Limited-time BistroMD offer for dads and grads!
May 31st, 2011 - Posted by Sarah
It's almost June again, and you know what that means: graduations and Father's Day. Get your dad or your special graduate—or even yourself!—25 to 50% off the next BistroMD order of doctor-designed, chef-prepared meals!
Maybe you know someone who's about to graduate but still complains of that Freshman 15. Give that graduate a gift that will give him or her a leg up in the competitive job market: 25% a BistroMD diet plan order! Click here, and use coupon code BistroGrad25.
Or perhaps your dad's been struggling with keeping up a healthy diet because he's sick of steamed broccoli and skinless chicken breasts. BistroMD will hook him up with tasty new options, and he can get 50% off his next order. Click here, and enter coupon code BistroDad50!
These BistroMD online diet plan offers are only good until June 30, so hop to it!
Does FICO use credit scores from all three credit reporting agencies to come up with their own FICO Score?
May 31st, 2011 - Posted by Tasha
Q: Does FICO use credit scores from all three credit reporting agencies to come up with their own FICO Score?
A: FICO is the brand name of a credit score calculation created by Fair Issac & Co in 1956. FICO actually uses their own proprietary credit algorithm to determine your FICO score; they do not use the credit scores created by the 3 credit bureaus. Like all other credit scores, the FICO score is based on the information found in your credit report. And since you have 3 different credit reports—one from each of the 3 credit bureaus—you have 3 different FICO scores.
To learn more about how the FICO score is calculated, see our What Does FICO Mean blog post. To learn more about credit scores, see our credit monitoring FAQ. This is also a great time to take a look at our top rated credit monitoring services for free trials and free credit scores.
Do any of the identity theft protection services you review protect bank accounts and provide computer protection?
May 27th, 2011 - Posted by Tasha
Q: Do any of the identity theft protection services you review protect bank accounts and provide computer protection?
A: Both of our top rated identity theft protection services, Identity Guard TOTAL PROTECTION® and Trusted ID protect your bank accounts and provide computer protection. When you sign up for these services, you need to take the time to register your bank accounts numbers and credit cards so they can patrol for suspicious activity on either.
Identity Guard and Trusted ID help to protect your computer from fraud with their included computer software. Identity Guard includes Zone Alarm Internet Security software, a total Internet security suite providing anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, and anti-phishing protection with your subscription. Trusted ID includes free anti-spyware software from highly reputable Sana Security with your membership.
Both Identity Guard and Trusted ID are offering free trials if you sign up from NextAdvisor. Take a look at these and other top rated identity theft protection services to see if they will be a good fit for your needs.
Happy Memorial Day: Free communication on eHarmony!
May 26th, 2011 - Posted by Sarah
If you've seen those TV commercials for eHarmony, you might be curious: What would happen if I signed up? Would I find a lasting, loving relationship? Well, this weekend is your chance to communicate with your matches for free! Sign up for eHarmony, and pay nothing to send emails May 27-30.
Do any VoIP services include faxing?
May 26th, 2011 - Posted by Sarah
The following is an actual user-submitted question:
Q. Do any VoIP services include faxing?
A. That depends whether you're looking for home or business VoIP. If you're looking for home VoIP, the only service that also offers faxing is Phone.com. It's web-based, so you can send a fax from your browser.
However, for business VoIP, you have many more options. First, there's Nextiva, which includes one toll-free number, one virtual fax number, and eight local numbers. That's more than any other VoIP service we review, so we recommend Nextiva if you're looking to save money. Your only other option for included Internet faxing is RingCentral. If you prefer to pay extra for Internet fax, you can choose from Vocalocity, 8×8, GlobalPhone, Apptix, and Improcom.
What are the best credit cards for those with fair to poor credit?
May 26th, 2011 - Posted by Tasha
Q: What are the best credit cards for those with fair to poor credit?
A: If you're one of many people whose credit history has taken a serious hit in today's economy, secured credit cards are a great way to help rebuild your credit. Secured cards require a cash deposit that then becomes the collateral for that account. They are a good choice for anyone with poor, fair or no credit history.
One thing to look for when choosing a secured card is that it reports your payment history to all 3 credit bureaus, like Orchard Bank Mastercard and Capital One® Secured Mastercard®. This type of reporting is what helps to rebuild your credit. Of course, you need to do your part and make all of your payments on time.
Other items to consider prior to choosing a card are the APR and any fees associated with the card. Typically secured cards charge an annual fee ranging from $25 – $75. APR rates range greatly, and even if you plan to pay your card off on time you should know the APR…just in case. In our reviews, the Public Savings Bank Open Sky Visa® offered the lowest APR and 3-bureau credit reporting.
