Keeping Your Cell Phone Bill Under Control

By Melanie Pratt

Nowadays, pretty much everybody has a cell phone, and the associated bill that comes with it. On some months that bill can be so high that you almost get a heart attack when you open it, especially on those times where you had no idea it would come up to that amount. I'm going to give you a couple of pointers that should help you avoid such unpleasant surprises in the future. Keep reading if that catches your interest.

1. Going over your allotted quota. This is the major culprit. If you get your bill and it's uncharacteristically high, most of the time it's because you went over your limit whether in minutes, text messages, or Internet use or a combination of those. The problem with going over your limit is that the charges are ridiculously high compared to what your rate is for the services within your limit. Fortunately, you bill will not bundle everything together: you will get the detail what you went over on and you will be able to see exactly what your overage charges are.

How to keep your bill low: sign up for a plan that gives you more minutes or text messages or Internet usage. This might sound odd to be advised to move to a higher plan when we're talking about keeping the phone bill low, but it's pretty much a given that the higher plan will cost you less than you would be paying if you constantly went over. If a more generous plan isn't an option, then all you need to do is monitor your cell phone use and stop using any service that you risk going over your limit on. We never said this was going to be easy!

2. Third Party Subscriptions. You've probably seen their commercials on TV. These subscription providers are known for their shady business practices, but they never seem to go away no matter how many complaints and lawsuits are filed against them. Their offerings can range from a "free ringtone of the month" club to "horoscope of the day", to a "naughty picture of the day". Theoretically, you can only subscribe by sending a text message to an advertised number or by visiting their website and entering your information there. Yet, they seem to have this knack for appearing on people's bills out of nowhere, which is made easier by the fact that they're not always required to inform you of the new subscription. So be sure to analyze the "direct bill" portion of your bill, because that's where their charges will be listed.

AT&T settled a class action suit involving those mysterious subscriptions. They are now under the obligation of notifying their customers by text message to ask if they want to have the subscription added to their account. If the customer doesn't reply, then the subscription can't be added. Other carriers should take this as an example.

3. One-time fees. The final cause for a higher than usual bill is those fees that typically are a one-time affair. such as activation (or re-activation) fees, upgrade fees, or non-payment fees. Cell phone companies (and utilities companies for that matter) do not miss the opportunity to charge a hefty re-activation fee in order to get service turned back on after the account has been suspended because of a past due bill that the customer failed to pay for. Those fees will rarely ever get waived or credited back to your account, but you can ask for discounts. Ask about discounts or waived fees for employees of the company you work for. You can also wing it and try and ask nicely to have the fee waived/credited back. This will be a lot easier if you've been a customer for a few years and have a good record of paying your bill on time.

Strategy. Analyze your personal habits to come up with your very own money-saving solution. If you do the bulk of your talking in the early evening, consider paying a couple dollars more for early night and weekend minutes. If you're home a lot and have high speed internet, sign up for a Voice Over IP phone service, there are plenty of them from phone companies, cable companies, cell phone companies (T-Mobile @ Home), specific providers (Vonage, Skype, MagicJack); this can save you a lot of minutes. And like I said before, you should never be ashamed of asking for a discount: student discount, senior discount, employee discount, business discount. It all helps shave a few dollars off that bill.

In case the bill is really high or you're really in a bind, there's always the option of calling customer service and making payment arrangements with the company. Just like I mentioned earlier, if you're a good customer, they will try and work out something with you. As you can see, with a little research, and with some discipline thrown in for good measure, you can definitely find more than one way to lower your phone bill.

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There are several ways to keep both your residentialphone bill and your mobile phone bill in check. Educate yourself about ways to reduce your phone bill by visiting Reduce Phone Bill.

Attacking the Root Cause of your Credit Card Debt

By Paul J. Easton

The subject of credit card debt is very popular nowadays because it affects everybody. What we don't know however is that our credit card debt is just a part of our excess baggage in life. It is a manifestation of our irresponsible financial management and, perhaps, the output of our not so good personal relationship with our own selves.

When you think about it, you have easy access to credit with your cards. It is easy to get away with it and before you know it, you already amassed an extremely difficult amount of debt to get rid of. If you not still aware of the situation, you are probably so nave that taking more steps would lead you to your financial ruin. Without a question, help is needed and the time to take action is now. Get rid of your credit card debt now but how? Get rid of your debt now with these methods on how to get rid of debt here.

The simple answer is being conscious of your spending habits. Pay your due every time with twice the minimum payment. And be on time. This should be done without any more excuses.

So how can I be conscious with my spending? That is where the simple concept of budgeting will help you. Spending without a plan is simply spending your way to financial hell. So write things down and keep that budget every time you buy something.

Many people would say that they don't have the time to work on a budget. The truth is that you should have no time not to make a budget!

The budget is your best friend at this time of financial crisis. Don't worry because everybody is doing it now and that might probably be good news to you. Create a budget periodically say every month. Your budget is fundamentally just a plan to guide with your spending habits. A budget serves as a way for you to limit yourself on the things that you truly need. It keeps you focused on spending on the things you have a purpose.

Few people follow their set budgets though. This is for the reason that they view their budgets as a constricting factor in their lives. A budget seems to enslave them with their rights to have some comforts in life.

However, here is an insight that might get you inspired. Some people who disciplined themselves and controlled their habits with money by following the principle of only spending with intentions have actually experienced more freedom with their lives. By taking control of their lives, they saved a lot of money and became debt-free. Now, that's the real freedom. So stick with your budget and get out of that debt cycle very soon.

For valuable tips on how to get rid of debt, go to http://www.Howtogetridofdebt.net/ by Paul J. Easton.

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Financial Consultancy Service Basics before Hiring One

By Paul J. Easton

You could be one of those who make the mistake of choosing your financial consultant like choosing randomly food you eat on your favorite fast food. What you really don't know can hurt you. Financial consultancy is a big obligation for the professional's end but bigger for your part. We are talking about your financial future and if you are one of those who suffer from this ignorance, read further this article.

