Addymom - The Spot to How To

Homes For Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:02:00 +0000

With the housing market down, buyers and sellers are looking for cheaper alternatives for listing and finding homes on the market. The internet is home to many options, and is a great way to begin your home search or test a For Sale By Owner without a real estate agent. Even real estate agents are looking to the internet as additional marketing for their current listings.

Click Here to learn how to list your home on one of these popular real estate sites, Zillow.com.

5-A-Day for Your Toddler

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:31:00 +0000

I am constantly searching for new ways to get my toddler to eat healthy food. We have all heard that making their food fun is important. If it doesn’t look exciting, chances are it won’t be exciting to your toddler. This week, as I was browsing through the fruit at Costco, I found the ultimate fun fruit – champagne grapes. These little grapes are so sweet and easy to eat. At less than $4.00 for a huge container, they are also a steal of a bargain.

Worried about these little sweeties going bad before they disappear? This week was a great week for bargains in my household. Living in a small condo, I have put off purchasing a FoodSaver. It is on the top of my list of must haves, but I must have more room before I can have one! Luckily I spotted the hand held Foodsaver at Ross this week for only $12.99. This little deal was retail $49.99 and works great. It is worth stopping by your local Ross to see if there are any left!

Want more yummy baby and toddler food ideas? Visit my favorite homemade baby food site, http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/. Don’t forget it is always important that you supervise your toddler during snack and meal time. Also, follow your pediatrician recommendations for starting your baby on solid foods.

Vote for Addyson

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:12:00 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to work with James and Michelle Hill, a husband and wife photography team here in Atlanta. James and Michelle use their talents and experience in photography, film and modeling to help capture the perfect portraits for you.

James Adam Hill Photography teamed up with Elite Model Management and KooKoo Bear Kids, an online store featuring furniture, bedding, décor and clothing for babies and children, to search for the next KooKoo Bear Kid. I took my daughter Addyson for her first official photo shoot. We love KooKoo Bear Kids and were excited to work with James and Michelle. The experience was beyond my expectations! James worked so well with Addyson, and I was so excited and proud of her for showing the camera what a huge personality she has.

Let your vote count for Addyson! I encourage you to visit JamesAdamHill.com and see his wonderful gallery of pictures. While you are there, vote for Addyson by leaving a comment below her picture. You can go directly to her photograph here, or search for “Addyson Alane” in the search box at the top of the homepage.

Thank you for your vote! And thank you to James, Michelle, and KooKoo Bear Kids for such a fun experience!

The Cost of Child Care

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:09:00 +0000

Today I have been doing some research on the cost of child care in the United States. Many families assume that it is financially impossible for mom to stay at home with their children. Just by doing some basic calculations and subtracting monthly expenses from your partner’s salary actually gives you quite an inaccurate view of your situation. When you carefully evaluate your finances by creating a budget and calculating all expenses associated with child care, you may realize that the impossible is actually possible.

The actual cost of child care is not an easy thing to find. It will depend on the area you live in, what type of child care you need, your child’s age and the amount of time your child will spend in child care. To give you an idea the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) has reported average annual fees for full time child care in 2008. The average cost for child care in the US in 2008 was $8,798, ranging from $5,096-$15,895. For an exact figure in your state, click here. In-home childcare costs tend to average slightly less than child care centers, while hiring a nanny will be your most expensive option (up to $3,033 a month for full time care).

When figuring your costs for child care and considering your budget as a working mom, you cannot forget to think about what your job is actually costing you. Working creates costs that you do not incur when staying at home. Think about transportation costs, parking, clothing, dry cleaning, lunches, coffee and snacks. You should also include in your budget take-out food costs and expensive grocery bills. The thought of cooking, buying in bulk and grocery shopping with coupons is not exactly a reality when sleepless nights and long days at the office are your routine.

When you create your budget and consider all of the costs associated with working and child care, you may find that the amount of money you are actually bringing home is far less than what you assumed. At this point you should consider your options. Is the possible 10% of your income worth it? Can you cut back on some areas in your budget to account for the loss of that amount?

