Last Hope with Financial Counseling

By Paul J. Easton

Debt management has taken the spotlight in our modern lives as borrowers. With growing marketing coupled with increasing debts spell unforeseen hardships in the future. Every one must consider debt management today to be secured with our financial life. It is better to be prepared than sorry.

Many options are actually available, but the best may actually be you helping yourself. Here are some of the tips you will find valuable for your debt relief strategies.

Maybe a credit counseling services can be of real help as well. With these programs, experts will recommend you to solve the situation by cutting down on spending and monitoring your accounts closely.

If this does not work, ask the help from a financial expert. The sooner you seek help from an expert, the better you will be out of debt. Credit counseling is one of the best options you might consider if you are troubled with financial problems.

In such a situation, your stress can be overwhelming. This is when your creditors are calling you daily to collect money that you don't have yet. Never end the communication. While it is a natural response to stop answering the phone and let the mail stack up unopened, this does not resolve the issue that you still have the obligation. Explain your financial situation to your creditors. In most cases, they will even work with you to reduce your total balance by providing a better interest rate or eliminating the late and other charges.

One of the benefits of credit counseling is that the credit counselors can actually deal with those credit collectors for you. But the most important advantage of credit counseling is that it helps you, who might have reached the end of their financial rope, to avoid the dreaded bankruptcy.

Seeking the financial experts' advice can save you money by reducing your debt by 40 to 60%. Expect to be debt free within 5 years depending on your debt situation.

Be cautious, though. Some credit counseling services will have upfront fee. These fees can range from a few hundreds to up to thousands of dollars. This, in fact, does not get applied yet to your balances from creditors. So a part of your supposed savings will actually go to the professional fee.

Before taking the plunge, work out your homework and research a lot of free information about the company you are dealing with. You can't afford to get wrong this time. After all, this is your last hope.

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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

Why Everyone Should Be Getting Out Of Debt

By Jennifer Schimdt

Debt chokes the ability for you to prosper and have a financial future, and until you deal with the problem you will never be free. Do you ever think about the amount of credit cards you own, and then think about the amount of interest you are paying on those credit cards every month? I bet it is a staggering figure. Most people dont even think about it because they dont want to know how bad they are hurting financially.

When, I first started to look at my debt and made a decision that I wanted to be debt free it looked almost impossible. I was paying anywhere from $300-$400 a month in interest and did not know how I was going to pay of the maxed out balances on my credit cards, and then one day I found a radio show that talked about how to get debt free. The host of the show said you knock out your smallest debts first, and then move up the latter until you tackle you big debts like a student loan or car note.

This made perfect since to me so I bought his book, and stop spending more than I made, and even found myself leaving on a budget. Then, I started paying debts, and am almost debt free, and I can tell you that if I had not done this, I would not be able to pay my bills today.

When you are debt free you have all that cash you pay out every month to the credit card companies to build wealth with. This means you invest in real estate or mutual funds, and then you let your money make you money.

Dont let you children be left with you debts and no inheritance. Now is the time to start to work to pay downs those debts, build and emergency fund, and invest for the future. When you do this you are also securing a future for you family, and go have peace that you family is financially secure for the future.

Getting out of debt is the best thing you can do to secure your financial future, but you have to sacrifice, and live on less than you make, eat at home, and even pass up some vacations, but at the end of the day it is worth every bite of the sacrifice, dedication, and time you put into it, because now you are free and in charge of your finance destiny.

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On your Way to Healthy Credit

By Paul J. Easton

One of the worst problems we have today is Credit card debt. Credit cards are very dangerous. It is a very dangerous convenience for those who likes to impulse buy.

Credit card debt is an ever growing problem around the world and a lot of people are finding themselves in a financial bind because of their over spending habits. Credit card companies are now very lenient with their protocols. They can now afford to just loosen up with their policies when it comes to issuing new credit cards. They even spend millions of dollars in advertising every year. No wonder why the world is in credit crunch right now.

Credit card companies rely on the fact that most card holders will let their impulse buying gene go run wild. These companies also entice these card holders until they give in to all the temptations with the appealing merchandise.

If you find yourself struggling with credit card debts, these are simple suggestions to ease the stress with that impulse habit. In fact, controlling your credit card urges is common sense. But some people are just not very logical when the emotional appeal kicks in.

First, stop using the cards if you can't control using them. There is no simpler way to reduce your debt. Cutting up your credit cards will very much alleviate the urge to purchase things that you don't necessarily need.

Second is to stop enrolling to new credit card offers. You ca \n always be tempted to take advantage of a new credit card offer. This is especially the case if it is pre-approved. With easy access to new credit cards, you will only run in circles. Stop credit card companies from sending you new forms for enrolment by removing your name from credit bureau lists.

Then, always pay more than minimum, if possible twice the amount of the minimum. Credit card companies have their strategies to keep you in debt. They offer low monthly payments. The reason for this is that the longer it takes for you to pay off the total balance the higher their profit is. In the long run, paying more than minimum will actually save you thousands of dollars.

As a conclusion, credit is a great tool and a wonderful one if used carefully. But because millions of card holders are now struggling with debt, be very careful with its use. Set limits with your spending and avoid unneeded purchases. By keeping those simple tips, you are on your way to a healthy credit.

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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

Teaching Yourself to Plan your Spending

By Paul J. Easton

With more marketing hypes now then ever, we are more indulged into heavy consumerism. With this phenomenon, more people are tempted to acquire debts beyond their capacity to pay. Debt is simply responsibility and we are getting more irresponsible.

Debt mismanagement is becoming a common household concern. Management of our finances and financial literacy has certainly become a very big dilemma. With growing debts and the looming financial misfortunes in the near future, one must consider debt relief if needed.

With today's great demand for debt relief, there are already many options to help us with our financial troubles. But educating oneself is still the best defense and the key to our survival in this financial crunch.

Educating yourself is definitely your first base in helping yourself. It all starts with realization.

Realization is stopping the use of your credit cards for your shopping impulses. Whatever situation you will enter, you need stringent self imposition of stopping yourself from wild shopping sprees.

Your situation right now demands that you give up your credit cards temporarily or if without reform, then permanently. Have some restraint with yourself and make this move a main priority. And work your butt off to persistently continue until you get out of this financial situation. To regain control over your finances is like taming a beast and finally achieving freedom when reaching your goal.

If you can't handle this yourself, go get a guide with professional help. In many cases, most experts design a plan for some of their clients. This plan will have some methods for retention with the original plan. This works out best to let you stick with the spending plan to get their debt under control.

A spending plan is a simple guide with your income and your expenses and everything in between. This plan illustrates in detail how much money you have and how much money you spend at a time frame with priorities. Sticking to a realistic spending plan allows one to be motivated and be guided to a certain goal. And that goal is to pay off your debts. Much better if you can save for the proverbial rainy day.

Educating yourself is one thing and creating and sticking with the plan is another. This is just how simple debt relief can become. Learn from your mistakes and be smart with money. After all, money will only stick when you have a plan for it. So observe, learn, and keep your money.

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

Take Advantage Of Low APR Credit Cards

By Al Swearingen

Low APR credit cards are offered to consumers who have very good to excellent credit histories. These cards have low interest rates as the name suggests as well as offering many other benefits which you may think of as a reward for your history of fiscal responsibility. These are the most desirable kind of credit card and offer perks which include:

*1% - 5% cash back on goods and merchandise *0% APR for up to 12 months on some cards *Interest rates as low as 7.99% after the introductory period has concluded *No annual fees *Your choice of rewards programs

These are just a few of the benefits available to the users of these credit cards. If your credit history is string, then you can choose from a lot of different offers. Credit card companies prefer cardholders who pay their bills on time each month and keep their balances to less than 50% of their credit limit. Look at our site map to see many different credit card offers.

