Friday, December 31, 2010

5 Steps to the Perfect Bad Credit Card

If you have bad credit, you’re going to find that there are many routes that you can take to

re-establish your credit. One of those ways that you may have researched is a secured credit card. While this is a great route to go, I wanted to give you five tips that you need to follow in order to pick out one that is going to work for you and your credit.

Perfect Bad Credit Card

Tip #1: Make sure that they report to the credit bureau – Always make sure that the credit card that you’re applying for is going to report to the credit bureaus. You’re going to find that if they don’t, the card is going to be fairly worthless.

Tip #2: Make sure it has a major logo – There are a few cards out there that I won’t name that don’t even have a major logo from issuers such as Visa and MasterCard. You’re going to find that these cards are worthless. Ensure that your card has a major logo from MasterCard and Visa.

Tip #3: Look into the fees – Many secured cards out there have fees, and that’s okay. You’re going to find out that you’re going to have to pay fees regardless. What you’re going to want to do is compare at least 3-5 cards when comparing the annual fees, application process and more.

Tip #4: Read into reviews – There are a lot of scams out there, so you’re going to want to make sure that you read into what other people are saying. A simple search for the card name should yield some great results. Get a feel on what other people are thinking about the card.
Tip #5: Don’t give up too much money – With a secured card, you’re going to have to give up a deposit, in order to get your card and credit limit. Be sure that you’re not depositing too much. You will find that the average deposit limit is around $300.

By following these tips, you should be able to get your hands on a good card. Be sure to compare a few cards before signing the application, as you will find that there are lots of great ones out there.

This guest post was provided by Elizabeth Cutten. You can find more of her works over at FindSecuredCards, a website dedicated to helping people get out of debt!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

How to Avoid Student Credit Card Debt

This guest post was written by Elizabeth C. She is the main editor at FindCollegeCards, a site helping students pick out credit cards, as well as give them advice.

Student credit card debt seems to go up year after year, but as Congress tries to crack down on how credit card companies handle applications, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get away from it. While many students won’t read an, “avoid” based article, they generally come running when they are head over heels in debt.

Student Credit Card Debt

I wanted to give you some simple, yet effective tips that you can use, when you want to avoid debt in the near future.

#1 You know if you’re good with credit cards – If you’re new to credit cards, you’re going to find that you will know if you’re good with them, or not. If you don’t pay your card off in full each month, you may want to explore other options, as you will find that interest rates can kill you.

#2 Credit cards are for rewards or emergencies – The only way I use credit cards is if I want rewards, or I really need it for an emergency payment. I also find that it is easier, and safer to use than cash. If you decide that you want to carry one around, it isn’t designed for those “fun” expenses that you can’t afford at the moment.

#3 Treat it like cash - A credit card needs to be treated like cash, and so many people don’t treat it like this. Instead, many spend as if it is monopoly money. You will want to treat it as it’s money in your pocket. The goal here is to spend what you can afford.

#4 Don’t miss payments - Missing payments not only will affect your credit score, it’s going to hurt you in terms of fees. Always try your best to pay the minimum payments, as you will find that generally, it’s only a portion of what your balance is. If you fail to miss the payments, you’re going to be paying fees on top of your interest rates.

#5 Avoid taking cash out – Never use your card like an ATM. While you can do cash advances, the interest rates on these transactions are rather high. You’re going to want to make sure that you look for alternative loan options, before taking out money via your credit card.

There are many signs that will tell you if you’re going to get into debt. If you’re already questioning your balance, it’s best to cut up your card, and use a debit card. Credit cards aren’t made for everyone. If you’re responsible with your card, you will find that you can reap many rewards, as well as many other perks.

Friday, December 17, 2010

San Jose Real Estate Market Trends – is it the Right Time to Invest?

San Jose Real Estate MarketAre you thinking of a San Jose real estate to buy this year. San Jose is a city which is known as the Silicon Valley of the United States of America. Between January and May, there was a steep rise n the demand for homes in San Jose real estate industry this year. May was the month that saw the highest demand for property. The year before this saw the city as having a steep median for a house the price for which has definitely gone down a little this year. Market conditions in the San Jose real estate industry can be calculated if you consider the median price, the level on the inventory and the days on the market. San Jose is quite an expensive city to live in as many technological professionals look to rent a home here.

Homes prices in San Jose vary but most are at least in the very high six figures, and it's not uncommon to find homes in the $1-2.5 million range. When you are planning to buy a San Jose real estate, you may want to consider a lot of factors. There are many changes that may be going on in the real estate market currently. San Jose is doing great business in the real estate industry. For these reasons and others, flat fee MLS listings have been extremely popular in San Jose, and throughout the Bay Area and Silicon Valley.

Thus the demand for homes is high and the average cost of rent in this city is on the higher side. Before approaching a real estate agent ensure that you go through rental websites and local classifieds to get a general idea of the value of rent in different parts of the city. The real estate industry is a rather volatile industry and you need to be totally aware of all what is happening before you buy a property. If you are thinking whether or not this is the right time to buy San Jose real estate then quickly consider these factors and get out in the field.

Living in this area also puts people close to downtown San Jose, only 8 miles by freeway. Medians provide a more accurate depiction of the pricing for the local housing. This median, however, is not similar to average. You must not mistake it for an average as in real estate market this is the term used instead of average as few high notch houses can raise the number quite significantly. The trend in the pricing of real estate, the demand for a certain property, an inventory of the property and the current market trends, everything needs to be looked into.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Budgeting with Future Goals in Mind

A good budget isn't just a tool to give you a good snapshot of where your money is going each month, it can also help you to fund future goals. For instance, say you want to plan for future expenses for a vacation. A budget can help you set aside the money you need in small amounts so that by the time the vacation time rolls around, you have the money sitting in your account. Future goals can also include retirement goals, funding school expenses, and even weddings.

Budgeting
Long-Term Goal Planning
Whether you are trying to retire in 40 years or 10, you can start to budget your savings so that by the time you retire you have what you need to have the standard of living your require. In fact, for long-term goals, the farther away a goal, the easier it is to budget an amount to meet the goal because you are saving smaller amounts over a longer period of time.

