Tuesday, December 28, 2010

How Can I Prepare For My Upcoming Job Interview?

So, you have an upcoming interview and you’re getting a little nervous, possibly you’re feeling some anxiety. You’re looking forward to your job interview but, you are possibly worried about some of the questions you may be asked during your interview. You know the dreaded interview questions that sometimes seem to leave you tongue tied which are the following:


1) Why did you leave your last job?

2) Why do you want to work for us?

3) What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

4) Do you work well with others?

These questions may seem difficult to answer if you’re not fully prepared for your job interview. That’s right you want to be well prepared for your interview. You don’t want to leave any stones unturned. Practicing for your interview makes you well prepared for the questions your prospective employer may want to toss at you. So, in order for you to prepare for your big day you may want to consider some of these tips:


Tip One:

Make sure you have your resume updated. It is real important that you have a professional looking resume with no errors. You may want to have someone look over your resume and give you an unbiased opinion on how your resume looks to them.

Tip Two:

Reassess your job skills as it relates to the job you are interviewing for. Make sure you have maintained information concerning your accomplishments such as; certificates, additional training, schooling, etc… You’ve worked hard for your accomplishments so it does not hurt to leverage this as part of your interview where this information would be applicable.

Tip Three:

Research the company that you will be interviewing with. It’s so important to secure as much background information on your prospective employer so you will have this knowledge during your job interview. In most instances, the interviewer will be impressed that you actually know something about their company and went the extra mile to find out more about the employer you’re looking to work for.

Tip Four:

Practice makes perfect! Try practicing for your interview with a family member or friend. You may want to have your friend or family member be the interviewer and you of course will play the role of the applicant being interviewed. However, you can also consider mixing it up a bit so you can play the role of the interviewer to see what type of questions you would ask the applicant applying for a job.

Tip Five:

Ensure that you wear the appropriate clothing for the prospective employer you will be interviewing with. See, that’s where some of the research that you do on the employer prior to your interview may come in handy to assist you in selecting possibly the appropriate clothing to wear to your interview. As you may know, first impressions are usually the last impression of someone. So, you want to make sure that the person interviewing you will have a great impression about you.

Tip Six:

On the day of your job interview, leave early from your home to allow enough time for you to arrive to your interview at least twenty minutes before your scheduled interview is to start. You’ll be glad you did this in the long run. Arriving at your interview early gives you a chance to relax and reduce your stress level prior to your interview.

Tip Seven:

After your job interview send a follow-up thank-you letter or note to the person that interviewed you within 24-48 hours after your interview. You can also consider emailing your interviewer a thank-you note as an alternative method.


Getting ready for a job interview can be both exciting and a little stressful at the same time. However, if you prepare yourself for your interview you’ll do just fine. After all, if you put your best foot forward you’ve done the very best that you can do.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Has Your Credit Card Been Blocked By Your Credit Card Company?

If your answer to this question is yes then you may be wondering why this has happened to you. The answer to this question in many instances is that your credit card was blocked for your own protection by your credit card company to prevent the unauthorized use of your credit card by potential criminals committing identity theft against you.

You’re probably saying to yourself, well that’s great but, I am the one being inconvenienced because you are the person actually trying to use your own credit card and unfortunately the purchase you want to make has been declined because your credit card has been blocked by your credit card company. Unfortunately due to the billions of dollars lost annually to fraud, credit card companies have increased security to safeguard their customers credit cards.

So, you may be wondering is there any way to know when my credit card may be blocked? There is no specific way to make this determination however, the following tips may assist you in knowing what may activate a block of your credit card by your credit card company:

Tip One:

Charging small amounts to your credit card may prompt a block of your credit card. Unfortunately criminals test the waters by charging small amounts to credit cards initially prior to making a larger purchase.

Tip Two:

A change takes place in your shopping behavior. Normally you may only spend a minimal amount of money on your credit card and then you change your spending habit and begin to spend large amounts of money on your credit card. You already have a preexisting spending history with your credit card company so changing your spending behavior may trigger a block to your credit card.

Tip Three:

The use of your credit card while you’re traveling on business or while you’re on vacation in another city, state or country. This may be unusual credit card activity for you and may cause your credit card to be blocked by your credit card company.


Tip Four:

In some instances making numerous purchases within a short period of time may trigger a block to your credit card.



If your credit card has been blocked or declined by your credit card company you may want to consider following:


1) Contact your credit card company as soon as possible. You may have already received a telephone call, email or text message from your credit card company advising you of their concern for the prospective unusual activity on your credit card.

2) Try to have another credit card or debit card available for your use until you have the problem resolved with your other credit card.

