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Volume 3 Number 49
December 4, 2006 |
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Many of us have made our holiday
shopping lists and checked them twice but we don’t always
double-check our finances before heading to the mall.
Experts say there are many tips consumers can use to eliminate
stress and debt, including developing a budget and sticking to it,
making a list to avoid last-minute impulse buys and carefully
monitoring your credit card spending.
Other tips for saving time and money during the holidays include:
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Avoid paying full price for
an item.
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Comparison shop for items by
calling stores first or checking prices on-line.
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Check your receipts after
making purchases and keep them in a labeled envelope in case you
need to return items.
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If shopping on-line, make
sure you are using a secure Web site before disclosing personal
financial information.
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Keep all records of online
transactions, including printouts of web pages with the seller’s
name, phone number and address and a description of your order.
If possible, check out Consumer
Reports ratings before making a purchase at
www.consumerreports.org
to see how a retail site scores on buyer-friendly criteria such as
return policies, shipping procedures and easy site navigation.
Resolve not to start the new year in debt – that could be the best
gift of all for you and your family!
Best,
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MY
SAFE FLORIDA HOME
MEETS GOALS FOR PILOT PHASE
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GALLAGHER ANNOUNCES PROGRESS OF
FORTIFYING FLORIDA AGAINST HURRICANES
Goal to Provide
Free Home Inspections to 12,000 Homeowners Met
and Exceeded
Tom Gallagher,
Florida’s chief financial officer, announced
that the pilot phase of the My Safe Florida Home
program ended today and his goal of completing
12,000 free home inspections by the end of this
hurricane season was met and exceeded by nearly
1,000 inspections. In addition, Gallagher
said that an estimated 560 inspectors and 800
contractors have been specifically trained for
the program during the pilot phase.
“When we launched the My Safe
Florida Home program in August, my goal was to
provide 12,000 free home inspections by the end
of this hurricane season, and we have served
nearly 13,000 homeowners,” said Gallagher, who
oversees the Department of Financial Services
which administers the My Safe Florida Home
program. “Fortifying homes in Florida is
our top priority and we were able to exceed our
service goal thanks to the hard work and
dedication of every person involved in this
program. I’m proud of what they’ve been able to
achieve.”
CONTINUED
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GALLAGHER’S INITIATIVE TO CREATE FINANCIAL LITERACY
COUNCIL WINS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
An organization that works to promote financial literacy among youth in
Florida has awarded the Department of Financial Services its President’s
Florida Jump$tart for Personal Financial Literacy Excellence Award. The
award recognizes the department’s “Your Money, Your Life” outreach program
and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher’s successful effort this year to
win legislative approval to create a Financial Literacy Council.
“The lives of all Floridians are better when our families and businesses are
financially strong,” said Gallagher, who also oversees the Department of
Financial Services. “I appreciate the Florida Jump$tart Coalition for
recognizing this department’s efforts, and I applaud them as well for their
hard work to help young people have a brighter economic future.”
“We truly appreciate and value the partnership Florida Jump$tart has with
the Department of Financial Services and for CFO Gallagher’s support of
financial literacy efforts,” said Rosanna Jacobsen, president of Florida
Jump$tart. Florida Jump$tart is a non-profit organization composed of
individuals, for-profit and non-profit organizations, government agencies,
and community- and faith-based groups to promote personal financial
literacy, with emphasis on kindergarten through young adults.
CONTINUED
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GALLAGHER
ANNOUNCES THREE FRAUD FIGHTER REWARDS
Department of Financial Services program has
paid $94,000 since 2001
Tom Gallagher, Florida’s chief financial
officer, announced that $2,500 in Fraud Fighter
rewards have been paid recently to three
individuals who provided key information that
led to the arrests of four individuals for
insurance fraud totaling more than $35,000.
The Department of Financial Services has awarded
$94,000 as part of its Fraud Fighters Reward
Program, which rewards individuals up to $25,000
for information that directly leads to an arrest
and conviction in an insurance fraud scheme.
“Insurance fraud costs us all, but working
together we can do something about it,” said
Gallagher, who oversees the department. “These
tips made a big difference in our ability to
prosecute these crimes, and we thank these
individuals for coming forward to help us in the
fight against crime.”
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CECIL FIELD COMMERCE CENTER
SELECTED AS SITE FOR MAJOR AVIATION PRODUCTION
SITE
Governor Bush applauded the C-27J industry team
of L-3 Communications Integrated Systems,
Finmeccanica's Alenia North America, Global
Military Aircraft Systems and Boeing Integrated
Defense Systems for their commitment to
establish the group's advanced aircraft
operation at Jacksonville's Cecil Commerce
Center if awarded a Department of Defense
contract. The governor toured the C-27J aircraft
and potential assembly and production site along
with Congressman Ander Crenshaw, Jacksonville
Mayor John Peyton, and state and local business
leaders.
CONTINUED
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