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Friday, February 13, 2009

How To Avoid Credit Card Debt

By Ras Reed

Are you in credit card debt? No? Then that's very good for you. But that does not mean you should not make a deliberate plan to halt yourself from going in credit card debt in future. It's the easiest thing to become a victim of. There are ways that you can stay away from falling in credit card debt and they include;

- Read the fine print: Before you sign on for any credit card, you should be sure that you know about all the terms and conditions attached to it. The things that you should pay special attention to are the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and the time for payments. When you are aware of what time you are expected to pay your credit card bills, you can easily start preparing towards it. Also, if the APR on the defaulted payments is way beyond your affordability level, try and look for another credit card deal that comes with a lower APR.

- Pay up on time: To run away from credit card debt, the most central thing that you should do after you have gotten a credit card is to pay up your monthly bills on time. Bear in mind that your failure to meet up with the payments each month will push you into debt faster than anything else. When you fail to meet up payments for one month, you get charged an interest on the money due. If you fail to meet up on the next month, the interest charge increases and you will be saddled with the responsibility of trying to pay off the accumulating interest plus the amount owned.

- Don't exceed the limit: Stay within the confines of your credit card limit. Moving outside what you can afford with your credit card will lead you to a state of debt in a matter of time. Remember that a credit card is actually supposed to assist you curb any impulse to spend. Try to be judicious in the use of your credit card to get hold of things.

Basically credit card debt can be eluded with the factual instruction and a fair share of discipline and determination. It's not impossible to own a credit card and be debt free.

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Get Alert Debt Reduction Scammers Are All Around

By Frank Froggatt

There are different debt consolidation parties accessible that are honorable parties and will take care of your accounts correctly. Unfortunately though there are some that are crooks but appear respectable from the outside.

You can be gypped by debt consolidation companies in two ways. The first way is they state to you not to send in a number of requitals while they acquire you a resolution deal.Then they take your funds that you've preserved for the resolution apparently preserving it for you, but months afterwards, come time for the resolution, the company skips out on you with your cash leaving you with an empty pot and a bunch of hungry creditors.

Another swindle by problematic debt companies is when they take your cash and don't make your payments as agreed. Ascertaining with your creditors to make sure that they are getting paid is easy enough though some people just assume that since the company received their cash they'd make the requitals accordingly.

On the other hand there are quality companies out there that practice the right things too, you only must be careful. In order to keep your money safe the most beneficial thing to do is research before you pick out a party. Make sure any company you are interested in cultivating a relationship with is referenced with the BBB and does not have any charges against them. You can also explore the party on google or google blogs and find out what individuals state about the party. You should also make a point that they can be contacted by telephone.

You may also make a point that you've chosen a debt consolidation company as apposed to a debt reduction company. They are not the same and debt reduction will extinguish any good credit you could have. They get your lenders to resolve for less than what you owe but your credit is shot as a result.

Just make sure you get everything in writing, and you realize what is coming about. Make sure you are keeping track of the companies receiving your payments, and execute your expected diligence before picking out a place to do your debt consolidation plan. If you choose a great company you should be able to get access to a debt education program so you can find out how not to make the same debt once more.

Debt consolidation may not forever be the preferred choice but it is considerably sounder than debt reduction and your chances of getting gypped are way smaller. If you search around eventually you will learn a respectable party that actually desires to assist you.

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How to Dispute Credit Report

By Justin Hutto

Since a better payment history accounts for up to 35% of your score, disputing negative marks helps because it will show a better payment history. Disputing negative marks on your credit report is the most effective method of improving a low credit score.

You need to contact each credit bureau and send a dispute letter to dispute a negative mark. The bureau will often reply with a letter requesting more information about the item.

This is a stall tactic the bureaus use. They have found it more cost effective to delay instead of actually investigating the dispute. It is common for people to give up at this point and continue to pay outrageous interest rates.

In time, the bureaus will investigate the mark only if another dispute letter is sent with the requested information. While investigating, the bureau will contact the lender to verify the disputed mark.

The mark must be removed from your credit report by the bureau if the lender cannot verify it. Lenders frequently do not want to spend money and time verifying an uncollectable debt. Therefore, for the best results, we suggest you wait until the lender has received a payment for the outstanding debt.

For example; with a charged off credit card account once the account is sold to a collection agency the lender has no more use for it. Thus when they are contacted by the bureau they will not spend the time to verify the account.

You can you can hire a service to dispute your credit for you or create a dispute letter and dispute your credit yourself. It is simpler to get rid of a charge off once it has been sold rather than outstanding.

The benefit of a service is that you will have more options to remove a mark if it is verified. Services can; request debt validation, escalated dispute information requests, creditor direct interventions, and in extreme cases an attorney can go to court and fight on your behalf.

You credit score is a very important number. It impacts your; finances, residence, place of employment and many more. It is estimated that 25% of Americans have an error on their report and that is costing them money in higher interest rates.

In conclusion, you can remove negative items from your credit report and stop paying the high cost of bad credit. This is accomplished by disputing your credit yourself with a dispute letter or by hiring a service to do it for you.

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Where To Get Signature Loans

By David Douglas

It's pretty common for people to find themselves in need of financial assistance at some point in their lives. The need for money can range dramatically. When you find yourself needing to borrow some money, it will become quite clear that there are a lot of different options to choose from. Signature loans are one type of loan that is offered to help people meet their financial needs. Understanding some of the basics of this type of loan will help you determine if it is the right loan for you.

Signature loans are usually issued in amounts ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 dollars. The term of the loan might be as little as a few months or as many as 60 months. If you are hoping to attend college, this type of loan might help you achieve that goal.

