DebtSmart® Email Newsletter
May 31,
2006: Issue #125
Tools for
financial success! A Free Email
Newsletter from DebtSmart Online and
Press One Publishing.
Letter from the Publisher by Scott Bilker
Hi,
It's time
for a change! As you can see, I'm trying
a new, single-column format for the
email newsletter in this issue. You know
what they say in marketing, "less is
more." I felt that the other format
might have been a little busy, so I
wanted to give this new look a try.
I can't
believe that summer is almost here! That
means vacations are around the corner.
Make sure that you call your credit card
banks before going on vacation and
let them know that you'll only be
using their card if they give you a good
deal. How about an interest-free summer?
How about a big cash back bonus?
Something! Keep the banks working to
give you the best deals.
Best,
Scott
Cool Quote
"
The
greatest revelation of my generation is the
discovery that by changing the inner attitudes
of your mind, you can change the outer aspect of
your life."--William James Quotes from all previous
newsletters
DebtSmart®
recommended money-saving products and services
473 FREE
minutes, 1.9 cents USA and Canada, 2.5 cents UK, no switching.
NO NEED TO CHANGE CARRIERS. Long distance services can be
used with your home phone, cell phone and with any other private
touch-tone phones. Your flat domestic rate will vary depending
on the plan you choose. No access fees, surcharges or any hidden
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Residents only. Any and all Free Minutes Talk Time is only valid
in the forty-eight (48) contiguous United States.
Intro Rate: 0.00%,
Time Period: 6 Months,
APR: 7.99% (for life on transferred balances). The Blue Cash® for Business
Credit Card, issued by American Express®, is designed for
business owners with average credit who plan to take advantage
of the cash back reward program. The cash rebate amount varies
according to where the cardholder makes their purchases.
Cardholders earn a cash back rebate of up to 5% at "OPEN
Savings" locations and up to 2.5% for all other general
purchases. It is important to understand that once the annual
spending exceeds $15,000, the rebate for additional "Open
Savings" purchases is 2%, and the rebate for all other
additional purchases is 1%. "OPEN Savings" locations include
FedEx®, Hertz®, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM®, and more.
Intro Rate: 0.00%,
Time Period: 12 Months,
APR: 10.99%. The Discover® Platinum Gas Card, issued by Morgan Stanley, is
designed for those with very good credit who are looking for a
cash reward credit card. Through the reward program, cardholders
earn a full 5% in cash rebates for gas purchases, up to 1% for
general purchases, and .25% for purchases made at select
warehouse clubs and discount stores. Those who spend up to
$1,500 on general purchases will receive a .25% rebate, between
$1,500 and $3,000 will receive a .5% rebate, and over $3,000
will receive a full 1% rebate.
Intro Rate: 0.00%,
Time Period: 15 Months,
APR: 3.99% (for life on transferred balances). Blue from American Express®
is an ideal credit card for those with good credit who already
have an established credit history and are looking for a card
with access to a reward program. Various American Express®
services and benefits are provided with this card, such as
purchase protection, auto rental insurance, a year-end financial
statement, and various travel and emergency assistance services.
Intro Rate: 0.00%,
Time Period: 12 Months,
APR: 10.99%. The Discover® Platinum Wildlife Card, issued by Morgan Stanley,
is designed for those with very good credit who are looking for
a Cashback Bonus® reward credit card. Through the reward
program, cardholders earn a full 5% in cash rebates for
purchases made at select merchants, up to 1% for general
purchases, and .25% for purchases made at select warehouse clubs
and discount stores. Those who spend up to $1,500 on general
purchases will receive a .25% rebate, between $1,500 and $3,000
will receive a .5% rebate, and over $3,000 will receive a 1%
rebate.
People always ask kids,
"What do you want to do/be when you grow
up?" I'm sure you remember the question
well. A fireman, policeman, scientist,
doctor, social worker, teacher,
superhero, etc.
The truth
is that people have many interests and
talents. Someone may be just as happy
being a lawyer as a teacher. That's why
I believe the better question to ask is
"How do you want to live?" Do you want
to live in a mansion? Do you want a
chauffer and a yacht? Do you want to
live in the city, country, on a farm, an
apartment?
"It took me
7 minutes to settle a 4,374.81 debt at
50% with Wells Fargo Financial. Piece of
Cake--with your book, of course! Thank
you! My husband has leukemia and had to
have a bone marrow transplant, we
traveled out of state for the transplant
and are both not working. You are
directly helping us get our lives back
on track, be proud!"
Do you
want to do all you can to cut your
grocery bill? Would you like to have a
few more tricks up your sleeve for
saving on groceries? If so, here are
five quick reminders to help you get out
of the grocery store with more food
while spending less money:
1. Go it
Alone. This one may be difficult to do,
but if you can leave your kids and
spouse at home, you'll probably find
grocery shopping easier and less
expensive. Each additional person on the
shopping trip increases the temptation
to buy on impulse.
During the fourth quarter of
2005, consumer debt, which includes credit-card debt and
auto leases, represented 5.71 percent of total homeowner
debt, down from 6.4 percent in the fourth quarter of
2000. That was the lowest level in a decade.
American consumers have
not curbed their appetites for borrowing. During the
fourth quarter, 13.86 percent of disposable personal
income of Americans was consumed by debt payments of all
kinds, up from 12.77 percent five years earlier. But an
increasing portion of that total went to mortgages and
home-equity loans, which ballooned in recent years as
rates fell.
Stop Debt Collectors Cold! Plus, for a
limited time, 4 bonus reports: How to
Get Collection Accounts Off Your Credit
Report, How to Avoid Losing Your Home In
A Foreclosure, What to Do if You Are
Behind on Your Car Payments, and
Confidential Interview With A Former
Debt Collector.
I don't
like getting calls at 8AM at work or at
home. Obviously, there's nothing I can
do about the work calls but the home
calls, I'd like to think that this is an
open invitation to be rude. Normally, I
will vent my displeasure at the calling
party unless they are family or a very,
very, very, dear friend. And even then,
the calling party should prepare him or
herself for the slew of foggy insults
headed his or her way.
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replacement for the email newsletter but a fast method of finding out what's new
here at DebtSmart.com.
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.
Subscribe FREE and start
finding new ways to save
money and pay off your debt.
"The DebtSmart Email
Newsletter is packed with
cutting-edge strategies for
solving credit problems. I
highly recommend it."--Gerri
Detweiler, radio host and
author of The
Ultimate Credit Handbook
