June 2012
75 posts
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How Do I Know a Credit Counseling/Repair Service...
This blog entry was provided by eXtension.org’s team of experts.
Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish a reputable nonprofit credit counseling agency from a dishonest for-profit firm that embezzles clients’ money, charges excessively high fees, and/or keeps clients’ initial payments instead of prorating them among their clients’ creditors. This is especially true when...
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The Bankruptcy Process Explained
Declaring personal bankruptcy is often a last resort option for debt management. If you declare bankruptcy, you are granted a court order saying you don’t have to pay off certain debts.
However, the effects of filing for bankruptcy are long-lasting. It stays on your credit report for 10 years and can make it hard to get a line of credit, buy a home, or sometimes even get a job.
The U.S. Courts...
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Save Money on Gas →
Save money on gas with fuel-saving tips or with a more efficient car. Learn how at Fueleconomy.gov.
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Check the Beach Water Temperatures →
Heading to the beach this weekend? Check the water temperatures before you leave.
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A Leap Second Will Be Added to Clocks
On Saturday, the Naval Observatory will add a “leap second” to the world’s clocks at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This corresponds to 7:59:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time.
Time, including seconds, has historically been defined by the rotation of the Earth around other objects in space. The invention of atomic clocks allowed us to more...
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Supreme Court Upholds Health Care Law
Today the Supreme Court released its decision on the health care law, National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius. Read the decision. (PDF)
Healthcare.gov has information about how the law affects you. You can read the law, learn about key features of the law, and see a timeline of what will change and when. Learn more about the health care law.
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Learn and Understand the Bankruptcy Process →
Learn the bankruptcy process, the relief it offers, and how to find legal help with these videos from the U.S. Courts.
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How to Find a Trusted Credit Counseling Agency...
Did you know credit counseling agencies can help you create a plan to tackle your debt and rebuild your credit?
You can find a trusted credit counseling agency near you to discuss your financial options, but remember, no one can remove negative information from your credit report. Companies that offer to do this are often running scams.
The only way to repair your credit is to consistently...
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It's Lightning Safety Week →
Learn how to prepare for thunderstorms and lightning.
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Checking out something I received in the mail. It’s from Home Information Center, Dallas Tx 75380-9664. It said that the U.S. Congress has made available up to $20,000 for you to improve your home through the Federal Home Improvement Loan Program. This program is made available for energy conservation with home improvements. Improvements may include lifetime vinyl siding, energy-efficiant...
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Tomorrow is National HIV Testing Day →
National HIV Testing Day on June 27 is a reminder to get tested. Enter your ZIP code and find a testing site near you.
Visit AIDS.gov to learn more about HIV/AIDS, including how to reduce your risk and available treatment options.
Download or order a FREE print copy of the following publications on USA.gov:
Women and HIV
HIV and AIDS: Medicines to Help You
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3 Steps You Can Take to Get Debt Under Control
There is no such thing as a quick and easy way to get out of debt, but there are realistic steps you can take to get debt under control.
Develop a budget: Assess how much money you make and how much you spend. Writing down all your expenses is an easy way to get a realistic picture of where your money goes. Your goal should be to make sure you can pay for the essentials, like food and shelter,...
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How to Avoid Commons Mistakes When Applying for... →
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Recognize the Signs of Foreclosure Rescue Scams →
Learn to recognize the signs of foreclosure rescue scams and who to contact if you’re caught in a scam.
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How to Get Help if You or Someone You Know is...
If you or someone you know is homeless, contact your local homeless assistance agency to get help. These agencies can help you find temporary or permanent housing options, as well as connect you with local food banks and health care programs.
If you’re a homeless veteran, the Veterans Administration offers safe housing, job opportunities, and health care options. You can learn more online or by...
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Learn About Housing and Community Development... →
This new app from the Department of Housing and Urban Development shows the latest on housing and community development issues.
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Are Your Mortgage Payments More Than You Can... →
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Teach Your Kids and Teens Ways to Save Money →
These educational comic strips from Kids.gov illustrate ways everyone in the family can pitch in to save money.
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Food Safety – What You Can Do
Each year, about one in six Americans gets sick from food poisoning. Although most will recover without any lasting problems, some types of food poisoning can lead to kidney failure, chronic arthritis, brain and nerve damage, and even death.
