DEBTSMART® EMAIL NEWSLETTER
ISSN 1538-6740
September 12, 2002 Issue 34

Tools for financial success!
A Free E-Mail Newsletter from DebtSmart® Online and Press One Publishing.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Publisher: Scott Bilker, mailto:publisher@debtsmart.com
Editor: Richard Crammer, mailto:editor@debtsmart.com 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

For instructions to SUBSCRIBE, and DISCLAIMER, see bottom of this email.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

IN THIS ISSUE

==> Cool Quote

==> Letter from the Publisher

==> Consolidating Credit Cards to One Account

==> Household Math™: Biweekly Payments

==> Survey: Questions to Ask Yourself Before Spending

==> What's the Big Deal About Biweekly Mortgages?

==> Mortgage Minder 3.1 (Free Trial!) For DebtSmart®

==> Credit Report Errors

==> Eight Steps to Tackle the Money-Saving Process

==> Metrics Make a Difference--And Money Too!

==> DebtSmart® Resources

==> Subscribe/Disclaimer Information

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

COOL QUOTE

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." 
--Albert Einstein

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER 
by Scott Bilker

Hi,

Once again, thanks for answering last week's survey about business opportunities and new products. The majority of responses indicated that readers are interested in software from DebtSmart®. I've just started development of the flagship software for DebtSmart® that will be available as a free trial in the coming months.

Also, we've added new software to DebtSmart® this week. It's really great and free to try! It's the Mortgage Minder for DebtSmart®. There are download links for it within this email newsletter issue.

This issue's survey has to do with buying tips. Questions you ask yourself before spending.

Enjoy!

Regards, 
Scott

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

CONSOLIDATING CREDIT CARDS TO ONE ACCOUNT 
by Scott Bilker

Hi Scott, I am a recent college graduate and I have accumulated about $4,000.00 worth of debt spread out in 4 different credit card accounts. I would like to transfer all of the balances to an account with a lower APR to save money and to make monthly payments more convenient. The problem is that I have not been able to be approved for a credit card with a limit of over $1500.00. Besides having multiple cards near their credit limit, I have good credit and always make payments on time. Is there anything that you can recommend? Please Help! 
--Mary

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/020912_en.cgi?04&7428 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

HOUSEHOLD MATH™: BIWEEKLY PAYMENTS

You borrow $25,000 at 8% for 5 years to remodel your kitchen and bathroom. Your loan requires 60 monthly payments to completely payoff the loan. After you get the loan, one of your friends tells you that you can save money by making payments more frequently. They tell you that this happens because you pay off some of the principal earlier and are not charged interest on that principal after that. Sounds good. Here's the question: If you convert that 5-year (60-month) loan into a loan that requires 130 biweekly payments (still 5 years) how much money will you save in overall bank payments?

Click below to answer the problem:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/020912_en.cgi?05&7428 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SURVEY: QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE SPENDING 
by Scott Bilker

I don't like to tell people how to spend their money. My goal is to help them save on finance charges by being DebtSmart however, a major component of saving money is cutting spending in specific budget categories. A simple way to help cut spending is to ask yourself some questions prior to every purchase. I'm sure you have your own questions that help you make your buying decisions. Please read my questions and share yours by taking this issue's survey!

Click below to take the survey:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/020912_en.cgi?06&7428 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT BIWEEKLY MORTGAGES? 
by Chuck Warrix (Mortgage Minder Creator)

First of all let me tell you, I am not a financial expert, and I don't play one on TV. But, I have been reading and writing about mortgage reduction strategies for many years and have built a small business around that hobby. A small business that provides the tools and information necessary for people just like you to plan and implement a mortgage reduction strategy all by themselves. I have worked hard to build a trust with my readers and software users and would not intentionally mislead them in any way. In fact I want you to verify everything I am saying here. Search the web, read the information, ask the questions. I want to provide you with the most accurate information possible to help you get started. But in the end, make your own decisions about your mortgage and your money.

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/020912_en.cgi?07&7428 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

MORTGAGE MINDER 3.1 (FREE TRIAL!) FOR DEBTSMART®

Mortgage Minder is a software package for Windows designed to help you calculate the right amount to send as an extra principal payment. With Mortgage Minder, you can try several scenarios and see instant feedback to help you decide what plan is right for you. In addition, once you start sending extra payments, you can use Mortgage Minder to track your progress by updating your saved data file monthly. You can even print reports if you prefer reading the data in printed format. Mortgage Minder 3.1, new for 2002, now supports Canadian mortgage calculations and variable interest rates.

Click below for FREE download instructions:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/020912_en.cgi?08&7428 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

CREDIT REPORT ERRORS 
by Gary Foreman

Gary, I am correcting an item in my credit report. I requested the report from Equifax. Should I also request (and correct) reports from Experian and Trans Union? I can see a situation where I've corrected it with Equifax, but a lender uses a different agency. Do these companies share information?
--Curt G.

Curt is right. It is important for him to have accurate information in his credit report. Negative comments could...

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/020912_en.cgi?09&7428 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

EIGHT STEPS TO TACKLE THE MONEY-SAVING PROCESS (PART 3)
by Gregory Thomas

Part 3: Analyze Your Expenses

Now that you have a specific money-saving goal to strive towards, it's time to dive into the process of lowering your monthly bills and expenditures. Obviously, a choice you have is to work "overtime" hours at your current place of employment, or get a "second" job for additional income. For the record, the following process we will divulge does...

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/020912_en.cgi?10&7428 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

METRICS MAKE A DIFFERENCE--AND MONEY, TOO 
by Michael Angier

Even if you're not a business owner, you can find the best metrics to monitor what you do in your job. In doing so, you'll be able to track things better and make changes that impact those numbers in a positive fashion. You can increase your own productivity as well as...

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/020912_en.cgi?11&7428 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

DEBTSMART® RESOURCES

DebtSmart® Books, software, reports, in-print and downloads:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/020912_en.cgi?01&7428 

Archive of DebtSmart® Email Newsletters online:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/020912_en.cgi?02&7428 

How to use DebtSmart® articles FREE in your e-zine or on your web site:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/020912_en.cgi?03&7428 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS NEWSLETTER

All recipients of DEBTSMART® EMAIL NEWSLETTER have signed up voluntarily for the newsletter via our website.

TO SUBSCRIBE to this newsletter click on the below link and complete the subscription form:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/020912_en.cgi?00&7428 

Please contact mailto:comments@debtsmart.com with any comments, problems, or concerns.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The author(s), Press One Publishing, and DebtSmart.com shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by the information contained in this email newsletter and/or at the DebtSmart.com web site. The information, methods and techniques described may not work for you and no recommendation is made to follow the same course of action. Every effort has been made verify the accuracy of all content contained herein. However, there may be mistakes; typographical, mathematical or in content. This email newsletter and the DebtSmart.com web site have been created for your entertainment only. You must always seek the proper professional advice before taking any financial or legal action. You have been warned.

We have done our best to ensure that all sponsors included in the DebtSmart® Email Newsletter offer quality products and services. Please let us know about your experience with our advertisers by writing to mailto:comments@debtsmart.com

Copyright © 2002 Press One Publishing. All rights reserved. Please do not reprint, or host on your Web site, without explicit permission. However, if you found this newsletter helpful, we grant you permission, and strongly encourage you, to e-mail it to a business associate or a friend. Thank you.