Holiday Travel Tips

If you’re going away for the holidays this year, you’re probably unhappily anticipating a hike in gas prices, long lines at airport security and delays all-around. According to the Bureau of Transportation, Thanksgiving and the winter holiday season are the busiest long-distance travel times in a given year. While travelers cannot avoid hefty waits at check-in and traffic on the highway, there are plenty of measures to take in order to alleviate any holiday season travel stress.

• Know when to travel: For local excursions, people tend to leave on Thursdays. If traveling over 100 miles away, Wednesday through Sunday are the most popular days.

• About 90% of Thanksgiving travel is through one’s vehicle.

• The Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving are the busiest days to travel back home. If you book a flight or drive on Tuesday, you’ll avoid a lot of traffic.

• Weather delays don’t always depend on where you’re flying out of. If you live in Florida but are flying to New York, you may experience delays due to a snowstorm, for example.

• Allow ample time to check in at the airport and make it through security. More travelers means more time to wait as each individual is screened.

• Travel on Saturday as opposed to Sunday. Most people want to make it back for work without sacrificing any weekend time.

• The average age of Thanksgiving travelers is just under 34, as opposed to right above 36 for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, according to the BTS.

• Preview airport restrictions and laws implemented for safe air travel…you cannot avoid them and will save a world of time if you plan ahead.

• Book a trip off-season. For example, go to New England when the leaves aren’t changing…you’ll save on local bed and breakfasts, whose popularity heightens during the fall.

• Consider booking through an online travel agency. You can find new discounts and sales each day, as well as vacation packages unavailable elsewhere.

The best discount travel online can be found through sites such as Orbitz and Expedia, according to StarReviews. If you’re an avid planner, you’ll be able to customize your own trip homepage, complete with photos, video and comments through Orbitz’s TripHub.

If you’re like most travelers, saving money is important when going away during the holidays. When booking through Travelocity, you can save just by using a particular credit card. Before the cold weather arrives, consider booking travel online and taking advantages of discount flights and destination-stays.

Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

One of the busiest times of the year for shoppers is the holiday season. Before you duke it out in jam-packed department stores and wade your way through line after line at the checkout, consider online shopping as a more convenient and sanity-saving option. No one wants their holiday spirit extinguished before they even arrive. If you’re considering purchasing all of your gifts online this year, keep the following tips in mind:

• Anytime you purchase something online, print out a receipt of the transaction or product ordered. This way, should you fail to receive what you ordered, you have proof.

• If you order from a site and are emailed for passwords or personal information, don’t give it out. If it’s legitimate, you’ll receive a call to confirm information.

• If you’re concerned about a site’s validity, look for the browser ‘lock icon’ or an order URL beginning with ‘https’ where the ‘s’ means secure.

• If you’re shopping on an online auction or the sort, keep references to ‘refurbished’ or ‘close-out’ products in mind. Don’t expect a new product to come in the mail, they’re letting you know.
If a product is advertised as new, keep a print-out of the description in case you receive a used item.

• Make note of a company’s return policies. Read the fine print for procedures on exchanges or full refunds so you know what to expect before you click ‘order.’

• Sign up to receive a website’s newsletter, so you’ll be notified of any three-day weekend or one-day sales.

• Never click ‘order’ or ‘buy’ twice. There are plenty of instances where your credit card is charged double, which could take some time to fix.

• Make sure you have a comprehensive Internet security software product installed on your PC to prevent any password-stealing pop-up’s or phishing attempts.

Even if you have internet security software installed on your computer, 6Star Reviews notes that it also makes the perfect present for a friend or family member. Most everyone has a PC and Internet security protection is a great way to safeguard their files and information.

Security Shield 2008 for example, provides anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-spam protection, as well as a firewall, parental controls and rootkit prevention tools. On top of these features, you also receive free technical support, which isn’t easy to find anymore! Before you make your holiday shopping lists and browse the Web, keep the above safety tips and advice in mind to make this season hassle-free.

Holiday Stationery Sales

It’s never too early to prepare for the winter holidays, especially when it comes to planning a party or purchasing gifts. If this year is like most, you’re probably debating whether to buy Mom a day at the spa or a year’s subscription to her favorite magazine. However, there are plenty of alternatives in gift-giving, especially with online stationery services. Why not really surprise her or anyone special in your life with a unique, personalized present?

Fine Stationery is one source you can turn to for customized holiday gifts and invitations. 6StarReviews.com notes that a vast majority of Fine Stationery’s holiday products are on sale, offering discounts from high-end names like Crane & Co., Monica Maslack and Kate Spade. If you’re not interested in party invitations, you can still pick out holiday photo cards, stationery and gift wrap. Businesses can even pick out corporate greeting cards for their companies!

Another popular stationery service, Tiny Prints, provides you with fun and simple-to-make holiday story cards. Not only can you add family photos and insert a ‘family update’ to keep friends and relatives in-the-know, you are allowed complete freedom in customization. Choose how big or small your card is, along with personalized captions to tell a story with your family photos.

If you own a business or corporation, you can customize holiday cards and event invitations as well.Though invitation and stationery sites have great discounts and options throughout the wintertime, their summer and spring collections are just as popular. If you’re stuck on what to purchase as a present or simply want your own, personalized designs then stationery services are a great option to turn to on the Web.

Holiday Flower Specials

A quick and easy way to celebrate the nearing holiday season is by sending someone flowers. Online flower delivery services are gearing up for a busy winter season and already have special sales available on festive arrangements. But, a common misconception is that flower services only sell flowers. This couldn’t be further from the truth!

