Ways to Attack your Debt Woes

By Paul J. Easton

When attacking the problem of debt, you should always begin with the need to discipline yourself not to use your credit cards. Only buy the much needed things with cash. By putting yourself on a buy as needed policy, you will certainly eliminate a large portion, if not totally, of your debt.

It certainly won't be easy to get rid of debt. As a guide to help you, we will present simple tips to help you free up cash with lifestyle changes. Stop spending more money on nonessential buys. For now, there will be no more new clothing, shoes, and costly gifts on your must-buy list. Add to that the CDs, toys, and other accessories until you pay off the credit card debts.

I should have mentioned this on the first part, stop using your credit cards. You can resist temptation by making your credit cards difficult to use. Put it on some place you cannot easily have access to. If you cannot do this simple tactic, try cutting your plastics up all together.

Suspend all your future plans for a travel or a pricey entertainment. You can certainly have a cheaper yet fun version without incurring further debts. When you finally get rid of the debt, the cruise and Disneyland will probably still be there.

Reduce your telephone expenses. Try to make fewer long-distance calls and cut off expensive postpaid plans. If you own a cell phone already, you can drop the land line you also have so that you can pay the bills with cash. Or it could be the other way. Just choose which is more frequently used or where you get the most out of your money.

Budget your groceries and always shop with a list. This strategy will make you focus more with just the items on the list so that you end up spending less on groceries. Try also to limit meats with your weekly meal plans. Red meats like pork and beef are proven to age you faster. Not only will you save money but you will also look younger in the long run. These are just a few tips to attack your money woes and get rid of debt completely. Be consistent and you will be rewarded soon.

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How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

4 Tips You Can Use to Repair Your Credit Score

By iRepairCreditReport

One of the major things consumers have to know is that you should establish good credit or repair your credit score because lenders, as well as other companies, will give you better interest rates when you buy a home or car. And, you will get better deals on insurance and other products you purchase. A good credit score can even have an impact on finding a job.

If you have a bad credit report it's due to thing like: making late payments, having an account into a collection agency, and if you have gone bankrupt. If you want to fix your credit score, you must change your habits. If you do, over time your credit worthiness will improve. Once it does, you will start to see lower interest rate offers from lenders and better lower interest credit card offers.

If you want to help improve your credit score check out these 4 tips:

1. All Bills Must Be Paid Promptly

Companies lend money based on your past credit history. Once they know this, they can determine how much a risk to them you'll be. If you can show that you are someone who pays of their debts it's quite likely that you will pay off your debts in the future. To them, you would be less of a risk.

2. Don't Go Crazy with Credit Cards

People nowadays have way too many credit cards. How many should you have? Credit experts recommend having 2- 4 credit cards. Don't go rushing to your wallet and start cutting up your cards though. These companies not only consider how many cards you have but they look at what balance you maintain on them. What you should do before cutting them up is pay them all down. Then, you can figure out which ones to keep.

3. Make At Least the Minimum Payment

You must always to remember to pay at least the minimum payment and if possible a little more. Never pay less than the amount you are to pay. By paying less than the minimum amount you will chalk up late payments which will affect your credit score.

4. Keep an Eye on Your Credit Report

You should check your credit report regularly. Make sure you check the reports from all 3 credit bureaus that keep track of your score. After receiving your reports, check them for mistakes. Also, check that there are no accounts that you did not open or negative information. This way you can start to fix your credit report and find out if you have had your identity stolen.

Developing good habits is vital. Try to start implementing these changes right away because if you do, you will save a lot of money in the future. If you need to repair your credit score, this can take some time so don't delay. Your future depends on it.

About the Author:

About the Author: iRepairCreditReport is your online source that helps repair credit reports. If you are trying to repair your credit score, check out all sorts of informative tips and articles that are posted on this site.

Lured to Another Credit Card?

By Paul J. Easton

Getting a credit card can be very easy but getting rid of the debt along with it is pretty troublesome. It is time to be more cautious than ever before accepting another new credit card. Make sure that this time around you are getting the best credit card and not fall trap with the one that will get you in more debts. Let us take a look at how credit card companies lure us into signing up.

Credit cards come in various forms and they feature low interests, airline miles and other rewards. But watch out for the fine print and be very careful about the terms because they are always subject to change, which can be very soon.

Getting that new card can be a trick, so be wary. If you are getting a new card just to transfer a balance because of the lower interest, find out exactly how much the company will charge for the transfer. Most of them will not tell you unless you ask them first. In addition, most low-interest introductory offers apply to the balance transfers only and not to your new purchases.

Some credit cards give you gifts for spending money and keeping a balance on your card. One of these tricks is by way of entering your name in a monthly drawing for a prize. These cards are very enticing because it will make you think that it is just okay to use the card because you have a perk like having a chance to win a prize when you use it. By easily justifying the use of it, these cards can be very dangerous.

Credit cards with certain rewards or dividends like rebates and airlines miles are great that they sound too good to be true. And in fact, it is. How can they be in business if they just give away discounts and rewards? Most reward card holders carry a balance and this is the bad news. And the higher interest rates of these reward cards to your balance can more than offset the reward they are giving you. The same with balance transfer introductory offers, reward offers are subject to change with little or no notice.

