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Or would you prefer to have an extra hour each day?

By Karen Datko Oct 6, 2009 1:52PM

If you had to pick among the following, what would you prefer -- more money, more time, less weight or more sex?

 

In a recent survey by AllYou.com and Shortcuts.com, the majority of people picked more money.

 

Our friend Sharon Harvey Rosenberg, also known as The Frugal Duchess, shared these results from the poll with her readers.

 

Survey: Cardholders think they've been treated unfairly.

By Karen Datko Oct 6, 2009 11:41AM

This post comes from partner site ConsumerAffairs.com.

 

Credit card holders are angry. About one-third (32%) have paid off and closed a card since January 2008, and half of those who canceled did so in direct response to the actions of credit card issuers, such as cutting limits, hiking rates, or imposing fees, according to a national poll by Consumer Reports.

 

Twenty-one percent of respondents said they were treated unfairly by card companies, and only 41% said they were highly satisfied with their card issuer, making credit cards one of the lowest-rated services that Consumer Reports covers.

The level of public anger about card issuers shows in the results of Consumer Reports’ nationally representative survey of 1,211 credit card users, conducted in July, as well as in scores of irate letters and e-mails Consumer Reports has received from readers.

 

Here are 5 ideas to consider.

By Karen Datko Oct 6, 2009 2:43AM

This post comes from partner blog The Dough Roller.


Regret over past financial decisions can have a powerful hold on you.


At 23, you may regret running up $20,000 in credit card debt during college. At 35, you may regret never having gone to college. At 45, you may regret having never started that consulting business you always dreamed of pursing. And at 65, you may regret not having saved more for retirement. In recent days, many financial chickens have come home to roost.

Regret, financial or otherwise, can have a powerful grip on your life. For most, the question is not whether you have financial regret. The question is how you harness the power of that regret to make sound financial decisions today that you will not regret tomorrow.


Here are some ideas to help you do just that:

 

All debt takes its toll.

By Karen Datko Oct 6, 2009 2:21AM

This post comes from partner blog The Dough Roller.


You've probably heard of "good" debt and "bad" debt. Good debt is when we borrow to buy something that generally goes up in value, like a home. Bad debt is when we borrow for anything else, like a car, a boat, a meal, a dress, a cruise, a wedding and so on.


Many teach that good debt is fine, while bad debt is not. The theory goes that good debt makes us wealthy as the value of our purchased assets goes up, while bad debt makes us poor as we struggle to pay debts for which we have little to show. In fact, it's a philosophy I've followed my entire adult life.


And it's flawed.

 

Find out which month is the best time to buy a new TV.

By Karen Datko Oct 6, 2009 2:05AM

This post comes from Will Chen at partner blog Wise Bread.


The March issue of Real Simple magazine had a fantastic feature called "71 ways to spend smarter." With the magazine's permission, I'm sharing 15 of my favorite tips from that issue.

 

Printing at home will save you time and money.

By Karen Datko Oct 6, 2009 1:55AM

This post comes from Jim Wang at partner blog Bargaineering.


I hate going to the post office. It doesn't matter what day I go or what time of day I go, there is always a line and there's always only one or two people working behind the counter.


I've gone to post offices that serve a large residential ZIP code and post offices that serve a smaller residential ZIP code, and there is always a line and never enough workers. If we're near a holiday, forget it -- I'll be waiting in line for at least half an hour. If you visit the PO with any regularity, I bet you understand my pain.

 

Restaurant's owner boasts his food is 'going to kill you.'

By Karen Datko Oct 6, 2009 1:38AM

We've reported on numerous restaurant deals, but none quite like this one at the Heart Attack Grill in Chandler, Ariz.: If you weigh 350 pounds or more, you can eat for free all day long. That's a heck of a deal considering the cheapest burger -- the Single Bypass -- costs about $7.40.


We have to give "Dr. Jon," who runs this place, kudos for truth in advertising. With buns dipped in lard and Flatliner Fries cooked in pig fat, too, this is killer food, so to speak. The good "doctor" says in one video that "this is bad for you and it's going to kill you," and adds in another that all fast-food restaurants should post health warnings.

 

Maybe younger folks will learn and pledge 'never again.'

By Karen Datko Oct 6, 2009 1:20AM

This guest post comes from Mr. ToughMoneyLove at Tough Money Love.


Baby boomers have been receiving a lot of criticism in recent months for their collective contributions to our country's economic problems.


First, we are blamed for an extreme amount of debt-driven consumption that inflated highly leveraged real estate and credit bubbles. Second, we are now being blamed for an excess of saving when many so-called economic experts are calling for increased consumer spending. In general, boomers are probably guilty on both counts.  

I have a suggestion.


Instead of wasting energy hurling insults at financially irresponsible baby boomers, why don't we make a list of all the money mistakes that were made by the boomer generation? The younger folks can read the list and then pledge "never again." I hereby volunteer to start the list of boomer mistakes. Here we go:

 

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