StarReviews cites FTD as a website that not only provides countless flowers of all kinds, they also personalize custom gift baskets and Thanksgiving centerpieces. What better way to enjoy the holiday than with autumn-inspired colors and designs? Many harvest bouquets and tabletop centerpieces are offered at discount rates, to ensure your holiday is extra special.

Another popular flower site, 1-800-Flowers, is now offering customers special discounts on gift baskets. Though flowers are their specialty, 1-800-Flowers has incredible deals on orchard fruit gift baskets, holiday gourmet gifts and custom-designed gift purchases from names like Paula Deen and the Barefoot Contessa, a Food Network fan’s dream.

Though pre-selected bouquets and arrangements often come in holiday colors, you may wish to pick out your own colors. For Thanksgiving, some great flower choices include chrysanthemums, gerbera daisies and bittersweet. Poinsettias, assorted lilies and orchids are popular picks throughout the Christmas and Hanukkah season. Remember, online flower services can ship arrangements the same day if needed, and they have flowers from all seasons year-round!

Web Safety Trends & Statistics

As children and teens use the Internet more than ever before, parents continue to face potential problems arising from the trend. Stories highlighting issues affecting teens and kids alike run rampant on television news channels. We’ve all heard of the potential risks attached with youngsters using sites like MySpace and Friendster, such as predators obtaining personal information or even classmates bullying someone via their online profile. Plenty of studies and recent industry reports indicate the browsing habits of youth and their parents’ concerns.

· Over 60% of teens ages 13-17 report having a profile on a social networking site.

· Nearly half of teens with profiles were asked to share personal information with someone they didn’t know personally.

· Over 50% of parents feel the Internet mainly has positive impacts on their kids.

· About 70% of teens have unintentionally encountered adult content when surfing the Web.

· Only 1 in 4 teens who received inappropriate messages online alerted a parent or guardian.

· Nearly half of parents surveyed don’t check out what their children type in chat rooms or instant messages.

· Over half of parents surveyed don’t have or don’t know if parental control and monitoring software is installed on their PC’s.

6StarReviews.com reports that parental control software is a viable means for concerned parents to regulate what goes in and out of their PC’s. Net Nanny, for example, blocks all adult content and allows parents to fully monitor where their child surfs and what they’re saying in chat rooms or instant messages.

Child Safe, another popular product, is not only simple to use, you can have comprehensive Internet usage reports emailed right to you. Though monitoring your child or teen’s activity is beneficial, it’s still important to allow them some leeway and discuss Web safety in terms they will understand.

Music Download Industry News

The music download industry keeps evolving, as more players enter the game and alliances are formed within a blink of an eye. We’re all aware of AT&T partnering with giant Apple Inc. to promote the iPhone, which of course uses iTunes for its ringtone capabilities. As more mobile phones encompass multimedia functions, the music and telecommunications industries are realizing their unfolding opportunities to meld together.

AT&T and Napster, one of the original music download services, are joining together and providing direct download capabilities, according to CNNMoney. In an effort to avoid mobile-to- PC connections to transfer music files, direct downloads are growing in popularity. More mobile phone owners are using their cell phones as MP3 players, not to mention the added benefit of using downloads as ringtones.

Similarly, in Australia, Nokia is stepping up to the plate in music downloads, providing free Wi-Fi zones for Nokia Nseries customers. They plan to launch a music download service of their own sometime this year, and with their free Wi-Fi campaign, more and more Australian-based Nokia users will be more apt to try it out come launch time.

Telecommunications companies and mobile phone service providers aren’t the only ones switching up the music download industry. StarReviews reports that Amazon’s newest service, AmazonMP3, is offering lower prices on individual songs and albums than some of their competitors, such as iTunes.

Their 2-million some music collection stands out in that its music files are DRM-free and iTunes and Windows Multimedia Player-compatible. Though competition amongst music download providers is inevitable, anyone with a mobile phone or MP3 player will continue to be exposed to countless options.

Preventing PC Errors

One of the primary causes of PC problems and irritating errors is deleting files. For many of us, when we see a program we don’t recall or see a file we deem unimportant, we’re quick to delete and erase it. What many of us don’t realize is: these seemingly harmless actions can result in headaches and errors further down the line.

Windows registry errors are a result of broken file paths, missing extensions and basically any interruption in our operating system. Downloading free trials and new software is a common practice for any computer owner. But, erasing unwanted programs isn’t as easy as the install process. There are plenty of things to keep in mind before we click ‘delete.’

· The best place to uninstall a program is through the Control Panel’s ‘Add/Remove’ Program List.

· Always double check you clicked on the right program box before you choose to remove it. At times, several programs are checked as a default. You wouldn’t want to delete your anti-virus software or anything like that.

· If you’re prompted to delete a ‘shared drive,’ don’t delete it! This was help prevent future error messages, in case you remove a file another software program relies on.

· If the program you want to delete isn’t listed under ‘Add/Remove,’ go to Programs and look for the specific software folder. Most have a folder called ‘Manual Uninstall’ which will help you removed the program.

· If you don’t recognize a program in your ‘Add/Remove’ folder, don’t jump and get rid of it.

It may have a strange name (leaving you fearful of some virus or worm) but chances are, it’s meant to be there. Consult with someone who knows PC’s or browse the Help database.
Though these bits of advice are one way to prevent crashes and error messages, there are plenty of other Windows registry errors that are more of a challenge to fix.

One solution is utilizing registry cleaners to help eliminate headaches. StarReviews reports that Registry Mechanic doesn’t simply delete broken file paths, but repairs what is causing the malfunction. For a limited time only exclusively on the site, they’re even offering 15% off the software product. If you haven’t mastered the ‘Add-Remove Issue’ and are bombarded with countless errors and slow PC speeds, registry errors may currently be the culprit.

