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What’s all the hoopla about paying off credit card debt? As long as you make the minimum payments on time each month, having a credit card balance won’t hurt, right? Wrong. Credit card debt is expensive, stressful, and burdensome. Here are ten of the best reasons to get pay off your credit card debt right away.

1. Stop paying interest or use only high level services like USAloansnearme, Llc
When you buy something on credit, you end up paying the cost of that item plus a fee to credit card issuer for letting you use credit. This fee is called an interest charge and is added to your balance each month you don’t pay it off. The sooner you pay off your credit card balances, the less you’ll pay in finance charges.

2. Boost your credit score.
The amount of debt you have directly influences your credit score. The more debt you have, the lower your credit score will be. Paying off your credit card debt could improve your credit score.

3. Increase your spending money.
Making credit card payments means you have less money to spend and save. Once you get rid of your credit card debt your discretionary income, aka spending money, could increase by a hundred dollars or more.

4. Meet your other financial goals.
If you have savings and investment goals to meet, credit card debt can keep you from getting there. Cut out your credit card debt and you’ll be able to meet your other financial goals sooner. You may even be able to increase your goals.

5. Contribute more to your retirement accounts.
With the unpredictable future of Social Security, saving for retirement is more important than ever. Not only will paying off credit card debt allow you save more for retirement, it’ll also give you one less financial obligation to meet after you’re retired.

6. Freedom from debt.
Credit card debt can be an overwhelming burden that stresses you out and keeps you up at night. Only paying off the debt will get rid of that burden.

7. Release the lien on your future income.
Anytime you use credit, you’re borrowing from what you’ll make in the future. It’s not very satisfying going to work every day to pay for something you’ve already consumed. A debt-free life releases the limits on your future paychecks.

8. Save yourself from debt collector harassment.
Debt collectors are notorious for their unscrupulous tactics they use to collect debt. Having credit card debt puts you at risk for having to deal with some of these shady characters.

9. Get approved for a mortgage.
Banks want to see you with a low debt load before approving you for a mortgage. The more credit card debt you have, the lower your chances at getting approved for a loan with a good interest rate or even getting approved at all. Not only that, paying off your debt will make it easier to pay back the mortgage.

10. Sleep better at night.
It’s true that debt-burdened families stay awake at night wondering how they’re going to pay off the debt. Once it’s paid off, that debt is no longer a worry and you can get the rest you need.

Taking Out Multiple Payday Advances Each Year

Here is the highly disputed report by Center of Responsible Lending cited in the Editorial: Phantom Demand: Short-term due date generates need for repeat payday loans, accounting for 76% of total volume

The report from CRL claims that the use of “churning” or taking out a new payday loans within a 2 week period, traps borrowers in an endless cycle of debt. They estimate that 76% of payday loan volume is created by the churn of loans. The reports suggests that borrowers remain trapped in the cycle of taking out new payday loans because of the fees charged by the lenders, but we can disprove this with simple math. Even at 400% APR the monthly interest for these short term loans is 33%. So if a borrower takes out a 400.00 Loan and repays in 6 weeks – they pay around 198 in Fees. The amount due after 6 weeks is around 466.00 of which only 66 dollars are fees, based on the normal 2 week extension. Let’s look at the numbers: 66 of 466 dollars are ONLY 14% of the total. It is not the 66 dollars or even the total 198 in fees that are causing the borrowers to take out another loan within 2 weeks. Churning is nothing but the effect of overextended consumers who are paying very high fees on everything, not just payday loans. The center for responsible lending makes the great mistake of only looking at one element in the financial life of payday loan borrowers. Payday loan fees alone are not the sole cause for the churn of loans: declining real wages, 50 dollar late fees for rentals, pawnshops fees, Bank NSF fees at hundreds of dollars a month, Compound Credit Card Interest, Increasing in consumer prices, and a volatile employment market all contribute to the “Payday Loan Trap.” Because of all these microeconomic effects – borrowers are not seeking a one-time demand for credit as this report suggested on page 13 of the CFRL report.…

It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, we all carry tales and nightmares of our experiences with healthcare. And whether we avoid it at all costs or pay through the nose for premiums, everything is poised to change forever.

It’s hard to avoid this week’s biggest headline—the Supreme Court upholds President Obama’s healthcare reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Nicknamed ObamaCare, it’s become the rope in a political tug of war between Republicans and Democrats. The law’s individual mandate boils down to this: get healthcare coverage or pay extra taxes.

