CREDIT CARD TERMS

When selecting a credit card, the following credit terms and conditions are important because they affect the total cost of credit:

"Annual Fee" A flat, yearly charge similar to a membership fee, usually $25 to $50 A flat, yearly charge similar to a membership fee, usually $25 to $50

"Annual Percentage Rate" The APR is the measure of the cost of credit expressed as a yearly rate. The APR is the measure of the cost of credit expressed as a yearly rate.

"Finance Charge" The dollar amount you pay to use credit, includes interest costs and all charges associated with the transaction. The dollar amount you pay to use credit, includes interest costs and all charges associated with the transaction.

"Grace Period or Free Period" The grace period is the number of days you have before a credit card company starts charging interest on new purchases. Not all credit cards have a grace period. The grace period is the number of days you have before a credit card company starts charging interest on new purchases. Not all credit cards have a grace period.

"Periodic Rate" The interest rate the card issuer applies to your outstanding account balance to figure the finance charge for each billing cycle. The interest rate the card issuer applies to your outstanding account balance to figure the finance charge for each billing cycle.

"Transaction Fees" Some credit card issuers charge a fee for a cash advance, a late payment or going over your credit limit. Sometimes there is a monthly fee if you did not use the card. Some credit card issuers charge a fee for a cash advance, a late payment or going over your credit limit. Sometimes there is a monthly fee if you did not use the card.

"Calculation of Finance Charges" It is very important to know how the interest rate is calculated to compare and select the best credit terms. The credit card issuer will use one of three methods. You can decide which method is best suited to your payment style. The method used can make a big difference in the total amount of money you pay in finance charges. This is especially important when the APR's are identical for several credit cards. There can be a significant difference in the total amount of finance charges depending on the balance computation method used. It is very important to know how the interest rate is calculated to compare and select the best credit terms. The credit card issuer will use one of three methods. You can decide which method is best suited to your payment style. The method used can make a big difference in the total amount of money you pay in finance charges. This is especially important when the APR's are identical for several credit cards. There can be a significant difference in the total amount of finance charges depending on the balance computation method used.

"Average Daily Balance Method" This is the most commonly used method. You are given credit for your payment from the day the credit card issuer receives it and the interest is calculated on the basis of the average amount owed during the previous month.

"Adjusted Balance Method" This method is the most beneficial to the consumer and produces the lowest finance charges. The balance is calculated by subtracting the payments and any refund credits from the balance you owe at the end of the previous billing period.

"Previous Balance Method" This is the most expensive method. The finance charge is calculated on the balance owed at the end of the previous billing cycle. Payments, credits and new purchases made in the current billing cycle are not included.

source: http://www.in.gov/dfi/education/choosecd.htm

EVALUATING CREDIT CARDS

When you evaluate various credit card options, consider the following factors as well:

• Compare the credit card interest rates. Look for a low interest rate card but remember the interest rate is not fixed so it can be adjusted either quarterly or by written notice by the bank or company. You may be able to negotiate with your bank for a lower interest rate.
  
• Compare how finance charges are calculated to help determine the total cost of credit.
  
• Look at all charges for each card. Some companies add other fees, such as late-payment fees if your payment arrives after the due date, or transaction fees every time you use the card. Grace periods vary as well. Companies generally start the grace period at the time the purchase is posted to your account. However with some cards, the grace period can start on the day of purchase.
  
• Decide what credit limit is appropriate for you. Determine the amount of money you can charge each month based on your income.
  
• The credit card you choose should be widely accepted to accommodate the majority of purchases you make. Fewer credit cards will make it is easier to keep track of your credit spending.
  
• Compare services and features, such as travel insurance, rebates, purchase protection plans, cash-back incentives or extended warranties. Evaluate these features in terms of the extra credit costs to you.
  
• Make sure the annual fees are reasonable. Not all credit cards require an annual fee. It is worth shopping around to get the lowest fee or no-fee, especially if you pay off your balance each month.

Read each contract carefully before you sign so that you understand all the costs and conditions. Shop for a credit card the same way you would shop for any good or service. Try to negotiate for the options and conditions you want at the lowest cost available.

source: http://www.in.gov/dfi/education/choosecd.htm

Save Money on Food

ou gotta eat. The trick is to satisfy the hunger without starving your wallet.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average American family of four spends $8,513 per year on groceries -- that's $709 per month! And many of us blow our budgets further on restaurant meals.

We've got ten ways to save money on food, whether you're eating in or out.

Learn to Cook

Eating out is a huge budget buster.

Even seemingly inexpensive fast food can add up quickly. Cooking your own meals could save you a small fortune on restaurants and groceries (you'll buy fewer pricey frozen and prepared meals).

Plus, you could make dating cheaper -- who wouldn't be impressed by a cozy dinner?

Scour the Web for simple recipes to get your feet wet, or check out beginner cook books at your local bookstore.

Take Fewer Trips to the Grocery Store

Making bigger shopping trips less often will cut down on your impulse buys. In fact, almost half of all shoppers go to the store three or four times per week. Shoppers making a "quick trip" to the store usually purchase 54% more than they planned, according to a study published by the Marketing Science Institute.

If you go to the store three times a week and spend $10 on impulse buys each trip, that adds up to $120 extra per month. But if you go only once a week, you'll spend $40 per month on impulse buys. That saves you $80 per month, or $960 per year.

Break your Restaurant Routine
This may seem obvious, but we are creatures of habit and convenience. Make an effort to cut back a little, such as dining out once a week instead of three nights a week. With $20 meals, this simple act will trim your expenses by $160 a month.

Or, try something different –- and cheaper. Pick up a restaurant guide or a tour book of your city for budget-friendly suggestions. If you eat out three times a week, cutting just $5 from each meal ticket will save you $60 a month.

Bring Your Lunch to Work

Spending just $2 a day on a home-made lunch versus $6 a day on the sandwich shop next to the office will save you about $80 a month and $960 each year.

Grocery Shop With Focus
Another way to cut down on impulse buys is to shop with a list. Sketch out the week's meals and jot down the ingredients you'll need. Remember to factor in treats, snacks and lunches. Then stick to the list.

You might find it helpful to leave the kids at home so you're not tempted to give into pressure from crying children for an extra treat or toy that isn't on your list.

Buy Generic
You can almost always save money by choosing a no-name brand instead of a brand name. And you usually won't sacrifice much in quality on many items, from cereal to canned goods and frozen vegetables. Also, the savings on generic baby formula and prescription drugs can be huge.

You could save a few cents to a couple of dollars per item. And that adds up quickly each month.

