Credit Card Debt and Balance Transfers

July 25th, 2010 Sam Brassey No comments

What should you do if you receive a balance transfer offer in the mail? All you have to do is fill out the little checks or call a toll-free number to activate a transfer offer. It’s an easy process that could help you reduce credit card debt…or can it. There are some pros and cons for using balance transfer offers for credit card debt.

Debt Reduction Takes Time

Even if you choose to use a balance transfer offer you still need to come up with a debt reduction plan. A transfer won’t erase your credit card debt. Only you can do that by coming up with the cash to pay down your balance month by month. This t

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One million Brits struggle with debt alone

July 23rd, 2010 Lachlan Milne No comments

New research has revealed that almost one million people in the UK are struggling with their debt problems alone, with a quarter believing that their debts aren’t big enough to seek help.

The research, conducted by insolvency trade body R3, found that there were various reasons for people struggling with their finances alone with 44% saying that they didn’t think their debts were big enough to require debt advice. A quarter of people surveyed believed that their debt problems were only a temporary measure, while one fifth admitted they tried to ignore their problems.

A fifth of people surveyed said that that they wouldn’t know where they could go to get debt help or advice and a further 44% believed that they would have to pay for debt advice.

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Are You Ready for Debt Counseling?

July 20th, 2010 Sam Brassey No comments

Have you considered working with a debt counseling firm to get your bills under control? A debt counselor can work with you to get at the root of any spending problems you have, and help you become a better manager of your money. Here are some things to look for when looking for a debt counseling firm.

  • Debt counseling only works if you are willing to change your behavior. It won’t do any good to seek debt help if you are resistant to doing the work that needs to be done. Digging out of a lot of debt won’t happen overnight, so you have to be committed sticking with the program for as long as necessary.
  • Debt counseling should be free or low-cost. Som

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3 Personal Finance Software Solutions for the Monetarily Challenged

July 19th, 2010 Madeline Minns No comments

 Let’s face it. We’re not all financial geniuses. Some of us need help in figuring out budgets and sticking to financial plans. One way to get help is to use financial software that helps you with the mathematics, planning and decision making involved in personal financial planning. By getting familiar with the different types of software out there, you can choose the program that is right for you and your needs. 

There was once a burgeoning marketplace for this kind of software. Not that long ago, the Wall Street Journal reported that the major contenders in the personal finance software market were Quicken, Microsoft Money and the less-known iCash. The l

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Budget Evaluation

July 18th, 2010 Lachlan Milne No comments

I’m running through my expenses looking for area’s to cut.  Here’s my list of expenses to cut.

  • Car – I rode to work 4 days this week.  Next week I’m mothballing the car!!!   I’ve discussed become a single car family (selling my car) with my partner but it’s a politically sensitive issue at the moment so I’m just going to moth ball it and try to save money on fuel and ware and tear. (any of you found this to be a hot button issue?)
  • Hobbies- I spend money on toys (basically building my dream bike so I can ride to work? but I’m already riding to work. Tools for DIY second

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