We have presented some of the neat ways how credit card companies lure you to maintaining a balance and keep paying for the interests. Which one have you been lured into?

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How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

10 Reasons To Start Earning an Extra Income Today

By Marenda Hughes Taylor

Home based extra income jobs are becoming more and more popular these days. People all over the world are choosing to take advantage of these opportunities: the advantages are many.

You can probably imagine for yourself how wonderful it would be to get up without an alarm clock and start working whenever you feel ready to begin. No more morning commutes in bumper to bumper traffic or on elbow to elbow buses or subways - you can begin each workday looking forward to getting started, not dreading it; and there would be no boss telling what to do and when to do it!

We could all use a little extra income. If you can do that little extra bit of work at the office or manage that long commute every day, then you can certainly do just a little extra work to benefit yourself and your family.

While you'll have to put in some hard work to succeed, it won't really even seem like work when it's all for yourself. If you still need some inspiration too get started, keep reading...

1. You'll be the boss for a change - you'll be accountable to no one except yourself.

2. Your schedule is your own. You can work when you have the time; this is one of the reasons that extra income businesses are big with students, stay at home moms and others who have important obligations outside of their jobs.

3. You'll have the freedom and the flexibility to do things as you see fit.

4. The three points above all the ingredients which will allow you to keep working your day job until you are earning enough from your home based business to make the big switch.

5. You have job security - after all, you can't fire yourself!

6. Being in business for yourself means being able to take pride in your accomplishments.

7. You'll gain more self-confidence; this will help you in every aspect of your life.

8. There's no limit to what you can make - if you want to increase your income, you can simply work more or faster.

9. Quite a few countries provide tax breaks for hoe based businesses, since they are considered to be extra income.

10. You can retire whenever you want!

When you go into business for yourself, success becomes something which you can measure by your own standards instead of someone else's. The ten points listed above should give you something to think about if you are wondering if taking the plunge into working for yourself is for you.

Think about these ten points and decide for yourself if you want to make an extra income.

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Avoiding the Buying Impulses

By Paul J. Easton

In today's difficult financial situation, we should reduce our expenses and replace expensive activities with cheaper ways of doing things. To start curbing your appetite for spending, start getting rid of debt by temporarily avoiding certain buying impulses.

Strolling around the mall without a clear plan in mind to do there is giving you so much exposure to certain buying impulses. Plan your shopping ahead of time and keep in mind a budget. With planned trips to the mall, you will most likely have lesser impulse buying or totally get rid of it.

Don't order from catalogs for now. With every order from catalogs, your name gets sold to other catalog companies. This is the reason why your mail is getting more catalogs every time. Catalogs serve as visual reminders of all the stuff companies can advertise and you could potentially buy. This is regardless whether you really need them or not. Unfortunately, most people can't resist the temptation of ordering from them.

Starting now, opt out from newsletters and junk mails to reduce the number of catalogs. If you still receive catalogs, request every catalog company to remove your name from their mailing list. With this plan, you will not anymore receive pesky and unsolicited mails which distract you from your everyday life goals. And in the long run, you will resist the buying impulses and save you more money.

Reduce the surfing in the net by skipping the visits to online stores. This situation is the same with catalogs; online stores stimulate your buying desire. If you plan to shop online, have a list before surfing the net. And stick to it.

Our addictions to spending start with advertising messages bombarded everyday from multiple media ranging from television to billboards. Be aware and let the first line of defense be on guard.

Those are ways to taper down your buying impulses. Keep satisfied with what you have. If you can't have what you want, maybe you can want what you have.

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How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

Taking Charge of Your Online Security

By Eric Jilson

In today's online world, you can do your banking, trade stocks, pay your bills, and even buy groceries on the Internet. This convenience can come with a price, though, with identity theft becoming one of the biggest concerns and fastest-growing crimes today. Being proactive with your data privacy is important and can keep you from getting zinged.

The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse says that 9.3 million Americans fell victim to identity theft in 2005 and while new laws and agencies have been created to fight it, it's still a concern and poses a serious threat to today's consumer.

Many companies now offer identity theft protection services. While paying a company to protect your identity for you can be very effective, there are things you can do on your own to greatly minimize your risk.

Here are some tips to help you keep your information secure:

Make purchases only on trusted sites.

Sites that you don't know, aren't familiar with, or seem in any way to be hokey should be avoided. Make online payments (via credit card, direct check, etc.) only on sites you know and trust. Many small online retailers don't have secure payment systems, so be wary of any system you are unfamiliar with. Utilize accepted payment methods that don't compromise your identity such as PayPal or Google Checkout.

Order and go over your credit report.

You can request and receive one free credit report a year from each of the three credit agencies. Do this every year and go over that report carefully, looking for discrepancies. The website AnnualCreditReport.com was created by the three reporting agencies in response to a federal law passed in 2003 on this issue. Check to make sure no accounts of which you are unaware have been opened in your name. Also watch for unusual activity such as address changes or other items you didn't authorize.

