And I saw an interesting commercial for a website called Credit Karma.

I couldn’t find a link to the commercial anywhere online but here’s their official Youtube Channel – they may upload it in the near future.

It was clearly a dig at services like FreeCreditReport.com as you can get a free report from them but then the onus is on you to cancel or you get automatically enrolled in their credit monitoring services (whatever the heck they’re called) and they just ding your credit card or bank account every month until you do take the time to cancel.

Credit Karma promised they weren’t going to do that which I knew would interest you if it turned out to be legit.

So I decided to do some poking around to figure out what the heck they were up to.

Is it really free?

As it turns out – yes.  They will provide you with a free credit score from TransUnion.  Yes, it only comes from one of the three major credit reporting bureaus and scores can vary up between each bureau but it is good free resource.

I learned first hand how much credit scores can vary a few years ago.  I was looking to get a loan for a new motorcycle (not a good thing to borrow money for, but this was before I became money savvy) and wasn’t approved at the dealership.  They sent me to the credit union and the credit union not only approved me, but I got their best rate as they only checked credit scores from one bureau and that happened to be the one bureau that rated me as having a high credit score.

So having just one credit score isn’t perfect, but it’s a lot better than nothing – If you’re looking to get two out of the three, the website Quizzle is a completely free resource for getting your Experian credit score.

I’m not aware  of any completely free service that will give your your Equifax credit score, but keep in mind that you can get your credit report from them directly for free once a year to make sure there aren’t any negative remarks.  If your information is accurate, then your credit score with Equifax will be similar to Experian and TransUnion – the key is to make sure that nothing is amiss.

How Does Credit Karma Earn Money?

Since we all know they’re probably not giving your credit scores for free out of the goodness of their heart (though by having “karma” in their name, they do sort of imply that), you’re probably wondering how they earn money?

My first though is that they sell your information to third parties… as it turns out that’s not the case – Credit Karma guarantees they won’t share your information with anyone else without your explicit permission.

They earn their money through advertising (like Google and Mint).

They also have user reviews of credit cards.  Unlike CreditCards.com and similar sites they don’t actually do their own reviews, they merely syndicate reviews from card holders more like Amazon does with their products.  Amazon provides the details of the products and lets customers do the actual reviewing.  It did look like they do earn revenue from some of the credit cards featured on the website.

Their earnings disclosure simply says “This site may be compensated through third part advertisers.”

So there you have it, a completely free alternative for getting your credit score for free without having to take some kind of free trial that you’ll just have to cancel later.

Save yourself the hassle and just use Credit Karma and Quizzle.

I remember when I got the letter in the mail from Alltel saying that Verizon had purchased them and how I was going to be a Verizon customer that I was seriously bummed.

Let me be blunt:  Verizon has a history of being giant douchebags to their customers.

The only problem is that their competition tends to be dicks too.

In 2009, I changed my tune after they released the Motorola Droid (the first Android powered smartphone that didn’t suck).  They didn’t unnecessarily cripple or lock the phone down and it came with an unlimited data plan.

That was sweet.

But in 2011, Verizon went back to their roots – doing their best to nickle and dime their best customers (assholes!).

They finally started carrying the iPhone and decided they didn’t have to focus on doing right by the customer any longer and went back to their short sighted plan of doing their best to gouge the customer any place they could.

Last year, they canceled their unlimited data plans, announced they were going to throttle 4G speeds for heavy users, and just last week planned on implementing a $2 “convenience fee” for allowing you the privilege of paying your Verizon bill.

So today, I’m showing you how to fight back and get one of those unlimited data plans that aren’t supposed to exist any longer.  I can’t promise this will work forever, but right now it seems to be working.

Here are the details from Slickdeals via CultofMac via Gizmodo:

1. Dial *611 from your Verizon phone, or 1-800-922-0204 from any phone.
2. Wait for computer CSR to go through the main menu. You will need your Verizon phone # and account PIN or last 4 of SSN.
3. Hit option 4.
4. When it asks you what you would like to do today say “Add a feature.”
5. If you have a 3G device (which includes all iPhones): Say you would like to add the $20 2GB 3G Mobile Hotspot FEATURE to your phone. If you have a 4G device: Say you would like to add the $30 Unlimited 4G Mobile Hotspot FEATURE to your phone. According to http://stopthecap.com/2011/07/12/…r-account/, they may be able to locate this feature via referencing feature code #76153.
6. Your data plan will now be the $29.99 unlimited data plan, and you’ll have either the 2GB or unlimited Mobile Hotspot feature on top of that.
7. {OPTIONAL – if you don’t want the Mobile Hotspot feature} Log into My Verizon and remove the Mobile Hotspot FEATURE from your account. Many people recommend waiting a few days (at a minimum) to remove the feature. The $29.99 unlimited data plan should remain on your account.
8. If they say they can’t add that feature to your plan, or that you must bundle your data + mobile hotspot service together as a single data plan, tell them thank you, hang up, and repeat the steps above.

