"We
conquer by continuing."
- George
Matheson
Forget naming her
Kaneesha or LaQuanda. Today's parents are
torturing their offspring with product names
like Lexus, Armani and Chanel: While
I haven't seen "Viagra" or
"Fleet" show up on the list yet, at
least these new "trendy" names are gonna
be easier to spell.....
Wanna save some
medical bucks in 2004? Ask your Doc to waive your
co-insurance payment! It's an amazing
development to keep in mind during the next (new)
year. Some doctors and clinics-eager to help
hard-pressed patients or calculating that it can
benefit their business-have begun to foil the
cost-control efforts by waiving those extra
charges. According
to The New York Times: "Doctors
are waiving coinsurance payments for several
reasons, analysts say: to recruit patients who
would otherwise go to doctors on a health plan's
preferred list; to help people struggling with the
cost of care, and to reduce their own costs for
processing insurance paperwork and dunning
patients who are slow to pay. These doctors can
afford to pass up the payments because the
out-of-network fees they collect from insurers
often are higher than those they would collect as
members of a health plan's network." Don't
"turn-and-cough" until you've read more
about this positive patient trend.....
Just say "no,"...not yet, anyway:
More
teenagers are saying "no" to sex, and
the experts aren't sure why. If I go any further,
I'll get myself into trouble-so
keep
your shirt (and your pants) on and read more.....
Just
when you thought you were safe...Valentine's Day
is only 46
days away! Get ahead of the game with some
timely and even affordable gifts.
How about.....
NostraDover strikes again-this
time warning you about the unnecessary exercise of
filling out warranty cards: I've called
it consistently the last six years and
as
recently as my Christmas Day column in The Dallas
Morning News...and now our pals at
The
New York Times agree with my anti-warranty
card insights.
Dontcha love
the amazing resources I compile every
week in the Dose of Dover? Good! Then don't whine
about having to sign-up for free access:
Like anything in life,
there's always gonna be a trade-off on some
level. I embed dozens of links in every edition
of this newsletter, and my frequent sources,
The
New York Times, The
Dallas Morning News, The
Los Angeles Times, The
Orange County Register and
USA
Today require
varying levels of registration in order to
access their websites for free...with
one small caveat: If you try to hit an older story,
there's a reasonable chance that the news
organization has either moved the story to a new
URL, or to their archives. If it's
archived, there's a high probability that
they'll charge you for access to the
story...usually under $3. Don't whine
about it...just pay 'em if you wanna read it--or
not. It's always your choice.
Also
worth noting: Nowhere
is it written that you have to give accurate
information when you sign up for free access on
their website. They'd like
you to, but they'll never really know. So use a
disposable e-mail address (like Hotmail
or Yahoo)
and get creative when you register. But
just remember: They/we are giving
you a tremendous service for a great
price...free! So no
complaining...
Are you a
consistent winner at the blackjack tables? You
might already be on "The List"
and in "The Computer." (The
Transportation Security Administration should be
so thorough...): It's probably the
most sophisticated face recognition-based computer
system in use today, and of course the casinos are
using it to minimize their losses. Let's
put a call out to William H. Macy, order
up another Double
Turkey Rocks and read
more about it....
Got
any plans for New Year's Eve? It's only 1
day away but there's lots of deals right here in
your own backyard if you know where to look! Get
more bang for your celebratory-buck...check
out Ben's always reliable, no-brainer choice
for consistently affordable and
competitively priced hotel room or condo
deals: www.hotels.com.
Literally 100% of
the mediocre TV sitcoms through history can thank
one man for their existence: Charles
Douglass died earlier this year but his legacy
lives on everytime you turn on the tube.
He
invented a machine that most of us hate, but it
works. Read what "it"
is.....
Hey y'all-it's hi-tech
software that can interpret a twang-and more: Ever
wonder how that computer can figure out what "those
other people" are saying? Here's
how they're doing it.
