hard? Learn to create a simple monthly budget with nothing but envelopes
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Personal Salary Requirement: How Much Are You Worth?Don't guess what you're worth and ask for a raise without knowing the facts. Know what you're really worth and you'll have more negotiating power than you could have imagined.
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Banking Reviews: EBank's EPremium Checking AccountOnline checking accounts have become substantially more competitive in the last two years. EBank has thrown their hat into the ring with their ePremium checking account. Does it stack up to the competition?
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Don't Use Student Loans for Anything But Your College EducationMost students borrow money to pay for tuition which isn't that bad, but some people borrow money for food, an apartment, new computers, and new vehicles. It's going to come back to haunt them.
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Common First Time Home Buying Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)It's very easy to make mistakes when buying a home, and chances are the first time you're going to make one or two. Fortunately if you know what the most common mistakes are ahead of time, you can avoid them and save yourself a ton of money
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How to Save Money on PizzaDon't pay too much for your favorite delicious deep-dish pizza. Here's how to get the food you love for a lot less money.
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Ways to Earn Extra Cash: Pizza Delivery, Snow Shoveling, Lawn Mowing, Donating Plasma and MoreFlat broke and need extra money? Here are some great ways to make some cash on a part-time basis.
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Trying to Save Money? Don't Start with Your Grocery BudgetIf you're thinking about cutting back around the house to save some more money, keep claer of your food pantry. Find out why cutting back on your grocery budget will ironically cause you to spend more money on food.
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Buying Your Next Car: How Big of a Down Payment Should You Have?You always want to have a down payment when buying a car, but how big should it be? The answer may suprise you.
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Home Equity Loans: Why They Don't Make Sense as Part of Debt Reduction PlansMany companies are pitching home equity loans as a means to eliminate your debt. Learn why getting a home equity loan could do the exact opposite and put you further into debt.
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PayPal's Security Key: Keeping Your Money ProtectedPayPal is offering a new security feature which will make you practically immune to phishing attempts and other online scams.
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Banking Reviews: Flagstar's 5.30% APY Express Money Market AccountFlagstar Bank recently jumped into the fiercely competitive world and are offering a 5.30% money market account, but does it hold up to the competition?
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How to Bring Your Lunch to Work Without Trashing Your Wallet or Your Taste Taste BudsA lot of people think bringing lunch to work is relegating them to eating cheese sandwiches five days a week, but this is not the case! You can bring your lunch and eat better than you would at most restaurants.
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The Capital Gains Tax ExplainedIf you're considering doing any investing in the future, you're going to have to consider the tax implications. Learn about the capital gains tax and how to avoid it.
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Renting Your Way to WealthMost Americans hold the belief that renting is nothing more than throwing money away. However, there are some instances when renting makes much more financial sense than home-ownership.
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Super Suppers: Is the Cash Worth the Convenience?Super Suppers is a way for families without a lot of time to be able to sit down and have a meal together, but is it worth the added cost?
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What to Do with Your Childhood Baseball Card CollectionYou or someone you know probably has a collection of old sports cards in a closet somewhere. They're probably not doing you a ton of good anymore, so here's how to convert them into cash.
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Household Appliances: A Lower Price Tag Does Not Always Mean CheaperAt some point your washer, dryer, or another appliance is going to need to be replaced. The model with the lowest price tag may not have the lowest total cost of ownership. Here's how to make sure you're getting the best deal.
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What to Do when Your Health Insurance Company Denies Your ClaimDon't give up in frustration if an insurance company denies your claim. There are proactive steps you should take which will ease your situation and possibly get your claim paid.
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How to Make a Guaranteed 14.57% Rate of Return on Your Moneycertificates of deposit and savings accounts will only net you 5% on your money, but there's a way that you can get 14.57% back on your money, guaranteed.
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Reasons Not to Buy Cell-Phone InsuranceThe only people that come out ahead with cell-phone insurance is the people selling the plan. Learn why cell-phone insurance doesn't make sense and find out a much cheaper way to replace your broken phone.
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Ten Statistical Facts that Will Make You Never Want to Play the Lottery AgainYou are 213 times more likely to die in your bathtub than you are to win the lottery.
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Five Tips for Asking for a Pay RaiseYou won't get a raise because you've worked at a place for a long time, but if you provide genuine value to a company and know that you do, you can get a raise should you put the effort in.
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Five Ways to Improve Your Credit Score TodayIf you've got a bad credit score, you're not stuck with it. You can improve it over time by taking a few positive steps in your financial life.
