DEBTSMART® EMAIL NEWSLETTER
ISSN 1538-6740
November 6, 2002 Issue 38

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

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

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

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IN THIS ISSUE

==> Cool Quote

==> Letter from the Publisher

==> Which Credit Cards Look Better on Your Credit Report

==> Household Math™: Future Savings

==> Survey: Best Buying Decision

==> Budget Baby Steps

==> Immediate Access to Your Credit Score

==> How Do You Get Over $7,000 In One Year Not Working

==> Eight Steps to Tackle the Money Saving Process

==> Unsolicited Mail, Telemarketing and Email: Where To 
       Go To "Just Say No"

==> DebtSmart® Resources

==> Subscribe/Disclaimer Information

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COOL QUOTE

"I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart."
--E.E. Cummings (Modern American Poet, 1894-1962)

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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER 
by Scott Bilker

Hi,

I really learned a lot by reading your answers to last issue's survey about "Worst Buying Decisions." As I suspected a few people did mention that buying their house was a bad decision. Buying a home isn't all it's cracked up to be. Like anything else, it may not work out--but I'll have to save that discussion for another article. :)

You can read all the survey results by clicking below:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021106_en.cgi?04&7428 

The holidays are approaching quickly. Have you started thinking about your spending plan?

Holiday credit card tip: Give your credit card banks a call and tell them that the only way you're going to use their card this season is if they give you 0% on purchases until April 2003! Call all the banks and see who does it. Someone will. Please let me know what happens!

Regards,
Scott

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WHICH CREDIT CARDS LOOK BETTER ON YOUR CREDIT REPORT 
by Scott Bilker

Scott, Let me start off by saying I love this website! I have a couple of questions. I have been told that certain credit cards (e.g. Capital One, Cross Country, and others like those) do not carry a lot of weight on your credit report. I was always under the impression that all credit cards carried the same weight. What is the truth? My next question concerns paying them off. I would like to pay off my credit cards. Should I just pay them off and try not to use them? (I have tried this before and failed). Or should I just go ahead and cancel them. I am really getting sick and tired of credit cards and I want to stop using them because they put too much pressure on me. Please advise. 
Thanks, 
--Nichole

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021106_en.cgi?05&7428 

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HOUSEHOLD MATH™: FUTURE SAVINGS

Kelly wins $25,000 in the lottery and decides to put this money away for the future. She deposits the cash in a money market fund and expects to earn an average of 4% for 10 years. Kelly's younger sister, Audrey, wants to accumulate the same amount of money as Kelly in 10 years, but Audrey doesn't have $25,000 lying around. Audrey decides to make monthly deposits at the same bank as Kelly and she, Audrey, expects the same rate of return. How much does Audrey have to deposit each month to have the same amount as Kelly in 10 years?

Click below to solve problem:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021106_en.cgi?06&7428 

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SURVEY: BEST BUYING DECISION.

Last issue I asked you to share your worst buying decision. This issue I'd like to know your smartest or best purchase. However you decide what's "best".

Click below to respond to survey:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021106_en.cgi?07&7428 

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BUDGET BABY STEPS 
by Tammy Harrison

You are a two-income family, sharing and spreading the wealth amongst yourselves. All of a sudden, baby one comes along, and you find your heart pulled in a different direction than you ever imagined. Your emotions run high, and you make a decision that will change your life and the life of your family forever -- you quit your job and your checkbook has a heart attack!

I have heard from so many people that they just aren't capable of...

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021106_en.cgi?08&7428 

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IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO YOUR CREDIT SCORE

Score PowerTM, from Equifax and Fair, Isacc, is the only online service that provides you access to your FICO® credit score - the score most widely used in lending. In addition to your credit score, you receive the Equifax Credit ProfileTM the score is based upon, a personalized analysis of your credit score, graphs showing how you rank among other consumers and tips on how to improve your credit rating.

Click below to learn more:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021106_en.cgi?12&7428 

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HOW DO YOU GET OVER $7,000 IN ONE YEAR NOT WORKING?
by Tawra Kellam

Many of us feel overwhelmed by debt and don't know how to start climbing out of it. For others it's a misconception that the more money you earn the easier it is to save. My husband and I paid off $20,000 of credit card debt and medical bills in 5 years on an average income of $22,000 a year.

Here is how you can save over $7,000 in just one year cutting a few things from your...

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021106_en.cgi?09&7428 

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EIGHT STEPS TO TACKLE THE MONEY-SAVING PROCESS 
By Gregory Thomas

Part 7: The Three R's--Review, Revise, Retry

Anyone who has tasted success, has in some way or another taken into account the "three R's" - Review, Revise, Retry.

How do I know this? Reason being, nobody is perfect, so no one will be able to do a perfect, flawless job on the first attempt in anything whether it's for work or pleasure. This is nothing to be ashamed of, it's just a fact. We as humans have...

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021106_en.cgi?10&7428 

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UNSOLICITED MAIL, TELEMARKETING AND EMAIL: WHERE TO GO TO "JUST SAY NO"
by the Federal Trade Commission

Tired of having your mailbox crammed with unsolicited mail, including pre-approved credit card applications? Fed up with getting telemarketing calls just as you're sitting down to dinner? Fuming that your email inbox is chock-full of unsolicited advertising? The good news is that you can...

Click below to read article:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021106_en.cgi?11&7428 

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DEBTSMART® RESOURCES

DebtSmart® Books, software, reports, in-print and downloads:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021106_en.cgi?01&7428 

Archive of DebtSmart® Email Newsletters online:
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/021106_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/021106_en.cgi?03&7428 

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HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO 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/021106_en.cgi?00&7428 

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

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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.

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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.