wash-who

Wash Who?

Writen by Isha Edwards

Touting “The end of traditional banking,” Washington Mutual took its brand primetime earlier this year with commercial advertising. In addition to providing standard banking and financial services, “WaMu” as it is known, is helping to redefine banking by making “free” accounts, free.

WaMu’s goal is to deliver products and services that “offer great value and friendly service.” Their core values include being fair, caring, human, dynamic, and driven. Change Sciences partner, Steve Ellis affirms the Banks’ success: "Most people see banking as drudgery. The best banks are working hard to create a kinder, friendlier experience online — and Washington Mutual has pulled ahead of the others in doing this."

Even though it has just over 2,600 branches, WaMu is experienced. The bank has been around since 1889. Within the past year, WaMu began saturating the market with strategically located retail outlets. From Frankfort, Illinois to Bronx, New York, WaMu’s brand has become as visible as mainstay banks for each region. In the Atlanta market for example, WaMu retail outlets now stand in tandem with competitors Wachovia, Bank of America, and SunTrust who have dominated the local market for more than ten years.

Like online bank, ING Direct, WaMu appeals to the price conscious consumer who has not yet developed brand loyalty. Now more likely to read fine print, consumers readily compare service options to determine what is really “free.” News for top tier banks, WaMu and banks with similar business models make sense for next generation bankers who want more than a lifelong money vacuum. If premier banks do not mind their Ps and Qs, they will soon be chanting, “Wash who?” while consumers echo back WaMu.

free-government-grants

Free Government Grants

Writen by John D Miller

Are you interested in taking advantage of free government grant programs? If so then don’t even think about searching another grant website or wasting your money on another grant seeking product until you read this free government grants article!

Government grant programs allow you to take advantage of grants by either receiving the free services they offer or directly receiving the money in the form of a check. It all depends on what type of assistance you are seeking and whether or not you meet the grant programs eligibility requirements.

Government grant programs help fund a variety of special causes including home ownership, starting or expanding a business, higher education, health care, and much more.

Here are a few examples. Let’s say you apply for and are awarded an education grant, let’s say a Pell grant. The award is not sent directly to your house like some marketers want you to think. Instead it is sent to your college where it is deducted from your tuition.

The same applies to most government grant programs. Do you want to take advantage of debt relief programs? If so there are free organizations that can provide you with free debt relief assistance. Government grants are sent to these organizations so the organizations can consolidate your debt and reduce your payments, all for free.

Do you want to take advantage of free business grants? If so then you can take advantage of the free business consultation services and loans that are funded by theses business grant programs. Some states also offer grants that are awarded directly to businesses that can hire a lot of people.

Interested in receiving housing assistance such as money for your rent? If you meet the grant programs eligibility requirements then you can get the money sent directly to your landlord and you get free rent. It’s also the same for emergency mortgage payment grant programs.

These are just a few examples on how free government grants work. For more information on free government grants, loans, and scholarships, including free information on private grants and private scholarships, please visit our homepage!

Click here for complete details on free government grants.

accounting-police-do-they-exist

Accounting Police: Do They Exist?

Writen by John Day

Who created accounting principles? Who sets and revises accounting standards? What if you don’t follow all the rules, do you go to jail? Is there an accounting police force that investigates and arrests violators? It would seem that there must be some regulatory force to make sure that providers of financial statements conform to the rules. There is, up to a point, and here is how it works:

Mainly, it’s all voluntary and it works pretty well. First, double-entry accounting originated in Italy in the 1400’s, so its been around awhile. Accounting principles have evolved over the years just as have accounting standards. The reason why the system works is that the business community could not function if there was not commonality and consistency in financial statement reporting. It would be chaos, much like if there were no driving rules of the road.

Therefore, in the United States, a body of experts known as the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB pronounced Fasbee) was established in 1973, which superseded another board called the Accounting Principles Board (APB). The FASB members go through a lengthy process of analyzing and reviewing problems in the accounting field that are brought to them. After much thought, they will make a pronouncement as to what they think the new or revised way of approaching the treatment of an accounting issue should be.

