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Thursday, January 22, 2009

Smart-with-Money Mindset Needed

By Paul J. Easton

Unlike the popular belief we are told over and over again, credit cards are not free money. If you are not cautious enough, it can be the straightforward way to financial hell. There is some good news though. Your way out is still possible with efforts from your part.

Many experts say that one of the best hidden ways to get rid of credit card debt, that your bank don't tell you about, is with the use of a debt consolidation loan. If you have a number of credit cards then a consolidation loan may be a good advice. This comes along with a condition though. Be ready to give up your cards because these accounts will be suspended by your credit card lenders. A good indication that you need this is when you are already having missed payments for three or more consecutive months. This is much better than to suffer the consequences of a negatively impacted credit rating.

Consolidating your credit card debts into one big loan offers you a way to get rid of high interest rates from credit card lenders. This offers you a scheme to pay your bills without the hidden charges and extra fees. It also gives you the time to pay the balances in a much more feasible time frame. In addition, you don't have to keep track of several statements with various credit cards because you will only recall one due date with your consolidated loan. This eliminates the late payments when dealing with a lot of bills at different times of the month.

Explore with various banks and get the best debt consolidation loans with respect to the interests and the terms they offer. Take the time to search and compare loans if possible. Bear in mind that you are trying to better your financial situation, so you need to get a debt consolidation loan that offers you better rates and terms than your credit card lenders altogether.

Take the necessary steps and make the religious payments every time and you are on the right track to a debt-free life soon. There is a bad news however. A lot of people will take a debt consolidation loan to get out of their credit card debts. But after a few months, they get another card and splurge their way to another shopping spree.

This only worsens their problems because they have to make the new set of payments on the new credit cards. And don't forget the consolidated loan payment. Unless a person learns how to deal with the finances, he will still be running in circles with this financial disaster. So to make the most of this opportunity, learn not to go back to this financial trap and be smart with money.

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Paying Twice the Minimum with Your Credit Card Debts

By Paul J. Easton

If you have a number of credit cards, you are certainly aware that keeping the balance unpaid from month to month will end up making you pay more until your financial outlook becomes very troublesome. For some unfortunate cardholders, the situation seems impossible to get through that they even thought of filing a bankruptcy. Getting out of the credit card debt trap is much more doable if you go about it immediately, and yes, it is possible. Here's how to get rid of debt.

The first thing you should do is make a decision for yourself. Come to a point realizing that you truly are in need to get out of this mess and will face it no matter how hard it may seem. Once you collected yourself and set your focus to being debt-free, commit to have the determination needed to get out of this problem.

The next thing you should do is to get rid of all of your open credit card accounts. This avoids all the temptation to use them. Using these cards means more debt. Cut up the cards for now or put them somewhere where you will not access them easily.

Here is the most critical part of our plan. The move which created this mess is developing the habit of paying the minimum amount only each month. It may be affordable up front but it actually will cost you more money in the long term

As an advice, pay at least twice the minimum payment due on each month. Pay more if your budget can. This technique eliminates the interests added each month on your bills. Credit card lenders will only gain profit from interests and other hidden fees they charge. So you have to truly work at those balances by making larger payments every time. You may not observe any difference at first but with several consecutive and on-time payments of twice the minimum or more, you will begin to notice those balances reducing to a manageable amount. Make sure only that don't get a new card yet until they are fully paid and you discipline yourself to make good use of your next credit card.

It would seem painless to get into the habit of making only the minimum payments every time. Since you will mind of only a low amount, it can free up some cash flow for your other expenses. Regrettably, paying the minimum is not that easy and can be a very costly method of managing your finances in the long run. Even with just a low balance, the interests with your debts will likely to grow and will mostly take over a decade to repay. So pay your dues twice the minimum or more and follow this until you pay the whole balance, you will finally be debt-free soon.

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Get Out of Credit Card Debt as Soon as Possible

By Paul J. Easton

Using a credit card wisely, one can definitely take advantage of a lot of benefits like bonus points, airline miles, and a cash back you most need in times of emergency. Use it haphazardly and this could be your nightmare for a long time.