When Life Happens
A carefully crafted budget can also point to problem areas when life happens and you end up spending more than you had budgeted. It can help you quickly devise a plan to get back on track by putting additional savings aside until you can go back to the original amount.

Value of Time

If you invest your savings into a plan to help fund the goals, you can also use the compound value of time and interest to build your nest egg. That's what 401Ks and 529 plans are all about. If you budget a set amount of money to fund these plans as you are in your prime earning years, it's possible to have much more money in the account when you retire if the market performs well. The older you get, though, the more you may want to move these assets into accounts that don't have much market risk.

Friday, December 3, 2010

An Overview of the Basics of Federal Student Loans

Federal Student Loans
Federal student loans are convenient and inexpensive means to provide for your education. This loan is advantageous in terms of its payment. The payment of the loan is not burdensome. Rather, it is flexible. A borrower of federal student loan can pay interest during the period when he is student and the principal after completion of the study. A hang of the payment options and deferments is vital for the borrowers of federal student loans to keep their credit safe and repay the loan as soon as possible.

Federal and private are two elemental student loan types. Federal student loans are of two categories – subsidized and unsubsidized. If you borrow a federal student loan in the former category, the government will pay the interest on your behalf during the phase of your graduation and the period of six months after the graduation. Interest on unsubsidized loans gets accumulated, even during your school or college terms. Therefore, it is better to pay the interest during the phase of graduation.

After you have completed graduation or dropped before completion, contact your provider of federal student loans for repayment information. If you delay to contact the lender, the process will be slowed down. Being borrower, it is your responsibility to contact the lender as quick as possible. After your loan has been put into the repayment procedure, statements on your federal student loan will be given to you. Be sincere to make payments by the due date. You can pay more than the volume of a payment. You can avail this option by request. There are calculators on the websites of many lenders. Using the calculator, you can estimate how much extra money you can pay toward the principal.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Structured Settlement


When the applicant is granted an out of court, there are two ways in which the defendant can pay: as a lump sum or a structured settlement, which is basically a payment plan can be arranged in a number of ways. You can set the structure for a large portion is paid up front, followed by a smaller payment schedule. A uniform set of small payments can be made on an annual schedule, or a series of large payments can be scheduled to occur every few years. Insurance companies usually set by buying structured settlement annuities to ensure that regular payments are disbursed to the applicant.

One of the main reasons applicants will take into account the structure of insurance is that settlements are tax free, although there may be federal restrictions on this tax relief structure is purchased by a third. Another reason is that the recipients know that lack of fiscal self-discipline to leave a lump sum only. By having a distributed solution award periodic payments, the recipients can not exceed beyond each pay period.

However, there are disadvantages to structured settlements that may require the sale of them. If the complainant suddenly wants to make a big purchase, and are locked in receiving smaller payments, there is no way to return to a lump sum settlement, that he or she needs to sell the structured settlement.

Solution of buyers offered an amount less than the lump sum settlement would have been, but the seller has fast access to cash from any scheduled payments. While it would have been ideal in many cases to opt for a lump sum settlement, first, high costs sometimes get sudden they could not have anticipated. If you are interested in selling your structured settlement, it is important to thoroughly research the companies they buy, so refer to this list of purchasers of liquidation.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Tips that can make your day in the stock market


Stock market tipsThe present day is such that without money it is impossible to survive in this world. You need money for every single work you do. As such, you cannot even think about a life without money. As such, today everyone has become very money minded. All that they can think today is how to earn more and more money. All that they do today, as such, revolves around earning money and earning profits, only. As a result, in the present day world, you will find more and more people being drawn towards the investment world. This is because in the investment world, there are more prospects of earning money and earning profit than in the other fields. As such, like most of the people today, you too should start finding the tips that can make your day in the stock market. 

Making huge investments

You will find most of people turning into investors and thus making huge investment in the stock market. The investors, in the present day, desires liquidity for their investments so that it becomes possible for the investors to immediately and at the same time effortlessly convert their securities into hard cash as and when they require. As such, people today are more willing to invest in the securities in the stock market as well as in the other investment options also. Again, it can be seen that the in the stock market, the people are more interested in investing in the short term securities because they facilitate the easy and immediate conversion of these securities into cash. Thus with such an increasing inclination of people towards investing in the securities has led the people yearn for share tips that can ensure them success in the stock market.

The stock market today is no longer regarded as an investment vehicle


In the present day, it is a well known fact that most of the people invest in the stocks and share that is in other words, in the securities of the stock market without even knowing the basics about the stock market. The only reason that urges people to invest in the stock market is that, just like their friends or their acquaintances they want to earn huge profits in the stock market as well. Thus, the stock market in the present day is no longer regarded as an investment vehicle, but instead are more commonly known as the ‘money making machines’. So much so, that many people in the present time view stock market as that money making machine, which enables you to double and triple your money in a few years time. They take the stock market to be a magic lamp, which when rubbed thrice will make a genie appear in front of them and thus fulfill all their wishes.


Stock market neither is a money making machine nor is it a magic wand


Nevertheless, all these are completely unrealistic and wide of the mark concepts. Stock market neither is a money making machine nor is it a magic wand that will fulfill all your wishes and make you earn profits only. It cannot be denied though that profit too is an important feature of the share market, but it is not the only feature. The losses too are an equally important feature of the stock market. As such, it would foolish on your part, if you overlook the loss aspect.

Many people invest in the stock market to evade tax


Again, there are many others, who regard the investment in the online stock market as an excellent opportunity to make, their black money disappear. In other words, many people invest in the stock market with the sole reason, to evade tax and as such save themselves from the clutches of the Income Tax Authorities. We cannot change this fact neither can we change the attitude of the people towards the stock market, but we can at least advise the people to invest wisely in the stock market. There are many other reasons too, which should not be overlooked at any cost. Thus, learn the tips that can make your day in the stock market.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Entertaining at Thanksgiving - How to Make It Easy And Marvelous Too


Is there a better or cozier holiday than Thanksgiving? This day has the potential to be so wonderful. You can gather friends and family around, but you do not have to hassle with gifts or Santa. Christmas is great, but Thanksgiving, if it is done right, does not have to be nearly the stressed out time that Christmas tends to be for most hostesses. Does having a relatively stress-free turkey day seem impractical? Read on to find various ways to de-stress the day and leave you, as the hostess, free to enjoy everyone’s company.

