Friday, June 4, 2010

Loans for the unemployed – Solution of Unexpected Outlays by Allan Border

Unemployed problems are creating in whole world. And so many people have to face it. Mostly this problem creates in India because the one reason is that a lot of people are uneducated here yet many people are also educated here. But however some people can not get the job then they have to face unemployment. Only unemployed people know how to live in their life. Always they depend on others and compelled with their unemployment. Sometime they have to die their feelings cause of money. In that case, they can take help of loans for unemployed peoples.



Every person wants to do enjoy in his life. Your parents can not give to you support also in whole life. Your friends enjoy in their life because they have good job and they get good salary. They can do everything in their life. They do not need for anything. They can complete own their necessities. They do not take support of their parents. If you don not have good job and you are searching for job and you are not succession to find the job then what would you do. How will you complete your dream & necessities?



Some people get compel to do suicide. All we know that any problem can not solve after doing suicide. Every person should have courage. All people should face every difficulty in their life because everything is possible in world. After all these circumstances you think about unemployed loan. And you apply in any one company for loan. When you go to Loan Company, company will give you two options secured & unsecured credit loan then you have to choose.



Company asks you some records like your account number, electricity bills, name, occupation, address etc. After these formalities company will verify to your records then will give you loan. It also gives you limited days for paying back amount. Within 24 hours you can get amount in your account. On the other hand you can get loans for the unemployed internet. If you are 18 years old then you can apply for loan otherwise you can not apply.


If being on the look out for getting decent as well as authentic information with regard to loans for the unemployed, Unemployed Unsecured Loans, tenant loans for unemployed peoples, just visit http://www.unemployedloansforthepeoples.co.uk, which is maintained by distinguished content writer in addition to loan analyst.


Article Source: Loans for the unemployed – Solution of Unexpected Outlays

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

6 Secrets To The 30-Day Grocery Challenge by Allison Berry

Cutting costs is about getting creative. It’s also about refocusing priorities. You may be spending less money than you’re used to, and buying fewer luxuries. There are ways to reduce spending that don’t have to make you feel broke and lonely. Enter the 30-Day Grocery Challenge: 30 days, $200 limit on groceries.



Months back, I wrangled my husband and made it a household challenge. It got incredibly challenging, but it also got really fun! It pulled out my most creative self, and gave me ideas for cost cutting in other areas I never would have considered had I not entered the challenge



The rules of the game are that you have $200 for the whole month. So if you under-spend one week, you have that surplus to add to your balance for later in the month. Don’t overspend! It’ll make it really hard to eat later in the week. Get resourceful! It’ll go a long way.



Here are some tips to getting to Day 30 well fed and on budget.



1. Take inventory of your pantry and freezer.



- Go through your entire cupboard and pull out the staples—pasta, rice, beans, grains. Line them up in order of weeks. How many meals can each of them contribute to each week till they are gone?



- Then pull out the long neglected items—the canned garbanzo beans, hearts of palm, and Thai chili soups—and set them aside to start planning how you can turn them into spectacular feats of cuisine as the month unfolds.



- Label the items in your freezer in order of the weeks you want to eat them in your 30- Day plan. It may be gratifying to save those burgers till Week 4, when creativity is waning.



- Take note of the condiments in the fridge. What can you make in the next 30 days that you can use those pickled lemons in?



-Use your $50 a week to augment what you already have.



2. Uncover your favorite all-purpose recipe books.



Hint: Vegetarian chefs are known for their remarkable creativity with staple ingredients and a few dashes of produce. These can be prolific help on a budget, and refill your reservoir of recipe ideas when wondering what to make with the three bags of rice you found in the back of the cupboard. Pick up one at the library, borrow one from your neighbor, or find several at a used bookstore.



3. Plan, plan, plan.



- Once you have inventoried your food supply, make a list and don’t buy anything you already have!



- Make a loose meal plan for the month, based on what’s in your kitchen, and what you think you might buy on your budget. As each week begins, make a more detailed meal plan for that week.



- Keep the grocery trips to a minimum, and never shop hungry. To stay inside the budget, it’s best to buy once, maybe twice for the week. Bring your list of items you have (keep it in your purse or your car). Cross items off the list once you have eaten them.



4. Get creative with single ingredients.



If you purchase a main course item on special, like fish or meat, consider serving part of it as a main course one night with rice or veggies, then mincing up the rest for tacos or casserole.



5. Stick to it.



After a couple of weeks, the challenge can get a little dicey. Week three, you may start looking longingly into the grocery market freezer at the $5 Ben & Jerry’s. The trick is to stay on track, stick to your daily plan, and know that in 30 days, you can have your specialty ice cream.



6. Talk about it!



It’s best to start this challenge with a partner or a group. Enroll people at work to take the challenge with you. Get your neighbors in on it. You will keep each other on track and hold each other accountable. And truthfully, it’s just more fun that way. You can go so far as to make a big progress chart in someone’s garage, trade recipes, or trade items you have a surplus of for items your neighbor has a surplus of. The possibilities are endless there, and the encouragement that kicks in when you’re ready to quit is priceless.



Success Pays



When you get into the challenge, it becomes a ritual, and all of a sudden, you find yourself through one week saying, I can’t believe we did it! The success feels fantastic. You feel freedom in it, more than what you might imagine on a reduction plan. My husband and I crafted awesome new recipes, learned how to make granola really cheaply, and got the value of our dollar out of every meal.



Is it sustainable after the first month? If you have a great time, and it’s a breeze for you, keep at it. For my family, we got busy after we completed the challenge, and let the plans slide. But the experience of those 30 days gave us cost saving, valuable habits we still use today. I find myself shopping with that hawk-eye for value. And certain weeks, I take stock of the pantry and launch a mini-challenge to last through the week.


Allison Berry is the author of this article on Personal Finance And Budget Advice.
Find more information about Personal Finance Software here.






Article Source: 6 Secrets To The 30-Day Grocery Challenge

Monday, May 3, 2010

Consumers Less Likely To Deal With High Overdraft Fees In Future by CreditReport.com

Even with major revisions having been implemented to the nation's credit card laws earlier this year, consumers haven't seen the last of changes to the ways they use plastic.



One area that has continued to attract attention from government regulators and consumer advocates is the amount that lenders tend to charge for late fees and overdrafts on debit cards. For example, an overdraft fee can often be as high as $39 even if the purchase that triggered it was as small as a few dollars.



In response, the Federal Reserve recently announced a new set of rules that include the requirement that such fees must be proportional to the amount a person actually overdrafts by. Other parts of the proposal would ban inactivity fees, as well as multiple penalty fees for the same violation of account terms.



