Save Money On Your Next Meal

If you are looking to save money on your next date or family night out, check out EatDrinkDeals.com. The website provides information on the latest deals from restaurants like Applebees, Chipotle, Olive Garden, and KFC. The site also provides online coupons and happy hour specials. Komo News recently published a list of  websites that help consumers save on dining out. Aside from EatDrinkDeals.com, the list also included Restaurant.com and Bitehunter.com.

What is your favorite method for finding deals on meals from local restaurants?

*Jonesjustice Blog is not associated with EatDrinkDeals.com. No compensation was received for this recommendation.

FICO Scores Now Available in Spanish

For the first time ever, consumers will be able to access their credit reports and receive FICO scores in Spanish. Market Watch reports that FICO has just launched myFICO.com en Espanol. The site provides over 600 pages of consumer financial education materials and is the first website to provide complete access to credit scores in Spanish. FICO also helps millions of English speaking individuals manage their personal credit  through www.myFICO.com.

To get your credit report en Espanol, visit http://espanol.myfico.com

Free Financial Education Program for College Students

According to PR Web, The National Financial Educators Counsel (NDEC) is providing a free financial literacy program to colleges in an effort to teach students the importance of financial responsibility. Exposure to financial concepts at an early age can help young adults learn personal finance skills needed later in life. With student loan defaults on the rise, it is NDEC's goal to provide as much valuable information to undergraduates as possible. The initiative provides universities with a number of resources including workshops, awareness campaigns, video learning centers, and even interactive games.

What was the most important lesson you learned about money in college?

Walmart Offers Free Tax Prep

It's tax season again! Starting today, January 9th, Walmart is offering free simple tax preparation for its customers through a partnership with top tax companies, H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt. This is the second year that H&R Block is offering complimentary preparation of 1040EZ forms at kiosks in various Walmart locations. According to SFGate, the service will be available in stores through February 29th. Customers will have the usual options to receive their refunds via check, direct deposit, or as a prepaid card for those without bank accounts.

Will you be using a professional tax service or filing your own taxes this year?

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Role in Protecting You

The White House Blog recently released information about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and its role in protecting consumers from unfair and illegal lending practices. Previously, this responsibility was divided among many different departments with no single Federal agency in charge of overseeing the whole market. The CFPB is now the single entity in charge of monitoring and regulating financial products including making credit card, mortgage, and loan agreements more user friendly.

The primary roles that CFPB plays are to educate consumers and ensure they understand the fine print on credit and loan agreements, enforce consumer protection laws and regulate lending institutions, and research consumer complaints and financial markets for new risks. For more information visit The White House Blog.

What other measures do you think the Government should be take to protect consumers from unfair lending practices? How much responsibility do you think falls on consumers to protect themselves?

Companies Offer New Credit Cards In Exchange For Promise To Pay Old Debts

There is a growing trend in the debt collection world. Although the practice has been around for many years, it is gaining popularity due to the large number of people with low credit scores that prevent them from obtaining credit. According to The Consumerist, banks and debt collectors are teaming up to offer credit cards to individuals with debt that has expired under the statute of limitations, in exchange for the promise that they will pay a portion of that old debt back. The problem is, once the consumer agrees to pay back even a portion of the old debt, it is renewed; thus allowing the collection company to make money on expired debts that they otherwise would be barred from collecting.

Would you be willing to sign up for a new credit card if it meant renewing your obligation to pay an old debt?

States Raise Minimum Wage for 2012

According to Bankrate.com, 8 states have raised their minimum wage. These states include Florida, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, and Vermont. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that these raises will increase GDP by $366 million. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour or just over $15,000 annually. The elevated wages will amount to approximately $15 extra income per week.

During this economic climate, do you think these increases are sufficient?