Rewards Cards: Are They Worth It?
January 31, 2009
Virtually all consumers will have a credit card at some point in their lives. Is this an understatement? Probably, as most consumers carry multiple credit cards. Selecting a credit card should not be something taken lightly; card companies are constantly looking for new consumers, but only after wisely comparing offers should you select a provider. Pick a company that will give to you a reasonable rate and one that incentivizes their program with some type of reward for using their card.
So, how do rewards cards work? Almost without fail, rewards cards typically give consumers money back on their purchases [usually 1-2%] or allow you to accumulate points toward prizes or discounts on future purchases. If you charge $10,000. per year [not hard to do if you charge your groceries] and your rewards card pays you a 2% reward on purchases, you will receive $200. from the company. Usually you will gain the funds in the form of several credits to your account spread out over the course of a year, but in some cases you will receive the rewards in the form of a check.
Thought Fixed Rate Will Give You a Respite from the Perils of Variable Rates! Think Again
January 30, 2009
Slight increases in the interest rates raise your hackles. Tension grips your mind as to how you are going to make the extra payment. Preparations begin right then to provide for the repayment, though it requires a huge cut in the monthly expenses.
Cautious is what describes your state. A fixed rate mortgage will be the solution to the stress that they are facing as to the repayment.
A Fixed rate mortgage, as the name suggests limits the interest rate to a particular level. The borrower is protected against any increases in the interest rate. He keeps on making a lower repayment, when his contemporaries who did not have a fixed rate to protect them, pay a higher interest.
Apart from the savings that a fixed rate results into, it also has an added advantage. The borrower is not required to make regular calculations considering the newer rates. He keeps on paying the same monthly repayment that he paid at the beginning.
This however is not free from any disadvantages. We deal with the disadvantages of the fixed rate mortgages in the following paragraphs.
UK Parents Inactivity Harming Their Children?s Future University and Mortgage Savings
January 29, 2009
The British government at the beginning of this year officially launched its Child Trust Fund (CTF) initiative in an effort to encourage parents and children to develop the savings habit and to teach children the value of saving their own money.
Chancellor, Gordon Brown said, “The Child Trust Fund is designed to ensure that every child in our country has assets and wealth and that no child is left out and all children in Britain have a stake in the wealth of the nation”.
The basis of the CTF scheme is that every child born in the UK on or after 1 September 2002, will receive an initial Government payment of £250-£500 (depending on family income), which must be placed into a tax-free CTF savings account which cannot be accessed for withdrawals until the child reaches 18 years of age. Additional contributions to the account can be made by the child’s family or friends, and the government also plans to make another payment to children on their seventh birthday. Parents that do not invest the government’s gift within a year will have it invested for them by the Inland Revenue.
What is a Student Loan?
January 29, 2009
Not everyone is aware of what is a student loan? Student loans, as the name implies, are available to students who require help with living costs while studying.
Student loans are part of the government’s financial support package for degree only students embarking on a course of higher education. For most students, a student loan is their largest single source of income. So unless you have very generous parents, you will need to apply.
Regardless of where you are studying, if you are from England and Wales you will apply to your Local Education Authority using an HE1 form. They will then calculate how much you’re entitled to receiving ? as well as working out whether you need to pay tuition fees.
They will then send you back a form that you need to forward to the Student Loans Company (the government organisation that administers your student loan) who will process your application. This usually takes a month, so make sure you get the paperwork done well in advance of the start of term.
Although it is only a loan, you’ll never be able to borrow money more cheaply, so it’s the most cost-effective way of borrowing money while you’re studying to pay for all those bills. The interest charged is only equal to the rate of inflation.
I Have A Slice of the American Dream and It is a 30 Year Nightmare
January 28, 2009
Well, we did it. We are buying a beautiful, brand new house, planning our wedding, and getting ready to move. The cramped trailer we have lived in will just be a memory. The house we are buying is a 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 2 car garage slice of the American Dream.
However, my fiance and I sigh and realize it is a 30 year nightmare we will be paying on for a long time before it is truly ours. By the time the house is paid for, we will be too old to travel like we wanted to. England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will just have to wait. Well, at least we will get Senior Discounts.
But, knowing I will be getting married in my house and gliding down my stairs toward my intended while the stereo plays and our friends and family look on, is going to be worth it. Getting married at home is going to be something we remember and we will be able to enjoy a nice honeymoon with the money we saved. Maybe even rent a nice vehicle to pretend is ours.
