Friday, December 24, 2010

How to Barter: 3 Thoughtful Gifts You Can Get Bartering

Dec 22, 2010 Jennifer Silva

Learn how to barter & show you care with your time - bobrus

Learn how to barter & show you care with your time - bobrus

Bartering for gifts is a great way to show you’re willing to put time and effort into finding thoughtful gifts for friends and family. So just because you’re broke (or like to live like it) doesn’t mean you can’t learn how to barter for meaningful presents that will be loved. Swapping for gifts isn't only a great way to save money, it's a smart, low-rent way to show you care.

Swap the Past for a Present: Bartering for Gift Scrapbooks

A lovely, heart-felt way to catalog family events and friendships is a custom scrapbook. Bartering for a scrapbook shows how much an event or person means to you, and it makes a beautiful gift laden with sentiment and emotional value. Not only is scrapbooking a popular hobby with young and old alike (so it's relatively easy to find everyday people open to bartering), there are small businesses that specialize in scrapbooking who are probably open to a barter exchange too.

When bartering for presents like scrapbooks, you'll need to take the time to gather photos and small souvenirs, and be willing to share a bit of information about friends, family and events with your scrapbooker. This will help her put more meaning and "story" in your gift, making it the unique and special gift you want it to be and a memorable gift that is sure to be enjoyed for years (if not decades) after you've given it.

Creative Gift Bartering: How to Barter for Custom Art

There's a reason they're called "starving artists." As unfair as it may seem, there are plenty of talented, skilled and hard-working artists out there who are willing (or forced) to barter their talent and time. So, if you're willing to fairly compensate them, bartering for custom art objects is a brilliant way to give friends and family one-of-a-kind gifts that could even appreciate in value over time.

Not sure what sort of art to swap for? Think about the person you're bartering for: Do they enjoy gardening? You could barter with an artist who works in metals for a unique garden sculpture or lawn ornament. Are you bartering for gifts for a new mother, grandmother or father? Then consider swapping for a gift portrait from a painter or skilled sketch artist. Or maybe you know someone who just bought a home or moved. Swap for a wall hanging or painting that matches their new decor. Not sure what present to barter for? Start off your bartering by asking the artist for suggestions: Artists are creative folks to begin with, so they're sure to give a few thoughtful gift suggestions.

When swapping for gifts of custom art, you'll need to find swap-friendly artists to choose from and, more importantly, you'll need to have an idea of the fair value of that artist's time and materials. Expect a wide range of values when bartering for art, depending on an artist's medium and popularity. Sure, you're probably looking for a bargain (who isn't?) but it's important that you still respect the artist's training and craft.

Picture This: How to Barter for Photographic Gifts

Who wouldn't love to have a family portrait done by a professional photographer? Or to have a special event filmed or photographed? The nice thing about swapping for gifts like photography and videography is that it's an adaptable present that lends itself to a seemingly endless number of life events. Whether you have friends getting married, celebrating their 50th anniversary, or graduating from high school, swapping for this gift gives your friends a way to remember their special moments (and you at the same time). Barter for photography and you're sure to give a one-of-a-kind present that will be remembered for years to come, especially if you also barter for an accompanying photograph album.

How to Barter: Learning the Fine Art of Bartering

Whether or not you’re short on money, swapping for gifts is a wonderful way to find thoughtful gifts year round. Worried you don’t have any skills worth bartering for or don't know how to barter to begin with? You shouldn't. Everyone has a skill worth bartering. Can you do taxes, give a car a tune up, or give a great hair cut? Then you've got a skill a worth bartering. Can you walk a dog, run errands, or keep a clean house? Then you do too. Remember, bartering is less about things and more about people: just find swap-friendly websites, businesses and people open to bartering and you're sure to work out a deal from there. And the more you barter, the better you'll get at it. So just learn how to barter from swap-friendly pros and you'll be a master barterer in no time.

Copyright Jennifer Silva. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

  • Learn how to barter & show you care with your time - bobrus

    Learn how to barter & show you care with your time - bobrus

  • Barter for a gift scrapbook & share memories - ba1969

    Barter for a gift scrapbook & share memories - ba1969

  • Learn how to barter for art for valuable gifts - elisafox

    Learn how to barter for art for valuable gifts - elisafox

  • Learning how to barter for custom art takes time - pale

    Learning how to barter for custom art takes time - pale

  • Bartering for gifts show time and effort - rosym

    Bartering for gifts show time and effort - rosym

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Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Best-Selling Christmas Gifts

Dec 21, 2010 Kerry Gallagher

iPod Touch, popular Christmas gift - IPod_touch_2G.png: Kyro

iPod Touch, popular Christmas gift - IPod_touch_2G.png: Kyro

Amid the recent focus on electronic gadgets, several sources are reporting a comeback for the likes of Lego and collectable toys as Christmas gifts this year.

Budget Constraints mean Simple Gifts

British newspaper The Telegraph reports that budget constraints have meant parents have cut back on fancy electronic gifts and opted for more ‘traditional’ toys instead. These include games, such as Monopoly, or stuffed toys such as Sylvanian Families.

Overall, the average price of the projected most-popular toys has fallen, with The Telegraph citing British retalier Sainsbury's as cutting the price of all toys by 50 percent.

CNBC reports that lower-priced toys are popular this year. It also states that a trend is toward buying collectable items, such as Zoobles, Squinkies and Sing-A-Ma-Jigs.

Lego, a best-seller

But Lego seems to be the big winner as a result of this year’s trend.

Walmart reports that a relatively cheap Lego set is the number one selling toy for online shoppers.

This claim has been backed by Amazon.coms rankings, in which Lego is excelling.

In their best-sellers list, in the toys and games category, Lego products are first and second, with the “Sigma 3 Remote Controlled Helicopter” in third place.

Amazon's Best-Sellers

Further examination of Amazons best-sellers list is revealing.

In electronics, the “Kindle” is number one and two, with the “iPod Touch” third.

In movies, “Inception” comes in first and third, with its box-set and DVD editions respectively. The “Despicable Me” DVD is third.

The “Canon EOS Rebel T2i” is the best selling camera. The “Flip Ultra HD” video camera is third and Canon is also third in this category with the “Powershot SD 1300”.

The top three video games are “Just Dance 2” for the Wii, “Call of Duty: Black Ops” for the X-Box, and “Donkey Kong Country Returns” – also for the Wii.

Most Popular Books

The George W. Bush penned “Decision Point” is the hottest selling book on Amazon, with the “Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1” second and “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption” third.

USA Today also ranks “Decision Point” as the top-selling book, with other top-sellers being “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth” and the Tom Clancy, Grant Blackwood novel “Dead or Alive” also high on the list.

Meanwhile, KTXS News reports that the hottest selling toy is the "Kinect" game system. Walmart also reports this is the second-most popular selling toy, behind the Lego set.

Consumer Spending

Overall, according to Gallup, consumer spending in the USA is about on-par with that of a year ago., but that level of spending has been relatively lower in the past few years. However, this data considers overall spending, not just Christmas purchases.