Entertaining at Thanksgiving

Getting things ready in advance will help make this day much more enjoyable. Your prep work need only be limited by what storage space you have in your own shed, fridge and freezer. (Perhaps neighbors going out of town will trade favors of plant sitting for letting you use their fridge, freezer or stove. This can make you day so much freer.) If you serve any kind of crackers, vegetables and spreads, these can be partially assembled ahead of time. Have all the crackers together with the serving tray. The dips and spreads can generally be made a couple of days in advance. The vegetables will be just fine if prepped the day before and put in separate containers of very cold water. This will keep them crisp and fresh, and leave you free to concentrate on other things.

There are more recipes you can assemble before the big day. One easy thing to finish ahead of time is to assemble then freeze your pie crusts. If you have a family who won’t touch the cranberry sauce that comes from a can, you can make a homemade version up to a week in advance. Just be certain to put it in an air tight container, and that is one more dish done. Some say the flavors are even better after a week. Dinner rolls are a must for most families. These can be made and formed as far as 2 months before you need them. Just pop them in the freezer and most of that work is done. Now that will save you time and hassle. Even the best of plans run into snags now and then. You can choose to let everyone snack on the dishes you have so carefully prepared, listen to the complaints of hungry children (and some adults) or have a plan in place if meal prep runs too long. Place platters of heart-healthy nibbles all about for anyone to deal with their hunger if the turkey just isn’t quite done yet or people arrive early. A few notions for easy snacks are dried fruits, nuts, pre-made relish trays, whole fruit or simple fruit kabobs. These items can be implemented into later meals if you are hosting the family for the entire weekend.

Make use of your crock pot or any warming plates you may have. There are plenty of side dishes or warm dips or even beverages you can make in your crock pot that will easily stay at the right temperature and give you less bother so you can focus on the remainder of the feast. You can locate recipes for vegetables such as carrots, corn or broccoli to make in your slow cooker. Squash dishes aren’t hard at all if you use this handy device. Try out slow cooker cornbread stuffing – so much easier than stuffing it into and extricating it from the turkey itself.

Your table decorations and room décor can be done in no time – and at nominal cost - if you choose items from outdoors and from your friendly produce workers. You can always supplement with economical daisies or mums, but let the natural world be your muse as you beautify your table and dining room. Arrange walnuts in the shell, pomegranates, pine cones, mini pumpkins, cranberries, chestnuts, fall leaves, and gourds to allow the season to pleasantly envelope and add to the ambience.

Remember, just because you are hosting does not mean you can’t delegate. When others offer assistance, take it. If no one thinks to offer, don’t be shy about asking for help. Start an email group to help you coordinate dishes so everyone brings an item to the gathering that plays to their strengths. If you have a family member who is not known to be the best cook, ask them to bring games instead. Keeping everyone busy and happy will help you out immensely in the kitchen. If you have friends or family coming from out of town, bringing a heated dish is not sensible, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help. Assign items like extra rolls (for sandwich leftovers), soda, juice, perhaps alcoholic beverages, green salad fixings or even desserts and pies. If assigning tasks out does not work well for your family dynamics, send around a list of items to choose from, thus giving everyone the chance to participate and decrease your work load on the actual holiday.

Planning ahead, while still allowing for last minute changes, will save you all kinds of headaches. Do you have a formal meal? Are your table linens ready? Do you use your best silver and does it require a good polishing? Do you have all the seating, serving dishes, condiments and silverware you will need for the throng you may be serving? Borrowing what you do not have will make your life easier. Choose disposable dinnerware when you can, if it fits in. For example, the turkey can go from a cookie sheet-supported tin foil roaster to the serving platter as easily as from a traditional roasting pan and save you one very time consuming dish to wash later.

Try to set it up so that you can have time to enjoy your company while they are in your home. Have your plan made, choose carefree decorations, be flexible and prepare any food that can reasonably be made in advance and graciously agree to any help family members are willing to provide. Make 2010 your best Thanksgiving yet.

About the Author

Margo Smith graduated with a B.S. degree from BYU. She draws from her experiences as a modern day children’s governess, her time spent in New England, her years in the corporate world and an author’s perspective on life when compiling articles about a variety of subjects from organic food to online colleges to women’s issues.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Keep Off the Charge Off

Credit problems can begin for as many reasons as there are credit accounts. Once an account holder stops making minimum payments—or stops paying on a credit card altogether—credit companies can put a charge off on the account holder’s credit record. Charge offs stay on an account holder’s credit report for seven years from the day it is applied, and they are detrimental to the credit score—they can even cause harm after they are removed. This article will talk about the nature of a charge off, why creditors place charge offs on an account, how long a charge off stays on a credit history.

credit problem

Charge offs show that creditors no longer trust the account holder to pay the account, and the creditors count the balance as a loss to the company. “Charge off” does not mean that the account holder is absolved of the debt as if the charge were “taken off” the account; the account holder is still responsible for the debt and now must negotiate repayment. The charge off acts only as a marker saying that the account is unreliable and has incurred a loss for the company.

Creditors typically place a charge off on an account after 6 months or 180 days without payment. Less-than-minimum payment for six months can also incur a charge off on the account. When charge offs are paid, a “Charge Off Paid” or “Charge Off Settled” will remain on the credit history until the seven-year time frame has passed. Though “Charge Off Paid” and “Charge Off Settled” both reflect better than a standing charge off, they can still be damaging to a credit report.

The standard for most items on credit history is seven years. That means that any delinquency, default, or foreclosures will take seven years to be removed after the items are incurred. Charge offs, however, go a little further: since creditors typically wait 6 months, the charge off adds 180 days to the 7 years, being 6 months from the time the charge went on the account.

Credit scores can be very fragile, especially during today’s economy. A charge off can be avoided by making minimum payments and developing a spending plan.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Debt Consolidation Loans - Consolidate Debt And Get Low Interest Rate

debt consolidation loans
People often get into trouble with multiple monthly payments on numerous loans which create particular difficulties in personal finance management. Debt consolidation loans  occur to be very helpful in such situation. Dealing with several creditors at once always brings inconvenience, besides, you overpay a lot of dollars, especially if you can't stay constant in your monthly payments as any delay leads to additional charges and fees. Applying to debt consolidation company you will get the opportunity of consolidating all your bills into one with lowered interest rate and extended repayment period. Moreover, debt consolidation is available either for unsecured personal loans or secured bank loans and even mortgages.

