Penny College

Never look a gift horse in the mouth, so it is with the free TurboTax promotion from Intuit. The leader in personal finance software.  While the basic edition won’t do complicated returns, it will handle most simple returns with aplomb.

Click on link below to download for Windows or Mac.

http://turbotax.intuit.com/lp/ty11/desktop/bd3.jsp?priorityCode=8418963808&cid=em_23999_093_L4_001

In this modern age where you can purchase most things online, it’s amazing that new cars are still the one thing that are difficult to acquire online. Technology wise, there is nothing to prevent someone to create a car dealer akin to Best Buy, where someone can order a new car online with the right options, settle on a price, purchase it and pick it up on the lot.

The reality, however, is much more complicated. While most brands allow you customize options, research prices, and even contact dealerships. They do not allow you pay online and pick it up on the lot. Instead, most dealers try to get to visit them in person and may even offer to settle on a “price” then changing the price or charge for extras once you’re there.

GeekWire has a great article this week chronicling one writer’s attempt at purchasing a Prius online. The dealer he dealt with supposedly settle on a price with him only to tell him that he will need to pay for an alarm on the car after he arrived on the lot. In addition, they kept him on the lot for five hours trying to sell him extended warranties and other useless items.

The moral of the story? It’s almost impossible to purchase a new car online without dealing with dealer shenanigans that borders on the criminal. It’s a great read if you’re interested in purchasing a new vehicle. The article will present you with the pitfalls and dealer tricks to avoid.

Via GeekWire

 Well, we knew the prices for eReader would eventually reach $0 but we just didn’t think it would be so fast. Barnes and Noble’s Nook eReader, the touch screen one that can open epub files can be free through a digital subscription to NY Times or People magazine.

While we won’t sign up for the digital subscription just to get the ereader but if you’re a regular reader and potential subscriber. This may just be a great time to jump into the fold and sign up for a digital subscription.

Via Gizmodo and Barnes and Nobles

TV financial personality Suze Orman is moving for advice to directly offering a financial product to her readers – The Approved Card.

The Approved card runs in the same vein as other Direct Debit Cards such as the Rush Card or Green Dot cards. They do not require a bank account and you can use the card as you would a credit card to make purchases. However, as warn our readers in the past, these cards may make the companies and people behind them a pretty penny but they usually represent a bad deal for consumers. For one, there are monthly fees, inactivity fees, and transactions that can all add up to a hefty bill each month. In addition, unlike Credit Cards, these cards are debit based and do not add to your credit history. While we do give her credit for making the fees transparent on her site, we think most people would be better off having a regular checking account at a bank or credit union.

Nevertheless, these products do serve a niche. If you can’t open a bank account for whatever reason, this card or the American Express PrePaid card may just provide the tool you need to manage your money.

http://theapprovedcard.com/index.php

The company behind Engerizer batteries just launched a low tech cell phone product that has one killer feature. It’s a low end cell phone that’s meant to be kept and used in Emergencies. The killer feature is that the phone can technically last 15 years in standby. Even if it doesn’t last that long in real life usage, it takes a standard AA battery so you can always power it up that way.

The one caveat is that the phone require a MicroSIM card that is only compatible with AT&T or T-Mobile in the USA. So the user has to pay for and acquire the service separately. Adding complexity to a simple product. However, for what it’s worth, we like the niche it fills – An emergency cell phone that takes standard AA batteries.

One thing to note, as smart readers of this site knows. Any cell phone, even phones without active service, can call out to 911. But we don’t know many phones that can last 15 years in standby. All cell phones are designed in this manner in case of emergency. So if you’re not in a market for the $50 phone, you can always leave a charged old cell phone in the car to use in case of emergency.

Via Engadget – SpareOne

It’s the start of a new year, the perfect time to get your financial matters in order. It is also one of the best times to remind everyone that under the Fair Credit Reporting Act passed by Congress years ago that they’re entitled to a copy of their credit report from each of the three major credit agencies annually.

While there are scam sites and others that would charge you for “Credit Monitoring” services, there is actually only one legit site site set up by the three major agencies to fulfill their legal obligation – annualcreditreport.com. The site allows you to get your credit report annually free of charge from the three agencies. While there are some advertising on the site from the three agencies, you can avoid paying anything by simply ignoring or click away the ads.

If you haven’t check your credit reports recently, we highly recommend that you go there and order the report from the agencies to correct any mistakes or just see how your fare in your credit history.

http://www.annualcreditreport.com

What better way to celebrate the new years than with loved ones by your side? Well, if your loved ones are far away when the ball drops, Skype want to be there for you to share your mug with them through Skype video phone calls. Starting today and lasting until the first day of the new year, Skype is powering up their Skype Wifi network within the main tourist districts in Manhattan, including the all important Time Square.

So tonight, if you’re braving the cold in Time Square for the ball drop, you can share the moment with your special someone through a free Skype video call. Simply looking for the Skype Wifi hotspot on your wifi enabled phone.

Via Gizmodo and Skype

Have you ever move to a new town and wonder what cable companies serve the area? Or if the local phone company also offer TV service? If so, there is a new site tailor-made for this need.

The site is called whitefence.com, they site let you enter an address and pull up all the available service providers in the area. From cable tv, telephone, gas, to any other monthly service you can think of. Best of all, the list also include prices so you can compare different options directly on the site. It’s a great way to find out what your options are or if you want to see what other service providers are available for your area.

Via NY Times

www.whitefence.com

Another day, another MVNO (Mobile Mobile Network Operator). This time, the well-known Internet services company – Tucows, is launching their own entry into the wireless cell phone service market. The good thing is that they’re a well-known and respected service company so it’s not some flight by night operation. In addition, they, like Virgin Mobile and others, are leasing airtime on the Sprint network. So you get nationwide coverage with data.

We always love a affordable and healthy lunch but the two requirements usually don’t go hand in hand. Luckily, USA Today pointed out a promotion from Subway that may be music to your ears.

The deal is only good in December but for the price, we’re not complaining. For $2 in December, you can get any of the popular six inch sandwiches such as Meatball or Cold Cut combo. While we’re not huge fans of the cold cuts at Subway, the meatball sub does hit the spot once in a while.

Via: USA Today