What’s In a Theme?

Setting a theme for the night instantly makes it more festive! If you have a large group, a taco night can be a cost effective alternative without sacrificing delicious food. Beans and rice will help fill up your crowd while also providing a tasty vegetarian option. Throw a “Fire and Ice” party and ask all female guests to wear something red while male guests wear something white. Embrace the start of baseball season and ask your friends to wear something supporting their favorite team. Create a hot dog bar (complete with fixings), add a couple bowls of salted peanuts and you’ll be ready to play ball!

Ask and You Shall Receive

If you’re throwing your party with the help of outside vendors or at a hotel or at a restaurant, ask how they can help you stretch your dollar. Sure, you can create your own centerpieces or pay a florist to provide fresh flowers (beautiful, though generally not budget friendly), but maybe the venue has something they offer at no cost, such as votive candles or glass bowls filled with beads. If there are other events happening at the same time or earlier in the day, you may be able to piggyback on one of those. Choosing menu items the kitchen is already planning to prepare may result in savings being passed down to you – either through ingredients purchased in larger bulk quantities or in a reduced amount of staff needed for preparation. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.

Make Your Own Mark

Add a signature drink to your party and name it after you, your dog, your favorite color or whatever event you’re celebrating. If your party is at a venue, ask the bartender to get creative with ingredients already included in your package. If you are hosting the party at your house, stick to ingredients you’ll have use for once the party is over so nothing is wasted. Even if your signature drink is nothing more than orange juice and lemon-lime soda, your guests will find it irresistible once it has a fun name!

The Bottom Line

The most important aspect of any party is generally the most affordable – a killer guest list. Once you are surrounded by your favorite people, the fun will fall into place.

Party Planning on a Budget was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Camp Out – there’s nothing stopping you from pitching a tent in your backyard or sleeping in your camper even if you can’t take an official trip this year.  Have a small campfire, roast marshmallows, and enjoy all the outdoor camp activities you would normally partake in if you were on a camping trip.

Sprinklers – Don’t have a swimming pool?  Don’t want to pay for a public pool membership?  Get a sprinkler and cool off in the backyard.  Kids especially love to run through the sprinkler system, but even adults can cool their body temperature down by a quick run through the cold water.

Picnics and Parks -  Take day trips and visit all of your local parks.  There are probably many parks within day trip distance that you haven’t even been to, yet!  Pack a picnic, a book, or some sports equipment and enjoy a day at one of the various parks.  Make a plan to visit as many as you can before summer ends.

Museums and Libraries – On rainy days or when you need a break from the outdoor heat, head inside to a museum or library.  Many museums offer free activities and free or discounted admission on certain days.  Don’t forget to look at local gardens, zoos, science centers, and historical sites for inexpensive opportunities to explore.  Your local library may put on performances and lectures both at the library and at other locations around the community – and many will be free.  Don’t forget you can borrow books, movies and music from the library for free, too.

Festivals and Carnivals – Depending where you live, there are probably a variety of festivals or carnivals going on throughout the summer and into the fall months.  Most offer free admission – and you can walk around and enjoy the sights for free – just pay for the activities or food you may decide to purchase.

Summer Fun on a Budget was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Set Up a Simple Filing System

Having just finished your taxes, you probably have a good idea what kind of receipts and paperwork you needed to gather in order to finish filing.  Instead of waiting until April of next year to try and locate everything you need; set up a simple filing system now that you can add to throughout the year with necessary paperwork as it comes in.   You can use file folders in a cabinet, an accordion file, or several pocket folders with labels to keep your paperwork organized.  Here are some ideas for categories – but you will want to consider your own unique situation to know exactly which categories are going to be useful for your own tax filing:

• Medical expenses
• Housing related expenses (mortgage or rent receipts, real estate taxes, utilities, etc)
• Investment, bank, and retirement statements
• Daycare expenses
• College tuition

Set Up a Spreadsheet or Handwritten Note

If you are computer savvy, you can set up a spreadsheet to track your finances throughout the year.  If you don’t want to pull up a computer file each time you need to add something, you can attach a piece of paper to the front of each of your paper files and handwrite a note each time you add something to the file.  When you add a receipt or a statement to one of your file folders, you will want to note the amount, the date, and what it is on your spreadsheet or piece of paper.  At tax time, you will only need to total up the information on your spreadsheet or folder to get the total amount you can deduct or claim on your taxes.

Finished Your Taxes? It’s Time to Prepare for Next Year was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Here are some ways you can cut costs at the theater and still treat your entire family with a flick:

Go for the Matinees

If you have several theaters in your area, scan the newspaper for their matinee rates or discounted movie days. You can often score $5 admission tickets during the afternoons, even on weekends. If you only have access to one theater, plan your movie day and time around the deals and matinee or discount pricing days. Some theaters will even offer coupons for certain movie showings.

Sign Up for Deals

Websites like Groupon and Living Social offer location-specific deals. Register for your area and you’ll receive special deals from different restaurants, movie theaters, and other business. There is no guarantee you can score something for the local theater but it’s a good way to get a heads up about who is offering special deals and discounted rates.

Opt for Discount Theaters

There are movie theaters that offer discount prices because they show movies several weeks after they have been released. You can still get the movie theater experience for films you want to see but will pay less of a ticket fee since you could hold out until well after opening weekend. Discount theaters often offer discount concession prices and may not be as accessible as the big named chain theaters in all areas. Drive-thru movie theaters , though seasonal, will often offer popular movies at great prices and many still charge by the car load.

Stick with Old-Fashioned Experience

You can save a lot of money by opting to see movies in regular dimension rather than the pricier 3D. Many films in 3D are not worth the price of admission and even big-time filmmakers like Stephen Spielberg agree that the special effects aren’t really that special.

Eat At Home

It’s natural to get the popcorn cravings as soon as you sit down in a theater that smells like melted butter but you can save a bundle by eating before you go to the movies. With a full belly, you’ll be better prepared to resist the junk food for two hours. Your family would save more cash by opting for ice cream elsewhere after the movie rather than stocking up on costly concessions at the theater.

How to Save on a Family Movie Theater Excursion was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

It is important to first know what organic means. Organic relates to how the food is grown and involves the farming methods used. Crops must be grown without certain pesticides, man-made fertilizers, sludge, and other elements to be labeled organic. Livestock raised for food must be free of hormone injections and antibiotics. They must also be allowed to go outdoors and meet specific health criteria in order to be considered organic.  There are also different levels of organic based on the labeling methods from the USDA.

The good news is there are ways to buy organic and still save on the cost of groceries. Here are several tips you can use to start eating better and still be able to stretch a dollar:

Grow It Yourself

The best way to ensure you are getting quality, healthy produce is to start gardening at home. You don’t even need a large yard to pull off a beneficial garden. Plant only the vegetables you and your family will eat and tend to it daily for best results. If you don’t have yard space, consider container plants like tomatoes that you can set in a window sill or on your porch.

Farmer Market Shopping

If you have a farmer’s market in your area, be sure to shop there first for the produce and meats you need. These markets typically offer the freshest organic products at the most reasonable prices. Getting your foods straight from the farm is the next best thing to growing it yourself. You will also have more access to organic foods you may not even be able to find in the local grocery store. More options at cheaper pricing makes the farmer’s market the ideal go-to place for your organic needs.  The only caveat is you can find seasonal produce grown in your region.

Shop Grocery Organics

If this is your only option for accessing organic products, shop wisely. While many of the large chains now specialize in organic products, be careful what you are buying because products in-store can be costly. Know what you need before you go and shop with a list. You should also follow the store flyers and coupon listings to save even more on your organic purchases.

Prioritize Your Shopping

It is better to purchase organic products you use frequently and not everything in the store just because it is labeled organic. You can skip the luxury organics that aren’t exactly health foods in the first place. Stick with buying fresh organic items like fruits, veggies and meats in you want to save more money. The other stuff will likely sit on your shelf and expire before you even use it.

Yes You Can Save on Organic Products was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

For as much information as there is contained in the report, there are also key pieces of data your credit report will not show. Here are 5 things your credit report doesn’t know:

Current Employment Status

Your credit report will contain a list of your active and inactive credit accounts but it will not tell the lender whether or not you are presently employed. There will be a section that shows the name of your past employers if that information has previously been listed on a credit application. But lenders will not be able to access your employment records including salaries and positions through your credit report.

Credit History of Your Spouse

While you and your spouse do share credit accounts, their private credit information will not be available through your credit report. Your credit report lists your credit obligations and accounts even if they are shared with your husband/wife. There may be notes that the account is shared or that you serve as the co-owner of a joint account but will not reveal who the other party is.

Medical Debt History

Thanks to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, your medical records will not show up on your credit history report due to its potential for breaking medical privacy laws. The only time medical debt or accounts will be present on a credit report is if the account has gone into collections but the medical details cannot be revealed.

Certain Loans

If you have received money from a payday loan or sought extra cash in exchange for your car title, your credit report will not reflect this information to lenders. The only way lenders will see this information is if you end up defaulting on such a loan and the company decides to use a collections agency to follow up on the defaulted debt.

Criminal Histories

Credit reports do not allocate any space dealing with your criminal history but there are a few instances where activities of a certain nature can impact your credit. First, if you owe back child support, the debt can show up on your credit report as a debt. Second, if you have defaulted on an account that leads to a judgment or a lien being placed against you, the details will be made available on your credit history report. Thirdly, if you ever receive any fine such as a traffic ticket that you fail to pay, the collection of the debt can be made available to your credit report. The specifics of the fine or citation would not be included however.

While there is a number of things that will not be showing up on your credit report, the information that is there can certainly affect your life in both the short and long-term. It is always wise to keep up with what information is contained in your report throughout the year and do what you can to ensure your credit history is accurate and your credit score is solid.

5 Bits of Info Your Credit Reports Doesn’t Include was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Here are 6 important things to consider before adopting a pet:

1. Adoption Fees

If you think $150 or more in adoption fees is outrageous, you need to first consider the logic. Adoption centers not only want to recoup some of the cost for caring for the pet, they also want to be sure the new owners can afford the pet in the first place. If you balk at the adoption fee, you are not likely to have the financial stability to properly provide for your new pet.

2. Medical Care

Even though your adopted pet has received medical care from the adoption center’s vet, by adopting you are now responsible for the lifetime medical needs of your pet. These costs include annual checkups, shots, treatments, medicine, and emergency care.

3. Maintenance Care

Some pets have lower costs of living than others. If you adopt a dog, the costs of care include food, treats, preventative treatments, grooming and the like. The rest of the responsibility requires a lot of time and energy to love and play with your dog. Other pets, like iguanas and other exotics require vigilance in cage maintenance, proper temperatures, special diets, and other equipment which can prove quite costly.

4. Family Dynamics

If you are an elderly person looking for a companion, you likely do not want a super-hyper dog to deal with. If you have a family full of small children, you may not be interested in a small dog with an attitude problem. You need to consider the family dynamic when choosing the family pet. There is no point in getting a puppy no one has time to play with, take for walks, or feed on a daily basis.

5. Other Pet Concerns

If you have a cat that has been the only pet in the house for years, you need to consider his needs before adopting a new pet. While many animals interact well and love companionship, there is the potential for the situation to turn bad. Before you adopt, ask if you can try introducing the new pet to your current pet on a trial basis before committing to the adoption.

6. Is this a Trend?

Animal experts have long been warning people about the side effects of adopting an animal that is ‘fashionable’ at the moment. Just because the latest movie features adorable pug dogs does not mean you need to own one too. The same is true about bunnies during Easter and black cats near Halloween. If your kids are asking for a pet regularly featured on television, question the ability to care for and love the pet for the long term and not just when the fad ends.

6 Things to Consider Before Adopting a Pet was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Here are some ways to turn boredom into family fun and maybe even a supplemental stream of income:

Host a Frugal Family Day

When the weather is nice invite family and friends over to your house for a potluck cookout. You supply the grill, the work, and the space. Let the others bring a pack of hot dogs, side dishes, and snacks. Not only can you spend the day enjoying quality time with your friends and family, you can encourage you relations to do the same even if their budgets are tight. Getting out of the house for a few hours to have some fun can rejuvenate your spirits.

Start a Family Website

Having your own website is easier than ever and there are still several blog sites that allow you to set up your site for free. You’ll have to pay a small fee for a URL. Have family members contribute to the site. Kids can draw pictures or write about their day. Parents can write about tips and tricks for surviving on a budget. If you are a bit tech-savvy, you can read up on monetizing the site and earn money through advertising. Even if you don’t generate income, you can still share the site with family and friends that live far away. It’s a great way to stay connected to your entire family and gets the kids thinking creatively.

Dig Deeper in Your Hobby

There are many hobbies families can participate in together. Parents can also help kids develop their own hobby skills. Crafts, woodworking, and even lawn maintenance or gardening can be turned into a supplemental source of income. The family can hand out flyers in the neighborhood offering their services or can sell their creations at local farmer’s markets. Adults can even take notes on their methods for using their talents and offer classes in the local community.

Clean Out the Clutter

While no one in your family may claim to be bored enough to clean, it can be a great way to add some extra cash into your budget. Clear out your clutter by separating it into four piles:

• Stuff you want to keep – re-organize and put back into place.
• Stuff you can donate – items you won’t be able to sell easily but are still good quality can go to a local women’s shelter or thrift store.
  
• Stuff you can sell – items that may sell well at a yard sale should be priced reasonably and cleaned up a little for a successful yard sale event.
  
• Stuff that can go to a consignment shop – any items you have that are too valuable to sell at a yard sale can be given to a consignment shop and sold for more of a profit.

There are a lot of things family can pull together to do and decrease the monotony of a boring day at home. When done right, a bit of family fun can lead to increase income potential and maybe even a new family business.

How to Survive (and Maybe Generate Income) When You Are Bored and Broke was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Internationally, there are a lot more apartments that function like condominiums than rented apartments. If you are looking for an apartment, you’ll probably have to buy one. If you’re looking to rent, you’ll probably be renting from an individual owner instead of a property management company.

Some places also have customs for apartment rentals that don’t exist in the United States. In some places in Japan, property is so hard to come by that you’re expected to provide a large gift, often cash, to the landlord as part of the process of moving in. Always talk to a local agent so that you’re aware of what local customs exists that might not exist in the United States.

There are some online places, such as the website that lists Apartments for Sale in Turkey, but most of the work that you will do to find an apartment will be by working with a local agent. You should never buy a property site-unseen and you should always look with a local agent before buying a property. They will be able to give you the low-down on everything that you need to know before making the leap. They will be able to tell you about issues with utilities, the area the apartment is in and a lot of other information that you wouldn’t find by looking at a local listing.

Of course, you need to make sure that the real estate agent you’re working with is trustworthy and experienced. Make sure to get referrals before selecting an agent and make sure that they have all of the appropriate local accreditation that they need. It also wouldn’t hurt to do an online search for their name and the name of their business to look for any red flags.

How to Find Apartments Internationally was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

• Take Inventory- If the worst case scenario were to happen and you had to replace your personal property you will need to have a list of all items lost. Insurance companies are not in the business of paying every claim without proof, so it is important to take careful inventory to ensure you are covered. Be specific and include purchase dates, serial numbers and any other data you may have proving the ownership and value of your items.
• Take Pictures- You’ve heard that a picture is worth a thousand words. By taking photographs of your items you are providing additional documentation should any questions arise later, such as the condition of the item.
• Cash Value or Replacement- Determine whether you want to insure your property for cash value or replacement cost. Basically you are deciding if you would want like to compensated for the value of items lost or have them replaced with new items. You can expect to pay higher premiums and deductibles if you choose replacement cost.
• Carefully Review The Policy- You want to have the proper amount of coverage, if you are over or under insured you will lose money in the long run. Read the policy and pay attention to limits, deductibles and other information to find the policy that provides the level of protection you need. Many first time renters worry about affording a high deductible and opt for higher premiums instead. You should know that going this route may end up costing you more money in the long run. You may be better served by paying a lower premium and saving money toward the deductible.
• Comparison Shop- The best way to save money when making any purchase involves shopping around. You should contact several companies and compare rates to find the policy that is right for you. Most insurance companies offer lower rates for customers who combine policies. If you have life insurance or auto insurance consider using the same provider for all policies to get reduced rates.

Protect Your Personal Property With Renters Insurance was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Here is a list of things you should not keep in your wallet or purse to prevent identity theft and other complications:

Social Security Card

While it is true you may need to provide your Social Security card from time to time for a variety of reasons, you shouldn’t carry it with you at any other time. Losing your wallet will give a thief access to your name, contact information, and your Social Security number which basically gives them free reign for robbing you. Keep your card at home in a safe place until you need it and be sure to return it when you are done.

Passwords/PINs

If you carry your account passwords or your credit card or debit card PIN numbers in your wallet and lose them, others can access your accounts a lot easier, especially if your smartphone is in your purse. Be sure to memorize relevant personal identification numbers you need when away from home and keep a list in a safe location at home if you have trouble keeping up with your passcodes. You should also make it a habit to change your password every few months to protect yourself from being hacked.

All of Your Credit Cards

It is wise to keep one or two credit cards on your person at a time but not all of them. It is a lot of work to retrace all the credit cards you own in the event you lose your wallet. Select a few cards to use regularly and lock the rest in a safe at home. Make photocopies of the front and back of the credit cards you keep in your wallet so you will have all of the relevant information should they get lost or stolen. Keep the copies in a safe with your other cards.

Your Bank Checkbook

It is wise to keep your checkbook at home for safekeeping. Since your checks display most of your personal information including account number and routing number, anyone can use that information online to rip you off. If you find you need a check on occasion, take only one with you for specific purposes. Don’t leave your checkbook in your bag for convenience. Remember too that your signature may also be present on your carbon copies which can present a multitude of other identity theft problems.

What Not to Keep in Your Wallet was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Start By Prioritizing Your Bills

There are many expenses that we absolutely must pay and we can’t do much to reduce them.  If you are in a financial situation where you are currently unable to pay for everything then you need to examine all of your expenses and prioritize them in order of most essential to things you could do without if you had to.

Expenses related to your survival should be at the top of your priority list and paid first – things like your home, your food, and the utilities (electric, heat, water).

Next on your list should include anything you pay in order to earn income.  If you need a car or transportation to work, gasoline, car maintenance to keep the car running, clothing to wear to work, etc.  Just make sure you are not overspending or paying more than you absolutely need to in this category – which means considering a downgrade of your transportation, buying suitable clothing second hand or wearing the clothes you have longer before replacing.

Once your survival and earning expenses have been paid, the rest of your income should be used to make debt payments (credit cards and loans), followed by asset protection expenses, like life or medical insurance and savings plans.  If there is still money leftover in your budget, you can add investing or retirement planning to your expenses.

All of these expenses should come before any money is spent on non-essentials in the entertainment category – and this includes non-essential utilities like cable and telephone.

Reduce Expenses – Increase Income

If you are not just in a temporary financial situation and consistently earn less than you need to pay for your living expenses, you need to take drastic measures to reduce expenses and/or increase income. Get creative with your groceries to find ways to get more meals out of less food; consider growing fruits and vegetables yourself.  Get a second or third job, do odd jobs on the weekends or evenings after work, or sell items you don’t need to raise money to pay bills and debts.

Can You Budget if You Are Broke? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Here are 4 ways you can help increase your visibility at work and put yourself in line for a promotion and a needed raise:

Document Your Accomplishments

It can be difficult to go back and recall all you have accomplished in your time on the job so it is wise to start making notes about what you have done that is exceptional. Keep track of specific accomplishments such as when you decreased company spending by 30% or when your sales increased by 40%. When you approach your boss about the potential for promotion, you’ll have specific results that show you have a proven track record for the company.

Be Proactive About Learning More

If you are intent on staying with your present employer for the foreseeable future, make an effort to get more involved and improve your skills and knowledge. Find out if there are classes, seminars, or other events you can attend to expand your knowledge as it relates to your job and the company. You can also be instrumental in developing training programs for your company based on what you have learned. Your initiative can go a long way to proving your commitment.

Take On More Responsibility

If you are looking to get ahead, ask your supervisor for more responsibilities on projects and daily work provided you can also handle your normal job tasks successfully. Don’t bite off more than you can chew if you want to prove you are ready to go to the next level. You have to do your regular work and your new responsibilities equally well to prove you can handle a promotion.

Don’t Give Up

Just because you give it your all doesn’t mean your company is in a position to give you more. With the tough economy, money may still be tight. Do continue to do your best and build a solid future for yourself with the company. Let your supervisor know you are interested in moving up when the time is right. There is nothing else you can do at this point other than monitor the situation.

If you are passed over for promotions, speak with supervisor about what you need to do to be considered. If you feel you will not get ahead where you are currently, begin a discreet job search to find something with more potential. Don’t burn any bridges when you do leave for another job as you never know when you’ll need to network with those you left behind.

4 Tips for Improving Your Chances of a Job Promotion was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Here are 5 ways to start improving your financial life right now:

Get Yourself Organized

If you are missing bill due dates and can never seem to find the important financial documents you need, it is time to get yourself organized and prevent stupid mistakes from ruining your credit. First, take some uninterrupted time to sit down with your mound of loose paperwork, junk mail, and your financial papers. Go through everything taking care to stack the good stuff in one pile and trash the unnecessary items. Use file folders to organize documents and mark each folder for easy retrieval later. A filing cabinet is helpful but only if it too stays organized. Make it easy for you to bring in the mail, file away things you need to tend to and throw away the junk. This will prevent clutter and make it easier to find stuff you need right away.

Have a Money Sit-Down

If the people in your family are spending money like there is no tomorrow, it is time to sit down and have a heart-to-heart about family finances including budgeting and spending expectations. Even kids can participate on age-appropriate discussions but it is essential to sit down with your spouse/partner and go over all of your financial information including bills, bank statements, budgets, and credit scores. Families need to be on the same financial page in order to reach financial goals.

Consider Your Other Options

If you just pay bills and write checks without much consideration about the costs associated with accounts, it may be time to review your different money matters. This includes looking over your insurance and utility costs to find cheaper options. You should also consider the amount of fees you are paying your bank. It may be a cost-saving option to switch to a competitor or a credit union. If your credit is still good, you may also find a lower interest rate on credit cards. Each bit of savings add up at the end of the year.

Focus More on Saving

You may not think you have enough income to put any in the bank but it is imperative to your financial stability to have at least an emergency savings account. Review your spending and make cuts to your budget to have more cash to put into savings. Automate deposits directly from your paycheck to go into a separate savings account that earns a good interest rate and is earmarked only for emergencies like home or car repairs, medical bills, or job loss. Other than emergencies, leave the account alone to earn interest and be there when you need it most.

Change Habits One at a Time

If you tend to hit the local convenience store or deli for a couple of coffees each day or tend to impulse buy every time you go to the store, you need to recognize these money-wasting habits and stop them one at a time. Make a list of things you should stop doing to save more money. Don’t set your expectations too high but rather keep working at reversing one bad money habit at a time. You stand a better chance of incorporating new habits into your life if you take a slow and steady route to a better financial life.

5 Ways to Improve Your Financial Situation Right Now was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The good news is there are ways to start saving at the pump right now. Every penny saved can certainly make a difference in your year-end spending. Here are 5 tips for saving at the pumps starting today.

Get a Tune Up

Your vehicle needs regular servicing to run efficiently. If you have been putting off regular maintenance services, you are not only going to end up with an expensive repair bill down the line, you are also wasting gas every time you drive. Dirty filters and fluids can cause substantial fuel waste during your daily commute so it is in your best interest to schedule a tune-up with your mechanic pronto. It will cost you substantially less to keep up with your vehicle’s routine maintenance than it will if you neglect these services. Your vehicle will also stay on the road longer which will keep you from having to finance another vehicle in the near future.

Lighten Up

Drivers unknowingly waste gas all the time by riding around with too much stuff in their vehicles. Busy parents often have sports equipment, kid’s stuff, or work items that are weighing down the vehicle and causing the engine to use more gas. Only keep in your vehicle what is necessary. Store everything else in a handy place inside the house or the garage. The lighter the vehicle, the less visits to the pump you’ll have to make.

Pay With Cash

Check around for any of the local service stations that will cut you a break for using cash. Many places will offer up to 10-cents off each gallon if you pay with cash money. This is largely due to the savings the service station receives by not having to process your credit card transaction. More gas stations are jumping on board with this promotional offer so be sure to make note of the stations during your regular commute.

Get Smarter

If you are unsure which gas stations offer promotions or if you have to drive out of your normal route, use a smartphone application like GasBuddy. This app will do the finding for you and will let you know where the cheapest gas rates are located on your planned route. All it needs is the name of the town or the zip code locations to find the deals. This can be especially effective at saving you money since most main route stations charge a lot more per gallon than out of the way stations.

Go for the Rewards

If there are no cash deals at the local gas station, apply for a cash-back credit card or a gas credit card so you can at least earn money back from every purchase. There are many different gas rewards and cash back rewards programs available so be sure to investigate which card offer is right for you and your financial situation. The key thing to remember is to control your debt. With every fill up you make, put the cash equivalent into an envelope so you can ensure you’ll pay off the full balance due at the end of each billing cycle.

5 Ways to Save on Gasoline Today was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Storage Units

If you are paying $120-$150 a month for a storage unit, you are probably wasting money you really don’t need to pay. Over the course of a year you are paying between $1440 and $1800 to store items.  Do you even have $1800 worth of items in storage?  Spring is a good time of year to re-consider your storage unit and the items in it.  If you can part with anything in the unit, make some money and get rid of the storage unit – you will save over $1400 a year.  The money you earn from selling items you really don’t need from your storage unit could be enough to pay for a summer vacation or pay off a small debt.

Make a Pile of Items from Your Home

Go through your home, room by room.  Start filling boxes with items you no longer need or use.  Don’t forget the attic, basement, and garage.  Chances are, you will find clothing, dishes, electronics, baby items, books, and a variety of other items you don’t need or really want any longer.   Instead of letting these items take up space in your home, prepare to sell them or donate them.

How to Sell Your Items

There are a variety of ways you can sell items from your home that you no longer want.  You can have a yard sale, send items to the consignment store, list items for sale on auction sites, or list what you have on Craigslist.  Not only can you make a few dollars selling things you have no reason to keep, but a less-cluttered home is easier to clean and maintain.

Spring Cleaning for Cash was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act has made it legal for employers to request credit background checks on potential employees. You must first give your permission in order for the credit reporting bureaus to release the confidential information but if you expect to be considered for a job, your denial is likely the end of the line.

Theories Behind Credit Checks

The reason why employers are relying on credit scores is so they can learn a little something extra about you as an individual. A poor credit score may signal you are not very adept at handling decision-making tasks or money matters in general. You may reflect a lack of responsibility by letting your credit score go to the wayside and those traits may be carried over into your work life. This is especially true of you are trying to work in the payroll department of a company or within a bank. In some cases, a poor financial situation may trigger suspicion that you’ll stick your hand in the company cookie jar.

While you may have a chance to explain away your poor credit history, many hiring managers won’t look past your credit score in some scenarios no matter how strong your qualifications. Many individuals currently unemployed are having difficulties keeping up with monthly financial obligations due to the lack of income but it is still in your best interest to pay the bills on time each month and avoid debt like the plague if you wish to get a new position.

Social Media Downfalls

It is also important to consider the ramifications of posting your irresponsible money-handling on your social media networks. If your potential employer will consider overlooking a low credit score, they may think twice when you are boasting about the brand new wardrobe you just bought or the new sports car pictures you have just plastered all over your Facebook.

Your actions in social media may end up backing up your poor choice tendencies and can cost you the job you need to make money. There has been several headlines in the news where people have lost their jobs due to seemingly harmless Facebook or Twitter posts so it stands to reason these same platforms may keep you from getting hired.

Job Hunters Need to Work on Resume and Credit Score was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Don’t Try to Ignore the Situation

Sometimes when a financial situation declines, the instinct is to try and ignore the situation and hope it goes away!  If you find yourself struggling to keep up with your living expenses, you need to confront the situation head-on.

Revisit Car Dealership

If you bought your car from a dealer, go back to the dealership and find out what they can do as far as trading the car in for a less expensive vehicle.  Some dealerships will go out of their way to help you, but keep in mind if you bought a new car it will have depreciated rather quickly.  After just a few months of owning a new car, you probably owe more on the car loan than the current value.  Trading in a car that is worth less than you still owe requires that you pay the difference in the value and the loan amount.

Put a For Sale Sign on Your Car

If you can’t trade the car in, you might try to sell it yourself to see if you can get as much as you owe.  This will help you get out from the car loan, and then you can make a better choice with a less expensive car to keep your new loan payments more affordable.

Look for Someone to Assume Loan Payments

You can also try to find someone interested in taking your car and simply taking over your car payments.  There are options for advertising this on eBay Motors and Craigslist.

Refinance Your Car Loan

Another way to get back on track if you are having trouble affording your car is to refinance your car loan.  If you can get a lower interest rate or extend your car loan, you can often get a lower monthly car payment.

What if You Can’t Afford Your Car? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Once you have the home, you also have the costs of homeownership. These expenses are beyond your monthly loan payment and homeowners insurance. You must create a budget to cover home maintenance expenses, but before you figure out what your home will cost you, you’ll need to know what’s involved.

Home Repairs

One unavoidable and potentially significant cost of home upkeep is repairs. A renter calls a landlord when the air conditioning goes or the ceiling leaks, but as a homeowner, you’re now responsible for fixing those problems. You can save for estimated repairs before you experience an emergency by looking at the condition of major appliances and fixtures in your home.

If you’ve got a furnace that is over ten years old, for example, it’s likely you’ll have to replace the unit at some point. Start saving money in a separate bank account based on the list of repairs you think you’ll have to make.

Don’t rely on homeowners insurance to cover your repairs. Major repairs, including roofs and necessary fixtures, such as your heating appliance, are not usually covered by homeowners insurance. You’ll need to have a cash reserve or other options ready if you’re faced with an expensive but necessary repair.

You can look at other financing options now if you’re concerned you won’t be able to save enough money by the time you’ll need to make a repair. Determine which credit card would cost you the least in interest if you needed to use it for an emergency repair.

If you think you’ll want to finance another way, such as with a loan compare loans so you know which lenders to get quotes from first.

Improvements

Another common home expense is improvements. Although improvements may not be immediately necessary, you may find you want to update certain areas or you need an addition for more space. Large improvements, such as a sunroom, may be difficult to save for. Home improvement loans are available, but make sure you compare loans from different lenders before committing to an agreement.

No matter how you decide to finance additional home costs, you’ll want to compare loans and credit cards if you’re planning to use either credit product to cover gaps in your budget. Even if you build up your home savings account, an unexpected major repair can easily surpass your savings. If you’re faced with a home emergency and can’t pay for the repair, you may end up doing more damage to your home.

How Much Does it Cost to Maintain a Home was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Skip Unnecessary Insurance

If you are renting a car with your credit card, or your regular car insurance includes coverage for rental cars, you may already have insurance coverage.  Before agreeing to add insurance coverage through the car rental company, make sure you don’t already have the coverage on your credit card or through your regular car insurance policy.

Fuel the Car before Return

If you return a rental car with less gas than you left with, they will charge you to refill it – and generally charge you more than it would cost to just stop at the gas station and fill up before returning.  Put gas in the car before you bring the rental back and you will save money.

Avoid the Airport

The airport car rentals make it extremely convenient to pick up your rental car when traveling – but you pay for the convenience.  You can pay as much as $50 more per day for a rental through the airport compared to other locations.  When traveling, check the location for a car rental pickup spot, to see if you will save money on the taxi from the airport to the car rental compared to the price you pay to rent the car directly from the airport.

Local Companies

A small, regional car rental company will often charge less per day to rent a car than a nationwide chain.  Use Google to check “Car rental” followed by your destination, to find a local car rental company.

Try a Car Dealership

Many dealerships will rent cars.  Toyota, Ford and Nissan in particular are known for renting cars and some will even deliver a rental car to your hotel!  You will definitely want to contact car dealerships when traveling and in need of a rental car to see if they offer a rental and if they can beat the price of the airport car rental or even the local agencies.

Save Money When You Rent a Car was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Savings Account Options

There are two basic types of savings accounts to choose from.  The one you choose should be based on how you plan to use the account, how much money you plan to save, and how frequently you will access the money.

High Yield Savings Accounts – If you have a considerable sum of money that you don’t plan on accessing frequently, most high yield savings accounts are a good option.  Money held in a high yield savings is FDIC-insured.  For most banks offering this type of account, the higher your balance, the higher the interest rate you will receive on your savings.  Most high yield accounts will not offer checks to withdraw your money or make payments; but some accounts will allow you to link them to your existing checking account to transfer money or make deposits and withdrawals.  Some of the best interest rates are offered through high yield savings accounts with online banks.

