Discovering The Right Card, And Using It Wisely

By John Brennan

For many consumers, finding the right card can be hard. With all the cards available with differing rates, features, and options, it can be a difficult process of finding the right one for you. However, with proper guidance, you can find a credit card that identifies with your needs and will keep you free from debt issues.

Finding a card with a fixed low rate is the best option for many consumers. This type of card can keep the consumer from getting surprised with high rates after an introductory rate. Additionally, this type of card usually offers more flexible spending terms for the consumer, which can ease repayment.

Additionally, consumers should look for cards that will make it easy to repay the bills come the end of the month. Many cards offer online payment or automatic withdrawals from a checking account. Some others allow a consumer to make payments on a biweekly period, or other flexible terms that make it easy for the user to work around their earnings schedule.

Simply being responsible with card spending is necessary for good credit. Irresponsible spending can lead to a credit or debt crisis. If you have fallen to far into debt, the long-term effects can be catostrophic and recovery can be difficult.

If you're in a situation in which debt is extreme, hard work and responsible spending can ease you from the confines of debt. Credit debt is common, however help is out there. Credit service providers are key to getting out of debt quickly.

Educating yourself with the right tools and service providers is the easiest way to dig yourself out from debt. Free in Five is a credit service that can assist in easing payment schedules and educate consumers on responsible spending. Life can be much easier with their help.

Credit service counselors provide consumers with good spending habits and teach proper use of credit. Many consumers find this beneficial because they lack the knowledge on how to properly use cards. With the right know how, consumers can use credit properly without falling into unmanagable debt.

Its important to find a card that is applicable to your lifestyle and needs. After finding the right fit, be sure to spend wisely and only purchase items you can pay back in a resonable amount of time. By using common sense and showing personal restraint on spending, you can avoid falling into a debt crisis.

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To find out exactly how you can get credit and debt management help visit my debt solutions website.

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

By William Blake

You have worked hard and paid off that credit card. Now you can start shopping again, right? Hopefully that is not the choice you make. You will be right back where you started. Here are some other options.

*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.

* Keep your cards and use them occasionally. This will build up your credit rating, as long as you pay the balances in full each month. But still, by keeping the cards you could be tempted to run up the balances again, putting yourself right back where you started.

*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.

Keep in mind, however, that using credit cards responsibly can build up your credit rating, making it easier to get good rates on loans for necessities in the future.

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Before you consider consolidation as a way to get your debt paid off, research the debt consolidation loan consequences. It isn't always the best solution to consolidate your debt. Find out why on the Inside Debt Consolidation website

Is throwing money at the mortgage market the solution?

By Chris Clare

You may have noticed over the last month many countries have past bills in their governments to inject substantial amounts of cash into their banking system. They have done this on the understanding that all the bad loans also known as toxic debt is weakening the institutions and rendering us unable to borrow money so leaving us all worse off as a result.

But the big question on everyone's lips is, will this have the effect of kick starting the institutions lending again, and if it does, what how will it affect the individual and the public in general. The analysis off this problem will be based on the UK as that is where my financial experience stems. The situation within the UK may bare similarities with that of other countries but I am not in the position to comment on whether the outcomes would be similar or not because I would not be as au fait as to how their markets tend to function.

The general public is under the impression that the credit crunch is due to the banks not having enough money to lend. Logic would then dictate that by giving the banks more money the problem is resolved. Unfortunately this is rather far from the truth. The lack of money to lend is only the tip of the iceberg. Banks have been burned by the bad debt accrued over the last few years and are therefore now much more cautious about lending again. Their careless actions in the past will prove much more difficult to rectify in times to come.

One of the principal areas to focus on when assessing the reasons for our present financial crisis is the area of house prices. As everyone knows they have taken a big tumble and there would seem to be no respite in the immediate future. Lenders are now facing a situation in which they have to implement more rigorous procedures and one of the targets is that of loan to value, or LTV, which is the amount that they are willing to loan dependent on the value of the property. They were lending from 95%LTV up to a staggering 125%LTV.

Most experts will agree that as long as the market is buoyant, this lending is alright. If you take into account that the market was rising at a rate of 10%, lending 125% on a property of 100,000 means you are lending 125,000, but with that 10% rate of increase in value over just 3 years your LTV has already dropped to around 93%. In a buoyant market, this sort of lending would be considered a calculated profitable risk and was therefore given the o.k..

But the problem that we face is that house prices are going in the opposite direction. The decline is at least 10% and analysts figure that it could get worse. So, if 100,000 was lent on an 85,000 property then in the same three year time span the loan could have actually increased to 118% LTV. Now I am sure you would agree that in this present climate that this sort of loaning is both irresponsible and detrimental to all involved.