Before you make your decision, spend time working on your budget. Budgets are not set in stone, and everyone needs to make one that works for their family. Use your calculator along with your creativity and you may realize that staying at home is actually the economical choice for your family. (not to mention so much more rewarding!)

Need help creating your budget? Begin here.

This post is part of a series on being financially able to stay at home with your children. Click here to learn more on this topic.

Once In a Lifetime

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:19:00 +0000

Upon learning of my pregnancy I was instantly transformed from a working girl to working girl contemplating being a stay at home mom. For me, this didn’t take much thought. I always knew that raising my own children was very important to me, and my husband and I were determined to find a way to do it. Let me begin by saying that it has been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. There have been struggles; these struggles being no harder than anything I ever came upon in my career, just different. At this point there is no one that can convince me there is anything better than being there for my child in every milestone moment of her first year (and years to come). After all, these milestones only come once in a lifetime.

I know that this isn’t an option for everyone, although it is hard for me to believe it is not an option for most. I do understand the financial needs all of the hardworking single Moms out there, and I am sympathetic to their situations. I also have met many single Moms through blogging who have been able to work from home to support their families.

With exceptions, it is very possible to be a stay at home Mom. I am looking at this topic from a financial stand point. For those who are struggling with, “could I actually leave my career to be a stay at home mom,” don’t think of it as leaving your career forever. You can always return to your career and will have many years to achieve those goals.

I dare say that the world we are living in has blinded us into thinking that a family living on one salary is just not possible. What is actually impossible is living beyond your means. If you have $100 to spend then you will spend $100. If you only have $10 to spend, guess how much you will spend? That’s right, $10.

We have also grown accustomed to tracking our finances virtually. Does it frighten anyone else to think of how our money is slowly becoming nothing more than virtual transactions? This makes it harder and harder to create and follow a real budget.

By budget I am not talking about sitting down and guessing what you think you make and what you think you should be spending on groceries. Actually creating a budget takes some brainstorming. You need to look at your finances over the span of a year. Think of all the possible things you spend your money on and write it all down. Often we forget about payments that occur annually or biannually like home insurance, auto insurance and ad valorem taxes. Thanks to all those virtual transactions, this part is actually easier than you think. With nearly all banks, credit card companies and utility companies keeping track of your accounts online it is very easy to get yearly reports of your spending habits.

If you are just starting out on your journey into motherhood, then in next 9 months you will take the time to read every pregnancy book you can find, make every doctor’s appointment, take every breastfeeding and labor class you can find and eat healthier than you ever have to ensure a healthy baby. Take the next few steps now to ensure that you can be the person to teach, influence and be the center of that baby’s life beyond 6 weeks old. If your bundle is here, then it is not too late to re-evaluate where you are now.

1. Sit down and create your current budget

2. Create a sample budget for the working mother who will send her child to daycare

You will need to include additional work-related expenses, such as clothing, dry cleaning, commuting costs, unreimbursed work expenses, lunch and snacks. There is also often an increase in lifestyle expenses when there are two household incomes. There is a chance of spending more on things like dining out and housecleaning.
You may also account for formula. The working mother is much less likely to continue to pump and breastfeed than the stay at home mom, and formula is a very large expense.

3. Create a sample budget for the stay at home mother

4. Compare

How much more money will you really be bringing home? Can you adjust your budget now to account for the difference? Try living on the new budget over the next few months. You can even get a head start and put your paycheck straight into a savings account, or strictly use it for the initial baby items you will need for your nursery. These will be onetime expenses that you will not need to account for after baby comes.

In the end it usually comes down to “things.” Are you willing to let material things come between you and your goal of staying at home with your child? As I stated before, there are always exceptions, but let’s not call excuses exceptions. There is no excuse for not running the numbers and creating a real budget that you can look at and understand. There is no reason that you can’t return to your career when kindergarten beckons. Let your defenses down, ignore peer pressure, figure it out for yourself and do what is the best thing for your child.