3) If you are traveling on business or for pleasure let your credit card company know this information.


Keep in mind that since we are now in the holiday season your credit card company may be reviewing prospective unusual purchase activity with your credit card at an even higher level of security due to increased fraudulent activity that occurs during the holiday season. If your credit card becomes blocked by your credit card company, just stay calm and understand that your credit card company is trying to protect you from being a prospective victim of unwanted fraudulent activity that may result in identity theft against you.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

What Is A Credit Score and Why Is This Important?

A credit score is a three digit number that reflects a person’s credit standing on their overall credit over time. The credit score is based on your credit report information that the three credit reporting bureaus Equifax, Experian and TransUnion maintain.

Why is the credit score so important? Because, it seems that almost everything we do these days is based on our credit which includes: vehicle loans, home mortgages, bank loans, rental applications, utilities, insurance applications, cell phone accounts, employment applications and existing jobs and the list continues to go on and on.

Credit scores are used to determine whether or not you will be able to secure credit for something you may be applying for and this even includes employment these days. The potential creditor or employer is seeking to find out the potential risk you may pose to them if they grant you credit or employment. In some instances, some employers are running credit scores on their existing employees to determine whether or not their employee may be able to keep their job.

If the potential creditor decides to grant you credit, your credit score will determine the interest rate that you will receive. The higher your credit score the lower your interest rate may be. FICO credit scores range from 300-850. The FICO score appears to be the scoring system used by most creditors.

So, you see your credit score is very important. You may want to consider ordering a copy of your credit score to see where you stand with your overall credit to avoid any unexpected surprises when you apply for credit in the future.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Can I Rent A Vehicle Using My Insurance Coverage After An Accident?

This would depend on if you selected rental coverage for your policy. Of course, you must purchase this coverage prior to the accident occurring for it to be effective. Most insurance companies offer this coverage for their Insureds. In most instances there is a basic rental rate per day for this type of coverage up to a maximum number of days specified by your insurance policy. For example, you may have rental coverage that pays a rate of twenty five dollars a day with a maximum of thirty days allowed for your rental vehicle coverage. You may want to find out from your insurance carrier if the rental rate is inclusive of the sales tax charged as a component of your rental billing.


It is noted that if you rent a vehicle that exceeds the rental coverage amount you are allowed per day by your insurance carrier, you will be responsible for the difference. In addition, keep in mind that most insurance companies will not pay for the CDW(collision deductible waiver) and fuel charge that rental companies may charge as additional items on the rental invoice.


If you are involved in an accident with a rental vehicle, you are responsible for paying your deductible for the repair of this vehicle as though it were your own vehicle if you have collision coverage and meet other conditions specified in your policy with your insurance carrier. However, there may be some exceptions to this if you have violated the rental agreement by allowing a driver that is not listed on the rental contract to drive the rental vehicle. This is the same as not having insurance, unless that particular driver has their own insurance policy to cover the rental vehicle if it is involved in an accident. Don’t take that risk! Make sure that when you sign the rental contract that you list all individuals that you plan to drive the rental vehicle. In addition, make sure that the drivers that use your rental vehicle are licensed so you can avoid any potential problems if the driver of your rental vehicle is involved in an accident. The consequences of not ensuring that the drivers listed on the rental contract can be very costly to you if an accident occurs.


It is also important to understand that if you are renting a large truck for moving purposes it may not be covered via your insurance policy. In many instances trucks used for moving do not meet the weight specifications indicated in your policy to make your collision coverage applicable to an accident you may become involved in with this vehicle. Review your policy regarding this information and consider discussing this with your insurance agent or carrier prior to renting a large truck for moving to find out whether or not there is coverage under your policy. If it is determined that the moving truck is not covered, most facilities where you rent moving trucks have a special insurance policy that provides coverage if you were involved in a vehicle accident. You would be required to pay for the cost of this special insurance policy for the time you are renting the moving truck.


Keep yourself informed and apprised of important information concerning your rental vehicle coverage with your insurance carrier, you will be glad you did in the long run.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Are There Rules To Consider While Dating?

You’re probably wondering are there really rules when you date someone? The answer to this question is yes. There are some things you should do when you’re on a date and some things you should not do when you’re dating someone. So, are you wondering what the do’s and don’ts are when you go on a date? The following tips may assist you with staying on track with your date to avoid potential mishaps:


Tip One:

On your first date, meet in a public place until you get to know the person you’re dating. Great places to meet are the following: museum, coffee house, restaurant, park, etc… I think you get the picture.


Tip Two:

Be on time for your date. Remember first impressions make lasting impressions. If you’re not able to meet your date on time let your date know in advance to avoid potential problems.