Passbook Savings Accounts – If you’re just getting started with your savings plan, or just want a place to stash some of your money until you have saved enough to make other investment and savings decisions; a passbook savings account is a good option.  The bank will give you a small booklet to keep track of deposits, interest earned, and withdrawals.  Your money is FDIC-insured.  Passbook savings accounts have extremely low fees and generally don’t require a minimum balance.  In exchange, the bank provides you a low interest rate.

Considerations for Choosing a Savings Account

There are many factors to consider when you are looking for a savings account.  You will want to know how much money you will deposit to open your account, because some savings accounts have minimum balance requirements to receive the highest interest rate offered or to avoid paying monthly maintenance fees.

If you plan to access the money you put in savings, you want to choose a savings account that gives you easy withdrawal methods.  Some savings options purposely make it a little harder to get to your money, because the inconvenience helps people save their money but if you know when setting up the account that you will regularly need to withdraw money from it, you will want to choose an account that allows easy access to your funds.

How to Choose a Savings Account was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Broken Car? – If your vehicle is at the dealership or in the shop getting fixed, ask if they have a courtesy car that you can borrow. Quite often the place fixing your car will let you borrow one of theirs while your vehicle is getting fixed. When my 95 intrepid was in the shop, the local dealership lent me an ’04 Alero to drive around, and didn’t’ even charge me for it! Not every dealership will be this nice, but it doesn’t hurt to ask, and it sure beats paying for a rental car!

Weekly Rate – In most cases, you won’t be able to borrow a car for free, so if you do have to rent a car, ask about getting a weekly rate. The discount often makes renting a vehicle for a week cheaper than renting a car for five or six days. It might make sense to hold onto the vehicle for an extra day to save some money.

Discounts – Ask the car rental place what sort of discounts they have. A lot of rental companies offer discounts to AAA members and members of other organizations such as the AARP.

Corporate Rates – A lot of larger companies can get a corporate discount. Check with your HR or travel department and see if you’re allowed to get the corporate rate for personal rentals. Be sure to check what it would cost you normally though, sometimes the corporate rate is higher than what you or I would normally pay.

Fill Up The Tank – When you’re done using the vehicle, make sure to fill up the tank to where it was when you got it. Most rental companies charge upwards of a $4.00 per gallon fee to refill the tank! Don’t over fill it though, otherwise you’ll end up paying too much that way too.

Insurance – Make sure that your car insurance covers your usage of a rental car before going. If you think that you’re covered and end up not being covered, you’re exposing yourself to huge amounts of risk and liability. Make sure that your insurance is in order to avoid some very costly bills if you were to get in an accident.

Last Minute Rentals – Quite often car rental companies will lie to try to boost their sales. Sometimes they’ll say they only have full-sized vehicles when they have plenty of less expensive vehicles to go around. If you go in the store, they might lie to you, but their website will be honest.

Take Pictures When Returning – When you return your vehicle, use your cell-phone camera, a digital camera, or a disposable camera and take a few quick pictures of the exterior of the vehicle. This way you’ll have proof that you returned the car in good condition. Car rental companies will take a quick look at the car when you return it, but the contract will say that they have the right to go back later and say it doesn’t. If you have proof that you returned it in good condition, they can’t come back later and try to extort money from you.

How to Rent a Car & Not Get Screwed was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Play Tourist to Where You Live 

Most of us never take advantage of all the fun things that are available right in our own back yard. The idea is to pretend you are a tourist and will be visiting the area you live in for the first time. Visit your local AAA office, use the internet to research what is available to do in your area or even check in with a local travel agent. Then sit down and plan out the touristy things you want to do. Plan out an itinerary just as you would if you were traveling somewhere away from home.

Plan a Day Trip

Another great way to enjoy a staycation is to take day trips. You can again check in with your AAA agency, a travel agent or search on line for fun and exciting things to do within a few hours from your home. If you find something that sounds exciting, add it to your week’s itinerary.

Plan a Rest Day

Another fun option is to plan a rest day at home. One idea is to have a family pajama day where the entire family stays in their PJ’s all day long. You can spend time reading, relaxing, playing games together or even watching movies. Consider ordering take out delivery for dinner.

Keep the Outside Distractions To A Minimum

Some people might have trouble separating a staycation from typical daily at home routines. If you are truly going to have a fun staycation you will want to limit your outside interruptions to as few as possible. Consider turning off your phones, unplugging your computer and even disconnecting your television set for the week.

Get In the Vacation Mindset

Finally, start getting everyone into a vacation mindset. Just as you would a traditional vacation count down the days to the start of your staycation, get out the camera to take pictures and talk about all the fun things you plan to do. You just might be pleasantly surprised at how fun a staycation can be.

How to Have a Fun Filled Family Staycation was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Prepares You for the Unexpected

Let’s face it, life can throw you some hard balls and being prepared for them can help you weather the storm. Having an emergency fund will help you get through a job layoff or other financial hardships that may come your way. Having at least three to six months of living expenses saved is ideal.

Keeps You Out Of Debt

Debt can consume you and cause not only financial hardship but also health issues, rifts in marriages and more. Having an emergency fund can help you stay out of debt. For example, if you find yourself unemployed you can live off your emergency fund instead of having to rely on credit. If you are faced with a medical emergency or an extended illness in your family, you can use your emergency fund to pay off medical bills and so on.

Teaches Financial Responsibility

Being financially responsible has never been so important than it is today and having an emergency fund helps to get you on the right track. Most people who have emergency funds tend to have good spending habits, stay out of debt and make higher contributions to their retirement accounts. Building your emergency fund can be the first step in securing a bright financial future.

Gives You Peace Of Mind 

Finally, having an emergency fund gives you peace of mind and can boost your health. Knowing you have money set aside to face a financial hardship can reduce your stress, lower you blood pressure and more.

If you don’t yet have an emergency fund, now is the time to start one. Look at your monthly budget and determine how much you can put aside each month, keeping in mind that the more you can save the quicker you will build your fund. Set up a bank account, be consistent about making deposits and watch your emergency fund grow.

4 Reasons Everyone Needs an Emergency Fund was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Cell Phone Bill

Today everyone thinks that a cell phone is a necessity when in reality it wasn’t that long ago when cell phones didn’t even exist. Even if you think it is not realistic to get rid of your phone consider switching from a cell phone plan to pay as you go. Then, only use your cell phone when absolutely necessary. While you may love all the bells and whistles your current plan offers, they are not a necessity. Making this simple switch can save you hundreds of dollars over a year’s time.

Cable Bill

The next bill to seriously look at is your cable bill. Let’s face it cable TV is a luxury, not a necessity. For television lovers there are so many cheaper options than cable today. With a streamlining device such as Roku you can subscribe to Netflix, Hulu or Amazon TV for a fraction of the cost and still have access to your favorite TV shows.

Home Phone

Many people today are going without a home phone in lieu of using their cell phone. If that is not an option for you, consider switching to a discount home phone like magic jack. While there is an initial cost to set up magic jack, you can get phone service to your home for just $20.00 a year.

Your Monthly Food Bill

More than likely there are still ways to trim your monthly food bill. If you don’t already do so, start packing your kids lunches and your own.  Additionally, if you purchase coffee on the go every day, instead invest in a thermal to go coffee mug and take your coffee with you from home. Finally, ditch bottled water. Instead invest in water bottles for the family and keep them filled with tap water.

Home Energy Bill

Finally, there are some simple things you can do to lower your home energy bill. Try lowering your thermostat by just a degree or two in the winter and if you have central air, raise it a degree or two in the summer.  Additionally, you can do all of your laundry in cold water and investing in an indoor and outdoor clothes line to air dry your clothes  is also a great option.

Five Bills You Can Cut Now To Save Money was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

1)Don’t Order Drinks

The first way to save money when dining out is to skip ordering drinks and instead drink water.  A family of four can save up to about $10.00 off their bill if they skip the soft drinks and the savings is even higher if you typically would order an alcoholic beverage.

2)Share an Entrée 

A second tip is to share an entree. Most restaurant portions are large and can easily accommodate two people. You may need to order an extra salad or other side, but the cost savings can still be significant. Another option would be to order an appetizer as your entrée. In many cases the appetizer will be cheaper and still offer you plenty to eat.

3)Take Advantage of Kids Eat Free Deals

Tip three is for family night out. If you have younger children, look for a restaurant that offers kid’s meal deals. Many dining establishments even offer kids eat free options on certain nights of the week.

4)Check for Coupons Before Leaving Home

Tip Four is to use a coupon. There are numerous places to check including local savings books that come in your mailbox, to entertainment book discounts and even various discounts that can be found online. Restaurant.com is a great place to check. They offer discounted gift certificates to various restaurants all over the country. Simply put in your zip code to see what offers are available in your area.

5)Take Home the Leftovers

Tip number five is to make sure you take home your leftovers. Leftovers are often enough to cover up to another meal per person, increasing the value of what you paid for you meal.

While eating out often, especially when on a tight budget is still not advisable, you now know how you can keep your bill manageable when you do head out to eat. Just remember the budget friendly eat out check list. Skip the drink, share meals, go where kids eat free, use a coupon and bring home your leftovers.

Dining Out On a Budget: Five Tips to Save You Money was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Order Your Credit Report

If you haven’t already done so, the first thing you should do is to order a copy of your credit report. Take a close look at it, checking thoroughly for any errors or discrepancies. If you find any errors, especially reports of past due accounts or accounts that are in collection that are not valid, you will need to get them corrected immediately. Just having a corrected report can boost your score.

Stay Current on All of Your Bills

Going forward, make sure that you are always current on all of your bills, especially those like credit cards and mortgages that are reported to the credit agencies on a regular basis. Bottom line, make sure you payments are in on time.

Pay Down Your Debt

Paying off your debts is one of the fastest ways to raise your credit score and the faster you can pay it off the quicker your score will rise. To help you manage your debt payments develop a monthly budget and work to cut all non essential expenses.

There are numerous methods you can choose to pay down your debt, with one of the most popular being the snowball method. When you snowball your debt you concentrate on one debt at a time, putting any extra money you have that month towards that debt. Once one debt is paid off you move onto to the next and so on.

Switch To Cash Spending

If you are someone who impulsively makes purchases and uses your credit card to do so, it might be time to switch to cash. The last thing you want to do if you are trying to improve your credit score is to rack up more debt.

While repairing your credit may take some time and definitely will take hard work and effort, it can be done. If you are serious about raising your credit score, stop procrastination and get working on it today. You just may be surprised at how fast you can boost your number.

Rebuilding Your Credit Can Be Done: Four Tips to Help You Get Started was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

1) Impulsive Buys On Big Ticket Items: If you want to rack up credit card debt quickly, then purchasing big ticket items on your plastic is the sure way to do it. Swiping your card for a getaway cruise, a new large screen television set or for new living room furniture is not usually wise unless you have the money in the bank ready to pay for it. High interest rates charged by credit cards today can make your cruise cost a whole lot more than what you paid for it by the time you are able to pay it off.

2) Smaller Purchases That You Really Don’t Need: Some people think that if they just purchase smaller items that their credit card debt really won’t be that bad. This is not true as small items can quickly add up and before you know it you can have a hefty bill arriving in your mail box. Every time you make a purchase with your card you should ask yourself two questions. First, do I really need this and second, can I really afford it.

3) Making Purchases to Reap Card Benefits: So many card holders get in the habit of making purchases on their credit card in order to get more rewards. While reward cards do have some advantages, this is certainly not one of them. You should never just purchase items in order to receive more credit card rewards. In the long run this could push you into credit card debt causing you to pay interest fees that totally negate any rewards you may have earned.

While using a credit card can have its advantages like not having to worry about carrying around cash, receiving credit card rewards and more, for some people the disadvantages outweigh any benefits. Bottom line, if you own a piece of plastic and have trouble controlling your spending, be careful. Unwise credit card use can lead to debt and financial distress.

Know When Not To Use Your Credit Card was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Save By Planning Around Grocery Store Sales

A great way to meal plan is to grab your grocery store’s weekly flyer and plan your meals for the week around what is on sale. For example, if chicken and hamburger meat are on sale that week then plan for some meals that use these items. Plan your side dishes around what veggies are on sale, what rice mix is on sale or what other side items your family eats are in the sale flyer.

Impulse Buying Is Greatly Reduced or Eliminated

When you meal plan you will also eliminate your impulse buying, as long as you stick to your grocery list. Meal planning allows you to know exactly what you need to buy when you head to the market with no need to throw extras in your cart.

Less Eating Out

Meal planning also helps to eliminate the eating out bill. When you have your meals planned out there is no last minute trying to decide what you should serve for dinner tonight. As we all know, these last minute decisions often lead to heading out to eat or picking up local take out. With meal planning you know what you will be eating and have all the ingredients you will need on hand to make your dinner.

Reduces What You Throw Out

Finally, when you meal plan you will notice less waste when it comes to food items that you have purchased. So often we find items in our refrigerator that have gone bad because we never really had a plan on how we were going to use them. Bottom line, food waste equals money down the drain.

As you can see, there are numerous financial advantages to meal planning. As an added bonus, your family will most likely eat better and reap health benefits as well. Give it a try today and see how much you can save.

Meal Planning Saves You Money was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Here are some tips for keeping your family fed without breaking the bank:

Preplan Your Menu

If you can get into the habit of sitting down on a weekly or monthly basis to preplan your meals, you’ll likely find you can save a lot of cash starting right away. Your menu planning will not reduce the cost of groceries but will organize your grocery list so you can and do spend less. There is an unlimited amount of free recipes online and on television so you can keep meals from getting boring.

Plan for Sales

When you complete your family menu, use it to make a list of all the ingredients needed to go into each dish for the week. This list will become your shopping list at the store. Rather than run to the usual grocery store, take the time to review sales fliers to find out where the deals are. By utilizing the planned menu as a shopping list, you will be more effective at clipping and using coupons to save even more.

Buy Fresh Weekly

In order to avoid wasted food, shop for fresh ingredients once a week. Nonperishable foods and items like paper products can be purchased on a monthly basis or when sales are worthwhile. Remember that may fresh products can be safely frozen such as green peppers and onions and are handy to grab when you want to spice up your meal. Invest in reusable bags and containers to keep food safe from freezer burn.

Use Versatile Ingredients

As you continue planning meals, you’ll begin to build a nice supply of staples which you will only need to replenish once in a while. You should focus on using recipes with versatile ingredients like chicken breasts, ground beef or turkey, and other food items compatible with many different kinds of recipes.

Many families fail at meal time planning because they feel there is not enough time in their busy schedule. But if you can take an hour at night or a few hours on the weekend to prepare several meals in advance, families are more likely to spend time at the family table than in pricey restaurants or the unhealthy fast food drive-through.

Cheap Ways to Feed a Family of 4 was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

For whatever reason you end up owing federal or state taxes, you have to file your income tax forms on time or your tax bill will only increase. Many Americans have to pay Uncle Sam but do not have the amount of cash it takes to eliminate the debt upfront. Some make the mistake of not filing taxes at all out of collection fears.

The reality is no matter what your financial status is you must file on time. The IRS has options so you can pay off your owned tax balance over time if you are not able to pay the lump sum when you file. The most popular method taxpayers will opt for is an installment agreement. This is an agreement between you as the taxpayers and the Internal Revenue Service where you agree to pay a specific amount of money each month towards your tax debt until it is paid off.

When you file your annual tax return, you will need to include this installment agreement with your documents. You should first review your budget and income to determine how much you can reasonable afford to pay in owed taxes. You should include a check for the portion of the debt owed along with the agreement when you file your taxes. You will need to indicate on the how much you can reasonably afford to allocate towards your tax bill each month until the balance is paid in full.

The amount you suggest to the IRS will be reviewed and must be deemed reasonable by the agency in order for them to accept. By putting as much as you can afford towards your tax bill each month, you can reduce the amount you owe since it will help eliminate penalties and interest charges.

Your next step will be to move forward ensuring you will not let history repeat itself. Make sure enough taxes are being withheld from your paycheck and that you are also contributing to a savings account with each paycheck. This emergency fund can be helpful if you ever again find yourself facing a tax bill.  You should also make a point of saving all receipts for tax deductible spending to lower your tax liability moving forward.

File Taxes by Deadline – Even If You Can’t Pay was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

If you have gotten married, divorced, added dependents, or can no longer claim previous dependents, you should speak with a human resource or payroll representative at your job to ensure withholdings are correct.

Consequences of Forgotten Withholdings Changes

You may only realize your withholdings are incorrect at tax time when it is too late. On one hand, you may end up with a rather large refund but on the other hand you may end up owing money to the IRS

While you may think getting a refund is a good thing, you need to reconsider the actually situation. When the IRS owes you money, you have essentially given the federal government an interest-free loan. That money could be put to better use by you. You should adjust your withholdings so you break even at tax time and keep the extra money in your paycheck.

More Life Changes

In addition to withholdings information during a change in life’s circumstances, there are likely many other things you need to change and update. It can be a wise move to create and keep a list of financial services, tax information, and other personal services on a spreadsheet which is stored in a safe location.

If you ever need to make an address change, a name change, a married status change, or the like, you will have one master list to refer to so you can ensure all of your relevant information is updated and accurate at one time. Often consumers will forget to update their personal information and basic contact information with creditors, relevant government agencies, former employers, and financial service providers.

Without current and updated information on file, you may not be able to access important tax documents, account alerts and changes, investment details, and other vital information you need for your personal and financial life.

Your master list should include the name of the company, the contact information, and relevant account numbers so you have all you need in one convenient place. Make sure you add and remove new service provider details on the master list as you open or close accounts. This list will make your life-changing duties a much easier and more organized process.

Change Your Life? Check Your Withholdings was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Here are some situations which might cause the IRS to raise an eyebrow – and look deeper into your financial situation:

Certain Deductions

Your goal as a taxpayer is to find as many tax deductions you are qualified to receive – but certain types of deductions in large amounts might cause the IRS to take a closer look.  Employee business expenses, charitable contributions and vehicle expense deductions are among the most common causes of IRS audits due to high deduction amounts.

If you have no reported income but are submitting business and rental schedules, you will also have a higher risk of getting audited.

Questionable Lifestyle in Comparison to Financial Situation

If you appear to have a lifestyle that is not supported by the information in your tax return, the IRS might get curious and dig deeper into your bank accounts to see if there is any unreported income.

Adoption and Earned Income Credit

If you file for either the Earned Income Credit or the Adoption Tax Credits, you are more at risk for an IRS audit.  These are tax credits that individuals frequently abuse to increase their tax refund or reduce their tax liability, so when the IRS sees someone putting in for the Earned Income Credit or Adoption Credit, they are more likely to make sure the taxpayer is eligible for the credit.

Typo Errors

If you put the decimal point in the wrong place or add a few extra zeros to a deduction, you can really skew the numbers in your tax filing.  For example, if you have a $6,000 income tax withholding but accidentally enter $60,000 – you’re going to cause all kinds of problems with the rest of your tax return – and the IRS will figure it out.

What Might Trigger an IRS Tax Audit? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Here are five reasons you should be paying more attention to your receipts:

Overpayment

To be a savvy consumer you need to ensure you are never overcharged for anything. You should check through your receipt before leaving the store so you can head back to customer service and report the errors to get a refund. Some stores promote other perks like double refunds if pricing is wrong.

Expense Tracking

You may think you can estimate how much you spend in different financial categories but you should utilize receipts to confirm exactly what you spend from month to month for budgeting purposes.

Deductible Proof

In addition to expense tracking, you will also need to hang on to those receipts for income tax time as proof of your spending. This is also true for independent business owners.

Spending Habits

By using your receipts to track expenses, you can use more accurate data to figure out your spending habits. Until you face the reality of how much you spend and how you spend it. This is the only way you will be able to establish an accurate budget and plan for savings to stabilize your financial future.

Receipt Cautions

Saving receipts for your financial planning is important but disposing of those receipts is also something you need to consider. Receipts often give away too much vital information that can compromise your personal and financial information. While many receipts are somewhat discreet, anyone picking up one of your tossed receipts may be able to use the information to rip you off.

Any receipts you are not saving for expense tracking or bank/credit card reconciliations should be properly destroyed using a document shredder. It can be easy to toss the paper into the nearest trash can wherever you are but that will give the public access to your information.

5 Reasons You Should Pay Attention to Receipts was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Plan Meals around Sales and Coupons

You don’t have to spend 40 hours a week studying sales flyers and coupons like the extreme couponers do to save money.  When you get your local grocery store flyer, take a look at what is on sale that week and plan your meals around sales.  After your list is completed, look to see if you have any coupons for items you’re already buying – but don’t make the mistake of buying something just because you have a coupon.

Buy in Bulk if it Makes Sense

If an item you use frequently goes on sale, it may make sense to buy several at the discounted price so you can avoid buying it at the regular, non-sale price.  Don’t buy extra of any item that you don’t have room to store or that will go bad before you can use it.

Stop Impulse Shopping

Grocery stores know exactly where to put items people are most likely to buy on impulse.  One way to decrease the amount of money you spend in the grocery store is to make a list before you go, based on what is on sale and what you have coupons for, and then only buy the items you have on your list.  You might be surprised to discover how many items end up in your shopping cart that are a complete impulse buy – and are not needed.

Buy Bagged Produce

When you buy a bag of carrots, the price is based on a pound of carrots.  If you were to weigh the bag, often you will find that there is more than a pound of carrots in the pre-packaged produce bags so you end up getting more for your money than you do when you buy loose produce that you bag and weigh at checkout.

Get More on a Tighter Grocery Budget was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Investing with a Moderate-Risk Portfolio

If you have modest amounts of money to invest, and can’t spend hours studying the prospectuses of various options for investing – you can reach financial goals faster by setting up a one asset-allocation fund, for example, a three-year growth fund offering a blend of domestic bonds and foreign stocks with an annualized return of 2.3%.

Another option might be to set up a target-date fund based on the year you plan to retire – these funds will automatically make changes to the types of investments you buy as you get closer to your retirement age and need to reduce your risk level.

The Quick Way to Budget

Careful budgeting can eat a lot of your time, and if time equals money – it may not be the best use of that time!  Try the quicker way of budgeting using automatic deposits and multiple bank accounts.  For example, set up three bank accounts: an interest-earning savings account (with the highest interest rate you can find); and two checking accounts.

Figure out how much money you need to pay your monthly living expenses, and how much of your income that requires each pay period.  If you need $2800 a month to pay all of your living expenses and you get paid 4 times each month, have $700 automatically deposited into one of your checking accounts each pay period.  This account is your bill account, and you’ll pay all of your expenses from this account.  Then, figure out how much money you want to save each month; if saving $500 a month, you would want to deposit $125 per pay period into your savings account.  The remainder of your paycheck would go into the second checking account – and this is how much you have for entertainment and miscellaneous spending.  Provided you use the accounts the way you set them up and don’t have drastically fluctuating income, this strategy eliminates having to keep careful track of each penny coming in and out of your accounts.

Two Money Management Strategies to Reach Your Goals Faster was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

For Sale by Owner

You always have the option of listing your home for sale without the help of a real estate agent.  This is probably the most time consuming method of selling your home, but you will keep more of your home’s selling price because you aren’t paying a real estate agent a commission.  You will need to figure out the asking price and deal with marketing your home so potential buyers can find it; and then negotiate with people who are interested in buying your home.  Another drawback of listing your home as a for sale by owner is that you may have your house on the market for quite a while before it gets sold.

You can post your house on a multiple-listing service for about $300, which will make sure everyone searching for homes in your area and price range will find it.  The listing fee is nothing compared to what you’d pay in realtor commissions.

Make Your Home Look like a Bargain

Right now, the real estate market is overflowing with foreclosed properties.  It can be hard to compete with prices on some of the foreclosures, but if you set your asking price about 10% below what comparable homes are selling for in your neighborhood, you will make your home look like a bargain.  While you may lose a few thousand dollars with this method – you have a very good chance of selling your home quickly and not having to deal with having a house on the market for months.

When your home is bargain priced, you also encourage bidding wars – with multiple buyers trying to buy the home.  The listing price is just the asking price – buyers who really want your home will often offer above your asking price, in hopes of beating out other buyers for the same property.

Use an Agent and Negotiate the Commission

If you aren’t up for the challenge of listing your home for sale on your own, and don’t want to list it for well below its value, you might decide working with a real estate agent is your best method for selling your home.  Many real estate agents will negotiate their commission from the standard 6% down to 5% or so if you agree to list an aggressive home price and prepare the home so it can be listed as move-in ready.

3 Options for Selling Your Home was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The Worst Habits

Although window shopping can be therapeutic, it’s not a good idea to window shop if you can’t afford to make a purchase. This is because people tend to give in to impulse buying, which blows your good budgeting intentions out of the water.

Even if they don’t have cash on hand, window shoppers are more likely to rack up high balances on credit cards than those that steer clear of the habit.

Another bad habit is carrying a lot of cash. Even though you may be less likely to spend money when you carry cash, carrying more cash than necessary may make you feel like you have room to blow that money. Carrying prepaid credit cards or debit cards may be a better option.

Cathartic shopping may help you feel better, but shopping with your emotions only encourages bad habits. Avoid shopping when you are feeling down or facing stress. Hoarding items you don’t need will only ruin your budget and make you feel worse in the end.

Not budgeting is, in fact, one of the most common bad shopping habits that most people will experience at one time or another. Whether it’s grocery shopping or getting the kids new school supplies, be sure to budget every last penny before you hit the stores. In order to stick to the budget, create a shopping list and don’t deviate from it. This keeps you in control of your money and allows you to plan every detail ahead of time.

The Good Habits

It’s become easier than ever to compare shopping prices online or with mobile apps before hitting the stores. Look for exclusive deals on social networking sites or subscribe to local daily deal sites. This can get tricky, however, since you could end up buying things you don’t need. Only utilize these sites for purchases you are already thinking about making, such as a gym membership, dinner for two, or travel package.

Start shopping with coupons clipped from weekly circulars. Even if you only save 50 cents on an item, you’ll still be 50 cents under budget. Watch the cashier closely to be sure that your coupons and items are being processed properly and double-check receipts just in case you’ve been overcharged and need to ask for a price adjustment.

When you come across an item on which you’d love to splurge, don’t buy it right away. Instead, go home and think about the potential purchase for a couple of days. Read online reviews of the product to see if it’s really something that you need.

Never charge more on your credit cards than you can afford to pay in full every month. Paying off your credit cards each month allows you to avoid interest accumulation, which helps keep you under budget.

The Shopping Habits You Need to Lose was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

In this common scenario, there are typically two choices:

• You can cut some expenses out of your budget completely; or
• You can add additional sources of income to your financial situation.

If you can no longer cut anything else from your living expenses, it is time to add more money to the mix. Here are 4 ways you may be able to boost your income:

Ask for Overtime

If you work at a job that offers the opportunity for extra hours, sign on. You can earn extra cash without having to worry about starting a part time job somewhere new. If no overtime is available, perform a self-analysis about your work performance and approach your boss about a raise.

Go Part-Time

If you are not in a position to get a raise, consider applying for a part time job. Use the second paycheck strictly to reduce your debts. Once your debts have been eliminated, you can consider eliminating your part time gig.

Skills for Dollar Bills

Many people have a knack, a natural gift, for doing things. Home repair, sewing, crafts, childcare, individual lessons, or any number of hobbies and activities other people cannot do. You can earn supplemental income by promoting your skills among friends, your church, and your community and so on. A big hurdle in this option is people worrying about charging people they know for services rendered. However, move forward without guilt as many people likely feel more comfortable hiring you for jobs than they would a stranger. You may find you have a whole new career ahead of you.

De-Junk Your Life

They say one man’s trash is another’s treasure. Take the opportunity to declutter your home and your life by selling unwanted or unused items. There are many resources for you to unload items for cash including hosting a garage sale, working with a consignment shop, or eBay and other online websites.

Educate Yourself

If your current job is approaching dead-end status, consider the local and governmental resources which offer free or low-cost continuing education programs. These resources can open new doors of financial opportunity and freedom for you. There are many affordable online courses you can use to boost your skills, knowledge, and paycheck totals. It is never too late to learn something new.

5 Ways to Supplement Your Lacking Income was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Avoid Late Fees with Automatic Payments

If you find yourself too busy to send your payments in on time, but you have the income to support your debts – consider setting up an automatic payment schedule to pay your bills.  You can schedule automatic payments through most banks’ online bill payment feature, but if your bank doesn’t offer the service you can log into each of your accounts individually and manually schedule payments.

Avoiding Late Fees when You Don’t Have Enough Money

Sometimes you don’t send payments in on time simply because you don’t have enough money to pay each of your bills before the due date. If this is the situation you’re in, try to pay your accounts in order of the accounts that will charge you the highest late fee if you’re late, first.  So if you have two accounts that charge $39 a month when you’re late, and a utility bill that charges 1% a month when you’re late – pay the $39 monthly late fee first to minimize the amount you pay each month in late fees.

Avoiding Late Fees By Reducing Total Debt

If you end up with late fees because you have more debt than you can pay comfortably, it’s time to focus on getting out of debt.  Try using the debt snowball to organize your method of debt reduction.  The snowball has you paying the minimum payment each month on everything except for one account which you send as much as you can each month until it is paid off.  Then, when you eliminate one of your debts, you apply the money you were sending to that account to the minimum payment you were sending to one of your other accounts until the next one on the list is paid off.

How to Remove a Late Fee

If you are someone who hardly ever pays your bills beyond the due date, you should have little trouble getting a late fee removed.  When you see a late fee on one of your accounts, call the customer service department and explain what happened and ask if there is any way they could extend the courtesy of removing the fee.  You may be surprised to find they will simply because you asked – but most companies will only offer this courtesy once or twice a year and only for people who don’t pay their bill repeatedly late.

Tips to Avoid Paying Late Fees was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The credit card companies seem to be responding to both new legislation and a recovering economy by adjusting their treatment of card users. For this reason, consumers, especially those with excellent credit, have much more power than in previous years. It is important to understand your rights as well how you can negotiate with credit card companies to get the best possible terms and conditions.

Negotiate With Confidence

Consumers who have good to excellent credit have some negotiating power with credit card companies. If you have managed your finances well in the past, credit card companies are more willing to consider lower interest rates or possibly waiving fees which would otherwise increase your balance. Understand that your credit history and score will play a big factor in whether or not your credit card company will consider concessions for your benefit. If you do have good credit, you are in a position of power in that credit card companies tend to cater to customers posing the lowest risk.

How to Improve Your Credit Score

For consumers who have less than perfect credit, all hope is not lost. While it is true that your credit card company might not be jumping through hoops to offer you the best interest rates or other conditions, you can make changes to improve your credit. By managing your credit wisely and proving you are capable of making responsible financial decisions, your credit card company may begin to view you as a lower risk as well. There are many ways to improve your credit including making payments on time, reducing your balances and reviewing your credit report for errors.

Understand Credit Card Companies

When you understand how credit card companies work, you are in a better position to manage your credit responsibly. Recognize that you are dealing with a multi-billion dollar business, with banks looking to make as much money as possible. With that being said, if you prove to be a valued customer, credit card companies will be more inclined to work with you to improve the business relationship you have established with them. Consumers now have more protection than ever before; making this an ideal time to learn how to improve your position when dealing with credit card companies.

The CARD Act and Credit Cardholder Rights was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Compare Credit Card Fees

Look at all fees associated with any credit card you are considering. Are their annual fees? What is the benefit of paying for an annual fee on one credit card over choosing a card without an annual fee? What are the over-the-limit and late fees? Is there a fee to close the credit card account?

Compare Annual Percentage Rates

When comparing one credit card to another, one of the first places to look is the APR, or interest rate charged. The lower the interest rate, the better, but keep in mind many credit cards offer lower interest rates for the first six to twelve months to entice consumers to choose their card – but it’s important to know what the interest rate will be after the promotional period ends. Also look at the differences in APR charged for purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances.

Available Credit Limits

How much will each credit card company offer you in terms of a credit limit? If one card is offering you $200 compared to a $3,000 credit card – it may make more sense to go with a card with a higher limit. Credit limits generally depend on your personal credit score and amount of income.

