jeff raford finance personal finance

Credit Counseling Vs Debt Settlement Programs - What Option Is Better For You

2011-05-03T19:09:00.001-07:00

Credit counseling and Credit7 settlement have been the top two options for the people who are suffering from Credit0 crisis for a long time because these two options have different nature and a different approach. In one method, a person is able to get a 50% reduction in the total outstanding amount of Credit7 whereas in the other method, a person is able to get a perfect plan to eliminate the due payments and apart from it, he also becomes able to manage and do all the unexpected expenses efficiently.

So let us discuss both these two options separately and then decide which option is better for the people.

Credit Counseling

In this process, a person is supposed to hire the services of a professional credit counselor and he/she can do it easily because a lot of professional settlement companies provide the services of these counselors to the people. After hiring the counselor, a person just needs to provide all the documentation about the due payments and loan amounts because the hired credit counselor will make a perfect plan for the person to follow in order to kill and eliminate all the due payments as well maintain a good balance in his/her daily life spending. Although this method is unable to bring out a successful elimination of Credit7s but still it provides people with a perfect plan to eliminate the liabilities.

Credit9 Settlement

The process of Credit7 settlement is quite different as compared to credit counseling because a person is supposed to use the services of a professional settlement company and in these services, the professional Credit0 experts of the company are the people who are responsible for holding and discussing possible reductions in the total outstanding amount of Credit7s. Through this method, a person is able to get a reduction of 50% to 60% in the original amount of due payments.

Remaining amount is also paid in installments so we can say that it is a very good option for getting rid of the liabilities.

By keeping the latest stats in mind, we can say that a lot of people have opted for Credit7 settlement instead of credit counseling because the settlement process is able to provide more Counseling1 to the people. So, this is the reason due to which we can say Credit7 settlement is the best option for the Credit7 suffering people.

So let us discuss both these two options separately and then decide which option is better for the people.

Credit Counseling

Credit9 Settlement

Remaining amount is also paid in installments so we can say that it is a very good option for getting rid of the liabilities.

Could a Reverse Mortgage Be a Retirement Solution for You

2011-04-28T19:09:00.000-07:00

Reverse Mortgage Pros and Cons

Understanding reverse mortgage pros and cons is becoming more important what with America's population aging, home prices falling, the stock market crash of 2008 still not having been recovered from, the value of the dollar diminishing and a whole host of other Credit0 concerns, it is likely that now more than ever the answer to the question "how are we going to live the life we hoped for?" may be found in the reverse mortgage. This often misunderstood and sometimes feared product could just be the difference between being comfortable in retirement and not retiring at all.

Let's take the reverse mortgage head on and look at the pros and cons. By reviewing the advantages and disadvantages of the reverse mortgage you will not only gain a better understanding of the powerful impact it could have on your life, but you should be able to set aside any fears you have had in the past. With a little counseling from a qualified expert you should then be able to determine without a doubt if the reverse mortgage is the right move for you.

I like to focus on the positive. So let's look at reverse mortgage pros first.

• It allows you to convert home equity into non-taxable income without having to sell your home
• The reverse mortgage allows many people whose home is their largest asset to convert that highly illiquid and passive asset to a very liquid asset that can be actively invested.
• With a reverse mortgage you never have to pay the loan back as long as you live in the property as your primary residence, keep the home maintained, and pay your taxes, insurance and HOA dues (if applicable).
• This one's the biggie; you will never...never under any circumstances, owe more than your home is worth. Neither will your heirs in the event you leave the home to them in your estate.
• Here's another biggie; you will never again have a mortgage payment.
• Something many people don't understand is that you can actually sell your home or even refinance out of a reverse mortgage in the future. Obviously you will need enough equity or cash on hand for either situation, and in the event you wish to refinance you would likely need to qualify for the new loan.
• This is a grossly underutilized retirement tool: you can place a reverse mortgage on an owner occupied income property of up to four units.
• You can use the proceeds of the loan to make maintenance repairs to your home to get it up to FHA appraisal standards.
• The loan is paid in full, along with any capital gains upon the homeowner's death. This is an effective way to defer capital gains to death and possibly completely remove them from the estate.
• There are no income or credit requirements* for a reverse mortgage.
• You can purchase a new home with a reverse mortgage. Again, without income or credit requirements.
• The note has no recourse. This means the lender cannot seek assets other than the available equity in the home for repayment of the loan. Again, the borrower and their heirs will never owe more than the home is worth.
• That being said, in a falling equity environment, the lender is the only party with asset devaluation risk.
• In many cases you will not only rid yourself of your current mortgage payment, but you may actually have the ability to structure the loan to pay you a monthly amount.
• Cash flow from the reverse mortgage will not affect social security and Medicare.
• There are no prepayments penalties
• Finally, all closing costs can be paid for with proceeds from the loan assuming there is sufficient equity to do so.

*While there are no restrictions regarding credit scores or history you cannot complete a reverse mortgage and have an outstanding federal lien or judgment. The government must be paid in full before or at closing.

O.K. Now for the negatives; there are some, although generally speaking, the reverse mortgage is either a great option for you and has very few drawbacks or it is simply not the right option. Here we go:

• As with any loan, there are costs associated with the reverse mortgage. These are generally in line with those of a conventional or FHA refinance and they are considerably lower than those of selling your home.
• Interest accrued on a reverse mortgage cannot be deducted until the loan has been paid in full.
• While there are no income or credit requirements for the loan, the borrower does need to have enough equity in the home to facilitate the mortgage. This is a rough estimate and by no means should it be used to disqualify yourself, but generally the home owner should have 30% give or take 5% equity in the home. In other words, if your current loan balance is higher than 70% of the value of your home there will need to be additional cash brought to the table.
• The home owner still needs to pay property taxes, home owner's insurance, and any applicable HOA fees after taking out their reverse. I'm reaching here. It's not really a con but it is something of which you should be aware.
• The home will need to be appraised and while you can escrow for some items to be repaired, a home in disrepair could be unqualified or could fall short on the necessary equity for closing.
• There is a mortgage insurance expense with a reverse mortgage as it is a HUD loan. This effectively increases the interest rate on your loan.
• There is an age requirement. The youngest homeowner must be 62 years of age or older to qualify. The calculation used to determine the amount of your loan is based on the youngest owner.
• A reverse mortgage may affect needs based programs other than Social Security and Medicare. It would be worth a phone call to your case worker if you are a recipient just to be on the safe side.
• On purchases there are no seller contributions allowed.
• Finally, the loan will reduce the equity in your home.

After reviewing the lists of advantages and disadvantages for reverse mortgage loans if you think it might be an option for you your next step would be to contact a reputable lender in your area. Then you will be given contact information for a couple of local counseling agencies that will act as a third party information source. The process is pretty simple and may just be the best thing you ever did for your retirement plan.

Reverse Mortgage Pros and Cons

I like to focus on the positive. So let's look at reverse mortgage pros first.

Cheap Bankruptcy Without a Lawyer

2011-04-27T19:09:00.000-07:00

Have you ever considered the costs involved in filing a bankruptcy claim? Are you currently looking to file, but want to know whether you can save yourself some money? If you've answered yes to either of these questions then you need to read through the remainder of this article. The truth is that there are ways to save money during the filing process and the following article will show you how.

Each and every year, millions of people consider the option to claim bankruptcy, yet most people don't know the first thing about doing so. For all they know, they must contact one of those companies featured on late night television commercials the promise to erase your Credit7 with no questions asked. What people often fail to understand is that many of these companies are out to make money from your Credit0 misfortunes. They want you to believe that there is some secret out there to filing a claim, when in reality there is not. In fact, anyone can file a claim for personal bankruptcy on their own, without the assistance of a so-called professional. Filing your own claim is the best way to save a considerable amount of money on your claim.

So, what does filing on your own entail and how much can you save over hiring an advisor or bankruptcy attorney? Filing a claim on your own means that you must gather detailed information related to your assets, liabilities and current household income. You must then submit this information to the bankruptcy courts, who will determine your eligibility for filing. Once you've been approved you will be required to attend mandatory credit counseling and will be well on your way toward repairing your damaged credit.

