BuzzSugar

Box Office: Contagion Has Infectious Opening Weekend

BuzzSugar — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 03:05:00 PDT

Moviegoers have caught Contagion fever: the film took the number one spot at the box office in its opening weekend, earning $23.1 million. The new movie weakened The Help, which lost its number one spot for the first time in three weeks, dropping to number two with $8.7 million. Warrior didn't fare well against the competition, coming in third with $5.6 million in its debut weekend. The Debt dropped from second to fourth place in its second week with $4.9 million, followed closely by Colombiana, which took in $4 million.

Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers

Box Office: The Help Stays Strong Over Labor Day Weekend

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 03:05:00 PDT

With Summer blockbuster season officially coming to an end, The Help had another strong showing at the box office, taking the top spot yet again. It earned $14.2 million, making it the first film since Inception to stay at the top of the box office for three weekends straight. New movie The Debt followed with $9.7 million, while its fellow newbies Apollo 18 and Shark Night 3D were right behind it with $8.7 million and $8.6 million, respectively. Rise of the Planet of the Apes managed to stay in the top five, bringing in $7.8 million.

Photo courtesy of Dreamworks

Movie Sneak Peek: Shark Night 3D and The Debt

BuzzSugar — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:31:59 PDT

If you can't get away this weekend, the movie theater offers the next best thing to an actual escape. In this week's releases, Shark Night 3D whisks movie-goers away to a lake house in Louisiana, where a vacation goes horribly wrong for a group of kids once they realize the lake is teeming with sharks. The Debt takes place in Germany and follows the mission of three secret agents on a Nazi investigation in the 1960s. To find out which movie you might want to watch this Labor Day weekend, check out pics from each.

Link Time - Andy Richter Reunites With Conan

BuzzSugar — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:30:44 PDT

Andy Richter will resume his role as sidekick to Conan O'Brien - Zap2it
Vampire Diaries spoilers straight from New York Comic-Con - TV Squad
Announcing the American Music Award nominees! - People
The Hobbit may be the most expensive movie ever made - MTV Movies Blog
See early footage of Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly in Back to the Future - Cinematical
New music video for Kid Cudi and Kanye West's "Erase Me" - Vulture
Aaron Johnson, aka Kick-Ass, shares his five favorite films - Rotten Tomatoes
The Debt and Don't Be Afraid of the Dark get put on hold - A.V. Club
Is Taylor Swift's new song about Taylor Lautner? - Music Mix
Money tips with the cast of Jersey Shore - SavvySugar

Buzz's Picks For Fall Movies: Part Two

BuzzSugar — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:30:36 PDT

Now that I've taken you through the first batch of movies that come in Fall's harvest, here are the films that round out my must-see list. These are the movies that will take us right into the holidays, which means plenty of potential Oscar bait. From Depp to Portman and beyond, take a look at the films that will be all over box office news in just a few weeks.

The Debt Trailer: Sam Worthington Shows His Dramatic Side

BuzzSugar — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:40:02 PDT

Sam Worthington's name is synonymous with Avatar, and after having recently done another action flick (Clash of the Titans), he hasn't really proved himself as a dramatic actor. That could all change with his film The Debt, a thriller half set in present day and half in flashback. Worthington plays David, one of three Israeli Mossad agents in the flashback period who have been sent to hunt a Nazi war criminal. The real evidence that Worthington is amping up his acting resume is the support here: his costars are Helen Mirren and Tom Wilkinson, and the director is John Madden, of Shakespeare in Love.

The subject matter is understandably intense, and the trailer offers equal parts heart-pounding sequences and emotional heft. I can't wait to see if Worthington can hold his own - or if he's drowned out by the rest of the cast. Watch the preview and form your own opinion when you

Buzz News Roundup, 9/26

BuzzSugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:31:05 PDT

Do Not Disturb is the first casualty of Fall TV. - Broadcasting & Cable
It's only in the rumor stage, but still: People are saying Ricky Gervais may be the host for the 2009 Oscars! - E! Online
Steven Spielberg may adapt the sci-fi novel Chocky for his next project. - Zap2It
HBO wants to turn the Tom Wolfe novel I Am Charlotte Simmons into a TV series with Tina Brown as executive producer. - Variety
Helen Mirren is set to play a Mossad agent in director John Madden's The Debt, an English-language remake of Israeli thriller Ha-hov. - Variety
Melissa George of Alias will guest-star on Grey's Anatomy as a possible love interest for Callie or Erica. - Entertainment Weekly
Nick Nolte will star in an indie coming-of-age-drama titled Arcadia Lost. - Hollywood Reporter
Bob Dylan's new album will be released one week early as a free online stream on National Public Radio's website. - AP
The American Idol tour did better this year than last year but still couldn't match the 2006 edition. - USA Today

