| Volume 22 Number 2 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Don't sign a contract to buy a car unless you are sure it is the car you want to purchase. Contrary to what many people believe, the law does not give you three days to change your mind. Once you sign, you are legally bound.
Gambling Winnings Are Taxable Income
Picked the Super Bowl winner? Many are just friendly wagers -- a dollar in the office pool or a good-natured bet with the neighbor who's jumped on that overcrowded Patriots' bandwagon. But other football fans are taking the game more seriously and handing over big bucks to bookmakers, both legal and not-so-legal. All these Super Bowl wagers spotlight a persistent Internal Revenue Service problem: tracking and taxing gambling winnings. Click here for more.
Taking the Scare Out of Auto Repair
The best way to avoid auto repair rip-offs is to be prepared. Knowing how your vehicle works and how to identify common car problems is a good beginning. It's also important to know how to select a good technician, the kinds of questions to ask, and your consumer rights. Click here for more.
Weird Stuff That Hurts Your Credit
What seems smart, like moving a balance to a lower-interest credit card, can ding your credit scores. Here are some of the other hidden threats to your credit and how you can fight back. Click here for more.
How to Keep Your Gadgets From Getting Stolen
Every day, the gadgets we use become smaller, more portable, and more valuable. Unfortunately, this increase in convenience also raises the appeal of these devices to potential thieves. Here, Switched presents tips to avoid becoming a theft victim for the five common gadgets, as well potential ways to recover your property if it's stolen. And no, we're not recommending using a taser for any of them. Click here for more.
Your Money
What is your tax bracket? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Homestead protection extends to proceeds of sale. The 1st Circuit has held that the Bankruptcy Code's homestead exemption applied to protect the proceeds from a debtor's post-petition sale of his home. Click here for more.