In terms of savings, you should expect to save anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 over hiring an attorney to do the work for you. While there are certainly many time saving advantages to hiring an attorney, the cost will likely be prohibitive for most people. After all, the last thing that most Credit7ors want to do is to accumulate additional Credit7 just to file for bankruptcy. Perhaps the best thing that people can do is to contact a Credit0 professional for a free consultation. This can provide many benefits including the opportunity to speak with a knowledgeable professional about other forms of Credit0 repair. Just talking with someone can often provide you with the perspective that you need in order to make the best possible decisions for yourself.

Business 101 Financing

2011-04-26T19:09:00.000-07:00

So, you've finally decided to put that faith in yourself and you're starting your own business. Perhaps you've got an idea that you've wanted to make into a reality for years, or perhaps you have just stumbled upon an opportunity you truly believe in. either way, the time has come to put your money where your mouth is, but the problem is that you don;t exactly have the money...yet. Applying for a business loan is the most common method of getting financing for your dreams, but though it is tempting to go for one of the many instant cash loans available you need to do your research, educate yourself about what's out there and most importantly, manage to get the right loan product for your needs! Here are a few tips to help you out along the way...

Have a Detailed Business Plan

Like any investment (which is what a bank will be making if they agree to give you a loan), the more information you can provide about it, the safer they will feel putting their faith and their money in you. A bank wants proof that you are able to turn a profit from the business you're proposing, or at the very least make enough money to cover the repayments you'll owe them. The best thing to do is to put together a detailed outline of the way you plan to roll out your business and the steps that you're going to take to achieve your goals. This is a valuable thing to have in any business whether or not financing is involved, because it is a way to stay on track with your objectives and to predict problems, challenges or opportunities that could arise before they do.

Collateral

Ideally you will be able to offset the loan against assets that you already own. Your house, (or the equity therein), your car and any other cash or assets that you have will be taken into consideration. It's crucial that you weigh up your options and consider what you stand to lose should the business fail as well as its long term prospects so that you make wise decisions rather than decisions based on your immediate desire to bring in money.

History

A lot of business loan products will require you to have been in business for some time already. This is why many people feel they have no option other than to go with the easiest fast loan they can get their hands on, because it can seem otherwise impossible to get a foot in the door. The important thing to remember is that anything you borrow will have to be paid back and that you'll have to do so under the conditions of the loan which may or may not be achievable. Always try to remain calm and objective about the decisions you make in this area--the heat of the moment dies off very quickly when the repayments start rolling around, and you don't want to be stuck with a Credit7 you can;t pay back. Always do your research and have a plan---and then a plan B!

Have a Detailed Business Plan

Collateral

History

An eBay Discount Code Isn't A Game

2011-04-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

An eBay discount code is actually a very smart way to deal with savings while shopping online.

The recession that has beat us up over the last few years as proven to be life changing in so many ways for so many people. When we talk about life changing it really got very serious for several people. Many people ended up losing houses and businesses.

It would seem that the people who went broke in many cases were the lucky ones. This was a part of everyone's life that was difficult for all involved. One of the greatest ways to save these days is with an eBay discount code.

You see so many people have turned to shopping online because they find it convenient in so many ways. Now if you can find a coupon to help you save money that will even make things more desirable.

The world has changed and the last few years are years people want to be able to forget. They want to make sure they never get themselves back into a situation of having to make decisions like whether they should pay the hydro bill or get groceries.

Many of us have been able to rebound from the recession, however recovery for many of us may never happen. Things will never be the way they were before the recession. It took us thousands of years to get to that point and it only took a few weeks for everything to start falling.

In many cases businesses that had been built by generations of families fell apart in only a couple of weeks. This was as powerful as it gets and we know its not something we ever want to experience again.

So now its about saving money and one way to do that is by saving on your online purchases. One way to do that is to use an eBay discount code to get a percentage off your purchases day in and day out.

Maybe a few years ago spending money may have seemed like a game because so many people had so much money. It felt like the spending could never end. Well as much as it sucks this really isn't a game anymore. I hate to break the news to tell people that we have gone from fairy tale to real life and real life is what we have to believe now.

As long as you know there are ways and there are people who are willing to help then you are well on your way to saving and keeping money in your wallet. The best way to get started is by using an eBay discount code.

An eBay discount code is actually a very smart way to deal with savings while shopping online.

Are You Using the Tax Code to Sell Insurance or Annuity Prospects

2011-04-24T19:09:00.000-07:00

You know what really bothers your prospects?

The words "taxes" or "taxation" and "the IRS".

Those words generally trigger a strong subliminal response, and elicit a strong negative reaction.

Because your prospects are over taxed, and they resent having to pay so much of their money to a government that is not held to the same fiscal accountability or responsibility that they are.

So you know what your prospects really like to hear about?

Tax deductions, tax savings, tax advantages, tax benefits, and tax exemptions.

And when you reference specific sections of the tax code, as they relate to life insurance and annuities, you do two things:

you establish an objective foundation for your recommended solution, based on a recognized authority (the IRS)
you establish your own credibility and professionalism by your practical knowledge of the tax code; and
you tap into the prospect's desire to minimize taxation by taking advantage of valuable tax advantages available to them only through insurance and annuities.

That's why one of the most currently appealing Credit0 solutions is helping people create tax free retirement income with Equity Index UL.

And referencing those sections of the tax code that make tax exempt income possible, also makes EIUL credible - because people "trust" the tax code.

What's more, they want to know about any tax benefits or provisions they can take advantage of.

In fact, one of the most common complaints you'll hear from people regarding their taxes, is that their tax advisor (usually a CPA) does not "proactively" inform them of tax savings opportunities.

Most tax advisors are RE active - not PRO active.

They answer questions about what is deductible and what is not, and typically make some suggestions to optimize their tax deductions.

But they do not (as a rule) help their clients PLAN to minimize taxation.

And if you focus your discussion with prospects on minimizing taxation of their retirement income (instead of product features) you will find a very willing and receptive audience.

You know what really bothers your prospects?

The words "taxes" or "taxation" and "the IRS".

Those words generally trigger a strong subliminal response, and elicit a strong negative reaction.

Because your prospects are over taxed, and they resent having to pay so much of their money to a government that is not held to the same fiscal accountability or responsibility that they are.

So you know what your prospects really like to hear about?

Tax deductions, tax savings, tax advantages, tax benefits, and tax exemptions.

And when you reference specific sections of the tax code, as they relate to life insurance and annuities, you do two things:

you establish an objective foundation for your recommended solution, based on a recognized authority (the IRS)
you establish your own credibility and professionalism by your practical knowledge of the tax code; and
you tap into the prospect's desire to minimize taxation by taking advantage of valuable tax advantages available to them only through insurance and annuities.

That's why one of the most currently appealing Credit0 solutions is helping people create tax free retirement income with Equity Index UL.

And referencing those sections of the tax code that make tax exempt income possible, also makes EIUL credible - because people "trust" the tax code.

What's more, they want to know about any tax benefits or provisions they can take advantage of.

In fact, one of the most common complaints you'll hear from people regarding their taxes, is that their tax advisor (usually a CPA) does not "proactively" inform them of tax savings opportunities.

Most tax advisors are RE active - not PRO active.

They answer questions about what is deductible and what is not, and typically make some suggestions to optimize their tax deductions.

But they do not (as a rule) help their clients PLAN to minimize taxation.

And if you focus your discussion with prospects on minimizing taxation of their retirement income (instead of product features) you will find a very willing and receptive audience.

Strategies for Safely Drawing Money - How to Draw Money From ATM Machines

2011-04-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

Many people worry about security when they withdraw money from an ATM - this Counseling7matic banking machine is quick and convenient. However, criminals prey on ATM's and their users - personal, important banking information can be readily available to shady types, who may use it to steal an identity or to extract funds that do not belong to them. For many people, using an ATM can cause some anxiety. So ask the question and answer it - how to draw money from ATM machines.

To keep your account secure, never let anyone see exactly what PIN number you're putting in the ATM. Cover your hand with a deposit envelope or hunch over the number key pad to keep your information away from prying eyes. Be suspicious is someone is standing too close to the ATM while you use it. Ask them politely to move further back, or use another ATM instead. People should keep a safe distance when waiting in line for the ATM. If someone doesn't respect your privacy, they may be trying to get at your private data.