The Federal Reserve proposals would also contain language directing card companies to evaluate whether a customer merits having their interest rates brought back to a lower level if those rates were increased since January 1, 2009. Lenders would also be required to inform consumers of the reason their rates had gone up.



In response to the changing climate for consumers and credit card companies, Bank of America made an announcement this week that could be a sign of things to come.



According to the financial services giant, as of this summer it will only approve debit card transactions that are covered by a sufficient amount of money in the account at the time of sale. This would essentially allow the company to sidestep the debate over the size of overdraft fees that consumers are charged in such cases.



The company also noted that people will still have the option of overdraft protection by linking to another account.



"We understand that the environment has changed, and we are changing with it," said Bank of America executive Susan Faulkner.



For consumers who have been working hard to build up their credit score and personal finances, the announcement could be a positive sign because it will give them more of a motivation to keep a close eye on their purchasing decisions. The news also comes at a time when a growing number of consumers have been using their debit cards in favor of credit cards with an eye on cutting back on interest charges and the other fees they may be charged.


I am the SEO Specialist at www.creditreport.com


Article Source: Consumers Less Likely To Deal With High Overdraft Fees In Future

Sunday, May 2, 2010

The Importance of an Emergency Fund by Ron Cheli

Surviving this economy has been tough for a lot of people. Millions of people have lost their jobs which has contributed to millions of people losing their homes, cars, accustomed lifestyles, and much more. I'm no stranger to job loss as I was laid off from a position back in 2005 as a Buyer from a manufacturing company that experienced a sharp decline in orders which resulted in a massive layoff. I was lucky enough to have found a new job within six months of my layoff and I didn't have to sell off assets to stay afloat. Granted, getting an unemployment check definitely helped but it's a short-term solution to something that may be a long-term situation.



What kept me mentally and monetarily strong during this time was the fact that I put money into an Emergency Fund on a monthly basis in case anything should happen in regards to my job, health, or anything else where I would need money right away without having to charge or borrow which is something I wanted to stay away from. From watching the news and reading magazine articles and books I have seen that the majority of Americans spend what they make and even borrow to live beyond their means. I found this to be startling. I'm well aware that a lot of us like to keep up with the Jones's, charge things we feel we can pay off in the near future, upgrade our homes or purchase a home that may be a little out of our price range but still feel comfortable taking on a little more risk for the benefit of our family and so on, but I had no idea people were such super spenders who have no regard for saving.



I feel a lot of people in these situations felt they could borrow from their 401k's and IRA's if things got tough but why bother? You get hit with taxes and penalties by doing so and you're setting yourself up for failure in regards to your retirement plans. I think 401k's and IRA's are great investments but I would never borrow from them unless I was absolutely desperate, which is not a position I would ever put myself into. Living within your means is very simple and it allows you to save money in an interest bearing account which will allow you to use this money for emergencies. I feel everyone should have both a regular savings account as well as an emergency fund.



The first step is to pick a bank to open up a savings account that you will call your Emergency Fund. You can do an online search to determine what bank is best suited for you. Each bank offers different interest rates and has different benefits so it is important to do your homework before opening an account. I recommend using an online bank such as ING Direct because you can set up your account easily, earn higher interest rates than your typical brick and mortar bank, and it is more difficult to get your money out if you have a craving to buy something on impulse since it usually takes several days to transfer your money from an online bank to your regular brick and mortar bank.



Once you have opened an account with a bank put your savings on auto-pilot. I have been using a personal budget for two years now and I absolutely love it. I know how much money I have to the penny each and every month which allows me to plan accordingly. It is important to know how much money you're bringing in every month as well as your fixed monthly expenses. Once you know how much you have left over you should subtract your variable expenses to figure out how much you have left over each month that can be put into a savings account. Most experts agree that you should always pay yourself first so my suggestion is to come up with a monthly figure or percentage of your take home pay that you want to put in your savings account and set up an auto transfer each month (or paycheck) for this amount. I know a lot of people probably feel more comfortable doing it manually but this can be a big mistake since it makes it easier to spend these funds rather than put them in an Emergency Fund which is not good.



In closing, I know everyone's financial situations are different but this is no excuse for not putting away money in case something happens. Your Emergency Fund should be completely separate from a regular Savings Account and these fund should not be touched unless absolutely necessary. You'll find that by having this money you'll have less stress and learn to become more financially responsible going forward.


Ron Cheli is the owner of CardioCareStore.com. He enjoys leading a healthy lifestyle which includes exercising regularly and eating healthy. Ron began his career as a Buyer in the retail industry and worked his way up to a General Manager and Regional Operations Manager at two of the largest transportation companies in the world. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Operations Management and an MBA.




Article Source: The Importance of an Emergency Fund

Friday, April 30, 2010

Save Money Not Having Lunch with Co-Workers by ES Ewen

If you are clipping and using grocery coupons to save on your grocery bills to stay within a budget each month, you know the importance of cutting your spending in other areas, too.



You are most certainly familiar with the routine. The clock on the wall in the office says noon and the usual group of coworkers decide where to have lunch. In many modern offices in cities and towns, where the driving time to the nearest eatery takes up a good portion of the lunch hour, not to mention adding wear and tear to the car and using up gas for the car.



It’s difficult to find a decent lunch for fewer than ten bucks including tip. You swallow your food, share a few laughs with coworkers and run back to the office wishing you could take a nap somewhere.



As you make your way back to your desk, you notice this gal putting away his brown paper bag. She seems calm, happy and ready to get back to work, some of which he apparently did while enjoying his lunch and thinking how delicious it was, the hassle she avoided by eating at she desk, and how much money she saved.



But is the money you save really worth the time and effect needed to prepare and bring your lunch to work each day? Let’s take a few minutes to do the math to see how much money you can save.



For example, let’s say you can fix your own lunch at a cost of about $3.50 a day. It’s probably much cheaper if you are buying in bulk and using grocery coupons. That works out to $17.50 for a five day work week.



And let’s say you spend $10.00 per lunch eating out five day a week, which comes to $50.00 each week, not counting wear and tear on the car and gas money.



The difference comes to $32.50 each week that you are spending on lunch with the gang. That works out to $1,625 a year. Is that money that you could use for something else more essential?



A great way to get started with brown bagging your lunch is to talk people you know who are already doing it. But here are some tips to get you rolling:



Prepare the lunch the night before so you’re not hurried in the morning. You don’t want to be stressed early in the morning over what you will be eating for lunch. Keep the menu simple but be creative and prepare something different everyday, and always think healthy. Simple sandwiches with whole gain breads are fine, but try to include some nuts, at least a serving of fruit or yogurt. Also, brown bag a treat for yourself that you can look forward to, maybe a health bar or your favorite snake.