Good luck and long live the unlimited data plan!

There are a lot of stores that aren’t good places just to stop by and shop whenever you feel like it. However they’re fantastic places to visit when they have sales going on.

For example, I’m a huge fan of the clothes I get from Express. I love them. The problem is that their clothes are prohibitively expensive and tend to put my clothes budget so far out of whack that I normally don’t shop there… except if there’s a sale.

There are plenty of other stores that are the same way and this category is the one we’ll use to talk about those deals.

We’re not trying to compete with the Groupons and Living Socials of the world… just provide links to existing deals that will help you save money.

As always, remember that if you buy something you’ll never use or don’t need, then no matter how good of a deal you got, you didn’t save money, you spent it.

I highly recommend reading The Smart Way To Use Coupons To Save Money post I wrote last year before taking advantage of any of these special offers as it’s my personal mission to help you actually save money, not spend it (even though spending is often more fun).

Considering college and even programs offering an MBA online can introduce more anxiety if you’re already worried about your budget to begin with, it’s worth picking up a few tips that can ease your spending.  Take a deep breath (it’ll help relax you) and let’s get started…

Look Sharp without Spending a Bundle

Cutting back on a clothing budget seems counter-intuitive if you’re focused on looking good in class. But it’s not difficult to look great while spending a fraction of the money. Used clothing stores have grown in popularity, and a quick Google search is sure to result in more than one within a short drive from where you live. Buying used clothing doesn’t mean you have to look like a vagabond either. Many of these stores have a sort of boutique air about them and name brand clothing can be purchased cheaper than you’d think. It’s not uncommon to find gently used but normally expensive brands for 10% of the original price.

Spend Less Eating Out

It’s easy to lose track of how much money you’re spending on food if you’re not using a budget. Fast food may not seem expensive, but if you’re buying food every day it can add up fast. Five dollars a day may not seem like much, but that’s one hundred and forty dollars a month just on fast food. That’s money you could put toward the cost of textbooks and tuition. All the things you can buy with your own money instead of using college loan money will help immensely when it’s time to start paying back those loans later.

Healthy and Cheap Eating Alternatives

Saving money by making smart food decisions isn’t difficult. And you can avoid the college cliché of the ramen noodle diet. Making a grocery shopping trip part of a weekly ritual just requires a little initial willpower to establish a new routine. And it doesn’t have to take extra time either. Make a trip to the grocery after you’ve started a load of laundry. You’ll be back before your clothes are ready for the dryer. And when you’re in the grocery store, stick to the outer aisles where the vegetables, fruit, dairy, meats and fresh-baked breads are.

Avoid the inner aisles where all the high calorie processed food is. An exception to the inner aisle rule: pasta sauce, rice and beans. And a great way to eat the delicious food you buy doesn’t have to involve a lot of time either. Putting beans, a cut of lean meat, rice, water and herbs into an electric slow cooker for twelve hours will result in a delicious meal that you can eat with tortillas or just by itself. And the best part? You’ll have enough to last for a week and it required virtually no effort to prepare.

Spend Less on Entertainment

Just like fast food, spending money on entertainment can add up quickly. There are a lot of creative ways to still enjoy entertainment while spending less. Movies have become costly. When you add the price of tickets to popcorn and other theater treats, an average movie can move from a blockbuster to a budget killer in a hurry.

If you love movies but would like to cut out a lot of the expense, consider Netflix. For eight dollars a month, you can watch all the movies you like. If you typically go to the movies every weekend with a significant other, you may be spending forty dollars just for one movie. Netflix could save you a bundle. Remember, just because you’re in college doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice all the activities you love. Just be creative in cutting your spending while still keeping your enjoyment intact.

About the author: Lindsey is a professional writer living in the Indianapolis area. She writes extensively on college life and finances. Lindsey is currently finishing work on her master’s degree.

It is really quite easy to set up quick cash loans, so the best advantage of this type of loan lies in its name. Numerous loan companies will process your requests and approve loans instantly, thus it is easier for you to have the funds in your bank account almost within a day or so. You have all the reasons to believe that quick cash loans are the easiest means of solving your financial problems in the event you need urgent cash funds.