Discover All The Benefits Of Debt Consolidation Loans


Well, first of all, you won't have to make several payments every month and lose your temper because of the constant calls and letters from your multiple creditors who always insist on payments with no delay. Besides, applying for debt consolidation loans you will get lower interest rate than you had before and your repayment time will be extended so that you will be able to manage your monthly budget easier. Another pleasant and important factor is that paying off your debts will positively affect your credit score that should be rather high if you don't want to have troubles with getting loans in future.

What Are The Requirements Of Debt Consolidation Companies?


Good credit score is the most important factor for any debt consolidation company. You won't be able to consolidate debt if your credit report is bad as it's the main guarantee of your creditability. Though, good credit score is not the only requirement. You tangible constant income is another point that can asure in your solvency. The company providing debt consolidation loans must be confident in your ability of making fixed monthly payments in accordance with the particular schedule. Besides, if the total amount of money you owe is too low you won't be able to get this loan.

So, if you have multiple debts and numerous monthly bills which seem to have no end, if you are eager to get debt relief at last or at least reduce your debt a bit, if you are tired of harassing phone calls and letters from the creditors, don't waste your time and make the current situation worse. Debt consolidation loans are really helpful if you owe a lot of money and don't know how to get rid of this debts.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Is it Safe to Invest in the Stock Market Now?

It's no surprise that when you mention investing in the stock market to a co-worker, friend, or even your significant other that you often see a look of dismay. Can you blame them? The last few years have been extremely tumultuous and there is a certain level of uncertainty looming around all who speak about putting your hard earned dollars into the stock market.
Here are some great examples of why you should invest in the stock market and hopefully they will put you at ease when it comes time to reach into your pocket book.

Exchange Traded Funds - Exchange Traded Funds, more commonly known as ETF's are a great way to get into the stock market. The best features of ETF's are the diversification they offer. By spreading your risk your portfolio is able to withstand ups and downs and overtime you have excellent potential for moderate growth. On my website I have a 2 part article explaining the detailed benefits of ETF trading and also a sample portfolio to get new investors started. If you are considering jumping into the world of stock market trading this article will give you an excellent head start.

stock investment
Limitless Choices - With all of the online brokers competing with each other your choices are broad and the cost to you has drastically declined. You have the power to buy into a stock and leave whenever you want and not worry about exorbitant fees. You can buy into a stock and hold onto it for a couple weeks or less, then quickly sell and enter into another stock within minutes. You even have the power to transfer to an entirely different broker with ease.

A couple excellent examples are Sharebuilder by Ing Direct and Zecco trading. Sharebuilder offers an advantage plan that allows you to pay a monthly fee and receive 12 free trades per month. This is excellent for repeat investments. Let's say you have 3 ETF's or stocks you are wanting to invest in. With the advantage plan you can invest a pre-determined dollar amount weekly into each of the 3 ETF's or stocks. At the end of the month that is 12 trades (3 weekly) for $12/mo. You can do additional trades for about $8/ea. Zecco is another great trading platform as well. This is aimed at the investor who wants to do a lot of trading and possibly only hold on to a trade for a day or two. All trades are only $4.50/ea. and if you make over 25 trades in a month you receive 10 trades free. Both are great options depending on the type of investing you are looking into.

Internet Support - There are a plethora of ways for people to learn about investing and how to maximize gains and minimize losses. Blog's like my own are dedicated to free support and techniques throughout the entire investment process. Brokerage accounts are not only for buying and selling but they offer advice, news, reports, and software to help you a long the way. I highly recommend taking full advantage of everything your broker offers as well as outside resources as well.

Looking back historically we know that the market ever so often will have crashes. Being aware of this should not deter you from investing, but make you more inclined to invest. Especially if you take advantage of the help being offered. Whether you want to invest $100 a month into a couple of ETF's or day trade with penny stocks you should know that today is as good of a time as ever to invest your money wisely. For daily articles and stock market tips check into my website www.karlkamen.com. Thanks for reading and good luck out there!

Monday, October 18, 2010

Medigap Insurance – The Purpose of Medigap

Traditional Medicare insurance coverage is designed to provide a great deal of health insurance coverage to senior citizens, but that does not mean that it is capable of covering absolutely everything. Because there are some gaps left behind in Medicare coverage, many people decide to buy separate health insurance policies to cover these gaps. The most common name for this type of insurance is Medigap insurance because it is filling in the gaps of coverage that Medicare cannot fill, allowing your coverage to become more well-rounded. The traditional way to acquire Medigap coverage is through a private health insurance company.

medical insurance coverage

There are essentially 12 different "standard" types of Medigap policies that you can choose from. These Medigap policies are identified by letters, which range from A to L. The most basic Medigap insurance policy is Medigap A, which is a "core" policy at one end of the spectrum. Each additional plan on the spectrum adds additional coverage. So for example, Medigap plan E will have some additional feature that is not included in the Medigap plan D, but plan E will also be lacking something that is provided as coverage by the Medigap plan F. The plan that you choose should be based on how much extra care you are looking for from your insurance coverage.

These Medigap insurance plans are exactly the same from one insurer to the next because the Federal government sets the actual details of the plans. However, if you are a resident of Minnesota, Wisconsin or Massachusetts, you should double check the details of the plans with insurance providers in your state or your state insurance company because the Medigap policies offered in these three states are different in some ways in comparison to Medigap coverage in the remaining 47 states in terms of coverage.

Another consideration that you should make when purchasing Medigap insurance is that the coverage will not simultaneously cover both you and your spouse. If you want both you and your spouse to have this type of supplemental insurance, then you are going to want to buy two separate policies to guarantee complete coverage. If you are looking to add supplemental insurance to your Medicare insurance plan, Medigap insurance is a good way to provide you with this assistance. Make sure that you look at each plan individually to determine what level of supplemental health care insurance you require for the best level of peace of mind.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Avoid Credit card crashing during festival times

November and December is the month of festival. During this seasons our purchases and spending increases more than the expectations. Thus suffering form credit card debt is very common problem for majority of people. To stop credit card debt one should know the warning signal that your card gives about your lowering scores. Following are some warning signal that you receive before heading towards financial stress. So you should understand these signals and celebrate you festival with joy and happiness.