When you prepare food at home, be sure to follow 4 basic steps to help prevent food poisoning: clean, separate, cook, and chill.
If you’d like to receive...
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Protect Your Home From Wildfires →
Summer heat can bring wildfires. Here’s how to protect your home, including 3 things you can do today.
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Avoid Foreclosure and Get Help With Your Mortgage...
If you need help paying your mortgage, you may be eligible for assistance through a variety of programs.
Through the Making Home Affordable program, you can
Refinance and take advantage of lower mortgage interest rates.
Reduce your monthly mortgage payments.
Get mortgage relief if you’re unemployed.
Get help when you owe more than your home is worth.
Avoid foreclosure when homeownership is...
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Happy First Day of Summer! →
Summer begins today! Learn about the summer solstice and why we have seasons from the National Weather Service.
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Need Help Paying Your Mortgage?
If you need help paying your mortgage, there are government programs to help:
Making Home Affordable — The Departments of Treasury and Housing and Urban Development can help home owners get mortgage help through a variety of programs.
Housing Counseling Agencies — Find free or low-cost advice on home-related issues.
Reverse Mortgages — Get answers to frequently asked...
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Summer Booklist for Young Readers →
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), with help from the American Library Association, presents its 25th annual Summer Booklist for grade K-3, 4-6, and 7-8. All of the books meet the standard of having “lasting value.”
Getting ready for college? The NEH has you covered, too.
Bonus hint for grown-ups: The books in the 7-8 list make pretty good beach reads, and they’re easy to find at...
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Which of these helps you most when money is tight? →
Which of these helps you most when money is tight?
Government assistance
Credit cards/loans
Savings
Family
Cast your vote in our poll.
To learn about other free resources to help you get through tough financial times, sign up for our e-mail list or visit our page.
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Get Help Paying Your Rent
If you’re struggling to make your rent payments, you may be able to find assistance from your local Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office. These offices offer rental assistance programs like privately-owned subsidized housing, public housing, and housing choice vouchers.
You may also be able to find help from your state housing authority or your local public housing agency.
Get help...
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Law Grants Automatic Citizenship to Some Children...
Most U.S. citizens acquire citizenship by being born in the U.S., or through a process called naturalization. However, there are certain people born abroad who can acquire citizenship automatically.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 grants automatic citizenship to the biological and adopted children of parents who are U.S. citizens.
How to Get Automatic Citizenship
The Child Citizenship Act of...
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Happy Father's Day! →
Learn about the history of the holiday and find ideas to celebrate dad.
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“Our nation’s immigration laws must be enforced in a firm and sensible manner,...”
– Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, announcing a new policy to defer deportations and grant work permits for some younger undocumented immigrants.
Learn more about the new policy and who will be eligible for to defer their deportation case from the Department of Homeland...
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Start Saving For Retirement
Once you’re retired, you’ll need to maintain 70 to 90 percent of your pre-retirement income to continue your current quality of life. That’s not always easy to do. Meanwhile, it’s possible that you’ll be retired for a long time, maybe 20 years or more, because life expectancies are getting longer.
In other words, retirement is expensive.
So in order to retire comfortably, you have to save for...
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Grill Safely This Summer →
Learn how to grill safely with these tips from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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June 15 is Elder Abuse Awareness Day →
There are many ways to get involved: visit an older neighbor who lives alone, volunteer for a program that benefits seniors, support abuse prevention efforts, and more!
Get more information about elder abuse.
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Happy Flag Day! →
The American flag is 235 years old today. Learn about the history of our flag.
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Keep Your Personal Information Safe Online With...
With the recent news that several popular websites have been hacked, we thought it was a good time to remind you what you can do to keep your personal information safe online.
It all starts with creating safe and secure online passwords. Our Consumer Action Handbook offers several tips to help you create strong passwords.
As tempting as it can be, don’t use the same password across...
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If Times Are Tough, These Resources Can Help You... →
You can get more information about how to get help for difficult financial times by signing up for our e-mail list.
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Men's Health Week 2012: Prevention Tips to Stay...
It’s not just good luck and good genes that lead to a healthy life. Research shows that our actions have a big say in the matter, too. Many major health problems that affect men and boys are preventable through lifestyle changes, early detection, and treatment.
And yet, several things work against men when it comes to health. They tend to smoke and drink more than women. They don’t seek...
