How to Budget When There's Not Enough Money

By Jesse Mecham

My mother-in-law and I were discussing budgeting a while back and she made the comment that she has never budgeted because she knows there isn't enough money. Her comment basically implied that there was no point to budgeting.

This is a common misconception of people. If there isn't enough money, why bother budgeting in the first place? If you're wondering how to budget (or even why you should) when money's tight, then read on.

Even if you have more bills than money available to pay them, the exercise of thoughtfully looking at what you have on hand and deciding BEFOREHAND what you will do with it is extremely important. Instead of throwing all efforts to the wind, simply look at your checking account balance and assign every one of those dollars a job. Give each dollar a purpose: mortgage, groceries, entertainment, etc. This conscientious decision making is key.

Given the situation that there's not enough money, you'll likely run out of money before you run out of bills. The whole process will still produce great results though! Prioritizing your money means you're maximizing what it can do for you at any given moment. That's important in figuring out how to budget.

Besides planning ahead, you'll also want to make sure you record what your spending. Again, it doesn't matter if you're spending in to the red because the exercise of MANUALLY recording what you're spending will be like a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. You may still be bleeding a little bit, but it won't be nearly as bad.

Manually recording what you spend helps reinforce awareness, and reconnects you psychologically back to your money. In this day and age, marketers, banks, and card processors want us to spend and spend without regard for our personal financial situation. This is no way to budget or manage your money! The exercise of recording your spending will make you (painfully) aware of where you should cut back.

In the end, planning ahead and recording the ongoing will help you budget effectively. Even if you're operating at a deficit, your losses will be mitigated through the use of these two budgeting tactics.

About the Author:

Budget Guru, Jesse Mecham, can demonstrate how to budget under any circumstance. His free course walks you through four straightforward rules for successful personal budgeting.

Your Debt Consolidation Question Answered

By Paul J. Easton

Most people are talking about debt consolidation as a way to get out of debt. What is debt consolidation?

Debt consolidation loan is one of many impressive solutions to getting out of debt. It is a personal loan you apply to pay off all of your debts, particularly on your credit cards. You can obtain it from a finance company, or debt consolidation company. This kind of loan is also accessible now with its growing demand from merchant association, banking institutions, or nonprofit consumer debt service.

A debt consolidation loan provides you with the way to effectively shift responsibility for many debts to one larger debt which is better to track. For added manageability, your payments are extended out over a more long-term period of time with smaller interests.

There are many gains of getting a debt consolidation loan. It offers direct answer to your debt problems like leaving you the convenience of paying only one creditor for monitoring your total debt and concentrating your attention on it. It also extends you a lower interest and thus a lower monthly bill.

With this simple procedure of loan consolidation, your monthly payment is fixed according to the lowest payment amount talked terms with the creditors. Your monthly payments will be remitted to the agency you hired. Your agency will then distribute the amount of your consolidated payment to your individual creditors with their agreed terms.

Your creditors will likely reduce their interest rates with appropriate negotiation, of course depending on your creditors' policy. Eventually, this can save you a big chunk of your balance because interest rates get diminished by a range of 5-12%.

Once you have got yourself in debt, it seems like a downward spiral from which you are most likely feeling helpless. This process of loan consolidation is a promise we can employ to regain our confidence back in our financial life. Definitely, it is a way to spare your credit and save your life. At once, bankruptcy is far from sight and you owe it to debt consolidation.

For more information on financial directory, get FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Get debt-free today with tips on how to get rid of debt here. Start improving your personal finance today.

About the Author:

How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

Mortgage Refinance Plus For 2009

By Sara Vlazny

Rising unemployment and what seems like a shrinking U.S. economy has strapped consumers looking for relief by way of Mortgage Refinance. Those seeking lower monthly payments on current Loans seem to be raising the number of applications. The current percentage increase for this week ending January the ninth, of 2009, includes both mortgage refinance and original loans, which is the highest combined, percentage increase since 2003.

Although the purchase market shows growth much slower than that of the refinance market, everyone is hoping the low mortgage rates will boost demand for new Mortgage applications. And for Mortgage Refinance, applications jumped from 79.8 to 85.3 the previous week, which is the highest jump for the Refinance sector alone, since 1990, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The Mortgage Refinance sector will show an increase in applications due to the weakening economy as consumers continue looking for ways to reduce their expenditures. Several factors including the climbing unemployment rate and its role in slowing the economy have contributed to shaky financial markets, keeping buyers from applying for mortgage finance.

Mortgage Refinance jumped from 79.8 to 85.3 last week, which is the highest increase for the Refinance sector, solely, since 1990. Several factors including the climbing unemployment rate and its role in slowing the economy have contributed to shaky financial markets, keeping buyers from applying for mortgage finance.

According to some Analysts, including those with Wachovia Corporation, people are still not comfortable with the forecast of the housing market, no matter how low the interest rates are, if job security is in question, it will directly affect income stream. In order to benefit from low mortgage rates or a Mortgage Refinance, these factors have to be solidified before consumers can even think about taking out a loan for property.

People will not be comfortable with the way the housing market shows instability, no matter how low the interest rates are, if job security is in question, it will directly affect income and individual ideas about spending. In order to benefit from low mortgage rates or a Mortgage Refinance, these factors have to be

The 30 year mortgage rates in this Nation dramatically declined in November of 2008, when the Federal Reserve announced its plan to buy approximately $500 billion worth of mortgage securities that were backed by Fannie, Ginnie and Freddie. The Federal Government, prompted by the dive of the finance market, has made a commitment to keep consumers borrowing costs down through the purchase of mortgage-backed securities. As for Mortgage Refinance, now is a great time to lock in at a low rate since we know rates will not stay down forever.

Requests for loans are up 200 percent from two months ago according to one online real estate service company. Companies offering mortgage services say they are working hard to handle the increase in work load from the dramatic increase in applications for Mortgage Refinance. Some mortgage companies happily predict a continuation over the next few months, on average, given the mortgage rates will remain low.

About the Author:

This article is brought to you by the experts at EFD Commercial Investments Inc. For more free information about loan refinance, visit their Mortgage Refinance page.

5 Reasons Why Everyone Should Own A Debit Card

By Debbie Robbyns

Debit cards in recent years have become a must have accessory for every modern day being. Not owning one is like living in the past where every purchase is tedious and painstakingly handled through a check book. These days, its just a swipe and pin number/ signature away and off you go with your next schedule of the day. In case you are still pondering whether or not to own a debit card, I have listed several reasons below to help you decide.

1. Ever experience stranded in the middle of nowhere with no cash at hand to even buy food? Having a debit card gives you the power to purchase anything almost everywhere. These days, every fast food outlet and takeaway places in town have the convenience of debit card payment. All you have to do is order your meal then swipe your plastic and off you go. You could even withdraw some cash at the same time just so that you dont get into the same predicament with an empty wallet again. Now this is something that credit card cant do. Most places even charge extra or demands you purchase a particular amount before letting you charge on credit.

2. No delays in transaction details. Unlike credit cards, most debit card transaction turns up immediately the day after your purchase. These days, you can easily check your transaction details from your online account. This will allow you to keep a closer track of your spending and potentially helping you to manage your financials.

3. Debit card deducts your money from your account immediately upon a purchase. This will massively reduce any spur of the moment spending as you cant afford to spend what you dont have. Debit cards triumph in this aspect as it forces the individual to ponder about his/her financials before committing to a purchase as unlike credit card you dont get to borrow upfront.

4. Another type of debit card that does not require any bank account is called a prepaid debit card. These prepaid cards work like a phone card where you pay as you go and expires when the amount finishes. The advantage of having such a card is that you are not required to undergo any credit check and no interest fees are charged. This card will be suitable for travellers, free lancers and people with bad credit history.

