Don't Get Fooled by Financial Urban Legends

When it comes to money, there are lots of things that we wish were true that simply are not. Catherine Williams, VP of financial literacy at Money Management International, shares some of the legends she has heard from clients. All of these ideas have a grain of truth in them, but are largely false:
1. You can float a check longer if you write in red ink
2. Income tax is illegal
3. If you are under 18, you can't be held accountable for a debt
4. Your hotel key card encodes your credit card information
5. Boycotting a few gasoline brands will bring down gas prices
6. It's better if you don't sign the back of your credit card
7. You can make a lot of cash by helping a foreigner solve his money problems (also, You can win a lot of money in a lottery you have never entered).
8. You can opt out of having credit bureaus share your information
9. If you pay more than the fine on a traffic ticket, and don't cash the refund, you will avoid getting "points" on your license
10. Hotel Bibles often have $100 bills tucked in them

Remember, just because your brother's friend's uncle's accountant was the source for the information doesn't mean it's true.

Get all the details: 10 Financial Urban Legends
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Healthy Computing

After a long day in front of the computer, does your back ache? is there pain when you move your wrists? MacWorld has some useful guidelines for setting up an ergonomic computer workspace. Get the right chair, set up your computer at the right height and angle and maintain good posture, and you'll feel a lot better.

This information is good for Windows users too!

Read the article: Rearrange Your Workspace

Technorati Tags: ergonomics, computer
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Prevent the Flu This Winter

The CDC suggests the following tips to avoid getting the flu:

• Get Vaccinated, preferably in October or November

• Practice Good Health Habits:
1. Avoid close contact with people who are sick
2. Stay home when you are sick
3. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough
4. ** Wash your hands often **
5. Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth
6. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

The CDC does not recommend the use of the antiviral drugs amantadine or rimantadine for the treatment or prevention (prophylaxis) of influenza A in the United States for the remainder of the 2005-06 influenza season.

Get all the information about preventing the flu.

Technorati Tags: flu prevention, health, influenza
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Are you an inventor? Don't get scammed.

Are you always tinkering in your garage? Have you got the greatest idea since the Bass-O-Matic? In short, are you an inventor?

You've probably seen those ads on TV that promise to help you get a patent. They make it sound so easy: they do the work and you end up with a patented marketed product. You send away for the "free" inventor's kit, fill out a form, and you get back a nice report explaining that your invention is both patentable and marketable. All you have to do is send them a few thousand dollars and you have it made! Unfortunately, there are lots of companies out there that will take your money and leave you with little to show for it. What's the scam?

These firms provide you with basic market research at a large fee and ultimately obtaining an overly narrow or useless patent that is worthless in the marketplace.

The USPTO has put out a scam prevention guide for inventors (pdf). Their top ten warning signs of a scam:
1. slick advertising
2. refusal to respond to your legitimate questions in writing
3. pressure to send money immediately
4. advice to describe your idea in writing and mail it to yourself
5. no promise of a patentability opinion by a patent attorney or patent agent
6. guarantee of a patent or your money back
7. advice to apply for a design patent
8. difficult to reach salespeople or company officials
9. gushing claims that your idea is a "sure-fire hit"
10. refusal to provide client references

Read the USPTO's advice as to what questions you should have answered (in writing) before sending money or signing a contract. It's probably also a good idea to see if there have been any complaints filed about the company you are looking into.

What can you do instead of hiring an invention promoter? Read all the information on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Inventor Resources page. If you don't want to file for a patent yourself, search the database of patent agents and attorneys licensed to practice before the USPTO. Don't trust your fantastic idea to a company that is only interested in taking your $$$$.

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Protect Yourself When You Respond to a Personal Ad

A few months ago an ethics-challenged (at least to my mind) guy named Jason Fortuny posted an explicit female classified ad on Craigslist. This fake ad drew a lot of responses, and Jason posted all the personal information the responders sent online. Since then, there have been copycats. So, how do you protect yourself if you do want to respond to a personal ad? Sex and sexuality writer Violet Blue explains some of the ways you can protect yourself and your privacy. She also shares a few tips on the best way to post your own ad. The first rule is to NOT use your regular email address. Check out her "Howto: Protect Yourself from The Craigslist Experiment" for all the details.

Technorati Tags: personal ads, craigslist,privacy
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Draft a Good Complaint Letter

Have you ever been dissatisfied by a purchase? Were you rudely treated in a store? Did you pay for a service that didn't live up to your expectations?

Write a letter! Consumerist tells you how to write a complaint letter that should be effective.

Technorati Tags: consumer protection, business, complaint
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Rules for Advertising and Marketing on the Internet

If you are doing business in the United States, you need to follow the rules enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. They have created a nice overview
In brief:
• Advertising must tell the truth
• Advertising must not mislead consumers
• Claims must be substantiated
• Disclaimers must be "clear and conspicuous"
• Demonstrations of a product must show how it will perfomr under normal use.
• If you promise refunds, you must make refunds to dissatisfied customers

There are additional issues if your advertising is directed to children, or if you are a "franchise or business opportunity" seller.

Get all the details from the FTC's Advertising and Marketing on the Internet: Rules of the Road

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Prevent and Detect Breast Cancer

October is national breast cancer awareness month. In that spirit, I'd like to point out the National Cancer Institute's guide to breast cancer prevention. There are many risk factors that you cannot control, and even without any risk factors you might still get cancer. There is no form of "prevention" that is %100 perfect. What you can do is reduce the risk as much as you can. The overview discusses known factors that increase the likelihood of getting breast cancer, including:

- exposure to the hormone estrogen
- obesity
- drinking alcohol

Other less proven factors include:
- environment
- diet, although a diet rich in beta-carotene, folate and vitamins A and C shows promise

The best thing you can do to protect yourself is get a mammogram. Early detection is the key to surviving breast cancer.

Read NCI's guide to breast cancer prevention.

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Beware of Work-At-Home Scams

CNN exposes six of the most common work-at-home scams:

1. Nigerian Check Cashing Scams
2. Reshipping Scams
3. Envelope Stuffing Scams
4. Medical Billing
5. Work-at-Home Job Lists
6. Phishing

They give some common sense advice, including:
- never forward or transfer money from your personal account on behalf you your employer
- do not give out personal financial information
- do not fax copies of your ID or Social Security Number

Get the full details from the original article: Too Good to Be True?

Technorati Tags:business, scams, work at home

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Welcome to Get a Clue News

Sometimes the obvious doesn't become clear until someone points it out to you. Sit back while Ms. Nonny shares common sense and wisdom from around the web!
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