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Archive for June, 2009

What You Need To Know About The Car Scrappage Program

June 30th, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 4 Comments | Filed in Autos Express, Consumer Tips

Car Allowance Rebate SystemSayEducate has been keeping tabs on the “cash for clunkers” legislation as it was being debated in Congress. For the past several months members of the House and the Senate have been working on a bill whereby consumers might be able to turn their older vehicles in for scrappage, receiving a federal credit in exchange for buying a new car.

Well, a bill was passed by both the House and the Senate and signed into law by President Obama last week. Though certain details still must be hammered out, the “Car Allowance Rebate System” (or CARS) program as it is called will kick in no later than July 23rd, giving consumers an unusual and limited time opportunity to save money on their new car purchase.

Not every consumer will be eligible to participate in the CARS program for several reasons: only one billion dollars was set aside for the program which means at $3500 to $4500 a pop, 250,000 new cars will be covered. The program is scheduled to last until November 1st or when funds dry up, with the likelihood that happening much sooner being great.

Another thing consumers need to keep in mind is that most eligible vehicles must get 18 mpg or worse and can’t be older than a 1984 model. There are a number of vehicles that meet this criteria, but the new vehicle being purchased has to meet certain fuel mileage requirements in order to qualify.

In order to find out if you qualify and what the program is all about, the federal government wants consumers to know about Cars.gov, a site created to explain the program as well as share with you current information. In addition, the CARS website can help you with:

Determine if you qualify – If you meet the program’s parameters then you can start shopping around for a new car.

Bring paperwork — When you’re ready to buy, then you need to bring your paperwork with you to the new car showroom. Buyers need to have their registration, title and insurance information with them. Dealers will be checking to make sure that your car is drivable and has been registered and insured for the past year.

Dealer’s responsibility — Eligible buyers will be able to knock $3500 to $4500 off of the final negotiated price for their vehicle, but it’ll be up to the new car dealer to get his credit from the federal government. This means that once the dealer determines your eligibility, they’ll subtract the federal credit from your price. Your dealer will “deal” with the government from this point on, not you.

Will the federal government extend the CARS program if it turns out to be more popular than anticipated? Perhaps. However, if you want to participate then check your eligibility and gather your paperwork right away.  Once the program starts showroom traffic will increase sharply which means that you’ll have to act fast in order to get the car that you want.

Adv. — If you are considering purchasing a new car, there are some steps you can take to make sure that you get the best deal. Come on over and visit SayLending.com for auto loans information including new car research to help you find the vehicle that meets your needs.


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Pool Safety Can Prevent Serious Injury

June 29th, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 1 Comment | Filed in Consumer Tips

One of my favorite books as a youth was Joni, the story of a teenage girl who became a quadriplegic as a result of a diving accident. During the summer of 1967 Joni Eareckson (Tada) dived into a lake, not knowing how shallow the water was. She survived the dive, but her neck was broken leaving her permanently paralyzed. After two years of extensive rehabilitation along with her making peace with God, Joni emerged as a voice for the disabled in the Christian community.

HawaiiAccidents like Joni’s are all too common, sometimes resulting in death. The Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation of West Orange, NJ treats people who have experienced spinal injury or head trauma, many as a result of diving in water. “Diving is arguably the most dangerous thing a person can do in water,” says Steven Kirshblum, MD, Medical Director and Director of Spinal Cord Injury Services for Kessler. “Injuries to the head, neck and spinal column are serious and can result in paralysis, or even death.”

Top 10 Water Safety Tips

Kessler is one of just six federally designated Model Systems for the treatment and research of both traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. To encourage pool safety, the institute offers their Top 10 Water Safety tips:

  1. If you are a pool owner, be sure to have clearly marked depth indicators around the entire pool. Post “No Diving” signs – and enforce that rule!
  2. Watch your guests. More than 90% of injuries occur to visitors, rather than owners.
  3. Never dive into an above-ground pool and be careful around ladders and other equipment.
  4. Never drink and dive. “Drinking impairs an individual’s judgment and slows reactions,” explains Kirshblum. “Nearly half of all diving accidents resulting in a serious injury involve alcohol consumption.”
  5. Don’t swim alone. Ideally, a lifeguard or someone trained in water safety should always be present.
  6. Always check the depth of water before going in. Levels may be deceptive, especially where drought conditions existed. Be sure that there are no rocks or debris below the surface.
  7. Enter the water at lakes and ponds feet first to avoid injury.
  8. Never dive into the ocean. It’s difficult to see what’s under the surf, particularly sand bars. And tides constantly cause the ocean sands to shift.
  9. Even if areas are marked as being safe for diving, do not dive if your trajectory will place you in less than nine feet of water. When diving from a board, the water should be deeper than 12 feet.
  10. Educate children. Safe water behaviors should be taught at an early age so children can make smart decisions when involved in water activities.

