Consumer Web Site of the Week (CWSotW)
Yesterday, we introduced you to the new weekly feature, Naughty Business of the Week (NBotW). Today, we're making every Wednesday the CWSotW, the Consumer Web Site of the Week.
In our day-to-day jobs writing for the print paper, Eileen, Liz and I use an awful lot of different Web sites to do research for our columns, stories and blogging adventures. Some aren't just useful to us media types, but are also very useful to you, our fabulous readers. This idea occurred to us recently after I wrote two columns on a Consumer Resource Checklist of Web sites and agencies to help you avoid hiring blunders before you sign any contract with any business, ranging from plumbers to financial brokers.
Those columns went over awfully well, so every week, barring natural disasters or a pressing case of retailitis, we'll share one consumer Web site with you. It could be useful, informative or just plain fun, but either way, we'll open up our magic bag of tricks and tell you what we use to get the job done.
Today's featured Consumer Web Site is bankrate.com.
Why do we like this site? You can do everything from find the best interest rates on checking and savings products to finding the best credit card (interest rate, rewards, fees-wise) for you. You can search for customer insurance quotes, compare home equity rates or plug in your numbers into budget calculators, retirement calculators, investment calculators and tax calculators (just to name a few).
Financial guru Eileen even stumbled on WTDirect, an online banking firm that has its headquarters based here in Baltimore, thanks to bankrate.com. If you're still doubting its usefulness, check out the list of high-yield savings accounts, which include WTDirect's 3.11 rate offer as of yesterday, June 3. Do check it out. We think you'll find it useful.
And please, we're taking all nominations for future CWSotW picks. If there's a site you like, hate or can't live without, please clue us in. We know you've probably got some hidden gems you rely on, too, to help you make your financial decisions. Don't be selfish. Share.
A native of Vietnam, 