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Creating your own personal wealth, from whatever means of income you enjoy, requires knowing where you’re going, and accounting for your own personal finances. It is essential to know what you are worth – your assets and liabilities – and Owner’s Equity – before you can start to develop a good
financial plan to create wealth. In the world of accounting Assets = Liabilities Owner’s Equity so this is what we have to establish now.Firstly you have to work out what your assets and liabilities are, then you can calculate your Owner’s Equity. When you know what you are worth, developing a financial plan to reduce your debt and achieve your financial goals is the frst
step to personal wealth.Step 1. Calculate the amount of your outstanding liabilities (or money you owe). This means you write down in a list exactly how much you owe right now on
your mortgage, credit cards, and any other bills or loans.Step 2. Now make a list of all your assets (dollar value you would get for these if they were sold). For example your cars, home and cash you have in the bank – list all your major assets.Using the Assets = Liabilities Owner’s Equity equation we gave you before, calculate what you are worth. Most financial or credit advisers agree you need to allocate money every month into responsible saving, investing and paying down your debts as crucial part of your financial success. It’s not enough to just put money in the bank when you are also carrying a credit card balance because you are losing the benefits of any interest earned on your savings.To increase your Owner’s Equity you must pay down your liabilities and avoid borrowing more money to buy more assets. It’s dificult sometimes to stick to this plan when there’s advertising in your face all the time to buy this, buy that and buy it NOW! – the “must have everything now” attitude. But you must stay with your financial plan if you want success and personal wealth.Here is an example of a good financial plan (but this is by no means th only one):1. The money you are currently investing or putting into your savings account every month, divide the total of it by 3, then – 2. Pay off one third of this money every month to your outstanding debts.3. Pay one third of this money and deposit it in your savings account at your bank. This will accumulate into a pool of money for your monthly needs. Over time you can use it to finance your family’s Read more…

There are many misconceptions about credit scores out there. There are people who believe that they don?t have a credit score and some who think that their credit scores don?t really matter. These sorts of misconceptions can hurt your chances at jobs, good interest rates, and even your chances of getting an apartment.

The truth is, if you have a bank account and bills, then you have a credit score – and your credit score matters more than you might think. Your credit score may be called many things, including a credit risk rating, a FICO score, a credit rating, a FICO rating, or a credit risk score. All these terms refer to the same thing: the three-digit number that lets lenders get an idea of how likely you are to repay your bills.

Every time you apply for credit, apply for a job that requires you to handle money, or even apply for some more exclusive types of apartments, your credit score is checked.

In fact, your credit score can be checked by anyone with a legitimate business need to do so. Your credit score is based on your past financial responsibilities and payments, and it provides potential lenders with a quick snapshot of your current financial state and past repayment habits.

In other words, your credit score lets lenders know quickly how much of a credit risk you are. Based on this credit score, lenders decide whether to trust you financially – and give you better or worse rates when you apply for a loan. Apartment managers can use your credit score to decide whether you can be trusted to pay your rent on time. Employers can use your credit score to decide whether you can be trusted in a high-responsibility job that requires you to handle money.

The problem with credit scores is that there is quite a bit of misinformation circulating around, especially from some unscrupulous companies who claim they can help Read more…

Did you know that credit card merchant account services could possibly multiply your sales receipts within a matter of weeks or months? Of course, other factors will play a role in the overall success of this strategy, but many company owners claim that the simple step of accepting credit card payments increased their income dramatically in a relatively short amount of time. That is why you need to know more about the benefits of credit card merchant services.

Basically, the premise of using credit card merchant account services works like this. You find a trusted lender with experience in merchant accounts. You might even want to check with customers at some of the lending institutions to see if they are satisfied with their merchant account services. You also can find online testimonials, although these may be biased when situated at the Websites of various lenders. You could visit chat rooms devoted to topics like this one that are sure to be discussed among entrepreneurs or start-up business owners. After getting objective feedback on several possible lenders, you can choose the one that seems like the best bet for your company.