Interested in learning more? Sign up for my RSS feed and learn more about the possibilities for a Stay at Home Mom over the next couple of weeks. Get help with creating your budget, learn the actual costs of childcare, ways to save money on baby essentials, opportunities for stay at home moms and read inspiring stories from friends who have already been on this journey.

The Cost of Child Care

Is an HSA the right insurance plan for you?

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:21:00 +0000

Five Reasons to have a Health Saving Account:

Tax Savings – you can deduct contributions on your federal tax return and some state tax returns

Earned Interest – Earn tax-deferred interest on accumulated HSA funds

Reduced Insurance Premiums – Use these savings to begin your HSA fund

Portability – remember that the HSA stays with you, not your employer

Long-Term Savings – the funds in your account will continue to grow with interest, and after 65 you may withdraw from your HSA for any reason without a penalty

You may be wondering if a HSA is the best option for you and your family. If you are single and in good health or you and your family are in relatively good health this plan may be an option. You may want to pay out of pocket for the few doctor visits you have in a year and let your HSA balance grow. Remember that you can place your HSA funds in interest earning accounts at guaranteed interest rates. You will also save 40-50% in premium rates when switching from a co-pay plan to a high deductible insurance plan.

Think of your HSA as a long term medical savings plan. Ideally you will want to maximize your contributions each year and build up the money in your account, taking advantage of interest rates and the investment opportunity.

If you choose to go the HSA route, it will pay to comparison shop. HSAs are growing in popularity which means that insurance companies are vying for your business. Some major health insurance companies that currently offer HSAs are Aetna, American National, Assurant, Humana and UnitedHealthCare.

What is a Health Savings Account?

Qualified HSA Medical Expenses

Qualified HSA Medical Expenses

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:12:00 +0000

If you are considering changing your health insurance plan to include a Health Savings Account, you need to understand what the funds in this account can be used for. To be an expense for medical care, the expense has to be primarily for the prevention or alleviation of a physical or mental defect or illness.

Some of the programs that can be covered with HSA funds include but are not limited to:

Weight Loss Programs

Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses

Maternity Expenses, Prenatal Care

Alcoholism Treatments

Dental Treatment/Braces

Over the Counter Medication

Hearing Aids

Long Term Care Insurance

Podiatrist, Orthopedist, and Psychiatrist

Healthcare Premiums When Unemployed

Medical Expenses Not Covered by Your Insurance Policy

Health Plan During Any Period of Continuation of Coverage Required Under Any Federal Law

IRS Publication 502 - Defines a Medical Expense according to the IRS

What is a Health Savings Account?

Is a HSA the right plan for you?

Are you Saving on your Health Insurance?

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:01:00 +0000

There are over 6 million Americans covered by Health Savings Accounts today. A Health Savings Account, or HSA, is a savings account tied to a high deductible health insurance plan. This account can be used to pay for deductibles, coinsurance and other healthcare expenses. The money put towards a HSA is tax free. The money you contribute to your HSA carries over from year to year allowing you to build up these savings. You may also use it to supplement your retirement if the funds are not used by the time you are 65 years old. These plans are not associated with your employer and you remain in control of the funds regardless of your employment status.

There are several advantages to having an HSA. The contributions are 100% tax deductible. Withdrawals used to pay for qualified healthcare expenses are tax free. Although HSA insurance plans have higher deductibles, this usually means they are low cost insurance plans in the first place. You may earn interest on your HSA funds by choosing to invest in a variety of investment options.

There are a few qualifications you have to meet in order to have a HSA. You have to have gross income and cannot be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return. You cannot be eligible for Medicare or have any other health insurance plans. You need to have a qualified high deductible health plan that meets the following requirements:

Deductible of $1,150 for single coverage or $2,300 for family coverage
Out of pocket limit of $5,800 for single coverage or $11,600 for family coverage

The maximum annual contribution for HSAs is set by the government annually. In 2009 the individual coverage maximum was raised to $3,000 and family coverage was raised to $5,950. Anyone including you, your employer or an individual can contribute to your HSA as long as the total does not exceed the contribution maximum for the year. Most plans allow you to make monthly or lump sum contributions throughout the year.

Is a HSA the right plan for you?