The loans are issued with a fixed term. This means you won't have to deal with fluctuating interest rates which is helpful when it comes to repayment of the loan. Qualifying for the loan doesn't require you to offer up any collateral. This is helpful not only because it can be risky to put up collateral, but also because many people don't always have sufficient collateral to qualify for other loans.

Interest on the loan does start accruing from the time the loan is issued. Repayment begins right away as well. The loans are intended to help you cover expenses immediately, while actually paying for them over a period of time lessening the financial strain.

One of the main qualifiers for the loan, as with most loans, is to have good credit. If you have bad credit, it doesn't necessarily mean you won't be able to qualify, it just means the interest rate attached to the loan is sure to be higher than it would be if you had a good credit score. However, having bad credit does decrease the chances that you will qualify for the loan.

Since the loan is risky to the lender because they don't have any collateral to back up the loan, they will want to see your credit score. The better credit you have, the more likely it is that the bank will be willing to loan you money. Your credit history essentially tells them everything they are concerned with knowing about you.

So if you find yourself in need of a loan, look at the options that are available to you. A signature loan just might be the right fit to meet your financial needs.

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The Easiest Way to Sell your Home Fast

By Joaquin Costa

We all know that buying or selling a home can be a time consuming process. Although there are thousands of people looking to buy homes, it can be a tricky process finding the right person interested in your home. With hundreds of thousands of homes for sale in the United States, there is always some form of competition.

If youre looking to sell your home fast, youll need to attract as much attention as possible. A real estate agent can help, although he can only do so much. He can show your home and help to get it out there to buyers, although he cant make it sell. If you want to sell it fast, youll need to do some work yourself. If you put the effort into selling your home fast, chances are that you will.

The quickest way to sell a home is by staging it. Staged homes literally invite the buyer in, making him feel right at home. Staged homes are also appealing both inside and out, and are more or less ready to be moved into immediately. They dont sit on the market for long at all, yet they bring a top dollar sell. If you are familiar with staged homes - you should know that they are among the fastest selling homes on the market.

If you dont want to use a real estate agent, its still quite possible to sell your home - and sell it fast. Youll need to do everything yourself, which involves getting your home out there to the market and showing it to potential buyers. You can always list your home in local newspapers, magazines, and put a for sale by owner sign in the yard. This way, you are letting buyers know that your home is for sale. Some buyers prefer homes that are for sale by the owner, as they dont have to pay a real estate agent or deal with one directly.

When you sell your home, you should always make sure that the exterior is clean, the lawn is trim, and the interior is in superb condition. If you plan to live there until it is sold, youll want to make sure that you have the interior staged as best as you can. You want to give the buyer a great feeling, so hell stay and wont leave. If your home is visually appealing both inside and out, a buyer will want to see more.

Once a buyer wants to see more of your home, chances are you have found the individual who will buy it. You should never make the buyer feel pressured, but instead make him feel that you are interested in his thoughts and opinions. If you show a buyer that you care - you will go a long way in establishing trust - which will help you sell your home.

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Should People With Bad Credit Get Computer Financing?

By Terry Piper

If you have been denied a regular loan and you are shopping for computer financing for people with bad credit, Then I am afraid you might be on a slippery slope. You really need to put some thought into this one.

The credit rating system is mainly there to protect businesses from bad risks, but it also helps to stop us from compounding our money mistakes with ever greater debts. Most people got a bad rating by making poor decisions, and it isn't a good idea to let people continue down this self destructive road. Sometimes you need to step up to the plate and admit that it might be a good idea to fix your debt mistakes before getting more.

If you have decided to go ahead and get computer financing for people with bad credit, then you really need to be on top of things. It is easy to sign up for a revolving debt loan that you will never be rid of!

The interest rate will be really high if you have bad credit. While this is fair since they are taking extra risk by dealing with you, some loans are excessively expensive. With an interest rate of more than twenty-eight percent, if you accept the wrong terms you will be paying for that outdated laptop when your grand children are getting married!

A big down payment will shorten the loan or lower your monthly payments, so you should always put as much down as you can up front. Zero down is a fancy way of saying, "be our slave" as you pay for your poor credit rating. with that large down-payment your monthly payments can be lower, or your loan length can be shorter, or both.

Another important fact to remember is that the longer this loan runs the more you will pay for interest. It is bad enough to pay for a whole year on a computer. Imagine paying for three years! By that time you will have paid more than three times the value of the machine and it will be hopelessly outdated and ancient.

After thinking about all of these points, I hope you can find the best decision for your financial situation. Good luck in finding computer financing for people with bad credit. Who knows, you may decide to save up and buy that laptop with cold hard cash.

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The Goal Is Credit Restoration

By Jenice Q Zenbella

Now that the requirement for obtaining a mortgage are tighter than ever before, it's vital that you have a good credit score. You can repair your credit after making some financial missteps, but the best thing to do is to keep your credit in good shape from the word go. If you are a new credit account holder or already have along credit history, there are some things which can help you to maintain; or restore good credit.

Remember that 35% of your credit score has to do with your payment history. The last seven years of your credit history will be listed on your credit report; but it is the most recent two years which makes the biggest difference to creditors. The lateness of your payments also matters ? a payment which is 30 days late is an entirely different matter than one which is 90 days or more overdue; this will be seen as a seriously delinquent account. Always keep in mind that it's easier to maintain your credit than it is to restore it.

One good way to build your credit score is to have a mix of different accounts. Having a credit card which is paid off monthly in full, an installment loan (a car loan, for instance) and ideally also a mortgage is a good way to demonstrate to creditors that you can manage multiple accounts responsibly and are therefore a low risk.

Never apply for credit which you do not need. Having too many accounts or making too many applications can negatively impact your credit score. You may also be tempted to use these accounts and get yourself into trouble. Try to avoid the need for credit restoration by only having accounts you actually need.