Credit card crashingSome of these signals are as follows:

1.The first notification is that when you start borrowing money from one credit card, in order to pay off the amount of second credit card.


2.When you are unable to pay your credit card amount every month on required regular intervals.


3.At times it happens that you go over you credit limit. Thus you have to pay your over credit limit plus the increased interest rate.


4.When your credit card bills increases then your previous month, without any major purchases like laptop etc.


5.When you use your credit limit more than 50 percent of more than one credit card account.

6.When you income fluctuate every month, but your cost of living keep increasing every month.

7.It is not feasible to use 5-6 credit cards each month. Instead one should use one credit card and with it you can use one more with low balance, which you can use during emergencies.

8.If you always avoid your credit card bills and always tries to pay your minimum amount. In that case you will never get rid of credit card debt.

9.Another important sign of your credit card crashing is when you lie or cover up your credit card bills from your partners.


10. At times it happens that you try to creeps the bills of consumables like groceries and gasoline, thinking you will you will pay off that next month.



If you think you are seeing any of above signals, then try to be overcautious and plan out your financial strategies today only.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Make Your Blog Friendly For Search Engine

Now a days blogging is very popular. Everyone wants to make money through internet world. It is one of the booming industries and one can make lot of money through blogging. In order to make money through blog you need to make your blog search engine friendly. To make your blog search engine friendly you need to design your blog according to following suggestion.

search engine friendly blog

Put Proper Text Navigation:

In order to make your contents readable to search engine it is necessary to do your java script and flash navigation properly. At times it is found that most people try to put the text version at the bottom of the page. Adding proper text version of your navigation wil definitely helps search engine spiders to crawl your site effectively.

Add Sitemap to your Blog:

Sitemap is very essential in every site. Sitemap should be there mainly for two reasons. Firstly it help the search engine spider to allocate all the page of your site. Sitemap helps spider to index all the pages of your sites easily. Secondly it also help the visitors to navigate your and can easily search the information that they were looking for.

Optimize Your Page Title:

Title of your page plays very important part in optimizing your site. Try to give single unique page title because in search engine the visitors search with the page title and not with the URL of the page.

Customize Your Permalink Format:

At the end of the URL we find certain numbers, which the spider difficult in making senses. So try to use tags and categories from your permalinks and archives.


Thus I you can follow the above suggestions while maintaining your blog. I can guarantee you that you can definitely make money from your blog and could make it search engine friendly.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Are you Looking For Better Annuity Quotes for Financial Stability in Life?

Several sources exist to help you save a particular amount of your income safely to be used in distressful phases of life. The insurance companies fall under the category of these sources. The savings plan that they provide is referred as annuity. Many schemes and programs have been introduced for the senior citizens in order to ensure them a comfortable living. The annuity plans are one of such programs. These are the facilities that are mainly availed by the people to provide financial security to their old age. Thus, annuity quotes play a very important role as far as the amount to be received by the annuitant after a certain period of time is concerned.

Better Annuity Quotes

The annuity quotes that are offered vary from one insurance company to another. Thus, the people are always recommended to concentrate on the rates that the companies provide. An annuity rate is defined as the rate of return that the insurance companies offer on annuitant's savings. Thus, to increase the amount that you receive after a specific period of time, you must check the rates offered by the companies. The more the rate, the better amount you would receive, but above all the market reputation of the company is an important factor.

To find maximum annuity rates provided by the companies, you can consult the agents of the insurance agencies. In fact, you can avail Internet facilities to find best companies with best possible annuity quotes. Go through the terms and clauses that are required to be followed and based on all of these factors, make an appropriate decision. Money has a great role to play as far as life after retirement is concerned. Thus, to make sure that you have a healthy and wealthy livelihood in your post-retirement stage, select a company offering good rate of returns on your annuity and get enrolled for these programs.


Saturday, September 11, 2010

Tips to Manage your Finance


Attaining financial freedom is major issue for many of us. In order to move on right track it’s important to carry on with exact planning. For having good life it is important that everyone should learn how to manage their finances. Managing you finance does not depends on your income, but you need small planning. Whether you have smaller income or better one, you should learn how to manage it.


managing your finance
Here I can provide you certain steps how to manage you finances in best way:

Target clear picture of your priorities:
List out your priorities, it will help you to make decision easily. Make a proper record of your spending. This helps you at the times of major purchases like car or home. Yu can easily decide what your current stand is?

Make a budget
Setting budget will help you to locate you saving. Before going for shopping always make a list of your required things. Always avoid impulse buying and stick to your planned budget.

Spending should depend on your income:
You should buy things according to your income. Your income should regulate your spending. Spending more than your income will always make you feel regret.

Pay off your unpaid bills regularly and manage your debt properly:
Paying off your unpaid bills on time will help you to avoid from accumulated debt. Pay your credit card bills on regular intervals.

Saving is essential is order to manage your finance properly:
Saving is a good habit and it always helps you to have secured future. For monthly saving you should always allot certain percentage from your income before hand. This will definitely help you at time of emergency requirement.

Before big investment think twice:
If you are planning to invest your money you should have good knowledge about market. Especially these days the markets fluctuate very often, so one should be very careful before investing. So now it is good time to change, if you want to live a good life you should learn how to manage your finance and stick to your budget.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Single parent – Want to save money on clothes

If you are single parent looking after you kids, then you are always looking for saving money on clothing/attire. Saving money on clothes is always your goal but how far you are successful is a big question. Here I can provide you with some useful tips which can help you to save your money on attire.


save money on clothesSome useful tips to save on cloths:

1.Always purchase quality clothes so that you can pass it to your younger siblings. For e.g. Buy quality jeans and when it gets tight to one of your kid pass it to your younger kid.

2.Do your maximum purchasing during sales times. Avoid buying clothes when there is urgent requirement. Always try to purchase before hand during the late fall of months, when t-shirts, polo shirts and dress slacks are on sales.

