August 31, 2006

Do you worry about credit card debt and your card payments?

Do you worry about credit card debt and your card payments?

It’s one of the most expensive loans we can take out, so why do so many people have credit card balances that they don’t pay off each month? Perhaps it’s because the application form comes in the mail, and we can just fill it out, mail it back and expect to get a new shiny card within a few weeks… especially if we’re “pre approved”. It’s also very handy to have credit cards because they’re so quick and simple to use to make purchases. Just hand the card over, swipe and sign (or input your pin on newer cards). On top of that, there are the dozens of introductory offers on new cards, with lower interest rates than all your current cards. Surely you’d be crazy not to accept their offer of a great new card at a great new rate? Ahh yes, but that low rate soon reverts back to the same rate as all the other cards you have… but now you have one more card to rack up debt on!

Apparently, the average American household has 13 payment cards! Thirteen! Why so many? Well, presumably, the $1.1 TRILLION worth of credit card purchases made in 1999 has to be spread out over a few cards or people would start to notice the massive amount of debt they’re taking on! If you pay off your card every month, credit cards are actually useful tools to allow you to make payment easily and use up the “interest free period” each month. You may buy that coat on June 1st but not have to “pay” for it until you pay off the card some time in July. But did you really need the new coat in the first place? What would have happened if you HAD to pay in cold hard cash for the coat? Would you still have bought it? Hmmm.

Americans carry, on average, $5,800 in credit card debt from month to month. People, that’s crazy! Credit card debt you don’t pay off at the end of the month is one of the most expensive debts you can carry. Instead, why not take out a personal loan at a lower interest rate, pay off your credit cards and pay them off each month? If you can’t summon the willpower to pay them off and not overspend, cut them up. Seriously. You’ll save a fortune in the long run. Also, consider taking money from your mortgage if you have a felxible “draw down” facility and use that to pay off your credit cards… your mortgage will be one of the cheapest forms of debt available to you. Of course, if you do this and then go back to overspending on your cards, it will land you with more and more debt, so ONLY take on cheaper debt to pay off more expensive debt. You’ll save on the difference between the two interest rates.

Finally, please seek advice from a qualified professional before taking any action or not taking any action related to your financial matters. The author take no responsibility for your actions.

About the author:
Author: Tony Bishop
http://www.credit-cards-tips-info.net

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Your Money Matters: Dealing with Rising Mortgage Interest Rates 
(ARA) - Many Americans are asking themselves what they should be doing in the wake of rising, and sometimes, fluctuating mortgage rates. It’s an important question because for many Americans their home equity represents the cornerstone of their personal wealth.

Why You Should Consolidate Your Student Loans 
(ARA) - Graduation is just around the corner for thousands of students, and shortly after they walk down the aisle, many in the Class of 2006 will find themselves facing hardships they didn’t anticipate when they began the pursuit of their degree.

Your Money Matters: Dealing with Rising Mortgage Interest Rates 
(ARA) - Many Americans are asking themselves what they should be doing in the wake of rising, and sometimes, fluctuating mortgage rates. It’s an important question because for many Americans their home equity represents the cornerstone of their personal wealth.

Best car finance deals could save thousands 
LONDON (Reuters) - Motorists are set to flock to car showrooms this weekend, following the launch of the new “56″ registration plate on Friday.

Second bond swap augurs growth of capital market 
The government announced on Thursday that about P54-billion eligible bonds were exchanged for new 10-year benchmark bonds. According to the Bureau of Treasury (BTr), investors submitted P59 billion of eligible bonds for swap with the Treasury accepting P54 billion.

Debt Reduction

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It is known that Americans are experiencing major stress these days with their debt burden.

Debt Relief is available by utilizing our program which uses a financial software that will analyse all your debt to create awesome results in eliminating it by allowing you to pay off the principle much faster without paying more every month. You won’t find a proven system with greater ability to save you money and reduce the time you spend being in debt.

FEATURES No out of pocket cost for financial profile examination No change in the amount of your monthly payments Time in debt typically reduced by 50-65%. i.e. 8-12 year payoff of all your debt including mortgage. In 80% of cases, no up front application cost We are not a counseling or negotiation service that ruins your credit. Working with us actually increases your credit rating. We do not sell any insurance or other financial instruments. Insured by the FDIC.