Copyright Kerry Gallagher. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

  • iPod Touch, popular Christmas gift - IPod_touch_2G.png: Kyro

    iPod Touch, popular Christmas gift - IPod_touch_2G.png: Kyro

  • Lego, a popular low-tech Christmas gift - de:Benutzer:Priwo

    Lego, a popular low-tech Christmas gift - de:Benutzer:Priwo

  • Traditional toys are making a comeback - Husky (talk | contribs)

    Traditional toys are making a comeback - Husky (talk | contribs)

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How and Why the Titles of Financial Salesmen Have Changed

Dec 21, 2010 Peter Owen

Remember back 20 years when the telephone would ring during dinner and the caller would say "Hi, my name is John Doe and I’m your new local Met Life Representative calling to welcome you to the neighborhood". You immediately knew he was an insurance salesman who was trying to get in the door to sell you insurance. Or the caller might have been a stockbroker calling to sell his newest stock pick. The same went for Accountants, Financial Planners, and Investment Advisers. The financial landscape was easier back then since you knew who the players were, exactly what they did, and why they were calling. The financial landscape changed in 1999. The players and their motivation are essentially the same, however, each of them now sell more varied products. When they call during dinner they now introduce themselves as Financial Advisors or Financial Consultants or a myriad of other general financial titles. Even after listening to them for 5 minutes on the telephone, you still cannot be sure exactly what they want to sell you. What changed to make the financial landscape so confusing?

Financial deregulation in 1999 expanded the salesman's product line

The Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999,(Pub.L. 106-102, 113 Stat. 1338), was enacted on November 12, 1999). It was signed into law by President Bill Clinton and it repealed part of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, opening up the market among Banks, Security Companies and Insurance Companies. The Glass-Steagall Act had prohibited any one institution from acting as any combination of an investment bank, a commercial bank, and an insurance company. Previously, an insurance salesman could only sell insurance, your banker handled only your bank accounts and loans, your accountant kept the books and did your tax returns.

The 1999 Act allowed commercial banks, investment banks, securities firms, and insurance companies to consolidate. For example, Citicorp(a commercial bank holding company) merged with Travelers Group(an insurance company) in 1998, in anticipation of the new law, to form the conglomerate Citigroup, a corporation combining banking, securities and insurance services under one company. Citicorp After the merger, Citigroup included Citibank, Smith Barney, Primarica , and Travelers.

The Financial Superstore comes to Mainstreet

In the 1990’s, Americans were becoming familiar with the concept of the Superstore and loved the convenience of one-stop shopping. Companies such as COSTCO, STAPLES, and Home Depot were all thriving. The financial community began following all the other industries by creating the Financial Superstore. Once the financial superstore concept was born, the financial landscape began to change.

Starting in 1999, insurance companies formed or bought banks. Banks formed or bought insurance companies. Most financial institutions began selling all products. Now, when you walk into your local bank branch, you deposit your money and are asked if you would like to speak to a representative to review your insurance, or mutual funds, or credit cards, or loans. If you encounter an insurance salesman, he asks you about where you have your investments and starts talking about mutual funds. Your accountant wants you to hold the phone so that his insurance team member can talk to you.

The New Financial Players

Since the financial salesman had the ability to sell a number of products, they all change their titles. The new titles became financial consultant, financial advisor, financial representative, or a host of other titles. Now when the call comes in during dinner, the person introduces himself as a financial advisor and you cannot be sure of the caller’s motivation in making the call. Is he selling mutual funds, or insurance policies, or wanting you to hire him for investment advice?

Essentially the deregulation of the financial community served to confuse the general public. Now we just do not know who the players are. We do not know their strengths, weaknesses, background and we do not know if the person is a specialist in any one area.

What is the motivation of the financial salesman?

While the titles have changed, the players still remain basically the same, though with some additional capabilities. A salesman who starts out at an insurance company is still taught insurance principles and how to sell insurance. Even though he may have additional products, his specialty is still insurance products. If a person from one of the insurance companies calls and wants to talk about a myriad of products, you can be fairly sure in the end that is he is going to try to sell you an insurance policy. Likewise when a person calls from one of the financial companies and wants to talk about a number of products, you can be fairly sure that the subject will turn to the selling of mutual funds for your portfolio. The point is a salesperson's background and the company they work for still determine the person's motivation in what they want to sell. It is important to get at the person's background and motivation so you know what danger signals to look for while listening to the sales pitch.

The other danger with the financial superstore is the knowledge of the salesman concerning specific products. A person who spends his entire life selling insurance understands these products and understands what is best for the buyer. The financial superstore concept reduces the knowledge of the salesman. A general salesman who attempts to sell many different types of products cannot be expert in each one of those products. The average citizen may end up buying an insurance policy that does not suit his objectives or mutual funds which are not totally understood by either the seller or the buyer.

How to deal with the Superstore salesman

When the call comes in from the financial advisor, the first thing to ask is what company he works for now. This will give an indication of the salesman’s motivation. Then ask about the salesman's credentials. If the person states that he has a Chartered Life Underwriter Designation (CLU) you can be assured that this person is an insurance salesman. Ask about which companies the person has worked for in the past. You will probably find that he has worked for either all insurance companies or all financial companies or all banks during his career. Normally people do not start at an insurance company, move to a bank. Ask about his specialty if you cannot determine this from his professional designations. People start off with a specialty and become an expert in that specialty. If the person states that he is expert in all areas of investments, life insurance, and banking, you may want to be quite skeptical.

Essentially the financial landscape has changed, but the players have not changed. Salesmen are still salesmen.

Copyright Peter Owen. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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Do Herbalife Products Cause Hepatitis?

Dec 21, 2010 Christopher Pascale

Are Your Vitamins Making you Sick? - Julie Elliott-Abshire

Are Your Vitamins Making you Sick? - Julie Elliott-Abshire

Herbalife is a publicly traded company based out of Los Angeles, California. Since 1980 it has allowed people the opportunity to become independent sales reps with the opportunity to lead others to do the same in the form of multi-level marketing, or network marketing.

Like any large organization with several decades of experience, there are some controversies behind this one. For example, in 1986, the state of California claimed that the company made inflated claims regarding income potential for which Herbalife settled for $850,000, and in 2004 thousands of current and former distributors took the company to court on the grounds of running a pyramid scheme. Herbalife settled the latter case for $6,000,000 (less than $700 each).

Along with these legal matters are much more pressing health concerns. Several medical resources have found that Herbalife products may actually cause hepatitis.

What is Hepatitis and how is it Caused?

Hepatitis can be characterized as an inflammation of the liver. One visible symptom is jaundice, and less visible ones are lack of appetite and a feeling of overall discomfort.

Hepetitis is typically caused by a virus, but it can also be caused by toxins when taken regularly, such as alcohol or an infection that is already present. The question on many people's minds regarding Herbalife products would be, how could these products be linked to infecting those who take them?

The answer is in the ingredients. There has to be something toxic in some or all of the products released by the company, but it is hard to know which ones because the FDA does not regulate herbal supplements the same way they do medicine. This is why athletes find out via heart attack that ephedrine is not so great, and how health conscious people discover that they may be poisoning themselves the hard way, as reported in a 2007 article published in The Journal of Hepatology titled "Herbal Does not Mean Innocuous."

Countries That Have Reported Illness Links to Herbalife

It is important to note where the sources are that have reported on Herbalife. This is because some people go on the attack against networking companies because they think they are dangerous or terrible, and some governments are anti-capitalistic, so they would be against a company like Herbalife because they do not want their people to have too much freedom and control.