So what does the future hold for the market and will the bailout be the solution to the problem. Well I can only give my own personal professional opinion and nothing is set in stone but realistically I would perceive the bailout as having very little effect. They simply cannot lend at the high loan to values even though they have been committed in 2009 to lend at the levels reached in 2007. You see the majority of loans being agreed at present are dealing with people coming out of rates that had been pre-arranged over the last 5 years. Due to the downward spiral of house prices these people are going to be pushing the LTV up.

You also need to take into account that a lot of people in the last few years have acquired mortgages on a self certification basis. These sort of mortgages are now considered high risk for lenders and so are mostly unavailable, and even if they are available they will be at greatly reduced LTVs, so what options do these people have to chose from?

So whilst I do welcome the money that is being injected into the finance market I sadly think that whilst property continues to fall and lenders fail to have the pre 2008 appetite for lending it is more than likely just going to be stockpiled. This will have a domino effect as house prices will continue to fall because of the lack of lending at the right LTV with the right lending criteria which again will make lenders even less willing to lend. I have to say this is quite a quandary and I honestly don't see how it can be stopped until someone has the bravery to just lend knowing the calculated risk it represents I think it is fondly known as taking a punt!.

About the Author:

Mortgage Route gives assistance help and advice on mortgages from qualified mortgage brokers coupled with free mortgage calculators and sourcing tools.

There has never been a better time for good financial advice.

By Chris Clare

We tend to turn to professionals when it comes to needing advice with important things in life, such as doctors, dentists, accountants and the like. However a lot of us can be reluctant when it comes to seeking financial advice. People only use an independent financial advisor, or IFA, when they need something, and don't generally ask for their advice or expertise beforehand.

In case you don't already know, an independent financial advisor is someone who can advise you on financial issues but works independently of all financial organizations and institutions. They are employed by you, the customer. Although they often work on commission, this does not affect the advice they give you as they are obliged to give you the best advice for your particular situation. Furthermore, they must provide the justification for their advice in writing so that you can see and prove why it is that they have advised you in the way that they have. Inappropriate advice is very hard to give when it has to be documented in this way.

So what is it that Independent Financial Advisors give advice on then? Well basically any product within the financial market. That is to say, mortgages, life insurance, private pensions, savings plans. Some also deal with will writing and inheritance tax planning.

It has to be said that all these products and services can be found in most high streets so why are financial advisors better? Financial advisors don't just sell products, you don't walk into one of their offices and ask for life insurance. You generally walk in and ask them to advise whether or not you need life insurance and it is that reason alone that makes independent financial advisors different from all the other retails outlets of financial products.

A financial advisors process will involve sitting down with you for a couple of hours going through all the things you currently have such as the policies that you already pay into. They will asses your attitude to risk which means they will establish how much risk you are prepared to associate with particular areas or you financial planning. They will also establish what you can afford and how much money you are prepared to commit to dealing with any particular need you may have.

Then they will look at your future financial aspirations. They will ask you about the quality of life you would like in the years to come. Maybe you would like to retire earlier in life, get sickness coverage to cover future events or pay your mortgage off before the term stated.

By doing this they can build a personal profile of where you are and where you would like to be financially. Armed with this information they can then go and find the products on the market that will be of best value and benefit for you and your budget.

They will then come back to you and see if you think that the solutions fit your purposes. If you are happy with their proposals then they can proceed to put the financial plan in place for you.

Now with an ordinary financial advisor this would usually be the end of the process. The difference with an IFA is that they view it as being an ongoing process. This means that they will maintain contact with you in order to ensure that the plan is constantly working for you to the best financial ends. Remember that your situation will almost never remain constant and the role of an IFA will be to give you advice with regards to your plan and your changing situation.

In conclusion, the role of an IFA is to pick through every aspect of your financial situation, budget and requirements in order to correctly advise you on what financial services would be beneficial to you. They then source and facilitate these services. It is then their job to monitor your situation to ensure that should your finances change, your financial protection will change accordingly where required. In these troubled times, you can see why now is the best time to seek expert help when it comes to controlling, and protecting, our finances.

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Good financial advice can be difficult to come by so why not come along to Invest & Protect ltd we are specialists in providing independent financial advice.

Making a Budget: The Basic Steps

By William Blake

A great way to start living a frugal life is to plan for it. And when it comes to finances, the most important plan is a budget. Setting up a budget is possible no matter what you income, how you get paid, or what your current financial situation. Developing a budget is the first (and most crucial step) to becoming frugal. Here are some great tips on how to do it:

1. Keep track of your spending. You need to know what your current spending habits are before you can adjust them by means of a budget. Bring a small notepad with you wherever you go and note how much you spend every time you make a purchase. That way you can track your spending.

