FindHow2 News

10 Ways To Manage Money During Ups and Downs Of Life

2012-01-30T04:27:00.000-08:00

How to manage your money through unexpected life changes

One of the many benefits of marriage is having a partner to share in the day-to-day tasks. One person might handle the laundry while the other takes over yard work. But, when it comes to money management, while you may end up delegating most of the responsibility to one person, it's in every couple's best interest to be mutually involved in the family finances.

Life is full of uncertainty and change, and it's possible, even likely, that you will be responsible for your own finances at some point. For many, the financial impact of significant life changes, from the good, like marriage and children, to the not-so-good, like death and divorce, is often a costly afterthought. While divorce and death are difficult possibilities to accept or anticipate, they are changes that come with many financial implications. This holds especially true for women who typically outlive their male counterparts. According to the National Association of State Treasurers Foundation, 90 percent of women will be solely responsible for their finances at some point in their lives.

However, despite the likelihood of eventually living this new financial reality, less than half of women (45 percent) and men (41 percent) have a contingency plan in place should something happen, according to research by TD Ameritrade, Inc.

"It's not always the easiest conversation to discuss with your partner because it forces you to think about worst-case scenarios," says Lee McAdoo, director of Women's Initiatives at TD Ameritrade. "But you'll find that discussing your family finances and setting goals together can also give you peace of mind."

Life transitions are often times unexpected and highly emotional, which can make decision making more difficult. For those reasons, it's best to plan ahead.

Here are 10 suggestions to help you make sure you can effectively handle your personal and family finances:

1. Create a detailed household budget.
2. Compile all your financial documents, make copies and store them with your attorney or place them in a safe deposit box that you both can access.
3. Conduct an inventory of marital assets.
4. Determine medical expenses and other annual costs for your family such as activities fees for your children and gym memberships.
5. Review all your debt, including mortgages, student loans, car loans and credit cards. Obtain a current version of your credit report at least once a year.
6. Make sure each person is aware of how you file your tax returns and your tax filing status.
7. Discuss long-term savings plans and goals, including retirement and college savings plans.
8. Review beneficiary designations in your will and update if necessary.
9. Consider employee benefits for each person.
10. It can be helpful to have an attorney or financial adviser review financial documents and give you advice should you desire it.

TD Ameritrade has also launched a website dedicated to helping you navigate your finances during major life changes. More helpful tips and advice can be found at www.tdameritrade.com/life.

While involving yourself more in your finances means taking on extra responsibility, it can also help you feel empowered and set your mind at ease as you look to the future.

(Article courtesy of ARAContent.com)

Find related articles on debt relief, restoring good credit and managing your money free at www.FindHow2.com

Free Credit Collection Dispute Letter Template

2012-01-29T10:07:00.000-08:00

We shared this credit collection dispute letter template back in 2009 -- and it's still helpful to fight harassment from collection agencies today.

You can use this letter template to deal with pushy bill collectors who are harassing you. For more forms like this, visit DocStoc.com.

Collection Dispute Letter Template -

You can also find other free sample credit letters at www.Credit-Letters.com.

How To Head Off College Debt

2012-01-29T02:59:00.000-08:00

Learn to avoid college debt by shaping teenager's money skills early

Succeeding in college is about more than being smart. It's about how students manage time, themselves, and their studies, according to Dr. Bob Neuman, former dean of academic development at Marquette University.

"For all the talk about enormous college debt, parents of younger students need to know some basic facts," Neuman says. "The sooner parents understand them, the sooner families can take steps at home to prepare for college and minimize their debt. It's a process that should begin early, certainly in freshman year of high school, even in middle school."

Bad habits drive college debt

Neuman speaks from long experience. For more than 25 years, he worked one-on-one with thousands of students, many struggling despite excellent high school grades.

"Student problems stem from not being able to manage themselves and their studies. Plus their lack of organization defeats them daily in a variety of ways," he says. "The result? Taking longer to graduate and driving up family debt."

Fact: Nearly 70 percent of college students take longer than four years to complete a four-year degree, increasing the cost of college by 25 percent or more -- while tuition and fees rise dramatically. Fact: Nearly 40 percent of students still haven't graduated after six years. To spare families such sizable debt, students must graduate on time. Parents can help.

From the first day of high school, parents should make clear that high school is a crucial stepping stone to college. What high school students learn or do not learn decides college success. And high school habits, good and bad, intensify in college. Parents should use the high school years to help teens develop good study and self-management habits.

Expectations vs. reality

Families expect high school graduates with excellent grades to sail through college. As the dismal graduation numbers reveal, college is currently beyond the "study know-how and personal capabilities" of most students.

That's why Neuman contends success requires more than being smart. He paints a quick picture of what happens when time skills are lacking:

* College provides lots of unstructured time for independent study. Students can't manage it. They waste time and fall prey to distractions. Study time disappears.

* Professors tell students what to study outside of class. But students are clueless about what's entailed to "acquire and process" new information. It's far more than simply reading a chapter. Plus, learning takes time. Students can't fit study in.

* Students quickly fall behind in classes, so they cram for tests. Cramming fails; there's too much to know.

Lack of time management leads to dropped courses, changed majors, extra years, and more complicated problems. Plus, time management is only one of many key reasons students fail to graduate on time and drive up debt. Neuman says, "Students don't know they have serious problems. Even if they did, they wouldn't know how to 'fix' them on their own."

What to do?

Neuman says parents should talk often with teens and pre-teens to help them understand that students are facing serious problems in college. Then get committed at home to develop good daily habits.

To aid the effort, Neuman has written a book, "Are You Really Ready For College? A College Dean's 12 Secrets for Success." It's a guide for parents and teens to practice winning strategies in middle and high school. The book is available only online at Amazon, other online booksellers, and at www.GetCollegeSmart.com.

To get started, Neuman suggests a few ways to build time management skills:

1. Does your teen study every subject every day, whether or not there's "assigned homework"? Set the tone in your house: There's always something to study, review, or preview. You and your teen should work out a quiet study time for each day. Stick to it and create a habit.

2. Are teens over scheduled? Does study get squeezed out? Pushed to the end of the day when teens are tired? Together, rein in activities and map out time for study, sports, lessons, etc, in a daily calendar.

3. Electronic/cyber distractions suck up enormous amounts of time. Together, set reasonable limits. Agree to no digital distractions during study times.

Knowing that major problems exist in college is a starting point. Parents should intervene, guiding their middle and high school students to make good daily decisions, acquire self-management habits, and develop solid study strategies. Some teens' study techniques haven't matured since sixth grade. They literally won't make the grade in college - and the stakes are high.
(Article courtesy of ARAContent.com)

Research student loan forgiveness programs before your child chooses their college major. Oftentimes, certain career options -- ranging from nursing, teaching, law and public service -- help a student qualify for college loan forgiveness upon graduation.

How To Keep Your Smartphone From Causing Identity Theft

2012-01-28T04:09:00.000-08:00

Identity theft protection tips for mobile device users

If you are using complex passwords for your online accounts, have installed a firewall on your PC's Internet connection and only shop at secure websites, you may think you're doing a good job protecting yourself from identity theft.
Those precautions are a good start, but don't overlook another important opportunity for identity thieves - your mobile devices.

Millions of Americans access the Internet and social media every day with handheld devices, from smart phones to tablets. Yet more than half of us (54 percent) don't use a password to lock those devices, according to a recent StrategyOne survey commissioned by Experian's ProtectMyID.

"This survey shows us that while awareness of identity theft risks may be growing, there's still room for improvement when it comes to what consumers are actually doing to protect themselves from identity theft," says Ken Chaplin, senior vice president of Experian Consumer Direct, which owns ProtectMyID.

Other risky online habits revealed by the survey included:

* Sharing passwords among different online accounts. Sixty-six percent of respondents said they used the same password for at least two accounts.

* Failing to log out (50 percent) when they're finished using social networking accounts like Facebook or Twitter.

* Providing birth dates, educational background and e-mail addresses on social media profiles such as Facebook and Twitter (50 percent).

"Fortunately, consumers can do a lot to reduce their risk of identity theft," Chaplin says. "Online resources like the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) can help educate Americans on preventative steps, how identity thieves operate and what current scams to watch for."

To help consumers D.E.F.E.N.D themselves against Cyber thieves, Experian's ProtectMyID and identity theft expert, Chuck Whitlock offer the following tips:

Defy curiosity. Never open an attachment or click on a link unless it's something you've specifically requested from someone you know. Just because an e-mail is from a friend or co-worker doesn't make it free of malware. Click the "x" on all pop-up ads to avoid infection, and never download free software unless it's from a trusted site.

Educate yourself about technology. Become tech savvy: Know what security software you need to keep your computer-and yourself-safe online. Don't let down your guard by letting your protection lapse. Always keep your antivirus and spyware protection updated.

Fix your passwords. Using the same password for more than one account or a password that's easy to guess opens the door to identity thieves. Change passwords regularly, never disclose them to others and vary them among different accounts.

Embrace your paranoia. Yes, there are people out there who are out to get you. Don't forget it.

Negate putting personal information online. You wouldn't provide your personal identifiers to just anyone on the street who asks for them, so don't do it online. Become as proactive in protecting your personal, private information online as you are in other areas of your life. Don't even think of doing anything of a personal nature on a public computer. And remember that posting personal data on social networking sites makes you a target for identity thieves.

Deploy safety precautions. Online fraudsters are constantly changing their tactics, making it hard to stay abreast of every new scheme. Frequently monitor your accounts and financial statements, and check your credit reports at least once a year. Consider using ProtectMyID.com, an identity theft protection program which has services that can provide additional peace of mind.

Damage to your credit is one of the significant harms caused by identity thieves. By stealing your personal information, these criminals can try to open and use new credit accounts in your name. Products like ProtectMyID can help you detect, protect against and resolve instances of identity theft. Multiple layers of defense, like Surveillance Alerts, scan the Internet daily for potentially fraudulent use of members' personal information. The product also gives members access to a dedicated resolution agent. Log on to www.protectmyid.com to learn more.

Forgiveness Of Dental School Loans Revealed In Free Report

2012-01-27T03:19:00.000-08:00

American Dental Association has put together a free 23-page report listing dental school forgiveness programs, at both the national and state level, for newly practicing dentists:

You can find it here at: http://www.ada.org.

This report was last updated Aug. 2011, and serves as a great launching pad to find student loan forgiveness programs.

This is another way that associations are helping members pay off college loans, or direct them to programs where those education loans can be excused.

We tip our hat to the ADA for publishing this concise, free report.

Two Ways You Can Consolidate Defaulted Loans, And Four Reasons You Can't

2012-01-26T03:55:00.000-08:00

Questions abound from student loan borrowers struggling to get out of debt and pay off their education loans. One of the most popular -- and most depressing -- is on the topic of whether or not you can consolidate defaulted student loans.

FYI, here is the official word direct from the federal website charged with most student loans now, Ed.Gov:

Generally, Federal education loan(s) in default may be consolidated in a Direct Consolidation Loan if borrowers:
Agree to repay the loan(s) under the Income Contingent Repayment Plan.
OR
Make satisfactory repayment arrangements with the current loan holder(s).If, before applying for consolidation, borrowers who want to completely clear the default notation from their credit records, they may want to consider another option: loan rehabilitation. Borrowers should contact their loan holders to obtain more information about this option.
Borrowers cannot consolidate defaulted loans under these conditions:
If a judgment has been issued against a defaulted loan, it cannot be included in the consolidation unless the judgment order has been vacated (dismissed).If they are trying to consolidate defaulted Direct Consolidation Loans.If they are trying to consolidate defaulted FFEL Consolidation Loans unless they have made satisfactory repayment arrangements with their current loan holder OR the borrowers agree to repay under the Income Contingent Repayment Plan.If they are trying to consolidate defaulted Perkins or health professions loans unless they have made satisfactory repayment arrangements with their current loan holders.
Note: Borrowers with defaulted FFEL or Direct Loan Program loans may be liable for collection costs incurred to collect the loans. If the holder of the defaulted loan, which may be either the U.S. Department of Education or a guaranty agency, retains a collection agency to collect defaulted loans, charges imposed by the collection agency may be added to the amount borrowers owe. This means that the amount of the Direct Consolidation Loan may include collection costs of up to 18.5% of the principal and interest outstanding on the defaulted loan.
For defaulted Perkins Loans and health professions loans, collection costs may equal as much as the amount owed at the time the defaulted loan is paid off through consolidation.

Pretty depressing, huh?

Well, you may have other options:

Check out these: College loan forgiveness options

And get an overall view of various student loan programs to have college debt cancelled

Find more answers to student loan debt issues at College Confidential's website. It's a very good place to find the answer you need for your student loan questions.

Federal Student Loan Interest Rates Set To Double This Summer

2012-01-25T00:20:00.000-08:00

Back in March 2010, lawmakers in the nation's capital moved to block $9-billion previously approved in the House to reduce the interest rate on federally subsidized loans in 2012-13 and subsequent years. That interest rate dropped to 4.5 percent for the 2010-11 academic year and 3.4 percent the following year.

That's the good news.

The bad news: the rate is set to rise to 6.8 percent this coming July.

President Obama urged congressmen during his State of the Union speech Monday night to do something about this.

Being an election year, the prospects of action are slim to none.

This will add to the student loan misery the more than $1 trillion in student loan debt has inflicted on those lured to college campuses across the country.

Student loans can be forgiven, cancelled or excused in some instances.

Check here to learn more about student loan forgiveness programs...

2012-01-24T03:19:00.000-08:00

The AAACreditGuide.com forums are a great place to start if you have a student loan in default, and you want to know what to do next.