They are a non-governmental organization that has private financing. A big supporter of FASB is the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Many Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) belong to this prestigious organization and are obligated to abide by its guidelines and principles of behavior. Other countries no doubt have similar organizations that require high levels of accounting professional conduct.

FASB established an accounting code called “Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” or (GAAP). The assumption is that if a business financial statement is prepared according to GAAP, then the user of that financial statement could rely on or trust the information more readily than if not prepared according to GAAP. Those businesses that deviate from GAAP, and many smaller businesses do, cannot say that their statements are prepared under GAAP; in fact, they should inform the reader that they are not. However, let the buyer beware.

One governmental body that has a policing function is the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). It is primarily concerned with public companies because their job is to protect investors from unscrupulous acts. Recently, the SEC has gotten into the act of establishing accounting standards. It has its hands full today.

Since most businesses use their financial statements to prepare their required income tax returns, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may audit those tax returns and review the financial statements upon which the tax returns are based. Not following the rules can get you in trouble with this governmental body.

You can see that in many ways compliance to the principles and standards is a mixture of voluntary and regulatory behavior. Currently, there is an effort underway to set international accounting standards due to the inexorable globalization process. This is a massive undertaking that will take years, but it is obviously necessary and inevitable.

assetbased-lending-more-than-lastresort-business-financing

Asset-Based Lending: More than Last-Resort Business Financing

Writen by David Springer

While asset-based lending may often be considered “last-resort” funding, commercial borrowers of all types and sizes are using this flexible, cost-effective financing to meet their cash flow needs.

In fact, asset-based lending is a $200-billion-plus market, according to the Commercial Finance Association. Users of asset-based lending span a broad range of industries, with manufacturers representing approximately 31% of the total marketplace, followed by wholesalers (28%), and retailers (17%). Based on revenues, the bulk of these borrowers (71%) are under $50 million in size.

The attraction to asset-based lending is obvious. This versatile, cost-efficient debt instrument provides more flexibility than many other forms of traditional financing. Moreover, asset-based lending can provide borrowers with enhanced operational flexibility through all phases of the business cycle.

Understanding Asset-Based Lending

The concept of asset-based lending is relative straightforward: It’s simply a business loan or line of credit secured by some type of collateral. The collateral can be any asset the borrower uses in the conduct of his or her business. If the loan or credit line isn’t repayed, the asset is taken.

Also called commercial finance, asset-based lending is typically secured by accounts receivables and, less often, inventory. Lenders favor receivables because they are among the most liquid assets, and they’re less susceptible to “shrinkage”, physical damage and other problems faced by tangible assets.

Accounts receivables that are eligible for asset-based lending generally include receivables from completed sales. Older receivables-those more than 90 days from invoice-and foreign receivables are usually considered ineligible. Eligible inventory typically includes all finished goods and marketable raw materials. Excluded from the list of eligible inventory are works-in-progress, slow-moving or obsolete inventory, and inventory on consignment with customers.

Fixed assets, such as machinery, equipment and real estate, also can be used as collateral against asset-based lending. Companies frequently use fixed assets as the borrowing base for a loan where the payments, schedule and term are pre-set. In addition, non-traditional assets like trade names and intellectual property may be eligible as collateral on a case-by-case basis.

A Different Option than Traditional Cash Flow Financing

Asset-based lending is distinctly different from traditional, cash flow-based financing. It matches a company’s assets to its borrowing needs. And unlike convention cash flow financing, asset-based lending doesn’t rely on balance sheet ratios and cash flow projections as loan criteria.

Instead, asset-based lending uses the borrower’s business assets as its primary focus for lending. It evaluates a company’s asset coverage, liquidity and, to some degree, the borrower’s ability to service their debt. Thus, the quality of the collateral becomes the principle determining factor of creditworthiness.

Asset-based lending gives financing companies the benefit of liquid assets to protect their loan, thus these loans place less reliance on the borrower’s operating performance. And as one would imagine, the interest rates on asset-based loans are generally less than those on unsecured financing.

