FOR THE HOME:

1. Heat Control Window Film: (As low as $30 for a 15’ roll at Home Depot) Replacing cheap blinds or windows to save money on your heating bill can often cost more then $5,000. This hardly seems cost effective unless you are planning on living in a house for more then ten years. So, instead of replacing all of your windows, try installing heat control window film over your windows. This light film adheres to your window adding an extra layer of insulation and takes less then an hour to install yourself. Not only will this keep your home warmer in the winter, but it will also keep your house cooler in the summer. Plus, with a 15’ roll, you can cover multiple windows. It’s also important to get good discount window blinds that reflect the heat from the sun.
2. Thermal Barrier Fabric: This great lightweight fabric is weaved with a high-density polyethylene plastic and coated with a thin reflective metallic surface. When you hang this see-through product inside windows in the winter, the sun heats it and warms your room for free. Hang it outside your window in the summer and it deflects the light from the window keeping your room cooler. As an added bonus, you can cut this fabric with scissors to custom fit it to more then one window.
3. Water Heater Blanket: (As low as $25 at Home Depot) As inexpensive as this product is, there is no good reason that you should not invest in a water heater blanket immediately. It is easy to wrap around your water heater and keeps the hot water inside warmer for longer. By doing so, the water needs to be heated less often, thus saving you money on your gas bill.
4. Solar Powered Ionic Air Purifier: For anyone looking for clean pure indoor air at a cheaper price, a solar-powered ionic air purifier can accomplish that goal for relatively free. This portable little product is merely placed in the sun and it immediately begins negatively charging the air and cleaning an area of approximately 150 square feet. Compared to other Ionic Air Purifiers, you can save money on both the purchase and the daily use.
5. First Alert Motion Sensing Light Socket: For anyone with children, you are fully aware of how often your little tikes leave the lights on in the house. By simply investing in a motion sensing light socket and screwing it into the light sockets where lights are left on the most often, you can save tons of money on your electric bill. Not only does this save you constantly yelling for your kids to turn the lights out, but also it illuminates rooms as soon as you enter them.
6. Solar Powered BatterY Charger: ($25 at eBay): Who doesn’t use batteries on a daily basis? While most battery chargers run about $10 to $20 at most electronics stores, you still end up spending a little bit of money whenever you charge them. Why not invest a couple more dollars and get a solar powered battery charger, thus saving you ever having to spend money on batteries again.
7. Custom Blinds Faux Wood: next to nothing. Getting blinds that will properly block out the sun is absolutely important. Getting custom blinds to fit your odd window sizes is a great way to keep the heat out and the cool in.
   

FOR THE YARD:

Solar Powered Yard Lights: CollectionsEtc.com is an excellent place to go if you are looking for any kind of solar-powered yard stakes. You can actually find clearance priced solar yard stakes for as little as $10, or you can spend $20 for a pack of 5 at their everyday price. Explore a little more, and you will find unique and beautiful lighting for your yard that won’t cost you a dime in electricity.

1. Solar Powered Security Motion Light ($80 at Wal-Mart) If you have ever struggled in the dark trying to get your keys in the door, you should consider investing in a solar-powered security motion light. Not only will the light go on when you approach your door, but it will also light up whenever anyone comes within range. Plus, this solar powered security motion light is easy to install and is a great burglar deterrent for anyone looking to up their security on the cheap.
2. Solar Powered Water Fountain Pump: (As low as $15 at eBay) If you have a pond in your yard, a fountain pump is a must. Not only does it deter mold growth and smelly water, it also offers a relaxing atmosphere to your yard. Invest in a solar-powered water fountain pump, and you will never have to worry about the electric bills for running that fountain all day. You simply place the camouflaged solar panel next to the lake and press the spigot in the water and you are ready to go.
3. Solar Powered HOT TUB/SPA Cover: (As low as $39 per sheet) Clear Dome Solar Thermal truly has some unique products on their market. Their solar powered hot tub/spa water heating pad is truly unique in that the cover floats on the water and heats it an additional 5-15 degrees. This small factor could actually heat your hot tub for free in the summertime. It can also be used to heat a child’s pool or to help melt frozen surfaces in the winter.

Invest in a few today and see your bills quickly fall.

10 Inexpensive and Easy-to-Install Green Solutions was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

1. The Post Office: The Post Office is a common place where scams can be run. It has nothing to do with the people there, it is simply the way the Post Office was set up to be accommodating to the general public. Here are two common scams and what you can do to protect yourself.
   1. Stamps: If a letter has too many stamps on it, the post office will happily offer a refund of excess postage. Unfortunately, that means that if too much postage is purposefully put on one item, anyone can take that item to the Post Office for a refund in cash. Again, it is an easy scam to pull off and can be easily hidden if a company sends out a lot of marketing mail or bills.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Protect Yourself By: Keeping track of how many stamps your bookkeeper has at any one time and how many stamps are given out to other employees. This can be done by simply keeping the stamps in your own desk. If you have a postage machine and cannot monitor stamps given out, take items to the Post Office yourself or give those items to someone in the office who has no access to the machine. This way, there is some accountability in the office and offers some protection to you.

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1. 2. Money Orders: In case you were not aware, the Post Office does offer money orders for sale. Unfortunately, this means that an embezzling bookkeeper can take any check written to the Post Office and have it turned into a Money Order made out to themselves. That money order is as good as cash and can be put into any bank account without a Small Business Owner ever knowing.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Protect Yourself By: Demanding to see receipts from the Post Office immediately. The Post Office always gives a receipt when it makes a sale, no matter what. If a money order is purchased from the Post Office, that money order is going to show up on the receipt. By reviewing receipts every time someone goes to the Post Office, you will know immediately if any money goes astray.

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2. Payroll Taxes: Using Payroll Taxes to embezzle thousands of dollars is one of the most common ways a bookkeeper can steal. It is so simple and so easy, that many people do this year after year without ever getting caught. What they do is pay too much in taxes every single pay period, whether to themselves or a ghost employee. Then, at the end of the year, they file for a refund and get back thousands of dollars instantly.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Protect Yourself By: Having your accountant review and/or file the payroll taxes every quarter. Specifically ask them to check for this kind of fraud since accountants don’t look for embezzlement unless you ask them too. If the taxes are too high, an accountant will let you know.

3. Redirected Payments: This is where things can get a bit tricky. Bookkeepers, good or bad, are in charge of writing checks. If an embezzler is smart enough to not forge a check, then an embezzler is also smart enough to get a Small Business Owner to sign a check for them. However, if a signed check gets to the person or company its supposed to get to…well, that is another story. It is very easy for an embezzler to get a Small Business Owner to sign a check to a company, and then deposit it into a different account.
   1. Consider this: You have a Citibank Business Credit Card. You charge on it every month and therefore, every month a payment has to be made. Once a month like clockwork, your bookkeeper comes to you with a check for payment. You think nothing of it and sign it never suspecting possible foul play. You also don’t notice if an account number was or was not listed on that check. Once you’ve signed that check and let it leave your sight, an embezzler could then put their own Citibank credit card number on the check paying off their own credit card instead of yours. Then, they would make the minimum payment on your card so that you would never suspect anything is wrong since you can still charge on your card. This can be done with any number of payment checks whether to credit cards, banks or even the IRS. Even if there is an account number on the check, it may not be yours…afterall, do you have all your account numbers memorized?

<!–[if !supportLists]–>· <!–[endif]–>Protect Yourself By: Always be the first to look at the mail…especially bank statements and credit account statements. If listed payments are less then what you remember making, you have an excuse to go and find the check. If checks have account numbers crossed out and new ones written out, you will be the first to know by simply opening your bank statement first. Anything that has white out or has been crossed out should set off alarm bells. Check these items closely right away to catch an embezzler as soon as theft occurs.

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While there are many other ways that embezzlers steal, this is just a few of the most common ones. Also check out the other articles in this series about Protecting Your Small Business from Embezzling Bookkeepers. Part 1 will teach you how to protect your Checking Account, Part 2 lists ways to stop Credit Card and Identity Theft fraud, and Part 3 discusses Ghosts in the Company. 

Protect Your Small Business from Embezzling Bookkeepers Part 4: Common Scams was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

USE COUPONS

I know what you’re thinking…”Trite!  Everyone says that, but I don’t have the time. (Or something similar.)”  If you don’t have the time to cut coupons, I can commiserate.  With working, exercising, and spending time with your family, who really does have the time?  Plus, who really wants to get the newspaper just to save a few bucks here and there.

Understandable…however there are some great websites who now offer downloadable coupons that you can access through your e-mail.  Some of my favorites are Coupons.com, Smartsource.com, and CoolSavings.com.  You can access their website any time before you leave to shop and simply click on any and all of the coupons you would like to print at once.  With three to four printable coupons per page, you can simply take along the pages and have them scanned by the cashier without ever cutting a single coupon. 

SHOP THE SALES

Although it may be tempting to only buy the items you like, you can easily save 25% of every shopping trip if you simply buy only the items that are on sale.  Each week, every store discounts hundreds and even thousands of different items making it possible for you to get the lowest prices.  A common sale is 10 Items for $10, although you never really have to buy all 10 of those items.  These sales can actually make items at a regular grocery store cost less then the items at a Grocery Club. 

BUY THE SMALLEST ITEMS

When you combine the coupons with sales items, you will find that the final purchase price is a lot less then what you would normally pay anywhere else.  However, by buying the smallest size allowed by the coupon, you may find yourself getting the item for free.  While in the store, make a quick comparison of which item would cost you less, and you will take a huge chunk out of your total tally. 

SHOP AT THE RIGHT STORES

Don’t just shop at any store simply because it’s the closest to your house.  Instead, look for grocery stores that double or even triple coupons.  By doing so, the average $1 Coupon will subtract $2 from the item you are buying, and again the item could be free.  For example, cereal is usually priced between $4 to $5 and often goes on sale for $2.  One-dollar coupons for cereal are especially easy to find, which could mean that all of your cereal purchases would be free.  That alone is a great reason to shop at local grocery stores. 

WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEEK

Unless you need the product right away, wait until something goes on sale before making your purchase.  Many times something you will buy this week will go on sale in just a few more days.  Therefore, unless it’s absolutely necessary, move onto the next aisle and make a note on your shopping list to look again next week.  

USE REBATES

Anyone who has bought a computer knows that rebates can be a great little bonus when buying a product.  Using the websites mentioned above, you can actually also find rebates that will refund a bit more money to you.  You can also find rebate forms at the products websites.  Simply save your receipts for these items and mail them in to make a several dollars more each time you shop. 

 Now that you know, have fun with it.  Buy as much as you can when it goes on sale so that when you need something, you will have it and have purchased it for pennies on the dollar.  Eventually, you will find yourself saving much more then 75% every week. 

Save 50% or More on Your Grocery Bills was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Flying with children can be daunting.  Hearing people comment about your crying angel mid-flight can really tick a parent off as well as create a sense of defensiveness.  However, flying with kids does not need to be horrifying.  The ten tips listed here will make flying with any child a more pleasurable experience. 

BOOKING THE FLIGHT

1. Pick a flight that happens at night or during your child’s naptime:  No matter how tempted you may be to book a normal day-flight, you need to consider what will be best for your child.  Look for the flights that are shortest in duration and are in off-peak times.  By simply scheduling a red-eye or flying during your child’s naptime, the likelihood of your child sleeping through the flight increases making travel time calmer and easier.  Plus, the price of the ticket will probably cost you less.

2. Book the Kid-Friendly seats:  Most parents tend to book towards the back of any plane since they believe it will keep their children from distressing the fewest passengers.  This means, by booking towards the back, you will likely only bother other more-tolerant, traveling families and find other children for yours to play with.  Look for seats in rows of three (even if there are only two of you) so you increase the chance of someone not taking the third seat and give your child more room to play or sleep. 

3. Consider flights with at least one stop:  When flying longer distances, consider flights where you change planes and have at least a one-hour layover.  Changing flights allows your child to get a change of scenery, stretch their legs, use a normal bathroom, eat decently cooked food, and even play at a playground with other children (since many airlines now offer play areas).  Even though it may greatly increase your travel time, a happy child and a break in your own monotonous discomfort can well be worth the hassle. 

WHAT TO BRING

4. Make a Kids Travel Pack:  Bring a child’s backpack of toys, games, and books so that your child can play during the flight.  Raid your local dollar store a few days before the flight, and your child will be obsessed with all the new toys in that bag.  Let the child pack their own bag while making it clear that they can only play with the toys on the plane and you will create a sense of eagerness and excitement within your child. 

5. Take Along Infant Tylenol for babies and Children’s Tylenol for older kids:  Although some may frown at drugging your child during a flight, I highly recommend it.  Like adults, the pressure of the cabin can give a child a headache, motion sickness, or just make them uncomfortable.  Children’s Tylenol can greatly relieve any of their pains and allow them to sleep where they may be unable to do so otherwise.   

6. Take gum for older children and bottles or pacifiers for babies:  The pressure in the cabin can be extremely painful for a child.  Pacifiers, baby bottles, and gum all help to relieve ear pressure making your kids more comfortable during take-offs and landings. 

7. Bring along the Electric Babysitter:  If you do not have a DVD player or Gaming System, now is the time to buy one.  Both are excellent distractions that will monopolize your child for the duration of the trip and allow you to get some peace.  Buy a new movie right before you leave, and younger children will watch it several times during the flight while older ones will concentrate wholeheartedly on it.  Just make sure to bring the headsets or else the stewardess may ask you to turn it off.  Plus, an extra battery costs about $50 and buys you an extra hour and a half.  Add this to naptime, and you will have a child that is a perfect angel the entire flight.  (A Gameboy or other Gaming System does the same thing and works especially well with teenagers.  Just don’t forget to bring the rechargers for either electronic.)

8. Take a stroller for smaller kids:  Strollers that recline horizontally allow the child to sleep any time during your vacation.  As an added bonus, your stroller can act as a baggage carrier while in the terminal since airlines let you check strollers at the door of the plane. 

DURING THE JOURNEY

9. Buy snacks and drinks in the airport:  Since shorter flights no longer offer meals, and longer flights serve one to two meals maximum, it’s very important to get these items before boarding the plane so that your child does not starve.  Even if a meal is served on the plane, it may not be served until several hours after takeoff.  Also, while you can bring pre-packed snacks into the airport, liquids are no longer allowed past security checkpoints.  By simply spending a few extra bucks in the terminal, you can ensure your child stays quenched and well fed during your flight, again ensuring their happiness.