Get a copy of your credit report and look over it to make sure that everything listed on your report is accurate. If a credit bureau can't demonstrate that an account or debt on your report is actually yours, you can request that it be removed. Any small open debts on your report should simply be paid off. Any larger debts may need to be settled with the creditor.

Contact them and offer them a settlement. In many cases they will reduce the debt, sometimes by as much as half. Work with them to pay off your debt. This settlement will still be a mark on your credit report, but it is vastly preferable to having that unsettled debt on your credit history.

No matter how hard you try to take good care of your credit report, you may run into problems. Sometimes things happen which we can't control for and our credit score is damaged as a result. Don't let it get you down. If you are determined, you can make credit restoration work for you and get your credit back into good standing.

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Buying Foreclosure Homes: Make Your Home Owing Dreams Come True

By Michael Geoffrey

You could be like many others that dream about owning a home, but may fear that your dreams will never become reality, though if you consider buying foreclosure homes, you may yet find a means whereby you can become the proud owner of your own home.

Thousands of foreclosure homes are offered by banks and auctions for sale on a daily basis. You can fulfill your home owning dreams by investigating the possibility of finding a foreclosure home in your area.

Great Home Prices

If your financial situation will only allow you to pay less than the normal value of a home, than foreclosure homes are perfect for you. These properties are up for sale at extremely low prices because their previous owners were no longer able to make their mortgage payments.

When a person becomes unable to make their mortgage payments and the lending agency forecloses on their home, the lender wants to recover their money, not make a huge profit. For that reason, the prices they are willing to sell such homes for tend to be quite low.

The Internet is the best place to start searching for a foreclosure home that fits your needs if you believe this could be a good way for you to buy a home. There are lots of websites that contain lists of foreclosure homes. Bank websites also contain lots of information on foreclosure homes.

The lending agencies that are selling foreclosed homes are interested in getting back some of the money they lost in association with a defaulted loan from the previous owners of a foreclosure home. For that reason, such lenders are often rather flexible when it comes to negotiating the home price.

Even though you will no doubt feel a little bad for the previous owners of a foreclosed property you are interested in purchasing, remember that you will be able to benefit greatly from the situation. You could wind up getting a fantastic deal on a nice home.

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How to Budget and Not Fail

By Jesse Mecham

A lot like dieting, it seems that when you begin budgeting, you're simply doomed for failure from the get-go. Too often, the work you're doing doesn't produce the benefits you were so hopefully expecting. As a result, you quit prematurely.

Truth be told, failure is almost certain with the way people are taught to budget these days. Some financial guru will announce they've come up with handy-dandy tables to compute what you should spend on every conceivable good and service...another will say you only need to worry about what you're saving (while that's great, you're leaving a lot of money on the table when that's your only focus!).

Look at what you have currently in your checking account(s) and budget only THAT money. I like to to call it 'giving every dollar a job'. Create some categories and assign those dollars to those jobs.

The nex time your paycheck comes in? Take THAT money and give every single one of those dollars a job.

The key in budgeting is not to be some great estimator or forecaster, it's to be aware of what you want your money to do. The key is that you make sure ALL of your money is assigned to do something -- whether it's paying the rent, buying groceries, or saving for that dream vacation. It's important to realize that when you begin assigning every one of your dollars a job, they'll begin working much harder for you. You'll be much more aware of where your money is going, and your spending will fall in line with what you truly value.

So the old question of how to budget really is answered with one simple step: Once you have a dollar in hand, give it a purpose immediately, and find peace.

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How to Send Money to China

By Chloe Banks

As China's economy thrives, there are more and more opportunities for overseas Chinese professionals, sixty percent of which live in the U.S., to thrive.

Chinese immigrants to the United States are able to send money to China more frequently and in greater quantity than they have been able to in the past. This group of recent emigrants sending money to China account for the largest amounts of remittance money sent from the US back to their native country.

There are a variety of different ways to send money to China. The majority of remittance to China is captured by formal service providers, mainly China Post, commercial banks and rural credit cooperatives.

One way in which to transfer money back to relatives in China is through an ATM or debit card. If the recipient is someone trusted it could be a good idea for them to have a bank card linked to your checking or savings account. If you are comfortable with the cardholder having access to money at all times, they would be able to withdraw money from an ATM machine.

For situations where you do not want the recipient to have unlimited access to the money, a pre-paid debit card is another way to go. It works just like an ATM card except that it is loaded with a specific amount of money. The cardholder will have no access to funds until you have refilled the pre-paid debit card. At this time you could notify the recipient via phone that money has been added to the card.

Another option when sending money home to China is through a wire transfer with any U.S. Bank. This can often take several weeks to process, as well as cost more than some other options.

Another way to send money to China that is fast and easy is through an online service such as ATM Cash. This allows you to send money at any time from the convenience of your own computer.

Many of the facilities that deal with international funds transfers to China are based on networks that have expanded, thus making it easier and more efficient to send money to both urban and rural areas in China.

There are however increased fears of money laundering and criminal activities with some money transfers. Because of this the U.S. government has tried to control the banking business more closely. Money sent to china cannot exceed USD 3,000 per day. Also, when sending money by check, you cannot exceed 10,000 US dollars.

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Improve Your Credit Score, No Matter What Your Situation!

By Linda Seamore

Almost everyone can get their hands on some consumer credit; which is one of the main reasons people are falling more and more into debt. Accumulating thousands of dollars in debt is so easy, and has become all too commonplace.

Many consumers are in search of some helpful and legitimate strategies to help rebuild credit history, because of the continuous increase of consumer debt. Lots of people fear the "b" word (no, not that one)! The word "budget" usually sends a very negative image to most people's minds; they think they have to pinch every penny and be forced to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the rest of their life. Thankfully, that's all a myth! Making a great plan for controlling your debt and rebuilding your credit and credit scores, by using different types of credit cards can help eliminate your worries.

