"Saving Secrets" - Helping you to save money

Saving money is a good habit and it is a sign that you are concerned about your debt free and financially secured future. Internet is itself a money saving medium because mostly free information you get from it is really worth. There are number of sites which offer really good stuff to help you save money.

SavingSecrets.com helps you save money by offering you over 500+ pages of articles, newsletters and ebooks.

Mission (In their own words)
Our mission is to show readers how to effectively budget their finances in order to increase their monthly savings and reduce overall debt.

Over 50+ original money-saving articles are accessible directly online twenty-four hours a day! Each article specifically highlights a strategic component of the money-saving process

Join over 15,000+ readers who are currently saving money from their FREE monthly newsletter appropriately titled "Money Saving Tips". Sign up for FREE by clicking ' here'.

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You don't have to be smart to be rich

It is a normal thinking that rich people are smarter and there is a link between intelligence and earning money. But research dosn't agree with this theory, rather it says that 'You don't don't have to be smart to be rich'

This interesting and research based report shows that people having higher IQ score are not as rich or wealthy as we estimate. The result of studies proved:

“Intelligence is not a factor for explaining wealth. Those with low intelligence should not believe they are handicapped, and those with high intelligence should not believe they have an advantage.”

A nationwide study found that people of below average intelligence were, overall, just about as wealthy as those in similar circumstances but with higher scores on an IQ test. Furthermore, a number of extremely intelligent people stated they had gotten themselves into financial difficulty.

“People don't become rich just because they are smart,” said Jay Zagorsky, author of the study and a research scientist at Ohio State University 's Center for Human Resource Research.

“Your IQ has really no relationship to your wealth. And being very smart does not protect you from getting into financial difficulty,” Zagorsky said.

The one financial indicator in which the study found it paid to be smart was income. Those with higher IQ scores tended to get paid more than others.

While other research has also found the IQ-income link, this is one of the first studies to go beyond income to look at the relationship between intelligence and wealth and financial difficulty, he said.

“Financial success for most people means more than just income,” Zagorsky said. “You need to build up wealth to help buffer life's storms and to prepare for retirement. You also shouldn't have to worry about being close to or beyond your financial limits.”

Zagorsky's study appears online in the journal Intelligence.

The study is based on data from 7,403 Americans who participated in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, which is funded primarily by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The NLSY is a nationally representative survey of people, who are now in their mid-40s, conducted by Ohio State's Center for Human Resource Research.

The same people have been interviewed repeatedly over time since 1979. This study is based on responses from the 2004 survey.

Participants completed the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT), a general aptitude test used by the Department of Defense. Researchers have long used AFQT scores as a measure of intelligence.
While other research has also found the IQ-income link, this is one of the first studies to go beyond income to look at the relationship between intelligence and wealth and financial difficulty.

All participants were also surveyed about their income, total wealth, and three measures of financial difficulty: if they currently have any maxed-out credit cards, if over the past five years they had any instances where they missed paying bills, and whether they ever declared bankruptcy.

The results confirmed research by other scholars that show people with higher IQ scores tend to earn higher incomes. In this study, each point increase in IQ scores was associated with $202 to $616 more income per year.

This means the average income difference between a person with an IQ score in the normal range (100) and someone in the top 2 percent of society (130) is currently between $6,000 and $18,500 a year.

But when it came to total wealth and the likelihood of financial difficulties, people of below average and average intelligence did just fine when compared with the super-intelligent.

The study could find no strong relationship between total wealth and intelligence. How could high-IQ people, on average, earn higher incomes but still not have more wealth than others? Zagorsky said this data can't provide an answer, but it suggests that high-IQ people are not saving as much as others. He is currently finishing a study that is exploring that question.

The findings revealed mixed results when it came to the link between intelligence and measures of financial distress. For example, the percentage of people who have maxed out their credit cards rises from 7.7 percent in those with an IQ of 75 and below to a peak of 12.1 percent among those with an IQ of 90. Then the percentage falls in an irregular pattern to 5.4 percent among those with an IQ of 115 before rising again.

This irregular pattern is also seen among the bankrupt and people who missed bill payments.

“In these measures of financial difficulties, it seems that those of slightly better than average intelligence are best off,” Zagorsky said.

“Just because you're smart doesn't mean you don't get into trouble. Among the smartest people, those with IQ scores above 125, even 6 percent of them have maxed out their credit cards and 11 percent occasionally miss payments.”

Zagorsky said you only have to look in the parking lots of the nation's universities to see that intelligence and wealth are not necessarily linked.

“Professors tend to be very smart people,” he said. “But if you look at university parking lots, you don't see a lot of Rolls Royces, Porsches or other very expensive cars. Instead you see a lot of old, low-value vehicles.”

The lesson is simple, he said.

“Intelligence is not a factor for explaining wealth. Those with low intelligence should not believe they are handicapped, and those with high intelligence should not believe they have an advantage.”

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SMART TO BE RICH

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"Affordable Home Advice" - Helping You In Buying Home

Recent financial condition is under stress yet, and investor concern about the credit quality of mortgage. At the other hand home owners and people willing to buy home are worried about the interest rates.
This insecure situation needs to learn about low cost housing options, and mortgage terms. Today's site offer you advice and tips regarding this critical topic.

Affordable Home Advice offers a unique reference point on extensive advice on low cost housing options. Discussing the housing schemes and initiatives to help you cope with high house prices and get on the property ladder without breaking the bank.

Few sections of the site:

- Affording a mortgage offers 13 articles covering the topic.
- Co-ownership
- Finding homes
- Home buy schemes
- Right to buy schemes

In total there are about 70 articles and you can get the more articles by subscribig to their monthly newsletter.

The features and articles on the site are written by professional journalists and experts. You can estimate the quality of article by reading a paragraph taken from an article:

Buying a Home with 100% Mortgage

What is a 100% Mortgage?
A one hundred per cent mortgage is – as we have mentioned already – a mortgage which covers one hundred per cent of the cost of the home you wish to buy. This means in essence that there is no deposit to find in order for you to buy the home you are looking at and also means that if you have an adverse credit history you may still be eligible for a mortgage.

How to Apply for a 100% Mortgage?
Given the nature of the United Kingdom’s economy at the present time and the effects of the so-called ‘Credit Crunch’ on borrowing it is now more difficult than ever to get a one hundred per cent mortgage.

This is not to say that you cannot but you will have to look around for one. Your best course of action if you feel you cannot raise a deposit for a mortgage is to consult with a financial advisor who will put together what is known as a ‘package’. This ‘package’ is basically your application – be it on your own or as part of a joint application – which contains all the information that might be required by a mortgage lender.

Read more at: Affordable home advice

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Tips to hang on to your homes

World economy is still facig the threat after 'wall street bailout' and middle class is in crisis and fear for the insecure future.

The Government has stepped in to protect homeowners who are struggling to make mortgage repayments after fears that some lenders were too eager to repossess properties. These tips would help you hang on to your homes.

At the start of the summer more than 150,000 homeowners were at least three months in arrears. The number of repossessions is predicted to double this year to 45,000 and to keep climbing next year, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

Gill Hankey, of the Bankruptcy Advisory Service, says: “In the real world, lenders are still being as aggressive as ever towards borrowers who are unable to make repayments.”

If you have slipped into arrears, you will not necessarily lose your home. There are steps that you can take to stay in your property and clear your debt.

Tips to hang on to your homes

Contact your lender

If your circumstances change, such as losing your job, contact your lender immediately. It might be willing to offer a repayment holiday of two or three months, which will give you the breathing space to make alternative financial arrangements.

Under the new rules announced this week, lenders should be more willing to lower your monthly costs temporarily or to increase the length of the loan term, which would also shrink the monthly payment.

Another possibility is to switch to interest-only payments. Mortgage payments on a £150,000 loan with an interest rate of 6 per cent would fall by £217 a month by switching from repayment to interest-only.

Work out a budget

Debt charities, such as the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) or the National Debtline, can help with a budget plan to use when renegotiating the terms of your mortgage.

GE Money, the American lender, refers borrowers to the CCCS as soon as there is evidence that they are struggling to make repayments and the charity is talking to other lenders to set up similar arrangements.