We have developed an amazing software program that can analyse your debt portfolio in a short period of time, find the margins we are looking for and apply the strategy in a plan that will provide you with many thousands of dollars of interest savings.

The software will, through its algorhythms, create a “margin”. Depending on the amount and type of debt some clients are provided with a lot of margin, some have a small amount and again some may have none.

The margin as we define it is simply the difference between the amount of your current payments that goes toward your debt, and the new amount of payments that will go toward your debt after we apply our expertise and the awesome results of our powerful software. This does NOT mean that your payment amount will change; it will be just re-directed. The margin of monthly interest we are able to identify will be put against principal, not profit, in the form of interest, to the bank. This allows faster paydown on your obligation. In many cases a client will save $200,000 - $400,000 etc. in his overall payments, and reduce the time dramatically that he/she is in debt.

In other words, margin is new found cash from either a new and better interest rate or that is created and called “hidden margin” found with the power of our amazing software.

Take a new 30 year mortgage for example. If we add $100 in real cash margin to your very first monthly payment we change all the ratios. Let’s take a minute and look at the power of the margin. If a typical American family had a mortgage of $165,000.00 (much higher in some regions of the country such as California) with a matching $1,200.00 monthly mortgage payment, and they were able to gain a cash margin of $100, and all $100 went to principle, the principle payment would be increased from $110 to $210 from their very first mortgage payment.

That changes the monthly interest paid to 82% from 91%. It also means the mortgage gets paid off in 21 years and 5 months, which, believe it or not is when this loan is at a 50% principle and 50% interest when paying the regularly scheduled payments. In this scenario we have saved $90,557 in interest payments that would otherwise have been due and payable. Can you imagine what we could do if we found even more margin? Margins generally are found with much higher increases in monthly applications, and hence, greater overall savings, and faster pay-off periods.

Additionally, if you throw into the mix other debts such as car loans, student loans, credit card debts….the margin will increase.

We will handle all forms of indebtedness with this process….Mortgages, Credit Cards, Student Loans, Auto Loans and more……However we can only handle your case if you are current with your payments and NOT in trouble with the lending institutions as far as them taking legal action against you.

Most debt elimination plans are quite sophisticated and most people appreciate not having to worry all month about making sure they execute the program exactly and properly. The discipline to correctly execute this type of plan is very difficult for most people long term. So our clients are set up with a TPA or Third Party Administrator. We give the TPA the specific plan with detailed instructions on how to execute our clients plan on a monthly basis. Our very capable TPA alliance partner is FDIC insured and has been taking care of families financial monthly payment obligations for many years. ?Auto Pilot is the best part… the bills get paid… and fast!

There is no charge to have a profile run on your debt portfolio to see what you could save before making any commitments and should you decide to go ahead with it, in most cases there is no out-of-pocket expense to you whatsoever.

WHO’S THE PROGRAM FOR 1.????? Anyone with debt who wants financial freedom! 2.????? People of nearly any income. 3.????? Homeowners and renters. 4.????? Heavily invested or just getting started. 5.????? Commercial debtors. WHO’S THE PROGRAM NOT FOR? 1.????? People without debt. 2.????? People who don’t pay interest. 3.????? People who don’t believe it will work for them. 4.????? People who think they can do this themselves.

BENEFITS There are several benefits to our plan including: 1.????? Save at least $150,000 in Interest depending on your portfolio 2.????? Get out of debt in less than ? the time. 3.????? Help you create a Retirement Savings Fund 4.????? Improve your credit - provide stress free environment 5.????? Create an increased Cash Flow if you need it 6. Provide a Home business that is very lucrative

OPPORTUNITY In addition to being a client, those looking to be an agent or consultant in this business, the opportunity is there to make a comfortable if not fantastic living by helping other people. Not an MLM.

See website at… http://url123.com/u4vnw

Lee Zebold Accurate Credit Repair 213 977-0880 lzebold@sbcglobal.net

About the Author

Business Owner, Teacher, and Debt Counselor since 1995. -
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Your financial integrity is extremely valuable and if you need help getting back on track the best people to go to for debt consolidation credit counseling is a professional, accredited agency. There are so many options that you can take to sort out your debts that it may seem overwhelming and a debt consolidation credit counseling service can help you to decide which is the best route for you to take.

