Just a reminder, the deadline for entering the $100 giveaway contest from Lending Club is tomorrow night at midnight. So far there are only seven contestants, so your chances of winning are good! Don’t miss out on this opportunity. To enter, simply create a Lending Club lender account (free) and leave a comment on the contest post.

I’ve never been a fan of “extreme” frugality. Of course, I have been working on (and succeeding at) eating out less, buying things used or on sale whenever possible, and practicing common sense conservation. But I doubt I would ever go through others’ trash, split one roll of 2-ply toilet paper into two rolls, or use old dish water to flush my toilet. That said, in today’s economy, I wouldn’t blame some people for trying these or other extreme ways to save money. So I want to know, what’s your most “extreme” frugal habit? Let me know in a comment!

Now here’s a twist on credit card promotions: American Express is offering to pay certain cardmembers $300 (on a prepaid debit card) if they pay off their balance before April 30, 2009 and close their credit card account. To take advantage, you must enroll online by Feb. 28, 2009. [...]

Thinking about becoming a home owner this year? (Perhaps you want to nab the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit.) If so, take a deep breath and prepare yourself financially and mentally for a rewarding, but challenging, experience. Whether you’ll be buying this month or next year, here are five things you really need to know about buying a home. [...]

I’m excited to announce a $100 giveaway from Lending Club, the peer-to-peer lending site, here at Money Under 30. One lucky winner will receive $100 deposited into their Lending Club lender account. Here’s how to enter…and win! [...]

If you will be able to claim the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit this year or next, here’s some helpful information. A recently released revision to IRS Form 5405 will help you through the steps required to claim the credit. Here’s some more information that will help: [...]

Bundled in the 2009 economic stimulus plan is the $400 ($800 for couples) Making Work Pay tax credit that will provide a tax credit in 2009 and 2010 equal to 6.2 percent of your earned income up to a maximum of $400 for individual filers and $800 for couples.

Here’s what you need to know: [...]

Have health insurance? You may have come across terms like deductible, premium, out-of-pocket maximum, co-pay, and co-insurance. Understanding what they mean, and the amounts your policy requires can help you manage and budget for healthcare expenses and choose the best healthcare plan for you. [...]

We are all holding our breath. We all want to know. Will the 2009 economic stimulus bill reverse our wayward economy? Unfortunately, it will take months, or longer, to find out. In the meantime, we can ask what this giant government spending plan will do for us—young Americans—individually. What will the 2009 economic stimulus plan mean for you? [...]

My article on the $7,500 first time home buyer tax credit has become one of the most popular on this site, with well over 200 comments. As part of this month’s economic stimulus bill, that credit is changing to an $8,000 tax credit that, unlike the first credit, will not have to be repaid. Here’s what we know:. [...]