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How to Ensure More Lifetime Income During RetirementPlanning for retirement is a tricky business, especially if you don't start early. Fortunately there are some things that people in their forties and fifties can do to make their retirement years much more tenable.
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Real Estate Purchases: Higher Home Prices Now or a Higher Interest Rate Later?Do you buy a home now knowing that the prices are still somewhat inflated, or do you wait and possibly face higher interest rates on your mortgage in the future?
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Borrowing to Invest: Does it Make Sense?If you're being offered a home equity loan at 7% to invest in the market, it probably won't make sense to borrow that money to invest, but are there ever any situations when one should borrow to invest?
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Wal-Mart Vs. Amazon: How to Comparison Shop Between the Internet and the Real WorldWith the launch of Amazon's new grocery store, you now have another place to look for deals on every day items. Here's how to compare shopping at your local big box store with Amazon's new grocery store.
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Five Money Topics to Discuss with Your Future Spouse Before You Get MarriedFor the sake of your marriage, please discuss these things with your future spouse before hitting the alter. With money related issues being the single greatest cause of divorce today, it's a must!
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How to Create Your Own Online Store in an Hour or LessFind out how to bring your part-time business online in just under an hour and without forking over a ton of cash to do so.
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Your Very Own Windmill Energy: A Look at the Benefits and CostsIf you live in a rural area with a sufficient amount of wind, installing your own wind turbine is a great way to help the environment and save some money in the long term.
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Short Term Savings: How to Financially Plan for Vacations, Cars and Other New ToysWish you had the money to go on a vacation? Need a new car? Here's how to get the big ticket items you want without getting sucked into debt doing so.
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How Much Cash Should You Keep in Your Wallet?We should all carry a little bit of cash with us at all times, but how much is appropriate?
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Dave Ramsey's Debt Snowball Vs. The Highest Interest First MethodDid you know that America's premier financial counselor is offering mathematically incorrect advice and freely admits it? Learn why the debt snowball is mathematically wrong and why you still might want to use it anyway.
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How to Create a Basic GardenWish your thumb was a little bit greener? Here's how you can create your very own garden
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Making Money with Your Credit Card: How It's Done and What the Risks AreCredit Cards do more than just put people into debt. Some financially savvy people use them to make money. Here's how they do it and whether or not you should consider doing it too.
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How Complacency Can Kill Your Financial LifeIf you do smart things with money for a while, you'll make progress, but don't get complacent.
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How to Choose Out a Grocery StoreIf you've moved to a new area, or just want to get cheaper food, follow these steps to make sure you get the best deal on your weekly groceries.
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Persuasion and Negotiation as Tools for Winning People to Your Way of ThinkingUse classic strategies from Dale Carengie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" to persuade others to sign on board to your ideas.
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Frugal Remedies for the Common ColdHere's how to cure the common cold without throwing down cash on expensive and ineffective pills at Walgreen's.
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The Chase Freedom Card: Does it Live Up to the Hype?Does the new Chase Freedom card live up to the hype and make-up for it's excessive use of the classic Rolling Stones song, "I'm free"? Find out.
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When You Invest at the Bottom, When is the Right Time to Sell?Logic dictates that you should buy when the market's not doing so hot which will allow you to reap the gains when the economy does decide to turn around, but when do you decide to get out of the game?
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The Most Common Rip-Off Techniques when Buying a New CarWhen buying a new or used car, rip-off techniques will be thrown at you left and right. Know what they are in advance, and how to counter them.
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How to Eliminate Your High-Interest Consumer DebtIt's easier than ever to borrow money to pay for all the things you want in life. You'll be offered financing for your house, your car, a large television, new furniture, recreational vehicles and the like. Here's how to pay it off.
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How to Shop for Your Next Cell Phone PlanGo into the cell-phone store with a plan, otherwise they'll have a plan for you, and their plan doesn't involve you saving money or getting free stuff!
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What to Do After Moving into a New Home or ApartmentMoving is no small task. After you get all your stuff moved in, there's still more to do!
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Moving Home After College: The Financial and Family ImplicationsMoving back home for a temporary period of time after college can help put you in a better position financially, but if you don't cross all the T's and dot all of the I's, you're asking for trouble.
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Six Ways to Cut Back on Your Entertainment ExpensesMovies, dining out, bars and the like get very expensive very quickly. Be a smart entertainment consumer and save a lot of money.