A debt consolidation credit counseling agency will go through your financial situation and work with you, and your creditors, to create a repayment plan that you can keep to until your debts are paid off. There are literally hundreds of debt consolidation credit counseling agencies and it is important to choose the best one for you. One of the major factors that you should consider when searching for the best debt consolidation credit counseling agency to suit your needs is to check if they are accredited to a third party organization. Accreditation means that the services of the debt consolidation credit counseling agency are endorsed by another organization that confirms their high standards.

There are a number of organizations that a debt consolidation credit counseling agency can be accredited by but the most well known is the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children, Inc. (COA). This guarantees that the debt consolidation credit counseling agency will adhere to high standards of service delivery, counselor certification, fiscal integrity, and volunteer Board governance. The COA does not give accreditation to every debt consolidation credit counseling agency and they only give their seal of approval to those debt consolidation credit counseling agencies who meet their exacting standards are given their seal of approval.

Many debt consolidation credit counseling agencies are members of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. Debt consolidation credit counseling agents who are NFCC-certified have undergone a rigorous training and testing program.

To receive accreditation the debt consolidation credit counseling agency must comply with several service-specific quality standards such as:

* Annual audits of operating and trust accounts

* The debt consolidation credit counseling agency meets all consumer disclosure requirements as set forth by the Federal Trade Commission

* Funds are disbursed daily and funds are disbursed immediately in emergencies

* Each consumer receives an assessment of how he/she came to be in financial difficulty, a comprehensive financial plan, and a written plan of action

* Clients receive (at minimum) a quarterly statement

In addition, the COA has their own standards for service delivery & quality that a debt consolidation credit counseling agency must meet for them to be accredited which are:

* Meeting the needs of cultural/ethnic population groups in the communities they serve

* Fair and equitable treatment of creditors

* Minimum fee structures for consumers

* Presentation of educational programs

* Counselors who are NFCC-certified

* Having a branch counseling network in place for support their clients.

Finding an Accredited Debt Consolidation Credit Counseling Agency.

About the Author

Angela Rogers is the editor for http://www.debt-helper.info - Get an overview of student loan debt consolidation..

August 30, 2006

Student Debt Consolidation Loans Aiding Students No End

Depending upon the student it can either be a very good life or it can be a dog?s life. It all depends on how you are currently living or how are your expenses fairing up to the money available to you.

Sometimes all the students do not have enough money to cover for all the expenses and that is where a need for loan can come up. Different need ask for different loans. Therefore we can sometimes have multiple borrowings.

A student may take loans from any of the two sources of loans.

Federal loans ? these loans are offered by the government authorities and hence are cheaper than other loans.
Private loans ? these loans are offered by private authorities and are a little expensive than federal loans.

A student has different needs and to meet them a student may have to take different loans. For example

? To cover for the tuition fees that all the students have to pay as part of their courses.
? To pay the hostel fees that some students have to pay who live away from their home.
? To pay for the expenses those are a part of student?s life and other petty expenses.

If you have taken this loan and you are not been able to pay regular repayments and this is affecting your studies than student debt consolidation loans are ideal for you.

The benefits of going for student debt consolidation loans are many which the students can have.

1. The student debt consolidation loans come at a very cheap rate of interest usually at 2% - 3%.
2. The interest on these loans is charged only after you have completed your school or college.
3. There are plenty of rebates that a student can have if you go in for student debt consolidation loans.
4. If a student goes in for these loans he can have a lot of pressure on him removed as far as the financial matters are concerned and he can put in his time in his studies.

So a student should consider his options if he has taken loans of going in for student debt consolidation loans.

All a student needs to apply for student debt consolidation loans is to find himself a lender and give his details to him. The loan decision will be made in a day or two. A necessary thing for student debt consolidation is that a student must have the proof of his candidature.

Student debt consolidation loans are available in both secured and unsecured forms and they are available to everybody even to people with bad credit.

A student debt consolidation loan is the best thing that can happen for a student a cheap and effective way to solve the financial problems. All the students who have taken loans should contemplate going in for these loans for an effective student life.