5. Owning a debit card is a good practise ground to mould financial discipline. In contrary to credit cards you only spend what you have and because you are not borrowing money up front to pay for your purchases, there are no interest repayments or hefty late penalty fees involve.

There are other good reasons to own a debit card, but the ones here are the best we can think of. Of course, before you do anything of a financial nature, be sure you know the good and the bad. Also ask the institution about reporting and record keeping as well as delays in processing.

About the Author:

Debbie Robbyns blogs in Personal Finance 2009. Visit her website for insightful and simple to pickup personal finance tips for your everyday lives.

Understanding Bad Credit Lenders

By Tom Peters

What if you need a bad credit lender? Do you know what one is, or what kind of credit is "bad", in the first place? Well, for starters, standards for what constitutes bad credit can vary from credit bureau to credit bureau. It's generally accepted, though, that credit is deemed bad when it sinks below a 500 score as ranked by the Fair Issac Credit Organization (FICO).

Credit Reporting Bureaus: All three of the major bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) have their own methods for generating a "FICO score" (pronounced "Fy-Koh"). Yet most of the time, all of them are within a dozen or so points of each other. These bureaus also take a lot of factors into account when it comes good or bad credit.

Giving Loans to People With Bad Credit: There are many lenders out there who specialize in people who may have bad credit scores. Known, as "sub-prime lenders," they're able to many times give a loan when most traditional lenders can't or won't. But, their loans can cost more, in terms of interest. Still, people of high character but poor credit, for one reason or another, may need to use these lenders. This is especially true in tough times.

Lender Interest Rates: Because these kinds of lenders deal in sub-prime finance markets, the cost of the money they may lend to you is going to be more dear. Interest rates can range from only a few points above prime to near the legal interest limit. If you think you're going to need a high-interest, "bad credit" loan, do some research before you get on.

Watch Out for Predatory Lending: Bad credit lending as a practice definitely has its place at the financing table. After all, some truly good people get caught up in bad circumstances and have nowhere else to go. Be careful, that you don't fall victim to predatory lending such as exorbitant late fees, huge down payments, suspicious or nonexistent "service charges," and the like.

About the Author:

Do you find it hard to take a loan because you have a bad credit? In this situation, you need Bad Credit Lender and see if you can get loans that you want. Come to our website if you need more help: http://www.badcreditbin.com

A Bigger Loan worth Doing

By Paul J. Easton

Getting a bigger loan to pay your debts? Why not try debt consolidation? A debt consolidation loan is one of many effective solutions to driving out of debt. It is a personal loan you apply to pay back all of your debts, especially on your credit cards. You can obtain it from a finance company, or debt consolidation company. This kind of loan is also accessible now with its rising demand from merchant association, debt pooling services, or nonprofit consumer debt service.

A debt consolidation loan provides you with the means to effectively shift obligation for many debts to one larger debt which is simpler to track. For added manageability, your payments are extended out over a more long-term period of time with lower interests.

There are many advantages of accepting a debt consolidation loan. It provides smart resolution to your debt troubles like leaving you the convenience of paying only one creditor for supervising your overall debt and concentrating your attention on it. It likewise offers you a lower interest bringing you a lower monthly bill.

Taking this move to consolidate your loans into one, your monthly payment is fixed according to the lowest payment total talked terms with your creditors. Your monthly payments will be sent to the agency you contracted with. Your agency will then distribute the amount of your consolidated payment to your individual creditors with the negotiated contract.

Most creditors will cut back your interest fees if your agency negotiated substantially, of course depending on your creditors' policy. Eventually, this can save you thousands of dollars because interest rates get reduced by an average of 5-12%.

When you see yourself gradually drowning in debt, it feels like a downward spiral from which you don't have any idea how to regain your composure. This method of consolidation loans is a hope we can employ to find our self-confidence in our financial life. Decidedly, it is a chance to save your credit and finally save your life.

For more information on financial directory, get FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Get debt-free today with tips on how to get rid of debt here. Start improving your personal finance today.

About the Author:

How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

The Benefit of Debt Management Consultancy

By Paul J. Easton

Debt management is a way of helping debtors having difficulty repaying their loans. It is the debt management consultants who come to their rescue on resolving their dilemma.

The role of a debt management consultant is to negotiate with his client's creditors. With negotiating, the main purpose is to make the debt much less of a burden. Your consultant will mostly likely negotiate with your creditors for reducing interest rate.

More over, a consultant will help you with options like consolidating debts so that you can now afford paying only monthly payments without much added interests or even taking another loan. Another advantage of a consultant when having a debt management program is that you are protected from any legal action taken against you by the creditors. In addition to that, many debt management companies even provide free consultation for credit counseling too.

The process of debt management consultancy starts with your consultant analyzing your current financial status. A detailed set of documents including all the statements of your debts will be studied for their technical expertise and appropriate solutions.

You can then proceed to discussing ways how to manage debts. You can get advices or you can decide to trust your consultant to notify all your creditors that your debts can be negotiated. You will be required to make scheduled payments each month to your consultant. In return, the company will then pay the creditors with the agreed terms.

Always deal with properly trained and certified professionals who have prior exposure to the industry. Hands on knowledge and experience on dealing with debt is essential in this situation as there a lot at stake. You cannot just trust your peace of mind with just anybody else.

Observe if your consultant has the confidence and the eloquence to exude excellent negotiation skills. Talk to him and explore every angle of his service and you can always back out if necessary.

With that said, go and pay for your debt management plan. It is a well-worth investment even if you are uptight with your budget right now.

For more information on financial directory, get FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Get debt-free today with tips on how to get rid of debt here. Start improving your personal finance today.

About the Author:

How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

Good Reasons To Get A Mastercard

By Ray Lewis

In these uncertain times despite a poor credit score it is still feasible for an individual to acquire a credit card from the multitude that presently flood the market. The main two credit card suppliers by and large the best to try if you find yourself in a poor credit state of affairs are Visa and Mastercard. The question you really need to ask is, what guarantees a bad credit Mastercard a better choice to apply for over Visa?

Establishments across the world take both forms of credit card and although Visa was considered to have a larger number outlets, that is no longer the situation as these are now closely matched. So much so in fact, in numerous cases it is often Mastercard that is recognised more readily and accepted in establishments. There is every possibility the advantages of both will be pretty much in-line with the other cards, they will more than likely learn that the interest fee charged by the two financial institutions will be more than normal. Providing the person issued with it uses the Mastercard reasonably and to ensure the monthly repayments are made on time (whenever possible more than the minimum amount), they are likely to begin to see their credit history repair itself in a relatively short amount of time. Conducting your affairs this way may mean you will also have a reduction in the interest rate you would normally pay once the credit balance is clear.

It's a good idea, particularly if you have acquired a poor credit score and are trying to get a credit card, to study the terms and conditions prior to signing on the dotted line. Of course it is the web that is the fastest and simplest way to find out more about what is available to someone in your financial situation. This is the perfect place to find websites that can quickly illustrate which companies you need apply to for a Mastercard if you have an adverse credit history.

Because there are a few you may be able to apply for it is best you are aware of precisely what benefits they offer so it is a good idea to look at them now:

When you use this card, information is transmitted to the three primary credit accounting agencies on how responsibly you are employing your card which supplies a continual method of correcting your credit record. In addition to this, if the person looks after their card in a responsible manner, making regular payments that are on time, it is not uncommon for the credit card issuer to up the amount they can spend on it in recognition of this.

A huge advantage to applying for this card is that, strangely, they do not ask for any one-off fees from the person applying but still supply protective covering for any anything you purchase on it. This credit card, just like the Continental Finance Gold Mastercard, reports frequently to the three credit authorities which can rapidly amend your record. Two other advantages to this particular card over others includes the competitive APR it enforces and a much lower annual fee which can be of fantastic help to those who are financially embarrassed.

About the Author:

To find out exactly how you can get Mastercard Debit Card help visit my No Credit Check Mastercard website.