Know what phishing is and how to respond to it.

This technique, used by identity thieves that usually targets a specific site like eBay.com or Amazon.com pretends to be a site that you trust to get you to log into their system so they can capture your login information for the real site. Often these are perpetrated via email. One effective theft protection method is making it a habit never to click on links within email to visit sites you must log into, but instead to type the site's name in manually into your browser to be sure you're going where you think you're going. Watch your browser's location bar (URL) to make sure you're on the site you want to be on and not a fake.

Secure your home network.

If you have a wireless network at home, make sure it's secure. Most of the wireless networking kits you purchase today have security built in, but you have to activate it if you want it to work. Often, this is done for you on setup, but make sure it is there regardless. In the past, many have had their identities, financial information stored on their computer, and more stolen by thieves who merely wandered by their house with a laptop and hopped onto their unsecured network. Look to your network's setup disk or documentation to find out how to secure it.

Don't enter sensitive information into non-secure websites.

If the site you're on is one you trust to give your information, make sure it's also securing it. Likewise, if you're posting information on Myspace, a blog, Facebook, or anywhere else, make sure it's not identifiable for use with your credit. Your mother's maiden name, your passwords, and other detailed information about you should be kept to yourself and not broadcast to the world, as these items can be used to get access to your identity. Many famous people have found themselves in sticky situations because so much is known about them that they can't keep their information secured.

Set banking alerts.

Many banks offer a service that allows you to have them notify you via email or text message when your accounts have certain things happen: getting close to overdraft, having draft or purchase requests for more than $1,000, etc. Take advantage of these to keep informed the moment something strange happens on your account.

Use optimal security questions and passwords.

A very common mistake amongst users is to use the same password on several sites. This might be OK if the site is just a news or blog comment area, but for financial and personal information, it's very bad policy. Use secure passwords that are hard to guess and that contain both letters, numbers, and random capitalization. Make sure your security questions aren't easily answered by someone who knows something about you. Questions that even your spouse would have a hard time answering are the goal.

In short, take your protection from identity theft seriously and make sure you aren't taken advantage of by identity thieves. Identity theft affects your whole life and can ruin you financially and make your life miserable. Preventing it is a matter of a few precautions and vigilance, but is worth it.

About the Author:

Eric Jilson frequently contributes to www.everlife.com. The time has come to erase any doubts you may hold on the subject of identity theft protection.

What Is the Financial Advisor's Designation?

By Hank Brock

Your advisor's designation can tell you a lot about their background and expertise. Some of the more common financial planning designations include Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), or attorney (JD), among others. These indicate backgrounds in finance, accounting, business, law, and insurance.

Background is, however, only one aspect of a financial advisor.

By way of example, many assume that a CPA has far greater knowledge in the area of income taxation than other financial professionals. What most do not know is that the CLU exam has more questions in reference to taxation than does the exam the CPA is required to take.

As another example, the ChFC exam is clearly a broader and more rigorous exam (and therefore accredited like other colleges and universities) than the CFP designation, though CFP is marketed better and is more popular.

Areas of specialty won't always mean everything either. CPAs take college courses in accounting, focused primarily on the historical view of financials. They are often primarily focused on the then and now. They pull historical information, and then plug it into a financial statement or tax return. Every business owner needs a good CPA to keep the money management and financial in order.

The problem is that they are seldom able to take a future driven approach. That is the difference between a CPA and a financial planner. Even colleges recognize that the accounting program is different than the finance program. The financial planner takes a proactive, analytical, and long-term strategic approach. They are not reactive to the data, but influence the direction the data will take.

The worst financial advice comes from journalists. They are notorious for describing an extreme market position, emphasizing the sensational in order to sell magazines. In my view, journalists are more concerned with making a story than reporting one. Seldom do I read the complete facts as given to the reporter, but rather a hazy half-truth intended to make a warped yet sensational point. Seldom do I find good judgment.

A designation can be helpful in determining your financial planner's background, but don't get lost in the false assumption that a designation represents expertise.

About the Author:

Hank Brock is president of Brock and Associates, LLC, a firm specializing in retirement, estate, tax, and business planning. For more detailed information on selecting a financial planner, visit us online.

Holiday Home Insurance: 4 Steps to Getting the Best Cover...

By David Ball

Investing your money into a second property or home can be a fulfilling time, especially if your investment goes into buying a property to let as a holiday home. You might be investing your money for long term return, for a monthly income or for a mixture of both. Whichever you choose, it is highly recommended that you secure good holiday home cover to protect yourself from the some of the risks that can come with owning a holiday home.

When it comes time to decide which holiday home insurance to choose, there are a few things that you should consider. If your second home is overseas or abroad, there can be different requirements to holiday homes in the UK. For instance, your property may have external buildings that are part of the main property, or your property may have a covered or indoor swimming pool. These things are not necessarily automatically included in the average holiday home insurance.

Usually most people decide to go for the cheapest insurance, as they believe there is very little, if any difference between insurance policies. This can be true for regular insurance policies, but with a specialist insurance policy such as holiday homes insurance there are often special requirements and unusual needs to be considered. And policies of this type can sometimes be a little tricky to understand. To be certain that you are getting the right policy for you, a policy that covers all of your needs, it is vital that you choose a specialist who has authority and experience dealing with this type of insurance. This way you can be certain to get the best cover.

