WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog/media/feedlogo.gif WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Top 25 things vanishing from America: #7 -- Personal checkshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/07/19/top-25-things-vanishing-from-america-7-personal-checks/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/07/19/top-25-things-vanishing-from-america-7-personal-checks/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/07/19/top-25-things-vanishing-from-america-7-personal-checks/#commentsFiled under: ,

This series explores aspects of America that may soon be just a memory -- some to be missed, some gladly left behind. From the least impactful to the most, here are 25 bits of vanishing America.

I left the love affair I had with paper checks over a decade ago. Now, it's plastic -- but no, I don't mean credit cards. We're talking debit cards here, which have almost completely replaced paper checks in almost all consumer transactions I witness in checkout lines.

Except for those fancy cashier's checks we use to pay for larger purchases, the personal check is completely out of style these days. I'm estimating that in the last 10 times I've witnessed purchases at the grocery store or local restaurant, nine of them have involved a debit card (or, yikes, a credit card) or cash. No checks.

In many ways, the check has run its course: there are printing costs, theft, bad check fraud, illegible penmanship and the need to carry around a checkbook to just name a few. Isn't it easier just to swipe that debit card, punch in that PIN, and be on your way? And now sometimes you don't even need the PIN or to sign, for purchases under $20. Online bill payment doesn't just save time, it saves money, eliminating the need for a stamp.

Sure, all this is easier -- but I'm betting that many of us still use a check register or log to keep track of our checking account at any time. Most of us still have checking accounts, after all. I still have a checkbook that I carry around with my wallet, like the two are married or something. Perhaps it's just decades of habit more than a physical need, since I actually write maybe one check per month. But, getting rid of checks altogether just doesn't seem right to this old dog. Where are your checks?

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Top 25 things vanishing from America: #7 -- Personal checks originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Bank accountsbank checksBankAccountsBankChecksChecking accountsCheckingAccountsdebit cardsDebitCardsDisappearing AmericaDisappearingAmericapaper checksPaperChecksBrian WhiteSat, 19 Jul 2008 08:00:00 ESTTop 25 things vanishing from America: #12 -- Incandescent bulbshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/07/18/top-25-things-vanishing-from-america-incandescent-bulb-sales-di/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/07/18/top-25-things-vanishing-from-america-incandescent-bulb-sales-di/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/07/18/top-25-things-vanishing-from-america-incandescent-bulb-sales-di/#commentsFiled under:

This series explores aspects of America that may soon be just a memory -- some to be missed, some gladly left behind. From the least impactful to the most, here are 25 bits of vanishing America.

Before a few years ago, the standard 60-watt (or, yikes, 100-watt) bulb was the mainstay of every U.S. home. With the green movement and all-things-sustainable-energy crowd, the Compact Fluorescent Lightbulb (CFL) is largely replacing the older, Edison-era incandescent bulb. Should we merely brush aside the standard light bulb after such am impressive longevity in U.S. homes and businesses? I say yes, although there are a few caveats, one being that the standard lightbulb is a universal icon for industrial ingenuity worldwide and can evoke emotions as such. Not that my opinion matters much, now that the government has mandated a phasing out of the common incandescent bulb in the recently passed energy bill.

The cost for a CFL is still high compared to its century-old counterpart, but with the energy savings you can receive, the cost will pay for itself shortly. Besides, it's not all about cost, right? Aren't you doing the planet a favor by purchasing those costly CFLs in order to waste much less electricity in terms of wattage output? Yes, you are.

But one of the nuisances of new CFL units is that they can't be easily dimmed. For those with elaborate lighting control systems and those who prefer to set the mood with none other than lighting, the shedding of incandescent bulbs may be much harder to do. I'm convinced that if it wasn't for energy consumption, most consumers would still choose the incandescent light bulb over the longer-lasting CFL just for the flexibility factor alone. And, don't dispose of those newer CFLs in the trash -- the mercury contained in them is poisonous. They need to be recycled in special collection facilities.

Just like computers, cars and refrigerators, there will always be newer technology to come along and replace the old. In the case of lighting, getting the same amount of light output in one-seventh the energy consumption is a tasty treat indeed. But incandescent bulb won't just fade away nicely, though. I suspect it will be with us for at least the next ten years at least.

