Janice Conard

Set Yourself Up for Hassle-free Winter Driving

Thumbnail image for Set Yourself Up for Hassle-free Winter Driving by Janice Conard December 29, 2011

Here in northeastern Wisconsin, we know all about the hazards of winter driving. In these parts, “donuts” and “cheerios” don’t refer to breakfast foods. Rather, they describe the circular path your car takes when it spins out of control on ice or snow. (Whether a driver initiates the maneuver on purpose or by accident is [...]

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Santa’s Favorite Car-Buying Tip

Thumbnail image for Santa’s Favorite Car-Buying Tip by Janice Conard December 22, 2011

So you’re ready for a new car and you’ve decided to buy rather than lease. It’s a good choice, especially if you find a car you love that you’ll want to keep for years. Today you’re in luck, because Santa has a favorite strategy for getting you into that new ride for the lowest possible [...]

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Don’t Get Fleeced By a New Car Lease

Thumbnail image for Don’t Get Fleeced By a New Car Lease by Janice Conard December 13, 2011

When I was fresh out of college and needed to upgrade my transportation from two wheels to four, I caught a bad case of “new car fever.” The financial climate was very different in 1991 and the best deal I could find was 7-percent APR over four years. I was offered a slightly lower rate [...]

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Tighten Your Food Budget: Do Pizza Night In

Thumbnail image for Tighten Your Food Budget: Do Pizza Night In by Janice Conard December 7, 2011

When you’re among the long-term unemployed, you learn a thing or two about stretching your family’s food budget. After my layoff in May 2009, carry-out pizza was one of the first culinary conveniences to go. Fortunately, we don’t miss it a bit. Why? Because we’ve learned to create fresh delicious pizzas like the one pictured [...]

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Got a Financial Dispute? Write a Letter!

Thumbnail image for Got a Financial Dispute? Write a Letter! by Janice Conard December 5, 2011

Past Due. Final Notice. Insufficient Funds. It’s never good to get a letter like that, but unless your financial life is squeaky clean, chances are, you have. For some, being broke isn’t necessarily the problem. You may have a very sound reason for not paying what you’ve been charged. Perhaps the goods or services didn’t [...]

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