The requirements for approval are quite straightforward and this is one of the key advantages. Although the criteria may vary from one lender to another it is indeed easy to achieve pay day advance. All you need to have are a valid bank account and a job. A majority of these credit companies don’t run a credit check, and your credit score s not of that much concern as with various other forms of credit. These qualities make quick cash loans so much attractive to people who have a poor credit score, and needs to struggle elsewhere for achieving credit.

There is one particular disadvantage associated with quick cash loans – these loans are indeed more expensive than other types of credit. The interest rate charges a horrible figure through a 20% flat fees added to the loan principal, and the repayment period also seems quite short for this type of loans. A hefty cost is being charged by these quick cash advances though it’s tough to get a perfect notion when they offer rates worth 1000% or more. Remember that it may not always be easier for you to repay such high fees within a short span of time, and it may indeed get you deeper within a financial problem. All you need to do is to weigh it upon your own conscience.

You must know if it’s best in your interest to opt for quick cash. Its worth paying for the high interest charges associated with all expensive quick cash loans in case you find it tough to avail an alternative fund source, bear a poor credit score or need cash all of a sudden. Go through the terms and conditions, and clarify all your doubts before you enroll for a quick cash loan.

Food – the truth is, despite what their marketing teams spend countless hours trying to get us to believe, supermarkets are not trying to save us money and help us cut back on our food bills. Rather, supermarkets rule the roost when it comes to formulating new ways to trick us into thinking we’re getting a bargain, and spending more money than we planned to.

As with many things in life, spending more money on food does not always mean it’ll taste better, be produced more ethically or be better quality.

Many supermarket discounters were previously associated with attracting poor shoppers that couldn’t afford the ‘luxury’ of Tesco and its friends. However, as we’ve started tightening our monetary belts, a realization has occurred that these stores generally offer very good quality.
In addition, check the stores for a ‘reduced section’. Great deals can usually be found on perishables, making a salmon or steak dinner something that can fit within even the most stringent of budgets.

Beds – a high quality bed and mattress can be two of the most expensive goods you buy for the home. However, this doesn’t mean quality has to break the bank. As with food stores, there are many mattress discounters around that sell budget beds. The thing is, usually these beds are the same stock you’ll find elsewhere for twice the price; it’s just been resigned to a ‘budget beds’ store because it’s taking up space, slightly damaged or simply out of fashion.

Toiletries – open any magazine and you’ll be bombarded with adverts for the latest anti-aging cream or a shampoo that promises to give you your shiniest locks yet. However, these claims are usually no more than a clever marketing campaign and cheap brands usually contain similar or even identical ingredients.
For instance, ‘cleansing face wipes’ can set you back around $3 for a small pack. But did you know that baby wipes are essentially the same thing? Stick to the ‘store brand’ and you can get a large pack for under a dollar.

Vacations – good news, budget vacations are still available! And thanks to the power of the internet, we can now take an in-depth peek at hotels and check out the credentials of budget vacation firms before we take the plunge and book.
Tripadvisor is an unbeatable resource for finding reviews on hotels and asking questions about local areas. Use it properly and it can ensure you have a fantastic vacation for very little money.

Amy Fowler writes about frugal living and money saving tips for mattress discounters, The Original Factory Shop.

A good example is how finding great credit card deals can help you get out of debt. There’s a number of functions that a credit card offers that can help you to achieve this goal, which we’ll go into more detail about here.

Carry out a balance transfer

For many people, paying off what they owe isn’t the problem – it’s keeping up with the growing interest. Therefore, if you’ve got debt on a number of cards and are paying a hefty APR on them, consider moving to a card that offers a lengthy 0% period on balance transfers. Pay off the minimum amount in full at the end of the month and you’ll only be paying off what you owe, rather than any interest.

Work out your needs

The best credit card deal for one person might not be the best for another. So think about what it is you’re looking for. For example, if you know you spend a high proportion of your monthly budget in one store, consider taking out a credit card that offers cashback in this outlet. Or if you’re a frequent flyer, look into airmiles credit cards that allow you to claim free flights and hotel stays, saving you money on things you’d be spending on anyway. In this instance, the less you spend on your travel, the more of your money you can devote to paying off your debt. It could even be the case that the rewards on some cards lead to you spending less on days out or those little treats you allow yourself from time to time.