The Growing Malware Epidemic

As more computer owners learn about spyware and its damaging effects on our PC’s, there is still a hidden threat that hasn’t made front-page news yet. Sure, some of us have heard of the growing ‘malware problem,’ but in order to prevent such an occurrence from affecting us, it’s vital to know the basics of this nasty, new PC predator.

· Malware is like a computer virus. They’re hard-to-find and at times, difficult to remove.

· It drastically slows down our PC speed-As a result of ad-buildup and tracking devices, your computer may run noticeably slower.

· File sharing is a huge source of harmful malware, especially in instances like illegal music downloading.

· Unintentionally visiting harmful websites masking as legitimate pages can increase your chances of picking up malware.

· Your Internet search habits can be recorded and distributed to unknown sources through the use of malware.

· If you surf to a site and notice you’re consistently being redirected, this is a symptom of malicious malware.

· Malware often tries to steal your personal information. For instance, Voice Over IP Provider Skype just reported a malware stunt whereby users were asked for log-on information on a phony sign-in screen.

In many ways, malware is like the big brother of spyware. It often bundles many unseen threats together, increasing your chances of being attacked. Installing an anti-spyware software program such as STOPzilla is one measure we can take to diminish the risk posed on our PC’s.
StarReviews cites that STOPzilla not only protects you from spyware, it blocks phishing attempts (those browser hijacks commonly associated with malware.)

Spyware Doctor provides comprehensive threat detection through their Spider Scanning Technology, a great feature. Many spyware removal programs offer great deals for you to save: such as 15% off on Spyware Doctor products as exclusively reported by StarReviews. Though research on malware and its effects are in the early stages, protecting your PC now is an action all computer owners should make.

Tips to Prevent Email Spam

Spam isn’t limited to the harmless email chain we’ve all been guilty of sending to friends and family members. Many of us feel that receiving email spam is a lost cause and we’re sentenced to cleaning our inboxes out each morning. Though completely ridding spam from your life may be an unattainable task, there are steps you can take to reduce the number you receive:

· Create a separate email address (free ones like Gmail and Hotmail work great) when registering for an online group or Web-newsletter.

· When posting content on the Web, don’t include your primary email address. Spammers can easily add you to their lists.

· Trick the spam spiders-If you post an email address online, disguise it’s setup, spelling out ‘dot com’ in place of ‘.com

· If you sign up for a list, be sure it’s for that sole site and your information won’t get passed around.

· Read text-only emails or request your mail provider notify you before downloading images or HTML.

· If you receive forwarded chain emails from friends or family, ask them to stop. Even if you trust who is sending you the email, your name will still be visible to whoever continues sending the chain.

· Purchase a spam filter. It’s a small price to pay when you think of all the junk mail you’ll avoid.

StarReviews notes several spam filters that can do the trick and reduce unwanted spam mail. Anti-spam software programs like Spam Shield have unique features such as LashBack, a setting that removes spam and prevents that user from ever forwarding you junk mail again. Spam Monitor also paves the way in spam protection by letting users make black and whitelists to ensure important email reaches their inbox. Preventing spam doesn’t have to cost you your sanity!

Mortgage Refinance Loan Services

If you’re like many homeowners, you dream of better days when your property is paid in full and you don’t have to make those dreaded mortgage payments anymore. But, getting back to reality, many are turning to mortgage refinance services in order to cut their monthly loan payments or to extend their loan periods. Keep these hints in mind before choosing a refinance plan:

• When to Refinance: When you already have a mortgage and wish to apply for a second, be sure the amount you save on interest rates balances fees paid during refinancing. Lending Tree is a great resource when debating the ‘apply/not to apply’ question, as they offer certified lending and allow you to compare multiple offers online.

• Loan Options: Determine whether a fixed rate mortgage or adjustable rate mortgage is in your best interest. Fixed rate mortgage monthly payments tend to remain steady despite market conditions. E-LOAN allows you to compare both loan options and to outweigh the pros vs. cons before you make your decision.

• Cash-out refinances: These allow you to refinance with a loan amount larger than your current mortgage…while you keep the cash difference. The catch? Your home equity must qualify before you can go through with it.

• No Closing Cost Refinances: If you wish to save on up-front fees, this is probably your best choice. Depending on whether or not the prevailing market rate is lower than your existing rate by at least 1.5%, you are sure to reap the benefits.

StarReviews reports that sites such as E-LOAN provide mortgage refinance loans, as well as useful information on home equity, home and auto purchasing, and personal loans. Utilizing features such as ‘The Loan Advisor’ allow you to enter information such as credit ratings, how much you intend on borrowing, estimated property values, and current mortgage balances. They, in turn, will recommend which loan route to take. Remember, saving money is key in your refinance loan search.

Money-Saving Tips

Saving money is a task we could all improve on. After the bills have been paid, many people find themselves rewarding their hard work at the office with weekend getaways, dinners out, new gadgets and countless other forms of entertainment. The truth is, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this! But, saving and spending should be a game of balance, and the these tips will get you off to a great start:

· Set up an automatic weekly account transfer from your checking to savings account. This way, you’ll be forced to save.

· Keep a budget: With the advent of online banking, many of us forgo those Excel sheets that let us see our financial state for what it truly is.

· When you go grocery shopping, go with a list. How many of us have gone in empty-handed and come out with more than we wanted to?

· If you’re tempted to make an impulse purchase, give yourself 24 hours to think it over. Chances are, that LCD TV won’t be as tempting when you’re not staring straight at it.

· Keep a separate savings account for long-term financial goals or rainy days…and don’t touch it.

· Don’t always turn to your credit cards. If you see your cash disappearing and find yourself making frequent ATM-run’s, you’ll definitely pick up on your spending habits.