Participants freely relate their own student loan story, and they share how they managed to pay off student loans or rehabilitate a defaulted student loan.

This type of free advice offers you a roadmap of what to do next if you find yourself overburdened with student loan debt, unable to keep up with college loan payments.

Plus reading how others have overcome the same challenges is inspiring. If they can do it, you can do it too!

Some people relate how their credit scores rose after rehabilitating their loans -- one borrower's credit score reportedly went up 80 points after the student loans had been rehabilitated.

And, it didn't take forever.... less than 10 months had passed, and then, as they had remained faithful to making timely payments for just six months on their new loan, they were rewarded with a higher credit score.

Best of all: they also got their monthly payment lowered, making it easier to not fall behind making education loan repayments again.

So there is hope after all!

It's a good idea to browse through the forums if you are struggling with college loans.

You can get there here: http://aaacreditguide.com/forums

FindHow2.com has a new page updated recently on Obama student loan forgiveness proposals still in progress.

And one more reminder: take a look at our overview of student loan forgiveness programs

National Guard Education Programs Website Offers Options For Loan Repayment, Forgiveness

2012-01-23T04:22:00.000-08:00

Joining the National Guard is a risky proposition. While a very patriotic, worthwhile way to serve your country, you can be sent into harms way at any time.

But enlisting in the National Guard is still one of the best ways to get help paying for college, and the student loan forgiveness programs available to men and women serving in the Guard are top-notch.

Free overview of the National Guard college assistance programs can help you make the decision if joining is the correct option for you.

As a side note, the Army National Guard education benefits website www.VirtualArmory.com was decommissioned, and once you get there you'll be re-directed to the new Army website. A common-access card is required for reaching the new website, so only active duty and reserve personnel can access that website now.

Military student loan forgiveness programs are listed and reviewed at the FindHow2.com military college programs page. Visit and bookmark that page to learn more.

How To Know The True Cost Of Going To College

2012-01-22T03:50:00.000-08:00

Knowing 'net price' is now essential in college planning

Planning for college is fraught with uncertainty about everything from which college and major to choose to how to much it will really cost. With nearly 70 percent of high school students enrolling in higher education programs after graduation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, millions of students and their families are overwhelmed and looking for guidance about what their options are.

Students weigh many factors when choosing a college, but one that often makes the decision difficult is price. When it comes to planning most students and their families are on their own. The typical high school student receives only 38 minutes of college preparation at school a year, according to a study by the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

"Millions of students and their families experience great anxiety around college planning because nobody has insight into what their true out-of-pocket college costs will be. A college's sticker price is not the price you'll pay," says David Childress, general manager of StudentAid.com. "You can comparison shop for everything from mobile phones to houses but not for one of life's biggest investments - your children's education."

Many families start planning for college by creating a 529 tax-free account, which helps offset the college-cost burden. However, the recession's weakened stock prices has reduced the value of many of these accounts. High school students often start receiving college brochures as early as sophomore year to help them determine which colleges offer programs they're interested in. During junior and senior years, many students will visit their top college choices, meet with professors, talk to other students, and research some of the 800 Web sites and guide books about colleges to figure out which of the country's 6,800 colleges are the best fit.

But finances need to be determined early - before a student even starts investigating the programs different colleges offer. Until recently, college net prices have been a mystery. Starting in October 2011, all colleges receiving federal funding must provide a net price calculator on their Web sites to help prospective students gauge affordability. Only a handful of colleges have already installed calculators. Some college planning Web sites offer basic calculators, but the drawbacks are that these are not personalized and exclude the $10 billion available from state grants or scholarships.

However, StudentAid.com has developed the College Cost & Planning Report to make this process easy and personalized to a student's academic and financial circumstances. Students and their parents can see a side-by-side college net price comparison and student aid eligibility for as many as 10 colleges. Net price is the cost of tuition, room and board, books and supplies and additional living expenses minus grants. Each report also includes a personalized timeline, detailed college profiles, and specific grants and tax benefits a student is qualified to receive.

"By determining their aid eligibility and net price, we're giving college-bound consumers a new power," Childress said. "Knowing net price lets a family evaluate colleges based on which ones offer the best deal so they can plan ahead with a realistic idea of how much out of pocket parents and the student will pay."

Shelene Worland of Mountain View, Calif., is the mother of twin daughters researching college. "Obviously everything you do from preschool on up is preparing them for college," Ms. Worland says. "I found out about StudentAid.com through word of mouth through a friend. It really puts a lot more information at your fingertips about the cost of college. It gives you a better idea of what you're looking at for expenses … and what your eligibility is for financial aid."

One daughter is interested in a state college, while the other likes the smaller campuses of private colleges. Having a side-by-side comparison of net price allows Worland to make sure her daughters look at colleges that fit their bank account and career ambitions.

Worland says that StudentAid.com has helped her daughters narrow down their selections. "I would suggest that parents start looking at this during their kids' junior year, and look at it a couple times," she adds. "There could be a lot of time wasted on schools you can't really consider, and this helps them focus on what is possible."

With the support of USA Funds, the nation's largest student loan guarantor, StudentAid.com offers its college planning service free to all students with a household income of less than $40,000. The service costs other students $49 to $99.

To learn more about how to plan and pay for college or to find college recommendations from other students, visit www.StudentAid.com.

(Article courtesy of ARAContent.com)

How To Jump Start Your Debt Relief Program For 2012

2012-01-21T04:25:00.000-08:00

Paying down bills with budget + patience

We posted this last year, and it's good to update and repost for 2012! It's that time of year to start paying off all your holiday shopping bills, and as those dreaded credit card statements arrive this month, take a deep breath, open the letters, and start creating a budget to pay off the balances.

Six Steps To Pay Off Debt:

Debt Relief Step 1: -- Analyze your current debt: loans, credit card bills, monthly obligations. Determine the maximum you can apply to your bills. For instance, you cut your monthly expenses to the bone and find $500 a month to clear your debts.

Debt Relief Step 2: -- Now, total all credit cards and bills you want to eliminate. Look at the minimum payment due for each one, then add 20%. So if the minimum payment is $50, the monthly payment you'll make from now on will be $60. Total all these bills for Step #3....

Debt Relief Step 3: -- You've set aside $500 a month to clear these debts you've identified. The total from Step #2 is $250. Subtract this amount from the $500. You now have $250 extra money to pay off holiday debts. This $250 knocks out debt fast.

Debt Relief Step 4: -- Keep paying all your bills on time with the additional 20% added to each. But, most importantly, apply the extra $250 on the credit card bill which has the largest total balance on your list, ON TOP OF your regular monthly payment. Not instead of, IN ADDITION TO your regular payment! This is important to eliminate this debt as quick as possible.

Debt Relief Step 5: -- Stop making more debt! Take your credit cards out of your wallet and lock them away where you won't use them anymore while you're busy eliminating debt (some say to cut them up, but let's keep the credit cards in case you need them for an emergency).

Debt Relief Step 6: -- When your largest debt has been paid off completely, apply its respective monthly payment and that extra $150 you've used to pay it down, and apply ALL OF THAT MONEY to the next-largest debt. Same thing: make the regular monthly payment, plus 20%, plus the monthly payment you were making on the paid-off credit card, PLUS the extra $250 you were using to pay it off, and pay this entire amount on that 2nd highest debt, until it is paid off too, and then repeat the process on the 3rd highest debt. This debt reduction plan will start to accelerate once you've finally got a large portion of that $500 going to only one or two monthly bills.

We've published a free step-by-step debt relief plan at Pay-Off-Debts.com to help you get rid of debt worries for good!

Politicians Dawdle On Student Loan Programs In 2012

2012-01-20T04:36:00.000-08:00

Initiatives put forward by the Obama Administration that are aimed at allowing consolidation of federal loans and making the income-based repayment program more attractive may wind up being more limited than first thought.

College loan borrowers who took out student loans before 2008 are exempt. These people, however, are the ones who are suffering the most from heavy loan debt and need relief.

There is a summary with angry comments from those affected at blogs on the nytimes.com website. Check out the feedback here: http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/26/student-loan/

Here is one commenter's response:

This is in the right direction, but wish it could go further. Forgiveness if you work in an low income area, forgiveness if you join the military, forgiveness if you work in certain needed professions – which are low paying.

Well, these programs ARE available.

Here's a free list of student loan forgiveness programs.

More information on the Obama student loan forgiveness proposals give preliminary information. Solid information, sadly, is still lacking three months after the proposals were announced. It's a shame that politicians are still playing games with the lives of people who are struggling to get out from under the burden of their student loans.

Student Loan Forgiveness For Army Officers

2012-01-19T04:37:00.000-08:00

Officers in the U.S. Army have access to a host of student loan forgiveness programs. The highly searched term "student loan forgiveness for army officers" bears out that this is a popular topic on the Internet.
Follow the rules and Army officers can get student loans paid off by Uncle Sam.
But the problem is.... these rules keep changing. And, it's tough to keep up with the changes.
The Army has a selection of internal websites which stay updated as changes occur. It's a good idea to seek out the help of your command's Educational Services Officer (ESO) or the designated rep to research your own unique college loan forgiveness questions, too.
The National Guard has its own rules for officers and enlisted personnel:
National Guard student loan repayment programs
Here's the place to start your search:
Military student loan forgiveness programs

New Income-Based Repayment Program Still In Limbo

2012-01-18T04:58:00.000-08:00

The new "Pay-As-You-Earn" proposal by President Obama seems stuck in the muck of government bureaucracy.

Back on October 25, 2011, the Obama Administration proposed an updated "Pay-As-You-Earn" plan aimed at capping certain student loan borrowers’ loan payments at a fixed 10% of their discretionary income.

Under this proposal, borrowers paying under this new plan would also be eligible to have their remaining loan balance forgiven after making 20 years of on-time payments. This promised eventual student loan relief to those struggling to repay their education loans.

But progress has stopped, as the new Pay-As-You-Earn plan, including borrower and loan eligibility, has yet to be finalized. The Ed.gov websites reports that until the proposal goes through the negotiated-rulemaking process, the new rules do not apply.

Why it takes months for much-needed student loan relief to reach the Average Joe or Average Jane is a sad state of affairs in our economy. Sadly, politicians are still playing games with the lives of people who are struggling to get out from under the burden of their student loans.

Let's hope that student loan relief eventually comes to those who need it most.

In the meantime, check out these links on FindHow2.com:

How To Have College Loans Forgiven

Military Student Loan Forgiveness

Obama Student Loan Forgiveness

How To Protect Your Tax Refund From Getting Seized If Your Spouse Defaults On Student Loan

2012-01-17T01:39:00.000-08:00

Quite a number of people have lately been seeking information about having their tax refund seized because of a spouse's default on his or her student loan.

In this case, the IRS has special rules to offer relief and get you back your money that you had coming to you.

You are an "injured spouse" if you file a joint return and all or part of your share of the refund was, or will be, applied against the separate past-due Federal tax, state tax, child support, or Federal non-tax debt (such as a student loan) of your spouse with whom you filed the joint return.

If you are an injured spouse, you may be entitled to recoup your share of the refund. For more information, obtain, complete and submit Form 8379:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8379.pdf

According to the IRS:

If you filed a joint return and you're not responsible for the debt, but you are entitled to a portion of the refund you may request your portion of the refund by filing Form 8379 called the "Injured Spouse Allocation" form.
Attach Form 8379 to your original Form 1040, Form 1040A, or Form 1040EZ, or else you can file it by itself after you are notified of an offset.
If you file a Form 8379 with your return, write "INJURED SPOUSE" at the top left corner of the Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ.
IRS states that it will process your allocation request before an offset occurs.
The length of time before this offset is resolved oculd last 3-4 months.
If you file Form 8379 with your original return, it may take 11 weeks for electronic filed returns or up to 14 weeks from the date of filing if you file a paper return to process the return of your money.

More how to information on the new federal student loan debt forgiveness programs can be found at

http://www.findhow2.com/obama-student-loan-forgiveness.html

Student Loan Forgiveness For Public Service Employees

2012-01-16T05:01:00.000-08:00

Public service jobs attract new people all the time because it is a career which offers something besides wages and benefits: student loan forgiveness options to help college graduates get rid of those pesky student loan payments.

Heather Jarvis is a student loan expert who put together a broad selection of great tools and advice forums for those struggling to repay their student loan debts.

If you are seeking information on having your student loans forgiven or excused, and you work or intend to work in the public service, then check out her
"Five Easy Steps for Public Service Loan Forgiveness"
http://askheatherjarvis.com/uploads/images/Five%20Easy%20Steps%20for%20PSLF%20v_2.pdf

We applaud her hard work to compile such a useful, easy-to-navigate informational website.

Public service is a valuable social function that pays poorly, but offers up important work for our difficult world. Student loan forgiveness for folks who work in these fields is the least that non-profits and social service and government agencies can do for its workers.

You can also find student loan forgiveness programs listed here:

How To Get Student Loans Excused or Cancelled

How To Have A Beautiful, Acne-Free Face

2012-01-15T03:45:00.000-08:00

At first, fighting acne and wrinkles may seem an impossible task. It could be the way you try to treat or prevent acne.

Do you dry your skin with acne cleansers containing benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, and discover that this worsens your wrinkles?

Worse yet, do you lavish on moisturizer to smooth out wrinkles on your face, only to fight zits brought on by all that pooling of extra oil or your own sensitivity to that new skincare product?

Experts note that the best thing you can do to fight acne and wrinkles is to both clean and moisturize your face, as well as any skin where acne outbreaks are occurring (i.e., back acne).