Find a lengthy 0% deal on purchases

When you’re in debt, it can be easy to end up a spiral that sends you further and further in the red. You may want to spend as much of your money as possible on getting back in the black, but you still need to spend on the essentials. So look at whether a card with an introductory 0% offer on purchases could give you a little breathing space and allow you to spread the cost of your purchases. 

A debt free couple is often a happy couple.

Financial issues can be a real cause for divorce in the U.S. as 20% of the separation cases take place within the first five years of marriage. Therefore, these newly wed couples need to regain control over their financial situation in order to protect their marriages. If you have incurred insurmountable amount of debt then it is advisable to enroll in a debt consolidation program to eliminate your debt.

Here are a few effective ways to manage your financial stress and guide you avoid your financial blues:

1. You should remember that splitting your debt will not solve your problem therefore you should jointly work on paying off your debt. Most cases the partner who has less debt forces his/her spouse to divide the debt in order to avoid blemishing his/her credit report.

In this situation, you should support your spouse and formulate a repayment plan so that you can jointly put money towards paying off your debt. Allot a specific amount of money each month that you can use for paying off your obligations. You can curb your expenses and postpone your honeymoon until you eliminate your debt.

2. You should analyze your financial situation and formulate a stringent budget plan so that you can tackle your financial situation effectively. You can track your monthly expenses and if your expenses exceed your income then you need to redesign your budget according to your current financial state. You should curb your extravagant lifestyle and use the extra fund to pay off your debts.

3. You should open an emergency account and deposit a specific amount from your income in your savings account. You can increase the source of your income and this extra fund can be saved to manage your financial emergencies in future. You can give a room of your apartment on rent or work as a freelancer on weekends as it will help to boost your emergency fund.

4. You can consult a financial expert who can help you manage your catastrophic financial situation. He will analyze your financial situation and suggest some suitable debt relief solution.

These are a few effective ways a couple can manage their problem without filing divorce. If you work jointly towards paying off your debts then it will help to strengthen your bond with your spouse.

Regina King is a financial writer and currently associated with Oak View Law Group. She has been consistently providing people with unique advice on investment,budgeting and debt settlement since 2007. You can reach me at: regina.king85(at)gmail(dot)com.

Looking For Netflix Alternatives? We've Compiled The Contenders Here

Discussion boards and blogs have been up in arms about the 59% price increase announced by Netflix earlier this week.

As you probably know, Netflix is splitting up their DVDs by mail business and online streaming plans and pricing each at $7.99 each.  You can still get DVDs by mail and unlimited streaming but there is no discount for having both – the cheapest plan that offers unlimited DVDs and unlimited streaming will run you $15.98.

So we thought we’d take a look at some of the Netflix alternatives available and I’ll discuss the pros and cons of each as well as the solution I settled on.

Blockbuster

A few years ago, Blockbuster released their own monthly subscription plan to compete with Netflix called Blockbuster Total Access.

Blockbuster may not have online streaming available, but they do have a few advantages Netflix can’t match.

First, a Blockbuster by Mail subscription not only includes movies and TV shows, but video games as well.

Second, Blockbusters gets new movies on the day they’re released while Netflix and Redbox must wait an additional 28 days before it becomes available in their catalog.

Third, Blockbuster allows you the ability for instant gratification by allowing you to go to the store to exchange a movie, TV show, or game for a new one up to 5 times each month.  While many Blockbuster stores have closed, most cities still have a few which means that if you get a hankering for The Notebook or the Rocky Horror Picture Show, you can drive to the store and get it as part of your membership – no mailing it back and waiting.

Cost: $11.99/month for unlimited rentals (movies, TV shows, video games) 1 disc at a time.  2 disc and 3 disc plans are priced at $16.99/month and $19.99/month, respectively, and you can get a free 2-week trial if you want to try it out.

Amazon Prime

For several years being an Amazon Prime member meant that you could get free 2-day shipping on most items that Amazon sells.  However, earlier this year Amazon added in unlimited movie and TV streaming similar to Netflix to sweeten the pot.

With Amazon, you’ll find excellent streaming quality and reliability and Amazon Video On Demand is already on many new HDTVs and Blu-Ray players.  However, Amazon Prime has a more limited streaming selection for their Prime members than Netflix though most new releases can be rented for 1.99-$3.99 each and streamed directly from Amazon.

If you do a lot of streaming, this would probably be the first option I’d take a look at but make sure you see if the movies and TV shows you want to stream are available before canceling your Netflix.