In's and out's of Bargin Property

By Doc Schmyz

Fixer's and forclosure properties have always been the "jewels" that RE investors look for in order to make big profits. However if you dont do your home work before hand you may loose not only your investment but your profit as well.

A step by step approach is best in order to make a solid decision before commiting to the investment. Make a check list and use it. And dont forget to add these to your list.

Please Note: The following elements discussed are not listed in any particular order. Nor do they all hold the same value in relation to each other, but they must ALL be considered in their entirety. The property should meet at least one of the criteria, and should have no unjustifiable issues in any one single area.

Here is the list I have used:

HOW MUCH AND WHY

Price is the first thing an investors sees.

So the goal is to buy for cheaper then the current market value and sell within market value or above. so how come the seller is offering such a GREAT price. Is it to settle debt??? Is it due to divorce? Death in the family?

If not, there may be problems with the property that require major expense to correct. Structural problems such as a cracked foundation or outdated plumbing and electrical wiring. The last two are VERY common in older craftsman homes from the 30-50's. CONSIDER HOLDING COSTS

My personal opinion is that the holding cost are the number one profit killer. YOU HAVE TO BUDGET THEM IN. Commissions to agents, mortgage, closing costs taxes, all repairs...and dont forget the gas and electric.

Poor determination of true market value is another obstacle to the successful deal. Market value is essentially a subjective exercise where the true value is not known until someone buys the property.

YOU MUST ANALYZE similar properties in the area. Keep in mind that prices are set at the margins and may reflect the extremes of a particular housing market environment.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS

While price and location are important; dont discount other profit leveraging tools like the terms of the financing.

In some cases a full price purchase can allow you to leverage the terms to mean a lower intrest rate or smaller down payment.

KNOW THE LOCAL MARKET

Learn everything you can about the market your shopping in. What are the schools like? How close is the local hospital? Is there a local police station or sub-station? Also look at the floor plans of surrounding homes. How many bed/baths? whats the average price in the area? What are the prices of the last homes sold in the area? Etc..etc.

LOCATION IS NO TO BE OVER LOOKED

Most investors think location is the second most critical thing in the investment next to price. Truth be told...it is only critical if you are looking for a long term residence/renter scenerio. If you can make a great profit on a ugly house in a less then great area. It may out shine the "perfect condo" by the beach.

FIXER UPPERS AND FORECLOSURES

Most new investors and some seasoned ones, seek out fix and flips and distressed foreclosures for the opportunity to increase the profit margin. If your going this route make sure you have a good eye for the details and a solid understanding of basic home repair.

With small repairs such as painting, minor landscape, and basic flooring, profits may be available but not really worth the risk. More significant profits are found with extremely distressed properties. Plumbing is corroded, the roof needs replacing, and the interior needs to be gutted and remodeled, but the seller is asking 50% of the market value and you can repair it for much less. Always factor in the amount of work that you are looking at?once you have a rough idea of the cost of the expense?add on another 5% as a buffer.

GET IN A ZONE WITH ZONING

Sooo you want to add a third bedroom and second bathroom huh?? Is it zoned for that? worst thing in the world to have happen is to find out you could have made a pretty penny profit IF you had know what the land was zoned for. ALWAYS ASK.

Think of it this way, what could make you more money...a single small house on the land you just invested in...or a duplex on the same land? One tennet or two? Zoning is a gift or a curse depending on your plans with the property...make sure you know before you buy it.

Classic zoning "no-no's" are garages converted to bedrooms. Non-permitted granny flats and detached garages.

About the Author:

Doc has been a investor since early 1990's. In 2006 he started a real estate investing information website. His goal is to help or investors by offering m information on real estate services that will help m

Does Your 401k Need Help?

By David C Lewis, RFA

Individual 401k plans are a popular tool used for retirement planning. One problem with 401k plans is the investor's reliance on employer matching for the plan. This may cause an employee to rely too much on the employer and not contribute enough to savings. Most Americans have no idea how much money they should be saving. If you have never used one, a retirement calculator will probably leave your jaw on the floor in amazement. Planning for retirement is a difficult task and can't be taken lightly.

Even if a professional financial planner is helping you, the financial planning process is hard. There are a lot of variables. The age you want to retire at, when you start saving money, how much you save, and the interest rate you earn are just some of the many considerations you have to think about. One of the biggest concerns may be your health when entering retirement and how long you live after you retire.

Perhaps the most difficult thing to plan for is inflation. Inflation is caused by Government printing currency. Because that changes from administration to administration, it's hard to predict what policy will be 20 or 30 years from now. On the internet there are dozens of retirement calculators available, and there is a lot of information and ideas on how to plan for this. Some of them seem more plausible than others. In as far as retirement calculators go, what most of them will show you is that you simply cannot rely on Social Security. Even if you do, you will still need to save a substantial amount of money just to maintain something resembling a pre-retirement standard of living.

If the economy is able to grow enough to outpace inflation, your investments must be able to keep up. Even still, with inflation running 3%-5%, your investments are losing value and struggling to keep up.

Years ago our parents and grandparents, grew up in a time when a $50 a week wage was respectable income, and even during mid life that respectable income had quadrupled to $200 a week. But now, more than 50 years later, it would be foolish to expect to be able to live off $200 a week, and the $50 a week income is minor in today's economy.

If you make $500 or $1,000 a week, you can expect a similar phenomenon when you retire. A retirement calculator will show that you should have a retirement nest egg near $1 million dollars to retire comfortably in 20 or 30 years.

One calculator tested online showed that an adult starting with an assets of $100,000 and adding $4,000 year to that nest egg would enter retirement with almost $900,000 but still be bankrupt by 85.

Part of managing your income is setting aside savings and investing a part of it (note, not ALL of it) for your future. Even though it's difficult to forecast the future, it is necessary due to the nature of human beings and the requirement of long-range planning. There is a wealth of assistance available on the internet to get you started, and professional advisors ready to help when needed.

About the Author:

Author: Only so much information can be covered in one article. If you want more information about any aspect of personal financial planning, please visit David's website.

The Truth about Identity Theft

By Linda Seamore

Have you ever thought about how police officers and other officials protect their identity? We've got news for you! We've revealed precisely what these crooks disclose to the police about identity theft scams.

The U.S. Postal Service has shown that there were close to 12 million cases of identity theft in the country for the year 2006; which totaled to approximately $6.3 billion to consumers. This ridiculous statistic most certainly made consumers more aware; but so many people still don't know about the special methods these identity crooks use. At an exclusive interview, an infamous identity theft revealed 4 common myths she took advantage of, in order to prey upon the innocent.

Misconception # 1 All Identity Thieves Are Men

This is a common misconception that our identity thief says makes her job so much easier. The problem is that most of the major media outlets portray identity thieves as men. The reality is that many of these criminals are well dressed attractive women. To avoid falling into a trap, watch your personal information with both men and women. Studies have shown that both men and women let their guards down around women more so than they do around men. Everyone is a potential identity thief. This does not mean you should be paranoid rather you should simply be very careful.

Mistake #2: Trusting the Nice Store Clerk or Friendly Waiter

We understand this is probably one of the most difficult things to avoid, because we usually have to give our personal information at checkout or when the bill comes at the restaurant. Shockingly, some of the people who wait may have two jobs. During the day, they may work in the department store, and in the evening they take on a side job. This "side" job is sometimes a way to easily steal credit card numbers from their customers. It works like magic, because they have access to your credit card number in hand. If you really want to stay on top of this, you have to check your account statements. Keeping a journal of your expenses may be a good thing to help you monitor.

An example would be $50 this way when your statement comes in the mail, you will quickly notice any anomalies. Think about this. How long does a person have to work at a store or restaurant before theyd have access to hundreds of customers personal data? Hint: Not long at all. According to our identity thief, most people like her take these jobs for a few months and after they have your data, they take an early retirement."

