GeekSugar

The Ever So Teeny Nokia Icon Wrist Band

GeekSugar — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 08:05:43 PDT

Although these streamlined and ultra chic duochromatic OLED wrist bands weren't featured in our Cell Phones So Hot You Can't Get One...Yet story, they are certainly worth mentioning. Designed by Lopez Revol and courtesy of Yanko Designs the Nokia Icon shows incoming call and text messages on its flexible rubber band which just so happens to come in a variety of sizes and colors. Nokia also has a line of glowing bands which change red or white when you receive a message or call. Stumped as to how this gadget works? It connects to the 7280 phone via Bluetooth. I'd say this is something that Lauren Conrad from The Hills would find useful- time to put that BlackBerry in a case girl!

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10 Really Surprising Things That Hurt Your Credit Score

LearnVest — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:15:05 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Most people know the typical credit no-nos:

Don't make a late payment. Don't allow an account to go into collections. Avoid tax liens, bankruptcies and foreclosures.

And of course, paying off credit card debt should be one of your top financial priorities. (To find out your other top financial priorities, use this simple tool.)

But there are also lesser-known ways you could unintentionally damage your credit score.

Here are ten actions-from least to most harmful-that could make your number take a plunge.

10. Renting a Car With a Debit Card

While many rental agencies require that you pay your deposit with a credit card, some will accept your debit card instead. However, agencies typically have a clause in the contract stating that they can pull your credit report if you choose to pay with a debit card. That credit check causes a hard inquiry, which will ding your score a few points.

A hard inquiry is when a lender, credit card issuer or other financial institution requests a credit check in order to decide whether or not to extend a line of credit to you, such as a credit card or home loan. Each hard inquiry usually drops your credit score by a few points and will remain on your credit report for two years. The other kind of inquiry, soft inquiries, are made by people who don't intend to take action, such as your landlord checking your credit, and won't have any effect on your credit score.

Read on to find out more.

Should You Use Separate or Joint Accounts?

Kiplinger — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:15:58 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

In every serious, long-term relationship, you reach a special moment when one of you has to pop a very important question: joint or individual accounts? (To be clear, this query is not fit for first-date chitchat; merging your finances is as big a commitment as exchanging keys or vows.) The right answer will be as unique as you are. “There is no magic bullet,” says David Fleisher, president of Firstrust Financial Resources, a financial-planning firm in Philadelphia. “But the healthiest of relationships that I see are those who ensure that both people are on the same page.”

You just have to talk out your financial goals and agree on a plan that works best for you and your mate. Be sure to consider your respective money attitudes and behaviors when deciding your strategy. Ask each other: What bills need to be paid regularly? Are you a stickler for paying bills on time, or do due dates tend to slip past you? What short- and long-term savings goals do you have? What are your spending habits? And of course, you’ll want to address these 4 Critical Money Questions to Ask Before You Get Married.

Read on to find out more.

The Covet List: Chanel Vintage Phone Purse

Noria Morales — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 03:04:00 PDT

The Piece: Chanel Vintage Cell Phone Purse

The Investment: $1,000

Why We Covet: OK, it's a little insane. A vintage Chanel cell phone purse? The thing is it was made for an older phone, which means it's a bit bigger than necessary to hold a modern phone. This means there's room to hold your house key and credit cards, and in the back there's a slit for love letters. It's quirky and unique. We love the rectangular shape, and the long chain makes it a mini crossbody bag. Have you ever known anyone with a Chanel cell phone purse? And really, if you have a Chanel cell phone purse, what more do you need? You're the coolest person in the world.

Check out other items from our Covet List!

Gary Busey Makes the Celebrity Apprentice Worth Watching

Emily Co — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:50:36 PST

As last night's premiere of the fourth season of Celebrity Apprentice unfolded, I'm reminded again how much more entertaining it is than the regular Apprentice show. First of all, the cast for this season is unrivaled - plenty of strong personalities and unique characters around. You have Richard Hatch, the first-ever Survivor winner, who stepped on a few toes last night by treating David Cassidy poorly, referring to him as "delicate" and dismissing David when the former child star tried to offer suggestions.

But the person who really made me laugh out loud was Gary Busey and his crazy antics. For example, during the boardroom meeting with the Trumps, somebody's cell phone started ringing. The scene gets more humorous when you see Gary fumbling around with his cell phone and muttering to himself about how to turn the sound off. Later on, Gary tries to articulate how his team, Backbone, performed and ends up confusing everyone. He basically said everything could've been done better and when prompted by Trump to explain what he meant, Gary said it meant his team did better.

I can already sense the drama brewing up with Star Jones and a number of people, and I'm looking forward to see how Star's dynamics with her team members evolve. The cast definitely has colorful personalities, and although Gary gives us a ton of laughs, I have other favorites I'm rooting for. Which contestant are you excited about this season?