Credit Card (Photo credit: 401K)

Nowadays, you need credit to do just about anything — rent an apartment, buy a house, finance an automobile or rent a car. You need credit to build credit, and if you never open a credit card account, you can find yourself without a credit history. Don’t let fear of credit card debt keep you on the sidelines. Be smart and learn how to use credit cards without getting into debt.

Stick With One Credit Card

Some people carry one of every type of credit card in their wallets. However, you don’t need multiple credit cards to build a solid credit history. It’s good to have a variety of credit accounts, such as a car loan, a credit card and perhaps a mortgage. But if you doubt your ability to manage several credit card accounts, only apply for one. This simplifies your personal finances and reduces your odds of accumulating tons of debt.

Skip the Annual Fee

Shop around when applying for a credit card. Some credit cards charge annual fees, set up fees, and monthly maintenance fees. This results in an immediate balance and adds to your debt. Granted, some credit cards with annual fees come with major perks, such as a rewards program or cash back bonuses. But if you aren’t interested in these types of cards, go with a no-frills, no fee credit card and save your money.  Creditcards.com allows users to compare cards and find the right one to suit his or her needs.

Give Yourself a Spending Budget

Keeping your credit cards active is key to building a credit history. If you stop using your cards, your creditors might stop updating your credit report. Even if you rely on cash for the majority of your purchases, pull out your credit card once or twice a month and buy something. You can buy groceries, gas or some inexpensive item. Determine how much you’re going to put on your card each month and stick with this limit.  There are awesome budgeting tools out there that can help you to create and manage your budget.

Pay Your Balances in Full

Debt accumulates when you don’t pay down your existing balances. Paying the minimum payment is convenient and affordable, but it doesn’t get rid of your credit card debt fast. Only charge what you can afford to pay off by your next statement date. Paying this way will help you maintain a good credit score and improve a not so good one.  If you don’t have the cash, don’t make the purchase. It’s that simple.

Think Twice About Cash Advances

Credit card cash advances give you immediate access to funds, but they are extremely costly. You’ll pay a fee for taking the cash advance. Plus, the interest rate on cash advances is typically higher than the interest rate on purchases.

Avoid Late Payments

Grace periods are rare in the credit card world, and if you don’t pay your bill by the due date, you can expect a late fee. Late fees add to your debt; and the more late fees on your account, the more that you owe. Always pay your bills before the due date. If necessary, sign up for automated withdrawals to better manage your payments.

Citations:

• P1130203 Photo Courtesy of SovietMole

Dk is an avid finance blogger. You can find him at RoadFish.com

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Stealing you!
Identity theft refers to the stealing of personal information in order to use it in fraudulent activities. The modus operandi for this kind of card fraud is of two types. In the first, called application fraud, the crook obtains personal information to create forged or false documents, or gets hold of original documents to create an account in the victim’s name. In the second kind, called account takeover, the issuing bank is approached for a change of billing address. Once done, the card is reported lost and a replacement is claimed. Steps have been taken by card companies to reduce identity theft by screening application carefully and performing several checks before bowing to such requests.

Watch out for the insider
More often than not, the leakage of card information comes from a legitimate transaction. An ‘insider’ at a mall or restaurant gathers information of cards to be used online later. This is the reason people are asked not to let the card out of site while at the merchant’s location. The fraud might also use a small electronic device called a skimmer that reads information off the magnetic stripe and stores it on its memory. This might also be equipped with a keypad to store the CSC alongside. ATM machines are also vulnerable to this kind of attack. Tracking these frauds requires a large amount of data to be collated and correlated by the issuing bank, making detection difficult.

Carding
Carding is in some sense the brute force method to obtain random card numbers. With the knowledge of the structure and significance of the digits of the card number, random numbers of the type are generated. To test these numbers, a transaction for a small amount is carried out. If the transaction is accepted, the same number can be used for a much larger transaction. Here, the security mechanism itself aids in the ill intentions of the fraudster by confirming the validity of a random credit card number.

BIN attack
BIN stands for Bank Identification number and most issuing banks issue cards in sets of BIN ranges. Since most of these cards are shipped out together, the expiry date on each would be nearly the same. Now, supposing a perpetrator gets hold of one good card, he would be able to retrieve the other card numbers in the same BIN series, by changing only a few digits. In some cases, these numbers are pseudo-random and the algorithm used to generate the numbers might have to be cracked. However, the safest way is to use random numbers in which case the perpetrator is left with only the choice of carding which takes considerably more time to carry out.

