Sneaky Tricks to Get You to Buy Their Stuff

 

An Insider Takes Us Behind Closed Doors

The tricks and traps marketers use to get us to buy things are more widespread and manipulative than ever before. They range from advertising ploys and clever language to audio and visual cues. How they do it…

Eat Organic at a Reasonable Price

Herman Hooyschuur (sxc.hu)

Organic food can cost 50% to 100% more than similar nonorganic items. Here’s how to eat organic at a reasonable price…

Shop around. Prices vary from store to store and from week to week. Don’t assume that fancy stores that carry a lot of organic foods, such as the national chain Whole Foods, always will be more expensive than traditional supermarkets. They often have weekly specials that are as cheap as or cheaper than mainstream supermarkets.

Smaller specialty markets, such as the chains Trader Joe’s and Sprouts Farmers Market, also have reasonable prices on organic foods.

Helpful: 

Finding Cheap Flights

Fast Ways to Find Cheap Flights

New free service for finding flights debuts at www.Google.com/flights. The easy-to-use interface lets you filter inquiries by price, airline and route or search for flights by clicking on a map. The list of fares loads almost instantly. Google’s entry into flight search is tied to its recent acquisition of ITA Software, a provider of flight data. Google says its flight search still is being refined, but competitors have already taken notice and are looking for ways to make their travel searches more user-friendly. Don’t stop using other flight-search sites that you like… just try adding Google’s system to see if you think it provides more useful information.

Source: Norman Rose, travel technology analyst and president, Travel Tech Consulting, Inc., Belmont, California. www.TravelTechnology.com

Simple Plumbing Fixes

freetrader (sxc.hu)

We don’t think much about our plumbing until something goes wrong — but when it does go wrong, it can turn our lives upside down. Leaks can cause thousands of dollars’ worth of water damage and/or mold problems that are not covered by insurance.

Many costly plumbing problems can be prevented if home owners take some simple preventive steps. And some plumbing problems are well within the abilities of the average home owner to repair on his/her own.

How to keep your plumbing running right and your money in your pocket…

PREVENTING PROBLEMS

Preventive maintenance moves that are worth making…

Savings up to 90% to eat, get a haircut, see movies, and ….

mrceviz (sxc.hu)

Bargain hunters already know that the Internet is a great place to find low prices on merchandise. Now a rapidly growing array of Web sites is offering savings of 50% to 90% on services and experiences, such as restaurant meals, spa visits, carpet cleaning, dry cleaning, movie and theater tickets, haircuts, gym memberships, yoga classes and dance lessons.
These “local deal” or “deal-of-the-day” sites,

Pinching Pennies

sonaike (sxc.hu)

The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Simple Tricks for Spending Much, Much Less

In the current economic climate, many of us are looking for ways to cut back on our spending. But the more time and sacrifice a savings plan requires, the less likely we are to stick with it. Budgets that force us to track every dime spent or give up our favorite luxuries are soon abandoned.

Simple strategies that really can trim your spending…

Driving or Flying – Which is Cheaper?

hasenstein (sxc.hu)

Compare the cost of gas with the cost of flying by using AAA’s free calculator at www.fuelcostcalculator.com.

Example: Driving four people fromDenver toNashville in a 2007 Toyota Corolla uses about 62 gallons of gas and recently cost about $130/round-trip — compared with at least $952 for four round-trip air tickets.

Source: Nancy Dunnan, a New York City-based financial and travel adviser, editor of TravelSmart newsletter and author or coauthor of 25 books.

How to Save Money at the Gas Pump

ravasolix (sxc.hu)

How to Save Hundreds of Dollars at the Pump

Little tricks that can save you big bucks when you fill up your vehicle at the gas pump…

Get that

Save Money on Cooling Costs

iprole (sxc.hu)

Beyond the Thermostat

Heating and cooling systems typically are responsible for the greatest portion of home energy bills.

Here are ways to stay comfortable and still save money…

Thrifty Guide to Buying Organic

Thrifty Consumer’s Guide to Buying Organic Foods

Advocates of organic foods contend that the pesticide residue on produce and the hormones given to animals destined for the butcher’s shop render non­organic foods very dangerous to eat. Skeptics say there’s no proof linking conventionally farmed foods to the many diseases they are blamed for.

If your convictions lie somewhere in the middle, you may be struggling with another aspect of this controversy — the cost. Do the health benefits of organic foods really justify paying significantly more for them than for nonorganic foods? There is no easy answer, because there is no hard-and-fast evidence.

