• reverse.org - info on reverse mortgages
• hud.gov - info on reverse mortgages
• checkbook.org - medical survey prescriptions
• nada.com - vechicle values
• 1-888-5-OPT-OUT - opt out of credit card solicitations

About a year ago, Clark talked about a big fight between the Bush administration and the air conditioning industry regarding an improvement in the efficiency of our air conditioners. At the time, it appeared as if the air conditioning industry would not have to improve the quality of its products, despite the Bush camp's push. The idea was that these more efficient units would use less energy, so there would be less of a dependence on foreign sources for energy. Clark was not very happy with the fact that it died, but he still encouraged people to buy high-efficiency A/C units. There is a direct payback in what you save on your bills with one of these units. And now that advice appears to have paid off. According to the Dow Jones News Wires, the air conditioning industry is yielding to the Bush administration’s urges. So, in the future, you will have to buy one of these higher-efficiency units. Once the scale of production increases, these units will be the only ones on the market and prices will eventually go down. In the meantime, if your unit dies this summer, go for the more efficient unit. It will pay you back tenfold the longer you live there.

Do you hate needles? Many people must inject themselves with needles every day, and they hate it. But what if you didn’t have to? There is a now a “pen” on the market that does the same job a needle does without ever piercing your skin. Several companies are putting these products on the market because they are becoming so popular. Basically you put the pen against your arm, push the top and the medicine goes into your skin at such a high rate of speed you don’t even notice it. They can also be used to “inject” several medications at once. So, instead having to take all of your pills with you when you go on trips, all you need to bring is this little pen. Some people in the medical field are not that excited about this, but Clark thinks it’s huge. Children hate the doctor’s office because they are scared of needles. It will eliminate tons of headaches and tears.

The federal government has a new Medicare drug discount program that has completely bombed. Sign ups have been atrocious and seniors have been very confused by the process. In addition, the government came up with some weird rules, saying that companies selling drugs could list low prices and then increase those prices after seniors bought the cards. So something that could have helped seniors has been really one-sided so far. The good news is that you can still get really great deals on medicines depending on where you live and where you shop. The consumer group, Consumer’s Checkbook, compared 17 of the most common prescriptions. The group found gigantic differences from one pharmacy to another. The hormone replacement drug Premarin, for instance, cost $151 and one pharmacy and $66 at another. Of the various pharmacies, the lowest prices were at Costco Wholesale. And you don’t have to have a membership to buy prescription medicines there. Buying prescriptions online can also make a tremendous difference. You can save about $30 on average. Also, insurance providers are starting to put more of the responsibility on members. The days of $5 prescriptions are gone. So, if you take a regular maintenance medication, you owe it to yourself to shop around. Check out more at checkbook.org.

Most people access the Internet by dial-up today because high-speed access is still very expensive here in the States. The phone companies and cable companies that own the wiring are monopolies, and they choose to gouge customers for the service. But there are alternatives on the horizon that will crush these companies. Successful entrepreneur Craig McCaw is convinced that the lack of wisdom on behalf of the phone and cable companies has left them wide open to competition. He wants to wire entire cities so that residents can log onto wireless networks and access high-speed Internet service instead of subscribing individually. The first test will happen in Jacksonville, Fla. People there will be able to open a laptop anywhere and hop on the Internet in a snap. Intel is also experimenting with a wireless technology called “Wi Max.” It’s the same idea as McCaw’s and is a cousin of “Wi Fi,” which means wireless fidelity. With Wi Fi, the connection only stretches about a football field. But with citywide networks, people can go anywhere in that city and get connected. Verizon Wireless has it’s own plan as well, but its plan is much more expensive. Clark thinks this will be everywhere by Christmas 2005. So, we’ll see who gets the pricing and service right.

The federal government has started a program called the “American Dream Down Payment Initiative,” and it could mean free money for you. If you’ve never owned a home, you are potentially eligible for a grant of up to $10,000 toward the price of a home. You can buy either a quadplex, a condo, co-op or mobile home. You must be a first-time homeowner, and you must me income eligible. That means you can’t earn more than a certain amount, usually $40,000 to $50,000. The program has a limited number of slots available, and it will be a little while it goes into effect. But it’s a terrific idea. PHAs and LHAs, public housing authorities and local housing authorities will administer the program. Hud.gov has information about the program. But you’ll want to get in early because the money is limited. And remember, it’s a grant not a loan. You don’t have to pay it back. Why is this a good thing for taxpayers? People who own a home have more of a stake in their community and tend to do more to keep it clean and fight against crime. Therefore, the value of the homes increase and the quality of life is much better for everyone.

Identity theft has gotten really ugly because of the indifferent attitude of banks and credit card companies. About 10 million people were victims of ID theft last year, but the banks seem to think it’s a small percentage. Some people at the Federal Reserve and in the banking industry know better and want to help protect customers. But others in the business – particularly in the marketing end – want your business and are willing to do anything to get it. So, they send out millions of pre-approval notices every year with our information posted all over it. Thieves are then able to rifle through your mail, set up an account and steal your identity. Clark thinks companies should not be able to send these pre-approvals until the industry comes up with improved safeguards for protecting our identity. The sloppiness is inexcusable. Banks should also be held responsible if they extend credit to the wrong person without doing sufficient checks.

---

In other news, Wachovia is canceling ATM cards and replacing them with Visa check cards. The bank is sending letters about the switch, but if you don’t open your mail you won’t know. In tiny print on these notices, Wachovia tells you that the “zero liability” policy it extends to personal accounts does not apply to business accounts. So if you have an ATM card and you don't want it switched call Wachovia and tell them so.