Holiday homes located abroad and overseas are a favourite choice for many people buying their holiday properties with countries like France, Spain and Portugal being the most popular. Because the destinations have local brokers or notaries, the impulse is to use one of these to speed up the process and make it easier. This can often be a false economy. Because the notary is local does not mean they understand the insurance properly or are the best person to deal with. I you decide to use a broker or notary local to the area, make sure that they are totally versed in holiday home insurance, and that they speak English fluently.

It is important that your holiday home insurance policy is written in plain, easy to understand English, other wise what chance do you stand of actually understanding what exactly you are covered for. Because of legal obligations for all parties, insurance policies are typically written in 'legal speak', making them difficult to figure out. Having your policy written in plain English will guarantee that you are totally clear about what you are paying for, and what you will be covered for.

Buying holiday home insurance should be simple to arrange, your broker should be fluent in English and an expert or authority in holiday home insurance and your policy should be written in plain English and should be easy for you to understand. If you follow these rules, you should be able to find a really good broker who can guide through the intricacies of holiday home insurance, and one who can find you a really good policy with great coverage and a good price.

About the Author:

David Ball has many years experience advising people on home insurance france, expertly guiding investors in overseas property through how to get the best value for money when choosing their holiday homes insurance.

Suggestions to Enjoy a Comfortable Life in a Budget

By Paul J. Easton

Having problems with the conflict of maintaining a comfortable life and getting rid of your monthly credit card bills? Here are tips that might help you get the best of both worlds.

Skip eating out and eat with the family together at home. Most developed countries have the convenience of credit cards that most families dine out almost everyday or take out their fast food meals. This leads to families not eating at the same time when they arrive at home. The result is a staggering number of broken families due to misunderstanding and bad parenting. Eating together is a time for bonding and communication and should not be ignored.

This will also cut your expenses by half as preparing your food at home is definitely cheaper. You will also monitor what you eat and this can be healthier. By shunning fancy restaurants and reserving it only for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries, you will cut that monthly balance as fast as you can. And by learning how to cook yourself, you will have much more delicious food than in fast foods or restaurants.

The next tip is to be earth friendly. Conserve everything from using water to driving your car. Turn off the lights when not used. Find more efficient ways to utilize energy like insulating your home to lower your thermostat in winter. You will not only save more money, you will also save Mother Earth.

Keep yourself busy so you are not once again tempted to spend more time shopping. Try some extra work load so you get to overtime once in a while. By taking up some part of your free time, you will be spending less time just hanging around and spending money haphazardly. In return, you will be more productive.

Lastly, get back in shape and visit your neighborhood gym more frequently now. You will spend time getting healthier and spending less money. You can also walk your dog at the park or take your children to the playground.

These are just suggestions to enjoy life at a budget. Just as I thought, being happy and saving more money can actually go together.

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How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

Convenience of Credit Cards

By Paul J. Easton

With the proper use of credit cards, they can truly provide you with much convenience and can be very useful in emergencies. In addition, it also can help build good credit records for you.

One of the conveniences of credit cards is instances when you buy a defective item. Your credit card company, as regulated in the laws, is obligated to investigate your situation. This is the same in cases where you protest a charge made due to some discrepancies.

Most credit cards have grace periods that can last up to 25 days. In essence, you are given a loan without the interest for a period of one month before you have to pay off the charges. This strategy, however, is only successful if you pay the full balance in each month. But it is definitely a convenience to benefit from.

Credit cards are very useful during emergencies. It provides extra security as a source during emergencies where significant cash is required as soon as possible. These emergency cases can range from car repairs to medical emergencies.

With the use of credit cards, you can now track your personal expenses for a budgeting program. With a credit card statement, purchases can be tracked and distinguished by type so you will know your cash flow. This will make your record keeping much easier than when you use cash.

With wise use of these cards, you have a good chance of improving your credit. And in cases when something unexpected happens, you have available funds to rely on. Getting a credit card is so important nowadays as it is a great way to take advantage of certain opportunities and conveniences around. However, accumulating debt is also crucial in today's economic state.

Abuse of credit cards, especially when the owner is not so observant with using it, can lead to a lot of debt. Some people charge more than they can afford, and are headed for financial trouble. I hope you don't follow the same. Make good use of your credit cards and you will just be fine.

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How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

Tips to Consider when buying a property

By Mark Lopez Roberto Bolano Martin Franqui

We all want to buy a house, but it is not always easy, that's why this article can provide you with some good tips to keep in mind.

If you're taking the next step in life and purchasing a home, chances are that you're feeling the pressure and the anxiety that continues with this difficult decision. Those who buy homes are very anxious, eager to get any information they can about realty. Before you buy a home, it always helps to learn all that you can.

The first thing youll need to do when buying a home is to ascertain just how much you are able to qualify for or afford to borrow. You should also come through a point to check your credit and know where you stand. If you've any problems, you should strive to correct them for you attempt to borrow money for a home. The higher credit rating you've, the lower your rates of interest will be.