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Read the Latest Best Selling Books for Next to NothingBuying the latest best sellers, reading them quickly, and flipping them is a great way to get the books you want to read for practically nothing.
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7 Ways to Improve Your Career While Commuting to WorkFor a lot of people, the time spent in the morning and evening come to and from work is wasted. Some people listen to the local talk station, others call their friends and associates. Did you know there are some productive things that you can do on your commute?
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15 Vs. 30 Year Mortgage: Which One Makes Better Sense?Find out what type of mortgage you should get.
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What to Do When You're Frugal and Your Friends Aren'tYou don't need to give up on a group of friends just because they have champagne tastes and you're on a beer pocketbook. You can keep them as friends, still go out with them, and maintain your frugality.
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Jump Starting Your Career: Six People You Need to Know at WorkIf you want to move up the corporate ladder, you're going to need business contacts. Here are the first six people you should try to meet at work.
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Business Cards: When Using Them Makes SenseBusiness cards can be extremely valuable or a complete waste of money, find out if they make sense for you.
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Should a Married Couple Combine Their Finances?Most couples now keep their finances almost completely separate. This isn't a winning game-plan.
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How to Avoid Mutual Fund FeesLooking to invest in mutual funds but don't want to pay the fees? Here's how to do it.
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Moving to the Country: Why it Might Be Cheaper to Live a Rural LifestyleLearn why it might be cheaper to live in the middle of nowhere!
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Municipal Bonds: Not as Boring of a Financial Topic as You Might Think!Municipal bonds might sound like a boring financial term, but they're a great way to invest money, tax-free!
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PayJr: 21st Century Allowances for Your KidsA new service allows parents to assign chores and pay children their allowance online.
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Making the Move: From Auto Loans to Paying Cash for VehiclesGoing to a dealership and writing a check for your new vehicle is a liberating feeling. You're buying a vehicle and it's completely yours, not the banks!
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Fox in the Henhouse: How to Identify Bad Financial WritersEver read an article about money and smell something fishy? Here are the telltale signs of bad financial writing.
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Prevent Impulsive Spending: Put Your Credit Cards on IceHave a problem with impulsive spending? Throw your credit cards in the freezer!
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Quit Getting Ripped Off by Gillette, Shave the Smart WayYou don't need to spend a lot of money on shaving to get the job done well. Use a good old classic safety razor and some inexpensive shaving cream, and your face (or legs for you ladies) will look as smooth as silk.
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How to Use Google Maps to Make Free Phone CallsLearn how to use Google Maps to make free long distance phone calls. Don't pay an any out-going call or long-distance fee ever again.
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Why Not to Use Quicken and MS Money for Your Personal Finance NeedsPersonal finance suites purport themselves to make your financial life simpler. Learn why they do anything but that, and a simple spreadsheet or a yellow pad is the way to go.
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Using Ethanol Blended Gasoline: Does it Make Sense?E10 ethanol-blended gasoline is becoming ever more prevalent at gas stations around America, but should you put it in your vehice?
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How to Start Your Own Computer Support BusinessHow many times have you seen someone else's computer bloated with spyware? How many small businesses have you seen running a few computers here and there with no backup to speak of?
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Debunking Mutual Fund NaysayersA lot of people pitching gold, annuities, and other investments will trash mutual funds with specious arguments. Find out what these people are saying about investing in mutual funds, and whether or not these arguments have any weight.
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College Students: Get More for Your Used TextbooksSelling your textbooks back to the bookstore is a sure-fire way to get ripped off. Find out how to get fair market value for your textbooks.
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Five Meals You Can Bring to Work for Under $2.00Tired of bringing the same old crap to work every day? Here are five great meals that'll make your coworkers salivate for under $2.00!
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How to Eat when You Have Literally NothingImagine you lose a job, hit rock bottom, and have literally nothing. You have no place to live and you're running out of food. Here's how to avoid starvation.
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Buying Jewelry on the Secondary Market: It'll Save You ThousandsThere's plenty of quality jewelry on the secondary market that can be had for a fraction of what you'd pay in the mall or even at an online retailer such as BlueNile, if you know where to look.
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It's Time to Dump Your Cable Bill: Get Free TV OnlineWith all of the free television shows and other video content available online, who needs cable anymore?
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GiftCardBuyBack.com - Trade Your Unwanted Gift Cards for CashAunt Gladis give you a seemingly useless gift-card for your birthday last year? Turn it into cash!
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How a $10 Purchase Might Rescue You from Your Cable BillSick and tired of getting screwed by the cable company? Spend $10 and be done with them forever.
