Ken & Daria's Your Money Matters

Ken and Daria's Your Money Matters Weekender

Save BIG With Back-to-School Bargains!

Summer is quickly winding down, and that means school will soon be in session if it isn’t already in your neck of the woods! Don’t spend your last days of vacation stuck in long lines paying outrageous prices for school supplies. Check out our guide for big savings on everything you need, including deals for under a $1. (Yes, it’s really possible!)

1.	How to Prepare for a Possible Disaster
2.	Credit Card Cancellation Letter
3.	Pay Off Those Credit Cards NOW!
4.	8 Smart Money-Making Moves
5.	Our 10 Simple Rules of Investing

Money Dilemmas:
Save or Invest?

If you’ve taken our advice and found some extra money in your budget, you may be wondering what to do with it. After all, you worked hard to earn that cash and now it needs to work hard for you! Should you invest the money, put it in savings or pay down debt? This is what I (Daria here) call a good money dilemma! It’s also a common one, which is why I put together this video to help you decide just what to do. Click here to learn where that extra cash can do you the most good.

Recommended Videos and Audio Alerts:

Should I close out my credit cards after they are paid off or leave them open? Which option is best for my credit report?
—Karen

We suggest that you don’t close out credit cards with which you have a long, positive (timely payments) record, even though you may no longer regularly use them. Credit rating services love positive, sustained relationships, and it’s good for your credit “history.”

DO close out accounts with our credit card cancellation letter that you have not used much or are frivolous accounts. Too many open lines of credit on multiple cards can hurt both your credit score and, consequently, your ability to borrow at competitive rates.

Are Your Computer Passwords Safe? When was the last time you changed your computer passwords? Log-in information to your hard drive and important sites, such as online banking, should be changed every six months to a year for security purposes. Don’t forget: never write your password down or keep it in your wallet or purse where it could easily be stolen.

Click here to learn how to create a safe computer password that keeps hackers from accessing your files.

How to File a Claim After Disaster Strikes

Tropical Storm Fay pounded Florida with torrential rains this week, causing property damage to countless homes and businesses. Dealing with insurance companies is never fun, especially when they aren’t in a hurry to pay! Learn how to properly file a claim so that you will get paid promptly.

Just Who Are Fannie and Freddie?

By name alone, they sound pretty harmless. But Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are in serious trouble. They own most of the mortgages in the U.S., and their downfall is affecting you in the form of higher interest rates and tighter credit. That’s just the beginning. Here’s what you need to know about the current crisis.

Gee, Thanks Doc!

Hospitals in nearly half the states say they don’t bill patients for mistakes…like operating on the wrong body part! Gee, thanks. Hospital overcharges are a serious problem, and we don’t want you to be a victim. Avoid these tactics hospitals commonly use to take advantage of patients.

Foreclosure Problems Worsen

Here we go again. Foreclosures jumped 55% in July from a year ago. That’s a lot of people who can’t keep up with their mortgage payments. It’s also dragging down housing prices, which fell 7.6% in the second quarter. It’s a vicious cycle, and we want you to be prepared. Here’s how to hold on to your home.