For instance…

Getting Ripped Off on Craigslist

Don’t Get Ripped Off on Craigslist

I’m one of more than 50 million US users of Craigslist, the top source of free classified ads on the Internet. Since the online marketplace started up in the 1990s, I have used it to buy and sell all sorts of merchandise — ranging from computers to cars. I’ve used it so much that I’ve written a book about it.Here, common mistakes on Craigslist and how to get the very best deals…

Get Top Dollar for You Home — Even in a Bad Market

svilen001 (sxc.hu)

Get Top Dollar for Your Home — Even in This Market

If you’re putting your house on the market this spring, congratulations — you probably missed the worst of the real estate crash. Home prices have begun to flatten or rise in some parts of the country.But it is hardly a seller’s market and median prices remain 20% to 25% below 2006 peak levels. You need to stage, advertise and price your property much more carefully than during a boom. Steps to take…

What I Gained When I Lost Everything or How Starbucks Saved My Life

 

peejOe (sxc.hu)

Fourteen years ago, at age 53, Michael Gates Gill was at the top of his game — he had a lovely wife, an expensive home and a $160,000-a-year job in advertising. By age 63, he was divorced, unemployed and nearly broke — then his doctor informed him that he had a slow-growing brain tumor.
In desperate need of health insurance and a regular paycheck, Gill took an entry-level job serving coffee at Starbucks for $10.50 an hour. To his amazement, he loved the work.

Four years later, Gill no longer needs the health insurance — he now is old enough to qualify for Medicare. He also has sold his life story to Hollywood (Tom Hanks is expected to portray Gill in the film), but he plans to remain at Starbucks — he enjoys the job. He has chosen “watchful waiting” as the treatment option for his brain tumor.
We asked Gill to share what recent years have taught him about life…

Should you Make that Purchase?

AainaalyaA (sxc.hu)

 ith the economy in crisis, it’s more prudent than ever to avoid unnecessary expenditures. Ask yourself before buying…

Do I really need it, or just want it? If you honestly don’t need it, save the money.

Can I afford it? If you have to borrow to make the purchase, you can’t.

Do I already have something else that will serve as well?

Can I wait until I find a better price or cheaper substitute? A little patience can save money.

Do I need it now? Retailers are expert at provoking the impulse buy. Before buying, walk away to take some time to think about it. You may realize that you don’t need it at all.

Mary Hunt

www.debtproofliving.com

 

Commuter Savings Account

bluegum (sxc.hu)

Use pretax dollars to pay for commuting expenses with a Commuter Savings Account. This lowers taxable income — and money left in the account at the end of the year rolls over to the next year. Under rules through 2011, employees can put up to $230 per month in pretax dollars into their commuter account for mass-transit passes, including van pools and $230 per month for qualified parking. For 2010, $20 a month is allowed for biking expenses, but you cannot claim the biking benefits in any month in which you use the parking or mass-transit benefits. These accounts are set up by employers at their discretion — if your company does not offer them, ask about having them established.

Source:  Barbara Weltman, Esq., an attorney based in Millwood, New York, and publisher of the free online newsletter, Big Ideas for Small Business, www.barbaraweltman.com.

Make Money From Your Hobby

barunpatro (sxc.hu)

Do you ever dream that your hobby could also be your job? Some hobbies can be turned into moneymaking enterprises — or at least generate enough revenue to fund the activities themselves.

Helpful: Keep careful track of your hobby expenses and income if you attempt to make money from them. You might have to report your profits or losses to the IRS.

How to profit from three popular hobbies…

Date Labeling on Foods

sundesigns (sxc.hu)

Except for infant formula and some baby foods, product dating is not generally required by the federal government.  Dating of some foods is required in over 20 states but there is no uniform accepted dating system in the U.S.  There are some areas where almost none of the food is dated.

Types of Dates

A “Sell-By” date tells the

Currency Conversion Fees

yirsh (sxc.hu)

Currency conversion fees can raise the price of overseas travel — at a time when the weak dollar already makes traveling outside the US very costly. Most credit card issuers charge 2% for purchases made in a foreign currency, and issuers of Visa and MasterCard cards pass along an additional 1% fee. Result: Users of cards from many major banks — including Bank of America, Citibank, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo — pay 3% of the transaction amount.

