Personal Finance guide

How often do you use your checkbook? The answer might depend on your age, your financial situation or even your upbringing.

Even though it may seem easier to use electronic forms of payment such as credit and debit cards, there are still many reasons to keep personal checks in your purse or pocketbook.

Check Usage in Decline

Since 2001, every three years The Federal Reserve has conducted a study on the use of electronic payments and personal checks in the United States. The most recent study is underway and preliminary results will be released in late 2010.

It is obvious that personal check usage is declining in the U.S. However, while the Federal Reserve studies show check usage diminishing, they also prove that checks are still the most popular type of payment option.

Continue reading ‘Why Personal Checks Are Still a Useful Way to Pay’ »

A simple way to make addition money is to buy gift cards and sell them for cash. You can buy cards at whatever price or percentage you would like and then sell them to a gift card exchange website. The income potential is unlimited and depends on how much work you put in. A lot of people have unwanted cards and merchandise credits for which they have no use for. You can usually buy these cards from them for just a fraction of their value.

For example;
Leo returned some unwanted clothing to Walmart without a receipt and was given $100 in merchandise credit. Steve offers Leo $50 cash for the card and he jumps at the offer. Steve then sells the $100 Walmart card to a gift card exchange website that gives him $90. That’s about a 45% profit and Steve made $40.

It’s that easy. Anyone can make extra money by buying and selling bulk gift cards. In order to be really successful you should follow these tips:

Continue reading ‘Buy and Sell Bulk Gift Cards – Second Income Opportunity’ »

A lot of readers contact me to ask about offshore banking and wealth management services in Singapore. Unquestionably, Singapore has some very sophisticated banks and bankers, and it has developed a well-earned reputation for discretion and confidentiality.

However I recently found the following observation on an internet discussion group:

The Singapore government is proposing changes to its tax laws to meet demands from the U.S. and Europe to clamp down on bank secrecy. Singapore will seek to amend its domestic laws to allow it to extend further cooperation on information exchange via double-taxation agreements with other countries, the Finance Ministry said in a statement. It is seeking public comments through July 28 on the amendments.

Continue reading ‘Switzerland Or Singapore For Private Offshore Banking?’ »

Financial institutions are undergoing a massive switch with today’s financial challenges. We are currently looking at a situation whereby banking companies are being monitored closely by the government, by securities commissions, by the media, and by you. Banking companies are being requested, more than ever, to be responsible with regard to procedures.

To make things even more problematic, after having to go through the financial disaster of the recent past, banking institutions are now fighting yet another challenge: that of deciding which future clients ought to be considered as being low as opposed to high-risk.

If you’ve been denied a new bank account in the last few months, you are, in all probability, experiencing a lot of frustration. The fact is, being declined is most likely because of your information being listed in something named Chexsystems.

Continue reading ‘2nd Chance Checking Accounts May Be Your Best Option For a Top Notch Economic Future’ »

With ATM skimming losses reaching up to 1 Billion dollars, criminals are not slowing down, but are changing tactics to exploit consumer debit and credit cards at the gas pumps.

Banks are taking measures to protect consumers from ATM skimmers by installing anti-skimming technology that jams skimmer readers with radio signals, monitoring the ATM physical characteristics for changes in the ATM image, and installing shields for the keypad. Realistically, these are band aids for the big problem which is the security authentication process of the card itself. No matter how secure your local bank makes their ATM’s by installing this anti-skimming technology or monitoring their ATM’s each day for unusual devices or characteristics, banks cannot protect consumers from gas pump skimming.

Gas stations do not have near the protection or monitoring that your local bank can provide. At each gas station there are multiple card readers that are unattended which offer criminals ample opportunity to install discrete skimming devices. The attendant at busy gas stations cannot tell if a customer is installing a skimmer, or if they are simply using the pump, especially if they are ringing up customers at the register. Also, the cameras at gas stations are not designed to monitor the use of the card reader at the pumps but rather are used to watch for drive offs.

Continue reading ‘How to Beat Gas Pump Credit and Debit Card Skimmers’ »

Credit cards singly have done enough damage to the credit history of borrowers. Like a spoiled child, people began misusing the convenience offered through credit cards. Within a very short time span, there was a large group of people who underwent bad credit proceedings. Defaults on credit cards along with the other defaults and arrears led borrowers from county court judgements to bankruptcy.

