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DEBTSMART® EMAIL NEWSLETTER 
ISSN 1538-6740 
June 16, 2004 Issue 76

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

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IN THIS ISSUE

==> Cool Quote

==> Letter from the Publisher

==> NPR interview with Scott Bilker

==> 9 Steps to Get Organized for Financial Success!

==> Household Math™: Used Car Loan

==> Able to Financially "Breathe" Again

==> 11 Easy Ways to Cut Your Spending Without Feeling It

==> DebtSmart Help Center

==> 10 Credit Myths

==> DebtSmart® Resources

==> Subscribe/Unsubscribe/Disclaimer Information

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COOL QUOTE 
“There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder.” 
--Ronald Reagan

Click below for quotes from all previous newsletters: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/040616_en.cgi?04&7428

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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER 
by Scott Bilker

Hi,

When I think about this issue’s quote by Ronald Reagan, I feel empowered to work harder toward my goals. I hope that his words motivate you as well. Speaking fiscally, motivate you to take control of your debts and work toward financial security and peace of mind for yourself and your family.

Next, I want to welcome the more than 400 new subscribers that have joined us this week! Thank you for signing up! I know that most of you that are new to DebtSmart heard me last week on National Public Radio (NPR).

If you didn’t hear my interview, you still can listen. I’ll have some links following this letter.

Lastly, I have received hundreds of questions from readers, and I don’t know when I can get to them--I’m sorry. :( I’ll do my best, but I’m just not sure that I can get to everyone.

Hope you enjoy this issue!

Cheers, 
Scott

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NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO (NPR) 
“Talk Your Way Out of Credit Debt” interview with Scott Bilker

“Morning Edition,” Tuesday, June 08, 2004

In “Talk Your Way Out of Credit Debt,” author Scott Bilker, founder of DebtSmart.com, details methods he used to save more than $40,000 in credit card fees. Bilker discusses ways that consumers can better manage their credit debt with NPR's Steve Inskeep.

Listen with Real Player: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/040616_en.cgi?11&7428

Listen with Windows Media: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/040616_en.cgi?12&7428

Interview segment page: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/040616_en.cgi?13&7428

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9 STEPS TO GET ORGANIZED FOR FINANCIAL SUCCESS! 
by Scott Bilker

The beginning of my financial life was when I received my driver's license. Before that I rode my bicycle around and had no bills. Well, I needed a car, right? I had to get to work so I could pay for the car, to get to work.

That's what started the bill cycle. The car was used (pre-owned), so I didn’t have any payments, but I was using my gas credit card to get around. So it didn't take long for the bills to start arriving in the mail.

I soon realized that I had to do something. I had to get organized!

Here are the 9 quick steps to getting organized for financial success--today!

1) Filing system. When it comes to getting organized, everything needs a place, a home, a spot. The basic...

Click below to read article: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/040616_en.cgi?05&7428

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USED CAR LOAN 
by Scott Bilker

You’re ready to go out and buy another used car. After finding the right car, which cost slightly more than you originally planned, including all the fees, the total amount financed is $16,000. You know that the monthly payment for a $8,000 3-year loan at 8% APR is $250.70. What is the monthly payment for $16,000, if the rate and term of the loan are the same?

Click below to solve problem: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/040616_en.cgi?06&7428

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ABLE TO FINANCIALLY "BREATHE" AGAIN

Hi Scott, I'm hoping that you might be interested in sharing this information with some of your readers.

I noticed that under the heading of DebtSmart Help Center you wrote, "helping you with your debt is very important to me." I want your other readers to know just how true this comment is. The help and advice that you gave me regarding my 25-year-old daughter's credit problems was beyond my expectations. Not only did you give me excellent financial advice, but it was delivered with the type of warmth, compassion and concern that I would have expected from a lifelong friend.

My husband and I have paid off all of my daughter's debts with a low-interest-rate credit card and then transferred the balance on that credit card to an interest-free card (until Feb 2005). She makes the monthly payments (plus some). This one monthly payment is about half of what her individual creditors were asking her for, so she is able to financially "breathe" again. The fact that she did some serious damage to her credit rating during this period, prevents her from being granted additional credit, which is our guarantee that she will not be able to put herself in the same position again for a long time. We hope she has learned a lesson. I know we have.

Our lesson was that we can trust "Debt Smart". We will gladly recommend your web site and your books to anyone.

Best regards, and continued success.

Sincerely, 
Debbie

Read more about Scott’s books: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/040616_en.cgi?07&7428

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11 EASY WAYS TO CUT YOUR SPENDING WITHOUT FEELING IT 
by Scott Bilker

It’s clear from last issue’s survey that most people believe that cutting spending is the faster way to reduce debt. Of course, this is certainly true to some extent. My position is that there are three main points to be addressed when reducing debt, specifically: (1) Getting organized financially; (2) Becoming more efficient with your current debt and spending; and (3) Generating more income.

Here are some suggestions to expand on number (2) specifically as it applies to spending.

1) SHOP ONLINE If you have to make a large purchase, for example, computer, water heater, etc. ALWAYS...

Click below to read article: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/040616_en.cgi?08&7428

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DEBTSMART HELP CENTER 
by Scott Bilker

Hi,

Helping you with your debt is very important to me personally! If you've been reading my articles, you know that I always encourage self-help as a first step. However, being buried in debt can be very overwhelming, which is why you may want to explore other options.

One of those options is professional, ongoing help with credit counselors. I've started to personally check out certain companies so I can recommend the ones that are worth considering!

If you would like to speak with a representative from a...

Click below to read more: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/040616_en.cgi?09&7428

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10 CREDIT MYTHS 
by Scott Bilker

As they say, “Knowledge is power.” Many times people either act on false information or fail to act because they didn’t know what could be done to their benefit. This is the case in many areas of life, but on the top of that list is money. And in the money category you will find lots of misinformation about credit.

There is so much to talk about on the topic of credit myths that...

Click below to read article: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/040616_en.cgi?10&7428

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DEBTSMART® RESOURCES

DebtSmart® Books, software, reports, in-print and downloads: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/040616_en.cgi?01&7428

Archive of DebtSmart® Email Newsletters online: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/040616_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/040616_en.cgi?03&7428

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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/040616_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 to 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.

Copyright © 2004 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.