Myth #3: Throwing Away Unopened Junk Mail

Great credit, good credit, bad or indifferent, it is of no importance. In any given month yoou could receive anywhere from 12-50 or more new credit card offers or bank account offers. One of the main issues with this is that most of us don't take the time to try and secure our information. There are basically two categories. The first category is the person that doesn't have a personal shredding machine and just tosses them or tears them in half, as if it wouldn't be easy to put it together. The second category is the person that does have a personal shredder, but doesn't want to take the time to shred their documents.

Listen, all a thief has to do is get a hold of one piece of information from your trash can and you quickly become a victim. Dont believe me? Let me ask you this, what are doing at 3a.m.? Really, well guess what our trustworthy identity thief is doing? She is in your trash can randomly pulling a bag out of your can for shifting and sorting later. Tip: After you shred your documents, add a little water to the bag before you seal it and then toss it. Not only will the pages be sliced and diced but will also be a wet and soggy mess, completely unusable by anyone.

Myth# 4: Receiving or Sending Mail from Your Home

Hopefully you're starting to understand the intensity of this issue. Identity thieves can commit crimes all sorts of ways. Your outgoing credit card payments now become their personal piggy bank. Experts say that some identity thieves are bold enough to fill out a change of address form in the victim's name, simply to gain complete access to financial and personal information. Here's a tip: Be sure to drop all outgoing mail at your local United States Postal Service mailbox. You may also think about opening a P.O. Box. Although it may seem like a hassle, you'll be less stressed than losing your life's savings; and these are the preventative steps to follow if you want to beat identity theft.

The biggest issue is that there are so many avenues in which to become a victim; stay protected all day every day. Don't try to fix the problem alone!

It's very difficult to protect yourself and your family, successfully, without help. Trying to do it alone can be worrisome and not very effective. It makes a huge difference when you have someone protecting you who has actually been through the storm! LifeLock is a company who has absolutely outstanding identity theft protection for everyday people.

When you begin to research a service to proactively monitor and protect your credit, please be sure that they have been recommended by the top law enforcement officials, and of course that their service has proven to work in real life.

Identity Theft Protection and Identity Theft Prevention are serious issues. You can put an END to identity theft with LifeLock. LifeLock GUARANTEES identity theft will never happen to you. If you would like more information about identity theft protection, please visit lifelock.com.

About the Author:

Author Linda Seamore is a consumer advocate serious aboutteaching people how to protect their identity. After years of exhausting study, she stumbled upon www.Lifelock.com the industry leader in ID theft protection. Lifelock is a proactive identity theft protection agency, specializing in prevention of identity theft rather than just the reporting of it.

One Card at a Time to Being Debt-Free

By Paul J. Easton

So, how do we actually pay off all our credit card debts? Let's guide you in a simplified plan to wisely get ahead of that credit card company.

Take a look at the interest rates on your credit cards, compare and analyze. Pick the one with the highest rate. That's the best starting point. Focus on working on that one card with the highest interest first. Getting through this hurdle will make it easier for the next ones to pay off.

Examine the spending you made on that card. Stop for a while paying necessary expenses using this card and use cash with paying those bills. The expense you have to make this time is just for the necessary ones like utility bills and the like. The wanted purchases, not necessarily the needed ones, can be bought after you have paid off this one card.

As a treat to yourself, you can buy something as a reward after every card is paid off. Since paying a considerable amount of credit card debt takes a bit of time, a reward can be more motivational than counterproductive. Of course, limit the reward to something not so expensive. We don't want another debt cycle.

After avoiding some expenses using your credit card, your debts are projected to reduce much faster with continued consistency in paying them off. Pay off that first credit card with the highest interest and just focus the rest of your savings for the month in that debt account. Just leave the other credit cards paid at minimum.

Then after paying that first credit card, take the next card with the highest interest rate. Direct all the focus you have for that previous card you are paying with all your savings to this next card. Send the regular monthly payment you used to pay that previous credit card (which is now paid off) with this second card's monthly minimum. In not time, this card will be done, faster than your first card.

Repeat the whole process with the rest of your card. You will be like an avalanche rolling downhill towards being debt free.

For more information on financial directory, get FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Get debt-free today with tips on how to get rid of debt here. Start improving your personal finance today.

About the Author:

How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

How To Get The Lowest Home Rates

By Dianne Logan

Even though an economy in recession has put almost all financial dealings to a minimum, it is actually the right time to get a home loan for many reasons. If you have been planning to buy a house, then this is definitely the best time to do so with house prices at an absolute low. Secondly, home loan prices have also dropped, and if you have a regular monthly income that can easily support a loan payment, then you can actually end up saving thousands of dollars in the long run.

However, it pays to remember that even cheap home loans often turn out to be extremely costly over a long term simply because they are taken for long periods of time, and you often end up paying an amount equal to or more than the principal as interest by the time you finish off your home loan payments. Taking all steps to ensure that you get the lowest possible home loan rates can therefore end up saving you loads of money by the time you finish off paying your home loan.

Some things that will help you get the lowest home loan rates are:

A Good Credit Score: If you live in the US, then you can actually bargain for good home loan rates if you have a credit score above 680. No matter what your credit score, there is always scope for improvement, so it is advised that you actually spend some time in improving your score before applying for a home loan. The easiest way of doing this is to get your free credit report from any one of the three agencies that provide it, and correct any errors that might be present, like a wrong address, or a default that has never happened etc. Also cancel all the credit cards that you hardly use and pay all your bills on time for a month or two. Then get another free credit report and when you are sure that your score has improved as much as it can, apply for a home loan.

Try To Avail Of A Scheme: There are a number of organizations in the US like the FHA (Federal Housing Administration), VA (Veterans Administration) and the Rural Development Services that tie up with various financial institutions and banks to provide citizens with low interest home loans. Before you apply for a home loan, check out whether you are eligible for any government assisted schemes, because if you are, you can actually save thousands on fees and interest on your home loan.

Shop Around: Due to a high level of competition among lenders in the current scenario, you might find that there is a huge variation in the home loan rates offered by different lenders to the same person. Therefore, make sure that you shop around properly before finalizing a home loan. Get free quotes from as many lenders as possible and compare them. Even if the interest rates seem similar, dont forget to check all the fees and payments applicable, because this is where a lot of unscrupulous lenders are making the big bucks. You will also find that online lenders will offer you better rates than brick and mortar ones, so give preference to one provided the firm is solid, honest and reputable.

About the Author:

Find useful information about Home Loans and Home Equity Loans at TalkingHomeLoans

Mortgage Refinance Tips & Tricks

By Mijnadviseur

The interest rates are low, so mortgage refinancing is looking good. Getting your mortgage refinanced at the right time can save you a lot of money. Because of the mortgage crisis, the lending criteria are getting pretty strict. It's not as easy as before to get accepted for a mortgage refinance.

If you take the trouble to prepare, you increase your chances of acceptance by a lender. In this article we will go over a few things you need to know before sending in your application for a refinance.

Home prices are getting lower by the day. This, coupled with the increase in inventory on the housing market, lowers the amount of equity you have in your house. If you currently owe more than your home is worth, getting a mortgage refinance won't be easy. When an appraiser comes by, he will always make an appraisal of the value in today's housing market, not the housing market as it used to be.

The government recently announced plans for helping homeowners that are in a negative equity situation. Exact details of these plans have not yet been unveiled, but will be available shortly.

A bank also looks at your income. If you can't show you have sufficient income to do a refinance, you will not be accepted. There are many spots on the Internet where you can check what you approximately can get when applying for a mortgage. Make sure you have sufficient income before going through the trouble of a refinance.

Your credit score is also important. If you have very bad credit, it's not easy getting accepted for any loan or even a credit card. You will also be paying more than the average person with an average credit. If possible, try to improve your credit score before applying for a mortgage refinance.