Whenever looking at a credit card offer, you should carefully read the terms and conditions along with the perks and benefits. Doing so will help you to get the best low interest rate credit card. All of the major credit card issuers: Chase Manhattan, Discover and American Express, among others offer low APR cards to consumers who meet the necessary qualifications.

How good is your credit score? If you happen to have a very good or excellent credit score, then youll be able to enjoy the rewards programs which card issuers like American Express, Capital One, Chase Manhattan and others offer to cardholders who choose their cards. These rewards programs offer an excellent incentive to maintain a good credit score.

Its tough to keep up with all of your payments, making them on time each month " and it can be hard to resist overspending when you have a credit card! Credit card issuers know this too and they show responsible customers how much they value them by offering these low APR credit cards.

As if a low interest rate wasnt already good enough, these offers provide cardholders with rewards programs which make a good thing even better, such as cash back (sometimes as high a 0%) on select purchases from retailers all over the country and travel rewards. Travel rewards let you earn points which are redeemable for travel expenses such as car rentals, plane tickets, hotels and more!

So what kind of shape is your credit in? Request a copy of your credit report and find out where you stand. If you have excellent or very good credit, then you can qualify for a low APR credit card and gain the benefits which are due to you as a responsible consumer.

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Getting grants from the Government.

By Collin James

Recent reports form all the major news sources like MSNBC and CNN have proven that there is a ton of money sitting in the Government that has been allotted for grants. The problem is that most people do not know how to properly fill out the forms to get the grants and the government is not giving any lessons on this either, so the money just ends up sitting there.

If you have been looking for a way to learn how to get a piece of the millions that is allotted each year for privately funded and federally funded grants then here is your chance to learn all the steps to properly fill out the forms and what you need to say to get approved.

Many American's need to learn the steps behind getting grants that they are all entitled to get. It's time for the secrets behind getting approved for grants to come out and for people just like you and me to start getting what has been set aside for us.

Most grants come interest free, and for most of us right now with what we are going through in our lives and the finical hard ships - not having to pay interest on a large lump of money could really make a difference weather or not we make it or fold.

Grants can be used for a large array of reasons, be them personal or business related, and with only having to pay back what you received, many people are starting to realize that the government is there friend!

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Government Funded Grants are for anyone who are in need for some money. There are quite a few services that can help you with getting the right information, it's just a matter of you taking action to get your own grant. Vareit us to receive your federal grant information kits.

Manage Your Credit Card

By Amanda Somrekli

There are several other things you should watch for in fine print. One of the most onerous is that if you are reported as delinquent on any other account, with any creditor, this creditor can raise your APR, in what as known as "universal default."

The economy still needs to operate to fight off the worsening financial picture, and businesses (particularly small businesses) will still need lines of credit. With the Bank of England base interest rate at a record low, business leaders are now calling on the government to cap interest rate charges on business credit cards to give them a little bit of breathing space.

The government has consistently resisted the calls on the grounds that a cap could harm the consumers they are designed to protect by restricting access to credit and also reducing the transparency of charging structures.

Credit cards - particularly for small businesses - are an additional form of financial income, allowing short-term flexibility and playing a vital role in keeping other lines of credit open to a business.

If you are up to eliminate your credit cards debt, but you still want to use a card and run an effective credit repair and credit rebuilding at the same time, then you should consider opening secured cards. Even if your credit score is poor you can always apply for a secured card, and try to keep the balance relatively low.

The best way to look at what each offer is giving you is to read the back of the offer and not just the front page that summarizes their incentives. The back summary will tell you the APR (Annual Percentage Rate), any annual fees required, fees for balance transfers, what kind of minimum monthly payment they require, and what their rewards or benefits are.

Remember, signing up for the credit cards are the easy part. There are so many companies out there just waiting to get more customers. The key is to find the one that fits your financial needs and you understand the terms of the agreement you are signing on to.

Having a gas card allows you to keep track of your spending at the pumps. If you use the card for personal use, at tax time, you will have the details of how much you spent and how much was for traveling to work or for work.

If you are a business, you can keep track of all expenses. There many benefits for using the gas credit cards, but the most important is that you can pay one monthly payment and not have to carry money around for gas.

Try a student credit card: If you're attending college, try a student credit card. As long as you're attending college, you'll be eligible for this card. You won't need any credit nor will you need to show any credit history, etc. This is your best bet as a younger adult.

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Why Should I Chase After A Credit Score Of 700

By Frank Froggatt

It's kind of disconcerting that to the authorities and other organizations we are recognized a just a number.Whenever you go down to apply for a loan or a personal line of credit you can see the truth revealed in that if you don't possess a high enough number you won't get the money you require.

What though is a credit score? Creditors use a "credit score" to ascertain your creditworthiness as determined by your past history. Ordinarily, the score is from 340 to 850 and if you don't score that well, your loan will be disapproved or it will be allowed as long as you accept to pay a high interest rate.

This is in all likelihood unfair given that you don't have money already but it is a fact of life.Whether you like it or not, you have to go along with them and sign the documents if you want the money.

In the US, many Americans have a good credit score.The cause of these good credit scores is the basics of not over spending and paying their bill on time.

Individuals that don't possess a good credit score will need to make life changes in order to make ends meet and getting their debts paid.A good idea will be to talk to your creditor about the situation so they can come up with a payment plan so this will never appear on their permanent record. If you have been carrying a good credit score up to now that is probably the wisest choice of action to start.

If your wallet is stuffed with unneeded credit cards do yourself a favor and lose all of them except for one of them if you absolutely must have any at all. Be certain that you get rid of all the newest cards and only keep the the oldest card for this will reflect better on your credit report.

A frequently made mistake most often by people without a very long credit history is to open credit accounts unnecessarily.You just have to think smart to see if it is worth the risk.

You should absolutely keep close tabs on your credit score but if it is just under the 700 mark you better make darn sure that everything on it is correct that little difference below the sweet spot can cost you thousands in interest You never know mistakes happen all the time and you might get really lucky and find one that can make all the difference for you You can call the credit agency to tell them about it and send the supporting documents so an investigation can be done and this matter can be corrected.

In order to get your credit score you will need to pay for it but you can get your report for free which is all you need to find out if there are any errors. Contact Equifax,Transunion, or Experian for your report, these are the 3 credit bureaus that monitor all reported credit transactions. The way that the different credit bureaus score you differs between each one but all of the information on the reports should be about the same.Your report can vary widely over the span of a year so you want to make sure that you take advantage of the free yearly reports and find out what is there.

With the much coveted credit score of 700 or higher you most invariably qualify for the lowest interest rates available. You can use that low interest money in any way you choose be it for schooling, a mortgage, or even home improvements. Achieving this score is not an easy task, it takes dedication and hard work, you can achieve it just be wise and use good judgement.

Before you even go in to apply for a loan you should be aware of what your credit score is.Being aware of your score will save you any undo embarrassment in the event of issues on your credit report.

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This piece was put together by Frank Froggatt an authority on credit and debt management. If you found this piece to be helpful you can find more FREE information at Credit Fix Repair Report.com. Get your FREE information now

Knowing the Details of Unsecured Personal Loans

By Rick Smith

Unsecured personal loans are a debt financing tool used by individuals who need a) a relatively quick loan with no collateral, and b) a way to improve their credit score and relationship with their local banks and lenders. There are any number of reasons a person might need this kind of loan.

Quite a few of the banks and lending insitutions out there don't even offer these kind of loans because they feel the risk is too high that the borrower will fail to repay some or all of the loan balance. Many of the people who seek this type of financing have hurt their credit score in the past and they're in a credit rebuilding phase. That's why these loans most often carry borderline exorbitant interest.

But don't lose hope; if you get a few of these loans and show the bank you can make your payments on time, they'll report that good behavior to the credit agencies and the time will come when you can borrow more easily and with better terms. In the meantime, expect to pay fees of $30 to $50 per loan (depending on the size) and interest rates of 19% to 22%.

