You are viewing an archive of articles by Flexo. Luke Landes, also known as Flexo, is the founder of Consumerism Commentary. He has been blogging and writing for the internet since 1995 and has been building online communities since 1991. Find out more about him and follow Flexo on Twitter. View Flexo's Google Profile.

Flexo

Take This Reader Survey, Win a $50 Amazon.com Gift Card

by Flexo

I’ve designed a short survey to help me understand more about Consumerism Commentary readers. No matter how often you read this website, I would like to hear from you. The survey asks a few questions about demographics, reading habits, and preferences. There are about 20 questions, and it should take no longer than 3 minutes. ... Continue reading this article…

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Visa Black Card Review

by Flexo

Related: Comparing the Visa Black Card With American Express Platinum and Centurion Cards. Visa is introducing a new credit card catered to consumers who spend $50,000 or more a year. The Visa Black Card looks similar to the American Express Centurion Card, which was created about a decade ago after that company wanted to capitalize ... Continue reading this article…

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Free Download: Suze Orman’s 2009 Action Plan: Keeping Your Money Safe & Sound

by Flexo

Suze Orman, the guru of personal finance gurus, is offering her latest book, 2009 Action Plan: Keeping Your Money Safe & Sound, for free. Through January 15, you can download this 209-page book without paying a cent. Here is the download link for the free PDF version of this book. The book tackles credit, retirement ... Continue reading this article…

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New Carnival of Personal Finance Schedule, Carnival Coming Here

by Flexo

I have announced the new Carnival of Personal Finance schedule for the first three months of 2009. The Carnival of Personal Finance is a traveling celebration of the week’s best articles about personal finance throughout the blogosphere. Each Monday, a different blog hosts the Carnival, and the hosts bring their own style and flair to ... Continue reading this article…

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New Chase $100 Bonus Coupon for Checking Accounts, Expires February 27, 2009

by Flexo

Chase $100 Bonus Coupon for Checking Accounts I am not interested in opening a new checking account that requires either direct deposit or five or more debit card purchases each statement period. But if these terms sound good to you, and you have at least $100 ready for your first deposit, you will qualify for ... Continue reading this article…

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Barack Obama’s 2009 Economic Stimulus Plan

by Flexo

Updated March 20, 2009: The stimulus plan has become a law, and we’ve rounded up the many ways you can benefit. President-Elect Barack Obama pitched his economic stimulus proposal to Congress earlier this week. Here are the main points. The total cost is $775 billion over two years. Tax cuts and breaks will account for ... Continue reading this article…

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New $20 Discounts on Intuit Quicken 2009 Products

by Flexo

Quicken 2009 has been available since last fall. I’ve been meaning to upgrade my version of Quicken 2008 Home & Business, but I don’t think my computer can handle any software changes until I reinstall the operating system. I’ve been using Quicken to manage my finances for the last several years. I used to use ... Continue reading this article…

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HSBC Direct Drops Interest Rate to 1.55% APY

by Flexo

HSBC Direct must have heard that I was planning to transfer some of my savings to the bank, which until yesterday had been offering 3.0 percent APY. Following other banks that lowered interest rates for the new year, HSBC dropped their interest rate 13 percent to 2.6 percent APY and is now 1.10 percent APY as of June 2010. ... Continue reading this article…

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3 Major Ways to Scrimp and Save in an Economic Recession

by Flexo

When the economy is growing and consumer confidence is high, it is common not to think twice about saving money and reducing expenses. If you are saving money every paycheck, investing in a 401(k) or other accounts for retirement, and spending less than you are earning there isn’t much motivation to reduce your expenses further. ... Continue reading this article…

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ING Direct Referral Waiting List Now Open! (Update: List is Full)

by Flexo

Once again, I’ve refreshed the list of ING Direct $25 referral links. By using one of these links, a new customer can receive a $25 bonus for opening a new savings or checking account if the initial deposit is $250 or more. As these are “referral” bonuses, the person who provided the link will receive ... Continue reading this article…

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