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Discover® More Wildlife
Intro Rate: 0.00%, Time Period: 12 Months, APR:
10.99%. |
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Advanta
Platinum BusinessCard with Unlimited Rewards
Intro Rate: 0.00%, Time Period: 15 Months, APR:
7.99%. |
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Citi® Platinum Select® MasterCard
Intro Rate: 0.00%, Time Period: Up to 12 Months,
APR: As low as 7.49%. |
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Blue from American Express®
Intro Rate: 0.00%, Time Period: Up to 12 Months on
purchases, APR: 2.99% for 12 months on transfers. |
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TrueEarnings® Card from Costco
Intro Rate: 0.00%, Time Period: 3 months on
purchases, APR: 1.99% for 6 months on transfers. |
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Chase Platinum Visa®
Intro Rate: 0.00%, Time Period: 12 Months, APR:
9.99%. |
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Discover® More Card
Intro Rate: 0.00%, Time Period: 12 Months, APR:
0% for 12 months on transfers. |
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In This
Issue
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Cool Quote |
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Rate jacked-up to 21.99 percent |
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STATISTIC: Homes worth less than mortgage |
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You may have an unknown savings bond |
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You Cannot Afford To Say, "I Can't Afford
It" |
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"Outraged and discouraged, I came across
your website..." |
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Rise of the neo-hagglers |
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Household Math™: How Much House |
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Ending the Paperwork Nightmare |
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Americans look forward to a happy, but less
plentiful, holiday season |
Cool Quote
"New Rules for the Game of Life: (1) If I give my best
effort, then I am successful; (2) If I don't try, then I have failed; (3) If I
learn something new, then I have succeeded; (4) If I am having fun, then I can
access more of my abilities; (5) If I take action consistently, then I increase
my chances of success."
--Kent Healy, CoolStuffMedia.com
More cool quotes from past issues
Scott,
I carry multiple credit cards and have enjoyed very much
having banks compete for my business. Thanks to your publications, I have
several fixed-for-life, low interest accounts, some of which are only 1.99% APR.
Now, due to this financial economy mess banks are running
scared. I have had unused credit cards closed by the issuer. Available credit
reduced to just above my balance on a few accounts. Last week, my Bank of America
American Express card took a major rate increase. I had a fixed 7.99% rate, which
I enjoyed for two years. I carried a high balance on this card because I
purchased a nice motorcycle with it two years ago. My rate went from 7.99% up to
21.99%. No late payments to them or anybody else.
I called them up on the phone and got a 15-minute
interview with a supervisor. After reviewing my credit history (Yes, I have a
secure job, and I own my house and land; No, I have never filed bankruptcy or had
a repo etc.), they finally returned my APR to 7.99% but reduced my available
credit to just above my balance. I guess, in the future, available credit will be
hard to get. I did carry about $75,000 of available credit but that is dropping
by the Credit card companies.
Gerald
Finish reading this article
Almost 20 percent of U.S. mortgage borrowers owed more on
their loans in the third quarter than their house was worth. More than 7.5
million properties already have negative equity and another 2.1 million will
follow, should home prices decline another 5 percent. Six states account for
almost 60 percent of homes with negative equity, led by Nevada and Michigan.
More credit card and debt statistics
You may have an unknown savings bond
Did you know...
Each year, over 15,000 savings bonds and 25,000 payments
are returned to the Department of the Treasury as undeliverable.
In addition, billions of dollars in savings bonds have
stopped earning interest but haven't been cashed.
Treasury Hunt tells you about savings bonds no longer
earning interest. If you still have these savings bonds, cash or reinvest them
so your money can start working for you again.
Note from Scott: Please let me know if you find any bonds
you didn't know about.
See story here
Every week I get emails from people thanking me for all
the great stuff we send their way. But many of them also apologize for not
buying some of our other products or the products and services we very
selectively recommend to them.
They say things like, "I have no money," "I'm broke," "I'm
poor," or "I can't afford it." Every time these or similar words are uttered,
we're telling ourselves that it's true. We are reinforcing this false belief.
I've been there myself. In fact, I've been a lot worse
than broke. Fifteen years ago, being broke would have been a welcome step up.
And when I was in that state I, too, said, "I can't afford it."