The situation of individuals with bad credit is similar to persons walking a tight rope. Proper aids in the form of adverse credit debt consolidation loans can lead them safely to the other end, i.e. steer clear off the winds of bankruptcy with ease. By denying opportunities of adverse credit debt consolidation opportunities, lenders are only increasing their chances of fall into the throes of bankruptcy.

Continue reading ‘Adverse Credit Debt Consolidation – Facilitates Financial Rebirth by Clearing Bad Credit’ »

Financial difficulties are married to bad credit. It is a tough marriage but can be peaceful with a little bit of counseling. The recommended counseling in case you have bad credit with a mortgage loan is bad credit remortgage. Remortgage is defined as replacing the current mortgage lender with a different one. Remortgage in case you have bad credit is very much feasible. You are a homeowner and that places you in a dominant position in spite of bad credit. You can make admirable use of your current position with your Bad credit remortgage.

Choosing the right bad credit remortgage is never easy. Bad credit remortgage brings with it a whole list of questions. Remortgage with bad credit is always something to be apprehensive about. Bad credit remortgage is the way for you if you have been put labelled as a bankrupt or involved in some legal proceedings. In addition arrears, defaults or any other mistake with loans simply imply bad credit.

Continue reading ‘Bad Credit Remortgage Loan: When Bad Credit Plays Mischief With Your Mortgage’ »

If you spend your time worrying about how you will be able to make the next payment on your credit cards, store cards or personal loan you need help with your debt. Missing payments to your creditors can land you in a lot of trouble and each time you miss a payment your credit score is affected. When you reach the stage where your monthly outgoings are much more than your income it is time to sit down and work out how you can resolve your debt problems.

IVA debt help could be exactly what you are looking for and could be the answer to your debt problems. You can find out more about IVA (Individual Voluntary Agreement) by speaking to one of the many companies that offer IVAs for people who are finding it difficult to cope with their level of debt. Taking out an IVA should be your last option as we shall take on out your credit rating will be effected and you will be less likely to be accepted for unsecured credit. However, if you are looking to get rid of your debt the last thing that you need is more applications for credit. As soon as you decide that IVA debt help is the best solution for you, you will be able to relax knowing that your debts are being paid each month without fail.

Continue reading ‘IVA Debt Help Could Be the Answer to Your Debt Problems’ »

Bad credit home equity loans are for those homeowners who have been in credit crises. These loans are like any other loans except that these are secured by a second mortgage on the borrower’s home. To be precise, in home equity loans, the home is used as a collateral property to cover the risk of the lender. A home equity loan gives money for a fixed time rather than a revolving credit line. Home Equity can be up to eighty-five percent of the market value of borrower’s home

Home equity loans can be used for different purposes like repairs, remodeling, retreats, tax payments, vehicle purchases and so forth. The rate of interest on home equity loans is much lower than that of other loans, like credit cards. The positive points of a home equity loan are the low interest rate charged by the lenders, because in this case the loan is secured and the risk for the lender is low. However, the lender does not lose the chance to charge a higher interest rate in bad credit home equity loans. The argument for the higher rate of interest is that the lender holds the second mortgage and not the first one, plus the lender is in a high-risk zone because of the bad credit history of the borrower. Continue reading ‘Bad Credit Home Equity Loans’ »

If you are fortunate enough to have received a structured settlement in the past, then you are probably in a good position financially. Structured settlements are great because they are constant payments that are either annual or semi-annual. The only downside of these payments is you don’t have access to all of the money at once. These payments can be sold to a company for a lump sum nominal value. If you are in need of some extra money, you should consider selling structured settlements.

The benefit of selling structured settlements is the fact that you gain instant access to a large amount of cash. This is also known as encashing your annuity. The structured settlement or annuity is meant to fulfill your future medical and financial needs. By selling this structured settlement you are essentially taking that payment in advance. This gives you flexibility in terms of access to your own money.

Continue reading ‘Selling Structured Settlements – What You Need to Know’ »