Monthly Archives: May 2009

It’s tough to believe but there are companies out there that want to give you money. Others want to give you free stuff. But it’s true. You may be owed money, or free or discounted products and services as a result of a class-action lawsuit. A class-action lawsuit occurs when many parties (people or businesses) have identical or similar lawsuits against one or several defendants to a lawsuit. In the interest of time and money, the court may consolidate all …

We’re past tax season now. No more worries until next year, right? That may be largely true for most of us, but for many taxpayers, it’s not over yet. And for all of us, there’s much to plan for. You may be one of many who did not complete their 2008 income tax return and instead filed IRS Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.  If so, you now have until October …

I come from a family that likes to travel. But anyone who travels regularly will probably agree that it’s become more of an ordeal in recent years. Security screening leads to the longer lines. Airlines are adding junk fees to boost their revenue. Ever-changing rules cause confusion among both seasoned travelers and the infrequent flier. If you travel with kids, there’s an additional layer of bureaucracy to deal with. In an effort to reduce the risks of child abduction, children …

As a kid, I always looked forward to Memorial Day because it signaled the start of swimming pool season. Until we were about 10 years old, my brother and I took year-round swimming lessons, but we always looked forward to that first swim of the year in an outdoor pool. Looking back, I realize that swimming lessons weren’t just intended to teach us a sport. My parents invested in swimming lessons because they realized that knowing how to swim could …

It’s spring, love is in the air and wedding season is set to start. But your dream day can easily turn into a major mess despite your best efforts. Are you prepared if the florist shop folds? If your honey lands in the hospital? If the dressmaker disappears? If the banquet hall goes bankrupt? If a military deployment causes cancellations? Fortunately, wedding insurance can help save the day or, at least, help recover your money if problems pop up. With …