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Student Debt Consolidation Loans
To carry out the burden of debts and fulfill them in accordance to time is, on occasion, too tough a job, especially when it comes to students. A debt always gives rise to a second debt, a second gives rise to third one, the third one gives rise to the fourth one and so on. Therefore, a vicious circle is grown and the person so related is always stuck in the great web of debt liabilities.

The Truth About Selling Your Structured Settlement
If you’re receiving payments from a structured settlement, periodic payments may not be enough if you suddenly need a large sum of money. However, you have several options for selling your structured settlement which can be a fast way to solve an unforseen financial problem.

Structured Settlement Funding
Structured settlement funding is the funding over a structured settlement, a settlement in which the reward is paid to the plaintiff over a course of time. The period of time will vary according to the merit of the settlement, often from two years to the remaining life time. Unlike pre settlement funding, structured settlement funding does not depend upon the assumed strength of the settlement, as the settlement value is already determined. More over, an annuity or government bond generally guarantees structured settlements.

Bankruptcy - The Effects of Bad Credit
There was a time when bankruptcy was probably the biggest stigma that could be attached to anyone in business. Thankfully those days are long gone. Today, bankruptcies are fast, efficient and frequent court procedures designed not as a punishment for the creditor.

Sell Structured Settlements
Structured settlements involve a sequence of specific payments made over a period of time. When there is a monetary emergency, a claimant can sell structured settlements. The whole settlement can be sold for a lump sum amount or it can also be sold in part. Before deciding to sell structured settlements, it is necessary to understand the terms and conditions of the settlement. Some structured settlements cannot be sold earlier for lump sum amount.

Finding The Right Bankruptcy Attorney To Get Fast Debt Relief
If you retain a bankruptcy attorney be sure to have all the details of the new laws explained to you. An effective bankruptcy attorney should at least take the time to explain all the details before you file and give you an idea of how to manage your debt and how to eliminate your debt burden altogether.

Good Credit After Bankruptcy
It’s easy to take control of your financial life, even if you have bad credit and need to file bankruptcy. You can still recover and get good credit after bankruptcy.

I’m In Deep But I Still Know Nothing About Bankruptcy
Fortunately you aren’t stuck with just one kind of bankruptcy but you have a choice. This most often depends on the debt owed and your financial circumstances. I have listed below a number of the available bankruptcy choices. Read them carefully and you may understand your position a little better and you will be able to understand your attorney more when you discuss the matter later…

The Real Deal On Credit Card Consolidation
Is credit card consolidation for you? What is it and how can it help you? Or, will it lead you deeper into a hole? First, a definition of what this term means.

Bad Credit Unsecured Loans-Free Yourself From The Shackles Of Debt

Needs vary from person to person. One may not always have enough resources to meet the requirements. This at times makes you borrow money from outside, which can overburden you with multiple debts. You have used all your assets in clearing these debts but are still left with some, which are beyond your repayable capacity. If you are getting buried under burden of debts, there are bad credits unsecured loans that can help you in this difficult situation.

Bad credit unsecured loans is specifically meant for people who have a poor credit history. As the name suggests, these loans are opted without placing any collateral. The lender however charges a higher rate of interest so as to cover his financial risks.

One of the advantages that are attached with these loans is that the borrowers are safe from the risk of repossession of their property. Both homeowners and tenants can go for this loan.

Bad credit unsecured loans can be used for variety of purposes such as renovating your home, buying a car or holiday package, meeting wedding expenses, consolidating multiple debts, investing in business, education and much more.

In order to qualify for a bad credit unsecured loan, the borrower needs to present some financial documentation to the loan provider. The type of documentation varies from lender to lender. Most of the lenders ask for bank statements or income tax return. The lender will precede the loan request further after analyzing the documents.

Infinite number of lenders dealing in unsecured bad credit loans exists in the finance market. If you are looking for a fast and hassle free loan procedure, it is most suitable for you to opt for online loans. One can easily browse through different websites and look for various online lenders.

The online lenders have an edge over traditional banks and financial institutions. They provide you with the best possible deal that goes in accordance with your requirements, financial status and repayment capacity. It is advisable to collect quotes from different online lenders first, and then compare the loan amount, loan term, rate of interest and other relevant information. This will help you choose the most appropriate loan.