When considering a mortgage refinance, always look at the total costs of this decision. You have to know if the refinance is worth it. You will face some added costs when you decide to refinance, so know that you will be living in your home for another couple of years in order to recoup the costs.

About the Author:

Mijnadviseur is an institution that gives information about mortgages in English. It also writes articles about hypotheekadviseur and dure hypotheek oversluiten in Dutch.

Deal With Your Creditors Calmly

By Paul J. Easton

Dealing with your credit card debts can burn you out. It can truly ruin your personal life, your family, and your standing in the community. Dealing with debt can be very stressful. But dealing with the creditors is another.

You may be too far on the road of financial problems yet you can still deal your creditors with the same acts of grace and professionalism. The callers from the credit card companies or the collecting agencies may be rude or threatening, your way of correspondence to your creditors must always remain calm and relevant. Be brief and factual with your talk with them and always remain direct to the point.

Always have the impression of efficiency and trustworthiness. It must appear to them that you are fully knowledgeable and already decided with your situation.

The person in the opposite line you are dealing with is merely doing his or her job. The correspondence, which is done on behalf of the employer which is the creditor, must be always be business-oriented and tactful, especially from your part as the debtor. Always bear in mind that this is not personal so you must not let it become so.

As you would respond better to a calm personnel from any company of any product, this individual you are dealing with will respond better to a person who appears to be calm too. Act and speak believable and you will be believed to.

Appearing believable and calm can be hard especially if you know that you owe more than you can afford. Actually, your credit history is less important to the person dealing with your account now than your attitude at the moment of the call.

That cannot be implied that what you have done in the past has no relevance. However, acknowledging your current problems and trying your best to do your part can dramatically improve your relationship and situation with your creditors.

Reacting with anger or aggressiveness when you fail to keep your promises will only make your problems worse. Be prepared and speak with confidence. Confidence equates to responsibility. And make good of all those promises and this can be your first step in working things out in your favor.

For more information on financial directory, get FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Get debt-free today with tips on how to get rid of debt here. Start improving your personal finance today.

About the Author:

How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

Refinance With Bad Credit

By Jim Morgenson

Looking for ideas to help you get out your financial life back in order and refinance with bad credit? You will find out that some of these ideas have to be used over a long period of time to get any big results. It is most common that the financial problems were resulting from several months of trouble, so it is only fair to assume that the fallout will take a while to be reduced. It might be necessary to demonstrate that you can meet monthly payments over a period of months to heating bills and phone bills or existing loans so you can show banks that you have what it takes.

Don't forget how important appearances in showing stability in your life. One such is the land line phone. A hard wired phone shows you can maintain a stable life and make payments to a utility on a monthly basis. Financial institutions will wonder about you when they discover that you only have a cell phone and no home phone. While this practice even reduces monthly payments and frees up money for loan installments, on the other hand having just a cell phone is perceived as temporary, transient and undesirable. Believe it or not, if you need to refinance with bad credit a solid and permanent home phone number is the best.

On the same note, It looks good on applications for loans or even employment if you have lived at the same address for at least 6 months. This might be impossible if you needed to relocate, but hopefully you can still show your previous address that you were at for a reasonably long period.

Another very good tactic is to save up a large down payment to show the bank you mean business. The more money you have on hand, the better your ability to refinance with bad credit will be. In many cases it doesn't matter if you saved the money yourself or if you borrowed it off Old Uncle Frank. The main thing for the bank will be that you are showing a large commitment and their risk is also lower.

Most financial institutions will look for the signs of reliability and a safe investment, based on their impressions of you as a person. They want to feel that their investment in you is a safe and secure matter. It is not hard to see how can you give them this picture of you by how you dress and comport yourself. Being late for appointments, dressing slovenly and not having important documents and information on hand will paint a picture of you as careless and unorganized. This will not help you refinance with bad credit, in fact it will be very harmful to your chances.

To get the best overall representation of your reliable and dependable self, you could see if you can find someone that can furnish you with a letter of reference. This could be a respected community member, a pastor or a former employer. This one step could make the difference between receiving a chance to refinance with bad credit or failure.

I know there are many other activities you can undertake to get yourself back in the black. I am sure that you can see how these items could help you if you are willing to take the time. With luck you will be able to refinance with bad credit and enjoy a healthy financial life.

About the Author:

In this day and age thousands are in search of useful Refinance With Bad Credit Strategies. Visit our site for more tips on how to Refinance With Bad Credit

Understanding Bad Credit Personal Loans

By Rick Martin

When you are tagged as a bad credit borrower not only is enough to prevent the creditors from offering you any further financial assistance but your financial scenario changes completely. If you find yourself in this situations it could mean that you will no longer be able to fulfill your personal demands.

It may be easy to get discouraged when you find yourself in this predicament but you don't need to. There are still plenty of lenders who will lend you money because they don't follow the usual rules and formalities that you're used to. These types of lenders are actually quite popular these days since more and more people are finding there financial situations too much to handle.

The type of loan that will help you best in this situation is a bad credit personal loan which is similar to a personal loan (which are offered to those with good credit) except they are intended for those with bad credit and struggling with major credit problems. Examples of major credit problems can include CCJs, defaults, IVA, arrears, late payments or are even being on the verge of bankruptcy.

Though you can use a bad credit personal loan to purchase a car, finance education, a wedding or even a simple trip the best and most appropriate use is to consolidate debts. This will in turn help you to retain and improve your financial condition. You can do this by making timely repayments of the installments.

There are two forms in which bad credit personal loans are made available. In the secured loan and unsecured loan form. A secured loan gives you the best option when you are in need of a bigger loan amount because you need pledge a valuable asset as collateral.

The unsecured loan form will most likely offer you a limited amount for a short repayment period. The big difference is since collateral is not required the interest rate charged on this loan is usually high.

Needing a bad credit personal loan to get you back where you belong isn't unusual. Use it wisely and you could make a whole new start with you financial future. Do your research and find the best loan terms for you and your individual situation.

About the Author:

Let's face it. If you have a terrible Fico score it will be tough to qualify for guaranteed bad credit personal loans, but Rick can show you other options. British money-seekers should look into personal loans in uk, because that's where they live.

IVA Debt Help

By Sara Young

The economic situation is bad, the cost of living is high, and salaries are low. This is an unfortunate situation that is causing many people to get into debt. In fact, many people who get into debt find it very difficult, if not impossible, to get out of debt. Some individuals get to the point where they can't make their monthly repayments. That is when they turn to IVA debt help.

The IVA, also known as an Individual Voluntary Agreement, lets you get rid of your entire debt within a certain amount of time - usually 5 years. The IVA debt solution lets you pay a portion of your debt every month, and whatever is left after the IVA term is done - is written off. When you are done with your IVA, you are debt free and do not have to worry anymore about the money that you owe.

The IVA Debt Help is: * A formal agreement between yourself and your creditors * A document reducing the amount your pay back on your debts to make them more manageable for you. * An arrangement set up via an Insolvency Practitioner to ensure that all parties involved maintain it. * Usually completed after five years. After five years you will become debt free and all your remaining debts will have been paid off.

The provision for the Individual Voluntary Arrangement was made in the Insolvency Act of 1986 to try and help individuals become debt free without having to file for bankruptcy, and to help creditors recover as much of the debt as possible. All income and assets should be assessed during the initial stages of the application to establish just how much you can afford to pay.

The assets and income included in your IVA application may include your employment income, investments, savings accounts, any other income, and assets like a house, a life policy, or a valuable car.

All of these assets can actually determine just how much you can afford to pay back. Only disposable income is taken into account so an individual applying for an agreement will be able to afford the bills and housing costs, as well as having enough left over to eat and enjoy life to a certain degree!