How Asset-Based Lending Works

In essence, asset-based lending provides companies with cash by lending on fixed assets. The borrowing capacity is geared to the amount, quality and liquidity of the asset being used as collateral. For example, the current assets of accounts receivables could serve as the borrowing base for a revolving credit line that could be drawn down and repaid. This can help a company accelerate cash flow by enabling it to borrow against the future value of current assets expected to become cash in the near term. In turn, the company could use the borrowed funds to finance working capital to meet operational and other needs.

Businesses frequently use asset-based lending to fund acquisitions. And it’s actually possible to use the assets of the company being acquired to finance the acquisition. Many companies also use asset-based lending to grow their business. A revolving credit line, for instance, can provide borrowers with a great deal of flexibility and borrowing capacity from its existing asset base. Moreover, an asset-based lending solution can be designed to “grow” with the company. For instance, a revolving credit option could be developed to provide a higher credit limit as the business increases its borrowing base. So, as the company’s needs and collateral grow, so does its ability to borrow.

In addition to funding acquisitions and growth, asset-based lending is also used to provide operating capital for meeting payroll, building inventory, consolidating debt and financing equipment. When should a company pursue asset-based lending to meet its operational and expansion needs? Suitable situations might be when:

- Operating cash is tied up in receivables
- Sales growth is straining resources
- Seasonality peaks cause problems
- Inventory levels are high due to client demands
- The best trade terms for supplies create cash flow shortages
- Trade discounts and special pricing terms cannot be obtained
- Letters of credit are required to supply or buy overseas
- No fixed assets are available for collateral

Almost any business with tangible assets and qualified management can take advantage of asset-based lending to meet its cash flow needs. Borrowers don’t have to be profitable or have a minimum net worth. And there’s no such thing as a company being too small or too new to “collaterize” their assets.

Asset-based lenders are willing to advance funds when traditional sources won’t, and may grant credit that’s more than the net worth of the business. Lenders typically fund businesses with annual sales less than $250,000 to more than $1 billion. Credit is ultimately hinges on the type of business and collateral provided. And the financing charge for asset-based lending is determined by the credit risk and collateral associated with the transaction. Compared to other financing options available today, asset-based based lending is a flexible, cost-effective solution for companies needing to enhance cash flow.

top-tips-to-get-what-you-pay-for-online

Top Tips to Get What You Pay For Online

Writen by Willett Thomas

It seems like only a few years ago, when shopping online was akin to the wild, wild West — limited to use by those with true grit and an adventurous spirit. And, is it any wonder? With so few stores set up to sell their items through the Internet, who among us had the time to waste, when we could just as easily do our shopping at the “brick and mortar” equivalents. This left this new frontier mainly to those in pursuit of those items not readily found in stores at that time, the exotic: Persian rugs, rare books, and other collectibles. Years ago, if you told someone you had no qualms about shopping online, that you willingly provided your credit card information to anonymous customer service reps free floating in cyber space, most figured your credit probably wasn’t all that great to begin with.

Those very “brick and mortar” stores, which had once declared online shopping a fad, an endeavor doomed to go the way of pogo sticks and drive-in theatres, have had to bow down and acknowledge the success of industry giants like: Amazon.com and ebay. These same naysayers, which now credit their online enterprises with providing the lion’s share of their revenues, will do whatever’s necessary to encourage customers to shop online, advertising their largest discounts through their website; with these discounts often considerably greater than the ones offered by their mail order catalogues and landlocked sites.

Not Your Mom and Pop’s Online Rug Shop

Today’s online shopping isn’t limited to exotic Persian rugs anymore. It’s comprised of stores selling everything from: hardware, clothing, magazines and carpeting to gourmet food, cigars and tires. Then you also have your Bombaycompany.com, Kmart.com, EthanAllen.com, Snan.comall, heavy hitters when it comes to supplying decor for the home or office. Any viable enterprise once found only on Main Street U.S.A., is now sure to be represented by hundreds, and sometimes thousands of comparable cyber space online storefronts.