3.Always try to establish allowance for each child. Kids grows up quickly and purchasing of too many clothes leads to wastage and at the same times it might happens that some clothes goes unused.


4.Always try and avoid impulse buying. Be sure before you invest in anything you purchase. Give yourself time of 24 to 48 hrs before you buy.

5.You can use online coupon before you start your purchase.

6.You can also look at the second hand clothes. Do not totally neglect these clothes. You can also find some god ones from the given options.


7.If you want to make your kid look attractive at your establish budget, purchase some fun accessories like bracelets, necklaces and scarves. This is something inexpensive stuff, which make your kid look good.


8.When purchasing doesn’t focus on the number in-fact simplifies your purchase. Do not buy anything because it is on sale, but does not fit well to your kid.


Thus the above tips will make your kid look attractive at your desired budget. Each of these tips will help you to purchase cheap clothes, but at the same time it will fulfill your needs.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Unlock Your Debt With Reliable Debt Consolidation Company

Now a day everyone is looking after reliable debt consolidation companies. Person of every age group is in debt now like credit card debt, personal loan debt, medical bills debt etc. You can find several online debt consolidation companies. But finding the reliable debt consolidation company is a big question in today’s sphere.

debt consolidation company

Debt Consolidation Company offers many features and services, among which some are considered as necessary while some are considered as optional. The basic requirements are as follows:

Basic requirement of Debt Consolidation Company:


1. Initial consultancy free of cost.
2. Reliable contact details.
3. Collect all the information details regarding their service offered.

Types of Debt Consolidation Companies:

• Non profit Debt Consolidation Company:

If you are in the state of total bankruptcy, then such company is the best option for you. The main motive of such company is not at all for profit motive but to help debtor in the best way to make them debt free. Such company does not offer you debt consolidation loan.

• For-profit debt Consolidation Company:

From the name its clear that these works only for profit purpose. The main advantage is that they offer debt consolidation loans in order to pay off your debt. If you are having bad credit card history they can help you, but will charge higher rate of interest rate.

• Christian Debt Consolidation Company:

These companies also work for non profit purpose, but they offer you debt consolidation loan at very lower rate. You can donate the funds after you have availed the service.

Thus the above overview about Debt Consolidation Company can help you in best possible way. So while choosing please keep in mind the above factors and be wise in your selection. Even check out government agencies to track their past record.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

PARENTS: Save Big with Cloth Diapers

Parents, did you know that you will spend over $2000 on disposable diapers per baby? If that
money was invested carefully for 18 years, it could pay for your child's college tuition.

Cloth diapers have exploded on the baby scene in the past decade. Modern cloth diapers are not like the ones that your grandparents used. Once you get the knack of it, they are as easy to use as regular disposable diapers.

save on cloth diaper
A cloth diapering system requires an initial startup cost, which can be as low as $200, which is less than 10% of what you would spend on disposable diapers. The diapers can even be used as rags after your baby is potty trained.For parents that are halted by the upfront cost, a lot of cloth diaper stores online offer 30-day money back guarantees. If the diapers don't work for you, just send it back for a refund.

On top of the cost savings, cloth diapers are greener than disposables. In America alone, parents are throwing away over five garbage bags full of diapers every second! These tiny plastic bombs filled with poisonous toxins will stay in our landfills for the next 500 years.

How Do I Get Started?
You'll need to decide which path you'll take on the cloth diapering route. The most economical is a combination of a pre-fold diaper and a diaper cover. More convenient but more expensive is an all-in-one diaper. The Cadillac of cloth is the pocket diaper.

A pre-fold is a rectangular shaped piece of cloth made of cotton. This is placed around the baby, and then secured with the diaper cover. They are a bit harder to use, because there are different techniques of wrapping the pre-fold around the baby. There is a slight learning curve, but easy to master after practice.

The all-in-one has the pre-fold sewn into the diaper cover, making it very easy to use and most like a disposable. These diapers are typically a little bit more expensive than the pre-fold route, but more than pay for themselves in convenience. The only downside is that it takes longer to dry.The pocket diaper is the newest sensation to hit the cloth diapering world. The cover has a pocket that is stuffed with a absorbable insert which can be removed before going into the wash. Some models can be resized as your baby grows.

Still Curious?
Start with the Cloth Diaper Chooser at clothdiapers.org to help you pick a diapering system. It's a short six question quiz that will get you started in the right direction.

Christina Robertson is a writer for Cloth diapers
. She is a mother of 3 and loves saving money and finding ways to go green.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Used cars selling tips: Its time to sell your old ones and opt for new

Fashion changes very frequently. So every one wants to opt things according to the fashion and their taste. Once the fashion changes you also change your requirement too. Whether it is your cloth, accessories or car. People change their car in the similar fashion they change their cloth. As new model comes in the market, majority wants to go for that one. If you purchase the new one obviously you will sell the old car. Here I can provide you used car selling tips. Selling you old car at your desired rate requires certain tips.

used car selling tips

Attractive car: First and foremost requirement in order to sell your old car is to make it look attractive. Attractive car catches the attention of majority of buyers. In order to make it attractive you should wash your car and apply some glossy substance to glisten its appearance.


Sound system and parts of your cars should be in good condition: To make the buyer to buy your car you should ensure him that your sound system is working properly. Along with that you other parts are also in god condition. This will incline the buyer to buy your car.


Car advertisement: One of the most effective used car selling tips is to advertise it in right medium. I would always recommend you to advertise your car in internet because it covers wider area.

Market research: Before setting any particular price range for your car you should always do proper market research. Market research means to go and find out at what price is the similar type car is available in the market taking into account: Condition of the car, age of the car and standard of living of their economy.

Price negotiation: If you really need used car selling tips, I will recommend you to always set your mind for further price negotiation. Firstly set your standard price and to convince the buyer that your car is that price worth. But in case if you find any potential buyer who is not willing to buy at your quoted price, then you should make your mind set in the way that you should negotiate the price as per required.