Enjoy Your Summer!

Summer should be a time of fun and relaxation, a season where families can get rejuvenated while enjoying their favorite outdoor activities. Exercise care while in the water to ensure your safety as well as those who are under your care.

Source: Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation

Adv. — Have you finalized your travel plans this summer? SayFunTravel.com offers last minute and hot deals for destinations across the US as well as overseas. Save on your hotel stay, airfare, car rental or cruise by comparing prices and booking early.


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Weekly “Fun and Living” Tips

June 27th, 2009 by Krayton M Davis | No Comments | Filed in Weekly Tips
Weekly Planning Tips
Sunday June 28, 2009

Let’s head north for the Summer. Pleasant summer days and cool nights.

Let’s see what Minnesota has to offer. View our travel guide for vacation ideas.

GARDEN TOOLS IN THE GAGAGE:
Many garages are used to to store garden tools and other equipment. What kind of garden tools do you need to take care of your garden? See how these tools can be stored to keep room for parking your cars.

View Our Home Improvement Center:

Everyone is buying BIG … that is TV and other home theater video. Have you upgraded your TV yet?

View our nBuy center for the latest is TV technology.

More Information:

GETTNG READY FOR THE 4TH
What to do on the 4th? If you thinking of having your own home celebration, get some July 4th party ideas.

Shopping Ideas:

GETTING READY FOR THE FALL
Students planning to move to college this Fall semester should use our college moving checklist to shop items they will need to setup their home away from home.

Download FREE our college moving checklist. No registration required.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR CREDIT CARDS
Consumers with no credit or those whose credit has been pummeled over the past few years know that it is virtually impossible for them to land a new credit card. With credit being the tightest anyone has seen in years, your chances of securing new credit has been greatly reduced unless you agree to unfavorable financing terms including a high interest rate and annual fee.


What You Should Do?

PREPAID CREDIT IS ONE SOLUTION — the convenience of having a credit card means not having to carry cash around. Prepaid VISA and MasterCard are universally accepted, with millions of merchants around the world accepting them.

Get More Information:

 


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Low Airfares? Going Up!

June 26th, 2009 by Matthew C. Keegan | 5 Comments | Filed in Travel Tips

Thursday’s issue of The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) pointed out a trend that travelers need to take note of. In, “After Months of Sales, Airfares Take Off,” the WSJ found that airfares which had been dropping since last summer have likely bottomed out. In fact, a recent survey by Harrell Associates LLC of one hundred domestic air markets found that fares had shot up by 11% in one week alone. Yes, cheap airfares are becoming scarce with further increases expected throughout the summer; if you’re planning to take a flight in the coming months, then locking in a rate now might save you a bundle of money later.

OregonThe most recent increase in fares is due to several factors including a rise in jet fuel costs, shrinking capacity resulting in fewer seats available, and increased consumer demand. Farecast, which is now part of Bing Travel, has noted that for some city pairs airfare has already doubled. The increase seems to have begun right after Memorial Day when airlines’ spring specials came to an end.

Buy Now Or Wait?

So what should you do if you’re planning a trip? Well, if you’re looking to travel this summer then securing a low fare now is advised. But, if you’re planning a trip this fall or over the Christmas holiday, then waiting to book until after Labor Day may be the best approach. Airlines typically roll out fall fare sales during that time, which means you could end up paying less for your flight if you are patient.

Although you likely won’t get the same low fare you may have seen online last month or even last week, you may be able to snag a deal if you keep a few things in mind:

Check the online travel sites – SayFunTravel.com, Expedia.com, Travelocity.com, Priceline.com and Orbitz.com are each worth exploring in order to find and compare low fares.

Visit airline websites – Some airlines post their lowest rates right online, avoiding middlemen in the process. Compare what you find on the internet whether you’re visiting the travel sites or the airline’s website directly.

Don’t forget discount airlines – There are a handful of discount air carriers still in business, offering price advantages on city pairs that the big boys can’t or won’t match. Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, USA3000 Airlines, and Virgin America are just to name a few. If you’re accustomed to flying one of the legacy carriers, then take a look at discounters to see what they have to offer to you.

Be flexible – If you have some flexibility as to when you can begin and end your trip, then lower fares are still within reach. Choose off peak travel, specifically, those flights which leave during the middle of the week.

Hopefully, the recent run up in prices won’t take hold, resulting in discounts this fall and beyond. Regardless, there are still airline seats available where you won’t have to pay full price – carefully shop and compare to find what you need.

Adv. – Save money on your next trips whether you’re traveling to the beach for flying off to Honolulu, Tokyo or Sydney. SayFunTravel.com offers state guides to help you find places of interest all across the USA as well as information about cruises, car rentals, hotel stays and more.


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