Free From Broke

A Personal Finance Blog for Regular Folks

Shopping

New Technology Makes Shopping With Your Credit Card Easier

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Most of us can’t remember a time when credit cards weren’t a part of our wallets.

Remember the Diner’s Club card?

Credit cards actually go back to the 1920’s when gas station attendants wanted to provide a system of payment for the increasing amount of automobiles on the roads.  The first cards were made out of card stock making them easy to counterfeit but as is the case with every good idea, evolution took over.

As of this year, of the households who have a credit card balance, the average amount of debt is $15,956 per household which equals total outstanding balances of $609.8 billion nationwide.

The evolution of the credit card is far from over.

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Is a Used Car Really a Better Value?

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We’ve heard it so many times.

As soon as you drive the car off the lot, it loses 25% of its value and why do you want to pay the depreciation costs?

If you purchase a used car, somebody else already paid the costs and you can get a better deal.

On the surface, the logic behind that makes a lot of sense but is it actually true that purchasing a used car is a better value than a new car?

First, let’s remember that getting the most value doesn’t necessarily mean paying the least.  Sometimes it works out that way but as we’ve all found in our day-to-day lives, buying the cheapest items may not save us money in the long run. [Read more…] about Is a Used Car Really a Better Value?

Groupon FTD.com National Deal – Double Your Value

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Groupon is at it again! 

Groupon is offering up a deal to help all those shopping for Valentine’s Day.  (They ran this deal last year too around this time).

$20 for $40 worth of flowers, gifts, and more at FTD.com!

This deal is good for online orders.  The deal will run today, February 8th, through Saturday, February 11th at 11:59pm Central.
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How to Use Gift Cards Wisely to Maximize Their Value

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The holidays have come and gone!

I’m sure many of you have gotten a gift card or two as a gift.  I know I love getting a gift card to a store I love!

Don’t go spending what’s on those cards just yet though.  With a little forethought you can make sure you use the gift card wisely and maximize it’s benefits.  This way you make the gift card more valuable.

Here are 8 ways to maximize the value of gift cards:

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