Bad credit unsecured loans provide a range of benefits -:

? Reduced paper work
? Flexible repayment options
? No fear of property repossession
? Helps to improve the credit score

Now, let go off your worries and tensions as bad credit unsecured loans are there to liberate you from the shackles of debts. They can provide you the financial security to deal with the financial crisis. The loan money can also be used to improve the credit score by paying off all the debts.

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When debt begins to build up uncontrollably, it may seem as though the only way for you to get out of debt is to file bankruptcy and deal with all of the negative repercussions that come with it. Luckily, there is another option… in many cases a service known as consumer credit counseling can help you to avoid bankruptcy while eliminating your debt and getting you back to where you need to be in regards to your credit.

A variety of consumer credit counseling services have come into being within the past several years, and so long as they continue to provide services that help individuals avoid personal bankruptcy, it seems that there will be a need for these services for some time to come.

What Is Consumer Credit Counseling?

Consumer credit counseling is a method for resolving the debts of an individual without filing for bankruptcy, using a third party to negotiate settlements with creditors and to assist in budgeting money for debt repayment. Consumer credit counseling services don’t issue loans or offer any sort of repayment themselves; they simply help you to manage your money so that you can repay your own debts, while at the same time working with your creditors in an attempt to get them to reduce the total amount that is owed. This allows you to pay a reduced amount, while it allows your creditors to avoid the additional expenses of collection attempts and possible court costs.

How Do Consumer Credit Counseling Services Work?

Consumer credit counseling services operate in two ways… they are either non-profit organizations that operate off of government grants, or they are for-profit organizations and charge a nominal fee for their service. Regardless of how they make money, the core of the service that is provided remains the same; negotiation with creditors (many of whom they already have contacts with) and assisting individuals in debt with their budgeting and repayment. Depending upon the amount of money that is owed, some people can get through the credit counseling service rather quickly and have all of their debts reduced and repaid. Others may find themselves taking several months or possibly a year or more to repay their debts, even after negotiations reduce the total amount owed.

The time spent doing so is usually worth it, however, as the individual who spends a year or more would likely have no other option aside from bankruptcy if they had not chosen credit counseling.

Avoiding Consumer Credit Counseling Scams

As with most services concerning money, there are those who will try to present themselves as consumer credit counseling services in order to scam money out of individuals who are desperate for a way out of debt. These scams usually present themselves as offering instant debt relief or claim that they can cancel debts that you owe for a fee. What they usually offer, however, is a business tax ID number to replace your personal ID. The worst part of this is that it is usually legal for a business such as theirs to request a new tax ID number, but should an individual use it in an attempt to gain personal credit they are subject to fines and possible criminal charges.

Before signing up with any debt relief service, it’s important to check out their background and obtain references if possible… especially if they charge large fees for their services or claim to offer instant results.

You may freely reprint this article provided the following author’s biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:

About the Author

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help homeowners find the best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

August 29, 2006

Debt Help - Debt Consolidation Loans Versus Credit Counseling

Debt consolidation loans are a do-it-yourself process, whereas credit counseling helps you to make financial decisions. If you already have a financial plan, then you probably don?t need the services of a credit counselor. However, if you have questions or need help with a budget, a credit counselor can offer valuable help.

What Debt Consolidation Loans Can Do For You

Debt consolidation loans can reduce the interest rate you are paying on unsecured debt, like credit cards, and lower your monthly payments. You can choose to use an equity loan with its tax deductible interest or a personal loan. Many lenders offer competitive rates, which you can find by researching companies online.

A loan gives you more control over interest rates and payment schedules than with other options. Not only can you get low rates, but you can decide to take longer than five years to pay back your principal. By taking longer, your payments are lower, giving you financial breathing room.

However, a debt consolidation loan should be part of a larger financial plan that includes budget planning and long term financial goals. If you don?t have these things in place, you may find yourself in deeper financial trouble by taking out a loan.

What Credit Counseling Can Do For You

Credit counseling provides confidential financial planning for a low fee. In a non-judgmental atmosphere, a credit counselor can help you define your financial goals and plot a course to get there. They may suggest a debt consolidation loan, debt consolidation program, or other financial options. They will educate you about the pros and cons of each to help you make a decision.

Credit counselors are familiar with all types of financial programs, so they may point you to little known sources for help. They may also help you realize immediate savings by helping you to reduce expenses or lower interest rates on some of your bills.