10. Walk up and down the airplane at least once an hour:  This is a good idea for both parents’ and children’s circulation, and it is a great idea for boredom.  The child will get a change of scenery, thereby breaking up the monotony, plus they can meet other children on the plane, and you can arrange a mile-high play date. 

How to Travel with Kids on the Fly was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

 THE BASICS

1)      Your credit report is just that…a report of your credit or the money you owe(d).  It does not list utilities or cell phones since you pay those on a month-to-month basis.  It does not merge with your spouses’ credit, but if you have joint accounts with your spouse (or any other co-signer), those accounts will show up on both of your reports…and only in that instance will negatives and positives affect both reports.

2)      If you have a debt that is sold (a.k.a. sent) to a collection agency, that collection agency is going to post a claim of debt on your credit report, which negatively dings your credit score.  If you do not pay off that claim, the collection agency will sell it to a second collection agency and your credit score will be dinged again.  This can happen again and again, each time bringing your score down drastically. 

3)      When the first creditor sells the debt, they do not remove their claim from your report.  It is not their responsibility to do so; it is yours.  You do this by creating a “dispute” with each of the credit agencies asking for a correction.  When you’ve made your dispute, the credit agency contacts the creditor and the creditor has 30 days to deny or verify your claim.  If they do not respond at all, the credit agency will decide in your favor and the item you dispute will be changed or removed from your credit report forever.  If it gets put back on later, you can show the reporting agencies that they removed it, and they will remove it again. 

 STEP-BY-STEP CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1:  Pull a 3-in-1 Credit Report with FICO Scores.  Although it is true that you can get your credit report for free every 12 months at websites like FreeCreditReport.com, FICO scores are usually not included and you need to know your scores to know if your score has really improved.  Therefore, it is an excellent idea to pay the extra charge and purchase the FICO scores for all three reports.  It is also a good idea to pay to have the 3-in-1 Credit Report pulled directly from one of the credit reporting agencies’ websites, as you will be able to make disputes online directly for two of the companies.  (Transunion is especially easy to make disputes with.) 

Step 2:  Read Your Report Carefully.  Your credit report is divided into four sections.  The first section includes your personal information like name, address, and place of employment.  The second section is a list of all items hurting your score (such as late payments, accounts sent to collections and collection agencies).  The third section is a list of all credit accounts in good standing.  The fourth section is a list of all inquiries made in the last 24 months. 

Step 3:  Print Out Your Report.  Once you have your credit report on the screen, print it out.  You are going to want to highlight things and make notes, and it’s easier to do this on a paper copy that you can reference later. 

Step 4:  Highlight EVERY Late Payment.  With a Yellow Highlighter, highlight all of the accounts that claim you paid 30, 60, 90 or 120+ days late. 

Step 5:  Highlight EVERY Collection Agency. 

Step 6:  Highlight EVERY Charged-Off Account. 

Step 7:  Begin Your Dispute:  Now that you have highlighted all the negative items on your credit report, you are ready to begin your dispute.  (Disputing online is easiest at Transunion’s or Equifax’s website.  You can also do this by phone…all of the information will be listed on their websites). 

Step 8:  Say, “This Account was Never Late.”  Dispute all items that are 30 days late (or more) by simply stating, “This account was never late.”  By doing so, you will be able to turn negatives into positives without deleting your credit history.  Many times, a creditor will not bother disputing such a simple claim, and it will changed automatically if they don’t respond.  (Remember to reference the account number listed and the creditors name when doing this by mail or phone.) 

Step 9:  Say, “This account is not mine.”  You want to do this for EVERY collection agency you highlighted AND every account that says it was “charged off.”  This way, you can have many of these companies removed and bring your score up quickly.  For companies that still do have your account, they will dispute your dispute and you can then deal with them as outlined in Part 2 of this Series.  (Again, reference the credit account number and the creditor from your report.) 

Step 10:  Submit Your Claim and Wait.  Once you have disputed the negative items on your credit report, the reporting agencies will begin an “investigation.”  Creditors have 30 days to respond to any disputes you made, and if they do not respond, the negative items will be changed or removed from your report.  Often, if you have paid off your balance and are in good standing with a creditor, a disputed creditor will not bother to contest the dispute you are making, thus automatically deciding the dispute in your favor.  The ones that do respond are the ones you may have to deal with over the phone or in writing.

Step 11:  Review and Retry.  Once the 30-day investigation period is over, the credit reporting agencies will send the investigation results to you by snail mail or email.  A new temporary section will appear on your report that lists each individual decision and it will only be visible to you (not to anyone you try to get credit with later).  If some of the items you disputed were not removed, consider disputing them again in a few months.  In the meantime, do a little extra legwork to ensure success on your next dispute. 

BETWEEN DISPUTES – THE LEGWORK

Step 12:  Make contact with creditors and collection agencies.  Let them know what you are trying to do and see if they will cooperate.  Ask them to make a note in your account verifying whatever your claim will be on your next dispute.  (You can dispute these items without making contact, but you have a better chance of improving your report if you can get them on your side ahead of time.)

Step 13:  Change Your Dispute Reasoning.  If you do not believe the same dispute you made in the first go-round will work in the second attempt, change the reason you are making your new disputes.  For example, creditors that were not removed can be re-disputed with “paid as agreed upon.”  If it is not disputed the second time, the item will be changed from a negative to a positive, thereby increasing your score. 

Although this may seem like a lot of work, it actually takes less then one hour to do for most people.  Also, it is a good idea to do this at least once a year to make sure that your credit report only lists the items you want it to have.  If you do not do this regularly, you are going into the credit game blind and you will deserve the bad score you get.

Also, check out the first two articles of this series (Manipulate Your Credit and Get Out of Debt Fast) to really increase your score fast in 30 days.   

RAISE YOUR CREDIT SCORE 200 POINTS IN 30 DAYS: Part 3 – Clean Your Credit Report was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

1. Are your credit accounts current? If your accounts are not current now, then you are not making enough money to make your mortgage. Get those balances current before applying for a credit card.
   
2. Have all of your balances been paid on time within the last 12 months? Paying on time for 12 straight months will make you an “A-Paper” borrower, something lenders consider just as important as your score. If you are an “A-Paper” borrower, you will get bumped up to the better end of loans you credit score will qualify you for. Therefore, go 12 months with timely payments to give you that extra boost regardless of your score.
3. Do you have a lot of negatives on your credit report? Negatives are usually late payments, balances over their limits, and items charged off for collections. You can “dispute” these items on your credit report and have them removed, which will make you look more attractive in the application process and raise your score at the same time. (Plus it only takes 30 days to do.)
4. How many times have you applied for credit in the last three to six months? Too many credit inquiries lowers your score and says you are trying to get yourself into a heap of debt. Try to make it through three to six months without applying for new credit before applying for a home loan.
5. How much money do you have to pay towards other credit on a monthly basis? A creditor will figure your mortgage at approximately 50% of what you make. This number varies depending on the lender. Your credit report totals all of your payments right up front. If you are paying more then 50% towards credit cards and other loans, then you will most likely be rejected for a mortgage. Ask your creditors to lower your interest rates so that the total monthly payments on your credit report will go down. Also, try to pay down as much of your credit balances as possible so that you can get a higher pre-approved mortgage amount.
6. How much longer will you be paying your car loan? If you have a car loan, and you only have one year’s worth of payments left, mortgage lenders will usually not take that debt into account when calculating your potential mortgage amount. Therefore, if you have more then one year of payments left, pay it down to one year in order to get a higher mortgage.

Remember, knowledge is power. A pre-approval letter is knowledge and it gives you bargaining power when it comes to home loans. By cleaning your credit before applying for a mortgage, you can bargain for the best loans and make the toughest home offers. Do these things before applying for a loan, and soon you will own the home of your dreams.

What Mortgage Lenders Look For was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

GHOST VENDORS

Ghost vendors are basically companies that you pay for goods or services you did not receive. Since bookkeepers often find vendors to help keep a company afloat, it is very easy to convince a business owner that a check to a vendor is a valid payment. As a business owner, it is your job to know if that expense is legit. Checking with your state to see if a business is valid is not going to guarantee your protection. You have to do more.

Consider this: It costs less then $100 to get a Fictitious Business Name…a name which is then filed with the state and requires little or no back up documentation to acquire. Once someone has a Fictitious Business Name, they can then open a Business Checking Account in that new company’s name. It takes no more then an hour to get both legal products, and an embezzler is then able to deposit checks into that account immediately. The bank with the embezzler’s account is not going to know if the check they are cashing is valid or not, nor will they know if the signature is truly yours. All they care about is taking care of “their customers.” Therefore, it falls on your shoulders to protect yourself.

Protect Yourself By: Being obnoxious and paying late. Even Ghost Vendors submit invoices, and there should be an address on that invoice. If there is one, drive by the address and see if there is a business sign posted anywhere out front. If there is not an address, or there is a PO Box, then do not sign a check paying that vendor unless that vendor is willing to come to you in person to collect that check. If they are in collusion with your bookkeeper to embezzle you of funds, they will be less willing to face you then your bookkeeper would be. If your bookkeeper harasses you to make the payment and claims that the vendor is harassing them, tell your bookkeeper to forward the vendor’s calls directly to you. A good bookkeeper will be relieved to not have to deal with angry collectors, and any other response then relief should tell you that something is wrong.

GHOST EMPLOYEES

Ghost Employees are basically people you pay every pay period who do not really work for you or your company. Obviously, if you are a small company, it is going to be harder to slip a Ghost Employee’s paycheck across your desk, but, the larger the company, the easier it becomes to add ghosts. An embezzling bookkeeper will not only deduct the payroll taxes from this person’s check to make it look like a valid paycheck when you sign it, but they will also pay payroll taxes out of your account to hide the embezzlement from your accountant.

Consider This: A carpeting company I once worked with had many flooring installers who worked “in the field.” Many of the installers would hire assistants that they would pay from their own pockets in the beginning, but over time, they would ask the business owner to add the employees to the payroll. The owner would do it sight unseen, thus making it very easy for an embezzling bookkeeper to slip in a few more ghosts without the owner’s knowledge.

Another way embezzlers add Ghost Employees is to cut checks to their friends and / or family. That person may not even be aware it’s done if the embezzler has access to their checking account. Any deposits made into a joint checking account would easily be explained away as “The Embezzler’s Paycheck.” (This is common between an embezzler and their spouse…the check being written in the spouse’s name, and the spouse never seeing that check.)

Protect Yourself By: Getting to know all of your employees and insisting on seeing them “on the job. ” The less involved you are, the easier it is to embezzle from you…and an accountant will not catch this kind of fraud unless you pay them thousands of dollars to investigate it. If you do not like an employee or do not feel that they are actually working for you, fire them immediately. It is better to pay towards unemployment then worry that an unfit employee will drive customers away, or get hurt “on the job” and cost you thousands.

While most people might think their bookkeeper is “totally trustworthy,” it is blind trust that makes you an easy mark for embezzling funds. Since accountants do not look for embezzlement unless you request it and are willing to pay thousands, it is your job to be involved no matter how busy you might be. By simply popping in for a “random” company checkup, you will keep your bookkeeper on their toes enough to make sure that they do not want to steal from you. It’s good advice for anyone no matter how long you’ve worked with your bookkeeper since many bookkeepers steal for years and never get caught until they quit.

Don’t forget to read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series regarding Checking Account and Credit Card and Identity Theft fraud. Also check back next week to learn about common scams bookkeepers use to steal thousands.

Protect Your Small Business from Embezzling Bookkeepers Part 3: Ghosts in the Company was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Studying Abroad:

When I was in my Junior Year of college (1998-1999), I decided to spend a year studying abroad in Dublin, Ireland. I transferred to Lynn University to attend their study abroad program at a cost of $16,000 for the entire year (an excellent price at the time). This price included my room, board, tuition, food, and even my books for both semesters. The dorm I lived in had students from all over the world, and those students attended colleges all over Dublin. My Irish roommate was attending Trinity College Dublin at the same time. When I first laid eyes on this esteemed school, I absolutely drooled. Not only was the place steeped in 400 years of history, but it was also beautiful in a way that made your heart ache. To my disgruntlement, I found out that another American student in the dorm was attending Trinity all four years at a cost of $4,000 US dollars per year, the same cost as my one year through an American college. Plus, his semesters were nine weeks long whereas mine were the standard 16 weeks used in the American system. Apparently, Trinity only charged “International Students” a fee to attend, but their students have to attend for all four years and could not transfer in. Were I to decide to attend Trinity, I would have had to start over as a freshman.

This is really something to think about before sending your child to a university. Not only could your student receive an excellent education studying abroad, but also the college could cost a fraction of what it costs in the United States, especially if you go to a country where the exchange rate favors the US Dollar or where the country gives a lot of money to their higher educational institutions. Your student could receive an advantage in a corporate workplace since they will gain a unique perspective into the culture of another country, and they will gain a new perspective on international politics. They could also spend less time in that country and more time at home since their semester would be shorter in another country.

If you do not wish to send your student to another country for four full years, you still may want to look into study abroad programs at your student’s college since they offer so many advantages. Such advantages include the possibility of spending less for the school the study abroad (because of currency exchange rates) while they still receive credit at a US college and can still get grants and scholarships. Plus, they would still gain all the other advantages mentioned above. Either way, here are a couple of books that can help you find scholarships for studying abroad: Financial Aid for Study and Training Abroad, 2006-2008, Grants Register: The Complete Guide to Postgraduate Funding Worldwide.

College Credit for Work Experience:

If your college student has any work experience, they may be able to get college credit for it. In fact, there are many colleges that will allow your student to take a simple test and gain as much as 30 credits in order to get their degree faster. The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is one such exam that gives “credit” or “hours” to their participants and is accepted by more then 2,900 colleges. In addition, some colleges don’t require any testing at all and will simply look at the student’s verifying documentation. Each college has different policies regarding work experience, so check out the program at your local college to find out what free credit your student might qualify for to get their degree earlier.

Going to School for an Extended Period of Time:

Although most people would like to rush their students through college in four years, this is not always the best course for your student. They may end up getting a degree in something they don’t enjoy simply because they feel the pressure to graduate quickly, and thus end up in a job they hate. However, since there is no limit to how many times you can fill out a FAFSA or apply for grants and scholarships, it may be in your student’s best interest (and your financial best interest as well) to let your student attend half time for more then four years. This way, your student can continually apply for a wide variety of free money, have time to work should that be necessary, and be able to really figure out “what they want to be when they grow up.”

Continuing Education:

If you have a student that is dying to go to a four-year university like Harvard, why not discuss the possibility of attending that school’s Continuing Education program instead of its four-year undergrad program. A few years ago, my friend Marina informed me that she had transferred to Harvard’s Extension School and was taking their Continuing Education program towards a Graduate Degree for a cost of $620 per class. When you consider that the 2006-2007 year cost at Harvard was $43,655, you can see how a 99% discount might make attending Harvard later a more feasible option for your student, even if they have to attend another college first.