Keep your brown bag lunches in mind when you are shopping for your groceries, which means planning ahead and buying in bulk. Instead of buying small individual packaged bags something which usually cost more, buy it in large packages and divide up smaller portions and put them in smaller re-sealable plastic bags.



If you don’t like sandwiches or you prefer home cooked meals, plan to cook larger than normal dinners and save some “left over” for lunch either for the next day or the whole week. Put the lunches in individual containers the night before so you can brown bag it and go the next morning.



Even with all the planning, you’re bound to be running late on some mornings or just don’t have time to prepare lunch the night before. There’s nothing wrong with occasionally eating out a can once in awhile. Leave a can of soup or vegetable chili at the office. Most offices have at least a small kitchen with toaster ovens or microwaves that you can use for heating up your soups.



Don’t forget to bring your drink. Don’t rely on the soda venting machines that are also in the office kitchens. You can stock up on a 12-pack of soda for as little as 10 cents a can. Of course, you can always just drink water, which is usually free provided by the office, with your lunch.



Depending on your work load, you may or may not want to have working lunches. That’s up to you. The time is your time and you can use it to catch up on personal emails or just take a break from work. You just may find that you are more relaxed, less hurried and more productive. Don’t be surprised if your coworkers come to you for tips on brown bagging their lunch.



There are lots of good points to brown bagging your lunch: You eat healthier, save time and money, and you’re more productive. Now you have a new task of figuring out where in your budget to allocate the money you saved.


If you are interest in learning how to save money buying your grocery items for your brown bag lunch by using grocery coupons, visit http://www.couponsforgroceriessite.com/, where you will find ideas on where to find free grocery coupons to print from home.


Article Source: Save Money Not Having Lunch with Co-Workers

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Consumers Less Likely To Deal With High Overdraft Fees In Future by CreditReport.com

Even with major revisions having been implemented to the nation's credit card laws earlier this year, consumers haven't seen the last of changes to the ways they use plastic.



One area that has continued to attract attention from government regulators and consumer advocates is the amount that lenders tend to charge for late fees and overdrafts on debit cards. For example, an overdraft fee can often be as high as $39 even if the purchase that triggered it was as small as a few dollars.



In response, the Federal Reserve recently announced a new set of rules that include the requirement that such fees must be proportional to the amount a person actually overdrafts by. Other parts of the proposal would ban inactivity fees, as well as multiple penalty fees for the same violation of account terms.



The Federal Reserve proposals would also contain language directing card companies to evaluate whether a customer merits having their interest rates brought back to a lower level if those rates were increased since January 1, 2009. Lenders would also be required to inform consumers of the reason their rates had gone up.



In response to the changing climate for consumers and credit card companies, Bank of America made an announcement this week that could be a sign of things to come.



According to the financial services giant, as of this summer it will only approve debit card transactions that are covered by a sufficient amount of money in the account at the time of sale. This would essentially allow the company to sidestep the debate over the size of overdraft fees that consumers are charged in such cases.



The company also noted that people will still have the option of overdraft protection by linking to another account.



"We understand that the environment has changed, and we are changing with it," said Bank of America executive Susan Faulkner.



For consumers who have been working hard to build up their credit score and personal finances, the announcement could be a positive sign because it will give them more of a motivation to keep a close eye on their purchasing decisions. The news also comes at a time when a growing number of consumers have been using their debit cards in favor of credit cards with an eye on cutting back on interest charges and the other fees they may be charged.


I am the SEO Specialist at www.creditreport.com


Article Source: Consumers Less Likely To Deal With High Overdraft Fees In Future

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Don''t delay getting debt help by Gil Chasser

Debt has become almost trendy of late, with big business (especially the banks) and even government getting well and truly buried. If you are having problems making ends meet due to debt, this is no longer a cause for any embarrassment or shame ? everyone is at it! The only sin is to ignore the problem, and the only sensible course of action is to get some debt help.



There are a variety of sources of help available. Online, you will find advice websites that can be a good place to start to get some idea of which kind of organisation to approach for debt help, given your personal circumstances and the size of your debt.



Organisations like the Citizens Advice Bureau can offer one-to-one help with debt if you are in fairly serious trouble, as well as providing information on debt management strategies that you can implement on your own.



Professional debt management and consolidation companies like Baines


Gil Chasser has recently been looking into debt help and found Baines and Ernst which helped them massively.


Article Source: Don''t delay getting debt help

Monday, April 26, 2010

Making Sure Your Organized Home Stays Organized by Jill B

Making sure that your home stays organized is often the most difficult part of home organization. Because there is constantly more stuff coming into your home, the battle is never ending. And perhaps the even more difficult part is getting everyone else in your home on board with keeping an organized home. So how do you do it? There are two important parts: creating a schedule and getting everyone on board with the schedule.



When you create your schedule, think about the rooms in your home that are problem areas. Is your kitchen constantly a mess? Bathrooms? Home office? Think about what creates the problems in those areas. Are your kids constantly coming home from school and dropping all of their school papers on the kitchen counter? Do you bring the mail home and throw it on the desk in your office and just leave it there to pile up day after day?



Figure out what the problem is for each area. Then you need to figure out a way to address each of these problems in order to have an organized home. Do you need to go through your mail on a daily basis? Do you need to have a time at night when all school papers need to be out of the kitchen? Think about what kind of schedule you need to set up and write it down using a calendar or some kind of reminder system. Either of these is best so you know exactly what needs to be done when.



Getting everyone on board with the schedule means having a family meeting to discuss it. Talk about why it is important. Get input from everyone on how best to implement the schedule. If they do not like the schedule you have come up with, talk about why and get ideas from them about what they think would work better.


If you want to keep an organized home, you will need to get everyone involved in it. And if things are not working, have another family meeting to discuss why. Get more free advice at http://www.YourHomeIsOrganized.com


Article Source: Making Sure Your Organized Home Stays Organized

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Financial Aid Pledges Make College Affordable for Some by Melissa Lee

Many potential students are intimidated by the thought of high tuition costs of private universities compared to their less expensive counterparts in the public educational system. Many Ivy League schools cost tens of thousands of dollars per year and many families are not in the position to afford such expenses.



Before deciding against a particular college, you should see if they have any programs for families who think they cannot afford the substantial tuition costs. Colleges such as Harvard and Princeton do have such programs that can significantly lower the cost to attend their universities. Although they do not offer discount loans themselves, they can let you know what programs you do qualify for. There are income guidelines and cut-offs established by the schools for families with low incomes. For instance, you will only pay $4,800 in tuition if your family makes $60,000 at Duke whereas families who make over $80,000 will have to pay more than $27,000 for the same education.