If you enjoyed reading this article, you should probably read more money and law related articles by Ajeet Khurana at Skip Tracing. Especially skip tracing software.

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Comparison Research
The first step toward achieving this goal is doing some comparison research. Of course, this is much like comparing auto insurance quotes. Various sites are available that allow anyone to look at any given credit cards from multiple providers. Specific companies that offer cards allow a person to do the same thing for only that provider. Such research can help anyone locate the best interest rates, rewards programs, and other features. Undoubtedly, all of these things are important and make or break a credit card’s value.

An individual needs to know how to look at this information and apply it to their needs. For instance, some people are looking for high credit limits while others seek great rewards programs. On the other hand, transfer balance cards and ones that offer other perks are commonly sought out too. Randomly picking and choosing a card is not going to help anyone out. This should be a strategic financial move above all else. More often than not, a perfect card does exist somewhere.

Read the Fine Print
However, it is always important to remember the fine print. Companies offer the best features of a card when offering comparisons and advertisements. The only way to know the exact terms of a given card is to read the fine print thoroughly. Unfortunately, this is something that very few people actually do before applying. Without a doubt, skipping on this step can result in a lot of consequences that nobody wants to deal with at any point in time.

Many Options
Luckily, there are a few tips that a person should take to heart in order to become a pro credit card finder. The first is to always look at as many options as possible. This guarantees that a person will not miss anything. Also, a searcher should always read up on customer reviews for different credit cards. Obviously, doing so guarantees that a person will know which options should generally be avoided or pursued. Many other tips can help a person find the credit card they need and can benefit most from though.

In the end, it takes some time to become a pro credit card finder. An individual can help themselves or friends and family members with these skills. Research and thorough scrutiny are the keys to success in this endeavor. The last thing anyone should do is skip out on doing this research. Otherwise, they could wind up picking the wrong card and paying the consequences for it. Likely, everyone is going to benefit from one card more than the other options.

This was a guest post by Matt, who works as a professional writer and researcher for NoFaxCashAdvance.com — a site that offers no fax cash advance for consumers.

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With the aims to set up the European Financial StabilityFacility (EFSF) and later, a more permanent EuropeanStabilisation Mechanism (ESM), the UK will not have to payfor the bailout this time or in the future. Similarly, theproposed rules on government borrowings won’t be imposed onthe UK, nor will the “Robin Hood Tax” be imposed onfinancial transactions. These are all changes that aredirected primarily at the Eurozone.

The money will come directly from tax payers and will beused as the treasury moves towards a plan of ‘credit easing’as more tax money is used to help smaller businessesstruggling to make any profits. Alternatively, the bankshave suggested a scheme in which the treasury wouldcontribute approximately 800 million and the bankscontribute the rest of a suggested 4 billion, but finalfigures are yet to be announced.

The English banks have a limited exposure to Europeanbanks, with the exception of the Republic of Ireland andFrance. The French banks however, own a great percentage ofItalian and Spanish debt. This means that if one of thesebanks went bust, it would make borrowing in the financialmarkets very difficult for the UK banks.

However, it is at times like these that the Bank of Englandoffers support in the form of crisis facilities, like theone it just implemented to cover the risk of banks unable toor facing difficulties in borrowing in sterling.

Further private investor plans to help boost the economy inareas like infrastructure and properties are to be putforward on the 29th November and will be a major part of anew mini budget aimed at creating better economic growth inthe next sector.
Despite the crisis, the UK has been able to borrow at verylow rates. Chancellor George Osborne claims this is becausethe UK is considered a “safe haven” as Germany is, due toits austerity measures. Other economists suggest that thisis because the UK’s economy is severely depressed, notunlike Japan’s.

So the real risk that the UK faces is that of inflation,not debt. This could happen if the banking crisis in theEurozone spilled over to the UK, which is heavily dependenton foreign money to close the trade deficit. However, sincethe government only borrows in sterling, it could lead to alot of the investors losing confidence in the UK and exitingthe pound, which would in turn cause the value of thecurrency to fall. This would mean an increase in prices ofimported goods and government borrowings. But the UK has anoption that the Eurozone doesn’t. In the worst case, tofinance expenses, the Treasury can order the Bank of Englandto print more currency.

With all the financial issues surrounding us, the public are turning to micro payday loans to see them through. Pay day loan companies offer short-term loans that are supposed to be repaid within a month to limit the interest that is charged on the loan. These can be benificial as the representivie APR is often lower than bank overdraft charges and can offer a conveiniant and esy way to ease debt in the short term, if the terms of agreement are followed and the loan amount is repaid in full within the agreed time frame.