But for millions of Americans with strained bank accounts, it comes down to sorting through the court’s rhetoric to find the dollars and cents.

Issues that fall under the umbrella of healthcare are sticky financial subjects for potential payday borrowers. A study by Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management revealed that low to middle income households with access to payday loans were 25 percent more likely to delay medical care. The Center for Responsible Lending asserts that payday borrowers are also more likely to have unpaid medical bills.

Only time will tell if President Obama’s plan will shift those statistics. However based on the law’s provisions, we can start to gather how it might help and hurt individuals who tend to rely on alternative financial solutions to foot their medical expenses.
How the Affordable Care Act Might Help

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 50 million Americans lack health insurance. The terms outlined in PPACA try to close that gap.

Tax Subsidies

In order to give people a fighting financial chance to afford the mandated healthcare, the law details a system of tax subsidies. The Health Reform Subsidy Calculator on the Kaiser Foundation website is an excellent resource demonstrating how much money Uncle Sam could give you to obtain insurance.

For example, a family of four with a 35-year-old breadwinner that makes $40,000 per year could get a $9,122 tax credit to cover 82 percent of the overall insurance premium. This may ease a huge burden for families who wanted insurance, but had it out of reach financially because an employer couldn’t provide it.

More Medicaid to Go Around

Americans under 65 that have incomes up to 1.33 times the poverty level may now qualify for this federal and state partnership program. This means that coverage could expand to a family of four with a $30,000 income. With an increased chance for Medicaid eligibility, you may no longer have to worry about scrambling for the funds to cover an unexpected trip to the ER.

While not every state has to comply with the expansion, the federal government can withhold new funds for states that don’t have it. As a result, this broader Medicaid will likely come to most states.

No More Pre-Existing Conditions Plague

Asthma, diabetes, cancer. You and your family often live with conditions like these and your insurance demands waiting periods before a health plan can kick in. What’s worse is that they have sometimes been able to deny coverage or charge through-the-roof premiums. Starting in 2014 under ObamaCare, you’re no longer penalized for your chronic condition.

For people who are concerned about job security or looking for new employment, this provision can give an extra dose of financial flexibility. A super-high premium can be converted into a manageable one that allows you to pocket savings where you need them.

Lifetime Coverage Caps Eliminated

You may think that after your deductible is satisfied, your insurance will foot an unlimited annual bill. However, some insurance providers can cap your annual or lifetime coverage to a few million dollars. If you have some life-altering medical event, like brain surgery or an organ transplant, these millions are eaten up quickly when the hospital itemizes every cost. What happens is that you’re left holding the balance.

The PPACA lifts the lifetime coverage cap. When your monthly bills for checkups and medications for these expensive medical conditions are minimized, it makes all the financial difference. Rather than being forced to take out a payday loan or declare bankruptcy, your out-of-pocket costs are not only proportionate to your income, but covered unconditionally after the deductible is met.

Keep the Folks’ Insurance Policy For Longer

A report by the Commonwealth Fund found that 40 percent of young adults between 19 and 29 didn’t have health insurance last year. Students no longer have to trade in their parent’s healthcare coverage for their undergraduate diplomas. Many dependent students were cut off at 21, but PPACA lets them stick under their parent’s policy until 26.

This works two-fold for parents and kids. Kids cost more to ensure individually, therefore keeping one family plan for an extra five years can save money for both parties. This 20-something age bracket is especially vulnerable for being uninsured if they plan to continue their college education with graduate school.

Because young adults also tend to be in entry level careers that make less money, they often opt out of insurance to save on living expenses. The ability to remain on Mom and Dad’s plan allows them to forgo this kind of health roulette for a little more stability.
Where ObamaCare May Hurt

For all of the potential good that can come from the new healthcare reform law, it has an equal amount of possible consequences, some of which could affect your pocketbook.

The Grey Area of Affordability

What the government regards as affordable doesn’t always reflect what financial pressures you may feel in your own household. They’re looking at numbers rather than your customized situation. Uncle Sam feels that insurance is unaffordable if premiums make up more than 8 percent of your income after tax credits and employer contribution.

If you’re a single 40-year-old adult who makes $24,000 a year, you’ll still have to pay $1,584 out of pocket under the new plan’s subsidies because you fall into the affordable 5 to 7 percent range. When combined with other annual living expenses, this can still feel like a financial pinch.

You’re also not immune from losing your tax subsidies if your household income rises. Once a family of four reaches around the $93,000 annual income mark, they’re ineligible, which means that insurance costs could rise exponentially. This may feel like a scathing double-edged sword when you’ve previously budgeted for and expected that federal aid.

