Tips for saving money with your vacation

• 1. Stay local if not at home. Think of all the places you can visit that are within a day's drive.

• 2. Camping is a great way for a family to bond.

• 3. Be flexible. You don't have to stay at a 5 star hotel or fly first class.

• 4. Check out flights from smaller airports. Many times, these can be bargains.

• 5. When there are more than one going on the trip, believe it or not, driving may still be less expensive in the long run. Plus, you'll have a car at your destination.

• 6. Stay in the US. The dollar has seen better days and will see better days abroad.

• 7. Look for hotels that offer free breakfast. While continental may be viewed more as a convenience rather than a meal. some hotels will give you eggs and more.

• 8. Consider combining meals or eating a light snack for lunch and then an early dinner.

• 9. Look at rest stops and in hotel lobbies for coupons.

• 10. Brink water bottles. They are a whole lot cheaper at your local warehouse club than at an amusement park.

• 11. Check out the internet for deals. You can also make your own reservations.

• 12. Consider spending a day just sitting by the pool and being together as a family r anther than at a pricey attraction.

• 13. Seek out free spots while on vacations, such as scenic parks.

• 14. Travel after peak season. You can save a lot of money traveling on October rather than August, when it may be more crowded.

• 15. Sometimes the all inclusive trips are the best deals. They may throw in meals, drinks and more.

Job Seeking Advice from the BBB

The job market has tightened up this year. The unemployment rate in the U.S. is currently at around 5.0 percent and with gas prices and a poor economy, unemployment is likely to get worse. With an uncertain economy and employment outlook, Better Business Bureau is offering guidance to job seekers.

There are more than 7.6 million Americans who are currently unemployed and looking for work—approximately 800,000 more than were unemployed this time last year. Industries in which jobs were lost have generally remained consistent, mainly centered in areas hard hit by the housing downturn: construction, manufacturing and retail trade. Jobs have recently been added in health care and professional and technical services.

“With the unemployment rate projected to rise, millions of Americans may soon be struggling to find work,” said Steve Cox, BBB spokesperson. “There are many places job hunters can go for help landing a job, but they need to make sure they’re using an organization they can trust – this is as easy as checking the business out at BBB.org.”

• Public Employment Service (a.k.a Job Service) is a federally-funded and state-operated program that is available in all 50 states. Not only does this service have nearly 1,700 offices across the country providing free assistance to job hunters, it also manages America's Job Bank (AJB) which lists hundreds of thousands of job opportunities. For more information visit: http://www.jobbankinfo.org/

• Temporary (or Temp) Services place employees at companies which are looking for temporary help. Job seekers do not pay the temp service. Temporary placement is one way unemployed workers can supplement their income while looking for a more permanent job, and temporary positions can sometimes evolve into full-time positions.

• Employment Agencies search for employees to fill permanent full or part-time positions at businesses. Typically, businesses pay for the service of the employment agency but, in some cases, the job hunter might be on the hook for fees.

• Executive or Career Counseling Services help job hunters evaluate their career path and provide guidance on resume writing, interview techniques and presentation. Career counselors may even help job seekers identify businesses at which to apply. Counseling services typical charge individuals as much as several thousand dollars for this service and typically don’t guarantee job placement.

BBB offers the following advice for job hunters when enlisting the help of an agency or counselor to find a new job:

• Always check out a job placement or career counseling organization with BBB first. Job hunters can visit www.bbb.org to view reliability reports that show not only how many complaints a company has received, but also if they work to resolve disputes with clients.

• In some cases, state laws apply to job placement companies or career counselors so job seekers should make sure they’ve enlisted the help of a company that meets all licensing requirements. BBB also recommends visiting the National Board for Certified Counselors online at, www.nbcc.org, to search for certified professionals.

• Job hunters should carefully review any contracts for counseling or placement services, making sure all oral promises are included, even if that means taking the contract home and having a trusted friend or relative also review the document.

• Job seekers should be wary of paying upfront fees to a placement agency and be extremely cautious when giving out credit card or bank account information.

For additional BBB advice on finding a job, including tips and techniques for writing a resume and performing well in job interviews, go to www.bbb.org.

Before that weather disaster hits- Be Prepared Financially

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, says that when it comes to preparing for situations like weather emergencies, financial readiness is as important as a flashlight with fully charged batteries.