Everyone: college students, grandmothers, teachers, dancers — even rug rats as young as seven — can be found navigating and shopping Internet sites with ease and confidence. But as with all new technologies, knowing what to do, along with those things that shouldn’t be attempted, will help insure all your online shopping experiences are great ones.

A Few Cyber Highway Rules to Keep You on Course

Be a Savvy Consumer

• Make yourself familiar with any site your plan to shop from. If you’ve never heard of the store, then find someone who has. Call the number listed under: Contact Us. Look the company up on the Better Business Bureau’s site to see if anyone’s registered a recent complaint against the site.
• Guard your privacy. Don’t give out personal information to just anyone who emails you. So often, when we visit sites, we are asked to register with our email address, it only days later (sometimes even soon), when you begin receiving bogus emails asking for additional information, such as your credit card account number. It’s a ruse. Often, they’ve gotten enough information from your initial registration at their site to make your think that you’ve done business with them in the past.
• Place your online orders only on secured web servers. These web addresses always begin with https while unsecured web pages begin with http. Get into the habit of looking for sites whose addresses begin with this when shopping online. Depending on your web browser, these sites may also be denoted by a small lock seen in the lower corner of your computer screen. This lock should always be in the closed position, never the open position.
• Don’t use obvious passwords. Try not to use the same password for different sites. One of the keys to keeping your online information out of the hands of others, is to always keep them guessing. If your nickname is Tigger, although easy for you to remember, it’s also fairly easy for someone else to figure out too.

Their Your Rights, Know Them

• If you possible, use the same method of payment for all your online transactions. This will make it easy on you when the statement comes in. This allows you to easily distinguish authorized payments from nonauthorized payments.
• Understand the return and refund policies of the company. You may not want to do a lot of business with an online store providing only a store credit on returns, especially if you thought you were purchasing an Oriental rug for the living room, but it turns out to be a rug better suited to a child’s room.
• Take a minute or two to carefully read the fine print before you hit the “I read and I agree” button. The company puts these caveats in fine print for a reason.
• Don’t assume a 3-5 day delivery date is standard business practice. Most sites offer express shipping at a higher charge than regular UPS. Read the shipping policy before placing an order.
• Know what warranties you are being offered on the products you purchase from the site. Most online stores selling appliances and electronics are more than happy to sell you their extended warranty. But do you need it? Find out what’s covered under the manufacturer’s warranty, then decided whether or not that’s enough coverage.

Let’s Make a Deal

• There’s no reason not to compare prices, especially when it only a matter of mouse clicks. If you know what the competition is offering, then you’re in a much better position to get the best price. Many sites will be meet or better the competition’s best price, if asked to.
• Lookout for hidden fees. These costs account for the majority of shipping and handling fees accessed by online shopping sites. Check to see if these fees seem reasonable for item you are thinking of purchasing.
• Order early for special occasions like Mother’s Day, Christmas, and birthdays. It’s a special day, and receiving the item on time helps insure it remains this way.

Know Where You’ve Been

• Keep good track of dates, amounts spent, and description of the items purchased from the sites you’ve visited.
• Keep all your online receipts and website page printouts. This will make it that much easier to check what’s delivered against what you actually ordered online.

But most importantly, if an online shopping site looks as if it might not be on the up and up, don’t chance it. Whether their selling bamboo rugs or Waterford crystal, it’s certainly not worth risking your good name and credit to find out for sure.

common-mistakes-people-make-in-financial-planning

Common Mistakes People Make In Financial Planning

Writen by Mika Hamilton

Planning for your financial future is by all means a difficult task and to make it harder you have to realize that any mistake may be a detrimental one. For so many aspects of financial planning there is no going back, at least not without some sort of penalty.

The goal is naturally to wind up with a secured future in which you can sustain yourself throughout your retirement.

One of the biggest mistakes, in every sense of the word, is sometimes on that is unfortunately unavoidable. It was one that is worth any possible sacrifice to try to avoid though. This is where people take out a longer mortgage than they really have to. A thirty year mortgage over a fifteen year mortgage winds up costing so much more then you should ever have to pay for a house. Paying it off quicker means you’ll have less money to invest in the first years of your home life but you will have a massive amount more to invest later.

