Ideas to save you Money!!!

529 Plans:  Saving for your child's education.

Invest for your child's college education in any of the 40 states that offer a 529 savings plan. These tax-advantage savings permit monthly deposits, or a lump sum deposit of up to $50K.
If your child doesn't use the funds once it's time for him/her to go to college, the funds can be transferred to another family student.

Read more about these savings plans at:
Saving for College at www.savingforcollege.com
College Savings Plans Network at www.collegesavings.org

Summer Camp:  Before you send the kids away.

Sending your kids to camp is a big decision. You'll be sending your child to a place where others will care and keep them safe for 24 hours a day. Some parents choose the same camp they attended based on their memories and experience.

How do you choose?
- Ask the ratio of counselors to kids
- Ask the experience and ages of counselors
- Consider only certified camps with the American
Camping Association at www.acacamps.org
- Follow-up and check references

Car repairs:  Before you turn over 'Bessy' for repairs.

Don't chase "deals" on car repairs. Don't be fooled by coupon offers that entice with low prices or special offers. Many times you'll hear that your car has another problem other than what you brought it in for.
Protect your wallet with these tips:
- Speak with the individual who will actually perform the repairs
- Complete the service ticket together and state on the ticket only the symptoms of the car such as skipping, vibrating, etc.
- Never allow the mechanic to fill in what repairs will be done on the service ticket
- If you want only a price estimate on repairs state it clearly on the service ticket
- If the shop offers no-charge estimates be sure that your service ticket reflects that fact
- If you authorize repairs state the maximum dollar amount on the service ticket
- Indicate other details such as "call me before starting repairs", or "call me before any other repairs are started"

Mortgage payments:  Your home your money.

Don't let your bank rip you on a plan that takes your money to do something that you can do for free. You may receive a flyer that entices you to reduce the number of years remaining on your mortgage and the amount of the loan on plans that can cost you close to $400. This plan is usually funneled through a third party company that collects one-half of a monthly mortgage payment every two weeks. This company actually keeps that extra money for a year (and earns interest on your money) and pays your bank one extra monthly payment.

You can do this yourself free! Here's how:
- Divide your monthly payment by 12
- Add this amount to your monthly mortgage payment each and every month
- Specify with a note in your payment that this extra money be applied to the principal

Legal help:  You can help yourself.

Many of us are confused about our rights and daunted by idea of
taking legal action when we've been wronged. To help you understand
what you are permitted to do and how you go about doing it, we've ranked several legal Web sites based on the simplicity of the language and the usefulness of the site itself:

- www.USLaw.com offers a lawyer chat service
- www.NoLo.com also ranked high, offering an online library and simplistic terms

Other helpful and informative sites:
- www.LawGuru.com
- www.FreeAdvice.com
- www.FindLaw.com

Junk Mail Help:  Slow the tide.

You can't stop all of the junk that comes to your mailbox, but you can greatly reduce it by writing a simple one page letter to this address:

Direct Marketing Association
Phone Preference Service
P. O. Box 9014
Farmingdale NY 11735

Additionally, phone 1-888-5-OPT-OUT to stop mailed credit card solicitations.

Include this important message in your note: Please remove me from any and all available mailing lists as soon as possible.  Addresses are updated quarterly, so don't expect an instant result.

I.D. Theft: What should you do if this happens to you?

Visit Privacy Rights at www.privacyrights.org  or Identity Theft at www.identitytheft.org for more on important steps to take if you are ever a victim. 

Also, report the theft to the FTC at 1-877-ID-THEFT. Or, visit the FTC consumer web site at www.ftc.gov.

The Social Security office also wants you to report I.D. theft at 1-800-269-0271.

Moving: Don't get left holding the bag

Moving companies bidding on your move within a state, or from state-to-state will provide you an impressive estimate form with a price to move your goods.  Unless that form states a "binding" estimate, a moving company can charge you any price under the blue sky before delivering your stuff to the new place. 

Tips on Moving:
- Be certain that your estimate/quote is a binding estimate.  The word binding must appear in writing. This price 'binds' both parties to a set price. 

- Moving companies provide insurance at a rate of only .60 cents per pound.  This rate has not been increased in 70 years!  You need to further insure your goods with replacement value insurance.  This type of insurance will replace broken, damaged or lost items, regardless of age, with an item of equal quality. 

A good explanation of an estimated vs. a binding quote can be found with iMove.com at www.imove.com.  iMove.com currently provides quotes for rental trucks for self-movers.

Car Donations:  don't get stuck in neutral

Don't give that old, or unwanted car to just any organization.  Three of the top organizations for auto donations are: 

- The Salvation Army
- Goodwill Industries
- The National Kidney Foundation

Before you make your donation, visit Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds and enter accurate information about your auto such as condition, year, mileage and more. The systems will return a fair market value. Make a hard copy and keep with your tax return as proof to the IRS of your donation. 

Visit:  www.kbb.com  or www.edmunds.com

Home Security Systems:  Protect your home from theft, smoke and fire: