Bank of America is offering a new $50 bonus for checking accounts using the code AOU261208, or simply apply through this application before Feb. 27th, 2009 and deposit $100. There are no direct deposit requirements, no maintenance fee, it’s a no brainer if you don’t have an account yet and want to earn $100 quickly.
Terms & Conditions:
Offer expires 2/27/09 and is available through our online application or in any Bank of America banking center. Offer does not apply to second or multiple checking accounts and/or existing checking customers. Student checking accounts are not eligible for this offer. Bank of America associates are not eligible for this offer. All accounts are subject to our normal approval process. This form must be presented at the time the account is opened if account is opened in a banking center. This minimum deposit required to open a new, personal checking account and receive the $50 offer is $100. We will make every attempt to directly deposit the $50 into your new Bank of America checking account. If for any reason we are unable to do so, a check will be issued as a replacement. We will deposit the money within 90 days of opening your new account. Limit one check per household. To the extent required by law, Bank of America will report the value of the offer to the IRS on Form 1099. Any applicable taxes are the responsibility of the account holder. For interest-bearing personal checking accounts, the Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is 0.05% as of 11/14/08 for any account balance. The rate may change after the account is opened. Fees could reduce earnings on the account. Please consult a Banking Center, visit bankofamerica.com or see the Personal Schedule of Fees for other account fees, rates and information.
Fidelity just released a new Fidelity Retirement Rewards American Express card that would give you 2% cash back as a contribution to a Fidelity IRA. Card holders would earn 2 points for every $1 in spending and then 5,000 points would be convertible into a $50 deposit into a Fidelity account. Full details to be included in new account materials.
It’s an FIA Card, meaning a Bank of America card, but branded by Fidelity and uses the American Express network; so it also has WordPoints reward options as well. It’s a brand new card and definitely worth a look if you have a Fidelity account.
I’ve heard numerous stories from people about how credit card companies are closing inactive cards. I personally have several cards I haven’t used in quite some time because their cash back offerings haven’t been competitive. On some of those cards, I consolidated the credit lines into other cards from that issuers. But for many, they simply sit in my closet collecting dust. I don’t close them because having a longer history, as calculated by the average age of your credit cards, helps your score. Also, having a large available balance means the utilization percentage is lower, which is also a plus. Finally, you never know.
Well it’s that “you never know” part that scares credit card companies. They don’t like having large outstanding credit lines out there, especially if they aren’t being used. If you haven’t used a card in a year, what’ll make you start using it again? Maybe you’re in trouble, maybe you suddenly need money, both cases scare credit card companies. So they started closing those accounts.
If you want to avoid this happening to use, start using your old cards again just so they don’t come up as inactive.
Why pay $10 or $20 a month for something you can do yourself? There is absolutely no reason. You can do exactly what identity theft protection companies do at a fraction of the cost (most of it is free anyway) and save that money for something more useful. For a full explanation of what you need to do, check out BFP’s Do It Yourself Identity Theft Protection guide.
MoneyEconomics has a new tool, called 1911, that pulls all sorts of information about banks from a variety of sources. It’s designed as a tool to determine your bank’s health but it’s difficult to say given the types of information it shares.
Let’s take a look at FNBO Direct’s parent company, First National Bank of Omaha. FNBO is generally regarded as a safe bank and, even if it weren’t, FDIC insurance covers up to $250,000 per person so you’re protected anyway.
According to 1911, FNBO has more assets than liabilities, around $10B of each, and has a net income of $62.5 million. In addition to that snapshot, it shows the history of all three metrics on a bar chart, in quarters, since 2000.
It’s useful information and presented in a nice way, but misses the mark on offering a means to assess bank safety.
This may be one of those “head smacking moments,” where I tell you something obvious that you totally missed, or this could be “duh moments,” where I tell you something obvious that you already knew… but I’ll write it anyway. One of the simplest things you can do to increase your cars fuel efficiency is lighten its load. That means you need to grab all the junk that’s in your trunk and stick it somewhere else. I personally run a pretty lean ship but I have friends that have all manner of textbooks, sporting equipment (it’s winter!), and even furniture like folding chairs; all stuff that has no real business in the trunk.
Unless you need it within the next few days, put it elsewhere. The only exception are emergency supplies and your spare.
One of the easiest ways to improve your car’s performance is to properly inflate your tires. Underinflated or overinflated tires will not only decrease your fuel efficiency but also the lifespan of the tires themselves. We all know how much of a pain it is to get tires replaced, so you probably want to do that as infrequently as safety permits (I always hate doing it because I have to be without my car for so long, bumming rides can be a pain).
Consumer Reports has done numerous studies on tire inflation and fuel efficiency, they discovered that on their test Toyota Camry, fuel efficiency dropped 1.3 miles per gallon when the tires were deflated by a mere 10 psi. Why lose 1.3 MPG when you don’t have to?
Blockbuster and Microsoft have teamed up to offer six months of Blockbuster Total Access if you purchased a qualifying laptop, one of those listed here, between July 15th and December 31st, 2008. There are some reports that any laptop will work (there are a lot of PCs on the list) though I have not confirmed that yet.
The free six month plan you get is the $11.00/mo version where you get DVDs one at a time and unlimited mailings (with 2 in store exchanges a month).
This 6 free months of Blockbuster Access is meant for people buying a new laptop from July 15th to Dec. 31st 2008, but I think it works for everyone with a laptop. Just go through the link and sign up. The subscription plan is the BLOCKBUSTER Total Access for $11.99 / month (plus taxes). You get 1 at-a-time, Unlimited mailings with 2 in-store movie exchange per month. However, you won’t be charged until 6 months later. Just make sure you set a reminder to cancel at the last month.
Terms and Conditions:
Offer good only for customers who purchase selected computers between July 15, 2008 and December 31, 2008 and are new to BLOCKBUSTER Online. This offer is non-transferable and must be redeemed before October 30, 2008. To take advantage of this offer, you’ll need internet access, a valid e-mail address and a valid credit/check card or checking account number. Membership will automatically renew at the applicable monthly fee for plan (plus tax) if not cancelled before the end of the free 6 month period. In-store exchanges require a separate, complimentary in-store membership. In-store rentals are subject to store rental terms and conditions, including due dates and charges which may apply to rentals not returned by the due date. See www.blockbuster.com for complete terms and conditions.
Don’t turn it off and freeze your guests, but turn the old thermostat down a few degrees to account for the fact that all those warm bodies will be generating a lot more energy than you by your very lonesome. All the chatting, bustling about, and activity will naturally increase the temperature inside your side and it’s better to lower the temperature now than it is to open a window if it gets too hot!
My recommendation is to knock it down by only a few degrees, at most 4 or 5, so that it’s cool but not cold. You want your guests, who are coming in from the cold, to feel warmer on the inside but not hot. Most heating systems have merely and on or an off setting so the temperature is only important such that it doesn’t kick on the system when you already have a dozen or so bodies heating up your place.