Tip Three:

Dress to impress and look your very best.


Tip Four:

Relax and be yourself. Be sure to maintain honesty and truthfulness with the person you date.


Tip Five:

Be sure to put your cell phone away while you’re on your date. You will also want to avoid answering your cell phone and texting. Consider putting your cell phone on vibrate to avoid distractions.


Tip Six:

Avoid being rude and getting intoxicated while on your date. Remember first impressions are lasting impressions.


Tip Seven:

Try to have fun and enjoy yourself with your date.


Tip Eight:

If you determine that you’re not interested in the person you date, just let them know truthfully, respectfully and gently about how you feel.


Tip Nine:

You may want to consider not giving out too much personal information about yourself during your initial date. Take your time, slow it down and get to know the person you date.


Tip Ten:

Stay safe while you date. Remember your safety is very important. If you’re not comfortable with something while you’re on a date just don’t do it.


Tip Eleven:

If you find out the person you date is married it’s time for you to walk away. You will probably save yourself unnecessary grief and sorrow in the long run by doing this.


Tip Twelve:

Remember to compliment your date. That’s right, both women and men love compliments on their appearance from the person they date.



So, as you can see there are some rules you may want to consider when you date. You’re now armed with information that can help you along the way in your quest to date that special someone.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Planning On Buying Vehicle Insurance?

Are you in the process of buying a vehicle? Planning on switching your auto insurance to another company? Know a family member or friend that is looking to purchase auto insurance? Or, maybe you’re thinking about buying auto insurance for yourself? If you have answered yes to any of these questions then you may want to consider these tips before purchasing vehicle insurance:

Tip One:

Review your driving history for any prior tickets you may have by securing a copy of your driving record via your local department of motor vehicles. Keep in mind that when you apply for auto insurance your driving record will be reviewed by your prospective insurance carrier. In addition, in many instances your credit report will be reviewed as well. After this information is checked by the insurance company a determination will be made as to whether or not they will insure you and if so, you will be advised of the amount for your insurance premium.

Tip Two:

Shop around and compare vehicle insurance rates from different companies. You may want to also ask your family or friends for a recommendation concerning their auto insurance companies.

Check to see if the insurance company offers discounts such as; multi car discount, good driving record discount, non smoker discount, good grade discount for a student, and any other discounts while you’re shopping around for vehicle insurance.

Tip Three:

Consider getting higher deductibles for your collision and comprehensive coverages in order to reduce your overall vehicle insurance rate.

If you have an older vehicle you may want to consider eliminating collision and comprehensive coverage for that vehicle and only carry liability insurance coverage as required by your state. Talk to your insurance company concerning the best options for your insurance needs in reference to vehicle coverages.

Tip Four:

Many auto insurance companies offer the following options to pay your insurance: monthly, semi-monthly, quarterly and annually. Discuss with your insurance carrier the payment option that best fits your needs and budget.

Tip Five:

Once you’ve decided on an auto insurance company make sure to read your entire policy to ensure that you have the insurance coverage that you need for your vehicle. In addition, make sure that you understand your policy after reading it and if you do not understand your insurance policy, consider discussing your concerns or questions with your insurance company before you sign your documents.

You do not want any surprises later on down the line if you happen to have a vehicle accident and find out that coverage you thought you had via your policy you do not have at all. So, read your policy in full and make sure you understand the vehicle coverages you have before you take that important leap of getting vehicle insurance, you’ll be glad you did in the long run.

Tip Six:

Be sure to maintain a good driving record and credit history. It is noted that the majority of insurance companies review this information especially at the time your policy is up for renewal to determine if you are still insurable and if so the amount of money you will be paying for your insurance.

As you research vehicle insurance companies to determine the company that will fit your needs, you may want to consider using some of these tips to assist you with your quest in selecting the insurance company that is right for you.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Looking To Get Organized?

Do you have clothes piling up in your home? Unopened mail overflowing on your kitchen counter? Household cleaning left undone? Other items cluttering your home? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you may be looking to get yourself organized. You’re possibly saying to yourself that sounds great, but, you’re really not sure how to do this. Well, you may want to consider these tips to get you started with getting yourself organized:

Tip One:

Make organizing simple and easy by creating a daily To Do List. It is recommended that you consider writing or typing your To Do List on a regular daily planner calendar or consider an electronic daily calendar. This will be helpful in assisting you in staying on track with your tasks and chores that you want to achieve on a daily basis.