That’s mentioned first because it is likely the biggest cost you will ever have to face. But another big mistake is to avoid doing what is really key in all of this planning and that is to set yourself a goal; more so, set yourself a realistic goal. Like any other aspect of life, without goals we won’t achieve much. Without realistic goals we will never be satisfied.

The goal is also something that keeps people on track with their financial planning and help them avoid some of the other common mistakes. It is also necessary to have a detailed goal so you have smaller steps to achieve. Not only is this practical but it is psychologically imperative so that you know each year that you have accomplished one more step in your plan.

Uncontrolled spending is something that happens with far too many people. With a goal in mind this is easier to avoid. That way you have a plan that reminds you that you have reached your weekly or monthly budget. Still, savings and investments can not happen if money keeps getting spent on unnecessary things.

This doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to spend money on pleasures, but not more than you can afford. A common example is eating out too much. Even at twenty dollars a meal that can easily escalate into spending thousands on eating a year where you should only be spending hundreds.

When it comes to saving for retirement, far too many people start too late. This not only makes things difficult but sometimes impossible. One of the main keys to setting goals it to set them early in an effort for long term returns.

These are all important things to think over. Keep them in mind as you continue your journey into the world of planning for financial security.

swedish-credit-union-scam-or-not

Swedish Credit Union - Scam or Not

Writen by Gissela Martinez

Today on the internet we see numerous entities selling Swedish Credit Unions. The presentation is obtain what is basically a bank inexpensively and operate it offshore using a Panama Financial Services Company which does not let you operate as a bank. Will this work, theoretically yes. Practically the Swedish Credit Union will break down when it comes to the correspondent bank. What is usually done is an ordinary bank account is opened with a bank that has correspondent banks. Please bear in mind the fees to open a correspondent bank account usually are in the $200,000 + range. When your Swedish Credit Union starts pumping through 40 or so wires a week the correspondent bank, the bank that you have is using, will think their customer bank is operating as a correspondent bank and find some excuse to cut them off if they do not drop your account. Remember they want people to pay $200,000 to have a correspondent bank. Having the wires go through a Panama Financial Services Company mitigates the situation some since the credit union name does not appear in the wires. If one were to say process 3 or 4 wires a week with say three or four checks and the wires and checks were all made out to the financial services company, not a credit union, the scenario would probably have a reasonably long life. Of course you now really don’t need the credit union.

Bank Secrecy - Missing altogether. The Swedish Credit Unions do not have bank secrecy since they are from Sweden which is not a privacy jurisdiction. The Swedish authorities do not have reportage requirement for these companies but rest assured they can conduct an audit or request and require books and records readily because these entities are subject to Swedish taxation at a rate of about 30%. If one failed to comply they could cancel your corporation or credit union if you wish to name it such, or worse even going after you personally for fraud, income tax evasion, etc. Not a comforting thought. I should say the Panama Financial Services Company bank account would be covered by bank secrecy in Panama. If the Swedish Government alleged that you were operating some sort of financial institution like a bank taking deposits and making loans in Panama through this Panama Financial Services Corporation along with a corporation named as a credit union in Sweden, the Panamanian authorities would think you were trying to evade buying a Bank License (expensive licenses) and shut you down. Would they turn records over to the Swedish? That would depend on the allegations and if there was criminal case on file in Sweden for money laundering. If such a case was in the Swedish Criminal Courts I think under the circumstances the records would likely be turned over. Panama would likely deem you to be operating beyond the scope of a Financial Services Company if the Swedish government was complaining about one of their credit union named corporations, I would not think the Panama Government would be standing up for your company.

Legal Structure - The name of this so called Swedish Credit Union is an EKONOMISK F

Buy Natural Health Supplements - Natural Tonics for Health and Wellness

Buy natural health supplements? When looking to buy natural health supplements and natural tonics for health and wellness, chances are you’ll find your options are limited in local stores. Online, there are many possibilities. However, an important question is — how to know which natural tonics for health and wellness are legitimate ones that provide specific health benefits?