View Poll

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Top 25 things vanishing from America: #12 -- Incandescent bulbs originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bulb wattageBulbWattageCFLcompact fluorescentcompact fluorescent ...compact fluorescent bulbCompactFluorescentCompactFluorescent...CompactFluorescentBulbDisappearing AmericaDisappearingAmericaincandescent bulbsIncandescentBulbsInterior lightingInteriorLightingLEDBrian WhiteFri, 18 Jul 2008 08:00:00 ESTCheap computerized robocalls replace "personal touch" sticky noteshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/07/17/cheap-computerized-robocalls-replace-personal-touch-sticky-not/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/07/17/cheap-computerized-robocalls-replace-personal-touch-sticky-not/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/07/17/cheap-computerized-robocalls-replace-personal-touch-sticky-not/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Companies and individuals are always looking to save money. Gas, food and other costs have skyrocketed recently (and will stay that way), so like it or not, we're all about to become extremely budget minded in just about every financial area of our lives. Well, unless you're a cash-heavy CEO, that is.

If you happen to live in Brooklyn, you may have heard of some condo and/or apartment owners receiving email or automated phone call alerts when FedEx, UPS or the USPS leaves a package for delivery with the building owner or superintendent.

These rather cold and impersonal reminders really haven't replaced the "human touch" sticky note on the door or mailbox that preceded them, but I would expect them to soon.

Continue reading Cheap computerized robocalls replace "personal touch" sticky notes

Cheap computerized robocalls replace "personal touch" sticky notes originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Apartment managementApartmentManagementcomuterized voice callsComuterizedVoiceCallsrobocallsBrian WhiteThu, 17 Jul 2008 14:30:00 ESTTop 25 things vanishing from America: #18 -- The VCRhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/07/16/top-25-things-vanishing-from-america-18-the-vcr/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/07/16/top-25-things-vanishing-from-america-18-the-vcr/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/07/16/top-25-things-vanishing-from-america-18-the-vcr/#commentsFiled under:

This series explores aspects of America that may soon be just a memory -- some to be missed, some gladly left behind. From the least impactful to the most, here are 25 bits of vanishing America.

Ever remember the daily pilgrimage to the video rental store for the latest release on VHS? It wasn't that long ago that we made that weekly or even daily trip to the video tape rental chain to get our fix for the latest new release on video tape (on VHS, of course). Or, if you remember the 80s, the Betamax. Although the Betamax reportedly had better quality in most ways, the VHS format won the day and became the de-facto video tape standard for business and even commercial use from the first time I can remember (in the late 1970s) until about 2002 or so, give or take.

Now we rent everything on DVD, from your Netflix queue that's managed online to the $1 Redbox rentals at your local McDonalds. Many of us may use video-on-demand from our cable or satellite provider to get those new movies on the flat-panel living room television. The VCR was not a video or audio champion like the DVD. In fact, in retrospect, the picture sucked and the audio couldn't even be encoded in 5.1 surround sound. Argh!

But, for the better part of three decades, the VCR was a best-seller and staple in every American household until being completely decimated by the DVD, and now the Digital Video Recorder (DVR). The DVD supplied the playback with awesome video and audio quality, and the DVR is the recorder that grabs all your favorite shows and movies for you to watch at any time. No tapes, huge data storage amounts and very little effort to record and watch to your heart's content.

The only reason I still have that $30 eBay-purchased VCR I bought a few years ago was to take older movies from camcorders and other VHS sources to DVD so they could be preserved forever. In fact, the only remnants of the VHS age I can find at a local Wal-Mart or Radio Shack is blank tapes these days. Pre-recorded VHS tapes are largely gone and VHS decks are nowhere to be found. Unless you want to buy one of those dual-deck VCR/DVD players meant mostly for dubbing old tapes onto DVD, your luck finding a new VCR is pretty much toast. It was good while it lasted, ole' videotape. May I never hear the abbreviations SP and EP again. Peace.