Before you make your selection, take a look at all our top picks for those with poor credit. To learn more about credit cards and how they work, read our credit card FAQ.
Bank of America: one more reason why you need ID theft protection
May 24th, 2011 - Posted by Sarah
We here at NextAdvisor like to harp on identity theft protection. Why? Because you need it. You never know when, for example, workers at your bank will leak confidential information about your accounts to scammers, resulting in more than $10 million in total losses, which is what happened recently at Bank of America.
Even if you entrust your entire financial life only to big-name companies, this event illustrates why you should take the extra step of getting identity theft protection for yourself and your family to combat fraud. We think that the best companies for ID theft prevention are Identity Guard Total Protection (for the most complete ID theft protection), TrustedID (for families), and LifeLock (for the best value). Click on those links to see our reviews of these services (you'll find even more here), and don't go another day vulnerable to identity theft!
Can online backup from a PC be used to transfer files to a Mac, preferably selectively?
May 23rd, 2011 - Posted by Sarah

The following is an actual user-submitted question:
Q. Can online backup from a PC be used to transfer files to a Mac, preferably selectively?
A. Absolutely! Once you back up the file from your PC, all you need to do is share your file(s) with an email address (not the one you have on file with the online backup company), and you can download from the cloud to your Mac. However, it's not the best solution for this common question. If you want to make any changes to the file, back up different versions, or sync or merge the different copies of your file, we recommend that you go with online backup that covers more than one computer — or, at best, unlimited computers, like these services:
SugarSync: This online backup company covers an unlimited number of computers at a kickin' price. The only real downsides are its limited default backup settings and inability to back up your Outlook messages or Firefox. Read: It doesn't back up everything. However, we here at NextAdvisor offer an exclusive 15% discount on SugarSync.
iBackup: Are you trying to transfer files for your business? iBackup might be the right service for you. It's the only online backup service we've reviewed that helps you make sure that your business storage is compliant with federal regulations.
SpiderOak: Can you tell we love SpiderOak? It's super-secure and customizable online backup with a gorgeous, streamlined interface. If you're a beginner at online backup, though, it might be wise to skip this option.
If I purchase a new domain name from Hostmonster, will I be able to transfer it should I decide to use another hosting company? If so, is there a transfer charge?
May 23rd, 2011 - Posted by Sarah
The following is an actual user-submitted question:
Q. If I purchase a new domain name from Hostmonster, will I be able to transfer it should I decide to use another hosting company? If so, is there a transfer charge?
A. When you purchase a new domain name from Hostmonster, the web hosting company assumes you'll be hosting with it for at least a little while. That's why Hostmonster offers your domain for life. We gave Hostmonster five stars in our tests, and it offers one of the cheapest monthly rates out there. But if you decide to go with another company later on, Hostmonster doesn't leverage a charge to transfer. Any setup fees will come from your new web hosting company.
This will be my first time getting a credit card. What credit card would be appropriate for my situation?
May 20th, 2011 - Posted by Tasha
Q: This will be my first time getting a credit card. I'll be making small purchases with this card and paying them off in full each month, so as to build credit so that I can eventually rent my own apartment, etc. What credit card would be appropriate for my situation?
A: First off, I want to commend you on your interest in building good credit. A healthy, positive credit history will help you with everything from getting a cell phone plan or renting an apartment to obtaining a mortgage.
Based on your question, it sounds like you don't have much of a credit history. If this is because you're still in school, I would suggest looking at a student credit card. These cards are targeted towards students who want to begin establishing their credit history. Typically they are sensitive to student situations, and don't charge an annual fee. Some of the student cards we review offer a 0% introductory APR, which is a nice way to make purchases without have to worry about late fees (even though you plan to pay everything off on time). They also offer cash back on purchases in certain categories.
If you're not still in (or just out of) school, then a rewards credit card might make sense. These cards typically offer cash back or points on purchases you make with your card. If you have a good idea of the types of transactions you'll be making, for example eating out, gas or groceries, you can go a step further and choose a card that offers extra rewards in specific categories. Take a look at our top rated reward cards to see which one might be a good fit for you.

Categories
Blog Archives
Copyright© 2006 - 2012 NextAdvisor.com - All rights reserved.
Disclosure: NextAdvisor.com is a consumer information site that offers free, independent reviews and ratings of online services. We receive advertising revenue from most of the services we review. Our editors thoroughly research and whenever possible test each service we review and offer their honest opinions about each one. We are independently owned and operated and all opinions expressed on this site are our own.