Finding the service of your first consultant can be intimidating because you basically don't know where to start. Some people just go with the most convenient and find the most available. But this decision is far more important than just choosing someone to trim or garden. You even have to begin realizing what you really want with your future and what your financial consultant will do for you. Just the general thought or idea would suffice. Your financial consultant will likely add more in-depth solution to your problems once he listens to your story.

Start looking for financial services from a financial directory. Start calling them and ask for the names of financial consultants available. Ask your family if they know one as well. When you already find three to five consultants, try to compare their credentials. If their track records look good, schedule an interview with them to get to know them personally.

You have a set of goals already visualized and you have a set of needs at this stage of life. Your needs might be different from the needs of a couple having their first child or a friend approaching his retirement. You just need a financial consultant with the necessary experience in the areas of interest you prefer.

Before you go to the interview, identify your prospects' key expertise. You have to dig a little further into their qualifications for more information. Check if they are certified. As much as fifty different certifications abound the financial consultancy field. The most respected in this field is the Certified Financial Planner designation.

From your prospects, find the one among them who has this certification. With this certification, you just have to give them priority because they are definitely brilliant in their field. This gives you more confidence with the financial consultancy you are looking forward to.

Take a look at this certified consultant's work history. Does the experience match your preferences? If so, then that's a good choice. A word of caution, though, investigate for possible disciplinary actions in the past, this will save you from committing a big mistake before hiring this service.

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

Financial Consultant for your Retirement

By Paul J. Easton

If you are looking to find a professional to talk with to sort out your retirement planning, then getting a financial retirement consultant is the best and most reliable option. You want to ensure that your investments will work for you and that these financial moves will serve as vehicles to help you get to where you want to be.

If you are looking for the retirement financial consultant to help you out with your investments, this might be the article worth reading. Personal financial consultants are the best source of financial information to guide you with your investments. They usually assess your financial needs. Consultants will use their knowledge of investments and financial deals and most likely recommend financial options to your specific needs. They help you formulate a written plan with short- and long-term goals.

In this specific case, your financial consultants help you with retirement planning and other general investment choices. Some of them may even provide tax advices or recommend life insurances for various purposes. Just look for a consultant who specializes in areas such as retirement, estate planning, and risk management at the beginning so that he or she is familiar with your needs.

As far as financial services are concerned, the best clients are the informed ones. Finding a consultant is like finding a mentor and learning from the lessons provided. So even if you are at your retirement age, you can still grow and learn while making money at the same time. You will only be more successful with your investments if you are more aware of them.

Set some limitations with your financial consultant especially when already in retirement. Be clear with your appetite for risks. You must understand the various financial instruments and let your consultant advise you whether those are high risk or low risk investments. Monitor how well the different strategies work and know which investments you wish to pursue in the long run. You get to decide on these things after hiring your financial consultant after six months or so.

As a tip, hire a consultant you are much comfortable with in the beginning. Communicate always and learn from every your conversation with your retirement consultant. By developing a good professional relationship, you will find that a retirement financial consultant will be more valuable to you. After that, you would have realized that you are very lucky you had found a valuable tool in the form of your financial consultant. It is a good thing to always prepare for your future.

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Vital Information with your Financial Advisor

By Paul J. Easton

Looking for a financial advisor? These different qualities should be searched for in your prospect financial advisor. These qualities, if given a good effort to look for, will not only avoid you a lot of stress in the future but can also be a precious move you will treasure.

Financial advisors must have both education and experience. With proper education, your advisor is equipped with the required knowledge in today's most sophisticated global financial system. Experience gives your financial advisor the confidence of negotiating with the best deals and the solid network which can be attained with a great track record. And only with experience will your financial advisor be working with people with better respect and trust.

A seasoned financial adviser usually has extensive knowledge of budgeting and forecasting. In addition to that, a good knowledge of taxation, asset allocation and latest financial tools and products will definitely be an edge. These are great help in establishing with you realistic goals and the strategy for your investments.

Their main function is to assess the performances of prospect companies that you are interested to invest in. Financial advisors, with a good network in the financials sector, can work with analysts. Financial analysts analyze company financial statements and can provide you with valuable information for your investment requirements One of the most critical criteria in finding a financial advisor is the communication aspect. From the very beginning, you must know how much your advisor is willing to get to know you. By interviewing them from the start, you will begin to notice his willingness with this aspect.

Personal touch is very important in building a professional relationship so better spend some time with your advisor face to face. Communicate your preferences in your finances and tell your plans for the future. This experience with your financial advisor will be much more enjoyable if this aspect is given attention. Especially at these bad economic times, you have to emphasize this aspect as this can be very crucial.

To recapitulate, find out the level of education, the history and experience of your prospect financial advisor. Spend ample time with your advisor to assess their communication skills by conducting a personal interview. Find a match by finding an expert with your financial preferences. With due diligence learning these vital information with your advisor, you are on your way to creating a good start of a harmonious financial relationship.

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Credit Report Dangers And Ways To Prevent Tradgedy

By Frank Froggatt

There are masses of individuals in the United States nowadays scrambling to manage with lousy credit. If you are among them, and have been searching for means to improve your credit score, the coming info could turn up advantageous to you.

The first and foremost thing to know is that it is crucial to recognize where you are with your credit. You can obtain one free credit report every yr. Use your credit rating report to verify what is hurting your credit score so terribly. You should also look for any faults that have been created and have them restored.

Be sure that any debts you have paid off are mirrored on your credit rating report. For some reason some parties don't report that final requital, so your credit report appears as though you still owe money on an account that has been paid in full.

Most individuals don't understand that every time a lender views your credit report it will turn up on the report and stay there for up to six months. If there are many inquiries it can sustain a severe impact on your credit score. Make A Point to solely let parties you are serious about extract your credit report.

It is important to watch out for collection companies. Many will name the identical delinquent bill different times on your credit report. This will make your credit score worse.

Compensating an old overdue balance before applying for a home loan will harm your credit score by turning that balance into a present-day collection. This will cause short term harm to your account.

The balance you carry on credit cards can have it's effect against your credit score too. Real lofty balances and maxed out accounts hurt your score drastically. Even if you incessantly make the payments on time. Systematically using only half your accessible balance will help heighten your credit score.

Your credit is likewise touched by the sum of time you have possessed a personal credit line. If you had a charge card in college and still have got it in all likelihood your credit is benefiting from it. The reverse is likewise true. If you have recently pulled out a loan for a new home or vehicle it is going to have a negative impact on your credit. Once you have made your requitals for a period your credit score will only be helped. You will have to prove any fresh loan before it will have a good affect on your credit.

In order to restore your credit it is critical to verify your credit report. Make sure that there are no faults or duplicate accounting. If there is make a point that you choose the proper steps to resolve the issue.

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This article was published by Frank Froggatt an expert on credit and debt management. If you found this article to be helpful you can find more FREE information on how to Correct Your Credit Report by visiting creditfixrepairreport.com Get your FREE information now

As a Business Owner, You Should Have a Credit Card

By Caressa Waechter

A business credit card is similar in most aspects to a regular consumer credit card. They have a similar application and approval process, the same rules apply about paying interest if your card has a balance, and they also affect credit ratings in very similar ways.

These business cards can offer low interest rates, different rewards programs, online account access and services that support you, the business owner. Their credit limit is often higher than a consumer's credit card.

If you are a typical entrepreneur applying for a credit card for your business, your personal credit history will be checked. This is because most small businesses do not have their own separate credit history, so as the owner, you are essentially personally guaranteeing the business card.

A business credit card allows you to keep track of business spending, as well as spending of employees. Because of this, a business credit card makes for an excellent tool for managing business expenses.

Quarterly and annual reports of spending is normally included with a business card. This helps you see where your money is spent throughout the year and even allows you to compute future budgetary needs.

Rewards programs are very common on business credit cards, and can be similar to those that are found on normal consumer cards. However, a lot of credit cards that cater to the business owner also have rewards programs that cater more to business needs and desires.

When it comes to managing expenses and helping grow your business, a business credit card is a great tool to have. You do need to find one that fits the needs of your business, giving your company maximum benefits.

Because a business credit card is most effectively used as a financial tool to help your business be a success, you really have to make sure that they don't get abused. Used right, a business card can help your business grow and it can contribute to your financial success.

About the Author:

Caressa Waechter is a business owner that knows first hand how a business can benefit by using a Advanta credit card. Learn more about, and find where to get, a Citi business credit cards by visiting her website.

What Is Credit And Loan Credit Repair

By Lee A Beattie

Bad Credit Loans are essentially debt consolidation loans with higher interest rates that can be exploited for many proposes. For Instance, if you possess a few unpaid debts, masses with bad credit can utilize them for debt consolidation, which is comparatively less complicated to manage because debt consolidation normally offers a lower interest rate . Bad credit becomes an result, when you require to make a major buy that would admit acquiring a mortgage loan, auto loan or personal loan. When you go for for a loan or a line of credit, the creditor with whom you are applying for a loan, instantly pulls your credit history file.

Bad credit repair program is a tremendous timesaver. You can surely repair bad credit yourself without a credit repair software application to test and determine your online history, only in truth bad credit will demand many credit repair letters and redundant days and weeks to optimize, wheras a software program can automate the process substantially without the risk of missing anything in the mail service. You can have bad credit erased lawfully. And this really helps out enormously because identity theft is growing more mainstream and this type of software keeps you from losing anything in the mail service.

Credit repair counseling can be used in many directions; to prevent debt, to get out of debt, and to stay out of debt. When employing credit repair advice to prevent debt, it is significant that an individual see the difference between applying their credit options a healthy way, and taking advantage of lending proposed to them. Financial decisions are personal, dependent on an individual's state of affairs. Consult with a financial counselor before making any financial decisions to see if they will read you the free credit reports they will use to help.

And numerous times masses have to apply for bad credit personal loans or perchance bad credit auto loans depending on the interest rate given to you prior to receiving that new car when you can't make those unworldly payments.

Consumer reporting companies must investigate the particulars in question - normally within 30 days - unless they interpret your dispute superficial. They must also forward all the applicable data you offer about the inaccuracy to the organization that admitted the selective information. Consumer Credit Counseling Service furnishes budget counseling, educational programs, debt management assistance and housing counseling. On That Point are also many a local branches of this nonprofit organization, so learn for one near your location.

Consumers with less-than-perfect credit ratings may be allured to use the help of a company predicting to "tidy up" or "erase" bad credit. Credit repair companies can do nothing for you that you cannot manage for yourself for free, and they may charge you hundreds of dollars to manage it.

Debt consolidation can make up the best selection if you are going through financial difficultness. Invariably keep in mind that debt expirations do vary, as well as assessments status. If you have delinquencies and charge-offs that are affectng your credit scores, credit and loan credit repair could be an selection considered when speaking to credit debt counselor during your bad credit counseling sitting.

Lenders are more afraid these days to extend student loans to a person who has a bad credit history. Therefore if your credit score is under 600 and you're wanting to acquire a loan for schooling, you might require to look into a credit repair service . Lenders will utilize this information to find if you are eligible for a loan or line of credit. When they learn this "bad" information, they will more than likely charge you a higher interest rate or worse, turn you down entirely.

Ask the credit reporting agency for a dispute form or present your dispute in writing via a credit repair letter, along with whatever validating documentation. Likewise make for certain to not send them original documents , make a copy of that document and send it with credit repair letter. Ask your creditors to report the debt as paid to the credit agencies instantly so this can reflect on all of your credit reports. You can also fax or send a copy of the debt settlement letters to the credit agencies yourself so they can update your credit history faster which gives you a huge relief.

Bettering poor credit can equal a long and hard process. If you have sputtered through a point of financial difficulty, or even filed for bankruptcy, your ability to acquire credit may be compromised long after you have gotten back on your feet and back to good credit. Amending your financial situation will have a positive affect on each aspects of your life.