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Top 25 things vanishing from America: #18 -- The VCR originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Betamaxdigital video recorderDigitalVideoRecorderDisappearing AmericaDisappearingAmericaDVRHard drive recorderHardDriveRecorderTiVoVCRVHSvideo tape recorderVideoTapeRecorderVTRBrian WhiteWed, 16 Jul 2008 23:00:00 ESTFind out how much your flat-screen TV really costshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/07/16/find-out-how-much-your-flat-screen-tv-really-costs/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/07/16/find-out-how-much-your-flat-screen-tv-really-costs/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/07/16/find-out-how-much-your-flat-screen-tv-really-costs/#commentsFiled under:

By now, you may have purchased one of those sharp new flat-panel TV sets. After all, we all like new, shiny and skinny consumer electronics, don't we? What isn't told to you by that electronics sales clerk in most cases is how much that new 47" plasma TV will cost, electricity-wise.

It's hard to imagine that a flat-panel TV would suck up so much electricity -- but yes, they sure do. Plasma TVs for example, require every bit as much electricity as a standard CRT-based television set. Watch a lot of fast-paced movies and play a bunch of wiper-bright video games? That plasma TV may be sucking up to 40% more power during those times.

Finally, LCD TVs are starting to take over for the heavier and more energy-hungry plasma sets, which is not only good for the environment but better for the back. Instead of that 130-pound weight you now need to mount to the wall, an LCD TV may only be about 50 pounds. That's quite a difference, right? Although larger LCD TVs are now becoming the preferred technology for replacing outdated projection and CRT TVs, you still need to be careful about power consumption. As in, not having the TV on when not using it.

Continue reading Find out how much your flat-screen TV really costs

Find out how much your flat-screen TV really costs originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Energy StarEnergyStarflat screen TVFlatScreenTvLCD TVLcdTvPlasma TV enery usePlasmaTvEneryUsePlasmma TVPlasmmaTvTV energyTvEnergyBrian WhiteWed, 16 Jul 2008 15:30:00 ESTGet your Digital TV converter box coupons nowhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/01/08/get-your-digital-tv-converter-box-coupons-now/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/01/08/get-your-digital-tv-converter-box-coupons-now/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/01/08/get-your-digital-tv-converter-box-coupons-now/#commentsFiled under:

If you're running some older analog-only television sets in that extra bedroom or summer home, you may already know that come February 2009, those older televisions that get their signals using an over-the-air antenna will go blank as the FCC shuts off the analog television airwaves to make room for more wireless services here in the U.S.

Now, this won't affect most of us -- cable and satellite customers won't notice any difference -- but for those televisions that need to receive signals from some sort of antenna, you'll need a new converter box. Basically, these $60 (roughly) boxes will allow older, analog-only television sets to receive the newer digital (HDTV) signals broadcast by just about every network television station and turn that signal into an older analog signal that those older televisions can then display.

For those of us with boats, cabins and other places that use analog-only television, what to do! Well, the U.S. Government will supply two $40 coupons for each U.S. household to help defray most of the cost of up to two of these converter boxes just by supplying a name and mailing address.

These coupons won't be mailed until sometime in late February (or later), when national consumer electronics retailers are expected to have the analog converter boxes available. You can apply for your two free $40 coupons by visiting www.dtv2009.gov today and get your name on the list. If you need a few of these boxes, the two coupons will save your wallet $80 come a year from this February.

Get your Digital TV converter box coupons now originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 07:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>converter box couponsConverterBoxCouponsDigital TVDigitalTvDTV coponsDtvCoponsHDTVBrian WhiteTue, 08 Jan 2008 07:39:00 ESTAvoid bad financial advice and see better returnshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/01/04/avoid-bad-financial-advice-and-see-better-returns/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/01/04/avoid-bad-financial-advice-and-see-better-returns/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2008/01/04/avoid-bad-financial-advice-and-see-better-returns/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you want to make money with your own money, be wary of those who want to take over the effort. After all, personal money managers and financial advisers receive their compensation based on how much you have invested with them -- not on the performance of those investments.

Which, if you think about it, is real-time crazy. Do normal working stiffs get promotions every year for doing below-average work? Of course not -- and neither should your financial adviser.

There are many areas to consider when investing that hard-earned money: how diversified your money is, how long you have until retirement (your "horizon"), how much money you actually have invested and your penchant for taking -- or not taking -- risks.