It is a simple process to apply for credit card merchant account services. After reducing your possible underwriters to three or four after searching the Internet or checking with colleagues, it then becomes a matter of comparing and contrasting benefits with fees. Some companies are so well known that they can afford to charge more for their merchant account services. Others have recently added this option, so they might reduce, avoid, or omit certain fees in order to get your business. However, you may have to pay these fees after the first year or another type of trial period. Read all the terms carefully so that you understand how the account works, how much it costs, and what the potential glitches might be. Contact the lender with any questions or uncertainties before applying for an account. Then, when approved, you should feel confident Read more…

You notice an advertisement that says, ?Transfer your balance to our credit card and get 0% APR immediately!? Sounds tempting, but is there a catch behind this? It?s unbelievable that credit card companies would give credit away for free without making a profit. Well, you are probably right as you explore the following before you apply for one:

It is only a limited-time offer

This means that you get to enjoy your 0% APR only for a stipulated period, usually between six and twelve months. During this period, all amounts charged to your card will not accumulate in interests. However, once this period is over, the credit card companies are open to charge you at an interest rate that may be higher than usual. In fact, there have been instances where these interest rates have escalated to levels as high as 20%.

How can you benefit from 0% APR?

If you are disciplined enough, you can actually take advantage of your 0% APR benefit. All you need to do is to make arrangements to pay your purchases in monthly installments within the 0% APR period. Therefore, if you transfer your balance of $1000 to your new credit card and break your repayments over a 4-month period, you will only need to pay $250 for the next 4 months ? interest-free!

Read the fine print

Credit card companies will usually provide you with a set of terms and conditions in fine print on the usage of your credit cards. Most people don?t read that, and get themselves into a whole lot of debt when they start overspending. If you go through the fine-print, you will find information on your 0% APR period, or whether balance transfers are allowed. There have been cases where 0% APR is only offered to new credit card charges and not for balance transfers. Apart Read more…

Credit cards are here to stay for the multiple benefits associated with them. We already know that credit cards act as a convenient payment mode for shopping, they are safer to carry as compared to cash, they help build a credit rating which can be used for getting fast approval on loans etc, and they are there to help when you need credit. However, there are other benefits too which one should be aware of as well. Let?s check what these other benefits are:

1. Travel Insurance

A lot of credit cards have travel insurance built into them as an inherent feature. So if you are one of those who travel frequently, this benefit could be a real boon. However, you should always check if this travel insurance is enough for you. Also check the terms and conditions associated with such insurance. Loss of baggage is something which is almost invariably covered with such insurance.

2. Discounts for travelers

A number of credit card companies have tie-ups or association with various hotel chains, car rental agencies and airlines etc. For frequent travelers, this is sometimes one of the main criterion or deciding factor in choosing a credit card. These discounts are sometimes pretty attractive and your credit card may become a cash saver for you. Sometimes an airline might offer a credit card too (a co-branded credit card for example) where-in the benefits would be more travel oriented than other cards. This could include things like earning additional miles for payments made using their credit card or some kind of preferential treatment etc.

3. Discount for shoppers

If you are one of those who likes to shop at some particular shops (retail chains) which are your favorites, then you might like to check if you have some additional benefits available on your credit card. These could be there as a result of partnership or affiliation links with the retail chain. Whenever you pay for your purchases using your credit card, you either get a discount or additional membership rewards points. Some of the retail chains float their own co-branded credit cards too and it could be good to consider them too.

4. Membership Rewards

Most of the credit card suppliers run membership rewards programs too. Some of these Read more…

Unfortunately, many people underestimate the importance of establishing
a good credit history. Because the average person cannot afford to pay
cash for large purchases such as an automobile or home, financing has
become a part of life. If you have good credit, your financing options
are many. Nonetheless, those with bad credit have the opportunity to
improve their credit standing, which opens the door for better financing
options.

Options Available to People with Bad Credit

If you have bad credit, there are several things you can do to improve
credit. For starters, it may help to rebuild or re-establish your
credit history. Bad credit Mastercards can help you do this. Many
circumstances justify a person needing to rebuild credit. If you have experienced
a foreclosure, repossession, or bankruptcy, your credit score is likely
below 600.

Low ratings make it difficult to acquire financing. Fortunately, there
are several lenders that focus on bad credit. Fresh start programs
include bad credit Mastercards, home loans, vehicle loans, etc. Because it
is recommended that a person with bad credit obtain a credit card as
the first step to improve score, you should strongly consider getting a
bad credit Mastercard.

How to Build a Good Credit History?

