"You may be disappointed if you fail,
but you are doomed if you don't try."
Easiest way to get AAdvantage miles? Know where to swing a free ticket on American! They’re goin’ after JetBlue and we’re the beneficiaries–I just wish JetBlue would start flyin’ outta DFW. Here’s why.
Have some real fun on your next vacation...ditch the kids and go topless! At least that's the pitch from some high-end resorts catering to "adults who want their own space." (By the way, they're hoping it's the Moms who will drop their tops.)
Hmmmmmm, time to get that bikini wax and pack a bag.....
Okay, so maybe you're ready for a more traditional (clothing mandatory): Get more bang for your travel-buck...check out Ben's always reliable, no-brainer choice for consistently affordable and competitively priced hotel room or condo deals: www.hotels.com.
Wanna cut the cost of buying new CDs or DVDs? Dump your old/less-than-favorite titles: Blockbuster’s getting aggressive on the trade-in front; they’re about to give us more ways to weed out the garbage in the months ahead...
It’s simple to avoid an audit from the IRS. Don’t bite on their supposed "freebie" offers: Bottom line? "Free" has a huge price; think of a big red target on your 1040-backside..... I suspect they’ll change their tune in the next few days as a result of the firestorm/fallout of this story.
The IRS announced last week that they’re adding 2,200 workers to beef up tax-enforcement, reflecting their current emphasis to reduce tax-cheating by increasing the use of machines to replace people for more routine tasks: E-filing is having a major impact, allowing them to "harvest benefits" of technology. Not good news for us little guys and girls, here’s why.
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. Tie down those loose-ends in 2004 but do it on your terms by getting 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.
Hey guys--here are the Top 10 Ways To Tell If She's Flirting With You: Providing a public service in the name of lust love–just in time for Valentine’s Day.....
And just when you thought you were safe...Valentine's Day is now only 32 days away! Get ahead of the game with some timely and even affordable gifts. How about.....
Speaking of Mom & Dad...if they own their own home, here's an easy way to flush out some cash and let them enjoy the fruits of their labors: Read all about reverse mortgages right here!
As long as we're talkin' about houses, mortgage rates inched up again late last week, but regardless of interest rates, you've really 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-and-improved 2004 Home Buyer's Guide by clicking here.
Know anyone who may want to rent a trailer? They might be shut-out by the nation’s biggest network of "drive-and-drops." Here’s why.
I’ll betcha this doctor’s favorite George Harrison song used to be "While My Guitar Gently Weeps": This guy obviously forgot the Hippocratic Oath; apparently he’s not the only one who’s trying to make a living off Dead Beatles.
Speaking of "collectibles," if you're looking for a sports-related memento to give that special someone for Valentine's Day, look no further: From bowl rings to autographed basketballs, baseballs or helmets, no matter where you live, the Internet makes these items totally accessible and affordable (call them to see what's in stock). Here's your one-stop/trustworthy (and publicly-traded) source!
(Oh here’s a surprise...not!) Personal bankruptcy filings hit a record in 2003. Read more about the two-sided blood-letting.....
Don't let those bottom-feeding tele-terrorists scare you (or someone you know/love) into making even worse financial decisions! Here's where you can get your hands on Ben's popular pull-no-punches books and fire the debt collectors! Or maybe you need to take legal actions and clear the slate in '04? Read more here.....
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...
Pajamas are chicks' latest casual wear trend. Dammit...why can’t they hit Victoria’s Secret instead of the flannel aisle at Wal-Mart? Here’s one more example of why I was born 20 years too early.....
Pajama Lingerie parties–Part II: From the "how can I get on the invite list" department–"nightlife with nighties" is even getting ink in places like The Wall Street Journal. Read how major hitters like the Ritz-Carlton and the Fairmont are cashing in on this newest trend in female bonding.....
Use a Gomer Pyle inflection–Surprise! Surprise!! Surprise!!! A new study finds that for-profit health insurers are just as likely as not-for-profit ones to pay for costly operations for the elderly such as heart bypasses and knee replacements: And here’s even more good news...Patients in for-profit plans were actually more likely to undergo two operations: minimally invasive gallbladder removal and removal of a cancerous colon segment. It sure makes getting older worthwhile, don’t it?