Make Your Own Latte

That daily $4 cup of coffee is costing you $120 per month -- or more than $1,400 per year. Invest in a good-quality machine and make your own brew for much less.

Or kick the caffeine habit altogether and enjoy the health benefits along with the financial.

Use Coupons
You know about coupons for groceries. But don't overlook bargains for dining out.

For instance, at Restaurant.com you can get a $25 gift certificate to local restaurants for only $10. Use the coupon once a week, and you'll save $60 per month.

Or, before you dine out, hit the Web. At http://www.retailmenot.com/coupons/food, you can quickly find printable coupons and codes for dozens of eateries.

Time Your Meal
No, eating quickly won't make the bill smaller. Rather, consider eating out for lunch instead of dinner. That way, you can get lunch-menu prices for dinner-quality entrees.

Mind the Unit Price
Many grocery store tags will tell you how much an item costs per ounce, per pound or by some other unit of measure. Comparison-shop by unit price and save.

For example, a pack of 40 diapers at our local drug store cost $13, or 33 cents per diaper. A box of 144 diapers cost $35, or 24 cents per diaper. A difference of 9 cents may not seem like much, but when you change a diaper six to eight times each day, that amounts to a savings of $16 to $22 per month.

One caveat: Don't buy in bulk if you won't use it all -- otherwise, you wasted your money, no matter how good a deal it was.

Copyrighted, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.

SAVE MONEY ON UTILITIES

Here are 15 quick, cheap and easy ways to cut your electricity, heat and water use while also cutting your expenses by hundreds of dollars.

Keeping your home comfortable year round can put the squeeze on your budget. Consumers spend 6% to 12% of their income on utilities, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

We have 15 quick, cheap and easy ways to cut your electricity, heat and water use while also cutting your expenses by hundreds of dollars.

TAKE A FLIER ON FLUORESCENTS
Compact fluorescent bulbs represent one of the brightest ideas for cooling your electric bill. (Not every CFL produces a warm, candlelight glow. To achieve that effect, look for one with a Kelvin temperature of 2,600 to 3,000.)

Don't let the price of CFLs -- as much as $7 each -- turn you off. The lights not only last ten times longer than incandescents but also save up to $60 in electricity per light over their lifetime.

VANQUISH THE VAMPIRES
Appliances that include a clock or operate by a remote, as well as chargers, are sucking electricity even when you're not using them. Of the total energy used to run home electronics, 40% is consumed when the appliances are turned off. The obvious way to pull the plug on so-called energy vampires is to do just that -- pull the plug.

Or buy a device to do it for you, such as a Smart Power Strip ($31 to $44, at www.smarthomeusa.com), which will stop drawing electricity when the gadgets are off, and pay for itself within a few months.

INSULATE YOUR WATER HEATER
Is your coffee mug more insulated than your water heater? The newest electric water heaters have plenty of insulation. But if you have one built before 2004, wrap it in an insulating jacket such as a Thermwell blanket ($20; Amazon.com). You'll save 10% -- about $30 -- annually on your water-heating bill.

SERVICE THE FURNACE
Have your furnace tuned every two years, and you'll save about 10% on your heating bills.

TURN DOWN THE HEAT
For every degree you lower your home's temperature during the heating season, subtract 5% from your bill, according to the Alliance to Save Energy.

An Energy Star programmable thermostat ($70 at www.livingincomfort.com) saves more than twice its price within a year and will adjust the temperature automatically for you when you're away or asleep.

SET THE WASHER TO COLD
Use cold water to wash your clothes and save 50% of the energy you would otherwise use for hot water.

Set your dryer on the moisture sensor, not the timer, and cut energy use by 15%.

STOP DRAFTS
As your father would say, don't heat or cool the great outdoors. Put weatherstrip around the frames of your front and back doors and save about $30 per year in energy costs.

LOWER YOUR WATER TEMPERATURE
Set your water heater at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If your heater does not have a temperature gauge, dial down until the water feels hot, not scalding.

(Before going too low, make sure your dishwasher has a booster heater, which gets the temperature back to 140 degrees, necessary for proper cleaning.)

USE TIMERS ON LIGHTS
Install occupancy sensors or timers on lights in areas you use only occasionally and for exterior lights, which tend to get left on during the day.

The devices start at $25 per switch at www.homecontrols.com. Anyone with basic wiring skills can install them.

GO LOW-FLOW
With a few twists of the wrist, you can save 25% to 60% of the water it takes and 50% of the energy necessary to shower and shampoo you and your family. Install a low-flow shower head, which restricts the water output to no more than 2.5 gallons per minute. The shower heads generally run $10 to $20 a pop (some utility companies give them away) and screw into existing fittings.

Older shower heads send as many as 5.5 gallons per minute down the drain. The new fixtures go as low as 1.5 gpm, saving 7,300 gallons and $30 to $100 a year over their 2.5-gpm counterparts.

PLUG THE LEAKS
A leaky faucet wastes as much as 2,700 gallons in a year -- if it doesn't drive you crazy first. So fix it already.

Test the toilet for leaks, too. Put a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl, your tank is leaking, and you're wasting up to 200 gallons of water a day.

FILL 'ER UP
Run full loads of clothes and dishes. Most of the energy used by dishwashers is to heat a set amount of water, so running smaller loads wastes both energy and water.

Air dry dishes for added energy savings.

TAKE CARE WITH YARD CARE
Water your outdoor plants in the early morning, before the sun can burn off moisture. And take care not to over-water. Before starting your sprinkler, step on the grass. If the blades spring back, hold off on watering for a day or two. The average lawn needs only one hour of watering a week.

Also, raise your mower blades to the 3-inch setting. Shaggy grass holds moisture longer, requiring less watering.

BE A DRIP
For gardens, consider installing a drip irrigation system, which maintains moisture in the soil. Drip irrigation can reduce water loss by 50% to 60% when compared with hand-watering or sprinkler systems.

A drip system consists of a tube or hose with holes or emitters along it. It uses a timer to deliver water to plants. By maintaining the moisture level of the soil, less water is lost to the sun and the wind.

RETROFIT YOUR FAUCETS
Consider faucet aerators -- doohickeys that screw into your faucet threading and cut the water flow from 3 to 4 gallons per minute to as little as a half-gallon. As their name suggests, aerators blend water and air, reducing the flow without sacrificing pressure. At 50 cents to $3 apiece, the devices are some of the cheapest green gadgets available.

Aerators come in a range of flow rates. A faucet that flows at 1 gpm gets is fine for the bathroom faucet. But for a little more oomph in the kitchen, use an aerator with a flow rate of at least 2 gpm.

Copyrighted, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.

