Archive for October, 2008
October 31, 2008 at 2:58 am · Filed under Uncategorized
Getting your own credit card is not as easy as you may think. Applying for a credit card account needs a lot of thinking.
Before marching down to your credit card agent, ask yourself some questions like do you want to pay for the credit every month or carry a balance instead? The type of credit line limit is also to be taken into consideration. Credit cards offer a lot of benefit packages, think of the package that would suit your needs.
If you want to carry on a balance, look for the credit card that offers the best interest rate or the annual fee offer. However, if you intend to pay for the credit every month, then look on the one that offers the lowest interest rate.
Credit limit determines how far you can go with your card. Think of the lowest limit that would fit your needs, not your lifestyle. Remember it’s supposed to be for necessity and not for luxury. Adding 30% to the limit you agreed on. This will maximize the value of the card. Meaning, you can use the card on a normal basis and still have enough value if an emergency arises.
Credit card companies offer tremendous bonuses on their cards. If you wanted to sign up for these packages, think, think, and think! Will they really be of help to you or are they just there to make your credit life miserable?
Of course the table is laden with different courses. You are only to get one so don’t rush into one that looks good. You always have the liberty of comparing one credit card to another.
Always choose the credit card that offers the lowest annual percentage rate (APR). APR’s could either be a “fixed” or a “variable” rate. Fixed rates do not change as the name implies but is higher. Variable rates changes depending on the economic trends. This is to be taken into consideration if you’re deciding on carrying a balance.
Some credit cards offer a grace period of 25 days before they charge the interest on the purchase. But some may not have. Look for those that have one and the longer the grace period, the better the deal.
You also have to check on other fees attached to the credit card. These are the penalty rates as well as other charges like over the limit charges and late payment charges.
When choosing a card, always remember to get the one that would best fit your needs and at the same time the best deal you could get out of it.
David Riewe is a Publisher and Online Marketer. Visit his Credit Resources Blog Below: www.push-button-online-income.com/creditcards/
October 28, 2008 at 11:57 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Credit cards are a great way to spend money that you do not have and we all know that so it is nothing new to us. A credit card is a spending tool that many of us would feel as if we had had a limb cut off if we could no longer have one, would also ring true to a lot of people.
Start Making Money
There are ways to make money from credit cards, rather than them being a drain on your finances. One such way that many may do not know about is the 0% “Super Balance Transfer”, another step up from the 0% Balance Transfer, which lets you move your debt around to save you from paying interest charges. The 0% “Super Balance Transfer” allows you to pay other debts.
This is how it works, a 0% “Super Balance Transfer” can be used to pay off any debts that you have that are not credit card related. This is done by paying the money that you will get from the new credit card straight into your bank account, leaving you free to pay off any manner of debt that you have, this is where it differs from the normal 0% Balance Transfer facility.
You can pay off any debt that suits
This cash can also be transferred into your account even if you are free from any debt, which means that you can place your credit limit into a high savings account, then once the 0% interest period is almost over, you take the cash that the credit card company “lent” you and pay it back into and thus clearing the credit card debt. Always remember though that while this cash is lying in your savings account gathering interest you will still have to meet the minimum payment set by the credit card issuer, which is normally 2% of the balance or a minimum of £5.00.
The golden rule! Do not use this card to make purchases!
Once you have paid off the credit card you will be left with a profit for borrowing someone else’s cash, but what you have to remember is that you don’t spend on the credit card, this will only eat into the profits that are there to be made and could defeat the whole purpose of why you were doing it in the first place.
Finding the credit card companies who offer this service wont be too difficult, but most will require a fee to transfer your credit limit into your account, this will normally be a 2% charge to a maximum of £50, though you may find that a few credit card companies will not be charging as much as this.
Peter Kenny is a writer for creditcards-gb.co.uk.
For additional articles and an extensive resource for everything about credit cards and loans, please visit us at www.creditcards-gb.co.uk and www.creditcards2go4.com
October 28, 2008 at 11:28 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Whether you have a credit card or you are thinking of getting one, what ever is the type of credit card, there is a simple credit card jargon that you must be aware of.