Make sure you tuck your cash away in a safe place when you're done your transaction. Money left hanging out of pockets or being carried around is a real temptation to thieves. Consider a hidden wallet that straps onto the chest. Travel stores have lots of concealed wallets that deter thieves. Keep your receipt private as well - don't leave anything behind that can be used to steal your funds or your identity. When you're abroad, be double careful about following these rules at an ATM. If you're leaving a receipt behind, tear it into little pieces before you throw it away. Be alert at all times, and fully aware of your surroundings.

Stash Some Cash

2011-04-20T19:09:00.000-07:00

It is hard to turn on the television these days and not hear something about saving money, making money or spending money. With the slow economy, cash, or lack thereof is a common topic.

My busy life had pushed me into a, shall we say, fast food way of life. My husband and I would leave for work every day and head right for the fast food restaurant for breakfast. We spent on average, $10.00 each morning. Lunch hour would roll around, and we were off again to spend another $10.00 or more. Before heading back to the office, we would stop off for coffee to the tune of $3.00. There it is $23.00 a day, 5 days a week. Now keep in mind that this is an average. Many days we spent more, depending on where we went for breakfast and lunch.

I decided one day that we were going to take a break from the fast food way of life and see how much money we could save. I made a trip to the store and purchased some simple breakfast foods and some lunch meat and bread for lunch. I even bought some coffee and cream and dusted off the coffee machine at the office. I spent about as much money as I would have spent in one day following my old ways.

For an entire week we had breakfast at home every day, and I made lunch to bring to the office. After lunch, I brewed a pot of coffee and we sat and enjoyed it right in our office.

I realized many perks to this new way of life. First of all we were eating MUCH healthier and because of that we were feeling much better. We also realized how nice it was not to have to trudge out in the winter weather to hunt down our lunch.

However, my favorite realization was what was in the envelope...

Every day, Monday through Friday, after we had our lunch, I would put $23.00 in an envelope. At the end of the week, I had $115.00! I am no mathematician but I quickly figured out that was $460.00 a month! That's $5,520.00 a year. That's a vacation fund, a new used car, a credit card pay off and so on.

Could you find a place to put $5,520.00?

It is hard to turn on the television these days and not hear something about saving money, making money or spending money. With the slow economy, cash, or lack thereof is a common topic.

For an entire week we had breakfast at home every day, and I made lunch to bring to the office. After lunch, I brewed a pot of coffee and we sat and enjoyed it right in our office.

However, my favorite realization was what was in the envelope...

Could you find a place to put $5,520.00?

Sell Your Old Laptop to a Repair Company for Big Bucks

2011-04-19T19:09:00.000-07:00

Today, one of the most popular computer brands on the market is HP, and that means that as people upgrade their laptops to new machines, there are even more HP computers floating around. Since so many consumers remain loyal to the brand they already own and they continue to purchase the same type of computers, an ever growing number of HPs dominate the market, and the number of used HP laptops continues to grow rapidly. If you own an old HP computer and are ready to upgrade to a new one, then the best way for you to get rid of your old computer is to sell it. There is a high demand for old HP computers, which means you'll be able to sell yours to someone for a good price. So many people are interested in purchasing used HPs, that even your old HP laptop Motherboard is quite valuable.

When you sell your old computer to a reseller, they may not simply resell your machine to another person. They may take it apart and then use the parts to repair other machines they have sitting around. For example, if the HP laptop Motherboard on your computer is completely functional, then they may take that part out to use in another machine that needs one. The HP laptop Motherboard is a vital part of every computer because it is the central part that all other internal parts get connected to. If an HP laptop Motherboard is broken, it is a serious issue because that is the major part that includes several sockets, which different components plug into. Without a working HP laptop Motherboard, the computer can't function, which is why this part is so essential.

Many people are interested in purchasing used HP laptops, which is why they are in such high demand. Yet, if your old laptop is in need of some repair (if for example, it needs a new HP laptop Motherboard), then you won't be able to sell it directly to an individual. You'll want to sell it to a company that buys, refurbishes and resells old computers because they'll be willing to purchase your old laptop for a fair price. Additionally though, you won't have to deal with flaky buyers that you might encounter through eBay or Craigslist. By selling your old laptop directly to a company, you can quickly get paid so you can get the money you need to upgrade to a newer machine. These companies are professional, and they know how to make sure they wipe all of your information on your hard drive clean so no one else can steal any of your valuable information. Since these companies deal with so many computers, they'll know what the fair-market value for your old machine is so they can offer you a good price. When you sell your computer to one of these companies, the price you get will be fair, but if you tried to sell your computer directly to an individual, they might try to swindle you by paying you much less than it is worth.

Refund Processor - Top 7 Reasons to Have a Reputed Incentive Program Company

2011-04-18T19:09:00.000-07:00

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Generally, in most cases the reward programs often come up with the refund promise. This means that you would be paid back the amount the product or service or will be provided with the replacement for the same. Manufacturers can benefit from using the affiliate programs quite easily as these are the people who are trained to do these work and possess the ability to create a loyal client base with very small cost.

Here are some important reasons why incentive Program Company can be a great business partner for your business:

1. Chance to enter untapped markets
2. Specialized plans and implementation
3. Reasonable cost over benefits
4. Performance is most important feature
5. Wide scope than advertisement
6. Enforcement to the old customers
7. Marking the different events

The well organized incentive program has long-term effects. This can give you the benefits without any risks. You only payback the checks for the products that have been tried, trusted and tested by the group of users that can be your next customer base quite easily too. Similarly one aspect which one can find interesting of these plans is the ripple effect, the customers tend to follow through and well organized incentive can guarantee the customer loyalty for sure.

Moreover, initially the focus might be the first and most important reason that might encourage the use of these plans. If you start to use these incentives you are having a fully trained work force that is doing this job only and is fully aware of the ins and outs of this process. This way you can have the employees without spending on the benefits or any extra perks. Generally, as they are working in the different areas they know the whole social backgrounds and can adjust the overall campaign, which might sound like taking a huge risk for anyone working inside your organization.

The cost saving of applying the incentive program is always there. If you start to compare this with the high cost of running the advertisement campaign in any leading television channel or print, this is almost like peanuts. The incentive programs are great not only for the top firms but the small and local industry can also benefit from this as well. This might be seen as a parallel stream to your hired staff members as these members can offer more work that is targeted at certain focus groups.

Here are some important reasons why incentive Program Company can be a great business partner for your business:

Portfolio Stock Analysis By Professionals

2011-04-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

In today's world where nearly everyone has invested money in the market you should not be left behind just because you do have the Credit0 acumen to figure out which stocks to invest in. As an investor today there are various options available to you to help you design your portfolio and do a thorough stock analysis to maximize returns. Hearing any stock market rumor and making a dash for the stock is not going to help you as rumors may or may not be accurate. In fact if you actually have a look at all the rumors doing the rounds you will be more confused than what you were when you started out in the first place.

When you have experts holding your hand and guiding you through why would you want to take even the tiniest of risk with your hard-earned money? There are a number of professional portfolio stock analysis service providers who can design an optimal portfolio for you depending on the money you wish to invest, the risk you are willing to take, the expected rate of returns and give you regular updates on your portfolio's current Credit0 position along with any diversifications if needed.

The difference in you as a beginner venturing into the stock market and having a professional handle your expenses would be tremendous. Firstly a professional portfolio stock analysis provider would study all sectors and then advise you the select few in which you should invest your money. Secondly, they have in-depth technical knowledge and understand every move of the market to suitably forecast the coming trends which you as a newcomer may just miss.

Thirdly by hiring a professional stock analysis provider you are delegating the work to the experts and so you do not need to take time out from your busy schedule to follow business news, forecasts etc as you have not one but a team of technically qualified professionals tracking your money day in and out. The portfolio stock analysis is done using various high-end simulation techniques like Monte Carlo Simulations to statistically study your portfolio and give appropriate advice for an optimum portfolio.