Establishing and maintaining a good credit history is essential. Bad
credit can happen very quickly. Simply refusing or being unable to pay
bills on time may result in your credit score dropping significantly.
While most Read more…

One of the greatest things to happen to the world of travel in recent years is the advent of low cost airlines. Not only do they offer flight travel that is cheaper than any previous airlines by far, but they also offer some other great innovations in booking and paying for flights. Part of the growth in popularity of these airlines is that they are so easy to work with online.

Unlike conventional airlines that use ticket agents and travel agents and require you to buy your tickets in person, the low cost airlines made everything available through a simple and comprehensive website that everyone could understand and use. The method of selling air tickets became so popular that these airlines are teaching the more traditional airlines how to act and are leading the way in innovation in the sale and marketing of these flights.

All it requires to buy them is a credit card or debit card. You go to the website, select your details, that is your destination airport and your departing airport, and tell them what dates you wish to travel. Immediately you are quoted prices for all the flights on that day. If you can be flexible about your travel dates, they will also show you the prices for alternative dates and let you book those flights, which may be far cheaper. The system is so open and transparent that it is a major refreshment for those people that are used to dealing with traditional ticket agents.

The convenience doesn?t end there either. You can also add travel insurance to your flight and you have full coverage for the entire trip. They already Read more…

When choosing make sure its one that suites your lifestyle and that it works with you not against you. Always try to pay off monthly if you can and this will help your finances and cash flow. If you look at credit in reverse and say well I could save say $50.00 a week then this will give you a good guide on how much you could pay back on your credit card a month. Always go for a low APR and look for the best option for you. Some Credit Card’s have a Rewards program, you’ll earn 5% Cash back Bonus others give you gift certificates. So keep a keen eye out for the different offers that suit you. A fantastic new resources web site called www.americancreditdirectory.com has hundreds of Credit Cards to chose from many with no annual fee’s and intro periods up to 12 months, Air Miles, and 0% intro APR.

You must ask yourself ? Do I Need a Credit Card? Here are some things to think about?

For purchasing over the Internet is a real must to have a Credit Card as most of the time you will be asked for one. With the ever increased security nowadays it is very safe to purchase online as long as its from a reputable company.

You wont have to walk around with large sums of cash on you and take the risks that come with that. Taking a Credit Card on holiday or on business means you will not have to worry about exchange rates and getting local currency. Also for emergencies, cash withdrawals and spreading the cost of a large payment or that unexpected out lay. Read more…

Following in the footsteps of many of its high street competitors, Alliance and Leicester has announced that it will no longer accept new customers onto its Online Saver and Direct ISA accounts. The interest rate for the Online Savers account is also being cut from 5.35% to a straight 5%.

Richard Brown of the financial comparison website Moneynet believes that Alliance and Leicester (A

Findings from a recent study by APACS show that the amount of overseas fraud exploiting UK debit and credit cards has hit a five-year low. However with ID fraud as one of the UK’s fastest-growing crimes, this should not be a cause for credit card protection complacency.

The figures show credit card fraud overseas ?92.5m in 2004, which is the lowest figure since 1999, and following a ?138.4m peak in 2001. This downward trend was largely attributed to improved fraud detection systems which enable card companies to spot unusual spending patterns associated with the fraudulent use of cards, rather than the recent introduction of chip and pin cards.

Sandra Quinn of APACS said “Simple things like making sure your cards never leave your sight, and remembering to dispose of receipts carefully, can make all the difference.” Holidaymakers need to take care when using their plastic abroad, especially in the US, France and Spain, which account for nearly half of fraud against UK cards.

Foreign fraud on UK cards now accounts for 18% of total UK card fraud, which reached just under ?505 million in 2004.

APACS advised that holiday makers should:

* Keep valuables safe and out of sight, for example in a concealed money belt

* When driving, keep handbags and wallets out of sight of opportunistic thieves, especially in slow-moving traffic and always remove cards and valuables from parked cars

* When paying be wary of letting your card out of your sight

* When you return home, check your statements carefully for any unfamiliar transactions

* Inform your bank in advance that you will be using your card abroad

* Carefully dispose of any receipts or statements

* Don?t tell anyone your PIN, even if they claim to be from the bank or police.

* If you have chip and pin cards make sure you memorise your pin numbers

* Make sure you have the 24-hour phone number to cancel your cards in case they are lost or stolen

Source: APACS ( www.apacs.org.uk/ )

This contrasts sharply with the rapid increase in ID fraud which was valued at Read more…