March 24, 2008, By Justin McHenry

uTango, a company offering a loyalty rewards program with a unique twist, launched the uTango Visa earlier this month, allowing members to increase their uTango points accrual with each purchase. Similar in function to other loyalty programs that offer points or cash rebates when you shop with their partner merchants, uTango’s distinct proposition is that its points can only be accrued by single or newly married (less than 3 years) couples, and that its points can earn both small yearly rewards and the promise of bigger rewards if couples stay in the program for 10, 20 or 30 years — and also stay married. uTango claims that some couples could even earn an ultimate payout of $1 million — provided they stay in the program 30 years and meet spending tiers.

The uTango Visa can help members meet the tiers by awarding 2 points per dollar when the card is used at any of over 300 partner merchants and 1 point per dollar at any other merchants. In addition, 10,000 bonus points and a $10 gift card is awarded after a member charges their first $100 in purchases to the card.

Go to uTango for more information on the program and the new Visa credit card.

I managed to get my letters to be able to file my taxes…oh, and while I was there, I ran into someone that, upon hearing what I was doing there, asked: did you also get the letter from the coop?…I hadn’t even thought of that! and I made $46.66!- I imagine it was paid towards my…

After hitting a two-year low last week, average credit card rates moved even lower this week, thanks to the three-quarters of a point rate cut delivered by the Federal Reserve. (About 70% of credit cards have variable rates that move up or down in response to Fed interest rate changes.)

The average credit card rate for non-reward consumer credit cards fell to 13.16% this week, down from 13.29% last week, setting another new low-water mark for the last two years. The average rate on credit cards with rewards fell to 15.09%, down from 15.15% last week, and also hitting a new two-year low.

The averages listed above attempt to take into account the multiple tiers that many credit card issuers offer, instead of accounting for only the lowest listed rates. However, IndexCreditCards.com also tracks the very lowest listed rates, those reserved for customers with the very best credit. This week those averages are at 9.86% for non-reward consumer cards and 12.57% for consumer cards with rewards.

Student credit card rate averages are threatening to slip under the 15% mark for the first time in our survey, with the average student card rate declining to 15.07% this week, down from 15.22% the week before.

Business credit card rates are also at two-year lows. The average rate for non-reward business credit cards is 11.11%, while the average rate for reward business credit cards stands at 12.49%.

Financial institutions represented in the survey include Advanta, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Discover, National City, Pulaski Bank, U.S. Bank, Washington Mutual, Wells Fargo and more.

There was a very famous tourist spot with natural spring pools that people loved to visit…the place was severly damaged by the 2001 earthquakes (besides damages to the actual facilities, the road was also badly damaged)…7 years later, they re-opened March 14th. They had expected…

Ok, our 4-day holiday is over, and tomorrow we all have to go back to work!
It was nice, while it lasted, and, for a change, I DO feel rested!…Our lunch is already packed in containers in the fridge (leftover Aztec pie) and I only have to add the milk, juice, yogurt and an apple…

A reader asks Ilyce to provide the federal government’s mortgage hotline number. The mortgage hotline number is 888-995-HOPE. Call the mortgage hotline number if you can’t pay your mortgage. 

A mover writes in to say movers say they move household goods, not “stuff.” Moving household goods is mover jargon. Ilyce says she has “stuff” on her counter not household goods for moving.  

A reader asks about breaking a contract with her Realtor since her agent was doing a poor job. Ilyce says breaking a Realtor contract is really breaking a brokerage contract. Ilyce suggests asking for another agent. 

The 2008 International Housewares Show featured recycling and color trends. The Housewares Show offered a rainbow of colors and new innovations on familiar tools. Some Housewares Show items debuted there. 

A reader asks about getting a good interest rate on savings accounts. He says he put money in an online bank to get a good interest rate on savings accounts. Interest rates on savings accounts will be low for a while.