Continue reading Avoid bad financial advice and see better returns

Avoid bad financial advice and see better returns originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bad adviceBadAdvicebank feesBankFeesfinancial advicefinancial feesFinancialAdviceFinancialFeesinvestment feesInvestmentFeesBrian WhiteFri, 04 Jan 2008 13:01:00 ESTAreas to check on before buying a cellphone and servicehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/15/areas-to-check-on-before-buying-a-cellphone-and-service/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/15/areas-to-check-on-before-buying-a-cellphone-and-service/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/15/areas-to-check-on-before-buying-a-cellphone-and-service/#commentsFiled under: ,

Remember the old Science Fiction comics you read as a kid? The ones with characters sporting TVs on their wrist watches? One of the truly personal pieces of electronics this year (and previous years) is the cellphone. We all now have a portable telephone with us at all times, chained to our hips like a boulder.

Many of us cruise the web, email and look at satellite maps on our phones as well. Talk about a personal gadget that does everything. But, just because it does everything does not mean you should pay everything for it, right? As I always do when signing, you know, a contract, examine every inch of it and investigate your options fully. That's right -- get into lawyer-mode.

Continue reading Areas to check on before buying a cellphone and service

Areas to check on before buying a cellphone and service originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>buying a cellphoneBuyingACellphonecellphoneexpensive wirelessExpensiveWirelesswireless contractwireless serviceWirelessContractWirelessServiceBrian WhiteSat, 15 Dec 2007 14:00:00 ESTThe three best vehicle buying websites to visithttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/13/the-three-best-vehicle-buying-websites-to-visit/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/13/the-three-best-vehicle-buying-websites-to-visit/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/13/the-three-best-vehicle-buying-websites-to-visit/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ready to buy a new car or truck? If so, you're pretty smart to be shopping at this time of the year, as dealers anxious to push out older 2007 models are ready to give much better incentives to prospective buyers. That doesn't mean you shouldn't perform adequate research on the vehicles on your short shopping list, though.

The web is a wonderful thing -- and it makes for armchair research that just wasn't possible a decade ago. Web-savvy shoppers can be armed with more information than some car dealers themselves -- but you have to know where to look. There are so many website offering vehicle-buying tips, tricks, invoice cost estimates, reviews, etc. that it can be overwhelming.

But, if you're prepared to spend a little to save a lot, there are resources that will make your car research journey much easier for the brain. First off, spend just under $6 for a subscription to ConsumerReports.org and research any car to your heart's content down the the nth degree. Next, check out a favorite of mine, Edmunds.com (which is free to access). There are customer reviews, editor reviews, information you can use to negotiate pricing and much more. Also, KBB.com (Kelley Blue Book) charges $6 for complete vehicle reliability ratings.

There you have it -- for under $13 you have access to three website offering a plethora of vehicle information that could save you thousands in the long run as well as save you from buying a lemon (new or used). Happy hunting!

The three best vehicle buying websites to visit originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>automobile purchaseAutomobilePurchasecar buyingCarBuyingEdmundsKelly Blue BookKellyBlueBookonline car shoppingOnlineCarShoppingBrian WhiteThu, 13 Dec 2007 14:30:00 ESTDigital Destiny: Converter boxes on sale in Februaryhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/12/digital-destiny-converter-boxes-on-sale-in-february/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/12/digital-destiny-converter-boxes-on-sale-in-february/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/12/digital-destiny-converter-boxes-on-sale-in-february/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Starting in February 2009, analog television signals will cease transmission in the U.S., as the transition to digital television should be complete. Actually, progress is heavily underway right now. Go into any store that sells televisions and good luck finding any without the digital tuners already included.

Stores like Best Buy and Wal-Mart will begin selling digital television converter boxes starting after the new year (February, to be exact) to allow American television watchers ample time to prepare for their destiny as digital consumers.

Here's an idea: instead of upgrading to new televisions for your home or office, why not save some dosh and bring home converter boxes? They will give your older, antenna-only boob tubes a longer lease on life. As an added bonus, the government will credit you up to $80 for your effort. Where's the downside?

Keep in mind, these credits are really only for the Luddites still using rabbit ears and roof antennas. Cable and satellite customers will be unaffected. Still, there's an estimated 13-21 million households that will need one (or more) of these boxes. If you have a large investment in a big-screen TV or a bunch or perfectly working older TVs, you'll need some of these boxes. They'll be widely-available wherever home electronics are sold.