The IVA is a legal agreement that requires court action. The court will appoint a licensed IP that will supervise the process and help you out with whatever you need. IPs are subject to regulation by professional bodies such as the Insolvency Practitioners Association and The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

If you have large debts and you feel that you can not pay them back, an IVA might be the right thing for you. Being in debt is very stressful and getting out of it feels really great. However, an IVA is a big commitment and is not the right thing for everyone. Be sure to seek out an IVA company that will help you figure out if IVA debt help is the right solution for you.

About the Author:

Everything they never told you about Individual Voluntary Arrangements revealed! For more insider tips and information be sure and check out IVA Debt Help.

Debt Consolidation Coupled with Credit Counseling

By Paul J. Easton

A lot of people around the world are losing their jobs and getting further in debt day by days. This is probably one of the most painful situations of our time and living with it can be very difficult.

Right now with everybody in despair, you are faced with debts from your home, your car, or your trip last year when times were still good. You might be contemplating right now of getting out of this debt situation. What should you do to take yourself out of this situation and get debt free? When will be the time again where you will become financially independent?

There are many options and one of them worth exploring is the credit card consolidation. This is assuming you have credit card debts in your list of liabilities. With so many products from various companies available today, getting help is more accessible. Or until you found out you are getting overwhelmed with all the information.

Attaining that financial freedom and getting out of debt starts with a simple step for your brain not to be overloaded with information. Start with a credit counseling program. Credit counseling is more than just a basic financial education.

After going through some preliminary counseling, there are so many reasons why you might need a credit card debt consolidation. One of the reasons to consider this method is because of getting better rates with interests on your debts.

Suggest an in-depth consultation with your counselor when trying out this option of credit consolidation. Ask if how much you can save with this method. Compare the list of all your interest rates of each credit card. Think of the advantages of getting your debt consolidated and compare it to the current debts.

In addition, take advantage of the credit counseling services. It will not only help your current debt crunch but will also help you plan your financial future. By planning your finances, you will set goals to better your situation today.

Most of the time, you will consult with your counselor and create a customized financial study. The counselor will also assist you in developing a budget for your needs and suited to your lifestyle. Following their suggestions, you are going to be able to get debt under your full control and soon attain that financial freedom.

For more information on financial directory, get FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Get debt-free today with tips on how to get rid of debt here. Start improving your personal finance today.

About the Author:

How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

Is A Payday Loan Right For You?

By Victor Drakemeyer

If you've ever been in a position where you needed a certain amount of money, you know how it feels to be out of options. If you need the money, the advantages of a payday loans outweigh the disadvantages by far.

For example, your car might break down. If you need a car to go to work, you need to get it fixed, fast. IF the mechanic tells you it's going to be four hundred dollars, and you don't have it, a payday loan can be the solution. The payday loan bridges the gap between now and the time you get your next paycheck.

If you've ever been in the position of having a little month left over at the end of the month, a payday loan might have helped you out. If you've got a week to go for your next paycheck and you need money to pay your rent or your groceries, the fastest way to cash is the payday loan.

In these situations, should you go for a payday loan? You may put some of the charges on your credit card, provided you can still use your credit card. Or you can try and get some money from friends or relatives. But a payday loan has some distinct advantages.

A big advantage of the payday loan is the fact that you won't have to go through a credit check. The whole process takes less than half an hour and you can get the money within 24 hours. A payday loan is very quick and can get you out of trouble. It's not a cheap way to loan money, but it is quick.

About the Author:

Victor is a financial advisor and consultant. He writes about mortgages and financial matters. He also writes about voordelig lenen and geld lenen in Dutch.

Debt Consolidation offers you Convenience

By Paul J. Easton

The infamous debt consolidation loan is one of many impressive and convenient solutions to driving out of debt. It is a personal loan you use to pay off all of your debts, particularly on your credit cards. You can obtain it from a finance company, or debt consolidation company. This sort of loan is also accessible now with its growing demand from merchant association, credit counseling providers, or financial service groups.

This debt consolidation loan offers you with the means to efficaciously shift obligation for many debts to one larger debt which is simpler to track. For added manageability, your payments are spread out over a longer period of time with lower interests.

There are many benefits of having a debt consolidation loan. It offers smart resolution to your debt problems like leaving you the convenience of paying only one creditor for supervising your total debt and centering your attention on it. It likewise offers you a lower interest thus a lower monthly bill.

With the procedure of consolidating everything into one big loan, your monthly payment is determined according to the lowest payment amount talked terms with the creditors. Your monthly payments will be remitted to the agency you deal with. Your debt consolidation firm will then pay your creditors individually with the negotiated contract.

Most creditors will reduce your interest fees if your agency negotiated well, depending on the policies of your creditors. Most likely, this can save you a big chunk of your balance because interest rates get minimized by a range of 5-12%.

When you see yourself gradually drowning in debt, it feels like a downward spiral from which you don't have any idea how to regain your composure. This process of loan consolidation is a promise we can utilize to find our self-confidence in our financial life. Definitely, it is a means to keep your credit and redeem your life, in a convenient way. Today, bankruptcy is far from sight.

For more information on financial directory, get FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Get debt-free today with tips on how to get rid of debt here. Start improving your personal finance today.

About the Author:

How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

Debt Consolidation: Hope with Paying Debt

By Paul J. Easton

A debt consolidation loan is one of many effective answers to aiming out of debt. It is a personal loan you use to pay all of your debts, especially on your credit cards. You can obtain it from a finance company, or debt consolidation company. This sort of loan is also accessible now with its rising demand from merchant association, credit counseling providers, or financial service groups.

A debt consolidation loan offers you with the way to effectively transfer obligation for many debts to one larger debt which is simpler to track. For added manageability, your payments are distributed out over a more long-term period of time with lower interests.

There are many benefits of getting a debt consolidation loan. It offers immediate answer to your debt problems like leaving you the convenience of paying only one creditor for supervising your total debt and concentrating your attention on it. It also offers you a lower interest bringing you a lower monthly bill.

With this simple procedure of loan consolidation, your monthly payment is defined according to the lowest payment total negotiated with the creditors. Your monthly dues will be remitted to the agency you contracted with. Your debt consolidation firm will then distribute the amount of your consolidated payment to your individual creditors with their agreed terms.

Your creditors will likely reduce their interest rates with proper negotiation, of course depending on your creditors' policy. Eventually, this can save you thousands of dollars because interest rates get minimized by an average of 5-12%.

Once you have got yourself in debt, it feels like a downward spiral from which you are most likely feeling helpless. This process of loan consolidation is a hope we can take advantage with to recover our self-confidence in our financial life. Definitely, it is a means to relieve your credit and save your life. Now, bankruptcy is far from sight. Thank God.

For more information on financial directory, get FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Get debt-free today with tips on how to get rid of debt here. Start improving your personal finance today.

About the Author:

How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

Definitions of Student Credit Cards

By Dennis Durrel

There are a lot of risks associated with Student Credit Cards. privates who apply for this form of credit card often get themselves in debt for quite a few years into their existing.

It is complicated to labor plus go to college all together plus several will use these student credit cards to plainly subsist. These should be used for education and necessity only.

It has been located that when someone acquires a lot of debt, it capable head to ruthless bouts of hopelessness.

In turn, the basic university performance be able to be harshly delayed. While this is harmful in world, there are other risk connected with student credit cards as well!

while you acquire a student credit card, you are probable to go into the fiscal arrangement with the quite small interest price. You must know, however, that these could right away enlarge to top rate after holding the student credit cards for quite a few of months or more!

These are often referred to as "teaser rates" to acquire you to sign up If you waste lots of on your credit card and are unable to acquire the minimum monthly necessity you are probable to buy the comparatively huge fee as well as get informed to credit agencies by the business that given out the student credit cards. Before registering for one of these, be definite to study the a lot of hazards!

About the Author:

About Author: Studentcreditcard-s.com. Student credit cards are very appealing to college students. However, there are many dangers associated with these types of cards. Check out this informative guide to learn a few of the dangers.

