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IN THIS ISSUE #157 |
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Publisher:
Scott Bilker |
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Editor:
Larissa S. Bilker |
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Assistant
Editor: Denise Troy |
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ISSN
1538-6740 |
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Letter from the Publisher
by Scott Bilker
Hi,
Do you have a computer?
All right, that's a dumb question. Here's the
real one...have you thought about online training for a new or better job?
Ah, that may or may not be a "yes." So, here
are a few jobs with great potential that you can train for online:
1) Web Graphic Design: Senior web designers
make up to $75,000! That's nice!
2) Online Marketing: $50,000 to $100,000 for
this one.
3) Teaching: There are shortages throughout the
country, especially in math and science courses.
Check
the education resource provided by Yahoo to find out more about online
universities.
Hey, since we are friends, I want to invite
you to be my friend on
Facebook! You need to have a Facebook page to be added to mine. I do
have a MySpace Page, but there is so much SPAM. I'm finding that Facebook
does a better job if you just want to keep in touch with friends.
Reader comments since the last issue:
"Thank you DebtSmart for all the tips I found
on this website. It really gave me lots of ideas for getting through that
rough period."--Linda
"I enjoy the newsletter. I consider myself to
be a very savvy consumer, but I've learned a few things since
subscribing."--Cheryl
"I am single so I am always looking for ways
to stretch my money. Keep up the good work!!"--Tyra
Best,
Scott
Equity Issues
by Scott BilkerScott,
We have been upgrading our fixer upper and
are interested in continuing the process. Problem is, our 2nd mortgage is an
LOC and the APR is drowning us! We want to pay off the LOC and our credit
card debt and have some cash to invest in renovations.
We are a single income family, and as far as
debt-to-income ratio is concerned, we're not looking so good. We are hopeful
our "sweat equity" will be sufficient to borrow against. I am not so keen on
this approach, but my husband is in the building trade and feels our only way
is up as far as property value is concerned. What to do?
Alison
Finish Reading Article
DebtSmart Reader Tips
by DebtSmart ReadersThanks for submitting
your tips! I'm going to be introducing a few new tips in each issue. So you
can be sure that yours will be out soon. Here are this issue's tips:
Bills: Organize to avoid being late
Late fees on bills get me really upset. So after paying too many of them, I
decided to implement this system: When I receive a bill in the mail, I open
it right away and put the date I should mail it on the back of the envelope,
on the front where the stamp goes and, also on the lower left corner. Then,
it goes in a file folder organized by dates. It makes it pretty hard to
screw up. Sometimes I miss a couple of days before looking in the folder,
but with a week's mail time I don't usually get late fees anymore.
--Christina
Bills: Change your due dates to
avoid being late
Avoid late fees by changing your bill due date. All you have to do is ask.
Is the 8th better than the 1st to allow for snail mail? Is the 25th better
because you always get paid on the 15th? Whatever date works for your payday
and budgeting schedule, most companies are happy to make the adjustment.
--Cheryl
Credit Cards: Auto pay to avoid
being late
Have your credit card minimum payments drafted automatically by the bank.
This prevents any late payment penalties, and it improves your credit score
and saves you a stamp and check. Your credit score impacts the interest rate
you pay on homes, cars, insurance and even your employment. Of course, if
possible, you should pay additional money against your balance, but the
purpose of this tip is to protect your credit.
--Tyra
Read more DebtSmart Reader Tips
"On the cutting edge"
"Your articles are easy to read and follow,
although they contain a lot of detail. You have a talent for being able to
tell people complicated things without making them seem stupid, or the goal
unattainable. I think most of us are financially lazy--we would rather keep
on in our rut than change--but then along come articles like yours that
shock us into motion. I love the links to other articles and sites. I also
love the calculation tables.
I have subscribed to your newsletter and used
your site for many months now. I find you to be "on the cutting edge" when
it comes to financial matters--I always end up pushing myself to do
something more when I have read your articles."
--Elaine Wente
Read about special offer for all three of Scott Bilker's best-selling books
Household Math(tm): Cheaper Gas vs. Full-Service
by Scott
Bilker
Jenny lives 30 miles from where she works. Her car
gets 22 miles per gallon. Jenny works 5 days a week, every week in the year--no
holidays or vacations; that hurts! Last year she added up how much she spent for
gas which totaled $885.65. She likes to get gas at the full-service gas station
for convenience, but this comes at a cost of 5 cents more per gallon. If she
bought all her gas for the year at the lower-priced gas station, how much would
she save in one year?
Answer this problem
Happiness in frugality
by Doris DobkinsAre you speaking for real
or is the title of this article an oxymoron? How could anyone be happy
denying themselves all of life's pleasures and being frugal?
Take a moment to read the quote below:
"The three grand essentials of happiness are:
something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for."
--Alexander Chalmers, Scottish writer
Finish Reading Article
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