Being an Independent Student:

Although many students will not qualify for financial aid because they have parents who make “too much money,” a student can always apply for financial aid as an “independent student” and their parent’s income is not taken into consideration. Generally, the student has to be over 24 years old and not living with their parents, but in actuality, each school and each state has a different set of qualifying standards. When I was applying for financial aid to study abroad in Ireland, I found that the standard in California (my home state) was to have been living “on my own” for more then two years, and that to qualify, I had to prove that I “could not live with my parents.” However, when I applied through Lynn University in Florida, their standard of an independent student was simply that my parents could not have “claimed me on their taxes for the last two years.” Therefore, when your student is applying at a college, find out what that school’s requirements are to file as an independent student as this may net them a higher financial aid award.

Fee Waiver:

Whether or not your student qualifies as an Independent Student, they may be able to qualify for a Fee Waiver at their local school. In some cases, a fee waiver only waives the application fees to a specific college, but in many instances, the fee waiver will waive all college fees. Ask your local financial aid office about this program and you may find your college costs cut in half.

Community College First:

Although many students may have their heart set on attending a four-year university (and only a four-year university), you may want to talk to them about the possibility of going to your local community college first. Not only is it a huge savings in college fees, but I once had a four-year university professor inform me that they preferred transfer students to students who came directly from high school. Their explanation was that the transfer students had a better understanding of how to write a report and study for an exam, as well as having a better foundation in the course they were studying. At community colleges, the classes are smaller and so the students have a better chance at acquiring the teacher’s undivided attention. Plus, by transferring from a community college into a four-year university, you will be more able to afford a graduate program at a school of their choice…and excellent way to get a stubborn student to cooperate. Plus, the degree will be from the college they transfer to instead of the community college.

Don’t forget to read the first four articles as well of this series: “Starting with Pennies,” “Tax Programs,” “Hundreds of Grants,” and “Searching for Scholarships.” With all of these tools under your belt, anyone can get their degrees quickly at a fraction of the cost or for free.

Free Money for College Part 5: Alternative Education Options was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

MAKE A GAME PLAN

Whether you are dealing with good debt or debt that is weighing heavily on your shoulders, it is important to have a game plan when working towards paying it off. No matter where you stand with your credit, your plan needs to consist of starting with the smallest balance and paying that off first.

1. Consolidate your debt as much as possible. Although many people would suggest getting a consolidation loan, it is not always an option if you actually owe a lot of money. Here are two options that can actually be more beneficial.

a. Tap Into Your Home’s Equity: If you have a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) or are able to refinance a home, then this is going to be your best bet for getting out of debt fast. You see, when you get a HELOC or refinance your mortgage and take cash out, you are using the equity in your home to pay off your credit. This is beneficial because a) your interest rate can be as low as 5% saving you a lot more money then leaving balances on a credit card, b) your payments will be approximately 70% less then what they would be if leaving them on a credit card and c) the interest you pay toward a home loan will be tax deductible (whereas credit interest is not) and that tax deduction can save you even more money every year you have it. As an added bonus, transferring balances to your home equity will raise your credit score when it frees up your debt ratio on your credit cards.

b. Get a good deal on a balance transfer: If a refinance is not in your stars, then look to the credit that you do have. Call up your credit cards and ask them for deals on balance transfers. Many times, by simply asking, you can get 0% interest for a minimum of six months, or as little as 3% for the life of the debt. While you’re at it, ask if they will lower your interest rates as well. More often then not, they have no problem lowering interest rates, but you have to ask for it.

2. Start with the smallest balance first. Being able to pay even one card off can feel like a life changing event. Whatever balances you have not consolidated, begin with the smallest balance first. Even though it may not have the smallest interest rate, it is still best to get at least one card paid off. This gives you the option to request another balance transfer and transfer your balances again when the original deals expire.

3. rinse and repeat. That’s just my way of saying…keep going. Consolidate the balances you can, and then pay off the smallest balances right away. Keep asking for lower interest rates, and keep pressing your luck.

4. do try and keep your nose clean. While it may seem tempting to go out and keep charging up a storm, if you truly want to get out debt, you need to spend as little as possible during this period. Whatever you do charge on your cards, pay it all off each month plus whatever extra you can spare. By using the cards instead of your checking account, then paying everything in your checking towards your credit card, you create a good payment history on your credit reports and you lessen the likelihood of bouncing any checks.

THE TRUTH ABOUT DEBT COLLECTORS

Although every state’s laws and rights regarding Consumer Debt differ, all collection agencies have fewer rights when collecting debt then the original company you owed the money too. Not only do they have fewer rights thanks to the FTC, but they also have purchased you debt for as little as $0.10 for every dollar you owed. That means if you owed $1,000, they probably bought the debt for $100. Anything you pay over that is pure profit for them, and they make that profit by harassing and scaring you into paying. Do not let them intimidate you. You are the one with the gold; therefore you are the one that makes the rules. So, here is exactly how to deal with debt collectors so that you can settle for as little as 30% of what you owe.

Here are some other things to know before you settle:

A) A debt collector wants you to pay them NOW, and they will lie to you to make that happen.

B) A debt collector cannot take you to court unless they are located in the same state. This is the rule for the majority of states, and you can find out your exact rights at your local District Attorney’s office.

C) If you don’t wish to speak with a debt collector, simply send them a “Cease and Desist.” If they ignore it and depending on the state, you could have a case against them for harassment if they continue to call you.

D) Credit card debt is unsecured debt, meaning they cannot try to repossess any of your possessions. However, homes, cars and secured credit cards can be repossessed as these are secured loans.

E) Other then mentioned here, the only time a collector can garnish wages is if they have taken you to court and won.

F) They cannot ruin your credit “forever.” Any negatives a debt collector puts on your account is only there for seven years (give or take a year). After seven years, it will drop off and your credit score will go up…unless you have it removed immediately. (I will go over how to do this final step next week.)

THE GAME PLAN FOR DEBT COLLECTORS

1. FIND OUT WHO HAS YOUR ACCOUNT. Check your credit reports and call your credit companies to find out who now owns your account. By making the first step and call them, they will deal with you more respectfully.
2. ASK THEM HOW MUCH THEY ARE WILLING TO SETTLE FOR. Do not be the first to make an offer. The collection agency bought your account for pennies on the dollar and they already know the lowest possible profitable settlement, which could be as little as 30% of your original debt. Let them make an offer as it will likely be much less then you may offer.
3. OFFER THREE MONTHLY PAYMENTS. No company is legally allowed to take more then three postdated checks for an agreed upon amount. If you can get them to settle, they will try to make it an amount you can afford with three monthly payments. Play hardball. See how low you can get them before you give them any bank account information.
4. DEMAND THEY PUT IT IN WRITING. If you do not get the settlement in writing, the collection agency may take your money and sell your account to another collection agency. If you get no proof that your account was settled, you will have to start the process all over again. Be sure to demand this and be insistent. If they tell you they cannot, tell them you will not pay them until you receive it and demand that they at least email it to you (as email provides a digital signature and timestamp).
5. ONCE THE ACCOUNT IS PAID IN FULL, MOVE ONTO THE NEXT CREDITOR. Generally, a creditor will keep your account approximately 90 days before selling it to another collection agency. At least by selling it to someone else, they can make back the money they spent to buy the debt. Therefore, don’t feel you have to call all of your debt collectors at once. Start with the smallest amounts first, and then work your way to the next one. By the end of the year, you can easily pay off four accounts one after the other.

If you follow these steps to clean up your credit, the negative items will fall off your credit report completely in 6 to 8 years depending on the credit agency. However, you can dispute negatives on your credit report and get them removed within 30 days. Next week’s final article (“Cleaning Your Report”) will go over how to do this step by step.

RAISE YOUR CREDIT SCORE 200 POINTS IN 30 DAYS: Part 2 – Get Out of Debt Fast was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

HOW THEIVES GET YOUR IDENTITY

According to the Post Office’s brochure, Identity Thieves gain access to your personal information through:

1. “Dumpster Diving” – Going through your trash.
2. “Skimming” – Storing your credit card number in a special storage device when processing your card.
3. “Phishing” – Pretending to be a financial institution and sending scam alerts to get your personal information.
4. “Changing Your Address” – Completing a change of address form to get your mail and personal statements.
5. Stealing – Taking your purse, wallet, mail, pre-approved credit card offers, new checks, personnel files from work, or tax information.

TIPS RECOMMENDED BY USPS

1. SHRED FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS – Any paperwork with personal information should be tossed through a shredder before making it to your “dumpster.”
2. NEVER CLICK ON LINKS IN UNSOLICITED EMAILS. Since “phishing” is becoming a common problem, use up-to-date firewalls, an anti-spam service, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer. Plus, never click on links in emails. Instead, open a new window and go to the website address you know to enter information. (Fake Paypal emails are becoming more common in getting people’s information, so be extra wary when dealing with these.). You might also want to avoid email archiving in the event that someone hacks into your account, but good anti-spam software is a must..
3. DON’T USE OBVIOUS PASSWORDS like your birth date, mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
4. DON’T GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION whether over the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with.
5. PROTECT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER – Never carry your social security number in your wallet or write your social security number on a check.
6. KEEP YOUR PERSONAL INFO IN A SECURE PLACE – This is especially important with roommates, outside help, or if having work done in your home.
7. BE ALERT TO BILLS THAT DO NOT ARRIVE WHEN THEY SHOULD. If they do not arrive, they may have been routed somewhere else.
8. BE PROACTIVE ABOUT UNEXPECTED CREDIT CARDS OR ACCOUNT STATEMENTS. If an account or credit card arrives that you did not open, someone else did. Call that company immediately and have it closed.
9. BE ALERT FOR CREDIT BEING DENIED UNEXPECTEDLY. Credit is often denied for a variety of reasons, one of which is when too much credit is opened in a short period of time. Being denied credit may mean that someone else has already opened accounts in your name.
10. RESPOND IMMEDIATELY TO CALLS OR LETTERS ABOUT PURCHASES YOU NEVER MADE. Credit card companies create a profile of their clients detailing out the most common places a customer shops and the items that they frequently buy. If something is purchased that does not suit your profile, they will contact you for verification. Respond to the notice right away to head off potential theft and damage to your credit.
11. CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORT. Any credit opened in your name will show up on your credit report. By staying on top of this, you will be able to stop identity theft before too much damage occurs.
12. REGULARLY REVIEW YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. You want to look for any and all charges that you did not make, especially since consumers usually have only 30 days to dispute items they did not authorize.
13. CLOSE ANY ACCOUNTS THAT HAVE BEEN TAMPERED WITH OR ESTABLISHED FRAUDULENTLY. It’s better to get a new card with a new number and close the old card since this alone may stop a thief in possession of your information.

OTHER GOOD TIPS:

14. GO PAPERLESS: You can receive many of your bills through your bank account instead of having them mailed. By requesting this free benefit, you keep account numbers and personal information private, you are able to save hardcopies directly to your hard drive, and you are able to find that information quickly and easily when needed (like when applying for a mortgage).
15. STORE YOUR FINANCIAL AND PERSONAL INFORMATION IN A STORAGE BOX BY YEAR (not including social security numbers) – This is especially important when dealing with taxes since the IRS can demand to see evidential proof of deductions for as long as eleven years after you file. By keeping it in a storage box, you can set the box on fire when the time period is up while never having to worry about being unable to provide demanded evidence.
16. NEVER RESPOND TO EMAILS – Emails are now commonly used to steal or “phish” information out of consumers by making the email look as if it came directly from a financial institution. If you respond to the email, you encourage them to continue trying to get personal info from you. Simply add them to your Spam list to keep that email address from contacting you in the future, and visit the addresses you know if you are concerned the notice is valid.
17. WHEN CONTACTED BY AN INSTITUTION BY PHONE, TELL THEM YOU WILL CALL THEM RIGHT BACK – Let them give you their name and number, but do not call that number back. Instead, call the number on the back of your card and ask to speak to a representative about your account. Let them know that you were contacted and ask them to verify any problems. All account managers have access to the same information, so they will be able to see if there is a problem with your account or not.
18. OPT OUT OF PREAPPROVED CREDIT OFFERS – Although I do not personally believe that people can get credit through pre-approved credit card applications without your social security information, it never hurts to opt-out of credit card offers. By doing so, you lessen the amount of mail that comes to your mailbox, and you will still be able to apply for credit online. Check out the FTC’s Consumer Alert webpage to see all the ways you can opt out.
19. GET A LOCKING MAILBOX – This is especially a good idea for anyone in a nice area. The nicer the area you live in, the more ideal a target you would make to an identity thief. Obviously, living in a nice area (no matter how safe you think it is), the more money you make and the more a thief assumes they can steal.
20. COPY ALL OF YOUR CREDIT CARDS AND SAVE IN A FILE AT HOME – By having a copy of the card front and back in a locked filing cabinet or other safe place, you will be able to quickly and easily contact your creditors should your purse or wallet ever be stolen.
21. CARRY ONLY ONE OR TWO CARDS AT A TIME – Lock away all the other cards in a safe place and carry as few cards as possible. This way, if someone ever gets into your wallet or purse, you will notice immediately if a card is stolen and be able to report it right away.

If you do believe that your identity has been stolen, don’t let yourself be a victim. Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to let them know that you believe your identity has been stolen since this will help law enforcement across the country in your investigation. Also contact the three credit reporting agencies so they can put extra security on your credit and make all new credit have to be approved by you first. Lastly, file a police report even if you do not know who stole your card. By doing so, you will be able to get the debt wiped out by creditors and protect your good credit.

21 Ways to Stop Identity Theft was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

1. Moonlight:  One way to supplement your income is to start your own side business where you can utilize the skills you have acquired while “on the job.”  There are many benefits to creating your own business, one of the biggest being the tax deductions that can save you thousands of dollars per year.  Another benefit to moonlighting is that you do the work when you can fit it in, and you charge however much you want to charge.  Go to Craigslist to find moonlighting possibilities in your area and begin your own company.  Eventually, you may be able to quit your day job altogether. 