More than one tough situation can arise that would cause you to need to borrow money quickly and without collateral. Many lenders say they see people using this debt instrument most frequently when their vehicle has broken down and they have no way of getting themselves to work, which would create a vicious cycle where they have no work and their bills start to go unpaid.

Many unsecured loan applicants work in physically dangerous environments where they might need be injured and require emergency medical attention. Just having to pay a $500 or $1000 insurance deductible is enough to sink some families, so an emergency loan might become necessary.

Finally, if part of the roof of your home collapses and you need to repair it in order for your family to stay safe and warm, an unsecured loan might your only option in the absence of a healthy savings account balance. Of course, in the long term you should start putting some money into savings each month so after a couple of years you have an emergency fund to make any undesirable borrowing totally unnecessary in your life.

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If you're a person who's fallen on hard financial times in the past, Rick can teach you how to get unsecured personal loans with bad creditor an instant decision personal loan if time is of the essence.

Current Mortgage Tips

By Anne Durrell

Finding the greatest current mortgage rates can be a challenging occupation for many people . This is especially true think about the present economic crisis that is happening in the world right now.

There are a number of anotherroutes that you can take to find the best business when it arrive to current mortgage rates.

The most important strategy is to look for for the greatest rates online through websites that concentrate in home credit, mortgages, refinancing, and more .

It is often that a customer support agent or a real estate agent can get you the best of the best when it comes to current mortgage rates.

If you research the real estate agents in your local community, you are likely to find that they can give you some of the best current mortgage rates right now.

The value of homes is at an all time low considering that we are in a state of economic turmoil right now. Now is the best time to get the lowest current mortgage rates.

In addition to this, just go around and understand what is on the market can assist you get some of the greatest agreement when it arrive to current mortgage rates. All it takes is research and a little creativity and you are sure to get the top deal !

About the Author:

About author: CurrentMortgageRate-s.com. If you are wondering how to go about getting the best current mortgage rates, this article can give you a few pointers to help you out.

Getting grants from the Government.

By Collin James

Recent reports form all the major news sources like MSNBC and CNN have proven that there is a ton of money sitting in the Government that has been allotted for grants. The problem is that most people do not know how to properly fill out the forms to get the grants and the government is not giving any lessons on this either, so the money just ends up sitting there.

In order to get a piece of the million dollar grant pie you need to learn how to properly fill out the forms and learn exactly what to say in order to get approved. There is literally thousands of grant agencies out there that can help you learn the right process, but in many cases, there is no time for people in need to sit around and wait for appointments that are months away.

Many American's need to learn the steps behind getting grants that they are all entitled to get. It's time for the secrets behind getting approved for grants to come out and for people just like you and me to start getting what has been set aside for us.

Why grants are s important in this economic hard time that we all seem to be going through is that the money, in most cases is interest free. So, when you think about how much money banks make in interest - that is what you save.

You can use grant money for a wide variety of reasons when you need it the most, and only pay back the money you received. This is why many people have realized that the government can be their friend.

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Government Funded Grants are for anyone who are in need for some money. There are quite a few services that can help you with getting the proper information, it's just a matter of you taking action to get your own grant. Vareit us to receive your federal grant information kits.

Make Money From Gamma Scalping And Theta Decay

By Walter Fox

Use of the Internet connection in the area of trade, the traditional concept of trade has taken a U-turn created a new form of the so-called trade transactions on the Internet. Consumers can easily be found on-line trading because of traders come from all walks of life started to participate in it.

At any time, the concept of online transactions is applicable to all types of consumer products, but it is more suitable for stock option transactions and foreign exchange transactions. One night in the exponential growth in the financial markets and to hand over those of the domestic market have become the international market.

Trading became very tough and challenging as expert players jumped in to the fray with different trading tools and techniques as their resource. Traditional share market players realized the importance of technological tools as well as stock option trading strategy and thus the demand for trading tools has gained momentum resulting in the origin of different option trading strategies and stock option strategies.

Scalping very successful, the gamma trading is useful for a stock option trading strategy. Gamma scalping is the meaning of buying or selling with a small profit. The main advantage of gamma scalping can buy options on low cost and high cost of selling them at risk and to reduce the dealer's. The stock option trading strategy for the most complex and liquid market for the stock market as a fine.

Theta is a very familiar word decay stock market trading and is heard in the value of a stock option's daily rate of depreciation is enabled to measure an option. The trader with time, but the rate of time is nothing special how much the price will fall about stock option will give an idea of decay.

Options strategies from time benefit Theta decay, which results in the application of plays an important role in. Theta and Gamma Scalping t.b. very concepts such as stock in trade between the communities have become popular around the world and if these strategies, some basic knowledge of the market with huge potential to make gains are applied is very high.

Many strategies are invented and marketed by different agencies time and again but few of them could stay in the market for longer period and among them Gamma Scalping and Theta Decay are ruling the market since its origin. Development of software technology and access to internet has given a boost to share market and traders are converting each income opportunity in their favor.

So as the size of the market day trading day need of assistance are growing it is also important. It's a new comer in the market for which it will produce a positive trade to select the best strategy is difficult. But the commission by the agencies of the success of browsing history, for them, they can choose a best option

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TheScienceOfTrading.com provides 90 free minutes of videos on option trading systems and provides a complete and detailed stock trading education for beginners to experts.

American Express Charge Card Services History

By Graham Hawthorne

American Express executives discussed the possibility of launching a travel charge card as early as 1946, but it was not until Diners Club launched their card in March 1950 that American Express began to consider seriously the possibility. At the end of 1957, American Express CEO Ralph Reed decided to get into the card business, and by the launch date of October 1, 1958 public interest had become so significant that they issued 250,000 cards prior to the official launch date. The card was launched with an annual fee of $6, $1 higher than Diners Club, to be seen as a premium product. The first cards were paper, with the account number and cardmember's name typed. It was not until 1959 that American Express began issuing embossed ISO 7810 plastic cards, an industry first.

In 1966, American Express introduced the Gold Card and in 1984 the Platinum Card, clearly defining different market segments within its own business, a practice that has proliferated across a broad array of industries. The Platinum Card was billed as super-exclusive and had a $250 annual fee (it is currently $450). It was offered by invitation only to American Express customers with at least 2 years of tenure, significant spending, and excellent payment history.

In 1987, American Express introduced the Optima card, their first credit card product. Previously, all American Express cards had to be paid in full each month, but Optima allowed customers to carry a balance (the charge cards also now allow extended payment options on qualifying charges based on credit availability). Although Optima is no longer heavily promoted, Optima and Optima Platinum cards are still available on the American Express website. Today American Express offers a wide range of other credit card products including co-branded cards like the JetBlue Card and the Starwood Preferred Guest Card, as well as other credit cards promoting customer rewards like the Blue from American Express Card and the Blue Cash Rebate Card.

In 1994, the Optima True Grace card was introduced. The card was unique in that it offered a grace period on all purchases whether a balance was carried on the card or not (as opposed to traditional revolving credit cards which charge interest on new purchases if so much as $1 was carried over.) The card was discontinued a few years later; however, the currently-available One from American Express card offers a similar feature called "Interest Protection."

In 1999, American Express introduced the Centurion Card which is often referred to as the "black card," catering to an even more affluent and elite customer segment. The card charged a $1,000 annual fee at the time of its introduction (today, it is $2,500 with an additional one-time initiation fee of $5000) and offered (and continues to offer) a variety of exclusive benefits. There have always been rumors of a super-exclusive card that gives American Express' richest and most powerful customers special perks. It was this rumor that caused Amex to profit from the word-of-mouth and sparked the launch of Centurion.

The company made another addition to its products in 1999 by introducing Blue from American Express, which quickly became a popular card among young adults due to an appealing marketing campaign directed towards a youthful demographic. Based on a successful product for the European market, Blue had no annual fee, a rewards program, and a multi-functional onboard chip. A cashback version, "Blue Cash", quickly followed.