Comparing Secure Cards and Unsecured Cards

There are two primary types of credit cards – those that are secured and those that are unsecured. The traditional credit card is unsecured, in that you get a higher credit limit and do not have to give a deposit or collateral in exchange for the spending power. For people with lower credit scores, you may consider a secured card if you can’t get approved for an unsecured credit card. This will allow you to place a deposit on the account in order to obtain credit. Just make sure to choose a secured card that will also report your activity to the credit bureaus so you can begin re-establishing and rebuilding your credit score.

Compare Grace Periods for Payments

Look at how long each card in consideration gives you for paying your credit card balance before interest is charged. Ideally, you want a card with at least 25 days to pay.

Low Balance Transfer Rates

If you intend to move a high interest balance from other credit cards to your new credit card, also look carefully at balance transfer fees and interest rates. Look for a card that will offer the lowest balance transfer fee, and the longest period of time at the lowest interest rate to help you pay off your high interest debt faster.

How to Choose a Credit Card was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

How Durbin Amendment Affects Consumers

The Durbin Amendment was put into play effective October 1, 2011. The amendment has limited the amount of money banks can charge merchants that process debit card transactions for purchases.

In the past, banks made a lot of money from these swipe fees but now with the new limitations, banks are losing a lot of their reliable profits. As a result, the customers of the big banking facilities are now incurring more costs for services that in the past have been free.

Consumer Consequences

Consumers are struggling with their financial obligations with the recession and the high rates of unemployment. Adding new and larger bank fees makes it nearly impossible for some to survive financially from one month to the next.

Banks are imposing fees for many things consumers are not accustomed to paying. There is still the deficiency in bank customers that regularly neglect to review bank statements and account disclosures which detail changes being made to banking services, including new or increased fees.

Without opening the mail, consumers are often in the dark about what they are actually paying for just to maintain a checking or savings account. Maintenance fees, transaction fees, and monthly debit card usage fees are growing more common and more expensive.

Avoiding Financial Mistakes in Banking

In order to avoid paying more than necessary, there are a few things consumers can do now to create a more stable financial future. These actions include:

Comparing offers of other banks – see what else is out there that better suits your banking needs at rates you can reasonably afford and transfer your accounts to a facility with better opportunities and more customer-friendly incentives.

Be diligent about recording transactions – even one overdraft on your account can incur a $40 or $50 charge so it pays to be consistent in recording transactions and helps to leave a cushion in your account to protect you from simple math mistakes.

Use cash – instead of forking over various transaction fees for using ATMs outside of your banking network, plan ahead with your budgeting to make free cash withdrawals from the teller that allow you to avoid electronic transactions and their subsequent fees altogether.

Make savings a priority – the only way to ensure you have financial stability is to pay yourself first. Most banks allow for automated deposits from your paycheck or other bank accounts at no additional charge. Make a commitment to put away some percentage of your income to build up an emergency fund that can help you avoid financial disasters such as bank overdrafts or unexpected expenses.

Read the fine print – stop throwing away your bank statements. Be sure to review each statement and piece of correspondence that comes from your bank. If you neglect to read all of the information you are being given by your bank, you are likely to miss out on important details concerning fees and other account changes. Make sure to also read the fine print that often contains the most important details.

Deal with bank concerns – if you are not happy with the changes that are taking place concerning your bank accounts, stop by the bank and speak to a supervisor or branch manager. While there is no guarantee they’ll be of assistance, pleading your case can make a difference if you have been a long-time customer in good standing. Some banks will be willing to waive certain fees or account requirements simply because you spoke up.

Saving Money Despite Durbin Amendment Bank Changes was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Here are 4 of the most common money mistakes couples make during their marriage:

Lack of Effective Communication

When couples do not talk about money issues on a regular basis, both halves of the couple are likely to be on two very different pages. In order for couples to effectively manage their money, they need to effectively talk about money matters every week. This communication should involve establishing a budget together for the household and setting spending limitations and guidelines. There are no right answers to how thing should be set up. It is up to the couple specifically to share their ideas and input equally.

Hiding Spending Secrets

As part of open and honest money communication, it is essential that couples not keep spending secrets. A big problem with joining incomes is the feeling of not being able to make independent financial decisions. This could be avoided by establishing cash allowances to each party to spend at their own discretion such as for surprise birthday gifts. Secrets about money can cause a lot of ill-will and bitter feelings. Open communication can allow for better, more effective money management when both parties have equal input.

Undiscovered Money Styles

Long before you head down the aisle, you and your spouse should have had some discussion about money personalities. People have different methods for dealing with their income and debts. If those personality styles clash, it can set up some big barriers in the marriage. Before you tie the knot, consider the best way for you and your partner to handle combining bank accounts and handling debts together. Otherwise you can expect issues down the road when neither of you is willing to compromise.

Inconsistent Expectations

Another component of communication where money is concerned is about both parties having appropriate expectations about money. It is important to find equal ground where short and long-term financial goals are concerned. Both parties should also voice their expectations where money matters are concerned such as how financial obligations and duties will be divided up and what methods will be used for saving, investing, and spending.

Money issues can start small but soon become a growing snowball of other problems. When money is already tight, disagreements about financial matters can get out of control. As stated, it is in your best interest to sit down with your intended and discuss crucial money matters during the time when you discuss other goals as a couple. While your financial goals may differ, there is always a way to find equal ground and be able to manage money together in an efficient and effective way.

4 Money Mistakes Common in Marriage was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Credit card skimming is when someone uses an electronic device to read the information off your credit and debit card to use later in the creation of a new card. Some thieves will use your numbers to shop online. You are at risk for credit and debit card skimming scams whenever you shop with your card instead of cash; or when you withdraw cash from an automated teller machine. If all card transactions put you at risk for credit card skimming scams, what steps can you take to avoid them?

Stop Using Credit and Debit Cards

The most obvious way to avoid credit or debit card skimming scams is by not using your cards and switching to cash transactions – but for many people this is not an option. You can reduce your use of cards by withdrawing money from inside the bank with a bank teller instead of using an ATM. If you’re unable to completely avoid using your credit and debit cards, the following tips will help you reduce your risk for skimming scams.

Review Transactions Carefully

Make sure you open your credit card statements and bank statements as soon as they arrive and review the transactions. If you have been the victim of a card skimming scam, it’s important that you recognize it immediately so you can notify the card company or bank and put a stop to future charges on the card. For many credit card companies, you need to notify them within a certain period of time after a fraudulent purchase has been made to limit your personal liability for fraudulent purchases to $0 or $50. If you fail to notify the company of potential problems as soon as they happen, you could be liable to pay for purchases you didn’t make. Debit cards have different rules for fraudulent purchases, and may differ between banks. Check with your bank to find out what their fraud policies are.

ATM Debit Card Safety

You will increase your safety when you use an ATM inside a bank branch rather than a drive through or outside ATM, since it is harder for a thief to install a skimming device on an ATM located inside the bank.

Card skimming at an ATM generally involves two devices – a unit that reads your card as you swipe or insert it into the ATM, and a tiny camera that literally records your PIN by watching you enter the numbers on the keypad. You can reduce your risks for card skimming at an ATM by checking the unit before you insert or swipe your card to make sure it doesn’t appear to have a skimming device installed; and for covering your hand when you enter your PIN to block view from a potential camera.

Gas Pumps, Restaurants, and Retailers

Every time you use your debit or credit card, you are at a risk for card skimming crimes. When putting gas in your car, you might want to pay inside instead of at the pump to reduce your risks when getting fuel. In restaurants where the waitress will disappear to another part of the restaurant to process your card payment, you might consider using cash, instead. At retailers, if you have any concern about the legitimacy of the credit card reader, you can always ask the cashier to enter your card number manually instead of swiping your card for payment.

Avoid Credit Card Skimming Scams was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

There are millions of Americans that have struggled with financial hardships at one time or another. There are still many households that are enduring even longer instances of money problems. Unfortunately in many of these cases the debt problems were there long before people were willing to admit to it. Early prevention could have saved many from a long debt struggle but few were able to realize they had a problem until it was way out of control.

Here are 5 considerations you need to make about the state of your finances to help you decide if you need to focus on debt help:

Making Barely the Minimum

If you find you have trouble coming up with even the minimum amount due on your various months’ bills, you may need to rethink your money management strategies. Financial experts recommend your total debt each month be no more than 20% of the income you bring home. If your debt totals more than you make, your financial situation is not likely to get any better. It is time to increase your income to get a better handle on your debts. If you can’t make even the minimum payments, you will need to start cutting costs in other areas of your budget to focus on debt payoffs.

Reckless Credit Spending

Too often people consider their credit card limits as an extension of their income. They spend on credit without having the cash back up which will enable them to pay off credit card balances in full each month. Spending on plastic can easily get out of control and if you are using credit cards just to get by, you are heading down a path of debt problems, potentially for many years to come.

Ignore Budgeting Limitations

If you give up on your budget or fail to start one in the first place, it may be due to the fact you can face your money issues. A budget it supposed to be enacted to ensure you stay within your spending limits. If money is too tight, it can be easy to dispose of the budget with excuses that it doesn’t work. The reality is that in order to get a handle on your money affairs you need to construct a budget and stick with it, even if it cuts out all of your spending money for a few months.

Acquiring New Lines of Credit

If you find you have maxed out your lines of credit and start applying for new accounts, you are certainly in over your head. if your credit score has not yet suffered due to your financial problems, you may be able to get additional new accounts. However, too many applications for credit will start to sink your credit score. Your new accounts may come with lower credit limits and higher fees, meaning you’ll pay more than you can afford for the new accounts and start ruining your credit at the same time.

You Tell Fibs

If you find you have been telling white lies about your financial situation to people in your inner circle that express concern, you may need to sit down and confront yourself. Debt is not a problem that will go away if ignored. It will actually grow bigger and more problematic. Do not let pride or embarrassment get in the way of getting help when you need it. Admitting you have debt problems will be the hardest part but once you ask for help you can turn the situation around within a few months’ time if you put forth the effort and get a handle on your finances once and for the long-term.

Do I Have a Debt Problem? 5 Tips for Evaluating Your Situation was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

If you are seeking a loan, make sure your credit history is in good standing before seeking a lender. This way you will be assured to receive the most options and favorable terms for your loan. Once you have confirmed your own financial profile is strong, it will be time to conduct some due diligence about your potential lender.

Here are five questions to ask your lender before committing to a loan. There may be additional questions you have pertaining to your specific situation but these questions will get you started in the right direction:

What Is the Loan Requirements/Process?

Before you start completing paperwork, it is important to contact a few lenders to see your options before committing to a loan. You should inquire about the lending requirements they have set including minimum credit score and income amounts. You should also ask about the loan process so you’ll have sufficient expectations for getting your money.

How Is the Interest Payment Calculated?

When you secure a loan, it is vital to understand the interest rate you will be paying back. If you aren’t careful, you can end up paying more in interest than you do on the actual loan. This is especially true with mortgages. Your interest rate will be determined mostly based on your credit history but you need to be sure you ask the lender how the interest will be calculated. Not all lenders use the same calculation and what you don now can hurt you financially

How Does the Repayment Play Out?

When you take out a loan, be assured it must be paid back. How you pay it back is an important consideration. You’ll need to confirm how much is due each month and how long the term of the loan stands. Some lenders will require a direct payment from your bank account while others will allow checks or online payments. Be sure you know your due date, the length of grace periods before a payment is considered late, and if you are allowed to repay your loan early. Some lenders impose penalties for early payoffs because they lose out on interest.

Is Activity Reported to the Credit Bureaus?

Not all lenders will report back to the credit bureaus with your repayment activity so it is in your best interest to ask first. When a lender reports prompt payment information to the credit reporting bureaus, it keeps your credit record up to date and can improve your credit score provided you keep up the prompt payments.

What Happens if I Skip a Payment?

While no one expects financial hardships to come, they often do happen from time to time. If you are having trouble making your loan payment during a month or for a longer stretch of time, you’ll need to know what happens if you go delinquent on your account. You’ll need to understand the consequences as well as the fees associated with late or missed payments.

5 Pieces of Information You’ll Want from Your Lender was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Your health is obviously important but what you may not realize is just how much damage your money problems are causing. People who struggle on a weekly or even daily basis to stretch their paychecks and support their families may have developed health concerns that are specifically related to money issues.

Here are some issues you need to consider about your finances, your health, and your future:

Stress Can Kill

Never underestimate the power of stress. If you battle ongoing stress over money matters in your daily life, you can be doing some serious damage to your heart, nerves, and overall immune system. Being stressed out on a long-term basis will eventually lead to more serious health conditions, including death. Stress often takes a toll over a long period of time without major recognizable symptoms. It is important to find ways to reduce stress in your life such as through exercise and hobbies you enjoy.

Missed Health Checkups

Many people cut costs in order to get by during hard financial times. One cost they often cut first is annual visits to their doctor, especially if they lack insurance coverage and can’t afford the cost of the visit. It is very important to your health to stay in touch with your doctor and make sure you are having your health evaluated, especially if you are enduring a lot of stress in your life. Missed health checkups on a regular basis can result in missed opportunities for an early diagnosis of a medical condition.

Missed Medications

It is no secret that medicine is expensive. For those that do not have prescription coverage for importance maintenance medication, paying the monthly costs can be near-impossible. However, neglecting to take prescribed medicines as directed by your doctor can have adverse effects on your health and lead to even more expensive medical problems down the line.

New Health Developments

Sometimes financial matters in your personal life can become so out of control, your mental health suffers as a result. There are increased statistics of suicides and even criminal acts by people who felt alone in their financial hardship. It is important to seek treatment and a proper diagnosis when you begin to feel overwhelmed and out of control. Without maintaining a healthy outlook on life, you can put yourself at risk for making poor decisions. There are free resources for mental health care and those who worry about being overwhelmed with their daily lives should seek help.

Growing Debts

If you do not pay attention to your health and find ways to reduce the amount of stress you are under, you are likely going to end up with even bigger debts when you can no longer go on without a medical intervention. If you suffer a heart attack or other stress-related situation, you will add medical bills and extended treatment costs to your already-overwhelming debt loads. Serious medical complications can also put you out of work for a long period of time which means you have even less income to work with.

Don’t neglect your health. You can start contributing to a separate savings account using funds from each paycheck. Even if you are putting $5 or $10 a week into the account, you can build up a nice little backup funding source when medical emergencies strike. This fund should be allowed to continue growing and only used for medical expenses especially if you have a family history of medical complications. You can also seek additional assistance in your local community where free or low-cost services are available to ensure you and your family gets the health care needed on a regular basis and prevent mounting medical debts associated with untreated and undiagnosed medical conditions.

Why Health Is an Important Factor in Your Finances was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

It can be highly frustrating to feel like you are taking to a brick wall when it comes to contacting company representatives. It can be downright aggravating when you still don’t get the results you hoped for from a company you used to like. Here are some tips for dealing with poor customer service as well as how to move forward with more success:

Be Courteous If Expecting Courtesy

If you expect a company representative to treat you well, you must offer the same courtesy. When making a first contact, wait until you have calmed down if you are particularly riled up. Be concise in your explanation of the problem and treat the person on the other end of the conversation with respect. Even if the customer representative gets out of control, do what you can to maintain your composure. As the saying goes ‘you get more flies with honey than vinegar’.

Take Notes

If things start to go downhill fast and you don’t foresee a positive outcome, start taking detailed notes including the time of your call, the name of the person you are speaking to, and details of the representative’s responses. These notes will help you recall details at a later time if you have to pursue further action.

Go Higher

If you find things with the customer service representative is not going in a positive way, ask to speak with a supervisor immediately. If the representative is unwilling to transfer your call or becomes hostile, just hang up the phone and place another call. Since many companies have call centers, you likely will not get the same person again. Ask immediately to speak to a manager or supervisor and then detail your initial issue as well as the problem you had with the company representative in the previous phone call.

Write a Professional Letter

There are many stories of consumers who were so unhappy with a product or service they took it all the way to the top by writing a letter to the attention of the company president or owner. In many cases, the upper management had no idea how bad things were in the way of customer service and appropriate action was taken. While there is no guarantee your letter will be read, be sure it is professional-looking and details the specific situation rather than filled with foul-mouthed, choice words. The Internet will often provide you with a direct contact address for the higher-ups at a company.

Be Proactive

Don’t dismiss the importance of quality customer service when looking into a new product or service. When comparison shopping, take the time to place a phone call into the company and ask a few questions. You can use your gut instincts to judge which company would be helpful in a problematic situation and which company is poorly represented by their customer assistance staff. You want to make sure the companies where you take your business will be ready and willing to take you seriously when you need help.

How to Deal With Poor Customer Service was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

One of the simplest ways for a business owner to obtain a cash advance for their restaurant is to apply for one using an online lender.  These online lenders often have less restrictive loan requirements than traditional lenders like banks and the loan request can be approved quickly once all of the relevant information has been submitted.  There are several different types of online lenders available to choose from.

Some business owners choose to go to virtual banks to obtain a restaurant cash advance for their business.  These banks operate similarly to traditional banks, but they do not have physical locations and employ far fewer employees, reducing overhead for the lender and reducing the price of servicing the loans issued.  The money obtained through a loan from a virtual bank can be accessed through the banks’ virtual services or issued as a check to the loan recipient to be deposited into their business checking account and used at will.

Another option is to use an online peer to peer lending company for obtaining a cash advance.  These companies bring together borrowers and private investors willing to lend money to borrowers they consider worthy of funding.  These loans often have interest rates lower than what can be obtained through traditional lenders and borrowers can choose a period of three or five years for paying off the loan.  The loan amounts vary from $2,000 to $25,000 per loan and the funds can be used for anything related to the business, including purchasing supplies, paying employees, and making rental payments.

Need A Restaurant Cash Advance? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Houses are selling at incredibly low prices. Chances are if you purchase a home right now, you will definitely turn over a profit if you decide to sell a couple of decades from now.

Instead of spending on smaller mortgages, many people are spending the same amount, but getting larger, nicer homes. This is a wise decision from a real estate investment standpoint since those houses will sell for so much more later on.

However, it may be just as beneficial to spend a lot less and purchase a slightly smaller home. Small homes come with many benefits that most people do not appreciate, since our society is always leaning toward bigger and better things.

The most obvious benefit is probably the cost of utilities. It is much less expensive to pay for utilities in a smaller home when compared to a larger home.

To get a full understanding of this, try comparing electric or heating bill expenses of various houses. Navigate your browser to moneysupermarket.com and click the “Utilities” tab. There you fill find an assortment of tools and calculators that can calculate the costs of utility bills of different homes.

As you can see, it costs much less to power and heat or cool a smaller home. Living in a smaller home will allow you to lower your monthly expenses significantly.

Lowering your monthly expenses means you can add more to your savings account. A larger savings account will provide you with a financial cushion in case you lose your job or find yourself unable to work.

Another benefit is that the upkeep of smaller homes requires less energy and effort from you. Cleaning a large home can take up entire weekends. Knowing that house cleaning means hours and hours of work will probably make you put it off more, so when you do finally clean, there will be much more work to do.

If you have a small home, cleaning does not take up very much of your time. You will also be more likely to clean as you go since the distance between rooms is smaller. If your kitchen is ten feet away as opposed to an entire floor, you will be more likely to take your dirty dishes to the sink when you are done with them.

A common complaint of small homes is that they lack storage space. Less storage space can actually be beneficial. It will force you to regulate your purchases and to give away things that you do not use anymore. Having fewer things will make your life much simpler.

Smaller homes are also much easier to furnish. For example, an eat-in kitchen, as opposed to a kitchen with a breakfast nook and separate dining room, means you only need one dining table.

Larger homes can feel extremely empty without oversized décor. With so many rooms, decorating can get extremely costly. Living in a smaller home means you will spend less time and effort decorating.

Even home maintenance will be easier. When you purchase new counter tops, you can get the more expensive kind, as you will need a smaller amount. Paint will go a lot farther and will take less time. You will probably be able to afford high quality flooring, like hardwood or tiling, since there is less space to cover.

Purchasing a smaller home does not automatically mean your house will be lower quality. Living in a smaller home will save you so much money that you will be able to spend more on luxuries and home improvement.

Should you buy a small house? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Here are some tips for using a credit card to your financial advantage:

Make Small Purchases

One of the reasons consumer debt on credit cards soared is because people failed to use credit cards wisely. They made big purchases they couldn’t afford because they mistakenly considered their credit limit as an extension of their income. The right way to use a credit card effectively is to make a few small purchases during the month and pay off those purchases before the end of the billing cycle. Never apply for a line of credit simply because you want more spending freedom.

Stash the Cash Equivalent

When you make the small monthly purchases on your credit card, place the cash value of the purchase into an envelope or your bank account. This will ensure you can cover the full balance when the bill comes due. Resist the urge to use the stashed cash for any other purpose or you may find yourself unable to meet your financial obligations.

Create a Spending Budget

One of the first basic rules of personal finance requires that all consumers establish a workable budget and stick with it. For consumers with credit cards, this means you can’t spend on credit what is not in your budget.

Assign Cards a Purpose

The most effective method for using a credit card to improve your credit score and get the incentives you want from the card is to assign different purposes to different credit cards. If you have three credit cards, put one to the side to use for emergencies only. Utilize another for gasoline purchases or groceries. The third card can be solely used for online purposes. Not only does it make it easier to do your monthly expense tracking, you also can pinpoint episodes of fraud faster and you’re entire financial life will not be frozen at the same time if something goes wrong.

Never Miss a Payment

When you start using a credit card for purchases, it can be a good idea to set up automated payments to come out of your bank account each month. This lessens the chance you will forget to make a payment. Late or missed payments can drop a credit score significantly, especially if it happens more than once. It also means you will pay late fees, penalties, and finance charges. On the reverse side, by making regular and consistent full payments on your credit cards, the information will be reported back to the credit reporting agencies and improve the calculation of your three-digit score.

After Debt Paid Don’t Close Accounts

Make paying off existing credit card debts a priority by allocating as much money as you can to pay off balances. It may mean making sacrifices but the further you can reduce your credit card balances, the better your credit will get over time. Once you have eliminated the full balance, make sure you do not close the account. Doing so will change the ratio of available credit and can be especially detrimental if the account you close is the one you’ve had open for the longest period of time.

How to Utilize Credit Cards to Boost Credit Score was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

More banks have imposed new fees or increased existing fees that customers happily pay because they just don’t realize what has happened. Federal regulations on banks have caused the institutions to lose a tremendous amount of profits and as a result, higher costs have been passed on to customers. Banks are hoping to recoup their major loss in profits but are offering little in the way of incentives to the customer.

Here are some tips for reconsidering your business of banking that you can use to evaluate and make the necessary transitions:

Read Disclosures

Banks that make changes to customer accounts must give written notice of their intent. Unfortunately, many consumers fail to properly review or even read any correspondence from their bank, including their regular monthly statements. Disclosures contain a lot of fine print but it does provide an updated and accurate look at how your bank account is changing.

Review Your Statements

Luckily most banks now give customers online access to previous monthly statements. Take the time to log in and review these statements. You may be surprised at the new or increased fees you have been paying for services you often use. These increased fees many include ATM usage, checking account fees, and higher overdraft charges. Keep track of these new fees and add them up over a year’s time. You may find you can not afford to bank with your present institution.

Check Your Reliance

You may be surprise at how many times during the month you utilized bank services that cost you money. You may also find that you do not rely on your bank in a way that justifies the higher cost. Check how much you are paying and decide if it’s really worth it to stay where you are.

Speak with the Branch Manager

Brick and mortar banks have a manager on duty to help you clarify the changes taking place at your bank. If you are not aware of how recent federal regulations have affected your account, seek out the manager and discuss the issues you have or the questions you want to ask. Another recent to speak to a manager is to air out your complaints about recent changes to your account. Some banks may be willing to hang on to loyal customers are will offer a better deal or waive costs in order to keep you happy.

Go Elsewhere

If you have reviewed your banking services and decide that another bank may be in order, it is wise to research all of your options. Outside of the other large banks, consumers may receive better, more cost-efficient service from a local community bank or a credit union. Do your homework to find a better facility to handle your money. If your present bank is not willing to compromise, don’t hesitate to transfer your finds elsewhere.

Reconsider How You Bank: Tips for Making a Change was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Here are some ways to start revising a budget that is effective starting on the first day of a new year:

Gather Your Income Statements and Receipts

Starting before the rush of the holiday season will not only get you on track for the upcoming year, it can also help you plan for a more cost-effective holiday. Start during the fall months to collect your income statements from work and any other income you receive. Use that as a guide for how much you are expected to make in a year. You’ll need both the information and documentation for tax time and preparing this early will make it less likely you forget information. Use the list of expenses, both deductible and non-deductible to get an idea of how much of your income you spend and on what.

Create a Fresh Start

While you can use your former budget as a reference, it can help to restart a brand new budgetary sheet for the new year. Rather than just copy all of the categories you’ve used in the past, review your previous budgeting sheet to see where you can make cuts for the next year. Sometimes it takes seeing the big picture to truly understand the priority of cutting costs and sticking to a budget.

Review Your Year

There may have been times during the previous year where you were strapped for cash and came up short for the bills. Take the time to see where you struggled – are there any months in particular that were hard? You can then readjust your savings plan after making budget cuts to ensure you don’t have to go through money problems again for the coming year.

Resolve to Be Frugal

Since the holiday shopping season is a critical time of self-control in personal finance, it is also a great time to learn new ways to adapt to a more frugal lifestyle. Plan for the next year with frugality in mind by researching new ways to save on the biggest expenses you have within your budget such as grocery shopping, insurance costs, and transportation expenses. By pre-planning there is less pressure to make changes right now and you may be more apt to look at all of your options.

Review Your Services

You may have mindlessly paid your bills throughout the year without much thought to your actual satisfaction with services. Consider the changes to the banking industry in the last few months. Many bank customers are now paying more than ever for banking services that used to be free. The same is true of many service providers so take time during the last few months of the old year to evaluate the cost and customer satisfaction of the various services you pay for over the course of a year. Make the necessary changes to put more funds into savings for the new year and make your budget easier to commit to for the next twelve months.

How to Start Your Budget for a New Year was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Make Sure Your Credit Report is Correct

Your credit report may not be 100% accurate, so the first step to improving your credit score should start with verifying the information contained in your credit report is correct. Get a free copy of your credit report from each of the major credit reporting bureaus, and look it over for late payment notations on any account that you did not send in late payments for and make sure there are no accounts with balances that you have already paid off. If you find errors, follow the instructions to dispute them with the credit reporting agency that has inaccurate information.

Take Steps to Make All Payments On Time

One of the biggest factors to the calculation of your credit score is whether or not you pay your bills on time. To increase your credit score, you will want to make sure all of your accounts are paid before the due dates. Even payments made one or two days beyond the due date can have a negative impact on your FICO score. You can use your bank’s online bill payment features to automate payments; or log into your creditor accounts individually and schedule payments for automatic debit from your checking or savings account. This will eliminate an accidental late payment.

Focus on Debt Repayment

If you have high debt, you will want to focus on paying it off as quickly as possible. Your credit score takes into consideration the amount of money you owe in relation to the amount of credit available to you. Pay down debts so you owe less than 30% of your available credit and you’ll see your credit score increase over time. Don’t open new credit card accounts to increase your available credit, as a new account in your credit history will lower the average age of credit and can reduce your credit score. If you have an account on your credit report that has gone into collections, paying it off does not remove it from your credit report – it will remain on your report for seven years from the date it went delinquent.

How to Improve Your Credit Score was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Of course, searching around and doing a car insurance quotes comparison and switching auto insurance companies is an effective technique when cutting back on what is paid for insurance. Sometimes though getting different auto quotes may not be the solution to saving money if you already have a great deal or don’t qualify for better rates. Another solution, that many drivers don’t realize will save them money, is to pay for their insurance annually.

Traditionally, policy holders pay monthly for their car insurance. The company quotes them an annual charge and then breaks it down per month. Drivers pay their monthly auto insurance bill alongside all their other bills without even realizing that they are paying more than they have to for their car insurance.

This is because insurance companies add a frequency charge to customers who want the convenience of monthly payments. Similar to how banks charge interest for loans, a frequency charge is added to each monthly payment so that the insurance company is making more for the convenience of allowing their customers to divvy up their payments.

When signing up with a car insurance company, the agent is not going to tell you that you can save money by paying it all up front each year. The company is in the business of making money and they make hundreds more each year by not informing customers about the ability to pay their bill all at once. Many insurance customers do not even realize that they are being charged additional to pay monthly or that they can save money by paying the bill off upfront.

How much is a realistic number in savings for paying annually? With most car insurance companies, customers save between $150 and $320 a year by paying all at once. Putting that extra hundred or so dollars into a savings or investment account, instead of spending more than you need to on car insurance, is a better bet today when every penny saved counts. In today’s world, no job is secure and a loss of employment or an unexpected emergency could be the only thing between a family and poverty.

Car insurance companies also have plenty of discounts available for their customers to help them save money. If drivers don’t have the money to pay for their car insurance all at once, they can sign up for electronic withdrawals of their monthly payment to save some money. Companies will reward customers who make a commitment to electronic withdrawals because it is a guaranteed, timely payment option so they will offer discounts for signing up. Policy holders could save around 10% of their bill by using this discount.

Some car insurance companies will even let their customers put a down payment on their policy and will reducing either the fees or payments in exchange. This could work with there is not enough to pay for the whole premium at once. Some companies allow customers to renew every six months, instead of annually – which could also work in the favor of car insurance customers.

Keep in mind the customer may need to be the one that initiates the conversation regarding saving money by paying once instead of multiple payments over the course of the year.

To Pay or Not to Pay – Should Drivers Tackle Car Insurance Monthly or Annually? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

There are several things that should be considered by the business owner before deciding which types of commercial insurance, such as Cornhill Direct Business Insurance, to purchase and how much coverage is needed.  The first thing that should be considered when shopping for commercial insurance is the types of insurance you will need to protect your business.  Different industries have different insurance needs and choosing the wrong policies causes you to waste money for little to no actual benefit.

Some commercial insurance companies sell insurance products that are customizable to needs of a particular business.  The coverage of these policies can be adjusted up or down to accommodate the assets and value of the business and the premiums will be adjusted to reflect the actual risk of the business in the categories of insurance purchased.  Purchasing commercial insurance products specifically tailored to your business can save you money in premium expenses and ensure that you are only purchasing the coverage that you actually need.

When shopping for a commercial insurance quote, you may want to consider using the services of a commercial insurance broker to help you decide what types of policies are needed and where you can go to get the best price on those policies.  Commercial insurance brokers often have access to dozens of different insurance providers and can quickly compare similar policies from each insurer to determine which ones have the insurance policies necessary for your business to have adequate coverage.  These individuals will provide you with advice and assistance in applying for the insurance coverage for a nominal fee.

In order to obtain the best price on your commercial insurance quote, be sure to provide the broker or the insurance company with an accurate claims history, correct application information, and a precise valuation of the business.  Avoid overspending on coverage that is not needed and ensure that your coverage covers all of the portions of your business that need to be insured.  Insurance companies are highly competitive for new clients so shopping around for the best prices can be very beneficial and save you hundreds of dollars in premium costs annually.

How To Shop For Commercial Insurance was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Because businesses have many variations, the types and amounts of Commercial Insurance that these businesses need will vary as well.  The best commercial insurance companies will be able to provide business owners with a wide range of different policy types designed to meet the needs of a variety of businesses or will be able to tailor their policies to the needs of a particular business.  There are many different needs that must be considered by the business owner when shopping for commercial insurance policies.

Some commercial insurance companies offer policy packages that are designed to meet the needs of a particular type of business and to save the business money by bundling multiple types of insurance for a discounted price.  These policy packages are designed to cover all of the business’s insurance needs, but they often contain policies that are unnecessary for some of the businesses that fall into the targeted category.  Before purchasing one of these commercial insurance policy packages, it is important to review them carefully for insurance products that the business does not need to avoid wasting money.

Small business owners may choose to focus on commercial insurance companies that specialize in insurance policies specifically designed for small businesses.  Since small businesses can present unique risks, the insurance policies issued for these businesses will be structured differently than those designed to protect larger businesses and corporations.  Inquire about the different types of small business insurance policies available and calculate whether purchasing these policies would save the business money or provide more protection than other insurance offerings.

It is important to read all of the accompanying information for the commercial insurance policies that you are interested in for your business to ensure that you are getting the best types of commercial insurance for your needs.  These documents will detail what the policy actually covers and with outline the procedures for making a claim against the policy in the event that an accident or a loss occurs.  You should be aware of what types of coverage have been purchased and how to obtain the benefits that are being paid for.

What To Look For When Shopping For Commercial Insurance was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Mortgage calculators may have once only given you rough estimates, but they are very accurate by today’s standards.

These mortgage tools, which include mortgage repayment and mortgage affordability calculators, are great for getting an idea of how much you can afford to borrow.

A good mortgage calculator will base its result on your earnings, the length of the mortgage, the current interest rate and the total amount borrowed.

Websites like moneysupermarket.com offer two types of calculators. These include a calculator that helps you determine how much you need to repay per month to pay off the balance and a calculator that shows you how much money you will be able to borrow based on your income and down payment.

Although these calculators will give you an accurate projection based on the information provided, keep in mind that their results are only an indication and do not take into account individual lender requirements.

Each lender is different and has their own assessment policies and requirements for determining how much you qualify for and how you should make your monthly payments.

The best way to maximize mortgage tool effectiveness is to contact lenders about their interest rates and use that number in the calculator, since their interest rate may vary from the state or national average.

Remember that the amount of money you save for a down payment will change the calculated result, so if you won’t be able to afford a certain result, recalculate the numbers with a higher down payment amount.

It may take longer to save more money for the down payment, but you will end up saving money in the long run since you will ultimately be borrowing less.

To use mortgage calculators, have an accurate idea of your current income. Include your spouse’s income if you plan on buying as a couple. The more accurate your information, the more accurate your result will be.

Don’t forget about lender fees that are never considered in mortgage calculators. This means closing costs. Closing costs not generally considered by mortgage calculators include appraisal fees, underwriting fees, fees for the lender to obtain your credit reports, flood certification, tax service fees and processing fees.

Non-standard fees may also apply. These include an origination fee which is a charge associated with sub-prime loans, a commitment fee which is a redundant underwriting fee, application fees, discount points, broker fees and loan lock fees.

Many of these non-standard fees may be waived if you fight for it and some are simply bogus, like the loan lock fee. There is no need to pay redundant fees, so state that up front with the lender.

Other fees, like the commitment fee, are pure profit for the lender, especially if you are paying it on top of a processing fee and underwriting fee. Negotiate these fees out of the agreement before going any further.

Once you realize how many additional fees are involved, a mortgage tool can only make you better prepared for entering into a loan agreement.

How effective are mortgage tools? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Snowy Conditions
Snow can make for terrible driving conditions. Before attempting to drive in the snow, drivers should watch the local weather station to see exactly what the road conditions are. Never overestimate your driving ability or your vehicle’s ability to maneuver through the snow. If it is safe to drive, all snow needs to be removed from the car. All windows should be cleaned thoroughly. Do not leave snow on the top of the car as it can blow off while driving and cause an accident for you or for other drivers. Take time to shovel the snow, especially if the snow plow has you blocked in the driveway. Once you get on the road, maintain a slow, constant speed. Be as aware of other drivers as are of yourself.

Driving in Icy Conditions
Ice creates dangerous driving conditions and causes many wrecks each year. Before leaving the house, always check the local weather station to hear news about icy road conditions. Since black ice is difficult to see, drivers cannot assume they will be able to see ice on the road. Bridges and overpasses tend to get slick fast, so drive slowly in these areas. Maintain a good deal of space between your car and other cars just in case your car or one of the other cars begins to slide. If your car should begin to slide, don’t panic. Remain calm, and do not jerk the wheel. Never slam on breaks when sliding either. Try to remain in control of the situation, ride out the ice, and regain control of the car.

Prepare for Emergencies
Emergency situations do occur during harsh driving conditions, and the extreme cold can make things even more dangerous. A car can get stuck in the snow and have to wait for help to arrive. Or a vehicle could wreck after sliding on a patch of ice and need to wait for assistance. So, there are some measures people can take to prepare for such emergencies. Never leave home without a charged cell phone to call for help. Don’t rely on the battery charger because if the car is wrecked, it may not crank. Keep extra blankets in the car during the winter months in case you get stranded and run out of heat. This is extremely important for parents who transport their children during these weather conditions. Keeping children warm may save their lives.

Watching Other Vehicles
Some drivers concentrate so hard on their own driving that they fail to notice the other vehicles around them. Pay attention to the other vehicles. Never try to pass a snow plow truck or a sand truck. Be aware of emergency vehicles and watch for flashing lights. These may indicate that a wreck has happened and you must carefully manuever around it.

Car Safety This Winter was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

What was once the easy alternative to paying for something without the hassle of using a check, debit cards are now being phased out by banks by way of monthly fees users will have to pay in order to use them. Banks would rather have you purchase with credit instead of debit, so the move makes sense for them.

But will this strategy pay of for consumers, or send us into deeper debt than we are already in? Here are some of the negative aspects that the decline of debit cards will have on our economy and future financial developments:

Fewer Options for Those Without Smartphones

With NFC technology coming standard in most cell phones, Google partnering with mobile companies to kick off their Google Wallet program, and PayPal looking to become the one-stop location for your debit needs, using a debit card may become more difficult at retail and online locations. Google and PayPal are hoping to implement smartphones that consumers can just swipe at specialized terminals instead of making a debit transactions. After the transaction is made, you will have made a purchase with your credit card (Google Wallet) or have money taken out of your PayPal account.

Even if you do not want a smartphone, you may have to purchase prepaid phone plans just to be able to buy merchandise and services in the near future. Unless you want to carry around cash at all times, the convenience of having a secure, pin-activated card may become a relic of the past.

No Option for Bad Credit

If you can not afford the debit card fees that banks impose and have bad credit, there may be few options for you. Not being able to purchase things with a debit card is essentially a punishment for those who do not have better than average credit scores. Instead of responsibly spending through a checking account when shopping, these people will be charged exuberant interest rates through credit or not be able to purchase anything at all.

Risky Purchasing

The safest thing about using a debit card for payment is that your bank will stop you once you start to withdraw too much money. You might owe $350 in overdraft fees, but your card will get declined once you have reached a low-point. Banks use credit cards in a completely different fashion. Instead of spending your own money, you are using the bank’s to pay for goods.

If you are able to spend within your means and pay off your monthly credit card bill, the banks have no reason to harass you. On the other hand, sometimes making several unnecessary purchases do to retail advertising bogs us down with extreme debt we can not afford to pay off. When the money is not ours, we can put paying debt on the back-burner when thinking about the new stuff we are going to play with.

It is also riskier to use a credit card when purchasing online or at a small business. CNBC gives a list of places to avoid when using your credit card. Unsecure domain names, public Wi-Fi, flea markets, and small shops are all places hackers and theifs can gain great access to.

Higher Credit Card Rates

When people become more responsible and are forced to pay off their credit card debts sooner, the banks on Wall Street do not make as much money. In turn, they start to charge higher interest rates and fees in order to make a profit. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, little real economic improvement combined with low delinquency rates means that rates will start to go up.

The use of debit cards has become ingrained in our culture. What was meant to be used as a tool for making ATM withdrawals, soon became the method to pay for everything. With penalty rates increasing, higher fees being introduces, and new technology emerging, the simple cards we used to love are losing their steam.

Will the Decline of Debit Cards Harm America? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Unfortunately, purchasing a car is often an expensive task. Most people do not have the money to pay cash for a new or used car and drive it off the car lot. Instead, they opt for car financing.

Car financing allows consumers to apply for a car loan. Some people choose to take advantage of moneysupermarket car finance or loans provided by other lenders or financial institutions. However, it is generally the rule that only those with good credit can receive car financing with the lowest interest rate.

People with lower credit scores may not qualify for financing or may only be approved for car loans with high interest rates. After receiving a car loan, consumers pay monthly payments until they pay off the balance of the loan.

When a car buyer receives car financing, they make a down payment on the vehicle. A car buyer is also responsible for paying sales tax on the vehicle.

This may be paid in cash or included in the loan. A bank loans the consumer the money, paying the funds directly to the consumer or car dealer.

The loan also includes interest charges that are determined by the consumer’s credit score. The first car payment is due a month after the consumer signs the contract.

Paying the car payment each month allows the consumer to keep the car until the loan is paid in full.

Financing a car provides many benefits to consumers. For example, when financing a vehicle, the consumer builds equity in the vehicle.

After paying the loan, the consumer owns the car and can resell it if they choose. They can even trade the vehicle in for a new one.

Financing a car is ideal for people who put a large amount of miles on their cars. The banks do not place limits on miles driven. In contrast, those who lease cars are often penalized if they drive more than a set amount of miles.

Auto insurance benefits are another factor to consider with car financing. For example, if a car paid through financing is involved in an accident, the auto insurance company pays for any car damages, basing the amount on the car’s current market value.

Consumers who choose car financing also have the advantage of receiving a higher credit score if they pay their car loan off early. An early payoff also permits consumers to save on interest charges.

Ultimately, it benefits consumers because they have a better chance of receiving a lower interest rate on future loans.

Financing a car may be the smart choice for people who need a vehicle, but do not have the money to pay cash. Car financing allows consumers to make monthly payments on a vehicle in order to own it in the future.

By considering the pros and cons of financing a vehicle, consumers can make sensible decisions concerning whether or not to purchase a car.

Is Car Finance a Good Idea? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Fortunately, you don’t have to get stuck paying $30.00 every time your ink cartridge runs dry. There are several strategies that you can use to extend the life of your printer ink cartridges and strategies to purchase new cartridges for much less than retail.

First, you should be weary when your printer’s software tells you you’re running low on ink. You probably have anywhere from 25 to 50 more pages before your cartridge starts to not produce high-quality prints. If you find that your cartridge is running low on ink, you can also take it out of the printer and shake it up to get some extra life out of it.

Another method to save money on printer ink is to purchase ink refilling kits. These kits are generally sold for $10.00 and can often triple the amount of pages that you get out of a single ink cartridge. They typically include a small tool to drill a hole in the top of the ink cartridge, and a syringe with ink to re-fill your empty cartridge. You can usually use two refill kits on an ink cartridge before the ink cartridge is no longer useful.

If you’re looking to buy cheap ink, your best place to look is online. There are a number of companies which sell remanufactured print cartridges for as little as 1/3^rd of the cost of an ink cartridge from a big-box retailer or an office supply store. These cartridges work just as well as the ones sold in stores, but are much, much cheaper.

How to Save Money on Printer Ink Cartridges was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

So does this mean that the fears of a double dip recession have passed and everyone can breathe more easily again? Sadly, not quite yet.

Whilst the news regarding a drop in the jobless comes as an undoubted boon, the figures are not yet at the point that would indicate that the market has recovered and is sustaining a robust hiring and growth climate.

The weekly tally for unemployment claims currently stands at 391,000, a 37,000 drop on previous figures, but still some way from the magic 375,000 figure that economists say is an indicator of a more stable outlook.

But even though theUScan not be described as being back on an even footing just yet, most experts agree that the threat of a double dip recession is rapidly evaporating and is unlikely to materialize.

Despite not sliding backwards into another recession, many households are still feeling the financial pinch and are finding there is too much month left at the end of their paycheck.

This is an uncomfortable position to be in, but it is important to take action to prevent the situation getting worse and protect any savings held in a bank or other account, so read more here about the kind of accounts that are available in the market.

For anyone struggling with money there are two things which need to be considered; what comes in and what gets paid out.

Much has been written about how to budget effectively and everyone has a different idea about how to go about it. But one thing every expert agrees on is that it is essential to write out what is spent every month rather than just trying to add it up mentally.

Writing it down allows contemplation time and seeing how much is spent written down on paper can be quite shocking and act as great incentive to make some changes.

Most people are able to save quite a bit of money by switching suppliers for utility bills and insurance as well as shopping around for the best deals for groceries, rather than just running to the nearest store out of habit.

Once all the last savings have been squeezed out of the expenditure, it is time to look at the other main factor; the money coming in.

In uncertain times, it is far more difficult to find a better paid job and even if this is possible, it is not always a good idea to leave secure unemployment with so many redundancies in the market.

It is therefore essential to find alternative ways to boost your money coming in – is it possible to do overtime at work, maybe for a different department if your own team’s workload is up to date?

If this is not possible, consider taking a second job – this can be a great way to meet new people as well as bringing in more money.

If neither of these are possible, think more creatively – do you have unwanted items that you could sell on an auction site online? Many people declutter their house and earn money at the same time – after all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure…

Unemployment claims down – are the bad times over? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Following Bank of America, other large lenders began to follow suit after programs updated the guidelines including Citigroup (NYSE: C), JP Morgan Chase (NSE: JPM), and Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC). All of these lenders currently hold about half of the fixed mortgages in the United States. The initiative was started last August. Its intent was to help those homeowners who were afraid to take a loss on their first mortgage if the holder of the second mortgages would not. Borrowers were staying on track with their second mortgages however so the lenders were not as willing to take losses.

Consumers are concerned about what to do when unable to pay both the first and second mortgages on their home. The government now has the second mortgage program, known as the 2MP, which offer incentives to borrowers, investors, and lenders to modify the second mortgages. The programs works when a borrower’s first loan is modified under the federal Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and the servicer of the second loan also participates in HAMP, the servicer must offer to modify the borrower’s second mortgage. Eligibility also requires the second loan must have originated on or before January 1, 2009.

Modification of a mortgage with a second lien can be harder than just with the first mortgage, especially if the second mortgage is with another lender. Getting all involved to agree on interest rate reductions and other modifications make it a time-intensive process. With the new government program, the process should be easier to go through, allowing homeowners to get more affordable monthly payments.

Nearly 50% of at-risk mortgage holders also hold a second lien. The program is estimated to get more than 1.5 million homeowners involved but assistance will be limited.

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) Okayed Second Mortgages for Adjustment was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

High deductible health plans are an extremely cheap way of gaining insurance, but rather than stick to the basic options, a number of employers are opting to include a savings plan as an add-on.

While savings plans are undoubtedly great for those that need them, not all employees benefit and the additional costs often make it an unpopular option.

Health savings accounts (HSAs) have several benefits, not least the tax breaks that come with ownership. In addition, even if the plan is arranged via your employer, the employee always retains ownership of the funds.

However, on the downside, there are heavy penalties for the cash being used for anything other than eligible medical expenses, meaning that while it can be seen as a savings plan, it has rather limited opportunities for encashment.

Individuals who have health care needs may find the money stashed away in an HSA a welcome boost for their care, providing not only peace of mind but tangible benefits.

On the other hand, those who are in good health may simply find putting a regular amount into an HSA does not meet their financial needs and provides in excess of what they need medically, especially when taking into account that each HSA is linked to a HDHP.

Flexible savings plans are an alternative to HSAs but with the added disadvantage that generally, money not spent during each year of coverage is lost at the end, with the exception of a two-month grace period.

While FSAs are an alternative to HSAs, those who are concerned about putting funds into an account just to pay medical expenses face the same problem.

An alternative to contributing to an FSA or HSA is to consider investing disposable income into other savings vessels, with a wide range available depending on how much you have to contribute and whether you need immediate access.

A good way to get started is to take a look at an ISA at money supermarket. An ISA is a well-established way of saving that offers a good halfway house between funds that are tied up and those that provide access.

Savings accounts in a bank are usually a safe bet but with interest rates so low at the moment, there is little return for money paid in.

As well as ISAs, there are a number of other options that might prove more attractive including fixed rate bonds or unit trusts.

For individuals who are looking for a savings vessel with tax advantages, contributing more funds to an employer based 401k plan may be an option worth considering.

Not only would this money be stockpiling ready for retirement, a time that some people would argue is when money is needed the most, but the facility to take a loan should the money be needed is also available, providing a balance between gains and accessible funds.

However, the real question is whether you can be certain that your health will remain robust enough to make HSAs redundant. Money paid into an HSA can also be taken at retirement, making it remain a viable option no matter your state of health.

Is your employer cashing in on your health savings plan? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

A great option for a college student with a solid credit history, at least part-time employment, and a few more years left of school remaining would be to consider auto-refinancing as a great option to lower their interest and payments. The money saved could either be used to purchase school books, cover unexpected insurance costs, or maintenance and other fees associated with the cost of students’ vehicles. Even if the interest rate only differs by a couple of percents, the college student can save hundreds of dollars by just lowering the interest rate.

For those that have worked hard to improve their credit since starting college, auto refinancing is a great option. Oftentimes, the deals and incentives a student received when initialing purchasing their vehicle did not save them money in the long haul. Since dealerships often have higher interest rates than credit unions and banks, buyers become naturally sidetracked by the yellow stickers and bright signs painted on cars. The deals sound great until the college student begins making monthly payments and realizes that with a more solid-credit rating and a little research; they could have secured a lower monthly payment by contacting a reputable car-refinance specialist.

Some of the perks that dealerships often offer to students and the like to lure them in include these deals and incentives:

1. Complimentary road-side assistance.

2. Zero percent financing low interest rates for a period of time.

3. Deferred payments for several months up to one year.

4. No down payments and/or flexible payments.

5. Rebates and cash back bonuses.

However, with auto-refinancing, a student usually gets the opportunity to skip a payment that could be used to pay for textbooks the following semester or student parking on campus for the year. Also in combination with great auto-refinancing, students could break from their parents’ car insurance policy and receive student discounts like good student incentives and good-driving discounts. Many insurance companies offer a further discount to those college students completing a defensive driving course.

What College Students Need to Know about Auto-Refinancing was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

With the stock market and 401(k) balances in steady decline, now is not exactly the best time to put your money in volatile investments.

Chances are, you are already seeing your 401(k) dwindling. Some people are noticing losses of thousands of dollars within a matter of months.

If this is the case, it’s not a bad idea to withdraw your retirement money and put it in a guaranteed interest fund.

Investing in US Treasury bonds is one option. The US Treasury is the last thing to crash in a recession, so you can earn a conservative amount of interest. The only problem is that the dollar’s value is sinking and you may end up losing money with US bonds in the long run.

Look at other currencies that are stronger than the dollar, such as the Euro. More and more investors are jumping on the foreign exchange market trying to make a quick turnaround, but this market can be just as volatile as the stock market.

Many foreign exchange investors diversify their portfolios into other markets to cut down on the risks associated with putting all their eggs in one basket. If you want to try your hand at investing in foreign currency, consider foreign CDs for a safer alternative.

Believe it or not, real estate is a prime way to invest during a recession. This is because real estate prices are at the lowest you will ever see them at for at least the next fifteen or twenty years.

Invest in rental properties if you have the cash or are financially stable enough to take out a loan. Following foreclosures and the moving around of dislocated workers, rental prices are going to go up as housing prices go down.

Modest apartment complexes, duplexes and mobile home parks are great ways to get started in real estate investing. You have guaranteed cash flow every month which, during a recession, is better than a large investment return.

Qualifying for a loan to build rental properties is still fairly straightforward if you have the credit and you can apply for business credit cards for unexpected expenses while you wait to see that cash flow. It is worth shopping around and comparing credit cards at moneysupermarket, or a similar comparison website, to discover the best cards with the best rates.

Land has always been a big commodity and it always will be. Buying cheaper land during a recession and hanging onto it for a few years will allow you to sell it at higher prices.

You can also use purchased land to deal in timber. Buy up large amounts of forest acreage and harvest a portion of the timber on the property. Replant trees in that area before harvesting from another plot and keep the cycle going.

If you didn’t want to directly invest in land for timber, look into timber investment management organizations that deal in publicly-traded companies. You may end up buying a fraction of foreign timber investments.

Precious metals are proven investments. Since gold has recently skyrocketed, it’s currently not an ideal time to buy. Look into other metals such as silver and platinum for investment options.

You have to spend money to make money and this is certainly true with investments. If you don’t have the cash to invest but want to do so now, compare credit cards to see which ones have the lowest interest rates. Investing on credit may be a leap of faith, but it’s better than not investing at all.

Should all investments be avoided? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Changing Mortgage Terms
Many people choose to refinance their mortgage in order to change the terms of their first mortgage, generally to lower their interest rate or their monthly payment.  This is fairly easy to accomplish and straightforward to understand, with the homeowner basically taking out a new mortgage to cover the rest of the money that is owed under the old mortgage.  This type of refinancing is only good for the homeowner if the change in the payments is significant, often more than $200 per month.

Extracting Equity
Another reason that a person may choose to refinance their home is to extract some of the equity in the home to be used for other purposes.  In these cases, a mortgage is taken out in an amount that is higher than the amount that is currently left on the original mortgage and the person uses thismoney to pay off the original mortgage with the extra money being placed into a bank account to be used for other purposes.  Taking the equity out of the home in this way can extend the length of time that you will need to make payments on your home, but you will have the money that you need to handle your immediate financial situation.

Many homeowners choose to extract equity from the home in order to make repairs or upgrades to the home, which will increase the value of the home for appraisal or future sale.  Other homeowners choose to take equity out of the home to pay for a child’s college education.  One of the worst reasons to extract equity out of the home is to pay for an expensive vacation because you may have a good time on your trip, but fun is the only benefit you are getting for your money and the money that you have taken out of the home will take a long time to rebuild.

When to Refinance was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Different Types Of Mortgage Products

There are a number of different mortgage products that can be chosen by a person that is looking to purchase a new home or refinance their mortgage. Some of the mortgage products are considered to be traditional, meaning that they are the ones that have been used by many people over the course of the last several decades. Some others are considered to be more exotic, meaning that they have been created in the last few years to satisfy certain financial requirements or use different mortgage terms. Many people consider the traditional mortgage products to be the safer bet over the long term and much of the financial havoc that has racked the nation in recent years has been attributed to the widespread use of exotic mortgage products.

What Affects Interest Rates For Mortgage Products?

There are many different factors that may be used to determine the interest rate that you are offered on your mortgage. Your credit score and your credit history will be a large part of the calculation, but the lender that you choose to obtain your mortgage from will affect the interest rate of the mortgage as well. It may be best for you to shop several different lenders to see who will grant approval for the mortgage and provide the best interest rate before deciding to sign for a mortgage with a particular lender.

Mistakes To Avoid

One of the biggest mistakes that many people make is signing up for a mortgage without completely understanding the mortgage and what will be required to satisfy the terms of the mortgage. Many of the people that are facing foreclosure today are in that position because they took out an exotic mortgage without understanding how the mortgage actually worked. If you are considering getting a mortgage to purchase or refinance your home in the near future, it is important for you to learn all that you can about these mortgages so that you can make an informed decision about which mortgage product to choose.

The Best Mortgage Deals

The best mortgages available and the the best mortgages for self build available are fixed interest rate. Do not get a variable interest rate loan. Interest rates will invariably go up over time. Also get a 15 year loan if you can. You’ll save much more on that mortgage than you would with a 30 year mortgage.

Mortgages 101 was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Assess Your Financial Situation

Before you begin shopping for a mortgage loan, you should take a long, hard look at your financial situation to determine what you can afford. Examining your finances should include obtaining your credit score from the three major credit reporting bureaus, reviewing your income and earning potential, and evaluating the amount of debt already carried. As a general rule, the amount of your mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance, should be less than 30% of your average monthly income after taxes.

Review Mortgage Loan Options

When choosing a mortgage loan, most people choose one of the two main types of mortgage loan – fixed rate or adjustable rate. Fixed rate mortgages carry the same interest rate for the entire life of the loan, ensuring that the payment amount remains constant until the home is paid off, refinanced, or sold. Adjustable rate mortgages have interest rates that fluctuate according to the terms of the mortgage agreement, which means that interest only mortgage payments can increase or decrease when the interest rate adjusts. Reviewing the pros and cons of both types of mortgage loans can help you make an informed decision about which type of mortgage loan is best for your needs and your financial situation. Generally speaking, the best fixed mortgage deals available are 15-year fixed-rate mortgages with low closing costs.

Get Multiple Mortgage Quotes Within 30 Days

Many borrowers only obtain quotes from a few mortgage lenders during the mortgage shopping process because they believe that having multiple lenders checking their credit will cause their credit score to decrease. Due to rules put into place by the federal governments, borrowers now have a 30-day window in which multiple checks of their credit will not affect their credit score. This means that you can get as many quotes as you want within that 30-day window and you will not be penalized for it.

How to Save Money on Your Next Mortgage was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

If you are in a situation where you need to refinance or need help with your mortgage, there are options available. If you are not underwater on your mortgage, seek out fixed rate mortgages from a reputable mortgage broker. If you’re in trouble, check out the Making Home Affordable program or visit with a mortgage counselor.

How To Spot The Unscrupulous People
Con artists today have a big advantage with technology. There are many ways to make their “company” look legitimate and official. Keeping tabs on what’s real and what isn’t is no easy task. One red flag should be companies that name their company or use a URL address that is similar to the various governmental programs available set up to help homeowners. Some even go so far as to say they are affiliated with the governmental assistance.

Here are a few tips for evaluating different loan modification assistance companies:

• If you are contacted by phone, do not hesitate to ask for a call back number, which can help you confirm the companies identity when you call them back. If the representative declines to give you that number, hang up and do not divulge any personal information.

• By phone, email, or mail, if you are asked to pay upfront fees or give out personal financial information, it’s a big red flag. Legitimate companies would never ask you for any of this information without the proper paperwork or signed agreement.

• When reviewing websites, look for URL addresses that end in .gov. Even if a site has the word “government” or other related terms in their address, does not mean they are legitimate.

• You should never have to pay for assistance. There are HUD approved counseling agencies that offer free advice and assistance with preventing home foreclosures.

Keep in mind that the marketing tactics scam companies employ can be very good and easily misleading. They are very aware of how impatient and desperate people are to keep from going into foreclosure and they will capitalize on that desperation in every way they can. The money you are handing over will be stolen instead of used for saving your home. Visit a legitimate agency for help or check out the Obama administration’s Make Home Affordable website for more information about saving your home.

How to Avoid Foreclosure Scams was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The new rules became effective May 1, 2009 and were meant to reduce the occurrence of fraudulent appraisals where the home valuations were inflated. Lenders are now required to follow the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) with regard to conventional or conforming loans being sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Make. FHA loans are not affected by these guidelines because they are insured by the Federal Housing Administration, and neither are VA loans, which are guaranteed by the US Department of Veteran Affairs.

Helps and Hinders Borrowers
For home buyers, the new rules will help prevent them from paying inflated prices but those who are going through the refinance process and were hoping for a higher home value, the chances are greatly reduced. Typically, there are two types of appraisers that evaluate the true price of a home. One such group is considered to be the quick-service kind that produces appraisals based on minimal research. The other are the more reliable ones that do a lot of legwork to ensure the home is values accurately and fairly. Borrowers who once thought the appraisal process wasn’t much of a big deal, really do need to pay attention to the appraisal process because oftentimes a lazy appraiser can go too low and have a serious negative impact on a loan’s approval or sale price, as well as netting a higher interest rate. Borrowers should also be concerned about an appraisers ability to conduct the appraisal in a timely manner. In order for borrowers to lock in a decent interest rate and satisfy contract terms, an appraisal needs to be conducted and completed within a specified time frame. If an appraiser fails to come through, it can cause the loan approval to be declined.

Higher Costs

Another concern borrowers should note about the new appraisal rules is that the cost of an appraisal may be more expensive now due to additional regulations. Appraisals are more labor intensive and therefore, more costly. Borrowers may also be required to pay appraisal costs upfront, adding to their out-of-pocket expenses regardless of whether or not the loans comes to fruition. Plus, if the first loan attempt fails, borrowers may find they have to foot the bill for a second appraisal for a new loan application. Although appraisals might be more expensive, there are still a lot of cheap mortgage deals to be had. Mortgage rates are the lowest in history, so if you need to refinance, do it now!

What To Do
If you are in the market for a home loan, experts advice that you speak with the lender at length before applying for a mortgage loan to find out whether a appraisal will be in line with the proposed loan. Borrowers can also do their own research by comparing sale price and home valuations and other trends in their area before applying for a loan to have a better idea of what to expect. Otherwise, a borrower may face significant disappointment and frustration at being turned down for a loan. It helps to have a good mortgage lender work with you through all the steps of the home loan approval process.

Appraisal Process Rules Lead to Mortgage Delays was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

What is a No Deposit Mortgage?

As the name implies, a no deposit mortgage is one in which you do not have to have the large portion of the mortgage as a down payment. Since lenders typically ask for 20% of the total value for a down payment, many potential buyers are scared away before even beginning the process. With a no deposit mortgage, you can take out two different mortgages at the same time – one for the deposit and another for the remainder. This allows you to pay a minimal upfront fee for your home, while also getting your in the front door.

Who Can This Mortgage Benefit?

At first glance, it seems like everyone can benefit from this type of mortgage, some might even consider it one of the top mortgage deals. Because you do not need to have any money upfront, you can begin the home buying process as soon as you find a home that you like. For those without a lot of savings, this is an ideal arrangement. It is also a good loan agreement for those that want to take their savings and invest in stocks and high interest accounts, rather than using the money for their mortgage payments. In the end, these high interest accounts will help the person save up more money than they would have saved by using it toward the house itself. And for home buyers that might not have the best credit rating, these loan agreements can help them get back on solid financial footing.

What are the Problems with the Mortgage?

The main problem with no deposit mortgages is that applicants that don’t have a strong financial background are at a higher risk of defaulting. This is often why these mortgages are accompanied with higher interest rates than typical ones. Another concern with this type of mortgage is that even if you do receive a low interest rate, you still might end up paying more interest in the end. This is due to the borrower essentially being responsible for two mortgages instead of one. For instance, say you get a no deposit mortgage and you then eventually get an ARM mortgage (adjusted rate mortgage), you might end up having to pay a much great sum since you are carrying two loan agreements.

If you know that you can be disciplined about paying off your mortgage and beginning a savings plan, then the no deposit mortgage is certainly something to consider. Just be sure that the arrangement needs to work out for you in the end too, not just for the lender.

Are No Deposit Mortgages a Good Idea? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

However, even though there are providers that will consider applications from individuals with a less than perfect credit history, the cost of borrowing money will be more and some people will find they are not able to get approved anywhere.

Lenders base their decision on whether to offer a loan, credit card or overdraft based on an individual’s credit history, which is stored at three main credit bureaus; Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

Although the exact formula for coming calculating a credit score is not available publicly, most financial organizations use a method of scoring known as FICO.

FICO takes into account several different factors, with each element given a different weighting, depending on how important the information is believed to be.

For example, the number of points based on credit history make up 35% of the total score – making this part of a person’s credit file a very significant sector.

Being late with bills, not paying debts or just generally managing your financial affairs poorly will lead to a low score on FICO, which may end up jeopardizing your ability to obtain credit.

One of the other big factors that FICO takes into account is credit utilization – the amount of credit available compared to the amount actually being used – which is worth 30% of the end score. Credit utilization is considered to be important, as someone who has maxed all of their available credit could be experiencing financial difficulty and be seen as a worse risk.

Other elements that are also incorporated into FICO scores are the types of credit and the length of a credit history; someone with a long history of making repayment on time will score highly. A small percentage of the final score is also made up from the total number of credit searches recently performed.

The final score can also be adjusted by things such as court judgements for payment, which will often mean the addition of a penalty to the score.

An individual will generally have three FICO scores – one from each agency and the range is between 300 and 850.

Each lender will have different criteria about what risks they find acceptable and how much they charge for providing credit.

Applicants with a lower credit score will have to pay more to borrow money, which may mean the difference between a loan being affordable and being too expensive.

This is the primary reason for the uproar over the recent downgrade in the credit status of the US. Whilst scoring a country’s creditworthiness is slightly different that evaluating an individual, the principle remains the same – those with a lower status must pay higher interest charges.

However, for those with a lower credit score, the important thing to remember is that a bad credit history doesn’t have to affect you forever. It is very possible to improve a credit score by ensuring that you leave as many good footprints on your credit file as possible, to outweigh any problems you may have had in the past.

By doing this, lenders will ultimately place more significance on your recent good repayment record than problems you may have had in the past, meaning you will no longer have to rely on credit cards for bad credit and will be able to access mainstream offers in the market.

How do credit ratings work? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

About the Financial Times Subscription Discount Offer

If you have not been a subscriber of the Financial Times for the last 3 months, sign up for a free trial of the newspaper and you will receive four weeks at no cost.  If after those four weeks you decide to continue the rest of the annual subscription for another 48 weeks, you can do so at the discounted rate of $99.  This is a Financial Times subscription discount of 84% off the cover price which offers substantial savings.

Your corporation, team, department or organization is also eligible for a free trial of Financial Times via the website.  In-depth news is provided to subscribers and can be accessed via iPad, mobile phones, and other technology devices.  Discounts for multiple-user subscriptions are also available.

If you decide you don’t want the Financial Times delivered right to your door each day, you can cancel after your free trial.

What’s in the Financial Times?

Monday through Saturday, subscribers of the Financial Times receive a newspaper hand delivered to their front door the day the paper is published.  If you are outside the hand delivery area of the paper (which consists of 25 major cities) you can pay to have it delivered via mail.   If you are subscribing and live in CA, DC, FL or GA, your subscription will also charge sales tax.

The newspaper currently boasts a readership of over 1.3 million people around the world. Each day, your Financial Times will give you information about financial news from around the world.  The paper also includes coverage of US politics and business topics.  Once each year, the Financial Times releases 200 special reports of key industries and trends.

How to Get A Financial Times Subscription Discount was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

What is the Financial Times Free Trial?

The newspaper will be delivered to your home at no charge for four weeks.  At the typical cover price of $2.50 per newspaper, this is a savings of over $60.  At the end of the four week free trial, you can choose to continue your subscription for the rest of the year – and receive 48 more weeks for $199 and save 73% off the cover price; or you can cancel with no further obligation.

Financial Times Subscriptions are Risk Free

One of the ideal features of the Financial Times subscription is you have the option to cancel at any time, even if you decide after the free trial to continue.  If you decide at any point that you are no longer interested in receiving the paper, cancel your subscription and we’ll refund for any newspapers you haven’t yet received.  With a money back guarantee like this, readers of financial news shouldn’t hesitate to get their subscription set up.

What’s Included in the Financial Times Newspaper?

If you have never picked up a Financial Times paper, you might wonder what to expect and whether or not the topics are of interest to you.  You can visit the online version of the paper for a sampling of topics covered, and know that six days a week your paper will include daily information regarding the current financial state of the global market; information about US businesses and politics, and information from the famous LEX column.  The Financial Times also features 200+ special reports on an annual basis, involving key countries, industries and trends.

Can Everyone Get a Financial Times Free Trial?

Almost everyone is eligible for a Financial Times free trial.  You can’t get four weeks free if you are a current subscriber or if you subscribed in the last three months – but other than that, you can sign up for four weeks free.  If you live outside the standard hand delivery area for the paper, you will have to pay standard mail delivery charges and if you live in GA, CA, DC or FL you will also have to pay sales tax on your newspapers.

Try The Financial Times Free Trial was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

What is Gazelle.com?

Gazelle.com is a website that allows users to calculate monetary value of electronics they no longer want.  If the site determines there is a current demand for the electronics entered, they will offer a monetary value based on the demand and condition of the item.  Site users can then decide to sell their used electronics to Gazelle.com at the prices listed, or not.  If there is no demand in the marketplace for the electronics someone wants to sell – Gazelle.com will not offer to buy the item and instead will give you tips for responsible recycling of the item.

Gazelle.com Scam or Legit?

Many people consider the operation the “Gazelle.com Scam” – because they feel the prices offered by Gazelle are too low.  It’s true that you may be able to sell the electronics yourself directly and get more money via eBay or Craigslist – but that doesn’t make the company a scam.  They offer you a set amount of cash for the items you have and then you decide whether to take the offer or not.  If you accept the offer, you receive payment about a week after the company receives the item through your choice of payment method: Paypal, Walmart Prepaid Card, or Amazon.com prepaid card.  You can even decide to donate your earnings to any Gazelle.com approved charity.

Does Gazelle.com Ever Pay Less Than They Say They Will?

Sometimes when people send their electronics to Gazelle.com they will receive an email notification that Gazelle needs to offer less than the original amount stated.  The only time this happens is if you send the item outside of the 30-day lock-in period and the market demand has decreased since then; or if you claim the item is in new-condition but it’s really beat up.  If Gazelle needs to offer you less, you have the opportunity to accept or reject the new amount offered.  If this was the Gazelle.com scam people are talking about, you would not be given an opportunity to accept the lower amount and everyone would always receive less than the stated amount.

Gazelle.com – Scam or Legit? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

People Get Mad When They Make False Claims About the Condition of Their Items

If you hear people complaining that they sold their items to Gazelle only to get less than the amount the website originally quoted – these aren’t accurate Gazelle.com complaints.  The system generates a monetary offer when you enter items you wish to sell – based on the current market demand for the electronics and the condition of the item.  If you claim everything you’re selling looks brand new, but when Gazelle receives the items they discover everything looks as though it went through a hurricane – they will offer you less money based on the actual condition of the item.  You do have the option to reject the offer and get your item back, however, if they do need to offer you less than you were originally quoted 

People Want to Make More Money Selling Their Used Gadgets

You may hear Gazelle.com complaints involving people who want to make more money when they sell their used electronics.  Well, who doesn’t?!  Gazelle can only offer to buy your old gadgets at rates that coincide with the market demand for the item.  If you’ve got an old PS2 lying around and expect to get what you paid for it, you aren’t actually making a Gazelle.com complaint – you’re complaining that no one wants to buy an outdated gaming system!

Instead of making Gazelle.com complaints about offers that seem too low, you could try to sell the items directly to buyers and see if you can get more.  If you can’t sell the item – at least you have Gazelle as a back up plan, and you can make a few dollars instead of letting the items collect dust in the back of your closet.

People Make Gazelle.com Complaints When The Site Won’t Buy Their Electronics

While the site buys many used electronics from customers, they can’t buy everything you have.  You may find as you use the website that some of the items you enter cannot be bought.  Gazelle only purchases electronics that are in demand and are likely to have a resale value.  If the site cannot offer to buy some of your items, they give you some advice for responsibly recycling the items – or you can always try to sell them yourself on another site like eBay, Craigslist, or even at a yard sale.

Gazelle.com Complaints was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

How Can I Make Money Selling Used Electronics?

Gazelle.com buys used electronics from people who no longer need them.  If you have cell phones, laptops, video games and other electronics sitting around, you may be able to sell them to Gazelle.com.  Enter the items you have available into their website, and the site will make an offer to buy it based on the current market demand for the items and the condition of the items you’re selling.

Increase Earnings Using a Gazelle.com Bonus Code

One of the biggest complaints by users selling items to Gazelle.com is that sometimes the amount of money they offer for items seems too little.  The values the site offers are based on current demand for the items being sold, but when you’re looking to make a few bucks you can be discouraged if the amounts seem lower than they should be.

You can increase your earnings by using a Gazelle.com bonus code.  You enter the codes into the site just like you do when shopping and using a promotional code.  Instead of saving money on items you buy; the Gazelle.com bonus code will add a specific percentage more to the amount they offer.  You may find Gazelle.com bonus codes in 5%, 10% or more.  The more items you sell, the more your Gazelle.com bonus code is worth.

Where Can You Get A Gazelle.com Bonus Code?

If you haven’t received a Gazelle.com bonus code from the website itself, you’ll need to do some investiging online.  It’s slightly more difficult to find these bonus codes compared to your typical website promotional code because there just aren’t as many available at this time.  Try looking for electronic bloggers and websites that post promotional codes for a variety of stores.If you find a Gazelle.com bonus code, just beware that the code may be expired or inaccurate – which means it won’t work for you when you enter it into the site.  If you are lucky enough to find a working Gazelle.com bonus code, however, you will increase the amount of money you earn selling your used electronics online.

Increase Earnings With a Gazelle.com Bonus Code was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Everyone has heard about closing costs, but few people actually know what they consist of. Some home buyers end up saving hundreds of dollars in closing costs by being their own advocate and keeping track of every nickel and dime that goes on that bottom line.

The most popular option is having the seller pay closing costs on the loans. This becomes a common occurrence when a house needs to sell fast or has been on the market too long.

If you’re responsible for closing costs, break everything down. Make sure that your loan origination amount is calculated according to the amount of money you’re borrowing.

Some brokers take advantage of borrowers by charging exorbitant loan origination fees. If you have a strong credit and employment history, ask your lender to consider a lower fee.

When paying for an appraisal, make sure you’re not being over-charged. Appraisals generally run about $200 to $300 and you should always be given a copy of the appraisal.

Loan application fees generally cost about $50 for the lender to obtain a credit report. If the appraisal fee or loan application are more than this, ask for a better deal or seek another lender that will offer more affordable loans.

Take note of any wire transfer fees, underwriting fees, processing fees, or funding fees at closing. These are all excessive and should never be charged unless you are dealing directly with a broker. Other fees you may notice are minimal charges for couriers and document handling. Ask about these charges before signing and any other charges that don’t seem quite right.

While it may be perfectly normal to charge courier and document handling fees, it probably didn’t cost the bank $75 to handle paperwork.

Don’t be afraid to shop around for loans. Different lenders charge different amounts and may have very different fee policies from one another.

Keep in mind there are fees you simply cannot avoid. These include title fees, insurance, recording fees and tax-related fees. Title fees are added onto all loans, but different lenders charge different fees. You may find a better deal on loans elsewhere.

Third-party fees, however, should be fixed and will be the same no matter which lender you go to. Third-party fees are what pay for credit reports, settlements, government taxes and appraisals.

It never hurts to call ahead and ask lenders what they charge for certain fees. You can usually learn a lender’s origination fee by making a simple phone call.

Since origination fees do vary from lender to lender, this may be a good way to determine which lender is best for you. They should only be about 1% of the total loan amount.

The last thing to look out for is the yield spread premium. This is a cost not generally disclosed and may cost you thousands of dollars over the entire life of your loan.

Do your homework beforehand and don’t be afraid to ask questions regarding your loans. Every little fee adds up.

Buying a home? Avoid paying extra fees was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Finding a Loan

At Prosper.com, consumers with good credit ratings can successfully apply for a loan. Loans can be used for any reason and borrowers commonly request funding for auto loans, home remodeling projects, educational costs, and personal debt consolidation.

The process for applying for a Prosper.com P2P loan is simple and can be done online. Applicants can share as little or as much information about their loan request as they wish and investors who are open to funding loan requests will be able to review the applicant’s information before deciding to fund the loan.

Borrowers choose a loan amount between $2,000 and $25,000. They fill out the application and include the purpose for the loan. Investors will review the listings for loan requests and make decisions as to which requests meet their funding criteria. Borrowers will receive a direct deposit of the money when the loan has been funded. Repayment is set up in fixed, monthly payments which are then distributed to the loan’s investors.

Loan Types

Unsecured loans are available in terms of one year, three years, and five years. Credit scores will be determined by Prosper and assigned a Prosper rating based on consumer credit history. For instance, credit scores of 720-759 receive an A grade that lenders use to analyze funding opportunities.

The interest rate on the loan is subject to credit scores of the borrower as well as other past credit history information and the ability to repay the loan. Excellent credit ratings will result in low interest rates and past credit problems will dictate a much higher interest rate for a loan.

There are no prepayment penalties for Prosper.com loans. Penalties are assessed for late or missed payments. There are also closing fees associated with each loan and the amount varies as it includes a percentage of the amount borrowed as well as the Prosper credit rating score. The closing fee is deducted from the loan before funds are transferred to the borrower. Borrowers will need to apply for a loan greater than their needs to ensure the closing costs are covered.

Peer-to-peer lending has its drawbacks, mostly for the investor. Late or defaulted loan repayments are the biggest risk as investors will not get their high returns back on the money invested. Overall, peer-to-peer lending from Prosper gives borrowers an alternative place to seek financing for the funds they need for a multitude of reasons with more flexible terms and potentially lower interest rates than with conventionallenders and big financial operations.

If you want to do your own Prosper.com review, visit Prosper.com

Prosper.com Review: Loans Offered By Prosper.com was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Comparing the Leaders

Lending Club is notably one of the largest peer-to-peer lending sites in theUnited States. It facilitates millions of dollars in loans between borrowers and investors each month. Prosper.com also enjoys similar success with its lending practices and is currently Lending Club’s biggest competitor in the peer-to-peer lending market.

Both sites offer investors the opportunity to diversify their investment portfolios outside the traditional stocks and bonds. Investors can fund loans requested by borrowers and in turn enjoy a relatively good rate of return for the efforts. The borrower benefits by skipping the lengthy process of qualifying for loans through a bank and enjoys the flexible terms and typically low interest rates for the loans.

For the Borrower

Loan terms differ between sites. Prosper.com offers one, three and five year terms with loans ranging between $2,000 and $25,000. Lending Club offers unsecured loans ranging from $1,000 to $35,000. Both offer interest rates that are comparable, which Prosper.com’s rates just slightly lower than Lending Club’s. Interest rates will vary based on the credit history of the borrower.

When it comes to eligibility requirements for loans with Lending Club versus Prosper.com, Prosper.com allows customers with lower credit scores the opportunity to have loan requests approved. For the investor, Prosper also allows for higher returns but the risks are higher. Defaults on loans total around 20% for Prosper.com and only 3% with Lending Club participants.

For the Investor

Investors may also find Prosper.com more complicated to participant in loan funding. Investors must provide personal information upfront including driver’s license information and have a credit check performed right away. There is a period of wait time between when money is transferred from your bank to your account before investors can begin funding loans. Lending Club does not have such initial activity for investors who want to get started. The company’s sign up process is known to be simple and straightforward.

Lending Club has stronger credit requirements than Prosper.com. Borrowers are analyzed by credit history and will receive a credit grade from the company that helps inform investors of the borrower’s credit standing. Lending club requires better credit histories from borrowers than Prosper.com so the risk of default is less with Lending Club as far as investors are concerned.

Lending Club Vs. Prosper.com: Comparison Review was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

P2P Risks in General

Peer-to-peer lending in general comes with risks, mostly for the investor. Borrowers are known to default on their loan repayments, leaving the investor with no return on their money. While this is true of any loan, investors may be more affected by this fact than the bigger banking institutions.

Summarizing Complaints

To date, there have been limited complaints directly aimed at Lending Club. There have been some concerns with the clarity with which the investor’s rate of return is being explained. The high rate of return for investors that the website boasts is true but only because the majority of loans average 14 month terms which calculates a higher rate of return.

Another issue that springs complaints from Lending Club members is about the investing process. Investors say they often have money left sitting in their account that isn’t earning interest. This money comes from loan repayments that are being distributed but the investor has not had the time to reinvest the funds. When investors place a bid on a loan, the money is the account is then held for up to two weeks before the loan process is completed.

Some suggestions to improve Lending Club including paying the investors a fixed rate of interest like a money market fund for the uninvested funds left sitting in accounts, similar to the way PayPal offers interest payments on balances in the accounts. Another suggestion is to provide a method of investing fixed amounts of cash and have the ability to fund new loans automatically while investors collect the minimum to fund a loan partially.  Right now, Lending Club has an automated typed investment option where the Club will invest the cash for investors but the option is only available to those investors putting in $10,000 or more.

Overall, Lending Club’s methods seem to work for both investors with the money and the borrowers who are seeking a loan outside the regular network of lenders. Interest rates and terms for the loans may be more borrower-friendly through peer-to-peer lending operations. While there are risks, the percentage of delinquencies and defaults averages around 10% of all loans made. Despite the small list of complaints and suggestions for improvements, Lending Club continues to generate over $6 million in loans each month.

Lenders and borrowers who have an interest in a peer-to-peer lending setup may be interested in checking out the process of Lending Club’s lending website. Peer-to-peer lending is an increasingly popular method for facilitating loans and raising investment capital for those looking to diversify their portfolios.

Lending Club Complaints was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

However, in recent times, pawn shops have mushroomed in popularity, with individuals of all ages and backgrounds lining up to use their services.

The economic climate has made life difficult for many households across the US, with increasing debts sending more and more people in search of credit.

Whilst individuals with good credit history are able to pick from a whole host of lenders, even using comparison sites such as Money Supermarket, anyone with a less than perfect credit history has far less options. This has sent many people to alternative sources of cash such as payday loans and, more and more, pawn shops.

Payday loans offer a defined amount of money with a set sum of interest, usually at extortionate levels, but pawn shops are a far more unknown quantity.

The goods accepted by pawn shops vary significantly, with some places only willing to take everyday items such as computer games, electric goods and tools.

Other shops are willing to value and provide funds in exchange for higher end items, such as guitars and good quality jewellery.

This is a distinct change from how pawn shops were used in the past, where low value items or prized sentimental possessions were exchanged for cash, mainly by those from a poor background.

Any shady dealings by pawn shops are now far less common, although unscrupulous dealers do still exist and this is one factor to be alert for when searching for a shop to use.

However, an increasing number of people from wealthier backgrounds needing an injection of cash are opting to go to pawn shops rather than take out a high interest short term loan.

Pawn shops generally stipulate that the money loaned plus interest is paid back within 30-90 days and failure to do so permits the sale of the goods.

Unlike payday loans, the interest charged on pawned items is not usually excessive as the bulk of the money is expected to be made from the onward selling of the items not collected.

There are also no additional charges or fees for late payment. You simply either return with the specified time limit and pay the agreed sum, or give up rights to the goods.

However, the downside of a pawn shop is that they will undoubtedly fail to offer anywhere near the value that could be obtained by the sale of the goods elsewhere, such as on EBay. As a very rough guide, expect to receive no more than a quarter of what the item’s real value is.

On the plus side, it is possible to haggle with pawn shops and one way to get a better price is by ensuring the item is clean and in good condition when you take it along. Spending a little money obtaining any missing parts such as power cables can also land you significantly more than an incomplete item.

If you are certain you won’t want the item back and can wait for the cash, selling it elsewhere will certainly net you more cash. But if it is simply a short term loan you need or rapid funds, pawn shops offer an old-fashioned twist for a modern dilemma.

Pawn till Payday was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

If you wanted to shop around on a car loan 20 years ago, you would likely have to drive around to several different banks and talk to a banker at each location that you went to. This process could take as much as an entire day or longer, but usually you could get a pretty good deal on a loan if your credit is in good shape. The internet has leveled the playing field and made it easier to shop around for a car loan than ever. There are now a number of marketplaces which will provide you offers for auto financing and get you the best deal in minutes.

Before you start shopping online, make sure that your credit is in good shape. Go to Annual Credit Report.com and pull your credit reports from the three major bureaus. If there are any inaccurate items or bad debts, you will want to get those taken care of before taking out an auto loan. Having your credit in good shape will save you hundreds of dollars in interest on a car loan. Bad credit car finance can be very difficult, so make sure that you

When you are ready to start shopping for a car loan online, get an idea of what kind of terms you’re looking for and how much you want to borrow. Do you want a 24 month, 36 month, 48 month or 60 month loan? Do you want to borrow $5,000, $10,000, $20,000 or another number? Once you know what you want to take out, visit sites like Car Finance 247, which will help you shop for an auto loan. There are all sorts of websites which will provide resources to those that are interested in taking out a car loan without the hassle of shopping around at local banks. These websites will often allow you to get multiple quotes from different banks in the matter of minutes.

How to Save Time Shopping for an Auto Loan by Shopping Online was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Getting Married: The day most women dream about all through their childhood marks an important milestone – and creates a variety of new tasks you should to to become better prepared. If there are large assets involved, a financial planner or prenuptial agreement may be a good idea.

If the assets are minimal, there are concerns to address now in the event on partner passes away unexpectedly – things like having powers of attorney and health-care proxies so that in the event one partner is incapacitated, the other can make decisions.

Having Children: In addition to the most common concerns of parenting and raising children, there are several other considerations when you begin a family. Who will take care of the baby while the parents work, or will one partner remain at home? How will you handle the loss of income and the increase of living expenses?

When you have dependents, it becomes imperative that you have life insurance in order – if one or both parents die, life insurance can help ensure the family has money to maintain their lifestyle. Wills, while important before, are an absolute requirement when you have dependents as you can designate who will become guardians of the children if both of you should die in an accident or for any reason.

Planning for the future of your children becomes just as important as planning for your own retirement. The earlier you start putting money aside for your child’s college education, the more they will have when they’re old enough to go to college. Try a 529 plan.

Divorce: No one wants to consider their marriage may end in divorce, but with the statistics showing that 1 in every 2 marriages ends in divorce, it’s necessary that you are prepared just in case. If your husband handles all of the finances and investments, they are likely to be in his name. Make sure you know where money is being saved or invested and where the paperwork is kept.

Put some accounts in your own name, even if you are the stay-at-home parent, or a housewife. There should be some assets and liquidity in your name as you may need access to money when going through mediation or divorce.

Death: If your spouse becomes terminally ill, get your financial affairs in order immediately. It’s not what you want to be thinking about during such a difficult time, but it can save you unbelievable stress later on.

If your spouse should die unexpectedly, not knowing anything about your family finances creates a nightmare that you must work through and your mind and heart will not be in any condition to be forced into worrying about such things. Hopefully, you will never find yourself in this situation, but it’s better to prepare for it and not have to use that preparation than to find yourself up the creek without a paddle, later! Create a balance sheet of assets and liabilities, and keep it up to date.

What Women Must Know During Every Life Event was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Everyone should get a living will, so that there’s no question what your wishes are. You can get one very easily, and do so for under $30.00. There are different statutes for each state regarding what has to go on them, but you can obtain the form from any doctor, a hospital or a medical clinic. You can also get the forms from sites such as LegalZoom.com and US Legal Forms. After you get the paperwork and fill it out the way you like, you’ll have to sign it in the presence of two witnesses. None of these people should be someone who would benefit financially from your death, or be a healthcare provider.

In the event that you move to another state, likely there are going to be different statues which regulate living wills. Chances are your living will would be honored, but it’s best not to take that chance and get another state-specific living will created if you permanently move to another state.

You can also grant what’s called a durable power of attorney (DPA) to someone if you are incapacitated or mentally incompetent and cannot express your wishes. This will enable the person you grant the DPA to, usually your spouse, the ability to make healthcare, financial, and legal decisions on your behalf. The person offering the durable power of attorney to someone else has to be mentally competent when they sign the DPA, otherwise it is not valid and will not hold up in court.

You can have your spouse, a close friend, or another relative serve as your attorney-in-fact if you are incapacitated. The person doesn’t have to be an attorney, and if you have no one that you want to be your attorney-in-fact, there are a number of non-profits which will serve this role for you. Remember, that your attorney-in-fact will have broad authority over your life if you become incapacitated, so you want someone you trust with your life to fill this role.

In order to get a durable power of attorney created, it’s usually better to have a lawyer draft one up that will meet your needs. They can specify what type of power you want to grant to your attorney-in-fact and best meet your specific needs. There are pre-created legal forms, such as online wills, which you can get from sites such as Legal Zoom, but they’re rather broad and don’t take into account your specific situation.Getting a living will is an absolute must. It’s just as important as your regular will, if not more so. You don’t want the state or doctor’s that you don’t know deciding how your life is going to be handled in the event that you’re incapacitated, so make your wishes known ahead of time.

How to Get a Living Will was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

For example, using a credit card for purchases over $100 offers additional protection if the vending company goes bust or fails to complete the order, compared to payment by other forms.

Credit cards offer convenience and a chance to pay after the purchase date. They may also offer additional incentives, such as airmiles, cash back or other sweeteners.

One particularly popular form of credit card in recent years is the balance transfer credit card. In a nutshell, it offers customers the chance to transfer existing expensive credit card debts, onto a single balance transfer card, with a low APR.

This offers the convenience of debt consolidation onto one card balance and should save money thanks to the lower APR – which may be over half as expensive in some cases, compared to traditional credit cards.

So far so good, but customers must still watch out before they switch and being doing balance transfers, or hefty penalties and charges may accrue.

Firstly, as with all financial products, it’s imperative to read the small print. The point of these cards is to carry out balance transfers and repay existing debts, with a lesser APR penalty.

What these cards should not be used for is additional spending. New purchases will generally attract a higher APR than the balance transfers amount transferred over.

The issuing company may try to encourage this spending via an initial promotional spending rate period, but once beyond this, the APR will hike up and these debts will be rolled over to the ‘back’ of the repayment queue.

This means that the spending portion of debt will continue to attract interest at the higher rate of APR – and only begin to be paid off once the transferred balance amount is totally clear.

Ultimately, this form of credit card should be viewed as a means to sort out your finances and get organised.

Order the most competitive one, transfer your existing expensive balances and then avoid using the card at all for any new spending.

Additionally, create a budget and live within it – focusing on the card repayment in its entirety. Using this type of card suggests that you’ve accrued several unpaid balances and this should be a sign to avoid taking out more credit.

For large ticket items where you do need cheap credit upfront, look at alternatives such as zero percent credit cards, which offer you the purchase protection for a larger amount and allow you to spread the repayments.

This might be useful for buying an annual travel card, or buying a holiday package in advance for later in the year. But again, focus on repaying within the zero interest rate period. Credit is a tool to be managed as part of an overall approach to personal finances and budgeting – so plan ahead.

How NOT to use a balance transfer credit card was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Bad credit credit cards seek to address this issue as they are specifically targeted at those who do not have the credit history required to qualify for the leading cards on the market.

There are a number of lenders who now provide bad credit credit cards, including well-known names. Sites such as moneysupermarket offer a comparison between the different products available.

So why can it be difficult to access credit? Each time you apply for credit your financial history is checked and information about your credit history is reviewed. The lender then makes a judgment as to whether you are a good or poor risk.

Every time you apply for credit and are rejected, this is also recorded on your credit file. As a result, your credit rating can get progressively worse the more you continue to apply for different cards.

There are many circumstances that may mean that your credit history is seen to make you a poor risk. This could be because you have missed payments in the past or have court judgments against you.

It may also be because you have little or no credit history, so much about your financial situation is unknown. This may be because you are a homemaker or carer.

The self-employed can also struggle to obtain credit. This can be because it may be difficult to demonstrate that you have a regular income.

Bad credit credit cards can be one way of improving your credit rating and gaining access to some much needed credit. These cards, however, have a number of plus points and negatives.

Bad credit credit cards work by giving you a relatively small credit limit. Many of the products available have fast or even instant approval.

One of the main benefits of these cards is that they give access to credit to those who have struggled to gain it from the more mainstream products. This can be vital when household emergencies happen.

By using them regularly and repaying the balance in full on a monthly basis, they also allow you to rebuild your credit history. By demonstrating financial responsibility, you are likely to have access to more competitive products in the future.

There are some down sides to these cards, however. The interest payable on them is much higher than on the leading cards and no introductory offers apply. It is, therefore, important not to use bad credit credit cards to borrow over the longer term.

Before opting for a bad credit credit card, it is always worth assessing whether such cards are the best product to meet your needs. It may be that by doing some research on what is available, you can qualify for a more competitive deal.

If the reason that you need credit is to fund a major purchase or you are unlikely to be able to pay off your bill in full on a monthly basis, it is worth considering whether a credit card is the most appropriate product. A loan may be better, as the interest payable is likely to be lower.

Whatever your reason for a poor credit history, bad credit credit cards can be a good way of obtaining a level of credit and repairing your credit rating. These are not the most competitive of products, however, so should be used wisely.

How to Rebuild Your Credit Score with a Credit Card was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

America is currently in the middle of a debt crisis. The global economic recession has created high levels of unemployment and instability in the housing market and commercial sectors.

By employing certain strategies, you can have a healthier financial future. Methods such as loan amalgamation and building your credit score by using credit cards for bad credit can be very effective.

Firstly, create some time where you can sit down undisturbed and look at your financial situation. This may be difficult, but you need to know the brutal facts.

There are many charitable organizations that can help you here. Ask for their assistance before paying any professional firms as you may be able to get the same advice for free.

Look at your income and outgoings and ask yourself what is really necessary. You may enjoy the latest gadgets and lots of takeaway food, but these are luxuries that can be sacrificed.

People are often shocked by how much they spend on treats. If you can live without it, you can use the money to start repaying debts. It may feel hard to make these sacrifices, but it will be worth it.

Nothing is better than the feeling that you have taken control and are managing your debts and money properly. If you lavish money on your children, stop! They do not need expensive sneakers.

If you are being charged a high annual percentage rate (APR) on your credit cards, begin to research alternatives. There are credit cards for bad credit, so investigate this option.

These credit cards will help you pay back money and rebuild your credit rating, so although they have certain restrictions and a higher APR, they will help you in the long run.

Compare credit cards and speak to an independent advisor if necessary to help you understand which is right for your circumstances. Be honest about your situation.

If you have many outstanding loans, it may be easier to combine them into one amount. You can then keep on top of repayments more easily as it would just be one amount every month.

Many voluntary and professional firms can help you negotiate this with your creditors, which can take the burden from you. It will stop the phone calls and letters, as the creditors will speak to the middle man rather than you directly.

If the situation is beyond repair, you can file for bankruptcy. This is a way of being cleared of all your debts but it does have certain consequences.

CNN Money has reported that industry statistics suggest over 1.53 million Americans filed for bankruptcy in 2010, a 9% increase compared to just twelve months previously.

Speak to professional advisors if you do want to declare bankruptcy. It is a last resort but it can ease the burden of guilt that debt can create. Be pro-active and soon you will be living a happier financial life.

How to Get Out of Debt was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

At the end of the day, it’s a numbers game. To pay off your debt, you need to minimize the interest that you pay and send in large principal payments on a recurring basis. If you are in a large amount of credit card debt or other consumer debt, you’re going to have to significantly reduce your monthly spending so that you aren’t increasing your credit card balances each month. You’ll also have to cut back to the point where you can make extra principal payments on your loan each month. It’s not easy, but it will be well worth it at the end of the day.

Another thing that you can do is consolidate your debt at a lower interest rate. This alone won’t be enough to get you out of debt, but it will reduce the amount of interest that you pay, ensuring that more of your monthly payments go to your principal balance. Two peer-to-peer lending companies, Lending Club and Prosper.com, are offering reasonable interest rates on unsecured loans. Many debtors have made use of these two services to lower the interest rates they’re paying on their debt.

The loans offered by Prosper and Lending Club are unsecured fixed-rate loans, with one year, three year or five year repayment schedules. The loans are fully amortizing, meaning that at the end of your loan period, your debt is fully paid off. These loans do have a small up-front origination fee, but there are no other hidden fees.

The interest rates offered by Prosper and Lending Club are extremely competitive because the loans are funded by individual investors rather than by banks. Borrowers with great credit can get loans with interest rates as low as 7%. The average interest rate that borrowers pay ends up being around 9% and borrowers that are extremely high credit risks can pay up to 20%. The idea is that if you have credit cards with interest rates of 20%, 25% or 30%, you can consolidate those into a peer-to-peer loan and save dramatically on the interest.

At the end of the day, paying debt off is not an easy thing to do, but after all of the hard work’s been done and you’re debt free, you’ll find that it was well worth it.

How to Use Peer-to-Peer Loans to Manage and Eliminate Debt was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Home Owners

If you own a home, you might consider taking out a low interest home equity loan.  Place the loan into a high interest account that is FDIC insured to eliminate risk, and let it grow.  ING is a good example of a high interest account; either savings or checking, and you can withdraw the money if you need to in order to make a payment on the loan.  If you are considering this route, you’ll want to weigh the fees of obtaining the loan with how much the money will earn you while in the savings account.

Credit Cards

You can actually make money with your credit cards.  Look for offers for 0% balance transfers or 0% cash advances, preferably for twelve months or more.  Instead of using the card to make purchases, simply deposit the amount into your high interest account where it will earn money interest free for the year.  When the 0% interest period has ended, you can withdraw the money to pay it back, and keep the interest it’s earned.

Deposit $10,000 from a 0% credit card offer for 12 months in a 4.25% APY account, and you’ll have $425 at the end of the year.  Yes, you have to pay taxes on it as “earned income”, but it’s still money you wouldn’t have had otherwise.  If you did this every year, you could increase your earnings substantially – simply by adding money from new 0% offers into your account, and leaving your earned interest in the account. So the second year, maybe you would qualify for $15,000 from a 0% credit card offer instead of $10,000 since you paid it back on time; and you already made $425.  You are then earning interest on $15,425.  That year you’ll earn over $650 in interest.  After you pay back your $15,000 loan, you would have around $1075 in interest from the two years of making money off borrowed money.  You can decide whether or not to continue these methods of earning from borrowed money; or to move your $1000+ earned interest into a different investment or savings vehicle for long term growth.

Special Considerations

Whenever you consider ways of making money from borrowed money, you need to keep in mind that if you aren’t paying attention to the details of the loan, you can easily make a mistake that causes you to pay finance charges or interest.  If you are paying money on the borrowed money, you are probably not going to earn much (if anything at all) from the interest you can earn.

Additionally, when you borrow money, there is always the chance your credit score will drop temporarily. This is because you’ve increased the amount of credit you are using, and decreased the amount of your available credit.  Once you pay off the borrowed money your credit score should return to normal, but it’s important to consider that effect in case you have a need to borrow additional money during the time you’ve got your 0% credit card offer or low interest home equity loan earning interest for you.

This is a guest post by Car Finance 247 who are based in the UK and specialise in helping people with bad credit.

