2007 Holiday Season

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Smart Shopping
Three Credit Dangers That Can Trip Up Your Holiday Shopping Some of the credit moves made in the name of saving money can become mighty costly down the line. Here's how to steer clear of the holiday credit danger zone. Read more...	Jump to: Smart Shopping Gift Guides Online Shopping Tips Kids and the Holidays Merry Money Management Philanthropy: Goodwill to All
• Before You Shop, Be Credit-Card Smart • The Etiquette of Office Gift Giving • How to Shop Like an Expert • Save the Most While Holiday Shopping • Celebrity Holiday Megaspenders • 2007 Gift Card Study: Consumers Love Them • Health-Care Gift Cards • Price Tag for Holiday Fraud: $3.7 Billion • Video: How to Be a Better Haggler	Video: Adventures in Toyland
Gift Guides
25 Gifts for $25 or Less The holiday squeeze is on, but you don't need to break your budget to give great gifts this year. Here are 25 ideas that will keep your friends, family, and wallet happy.
• Best Homemade Holiday Gifts • 11 Great Gadgets • Can't-Miss Classic Toys • 20 Palate-Pleasing Holiday Wines • Spoil Them With These Super Luxury Gifts
Online Shopping Tips
Online Shoppers, Get Ready for More Bargains Web merchants are ramping up a variety of incentives this season to entice you to buy. Here's how to capitalize on the promotions.
• The Real Shopping Surge: Mid-December • 20 Websites That Help You Find Red-Hot Deals • How to Be Safe and Smart When Shopping Online
Kids and the Holidays
A Parent's Holiday Survival Guide From wish list guidelines to thank-you note etiquette, here are a dozen tips to help you through the season without letting greed get the better of you or your kids.
• Gifts for Kids: How to Deal With Age Issues and Divorced Parents • Teach Your Kids Comparison Shopping • How to Find Safe Toys • Blame for Dangerous Toys Misdirected at China • Spoiled Kids? Here's the Cure • They're Making Money From Your Kids
Merry Money Management
The Ethics of Tipping and Regifting How much should you tip the people who have helped you during the past 12 months? And is it right to give someone a gift you received but don't want? Here's some guidance.
• This Holiday Season, It's Easy Being Green • A December Spending Survival Guide • Real Estate Pain Means a Sparse Holiday • 12 Ways to De-Commercialize Christmas • Trim Expenses While You Trim the Tree • Profit From Holiday Credit Card Perks • '12 Days of Christmas' Gifts More Costly • 10 Steps to Avoid Holiday Debt • How to Give at the Office Without Going Broke • 6 Tips for Savvy Holiday Shipping • How to Avoid Singing Those Holiday Spending Blues
Philanthropy: Goodwill to All
Gift Cards for a Good Cause With the gift card growing in popularity, it figures that charitable giving and gift cards would meet and marry. Find out more about the two types of cards that have emerged.
• Give Your Charitable Donation Extra Power • Video: Charity for the Holiday Season • Good Deeds Can Also Mean Good Tax Breaks • How to Steer Clear of Charity Scams • Giving as Good as You Get

Rates

See today's average rates across the country.

• Mortgage

  Loan Type	Today	Last Week
  30 Year Fixed	6.16%	5.93%
  15 Year Fixed	5.90%	5.63%
  1 Year ARM	7.32%	6.66%
  30 Year Fixed Jumbo	7.52%	7.17%
  5/1 ARM	5.93%	5.95%
  3/1 ARM	5.73%	5.76%

  Source: Bankrate
• Home Equity

  Loan Type	Today	Last Week
  $30K Home Equity Loan	7.66%	7.63%
  $50K Home Equity Loan	7.25%	7.25%
  $75K Home Equity Loan	7.26%	7.26%
  $30K HELOC	5.24%	5.28%
  $50K HELOC	4.88%	4.90%
  $75K HELOC	4.89%	4.91%

  Source: Bankrate
• Savings

  Savings Type	Today	Last Week
  6 month CD	3.15%	3.20%
  1 year CD	3.62%	3.68%
  3 year CD	3.80%	3.86%
  MMA	2.41%	2.44%
  $10K MMA	2.73%	2.70%
  $25K MMA	3.05%	3.04%

  Source: Bankrate
• Auto

  Loan Type	Today	Last Week
  36 Month New Car Loan	6.78%	6.76%
  48 Month New Car Loan	6.56%	6.54%
  60 Month New Car Loan	6.57%	6.55%
  72 Month New Car Loan	6.44%	6.44%
  36 Month Used Car Loan	7.16%	7.13%
  48 Month Used Car Loan	6.83%	6.81%

  Source: Bankrate
• Credit Cards

  Card Type	Today	Last Week
  Balance Transfer	10.31%	10.03%
  Low Interest	11.01%	10.97%
  For Bad Credit	13.02%	13.12%
  Cash Back	11.47%	11.46%
  Business	11.10%	10.91%
  Airline	12.75%	12.69%

  Source: CreditCards.com

View rates in your area

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