Better deals:

Easy Projects to Improve Your Home’s Value

Avolore (sxc.hu)

Save $3,000 and Improve Your Home’s Value

by Doing These Easy Projects Yourself

If you’re a homeowner who likes working outside, consider doing these home-improvement projects yourself. You’ll save at least 50% of what hiring a professional would cost.* These projects require more grunt work than talent and only a small investment in materials and tools. Each of them will improve the value of your property.

Hold that Mold

stevekrh19 (sxc.hu)

Do you sometimes wonder if you should throw away food that has mold on it? Can you cut off the bad part and eat the rest? It depends on the food.

Molds are like bacteria: some are safe, some harmful.

Plug Your Financial Leaks, and Pocket the Savings

atstein (sxc.hu)

Has your budget sprung a leak?

Nearly everyone has spending holes. And as with other kinds of leaks, you may have hardly noticed them. But those small drips can quickly add up to big bucks. The trick is to find the holes and plug them so you can keep more money in your pocket. That extra cash could be the ticket to finally being able to save, invest, or break your cycle of living from paycheck to paycheck.

Here are 25 common ways people waste money. See if any of these sound familiar, then look for ways to plug your own leaks:

Travel Bargains

 

ba1969 (sxc.hu)

The tough economy has resulted in some great travel bargains here and abroad…

Las Vegas. Thousands of new hotel rooms mean cut-rate prices on accommodations.

Cancun and the Mayan Riviera. Bargain-priced travel packages abound because of publicity about violence elsewhere in Mexico, far from Cancun. Also: The US dollar is very strong now in Mexico.

Caribbean cruises. Competition among the many new cruise ships has lowered prices significantly.

Guatemala. A family of four can eat out for $12, and airfares from the US are low. Costa Rica and Panama are good deals as well.

Iceland. The exchange rate is favorable to US visitors. Icelandair also offers great deals on air/hotel packages.

Ireland. Hit hard by the financial crisis, Ireland is the greatest travel value in western Europe now.

Source: Pauline Frommer, award-winning creator of Pauline Frommer Guides (Wiley), Hoboken, New Jersey, and daughter of the legendary travel bargain expert Arthur Frommer. www.Frommers.com/pauline

Yard Sale Success Guide

snowflake5 (sxc.hu)

Holding a garage or yard sale can be a great way to clear out clutter and earn some cash. Here’s how to increase the odds that your sale will be a success…

Good Deals on High Quality Medical Services

kurhan (sxc.hu)

Now Is the Time to Go Medical Bargain-Hunting…

Here are the best ways to find good deals on high-quality services in your community…
Ask the right question. Many times, getting a discount is as easy as asking for it. Don’t be afraid to ask a surgeon (if you are contemplating surgery) or any type of health provider if he can “do better” after discussing the cost of a medical procedure or service. This is especially helpful if a big out-of-pocket cash outlay is involved because you have no insurance or your insurance does not cover a particular service, such as dental care or cosmetic surgery.

Insider secret:

Nobel Prize-Winning Economist Money-Savers

ljleavell (sxc.hu)

The 5 Simple Money-Savers Even Nobel-Prizewinning Economists Use

Economists spend their days exploring weighty topics ranging from gross domestic product and stagflation to trade balances and yield curves. But when they crunch numbers at home, the challenges they face and the solutions they find are not that different from what the rest of us grapple with. Learning how economists manage their money can help all of us spend less, save more and invest more wisely, so we asked five prominent economists to reveal money-saving strategies that they use in their own lives…

18 Tips on Keeping Food At It’s Best

sadiya (sxc.hu)

Save money and trips to the market…

1. Line the bottom of your refrigerator’s crisper drawer with paper towels. They’ll absorb the excess moisture that causes vegetables to rot.

2. To keep herbs tasting fresh for up to a month, store

What Not to Miss When Buying a House

aeolian (sxc.hu)

Poor water pressure could indicate plumbing problems… doors that are hard to close, swing open by themselves or don’t open fully could point to structural problems… multiple extension cords could mean that the electrical system is inadequate… a porch, patio or driveway that slopes toward the house could lead to water in the basement. What to do: When having a home professionally inspected before you buy it, go with the inspector to make observations and ask questions.