2. Ask for a Raise: What easier way can you think of to get more money?  Although for some, this may seem impossible, for most it will be easy to achieve without having to do more work.  To be taken seriously, be prepared when you approach your boss.  On a blank sheet of paper, create two columns.  One column will list all of the jobs that were part of your job description when you got your last raise.  In the other column, list all of the jobs that you have taken on in addition to the previous jobs.  Be thorough and hold nothing back.  (Quantity often counts more then quality when negotiating.)  Approach your boss and show them the list.  Let them know that you are willing to continue the extra jobs, but only if you can get paid for them as well.  They will most likely ask you how much more you would like to be paid.  Have a high number in mind ahead of time so that when your boss comes back with a lower amount, you won’t be totally disappointed.  Then again, how stoked will you be if you get what you are asking for? 

3. Change your deductions at work:  When you began working at your job, you probably filled out a W-4 (also known as an Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate).  This form is needed to know how much money an employer is going to deduct from your paycheck.  If you would like to take a little bit more money each pay period, go to the person who prints your payroll checks and let them know you would like to fill out a new W-4.  When you do, increase the number of deductions you claim.  This may mean a smaller tax refund at the end of the year, but it also means you will have more money in your pocket daily that you can spend or save as you see fit.  Why loan the money to the government all year long when you can use it to turn your own profit? 

4. create an Online Store:  Consider opening an eBay store for auctioning sellable items.  You can find a plethora of products to auction at Freecycle.org, a Yahoo company where people go to get rid of items they no longer want.   If you sign up for an account at eBay, be aware that you can also set up an online store at the same time listing all of your different products.  Paypal can also help you set up an online store for free and it is easy to link to your personal / business website.  Cafepress and Amazon are two other sites that can help you set up online stores quickly and easily. 

5. SWITCH YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO A MONEY MARKET ACCOUNT:  Why get less then 1% interest on your money when you could be making much more?  Begin shuttling your money into a money market account and you can see the interest quickly accumulate.  I recommend ING Direct since they have a wide variety of high-yield savings accounts and mutual funds.  ING Direct’s Global Real Estate Fund has an average 19.94% growth since its November 2001 inception date (a highly risky money market account), while it’s average Money Market Fund has had an average growth rate of 4.03% since it’s April 1994 inception date (a much safer rate).  Having recently acquired Sharebuilder (where you can trade stocks yourself), Sharebuilder’s Money Market Account through ING Direct has a 7-day yield as high as 3.18% as of February 20, 2008.  The best thing about using ING Direct and Sharebuilder is that you can transfer as little as $25 to your account on a monthly basis and have it transferred back to your checking for free within 24 hours of the request date. 

6. MAKE BETTER SALES:  Everybody sells something whether they intend to or not.  When you tell your family about a great movie you saw and convince them to go see it, you have just sold that movie.  Sincerely suggesting a product that you believe someone will benefit from is selling.  When dealing with customers, you want to find out what they are looking for so that any sale you make to them is one that they will love and not return.  Here are a couple ways to make that sale even better. 

6. 1. NEVER SELL THE FEATURES…SELL THE BENEFIT.  A customer does not want to hear what the features of a product are.  Features are boring!  They don’t care if it’s the best product of its kind on the market, or even if it’s the best priced.  They just want to hear what the product is going to do for them…how it’s going to make their life better.  If you go on and on about your product’s features, you will lose your customer’s attention and you will lose the sale.  All your customer wants to know is WHY they should buy what you’re selling, and focusing on that is what will close the sale. 

6. 2. USE SUGGESTIVE SELLING TO INCREASE EACH SALE.  No matter what your customer is buying, always suggest a complimentary product BY NAME.  By suggesting to your customers that they will be happier trying new products alongside the one they are buying, you open up the opportunity for future sales, and increase the current sale.  By naming the product, you give them a chance to visualize what they are buying.  This is a common trick used in restaurants.  When a waitress asks a customer if they would “like dessert with that,” the common response is no.  The customer is full and they can’t imagine taking another bite of anything.  But, when a waitress suggests a piece of “chocolate mud pie for dessert,” the customer is no longer thinking about how hungry they are.  They are thinking about how good chocolate mud pie might taste.  Use this trick when suggesting other products and you improve the odds of increasing the sale. 

Now that you have an idea of how to greatly increase your income, also check out the other three articles in this series:  “Cut Your Expenses,” “Get the Best Deals,” and “Supplement Your Income.”  Also check out “20 Free Things You Can Do to Put Cash In Your Pocket” for more ideas. 

Keep Your Money to Yourself Part 4: Make More Money was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

In Free College Money Part 3 of this five-part series, college grants were defined as “a gift of money…not a reward that you have to pay back or compete for…” Unlike grants, you do have to compete to win scholarships and they are awarded based on prearranged criterion, creativity and a unique application. While grants are usually given from a budget and awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, scholarships are given all year long and have definitive deadlines that you must keep in mind when applying. Also, where grants are given to any number of students, scholarships are awarded to a select few applicants.

In the past, it was common for scholarships to be awarded largely based on merit, but nowadays, scholarships are awarded for a large variety of reasons including where a student lives, goes to school, the profession they are pursuing, and personal interests. The key in searching for scholarships is to apply where your student fulfills the largest number of criteria, thereby eliminating the competition and increasing the odds of taking home the award.

Listed here are seven places to begin your scholarship search:

1. Federal Student Aid: The U.S. Department of Education has set up a website (Student Aid) to provide free college money information, as well as money for technical schools, trade schools or career enhancement. This handy little website has a Scholarship Matching Wizard that anyone can use to create a search for free college money. You simply enter as much of the student’s information as possible to find all types of related scholarships. Once entered, this site will match you with hundreds of potential scholarships based on race, ethnicity, high school, college, national merit status, Greek organization, sports, religion, disability, profession, affiliations, marital status, art, interests and other miscellaneous criteria.

2. By State: One of the best ways to find available grants and scholarships is to do a search at the website of the state a student resides in or is planning to attend school in. State websites gather information for legally registered programs within their boundaries, and scholarships listed there have the best chance of being legitimate as well as having a more narrowed criterion. These scholarships are often state-related and generally awarded first to residents of the state.

3. By College: Each college a student may wish to attend (whether community college, trade school or university) has a financial aid office. This is an excellent place to begin a search for free college money since they have lists of scholarships created strictly for their own attendees. These scholarships often come from local contributors and corporations, but the college financial aid office will also have the 4-1-1 on other scholarships frequently awarded to their students. Drop by the prospective colleges and find out from their financial aid officers exactly which scholarships your student might receive for attending their college instead of another.

4. By Major/Minor: Once a student has stated their desired major, they will be able to find a long list of scholarships awarded strictly to that major. However, just because a student has declared a major, this does not mean they cannot qualify for scholarships in other fields as well. Declared minors also open up the possibility of winning more free college money. Therefore, apply for everything your student is interested in regardless of whether you think your student will qualify or not.

5. By Trade Affiliations: Checking with your job is an excellent way to find money for students. Not only can you deduct up to $5,250 of money given to you by a job for college expenses, but it gives your employer tax advantages as well. If this is out of the question, look for trade associations related to your student’s future profession since many of these trade associations offer discounts or scholarships that are never awarded. These programs are not advertised as widely as other scholarships, so your student will have a better chance of winning them.

6. Online: Fastweb.com, Scholarships.com, and CollegeBoard.com are three excellent online resources to begin your search for college scholarships. You simply fill out a free application and within minutes, thousands of scholarships will be listed that are related specifically to your student’s future. Through these websites, you can also download scholarship applications, apply directly in some instances, find out the amount of the awards before you apply, review detailed deadlines at a glimpse, and quite possibly win hundreds of thousands of dollars for your student’s college education. As an added bonus, these companies will e-mail you whenever a new scholarship becomes available that fits your students application.

7. Books: Although I would recommend doing a search online before getting a book, there are many books available that provide excellent resources on scholarships and their qualifying criteria. Some of these books include: the Fiske Guide to Colleges, The College Board Scholarship Handbook 2008, and Kaplan Scholarships: Billions of Dollars in Free Money for College. However, you can also find books dedicated specifically to your student’s criteria, grades or major, like College Guide for Performing Arts Majors 2008: Real-World Admission Guide for All Dance, Music, and Theater Majors, Financial Aid for Asian Americans 2006-2008, and Technology Grant News : Everything Technology 2008. These are just a few that you could look for in your local bookstore.

BEWARE OF SCAMS

A scholarship or grant is free money…money you should never need to pay for. Beware of companies that charge an application fee, demand money to pay out an awarded scholarship, claim you’re a finalist in a scholarship contest but need money for that scholarship, or request your social security number, credit card number or bank account information in relation to “holding a scholarship or grant for you.” Be wary of free seminars that turn into high-pressure sales pitches regarding financial aid since financial aid information is easy to find for free. Also, do not believe companies that “guarantee” a scholarship. Any and all claims should include qualifications or disclaimers.

Now that you have an idea of where to begin looking for scholarships, don’t forget to check out Parts 1, 2 and 3 of this series (Starting with Pennies, Tax Programs and Hundreds of Grants) for other great resources on Free College Money. Also, check back next week for the last article in this five-part series: “Free College Money Part 5: Rock Bottom College Alternatives.” This last article discusses the little-known options that can help your student get their degree for a fraction of the cost.

Free College Money Part 4: Searching for Scholarships was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Friends, Family AND CLIENTS

PRO:  Family, Friends Clients are the most common resource for any new business owner to tap into.  They have a history with you, know what you are capable of, and can vouch for your character, thus giving you a “foot in the door.”  Another bonus is that they truly want to help you do whatever they in order for you to succeed. 

CON:  The people who care the most are often the biggest naysayers when it comes to venturing out on your own.  They will be the first to doubt your ability and determination, and the first to come down on you should you fail to live up to their expectations and fulfill the promises they made on your behalf.  They want you to be “safe”…and starting a new business is anything but safe. 

MAKING IT WORK:  Be sincere when asking for help from friends and family.  Also, be specific when asking them for what you need.  When they come through for you, send them thank you cards, and keep them up to date on how your business is growing.  To keep sending people your way, they want to know that they are actually helping you, that you are fulfilling your promises, and that your business is growing.  Lastly, take all of their advice with a grain of salt.  Some advice will make sense, but other bits will go against the grain.  Thank for their advice and referrals, but stick to your instincts. 

PREVIOUS CLIENTS

PRO:  Previous Clients already have a history with you.  They will be glad to see you striking out on your own; they will be willing to let you solicit to them; and they will be willing to help you with advice and referrals for getting off the ground. 

CON:  This group can be difficult to win away from your previous company since they have a history with that business as well.   Also, they might possibly be a little jealous of your entrepreneurial spirit and thus a bit reluctant to see you succeed where they might fear to travel. 

MAKING IT WORK:  Be attentive and offer excellent customer service.  Call them periodically and ask how you might be of assistance.  Ask for referrals whenever possible.  Get friendly with their salesmen, managers and other employees and offer incentives to these people for buying from you or referring business to you.  Send cards and gifts on special occasions to let them you value them.  This kind of customer service will win their loyalty and get them to make referrals. 

PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING GROUPS

PRO:  A Networking Group can offer encouragement, support, and a ready-made clientele list.  They will hire you to accomplish tasks for their business.  They will make referrals when you prove your worth.  They will act as your sales force and vouch for you even when the customer has not met you.  They will be loyal to you before being loyal to other acquaintances because of the groups existing terms of cooperation.  In effect, they will be your best clients, your respected colleagues, and eventually your friends. 

CON:  A networking group will test your mettle first.  If you do not prove your worth, they will not send new business your way.  If you prove to be reliable, they will boot you from the group and not refund your fees.  Many times, they will only refer clients to you if you do the same for them.  Also, it will cost money to join a networking group. 

MAKING IT WORK:  Make yourself valuable by doing the following:  Treat professional networkers as valued customers and respected colleagues; always stand by your word; prove your reliability time and again; go above and beyond what is expected of you; volunteer for status in the group; and refer as many clients to others as possible.  By doing so, your networking group will feel the need to repay you in kind and your client list will grow exponentially.  Write off any associated fees as advertising expenses.

(Check out BNI, your local Chamber of Commerce, related trade groups, and specialty business groups (like groups for women or minorities).) 

SOCIAL BOOKMARKING

PRO:  Multiple visits to your website can help your business by utilizing search engine optimization.  The more views your site acquires, the more your site moves to the top of search engines like Google and Yahoo, giving you an edge over your competition.  Submitting your website to social bookmarking sites achieves the desired views to move your website into premier positions. 

CON:  These sights largely promote writers and bloggers.  Therefore, you need to spend time in both writing and updating your blogs, as well as in helping other social bookmarkers promote their material in order to stay fresh and on top of your market. 

MAKING IT WORK:  Create an informative blog on your website related to what your business does or the services you provide.  This will set you apart as an expert in your field, and give something to your bookmarking network that they can legitimately promote.  The more time you spend adding “friends,” visiting and approving sites, and making comments, the more your networking group will do the same for you. 

(Check out Stumbleupon, Digg, Propeller, Facebook and MySpace for social bookmarking sites.  Also create a profile on LinkedIn since this website is quickly becoming one of the main business networking resources on the net.)

TESTIMONIALS AND COMMENTS

PRO:  Testimonials and comments set you apart as a reliable professional in your field and gain the trust of readers.  It gives future customers the chance to learn about you while also having other people verify your knowledge. 

CON:  This is not a 100% guarantee of trust since some people may assume that you made up any testimonials on your site.  Negative comments might actually hurt your credibility as well. 

MAKING IT WORK:  Ask your acquaintances and colleagues to provide a testimonial about you, your business and your products.  Select the best ones for your website and promotional materials place them in a prominent position.  By doing so, you portray your professionalism upfront and give visitors a sense of confidence in your skills.  Use negative comments as constructive feedback to improve your blogs, and delete them when necessary or inappropriate. 

Pros and Cons of Networking was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

To understand how your credit is rated, you have to know the credit formula and how to apply it to daily decisions. When you understand the credit formula, you will be able to manipulate your current credit whenever you want in order to maintain the best possible credit score. The pie chart below shows you exactly what percentages make up your credit report.

PAYMENT HISTORY (35% OF YOUR SCORE)

30-Day Fix # 1: Bring all of your accounts current

Since 35% of your score is based on payment history, having late accounts currently on your report will hurt your score drastically. Although there is no exact number on how much this can bring your score up, it does calculate a larger part of your score in total, and I have read that being current can increase your score as much as 60 points instantly.

30-Day Fix # 2: Pay all of your accounts within 30 days of the due date.

Most people believe that paying bills late hurts your credit. The truth is…Paying your bills more then 30 days late hurts your credit. The difference is the 30-day grace period that comes with every credit account. If you pay within 30 days of the due date, it will not be reported as late to the credit agencies. This does not mean that you will not have to pay a late fee to your creditor, but it does mean that paying late will not hurt your score unless you are “really late.” Plus, it does not matter how much you pay as long as you pay the minimum required.