Francis Walker, of the CCCS, suggests that it can be better to seek help from a debt adviser before approaching your lender with a proposal. She explains: “We often find that borrowers set up an agreement with a lender and then find that it is unaffordable. Customers are likely to say what they think is acceptable to the lender rather than what they can afford.”

Prioritise your debts

The most important thing is to stay in your home, so your mortgage repayments should be paid before other unsecured debt, including personal loans or credit cards.

If you need to stop paying these debts temporarily, write to the loan or credit card company and explain your financial situation. It may be willing to suspend repayments if you can prove that you will be able to start repaying the loan again in the future. You should also cut out unneccessary expenses, such as satellite TV subscriptions or club memberships.

There are also practical ways to raise your income. Mr Tapp points out that a recent client realised that she could make up the shortfall in her repayments by renting out a spare room to lodgers.

Do not be bullied by your bank

If you have missed one or two mortgage payments, it is likely that your lender will have been in touch to talk about your financial situation. Lenders can apply pressure on borrowers to pay arrears quickly - and the failure to do so has been used as grounds for repossession.

However, Beccy Boden Wilks, of National Debtline, says that you will not be evicted if you can demonstrate that you can afford to make monthly repayments and a small amount of the arrears each month. She adds: “Your lender might push you to clear arrears in 12 months, but ask if you can spread the cost over the term of your loan.”

You could also ask about adding missed payments to the loan, which is known as capitalising your arrears.

Be wary of sale-and-leaseback

Speak to a debt charity or financial adviser before considering sale-and-leaseback schemes, which are unregulated. This would involve the sale of your property to a company that would then keep you on as a tenant.

You could also contact your lender or local housing association about mortgage rescue plans, which work in a similar way to sale-and-leaseback.

Attend all hearings

If you do miss a number of monthly repayments, it is likely that your lender will write to you with a date for a repossession hearing.

It is crucial that you attend, says Ms Boden Wilks, because if you can demonstrate to the district judge that you are able to make your basic repayments, the judge will support your case.

However, if there is no way that you will be able to afford your monthly repayments, request that you are given time to sell the property yourself.

National Debtline: (For U.K)
0808 8084000, www.nationaldebtline.co.uk;

Citizens Advice: www.citizensadvice.org.uk; CCCS: 0800 1381111.

Little hope with negative equity

There are growing fears that negative equity could eventually exceed the levels seen in the early 1990s.

Standard & Poor's, the ratings agency, estimates that two million homeowners could owe more in mortgage debt than the value of their property by 2010.

However, Ray Boulger, of John Charcol, the mortgage broker, says that there are questions surrounding the headline-grabbing figures, adding: “Clearly, negative equity will increase until house prices stabilise. But there will be huge variations in the drop in house prices.

The massive housing bill approved by Congress this summer held out the promise that the Federal Housing Administration could help a homeowner find government-insured refinancing and such write-downs. But the relief will never be realized unless the financing industry is more willing to come forward and negotiate reductions.

If a mortgage represents more than 90 per cent of a property's value, borrowers could be forced to move on to their lenders' standard variable rates, adding hundreds of pounds to their monthly payment”

However, Mr Boulger adds: “As long as homeowners can afford their mortgage repayments there is no way that the lender will be looking to repossess their homes.”

Last month house prices fell by 12.4 per cent compared with the same month last year, according to Halifax, the UK's largest mortgage lender.
However, Mr Boulger adds: “As long as homeowners can afford their mortgage repayments there is no way that the lender will be looking to repossess their homes.”
- source link

Related story: Wall Street bailout may bring little relief to homeowners

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'Wall Street Bailout' - And Mental impact on common persons

Global financial market is seriously effected after 'Wall Street Bailout' news. But the impact of this financial situation is really important to know. It is obvious that money or finance matters directly effect our mental health and behaviour and there is a clear impact shown among common person which is insecure feeling.

According to Kathleen Vohs, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Minnesota. Her studies predict that the ongoing financial shrinkage will "cause problems for interpersonal relationships," she says. "Our theory would say that when people are frequently reminded of money, they will be less socially sensitive, maybe even malicious. We'll see more arguments at home, more disagreements on the street, people acting more rudely. But there will also be an emphasis on 'What am I going to do about me?' which can be beneficial."