· Make short-term goals: For instance, set a limit each week of what you can spend and don’t go beyond that figure.

Though these bits of advice will give you a sunnier financial situation, it’s inevitable that we all run into sticky money scenarios at times. StarReviews describes how paycheck advance services are a viable resource when all else fails. If your bills are due and you simply don’t have the funds, sites like PayDay OK can distribute cash into your accounts next-day if you’re approved. Though there are fees involved and you really shouldn’t get used to them, payday loans are a means to prevent late payments and interest on outstanding balances and bills.

Resume Writing Advice

If you find yourself struggling to condense your background skills and work history into a two-page Word document, there are plenty of tips to follow to perfect your resume. Resume writing isn’t a black and white process and at times, the best format to follow is one fine-tuned to fit your personality. Remember, on top of highlighting your greatest accomplishments, there are a few commonalities all resumes should have.

• Include your email address in your contact information: Many employers don’t have time to give you a ring and prefer jotting you a quick note via email.

• If you do give out an email address, make sure it’s a professional one. Nothing kills your chances of receiving a potential callback more than an email address like ‘SassyPrincess.'

• Always customize your ‘Objective’ or ‘Jobs Applying For,’ especially if this is the only field you change in the document for each position you apply for.

• Try only to include relevant employment skills. For instance, if you’re applying for a position in sales, it’s probably unnecessary to mention your summer camp counseling job you’ve held for the past three summers.

• If you want to include your experience as a camp counselor, try to weed out the skills you acquired, such as ‘Managed kids’ awards ceremony’ or something to that effect.

• Have a few people proofread your resume and do run a spell check.

• Before you go ahead and include references, be sure to check with those individuals, to be sure they even remember you and your work ethic.

• Always include a cover letter with your resume. Even if your future employer doesn’t read it, it shows you made the extra effort.

• Bullet important information and bold each resume header. When we read, we tend to skim, and so does your dream job’s HR recruiter. Make it easy for them to glance over your important information!

Last but not least, it’s vital to keep your resume to a readable length. No one wants to peruse a novel when they’re wading through a thousand-some resumes. StarReviews cites resume writing services such as Resume Edge pair you with a professional resume writer, who edits your resume to better your chances of snagging an interview. Presenting your experience and skills professionally is key in making your job hunt a success.

Online Banking

Practically any financial transaction can be completed through the use of online banking. The advent of direct deposit made getting your money lightning quick and accurate, and many banks have catered to the needs of their account holders by simplifying online banking features.

Do you remember the days when you had to make a physical trip down to your corner bank just to check the balance of your accounts and to make a deposit? While you may have to take a trek to Wachovia every once in awhile, online banking has drastically reduced the necessity to do so.

StarReviews reports that the popular Bank of America offers their customers added security features, such as encryption and pass codes. Bank of America even implemented a customized image security feature, whereby you choose an image and if you happen to land on a phishing website posing as the authentic site, you will know it before entering personal information.

Online banking through Bank of America and other big names such as Citibank and Wachovia offer similar features through their services. For starters, you can receive online statements instead of those paper ones that always seem to arrive a month after you made the purchases listed on them. You can also utilize online bill payment and add lists of payees to automatically transfer funds to.

Most online banks also allow account holders to transfer funds between checking and savings accounts. Popular online bank ING Direct even allows you to transfer money from their service to other banks, such as Washington Mutual (WaMu) for free. Add this benefit to convenience such as online loan applications and online banking is hard to live without!

Building a Family Tree Online

If you’ve ever pondered the question, ‘Who am I related to?’ you aren’t alone. While communicating by way of the Internet and the cell phone have brought many of us together, there are plenty of individuals who can count their family members on one hand.

Genealogy services have special family tree features that allow inquiring minds to piece their rich ancestral roots together. If you want to build a family tree with ease, keep the following in mind:

· Global connection-Even if your entire family lives in New Jersey, sites like One Great Family complete the puzzle by demonstrating where your family delineated from through their Family Tree Connection feature.

· Census Collection-Don’t settle for a family tree builder solely containing US Census Records. Ancestry is a genealogy service that incorporates UK records, as well as specialized documents, such as military records.

· Ellis Island-Many of our ancestors passed through this infamous Hudson port and sites like Kindred Konnections allow you to scour records taken during our nation’s great migration period.

· Family Tree Platform-Some genealogy services require you to download software before you research and store family tree data, but One Great Family lets you upload your family’s information directly into an intuitive database.

Though filling in every gap in your family tree may be impossible, building a virtual replica of your ancestral background isn’t the dry task it once was. StarReviews found genealogy services hosting innovative research tools, scanable records and simple data uploads, allowing anyone with Internet access to piece together their ancestral story.

Discount Magazines

When given the opportunity, most all of us leap at the chance to save a few bucks here and there. For those of us subscribing to one or more magazines, magazine subscription services have simplified our payment options and given us access to diverse titles at discount prices. Here’s how to save even more by subscribing online:

· Buy in Bulk-StarReviews reports that Net Magazines lets readers create their own magazine assortment packages and gives them giant savings in return.

· Long-Term Subscriptions-If you’re a diehard US News and World Report fan, why not subscribe for several years all at once? Sites like Magazines Quick give you lower rates if you get your ordering for the next five years or so done at once.

· Large selection-If you opt for a magazine subscription service such as Magazine City, you’ll have access to nearly 2,000 titles, which means that publishers usually cut them a deal, and in turn: you get one too.

· Price Guarantee-There’s no greater way to ensure savings than to purchase magazines from a site like Magazines Quick, who offer low price (or will match a lower rate) guarantee.

