Paying for Online Purchases
Many consumers have grown to enjoy the convenience of shopping online. You can easily compare products and prices from many retailers within a short amount of time. The shipping charges are usually well worth saving…
Mary Tomkins
Mary Tomkins is a freelance writer located in Spartanburg, SC, with emphasis on economic news and research on the financial industry.
Credit Unions
Better banking may mean not using a bank. Choosing a financial institution, for many, simply means going to the bank their parents do business with, picking one that’s close to home or work, or giving…
Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
CDs are a low-risk investment that offers a slightly better return on your deposit than a traditional savings account. CDs are protected from loss, up to $100,000, as long as the issuing financial institution is…
Paying Bills Online
Paying bills online is great; it saves time and money. You don’t have to buy stamps and checks, and it takes less time to set up online payments than it does to write and mail…
Surviving an Economic Downturn
The unemployment rate is on the rise, the stock market has been giving investors a scary ride, the American homeowners’ biggest asset has been devalued, inflation is pushing up the price of everything, and we…
Unemployment Rate Hits Four-Year High
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the unemployment rate rose to 5.7 percent for July, the highest it’s been in four years. Non-farm payroll employment continues to trend down, at a loss of 51,000…
Federal Deficit Reaches Record High
The White House expects a record-breaking federal deficit. The federal budget deficit for fiscal 2009 is estimated to top a record-high of $482 billion, according to a Bush administration report released on Monday. The last…
Minimum Wage Increase
The new federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour goes into effect today, which amounts to a $.70 pay raise for the roughly two million American workers who must make ends meet on minimum wage.…
Food Costs Keep Rising
In the midst of a weak economy, high gas prices, falling real estate values, and a slowing job market, we also have to tighten our budget for the rising cost of food. Many have already…
Save on Food Costs
Higher grocery bills now and are expected in the future A weak economy and high inflation is already costing consumers a larger portion of their paychecks for basic needs such as fuel and food. Grocery…