American Express also launched an exclusive agreement with Costco in 1999, replacing their earlier agreement with Discover Card. Under the agreement, American Express cards replaced Discover as the only credit/charge card accepted at the warehouse club in the US, and American Express became the first credit/charge card accepted at Costco's locations outside the US. To introduce Costco members to American Express, a co-branded cashback credit card was also introduced with no annual fee with a valid Costco membership. An added benefit of the agreement is that Costco membership fees can also be paid for with the card. At present, the consumer version of the card offers 3% back on gasoline & dining out, 2% on travel, and 1% on other charges. Business versions of the card offer similar benefits, with the gasoline benefit earning 5% back instead of 3%. The cash back rebate is issued annually as part of the February statement in the form of a rebate check which must be redeemed at a Costco location. The rebate check can be redeemed for cash, merchandise, or any combination thereof. The agreement was highly successful and was renewed in 2004 for an additional 10 years.

As of 2005, the US Centurion card has a $2500 annual fee, while other American Express cards range between no annual fee (for Blue the Blue Sky Canadian Credit Card and many other consumer and business cards) and a $450 annual fee (for the Platinum Card.) Annual fees for the Green card start at $95, while Gold card annual fees start at $150.

In 2005, American Express introduced Clear, advertised as the first credit card with no fees of any kind. It also incorporates the ExpressPay technology premiered with the Blue card. Also in 2005, American Express introduced One, a credit card with a "Savings Accelerator Plan" that contributes 1% of eligible purchases into an FDIC-insured High-Yield Savings Account. Other cards introduced in 2005 included "The Knot" and "The Nest" Credit Cards from American Express, co-branded cards developed with the wedding planning website theknot.com. They have also introduced City Reward Cards that earn INSIDE Rewards points to eat, drink, and play at New York, Chicago and LA hot spots. American Express began phasing out the INSIDE cards in mid-2008, with no new applications being taken as of July 2008.

Also in 2005, American Express introduced ExpressPay, a MasterCard PayPass clone, based on a wireless RFID payment method, that requires a card to simply be waved in front of a special reader and not swiped. This technology replaced the smart chip on the Blue card. Many U.S. merchant and restaurant partners including 7-Eleven, CVS/pharmacy, McDonald's, Regal Entertainment Group, and Ritz Camera, now offer ExpressPay at most or all of their locations. The technology was tested on the ski bus from Salt Lake City to local resorts.

In 2006, the UK division of American Express licensed the Product Red brand and began to issue a Red Card. With each card member purchase the company contributes to good causes through The Global Fund to help African women and children suffering from HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.

In 2007, American Express again raised the annual fee for their American Platinum charge cards, moving the Personal cards fee to $450 and the Business division to $395. With the increase, customers now receive four complimentary companion coach tickets per calendar year. Additionally, a long-rumored[citation needed] "relationship" fee of $5,000 to establish a Centurion card was added. The annual fee of $2,500 remains the same, however. In late 2007, they announced their new Plum Card as the latest addition to their card line for small business owners. The card provides a 2% early pay discount or up to two months to defer payment on purchases. However, the 2% discount is only available for billing periods where the cardmember spends at least $5,000. The first 10,000 cards began to be issued to members on December 16, 2007.

In late 2008, American Express announced they were discontinuing their "domestic companion airfare" program, which previously offered four complimentary companion coach tickets per year.

Some versions of the card include various features such as damage waiver on cars rented with the card, and accident insurance during travel bought with the card.

About the Author:

Graham Hawthorne writes for websites like http://www.bchighway.com/financial-planning/amex-blue-sky.html . His Articles are rich with financial advice and controversy.

Tip on Finding Houston Home Insurance

By R. Lee

Houston Home Insurance is not something that you should ever be without. No matter where you live in the United States, if you have a mortgage on your home then you are required by the lenders to have current homeowner insurance coverage. Some people feel though that just because they do not have a mortgage on their home that the coverage can be skipped out on.

You never know what disaster will happened, especially with homes. Many things can happen like fire or storms that can damage your house. One should be prepared for the worst, but having a Houston Home Insurance will give peace of mind. Many options are available to purchase one, either online or with an agent.

Houston Home Insurance will cover the building as well as your personal possessions. If you have valuable items that are expensive, make a list and send it over to the insurance company. Depending on some factors, you can get a good policy for less than five hundreds dollars. Insurance companies take many factor into consideration, like your credit score.

The higher your credit score is the better rates you will receive. Insurance companies will also take a look at the appraisal value of your home and what they feel it would cost to completely rebuild it from the ground up. They will use calculations based off today's market to come up with that figure.

There is also the consideration of how much coverage you are seeking for your personal affects. The more money your personal items are worth, the higher your yearly premium will be. Once that is all considered, you will receive a quote on the Houston Home Insurance policy they can offer you.

Most insurance companies require the premiums for Houston Home Insurance paid up front. After the first year, you may change the payment options to an installment payments. Whether or not you are living in a house, you definitely need a homeowners insurance to protect you and your family.

About the Author:

Before you purchase Houston Home Insurance, please review Houston Home Insurance, and Houston Home Insurance

What you should know about the new Bankruptcy means test

By Josh Ramos

If you feel that you may need to declare bankruptcy in order to solve your debt problems, you may be worried about the recent bankruptcy law. Many have made the assumption that they no longer qualify because of the recent changes in the bankruptcy code.

Bankruptcy is certainly still around, but there are some changes you need to be aware of. Among these changes, the most important is called the means test, which will help decide whether you can file chapter seven bankruptcy.

Many lawyers and consumers alike have questioned the recent law, stating that it is bad for consumers and only makes things more difficult for people who really need financial help. Nevertheless, the law was passed in 2005 as a result of pressure from the credit industry.

The good news is that bankruptcy is still available for those who need it, but the new law makes the process more tedious if you wish to have your debts eliminated under chapter seven. This brings us back to the means test.

Simply put, the means test tries to determine whether you make too much money (or have too few expenses) to qualify for bankruptcy. If your annual salary is unusually low when compared to other salaries in your state, then the means test does not even apply to you.

If you have a higher salary, though, you will have to go through a more painstaking process to carefully document all of your income and expenses. From this, the bankruptcy court will determine whether you have the means to pay for your debts and if you qualify for chapter seven bankruptcy.

This more tedious process is one of the results of the bankruptcy reform law passed in recent years. If the court determines that you make too much money, you may be forced to pay part or all of your debt (though you'll probably be given a repayment plan as part of a chapter 13 bankruptcy).

You should know that most people who would have qualified previously will still be eligible under this new law. However, the process has become more difficult, so you should have legal assistance by your side at all times. Good legal advice will probably pay for itself if you're able to successfully file for bankruptcy

About the Author:

Don't let the fear of your debt take over your life. Get the facts about bankruptcy and learn how to get control of your debt. To learn more about how to avoid bankruptcy and pay off debt visit us at http://personalbankruptcyquestions.org

How Does Tax Relief Work?

By Dennis Durrel

It can be quite depressing when you open up your paycheck, and see that a big portion of your income has been taken out due to taxes.

Although every person pays them, however, you cannot help but feel gypped after you see how much of your profits goes to taxes. For many people that makes it very hard for them to make ends meet. That is while civilian start clamoring for Tax Relief.

In 2003, President Bush actually passed the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. This bill was created to help offset the expense of paying taxes.

With this act, the number of tax exemptions were increased, and certain taxes were even lowered. Income that an individual would receive from a dividend or capital gain would typically be taxed at a very high rate. However, President Bush wanted to provide some tax relief for this specific case, and the act called for a lower tax rate for situations like this.

Even if tax relief seems alike it would be very popular on all fronts that is not often the case. Indeed, some time that taxes are being looked at so that a correction can be made it looks alike there is always a great deal of argument.