In order to see if the school of your choice has such a program it is advised to speak with a financial aid representative. He or she will be able to guide you in the right direction and help you decide if their school is affordable for you and your family. Overall, due to the high costs of education, overall attendance at colleges is down significantly, so many schools are flexible and will be willing to work with you in any way possible to fulfill your higher education needs.


http://www.nationalpayday.com/education/payday/payday_today.asp


Article Source: Financial Aid Pledges Make College Affordable for Some

Friday, April 23, 2010

Do You Owe the IRS? Pay Back IRS Taxes with an IRS Debt Settlement Plan by IRS-Tax-Settlement-and-IRS-Tax-Lien-Help

When you Owe the IRS, it̢۪s easy to Pay Back IRS Taxes if you are aware of all of your options. You can get your economic affairs back on track with an IRS Debt-Settlement plan. Though they may not be widespread knowledge, these tax debt relief plans are available to everyone and are provided by the IRS. Below are just a few IRS Debt Settlement programs that can help you Pay what you Owe the IRS when you have Back IRS Taxes.

Non-Disclosure Installment Agreement: This particular option to pay Back IRS Taxes applies only to debts under $25,000, and you must agree to pay the full amount that you Owe the IRS. Under this option, your time period to Pay Back IRS Taxes is set up over a maximum of 60 months but cannot extend further than the collections statute expiration. For example, if you Owe the IRS and there is only 1 month left under the statute of limitations, your term to Pay Back IRS Taxes can be no longer than 1 month.

Interest and penalties continue to accrue during your repayment period with this IRS Debt Settlement plan. You can, however, pay above your installment amount and have that extra payment amount applied directly to the principal you Owe the IRS rather than to the interest. Another benefit of this IRS Debt Settlement Plan is that all assets, income, and expenses (including spending habits) are protected and remain private. Without full financial disclosure, there is reduced paperwork, and your case to Pay Back IRS Taxes can be completed within as little as two weeks.

Partial Pay Installment Agreement: This IRS Debt Settlement agreement can apply to any size debt possible that you could Owe the IRS, unlike the Non-Disclosure Agreement. It does, however, require financial disclosure, and your monthly payment to Pay Back IRS Taxes is based on this disclosure. The three types of plans to this IRS Debt Settlement agreement are:



Affordable Payment Plan: This is aimed at those who Owe the IRS and want an "affordable" monthly payment. Keep in mind that there may be a large difference between what the IRS deems "affordable" and what you deem "affordable."

Affordable Settlement Plan: If you owe Back IRS Taxes but do not qualify for an Offer in Compromise (discussed in detail in the following section), but still want to settle for less than what you Owe the IRS, this IRS Debt Settlement plan may be for you.

Asset Protection Plan: This plan is for individuals that owe Back IRS Taxes and are mostly concerned about the IRS seizing certain assets, such as a house, automobile, retirement funds, etc.



Offer in Compromise: An Offer in Compromise is not an easy option to qualify for when you have Back IRS Taxes. However, if you do qualify when you need to pay Back IRS Taxes, it can potentially reduce your tax debt by tens or evenhundreds of thousands of dollars. If the IRS accepts your offer, you must pay the amount agreed upon within 30 to 90 days of that acceptance and remain 100% compliant for 5 years.

This particular IRS Debt Settlement plan requires full financial disclosure of your assets, income, and expenses. The IRS compares your settlement proposal to their calculations of what you are actually able to pay, based on the financial information you disclosed. This takes into account all assets and equity, even if you're not able to access it. For this reason, unless you are absolutely broke with no chance of being able to pay your Back IRS Taxes, you will not qualify for this IRS Debt Settlement Plan.

If you Owe the IRS, it's important that you are fully informed of your IRS Debt Settlement options to pay Back IRS Taxes. Keep in mind that these are just a few of the payment plans that are accessible to you. Know your rights, be aware of your options, and get out of IRS tax debt now.


Get additional information about IRS Tax Debt? Go to IRS-Tax-Settlement-hq.com


Article Source: Do You Owe the IRS? Pay Back IRS Taxes with an IRS Debt Settlement Plan

Thursday, April 22, 2010

How Would You Define Passive Income by Chris Steiner

Do you know what passive income is? If you aren't sure, or it is a term you haven't heard before, this article can help you understand just what it is and why it is important to your financial future.



Passive income is just what it sounds like. It is income you receive without having to work in an active way to get it. The flip side of this is active income, which is what most people have. The most common active income is the money you get in your paycheck every month, for which you have to trade 40 hours of your time each and every week.



It is important to understand the distinction. Active income stops when you stop working to get it. Your boss is not going to keep paying you if you stop showing up to work. If you sell things to make extra money, that money stops coming in when you stop selling. All active income streams are dependent on your action.



Passive income, on the other hand, does not require ongoing effort. Often, you can do work once and the income will continue to come in for months or even years without you having to do anything except maybe cash the checks.



You may be asking yourself why more people don't have passive income if this is such a great thing. The truth is that many methods of creating passive income require a lot of effort or discipline to create the passive income stream, and unfortunately, most people are not willing or able to get them started.



Many sources of income can be either passive or active, depending on how you set them up. Owning a business is a great example of this. There are several different ways of becoming a business owner, and they are as varied as buying stock in a public company and bootstrapping a start-up business.



If you have money and you are willing to do the research and learning involved in making an intelligent investment, buying stock may be the answer for you. Dividend payments are the company's way of disbursing profits to the owners, which becomes your passive income stream. Any increase in the value of the stock itself is also passive income, though you only receive it when you sell the stock.



Creating your own business is another way to create passive income, but for most business owners this never becomes their reality. It can take a lot of patience and effort to build up a business and hire the right employees and set up the right amount of automation to make it hands off for you as an owner. But if you do so, you can enjoy years of passive income from this source.



Interest payments of all sorts, including from bank deposits, bonds and other financial instruments would also be good examples of passive income. Additionally, royalties and licensing fees provide their owners with another stream of income that is passive.



Another great example of a form of income that is passive is rental income. Especially for property owners who employ management companies, rent payments get deposited into your bank each month without you lifting a finger.


You can even create a passive income stream by creating small businesses online. This can take some effort, but once it is set up and automated, you can continue to make money for quite some time. If you'd like some help in setting up an online business like this, check out http://www.the-make-money-blog.com/.



