Will the average American middle class family rent forever?

| August 11, 2019

As the cost of education, health care, cars, etc. goes up, it should be no surprise our financing habits change in order to pay for priorities like higher education … or luxuries like newer and more reliable cars. Paying for semi-essentials is significantly more expensive than in the past and we now extend paying for […]

Volkswagen will be keeping one customer and making new ones

| September 23, 2018

According to my very pleased Volkswagen driving daughter, she’ll likely stay committed to the VW brand IF they continue to appreciate her as a customer. She was one of the first owners of the new 2018 Tiguan last year and has been very pleased with the first year vehicle. The performance, including regular 30+ mpg […]

TechFriday: What does it take to steal credit and debit cards?

| August 28, 2015

Most technology followers know the theory behind copying the swipe code from traditional magnetic credit cards, but few people swiping their cards at the gas pump realize that the “skimming device” is installed by criminals is installed out of site “inside” the gas pump. Q: If you can’t see it, how do you know your […]

What is and are the criteria for a good FICO credit score?

| December 2, 2014

In talking with a long time customer today about shopping and using credit cards, the subject of FICO scores came up since they are printed each month on Discover Card statements (nice touch Discover). He ask me what a good score was and I “sort of” knew that over 700 was good and thought 760 […]

Obamacare, Target, Neiman Marcus, etc and Identity Theft

| January 19, 2014

The much publicized Obamacare, Target and Neiman Marcus security issues are an in-your-face reminder (receive my email from Target last week) that individuals need to be wary and take precautions with their financial, medical and personal identity information. Having been through the nightmare of ID theft back in the 1990s, before companies or banks were […]

How’s your credit score doing? Check out CreditKarma.com

| December 5, 2010

Most people realize it is important it is to keep an eye on what the big three credit reporting agencies say about one’s personal credit history … particularly in this age of identity theft. (Equifax, Transunion and Experian) So, if you haven’t requested your once-a-year free report, do it now and be sure your credit […]

Keep the TDI ‘clean diesel’ tax credit deadlines in mind

| June 4, 2010

Worth mentioning if you’re considering a new Volkswagen TDI this year … via cincitdi.com Posted via web from richc’s posterous

Consumers beware: Plastic Money regulations will impact you

| February 22, 2010

If you are like me, you like having a regular routine to start the day; for me it’s the newspaper, the Gordon Deal podcast, a large cup of coffee and review of my email inbox, although I won’t encourage the large cup of coffee. Today, one of the lead stories in the news pertains to […]

The confusing world of Credit Scores

| November 29, 2009

I’ve blogged couple times on identity theft and credit reports and I thought was relatively up-to-date on on how credit reporting and ‘credit scoring’ works … but I was wrong.  I didn’t realize that the three major credit collecting and reporting companies all have their own “credit scoring system” on top of the relatively popular […]

A couple months for bigger Ford Hybrid tax credits

| January 30, 2009

There are a few changes are coming for the hybrid car buying few … and I mean car buying few … unless Washington DC pulls a few last minute strings. Tax credits are being reduced by about half, so …  if you are thinking about buying a new hybrid car this year, it might be […]

Credit Reports, Credit Scores & Credit Bureaus

| February 25, 2008

Having dealt with an identity theft issue about 5 years ago, I’ve been a bit more attentive to what is being reported on my credit report. Once a year around tax time I pull my own credit report and review the items being reported. (haven’t opted for a ‘pay for’ monitoring service just yet) This […]

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
My Desultory Blog