While online banking is quickly becoming a trend across the nation, there are still some folks who are resistant to the idea.
The reason is the feared safety issues and costs.
On Eyewitness News Sunday morning to share some money saving tips was Donna Banks, the Features Editor of Readers Digest.
Because it can save and even make you more money.
Sign up with current bank or check out one of the larger institutions. Most have easy to follow directions. Avoid banks which charge for online banking or that limit the number of bills you can pay for free.
Automatic Payments is a big benefit. It gives you flexibility. A bonus to setting up automatic mortgage payment is that you may be able to save money. RD found one instance of a customer shaving mortgage interest rate by a quarter point.
YES. With no brick-and mortar infrastructure to pay for, online-only banks can offer about 5% interest on savings accounts - compared to less than 1% at conventional banks. Schwab.com has been known to pay 4% on checking accounts.
You can monitor your account any time you want. Its easy to keep track of spending and you can move money between accounts. We've found that once people start regularly monitoring their funds they keep better track of spending.
Some do but customers can use a service like mint.com which monitors your transactions and balances nightly. And its free. The site can set you up with a budget, notify you when your account balance is low and send you savings tips based on your spending habits.
Online banking is safer than using your mailbox, a major source of identity theft. Most important: make sure your bank has "zero liability" protection. It means the bank will cover you for any Internet fraud on your account.
For more information, Click Here.
Houseware Show Preview
The International Home and Housewares show in Chicago is less than a month away. Sara Leibowitz of Kitchen Couture showed some new trends on Eyewitness News Sunday morning.
Healthier Cooking
Cuisine Wok by Swiss Diamond
$150
Dr. Weil Spring Steamer
$80
Style & Function: The New Oven-to-Table
Dutch Oven by Le Creuset in Dijon
$240
Appetizer Dishes by Calphalon
$100
Innovation
Professional Electric Martini Maker by Waring Pro
$80
Chef'n Deco Dual Grinder
$25
7 Qt Stand Mixer in Berry Red by Viking
$525
For more information on Kitchen Couture, Click Here., or call 718-686-8200.
Today's Housing Market
At the end of last week, the Federal Reserve slashed its 2008 U.S. economic growth forecast by a half percentage point.
The reason: A housing slump, tight credit and higher oil prices. But all of this could work out to your advantage.
Randy Lee, the founder and CEO of the Leewood Real Estate Group had some tips on Eyewitness News Sunday morning.
What are the advantages to buying in today's market?
Price flexibility by builders/sellers
Low interest rates
Incentives
What are the most popular types of homes that people are looking for in today's market - apartments, condos, coops, single-family houses - and what are the price ranges?
www.residentialnyc.com
www.leewoodgroup.com
Quitting Smoking
On Eyewitness News Sunday morning we provided some tips to help you quit smoking as Dr. Mike Steinberg of the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey. Also joining him were former smokers Betsy Fallon and her husband George who were able to quit together. They were able to use the New Jersey quitline to kick the habit.
Why Is It So Hard to Quit Smoking?
First nicotine is a highly addictive substance found naturally in tobacco. It is as addictive as heroin or cocaine. Breaking the physical addiction to nicotine is difficult, but that is only one aspect of the smoker's addiction. Smoking creates a powerful psychological and behavioral dependence as well. We call this "the three faces of tobacco dependence". Without addressing all three aspects of this addiction, most smokers fail to quit for good.
Why Quit?
Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body. Tobacco is the single most preventable cause of death, disease, impairment and disability in the nation. Although the health risks of smoking are dire, smokers can reap health benefits almost immediately upon quitting. No matter how long they have been smoking, much of the risk from smoking may be reversed. Clinical studies show that the health benefits that smokers gain by quitting are both immediate and long term, and there are effective tools to help smokers succeed in quitting.
Are there steps to follow when quitting smoking?
If smokers try to quit without help, only about three percent will succeed. There is no one right way to quit, but there are some key strategies to quitting:
What should you look for in a Stop Smoking Program?
Stop smoking programs (also called tobacco dependence treatment or cessation programs) are designed to help smokers recognize and cope with problems that come up during quitting and to provide support and encouragement in staying quit.
What Does New Jersey Offer?
New Jersey Quitnet www.nj.quitnet.com
New Jersey Quitnet is a free online service developed at Boston University and customized for New Jersey smokers. It provides a comprehensive individualized plan and resources to help you quit. Once registered, you have access to peer support groups and trained counselors 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will receive a Quitting Guide to help plan a strategy, get referrals to local programs and learn about medications.
What are some tips for stopping smoking?
How do you stay quit?
Staying quit is the final, and most important, stage of the process. Smokers can use the same methods to stay quit as they did to help them through withdrawal. Smokers should think ahead to those times when they may be tempted to smoke, and plan on how they will use alternatives and activities to cope with these situations.
What if you do smoke after quitting?
A slip is a one-time mistake that is quickly corrected, whereas a relapse is going back to smoking. Smokers can use the slip as an excuse to go back to smoking, or they can look at what went wrong and renew their commitment to staying away from smoking for good. Professional smoking cessation counselors and the resources available through programs such as the New Jersey's Quit Services can help them stay on track.
For Betsy and George
How long have you been a non-smoker? How long had you smoked before that?
Betsy (who is now in her 50s) has been a non-smoker for nearly three years now. Prior to that, she estimates that she had smoked for about 40 years, she started smoking when she was 15. Her husband George, who also quit with her, had smoked for about 30 years.
How did you get involved with QuitNet?
At first, Betsy took things slowly, just visiting the Web site (nj.quitnet.com). As time went on, she was detached, just "checking out what was on there." As time went on, she began posting messages and looking forward to reading the responses.
Can you tell us about some of the tricks you use to make sure that you don't begin smoking again?
Betsy uses lollipops as a substitute, joking that she should "buy stock in the Charms company". She has also picked up a few handy sayings on the QuitNet service, such as "I'm a non-practicing nicotine addict" and NOPE - an acronym for "not one puff ever".
What is the dynamic like on the QuitNet?
"It can be very supportive," Betsy said. "For example, one time I wanted a cigarette so badly I posted a message that said 'HELP!' Within a few minutes, I received several responses. But, the members could practice tough love and be real critical on other members who slipped. All in all, it is a good place because every one wants the same thing - to quit smoking. And, we have similar thoughts - that quitting is difficult."
How hard was it to quit?
"It was the hardest thing I ever had to do," Betsy said. "I learned that every one has their own way to quit. I just had to use the way that worked the best for me."
Do you really always keep a pack of cigarettes with you?
"Yes, I do," Betsy said. "I keep them in my pocket book as a reminder that I have the power over the cigarette; the cigarette does not have the power over me."
The Little Mermaid
It's a Disney classic cartoon turned into broadway musical excellence.
Disney's The Little Mermaid has been on stage since last fall at the Lunt-Fontanne theatre in Times Square.
Sierra Boggess and Tituss Burgess the actors playing Ariel and Sebastian joined us on Eyewitness News Sunday Morning.
Click Here, to find out more information on Sierra Boggess.
To find out more information on Tituss Burgess, Click Here.