Fight Credit Card Fraud with Common Sense
January 27, 2009
By now, you have undoubtedly heard of credit card fraud, an alarming and damaging trend that is sweeping the country. Here’s the bad news: It is disturbingly easy for thieves to obtain your credit card number–usually from discarded receipts or even directly from you. For instance, many solicitors masquerade as legitimate businesspeople–like those who offer vacation packages, for instance–when, in fact, they’re looking for you to innocently hand over your credit card number so they can rack up illegal charges.
The good news is that there are many ways you can proactively and effectively protect yourself against credit card fraud:
-If your credit card has been lost or stolen, report it immediately to the card issuer. You are not obligated to pay for unauthorized charges once you report the loss.
-Sign new cards immediately once they arrive in the mail. Once you receive them, carry them in a separate case from your wallet.
-Notify credit card companies if you are about to move, either temporarily or permanently.
-Never offer your account number over the phone unless you’re dealing with a reputable and legitimate company. If you have any question about a company, contact the Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.com ).
Home Equity ? Is it Time to Cash Out and Move?
January 26, 2009
During the last five years, home prices have increased nationwide. In some parts of the country, notably California, home prices have doubled or even tripled. The median price of a home in the Los Angeles area is now nearly $450,000 and in the San Francisco area, the price is approaching $600,000. As the economy continues to improve, the price of housing continues to rise in California and elsewhere. Many people who have owned their homes for more than three years are suddenly finding themselves with hundreds of thousands of dollars in equity. Of course, equity is only a theoretical gain, and if the price of housing goes down, equity can go away. You only get to keep your equity as cash if you sell your home. Many homeowners are doing just that.
Guide to Unsecured Loans
January 25, 2009
Outlined below is a guide to unsecured loans. It will give you a better understanding of what an unsecured loan is as well as what to consider before applying for one.
As the name implies, an unsecured loan does not require the borrower to put up any security against it. An unsecured loan is a personal loan where the lender has no claim on a homeowner’s property should they fail to repay. Instead, the lender is relying solely on the ability of a borrower to meet their loan borrowing repayments.
People who opt for unsecured loans are usually those who aren’t in a position to offer collateral or those with adverse credit records, county court judgments, mortgage arrears or debt issues.
By their very nature, unsecured loans involve the lender taking more risk ? for which the interest rate is increased. However, while a bad credit history will not necessarily bar you from an unsecured loan the interest rates will reflect the lender’s increased risk.
Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft
January 24, 2009
Identity theft is when someone uses, without permission, your personal information in order to commit any frauds or crimes. Identity theft is a felony that is becoming more and more common. That is because some of us are not very careful with personal information, making the job easier for those trying to steel our identity. We should always be careful with information like Social Security number, credit card number, birth date, employment information, driver’s license number, etc., because if they enter into the wrong hands the consequences can be very serious. People that have experienced identity theft spend months trying to repair what others have damaged, and in the meantime they cannot get a loan or lose a job opportunity or, sometimes, they can get arrested for something they didn’t do.
If you have the slightest suspicion that someone has gained access to your personal information, acting quickly is a must. First of all, you should get in touch with the fraud department of the credit bureau where you have your accounts and request them to initiate a credit alert on your accounts. This way the creditors are obligated to contact you before taking any actions regarding your accounts. At the same time you should close the accounts you believe that are corrupted. The second step would be filing a police report and keeping a copy of it so to have a proof of the crime.
Bank Like a Banker
January 24, 2009
The business of banking has changed dramatically over the last decade. Because the cost of doing business the old-fashioned way is no longer effective, banks are interested in changing their customers’ behavior by encouraging electronic banking alternatives whenever possible. They have done this by charging high fees for services that were once free. If you pay $200 or more in annual fees for banking, it’s time to do some competitive shopping.
Before becoming furious with your bank, it may be that the products you’re using no longer meet your personal needs. If you have an established relationship with your bank, inquire about the other types of lower-cost checking and savings account products.
Understanding the rationale of why a bank charges fees for different services will allow you to be a savvy banking customer. If human contact is required to serve you, such as a teller or personal banker, this is very expensive for the bank. The incentive is for banks to encourage more high-tech, “low-touch” methods of meeting your needs. This is accomplished by servicing as many customers as possible with automated telephone services, cash machines and online self-service banking.
