marketers

That's the value a new report from financial research firm Trefis puts on Facebook, if a lot of things work out. And a new monetization plan that lets advertisers "sponsor" your actions on Facebook could give it a huge new revenue stream and contribute to that lofty valuation.

Your credit card issuer already knows whether you have a pet, watch porn or garden in your spare time. But what they are most interested in are changes in your spending patterns. Start shopping at the dollar store instead of Williams-Sonoma and they may just take that as a sign of financial hardship -- a fear that could cause them to cap the credit limit on the account or close it altogether.