Credit Cards: This is a card issued by a financial institution that allows the cardholder to use credit to purchase goods and services up to a predetermined limit. The cardholder gets a monthly statement and then he/she has to pay back. There is an interest on the amount credited.
Credit Limit: This is the maximum amount you are allowed to spend on the credit card. How much credit limit you get depends on you credit history and the type of credit card you own (gold or Platinum Cards).
Credit History or Credit Scoring: This is your track record of how you have paid accounts in the past. It is important from the creditor’s point of view since it determines whether you are likely to pay accounts on time in the future or not.
Gold and Platinum Cards: These are credit cards issued to high-end earners. These have high or no credit limit. They come bundled with a number of services and benefits not available to a standard cardholder.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR): It is the annual interest rate or percentage you pay on the outstanding balance of credit as an interest or fee. It is also called annual interest rate.
Annual Fees: Annual fees is basically a maintenance fee that the credit card issuers charge from the cardholders annually against the costs incurred in maintaining accounts and providing services.
Introductory Period: Credit card market is highly competitive in UK so a number of credit card companies offer a low rate of interest on outstanding balances on your account for an initial period. This initial period is called introductory period, which can last for 6 to 12 months depending on the offer.
Balance Transfers: This is another term that has emerged out of the credit card market competition in UK. Say if you have an outstanding balance in your account on which you are paying interest but you find another market offer that makes your pocket breath easy then you can transfer your outstanding balance to a new account by paying certain percentage of balance transfer. Some credit card companies offer balance transfer as low as 0% in introductory period.
Reward Program: It is a point-accumulating program based on purchases or transactions made on your card. You can redeem your reward point against cash back, discounts or free air miles according to the program you enroll for.
PIN (Personal Identification Number): It is the secret code chosen by you for your card. You can access your money and perform banking transactions through the ATM or make purchases without signing a sales receipt at merchants that have PIN pads, using this code. Don’t share your PIN with anyone.
Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the UK credit card comparison site www.creditcards121.com/, where you can find a selection of 0% balance transfers. For US visitors there is also the comparison site www.credit-cards-info.com/ for all US interest free offers.
October 28, 2008 at 10:30 am · Filed under Web Of Travel
Manhattan is the mainstay of New York City and has become synonymous with the city as a whole. The Island itself is home to Wall Street, as well as a number of artistic and cultural centers. The Island of Manhattan can be roughly broken up into Downtown, Midtown and Uptown areas, each of which feature a number of world-class points of interest.
Situated to the south of 14th Street, Downtown Manhattan is the setting of the Financial District which runs along Wall Street, including the rebuilt World Trade Center and Battery Park, from which you can get to the Statue of Liberty by ferry. Several trendy cultural areas downtown, including Greenwich Village Tribeca and Soho feature old architecture, hip eats and plenty of shopping. Another admired location downtown is Manhattan, which runs along Canal Street.
Midtown is located between 14th Street and Central Park, and contains a outstanding artistic scene. The center|core|axis|hub|heart} of arts life in the metropolis is the Theater District which encompasses Broadway, Times Square and Hell’s Kitchen, as well as the Air & Space Museum. Midtown is a accessible area for out of towners to stay as there are quite a few New York hotels in the section. Other popular sections comprise Gramercy Flat Iron, a cool residential district, as well as the fashion obsessed Chelsea District.
Large amounts of real estate controlled by Central Park, Upper Manhattan includes the Belvedere Castle in Central Park, the Jewish Museum and quite a lot of museums throughout the Upper East and West side. Furthermore, the section is the location of Columbia University in Morningside Heights, the significant Harlem area and Washington Heights.
Every one of the Island of Manhattan’s distinctive sections hold their own sense of history, as well as admired attractions from top-notch arts to cuisine. A jaunt to New York is not complete without a thorough tour of Manhattan’s finest destinations. There is a good reason that the island has come to classify the public face of the city. Manhattan is one of the world’s greatest cultural capitals and continues to lead the way in commercial and metropolitan trends.