DEBT RATIO (30% of Your Score)

30-Day Fix # 3: Pay down your “Revolving Credit” balances

The largest part of a Credit Score is NOT based upon how much money you owe compared to your income. Income is not a factor when calculating your score. Instead, credit reporting agencies look at how much money a consumer owes divided by the amount of available credit, which is your Debt Ratio. The magic Debt Ratio is to owe 35% of what you can spend (or $35 owed for every $100). However, this 35% usually only calculates open “revolving credit accounts.” Home mortgages and car loans do not bring down your credit score; they improve it instead. It’s the accounts that you spend and pay off quickly that affect your score the most. So, by paying your credit card and credit line balances down to 35%, you will bring your score up drastically.

30-Day Fix # 4: Raise your credit limits

Again, Debt Ratio is how much you can owe divided by how much you can spend. Therefore, if you cannot pay down your balances, try going up instead. To be specific, ask your creditors to raise your limits. It will incur a credit inquiry, which can temporarily lower your score in 30 days, but it will also lower your debt ratio increasing your score even more.

CREDIT HISTORY (15% of Your Score)

30-day Fix # 5: Put your paid-off credit cards away

When you are not using a credit card, you should NEVER close the account. Without open credit accounts, creditors do not know how you pay your bills or if you are a viable risk. Since your payment history makes up 15% of your credit score, you want to keep these paid-off accounts open because they will continue to report you to the agencies, although they are now reporting you as “On-Time” and “excellent with credit.” So, having open accounts with zero balances HELPS your credit and shows that you have a credit history. If you have problems with credit, these unused cards will counteract the negatives and will help keep your score afloat. If you close them, the good credit history associated with those cards will soon disappear from your report and affect your score accordingly.

NEW CREDIT (10% of Your Score)

30-Day Fix # 6: Try not to apply for credit unless absolutely necessary.

Having a high credit score does NOT guarantee that Creditors will open accounts for you. Many times, they look at how many credit inquiries you have had within a three to six-month period and how many new accounts you opened recently and make their decision based solely on these two factors. To a creditor, too many inquiries and too many new accounts means you are trying to drive yourself into debt, and therefore, you will not pay them back. Plus, each time you do apply for credit, an inquiry goes on one of your reports and can temporarily lower your credit score as much as 5 points per inquiry. At the same time, credit inquiries fall off your reports after two years. So, by going as long as possible before applying for credit again, you are having inquiries fall off your report (making your score go up) and having fewer inquiries in a short period of time (making you a more viable risk).

TYPES OF CREDIT (10% of Your Score)

30-Day Fix # 7: Get a loan

Having too much of one kind of credit can hurt you because creditors want to know you can handle a wide variety of credit. On-time payments to cars, houses, and credit cards make you appear responsible and credit-savvy. If you don’t own one already, consider buying a house, condo or mobile home. A home loan will not only increase your net worth, but it gives you buying power later on. Creditors LOVE homeowners, and home loans for owner-occupied properties are fairly easy to acquire. However, if a home is not in the stars for you anytime soon, consider financing a car or business instead. A different kind of loan can help bring your score up.

Now, in case you have not figured it out, I am not suggesting that constantly monitoring your credit to make sure it is always “excellent” is the best solution for anyone. In actuality, credit can and should be used wisely to help you invest and grow your net worth. Borrowing against your credit can bring your score down, but if you know that you are about to make a large purchase, you can shift your money and funds back into place and bring your score up for any 30-day period before an application. By doing this…by manipulating the funds you have…you will always be able to qualify for more credit when you want too. Keep that in mind when you read the second article on dealing with collectors and also keep it in mind when applying for new credit.

RAISE YOUR CREDIT SCORE 200 POINTS IN 30 DAYS: Part 1 – Manipulate Your Credit was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

To protect yourself from identity theft and credit card fraud, you need to implement the following strategies and always consider those cards to be at risk. This second article in it’s four-part series goes over seven things you can do to help stop credit card fraud:

1. Fill out your own credit applications. This is especially important for SBOs (Small Business Owners). Too many times, SBOs trust their bookkeepers to fill out all their credit applications. They naively hand over their social security numbers and business ID numbers because they trust their employees not to steal from them. Although some of these numbers a bookkeeper does need to know when handling your bookkeeping, your social security number and corporation number should be kept under wraps. Once they have this information, they can fill out any number of applications without your knowledge and easily forge your signature. A new creditor will not know if your signature is a forgery. Therefore, if you must have a bookkeeper fill out your information, have them fill out everything EXCEPT for your social security number, and other business related numbers, and sign all the applications yourself. By doing so, you lessen the chance of new credit being opened in your name (or your company’s).
2. Pull your credit report every few months. Even if you keep your ID numbers to yourself, you should still check your credit and business credit reports every three months. By doing so, you will see if there are any new accounts that should not be opened, and you can have them shut down immediately. You can also report to the credit agencies that no other accounts can be opened without speaking to you first.
3. Write “Check ID” on the back of the card. Many people make the mistake of never signing their credit cards. They assume that not signing their cards prevents embezzlers from forging their signatures. In actuality, by not signing your cards, someone else CAN sign them in your place. Retailers are often trained to only match signatures on receipts to signatures on cards. If the signatures appear to be the same, they do not need to ask for ID. By writing the words “Check ID” on the back of your card, any theft that occurs with that card is not your fault or responsibility. It becomes the fault of the store that failed to ask for your ID, thus giving you more rights should you need to pursue reimbursement in a court of law.
4. Use PO #’s with Employee Initials. If you cannot help but give out cards to employees to make business purchases for your company, make sure to encourage the use of Purchase Order numbers (PO #s). Many business cards will prompt retailers to ask for PO #s, which will show up on the receipt and your credit card statement. By having the employee list the PO # as the first two initials of their name, and the year, month and day of the purchase, you will know exactly who made the purchase and when by simply looking at the PO number. Not only is it easier to track and verify which employees made what purchases, but it assigns responsibility and accountability for every purchase thus reducing the risk that an employee will steal from you and be able to blame it on someone else. (An example would be EB70214 for a purchase I might make on Valentine’s Day of 2007. Be sure to include the year to avoid duplicate PO #s year after year.)
5. Check your Credit Card Statements: This is incredibly important for anyone, whether business owner or credit consumer. By looking over statements, you will catch any fraudulent charges instantly. Most credit companies only allow you to dispute fraudulent items within 30 days of receipt of statements. By not looking over the statement immediately, you are giving up your disputing rights and may get stuck with any fraudulent charges that have occurred in your name. So go over these statements carefully and contact your creditor immediately if anything is on there that should not be.
6. Keep your credit cards locked away. Just like locking away your checks, you should always lock away your credit cards. By doing so, you greatly reduce the chance that anyone can get hold of your cards and make unauthorized purchases. However, you still need to look at the statements for these cards since people can memorize or save credit card numbers and make purchases online without identity verification.

These ideas are simple, but effective in stopping credit card theft. Although many people would say to also shred credit card applications, this really does not protect you since applications can now be filled out online. Only by protecting your important ID numbers and watching statements can you add Identity Theft off before it causes too much damage.

Check back next week for the third article in this series about Ghosts in your company. Believe it or not, they do exist in the business world. Also, check out Part 1 of this series regarding how to protect your checking account.

Protect Your Small Business from Embezzling Bookkeepers Part 2: Credit Cards and Identity Theft was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

1. Affiliate Programs: I mentioned Affiliate Programs in Part 2 of this series, and I am revisiting this issue because of its effectiveness. You see, even though having affiliate links on your website can save you money, it can also supplement your income when your customers, family and friends shop through your website. The best part about being an affiliate is that you are able to find out first what discounts an affiliate company is offering. By placing linked coupons on your website, your website will soon become the place where your acquaintances will look first for the best deals, thus supplementing your income when your affiliates pay you a commission. A few excellent choices are Commission Junction, Affiliate Showcase, and ClickBank.

2. Google AdSense: For anyone running a website or blog who does not want to go to the trouble of searching for and picking out affiliates, then Google AdSense is the perfect solution. When you sign up, you go through a three step process to create an HTML that you then paste on your website or blog. Google AdSense then reads the tags you create for your site and posts related ads that it changes constantly. It’s a sweat free way to make extra money that takes you less then a half hour to set up.

3. Blogging: Whether you own a business or are just looking to make some extra cash, a blog can actually help you achieve both goals. By writing something interesting and informative, you can build up a loyal readership that can easily turn into a clientele. Post some affiliate banners or ads from Google AdSense on your blog pages, and soon you will be adding bit by bit to your bank account, plus building your expertise and credibility among your “fans.” Check out HubPages or WordPress for a few places to get started blogging for free.

4. Freelance Writing: By occasionally writing articles for websites like Helium or Constant Content, you will be able to supplement your income a little at a time. Both companies sell articles to other websites giving you cash in your pocket as well as giving you a chance to become an expert in your field. Post links to your articles on your websites and your colleagues will soon believe you are an expert and look to you first for advice on shopping.

5. Surveys: If you have very little time to create a supplemental income, then I recommend you try filling out surveys. They are delivered to your e-mail inbox and you fill them out on your own time. (Just be sure to create a new e-mail to receive these offers or you will soon be inundated.) MyPoints has many wonderful survey offers which they give you points for, and those points can be turned in for gift certificates. Also check out Cash Crate for a plethora of offers that will net you cash fast.

6. Secret Shopping: Secret Shopping is a valuable tool to many businesses when they want to know exactly how customer-oriented their employees are. Obviously, when they watch their own employees to decipher this information, an employee is going to be on their best behavior. Many companies hire Secret Shopping Companies to gather this information on the sly. When you apply for these assignments, you are given a time frame, a scenario to play out, and a target to watch and review. You complete the project in your free time and then fill out a survey later. The Secret Shopping Company pays you once a month (usually the month after you complete the shop). Just be sure to NEVER PAY to become a secret shopper, as making you pay is a common Secret Shopping Scam. I’ve worked with SG Marketing, Bare International and Shop N Chek in the past, and all three have paid when they said they would. Also, check out this thorough list at Moms Wallet for other companies.

7. Online Auctions: Whether you are looking to sell a business product or something from your home, online auctions are a great way to move your items without spending a lot of time or effort to get the best price for your goods. Sign up for a free eBay account and you will soon be moving your product without investing much of your own capital. If you do go this route, be sure to always respond quickly to any comments and to do your best to keep your ratings up. By doing so, you will make more sales since ratings give people a sense of confidence in you and your products.

8. Use a Card that Offers Cash back Bonuses: Although I brought up getting a rewards card in Part 1 of this series, it bears mentioning again. A rewards credit card is always a better decision then a regular credit card since you can receive annual cash bonuses. Discover, Citibank and Chase all offer low interest cards that have no annual fees, plus you can cash in any time of year.

Be sure to check out the first two articles in this series (Cut Your Expenses and Get the Best Deals). Also, come back next week for the final article on strategies for increasing your income.

Keep Your Money to Yourself Part 3: Supplement Your Income was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

FEDERAL GRANTS

To qualify for federal grants, you have to fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Be sure to submit this free application between January 1^st and June 30^th of any given year to qualify for the next school year’s enrollment. Although sometimes you are able to submit the FAFSA after these deadlines for the current year, it is always best to get your application in as soon as possible to qualify for funds that may be limited by federal budgets. Once you’ve submitted your FAFSA, you will be notified if you qualify for any of the following grants:

1) Federal Pell Grant: Pell Grant eligibility is based on financial need. Although students with a family income as high as $45,000 may be eligible, most awards go to students with a family income below $20,000. For the award year of 2007 – 2008, the maximum grant is $4,310 and will increase to $4,731 for the 2008 – 2009. By 2012, the award will be as high as $5,400. This grant can be used for tuition, fees, and education-related expenses. To receive a Pell Grant, here are some of the basic criteria:

a) Submit a FAFSA and qualify as a financially needy student;

b) Be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. national, or eligible non-citizen,

c) Have a high school diploma, a GED Certificate, or pass an approved test;

d) Meet satisfactory academic progress as determined by your institution;

e) Be enrolled in an eligible post-secondary school; and

f) Be working toward a first undergrad degree or teaching credential;

2) Federal SEOG (Supplemental Equal Opportunity) Grants: This grant awards money to undergrad students who have extraordinary need. The student can receive between $100 and $4,000 a year, depending on when you apply, financial need, the funding at the chosen school, and the policies of the financial aid office at that school. To further qualify, you must:

a) Fill out a FAFSA.

b) Be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen,

c) Not have a Bachelors degree.

d) Not be in default on any federal student loan; and

e) Not have a Federal Pell Grant overpayment.

3) SMART Grants: This grant gifts up to $4,000 for third and fourth-year full-time undergrad students who are studying science (physical, life or computer), mathematics, technology, engineering, or a foreign language important to national security. To be eligible for the SMART Grant, students must:

a) Fill out a FAFSA.

b) Qualify for a Pell Grant.

c) Choose a major.

d) Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale); and,

e) The maximum grant can only be awarded for two years.

4) TEACH Grant: The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program was established to benefit current and prospective teachers. This new grant offers up to $4,000 per academic year for a maximum of $16,000 for undergrad students or $8,000 for graduate students. When combined with other aid, the award cannot exceed the cost of attendance and is prorated for those attending less than full-time. To be eligible, students must:

a) Fill out a FAFSA.

b) Meet basic eligibility requirements.

c) Be currently completing coursework or plan on completing coursework necessary to begin a career in teaching.

5) Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG): This grant is offered to full-time eligible undergrad students and provides up to $750 for the first year and $1,300 for the second year of study. When combined with a Pell Grant, this award may not exceed the student’s cost of attendance. To be eligible for each academic year, a student must:

a) Be a U.S. citizen;

b) Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient;

c) Be enrolled full-time in a degree program;

d) Be enrolled in the first or second academic year at a two or four-year eligible institution;

e) Have completed a demanding secondary school program of study;

f) Not have been previously enrolled in an undergrad program (if a first-year student); and

g) Have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for the first academic year (if a second-year student).

While these are the most common grants currently offered, there are hundreds more awarded every year by the US Department of Education. Click here to see a more thorough list. To see their newest grants, click here for their Federal Register.