In case you are shying away from hiring such services then think again as they are highly economical and worth every penny spent. Can you imagine the money you may lose if you make wrong investing decisions? Would it be worth losing $100 to save $1? And at these low costs you get a proper portfolio report that would cover your portfolio's current status with further divisions sector and industry wise, a statistical interpretation of the daily returns per stock along with its valuation at risk and the best and worst three days for the stock, an overall risk analysis of the entire portfolio, an efficient frontier that tells you the average rate of return compared to the risk factor and the expected returns and finally the suggested optimized portfolio. Along with the optimized portfolio you also get the expected returns for the coming year in order to study and understand the portfolio better.

Open Online Savings Account - 3 Tips on Using High Interest Rate Saving Accounts

2011-04-15T22:09:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons for an open online savings account today. Although the high interest rates of prior years have dwindled substantially there is good reason to hope they will return. In the meantime it is still a good idea to keep an open online savings account active so as to avoid losing track of the username or misplacing the password on it.

Existing Quicken and or Microsoft Money Setups Keep Working
A second major reason to keep an open online savings account is any existing setups you have done with your personal finance software - be it Intuit's Quicken or Microsoft's Money. Getting accounts setup and working with this software isn't always easy and once done (if you're anything like me) you'd just as soon forget about it and not worry about it anymore. If this sounds like you, maybe it's a good idea to hang on to that internet banking setup a little longer.

No Fees If Minimum Balance Maintained on an Open Online Savings Account
Simply speaking if you keep $100 minimum balance (in most cases at most banks) you won't owe any banking fees or have any charges eating your balance. Given better times are sure to return and the nominal balances required to avoid fees there really is no reason to close existing accounts. This is particularly true if you liked your previous experiences and their interest rates (in better times) were competitive. Maintaining a relationship with an internet banking institution keeps all the money transfer setups in place and makes it easy to move funds back in when higher interest rates return.

Should I Consolidate Open Online Savings Account Funds
In the past it really made a lot of sense to move money around depending on who was paying the highest interest rate. Not so much so today given all the decent web-based banks are paying within a tenth of a percent of one another. It seems to me best to stand pat in this economic environment and wait until the economy offers up a better environment for saving.

Making Your Savings Work Harder For You

2011-04-14T22:09:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for an investment that combines safety while offering a bigger rate of cash return, then the first step you should consider taking regarding your current bank account is to pay off any possible Credit7 that you have at the moment. When it comes to paying Credit7s, it is better if you decide to deal with them as soon as they come up, because otherwise, they will accumulate and it will be really hard to pay a huge sum of money and remain Credit0ly stable.

After you pay all your Credit7s, then you should start a new a savings account where you can gather money for unexpected situations or future plans. No matter how much or how often you deposit into that account, you will have a support whenever you will need it. In order for that sum to offer you some comfort and stability you should consider constantly depositing until you reach a total equivalent of half of what you normally earn in a year. This sum can be adjusted according to your earnings every time a change comes up.

Once you are done with these two basic steps, then it is time to open a convenient brokerage account that will allow you to invest in stocks or dividends. In order to make the right investments in stocks, you will have to inform yourself a bit and follow the market ratings on a day-to-day basis. If you play your cards right, investing in dividends and stocks will offer a huge return rate. A nice trick when you are dealing with stocks is to purchase a big amount from the companies that are doing well so that they offer you compensation every now and then.

Another way you can start earning money from what you currently have in your savings account is to start purchasing time deposits issued by your bank, because they offer you a fixed rate of interest for a specified period of time.

All these ways to get your savings to work for you present a certain risk level that you should take seriously. The stock market is fluctuation and, in today's economy, it is pretty hard to predict when and what to buy and sell. To be safe you can either go for the lower but safer deposit certificates or you can work with a broker until you get an idea about how to operate your saving so that you earn extra.

Lessons Learnt About Personal Finances

2011-04-13T22:09:00.000-07:00

Paying attention to one's personal finances is a crucial and essential part of life. I've seen too much and experienced too much pain, anxiety and heartache over money and personal finances that I really feel I need to share with you what I've learnt over the years about money and finances.

Lesson #1: Money and the lack thereof is a mental thing. It's those beliefs about money that has been instilled into our psyche from a child that either limits or empowers us. The sooner we can change our beliefs about money, the sooner we'll improve our personal finances.

Lesson #2: We have not really been taught about money and finances. Let's face it, the formal educational system does not teach us about how to create money, or how to invest it, but only how to account for it.

Lesson #3: We depend too much on others for our Credit0 well-being, whether it be the government, the Credit0 system, our boss, our spouse; hence we have failed to create our own wealth.

Lesson #4: In order to create wealth we must break free of our fears, educate ourselves, step out in faith and do something.

Lesson #5: We must be willing to persist at a task and not give up. Too often we become impatient with the length of time it's taking to see positive results and so move on to something else. If we simply learn to focus on one thing long enough and put in the necessary work, then we'd see positive changes in our finances.

Lesson #6: It's hard to create wealth all by yourself. There's no way that any one person can create substantial wealth without utilising the knowledge and skills of others.

Lesson #7: We must always be educating and improving ourselves. We can learn a whole lot just by reading books, newspaper articles, ezine articles, and not just from conventional sources but also from unconventional sources so that we can get a comprehensive view of Credit0 matters.

There has been so much happening in the economy in recent times with Credit7, money, Credit3 values, and investments that now more than ever, it's time to get rid of our limiting beliefs, change our ways of thinking, step out of our comfort zone and, do what we need to do in order to improve our Credit0 lives.

Lesson #3: We depend too much on others for our Credit0 well-being, whether it be the government, the Credit0 system, our boss, our spouse; hence we have failed to create our own wealth.

Lesson #4: In order to create wealth we must break free of our fears, educate ourselves, step out in faith and do something.

Lesson #6: It's hard to create wealth all by yourself. There's no way that any one person can create substantial wealth without utilising the knowledge and skills of others.

Investor + Borrower = New Personal Loans' Perspectives

2011-04-12T22:09:00.000-07:00

Besides money everybody thinks of the lender and the borrower when talking about personal loans. Experts are trying to use them in a new economic strategy called peer to peer loan. You will identify that loans could also refer to investment.

Think about the people who want to pay or acquire something. What these people would usually like to do is to get money and be Credit7 free as soon as possible. But who will give them money? With that image in mind let's turn the page and see what is in the other side... Sometimes people who are Credit0ly stable may have extra money and not know what to do with it. Adding them up we can help them to get what they are looking for.

Loans are easy to obtain but still you need to pay attention. Of course that Internet may be the first search option for personal loans. If you chose to get the new strategy we were talking about you will need to create your listing. The loan company will ask you to register yourself as a prospect. Your listing will be active for two weeks approximately and lenders have the opportunity to review your case and see if they are interested on investing in you.

Your listing will specify the period of your loan and the related fees. The most important aspect in your record will be the loan amount and the reason you are asking for it. For investors it will be imperative to see your credit score to decide to give you the funds for your proposal.

Whenever one or more lenders complete the funds in your online chart your credit will be released. A couple of days later you will receive your money and you can use it for the original purposes. You will need to start paying your loan with monthly electronic withdrawals. The payment amounts will not be determined by the firm but between you and the firm. Expect nothing else than what you have previously agreed and no hassles.

Any time you would like to pay a bigger amount of money you can do it and payments will be reCredit1. There are diverse payment options and the experts will explain you how they work. Do not feel afraid about loans anymore as you have read there are plenty of good options to help you solve your Credit0 problems.

How to Survive the Avalanche of Financial Crisis in 2011

2011-04-11T22:09:00.000-07:00

Financial crisis in 2011 could be an avalanche for all nations worldwide. If this Credit0 crisis in 2011 prolonged, it may prove some very fatal and extensively lethal aftermaths. Almost everybody knows that there is no getting over food scarcity, Credit0 crisis, political turmoil and corruption. Therefore, assumed results literally strangle people, who really want to know the real deal that is going around. Oil, petroleum, gas and coal industries are under severe mayhem. Another caveat in energy resource Counseling5 is lack of proper planning and strategic tactics. Energy paradigm is adversely affected over past decades.