Think your bills are high? Shut ’yer pie-hole and turn off the faucet: I wonder if Neverland Ranch’s water bill is this high. (If nothing else, this story proves that "everything's bigger in Texas"....
There's a reason why the cable companies of the world are the butt of so many jokes: Maybe it's because of their cavalier attitude, rising prices and crappy service. Here's the perfect New Year's Resolution you'll appreciate every single day of 2004...and beyond! (And here's why I love my Dish!)
Stuffing envelopes for big bucks–the newest way to make big bucks in 2004...not! Jeez, don’t bite on these stupid "work at home" schemes, alright?
As long as we're on the subject of "sounds too good to be true" schemes: 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! They might getcha in their showrooms but they can't deliver on the promise--but my leasing/buying resource can (and will): 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.
Join the Army–see the world. Stay in the Army–do not pass go and pick up an extra $10,000: While it might sound like patriotic bribery, no matter how you cut it, these folks are under-paid. Our men-and-women in the military are being incentivized to re-enlist. They’d better get’em to re-up now, before summer temperatures push past 120 degrees...
Speaking of Middle East-originated financial heartburn–the cost of staying alert ain’t cheap: While the daily sacrifice of American lives is immeasurable, the hard-dollar cost to U.S. cities isn’t. Here’s millions more reasons to hang Saddam and torture Osama as soon as we catch that turbaned-weasel.....
You're responsible for your actions, as well as the actions of your kids and your Cujo-like pets: Didja hear the one about the 90-pound Golden Retriever that ate a 4-pound Yorkshire terrier for dinner? The surviving pet's owners are crying over the $1,400 bill they received from the entree's owners. Here's why they need to shut their pie holes and be grateful it doesn't cost them any more!
After you read this story from The New York Times, here's a Dover Dog Rule worth noting: Before you start throwing cash at pet-related problems, make damned sure you get the victimized to sign a release. The last thing you need is a payoff followed by a demand letter and threat of a lawsuit. A great resource for stuff like this? Nolo Press' library of terrific, consumer-friendly books. Two appropriate titles that come to mind: Dog Law and Neighbor Law.
Rolex, Cartier, Breitling. Tag Heuer. All big names leading the comeback trail in 2004: What, you don’t know your expensive watch brands? You will and here’s why.
Speaking of expensive baubles, don't forget to check out Ben's diamond/jewelry buying tips: All assembled in one easy-reference spot.
Looking for a new broker? Wanna check up on your current one? Look no further boys and girls–here’s your one-stop shop to check up on the discipline records of those people standing between you and your financial security.....
Now if only they could do this to those scumbag spammers! Federal regulators slapped Southern California faxing lowlife Fax.com with a $5.37 million fine: Take your "First Amendment right" arguments and shove ’em, Fax.com! Score one for the good guys.....
"Convicted? No...never convicted." Maybe she’s related to that dope that tried to shakedown Wal-Mart over the holidays when she was "trampled" in a rush of day-after-Thanksgiving shopping frenzied madness: "No, really officer! I bought that $162 million lottery ticket, but lost it." This story proves that nothing’s impossible–people will stop at nothing in the name of greed. (Why don’t they make an exampe of this piece of garbage, anyway?)
"Just Deal With It!" No excuses and no whining allowed! It's the newest public service campaign hitting a TV screen near you: A young woman kneels on a bathroom floor, head over the toilet, then stands, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Sound familiar?" asks a voice with muted Welsh vowels. "If so, you may have bulimia. You cannot flush away your problems. It won't go away until you stop gagging your pain and give it a voice."
The short animation, narrated by Catherine Zeta-Jones, is part of the "Face the Issue" campaign: Seven public service announcements aimed primarily at adolescents and young adults, in which the voices of celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Kate Hudson address eating disorders, domestic violence and drug abuse. What a concept...no whining, just take responsibility for a change. Put down the Zoloft and read more [then you can pick-up your Zoloft.....]
What do you do when you discover an old check? Don't deposit it–here's why....Plus: If you don't know where or why you gotta check in the mail, you'd better not deposit it into your bank account–here's why...And: Laziness/failure to balance check books could/will cost you big bucks–here's why (see a pattern here?). Guiding you through life's ATM, one bounced check at a time, here's the January 15, 2004 edition of Ask Benjamin Dover from The Dallas Morning News!
