Two stores are having a sale. In Store #1 the deal is take 25% off then take an additional 25% off. In Store #2 the deal is take 50% off. Which store has the better deal? (Store #1, Store #2, Both are the same)

Share this with your readers. I just cannot believe that the credit card company will work with me. I have a Marathon Pet Credit Card (MAP). My balance is $1,093.92. I am self-employed and between customers right now. I just didn’t have the extra $118 to pay the card, so I did nothing. Cash wasn’t there. I avoided the MAP calls. Since I had to cut staff, I am the only one in the office, the only one to answer the phones.

I help my 82-year-old mother pay many of her credit card bills. She’s scared to call the credit card companies, and I don’t want to be added as an authorized user or they will show up on my credit report. Is there a service that she can give a power of attorney to that will call the credit card companies on her behalf? Currently, she is NOT past due on any credit cards–but that will change if we can’t reduce these interest rates. Thanks!

This question from a DebtSmart Reader, Margie: I purchased property for $27,515.00 at 7.5% for 8 years on a semiannual payment of $2318.00. The first year, three payments were made of $2,318.00; we have paid three years so far. This year, on our due date, we would like to pay off the mortgage. What will be the amount due? ($16,965; $18,695; $21,297; or $22,297) NOTE: Assume that the third payment in year one was made with the second payment.

Be part of one of America’s Fastest Growing Industries. Be the Boss! Earn thousands of dollars a month from home! Ads like this are everywhere — from the telephone pole on the corner to your newspaper, email and favorite websites. The jobs might be different, but the message is the same — start earning a great living today working from home, even in your spare time.

I’m worried about losing my job. They’ve been cutting back our hours and things just don’t look good. I’d like to find a new job before this place goes down the tubes, but I haven’t looked for a job in years. I know that there are all kinds of job sites available, but what else should I consider? When I find a job I like to keep it so this is an important decision for me.

Rachel was telling Jack about her romantic date with Dave. Jack is a man that is more concerned with the cost of the frolic than the details of their amorous evening. Jack asked Rachel how much the tab was for food only (tax included). Rachel was too focused on Dave to remember the amount for the actual dinners, but she did remember tipping the waiter 16% and that the final bill, tip included, was $159.50. Jack was quite amazed that Rachel would remember so much, but not recall the cost of the dinner before the tip. Of course, Jack knows his math and can easily figure it out. Can you? What is the cost of the dinner before the tip? ($137.50, $140.25, or $142.25)

You have $10,000 that you want to deposit in a money market account. You have a choice between two accounts. Both accounts pay 5% APR (Annual Percentage Rate). One account is compounded daily, meaning that interest is paid daily to the account. The other is compounded monthly meaning that interest is paid monthly. After one year, how much more is earned by depositing the money in the account that is compounded daily? ($1.05, $10.05, $100.05, or $1,000.05)

On the rare occasions when I watch television I always see this commercial from a company called Cash for Gold with the saying – Trade in your unused gold for cash. The commercial shows several people who turned in gold and received money usually a few hundred dollars. I went to the company’s website and did some research.

When a debtor is delinquent, most creditors will attempt to collect payment of debts via telephone calls and letters before escalating to more extreme forms of collection methods. Should a debtor continue to provide payment in response to a creditor’s attempt to get payment from him, as a last resort, the creditor could go to court and get a Judgment and then follow-up with a paycheck garnishment.