These cards are useful, and are sometimes the only solution for some people, because they may have been denied bank accounts or regular credit cards. Because most families these days have both husband and wife working, in order to have two incomes, that leaves very little time to setup any budgets or search for tips on how to get a better credit score.

They say a journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step. Let's take our first step and evaluate both secured and pre-paid credit cards and the pros and cons of each for your situation.

Secured Credit Cards

Pros - Opening a secured credit card account is a simple and affordable way to start building your credit. Secured credit cards will also help you improve and rebuild damaged credit. These cards are used exactly like a standard run of the mill credit cards you are familiar with.

Negatives- The biggest setback for most people with the secure credit card, is that you have to deposit about $200-$275 in order to "secure" the account when you sign up. For most, this is a lot to ask. These cards also have a tendency to have additional fees (i.e. annual fees) and much higher interest rates (approximately 15% or greater). Even though these may seem like a lot, this card is probably the best choice for rebuilding credit.

b.) Pre-Paid Credit Cards

Pros- Pre-Paid Credit Cards can be a great tool because they provide you with the freedom and flexibility of using your own cash. These cards look like real credit cards and can be used for just about any situation that requires a credit card. Instead of granting you a credit limit based on your financial standing, these accounts require you to "load" the card with your own money. Yeah, real cash. Approval for this type of card is easy and almost guaranteed, even if you have credit problems.

Negatives-This may not be the best choice if you're looking to establish or rebuild your credit. Pre-Paid cards may not report your repayment history to the credit bureaus. If the company doesn't report back on your account, this type of card, unfortunately, will not improve your credit. If you look at all of your options available, and compare cards based on your needs, you'll be just fine.

You might also consider that Pre-paid cards cannot be used in all situations. For example: hotels and car rental agencies may not allow you to use a pre-paid credit card to secure your rentals. It's always a good idea to call ahead first and ask each company their policy before entering into any transaction.

Identity Theft Prevention and Identity Theft Protection are crucial. Stop Identity Theft with LifeLock. Life Lock can guarantee identity theft never happens to you. To learn more about how to protect yourself from identity thieves, visit lifelock.com

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Is it time to refinance?

By Peter Daas

Current interest rates have dropped to a very low percentage worldwide. In the United States, national averages are currently around 5.5% for a refinanced mortgage loan. This can mean significant savings for a refinanced mortgage running into the hundreds of dollars per month.

Refinancing is often done to improve living conditions. The extra money can be used for extra groceries, a bigger or newer car or another goal that homeowners might have. Of course, the money that gets freed up by refinancing might also be used for home improvement, to increase the value and selling power of a house.

Houses are not selling as quickly as they used to, so a couple of added improvements might mean your house will sell faster for a better price. In the current market you need all the help you can get, and a well finished home is a big help in selling. Using the money that is liberated by refinancing your mortgage for home improvement is a smart investment decision.

The process of refinancing can best be handled by an expert. Don't choose your lender based purely on the lowest rate, but look at the best mortgage for your situation. Choosing the right kind of mortgage will make you debt free, choosing the wrong type of mortgage will get you in trouble down the road.

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The First Steps to getting Rid of Credit Card Debt

By Paul J. Easton

Accumulating the credit card debt seems so easy but get rid of it is so really challenging. With the mounting insecurity in our economy, escaping the credit card debt is much more needed than before. But how do we get started?

The first step is pretty obvious: you need to stop using all credit cards. Yes, that is today and not tomorrow. Continually using the cards gets you tempted to spending more than what you can afford. You will just be shocked later how big your balances went and the trouble starts to sink in. So cut up your card now!

Without the credit cards, take your plan of getting out of debt by making a list of what you owe. This may be hard as you truly see the real debt deal. Collect all your bills from different cards. Have a pile of all your statements and list all your debts in order starting from the largest balance to the smallest. Have an inventory of their minimum monthly payments and the interest rates that you are paying on every card. By having this analysis, you now have a clear understanding of where you truly stand.

Always prioritize your repayments no matter what. Select the card with the highest interest rate. Pay them fully off first to avoid the charges with this card. If your budget would still permit, pay off also the card with the smallest balance. You can maintain paying the minimum for the rest of your cards for now. Upon fully paying the first two cards, you will feel some motivation in doing the same for the rest of the cards. Be debt-free now with these tips on how to get rid of debt here.

The debt started with your bad spending habit. So even if you have to take on a part-time job or keep on paying your bills, you just have to cutback on your luxury spending. This is the time where you decide that you really need to just live within your means.

If you find your situation to be very distressing even after cutting back on some expenses, you can find alternative ways of raising funds. You can consider liquidating some assets that you don't necessarily use like holding a garage sale.

By taking the action to step up and face your credit card debts, you deserve a pat in the back for the courage. Keep the hard work and with due consistency, you will be looking forward to being debt-free.

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

Unlocked Cell Phones Bought and Sold

By Barney Rupple

A whole lot of people these days want unlocked cell phones. A whole lot more people would want their cell phones unlocked if they knew what it meant. Many of us do not even realize that it is possible to unlock our cell phones. Many of us also do not realize what it would mean to do so. However, if you have ever wanted to get rid of your service provider and discover that you will not be able to use your current phone if you do, you will start to understand. In short, unlocking your cell phone means you can either use it with another provider or as a prepaid phone.

If you have a phone that can only be used on one network and you want to use it on another, then you might want to get your current phone unlocked. The problem is, of course, that networks lock their cell phones so they can prevent you from doing that. Fortunately, there are ways around it.

You may not understand why this whole prospect is so unfair. However, just imagine that your current network would not let you leave them and take your phone with you. What if you had to get an entirely new phone? You lose everything on yours. Your ring tones will be gone, along with phone numbers, address, contact information, videos, and pictures. How is that fair?