It's the
car industry's answer to having a wife telling
you how to drive-without the
muss-and-fuss of marriage: The
brainiacs at M.I.T. are convinced that you need a
back-seat driver helping you drive and
so far, Chrysler's listening. (Will you?)
Speaking of cars,
here's a New Year's Resolution for 2004 I
hope you'll add to your list:
Don't
get suckered in by countless (empty) radio-commercial
claims from car leasing companies out to hook
you, wear you down...and beat you into an emotional
(and maybe financial) pulp!
Check
out Ben's free Smart Car Seminar automotive
acquisition tips right
here!
This
is a no-brainer, and they're the first and last
automobile leasing company you'll ever need to
deal with, no matter where you
live...Benjamin Dover-endorsed Manufacturers
Auto Leasing! They
have loyal clients across the entire state of
Texas and around the nation. Why?
Because they'll take care of
you better than anyone else out there!
By
the way: If
you're facing one of those upside-down scenarios
(car business term meaning you're financially
buried), or maybe you simply want to bail on
your current vehicle and need someone to get
creative on your behalf, Manufacturers
Auto Leasing is
the best in the business.
Period.
Forget finding Osama or keeping up with Michael
Jackson's latest sleep over-related litigation.
Here's the hottest national obsession-tracking
your deliveries on-line:
Trust me,
you'll be able to track your holiday shipments
(next year...work with me here) even more
efficiently after the homeruns hit by the nation's
biggest shippers.
Tough
ship!?! Not any more.....
Speaking of
Michael Jackson, someone call 911! I think he's gonna
slit his wrists!!! The former
black entertainer/current bleached-out and surgically-abused
nutbag spilled for 60
Minutes' Ed Bradley Sunday night. Read
why Mikey had better get out the bandages
soon.....
Wanna know why Delta
proves once again that it means Don't Ever
Leave The Airport? Here's
why.
Barbie's feeling
the heat?!? Find
out why this generation's little girls are
actually a buncha Brats-I mean Bratz.....
Speaking
of Barbie, rumor has it that toy manufacturer
Mattel is trying to keep pace with the competition
and will be releasing the new "Divorced
Barbie" in 2004: This
newest Barbie will sell for a record $375-and of
course it'll come with all of Ken's
stuff-Ken's car, Ken's house and furnishings, half
of Ken's IRA.....
I hate the
cable companies of the world...wanna know why?
Perhaps it's because of their cavalier
attitude, rising prices and crappy service.
Here's the perfect New Year's Resolution that'll
be appreciated every single day of 2004...and
beyond! (And
here's why I love my Dish!)
More death related
conspiracies swirling around Buckingham Palace:
Was Princess Di pregnant when she died? Was she
murdered? C'mon...that's old news. Read
about the latest outbreak of violence from
Britain's Royal Family.....
Are
ya broke from your calendar-induced annual
spending spree but still looking for a cool birthday
(or other special occasion) gift that'll keep on
giving, all
year
long? Of
course I've got a self-serving solution...give
'em a subscription to the Dose
of Dover...the
most reliable source of
insight and no s*** ideas available on the planet.
(You can afford it...it's free!)
Time to share the wealth!
Sign-up for a subscription
to the weekly Dose of Dover Newsletter right
here!
- Make your attorney or accountant happy!
If their fees are
business-related, pay their bills in 2003 (or at
least pay down the current balance) in the
remaining days of the year. Tack on professional
memberships (I doubt your health or country club
memberships qualify, but you might ask your
accountant now, just in case), work-related
magazines and newspaper subscriptions (you'd
better believe I write off my subscription to
The Dallas Morning News and The Wall Street
Journal!) and just watch that tax bill
disappear.
- Did you lose your job in 2003?
Don't forget those potential job-hunting expense
deductions: Stuff like resume preparation and
travel costs may be deductible, depending on
whether you itemize or not. (And no, I don't
think that "trip to the Caymans" in
search of a job will pass the smell test if you
ever get audited.)