Credit counseling is really an investment in your financial future. You get a quick crash course on your finances with practical answers. By getting expert help, you can save your credit, saving you thousands.

About the Author: See my recommended Debt Consolidation Companies online. Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.

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Cairo mayor says council to blame for job cuts
Southeast Missourian - The agendas for those meetings included discussions of the city’s debt and potential sale of city assets. In an interview, Farris said he has repeatedly urged the council to approve selling Riverlore, an historic mansion purchased in 1999 with bond

Woodside Petroleum offers $883mn for Energy Partners
Newratings.com - in the process of acquiring Stone Energy Corp, was made through Woodside Petroleum s wholly-owned subsidiary ATS Inc, which owns about a 4.5% stake in Energy Partners, includes a cash payment of $23 per outstanding share and $257 million of debt

50 good things about being debt-free
Daily Breeze - I had a song running through my head when I was thinking about debt and then had an epiphany: Not since Paul Simon advised couples on “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” has there been such a need for a new list. I’m always telling people that they should

Dead spots targeted
Biloxi Sun Herald - The Emergency Communications District proposes combining the new debt with old debt into a 10-year loan, but told supervisors the district’s annual income would not cover the new, higher payment of an estimated $750,000 a year. In voting to approve

NuVim(R) announces extension of all its short term debt to
MSN MoneyCentral - NuVim, Inc. NUVM a leading provider of nutritional beverages and the only beverage that helps build the immune system, muscle flexibility and athletic performance, announced today that the Company has extended the due date of $500,000 of Senior

Mullen: Big reasons for a protest
Salt Lake Tribune - A national debt that the U.S. Treasury cites as $8.5 trillion, and continuing budget deficits. It’s a combination of reckless spending with scant regard for the next generation, and the next, and the next and the next. Add to it the arrogance of

DEBT ADVISER
Columbia Daily Tribune - Q: When I left for college, my parents gave me a credit card for emergencies. It was their account, and I was an authorized user on the account. I never used the card. Years later, long after I d forgotten that my folks had given me the card, my

How to avoid the pitfalls of creeping debt.

Steps.com

Reducing debt usually isn’t a high priority for people until they have already gotten into trouble with overspending. Using a few basic guidelines, and debt calculations, can help you see when your debt load is getting into the danger zone.

Budgeting Guidelines

First off, creditors use budgeting guidelines when reviewing and approving credit. If your debt exceeds the financial communities recommended guidelines, then you have a higher risk of credit applications being denied. Getting, and keeping, your debt in line with recommended budgeting guidelines, is an important step in debt reduction. Use the following recommended budgeting guidelines (the same ones used by Financial Institutions) to review the items in your budget:

Housing 35% - Mortgage
or rent, taxes, repairs, improvements, insurance, and utilities;
Transportation 20% -
Monthly payments, gas, oil, repairs, insurance, parking & public transportation; Debt 15% - Credit cards, personal loans, student loans & other debt payments; All other expenses 20% - Food, insurance, prescriptions, doctor & dentist bills, clothing & personal; Investments & Savings 10% - Stocks, bonds, cash reserves, retirement, rental real estate, art, etc.

Debt Income Ratios

The second step is calculating your debt income ratio. Once you know what your ratio is, you will understand just how important debt load is to your overall financial picture. Your debt income ratio is the percent of your monthly take-home pay that goes to paying debts.

You calculate it by taking the amount needed to repay debts each month, including rent or mortgage, and divide by your take-home pay (your net pay after taxes). Remember, this is “Debt” ratio, so only include actual debt repayment in the calculation.

Credit To Debt Ratio

Just because you pay off a credit card is no reason to close your account. One little known fact about the Credit to Debt Ratio is the reverse effect it has on your credit score. If you pay off a credit card, and close the account, you are actually negatively impacting your credit score. The reason for this negative effect is in the calculation of the Credit to Debt Ratio itself. This ratio is the relationship of your debt total vs. your credit limit. You calculate it by dividing the total credit limit of all credit cards and loan accounts by the total of the actual debt (spent total). Now, if you pay off a credit card, you are reducing the actual debt, which is great, but, if you close the account, you are also dramatically reducing the credit limit you have, and usually by a higher percentage than the debt reduction. Pay Yourself First

Essential to long-term financial success, and protecting your future, is paying yourself first. While this may seem easy to do, it happens to be the last thing most people do, instead of first. Debts and other financial obligations, money for entertainment, and other spending always seem to take a higher priority. All I can say is, STOP! Think about it, if you aren’t worth being paid first, then who is? Always put something away in your savings, and leave it alone. It doesn’t matter if it’s only $5 a week, just do it!