Article Source: How Would You Define Passive Income

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Three Debt Relief Options For Debt Free Lifestyle by Cornie_Herring

Debt can be snowballed very quickly until it reaches the amount beyond your financial affordability and causes a financial problem, especially when you have many payments to make every month. That's why, debt consolidation is a popular option for people to combine multiple debts into one in order to work their way out of debt. However, debt consolidation is not a solution for all financial problems. You may need a better option to achieve a debt free lifestyle. Following are a few debt relief options, which you may use one or the combination of them to get rid of debt.



Option 1: Get help from a consumer credit counselling service



Consumer credit counselling services help debtors to explore the debt relief options while educating them on how to manage their finance to avoid future debt issues. Once the credit counsellor gets to understand your financial situation, he/she will propose debt solutions according to your financial affordability. Each solution may come with pros and cons, so you have to decide a solution that fits your financial situation with the help from the credit counsellor. By consulting a credit counselling service, you will have a better picture on how your debt is and the potential solutions to get rid of it.



Option 2: Balance transfer credit cards to the card with lower interest rate



Although transfer the balance from one card to another does not help you to get rid of debt, but it can be a way to consolidate multiple high interest rate credit cards' balances to a credit card with lower interest rate, so that you pay less interest on monthly payment. But, beware that all balance transfer offers come with a low interest rate during introductory period. After the period, the interest may jump back to normal rate, or even higher. So, you have to be very careful and only perform the balance transfer if you are able to pay the balance off while you are in the low introductory interest rate. Watch out the balance transfer fees that may cause you pay more.



Option 3: Consider a home equity loan



If you have a home with sufficient equity, you may consider getting a home equity loan to pay off your debt. Since a home equity loan is a type of secured loan, you will be able to get a lower interest rate than an unsecured loan, save you thousands of dollars in term of interest. One negative impact to this option is you are putting your home at risk if you default the loan due to any reason. So, you have to make sure you make the repayment on time until the loan is paid off.



Option 4: Borrow from 401(k) or other retirement plan



You may borrow against your retirement plan/401(k) and use the money to pay off your debt. But, there will be tax penalties for accessing your retirement funds before you reach the retire age. If you don't pay back the loan, the loan amount plus the interest will be deducted from the benefits that will be paid to your beneficiaries. So, make sure you read the fine print about the terms and conditions involved before you apply for it.



Summary



There are many debt relief options that you can use to get a debt free lifestyle. Debt consolidation may not be the best option for you. You should evaluate various options before you come to a decision to select a debt relief solution that best fit your financial situation.


Visit Cornie Herring at http://www.studykiosk.com/CreditBasics/ to explore various debt relief options and learn the best debt relief solution that fits into your financial situation.


Article Source: Three Debt Relief Options For Debt Free Lifestyle

Monday, April 19, 2010

Can A Lifetime Mortgage Help You To Enjoy Your Retirement by equity

What do you have planned for your retirement years? Do you plan to travel? Would you prefer to stay at home and simply relax? Whatever your plans are, retirement takes money and if you have not saved enough, you could have difficulty in meeting even your basic needs. There is hope for you to be able to enjoy those retirement years without the fear of a lack of funding through a lifetime mortgage.



If you were asked to make a list of your most valuable assets, your home would top the list. Many people work a lifetime to own the home of their dreams.



A lifetime mortgage provides a way to have a monthly income that is based on your home's equity. You have grown that equity through payment or your mortgage throughout your working life with inflation having increased the property value over and above the original purchase price. Now you can tap into that equity in order to meet your needs while still living in your home for as long as you want. Lifetime mortgages do not force you to sell the home to meet expenses. Instead the home remains yours for as long as you want. When it is sold, the lifetime mortgage is paid off and the remainder is distributed to either you or your heirs.



As long as you are at least 55 years in age, you can qualify for an equity release mortgage (another term used to describe lifetime mortgages). Any moneythat you release as part of your equity release can be used in any way that you please, because it is your money. There are no ongoing monthly payments, but instead interest is rolled up against the original borrowing, and then repaid when the property is sold.



If you come to your retirement years and find that you need help in completing the payments on your mortgage, a lifetime mortgage will allow you to get the money needed to repay the mortgage balance outstanding so that any ongoing mortgage payments in retirement will cease. Please do bear in mind however that the amount of equity you can release from the property will be dependent on the property value, and the age of the youngest applicant.



As the funds from an equity release scheme can be used for any purpose, they often get used where grandparents want to help a grandchild with a deposit for their first home, or to assist their children with help toward tuition fees for their grandchildren.



Others find that the funds from a lifetime mortgage allow them to take out private health insurance when previously the premiums would have been unaffordable. While this insurance can be expensive, it can provide total peace of mind that cover is in place at a time of life when serious illness is more common.



Lifetime mortgages are not suitable for everyone though as it will reduce the amount of the estate that is left for your heirs. Those with high value properties on the other hand can often benefit from a lifetime mortgage that helps to reduce a capital gains tax liability.



The best solution is to talk to a suitably qualified equity release specialist who will take noteof all your requirements, present and future, and who can then provide you with independent advice so that you are able to reach an informed decison on whether a lifetime mortgage is right for you.


There are many pros and cons to a lifetime mortgage, and so independent advice about all equity release options is essential. Take advantage of free equity release advice, and book a consultation today!


Article Source: Can A Lifetime Mortgage Help You To Enjoy Your Retirement

Sunday, April 18, 2010

4 advantages and 3 disadvantages of debt management plans by Jwattson

You can take help of a debt management plan/program when you’re unable to pay off your debts on your own. At first, you can go for a credit counseling session and the agency will offer a debt management plan or a DMP if simple budgeting tips are not enough to clear your dues. Debt management plans are also offered by debt management companies.



How a debt management plan functions



Debt management plans function in the same way regardless of whether they are offered by a credit counseling agency or a debt management company. In such a program, the agency/company negotiates with your creditors to reduce the interest rates on your outstanding bills/debts. Then, it assesses your financial condition and decides upon a monthly payment plan with which you can repay your multiple dues. The company/agency also gets it approved by your creditors. When you make the agreed upon monthly payment to the agency/company, it distributes the amount amongst your creditors on your behalf.



DMP – Its advantages and disadvantages



Following are some advantages and disadvantages of paying off debts with the help of debt management plans.



Advantages:



1. Stops harassing calls – You can stop harassing creditor/collection calls when you go for a debt management plan.



2. Reduces loan interest rates – The counseling agency or the debt management company negotiates with the creditors to reduce the interest rates on loans so that it becomes easier for you to pay off debts.



3. Monthly payments get reduced – The monthly payments automatically get reduced when the creditors agree to lower down the interest rates on the loans. So, whenever your financial condition permits, you can make extra payments towards reducing the outstanding principal balance. This helps to pay off debts faster.