In 2004, 12 patients in Israeli hospitals with severe liver problems had one thing in common. They were taking an Herbalife supplement that aided digestion. When their liver enzymes normalized, they resumed their normal regimen of the product and were sick again.

The 2007 article noted from the European Journal of Hepatology had several sources, one of which was medical professionals from Switzerland. In it, the ten most severe cases covered showed two patients with "certain causality" while the other eight had "probable causality." The duration of the illness ranged from two months to twelve years.

The objective here is not to demonize a company or industry, but to alert consumers that when a Herbalife distributor pitches the quality of their products, they may be pitching high end hepatitis. And while the ingredients linked to causing disease in the past may have been rid of, it does not mean that today's products are safe.

Without FDA interaction, humans are the test subjects for herbal supplements. The best way to go when it comes to supplements is to use one with a long track record of not hurting its users.


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Sunday, December 19, 2010

But I Have a Zero Balance! Residual Interest on Credit Cards

Dec 16, 2010 Evan Dicken

Credit card debt is a growing problem in America. Last year, the Obama administration passed sweeping reforms that limited various fees, and required banks to be more upfront about payment schedules and interest. One factor that was not addressed in the 2009 Credit Card Act was the interest rate structure itself. Additionally, many consumers remain unfamiliar with the methods banks use to calculate interest on their credit balance. This information is no "magic bullet" for debt relief. However, a basic of how credit card interest "works" is a fundamental step towards planning for financial independence.

One of the most common credit card misunderstandings involves Residual Interest. Residual Interest occurs when a cardholder who usually carries a balance from month to month pays off the entire amount in full. Unfortunately, just because the balance has been reduced to zero does not mean that there are no more interest charges to pay. Many consumers are surprised the month after paying down a large balance by a letter from the bank saying that they still owe several hundred dollars (or more) in interest. If left unpaid, residual interest can even form a new balance on the card which can in turn create more interest, restarting the cycle of debt.

Residual charges are a function of how most banks assess interest rates. Although charges are compiled monthly, they are actually assessed daily. Basically, at the end of the billing cycle the bank takes the balance the account held at the close of every business day, adds them together, divides them by the amount of days in the cycle, and then assesses interest on each day to produce a monthly bill. The simplest way to represent this is:

(D1 + D2 + D3…) x (APR/365) = Interest Charge

D = Balance at the close of a particular day

APR = Annual percentage rate on a credit card

365 = The number of days in the year (remember the 'A' in APR stands for 'Annual.')

Because most consumers get a bill at the end of the month, they assume the charges are monthly, when in reality the bank only does the math at the end of the month. Since charges accrue daily, even if a consumer pays his or her balance down to zero he or she is still responsible for the interest that accrued for that portion of the billing cycle that he or she carried the balance. These leftover daily charges are what are known as "Residual Interest." If it sounds a bit confusing, that's because it is. Let's plug some numbers into our formula to represent a normal billing cycle.

For simplicity's sake, let us say the cycle is only five days long and the interest rate is 20%. The customer carried a $10,000 balance from last month. On day one $200 in purchases are made, on day two $300 are made, day three $100, day four nothing, and day five $400. So the customer's balance would look like this:

Initial = $10,000

D1 = $10,200

D2 = $10,500

D3 = $10,600

D4 = $10,600

D5 = $11,000

So our formula would be:

(10,200 + 10,500 + 10,600 +10,600 + 11,000) x (.20/365)

52,900 x .000548 = $28.98

$28.98 may seem like a small amount of interest on over $10,000, but remember that our imaginary billing cycle is only five days long. If the customer made no more purchases for the rest of the month and we assume a normal billing cycle of around 30 days, the interest actually charged would be around $175.00!

Now that we understand how interest is assessed, it's time to tackle residual finance charges. The example above assumes that the consumer is making no payments on the card during the billing cycle, but what if he or she pays off the balance in full mid-way through the cycle? Let's increase the number of days in the cycle to 30, and say that the customer pays off the total balance on day six. So our balance would look like:

D1 = $10,200

D2 = $10,500

D3 = $10,600

D4 = $10,600

D5 = $11,000

D6 = $0

D7 = $0

Etc.

…and our formula would be:

(10,200 + 10,500 + 10,600 +10,600 + 11,000 + 0 + 0 + 0 etc.) x (.20/365)

52,900 x .000548 = $28.98

Since the interest is charged daily, the customer is still responsible for those five days in the billing cycle that he or she carried the balance, even though it was paid in full on day six. No interest is charged from the day the balance was paid onward, but the customer is still going to get a bill for $28.98 for the first five days when he or she did have a balance. That is a residual interest charge.

There is no way to avoid residual interest except to pay your bill, in full, on the day that it is calculated. This is not possible through traditional mail (as it takes several days for the credit card bill to reach a consumer's home…several days you are being charged interest), but can be done online if a consumer is aware of his or her cycle dates, or sets up some sort of direct payment.

Fees and interest charges represent the credit card companies' largest single source of income. Some are inescapable, but the vast majority can be lessened or avoided entirely by simply understanding how and when they are assessed, and making sure that you do not run afoul of any credit card pitfalls.

Copyright Evan Dicken. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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JetBlue is a Great Airline

Dec 18, 2010 Christopher Pascale

JetBlue Offers Great Service and Low Prices - JetBlue Airlines

JetBlue Offers Great Service and Low Prices - JetBlue Airlines

JetBlue is an airline that many people enjoy flying. Aside from being less expensive than many airlines, frequent fliers can also enjoy rewards miles that never expire or fall into blackout periods. On top of this, the in flight service is fantastic with a crew that goes beyond the usual call of duty for most airlines.

Those who travel a lot might notice the comparisons between JetBlue and another discount airline.

JetBlue Follows Southwest's Lead

Southwest pioneered discount air travel. Part of the reason they were able to achieve success was that they only flew in one kind of plane. JetBlue does the same. This allows for the crew to become specialized in the hardware, permitting them to thrive in a culture that is more customer focused.

When there is a problem, mechanics do not have to differentiate between different kinds of aircraft. Rather, they only have to reference one. Also, the crew is very friendly, granting them high ratings in customer satisfaction.

No Charge for in Flight TV or Baggage

Many airlines charge for any checked bag. JetBlue allows each passenger to check a bag and carry one on. Some, such as American Eagle, charge varying amounts depending on the amount of bags checked, making traveling even more expensive.

In addition to this savings, those who fly on JetBlue can listen the the radio or watch 30+ channels of television for free if customers have their only headphones, and for $2.00 for those who don't.

Personal Experience Flying From Houston to New York

I am writing this after a flight from Hobby Airport in Houston to JFK with my three children (9, 5, 1). After the four of us went through security (metal detectors only) I had lost our boarding passes. The crew member at the counter printed new ones without a problem.

While serving us beverages, the attendant offered to wash out my baby's bottle and fill it with hot water, which made the flight easier as it helped my youngest fall asleep when she had her formula. And while some airlines are trying to cut costs in low cost areas, passengers on this flight were being offered extra snacks despite the fact that they also had boxed meals for sale.

When it comes to service, JetBlue Airlines has the right idea. Not only did I have a superior traveling experience with my children during a 3+ hour flight that was sold out, but the savings was over $500 compared to many competitors, and I didn't have to transfer in between.