In a series of experiments, Vohs found that having money on the back of your mind could make you (in Why-Files words) a bit nutty. At least it changes your behavior, for better or worse, away from dependency and toward self-sufficiency.

In 2006 (see #1 in the bibliography), Vohs reported on a series of experiments that used a psychological technique called "priming" to test the mental effects of money. These studies compared subjects who were exposed to the idea of money to others who were not. The exposure, or priming, occurred through solving word games that included financial terms, noticing play money or photos of money, or hearing a story about money.

Money: Root of pain?
Although the subject of money is painful to many people right now, Vohs and colleagues Xinyue Zhou and Roy Baumeister have found that priming with money allows someone to withstand more physical pain, as measured by their tolerance for hot water. This tolerance for pain declined, however, after the subjects were reminded of how much they have recently spent. In the same experiments, counting currency owned by the experimenters reduced the pain of social rejection, but the pain got more intense after being reminded about their spending.

These results suggest "People would be feeling more pain," during the current meltdown, Vohs says.

The possibility that thoughts -- whether conscious or not -- about money can change behavior and attitudes has implications for tax and welfare policy, Vohs maintains. "The more the emphasis on money, I'd predict, the less people will endorse actions that take care of other people." Vohs has embarked on a study of how reminders about money will influence approval of the McCain and Obama tax plans.

Source: The why files

More reports:

* U.S News: Analysis: Washington's Trillion Dollar Wall Street Bailout

* Msnbc news: Impact of Wall Street bailout becoming clearer

* The Impact of the Wall Street Bailout on Bank Deposit Insurance

* How Voters See the Bailout

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How To Avoid Credit Repair Scams

A bad credit histroy can prevent you from getting a loan. Many online companies may offer you to "Fix" your credit card, but their promises may be fake. So learning from online government or semi government, non profit resources is the easiest and reliable way. I hope that this post and links at the bottom of the post would be a valuable information for you.

Jodie Bernstein, director of the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection in Washington, D.C., observes that while "there are legitimate, not-for-profit credit counseling services, the FTC has never seen a legitimate credit repair company." In the past, bogus credit repair companies would use clever schemes to get a debt temporarily dropped from an individual's credit file.

Everyday, companies nationwide appeal to consumers with poor credit histories. They promise, for a fee, to clean up your credit report so you can get a car loan, a home mortgage, insurance, or even a job. The truth is, they can’t deliver. After you pay them hundreds or thousands of dollars in fees, these companies do nothing to improve your credit report; most simply vanish with your money.

The Warning Signs
If you decide to respond to a credit repair offer, look for these tell-tale signs of a scam:

companies that want you to pay for credit repair services before they provide any services.

companies that do not tell you your legal rights and what you can do for yourself for free.

companies that recommend that you not contact a credit reporting company directly.

companies that suggest that you try to invent a “new” credit identity — and then, a new credit report — by applying for an Employer Identification Number to use instead of your Social Security number.

companies that advise you to dispute all information in your credit report or take any action that seems illegal, like creating a new credit identity. If you follow illegal advice and commit fraud, you may be subject to prosecution.

You could be charged and prosecuted for mail or wire fraud if you use the mail or telephone to apply for credit and provide false information. It’s a federal crime to lie on a loan or credit application, to misrepresent your Social Security number, and to obtain an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service under false pretenses.
Under the Credit Repair Organizations Act, credit repair companies cannot require you to pay until they have completed the services they have promised.

Tips For avoiding Credit Repair Scams

· No one can erase negative information if it’s accurate. Only incorrect information can be removed. Accurate information stays on your record for 7 years from the time it’s reported (10 years for bankruptcy). Even information about bills you fell behind on but now are paid will remain on your report for these time periods.

· Credit repair services can’t ask for payment until they’ve kept their promises. Federal law also requires credit repair services to give you a explanation of your legal rights, a detailed written contract, and three days to cancel (this applies to for-profit services, not to nonprofit organizations, banks and credit unions, or the creditors themselves).

· You can correct mistakes on your credit report yourself. If you were recently denied credit because of information in your credit report, you have the right to request a free copy. Otherwise there is a small fee, unless your state law provides for one free report a year. It doesn’t cost anything to question or dispute items in your report. Follow the instructions provided by the credit bureau.
The major credit bureaus are:
Equifax, 800- 685-1111, www.equifax.com;
Experian, 800-682-7654, www.experian.com; and TransUnion, 800-916-8800,. Contact all three, as the information each has may vary.

· You can add an explanation to your report. If there is a good reason why you weren’t able to pay bills on time (job loss, sudden illness, etc.) or you refused to pay for something because of a legitimate dispute, give the credit bureau a short statement to include in your file.

· Know that you can’t create a second credit file. Fraudulent companies sometimes offer to provide consumers with different tax identification or social security numbers in order to create a new credit file. This practice, called “file segregation,” is illegal, and it doesn’t work.

· If you have credit problems, get counseling. Your local Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) can provide advice about how to build a good credit record. The CCCS may also be able to make payment plans with your creditors if you’ve fallen behind. These services are offered for free or at a very low cost. To find the nearest CCCS office, call toll-free, 800-388-2227, or go to www.nfcc.org.

Source: Tips are provided by "National Consumers League's National Fraud Information Center"

Valuable links:
* Credit Repair: Self Help May Be Best

* Credit repair scams from "Bank Rate"

* Credit Repair Scams from "Expert Law"

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"Jump Start" - Educating personal finance to Students

It is commonly observe that the average student who graduates from high school lacks basic skills in the management of personal financial affairs. Many are unable to balance a checkbook and most simply have no insight into the basic survival principles involved with earning, spending, saving and investing.

Many young people fail in the management of their first consumer credit experience, establish bad financial management habits, and stumble through their lives learning by trial and error. 'Jump Start's' aim is to identify high-quality personal finance materials for educational use.

Mission
Jump$tart is a national coalition of organizations dedicated to improving the financial literacy of kindergarten through college-age youth by providing advocacy, research, standards and educational resources. Jump$tart strives to prepare youth for life-long successful financial decision-making.

Vision
Personal finance is included in the education of all students. 'Jump$tart' provides the collaboration needed to ensure this education.

Jump Start Reality Check

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"Credit Ratings' - Educating Consumers About Credit Cards

I am very much impressed by the way internet provides the free information resources on each topic. When the idea of starting a blog on finance and money came into my mind, my intention was to make it a resoruce blog which could help me and all readers to learn about finance and money matters. But I was not sure from where I should start or get the stuff, until now I am really amazed to see wealth of information scattered around. I feel like that I have to hunt the treasure and offer it at my blog. There is a lot to discover yet, but I am happy that I am getting good response from my readers.

'Card Ratings.com' is the most comprehensive free source for comparing card offers since 1998. It is devoted to educating consumers about credit cards. Cardratings.com fights credit card debt by providing consumers with ratings of credit cards.

It has been featured by the The Wall Street Journal, The Early Show on CBS, Consumer Reports magazine, PBS, Money Magazine, and others.

Speciality of th site is that "it offers over approximately 19,000 consumer reviews of almost 1,000 cards written by consumers throughout the country (new reviews are added daily)".
Benefits:
Disclosing such information often helps consumers find more attractive credit cards and, in turn, helps them lower their credit card debt. Another added benefit is that such disclosures encourage stronger competition among credit card issuers.

How this site was founded is interesting story!(In their own words)

'Our organization was founded in response to a growing national backlash against credit card debt. Curtis Arnold, our founder and a nationally recognized consumer advocate, knows firsthand the devastating financial effect of credit card debt. He struggled with credit card debt for several years during and after his graduate studies in business at the University of Texas at Dallas. At one point, Curtis had over $40,000 in card debt.'

Features of the site

- Offering consumer information regarding approximately 500 unique credit card offerings, including a searchable database.

- They also provides all of the data (card terms and conditions) for the credit card and atm/debit survey published by the New York State Banking Department, the oldest bank regulatory agency in the nation.