2. Make a list of all your expenses and include the spending you have in your notebook along with any monthly bills that you might not have written down. Total up the categories that you have and the total spending as well.

3. Write out all of your income and how it arrives (monthly, weekly, bi-weekly). Total up your income.

4. Based off of the information you have gathered during the last month, make a budget. Once you have it written out, compare it to your total income and make any necessary adjustments so that your income is more than your budget is, either spending less or making more money.

5. Study your budget and even take a few days to really think about the items you have listed there. Make better choices. If you only watch your television once a week then cancel your cable. Save that money for something else. If you have so many clothes that you can't open your closet then determine to pass on the shopping for a while. Decide to choose a future instead of a fleeting present.

6. After you have cut all that you can cut, review your budget balances. If there is still a deficit, it's time to consider a second job (or a job change). The only way to balance a budget (and start saving money) is to bring in more than you spend.

7. Review your budget. Since our lives are in a constant state of flux, your budget will no doubt need to be adjusted from time to time. As your lifestyle gets progressively more frugal, you may notice more expenses that can be cut.

Having a keen understanding of your own spending habits will enable you to live frugally, successfully. Making a budget and sticking to it is an essential first step.

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Do you need information about how to cancel credit card account? Visit http://www.debtopedia.com for helpful information about consolidating credit cards and other debt reduction tips.

How is this economy treating your small business?

By JR Rooney

You would have to be living in a cave not to be aware that we're in the worst financial crisis in our lifetimes in the United States. If you find yourself worried about your business and what can happen next, you're certainly not alone.

As I write this, the next few days bring great uncertainty about what the government is going to do to try and help bail out the failed banking system in the US. While it's not clear what form the assistance will take, it appears almost certain that the US government will have to do something to fix the mess created in the financial system by rampant greed. What is going to happen? Who knows! What is obvious is that the vast majority of Americans are very unhappy with the situation and quite angry about spending billions of dollars to bail out an industry known for greed.

The fact of the matter is, a bailout is not the end of the troubles for those of us who run small businesses. The United States economy is in deep, deep trouble and this will not be fixed very quickly. All the major news outlets have commentaries about what's happening and what to expect. It seems the consensus is that it's unlikely we're going to experience a level of unemployment seen during the Great Depression. That's the good news. The bad news is that things are ugly and their likely get much worse before they get better. And if that wasn't enough, things are probably not to get better in the near future.

Small business owners are highly unlikely to land the line of credit they need in order to expand their business in the near future. So what can you do? No one can tell you what you need to do in your particular business, but I've always been a huge supporter of the low-cost direct marketing style in my businesses. I suggest you start rethinking all the many ways you can seek out additional revenue at a minimum cost. This means not only getting new customers at that minimum cost, but just as important, you need to try to sell more services to the customers you already have.

The situation is a lot more complicated than simply not being able to obtain additional credit, it is also going to be difficult for most business owners to even make it through the next several years. There has already been a huge drop in consumer spending in the US. Getting new customers as well as maintaining the ones you already have is going to get very difficult. That is why this is the time to get yourself back to the basic and most important task you have, "Get your business well marketed." There is nothing more important for your business in tough times such as these than your marketing efforts.

About the Author:

JR works for a full service debt Collection Agency. When your clients can't pay, hire his Collection Company

The Debt Collectors

By Darren Cason

Anyone can be anxious when the debt collectors are constantly ringing up and sending threatening letters of demand. But rest assured that there is protection in a number of forms and ways that you can deal with the debt collectors that hassle you.

There is an Act that lays down the guidelines as to what a debt collector can and cannot do when they are trying to collect a debt. It is called the "Fair Debt Collection Practices" Act. This Act states, amongst other aspects, that the debt collectors are not allowed to call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.; they cannot garnish wages in those states where it has been made illegal and they must cease the continual phone calls if you ask them to.

[For the full text, see: http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm#801]

There are several things you can do.

Don't take the call. Use an answering machine to screen calls. For those people who have caller ID or call blocking, you will be able to get rid of the call entirely.

If you do decide to take the call, it is entirely reasonable for you to request that they do not contact you further. If you send the agency a "cease and desist" letter, they are then legally prevented from contacting you. Any legal action can be expensive, so it is wise to try other ways first.

If the debt is in fact yours to pay, if you are able to, you should think about paying it. After all it is your responsibility and should be paid. If you are truly finding it difficult to pay, then perhaps you can negotiate a way of making regular, lower payments until the debt is paid in full.

Make the committment and stick to it and the annoying calls should stop. These debt collectors are real people just doing their job, even if some of them are less than pleasant about it and they will usually not bother you once you have an agreement with them.