SAVE MONEY ON TRANSPORTATION

The average cost of owning and driving a car 15,000 miles a year is $7,830 according to AAA. SUVs are even more costly, at $9,990 per year. That includes all costs of ownership, such as gas, insurance, maintenance, registration, taxes depreciation, financing and more. Yikes.

No doubt getting around can be a huge budget buster. Here are ten tips to help cut your costs:

BUY A USED CAR

Because cars lose most of their value in the first few years, buying used allows you to drive a vehicle you probably couldn't afford brand new.

Recent used models -- those that are less than five years old -- can be a real value because you get a nearly new car still in fine working order for a fraction of the new-car price. And you'll pay less for collision insurance and taxes, too.

BUY A SIPPER, NOT A GUZZLER

You don't need a hybrid vehicle to save money on gas -- higher purchase prices can cancel out any savings. But a regular car with good gas mileage could save you hundreds of dollars a year on fuel.

Drive 1,200 miles per month in a car that averages 18 miles per gallon, and you'll spend $187 per month (at $2.80 per gallon). Drive a car that averages 25 miles per gallon, and you'll spend $134 per month -- a savings of $53 per month, or $636 per year.

RE-SHOP YOUR CAR INSURANCE

Using a comparison site like InsWeb.com can help you determine if you've got the best deal. Rates vary widely from insurer to insurer. Your savings could equal hundreds of dollars.

Shopping around is especially important for young adults because their rates could drop as they approach age 25 or older, build a credit rating, start a career and get married. Insurers reward customers who are responsible.

DROP COLLISION & COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE

If you drive a beater -- say, one worth less than $2,000 -- you'll probably pay more to insure it than you would ever collect on a claim. Dropping that part of your coverage can reduce your premium by one-third.

RAISE YOUR DEDUCTIBLE

Upping your out-of-pocket outlay from $250 to $1,000 on any car can save you 15% or more on your car insurance.

But make sure you have enough cash in an emergency savings account to cover your deductible so you won't have to rely on costly credit cards to bail you out.

JOIN POLICIES

When shopping around for auto insurance, check first with the company that provides your renters or homeowners insurance. You could snag up to 15% off for a multiple-line policy.

SHOP AROUND FOR GAS

Gas prices can vary as much as 20% within only a few blocks, according to GasBuddy.com, a price-monitoring site. So hop online to find the best deal in your neighborhood or along your commute route.

A 20-cent difference on 60 gallons of gas per month adds up to $12 per month or $144 per year.

USE A GAS REBATE CREDIT CARD

If you frequent the pump, soften the financial sting with a credit card that'll give you cash back for filling up.

For example, the Discover Open Road card gives you 5% cash back on gas and auto maintenance charges. So if you spend $200 a month on gas and maintenance, you get $10 back -- or $120 each year.

HOP ON THE BUS, GUS

Public transportation can save you a bundle on commuting costs because you won't have to spend money on a parking space, gas and auto maintenance. Plus, you can probably get a lower insurance rate for driving less.

Ask if your employer will pick up part of the tab for your public transportation costs. If not, suggest the company look into the matter -- it could qualify for a tax break.

CAR POOL

Two heads are better than one when it comes to commuting. Sharing the ride -- and expense -- with another person heading your way can cut your gas costs in half.

Copyrighted, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.

Save Money on Phone, Internet & TV

Talk is anything but cheap, not to mention Internet and cable TV. Try these ten tips to hand up on high costs.

Anyone paying the bills in their household knows that talk is anything but cheap. Cell phones and land lines can cost a pretty penny. Add your bills for Internet service and cable TV, and your telecom costs can quickly go through the roof.

BUNDLE UP
Bunch your services and save some green. For about $100 a month, you can get cable or satellite TV, local and long-distance telephone service, plus high-speed Internet service. This is often cheaper than it would cost for each service separately.

In addition to paying just one bill, you have just one company to call if you have a technical or billing issue. See Save a Bundle on Telecom Services to learn more.

RETHINK YOUR PHONE COMPANY
Save on your long-distance bill and chat via computer with free software from Skype.com. You won't pay a dime for any call to another Skype user. You can call non-users' landlines, too, for about $3 a month. Sure beats the $15 to $25 fee for a typical no-frills land line.

Or consider other low-cost Internet phone services such as Vonage. It comes with more perks such as voice-mail, caller ID and call waiting and costs $25 per month for free unlimited local and long-distance calls.

PRE-PAY YOUR CELL PHONE
The average wireless-phone user spends about $60 a month, including taxes and fees. If you talk for 200 or fewer minutes per month, you may save by switching to a prepaid plan charging 25 cents a minute or less.

Prepaid plans generally charge 10 cents to 60 cents a minute, and compatible phones cost as little as $20. Compare plans at www.myrateplan.com.

CUT THE CORD
If you have a good cell-phone plan that you use almost exclusively, get rid of the dead weight on your finances and drop your land line. You could reclaim $20 to $50 or more each month.

EVALUATE YOUR CABLE USE
Do you really need all those cable channels? Take a look at what you're paying for and what your family is actually using. Then trim accordingly. Dropping your premium channels, for example, is a good way to start saving.

You may even find you don't watch TV enough to justify the cost of your cable service. Consider dropping cable entirely and watching your favorite shows online or on DVD –- or reading a book.

HANG UP ON PHONE EXTRAS
Do you really need caller ID? Call waiting? Voice mail? Internet service on your cell phone?

Drop one or all of the extras and shave $5 to $50 off your bill each month.

GET A CALLING CARD
This is a great way to keep phone costs under control when you've got a roommate. That way, you're sure to only pay for the long-distance calls you personally make. No more billing disputes. Calling cards may also save you money over the long-distance plan offered by your phone company.

At Costco, for example, you can buy a Verizon phone card with 700 pre-paid minutes for $20. That's 2.9 cents per minute.

NEGOTIATE A LOWER RATE
With cutthroat competition among phone, cable and Internet providers, you can probably haggle your way to a better deal on your service.

Many of the best offers are for new customers, but that shouldn’t stop you from asking for the same deal, or at least one better than what you’re getting. You could always threaten to take your business elsewhere.

Copyrighted, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.

10 Ways to Cut Your Fuel Costs

U.S.News & World Report
Thursday October 18, 12:01 pm ET
By Emily Brandon

With crude oil futures threatening to hit $90 a barrel, gas prices jumped again this week, to a national average of $2.78 a gallon for regular unleaded, according to AAA. So, fuel economy is paramount. Here are tactics to help you get the most miles per gallon from your vehicle this winter and save money, too.