Source: Kathleen Kuhn, president, HouseMaster, home-inspection company, Bound Brook, New Jersey. www.HouseMaster.com

Cheap, Uncertified Electrical Items Can Be Dangerous

dhester (sxc.hu)

Cheap, uncertified electrical items can be dangerous — and they are becoming more common as people search for bargains. Improperly made items, such as extension cords and power tools, can cause injuries and fires. Self-defense: Avoid items whose labels do not provide the manufacturer’s contact information… ones without UPC bar codes… ones without any branding or certification marks… and ones with spelling and grammatical errors on packages. Be especially careful when buying products online.

Source: Anthony Toderian, spokesperson, CSA International, which tests and certifies consumer electronics and other products, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

How to Pick Fresh Fruits

  

Lockstockb (sxc.hu)

 

Watermelon
Choose a firm, symmetrical fruit free of bruises, cuts and dents.  Pick it up.  The watermelon should be heavy for its size.  Turn it over.  There should be a creamy yellow spot where it sat on the ground and ripened.
The National Watermelon Promotion Board

Mangos
First, look at the stem.  If the stem looks like it is sitting up on a hill, that is an immature mango that will not ripen.  The stem should look like it is sitting in a little valley.  Second, never, ever leave your mango in the open air to ripen.  It will most likely shrivel before it ever ripens.  Cover the mango with a newspaper on your counter.  When it smells like a tropical paradise, it is ready to be enjoyed.
San Diego Union Tribune

Papayas
Ripe papayas should be as soft as a ripe peach, with more yellow than green in the skin.  (Mexican papayas may remain mostly green even when fully ripe.)  Most papayas are sold firm-ripe and need to be ripened further.  Avoid bruised or shriveled papayas and those showing signs of mold or other deterioration.  Ripen firm papayas at room temperature in a loosely closed paper bag.  Refrigerate ripe fruit in a plastic or paper bag for up to 3 days.
Sunset Magazine

(Note:  Still under construction.  Will be adding more fruits)

 

Storing Fruit and Vegetables

bubbels (sxc.hu)

Have on hand potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, salad greens, parsley, and a few other fresh herbs like basil and dill. You also may want to stock cucumbers, scallions, assorted citrus, mushrooms, red and green peppers, and celery for slicing and eating raw or for flavoring sauces, soups, salads, and stews. Keep an assortment of fresh fruits – apples, oranges, grapes, bananas, or whatever is in season – for snacking, slicing into cereals, or making quick dessert sauces.

It’s best to keep unripe melons and tree fruits like pears, peaches, and nectar­ines at

Low Cost Home Business Ideas

 

 

 If you want more cash, consider starting a part-time business. Almost everyone has the skills and time needed to launch a business that’s capable of generating an extra $500 to $1,000 per month.
With a part-time business, the smart strategy is to get it up and running within a week or two for no more than a few hundred dollars. How to do it…

roundabout (sxc.hu)

Turn What You Know Into Dough

 LOW-COST BUSINESS IDEAS

 Identify skills that you already possess that could be turned into a service-oriented business. Possibilities… 

Tools For Saving Time, Money, and Frustration

frecuencia (sxc.hu)

Tools You Probably Don’t Own — But Should

A well-stocked tool kit helps you complete household fix-it projects more quickly and easily. Having the right tools can save you money, too, because you will be less likely to need to call a plumber or carpenter to do the job for you. And you’re less likely to injure yourself or do costly damage to your home during do-it-yourself attempts.

Nine tools for $50 or less that all home owners should own but often don’t…

The Best Time To Buy “IT” Is…

vuk011 (sxc.hu)

 The prices of certain products fluctuate by 10% to 75% over the course of a year. Some even vary predictably within a single day or week. Knowing how to correctly time purchases can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year.

 

Fixing Your Own Car – gadgets to make it easier

Fixing Your Own Car Just Got Easier

nancynator (sxc.hu)

If you like to make auto repairs yourself, here are a few gadgets, including diagnostic tools, that could make it easier…

Don’t Throw Out Those Old Shoes!

 

neza (sxc.hu)

Repaired Shoes Can Be Better Than New

 

 Materials used in shoe repair often are three to four times better quality than ones used to manufacture shoes — even expensive shoes. Shoe-repair shops use the same high-quality materials on all shoes — better heels, soles and stitching. Shoes also can be completely reconditioned, which includes fixing torn or weakened areas, replacing worn-out parts and restoring color and finish. Simple repairs, such as new heels, usually cost around $20. Reconditioning can cost $100. This is well worth it for a pair of shoes that costs $300, for example, because you would be getting virtually a new pair of shoes for a fraction of the cost.