Priyanka is a freelance writer, budding journalist and digital copywritter. Priyanka writes for many online publications, as well as developing content and articles for a variety of well-established websites. Her latest project is writing informative articles on the subject of debt, finance and payday loan companies for a responsible online lender.

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• Your first and foremost duty is to order your credit reports from each of the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion), so that you can start doing some serious disputing. Federal law guarantees that every consumer is entitled to one free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus. Take advantage of this opportunity and monitor your credit report time to time. In case you find an error in your credit report, ask the bureaus to fix it right away. Enlist the names of all creditors that show you are at least 30 days late, and compose a letter to each creditor explaining your financial impediment and asking for written forgiveness in the form of a never late on your credit reports.
• Initially, if your poor credit score prevents you from availing a new unsecured credit card, settle for a department-store or gasoline credit card or one from credit union. Attempt to establish different lines of credit, starting with a secured credit card that is accepted wherever major credit cards are accepted. Secured credit cards are easily available even if you have bad credit or no credit at all and it has an automatic reporting option to all three major credit bureaus. Generally secured credit cards are funded 100 percent with your own money. If you want a $500 credit line, you have to first deposit that amount with the card issuer. This would certainly minimize some of the financial risk that would normally fall upon a lender or creditor. Make sure you open no more than two new lines of credit.
• As soon as you establish various lines or types of credit, maintain the balances low on all new debt. Make sure your balances should be from 10 percent to 30 percent of your balance.
• Pay all new lines of credit on time and if possible before the due date in order to report positive on your credit report.
• Under normal circumstances, you might order your credit reports once a year, but after doing a major cleanup like debt settlement, you should order it at least twice a year. This is because several creditors employ sneaky tactics, where they will reenter a balance as an example on your credit report, whereas it should be zero balance or they can go back and report late when they agreed to a never late condition.

Stay alert and keep the above mentioned points in mind in order to improve your credit rating after debt settlement.

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Discount offer (Photo credit: najeebkhan2009)

1. Find Discounts
Some places will offer discounts or free admission on certain days of the week.  Zoos, museums, art galleries or theaters are just a few of the places that provide excellent discounts.  You just need to check your local newspaper, and you can look for ads that will inform you of special deals.

2. DVDs
You should subscribe to Netflix, or you can find a Red Box near you.  You can rent a DVD for a cheap price, and then watch it with the whole family.  With Netflix, you can keep the movie as long as you wish, and then send it back to get a new movie. If you’re really smart, subscribe to Netflix Instant for unlimited streaming options – and get a Netflix TV adaptor!

3. Check the Library
Many libraries offer storytime for children or other events.  For family time, go to one of the special events that the local library offers. For grown up options, you can also check out books, CDs or DVDs for FREE.

4. Eat Cheap
Decide on a restaurant before you leave the house. Then, search online for coupons that the dining facility offers. The newspaper will also have coupons, so you can cut them out and use them easily.

5. Buy in Bulk
If you get a large group together, you can get a discount if you buy many at once.  You can go bowling, go to a sports event or an amusement park at a discounted rate, so look into going on trips with your extended family or neighbors. Some theaters will provide group tickets at a discounted price.

6. Game Night
Playing games has entertained families for decades.  You can get out the old-fashioned board games, and have a fun night of games with the family.  Board games are inexpensive, and they are a great way to bond together as a family. You can also find endless ideas for games online.

7. ITunes
You can purchase a single song on ITunes for less than $2.00.  Many times, you buy a whole CD, but do not care about half of the songs on the album.  You can now just purchase the songs that you love.

8.  Go Camping
Find a nice campground and take your family on a fun camping trip.  You can grab some weiners and chips and enjoy a picnic.  Camping is an inexpensive form of entertainment that the whole family can enjoy.

9. Wii!!
For the competitive families, have a Wii tournament.  You can play tennis, basketball, baseball or any other type of game that you own. This might be an expensive investment, but if you know you’ll play it often, it will pay for itself. See what your kids have, and if they have any friends who might be looking to sell a used system.

10. Historical Landmarks
Most local historical landmarks are completely free, so it will be an educational experience to take your family to learn about the history of the area.  You can visit battlefields, famous parks, and Victorian homes.  It can be an interesting and fascinating experience for everyone, and if you walk there or go on a beautiful day, extending the adventure will be a piece of cake!

John Conybeare likes to write about movies, art & saving money at www.backgroundcheck.org.

