August 2011

Managing Your Stress Over Money & the Economy

Thumbnail image for Managing Your Stress Over Money & the Economy by Kasey Steinbrinck August 29, 2011

Every time you turn on the TV… and yes…many times when you read this blog you are faced with downright depressing news about the U.S. economy. The roller coaster stock market may have you pulling your hair out. Tight budgets may have you biting your fingernails. Searching for a job may have you banging your [...]

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What Henry Ford Might Do About the Economy

Thumbnail image for What Henry Ford Might Do About the Economy by Kasey Steinbrinck August 26, 2011

If you’re lucky enough not to be one of the millions of unemployed Americans – you may still be feeling a pinch in your pocketbook these days. Wages for most workers have either fallen or remained flat in recent years. Many employers remain reluctant to hire or raise wages, as corporations hold on to large [...]

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Clothing Prices Go Up, But Quality Goes Down

Thumbnail image for Clothing Prices Go Up, But Quality Goes Down by Kasey Steinbrinck August 23, 2011

They just don’t make things like they used to anymore. That’s something you just might notice when you shop for new back-to-school clothes for the kids or purchase clothes for yourself in the near future. So if you lose a button on your new shirt, or get a hole in an embarrassing spot on those [...]

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Warren Buffett and Taxing the Rich

Thumbnail image for Warren Buffett and Taxing the Rich by Kasey Steinbrinck August 22, 2011

He’s one the most recognizable billionaires in the world – and Warren Buffett has pretty much asked the U.S. government to raise his taxes. Not long ago, an opinion piece by Buffett ran in the New York Times titled “Stop Coddling the Super Rich.” In it he brings up the concept of “shared sacrifice” – [...]

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Inflation Update – Food, Clothes and Gas Prices

Thumbnail image for Inflation Update – Food, Clothes and Gas Prices by Kasey Steinbrinck August 19, 2011

The squeeze on American wallets continues, and at a faster pace than expected. We are paying more to fill up our cars, refrigerators and closets – but  income isn’t growing and U.S. unemployment isn’t shrinking. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.5% in July. That’s the measure of average change in consumer prices for goods [...]

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Online Banking – Is There a Catch?

Thumbnail image for Online Banking – Is There a Catch? by Kasey Steinbrinck August 16, 2011

Online banking isn’t just for hipster techno geeks with a finance fetish anymore! It’s gone completely mainstream! So easy – even a baby could do it! According to the company Fiserv, which provides technology to financial institutions, 80% of homes with access to the internet make use of online banking. Plus, 40% of American households [...]

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Saving Money – Another Way China Beats the US

Thumbnail image for Saving Money – Another Way China Beats the US by Kasey Steinbrinck August 15, 2011

It’s no secret that China is the United States’ biggest rival in the global economy – although the two countries are also closely tied through trade and China’s investment in U.S. treasuries. You often hear China being compared to the U.S. on everything from education to economics to the environment. Last week, we told you [...]

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Americans Unprepared for Financial Emergencies

Thumbnail image for Americans Unprepared for Financial Emergencies by Kasey Steinbrinck August 12, 2011

Forget about the roller coaster stock market for a minute. Forget about what’s going on with your 401k. Are you prepared to face a personal financial emergency today? Many Americans are living on tight budgets thanks to the ongoing sluggish economy. But according to research by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, most folks in [...]

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Why Walmart is Cashing More Checks for Cheap

Thumbnail image for Why Walmart is Cashing More Checks for Cheap by Kasey Steinbrinck August 10, 2011

The nation’s biggest retailer recently announced that it is expanding its check cashing operations. Walmart has become a huge competitor for typical check cashing stores because its fees for getting checks cashed are way less pricey than everyone else. You usually find those check cashing stores in low-income communities where there aren’t many banks. You [...]

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