Obviously, cell phone service providers are not going to make it easy on you if you want to switch. Not only do you have to pay to terminate your contract, but if you do not want to renew it, you are basically completely out of luck. This is true whether you own an iPhone or one of the newest blackberries, but there are many ways that you can fight back!

It is possible to fight back against the networks right now. You can find a number of different software applications and programs that can get your phone unlocked. As well, there are many stores and individual people out there who offer unlocking services. That way, you can use your phone on a new network or simply use it as a prepaid cell phone.

Honestly, it is not fair the way that cell phone providers and cell phone companies in general make you choose which cell phone company you can use. It is your choice and just because one company has a certain cell phone that you want, that should not make you use that network if you do not like it. That is one of the main reasons why unlocking phones has become so popular!

With unlocking services, however, you do not have to give into that. You do not have to give up your phone at all. If you are sick of signing long term contracts, you could just turn your iPhone into a prepaid cell phone and buy time when you need it. You could also choose to use it on a network other than AT&T.

Many people are not aware that they can get their cell phones unlocked. As a result, they are either "bullied" into staying with a network they no longer like, or they are forced to give up their phones. It does not have to be that way.

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The importance of choosing a bankruptcy law practice

By Josh Ramos

If you're thinking about declaring bankruptcy, you probably have enough on your mind. However, you need to pay particular attention to choosing a good lawyer to help you through the process. With a new and more complex bankruptcy code in the books, trying to file bankruptcy without legal assistance is not really an option.

However, is important to look specifically for a bankruptcy law practice instead of trying to find a general lawyer. A law office that specializes in bankruptcy will be able to sift through the complicated details and requirements of the new bankruptcy reform.

The new bankruptcy law is so complex that even lawyers have a difficult time keeping up with it. I say "keeping up with it" because the law is actually still evolving. There are many provisions in the law which are unclear, and judges will have to sort this out in the coming years.

That's why a general lawyer will probably not be able to keep up with all the developments in the bankruptcy law. Moreover, any lay person trying to go through bankruptcy without legal help is probably asking for trouble.

Also, a lawyer who specializes in bankruptcy will be better able to understand the specific details of your case instead of giving you generic advice.

Also, remember that each bankruptcy case will bring its own challenges and unique circumstances. A good bankruptcy lawyer will listen and want to find out as much as possible about your particular situation.

You may actually want to pay a lawyer his hourly rate during the first consultation in exchange for an honest opinion. If the first appointment is free, the lawyer is more likely to persuade you that bankruptcy is the best course for you (since that is the only way he gets paid).

Bankruptcy lawyer fees are expensive, but choosing bankruptcy when it's not the right option for you could be more costly in the long run. Remember also that a successful bankruptcy case will help you with your current bills, and this will make paying for legal fees more feasible in the future.

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Stock Tips For The Beginners

By Linda MARY

We all dream of the day when we can be in our house sitting on a sofa sipping nice tea along with an assortment of cookies and in the meantime you know that every minute there is money rolling into your bank account . Talk of good times and if wishes were horses then everybody would ride them.

You can amke money in stock market eitherby buying a stake in a good company and then trying to make that company profitable and then sell that at a later stage or you can buy stock of that company and sell that at a later stage ata good profit.

No risk and no gain is the mantra. Stock market is not for the faint hearted. You should strive to make good money out of the stock markets by investing in a particular stock. Your shareholding will be less but then you do not worry about the stock holding but about when you will make good money by selling your stake.

Before you take your cheque book out and start looking at companies to buy for $1000 , you should know the stock market basics and then start investing to make more money. It is absolutely very important to understand all the stock market terms and technical lingo which gets thrown around quite a bit to make some serious money in the market.

Let us get the initial understanding of what is a stock? I will take an example of a company called XYZ, newly formed and into the business of selling shirts. This company XYZ will need money to buy machinery, raw material, pay for employees salary etc and the money will come in the form of loans, money from friends and family and also you sell some part of the company to other persons or companies. How do you part with ownership of the company is that you create shares or parts of the company for say $10 each .

Theoretically each share is a fraction of the company that you own. Now if that company is profitable then you each share that you won will have more value. So a share which has $1 value can be sold for $100 if the stock market perceives that the share has that much value.

Selling the shares is equivalent to selling your part of the company to the other. The reason that the other person buys those shares for more value from you is that for that money he thinks he will be able to again sell it for a better profit.

Hope this will you understand the stock marekt better.

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Disadvantages of Credit Cards

By Amanda Somrekli

What's more, there are far too many rogue traders eager to fleece you as you merrily click and buy and any number of phishers and ID thieves ready to whip credit card details from unsuspecting buyers.

In the UK there are comforting credit laws to protect consumers. For the most part credit card providers offer protection on goods bought in the 100 to 30,000 range.

Knowing exactly how much is owed every month when that bill comes in is a whole lot better than wondering what your minimum payment is going to be. A low interest card also provides its owner with the ability to transfer balances from higher rate cards. This works to eliminate more debt from accumulating.

These type of sites will provide you with all the latest and greatest business cards on the market. Most of these sites will also have newsletters you can sign up for. Like the major credit companies, the nice thing about these regular sites is that they will inform you of cards across the board from many different carriers.

As financial belts tighten, business credit cards may start to become more of a luxury rather than a necessity for many businesses.

Although there are still plenty of opportunities for small businesses with a good credit record to take advantage of business credit cards, lenders will invariably be stricter in their acceptance criteria than during the credit boom of the eighties and nineties.

In terms of time spent resolving problems as a result of theft, 32% of those in the more than six month group spent less than ten hours fixing problems. The number rises to 69% in the less than six month group.