National Credit7 and intra-national Credit7s are two major crises in 2011. Super power like USA is choked to deal with such as crisis in 2011. If you really want to survive Credit0 crisis in 2011, then you need a proper planning system pertaining to government Credit0 support system, Medicare, railroad retirement funding, Medicaid, taxes and cut spending. There are several unfunded liabilities, particularly in USA, which are still unfunded. This simply means that USA citizens are definitely going to face the music. Government Credit0 support programs have failed to sustain the Credit0 crisis in 2011.

Some urgent actions are needed to restore the ruined lands and fertile areas around the globes, which were badly affected because of natural disasters like extreme weather conditions, floods and storms. Lately, research was conducted, which proved that crisis in 2011 may bring about severe food scarcity all over the globe. For example, beginning of year 2011 proved that more extreme weather conditions are approaching. Instability in both Koreas is still choking the sovereignty of the region. In nut shell, we will face the truth that cannot be denied, hence, it is better that you learn different survival techniques to handle the hurdles that you are heading towards.

How to Make Bankruptcy As Your Last Resort

2011-04-10T22:09:00.000-07:00

Let's face it. Running a business can bring you ups and downs once in a while. It can be stressful, complicated, and worse, a pain in your pocket. Well, if you're a consumer, then Credit7 is just a way of life. You haven't received your salary yet, so you need to resort to your credit card for expenses. But too much reliance to Credit7 can be so overwhelming that bankruptcy might emerge from your little five bucks credit.

Whether you're a business tycoon or a monthly paid employee, being bankrupt should be your last option. It can make devastating effects on your credit score, and may bring you some bigger Credit0 problems.

As early as now, you should know how to choose bankruptcy as your last resort. There are ways waiting for you below, so read on carefully and try to apply it on your current status.

First of course, determine how huge your Credit7 is. Check your business and/or Credit0 reports for the past quarter, how much gain or loss you had in every month. Learn how to manage your Credit7. Seek for some professional help if the circumstances demand it.

But also remember that you need to save money, so strive to fix this on your own. If you already determined how much you need to pay, you are now aware of the amount you have to earn.

After knowing the background of your Credit7, you must now earn payment. Avoid bankruptcy by selling some of your unused assets. Sell whatever is auxiliary. Consider taking immediate actions when you noticed you can't afford to make huge payments anymore.

If you live on a first class townhouse or condo, try moving to a smaller and cheaper house. It doesn't mean you're already broke. You're just being practical, and of course you are on a state on which you need to save money as much as possible. Avoid going to parties or other costly events. Lessen your shopping just for this time.

If you have some unnecessary things and appliances on your home, have some inventory and put them up for sale. Downsize your cars. Sell all your other properties including land lots, reserved houses or villas, and recreational vehicles. You won't need these for now, so make use of them. Turn them into instant cash.

Third step: work more, or longer. Go overtime. Bear in mind that you need to earn more than enough. If you have some spare time, try to find some part time jobs. Confess to your spouse or to your business partner that you're near bankruptcy.

For sure they'll understand, and who knows? They might help you by getting a work and give you some. Immediately inform your family when this kind of situation comes up, so they are aware and can cooperate with you on saving money and lessening the daily expenses.

Now that you're armed with these useful tips, go there and start digging up some gold. The mine's just wide open, so make your way to the gold pit. Never declare you're broke, or even out of options. Make bankruptcy as your last resort.

As early as now, you should know how to choose bankruptcy as your last resort. There are ways waiting for you below, so read on carefully and try to apply it on your current status.

But also remember that you need to save money, so strive to fix this on your own. If you already determined how much you need to pay, you are now aware of the amount you have to earn.

How To Buy Asset Management Software

2011-04-09T22:09:00.000-07:00

In life one must always find different ways in which we may save our money. Some people will put away a couple of hundred dollars each year and others will have the ability to invest in assets. Assets are things you own. Stocks, bonds, jewels, and in many cases your house are common assets that people will have.

You will need to understand the value of each of these and find out how to keep them well handled. There are 2 ways you have the ability to do this. The very first is to hire a lawyer who might do the research and build a portfolio for you. This is expensive and not always a great alternative.

One of the simplest ways you will be able to keep track of all of it and get a better price in the process is to acquire asset Counseling5 software. This can aid you to generate a very precise spreadsheet and to check the worth of every single thing which is on it.

Whenever you are attempting to purchase this you should do your research. Shop around at the more popular brands which might be in the market. You need to find something that can have the features you want and not cost you a good deal of cash at the exact same time.

When doubtful you should always speak to individuals you know who have used them. Also you can check out various comments said by other clients. They will offer you a thought of how easy it was to utilize the asset Counseling5 software and if it was easy to set up. This info alone could assist you to buy one you will like.

Get Out of Debt Now - Stop Your Impulse Spending!

2011-04-08T22:09:00.000-07:00

At a time when the economy seems to be slow at recovering, you need to exercise caution on how you manage your spending, in order to get some cash saved for a rainy day. Most couples would have to sit down and discuss how they can trim down their expenses by perhaps letting go of some luxuries in order to save more for emergencies. These days are uncertain days, as the economy is still struggling to keep afloat. Be smart and check on how you and your partner can prepare for your future today.

Impulse spending is one of the biggest reasons why people have overused their credit cards and found themselves unable to get out of Credit7. Here are some questions that you may ask yourself to find out if you are an impulsive spender:

1. Do you often hear your spouse or your partner complain a lot about your spending habits?

2. Do you often go over your credit card limit and wonder when you get the bill why your charges are higher than you thought them to be?

3. Do you overstock your cupboards to the point when you have to throw away expired goods, because you never used them?

4. Do you have too many shoes and clothes than you can possibly wear?

5. Do you feel like you always have to buy something you saw on TV or on a magazine?

If you answered "yes" to about half of these questions, then you are most probably an impulse spender. You alone can say if you need some help to improve on your spending habits, especially if you find yourself constantly stressed every time you see your credit card bills.

It is important that you evaluate the way you shop and see how you can avoid the things that trigger the impulse spending in you. For instance, you can try leaving your credit card at home and instead, pay for your shopping using cash only. Make sure to bring along a shopping list and take with you just enough cash to pay for the things on your list.Once you ran out of cash, then you'll know it's time to stop the shopping and go home.

If you know you are such an impulse spender, try being honest about this with your partner and ask him or her to stop you every time you feel the itch to shop. Sometimes, merely talking about something you found in a store that you desperately want to buy can help you curb that desire. If you really feel it is something you really need, let it sit there and wait for at least a week or two before you go back for it. More often than not, you would realize that you can do without it after giving it some more thought.

Impulse spending can drain the cash that you should be putting away for a rainy day. Excessive Credit7s can make you feel stressed and unhappy. It can also drive you to get into the pattern of uncontrolled borrowing to pay off other Credit7s.

Plan your Credit0 future and start by stopping your impulse spending. Instead, save for something really big like a house, a car or even your child's college fund. In the end, it is not just your finances that will improve, but your relationships as well.

1. Do you often hear your spouse or your partner complain a lot about your spending habits?

2. Do you often go over your credit card limit and wonder when you get the bill why your charges are higher than you thought them to be?

3. Do you overstock your cupboards to the point when you have to throw away expired goods, because you never used them?

4. Do you have too many shoes and clothes than you can possibly wear?

5. Do you feel like you always have to buy something you saw on TV or on a magazine?

Easy Ways to Save Money

2011-04-07T22:09:00.000-07:00

Do you want more money? Of course you do. Almost everyone could use more money. But how do you get it? You can ask for a raise at work, or you can get a second or third job. Or maybe you can go back to school to learn a skill that will make you more marketable. All of these things are will most likely work but they take time. One thing many people overlook in their quest for greater income is working with what they already have.

I know that doesn't sound like a way to make more money, but the simple fact is that most people are wasteful. They fritter away a lot of the money they make. Have you ever noticed how after a raise at work, you still don't seem to be doing any better? How could this be? It is because you are spending it.

If you could find away to keep more of the money you already have then you will not only have more money now. But when you do make more money, it will have a much greater impact.

Make a Budget.

