Clearer Disclosures for “Free Credit Reports” Take Effect Friday

The Federal Trade Commission’s amendment to the Free Credit Reports Rule takes effect this Friday. This requires much clearer disclosures in ads for “free credit reports.”

This provision is needed because consumers have been confused and misled about where to get a free credit report.

The federally mandated free credit reports are available only at AnnualCreditReport.com, but many other websites advertise free credit reports. Beginning Friday, any other website that advertises free credit reports must have a disclosure at the top kof every page that tells consumers how to get these free credit reports. The statement must say:

This notice is required by law. Read more at FTC.GOV. You have the right to a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com or 877-322-8228, the only authorized source under federal law.

The amendmended Rule takes effect for print …

2010 Homebuyer Tax Credits: Now May Be the Perfect Time to Buy Your Perfect Home

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Coldwell Banker. All opinions are 100% mine.

Whenever I’m out and about, running errands or just enjoying my community, I am always taking note of the new “For Sale” signs going up in front of houses that have long been occupied. If there are two things we are not short of in this country, it’s houses to buy and people eager to buy a home to create new, lasting memories in.

The financial crisis we, as a country, have been in for a number of years now, is still at the top of every economics conversation and finally, government is lending an ear to financial institutions and the families in this country that need help either keeping their home or getting into a home. …

Passover: a Very Brief Crash Course

This upcoming Tuesday is the first day of the eight-day celebration of Passover; a Jewish holy day and festival commemorating the Hebrews’ escape from enslavement in Egypt.

The traditional dinner of Passover, known as the Seder, is very much comparable to Thanksgiving, given its importance of family custom and tradition. The Seder takes place the first two evenings of Passover and involves some strictly followed rules, such as leavened foods, or foods that contain yeast or baking soda being strictly forbidden. Foods that are considered sacred are the foods that represent the bounty of spring; foods like lamb, herbs, nuts, fruit, honey, egg and wine. The Seder plate is one of the aforementioned traditions and it contains the symbolic foods used by Jews during the Passover Seder. It contains spaces for each of the …

Dress Your iStuff Up and Recycle When They’re Down

Sure, you may think plastic is biodegradable, but plastic actually never biodegrades completely. Plastic breaks down into nanoparticles and they have the capacity to cause damage to our bodies in the long-term. Luckily, there are companies taking the initiative to come up with simple ways to be and act green when it comes to our technology.

The Apple iPhone makes it easy for people to be a little greener by using apps that make it easy to find directions and use maps instead of printing out maps and directions to take on the road with you and it also lets people subscribe to the RSS feeds of online publications like NYTimes.com instead of flipping through a paper. With a piece of technology that helps you give a little back to Mother Earth, it’s only natural that your accessories, apps and disposal of these resource-savers do the …

Heading Out Today? Don’t Forget Your Free Pastry from Starbucks

While you’re on your way to work this morning or just out running errands, don’t forget to stop at Starbucks for a free pastry because it’s Free Pastry Day!

Stop by a participating Starbucks store this morning and choose a delicious pastry to pair with one of Starbucks’ handcrafted, brewed or iced beverages. Visit the Starbucks website to find a store near you, get the coupon (you can print your coupon, or show it to a barista on your mobile device) and enjoy!

Starbucks has removed all artificial flavors, dyes and trans fats from their pastry recipes and no pastries are made with high-fructose corn syrup, so not only is your pastry free of charge, it’s also free of unhealthy stuff no one wants to be ingesting with their delicious morning coffee.

Free …

Ten Things Health Care Reform Will Do for You, Now

President Obama will sign the recently-passed health care bill on Tuesday and the moment he does, ten provisions will go into effect. Here is how health care reform will begin working for Americans come Tuesday.

Current uninsured Americans who are uninsured because of a pre-existing condition will have immediate access to insurance, although that insurance will be obtained through a temporary high-risk pool.

Children who are under the age of 19 will not be able to be excluded from any new insurance plans because of their pre-existing condition.

Adult children will be able to remain on their parents’ health insurance policy and remain dependents until the age of 26.

Health insurance companies will not be able to drop someone from their coverage when they get sick.

Prescription drug prices for seniors will be lowered, making medications more affordable …