Related Consumer Finance Programs - The following sub-directories of companies offer a wide variety of financial programs to assist you with the management of your finances. Consolidate debt with a consolidation loan or use a debt counseling service or mortgage refinance for help with the consolidation of your charge card debt and other monthly payments.
- Debt Consolidation Services - Learn more on how debt consolidation can work for you and compare a detailed company list of lenders and related services offering help to people that need to consolidate debt.
- Personal Loan Financing - Need a smaller loan? Personal loan financing is most often unsecured. Meaning... your home or personal property is not used as collateral and the loan decision will typically be based upon your credit history and your ability to make the necessary payments. Also, this is often referred to as a signature loan.
- Debt Management Consolidation - Too many credit cards and other bills to make monthly payments on? Start here by reviewing and comparing different debt management options for getting help with your credit card bills and other monthly obligations.
Start Smart: Money Management for Teens
Gift Cards Are Great But Beware of Risks and Costs
You probably love getting gift cards for your birthday or other occasions so you can pick out exactly what you want at the store. Gift cards also are easy to buy and give to friends and relatives because they're widely available at stores and even at banks. But while gift cards may seem to be the perfect gift, they also can come with potential risks and costs. Whether you're giving or receiving a gift card, remember this:
- Watch out for fees. You may be charged a fee for purchasing a gift card. You also may have fees deducted each time you use the card at a store or restaurant. Or, you may be charged fees for not using the card, perhaps $1 or more each month after going a year or so without making a purchase. "When a fee is deducted, that's less money for you to spend," said Janet Kincaid, FDIC Senior Consumer Affairs Officer.
- Find out if there is an expiration date. "Gift cards aren't exactly like cash—they usually can't be used indefinitely," advised Kincaid. "You don't want to put gift cards away and forget about them because, if you let them expire, you could lose the entire balance on the card."
- Immediately report a lost or stolen gift card to the card issuer. Some companies will replace a lost card (for a fee), others may not.
- If you have a problem with a gift card that you can't solve by talking to a store employee, consider contacting your state government's consumer protection office, which will be listed in your local phone book or other directories.
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Summer 2006 |
Another Good Use of Your Money: Helping the Less Fortunate | |
FDIC Consumer News is published by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
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Last updated on 8/18/2006