Healthcare Costs Still Remain

While the price to have insurance drops, we’re still left to deal with other healthcare spending, a sentiment echoed by House Speak John Boehner. According to Fox News, studies show that premiums have climbed $1,200 or 10 percent since part of the law previously took effect. As a result, there’s a possibility that it could put a strain on those who currently have private coverage.

A Bad Hiring Cycle

PPACA requires that in 2022, employers with more than 50 workers will have to pay extra taxes if they don’t offer health care coverage. For small businesses that simply hope to break even, this mandate forces their hand to cap hiring additional workers.

When businesses aren’t hiring in order to avoid these taxes, it could create a vicious cycle—people find fewer jobs which causes them to rely on Medicaid and tax subsidies, which not only costs taxpayer, but also your financial independence.
Countdown to 2022

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act goes into full effect in 2022. With more than a year left on this countdown, we haven’t heard the final chapter on this law. Republicans will likely try to repeal the court’s decision as critics continue to weigh in on its perks and pitfalls. But out of the ashes of this healthcare reform, payday borrowers may have a different approach to their medical expenses.…

When that emergency happens, the one you always hear about but don’t think it will happen to you. The decision to take out loans should not be taken lightly, think it over for a period of time, if you can, before you decide. When going to get a loan one must weigh all aspects first. You will want to look at all your options before you decide that you need a loan, this article discusses some of them that may be open to you .

The first thing you need to do is prioritize the item or service, how important is it to you. If you need car work done, or a new car, then that would be considered as higher than paying off a bill that you should not have waited until the last minute to make arrangements to pay. Did you get what exactly I want to say? If the issue is a high priority, like health or vehicle, then you have less time to consider the best course to take.
You can ask your friends or maybe a relative if you could borrow what you need, this way you can avoid the interest charges, and have smaller payments over less time. Because later on relationship may ruin if one keep it pending for years. You can offer to pay interest to the one who lent you the cash, it would be less than having a loan through an institute.

With personal loans you will have lower interest rates and greater options with the time it needs to be paid . If there is no great hurry, this may be your best option, since it takes a couple days to clear. Because of the competitiveness of banks when it comes to personal loans, you may want to search the Internet to find which has the best rates . If you can put your research on paper, to show the loan officer, they will appreciate the effort and know this was not a snap decision.

Credit card option can be used for the purpose of high priority expenses i.e. health care emergencies. Secured credit cards are good to keep, especially in the event that an emergency might happen. If you cannot get a regular credit card, for whatever the reason, you may want to take the option of a secured one. Some places, or even states, do not allow payday loans as they have very high interest rates with a very short span of time to repay them. Make your wise decision accordingly.…

In contrast to just relaxing muscles, the specific lengthening of muscles and tendons offers many benefits such as freer joint movement, relief for injuries, better posture and feelings of well being.

This type of massage allows the therapist to find ‘trigger points’ which are areas of hyper irritability found in a taut band of muscle. Trigger points will become active and refer pain to other parts of the body, i.e. triggers points in the shoulders or neck can refer to the head and may be the cause of your tension headache. This type of massage is very beneficial for sport enthusiasts as it will elongate shortened muscles, increase the rate of tissue healing and decrease muscle soreness.
Why get a Deep Tissue Massage?

It feels good and it is beneficial to your health. When muscles are stressed, they block oxygen and nutrients, leading to inflammation that builds up toxins in the muscle tissue. A deep-tissue massage helps loosen muscle tissues, release toxins from muscles and get blood and oxygen circulating properly. Because many toxins are released, it’s important to drink plenty of water after a deep-tissue session to help eliminate these toxins from the body.
What is the purpose of Deep Tissue Massage?

The purpose is to “unstick” the fibers of a muscle while releasing deeply-held patterns of tension, removing toxins, while relaxing and soothing the muscle. It is both corrective and therapeutic.…

Payday loans in Georgia were especially popular amongst residents with poor credit in need of fast cash. Payday lending offices are generally not selective about who they loan money in most cases, proof of employment and a bank account is enough to secure a small loan. What’s more, people can get the money they need the same day they apply for it. This lending arrangement would seem ideal to just about anyone on the outside, but the reality is that the interest rate on the average payday loan is often as much as 600 percent.