Tip Two:

It is recommended that you create your daily To Do List on a weekly basis. For example, if you wanted to start your daily list to run Monday through Sunday, just be sure to create your new To Do List for the following week either the Saturday or Sunday prior to your current To Do List ending. Just ensure that your daily list is easy for you to create and is flexible to your needs.

The daily list that you create can be based on things you need to do at your home, chores errands, etc…, that you want to accomplish on a daily basis. Just try to be as accurate as possible in creating your To Do List. You will find that as you continue to create your daily list, this will reinforce your efforts to stay organized. In the long run it will be easier for you stay on track of your daily chores and tasks.

Tip Three:

Follow through on completing the tasks and goals you have set for yourself on your daily list. You may want to consider checking off the items on your list as you have completed them as reinforcement of your accomplishment for that particular day. If you find that you are unable to complete a task or chore for a certain day, then you may want to consider readjusting your weekly schedule to reschedule this item on another day. Just be sure that you allow yourself some flexibility for needed changes in your To Do List in order for you go stay on track with your organizing goals.

Tip Four:

Schedule certain chores or tasks that you do consistently on a weekly basis on certain days of the week that you may think are the most likely days these items can be accomplished. For instance, you may want to schedule your grocery shopping and laundry days for the same day each week. It is likely that you complete certain chores and tasks on a weekly basis.

Tip Five:

You may want to consider doing proactive maintenance at your home. This means to clean and pick-up items in your home on a daily basis. It’s so much easier in the long run for you to keep things tidy and organized at your home if you consistently stay in the habit of doing this. By the way this also includes going through your mail on a regular basis to reduce clutter in and around your home. In the long run you will be glad that you incorporated this method as part of keeping yourself organized.

Tip Six:

Consider setting up a filing system to organize your paperwork at home. You may find by organizing your documents that you may be able to access information more quickly and easier.


Stay persistent, consistent and on track of keeping yourself organized. Ensure that the organizing system you have established for yourself is easy, flexible and user friendly in order for you to continue keeping yourself organized to accomplish your goals.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Are There Ways I Can Dispute A Debt That Does Not Belong To Me?

Susan completed a credit application at a local vehicle dealership near her home. She is ecstatic that she has saved enough money for a down payment to purchase her first vehicle. It took Susan several months to save the money she needed to purchase a vehicle to solve her transportation dilemma. She commuted several hours daily on a bus to work and school and now she had the opportunity to cut her commute time significantly by securing a vehicle of her own.

After Susan completed her credit application for her vehicle loan, the finance manager ordered her credit report and provided Susan with the outcome of her credit history. The finance manager told Susan about a delinquent credit card that appeared on her credit report. Susan was unaware of the credit card that was listed on her report. In fact, this credit card did not even belong to her. Unfortunately this credit card created a negative impact to her overall credit rating making it difficult for her to obtain financing for the vehicle she wanted to purchase.

Susan left the car dealership furious and upset that she was turned down for her vehicle loan because of the credit card that appeared erroneously on her credit report. She decided that she would dispute the credit card charge listed on her report, but, she was unsure how she would go about doing this. Well Susan, you may want to consider using these tips to dispute the credit card listed on your credit report:

Tip One:

Call the credit card company or creditor listed on your credit report and dispute the credit charges. During your telephone conversation with the company representative secure their name, and mailing address for the company.

Tip Two:

Send a certified letter to the credit company confirming the telephone conversation you had with their representative and that you are disputing the charges applied to your credit. Request that the creditor send you written information concerning the charges applied to your credit and the name of the original creditor. Be sure to ask the creditor to remove the erroneous charge from all your credit reports and provide confirmation of when they anticipate this will be done to restore your credit.

In the interim while you’re awaiting a written response from the creditor on this disputed credit charge listed on your credit report, the creditor or debt collector must report your dispute to the credit bureaus. Keep in mind that it may take some time for the creditor to investigate your disputed credit charge. Just be sure to follow-up with the creditor if you believe it is taking too long for a response to your request.

Tip Three:

Review all three of your credit reports (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian) to monitor any erroneous charges that may appear. Follow-up with creditors on charges that do not belong to you to have this information investigated for removal from you credit reports. You may want to consider ordering a copy of your credit reports annually for free at annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.

Tip Four:

Continue to follow-up with the creditor on your dispute until the matter is resolved and your credit is restored. Ensure that this information has been updated with all three credit bureaus to reflect your updated credit standing.

Tip Five:

If you continue to have problems with the creditor in getting your credit issue resolved you may want to consider contacting a non profit credit counseling service or legal counsel.

Tip Six:

Make sure you do not pay for debt that does not belong to you. This may negatively impact your overall credit for several years.