Leaving your home can be stressful, but knowing that your financial documents are up-to-date, in one place, and portable can make a big difference at a tense time. Here are some tips from the FTC for financial readiness in case of an emergency:

• Conduct a household inventory. Make a list of your possessions and document it with photos or a video. This could help if you are filing insurance claims. Keep one copy of your inventory in your home on a shelf in a lockable, fireproof file box; keep another in a safe deposit box or another secure location.
• Buy a lockable, fireproof file box. Place important documents in the box; keep the box in a secure, accessible location on a shelf in your home so that you can “grab it and go” if the need arises. Among the contents:
  • your household inventory
  • a list of emergency contacts, including family members who live outside your area
  • copies of current prescriptions
  • health insurance cards or information
  • policy numbers for auto, flood, renter’s, or homeowner’s insurance, and a list of telephone numbers of your insurance companies
  • copies of other important financial and family records — or notes about where they are — including deeds, titles, wills, birth and marriage certificates, passports, and relevant employee benefit and retirement documents. Except for wills, keep originals in a safe deposit box or some other location. If you have a will, ask your attorney to keep the
    original document.
  • a list of phone numbers or email addresses of your creditors, financial institutions, landlords, and utility companies (sewer, water, gas, electric, telephone, cable)
  • a list of bank, loan, credit card, mortgage, lease, debit and ATM, and investment account numbers
  • Social Security cards
  • backups of financial data you keep on your computer
  • an extra set of keys for your house and car
  • the key to your safe deposit box
  • a small amount of cash or traveler’s checks. ATMs or financial institutions may be closed.
• Consider renting a safe deposit box for storage of important documents. Original documents to store in a safe deposit box might include:
  • deeds, titles, and other ownership records for your home, autos, RVs, or boats
  • credit, lease, and other financial and payment agreements
  • birth certificates, naturalization papers, and Social Security cards
  • marriage license/divorce papers and child custody papers
  • passports and military papers (if you need these regularly, you could place the originals in your fireproof box and a copy in your safe deposit box)
  • appraisals of expensive jewelry and heirlooms
  • certificates for stocks, bonds, and other investments and retirement accounts
  • trust agreements
  • living wills, powers of attorney, and health care powers of attorney
  • insurance policies
  • home improvement records
  • household inventory documentation
  • a copy of your will
• Choose an out-of-town contact. Ask an out-of-town friend or relative to be the point of contact for your family, and make sure everyone in your family has the information. After some emergencies, it can be easier to make a long distance call than a local one.
• Update all your information. Review the contents of your household inventory, your fireproof box, safe deposit box, and the information for your out-of-town contact at least once a year.

This is one of various helpful tips from the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, in “Financial Readiness: As Important as Fully Charged Batteries.” To learn more, go to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt170.shtm. For more tips on financial management during hurricane season, check out the FTC’s Web page on hurricane recovery: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/recovery/hurricane/index.html. Both of these FTC resources have links to other government agencies for general tips on hurricane planning.

Resources

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community and Family Preparedness Program
• American Red Cross Community Disaster Education
• The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (see also www.ready.gov/america/natural_disasters.html)
• Your insurance company

the FTC

Do you need Flood Insurance?

Do you need flood insurance?
That's a hard call. But, if you live in an area that can have large rainfalls and you own a basement which houses nice things, you may want to consider it.

If you buy a house in a designated high-risk flood zone and receive a mortgage loan from a federally regulated or insured lender, your lender is legally bound to require you to get and maintain flood insurance.

When flood insurance is not required
If you have a home of business in a low-or-moderate risk flood zone, flood insurance is not required. However, flood insurance is still available and you may be eligible for a low-cost Preferred Risk Policy.

Keep in mind that a typical homeowners insurance policy won't cover everything. You may need separate flood insurance, which ranges in cost from several hundred to several thousand dollars a year, depending on coverage and risk levels.

Everyone in the US lives in some type of flood zone. These are geographic areas that FEMA defines, based on studies of flood risk. Check out the FEMA website for more information.
The FEMA website can help you determine your flood risk and flood risks according to seasons.


As far as purchasing flood insurance, keep in mind that it is kind of like earthquake insurance, in that both are a form of “single peril” insurance, sold separately from homeowners insurance. Flood insurance protects against losses to buildings and their contents, not the land surrounding them. The coverage applies whether the flooding results from heavy or prolonged rains, coastal storm surge, snow melt, blocked storm drainage systems, levee dam failure, or other causes. To be considered a flood, the waters must cover at least two acres or affect at least two properties.

Flood insurance is available both within and outside of floodplains. Different types of policies are available depending on your flood risk.

If you live in a high-risk area, you will need a Standard Policy. Most mortgage lenders will require that you have such a policy before they will approve your loan.

Outside of high-risk areas, flood insurance is also available, usually at lower cost. While you aren’t federally required to have flood insurance in a low-to-moderate risk area, that does not mean you won’t ever need it. Large floods often extend beyond the boundaries of high-risk areas and smaller floods occur outside high-risk areas as well. In fact, a quarter of all flood insurance claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas.

