Cynja
The Cynja, Vol. 11: Grant is secretly scripting new software
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Sometimes it’s better to drive — or walk — to see the country
There’s a reason people live on America’s east or west coast: That’s where the opportunities are. But New York / Washington / Los Angeles / San Francisco have a lot of other natural advantages. There’s something primal about being near the ocean. There’s something historic about being near New York. [Keep reading]
Gotchas / Consumer
Two debt collectors hit with largest-ever penalty; Wall Street cheers, gobbles up shares
Two of the nation’s largest debt collectors must refund nearly $60 million to consumers and stop trying to collect on another $128 million in debts, after an action filed by federal regulators Wednesday. San Diego-based Encore Capital Group and Virginia-based Portfolio Recovery Associates are accused of pressuring consumers with false statements [Keep reading]
Gotchas / Consumer
Credit reports and credit scores will soon change — for the better
Big changes are coming to both credit scores and credit reports – some as soon as September. Thanks to a combination of state lawsuits, federal regulation, and old-fashioned competitive pressures, the way Americans are graded on their ability to pay back loans is about to enter a bit of a [Keep reading]
Features
Labor Day: Time to work that second job
One of Heidi’s biggest fears is growing old with credit card debt, but it sure looked like she was headed that way last year. That’s why Heidi took a second job. The 41-year-old, who lives near Pittsburgh, has about $30,000 in credit card debt. Right now Heidi — who asked [Keep reading]
Gotchas / Consumer
Comcast brings cell-phone-like data charges to home Internet users
Get ready for your home Internet to feel like your smartphone — bound by data caps, a large overage fee waiting to happen. Comcast gave some users the bad news Thursday — not surprisingly before a long weekend. Consumers who exceed 300 GB in a month will have to pay for [Keep reading]
RoadTrip
For $900 a month, you can have it all (in Missoula)
Jim has a two-month old baby. He’s working at 10 p.m. when I meet him, and the baby — his wife stopped in to say hi. It unclear when she will go back to work. You’d think Jim is sleep-deprived from working long hours or a second job. But he’s not [Keep reading]
Features
How do you pay off $47,000 in debt? One dollar at a time
Steve and Jennie Silha ended up in debt the way a lot of young couples do: They had children. Steve, 44, is a realist, and says the problem was pretty simple. “It really came down to the fact that we decided that my wife would be a stay-at-home mom, but [Keep reading]
How To Buy Anything
The way we buy cell phones is radically changing (but they will still cost about the same)
The next time you buy a cellphone, things will probably be very different. And better, for the most part. Nonetheless, phones have become a necessary part of our culture, with different types of phones to fit almost everyone in the world, for instance, phones for those who are busy and [Keep reading]
How To Buy Anything
Surprise! Used car loans are hot. Here’s a guide to driving away happy
Used cars have always appealed to the budget-conscious shoppers because of their low prices, but there’s always been a drawback — used car loans. Until recently, bank loans for used cars were tricky to get, and were much more expensive than new car loans. If you find yourself wanting to [Keep reading]