Get checkups. Regular oil changes and tuneups cost money and can take a big chunk out of your Saturday. But repairing a car that has failed an emissions test will improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent. And fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve mileage by as much as 40 percent. Even a simple change like replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by up to 10 percent.

Inflate tires. Properly inflate your tires according to instructions in your vehicle owner's manual. Underinflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every pound's drop in pressure of all four tires.

Discover oil. "Get oil changes every three to four months," recommends Ronnie Kweller, spokesperson for the nonprofit Alliance to Save Energy. You can improve your gas mileage by 1 to 2 percent by using your manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. But using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30, or 5W-30 in an engine made for 5W-20, can decrease gas mileage by 1 to 2 percent. Also, motor oil that says "energy conserving" on the API performance symbol contains friction-reducing additives.

Avoid idling. Sitting in your car with the engine running wastes gas without getting you anywhere. Telecommute, stagger work hours, carpool, or otherwise try to avoid sitting in rush-hour traffic.

Drive smoothly. Speeding up and then braking can lower gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and 5 percent around town. Using cruise control on the highway can help your vehicle consume gas more efficiently.

Don't race. It's safer and less expensive to obey the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases rapidly above 60 mph, typically costing you an extra 20 cents per gallon of gas for each 5 mph over 60 mph.

Lose weight. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your miles per gallon by up to 2 percent, with smaller vehicles being affected more than larger ones. Also, avoid carrying items on the car's roof, which can increase drag and further reduce fuel efficiency by 5 percent.

Choose carefully. Try to purchase the most fuel-efficient vehicle in your price range. If you clock 15,000 miles a year, driving a car that gets 30 mpg rather than 20 mpg will save you $695 per year at $2.78 per gallon. Check out http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ and http://www.consumerreports.org/ for information about fuel efficiency.

Get tax breaks. Take advantage of 2007 federal income tax credits that reduce what you owe Uncle Sam by $250 to $4,000 for purchases of hybrid-electric or diesel vehicles. Amounts are based on the vehicle's efficiency and fuel savings.

Shop around. Gasoline prices change often and may vary by as much as 20 percent within only a few blocks, according to the gas price comparison website gasbuddy.com. So, compare prices online before paying at the pump. Just don't drive several miles out of your way simply to save a few cents filling up your 12-gallon tank.

source: Yahoo!Biz

Planning Ahead For Your Family’s Financial Security

No one likes to imagine that illness or death could compromise their family's financial security. But, tragically and all too often, these things devastate families and leave them in a vulnerable financial position just when they need the most security. Spending only a few hours preparing for such a scenario might save your family needless trouble. Once, only fathers needed to worry about this, but today with two-earner families comprising the majority of American families, both partners should actively participate in planning to ensure financial security for themselves and their children.

At the very least, each partner should have a simple will specifying who will receive assets and who will take guardianship of the children. Financial professionals advise naming one person to control the financial assets and another person to take physical custody of the children. You can prepare your own wills by purchasing a kit online or at an office supply store. Although this is a good short-term solution, you should consult a lawyer as soon as possible, particularly if you have a lot of assets or there is disagreement in your extended family about who should serve as guardians for your children.

Adequate life insurance is also essential to protecting your family. The majority of Americans do not carry enough life insurance to ensure that their family will enjoy the same quality of life after their death. Simple term insurance is adequate for most people's needs. Whole life policies rarely provide the same level of returns as other investments, such as stocks. Many insurance companies have life insurance calculators on their websites which will help you determine exactly how much insurance you need. Be sure to take into account any insurance provided by your employer. If one spouse stays home with the children, they should also be insured since the surviving partner will need to pay for child care and household services.

Most Americans are unaware that it is not death, but disability that most frequently causes financial problems for a family. Check with your employer to see if they offer short and long-term disability insurance. If not, have your insurance agent quote you for this essential coverage that will protect you and your family if you can no longer work.

Finally, long-term care insurance will cover nursing home or other types of ongoing residential care. Young people often overlook this coverage, thinking that it's only for older people. However, head injuries, paralysis and other traumatic injuries often result in the need for long-term residential care.

About The Author
Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://ifinancecentral.com/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://thebusinessbuzz.net/ and http://4educationinformation.com/.

Financial Planning For Credit Card Users

Credit cards can be an excellent tool to help you manage your finances. But sometimes we make poor choices, or sometimes the events in life take us beyond our expectations and we are left to foot the bill. Perhaps you have had a few months of extra, unexpected expenses that you are now paying for. What can you do?

If you are faced with several large credit card bills, a UK personal loan is one choice for you to consider. Many people are selecting a UK personal loan to add to their financial portfolio and you might want to consider using one to deal with those credit card bills. Here's how.

Gather together all of your credit card bills and add up the amount that you owe. Factor in the extra expenses you haven't heard on your credit cards since you receive those bills. Add to that about ten or twenty per cent, which is the "whoops, I forgot about that" factor. Then, with that figure, start shopping around. There are many UK personal loan institutions that want to do business with you.

Get the loan and pay off your credit card bills. If you think that you may still use your credit cards or, you may want to hide them away so that you reduce the temptation to use them.

Now, instead of having several credit card bills at a high interest rate due by the end of the month, you now have one bill that is due once a month at a lower rate. This is called consolidation. At first glance it may not seem obvious why you'd want to do this but there are two reasons:

The first reason is that you will save a lot of money on interest rates. In fact, some UK personal loan interest rates might be as much as half of regular credit card interest rates.

The second reason is that you will get one bill with a fixed amount due every month rather than several bills with several amounts due throughout the month. This will help you budget.

Credit cards can be an excellent tool to help you manage your finances and by the things you want or need. But when things go a ride and your bills get out of hand, which happens to be even the best of us, choosing a UK personal loan as a way to consolidate those bills will help you reduce your interest rates and set up a fixed amount of payment. Reduced interest rates will ultimately increase the amount of money you keep and a fixed amount due every month will help you plan your budget.

About The Author

Mark Lambie is the founder of http://www.loan-source.co.uk a website providing free secured loan quotes. Apply today to find out how much we can save you.

Financial Planning: What’s your Designation?

If you’re shopping for financial planning services, it may seem like a jungle out there. There are advertisements everywhere, and everybody seems “nice,” but nice won’t cut it when it comes to your money. How can you cut to the chase and find a financial planning expert that you can trust.

Start by learning what the different designations mean. You may have noticed that there are three popular financial designations that most financial planners hold. You’ll want to choose one with one of the following designations.

