Perks That Might Be Hiding in Your Credit Cards

Credit cards tend to have its advantage as well as disadvantage if not used rightly. At times even the most responsible people could meet up with problems if they are faced with a dismissalor in a situation of an expensive treatment. If all tends to go well and the user is well aware of what they are doing, credit cards could save them with a lot of money. One need to know their credit card well because if not, they may be unaware of the various perks which some of the credit cards tend to offer and hence will not be able to take advantage of them resulting in losing money. The fine prints should be checked since there are some of the hidden perks, which an individual may be entitled to, while utilising the credit card

Rental insurance 

Spokesman for Clear Point Credit Counselling solutions, Thomas Nitzsche, headquartered in Atlanta, had been faced with a problem when on renting a car to drive from Missouri to Georgia had to street-park it for three days while staying in Atlanta. He had noticed that it had been hit on the rear bumper and the cost to fix it amounted to $800. Though he had not bought the expensive rental insurance, the rental company offered help.Nitzsche’s credit card, VISA Signature comprised of rental insurance and the entire bill was paid after he had submitted the paperwork with proof that the car had been rented by him and was being asked to pay a claim.He informed that Visa was capable of reducing the $800 by around $50 and they probably had some negotiating power.

Airline incidentals 

Matthew Coan running the financial comparison website, Casavvy.com informed that he was overwhelmed with a recent perk provided by the American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card, a $100 annual credit for covering airline incidental fees. According to him, these fees comprised of checked bags, flight refreshments, airport lounge passes and much more. A few things need to be kept in mind in order to utilise the perk wherein for the reimbursement of any of these fees, the same has to be paid separately from the airline ticket and can only obtain the fees reversed for one airline for the calendar year.

Dispute resolution 

If the individual feels that they have been overcharged for something, they could contact their credit card and get help. If the dispute resolution service is offered with the card, you stand a chance of getting the charge reduced.

Trip cancellation insurance 

According to Jared Blank, chief marketing officer of the retail website DealNews.com, states that with Chase Ink Plus card, they offer this facility of trip cancellation insurance. He narrates that his parents had booked a cruise and a non-refundable flight for a holiday and had paid with the Chase Ink Plus card. His mother had been ill and the trip had to be cancelled. The airfare and the cruise cancellation fee were reimbursed by Chase that was done without any difficulty.

Extended warranties 

At the time of purchase of a computer or any expensive product, one would often be asked if they would prefer purchasing an extended warranty. They would then get engaged with their associate on, whether the offer would be worthwhile. Four of the major credit card networks, namely MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover tend to offer extended warranties on several, though not all of their credit cards.

Beware Credit Card Firms’ Odious Tricks

Credit Card Companies – Reduced Rewards/Cash-backs

Starting a new business and making arrangements for the fund could at times come from friends or family or even a small business loan from the lender or financial institute. However, when these options seem to be unavailable, one could turn to credit card in availing the funds for a small business.

Credit card is not an invitation to spend money one does not own but the consumer needs to be cautious in using the credit card wisely. Several of the consumers do not take the trouble in reading the card statement carefully that would make them cautious of all the small charges which are imposed by the card company.

It means that a credit card is an easy packaged though a terribly priced personal loan which has the utilities but the charges seems to outweigh the benefits. Since updated EU clampdown on charges has been hitting on the profits, Credit card companies have reduced their rewards and cash-backs. Peter Jackson of Stockport speculates on the rewards that these credit card companies tend to hand out to consumers in a way to confuse them on how much they actually pay to use them.

Companies – Hidden Charges

Jackson writes that `any perks that individuals tend to receive have been paid for, by themselves without their knowledge. What makes matter worse is the fact that because everyone pays the same prices in the vast majority of retail outlets, anyone without a cash-back deal is subsidizing the customers who do’.

 He further goes on the same point with regards to current accounts stating that `this has been going on for years in the form of free banking. Banks give free bank accounts and then make their profits from people going overdrawn’.

In all honesty, he could have made the same point about mortgages, energy bills or mobile phone charges and people with the time and energy seeking out the best deals tends to do well. Others get penalised through higher charges or fewer discounts. Jacksons continues that `instead of charging a fair price for a fair service, companies tend to put all their efforts in hiding charges.

Introductory Deals of Zero Percent – Odious Deceits

It ends up with the poor and financially illiterate supporting the well-off. Why is there no open and honest charge, without all the cross-subsidizing?’ he asks. He states that it is a fair enough question and the one which he constantly puts forth to financial institutes over the years.

There are few notable exceptions most of whom are too frightened of losing business should refrain from competing with the same marketing tricks which their rivals tend to have. The introductory deals of zero percent which credit cards tend to offer are one of the most odious deceits, since people get affected by huge balance transfer fees together with high charges towards the end of the term.

 The faster these tricks or deceits are barred, the better. Consumers should bear these facts in mind and be wary while using the credit cards and avoid the traps the card companies and banks utilise to entice consumers getting them to pay all kinds of penalties and fees.

How to Maximize Credit Card Rewards

Credit Card Rewards – Perks of Rewards Program

According to a 2011 research from Colloquy and Swift Exchange, the average household active in rewards program do not redeem a third of the rewards they tend to earn every year which could include credit card rewards. John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education at Smart Credit.com comments that `there are a slew of people out there that has cards with points on all of them and they don’t even realize it’.

 The idea of receiving rewards credit card is to give the person the perks of the rewards program and the best way to ensure that one gets the most out of the rewards credit card is to use the right one and make sure it is paid off each month.

It could be used to the greatest advantage while also being aware of the possible pitfalls like leaving points on the table. The first problem is to ensure that the credit card and rewards program chosen matches the individual’s financial lifestyle.

 If the person travels a lot during free time, then a hotel or airline card could suit the individual while a gas credit card could be best for a road warrior. Those who would prefer an uncomplicated reward system could opt for cash-back credit cards, according to vice-president, Amy Lenander, of rewards programs at Capital One.

Cash Rewards Easy & Straightforward

She states that `cash rewards tend to be easy and straightforward as rewards can develop. Customers who prefer miles and points could save up for a big reward and dream up the possibility, whereas the cash-back customers tend to be more practical’.

Besides this, several cash back cards are provided with various ways of redeeming rewards like in the form of cheques, statement credits, charity donation or gift cards while others tend to automatically deposit the rewards directly in the bank account. It is essential to read the terms and conditions since not all cards are created equal even if they offer a similar form of reward program.

There are various forms of credit cards wherein some may require spending threshold prior to earning rewards while others cap the amount of rewards that is earned. Users should also be aware of blackout dates in redeeming travel rewards or the expiration date on points. Linda Sherry, director of national priorities at watchdog group Consumer Action also informs that these rewards programs are subject to change at any point of time.

Some Advanced Planning

Cash back cards could also involve some advanced planning and while most cards provide one percent to two percent cash back there could also be certain restrictions or requirements. These could include caps on spending in various categories or more rewards on purchases on gas, groceries or dining. Other cash back rewards programs could be even more difficult, with rotating categories needing quarterly registrations.

According to Bill McCracken, CEO of Synergistics Research in Atlanta, states that in some cases, consumers tend to pick the spending category and receive the rewards or the rewards are given to the highest spending category. This could mean more observing by the consumer in taking full advantage of their credit card.