Start by working from the inside out: make healthy choices in your diet, drink more water, eat fresh, preferably raw, fruits and vegetables that contain valuable antioxidants, vitamins and fats that leave behind beautiful, radiant skin. Unsaturated oils such as olive oil or canola oil in your daily diet are an essential ingredient that will work magic on your nails, hair and skin also.

In most cases, however, acne outbreaks can be traced to hormonal fluctuations, not diet.

There's a smarter way to handle acne and wrinkles. Check out two things you absolutely must focus on:

How To Fight Acne and Wrinkles

How To Look Younger

2012-01-14T04:17:00.000-08:00

How an anti-aging diet can give you younger looking skin

Following a proper nutritious diet is your single most healthy way to get better skin and look younger at any age.

Nutrition experts suggest adding plenty of water, beans, all types of berries, chocolate, nuts, and garlic to your diet, which can help result in good skin.

You should eat a lot of raw fruit, vegetables and leafy greens. Try to ear more than 15 servings of raw fruits and veggies a day to renew your skin and body.

People have subjected their bodies to extreme diets over the years, but by eating two-thirds of your calories from raw fruits and vegetables consistently produces the best results.

We can't recommend them highly enough for anti-aging purposes.

In his book 'Food As Medicine,' Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., writes on how diet, vitamins, juices and herbs combine to help improve the appearance of the skin.

To enjoy younger skin and face, he suggests limiting your diet so it is low in saturated fats. You daily diet should include grains, beans, nuts, seeds, soy foods and fish. He warns how people should limit their intake of animal protein to no more than twice a week.

Eggs should be limited to no more than 3 or 4 a week. All fried foods should be banned. Avoid white break, white flour, and all fast foods that use processed foods.

Fresh organic vegetables and fruits like cabbage, couliflower, apples and blueberries do wonders to make the skin shine, he says.

To learn more about his book, check it out on Amazon.com

To learn more about how to fight acne and wrinkles, check out this free article at FindHow2.com.

Student Loan Relief For Teachers

2012-01-13T03:30:00.000-08:00

Student Loan Cancellation/Deferment Options For Teachers
If you're a teacher serving in a low-income or subject-matter shortage area, it's very possible that your college student loans can be excused or cancelled with special government programs.

Canceling a Perkins Loan -- If you have a loan from the Federal Perkins Loan Program, you might be eligible for loan cancellation for full-time teaching at a low-income school or teaching in certain subject areas. Find out more here. You can also qualify for deferment for these qualifying teaching services. Check with the school that made your Perkins Loan for more information.

Stafford Loan Forgiveness for Teachers -- If you teach full time for five consecutive years in a low-income school, you might be eligible to have a portion of your loan cancelled. This applies to FFELSM Stafford Loans, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, and in some cases, Consolidation Loans.

Full details can be found at:

http://studentaid.ed.gov

Details on college loan forgiveness programs can also be accessed online to help you get rid of student loan worries for good!

Easy Ways To Get Student Loan Forbearance

2012-01-12T05:15:00.000-08:00

How Volunteering For AmeriCorps Can Help Postpone Student Loan Payments

Individuals who serve approved AmeriCorps positions may be eligible to temporarily postpone the repayment of their qualified student loans through loan forbearance.

This is quite a worthwhile endeavor. Each year, AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups.

According to AmeriCorps, your student loans will be in forbearance during your term of service, yet interest will continue to accrue. But by successfully completing your term of service means AmeriCorps will pay all or a portion of the interest.

Other student loan repayment perks apply Full details on the AmeriCorps student loan forbearance program can be found here:

http://www.americorps.gov

Why Do Employers Check Your Credit Report?

2012-01-11T06:12:00.000-08:00

What's in your credit report may keep you from getting the job you want.

More and more frequently, employers will check up on credit reports of their potential employees. It's a common practice, where they seek to get the inside scoop on your financial situation and find out more about you BEFORE you're already on the payroll.

While you might think this is an invasion of your privacy (and likely, it is) their reasoning goes something like this:

Your credit report reflects how you've handled credit, loans, mortgages and credit cards in the past. The theory is: good credit score, good person; bad credit score, bad person.

Although such a conclusion is never the full and correct one to take away, employers checking your once off-limits credit report do so in an attempt to determine before you are offered a job, whether or not you are responsible with your finances; hence, they are hiring a responsible person.

More details are posted in this article at FindHow2.com -- "What Job Seekers Need To Know About Employer Credit Checks"

How To Get A Second Chance On Defaulted Student Loans

2012-01-11T01:09:00.000-08:00

What is rehabilitation on student loans, and how does it work?

If you decide you want to go back to college, you will have to take care of your old student loans first.

If your student loans have done into default, you will now now have to contact the creditor handling the student loans and tell them you want to get into a rehabilitation program.

What is rehabilitation and how does it work?

Rehabilitation of college loans means that after you have defaulted on your student loans, you now want to get back into good standing and restore your ability to access educational financial assistance, and/or pay off your student loan once and for all and be done with it.

To get started, you should contact the original lender to rehabilitate your college student loans. There is no reason to contact the school you attended in the past. The lender handles student loan rehabilitation of federal defaulted loans. However, your federal student loan has been sold, you may need to address your rehabilitation request to this new lender. Just call and find out.

Your payments need to be on time for at least nine consecutive months, and the payments have to be "reasonable" too. You just can't send in $10 a month with a note saying "This is all I can afford." After this 9 month repayment period, your student loans should no longer be considered in default, and you ought to be able then to get additional financial aid to resume your college studies.

Federal college loan rehabilitation information is available from here:

http://www2.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DCS/rehabilitation.html

FYI: College loan forgiveness programs can be found here.... How To Have Education Loans Excused

How To Avoid Student Loan Default

2012-01-10T02:00:00.000-08:00

Once you've left college, making the monthly payments on your student loans might at times seem impossible. But the payments somehow must be made because defaulting on your college loans will result in major problems for you in the future.

Fortunately, ASA.org published a great article detailing 7 steps you can take to better manage your federal student loans and avoid default:

7 Ways To Avoid Student Loan Default

Other student loan repayment resources you should read about include:

How To Have College Loans Forgiven

Military Student Loan Forgiveness

Obama Student Loan Forgiveness

You're Never Too Old To Hear Better

2012-01-09T04:30:00.000-08:00

If you want to hear better through the cloud of background noise, experts have recommended taking these three steps:

1. If you think you need hearing aids, schedule a free hearing exam at a local hearing aid office and try them out.

2. Request and watch an auditory retraining DVD. Ask the audiologist his or her thoughts on the LACE (Listening And Communication Enhancement) software. Conceived by leading audiologists at the University of California at San Francisco, the software retrains the brain to comprehend speech better in restaurants, among rapid speakers, and in crowds where everyone is talking at once.

3. After experiencing the DVD's a few times, pull them out later and reuse them as needed to keep your brain tuned up and help yourself hear better in noisy situations.

After training your brain you should be able to identify the details in all noise around you more clearly.

If you suspect your hearing may be impaired, this quick online hearing check can help you determine whether to see your doctor.http://www.betterhearing.org/hearing_loss/online_hearing_test/index.cfm

New online guide to hearing aids is available free herehttp://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM187245.pdf:

Slate Magazine offers this unique perspective on the topic of how to hear better:http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/superman/2003/03/hearing_aid.single.html

Ways To Extend The Life Of Your Car

2012-01-08T04:30:00.000-08:00

How to keep your car running for years longer than you ever expected
If you've stepped foot in an auto dealer's showroom recently, you won't be surprised to learn that the average price of a new car is approaching $30,000. While there's no getting around the price you have to pay for a new automobile, there are plenty of things you can do to make sure you won't have to make the same investment again anytime soon.

By doing the little things to maintain your car on a day-to-day basis, you can do everything in your power to make your car last long past the day you make your final payment on that car loan.

"Time and miles are the two forces fighting to destroy every car," says Tom Taylor, engineer and vice president of RockAuto.com. "Giving the car an occasional wash and wax is nice but really not as important as regular maintenance. Driving and maintaining your car as if it needs to last for at least 200,000 miles or 20 years is a smart way to preserve the value of an expensive asset."

Storage
If you have a garage, make it your car's permanent home. Reserving a garage space for your car instead of household items that could be stored elsewhere will help you avoid the accelerated wear and tear caused by prolonged exposure to the elements.

If you store your car in a partially protected carport or use a car cover, regularly inspect underneath your hood for signs of vermin. "I recently needed to replace a fuel injector connector that a rat gnawed off our 20-year-old family van after it was left unattended in a carport for just a few days," says Taylor. "Rats and mice like a nice warm engine bay and they chew constantly to wear down their ever-growing teeth."

Scheduled maintenance
Your car's maintenance, engine oil, radiator antifreeze and other components might differ significantly from your last car. Following the maintenance schedule laid out in your owner's manual is important to protect your vehicle. The photos in the RockAuto.com online auto parts catalog can help you become familiar with the maintenance parts for your specific car. Making sure items like filters, struts and brake pads are replaced when needed will help protect other components, saving you money and unnecessary wear.

Drive smart
Occasionally kicking up your heels is fine, but consistently accelerating too fast can put unnecessary strain on your engine and other moving parts. Stopping or cornering too quickly can prematurely wear out your brakes and suspension. If you're starting your car in the cold, take it easy at first - letting your car idle won't help protect your car, but driving a little more methodically than usual while your car warms up will.

Drive less
You don't need to cut out the annual family road trip - highway miles are among the easiest miles you can put on your car. But eliminating unnecessary trips in everyday life can have noticeable results since the starting and stopping associated with short trips can be tough on your car. Take care of all your errands in one trip, walk with your kids to school if it's close to home or ride the bus to and from work. If you can cut down on driving by 5 miles per day for 10 years, you'll save 18,000 miles of driving. Taylor estimates that those miles are worth $4,000 in parts, depreciation and gas. Not only will you save money, but you'll also put less stress on your vehicle, which should extend its lifespan.

When shopping for a new car, you might be able to save hundreds of dollars by comparison shopping and finding the best price. But good maintenance and driving practices can save you thousands if it means you won't have to buy another car for 20 years.

Article courtesy of ARAContent.com

Free report... How to avoid getting ripped off buying a car!

How To Buy A New Home After A Short Sale

2012-01-07T05:21:00.000-08:00

"How soon after a short sale can I buy another home?"

This is a common question asked by people who have gone through the process of a short sale. If it's happened to you too, you may be wondering when will you be eligible to purchase a home again.

Just because you lost a home through a short sale or a foreclosure is no reason to assume that you'll never own a home again. It will take time and patience and good credit habits in the near future for you to purchase another home. But never say never. If you want a thing bad enough, you can get it. There's always a way.

And, with prices having fallen so far in this crazy real estate market over the past several years, this might indeed be a good time to start putting money aside again for a downpayment on your next home.

The waiting period for when you can purchase your new home has changed for FannieMae. Here are recent updates to their policy:

Requirements for Re-establishing Credit
After a bankruptcy, foreclosure, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, or preforeclosure or short sale, the borrower’s credit will be considered re-established if all of the following are met:
 The waiting period and the related requirements are met.
 The loan receives a recommendation from DU that is acceptable for delivery to Fannie Mae or, if manually underwritten, meets the minimum credit score requirements based on the parameters of the loan and the established eligibility requirements.
 The borrower has traditional credit as outlined in the Selling Guide, B3-5.3, Traditional Credit History. Nontraditional credit or “thin files” are not acceptable.

You will need to heed your credit score. There are plenty of free services on the internet that can help you get a free copy of your credit report so you can have an idea of what your credit score looks like.

Banks can work with you. Some report that as long as your credit score ranges from 650-700, your opportunity to qualify for a home mortgage ought to be okay.

Once you've taken action to fix outdated derogatory negative information in your credit reports, contact lenders and be upfront, asking if they work with customers who have had a short sale in their recent credit history. If the first bank you call says 'No,' don't despair. Call another. And another. Then another, and don't stop until you find banks ready to work with you.

But don't let them run your credit report before you're ready to apply. Too many hard inquiries will do damage to your already fragile credit score. Wait until you're ready to run credit with all potential lenders. That way, it will count as simply one hard inquiry by Fair Issac, Inc. (FICO).

How To Find Help Repaying Student Loans

2012-01-06T10:53:00.000-08:00

The National Consumer Law Center’s Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project is a comprehensive, online resource for borrowers, their families, and for advocates representing student loan borrowers.

This website is a great way for people who already have student loans and now want to know more about their student loan repayment options and rights.

Get help repaying your student loans here:
http://www.studentloanborrowerassistance.org

How To Get The Most Interest On Your Savings

2012-01-06T05:38:00.001-08:00

This technique will require you to exert certain discipline to track the amount of your savings and checking separately. There are online high-yield checking accounts listed at https://www.checkingfinder.com/ which can help guide you to checking accounts paying upwards of 3%. Likewise, savings accounts at some of the institutions they track pay 1.25%. The tradeoff is that you must make a certain number of debit card purchases each billing period. But... extra work = extra money!So, it doesn't even matter if there is not a localbank listed in your neighborhood. No matter where you live, you can find offers from banks and credit unions in other parts of the country that can help you get more interest on your money, without the need to actually travel far distances to visit the brick-and-mortar institutions.

What Is The Statute Of Limitations Of Consumer Debt

2012-01-05T06:29:00.000-08:00

Many people wonder: Is there a statute of limitations on consumer debt? How many years are you responsible for repaying credit card debt?

The answer depends on which state you reside in.

Every state in the U.S. has its own unique statute of limitations, and this time period and credit collection rules will vary from state to state. The average is 5 or 6 years. The statute of limitations will commence on the day of the last transaction on the account. So, if your last payment was 7 years ago, and you have not been sued for this debt in your state with has a statute of limitations of 5 years, you as the debtor have the advantage.