Flood insurance is sold and serviced by private insurers, and backed by the federal government. More than 85 companies sell flood insurance. Flood insurance covers both homes and businesses. Different types of policies are available based on your property’s location and flood history.

Standard Flood Insurance Policies - If you live in a community that participates in the NFIP, your building and its contents can be covered. You must apply for building coverage and contents coverage separately.

Preferred Risk Policies - If your home or business is in a low or moderate risk zone, your building may qualify for a low-cost Preferred Risk Policy. Premiums for both building and contents start at just under $119.

Things to consider about flood insurance;

* Does my community participate in the National Flood Insurance Program?
* Can you confirm which flood zone I live in?
* Does my community participate in the NFIP Community Rating System (CRS)?
* If so, does my community's CRS rating mean that I qualify for a CRS rating discount?
* What exactly will be covered in case of flood damage? What won’t be covered?
* How will my premium costs be affected by choosing coverage for building only, contents only or building and contents?
* How will my premium costs be affected if I choose a higher deductible?
* What is the policy fee?
* Are there additional expenses or fees I should be aware of?
* What is covered by Replacement Cost and what is covered by Actual Cash Value only?


* If your lender requires flood insurance in connection with the making, increasing, extending or renewing of your loan.
* If an additional amount of insurance is required as a result of a map revision.
* If flood insurance is required as a result of a lender determining that a loan, which does not have flood insurance coverage, should be protected by flood insurance. The coverage will be effective upon the completion of an application and the presentment of payment of premium.
* If an additional amount of insurance is being obtained in connection with the renewal of a policy.

NFIP
FEMA

Auctions on eBay: A Dying Breed

Businessweek has published an article "Auctions on eBay: A Dying Breed"

The thought that the former internet auction powerhouse may have to tweak it's approach is intriguing. Apparently, eBay buyers are short attention spanned when it comes to the longevity of enjoyment of the thrill of the hunt. That is, once you've outbid the competition and received the high, bid winners are ready to move on to their next purchase high.

Currently, EBay's "Buy It Now" business, where shoppers can purchase items at a set price even when the merchandise is also listed in an auction, makes up 42% of all goods sold on eBay. It's growing at an annual 22% pace, the fastest among eBay's shopping businesses.

Ebay has a new CEO who is spearheading changes to make eBay more friendly to users who favor one-click shopping. The former CEO Meg Whitman ended was successful with the ad campaign that championed auctions, urging consumers to "Shop Victoriously . In May, eBay announced a partnership with Buy.com to sell a large swath of the retailer's inventory for set prices.



But as eBay has recently appeared to be focusing with the plight of buyers, sellers have been outraged by changes in pricing structures.EBay sellers organized a weeklong sales boycott in protesting the changes . EBay's site has nearly 90 million active users. Other auction sites such as Ubid.com (ubhi.ob.OB) have far fewer visitors. Ten-year-old Ubid had 181,000 active bidders in the first quarter, according to its quarterly report.

Social Security benefits

Social Security benefits are based on earnings averaged over most of a worker's lifetime. Your actual earnings are first adjusted or "indexed" to account for changes in average wages since the year the earnings were received. Then they calculate your average monthly indexed earnings during the 35 years in which you earned the most. They apply a formula to these earnings and arrive at your basic benefit, or "primary insurance amount" (PIA). This is the amount you would receive at your full retirement age, for most people, age 65. However, beginning with people born in 1938 or later, that age will gradually increase until it reaches 67 for people born after 1959. For more information, see The Full Retirement Age is Increasing.

There are several ways you can determine an estimate of your retirement benefits:

1. Request a Social Security Statement. Make your request over the Internet and we will mail you a detailed report of your lifetime earnings and an estimate of retirement, disability and dependent benefits.
2. Compute your own benefit estimate using a program that you can download for your PC. A version for the Mac is available.
3. Use our online calculator.
4. See examples of how benefits are computed at Benefit Calculation Examples.
5. See the Social Security publication, Your Retirement Benefit: How It Is Figured.

The maximum benefit depends on the age at which a worker chooses to retire. The amount for 2008 for a person retiring at full retirement age (65 years and 10 months) is $2,185. This is based on earnings at the maximum taxable amount for every year after age 21. You can see the maximum amount of taxable earnings for each year at Contribution and Benefit Base.

Some people who get Social Security will have to pay taxes on their benefits. Less than one-third of our current beneficiaries pay taxes on their benefits.

You will have to pay federal taxes on your benefits if you file a federal tax return as an "individual" and your total income is more than $25,000. If you file a joint return, you will have to pay taxes if you and your spouse have a total income that is more than $32,000.

For more information, call the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) toll-free at 1-800-829-3676 and ask for IRS Publication Number 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the IRS toll-free number, 1-800-829-4059.

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