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If you would like more information on this topic and $10000 Personal Loans For Bad Credit or if you are in need Credit Rating Repair, Beatlands Credit Repair has many credit repair topics and tips that can be very useful.

Reverse Mortgage: Advantage and Disadvantages

By Matthew Sanz

The reverse mortgage is a trend that seems to be hitting homes all over the country. And it's happening at the same time that housing prices are soaring and interest rates are at their record lows. Let's take a look at the reasons why despite the bad publicity that reverse mortgages had, they have managed to stay in the industry all these years to become the "in" thing for many borrowers today.

Nicknamed predatory loans, the reverse mortgage took more beating when it was embroiled in scandals. But in the last decade, it has earned more credibility after legislation required more upfront disclosures of costs.

This mortgage is designed specially for homeowners which are aged 62 and older. Through this product, seniors can receive a loan against their home in the form of a lump sum, regular monthly checks or a line of credit. The loan is typically repaid with interest when the borrower sells the house, permanently moves, or dies.

Here are some of the reasons that borrowers resort to a reverse mortgage.

To Pay Down Remaining Mortgages - Homeowners use a reverse mortgage to pay down their remaining debt on their traditional mortgages and use the remainder to fund other retirement costs.

Unaffected Ownership - When the loan is accepted, the ownership of your house is not affected and you will still retain title to your home.

- Most of the costs are paid for through the reverse mortgage loan.

Later Payment - Compared to a traditional home equity line of credit, a reverse mortgage allows debt payments, including interest and other costs, to be stalled until a later date, typically when the owner dies.

Price Changes - The debt can never go beyond the value of a home at the time that the loan is already repaid. This means that when soaring housing prices begin to drop, borrowers won't be held responsible for paying back a higher amount.

However, as more people become informed of the potential benefits that the reverse mortgage offers, they should also become aware that it has negative aspects.

Rate Variability - A reverse mortgage tends to be a variable rate mortgage loan that entails substantial front-end expenses to compensate for expenditures if ever the borrower exits early.

Higher Prices for Older Borrowers - The loan will be bigger for pricier homes and older borrowers.

Complicated - According to advocates and financial planners, a reverse mortgage can become expensive and complicated. Therefore, seniors who are interested in applying for a reverse mortgage should first learn how it works. Before they look for a lender, they should be ready to receive independent counseling.

High Rates - Borrowers who choose to take the lump sum are slapped with higher interest payments compared to those who settle for installment checks or a line of credit. The reason for this is that, with the two latter choices, interest is only computed on the portion used.

While financial planners recommend that seniors only take a reverse mortgage if they plan to stay longer in their homes, evaluating the product's options may still be confusing. Before you apply for a reverse mortgage loan, make sure that you get impartial counseling first to help you decide if the product is right for you.

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Know more concerning the advantages and disadvantages of reverse mortgage. Find an online home loan equity mortgage calculator.

Invest for the Recovery Under Obama

By Charles L. Stanley CFP ChFC AIF

Regardless of your attitude toward President Obama, his policies will have an affect on the financial markets, both internationally and domestically. His desire to bring change to the United States will, by extension, bring change to the world due to our huge economic foot print.

With Barak Obama as President and the most powerful leader in the world, how should you structure your investment portfolio - both your taxable portfolio and your 401(k) or IRA, etc.?

1. Taxes will matter: We still don't have the details of how the tax code will be changed, but indications have been that at least some of the population (which targets the investing population) will see an increase in taxes on dividends and capital gains. If, for example, you pay a 20% or 25% rate of tax on capital gains instead of a 15% (or less), it is clear that there will be less money to reinvest or to live on after taxes are paid. Dividend rated could go up as high as 35% which will really kill the benefit of dividend paying stocks and bonds. So, you may want to consider the incorporation of tax free municipal bonds (but then with municipalities gong broke, be sure you look before your leap). Discuss tax management with your Advisor on the rest of your portfolio. Tax managed passive mutual funds have an extremely low tax impact.

2. You can't fool Mother Nature or the Capital Markets, they work: Turn on your TV any week-end and you will hear the "gurus" announcing which sectors or industries will boom under the Obama Administration and which will go bust. Academicians have shown over and again that such attempts to combine stock picking with market timing almost never outperform the broad market - the truth is they generally underperform. When they do outperform it is usually just plain luck rather than skill that can be exploited for profits and this it is not repeatable. Financial markets are essentially efficient and any attempt to regulate trade or change tax policy will end up being priced into the securities as soon as the news hits the wires.

3. Diversification increases your success rate: The way to consistently win the investing game, whether under an Obama Presidency or not, is to hold long term very broad globally diversified, low cost, asset class mutual funds. Risk is really the uncertainty about the future returns of your portfolio. Diversification reduces uncertainty. If you have a mutual fund that has about 3500 names in it, and it happens to contain a Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers, it will hardly create a ripple to your portfolio as they go out of existence. Don't be caught with concentrated portfolio mutual funds or separately managed accounts. They contain a great deal of "non-systematic" risk that you can diversify away. Reduce your uncertainty with diversification.

4. Risk and Return are Related: Exposure to meaningful risk factors in a diversified portfolio determines expected return. Over the long haul, stocks outperform bonds but not always; over the long haul small stocks outperform large stocks, but not always; over the long haul value stocks outperform growth stocks, but not always. Each of these outperformers has a greater volatility risk and a greater expected return.

5. Portfolio Structure Explains Performance: Asset allocation along size, value, and market exposure dimensions primarily determines the results of a broadly diversified portfolio. In other words, to increase the expected return of your portfolio under an Obama Presidency, own low cost, globally diversified asset class mutual funds that are over weighted to smaller and more value oriented stocks. If an all stock fund portfolio is too volatile for you, add some short term bond funds to damper the volatility.

Following academically sound investment principles will allow you to win the losers game during an Obama Presidency. Dont give in to the Wall Street marketing gurus who have proven their ability to separate you from your money, quickly and permanently.