Snowball The Credit Cards

Last, but not least, is making extra payments, not just the minimum payments, on your credit cards. You have probably already seen this many times, but it just can’t be stressed enough. Paying just $10 extra a month on a credit card, above the minimum required payment, can cut your repayment term in half, if not more! So, squeeze out that extra payment, however small, every month, and take advantage of the compounding effect of snowballing your debt away. The Power of Financial Knowledge

Remember, you don’t have to be a financial whiz to understand what’s going on with your credit and debt. Just a few simple calculations, and an eye on the future, will go a long way to help you succeed financially and keep your debt under control. Be safe, be smart, do the math!

Article courtesy of: DebtSteps.com offers comprehensive reviews of your options for debt relief. From budgeting to bankruptcy, debt consolidation, and credit counseling. DebtSteps.com is where you can get the answers to your questions absolutely free.

Copyright 2004 DebtSteps.com, all rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

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Mortgage Refinancing For People With Bad Credit - Low Credit Score …
Best Syndication, CA - Jul 27, 2006Refinancing a home loan with poor credit is a great and effective way to resolve some of your credit problems. Individuals with …

No Closing Cost Refinancing - 3 Things To Know
Best Syndication, CA - Aug 16, 2006If you’re considering refinancing your home, lenders that offer refinancing with no closing costs can be very appealing. Closing …

Mater Dei software bidder gets some breathing space
Malta Today, Malta - 12 hours ago… The company managed to deliver after it worked out a refinancing package with its banks and agreed on the milestones required for certain deliverables with its …

Northwest Airlines debt refinancing OK’d
The State, SC - Aug 9, 2006A judge approved a $1.38 billion debt refinancing plan by Northwest Airlines, which is restructuring in an attempt to emerge from bankruptcy protection. …

Tower, banks sign debt refinancing agreement
Globes, Israel - Aug 27, 2006Under the refinancing agreement with the banks, 30% of the company s debt will be converted into shares at double the average closing price on Nasdaq for the …

Cash-out refinancing at higher rates all the rage today
Columbus Dispatch, OH - Aug 13, 2006How quaint and how utterly out of date. Now the trend is refinancing into a higher interest rate while pulling out a bucket of fresh cash. …

410 million refinancing deal breaks new ground
Inside Housing, UK - Aug 17, 2006… next month. Aster Group will do the refinancing deal with Royal Bank of Scotland, Abbey, Barclays, Bank of Scotland and Dexia. It …

August 28, 2006

Invoice Factoring - How To Finance Business Growth Without Debts

One of the biggest challenges that the owners of small and mid size businesses have is waiting 30 to 60 days to get paid on their invoices. Although large businesses can usually afford to wait, smaller businesses usually can?t. As a matter of fact, waiting to get paid on their invoices, usually affects the owners ability to meet payroll or pay the company?s bills. This problem can even be more frustrating if the business has a number of orders that it cannot fulfill because its cash is tied in unpaid invoices.

How can invoice factoring help you?

Invoice factoring, also known as accounts receivable factoring, is a financial tool that allows small business owners to capitalize on the power of their slow paying invoices. It allows you to turn your invoices into immediate cash, enabling you to fund your business operations. Although it is not a well-known fact, invoices from strong credit worthy commercial clients are excellent collateral, especially for factors. Although most banks won?t take it ? invoice factoring companies are more than willing to provide you with financing based on them. This makes factoring an ideal financing vehicle for small and mid size companies, as well as knowledge-based businesses and employee intensive businesses.

How does invoice factoring work?

As opposed to most banks than lend you money against collateral, invoice factoring companies buy your invoices outright. The factoring company buys your invoices and provides you with funds immediately, while they wait to get paid by your customers. Let me describe the transaction with an example:

1. Let?s say that you sell services to Company A and Company B. As soon as you provide them with services, you issue invoices.
2. At the same time, you send copies of the invoices to the factoring company, who buys them and provides you with an advance payment for them.
3. The factoring company waits to get paid by your customers. Once paid, any remaining funds, are sent back to your company.

