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Monday, November 24, 2008

Rush Card & Baby Phat Rush Card - Review

By Dan Moskel

The baby phat rush card is a prepaid credit card. It was created by Russell Simmons he co founded the popular Def Jam record label.

The rush card works like this; you deposit money into your account, then you use your card to make purchases. This card guarantees approval for everyone.

There is no credit check or chex systems verification. You can have a card issued to you in black or in pink.

This card offers free direct deposit. To use this you simply fill out a form and turn that into your employer.

Your paychecks are then directly deposited into your rush account/card. You will still get the details from your employer. It will show the amount of your deposit and taxes and hours worked.

This card can be used at ATM's over 800,000 locations throughout the world. In addition you get free online account access.

You can make purchases using your rush card online and over the phone. You can also use your account and write physical paper checks.

To take advantage of this feature, you sign in to your rush card account and insert the person or business details that you want to pay. Their details simply include name, address and amount of payment.

Then hit send and a paper check will be sent to the individual. The is a good method to use when paying your monthly bills, because you will not have to pay for money orders.

Using this service and direct deposit you can save a lot of money because you will no longer have to pay for money orders or check cashing fees again.

However, we do not recommend the rush card. This is because of the number of fees they have that other prepaid cards do not carry.

An example of these fees is the convenience fee the rush card has. With this fee you are charged every time you use your card.

The convenience fee is $1.00 with a monthly maximum of $10.00. However you will be charged a convenience fee for every purchase you make in a month.

Only at the end of a full calendar month will the extra convenience fees be refunded to you.

That can end up being a full 2 months before you are refunded. This is unbelievable especially because many of us use are card more than ten times in a month.

It's hard to believe that someone can be charged these fees. In addition having to wait so long to get your refund.

To enroll in bill pay the rush card will charge you $2.00 and then another $1.00 for every check you write from your account. There are other prepaid cards where this service is free.

The rush card says there are no hidden fees with their card. Yet you get charged every time you use your card. The rush card carries the most fees of any prepaid card we have reviewed.

In sum, we do not recommend the rush card to anyone. There are good prepaid credit cards; however this is not one of them.

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My Money: What to Do with It

By William Blake

When you receive a large amount of cash, there are lots of ways that you could choose to spend it. Many people decide to blow their money on unnecessary items like big screen TV's. Spending that money wisely, however, can actually have a positive effect on your financial future. The following steps will help you do it.

Start by paying down or off all of the debts that you can. The less money you have to pay out to other people each month, the more money there is for you to use in your own life. Pay off the highest interest rates first and then start on the next debt. If you are a person who needs quick results then start paying off the lowest amount first. Knocking off the debts will be a strong motivation for you to do more.

Make bigger, better goals. If you really want that big screen TV, then make it a goal and then reach it by setting up an account that you regularly make deposits to. Save until you can make your goal purchase.

Make an emergency fund. Since there is no way to know when you will need money for an emergency, set up an account that earns as much interest as possible that can be used in case of emergency. You should put away enough money to live off of for three to six months. When you receive unexpected cash, put it into a CD and then save it to be used if need be.

Set up a Health Savings Account. If you choose to set up this account in accord with the government's criteria, the account will be tax exempt. You might also decide to open your own savings account and use the money therein for healthcare. Having such an account will help ease your concerns when it comes time to visit the doctor or hospital.

Travel somewhere you have always dreamed of going to. Use your newfound money to travel. If you are able to go on your trip with savings instead of going into debt to pay for it, there will be no guilt attached to your dream vacation.

Start a retirement fund. Put your money into a retirement fund and when it reaches an amount that you determine is sufficient, you can stop working altogether. Thereafter, you can find new ways to make your money work for you.

Learning to live frugally will help you have more money available to use and will put in a better position to save money with your financial future in mind. Building up your savings now will make your future much more secure.

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Bad Credit Student Loans Help Those In Need

By Dave Davis

In today's society, an education can really help you to get ahead. Without one, it can be very challenging to make ends meet. Education, however, is expensive and outside the reach of many people. If you have bad credit, getting an education can be especially challenging.

This article will teach you about financial programs that can help almost anyone to pay for an education, even those that have poor credit. Regardless of your past, the federal government can help you to get loans.

Growing up, we didn't have a lot of money. My parents were barely able to pay the bills, let alone help me to get an education. There is no way they could have given me anything. I had no education and was a pretty shy kid, so naturally I didn't have a great job. I could barely pay for rent and food so the cost of tuition was way out of reach.

To make things worse, I didn't learn anything about credit growing up. Once I got my hands on some, I quickly ruined my credit score. By the time I learned about it, my score was already down in the 450 range. A 450 credit score doesn't exactly open up any doors for you.

My education has been way hard to pay for. I have basically worked two or three semesters to save up for one semester in school. This obviously is a slow process, so I decided to get my credit in order. Now I have a 750 credit score, but it turns out I could have taken out loans all along.

What's funny about that is that the government has programs in place that I could have used to get loans. If I had known, I would most definitely have a degree right now. It's very reassuring to know that I can now get help to pay for my education.

Bad credit student loans are something that quite a few people need. If you're in this situation, you want to look at Stafford and Perkins loans. Both are provided by the federal government and are available to those that need them, regardless of credit history.