Once the statute of limitations has expired, your creditor will then have no legal path to proceed to effectively sue you over the debt. This does not mean you won't be hit with a lawsuit over the debt, this happens all the time, and usually by a collection agency hoping you don't know your rights.

But when you consult with a competent lawyer, you'll likely find that your best defense will be to appear to answer the lawsuit, inform the court that the statute of limitations has expired, and your case should be dismissed immediately.

There could be extenuating circumstances in your personal situation, or your state may offer special rules for creditors; that's why it is important if you are hit up by a debt lawsuit to obtain the services of an attorney who knows how to handle these types of cases.

So, while it is true that federal and state laws on the books which aim to limit the length of time that a creditor is given to collect a debt from you. But usually, if enough time has passed, and you have not been sued over the debt, you may not even be legally required to repay your debt.

Read other helpful credit repair and debt relief articles for free at www.FindHow2.com

How To Fight Back When Zombie Debt Collectors Call

2012-01-03T08:40:00.000-08:00

How can you stop a zombie debt collector from re-aging an old debt so it shows current?

First of all: What is a zombie debt collector?

The term "zombie debt collector" refers to a collection agency which purchases old debts with the hopes of scaring consumers with veiled threats and warnings of future financial troubles into paying off debts they might not even legally owe anymore.

According to a post at About.com:

Zombie debt refers to old debt purchased by debt collectors hoping to intimidate consumers into paying the debt.

Needless to say, this form of debt collection tactics has become a big business and poses a constant headache to many consumers these days. (Read the articles and forums listed at the end of this post to find out just how pervasive this problem poses to U.S. consumers).

Says an article at Forbes.com:

Consumers' main problems with zombie debt stem from engaging in communication with the debt collection agency and from not knowing their rights. If you know how to handle the situation properly, you won't become a victim.

Threatening phone calls and letters from debt collectors -- especially zombie debt collectors -- can be thwarted by taking a few simple steps:

Start by demanding proof you actually owe the debt from the debt collector. Dispute it by saying it's not yours. Demand that he or she provide documentation.

If no proof can be provided you owe this debt, or the collection agency misleads you with false information, you then have the option to report the debt collector to the Attorney General Office in your state, to the Better Business Bureau, and -- most importantly --to the Federal Trade Commission.

You are within your rights to demand to know if the debt collection agency is properly licensed in your state. Failure to be licensed is a big no-no.

Laying is taboo too. If the debt collector makes a false derogatory entry in your credit report, dispute the entry with both the debt collector and the credit bureaus.

If, after your dispute, this debt collector is dumb enough to persevere filing false information to credit bureaus and damaging your credit rating further, you very likely have grounds for a claim under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Read "Dealing With Harassment Calls From Collection Agencies" for more advice on what you can do to protect yourself from zombie debt collectors.

Check out these popular websites and forums revealing the depth of the overall problem:

Beware Of Zombie Debt Collectors - (Forbes.com)http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/31/debt-creditors-default-pf-education-in_af_1031investopedia_inl.htmlDon't let debt collectors chase you down for money you no longer owe. Here's how to fight them off.

'Zombie' debt is hard to kill - (MSN Money)http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/ManageDebt/ZombieDebtIsHardToKill.aspx'Zombie' debt is hard to kill. And collecting on old debts is a rapidly expanding industry.

Legal Rights Concerning Zombie Debt Collectors - (Amazon Answers)http://askville.amazon.com/collectors-ZOMBIE-debt-legal-rights/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=9743945

Zombie Debt - What is it and What You Can Do About It (About.com)http://credit.about.com/od/debtcollection/tp/attack-zombie-debt.htmZombie debt refers to old debt purchased by debt collectors hoping to intimidate consumers into paying the debt. If you're contacted by a collection agency about ...

Needing Help With Zombie Debt Collectors? - (CreditInfoCenter.com)http://www.creditinfocenter.com/forums/collections/308488-need-help-w-zombie-debt-collector.html

Zombie Debt Collector Tries To Collect 11-Year-Old PayPal Balance - (Consumerist.com)http://consumerist.com/2011/02/zombie-debt-collector-tries-to-collect-11-year-old-paypal-balance.htmlFeb 18, 2011 – Christopher is currently being haunted my a small debt from his past. At least, it might be from his past: he's not sure. A collection agency is after ...

Deceived By Zombie Debt Collector - (ExpertLaw.com)http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=109494

Zombie Debt Collectors - (DebtCollectionAnswers.com)http://www.debtcollectionanswers.com/zombie-debt-collectors.htmlLearn how to deal with zombie debt collectors, those old time barred debts that seem to come out of nowhere.

Comments on Zombie Debt - (CreditMagic.org)http://www.creditmagic.org/repair/zombie-debt.html

Government puts bill collectors on notice: "Don't cross the line"

2012-01-01T20:07:00.000-08:00

News Flashback: Early in 2010, supervisors of debt collection firm was hit hard by FTC enforcement, putting collection agencies on notice to mind consumer protection laws. Slowly, laws are changing to help protect consumers for a change! Here was the story at the time:

Debt Collection Supervisors Settle FTC Charges
New FTC Video Explains Consumer Rights
Concluding a case that drew the largest civil penalty ever imposed on a debt collection business, the Federal Trade Commission settled with the two remaining individual defendants who allegedly misled, threatened, and harassed consumers; disclosed their debts to third parties; and deposited postdated checks early, in violation of federal law. The settlement order requires each of these senior managers to pay a civil penalty and bars them from future violations.

“The FTC wants to remind debt collectors of their responsibilities and obligations under the law. Abusive collection actions are illegal, and if debt collectors use abusive tactics they could face legal action,” said David Vladeck, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “At the same time, we want consumers to understand their rights if their debts go into collection. Money matters, and the more people know about managing their debt and dealing with debt collectors, the better off they will be.”

According to the FTC’s complaint, filed by the Department of Justice on the FTC’s behalf, the defendants participated in, or controlled, the actions of debt collectors whose unlawful practices included false or deceptive threats of garnishment, arrest, and legal action; improper calls to consumers; frequent, harassing, threatening, and abusive calls; and unfair and unauthorized withdrawals from consumers’ bank accounts. The complaint also alleged that the defendants failed to adequately investigate consumer complaints or discipline collectors, and collectors who were terminated for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) often were rehired within a few months.

In 2008, Academy Collection Service, Inc. and its owner, Keith Dickstein, paid $2.25 million to settle FTC charges that Academy collectors violated the FTC Act and the FDCPA while collecting debts, and that Dickstein failed to stop the violations. The settlement order announced today, negotiated by DOJ and the FTC, imposed civil penalties of $375,000 and $300,000, respectively, on Albert S. Bastian and Edward Hurt, who oversaw Academy’s Las Vegas collection center. The judgments were suspended upon payment of $7,500 each, based on their ability to pay. The full judgments will become due immediately if the defendants are found to have misrepresented their financial condition.

The order bars Bastian and Hurt from making false, deceptive, or misleading representations in debt collection efforts, such as that nonpayment will result in garnishment of wages, seizure of property, or lawsuits, or that they or their agents are attorneys. They also are prohibited from withdrawing money from consumers’ bank accounts without their express informed consent, and from depositing or threatening to deposit postdated checks before the date on the check. In addition, the pair are barred from improperly communicating with third parties about a debt; communicating with a consumer at any unusual time or place; and harassing, oppressing, or abusing any person in connection with debt collection.

The Commission vote to authorize DOJ to file the consent decree was 4-0. The consent decree was entered in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.

The Commission has released a video, at www.ftc.gov/debtcollection and www.youtube.com/ftcvideos, explaining consumer rights regarding debt collection. Consumers with questions about their rights under the FDCPA should refer to Debt Collection FAQs: A Guide for Consumers at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm.

NOTE: This consent decree is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by these defendants of a law violation. A consent decree is subject to court approval and has the force of law when signed by a judge.

More info in this new book from Amazon.com:

Stick It To Sue Happy Debt Collectors: Learn How to Fight Debt Collection Lawsuits and Win (Volume 1)

New Year, New Financial Start

2012-01-01T09:12:00.000-08:00

Eight savvy ways to upgrade your finances and lifestyle in 2012

People always look forward to a new year, whether it's a chance to start over from a tough year, or an opportunity to build on something great that happened the last year. Either way, upgrading from one year to the next is an important start.

Upgrading our finances is the place most people want to start, according to MarketWatch personal finance columnist and lifestyle expert Jeanette Pavini, but even more Americans are looking to upgrade their lives in some way. According to a new Harris Interactive poll, commissioned by the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, 93 percent of respondents want to upgrade their lives in 2012.

"It's all about making small changes that don't feel like you're cutting back, and then adding a small indulgence to make you feel good," says Pavini. "Whether you want to feel better about your relationships, your health or your career, focus on small changes that can turn an average experience into a sensual, enjoyable, satisfying one."

Pavini offers some financial and lifestyle tips that can help you upgrade your 2012 and get the year off to a great start.

1. An easy way to start saving money is to stop going out for lunch every day. The average deli lunch is close to $9 per day, while making that same sandwich, lunch and drink at home can cost less than $2. "Upgrade the experience by including a piece of premium chocolate," Pavini suggests. "You'll add a bit of glamour into your everyday life, while saving a lot of money." Follow this as often as you can and you can save up to $1,800 per year - perfect to use to start saving for a relaxing vacation somewhere luxurious.

2. Look for easy ways to indulge. Our busy lives can often make it challenging to indulge in a nice meal or vacation, and according to a recent Harris Interactive survey, 63 percent of women and 54 percent of men say they would spend more on premium chocolate when they felt like indulging. Adding a premium chocolate bar to your bag lunch or after a nice dinner at home is one way to indulge without breaking the bank. Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk, the newest line of milk chocolate made for the connoisseur, is one way to do that with three new flavors: Gourmet Milk Creamy Devotion (32 percent cacao milk chocolate), Gourmet Milk Sea Salt Escape and Gourmet Milk Coconut Rendezvous.

3. Cook extra. Another way to save is to cook extra food at night when you make dinner and bring the leftovers for lunch - or keep them in the freezer when you're in a pinch. Casseroles, soups and chilies freeze well and keep their taste when reheated. Most cooked dishes will last for two to three months in the freezer. Cooking meals on your own ensures that you have the best ingredients and no hidden calories.

4. Indulge at home. A night on the town can be costly but don't let that discourage you from having a romantic date night. Turn your kitchen into restaurant with a white tablecloth, good dishes and candles.

5. Think long term when it comes to saving money. For most homeowners one extra mortgage payment a year can shave about eight years off their mortgage. It may not seem like a lot at the time, but over a lifetime, that can mean tens of thousands of dollars in savings.

6. Check the benefits of membership. Many museums sell family memberships for a discounted rate, which can sometimes include free or discount admission to hundreds of other museums, aquariums, zoos and science centers.

7. Nothing can add to romance like a relaxing massage. Check out local massage schools for deep discounts. Students who are about to graduate need to get their hours in, and you can benefit by getting a professional massage at a fraction of the cost.

8. If you love a high-end dining experience, eat out for lunch instead of dinner. Many of the same dishes are offered at half the price. And instead of paying for dessert and coffee, which can add another $25, have a Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk chocolate bar waiting at home or the office for a perfect finish to a meal.

(Article courtesy of ARAContent.com)

Homeowners with FHA-backed mortgages were promised protections due to unemployment, sickness, divorce... what did they really get?

2012-01-01T05:32:00.000-08:00

FHA announced new rules in early 2010 that promised to help homeowners, even when they were still current on their FHA mortgage, if they were experiencing radical life-events that might make them unable to keep up with home loan repayments. Here is the story published at the time... but what did they really get in the end?

FHA TO PROVIDE EARLY RELIEF TO STRUGGLING HOMEOWNERS

WASHINGTON – Homeowners with FHA-insured mortgage loans who are experiencing financial hardship are now eligible for loss mitigation assistance before they fall behind on their mortgage payments. Previously, these homeowners were not eligible for such assistance until after they had missed payments.
The Helping Families Save Their Home Act of 2009 signed into law by President Obama expanded FHA’s authority to use its loss mitigation tools to assist FHA borrowers avoid foreclosure to include those facing ”imminent default” as defined by the Secretary. FHA today issued guidance to FHA-approved loan servicers on how to assist these FHA borrowers.
“Loss mitigation assistance is beneficial to both borrowers and FHA because it helps borrowers retain their homes while protecting the FHA insurance fund from unnecessary losses,” said FHA Commissioner David Stevens. “FHA has always required lenders to establish early contact with delinquent borrowers to discuss the reason for missing a payment and to evaluate reinstatement options. Now servicers will have additional options for those borrowers who seek help before they go delinquent, which increases the likelihood that the borrower will be able to retain their home.”
Effective immediately, the loss mitigation options of forbearance and FHA’s Home Affordable Modification Program (FHA-HAMP) may be used to assist borrowers facing imminent default.
•FHA defines an “FHA borrower facing imminent default” to be an FHA borrower who is current or less than 30 days past due on the mortgage obligation and is experiencing a significant reduction in income or some other hardship that will prevent him or her from making the next required payment on the mortgage during the month that it is due.

•A forbearance agreement is an agreement by the loan servicer to postpone, reduce or suspend payments due on a loan for a limited and specific time period.

•FHA-HAMP allows qualified FHA-insured borrowers to reduce their monthly mortgage payment to an affordable level by permanently reducing the payment through the use of a partial claim combined with a loan modification. The partial claim defers the repayment of a portion of the mortgage principal through an interest-free subordinate mortgage that is not due until the first mortgage is paid off. The remaining balance is then modified through re-amortization and in some cases, an interest rate reduction.