Source: Mary Hunt, editor, Debt-Proof Living. www.DebtProofLiving.com

Please Bury Me At Home

Livke (sxc.hu)

Home funerals are more personal and less expensive than traditional funerals. Family

members

Make Your Car Last 300,000 Miles

 

nikhilstar (sxc.hu)

 5 Simple Ways to Make Your Car Last 300,000 Miles

 

When you drive your car regularly, some wear and tear is to be expected. But you can take important steps to reduce excessive wear — and in the process, save money on car maintenance and ensure that your car runs for as long as possible.
Bonus: The resale value of a well-maintained car always is greater than that of an identical car that did not receive proper care.

When It Pays to Use Your Credit Card

highwing (sxc.hu)

It is not always best to pay in cash. Putting a purchase on a credit card may help you if a service dispute arises, because the Fair Credit Billing Act allows consumers to dispute card-billing problems. This includes items that arrive damaged… items that are never delivered… overbilling… double billing… and phantom or fraudulent charges.
For the quickest, fairest resolution when you dispute a credit card charge…

Baking Soda Uses

List of helpful, healthful applications for baking soda…

Easy, effective wash for fresh produce to protect against foodborne bacteria and pesticide residue. The powdery quality of baking soda makes it useful as a gentle scrub for fruits and vegetables, and it’s especially effective for fruit such as pears and apples that you may want to eat raw without peeling. How to use it:

Digging Out of Debt

nusrin (sxc.hu)

The average American adult carries more than $16,000 in debt (excluding home mortgages) — and that figure is likely to climb.

 The best paths out of debt, starting with those most appealing to the largest numbers of debtors…

New Credit Card Penalty Limits

highwing (sxc.hu)

The Federal Reserve’s new limits for credit card payment penalties took effect August 22, which means that penalty fees for missing a payment on your monthly balance must be capped at

Preexisting Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)

Good News About Health Insurance

Health reform happens! This summer, a new “Preexisting Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)” went into effect, providing a real and immediate solution to one of the most pressing health-care conundrums — which is that people with “preexisting medical conditions” who lost their insurance or had none were unable to get health insurance. Helping these folks get coverage is huge. I checked in with federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesperson Jessica Santillo to get information on the program — who’s eligible and what they need to do to get it started.

Do You Qualify?

Epsom Salts

The Many Faces of Epsom Salts

— More Than Old Fashioned Medicine

Old-fashioned Epsom salts — the stuff Grandma used as a soak for her aching feet — is undergoing a very modern makeover… to the point where the “Epsom Salt Council” has its own Facebook page and Twitter feed! I’m all for spreading the word — magnesium sulfate (the scientific name for Epsom salts) is indeed a great go-to solution for a wide swath of modern-day maladies, including stress, joint problems, inflammation and even cardiovascular disease. It’s important to know, however, that some Epsom salts enthusiasm is misplaced, according to Daily Health News medical editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND. Although he is a proponent of Epsom salts for many purposes, he warns that some suggestions now floating around the Internet are not only off base, they’re dangerous.

Stay Debt Free

Simple Secrets of Living Debt-Free

ba1969 (sxc.hu)

If you can’t afford to pay for it now, you can’t afford it. When my grandfather told me that 40 years ago, it didn’t sound nearly as radical as it does today. Grandpa borrowed money only once in his life — to buy a house — and even then he paid it off long before the bank required.

 Of course, times are different now. Everything costs so much more. There’s no way you can live comfortably these days without borrowing money and going into debt.

Wait a minute! If you believe those last three sentences, then have we got

A Baby Picture Can Protect Your Wallet

cieleke (sxc.hu)

In a recent study, 88% of people who found wallets with photos of a smiling baby returned them… compared with 53% of people who found wallets with a photo of a cute puppy… 48%, a happy family… and 28%, a contented elderly couple.

Source: Richard Wiseman, PhD, professor, psychology department, University of Hertfordshire, UK, and leader of a study in which 240 wallets were planted on the streets of Edinburgh.

Steak or Hamburger for Dinner?

flo_loca25

When families cut back on their household budgets, one of the first casualties often is meat. But if you know what to shop for, you can obtain delicious, high-quality beef, pork and chicken for a lot less money.

Why Meat Costs So Much

Get More Perks When Staying at Hotels

wootz (sxc.hu)

Bookings are down because of the recession, so some chains are boosting perks by offering free Internet access, free local and/or long-distance calls, free spa access or restaurant meals or making it easier to earn additional stays. Deals were recently available at chains such as Best Western and Marriott, through Hotels.com and from American Express.

