4 Apps to Help Build Up Your Savings Account


Spending less and saving more is easier said than done. But consumers can get a little help bulking up their savings accounts with these apps that make debt reduction, wealth building and even filing expense reports a lot easier.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/06/20/4-apps-to-help-build-up-your-savings-account/

 

Gordon Gekko Lives: New Evidence That Greed Is Rampant on Wall Street

One in four bankers would cheat to make $10 million. This is one of many unsettling findings in a new survey of Wall Streeters. As always, you're on your own out there.

A trader looks up at a chart on his computer screen while working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the market opening in New York July 11, 2013

I was a young reporter working for USA Today the first time I heard the term “self -police” in the same breath as “Wall Street.” That was 1986. I may have been new to high finance, but even then with so much money in play the concept seemed comical. It’s no less hilarious today, as a new survey makes plain.
The late ‘80s were rife with financial scandal. Self police? Some guy named Milken was luring investors into his junk-bond deals with questionable tactics and thought to be raking in as much as $50 million a year for himself. This was astronomical compensation in the day, and to avoid later embarrassment we on the beat cut the figure in half before reporting the rumor. It turned out adjustments were warranted, only the other direction. Milken made a staggering $550 million one year—otherworldly even by today’s standards.
Back then Ivan Boesky would exchange suitcases of cash for stock-moving information, and as his intricate web of illegal white-collar activity eventually came to light, so did at least one contemplated murder and other silver-spooned fears of being whacked. Yet that wasn’t the kind of policing bankers feared most.

Read more:  http://business.time.com/2013/07/17/gordon-gekko-lives-new-evidence-that-greed-is-rampant-on-wall-street/#ixzz2ZQIfzMsc

14 Ways Retirees are Making Money

If you're like many retirees, you could use a little extra money to get by, beyond your retirement savings and Social Security. Or maybe you're just looking for ways to stay busy and to make a bit of extra cash in the process. Either way, these 14 options are a great way to earn some money while doing something you enjoy:

VIEW GALLERY:  http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/06/29/ways-to-make-money-retirement/?ncid=widgusdail00000001

Bank on it: Taxing credit unions would hurt all
(Opinion - By Patricia Wesenberg)

As tax reform picks up speed in Congress, special-interest groups are storming Capitol Hill to ensure they get favorable tax treatment.

Fortunately, some groups — including credit unions — are looking out for the interests of hardworking Americans in this tax reform debate.

For years, big banks have been trying to saddle their nonprofit credit-union competitors with new taxes. They see a congressional tax reform push as their best chance to sneak such taxes in.

Consumers should hope that the big banks don’t succeed. New taxes on credit unions would pick the pockets not just of their 96 million predominantly middle-class customers, but those of all Americans — by reducing competition in the financial services sector.

Credit unions and banks offer many of the same services, such as checking accounts, savings accounts and home mortgages. But they couldn’t be more different in philosophy and structure.

As nonprofit financial cooperatives, credit unions exist to benefit their member-owners. They do so by charging low or no fees and offering higher interest rates on savings and lower rates on loans. They’ve advanced that mission since the 1930s, when Congress authorized their creation and granted them nonprofit status.

Banks, in contrast, are obligated to maximize profits for shareholders. And profitable they are, with some of the highest margins of any industry.

Today, roughly 40 percent of Americans belong to credit unions. They’ve proved to be especially valuable for middle-class families, small-business owners, low-income seniors and others looking to avoid the fees that have proliferated at banks.

The majority of credit unions don’t have minimum balance requirements. Nearly three-quarters of credit unions offer free checking, compared with just 39 percent of banks. Competitive pressure from credit unions has no doubt forced many banks to rethink their fees — or eliminate them altogether.

 

READ MORE: http://blog.nj.com/njv_guest_blog/2013/07/bank_on_it_taxing_credit_union.html

Soak Up Sizzling Beach Bargains This Summer

Beach outings go hand-in-hand with summer, but concession stands and potential entrance fees can make day trips add up. Here's how to save money while you hit the sand.

Instead of paying for a locker, store your personal items in empty snack containers to keep them sand-free. If you want a more waterproof option for keys, cash and credit cards, use an old Thermos. This will also disguise valuables from thieves.

For a quick and easy beach bag, use an old scarf. Simply place your belongings in the center and tie the corners together. You'll have a cute carryall in seconds, and can use the scarf in various ways while you're soaking up the sun.

To save money on snacks, freeze chunks of fruit the night before you leave and pack them in a small cooler along with bottles of water. The fruit will keep your bottles cold, and you'll have a a few healthy treats to keep you cool throughout the day.

Before you head to the shore, use these tips to save on food, refreshments and more. You'll be able to enjoy some rays, and keep your wallet full on a hot summer day.
 

READ MORE:  http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/07/02/save-at-the-beach-savings-experiment/?ncid=widgusport00000003