About the Author:

About Author: Taxrelie-f.com. I have a tip that includes detailed instructions on tax relief. Lots of tax relief related tips and tricks here for free!

Is Diversification Going to Protect Me?

By Jan Shimano

Not being an experienced investor, I have been very concerned lately as I watched my investments dwindling before my very eyes. I decided to do a little investigating with the hopes of coming up with some answers.

It has been my experience that whenever I am motivated to seek an answer to a question, that answer invariably appears, and so it was with my search. I had read Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki a number of times and found it very informative. A friend of mine recommended I read his book, Rich Dad's Prophecy, so I ordered a copy. That book was a major eye opener for me.

We are used to the market going up, down and sideways. That is it's cyclical nature. However, if we were to graph it out over many years we would see that the big picture showed a steady upward motion, even though there were small dips here and there. The graph these days looks very different and it's quite frightening for many people. It is headed down on a very steep curve.

The first of the 75 million baby boomers in the U.S. are going to be turning age 70 by the year 2016. The U.S. has a law on the books that states that when a person reaches age 70 1/2 they have to take all their funds out of their 401k. The time to pay 'Uncle Sam' will have arrived. Just think for a moment what that is going to mean.

In the not too distant future, millions of people will be selling off the mutual funds and shares they have in their 401k because the Government has told them they have to. The Government has been waiting patiently to receive their tax dollars and now their day will have come. This is a major disaster waiting to happen. Undoubtedly, there will not be enough purchasers to offset the massive selloff during this period of time. It is possible that the U.S. Government could amend the law, allowing assets to stay in the 401k for a longer period of time, but then they would be delaying receiving their tax dollars.

Most people already know that they are in deep financial trouble, but they don't realize the full impact. They are still being told that as long as they diversify, they will be fine. They are being told to sit tight and ride out the storm! I believe we are wise to listen to Warren Buffet when he states.... "Diversification is a protection against ignorance. It makes very little sense for those that know what they are doing".

We still have a few years before 2016 is upon us, so there is still time to get a firm handle on your finances and make some intelligent decisions. Educate yourself on financial matters and take action now to accumulate additional funds to see you through to your retirement and beyond. The experts tell us that having a home-based business is the best way to do this. The prediction is that there are going to be millions of new millionaires created during the next 10 years. You can be one of them...there are many great opportunities out there....find the one that resonates with you and run with it.

About the Author:

Jan Shimano was District Manager for Health & Welfare Canada for many years. She was also self-employed as a Nutritional Consultant. She is presently a Business and Health Coach and runs her own internet marketing company from her residence on Vancouver Island. Jan also invites you to visit her on YouTube at www.youtube.com/1jinny

Three Deadly Mistakes that Cost a Business Money

By Susan Carter

Question: Have you ever wished that you knew ahead of time how to avoid mistakes that will cost you money? Question: Do you realize that when it comes to your business, these mistakes can cost you thousands of dollars? Answer: I can tell you how to avoid some of the most costly mistakes so that you stay on the right track to making money, instead of losing money.

1. Not setting up your business in the correct Business Structure. Many new business owners dont think they need to set up their company as a legal business entity because it's only them working. They dont think its a problem to combine their business accounts with their personal accounts. Regrettably, this mixing of money and expenses causes a huge problem for the new business owner. If they keep their business and personal activity separate, they present to the taxing authorities (Uncle Sam) an obvious picture that they are functioning as a business and not as a hobby.

Remember, when banks lend to individual sole proprietors its considered a personal loan and is reported to the personal credit bureaus like Equifax. By setting up your business as a corporation, partnership or LLC, the lending institutions will report your business creditworthiness to the business credit bureaus, and your FICO scores are not affected - if you used your Employer ID number (EIN) on the account with the lender. You will also look more professional in the eyes of a bank or other financial institution if you are set up as a business entity.

2. Not presenting your business as an established business. What I mean by this is that your business has its own address and phone number. Im not saying you cant work out of your home, what Im saying is that to the business credit world you must show your business as having its own address. It is absolutely necessary that your business be listed in the national 411 directory with a matching address. A lot of small business owners use their cell phone number as their business phone number. Unfortunately, a cell phone number is not acceptable for most financial institutions. A lender will usually call 411 to verify your business and expect to find a specific address and business phone number. Lenders dont want to see P.O. boxes or UPS addresses. If you run your business out of your home, it must be a separate phone line that appears in the 411 directory as belonging to the address listed in the 411 directory. It must also match the address listed with the State in which the business is registered because the financial institutions will go onto the States website and verify your business information and if they dont find a match, you may be denied.

3. Not checking your credit report. You should already know how important it is to regularly check your personal credit reports for accuracy, but its also important that you check your business credit as well. Have you noticed that when you are a new business and you try to apply for business credit, financial institutions generally ask for a personal guarantee before extending business credit to your company? You may lose your ability to get business credit because of negative data on your personal credit report. This holds true for business credit. If false or negative information is reported to D&B (the most well known business credit agency), you may be denied credit. Financial institutions are looking to lend money only to businesses that are a good credit risk. It is critical that your personal and business creditworthiness are reported accurately with all the credit agencies. It is up to you to verify the accuracy on a regular basis.

About the Author:

Learn more about how to structure your business correctly, and learn additional secrets to help you present your company to the world as being well established. Get the information you need so you can obtain lines of credit and vendor credit cards for your business without putting your personal credit at risk.

Credit Cards Will be Protected by This Loan

By Dillon Azungen

There is no more misused phrase in the entire economic universe than 'credit card debt consolidation loan.' Most North Americans do not possess the determination required to take out a debt consolidation mortgage and make it work. To have it actually work, you have to stop using your cards. The idea of the debt consolidation loan is not to have you go deeper into debt. It appears that some folks never learn.

However, there are good ways of taking care of your debt, which may not be the best way, but it can offer you temporary relief as you accrue even more credit card debt. If you're not careful, you'll be able to grow an even larger debt so that you have to apply for a larger consolidation loan. God bless America.

In order for a credit card debt loan to have any sense at all, you have to sit down and choose which credit cards will be protected by this loan. After that, you will need to destroy those very cards and cancel the accounts. If all you want to do is reassign the balance to a new type of vehicle called a debt consolidation loan, then you ought to know that there are other ways to do this. Because if that is what you're about to do it makes about as much common sense as a credit card that permits you to spend on credit.

So, if you're not ready to demolish your cards, and cancel accounts, then this consolidation loan is actually about to make things worse for you. If, on the other hand, you can find a way to limit yourself, then you may be able to use a 'credit card debt loan' to your advantage and start that climb out of debt.

Might As Well Keep It as Credit Card Debt If, on the other hand, you cannot shred your cards with glee, pick up the phone, and cancel accounts, then you may as well just find a different form of credit card debt consolidation. That form is called the transfer of debt to a different card. You probably have offers already in the mail telling you that you should transfer your credit card balance to their sparkling new card and that you won't pay any interest on the balance. These are the 'deals' that you want to use if all you wish to do is find a way to keep on spending.

You should be warned however, that these kinds of cards will creep up on you from behind and before you know it, your tens of thousands of dollars more in debt than you previously were. Balance transfer 'deals' is how many people end up being so deep in the hole they can't get out. So if you're getting ready to do your second or third debt transfer, just stop and talk to a professional credit counselor.

Nonetheless, if you're not willing to destroy your cards. If you can't see yourself canceling accounts, then you're not ready for the help a credit card debt consolidation loan can give you. If you are ready however, this can help you climb out of the financial hole every North American is in these days.

About the Author:

Dillon Azungen wrote largely for http://www.debtania.com , an online publication with information about eliminating high interest credit card debt and eliminate credit card dept. You can have a look at his articles on how to eliminate debt quickly over at http://www.debtania.com .