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1. Choose the Tree
Consult the extension service. They will be well-versed in what grows well in your area. They can also advise you on what to look for in a great tree. Since they have special training and no interest in selling you anything, they are a great resource. Google searches and speaking with neighbors can also be enlightening.

2. Buy the Tree
Decide on the size of tree that you want to plant. A larger tree will be ready

Image by John-Morgan via Flickr

to add to your property value faster. It will also give you shade faster. However, if you buy too big of a tree, you will probably have to hire someone to plant it for you. Buying a smaller tree allows you to plant it yourself. It really is a personal decision.

3. Where to Plant it
The third step is to decide where to plan the tree. It should be at least 15 feet from the driveway, the house and any other trees. As the tree matures, its roots will tear up the driveway and the house. If planted too near another tree, the new tree will have problems thriving. Furthermore, do not plant where the tree will come in contact with any power lines as it matures.

4. Measure the Root Ball
The fourth step in planting the new tree to increase the property value is to measure the root ball. The root ball is the dirt that surrounds the roots. Stand the tree up and remove the burlap. Then remove just enough dirt to find out where the trunk starts to flare out to make the root system. Measure from that point to the ground and subtract two inches. That is how deep you will need to dig the hole.

5. Dig the Hole
Dig just as deep as your measurement. Do not stop short, as the tree will not have enough stability. Do not over dig, because the tree will have too much trouble growing. Tie a piece of string across the hole to make a good measuring point. It is vital that the hole is exactly as deep as the root ball minus two inches. Once the hole is dug, make the bottom flat across. Apply superphosphate to the bottom of the hole. This chemical will help the roots take hold and grow into a healthy root system (ask neighbors if they have any).

6. Goin Under
Next, place the tree into the hole. Remove the wire basket that is holding the root ball. It’s not necessary to remove the wire, nor the burlap, from the very bottom of the tree. The roots need the freedom to grow.

7. Loosen the Soil
The soil around the root ball often becomes tightly packed. Make sure and loosen this dirt so that the roots feel the most freedom to grow. After all, you want them to take hold and grow quickly. A large tree increases the property value more.

8. Fill the Hole
Using fresh dirt, combine the dirt with a good fertilizer and more superphosphate. Then use it to fill the hole just to the top of the root flare. This will keep the tree as stable as possible. The fertilizer and superphosphate will help the tree grow quickly.

9. Water the Tree
Use a shovel to create a six inch high curb around the tree. Then, fill the hole created with water. This water will also help the tree grow quickly. The dirt will help hold the water in place, so that it can slowly soak into the ground. Continue to water the tree every other day for six weeks.

This guest post was written by Shelly Martine, who enjoys writing about home improvement with the help of Iowa City Realtors.

1. Negotiate

Don’t be afriad to negotitate with a lender! Sometimes, individuals can save themselves a great deal of money negotiating with their credit card companies for a lower interst rate. One can call the lenders directly to ask for lower rates. Some people have good luck with this particular technique, and can save themselves thousands of dollars of interest. The worst thing that’ll happen is that someone will say no, and you’ll hang up and never speak with them again!

Image via Wikipedia

2. Pay On Time

ALWAYS pay a balance on time. Late charges on credit card bills can run as much as 30 percent, so the wise consumer will pay their bill as soon as it arrives. Better yet, never carry a balance if you can avoid it. For those who have credit cards that offer reward points, cash back, or airline miles, this probably isn’t wise. Always take advantage of a credit card incentive, but either go home and cancel the credit card RIGHT AWAY or pay it off, if you know that there will be more rewards in the future. This way, you may be able to have the card companies paying you for your patronage, rather than the other way around.

3, Shop Around
Always look around. You never know where you’ll find something better. Even if you’ve heard something about a particular company, each company has many different cards. Look for cards with reasonable interest rates online (google a company plus + low interest rate, or try out forums). Do you do a lot of international travel? Some cards are better than others for this. Do you need a lot of money for the Holidays? Some double their rewards over this season. Some credit cards will give you rewards on gas, movies, food, but you have to do the research to find out what’s out there!

4. Low APR

Look for a credit card that has a consistently low interest rate and APR. Sometimes, consumers are suckered into cards that offer a zero balance interest, only to have the interest rate skyrocket after an introductory period. Don’t be one of those who ends up paying a high rate card six month or one year down the road. Do your homework, and settle for a credit card with a reasonable interest rate.