4. A single monthly payment – A single monthly payments helps to reduce multiple debts/loans. It is also easier to manage a single payment than remembering the due dates of multiple payments.



Disadvantages:



1. Fees for the program – Usually, you need to pay a professional fee to repay your debts with the help of debt management plans.



2. Cannot pay off secured debts – It is not possible to pay off your secured debts (such as, a mortgage loan) with the help of a DMP.



3. Creditors may not accept – The creditors may not agree to the repayment plan as proposed by the counseling agency or the debt management company.



In spite of the disadvantages, you can get relieved from stress when you pay off debts with the help of a DMP. Moreover, by enrolling in debt management plans, you can get tips on how to manage your personal finance in a better way so as to avoid debt problems in future.


Jennifer Wattson is associated with debtquotes.org from the first day. She has immense knowledge and experience in different finance related issues, specially debt management plans. She has enriched us with many quality debt related articles and also writing regularly for debtquotes.org.





Article Source: 4 advantages and 3 disadvantages of debt management plans

Saturday, April 17, 2010

6 Steps to Get rid Off Your Debts by Suzanne Williams

If you have incurred multiple debts and those are creating havoc in your life, you can look out for some options to become debt free.



How to become debt free



You can become debt free if you follow the 6 steps mentioned below:



1. Make a list of your debts: You should prepare a list to find out how much money you really owe. You should include all the debt amounts, even it is for only $100. Then, find a total amount of your debts.



2. Prioritize your creditors: You should make a list of your creditors on the basis of priority of debts owed to them. You should place the creditor with highest interest rate at the top. If two creditors have the same interest rate, then place the creditor with higher repayment amount at the top.



3. Prepare a budget: You need to prepare a financial budget based on your monthly income and expenses. You should save extra money to pay off your debts. You need to cut down expenses on unnecessary things and save extra money.



4. Start paying your creditors: After making the minimum payment to all the creditors, make an extra payment to the creditor at the top of your list. In this way, your first creditor on the list will get repaid faster. As soon as you have paid your first creditor, continue the process with the next one and very soon you will be able to pay off your debts. You can also pay extra amount to pay off the debts with lowest balance, to reduce the number of your unpaid bills.



5. Stop using credit cards: As long as you owe money to your creditors, you should stop using your credit cards. Do not carry credit cards while you are shopping, so that you won't feel tempted to use them.



6. Negotiate with your creditors: You can negotiate with your creditors to get you a lower interest rate, or you can refinance your car or mortgage loan and pay off your credit card bills with that loan first. You can do the negotiation by yourself or can take help of third party professionals.



If you can follow the steps mentioned above with self-discipline and consistency, you can be debt free in a very short time.


Suzanne Williams is a contributing writer of Debtincome. She has sound knowledge in finance and loves to share it by writing financial articles on debt, real estate, debt income etc, for http://www.debtincome.com/. Go through her writings to get information on finance related issues.


Article Source: 6 Steps to Get rid Off Your Debts

Friday, April 16, 2010

Get Results-Write a Dsipute Letter That Works by C R Machado

Are you wondering how exactly to write a dispute letter. What terminology do you use and what is worth disputing on your credit report. Do you file a collection dispute letter if the mark against your credit report is obviously correct? How many times can you dispute items on your credit report?



These are all good questions and I'll answer them so you can be on the road to better credit. And you don't need to hire a company to file a dispute letter. Write a dispute letter yourself and save.



How do I write a dispute letter?



Believe it or not there is no standard format when filing a dispute with the three major credit reporting agencies. The same is true with collection agencies. What you do need to do is construct a typed one page letter with the following information.



Your name, address, and social security number. Include the name of the account you are contesting and an explanation as to why you believe the account is being reported improperly. Sign the letter and include copies of proof of identification. Your social security card, drivers license and a utility bill in your name will be evidence enough. Send COPIES. Not originals.



What terminology do I use?



Simple is the key. Just note the account in question and write your reason for the dispute. An example would be, Sears account no. 123456 is being reported as late. I was never late with that account. Please correct this.



What is worth disputing on my credit report?



The law is very specific in that every dispute received from a consumer about his or her credit file must be verified within thirty days. If the account cannot be verified within that time period, the account must be deleted. If you believe there are errors on your credit report you should dispute them and make the credit reporting agency verify that they are correct according to law. This goes for everything reported in your file. Name, address, job status. Everything that has an error should be disputed. Make them do their job. If you're not sure an item is correct or not, if you do not remember, go on the side of caution and send a credit dispute letter.



How many times can I dispute an item on my credit report?



There is no limit to the number of disputes you are able to file. The credit reporting agency might answer your continued dispute with a letter telling you that you are filing needless claims which they deem to be frivolous. They are within the law to do so if they believe you are writing dispute letters just to make it difficult for them. This is one of the ways credit repair companies use to get items removed from your credit report.



If you have solid proof that an error exists, you should provide proof in the way of a canceled check or other evidence that account has been paid on time or as required. Send copies, not originals.



How long should I wait to see if the account is deleted?



The law gives the credit reporting agencies thirty days to verify the information in your credit file is accurate. If it isn't they have to correct it. If they cannot verify, which means the creditor does not respond to the dispute request, the account by law, must be deleted.



There are some loopholes in this time table you should know about. The main interruption in the thirty day requirement is if you piecemeal information to them. For instance, you write a dispute letter and two weeks later, you decide to dispute something else and maybe file some paperwork you might have just found to support your case.



This will pause the investigation, giving the credit reporting agency more time to complete their investigation. If you don't send to them proof of identity this will also atoll the verification process. Finally, they may not receive the letter you sent to them. Stranger things have happened so you need to protect your rights.



How do I protect my rights?



First, make sure you send everything at once. Don't send a dispute letter and a week later write another letter telling them you suddenly located more evidence of your claim. Send it all at once.



Second, send copies of who you are. Social security card, drivers license and a utility bill. If you don't send copies proving you are who you claim to be, they will pause the investigation and ask for these items. You don't want them to have any more time than what is necessary.



Third, send your dispute letter by certified mail-return receipt. Make them sign for it and when you get the green card back from the Post Office, note the date they received the dispute letter. Count forward thirty days and follow up with a letter telling them you want the account deleted.


Would you like a Credit Repair Program that automatically gets the job done? One that writes dispute letters for you? All you have to do is sign and mail. If so, check out the AVAIL Credit Coach, an online secure credit scoring software. It's affordable and it works.


Article Source: Get Results-Write a Dsipute Letter That Works

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Use software to control your personal finances by Esteri Maina

Personal finance concentrate on the methods used by individuals to access, budget, spend and save financial resources over a given period of time, considering varying economic risks now and in the future.