Ideally, vitamin and nutrient requirements would come totally from your diet. The problem is — many people make poor food choices every day. And even with a well-balanced diet, studies find that nutrient values of foods have been declining for decades because of soil depletion.

When looking to buy natural health supplements, leading the list should be the daily vitamin/mineral/nutrient supplement that is the basis of your supplement program. And all daily supplements are not created equal. Two important natural tonics for health and wellness should be considered these:

High-Quality Daily Vitamin/Mineral/Nutrient Supplements - a daily high-quality, broad-spectrum anti-aging natural supplement helps fill in the dietary gaps that everyone will have. Few persons obtain the minimum recommended servings of 5-9 cups of vegetables and fruits per day, for example, and thus do not obtain the health benefits associated with these vital foods.

And taking one of the cheap one-a-day vitamins is probably a waste of time and money. When considering to buy natural health supplements, vitamins and minerals are just the beginning. The body needs and will use a wide array of anti-aging natural tonics for health and wellness substances — amino acids, antioxidants, bioflavanoids, neuronutrients, herbal extracts, enzymes and other nutrients such as L-Carnosine, alpha lipoic acid and acetyl L-Carnitine and so on. And these nutrients must be in the correct proportions to each other based on the latest research.

Omega 3 Supplements - from heart and brain health to depression treatment to pregnancy health, Omega 3 benefits are too good to ignore if you are interested in health. Three of the top Omega 3 food sources are cold-water fish, grass-fed (not grain-fed) meat and eggs. Omega 3 oils provide DHA and EPA in a natural form that your body can easily assimilate. No conversion is required by the body as is required for flax oil, for example. Most of the clinical studies on Omega 3 benefits are based on fish oils from consuming fish and fish oil supplements.

In addition, other natural tonics for health and wellness to consider when you buy natural health supplements with specific health benefits proven by clinical studies are:

Natural Cholesterol Lowering Supplements - the most effective is policosanol which comes from sugar cane. Its cholesterol-lowering abilities are published in over 80 clinical studies, which are more studies than for most prescription drugs. Policosanol significantly lowers total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol without the side affects associated with the statin drugs.

Arthritis Supplements - there are nutrients that have been shown to reduce inflammation, swelling and stiffness. Aiming to achieve long term pain relief by targeting the cause, not just the arthritis symptoms, should be the goal of arthritis natural tonics for health and wellness.

Sexual Enhancement Supplements - many sexual problems (and health problems) are related to nutrient deficiencies. In men, for example, men with impotency problems also suffer from cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes or are taking prescription drugs which commonly cause sexual dysfunction problems. Restore your general health and your sexual health will automatically follow.

Is it possible when you buy natural health supplements that you can slow the aging process? Yes! Numerous clinical studies have shown and are still finding the health benefits of many of these nutrients. You can try to come up with your own supplement plan and take many different supplements individually. However, to buy natural health supplements and design your own supplement program is not the best way. It’s easy to end up with a dozen or more individual substances to take daily, which is both a hassle and expensive. And if certain substances are out of balance, they can combine to produce other unwanted compounds that can be harmful.

There are manufacturers that provide advanced nutritional products in one broad high-quality daily supplement. Nutrient quantities are combined according to the latest research, and individual ingredients are linked to relevant clinical studies and benefits. Learn as much as you can before you buy natural health supplements about the natural tonics for health and wellness you’ll be taking every day.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about women’s vitamins and supplements and vitamins for men. David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of natural health articles, reliable sources of natural health supplements and related resources.

[tags]buy natural health supplements,natural tonics for health and wellness,natural health supplements,[/tags]

why-you-should-reject-most-credit-card-offers

Why You Should Reject Most Credit Card Offers

Writen by Joseph Kenny

A lot of credit card companies want you to think that their offer is a good one - without really offering you good features. For instance, this morning, a credit card offer came in the mail. After looking it over, it was rejected - because it lacked the “right features.” It would have been unwise to sign up for that card. If you are thinking about getting a credit card - or maybe another one, there are some reasons why you may not want to fill out the next application that comes to you in the mail. Here are some things you need to look for to see if it really is such a good deal.

