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Since 2007, we have watched the American Dream of home ownership come under attack. Mass foreclosures are as well known as ways to renegotiate your mortgage. But many businesses offering mortgage relief are actually out to get your money and get your house. If you know how to protect yourself–with knowledge– you can avoid these very costly mistakes.

Want to know the truth? Check out this article from the Federal Trade Commission. It lists the scams most often used and the warning signs to watch out for when seeking mortgage relief help. This is a do not miss.

Flexible jobs, including shared jobs, work-from-home and freelancing, have become a new way of earning in a living, especially in a repressed economy. Employers unwilling to commit to 6-digit salaries are far more willing to contract with an experienced person on a project by project basis.

Amy’s Personal Blog is a favorite of mine. She posts about being frugal and offers some well rounded, well written articles.

Today, I offer you the chance to check out Amy’s very thorough look at Car Buying 1/10th rule and whether or not that makes sense in today’s financial climate. See the breakdown of new car vs. used car and…

Ransomed are is a new form of malware (or computer virus) that infects your computer, encrypts all your data and asks for money to get all the data back. One woman was charged $400 to get her information back. Another chose not to pay and lost everything.

Keep your system up to date and install anti-virus software to protect yourself. The data cannot be in-encrypted even by experts. And for those of us working from home the story is short, if you get this malware on your system, pay up or lose everything.

Read the full story from Nydia Han, Channel 6 Action News.

A newly released national survey by AARP highlights specific online behaviors that increase your likelihood of being victimized by fraud online, such as opening mail from unknown sources, signing up for free trial offers, and clicking on pop-up ads.

The report , “caught in the Scammers Net,” also found your likelihood of falling for scams online, in email or texts goes up if you feel isolated, are concerned about debt, have lost a job or experienced a negative change in your financial status.

Connie Thompson writes a full article here and you do not want to skip this one.

Proctor + Gamble, makers of Tide Detergent have decided to not try one, but 3 ways to raise prices on consumers.
1. It seems to be passing on a straight list price increase of about 13% to retailers on Tide+ products.
2. But it is also downsizing the product AND apparently diluting it (or making you use more).
3. Dropping the standard size bottle from 100 fluid ounces to 90 fluid ounces.

So you spend more to buy less and have to use more to get the job done! Seems like it is time to check out the competitors. Arm + Hammer anyone?

Check out the full story from the New York Times.

“There was a time when the 3,000 miles was a good guideline,” said Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor for the car site Edmunds.com. “But it’s no longer true for any car bought in the last seven or eight years.”

Oil chemistry and engine technology have improved to the point that most cars can go several thousand more miles before changing the oil, Mr. Reed said. A better average, he said, would be 7,500 between oil changes, and sometimes up to 10,000 miles or more.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board ran public service announcements for several years about “the 3,000-mile myth,” urging drivers to wait longer between oil changes. Although the information is a few years old, the board has a list of cars on its Web site and how often they need oil changes. The concern is not only the cost to drivers, but the environmental impact of throwing away good oil, said Mark Oldfield, a recycling specialist for the agency.

Need some new shoes? New pants for the kids? Well, don’t pay full price again! Online coupons for your favorite retail department stores like Target, Wal-Mart, Victoria’s Secret and more are available online.

For online shopping, try a Google search for (your favorite store and coupon). You would be shocked how many stores offer online discount codes you can use for online shopping. You can also subscribe to sites like RetailMeNot that send coupons right to your inbox.

You can also subscribe to retail discount member sites like Ideeli with up to 70% savings on designer brands. For home and garden discount shopping, try One Kings Landing for huge savings on tableware and home decor items, including one-of-a-kind antique items.

Happy Savings! But remember, to really save, use the coupons to save on what you already need and were planning to buy.

Groceries are a budget item you can’t avoid. Now you can go the Extreme Couponing route quick and easy from your cellphone. Download additional coupons to add on top of rewards savings.

Most grocery stores have rewards programs with deals on items you buy everyday. Some like Safeway, even offer discounts on gas with affiliated stations. Check…

Groceries are a budget item you can’t avoid. Now you can go the Extreme Couponing route quick and easy from your cellphone. Download additional coupons to add on top of rewards savings.

Most grocery stores have rewards programs with deals on items you buy everyday. Some like Safeway, even offer discounts on gas with affiliated stations. Check for your favorite grocery store Apps at the Android Marketplace or APPs Store at Apple. Check out apps for Safeway, Luckys, YesRewards and Weekly Ads & Sales Pro.

Enjoy the savings!