Yep I said the B-word. It is surprising to me how many people don't have a budget. They may say things like, that is not in my budget, but what they really mean is I don't have enough in the bank for that. I am not going to go into how to make a budget here, but if you don't know how you can read my article on it.

The reason for making a budget is simple. If you don't know what you spend your money on, how can you know where you can cut back. Once you have a an accurate accounting of where you are spending your money, you may find that you are spending it on things you don't really need.

Change your Coffee

A lot of people drink coffee in the morning and throughout the day. And while it doesn't seem to be a big expenditure at $2.00 a cup it can add up quick. Imagine you drink 2 cups of coffee a day. That amounts to about $20 a week or about $80 per month. If you bought a bag a coffee it should last you about 2 weeks depending on how much you drink. A bag of coffee, depending on you brand will cost you about $8. So that is $16 per month. Let's say another $8 per month for milk and sugar ( if you like that). If you bring a reusable cup, most places will refill it for $.99 so that is $10 per week or $40 per month.

By drinking you coffee at home in the morning and using the refill option, you would end up spending about $64 a month for your coffee vs $80. $16 a month is not a huge savings But it is equivalent to a reasonably priced meal at restaurant, or about 4-5 gallons of gas for your car. If you usually get lattes or other things that cost more, then your savings will be more.

Pack a partial lunch.

Let's say you eat lunch out 5 days a week. at about $7.00 a meal, we are talking about $35 dollars a week or $140 per month. If you pack a partial lunch like let's say a drink, some fruit, and some chips then you could eat out but get away with spending let's say $3.00 a day. By bringing your own drink and side dish which should only cost you about $15 a week or $60 per month and spending $3 a meal, $9.00 a week, or $36 month you end up spending $96 a month on your lunches vs $140 a month you save $44 a month. Again not enough to quit you job over but it is equal to about 11-13 gallons of gas which equals a full tank for a lot of people.

Switch to Compact Fluorescents

Check the light bulbs around you house. Do you have incandescent or compact fluorescent? Compact fluorescents use only 25% of the energy of an equivalent incandescent. So that means If you have a 75 watt bulb on for 4 hours a day you have paid for 300 watts of energy whereas if you had a compact fluorescent installed you would have only paid for 75 watts of energy. Your potential savings will depend on how much you pay for electricity and how many light you leave on and for how long.

Turn down the water heater.

How often do you use straight hot water for from the tap? If you are like most people, I think you would answer almost never. Maybe in the kitchen when cooking or washing dishes. If you never use the hot water straight from the tap why are you heating it up so high? you can go to your water heater and turn it down to the level that is comfortable for you to use. This way you save money by not heating water up higher than you need and from not having to use extra cold water to get the temp down to something you can use. The key to remember in this area is anywhere you feel heat coming off the pipes, means you are losing energy and money.

Quit Smoking

Smoking is expensive. One of the quickest ways to save money if you smoke is to quit. If you smoke a half pack a day that is about 3 packs a week or 12 packs a month. At about $5.00 per pack that that is $60 per month in cigarettes. If you quit smoking not only will you save $60 per month, but your health will be better.

If you can't or don't want to quit you could consider rolling your own. You can get enough loose tobacco, papers and filters to roll 300-400 cigarettes for about $30. So by just changing the kind of cigarettes you smoke you can save about $30 per month.

Shop the Dollar Store

Another smart way to save money is hit the dollar store. Almost every community has a dollar store near by. The unfortunate thing is many people don't ever go in them. But just consider. If you can get the same brand of toothpaste for $1.00 that you would normally spend $2.50 for, why are you spending the extra money? I get my disposable razors, Palmolive dish-washing soap, Colgate whitening toothpaste and a variety of other items that I would usually spend $3.00 to $5.00 a piece for.

Watch movies at home

If you can wait a little bit to see the latest movie you can save a lot of money. Most movies cost $8.00 to $9.00 for one adult ticket. For the same price, you can sign up for NetFlix or Blockbuster and watch all the movies you want for $9.00 per month.

Turn off Cable.

With the average cable bill in the $40 range, if you have an internet connected television you can save by signing up for NetFlix and Hulu Plus and get everything you get on cable for about $20 per month. If your bill is higher you save even more.

Keep a Price Book.

Everyone knows someone who just seems to instinctively recognize a good deal. But for most of us it is hard to remember all the different prices at different stores. You can keep a log of prices on items you want at the different stores that way when you see the brand new item on sale for $8.95 at store X you will know whether it is a good deal or not.

Another thing you can do if you have a smartphone is download one of the many shopping apps they have. I uses Shop Savy on my Android Phone. In the store I simply scan the barcode on the product and it checks the web and other nearby stores for the prices. I think the app cost me about $2.00, but using it for one purchase during Christmas enabled me to save $35 on a gift I was going to buy.

Plan your vacations ahead of time.

If you would like to go on vacation summer plan it now. This will enable you to take advantage of early booking discounts and if your vacation time is somewhat flexible, you may be able to save significant money by going during a week that is less expensive.

Shop in a hurry.

First make a list before you shop and then do your shopping when you are pressed for time. If you follow these steps you will find that you end up picking up less impulsive purchases then when you don't have a list and have lots of time to browse the aisles.

Use Rewards Cards.

It seems that every store has a rewards card now. Some are very good, some not so much. I shop at certain stores based on the rewards I can get. For example. I can save about $.50 if I buy my coffee at Target. But if I pay the extra at my local grocery store. They have a rewards program that gives me money back every quarter. Since I shop there a lot anyways, it makes more sense for me to pay the extra money since I am going to be getting some of it back.

Always be sure to read the terms and conditions. Rite-Aid for example has a pretty good program so I signed up and starting buying things there instead of other places. Only to find out that the points reset to zero at the end of the year. I signed up in November so all the purchases I made don't count for me now. I could have bought some of those things at the grocery store that would give me money back.

These are just a few simple ways to save money that you can implement without altering you lifestyle. The great thing about getting in the saving mindset is you start finding more and more ways to save. For me it is a thrill to get something for cheaper than what I normally would have paid for it.

If you could find away to keep more of the money you already have then you will not only have more money now. But when you do make more money, it will have a much greater impact.

Make a Budget.

Change your Coffee

Pack a partial lunch.

Switch to Compact Fluorescents

Turn down the water heater.

Quit Smoking

Shop the Dollar Store

Watch movies at home

Turn off Cable.

Keep a Price Book.

Plan your vacations ahead of time.

Shop in a hurry.

Use Rewards Cards.

Does Offering Lots of Ways to Pay Bills Online Make a Difference

2011-04-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

Despite the rapid rise of the Internet in recent years as a way to both issue a bill/invoice to customers and get it paid on-line, many organisations are not giving their customers much convenience or choice in terms of ways to pay (and not always on-line ones).

In terms of convenience limited some businesses will send out a bill via email but then expect customers to call in on the phone to make a payment (and then have to staff up to take that call). Even worse, they may encourage customers to send a cheque (and then have to staff up to receive the paper, reconcile it and deposit the cheques at the bank). Having used an on-line channel in the first instance, this simply serves to take customers back to very traditional methods to pay (and also limits the options by which payment of a bill can be made).

And when it comes to choice, consumers like to have many options as possible when paying bills. Hence, writing a cheque might be a valid option but involves writing it out accurately, stamping and then posting it and waiting for the money to be deducted from a bank account. Paying bills at the post office may also be a viable choice but is far less attractive if the customer knows that they may have to queue for quite a while to do it. By making other payment choices available, many customers will therefore elect to pay online by a debit or credit card or by using Internet banking and save themselves time and hassle in doing so.

In terms of available technology, as we are now able to issue a bill electronically (and save the manual time and effort of typing up invoices, stuffing envelopes, stamping them and sending them out) then we should ideally look to give the customer simple ways to stay online to make a payment-this can deliver both greater convenience and choice. So how can this best be done? There are essentially 3 options:

First, an organisation can seek a merchant account with their bank or building society and, once approved, use their facilities to offer several online payment options. Banks/Building societies like merchants to use internet banking, so these days will offer relatively easy ways to make BACS transfers and direct debits for example. They will also issue credit cards for merchants to use and a PDQ machine for some to accept payments (as long as the merchant can staff the machine so that credit and debit cards can be processed). Although this solution undoubtedly diversifies the payments options to customers, none of this is necessarily with some merchant cost of course. Most banks will expect quite a lot of up front security, minimum monthly fees and what might be quite high per-transaction rates unless they get a lot of customer business from a given merchant. They also will not usually offer much more than some very basic payment records.

