You may recall that at this time in 2012, Congress was in a lather over the subsidized student loan interest rates that the feds make available to financially needy students. The deficit hawks argued the program costs taxpayers some $6 billion annually.

So as part of the deal that was cobbled together at the 11th hour to prevent the rates from doubling, those billions were extracted, in part, from the same consumer-learners who the program was intended to assist in the first place — by eliminating the six-month interest-free grace period after students graduate until their first loan payment is due.

As it turned out, there were 33 billion reasons (the estimated dollar amount the Dept. of Education expects to earn from student loans in the 2013 fiscal year) why this was a false contention, as all hell broke loose once a Congressional Budget Office memorandum revealed how profitable the program actually is.

[Related Article: The Ultimate Guide to Student Loans]

The New Calculation Method, Under a Microscope

So after the recriminating articles and caustic blog posts, the White House weighed in with a proposal to spend some of those profit dollars on grants, along with a scheme to reconstitute the manner in which student loan rates are calculated.

The administration proposes pegging the interest rates for 10-year student loans to the yield of the 10-year Treasury note, plus the following upcharges: 0.93% for subsidized Stafford loans, 2.93% for unsubsidized loans and 3.93% for parent and graduate student PLUS loans.

Therefore, if the 10-year Treasury note yields 1.75% in today’s market, subsidized Stafford loans would run 2.68%, unsubsidized Stafford’s 4.68% and PLUS loans 5.68%—clearly better deals than what’s currently in place for each.

However, the proposed methodology is misleading because it’s not the way financial transactions are priced in the real world.

As I explained in an earlier post, a lender’s cost is based on a given transaction’s so-called half-life.

So, in the case of a student loan that’s structured to be fully repaid over a 10-year period, the half-life would be five years, in which case the government’s cost would correspond with the five-year Treasury note.

Although it may sound as if I’m quibbling about a bunch of calculator keystrokes, bear with me because this really is a big deal. Here’s why.

Today’s yield curve is positive — which means it costs more to borrow money for 10 years than it does for five. At .75% for a five-year yield, the government’s true cost in today’s market is more than 1% less than the proposed student loan index implies.

Therefore, its spread (which is finance industry-speak for profit margin) isn’t 0.93% for subsidized loans, it’s actually more than 1.93%, and 3.93% for unsubsidized loans and 4.93% for PLUS loans.

What do all these interest rates and spreads mean? A boatload of profit.

The 2.68% subsidized loans would yield a 9.9% gross profit in today’s dollars, the 4.68% unsubsidized loans would yield 20.8%, and the 5.68% PLUS loans would yield 26.5%.

(For those who care to track my math, I calculated the loan payments for each interest rate scenario on the basis of a 120-month term loan and then discounted those values at the government’s 0.75% cost of funds across the board.)

[Related Article: Can You Erase Student Loan Debt Through a Loophole?]

So, for the $33 billion of new loans the CBO projects will be made in 2013, if all were subsidized (which won’t happen), the government would earn $327 million for its trouble, $686 million if all were unsubsidized and $874 million if all were PLUS loans.

Look, it’s a lender’s prerogative to charge whatever rate it wants. However, in this case, a more meaningful debate would center on whether the government is in the student loan business altruistically or exploitatively.

And if altruistically, how much profit does it really need to make in order to cover its costs?

(Per Senator Elizabeth Warren’s recently introduced bill, the answer is “near-zero,” as the rate she proposes is equal to what the Federal Reserve currently charges its member banks, which also happens to be equal to the yield of the aforementioned 5-year Treasury note.)

A Smarter Way to Lend

If we’re going to talk pricing, shouldn’t we also have a discussion about credit underwriting criteria so that we’re not lending more to our children (and their parents) than they’ll ever be able to repay?

Look at the repayment term. Is 10 years a reasonable duration for debts that can be as large as mortgages?

Shouldn’t the standard be moved to 20 years or more so the loan payments won’t end up crowding out other borrowing for, say, cars and houses, as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau points out in its recently published Student Loan Affordability analysis?

And what of the deferment period? Shouldn’t we also talk about requiring interest payments while the students are still in school?

The dark side of deferments (and forbearances, for that matter) is in the negative amortization that ensues, where the unpaid interest is added to the principal amount, on which more interest is then charged.

In fact, why are we even spending so much time jawboning pricing for $33 billion of 2013 loans when we’ve done little more than tinker with and whine about the $1.1 trillion debt debacle that’s affecting many million more borrowers?

Take the recent letter of the Consumer Bankers Association (advocates for the retail banking industry) to the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency and chairmen of both the Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

In this letter, the CBA asks that its constituents be granted permission to offer graduated and interest-only repayment plans to their student loan borrowers.