Maintain a record of calls that have been made either by you or to you in a diary, together with any arrangements that have been made. Keep a record of when you have asked them to stop calling - this is most important if they have been calling you at your workplace. If it is legal in your state, you may consider taping the phone call, but keep in mind that often means that you have to tell the other person that you are recording them.

There are not many debt collectors that are brave enough (or unwise enough) to say things that may compromise them when they are aware they are being recorded. The record or diary will be helpful if you have negotiated a change in the payment regime.

The majority of debt collectors are able to agree to a lower payment, but because they usually get a commission based on the percentage of their collection, they will push you to pay as close to the whole amount as possible. However, they do understand that if you are able to pay 50% of $500, it is preferable to receiving 100% of nothing at all.

When you make an agreement, the debt collector should also make their own commitment that they will not put any further adverse comments on your credit report or credit rating. Ask them to report any increase on your credit score as well as the payments that you do make as soon as possible so you can adjust the amount owed accordingly.

Be sure that you obtain agreements in writing before you send any substantial amounts of money. A "good faith" payment is fine as it will show that you are sincere in your efforts to clear the debt, but if you send too much at one time, they will be less inclined to adhere to their side of the bargain.

There are three things that you should always retain when you are dealing with debt collection: patience, a realistic outlook and remaining calm when discussing matters financial. If you remember these, you will reduce the stress of the situation.

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Stay out of debt

By Keith BL Mallinson

In modern times, it is almost impossible to stay out of debt,this problem is sometimes caused by outside pressures. When this happens, it doesn't actually mean that it was done with intent. When a borrower has a poor credit history it's not the end of the world; there are still many companies who will provide bad credit loans for people in need of financial help. It's not the end of the world even if you have a poor credit scoreas bad credit loans can be provided by online companies.

Finance provided in this way is can be used by the applicant in the same way as a personal loan, they shouldn't find any restrictions. If a person is accepted for a loan then there is a good chance they may help their credit rating.

These bad credit loans may be used for other situations and not necessarily debts, so it could be used for an emergency expense that has arisen like medical fees not covered by insurance or a wedding for example. They use a loan that they can pay regularly, as a means to achieve this.

It also has a greater repayment period up to twenty five years. Through the unsecured loan method, an amount in the range of 2,000 to 50,000 dollars is available for borrowing but this sum has to be paid back in a period of 6 months to 10 years.

The risk of defaulting is much lower with a secured loan as the finance company take a charge on your property which is also the reason they can arrange the loan at a preferential rate of interest. But for an unsecured loan, the borrower is charged a higher rate of interest because there is no guarantee that the loan will be repaid.

It will probably be necessary to carry out some research online first. Loans arranged when court judgments are in force are harder to find, especially if you have special needs such as extending the period of the loan for example, so applications will need to be carried out online.

The good thing about bad credit loans is that you will probably still be able to fulfil your financial obligations without the poor credit score getting in the way. By making the loan application online it will speed up the process so you will be able to get back on with your life.

This opportunity should not be forgotten or wasted.

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How To Process Payday Loans In The UK

By Rashel Dan

Payday loans in the UK are common and are actually easy to apply for. The most common way to do it, in fact, is to simply log online, apply, and have your application approved through the internet.

There are already several companies offering payday loans in UK. Although it may seem like a non-traditional way of getting financial help, it is one that many people have found to be quite helpful.

The Need

You have to face reality. There are sometime when you really need payday loans in the UK to pay off bills that came in too early, or utilities that you need to pay off because you forgot all about them. A payday loan is the solution for problems like these, and as long as you have a stable job with a steady income, chances are that you are eligible to get a payday loan.

What Is It?

A payday loan can be described as a short-term loan that is given to you by a loaning institution such as the bank. You can then use this money to pay off whatever it is that you need to. But you have to pay back the loan in about two weeks and it's easy if you have a steady paycheck because that can automatically pay it off for you with the right arrangements.

Why Use One?

Aside from the fact that you just might need the money earlier than you expected, payday loans in the UK actually do have advantages over regular loans. The first is that the transaction is quick and the processing can be confidential.

Another good thing about a payday loan is that the amount that you need can be deposited into your account the second that it is approved. The approval is actually instant once a lending institution sees just how qualified you are. Online, the process is even quicker and more convenient because you don't need to line up to apply and you can take your time filling out all the forms and fulfilling all the requirements.

Payday loans are gaining more and more popularity as a viable option in times of financial crises. Everything from products to services carries some kind of bill that you need to pay at regular intervals. This is where payday loans can become very useful especially when you are a little short on cash when you need it most. Try a payday loan in the UK today and see what all the fuss is about.

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Find a quick payday loan UK. Read more about processing your payday loans in the UK now.