The Sun's Financial Diary

Just when you’re probably ready to pack away the holiday stuff until next year, you begin to see it all on sale at stores everywhere. Resist the urge to look away and instead dive in for great savings opportunity for both next year’s holiday season as well as throughout the year. Here’s a brief list [...]

Are you using Chase Freedom Card? If you are, then you can earn 3% cash back for a limited time, but you have to enroll in the promotional program first. From January to March 2010, Chase Freedom Card will offer cardholders 3% cash back when charging the card on Dining, Education, Childcare and Utilities, in [...]

‘Tis the season for holiday cheer, gift shopping and, fortunately, lots of savings. If you’ve ever wished you could push a “pause” button on some of the sales, especially the food sales, in order to take advantage of them later on in the year, you’re not alone. Admittedly, it’s great to be able to purchase [...]

In this age of 24 hour news, TMZ and Twitter, there’s not much that surprises me any more. It seems more and more like the ridiculous is becoming the norm. Yet, every once in a while I read something that manages to catch me off guard. I came across one such nugget this past week. [...]

With businesses still struggling to keep employees in this economy, 2009 year-end bonuses are in short supply. Even when bonuses were small, they were still fun little gifts that allowed you to put a few extra dollars into the savings account, buy a couple of fun items for yourself, and fix up your wardrobe. Just [...]

Okay, I love the holiday season. Love it. And I am the biggest sucker for holiday related consumer goods. Holiday themed peppermint flavored drinks? Yes please. Jingle bell shaped earrings? I’ll take two. The Nutcracker on ice starring that guy who did the voice of Papa Smurf? Oh, I wouldn’t dream of not buying tickets. [...]

Earlier this year, the Labor Department announced that standard deductions, federal income tax brackets, and personal exemptions for most tax filers will remain unchanged in 2010. These amounts typically rise by the rate of inflation every year. This year though with the economy still sluggish taxpayers will see no increase in these amounts which is [...]

Early last week American Express introduced a new card called ZYNC, a card that aims at young consumers in their 20′s and 30′s who are looking for credit cards that offer flexible rewards program yet don’t cost a lot to own. Since it’s a charge card, not a credit card, the cardholder is required to [...]