The CBA also asks for regulatory relief from the so-called Troubled Debt Restructure (TDR) designation that its member banks claim is impeding their ability to help their financially distressed customers (an issue that’s also raised in the CFPB report and elsewhere).

[Related Article: Can You Really Get Your Credit Score for Free?]

First of all, while graduated plans will help to make larger payments more affordable in the short run, unless the durations of the underlying loans are also extended, borrowers will soon find their principal balances will have increased in size because of the negative amortization.

Their future loan payments will also be higher than they were originally.

Second, the TDR issue is a smoke screen. I say that because when push comes to shove, lenders are responsible for the decisions they make.

However, in this case, they are attempting to trade the financial consequences of their own mistakes for an offer to do what they should have been doing all along: restructuring the loans in a way that helps distressed borrowers with their payments.

A Better Solution

If we are truly serious about solving a problem that threatens the financial health and welfare of a generation of consumers in our consumer-driven economy, then consider the following suggestions.

1. Expand the government’s relief programs so that all education loans — public and private alike — are eligible.

Yes, this expansion of government largesse won’t come cheap, which is why the cost should be shared by all those who are responsible for this financial fiasco.

To start, the government’s present-day relief programs (which are currently limited to federal loans) calculate repayment amounts on the basis of discretionary income: the difference between the poverty line and total household income.

Once this program is opened up — hopefully, with streamlined approval and documentation process — a simpler and more effective way of going about that would be to reset the payment amount to 10% of pretax household income for up to 25 years.

A fundamental precept of good personal financial management is limiting debt payments to no more than 25% of pretax income. Therefore, allocating 10% of that 25% to education loans would leave 15% for other borrowing, spending and saving.

As for the financing for this expanded program, the debt the government would incur in due course would be self-liquidating (that is, money borrowed to finance the loans would be offset by the borrower’s repayments) and the administrative costs would presumably continue to be handled as they are today: via upfront fees that may be added to the borrower’s loan amount.

When it comes to the costs that are associated with payment delinquencies and defaults, however, these should be covered by a special-purpose government fund, one that is financially underwritten by the private lenders (the same ones that have benefitted from the high rates they’ve long charged for loans that are as bankruptcy-proof as the lower-rate alternatives the government offers on a direct basis), and also by the schools (those that blithely channeled their student borrowers toward the various loan programs without concern for their longer-term financial well being).

The private lenders’ contributions can take the form of loan principal discounts to be determined by reconciling private loan rates with those the government offers within the context of its own relief programs.

The level of the schools’ financial support can be pegged to their individual cohort default rates, which would have the added benefit of encouraging a more judicious approach when it comes to counseling students on the long-range implications of the financial and academic decisions they’re asked to make.

2. Reform the loan servicing process.

Lenders — government and private alike — are outsourcing their payment collection activities to private loan servicing companies.

However, not only are these subcontractors failing to adequately address legitimate consumer issues, the incentive programs are warped.

Reportedly, these folks earn bonuses for remediating defaulted accounts when they should instead be held accountable for failing to prevent the negative migration of delinquent payments in the first place.

Drawing from my own lending experience, borrowers who miss one or two payments often can be brought back to current status. Those who miss three, four or more, however, are less likely to recover.

Appropriately designed loan servicing incentive programs guard against this kind of slippage — deliberate or otherwise.

3. Reform the bankruptcy laws, tax code and assist in the rehabilitation of personal credit.

As I mentioned before, private lenders enjoy the same protections against the easy discharge of student loan debt as does the government, thanks to their successful lobbying efforts.

This needs to be undone, if only to encourage the peaceful transfer of private loan balances — including those that have been securitized — into the government’s relief programs.

Regarding the tax code, just as it was modified to exempt the taxable gains on forgiven mortgage debts during the housing crisis, so too should it be revised to accommodate those whose unpaid student loan balances may be forgiven over time.

And finally, when it comes to the damage done to personal credit, it would help if the clock were reset after a student loan is restructured or modified, rather than having the event itself continue to negatively impact credit scores and the opinions of future lenders.

Going forward, however, it would then be up to the student borrower to faithfully adhere to the reconfigured loan’s terms and conditions.

Do you have any burning student loan questions? 

Follow @CreditExperts and @Mint on Twitter for a chance to ask author and student loan expert Mitchell D. Weiss all your student loan questions during our May 21 Student Loan Chat. 

“Just How Big are the Profits Behind Student Loan Interest Rates was originally published on Credit.com and was written by Mitchell D. Weiss, an experienced financial services industry executive, entrepreneur and adjunct professor of finance at the University of Hartford. He is also the author of the recently published College Happens: A Practical Handbook for Parents and Students,Life Happens: A Practical Guide to Personal Finance from College to Career-2nd Edition, and Business Happens: A Practical Guide to Corporate Finance for Small Businesses and Professional Practices.