Finish reading the article
Dear Scott,
I lost my promotional rate of 4.99% for the life of credit
(American Express) over a month ago. (It changed to 18.99% in a split second). I
was late with my payment, I admit. This happened for the first time in my credit
history. I did mark the bill as "PAID," but I didn't post the actual payment
online. Life is complex, and sometimes things just don't work our way.
Anyway, I called customer service and requested to have my
promotional rate reinstated. My request had been denied within 48 hours (I
learned this today from CSR!!!! 4 weeks later); however, nobody from AE took the
time to inform me about it!!! It seems that American Express deliberately kept
this for themselves in order to charge high finance charges. I was charged twice
in a row some $120 (I owe them about $7,000) in finance charges.
Outraged and discouraged, I came across your website and
decided to try your books. I got them in the mail yesterday and educated myself
overnight. Empowered and knowledgeable about my actual customer rights, I called
customer service today AGAIN. I did recite them a couple to-the-point sentences
of yours and stated clearly--in plain English--what I wanted. And, guess what?
They apologized for not informing me about the denial of my request in a timely
manner and were very "happy" to help in any way. note: As an ESL
(English-second-language student) I appreciate ready-to-use sentences/examples.
Results of a single call: (1) Late fees of $38 waived
without any further questioning; (2) Promotional rate 4.99% reinstated within 10
minutes while I was on hold; (3) The difference in the two interest rates
credited back to my account
Call time: about 15 minutes. Total credited to account:
$206.15 (but with my rate reinstated, I'll be saving much more). I had no
difficulty dealing with CSR and lady on the phone was actually very helpful and
understanding. I also called my other credit cards regarding the lower interest
rate, and I was 100% successful.
I just want to say thank you for writing this money- and
life-saving book. Money is extremely emotional. I never knew that; I'm in credit
card debt for the first time in my life. I hold two bachelors in Finance and
Management but had no idea that I have so much bargaining power as a customer of
theirs! I will recommend your powerful stuff to everyone I know. Please, Scott,
continue the good work, and if you can, advertise more.
Lenka
Learn how to "Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt"
Rise of the neo-hagglers
Nobody has to tell Eli Blair it's a buyer's market.
When she makes one of her regular visits to Guitar Center,
she always negotiates on price.
"They're pretty willing to cut you a deal," said the
24-year-old Chicago musician who performs as Ellie May.
Call Blair a neo-haggler, an empowered consumer who feels
fine about bargaining. Neo-hagglers don't feel like they're being cheap. They
see themselves as smart shoppers who are getting what they want during one of
the most unsettling economic periods in decades.
"All you have to do is ask," advises Blair, who recently
snagged a $499 bass guitar for $410 and got a $100 to $150 hard-shell case
tossed in.
See story here
Sandy finds a bank willing to give her a 30-year,
fixed-rate mortgage. They require her to give a 20% down payment on the purchase
of her home. The interest rate (APR) is 8.4%, and she must pay 1.5 points, which
will be rolled into the mortgage. After property taxes, PMI, etc., Sandy can
afford $1,500 per month on the mortgage payment. What is the maximum price of
the home that she can purchase?
Answer this math problem
With all of the paperwork flowing into our lives day after
day, it's easy for it to get out-of-control. Forms, memos, letters, catalogs,
mail, flyers and advertising offers are stacked in our In Box. Leave that In Box
untouched for a day, and you've got yourself a paperwork pile. Leave it
untouched for a week or more, and you've got yourself a paperwork nightmare!
Here are a few simple ideas to help end the nightmare and
get all of your paperwork under control...
Finish reading this article
Americans look forward to a happy, but less plentiful,
holiday season
For the third year in a row, our friends at Consumer
Reports National Research Center have polled Americans to find some revealing
facts about their holiday spending plans. And -- as you might expect -- this
year's picture isn't entirely pretty.
With the economy in shambles, 76 percent of those
surveyed say they'll cut back this season. Specifically, they'll buy fewer
gifts; travel, entertain, and tip less; send fewer greeting cards; and scale
back on charitable donations.
But wait--there's also good news. Despite the
penny-pinching, we remain a highly optimistic people. Eighty-eight percent of
respondents say these holidays will be at least as happy as last year's; and 28
percent expect them to be even happier.
See story here
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