Check the newsletter archive to get updated credit card reviews, including updated reviews of the best rated credit cards, and insider tips on managing credit responsibly

- Credit card articles

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"Bank Rate" - An Online FREE Financial Resource

There are many online resources which provide useful finance news, advice, tips and guidelines. "Bank Rate" is one of those links where you can get FREE information relating to finance and money. You can aslo subscribe to their newsletter by submitting your e-mail address at the provided space.

More features of the site:

Bank Rate:
Bankrate.com, provides free rate information to consumers on more than 300 financial products, including mortgages, credit cards, new and used automobile loans, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, checking and ATM fees, home equity loans and online banking fees.

What they do? (In their words):
"Bank Rate publishes original and objective personal finance stories to help consumers make informed financial decisions. Our staff of award winning reporters and editors provides expert advice on just about every major financial decision facing our readers: from purchasing their first home, to selecting a new car, to saving for retirement. Bankrate's unparalled combination of comprehensive rate information and original financial content is what makes us unique and such a valuable resource to our audience."

Hundreds of print publications depend on Bankrate as the trusted source for financial rates and information, including 8 of the top 10 newspapers in the country

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"Fire Finance" - Helping us get financial independence

Fire Finance is a personal blog and may be one of the prettiest blog, I have ever seen. I could expect good layout and template, with the topic like design, art, writing and etc, but not a finance or money related. The reason is quite simple, the finance and money related topics are not so colorful or very interesting topics.

Mission: The mission of the blog, FIRE Finance, is to record our financial journey towards reaching FIRE which means Financial Independence Retire Early.

What you can find here?

Articles based on the topics: banks, book reviews, brokerages, budgeting, charity, credit, deals and bonuse[free money], financial theories, frugal tips, investings, retirement planning, taxes, tools [financial], etc.

By the way the guys behind the blog are offering a book:

FREE GiveAway - "The Quiet Millionaire"

About the book: Brett Wilder's fantastic book "The Quiet Millionaire" is one of the finest books which covers the entire gamut of personal finance. The only condition is to place a comment on the blog with a random number. For details click on the book link above.

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Go College - A Useful Resource for College Students

There are number of sites which offer financial aid or education guidelines for college students. The site I am going to review is one of the earliest and best references for college bound students, and has been well referenced in the press and media. The site offered one of the first online search engines for scholarships and grants.

Go College is a resources for students on how to finance and succeed in college. It offers helpful information for current and soon to be college students. The site was formed in 1997 to guide students on the complexity of the admissions and financial-aid process.

In 1999, ABC Network's 20/20 program featured GoCollege as a reliable website for information on finding financial aid.


Mission: (In their own words)
"Our goal is to continue bringing useful, unbiased and up-to-date college related information to students, parents and education professionals."

Site provides guides into four catagories which are 'financial aid, admissions, education options, and college survival'.

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Learn About Tax And E-Commerce at 'Tax Mama'

It is not easy to understand tax terms, so we need a tax consultant for tax management matters. But as I always say knowledge or learning is the first step towards making our lives easier in dealing money or financial matters.

'Tax Mama' is a resource designed to help you understand your own tax issues. This site contains thousands of tips, articles and bits of useful information on taxes, tax matters and helpful tips for any small business.

Site creator is Eva Rosenberg, having couple of degrees in Accounting and International Business, spent several years in national and local CPA firms, lots of years of free-lance and consulting work with companies of all sizes, and across many industries. She has tax preparation, consulting and writing practice of over 20 years. She has a full-time tax practice; and teaches all over the country; keep writing chapters in books; and articles for CBS.

Their popular weekly Ask TaxMama newsletter translates obscure tax code into plain English that anyone can understand.

Their Help Forums is a liveliest place to discuss tax, business and related matters. My HelpDesk is the one place where anyone can safely ask any question about any e-commerce topics.

* There are a lot of articles which are a rich source of learning.

The resources you can find at the site will save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars. All you have to do is read the articles and the newsletter. Even if you have a great tax professional working with you, sometimes you just don't ask them the right questions. They can't help you if you don't know what you need to ask. But, here, others ask the questions for you. Now, you can go back to your tax pro and get clarification on how those issues apply to your life or your business.