Susan was now ready and armed with information to proceed with disputing the credit card listed on her credit report. She felt confident that she would be able to get her credit issue resolved in order for her to purchase a vehicle.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Should I Let A Relative Or Friend Drive My Vehicle?

Yes that’s right you may want to really think about this question. Slow down, breathe, relax and count to ten. Breathe, relax, take a few minutes and really think about how you will answer this question. Ask yourself does your vehicle insurance cover your friend or relative if you allow that person to use your vehicle? Are you still hesitant about how to answer this question? Then you may want to consider what occurred in the following scenario:

Jason was relaxing on a warm summer day at his home when he heard a knock at his door. He looked out his window and there was his favorite aunt standing on his front door step. Jason opened up his front door excited to see his Aunt Sally. After speaking to his aunt for a few minutes she asked him if she could borrow his vehicle to go to their local mall. His aunt had explained to him that her vehicle was in for repair and she needed to run to the mall to pick up a pair shoes before her evening dinner date. Jason agreed to allow his aunt to use his vehicle for her errand. He gave her the keys to his vehicle without a second thought and she headed off for the mall and Jason resumed his relaxation and enjoyment of the beautiful summer day.

After a couple of hours Jason was awaken from a deep afternoon nap by the loud ringing of his telephone. He answered his phone and to his astonishment his Aunt Sally was screaming into the telephone to tell him that she was just in an accident with his brand new Corvette that he had loaned her to go to the mall. His aunt told him that the accident happened when she made her left turn to exit the mall parking lot. Jason was in a state of shock, he just could not believe what had just occurred.

He tried to stay calm while giving his aunt his vehicle insurance information to provide to the police and the other person involved in the accident. Jason tried to console his aunt who was very apologetic for wrecking his vehicle by telling her that his insurance would be able to pay for the damages she caused.

Jason concluded his telephone conversation with his aunt and called his insurance company. After speaking with his insurance company while filing his claim, he discovered that there was no insurance coverage for his vehicle. His claims adjuster told him that since his Aunt Sally was driving his vehicle and she was not listed on his policy as a driver that there was no coverage being provided for damages sustained in this accident.

He found out that his vehicle policy excludes coverage for any driver not listed on his vehicle policy from driving his vehicle. There was a clause in Jason’s policy wherein permissive drivers were not allowed to drive his vehicle. It did not matter that Jason gave his aunt permission to use his vehicle this was not allowed by his insurance policy. Unfortunately for Jason, he would have no coverage for his Corvette or the other person’s vehicle damaged in the accident with his aunt.

After hearing this awful news from his insurance company Jason was upset because he thought he had full coverage to cover him and anyone else that he allowed to drive his vehicle. He then reviewed his vehicle policy and discovered after reading the fine print that he in fact was not allowed to let anyone else drive his vehicle and if he did there would be no insurance coverage for his vehicle or the other vehicle(s) involved in an accident with his vehicle.

Jason thought to himself, what in the world was he thinking when he loaned out his vehicle to his aunt. Unfortunately for Jason, he was stuck paying for the repair for his own vehicle and the other party’s vehicle involved in the accident with his aunt. In addition, he also found out later from his Aunt Sally that she did not carry insurance coverage on her own personal vehicle so there would be no possible insurance recovery for the accident via her policy.

Wow, Jason learned a costly lesson about loaning out his vehicle. So, before you consider loaning your vehicle to a relative or friend, make sure your vehicle policy covers them and they have the same amount of coverage that you have when you are driving your vehicle.

Review your vehicle policy and contact your insurance carrier before you make a decision to loan out your vehicle if you are unsure of how your policy protects you if you loan out your vehicle to a relative or friend. You will be glad you made this decision in the long run and you may be able to avoid being in Jason’s shoes.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Are You Going On A Blind Date?

Sheila was at home relaxing after working earlier during the day at her job. She decided to playback her telephone messages on her answering machine. As she was listening to her messages she came across a message from Dennis. Dennis was a guy that Sheila had been chatting with via an internet dating website for the past five months. She had never met Dennis in person.

She replayed his telephone message several times trying to decide what she should do. Dennis seemed like a nice guy, but Sheila was not sure if she should go on a blind date with him. He had left a message wanting to know if she would go out with him.

After thinking about the message from Dennis, Sheila decided to return his call and agree to go on a blind date with him. Sheila wondered how the two of them would go about getting the ball rolling for their date. Well Sheila, you and Dennis may want to consider some of the following tips for your blind date:

Tip One:

Plan to meet your blind date at a public place such as; a restaurant, coffee shop, museum, art gallery, etc… Just make your first date simple and easy with no strings attached.

