Retailers are having a difficult time surviving in the current economy. Sales are very slow and fraud is increasing rapidly. A reaction that many are having to the current atmosphere is to limit returns of merchandise. There is, however, a way to get your money refunded even after the retailer has turned you away.

If your purchase was made by credit card, especially, silver, gold, and platinum cards, many credit card issuers offer their customers return guarantees. If you can prove through your statement that you purchased the item and show that the store refused to accept your return, the card issuer may offer you a refund in exchange for the item. Many of these refunds are good up to $250 per item and will last for 90 days after purchase.

Many card issuers offer extended warranties for items purchased with their card. Check the fine print in your agreement and see if your card offers this advantage. You would not want to purchase an extended warranty from the store if you are already receiving one free from your credit card issuer.

Another advantage to using your credit card for purchases is that many card issuers offer coverage for stolen or damaged goods. Whether there was a theft or accident, you may well be able to be reimbursed for damaged or stolen merchandise within 90 days of purchase. Some cards, for example, offer as much as $1,000 per item in the event of damage or theft.

An additional advantage to credit card purchases is that many offer price protection to their customers. Furnish proof of a sale price along with your original receipt and your card company may well refund the difference up to $250 within 60 days of purchase.

Credit card companies will always represent you in a dispute when furnished with the necessary documents to prove your case. My experience with this particular benefit has been excellent over the years with several different credit card companies.

It is unfortunate that the loss of your job almost always coincides with the loss of your health insurance. At a time when you are already dealing with stress and frustration, life adds the loss of health insurance to the situation. What are your options when your employer no longer subsidizes your health insurance plan? Where do you and your family turn when you have lost your income and now find that you have also lost your health insurance coverage?

There are a few options available but there are no absolute solutions. Cost plays a large part in the choices available at a time when you have just lost your income. If your spouse has a job and is eligible for coverage at his/her employer, this might be the ideal option for your family. Some employers do not offer family coverage, but this option should definitely be investigated. Recent unemployment is a valid reason for starting a policy outside of the normal enrollment period, so this is on your side.

Any employer who has at least 20 employees must offer COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) as an alternative insurance plan. This insurance is offered for a term of up to 18 months and will cover you and your family members. The problem is that it is very expensive. Employers are permitted to charge up to 102% of the current premium. You may not have realized that you were only contributing a very small portion of your health insurance premium while employed. This will all change now.

Investigate insurance coverage through trade groups, alumni associations, AARP for people over 50. There are many groups who would welcome you and your family as participants. Compare costs and choose what is most cost effective for you.

Workers who are 65 or over would be eligible for Medicare coverage. In the majority of situations they are already receiving hospital coverage. When losing their employee coverage, they are eligible for a special enrollment period to sign up for Part B and Part D coverage without incurring any financial penalty.

With the price of gasoline constantly on the rise, people need to begin fighting back. One of the best ways to do this is to cut back on usage so that we can all survive in the current economic environment.

Many employers are feeling the pain for their employees and taking action to help them. This will result in long-term benefits for the employer as he is building a supportive relationship that will most likely last a lifetime.

Employers are coming to the rescue with many different plans:

Some are offering flexible time schedules and home-based jobs. Time schedules can be coordinated with public transportation availability to allow the employee to have a smoother commute to work. Home-based options are being offered to many who are able to perform their work away from the office. For some, this opportunity gives them the time to explore parenting resources and spend additional quality time with their children. This will eventually become a cost saving opportunity for the employer also, as they no longer have to provide space for this person. It has also been documented that productivity actually increases with home-based employees.

Many companies today are actively coordinating ride sharing for their employees amongst their own personnel. Some are even advertising outside the office for possible candidates. Incentives are being given to those participating in ride sharing and many are taking advantage of this option.

Bus passes are sometimes being offered at a deep discount, or free, to employees who live locally. This encourages many to switch to public transportation where it is available.

For the employees who must drive to work and are unable to coordinate ride-sharing, some companies are offering additional cash payments or gas cards to help with the sudden increase in transportation costs.

All of this shows that working together as a team will enable everyone to conserve energy while surviving the current economic downturn.

The current state of the economy is taking a toll on everyone. The stock market is falling regularly, the housing market is not improving as predicted, and people are losing their jobs on a daily basis. Prices at the gas pump and the grocery store have soared to new heights and no one can afford the standard of living they had just a short while ago. Everyone is trying to cut corners, but there is just so much you can do without. The mortgage needs to be paid; the car needs gas to take you to your job, if you are lucky enough to still have one. Groceries must be purchased and I’m sure everyone is scouring cookbooks for many of those inexpensive recipes we always resort to in hard times.

All of the above, combined with the various other effects of our current economic crises, is causing people to have serious stress issues. Anxiety over this financial situation is natural and we are all doing our best to cope. The best thing we can probably do is face it, deal with it, and move on to the rest of our lives.

It has been suggested that we set aside a specific period of time to consider your options. Do not dwell on this subject continuously.

Try to remember that our country has been here before and survived. The market has repeatedly recovered over the long haul.

Concentrate on finding relaxing activities that will not cost money. Consider things like a “family game-night”, picnics in the park, or a visit to the local library for books and movies for the entire family. They also offer free programs for both adults and children, so pick-up a schedule of events on your next visit.

By compartmentalizing your stress, you leave yourself time for relaxing and anxiety-free activities. Allowing the stress to take over your life can result in health issues and possibly even marriage problems. If we work at dealing with these problems in a mature manner, we can survive these times and possibly form an even stronger family bond.

Millions of retirees and disabled veterans still have not applied for their stimulus payment from the government. This is money that all of these people could put to good use but they are not filing for the payments. They could use it to pay the rent, purchase food or possibly pay for their health insurance premiums or medicine. Many are probably not aware that the money is waiting for them. Some don’t even know the program exists. We have millions of people in this country that can’t read or write. Unless told by another, how would they know of their eligibility for this financial windfall?

A single person is entitled to a minimum payment of $300, and the maximum is $600. Married couples are eligible for from $600 to $1,200. Anyone who has received at least $3,000 in Social Security benefits or veteran benefits can apply. There are specific railroad retirement benefits that might qualify a retiree, along with those who were eligible for the earned income credit last year.

If you know of anyone who might be missing out on this opportunity, please contact them and let them know that the deadline is quickly approaching. The filing deadline is October 15, 2008 and I would hate to see someone in need not receive this payment.