Some magazine subscription services offer rates up to 80% off the cover price, which is evident in low yearly subscription costs. Most sites also give customers gift options, so you can subscribe Mom to Better Homes and Gardens and send her a personalized announcement on top of it. The next time you consider a 6 or 12 month subscription to your favorite title, look to the many online magazine subscription sites before you fill out the cardboard insert in your latest Sports Illustrated.

Best Social Networking Sites

Connecting with long lost friends and meeting some new ones along the way are the greatest advantages of social networking sites. These websites serve numerous purposes and combine a plethora of communications functions. Email, instant messaging, message boards, discussion groups and file sharing capabilities reflect the extent to which social networking sites connect us through the Internet.

When one thinks of social networking, MySpace usually comes to mind. StarReviews reports that MySpace allows users to create profiles, friends lists and post bulletins to their friends or communities with the click of a button. MySpace also boasts professor ratings and college and high school community groups for anyone looking for those with common interests.

Facebook, another popular social networking site, began as a Harvard phenomena and eventually opened its doors to most every college, high school and eventually user imaginable. Facebook popularized ‘the wall,’ where friends can post messages to each other via their profiles.

It is no secret that the social networking craze has opened doors for many business prospects, as well. Many college students can join industry-related groups and meet new contacts through websites like Bebo and MySpace. Politicians have also jumped on the bandwagon, adding a vast online demographic to their campaign trail targeting. Who wouldn’t feel special having Hillary Clinton on their friends’ list? Nielsen/NetRatings found social networking sites grew about 47% last year, so evidently, these sites are breaking ground for more than one reason.

Party Planning Services

Parties are not only a societal norm, they’re always a blast. However, whether you’re planning a birthday party for the kids or a day designated just for the girls, party planning can be a lot of work! Invitations, food, and decorations have to be picked out and luckily, party planning services are making your job easier.

StarReviews.com reports that some websites such as Birthday in a Box allow you to customize your child’s birthday party experience to make it extra special. For example, if your child cannot get enough of Disney, you can pick out personalized party decorations revolving around the Mouse himself. If you’re planning a relaxing get together for the girls, Birthday in a Box has themed party planning options, such as ‘Spa Party,’ complete with invitations, decorations, centerpieces and t-shirts.

Another party planning service, Evite, takes a different route in your event planning process. This website actually lets you create an event page, invite all of your friends, and interact with them as well. Friends and family members can leave the party organizer messages, share party images and even use fun features to r.s.v.p! Need help planning the party itself? Evite offers menu and recipe ideas, party ‘to-do’ checklists and even an alcoholic beverage calculator (so you know how many bottles of Cuervo to pick up to accommodate your of-age guests).

The Internet’s plethora of party planning services all have one characteristic in common: make the planning process fun while saving you from having to hire an event coordinator. These services are convenient for their combination of event-planning advice and resources, as well as their extensive database of party products. Your next event is sure to be a success if you plan ahead and use all that the Web offers!

Online Background Checks

Have you ever wanted to find out everything about someone’s past? Maybe you’re having doubts that the new guy you’re dating is really a Fortune-500 CEO and fear he may be an axe murderer (Ok, maybe we’ve watched one too many crime investigation shows). Perhaps you just want to screen your company’s newest employee to make sure her track record is what she claims it is. Background checks are the popular new way to get the dirt on anyone you need information on.

Intelius, a well-known background check service, allows users to search by name, location and even social security number, as reported by StarReviews.com. Intelius provides personal and business background checks, for individuals and companies alike to utilize. When purchasing a background check, you can expect detailed information such as current and previous addresses, criminal checks, bankruptcies, relatives and even satellite images of a location.

Another prominent background check service is Abika, a company offering some interesting features. You can search backgrounds and public records of professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and financial advisors. They even provide a unique feature allowing you to investigate individuals based on psychological and behavior profiles. That way, you’ll not only know what they did, you’ll know why they did it.

In our fast-paced and digital driven world, discovering the truth about the people we let in our lives has been simplified through online background checks. While privacy and confidentiality are of utmost importance, public records and criminal history are available for a reason. The next time you have reservations about someone, turn to a site giving you nothing but facts.

Online Auction Safety

We’ve all watched the news and heard story-after-story of the innocent online shopper taken advantage of by a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Let’s face it: when purchasing anything from anywhere on the Web, it’s wise to take precautions before we pull out the Visa and go to town.

Online auctions can be a great place to save money on a unique product inventory, but shopping on a site of this kind has its own set of safety rules you should be aware of.

· Online auction sites often allow most any average Joe to sign up for a seller’s membership. If you’re on such a site, be sure to check out their seller reviews or feedback ratings from real-life buyers, like on eBay and Overstock.com.

· If you receive an email soliciting your personal information, it’s wise to call the online auction you’re a member of before you reply or click on a link. It’s common for phishing emails to be sent when money or auction accounts are involved.

· Stay on the online auction site itself! In a practice called ‘bid siphoning,’ scam artists may attempt to lure you from a legitimate auction site, promising you ‘lower rates’ or a great deal. This could lead to fraud and stolen identity.

· Know your particular online auction’s buyer protection policy. For example, 6StarReviews.com reports that uBid makes their Certified Merchants Program mandatory for all sellers, whereby all interested parties are screened for criminal activity, ensuring a fraud-free experience.

· Research who you’re buying from! Just like you wouldn’t shop on a no-name website, don’t trust just any seller. Opt for a seller with many good ratings, diverse payment options, and a solid return policy.

Online auctions house an infinite number of bargain buys and products you just can’t find elsewhere. If you so happen to run into a sticky situation when using one, your first response should be to contact the individual auction site’s customer support line or designated Help contact. Then, if you feel your situation wasn’t resolved properly, you can always turn to the Better Business Bureau or file a complaint on the FTC website. Here’s to safe shopping!