Tip Two:

Make a great impression on your blind date by dressing appropriately for your date. That’s right, dress to impress. You may only get one chance to make a lasting impression for your date, so do your best.

Tip Three:

Just be the person you really are. Meaning the real you is the person your date would like to see and hear. Keep in mind most people are looking for honesty, truth and realness in relationships. The person you date should know who you really are so there are no surprises later on down the line if the person you date becomes a permanent mate.

Tip Four:

Get your conversation started with topics you think may be interesting to you and your blind date. For example, you could talk about current events, hobbies, entertainment or sports. This is a good way for the both of you to break the ice on your date.

Tip Five:

Let a family member or friends know who, when and where you’re going on your blind date for your safety. Keep in mind you do not know the person you’re going on a date with and your safety should be a primary goal when you date.

Tip Six:

Enjoy yourself, relax and have fun with your date.


Sheila was now confident she had some ideas on how she and Dennis would handle their blind date. By using some of these tips Sheila felt she would enjoy her date and hopefully if everything went well on her blind date she would be well on her way to more dates with Dennis.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Are There Ways To Manage My Money As A College Student?

Several college students face this question on a daily basis. There are many college students that are on a tight budget and are unsure of how they will be able to make their money spread to cover their expenses while their attending college.

So, you’re probably wondering how can I manage my money as a college student? Well, you can consider using some of these tips to help you manage your money while you’re attending college:

Tip One:

Consider setting up a budget that includes all of your income such as: college scholarships, grants, student loans, monies received from parents, relatives, friends; earnings you may receive from a job, etc….

You will also want to add all of your expenses to your budget which may include the following: tuition, housing fees, college book expenses, utility bills, internet and phone expenses, food, laundry, etc… Try to break down your budget based on how you attend college on either a semester or quarterly basis.

Tip Two:

Track your spending. It’s important to stay abreast of how you’re spending your money to make any adjustments you may need to make along the way. Remember those lattes, pizzas, extra snacks and miscellaneous expenses could really add up over time.

Tip Three:

Monitor and watch the spending on your credit cards if you have any. Use credit cards and credit sparingly. Keep in mind you don’t need to max out your credit lines just because you can. It’s probably a good idea when you use your credit card to be prepared to pay it off as soon as possible after incurring the expense to your credit.

Tip Four:

Consider purchasing your college books online instead of your college bookstore. That’s right, compare prices. You may find that it is much cheaper purchasing your text books online. Check to see if your college textbooks are available at Amazon, Ebay’s Half.com or other college textbook online store websites. Just make sure you have secured the title of your college textbook, author name and edition you will be using for your college classes.

You may want to consider looking at purchasing used college textbooks to save you money as well while you’re going to school. In many cases you can find college textbooks that are used and in great condition that may save you lots of money in the long run instead of purchasing a brand new book.

There may also be an option for you to rent your college textbooks as well. This is becoming a new avenue for college students these days, so consider checking into this online or via your school. Just be sure to determine whether or not it will be cheaper for you to rent your book or just purchase a used college textbook that you can either keep or sale back via your school or the online textbook store you purchased your book from or elsewhere.

Tip Five:

Keep an emergency fund by saving your change. Yes by saving your change this can assist you with having an emergency fund if something important comes up and you need extra money. The easiest way to have an emergency fund on a tight college budget is by saving your change.

Tip Six:

Pay your bills timely and consider setting up a payment calendar to notate when your bills are due. By paying your bills timely this will assist you in building and maintaining your credit while you’re attending college. You will probably find that by having a payment calendar this may provide you with visual reinforcement of when your bills are due. Consider using either a paper or electronic calendar.

Tip Seven:

Be sure to use your student id to get all the discounts you’re entitled to as a college student. You will be surprised at the amount of money you can save as a student. By the way, don’t be afraid to ask if a student discount is offered at the places you go.

Tip Eight:

If you’re having difficulty meeting your college expenses don’t be afraid to ask for help from your parents, relatives, friends or your college financial aid department. It’s better to ask for help then not to ask. You will never know what help may be available to you if you don’t ask for it.

Tip Nine:

Make sure to add into your budget a little room for some fun money. That’s right, everyone needs to have a little fun and enjoy themselves sometime by taking in a movie, dinner, concert, etc… I think you get the picture, just have some fun.


These are some of the ways you can consider managing your money as a college student. So, go ahead and get started today with managing your college money, you will probably be glad you did in the long run.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Is There Any Alternatives To Using A Payday Loan?

