Author: Stacy Johnson CPA
21 Things You Should Never Pay For
Stacy Johnson CPA on October 5, 2012
While the best things in life are always free, so is lots of other stuff. If you want to find some extra money in your budget, stop paying for things you could get for nothing.
Name Our Latest Addition and Win a T-Shirt!
Stacy Johnson CPA on October 5, 2012
We’re trying to name our latest consumer resource. Offer an opinion and you might win a T-shirt guaranteed to turn heads.
Ask Stacy: Is It Legal for Banks to Stack the Deck?
Stacy Johnson CPA on October 2, 2012
For years it’s been common practice for banks to clear checks and debit card transactions to maximize overdraft charges. Is it legal?
Ask Stacy: Is Peer-to-Peer Lending a Pyramid Scheme?
Stacy Johnson CPA on September 25, 2012
Peer-to-peer lending is all the rage, and for good reason: It offers borrowers access to low-cost money and investors high-interest returns. But what if it’s all a Ponzi scheme?
JetBlue Offers Free Wi-Fi
Stacy Johnson CPA on September 21, 2012
Finally an airline has recognized that offering something free – that travelers want, no less – might be a great idea.
Non-Working Spouses Finally Get Some Credit
Stacy Johnson CPA on September 21, 2012
If you’re a non-working spouse, thanks to the CARD act, getting your own credit card could prove challenging. That might be about to change.
Post Office Says Offices Aren’t Drive-Throughs
Stacy Johnson CPA on September 21, 2012
At least eight cars have crashed into post offices this year in just central Florida alone. The USPS offers useful advice to keep your wheels out of their lobbies.
Ask Stacy: Are We Heading Toward a Fiscal Cliff?
Stacy Johnson CPA on September 18, 2012
Unless Congress acts, $600 billion of spending cuts and tax hikes will take effect in 2013. It could derail the economy and tank the stock market. This reader is worried about what’s going to happen. So am I.
Ask Stacy: Can I Protest Bad Marks to Improve My Credit Score?
Stacy Johnson CPA on August 21, 2012
You can improve your credit history and score by disputing negatives. But there’s a catch…
What I’ve Learned From 20 Years of Personal Finance
Stacy Johnson CPA on August 20, 2012
I’ve written and produced 3,000 personal finance TV news stories, written countless articles, and learned things along the way, including some you’re unlikely to read elsewhere.
How Much House Can You Afford?
Stacy Johnson CPA on August 15, 2012
There are few purchases more costly, or emotional, than buying a home. Here’s how to do the math to see what you can afford, workarounds if you don’t have enough, and a reminder to keep your ego on the sidelines.
Ask Stacy: Help! They’re Wrecking My Credit!
Stacy Johnson CPA on August 7, 2012
“The man representing himself in court has a fool for a client.” This expression also applies to those representing themselves when dealing with collection agencies.
Ask Stacy: How Can I Watch TV Without Cable?
Stacy Johnson CPA on July 31, 2012
Can you cut the cable and ditch the dish without sacrificing selection? Yes. And there’s more than one way to do it.
The LIBOR Scandal for Dummies
Stacy Johnson CPA on July 23, 2012
The unfolding LIBOR scandal may make Bernie Madoff look like a Girl Scout. If you haven’t taken the time to understand it, you should. Madoff catered to a handful of wealthy investors, but this outrage may have affected millions worldwide – including you.
Online Mortgage and Rate Searches: The Big Lie?
Stacy Johnson CPA on July 20, 2012
If you rely on online interest rate searches to give you the best rates on savings accounts, mortgages, car loans, or credit cards, you really need to read this.
Ask Stacy: How Can We Lower Our Mortgage Payments?
Stacy Johnson CPA on July 17, 2012
If you can refinance a $200,000, 30-year mortgage from 7 percent to 4 percent, you’ll end up $135,000 richer. But refinancing these days is a minefield. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could pick up the phone and call an expert for free help to get it done? As it happens, you can. Here’s some advice and an 800 number.
Ask Stacy: How Do I Stop Collection Agency Calls?
Stacy Johnson CPA on July 10, 2012
This reader gets harassed by collection agencies seeking other people with the same name. But whether collection calls are legitimate or not, here’s how to make them stop.
6 Steps to Your Personal Independence Day
Stacy Johnson CPA on July 4, 2012
As you celebrate our nation’s independence day, maybe you should be thinking of your own. Are you getting closer to financial freedom? If not, here are some tips that will take you there.
Ask Stacy: Can I Drop My Health Insurance?
Stacy Johnson CPA on July 3, 2012
In 2014, the Affordable Care Act will force insurance companies to insure everyone. So why not just drop your health coverage, pay the penalty, then buy insurance if you get sick? Check out this exchange on health care reform between me and a reader.
The Supreme Court Health Care Decision: What It Means to You
Stacy Johnson CPA on June 28, 2012
The media is talking about which politicians “won” and “lost” when the Supreme Court ruled on health care reform. But here’s what really matters: how it all affects you.
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