Consumers should be alert for opportunities to double or triple their reward earning power. Lisa Hronek, senior analyst at Mintel Comperemedia informs that several issuers tend to offer an increased cash back return rate each quarter for certain categories usually the ones that go according to the season.

Credit Cards

Credit Card – A form of Borrowing

Credit card is one form of borrowing which involves some charges and its terms and condition could affect the overall cost. It is advisable to do some research on the terms and the fees before any agreement to open a credit or a charge card account.

 Being unaware of the terms and their charges could leave the user disappointed when faced with the overall cost they may encounter. At times shopping with the credit card could save you money on interest and fees. Issuers of credit card tend to have wide scope in charging interest though they should brief the customers on the interest rate. It is also essential for the customer to read the fine print in the original credit card agreement as well as in any supplemental copy.

As per the federal law, interest rate tends to increase on existing balances under some conditions like when a promotional rate may end and there is a variable rate or when the cardholder tends to make a late payment. The interest rate on new transaction may also increase but after the first year. If the customer is faced with an issue regarding the credit card, they should first try resolving the same directly with store or the credit card company or the financial institution.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

If the matter is not resolved, they could file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – CFPB which presently accepts complaints with regards to credit card issues and take them up either through phone or through their site at https://help.consumerfinance.gov/app/ask_cc_complaint. For any guidance regarding credit card debt, fees and high interest rates, customers could contact a credit counselling service or debt Management Company who can render the necessary guidance and support. They could also provide practical as well as legal financial advice with regards to the use of credit. Beside this, they could also make attempts on renegotiate the terms of the credit agreements and make arrangement to pay off the debts. One needs to check on the debt management company though all arenot the legitimate ones.

Credit Card Eligibility Calculator

Some of the following credit card eligibility calculator could be helpful to individuals such as:


• Bad Credit – For bad credit scorers- Those who apply for credit card and have been rejected need not go in for the same. They should check on cards that would fit their profile and try to rebuild credit rating by using the top `bad credit’ credit card and ensure to pay in a timely manner
• Interest free spending- 0% Spending – If the need to borrow for a purchase arises, the right choice needs to be taken, credit cards are far cheaper than loans though if misused it could add debts which may be difficult to pay off
• Balance transfers – Cut existing debt costs – Shifting the prevailing credit card or store card debts to new balance transfer card could save much wherein the balance transfers when a credit card could pay off debts on other credit or store cards. Thus one owes the new card though at a lower rate which means they can be debt free much quicker.
• Travel Money – Several cards add 3% cost than the banks to the exchange rates which can be avoided by a specialist card that does not add this percentage and you get a good exchange rate. This could be used for overseas spending though one should bear in mind to repay in full to avoid the additional burden of interest.
• Balance transfers and spending – All-rounders - Most of the banks offer introduction deals to attract new customers with cards that could be either good balance transfer deals or low rates on new spending. All-rounder cards offer cheap intro rates for balance transfers as well as purchases and if a person needs to move debts from an existing expensive card as well as need to use a card for purchase, they could be checked since they cannot damage the credit score with additional applications.
• Cash back – pays when spend – The cash-back credit card tends to pay you each time you make a purchase where top cards tend to pay around 5% introductory cash-back while other offer 3% on fuel and transport spending. Besides these, there is also other good fee free; cash reward cards which are like cash-back cards offered.
• 0% Cash in Bank account – Money Transfer – The money transfer credit card enables the customer to pay money from their new credit card in the current account with a small fee wherein they get a long interest free period in repaying the debt. Should the customer fail to repay the same within the given time period, they are charged with a high interest rate.
• Get Air miles while spending – Airline credit cards are an addition of regular flyer programs and one could earn points or miles on spending as well as earn bonus for signing up. The miles earned from spending could be added with those earned from flying or by other credit card reward schemes like converting Tesco Clubcard points.

Money Moves: Imagine Playing Your Financial Life like a Chess Game

To say chess is a popular game would be a gross understatement. Chess, for at least 1500 years, has been considered to be not just a game, but a true test of intellect and character. One can learn a great many things about chess that can be applied to one’s life, not the least of which is one’s personal finance. Chess is a game that requires patience, foresight, and an ability to understand your opponent. Much like your personal finance, these qualities are required for you to come out on top in the end. Here are a few things you can take away from playing chess and use to improve your financial life:

Think three moves ahead.

The phrase is synonymous to playing chess but should apply to every aspect of one’s life. Your financial life won’t be improved by being arbitrary. Whether you’re planning on taking out a personal loan or using your credit card, you should always know what these decisions would lead to and how you would deal with those consequences. Managing your money rests a lot on proper planning. Don’t just have a single plan for your finances, have a plan that you will implement after your initial plan has succeeded, and have a series of contingency plans if your initial plan fails. Only by anticipating every possible outcome and being prepared for each of those outcomes can you secure a victory in chess and finance.

Work both sides of your game.

The really great chess players can effectively play both offensively and defensively. Whether it’s using the white pieces or black pieces, an astute player takes advantage of any and every position in the game, whether placed there intentionally or not. The same applies to your personal financial management. Some people are just good at saving and investing their money but can’t seem to find a way to earn more money. Some can earn a lot of money but are unable to properly budget that money. Don’t just be good at making money. Be sure you’re also adept at saving and investing money, even at budgeting money, and managing money. Improve every aspect of your financial game. By attempting to be well rounded, you can identify which areas of your personal financial management style need work and you can definitely improve on those areas.

Know when to sacrifice.

In chess, you’ll sometimes find yourself in situations wherein you need to sacrifice valued pieces in order to achieve desired results. Managing your finances is the same. Sometimes, you’re going to find yourself in predicaments that only a sacrifice can get you out of. Don’t hesitate to make the proper sacrifices if it means a much more important achievement comes to you down the line.

Practice patience.

A well-crafted plan of attack or counterattack fails if a player doesn’t have the patience to wait until the proper time to execute that plan. All good plans rely on proper timing in order to work perfectly. Patience is the key to success in chess and finance. Waiting for your opening, knowing your opportunity will come and ensuring that whatever opportunity to unleash your game plan is not wasted goes a long way in ensuring your success. The same way chess players wonder if “is it the right time to perform castling” or “is it the right time to sacrifice my queen,” when it comes to your finances, always consider timing. Is this the right time to take out a personal loan or should you wait? Is this the right time to use your credit card? Always practice patience, and you’ll see the right time come.

Know how to maximise your resources.

Sometimes in chess, you’re forced to play at a disadvantage. You’re bound to make mistakes form time to time, and there are occasions where that lead to situations wherein your pieces are outnumbered and your movements are limited. Chess players thrive on control, but also know how to make do with situations when their initial plan doesn’t work. With fewer pieces on the board, they still try to find a way to win.

In your personal financial management, try to maximise your resources, limited as they might seem to you. There’s always a way to win, and it’s up to you to find it. Learn to use whatever you have, be it a single credit card or a meager income. Your financial success isn’t limited with your lack of resources, but rather with what you end up doing with those resources.

