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Akron Law Café:Public Lecture: Israeli Law Expert to Speak at School of Law
Car Chase:
What were they thinking? AMC Pacer
The Heldenfiles:
Good Night, Rubber Bowl
Patrick McManamon:
On Manny, Hafner, Flacco and the Indians
Browns Bulletin:
Live blogging Monday night
Cleveland Browns:
Cleveland Browns: From the Coach
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Game Blog: Cavs v. Celtics in Providence
Cleveland Indians:
Boston tops Tribe 6-1
Akron Zips:
Zips surrender big lead to Bowling Green
Varsity Letters:
Week 8 scoreboard
Kent State Sports:
Ohio 26, Kent State 19
The Sports Mix:
OSU Buckeyes - Changes to offense
Ohio Politics:
Pathetic Mailer in the 42nd House District
See Jane Style:
Street Style Muses
All Da King's Men:
Hey Dems, Are These Racial Code Words Too ?
Blog of Mass Destruction:
George W. Palin
HRLite House:
Informed Consent
Akron Gamer:
Lego Batman fun for all ages
BokBluster:
Speaking at Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library Saturday 1:00pm
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Where is the covered bridge festival?
Sound Check:
Black Keys join Devo's "Duty Now for the Future" Concert bill
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Haunted House #2: Barberton has more than Chicken!
Betty Lin-Fisher
Credit card management tipsHere are some tips to protect your credit limit: • Keep your balances at less than 30 percent of your limit.
Credit crisis could affect your cards
Watch out for decreased limits, higher APRs as lenders cut risk
As the availability of credit tightens nationally, the next hit could be the limit on your credit card. That's especially possible if you tend to carry a high balance that's close to the credit limit, pay only the minimum on your balances, make late payments or have a low-to-moderate credit rating, said consumer experts.
MORE ON NATURAL GAS
On the natural gas rate watch, one marketer has come down significantly enough on its price that it's worth noting.
Deadline approaching for seniors, veterans on tax returns
Tax returns are due by Oct. 15 for rebates
If you're a senior citizen or disabled veteran — or know someone who qualified for this year's economic stimulus payment but hasn't filed a tax return to get it — the final deadline is approaching.
Natural gas price comparison update
Here are a few points to clear some confusion about natural gas prices. If you missed my yearly comparison of natural gas prices, it was published in the Beacon Journal on Sept. 21 in a special Home Energy Section.
Living on a budget
Parental advice to single mom validated in session with money coach
Melissa Bamler was tired of living paycheck to paycheck. She was also sick of her finances going amok when unexpected things happened — like the two times in the last two years she's been hit by an uninsured motorist and had to scramble for her $500 deductible.
MONEY COACH CARLA DAVIS' COMMENTS:
On Melissa Bamler's financial support from her parents: ''She couldn't do it without her parents. It's allowed her to move to a better neighborhood for her and her son. She's not a typical single parent because she's got this great financial support from her family. Not everyone has that.''
Betty's pick chart of natural gas suppliers
Dominion's delivery charges could increase
PUCO must approve any price hikes. Costs account for fifth of bill
There's been a lot of attention — and ensuing consumer confusion — about proposed increases for Dominion's delivery rates.
Hike in natural gas prices not as bad as predicted
Summer spike over, but rates probably higher than what you paid to heat home last winter
We all know about extreme volatility in the energy markets just by watching the daily — and sometimes hourly — price swings at the gas pump.
Sept. 21: Norton couple on right path for retirement, with a few adjustments
Norton couple on right path for retirement, with a few adjustments
When schoolchildren and teachers returned to the classroom this fall, Janet Ehrich didn't go for the first time in 42 years.
Tips for choosing natural gas supplier
Check prices. Company officials confirmed all of these prices as of Friday, but rates change often, so you'll have to double-check.
Money coach Cheryl Hall's comments
''She has all of her 'i's' dotted and 't's' crossed. I really do think they are going to be OK if they follow everything that they even said they want to do. Their figures are there.
MONEY COACH CARLA DAVIS' COMMENTS:
On Tom and Sarah Sanderson's large student debt: ''Everybody that goes to school is usually going to have student loan debt. They're on the right path. At least they're trying to pay extra, they're trying to start now by coming in here to start tracking their expenses and getting on a budget.''