Either way, you’ll spend a lot of money.

An IBM survey of social media sentiment found a 46 percent increase in the amount of conversations about Memorial Day travel compared to the previous year, for example.

It tracked a similar sentiment when it came to spending, a finding businesses almost certainly took to heart.

Since travel and consumer spending are two areas I specialize in, I thought I’d take a minute to spill the beans on how this consumer advocate spares his family and himself the indignities of Memorial Day.

Make it a commerce-free holiday

Pie in the sky? For some families, maybe. But making Memorial Day about cook-outs and togetherness takes the emphasis off the commerce.

It’s a classic distraction maneuver, and I’m here to tell you that it works.

If you can persuade your family they’re better off skipping the mall and heading to the park for a barbecue, then you’ve covered a likely money pit. Good for you!

Set a budget

If your family is hell-bent on visiting the shopping center during the Memorial Day weekend, then set reasonable boundaries and manage your family’s expectations.

Just because that $899 dress is on sale for half-price doesn’t mean your teenage daughter has to have it.

OK, maybe it does, but if you set a $200 spending limit (that’s a hypothetical number, by the way) then she’ll know it’s off-limits.

One word: Staycation

Memorial Day is considered the first day of the summer travel season. That’s three months!

It’s not a race. Plan your summer getaway during the little lulls that come after the holidays, like the week after Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day.

You won’t have to share the beach with a million other people, and you might get a deal, too.

Instead, stay close to home and plan a day-trip or two, an activity known as the “staycation.”

Do free stuff

Instead of heading to the local amusement park on staycation, consider this: Many towns have parades and festivals that take place on Memorial Day weekend.

These events generally don’t cost anything and when you plan a picnic or barbecue afterwards, they’re super easy on your budget.

When it comes to planning their Memorial Day, many readers get unnecessarily stressed out. They try to squeeze a mini-vacation into the long weekend, which forces them to spend more money than they want to and adds to the pressure.

By staying close to home and avoiding the traps that ensnare consumers at this time of year, you can relax and recharge your batteries before heading back to work the next week.

Christopher Elliott is a consumer advocate who blogs about getting better customer service at On Your Side. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook or send him your questions by email.

It might not be a time-saver, either — raw food recipes can be heavy on prep and require pre-soaking ingredients or using a dehydrator.

That’s not to say trying a raw food diet, which is based around uncooked and unprocessed plant foods, can’t be done cheaply. “I was spending so much money on produce, I finally decided to start my own garden,” says foodie Cyndi Monahan. “It’s been an incredible money saver.”

Farmers markets for produce and bulk bins for nuts can also be big cost-savers. Having an organized kitchen can help, too.

“Planning ahead and monitoring food in your fridge so it doesn’t spoil or get thrown out is an easy way to save money,” says Melanie Angelis, owner of TheGrecianGarden.com.

Eating more salads and experimenting with juicing are easy ways to increase your raw food intake, but sometimes it’s nice to have a heartier meal. So we also asked raw food fans for some of their favorite recipes for newbies to taste.

Here are 6 to try:

Superfood Tomato Soup

Jacqueline Fisch of BarefootEssence.com makes this soup in a Vitamix blender to gently warm it.

Chocolate Cheesecake

Cashews and chocolate make for a creamy filling in this recipe from nutritionist Valerie Orsoni, founder of LeBootCamp.com.

To make it, soak a pound and a half of cashews in water. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with an
“S” blade, process one pound of almonds, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/8 teaspoon salt into a powder.

Gradually add ¾ cup chopped, pitted dates to form a paste. Press the paste 
onto the bottom of a greased spring-form pan for the crust.

In a small pot, mix two tablespoons agar-agar or unflavored gelatin with a bit of
 cold almond milk and bring to a boil for just a minute. Then set aside to 
cool down.

Strain the cashews and then blend together with one and a half cups almond milk, three tablespoons cocoa or raw chocolate, a half cup agave nectar,
 a teaspoon vanilla extract and two pinches of salt to obtain a smooth consistency.

Add three tablespoons soy lecithin, one cup coconut butter and the cooled agar-agar, blending 
until well incorporated.
 Pour mix into the prepared crust and refrigerate for about an hour, or 
until firm.

Carefully release the cheesecake from the pan. Garnish with grated chocolate or powdered cocoa.

Power Bars

“I love to make raw power bars I can bring with me as a 
snack on the go,” Monahan says. Blend dates, nuts, honey, and raw protein powder in a food processor, press into a 
glass dish and store in the freezer for about an hour. Cut into
 squares.

Zucchini Noodles with Chunky Tomato Sauce

Cutting the zucchini into strips creates a healthier take on a typical pasta dish, says Fisch.