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New Year's Resolutions for Men Trying to Lose Weight on Fast Food

Dec 17, 2010 James Hutchinson

New Years Resolutions for Guys - Gina Smith

New Years Resolutions for Guys - Gina Smith

Office workers, salesmen and other working men fight a continuing battle with the bulge, as obesity rates climb in industrialized nations. At the beginning of the New Year, many men resolve to lose weight, exercise and improve their general health.

It is difficult to undergo a complete lifestyle change for many men. The same reasons that led to unhealthy eating are probably still present in January:

  • Only enough time to grab something to eat on the run
  • Quick bites with coworkers or clients
  • Late nights at the office
  • Weekend lunches with happy meals for the kids

As much as a man may resolve to eat healthy, time pressures result in repeated trips to McDonalds and other fast food spots. Despite their well deserved reputation for unhealthy meal choices, men (and women) can improve their diet while still eating fast food.

Portion Control at Fast Food Restaurants

One of the most impactful things a man can do when at a fast food restaurant is also one of the simplest; go small. Get the smallest size of whatever you intend to order, or at least a smaller than you would have in December.

A small side of French Fries at McDonalds is 230 calories, compared to 380 for a medium and 500 for a large. Most guys will find a diminishing satisfaction after half a large order. They don’t taste as good as the grease works it way into the system.

Choosing a smaller size saves you from that feeling. Smaller orders may cost less, although the restaurants do try to induce you to upsize by not including smaller sizes in combo meals. It may only cost a few pennies to upsize, but results in hundreds of calories. Go small.

Double burgers also increase the calories. Consider ordering a single, leaving room for something slightly healthier later. Even trail mix from a vending machine is better than another helping of grease.

Cutting Back on the Calories for New Year’s

Another way to cut back is to eliminate items that add big calories but little substance or flavor:

  • Consider throwing away the bun. The bun has more calories than the meat, is usually tasteless and isn’t filling. Men hate to throw food away, but the bun is really more like the wrapper than the meat, and you don’t eat the wrapper, do you?
  • Scrap off half the toppings. They are extra calories and excess ketchup doesn’t add much flavor. It can be messy, but that is expected of men. Get extra napkins, if you even remember to get napkins.
  • Ask for a cup of water instead of a soda or sweet tea. Yes, it’s embarrassing, and it looks cheap, but it does save money and you can blame it on your New Year’s resolution.
  • Request a sandwich with no cheese. It may not be on the menu board, but there is generally a lower price for burgers without cheese.

Fast Food Salads for Men?

Most men I know will say that salads only fill them for a few hours. They get hungry and sneak off to the vending machine for chips or candy. A physician colleague of mine referred to a nice salad as “chick food.”

Based on this observation, men should not expect to lunch only on a salad. A small burger with a side salad or soup in lieu of fries is a better choice. Even if the calorie content is not significantly different, there will likely be much less fat.

It is possible to continue to eat fast food and still keep a New Year’s health resolution. Men do not have to skip lunch if they have no time, as long as they still make good choices at the counter.

Copyright James Hutchinson. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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Thursday, December 16, 2010

Best Coffee: Reviews of Decaf, Columbian, and Organic Coffee

Dec 15, 2010 Bernard P. Nelson

Cappucino Coffee - csontosica

Cappucino Coffee - csontosica

Five coffee brands were selected as “Best” in their category and reviewed by ConsumerSearch (CS):

  1. Eight O’Clock Coffee 100% Colombian.
  2. Newman’s Own Organics Nell’s Breakfast Blend.
  3. Peet’s Coffee Major Dickason’s Blend.
  4. Maxwell House Decaf Original Roast.
  5. Caffe Ibis Organic Café Femenino.

ConsumerSearch claims "...at no point are our editors influenced by advertising or other commercial considerations." The organization investigates and recommends a variety of products. The company, a service of About dot com, provides on-line product ratings and reviews such as the “Best” snow tires, "Best" coffee makers, and the “Best” space heaters.

Rich Colombian Coffee Consumer Reviews

Eight O’Clock Coffee 100% Colombian (est. $6- 12oz) was designated “Best Supermarket Coffee” by CS. The coffee is made entirely of arabica beans and taste tests reports say “...medium roast praised for the smooth, bold flavor...both earthy and fruity.” The coffee is available in ground or whole bean packaging.

Maxwell House Decaf Consumer Reviews

The Maxwell House Decaf Original Roast (est . $6.50-16oz.) was designated “Best Supermarket Decaf Coffee” by CS. Reviewers say the coffee is “smooth, balanced and complex.” The coffee is made with arabica beans and comes in pre-ground only. The CS longer review lists the Maxwell House Decaf “pros:”

  • Fair Affordable Price.
  • The flavor is balanced and smooth.

The two “cons” reported by CS is the Maxwell House Decaf comes pre-ground only, and is a “basic coffee” not providing complex flavors.

The Best Certified Caffeinated Organic Coffee

Caffe Ibis Organic Café Femenino (est. $10- 12oz.) was designated “Best Fair Trade Coffee” by CS. The coffee beans are grown in the shade, protecting bird habitats, on farms owned by women in Peru. The coffee is 100% organic and has organic and Fair Trade certifications. The CS longer review lists Café Ibis “pros:”

  • Fair Trade certified.
  • Organic certified.
  • Shade grown to protect bird habitats.
  • Caffe Ibis coffee sales support farms in Peru owned by women.
  • The coffee has a “smooth, light flavor.”

CS list the Caffee Ibis coffee “cons:”

  • The coffee is expensive.
  • The coffee is available only on-line or at specialty stores.

Newman’s Own organics Nell’s Breakfast Blend (est. $8.50- 10oz.) was designated “Best Light Roast Coffee” by CS. The organic and Fair Trade certified coffee is mild with notes of citrus and chocolate. The only “con” listed in the CS review is the coffee “lacks complexity.” The beans used in the coffee are a blend of Indonesian and Peruvian arabica beans.

Peet’s Coffee Major Dickason’s Blend (est. $14- 16oz.) was designated “Best Dark Roast Coffee” by CS. The coffee is bull-bodied and rich. Some reviewers say the coffee has an “earthy flavor” some may “find overpowering.” Tasters have reported the coffee has a “pleasant aftertaste and no bitterness.”

The ConsumerSearch mini reviews web page provides additional information about each of the five CS "Best” coffee brands. The mini reviews page provides links to longer CS “Our Analysis” reviews of the same coffee brands and provides additional links to outside sources reviewing the same coffee.

Sources:

Best Coffee Reviews, ConsumerSearch, Mini Reviews, “Coffee: Reviews,” February 2010.

Best Organic Coffee, ConsumerSearch, “Our Analysis,” Longer Review, “Caffe Ibis Organic Café Femenino: Fair Trade Coffee,” February 2010.

Fair Trade Coffee, Caffe Ibis? Website, Caffe Ibis Organic Café Femenino, About Caffe Ibis?.

Best Decaf Coffee, ConsumerSeach, “Our Analysis,” Longer Review, “Maxwell House Decaf Original Roast: Best Supermarket Decaf Coffee,” February 2010.