You Can Make Money With Borrowed Money was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The question is where do you even start? Everyone has a very different concept of what money means to them and how they want to have some control over it. Everyone needs to manage their money, from those who work in the finance industry, to those who buy gold, to those who struggle to pay their bills.

To begin with you need to establish yourself financially, we’re talking about setting budgets, understanding how to use your credit cards sensibly and things like being in control. Contact those who you pay bills to and get to the bottom of what is going on. It is so important to understand your income and you will be surprised by what a difference this has on your basic dealings with money. Other things you can do include managing your bank accounts, and it you have a student loan, start dealing with that sooner rather than later. Budget, budget, budget, you will find that with this in mind you will instantly start to save money and have the control you want over it.

We can’t stress enough how important it is to manage your money. However daunting it may seem initially, don’t panic We are here to help you every step of the way and every dollar at a time.

Manage Your Money Better was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

First, consider whether or not making an addition is the best option. Having an addition made means having parts of your house being unavailable for an extended period of time, having dust everywhere, and having construction workers in your home for weeks. Your house will likely be not very livable. You might just consider moving to another, bigger house that meets your needs from a hassle perspective. You also need to make sure that you don’t over-build the neighborhood.

You don’t want your house to be the largest and most expensive in your neighborhood. You likely won’t ever get the value out of your house when you sell it. Ideally, your home will be at the lower-end of the neighborhood to receive the maximum opportunity for your home’s value to grow, but it’s okay if you bump up into the middle of the pack with an addition.

If you do decide to go ahead and make an addition, make sure you have a reputable contractor. It won’t take long for you to find horror stories about contractors that did a sub-par job or just disappeared in the middle of a project. Get lots of testimonials from people that have used the contractor before, check their status with the Better Business Bureau and make sure that you trust the contractor you’re working with.  Get all of the information that you can about your contractor before signing up with them. Interview and compare multiple contractors as well and get multiple bids. Choosing the wrong contractor could end up costing you tens of thousands of dollars, so be careful in making your decision.

Once you have a contractor, you’ll start working on blueprints and plans. Be conservative in your decisions. The project will almost always end up costing you more than you had hoped, so plan for that ahead of time. Make sure to setup the arrangement with your contractor so that they only get paid as work as complete. That way you have leverage to make sure that the work gets done. You might find your contractor making use of used construction equipment, that’s nothing to worry about.

Getting a home addition could be a great experience for your family or be a nightmare, so make sure to move slowly and only when you have good information.

What to Consider Before Starting a Construction Project on Your Home was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

There are around ten main types of credit cards available and companies are always looking for new types of cards. The convenience of using cards far outweighs writing checks or carrying cash.

Types of credit cards include standard credit cards, those with extra rewards and cards with O% balance transfer. You can also get a credit card for bad credit if you have previously had financial difficulties.

The type of credit card you will be eligible for will depend on your credit rating. If you have a good credit rating, you will be able to access cards with a lower APR.

APR stands for ‘Annual Percentage Rate’ and this is the specific number used to calculate interest on your account. People with a higher credit rating will be offered a lower APR.

Some credit cards offer cash-back for the use of the card. Users receive a specific amount depending on the credit card balance. Typical rates in 2011 are around the 1% cash back mark.

Industry leaders, such as Wal-Mart or Disney, offer rewards that are linked to their company. Disney, for example, gives discounts at Disney stores or credit on one of their cruises.

Credit card lenders entice consumers to swap to their credit card by offering 0% balance transfers. Here, individuals can transfer an existing amount to a new card.

The new card will have a 0% transfer rate for a specific time limit. If you can pay the debt off within this time, you can save money by not having to pay interest.

Often a 0% rate will then be followed by a set period at a low APR. If this is less than the APR on your current card, it may still be advantageous.

The main point to remember is to be aware when rate changes will happen so that you are not suddenly paying a high rate. Some consumers swap cards many times to avoid this.

If you have a poor credit rating due to failing to meet repayments in the past or even experiencing periods of unemployment, you can still receive a credit card for bad credit.

This type of card is known as a credit builder. You will be charged a higher APR to start with, so you should try to pay your bill off in full at the end of the month.

APR rates will be variable but are commonly in the 30% plus range. By paying off your monthly bill, however, you will over time increase your credit rating and your APR will start to decrease.

If you do not want a credit card to repay, consider a prepaid card instead. Here you transfer money onto the card which you can then use just like a credit card.

There are no repayments therefore although some cards have an application fee, fee for ATM use and over-use fee. As with each card, always check the terms and conditions.

What Type of Credit Card is Right For You? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Snapfish.com: When you first create an account with Snapfish, you’ll get 10 free 4×6 prints as a welcome bonus.  You can get just 10 prints to see the quality of the photographs if you’re not sure, or you can include the 10 free prints in your first order. You can also have custom t shirts made that say just about anything you want on them. I can think of a fewSpiderman T shirts I’d make.  The best photo printing deals to be had at Snapfish are from the pre-paid prints:

• 250 4×6 prints = $19.99 (just 8 cents each)
• 50   5×7 prints = $24.50 (49 cents each)
• 100 5×7 prints = $39.00 (39 cents each)
• 200 5×6 prints = $72.50 (29 cents each)

If you still have your 35mm camera, you can ship your used rolls of film to their processing center and get your photographs back through the mail.  Pre-pay for developing to get the following rates:

• 10 rolls = $2.69 each
• 15 rolls = $2.59 each
• 50rolls = $1.99 each

When you pre-pay, you then have that number of credits available in your account to use all at once or a little at a time.

Photoworks.com: Another online  print management service that allows you to upload your digital photographs ormail in your film to get prints back in the mail.  You receive 25 prints as a first time user of photoworks.com. Once again, the lowest prices are obtained by creating an account and pre-paying for prints.  (Hint: you can buy your pre-paid prints and then turn around and upload your photos to use them right away if you want)

• 220  4×6 = $29.95  (14 cents each)
• 500  4×6 = $59.95 (12 cents each)
• 1000 4×6 = $89.95 (9 cents each)
• 50 5×7 = $39.95 (69 cents each)
• 100 5×7 = $59.95 (59 cents each)
• 200 5×7 = $99.95 (49 cents each)

You can mail your rolls of film in for developing as well, including a postage-paid mailer to help keep your shipping costs down.

• 4×6 double set of prints with a photo cd = $15 (up to 27 exposure) and $19 (up to 47 exposure)
• 5×7 double set of prints with a photo cd = $18 (27 exposure) and $21 (47 exposure)

Walmart: You have a few different choices when you use Walmart.  You can upload your photographs through the Walmart Photo Center website for pick up at the store or home delivery, or you can go to the store with your camera’s memory card and use the photo printing kiosk in the store. Unfortunately, you can’t do custom Batman T shirts or other t-shirts with Walmart and you’re limited to basic photographs.

One of the nice conveniences of using Walmart over other print management services is that you can upload your photographs from home, and run to Walmart to do your shopping.  Within one hour, you can pick up the photos.  One hour pick up prices are as follows:

• 4×6 prints= 19 cents each
• 5×7 prints = 1.47 each
• photos on cd = $2.47

Allow one or two days for free in-store delivery (you can pick them up another day) for lower pricing:

• 4×6 = 15 cents each
• 5×7 = 58 cents each
• photo cd = 2.47

Finally, if you prefer your photographs are sent through the mail, you do get lower prices per print (but remember you have to add shipping):

• 4×6 = 9 cents each
• 5×7 = 58 cents each
• photo cd = 2.47

CVS – CVS offers similar services as Walmart. You can do everything over the internet or show up at the store for instant prints out of the photo kiosks with your memory cards.  If you upload your photographs online, you can pick them up in the store without having to use a credit card (For orders under $49).

You get 50 free prints if you create an account with CVS online photo center and add your ExtraCare number to the account.  No ExtraCare card?  You can still get 20 free prints when you open an account.

One Hour pricing:

• 4×6 = 19 cents each

Pick up 1-2 days after uploading and home delivery photo prices:

• 4×6 = 15 cents each
• 5×7 = 1.49 each

Shipment of your photographs through the mail will range between 99 cents and $3.99 per order, based on the number of photographs in your order.

When you are ready to have photographs printed from your digital cameras (or your 35mm rolls of film!) you have several options.  Depending on the number of photographs you want to order at a time, how often you order, or whether you need to pick them up on the same day, you can make an educated decision as to where you order your photographs from to get the best deals.

Affordable Online Printing Options was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The price cut is effective for song singles and is not a new promotion. However, Amazon did upgrade the site and now dedicates an entire page to the 200 songs currently being sold for 69-cents. Roughly 15 million songs are available in total but a limited amount of tunes have been reduced to the lower price.

At the time of announcement by Amazon, some of the country’s top artists were in the discount bin including Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry. Amazon hopes that by continuing to keep prices low on Top 40 titles, music sales will receive a boost and the website’s music store will continue to improve in traffic numbers.

Currently, Apple’s iTunes music stores leads the market in digital downloads but Amazon is confident the discounted music is a bold step but one in the right direction. They are hopeful they will increase their competitiveness with Apple and lure some of iTunes customers away over time.

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) Launches 69-Cent Music Store was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The Amazon website issued an apology to customers and admitted to having lost customer data due to its technical problems. The company has even offered a 10-day credit to customers who experienced additional technical problems with their websites. Amazon vows to learn from the experience to ensure the continually upgrade the way they do business.

The outage causing the server crash occurred outside of Washington near the Dulles Airport. The outage was noted to be caused by several complicated issues but ultimately was the result of human error during a traffic shift that was performed incorrectly. Many of the affected computers become frozen in recovery mode.

Amazon plans to investigate its process when making system changes to decrease the risks of the same kind of situation from happening again.

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) Speaks Out About Server Meltdown was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The release of the video and chat features will accompany the release of the new Samsung Nexus S smartphone. Owners of the Nexus S will be able to get a software update in the next couple of weeks. After the over the air update has been completed, users can begin using the Google Talk Chat option.

Unfortunately, users who are not running the latest version of Android on their phone which is the Version 2.3, will not be able to access or use the new Chat features. According to research, only a small amount of Android platform phones in the US will be capable of using the feature because of the ongoing problem of software-version fragmentation, meaning not all Android users are current on their platform versions on even recently purchased phones. Out of date software has been a scourge for many mobile users.

Many providers are assuring customers that an upgrade is forthcoming. However, other users will be out of luck and unable to access any kind of update at all due to the hardware limitations on older model phones. Sometimes technology continues to move faster than its own good.

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) To Introduce Voice/Video Chat for Android was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The provisions mean they can not be foreclosed upon for their overdue mortgages. Additionally, service members who are reassigned can cancel a lease and if they incur any debts during the time they are serving, the debts can not accrue more than a 6% interest rate. Interest fees over that amount can be forgiven in their entirety.

Bank of America is looking to improve the benefits being offered to military members by extended benefits after soldiers have returned from active military duties. Currently, the 2003 Service Members Civil Relief Act only covers the time up until active duty ends.

Bank of America plans to cap their interest rates at just 4% and will keep the protections in place for military members up to a year after they have been discharged from service. Homeowners who are looking to refinance will also receive additional support resources from the bank which are only available to military service members. Military service members who are experiencing financial hardships due to their mortgages, especially those upside-down on the loan, will not be subjected to foreclosure. However, that provision ends once a soldier leaves active duty.

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) Extends Aid for Service Members was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

In addition to the push for growth and job stability, Citigroup also wants to stay focused on the reorganization of its credit card division and the retail banking businesses located in the United States. This is a good step in the right direction for the bank who had to cut down on their employee counts. The bank also lost many employees to competitive banks during the extensive layoffs during their extended financial crisis.

Since the employee loss, Citigroup was ranking behind other banks in its business, including in the investment banking sector, where they continue to remain in seventh place in revenue.

It is good news for the industry unemployed who are still hard-pressed to find work after the banking industry meltdown. With 500 jobs on the horizon, there may be increased hope that other banks will also be re-strengthening their business growth and looking to hire more staff in the near future.

Citigroup (NYSE: C) Set to Hire 500 New Employees was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The move will take checks out of the equation and replace the archaic system with direct deposit. Currently 85% of beneficiaries get Social Security monies through bank direct deposits. The measure was introduced to prevent check fraud as a consequence of stolen checks. It will also help the government reduce the cost associated with issuing replacement checks.

It is estimated that the Treasury department will save over $1 billion within a ten year time frame by eliminating the paper check system. Additionally benefit recipients will receive their monthly payments in a safer, more efficient manner. It is also estimated that 12 million pounds of paper will be saved in the first five years which is good news for the environment as a whole.

For those still eligible to receive checks (about 10 million), they will have a two year window to make the change from paper checks to electronic deposits and all accounts will receive direct deposits effective March 1, 2013. The monies being deposited will be accessible on the payment date of each month with no wait for the US postal service to deliver their checks.

In light of the various identification scams and check cashing frauds, the direct deposit method may be the ideal tactic to keep benefit recipients safe from identity theft and other fraudulent hassles.

Social Security Adminstration Plans to Eliminate Paper Checks was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

It is predicted that families will not survive without opportunities for increased income. However, research shows that US workers are stuck between a rock and a hard place due to the lack of income-earning opportunities for the unemployed and the unlikely ability to be awarded raises at their current job. Manufacturing appears to be the only industry getting progressively healthier.

Analysts believe that the job market will continue to rebound and as American workers gain access to higher paying jobs and income increases, the consumer spending numbers will also go up. But right now Americans are finding it hard to increase their current spending amounts because they have to fork over the extra cash to make the commute in to work and feed their families. As of this week, regular fuel was averaging around $3.89 a gallon which is the highest pricing recorded since August 2008. Food costs are also a burden with costs rising 0.8% in just the last month which is the biggest increase seen since July 2008.

Consumer Spending Increased in March Thanks to Rising Prices was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The initial lawsuit against Apple involves the cache of location data that is backed up onto mobile user’s computers. The information is unencrypted but hidden from regular user access on iPads and iPhones but if someone where to physically access the devices, they could get the information which can be used to track users. It is alleged that the activities would lead to violation of privacy rights.

Apple did admit to the collection of GPs coordinates for WiFi base stations and cell towers to expand its database of users for anonymous diagnostic data which is encrypted. The way the data is collected does not allow Apple to track its users.

Android devices of Google were found to collect location data from users every few seconds and Google was found to receive the information several times in an hour. The difference between their data collection and Apple’s is that the information has a unique identification number attached to the data. The ID is provided randomly and can’t be linked to particular users or their devices.

The Detroit residents who filed the Google class action lawsuit have concerns about Google receiving so much user data in an hour and allege that the data being sent is not encrypted, prompting security and privacy concerns. The specific concerns alleged involved stalking as was mentioned n the complaint. The defendants believe Google has violated the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act in addition to breaking several state laws concerning consumer protection.

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Facing $50M Lawsuit Over Tracking was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Microsoft has been making most of its profits by increasing sales in the business category, primarily with its Office related software, and software that runs servers, raising sales to just over 8% overall. This is in stark contrast to sales of Microsoft’s netbook, which is a lower cost, smaller laptop. This same category of electronics is where Apple has picked up sales. The Apple iPad tablet has been outselling the netbook. Regular personal computer sales have dropped almost 2% in the same time period.

This shows that consumers in the private sector are leaning toward tablet computers, and specifically, the iPad. Businesses have stayed away from tablets over all, and choose to still rely on traditional PCs with Microsoft-backed software. The increase of Tablet sales may very well make laptops obsolete for the average, non-business individual.

Microsoft closed this quarter with $5.2 billion compared to Apples quarter, that ended just shy of $6 billion. Microsoft’s stock is down more then 4% for the year.

Tablets are taking more and more of the of the regular consumer market, possibly pushing laptops out of the running altogether. Apple is dominating the tablet market despite the heavy competition, however, Microsoft continues to dominate the business and server software sales. This is also a good indicator of an improving economy, because people are spending money on convenience items like the iPad, meanwhile, businesses are improving their efficiency by investing in business software.

Reference:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-29/microsoft-profit-falls-below-apple-s-as-ipad-eats-into-sales.html

Tablet Computers Cut into Microsoft’s NASDAQ: MSFT) Profits was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

All smartphones are basically a miniature laptop, easy to use, always on you, and loaded with personal information. Think about how often you use your smartphone and the type of information it saves about you as you make use of the advanced features of convenience the phones offer – and then you’ll start to get a grasp of the growing concern starting to sweep through the nation.

Smartphones have become an absolute treasure chest of personal information. The marketer’s dream come true! Most of the time you’re not even aware of how much personal information you’re putting into the smartphone – besides the obvious phone numbers and email addresses of your contact list, there’s also search engine search topics, and keywords you used, text messages, Facebook and Twitter posts, GPS readings, map search results for everywhere you’ve traveled, and even purchases you may have made using your phone like a credit card.

The growing concern doesn’t necessarily have to deal with how much the smartphones are being used to accomplish these days, but more about how easy it is to access this information that is being stored in your smartphone. For instance, most mobile service providers have tracking software in their devices which helps relay information back to them for updating WiFi hot spots and map systems. But what information they are getting and how they are using it is a bit unclear.

In response to this growing concern for privacy and security when using smartphones, there is an expanding movement to make laws that better regulate this issue. Pro-privacy advocates say there should be laws in place to help regulate what information the phone companies have access to, and disclosure for how they use that information, although at the moment there are no major bills being drafted on the matter. Congress has made a number of summons to Apple in particular, to discuss the tracking software it uses.

Not everyone is against the ease of access to the information on smartphones. Law enforcement officials see it as a positive as the information they get from suspect’s smartphones usually breaks the case, with the call logs and text message logs being the most important information to their case. Detectives have even coined the term “digital fingerprints” to describe the information they take off smartphones, because it does lead to arrests.

Reference:

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_17911919?source=most_viewed&nclick_check=1

When Smartphones Know Too Much – is Your Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone Putting You In Danger? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Analysts say this is a sign of a strengthening market, and furthermore, a sign of a recovering economy. Microsoft’s announcement comes shortly after Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), and Facebook both announced raises for their employees, as well.

Google has given an average of a 10 per cent raise per employee, and is well on its way to hiring 8,000 new employees. Google has also announced that future bonuses will be tied to how well Google’s social media services do, giving employees more incentive to make sure the social media services are successful.

Some may speculate that it is possible Microsoft is just following a trend, or more likely, trying to keep its employees from leaving and moving to Facebook and Google. Employee retention is often more important than hiring new people, especially in the technical field.

It’s no secret that since Google became the powerhouse that it is that Microsoft has had more difficulties hiring young and talented technical workers, and now with Facebook in the picture, the hiring of young talented techs is even more competitive. Many up and coming technical workers seek Google and Facebook jobs before Microsoft, particularly as both Google and Facebook expand their market offerings. Google has recently entered the mobile device market while Facebook is developing a search engine.

Whether or not it’s just a trend, a trick to retain employees, or provide incentives to gain new employees, the truth remains that almost all technical employees working in Microsoft, Google, or Facebook will be seeing a raise this year. On average, the raises in the industry are roughly 4 per cent.

Reference:

http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/More-Money-Could-Make-Microsoft-Employees-Stick-72328.html?wlc=1303656908&wlc=1303661172

Tech Employees at Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Get Bigger Raises was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Many people are still unsettled with this explanation, however. Senators, including Senator Al Franken, have recently called on Apple to describe why they are tracking location of smart phone users. Apple explains that not only does the use of location tracking allow them to update the Wifi spots to maximize iPhone use, but it allows them to update maps for GPS use by smart phone users.

Many people speculate location tracking has something to do with advertising. Google is already testing location-based advertising for their tablet and Android phones in England. Basically, this means that when you use your Android in England, you will get ads for businesses specific to your location. Ads for mobile devices are becoming the next big method for businesses attempting to reach their target customers with their marketing messages and the location tracking of smart phones will further grow this type of advertising.

Another concern of location tracking with phones of course is security-based. If an individual with ill intent toward another individual has access to the location, they could use that information in a harmful way. It may seem an unlikely scenario for the average American, but location tracking deals with security of people in general. Because the information is accessible, it could be used maliciously.

Most of the smart phones made by Google and Apple have a feature to stop location tracking. Individuals who do not want their location known have the option of turning the feature off. Unfortunately, a problem with the programming of this feature actually allowed location tracking even after the feature was turned off – but it has since been repaired. This added fuel to the fire as people saw it as evidence that the location tracking was or could become malicious. Google and Apple insist there is no vicious intent to their costumers, and promise it is just a feature to help maximize the smart phone’s experience for updating maps, search engines and Wifi spots.

References:

http://www.mobiledia.com/news/88286.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/21/al-franken-ed-markey-iphone-tracking_n_852196.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/27/google-apple-location-tracking_n_854114.html

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) On The Hot Seat With Location Tracking was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

After an unnamed woman from Los Angeles met Alan Paul Wurtzel on Match.com, however, the website’s façade of safety soon disappeared. The Californian woman has filed sexual assault charges against Wurtzel and a lawsuit against Match.com.

It all started out well for this woman, like many women who decide to use Match’s services. She, like any other person attempting to use the plethora of free dating sites around the web, filled out her profile, added some photos and personal information, surfed around the site until deciding to go for a full fledged membership, and was contacted by a seemingly straight-shooting, decent man in Alan Paul Wurtzel.

After the usual online nicety trade off, the Ivy League-educated TV executive decided to meet Wurtzel for a live date.

The two met at a café in West Hollywood last year, and according to the women filing the suit, Wurtzel seemed “charming” so the two agreed to meet up for a second date. However, after the second date was over and the women thought she was going home alone, Wurtzel allegedly followed her to her home and raped her.

Already distraught and going through the motions of filing a sexual assault claim against Wurtzel, the news that he had already been convicted on multiple sexual misconduct charges was pure insult to injury. With salt in her wounds, the LA woman then contacted a lawyer to file a lawsuit against Match.com, demanding that the website screen its members more thoroughly before allowing just anyone to use their services.

It can be argued either way, citing personal responsibility and pointing to the thousands of articles available dealing with online dating safety tips. But Match.com, a legitimate player in the world of online dating, has decided to institute a screening process instead of fighting the woman in court.

“This horrific ordeal completely blindsided me because I had considered myself savvy about online dating safety…things quickly turned into a nightmare, beyond my control.” claims the woman about her ordeal.

The lawsuit filed requested a temporary injunction to stop Match.com from accepting new members until a screening process could be put in place. Match has been more than willing to change the way it operates, apparently feeling genuinely bad for this woman, as the alleged victim in this case is seeking no monetary compensation whatsoever; she’s only wishing to see that this does not happen to other women.

According to Mandy Ginsberg, president of Match.com, “We want to stress that while these checks may help in certain instances, they remain highly flawed, and it is critical that this effort does not provide a false sense of security to our members.”

To date, Match is planning on upping its security measures in the coming months, and new members to the site can expect to be screened for prior records.

Match.com To Screen Members Against Sex Offenders List was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

These new numbers that were released by Verizon were also released along with their activation numbers for other popular phones. The HTC Thunderbolt had 260,000 activations in just two weeks. 4G devices saw over 500,000 activations in the first quarter.

During the first three months of the year that makes up the first quarter, AT&T and Verizon have been battling one another on iPhone sales. AT&T announced in their report this Wednesday that they activated 3.6 million iPhones on their network during the first quarter of 2011. This is a 33 percent increase from the amount of iPhones that were activated in 2010.

Just looking at the numbers it would appear that AT&T was winning the Apple battle. However, this isn’t necessarily the case because Verizon didn’t launch the iPhone 4 on their network until February 10, which was over a month into the sales quarter.

As stated in Apple Insider, “Apple announced in its own earnings report on Wednesday that iPhone sales in the U.S. were up 155 percent last quarter. Though Apple does not provide a regional breakdown of iPhone sales, based on activations reported by Verizon and AT&T, the company sold at least 5.8 million handsets in the U.S. last quarter. Those 2.2 million iPhone 4 activations on the Verizon network helped the carrier grow smartphone sales to more than half of its total phone sales. Last quarter 60 percent of postpaid phones sold by Verizon were smartphone, compared to 49 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010.”

More people are also starting to make the switch to using smartphones this year. As reported in Apple Insider, “Smartphone penetration on the Verizon network is 32 percent, up from 28 percent in the previous quarter. And total data revenue is $5.5 billion, with 22.3 percent year-over-year growth. Verizon Wireless added 1.8 million customers in the quarter, and now has 104 million total connections. For comparison, AT&T revealed on Wednesday that it added just 62,000 customers in the quarter.”

2.2 Million Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhones Activated By Verizon in First Quarter was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Even though the components that are used for the Apple products may not be as affected as people presumed shortly after the disaster in Japan, it does still show an economic impact in sales that were going strong in Japan before the disaster. To adjust the loss in sales from this, Apple lowered their expectations by $200 million for the quarter.

As explained in Apple Insider, “Cook revealed that the disaster did not have a major impact on component supplies or pricing in the second quarter of fiscal 2011. He also said that Apple does not anticipate the ongoing situation to have a major impact in the third quarter, either. However, the COO also cautioned that the situation in Japan remains volatile, with aftershocks and potential power outages. Cook revealed that Apple’s employees have been working ‘around the clock on contingency plans,’ to ensure that the company will be able to secure components if deals were to fall through in Japan. But he also said he would prefer to stick with Apple’s long-term partners in Japan if possible — something he said he expects will take place in most cases.”

With the soaring popularity of the iPad 2, the company has been watched closely to determine if the component supply is large enough to meet the consumer’s growing demands for such devices. Cook admitted that the demand for the iPad 2 is “staggering” and is also “heavily backlogged.”

In the second fiscal quarter of 2011, Apple was able to sell 4.69 million iPads. This is a bit below the projected 6 million that Wall Street analysts expected, but it is still a huge number. The demand for iPads has also been growing. Apple will launch the iPad 2 in 13 more countries starting next week. It is unknown as of right now which countries will be launching the iPad next week, but it is likely to include Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Singapore.

Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) Supplies Relatively Unaffected By Disaster In Japan was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

These security researchers concluded that the collection of this type of data by Apple is “intentional” and have even contacted the security team at Apple in an attempt to determine their reasoning behind such data collection. They have not yet received a response from Apple.

As stated in Apple Insider, “What makes this issue worse is that the file is unencrypted and unprotected, and it’s on any machine you’ve synched with your iOS device,” Allan wrote. “It can also be easily accessed on the device itself if it falls into the wrong hands. Anybody with access to this file knows where you’ve been over the last year, since iOS 4 was released.”

This unprotected file is something users should be worried about if it was able to fall into the wrong hands. The data is stored on a file called “consolidated.db” and it includes the latitude and longitude coordinates along with a timestamp of when the user was at the location. The researchers who discovered this file said that even though the coordinates may not always be exact, they are “pretty detailed.”

As stated in Apple Insider, “There can be tens of thousands of data points in this file, and it appears the collection started with iOS 4, so there’s typically about a year’s worth of information at this point,” Allan wrote. “Our best guess is that the location is determined by cell-tower triangulation, and the timing of the recording is erratic, with a widely varying frequency of updates that may be triggered by traveling between cells or activity on the phone itself.”

The researchers who found this have also reassured those that use the devices that so far there is no evidence that this data is actually being sent to anyone. Those that are still worried about this file can encrypt their backups through iTunes. To do this with your device, simply connect the iPhone or iPad 3G version and then check the “Encrypt iPhone Backup” setting that can be found in the “Options” area.

Privacy Concerns Over Location Tracking in Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) Devices was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

This is a lot of money to find, so it makes sense to have a good saving plan in operation.

Before you work out how much money you might be able to put aside each month for your home, you should consider the savings vehicle that you are going to put it into to ensure that the money you are putting away is earning the best possible interest for you.

One of the most popular products is an ISA, a tax-free savings plan into which you can regularly save money, as well as put in any larger deposits that you may be lucky enough to gain, through bonuses at work, or selling items.

It is possible to save up to £5,340 per year in a cash ISAs and you can save twice this amount (£10,680) if you opt for a Stocks and Shares ISA.

If you are buying with a friend or partner, you can each hold these ISAs, which add up to a considerable tax saving over the year.

So, where are you going to find the money to put away?

First of all, set out your budget, listing all your monthly, yearly and incidental expenses, such as utilities (gas, water, electricity), phone and internet bills, mobile bills, car expenses (tax, insurance, fuel, servicing and MOT costs), food and so on.

Be sure not to leave anything out, list all those extras; the coffee you have on the way to work in the morning, the sandwich you buy and of course nights out. It’s a great way to identify where savings can easily be made and, at more than £2 a cup, just cutting out that coffee and taking a drink from home in a travel cup can save you £40 a month.

When budgeting, it is also a good idea to set up a standing order so that any money saved goes straight into your savings account.

Next take a look at anything you can sell to add to the deposit. With the sites such as eBay, Preloved and local markets, there are all kinds of opportunities to sell your unwanted goods for cash and to declutter ready for when you finally get to move to your own home!

Similarly, if you need anything new, consider looking on sites such as Freecycle and Freegle where people give goods away.

If you do all this and you still don’t feel that you’ll be able to save enough cash then you may have to think about getting a second job.

It may also be a good idea to think about areas where you may be wasting money, for example, by leaving lights and electrical items on when not in use.

Finally, a general attitude of thriftiness will save you a lot and it may be a case that you have to live your life by the old saying that: “if you look after the pennies, the pounds will take care of themselves”.

Saving To Buy Your First Home was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported that according to people that are familiar with Apple’s plans, the white version of the iPhone 4 is almost ready for launch with both AT&T and Verizon wireless carriers.

On Thursday, Reuters reported that Apple’s suppliers have started the production of the white iPhone 4, at least according to the “two people familiar with the situation.”

Why has there been such a delay in the white version of the popular smartphone? Well, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s statement made in March to Apple Insider, it has to do with the “full-lamination problem” which prompted necessary changes be made to the film material on the iPhone 4 which resulted in a ten month delay.

Last month a Twitter message was posted by Apple VP Phile Schiller stating that “The white iPhone will be available this spring (and it is a beauty!).”

Why the extended delay on this beauty of a smartphone? Well, Apple Insider speculates that “the extended delay of the white iPhone 4 has prompted speculation that Apple will hold off on releasing a redesigned iPhone this summer. Numerous rumors have now suggested that Apple will instead release the so-called iPhone 5 this fall, with one report suggesting that Apple would not release a next-generation iPhone until after Apple’s fiscal 2012 begins in late September.”

Apple has been releasing a new version of the iPhone each summer around June or July. However, with the recent release of the iPhone with Verizon, it may anger customers who bought one and signed up for a 2-year contract with them for that phone. The release of the iPhone 5 may come later than the usual date based on this factor.

As reported in Apple Insider, “Insiders connected to Taiwan-based touch panel makers indicated Wednesday that Apple has yet to provide them with a production roadmap for the next iPhone. The sources were split, however, as to the interpretation of the situation. Some believe that Apple will release a slightly modified iPhone 4 this summer, while others speculated that a ‘major overhaul’ would come at a later date.”

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone 4 Might Be Available In White In The Next Few Weeks was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White was at the China electronics trade show earlier this week, and said in a note to investors that while he was there, he picked up “data points” which point towards a “Smart TV” launch by Apple which could possibly happen by the end of this year.

As stated in Apple Insider, “Our research suggests this Smart TV would go well beyond the miniature $99 second-generation Apple TV that the company released last fall and provide a full-blown TV product for consumers,” White said. He went on to say that although Apple has long been projected by company watchers to enter the HDTV market, the Mac maker now appears to be “moving down this path at a faster pace than the market expected.”

Apple entering into the TV market is a welcome change for their loyal consumers and fans. White went on to say that “the combination of Apple’s powerful ecosystem, industrial design savvy, powerful brand and ability to reinvent product categories could make Apple a powerful force in the TV world over the next few years.”

Perhaps the biggest pusher of an HDTV produced by Apple has been analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray who has forecasted that if (or when) Apple enters into the HDTV market; the TV would probably have a starting price of around $2,000. An HDTV with a price tag starting at $2,000 could also be paired up with a special iTunes subscription that could give users access to special content and services at a flat rate. This could then eliminate the need for cable or even a digital video recorder.

White’s note about the possible HDTV by Apple did not mention anything about such prices or special services.

As reported in Apple Insider, “Earlier this year, Apple revealed it had invested $3.9 billion of its cash reserves in securing key components for products. Many have assumed that money has gone toward securing displays for its range of products, including the iPhone and iPad. But Munster said in February he believes that $3.9 billion investment is just more evidence of a forthcoming Apple HDTV. He believes Apple could build a television set up to 50 inches in size, though he predicted earlier this year that such a product would not launch until the end of calendar year 2012 at the earliest.”

