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Mortgage Insurance? Not on Your Life!
Dear Mary: I just bought a house, and I've been getting a lot of flyers about mortgage protection insurance. Is it something good for a new homeowner or just a waste of money? — Donna, email
Dear Donna: Great questions. "Mortgage …Read more.
Tips That Make You Feel Like a Genius
Secretly, I feel like a genius when I discover a secondary use for this or that — in case I run out of this, but have plenty of that! Like using a paper coffee filter to wash a glass top or mirror when I'm in a pinch for paper towels. Or using …Read more.
Supermarket Tricks That Makes Us Spend More
I've always thought of myself as pretty sharp when it comes to spotting supermarket trickery. I'm not even fazed by an end-cap display announcing, "Special." I know their ways. They hope we'll just assume that "special" means …Read more.
The Struggle to Actually Use up Gift Cards
My love-hate relationship with gift cards has intensified. What a pain, really. I'm one who just forgets to use them, and when I remember, I try to figure out how to use each one to the last cent. I was reminded of my situation recently when I …Read more.
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Fight Back Against the Creep FactorHave you noticed your auto or home insurance creeping up a little bit every year? Rather than just assume there's nothing you can do, take a cue from our first reader tip today. Pick up the phone, and ask the same question she did. If you don't like what you hear, shop around. It just might pay off. HOME CHEAP HOME. Our home insurance was going up each year, so I called our agent to see whether there was something we could do to reduce the premium. She verified that we had a new roof, a security system and deadbolts, and she noted the age of the heating and air conditioning unit. She asked whether she could pull our insurance score, and I gave her permission to do so. She said we have a superior rating. Our home insurance cost dropped by half, and the rate on our auto insurance was reduced, as well. — Lynette L., e-mail AUTO PRO. I have automatic payments for our mortgage and auto insurance taken out of our checking account. When our paychecks hit the bank, I pay my bills and deduct the amounts for the mortgage and auto insurance at that time. Even though the money isn't taken out until a later date, I know that I have that money set aside and won't spend it on something else in the meantime. — Birgit N., New York PRESCRIPTION FOR SAVINGS. I recently learned that you do not need to be a member of Costco to use their pharmacy. Nonmembers can purchase prescription medications, provided they pay with debit cards or cash. I was surprised by how much I can save.
CARD COPY. I make copies of the fronts and backs of my credit, debit, insurance and other important cards in my wallet. I keep the copies in a few different safe places. If any of my cards ever are misplaced or stolen, I will have access immediately to the companies' telephone numbers so that I can have them placed on hold or canceled. — Kelly C., Pennsylvania THRIFTY PHONE. I have had a Tracfone for years, and rarely do I pay full price for a phone card. I often go to http://www.RetailMeNot.com to find codes for extra minutes and promotions. It's the cheapest way to go! — Debora R., Iowa NO THANKS. I have received packages that I did not order from book clubs or similar programs that automatically enrolled me after I registered for other things. I do not pay postage to return items that I have not ordered. I call the company and note the name of the person to whom I speak. Then I write "cancel" on the bill and put everything back in the box. On the box, I write: "Refused. Return to sender." Then I drop it off at my post office. — Sonnie, e-mail Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Include your first and last name and state. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including "Debt-Proof Living" and "Tiptionary 2." To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS.COM
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