About the Author:

Get your free copy of a Special Report by Charles L. Stanley CFP ChFC AIF titled "How to Protect Yourself from being Madoff'd". This report contains little understood techniques for how to protect yourself from crooks like Bernie Madoff, the Wall street broker who allegedly stole from his clients for $50 Billion. You don't have to let it happen to you. You will also find other articles at CharlesLStanley.com.

How to Budget Effectively with One Simple Guildeline

By Jesse Mecham

Have you ever started dieting and then found that your results weren't coming nearly as quickly as you would have liked? People don't learn how to budget correctly and then run into the same problem: the results don't match up with the work they're putting into it!

Truth be told, failure is almost certain with the way people are taught to budget these days. Some financial guru will announce they've come up with handy-dandy tables to compute what you should spend on every conceivable good and service...another will say you only need to worry about what you're saving (while that's great, you're leaving a lot of money on the table when that's your only focus!).

Examine the current balances (taking into account any outstanding checks, since those are already "spent") for your checking accounts and budget that money into your own spending/savings categories. What you're doing is giving every dollar a job.

The nex time your paycheck comes in? Take THAT money and give every single one of those dollars a job.

You don't need to be able to see the future to learn how to budget. In fact, trying to estimate and forecast is a royal waste of time. What you're doing is planning a LIVING budget where you're planning what your money will do, and adjusting that plan as needs change. Assigning every dollar a job BEFORE it's spent will do wonders for raising your awareness about spenidng. You'll find that your values and your spending will begin traveling the same path (toward financial peace!)

Once THAT happens, the age-old question of how to budget is answered. You only worry about what you have on hand and you give it all a planned purpose.

About the Author:

Jesse Mecham has been teaching people how to budget effectively for over five years. His 10-day budgeting course will revolutionize your view on money management!

Why Need a Financial Consultant?

By Paul J. Easton

Many people choose to hire a financial consultant to relieve themselves with several personal financial issues. Some people though choose their consultants haphazardly the way they choose their plumbers. Without due diligence, most people hire the nearest and most available financial consultant in town. But this decision is far more important than just choosing your plumber because this concerns your financial future.

First and foremost, decide what your financial consultant's role in your life. With a clear picture in mind, it is time to find some leads in your search for the best financial consultant for your needs.

Always make sure you only deal with the certified consultants and better check their credentials. If everything seems to look good, schedule a personal interview to meet your financial consultant.

A personal financial consultant is a practicing professional who can provide you with assistance and professional financial advice. A financial consultant may advise on the overall management of your financial portfolio. Consultants are usually retained for a set period of time. In this period, financial consultants will investigate your financial situation and your current lifestyle and produce a report detailing their recommendations including some aspects for improvements.

With different financial needs at each stage of life, clients need different financial consultants specializing with various financial instruments. A married couple expecting their first child has different financial goals than a married couple in their retirement age. With these demands for various financial instruments, you certainly must find a match with your financial consultant. Find the time to fill the need for a financial consultant with experience in your areas of interest.

After you have identified a few short-listed prospects, you need to delve deeper into their qualifications and designations. Find out if they are certified. Eliminate immediately those without any certifications.

There are actually more than fifty different certifications in the field of financial planning and consulting. Only trust the internationally recognized designations. The most respected is the Certified Financial Planner designation. Take a closer look at the financial consultant's work records and career history. Lastly, check for possible disciplinary actions in the past. You'll be glad you did this background check later.

Never hire a financial consultant without meeting them personally. With just a small effort of knowing them personally, you build loyalty and personal relationship. It is completely essential that you get to know them face to face.

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What To Do About The Poor Returns On Your Mutual Funds

By David C Lewis, RFA

Good mutual fund returns are hard to come by these days. Most actively managed funds are don't give their investors market-beating returns. It shouldn't come as a surprise though. Regulations have have helped this industry (and also hurt it), and as a result, this has dragged down returns for many individuals.

You can try to boost your fund's returns, however, don't expect these products to be a silver bullet for your retirement.

You can boost the returns on your mutual funds by not paying attention to historicals that are posted by the fund company. These are, many times, inflated. By using simple averages instead of compound averages and effective yields, the fund can show you returns that are higher than the actual returns posted by the fund.

A financial calculator can help you figure out the compounded return of an investment but, unless you know how to do that, you're probably going to have a hard time trying to figure out what return you are actually getting.

An alternative to trying to get more out of mutual funds is to get rid of them. One of the basic rules of investing is to understand what you are investing in. Most people don't understand mutual funds. They don't understand every business that the mutual fund holds. Even most financial advisers don't understand the businesses that the mutual funds they sell holds.

One final way of getting more out of your fund is to choose funds that invest in small cap companies. You could also do well by just investing in smaller funds. A smaller mutual fund would probably be the essential point here. Think about how easy it would be for a mom and pop shop to double in size as versus a giant corporation like Walmart.

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

Get Out of Debt Fast Today!

By Paul J. Easton

Decide now to get rid of your credit card debt. Why now? This is because prolonging it only will cost you more money in the long term. Count all the money you spare each month for your credit card payments. Just think about what you could probably spend with this money if you were not paying the bills with the credit card company.

After convincing yourself, the first step in this very arduous process is to come up with a written plan for systematically reducing your debt. Get rid of all of your existing cards except one to avoid the temptation. Using them accumulates even more debt and more problems for you. Cut up the rest of the cards or put them in a place where you cannot have access for now.

Pay much more than the minimum every due date. You should be very reluctant in paying only the minimum on your credit cards because this only benefits the credit card company in the long run. After all, if you can't manage to pay for more than the minimum balance every time, it is a strong indication that you are spending on something you can't afford in the first place. By paying more than the minimum, you reduce how much you pay for interests every time. In addition, you deduct the principal thereby gradually turning the balance down. Following this process continuously will make you debt-free much sooner than paying only the minimum.

One method to get out of debt faster is by avoiding the card with the highest interest rates and transferring the balance to a card with a better rate. After the balance transfer, focus all your energy by paying off that card as soon as you can.