If you are able to, you should always attempt to get pre approved by a mortgage broker or lender, as this will show your commitment to the mortgage. Also make sure to anticipate any payment or prepayment options that can help you take a few years away from your mortgage. Once you've been pre approved for a mortgage and know where you stand with your monthly payments, you are able to start shopping for property.

When you shop for a home, you should only buy real property that is perfect for you. Before you start looking, you should always make a list of everything you want your home to have, based on what you want and what you actually need. You should also be sure that you mark off any areas that you are willing to bear on a compromise on, in case you've to.

To assist you with finding the perfect home, you should enlist the services of a reputable real estate broker. When you meet with your agent, you will go over how much you are willing to spend, and what type of home you're searching. Youre agent will know where ideal properties are, and help you find the home that is best for you. Agents usually use mortgage calculators and real estate software to produce the most accurate information you need to consider at the moment of purchasing a property. This type of solutions, like real estate appraisal software are key solutions to have in your arsenal while trying to find the best house in the market for you.

Your agent will supply you with a list of potential properties that meet your budget and your features. Once you get the list, you should drive by the homes and check into both the home and the neighborhood. You should consider the appearance and location of the home, safety, access to the freeway, schools nearby, commute time to work, local shopping, and even recreational activities.

If you dont find something that interests you the first time, you should keep looking until you find the home that is best for you. Your agent can help with tours of homes and such, even tell you information about neighborhoods that you arent acquainted with. If you've chosen a good real estate broker, he will care about helping you find a home and go out of his way to ensure that you get exactly what you want.

To get the most from buying a home, you should always hire a estate agent that you are able to trust. Your agent will go a long way in helping you buy a home, from finding properties to giving you pointers and tips along the way. Good realtors will care about your satisfaction, and will do all that they can to help you find the home of your dreams. You will be able to always buy a home without a house agent, although it will take you longer and you wont get the help and other amenities that a real estate broker will bring to the table.

About the Author:

Sometimes the best way to calculate your mortgage is by using smart versions of mortgage calculators and by asking your real estate agent to use real estate appraisal software to understand the value of your property.

Getting Student Loans Forgiven: How to Do It

By Marlin Baccus

Most typical college expenses are known to cause students to be in need of extra funds and thus make them apply for what often amount to literally thousands of dollars in student loans. Some college students have incurred so much debt during their college studies that they are nearly bankrupt when they finally graduate and enter the workforce. If you, like many other college students, are feeling completely overwhelmed by immense amounts of debt and see no real way out regardless of what you try to do about it, then filing for bankruptcy may indeed be the right choice based off of your financial situation.

Yes, filling for bankruptcy a few months after graduating from college looks bad but it may be your only way out of the mountain of student loans that you have accumulated during your college days.

Bankruptcy Filing

The actual process of filing for bankruptcy can get confusing. Remember that you have to do more than fill out some papers. You will be required to appear in court before a judge whose responsibility it is to decide if you really qualify for bankruptcy or not.

The meeting with a judge can be confusing, so doing some research into the entire process is very important for anyone considering filing for bankruptcy, even more so if you will not be able to pay for the assistance of a legal professional. Filing for bankruptcy will permit the authorities to divest you of assets you own in order to reconcile your current student loan debt.

Some of your personal property cannot be seized. Be sure to notice which properties fall into this category when you do your bankruptcy research. All of the laws associated should be read thoroughly and completely. If you do not quite understand something, get someone who does to assist you since this is a very serious matter.

Remember that paying for a bankruptcy lawyer would be best if you are feeling overwhelmed with all the details of your bankruptcy. They can advise you on what you should do to deal with your student loan debt.

The good thing about hiring a bankruptcy lawyer is that this person knows how to get most if not all of your student loans forgiven. Most of these bankruptcy lawyers understand your financial difficulties so they will not really charge you so much.

About the Author:

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Can You Afford The Risk Involved In Investing?

By M Taylor

Imagine this scenario - you have received a windfall of $25,000, and you know you should invest for the future. Before you sign up and sign away that money, ask yourself this question - if you're living paycheck to paycheck with high interest credit card companies hounding you via letter, telephone and via ninja agents pounding on your door, is it a good time to start investing? The answer is obvious, "Of course not!"

The easiest way to do this is to pull your current credit report. It's extremely important to get a credit report at least once a year, and it's very important to read your credit report and find out what's on it, so that you can get all the negative items on your credit report prior to starting to invest in the markets. For instance, .if you saved up $25,000 that you want to invest, you are better off cleaning up the credit first then taking what's left and investing that in the markets.

Before I share with you the idea that you should invest your windfall, there are a few things that you should consider. You really need to take a long look at your current financial situation.

Warning! If you go with the faulty logic that all you need to know is that you should try and make an investment in your future, you might as well drive books down the driveway. Yep, drive books and watch pumpkins fly. If you go for this hype without clearing up bad or potentially bad situations in the present, you might as well start "Chunkin Those Pumpkins", because you are going to be about as successful long-term as tossing a baby grand piano across the room.