The second finding concerns how theft occurred. 84% of those surveyed responded that they did not know the thief. In fact, only 5% of victims of misuse of existing credit card accounts knew who committed the crime.

People often think that if they pay off a credit card or don't use an existing card and then close the credit card account that they'll get a better credit rating or raise their credit score. This is not the case and here's why.

In addition to these low yearly rates, many of these cards will even offer such perks as cash back, reward point bonuses and much more. For those with an established credit history, this is often the top choice when it comes to credit card application.

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Do I Have Perfect Credit

By Don Spelling

Does anyone have perfect credit anymore? "My broker says I have A credit. What is A Credit?" Remember that what is considered "A" credit to one company might not be "A" to another.

Typically, "A Credit" would be someone with flawless credit, credit scores that are all over 720 (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion scores), and would qualify for the best mortgage rates available pretty much anywhere, based on credit alone.

The difference in the credit score can be the result of many different variables. However, with mortgage lending someone can have perfect credit and only a 620 score and still be considered to have "A credit".

One possible reason for someone with perfect credit to only have a 620 credit score could be the fact that they are maxed out on all of their credit cards and have no revolving credit available. This would present a bigger risk for this consumer and result in the lower credit score.

Therefore, you may still have what is considered "A credit" and not fit the typical protocol for what others think "A credit" is and you may still qualify for the same exact rates as that borrower with an 800 score even if your is only 620. However, the credit score is not the only factor that determines whether you qualify for a loan or not. While it is a big factor, remember it is not the only factor.

An experienced and educated mortgage professional can provide you with a good chance to qualify for the best available rates out there.

Even with "A" credit, the interest rate you will get on a mortgage will vary depending on several factors. These include your credit score, your debt-to-income ratio, and the loan-to-value. The "loan-to-value" is the percentage of your home's value that you are applying to borrow.

The "combined-loan-to-value" is also considered. The "combined-loan-to-value" is the total percentage of your home's value that will be borrowed, including first mortgage, second mortgage and home equity lines of credit.

Credit is one of the three measurements an investor will review when underwriting your loan. Having good credit is reflective of your likeliness to repay. Credit is one of the three measurements an investor will review when underwriting your loan.

A-Credit typically means that you will qualify for the best interest rates available, and have access to a wider variety of programs than someone who may have had a few bumps in their credit history.

If you have A credit you typically have FICO scores of 700+, no mortgage lates, no consumer credit delinquencies, no bankruptcies, , no Foreclosures and minimal credit balances. "A" Credit is a reflection of your credit worthiness.

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Long-Term Care Insurance combined with Reverse Mortgages

By Terry Stanfield

Are you approaching retirement and faced with the question of how to pay expenses if you cannot take care of yourself? Do you worry about the possibility of your children having to pay the cost of care? You are not alone. Across America there are millions of seniors faced with these questions. Some are taking action. It is coming down to two main options. You can go with a long-term care insurance policy, this will help cover some of the cost of a long-term care event. The other option is a reverse mortgage. The option of a long-term care policy and a reverse mortgage can play an important role in planning for a long-term care event and provide peace of mind.

A reverse mortgage is a loan that is made to individuals 62 years and over in the United States, which is used to release home equity on a property in one large lump sum, or multiple payments. The homeowner is not obligated to repay the loan until they die, the home is sold or they leave into a nursing home.

For a typical mortgage, the owner of the house will pay a monthly payment to the lender, whereas in a reverse mortgage, the home owner makes no payments and all interest is added to the lien on the property. Now, it may seem odd that there are no payments on the reverse mortgage, but the way that the loan is paid off is that if the home owner moves, goes into a nursing home or dies, is from the proceeds in the sale of the house, or in the event the heirs refinance the estate of the homeowner. If the proceeds of the sale exceed the amount of the loan, the owner of the house gets the difference. In the case of the heirs, they would receive the difference. If the sale does not pay off the loan, then the bank will absorb the difference.

This option is becoming very popular with some seniors when they have to choose between reverse mortgages and long-term care insurance because they get a lot of the money upfront, which can then be applied to savings. The draw back is that it could severely effect the inheritance that you may want to leave behind. Long-term care insurance is an inexpensive way to insure that your family is taken care of.

Conclusion For many seniors, the possibility of their children paying out of their own pocket to take care of them is simply too much to bear. As a result, seniors will look at the options of reverse mortgages and long-term care insurance to find a way that they can pay their own way through either a loan or a government program. In the case of reverse mortgages, they will be able to get a loan that they will not have to pay back until they die or move, and even then the loan is paid off on the sale of the home. This allows them to get the money up front to help pay for their own long-term care at home. It is of little surprise it has become such a popular trend for seniors looking for a way to pay their own way.

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Iron Condor A Best Stock Option Trading Strategy.

By Walter Fox

The rapid growth of internet connectivity has created a sharp rise in the entry-level trader ranks. These new traders are interested in the high profit potential in the currency trade market, and come from all walks of life and education levels. These people have joined the market and use the potential for high returns as incentive to master the complex and wide-reaching Forex market.

With the influx of novice traders from all over the world, there has been a definite learning curve. With this in mind, the need for sound stock option trading strategy has never been more apparent. In addition to the main Forex market having an increasing turnover daily, many new brokering agencies are being born to help these amateur traders.

These brokers, seeing the need, began to develop different trading tools and learning kits to educate the new, as well as to help established traders hone their knowledge. Broker tricks have now begun to dominate the forex market. These brokering agencies formulate their techniques and sell them to traders desperate for guidance in the complicated industry.

Since growth of currency market was so fast, it touched and crossed the trillion dollar turnover per day mark in no time and as per estimation the present turnover is more than 2 trillion US$ with in excess of 100 million traders from all over the world participating in the trade with mixed luck. With this development, there was a necessity for stock option trading strategy.