The borrower must be able to document the cause of the imminent default which may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following types of hardship:

1.A reduction in or loss of income that was supporting the mortgage loan, e.g., unemployment, reduced job hours, reduced pay, or a decline in self-employed business earnings. A scheduled temporary shutdown of the employer, (such as for a scheduled vacation), would not in and by itself be adequate to support an imminent default.

2.A change in household financial circumstances, e.g., death in family, serious or chronic illness, permanent or short-term disability.
Loan servicers must document the basis for its determination that a payment default is imminent and retain all documentation used to reach its conclusion. The servicer’s documentation must also include information on the borrower’s financial condition.

Sadly, far too many homeowners were left out in the cold, and either did not qualify or grew fed up with the endless paperwork and largess of banks that made it difficult to qualify. After two years, the housing industry is still in the dumps, more and more people have had to deal with foreclosure, and the promises by the government to help fix the problems that emerged in 2006 are empty and feeble at best.

Acne scar remedies and natural acne treatments are as close as your kitchen

2011-12-31T21:15:00.000-08:00

6 Home Remedies to Remove Acne Scars
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Naweko_San-Joyz]Naweko San-Joyz

Do you have acne scarring but plastic surgery is out of the question? No need to worry. While you may not get Dr. 90210 like results, items available in your own kitchen can help improve acne scarring if done correctly.

In two simple steps, all you need to do to affordably improve your acne scarring is:

1. Gently remove the damaged layers of the skin and

2. Nurture your skin with collagen and moisture building foods so that your skin can more rapidly repair itself.

Natural Home Remedies

Acne Scar Remedy 1: Lemons

If your acne scars dark, you can use lemon juice to lighten them. Cleanse your face with lemon juice. Dab one teaspoon of lemon juice into a cotton ball and smooth it over the acne marks. Leave for ten minutes, then rinse. Use caution with lemon juice because it can make your skin photosensitive. So be certain to use a sunscreen on any area you treat with lemon juice prior to going out into the sun.

Acne Scar Remedy 2: Soda

Exfoliate your skin with baking soda. Often times a version of baking soda is used in cosmetic microdermabrasion treatments. You can give yourself a mini microdermabrasion treatment by mixing one teaspoon of baking soda with the two teaspoons of filtered water. Then gently rub the mixture on your acne scar for sixty seconds then rinse it off.

Acne Scar Remedy 3: Olives

After exfoliating your skin with baking soda, massage a pea-sized amount of olive oil onto your face. Acne scaring can cause the skin to lose its elasticity and suppleness. The moisturizing nutrients in the olive oil will penetrate the skin to deeply moisturize the skin and soften the skin’s texture.

Acne Scar Remedy 4: Fruits

In addition to eating fresh fruits to supply your skin with collagen building vitamin C, you can also smear them onto your face for gentle acid exfoliation. Just puree a forth a cup of pineapple and smooth it onto your face. Leave it for 10-15 minutes, then rinse. Since the pineapples contains ascorbic acid, it will impart a brightening effect on the face, and help fade acne marks.

Acne Scar Remedy 5: Water

It cannot be said enough. “Your skin needs water.” Especially when you want to promote the type of skin repair needed to heal acne scarring. Your skin needs water to keep the skin plump, to remove toxins, and the build new skin cells. Drink at least 80 ounces of filtered water a day to give your skin the quality and quantity of water it needs to reveal healthier, fresher skin.

Acne Scar Remedy 6: Consistency

The ultimate ingredient needed to completely remove acne scars is consistency. Acne scars form over a series of weeks, layer by layer. To remove the acne scarring, you need to use your acne home remedy on a daily basis to remove the damaged scar tissue layer by layer.

To be successful at fading and healing your acne scars at home, you just need to plan in advance. Devote time to removing the damaged skin and giving yourself the nutrients you need to build healthier skin. For example, you can decide to spend five minutes a day exfoliating your skin with baking soda or pineapple and another ten minutes enjoying collagen building foods like soy, grapes or oranges. Do it consistently and you will see and improvement in your scars.

Naweko San-Joyz founded Noixia- a self-service image makeover firm that develops custom acne scar removal products for the face and body. San-Joyz has authored several books and articles that focus on do-it-yourself beauty makeovers including Acne Messages: Crack the code of your zits and say goodbye to acne and Skinny Fat Chicks: Why we’re still not getting this dieting thing. She has appeared on radio stations, in newspapers and on TV shows across the United States promoting beauty through health consciousness. San-Joyz lives and works in San Diego, California.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?6-Home-Remedies-to-Remove-Acne-Scars&id=362266] 6 Home Remedies to Remove Acne Scars
Check out more information that is available free on how to fight acne and wrinkles ... plus check this free website out: "Foods That Fight Acne"

Tax Benefits Of College Education Credits, Helps Lower Tax Bill

2011-12-12T07:19:00.000-08:00

When you're repaying a student loan (while attending school or after graduation) for yourself, your spouse or your dependent, you might just qualify to deduct student loan interest of up to $2,500 from your income subject to tax -- even if you don't itemize your deductions.
Read how here...
How college education credits can help to lower your tax bill

How Students Can Deduct Student Loan Interest From Their Tax Return

2011-12-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a recent article that caught our eye online, summarizing tax-saving tips regarding student loans:

"Student-loan interest paid by Mom and Dad"
Generally, you can only deduct mortgage or student-loan interest if you are legally required to repay the debt. But if parents pay back a child’s student loans, the IRS treats the money as if it was given to the child, who then paid the debt. So, a child who’s not claimed as a dependent can qualify to deduct up to $2,500 of student-loan interest paid by Mom and Dad. And he or she doesn’t have to itemize to use this money-saver. Mom and Dad can’t claim the interest deduction even though they actually foot the bill since they are not liable for the debt.

Read all the tax-saving tips here:
"The Most Overlooked Tax Deductions"

How To Deal With Collection Agencies

2011-12-08T04:42:00.001-08:00

Remember this: When you are dealing with a collection agency, knowing what to do or say is your key to keeping more of your hard-earned money Negotiating with a collection agency can be a frustrating, embarrassing, aggravating experience. But if you owe a debt that a collection agency is being paid to collect, you need to know your rights to protect yourself and your peace of mind.We've assembled what you need to know, including what rights you really have and what to do if a collection agency starts harrassing you without cause.Read it free here: http://www.findhow2.com/dealing-with-collection-agencies.html

Fix Bad Credit - 90 Days To Better Credit Score

2011-12-07T00:46:00.001-08:00

5 steps to get started fixing bad credit, in as little as 90 days.Possible? Yes. All it takes is for you to make the decision to get started. Now."How To Fix Bad Credit In 90 Days"

Student Loan Forgiveness For Military Officers, Enlisted Still Available

2011-12-06T08:12:00.001-08:00

Government excusing student loans -- Now with the announcements of President Obama's new vision for student loan forgiveness adding to the mix, new college debt rules concerning the repayment of federal student loans means even more options to get your student loans forgiven and/or consolidate your federal student loans to a lower, more affordable monthly payment.
There are loan repayment and loan forgiveness programs available to military personnel serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and in the Coast Guard, as well as Reservists and National Guardsmen called up to active duty during wartime. Loan forgiveness programs for both enlisted personnel and officers are available from the federal government.
By seeking student loan forgiveness for active duty military, excusing student loans, you get an opportunity to see the world and defend your country. And, in return, the federal government will often help repay the loans you took out to go to college.
There are many programs, and as is the case with everything connected with the military, each opportunity usually is tempered by multiple restrictions. But these student loan forgiveness programs are well worth your time to hunt them down online and to apply for them to help gain forgiveness of your college loans.

Read more about military student loan forgiveness at:
http://www.findhow2.com/military-student-loan-forgiveness-programs.html

Prioritize Your Debts - wikiHow

2011-11-29T06:55:00.000-08:00

Prioritize Your Debts - wikiHow When you get covered over in debt, this will help you create a plan to pay off debts in the correct order.

Credit card payments taken from savings?

2011-11-29T04:30:00.000-08:00

There's an interesting discussion going on among people who are trying to keep up with credit card payments while struggling to make ends meet: "Should you use your savings to pay credit cards?"

One website -- www.MoneySuperMarket.com -- has tackled this issue head on:

"Savings rates are painfully low at the moment, while high inflation nibbles away at the value of your money. It's a tough time to be a saver. So would your money be better spent repaying your credit card debt?"

It's so vitally important to NOT be late on credit cards so that you will protect your credit score, something that is key to your financial survival these days.

Read more of their article here...

Collection agents, payday lenders may get oversight pass in new financial reform legislation

2011-11-25T20:17:00.000-08:00

Consumers might still be victimized by unscrupulous collection agents and greedy loan sharks of low-repute unless new laws being considered by Congress are altered. Too little oversight already exists. The New York Times has reported:

"The Federal Trade Commission has brought fewer than 25 lawsuits in the last five years against mortgage originators, payday lenders and debt collectors, officials said. It has only 70 staff members to cover about 10,000 such companies nationwide, and does not have the authority to conduct compliance exams, as bank regulators do."

Looks like trouble is brewing for the little guy again. Read the entire article at
The New York Times website.

Update: Government stimulus money for small business slim to none

2011-11-24T05:14:00.000-08:00

Entreprenuers across the country were experiencing frustration getting credit all throughout the "recovery" from the Great Recession, and they ran into deadends when they triedto tap into the government's economic stimulus programs, which were supposed to kick-start the national economy. In early Spring of 2010, one business owner asks of fellow members in Business.gov forums...

Goverment Stimulus Money for Small Businesses?

"I am seeking a lending conduit for our small business. I would prefer a direct link to stimulas money, versus going through numerous broker/lenders who go to the conduit I seek. Could anyone direct me to the most viable sources? I have an asset based loan request & would accept private or government investments."

But help seems far away... Answers from other members in the forum include:

No such thing as Government Stimulus Money for Small Businesses. What the government is trying to do is intice lenders (your bank) to free up the flow of capital. There are allowing the SBA to increase their guarantee limits on loans (up to 90%) and reduce SBA fees to both the lender and borrower. This still means that your bank must underwrite and approve the loan.
There are other sources - non-bank lenders that might be able to help you. These loans and business cash advances are usually more expensive then traditional loans but may be your only option.
Types of loans - secured and unsecured - loans and lines of credit. Require excellent credit and high income/little debt. These could business or personal loans for amounts upto $250K - or micro-loans for amounts between $10K and $25K
Asset based - based on business assets - credit card reciepts, a/r, inventory, equipment (loan or lease).
There are also working capital loans provided you have purchase contracts in hand.
But, there are no government programs that provide direct funding to businesses.

Another member states the loan market for businesses follows the same path as commercial and residential loan markets:

The bottom line as I see it is that lenders are now more risk averse. They are unwilling to lend on a proposition that seems "ify". It's not so different in the personal consumer space with mortgage and refinance lending.

Helpful links offered by forum members for more information on finding ways to fund a new small business:

Banks are stating - even for SBA loans - that it is not that money is tight but that they are seeing less qualified applicants. Thus, not only would they NOT drop the personal guarantee requirement - but would tighten lending standards even more.

Banks look for three sources of repayment at a minimum. The first is either positive cash flow from the business or the conversion of assets - like inventory or a/r conversions. The second usually related to collateral - but remember, banks are not in the collateral business - they don't want it and it is expensive for them to take possission and sell the assets.

The third is personal guanatees. This helps banks in several ways. First, it is harder for a borrower to walk away from a loan that they are personally responsible for. Second, should the borrower default, there are more assets to go after - house, retirement accounts, savings, etc.

Banks don't just have tons of money to lend without recourse. They get funds by 1) depositors - to who they are required to repay when the depositors wants their money or 2) from borrowing from other banks and the Fed. Thus, they are required to repay those funds. Therefore, no bank will just lend money without ensuring (to the best of their ability) that they will be repaid. Just think - you deposit your hard earned money into a bank - the bank lends that money out and does not get repaid. You come in to get your money and they say to you - sorry - it was not repaid. I don't want that to happen and I don't think you would either.

wo great articles regarding collateral and personal guarantees - check them out:

http://www.businessmoneytoday.com/Articles/Financing/Article_Why-Do-Lenders-Require-Collateral.html

http://www.businessmoneytoday.com/Articles/Financing/Article_Why-Do-Lenders-Require-Personal-Guarantees.html

To join in the discussion, check out http://www.business.gov and join in the forum communities. Lots of good helpful "real-world" conversations going on there!

Find this helpful book at Amazon.com on how to fund your new small business:

Attracting Investors: A Marketing Approach to Finding Funds for Your Business

For more free "how-to" articles, visit us at http://www.findhow2.com

Government warns consumers about 'imposter' credit report websites

2011-11-23T07:13:00.000-08:00

Government website warns about 'imposter' sites that promise free credit report.... says to steer clear from these, go only to official site:

A Warning About “Imposter” Websites

Only one website is authorized to fill orders for the free annual credit report you are entitled to under law — annualcreditreport.com. Other websites that claim to offer “free credit reports,” “free credit scores,” or “free credit monitoring” are not part of the legally mandated free annual credit report program. In some cases, the “free” product comes with strings attached. For example, some sites sign you up for a supposedly “free” service that converts to one you have to pay for after a trial period. If you don’t cancel during the trial period, you may be unwittingly agreeing to let the company start charging fees to your credit card.

Some “imposter” sites use terms like “free report” in their names; others have URLs that purposely misspell annualcreditreport.com in the hope that you will mistype the name of the official site. Some of these “imposter” sites direct you to other sites that try to sell you something or collect your personal information.