Many people make a priority mistake when they decide to invest. In order to avoid that, see which are paying out on a monthly basis, look at all the dispersal's and get rid of the expenses that are frivolous.

Get yourself into good financial shape and then you can work towards improving your finance position. Investing doesn't make sense if your bank balance is shaky, or if you're living from paycheck to paycheck and paying bills is a constant scramble. Making sure that you pay your monthly bills, instead of investing your money would make better sense.

While you work towards financial independence, you could take the time to educate yourself on the various types of investments that are available.

This way, when you find yourself financially solvent once again, you will be informed and able to make a decision about what types of investments you want for your future.

About the Author:

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Using Debt Factoring to Survive the Economic Slump

By Phillip Evans

There is no avoiding the issue the UK Economy is in recession and if you are a business owner you must have a plan to survive this economic slump or you will most certainly fail.

A record number of companies and shops went into insolvency over the Christmas period caused by the really awful trading conditions.

Stores and Companies to be effected by the economic downturn are Savvi the music retailer formerly Virgin Megastore, Adams the Independent childrens clothes retailer, USC the Fashion store and Whittard of Chelsea, the specialist tea and coffee retailer.

Another victim of the recession has been our beloved Woolworths that went into administration just before Christmas and saw its final stores close on the 5th of January 2009, which has left 27,000 people facing redundancy.

Businesses wishing to survive the recession need to have 4 things; credible management team, a viable business core, a valid business plan and appropriate funding say The Turnaround Management Association

Traditional sources of finance have been restricted to very low levels due to the Credit Crunch and lack of liquidity within the money markets. This constriction of lending has brought about a Cash Flow squeeze on UK plc.

Company Directors with an eye on survival should immediately have a plan to reduce expenditure within the business. Carefully review expenditure to identify any areas of your business where savings can be made. Meticulously going over the Companies expense to find areas where costs can be cut. You should look at Telephone Charges and Tariffs, Utilities, Trade Suppliers, transport costs. The accumulation of a number of cost saving can be remarkable.

Cash is King and Company Directors looking to avoid the pain caused by an economic downturn should seek out alternative sources of funding such as debt factoring, which is increasingly popular for small to medium businesses. While not suitable for all businesses, the huge benefit of debt factoring is that rather than have money tied up in invoices that are yet to be paid, you can receive an initial payment up front, typically 80% - 85% of the gross value, and the remainder when the customer pays the invoices to an invoice finance provider, less the service fee which has been negotiated with them. However, if the customer defaults on payment, then the finance company will recover the money provided to you initially from any further invoices which are factored. This can lead to unpredictable cash flow if customers are poor payers or they go into insolvency.

About the Author:

Debt Factoring is provided by the Asset Based Lending team of Enable Finance Ltd. Enable Finance are specialist small business finance brokers providing British business access to traditional and different types of credit. For a free meeting please contact the Business Refinance Team.

Credit Cards: A Tool to be Used Wisely

By Paul J. Easton

When applying for a credit card, you must bear in mind that you have to use them wisely to make most of it. Using a credit card gives you access to more spending power in a moment than you realistically have. This in return entices you to spend more on luxuries, which can make you incur heavy debts.

Admit it; you can hardly pass up what conveniences credit cards can offer. With extra security, the quick identification, and as a source of cash when you need it most, credit cards are a necessity. But can you handle one?

Needing a credit card is a personal decision that depends on your responsibility to use it. Using a credit card needs thorough planning so that you use it wisely with your lifestyle.

Credit cards are convenient because they are now universally accepted as a form of payment. From movie theaters to the internet, credit card payments are now welcome. Add to that the issue of the safety of bringing cash around and you will understand the role of credit cards in making our life not only convenient but safe too.

Another advantage of a credit card payment is when you have a dispute with a merchant over a purchased item. In this case, you always have the right to withhold payment. In instances where you purchase high-ticket items with your credit card, you are more secured when the item does not work as advertised. Moreover, you can also cancel payments if the merchant fail to meet your expectations.

There are several benefits to using a card. This is probably the reason why it has become so popular mainstream. As a tip, make a note of all the transactions you have made for the week using your credit card. Keep a record and assess it by the weekend. Make this as a habit to account your expenses.

Once you establish that habit, develop a payment scheme for you to pay the full balance by due date. Only through that way can credit cards become your greatest tool.

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How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

Simple Rules on How to Use Your Credit

By Paul J. Easton

In life, we stick with the rules. Violating certain rules has its penalties. This universal law surely applies to the use of your credit cards. Read further to know whether you are violating or not.

Never use a credit card to finance an unaffordable lifestyle. This is where most people fall trap of the never ending financial mishap. If you just can't afford to pay off the entire balance every month, then it is an indication of overspending.

When you have enough cash in the bank, you can use that credit card to make the purchase. Pay it off in full as soon as you get the statement. However, if you don't have enough cash to cover the purchase and it is not an emergency, never charge it with your credit cards. Just save your money until the time you can afford that purchase you always wanted.

