| Volume 4 Number 5 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Don't assume you're anonymous. Web sites can track your browsing activities. Read the companies e-business's privacy policy before you type in any personal information. Look for opportunities to "opt-out" of letting the company send you marketing communications or share your personal information with others.
How to Set Up and Keep a College Budget
Most college students need to take out loans to pay for college, resulting in large debts after graduation. But, college loan debt is a worthwhile investment in the student's future. Financial problems after graduation usually result from racking up unnecessary debt in college. Budgeting is an essential tool to keep post-graduation debt down, and personal finance software can help college students keep a budget. Click here for more.
America's Growing Consumer Debt
For the first time ever recorded, Americans owe more money than they make. Household debt levels have now surpassed household income by more than eight percent, reaching 108.4 percent in 2005, according to a May 2006 study by the Center for American Progress. Consumer debt is now at a record $2.17 trillion, reports the Federal Reserve Board and consumers cashed out a whopping $431 billion in home equity last year. Click here for more.
Cyber Insecurity
Attacks on the Internet spread like measles across an animated world map in a war-room-style chamber. The red dots advancing across the projected continents signified attempts at unauthorized entry into enterprise or home computers, probably to steal data or spread malicious software. That was the scene at the facility of security provider Symantec. Click here for more.
Be Careful Shifting Into Automatic Bill Pay
Automatic bill pay is a convenient way to pay recurring bills, but the decision to use it shouldn't be automatic, too. These automatic payments make it easier to run up your balance on a credit card or overdraw using a debit card or bank account. Automatic payments also give you less incentive to audit your bills to make sure all the charges you're paying are yours. And having hands other than yours reaching into your bank account or adding charges to your credit card can quickly get complicated if you don't keep a close eye on your finances. Click here for more.
Your Money
How much life insurance do I need? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Class action ban in arbitration clause voided. The New Jersey Supreme Court held that corporations cannot use class action bans in their consumer contracts to avoid liability for cheating consumers. The Court rejected an attempt by a payday lender charging 608% interest to use a class action ban to avoid accountability and struck down the ban as "unconscionable and unenforceable. Click here for more.