Digital Destiny: Converter boxes on sale in February originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>analog tcAnalogTcBBYBest BuyBestBuyconverter boxesConverterBoxesdigital televisionDigitalTelevisionHDTVWal-MartWMTBrian WhiteWed, 12 Dec 2007 15:30:00 ESTHave yourself a very green Christmashttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/12/have-yourself-a-very-green-christmas/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/12/have-yourself-a-very-green-christmas/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/12/have-yourself-a-very-green-christmas/#commentsFiled under:

When we talk of having a 'green' Christmas, the word can take on a few meanings. One: saving quite a bit of money (green) by searching out bargains and ensuring your dollar is stretched to the absolute limit at the same time you retrieve all those gifts for friends and family.

Two: you decorate and gravitate to the Christmas season using ecologically sound guidance and methods to ensure a happy holiday ban be had without wasting any resources you don't have to.

So, why not start a 'green tradition' this Christmas and find ways to reduce your output while really celebrating? From gifts made with recycled materials to making gifts from the heart with nary a dollar in them, there are ways to go about it. Check these suggestions out.
  • 1. Deck the halls with LEDs, not light bulbs
  • 2. Give green gifts, like cashmere sweaters, natural beauty products and soy candles
  • 3. Wrap with recyclables paper over and over again
  • 4. Make your greetings green -- and better yet, email e-cards to everyone. These take less resources and can be just as personable, which is contrary to how some feel about them
  • 5. Decorate with nature
  • 6. Host an organic potluck dinner
  • 7. Travel green
  • 8. Go shopping in your closet
  • 9. Spend time, not money

Have yourself a very green Christmas originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>green christmasGreenChristmasholidaymoneysavingsBrian WhiteWed, 12 Dec 2007 13:30:00 ESTDon't let bank fees eat you uphttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/07/dont-let-bank-fees-eat-you-up/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/07/dont-let-bank-fees-eat-you-up/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/07/dont-let-bank-fees-eat-you-up/#commentsFiled under: ,

As banks have become ruthless in terms of deposit growth and profit, one of the nastier ways for them to make money on your money is that ugly four-letter word -- fees.

From "convenience" fees to "overdraft" fees to "minimum balance" fees, banks will stop nothing short of ludicrous levels to zap every single penny out of unsuspecting customers. Like anything, all those small zaps can lead to considerable losses over time, like never finding change under your sofa cushions even though you drop quarters there all the time.

I've never understood overdraft fees, insofar as how high they are. $30 or so is absolutely incredible considering many overdrafts are for small amounts. It's up to us and our hurried lives to track that checking account religiously to make sure we're not overextending our day-to-day finances, though. Overdraft fees alone are akin to extended warranties at electronics stores -- pure profit with very little value to the consumer.

It's estimated that in 2006, consumers paid an estimated $17.5 billion in overdraft fees. That's billion with a b. If you have an overdraft once per year, ask your bank to waive the fee. For good customers with regular deposits, this should not be a problem. Not getting anywhere? There are plenty of other banks that want your business. Indeed, there's a bank to fit every wallet. Click here to find out what bank might be best for you.

Don't let bank fees eat you up originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bank feesBankFeeschecking account feesCheckingAccountFeesoverdraft feesOverdraftFeestoo many feesTooManyFeesBrian WhiteFri, 07 Dec 2007 15:00:00 ESTMake your office greener with these easy stepshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/06/make-your-office-greener-with-these-easy-steps/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/06/make-your-office-greener-with-these-easy-steps/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/06/make-your-office-greener-with-these-easy-steps/#commentsFiled under:

If you're into trying to save resources at your office or you own a small business, cost cutting is probably one of your overall goals. It's something not many of us think about, but finding ways to conserve energy and resources -- and attributing a cost to that effort -- can really make a monetary difference.

What to do then, you may ask? There are several things you can do to make your office greener and more ecologically efficient. And they are all relatively easy to implement. With that said, let's begin:
  • Use your own coffee cups. Do you use those Styrofoam cups supplied by your office? Those all end up in landfills where they don't decompose. Instead, have a few favorite cups at work and home and rotate them weekly. No more waste!