Ringtones: In-House or Third Party?

Anyone with the brand-new Apple iPhone can appreciate their ringtone option: purchase exclusively through iTunes for $.99 a piece, tack on a few pennies here and there, and get your ringtone for under $2. However, a conflict is brewing amongst cell phone providers as companies such as T-Mobile and Verizon charge $2.50-$3 and up for individual ringtone downloads.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out the animosity various mobile phone providers may be feeling toward Apple in general. Not only do iPhone users have access to a high-tech, groundbreaking cell phone, they can incorporate all forms of multimedia and entertaining features into their mobile devices. As the phones themselves skyrocket in sales, it leaves many wondering how the ringtone industry will be affected.

With individual carrier costs taking a chunk of change out of cell phone users’ pockets each time they download a ringtone, many are utilizing ringtone services. 6StarReviews.com reports that companies such as DadaMobile charge a monthly subscription rate whereby members can download unlimited ringtones, games and even bonus SMS messaging capabilities.

DadaMobile and Blinko provide ringtone service to all sorts of carriers, from Cingular and Verizon to T-Mobile and Nextel. Those of us who don’t have access to iTunes by way of the iPhone can have an equally diverse ringtone collection, all while saving money by bypassing individual ringtone purchases through our mobile provider. If you find yourself changing your ringtones periodically throughout any given week, your best bet would be to sign up for a third party ring tone service.

Repairing Your Windows Registry

Before you can win the battle, you have to know what enemy you’re dealing with. In PC-lingo, registry errors are the ultimate ‘bad guy.’ Though they aren’t as famed as viruses and spyware, they can be just as detrimental to your operating system and files. Registry errors are directly related to your computer’s functionality-or lack thereof for many. Consider the following facts you may have deemed as partial truths before taking registry error action:

· Spyware that isn’t wholly found and removed may obstruct a computer’s performance, igniting error messages.

· Don’t tamper with your system files and data entries, unless you’re a PC tech of course. Any deletions may result in unforeseen errors and computer crashes.

· Registry errors don’t necessarily present themselves in ‘error messages.’ Your computer may face snail-paced start-ups, Web-surfing speeds or even lock up altogether.

· Cleaning up your Windows Registry isn’t a one-stop fix. It’s vital to back-up your files and create a restore point to prepare yourself ‘just in case’ your computer crashes.

· Errors are inevitable: With the number of software programs we download, install and uninstall over a given time period, it’s impossible to avoid some clogs every once in awhile.

Many have turned to registry cleaners, software programs that find and fix errors that may take their toll on your PC’s operating abilities. 6StarReviews.com notes Registry Mechanic as an intuitive choice for computer owners, as this software program identifies problems and tweaks them as opposed to deleting a troubled file path. This registry cleaner also helps prevent further registry mishaps through their Registry Pruning feature-it deletes empty, nonessential subkeys which ultimately increases your PC speed. Remember: discreet registry errors wreak havoc, especially when left untreated.

Movie Download Services

We’ve all been to the movies and have rented our fair share of videos at our corner Blockbuster. Many of us have even rented flicks through the renowned Netflix, getting our DVD’s right through the mail. But, how many of us actually download our favorite films straight to our computers? Movie download services are revolutionizing the manner in which we obtain and enjoy our favorite movies. Base your movie download service decision on these key points:

· Selection-If you’re paying for it, you might as well go with a site that gives you access to as many titles as possible. CinemaNow showcases all film genres, from action and foreign to indie and animated.

· Download Platform-Go with a movie download service that simplifies the download process. Movie files are gigantic, and sites like Total Vid allow you to transfer data straight from their website. Others, like Movielink, provide special software to aid in the download process.

· Pricing Plans-Popular music and movie download service iTunes allows you to download movies on an individual basis, while Total Vid lets members download unlimited movies from their film library for a low monthly subscription rate.

· Quality-As with any download, opt for a service that provides high-resolution movie files.
The last thing you want is an indecipherable picture. iTunes and Total Vid both require certain video RAM and display resolutions to ensure a high-tech viewing experience.

Though convenient, movie download services surely have room to grow in popularity and prominence. One great feature offered by several services is the ability to burn film files to MP3 player or DVD. Not only do downloadable movies provide backup in case your hard copy of The Shining is scratched or lost, they’re cheaper in the long run.

Music Download Services

Music downloads aren’t going anywhere, despite the negative sentiment recording artists have for the phenomena. Anyone with a PC or MP3 player understands the significance of downloading their favorite song, as opposed to purchasing an entire album from FYE.

Though tangible CDs are a must for die-hard fans, there’s nothing quite like picking and choosing which tracks make it on your iPod. Several music download services offer great perks for listeners:

· More than Music-The great thing about MP3 players is their versatility. Many multimedia players incorporate video, games, tv shows and podcasts into their service, compatible with a broad selection of files available through companies like iTunes.

· Membership-Not all music download services charge you $.99 per song. Services like MP3DownloadHQ and Napster charge you flat membership rates with unlimited downloads in that allotted timeframe.

· File sharing-iTunes and other music download services allow paying users to swap music files with friends. Keyword: legally.

· Fun Features-Everyone has a cell phone and Napster allows you to transfer music files to your mobile when subscribing to Napster-to-Go without having to pay per track.

There are plenty of choices in music download services, all boasting unique features and payment options. Of course, iTunes is ideal for anyone accustomed to individual file purchasing and a service such as MP3DownloadHQ is better for someone who downloads countless numbers of songs and videos. However, all are dedicated to cutting edge entertainment.

