Heading off to college? 12 tips for stretching a scholar's dollar.
A Frugal shopper's best tip Avoid the waste and environmental cost by making your own mop pads out of old washcloths.
Checking out options for your grill These days you can add a rotisserie, smoker or even infrared.
Utility payment plans have some flaws Equal payments may sound like a great idea, but watch out that you don't get hit with a surprise bill at the end of the year.
A Frugal shopper's best tip Avoid aggravation and beat the airline luggage fees by sending your bags ahead by mail or parcel service.

Middle East

Salama, BNP offer Islamic fund Salama has teamed up with BNP Paribas Investment Partners to offer the BNP Paribas flagship Islamic Fund, the Global Equity Optimizer to its investors. The fund is linked to Shariah compliant global equity markets. Salama is offering its customers with Shari'ah compliant insurance together with value-added investment services catering to clients' long term investment needs.
Amex in CBD payment tie up American Express Middle East and North Africa has signed agreement with Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD), which now allows UAE-based American Express cardmembers to settle their monthly bills online through CBD's website. Payments will be processed the next working day.
Ahli United Bank unveils special offers Bahrain-based Ahli United Bank has unveiled a range of special promotions and new financial products to celebrate Ramadan. Throughout the month, customers can avail of special offers on 'MyHome' mortgage loans, 'MyCar' auto loans and AUB Credit Cards. At the same time AUB is also launching 'FlexiLoan' - a new product that allows customers to set off their monthly savings and bonus payments against outstanding loan amount and thereby reduce monthly interest expenses.
Volatility emboldens UAE investors A new survey has found that wealthy investors in the UAE are most likely to consider switching their fund manager in response to volatility, while many of them consider the current global financial turmoil as an opportunity to diversify their portfolios, reported Gulf News. The report, by Barclays and Economist Intelligence Unit, found that 43% of the high networth respondents from the UAE said they are more likely to increase the level of risk in their portfolios - indicating that they regard the current environment as one of opportunity rather than a hindrance. Also, in a period of increased economic volatility, 48% of respondents from the UAE are likely to switch their fund managers, while wealthy investors from the US (23%) are least likely to select a new manager.
NCB unveils personal Islamic finance scheme Saudi Arabia-based National Commercial Bank has introduced a personal Islamic finance scheme that will enable a person to seek finance or a real estate mortgage deal from SR1.5 million to SR3 million, subject to approval from the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency. The offer includes a chance to win SR10,000 in a daily raffle draw and a free Islamic credit card over the 90-day period from August 25 when the scheme was introduced, reported Khaleej Times.