All this is very crucial but not when it is done manually. Many will start enthusiastically but end up abandoning the good funds control progress in no time because of using these poor methods.



It is very difficult to record all aspects of personal finance in your books, and this is why using software, is much easier, convenient and enduring.



About the software product



It is basically indoor accounting software that enables users to track down their expenses at any given period of time they may wish and this ensures a good comparison in terms of how well they stuck to their usual or new budgeted incomes.



This personal finance software product has got unlimited number of accounts, categories, subcategories and currencies.



The feature of varied currency is very important for the users whose transactions comprise of different currencies as the source of their monies.



It contains summary view, graphs and reports, printing, export and import data. So, it is clear that those doing business across their country borders can still use it to control their finances.



Users got an opportunity to manipulate data in any way they would please by sorting by any field, searching, classifying transactions by names and so on.



This user-friendly product is rated high by the fact that it has a password protection for those family members using it and above all comes in different versions.



Why do you need personal finance software?



This great software enables one manage the personal finances in that, they can understand when cash flows out and where to, locate extreme disbursement and do away with the ones not compulsory.



The software’s usage is fit for both beginners and those acquainted with it because, apart from offering many settings and functions, it is effortless to trail personal finances.



See, it is not all of us who are financial geeks and so it becomes difficult to structure records quickly, in a manner that shows professionalism in knowledge of bookkeeping.



The incredible brains behind this automated method of managing money at personal level has included unique and varied features that one may not create in manual cashbooks.

They demonstrate simplicity and clarity in the way a person’s money has been budgeted and spent in total sums and percentages, balances left on various accounts and in full amount.

Manually, records are not easily deleted when unneeded, edited when errors are pinpointed or even easily copied to the next page.



With personal finances software, there is a feature that enables users to automatically carry out any of the above.



Also when using books and pens to keep records, you have to write dates each time a new transaction has come up.



The software enables you to create brand new transactions by design, without having to specify the date over and over again.



For instance, if a transaction name used earlier need to be repeated again, users can use the auto fill feature to have it done directly without having to fill in the name again.



An original article by Esteri Maina onPERSONAL FINANCE


Article Source: Use software to control your personal finances

Saturday, January 2, 2010

How to Get Out of Credit Card Debt in 4 Steps by Jim Kendall

How to get out of credit card debt. These steps are for people who feel as though their credit cards have trapped them into debt and they do not know where to begin taking back control.



1. Take Out The Scissors



This first step may fill you with dread, but take every single one of your credit cards and cut them up into small pieces; this first step alone will make it hard for you to continue spending money on your credit cards.



2. Dealing With The Debt



How you deal with the debt depends on your circumstances. If you’re seriously in debt and are struggling to pay your important bills such as your mortgage or rent then you need to make sure you are paying your priority bills first so that you do not lose your home, if this is the case it is advisable to seek help from a debt advisor who can give you support on the best way to manage and deal with your debts.



If you find that after completing your budget you have some spare cash available then it’s time to begin paying off the credit cards.



3. What Do You Owe?



Go through each of your recent credit card statements and write down the details for each card, make a note of its outstanding balance and the rate of interest being charged.



Eg:

Virgin - £970 – 16.6%

Capital One - £2400 – 34.9%

Barclaycard Initial £500 – 27.9%



4. What To Pay?



Now that you have your list of credit cards and monies owed, you can now begin the process of paying off the debts. We are going to focus on paying off the cards one at a time. First of all make the minimum payments on all of your cards except for the one with the highest rate of interest, so in the example above the first card we will begin paying off is the Capital One card.



This is where you need to be really ruthless and make some cutbacks on your spending habits, for instance do you really need to go to the takeaway this week? Any extra cash you can find to go towards paying off your credit cards means that you will be paying less interest on the cards and giving away less of your money to the credit card companies.



Continue paying off the first card until it is fully paid off, you can now cancel your account with the credit card company, and this will be a very satisfying experience!



The next step is to find the next card with the highest interest rate, in the example above this will be the Barclaycard Initial. Now begin paying off this card exactly as you did with the first card and continue to make the minimum payments on the rest of your cards.



If you continue this process through all of your cards you will wipe out all of your credit card debt and save the most money possible on your card debts.



5. Congratulations



Congratulations you have now dealt with your credit card debt and your money worries are now over. These steps require some willpower and determination, so do not give in when “ you must really buy that item of clothing” the feeling of no more stress and satisfaction that you will get after clearing your credit card debts will be worth 10 times more than “that special item of clothing”.


If you have problems with debt you can speak to one of our UK debt advisors with a 100% free consultation who can also provide IVA information which can write off up to 70% of your debts.


Article Source: How to Get Out of Credit Card Debt in 4 Steps

Friday, January 1, 2010

5 Things You Should Know about the New Credit Card Rules! by John Janney

1. Late Payments



Some credit card companies went to extraordinary lengths to cause cardholder payments to be late. For example, some companies set the date to August 5, but also set the cutoff time to 1:00 pm so that if they received the payment on August 5 at 1:05 pm, they could consider the payment late. Some companies mailed statements out to their cardholders just days before the payment due date so cardholders wouldn’t have enough time to mail in a payment. As soon as one of these tactics worked, the credit card company would slap the cardholder with a $35 late fee and hike their APR to the default interest rate. People saw their interest rates go from a reasonable 9.99 percent to as high as 39.99 percent overnight just because of these and similar tricks of the credit card trade.



The new rules state that credit card companies cannot consider a payment late for any reason "unless consumers have been provided a reasonable amount of time to make the payment." They also state that credit companies can comply with this requirement by "adopting reasonable procedures designed to ensure that periodic statements are mailed or delivered at least 21 days before the payment due date." However, credit card companies cannot set cutoff times earlier than 5 pm and if creditors set due dates that coincide with dates on which the US Postal Service does not deliver mail, the creditor must accept the payment as on-time if they receive it on the following business day.



This rule mostly impacts cardholders who often pay their bill on the due date instead of a little early. If you fall into this category, then you will want to pay close attention to the postmarked date on your credit card statements to make sure they were sent at least 21 days before the due date. Of course, you should still strive to make your payments on time, but you should also insist that credit card companies consider on-time payments as being on time. Furthermore, these rules do not go into effect until 2010, so be on the lookout for an increase in late-payment-inducing tricks during 2009.



2. Allocation of Payments



Did you know that your credit card account likely has more than one interest rate? Your statement only shows one balance, but the credit card companies divide your balance into different types of charges, such as balance transfers, purchases and cash advances.