The Payday Lending Act of 2004

The Payday Lending Act went into effect in 2004, and it promptly put an end to all payday loans in Georgia. According to the act, lending offices in the state may be charged with felony and racketeering for charging borrowers excessive interest on small loans, typically $3,000 and under. Penalties for violating the act include fines of more than $20,000 and possibly even jail time. It’s no surprise that most payday lending offices in Georgia closed up shop as a result of the act. Georgia is now one of 19 states in the country that no longer allows payday lending.

Borrowers Nationwide Should Steer Clear of Payday Loans

When people are desperate for money, they often fail to see the big picture. Payday loans appear attractive initially to people with bad credit because they need money and have no other means of obtaining it. Borrowing $100 and being told the amount to pay back is $125 doesn’t seem like a big deal, but then there’s another $20 to $25 in interest tacked onto the balance for every $100 borrowed. There’s no denying this ultimately adds up to a lot of money. People who get into the payday loan cycle frequently end up in more severe financial shape than they were to start with when they only needed a few hundred bucks to pay a light bill or something equally minor. Payday lending isn’t worth it, and the fact that Georgia and other states have now banned the practice confirms this.

Here are a few simple solutions to start getting out of debt. Remember, these aren’t suggestions or temporary fixes, they should be new habits that you form and a new mentality that you embrace:

1. Stop Spending on Credit
This one may seem obvious, but people tend to understand the principle but not follow it. Don’t spend anything on credit – only cash and debit. Once you start doing this, it’ll start to feel a little bit more real whenever you start spending money. And once that starts happening, you will see yourself slowly but surely cutting out unnecessary expenses. Do not finance any big purchases and force yourself to wait until you have money in the bank before buying anything. If you start thinking in this mentality, you will naturally spend less than you used to, and start building up some savings.

2. Pay Off as Much of your Debt as You can every Single Month
Every month you don’t pay off your debt, you are further in the hole. Why? Because your interest payment goes up and your credit score goes down. It is a never ending cycle, especially if you pay of your debt by going into more debt. People who make it a habit to pay off their bills every single month in full end up paying almost no interest and up with higher credit scores. These higher scores translate to better interest rates, which means less money paid to credit and finance companies.
A simple tip to reduce interest fees and salvage your credit: If you have lots of different companies you owe money to, pay the minimum balance on each one first. If you have money left over, pay off the smallest bills first, then progressively higher, until you’ve paid them all off.

3. Set a Budget Where you ALWAYS Spend Less Than You Earn
Time to get to basics. If you really sit down and think about necessities, you will realize people can live well on very little money. A roof over your head, a vehicle that gets from point A to point B, and three meals a day. Even if you are the head of a family, all that translates to is extra food. People love to spend when they are out and worry later, but if you look in any house, there are countless items that a person doesn’t use and doesn’t need. Once you sit down and calculate your needs and cut out all the excess, you will find yourself amazed at the monthly allowance needed to live just fine. This will leave you with more money which you can use to pay off debt. You could even start to think about how to save more money.

If you take these three simple rules to heart and don’t stray, you will find yourself with more money in the bank than you’ve ever had (as well as debt free), as well as a new sense of tranquility because you don’t have any urge to spend it. This kind of tranquility and freedom is something that can’t be purchased.…

Ever since the Reagan / Thatcher era in the 1980s more and more people have started buying and selling stocks, or shares as they are called in the U.K. Rewards can be great but you can also lose all your money.
When I was growing up, my parents bought shares in utility companies and other nationalized industries that were privatized – British Water, British Gas, British Airways to name but a few. These were sure fire winners in the economic climate of the time. You simply applied for your allotted number of shares and then got a share trader to sell them on the day of issue. The profits were modest, but to a middle-class family it seemed to be money for nothing.
Now all the crown jewels are gone. The present Tory Party in the UK is trying to privatize any remaining government concerns. I wouldn’t recommend these latest offerings: as I said, all the best concerns have long gone.
When I was at University some of my friends had success with buying and selling shares in companies with new technology. My friends were often the victims of their own success: as with any form of gambling, beginners luck encourages people to foolishly think they have the Midas touch. As a result, they end up investing too much and eventually getting burned by a sudden downturn in the economy.
It seems to me that the best gambles are those based on information about the future. Let me explain. What is going to be valuable in the future? The World’s population is set to double in the next 50 years. The result is going to be a shortage of natural resources such as food and clean water.
Already 66% of the world’s fresh water supplies are spent on irrigation. 1.3 billion People in the world lack access to clean water supplies. Already many parts of the world are water stressed. In the US, according to the National Climate Center, 43% of the country is suffering ‘moderate to extreme drought’. Did you know that it takes 140 liters of water to make 1 cup of coffee? Consumer culture is using up water supplies at a frightening rate.
My recommendation for buying stocks is simple: water is going to be the new ‘oil’. Investing in companies that are making technology to recycle water, to use grey water and to desalinate sea water will produce a healthy long term profit. Also companies that make low flow shower heads and low flow faucet aerators for the home will boom in the future. When water prices go up and up, people will be forced to change their patterns of consumption and will buy water conservation technology.
They say that only two things are certain in life: death and taxes. I would add a third item to that list and that is consumption. As humanity consumes the world’s precious resources those who can provide the basics of food and water will be positioned to make huge profits.