Chess and finance are very similar in terms of the need to establish the proper mindset and practice a level of discipline in order to succeed. Look at your money as chess pieces, and your financial life as a chessboard, with debt and other bad things as your opponent. Make the right moves and you’ll be sure to win at the game of finance.

Low interest credit cards - how to make them work for you

Credit cards are borrowing instruments, unlike debit cards where you already have the money. Banks are there to make money too. Just like high street stores, they hope to maximise their profits within the rules. So it’s important to understand the basics and find a credit card that’s right for you – you can compare low APR credit cards here.

Now you know the rules, let’s find out how to play the game. The financial services industry charges interest on the money that it lends out. Let us assume you borrow £100 on your credit card and keep it for exactly one year before you pay it back. For the purposes of this article, we will assume your loan attracts 8% interest per year, which is the Annual Percentage Rate, or APR for that particular transaction.
Practical example

If you paid the loan back in one go at the end of year one, you would owe them £108. That is, your original £100 plus 8%. The bank will likely ask you to pay the interest monthly though. Divide £8 by 12 months, and you get 67 pence a month (well 66.66 pence if you insist). If you decide to repay the loan back after six months – but paid no monthly interest – then you will owe them £104. When you think about it, the APR will still be 8% per full year.

Let us try something different. Suppose you paid back £50 after 6 months. In this case, your situation would look like this:

• First six months, interest added £4 (capital sum £100)

• Second six months, interest added £2 (capital sum £50)

The total interest of £6 you pay is only 6% of the money you originally borrowed. But then, you did give them back £50 halfway through, which is why there is a saving of £2 overall. Moreover, you only have to scratch around for £52 at the end of the loan period. It always makes sense to pay a loan off quicker.
Penalty interest

Of course, if you fall behind on monthly interest payments (or fail to pay the loan back on time with interest) then the situation will look different. Now here is a hot tip. Some card firms with the lowest advertised APRs charge the highest penalty interest rates, if you are late with payments. So pick your service provider with your own plan in mind.

Using a credit card for purchases

Pretty much the same logic applies: if you keep up with payments and do not overspend, your situation should stay under control. If you do not though, the interest can spiral out of control to the extent that you can hardly keep up with it. Yet another good reason not to use your credit card for luxuries like beer and holidays.

Is the lowest APR the best?

Not necessarily. Here are some tips that will help you make the right and most informed decision:

• Only half the customers that apply get advertised APRs. Learn to look for terms like “representative” and “average” in advertisements.

• In practice, credit card firms do creditworthy checks, analyse our individual payment records, and then apply an APR that balances out their risk.

• Be wary of choosing a particular card because of the “free” add-on rewards. You have to spend money to qualify for them, meaning they’re not free after all.

• Aim to pay for your purchases every month, and repay your loans on time. If you do not, be sure to compare the penalty interest rates you will end up paying.

So is a credit card a bad thing?

Definitely not, credit cards have many benefits. These include a plan in hand for unplanned expenses and detailed statements so we can see where every pound we spend goes. That said it is important to use a credit card responsibly, so you stay out of financial trouble, and avoid that dreaded bad credit record.
Finally, a quick word on whether to have a credit card at all. In the UK, you can seldom borrow money if you do not have a record of previous credit. This can be a real bind when you need a mortgage to buy a house. A clean credit card is the perfect way to build your reputation. Just choose the APR most suitable for you.

Brief Overview of Credit Card Machines

The world has witnessed so much of modernization eliminating the cash transactions from businesses. These days we have all sorts of online transaction which is popularized by the help of credit card machines. This is a device that can do transactions with a debit card or a credit card. Credit card machines securely transmit funds from one account to another. It is a Point of Sale terminal that can do transaction with a credit / debit card. This machine allows a merchant to insert, swipe, or key in manually the required credit card information and transmit such data to the merchant service provider for consent and then later on the transfer the fund to the merchant. It is used by merchants to directly capture card information instead of manually entering it in card details. Credit card machines are efficient enough to provide the benefit of decreased transaction processing times.

What Are The Key Benefits of Credit Card Machines?

Increment in Sale:
It is interesting to know that if a business can accept credit cards its revenue is on rise and it can make more profits. What sets it apart is the fact that it increases convenience of payment which makes it easy for customers to purchase even when they are doing impulse buying.

Popularity:

Gone are those days of cash exchange. Today credit cards are more convenient and popular for both customers and merchants. Customers have the power to make purchases that they deem necessary, even though they don’t have the cash on hand, they appreciate the option of an additional convenient way to pay so that they do not be late to purchase.

Improvement in Cash Flow:

The credit card payment process is speeder up by the electronic transaction process. Now you do not have to wait for checks to clear, or 30, 60, or even 90 days for invoices to be paid, funds resulting from credit and debit card transactions are deposited directly into your bank account, often within 48 hours. It enables faster payment cycles as it is facilitated by Electronic Transaction Process. It leads to improved cash flow and decreased billing overhead.

Productivity Improves: 

Credit card processing automatically induces the transaction flow.  Automated acceptance and settlement allow funds from the credit or debit transaction deposited directly into your bank account. It can make your payment process more efficient and less time consuming. Now you do not have to worry about being a payment collection agent.

Builds A Good Image For Your Business: 

You and your company can, gain valuable creditability in the eyes of both current and potential customers by accepting credit cards. Once you start accepting electronic payments, you can state that you accept credit cards and include the appropriate card logos and decals at your place of business or on your business cards, brochures, or website.


Hi I am Steve Brown and I am running a small restaurant in Florida. The use of credit card machine for small business has helped me establish my business in a much better way. And the use of wireless terminal credit card in my business added much more benefit then I thought.

Info on how to Reclaim a PPI and do you Qualify for it?

PPI is one of the extremely usable insurances. However, it is observed that in majority of the cases PPI is mis-sold along with credit cards, loans and mortgages. There are several cases recorded where PPI was mis-sold and finally proved to be of no use when they were claimed. Well, in such a case there is only one option left out and that is reclaiming PPI. You can reclaim your PPI by yourself or by hiring a solicitor or a claims management company.



These days, you can easily find many people asking for their PPI claims, but regrettably most of them don’t get it. One important reason behind this is that people neglect and don’t go through the terms and conditions thoroughly and sometimes they are actually not qualified to get the PPI claim. Mentioned below is a list of essential things that you should consider when you think of requesting for PPI claim.

Find necessary documents:

First of all make sure that you have a PPI policy by finding necessary documents. Usually, even the banks write to their customers that they mis-sold a PPI. If you get any such notification do not ignore it. Your bank is writing to you because they accept that they have missold you a PPI, so this will be the right time to get the refund of the premium that you paid unnecessarily.

Your age when PPI coverage was sold to you:

PPI can only be sold to those who are above 18. Therefore, if you find that you were sold a PPI before turning 18 then you have a very good chance of rightfully asking the claim of your PPI.

Were you retired, unemployed or self-employed while taking a PPI?

If you were underage, student, unemployed or self-employed while taking the policy, then for sure it was mis-sold. In this case, you have a very good chance of making a PPI claim. PPI is worthless if you were retired or unemployed. Also, those who work part-time or working on a temporary contract basis cannot take a PPI. Thus, as the policy was mis-sold to you, you can claim it rightfully.