Here's an example: They lure you with a zero or low percent balance transfer for several months. After you get comfortable with your card, you charge a purchase or two and make all your payments on time. However, purchases are assessed an 18 percent APR, so that portion of your balance is costing you the most -- and the credit card companies know it and are counting on it. So, when you send in your payment, they apply all of your payment to the zero or low percent portion of your balance and let the higher interest portion sit there untouched, racking up interest charges until all of the balance transfer portion of the balance is paid off (and this could take a long time because balance transfers are typically larger than purchases because they consist of multiple, previous purchases). Essentially, the credit card companies were rigging their payment system to maximize its profits -- all at the expense of your financial wellbeing.



The new rules state that the amount paid above the minimum monthly payment must be distributed across the different portions of the balance, not just to the lowest interest portion. This reduces the amount of interest charges cardholders pay by reducing higher-interest portions sooner. It may also reduce the amount of time it takes to pay off balances.



This rule will only affect cardholders who pay more than the minimum monthly payment. If you only make the minimum monthly payment, then you will still likely end up taking years, possibly decades, to pay off your balances. However, if you adopt a policy of always paying more than the minimum, then this new rule will directly benefit you. Of course, paying more than the minimum is always a good idea, so don't wait until 2010 to start.



3. Universal Default



Universal default is one of the most controversial practices of the credit card industry. Universal default is when Bank A raises your credit card account's APR when you are late paying Bank B, even if you're not or have never been late paying Bank A. The practice gets more interesting when Bank A gives itself the right, through contractual disclosures, to increase your APR for any event impacting your credit worthiness. So, if your credit score lowers by one point, say "Goodbye" to your low, introductory APR. To make matters worse, this APR increase will be applied to your entire balance, not just on new purchases. So, that new pair of shoes you bought at 9.99 percent APR is now costing you 29.99 percent.



The new rules require credit card companies "to disclose at account opening the rates that will apply to the account" and prohibit increases unless "expressly permitted." Credit card companies can increase interest rates for new transactions as long as they provide 45 days advanced notice of the new rate. Variable rates can increase when based on an index that increases (for example, if you have a variable rate that is prime plus two percent, and the prime rate increase one percent, then your APR will increase with it). Credit card companies can increase an account's interest rate when the cardholder is "more than 30 days delinquent."



This new rule impacts cardholders who make payments on time because, from what the rule says, if a cardholder is more than 30 days late in paying, all bets are off. So, as long as you pay on time and don't open an account in which the credit card company discloses every possible interest rate to give itself permission to charge whatever APR it wants, you should benefit from this new rule. You should also pay close attention to notices from your credit card company and keep in mind that this new rule does not take effect until 2010, giving the credit card industry all of 2009 to hike interest rates for whatever reasons they can dream up.



4. Two-Cycle Billing



Interest rate charges are based on the average daily balance on the account for the billing period (one month). You carry a balance everyday and the balance might be different on some days. The amount of interest the credit card company charges is not based on the ending balance for the month, but the average of every day's ending balance.



So, if you charge $5000 at the first of the month and pay off $4999 on the 15th, the company takes your daily balances and divides them by the number of days in that month and then multiplies it by the applicable APR. In this case, your daily average balance would be $2,333.87 and your finance charge on a 15% APR account would be $350.08. Now, imagine that you paid off that extra $1 on the first of the following month. You would think that you should owe nothing on the next month's bill, right? Wrong. You'd get a bill for $175.04 because the credit card company charges interest on your daily average balance for 60 days, not 30 days. It is essentially reaching back into the past to drum-up more interest charges (the only industry that can legally travel time, at least until 2010). This is two-cycle (or double-cycle) billing.



The new rule expressly prohibits credit card companies from reaching back into previous billing cycles to calculate interest charges. Period. Gone… and good riddance!



5. High Fees on Low Limit Accounts



You may have seen the credit card advertisements claiming that you can open an account with a credit limit of "up to" $5000. The operative term is "up to" because the credit card company will issue you a credit limit based on your credit rating and income and often issues much lower credit limits than the "up to" amount. But what happens when the credit limit is a lot lower -- I mean A LOT lower -- than the advertised "up to" amount?



College students and subprime consumers (those with low credit scores) often found that the "up to" account they applied for came back with credit limits in the low hundreds, not thousands. To make things worse, the credit card company charged an account opening fee that swallowed up a large portion of the issued credit limit on the account. So, all the cardholder was getting was just a little more credit than he or she needed to pay for opening the account (is your head spinning yet?) and sometimes ended up charging a purchase (not knowing about the large setup fee already charged to the account) that triggered over-limit penalties -- causing the cardholder to incur more debt than justified.



The new rules place restrictions on how much credit card companies can charge for these account setup or membership fees and requires that they spread out these fees over at least a six-month period if these fees consume more than 25 percent of the account's credit limit.



What now?



It's 2009 and these rules don't take effect until 2010. So, credit card companies have one year to wreck havoc on consumers (not that they haven't been doing so over the past 30 years). So, you'll need to keep your eyes open for an increase in tricks designed to plummet you into more debt and make a habit of insisting that these companies abide by the new rules of the game once they kick into action in 2010. However, there are three universal points to live by to get the most out of these new rules: always read your cardholder agreement and notices, always pay on time and always pay more (much more) than the minimum monthly payment.



Time to Get Out of Debt



These new rules may also have other side effects. Some credit card companies are already lowering credit limits and increasing the minimum monthly payment amount from around two percent of the outstanding balance to as much as five percent. So, some cardholders may see their payments double and this could cause a lot of problems for cash-strapped consumers. This just means that there is no better time than now to start getting yourself out of debt and out from under the thumbs of the credit card banks.



There are a few ways to get out of debt. Bankruptcy is often an obvious option for people financially pinned against the wall, but the 2005 bankruptcy law revision made it more difficult for many consumers. Consumer credit counseling is another option that's popular, but it involves more organizational relief than financial relief. Debt settlement is growing in popularity because it provides financial relief through negotiated reduction in the amount owed, but people looking to enroll with a debt settlement company should make sure they are dealing with a well-established, reputable company. Alternatively, some people trying to get out of debt can negotiate their own debt-reduction settlements with the help of do-it-yourself debt settlement kits. Do-it-yourself debt settlement kits are available online and are less expensive than a professional, third-party debt settlement program.


John Janney is the president of the National Financial Awareness Network, publisher of the popular Do-It-Yourself Debt Settlement Kit at http://www.diydebtsettlementkit.com and the online debtor support community at http://www.helpfordebtors.com. To learn more information about NFAN, please visit http://www.nfan.com.


Article Source: 5 Things You Should Know about the New Credit Card Rules!