As an advice, you can also try talking with your credit card lenders. Ask for any hardship terms they can offer with you. Some larger credit card lenders have programs which help cardholders pay off their accounts at a much reduced rate. Just ask for those deals because they don't promote it very willingly at times. Just make a good record by adhering to the terms closely because these schemes are strict. In most cases, if you make one missed payment, they will drop you off the program and all interest and fees will carry on the account.

By now, you are pretty convinced and will soon be making the decision to deal with your credit card debt finally. Working towards your goals consistently, you will definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel in due time.

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Hiring your First Financial Consultant with Trust

By Paul J. Easton

Everyone has different financial needs at different stages in their lives. These different stages require different financial needs too. Get started with your investments as early ijn life as possible. Look for your first financial consultant. When looking for a financial consultant, always find a consultant that matches your area of interest.

Personally, I don't recommend hiring your first financial consultant without meeting him or her. Although it may take some time from your part, it is absolutely necessary to get to know your financial consultant in a personal way, especially with your first one. According to a world-renowned investor Warren Buffett, it is always customary to ask oneself these three questions after meeting with a party or company to invest with. "Do I like their company? Can I trust them? Do I respect them?" These questions should be applied to hiring your financial consultant too.

Okay, so how can you find a person to trust? There is no perfect method because it is always up to the individual. Be on the lookout for these warning signs that will give you indications of a reputable financial consultant.

First thing you deal with your consultant is how they will be evaluated with their performance. Ask them some information from topics you researched on your financial objectives. Ask for their opinion to know how knowledgeable they are with their field. You only ask for information you have already an idea with. See if they tell you information misleading you along the way. This will be a good test to gauge their credibility.

Always clarify things in terms of the fees and the payment method. In addition to that, you just need to find a financial planner you are comfortable with. You are the client and you are in charge. Never go with the smoothest talking guy. Find a person who is warm and is willing to sit down with you and walk you through everything. This person will teach you with what is really going on later.

This is a process where you should be very keen with managing your expectations and finding the right person to fit the job. Since this will be one of the largest commitments you are going to undertake in your life, you have to simply take the time. Choosing the right financial consultant will take some of your time and effort. As one of the best moves for the future, play your cards well and get the best minds behind your investments. After finding this first consultant, develop a professional relationship, it will sure be worth it.

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Make money online

By reklicom

The BIG MONEY was still available and could be made by everyone, with very little investment. Not one person is excluded! That means YOU can make the big money, too!The BIG MONEY to be made, and again, I am repeating here, it can be made by everyone, and requires very little up front money, is (drum roll),

You heard me right. To make money in the real estate market the best bet is to develop or purchase your own online store. Yes, there are even Virtual Real Estate agents and online escrow companies to take care of the transaction.

Writing my fourth article that will show you how to reduce your cost or increase your income. The first two articles gave you methods to reduce your costs to being online, or on the phone or on the TV. This reductions would result in an increase of money in your pocket by $60 to $100 per month.

This company is the largest direct seller of Telecommunications products in the entire world. The average income for most new Independent Representative will be between $1,000 and $7,000 per month.

The average American family, will have over $8,700 in credit card debt. Many of your friends and family or maybe even you have purchased a home and got an iffy mortgage. The mortgage is due and the housing market is down. Pretty scarry!

If you listen to and believe the news media at all during a recession, you will be tempted to pull a blanket over your head and hibernate at home behind closed doors until the economic crisis is over.

The business will give you all the training needed and show you how to be successful. Even if you fail and give up where 100's of 1,000's have succeeded, the small amount of money invested can be used as a tax deduction but please check with an accountant or lawyer as I am nether.

So if this is what you have been looking for, don't walk, run and please go to my web site listed in the authors box for more info. The link will direct you to my blog where there is more info and then finally to the sign up site.

Gurus want you to believe that there are secrets to success. The truth is, there aren't any secrets. You just haven't taken the time to see what's in front of you. Once you do that, you'll be well on your way to earning a nice income from home.

You see, the same amount of money is in the world today as it was yesterday, or the day before, or the year before. It just changed hands.The world shifts and the businesses that did good a year ago may not be able to do things the same way this year. We have to intuitively tune in to the guidance mechanism within our heart. We have to stay CONNECTED to the Source of infinite knowledge. When the world shifts, we have to shift with it.

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Meeting your Financial Consultant

By Paul J. Easton

When deciding to get a financial consultant, don't follow the many people making the mistake of choosing their financial consultant like their plumber. You just cannot hire a financial consultant straight from a telephone directory. This is probably one of the biggest decisions in your financial life and this needs some thorough analysis and thoughtful decision makings.

You have to begin first with yourself. Start with deciding what you really want to do with your financial future. Find out what will probably be the role of your financial consultant.

After fixing your mind with your objectives, create a short list of a few financial consultants in your area. Check their credentials. If their credentials look good, schedule an interview with a few of them.

Since you are already fixed with your general goals, it is time to find a financial consultant in the area of your interests. You definitely have a specific financial need and the right financial consultant will have the answer to your problems. You will need a financial consultant with extensive experience in your preferences. That is the reason for conducting an interview. Gauge how their answers fit your lifestyle and standards.

Research more a little deeper into their qualifications. Ask for their certification. There are more than fifty different financial consultancy and planning certifications. One of the most respected is the Certified Financial Planner or CFP. This certification designates a financial consultant as a Certified Financial Planner. Always look at the consultant's work history too. Verify the kind of experiences they have if they relate to your preferences. Lastly, check for possible disciplinary actions in his or her career history. You may encounter several headaches if you don't spend the time looking for this information.

By taking the necessary step to meet your prospective financial consultant, you are showing sincerity and a great deal of effort in securing a bright future. It is absolutely essential that you get to know your financial consultant well.

As this process is very imperative, choosing a financial consultant is more than a walk in the park. It is more than just a quick look at your telephone directory and hiring some help. Going through the hassle of checking the credentials of the different candidates and talking to them are all worth the effort if you hire the best one. Take the time to conduct the interview and find the one you are most comfortable with and you feel most trustworthy. Establish a rapport with this financial consultant and you are on your way to financial success. Of course, it pays to review the performances every quarter after you hire and decide if he or she is doing a good job. Try these steps and you save yourself a lots of stress.