Like many CPA‘s, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) must attend about two years of training and pass a rigorous test. This designation is given by the Certified Financial Planning Board of Standards, a national organization. After two years of preparatory courses, a Certified Financial Planner must earn a passing grade on a ten-hour test given over the course of two days. The Financial Planning Association can provide you with a listing of Certified Financial Planners.

You may have also encountered some Chartered Financial Consultants. These graduates of American College in Pennsylvania have completed a series of exams and obtained real life experience before earning their designation. However, the program is geared more toward the insurance profession than broad based financial planning. The Society of Financial Professionals can provide you with a listing of these consultants.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants offers its own designation, a Personal Financial Specialist (PFS). Certified Public Accountants can earn this additional designation by completing a series of comprehensive tests and demonstrate experience in financial planning. Most of these designates are members of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, and they can refer you to a PFS in your area.

All of the above certifying agencies require at least three years of experience prior to certification. Other designations do exist, but these three are the most reliable. Since many unscrupulous individuals decide to call themselves “financial planners,” you’d be wise to look for one with a certification from a nationally recognized organization.

Since the Securities and Exchange Commission doesn’t regulate smaller financial advisors (those with under $25 Million under advisement), it is up to you to screen your financial planner carefully.

You can begin by checking on the website of the National Association of Securities Dealers website. They list financial planners who have been disciplined on their website. Information is also available by telephone from this association’s toll free number (800-289-9999). Also check with your state’s securities division for disciplinary actions and complaints.

Ask your planner for a copy of Form ADV, Part II. If you aren’t familiar with the form, they will be. This form is required by the Securities and Exchange Commission from every financial planner and should spell out how and what the planner will be paid and any incentives they may earn. Sometimes they will provide this information in brochure or pamphlet form, but you’ll know up front what your fees will be.

Finally, check references. A reputable planner won’t mind giving you a few references to call. Find out if they handle portfolios similar to yours and if the client is satisfied with their services. Ask about fees.

It’s your future, so doing a little homework up front and making sure that you‘re getting what you pay for is well worth it in the long run. Make sure that your financial planner holds a nationally recognized designation and check him out before you hand over your hard earned money. Your time and effort is a wise investment when shopping for a financial planner.

About The Author

Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.prime-financial.net a website specialized on Finance, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Finance. For more info on Finance visit: http://www.prime-financial.net.

How To Get Started In Investment Properties

One of the best investments that you can be involved in today is that which deals in real estate. Right now, real estate is moving very good and it is a good time to be dealing with it. Much money can be made in real estate transactions and the good news is that you can make a lot of money quickly - if your investments and selling techniques are made wisely. Here are a few things you need to know about getting started in this potentially lucrative field.

Learn About It

Investments of any kind require that you learn about what you are investing your money in. Any other way of investing is only foolish, unless you have some really good financial counselors. But generally, the more you know the better off you will be. This is especially true in real estate, because the investments are large and the losses can be high. You should want to read all you can about it before you make any moves. Not only should you learn about how to choose a property that people will want, you also need to know how to research the local market to know what a property should sell for.

Types Of Property

There are a number of ways that you can get started in real estate. Largely this will be determined by how much money you have to get started with. If you do not have much money, you may want to start with foreclosures, or pre-foreclosures. These properties will be the cheapest, and, because of their value as opposed to their cost to you, could bring some excellent returns. You can buy them at less than market value, fix them up a little, and turn around and sell them at market value - for a good-sized profit.

Other properties involve residential or commercial, large and small. Once again, you need to make sure you know what you are doing before you invest. Learn the secrets to investing that will make it worthwhile, and be able to recognize a bad deal when you see one.

For Sale Or Rent?

When you want to buy property is it so that you can turn around and sell it - or do you intend to rent it out? Residential renters have a great many needs and may disturb your sleep if they need to have something done right away. On the other hand, commercial renters have a tendency to take of small things for themselves just to be able to get back to their business. Renting property out is one way to ensure an income over a long period of time, but will require a percentage of outlay to keep the property up. Commercial property, if in a prime location, however, is always sure to remain in demand.

While the real estate market is hot, there is a possible downside that you need to be aware of. Money that is tied up in real estate, while able to keep its overall value, could be tied up in that property for some time - not all property sells quickly. So you need to be able to figure in things like taxes, interest and other things that will eat at your profits over a period of time.

The market is good and much money can be made in it. It is just waiting for the right investor.

About The Author
Joseph Kenny writes for the UK Loan Store, visit them here, UK Loans Store and more information on bad credit loans available on site.

Visit Today: http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk/

Tips for Financial Planning

Financial planning, something we all know we need to do, but always put off to the future. Financial planning is hard simply because it requires financial discipline, which is difficult to have in this consumer society. However, financial planning is very important because you want to retire one day, be financially stable in the event of an accident, or unexpected loss of a job. Financial planning will help you rest easy as you age.

The following tips will help get you in gear to start your financial planning. Once you have made financial planning part of your routine, it won’t seem so difficult. But getting your financial planning started can be the most difficult thing. These tips will help motivate you to make financial planning one of your main goals.

Financial Planning Tip #1 Pay off Debt

One of the biggest factors fighting against financial planning is debt, especially credit card debt. If something starts off as a small debt it turns into a big one simply because you were not paying off the debt. Financial planning means you have a plan and paying off debt should be the first goal of your plan.

Financial Planning Tip #2 Invest

Another financial planning tip is to invest. Financial planning means you are saving for the future in many cases, so you will want to take money you earn today and invest in the stock market, in bonds, IRAs, 4019k) or a mixture of all of the above. Saving your money with the help of financial planning will help money grow all on its own.

Financial Planning Tip #3 Spend Less than You Earn

This is tough for people to understand and often times what they resist most when they begin financial planning. This is because Americans always want what is bigger and better. Regardless, financial planning is more important than consumerism. Make spending less than you earn part of your financial planning.

Financial Planning Tip #4 Budget

A great financial planning tip is budgeting. You won’t be able to save unless you know what you spend. Make budgeting part of your financial planning and you will realize saving is not so hard.

About The Author

Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.mileniumfinancial.com a blog focusing on the Financial, resources and articles. This site provides detailed information on Financial. For more info on Banking visit: http://www.mileniumfinancial.com.

Variable Life Insurance & Annuities: Investment Scandals in Waiting

We humans are as creative on the "Dark Side" of commercial activity as we are in developing beneficial new products and services. In the face of huge financial benefits, however, some corporate executives can't resist taking an extra dessert even before their shareholders have finished dinner. Some scandals have more of an impact on investors than others, and most produce unwarranted layers of government regulation and control that stifle honest creativity.

