There is a lot of talk in the news lately about credit card companies having unfair business practices.

Here's how to tell if your credit card company is unfair or not.

Now, consider this...

Can you imagine your children being overlooked for admission into a good college because other students who went to their high school did poorly at the school, even when your child's scores are superior to those other students?

Can you fathom a dentist drilling and filling teeth that don't need cavities just because your neighbors generally get cavities in the teeth they have targeted?

What if you were denied car insurance because you once visited a car wash that has a customer base of people who get into accidents. 

Well, if these scenarios sound a bit odd and unfair, imagine how Kevin Johnson of Atlanta (who has a near excellent credit score) felt when his credit card limit was dropped nearly $7,000 based on nothing more than a store he shopped at!

Never mind that his credit score was impeccable.  Never mind that he never carried a balance.  Never mind that he owned his own home and was a successful business man. 

One innocent stop at one store led to his account being flagged as a potential credit threat. 

If you are deep in debt and your phone is ringing all day with calls from debt collectors and collection agencies, you are not alone. 

Thanks to the gas crisis, the housing crisis, and constantly rising food costs, a lot of people are dealing with debt collectors on a daily basis. 
 
If you're looking for some debt collection help, including tips for dealing with debt collectors who are harassing you, I've got some advice.  You see, I have been through all of this myself, so I know how to deal with recovering from debt and dealing with debt collectors.

Been there, done that!

If this article about keeping track of unused gift cards has not motivated you to use your gift cards yet, here is some recent news that might...

Did you know that 10% of all holiday gift cards end up unused, devalued, or misplaced? 

I know that my husband has never used a particular gift card he received.  Between my husband and others like him, $8 billion dollars are lost each year.

Finally, there's a simple solution for managing all of the gift cards that you give or receive, plus info for trading or swapping gift cards to use them at different stores... 

I have been talking lately about all of the effects of the current economy, but there are also some positive affects that you may not realize.

As people max out their credit cards or realize that the high interest rates make the cards not worth using, more and more people are turning back to good old cash.

Georgia ranked second this year in personal bankruptcies.

In the land of McMansions, gated communities, and Hummer-driving mama's, it's no wonder that the state's residents have serious financial problems.

I recently talked about the way that store coupons appear to be changing -- they're going more toward a gift card look and feel.

Now, it turns out that gift cards (or gift certificates) are actually getting a facelift of their own...

They showed these photo personalized Macy's gift cards on The View today.

Everyone on the show was really excited about them, so I thought I'd check 'em out online and see what all the hype was about.

Whether or not a child is ready for a credit card is a common question for many parents. And the answer is... it depends.

Nowadays, many high schoolers have a credit card. While you need to be 18 to legally have a card in your own name, you may share an account with your parent. The problem with credit cards is that your children will never physically see the money. It is just the swipe of a card. So in order to give your children an appreciation for hard-earned money, I've included a few ways to teach them about money.

Then, once you feel they truly have a good understanding of when to spend money, you can make the decision to give them a credit card (for necessary purchases only, of course).

Whether you're headed to the Redmond Town Center, the Oakbrook Mall, the University Mall, or the Mall of America...  Whatever your favorite mall happens to be, there are a few ways that you can actually save money when mall shopping these days!

Sometimes we just go there to hang out and other times we go there with particular items in mind, but most of the time when you head to the mall, you go with the intent of spending money.

Below are a few ways to decrease the amount of money you spend at the mall so you can keep building your savings, while still being able to buy what you need (or want!).

From a site that's filled with fun and practical information about money (Blueprint For Financial Prosperity: Earn More, Save More, Live More, Enjoy More), check out these little-known facts about credit cards.

I can't believe there are so many fun & interesting tidbits on this list!...

Got a gift card from Barnes & Noble for Christmas but haven't read a book in years? Or how about that Lane Bryant card from your Aunt Gertrude when you are a size 6?

You can always "re-gift" your unwanted treasures, but how's this for an alternative - sell or trade it instead.

There was a report on the local news here in Nashville showing how people were able to get immediate results -- much lower credit card rates -- simply by using a very specific "script" with credit card companies over the phone.

Turns out, the actual words that you say are the most important factor in your getting a lower credit card rate.

Here's the script...

Did you know this?...

If you use a DEBIT card to pump gas, and you are not asked to enter your PIN, then the moment you scan your card, $50 or so is "frozen" from your bank account in order to pay for whatever amount of gas you should eventually pump there. THEN, even if you only pump say, $20... the remaining $30 that was "frozen" is not immediately available to you?

It's true. It's called debit card blocking.

It happened to my friend the other day. And it showed up clear as day on her "bounced check" notice.

Some random money matters...

Things that could directly affect the amount of money you ultimately have left in your wallet at the end of the day, as well as future projections and things you might want to consider.

Do you like giving gift certificates as gifts?

What about receiving them? Do you mind receiving them as gifts?

So many people poo-poo the idea of gift certificates as gifts, but I say how much more PRACTICAL can you get?!?!