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) May Join LCD TV Market in 2011 was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Ticonderoga Securities analyst, Brian White, is on day six of a tech trip in China and Taiwan. He is meeting with component suppliers for the tech products, such as the iPad. As reported in Apple Insider, “sources have revealed expectations that Apple will sell between 40 million and 45 million iPads in 2011. White said he heard those same figures in a separate visit to Asia last fall, but ‘at the time, this number was difficult for many investors and some in the media to get their heads around’.”

Originally White predicted that Apple would sell 30.9 million units of the popular iPad tablets this year. If Apple was able to sell 45 million units of the iPad, that would be much larger than the previous forecast amount of sales for 2011.

To compare those sales numbers for the Apple iPad, in March the Taiwanese publication DigiTimes cited industry sources and claimed that Apple would ship out 40 million iPad tablets in 2011. Needham & Company analyst Charlie Wolf has predicted that Apple could sell 30 million iPads. Mike Abramsky with RBC Capital Markets forecasts that Apple will sell only 28 million iPads in 2011.

To put these sales predictions into perspective, the original iPad was only available for nine months in 2010 and Apple sold 15 million units of the iPad tablet. With the increased availability of the iPad and iPad 2 in more stores and online and the availability in more countries around the globe, it may very well reach those high sales goals for 2011.

As reported in Apple Insider, “AAPL investors will get their first look at calendar 2011 iPad sales next week, when Apple will report its earnings for the second quarter of its fiscal 2011. That period covers the first three months of 2011, including the few weeks where the iPad 2 was on sale.”

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) May Beat 2011 Forecasted Shipments With iPad 2 was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Bankruptcy can be considered an embarrassing and humiliating failure, but it has become a occurrence in everyday life born out of rising costs of living, rampant unemployment, and out of control debt. With many attempting to stave off bankruptcy, it’s difficult to know where to turn for assistance. There are some helpful tips for those individuals fighting bad credit and trying to keep from filing for bankruptcy.

If you’re faced with a need for cash flow to pay off your debts, sometimes a creditloan is your best option. If you have a poor credit history, this loan becomes a bad credit loan. A bad credit loan is poorly named because, for many, just the name alone carries with it particular negative connotations. This is simply a loan that allows a creditor to issue money to a borrower solely based upon the financial strength of the borrower. They are designed for individuals with a bad credit history and traditionally involve higher interest rates. They’re for those people who find themselves in dire need of money, due to emergency situations, and they should not be used under any other circumstance. They can also afford you time to build your credit rating back up.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you are faced with mounting debts and creditors, you should seek financial counseling. You may not need to file if you take certain steps to scale back you spending habits, and seek the advice of someone who deals with these kinds of issues daily. An advisor is likely to tell you to first stop using your credit cards, unless there is an emergency, and begin pairing back your standard of living to a smaller budget. Reducing your expenses is key. If you’re able to put more towards your debts and less towards luxuries, you’ll find yourself on much steadier ground. Once you’ve begun cutting back on your expenditures, you’ll be able to start building your credit score. If you’re presently in the thick of it, this can seem like a long road ahead to financial stability, but with diligence and patience you’ll be able to come out of it in the end.

Sometimes consumers aren’t trying to purposefully misuse their credit, but overwhelming circumstances can lead to poor choices. Bankruptcy is, at times, a necessary step, but it should be taken seriously. It will affect a person credit for years. They’ll have to face much higher interest rates, which will affect the financial choices that can be made. Understand that many lenders don’t want you to file, and are usually willing to make certain accommodations to help you make your monthly payments and get back on a financially manageable track. Consider all of the options before taking that leap into post-bankruptcy life.

Fighting Bankruptcy and Bad Credit History was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The fast sell out is a record for Apple. While tickets have always disappeared quickly, they have never gone at this pace. Last year when tickets for the conference went on sale it took eight days for the conference to sell out and the year prior it took nearly a month.

The quick sell out may be a way for developers to cash in. Many were given extra activation codes for conference tickets so that they could later hand them out to colleagues. These developers have now turned around and are selling the extra tickets they were able to acquire on Ebay and Craig’s List for a premium.

Apple was selling tickets for the conference for the same price as last year’ event and for what some may now call the bargain price of just $1599.00. If you are willing to dish out a lot more you might be able to get your hands on a ticket. Some scalped tickets are being reported as selling for close to $5000.00.

What does Apple think of this inflated resale price? In the past Apple has never openly opposed to the re-selling of tickets to the conference and it is not known whether or not they will take any action against the explicit reselling taking place right now.

Apple’s Developer Conference is not the first one to sell out this year. Google’s I/O seminar event that went on sale last month for May also sold out in just a few hours. Google’s price for the event was just $450.00 per ticket but like Apple’s event, shortly after the conference sold out tickets were found on Ebay and Craig’s list going for several times the ticket value.

Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) World Wide Develop Conference Sell Out In Less Than A Day was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Current debit card customers will not be affected by the changes. For now, these reward customers will still be able to continue to earn cash back, travel rewards as well as gift cards and gift certificates when they use their debit card for payment, among other things.

What is prompting the changes? Wells Fargo like other banks will soon need to replace revenue that they will be losing as a result of lower debit interchange fees. An interchange fee is the fee the bank charges the retailer when you use your debit card to pay for a purchase. The bank collects the fee and then shares the revenue with their partners including Visa and MasterCard.

According to data collected in 2009 from the Federal Reserve the average interchange fee collected from banks was 44 cents per transaction. While this number may seem small, the amount of revenue that is generated totals in the billions each year. Interchange fees are thought to currently generate approximately 16 billion dollars annually for the industry.

The revenue from interchange fees is more than likely about to take a severe hit, forcing banks to cut services and programs in order to save money. In December of last year the Feds proposed that the Interchange fee be capped at 12 cents per transaction. The rate change, if it passes, is scheduled to take place in July.

Meanwhile, Wells Fargo along with other banks are scrambling to find ways to cut expenses and make up for the revenue that they are about to lose. It appears that debit card rewards programs at Wells Fargo and other banks just may be seeing their demise.

Reference:

http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/50091/Wells+Fargo+Halts+Debit+Rewards

Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) Set To Stop Offering Debit Card Rewards was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

So should the US follow this example and create a tax-efficient savings vehicle for the under 18’s that can be used for something other than education?

In many ways, the fact that the 529 plan is so focused on education is what sets it apart from other savings vehicles.

If you decide to start a 529 plan then, in order to benefit from the tax breaks, any money saved can only be used on college related items such as tuition fees, books and supplies and any attempt to spend it elsewhere will result in the funds being subjected to tax.

On the other hand this could be viewed as a major flaw in the 529 plan as it could be the case that education may not be a strong point or a priority once your child comes of age.

This is where the UK model differs dramatically as there are no conditions on what the savings can be spent on and the money goes directly to the named trustee once they turn 18.

The Junior ISA is essentially a re-working of the now defunct Child Trust Fund (CTF) but the savings threshold has been increased from £1,200 per year to £3,000 per year possibly to compensate for the fact that the government no longer provide a cash incentive for savers.

Once the trustee turns 18 the Junior ISA then becomes a full cash ISA or stocks and shares ISA (read more on ISA products) and can be added to each year to benefit from the tax-free interest. Alternatively, the trustee can withdraw the money form the account to spend as they see fit.

The obvious downside to this is that the priorities of an 18-year-old and an 18-year-old’s parents can differ greatly and, despite the fact that the parents are most likely to have been the major benefactor, how the money is spent is ultimately down to the trustee.

Another way in which the Junior ISA differs from a 529 plan is that once the money has been put into the ISA it is ‘locked in’ and cannot be touched until the account matures.

The way things currently stand in the US is that many of the tax-efficient savings products are directly linked to a savings goal, such as the 529 plan for education or the 410(k) for retirement and this focused way of saving certainly has it’s advantages as it is much easier to stick to a savings plan if you know what you are saving for.

But would US citizens been keen on such an open ended savings account and could it be as big a success in the US as it has been in the UK?

Obviously this is impossible to speculate upon, but it is more than likely that a tax-free savings account would be welcomed by most, whether they are over or under 18.

Should the US follow the UK’s ‘Junior ISA’ model? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The quick sell out is a record for Apple. While tickets have always disappeared quickly, they have never gone at this pace. Last year when tickets for the conference went on sale it took eight days for the conference to sell out and the year prior it took nearly a month.

The quick sell out may be a way for developers to cash in. Many were given extra activation codes for conference tickets to be able to alter hand out to colleagues. These developers have now turned around and are selling the extra tickets they were able to acquire on Ebay and Craig’s List.

Apple was selling tickets for the conference for what some may now call the bargain price of just $1599.00. If you are willing to dish out a lot more you might be able to get your hands on a ticket. Scalped tickets are being reported as going for as much as $4599.00.

Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) World Wide Develop Conference Sell Out In Less Than A Day was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

When looking at your income, how do you actually know how much is enough? You can use your debt to income ratio to tell you. Working out your debt to income ratio can be quite simple, but it has brilliant benefits. It’s ideal for helping you to analyse your financial situation and where it is going.

It’s simple

The debt to income ratio is the sort of calculation lenders do when evaluating your financial progress, it gives them a great snapshot of your finances. The debt to income ratio doesn’t by any means give you detailed financial advice but it gives you a great snapshot of where you’re at.

The best thing about calculating your debt to income ratio is that it’s very simple. It’s as easy as adding up all of your monthly debts and all of your monthly income, so that you can make one simple calculation. To make sure you get an accurate figure that you can rely on, you should make sure you are thorough and that you try to include everything in your calculations.

Evaluate

To make sure you are as thorough as possible when making your calculations, grab a pen and paper and go from A to Z, it might be easier if you have 6 months worth of bank statements to give you a bit of guidance. Remember to include things like loans, balance transfer credit cards, mortgage payments, car finance, child support and all other debt obligations. Remember to work this out on a monthly basis.

The next step is to calculate your monthly income, firstly take your monthly salary, and add to it any auxiliary income that you may have, whether it is from a website you own or from a side business, try to include everything.

Calculate

To work out your debt to income ratio merely take your total debt figure and divide it by your total monthly income, then times this amount by 100 to give you your percentage. Here’s an example; if your debt figure is $1000 a month, and your monthly income is $3000, your debt to income ratio is 33%.

Analyse

So what does this figure tell us? You ideally want your % ratio to be as low as possible, the lower the figure the less debt you have compared to your income on a month to month basis.

This then proves that you are financially better off and knowing this information can help you to analyse your financial situation, in a very similar way to that of a lender when deciding whether or not to lend you money.

Calculating Your Debt to Income Ratio was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Audible currently offers two subscription plans, its one-audiobook-per-month gold membership ($14.59 monthly) and its two-audiobook-per-month membership ($22.95). Both memberships allow Audible.com users to get discounts on additional audiobooks they purchase. The current Audible Free Trial provides a two week free trial to the gold membership. Users that take advantage of the offer will get one free audiobook of their choice, which can be kept even if they cancel the subscription before paying.  Users that cancel their subscription before the 14 day free trial is complete will not be charged.

Here are the terms and conditions of the free trial from Audible’s website:  ”Get your first 14 days of the AudibleListener® Gold membership plan free, which includes one audiobook credit. After your 14 day trial, your membership will renew each month for just $14.95 per month so you can continue to receive one audiobook credit per month plus members-only discounts on all audio purchases. A very small number of titles are more than one credit. Cancel your membership before your free trial period is up and you will not be charged. Thereafter, cancel anytime, effective the next billing cycle. Any unused audiobook credits will be lost at cancellation.”

Audible.com is the leading provider of digital audiobooks and audio entertainment on the Internet. Audible titles are downloaded and played on iPods, iPhones, Android devices, Kindles, mp3 players and over 500 other devices. Audible.com has more than 85,000 titles in every genre, including mysteries & thrillers, business, sci-fi & fantasy, as well as titles featured on Oprah’s Book Club and the New York Times Best Sellers List.

You can get your Audible Free Trial on Audible’s website.

Audible Free Trial: How to Get a Free Trial and One Free Audiobook on Audible.com was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The suit was filed this week in New York and points to the time period from Jan through October of last year. During this time the bank’s stock value plummeted when allegations came out that the bank was hiding billions in debt and partaking in fraudulent foreclosure practices. Additionally, the bank is being accused of not properly filing mortgages that were acquired from Countrywide.

According to the complaint that was filed Bank Of America, “did not properly record many of its mortgages when originated or acquired, which severely complicated the foreclosure process when it became necessary.”

Shareholders say Bank of America’s stock traded at an inflated rate during much of last year. In April 2010 the shares reached their peak of $19.48. Soon after the problems came to light, the banks stock’s crashed falling nearly 42%.

Bank Of America has been dealing with the fallout since last October. As a result of accusations against Bank of America and other lenders, attorney generals in all states launched an investigation into foreclosure practices across the country. At the time Bank Of America voluntarily put all of their foreclosure proceedings on hold while they launched their own internal investigation. Foreclosure procedures have since been reinstated at the bank, but meanwhile several legal suits have resulted.

Shareholders filing this current suit are speaking out saying that Bank of America executives did not act in good faith. They are asking for damages in an undisclosed amount along with reimbursement for court costs, attorney fees and any other miscellaneous expenses.

Reference:

http://www.housingwire.com/2011/03/29/shareholders-take-aim-at-bank-of-america-executives

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-28/bank-of-america-board-sued-by-holders-over-mortgage-defects.html

Bank Of America (NYSE: BAC) Sued By Share Holders was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

In the ever growing and always competitive wireless communication industry, this merger will prove to be a win-win for both AT&T customers and T-Mobile customers. By joining together, network quality will improve for customers on both ends. As stated in the press release, “In addition, it provides a fast, efficient and certain solution to the impending exhaustion of wireless spectrum in some markets, which limits both companies’ ability to meet the ongoing exlosive demand for mobile broadband.”

An addition 46.5 million customers will now have access to the 4G LTE network, many located in small towns and rural communities across the nation. By reaching out to customers who previously did not have access to the network, this merger will help facilitate President Obama’s goal of connecting “every part of America to the digital age”.

There are some who may see this merger as AT&T taking one step closer to monopolizing the industry. The combination of companies will have a positive impact on both customers and shareholders alike. The United States has one of the most competitive cell phone industries in the world, which directly impacts how much customers pay for wireless services. As the industry continues to evolve and grow, there will be no shortage of options available to consumers. AT&T may have just gotten bigger, but in this case, bigger might be better for all involved parties.

As stated in the press release, “The competitiveness of the market has directly benefited consumers. A 2010 report from the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) states the overall average price (adjusted for inflation) for wireless services declined 50 percent from 1999 to 2009, during a period which saw five major wireless mergers.”

This merger should close within 12 months, with the exchange of $39 billion in cash and stock from AT&T to T-Mobile.

AT&T (NYSE: T) Announces Plan To Purchase T-Mobile was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The cuts in workforces are the latest attempt to reorganize the USPS. It is expected that $750 million will be saved in a year with the scheduled downsizing. For now, the offices scheduled to close are located in Columbus, OH, South Georgia, Albuquerque, Big Sky, South East New England, South East Michigan, and Northern Illinois.

The downsizing going on within the system were the result of the ongoing evaluations concerning the proposal to eliminate Saturday customers delivery of US Mail. Currently, there is debate on the elimination plans as mail delays can be up to two or more days, which may adversely affect recipients.

The US Postal Service has been recording significant losses and are hoping to find ways to cut expenses and save more money. Proposed plans for five-day a week service and a reduced workforce are the strategies being discussed to beat the $8.5 billion losses reported during 2010. 2011 losses are predicted to range around $6.4 billion. The financial losses are being blamed on the declining volume of mail across the country and the state of the nation’s economy.

A total of 2,000 local post offices are scheduled to close within the next two years according to a plan announced by the USPS this past January. Executives and administration are undergoing buyout procedures where employees over the age of 50 who have at least twenty years of postal service are being offered $20,000. Employers are also eligible for the buyout if they have 25 or more years of service regardless of their age. 105,000 full-time positions have already been cut in the last two years which include clerk positions, mail handlers, and plant workers.

US Postal Service Set to Cut 7,500 Jobs was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The executives of Bank of America were discussing an increase in dividends with the announcement that a ‘new era’ has begun at the bank who has faced much criticism and financial issues in the last several months. But while the party at the Plaza Hotel was festive, the Federal Reserve has actually put the kibosh on plans to increase dividends during the second part of 2011.

Bank of America has been working overtime trying to bring back the confidence of shareholders after a struggle of up and downs. The veto of dividend increase plans by the federal government has caused a setback for the bank. Other banks have also had their plans nixed for increasing investor payouts as regulators continue to resist.

Neither Bank of America nor the Federal Reserve would comment publicly about why the increase proposal was rejected. The Reserve also would not common on how banks in general scored during their most recent examination. Analysts suggest that Bank of America still faces big problems.

Capital One Financial and MetLife were just two of the other financial institutions not participating in announcements on dividend increases for shareholders. While other banks have issued such announcements, MetLife and Capital One would not make any comments about their communication with the Federal Reserve nor would they discuss the outcome from their recent stress tests with the government.

Bank of America does have plans to provide the Federal Reserve with a new proposal concerning dividend distribution and said they will continue to work with the Reserve to get approval for increased dividends during the second part of 2011.

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) Dividend Meeting Left Out Feds was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The U.S. senators involved in this include: Democratic Senators Harry Reid, Charles Schumer, Frank Lautenberg and Tom Udall. These senators have sent letters to Apple, Google and RIM requesting that these apps available on smartphone platforms should be removed from their stores or heavily modify these apps that notify the users of locations of police checkpoints.

The senators claim that these apps are “harmful to public safety” because it allows drunk drivers to avoid being detected by police. As stated in Apple Insider, “Giving drunk drivers a free tool to evade checkpoints, putting innocent families and children at risk, is a matter of public concern,” the senators said. “We hope that you will give our request to remove these applications from your store immediate consideration.”

There are multiple apps available that help users to avoid police detection. The letter that the senators sent to Scott Forstall, Apple’s Senior Vice President of iPhone software, called out the app that contains a DUI database of checkpoints that are updated in real-time. Another popular application that also helps users avoid being caught by police is updated in real-time by the 10 million users of the app. This app was considered to be objectionable though because the users were notifying one another of the DUI checkpoints.

With such a large amount of people using these apps, it is making many people involved with law enforcement worried because of the accidents it could cause. As stated in Apple Insider, The senators cited growing law enforcement concerns over the apps, quoting a police captain as having said, “If people are going to use those, what other purpose are they going to use them for except to drink and drive?

Shortly after the letter was received by BlackBerry’s maker, RIM, they agreed to the request from the senators. According to a press release, one of the RIM representatives thanked the senators for bringing it to their attention and said that they would comply with their request.

As quoted in Apple Insider, “The senators applauded RIM for their timely response. ‘RIM’s decision to remove these apps from their online store prove that when it comes to drunk driving, there should not be an app for that,’ said Schumer, briefly alluding to Apple’s ‘there’s an app for that’ ad campaign for the iPhone.”

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone App Provides DUI Checkpoint Locations: Senators Disapprove was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

This Wednesday, DigiTimes reported that Apple is currently in talks about the prices of the touch paneling with their Taiwan based component makers. Apple has allegedly considered some of the price increases in these recent negotiations with the component makers. Apple wants to be sure that they have a “sufficient supply” of these components for the demand of their popular products such as the iPhone and iPad.

Even though this risky move may have a negative impact on the company’s gross margins in the short term, it would help them to secure the availability of these touch panels for their products in the future. The price increase on these panels would also be a big help to the supply chain they work with overseas that have been affected by this disaster.

These plans wouldn’t help everyone in the industry though. Their competitors would of course not like this because if Apple agrees to a price increase for the touch panels, it would put them under more pressure to do the same as well. Apple already has a large share of the global touch panel market and it has even been predicted that they will squeeze out some of their competitors throughout 2011. If they go through with this move, it is likely that prediction will come true.

As stated in Apple Insider, “Apple allegedly plans to build 40 million of its popular iPad in 2011. In order to reach that goal, and keep up with crushing demand for the iPad 2, Apple has reportedly booked more than 60 percent of the total global supply chain touch panel capacity.”

The concern for the touch panel supply has grown tremendously since the earthquake and following tsunami hit Japan. Apple Insider reported that “Last week, it was said that Apple’s manufacturing partner, Foxconn, has two to three weeks’ worth of components stockpiled. Should the situation in Japan not improve by that time, Foxconn could reportedly face a stockout.”

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) To Consider Paying More To Secure Components was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

So, what features are rumored for Google Music? What will differentiate it from other similar services? Here is what is being reported:

• A digital music store will be available similar to other competing sites like Apple and Amazon.
• A digital storage area will have features that surpass other sites including the ability for consumers to store their entire music library on line and have access to it for all their music compatible devices.

Google does seem to have a few snags that they are dealing with before the store can go public. The main issue is negotiating contracts with record labels. With their on line storage plans, they are striving to enter new territory that hasn’t yet been touched by their competitors. As a result, licensing issues will need to be resolved before they can go live. Whatever is decided will create a precedent and no one wants to make a move too quickly without thinking it through.

Google is hoping their music store launch will give Apple a run for their money. As of the end of 2010 Apple was dominant in the digital music field and Google is hoping to change that.

So when exactly will the Google Music Store launch and will it really have the storage technology to top all other sites? Well the date has not yet been released but some are thinking possibly as soon as May, which is when Google has their developer’s conference planned. Whether or not the locker storage system will be a go is still up in the air. It will depend on whether or not Google will be able to negotiate deals with record labels.

Reference:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/223367/google_music_is_really_seriously_honestly_almost_here.html

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Music Is Coming Soon was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The question now is will Apple be able to stay on top and will the iPad 2 be as big as the original? If stats to date are any indication, it looks like they are heading down the right path.

Other companies are certainly trying to give Apple a run for their money, but so far they have not been able to top the iPad. Competing for market shares along with Apple’s iPad include the Android, RIM’s QMX amongst others.

Apple has not yet released its total sales figures for the iPad2 but is expected to do so in just a few short weeks when second quarter fiscal earnings are due out.

Reports from different countries, including Australia, indicated large crowds and days of waiting in line were the norm for customers who were hoping to snag an iPad 2 on release day. To their dismay, many want to be owners of the new iPad2 were turned away as supplies diminished in some locations within just hours. Numerous people are complaining that the supply was inadequate and that Apple should have waited to launch until they could better meet the demand.

Retail locations across Australia are telling customers that they are unsure when they will have more in stock. According to reports some stores are starting their own waiting lists. Official Apple Stores in the country are telling customers to just keep checking back and no one seems to be able to give a clear date when more devices may be available.

It looks like want to be owners who were not lucky enough to snag an iPad2 in the first international shipments are going to have to have to play the waiting game. There is no telling when more might be available.

References:

http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/tablets/apple-fans-livid-as-ipad-2-sells-out-20110329-1cdvx.html

http://venturebeat.com/2011/03/27/apple-runs-out-of-overseas-ipad-2-stock-by-saturday-afternoon/

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPad 2’s Sell Out Overseas In Less Than 24 Hours was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The Gazelle.com wiki page focuses on what the company does and how the company accomplishes its tasks.  It describes the basic functions of the company and the goals of the individuals charged with making the company grow.  The processes that are used to accomplish these goals are described to help other individuals understand the exact nature of the company.

The Gazelle.com wiki page contains many details about the company and how the company operates.  Geared to provide unique and complete information about any subject, wiki pages are considered by many to be a valuable resource to use for researching topics that the person is interested in.  The information in this online encyclopedia is taken from numerous sources, including publications, company websites, and documents about the subject.

The exact resources used to compile the information included in the Gazelle.com wiki page are listed at the bottom of the page.  This information is provided so that any person researching information about the company can go to the source of the information to find additional information or validate the accuracy of the information on the wiki page.  This is especially helpful when writing a report or article that requires the resources used to be cited.

The information that is contained in the Gazelle.com wiki page is reviewed for accuracy regularly, but the website allows anyone with knowledge about the subject to insert information into the wiki page.  It is best to independently review any information and resources included on the wiki page to ensure that it is accurate before using any of the information for research papers or articles about the company.

Gazelle.com Wiki: Learning About The Company Via The Gazelle.com Wiki Page was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Gazelle.com makes their money by finding individuals that are interested in purchasing used electronics that others may not want.  There are many individuals that are not concerned with having the latest model of electronics and prefer to pay a lower price for a used item than the full retail price of a new item.  The price that is paid to the seller by Gazelle.com is based on current market demand for the items that the seller is attempting to sell, making the prices paid by Gazelle.com legit market prices.

Some people wonder, “is Gazelle.com legit?” because the company would not give them a price for the items that they wanted to sell.  If there is no current market demand for the items that the seller is attempting to sell, then Gazelle.com will not make a monetary offer for the item.  Instead, the company extends an offer to safely recycle the item if the seller will ship the item to their facility.

Some items cannot be resold due to the condition of the item.  If the condition of the item received by Gazelle.com is not as stated by the seller, then the company reserves the right to reevaluate the amount that they are paying the seller for the item and will notify the seller of this change by email.  Once the seller has received notification of the changed price, they have a set amount of time to respond and either accept or reject the new offer.  If no communication is received by the deadline, the offer is assumed to be accepted and payment is issued for the items sent in by the seller.

Gazelle.com Legit: Is Gazelle.com Legit? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Amazon hasn’t been collecting sales tax on products for years, yet it hasn’t been a big issue. However, with the economy hurting state’s budgets, they are looking to get this money from online retailers such as Amazon that haven’t been collecting sales tax.

Amazon’s free shipping for orders over $25 and no sales tax is a huge draw to the site, and is often the reason why many people prefer to shop with them over local stores. If the government does enforce them and other online retailers to collect the sales tax, it may change how people shop both online and offline.

As stated in Minyanville.com, “In Illinois, it even has a catchy name: ‘The Main Street Fairness Bill.’ Informally, it’s known as ‘the Amazon tax’. Colorado, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Vermont have passed similar bills. Others, including California and Georgia, are working on it. They’re all squabbling about a loophole, though to be fair it’s a loophole that has cost the states about $23 billion so far. Citing a US Supreme Court ruling almost two decades old, online retailers charge sales tax only on residents of states in which they have a physical presence, like a bricks-and-mortar store. That’s why Walmart and Sears charge sales tax in every state, while Amazon doesn’t in most states.”

The Illinois law stated that Amazon would have to charge sales tax if they have “affiliates” in the state of Illinois. Texas based their back tax bill based on the presence of a distribution center in the state that was operated by an Amazon subsidiary.

Amazon isn’t going down quietly though. When the law passed in Illinois, Amazon quickly sent out notices to their 9,000 affiliates in Illinois that they were terminating their relationship with them. The distribution center in Texas that was the cause of the huge back tax bill is also being shut down and their prior plans on opening another center in the state were also canceled.

With Amazon being forced to make such drastic changes as these, it is clear that they aren’t going to cave in on the matter. The states that are pursuing this matter are really just hurting their citizens by their loss of revenue and jobs that Amazon was providing.

Amazon’s (NASDAQ: AMZN) Tax-Free Sales May Come To An End was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The first reports of the Google Circle networking site earlier this week came in stating that it would debut this May at the Google I/O conference being held in San Francisco, CA. Another rumor suggested that it would be announced at the South by Southwest conference (which is all about apps and social networking websites) in Austin later this year.

Many users of social networking sites are very excited about the possibility of the Google networking site because of the rumors that the service would be more private, and that users would be able to filter what content is shown to which groups of family, friends, workers, random people, etc.

As explained in PC World, “Google Circles, ReadWriteWeb’s Marshall Kirkpatrick explains, will allow people to share photos, videos, and status messages with people in their social circle. Google’s site will be unique, the speculation goes, because it will seek to understand how we relate to our various social networking friends, determine how truly close to them we are, then adjust the amount of content we share with those people. If it works well, this could be a major selling point against rival Facebook which, by and large, seems to want us to be close friends with as many people as possible, and share our intimate content accordingly.”

The rumors of Google’s social networking site being announced at either of these events doesn’t seem likely because according to PC World, “Liz Gannes at All Things Digital threw cold water on the idea that Google Circles would debut here at SXSW. She says Google flatly denies this will happen, but, Gannes writes, Google did not deny that a new social networking service is being developed. But the company did tweet, as @googlesxsw, that “We’re not launching any products at #SXSW but we’re doing plenty else.”

Google has tried to start social networks in the past with “Google Buzz” and “Orkut.” Perhaps it just wasn’t the right time for those networks, but in the age of social networking being highly valued, it would be the right time to get back into the game and give it another try.

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Launching Their Own Social Networking Site was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

AT&T has joined in the relief efforts and provided information regarding their actions in a March 15^th press release. As stated in the press release, “AT&T today announced it is supporting three international relief agencies–Télécoms Sans Frontières, Project HOPE and Aidmatrix Network ® — to assist ongoing relief efforts for the victims of last week’s devastating earthquake in Japan.”

When dealing with natural disasters and missing or lost loved ones, keeping the lines of communication open is a vital component in connecting people. AT&T is working to support network communications to help global companies operate and provide much needed services to friends and family members trying to locate their loved ones.

Also noted in the press release, “Our thoughts are with the families of the people in Japan who have lost their lives, and those who are facing the challenges of these natural disasters,” said Laura Sanford, Assistant Vice President of Corporate Contributions.  “We are pleased to support these charitable organizations in their missions in Japan and around the world.  We have a long-standing relationship with these organizations and we admire the excellent work they do.”

AT&T reported that of the 142 employees working in Japan, all are safe and have been accounted for, while the Global Network Operations Center located in New Jersey continues to assist people making calls in and out of the country.

As part of the relief efforts, AT&T is donating 10,000 prepaid calling cards for distribution by the U.S. Military for humanitarian relief in Japan. Effective March 11-31, there will be no charges for AT&T customers making international calls from the United State and Puerto Rico to Japan, text messages originating in the U.S. to Japan and a 60 minute credit for residential wireless customers for direct dialing to Japan. The three humanitarian organizations supported by AT&T will receive $275,000 toward their efforts.

AT&T customers can donate to the Red Cross by texting REDCROSS to 90999. These donations will be used toward the relief efforts in Japan. This allows every individual the opportunity to get involved and become actively involved in helping the victims and their families as they continue to deal with the devastation in the region.

AT&T (NYSE: T) Joins Relief Efforts For Earthquake and Tsunami Victims In Japan was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Natural disasters are a cause for which General Motors provides financial assistance to victims through its GM Foundation for over 30 years. They were involved in the earthquake recovery efforts in New Zealand and Haiti and participated in the support of victims during severe flooding episodes in the States, including Kentucky and Tennessee.

The Chairman of the GM Foundation, John T. Montford releaseda statement regarding GM’s part in relief assistance:

“Humanitarian relief is an important part of the Foundation’s work and we’re answering the call for help in the wake of such terrible devastation. There is remarkable compassion among GM employees, and I know that same spirit will make a difference in helping the Japan relief effort.”

General Motors is the first automaker in the United States to offer contributions to the relief efforts of Japan’s recovery. Together with Toyota, Honda, and Nissan large donations continue to climb in an effort to provide help to the victims. So far Mitsubishi and Subaru, both affected by the earthquake and tsunami have not announced any plans yet officially.

General Motors (NYSE: GM) Announces $750,000 Donation to Tsunami, Earthquake Victims was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Verizon customers will be billed at $0.00 for calls from residential landlines to Japan. Those who have the Verizon World Plans will not be subjected to minutes usage during that time. Customers using prepaid phone cards from Verizon will not incur long-distance charges to Japan from the US during March 11-April 10. Additionally, subscribers to the FiOs TV network who do not currently have a subscription to the TV Japan will be able to access the channel location (1770) for free through March 17.

In addition to the free calling/texting offering by Verizon, users of the network can also be instrumental in donating funds to the Red Cross Relief efforts going on in Japan. Users can donate $40 to the American Red Cross by texting REDCROSS to 90999. There is also a donation hub set up to support relief efforts of other organizations including the Salvation Army (text JAPAN to 80888) and the Save the Children Federation (text JAPAN or TSUNAMI to 20222). Texting donations is a convenient way for mobile users to support legitimate causes and relief efforts.

In addition to Verizon’s efforts, AT&T (NYSE:T) is offering ‘billing relief’ for calls made to Japan between now and March 31. The relief means that wireless customers will not be charged for international calls to Japan from the US or Puerto Rico during this time frame. Once customers receive their monthly billing statement, customers can contact the carrier and have their billing statement adjusted for up to 60 minutes of talk time. Text messages sent to Japan will also not incur a charge provided they originated from an US wireless number.