Copyright Bernard P. Nelson. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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US Gov't. Borrows From Social Security to Make Minimum Payments

Dec 15, 2010 Christopher Pascale

The Only Money in Social Security is New Deposits - David Siqueira

The Only Money in Social Security is New Deposits - David Siqueira

People always say that there is not enough money in the Social Security program to support the Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964). Among the many reasons given are that there are too many people who will need it in the next decade as the average Boomer will be 65 in the year 2020. Others say that it is a system that cannot sustain itself because it rewards people who do not work as hard while punishing those who have been fortunate enough to have had the health and intelligence to earn more.

While these are viable reasons to doubt the system, they are nothing compared to the fact that there is literally nothing in it save for IOUs and, maybe, the money most recently contributed.

President Reagan Borrows From Social Security (1983-1988)

President Reagan had many challenges during his Presidency, including an assassination attempt. One of the most pressing financial issues he had to solve was that of debt to foreign nations. Tax revenues increased, but so did the size of the country to include its need for infrastructure (police, military, government buildings, government payroll, etc.). On top of this, the top income tax bracket was drastically reduced from 70% to 50%.

To the government, taxes are income. How does one pay off debt when his income has decreased? One usually cannot. President Reagan used a method called "surfing," which is when borrowing is utilized to pay off a debt that is owed. For example, if a person loses his job, he might take a cash advance against his credit card in order to make a house payment. The bill is paid today, another one is coming due, and the cash advance is awaiting satisfaction in the meantime.

During these five years, President Reagan borrowed $300 billion to cover payments for money owed to other countries. He also lowered the top income tax bracket again to 38.5%.

President Bush Borrows From Social Security

Families who get into a trap of borrowing to support luxurious lifestyles soon learn that lines of credit eventually run out. In the past few years, European nations have learned this as well, needing bailouts from the European Union.

The only way to curtail this cycle of borrowing to pay bills (which creates more bills) is to increase income and cut spending. President George H.W. Bush lowered the top income tax bracket to 28% before raising it to 31% shortly after. During this time, the minimum payments owed to other nations had increased and he borrowed $350 billion from Social Security to avoid defaulting.

Many people might think that this exemplifies how great of a President Bill Clinton was, but when it came to this issue, he was no different.

President Clinton Borrows Billions in 1995

In 1995, the US government was out of money once again. In order to keep the system running and the nation on its feet, President Clinton, who had a boost in revenue as a result of raising the top income tax bracket to 39.6%, needed to borrow from Social Security just as his two predecessors had.

Supposedly, the budget was balanced under President Clinton, and that may be true depending on the definition of the word "balanced." For example, a person can balance a drinking glass on its side, and an athletic person can balance on his or her head. But it is perplexing to think that people would argue that during this time, the national debt was nearly paid off, as noted by Minnesota Senator Al Franken (D) in his 2005 book The Truth (with jokes).

Saying that the national debt was nearly paid off is not necessarily a lie; it is a matter of how one feels about ownership. For example, if a family is under financial hardship and they have debts (including a mortgage) that exceed $200,000, and they borrow from a 401(k) or whole life insurance policy to pay it all off, then it would be accurate that those debts are paid off, and that this family only "owes themselves" the money.

However, for this statement to mean the same thing in relation to the acts of these three Presidents, one would have to believe that the money paid into Social Security by employees and their employers (self-employed people pay as both), does not belong to them. Rather, it belongs to the government, much as in a Marxist society where Communism's first tenet is that there is no personal property to include the funds earned from one's labor.

In essence, the people pay revenues (taxes) and then also subsidize the government with their retirement savings, enabling them to run the country in a manner that would bankrupt any other person, business, or institution. Countries are no different, but it is nice to play pretend.

Sources:

Scurlock, James. "Maxed Out." Magnolia House Entertainment. 2006.

Linder, John; Boortz, Neal. The FairTax Book. William Morrow. 2005.

Kiyosaki, Robert; Lechter, Sharon. Rich Dad's Prophecy. Business Plus. 2002.

Franken, Al. The Truth (with jokes). Dutton Adult. 2005.


  • The Only Money in Social Security is New Deposits - David Siqueira

    The Only Money in Social Security is New Deposits - David Siqueira

  • Foreign Debt is Paid for With Soc. Security Funds - Sundeip Arora

    Foreign Debt is Paid for With Soc. Security Funds - Sundeip Arora

  • G.W. Bush Raised SS Debt Limit to $800 Billion - Simon Stratford

    G.W. Bush Raised SS Debt Limit to $800 Billion - Simon Stratford

  • The Elderly Will Have to Supplement Their Income - Gary Scott

    The Elderly Will Have to Supplement Their Income - Gary Scott

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CPSC Bans Sale of Drop-Down Cribs due to Infant Deaths and Safety

altNewsPage

Published Dec 15, 2010

Reports of more than 30 infant deaths in the last decade and continuing safety issues, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission banned all drop-down cribs.

As a result of ongoing safety issues, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission has officially banned the manufacturing, sales and re-sale of all drop-down style cribs as of December 15, 2010. Safety issues with the drop-down feature, including the rail dropping on infants and suffocation from a gap between the side rail and mattress, resulted in more than 30 infant and toddler deaths in the last ten years.

Drop-Down Crib Recalls Still in Use and for Sale

Although more than 1.5 million drop-down cribs were recalled in 1997, many of these cribs are still being sold at yard sales, thrift stores, eBay and other places. It has been reported that, despite the recalls, such cribs remained in use by daycares and parents who were never informed of the recall.

Parents who are unaware of the safety issues and past recalls often purchase the drop-down cribs due to the convenience. The cribs are designed to allow parents easy access for placing and removing infants and toddlers from the crib by lowering the side rail. In order to prevent further injuries and deaths from these cribs, the CPSC unanimously voted to outlaw any manufacturing and resale of such cribs.

Kids In Danger Supports CPSC to Tighten Standards on Crib Safety

Founded in 1998 after the death of a child who was strangled when a top rail collapsed, Kids In Danger has pushed for higher standards in both the manufacturing and testing of infant and toddler sleep equipment.

According to Nancy Cowles, executive director of Kids In Danger, a total of 5.7 million products designed for infant and toddler sleeping were recalled between 2007 and 2009, despite having met the current safety standards. Although the CPSC increased standards and third party testing, drop-down crib use continues to be a problem.

Reusing, Reselling and Replacing Used Cribs

Infant cribs are expensive, often ranging in price from 200 to 1,000 dollars or more. For many parents, this is a huge expense for something that will not get much use after two years. It is natural for parents to hang on to the cribs for use with future children, pass them down to friends and family, or sell them to recover some of the cost.

Additionally, many parents attempt to replace missing parts or fix the crib when parts stop working. This poses a serious danger to the infant or toddler, regardless of how well the fix appears to be working. It is recommended, as with infant car seats, that used or damaged cribs be destroyed rather than given away or repaired.

Alternatives to one-time use cribs are available, such as those that convert from a crib to a toddler bed, cutting down on the high cost of replacing sleep beds every two years. Only purchase sleep products that are brand new and immediately fill out and return the product registration card. This will keep you informed of any safety issues or recalls.

If you are currently using a drop-down crib, immediately stop using it and find an alternative sleep environment for your child. Destroy the crib and do not attempt to sell or give it away. Not only is it a safety issue for the child, the CPSC’s decision makes it illegal to do so.