Continue reading Make your office greener with these easy steps

Make your office greener with these easy steps originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>ecological awarenessEcologicalAwarenessgreen officeGreenOfficereducing wasteReducingWasteBrian WhiteThu, 06 Dec 2007 14:30:00 ESTBecome a penny pincher, then invest the differencehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/06/become-a-penny-pincher-then-invest-the-difference/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/06/become-a-penny-pincher-then-invest-the-difference/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/06/become-a-penny-pincher-then-invest-the-difference/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The world is treated to immense media coverage every year on the day after Thanksgiving. Americans line up at store entrances and websites to score bargains galore as retailers get set up for the largest volume-selling day of the year. Bargains are found in plenty of places and in plenty of categories. Once December concludes, though, many of us go through the gambit of paying higher prices than we should for the rest of the year. You don't have to!

Whether you're looking to purchase a new flat-panel television, laptop computer or living room couch, become accustomed to always (always!) checking the right sources to ensure you are receiving the best bargain possible.

A few favorites of mine, FatWallet.com and GottaDeal.com, feature so many resources to the regular Joe about bargains it will make your head spin. Want to know who price matches who and where those factory rebates can be best applied to give you the ultimate bargain any time of the year? Both websites will treat you to a bevy of forums and feedback areas that will, with a little research, make you the most informed shopper you can possible be.

Now what to do with your savings? Ah, that's the other side of the coin. I say, take the difference between what you would have paid and what you did pay and invest it. The problem with most bargain hunters I've seen is that they use savings to just buy more stuff. Only buy what you need, find the absolute best price you can (and save shipping and/or local taxes if the purchase is online) and pass the savings into a money market, CD, interest-bearing savings account or even open up an index fund if you have a few thousand saved after a year of bargain shopping.

Check out our sister blog, BloggingStocks for great ideas about how and where to invest.

Become a penny pincher, then invest the difference originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bargainspenny pinchingPennyPinchingsaving moneySavingMoneyBrian WhiteThu, 06 Dec 2007 11:00:00 ESTAgreeing on financial expectations before you retirehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/05/agreeing-on-financial-expectations-before-you-retire/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/05/agreeing-on-financial-expectations-before-you-retire/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/12/05/agreeing-on-financial-expectations-before-you-retire/#commentsFiled under:

If you're planning for retirement, you probably have been wise for many years in planning your portfolio to include a bevy of different investment vehicles that change over time to suit your future target retirement date. When you get there, though where exactly do you plan to retire?

Agreeing with your spouse on where to retire (and what to do then) is a tough business. After all, opposites attract and that dream of visiting a few continents could run right into that dream of creating a country life away from the city. Yes, priorities will collide -- but how do you navigate such a 'golden' time?

Most humans can't stand the company of the same people the majority of the day.What happens when you're retired and around your spouse 24 hours per day? Start early by negotiating retirement expectations from finances to living conditions to location. Don't blow your whole nest egg on something your spouse will grow tired of in a few years, but don't live like a hermit on a mountaintop either. Plan now.

Fidelity, one of the larger investment houses in the U.S., asked 500 pre-retiree couples about their expectations. Low and behold, 30% of the couples gave alarmingly different answers about expected lifestyles and even retirement ages in general. Would you like to be a fly on the wall in one of those households when both man and woman retire? Thought not.

Agreeing on financial expectations before you retire originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>disagreementretirementretirement moneyretirement savingsRetirementMoneyRetirementSavingsBrian WhiteWed, 05 Dec 2007 18:45:00 ESTSwiped: Credit card transmissions vulnerable to identity thieveshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/11/22/swiped-credit-card-transmissions-vulnerable-to-id-thieves/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/11/22/swiped-credit-card-transmissions-vulnerable-to-id-thieves/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/11/22/swiped-credit-card-transmissions-vulnerable-to-id-thieves/#commentsThe next time you're in a retail store paying for your purchase with a credit or debit card, you may want to take a deep breath. That credit card machine that verifies your customer status and credit line/checking account balance may be broadcasting that sensitive financial information right into the air. With the right equipment, data thieves may even be able to snatch it.

Similar to how some folks piggyback on their neighbors' Wi-Fi wireless internet connections, data thieves could be sitting outside the entrance to a local Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) or Target (NYSE: TGT) location just waiting to snatch those wireless transmissions from the air and possibly see all that personal, financial information. Yes, it's the kind used to steal one's identity.