Shop for Books Online

Shopping for books online sure beats browsing the bookshelves at your local Barnes and Noble. Not only can you narrow your search results down by title, author, category or price, but many online bookstores have great specials on shipping.

According to an industry study, a slew of surveyed shoppers cite shipping costs as their biggest frustration when shopping on the Net. Finding low shipping rates and affordable, diverse titles doesn’t have to be a chore. Consider these key points when buying your books online:

· Selection-Go for an online bookstore with a title collection in the millions. Amazon is the perfect pick for all categories imaginable: from bestsellers and nonfiction to technical books and sci-fi.

· Shipping-Barnes and Noble provides shipping options on 3 days or less delivery, as well as free shipping on orders of over $25 or more. No need to break bank, as more online bookstores are considering their at-home shoppers.

· Search Functions-We all know that finding the right book isn’t a 1-2-3 process, and sites like Amazon and Barnes and Noble allow you to search most popular lists, author names, keywords, titles, and even item number to find that book you had in mind.

· Pricing-Many online bookstores, Abe Books for instance, provide discount pricing on their inventory. Many titles can be purchased used, which cuts costs by a long shot.

While the traditional bookstore experience, complete with dusty bookshelves and the wafting aroma of coffee may still ignite nostalgia in many of us, online bookstores are much more convenient for many readers. Receiving unbeatable discounts and recommended purchases are features that cannot be matched. It’s also possible to find out-of-stock books you’d inevitably have to put an order in for at the bookstore. The only difference is-your book will be sent straight to your doorstep.

Home Equity Loan Reviews

Choosing a home equity loan can be a momentous decision in most any homeowner’s life. Besides the initial step of purchasing a new home and figuring out what mortgage payment plan to go with, borrowers typically look to home equity as a ‘second mortgage’ in essence. But, what exactly is home equity and what do you need to know before applying for a loan?

Home equity refers to a borrower using their house as collateral in the event that they should need assistance in paying for their children’s college tuition or other unforeseen bills. Equity equates to the difference between a house’s fair market value and the balance of the mortgage still unpaid. The longer you have a property and the more you pay off your mortgage, the higher your home equity grows.

There are two kinds of home equity loans you should be aware of. Closed end home equity loans refer to a situation where the borrower rakes in a lump sum at the time of closing, forgoing future payouts. Maximum amount for borrowing purposes depends on their credit rating and house value, of course. Another home equity loan is an open end loan. This basically means that there is revolving credit, and the borrower can decide when to borrow from equity in the property.

But, where to begin choosing one’s home equity loan? 6StarReviews.com reports that one popular home equity loan provider, Lending Tree, lets you compare up to four loan offers instantly. Their loan application is simple to complete, and lenders are directly provided to you. Of course, with any decision to sign up for a home equity loan, it’s vital to shop around and find the perfect fit for your finances.

E-LOAN: Popular Home Equity Loans

You've probably seen their plethora of television commercials and wondered if E-LOAN was worth your time. Let us give you the good news: they are. Upon entry to the E-LOAN website, we were immediately impressed by the number of financial resources available here!

Not only can you apply for a direct home equity loan right on the site, you may receive a free home equity loan analysis and are given contact with a personal loan assistant.

• HELOC (line of credit) and fixed-term home equity loans available.
• Guaranteed lowest closing costs

Unlike some of their competition, 6Star Reviews applauds E-LOAN for providing home equity loans through their service. The application is a bit more in-depth, though, which should be expected. You can, however, save it and come back later when you have time to complete it. The E-LOAN website hosts numerous articles, tips, tools and resources should you need them. Customer support was a breath of fresh air, here, as telephone, live chat and email all gave us knowledgable, friendly responses. We gladly assign them our Top Rated spot with 6.0 Stars!

LendingTree Home Equity Loan Review

LendingTree is one of the top home equity loan sites we came across when researching which providers offer the best features, usability, and loans. Not only do they provide a straightforward and scannable website, they have a solid service.

One of our favorite features is LendingTree's matching system, whereby they compare home equity loans from four separate lenders and you're given a low price guarantee.

• Online approval
• Home equity loan calculators and resources

The 6Star Reviews team applauds LendingTree in giving their customers a simple-to-complete home equity loan application. While there is online approval, do realize the lenders themselves review your application, appraise your home and close the deal. If you're approved or not, you'll be notified via email, which we liked. LendingTree acts as the 'middle man' in bringing you right to the doorstep of qualified, affordable lenders. Customer support is outstanding here, with friendly and knowledgable telephone and live chat reps. They deserve our Most Popular spot with 5.5 Stars!

Home Loan Center: Quality Home Equity Loans

Upon entry to the Home Loan Center website, we were truly impressed by their level of professionalism and resourceful site feel. There are no application fees for home equity loans and believe it or not, home appraisals aren't required in the application process. You can also be approved for your home equity loan online, which is a huge plus.

• Installment loans and HELOC (line of credit) loans
• Get your loan funded in as little as 10 days

6Star Reviews really liked the Home Loan Center website and commends their service for offering extensive resources and helpful financial links. While their loans require you to borrow a minimum of $15,000 (not the case on their competition's websites), they offer a really upstanding service. Customer support via telephone and email were both friendly and informative. They should be rewarded with 5.0 Stars!

iMortgage Central: Good Home Equity Loans?

When we landed on the iMortgage Central website, we were pretty impressed by their site design. Although it wasn't out of this world, it was very fluid and easy to sift through.
Initially, we liked that iMortgage Central enables homeowners to get home equity loans for up to 125% of the equity in their homes. In return? Those applying for loans get alot more borrowing power.

• Up to 3 free quotes in 24 hours.
• Get quotes without pulling your credit score.

