credit

The Debt Trap: Factors That Have Led Us To Our Debt

Posted November 12, 2009 - 07:00 by Silicon Valley Blogger

Credit Cards

Debt Trap

We're a nation of borrowers. This reality is quite well illustrated by the personal stories and profiles covered by various media publications on the subject of consumer debt. Recently, The New York Times published a series on debt, which I found to be both highly intriguing and sobering, as it shed light on the plight of debtors and took a peek at our saving and borrowing habits. So how did we get caught in so much debt?

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Worried About Debt? Tips On Managing Your Loans

Posted October 14, 2009 - 05:00 by Silicon Valley Blogger

Credit Cards

debt management

If you've got a lot of loans under your belt, you'll want to make sure that you're able to manage them well, or risk wrecking your credit by making a late payment somewhere. Dealing with debt involves both defense and offense: when your goal is to cut down on the debt you carry, the key is to stop borrowing any more money, to make sure you can afford paying down your loans (spend less and earn more to pay off debt!), and to try to lower your interest rates as much as you can.

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10 Tricks to Save Money with Credit Cards

Posted August 24, 2009 - 06:11 by Silicon Valley Blogger

Credit Cards

save money with credit cards

The most credit savvy among us have been able to use credit cards to their benefit in order to wisely and optimally save money even while charging on their cards. If you are careful about how you use your credit cards, you may actually come out ahead by using them. So what are some of the things we can do to get the most out of our credit cards?

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5 Strategies To Wipe Out Your Credit Card Balance

Posted June 10, 2009 - 16:03 by Silicon Valley Blogger

Credit Cards

I try hard not to carry a credit card balance, but I know a few people who ignore the fact that their balance is building up to unmanageable levels. I personally feel that it's harder to drop pounds than it is to drop a spending habit and to cut costs, but in both situations -- whether you aim to lose weight or to retire your debt -- you'd want an action plan to succeed. If you're wanting to wipe out your credit card debt, it can be done! We show you some steps on how to do it.

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7 Free and Low Cost Ways To Protect Your Credit

Posted May 5, 2009 - 08:15 by Silicon Valley Blogger

Personal Finance

protect your credit

Many people have fallen victim to identity theft and credit fraud such that it's become essential for us to keep an eye on our credit. Most of the time, a fraud victim finds out a little too late that his or her identity has been compromised. My own brother was surprised to learn after a visit to the bank that his social security number had a variety of foreign identities associated with it! And just how many times have I been called by my credit card company about suspicious activity on my account? One time too many. So it's time to fight back with a few options.

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Conspicuous Spending: Fading to Black

Posted April 29, 2009 - 22:07 by Jabulani Leffall

Personal Finance, Consumer Affairs

In the black community and many other communities there is a sense that material possession and flair denotes character, accomplishment and power. It's a poor dad mentality and a “flash-now-but-time-will reveal” consumer ethos. What does a person's ethnic background, if anything say about spending and budgeting habits? And how does one correct this course?

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Can't Get A Bank Loan? 8 Other Ways To Finance Your Business

Posted April 22, 2009 - 12:26 by Silicon Valley Blogger

Small Business Resource Center, Entrepreneurship

Starting a business can easily become a money pit. So for those of you thinking about launching a new venture, what financing options do you have? Well, there's the possibility of taking out business loans from your local bank, of course. But what if your bank has turned you down? Let's consider a few alternative financing options in case you're unable to get the money you need from your bank.

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Debit Or Credit? Which One Should You Choose At The Checkout?

Posted April 21, 2009 - 08:36 by Paul Michael

General Tips, Shopping, Budgeting, Credit Cards, Consumer Affairs

Swipe

It’s a question I’m asked at least a few times a day when I use my check card, usually by one of those little card-reading machines (although sometimes, an actual living person asks, too). Being someone who hates the word “credit” I have always opted for “debit” and proceeded to enter my PIN number. But have I been doing it all wrong?

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It takes a frugal spouse to make a frugal home

Posted April 2, 2009 - 06:20 by Philip Brewer

Personal Finance, Frugal Living

Spouses

Something of an exaggeration, of course--a one-person household can be very frugal. But there's an underlying truth: A household is only as frugal as its least-frugal member.

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10 Reasons Why I Prefer Credit Cards Over Cash

Posted March 27, 2009 - 10:00 by Silicon Valley Blogger

Credit Cards

credit card

You can call this a defense of the maligned credit card. There are a lot of people out there who are very distrustful of credit cards and the companies that offer them, no thanks to skyrocketing personal debt loads. But I have a completely different view of these cards. They have only served as positive tools for me; in my mind, it's all a matter of how you decide to make use of them. For those who are comfortable with credit card debt management, here are some reminders of how we can get the most out of our cards.

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