What the experts say

Credit cards: New terms? No thanks

New protections for credit card holders went into effect last week, said Ron Lieber in The New York Times, but many banks actually raised fees and cut credit limits shortly before. Just because your issuer has informed you of new terms doesn’t mean you need to sit back and take it. “Start by calling the card company, telling it that you’re considering leaving, and asking for a better deal.” No deal? You can compare interest rates and other important factors at such sites as CreditCards.com, CardHub.com, and CardRatings.com. “Fee-free balance transfers still exist,” and most banks “wouldn’t dare” cheapen their rewards programs. Of course, the better your credit score, the better the chance of getting a card you want.

Property tax redo

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Home values have plunged, but the “blasted tax man” seems oblivious, said Beth Braverman in Money. In fact, as prices crashed, municipalities collected 12 percent more in property taxes from 2006 to 2008. Your best shot at bringing taxes into line with your home’s worth is to dispute your assessment. Fortunately, you don’t need a lawyer to do this—you just need to be willing to put some effort into building a case. Check the tax record for errors, then gather recent sales data for at least five comparable homes. “Forget about foreclosure sales—most towns won’t consider them.” You can always try to “informally discuss your findings” with the assessor, but if that doesn’t get you anywhere, file a formal appeal. And don’t dawdle. Typically a dispute must be filed within 30 to 90 days of receiving your annual tax bill.

Money makes strange bedfellows

If you and your mate don’t share the same philosophy about spending, join the club, said Catherine Clifford in CNNmoney.com. In matters of the wallet, opposites really do seem to attract, according to a recent study by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and Northwestern University. Spendthrifts are drawn to tightwads, and vice versa, probably because they’re both looking to balance their own financial tendencies—“even if they do it on a subconscious level.” Unfortunately, this difference in viewpoint can also be the source of bickering. To avoid an inevitable financial tug of war, identify common long-term goals and agree on a game plan for getting there—one way or another.