Secondly, and the first choice of many online websites with a shopping cart for example, is for a merchant to sign up with a Payment Service Provider or PSP. A PSP (such as Worldpay, Global Collect or PayPal for instance) will usually make a wide variety of payment options available via debit or credit and may have the added benefit of allowing customers the opportunity to pay in several different currencies. This can therefore be an attractive option for those merchants who just want to effectively "outsource" the online payment process to a third party. Once again however, although PSPs offer diversified payments options to customers, it can be expensive (with transaction fees of 4% or more in many cases). In addition, a PSP will often also have minimum fees (either monthly or even per transaction) and not offer an on-line billing functionality or capability.

As a final choice, an organisation can work with an online billing and payment aggregation company. The main benefit of this option is that the customers of an individual merchant can see an electronic or digital version of the bill at a single web site and then click on the bill to then select from a range of ways to pay or settle it. On a well-designed site these ways will include not only debit side and credit card options but also the ability to pay by dynamic debit and even cash. Furthermore, because the whole site is dedicated to bill presentment and payment, there will be a number of additional services that are useful to the merchant. This is likely to include customisable alerts and reminders (for both merchants and customers), searchable and date-range-able analytics and reports on all transactions and effective bill-matching capability. In this option there are no minimum fees and merchants will make for each transaction according to what the customer chooses to do.

Whatever a merchant elects to do then convenience and choice will improve the customer experience when bill payment and is likely to decrease internal costs of handling more traditional payment methods, as well as accelerate cash flow. However, merchants should be careful about how they go about increasing convenience and payment choice as there is often an upfront cost to be considered.

Dealing With Extended Unemployment

2011-04-05T20:27:00.000-07:00

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Today's statistics show that practically 100% of the people in the United States will experience a job loss at least once throughout the duration of their careers. If you watch the news or read the papers, you'll see traces of the statistics. Companies are still reeling from the ongoing effects of an economic crisis that has pushed firms to cutting costs. Some companies have had to resort to cutting people lose just to ensure continued operations. Losing a job is enough to put anyone down but it's no reason to stay depressed for long. Here are a few tips to help you get back on your feet after a job loss and to help you survive extended unemployment.

First, it's a good idea to keep track of your finances, since you've just experienced a loss of income then you might want to consider assessing your expenditures. What are the things you spend on? What are the expenses that you absolutely need? What are the luxuries that you can do without? A loss of income means that your main source of earning has just been cut; you also have to cut costs. Of course you will still have to spend for basic needs like food, water and the rent. But you have to lessen the excesses if you want to preserve your finances. Make a budget and stick to it. It may require a bit of sacrifice but it will definitely be worth it in the long run.

Second, you might want to downgrade a bit in terms of your lifestyle. Jobs are hard to come by so long term unemployment is a possibility. Taking this into mind means that you will have to live a bit more simply. You could start simplifying by say, canceling that expensive gym membership and settle for morning jogs and exercise routines you can do at home. Instead of going to a classy restaurant on the weekends you could just eat fast food, or you could cook at home to cut on costs.

Third, consider looking for some unemployed help. Even if you're constantly on the search for new employment it doesn't mean you're immediately going to find it. So you might want to know more about unemployment compensation and other services that are available to the unemployed just in case things don't go your way during your job hunting. The best place to start is by consulting with an experienced lawyer. These lawyers will know the alternatives most fit to your situation and you can expect that their advice will be useful should you end up unemployed for an extended period.

Surviving extended unemployment isn't as hard as it sounds. It just takes a bit of sacrifice and prudent decision-making to make sure that you get by.

Compounding Your Way to Wealth

2011-04-04T20:27:00.001-07:00

Do you want to be rich? Do you want to join the upper two percent of the population that we've all been told would trickle down their wealth to the rest of us? Well, the real secret to growing your wealth is compound interest. With compound interest and time you can achieve true wealth, but the secret is you have to start immediately, to truly take advantage of both.

If you have $100 and you are earning 10% simple interest, you will earn $10 in interest per year every year. Not bad. However, if you are earning 10% compound interest you would earn $10 the first year, and $11 the second, and $12 the third year and so on. The secret is that you continue to earn interest on the entire amount of the account. So, as the years go by your interest earns interest, and this is where the true magic lies. Through this wonder of math it is possible to double your money relatively quickly. For example, through a compound interest rate of 9%, you could double your money in 8 years (using the rule of 72). If you could upgrade your return to 15% you would double your money every 4.8 years. And if you learned to make 6% per month, which is actually possible, you could double your money every year. Do I have your attention now?

At 6 percent per month, you could double your money every year (not counting taxes). So if you started with $5,000, you could have $640,000 in seven years. That is not a typo. In seven years you could have compounded your way to $640,000. And in one more year you can compound your way to 1.8 Million dollars. That upper 2% seems more possible now doesn't it? Feel like getting started now? Now to earn a 6% per month rate of return, it is very helpful to study books and courses, and benefit from the experience of others. However, the most important thing is to get started now.

Your rates of compounding will vary from investment to investment, and over time, but this is a very powerful tool, and it is essential that you start compounding your way to wealth today. Everyday you wait, costs you potential returns. So, get started. If you don't have much money now, start with whatever you can afford. The funny thing about saving money, is the more you do it, the more you want to do it. So, do not wait for the perfect time. Begin today, even if that means, opening a savings account with $10, and promising to set aside $10 per month. It's a start, and that is what counts.

Christian Finance What Have You Given God to Bless

2011-04-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

That may seem like an odd title for an article on Christian personal finance, but bear with me, and I think you'll see that it's a valid one. Why is it that so many Christians struggle Credit0ly when our Father is the creator of the Universe? He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and he says in His Word that He wants to command blessings on us.

So, why are so many Christians living lives that aren't blessed? Yes, I know that we are blessed spiritually, but I believe that God wants to bless us materially too. In Genesis 12:2 and 3, God promised to bless Abram. Now, before you tell me God was talking about a spiritual blessing, go ahead and turn the Genesis 13.

"And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold."
~ Genesis 13:2

That doesn't sound like he was blessed only spiritually. God also blessed him Credit0ly and with material goods.

Now, I know that God is not a respecter of persons. And, I know that if I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior that I am Abraham's seed and heir to the same blessings -- and more.

Again I ask: why are so many Christians struggling instead of enjoying the blessings that God has promised to command upon them?

Could it be that we haven't given God anything to bless?

"The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."
~ Deuteronomy 28:8

God promised to command blessings upon our storehouses, and here is the problem that so many face: they aren't storing anything. Many people have no savings account and live paycheck to paycheck and beg God to bless them every month. Many people get so discouraged they give up on God.

All along, God is waiting on His people to show that they are good stewards of what He has already given them.

Remember the parable of the talents? (Matthew 25:14-30) Many people believe this is talking about abilities. But, if you look up the meaning of the word "talents" it's talking about coins, or money.

The short version of the story is: the Lord gave three of his servants some money. Two of them invested it and made a profit for him. The third was afraid and buried his, making no profit. When the Lord returned, the two who made a profit were rewarded. The one who didn't was called wicked and slothful (or lazy), the talent was taken from him and given to the one who had made the most profit, and the wicked servant was cast out.

The moral of the story according to Jesus is:

"For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath."
~Matthew 25:29

Are you a "have notter" or a "haver"? I propose that which one you are will determine whether or not you will receive God's blessing of Credit0 abundance in your life. You have to have something for him to bless. You have to have been a good steward with what he has given you.

This is why so many of my articles and so much of my Credit0 advice focuses on paying yourself first. If you don't have a savings account, start one. Start one today. Even if it's with the minimum amount your bank or credit union will allow.