5. Pay Fast

The other way to save money on credit cards is to pay your credit cards as soon as they are due, rather than waiting until the last day (because if your computer freezes, power goes out, the server is down, or you type in the wrong date, you’re S.O.L). Sometimes, you can get rewards by signing up for an automatic debit each month, and then this wouldn’t even apply to you. Look into this!

Cameron Warner likes to write about personal finance and save money at www.dentalinsurance.net.

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Taking control of your debt is the first step you need to take to regain control over your life. If your debts are mounting with no end in sight, consider filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Each option offers a different way for you to restart your life and depending on your needs, filing for bankruptcy may be the first step forward. Consider a change in your lifestyle and learn more about filing in Ohio.

Filing for bankruptcy in Ohio may lead to a change in lifestyle for both you and your family. There are two types of bankruptcy to keep in mind when filing in OH: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. To summarize, there are a few key similarities and differences between Ch 7 and Ch 13:

Chapter 7 is:

• Good for those without a stable income and struggling to repay their unsecured debts, including personal loans, credit card debts, and medical bills.
• Ideal for people who do not have many assets; Chapter 7 could require the sale of property.

Chapter 13:

• Is fitting for people who do have a stable income, but have fallen behind on payments.
• Consolidates your loans into a large lump sum, payable through a three- to five-year debt repayment plan.
• Stops creditors from contacting you for three to five years.

While these are the general conditions, be sure to keep in mind specific exemptions when filing in Ohio. Under Ohio bankruptcy law, the following is a list of property that is exempt from creditors even after declaring bankruptcy:

• 75 percent of your paycheck,
• Up to $10,725 worth of personal property, including clothes, appliances, pets, instruments, food and so on. Each item cannot be worth more than $525 (up to $1,350 for jewelry and $2,025 for trade tools),
• An automobile worth up to $3,225,
• Real estate up to $20,200.

In other words, even after declaring bankruptcy, you are still allowed to keep a significant part of your belongings, preventing you from truly being “bankrupt.” If you are facing serious personal debt, whether from an inability to pay current bills or from the need to catch up on overdue bills, filing for bankruptcy in Ohio may be a solution to getting back on track. If you are interested in speaking with a local bankruptcy lawyer in Ohio, simply take an evaluation or get in touch directly to determine your needs. Remember, laws are constantly changing, so it would be beneficial to consult a local lawyer for the most updated information. Filing for bankruptcy should not be your first option, but it can be the one that changes the course of your financial instability.

About the Author: Nestor Perris is a law student who is studying the differences between bankruptcy laws in each state. Always consult with a bankruptcy attorney, even if you aren’t sure you want to file. They’ll be able to help you determine what steps to take next.

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You work hard for your money. It’s only understandable that you want to make your money work hard for you, too. When you’ve put the hard work into saving your money, then you owe it to yourself to take your savings to the next step by investigating savings options that offer a return for all your hard work. Two such savings methods that you can capitalize on are money market accounts and savings accounts. Here to help you size up the two is this comparison: money market accounts versus traditional savings accounts – what’s the difference?

Bank restrictions. The bank is very limited as far as what it can do with your savings account deposits. Basically, you deposit the money in the bank and receive, in exchange, interest on that amount. The bank is paying you interest so that it can lend that money to other account holders. These other account holders then pay interest for borrowing that money, which is considerably more than what the bank is paying you in interest. The bank pays you your interest and keeps the difference. When it comes to money market accounts, the banks are much less restricted on what they can do with your money. They can take your money and put it into low-risk investments in order to increase their return. The result is that a money market account will offer you a slightly larger interest rate return than a traditional savings account.

Account holder restrictions. Both money market and savings accounts may put restrictions on account holders, which may vary from account to account. For example, it is not unusual to have a minimum balance requirement and/or to be limited to only a certain number of withdrawals per month. These account holder restrictions are based on both government regulations and banking institution policies.

Similarities. Money market and traditional savings accounts are, from the standpoint of a consumer, pretty much the same. Therefore, it is your best bet to choose an account based on the interest it will yield you. If you are banking at a small, hometown bank, then it is almost certain that you will get a much higher interest rate if you go with a money market account. However, if you shop the myriad financial institutions online, you will find that there are numerous accounts of both types that offer virtually the same interest return.

Make the most of your savings by putting it where it will count the most. Now that you know how to compare money market and traditional savings accounts, it’s time to go shopping – for the best account for you, that is.

About the Author: Celine Garramone enjoys her position as a personal finance counselor and accountant. She enjoys helping her clients learn the difference between a Roth IRA compared to a traditional IRA, different types of savings accounts, and living a debt-free life.

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