Plain vanilla fraud and theft are less worrisome to me than situations where the general acceptance of misinformation or "business as usual" practices allows inherently bad product ideas and blatant mismanagement to become accepted by regulatory authorities, financial professionals, and myopically gullible consumers. Here are some candidates for future "Blockbuster Scandal Awards" (B S Awards, if you will): Variable Life Insurance & Annuities, Wrap Fee Managed Investment Accounts, Portfolio Window Dressing, Asset Allocation Mutual Funds, and Obscene Executive Compensation.

1) Variable Insurance and Annuities: Variable products are a relatively new thing in the insurance industry, circa 1980 or so. Before that, the conventional wisdom labeled the Shock Market much too risky for Life Insurance Policy and Annuity Contract guaranteed benefits. In fact, these benefits had been "guaranteed" for so long that it became a generic expectation of anyone in the market for either. So why did the State Insurance departments cave in to the Variable Product lobby? And what is not emphasized as these products are marketed to potential insureds and annuitants?

As if the 8% sales commission on Straight Life Annuities wasn't enough, the addition of Mutual Fund bonuses made the Variable Annuity irresistible... to financial professionals. Similarly, this product is so lucrative for the companies that they manipulate their rates to become more competitive. Since the introduction of variable benefits, there have been more insurance company failures and scandals, and not just a few disappointed recipients of reduced annuity payments. What's in your retirement plan?

2)Wrap Fee Investment Accounts: From the very beginnings of wealth, the very wealthy employed Investment Managers to protect and to grow their portfolios. Most Investment Managers had just a few huge clients that they tended to while the rest of the fledging financial industry focused on property protection and estate creation through life insurance. Most of today's (salaried) Investment Managers are employed by Financial Institutions to supervise thousands of Mutual Funds for millions of investors of all financial shapes and sizes. There are more Equity Mutual Funds than there are individual Equities on the New York Stock Exchange. Most investors today will employ many Investment Managers and never actually speak to any of them.

Enter the personally managed investment portfolio product offered by most major Financial Institutions. For a single fee, you receive the personal services of a professional Investment Manager, and a portfolio specifically designed for you. Except, of course, that you get neither. You get precisely the same portfolio as everybody else, and all at once regardless of price... a Mutual Fund with individual statements. But of course, you can speak to the manager any time you like, change your asset allocation, set aside a reserve for an upcoming expenditure, etc. Yeah, sure you can!

Note that "Flat Fee" managed accounts are quite different and may actually be separately and personally managed.

3)Portfolio Window Dressing: Every quarter, every year, we hear about the adjustments that portfolio managers are making as they attempt to look smart to their largest clients. Now in a discipline (Investing) that they all officially recognize as a long-term commitment to some specific strategy or plan, why do the Masters of the Universe spend so much time manipulating their short-term performance numbers? And why is this considered business as usual instead of common fraud?

4)Asset Allocation Mutual Funds: I look at Asset Allocation a bit differently than most professionals seem to and I regulate and monitor a portfolio's structure using the cost basis of securities rather than their Market Value. But how, logically, can a one-size-fits-all Mutual Fund be the right mix for all investors? Here's a definition found on the Internet: "A mutual fund that rotates among stocks, bonds, and money market securities to maximize return on investment and minimize risk". And a definition of Asset Allocation from a similar source: "The practice of distributing a certain percentage of a portfolio between different types of investment assets, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, cash, real estate, options, etc. By diversifying an individual's asset base, one hopes to create a favorable risk/reward ratio for a portfolio".

In reality, Asset Allocation is a structure-planning tool that determines what percentage of an Investment Portfolio is to be invested for Growth in Equity securities and what percentage is to be invested for income production. The proper allocation is a function of the investor's age, marital status, financial position, employment status, retirement plans, expenditure needs, risk tolerance, family responsibilities, etc. Diversification occurs within the two (just two) asset classes. One size fits all... who's kidding whom?

5) Corporate Executive Compensation: I strongly believe that everyone has the right to become filthy rich, legally of course. I respect anyone who gets there honestly because their success creates jobs, opportunities, wealth, and a higher standard of living for everyone. But, once they sell shares of their successful enterprises to the public, they have a responsibility to share future profits and growth. Obscene executive suite compensation (right down to the chauffeured limousines) is simply stealing from shareholders.

With every new Scandal, a voracious Media and a hypocritical Congress exacerbate the fear of shocked investors and call for more regulation of the very entities whose success, freedom, viability, and competitiveness they should be nurturing. Ironically, politicians are always the most outspoken critics... probably because of their familiarity with cover-ups and improprieties. But no one ever questions the integrity of the Financial Institutions that invent, produce, price, and promote products and services that do far more long-term harm than the few (albeit serious and sensational) incidents of corporate wrong doing.

Four of the five candidates for this year's Blockbuster Scandal (B S) Award were created on Wall Street. The fifth is ignored by it. Which one bothers you most?

About The Author
Steve Selengut
http://www.sancoservices.com
http://www.valuestockbuylistprogram.com
Professional Portfolio Management since 1979
Author of: "The Brainwashing of the American Investor: The Book that Wall Street Does Not Want YOU to Read", and "A Millionaire's Secret Investment Strategy"

Real Estate Investment - Still a Great Option for the Long Term Investor

Investing in Real Estate is a great Addition to any portfolio, but what is the best way to do it? There are a number of different options, and we will go through some of them here.

The first one, and the one that seems to get the most attention these days is the "Flip". With the emergence of shows like "The Big Flip", and "Flip This House", this Buy, Renovate and Resell strategy is the 'sexy' option for most real estate investors right now. However, there are a few things to consider before you go about this. The first thing to think about, of course, is where are you going to find the property that is priced well for the flip. There are a few options for investors - the first of which is to contact a good Real Estate Agent and have them scan all listings for you for any that are undervalued, priced as is, owned by the bank or foreclosure company, or any other good opportunities that might be on the market. Your Real Estate Agent is your best friend in this respect, as they will be very motivated to find you the best property, and will be very vigilant, if for no other reason than they know you will be reselling the property at some point pretty soon! When looking for Properties to Flip in your area, remember that the same rules apply as to your own home - the first three things you should look for is Location, Location, Location! Properties that are in Downtown Areas are often the easiest to resell, however, they are often more expensive than more suburban properties, so that will eat into profit margins. Look for houses on popular streets, in good neighbourhoods. If you are buying into a worse neighbourhood, make sure you are factoring that into your price of purchase, and projected resale. The other Key factor to the Flip, is that you must ensure that you don't price yourself out of the neighbourhood. For Example, no matter how nice you make your small bungalow in an area of starter homes, Don't expect to resell it for 50% more than anything else in the area! Ensure that your renovations don't bring the price too high. Finally, Understand that the higher price bracket you try to flip, the longer it is going to take to resell, and the higher your materials costs will be. You need to consider all of this and much more before considering the flip.