October 24, 2008 at 11:14 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Among the many innovations that emerged after World War II, credit use has become a major factor in our entire economic profile. As a result, your credit rating is the most important factor in determining your credit APR when you apply for any type of credit: credit cards, 0% APR transfer offers as well as mortgage and car loans.
What’s a credit score?
Credit reporting was created more than 100 years ago, when small retail merchants banded together to trade financial information about their customers. These merchant associations formed small credit bureaus, which later consolidated into larger organizations. By the 1960’s, consumers demanded the right to examine their credit reports and amend false or misleading credit information that had been withheld from them. In 1971, Congress enacted the Fair Credit Reporting Act, giving consumers the right to view and correct their records, as well as privacy protection as to who had access to these records.
A fair credit scoring system was needed too. In 1989, Fair, Issac and Company, in conjunction with Equifax, created a credit scoring system, called “FICO”, this credit rating scoring system creates a summary of your credit history. Low scores mean that you may not qualify for a good rate for the credit you want. Some lending institutions may use your credit score to set the overall fees for the loan you are requesting. In the end, a good credit score can save you money.
Factors that affect your credit score
* Your payment history (35%): your score is negatively scored if you have paid bills late, had an account sent to a collection agency or if you have declared bankruptcy–the more recent the problem, the lower the score. For example, a 30-day late credit payment will hurt you more than a bankruptcy five years ago.
* Your total outstanding debt (30%): If the amount you owe on your credit card is close to the credit limit amount, the more likely it will affect your credit score negatively. A low balance on two cards is better than a high credit limit balance on just one.
* Length of your credit history (15%): The longer your credit accounts have been open, the better your score will be.
* Recent inquiries on your credit history (10%): If you have recently applied for several new accounts, it may negatively affect your score. Moreover, while you are in the “wait” period for getting approval for that new home purchase, many loan officers will advise you to delay making ANY new credit purchases until the loan is approved.
* Types of credit used (10%): Loans from finance companies generally lower your credit score. This is especially true if you don’t have a lengthy credit history to base upon your credit score determination.
What the numbers mean
Credit scores range from 300 to 900, with the national average around 650. According to the FICO scoring system, the lower the score, the default risks become higher. They base this rating on historical industry standards, which show a direct correlation between low credit ratings and credit defaults.
The three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) all have different credit rating criteria. It’s not unusual for you to have a different credit score, although they tend to be in a close range. Most lenders average out the credit scores between them to arrive at a logical mean credit score number.
How to improve your credit score
* Pay your bills on time. (If you can’t make a payment on time, contact your creditor and request a payment schedule. Most credit card companies will offer you an option to pay your balance.)
* Maintain low balances on the credit cards you use. (Determine how you will use your credit card, and what type of credit card works best for you.)
* Don’t close unused credit card accounts just because they are inactive. (By keeping a credit card account dormant for some time signifies that you are a responsible credit consumer.)
* Finally, get a copy of your credit report annually; it is now free to all consumers nationwide.
Your credit card score is the most important factor in determining your credit availability. Here are some insights as to what is reported and what you can do to keep a high credit score.
Copyright 2005 Ed Vegliante.
Ed Vegliante is the owner of www.credit-card-surplus.com , a well organized credit card directory enabling the user to compare and apply for a variety of credit credit card offers. Find links to secure online credit card applications.
October 23, 2008 at 11:43 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
A credit score is a rating system creditors use to help determine whether to give you credit, and how much to charge you for it. If you have ever applied for a credit card, loan, or insurance, then there is a file about you known as your credit report which will include your quality score rating.
It is important to check your credit report for accuracy from time to time. This file has information about you and your credit experiences, bill paying history, the number and type of accounts you have, late payments, collection actions, outstanding debt, bankruptcies, and the age of your accounts, collected from your credit application and your credit report. Using a statistical formula, creditors compare this information to the performance of consumers with similar profiles. A credit scoring system awards points for each factor. A total number of points, know as a credit score, helps predict how creditworthy you are, that is, how likely it is that you will repay a loan and make the payments on time. Generally, consumers with good credit risks have higher credit scores. The quality of your credit rating can impact your ability to get credit, insurance and employment. Having good credit means it will be easier for you to get loans at lower interest rates. Lower interest rates usually means lower monthly payments which saves you money.
Do you have bad or poor credit? Do you want to improve your creditworthiness and credit rating? Then you are on the right track and there are proven steps you can take on your own to make this happen.
Now for the bad news. Only time and effort, along with a personal debt repayment plan will improve your credit report and rating.
The good news is that you can do all of the things necessary to improve your credit rating by yourself at little or no cost.
Step 1. Develop a personal budget.
Take control of your financial situation by doing a realistic assessment of how much money you take in and how much money you spend each month. List your income from all sources. Then, list your “fixed” expenses, those that are the same each month, like mortgage payments or rent, car payments, and insurance premiums. Next, list the expenses that may change or vary from month to month like food, entertainment, recreation, and clothing. Writing down all of your expenses, even those that may seem insignificant, is a helpful way to get a grip on and keep track of your spending patterns, identify necessary expenses, and prioritize your expenditures. The main goal is to make sure you can make ends meet on the basic living necessities like housing, food, health care, insurance, and education.
Step 2. Balance your checkbook.
Yes it seems common sense to do this but you would be amazed at how many people either don’t know how to do it, or just hate balancing their checkbook. If there is something on your bank account statement that is confusing or you just can not quite get right, then go see your banking representative for help. Either way, it is absolutely critical to control your checkbook or it will continue to control you.
Step 3. Create a plan to save money and pay down your debts.
You might say … hey, I can not pay all of my bills now, how am I going to save any money? That is why getting your personal budget under control is so critical. Cutting your monthly expenditures for items that are not absolutely needed will be necessary in order to get your budget under control. It sounds simplistic, but your goal is to have more money coming in each month, than the amount of money you spend each month. Until you find a way to make this basic truth happen, you will not be able to pay off your debts and become more credit worthy in the eyes of lenders.
Not quite sure how to accurately gather and itemize all of your monthly expenditures and compare them to your monthly income? You can find lots of helpful resources available online, at your local library, or at bookstores that address money management techniques, personal finance and budgeting.
Step 4. Pay your bills on time.
Goes without saying but it is necessary in order to show lenders that you are improving and are capable of making on time payments each month. If you’re having trouble making ends meet then contact your creditors immediately. Tell them why it’s difficult for you, and try to work out a modified repayment plan that reduces your payments to a more affordable level. Don’t wait until your accounts have been turned over to a debt collector. At that point, your creditors have given up on you.
These are some of the painful but necessary steps you must take in order to improve your creditworthiness and rating in the eyes of current and future lenders. So, embrace these steps and make it work for your needs.
James Smith publishes information on personal finance issues at www.credit-source-i.com/. Visit the website for more information and resources. This article may be freely reprinted as long as the author’s information and URL links remain intact.
October 23, 2008 at 6:04 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
There are credit counseling agencies that rescue people from the deepest financial holes. There are also credit counseling agencies that just shovel in more dirt. How do you tell them apart?
by Joel Walsh
Signs of a Reliable Credit Counseling Agency
__Better Business Bureau Membership
The service’s website should have a BBB logo and a link to their record on the Better Business Bureau website. Click through the link to check that there are no unresolved complaints against them. Many people only think about the Better Business Bureau after they’ve been cheated, but by then there’s not much you can do. Working with a credit counseling agency that is a member of the Better Business Bureau means that you can go to them to help mediate any dispute you might have with the service provider.
__Accreditation
Reputable credit counseling services will be accredited by an independent nonprofit, just as many schools are. One such accreditation body is the National Institute for Financial Counseling Education.
__Fees
A good credit counseling agency will charge a small, reasonable monthly fee, usually around $30. Some also charge a fee upfront, though this fee should be reasonable (around $50 tops). It may be possible to get a hardship waiver of these fees if you truly do not have the $30-50.
__Clear Application
The application must clearly say what the fees to be paid are, what the services to be provided are, and in what timeframe all of this will be provided.