Now, if the above mentioned points are in your favor, you can go ahead and request for a claim, if you are denied you can reclaim it by taking professional advice.

What is the deadline to claim?

Well, there are no deadlines and you can claim it any time. However, the policy that was active in last 6 years is easy to claim. The reason behind this is 6 years is the time frame for which banks are required to keep the info about credit cards and loans. Lastly, you can claim the PPI anytime, but the important thing is that you should have necessary paperwork because without essential documents, it will be very difficult to prove your case.

In case the bank rejects your claim, you need not worry. If you have all the necessary details that will make your case stronger you can reclaim it. However, expecting a quick resolution is not wise.


Samuel is an ardent writer and he writes on many topic related to the financial and legal matters. If you are looking for ways to deal with Mis sold PPI, please visit their website to learn more about it.

Choosing Credit Card Processing Companies?

These days whether be small or big businesses accepting credits cards is very important because without them you know you are going to loose quite a many customers. But the processing of the payments for instance working with credit card processing machines is not a layman’s job. For this you need to hire a credit card processing company. Since it is completely upon computer and internet networking not all business owners has an idea how it works. Very few credit card processing companies work for the betterment of their clients. You will never know about the service and may even loose thousands of money just as hidden cost. Hence choose the credit card processing companies carefully for which there are certain intelligent methods as well.



Tips on how to Choose the Right Credit Card Processing Company

• A certain amount or percentage of the total sale and the cost of the each transaction is what the company will ask from you. But usually this amount is double the actual cost and hence it is your call on how you negotiate the deal. Hence the first thing to check is the fees. In case a company is charging you less, you need to ensure how the transaction fee charging method is; is it monthly or on the basis of large sales. Hence you need to find out whether such hidden costs or fees are there or not.

• There are different types of transaction rated which you need to check and get updated regularly. For instance, there are times when swiped credit cards transaction charges are less while the swiped debit card charges are more, and such deals vary.

• The best way to check the credibility of the company is to have a contract with such companies only for a year. In case the service is satisfactory to you, you should choose to reconsider or extend the contract.

• Make sure you do a good background check up on these companies. Sometimes problems regarding such companies are reported in the consumer or government forums. For US, the place to find such complains is the Better Business Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission.

• To cross check the company, ask the business representative of the company to give you contacts of two of their clients. If they show signs of hesitation it is a sign for you that the company is not that good in their service. Secondary references also help you to do business better.

• Do not hire processing equipment from that company rather own it yourself. The rent of such equipment over the years would be much high than one time investments. In case you change the company, the equipments are not affected.

I am Sandy Wood, an entrepreneur by profession. Before contacting the credit card processing companies I had already bought the credit card processing machines. It actually helped me to get the contract deals quite cost-effectively.

Practical Tips to Improve Your Credit Rating

As the economy continues to be in doldrums, lenders are becoming very cautious to the people they give credit facilities. Some lenders charge high interest rates to individuals with poor credit rating as a way of mitigating the default risk involved. A good credit rating will definitely boost the chances of getting financial products such as mortgages, personal loans and credit cards from banks and other lending institutions. On the hindsight, a poor credit rating will limit your borrowing options. It is therefore very important to put strategies in place to improve your credit rating. Discussed below are ways you can improve your credit rating:

Always Pay Your Bills on Time

Never miss to make a loan or a mortgage repayment on time because it will affect your credit scores adversely. Paying your bills on time will avoid incurring penalties that could have reflected in your credit file. If you are in a fix and cannot make to pay your bills on time, talk to your lenders as early as possible.

Cancel All Expired Credit Cards

Most individuals switch cards often but fail to cancel old credit cards even if they no longer use them. When you do not cancel these cards, they still appear on your credit file. This will affect your credit rating negatively. It is therefore recommended that you cancel all the expired credit cards and have this information logged on in your credit file.

Check Your Credit Report Regularly

Ensure that you check your credit report on a regular basis semi-annually or annually from the main credit reference agencies which are Equifax and Experian. Checking your credit file will only cost you £2 but it is worth it because you will ascertain that the information on your credit report is accurate and up to date. Not all lenders that inform credit reference agencies of all changes that happen in your account right away and therefore you will have the opportunity to ensure that they have the updated details. It is also good to keep a close look for charges in your credit file which may be caused by identity theft or duplicate entries of unpaid balances. If you notice something amiss in your credit report, you should have it rectified immediately to ensure that you have the right rating.

Always Give Correct Information

Ensure that the information you supply on your loans, mortgages and credit cards applications are truthful and accurate. Inconsistencies of information provided will negatively affect your credit rating and may even be considered as a fraud.

Avoid Too Many Enquiries on Your Credit Report

When you are scouring for loans, ensure that lenders do not make equerries about your credit report without your knowledge. Lenders should only access your credit report when you have requested them to do so. Multiple credit checks within a short time spun can affect your credit score since it can imply that you are so desperate to get as much credit as possible even if you are not in a capacity to service all the credits.

Controlling your credit card expenses will also help to improve your credit rating. Aim to maintain your credit card balance at less than 25 % of your overall limit. Whatever the method of improving your credit score you employ, ensure that you are consistent.


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Top Ten Tips for Getting Yourself Out of Debt

Unchecked debt can snowball, and before you know it, it can feel like there’s no way out. Here are a few tips to get you started on regaining control of your finances:

1. Get motivated.

Setting yourself an end goal and reminding yourself of it every day can help and give you that extra push. Promise yourself a reward each time you reach a milestone, such as paying off credit card debt or sticking below your budget. If you feel negative all the time it can feel like a losing battle and you’ll fail before you even start.



2. Work out how much you actually owe.

It’s a common mistake to think that you only owe what you borrowed. That $1,000 on your credit card can soon double if left to accumulate interest. Make sure that interest rates for each creditor are accounted for: it will probably shock you into taking action.

3. Understand your debts.

As well as thinking about the interest rates and factoring these in to your budget, you need to understand all of the terms and conditions on any contracts and credit agreements that you have. All of your creditors may have different rates and rules so this can sometimes be quite complicated. A loan to consolidate debt can reduce your monthly payments and give you fewer creditors to worry about.

4. Know your options.

The best option for you can take some research but there are many ways to get out of debt, including consolidation loans, a moratorium, a debt agreement or bankruptcy.

5. Negotiate with your creditors.
If you don’t ask, you don’t get - so try asking for a lower interest rate or negotiating lower, more manageable repayments. Often, some smaller level of repayment is better than no repayment at all, and many creditors favour this option. If they say no, re-evaluate - there’s nothing lost.

6. Prioritise your debts.

Pay off the most important debts with the highest levels of interest or for the greatest amounts before focusing on smaller loans and lower rates.

7. Set a realistic budget.

Log every penny you spend and it will help you realise where you are spending unnecessary cash. However, make sure that you budget for emergencies and don’t leave yourself short each month or it will drive you back to the money lenders.

8. Use cash instead of credit cards.

Go to the ATM once a week, only take the cash you have budgeted for and leave your bank cards at home. Physically seeing the cash fly out of your wallet will make you realise how much you’re spending and what you’re spending it on. It will also give you a good idea of where you can make cuts. Credit cards aren’t money - if you don’t have the cash in your wallet, you can’t afford it.

