smarter traveling, driving and spending
Coronavirus Update: The U.S. State Dept. has issued an updated travel warning for American citizens considering travel by cruise ship. Because of the Coronavirus, cruise ship companies have changed their cancellation policies and are being more generous with refunds. So have airlines and hotel companies. “U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not
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Coronavirus, political turmoil, blizzards and snowstorms that shut down airports in winter, hurricanes that shut down airports in summer and fall, computer outages, an injury or family emergency that prevents you from taking the trip you paid for. These are just some of the reasons to have travel insurance. There are many more. Travel insurance
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Scam Alert: Avoid a romance scam that will break your heart this Valentine’s Day, even steal your life savings. Scammers and fraudsters know that online dating websites see a surge in sign-ups between New Year’s Day and Valentine’s Day, and the bad guys are busy trolling for lonely men and women, especially seniors living alone.
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The new Three R’s are recycle, reuse and re-purpose. That includes the drawer full of pantyhose, knee-high hose and tights with runs or stretched-out elastic. Instead of throwing them out, save money by giving them a second life with more than a dozen different uses. Here are 16 ecoXplorer thrifty green living tips for new
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JetBlue has joined the fleet, with new basic no-frills fares, to compete better with low-cost carriers like Spirit Airlines and Southwest, and with the no-frills tickets major carriers including Delta already offer. JetBlue is calling its new bargain fares Blue Basic, and you basically get nothing but your seat and the airline’s free on-board entertainment
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Top scams targeting seniors include identify theft, sweepstakes, home repairs, romance and investments frauds. Seniors lose an estimated $2.9 billion each year to financial scams, according to a Congressional report released earlier in 2019. The vast majority of cases of elder exploitation involve family members, aides and other trusted people. But strangers also prey on
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For my money, certified pre-owned vehicles are the best deal in used cars and trucks. If I didn’t think so, I wouldn’t encourage anybody who asks, including my own friends and relatives, to seek out a CPO over an ordinary used car or truck. Yes, CPO vehicles cost more than a non-certified used vehicle. That’s
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A number of national restaurant chains and even home improvement businesses are offering discounts and freebies over the Memorial Day weekend. Some of the deals are only for military personnel or veterans, some are extended to Gold Star families and members of the National Guard, some are for the entire Memorial Day weekend. And, some
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Cancer patients and their caregivers can get free hotel rooms if they must travel far from home for treatment. The largest free hotel room program is the partnership between the hotel chain Extended Stay America and the American Cancer Society. Since the Keys of Hope program launched in 2013, the hotel chain has donated more
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Don’t assume that Black Friday deals offer the best prices on everything. What was once a one day bonanza of shopping deals the day after Thanksgiving has turned into a month-long frenzy of online and in-store discounts throughout November. So you can get great deals without fighting the crowds on Black Friday. Some prices drop
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