US Finance World

You can make bumper returns on your cash by locking it away in these ace accounts!

Since March 2009, the Bank of England’s base rate has been firmly stuck at an all-time low of 0.5% a year. While ultra-low rates are great for mortgage borrowers, they’ve caused savers huge stress.

What’s more, with savings rates plunging to lifetime lows, it’s almost impossible for cash deposits to beat the steeply rising cost of living. Right now, inflation is running at 5.2% a year, which beats 99.9% of savings accounts hands down!

One way to fight back against low savings rates is to lock away your cash for pre-arranged periods.

By ‘handcuffing’ your cash for a year or more, you can dramatically boost the returns it earns.

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Unless you get your clothes dry cleaned, wire coat hangers are getting harder to find. Everyone seems to appreciate the plastic and wood models more these days and those are the hangers you’ll find in stores. I’ll bet, though, that you have a stash of old wire hangers in your closet. Wire hangers have a lot of uses besides just hanging clothes. Many of these uses can replace other commercially available products, saving you money. Rather than just tossing your old hangers, here are some other uses for them.

Snake a drain or toilet: If you don’t own a “real” snake for unclogging pipes, a straightened coat hanger can work just as well. Just work it around in the drain or toilet and you’ll probably dislodge whatever is causing the blockage.

Marshmallow/hot dog toasting stick: If you’re into camping, you can buy commercial toasting forks or just skewer your goodies on a straightened hanger. (Use unpainte

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Discount broker has a refer-a-friend offer where a new account holder can get a $100 cash bonus if you are referred by a existing member and fund the account with $10,000 within 60 days of receiving the invitation. A minimum $10,000 balance must stay in the account for the subsequent 90 days. So thats a guaranteed 1% ROI in 3 months, an annualized return of 4% on your cash. The referring person from the Zecco Friends Program also gets $100.

Zecco has $4.95 stock trades, and no minimum balance requirement or inactivity fees. If you would like a referral, please and Ill send you one within 24 hours. All I need is an e-mail, but you must use that specific e-mail to open your new account, as well as click on the special application link (Get Started Now) in the referral e-mail that you receive. Thanks!

As consumer outrage over bank fees reaches a fever pitch, financial institutions are rolling out new ad campaigns, sign-on bonuses and other marketing to entice you to make a bold leap — and switch banks.

In a survey earlier this year, 64% of Americans told Bankrate.com that they would think about switching financial institutions if their checking account fees increase. And banks have given them plenty to chew on: Citibank announced earlier this month that starting in December, it would charge a $20 monthly fee to mid-level checking customers who have less than $15,000 in combined account balances with the bank. In late September, Bank of America revealed plans for a monthly $5 fee to make purchases via debit card, which will go into effect in January. “There’s usually a departure between what people say and what they actually do, but the fee issue is front of mind for many consumers,” says Greg McBride, a senior financial analyst for Bankrate.com.

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Disputes over hedges, driveways and unrelenting noise are nothing new but if you are thinking of moving in the current stagnant housing market, it might just pay to keep your annoyance to yourself.

Everybody needs good neighbours. We should be there for one another. Right?

Not if figures from one insurance company are to be believed. According to CPP, a million homeowners have been forced to move because of disputes with their neighbours.

Top of the list of complaints were:

• home and garden maintenance issues,
• excessive noise,
• boundary disputes,
• stolen parking spaces and
• trespassing children.

The trouble is, when it comes to selling up, your battles with those people on the other side of the fence/wall aren’t things you can always keep to yourself.

When it comes to the information you need to tell anyone interested in buying your property, problem neighbours come top of the list.

So if you are in a dispute with your neighbour that has become serious, it’s likely that it’s going to be harder to sell your home. Somet

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