Burger With Sunflower Seeds

They take more than four hours to prepare, but it’s the rare healthy burger, says Orsoni. Sunflower seeds’ unsaturated fatty acids “can reduce bad cholesterol in the blood, and 
increase good cholesterol,” she says.

In advance, soak seven sundried tomatoes, and in a separate bowl, one cup walnuts and one cup sunflower seeds, for four hours. Rinse and drain the walnuts and sunflower seeds.
 Drain the sundried tomatoes, reserving the liquid.

Place in a food processor fitted with the “S” 
blade, along with two-thirds cup mushrooms, two tablespoons shoyu, ¼ teaspoon salt, a third of a grated carrot, a teaspoon each of chili powder and Italian herbs, ½ teaspoon chopped garlic and three tablespoons olive oil.

Add a half cup of the liquid from the tomatoes and purée. 
Scrape the mixture down the sides as you puree, and add more liquid 
if necessary to form a paste. The mixture should be of a consistency to form into patties.

Measure out the mixture in quarter-cup increments and pat each portion down into a patty. Place onto a prepared dehydrator tray. Dehydrate at 145ºF for one hour and then reduce temperature to
 115ºF until half dry. These hamburgers can be refrigerated for a few
 days.

Banana Ice Cream

“Many of my clients found the absence of sweets to be difficult when trying raw foods,” says Angelis.

The solution? An ice cream made of little more than frozen bananas, although you could also add chocolate chunks or cherries if desired, she says.

Frugal Foodie is a journalist based in New York City who spends her days writing about personal finance and obsessing about what she’ll have for dinner. Chat with her on Twitter through @MintFoodie.

Still, some of you figured out who I used to work for, even though the only hint I revealed was that it was the 90′s and I used to wear all black and way too much makeup.

You guys are good. Too good.

Well, I’m back with 10 more of my favorite drug store beauty buys. Some are oldies but goodies, and some are recommendations that came from your comments on last year’s post (thanks, BTW!).

Here are 10 more drug store beauty buys that can’t be beat:

Trader Joe’s Nourish Facial Moisturizer

I am a huge fan of Trader Joe’s Nourish All-in-One Facial Cleanser (make sure you read my insider secret about the creator of the products so you can fully appreciate the awesomeness) and the latest addition to the line delivers against my high expectations.

With an impressive list of antioxidants, moisturizing ingredients, and an ultra-low price tag, your skin and your wallet will be jumping for joy. Also, the product is fragrance, oil, and paraben-free for all you folks with sensitive skin.

Bonus: I travel a lot and the pump is easy to lock – no surprise messes in my toiletry bag!

Burt’s Bees Lip Gloss

The Burt’s Bees line of lip gloss hosts an impressive array of colors (I am a big fan of “Sunny Day” – it’s a great nude gloss for summer) and the product goes on sheer, smooth, and has real lasting powder.

Plus, Burt’s Bees products are almost all 100% natural and none are tested on animals. I have read some reviews that say the Burt’s Bees lip gloss is dry and sticky, but I have not had that experience at all.

FYI: If you want to try another fabulous Burt’s Bees beauty product, try the lip shimmers. They don’t disappoint!

e.l.f Shimmering Facial Whip

This is a recommendation straight from a MintLife reader.

Highlighting and contouring is all the rage in the makeup world right now, and with a price tag of just $1, the e.l.f Shimmering Facial Whips are a great way to try this trend without a huge investment (they have been compared to the industry favorite, Benefit’s “High Beam” – $26).

I personally love the shade “Toasted” but there are several others to choose from, depending on your skin tone and desired effect.

Here’s a great resource on the various e.l.f Shimmering Facial Whip shades, as well as a handy tutorial on how to apply them.

Revlon ColorStay Foundation

Ok, I have to admit that I am not a fan of drugstore foundation or concealers.

First, I think it’s best to try on several shades of foundation to get an exact match, which you cannot do in a drugstore. Also, I don’t think the ingredients and staying power of most drug store brands match up to department store brands.

That said, many readers have noted that the Revlon ColorStay foundation is an exception to this rule. I have tried the product and it’s not bad. Not bad at all.

The coverage was impressive and it lasted all day, but getting the right shade took a few trips to the drugstore. If you are looking for a drugstore foundation, definitely give Revlon ColorStay a try. They also have a “whipped” version if you want a lighter application.

PS: If you interested in trying a high-end foundation, I still love my pricey Bare Escentuals original mineral powder. Don’t judge.

Nyx Powder Blush

Here’s another recommendation that came from several MintLife readers: Nyx powder blush.

This popular product comes in an impressive 24 shades that go on smooth and are easy to blend.

Bright blush keeps making an appearance in magazines and on the runways, so at just $5 a pop, you can definitely get away with trying out a few different trendy shades (I’m a fan of the colors “Pinched” and “Pinky”).