In cases where you can't afford something but needs it immediately like a car repair or medical emergencies, use the credit card to charge it. Then, make a plan to pay off the balance with a time frame. Take the plan to another level by figuring out how much you will pay monthly and how long it will take to pay the balance off. Write your plan to implement it better.

A good way to save yourself from credit card debt you can't handle is not to charge meals, groceries, or movie tickets. These items will not show in the statement and you will not monitor it as much as you can. Pay cash for these kinds of items instead. Save the credit for the most necessary items you will need in the future.

As much as you can, pay off the entire outstanding balance each payment due. When carrying a balance in certain instances, pay off as much as you can a big part of that balance each month. Paying only the minimum might be light for now but it will certainly pile up over time and drown you over your head.

For more information on financial directory, get FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Get debt-free today with tips on how to get rid of debt here. Start improving your personal finance today.

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How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

How to Improve Your Bad Credit

By Mike Carbeck

Especially if you're trying to obtain credit, your credit rating is very important. If you have a negative remark on your credit report, work to remove it as soon as you can. If there is just one mistake on your credit report, your overall credit rating will be impacted, and this can make a huge difference in whether or not you're able to get a loan. Luckily, there are ways to remove a negative rating so that your credit score can rise.

First, get copies of all three credit reports, one from each of the major credit reporting bureaus. Then, carefully check all of the information contained in the reports. If you do spot an error, there is a process to get it removed. Here's how to get that negative entry removed so that your credit rating will improve.

The credit reporting companies offer an online form to help you through the process, but it's actually easier not to use this form. Just gather your supporting information to prove that their information is incorrect, and then write a letter to the credit bureau. If you have a receipt, a bill showing that it was paid, or a letter from the creditor to state that the bill has been settled, you should send copies of this information with your letter, as they can help your case.

Be sure that you send this letter through certified mail and request a return receipt. That way you can be sure that they received your information. Once they get your letter, they will review your credit report, and notify you of their decision. If they decide in your favor, get another copy of your credit report so you can make sure that it has been removed from your report.

If you have a low credit rating due to your own actions, there is no way to completely erase that history. However, you can take steps to build good credit, which will raise your score. It will take time and effort, but it can be done. First, pay down your debt, especially credit card debt, and make all of your payments on time.

Another way to increase your credit rating by getting rid of your outstanding debts is by using a debt consolidation program following some effective procedures. Effective procedures mentioned in debt consolidation guide such as the Debt Free in 3 are guaranteed to have produce real results. These programs offer a loan to pay off your old creditors. Then, you'll be making one payment a month, instead of multiple smaller payments to different companies. This is one way to show that you are taking steps to improve your credit rating through smart financial decisions.

To improve your credit rating, make sure that there are no errors in your credit report, and take care to reduce the impact of negative entries.

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?Starting a Credit Repair Businesses

By William Blake

Judging by the kind of newspaper advertisements being made today, the demand for credit repair services is huge. Current high levels of unemployment coupled with the tight credit market means that there is certainly a strong case for opening up your own credit repair business.

The current situation means that the number of people looking to improve the credit will be on the rise. Good business sense will tell you that this is a good time to take advantage of the circumstances and start up a business that will fill this growing need.

A Head for Business

It pays to have some experience in doing business from home and if you have tasted success at any kind of home business then opening your own credit repair business makes a lot of sense.

Or maybe you have some personal experience with credit repair. If you have experienced credit problems in the past and have successfully worked through them you probably learned a lot about reading credit scores, correcting errors on your credit report or creating and sticking with a payment plan. The knowledge you have gained will be a great benefit to you and help you be more successful.

It is important to understand exactly what you are getting into and what the market is for this type of work before you try to start your business. You need to understand in detail what is involved in a credit repair business. Knowledge of the specifics is vital. Once you have a comfortable knowledge of what you are getting into you are ready go take the first steps in starting your business.

One of the first things you need to do is count the cost to see what type of investment you will need to make to get your business started. Also you need to check out your competition, know who else in your area is in the same line of work. Then educate yourself on what services your business will need to provide and how to go about that.

One you've started pulling your business together you need to start thinking about drawing in customers. It might be helpful to check your local newspapers for foreclosure and bankruptcy listings to see if you can create of list of potential customers.

About the Author:

Can cancelling a credit card save you money on your debts? Learn whether they're as good as they sound on the Debtopedia website at www.Debtopedia.com where you can get a free copy of my report Secrets Of Credit Card Debt

The Importance of Retirement Planning Expense Worksheets

By Michael Geoffrey

When you reach your retirement you will still have expenses. Now while you are planning for your retirement you need to try to plan a budget for those expenses. An expense spreadsheet for your retirement can help.

With an expense spreadsheet you can see how far the money you save for your retirement will go. It will help you make future projections about your expenses over the next 10 or 20 years. You can also use this expense spreadsheet to help you find ways to invest your money so that it will go farther for you.

There are different types of retirement planning expense worksheets. Most importantly, you would start with the one that helps you with managing your current expenses and then future expenses. You can take the mystery out of your finances, if you wisely plan for your retirement with effectively utilizing retirement planning expense worksheets.