Thus these are 5 used car selling tips, which at times we overlook it. This tips seems to minor but if taken into consideration properly it will really help you to old off your old car.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Australia’s Elite Credit Cards

The market for Australia’s Elite credit cards is quite competitive. Offering privileges not available to other card holders, exclusive credit cards are becoming an invitation-only sign of prestige given to only the wealthiest customers.

elite credit card

Benefits of Elite Credit Cards and Exclusive Credit Cards

Australia’s most exclusive credit cards are often reserved for some of the banks or credit card providers’ wealthier customers. Many of these deals are issued by invitation only, so there’s no application process.

However, there are some privileges and advantages available to holders of these elite credit cards that aren’t available to regular card holders. These could include access to a private jet or a personal Armani shopper or other such luxuries.

Here is a brief outline of some of Australia’s most exclusive credit cards or elite credit cards.


American Express Centurion Card

The American Express Centurion Card is renowned as being the world’s most exclusive credit card and is only available to a select circle of people. It is issued by invitation only and is reserved for American Express card holders who have proven to be elite credit card members by their current level of spending and income.

Even though this is the credit card James Bond flashes in Casino Royale, you’ll need to spend around $250,000 on your American Express card each year and be prepared to pay an annual fee of around $4,300.


Visa Infinite Card

The Visa Infinite Card is perhaps Australia’s most elite credit card. Offered by invitation-only to high net worth customers of the bigger Private Banks (e.g. Westpac Private Bank, Commonwealth Private Bank), the Visa Infinite Card is a premium Visa card aimed at the top 1% of card holders.

While there is a higher interest rate and a higher annual fee, card holders can enjoy access to the finest things in life, including an extraordinary selection of distinctive travel, dining, shopping, entertainment and lifestyle opportunities.

Card holders also have access to a complimentary concierge service to cater to your needs, whether it’s booking seats or tickets, having meetings minuted in four different languages or just sourcing your favorite vintage at the best restaurant in town, no matter where you are in the world.


American Express Platinum Card

There is still a great exclusive credit card available to those who aren’t super-rich. The American Express Platinum Card offers customers excellent benefits and rewards that include access to a 24/7 Platinum Priority service, as well as a free domestic economy return flight or an overnight stay at a hotel each year.

To qualify for the American Express Platinum Card, you’ll need to earn more than $65,000 per year. Card holders also benefit from overseas travel insurance, purchase protection insurance and online fraud protection guarantees.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Weight and Insurance are they related?

Obesity is the major issues in this society. According to the recent survey done by "Centre for Disease Control and Prevention" (CDC), the percentage of obese person in United State has increased drastically. Majority of times the main reason of your health sickness start from obesity. Obesity can take to major sickness or even lead to death, that why insurance companies has made weight as the one of the determining factor for insurance coverage. Weight will decide how much insurance coverage will be charged from you.

Weight loss insuranceThus if you or your family members are overweight its high time to find out if there are options for insurance for overweight persons.


Of course they are related to great extent

All of us know that overweight do affects our health insurance options, but at the same time it do affects our life insurance options too. Obesity is something that decides whether to accept you or reject you for that particular policy.

Overweight and illness together with illness creates a major risk factor that insurance companies consider while charging from you.

For e.g. women who is 5'5" and weight between 180 to 240 probably has to pay more than the women in healthier weight/height combination. But in case if the weight of the same person increases more than 240, then it might happen that the person might be denied from the policy.

Since major persons are suffering from obesity, thus they must find themselves with heftier health bills.

The only solution to this problem can be as follows:

  • Low weight
  • Find convenient coverage options
  • Wait for health care reform

Thus weight is the curse to every person. It creates adverse effect on health as well as insurance. The best solution is to get down your health weight.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

PET INSURANCE – MYTH

Are you found of pets? Do you have cats or dogs in your home? If so, then why don’t you think about their insurance? I know there are many myths about their insurance. But here I can provide you tip on why one should have insurance for your special animal.

embrace pet insurance
“No insurance for older pet” is an incorrect statement:

At time we think that our pet is no more puppy or kitten, so there is no need for their insurance. New insurance policy for pet is generally issued up to 8-10 years. It may be true that premium may be high on them compare to younger pets and pre- existing conditions may be excluded.

“My pet is well there is no need buying insurance for them” – wrong notion:

Remember one thing that pet insurance is that which you cannot but at the time, when you need the most. So it’s better to wake up before time. Why do you wait for the time, when your pet will fall sick? Pet insurance is something that is designed to protect you against the unknown circumstances, but for that you have to plan it in advance.

Very common myth: I have to wait until my pet current medical condition gets resolved:

If your pet’s current condition is not well it may considered as temporary pre-existing condition, but this does not mean that you cannot get insurance for your pet. For example: If your pet has got small wound and at time if your are buying insurance for it, then condition related to wound may be excluded from the coverage for the first year. But after that when everything gets resolved you will eligible for full coverage.

You don’t want to buy insurance because you think that ‘ I can save every month for the upcoming circumstances”

Saving small amount every month can definitely sole your problem. But it does not mean every time. Firstly saving theoretically we find it simple but practically many of us find it difficult to save. Secondly to enjoy the real benefit of saving you have to wait for long time. Thus for temporary unplanned condition it may not serve you always.

I hope my above suggestions will definitely solve the problem of pet lovers. Thus love and care your pet by insuring them.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Tips to save Energy and Money this summer

Summer mean high heat and increased energy bills. But there are means to reduce these energy bills with some energy efficient device. If you can apply little effort, it is entirely on your part to control such device of your own. This will automatically make your summer stress free and you will enjoy it to the fullest with your kids and family.


Simple and easy energy saving tips:


  • Switch off the ceiling fan: Turn off the ceiling fan when no one is there in the room. Try to keep your house cool by pulling the shades and closing the drapes in your rooms.

  • Clean or change the filter in your air conditioner unit: Remember to change the filter of your air conditioner unit monthly. If it is not possible to change, then at least clean the unit so that it runs efficiently and will save your power consumption.

  • Pool in your home is another power saving area: Those who have pool in their home will always notice hike in their energy bills. The maximum time to run the pump on the pool should be 6 hrs. It’s of no use to keep running the pump, the whole day.

  • Replace your old heating and cooling units with energy efficient models: If you really want to save the money start thinking to replace your old units with energy efficient device. There is variety of new models such as ENERGY STAR models. Start thinking to switch on to such models soon.