9. Take action against those unnecessary expenditures.

Your log of expenses and those disappearing dollars will soon make you rethink that fancy restaurant reservation. A little expense here and there will soon add up – know when to say no.

10. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

If you give yourself an unrealistic budget and change your lifestyle completely, the chances of you succeeding are pretty slim. Make sure you have room for a treat every now and then to keep you motivated: depriving yourself of everything you love is a recipe for disaster - especially when combined with the existing stress of debt.

5 Ways to Avoid a Bad Credit Record

Having a bad credit record can severely impact on your life in a range of ways. You can experience difficulty finding a place to rent, as well as having applications for credit cards, loans and even phone contracts constantly knocked back. Preserving your credit record is particularly important if you are considering a home loan in the next few years. Here are 5 simple ways to avoid a bad credit record.

Create a Budget

Making sure that you have an accurate and detailed budget will help you to stay on track with all of your payments and expenses. You may need to spend several hours assessing your income and expenses in order to have a clear idea of what you have available for savings and bill payments. Try and allocate a saving account for emergency situations, and aim to have 3 months of your expenses saved at all times. This will cover you in case you temporarily aren’t able to earn your normal income.

Keep Your Details Up-to-Date

Ensuring that you stay up-to-date with any change of address and contact details will allow creditors to contact you directly. You can inadvertently damage your credit record by forgetting to update your change of address, and as a result miss any bills and outstanding payment notices that are being sent to your old residence. It also allows any creditors to contact you promptly in the event of a problem, which can save your credit record from receiving any unnecessarily damaging records.

Don’t Max out Your Cards

Try and stick to the minimum spending on your credit cards, and always pay it back as punctually as possible. Try not to max out your cards, as it increases the risk that you may not be able to make a repayment if your circumstances change.

Contact Your Creditors

If you’re experiencing issues making a payment, make sure you contact your creditors directly. You’d be surprised just how understanding they can be when given plenty of notice. Quite often they will make special allowances for cases of financial hardship, especially if you can present them with a structured plan of when you will be meeting your payment obligations.

Don’t Ignore the Problem

The worst thing you can possibly do is to ignore any credit issues. Being late on payment or worse, not paying at all, will do almost irreparable damage to your credit record. As soon as you are struggling to make your payments, you should contact your creditors to organise an alternative arrangement. If you aren’t comfortable doing this, an experienced debt solutions provider such as Fox Symes can negotiate with your creditors on your behalf. They will also assist in all kinds of debt help, from consolidation to personalised budgeting advice.

Preserving your good credit record should always be a financial priority. With the devastating impacts that a bad credit rating can have, your quality of life can be seriously reduced from even the smallest indiscretion. If you think you might have trouble meeting your repayment obligations, consider enlisting the help of professional debt solutions specialists.

What to Toss, Save or Shred While Financial Spring Cleaning

Spring is the time to clean the garbage and get rid of those heavy, useless financial papers. Knowing what to keep and what to do away with is a difficult thing. Given below is a list of documents that you should toss, shred or save for future reference.

What so Toss:

Home Improvement Documents

No one is interested in your home improvement documents, but the tax authorities. Once you get your tax cleared, it’s time to get rid of these heavy documents.

Manuals and Warranty Papers

They should be kept as long as you own the goods. Once you have disposed it or parted ways with it, you should also part ways with manuals and warranty papers. Warrantee documents are also useless once the date expires.

Receipts
They are generally of no use, until the product is a big one. These are used only in two scenarios. First, when you intend to return the good or tax concerns. Once the tax is cleared and the bought goods get old or you don’t plan on returning or exchanging them, you should do away with the receipts.

What to Save:

Credit Card Offers
Never throw credit card offers without having a good look at them. Quite often, companies offer special sign up bonuses, something you should give a thought. You never know what excellent promotion you might be losing on. Make it a habit to save these for future use. And if totally worthless, you can always send them for a toss!

Late Payment Notices

It is not a good thing to receive late payment notices from your banks or other companies. They are not the most loved possession, but something you should keep for a little while.

Quite often, these payment notices are required when settling debts. Almost all the best debt relief programs suggest you to keep them until you are sure you won’t need them in anyway.

Insurance Documents

If it is an asset related insurance document, keep it as long as you own the asset or as long as the insurance is intact. It is one of those documents that will be required quite often and must be taken care of well.
Retirement Plan Documents

These are the kind of documents you should keep in the safest place possible. Your information regarding all your future investments, retirement benefits and social security terms are important and will be used at different stages of your life.

Tax Related Documents

It is important to save them for seven years. Yes, this is a long time but as per rules, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has seven years to inspect your returns. However, if possible, you can convert all these files into CDs and then shred them to save a lot of space.

What to Shred:

Billing Statements

No idea why people collect a pile of billing statements. Some have a collection of bills dating back to the last decade. All these records are useless, thanks to the presence of online records now. If you have inspected everything properly, have the records online, or don’t have your goods under warranty anymore, you should trash these right away.

However, make sure you do not throw away new billing statements as you might require them for certain purposes. The date stamp is what you should look at when making the call.

The Cable Bill

This is the last thing you should keep in your files. Once verified, you should do away with these. There’s no point in collecting these as you will, in most cases, never be required to show them. They are useless once the month changes.

Canceled Checks

They can be saved or shredded, depending on different scenarios. If it’s a check from your debtor, you might save it to show it to him or her, or in legal proceedings. If you are the one who cancelled it, there’s no point in keeping the check.  It’s nothing but more burdens!

Bank Statements

Yes, they are confidential, but it doesn’t mean you have to keep them all your life. Don’t be in the habit of saving your ATM slips. They are of no use most of the times. Best debt relief programs suggest bank statements are useful for a year and should be shredded after that. Once you have reconciled your statements, it is time to do away with them.

The above article is written and edited by Roxanne, who is a freelance writer for various blogs and communities related to finance. In her free time she writes articles related to best debt relief programs, finance advises, savings and anything that is related to them.

How overspending can ruin your financial life?

With today’s expenses and their prices, it can be very hard not to overspend. Still, that isn’t an excuse to stray out of your budget. You know why? It is because overspending can only lead to more problems than you think. Overspending can affect your whole life. With all the possible consequences, it may jump to one problem to another.

Unpaid bills

All the excessive shopping with your credit card can cause steep bills at the end of the month. If you keep on using your credit but don’t have enough money to pay for it the end, then you’re surely in for a huge financial disaster. This will turn out to be missed payments, and missed payments will ruin your credit report. Missing out on payments will get your credit report marked for 7 years or more. And you can’t get rid of them by finishing them off.

Credit report

Overspending can cause a chain reaction of events. Once you get your bills due to overspending, it’s possible for you to miss out on payments. Those missed payments will be recorded in your credit report, and before you know it your credit score is going down with you too. As we all know, your credit score is your pass to banks and dealers. It can get you approved loans and cheaper deals out in the market. While a low sore will have you troubled in getting the creditors approval and trust.

More debts

Always remember that once you spend your money, it’s gone for good. Your money needs to be budgeted every week or month. If you spent your money for the whole month, there will be nothing left for you to pay for those bills. Most people result to borrowing more money just to get by, and borrowing money means that there is an interest and the longer you don’t pay, the bigger it gets; the more trouble you are in.