The Interest Rate

The first reason that this credit card was not a good one was because there were no introductory interest rates on the card at all. It was just for one rate - 9.9%. All purchases came into that interest bracket. Many cards will give you a 0% interest rate as their introductory offer for up to 15 months. That means that you pay no interest on your purchases for up to one whole year, unless your payments are late, or if you allow a balance to be carried over to the next month.

This particular interest rate, while not bad, is certainly not the best, either. Some credit cards go as low as 6.9% interest, and others may go as high as 17.9%. After the first year, though, your interest level becomes the regular amount of the card. Interest rates can change for many reasons - one of them being late payments. One of the things that will effect what interest rate you are able to get is your current credit rating.

Reward Options

Another reason why you should not accept just any credit card offer is because it may not give you the greatest opportunity to benefit from the rewards. Applications sent to you, or ads on the Internet may not cater to your particular needs. Find a card that offers rebates and rewards on the products and services that you use the most. Things like gasoline, air miles if you travel a lot, groceries, discounts on hotels, etc., will benefit you much more if you use these things on a regular basis. Things like air miles can actually help you to get enough air miles to make that trip that you have always wanted - just remember to find out how long they are good for - there is usually an expiration date after a couple of years.

Other Fees

This is one area where some credit cards can really take away a lot of your benefits. Look for things like processing fees, yearly fees, balance transfer fees, and fees for cash advances. The best cards, if you can get one, often will not have extra fees - or, possibly a minimal one.

In addition to the above, you need to know that things like only one late payment can remove your desired benefits and put you into the regular interest rate for the card. Other cards may require you to have a minimum balance in order to get their benefits.

Every credit card offer will always have some nice feature in bold print that will get your attention. That’s not where you should look, though. Instead, focus on what is in the small print - that’s where the nitty-gritty details really are, and you will want to read these first.

save-money-with-financial-homework

Save Money With Financial Homework

Writen by Martin Lukac

Americans like choice, but it isn’t always that great of a thing. For example, have you ever been frustrated when no one wants to make the decision of where to eat? Too many choices often confuse us or leave us avoiding the decision. Especially when it comes to finances.

A report from AARP showed that all of the financial choices available have simply led to confusion for many baby boomers. Many baby boomers consider themselves to be poor financial managers.

One of the top reasons that consumers are hindered by the plethora of choices is simply a lack of time. Many people don’t have the time to sit and research the ever-expanding menu of mutual funds, mortgage products and retirement options.

Lack of financial knowledge is also a problem. Most Americans, almost 40%, actually believe that lenders are required by law to give borrowers the best possible mortgage rates. This isn’t true. Consumers must shop around for the lowest rates and the best mortgage terms. Those who believe the above are more likely to fall victim to predatory lenders who charge high interest rates, according to the AARP.

There are many consequences that come with poor financial decisions. What should you do to avoid making mistakes?

Start with a little financial homework.

Shop around. There are significant differences in the prices of goods and services of similar quality, yet only half of all consumers bother to compare the prices. For about 40% of products, the highest price on the market is more than double the lowest price, even when there is no difference in quality. The average household could save around $1,000 a year simply by comparison shopping.

Look for ways to save. By reducing your expenses, you can save a lot of money. If you were to simply take a second job, you would probably be subject to higher federal and state income taxes. If you are in the 15% bracket, you would only increase your household income by $1,000 for every $1,389 you earn. Pay attention to the product. There are so many financial products and services available to consumers. There are many that are great, but there are a lot of investments that are risky. Many consumers don’t understand the risks. For example, mutual funds and insurance aren’t federally insured and guaranteed, even though they may be offered by a bank.

Learn the basics. Take the time to learn about every type of investment or financial matter that you are going to undertake. Find out the pros and cons of CDs or money market accounts. Research how to buy a new car. Don’t buy a new home without considering the risks of the adjustable mortgage you are considering.

Basically, the only way to be truly financially sound is to make sure you know what you are doing. With a little research and education, you can be sure that you are on the right track when it comes to your finances. A little homework can save you a lot of money.

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