Engaging in overseas real estate is no easy task. Choosing the country and the property itself is difficult, but finalizing all the necessary documentation and paperwork you need to complete your purchase can make the experience a bit discouraging. With the growing number of possible new homes to choose from, how do you find “the one”.
The numbers for overseas property investors are at an all time high with thousands of Americans and British nationals looking to invest in a strong and growing economy. As a result, we have a deluge of foreigners scoping out Cyprus properties for sale, as well as locations in Brazil and other exotic destinatiobns. But what does it actually take to buy and finance an overseas home?
Know your Reason for Buying
Defining your reason behind investing in an overseas property can effectively narrow down your options. If you are looking for a property that can bring in profits, then look for a country with a good tourism portfolio like Cyprus. If you, on the other hand, are looking for a more permanent place for your family, then choose one that has a good education system, diverse community and a strong growing economy. Brazil is a perfect example of this option.
Take the Time to Choose
Real estate in itself is a huge investment and doing it outside of your country increases the risks that can either make or break your investment. This is why it is pertinent that you choose wisely and carefully. Getting overly excited and rushing into buying overseas properties can leave you unprepared for any problems that may arise in the future.
Seek Professional Counsel
The process of buying a property across international borders can be quite complicated, this is exactly you need to arm yourself with the right realtor and lawyer who are equally adept at handling these requirements. Likewise, compare mortgage offers and rules for international purchases. This is also the best way you can protect your interest as an investor.
Conduct your Own Research
Rather than just relying on your hired help, it would be to your great advantage if you also do your own leg work in evaluating and choosing between your options. Do research on today’s strongest real estate economies, weigh their pros and cons, and study their unique environment. These factors will help you decide on whether you are on the right track towards getting your dream realized.
Know Your Needs
Aside from knowing your reason behind making the decision to buy property elsewhere, it is also equally important that you identify your needs and choose a location that you are happy to call home.…

The first thing that I recommend you do if you’re wanting to save more money is to sit down with a pen and some paper and write down all your monthly expenses such as rent/mortgage, utility bills, internet access, insurance, car loan, credit cards, etc. as well as things like food, clothing and entertainment. Just knowing how much you are actually spending is an important first step to be able to reduce the amount of money that you spend and start saving more.

In my case, I found that my budget never really took into account my credit card repayments. I pay off my card every month and this is something that always negatively impacts my bank balance. Clearing the debt is a good idea but what I’m now realizing is that throughout the month I use my card too liberally. Thinking more carefully before whipping out the plastic will certainly serve me well.

You can find plenty of sites online that discuss how to save money with coupons. This isn’t something that I’ve really looked into myself. Provided the coupons themselves are free, it seems like something that might be worth considering.

How to Save Money on Food

I’m a sucker for eating out. Not that I go to restaurants all that often, but just picking up some take away food never seems all that expensive. However, this is when looking at it in isolation. I’ve realized that this attitude is counter productive. The best way to save money on my food bill is to cook more food myself at home. Over the course of a month, the amount that can be saved buying my own groceries and cooking at home vs. eating out, really begins to add up.
It’s not just about the money either. When you prepare food at home, you can be sure that what you’re eating is healthy too. I like to make fresh fruit and vegetable juices. Even though organic produce is a bit more expensive than conventional fruit and vegetables, it still works out cheaper making my own juices than going to a juice bar.

Learn to Save Money

Appreciating the value of money is important. I think that in this day and age of instant gratification and buy now, pay later mentality, it is easy to forget about what things actually cost us. Over the last year, I have become a bit better at saving up for things and then buying them rather than buying on credit and then paying them off. This is an area that I want to work on to improve even further.

The main realization that I’ve had recently is that it’s of vital importance not to bury our heads in the sand and ignore our monthly outgoings. Being conscious of what we are spending as well as our current bank balance is one way to help us start to make better personal financedecisions.…