-
Charity never sleeps:
Are we worn out with the holiday giving theme,
yet? Plenty of charities are open today to
accept your donations...especially area shelters
that can benefit from all of the clothes you
need to clean out of your drawers and closets to
make room for your newest acquisitions. All of
that "junk" in your garage or storage
unit can be turned into gold, in the form of
charitable donation receipts over the next few
days, too.
- How did you do in the stock market over the
last couple of years?
Sorry to bring up a
sore subject, but Dallas CPA and Investments
advisor Gerald "Kep" Kepner of www.bizcoach.com
says maybe it's time to donate some of those
"dog investments": "Charitable
contributions are made at "Fair Market
Value," (FMV) so the FMV of the donation
can be deducted as a charitable deduction, and
the taxpayer will have a capital loss between
what they paid (for the dogs) and what they were
worth when donated. For many investors, it's
better to either sell or donate what's left of
their "great investments" and stop
worrying about their performance.
They don't realize that when an investment loses
75% of its value, it's going to take a 400%
increase to get back to even!"
Come on, Jerry! All
Kramer, George & Elaine want is to prove
they're really masters of their domains-give 'em a
little piece of the pie: The first
three seasons of Seinfeld on DVD will undoubtedly
make the top of holiday gifts lists for Festivus
in 2004-read more about the dollar-based
controversy surrounding this project.....
Know the best
place to hide a wireless microphone? Tiger dookie.
At least that's what the CIA has done in the past.
Check
out the intelligence agency's Hall of Spytoys
Fame.....
Here's how to double the
bang for your gifting buck: Give gift cards!
I've been a fan of gift certificates forever, and
the surge in popularity has to be from today's
slicker/easier-to-use packaging of the gift card.
What many of you don't realize is how much more
you're giving when you utilize this type of
gifting vehicle.
A
$50 gift card may actually be worth as much as
$100 or more! How? Simple. You
buy the card pre-December 25th, the
recipient uses it on December 26th
(or later) to take advantage of all of those
post-Christmas holiday sales. Suddenly that $50
coffee table book is marked down to $25, and the
dollar value of that gift card has just doubled.
But be careful
with gift cards! Bankrate.com's
Lucy Lazarony recently compiled a list of gift
card landmines for 2003 that will surely
re-surface during the 2004 buying frenzy.
Here's a summary of what Lucy found from many of
this year's popular gift cards:
The
card:
Bloomingdale's Gift Card
The look: Harry
Connick Jr. holding an armful of holiday gifts
The downside: Cannot
be redeemed for cash
The card: Hilary Duff Prepaid Visa
The look: The teen
star, wearing lots of pink, floating on a raft
in a swimming pool
The downside: A $2
monthly account maintenance fee kicks in after
six months
The card: Bank of America Visa Gift Card
The look: Christmas
and Hanukkah designs
The downside: Service
fees ranging from $5.95 to $11.95
The
card: National
City Prepaid Visa Gift Card
The look: Snowflakes
The downside: $4.95 to
$8.95 shipping and handling fee, plus a $2.50
fee if you don't use a National City debit or
credit card to purchase the gift card
The card: CharterOne MasterCard Gift Card
The look: Special card
designs for Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa
The downside: You pay
a $2 fee for each ATM withdrawal you make with
the card
The card: Target Gift Card
The look: A puppy in a
stocking, red snowflake in a swirl, colored bows
and holidays from around the world
The downside: $1.95
shipping charge for cards ordered online
The
card: Borders Gift Card
The
look: Harry Potter, SpongeBob Squarepants,
or more traditional design of a gift box with
stripes
The downside: Not
returnable or redeemable for cash
The
card: Barnes and Noble Gift Card
The look:
The Cat in the Hat
The downside:
Will not be replaced if lost or stolen
The
card:
Blockbuster Gift Card
The look: Finding Nemo,
SpongeBob Squarepants, Hello Kitty, Lord of the
Rings
The downside: Will not
be replaced if lost or stolen
Oh
boy, I can't wait to get my annual holiday
"gift" in the mail from the IRS:
Yes, 2003 tax kits start
showing up in the mail later this week, at least
to those of us that are in good standing with
the tax man.