Tip: The product may come in a small package, but it packs a powerful punch of color. Start with a small amount and work your way up.

Pixi Correction Concentrate – Brightening Peach

Don’t be fooled by the peach-looking color in the pot. Pixi Correction Concentrate brightens up under eye circles and other darker areas of the face.

I have fair to medium skin and the peach color does a miracle of a job at hiding all those sleepless nights I can thank my children for.

I have read several reviews that say the color works on a variety of skin tones (but it probably won’t work on very light or very dark tones), so if you are looking for a quick way to brighten your look, give this a try.

Hand on my heart; I have ditched my expensive department store concealer for this stuff. The product is $15, which is definitely in the upper price range for drug store products, but I think it’s worth it.

PS: The color is highly concentrated and little goes a long way, so just dab a small amount under your eyes. Plus, too much product makes wrinkles look deeper – ack!

Clean and Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets

I have a love/hate with this product. I love how it instantly mattifies my face without applying any extra product. But I hate seeing how much oil was actually on my face – yikes!

I’ve been using the Clean and Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets since high school. They are cheap, easy to throw in the tiniest of bags, and they do a stellar job at zapping shine.

Nature’s Way Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

So, you probably won’t find this product at a drugstore, but will definitely see it on the shelves of your local health food store or Whole Foods.

The use of coconut oil isn’t limited to just food and cooking – it’s an excellent beauty product, too! I have very sensitive skin and suffer from eczema and coconut oil is one of the few products I can use to moisturize my skin.

Remember: Your skin is your largest organ and it absorbs everything you put on it (medication, birth control and nicotine patches are good examples).

You can use coconut oil to moisturize your lips, cuticles, and hair, mix it with a little sugar for a DIY face/body scrub, use it to remove eye make up, and it’s been known to be an excellent all-natural personal lubricant (ahem).

FYI: Coconut oil liquefies in warmer temps, so make sure you store it upright and in a tightly sealed container.

Goody Ouchless Shower Comb

If you’re curly-haired like me, go out and buy a pack of these combs today (also, read Curly Girl: The Handbook – it will change your life. Or just your hair, which can sometimes feel like the same thing).

The Goody Ouchless Shower Comb makes taming your unruly locks a lot less, well…ouchless.

Combing curly hair in the shower is essential to maintaining your curls, and since they come in packs of 3, you can afford to keep one in the shower, your gym bag, and still have an extra for Curly Girl emergencies.

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner

Last time, I praised my trusty old Wet and Wild’s eyeliner and I’m still holding to that. But, Rimmel comes in at a close second with their waterproof kohl liner.

The black version of the liner is SUPER BLACK and it stays on for a long time. Like, you might only want to wear it for a night out on the town if you plan on wearing a smokey eye to work the next day, too.

The product comes in a variety of shades that cost about $5 apiece, so you can definitely afford to wear a less daring shade during the day and then switch to a deeper color at night.

“10 More Drug Store Beauty Buys That Can’t Be Beat” was written by Morgan Quinn, a freelance writer and Managing Editor and Social Media Manager of Mint.com’s blog, MintLife. You can read more of her at The Little Hen House. 

While plenty of people know deep down that having a baby can be pricey, during the pregnancy and delivery, when the child is a newborn, and right through until he’s 18, a lot of people fail to understand that exact cost of a new family member.

Of course, having a new baby doesn’t mean you have to bust your budget or start spending money like it’s going out of style.

Blogger Crystal over at Money Saving Mom created an entire series on “Having a Baby Without Breaking the Bank .” Her series includes tips for parents on ways not to spend themselves in oblivion when waiting for a newborn to arrive or after the baby is born.

A key piece of advice she gives involves the newborn checklist, or those “must-have” baby items you think you need.

When her first baby was born, she and her husband didn’t buy a lot of stuff, in part because they couldn’t afford it, but also because they had no room. You’ll trim your costs considerably if you skip the non-essential baby items, such as lots of onesies and every single newborn toy ever made.

While it’s possible to have a baby on the cheap, there are still a few pricey items that you’ll need to acquire. Here’s a rundown of the most expensive items on most people’s newborn checklist, plus some ideas for ways to get them inexpensively.

Remember, the answer to how much does a baby cost varies based on where you live and how many babies you’ve had already.

The Crib

A baby needs to sleep somewhere and a lot of parents choose to put their baby in a crib. Depending on your furniture tastes, the crib can be one of the most expensive items you purchase for your baby.

It’s possible to purchase a new crib from a place such as Ikea for around $100, if that suits you. Other models can cost considerably more, and that’s before you add the bedding and a mattress.