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VoIP: It'll Save You Money!If you haven't tried voice over internet protocol (VOIP) for a while, you should give it another shot. VOIP's reliability, call quality, and feature-set have improved dramatically in the last few years, and it can save you quite a bit of money in the process.
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World Markets: Be Culturally Savvy for LessShopping at ethnic markets will allow you to sample great specialty foods from around the world and allow you to do so at a very inexpensive price.
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How to Get the Best Price on Airline TicketsThere are several tips that we can follow to save a lot of money on airline tickets, which will give us more money to play with when we're on vacation
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The Ten Commandments of MoneyEveryone can become wealthy if they continually do smart things with money for a long period of time. By following these ten tips, you will be well on your way to becoming financially independent.
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Using Credit Card Rewards to Cut Back on the High Cost of GasolineTired of getting ripped off at the pump? Here's how you can save 16 cents a gallon during every fill-up!
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Visitor's Guide for New York City: How to Eat on the Cheap in the Big AppleYou don't have to go broke in the process of trying to find a nice meal! You can get some decent grub without breaking the bank by following these tips.
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Save Money on Prescription Drugs with Free SamplesIf you just take your prescription and head down to the nearest drug store, you are undoubtedly throwing money away. Use free samples, generics, and comparison shop to save upwards of 50% on the cost of prescription drugs.
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How to Save Money on Things You've Already Bought on Amazon.comOn top of the already great prices that Amazon has to offer, now you can save even more money, and it only takes a few minutes to check and see if you're eligible for a price-drop refund. It's free money that wasn't there before, who could ask for anything more?
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Inexpensive First Date IdeasIn order to have a great first date, you don't need to spend a whole lot of money. Here are some excellence and inexpensive first date ideas.
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Traveling to New York City on a Budget: How To Have a "Big Apple" Vacation Without Going Into DebtTaking a trip to New York City is a very complicated affair, but if you play your cards right and do plenty of research in advance, you can avoid many of the problems that travelers often face when visiting.
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Shenanigans at the Grocery Store: Watch Out for Your Wallet's Sake!Grocery stores are playing mind games to separate you from your hard earned money. A bigger package doesn't necessarily mean a better deal anymore.
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Cheap and Fashionable: Shopping for Used ClothingA lot of people don't buy used clothing because they think its gross and unfashionable. That couldn't be further from the truth. Here's how you can look good and save all sorts of cash on clothing.
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How to Save Money on Car RentalsRenting a car can often be an expensive proposition. Fortunately with some due diligence, there's ways that you can make renting a car much less expensive.
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Avoiding the Credit Card TrapCredit cards are a double-edged sword. You can use them to get free rewards points and consumer protections, but if you're not careful, you could easily find yourself in five figures of debt at 20% interest.
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Using Software to Help You BudgetIf you haven't started budgeting because you don't think that you have the time or the understanding of finance to do so, there's help for you out there. Consider some of these software budgeting tools.
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Making the Most of Great Deals at the Grocery Store with Rain ChecksLearn how you can use rain checks to get the sale price of an item even after the sale is over. You can keep getting the great deal without having to stock up.
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Buying Used Furniture? - Beware of Bed BugsUsually used furniture is a rather good deal, but just remember that you're taking a risk. Do you really want to invite a colony of blood-sucking creatures into your home?
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How to Become Wealthy on a Teacher's SalaryBeing a teacher isn't a financial death sentence. It's not the easiest profession to become wealthy in, but it most certainly can be done. Follow the path of one Ms. Edna Diehl, and you'll be able to retire with more than just your dignity.
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Budget Baseball: Enjoy Watching America's Past-Time with Less MoneyTaking a trek out to see a major league game can be an expensive proposition. Through a bit of planning and smart shopping, you can enjoy a major league game for a fraction of the price.
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Low Cost, Great Tasting Meals to Bring to WorkHere are some great eats that you can bring to work for lunch.
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The Five Facets of FrugalityNo one has ever become a millionaire by foolishly spending large amounts of money, and you certainly aren't going to be the first. Money doesn't come out of thin air, you have to be frugal so that you have more money to invest and build wealth with.
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Absolutely Free Weight Loss Resources OnlineAll of the information that you need to know to lose weight is online for free, the only thing that you have to do is put that wisdom into action.
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Personal Financing Tips: How to Budget in CollegeIn college? Sick of being broke? You don't need more money, you just need to make better use of the money you already have. Here's how to do it.