Negotiate Debt Settlement to Help Relieve Financial Woes

By Daniel Atolben

Are you deep in debt and looking for a way out? Are you living paycheck to paycheck, paying bills late and barely scraping by? Managing your personal finances can be tough and there are many people in your same situation. There are some things you can do to help relieve your financial stress.

First off, you should try to repay your debts as you have agreed to. Work out a budget, limit your spending and as you pay off your credit cards, don't spend on them. If you've maintained good credit then see if you can ask for a lower interest rate or transfer your balance to another credit card that has a lower interest rate. Some may offer you a limited time at a low or zero interest which may be what you need to get ahead of your payments.

Look at ways to increase your income. Think about taking up a temporary job to supplement your income. Consider downsizing your lifestyle so you can have more spending money. If you're making payments on your car, then think about selling it and buy a used, dependable one. Think about getting a roommate or moving to a smaller apartment. If you can generate just a few hundred dollars a month then you can bring down your debt in no time.

Getting a debt consolidation loan is an option that is attractive even if you're not in financial peril. This type of loan will pay off your other debts, offer you a lower average interest rate and give you one monthly bill. A debt or credit consolidation loan can be fairly easy to get if you have equity in your home and have a decent credit history.

Another, less desirable option is debt negotiation. With debt negotiation, you or a third party negotiates with your lenders for a lower interest rate, extended payments, and/or lower monthly payments. By doing this, you can afford your monthly bills and you'll have fewer worries. This comes at a price, however. Your credit cards will be frozen until your debt is clear and your credit report will be adversely affected.

There are debt negotiation services available to help you. They usually charge you a monthly service fee but they can help you get your debt under control. They advertise in the phonebook and on the internet. Be wary of ones that sound too good to be true. No one can just erase debt with no repayment unless it's through bankruptcy.

If you don't know the best option for your financial situation then get help from a credit counseling service in your area. They are usually non-profit or not-for-profit so their fees are nominal and they offer you a free consultation. Not only will they help negotiate debt settlement but they can also help you plan out a budget. You can soon be on your way to relieving debt and ending your financial burdens.

About the Author:

Daniel Atolben is writing principally for http://www.debtania.com , an internet site with topics around how to negotiate with creditors and how to negotiate debt settlement within creditors. His contributions on negotiating settlements amongst creditors are published on http://www.debtania.com/negotiatesettlement.html .

The Effectiveness of Retirement Planning Software

By Michael Geoffrey

Retirement planning software is essential in helping you to secure your retirement future. If you want to enjoy and maintain your life after retirement, then you really need to own retirement planning software.

The retirement planning software will easily help you to create an effective plan for your personal financial future. It equips you with the financial planning tools that are necessary to create a comprehensive personal financial plan. You will be able to plan for both your current and future financial events. Using retirement planning software will help you to track your investments and other financial assets. You will be able to see the future ahead year by year.

The software helps you pull all your financial information together in one place so that you can have an overall picture of your finances. You can upload information from any accounting or budgeting software to incorporate those figures into your retirement plan information and create graphs that help you keep track of how your financial plan is progressing.

Benefits of using the software

There are more retirement planning programs available now that offer more options than before:

- Advisement when your financial situation is at a point where a reverse mortgage could benefit you

- Gives you the ability to evaluate different budget options

- Tracks your asset allocation

- Helps you estimate the security of your investments

- Gives you custom reports with easy to read spreadsheets and graphs

- Helps you keep your finances uncomplicated and easy to manage

- It is easy to use and is the best financial advisor that you could ever own

- It is much cheaper than having a financial consultant

-It sets up real scenarios to explain and create financial plans

- It discusses different options from various angles so that the best choices can be made

- Project inflation needs so you can make necessary adjustments

- Incorporates the cost of health care into your figures so that you are sure to allow for this important necessity

A good retirement planning software will help you decipher whether your financial plan is such that will ensure a comfortable future for you. Retirement is a lot to think about and a good financial plan is a serious responsibility that takes time and effort. The right software can make it so much easier and down the road you will see the positive results of your hard work and effort.

About the Author:

We offer objective reviews of many different products in the debt, credit, investing and real estate markets, to name a few. Visit http://www.financeproductevaluations.com to take a look at our latest reviews, such as our latest pick Leo Quinn's How To Own Your Paycheck Again.

Owning Property and Paying a Bond

By Graham McKenzie

If you want to purchase property, whether for a business or home, you do so by taking out a bond. A bond is more commonly referred to as mortgage. It's rare that an individual will have ample enough funds to purchase a property straight-up. So the individual must borrow from the bank.

Banks are in business to lend money, so bonds have always represented a primary service they offer. Holding a mortgage is a way the bank will make a long term profit, because they not only receive money from the individual but also hold the deeds to the property until the loan is repaid in full.

The bank holds stipulations for individuals wishing to purchase property. For example, the individual must put down a cash deposit against the purchase of property. Generally the buyer must meet a minimum of 30% of what the property is worth.

The recent mortgage disaster stems from banks becoming way too lenient in the way they do business, reducing those restrictions sometimes entirely. Unfortunately too many people got over their heads in debt and have ruined the bond process for everyone else.

When considering such a request, the bank will follow the procedures that they would do when granting a new mortgage, but with one or two minor differences. If you plan on renovating your current property and just need help via a loan, the bank will request you submit estimates from professional contractors. Banks are much more inclined to grant the money if professionals will work on the renovation and not yourself.

After you provide the bank with all the details, they will sit down and study your case. The bank needs to decide if you really need the money and if you will be able to pay it off. It's difficult paying off one bond much less two.

Banks who issue bonds are entitled to ask for banks statements and details of income of both parties in the case of a joint bond against a property. You have no option here. While you may not like disclosing your personal information, the bank must closely examine and judge whether or not you can afford the bond.

Purchasing and owning property is an experience and right everyone should enjoy. However, it's also a time filled with doubt and concern. Do your homework and make sure you can afford the bond both now and in the future.

About the Author:

Graham McKenzie is the content syndication manager at BondCredit.co.za South Africans leading Bond Originator

Can I get a Second Bond?

By Graham McKenzie

You already have a bond so what do you need a second one for? Simple, you have ideas of expanding or renovating the property and you once again need assistance from the bank. Banks are always willing to help, just know that they will likely charge a high down payment once again.

Did you know on average, a family will move three times? That means that you are changing residences more often than you might think. And even if you don't fit the norm, sometimes you need to expand.

If you are interested in taking out a mortgage, you first must be able to make a down payment, commonly known as a deposit. This deposit usually should equal at least 30% of the net worth of the property. This down payment ensures the bank that you plan to pay off the debt and have the necessary funds to begin with.

The current mortgage crisis has resulted from banks, especially in the United States, becoming too lenient in who they offer mortgages too. In fact, sometimes banks allowed people to take out mortgages with little down. They are now paying the price, and as a result, must only offer new mortgages with a high down payment.

When considering such a request, the bank will follow the procedures that they would do when granting a new mortgage, but with one or two minor differences. If you plan on renovating your current property and just need help via a loan, the bank will request you submit estimates from professional contractors. Banks are much more inclined to grant the money if professionals will work on the renovation and not yourself.

After you provide the bank with all the details, they will sit down and study your case. The bank needs to decide if you really need the money and if you will be able to pay it off. It's difficult paying off one bond much less two.

The bank also tends to frown upon second bonds that are intended to help release some capital on the property to a struggling business or to support your own, especially if you are looking to start the business from scratch.

Owning a property is a responsibility and benefit every individual should experience. However, taking out a bond is serious matter and one that demands a lot of examination beforehand.

About the Author:

Graham McKenzie is the content syndication manager at BondCredit.co.za South Africans leading Bond Originator

Get The Best Insurance Coverage You Can Afford.

By Susan Tanner

What is insurance? Insurance is the transfer of risk to a company you give your hard earned money to out of your pocket each month. With the way today's economy is, we need to find ways to get the best bang for our buck. I will give you a few tips on how to get the lowest rates possible.