STATE GRANTS

Almost every state in America features a wide variety of grants for their student residents. A lot of the money for these grants is funded by local lotteries. State budgets earmark portions of the gaming profits and set them aside specifically for education. This increases a resident student’s odds of financing their future whether they choose to attend a college, university, community college, technical or career school. Here are a few specific student categories that this money is set aside for:

• Minority grants: There are two main categories of minority grants. The first is grants for ethnic minorities designed to offer assistance based on ethnic challenges. The second is non-ethnic minority grants offered to individuals who may be challenged or disadvantaged. This category includes grants for students with disabilities, and grants for women.
• Low-income and disadvantaged students grants: These grants are awarded specifically to low-income and disadvantaged students.

Every state offers different grants to their students who attend one of their qualified education institutions. Click here for a list of State-Based College Grants from CollegeScholarships.org. Also, click here for a list of 101 fabulous grants, which anyone can apply for.

INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS

Every college provides institutional grants to their students in order to help make up the difference between college costs and family contributions. Many of these grants are awarded on the basis of academic achievement, while some are offered only to students whose families demonstrate financial need. Still more are awarded regardless of a family’s finances, while others come with special privileges or obligations. Be sure to find out about the types of grants awarded by every college your student is considering since these grants vary from institution to institution.

Grants-for-Service programs

Also known as Grants for High-Need Fields of Study, Grant-for-Service programs are administered by many government and university sources. They are set up as mutually beneficial service agreement where a student agrees to work for the state in a medically underserved facility or educationally underserved school after graduation. In exchange, the state will cover the student’s tuition in nursing school or as a student teacher. Click here for a list of nursing and teaching grants-for-service programs.

Now that you have an idea of where to find grants, don’t forget to check out articles 1 and 2 in this series (“Free College Money Part 1: Starting with Pennies,” and “Free College Money Part 2: Tax Programs”) to learn about additional college funds available to everyone. Also, return here next week to see the fourth article, “Free College Money Part 4: Searching for Scholarships.”

Free College Money Part 3: Hundreds of Grants was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

BAKING SODA

This simple product is one of the most effective and inexpensive cleaners on the market. Not only can you place it in your fridge and freezer to remove unwanted smells, but you can also use it to clean a variety of products. Sprinkle in your bathtub and rub with a sponge to see soap scum wash quickly and easily away. Dump a cup of baking soda in your toilet weekly to help reduce clogs and keep the bowl smelling fresh. Use equal parts of baking soda and water to remove basic stains from fabrics. Plus, you can sprinkle it on your carpet for half an hour before vacuuming and your carpets will lose all offensive odors. Is it any wonder that it’s used in toothpaste, deodorant and carpet cleaners?

VINEGAR

Vinegar is one fabulously natural product that cuts through grease and soap scum in a snap. Mix it with water, lemon juice or rubbing alcohol, and nothing will be able to stand it in its way. Run your dishwasher once a month with only a cup of vinegar and you will greatly reduce the amount of soap scum in your appliance. Add a cup of vinegar to a pail of water to clean vinyl floors and give them a nice shine. (Be careful when using vinegar on hardwood floors as it can remove the top layer of wax.)

A CAN OF COLA

A can of cola can be used to clean stains out of a toilet. Simply pour one in, let it sit for an hour, and then watch as stains scrub easily away.

SHAVING CREAM

Clean your bathroom mirrors with shaving cream. As crazy as that sounds, this product will actually help to make your bathroom mirrors stay fog free.

LEMON JUICE

Like vinegar, lemon juice can also cut through grease and soap scum. However, you can also boil some lemon juice with water, let it cool and then spritz a pet two or three times a week to repel fleas.

YEAST

If you have a septic tank, pour a packet of yeast down your toilet once a month and it will go to work dissolving waste.

RUBBING ALCOHOL

This product is great for cleaning caulk around the bathtub and sinks. It can also be mixed with vinegar or lemon juice to create a powerful cleaner.

SALT

This product is an excellent choice for scrubbing away any kind of mess as well as picking up spills. Simply pour some salt on the mess, wait a few minutes for it to soak in, and then use a vacuum to quickly clean it away. For greasy stains on wood, sprinkle salt, let sit for a few minutes, then wipe away with a lemon-moistened paper towel.

CORNSTARCH

To clean your carpets, sprinkle cornstarch, wait half an hour, and then vacuum. Mix with baking powder and crushed lavender to freshen your carpet at the same time.

TOOTHPASTE

Toothpaste is terrific for filling nail holes as well as fixing old CDs and DVDs. Gently rub a bit on scratched media and wipe gently away and you will quickly improve the quality of your videos.

Non-Toxic Household Cleaners was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

1. Download the Upromise Toolbar, even if you don’t need college money. Upromise.com has a free toolbar you can use to find the best deals on absolutely any NEW product you could possibly want. By simply typing the name of the product you are looking for, you will be given a list of thousands of matching items, prices, and the stores where you can buy your desired product. Once you have your list, you can then narrow it down by features, lowest price, brand, store, and cash rebate amount. With just a few clicks, you can find the absolute best deal whether you decide to buy it from www.Upromise.com or another website.

2. SIGN UP FOR A FREE EBATES.COM OR SAVINGSWATCH.COM ACCOUNT. Although I have no experience with www.SavingsWatch.com, many of my readers have commented that it is an excellent website to purchase products from and receive large rebates in return. I do, however, have a history with www.Ebates.com and I know that they do pay you on a quarterly basis no matter how little or how large your earnings are. Once you have found the best deals on Upromise.com, pop over to Ebates.com or Savingswatch.com to buy the product for the price you’ve found and receive up to an additional 30% off. By doing so, you will always get the best prices and make a little extra cash back on the side. (Right now, Ebates.com is having a sign-up special. If you have a friend who has an Ebates.com account, enter their email address to earn $5 instantly for you and your friend.)

3. SHOP AT HALF.COM FOR CHEAP BOOKS, MOVIES AND CDS. www.Half.com is an eBay company that allows everyday people to post their new and used books, music and movies for sale without paying a posting fee. A customer can then purchase the item for as little as $0.75 and spend approximately $3 for shipping and handling. Within one to two weeks, the items are delivered to your door. Compared to walking into a book or movie store, you can save a lot of money over a relatively short period of time. Just be sure to read the condition comments to avoid any surprises, and only buy from sellers with a good rating.

4. SHOP AT EBAY FOR MANY OTHER ITEMS (AND COUPONS). Since I mentioned Half.com, I may as well bring up www.eBay.com as well. Just like Half.com, you can find a wide variety of new and used products that people have put up for auction. Also just like Half.com, be sure to buy from sellers with good ratings and email them requesting details should you require more information. One more thing to look for at eBay would be coupons. Many people get hold of coupons for everything from travel to groceries, and you can purchase those coupons and save yourself a whole lot of money.

5. USE COMPETITOR PRICING TO DRIVE A HARD BARGAIN. Whether you are an entrepreneur trying to get the best pricing on your business purchases or a thrifty shopper, you can use competitor’s pricing to your advantage. By getting quotes from one company and presenting them to the place where you normally make your purchases, you can get your favorite stores to consider lowering the price just for you. In fact, many large department stores (like Sears and Home Depot) have price matching policies. They will often meet or beat a competitor’s pricing on a product, but only if you can present an ad listing the item you wish to buy. Just be aware, it has to be exactly the same item to get the best deal. Not only will this get you the best pricing, but it will also get you the best financing deals with companies you may already have credit with. (Check out competitor’s websites for printable weekly ads if you don’t receive the newspaper.)

6. USE COUPONS AND REBATES TO SAVE EVEN MORE. Many office supply stores have an “online rebate center” where you can see all the rebates being offered for their in-store and online products. It’s a great place to start when looking to make a large purchase. www.Coupons.com and www.Smartsource.com both offer hundreds of manufacturers coupons every month on grocery store products. www.Wow-Coupons.com offers rebates and coupons for restaurants, travel, retail and grocery items. Sign up for newsletters at your favorite shops and websites and you will soon receive exclusive coupons via mail and e-mail.

7. BECOME AN AFFILIATE. If you have a website, join an affiliate company. Not only will it help you supplement your monthly income when your friends, family and customers make purchases through your websites, but it will also help you find the absolute best deals on anything you want. One really good company to join for free is Commission Junction (www.cj.com). You can immediately search for thousands of products and make your selections based on price, available coupons, and commission. Every time you net $25, they mail you a check the following monthly pay period. By doing so, you can easily “earn” hundreds of dollars per year while also finding the best prices.

8. ALWAYS SHOP THE CLEARANCE SECTIONS. There is one in every store, and you can save as much as 80% off of regular-priced items by browsing this section first. Several times a year, the stores will slash clearance prices even lower to clear away out-of-season products and make room for new products. January, especially, is a great time to begin your search since stores over-purchased items for the Christmas Season.

9. TRADE SERVICES FOR WHAT YOU NEED. If you know someone who offers a product or service you need (like website development or video production), offer to trade services with them. Look for a need they have which you might be able to provide free-of-charge in exchange for something you need free-of-charge. This kind of win-win situation benefits everyone.
   

Try some of these tips today and see how much money you are able to save. Don’t forget to read article one in this series (“Keep Your Money to Yourself – Part 1: Cut Your Expenses”) to save even more. Also look for article 3, “Keep Your Money for Yourself – Part 3: Supplement Your Income” where I show you a few simple things you can do instantly to supplement your income.

Keep Your Money for Yourself – Part 2: Get the Best Deals was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

TAX-FREE MONEY: There are several tax-free programs that can be used to help any student get a college degree. Here are three that can help increase your student college fund, or save you thousands of dollars in college costs.

1. Qualified Tuition Program (a.k.a. 529 Plans or QTP): The biggest benefits to investing in a QTP is that qualified education distributions are exempt from federal income tax, there are no limitations on income or age, and generally there are no restrictions on annual contributions. Although your contributions are not tax-deductible when you make them, anyone can take advantage of a 529 plan and remain in control of that plan. As long as the plan remains in someone else’s name, it is not considered the student’s money when they apply for financial aid (thus qualifying them for more aid). Plus, if you invest in one of the 529 Plans within your state of residence, you can receive other benefits (such as corresponding grants and scholarships, and protection from creditors). In addition, your state may also offer some tax breaks like an upfront deduction for your contributions or state income exemption on withdrawals. Although the 529 plans’ provisions were originally set to expire in 2010, the Pension Protection Act of 2006 made the provisions permanent.

The two types of 529 Plans are:

· 529 Prepaid Plans: Prepaid plans allow contributors to purchase tuition credits at today’s rates and the advantages are based on tuition inflation. Both states and higher education institutions may administer the prepaid plans.

· 529 Savings Plans: Savings plans growth is based on investment performance and may only be administered by states.

2. Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA): Each year, anyone can deposit up to $2,000 per student into an ESA and allow the money to grow tax-deferred with distributions being tax-free for qualified education expenses at qualified educational institutions. Qualified educational institutions include grades K-12 at qualifying schools as well as colleges and universities. ESA contributions can be placed into almost any type of investment including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, and unlike a 529, ESAs can only be contributed into a student’s account as long as the student is less than 18 years of age. Furthermore, excess balances not going toward qualified education expenses must be distributed or transferred to a new qualifying student by the time the original student is 30 years old in order to avoid taxes and penalties (unless the student is a special needs student).

3. COLLEGE CREDIT THROUGH HIGH SCHOOLS: Every high school receives a pre-determined amount of money for each attending student. However, not necessarily every dollar they receive has to be spent at their school. Many high schools are colluding with local community colleges to offer college credits to students willing to attend college night classes…and the high school pays for it. There are even programs where your child can attend college classes instead of high school classes when they are as young as 14 years old. By the time your child graduates high school, they could have an Associate’s Degree as well as a high school diploma…and all on your high school’s dime. Check with your local community college and at your local high schools to see what kind of programs they offer.

Tax Credits: Unlike a tax deduction (which reduces the amount of income subject to tax), a tax credit directly reduces the amount of income tax you might have to pay. For each student’s qualified education expenses, you can take advantage of one credit per year to pay less tax and keep more of your own money, but you cannot use both credits simultaneously. (Click here to see all of the IRS’s qualifications and restrictions.)

4. Hope Credit: If your student is in the first two years of college, you may be able to claim the Hope Credit of up to $1,650 for qualified education expenses paid for EACH eligible student. The Hope Credit is a nonrefundable tax credit that can reduce your tax to zero, but any excess credit will not be refunded to you. A qualifying student must be enrolled at least half time in at least one academic period, and they must be pursuing an undergraduate degree or other recognized education credential. (The Hope Credit may be limited by your income and tax and can only be claimed for a maximum of two years per student.)

5. Lifetime Learning Credit: For any year where you pay for a student’s qualified education expenses, you can receive a $2,000 nonrefundable tax credit PER RETURN. This credit is available for all years of postsecondary education. The student does not need to pursue a degree or other recognized education credential and it is available for any number of courses. It can also be claimed an unlimited number of years.

TAX DEDUCTIONS: Tax deductions lower your taxable income saving you money, lowering the amount of taxes you need to pay, and possibly qualifying you for a tax refund. If you claim enough tax deductions, you could very easily walk away with a nice refund to reimburse your college expenses. Below are three of the most common.

6. Tuition and Fees Deduction: Depending on your income, you can deduct up to $4,000 of qualified education expenses per year from your taxable income if you have a qualifying student. (Qualified education expenses include tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at an eligible postsecondary educational institution, but not personal, living, or family expenses, such as room and board.)

7. Student Loan Interest Deduction: Depending on your income, you can deduct up to $2,500 of student loan interest from your taxable income if you have a qualifying student and student loan. To qualify, the loan cannot be from a relation or a qualified employer plan and the student must be enrolled at least half time in a degree program. Even better, depending on your income level, you can take this deduction every year of the student loan’s remaining life.

8. Employer-provided educational assistance: If you receive educational assistance benefits from your employer, you can exclude up to $5,250 of those benefits from your taxable income annually. The payments may be for either undergraduate or graduate-level courses and they do not have to be work-related. (Tax-free educational assistance benefits include tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment.)

Check out the third article in this five-part series “Free College Money Part 3:  Hundreds of Grants.”  It lists common college grants anyone can qualify for, where to find them, and how to qualify for them.  Also, if you have not read the first article showing you how to turn pennies into thousands (“Free College Money Part 1: Starting with Pennies”), click here to be taken directly to it.

Free College Money Part 2: Tax Programs was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

This article is the first of a four-part series on protecting yourself from bookkeepers. It is not written to make anyone point fingers or fire their bookkeepers. It IS written to protect SBO’s and to teach them the most common ways that bookkeepers steal. By simply changing up your involvement in your books, you can stop embezzling cold and make it incredibly difficult to be robbed.