For some irresponsible debtors, their financial situation is very much ruined by the bills that haunt them every due dates. It has come to a point where it is so difficult to get out of their credit card debt trap. This is actually the product of year of financial unreliability or simple ignorance.

Credit card companies like it when you carry a big balance in your statement and only pay the mandatory minimum every month. Unfortunately, you will most probably expect to pay that card off for an extended period of time. For some cases, it even takes them decades to pay off a substantial balance. Credit card companies are laughing their way with bigger profits because you are like a cash cow to them. But will you simply be still ignorant over the matter?

Here are simple methods how to get rid of debt as soon as possible. The initial step that you have to take is set your mind to being credit card free. Cut up all your cards except one just for emergency, but still don't use this one for now. At first, this is terribly difficult. You must have the enough determination to get yourself out of this debt trap. Or else, this will be your death trap soon.

When you don't have any access to credit cards, you don't get any deeper into debt. The one that you saved should not be placed in your wallet. Have it in a safe place and should be used only for emergency cases.

Now, when the statements arrive, pay much more than the minimum balance. Ideally, pay at least twice the minimum payment due or more. This lets you deduct the principal to gradually reduce the interest over the balance. Initially, you may not see a considerable difference but with a few moths of timely payments, you will eventually notice those balances come down.

When you are dealing with multiple cards, here's a great tip. Prioritize and concentrate most of your money to the payment of the card with the highest interest. Temporarily, you can have minimum payments for the other cards. When that prioritized car is fully paid, concentrate on the next card with second highest interest and so on. You will finish paying your balances faster with this method compared to paying only the minimum.

Choose not to be tricked by the credit card companies. Decide now and get out of your debt. Work hard and smart towards paying your cards as much as you can. Your goal is to get out of debt as soon as possible and by deciding now, you save your butt from a big financial disaster.

For more tips on how to get rid of debt, go to http://www.Howtogetridofdebt.net/ by Paul J. Easton.

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As an Entrepreneur, You Should Use Advanta Credit Cards

By Caressa Waechter

Credit cards come from many different issuers, offering different incentives to entice you to choose their card. There are rewards cards, cards that give you special treatment at restaurants and the such, and cards that show your allegiance to a particular sports team. If you look hard enough, you probably can find a credit card that matches every personality.

As a business owner, you really should be using a credit card designed with the needs of the entrepreneur in mind. You may not be so interested in the perks of a normal consumer card, but rather you want and need a credit card with business benefits. There isn't the wide selection of business cards as there is for consumers, but there are still a good selection.

As far as a small business credit card, they are available from many of the largest banks. Many of the small business credit cards have features that allow you to track spending, get additional cards for employees, and adjust the credit limit for additional cards. These features give a lot of control to you, the business owner.

It is important to go with a credit card issuer that comprehends the needs of the small business owner. An example of such a company is Advanta with their Advanta credit card. Advanta specialized in dealing with the small business owner, which means they are one of the best when it comes to serving the entrepreneur.

All that Advanta does is issue small business credit cards. Since they focus solely on the entrepreneur, their products are tailored very specifically to meet the needs of business.

We have been Advanta card holders for many years, and are extremely happy with their business credit card. We highly recommend that any entrepreneur take a look at this product, if you need a business credit card.

When it comes time to choose a credit card for your business, go with one that is tailored to the requirements of business owners. Choosing the right credit card for your needs is very important, as this means you are using the best banking tools available to the entrepreneur.

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How Canadian Retirement Affects Some Americans

By William Blake

There are some Americans who live near Canada who have strong opinions about Canadian retirees. This is because some Canadians decide that they would prefer to retire here in the U.S. and so after their last day of work they begin to look for a home in the States. There are some that are not very happy with what they would probably call the Canadian invasion.

It's Called A Line, Stand In It With The Rest Of Us

Canadian retirement planning must be the easiest process in the world that does not involve standing in any lines because when Canadian retirees get to the United States they act like they have never seen a line before. No you cannot get in front of me. Yes you have to get at the back of the line like everyone else. No I do not care that you fought side by side with our US troops in the Korean War.