* Tax quips offers daily audio clips and tax wisdom.

* TaxMama's free tax newsletter, Ask TaxMama is published weekly and delivered to your email inbox. It contains questions and answers relating tax matters.

* The advice from the site is free.
TaxMama loves to hear from you. You are welcome to ask TaxMama your own question. There are thousands of answers already on the site. There is a good chance that someone has already asked a similar question.

If you can't find the information already on the site, just ask from the TaxMama.

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Request Credit - Helping Consumer Choose the Right Credit Offer

RequestCredit.com provides customers with the most detailed and up-to-date information about the best credit card online deals.

It does not issue credit cards, but RequestCredit.com collects official information on bank cards presented by the leading companies and helps a consumer to choose online the right credit card offer for him/her.
Other features of the site

- You can ask questions to the experts at Help Desk and get online a reliable and detailed advice on how to rebuild your credit, what credit card application to take.

- Site helps the visitors keep informed and enlarge their personal finance management knowledge.

- In the Best Deals section there is a collection of the items that are a great success among the consumers like as lowest APR, instant approval, beneficial balance transfer terms, etc.

- In the Deals by Credit Rating section the products are sorted by the type of credit history they are designed for.

- Offers for good score are divided into categories, according to the type of reward they provide. Decide how you prefer to be rewarded and browse the Deals by Reward section of the website to find the most advantageous plastic for your need.
There are featured products for personal needs, business cards for corporate purposes or student options

- In the Credit Cards by Bank section the items are arranged according to the bank they are issued by.

* The most valuablt feature of the site is their help center. It comprises personal finance and news, finance related articles and help desk.



Few tips about balance transfer credit cards

- If you want to benefit from transferring your balance onto a new card, you need to have good credit. All best buy balance transfer cards are designed for good and excellent credit history.

As for fair plastics that come with a low ongoing APR on balance transfers, they do exist. You may consider Platinum and Platinum - Visa by Capital One. They both come with a low APR on purchases and balance transfers. If you're carrying a heavy balance on a high-rate card, one of these Capital One cards will be a smart choice. Another advantage of these credit offers is that they come with no balance transfer fees. It means you need to pay nothing for transferring your balance from one card to another.

You may also review Classic Platinum by Capital One. Although this plastic comes with a bit higher APR compared with the above-mentioned offers, it has a lower annual fee, plus no balance transfer fees. So, it can be a good option for a borrower with fair credit.

More tips at 'Balance Transfer Credit Card page'.

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How To Get Out Of Debts? -Part 2

Continued from Part 1

Contact Creditors
If paying bills on time becomes a problem, do not wait for your accounts to become delinquent. Contact your creditors immediately and explain your situation. Emphasize that you want to pay your debts and suggest a repayment plan. Your creditors may allow you to arrange new terms, such as deferring or reducing payments or making interest-only payments for several months.

Being late on vehicle loans is especially risky because most financing agreements allow lenders to repossess your vehicle at any time you are in default. If your vehicle is repossessed, you may also become responsible for the cost of the repossession. In addition, repossession will hurt your ability to obtain credit in the future. Because of this, it is better to sell the vehicle yourself to pay the loan if you cannot work out an agreement with your creditor.

Reduce your interest rates. If you can, move higher interest rate balances to lower interest rate cards or loans. You may be able to take advantage of a low introductory interest rate on a new credit card. Before doing so, be sure you understand what will happen to the interest rate at the end of the introductory period.

Consolidate your debt. You may be able to consolidate several debts into one obligation with an interest rate that is lower than the interest rate you were paying on the consolidated debts. Debt consolidation is not the answer for everyone. It works only if you are disciplined enough to avoid taking on any new debts.

Review your insurance deductibles. You may be able to improve your cash flow by increasing your insurance deductibles which will generally decrease your insurance premiums. The deductible is the amount you pay before the insurance company pays for a loss. By asking your insurance company to raise your deductible, you agree to assume more for each loss.

Remember to set aside the increased deductible amount in your emergency fund which should equal 3 to 6 months of basic living expenses.

