If your US Passport is expiring in 2017, renew it now to save time and money. Ditto if you are getting a new US Passport. The busy season for applications starts soon, and the longer you wait, the longer it will take to get your new travel document. That delay could prevent you from entering a country that requires a passport to be valid for six months after arrival, a visa, or both. Plan … [Read more...]
How to file your taxes for free
April 15th will be here before you know it. Here's how to file your 2016 taxes for FREE online, even get free help preparing the documents, and a couple of low-cost options if you don't qualify for the tax filing freebies. Note that some free services are not available to homeowners, taxpayers with itemized deductions, or those whose incomes or age are over a certain threshold level. Also, … [Read more...]
Scam alert: keep hackers out of your home
Now that your home is getting smarter, with internet-connected heating and cooling, webcams to check on the baby and babysitter, lock or unlock your door remotely, it's more important than ever to keep hackers out. These tips will help keep the digital version of breaking-and-entering from creating mayhem, even endangering the health and safety of you and your family. Or, you could be … [Read more...]
Fight sex trafficking with your camera
Travelers can fight sex trafficking during National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month (January) by taking a photo of your hotel or motel room and uploading it to a free anti-trafficking app. Photos uploaded with the TraffickCam app are added anonymously to a national database that's used by law enforcement and criminal investigators to locate victims and their pimps. The … [Read more...]
Where to sell unwanted gift cards
Money matters. Nearly half of us give or get gift cards for the holidays, birthdays and other anniversaries. If you don't like the store, restaurant or movie theater, you can sell that gift card for cash, and get anywhere from 65 to 95 cents on the dollar. Even losing up to 20 percent or more of the face value is better than leaving the gift card unused and forgotten in some "to do" pile and … [Read more...]
Scam alert: stop junk mail senders
Tired of junk mail stuffing up your mailbox? US households throw out around 40 pounds of junk mail a year. That’s millions of wasted trees, plus wasted energy to produce the paper, chemicals for the ink and U.S. Postal Service time and fuel costs to deliver junk mail, just so you can recycle it. Although federal laws require that ad mail addressed to you give you the option to opt out of … [Read more...]
Best and worst domestic airlines and websites
There's little to enjoy about airplane travel these days, thanks to long security lines, cramped seats, full flights, extra fees for everything from checked bags to priority boarding. Consumer Reports rates the best and worst airlines, the best and worst websites for getting airfare deals in a special report Not surprisingly, there are plenty of complaints from more than 20,000 Consumer Reports … [Read more...]
How to protect your home from burglars while you are away on vacation
Vacation bound? An empty home or apartment is an invitation to burglars. Protect your home from burglars while you are away on vacation, or just away for the weekend, to avoid being one of the two million plus annual household burglary victims. According to the FBI, more than 65 percent of burglaries are residential break-ins. The FBI notes that the summer months of July and August have the … [Read more...]
Top tips before you travel abroad
Here are some top tips from a road warrior (me) of what to do before you travel abroad, to save time, stress and money while you are on the road. It's good advice for a first-time traveler, and a refresher for veteran travelers. Medical and Health Check the State Dept. Traveler Alert health page. Get information on any vaccinations you might need for your destination, and be sure you … [Read more...]
Speed Through Airport Security Like a VIP
We've all been hearing about airport security lines as long as three hours, causing people to miss their flights. But you can zip through airport security like a VIP with a "known traveler" card that gets you onto the expedited TSA PreCheck line. If you fly more than twice a year, you are a fool not to carry this magical card, which costs $85 or $100 for five years, depending on which of two … [Read more...]
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