Here are ten examples of how I might steal from you if I were your bookkeeper, and ten simple strategies on how to protect yourself from my machinations:

1. Always Open Your Own Bank Statement: If I am your bookkeeper and I am stealing from you, forging your signature is the easiest way. Stealing checks out of sequence and signing them to myself will soon net me thousands of your money in a very short period of time. If I were doing this, guess what I’m going to do when you give me an unopened bank statement. I am going to find the “evidence” and destroy it. In other words, I’m going to find the checks I wrote to myself and tear them up. You will never know the difference because the check will be out of sequence, and the only way for you to find out is if you spend thousands of dollars to have my bookkeeping entries audited. By opening your own statements and thumbing through the checks, you are going to catch every forged check before I get a chance to do anything about it.

2. Lock up Your Checkbook: Not only is this good advice for protecting yourself from bookkeepers, but from other unscrupulous employees as well. By making your bookkeeper and employees ask you for a check whenever they need money, it keeps you involved and your employees accountable.

3. Always Insist on Seeing Voided Checks or Voiding Checks Yourself: If I am your bookkeeper and I am determined to steal from you, I am still going to be eyeballing those checks and waiting for my opportunity even though you are locking the checks away and looking at the bank statements. One common way for me to do this is to get you to sign a check to me for “cash” to cover expenses, and then I say, “I had to void the check.” In actuality, I did NOT void the check. I pocketed it and I will cash it the next time I go to the bank. You write me a second check, and I cash that one too. When the check comes in on the bank statement, you think nothing of it because you write me checks for “cash” or “reimbursed expenses” all the time. It’s also your signature on the check…nothing out of place and nothing that alerts you to a problem because you just assume that you are looking at the same check “again” when you come across the second one. By insisting on seeing the voided check, I would have to write “Void” on it to prove that I am not lying. If Void is not written on it, then you need to write “Void” across it before you sign a second check. This way, I can’t dig it out of the trash later and cash it. (And yes, you DO want to keep even the checks you void in case you ever get audited. The IRS will ask to see voided checks as well as cashed ones.)

4. Never let anyone but a partner be a signer on a checking account. If you have your bookkeeper as a signer on your checking account, go tomorrow and take them off immediately. If I am a signer on your check, that means I don’t need you to be with me to walk into your bank and drain your account. And guess what…the first time you ever piss me off enough to quit, that’s what I’m going to do. I will either write a huge check to myself and cash it right after I get my last paycheck, or I will walk into the bank, wipe you out, and disappear off the face of the Earth. Sucks to be you…cool to be me. I’m in Barbados toasting your naiveté while you are struggling to keep your business open. Cold hearted? Absolutely. Unfortunately, if your bookkeeper is a signer, you set yourself up for it. Get them off your account TODAY.

5. Never sign a check for a person or a company you are not familiar with. If I am a true embezzler, then I am going to “collude” with my family members and friends to rob you blind. How do I do this? Simple. I write checks to my family and friends and tell you that it is a vendor. You think nothing of it and sign the check. My friend/family member cashes the check and gives me the money, and I give them some cash for doing it. It all looks legitimate to you, and of course, I’m going to make it look legitimate before handing the books over to an accountant. Be wise. If you don’t know the person or the company, DON’T SIGN THE CHECK. Let the person or the owner of the company show up in front of you with proof that they did the work before you pay them. Most people will not want to lie to your face, although some will. Always ask for proof, and always make them come to you.

6. Get a Deposit Stamp AND STAMP EVERY CHECK THAT NEEDS TO BE DEPOSITED: Another common theft practice is for a bookkeeper to open a company with a name similar to yours. For example, if your company’s name were “Smith’s Distributing,” as an embezzler, I would open an account called “Smith’s Distinguished Products.” Now, every check that comes across my desk where the payee has written “Smith’s Dist.” is now fair game. I can deposit that check into my dummy account, and I mark the corresponding invoice paid. If you purchase a deposit stamp with your bank name and account number along with the words “For Deposit Only,” that badly written check CAN ONLY be deposited into your account. In this manner, you can save time looking over all the checks and worrying over every deposit, while also keeping those checks where they belong. IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT!!!

7. Get Carbon Copy Deposit Slips: Get carbon copy deposit slips and only give one booklet to your bookkeeper each month. While they still can be conniving in the way they make deposits, it helps you keep track of how much money should have gone into your bank account and who’s check was deposited. Instead of check numbers, put down customer names on the deposit slips, and you can quickly and easily see who paid you, when they paid you, and when that money should have gone into your account. When the bank statement comes in, grab the booklet of copies and match your deposits up really quick. Anything that’s missing will alert you to possible theft and make you watch your bookkeeper that much closer.

8. HAVE THE COMPUTER WITH YOUR BOOKKEEPING FILES AUTOMATICALLY DO A DAILY BACKUP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY TO AN EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE. Not only will this save any “original” data entry that your bookkeeper has done, but it will give you copies that are easy to go through should you suspect embezzlement. By handing your backup over to a professional fraud examiner, they can tell you fairly quickly if something “is not kosher.” Make sure your hard drive has a password that only you know, and when your bookkeeper splits, you won’t be high and dry with a wiped out computer and missing files.

9. DEMAND TO SEE BANK RECONCILIATIONS: If you do not know your bank balance, this is a big warning sign that something is not right. Bank reconciliations usually take no more then half an hour to complete. If it’s been months since I (as your bookkeeper) have given you one, I am either not a very good bookkeeper, too busy to focus on what should be a priority, or I am stealing from you and I don’t want you to know how low your bank balance really is. By giving a bank reconciliation to you each month, you can look and see which checks and deposits have cleared and which ones are still outstanding, and you will know if too much money is going out and why. Make sure you demand these and make sure you give your bookkeeper the time to do them.

10. Keep copies of all reports from your bookkeeper. If I am stealing from you, I am going to doctor my reports. Period. However, I am not going to doctor original reports that I am showing you because you will notice at the time that something is missing. For example, if I give you a copy of the check register right after writing 20 checks, you are going to notice if there are gaps in the check number sequence, and if there are voided checks. You are going to want to know why. I will give you an explanation (one that you will believe) and I will probably want that report back. Afterall, it really IS a bad idea to have your business’s financial information lying around. However, the next time I give you a register, I might have changed names or amounts on old checks and you won’t notice because you sign too many checks to remember everything. By keeping originals, you can occasionally pull out the old reports and compare them to new reports to make sure nothing has changed. It will alert you immediately if something is different, and it serves as excellent backup should your bookkeeper ever pull a “Delete-And-Bail” on you.

So now that you have some fabulous strategies on protecting your checking account, look for Part 2: Credit Cards and Identity Theft now published on American Consumer News.

Protect Your Small Business from Embezzling Bookkeepers Part 1: Checking Account was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Actually, you may not have to pay afterall. As a taxpayer, you need to be aware of what deductions you can legally claim in order to lower your taxable income and increase your odds of getting back a tax refund. If you want to receive thousands of dollars from the government instead of paying, you want to try and qualify for something called the Earned Income Credit or EIC (also called the Earned Income Tax Credit or EITC). There are many tax write-offs that people can take (whether you are a business owner or not) that will qualify you for this credit, and you should take advantage of them. They are set up for the express purpose of helping any taxpayer with a pulse…and a social security number. Below is a list of my ten favorite. Although this is not a complete list, these ones are the easiest for anyone to gather and qualify for.

WHAT IS EARNED INCOME CREDIT (EIC)?

Here’s how taxes work (plain and simple). You make money and you pay tax on that money. The more money you earn, the more tax you pay. (Duh, right?) What you may not be aware of is that if you fall within the low-income tax bracket, you could be due a cash credit towards your taxes equaling as much as $4,710. It’s called the Earned Income Credit and offers low-income workers the opportunity to pay their taxes with the government’s money. And guess what…if you have a larger credit then what you owe, the government will send you that money as a refund.

Here’s How You Qualify:

• If you have more than one qualifying child, and you earned less than $37,783 ($39,783 if married filing jointly), you can qualify for as much as $4,710 of EIC.
• If you have one qualifying child, and you earned less than $33,241 ($35,241 if married filing jointly), you can qualify for as much as $2,850 of EIC.
• You do NOT have a qualifying child, and you earned less than $12,590 ($14,590 if married filing jointly), you can qualify for as much as $420 of EIC.

If you would like to know exactly how you rate, go to this link at the IRS’s website and play with the numbers until you have an idea of how much you might be able to qualify for: http://apps.irs.gov/app/eitc2007/ShowCalcTips.do

TAX DEDUCTIONS

Now that you have an idea, here are legal tax deductions that will get anybody a better refund.

1. Standard Mileage: This is my favorite of all the tax deductions. It is a valid expense that totals up the miles you drive in relation to business, medical, moving or charitable events, and reduces your income accordingly. Even better, most mortgage companies do not consider it a valid expense when calculating your income for a home loan, thus qualifying you for a larger mortgage. For 2007, the rate is calculated as follows:
   1. $0.505 per mile driven in relation to a business event that you were not reimbursed for. This reduces your income $505 for every 1,000 miles you drive.
   2. $0.19 per mile driven in relation to medical and moving expenses (or $190 for every 1,000 miles).
   3. $0.14 per mile driven in relation to charitable events ($140/1,000 miles).

1. IRA Deduction: Until April 15^th of any given year, you can deposit up to a pre-specified amount into an IRA and reduce your income for the previous year. By doing so, you not only keep money that you might otherwise be paying to the government in taxes, but you are securing your future. (To see all of the limits for an IRA deposit, click here: http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=117542,00.html).

1. Health Savings Account (HSA): If you qualify, you can open an HSA. An HSA is a tax-deductible and tax-exempt savings account that can be used for any kind of medical expenses without federal tax liability. To see if you qualify, click the following link: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p969/ar02.html#d0e159

1. Qualified Tuition Program (a.k.a. Plan 529 or Coverdell ESA): There are several college savings accounts that offer tax deductions, including a 529 Plan or a Coverdell ESA. These accounts can be setup before April 15^th and allow you a tax deduction. Just check with your local banker or financial planner to set one up and take advantage of the tax deduction. Click here for more information: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf.

1. Alimony Paid: You can deduct alimony or separate maintenance payments made under a court order.

1. One Half of Self-Employment Tax: If you have paid self-employment tax (social security tax and/or Medicare tax), you can deduct the amount of your taxes.

1. Self-Employed Health Insurance Deduction: If you are self-employed, you can deduct the cost of health insurance for yourself, your spouse, and your dependents.

1. Moving Expenses: If you moved more then 50 miles for a job or business, you can deduct the costs for moving your possessions, travel and lodging for you and your family.

1. Student Loan Interest Deduction: You can deduct a maximum of $2,500 of interest on a qualified student loan per return.

1. Qualified Higher-Education Expenses: If you attended a qualified higher-educational institution (including graduate school), you can deduct attendance costs. These costs include tuition, fees, room and board, and an allowance for other necessary expenses, as determined by the eligible educational institution.

As I stated before, there are many other deductions as well, such as your mortgage interest. Check to see if your state offers a Renters Credit.  California is offering a $60 credit.  If you are a home owner, check with your county’s local assessor’s office to get your homeowner’s property tax exemption credit.

Get a Big Fat Tax Refund was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

1) Use a rewards credit card. A rewards card offers just that…rewards. Often, these rewards can be turned in for free products or cash.

2) JOURNAL EVERY MILE YOU DRIVE. In November of 2007, the IRS announced that business miles could now be written off at $0.505 per mile, medical or moving miles at $0.19 per mile and charity service miles at $.14 per mile. Therefore, whether for business or personal, add these miles up at the end of the year and get back a bigger refund, or pay less tax.

3) BECOME A NETWORKER. Word-of-Mouth advertising is the best and cheapest method for advertising. It gives you credibility, saves you money, and increases your odds of “getting the job.” Therefore, create your own networking group by asking friends and family to put you in touch with other business professionals. In no time, you will have a powerful sales force looking for customers and you will be doing the same for them.

4) GET A FREE PAYPAL ACCOUNT. www.PayPal.com offers the lowest fees for accepting credit cards whether you are a business owner or selling on eBay. For as low as 1.9% of a sale, you can accept any credit card through your computer instantly and transfer it into your bank account within 24 hours. Not only will you increase your sales, but also you will be able to create a free 24/7 online catalog.

5) TELECOMMUTE. With companies like www.GoToMyPC.com and www.PCNow.WebEx.com, you can now logon to any computer from anywhere and see all your files instantly. By telecommuting, you will be able to save on gas money, travel time, automobile expenses and office overhead, while at the same time acquiring several money-saving tax deductions.

6) USE THE UPROMISE.COM TOOLBAR TO FIND THE BEST DEALS. Upromise is a website dedicated to helping people accumulate money for college. However, they also have a free toolbar that you can download and utilize to find the best deals on the Internet. Simply type in what you are looking for, and then narrow the selection by features, price, and store. Not only can you save hundreds of dollars a year, but you can also get money back that can be used for anyone’s college education, or to pay down student loans.

7) JOIN AFFILIATE PROGRAMS. Affiliate programs are free to join and allow you to sell hundred of products on your website instantly without ever investing in an inventory. Furthermore, if you have a product to sell, you can offer a commission to affiliates who want to sell your product, and you pay nothing until they make a sale. Commission Junction (www.cj.com) is one of these companies that have some of the best affiliates on the web.

SUGGESTIVE SELL. Whether you are selling at a garage sale or selling to maintain your livelihood, ALWAYS suggest a second item or third item to go with the first. However, be certain to name a product and not just ask “Would you like anything else?” By naming an associated product, you create a mental image in the buyer’s mind and give them a chance to give you more of their money.

9) ELIMINATE TROUBLESOME CUSTOMERS. While it would seem that eliminating customers will cost you money, freeing up the time that troublesome customers consume will allow you to find better customers who order regularly with or without you. Stick to the customers you enjoy working with, and you will increase your cash flow immensely while also reducing your stress level.

10) CREATE A BUSINESS PLAN. This is recommended for every business for several reasons. Not only does it help focus your business and your goals, but it can also help guide your business’s choices and get you funding when most needed. Look online for free business-plan templates and just fill in the blanks.

11) SIGN UP FOR MILEAGE PROGRAMS. www.United.com is one of the best mileage programs available since you can earn miles by simply registering for their grocery and dining programs. As soon as you’ve accumulated as little as 13,000 miles, you can earn a free flight in the off-season to hundreds of locations. Programs such as these are free to join and make it easy to earn free flights.

12) UTILIZE DROP SHIPPING. Drop Ship companies are designed to ship out the products that you sell to your customers while charging you a flat fee. Not only can this save you money on paying for a shipping staff and postage embezzlement, but it can also save you from having to pay for a storage area for your inventory. Go to www.WorldWideBrands.com to find companies that can help you with your products.