References:

After dozens of deaths, drop-side cribs outlawed”; The Associated Press; Dec. 15, 2010

Nancy A. Cowles, executive director, Kids In Danger to CPSC Staff Roundtable on cribs and other sleep environments”; Kids In Danger; April 22, 2009

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Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Costly Habits That are Hard to Break

Dec 13, 2010 Greg Johansson

It's all about the Hamiltons - At.morey.tota

It's all about the Hamiltons - At.morey.tota

There are many things that we get used to doing, which do not necessarily make us bad people but end up turning us into bad spenders. Have you ever considered the amount of money you spend on your daily habits? It is relatively easy to calculate the cost of your daily living.

Here is a collection of some poor habits that you should avoid. You will still end up wasting colossal amounts of money even if you go for the cheapest options.

Soft Drinks

Many people take at least one soft drink per day. If we take the conservative average of $1.5 per bottle, you will use $547.50 in a year. In addition, you will have packed your body with lots of harmful substances that will end up costing you more money.

Gossip Magazines

There are many gossip magazines and you cannot possibly read all of them. So let us take an average of two magazines per week at $3.50 each. This is already $7 every week for fifty-two weeks. Even if you go for a discounted subscription, you will still have paid a lot of money by the end of the year.

You may choose to read the online versions. However, will you remain hooked up to your computer instead of boarding a vehicle to attend that important function?

Coffee

Perhaps you are so used to hearing about the dangers of caffeine that you have become accustomed to it. Consider the cost instead. At an average of $3.95 per cup, you will spend $1,442 in one year. The cost is still $1,031 even if you do not include weekends when you will not be at work.

Playing the Lottery

Perhaps you get comfort in the fact that you will help someone in need even if you do not win a lottery. But have you asked yourself how much actually reaches that person in need? Would it not be better to spend that dollar directly to the person?

If you spend just a dollar per day in the lottery, it translates to $365 per year.

Text Messages

Do not fall for that unlimited text messaging package unless you really send loads of messages. An unlimited text messaging option will cost you an average of $240 per year.

Other habits that will cost you lots of money in the end include smoking, watching porn, playing online poker, lack of car maintenance, and eating fries.

While people are interested in saving both money and time, they usually lose on one or the other. For instance, people tend to pay more to get convenience. While walking out of your hotel to buy a candy bar will require more time, you will spend less than when the candy bar is delivered to your room. If you would like to make financial savings, there are some costly products that you should do away with.

SMS

Cell phone carriers make a 6000% profit on text messages although you think that you are paying less for sms. The text messages are only 160 characters long because they use a secondary channel of data for coordinating voice communications.

600 text messages still contain less data than a minute of phone call. This means that if the rates of text data were applied, just a short telephone call would cost $120. You should therefore not be glad even if you pay only 10 cents per text message.

Bottled Water

The fact that a documentary film has been made on bottled water suffices to tell you that something is wrong. There are estimates that bottled water cost 4000% more than tap water. One plastic bottle requires five bottles of water to make. According to some estimates, prepackaged water costs more than one gallon of gas.

Approximately 40% of bottled water is taken from municipal taps. So, just fill up that bottle at home and carry it along.

Movie theater popcorn

Movie studios make more money from your ticket than the theaters do. The theater owners will therefore try to raise more money through the sale of snacks. The popcorn you buy at the movies costs 1,275% more.

As much as 40% of the profit that theaters make comes from such concessions. That is why they charge lower prices for the movie ticket to encourage more people to come. This provides the opportunity to sell more concessions.

Brand name drugs

Brand names cost relatively more while the essential ingredients are the same as the generics. The costs of generics have dropped while the brand names have increased. You should also check the respective costs of the generics themselves, for there is a great difference.

Other overpriced products include pre-cut vegetables, hotel in-room movies, hotel mini bar, greeting cards, a glass of wine, and a cup of coffee.

The little differences soon add up to significant amounts.

Copyright Greg Johansson. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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How much are my comic books worth?

Dec 14, 2010 John Simcoe

Amazing Fantasy No. 15 - Marvel Comics

Amazing Fantasy No. 15 - Marvel Comics

The value of a comic book is dependent on several factors, primarily the age, the characters it stars, the condition, the artists who created the comic and publisher. Look over these key points of your comic before trying to sell it.

Age of a Comic

The comic book industry has gone through some major changes since the 1990s. Most notably, many comic publishers now offer squarebound reprints of their entire line. This has helped make comics more "shelf-ready" for readers, it made them easier for book stores to carry and, most important to collectors, it pretty much killed off the back-issue market where a comic's value had the potential to increase over time.

Now most back-issue friendly stores carry a modern back-issue stock, where back issues published in the last year or so reside.

Another section includes more "vintage" comics, which usually contains comics from the early 1980s and back. This means that many stores have a noticeable gap between their modern back-issue collection and their vintage stock.

With that in mind, consider this guideline when planning to sell your comics.

If your comic is dated:

  • Five years ago to this year: You can sell it for $1 or so less than the cover price.
  • 1990 to five years ago: Expect to get less than a dollar per issue
  • 1986 to 1990: Maybe $1 per issue.
  • 1980 to 1986: Expect to get $2 to $3 per issue
  • 1970 to 1980: Expect to get $2 and $15 per issue, though the $15 issues are very rare.
  • 1960 to 1970: This is a very collectible era, so prices can vary quite widely. Comics could go for as little as $15 to $100,000 or more.
  • 1960 or earlier: This is the comic-book industry's "golden age," so comics from this period are rare and beyond the scope of this article. If you have a comic this old, check a price guide or a reputable retailer for guidance.

The Characters

There have been thousands upon thousands of comics published through the years, and most of them have been failures and were unable to gain ongoing attention from the readers. If you don't recognize the characters presented in the comic, you may very well have one of those failures, and you should expect a reduced sale price.

If you recognize a character, you might have a comic worth selling, but don't bet on it. Incredibly popular characters tend to be oversaturated and only their earliest appearances hold a decent value.

But don't give up on your comic just yet. Just because you don't recognize the star of the comic it doesn't mean its a bad comic.

Go to sites such as Wikipedia and Don Markstein's Toonopedia and query the character's name. If your search comes up, read through the entry and you can generally gather the character's significance.

In general also consider the type of comic book it is:

  • Superheroes: Easily the most collectible comics, but also the most oversaturated with failed books.
  • Western: Trendy in the 1950s and 1960s, but not so much now.
  • Movie Stars and other Celebrities: The market for these comics is generally small, since fewer and fewer people are interested in a specific celebrity. The heyday of these comics is long ago and their collectibility is limited to a small population of fans.
  • Horror: Highly collectible, especially those from the 1960s
  • Sci Fi: Moderately collectible, but often using unmemorable characters, which limits collecting appea.
  • Disney: Comics that feature Donald Duck, Uncle Scrooge and Mickey Mouse are often considered highly collectible, but there's only a small group of people collecting those comics.
  • Funny Animals aside from Disney: Largely non-collectible, unless you recognize the character.
  • Harvey: Comics with Richie Rich, Casper, Hot Stuff and Wendy are only moderately collectible.
  • Comic Strips: Comics that offer new adventures (or reprints) of comic strip characters have a low collectible value.
  • Archie: Archie comics have a low to moderate collectible value, especially those that are pre-1980s.

