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

Search: notes

Meeting With a Financial Planner From Vanguard Flagship Services

by Luke Landes

On Tuesday, I had a phone consultation with a Certified Financial Planner from Vanguard. It was an initial meeting, wherein we talked about each other, focusing on my goals. I tried to take into account many of my own suggestions for working with a financial adviser, but in preparing for the meeting, I realized — ... Continue reading this article…

20 comments Read the full article →

Bank of America Charging $5 Debit Card Monthly Fee

by Luke Landes

Last month, I noted that Wells Fargo was to begin testing a $3 debit card monthly fee in some areas of the country. Since the recession, banks are looking for more ways to generate profits from depositors. Historically, banks turned deposits around and approved loans for borrowers at higher interest rates than what was paid ... Continue reading this article…

15 comments Read the full article →

Earn More Money: How to Be a Secret Shopper

by Luke Landes
Secret Shopping, Shopping Bags

For all of the eight years of Consumerism Commentary’s existence, I’ve written about big ways to earn more income, like changing a career path, learning how to negotiate, or building your own business, much more than I’ve written about options that might seem more available to most people. I’ve generally shied away from the smaller ... Continue reading this article…

16 comments Read the full article →

Aurora Bank Review

by Luke Landes

In my neverending quest to find more options for banking in today’s environment of low-yield high-yield savings and money market accounts, I’ve come across Aurora Bank. I don’t move money around from one account to another to chase high rates, but until I get around to simplifying my banking options, I tend to open accounts ... Continue reading this article…

8 comments Read the full article →

Bank of America Settles Overdraft Fee Lawsuit

by Luke Landes
Bank of America Lawsuit

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…

1,342 comments Read the full article →

Replacing Dollar Bills With Dollar Coins

by Luke Landes
3217216843_ee67654e26_b[1]

While politicians, political commentators, and opinion-yellers are knocking heads and locking horns in Washington, D.C. in an attempt to determine how to spur the economy while cutting the budget deficit, there is an old debate about currency that refuses to die. For the most part, the public isn’t excited about the idea of eliminating paper ... Continue reading this article…

44 comments Read the full article →

Podcast 95: Behind the Scenes at a Bank

by Luke Landes

Today’s guest on the Consumerism Commentary Podcast is Tom Dziubek, frequent host of this podcast and a recent customer service representative at one of the U.S.’s ten largest savings banks. Tom, Flexo and Bryan discuss what it was like behind the scenes, dealing with customers and working in a call center. Consumerism Commentary Podcast #95 ... Continue reading this article…

7 comments Read the full article →

Blogger Dinner in New York, Nannies, and Museums

by Luke Landes

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of getting together with some of my colleagues in the world of personal finance blogs. Six of us, representing My Journey to Millions, Free From Broke, Investor Junkie, and Money Crashers, met for dinner in New York City. My trip to the city allowed me to get in ... Continue reading this article…

12 comments Read the full article →
Page 2 of 1112345···Last »