13) GO TO WWW.SCORE.ORG FOR FREE BUSINESS ADVICE. This company is comprised of retired entrepreneurs who spend all their time mentoring people into thriving businesses. You can get free advice regarding everything from venture capital to business plans.

14) START A BLOG. Whether you own a business or are just looking to make some extra cash, a blog can actually help you achieve that. By writing something interesting and informative, you can build up a loyal readership. Post some ads from Google AdSense on your blog pages, and soon you will be adding bit by bit to your bank account, plus building your expertise and credibility among your “fans.”

15) USE TESTIMONIALS. People want to know that you are a good company. By asking your current clients and friends to give a testimonial about you that you can place on your website and in your brochures, you gain credibility and increase the odds of making new sales.

16) DEDICATE AN AREA OF YOUR LIVING SPACE TO A HOME OFFICE. If the home office is used for business purposes, you can deduct a portion of your mortgage/rent, utilities and supplies legally.

17) OPEN AN IRA. Although you may not consider putting money into an account a profitable situation, at this time of year, shuttling $2,000 into an IRA before April 15^th can actually reduce your tax bill or even get you a larger refund. Plus, you are keeping that $2,000 for use at a later date.

18) OPEN A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT. If you are enrolled in a high-deductible health plan, you should consider opening a Health Savings Account (HSA). This money is tax deductible and can be used immediately for any kind of medical expenses at any time without federal tax liability. Just like an IRA, you can write off the money you set aside and have more money in your pocket at the end of the year.

19) OPEN A COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR A CHILD. Also like an IRA, there are several college savings accounts that offer tax deductions, thus keeping more money in your pocket and earning interest to boot. Some of these plans include a 529 Plan or a Coverdell ESA.

20) SIGN UP FOR TRAVELOCITY’S EMAIL ALERTS. If you are looking to travel, Travelocity’s e-mail alerts can alert you to the best prices on the flights you want on a daily basis. By signing up for their free e-mail alerts, you will never pay retail again, thus saving hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

20 FREE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PUT MONEY IN YOUR POCKET was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Tip 1 – Use your Profit and Loss Report

For businesses owners, a Profit and Loss Report (P&L) is a common tool. For everyone else, this would be the same as a Spending Journal with one little extra: your income. Your P&L (or Spending Journal) adds income and subtracts expenses. When totaled, the profit or loss (a.k.a. cash flow) is left behind. By carefully analyzing this report for a specified period of time, you can deduce where you are spending too much money and which expenses should be cut.

TIP 2 – CONSIDER SWITCHING BANKS

Since the banking industry is extremely competitive, you can renegotiate all kinds of banking fees. This includes your monthly fee, bounced check fees, and over-the-limit fees. Contact your banker and ask them to reverse these unnecessary expenses and to convert your account into a free checking account. Banks will often cooperate just to keep you happy, or they will upgrade your account at no extra charge based on your banking history. If you use QuickBooks to do your bookkeeping, make sure your bank can create a QuickBooks Web Connect file and you will be able to reduce your bookkeeping expenses as well when you download all your transactions instantly. Bank of America, Citibank and Wells Fargo are three banks that work well with QuickBooks.

TIP 3 – ASK YOUR CREDIT CARDS FOR BETTER INTEREST RATES

It is common for credit card companies to raise your interest rate to as much as 24% if you are even 24 hours late. Most people never notice because they are not contacted separately, it is simply presented discreetly in your next bill. Contact your credit card company and ask them to lower your interest rate and you can cut your monthly bill in half instantly. Also ask for Balance Transfer Deals and you can wipe out interest altogether for a period of several months to a year or more.

TIP 4 – GET A REWARDS CREDIT CARD

If you do not have a credit card with rewards or a low interest rate, you should consider switching. Rewards cards can supplement your annual income, or be used to reduce other business expenses (such as airline tickets or hotel rooms). By paying for all of your needs on a credit card and then paying that credit card off every month, you can accumulate interest on the money in your bank account while also rapidly accumulating rewards. Both Citibank and Chase offer excellent rewards cards with no annual fee.

TIP 5 – REDUCE YOUR COMMUTING EXPENSES

While in the past, the best way to reduce your commuting expenses was to carpool to and from work, there are many other ways to cut commuting expenses. One would be to invest in an energy-efficient vehicle, like an electric car or scooter. Another would be to ride a bicycle to get where you need to go (also a healthy option). The best recommendation I can make, however, is to begin “Telecommuting” to work. Thanks to technology today, people can work from home and become more productive and efficient then when working in the office. Another added bonus here is that you could cut daycare costs (if you have children) and work whenever your child is sleeping. You will find you have focus on your work, freedom from micro-managers and more time with your family…all while saving commuting time and costs. (If you need advice on getting your boss to approve of telecommuting, get Timothy Ferris’s book “The Four Hour Workweek.” He will walk you through the process step by step.)

TIP 6 – DON’T SPEND DOLLARS ON PENNY JOBS

The Mary Kay Company has always taught their 1.2-million+ consultants to never waste their valuable time doing jobs that you could pay someone else less money to complete. For example, if you make $50 an hour working at the things you do best, then why spend your spare time cleaning your house when you can pay someone else $10 an hour to do it and you spend your time bonding with your family instead. Whether your boss does or does not allow you to telecommute, there are many things that you could outsource saving you time and therefore money. Elance.com is a great website that connects with independent contractors from all over the world to complete all kinds of jobs, and many of these jobs can be completed for as little as $2 (American) per hour. Why not use them to research your competition or develop a website for you instead of spending days doing it yourself? Or, why not simply use them to research business grants or college scholarships instead of struggling to find them yourself?

TIP 7 – REEVALUATE YOUR DUES

It is a good practice to look at your insurance every year. Premiums generally increase on your anniversary date. By simply “shopping around,” you may find that you can get a better rate somewhere else. If you choose to stay with the company you are with, you may be able to bargain them to a lower price by simply having their competitors’ quotes in your hand. Also, ask them what their best-discounted specials are. You may find that by adding another policy, you can actually save money. For example, State Farm Insurance offers a large discount on auto insurance when you add life insurance or homeowners insurance to your policy. Often, the discount is large enough to pay for the new policy while also giving you a discount and protecting your assets. Reconsider your networking fees, Internet fees, telephone and cell fees…anything you regularly spend money on. By shopping around, you will be able to renegotiate and cut expenses instantly.

These are just a few things to look at today. Hopefully, they will inspire you to reevaluate your spending habits and find where you can increase your cash flow. Also, check out article 2, “Keep Your Money to Yourself – Part 2: Get the Best Deal” on ways to always get the best deal on what is on your shopping list.

Keep Your Money to Yourself – Part 1: Cut Your Expenses was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

1. AUTOMATE YOUR SAVINGS: Many banks nowadays are offering free transfer programs from checking to savings accounts. Some banks will even waive their fees if you sign up for this feature. Other banks are more then happy to transfer money from an outside bank and deposit it into one of their accounts without ever charging you a dime. The minimum monthly transfer amount is usually $25 (less then a dollar a day) and is a painless way to save for your child or other emergency expenses. Sharebuilder.com (who recently merged with ING Direct) will let you transfer money whenever you want directly into their money market account (which currently pays between 4-5% interest), or buy any stocks that you designate for as little as $4. The account is fee-free and is an excellent way to build a college fund.
   1. After 18 years: continuous transfers of $25 for at 4.5% interest will result in a college fund just short of $8,000 ($5,400 with no interest). That’s $2,600 of free money from your bank just for squirreling away the price of a couple movie tickets. Now imagine how much more if you asked “the grandparents” to do the same thing.

2. CASH FOR CANS: I know cashing in cans may seem time consuming and trite, but it can actually be a good way to save up pennies for college. Imagine if you, by yourself, drink one can of soda a day. If you cash in each can, you would average about $0.025 per can. At the end of one year, that would be an additional $9.13. Not much I know, but times that by 18 years, and you would receive an additional $164.25. If you drink two sodas a day, you can double that number. For a family of four at one soda a day, that would be an additional $657. Why throw out that much money when you can give it to your child.
   1. After 18 years: A family of four’s one-a-day soda consumption would equal $657. (With interest of 4.5%, this would be an additional $970.)

3. UPROMISE.COM: If you have heard about Upromise, but have not signed up for it, then you are a fool. And not a “Motley Fool.” Upromise is a company that offers free college money to anyone and everyone who wants it. There are no fees to join, and it is an actual bank account. However, you do not need to enter any credit card information or apply for their credit card to make money. You simply register your local grocery store membership card and every time you purchase any of their affiliates’ products (like Nestle, Tylenol, C&H Sugar, and Enfamil), you will receive up to 5% back. This is money you are already spending but not reclaiming. If you do register any credit cards or debit cards, you can also get up $0.01 per gallon rebated from specific gas stations, 8% back at various dining locations, and up to 25% for shopping through their website. -Download the Upromise toolbar, and you can find thousands of the best-priced items at any of your favorite stores while also receiving college money. If you do apply for their credit card, you can get 1-10% back on all your purchases in addition to what you are already earning. This money can be used for any child, whether your own or a friend’s, and you can invite your friends and family to help you save. If you have no child, you can put the money towards your own student loans and get out of debt that much faster.
   1. After 18 years: With groceries, gas, dining and an Upromise credit card, you could easily save up $150 annually, resulting in an additional $2,700. (With interest of 4.5%, it would be just shy of $4,000.)
      

4. SIGN UP FOR FREE CASH AT BANKS: ING Direct is one of the many banks that offer sign up incentives. Each year at tax time, they try to entice people to open accounts by matching $25 or $50 deposits. The general rule is that you have to keep the account open for a period of 90 days to one year. Other banks will offer cash incentives when you refer people or are referred by one of their customers. Find at least one of these programs each year and you would have an additional $450-900 by the time your child is ready to go to college.
   1. After 18 years: $450 at 4.5% interest is an additional $640. $900 at 4.5% interest is an additional $1,330.

5. THE GRANDPARENTS: Have you ever wondered what the grandparents do with all their spare change? While its true that some grandparents will frugally save every spare penny for themselves, many would be more then willing to donate it to a grandchild’s college fund. If they are willing to donate their spare change, it could turn into hundreds very quickly. The first time my mother and stepfather handed me their half-filled piggy bank, there ended up being more then $85 in it after eight months. They were as shocked as I was since they had removed all of the quarters for their “Las Vegas Slot” fund. You can either purchase a coin sorter for about $20, or drop by a Coinstar machine at your local grocery store and you will not have to waste a single moment counting coins. Over the course of 18 years, you can have thousands of dollars more for your child’s college fund.
   1. After 18 years: An average of $100 a year in spare change would equal $1,800. With interest of 4.5%, this would be an additional $2,660.

Now that you have Step One of saving your student’s college education, click here to read the second article “Free College Money Part 2:  Tax Programs”.  You can read about eight different tax programs set up to save students thousands more dollars on college expenses. 

Free College Money Part 1: Starting with Pennies was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

To be truly successful at giving gifts to women, you just need to remember three things. 1) She wants to know you cared enough to put some thought into the gift. 2) She wants to know you are giving up some of your time to give her that gift. And 3), she wants to know you are willing to spend time with her (and only her) at least one evening a year. (Of course, you do get extra points by turning an evening into a full day.)

Since Valentines Day is the obligatory male-female day of connection that comes but once a year, it is especially important to prove your love on that day. If you “forget” or “just don’t want to give into another day created by Hallmark,” points will be deducted in a big way. However, going the extra mile doesn’t have to be expensive to curry favor…it simply has to fit within the three parameters above.

Now to be truly frugal this Valentines Day, and yet make it the best Valentines Day ever, consider turning Valentines Day into a week (or even two). Some of the ideas below can be done daily and will make the woman in your life feel like a queen without buying her the tiara. All women really want is what they see in the movies…an expression of passion and thoughtfulness.

1. GIVE HER ONE FLOWER A DAY FOR TWO WEEKS: Every day, deliver any kind of flower to her in a unique and thoughtful manner. Stick them under her windshield wiper, in the toothbrush holder, in the fridge (and so on) and you will delight her each time she finds it. That’s because you are going out of your way to 1) come up with ideas, and 2) get the flowers (even though you really just stole them from your neighbor’s garden). At the end of two weeks, she will have a lovely bouquet and fourteen days of enchanting memories.

FOR EXTRA POINTS: Put a flower under her windshield wiper when she’s at work or an appointment and she will know that you went way out of your way as soon as she sees it.

1. STICK POST-ITS DECLARING YOUR LOVE FOR HER ALL OVER THE HOUSE. Put one in her coat pocket, in her purse, on the visor in her car, in her planner, etc. This is something you can do all at once, yet she will find these notes over days and weeks. It’s free to do, but your “thoughtfulness” and the romantic sayings will get you two points per note…a win-win situation.

FOR EXTRA POINTS: Use flower-shaped or heart-shaped post-its for a little extra romance.

1. DRAW HER A BUBBLE BATH WITH CANDLES LIT ALL AROUND. I know…this is an old cliché…and yet it never grows old. Even though she may want to take the bath without you in it, you’ll get points for drawing the bath, the bubbles, and every candle you lit. Throw some rose petals on top of those bubbles, and you are bringing the magic of the movies into her life.

FOR EXTRA POINTS: Throw her towel in the dryer just before she’s ready to get out for that special spa treatment.

1. HAVE A MYSTERIOUS GIFT DELIVERED TO HER WORK. Make a special plan for the evening and deliver something that she will need for that event. For example, a pair of her comfortable boots for a nature hike, or one of her favorite sweaters for a night at the beach. She’ll be trying to guess all day what you have planned, which adds excitement to what may otherwise be an ordinary date. Always include a single rose.

FOR EXTRA POINTS: Make that a brand new gift and you’ll get extra points for that as well.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>5. <!–[endif]–>TAKE HER TO A ROMANTIC LOCATION FOR A PICNIC. You don’t have to be fancy with the picnic fare. Grab her favorite sandwich from Subway or some pre-made chicken and potato salad at your local grocery store. Take her someplace you might have taken her when you were teenagers…someplace where making out could be an option…and don’t forget the blanket to sit (or lay) on.

FOR EXTRA POINTS: Make that picnic occur at sunset. If the weather is cold, find an indoor location where you can watch the sunset in comfort.

Feel free to use these ideas without deviation, or brainstorm to think of a few of your own. Just remember, all the woman wants to know is that you are willing to go that extra mile…even if it is a requirement.

How to Be Cheap on Valentines Day Without Getting Your Butt Kicked was created by and is property of American Consumer News.