The other main strategy that you can use to add to your investment portfolio in the real estate world is the rental property. Rental Properties offer two different qualities to your portfolio - income and capital gain. Your rental property can offer you a monthly income over and above your monthly outlay of expenses (mortgage, utilities and taxes). Even if your rental property doesn't offer you a huge (or any) monthly income, remember, you are also earning a capital gain on the property, as it is very likely to increase in value... just like your personal home is. All of this should be taken into consideration when deciding on a property. However, with Rental property, the most important consideration is always the Tenants that you have. A great looking, well maintained and located property can still be a nightmare if you get a bad set of tenants in their. It is important to do stringent interviews, check references and draft a strong lease agreement. You should also familiarize yourself with the Nova Scotia Tenancy Act. Finally, you need to decide what kind of rental property you are going to run. Do you want to rent to students? Young Professionals? High or Low Income? Students offer payment by room, which is often higher than you could command for entire flats, but you have to consider that they will likely not care for the building very well, and might not have the rent each month. Additionally, you have the concern of them bailing out on you once school ends for the year. Young Professionals will often be very easy to deal with, will pay their rent on time, but will also be very astute about how much they will pay, and are likely to be there for only a short period of time. Your Rental portfolio must always account for at least a 5% vacancy rate (in the good times), and must still generate money for you with that in the equation.

Like I say, in both of these cases, your real estate agent can be your best friend, and you should seek out one that you feel can be an informative and trusted advisor. They will work in conjuction with your financial planner as well, to determine what the best course of action for you is. As always, you should feel comfortable with whatever investment you make!

About The Author
Matt Honsberger is a Licensed Real Estate Agent in the heart of maritime Canada - Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the designer of http://www.homesinhrm.com.

Buying Life Insurance: A Checklist

Life insurance can be an effective tool to make certain and protect your family’s financial future. It has been acknowledged universally as a method by which the breadwinner can substitute risk and uncertainty with timely aid for the family in case of their unfortunate death.

Since a life insurance policy will replace your lost income after your death, it is important to choose the right kind of policy. Hence, it is essential to find a company that will cover your insurance with the right amount, and at a reasonable price.

Need for a life insurance policy:

There are several reasons for an individual, specifically a breadwinner, to make out a life insurance policy. To assuage your concern for your family in case of your death, most life insurance policies offer various death benefits that take care of your family after your death:

1. For example, a member of your family may have some special needs. You can buy a life insurance policy that will act as an emergency fund in the event of your untimely death.

2. If you want to make sure that your child gets quality education even after your death, a life insurance can also work as a fund for your child’s education.

3. An insurance policy will ensure the maintenance of your family’s standard of living.

4. Your family can also use it to clear personal and business debts, after your death.

Duration of insurance coverage:

Before buying a policy it is advisable to ensure the duration for which you want life insurance coverage. You can take online help to decide the coverage duration.

Need for a checklist

After you decide on your specific need, and the duration of your life insurance policy, you can begin looking for a suitable policy. It is prudent to prepare a checklist before buying, as this will ensure that you end up purchasing the right policy.

The checklist must include various factors on which you can assess insurance companies, which includes various criteria set by insurance companies too. Here are a few pointers:

1. Before buying a life insurance policy, it is advisable to ensure that you have all medical information regarding your health, because most companies expect that, depending on your age and the duration of insurance coverage.

2. It’s a good idea to compare various life insurance companies on the basis of quotes that they have to offer. You can take the help of the Internet to compare the quotes based on your choice of insurance product and your age.

3. You can also take help from a broker through the telephone or the Internet and clear all your queries.

4. Once you decide on a particular insurance company, it is important to ascertain the company’s financial strength and stability.

5. It is also advisable to gather information about the options for renewal that various insurance companies offer, because some companies charge high premiums if you renew your policy.

6. Some insurance companies charge a penalty if you cancel your policy, so make sure that the company you choose does not demand a penalty on cancellation of policy.

7. You may also want to make some changes in your policy in due time, as your insurance needs can change with time. So, when you purchase your insurance policy find out if there is an age limitation for any kind of conversion of your policy, and whether the option of moving into a better policy is there.

About The Author
Joe Kenny writes for the UK personal finance sites http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk and also http://www.cardguide.co.uk.

Planning for Your Financial Future

Two heads are better than one, so sit down with your spouse and plan out your financial future together.

Prioritize your bills.

By determining which bills to pay in which order, you'll get in the habit of making sure your essentials are always paid first.

Be careful using credit. Sometimes a financial crisis will come not because of a layoff, but because you're overextended. Most people can afford to devote 10 percent of their net income (after taxes) to installment debt, not including mortgage or rent payments. If you pay out more than 15 percent, you need to cut back.

Establish an emergency fund. Open a savings account and start "paying yourself" 10 percent of each paycheck.

What happens if we run into an emergency and our emergency fund isn’t enough?

Don't panic. When facing a financial crisis, stay calm. This will help you think logically and you'll avoid unnecessary arguments with your spouse.

Quit spending money. When faced with a financial challenge, it's easy to use your credit cards. But you may run up your balance to the credit limit and not be able to afford the payments, which will result in a poor credit rating—something you won't want during a crisis time.

Prioritize your bills. Pay essential, or survival, bills first: food, mortgage or rent, utilities. Next, pay car insurance, medical needs, child support, and any loans such as automobiles and furniture that are secured as collateral.

Then pay the nonessential bills—those debts in which no immediate consequences occur if paid late: credit and charge cards, attorney, medical, and accounting bills, newspaper and magazine subscriptions, life insurance, childcare, gyms, or clothing.

Communicate with your creditors. If you can't pay your bills or can only pay a partial amount, your creditors may be able to help you to establish a repayment plan.

Some lenders will allow you to defer one payment a year, meaning the payment for that particular month doesn't have to be made. The deferred payment is added to the end of the contract.

Take notes of any conversations with creditors, listing the date and person with whom you spoke. Whatever arrangement you make, get it in writing from the creditor before you send in money.

Know your rights. Many collection agencies are in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. To get a copy of this legislation, visit www.ftc.gov. If you feel you've been violated, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at their website.

Find outside help. Many churches and Para church organizations run programs to help you navigate through financial troubles.

A debt management company may also be able to help you reduce your payments, lower your interest rates, and pay off your debt faster than trying to do it yourself.

Such companies can also negotiate with your creditors to bring your accounts current if they're past due.