6Star Reviews thinks this is a good place for home equity loan matching, as they aren't a direct lender, but do successfully direct you to someone who can approve your application and get you merrily on your way. Rate lock options are available and though there weren't as many in-depth resources on this website, we think they're a good choice. They earned 5.0 Stars!

LoanApp for Home Equity Loans

We have to admit, we really liked what we found on the LoanApp website! Not only do they provide some great resources, they have alot of financial information available.

Do keep in mind-they aren't a direct lender, which means you will be referred to outside lenders (up to four to be exact). But, LoanApp is very straightforward about their service and quite user-friendly.

• Helpful market updates and loan calculators.
• Lenders for people with less-than-perfect credit or special credit needs.

6Star Reviews felt this site was great in what it offers. They don't try to be something they're not (ie. portraying themselves as a direct lender) and offer some great resources. When filling out your loan application, just choose which loan you're interested in and a 1-2-3 quote request form. Lenders will even contact you with rates and details on the home equity loan you're interested in. Customer support via telephone was happy to help us and we finished our LoanApp research with a positive feeling. They receive 5.0 Stars!

Ditech Home Equity Loan Review

If you need a home equity loan, Ditech is a pretty good place to go about your search. Boasting a user-friendly, easy-on-the-eyes website interface, we were initially impressed.

But, 6Star Reviews did notice that the loan application itself was several pages long, and a little cumbersome to complete. But, should you need to, you can save it under 'My Account' and complete it at different intervals.

• $49 flat fee -Includes title search, home appraisal, prepaid interest
• Free rate consultations

Our team expected a little more from Ditech, as we've seen their television commercials all over the tube. But, if you're looking for a ton of features and resources, this probably isn't your best choice. They do have some home equity and financing articles, if you need them though. Customer support really disappointed us here, with unfriendly and uninformative reps souring our Ditech experience. They receive 4.5 Stars!

MortgageLoan Home Equity Loans

When we first discovered the MortgageLoan website, we had high hopes we'd find a good ol' home equity loan here. Were we wrong or what. While this site does provide some useful financial resources like loan calculators and finance articles, the helpfulness ends just about there.

• HELOC loans available.
• Matches you with home equity lenders who can provide you rate quotes

Our team instinctually felt that MortgageLoan was more interested in selling our information to third party lenders than actually helping us find a decent loan. Far be it from us to actually call a service 'misleading,' but we felt a little uncomfortable when filling out the online form, especially when it asked us to 'rate our own credit.' On top of not requesting our Social, we felt the details provided wouldn't elicit great loan matches.

We decided to give customer support a chance, and received an email response completely irrelevant from the question we had asked. Telephone support seemed more interested in pulling our contact information out of us than answering our questions. We didn't love this site, and give them 3.5 Stars!

Low Interest Credit Cards

Let’s face it: the last thing we need is credit card debt and sometimes our intentions to pay our balances in full each month are made in vain. Low interest credit cards are a worthwhile alternative to no annual fee credit cards, which require squeaky clean credit histories to qualify for at times. However, one card issuer’s notion of ‘low interest’ may not leave you scrambling to fill out an application. Think about the following if you’re considering a low APR credit card:

· Annual Fee-Many low APR credit cards don’t charge an annual fee, such as the Advanta Life of Balance Platinum Card. Think of it as dually saving money: on interest and fees.

· Fixed Interest Rate-Cards like the Pulaski Bank Gold Visa offer fixed interest rates of less than 10%, which is a great rate if you don’t always pay your balance fully each month.

· Cash Rewards-It isn’t always the case that low interest rate credit cards provide great cash-back rewards schemes. The Advanta Life of Balance Platinum Card offers cardholders 6% cash rebates on specified purchases.

· Introductory Offers-We all like receiving special rates and promotions, such as the Pulaski Bank Gold Visa’s no interest on balance transfers for 6 months.

There is an immeasurable number of credit cards available to businesses and consumers alike, some with great bonuses, some with none. Low interest rate credit cards are a perfect credit card pick for those who wish to save on interest each month. If you wish to reduce the rate currently attached to a card, making a call to the card issuer may save you money, as many are willing to compromise if you are serious about completing an application or are a long-standing customer. As with any credit card, one should spend with caution to avoid late fees and accrued debt.

Paid Surveys: Tips and Advice

We’ve all heard of the telemarketer who calls us during dinner and the girl with the clipboard at our local mall. Both are being paid to collect our thoughts and opinions…a task that has grown much simpler in the Internet age. Paid survey sites have quite a loyal following, and can be addictive for some. After all, getting cash rewards and new, free products in trade for your point of view isn’t a bad deal. Here’s what you should consider before taking an online survey:

· Paid vs. Free-Many legitimate paid survey sites do charge a fee for membership, but there are plenty of freebies as well. Survey Club, for example, is complimentary and even sends surveys directly to your inbox.

· Demographics-Many paid survey sites are partnered with market research companies in order to gain insight on who buys what in the marketplace. You may not qualify for all surveys depending on which demographics are in demand—they’re vital to businesses who truly want to sell profitable products.

· Survey Diversity-You might want to choose a paid survey site that gives you the opportunity to participate in focus groups, product testing, or even secret shopping. Survey Scout is one such site that offers some of the latter.

· Making Money-While you may make some extra cash from giving your opinion, it’s unlikely that amount will be enough to replace your current day job. Be aware of sites claiming you’ll ‘never have to work again’ or similar scenarios.

Online paid surveys are a great hobby for those somewhat familiar with the Web. There are legitimate ways to earn a few bucks here and there while helping shape what products make it into stores. You might even get to keep a new product you get chosen to try out!