How to fix Wal-Mart, insurance mistakes to avoid & save big on generic drugs - Today in Money - 8/21

In the News:

· Is Warren Buffett Looking to Buy Parts of Countrywide?

· Short-Term Treasury Bills Suffer Biggest Drop in Yields in 19 Nearly Years

· SEC Charges Sentinel With Fraud

· Capital One Shutters Mortgage Unit

· Target Earnings Match Estimates

· Product Promises at Microsoft & Cisco

· Income's for Most Americans Still Below 2000 Peak

· Home Foreclosures Rise Sharply in July

· Staples Posts Rise in Net Income, But Gives Cautious Full-Year Forecast

· What Will Happen to Leona Helmsley's $2.5 Billion Empire After Her Death?c

How to Fix Wal-Mart
Ask its managers. Store managers from across the country-who know Wal-Mart's customers best-have a few ideas for getting the behemoth back on track.
How to Fix Wal-Mart? Ask Its Managers - BusinessWeek
Also: Wal-Mart Quietly Pulls Chinese Dog Treats


Shouldn't Someone Have Seen the Mortgage Mess Coming?
Moody's and Standard & Poor's have come under heavy criticism for failing to predict the subprime blowup.
http://money.cnn.com/2007/08/20/magazines/fortune/ratings_agencies.fortune/index.htm
Also: Mortgage Meltdown: Now Comes the Lawsuits


Insurance Must-Haves and Mistakes to Avoid
The insurance landscape is shifting. The days of relying on policies to cover small-ticket items like parking lot fender dings or water damage to attic relics are over. Most people will need all of these five insurance policies at some time in their lives. See if you need it and how much coverage you should get. Also: Insurance is the product you buy in case the unthinkable happens. Unfortunately, by the time you need it, it's too late to make sure you have the right type and amount of insurance coverage. Make sure you don't make the following mistakes while buying financial protection against disaster.
5 insurance must-haves 7 common insurance mistakes


To Grill or Not to Grill?
That's the question many consumers are asking amid reports that one of America's most popular cooking methods is linked with a higher risk for cancer. While it's true that grilled and charred meats can be risky, you don't have to shut down your grill. Simple cooking and preparation strategies and even the side dishes you serve can dramatically lower and even eliminate the risks associated with grilling.
Health Journal - WSJ.com

Beware the $15 Text Message and 'Free' Trials
New sales tactics can turn a single purchase into a cascade of fees. Increasingly, fine print means companies don't always need you to enter billing information to begin the start of a long and profitable (for them, at least) business relationship. All it takes is a single click of the mouse or tap of your cellphone keys - the equivalent of an electronic signature. Scarier yet, you may never receive an invoice. Watch out for these three sneaky ways companies entice you to opt in for expensive add-ons and subscriptions.
The Curse of the $4.14 Text Message - SmartMoney.com

Generic vs Name Brand Drugs
Experts say they're just as safe as prescription drugs, and usually much cheaper. Here are side-by-side cost comparison of brand vs. generic for 28 different drugs. Generics can save you as much as $130 per prescription.
Save by shopping for generic drugs (Page 1 of 2)
Chart: Comparing Costs of Generic vs. Name Brand