As featured in The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, and more!

Search: consumerism

Rewards Cards Cost Mom and Pop Stores More

by Flexo

I’ve been using rewards credit cards for many years now. I initially used cash back credit cards to turn what was mostly necessary spending or purchases I would have made with cash or a debit card anyway into hundreds of dollars back in my hands — or by bank account — each year. Now I ... Continue reading this article…

20 comments Read the full article →

Citi Dividend Platinum Select Card for College Students Review

by Flexo

The credit cards that were available to me while I was in college were a far cry from the student credit cards available today. While many issuers offered free gifts for signing up, like tee-shirts and Frisbees, the cards came with extra fees and unfavorable terms. Students who handled credit cards improperly while back in ... Continue reading this article…

1 comment Read the full article →

Man Gives Derek Jeter’s Baseball to Team, Criticized for Everything

by Flexo

The other day, Derek Jeter achieved his 3,000th hit, a major baseball milestone. The hit happened to be a home run, and the fan who recovered the ball, Christian Lopez, has been in the news — well, the sports news, anyway. Players like to be able to claim milestone baseballs for their own collection, so ... Continue reading this article…

19 comments Read the full article →

Bank of America Settles Overdraft Fee Lawsuit

by Flexo

If you qualify for the Bank of America overdraft lawsuit settlement, you may have already received a postcard in the mail from the bank. Here is information on the overdraft lawsuit, only one of many class action lawsuits against Bank of America. If you recently received a check from Bank of America for about $98, ... Continue reading this article…

1,037 comments Read the full article →

Look At Your Medical Bills Before Paying

by Flexo

My dentist’s office is changing billing procedure. I should note that my dentist is not part of an insurance network. It may be a cliché, but I have heard people who say that any dentist who aligns his office with insurance carriers is one you want to avoid. That doesn’t mean that I have to ... Continue reading this article…

15 comments Read the full article →

Excellent Credit, Denied Mortgage

by Flexo

Even with a credit score above 800, it’s still possible to be denied for a mortgage. Looking at the mortgage industry as a whole, for a period of time, lenders were too lax, offering mortgages practically regardless of qualifications. The pendulum has swung the other way, and even qualified individuals and families are having a ... Continue reading this article…

12 comments Read the full article →

Podcast 116: Meet a Thousandaire

by Flexo

Today’s guest on the Consumerism Commentary Podcast is Kevin McKee, a personal finance blogger who uses humor to educate young people at Thousandaire.com. Flexo and Bryan talk to Kevin about the costly mistakes that forced him to learn how to manage his money, whether student loans are good debt or bad debt, and why he ... Continue reading this article…

3 comments Read the full article →

Citi Forward Card for College Students Review

by Flexo

There once was a time where credit card issuers would line up at the campus breezeways, enticing thousands of students to apply for cards by offering gifts to attract their view of the stereotypical college student. Typical incentives included a free duffel bag, tee-shirt, or Frisbee, and with shiny objects in view and no experience ... Continue reading this article…

5 comments Read the full article →