Annualcreditreport.com and the nationwide consumer reporting companies will not send you an email asking for your personal information. If you get an email, see a pop-up ad, or get a phone call from someone claiming to be from annualcreditreport.com or any of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies, do not reply or click on any link in the message. It’s probably a scam. Forward any such email to the FTC at spam@uce.gov .

New credit card rules take effect Feb. 22, 2010

2010-01-16T07:08:00.001-08:00

The Federal Reserve has published new rules that are aimed to help protect U.S. consumers when it comes to credit cards:

The Federal Reserve's new rules for credit card companies mean new credit card protections for you. Here are some key changes you should expect from your credit card company beginning on February 22, 2010.

What your credit card company has to tell you
When they plan to increase your rate or other fees. Your credit card company must send you a notice 45 days before they can:
◦increase your interest rate;
◦change certain fees (such as annual fees, cash advance fees, and late fees) that apply to your account; or
◦make other significant changes to the terms of your card.
If your credit card company is going to make changes to the terms of your card, it must give you the option to cancel the card before certain fee increases take effect. If you take that option, however, your credit card company may close your account and increase your monthly payment.

For example, they can require you to pay the balance off in five years, or they can double the percentage of your balance used to calculate your minimum payment (which will result in faster repayment than under the terms of your account).

The company does not have to send you a 45-day advance notice if:
◦you have a variable rate tied to an index; if the index goes up, the company does not have to provide notice before your rate goes up;
◦your introductory rate expires and reverts to the previously disclosed "go-to" rate;
◦your rate increases because you are in a workout agreement and you haven’t made your payments as agreed.
How long it will take to pay off your balance. Your monthly credit card bill will include information on how long it will take you to pay off your balance if you only make minimum payments. It will also tell you how much you would need to pay each month in order to pay off your balance in three years. For example, suppose you owe $1,784.53 and your interest rate is 21.99%--your bill might look like this:
New balance $1,784.53
Minimum payment due $53.00
Payment due date 4/20/12

Late Payment Warning: If we do not receive your minimum payment by the date listed above, you may have to pay a $35 late fee and your APRs may be increased up to the Penalty APR of 28.99%.

Minimum Payment Warning: If you make only the minimum payment each period, you will pay more in interest and it will take you longer to pay off your balance. For example:

If you make no additional charges using this card and each month you pay. . . You will pay off the balance shown on this statement in about. . . And you will end up paying an estimated total of. . .
Only the minimum payment 10 years $3,284
$62 3 years $2,232
(Savings = $1,052)

New rules regarding rates, fees, and limits
No interest rate increases for the first year. Your credit card company cannot increase your rate for the first 12 months after you open an account. There are some exceptions:
◦If your card has a variable interest rate tied to an index; your rate can go up whenever the index goes up.
◦If there is an introductory rate, it must be in place for at least 6 months; after that your rate can revert to the "go-to" rate the company disclosed when you got the card.
◦If you are more than 60 days late in paying your bill, your rate can go up.
◦If you are in a workout agreement and you don't make your payments as agreed, your rate can go up.
Increased rates apply only to new charges. If your credit card company does raise your interest rate after the first year, the new rate will apply only to new charges you make. If you have a balance, your old interest rate will apply to that balance.
Restrictions on over-the-limit transactions. You must tell your credit card company that you want it to allow transactions that will take you over your credit limit. Otherwise, if a transaction would take you over your limit, it may be turned down. If you do not opt-in to over-the-limit transactions and your credit card company allows one to go through, it cannot charge you an over-the-limit fee.
◦If you opt-in to allowing transactions that take you over your credit limit, your credit card company can impose only one fee per billing cycle. You can revoke your opt-in at any time.
Caps on high-fee cards. If your credit card company requires you to pay fees (such as an annual fee or application fee), those fees cannot total more than 25% of the initial credit limit. For example, if your initial credit limit is $500, the fees for the first year cannot be more than $125. This limit does not apply to penalty fees, such as penalties for late payments.
Protections for underage consumers. If you are under 21, you will need to show that you are able to make payments, or you will need a cosigner, in order to open a credit card account.
◦If you are under age 21 and have a card with a cosigner and want an increase in the credit limit, your cosigner must agree in writing to the increase.
Changes to billing and payments
Standard payment dates and times. Your credit card company must mail or deliver your credit card bill at least 21 days before your payment is due. In addition:
◦Your due date should be the same date each month (for example, your payment is always due on the 15th or always due on the last day of the month).
◦The payment cut-off time cannot be earlier than 5 p.m. on the due date.
◦If your payment due date is on a weekend or holiday (when the company does not process payments), you will have until the following business day to pay. (For example, if the due date is Sunday the 15th, your payment will be on time if it is received by Monday the 16th before 5 p.m.).
Payments directed to highest interest balances first. If you make more than the minimum payment on your credit card bill, your credit card company must apply the excess amount to the balance with the highest interest rate. There is an exception:
◦If you made a purchase under a deferred interest plan (for example, "no interest if paid in full by March, 2012"), the credit card company may let you choose to apply extra amounts to the deferred interest balance before other balances. Otherwise, for two billing cycles prior to the end of the deferred interest period, the credit card company must apply your entire payment to the deferred interest rate balance first.
No two-cycle (double-cycle) billing. Credit card companies can only impose interest charges on balances in the current billing cycle.

Fighting back when collection agencies call

2010-01-09T04:29:00.000-08:00

Dealing with a collection agency can be a frustrating, embarrassing, aggravating experience. But if you owe a debt that a collection agency is being paid to collect, you need to know your rights to protect yourself and your peace of mind.

The moment when a collection agency first contacts you, it must give its name, address, and the name of the original creditor (the business or person you owe money). That collection agency must also tell you in writing the amount of the debt, detailing any fees that have been added, such as interest and collection fees. Furthermore, they need to inform you of your right to dispute that information.

Read more at
"How To Deal With Collection Agencies" at FindHow2.com.

Here's a good book with more tips on how to stop bill collector's from harassing you:

Collection Agency Secrets Exposed!: Information They Don't Want You To Know

New book promises to teach you how money really works

2010-01-08T02:19:00.000-08:00

New Book: “How To Get Off The Financial Tight Rope”

Learning about money now while the economy is fixing itself can help people get ahead financially when times get better. The publishers says the book provides insight into strategies and actions people can take to better their financial situations.

Author James Rudd enables readers to do just that. Rather than stress over assets and finances, readers can move on and better their financial outlook and prospects. The book can be found online at http://howmoneyreallyworks.com.

The book discusses a variety of financial topics including debt; saving money; budgeting; investing in real estate, mutual funds and stocks; setting goals and re-wiring the brain to understand money and make wise financial decisions.

Here are other good books on the subject that you can find on Amazon.com:

Miserly Moms: Living Well on Less in a Tough Ecomony

What You Can Do To Conquer Your Credit And Debt Problems - First Edition

How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt, and Live Prosperously: *(Based on the Proven Principles and Techniques of Debtors Anonymous)

The Credit Secrets Bible

The Excel Way - Paying Off Your Debt Made Easy: A User's Guide to the Excel Budgeting Tool

How to improve your moods by choosing the right foods

2010-01-06T03:32:00.000-08:00

Mood-boosting foods: Tips to jump-start your body and your brain

(ARA) - If you're determined to eat right to lose weight or improve your health, the foods you choose could also make you happier. We've all heard the old adage "You are what you eat," and the importance of eating for physical health. But did you know that at the same time you could also be eating to improve your mental sharpness, energy and inner peace?

"The connection between food and mood has long been known, but we've come a long way in understanding how new foods can speed the process of helping you feel better by eating right. There are simple ways to tweak your diet that can have profound effects on how good you feel and how consistent your mood is, even while you lose weight and improve health," says registered dietician, Elizabeth Somer, author of the book, "Eat Your Way to Happiness." (Harlequin 2009) Somer offers the following ways to eat your way to a newer, happier you:

Make breakfast a natural high: Even a four-hour lag between meals leaves some people feeling shaky and grumpy because they're essentially running on fumes. This only gives rise to cravings for foods that are bad for you. Restock your fuel stores in the morning with healthy foods, and your body, mind and energy will repay you throughout the day. Use the 1-2-3 rule to create an energy-building combination: No. 1, eat at least one serving of high-fiber carbs such as 100 percent whole grain cereal or bread; No. 2, eat two servings of fruits and veggies, such as a banana and vegetable juice; and No. 3, add a third, protein-rich food such as a whole egg, lean meat, or fat-free or low fat milk.

Embrace the "good" fats: You may have heard about the importance of incorporating good fats such as omega-3s into your diet. However, all omega-3s are not created equal and offer different health benefits. For example, the form of omega-3 found in flaxseeds and walnuts (ALA omega-3) helps lower your heart disease risk, but does not offer the brain-boosting benefits of DHA omega-3, which helps you feel great, think fast and stay mentally sharp. The more DHA omega-3 you eat, the more it is incorporated into brain cells, the more flexible your brain cell membranes become, the better you think, the more you remember and the happier you are.

Almost 97 percent of the omega-3s in the brain are DHA, which is why this fat is so important in lowering the risk of depression and dementia. Yet, most Americans don't get enough of this nutrient. Salmon, herring, lake trout, anchovies and sardines are good dietary sources of DHA. But if you're vegetarian, don't like fish or are concerned about mercury levels in seafood, you can also find many foods, beverages and supplements in grocery and drug stores that are made with sustainable, algae-based DHA. Look for products bearing life'sDHA on the label, such as Mission Life Balance Flour Tortillas, Silk Soymilk Plus DHA, or Walmart Spring Valley Fish-Free Algal-900 DHA supplements.

Choose quality carbs: Seratonin, the nerve chemical, is a major force in mood and appetite. It turns cravings on and off for sweets and starches, helps regulate mood, controls pain tolerance affecting thinking and memory, and even determines whether we sleep well. However, serotonin levels rise with the right food choices. While all carbs will boost your mood, quality carbs in whole grains and colorful starchy veggies like sweet potatoes will give you sustained energy and a mood high without the extra calories. Keep hunger at bay by eating small snacks at even intervals throughout the day. Examples of quality carb snacks: five graham crackers, 75 whole-grain thin pretzel sticks or four cups of air-popped popcorn (salted lightly).

Eat right at night: If you start the day with the right foods, be sure to end it with the right foods. How well you sleep has a huge impact on your mood, energy level and weight. The worse you feel, the more likely you'll eat - and you'll eat all the wrong things, since fatigue and blues dissolve your resolve to take care of yourself. It takes your system hours to digest a large meal, making it difficult to completely relax into a deep sleep. Keep the evening meal light and low-fat and eat no less than three hours before bedtime, and you're more likely to sleep like a baby all night. And, if you're determined to lose weight, add some exercise every day and you will fall asleep faster, sleep deeper and sleep longer than if you were a couch potato.

By following these simple tips, you'll not only feel better and more energized, but your mood will lift and you'll be a newer, happier you.

Andrew Weil, M.D. - Eating Well for Optimum Health

Extremely Low Carb, High Omega-3, High Fiber, and Super Healthy Comfort Foods

Eat, Live, Love: The Great Tasting, Low Carb, High Fiber, High Protein, Super Healthy Recipes That You've Prayed For

How to make your job search less stressful

2010-01-05T04:28:00.000-08:00

Tips for making your job search easier

Whether you are facing a slowed economy or one that is bursting at the seams, there are ways to make your job search less frustrating. The problem is that you don't know where to start or how to be successful in that search. To get on the fast track with your job search, follow these hints and tips.

"Looking for a job is a job in itself," says Anthony Davis, director of Career Services at Brown Mackie College - Fort Wayne. "If you expect to work 40 hours a week, then you must be prepared to put in many hours in your job search."

Davis says job seekers must first be committed. "There are many obstacles that prevent job seekers from being committed, including wanting to sleep in later in the morning and walking around the house in pajamas. These are nothing but distractions. If you start work at 8 a.m. and have been getting up at 6 a.m., do not change your schedule. Your job search should begin fully dressed at 8 a.m."

The next step is to have a razor-sharp resume. This is very important, especially if you have been out of work for quite a while or are new to the process. If you don't have the money to pay a professional to craft your resume, Davis says there is online information and many books available on crafting resumes for specific jobs. "Your resume must speak to the job you are applying for," Davis says. "A resume that does not will quickly be tossed in the outbox trash."

Regardless of the resume type, it is important to be able to quantify your accomplishments. For example, if you saved the company 20 percent because of a process you created, or you developed an initiative that was implemented by the company, put it in writing and explain the results of your action. "Don't forget to update your resume every six months or so, especially if you completed a new project, assignment, or joined a community-based organization," Davis advises.

Now it's time to create your own job search team to help advise you while you are looking for a job. For established job seekers, a sampling of team members can be professional colleagues, business associates and past co-workers. For newer job seekers, team members can be close friends, parents, college professors and alumni. The team you select should be willing to provide you with honest feedback as you embark upon your journey and provide the feedback without expecting anything in return.

Job seekers should be networking. Going through the newspaper's job ads and online career listings are OK, but nothing takes the place of networking. You may ask, "Network with whom, where and when?" The short answer, Davis says, is "everyone, everywhere, and all the time." In fact, according Davis, members of the job seeker's job search team should be some of the same people the job seeker should be networking with. Many of these people have valuable contacts.

Other networking opportunities can be found just by volunteering for a nonprofit organization. Volunteering shows commitment and initiative. Even if you aren't doing anything too mentally taxing, you can increase your industry knowledge and may discover a new career path that you hadn't thought of before. Plus, you'll be helping other people.