How Beneficial Are Programs That Help With Your Retirement Plan

By Michael Geoffrey

Good software can help you to create a beneficial financial plan. It is important to have to tools you need in order to have the best plan for the future.

The retirement planning software will easily help you to create an effective plan for your personal financial future. It equips you with the financial planning tools that are necessary to create a comprehensive personal financial plan. You will be able to plan for both your current and future financial events. Using retirement planning software will help you to track your investments and other financial assets. You will be able to see the future ahead year by year.

The software helps you pull all your financial information together in one place so that you can have an overall picture of your finances. You can upload information from any accounting or budgeting software to incorporate those figures into your retirement plan information and create graphs that help you keep track of how your financial plan is progressing.

What You Gain From Using the Software

There are more retirement planning programs available now that offer more options than before:

- Informing you if a reverse mortgage will be right for you

- Creates different budget comparisons

- Organizes and keeps up with how you apportion your belongings

- Helps you estimate the security of your investments

- Gives you custom reports with easy to read spreadsheets and graphs

- Helps you keep your finances uncomplicated and easy to manage

- It acts as your own personal financial consultant giving you the direction you need when you need it

- It is much cheaper than having a financial consultant

-It sets up real scenarios to explain and create financial plans

- Creates what ifs scenarios to help you to make sound decisions

- Helps you adjust to the changing economy by making cost of living increase projections

- Incorporates the cost of health care into your figures so that you are sure to allow for this important necessity

A good retirement planning software will help you decipher whether your financial plan is such that will ensure a comfortable future for you. Retirement is a lot to think about and a good financial plan is a serious responsibility that takes time and effort. The right software can make it so much easier and down the road you will see the positive results of your hard work and effort.

About the Author:

We offer objective reviews of many resources in the debt, credit, investing and real estate markets, to name a few. Visit http://www.financeproductevaluations.com to check out our latest reviews, such as our latest pick Leo Quinn's How To Own Your Paycheck Again.

How To Obtain Compensation From A Truck Accident In Court

By Chris Channing

Vehicle accidents occur every day- but the most vicious of these accidents occur with large trucks. These rigs, usually several thousand pounds or more in weight depending on the cargo, will decimate anything in their path. Consumers who are at the receiving end of this blow will likely be seriously injured. If that's the case, they may be entitled to a large reward.

Citizens driving in consumer-grade vehicles will be at a very large disadvantage when crossing the path of a truck on the highway. For one thing, trucks are much larger and weigh much more, giving them more inertia and leeway in the crash. Consumer vehicles are often torn up beyond recognition in a direct crash, which usually results in a fatality or severe injury.

Although the event of a crash is a very sad time for those involved, there is almost always blame to be put on the trucker in the incident. The trucker may be speeding, which is common as they have deadlines, or may have failed to keep up on maintenance of their vehicle. Truckers also tend to stress their body to its limits, and lack sleep- another dangerous act that can easily cause devastating accidents.

Because much of the causes of a truck wreck can be pinned on the truck driver, the victim of the wreck should get as much information as possible from those involved, although the police will also make a formal report once called. Hopefully with the right thorough interview, the details of why the crash occurred will come forth.

One should not put off contacting a lawyer after a wreck, and instead get started immediately in bring suit against the truck driver to help get medical bills under control before they pose a serious threat to one's credit. Bills can easily diminish even the wealthiest stashes of money saved for a rainy day- something that could change one's life forever. Because the situation is so serious, speaking to a lawyer as soon as one is feeling better is completely necessary.

Most lawyers are able to cater to a truck accident case, but finding a specialized lawyer with much experience in the niche field is often the best choice for an almost-guaranteed win. They'll likely request a considerable sum more than other lawyers, but the benefit of having the best on your side is hard to pass up.

Closing Comments

It's horrible to go through a truck accident and then have to pay enormous medical costs. To help ease the burden, start contacting lawyers in your area for more information on your rights, courses of action, and ultimately advice on where to go next.

About the Author:

Learn more on Tractor Trailer Collision Attorney and Truck Accident Lawyer.

401K Retirement Ruined By Loans

By David C Lewis

Almost nobody needs a 401k retirement plan. Even so, some people are convinced that these things are not tax traps and that somehow everything will work out OK.

If you just can't bring yourself to ditch your 401k, that's OK. You can get something out of it by just leaving it alone. Don't go borrowing money from it. Even if you qualify for the so-called "hardship" provisions, leave it be.

The reason for this is that if you cash out your 401K, you will pay taxes, and a penalty, and that won't be fun, but it's a one time hit. When you take a loan against your 401K, that's the penalty that keeps on giving. First, you give up the earning potential of the money inside the plan, because these "so called" loans are actually a withdrawal of funds out of the plan (on a tax-free basis).

Bonds represent a fixed investment. The amount of the return is known in advance. You are lending either a corporation or the U.S. Government money in return for interest plus the return of your principal.

Loaning money to yourself is basically replacing the interest you get from one source with another. That's unfortunate in some respects because the money is not in your account. While this may be good during a market downturn, it essentially represents a higher savings rate with 0% return from investments.

In addition, the interest payments you make back to your 401(k) are with after-tax dollars; and consequently, when you make a final distribution on that money, you will pay tax again on the money you paid back as interest.

You do this every time you take a loan. So, rather than getting beaten up once, you get beat up twice. Who would knowingly do that? Now that you know, don't do it.

About the Author:

About the author:David Lewis, RFA is a professional financial adviser. If you would like more detailed information about any aspect of personal finance, please visit David's website.

Easy Tips To Save Money In This Economy

By Warren Buffers

Whether we like it or not, money is a part of life. Everyone needed to survive and some people are less careful with it. Even though, there are people that are responsible and watching their assets in savings shrink to nothing.

We are now in an unprecedented time and everyone is worried about how much money they're going to have. How much money you spend today may vanish as quickly as the stock market continues to go down. With corporate cutbacks, and job layoffs, for many it is a smart idea to learn how to save money now and live on less.

The bright spot that we have to consider is that there are things you can do, some of those things will not affect your lifestyle, and some of them may. But at the end of the day you can start with some simple things then you should be able to gradually ramp up and save more. Changing your habits just a bit can easily allow any individual to save a few hundred dollars each month. Below are a few tips to help you do just that.

When you go shopping definitely use coupons. Using coupons when shopping can save hundreds of dollars over time. If a person shops once or twice a week, they could save a good deal of cash. Do not lose sight of rebates. And make sure you keep track of the rebates. Companies are hoping that you forget to send in. You being the responsible shopper will not forget.

Cut back on daily habits. Some people smoke a pack of cigarettes everyday. Other people drink a $2 cup of coffee everyday. Cutting or eliminating those bad habits can save a good amount of money each week.

Some of those things you should cut out because they're just not good for you. But there are ways that you can still enjoy some of those luxuries that are not bad for you. Don't buy coffee at the coffee shop, brooding yourself and save big money. By making that one change, you can save $1.50.

Find ways to spend less gasoline. Carpooling is one of those ways. The interesting thing is that oil barrel pricing continues to go down and gas prices are starting to go down. Even though gas prices are low it is probably not going to last for ever. Either carpool or use mass transit as much as possible.

Teach yourself to do things and make things on your own. Save money by washing your own car and changing your own oil. By simply changing your oil every other time you can save a few hundred bucks a year. Follow a few of the above tips will easily give you the chance to save a few hundred dollars extra each month.

About the Author:

To learn more about the 25 best ways to save money, visit yourmoneysavingsecrets.com. Find out more on extreme ways to save money today.

