Journalist
originally published in the New Britain Herald, Bristol Press and Middletown Press
You know those free online e-mail accounts where you’re guaranteed no-cost access from every Internet connection in the world in exchange for being constantly pummeled by annoying flash ads, fluffhead celebrity news links and the occasional virus attack that crashes your entire hard drive?
I have one, … Continue Reading
originally published in the Hartford Advocate
Thy Brother’s Keeper (And Thy Bank’s, Too)
Protecting the assets of wealthy lending institutions is your personal responsibility. Seriously.
By Jennifer Abel
Here’s how the five stages of grief play out when you learn that your lucky self is at risk of identity theft because you’re one of the 106,000 taxpayers whose names and … Continue Reading
Originally published on Main Street
Still scrambling for a last-minute holiday gift? Perhaps a Secret Santa offering for a colleague you hardly know? Then buy a scented candle, a decorative paperweight, a coffee mug with a stupid cartoon on it — buy anything except a gift box or basket filled with deluxe gourmet luxury versions of everyday foods. These make
Originally published in ConsumerAffairs.com
One of the most common, and costly, financial mistakes people make is this: when buying something on an installment plan (credit card or dealer financing, doesn’t matter), they only look at the size of their weekly or monthly payment, rather than calculate the total cost.
And it’s no exaggeration to say that without consumers making this … Continue Reading
Originally published on ConsumerAffairs.com
It’s time for polite society to reclaim the “F-word” and give it back the historic respectability it so undeservedly lost.
I’m speaking, of course, about “frugal.” The word enjoyed a stellar reputation for most of recorded history; when Thomas Jefferson gave his first inaugural address to citizens of the fledgling United States, he discussed, among other … Continue Reading