Consumer United Newsletter

Consumer United, 181 South St. Boston, MA 617-482-4700   www.consumerunited.com

In This Issue
Critics Slam Progressive
Money On Your Mind?
Inside Consumer United
 
SAVINGS 101
 
Push Pin
Turn $5 into $12,000? High gas prices and stagnant wages are making it harder than ever to save money, but Marie Franklin of the Boston Globe has one trick that allowed her to save $12,000 in under three years. Click here for more.

 
GAS PRICES DROP
 
Gas Can
In the past two weeks, U.S. gasoline prices have dropped significantly. As of last Friday, cost per gallon ended lower than expected with the U.S. crude oil hitting seven-week lows. The average price fell to $3.9959 per gallon which is 12 cents lower than two weeks ago. Read the complete article here.
Greetings!

Welcome to our bi-weekly newsletter. Consumer United is flipping the script by taking the social networking business model and actually using it as tool to acquire new members and to help people where it matters most ... their pocketbook. Join our Facebook group here and visit our Web site ConsumerUnited.com to start saving now.
Critics Slam Progressive's Ethics
Red Money Bags Progressive, the Ohio-based auto insurance company that has recently set up shop in Mass., has ruffled a few feathers by quoting six-month policies to potential consumers. "If it isn't outright deception, there's certainly a misunderstanding of the quotes consumers are receiving," Doug Bailey, a spokesman for a Quincy-based competitor remarks. According to critics, the six-month rate may seem much cheaper to drivers who are familiar with 12-month policies, the only kind written in Massachusetts prior to Progressive's arrival. Click here for more information.
'Money On Your Mind' TV Clip
Justin Dangel on "Money on Your Mind"Belinda Fuchs, a Boston-based money motivator and host of the new Somerville Community Access TV (SCAT) show "Money On Your Mind," interviews Consumer United founder and CEO, Justin Dangel, where he discusses the power of consumers banding together to negotiate better deals.The 30-minute personal finance show premiered on Thursday, July 31 and will repeat several times in August. Click here to check out the clip.
Gas Gimmicks Trick Consumers
Avoiding Gas Gimmicks
Don't let your desperation for a cheaper tank of gas fool you into becoming the victim of a gas station ripoff. As gas prices continue to rise, some unsavory con artists are trying to turn their own illegitimate profits.m Click here to learn more. More consumers are being duped into buying products that claim to increase a car's fuel efficiency. These products are often chemicals you put into your gas tank or mechanical devices applied directly to your engine. Unfortunately, they're useless. Click here for the complete article.
Inside Consumer United
Lana PeterssonLana Petersson, noted author of the book "Quetzalli," recently joined the Consumer United team as one of our advocates.Petersson is known for her friendly demeanor and ability to navigate through the complexities of switching auto insurance providers with the new managed competition rules.Petersson graduated from Clark University in May '08 and wrote a book while studying abroad in Mexico. "Quetzalli," (a bird indigenous to Mexico) studies sensory awareness and illustrates one's relationship to their surrounding space. Read more here.
Become a Savings Advocate!
Piggy BankBecome a savings advocate by signing up here. Earning extra money with Consumer United is simple:

1. Identify savings opportunites for friends on ConsumerUnited.com
2. Tell them about the savings via email here and your friend then visits ConsumerUnited.com
3. Your friend decides to enroll into one of Consumer United's services (i.e. Auto Insurance, Electricty or Home Insurance)
4. Get paid the $20 referral reward if they enroll into the service.
Save 
$199
Sign up with our new home security service provider, Brinks, and get free installation on Brinks Home Security standard system. This is a $199 savings off their standard offer. Click here to learn more.
Savings Coupon