Auto insurance is mandatory in several states, and is often an unavoidable part of driving, so it's important to do your research to get the best quote for you. One good way to find a good insurance company is by asking people like you, such as family and friends, where they buy their automobile insurance. Make sure you check with people who are your age and have similar driving history.

You can also comparison shop for insurance over the internet. Some companies offer to look up other companies' prices to find the customer the best deal. Sometimes you can get a discount by signing up online, rather than in-person with a broker or over the phone. This saves that company money in man hours and paper so they kindly pass those savings on to the consumer.

Some people only need what is required by law, so a good starting point is to look at the coverage required of you by state law, and use that information to determine what you need. However, if you are still paying off your car, or if you have a lien holder, the price will be higher because you will be required to carry more insurance, including both comprehensive and collision coverage, most with deductibles smaller than $500. It might be possible to talk with your lien holder to reduce the amount of coverage they require.

Always remember to ask your insurance representative where you can save more money. In fact, ask him multiple times. A broker may not offer you discounts that you qualify for unless you ask, because insurance companies are there to make money. You can receive discounts for conditions such as driving quality, education, auto clubs, employment, or if you have a child in your home.

It's very important to keep away from accidents and tickets all the time, and especially when you are considering how to buy inexpensive automobile insurance. Accidents will cause a huge increase to your insurance rates, and simply being a careful driver can help keep your rates low in the long run.

Choose your method of transportation wisely. The safer and more inexpensive your car is, the better rate you will get on your auto insurance. If you buy a rare, expensive car with bad safety ratings, you will pay for it in your auto insurance as well.

Know what you need, do your research, ask questions and don't settle for a price you don't think is fair. Buy a reliable car and be a safe driver, and you will be well on your way towards insurance rates your friends will envy.

About the Author:

To find out exactly how I got car insurance, visit my website about auto insurance rates

Car Insurance Advice for Senior Citizens

By Tom Martens

Who is a senior citizen is a question that gets different answers from different people. But no matter how you define "senior," it is still necessary to maintain adequate insurance coverage, especially if you drive. While car insurance is a heavy expense for many seniors, there are many ways to lower costs while maintaining the right amount of coverage for your individual financial situation. Auto insurance is required for every one who drives, of course, regardless of age.

Sit down with a qualified insurance provider and thoroughly review your policy. Make sure it still fits your needs. If you are driving more, you might need additional coverage. But if you are driving less, then you could perhaps scale back on your premiums and save some money while still having proper car insurance coverage.

If you have insurance policies on your home or life, look at having all your policies with a single provider. This is called bundling and it?s a great way to save a lot of money on insurance premiums. It also adds convenience and ease to managing multiple insurance policies because you only have to work with a single insurance provider. If you bundle your policies, you can also work with the insurance provider on a single due date or dates for your premiums in order to make managing your bills easy.

Inquire whether your insurance company offers senior citizen discounts. Many companies also offer discounts to members of groups like AARP, as well as other organizations. If you have more than one driver in your household, inquire about multiple driver discounts and discounts for multiple vehicles.

Never buy coverage you don't want, don't understand, or don?t' need. Many agents will try to sell you riders, that is, coverage for additional events that are often not necessary and always cost you more money. Never feel pressured into buying something you don't need. If you inform your agent that you are not interested in the rider and they insist you take it anyway, then it's time to find a new company.

It's also essential not to buy any coverage you do not understand. Ask questions and let the broker explain coverage until you do understand. There is no reason to be afraid or embarrassed if it takes several explanations for you to get something. Insurance is a complicated business. Also, be sure to get any promise in writing. Look over contracts carefully. Don't sign anything you don't like, didn't expect, or don't understand.

Finally, if you insurance company is not providing the coverage you want and need, it's time to shop around. Get quotes on a new policy. Make sure your coverage meets your needs and that you have bought the best policy on the market. In fact, even if you are totally happy with your coverage, there is likely to be another company eager to offer you a better deal. Just look before you leap.

No matter what your insurance needs, always be sure you buy from an authorized and licensed insurance agent. They can help you examine your situation and offer a policy precisely tailored to your needs, and answer any questions about coverage and premiums.

About the Author:

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for Carinsurancesa.co.za. South Arica?s leading car insurance portal.

Managing a Homeloan during the Recession and Avoiding Foreclosure

By Tom Martens

If you are struggling to pay your home loan during a recession, you need to take action as soon as possible. First, contact your lender and let them know of your difficulty in making your monthly payment. Do this before you fall behind on your monthly payments.

You can protect your credit rating, and your lender has more options and power to help you if you contact them before you fall behind on payments. Waiting and falling behind on your monthly home loan payments is not a good idea.

Contact the lender before you get seriously behind on your payments. Close and early contact really proves to the lender that the homeowner is serious about repaying the loan and wants to do everything possible not to lose the home.

The dedication goes a long way with the lender, and the bank may suggest programs or ways they can support your home loan during the recession. Programs can include modifying the current loan, reducing the interest rate, or even deferring the monthly payment.

But you cannot expect the bank to do their part and for you to just sit back and do nothing. Studying your monthly budget and cut unnecessary expenses. This is a difficult process, but there is a number of ways you can cut your monthly budget.

Search the house and find items you no longer want, use, or need. Sell those items online, through a garage sale, or at a pawn shop. The extra money can be assigned to loan repayment.

Credit counseling is the last place you can stop if none of the above scenarios have helped you reach the monthly payments. Credit counseling services negotiate the home loan payments on your behalf with the lender. Often they reach a much cheaper monthly repayment plan.

Managing your monthly home loan payments during a recession can be a nightmare, but it?s not impossible. Talk to your lender, cut your expenses and look for ways to make some extra money. These strategies will help you ride out the recession without losing your home.

The fear or losing your home is becoming more real in this time of an economic crisis. However, all is not lost! Stay in close communication with the lender, do your part to cut back expenses, and consult a credit counseling service if all else fails. Your home is very important to you and your family, perhaps your most important asset. Do not fear losing it any longer.

About the Author:

Tom Martens is the content coordinator for South Arica?s leading Homeloans portal which amongst others offers Bond origination services for all major banks.

Equity Loan Bad Credit

By Steve Mark

You may be about to make a purchase on an item, real estate, or service that will need a huge mount of money. However, if you have a bad credit score, applying for a loan will be difficult because you will be slapped with high interest.

Equity Loan Bad Credit

Is there a solution? An option for those with a who need a huge sum of money in a short time to look at equity loan bad credit program. Many local banks or lenders will actually give you the loan, but with the option of mortgaging your property.

But before you sign the application form agreement on the first loan house that you see, here are some things that you may want to consider in getting a home equity loan.

1. Consider repairing your credit score first. You can do this yourself by requesting your credit report from the three credit bureaus and check whether or not the data they have is accurate. If you are not in a hurry to obtain cash, increase your credit score during this time.

2. Check the rates that the different financial houses will offer you for your equity loan. Compare all the offers and see which one will benefit you the most.

3. Be very wary of scams on equity loans. There are unscrupulous individuals that will ask you for money before they give you any service on your equity loan. You have been warned.

I hope that this article is useful enough and I hope that you will get the loan that you have always wanted.

About the Author:

Have a bad credit and need a loan? No one likes to be in that situation. Come to my website and find out more about Equity Loan Bad Credit plus bad credit information. Go now to: http://www.badcreditbin.com and find out how you can get money fast!

Do You Need A Credit Dispute Letter

By Kirk B. Mayors

What are some of the reasons you might need to write a credit dispute letter? Well, if you were denied credit, you might wonder why the lender decided you weren't a creditworthy borrower. If you generally pay your bills on time, you don't use up all of your available credit, you have a stable employment history, and you haven't had your vehicle repossessed, then it's most likely a mistake.