But
if you're one of millions of taxpayers that are
"off the IRS radar, why not make
"getting right" with them a top
priority on your New Year's To Do List for
'04? Don't
even think about trying to make a deal with 'em
on your own, since lousy advice
could not only cost you dearly, it could really
jack up your total tax bill...late fees,
interest and/or fines can jump to levels that'll
make you think about heading south of the
border. If
you've got some tax-related challenges, make
2004 your year to tie down those
loose-ends on your terms and get a deal
worked out before it's too late.
Non-filers...innocent spouses...941 (payroll
taxes) for the entrepreneurs amongst us: Know
all your options and learn why hiring an
Enrolled Agent probably makes the most sense.
Law enforcement just
busted-up what may be the longest running
con-game in history...and it flourished because
of greedy participants: Thousands
of suckers have lost their life savings to Jim
Lewis, many of whom were duped in the name of
God.
The Sacratomato-based Ponzi scheme should
serve as a lesson to everyone seeking big
investment returns-"If
it sounds too good to be true...."
Adjustable rate
mortgages are thriving these days even though
interest rates remain low and flat:
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association,
27.8% of home loan applicants last week opted
for adjustable interest rates, double the
proportion of applicants seeking ARMs last July.
It's been nearly four years since ARMs enjoyed
such a high market share.
Normally, borrowers gravitate to ARMs when
interest rates start upward, or remain
persistently high:
Following form, a
spike in interest rates last summer sparked the
latest move. What's unusual: The proportion of
ARM borrowers remains high even though the
30-year fixed rate has been close to 6% since
August.
Here's
why.
Speaking of
interest rates, you know you've gotta be
careful about who you hire to finance
(or re-finance) your home! Didja
hear about the mortgage company that was able to
step in and close a "tough" loan on
less than 24 hours notice? Despite all of
the paperwork and (perceived) brain-damage that
goes with the home buying process, the first
mortgage company that was supposed to close fell
apart and set the stage for the save of the
century by my friends at W.R.
Starkey Mortgage. And
what's really amazing about this story are the
facts of the deal: A pock-marked credit
report, a non-conforming loan and a short-fuse
couldn't keep Starkey from delivering the goods
for a grateful homeowner, which brings me to the
moral of the story...
Don't
screw around with a buncha pikers that make mortgage
promises they'll never be able to keep!
You might think you're getting a good deal,
but it'll likely blow up in your face
when push-comes-to-shove and they can't
close. Then your problems really
begin. W.R.
Starkey has the Dover Seal of Approval
because they're the best, no-B.S. mortgage
company in the nation...period.
They deliver and
make home buyers the winners and
long-term beneficiaries of Starkey's commitment
to their company positioning statement:
"A
different kind or mortgage company where
people come first."
You really can bank on it,
folks.
Take
the Dover-proven route to
stress-free finance, and take advantage
while interest rates are STILL at
incredibly-low levels! Ben's
no-brainer choice for any/all of your
mortgage needs? Easy...do
it all on-line
or on the phone with
the official mortgage company of www.benjamindover.com
and your
first (and only) stop: W.R.
Starkey Mortgage.
It's
easy to get educated about the process
first...(plus the price is
right...how about free?!?)
Everything you need to
know is only a click away. Get your copy
of Ben's new 2004
Home Buyer's Guide by clicking here.
Looking for the
latest Mad Cow-related news? Of
course we've got the only live audio
from a cattle feedlot somewhere in Washington
state.....
If
you're paying a monthly service charge for the
"privilege" of having a checking
account, you're probably throwing a buncha cash
away! Find out how to make your
bank back down...Plus:
Corporate America's soaking us with stealth fees
designed to pad their bottom lines...here's what
you can do to stop 'em in their tracks...And:
Do yourself a favor in '04 and make at least one
phone call that'll protect you and everyone
around you! Guiding you through life's
mine-field (one broken New Year's Resolution at
a time) check
out the January 1, 2004 edition of Ask Benjamin
Dover from The Dallas Morning News right here!