There are various other tips, which are in your hands to follow. Thus if you follow the above tips you will feel relaxed thinking that you are doing your part to save energy and money in the extreme summer heat.

Friday, July 16, 2010

SAVE TAX - BY TAKING HOME LOAN


Now days every individual is trying to evade taxes. Everyone is in search of mean and ways, how to escape from tax. Some of you think that by buying home or flat you can get tax exemption benefit. In fact this is wrong notion because you are paying extra taxes due to your raised income.


But obviously there are means for your “Tax Problem”. Apply for “Housing Loan” so that you can enjoy tax benefit. In income tax act of 1961 you will find these benefits are covered under 2 different sections such as: sec 24(b) and sec 80(c).




Applying for home loans does not mean that you will get cent percent tax benefit. Approval of tax benefit only depends on following circumstances:


  • Loans are taken only from registered banks and institute.
  • Loans taken form private agencies or chit funds or family are not eligible for tax exemption benefit.

Section 24 (b) provide you benefit on interest payment that you have made to your lender on the borrowed fund. You can avail the deduction of upto one lakh rupees on principle amount. If you are planning to construct or purchase a new house, this is best option for you to evade taxes and to avail its exemption benefit.


If you have borrowed money for above mention purpose, you can easily make use of loan documents and enjoy the benefit of tax deduction of up to Rs. 1,50,000.


There are some tax laws that is hassle for you, but obviously there are some tax law which provide you relief. By saving all of your home improvement receipts, you will be able to add these amounts up and credit your homes cost basis. Saving a few receipts here and there can save you a chunk of change when it comes to paying your taxes.


In fact this process serves you dual benefit: reconstructing your house and enjoying tax exemption benefit.


Saturday, July 3, 2010

Which type Mortgage suits you the best?

Every one of us has dream to buy best home at best location. But since it is most expensive purchase we always try to be cautious before investing and spends lots of time and effort in researching and securing the best deal in mortgage.

In order to make your purchase process more easier, now a days you can access Internet and can avail all the information on mortgage loans and its repayment process.


Different mortgage fulfill different types of needs and situation:

Different types of mortgage are available depending on your need and situation. In other words we can say that “Mortgage are not a one size fits for all.” Following are different types of mortgage available for you:

  • Fixed rate mortgage
  • ARM's or Adjustable Rate Mortgage
  • Balloon Mortgage

Fixed Rate Mortgages:

This type of mortgage is often considered as the best deal for a mortgage especially for first time buyers. In this type of mortgage loan, the interest rate are always fixed. Thus it is an added advantage for those having fixed budget of household operating expenses.

ARM or Adjustable Rate Mortgages:

The other name of ARM is Variable Rate Mortgage. As the name itself signifies, here the rate of interest always varies depending on the rate paid on Treasury Bills or bank certificate of deposits. Here the interest rate is usually lower than the fixed rate mortgage. If you are studying the money market constantly and keeping an constant eye on fluctuating rate, this type of mortgage is the best deal for you.

Balloon Mortgages:

In this types of mortgage you don't have to pay the amount monthly. Instead you have to pay the amount in lump sum at the end. This types of mortgages are for those who are planning to stay in their new home not more than 5 to 7 months. The advantage is that the interest rate is lower the fixed rate interest.

Thus depending upon your requirement you can choose different mortgages. Before choosing any types you must fully analyses your situation and do not take decision hastily.

Which type Mortgage suits you the best?

Every one of us has dream to buy best home at best location. But since it is most expensive purchase we always try to be cautious before investing and spents lots of time and effort in researching and securing the best deal in mortgage.

In order to make your purchase process more easier, now a days you can access internet and can avail all the information on mortgage loans and its repayment process.

Different mortgage fulfill different types of needs and situation:

Different types of mortgage are available depending on your need and situation. In other words we can say that “Mortgage are not a one size fits for all.” Following are different types of mortgage available for you:

  • Fixed rate mortgage
  • ARM's or Adjustable Rate Mortgage
  • Balloon Mortgage

Fixed Rate Moetgages:

This type of mortgage is often considered as the best deal for a mortgage especially for first time buyers. In this type of mortgage loan, the interest rate are always fixed. Thus it is an added advantage for those having fixed budget of household operating expenses.

ARM or AdjustableRate Mortgages:

The other name of ARM is Variable Rate Mortgage. As the name itself signifies, here the rate of interest always varries depending on the rate paid on Treasury Bills or bank certificate of deposits. Here the interest rate is usually lower than the fixed rate mortgage. If you are studying the money market constantly and keeping an constant eye on fluctuating rate, this type of mortgage is the best deal for you.

Balloon Mortgages:

In this types of mortage you don't have to pay the amount monthly. Instead you have to pay the amount in lump sum at the end. This types of mortgages are for those who are planning to stay in their new home not more than 5 to 7 months. Tha advantage is that the interet rate is lower the fixed rate interest.

Thus depending upon your requirement you can choose different mortgages. Before choosing any types you must fully analyse your situation and do not take decision hastely.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Money Speaks!!!!!!!

It has been very true saying that “Money talks”. When the person have lots of money, the power of the person increases. Money brings huge drastic change in the lifestyle, your communication skill and so on. It is money which can provide you all the luxuries and give you power to influence others.


But is it really true that your money really talks to you? Does it tell you do's and don't? All your major decision really depends on money? The answer to all your above questions will always be yes to great extent. It is the money that determines your thinking ability.

What actually your money tells to you?


  • Take a trip and enjoy your life to the fullest.
  • Go to store and purchase new clothes for yourself.
  • You can't afford trip, its better you forget about it.
  • Stay away from stores because you cannot afford it.
  • You can always help the needy person because you are at that status now.

When you don't get enough money from your daily job, you starting thinking of doing some additional work or turn into home based business. It is money factor which insist you to change your mode of job. Many people switch on to home based business because network marketing and online business.

People switch on to home based business due to following reasons:

  • If you are having a job that you hate.
  • If you are having the difficulty in finding suitable job.
  • Wanting to earn more money in order to meet your additional expenses.
  • Having urge to earn more money.

Thus we can say that it is the money that always influence our lifestyle. Having urge to earn lots of money is not always a bad things because our needs can always be fulfilled by extra money.