These are just a few of the problems that overspending can give you. Even if you have tons of money to spare, why not teach yourself a thing or two about financial responsibility. You can follow the following steps to avoid ruining your financial life:

Stay on a budget – Keep a check on your budget when you’re going out to shop. Make sure you have a plan and if possible, always list the necessary things that you need to buy and keep it that way only. Avoid buying stuff that is not on the list so that you won’t go out of your budget.

Monitor your credit report – Check your credit report at creditreport.com regularly. The credit reporting site will help you monitor your credit report along with your credit score. You can monitor your credit report for your pending bills, credit balances and your credit history. This will keep you in check on how much you should spend and how much to save.
Know your limits – When you are going to use your credit card for shopping, make sure you know your credit limit before spending. List down all the things you need to buy and compute the expenses ahead. This will help you in controlling overspending and managing your finances.

You can learn a lot from budgeting, keeping track of your expenses with your credit report and staying below your credit if you practice it. Save your money for the important things and spend it on your needs. Your wants are always there and it can wait.

Joy Mali is an active blogger and shares extremely interesting financial management tips over the web that encourages people to check credit score regularly & to build a working credit report for a happy financial life.

Future of Credit Cards

 Although I do hate credit card, but there is no doubt that this is going to be the default mode of payment in future.

The credit card companies make a load-full of money sometimes not by ethical means but they are also spending a lot of money in the future technology of credit card which may be more secure and more useful for the end consumer. So what’s the future of credit card? Here are some glimpses:

1) Multi Account Credit Card

The Multi Account Credit Card has two buttons on its face each with an indicator light. So you can essentially have two accounts in the same card. You can also have a credit and a debit card rolled into one. The card contains a lithium-polymer battery inside can last four years under high usage. They're also fully waterproof,

2) The Hidden Credit Card

This card does not display all the digits of your account number and some digits are hidden. This credit card has a keypad and black-and-white display for six of the digits in the card's unique number. Once the correct PIN is entered on the card's four buttons, the missing digits are filled in and the card's magnetic strip is populated with data. Both the digits and the strip become blank again after a short time. If the card is lost, no-one can use it.

3) Contact Less Credit Card

These are essentially chip-cards that works on the RFID mechanism. The idea is that you do not need to swipe and you can just wave the card in front of a special RFID scanner who can charge your card quickly. The RFID chip can transmit a lot more information without having to dial in to a network. American Express says its ExpressPay transactions are 63 percent faster than using cash. I guess, if this technology works out, then the chip may be implanted in other devices like watches or cell phones

4) Citibank’s 2G Cards

The Citibank 2G cards are special cards that allow users press the request-rewards button before swiping the card for paying with their card points. The action of pressing the buttons changes the data imprinted on the magnetic stripe.

Check out the video for the demo of some of these cards

There are definitely lot of issues with the new technology that should be sorted before these become the de-facto credit cards. The key point for getting these technologically advanced cards relies in the adoption strategy by the millions of vendors who have already spent money for the infrastructure of today’s simple credit card. So they definitely would need some incentive to switch to advanced technology. Also the security is going to be utmost significance especially for contact less credit cards. I hope we see these soon in India, since I expect that these advance cards will bring more security to the end consumer.

8 Things To Do If Your Wallet is Stolen

(This is a guest article by David*)

There are few things that might churn your stomach and make you break into a sweat quicker than the loss of a wallet. The sad part about it is, in the overall scheme of things, it probably isn't the cash inside that you've lost that concerns you. It's likely the loss of all those little plastic cards with numbers printed across them that terrifies you the most -- that, and not knowing into whose hands they've fallen.

Recently I had my wallet stolen from the beach. The thieves didn't even get one dollar of cash and didn't manage to use any of my cards thanks to prompt canceling of cards. The police are never that hopeful of finding the thieves or recovering a wallet and so all they can do is give you an incident number to use with your banks, phone company etc.

If you've simply lost your wallet it could be a good samaritan who has discovered your wallet on the street. Unfortunately, you can't necessarily assume a well-intentioned citizen has hold of your wallet and is contacting the proper authorities. While in some cases you might luck out and have your personal affects returned to you, in most scenarios you'll have to assume the worst and get started on doing everything in your power to ensure the forces of evil aren't making the most of your misfortune. Here are a few tips to help you do so.

1. Make a Thorough Search

While you want to be quick about reporting a stolen wallet, you may not want to jump the gun before you've made a thorough search of the spots you visited last or at least make a quick phone call or two. Had you been eating at a restaurant, visiting a hotel, stopping in at a friend's, or frequenting another place at which you may have lost your wallet, it could be a long shot, but you might want to contact that business or person just to see if your wallet was turned in. However, even if someone did return your property, it doesn't mean that all its contents are there or weren't somehow compromised, so it might still be a good idea to consider or carry out the following steps.

2. Contact Authorities

Probably, one of the first things you'll want to do if your wallet has been stolen is contact the local authorities and file a report. This can be an important step, not only in the event that they can locate your wallet, but a police report can be important documentation should your personal or financial information be compromised and you must take action to recover your identity through various businesses or agencies.

3. Make a List

If you don't have one already, you should try to make a list of every item in your wallet. This may not be easy, but try to remember any and every item that could have been lost, especially those that had pertinent personal or financial information contained upon them.

4. Contact Credit Card Companies/Bank

Putting a halt to thieves using your credit or debit cards will likely be one of the first things on your to-do list after your wallet has been stolen. Hopefully, you have those numbers from the back of your cards to report them lost or stolen, but if not, you will probably have to contact the credit card company or bank and speak to a customer service representative who can guide you through the process of what to do. Take note, because it might have to be a process you have to repeat multiple times. If you had other pertinent information such as checking or savings account numbers in your wallet, you will want to notify your bank or financial institution of that as well.

5. Contact Credit Agencies

Beyond your credit and debit cards, you will probably want to contact each of the major credit agencies to place a fraud alert on your credit report. These three agencies consist of Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union, and it can be critical to the health and safety of your credit that you notify them as soon as possible after the theft of your wallet.

6. Notify Friends and Family

You may be carrying contact information of friends or family within your wallet. Phone numbers, email addresses, and similar information in the wrong hands could lead to those you care about being scammed by con artists or thieves. Therefore, it can be important to their safety to let them know what has occurred so they can take proper precautions.

7. Be on the Lookout

So now that your wallet is gone and you've notified the pertinent and proper businesses and persons, it's time to start keeping a good eye on your personal information and financial accounts. Even though you may have notified your financial institutions and placed fraud alerts on your accounts, it is still a good idea to be on the lookout for changes or odd activity related to your accounts. And if you had home and work information in your wallet as well, it may not only be the security of your accounts you have to watch out for, but work and home security as well.