__Reasonable Promises
Run far, far away from any organization that proposes to “wipe out” your debt for you, rather than simply helping you to repay the debt. Short of your creditors just deciding to forget about the debt (unlikely), there is no way to erase debt-even bankruptcy leaves a huge mark on your credit report for ten years.
True, your car may not go missing from your driveway if you stop paying unsecured debt (i.e., debt that is not “secured” with collateral, like most credit cards, unlike most auto loans). But you are still legally obligated to pay the debt, and the possibility of being taken to court will loom over you. You will likely be unable to get even “bad credit” financing if you still have debts in collections-good luck buying a car or house.
Not Necessarily Signs of a Reliable Agency
XX Nonprofit Status
Nonprofit status is essentially a tax designation, not a government endorsement of a group’s mission. There are plenty of near-fraudulent credit counseling agencies that are registered nonprofits.
XX Respectable Name
Any group can put words like “National,” “Alliance,” “Assistance,” and other trust-inspiring words in their name. But a name is just a name. Make sure to check any organization against the list above to make sure they’re reliable. Also try searching for the group’s name on a search engine. Don’t just look for a lack of negative reports-that might just mean the group changed names recently. Instead, look for positive reviews from real people, and preferably mention on reputable third-party websites, such as news sites.
Ready to find a credit counseling agency? You’re in the right place: the web is full of credit counseling agencies. Just use the checklist above, and you’ll have no trouble separating the saints from the scams.
Joel Walsh has written on credit counseling: www.debtguru.com [Publish this article on your website! Requirement: live link for above URL/web address w/ link text/anchor text: “credit counseling” OR leave this bracketed message intact. Permalink: debtguru.com/articles/credit-counseling-services-checklist.html]
October 20, 2008 at 9:21 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
When buying online, you can ask for delivering a check payment to you in the mail. Most shopping basket software allows you to select this option when you are setting it up. If you already have an offline, bricks and mortar business, you may simply wish to accept credit card payments over the phone.
Even though this method is convenient and easy to do, there are some basic problems with these solutions and it all comes down to the way people shop on the internet. Customers expect to be able to add items to their basket and proceed to the checkout to pay. If they then find they must telephone you or print out and send their order, they may simply abandon their order and hop over to another website. Shopping online is all about convenience and if you are unable to provide this, you may be losing customers without even being aware of it.
So, what are your options and what is it all going to cost? Well, the good news is you can do it all very simply and cheaply. Paypal does not have a set-up charge and is a large and trusted online payment processor servicing 78 million accounts worldwide in 56 countries. Your only cost is a small percentage on each sale; a transaction charge. Payments from your website go straight into your Paypal account from where you can transfer amounts to your bank account with the click of a button. Once you sign up with a payment processor, you can either link to their secure server from your shopping basket facility or build ‘add to basket’ buttons via a simple web query form. The html generated is then pasted next to items on your web page and your customers will be transferred to a secure server when they go to checkout.
Having your own merchant account gives you the choice of many different online payment gateways whereas traditional merchant accounts are normally set up through your own bank and will become integral to your business account. Most, however, do charge a set-up fee, monthly fee and transaction charge. Just as you would offline, do make sure you research any company you sign up with on the internet. Print out and read their terms and conditions. It is recommended that you take particular notice of where they are operating from, their fees, when and how you will receive your money into your account.
Another point to consider is the question of chargeback. This happens when a buyer requests a refund of an amount already paid to you. Reasons include not receiving goods ordered or items arriving faulty, damaged or not as described. Sometimes requests are made if the buyers card was used fraudulently.
If the chargeback request is successful, your merchant payment processor will charge you a processing fee. However, some companies will now provide you with insurance against chargebacks inclusive in your monthly fee. It’s certainly worth shopping around for the right solution for you but knowing you have done your research will give you some peace of mind.
Dr. Drew Henry maintains a number of websites about Loans, including Bank Foreclosure, Bank Loan, and Bank Online
October 20, 2008 at 8:37 am · Filed under Life Of Photography
Copyright 2006 Francesca Black
Capturing photos of a pet is as much about capturing their unique markings as it is about capturing their personality. When taking a picture of your pet, take a photograph that you believe displays their personality. While slightly more challenging than landscape photographs, pet photos can store precious memories of man’s best friends.
