Merchant Accounts

AP - Isiah Thomas couldn't win as coach with the players he assembled as president. Now, he's lost both jobs. Thomas was fired as the New York Knicks coach Friday after a season of listless and dreadful basketball, a tawdry lawsuit and unending chants from fans demanding his dismissal.

Even if you are in the deepest of credit card debts, there is a way out. You need to have loads of determination to come out of it, of course, and you need to make good planning for it too. But a viable credit card solution does exist. If you find your determination flagging, then just think how good it will be if you are free from this credit card debt in six months... Well, that should surely be a great impetus to make you sally forth.

First, plan your monthly budget.

You will need a lot of proper budgeting to come out of the mess. Make an account of how much you are earning in a month. Then make another list of all your credit card dues per month. First start only with the minimum monthly dues. Since these amounts will vary from one month to another, put in a round figure. You must make a calculation of how much amount you will need to pay each month as minimum dues. When the figure is out in front, you will not find it so intimidating. Now, you have to make a budget for all your outgoings, and make proper space for your credit card bills. This is possible, and if not, try stopping some expenses you can do without. Chin up, you will only have to scrape and scrounge for a few months.

Next, increase your income.

Take up a supplementary job now. Even if you see your budget is affording your minimum credit card bills, you must increase your income so that you can get out of the indebtedness faster. You can think of a work-at-home job that requires no investment (search on the Internet, there are plenty of freelance jobsites you can register on for free) or take up a part time job somewhere. Do not invest any money, especially in hazy places like the stock market. You need to be sure you are getting returns at the end of the day.

Now, get some debt counseling done.

When you have done all of this, scout around for a good debt counselor. Look on the Internet for genuine providers and speak with them. Remember that your situation is already improving due to your own efforts of points 1 and 2, so now the counselors will be more enthusiastic in solving the larger problem. They will suggest you some ways by which you can get out of your debt forever. Yes, forever! One of these ways is credit card debt consolidation, also known as credit card debt refinancing. Here, they will offer to repay all your dues to the various credit card companies, and you have to only make payments to the consolidators. This is a good workable plan, because your interest rate decreases significantly, and you make only one lump sum payment a month, so you can manage it better. Find out more details from the counselor before going ahead.

Finally, act!

Ah, you are acting already... but with everything into place, you must become more aggressive to seek your credit debt solution faster. You have to make your payment to the consolidators still, but with your planned budget and added income (and also lowered payments), this becomes easier.

Sooner than you think, you will be out of the credit card debt forever. And you will be looking at a more beautiful life ahead!

Neil D'Silva writes a lot on finance related topics, especially dealing with the US. He also runs a content writing business.

posted by ma31592  # 9:59 PM 0 comments

AP - After hours of lawyers popping up with similar objections and questions, a custody hearing for 416 children seized from a polygamist sect finally turned to whether they were abused: A child welfare worker said some women at the sect's ranch may have had children when they were minors, some as young as 13.

At their inception credit cards were reserved almost exclusively for the financially elite. They were originally meant to extend the buying power of those who did not want to bother handling that pesky cash or the indignity of having to write a check. Look at us now, McDonalds reported last year that "plastic" will soon over-take cash transactions at their windows. Who-da thunk it?

However, convenience does come at a price. Visa, based in San Francisco, benefits as shoppers worldwide are beginning to rely more on credit and debit cards instead of cash and cheques to make payments and they get a "taste" (to be said in your best Tony Soprano voice) of every transaction. Guess who gets a cut, your local bank that issued the card to you. Guess who pays these fees, the retailer and ultimately the consumer.

Visa announced, they are preparing for their first IPO (initial public offering of stock) reports say that Visa may raise up to $US18.8 billion in the largest US initial public offering. Traders are astounded that in these times of unsteady financial markets and a global credit crunch that any financial based company could pull this off. But investors are optimistic and eagerly waiting as consumers trade mortgages for plastic. The bright spot in the plastic invasion is good ole' capitalism and competition.

The previously mentioned financial elite are not the only people who enjoy great credit card offers now. A large percentage of Americans have dropped in credit levels based on an up and down economy and the banking fiasco. These consumers are a large percentage of the banks income. So, instead of turning consumers away with the same awful credit cards of yester-year they are building better credit cards for fair credit consumers. Having a bump or bruise on your credit in the past meant you were only offered "secured" credit cards with outrageous rates and fees on your on money!

Now days a god portion of credit card consumers with fair credit can enjoy credit cards offering 11.9% interest rates, 0% balance transfers and no annual fees. Credit cards for fair credit card holders have certainly come a long way. Of coarse, they come with tricky little features that allow the credit card companies to return to their obnoxious roots if you pay late. All in all though, if are looking for a good credit card while you work on improving your credit rating they are out there if you look around.

A foot note to the IPO that Visa is preparing for; In 2006 when the 2nd largest credit card company in the world MasterCard did their IPO shares rose $7, or 18%, to $46 on the New York Stock Exchange almost immediately. The shares were priced at $39 each, and the initial public offering raised $2.4 billion. They are now trading at $195.00 at the time of this article. Investors are watching this trade closely.

Aubrey Clark is an editor and syndicated writer for LendFast.com and writes on various financial subjects that range from Where to Find Low Interest Rate Credit Cards to where to find the best Atlanta mortgage rates.

posted by ma31592  # 9:26 AM 0 comments