Your car insurance rates are determined by many different factors.

You know the obvious ones, of course: the make, model and year of your vehicle, your driving record, and where you live.

What you may not know, however, is that in most states insurance companies actually use another method to determine your car insurance rates, and it’s one that doesn’t at first even seem to be related to your driving risk.

We’re talking, of course, about your credit score.

Continue Reading – How Your Credit Score Impacts Your Car Insurance Rates

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Do you spend a lot of money on cable TV, books, magazines and newspapers? Would you like to save money on those items?

Whether it’s for entertainment or educational purposes, bills for media can start piling up quickly. Before you realize it, you’re wasting money on things you’ll never, watch, read or use. So why not cut the fat and get smart about how much you spend?

Here  are several ways to reduce the cost of everything from cable television to textbooks.

Continue Reading – Tips for Saving Money With Smarter Media Options

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When I entered the workforce full time in the early 1980s, I was shocked to learn that I could expect to earn only a little over 60 cents for every dollar brought in by men with my qualifications.

It’s called the gender pay gap, and anyone who says it no longer exists has his head in the sand.

Oh sure, nowadays the gap is a little smaller, with women receiving about 77 cents for every dollar paid to similarly situated men. And as if that isn’t annoying enough, women are under further financial attack, thanks to the Credit CARD Act of 2009.

Continue Reading – Economic Sexism Lives On…and On

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Four “Staycation” Ideas for the Summer

Thumbnail image for Four “Staycation” Ideas for the Summer by Guest Post May 5, 2012

Summer is quickly approaching, which means thoughts of tanning somewhere on a sandy beach is on everyone’s minds—except, well, those who can’t really afford to go on a vacation right now. And with increasing jet fuel and gas prices, fewer people will be seen in the air and on the roadways this season. But you [...]

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Should You Roll-over Your 401(k) to an IRA?

Thumbnail image for Should You Roll-over Your 401(k) to an IRA? by Guest Post May 3, 2012

Gone are the days where you’re likely to be hired by a company out of college, and handed a gold watch by the same institution at retirement. Most individuals migrate from job to job, whether for personal or professional growth or due to the increasing pace of the world economy (and the rate that organizations [...]

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Four Ways Your Kids Actually Save You Money!

Thumbnail image for Four Ways Your Kids Actually Save You Money! by Kasey Steinbrinck May 1, 2012

Raising kids ain’t easy. It ain’t cheap either! According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the cost of raising a child is up more than 40% over the last decade. The USDA estimates it will cost you around $227,000 from birth to 18, if your kid was born in 2010. So that obviously doesn’t include [...]

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Electric Cars and the Debate Over the Gas Tax

Thumbnail image for Electric Cars and the Debate Over the Gas Tax by Guest Post April 26, 2012

Electric car technology has increasingly become a more viable option for manufacturers and car buyers in recent years. Because the technology is still new and cars are expensive, many are hesitant to shell out for an all-electric vehicle. Although many drivers believe this to be the exciting wave of the future, the development of the [...]

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Overdraft Fees – Will Big Banks be Investigated?

Thumbnail image for Overdraft Fees – Will Big Banks be Investigated? by Kasey Steinbrinck April 23, 2012

It’s been almost two years since new rules concerning overdraft fees went into effect. But it doesn’t seem like a whole lot has changed. Banks are still raking in almost as much money as they were before the regulations where in place. Now the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says it will review practices and investigate [...]

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Ever Try a Loss Leader? Maybe Now’s the Time!

Thumbnail image for Ever Try a Loss Leader? Maybe Now’s the Time! by Janice Conard April 20, 2012

Have you ever used a loss leader to get customers in your door or to your website? If you haven’t, it might be a good time to try. A loss leader, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “something (as merchandise) sold at a loss in order to draw customers.” I started thinking about loss leader strategies [...]

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Could Consumption Tax Affect Income Inequality?

Thumbnail image for Could Consumption Tax Affect Income Inequality? by Kasey Steinbrinck April 17, 2012

The tax filing deadline has come and gone (hopefully you made it). But there’s still a lot of tax talk going on. That’s because the Senate voted down a bill based on what President Obama dubbed the “Buffet Rule.” To make a long story short, the “Buffet Rule” rule came about after renowned investor Warren [...]

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