What to do: Promotions come and go quickly and vary widely. Before traveling, check out what is available through the hotels and from your credit card issuers.

Source:  Robert Mandelbaum, director of research information services, PKF Hospitality Research, Atlanta.

You Need a Higher Credit Score These Days

EyeLens (sxc.hu)

Three years ago, a credit score of 580 was good enough for you to earn approval for a wide range of attractive mortgages and other loans. Today, borrowers need scores well into the 700s (out of 850) to obtain similar terms.

Achieving these top-tier credit scores is tough enough when the system is fair. Often it isn’t. Harmful practices by retailers and credit-reporting agencies can keep you from earning your rightful credit score. How to protect your score…

Eight Insurance Myths

malkowitch (sxc.hu)

8 Insurance Myths That Could Cost You Dearly

We buy insurance to protect ourselves against financial risks — but sometimes the greatest risk is that we don’t fully understand our coverage. Insurance contracts are complex, with potentially important details buried in small-print legal jargon. Consumers often assume that common sense dictates when their insurance will protect them, but frequently you don’t get as much coverage as you think you are getting, and sometimes you don’t know enough to take advantage of the coverage that you do have. The insurance myths that can cost you…

The Secret to Finding a Job When “There Are No Jobs”

yalcineren (sxc.hu)

Finding a job is tough enough in this economy, but many job hunters reduce the odds of their success by using common job-search strategies that often fail. Here’s what doesn’t work so well — and what does…

Five popular job-search strategies that do not work for the majority of those who try them…

Automatic Bill Payments May be Risky

kgdsgn (sxc.hu)

An increasing number of people have bill payments taken directly from their bank accounts.

 Risks: You may incur late fees because of computer errors that can take months to correct… when overcharges occur, you may be less likely to

Keep Your Social Security Number Safe

  

sundesigns (sxc.hu)

Keep your Social Security number’s last four digits secret. You are only legally required to give out your Social Security number (SSN) when

Five Ways to Save $20,000 a Year

mokra (sxc.hu)

Nearly all of the talk these days about economizing focuses on how to get what we want but pay less for it. It’s all about how to get more for less.

For those of us who are longtime advocates of the “simple living” movement, it seems as if most Americans are missing what could be the golden

PURÉE AWAY

topfer (sxc.hu)

Don’t throw away that wilted produce.  Instead make purées and put it in small individual freezer bags.  Place in your freezer to add to meals later.  This will improve the nutritious value of your meals.

Let’s Have a Garage Sale!

Keys to a Successful Garage Sale

izzi73 (sxc.hu)

A successful garage sale can convert your clutter into cash. An unsuccessful garage sale, on the other hand, can be a frustrating waste of a weekend. How to increase the odds that your sale will go well…

AVOID THE BIG MISTAKES

These missteps could doom your garage sale…

Colleges are More Willing to Negotiate Costs

muresan113 (sxc.hu)

Their thinking is that they would rather negotiate than lose a student. Even if you get financing help, you still can negotiate remaining out-of-pocket costs based on comparing expenses at other schools that have accepted the student. Be forthright — say where else he/she has been accepted and explain the cost differences. Reducing out-of-pocket costs by 10% to 20% will save you thousands of dollars over four years.

Top Ten Misconceptions About Fuel Economy

beer (sxc.hu)

• You have to drive a small car to get good fuel economy.

Advanced technologies like hybrid drivetrains, diesel engines, direct fuel injection, turbocharging, advanced transmissions, low rolling resistance tires and aerodynamic designs are allowing standard-sized vehicles to be very fuel efficient. For the 2010 model year, five of the top ten most efficient vehicles are

Credit Card “Protection Plans” Are Not Worth the Cost

Lotus Head (www.pixelpusher.co.za)

These plans from credit card issuers, which promise to pay all or a portion of your credit card bill if you become disabled, lose your job or die, are especially popular during this time of high unemployment and mounting debts — but there are many loopholes. The plan may not kick in if you lose your job for performance reasons… if you are disabled but can do some other kind of work… or if you have other disability coverage. The monthly fee ranges from 35 cents to 99 cents per $100 of debt.

Better: Build up an emergency fund or purchase extra life insurance.

 Sandy Shore, senior counselor at Nova-debt, a nonprofit credit-counseling agency in Freehold, New Jersey. www.novadebt.org.