Get a Higher Credit Score, Regardless of Your Credit Situation

By Linda Seamore

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

As the pressures of mountainous consumer debt become an issue for more and more people, the demand for legitimate and proven ways to rebuild your credit history is on the rise. The word "budget" conjures up extreme images of depriving oneself of the foods one likes or more extreme visions of starving oneself pop up. However, a proven formula for debt management and the rebuilding of personal credit and credit scores using a specific type of credit card dispels such visions.

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

Your journey to financial freedom starts with YOU taking the first step. Let us begin first, by evaluating the positives and negatives of both the secured and the pre-paid credit cards.

Secured Credit Cards

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

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

Pre-Paid Credit Cards

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

Disadvantages- Think of an alternative option to rebuild or establish credit. This type of account does not report your payment history or account standings to the credit bureaus. If the creditor in which you receive the pre-paid card from does not report your account, then it will NOT improve your credit. Be sure to research and compare which pre-paid cards have the best benefits according to your needs.

Please remember that Pre-Paid cards cannot be used in every situation. Hotel and car rental agencies, for example, may not let you use the pre-paid card to book a room or secure your rental. Just be sure to call in advance and ask about the company policy before you begin your booking.

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

About the Author:

Consumer advocate Linda Seamore is dedicated to educating people on how to protect their identity. After research on identity theft, she found out about Life Lock , the industry leader in ID theft protection. Life Lock is hands-on identity theft protection that specializes in prevention rather than after-the-fact protection. Visit www.LifeLock.com & learn how to take control.

Paying the Minimum is Not the Right Way to Start

By Paul J. Easton

Getting rid of debt, especially with credit cards, is simpler than you think. It only requires a bit of discipline from your end.

The first step in getting started with eliminating debts is simply avoiding debt totally. This requires you to stop any new spending using your credit cards and, most importantly, finding yourself getting over that impulse to purchase unnecessary objects to end up collecting dusts in your closet.

This takes us to the next step to examine all of your past and current spending. Getting over that impulse might be easily said than done but it starts somewhere to finally realize that spending with a purpose is practically more important than your shopping spree every now and then.

Find out by the numbers how much money you can set aside towards paying off your credit cards if you become conscious with your purchases. Then, when all is done, it is time to finally start paying off that debt.

Credit card companies generally offer minimum payments ranging from 2 - 2.5% of the current outstanding balance. With the current balance of $1,000, you can simply pay a minimum payment of $20 - $25 for the month. Seems pretty convenient and easy, right?

Let's break it down to the details. Your $25 minimum payment goes mostly to the interest on the balance. The tiny amount left after then interest will go to pay off the actual balance. That is if it is still significant enough to really deduct something to your balance.

After doing this for a few months, check back on your statements. The minimum payments will probably take you, in the example of $1000 balance, about 50 months or so to pay off that balance. That's over four years of paying a $1000 balance. In details, you pay a sizeable amount in interests alone giving a huge profit for the bank. Now, is it still convenient and easy?

This only concludes that paying the minimum is not the right place where you want to start if you want to get debt free soon.

For more information on financial directory, get FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Get debt-free today with tips on how to get rid of debt here. Start improving your personal finance today.

About the Author:

How to get Rid of Credit Card Debt Fast with FREE Articles Tips at DollarGuides.com. Help tips and more plus Credit Card Debt Information

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Debt Consolidation?

By Amy Nutt

Debt consolidation is something that people turn to when they are unable to make their monthly payments on their unsecured debts. These debts include personal loans, credit cards, and anything else they owe money on that did not require collateral when the credit was extended. While this sounds great, there are some advantages and disadvantages that you must be aware of when you take out a debt consolidation loan. This is so that you can determine whether or not this is the right move for you to make.

The advantages

The advantages are quite obvious. If they weren't, so many individuals would not turn to debt consolidation as a way to get themselves out of debt. The advantages are:

- Instead of paying many monthly payments on your unsecured debt, you are only paying one payment per month. - The interest rates are lower, but it is possible that the long-term debt may not be reduced. - If you compare the amount of a debt consolidation loan payment and the amount of all of the individual payments that have been made each month, the debt consolidation loan payment is cheaper. - There is only one creditor involved instead of multiple creditors.

These are fantastic advantages in that they make debt consolidation seem like a wonderful idea. However, it is also a good idea to be aware of the disadvantages because these can alter your decision regarding debt consolidation. Then again, they may not alter your decision at all.

The disadvantages

There is something to be known about debt consolidation loans. Although the debt that has been paid off by these loans are unsecured debts, the consolidation loan must be secured. This means that the loan is secured by an asset such as your home or a piece of property that is the same value as the loan. This means that defaulting on the loan could result in you losing that piece of property. If the asset is your home, then that means you will lose your home if you do not make your loan payments.

And although the interest rate is lower, the loan is for a longer term. Having a longer term loan means paying interest for a longer period of time. This can cost more money by the time it is all said and done. However, it also depends on how much your interest was on credit card debts. Sometimes, an individual can have a debt consolidation loan that could be paid off quicker than a credit card with a higher interest rate. It simply depends on your individual debt on whether or not it will actually cost you more in the long term.

There are, however, some disadvantages that you can avoid. Those disadvantages are:

- Closing your accounts after paying them off can hurt your credit report because the more unused credit you have, the better. This means keep them open. - Many individuals feel that they can use their credit accounts after paying them off. This simply increases debt. Leave them open, but don't use them.

Are they for everyone?

The truth is that debt consolidation loans are not for everyone. People must take into consideration the debts they are paying off, their ability to pay the loan, and if they can afford to lose the property that they would put up as collateral on the loan. For some individuals, it may be the right move to make. For others it can be a huge mistake. That is why it is important to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages and see if you can deal with the disadvantages. If you can, then you are a candidate for a debt consolidation loan.

About the Author:

Credit Counseling Services teaches consumers how to budget, get out of debt, and use credit wisely. Offers a variety of unbiased debt counselling services and alternatives to help people get their debts under control.

Invest Now, Don't Wait Until Tomorrow

By Samantha Asher

What's the difference if I invest now or if I wait a year? The difference can be quite substantial. If you still have a long time until you retire, or if you are retiring in the near future, investing now will benefit more than if you waited 1, 2, 3, or more years to start.

The longer the wait, the less money you have. Time is money and if you waste it, it's like you're wasting money. Just as you get paid for your time and efforts at work, with investing, you'll get paid a lot more with more time. The sooner you start, the more you'll make.

Investments are the same way. You can't buy a stock and expect it to go up 50% in the next 10 minutes. It takes time for the return to accumulate. While you don't have to directly work hours and be paid, you do have to put some thought into investments and wait.

If you are young, such as in your 20s, you have a huge advantage. If you start investing, even putting the same amount aside overall, now and your friends start investing in their 40s, you'll have a lot more money.

Let's say you're 23 years old and just started a good job. You want to retire at age 65 which is in 42 years/ If you invest $500 every year for 42 years with an average return of 9%, you'll have invested about $26,000. Guess how much this $26,000 will be worth? You'll have about $218,000.

If you started investing later in life, you would have quite a bit less, even if you invested more. Let's say you invested $2,000 a year from 45 to 65, for a total of 20 years. You would have invested a total of $40,000. You would have about $110,000. That is much less. Would you rather retire comfortably or rush through your last working years trying to save enough?

Take these scenarios you've read and use them to help you decide when you should start investing. Hopefully you've realized there is no better time than the present. When you put together time and compounding, you can earn a lot of dough. Compounding is basically exponential growth with your money. The money you earned last year will continue to earn money this year and so on and so forth.

This doesn't mean you have to invest this specific a year. You could invest more or less. The point is, you need to make plans and goals NOW. Don't wait until it's too late. You don't have to be cheap and live like a mortar in order to invest enough, just budget your money and start investing now. By the time you retire or need to buy a house, you will be so happy you did.

About the Author:

You really shouldstart investing now if you want to retire or if you want to work for the rest of your life. Take the time now to educate yourself about all Types of Investments and begin investing right away!