Condition

For most collectors, a comic's condition is absolutely vital. The value of a comic goes down for any of the following conditions:

  • Rolled spine: The comic's stapled area is rolled up, often as the result of being read while holding the front cover against the back cover.
  • Torn cover: The cover has tears or nicks out of it. This can significantly reduce a comic's value.
  • Writing on cover: This is often considered a minor defect, since newsstand employees often wrote dates on their covers.
  • Missing cover: If your comic is missing its cover, it's practically worthless.
  • Yellowed pages: Most comics were printed on newsprint paper, so this is an expected condition, however the whiter the pages, the higher the value.
  • Coupon cutouts: Often considered a minor defect, but still it reduces the value, especially when the cutout eliminates part of the story.
  • Stains: Dirt, water, food and other products can stain comics, which limits the value.
  • Printing errors: In stamps and coins, such an error increases value. This is not the case with comic books.
  • Taped: Comics that have been taped in an effort to repair them lose significant value.

Artists and other Creators

If your comic lists the creators of the comic, most notably the penciler, be sure to search their name on the Internet. A well-known penciler can significantly increase comics value. Beyond collecting certain characters, many collectors seek out specific artists.

Writers are of less interest to most collectors, and those who specifically collect the works of editors, letterers and inkers are practically non-existent.

Publishers

Some business had to finance all those thousands upon thousands of comics, right? Well, that's the job of the publishing company.

If the comic you're trying to sell is from Marvel or DC, you probably have your best chance of reselling it. Other companies to look out for are Archie, Fawcett, Warren, Charlton, Gold Key, Whitman and Quality. Those companies are often highly sought after.

More modern companies, such as Dark Horse, Mirage, Image, Fantagraphics, Kitchen Sink, IDW, Devil's Due, Dynamite, CrossGen, Malibu, Chaos, Broadway are less collectible, but might generate some interest.

Copyright John Simcoe. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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Free Mammography Screening for Uninsured Women

Dec 14, 2010 Sylvia Cruz

Free Breast Mammograms - dharder@MorgueFile

Free Breast Mammograms - dharder@MorgueFile

I recently had my annual mammogram at a local Hospital’s imaging center. While waiting my turn, I talked with a woman who was there for the second time and who turned out to be uninsured. She was forced to pay cash for the first screening and didn’t know how she was going to pay for a follow up mammogram and MRI.

I went home thinking that there has to be a way to get a service as basic as a mammogram at no cost to the uninsured. It turns out that there are some free breast Cancer screening services, including mammograms and MRI for uninsured low income women.

The guidelines for breast cancer screening vary depending on a woman’s age and history of breast cancer in the family. The American Cancer Society provides general guidelines for breast cancer detection. These guidelines include annual mammograms for women 40 years and older. Also, women with genetic markers for breast cancer and family history are recommended to undergo a MRI in addition to the mammogram. The recommendation for MRI testing should be done by a woman’s doctor. These recommendations are in addition to monthly breast self exams.

Free Mammograms for Low Income and Uninsured Women

For women on government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, mammograms and other breast cancer screenings are generally covered. For uninsured women, there are many breast Cancer imaging centers that provide low cost and free mammography.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, funds and provides local breast Cancer screening centers across all states. Using the CDC website, women can find low cost and free mammogram services by location. The CDC can also be contacted by phone at 1866-442-2262 to obtain free mammograms information.

The Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Affiliate Programs

Susan G. Komen is a non profit organization that funds local programs for detection and prevention of breast Cancer. Although the organization does not provide free mammograms directly, its affiliates do. These affiliates receive grants so that they can in turn provide free breast Cancer screening services such as mammograms.

Local breast Cancer detection services can be located using the Foundation’s internet site at ww5.komen.org. The Foundation may be contacted by telephone at 1877-465-6636 to find an affiliate that provides free mammograms and screening services.

Hospitals Outreach Programs for Breast Cancer Detection

Major local hospitals may operate community health outreach programs that benefit low income and uninsured women. These programs may include free and low cost mammograms and other Cancer detection services. To find out about free screening, women should contact major hospitals in their area and request information on free breast Cancer screening.

Women without health insurance should seek help for getting free and low cost annual mammograms. Government, non profit agencies and public and private hospitals provide free breast Cancer screening in local areas.

Women with low income and no insurance should start by talking to their doctor about low cost and free mammography. This is especially important for women 40 years and older and women with a family history of breast Cancer. Women who are determined to be at high risk of developing breast Cancer by a doctor should also seek these services.

Other Assistance Related Articles at Suite 101

Copyright Sylvia Cruz. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Car Finance: Best Option For Your Dream Car

Dec 13, 2010 Samuel Buaku

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With the current global economic crisis termed as the worst since the great depression of the 1930s leading to lots and lots of people losing their jobs, due several companies filing bankrupt, attaining car finance has really been very hectic not to mention the amount of inquiry interviews you have to go through followed by lots of documentary signature signings.

Nevertheless, there are concepts to-be car finance consumers need to know about before even thinking of applying for one. This is the car finance calculator which basically consists of a vehicle finance calculator to estimate the monthly payments for the vehicle you want to drive. This tool main importance is to help consumers to decide on whether to choose between a car dealer who also does financing or a banking institution.

For used car financing which is somewhat far easier to get than a new one, it is advisable to apply for one close to the Christmas time as that is when most car dealers make promotion to reduce the prices of vehicles for more consumers to buy more. Another option for targeting guaranteed car finance is between July and October because that is the time when dealers look forward to ridding off all their stock prior to getting newer models in. So, all kinds of low discounts are made which most of the time benefit consumers.

For majority of car finance establishments credit score reports is not a prerequisite as is termed by most financing companies. Having a steady job from where you can have an employment letter showing an adequate monthly income is all most of these companies request for prior to the approval of your in-house car finance.

Prior to your car finance being approved, there are certain things that you need to look out for. You must ensure that you what interest rates the package comes with and what repayments will be required from you after using the car finance calculator to know how much it is going to cost you. Once you accept that, you can then make a step further to ensure that you check the terms and conditions to ascertain yourself that there are no hidden costs involved. This is something you must always look out for as these financing dealers are known to be very treacherous.

Now that you know a lot about how to go for car finance, what you can do is to visit a considerable amount of car dealers within your area and apply the above for each, compare them and select the one that meets your affordability. Good luck in your car finance search!!

Copyright Samuel Buaku. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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Holiday Season Scams: From Fake Charities to Wi-Fi Hackers

Dec 12, 2010 Harriet Cooper

Christmas Scams Lead to Identity Theft - Alan Cleaver

Christmas Scams Lead to Identity Theft - Alan Cleaver

As Charlotte Bumstead reminds us in her article, "McAfee Reveals The 12 Scams of Christmas." (Zoomer Magazine. Dec 9, 2010), the old saying "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" is even truer when it comes to anything connected to electronic gadgets and online use. Here are some of this year's Christmas and holiday online scams developed to separate you from your money and steal your identity.

Great Christmas Deals Are Often Rip Offs for Identity Theft

Get a free iPad or other gadget is one of this year's favorite Christmas scams. This offer comes in several flavors. You might see it as part of a deal in which you get a free electronic device if you spend over a certain amount of money or as a thank-you for taking an online quiz or survey. Don't believe it. As part of the scam, you're asked to give your cell phone number. You may find yourself automatically signed up for a cell phone scam that could cost you $10 a week and be hard to get out of.