Qualified HSA Medical Expenses

Creative Minds Do Their Taxes

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:34:00 +0000

It was 2am last night when the hubby and I finished our taxes. It has been a simple case of procrastination; we just haven’t looked forward to sitting in front of the computer for hours just to learn how much of our hard earned money went to Uncle Sam last year.

There are only 2 more weeks left in the tax season, and you are in either one of two boats. You have probably had your return, or the [enter big purchase] you bought with your return for a few weeks now, or you are waiting until the bitter end to give up the check you have to write to the ...government.

As I was doing my daily research during baby’s naptime today I came across a little comic relief for this time of the year. It is amazing how creative the mind can be when we have to think of ways to keep our hard earned money. Bankrate.com has just released its wackiest tax deductions of 2008, the fourth installment in this series. Claiming your pets as dependants? Writing off the new Jacuzzi as a medical expense? Enjoy nine stories of people who tried their best to find a way to a bigger payoff this tax season. Note the word “tried.”

9 Wackiest Tax Deductions of 2008

Government Seized Property Auctions

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:15:00 +0000

Do you want to know the secret to buying houses and property for pennies on the dollar? The answer is police and government auctions.

A little background…

The illegal drug market in the United States is one of the largest and most profitable in the world. According to the U.S. Customs Service, over 500 million people enter the United States’ boarders each year. Among those people are drug traffickers, hiding and smuggling drugs into our towns and neighborhoods. Along with the criminal smugglers coming from abroad, domestic groups and organizations are cultivating and distributing drugs right here on our own land.

As you begin to understand the enormity of the drug trafficking institution, you will understand the need for these government and police auctions. Americans are spending an estimated $65 billion to $108 billion per year on illegal drug usage. Drug raids have seized upwards of 5,000 tons of drugs in a single year. With the seizure of drugs comes the seizure of personal property and real estate.

Law enforcement agencies are conducting the raids and criminal surveillance actives daily to try and put an end to the drug wars. It has become necessary for these government agencies to conduct auctions to unload the billions of dollars in confiscated property that is obtained in all parts of the United States.

These government auctions are free and open to the public. By participating in these auctions you are able to find incredible deals on personal property and real estate. You can also bid knowing that the money you are spending will go directly back into the agencies that are fighting each day to stop these wars.

There are many websites that try to get you to pay to find out this information; however there is no need to pay to find your deals. Look to sites like govdeals.com or bid4assets.com where you can easily search by location to find seized property deals near you.

Confused on where to begin? Read my article How to Find Seized Property Auctions

Ultimate Blog Party 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:56:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to the party at Addymom! I am very excited to be a part of the Ultimate Blog Party hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom this year. I just started my blog a few weeks ago and have been so inspired and energized by looking at many of your Mom blogs.

My name is Amy and I am an elementary music teacher turned stay at home mom. This is an especially great week for me to party as my little baby girl turns a year old on Wednesday!

Addymom contains how to's and opinions regarding personal finance, business, savings, education, home & garden, insurance and parenting topics. My blog grew out of the topics I began writing about at eHow.com. Now I hope to expand my how to’s and give tips and helpful hints about these topics. You can learn more about me here.

Please feel free to look around. You can subscribe to my blog or follow me on Twitter. Have fun at the party!

File Your Taxes Online for Free

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 03:41:00 +0000

This is the first year that the Internal Revenue Service is offering free filing of your federal taxes online for everyone. In the past the free file option has only been available to those making below a certain income. This year they are offering a second option for filing taxes online that will be open to everyone regardless of income. When you file your taxes online you will get your refund in 8-10 days, instead of waiting the 4-6 weeks when sending your return through the mail.

Learn more about filing your taxes online for free.

Super Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 01:21:00 +0000

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 21, 2009 the Internal Revenue Service is teaming up with hundreds of its community partners to help our taxpayers in need of a little assistance. If you earn $42,000 or less then you are eligible for free tax preparation.

They are also offering people with tax issues help or those who may not be able to pay their tax bill payment option plans. Find a location near you here.