One way to save on the crib is to buy used, but you do need to be careful. A lot of older cribs don’t live up to newer safety standards.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission released new standards in 2011 that prohibit the use of drop-sides on cribs, call for more durable crib slats and better hardware. An older used crib might not be worth the risk.

Another way to save money when preparing for baby is to strike the bassinet off of your newborn checklist. Newborns can only use a bassinet for a short period of time, since it is on the small side. Most babies can go right into the crib and don’t need a bassinet.

The Stroller

Not all strollers are super expensive, but a few models are.

Take the Silver Cross Surf Aston Martin edition stroller. It costs a jaw-dropping $3,000, which is beyond the budget of most average parents. The materials used to produce the stroller are the same materials used to make Aston Martin’s high-end sports cars.

It’s possible to find a stroller for under $100, but a number of brands expect new parents to shell out $200 or $300.

If you’re looking to trim new baby expenses, I’d ask you to consider if you actually need a stroller at all. Unless you plan on going for long walks with the baby, it might an accessory you can skip.

Used strollers or hand-me-downs can also save you a lot of money.

Diapers

One baby expense that you really can’t avoid is diapers. Whether you go with disposable or cloth, you can expect to be keeping your kid in diapers for at least the first two, if not three, years.

The average cost of diapers from birth to potty training time can be between $1,000 and $2,500 according to Consumer Reports.

Cloth diapers do cost less out-of-pocket, since you can reuse them. Washing the diapers yourself is the cheapest option. Another, slightly more expensive option is to use a diaper service. It saves you the often messy hassle of laundering used diapers yourself.

Disposable diapers offer new parents the most convenience, but at the highest price. A jumbo-box of disposable diapers can cost around $40, depending on the brand and where you buy it.

The best way to trim your disposable diaper costs is to buy in bulk (the bigger the box, the lower per diaper price) and to avoid the name brands. Really, your baby won’t know that you are using Brand X diapers on him/her instead of Pampers or Luvs.

Kelly Anderson is a financial planner who blogs about financial advice you can use in your everyday life. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.

But did you know that the scammers are so confident that they come back for seconds?

Hard to believe, but it’s true.

In a recent issue of Virus Bulletin, one victim reported that phone support scammers were calling back consumers they previously tricked into paying for their services, and fooling the same innocent users into paying for a “renewal” of the service.

Scammed again?

Sounds like a sequel to my book, but for some people, it’s a real nightmare. Among fraud-prevention experts, it’s called a “reloading” scam, because the con artists return to the well repeatedly until it’s dry.

Here’s how to prevent it:

Say “no”.

You can avoid repeatedly being taken by learning to say “no.” But that’s not always easy, because you might be invested in the scheme.

I dealt with a lottery fraud victim who was repeatedly contacted over the period of a year, offering her million-dollar winnings in exchange for just one more payment wired overseas.

She kept putting money in because she didn’t want to forfeit her windfall.

Get off the “sucker” list.

If you’ve been scammed, and the bad guys got away with it, then chances are pretty good you’re on a “sucker” list.

These rosters of gullible consumers contain important details, such as your name, number and the type of con you fell for.

Getting off the list is easy. Call the authorities and report the scam. That’s grounds for immediate deletion.

Anticipate innovation.

I know, that sounds like the title of a business-school case study. But scam artists are some of the most inventive people on the planet.

When they circle back for more, they reinvent their fraudulent offer, making it sound bigger and better.

So even if you’ve said “no” before, the same folks may come by and offer you something different sounding, but which is ultimately the same scam. Expect it.

Remember, timing is nothing.

The most sophisticated scammers will try to use their longevity as proof that their offer is credible. But that means nothing.

Just because they haven’t been shut down by law enforcement doesn’t mean they’re not running a shady business.

At best, it just means they’re smarter, or can afford the best lawyers to cover their tracks. I’ve been following some scammy travel clubs for years, and they exact membership “fees” from a long list of suckers every year.

When in doubt, ask.

Even the most sophisticated reloading scams are reported quickly online. Run a quick search, and if you’ve been approached, be sure to report the come-ons to the Federal Trade Commission or to the National Consumers League’s Fraud Center.

Recycled scams are a scourge on consumers, but with a little research and a practiced answer, you can avoid getting suckered. That way, the only rerun you’ll have to worry about this summer will be the ones on TV.

Christopher Elliott is a consumer advocate who blogs about getting better customer service at On Your Side. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook or send him your questions by email.

Here are some of our favorite ways to treat your mom for Mother’s Day without breaking out your piggy bank.

Make Her Something

Making mom something says more than a store-bought present ever could. For a crafty person, there are boundless opportunities to make mom something she’s going to cherish for years to come.

But if you’re not so artistically inclined, don’t worry. You can make her a mix CD, Spotify playlist, or load a thumb drive with some of her favorite tunes on it. She’ll think of you every time she looks at or listens to what you’ve made for her.