Many nonprofits need volunteers with experience. If you have accounting experience, there may be a nonprofit out there that needs your expertise. There have been job seekers who have turned their volunteer opportunity into real jobs.

After each step in the process, keep a log of what occurred. Finally, Davis says its important to keep your head up, maintain positive thoughts and don't quit. You will find something out there.

You can find more helpful advice here:

The Job Search Solution: The Ultimate System for Finding a Great Job Now!

Knock em Dead 2009: The Ultimate Job Search Guide (Knock 'em Dead)

In Search of the Perfect Job: 8 Steps to the $250,000+ Executive Job Thats Right for You

How to live more sustainably this year

2010-01-03T04:38:00.000-08:00

Ten tips for living more sustainably in 2010

ADDITIONAL BOOKS TO READ TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SUSTAINABLE LIVING:

Toolbox for Sustainable City Living: A do-it-Ourselves Guide

The Urban Homestead: Your Guide to Self-sufficient Living in the Heart of the City (Process Self-reliance Series)

The Encyclopedia of Country Living

Simple Prosperity: Finding Real Wealth in a Sustainable Lifestyle

The beginning of a new year - and a new decade - is the time many people pledge to live differently. For many, that change means living a more sustainable lifestyle. Sustainability, once only a buzz word, is now fast becoming the way to live consciously.

From reducing your water usage to buying organic, here are 10 simple ways to make 2010 the year of sustainable living:

1. Use water more efficiently: Water is a limited resource and limiting it within your household is a cornerstone of sustainability. Rain barrels, largely unheard of even a decade ago, are becoming a popular way to collect and reuse rainwater for purposes like gardening. Meanwhile, conserving water in the home by taking shorter showers or even fixing a leaky faucet also can make a difference at a time when many communities are experiencing water shortages or are expressing concerns about water overuse.

2. Compost: Turning over leaves by way of a new compost garden is one way to live a more sustainable lifestyle. A compost heap is a simple, effective way to collect yard waste, like leaves and grass clippings, and kitchen scraps such as raw vegetable peelings and coffee grounds, and return them to the ground as organic matter.

3. Seek earth-friendly packaging: To better fill that compost heap, alter shopping habits to look for products with compostable packaging. Snyder's of Hanover, for instance, recently introduced a new Pretzel Variety Sack of 100-Calorie Pretzels and Pretzel Sandwiches in the market's first 100 percent compostable outer package made from 100 percent renewable cornstarch-based plastic. The new Variety Sack includes a special logo indicating that the bag can be composted and is made with sustainable materials. In addition to that example, more manufacturers are switching to cardboard packaging materials, which are made from renewable materials and can be recycled or composted.

4. Buy local, embrace organic: Many farmers, ranchers and, increasingly, food manufacturers, are offering foods and beverages made using sustainable practices. It could be a farmers market tomato, a local dairy's milk, an organic snack food, like new Organic Honey Whole Wheat Sticks and Organic Whole Wheat and Oat Sticks from Snyder's of Hanover, or any number of natural or organic items. The bottom line is that natural, organic and locally produced foods provide both sustenance and sustainability. To learn more about Snyder's of Hanover's sustainability initiatives visit www.snydersofhanover.com/Sustainability/.

5. Go to seed: Take the locally grown movement a step further - like in your own backyard or patio. An afternoon spent planting seeds or small plants can yield plenty of rewards a few weeks or months later, in the form of fresh, inexpensive and convenient vegetables and fruits. You don't need a large tract of land, in fact, to start a small garden.

6. Ride out the trend: Sustain your own energy level by opting to ride a bike or walk to a destination that isn't all that far away. Add a basket to a bike or take along a backpack to bring something back home.

7. Re-recycle: Recycling is nothing new and most people have been recycling in some form for years. But recycling can be taken to another level, going beyond obvious and traditionally recycled items like soda cans or newspaper to the smallest of waste materials, from plastic straws to the paper straw wrapper. Why not recycle apparel as well, by donating clothes and buying gently used clothes?

8. Plug in: Learn how to operate appliances more efficiently. For example, use cold water in the washing machine: clothes will still be cleaned, without the use of heated water. Turn off appliances when not in use, whether it's the television, video game player or radio. Better yet, completely unplug. Many electronics and battery chargers continue to draw a small amount of power even when they are switched off. Instead, use a power strip to cut power completely when not in use.

9. Lighten up: Use energy efficient lighting and bulbs when possible and turn off lights when not in a room. That will cut energy use - and the family budget.

10. Get involved: As the sustainability movement gains traction among the public, there are more opportunities to join in. Local communities, schools and organizations often have green committees, and there is a plethora of national and grassroots organizations geared around earth-friendly living that appreciate new volunteers or members.

Managing Debt Workbook Can Help Lead You Out of Debt in 2010

2010-01-02T06:16:00.000-08:00

If you need help getting yourself out of debt, don't despair any longer. This guide promises simple, effective solutions and simple steps for paying off your bills as quickly as possible and getting your finances back on track. Slash spending, consolidate debts, get tough with bill collectors, and avoid future debt problems. Authors John Venture and Mary Reed show you how to:

Create a debt-busting budget
Improve your spending habits
Use credit cards responsibly
Negotiate with creditors
Manage past-due debts
Rebuild your credit history

DVD Shows How You Can Score Get Better Credit

2010-01-01T07:02:00.000-08:00

"Fix Your Credit DVD - How to Fix Mistakes on Your Credit Report and How to Improve Your Credit Score "
(click photo above to learn more about his DVD...)

Today's a New Year, and maybe it's about time that you got busy fixing your own credit report to get better credit, huh? This DVD explains what credit is, how credit scores are calculated, how you can get your free credit report, how to read it to uncover and fix mistakes in your credit report and, perhaps most importantly, simple steps you can take to improve your credit score.

Written and produced by two attorneys with years of experience advising clients on credit issues. Details how to negotiate with creditors, payoff bad debt, make decisions regarding refinancing your mortgage and other credit repair tips that may help you save hundreds of dollars each month.

Read more about: Fix Your Credit DVD - How to Fix Mistakes on Your Credit Report and How to Improve Your Credit Score (Credit Repair)

Here's another book that can help you improve your credit rating:

Credit Repair Kit For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance))

Learn All About Credit Cards In 5 Minutes or Less

2009-12-31T07:10:00.000-08:00

"Your 5-minute guide to credit cards" by MSN's Money Central is a great way to start when you want to get a handle on handling credit in your life. It can be tempting to overspend and build up large balances when you rely on credit cards. This quick-read guide promises to help you put your credit cards in order in short order..

Check it out here: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/CreditCardSmarts/Your5MinuteGuideToCreditCards.aspx

And check out this book at Amazon.com to get a grip on paying off your credit cards:

The Skinny on Credit Cards, How to Master the Credit Card Game

by Jim Randel

How You Can Profit from Credit Cards
by Curtis E. Arnold

Knowing When To Get Credit Counseling Help

2009-12-30T08:16:00.000-08:00

10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget

The Writers of Wise Bread

Credit Counseling - How Do I Know If I Need Help?

By Clay Bowden

The Debt-Free Millionaire

Anthony Manganiello

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness

by
Dave Ramsey

The Budget Kit: The Common Cents Money Management Workbook

by
Judy Lawrence

What used to be known as Debt Management is now commonly referred to Consumer Credit Counseling. The terms refers to using an uninterested party to help you learn, understand, and budget your finances. This will assist you in paying your creditors on time, every month.

The objective used to be to teach anyone who doesn't understand or know how to handle their finances; a logical way of paying their creditors on time every month. Teaching people to budget their money and take responsibility for their own financial picture. The companies that used to do this used a wean type program to assist people.

Now that a plethora of these for-profit companies have sprouted up all over the place. The term now refers to a company that you pay a fee too (not always, see further down), and you send them one check every month, and they budget and pay all your bills.

Doesn't sound like a bad idea right? WRONG!

1. A non-profit "wean" type Program:

Most of the time will be a non-profit organization (no fee to consumer)
Required for a low fee for Bankruptcy
Some will begin by paying your bills
They will teach and train you to handle your finances
If they started paying your bills, then they will "wean" you off of their services by slowly giving you more and more control over paying your bills
In a short period of time, you will be paying ALL of your bills and will no longer need their services

2. A for-profit consumer credit counseling company:

Since they are for profit, they will charge you an up-front fee or a per month fee (paid in advance)
They will normally require a contract for a period of time at which time the contract will auto renew (meaning unless you cancel it will renew for a set time frame, i.e. 1 year, etc...)
Most will not teach you how to manage your finances, think about it, they don't want you to learn how to pay your own bills; that will mean you will no longer need their services and thus they will lose your monthly revenue
Some of these companies even have you pay your finances and still charge you (not a really smart move here, if they are not teaching you anything and you are paying your finances; what do you need them for?)
They do not use any sort of "wean" type of program, for the reasons stated above
Charge a cancellation fee if you break the contract!

So how do I know if I need a Debt Management or Consumer Credit Counseling Company?

First, you need to sit down and understand your finances. Crete an Excel spreadsheet or just put pen to paper and calculate your monthly finances (income and debt).
Second, make an attempt to contact your creditors yourself and speak with them. Let them know about what you are going through, talk to them about your income versus your outgoing monthly bills. Request a reduction in your monthly payments or your APR.
Third, if your creditors are still unwilling to work with you, then you can visit The National Foundation for Credit Councilors all of the recommended credit councilors listed through their site are certified and accredited.

How do I find a company who will not rip me off and take my money?

Visit The National Foundation for Credit Councilors and let them steer you in the right direction. But do not stop there. make sure before signing anything, before you make a final decision, and before you pay anyone anything; you do some research. Check up on whoever you are looking at, check the RipOff Report, check search engines, as your local Chamber of Commerce, check the BBB, and finally check the FTC. Make sure the company or the person you are considering going with is clean. Any blemishes could give you forewarning on what could happen to you. Remember this company is going to be handling YOUR MONEY! You want them to be clean of any complaints and grievances!

What should I do if I have been the victim of a less than ethical company or I have been ripped off by a company or person?

You should visit the FTC, BBB, Federal Consumer Action, and your State Attorney General's websites. Get phone numbers and complaint forms and file them immediately. Also visit the RipOff Report website and make a post about your situation. You want to go on record as soon as you can due to statute of limitations, and if for no other reason to let everyone you can know about the people or company that has wronged you.

Make sure you follow up with these companies about the status of your complaint. Don't just file your complaint and go away. Persistence is key here, if you want to see action taken. It may take some time, everything is not going to happen overnight. With a little bit of luck and a lot of persistence you and others like you can expose these less than ethical companies.

The FTC cracks down on all the industries they regulate often. normally when the FTC is involved they will levy high fines and/or shut companies down. They can appeal to the Federal Court System for an injunction to shut companies down for fraudulent activities.

Clay Bowden has been a debt collector for 15 years, and is now the owner of Epic Internet Ventures. Which "Empowers People With Information So They May Help Themselves". You can visit http://www.epicinternetventures.com to grab a FREE Credit Repair Kit. Clay also runs a Credit and Credit Repair Blog at http://www.epicinternetventures.com/credit.

Article courtesy of Clay Bowden

Valpak App Now Available In App Store

2009-12-29T05:56:00.000-08:00

Valpak® now has made it easier for iPhoneTM and iPod® touch users to access money-saving coupons by offering the free Valpak App from the App Store, and it's a free download.
1

Check it out here: Valpak App Now Available on App Store

Best Iphone Apps: The Guide for Discriminating Downloaders
Clark Josh

You can keep coupons organized with the Premium Coupon Organizer Pro:

Better Budgeting Tips For 2010

2009-12-28T05:39:00.000-08:00

How to take control of your household budget in 2010

It's a brand new year. Time to make resolutions for a better ilfe. Sticking to a budget is one of the top resolutions Americans make after the holidays, but many people still aren't sure how to start effectively managing their household finances.

Wise credit card use is a key step toward achieving such a goal. Understanding a few important facts now will help you to avoid surprises and get back on track when holiday bills arrive in the New Year.

The Motley Fool Personal Finance Workbook
(Click on photo above to read more...)

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness

by Dave Ramsey

BestCredit: How to Win the Credit Game, 2nd Edition

by Dana Neal

(click on photo above to learn more...)

Understanding the terms of your credit card agreement will help you better manage your finances. Here are three things to remember:

1. Interest - The best way to avoid paying interest is to pay your full balance when the bill arrives. If that is more than you can handle, always try to pay more than the minimum - even if it's just a little bit more - to lower interest costs.

2. Payment - Late fees are a hazard you want to avoid, so it's best to get your payment out early. Take note of the due date as soon as the bill arrives; if you bank online, sign up for e-mail alerts that remind you when your payment is due. When sending your payment in the mail, seven days is the recommended time frame - even if the bill isn't due for a couple of weeks. You don't want a delay in mail delivery or a potentially damaged check to cause you payment penalties. If you can, try paying online or using your mobile banking service to save time.

3. Fees - If you need to take out a cash advance, be aware that by doing so you may incur a fee. Keep that in mind for advances and other common credit transactions like balance transfers, which can also trigger fees. If you don't take them into account, you might accidentally go over your credit limit, which may harm your credit.

Understanding how to take advantage of all the products and services offered by financial institutions is essential to maintaining financial health. To help customers better understand and manage their credit cards, Bank of America recently launched the Credit Card Clarity Commitment, an easy-to-read one-page summary of certain important account terms.

