Lenders use credit scores to instantaneously evaluate what sort of loan, if any, should be approved for an applicant hoping to buy a car or home or simply get a new credit card. There are tons of misunderstandings as to what makes a good or bad credit score.
Saving & Spending
Irresistible? Leather Pants Marked Down from $3,300 to $1,000
You know what? That’s still nearly a thousand bucks more than you need to spend on a pair of pants—even a pretty nice pair of pants.
Debit Cards vs. Credit Cards: Do You Prefer Debt, Fees, or Both?
Debit cards have been presented as the safer alternative to credit cards. A credit card is something of a temporary loan operation, allowing you to buy things with money you may or may not have, creating a situation in which it’s easy to get into debt. A debit card, by contrast, allows you to buy things using the funds sitting in your …
It’s a Deal: Bestselling Books for Free in the Kindle Store
Many of the bestselling books for use with Amazon’s Kindle are being offered for free. The freebies include classics like Treasure Island and Pride and Prejudice. More details here.
DIY Exterminator?
I’m a fan of do-it-yourself projects, from haircuts to repairing necklaces, to changing the oil in your car, and of course all manner of home improvement. But pest extermination? Frankly, I’m a bit intimidated.
It’s a Deal: 50% Off Second Night at Wyndham Hotels
The “Weekender” promotion from Wyndham offers guests 50 percent off of a second night, or 50 percent off of a second room. The promotion is valid during stays from Thursday to Sunday through the end of 2009. More details here.
Online Bargain Shoppers Unite! The Spread of Group Coupons
Call it the incredible bulk: An increasing number of websites are offering discounts for everything from groceries to salon services to flower bouquets, but only if shoppers team up and opt into the promotion in bulk. If too few people sign on, no one gets the deal.
The 3,000-Mile Oil Change Myth
Here’s the scenario: You head into the quickie lube garage and drop $30 or so for an oil change. As you drive away, you notice a sticker in the upper corner of your windshield telling you when you’ll be due for another oil change—the classic “three months of 3,000 miles.” Unless you want to waste money (and use more oil than is …
What Really Motivates Back-to-School Shopping?
It’s not just about glue, protractors, and binders. We’re buying stuff—new clothes, backpacks, sneakers, cell phones—in an attempt to make kids feel secure, more confident, more “with it.”
It’s a Deal: Up to 60% Off at Crate&Barrel
Outdoor furniture, dinnerware, serving bowls, rugs, and bedding are among the items being discounted by up to 60 percent at the Crate&Barrel outlet.
Affluent Consumers Clip Coupons. Poor People? Not So Much
Some 1.6 billion coupons were redeemed in the U.S. in the first half of 2009. That’s up 23 percent compared to last year. Who is turning all those coupons in to save on purchases? Odds are it’s a suburbanite who is fairly well off.
Shout-Out: Kiplinger’s Fabulous Freebies 2009
Kiplinger offers a handy roundup of 30 websites, restaurants, stores, and services that are legitimately giving stuff away. The third annual list features free e-books, free video games, free ATMs, free phone directory assistance, and more.
