• cardweb.com - "Find a Card"
• fidelity.com - financial rewards card for 2 percent

The U.S. postal service is asking for an increase in postage from 37 cents to 39 cents. The service seems unable to decide what it wants to charge, and its representatives have to go before a board every time the rate goes up. People just aren’t buying stamps as much as they used. Typically, it’s because they are using electronic bill pay services and are not mailing checks anymore. In fact, some of the big banks have seen a 10 percent decline in check writing in the past year, according to the New York Times. It’s more secure and is much more convenient once you’ve got the bill pay accounts set up. Even better, most electronic bill pay services are free.

There is a new trend going on at companies involving the application process. At some companies, execs are having potential hires take personality tests before they ever talk to a human. The tests are designed to develop a personality profile on you that determines whether you will be dependable, honest and consistent, among other things. The questions can be a bit unnerving because, in many cases, they are very black and white. Applicants are then graded with either a green, yellow or red light. And one in three companies are now using them as a secondary or even primary step in the hiring process. So, how effective are they? One study shows that there is an 80 percent correlation between what the test shows and what interviewers say about a candidate. However, it was not a good predictor of turnover rate at companies.

The shape of health care in the country keeps shifting these days. The term for it now is “cost shifting,” which means that costs your employer once paid for are now your responsibility. The bill for a hospital stay, for example, can put people in severe financial harm because their “portion” of the bill has grown. New data shows that the number of people working for companies that pay 100 percent of the premium is dwindling rapidly. In fact, only 18 percent of employers offer health insurance to their employees. So, there is going to be a huge shift in the medical industry and how people afford health care. The money has to come from somewhere. That’s why Clark thinks employers should no longer pay for our insurance. It’s backwards thinking, in his opinion. But, three generations ago, Congress decided to allow employers to take an unlimited deduction on their taxes if they provided health care for employers. It made the company the customer of the insurance company, not the workers. The system is broken and it needs help. For now, just remember that if you work for a company that has been generous with providing health care, get ready for a lot less generosity in the coming years. We need to buy our own insurance and companies should receive community ratings that help people choose. The alternative is socialized medicine, and we certainly don’t want that.

The popularity of the iPod has led to more crime and theft on New York City subways, news reports state. They are so small and easy to hide, yet they have great value in today’s marketplace. So, they’ve become a hot item to steal and then resell or use. Someday, this trend will go away. Another gadget will be the hot item. But for now, keep your gadgets close to you or hide them when you’re in a public place.

Have you ever used a debit card at a gas station to “pay at the pump?” Say you fill up $20 or $30 worth. Then, two days later you get a notice from your bank that you’ve bounced some checks. How can that be, you’re probably thinking. But, what you may not know is that when you use a debit card, gas stations have the right to overcharge you a certain amount to ensure they get their money. Sometimes it’s only a $5 or $10 hold. But it’s up to each gas station to decide how much to hold in your account, and some put a $75 or $100 hold on the account. And, they also decide how long to hold that money. Some hold the money for up to three days, so that can really hurt you. If you want to use a debit card at a gas station, do not pay at the pump. Pay inside the station and you’ll be charged for only what was purchased. Or, the better alternative is to use a credit card. If you have a rewards card, you get the cash back or gas reward to boot.

Clark was in the supermarket recently, buying some items for his family. On his list was a particular cereal that his younger daughter likes. Well, he sees that cereal on the shelf, but right next to it was a “low-sugar” version of the same cereal for a little more money. He bought the low-sugar cereal, thinking he was doing a good thing for his daughter. Well, he got scammed. Recent research shows that these reduced sugar cereals have the same amount of sugar as the regular versions. In fact, each version had the same amount calories, carbohydrates, fat, fiber and other ingredients. It’s led to a lawsuit against the cereal companies, for claiming these cereals were healthier. Don’t waste your money and check out the labels before you buy.