Author Archive | Matt Bell

The Good That Money Can Do – Part II

Malnutrition takes the lives of five million children every year–the equivalent of one child every six seconds, according to a story by _60 Minutes_. In the West African country of Niger, the problem is so acute that “most mothers have watched at least one of their children die.” To address the issue, the Nobel Prize-winning […]

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Two Priceless Words

By the time this year is through, I will have written 24 issues of this eNewsletter and summarized 96 of the best personal finance articles I could find. However, one of my favorite ideas from the year did not come from a newspaper, magazine, or web site. It came from a couple that graciously shared […]

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Slaying the Energy Vampires

The push to unplug is gaining momentum. A couple of months ago I highlighted a simple way to save on electric bills: unplug electric devices when not in use. More recently, _CNNMoney.com_ reported that California lawmakers are working on legislation dubbed the “Vampire Slayers Act” which would require electric products to carry labels stating how […]

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Crack the Savings Code

When making an online purchase, it’s common to see a box where you can enter a promotion code. But where do you get the code? An entire cottage industry of coupon code web sites has emerged to answer that question. Do a Google search for “coupon codes” and you’ll see what I mean. Personal finance […]

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The Heart of a Giver

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Luke 6:38 It’s tricky business teaching about giving these days.  Preachers of the prosperity gospel are packing their […]

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The Good That Money Can Do

In the midst of all the usual celebrity stories of arrests and rehab, _CBSNews.com_ carried a great piece about how entertainer Hillary Duff is helping some Los Angeles grade school students from lower-income families. Duff is single-handedly sponsoring a program at the school. As a result, all 1,000 students go home on Fridays with a […]

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Opting-In for Future Employability

In the last issue of _Matt About Money_, I encouraged you to opt-in to a flexible spending account during this year’s so-called open enrollment season if your employer offers one. One other opt-in recommendation is to take advantage of your employer’s tuition reimbursement program if available. The majority of large companies offer such programs, and […]

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Service With a…Fee

Fees have become a prime source of revenue for banks. According to an article in the _LA Times_, fees accounted for over 40 percent of bank revenue last year–up from 34 percent a decade ago. And guess who’s paying all those fees? Want your canceled checks? Bank of America will send them to customers for […]

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Free 411

Remember when dialing 411 was free? Most phone service providers–whether home, business, or cellular–now charge for the call. But here are three directory assistance providers who don’t charge for the call. provides residential, business, and government listings. As reported on _CNNMoney.com_, you have to listen to short ads before and after asking for a number. […]

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Opting-In to Healthcare Savings

It’s open enrollment time at a lot of workplaces, the time of year when employees choose their benefits for next year. If your company offers a flexible spending account (FSA), participating could very likely save you some money on taxes. According to Hewitt Associates, the vast majority of large companies offer such accounts. However, less […]

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