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Managing Your Student Loans Through Consolidation

By Darren Cason

Paying interest on several student loans every month, worrying about the upcoming payback on those loans, or seeing that your credit is lower now that you have all those loans on it from school is not a fun thing. It's something that many people, fresh out of college, have to worry about, though. Thankfully, there is a solution in student loan consolidation. This solution has many benefits.

One of these benefits is usually lower monthly payments, since you only pay fees to one institution and since it's usually at a lower interest rate and a better payment schedule. Student loans (and consolidations) are regulated and guaranteed by the government, so they have specific interest rates they must offer and specific payback schedules to use. When you apply for student loan consolidation, they usually consider your credit score without the interference of the current student loans, which means your score will be higher and get you a better rate too.

Other benefits can include electronic or automatic payment deductions from your checking or savings accounts, so you won't forget a payment and you'll usually qualify for a discount on your interest rate too.

In addition, if you haven't yet made a payment on your loans because you're still in your deferment (or grace) period on them, you can probably qualify for better student loan consolidation options than otherwise available. These can include better rates, easier processing of the loan, or even an increase in grace period before your first payment is due.

Often, the loans you received while you were in school are at higher interest rates than you'd get otherwise because the financial institution wanted to get the higher rate and you or your admissions counselor just wanted to get the tuition paid for. Now that you're looking at those payments, you're probably regretting those decisions, most especially if you are experiencing a poor credit situation. But there is hope and usually consolidation loans have lower interest rates than what you were given when you applied for the loans to start with.

Because of the government involvement in the rules and regulations of student loans, you could qualify for more options like lower rates, discounts, or even payoffs from grants and more.

So look at what you can gain by getting a student loan consolidation and reducing your payments, interest rates, and more, so you can focus on your new life now that college is over. Student loan consolidations are a quick way to get peace of mind, allowing you to focus on the new life ahead of you.

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How to Trust your Financial Planning

By Paul J. Easton

A personal financial planner is a practicing professional who can provide you with help in different personal financial issues. These professionals are experts in proper financial planning which includes cash flow management, investment planning, education planning, and even retirement planning. They also propose plans for risk management and insurance planning, tax management, and estate planning. They can even provide business succession planning if you are a business owner.

In carrying out the financial planning function, your financial planner needs to create a financial plan with a detailed strategy customized to a client's specific situation in order to meet the specific goals in mind. Looking for one should involve enough caution as this function is very personal and crucial at the same time.

If you are finding for the right financial planner for you, here are a few guides you need to understand. Have a personal point of view of your financial aspirations and objectives. Be very clear before consulting for professional help to have a clear and smooth discussion with your financial planner. Lastly, it is still vital to find someone with whom you can be at ease with. Trust is founded on confidence and value, so find someone you think you can rely on.

You might need a financial planner for a reason. Write down your needs; find out what your current life stage requires you set as a financial goal. Your financial goals generally decide the type of planner you are looking for.

Here is a great tip. Always look for the certification to give you peace of mind that you are dealing with a professional with high ethical standards. Nevertheless, a certification as financial planner can definitely help but the search does not stop there. Discover your planner with starting from your preferences. Find someone with whom you are relaxed to disclose your financial life.

Remember that you are going to share with this person every detail of your financial life, so be cautious with your financial planner at first. Once you get the hang of it and you begin to be confident with your planner, you are to expect a good relationship developing. The first meetings are critical so be very alert in your observations and decide as soon as you can to keep working with your planner or not.

These are just some of the steps to finding the right certified financial planner. By taking the time to realizing your own needs and priorities before finding the right certified planner, you are more focused with your financial goal to be concretized in a plan.

As a rule of the thumb, find the one you can trust with your money and make every cent of the service worth it. Take the time and be decisive, start now by looking for more information.

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Forex trading signal

By reklicom

Take your time to read these few lines, as I am going to provide you with some essential forex trading info. First thing you should know is that the forex market is very profitable, because you can make money every time it moves, and believe me, it never stops moving.

So as you can see, I ultimately improved my performance as I wanted, but not before I did my homework searching for good forex trading info.

But what forex trading info should you look for in order to achieve that goal? Well, simply look for forex trading info about educational products and other forex trading tools designed to put you on the right track..

So before you put a dime on forex trading, start by getting some good forex trading info about educational products and forex tools that will allow you to become a successful trader from the very start. Avoid wasting time and money like I did and make money from day one.

The largest market in the business world consists of the trading of foreign currency. Foreign currency trading, often abbreviated as FX, Forex or foreign exchange, is considered a liquid market, meaning that there is actually very little actual market trading going on while trading foreign currency"most Forex online trading is purely speculative, with only a small percentage of actuals translating into companies or governments conversion needs. In a liquid market, assets are converted very easily, with very little loss into cash, yet there is enough account activity going on to satisfy both the sellers and buyers competing in the market. The Easy-Forex system, an online Forex platform, is designed to assist potential Forex traders in their daily dealings, making the process as smooth as possible. With Easy-Forex, there is no Forex software to download, and potential traders can begin dealing in just minutes.

The second option sounded even better to me because I would not have to make much decisions, since I simply would be pointed out the right moment to place my orders and close them for profits. However I would have to be attentive of the market movements during the day.

With Easy-Forex, there is a qualified staff ready to assist traders with anything they might need, and unlike so many other internet marketing businesses, there are real people waiting to take troubleshooting calls or emails. In addition, beginning Forex traders can take advantage of the option for live help and one-on-one Forex training straight from the experts to ensure they will be properly equipped to utilize the Forex market to their advantage. Moreover, the trader will be assigned a personal account manager who will act as a live operator during the traders first activity on the market, guiding them through their first steps in Forex trading.