Denise is driving home from work and begins thinking about what awaits her when she arrives home. She’s worried about the major task that lies ahead of her which is to find enough money to pay her bills. Denise knows that her paycheck will not cover all her bills and she is not sure what she is going to do to solve her dilemma. She thought about taking out a payday loan, but, she fears that the amount of interest and fees she would be paying for this type of loan would make her situation worse and put her further into debt.

She began to wonder if there were any alternatives she should consider instead of getting a payday loan she could not afford. Well Denise, there are some alternatives available to you instead of using a payday loan. You may want to consider using some of these tips:

Tip One:

Check with your employer to see if you are able to do some overtime or if you can secure a payday advance.

Tip Two:

Contact your bank or credit union to see if you are able to obtain a personal loan. In most instances the interest rates and fees you pay on a personal loan via your bank or credit union may be lower than what you may pay with a payday loan.

Tip Three:

Find out if your family members or friends are able to provide you with a personal loan. If you are able to secure a personal loan via this method, ensure that you repay your loan in a timely manner to avoid any potential conflicts with family members or friends.

Tip Four:

Contact your creditors to see if they will work out a revised payment plan with you which may be able to reduce your payments over a longer period of time.

Tip Five:

Consider looking at taking out a cash advance via your credit card if the interest rate is reasonable. You may find that the interest rate charged for a cash advance on your credit card is less than what you’ll pay on a payday loan.

Tip Six:

Check with local organizations to determine if there is an emergency hardship loan program available to you. It is possible you may be able to secure an emergency loan through a local organization for a short term period of time with a reasonable interest rate.


Tip Seven:

Consider contacting a non profit consumer credit counseling service to discuss your bill payment expenses and debt problems.


Denise was glad she ran across these tips. She decided that she would use this information to assist her with resolving her problem of determining how she would pay her bills as an alternative method to using a payday loan.

Friday, July 23, 2010

How Do I Go About Asking Someone On A Date?

Larry really likes Vanessa and has wanted to ask her out for a long time. He first noticed Vanessa at his local gym two months ago and was attracted to her from the start. Larry has been wanting to ask Vanessa out on a date, but just doesn’t know how to. He’d really like to get to know Vanessa if he could.

Larry’s situation is like a lot of people who are interested in asking out someone special, but just don’t know how. Here are some tips to help you ask someone out on a date:

Tip One:

Get past your fear of being rejected by someone you may ask out on a date. If you fear that you may be rejected by someone you ask on a date, then you’ll never make it to first base. You’ve got to start somewhere. So, go ahead ask the person you’re interested in on a date. Do it now. If you get an answer of yes for the date, that’s great. If they say no by rejecting your request for a date, move on to your next potential date. Just because someone rejects you for a date, does not mean that the next person will. So pick your head up, and you’ll get that date with someone special that deserves you.

Tip Two:

When you ask for a first date, try to avoid setting up your first date on a Friday or Saturday. These two nights are usually reserved for more serious dating. In other words, if you’re just starting out don’t start on a Friday or Saturday night until you get more serious about the person you’re dating. You might want to consider going out on a Wednesday or Thursday. These days seem to be more flexible for people during the week. Try to avoid dates on Monday’s if possible. Most people don’t care for Monday’s.

Tip Three:

After approaching someone for a date, be specific when asking that person out for a date. For example, you could ask the person the following question: I’m interested in seeing a play at our local theater on either a Wednesday or Thursday would you be interested in attending? This question is able to provide the opportunity for your prospective date to have options on deciding if they want to go on the date with you and if so, they can choose the day they want to go on the date and other options such as meeting you at the theater, etc... I think you get the picture.

Tip Four:

Consider when asking out someone for a date that you give them a sufficient amount of time for the date to take place. You may want to schedule the date a week in advance. However, you can always go with your gut feeling at the time if you think your prospective date will want to set that date sooner.

Tip Five:

The best way to ask a person out is in person. You have the opportunity to see the person you’re wanting to date face to face and observe their body language and their facial expressions.

Using some or all of these tips to assist you in asking for a date may help you from having no dates to having dates. Larry decided to ask Vanessa out by using these tips and they’ve been a couple every since their first date. They found they have a lot in common and enjoy each other’s company. Larry was glad he finally found the nerve by using these tips to ask Vanessa out on a date. Vanessa was glad he did too.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

What Can I Do To Fix My Bad Credit?

Roger was facing this same dilemma of not knowing what to do to fix his bad credit. He had been laid off from his job for nine months and had not been able to pay all of his bills. He recently found employment and was trying to get back on track with paying his bills. His credit had suffered substantially during the time he was unemployed. Unfortunately, Roger’s credit situation is a problem that many people are currently facing due to the state of our economy.