"We know that people want clear, straightforward information from their bank," says Bank of America Global Card Services president Ric Struthers. "Our goal is to communicate clearly and make it as simple and easy to understand as possible so that we can enable our customers to use credit wisely. Our business is linked to the success of our customers, and we will do everything we can to ensure they have the information they need in simple, clear and straightforward terms."

Take control of your budget in the new year. Pay attention to your credit card rates, fees and payment information and how these affect your household finances.
Fix Your Credit DVD:

Courtesy of ARAcontent

5 Easy Ways To Save Time, Money On Taxes

2009-12-27T09:06:00.000-08:00

Five ways to save time and money on your taxes

The typical taxpayer is expected to spend more than three business days and more than $200 completing his or her tax return.

"That's too much time and too much money," says Gary Lundberg, product management director for CompleteTax (www.CompleteTax.com), an online income tax preparation program. "The good news is, there are a few easy things people can do that will help them save time and money doing their taxes, as well as make sure they get the biggest refund they're due."

As people get ready to file their 2009 tax returns, there are a few things they can do to save time and money.

J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax 2010

: For Preparing Your 2009 Tax Return

Lower Your Taxes - Big Time! 2009-2010 Edition

Quicken 2010 The Official Guide (Quicken Press)

Taxes 2009 For Dummies (Taxes for Dummies)

1. Make sure you're prepared.

Having a few key items available when you start your taxes will save a lot of time. These include:

* Your tax return from 2008

* Social Security numbers for you, your spouse and children

* All W-2s (wage and tax withheld form for 2009 supplied by your employer), 1099s (statements on investment income provided by your financial services institutions), mortgage interest statements and other statements related to income

* All statements related to expenses that you will be claiming on your tax return

* The routing numbers and account numbers for the accounts in which you want to directly deposit your tax refund.

2. Use an online tax program.

One advantages of using an online tax program is that many of the items you need to start your taxes - like your prior year's return - can be stored by the program. So, you don't have to waste time hunting down information every year.

More than 32 million people filed their tax returns from their home computers during 2009, up nearly 20 percent from the prior year, according to Internal Revenue Service data. That number is likely to continue to increase as more people realize the benefits of online tax prep and electronic filing.

Using the right online tax program makes it a lot easier and faster for people to finish their tax return with no need to go to the store or download a program onto their computer.

Online tax programs also are a lot more accurate. In fact, the IRS reports that an electronically prepared and filed return has an error rate of less than 1 percent, compared to an error rate of about 20 percent for a paper prepared return.

3. Free file if you can.

Depending upon how complicated a person's taxes are, they may be able to prepare and e-file their tax return absolutely free. For example, if you don't need to itemize, and only have a few simple requirements - such as claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit - you may be able to use a free online tax program. For example, CompleteTax offers a free version of its program and the IRS lists other providers participating in the Free File Alliance.

If your tax situation is more complicated - for example, you have itemized deductions, investment income or you are a small business owner - you will want to make sure to purchase the online solution that is tailored to your needs. Good online tax programs for people with general tax needs are available for less than $20 and even investors or small business owners who have more complicated returns can find solutions for less than $75.

"Completing your tax returns does not need to be a drain on your wallet," says Lundberg. "The right tax program can save a taxpayer both time and money."

4. Maximize your credits and deductions.

The average tax refund for 2008 was nearly $2,800. However, many taxpayers have the sinking feeling that they are not getting the tax breaks they should. In fact, according to an independent survey conducted by CompleteTax, two-thirds of 1,000 randomly surveyed taxpayers fear they may overlook tax breaks or make mistakes that could cost them in fines or penalties.

"There are dozens of credits and deductions that people may have available to them. So it's important to make sure that the tax program they're using is geared to identify these and guide them to options that will maximize their refund," says Lundberg.

Some programs will also provide tools to help further ensure accuracy. For example, while millions of people donate clothing and household items to charities, few have any idea of the value. A tax program, such as CompleteTax, with a charitable donation calculator, provides an easy way for determining and documenting the fair market value of these items, helping you realize the greatest charitable contribution deductions you can.

5. E-file and use direct deposit.

Electronically filing and using direct deposit significantly increases how quickly taxpayers have access to their refund. Generally, e-filers can have their refund deposited directly into their accounts within a few days, compared to the weeks it takes to receive a mailed check. Certain tax programs also allow customers to split their refund and deposit it into three separate accounts. For example, you could deposit part in your checking account, part in your savings account and part directly into a tax-advantaged IRA account.

"E-filing and direct deposit don't cost you anything, but they can mean you have your refund faster so that it can start working for you - whether that's paying off debt, buying something you want or saving for the future," Lundberg says.

Taxpayers can find more money-saving tips through CompleteTax news and tax alerts at www.CompleteTax.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Free Online Resource Helps Consumers Regain Their Financial Footing

2009-12-24T09:47:00.000-08:00

Getting control of your finances is a worthwhile New Year's resolution in 2010.

Here is a description of a one-stop resource for people experiencing financial problems due to the worsening economy, unemployment, divorce, or any of life’s finance-wrecking events. Users of the site get free access to the tools and information they need to put their financial life back in order including insider tips on how to obtain bad credit personal loans, unsecured credit cards and other forms of unsecured credit. Click link below to learn more:
Free Online Resource Helps Consumers Regain Their Financial Footing

How To Avoid Sting Of Stimulus Scams

2009-08-08T10:08:00.001-07:00

The FTC is warning people about phony "Stimulus" scams that likely could fleece them of their hard-earned money. Here's what they have to say. Read and heed, and you'll keep away from 'stimulus scams' for good!

Seeing Through Stimulus Scams

With talk of stimulus plans ruling the news, it’s no surprise a new round of stimulus scams are afoot.

Here’s how it goes: An email, online ad, or website says you’re eligible to get an economic stimulus payment. You just have to send back a form or submit one online to get it. The message might appear to come from a rebate company or look like it’s straight from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

But the promise of stimulus money in return for a fee or financial information is always a scam, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency.

There’s more than one way to perpetuate a stimulus scam. Some scam artists ask you to send a small processing fee, supposedly to get a much larger check in return. That’s money you’ll never see again. Others skip the fee, and instead, ask for your bank account number so they can “deposit” your check. Then, they use the information to clean out your account or open new ones using your identifying information.

Some stimulus scams encourage you to click on links, open attached forms, or call phony toll-free numbers. But simply clicking the link or opening the document can install harmful software, like spyware, on your computer. The result could be your personal information ending up in the hands of an identity thief.

If you get a message offering you money from the stimulus program in exchange for your personal information, ignore it, delete it, or throw it out. The IRS doesn’t send emails like this asking for personal information, and rebate companies claiming to have stimulus payments for you should not be trusted, regardless of how plausible the script sounds or how official the forms look.

When a stimulus plan does involve a check to you (it may not), you won’t need to fill out a separate form in an email or give out personal information — like account numbers or your Social Security number — to someone who calls you out of the blue.

If you get an unexpected email from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking you to call a number or email back personal information, forward it to phishing@irs.gov, then delete it without clicking on any links or opening any attachments. If you think you are the target of a scam, you also can file a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint .

If you need to reach an agency like the IRS, don’t use phone numbers or links included in an email. Always type the web address directly into your browser, and look up any url you aren’t sure about. Use phone numbers listed on agency websites or in other reliable sources, like the Blue Pages in your phone directory.

Free Grant Writing Guide

2009-08-07T20:03:00.000-07:00

Free guide on how to write successful grant proposals. Use this free handy template to help yourself get a share of the Federal Government's Stimulus Plan!

Grants -- How to Write Successful Proposals -

How To Choose A Credit Counseling Organization To Help You Get Handle On Your Debts

2009-08-06T09:52:00.000-07:00

If you need help getting control of your finances, a credit counseling service may be your best option.

Finding a reputable credit counseling organization is your first step. You want to seek out an agency that can provide advice on how you should handle your money and debts. A good agency provides you the tools to create a workable monthly budget. It's easy to find an organization that can load you up with free educational materials and workshops. But for lasting change, you'll want more.

That something more is to find qualified, trained counselors who can share their knowledge of debt relief, money mangement and consumer credit reduction plans that are proven to help their clients. You are seeking someone who can talk straight about your own personal financial situation with you. You don't want a one-size-fits-all plan; you want a tailored plan that will help you get lasting debt relief, plus find that path that will help keep you debt free.

Your first clue that you are not working with a reputable credit counseling service is that they requre that your provide private details and don't offer to send you free information about their service. This might be a clue that they practice hard-sell techniques to sign up new clients.

You don't want that. Seek out the best by checking with your own state's Attorney General, or with the local Better Business Bureau, before signing up for a credit counseling debt management plan. You will be digging for reported complaints from disgruntled consumers. Do your homework. Don't select the wrong credit counseling organization to help you when your debts overwhelm you. It will only make the matter worse.

Ask around. It's not well known that the U.S. Trustee Program can provide you with credit counseling agencies that have been pre-approved to help consumers get pre-bankruptcy counseling to help them avoid Chapter 13 bankruptcy or Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Many of their approved credit counseling agencies provide counseling services in languages other than English. To find one in your state, click here...

Here is a free report from the FTC that helps you know the best questions to ask a credit counseling organization that could help your find the right resource to help you get a grip on your debts:

Free credit counseling information -

Free Sample Debt Settlement Letter

2009-08-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

Knowing how to write a debt settlement letter is key to getting rid of some troublesome debts sometimes. Yes, it would be a perfect world if all of us could pay off all debts all the time; but circumstances change, and it's better to settle a debt than ignore it! Below, you'll find a free sample document laying out in direct language and exact terms what needs to be said and what should be included in a debt settlement letter. This letter might just save you a trip to a lawyer and dictates in plain English what information needs to be included and where.

Sample Debt Settlement Letter -

Get more free sample credit letters at:

FindHow2.com's "Credit Letters" page

Credit Card Dispute Guide

2009-07-29T11:31:00.000-07:00

It's good to have a helpful guide on how to dispute credit card charges and here's one we found for you to use free:

Credit Card Disputes -

For more information on protecting your finances, check out http://www.findhow2.com

Free Tips On How To Organize Important Records

2009-07-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

Although this report is directed to cancer survivors, it is good basic information on how to organize financial documents and important papers.

Good organization is the first step to getting your finances in order. And this will lead to getting a better credit score when you pay all your monthly bills on time, every time.

How to Organize Important Records -

Weekly Spending Planner Helps Track Money Outgo

2009-07-27T07:13:00.000-07:00

Take control of your monthly expenses by using a weekly spending planner like the one below:

Weekly Spending Plan -

What are your rights dealing with collection agency?

2009-07-27T06:31:00.000-07:00

WikiAnswers - What are your rights in dealing with a collection agency

Shared via AddThis

Sneaky Webmaster Tools Give Some Websites Unfair Advantage In SEO Battles

2009-07-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

Putting together a website is simple. Knowing what to put ON your website is hard.
Unless you know what people are looking for...
Fortunately, free services like Google's 'Adword Keyword Tools' help publishers know exactly the phrases people are entering into Google's search box. Researching these keywords are the key to finding and delivering what people are looking for online.
By finding popluar keyword phrases that rank high in CPC keyword values (i.e., how much advertisers will pay for that particular keyword), a webmaster has at his or her disposal the exact names of web pages at hand.
For instance, instead of giving generic page names to their .html files, a webmaster can use a popular search phrase using hyphens to separate the words, and tacking on a .html file name to it. For further help, naming the directory in which this file resides as another popular search phrase will help increase its visibility and popularity to search engines and random Internet searchers alike.
Finally, keyword tools also give clues as to what < h1 > headings should be used and what phrases ought to be set in bold type, as well as what keywords need to be stuffed into meta tages and title descriptions.

Free Collection Dispute Letter Template

2009-07-13T19:20:00.000-07:00

Credit collection dispute letter template -- use this letter format to help fight back when bill collectors are harassing you. For more forms like this, visit DocStoc.com.

Collection Dispute Letter Template -

Loan Delinquencies On Rise In U.S.

2009-07-07T13:30:00.001-07:00

So who says the American economy is getting better?
Signs are for more economic pain ahead:
Until people get their debts under control, they cannot get free of their underlying worries that keep them chained to jobs they hate. Getting out of debt should be the goal of anyone who wants to stop feeling like their credit cards own them, instead of the other way around!
More debt relief topics can be found here:
http://www.pay-off-debts.com/
and here
http://www.findhow2.com/

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Out of Debt

Adding New Features on FindHow2.com

2009-07-07T10:40:00.000-07:00

Hey! Behind the scenes work has been going on over at http://www.FindHow2.com that is adding new features like How to pay for college, How to fix bad credit, and How to pay off debts... we're excited that people are recommending this site to their friends and family. We're getting good rankings in Yahoo and Google, and we're trying hard to find new helpful articles to help people solve real-world problems, offering free articles and videos that will give working men and women a chance to solve their own troubles.
Check out some of our most-read articles at http://www.FindHow2.com

P.S...... We're also building an interesting directory of popular conspiracy theories at
http://con.spiracy.net
It's not done yet, but take a peek and tell us what we need to add to make it more complete!

Solutions for life's little problems

2008-01-18T18:59:00.001-08:00

FindHow2.com -- solutions for life's little problems!
As we approach our two year anniversary, we've launched our new web blog -- well, finally gotten around to it, to be honest. It's been on the drawing board since we opened our doors in March 2006. But better late than never!
We hope to have an ongoing, give-and-take discussion with our readers on topics like credit and debt consolidation, student loans, home equity loans and mortgage refinancing, credit card tips... a little bit of everything to be sure, but all dedicated to helping readers learn to better manage their debts and restore good credit!
Give us a shout and let's chat soon!

Sincerely,

Steve