Avoid bankruptcy. Bankruptcies should be your last resort. A bankruptcy can remain on your credit report for up to 10 years.

About The Author

Nathan Dawson writes for http://www.marriedfinances.com and http://www.successfulmarriageresource.com, great online sources for marriage and finance information.

What are Gold Credit Cards?

Gold credit cards are special privilege cards that are traditionally offered by credit card companies either to high earners or to their loyal customers who have a good credit history. Traditionally they are considered to be status symbol because they are associated with high annual income, which offer added services and benefits.

Gold credit cards are beneficial if you are a high spender seeking associated benefits such as free air miles, cash back, reward points etc. These credit cards give you the added advantage of high or no credit limit. Though generally the credit limit is quite high still it depends on your annual income and your credit rating. Companies will certainly not offer a gold card to people with a bad credit history or to those who have low income.

The credit card companies will generally offer a better service and many more benefits to these privileged customers. Additionally, they have lower interest rates as compared to that of standard credit cards. Generally, there are low or no annual fees on Gold credit cards. View your statements, pay your card balance and transfer balances. There is an online fraud guarantee, so you're not responsible for any unauthorized purchases.

Gold credit cards main features:

Payment protection plan protects in case of involuntary unemployment, accidental injury or sickness.

Card protection Plan protects your account in case of loss or theft of your card.

You can share it with family and friends. Thus avail a greater flexibility and convenience.

It provides complete travel insurance up to £250,000

A number of travel benefits.

A word of caution is necessary here. You will have to spend a lot to make it work for you. As with all credit, you will reap the benefits when you are able to afford the repayments, however, the moment you fail you may land yourself in a financial trouble. Missing your monthly payments would mean penalty fee and costs plus a dwindling credit rating, creating problems in future.

About the author:
Joseph Kenny writes for the credit card comparison sites http://www.credit-cards-info.com/ and http://www.creditcards121.com/, here you can compare credit cards and find the latest offers available.


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Health Insurance and health care

Health insurance is something that everyone needs today. The rising cost of visiting a health care provider or a hospital stay makes it imperative that everyone have some type of health care coverage. Government statistics estimate that over 40 million people in America are not covered by any type of health insurance on any given day. That's an enormous number of people who really are taking a financial risk.


Even if you're on a tight, limited budget, it's very important that you pick up some kind of affordable health insurance. Even if you only have a plan that covers unexpected hospitalization, your peace of mind will be greatly enhanced. Keep in mind that a catastrophic health insurance policy can come with a high deductible before their coverage kicks in. They don't pick up the cost of preventive physician visits or emergency room visits to get a few stitches.


Some questions to ask when considering affordable health insurance.

1) Can your and/or your family afford to pay ALL your medical expenses if you're sick or injured?

2) How much is the deductible?

3) How much are the premiums?


With a little searching and comparison shopping you find the best rate for your personal affordable health insurance.



About the author:
Mike Yeager
Author/Publisher
http://www.a1-healthinsurance-4u.com/


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Do I Need That Credit Card?

Nowadays almost everyone has one, almost everyone has used one and many more are looking to change theirs. What are they? The answer would be a credit card.

You might ask yourself do I really need a credit card?

Credit cards have many advantages, the first one being that they give you the luxury of buy now, pay later. Avid shoppers can even get a number of incentives due to redeemable reward points, free air miles, cash back on purchases and more, all through a reward credit card.

Online

The internet has changed the way retailers sell, add to it the luxury of credit card use and what you get is the complete convenience of shopping directly from the comfort of home. The credit card company should cover you and you will not be held liable for fraudulent use of your credit card online. You should check the terms and conditions of your credit card agreement for these details.

Abroad

Moreover, you can make purchases using your credit card when you go abroad without having to care about the hassles of currency exchange because that is for your credit card to think about. Plus many credit cards offer payment protection. A major drawback of this would be that it will cost you extra every time that you use the card abroad, normally a flat rate of around 3% on the transaction cost will be added to your credit card balance.

Emergencies

Credit cards prove to be a boon when you think of emergency situations. God forbid, you meet with an accident. You do not have enough money at that moment. What will you do? Wait for an angel? Well, you do not need that. You can always rely on your credit card and pay for those expenses. Moreover, there are some credit cards that provide you insurance.

Affinity Cards

There are also credit cards through which you can forward money to your favorite charity or organization you are affiliated to and want to contribute monetarily. Thus, the more you will spend through your affinity card the more money will go to your affiliate.

People wrongly accuse credit cards of making spendthrifts out of them. However, this wonder can actually help you save a lot. Moreover, if you have bad credit history a credit builder product like unsecured credit card or bad credit- credit card can actually help you payback your debt and build back good credit rating.


About the author:
Joseph Kenny writes for the credit card comparison sites http://www.credit-cards-info.com/ and http://www.creditcards121.com/, here you can compare credit cards and find the latest offers available.


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Health Insurance - Are You Covered?

With the ever-increasing cost of health care, procedures and medicines, it's no wonder that the cost of health insurance has also dramatically risen over the past few years. But as that's happened, insurance companies and the government have seen the potential negative impact of families and individuals without insurance. There are some things you can do if you don't have health insurance.

A federal mandate requires that all 50 states have a health insurance program for children. Each state was allowed to create a plan tailored to the needs of children in that state, but there are some things that are the same from one state to the next. The first is eligibility.

Government funded health programs typically have very stringent income guidelines. These health insurance programs have income requirements, but the criteria allow higher income than most programs.

Another criteria for participation is that the child isn't covered by any other health insurance. That differs from most programs in a very important way. Most programs say that if the family has access to insurance, they aren't eligible. That means that parents who have employer-based insurance don't qualify. But many of the employer-based plans are too expensive, and workers sometimes simply can't afford the premiums. This program is designed to help fill that gap.

These programs don't cover families - only children. But there are some great benefits for those who qualify. Some states offer mental health benefits, transportation to and from appointments and dental/vision benefits.

If your children don't qualify for this program, or if you're in the market for individual health insurance for an adult or private insurance for a family, you have some options. Even though insurance is typically very expensive, you can take some steps to control costs.

You can eliminate extras such as vision and dental coverage, and increase deductibles to lower the cost of your insurance premiums. Look for policies that don't include maternity benefits and cancer plans as more affordable general health insurance plans. Basic coverage will likely be less expensive than an all-inclusive health insurance program.

Finally, shop before you make a decision. Even if you're offered employer-based insurance, you might find a better deal elsewhere (depending on the amount of employer participation). Look to professional groups for discounts and advice.


About the author:
Jeff Lakie is the founder of Insurance Resources a website providing information on Insurance


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