Roger wanted to start working on fixing his bad credit but he was unsure how he should proceed. Well Roger, a good way for you to start is to take action by using some of the following tips:

Tip One:

Order copies of your credit reports from the three credit reporting bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You are entitled to a free copy of your credit reports from each of these bureaus every twelve months if you make a request. The centralized website to order your free annual credit report from each of the three credit bureaus is: annualcreditreport.com or you can call 1-877-322-8228.

You can also obtain free copies of your credit reports from the three credit bureaus if you have been denied credit, insurance or employment. Just keep in mind that you will need to make a request to the three credit bureaus within sixty days of receiving the notice you have been denied credit, employment or insurance.

Tip Two:

Consider paying off your higher interest rate credit accounts first by making larger payments to decrease and eliminate your balances quicker.


Tip Three:

If your debt is totally out of control, consider utilizing a non profit credit counseling organization to assist you with consolidating your debt. In many instances by using this type of service you may be able to reduce your finance charges and your monthly payments to your creditors.

Tip Four:

Consider not using the credit cards and other retail credit accounts you already have. You may want to put these credit cards away in a safe place and only consider using them in case of a dire emergency.

Tip Five:

Stay on track with paying your existing bills on time to assist you in rebuilding your credit.

Tip Six:

After repaying the majority of your outstanding debt you may want to consider applying for a new credit card to rebuild your credit history to a good standing. Make sure that when you use this new credit card you pay off the balance timely every month.

If you’re unable to qualify for a regular unsecured credit card then consider applying for a secured credit card to assist you with rebuilding your credit.

Tip Seven:

Secure a copy of your three credit reports and FICO score on an annual basis so you can keep track of what’s on your credit report. Remember you’re working hard to rebuild your credit back to good standing and you don’t want any surprises on your credit reports.


Roger is now armed with information to get him started with his quest to fix his bad credit by using these tips. He now feels that he will be able to accomplish the task of rebuilding his credit to good standing and getting back on track for his future goal of becoming a homeowner.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Want To Rekindle The Romance In Your Relationship?

Robert thought about this same question so many tines and knew his answer would be a definite yes to this question. He has been dating his girlfriend Melody for two years and it seems that their relationship has fizzled out and was not as exciting as it used to be. He really was not sure what had occurred between the two of them. It was almost as though they became too complacent with each other, same old routine day in and day out.

It seemed that the ray of sunshine in their relationship had disappeared. Robert sensed that his girlfriend Melody felt the same way as he did. They both knew they needed to do something to ignite their relationship, but, they were not sure how they should proceed. Well a great way to get back on the path of rekindling the romance in your relationship is by considering these tips:

Tip One:

Plan a date night with your significant other. That’s right, go on a date somewhere alone just the two of you. You may want to go on a picnic, to a movie, dinner, the beach, a concert or theatrical event, etc… I think you get the picture.

Tip Two:

Send a romantic greeting card to your mate, just because. It’s amazing what a personalized greeting card can do for your relationship.

Tip Three:

Have fun with your romantic partner by playing games that you both may enjoy. Ever thought about doing something extra fun like spraying water on each other with play water guns or maybe some touch football? Yes, this could be really fun for the both of you. Just relax, enjoy and let yourself go.

Tip Four:

Deliver personally or via a service flowers for that special person in your life just because. Even if you’re unable to send a bouquet of flowers, how about purchasing a single rose or any type of flower and deliver it personally yourself. Your mate will probably love this special personalized treatment from you.

Tip Five:

Take a nice drive somewhere special with your romantic partner. Go some place that the two of you have never been. You know one of those places the two of you always wanted to explore on a drive but never made the time to do this. Well, now is the time, just go for it. You’ll be glad you did. You may even want to take some pictures along the way of your day of exploration with that special someone.

Tip Six:

Consider doing some star gazing at night with someone special. Just imagine laying on a blanket under the stars with your significant other watching the beautiful stars at night. You may even want to consider taking along finger foods and something to drink while you both gaze at the stars together.

Tip Seven:

Plan, prepare and cook a meal with your mate. That’s right the two of you can prepare a meal together. This is an excellent way to spend quality time together.

Tip Eight:

How about pampering your significant other by giving them a massage? Yes, that’s right a massage for your romantic partner can work wonders especially after a long hard day at work or a day filled with tension and stress. Your mate may enjoy the relaxation of a nice massage from you and the special attention you are giving them.


After reading these tips Robert is really excited about getting started with igniting his relationship with his girlfriend Melody. Robert thinks by using some of these tips that he and Melody will be well on their way to revitalizing their romance.