Eye Level:
When you are taking a photograph of a small pet, be sure to get on their level. Sit on the grass, lie on the floor, whatever it takes. This is especially important for full body shots, which generally look significantly better from the side rather than above. The same is true for large pets, if you are photographing a horse you might find you need to use a step ladder to take full body shots. Try to avoide having the pet looking up at you, unless that is the specific image you wish to record.
Pet Position:
If the pet will not sit still, have someone hold them in position. If the photographs are solely for the portrait, then hands and arms in the frame do not matter and can easily be removed as long as they do not cover important markings. Pets are most amniacable when you go to where they are most comfortable; it is crucial you don’t make the pets come to you.
Capture The Pet’s Personality:
Capture the most characteristic expression and pose of the pet. If the pet is generally happy, capture their version of a smile. Lighting: The best possible lighting is achieved outside, in natural light. Try to take all photos in natural light, even if the pet is an indoor only pet. The sun and natural light will enhance the pet’s coat and bring out any natural highlights, that may not show up in photos taken with poor lighting. Using a flash when photographing pets will often cause red eye.
A flash can also distort the true coloring and shades of the pets coat. The exception to this unwritten rule is if you are photographing a black pet, if that is the case a flash can actually bring out shading and texture which may be lost in photos taken under other lighting conditions.
Photography Props for Pets:
A good idea is to have the pet’s favorite treats or toys handy. Hold them up near the camera to catch the pet’s interest. In fact, photographing pets is often not very different from photographing young children, don’t be afraid to be silly. Sometimes making funny and unusual noises or movements will capture the pets attention and focus.
Some great Horse Photos - http://www.horse-supplies.org/funny-horse-pictures.htm
Pets have a special place in their owner’s hearts. Capturing their true personality can be a challenge, but a good pet photo will last along with the memories of a furry loved one forever.
Francesca Black enjoys photography as a hobby and manages content at Future Photo www.future-photo.com and Digital Photo Tips www.digital-photo-tips.com/
October 19, 2008 at 2:44 am · Filed under Life Of Photography
Many people have switched from mere bird watching to a more exciting hobby of photographing birds.The pleasure of bird watching, and the capability of preserving the visual image that brought that pleasure is possible only with photography.Therefore, bird watching and bird photography complement each other.
You don’t need to be an experienced birder to enjoy photographing birds,but you need to know your subjects - study birds and know their biology,travel patterns,habits, and behavior.
The best way to start photographing birds is to begin in your backyard with subjects that are easily accessible.To attract birds - set up a feeding station in your backyard. Choose some location with a non-distracting background. Set up a blind close to the feeder and shoot.Or,you can shoot through an open window.
Also, you may have some of your best luck with photographing birds at bird sanctuaries.
Begin photographing from a distance, and with a wider angle lens, and photograph birds in a larger context.Wide-angle lenses and short zoom lenses are useful for some of the more creative aspects of bird photography.
For bird photography you’ll want to own the absolute best quality lenses you can afford.A 400 mm lens is usually considered the minimum acceptable focal length for serious bird photography - a quality 500mm f/4 telephoto lens is ideal.
Alternatively,use extension tubes.They move the film plane further away from the lens resulting in magnification of your subject.However,extension tubes reduce the amount of light reaching the film.
Some form of camera support is required for bird photography. A tripod is recommended since you’ll use a long focal-length telephoto lens. When photographing birds from a vehicle in a game park, a good window support is useful.And,for photographing birds in flight,the shoulder stock is very helpful.
Use the slowest film possible for the conditions you are shooting under.If the light is low, go with film in the ISO 200 and above range.On bright sunny days,you can use slower films such as ISO 50.
When photographing birds, study their reactions.If they become agitated - back off.Never put their safety into question. Avoid photographing nesting birds and also be sure not to stress a bird for the sake of a photograph.
With the right equipment and a little patience, you can get impressive results photographing birds.
Felix Zhucha owns http://www.postersphotosartwork.com. Come and find popular photographs and posters.
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