Cook For Her

Those who know their way around a kitchen have a ready-made way to make mom happy on Mother’s Day. You might have to shell out a little cash to buy food, but cooking mom a nice dinner at home can be done for a fraction of the cost of taking her out to a fancy restaurant.

Best of all, it gives the two of you time together in a comfortable and relaxed setting — just make sure to clean up your place before she comes over.

Go Day Tripping

If you and your mom both live in the same city, taking her on a day trip might be a great way to spend time together on Mother’s Day. Even if it’s just a drive up the coast, a short getaway gives the two of you some time to spend together.

Throw on some music and take the time to really catch up with her en route to a scenic destination and bring a picnic for lunch along the way.

Give Her a Call

In the 21st Century, it’s easier to communicate than ever before. You might text or email your mom several times throughout the course of a week but how often do you sit down and have a conversation with her?

Make it a point to give her some one-on-one time. That’s easy enough – especially in the age of Skype, free cell phone minutes, and VoIP.

Play Maid

How many times has your mother cleaned up after you in the course of her lifetime? Now it’s time to return the favor.

Tell her in advance that you’re coming by with all your cleaning products in tow — and that you’re not taking “no” for an answer. Let her know that this is her day and you’re going to be doing it all on your own, just like she did for you for so many years.

Remember: All your mom really wants for Mother’s Day is a little bit of your time, attention and appreciation for all her hard work. Give her that and it’ll be hard to go wrong.

“Free Mother’s Day Celebration Ideas” was written by Nicholas Pell. 

Tackles: Mystery healthcare costs.

The Healthcare Cost Estimator, by the not-for-profit group Fair Health, helps you understand the cost of medical and dental procedures, how insurance works, and how to compare providers.

It draws from its database of hundreds of millions of insurance claims to show you prices in specific geographies and how much your insurance might pay.

Also check out the handy glossary of healthcare terms and collection of videos and articles about navigating health insurance for the full comparison-shopping experience.

Simplee (iOS)

Tackles: Stacks of bills everywhere and having to pull out your checkbook to pay them.

With Simplee, you have everything you need to track, manage and pay your medical bills from one place online.

By linking all your health, vision, dental, and pharmacy plans to your account, you can see your deductible status or HSA balance, view your benefits, and pay any medical bill with a few taps.

Simplee also sends you various alerts and insights about your insurance claims, such as notifications about free preventive care or claims that looked like they were billed incorrectly.

It’s basically a one-stop-shop for keeping your bills paid on time and in perfect order. Read more about Simplee here.

Healthcare Blue Book (iOS, Android)

Tackles: Unknown prices for health care services.

The Healthcare Blue Book has been around for awhile, helping consumers find the fair market price for anything from an MRI to a heart surgery. Now, the search is available on mobile.

See how providers in your area rank as far as the price for specific services and the range of costs out there. You’ll also get tips on saving money and finding quality providers and help with how to negotiate prices.

The app is especially great if you’re uninsured.

Tomer Shoval is the CEO and Co-Founder of Simplee, a free online personal health care expense management tool. Connect with him on twitter, facebook or email.

As technology has evolved, so have the opportunities for shopping on a budget. Today, there are plenty of apps that will help you find the best price on clothing or whatever else you’re looking for, as well as apps for shopping that are designed to help you save money on clothes and other items.

Whether you’re looking for terrific deals on designer clothing, local dining deals or just want to be sure you’re getting the best price on an item, apps for shopping are there to help you out.

Gilt on the Go

Gilt is a member-based deal site that features daily sales on designer clothing, home goods, and artisanal foods. The site was originally by invitation only but has sinced opened up. You have to be a member to shop through Gilt, but you no longer need an invite.

Gilt on the Go is the site’s app. There are versions available of iPhone, Android, Blackberry and iPad. The app helps you save money on clothes by sending you instant sale alerts, right to your phone.

You can also preview future sales, so you can plan ahead. The app version of Gilt is quicker than the online version, so you have a better chance of snagging a deal before it sells out.

Rue La La

Rue La La is similar to Gilt in a few ways. It’s designed for style-conscious people who are shopping on a budget. You need to be a member to take advantage of the deals offered by the site. Each deal is only available for 48 hours, then it’s gone for good.

The Rue La La app is available for Android phones and iPhone. Some reviews of the app have noted that it’s not very fast, so if you’re shopping for an in-demand item, you might miss out if you’re using the app version and not the site.

The app also lets you preview upcoming sales and set reminders to yourself so that you don’t miss out.

Groupon

Groupon might have fallen on some tough times, but the app and website continues to offer people daily deals at local stores, restaurants and gyms. With the app installed on your iPhone or Android phone, you’ll receive a daily deal update, which is customized based on your preferences.

