MoneyCafe.com

We have suspended our Monday Money feature at this time. However, current rate information can still be found on our home page at:

http://www.moneycafe.com

Thanks.

Upromise is promoting a $100,000 College Dream Sweepstakes where they will award ten prizes of $10,000 each.  Upromise is college saving service that offers a novel way to save for education needs.  It’s worth checking out for your kids or other family members.

For a limited time TrustedID, a leading identity theft protection company,  is offering a promotion that ends soon.  Receive a free Identity Theft Guide and 15% off from TrustedID (ends 7/31)  The Identity Theft Guide provides you with facts and information to help prevent Identity Theft, one of the fastest growing crimes in America.

This week Quicken Online, which is a free service, released a new free iPhone App called Quicken Online Mobile.  The new app features:

• A dynamic tilt and turn Money Forecaster which is a forward-looking visual representation of your cash so you know if you can spend what you want and still have enough to pay the bills.
• Tracking spending on the go where you simply enter your cash or other transactions and you’ll be updated real-time with Quicken Online so you have the most current view of your money.
• A GPS-enabled ATM Finder to help you avoid unwanted ATM fees.  The app points you to the closest ATM from your own bank so you don’t have to pay to withdraw money.
• Updated balances from all of your accounts: Includes checking, savings, investments and loans – in one place from over 8,500 financial institutions.
• Secure mobile access to your account information.
• The only app on the iPhone that gives you a forward-looking view of  your money so you can avoid costly mistakes.
• Easy budgeting on the go, so you can set budget goals and track how you’re doing before you’re at the register making a purchase.

 

Retirees and other eligible Social Security beneficiaries will receive $250 this month as part of the recently enacted stimulus plan.  All eligible recipients should have their money by the end of May and will arrive in the same manner as current payments (e.g. check or direct deposit).  The government has a website with all the relevant information.

Nearly 55 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will receive a one-time payment of $250 each. Individuals who were not eligible for Social Security, SSI, Veterans, or Railroad Retirement benefits at any time during the months of November 2008, December 2008, or January 2009 are not eligible for the one-time payment. 

The government website has many more details, including answers to frequently asked questions and an informative video.

See:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/payment/

Quicken has extended their discount program until May 31st.  Their discount program can save you from $20 to $50 on popular Quicken products and includes free shipping.