Those who will be eligible for tax preparation should bring with them the following information:

• Valid driver’s license or photo identification (self and spouse, if applicable)
• Social Security cards for all persons listed on the return
• Dates of birth for all persons listed on the return
• All income statements: Forms W-2, 1099, Social Security, unemployment, or other benefits statements, self-employment records and any documents showing taxes withheld
• Dependent child care information: payee’s name, address and Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number.
• Proof of account at financial institution for direct debit or deposit (i.e. cancelled/voided check or bank statement)
• Prior year tax return (if available)
• Any other pertinent documents or papers

About Addymom

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 03:08:00 +0000

Welcome to Addymom.com, a website with how to tips and opinions regarding everything from personal finance and savings to parenting and education.

My name is Amy and I enjoy research and teaching others. I have spent the last five years teaching elementary music and now I am a stay at home Mom. My passions include being a Mom, crafting, cooking, music, business and finance. Each day research teaches me new ways to draw on my passions, and I would like to share with you what I have learned so far.

This will be a regularly updated blog. The best way to learn new tips and how to’s and refresh your memory on the basics is by signing up for my feed.

I hope you enjoy Addymom.com.

Five Things to Remember When Filing an Insurance Claim

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:02:00 +0000

Insurance in general is very confusing and can vary greatly from policy to policy and company to company. Having a basic understanding of your insurance policies and keeping them organized can save you time and money when faced with an insurance claim.

1. Be Prepared.
It is much easier to file insurance claims if you know and understand the terms of your insurance policy. Whether it is your home, auto, health or life it is important to understand what your policy covers. Keep good, organized records of your policies. Keep a file for each policy you have. Under that file you can put any documents (EOB, policy updates, previous claims) that pertain to that policy.

For example, let’s say you are going into the hospital for a planned operation. Before you go, look up your benefits. You may want to call and talk to an insurance representative to help you understand what to expect from bills. Know the hospitals and doctors that are covered with your policy. Once you begin to see bills in your mailbox, you will be able to match them to the explanation of benefits provided by your insurance company. So many times people are overcharged or the doctor’s office will file incorrectly. If you know what to expect, you can save yourself from paying the wrong amount. Always understand that if you pay out the overcharge it is highly unlikely that you will ever see your money again.

2. File Quickly.
Many insurance companies have timelines for filing claims. If that timeline is expired they have no obligation to pay anything towards that claim. Provide the insurance company with accurate information. Double check all contact and ID information on all documents submitted. Any incorrect information will slow the process. Remember that timely filing and accurate information on your part will result in faster processing of your payment.

3. Document.
The most important part of filing insurance claims is to keep track of your documentation. Keep track of all paper work, pictures, and telephone conversations. Remember the file you started for your policies? This is where you will put any and all correspondence that you have with the insurance company. Make photocopies, keep postal service return receipts from mail communication and keep fax coversheets and reports. Keep telephone conversation logs including the date, time and name of the person with whom you were talking. Record what the conversation was about and the results of the phone call.

4. No does not always mean no.
Before you make the first call to your insurance provider about a claim, have all of your documentation ready and write down your story. Know what you want from the claim, what you expect and what you deserve. Do not be intimidated by the person on the other end of the phone. Often times you will have to talk to more than one person to get the answers you are looking for. It may be that the information provided by a third party was incorrect or an estimate was inaccurate. Insurance companies make mistakes all of the time, so never accept and pay for something that is incorrect.

5. Filling may not be for this case.
With insurance policies, such as home and auto insurance, it is not always in your best interest to make a claim. Even an inquiry about a claim may count against you and result in an increase in your premium. You may want to ask yourself a few questions before making a claim.

What was the cause of the damage? (maybe you backed your car into a light pole or were negligent in getting a leaky pipe fixed)
Who caused the damage? (was it Mom or your 16 year old son?)
Would the repair cost less than my deductible?

As a rule, some people say that if the repairs are less than $1000 after your deductible than it is not worth the claim and red flag on your record.