"Get a free gift card" is a variation on the free gift scam. Facebook scammers set up pages that look like well-known retailers and offer free gift cards to people who sign up to the fan page. Part of the deal is asking for personal information. Instead of a gift card, subscribers find themselves victims of identity theft.

Websites offering unbelievable deals may simply be a way for scammers to draw customers into the websites and then steal their credit card information when they purchase non-existent goods. Only deal with reputable online retailers. If you're not sure, stay away.

False Bank Account Problems and Low-Interest Rate and Loan Scams

Money is often an issue with people at this time of year as they buy presents, go out for dinners or take trips. So, it's not surprising that scammers have found ways to try to relieve you of your money by imitating banks, online retailers and credit card companies.

As more and more people use their online devices to pay for things, scammers are turning that around to try and bilk them out of hundreds of dollars. The most common scam is to send a text message to people saying there is a problem with their bank account or online retail account. Customers are then asked to confirm confidential, personal information, such as account numbers and PINs, at which point their identity is stolen.

Most banks, credit card companies and online retailers tell customers that they never contact them online to request such information. If there is a problem with an account, these companies generally call or send a letter, asking the customer to contact them at a verifiable telephone number to continue the discussion. If you're suspicious, always verify the request by calling the number on the company's website or billing statement.

This is also the time of year when fake banks and credit card companies send out thousands of emails offering prequalified, low rate credit cards and loans. Along with the offer is a request for personal banking information to set up the loan or credit card. Once the scammers have the banking information, it's like giving them a key to your account. Instead of a loan or credit card, you may find your bank account has been emptied or that low rate loan or credit card is actually charging you way above normal banking rates.

Fake Charities and Travel Scams: Stealing Your Money and Identity

Two of the most common scams during the holiday season involve family and charities.

One common travel scam is for someone to send a fake distress message to friends or family, asking for emergency money. Supposedly, the traveler has lost his money, his ticket, or been in an accident and needs money quickly. Any money that friends or family wire or transfer ends up in the pocket of the scammer.

Many people give to charities during this time of year, both for themselves and increasingly instead of gifts. That's one reason why requests for charities go up during the holiday season. Unfortunately, so do scams. Many fake charities spring up at Christmas, often using names that sound similar to real charities, particularly charities for children, veterans or the latest war or disaster relief fund. Some use regular mail; others use phone solicitation.

Always doublecheck the exact name of the charity and don't give money over the phone if you've never dealt with that charity before. The same goes for canvassers who knock on your door. Ask for literature and then think about it. If you do want to donate online, most charities now have secure websites that allow you to do so.

Tis the Season for Wi-Fi Hackers and Identity Theft

It's not only technophiles who love free public Wi-Fi. So do hackers. When you're using public Wi-Fi, be particularly careful. It's easy for hackers to park themselves in these spaces and send other users emails and links, offering great deals that are a prelude to identity theft.

Don't fire up your computer or handheld device just anywhere Wi-Fi is available, Instead, make sure to use trusted Wi-Fi networks and well-established websites. As an added precaution, don’t check your bank accounts or shop online unless you're totally sure about the level of security. If you're not sure, wait til you're home or back at work.

Don't let hackers ruin your holiday season. Beware of too-good-to-be-true deals, don't give out personal financial information over Wi-Fi networks or in emails or texts, and use your head rather than your heart when responding to any request for money. For more information on protecting yourself against identity theft, check out TD Bank Financial Group's "Privacy and Security: Smart Online Usage."

Copyright Harriet Cooper. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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Costly Habits That are Hard to Break

Dec 13, 2010 Greg Johansson

It's all about the Hamiltons - At.morey.tota

It's all about the Hamiltons - At.morey.tota

There are many things that we get used to doing, which do not necessarily make us bad people but end up turning us into bad spenders. Have you ever considered the amount of money you spend on your daily habits? It is relatively easy to calculate the cost of your daily living.

Here is a collection of some poor habits that you should avoid. You will still end up wasting colossal amounts of money even if you go for the cheapest options.

Soft Drinks

Many people take at least one soft drink per day. If we take the conservative average of $1.5 per bottle, you will use $547.50 in a year. In addition, you will have packed your body with lots of harmful substances that will end up costing you more money.

Gossip Magazines

There are many gossip magazines and you cannot possibly read all of them. So let us take an average of two magazines per week at $3.50 each. This is already $7 every week for fifty-two weeks. Even if you go for a discounted subscription, you will still have paid a lot of money by the end of the year.

You may choose to read the online versions. However, will you remain hooked up to your computer instead of boarding a vehicle to attend that important function?

Coffee

Perhaps you are so used to hearing about the dangers of caffeine that you have become accustomed to it. Consider the cost instead. At an average of $3.95 per cup, you will spend $1,442 in one year. The cost is still $1,031 even if you do not include weekends when you will not be at work.

Playing the Lottery

Perhaps you get comfort in the fact that you will help someone in need even if you do not win a lottery. But have you asked yourself how much actually reaches that person in need? Would it not be better to spend that dollar directly to the person?

If you spend just a dollar per day in the lottery, it translates to $365 per year.

Text Messages

Do not fall for that unlimited text messaging package unless you really send loads of messages. An unlimited text messaging option will cost you an average of $240 per year.

Other habits that will cost you lots of money in the end include smoking, watching porn, playing online poker, lack of car maintenance, and eating fries.

While people are interested in saving both money and time, they usually lose on one or the other. For instance, people tend to pay more to get convenience. While walking out of your hotel to buy a candy bar will require more time, you will spend less than when the candy bar is delivered to your room. If you would like to make financial savings, there are some costly products that you should do away with.

SMS

Cell phone carriers make a 6000% profit on text messages although you think that you are paying less for sms. The text messages are only 160 characters long because they use a secondary channel of data for coordinating voice communications.

600 text messages still contain less data than a minute of phone call. This means that if the rates of text data were applied, just a short telephone call would cost $120. You should therefore not be glad even if you pay only 10 cents per text message.

Bottled Water

The fact that a documentary film has been made on bottled water suffices to tell you that something is wrong. There are estimates that bottled water cost 4000% more than tap water. One plastic bottle requires five bottles of water to make. According to some estimates, prepackaged water costs more than one gallon of gas.

Approximately 40% of bottled water is taken from municipal taps. So, just fill up that bottle at home and carry it along.

Movie theater popcorn

Movie studios make more money from your ticket than the theaters do. The theater owners will therefore try to raise more money through the sale of snacks. The popcorn you buy at the movies costs 1,275% more.

As much as 40% of the profit that theaters make comes from such concessions. That is why they charge lower prices for the movie ticket to encourage more people to come. This provides the opportunity to sell more concessions.

Brand name drugs

Brand names cost relatively more while the essential ingredients are the same as the generics. The costs of generics have dropped while the brand names have increased. You should also check the respective costs of the generics themselves, for there is a great difference.

Other overpriced products include pre-cut vegetables, hotel in-room movies, hotel mini bar, greeting cards, a glass of wine, and a cup of coffee.

The little differences soon add up to significant amounts.

Copyright Greg Johansson. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

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