The invoice factoring process can be repeated for every invoice that you issue, providing you with a flexible line of financing that grows with your business.

How much will an invoice factor advance my business?

The factoring transaction is commonly done as a two-installment sale. The first installment is called the advance and is paid to you as soon as you submit the invoices. Advances can range anywhere from 60% on the low end up to 90% of the gross value of the invoices. The average advance is about 75% (for the industry) The remaining installment, called the rebate, is remitted to you once the invoices are paid.

The cost of invoice factoring

The actual cost of an invoice factoring tramsaction is determined by three criteria. First, the credit worthiness of your customers. Second, the length of time your invoices take to get paid. Third, the monthly factored volume. Your cost, actually called a discount in the industry, can be as low as 1.5% or as high as 12%, per transaction.

How can I determine if invoice factoring will help me?

Generally speaking, invoice factoring will help you if you have a business that has reasonable profit margins or is growing quickly. Mid size companies with 20% or more of profit margins or large companies with 15% profit margins can usually do well with accounts receivable factoring.

About the Author: Invoice Factoring Group - http://factoring.qlfs.com - can provide you with factoring quotes at no cost to you. Marco Terry, its president, can be reached at (786) 206 4722

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Divorce and Credit Card Debt

Divorce and Credit Card Debt

by: Bruce Hughbanks

Dont Let A Divorce Ruin Your Good Credit Rating!

In 1998, I divorced my husband and with that divorce came the normal splitting of property and assets. There also came a discussion regarding our credit card debt. Although, we were married for 5 years and did use the credit cards as a couple, only my name was on the credit cards. And suddenly my soon to be ex-husbands recollection of shopping sprees, vacations, and prime rib dinners that we did together faded. Sadly, it became my responsibility to pay for the memories that we had created. And guess what? Those charges were on several high interest credit cards.

If you find yourself in a situation like this, dont feel alone. Experts have seen a 20 percent rise in bankruptcy filings, and it is estimated that a large part of this is due to divorce. Luckily, if you find yourself in this situation, you will have several options. You could file for bankruptcyas statistics show that many people arebut you should know that if you choose this option, the bad mark will stay on your credit report for ten years. Another option would be to simply make the payments. But many people, after experiencing a divorce, find that living on one income is a difficult adjustment after a divorce, and are forced to only make the minimum payments. That can make for a lot of debt. For example, if you had a debt of $25,000 at an average interest rate of 18%, it would be thirty-two years before you paid it off! You would be paying for those memories well up into your 60s!

The other option is to seek professional help. There are several non-profit organizations that specialize in credit resolution, and many people seek this type of help following a divorce. Heres how it works. For a small fee of around $14.00 per month they will analyze your credit card debt, living expenses and income in order to determine what type of repayment structure would best work for you. Then they contact your creditors and work with them regarding interest rates, late fees, and payment amounts. The credit card companies, who understand that divorce is one of the leading causes for bankruptcy, usually dont have a problem working with the credit repair company. After all, they want their money!

Although, the non-profit agencies do not report credit counseling to credit bureaus, most credit card companies do. You may look at this as a negative, but many people dont. Credit counseling can be explained a lot more easily than bankruptcy, which is often a deal stopper for someone trying to buy a home, or even purchase a car.

You wont be allowed to retain a credit card when enrolled in a credit counseling program, but for most people who find themselves in this situation, that can be a relief. Think about it as you are cutting them up, piece by piece. I did. And with each chunk of plastic that fell in the trash, it was a chipping away of the old and a birth of the new. Theres a feeling of relief that comes over you when you know you dont have to worry about those mounting credit card bills. And when going through a divorce, the more relief you can have, the better.

About The Author

Bruce Hughbanks is Dedicated to the Success of Business Minded Entrepreneurs World Wide. His In-Depth Views, Techniques and Dedication to helping others is second to none. Contributed to the Advancement of Internet Marketing Success, Copywriting and Joint Venture Affiliations. Find out how he can help you: http://www.ProfitZilla.com (Another TeagINC Network Production)

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