Photo courtesy of Fox

6 Tips For Dealing With Debt Collectors

Emily Co — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:05:48 PDT

If your bill is long past its due date, then expect the debt collectors to come a-knockin'. Hiding from them and pretending they don't exist is not a good solution; it will only aggravate the problem and make things worse. Dealing with the issue head-on might help you catch a break. Here are a couple tips for dealing with those dreaded debt collectors:

Know your rights. As consumers, we are protected under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act against harassment from debt collectors. There are certain things they aren't supposed to do, such as calling before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., using abusive language, and repeatedly bothering you with multiple calls.

Talk to them. Don't avoid them. Pick up the phone, start talking, and address the bills you need to pay. Ignoring them may give them grounds to file a lawsuit.

Dispute it. If you don't owe the money, then it is within your rights to send a letter to the collector up to 30 days after you've received notice. In the letter, you should state that you don't think the debt is yours and that they should stop contacting you.

Document it. Take a lot of notes and ask for their permission to record the conversation (in some states, it's illegal to record someone without asking) and start taping on your end. Whether they consent to recording or not, write down the date and time of the call, the representative you spoke to, and the content of your discussion.

Negotiate. If you do owe the debt but can't afford to pay the full amount, then ask if they would be willing to forgive part of it or to set up some sort of payment plan. Before settling the debt, says Natalie Lohrenz, director of counseling at the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County, consider "first, that a debt usually must be significantly delinquent before a creditor will even consider settling, after your credit has already been negatively affected" and "second, that a settled debt will appear more negative on your credit report than a paid-in-full debt if special arrangements are not made to the contrary."

Get it in writing. Once you have hammered out terms you're satisfied with, get it in writing, either by "them sending you something on their letterhead or you writing it out and sending it to them for a signature," says Lohrenz. If you pay a settlement before you have it in writing, then "you've lost all your bargaining power." That's because debt collectors can backtrack and claim that they never agreed to settling.

Need an Anonymous Outlet to Vent Your Money Problems?

Emily Co — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:15:13 PDT

Drowning in debt? Worried about the financial lie you told your partner? I know you need a place to vent - we all do. What better place to spill your money frustrations than Savvy Confessions, a community group that will keep your identity anonymous?

Whether you're seeking advice or just need to rant about something, share your work secrets at Savvy Confessions, even if they're not pretty, because no one's here to judge you.

5 Things You Always Wanted to Know About Paying For College

LearnVest — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:15:23 PDT

Paying for college is such a complex issue. LearnVest helps simplify it by answering some key questions in regard to paying tuition.

If you believe everything you read, then you might think you need to be a Rockefeller to have kids.

That, of course, isn't the case.

Yes, kids are expensive, and thinking about paying for a college education can be scary and frustrating . . . but that's where we come in.

As with everything else in life, figuring out what to do about your kid's college savings is all about the planning, says Stephany Kirkpatrick, CFP, LearnVest's director of financial planning. Depending on where you are in life right now and how old your kids are, you may have questions about how to set up a 529 plan (which is an education savings plan designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs), what to look for, and when to start saving.

If you're pregnant or have a newborn and are starting to think about this, then good for you! The earlier you get started socking away cash for their college, the easier it will be. You'll learn a lot in this article, but you should also check out our Baby on Board Bootcamp, which will tell you everything you need to know - financially - to be ready for a baby. It includes 529 advice, as well as financial tips on everything from putting together a will and picking out a life insurance policy to buying nursery basics.
If your kid is slightly older and you’ve done your research but haven’t yet started saving in a 529 plan, then first read the four mistakes to avoid when choosing a 529 plan, and then check out the different college savings plans available to you.
If this is the first you’re thinking about it, no matter your kid's ageI, then don't worry about it. You have to start somewhere!

Read on for more.