Filing an Auto Insurance Claim

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:26:00 +0000

When an auto accident occurs it is difficult to remember exactly what to do in order to assure that the claim process will go smoothly with your auto insurance company. Whether you or the other driver is at fault, there are steps you need to take in order to assure an easy auto insurance claim.

CLICK HERE to learn how to file an auto insurance claim.

Lower the Cost of Your Term Life Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:20:00 +0000

How to Lower Your Term Life Insurance Costs

We are all trying to save money and live on a tight budget these days. It is hard to make ends meet from month to month. It has become common to trim family budgets by not contributing to retirement or by canceling life insurance plans. It is hard to continue to put money into things, like term life insurance, where we cannot physically see any short term benefits. To cancel your term life insurance is a gamble and a risk. Instead of dropping term life insurance from your budget, consider ways to lower its cost.

Free Life Insurance Calculator

The Types of Life Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:15:00 +0000

How to Understand the Different Types of Life Insurance

Researching life insurance can be a daunting task. Many of us avoid it, simply because it is not something we wish to think about and it is not easily understandable. To help you understand, I have broken down the different types of life insurance for you. Having a basic understanding of what each type of life insurance provides will help you decide what type of life insurance is best for you.

Auto Rental Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:48:00 +0000

Click here for money saving tips.

The auto rental industry is booming. Surprisingly enough, airport rental is down and home city auto rental is on the rise. Many families are sizing down on the family vehicles to save on gas. When it comes to family road trips or weekend home improvement projects, an auto rental is what they look to for transportation. You may need a larger vehicle for a big furniture purchase or a night out on the town. Whatever your reason, use these steps to insure you get the best value on your auto rental.

Get Your Auto Insurance Quote Online

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 04:09:00 +0000

Easy to Follow Steps with Screenshots

When you are in need of auto insurance, your top priority is to find the best rate you can. With so many auto insurance companies on the web, it is hard and time consuming to research and compare in order to know you are getting a deal. The best option is to go with a website that can offer several different comparison auto insurance rates. It is a very simple process to apply online, and you will get your offers in minutes.

How to Save Time and Money at the Grocery Store

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:40:00 +0000

No one particularly likes making the trip to the grocery store. It can be a very stressful errand, and usually ends up in a weighty charge on the credit card. Click here for a few steps you can follow to help your trip take less time and cost you less money. Sometimes all it takes a little preparation to save time and money.

FREE Grocery Checklist Tool

Getting the Facts about Your Home Mortgage Loan

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:16:00 +0000

Click here to learn how to get the facts about your home mortgage loan.

Researching and finding a lender for your home mortgage loan can be a daunting task. Add in complicated terms and conditions, and you are on your way to confusion. Knowing what to ask your lender before you apply for a home mortgage can help you understand exactly what kind of a deal you are getting.

Get your free mortgage fact worksheet HERE.

Creating a Budget

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 06:52:00 +0000

In order to take charge of your spending habits and finances, it is necessary to build a budget. In today’s world of paperless transactions, it is very hard to visualize how much money we have and how much we actually spend on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis. Many credit card companies offer to track your spending trends, but you have to look to each individual card for your transactions, and then compare it to your bank account and investments. There is now a new FREE way to manage your money. Mint.com offers free money management of all of your accounts. Where else can you manage everything in one place and set up budgets for free? Best off all, it is very user friendly.

Click here to learn how to create your budget.

Is Debt Consolidation the Answer?

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 06:51:00 +0000

How to Avoid Debt Consolidation

Debt consolidation is when you consolidate various high interest balances into one low interest balance. The idea is to find a package that will combine your debt and cost less at the same time. The problem is that when you are already in financial turmoil, the chances are you will not have the credit score to qualify for the great debt consolidation deal. There are other alternatives to debt consolidation that will serve you better in your financial goals.

Small Business Credit Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Addymom) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:57:00 +0000

Before applying for your small business credit card, you should first understand the benefits of having a small business line of credit. Many credit card companies offer wonderful features that not only give you access to credit, but also help in the money management of your business. There are also incentive programs which can offer rewards, favorable terms and cash-back on each and every purchase you make with your small business credit card. Click here to learn how to apply for a small business credit card.