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Keep the Change - You’ve Earned It!

Sponsor — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:45:08 -0700

There’s just something more satisfying about buying that morning coffee from the cute barista at your coffee shop than brewing your own cup o’ joe - even if it has the potential to save you money, right? Guilt-free solution: Bank of America’s Keep the Change savings program - where every debit card purchase is rounded up to the nearest dollar and the difference is transferred from your checking to your savings account. So, when you buy that $2.50 coffee, the program rounds it up to $3 and automatically transfers $0.50 from your checking to your savings account. And if you’re new to Keep the Change, Bank of America will even match your round-ups for the first three months, up to $250! Learn even more about Bank of America’s match details when you enroll. So go ahead, enjoy that caramel mocha latte.
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Browse, Shop, and Earn Cash Back!

Sponsor — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:45:13 -0700

You’ve spent hours online shopping for Summer sandals, and now you’re eyeing some espadrilles and can’t resist the urge to make them yours! Well, now you have even more reason to browse and shop online. As a Bank of America customer, learn how you can earn up to 20 percent cash back at over 300 online retailers through the bank’s new Add It Up™ online shopping website. You sign in with your online banking ID at bankofamerica.com/additup, click through to the desired store, and then use your Bank of America debit or credit card to start earning cash back. Learn even more about Bank of America’s match details when you enroll. Face it, a girl can never have too many shoes . . . and you know Carrie Bradshaw would do it.
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Rihanna Leads the Way With Amazing Women For Glamour

Molly — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:45:00 -0800

Rihanna stole the show in her dramatic white dress as she and her fellow honorees took the red carpet at last night's Glamour Women of the Year celebration in NYC. Carnegie Hall was brimming with beautiful ladies from Iman to Maria Shriver and Diane von Furstenberg. Catherine Zeta-Jones stood out in blue and had Michael Douglas by her side for support. Rih was just one of a handful of women who were chosen by the magazine, but all eyes were on her - and most of you are loving the look, just the latest in her fashion metamorphosis!

Padma Lakshmi showed off her growing baby bump while one of the evening's honorees Stella McCartney smiled big with her award up on stage where she also had some trouble with her super short skirt. Amy Poehler and Michelle Obama were two of the magazine's other women of the year, though the First Lady didn't attend the event since she was with her husband President Barack Obama visiting with families at Fort Hood. The night was full of inspirational and important females who spoke and mingled, celebrating each other and Glamour's picks. Rihanna has come out strong opening up about her difficult year and what all this means to her – check out Rih's heartfelt speech after the jump.

LOTS more photos of Glamour Women of the Year Party and video of Rihanna on stage so read more.

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Images include: Rihanna, Serena Williams, Katharine McPhee, Padma Lakshmi, Amy Poehler, Zoe Kravitz, Lisa Ling, Laura Ling, Estelle, Stella McCartney, Kerry Washington, Steven Tyler, Andie MacDowell, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Maria Shriver, Tyra Banks, Katie Couric, Matt Lauer, Iman, Maya Angelou, Bill Clinton, Yoko Ono, Diane von Furstenberg

Avoid These Silly Bank Fees and Save

SavvySugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:00:23 -0700

You're a pro at avoiding ATM fees and finding free checking, but banks are slapping fees on everything from your standard withdrawal at another bank to helping its customers. Yes, that customer service call could come with a charge. Banks are relying on fee income more than ever, so don't be surprised if your institution starts sticking you with a tab for checking your balance.

The Wall Street Journal identifies 10 fees you should keep an eye on, and while it mentions that you might have some luck asking your bank to waive a fee you catch on your account, wouldn't it just be easier to avoid them in the first place? Two of the fees listed by the WSJ stand out as particularly silly - $2 to $4 fees for visiting a bank teller more than a couple times a month, and $0.50 to $5 for making account inquiries or reordering checks over the phone.

Find out if your bank charges for any of these services; it's relatively easy to dodge them once you're aware. You can take care of most banking business online and make deposits through your bank's ATM.

Tyra Banks Launches E-Zine Today!

FabSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:06:44 -0700

Tyra Banks has added yet another aspect to her media empire: an online magazine. The former Super, who already produces her namesake talk show and America’s Next Top Model, will be be launching e-zine, Tyra: Beauty Inside and Out, on TyraBanks.com, today at 5 p.m. Topics will cover fashion, beauty, healthy living, and relationships. The site will also contain exclusive, behind-the-scene footage and photos from ANTM and The Tyra Show. If you think you have what it takes to be on top, apply for cycle 14 of ANTM today for a chance to win an interview in the final round of the selection process. Go Tyra go.

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More Banks Offering Mobile Services

GeekSugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:00:19 -0700

When it comes to banking, I usually do as much as I can online, whether it be checking balances, transferring funds or paying bills. According to CNBC, some of the largest US banks like Citi will be launching mobile banking services so that customers can access their bank account info from the convenience of their cell phones. These mobile services will include all of the standard features of online banking including transfers, bill payments, etc.