There are various Forex trading strategies that should be followed by every Forex trader in order to gain a large number of profits. This Forex strategy system includes:Ability to read or know the Forex trading strategies, Adopting reliable and effective Forex trading strategies, Implementing Forex trading strategies without involving costly software, Taking the option of simple moving, Deriving resistance and support levels

As currency trading has become one of the most recent ways of earning money, a large chunk of people take this option just as a hobby. This type of trading is performed by exchanging currency of one country with that of another. Currency trading, Forex trading signal, Forex trading strategy, and Forex alerts have made this industry the largest one if one is to consider its trading volume.

Consistent and efficient strategies should be employed so that even if the market is facing small changes, it should not hit or affect the plan of the Forex strategy system. The best part about entering this field is that this profession can be taken by any person regardless of his or her educational background. But while Forex trading strategy proves to be a successful profession, it carries high level risks as well. So, while entering the field of currency trading, it is advisable that the traders should consider their objectives with great care so as to eliminate the possibility of facing losses. Also, one should take advice regarding the risks involved in the Forex trading strategy from financial advisors to gain heavy profits.

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Credit Card Companies And What They Offers

By Eric Jilson

One of the most well-known and trusted providers of credit cards is American Express, especially in the low interest rate, high credit genre of cards. Often, their balance transfer options and up to fifteen months with no interest can't be beat. Some of their cards even offer points with redemptions towards travel, hotels, rentals, and more and often with no annual fee.

Chase credit cards have 5% on purchases and an offer of 0% APR for up to a full year. Cardholders can even receive cash back on 1% of their additional purchases. Chase offers a wide variety of cards, so you'll probably find one that fits your needs.

Citi has the Platinum Select card which has a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers, though it does not apply to cash advances. If you fail to make payments, go over your limit, or otherwise do not meet the terms of the contract, however, you'll likely lose these benefits.

Discover Platinum Cards are also offered with 0% APR as an introductory rate for up to a year. They also offer no annual fees, 5% cash rewards, and zero fraud liability along with limitless cash rewards for 1% of additional purchases. If you purchase products from their select, name-brand companies, they offer double the rewards for doing so. Of course, since you're paying a premium for the name-brand item, this may not really be that great of a deal. Make sure to read up on the card's requirements and small print before joining, as many find themselves caught because they didn't.

HSBC Mastercard offers manufactured goods from their in-house catalog to new cardholders. Since this bank mainly deals with newly established credit or people with credit difficulties, their offer few 0% APR or other deals. Their rates go as high as 18.75% and they usually have other fees associated with their credit re-establishing offers.

The AT&T Universal Platinum Cards are offered with similar deals, but also include many things the others do not. These include phone savings (through AT&T, of course) and free directory assistance credits and phone minutes monthly. This low-rate card is also a phone card, so you can use it to make long distance calls from any phone world-wide. This is in addition to their 0% APR for a year on purchases and balance transfers and their zero fraud liability guarantee. There are also options for insurance coverage on wireless phones built-in to the account. Of course, it's not all roses. There are down-sides to this card including variable rates after the year is up and very high rates on cash advances and defaults.

Bottom line, there are many cards out there for you to choose from and finding the right one for you is only a matter of looking through the options. For anyone looking for a new credit card or to transfer the balance and close out an existing card, there is a lot to look at out there. Hopefully this short list has helped you in making an informed decision. Be sure to check out each individual offer and to read contracts carefully so you don't get burned.

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Teach Your Child the Value of a Dollar

By Laura Nelson-Smith

As kids watch the adults in their lives use money, they catch on to its importance money has in life. The best way to instruct your child about the significance of a dollar is by showing them the many ways the dollar is used.

Begin When They're Young

As soon as your child is ready, start showing them just how money works. Children need to understand that in order to get money, it must be earned. Teach them that the things we need in life like food and clothes have to be purchased with money and that the seller is the one who determines what to charge for the items. If there is no money then you can't buy what is needed.

Another good topic to cover is the importance of saving money. Let them know that a child with a two or three dollars could buy candy that will only last about 10 seconds, or even a cheap toy that will likely break in about 10 minutes or be forgotten about the next day. However, if that child saves the money, they can buy a better item that will probably have more value and last longer.

Have A Savings Plan

One way to teach children about savings is setting a percentage they should save every time they earn money. Ten percent is an easy sum to learn; simply move the decimal point one space to the left. For every $1.00 earned, $0.10 will be saved ($23.48 earned, $2.34 saved).

This savings isn't for a better short-term item, but for a "rainy day" or even a car or college fund. The remaining $0.90 can be used for the candy or "better item" as mentioned above. This principle can teach the child self discipline for very long-term savings (i.e. a house or retirement when they're an adult).

You already know that a six year old could really care less about saving for an emergency or even driving a car, but they will be able to see that saving ten percent over the years adds up. This teaching is a good for when they get their first job because they will already know about putting some money to the side.

You might also set aside a certain percentage for charitable giving, so kids can also learn about this important aspect of managing money.

As Your Child Grows

When your child is older,take him or her to the bank with you and open savings account for them. Decide to take them to the bank monthly so they can deposit their savings into the account. Allow them to view the bank statement so they can see how money is grows with the assistance of interest.

It is a good idea for them to know that interest is a big part of saving and spending. With interest you either pay more or earn more; it all depends on what the interest is for. It is a good idea to show teenagers that if a debt is not paid for in 30 days, they will end up paying more for an item than the purchase price.

One of the best ways to teach about how good or bad interest can be is by role-playing. You can find an item your teenager wants to pay for with a credit card as an example. Make a chart showing that by only making the minimum payment, it will take longer and cost more because of interest.

You can even switch it by taking the number of months it will take to pay off the debt verses the interest they would earn with a savings account if they save money for the item they want. The amount of interest may not be much, but you want them to see that if you save money to purchase the item, you pay only that amount and there will be no interest to pay along with it.

When children understand how money works they'll (hopefully) be more inclined to use responsibility when making money decisions.

About the Author:

Laura Nelson-Smith is the resident editor of Career & Finance at http://www.Schmoozins.com - an online magazine for women that gives all women a voice. Join us as a contributor, schmoozer or just hang out a while.