This need has also led to a software robot known as Commercial Forex Expert Advisor. The software specializes in being capable of making a successful trade on behalf of the trader, and has been market tested and proven. The success of this software has made it a prominent tool in the trading circle and is considered one of the best tools available.

Online education has made its mark on the currency exchange market as people realize the potential in online option trading and lack the ability to travel to a school. Email courses and online webinars have made the market more accessible to those with limited time or who prefer to learn remotely. This and other means are being used to keep strategies varied and attract new players to the industry.

Iron condor, an advanced forex option trading strategy, has enjoyed increasing popularity among more seasoned high risk traders. The strategy consists of two vertical spreads, the Bull put and the Bear call. In this strategy, both spreads have the same expiration, number of put spreads, and number of call spreads. The trading strategyas resultant profit-loss graph resembles the shape of its namesake, the condor.

There are number of advantages if you opt for Iron condor trading strategy. The main advantage of this strategy is its potential for more profit generation. It gives more flexibility to the trader in the middle of the trade if he wishes to change his option. With the help of different strategies traders can make sure that their invested money can earn him more money.

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Easy Pointers To Help You Reach A Great Credit Score

By Frank Froggatt

If you are among the millions of people across America who have tattered their credit rating over the years, there are matters you can do to repair the wrong.

The first thing that you need to do is gain a copy of your credit report and score. You can obtain one free credit report every yr on-line. After you possess a replicate of your info study it to make a point that everything has been reported truthfully. Your credit report is easy to study so any discrepancies should be easy to recognize. If you encounter any mistakes in your credit report you will want to challenge and settle them; as any mistakes on your account can greatly lessen your credit score.

The following thing you must do in order to fix your credit report and score is to pay off your charges on time. Paying your accounts is one of the most significant strides you can take to amend your credit score. Any accounts that you have paid off late or had directed to a collection agency will show up on your credit report for many years.

It may be a beneficial idea to set up an online bill pay account. This can frequently be finished directly through your online banking site and is comparatively simplistic. This will help pay off your accounts on time.

Charge Cards should be paid on on a regular basis and should not bear a balance of over 50% of the accessible limit. High balances and maxed out accounts will harm your credit rating.

You need to be mindful that terrible credit decisions made of late will have an even more damaging impact on your credit rating than any old credit problems. To avoid making your state of affairs more lamentable, pay all of your present-day accounts on time.

You should be conscious that if you have a lot of companies and loaners taking a look at your credit report during the same period it will negatively bear on your credit report and score. These instances will perpetually be reported and display on your credit report.

If you have twelve different charge cards in your wallet chances are you are wounding your credit rating. It is good to have a conservative collection of cards that you pay steady payments to. It is not beneficial, however, to have a sizeable amount of cards from every mall vendor and company you have ever entered.

Lastly when trying to fix your credit report and score it is crucial to watch for scams. There are some people out there primed to take advantage of you. Instead of relying on some business entity to take care of your problems, have a seat and help yourself. It's really not to difficult all you need is a credit repair book and the resolution to fix your credit report and score.

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Filing for Bankruptcy: Some Important Things That You Should Know

By Michael Geoffrey

Often quite extensive, filing for bankruptcy is very rarely any sort of easy process. In fact, many people handling foreclosure proceedings run into some serious problems when they begin working on their claim. Even though it is true that a person who chooses to file for bankruptcy will be able to receive some legal protection, that does not mean that it is any less important to learn as much as is possible regarding the in depth process of filing for bankruptcy.

Remember that bankruptcy should only be turned to as an absolute last option. This is because bankruptcy will affect your credit in a seriously bad way for up to ten years.

Different Types of Bankruptcy

If you have come to the conclusion that you will have to file for bankruptcy, you will need to determine which of two types of bankruptcy to file under. Which you choose will affect how you file as well as what happens as a result of your filing.

Most individuals who claim bankruptcy choose to do so under chapter 7 bankruptcy. Some people who would like to file under chapter 7 are not able to due to BAPCPA. This forces some people to file under chapter 13 bankruptcy whether they like it or not.

It is also important to do thorough investigation on the various aspects of bankruptcy if you are seriously contemplating filing. Even though it might not be the most appealing choice, hiring a legal professional to assist you in the bankruptcy process may help you handle things in the best possible way. You should also investigate which lawyer or law firm you want to work with before making a choice.

Once you have a lawyer or attorney in mind, you will next realize that in order to properly go about learning how to file bankruptcy, you should consult with your lawyer about your case and find out the best chapter under which to file bankruptcy. And, you should learn about what it is going to cost you to file bankruptcy and fees for different chapters will vary and so too will attorneys fees for which you should consider paying a flat fee rather than paying the lawyer according to the amount of debt you owe.

Once you have spoken with your lawyer, make sure that all of your creditors understand that you have hired legal counsel and that their calls and questions should be directed to your attorney. This will prevent any creditors from getting in touch with you regarding debt after you file for bankruptcy.

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Buying an Owner Financed Home

By Laeverneus Homebuysky

If you're looking to buy a home of your own but don't have adequate funds for a deposit or meet other criteria for a traditional mortgage, an owner financed home could provide an alternate path to homeownership. If you are paying rent every month, you're not earning any return on that money - you are helping your landlord build equity in his property. Instead, you should build your own wealth through homeownership. When you own your home, every payment is an investment in a home that you will someday own outright.

With owner finance homes, you can borrow all or part of the purchase price of a home from the seller. For example, if you are close to qualifying for a traditional home loan but just need funds for the deposit, the current owner of the property that you are interested in purchasing can finance that part of the sale price. If you need to finance the entire purchase price of an owner finance home, this can often be arranged depending on the terms offered by the owner.

