Scam Alert! Time to Capitalize on the Economic Uncertainty

Miranda Marquit — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:15:05 +0000

With the news of banks buying other banks and all the economic uncertainty, it is no surprise that scammers are on top of this. The new email scam offers this text and a hyper link to get you to put in a bunch of personal information (thanks to Miki at Leadership Turn):

Attention Merrill Lynch Customers!

Merrill Lynch Enhanced Security Authentication
We have enhanced the Merrill Lynch Business Center security access to further safeguard access to your account information. Click on the hyperlink below and follow the prompts to answer and record answers to five personalized security questions. In the future, we may ask, ask you for answers to these questions when you log into the Business Center to ensure that only you are accessing your account information.

While this is targeted specifically at Merrill Lynch, there will no doubt be plenty of other institutions that are misrepresented.

Remember: Credible financial institutions do not solicit personal information via email. Do not follow a link to a site that asks for personal information.

Instead, go to the home page from another browser window. If something needs to be updated on your account, it will happen when you log in.

I repeat: Never, never enter personal information on a form or Web site you accessed through a link sent to you via email.

Post from: EveryJoe

Scam Alert! Time to Capitalize on the Economic Uncertainty

Lower Your Energy Costs: Alternatives to Air Conditioning

Miranda Marquit — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:32:51 +0000

One of the things I mentioned a few weeks ago was that summer is a time of increased expenses for many of us. One of the expenses we have is air conditioning. It gets hot, so you turn it on. However, in this time economic uncertainty, conserving energy is one of the ways you can save money. And one way to conserve energy and lower your energy costs is to find alternatives to air conditioning.

Happily, someone else has already done it for me. Flexo, over at Consumerism Commentary, has these suggestions for ideas that can lower your energy costs while keeping you (relatively) cool:

Fans.
Damp sheets hung in front of open windows.
Wear lighter colors and lighter fabrics.
Shades and blinds in your home.
Cooling bandanas.
Try not to use many appliances (dryer, oven, vacuum, etc.).
Mist yourself with water.
Go somewhere else. Head to the mall or other large business with air conditioning. But try to avoid doing actual shopping (and consider the cost of gas).

Some of these ideas are more practical than others. One thing we do at my house is keep the thermostat high (around 86 degrees), and then head to the lowest level of the house (a full daylight basement), where is it naturally cooler. Our air conditioner doesn’t kick on unless it gets seriously hot, and we use fans to keep the air moving upstairs so that it doesn’t get too hot up there.

What do you do to lower your energy costs during the summer?

image source: Achim Hering

Post from: EveryJoe

Lower Your Energy Costs: Alternatives to Air Conditioning

EveryJoe » economic uncertainty

Scam Alert! Time to Capitalize on the Economic Uncertainty

Lower Your Energy Costs: Alternatives to Air Conditioning