8. Start the Rebuilding Process

The rebuilding process, replacing the things that you lost when your wallet was stolen, is probably going to be a royal pain in the neck, and there may be more items to replace than you initially realize. Besides contacting critical agencies like credit card companies and banks, you'll likely have other places to contact and you'll probably have to get a variety of new cards. Here are a few of the other cards you might have to replace or places you might have to notify regarding your loss:

• Driver's license


• Library card


• Auto insurance company


• Health insurance company


• Employer

Time is often of the essence when you've had a wallet stolen. And it can be critical to the protection of your financial security, and possibly your personal security as well, to cover as many bases as you can think of after such a loss. Even if you don't see any activity on your accounts initially, it's important to remember to keep a watchful eye on such areas. Although much of the time such activity might occur almost immediately, it doesn't necessarily mean your information might not be used in ways that could come back to haunt you down the road.

*About the author: This is a guest article by David. David writes about personal finance for CreditCardCompare.com.au where you can find the best credit cards for Australians, including a range of low rate credit cards that help cut costs.

*Image Credit: Photograph by Andrman [via Flickr Creative Commons]

10 Quick Fixes for Your Credit Score

(This is a guest article by Bailey Harris*)

Paying your bills on time is the best way to obtain and maintain a high credit score. However, there are a few other things that you can do to boost your credit score before applying for loans and other types of credit. Here are 10 quick fixes to try today:

1. Correct Major Errors

Some errors, such as incorrect address information or name misspellings, have very little (if any) effect on your credit score. However, there are some errors--negative items that aren't yours, paid accounts listed as unpaid, etc.--that can drag your score down considerably. One of the very first things you should do is check your credit report for errors, and if necessary, make an effort to correct bad information with all three credit bureaus.

2. Pay Down Credit Card Debt

Paying down revolving accounts is easily the quickest way to boost your credit score. If you can manage to pay down or pay off credit cards over a two month period, you will see substantial results. You should start with cards that are closest to their limits versus cards with the highest interest rates. If possible, get balances down to 30 percent or less of each card's limit.

3. Transfer Credit Card Balances

If paying down debt is not an option, try transferring the credit card balance from a card that is nearly maxed out to one or more cards that have few or no charges on them. Spreading out your debt in this way is the second best way to fix credit fast. If possible, get the balance on every card down to 30 percent or less.

4. Update Your Credit Limit Information

Your credit score may not be accurate if there are problems with the credit limits being reported by the companies who issued your credit cards. Credit card limits often change--maybe you requested more credit or maybe your limit was extended by your creditor. Whatever the case may be, make sure the credit card limits being displayed on your credit report are correct. If they are not, ask the company who issued the credit card in question to update the three bureaus with your most recent credit limit information. Most companies will update this information upon request.

5. Change Your Payment Dates

Every credit card company reports information to credit bureaus on different days. These days rarely line up with your billing cycle. So, if you make charges and pay your credit card off every month, the credit bureaus may still think you have a balance on your card--even when you don't. You can remedy this problem by checking your credit report to see which day of the month your creditors send updates on payments to the credit bureaus and then making your payments several days before this reporting date. You could also request that the company give you a new due date. These strategies will have a minimal effect on your credit score, but they are worth trying if you want to massage the system in every way possible.

6. Piggyback on Someone Else's Good Credit

If you have a spouse, parent, or another close friend or relative with good credit, you may want to consider having your name added to one of their credit cards. This method of piggybacking can have a positive impact on your score because it allows you to get credit for every charge they make and pay off by the due date.

7. Dispute Old Negatives

If you have an old negative on your account that has been sent to a collection agency, such as an unpaid cable bill, you could dispute the account with all three credit bureaus. You should mark the account as "not mine" versus "unjust" to increase your chances of winning the dispute. If the amount is small, the collection agency may not even take the time to bother with it when the credit bureaus investigate the situation.

8. Ask for a Goodwill Adjustment

A goodwill adjustment occurs when a creditor or lender agrees to erase a late payment from your credit history. You will have to request this adjustment personally--either in writing or over the phone. If you have a long-standing or positive history with a creditor, you have a better chance of getting this adjustment, but it never hurts to ask in any case.

9. Get a Rapid Rescore

Rapid rescoring services can help you quickly and efficiently correct errors or pay down balances. With the help of a service, you could see a higher score in as little as 72 hours. The cost for rapid rescoring varies depending on the service you hire, but typically runs somewhere around $50 per account.

10. Simulate Various Scenarios

If you want to see what impact these strategies (and others) may have on your credit score, you could try punching your information into a credit score simulator. Most simulators will show you how paying off balances, making a late payment, or removing negative information from your credit report will affect your credit score. The official FICO site offers a great simulator to people who have purchased a copy of their credit score. There are also a number of free simulators that can be found online.

*About the author: This guest post was contributed by Bailey Harris, who writes for CreditScore.net.

*Image Credit: Photograph by meddygarnet [via Flickr Creative Commons]

Smart Ways for College Grads to Minimize Debt

(This is a guest article by Omar Adams*)

If there’s one thing that most college students are graduating with these days, it’s a mountain of debt. And even though they know this situation is bound to arise when they take out a student loan to cover their tuition costs, they don’t realize that it is compounded several times because of the way they use their credit cards and rack up other unnecessary expenses. It’s not that hard to graduate debt-free or at least with a relatively low amount of debt; the only hitch is that collegians have to plan and execute even before they start their four years on campus. If you’re a high school student hoping to minimize your debt when you graduate from college even as you enjoy most of what college has to offer, here are a few tips that are sure to help:

1. Choose your college with care. Remember, a prestigious name is not going to help you when you’re faced with a mountain of debt on graduation. So unless you want to spend the better part of your adult life slogging away to pay your student loans, think carefully before you make the choice. While you don’t have to go to the other extreme and choose a community college, opt for a university that’s close to home or where you have friends you can stay with. This way, you cut back on accommodation costs. If that’s not possible, choose a degree at a college that’s reasonably affordable and which doesn’t demand that you pay through your nose.


2. Work while you study. College is not all about fun and games, parties and sororities. You need to adopt a more serious attitude if you want to graduate without a care in the world. When you assume responsibility for your debt right from your first year by getting a job that allows you to pay for your extraneous expenses and also settle some of your student debt, you not only prevent your debt from accumulating, you also reduce the interest on the amount that’s outstanding.


3. Use credit cards judiciously. I’m sure every college student has been given this piece of advice; even so, it falls by the wayside more often than not. While I’m not saying you must avoid credit cards altogether, it’s best to use them wisely – charge all your expenses to them if needed, but ensure that you have enough money to cover the entire payment every month on or before the due date. The best way to avoid racking up huge credit card debts is to get a secured card, one where you’ve paid a sum in advance and which is your spending limit. Also, if you have a savings account, tie it up to your credit card and set up an automatic debit facility the day your bill is due. This way, you don’t have to worry about going overboard or racking up a huge interest because you’ve forgotten to pay your bill, and even if you don’t have money to take care of your bill, the amount you paid upfront is enough to take care of it.

*About the author: This guest post is contributed by Omar Adams, he writes on the topic of online accounting degree programs. He welcomes your comments at his email id: omaradams47@gmail.com.

*Image Credit: Photograph by upsuportsmouth [via Flickr Creative Commons]

Is Investing in Stocks a Good Option for the Youth?

(This is a guest article by Sharon Smith*)

Investing in stock... sounds scary? Many of us do not have much idea about stocks at all. Especially the youngsters who are just starting out, often inquire about how to start investing. Let’s start out with simple answers to the basic questions.