It's The Vertical Pedal On The Left

Road rage is a very common thing in America. There are huge differences in the driving habits of people from different areas and Americans really lack patience with that. When others come from other countries and bring their driving habits with them it can be quite an annoyance for natives who are on the road with them. Perhaps they would feel the same if we were driving in their country.

Road rage doesn't seem to be quite as big a problem in other countries. In most places honking your horn is merely a way of letting someone know you are there or that you have the right of way. The horn is not used as a way to insult or complain about another persons driving. That may be why when Americans lay on their horn to express their frustration Canadians seem to be oblivious to any problem and continue doing what they are doing.

Shop In Your Own Malls!

It is impossible to find a parking spot in American malls in border towns because all of the spots are taken up by cars with Canadian license plates on them and a "sexy grandma" bumper sticker. Christmas shopping has become a near international incident in our local malls and if one more Canadian cuts me off in the mall walkway and acts like they never saw me standing there and walking in the same direction then I may escalate that international incident to an act of war. Now that their money is worth a little more than ours I am sure that this will only get worse long before it gets better.

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Getting No Documentation Loans is not Difficult

By Gressly Stevens

Do you work for yourself, own your own business, or are you a tipped employee? Do you need to refinance or get a mortgage, but you are not sure how you will with the lack of proof for your income? Getting a mortgage can be difficult with no real proof of what you make.

However, you can use what is called no documentation loans to get the morgage you need. This could be the answer you have been waiting for. Here are the types of situations that fit the profile for a no documentation loan.

If you are self employed, then you should know that this program began with you. You will probably be asked to use what is called a stated income mortgage program. This will allow you not to have to prove your income since that can be difficult for the self employed.

You should have no problems getting the mortgage you need with a stated income program. You will not have to prove any income and you will be able to write down a number of what you really make. These programs started specifically for the self employed so don't be afraid to take advantage of them.

If you are one that works for someone else, but are considered an independent contractor, then you can also use the no documentation loans to your advantage. You probably get paid cash, which can make it difficult to prove what you actually make. This would be another great time to use the stated income program.

Plus you will not have to worry about proving where you work or your income. This is one of the best parts about these programs is you do not have to prove much. This can help you get into the home you want or refinance your current mortgage.

One more situation that the no doc loan is great for is tipped employees. These are usually bartenders and servers, but anybody that makes the majority of their money from tips qualifies. This person typically does not claim all their tips and this makes it hard to prove your real income.

The stated income program for mortgages can help out this type of worker as well. They will not have to prove anything. No employment verification or income verification. They just have to write down a number and sign it stating that they make that much each month.

When you use a program like the no documentation loans or the stated income mortgage you are not doing anything that will hurt you. It will have a bit higher interest rate because it is a little more risky for lenders, but that is about it. You should not be afraid to go this route if you fit the above situations.

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The Truth About Choosing The Right Fixed Rate Mortgage

By James Redder

For many home buyers, the only real decision they have to make is whether to have a 15 or 30 year fixed mortgage rate? Early completion of a mortgage is important for those of use that leave buying a home until later in life. In a situation as important as this time needs to be spent considering all the available options. It is always a good idea to confirm that the interest rate does not alter during the term of the mortgage.

It seems that some lenders are happy to offer deals that appear too good to be true and they usually are. The interest rate should remain the same for fixed rate mortgages until the loan is repaid. This is of great benefit for anyone that does not like surprises. Both my wife and I decided to research fixed rate mortgages when we started looking at homes for sale.

Even though it was important for us to pay off our loan at the earliest possible opportunity, we didn't want high, unrealistic monthly payments which we would have trouble maintaining. Considering longer term fixed rate mortgages was one option if we could not afford a 15 year plan. We didn't really like the prospect of having a mortgage as we approached retirement so were really hoping to get one of the loans with 15 year fixed mortgage rates. We felt that there was a great deal of emphasis on paying the mortgage off early.

Taking everything into account we finally went for the easier 30 year mortgage plan instead. There were many things that lead us into making this choice. It was easier reaching this conclusion when I learnt my wife was expecting a baby. As she intended to raise our child at home we couldn't rely on her financial income to the monthly expenditure. The problem we could see was the increased financial commitment on a monthly basis if we had opted for the 15 year fixed mortgage rate. We just decided we would probably get into trouble if we took this route. Despite the trepidation of having a longer term loan, it did reduce the repayments considerably.

