| Volume 7 Number 2 |
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1-713-743-2168
A People's Law School in Corpus Christi: On November 18th, the Center for Consumer Law and the Corpus Christi Bar Association will present a People's Law School at the Nueces County Court House. There will be five classes and it is absolutely free. Click here for more.
The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
No health insurance or limited coverage--negotiate with your health care providers. You can negotiate the cost of almost all medical services, and often receive discounts between 10-50%. Let your health care provider know you are self-pay and ask if the price can be adjusted.
Survey: 27% of Consumers Do Not Read Credit Reports
Americans have shown improvements in managing their finances, according to a Capital One-Consumer Action survey, but an increasing number don't check their credit reports in spite of their free availability. Reading over one's credit report for errors can protect against credit card fraud and crimes such as identity theft. Yet the survey of 1,003 consumers shows that 27% of respondents have never checked their credit report, up from 23% last year. Click here for more.
Checklist: Reviewing a Lease
Here's a checklist of things you should look for in a lease before you sign it. A lease is a contract, so you will want to understand what it says and how it will affect you. And because a lease is a contract, you may be able to negotiate changes to it, even if it is a preprinted form. In fact, a preprinted form should be reviewed very carefully, because its provisions will probably greatly favor the landlord. Click here for more.
Growing Family on One Income?
With every new arrival in your family come lots of dizzying choices. Cloth or plastic diapers? Pink or blue layette? But the toughest decision is whether one of you should leave your job to care for your child. If one spouse stops working, can you live with a lower income and, if possible, continue to stash money into a retirement account? It's often not easy. But if you're willing to cut your budget, staying home with your child might not be as financially painful as you think. Click here for more.
Your Money
How much may I contribute to an IRA? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Chapter 7 debtor can't exclude retirement savings from income. The 9th has held that a debtor can not exclude her regular retirement contributions in determining her disposable income for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. Click here for more.