You’re able to buy the deals right from your phone and when its time to redeem your Groupons, you don’t have to worry about printing. You can bring up the deal right on your phone and show it to the cashier or waiter.

Price Check by Amazon

When you’re shopping on a budget, you want to be absolutely sure you’re getting the best price on an item.

Instead of searching stores or websites on your own to find the best price, the Price Check app from Amazon lets you search for an item or take a picture of its bar code, then instantly returns results from online and brick and mortar stores.

With this app, you’ll never have to wonder if you could have gotten an item for cheaper somewhere else. Price Check is available for both iPhone and Android phones.

Red Laser

Red Laser is similar to Price Check. You scan a bar code with the app on your Android phone or iPhone, then it brings up stores that sell the item and the prices.

Not only can you compare prices with the app, you can also find the nearest store that is selling the item. Plus, Red Laser allows you to scan in your loyalty cards for each store and keep them on your phone, instead of cluttering up your wallet or key chain.

Google Offers

Google Offers is similar to Groupon – you get personalized, local deals delivered to your email address or phone. The app is integrated with Google Maps. That means you’ll be able to search the map to find the deals that are closest to you.

If you don’t use the deals right away, the app will remind you to cash them in the next time you walk into the store or restaurant.

Poshmark

One way to save money on clothes is to buy fashionable, but gently used garments. Poshmark lets you do just that. The app is designed to help people sell stylish clothing that they no longer wear. It’s like having access to the closets of fashionable women across the country, all tucked away in your pocket.

You can also sell your clothes with Poshmark. You take pictures of your clothing, describe the items, and price them. If someone buys your clothing, the app helps you take care of shipping and sending it to them. Right now, the app only lets you list women’s clothing and accessories.

What apps do you use to save money when shopping?

Kelly Anderson is a financial planner who blogs about financial advice you can use in your everyday life. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.

And it’s bogus, according to the Secretary of State. There are no fees for record keeping, and the payments are mailed to a UPS store, according to a report.

The fraudulent form is just the latest in a series of scams in which criminals impersonate a government organization. Here are three signs you’re about to be ripped off by the “government.”

Someone says, “Trust me, I’m with the government.”

That’s not just a movie cliche. Scammers are posing as government officials in an attempt to get your personal information — and they’re getting away with it.

South Dakota’s attorney general recently issued a warning to be on the lookout for telemarketers claiming to be government representatives and tricking victims into giving up personal identifying information.

“Consumers and businesses alike tend to take phone calls or emails from government officials very seriously,” said Marty Jackley, South Dakota’s attorney general. “These unscrupulous attempts to obtain personal or sensitive information is just another example of what lengths these scams artists will go to make a buck.”

Armed with the information, the scammers commit all the basic ID-theft crimes you’re accustomed to. The only way to avoid it is to verify the caller’s identity and never to click on a link that comes from an unsolicited email.

They flash a government logo and then ask you to pay up.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently shut down two mortgage-loan modification services. One of the operations claimed that they could help people get benefits from programs offering government-sponsored relief for homeowners, for a price.

In fact, you don’t have to pay anything to get the benefits of these programs, according to the CFPB. You just have to qualify.

Anyone who flashes a seal, logo or badge with one hand and has another hand outstretched, waiting to be paid, should be suspect. The mortgage-modification operations closed by the CFPB were so successful because they found people who were desperate and wanted to believe they could get government aid.

Had they taken a few minutes to investigate the government-sponsored relief programs for homeowners, they would have known they were about to be scammed. Another tip: It sounded too good to be true.

The President promises to pay your utility bill

Last summer’s big “government” scam involved a hoax that the President would pay your utility bill. Untrue, of course.

A Public Service Electric and Gas Company warning spells it out in painful detail: It starts with utility customers getting a phone call that the federal government has a program to pay utility bills on a one-time basis. The thieves then ask for your Social Security numbers to “apply for the program.”

They also provide you with a Federal Reserve bank routing number to use when paying their bills online. Customers who use this number are led to believe that their bills are paid. But they aren’t.

What made last summer’s scam so awful is that it might have been true. It was an election year, and the federal government had a well-established track record of generous aid programs, like cash for clunkers and the stimulus program.

Plus, it was one of the hottest summers ever. Add a little social media to the mix, and people could be forgiven for thinking that President Obama would pay their utility bill.

Instead, the scammers made off with people’s Social Security numbers and set out to steal their identities. The only way to figure out this was bogus was to call the utility company before taking advantage of this federal “program.”

These are just three warning signs, but the scammers continue to innovate, so watch out. Anytime someone tells you they’re with the government and they’re here to help, don’t take their word for it.

Christopher Elliott is a consumer advocate who blogs about getting better customer service at On Your Side. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook or send him your questions by email.