According to some industry watchers, purchasing goods this holiday season using a website and credit card may actually be safer than swiping a physical card at a retail location just due to the security provided. Are those wireless credit card machines securely encrypted at all your favorite retail locations?

Sounds odd, but it never hurts to ask for a store manager and see what the answer is. Otherwise, one of those retailers could be broadcasting your information to whoever is listening just outside the door. With millions of credit card transactions set to take place in the next month, perhaps the information technology teams of these retailers should ensure customer information is completely protected.

Swiped: Credit card transmissions vulnerable to identity thieves originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>credit cardsCreditCardsidentity theftIdentityTheftprivacyBrian WhiteThu, 22 Nov 2007 16:36:00 ESTRetail gift card pitfalls to avoid this holiday seasonhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/11/13/retail-gift-card-pitfalls-to-avoid-this-holiday-season/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/11/13/retail-gift-card-pitfalls-to-avoid-this-holiday-season/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/11/13/retail-gift-card-pitfalls-to-avoid-this-holiday-season/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In this age of the internet and lack of time, gift cards are becoming a preferred gift option for many. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, billions in gift cards will most likely be purchased from now until the end of the year, from virtual stores like Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) to bricks-and-mortar stores like Best Buy (NYSE: BBY).

Are gift cards really the best option for that special person who is hard to shop for? Most likely, yes -- but don't let that thinking make you believe gift cards are foolproof gift items, either. If you're into gift cards offered by banks (these act like normal credit cards in a sense), the allotment of fees, surcharges and other nastiness may take away some enjoyment from those special recipients this holiday season. Want more? Be sure and check those expiration dates as well -- and include that information as part of the gift. Sound harsh? Would you rather have that or having that special someone sit on a gift card that then becomes unusable in the near future? You pick.

Why on earth fees on gift cards are tolerated by consumers I'll never know. Perhaps it's the retailer's way of punishing consumers for not actually buying a product as a gift. Maybe it's yet another way to goose margin amid the zillions of other ways to gouge unsuspecting customers on top of that worthless extended warranty. Oops, I meant "premier product performance plan." Ehh. Here's something to stew about: Best Buy reported a $43 million gain from gift cards purchased in 2006 that were "unlikely to be used." Did that include any gift cards you purchased as gifts?

Retail gift card pitfalls to avoid this holiday season originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>gift cardsGiftCardsholiday gift cardsHolidayGiftCardsretail giftsRetailGiftsBrian WhiteTue, 13 Nov 2007 09:44:00 ESTWal-Mart: Saving you $2,500 a year?http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/11/12/wal-mart-saving-you-2-500-a-year/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/11/12/wal-mart-saving-you-2-500-a-year/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2007/11/12/wal-mart-saving-you-2-500-a-year/#commentsFiled under:

Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) logoWal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) instituted a new customer slogan this year: "Save Money. Live Better." Although it was intended to reinforce the retailer's position that it helps families in an age of increasing prices and general inflationary pressure, much of the public didn't get the memo, apparently.

Keep in mind that it's hard to completely trust anything by either the retailer or its watchdog groups like Wal-Mart Watch, the latter released a survey that concluded only 4% of people believe that Wal-Mart saves the average American family $2,500 annually. The same report says that customers may indeed be paying less, but Wal-Mart is not the only company that can help them pad those wallets and fill those purses.

Of course, Wal-Mart Watch says that the study that backs Wal-Mart's "$2,500" claim credits just the retailer's existence with saving the customer that much. Perhaps that's through pricing competition in the area and inflation control more than Wal-Mart customers specifically saving that much by shopping at Wal-Mart? That could certainly be inferred here.

Regardless, does the mere existence of Wal-Mart control the complete, surrounding retail ecosystem, causing prices to remain ultra-competitive? Probably so -- and Wal-Mart's "Save Money. Live Better" might just be a statement of fact rather than a corporate pitch. Either way, there's probably some good truth in there.

Wal-Mart: Saving you $2,500 a year? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>competitionimpactpricessavingsWal-MartWMTBrian WhiteMon, 12 Nov 2007 09:27:00 EST