Debt

One of the strategies that consumers employ to help them pay off debt is consolidation. Debt consolidation puts your debts together in one place, making it a little easier for you to pay them down. For some, this works remarkably well. Unfortunately, debt consolidation ends up being more problematic than helpful for most debtors.

How Debt Consolidation Works

There are two main methods of debt consolidation. One of them involves getting a third party to lump your debts together. You make one payment to the third party, and then that’s divvied up between your creditors. Often, there’s a fee charged as part of this service. You also have to be on the alert for scams.

Another method of debt consolidation is to pay off smaller loans with one larger loan. If you can qualify for a personal loan, have 0% credit card offers, or can get a home equity loan, this consolidation option would work for you.

Once your loans are consolidated into one place, you make one payment. It’s often easier to manage, and in some cases it can save you in interest, since you aren’t paying a wide variety of high rates. For the disciplined consumer, debt consolidation can work well.

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Pink heart and dollar

Valentines Day will be upon us soon — a day of the year when you’re almost obligated to spend money to prove your love.

What are you buying for your significant other this year?

If you’re like most people, you forgot to budget for February and don’t have the immediate funds needed to declare your love. Ouch!

You know what you want to get this year — it’s been in the back of your head since the last one — but you’re $500 shy and have maxed out your cards.

At least there are payday loans to get you through the holiday. All you have to do is take a blank check, a pay stub, and a bank statement to your local payday loan office, and then request the amount needed to leap the Valentine’s hurdle.

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Credit card payment

Perhaps you’ve heard about the big settlement last year between merchants and credit card issuers regarding interchange fees. Those are the “swipe” fees that merchants have to pay in order to process credit card payments. Not only did this settlement determine that merchants will receive a $7.2 billion payment for past interchange fees and a temporary reduction in those fees, but it was also decided that merchants may now legally add a checkout fee — paid by the customer — to credit card transactions.

Having to pay 1.5% to 4% of each transaction for the convenience of credit could be a tough pill to swallow.

Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about checkout fees: [ continue reading… ]

Doctor holding smart phone

The advancement of technology has made many amazing things possible. People across the globe can communicate over the internet without a hitch, allowing news to travel faster than it ever has. Smart phones are a big part of our world becoming “smaller.” They perform numerous tasks, so users can accomplish a great deal with only one device.

Smart phone applications are available in many different categories, with one of the most beneficial being health.

In a number of different ways, these apps strive to improve our well being. Here are some ways that apps can help you live a healthier life: [ continue reading… ]

Shaking hands

As much as we’d like to think we can do everything, the reality is that we have strengths and weaknesses. We are, in fact, human.

When starting a business, it’s important to recognize this, and to look for ways to overcome your weaknesses. One way you can improve your business overall is to find a partner to work with you. A good partner can complement your skills and help you grow your business at a faster pace.

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Power pose

You’ve wanted a raise forever.

It’s been torture seeing Sarah getting the extra pay that you deserve. You can’t help but wonder — a whole lot more than you’d like — what she has that you don’t.

The answer is simple, and it’s something easily attainable.

Sarah has confidence. And, rather than walking around with it stuffed in her pocket, she wears it on her sleeve for everyone to see.

When Sarah sits at her desk, she sits with her arms up, hands clasped behind her head. Every now and then, she may even sit with her feet on her desk.

Maybe you found her behavior distasteful, but Sarah’s confidence was an announcement to your boss that, “Hey, I’m the woman for the job.” Your boss subconsciously absorbed that message.

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