Cost: $79/yr (no monthly option – you pay for the entire year after the free trial) – You can also rent movies from Amazon Prime for $1.99 – $3.99 per movie.  Most new releases aren’t available for streaming via Amazon Prime.

Hulu Plus

While Hulu remains a completely free way to watch TV shows,  Hulu Plus is probably closer to being a true competitor to Netflix.  One advantage you get with Hulu Plus is the ability to watch this season’s TV shows and you can stream them in full HD if you like.

However, you still have to watch television commercials which for me was a deal breaker since I DVR everything just so I don’t have to watch commercials in the first place.

Cost: $7.99/month

Redbox

Switching to Redbox just might be the cheapest option out there is you can live without a few frills though you will get the advantage of instant gratification as there is probably a Redbox Kiosk in a store near you as there are over 25,000 in the U.S.

While Redbox offers movies, games, and even blu-ray discs, the fact that you’re dealing with a little box means a limited selection (about 500-1000 different titles), mostly limited to Blockbusters and new releases.  That means your eclectic tastes for movies like Stardust and Pulp Fiction aren’t going to be well served by Redbox.

However, you really can’t beat the price as long as your return the movies on time and if you can live with the limited selection, you’ll probably save money renting movies.

Cost: $1 for new releases with select movies costing $.50 for the first night.

iTunes

While I wouldn’t call it a true competitor to Netflix, iTunes does have a few nice perks worth mentioning here.  First of all, if you already use iTunes, have a Mac, iPhone, iPod, or Apple TV, iTunes movie rentals are extremely simple to use.

The one major advantage I think iTunes has is that you don’t have to stream it immediately.  iTunes will let you download the movie and give you a 30 day window to watch it.  Of course, once you start watching it, the standard 24 hour watching period applies, but if you live in an area that has a spotty broadband connection, this can give you pleasant, uninterrupted viewing or your movie.

iTunes has a large selection and like Blockbuster and Amazon, new releases are available on the day they’re released.

Cost: 99 cents to $4.99 per rental – iTunes doesn’t offer monthly subscriptions.

My Solution

I was rather ticked off when I read about Netflix jacking up the prices, but after I thought about it for a little while, I learned that I’ll actually be saving money with my solution.  I already have an Amazon Prime subscription (got it for the 2-day free shipping and the movie streaming was just a bonus) and while the movie and TV show streaming selection is more limited, I can live with Amazon’s online streaming as it’s high quality, reliable streaming and their selection is growing.   That means I’ll just switch to the $7.99 for unlimited DVDs by mail plan and save the $2/month since I’m already paying for Amazon Prime, regardless.

What will you be doing?  Sticking with Netflix?  Trying an alternative?  Canceling altogether?  Living in a van down by the river?

The beauty of these programs is that they’re all completely free meaning that they’re not just free trials or free scans – these are full programs and you don’t need to spend a dime on any of them.

Just watch the video below to learn which programs you’ll need and how to use them:

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvMqs278bo8

How This Video Will Help You Save Money:

1. You don’t need to spend any money buying of renewing licenses for software
2. You don’t need to take your computer into a computer repair shop or have someone come to your house to fix it which can easily costs hundreds of dollars
3. You don’t need to buy a new computer.   These tools will keep your computer running faster which means you don’t need to upgrade to newer technology as often.

URLs to the products mentioned in the video:

Free Anti-Spyware / Anti-Malware / Adware Removers

I use BOTH Super Anti-Spyware and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and run both of them weekly.  Super Antispyware will catch pretty much everything but I like having Malwarebytes run after the Super Antispyware scan just in case it misses something (even though it rarely does).

Reduce Startup Programs

You can always just click “start” “run” and then type in “msconfig” and then click the “startup” tab if you’re an advanced user and know what you’re doing to keep the programs that startup when you run your computer to only the essentials but if you’re not an advanced user, then go with the simple solution which will do the same thing – Soluto.

Free Disk Defrag

Keep in mind your computer already has a disk defragmenter built in but we prefer Auslogics Disk Defrag over the built in one on windows.

Free Anti-Virus

One thing I hate about most anti-virus programs is that they’re such resource hogs that they’ll noticeably slow down any computer that isn’t built on the latest and greatest technology.  Personally, I wouldn’t mind paying for anti-virus protection if the programs didn’t make my computer run like molasses in winter time.  Instead, I use Avast! Free Antivirus which really is completely free, it’s just as good at catching viruses as those expensive programs from Trend Micro, McAfee, and Norton, and it’s not a huge resource hog which.