From BundleHQ: Everything that's on deck today, plus a healthy dose of Good Morning!
Hello from Bundle HQ! That's me up there. I crushed that can. Nervous habit? Bottled aggression? Who can say? Today I will be be more graceful, though, because I'm under the influence of the Awkward Dollar. In this week's episode, coming later this morning, the problem of small loans to friends who kind of ignore them. As the A$ points out, "You can live without the $15 if you have to. On the other hand, so can your friend. And, ahem, it's your money." Amen to that.
The new credit and debit card rules took effect on Monday: here's your 90-second review. Credit expert John Ulzheimer also dropped by Friday to answer your questions about scores, cards, reports and checks. He's so smart about this stuff, at Credit.com they call him The Scoreboard. Nerdy! We love it. Who else should we invite to HQ for Q&A? Tell us in the comments.
My bank has not wasted a minute trying to get me to sign up for overdraft protection. I'm not doing that. Are you? Americans paid $330 billion in overdraft fees in 2009, according the NYT, which Jaidev notes is $330 per household.
More from HQ: With the help of some amazing artists, we're prepping our annual report, a massive look at a year's worth of spending data. Coming in March. Community editor Mike Dang wants to know how much you're spending on dating. Email him and spill your guts. We're fascinated by this Wired story about the future of money. I've never paid anyone anything via Twitter, but now I'm thinking about it. In the photo above, that leaping-through-the-air blur? Our head of content, Mark Armstrong, in a fit of exuberance, not in the least restrained by the stripy button down he's wearing. Mark, are those top-siders? Didn't you used to be in a band?
Don't be a stranger. We're on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, all that. xoxo, Gossip Girl.
Related Links:
Opt in for overdraft protection? No thank you
Bank of America to end overdraft fees on debit cards
The 2010 Bundle Report: Annual spending by age