You might need to contact the credit bureau over something as simple as a credit card billing error. Or to dispute harassing calls from collection agencies who are trying to collect on expired or invalid debts. Perhaps you need to negotiate for a lower payment schedule, or fight a misleading report that is attached to your personal credit report erroneously. Credit bureaus sometimes make mistakes!

Whatever reasons you may have for writing a credit dispute letter, you should be careful how you go about it. You want to take care not to anger the credit agency. If your letter is successful, you can restore credit far more quickly than you imagined. The thing to keep in mind is that if the information can't be verified, the agency is required to remove it.

Write your letter in business form, but keep it brief, simple and friendly. A lot of personal information is not required. State the facts, send copies of the disputed report, with the questionable items highlighted, and don't in any way invoke hostility by threatening them with legal action or anything else. If you don't anger them, your claim will be handled in a much more efficient and satisfactory way.

When you are ready to send the letter, be sure it goes out by certified or registered mail, and make sure to request a return receipt. The signed receipt will be sent to you so that you have proof that the credit dispute letter was received before the deadline. Also, make sure to keep copies of everything for your records.

Something to watch for is to be very careful when you shop for big ticket items that require a credit card or loan. Do not give your name, address, and other information ? most especially your social security number ? until you are sure you will purchase the item. Otherwise, if you provide your information at multiple places, you might seriously hurt your credit with multiple inquiries for accounts that you never even open!

This can lead to serious credit trouble, since each credit inquiry detracts from your credit score. These inquiries can knock off up to three points each! If your credit score is already on the low side, there are some credit repair techniques that can help you improve it quickly. First, bring any delinquent debts current. Your score will improve right away. Or, buy something with a department store credit card and pay it in full within two payments.

The one thing you definitely should avoid are scams by so-called credit repair companies. The Internet is teeming with them. There are plenty of dishonest lawyers around too. Remember that credit bureaus get your information from many different sources, so there is no easy fix for a bad credit history.

But, when there's been a mistake made on your report, it's in your best interest to write a credit dispute letter. It's not as difficult as you might think, and it can go along way toward restoring your credit.

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How does Debt Management/Consolidation Work?

By Amy Nutt

When an individual feels that they are so far in debt that there is no way out, they may look to a debt management company to help them find a solution. This is because a debt management company provides their clients with a number of options to help them get themselves back on track.

For example, the debt management company may offer a service in which they negotiate the debt with the creditors. This means putting a freeze on interest rates, negotiating a lower payment, and even lowering the amount of the debt. This can save an individual a lot of money and help them get out of their debt faster so that they can start over when the program is finished.

Debt consolidation

Another service that is offered is debt consolidation. This is where you take out a loan that pays off all of your unsecured debt for you. Unsecured debt is that debt in which collateral is not used to secure the loan. For example, a bank may require a car be put up as collateral on a personal loan. This insures the loan because the bank can take possession of that car to recover the money that they would lose if you were to default on the loan. That is why you cannot include secured debt in a debt consolidation loan or any sort of debt management.

The reason why unsecured debt is allowed is because the creditor will be at a great loss if you do not pay the debt or you file bankruptcy. Through a debt consolidation loan, you are given the loan and you use that money to pay off your creditors. It is then that you have just the one loan payment. That payment can actually save you money on interest and can be less than what your individual debts were costing you each month.

Credit counseling

It is usually called credit counseling when the debt management company has to negotiate with the creditors. Now this is where you may see an adverse effect on your credit score. However, the adverse effect is not as severe as it would be if you filed bankruptcy.

You can expect to be in a credit counseling program for a period of up to three years. The debt management company talks to your creditors and negotiates certain terms with them. For example, the debt management company says to them, "If you do not agree to these terms, this person will file bankruptcy and you'll get nothing." The creditor would much rather get something than nothing at all, so they will negotiate lower rates, lower interest, and any other terms that you have discussed with the debt management company.

When it is over

The debt consolidation loan is rather simple because you take out the loan and make your payments to pay off the debt. But it is the credit counseling aspect that requires some time. Negotiating lower payments and lower interest is not something that comes without consequence. If it did, then it would be too good to be true.

When the program is over, you will have to work on rebuilding your credit. This can be done by simply charging on one credit card and paying it off before your due date each month. Making payments before your due date is important because many creditors take up to 48 hours to post a payment and that can still result in a late fee. Nevertheless, you can have your credit rebuilt and you can ensure that you don't fall in the credit trap ever again. That way you can keep your credit score intact.

About the Author:

Credit Counseling Services teaches consumers how to budget, get out of debt, and use credit wisely. Offers free budget & debt analysis to help manage your debt.

A Beginners Guide To Loan Modification

By John Grays

In these rough economic times, with as many foreclosures as we've seen, mortgage loan modification is getting more popular. Mortgage loan modification can get you out of a lot of trouble, but there's a whole process involved. Let's take a look at how the mortgage loan modification process works.

When you suspect you're going to get in trouble with your mortgage payments, you should warn your bank in advance. This way, you can still speak about mortgage loan modification without the added pressure of debt piling up. A mortgage loan modification is a way to adjust your mortgage contract and bring the monthly payments down. Depending on the negotiations, the principal balance may be decreased and interest types may be changed.

As with all bank procedures, there is some paperwork involved with a loan modification. If you're having trouble getting through this process, you can solicit the help of an expert. Many lenders are willing to help you out with the paperwork of a loan modification. If you don't know a good lender now, ask around for referrals.

If none of your family members and relatives know a good lender, try to search the web for a good loan modification expert. See what kind of information they provide on their site. There is a lot to be found and Who knows, you might figure out how to get through the process yourself!

There's a veritable mountain of information available about loan modification. It doesn't matter where you get, be it from books, Internet, a professional or your bank. Always pay attention and make sure you grasp what is being said. This takes time and effort, but it will all be worth it when you get to keep your home.

About the Author:

John writes about mortgages and finance. He also writes about hypotheekrente and bereken maximale hypotheek in Dutch.

How much does it really cost to go to college?

By Samantha Asher

The cost of college has gone up considerably over the past couple decades. What's strange to see is how different college can cost from one school to another. Go to an Ivy League or top private school and expect to pay over $30,000 a year. Go to a community college and transfer to a four year state college, and (only considering tuition, not room and board), and you probably won't spend $30,000 for all 4 years in tuition and fees.

It is shocking to see how much more a private school is than a state school. How can one school charge $25,000 a year more for the same degree? Is it really the same degree? Are you getting the same education?

Many people look at state schools as inferior because they cost so much less, but they don't think about why they cost so much less. They assume that less cost to them means bad teachers, few programs, and a potentially bad experience.

State schools are government sponsored, meaning they get money from the government like public primary and secondary schools. This allows them to charge considerably less for tuition. Private schools get no money from the government. They rely 100% on the tuition and fees they get from enrolled students to fund everything.

When you go to college, you will get what you put into it. Even beyond the price, you will learn more if you take part in your classes, study, join associations and clubs, and decide that you'll learn. Don't use price to help you decide how good an education is. Sometimes the more expensive colleges are worse but charge more because they waste money on needless 'cosmetic' things.

Begin by deciding what major and career you are interested. Check to see if the schools you are looking at have the necessary departments. Then, ask others, such as friends and potential employers, which school has the best graduates and the most jobs after college. Ask people who went to the schools how they liked it.

Never rely on what you 'hear around' at school from other classmates or what people at other colleges think of other schools. Gossip is rarely reliable and often students at other colleges are much more partial to the school they are attending, especially if they were denied admission to the school you are interested in. You want real opinions from actual students and alumni.

Pay attention to the price or else you'll end up throwing away a lot of money. Remember, money isn't everything and money doesn't decide the true value of a school. Choose the school you feel is best for you without going above your budget.

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Should you think about consolidating student loans? Or do you need bad credit student loans for school? Find out from the links listed above.