I think these loans can help almost anyone to get an education. Going into debt for education is sometimes scary, but the increase in earning power definitely makes it worth it. If you have maxed out your Stafford loans, you can look at a private lender. However, if you have bad credit, you will probably need to get a cosigner. As long as you can, you can still get a private loan.

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Debt Consolidation Companies ? Finding the Best

By William Blake

Finding the best debt consolidation company for you will require some digging. There are a variety of companies out there with a variety of plans to suit the needs of many people. They vary in the payment schedules and interest rates they offer. Finding the one that suits your needs is possible, but it will require you to do your homework.

Debt Consolidation Company

A company that helps you consolidate your debt and begin to recover financially is a debt consolidation company. These are not always lending institutions. Sometimes their role is simply to give direction and advice that steers people the way they need to go to free them from debt. They give encouragement and help you make better financial decisions that will get you out of debt and keep you from regressing back into the same financial lifestyle. This will help you improve your credit long term.

How Do These Companies Help With Debt?

These kinds of companies will help you make good decisions concerning your financial choices. If you already have high debt, then debt consolidation companies will help you get out of it. They can help with the getting the interest rates on your current credit cards lowered. Another way they will help you is to show you how to make your payments on time so that you do not have to pay the extra charges of late fees. When you are paying your credit cards late, you will accumulate late fees, which can really add up.

Compare and Shop Around for the Best Company

There is a wide variety of help available to you and you can review all your options on line. You can use the internet to research different companies and the plans that they offer and then determine which is best for your personal needs. These companies help you improve and control your spending habits and also teach you how to save money. Some companies work only via the internet and some may have offices near you. It depends on which approach you prefer. The options are practically endless and the choice is yours.

Get Control

When you are in control of your finances and can get a handle on your debt you will have a more secure feeling when dealing with your finances and it will give you confidence in your financial decisions. When you have the power to eliminate your debt and avoid future problems you are on your way to better peace of mind and a successful financial future.

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Do You Know What Prepaid Credit Cards Are?

By Steven J. Talrechi

Credit is something which people often feel less than comfortable discussing. It can be hard to be approved for a credit card, especially these days. If you have yet to build a credit history or have had credit problems in the past, it can be especially hard to get approved. No matter why you are rejected, it can be embarrassing to have this happen. However, a prepaid credit card can allow you to begin building a credit history while being able to benefit from the convenience of a traditional credit card.

So, what exactly is a prepaid credit card? Well, it's basically an account that can be reloaded that is accepted any place that you might use a traditional credit card. The individual card holder will deposit money into their account before making any purchases. If you have money in your account then you are free to spend with your prepaid card. Like a traditional charge card your prepaid card will have a spending limit set which is determined by how much you have deposited into your account, and how often you are able to deposit money.

There are a number of benefits to having a prepaid credit card. You'll have the same freedom that you would with any credit card. Your prepaid card can be used anywhere that credit cards of any kind are accepted.

Prepaid credit cards are also a great way to keep a handle on your spending habits. Since you can only buy what you have already deposited enough to afford, you are keeping yourself from overspending and getting into credit card debt. A prepaid credit card is also a good learning tool which can show you how to manage your finances.

A prepaid credit card also has the advantage of being protected from identity theft. If you are buying online or by phone, you can have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your other accounts are insulated from this card.

So how to you set up a prepaid credit card. Well you will incur a fee to set up your credit account. Typically it is quite small. Anywhere from $5-$10. Additionally, there are usually fees that accompany any deposit that you are making into your account. Though there are some slight fees for those who have been struggling with their credit or merely want to keep a tight handle on their spending it really might be a viable solution for you.

Let's face facts, we live in a credit driven world today. It seems like you can't do anything without a credit card these days. So if you want to be able to function in this world you need to find a way to have access to a credit card. For those who are struggling with bad credit, or want to keep better tabs on their spending then a prepaid card might be exactly what you're looking for!

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My Credit Card Balance is Zero ? Now What Do I Do?

By William Blake

Once your cards are paid off, it can be tempting to start charging again. But that's the worst possible thing you could do. There is some disagreement as to the best course of action. Here are the things you could do, along with their pros and cons.

*Some financial advisors say that if you keep your credit card but don't use them they can boost your credit scores. That may be the case. But an empty credit card lying around the house may be quite tempting.

If you have accounts that you are not using you will probably not be reviewing them every month. This is a perfect situation for a person who wants to steal your identity. They could do a lot of damage before you ever notice.

*If you are disciplined you could use the card every now and then to keep it active and boost your credit scores. But the temptation would really be there to keep spending until you reach the limit. Then you are back in debt and that is the last place you want to be.

*A less tempting option is to hold onto only your lowest rate credit card and close all the other ones out. This gives you something to fall back on in an emergency situation but you have all those other accounts tempting you to buy.

Even one credit card can get you in trouble if you are not in control. So avoid increased credit limits that give you that extra rope you need to hang yourself.

*If you don't trust your ability to control your spending it is best to close all your credit card accounts and not have access to credit. This may seem a bit extreme but it is better than going back into debt.

The latter should be a last resort because credit cards are helpful in building good credit. They can help improve your financial situation by helping you obtain low interest rate loans when you need them.

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