USA

US Government takes over mortgage giants (AP)
AP - The Bush administration's seizure of troubled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is potentially a $200 billion bet that it will help reverse a prolonged housing and credit crisis.
WaMu ousts CEO Killinger: report (Reuters)
Reuters - Washington Mutual Inc has ousted Kerry Killinger as its chief executive, and will replace him with Alan Fishman, who is now chairman of mortgage broker Meridian Capital Group, the Wall Street Journal reported on its website on Sunday.
Oil surges $2 to near $109 on hurricane threat (Reuters)
Reuters - Oil jumped than $2 to near $109 a barrel on Monday, rebounding from a five-month low on worries that Hurricane Ike would tear through the Gulf of Mexico, and on hopes that a U.S. bailout of its top mortgage lenders would help temper an economic downturn.
U.S. seizes Fannie, Freddie, aims to calm markets (Reuters)
Reuters - The U.S. government on Sunday seized control of mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , launching what could be its biggest bailout ever in a bid to support the U.S. housing market and ward off more global financial market turbulence.
With rescue plan, US takes giant step into housing, finance (AFP)
AFP - In rescuing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the US government is taking an unprecedented step into the financial sector in a bid to steady an ailing housing market and ease a global credit crunch, analysts said.
GSE rescue could scare bears (Reuters)
Reuters - Bears have reigned supreme on Wall Street so far in September thanks to growing concern about economies worldwide, but their grip on stocks faces a big challenge after the U.S. government's weekend seizure of control of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Fannie, Freddie deal helps some borrowers, not all (AP)
AP - The government's historic bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Sunday will be good news to homebuyers and some homeowners hoping to refinance if it leads to lower mortgage rates, as experts expect.
Wall Street may cheer Fannie, Freddie bailout (AP)
AP - Wall Street finally got what it's been angling for: a bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that could aid a recovery of the broken U.S. housing market and arrest a slide in stock and credit markets worldwide.
Futures soar after U.S. takes over GSEs (Reuters)
Reuters - Stock index futures surged on Sunday, pointing to a sharply higher open when Wall Street opens on Monday, after the U.S. government seized control of troubled mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac .
S&P, Fitch slash Fannie, Freddie preferreds to junk (Reuters)
Reuters - Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings on Sunday cut the ratings on preferred stock of troubled housing finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to junk status after dividends were eliminated in a takeover by the U.S. government.
Bush: Takeover of housing giants 'critical' (AP)
AP - President Bush said Sunday that the historic federal government takeover of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is needed to keep them from failing, a risk he called "unacceptable" for an economy battered by housing and credit crises.
(AP) AP - Bush says federal takeover of mortgage giants driven by "unacceptable risk" to economy.
Fannie, Freddie bailout offers bank stocks reprieve (Reuters)
Reuters - Financial stocks may rise on Monday after the U.S. government took over troubled mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , but this may be only a temporary reprieve given the long list of woes banks are currently battling.
US takes over Fannie, Freddie (AFP)
AFP - The US government took over mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Sunday, placing them in a "conservatorship" to help avert a financial system meltdown from the housing crisis.
US govt to detail Fannie Mae, Freddie Mae intervention (AFP)
AFP - The US government was preparing a massive intervention Sunday in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in an effort to shore up the two ailing mortgage finance firms that underpin trillions of dollars in loans and are a linchpin the financial system.
Prosecutor becomes figure in mortgage mess (Reuters)
Reuters - Thomas O'Brien, the U.S. Attorney for California's Central District, is emerging as a likely prosecutor in criminal cases expected from the U.S. mortgage meltdown.
Fannie, Freddie blind to the bubble (AP)
AP - Mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ? despite their robust cadre of economists and mortgage experts ? failed to heed warnings that the most dramatic housing bubble in U.S. history would burst.
McCain backs government takeover of mortgage giants (AFP)
AFP - Republican presidential hopeful John McCain backed a government takeover of two mortgage giants Saturday while his Democratic rival warned that taxpayers should not bail out their shareholders.
Treasury plan won't help Fannie, Freddie shareholders: Frank (Reuters) Reuters - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shareholders, including preferred stockholders, will not fair well under a proposed U.S. Treasury takeover of the two housing finance companies, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank told Reuters on Saturday.
Treasury to ensure stable Fannie, Freddie: Barney Frank (Reuters) Reuters - U.S. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank said on Saturday that the U.S. Treasury Department plans to ensure the stability of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac .

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Fame & Fortune: Kevin Nealon The irreverent actor reveals the serious side of fatherhood, finance and his current role as a pothead.
My 10 favorite cars for today's shopper Bankrate car columnist Terry Jackson has driven many 2008 cars. Here are his 10 favorites.
Big down payment may lower loan rate A larger down payment can help people with little credit history, says Bankrate car columnist Terry Jackson.
Bargain hard when buying lease vehicle Now is a good time to bargain when purchasing a leased vehicle, says Bankrate car columnist Terry Jackson.
Consult a lawyer if you co-sign loan Consult a lawyer to clarify your obligations when co-signing a loan, says Bankrate car columnist Terry Jackson.
Shady billing tactics rile cardholder Take charge if a credit card company is engaging in shady billing tactics, says Dr. Don Taylor.

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