http://www.sidetick.com/community.php?id=626 Welcome to the Credit 101 Community on SideTick. This community is designed to give you the necessary information and programs to improve your credit score. As a community member you will get advice from members that have been in a similar credit situation and found a way to improve their credit score.Let’s work together to change your financial outlook. http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=8832 Good Debt"Good debt is investment debt that creates value; for example, student loans, real estate loans, home mortgages and business loans," says Eric Gelb, CEO of Gateway Financial Advisors and author of "Getting Started in Asset Allocation."Robert D. Manning, a professor of finance at the Rochester Institute of Technology, also recommends taking on debts that are tax-deductible and debts that produce more wealth in t... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=8682 160;160; 1. Avoid those that demand upfront payment:160; A legitimate credit repair service will evaluate your situation thoroughly and do their work, hopefully to your satisfaction, before payment is required. The Credit Repair Organizations Act (CROA) is a 1997 federal law that forbids credit repair organizations from accepting money from customers until after they have fully performed the services as stipulated on their contract. This is the most common ... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=7640 I charge absolutely everything to my credit card. Everything. Even $3 purchases if I can. Why, you ask, in a world where credit cards are "evil", would I do such a thing?160;I am a credit card junkie (and have been for many years) for a number of reasons:It builds up a great credit rating. By charging and paying off up to thousands of dollars in expenses each month, I have built up a rock-solid credi... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=7056 t;a href="http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/17/pf/makeover_retirement.moneymag/index.htm"t;Making a surprise early retirement workt;/at; Making a surprise early retirement workPat and George Breault, 58 and 62, Northville, Mich. By Paul Keegan and Karen CheneyJune 18, 2010: 6:04 AM ET... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=6903 1. 60 Percent Solution. Basically, this budget asks you to fit your regular monthly expenses within 60% of your gross income, so that you have room for savings (long-term and short-term), retirement and spending money (8220;fun money8221;). These are the things that most often break a budget, because most people don8217;t budget for them. Now, your percentage will vary, but the percentages given here are just rough guidelines:160;160;160;.. http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=6840 t;a href="http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/15/news/economy/credit_card_rates/index.htm"t;Money.com: Fed limits card fees to $25t;/at;By Jennifer Liberto, senior writerJune 15, 2010: 3:54 PM ETWASHINGTON (CNNMoney.com) -- Most credit card penalties will be limited to $25, and fees for customers who don039;t use their cards will be eliminated under ... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=6789 Why You Need to Look At Your Credit Card Debt Now, More Than EverIt039;s no secret to our readers that I talk about credit card debt quite a lot. After all, there are two ways to handle your credit cards - the right way and the wrong way. If you039;re credit card debt is piling up, you039;re handling them the wrong way and I039;d feel remiss if I didn039;t say something about it. However, more and more credit card holders are finding themselves deeper i... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=6767 t;a href="http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/15/pf/investing_ideas.moneymag/index.htm"t;The 6 best investing ideas you039;ve never heard oft;/at; The 6 best investing ideas you039;ve never heard ofBy David Futrelle, Barbara Kiviat, Paul J. Lim, George Mannes and Penelope Wang... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=6561 t;a href="http://voices.kansascity.com/node/9289"t;A smart solution on credit card feest;/at; A smart solution on credit card feesBy Henry Armour, President and CEO of the National Association of Convenience Stores, special to The StarSometimes Washin... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=6506 t;a href="http://www.usnews.com/money/blogs/alpha-consumer/2010/06/09/how-to-master-the-new-credit-card-rules"t;U.S. News mp; World Report: How to Master the New Credit Card Rulest;/at; By Kimberly PalmerToday8217;s guest post comes from Adam Jusko, Founder of IndexCreditCards.co... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=6407 t;a href="http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/07/pf/saving/new_types_of_credit_cards/"t;Tired of credit-card gotchas?t;/at; Tired of credit-card gotchas?By Jen Haley, producer June 7, 2010: 11:21 AM ET... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=6390 Come great tips I039;ve come across. Thought I039;d share Smile(1) Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Admittedly, some of these bulbs really suck (weird colored light, dim until they warm up, etc.) but there are some good ones out there. In fact, we8217;ve had great success with the el cheapo multi-packs from Lowes and Home Depot. The added bonus is that CF bulbs put out less heat, so they also reduce your AC load in t... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=6267 t;a href="http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/04/pf/credit_card_rates/"t;High APR? Don039;t worry, you can still negotiatet;/at; High APR? Don039;t worry, you can still negotiateBy David Ellis, staff writerJune 4, 2010: 9:22 AM ETNEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- In the never-ending battle... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=6155 160;21 Credit Card Fraud Prevention Tips:160;160;160; 1. Keep an eye on your credit card every time you use it, and make sure you get it back as quickly as possible. Try not to let your credit card out of your sight whenever possible.160;160;160; 2. Be very careful to whom you give your credit card. Don039;t give out your account160;160;160; number over the phone unl... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=5936 1. The best time to book an airline ticket is Wednesday morning at 12:01am (that039;s really one minute after midnight on Tuesday).160; Why?160; Because most people book their reservations on the weekends and have 24-hours in which to pay but don039;t always complete the reservation...those budge fares flood the market at midnight and become available to you!160; But here039;s what you160; need to figure out: you must consider that it is 12:01am in the time... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=5934 t;a href="http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/05/credit_card_tips.html"t;consumeraffairs.com: Eight Ways To Avoid Future Credit Card Pitfallst;/at;May 26, 2010The credit card reform legislation Congress passed one year ago is now mostly in effe... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=5933 t;a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/05/26/investopedia43752.DTL"t;San Franciso Chornicle: Best Frequent Flyer Credit Cards For (Almost) Free Travelt;/at; Amy Fontinelle, provided byWednesday, May 26, 2010Why pay hundreds of dollars for a plane ticket if you don0... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=5782 160;1.160; Stay (relatively) local 8212; Consider regional destinations with simple attractions, such as a lake or nature trails. Not enough to keep your family occupied for a week? Research other areas within a couple of hours of your first stop that feature different types of attractions, such as museums or shopping districts. You could take day trips from one base or stay in two or more towns over the course of your trip for variety.... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=5624 1. Live within your means160;160; 2. Try to use credit for cars, homes and student loans only160;160; 3. Set up automatic bill payment, or payment reminders160;160; 4. If you use a credit card, treat it like a debit card and pay off the entire balance every month160;160; 5. Only apply for new credit when you must160;160; 6. Forget about the Joneses... buy what you NEED... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=5621 t;a href="http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/20/pf/expert/financial_advisers.moneymag/index.htm"t;Money.com: Dirty tricks financial advisers playt;/at; 160;Money Magazine: Ask the ExpertDirty tricks financial advisers playMay 20, 2010: 9:40 AM ETQuestion... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=5604 t;a href="http://www.suntimes.com/business/currency/2291790,CST-NWS-mcredit19.article"t;Credit card rewards come with some strings attachedt;/at; Credit card rewards come with some strings attachedCommentsMay 19, 2010Shopping for... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=5593 t;a href="http://blogs.consumerreports.org/money/2010/05/consumer-credit-card-interest-rate-30-percent-state-usury-law-senate-financial-reform-amendment-whitehouse-.html"t;Is Senate proposal death knell for 30% credit-card rates?t;/at;160;Is Senate proposal death knell for 30% credit-card rates?If you... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=5538 1. Apply at Home: Always consider applying for your small business credit card at your existing financial institution. Your banking relationship can aid with the approval process. When you need a line of credit or loan you will have a relationship established with your lender helping with credit applications over $100,000 not using automated scoring systems.2. Limit Card Hopping: Signing up for multiple cards to take advantage of deals can have a negative impact ... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=5511 t;a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2010/05/17/2010-05-17_outrage_over_credit_card_rates_soars_as_rates_hit_5_year_highs.html"t;NY Daily News: Outrage over credit card rates soars, as rates hit 5 year highst;/at;Outrage over credit card rates soars, as rates hit 5 year highsBY Phyllis FurmanDAILY NEWS BUSINESS WRITER... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=5496 t;a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/13/AR2010051303571.html"t;Washington Post: Senate passes amendment on debit and credit card swipe feest;/at; Senate passes amendment on debit and credit card swipe feesBy Brady Dennis and Ylan Q. MuiWashington Post Staff Writer... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=5495 t;a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100517-704875.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines"t;Number of Borrowers With Serious-Delinquent Credit Card Downt;/at; MAY 17, 2010, 7:16 A.M. ETDOW JONES NEWSWIRES 160;The amount of Americans who are behind at least 90 days on one or more of th... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=5303 t;a href="http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/07/pf/IRS_audits.moneymag/index.htm"t;Money.com: 5 things to know about getting auditedt;/at; 5 things to know about getting auditedBy Beth BravermanMay 12, 2010: 11:37 AM ET(Money Magazine) -- 1. Audits are on the riseNow that your 1040 is out the door, you may be se... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19278&blogentry_id=5227 8226;Pay on time. Send a payment check well before the due date to avoid late fees and finance charges. Your credit score, a numerical reputation of a consumer039;s financial creditworthiness, used by lenders to determine whether they should lend money to a person, and if so, at what interest rate, can most adversely be effected by late payments, collections, and bankruptcies. 8226;Stay within your credit limit to avoid penalties and reserve available c... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19278&blogentry_id=5226 Establishing a good credit history has never been as important as it is today. It039;s not just that you039;ll need good credit to get decent rates when you039;re ready to buy a home or a car. Your credit history can determine whether you get a good job, a decent apartment, a deal on your cell phone and reasonable rates on insurance. One seemingly minor misstep -- a late payment, maxing out your credit cards -- can haunt you for years. If yo... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=5220 Credit Card Tip Of The Week: Pay Off That Balance, Then Worry About InvestingMay 11, 2010 - 11:59 amJeffrey WeberBio It always amazes me when people who are deeply in debt to their credit card companies fail to do everything in their power to pay it off immediately. My current pet peeve: when cardholders who8217;ve been living with a hefty balance ... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=4882 Do you need your cash?If so, leasing makes sense, because usually you will put less money down than if you buy. In many cases, dealers will waive a down payment. You need only come up with $1,000 to $2,000 for fees, the first month039;s payment, and a refundable security deposit. Sales tax is usually paid monthly as part of the payment. Dealers often will allow you to roll many of the fees into the monthly payment as well by adding... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=4777 The First StepThe first thing you need to do is find out what is being reported about you. This is easy and inexpensive. For under $10, you can get your credit report from one of the three main credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. Keep in mind however, that if you have recently been denied credit, you can get a free report from the same credit bureau the lender used to reject you as long as you do so within 30... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=4775 160;When they plan to increase your rate or other fees.160; Your credit card company must send you a notice 45 days before they can160;160;160;160;160;160;160;160;160;160;increase your interest rate;160;160;160;160;160;160;160;160;160;160;change certain fees (such as annual fees, cash advance fees, and late fees) that apply to your a... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=4772 160; Save as much as you can as early as you can.Though it039;s never too late to start, the sooner you begin saving, the more time your money has to grow. Gains each year build on the prior year039;s -- that039;s the power of compounding, and the best way to accumulate wealth. Set realistic goals.Project your retirement expenses based on y... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=34064&blogentry_id=4565 In such critical time so many people are in debt and want to move outof it. One of my friend also has debt and she is in such critical situation. Though she has a good job but she can not save as much money because so much she has to pay to creditors. So debt consolidation is a better option for her? http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=4528 To prevent credit card theft, you need to read privacy policies on the websites that you do transactions on. It039;s very crucial especially if you do electronic banking. These thieves may be able to gain access to your information by purchasing important information such as your full name, SSN, date of birth, and your mother039;s maiden name. Mind you, they can buy these things at very cheap rates.160; You also need to install a firewall on your computer so that hackers would... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=4501 Everyone says taking out a student loan to invest in your future is well worth it, but is it really?160; For a handful of professions a degree is absolutely necessary, but for most jobs, it039;s not necessarily required, but gives you the competitive edge when trying to land that first job.160; At least in my experience, after that first job all future employers are interested in on the job experience, and couldn039;t care less about a degree.160; In these cases I ... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=4500 The great debate: Are stocks pricey? The great debate: Are stocks pricey?By Carla Fried Money Magazine contributing writer... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=4484 Really good article.160; I really need to work on following the first tip.160; Vet bills are expensive, though. :( 5 tips for managing your credit : Source: MSNBC.com ... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=4483 Consumers to win as Canada039;s credit card market evolves Consumers to win as Canada039;s credit card market evolvesApril 22, 2010 | 09:58Consumers are the winners when it comes to Canada... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=4457 Getting your first credit card seems easy when you039;re filling out the application. But, in hindsight you may have some regrets. Where did you get your first credit card? Do you consider it a good credit card? http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19278&blogentry_id=4456 Knowing good credit building techniques can help one establish a decent and impressive credit rating. A good credit rating would give you access to all important loans which you could use for very important decisions in your life like buying a house, purchasing a car and going on a vacation. Apart from the more obvious method of paying bills on time and having a disciplined approach when spending, there are other lesser known credit building techniques that could als... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=4437 So much for switching my Target card to a Visa... t;a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5goFmZcN_Lkfr579WPapc3UbBUHPAD9F6VJNG0"t;Target swaps credit cardt;/at;Target swaps credit card(AP) 8211; 2 hours agoMINNEAPOLIS 8212; ... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=4436 t;a href="http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/autos/1004/gallery.Costly_homebuying_mistakes/index.html"t;6 biggest mistakes homebuyers make Buying a home is the biggest purchase most people will ever make, yet many go into it blind. Here are the 6 most common -- and costly -- mistakes homebuyers make.t;/at;1. Not knowing your credit scoreIf you039;re even toying with t... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=4428 1. Take Care of Your DebtsRetiring with no debts should be one of your main goals. Even if you have good savings and the mortgage has been paid off, you still need to take care of credit-card debt and any other pending payments before you retire. This is necessary even if you take a part-time job after retirement, as you want to work to pay for your hobbies or supplement your savings, not to cover past debts.2. Get Your Goals Down on Paper... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=4353 Leave Some for Next TimeWe try to make meals that will feed more than our family of 4. This gives me leftovers for lunch. I make a lot from scratch and limit the amounts of desserts and such to buy. Also, are you using cash? Our grocery/dining bill went do... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=33872&blogentry_id=4331 When you pay cash, you can "feel" the money leaving you. This is not true with credit cards. Flipping a credit card up on a counter registers nothing emotionally. A study of credit card use at McDonald8217;s found that people spent 47% more when using credit instead of cash. This is money you could have saved!If you "have to" use plastic, I suggest a debit card. I use them for travel and the occasional convenience of ordering something o... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=4288 Source: Huffington Post t;a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/don-mcnay/losing-at-the-credit-scor_b_535098.html"t;Losing at the Credit Score Gamet;/at;160;160; 160;160;160; 160;160;160; 160;Don McNayDon McNay, CLU, ChFC, MSFS, CSSC is one of the world039;s leading authorities on "Big Mon... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=4276 t;a href="http://money.cnn.com/2010/04/12/news/economy/credit_card_rates/index.htm?source=cnn_binmp;amp;hpt=Sbin"t;Getting a loan will be priciert;/at; - CNNMoney.com Getting a loan will be pricierBy Jennifer Liberto, senior writerApril 13, 2010: 4:06 AM ETWASHI... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=4263 Source t;a href="http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/04/12/get-your-fico-score-on-your-iphone/"t;Walletpop.com: Get your FICO score on your iPhonet;/at; Get your FICO score on your iPhoneDiane WednerApr 12th 2010 at 10:00AMYou want to finance a car? Check your credit score. Want a... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19272&blogentry_id=4063 1. Verify the status quo160; "Step one is to make sure that you do, in fact, still have the same terms that you had originally," says Ulzheimer. Check not only the interest rate on your account, he says, but the credit limit and the grace period. Issuers sometimes shorten grace periods on accounts that aren039;t generating much revenue. 2. Avoid 039;atypical039; ... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19272&blogentry_id=4062 Make credit card payments more than once a month.160;By making card payments two or more times during a160;billing cycle, rather than just at month039;s end, you can keep your average balances lower and improve your utilization ratio. Credit Karma039;s chief executive and founder Ken Lin says that because a sudden change in payment behavior could raise fraud concerns at y... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19278&blogentry_id=4006 The rules that credit-card companies have to live by changed dramatically with the enactment of new regulations last month. Now, some of the rules for consumers striving to maintain good credit are changing, too. For the most part, card holders would still do well to pay on time, keep their balances low and refrain from applying for too many credit cards at once. But some of the old tenets may not always hold up, as credit-card companies continue to adapt to the new ... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19238&blogentry_id=4000 Make a budget and stick to it. How can you know where your money is going if you don039;t budget? How can you set spending and saving goals if you don039;t know where your money is going? You need a budget whether you make thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. 160; http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=3968 CNNMoney.com 5 credit score killers 5 credit score killersBy Blake Ellis, staff reporterMarch 23, 2010: 8:17 AM ET... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19279&blogentry_id=3936 10 Bad Habits and What They Cost You This Is Gonna... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19278&blogentry_id=3906 Myth: I should pay off the debt with the highest interest rate first to get out of debt quickly.Truth: You should pay off the smallest debt first to create the greatest momentum in your debt snowball. 160; The math seems to lean more toward paying the highest interest debts first, but what I have learned is that personal finance is 20% head knowledge and 80% behavior.You need some quick wins in order to stay pumped enough to get ... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19278&blogentry_id=3772 For some, job layoffs and unforeseen external factors have loaded them up with debt.160; For most, however, debt is the result of extraneous spending, poor money management, or both. Here are ten tips to getting out of debt. Some are easier to follow than others, but all are designed to help alleviate the problem: 1. Create a realistic monthly budget for your expenses. List all monthly bills and necessities and make sure they are covered by ... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19244&blogentry_id=3697 160; Money College: Seven ways to avoid credit card blunders ... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19244&blogentry_id=3698 160; Even if you didn8217;t make (or stick to) any Savvy resolutions this new year, or didn8217;t manage to give up a spendy habit for Lent, it8217;s never too late to clean up your finances and get yourself on the right track. Spring finally arrives this Sunday, so take some time this week... http://www.sidetick.com/blog.php?user=19275&blogentry_id=3704 How to Get Out of Debt Getting out of debt is challenging, but it can be accomplished with dedication and perseverance. 160; ...