We found that if we could make a few extra payments throughout each year then it would gradually reduce the principle sum owed. To our surprise we also discovered that we could knock years off our loan by doing this. This is well worth it in the long term but it does require some discipline. Taking our needs and abilities into account was more important than our desire for a shorter term mortgage plan. All things considered, it all worked out for the best in the end.

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How Loan Modification Can Stop Foreclosure and Save Your Home

By Carina McMullen

For too many Americans, foreclosure is a word that is becoming commonplace. This is because times are hard, work is hard to find, and money is very limited. However, you don't have to give up your home just because your loan is suddenly out of your budget. There are many things to consider before you throw in the towel, including the process of loan modification.

This procedure allows you to rearrange your payments, settle late fees, and can help you get your mortgage back into an affordable range with little effort. It doesn't matter if you've lost your job or just purchased a home that you can no longer afford, you should consider loan modification as an option for saving your home.

There are professional companies that handle the process of loan modification. They know the inside secrets to lending and financing, which allows them to get better deals from your bank or mortgage lender. They work with the lender to set up payments, eradicate late fees, and get your mortgage back on track so that it's affordable for you once again. You might not be able to find these deals on your own, which is why these companies are out there to help you. Loan modification can defer payments, split up payments, lower interest rates, eliminate late fees, and even cut the amount that you owe by changing the parameters of your mortgage loan.

The loan modification process is NOT a refinancing loan for your home, nor does it transfer the ownership of your loan to another company. Modification advisors simply work with your lender on your behalf to find solutions to your mortgage payments that work for you. You don't have to have good credit or any credit really, because you're not getting a new loan. When you work with a loan modification company, you are simply changing the way that you pay your mortgage loan.

You might have already tried to contact your mortgage company and work out details on your own. That's great, but rarely effective. Since you are just a consumer, the industry likes to think that you don't know all of the insider secrets, and won't give you the deals that they might give to a loan modification company. By hiring a professional loan modification advisor or company, you'll be able to have affordable options and many more solutions that you would have gotten on your own. You shouldn't give up your home without a fight, and this loan modification is one of the battles that you can win.

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Variable Rate vs Fixed Rate Student Loans

By William Blake

Changes in Student Loan Structure

As of July 1, 2006 Stafford loans became fixed rate loans. This was not a new idea. Years ago all Stafford loans had a fixed interest rate. In time the structure changed and they became variable rate loans. Now they have again taken their original structure.

But they can change again. What the Government does, it can undo. Also, because lenders have some flexibility, even official rates can be altered in subtle ways. Many lenders, for example, charge the Federally established origination fee of 3% and the default insurance rate of 1%. Others are willing to absorb those costs to get your business. As a rough rule of thumb, every 3% in fees is equivalent to approximately 1% in interest rate.

Rates and Interest Amounts

Though the interest rate changes can be modest, PLUS loans increased from 6.1% to 8.5%, for example. On, say, even as low as $16,000 borrowed, a 2.4% rate difference equals (approximately) a $400 difference in interest charges the first year alone.

You can visit www.bankrate.com/brm/mortgage-calculator.asp to see exactly how much your loan will cost you at a given interest rate.

The Future

There are no guarantees. The rates can change, since they're similar to variable rate home loans, even after the loans are funded. Predicting interest rates, both near term and long term, is a task that challenges even the finest financial experts. If it were otherwise, the bond market would be a pretty dull affair (which it's not). So, the best the average student or parent can do is to look to what those experts are predicting.

Follow The Leaders

Among the easier ways to follow those predictions is to look at various interest-bearing financial instruments, such as T-Bills or long-term corporate bonds. By examining those numbers, potential borrowers can get the best available guess about where interest rates are headed. That information is easily gained from any finance website, such as Yahoo Finance or some other personal favorite.

Student loans and other types of loans often vary in conjunction with the Treasury bill. The Treasury bill shows what the government projections are for selling its debt and what the buyers are expected to offer.

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