Join the savings group by taking the pledge
The Akron Beacon Journal is asking readers to make a pledge for their financial security. You can pledge to save a certain amount toward a savings account or to reduce your debt. Pledge online at http://www.ohio.com/pledge. On the Web site, you can also read all of the stories that have been published in the ''Reclaim the Dream'' series by consumer columnist Betty Lin-Fisher.
Money coach Carla Davis' comments
On Michael and MaryBeth Andrews' problem being ''cash-poor'' and relying on credit for a temporary loan and paying it off within the month:
Take the 'Reclaim the Dream' pledge
The Akron Beacon Journal is inviting readers to make a pledge for their financial security. You can pledge to save a certain amount of income toward a savings account or to reduce debt. Pledge online at http://www.ohio.com/pledge.
Money coach Cheryl Hall's comments
(Laurel Kunkel) needs to start tracking her spending. She needs to be at least knowledgeable of what she's spending on things. She had a basic idea and she was still in pretty good shape.
Aug. 24: Savings tips from readers
Some reader tips on ways to save:
Do it yourself: Homemade laundry detergent
DO IT YOURSELF There are many recipes that can be found on the Internet for ''homemade laundry soap.'' Here's the recipe that Jennifer Walker uses that she picked up on a home-schooling forum.
Aug. 24: Akron couple pours energy into savings
Wife makes own detergent; husband bikes to work
A few years ago, Jennifer and Steve Walker's frugal and cost-cutting ways were considered ''weird'' by their friends. But now, with high prices for food and gas, their frugal ways are ''in.''
Aug. 17: Advice to help consumers avoid, manage their credit-card debt
Be vigilant when using cards for withdrawals
Here is some consumer advice from Mary Hurlburt, director of community outreach for the Consumer Credit Counseling Service in Cincinnati.
Credit firm pays back one client
More complaints filed against Akron agency
At least one consumer whose payments to creditors were not made by a consumer credit agency that was raided by police in late December has received a check from the agency.
Natural gas suppliers: Betty's picks (PDF file from Sept. 23)
Natural gas plans change again (Sept. 23)
Falling prices might mean consumers should reconsider options to save winter costs
In this volatile world of natural gas price ups and downs, a week can make a difference. Just last week, I wrote about how many municipalities and area governments that had created aggregations, or buying groups to negotiate natural gas prices in bulk for residents, were locking in decent prices below the cheapest one-year fixed rates available to shoppers in the Dominion East Ohio territory.
Aggregation saves aggravation, but what about cash?
Local programs make it easy to get natural gas contract, but in some years price is high
Local government natural gas aggregation groups, or buying groups, have had mixed success in recent years. Some years, they've had competitive prices compared with public rates that you and I have been able to shop for on our own.
Natural gas usage up; rates down
February's cold triggers jump in bills, but costs over winter a bit lower
Choose natural gas rate that works for you (Aug. 19)
Market offers something for everyone; customers just need to determine their tolerance for risk
I apologize if I sound a bit like a broken record, but your decision about natural gas rates will again have to do with your tolerance for risk.
Tips on natural gas supply contracts (Aug. 19)
Here are some tips on natural gas supply contracts: Check prices. Company officials confirmed all of these prices as of Friday, but rates change often, so you'll have to double-check. Also, you can check pricing year round through two state agencies that both put together charts of current offers. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, at http://www.puco.ohio.gov or 800-686-7826, updates its chart every Thursday, and the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, at http://www.pickocc.org or 877-742-5622, updates its chart every Monday. Prices published today will probably be slightly different from those charts since I had prices as of Friday.
Natural gas price follow-up (Aug. 26)
Many communities negotiate good rate
A few follow-up items from last week's column where I analyzed natural gas offers (if you missed it, you can find it and my previous columns at www.ohio.com/business/lin-fisher):
Cold weather could affect gas budget
If your most recent natural gas bill or recalculated budget amount from Dominion East Ohio seems a bit high -- read on.
How to read a dial meter and consumer gas links