LetterChamp

As Home Values Sink, Tax Appeals Soar

Plummeting property values are hammering local governments' revenues, yet many assessments remain above market levels. Here are some tips for lowering your tax load.  READ MORE 

A Practical Gift Idea For The Person With Everything

As we get closer to the 2009 holiday season, I see more people running around the malls trying to figure out what to buy the person who has everything.  They are using their credit cards to purchase those special presents.   I have also noticed that the credit card companies are sending out more credit card checks with the monthly statements during the last few months of the year.  This is marketing tool to get you to spend more money during the holidays.  The part that bothers me is that your name and address are on these checks. 

As a consumer advocate, my suggestion is to buy that special person with everything a paper shredder.  If you are not going to use the credit card checks then shred them.  There are so many identity theft cases these days and it bothers me that a dishonest person can assume your identity and buy gifts under your name.  The sad part is that you will not know about it until the January statement arrives in the mail.

The paper shredder might not sound like the “cool” gift but I am sure that your family and friends will thank-you for protecting their identity and credit history.   They won’t have to spend hours undoing what a criminal has done to their good name and credit history.   It is a gift that shows you care. 

 

 

Haggle Anywhere Even At Kmart

Retail prices are a lot more negotiable than you might think. But before you go out and try to play hardball to get a discount, learn the rules of the game.  READ MORE

Watch Your Flexible Spending Account

As 2009 comes to an end, there is so much for us to do during the holiday season.  Between working, shopping, cooking, etc., there is not that much free time to do anything else.  However, if you have a flexible spending account then you need to schedule your doctor and dental appointments to use all of the money that you deferred before the end of the year.  All unspent money will be returned to the company. 

I was talking to my dentist and he closes his office during the last two weeks of the year since he has young children.  He told me that is a common practice in the medical and dental field.  This basically means that you should finish your medical and dental appointments before December 18, 2009. 

The last thing I want is for you to try to schedule your medical appointments and find out that your medical and dental offices are closed for the last two weeks of the year.  You worked hard for that flexible spending account make sure that you use it for you and your family.  As a consumer advocate, I say don’t let your flexible spending money go back to your employer.  

 

10 Things Contractors Won’t Tell You

Learning a few tricks of their trade will help you ensure you get the job done right and at a fair price.  READ MORE 

How To Maximize Your Benefits During Open Enrollment

As the year comes to an end, it is time for many of us to sign-up for health benefit plans at our jobs for 2010.  As a consumer advocate, I always tell people to read the fine details of each plan before you make your health benefit decisions for you and your family.  Some people just choose health plans with the lowest costs out of their paychecks. 

However, you need to review the entire financial picture.  For example, you need to look at your co-payments.  Some plans might have a lower monthly cost to you but the co-payments for doctor appointments or prescriptions may be higher.  This could mean a lot of unforecasted out of pocket expenses for you later in the year.  You should also make sure that your current doctor is in the benefit plan.  If not then you may have to pay more out of pocket expenses.  

As a consumer advocate, I always say you work hard for your employer then you should make sure that you get the most value out of your health plan. 

 

5 Ways Home Buyers Are Kept In The Dark

Unfortunately, some real-estate pros profit at your expense. Here are 5 murky areas to be aware of when buying a home, and 21 tips for protecting yourself and turning on the lights.  READ MORE 

Place A Gift Receipt In Every Present You Give

As a child, I remember the days when there were no computers in the department stores.  Everything was done manually.

However, computers are constantly being used today especially during the holiday season.  They can track just about anything except what was the exact price of an item that you purchased on a specific day without a receipt. 

As we get closer to the 2009 holiday season, there will be more sales and bigger discounts.  The early shoppers who wanted to avoid the store crowds are the ones who paid more for their gifts.  However, if you don’t have a gift receipt and you exchange an item in the store then you get the lowest price that the item was sold for.  The store gets to keep the difference as a profit.  

Make sure that you place gift receipts in all of the boxes that you give.  As a consumer advocate, I would hate to see your family and friends not get the money or store credit that they are entitled to.  

What's Most Likely To Bankrupt You

Harvard researchers say 62% of all personal bankruptcies in the US in 2007 were caused by health problems -- and 78% of those filers had insurance.  READ MORE 

Beware of Holiday Catalogs

As we approach the 2009 holiday season, we will get more store catalogs in the mail each day.   It is a great way to browse and determine what to purchase for your family and friends before you go to the stores or shop on-line.   I love the festive look of all catalogs.   Last night, I was in the mall and noticed that some people left their catalogs on the bench.

However, this festive catalog is a great way for a criminal to steal your identity.  Your name and address is printed on the outside cover and order form in the catalog.  This can be an unexpected gift to help a thief steal your identity. 

As a consumer advocate, I say make sure that you shred the cover and order form of all the catalogs that you receive.  It is easy to leave a catalog anywhere when you are carrying your shopping bags in the mall.  This is a season of giving but don’t give your personal information to a criminal.  Protect your identity.