If you've been looking for an owner finance home by perusing real estate listings and ads, chances are you haven't seen too many owner financed homes for sale. Don't get discouraged - they are available - you just need to know where to look, and how to approach a seller about an owner finance option. Though a particular seller might not advertise owner financing, if a home has been on the market for a while and the seller does not want to budge on the price, then they might be willing to consider owner financing. Of course, this depends on whether the current owner is in a good financial position to take on an owner finance contract, but you'll never know unless you make a proposal.

There are also websites, which specialize in marketing owner finance homes. You may not have to meet normal lending criteria but you will have to be able to prove your capacity to pay the required monthly payment. These payments are often higher than if you took out a traditional mortgage, however if you are able to make them they can be a means to an end. Once you build a history of payments and create equity in your home, you may be able to refinance with a bank or other traditional lender at a lower interest rate.

Before you decide to buy an owner financed home, make sure to hire an attorney to review the purchase and sale agreement. You need to clearly understand the terms of the loan and any associated risks of buying owner finance homes. Make sure there are no steep pre-payment penalties for early payoff - you'll want to be able to pay off the loan should you choose to refinance later on. You'll also need to be very clear about your rights and responsibilities under the contract.

Owner finance homes provide seller with the opportunity to quickly sell a home at the price they've set. But, buyers need to realize that the seller isn't doing you a special favor. It's important for buyers to exercise caution in evaluating any type of seller financing. All of the steps you would take for buying a home with a traditional lender, like a building inspection report and professional survey, should be undertaken.

In some cases, overeager buyers are quick to jump the gun and enter into an owner finance contract without really thinking it through. Make sure you're not buying someone else's problem home or being taken advantage of with a predatory lending contract. Doing your due diligence is important - resist the temptation to jump in with both feet without good research and planning.

Owner financed homes can provide a way to home ownership when obtaining traditional financing is not possible. If you go into an owner financed home with a long range plan, you can use owner financing to get into a home, and then obtain a traditional mortgage later on with better terms when your circumstances allow.

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Consolidating Can Help You Manage Your Student Loans

By Darren Cason

Paying interest on several student loans every month, worrying about the upcoming payback on those loans, or seeing that your credit is lower now that you have all those loans on it from school is not a fun thing. It's something that many people, fresh out of college, have to worry about, though. Thankfully, there is a solution in student loan consolidation. This solution has many benefits.

One of these benefits is usually lower monthly payments, since you only pay fees to one institution and since it's usually at a lower interest rate and a better payment schedule. Student loans (and consolidations) are regulated and guaranteed by the government, so they have specific interest rates they must offer and specific payback schedules to use. When you apply for student loan consolidation, they usually consider your credit score without the interference of the current student loans, which means your score will be higher and get you a better rate too.

Other benefits can include electronic or automatic payment deductions from your checking or savings accounts, so you won't forget a payment and you'll usually qualify for a discount on your interest rate too.

In addition, if you haven't yet made a payment on your loans because you're still in your deferment (or grace) period on them, you can probably qualify for better student loan consolidation options than otherwise available. These can include better rates, easier processing of the loan, or even an increase in grace period before your first payment is due.

Often, the loans you received while you were in school are at higher interest rates than you'd get otherwise because the financial institution wanted to get the higher rate and you or your admissions counselor just wanted to get the tuition paid for. Now that you're looking at those payments, you're probably regretting those decisions, most especially if you are experiencing a poor credit situation. But there is hope and usually consolidation loans have lower interest rates than what you were given when you applied for the loans to start with.

Because of the government involvement in the rules and regulations of student loans, you could qualify for more options like lower rates, discounts, or even payoffs from grants and more.

So look at what you can gain by getting a student loan consolidation and reducing your payments, interest rates, and more, so you can focus on your new life now that college is over. Student loan consolidations are a quick way to get peace of mind, allowing you to focus on the new life ahead of you.

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Retirement Planning Calculators Are Useful Tools

By Michael Geoffrey

Calculating your necessities during retirement can be much easier with a retirement planning calculator. It can help you determine how much money you will need each month of your retirement years. Then you will be able to plan accordingly when preparing for retirement. That means that once you reach retirement age you will not be worrying about whether you have enough money to care for your needs and maintain your standard of living.

It is important to begin planning for your retirement early in your career. A Retirement planning calculator can be utilized and if followed can really help one prepare for the future. No one wants to be forced to stay in the workforce and put off their retirement because of poor planning. A retirement planning calculator can help.

Where can you find this useful tool? You can find them online possibly on your bank's website or other financial institutions. You can also visit your bank or as the human resources representative at your place of employment to see if they can provide one for you.

Of course the retirement planning calculator will only be useful if the information entered is accurate. Also, once the information is entered the direction given by the retirement planning calculator must be followed in order to maximize your savings for retirement. So once you locate your retirement planning calculator you must give some serious thought to how you will use it.

Anticipating the Cost of Your Retirement Years

So many things change when you retire. Your job will no longer dictate certain aspects of your life. If you chose your current home because of a job opportunity retirement will afford you the opportunity to relocate to a preferred area. These new choices and changes will create new financial decisions and circumstances.

Also during years in the workforce we generally have to consider our family and their needs. It is important to live in an area where your children can get a good education. However, once the children have grown up and have home and families of their own that is no longer something you need to be concerned about. Again, this offers opportunities for you to expand your horizons a bit and base your decisions what is best for you financially and otherwise.

People also need to consider their healthcare costs after retirement. Many people get their health insurance from their employment. After a certain age, people will get their healthcare insurance from the government. If people want to retire before they are eligible for government healthcare benefits, they might have to factor in additional healthcare costs. All of these factors could be considered with a good retirement planning calculator. Careful planning with one of these special devices could make for a truly delightful retirement.

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