The worksheet will also help you to compare your income and expenses to see where you need to make adjustments. It will also help you to determine if and how you can continue to live the lifestyle that you are used to. The retirement planning expense worksheets gives you a real awakening about what you will need to do to plan for your new life.

It is Wise to Plan for the Future

You will be educated and prepared on the reality of what inflation can do to your finances. You will have time to think about how to spend your money to make the most of it. You will be able to plan ahead on what to do if you come up short.

By planning ahead you take control of your finances and eliminate many unwanted surprises. You will be educated on how to handle the changing market and you will know how to adjust your finances accordingly. You will be planning for a happy, stress free financial future.

A significant number of employees are never ready to face retirement and end up going back to work after retirement because they did not prepare themselves for the inevitable. The sooner you begin forecasting your income and expense for the future, the more confidence you will have when it comes time to retire.

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Is secured debt consolidation a good choice for getting your debt paid off? Learn more about how it works and whether it's a good choice or not on the Debt Smackdown website.

Sticking to your Plan to being Debt Free

By Paul J. Easton

How to stick to a plan in getting rid of debt? Start with stopping yourself from applying for a new credit card. Yes, stopping yourself from getting another credit card is the way to finally end being debt-free.

Never pay your old credit card balance with the available credit from the new one. To end the cycle of debts, stop getting new ones. Together with this plan, start targeting the credit card with the highest interest rate and insistently pay this account down as fast as you can. You have to reduce altogether the amount over the minimum payment on your other cards. Concentrate this time with only one card. You can pay the rest of the cards with the minimum payment.

Be sure, though, to continue making at least the minimums on your other cards every time without failure. After the account with the highest interest is paid off, begin paying off the next highest interest rate card. Work on this plan until you finish paying all your credit card debts, saving you more money from interest and finance charges.

Work on your budget as well. Spend the time to create one on paper before the month starts. When you are aware of your spending, you are spending with a purpose. This will totally give you a conscious effort to limit yourself every time you are faced with a bill or an impulse to buy something.

Your dream is to be debt-free this year. It will take some time and some effort from your end to realize this dream. Certainly, it will not happen over the weekend. Work hard on those aims and make decisions wisely along the way. You now have a plan you can stick with for the long haul, persistent implementation will only push you to success.

You are now motivated and have the priorities in order; it is time to make your life much better without debt. Good luck to you!

For more information on financial directory, get FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Get debt-free today with tips on how to get rid of debt here. Start improving your personal finance today.

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How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

Education Loan Consolidation Options

By Dennis Powell

You did it! You scrimped and saved and studied and worked and borrowed more money than you ever have in your life, but you did it! You finally finished school. Most likely, you've got a few months of grace period to get settled into your new job - hopefully it's in the field you studied for - and then those student loan payments are gonna start coming do. Plan now to keep your expenses in check while ensuring that managing your education debt is a part of your long term financial plan.

The first place many borrowers will look for a consolidation program is FFEL consolidation. Federal Family Education Loan consolidation offers the option of putting all of your federally funded education debt - both subsidized and unsubsidized - under a single plan. This option can even work for those unfortunate souls who have been in default in the past, and offer fixed rates, extended terms to help you get started in your new life without worrying about loan payments eating up most of threat tiny entry level salary.

Of course not everyone was fortunate enough (or thrifty enough) to have their federal loans cover all of their expenses while in school. People who needed Private loans aren't left out in the cold though. Many companies also offer consolidation packages that will let you put all of your private loans into a single payment. Private consolidation offers many of the same benefits as an FFEL consolidation, but be aware that FFEL and private loans cannot generally be consolidated into a single package. You may need to get two separate consolidation loans, one for your federal loans and another for the private ones.

Parents who borrowed on their children's behalf can also consolidate their loans with a PLUS loan consolidation. Again, extended terms and fixed rates make the monthly sting of payments a little easier to bear, though parents will want to explore a variety of options to ensure that they are making the best deal when consolidating their PLUS loans.

Even if none of the traditional consolidation methods work for your situation, there are still alternatives to help students get started on the right foot towards financial solvency. Some people take out second mortgages on their home and use the money to pay off all of their loans. ( An added benefit of this method is that you may be able to retain some of the tax benefits of regular consolidations) Private personal loans from family members can also help those with poor credit, and some companies offer tuition reimbursement programs which may help off set up to 100% of your education costs.

There are even options for those with less than stellar credit or who have maxed out traditional borrowing. Peer to Peer lending networks provide the same structure as the file sharing networks many people have grown up on, but this time, they deal with financing. Borrowers submit their loan request and groups of people bid on the loan offering a variety of interest rates and payment terms based on the project and the borrower's credit history. Once the details have been decided the final loan is serviced through the network which then disperses payments to the people who made the loan.

You did it! You managed to finish school and are about to make your way into the "real" world. Thanks to the variety of consolidation programs available for the modern education loan, you can get started on the right track with manageable debt load and a solid plan for your financial future. Find the package that works for you, make a plan and stick with it, and you'll be paying down those student loans in no time.

About the Author:

Dennis Powell researches and writes about consolidation loan programs for students and homeowners. He frequently writes to help students learn more about student loan bill consolidation.