Pay high interest debt first. Focus your repayment efforts on the debt with the highest interest rate. When you have identified your highest interest rate debt, continue making the minimum required payments on your other loans but apply available excess cash to paying down your highest interest rate obligation first. Once you have paid it in full, take the payment and extra principal you were paying on that loan and apply it as additional principal payments on the remaining loan that has the highest interest rate. As each debt is paid in full, you will have an increasing amount of cash to use toward paying in full the next one.

Sell assets. Consider selling possessions that are no longer wanted or needed and using the cash to pay your debt in full. Spare appliances, an extra vehicle or rarely-used exercise equipment may all be items for sale that will simplify your life while also raising funds for debt reduction.

If your debts are well above recommended levels, consider redeeming investments or using your savings to pay down debt. Generally, you should only do this if the expected return on your investments or savings is lower than the interest rate you are paying on the debt. Because selling investments may have tax consequences, you may benefit from consulting a financial planning professional.

Downsize. For many consumers, house and vehicle payments make up the majority of their debt obligations. If your debt is above the recommended thresholds, consider downsizing to a less expensive home or vehicle. In addition to reducing your debts, you may find additional savings resulting from lower insurance premiums and maintenance costs.

Where To Get Help
The nonprofit Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) offers budget planning and debt repayment plan administration. Consumer Credit Counseling Service counselors will develop your budget with you to determine how much is available to repay debt. Then they will negotiate on your behalf with creditors to develop a debt repayment schedule.

Visit the site: www.nfcc.org

Source: USAA Ed Foundation

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How To Get Out Of Debts? -Part 1

There are a lot of tips and techniques which can really help us learn to lead a debt free life. Everyone has its own life and dealing with finances is our own choice, but still we can set our goals to get out of debts. These tips would help you made your mind in getting out of debts.

TIPS

If you have too much debt, take these steps to bring your debt to more comfortable levels.
- Stop adding new debt. Stay away from payday lenders.
- Develop and follow a monthly budget.
- Contact creditors about payment plans.
- Use debt management techniques to reduce existing debts.

Stop Adding New Debt
When debt is a problem, the first step toward a solution is to stop adding to your existing balances. It may be helpful to remove your credit cards from your wallet and place them in a secure but less convenient location so you will be less likely to use them.

Review your most recent credit card statements to identify any recurring monthly charges on your cards. Cancel those purchases that are not essential, such as subscriptions to entertainment services.

Develop A Monthly Budget
Before attempting to pay your debt in full, it is critical that you know how much money you receive and where every dollar goes each month. Use the Budget Work Sheet to take that important step. It will help you identify opportunities to trim expenses, saving money that can be used to pay down your balances. The easiest expenses to eliminate are flexible expenses like dining out, clothing, gifts and entertainment.

As you examine your monthly income and spending, you should also consider opportunities to increase your income — especially if you find your expenses exceed your income. Even if it is only temporary, additional income will quicken your return to financial health.

A budget, or a spending plan, is a tool for establishing financial control and direction. It helps you:

- Track where your money goes each month and year.
- Avoid wasting money.
- Prepare for unforeseen expenses.
- Save and invest for long-term goals.
Several financial software programs are available to help you accomplish this task. Utilizing this information will help you more wisely manage your income and expenses to meet your financial goals.

Creating A Budget
Total every dollar you spend for a month and keep track of what you buy. You may be surprised how much you spend and on what things.

Assess your income and subtract your expenses. Gather pay stubs and other income statements, check registers, bank statements, credit card statements or bills and receipts. Divide your annual net income by 12 to determine monthly net income.

Copy the Budget Work Sheet. Use it to record the amounts you plan to spend for the month. Financial planning professionals generally recommend targeting at least 10 percent to 15 percent of monthly net income for savings.

Monitor your spending. Keep written records of your purchases and payments. Record the amounts you actually spent for the month.

Review your plan. Compare what you actually spent to the amounts you planned to spend. How well did you do for the month? Did you have extra money (net cash flow), or did you borrow money by using a credit card? Look for areas that require special attention and reduce or eliminate expenses as needed. Review your spending plan at least once each month.

Adjust your plan. Adjust expenses to reach your financial goals.

Continued at: Part 2

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