If you consistently spend every penny that comes into your hands, you aren't given God anything to work with. Can he perform miracles? Yes. But, before you count on those, remember the parable of the talents. If God can't trust you to be a good steward of what you have now, why would he work miracles to bless you with abundance?

Make a vow to yourself to never put another paycheck in the bank without putting a portion of it into a savings account. You may not be able to save much, but save something. Start a storehouse today that God can bless.

"And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold."
~ Genesis 13:2

That doesn't sound like he was blessed only spiritually. God also blessed him Credit0ly and with material goods.

Now, I know that God is not a respecter of persons. And, I know that if I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior that I am Abraham's seed and heir to the same blessings -- and more.

Again I ask: why are so many Christians struggling instead of enjoying the blessings that God has promised to command upon them?

Could it be that we haven't given God anything to bless?

All along, God is waiting on His people to show that they are good stewards of what He has already given them.

The moral of the story according to Jesus is:

"For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath."
~Matthew 25:29

Checking Accounts Without Fees - 5 Steps To Choosing The Right Bank

2011-04-03T16:38:00.000-07:00

Bank fees are something that most of us never anticipated before we got our first bank account. Whether you got your first checking account right out of high school, or maybe when you took your first job, it is likely that you never thought you would end up paying so many bank fees.

The theory of bank fees makes sense, of course. After all, banks do provide a valuable service and this service cannot be free. And let's face it: checking accounts and all of the features and benefits that go along with them are pretty handy, including access to debit cards, online banking, online bill-pay, ATMs for cash withdrawal, and of course the ability to write checks.

Still, if you are like most other folks, you probably feel like checking account fees have gotten a bit out of hand over the past few years. It is not pleasant to check your checking account bank statement at the end of the month and see a host of fees that add up to $100 or more. Nobody needs that, especially in these economic times.

The key is to find banks that offer checking accounts without fees - or with low fees.

If you are looking for checking accounts without fees, here are 5 steps to choosing the right bank:

1. Understand the types of fees banks charge:

There are a number of fees that banks charge. These include, for example: monthly checking account fees, per-use check fees, fees for viewing scanned copies of previously-written checks online, overdraft fees, and bill-paying fees. There are also fees for ordering checks, requesting certain special types of bank statements, and transferring balances between accounts (as part of overdraft protection), and more. That's a lot of bank fees!

2. Decide what other bank features you are interested in:

Before you start shopping for a bank that offers checking accounts without fees, decide for yourself which other features you are looking for in a bank. Besides charging few or no fees, you may also want (for example) a bank that: is FDIC-insured, offers a lot of local branches near you, is a big-name national bank, has a reputation for excellent customer service, or offers extensive Counseling7 and home loan programs.

3. Conduct an online search for banks that meet your criteria:

Next, conduct an online search for banks that offer what you are looking for. A great place to start is to look for "no overdraft fee" banks, since overdraft fees are one of the most costly types of fees (to the tune of $25 billion in the U.S. alone each year) that banks charge.

4. Make a list of at least 5 finalist low-fee or no-fee banks:

Now, make yourself a list of 5 "finalist" banks that offer low-fee or no-fee checking - as well as that meet some or all of your other requirements.

5. Contact at least 3 of the banks and see which ones you get the best impression from:

Now, go online, visit, or call and see how you feel about each finalist bank. What is your chemistry with the with whom persons you speak? Do you like the feel of their website? Pay attention to how you feel, because these factors will likely remain true if you become a customer with that bank.

Take these 5 steps to choosing the right bank for you that offers checking accounts without fees.

The key is to find banks that offer checking accounts without fees - or with low fees.

If you are looking for checking accounts without fees, here are 5 steps to choosing the right bank:

1. Understand the types of fees banks charge:

2. Decide what other bank features you are interested in:

3. Conduct an online search for banks that meet your criteria:

4. Make a list of at least 5 finalist low-fee or no-fee banks:

Now, make yourself a list of 5 "finalist" banks that offer low-fee or no-fee checking - as well as that meet some or all of your other requirements.

5. Contact at least 3 of the banks and see which ones you get the best impression from:

Take these 5 steps to choosing the right bank for you that offers checking accounts without fees.

Can Opening A Money Market Account Affect My Financial Future

2011-04-02T16:38:00.000-07:00

For younger consumers looking to plan their Credit0 futures, it becomes important to look at ways to invest their savings wisely without running a huge risk of losing their money altogether. While there are so many options available, like IRAs and 401Ks and mutual fund investments, among others, it's equally important to diversify rather than putting all your eggs in one basket. Opening a money market account as part of an overall Credit0 strategy makes great sense for any younger consumer looking for a safe option for at least part of their future savings. In a struggling economy, mutual funds and 401Ks can take a beating on its returns based on the type of investment accounts are included in the mutual funds or 401Ks. With a money market account, while the overall yield is much more conservative in nature, the monies are protected and even the slightest return can be a windfall in a struggling economy.

With the global economic crisis that has gripped the Credit0 world since the mid-2000s, many investment firms and banking institutions have lost significant amounts of money due to their investments in high-risk speculative bonds and securities packages. Many banks have also failed as a result. While money market interest rates have certainly dropped during that time, in some cases lower than one percent return for a $10,000 minimum balance, they still don't lose money. A money market account is definitely considered to be a conservative option in terms of investments, but making one percent is definitely a lot better than losing millions. A consumer still has the ability to draw a limited number of transactions on their money market account, and as long as they retain a minimum required balance, will still gain a low interest yield. Ask one consumer who holds a low interest money market savings account, and another who held an account through Lehman Brothers, and ask them which account they currently like better. The guess is that considering Lehman Brothers, one of the largest investment firms in the United States, went bankrupt, the answer would come from the person holding the lower yield money market option.

Diversity in investments means more to a consumer today than ever before. Making smart choices in terms of how your savings will yield long term results can be tricky, especially in an ever-changing economy. However, the decision to open a account as a part of your investment portfolio should always be an option in order to guard against high-risk, high-yield accounts that can fluctuate with even a hint of bad economic news.

Build a Savings Buffer by Making a Savings Plan

2011-04-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

Security can largely depend on how much savings you have in the bank, and it is the best means of fallback for any type of instance if an emergency should arise or for whatever reason. It is always good to have protection for your savings and the best way to do this is to have an at-call emergency buffer.

In mapping out a savings plan, your main agenda is to have additional finances to safeguard your savings. In case some unforeseen event takes place, such as you suddenly get sick or your car breaks down and will need major repairs, you would have a fallback and the means for supporting your day to day expenses for some months. Wisely set aside some funds at an at-call savings account. Having funds available will give you added security. This can buy you time to find other means to address future obligations while not having to lapse on the payments.

When do you know that what you saved is enough? There are many Credit0 advisors and planners who can help you work out your finances. They can suggest what would be a good savings plan for you, starting from three months and lasting up to several years of putting aside a certain amount that will build over time. This is all dependent on how early or late you start on this plan. It also helps to assess how much your monthly expenses are, and what you foresee can be possible expenses. When you add them all up to a 6-month term, it would be a pretty good start for a savings plan. At least you know what you can live on for 6 months. Here are some tips to help you assess your savings plan:

Take note of the types of Credit0 obligations that you are still paying for on a monthly basis. Examples are utility bills, mortgage, food expenses, insurance premiums and credit card payments. These are known as fixed costs. Multiply them by the number of months, with a minimum of 3 and a maximum number of months you think you need to recover from whatever situation you are in.

Be conscious of how much you spend. Every penny counts so, as much as possible, try to cut down on your expenses. If an item is not a necessity, then do not spend money on it. Try cooking and eating at home instead of eating or ordering out, do not overindulge on clothes, etc. By curbing your expenses, you can have a lot more savings to put into your account.

Make it a point to set aside a certain amount to go towards your savings account. After settling all your monthly obligations, if you still have leftover money, do not splurge and instead set these aside every month. This will eventually build up to a considerable amount in savings. By cutting corners and being strategic with how you save and earn, you can create a strong and effective savings buffer that you can rely on during troubled times.

Checking Accounts Without Fees - 5 Steps To Choosing The Right Bank

2011-03-31T20:27:00.000-07:00