What is a stock?

A stock is, mostly simply termed, the partial ownership of a company. A lot of companies issue stocks when they plan growth. They sell stocks with the purpose of not falling into the clutches of debts. As stocks are equivalent to ownership of the company, the company is not liable to pay back the stock holders.

Why should you invest in stocks?

The simple reason is, once the company earnings increase, the value of stocks increase as well. Some of the companies pay dividends to their stock holders. Every quarter, companies calculate their profit percentage. Then, they reinvest certain profit amount into the business and pay out the rest of the amount as dividends to the stock holders. For example, if you buy $10,000 worth of stocks, each costing you $10, then you are buying 1000 shares of the company. Now, if the company earns a profit of 25% in that quarter of the year, it might reinvest 20% of the profit back into the business and decide to pay the rest 5% amount as dividends to its stock holders. Thus, you are earning $50. This is a legitimate income that you are earning and it is taxed.

There are usually two kinds of stocks - common stocks and preferred stocks.

Common stock is the ownership of the company in general. The companies offer common stocks through public offerings and tenders. The only obvious risk with common stock is that the price of the stocks fluctuates often. However, the investors can only lose their initial investment in case the stock prices fall.

The preferred stock is less risky than the common stock. Thus, the returns on the investment are also less. However, preferred stocks guarantee regular dividends for a fixed time period. Should the company default on dividend payments, and declare bankruptcy, the priority is given to the preferred stock holders regarding the assets entitlement. Preferred stock generates income for the investors, while raising the capitals for the company.

Start investing now

According to a mutual fund company, T. Rowe Price associates, if you wish to accumulate $1 million by the age of 65, you should begin investing at 25. Starting from this age, if you invest around $3900 annually, by the time you are 65 years old, you will be able to earn a return of 8% per year.

Here are four very important tips that you should keep in mind while considering investments.

1. Investment is not a gamble. It is true that a lot of investors gain and lose huge money in pretty short time. However, you should understand that investing in small amount consistently will fetch you better result by ensuring financial security. Investing is a long term process and you need to leave your money for circulation in the financial market for at least 10 years.


2. Do not consider investment, if you are in debt. Credit card debt is a big barrier towards financial stability. In case of debt, consolidate the outstanding amount and pay off. Do not incur any further debt on your card. It sounds difficult, but once you do that, it would be the best financial decisions that you would ever make.


3. Get insurance first. Insurance is something that most young people do not give much thought to. However, that is a huge mistake. You must have proper insurance before investing your hard earned money. You may never need it, but in case you ever do, you will be glad to have it in place.


4. Have an emergency fund. Emergencies can happen any time and under any circumstances. The biggest benefit of having an emergency fund is it prevents you to withdraw from your retirement accounts. In some types of emergencies like fire, illness etc, waiting periods for receiving insurance benefits might take more than two weeks. If you set yourself an emergency fund, that will keep you going during such crisis periods.

Once you have considered the above points, start investing. Just remember, investing in stocks would combat the risk of living beyond your means.

*About the author: Sharon Smith is a financial writer. She is associated with the Oak View Law Group. She offers advice on various debt management programs.

*Image Credit: Photograph by wonderwebby[via Flickr Creative Commons]

Are Prepaid Cards the Right Option for You?

(This is a guest article by David Pratt*)

Recent college graduates and students still in school will now find it much harder to get their first credit card under new Federal credit card rules that went into effect in March. The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act is meant to protect consumers from unfair credit card billing practices. The law includes rules to help protect people under 21 from going into deep credit card debt at the start of their work career.

The good news is that for many young people, a reloadable prepaid card is a safe and convenient alternative to using a credit card, cash or checks for making purchases and paying bills. Prepaid cards are widely available online or at retailers such as drug stores and grocery stores.

"Increasingly, prepaid cards serve as a powerful tool to encourage financial responsibility for college students," said Kirsten Trusko, President and Executive Director of the Network Branded Prepaid Card Association (NBPCA), a non-profit trade association. "Prepaid cards provide all the flexibility and security benefits of a branded payment card without the risk of running up debt and overdraft charges."

Harder to Get a Credit Card

Under the new rules, people under the age of 21 now have to prove that their income is high enough to make monthly credit card payments. Or, they need a co-signer, such as a parent. What’s more, if you are under 21 and have a co-signer on your account, you will need the written permission of that co-signer to let the bank to raise your credit limit.

In addition, card companies are no longer allowed to market on college campuses. The days of handing out t-shirts, sodas, and posters on the quad in exchange for obtaining filled out credit card applications from students are over.

It’s still possible to get a credit card without a co-signer if you are under 21, but you will have to have a high enough paying job as well as something of a credit history already—through bill payments or a track record of paying a card loan—certainly possible, but out of bounds for plenty of grads, at least in the initial time after graduation.

How Prepaid Cards work

Provided you are 18 and can pass a simple identity check required under the U.S. Patriot Act (which means providing your name, address, birth date, and social security number) it is easy to get a prepaid card. A prepaid card is plastic card that looks like a credit card or checking account debit card. It is issued by a bank and has an account number embossed on the front and embedded in a magnetic strip on the back. It typically is tied to either the MasterCard or Visa debit network. These cards are widely accepted by hundreds of thousands of merchants nationwide and around the globe for transactions such as buying groceries, clothes, gasoline, and eating at restaurants. They can be used in person or online with a signature transaction or by using a PIN number.

But instead of making purchases on credit, you "prepay" for those purchases by putting your own money into the card account ahead of time. Thus, you are drawing upon your own funds rather than borrowing money or paying interest charges. You can add money at a Western Union agent by handing cash to the agent who then for a small fee, deposits that cash into your card’s account. Similarly, you can buy a Green Dot Money Pak for $4.95 and transfer the money from the Green Dot Money Pak into your card account. You can also take advantage of direct deposit to have all or part of your payroll check deposited directly to your prepaid card account. In this way, you can reload your card with funds and continue to use it indefinitely.

When shopping for a prepaid card program, check that your funds are insured under the FDIC program. Under MasterCard and Visa policies you should be protected if your card is lost our stolen. If reported within 48 hours your liability will be limited to $50 under those policies and capped at $500 if you somehow failed to report the lost or stolen card as late as 60 days out. But if you waited longer than that, you could be out whatever amount you had on the card.

Advantage for Budgeting

Prepaid cards do have some fees, which vary from card to card. These typically include an activation fee, a monthly account fee, and per transaction fee. Still, compared to alternatives such as check cashing fees, overdraft fees, and interest payments, prepaid cards can prove cost effective for many people.

A prepaid card can help you track your spending and live within a budget. Like paying for things with cash, you have to have enough money on your card to cover your purchases. You can check your balance and review your transaction history online, via ATM machines, by calling a customer service number, or even through mobile text messaging, with most prepaid card programs.

In today’s economy, more people are limiting their use of credit cards and just getting one credit card with lower credit limits, or favoring debit cards—either check cards or prepaid cards.

*About the author: This guest post is contributed by David Pratt, marketing director for MiCash.net who writes on the topic of prepaid debit cards. You can reach David at dpratt (at) micashcard . com.

*Image Credit: Photograph by jepoirrier [via Flickr Creative Commons]