I remember the day when my bank introduced debit cards and eventually online banking. I'm sure that mobile banking will be just as popular and well received as these advancements.

How many of you would consider doing your banking over your cell phones? Would you have security concerns? Leave all your comments below!

Kyle Schuneman Redesigns the Tyra Banks Show Office

CasaSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0700

The Tyra Banks Show recently called upon one of my Designer Spotlights, Kyle Schuneman, to transform its drab and boring office into a fabulous workspace. Kyle started by painting the walls a serene blue with eco-friendly, zero-VOC paint. Then, he anchored the room with a Room and Board Parsons Desk and brought in a file cabinet with classic lines for storage. Nature-inspired curtains from Lotus Bleu added some pattern and chimed in on the earthy blue of the walls, while the Palladian Urn Crystal Lamp from Restoration Hardware gave the space polish.

I love how he mixed an Eames task chair knock-off with a Louis XIV side chair at the desk, flawlessly blending different eras and styles. Off to the side of the office, Kyle brought in the Urban Outfitters Antoinette Fainting Sofa, which countered the hard lines of the desk with feminine curves, and created a glamorous space to relax in with a mirrored table at its side. As for artwork, he displayed antique wallpaper in baroque frames from Ikea. Easy, instant, beautiful! See before and after photos and a widget of some of the products used when you read more.

Funny enough, the space was shot by one of my Photographers to Watch, Joe Schmelzer! Check out the photos and tell me what you think. Do you like this makeover? Would you like to re-create this look in your home office?

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Faceted Mirror Side Table - $199.00	Ung Drill Frame - $24.99
Herman Miller® eames aluminum group - executive chair - $1,299.00	Kieran Chair - $595.00
Parsons 60x30 29h Desk/Table Base - $309.00	Home Office Ensemble File Console - $549.00
Sandy Chapman Mini Urn Form Lamp In Crystal - $210.00

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Bank of America on Top of the Banking World

SavvySugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:30:50 -0800

Almost every big bank made headlines last year, and it looks like we can expect one bank to stand out as the bank to watch in 2009. You all voted Bank of America as the best commercial bank of 2008 and the experts seem to agree that it's number one. While the process of purchasing Merrill Lynch began in September, the transaction was made final on Thursday, making Bank of America the biggest bank in the US and ending 94 years of independence for Merrill.

Bank of America's assets now include brokerage, credit card, investment banking, mortgage and wealth management operations, and a sturdy base of deposits. Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis, named Banker of the Year last month for the second time, said, "We are now uniquely positioned to win market share and expand our leadership position in markets around the world." Still, the expanded bank will face challenges in 2009 and beyond, as Lewis plans to cut at least 30,000 jobs to save $21 billion by 2012.

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Good, Better, Best: Adult Piggy Banks

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:15:07 -0700

I was listening to NPR yesterday, and there was a story about how one in four Brits fail to save money for the future. This problem certainly isn't limited to the U.K., and when it comes to putting cash away for a rainy day, every little bit helps.

So here's an idea: Pick up a special adult piggy bank to encourage your own penny pinching. I've found three little pigs that will suit anyone's financial planning.

Good: For a minor investment, you can get an Urban Outfitters Mini Piggy Bank for just $8. The metallic finish lends a hip update to your childhood version.

Two even better piggy banks, so read more

Better: The kids' store My Bambino also makes a Grown Up's Piggy Bank ($24.99) that can be personalized with a cheeky message of your choice, i.e. "Prada Bag Fund" or "Home Renovation Budget."

Best: The Jonathan Adler Piggy Bank ($130) is both adorable and luxurious; this little piggy comes glazed in pure gold or platinum.

What's the Deal With Bank Security Questions?

SavvySugar — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:56:59 -0800

What's your favorite ice cream flavor? What designs are on your library card? Your favorite entertainer? Who was your third grade teacher? Where did you honeymoon? What do all of these questions have in common? They're all actual security questions for online services, and the idea behind these kooky questions is that providing the answers will make it easier to retrieve your password should you forget it.

I hadn't really contemplated the motives banks have for utilizing these questions until I read a thought-provoking Slate article called "In What City Did You Honeymoon." Online services use the secret question method because it's cheap - calling to have a password reset can cost a company between $10 and $15 each time, while resetting your password with your secret question costs nothing at all.

It does make me wonder how hacker-safe these questions are, and I like the suggestion the article gives for banks to convert to a phone-based authentication system. If you forget your password, you just have to call from one of the phone numbers that you used to set up the account. Then, they'd call you on that phone and you'd have to type in a number that would appear on your screen. Seems easy enough.

Can you think of any funny bank security questions you've come across?

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