In addition to AT&T and Verizon, a host of other carriers including T-Mobile, Sprint, and Comcast are also issuing similar offerings to customers.

Verizon (NYSE:VZ), AT&T (NYSE:T) Offering Free Texts, Calling to Japan was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Competitor AT&T (NYSE: T) has been having many technical difficulties with their network so Apple has not been exactly surprised by the steady increase. The number of users making the switch within a month’s time has indeed been impressive but there is no way to tell exactly how many customers AT&T will continue to lose. There are a number of influencing factors involved including the customers who will wait for the next phone upgrade or those who must wait out the end of the contracts.

Verizon is hopeful they can continue to bring more iPhone users to their network but only time will tell if this increase will continue since the iPhone for Verizon has only been on the US market for a little over a month. To date, an ad agency has set up a tracking system that is able to determine how many of AT&T users are showing up on Verizon’s network. The tracker was launched into play a day after Verizon began selling the iPhones to consumers and the statistics include older model iPhones.

As for AT&T, there are plans in the works for moving to LTE for the 4G network later in the year. IT will be the same broadband used by Verizon’s 4G network but it is expected that both carrier’s network will remain independent and either user will not be capable of roaming on each others networks. As AT&T continues to work on their network issues and since AT&T smartphone sales are limited without a contract, it is likely Verizon will continue to get their wishes in increasing their smartphone market share.

Verizon Already Snagged Nearly 15% of AT&T iPhone Users was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

There is anticipation to see how the 4G network runs especially in light of the problems AT&T (NYSE: T) experienced when it was discovered their 4G network was running slower than certain 3G devises on the AT&T network. Company reps at AT&T claim they had not yet turned on the fast functionality at the time due to its continued testing of the network

It is expected the device will be sold with an unlimited data plan for $250 with the required two year plan. Unlimited data plan are starting at $29.99. The unlimited data plan may be changing by the summer. Watchers suspect that the offering of unlimited plans is Verizon’s lure to bring new customers in. If usage among consumers is as high as the Apple counterparts, there may too big of a burden placed on Verizon to continue offering unlimited packages.

Thunderbolt will come loaded with media and services for entertainment which have be optimized for use on the LTE. The Android service also includes many Google products for mobile phones. Free mobile hotspot services will remain free for users until the middle of May. Verizon has not yet announced the pricing structure going beyond that time frame.

The Thunderbolt was debuted at the CES show in January. AT the time, Verizon displayed 10 LTE devices which included four different handsets. This indicates that at least three more handsets to be forthcoming in the year. For now, users will not be able to gauge the functionality of other models on the 4G network until more are released.

Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Plans Launch of HTC Thunderbolt, 4G Device This Week was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

A statement released by Apple’s spokesperson reads:

‘We are delaying the launch of the iPad 2 in Japan while the country and our teams focus on recovering from the recent disaster. Our hearts go out to the people of Japan, including our employees and their families, who have been impacted by this terrible tragedy.’

The US saw the iPad2 launch on March 11. Japan’s unveiling was scheduled for March 25. The planned release was also supposed to occur in 25 other countries in addition to Japan including the UK, Canada, and Germany.

There has been no follow up announcement as to when Apple plans to release the devise in Japan. It is possible there will be a long-term delay and Apple will choose to distribute the devices intended for the country to other locations since the demand for the iPad2 has been high while the supply has been short in the US.

Apple has also upped their efforts to aid the victims of the natural disaster in Japan. They have already started working with the Red Cross to promote consumer donations through the iTunes Store website. It has also been reported that the Apple Store in Japan has been providing shelter, food, and electricity to victims of the earthquake and tsunami.

Japan’s iPad2 Release Delayed by Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The panel had calculated the total amount of federal aid each bank had received during the bailout from TARP ($25 billion), the Federal Reserve ($88 billion), and the FDIC ($68.6 billion). Citigroup topped the list with Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) in a close second at $336.1 billion received. Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) came in third place with $135 billion in federal aid.

The Oversight panel was put together by Congress as a way to supervise TARP funds. The panel is expected to cease its operations within the week. It still has to put out its final report on the bailout of the financial sector. In general, the panel was positive about the government’s attempts to stabilize the global financial system and avoid a second Great Depression. While TARP did provide much of the necessary support in the efforts, it is not the only resource deserving credit.

One large criticism of the TARP program from the panel involved the issuance of billions of dollars to financial institutions without the requirement of banks reporting how the money was used. The result is that no one will ever be sure of how that money was spent. This occurred in the early days of the TARP assistance movement.

Additional criticism allege that the TARP program created a dangerous scenario where banks were not worried about loss as they expected taxpayers will bear the burden of any losses incurred. There was also concern expressed over the Treasury’s intervening assistance to the automotive industry since they were not directly working in the financial system. It was felt the risk in doling out funds to the auto industry had too much failure potential.

Citigroup (NYSE: C) High Up on List of Federal Aid Recipients was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Even the debts that stand late at 30 days or more have been declining each month. It is good news as the default data is an indicator of how defaults will play out in the future. Card payers seem to be eliminating balances racked up during the holiday shopping season for all major credit card providers across the board.

For Bank of America, the news is much different than it was in August 2009 when the bank had to write off 14.53% annualized of its consumer credit card debt. It also appears the card holders are getting more focused on eliminating credit card balances consistently. With the lowest default rates the bank has seen in three years, there is hope for US consumers staying on top of revolving debt. The national average of credit card balances has also dropped from $799.7 billion in December 2010 to $795.5 billion in February. Those statistics are similar to the numbers in the fall of 2004.

Customer Defaults Decline Again for Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

In the emails from Balboa, the Anonymous poster claimed over Twitter that fraud is alleged due to the bank hiding foreclosure information from federal auditors. There were also other allegations of wrongdoing by the bank made but no specifics were provided.

A former Balboa employee has stated that certain documents were approved to be removed from the internal system because of errors pertaining to flood insurance. The employee stated the bank had approved the file removal so that the mistakes would not be detected by federal auditors. In the emails, employees were apparently discussing the reasoning behind the documentation deletion.

Bank of America did not deny the emails existed but they did take issue with wrongdoing implications. They claim the former employee of Balboa stole the documents and was essentially trying to get press over allegations that were not true. The employee contests he did not steal the documents.

The bank also said they did not send out the letters with the errors. However, another employee of Balboa insists they were sent out with the erroneous information and a subsequent letter was sent to clear up the mistakes.

Bank of America is still waiting for the damaging documents said to be coming from WikiLeaks. Founder Julian Assange has promised these would be available early in the year and would cause much damage to the bank.

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) Leaks Suggest Fraud and More was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

As reported in Apple Insider, “Manufacturers will initiate production of the GSM-based iPhone 4 version in white enclosures and begin dispatching them to Apple ahead of general availability planned for next month, Concord Securities Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo told AppleInsider. Apple has made changes to the ‘film material to solve the full-lamination problem that [was] the reason why white iPhones [were] delayed,’ he added. The handset was first scheduled to debut last June. Kuo did not provide a timeframe for a white CDMA-based iPhone.”

The CDMA iPhone iOS 4.3 just became available and with the much anticipated launch of the white version of the popular iPhone, Kuo thinks that Apple will sell a “record 18 million iPhones in the first quarter” which would beat the amount Apple sold during the holiday sales period ending 2010 with 16.2 million iPhones sold.

More proof that Apple finally solved their white paint mixture troubles came in last week when the iPad 2 was unveiled and explained that it would be offered in both black and white versions. Both of these models will be available on March 11, 2011.

Apple was having huge issues getting the right paint mixture for the white versions correct. As reported in Apple Insider, “Apple had made strides in developing a new material that would allow it to successfully manufacture a white iPhone 4 that meets the company’s high level of standards. Using earlier painting methods, Apple’s attempts to manufacture the white iPhone 4 apparently resulted in a ‘huge’ number of defective handsets. Unable to produce the white iPhone 4 in 2010, Apple allegedly partnered with a Japanese company that crafted a new paint material. The new material apparently allows for greater control and precision in setting the thickness of the paint layer.”

After many delays last year with the white iPhone 4 manufacturing issues, it is finally being made available. There have been some leaked white parts for custom build white iPhones, but the official ones being released now won’t have the issues that the unofficial ones had, such as camera flash issues.

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) Expected to Start Production of a White iPhone This Month was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Canon makes cameras for still photography and video. They also make printers, copiers, and other digital imaging services. This newly rumored collaboration with Apple may point to Aperture or the future redesign of Final Cut.

Aperture is an app that is used on Macs which allows users to take their photos to the next level by retouching them, organize their libraries, share their work, print professionally designed books and much more. Aperture is one of the top ten best-selling apps in the Mac App Store. It costs $79.99, which even though is quite pricy for an app, is still quite a large discount from the $199 retail price Aperture cost when it was released last year.

As suggested in Apple Insider, “The new attention (and revenues) that Aperture is getting could promote a new cross promotional collaboration with Canon’s cameras. Johnson himself is a professional wedding photographer, suggesting the ‘pieces of information’ he noted may likely relate to Canon’s photography business.”

The collaboration could also be used with Final Cut which is supposed to be getting a “dramatic and ambitious” update in spring. Final Cut hasn’t been updated since 2009. A new update to the product is likely to also come with a partnership from at least one hardware maker.

Apple may also collaborate with Canon to target consumer devices such as the iMovie features or their iFrame video format that is able to import high quality video from cameras.

As another option suggested in Apple Insider, “a third potential area for collaboration between Apple and Canon pertains to the company’s MobileMe cloud services. iOS 4.3 betas contained a new Photo Booth app and mention of Photo Stream, an automatic photo upload service that could upload images and video to the cloud.Neither feature has yet made it to shipping devices, but will likely do so in the near future. iPad 2 will debut Photo Booth and FaceTime support when it ships on Friday, and scaled down versions of Photo Booth and the Photo Stream service could potentially ship in the next release of iOS due before the major 5.0 version expected this summer, rumored to appear alongside significant new updates in MobileMe.”

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Canon Rumored To Be Collaborating was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

As reported in Apple Insider, the people familiar with this matter claim that, “Apple is in talks with music companies, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and EMI Group, to change its download policy to provide greater flexibility to iTunes customers, Bloomberg said on Thursday. An updated agreement, which sources said could come as early as the middle of this year, would allow users to re-download purchased music, even after losing the original copies. Currently, Apple’s iTunes Music Store does not offer free re-downloads of previously purchased music.”

This would be a much welcomed upgrade to iTunes because it would allow for customers to download music onto their iPods, iPhones, iPads, and other devices that are also linked to their iTunes account. This move is considered to be a “step closer to universal access to content centrally stored on the Internet.” It would also give customers a welcomed ease of relief if the original download was lost or ruined from a computer crash, or even if their device was stolen with all of their music on it.

There have been rumors before about Apple using a centralized streaming media service with iTunes and MobileMe. These rumors gained more interest when Apple reportedly planned to spend over $1 billion on a massive data center located in North Carolina. Last month, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer revealed that this center will be used for iTunes and MobileMe and is set to open in the Spring of 2011.

One rumor suggested that Apple plans on using a MobileMe online “locker” that would allow their customers to access their files online. Another rumor suggested that iTunes media could be stored on a user’s home computer and then streamed over the Internet to their connected devices.

As stated in Apple Insider, “Over the years, Apple has sought to leverage its continued success with the iTunes Music Store to negotiate more favorable contracts with the record companies. For example, Apple was successful in reaching a deal to remove DRM copy protections from iTunes music purchases in exchange for a variable pricing model. More recently, Apple negotiated the extension of iTunes music previews from 30 seconds to 90 seconds.”

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) Trying to Push for Repeat Downloads of iTunes Music Purchases was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Delta Air Lines is the second largest airline company in the world, and they are pursuing the approval to test Apple’s iPad and other tablet devices in their airline cockpits during next quarter. This exciting news was told to Bloomberg by a spokesperson for Delta just after the FAA had released that they were in fact endorsing the use of the Apple iPad in a test project at Executive Jet Management.

Executive Jet Management is a company owned by Warren Buffett’s NetJets and is based in Cincinnati. The FAA granted the approval to Executive Jet Management on February 1, 2011. The approval allowed for use of the Apple iPad in the cockpit for professional use. As explained in Apple Insider, to be approved they “made 250 flights as part of the certification process with maps and accessories created for the iPad by Boeing’s aeronautical and charting company Jeppesen.”

Currently the FAA’s decision is only applied to Buffett’s company. However, the report did note that “commercial carriers now have a template for winning permission for iPad use.”

The FAA has granted use of electronics for aviation use before. As explained in Apple Insider, “The FAA began granting approval for ‘electronic flight bags,’ or computers for aviation use, in the last decade. But current options are bulky and heavy, with one aviation computer from Astronautics Corporation of America weighing 18 pounds. Apple’s new iPad 2 weighs just 1.3 pounds.”

The benefits of using an innovative product for commercial airline use could be huge and extremely beneficial for the airline industry. Delta will be exploring their options with using the iPad next quarter, and other major carriers may follow their lead. For now, Alaska Airlines is sticking with the traditional use of paper charts, but they have stated that they are already testing the iPad for other functions.

As stated in Apple Insider, “Officials with Jeppesen said they began developing iPad flight navigation software partially because pilots themselves requested it. The company said it plans to release similar software for tablets running the Google Android mobile operating system.”

Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPad May Eliminate Paper Maps In Commercial Airline Cockpits was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

A successful financial spring clean needs to take into account every aspect of your personal finances and then look at ways to reduce any ongoing debt, review the way you spend and save and, ultimately, make your money go further.

So to make a start on your financial spring clean you need to gather together as much information as you can, from bank and credit card statements to utility and insurance bills. Once you have collated this information it is time to take a closer look at your spending habits and see how you can pay off, or at least offset, some of that debt.

Check the interest rate on your current credit cards and then, if you really cannot repay the balance in full (something that you should ideally be doing at the end of each month), try to transfer them onto an interest free credit card to reduce your payments and ensure that you are not paying any interest on these repayments. And whilst you have all of this information to hand it’s a good idea to set up autopayments on your accounts as this means that you won’t run the risk of missing a payment and incur any associated charges.

The next thing to do is to review all of your other monthly bills, such as cable, cell phone and ultilities and assess whether you’re getting value for money or paying for services you are not using. For example, are you actually watching all of the cable channels that you are subscribing to? And if you have unlimited cell phone usage but are only actually using 200 mintues per month can you switch to a cheaper contract? Although such changes may appear to be small when looked at in isolation, they soon add up and can amount to substantial savings over the course of the year.

Now is also a good time to check the expiration dates on your home and auto insurance policies and, if they are up for renewal, contact your current provider and try to negotiate a better renewal deal and then shop around for an even better deal. You may be surprised at how much money you can save by simply switching providers.

Once you have sorted out your monthly commitments, it’s worth taking a look at your credit report and make sure that there are no errors present that could be having a negative impact on your credit score. If you do come across any anomalies then it is vital that you sort them out straight away and your credit referencing agency will provide you with instructions on how to query any errors on your report.

By this point your personal finances should be running like a well-oiled machine and you will hopefully have a least a little more disposable income at the end of each month. If this is the case, then you should use this extra income wisely and, if you haven’t already done so, consider putting some money into an LSA or another type of individual savings account.

If you do have extra money to invest or put into savings then you should also get together a compete record of your investment portfolio have it reviewed by a financial planner to ensure that you are getting the maximum return on your investments.

Article written by Les Roberts finance writer at Moneysupermarket.com

Give Your Finances a Spring Cleaning was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Trading Is A Business

Most new traders do not think of trading as a business, but the reality is that trading is a business.  Furthermore, real trading success is built over time, just as real business success.  The proper way to build a business is to have a written out detailed plan, called a business plan.  Then, as this plan is executed consistently, business will hopefully grow, and eventually a profit will be realized.  Keep in mind that most businesses will operate in the red (lose money) for a period of months or years before consistent profitability occurs.

Trade Plan Versus Business Plan

Just to be clear, a business plan is much different than a trading plan.  A trading plan defines your trading methodology and approach to the market, but a business plan defines your entire approach to the business of trading.  In fact, a trade plan is just one small part of the trading business plan.  Let’s break down a few of the key elements that need included in a business plan.

Mission Statement

What is your mission as a trader?  A business without a mission statement has no purpose, and a trader without a mission statement has no purpose.  This should not be written without thought.  Take time.  Think about it.  Look over business plan examples on the internet and look at mission statements of various companies.  This will help cast vision for the life of your trading career.

Education

How are you going to get educated?  Are you going to take a specific course or seminar through an educational company?  Do you have a friend or acquaintance who is going to teach you?  And how are you going to engage in ongoing education?  Are you going to attend a specific number of workshops a year?  You must have a plan for education and continuing ed.

Operating Budget

What is your trading budget each month?  What are your expenses?  Are you going to be subscribing to a news service, a charting package service, etc?  Do you want to purchase a specific number of books per month or quarter to stay fresh and inspired?  What about ongoing education?  Are you going to spend a specific amount of money each year attending conferences and workshops?  Will you be paying fees to one of the best brokers for platform services?

Company Goals

What are your goals as a trader?  Once you have defined your risk management and strategy approach, what kind of return do you hope to produce per month, quarter and year?  You must have these goals written out in detail.  Remember, the first step to achieving something in the world is to first have it on paper.

Trading is a business and it must be treated as such.  There are many more parts of a business plan that are not mentioned in this article; however, bookstores and libraries are full of books with endless business plan examples.  Remember, when you deduce your trading plans and goals to paper, your chance of achieving them will improve dramatically.  Therefore, consider treating trading as a business.

How To Write A Business Plan For Your Trading Business was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

During 1997 through 2006, mortgage lenders created a variety of no money down type programs and “loan to own” mortgages which eliminated the strict requirements previously needed to get a mortgage. Individuals did not have to prove their ability to repay the mortgage or have sizeable downpayments during this period, and lenders like Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup lent millions of mortgages to people they knew had little chance of fully repaying them.

The original mortgage lending practices are returning, where borrowers are required to come up with a 20% minimum down payment to qualify. To contract the difference, in 2006 the average home down payment was 4% of the purchase price, while in 2010, across nine major United States cities the median down payment was 22%.

Lower down payments make it possible for more homeowners to get into homes, but it leaves them with costly mortgages they can’t afford and results in high numbers of foreclosures. Even individuals who have managed to avoid foreclosures through mortgage refinancing programs offered recently are experiencing long term financial distress – since they owe so much more than their homes are worth in today’s market.

If borrowers can’t come up with 20% or more for a down payment, they can look at loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Currently, these loans require 3.5% at closing, but come with private mortgage insurance expenses and higher than average interest payments. While it offers the opportunity to get into a home, the monthly payments will be higher.

Resource:

http://www.housingpredictor.com/2011/banks-want-more-money.html

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), Citigroup (NYSE: C) Penalties Likely to End “No Money Down” Programs was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Were 150,000 Google accounts hacked? No. According to Google, it was an internal error that affected less than .08% of all Gmail users. Throughout the course of the day, Google updated users on their progress toward fixing the problem. It is unknown whether or not Google will be able to recover the lost data at this time, but many affected users report being completely locked out of their accounts, presumably while Google techs are working behind the scenes to repair the problem.

On the Google status page, the company has recently announced: “Google Mail service has already been restored for some users, and we expect a resolution for all users in the near future. Please note this time frame is an estimate and may change.” What time frame are they speaking of, the “near future”? Does that mean the time frame for resolution might be the “far future”? The company is non-commital as to whether or not it can be resolved. Google’s techs are using the opportunity to remind individuals how important it is to backup their data – which of course is of no relief to individuals who hadn’t done that previously and lost all of their information.

A similar problem happened to Hotmail users in January, with about 17,000 users finding nothing where their emails and folders used to be.
Resource:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2381097,00.asp

Empty Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Gmail Inboxes for 150,000 Users was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Consumer reports is on the case and said that Apple’s iPhone 4 for Verizon customers is having the same issues as last year’s AT&T version. The glitch in the phone has users dropping their calls due to a faulty antenna. Calls are only dropped when the phone is held in a certain way.

“The Verizon iPhone4 closely resembles the original AT&T iPhone 4 in many positive respects, including offering great multimedia functionality, a sharp screen and the best MP3 player we’ve seen on a phone,” Consumer Reports said.

“Unfortunately, it also shares with its sibling the possibility of compromised performance in low-signal conditions when used without a bumper, or case.”

Due to the glitches and even after admitting the phone has superior features, Consumer Reports will not place the iPhone4 on its recommended smart phone list. Last June, Consumer reports also left off their list of recommended models the AT&T iPhone for the same reasons. At that time Steve Jobs, Apple CEO made an official apology to customers and offered a free phone case for those who complained of the issue.

Consumer reports did say that so far there has not been a large number of complaints on the new phone. For customers who do find the problem to be an issue, Consumer Reports is once again simply suggesting a cover for an easy fix. Once a cover is placed over the phone, the user should no longer have issues with dropped calls.

In response to Consumer Reports, an Apple rep said, “iPhone 4 has a great antenna that allows it to have an amazingly thin design, great battery life and reception. We designed the iPhone4 external antenna to work great on Verizon’s network.”

No matter how you look at it, Apple’s iPhone is a huge success. Since first introduced back in 2007 the phone has been Apple’s top selling product.

Resource:

http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2011/02/26/2011-02-26_verizon_iphone_owners_suffer_same_antenna_signal_glitch_as_att_model_last_year.html

Some Verizon Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone Users Finding Issues With Phone’s Antenna was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Thunderbolt:

Thunderbolt is Apple’s new data transfer concept that is similar to a USB connector. Thunderbolt however, is able to transfer data from one device to another at a high speed of 10 gigabytes every second. This is much faster than a USB 2.0 which can only transfer data at about 480 megabytes each second. For the technology Apple paired up with Intel. The new Thunderbolt, according to Intel will be able to transfer a high definition movie in its entirety in under thirty seconds. Additionally, it will be able to download approximately one year’s worth of MP3 music in about 10 minutes time.

Cameras:

All of Apple’s new MacBook Pro Laptops will come with the feature of a built in front facing camera, located just above the screen. These cameras will have FaceTime HD capabilities which allow users to have video chats anywhere that they can receive a Wi-Fi connection. FaceTime HD will offer customers new features not seen in previous camera versions including widescreen video chats as well as photos. The technology will also work with just about all other Apple devices including the iPhone4 and the new iPod Touch.

Pricing

If you thought the new Apple MacBook Pro would be cheap, you guessed wrong. Buying one of these new devices will be an investment for most people. To get the 13 inch version, the price tag starts at $1,199. The 15-inch version of the Laptop starts at $1,799.00 and the 17 inch model comes in at a starting price of $2,499.00. The good news is you don’t have to wait. All versions are on sale now.

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) Improves Their MacBook Pro Laptops was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Slimmer Design

A slimmer body is one of the rumored new features and is ranked highly likely to be true. Apple has always been about slimming their devices in order to offer sleek designs that are light and easy to manage.

Duo Cameras

Also ranked as a highly likely new feature is duo front and rear cameras. Apple really needs to have this as a feature in order to keep up with their competition. The cameras will allow for FaceTime video conferencing and it is expected that the rear camera will additionally be able to take pictures and videos.

Better Resolution

Although the rumors have been floating around about the iPad 2 having the new Retina Display resolution found in the iPhone 4 as well as the latest version of the iPod touch, this is thought by many to only be a slim possibility. More than likely the resolution will stay the same as the original version. For those wanting the better resolution, it looks like you will probably have to wait for the iPad 3 version.

Better Processor

In order for Apple to compete with other tablets coming onto the market, an upgraded processor is pretty much a necessity. Therefore, most consider the rumors of an upgraded processor to be very likely.

Updates to iOS

Another rumor is that Apple will be upgrading and adding new software features in hopes to stay competitive with other devices, particularly the Android 3.0. Rumors are that upgrades could include new refined multi touch controls as well as new platforms that are similar to those iOS’s introduced recently with Game Center. The likely of updated iOS on the new iPad 2 is thought to be fairly high.

In conclusion, for iPad enthusiasts, the wait is almost over. On March 2^nd you will finally know what rumors are true and which ones can be laid to rest.

New Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPad 2 feature Rumors was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Google’s upgrades were primarily made to help sift out sites that have been deemed as not useful or of very low quality. Google did not use those words but instead said that they were looking to remove what they call “content farms” from search engine results.

Numerous sites on the web are in the practice of putting up quick stories on their site as well as placing videos or printing other popular how to instructions, all using original content from other web publications. Usually the quality on these sites is low, but because of the use of popular key words in addition to other headlines, these sites have been able to rank in search algorithms. Criticism over these site rankings has been going on for some time. Critics have complained that when these sites show up at the top of search results that they undervalue Google as a search engine.

The US has already felt the changes of these new implementations and other countries can expect the same in the near future. According to Google about 11.8 percent of previously ranked sites have noticed a drop, all of which are considered to be low quality. Sites however with original content including good research and analysis are seeing their sites rank higher.

While many are applauding the changes, there are of course the critics. Some believe that Google is putting themselves on the line as they decide who has high quality content and who doesn’t. One site that got hit with the changes was Demand Studios. In response they have stated that they do not believe their site is or should be considered a “content farm.”

Resources:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7446901.html

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Search Engine Changes Hurt Rankings For Some Sites was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

As reported in a recent Bloomberg article, “’I’m sure the banks are ready to put this past them and investors would certainly like to but this is not an issue that is going to go away,” Blake Howells, an analyst at Becker Capital Management Inc. in Portland, Oregon, said in an interview. “There will be more lawsuits that come down the road.” Becker Capital oversees $2.4 billion.”

The cause for concern stems from investigations into faulty foreclosure practices which may have resulted in the foreclosure of homes which might otherwise have been avoided. Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup, Inc are the three largest lenders under investigation. It is believed that actions taken by these lenders or in some cases the lack of action may have resulted in the foreclosure of homes that should have been preventable.

In October 2010, Bank of America stopped foreclosure proceedings in all 50 states, followed by a November 5^th announcement that 102,000 cases are being reviewed for faulty practices. This as a result of investigations which revealed lenders have been foreclosing on homes without the proper documentation which stated they had a right to do so.

When it is all said and done, the banks involved may end up paying $20 billion in penalties for servicing flawed loans. In addition to fines and penalties, each lender will also be faced with “significant legal costs” as investigations and lawsuits continue.

Fines Likely For Bank of America and Wells Fargo (NYSE: BAC, NYSE: WFC) was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The company announced it will be recalling Sudafed 24-Hour Extended Release  products which are sold on a wholesale level. The tablets were sold in packages of 10, 240mg each. There is no present action necessary on the part of consumers. It is recommended that the dosage instructions are correct on the blister packaging and it is that direction that needs to be followed. The typographical error appears on the directions on the medicine’s label.

The simple error on the packaging uses a double negative, reading as ‘do not not divide, crush, chew, or dissolve the tablet’. The proper instructions are contained on the packaging inside. So far, the company has not reported any negative impacts affecting customers because of the error on the labeling.

There was a Sudafed recall in January when the company cited insufficient procedures for cleaning equipment on the production lines. The inadequacies were identified through routine assessments of production. There were many other recalls proceeding the most recent in 2009 with a larger recall happening in April 2010. At that time Tylenol and Motrin as well as other over-the-counter medications for children were pulled when deficiencies in manufacturing were discovered that affected the quality and potency of the medications. It was these recalls that triggered two investigations by the Senate where hearings revealed incidents of phantom recalls and cover ups.

Johnson & Johnson has been working to make changes to its manufacturing process and has been conducting intense reviews of its products, which has lead to additional recalls in the last few months. For the company, just last year they lost nearly $900 million in sales.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) Recalling Sudafed Products was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Beginning later in 2011, the checking account fees on customer accounts will be introduced in Massachusetts, Georgia, and Arizona. The checking fees will progressively be activated nationwide at a later date but the initial states are a pilot program for the bank as it tries to maneuver the implementation of various fees.

Bank of America is just one of the banks in the US trying to make up for lost profits thanks to the new legislation that limited how and how much banks could charge customers for a variety of transactions. One of the main focuses banks had was to reintroduce fees for basic accounts which in the past had been free for customers as an incentive for banking with a specific institution.

It is getting increasingly difficult for consumers to access free bank accounts in any capacity as much revenue was lost with the changes in the banking industry in the last year. Banks are finding more creative ways to assess charges and fees on customer accounts and have been changing up the rules. They are focusing on benefitting from their existing customers to bring up their revenue totals. Because of the many changes occurring, it is important for consumers to stay up to date with account changes or risk losing money from unnecessary fees.

Bank of America has been working on various plans that essentially require customers to use more of the banks products and services as a way of avoiding fees. For instance, customers that opt to receive e-statements and do much of their banking online will have to pay less monthly fees.

There will now be four different types of checking accounts for Bank of America customers. The basic checking account known as Essentials will include a debit card and require a monthly fee. eBanking accounts will not require a fee if customers choose to receive statements online as well as perform transactions either through an ATM or the Internet. Enhanced checking accounts will require a fee be paid if a minimum balance of $2,000 is not met. For the Premium account, there will be a required minimum balance of $20,000 and incentives for customers include free check printing and free money orders.

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) Introduces New Checking Fees was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The company has already started with the launch of its global advertising campaign. The ads highlight the Ford Focus’ 14 key technologies and the benefits they provide drivers. The company has produced 50 commercials that feature the vehicle and have customized the ads in the specific market in which they will be sold in North America and Europe. The key features are mostly new and have never been featured in advertising before. They also are not features that can be found on models from competitors.

This year Ford has experience continuous growth, hitting record highs in profit during the first two weeks of January. Ford operates as two separate business segments, specializing in the production of trucks and cars as well as providing auto loans for vehicle buyers.

There is a growing need for the cost-conscious drivers to have a safe and affordable option with fuel efficient features to also save on gas, especially since it is predicted that prices are only expected to rise in both the short and long term.

Ford (NYSE: F) Has Plans for Cost-Concerned Consumers was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

As reported by Wall Street Journal online, “Ford Motor Co. is offering some Mercury vehicle owners $500 toward the purchase of a new Ford vehicle and as much as $1,500 to buy a Lincoln as the auto maker looks to retain customers after dissolving the brand last year.”

This new incentive deal might also be aimed at keeping Ford customers who might otherwise be turned off by Lincoln’s outdated style as stated by dailynewspulse.com. Loyal customers who wish to benefit by this incentive program should know that the offer is limited to the heart of the Mercury market; the Midwest.

Ford is also implementing other standards in the hopes of retaining Mercury customers. Lincoln dealers are required to offer perks such as a car wash included in every service stop and loaner vehicles made available when a customer’s car is brought in for work. All Ford dealer lots must carry a minimum of 30% of certified pre-owned vehicles. Lincoln dealerships must correct signage to reflect only the Lincoln brand, dropping all Lincoln-Mercury signage. Finally, all Lincoln dealers have been asked to retain a dedicated sales staff and service manager.

These moves might be the result of dropped Lincoln sales in the month of January. By shifting Mercury customers to the Lincoln brand, Ford may be able to boost these numbers while at the same time keeping customers who have already show loyalty to the brand. The good news for Ford is the good growth shown overall in January which resulted in Ford being named the second bestselling company in the US market. By expanding and improving on the Lincoln brand, and keeping Mercury customers in the fold, Ford can improve their numbers across the board.

Ford (NYSE: F) Offers Mercury Owners Discounts To Switch Brands was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

This past week Microsoft has endorsed the idea for adding into their web browsing software a tool that would prevent other internet users from being able to track what you do on line. This so called “do-not track” tool would be a feature that will be added to the Internet Explorer browser.

Also this past week, Facebook allowed a first look at what may become its new privacy policy. While the practices of how Facebook handles privacy will not be changed, it seems being able to protect your privacy will be a bit more user friendly. Headings will be easier to spot and understand like “your information and how it is used”, for example.

The two company’s moves to further protect user’s privacy on line are a long time coming. On line privacy concerns have become a huge issue and consumers are not always well informed of how they are being tracked while using the internet.

A Microsoft spokeswoman was reported as saying that the new proposed feature titled do-not-track is just a part of new privacy features that they hope will gain support across the industry. The next version of Internet Explorer has also been reported by Microsoft to include a feature that will allow users to block certain companies from tracking their internet usage. Users of Internet Explorer 9 will be able to customize who they want to block.

Meanwhile, Facebook is also making claims at working hard to protect user policy saying that they have been focusing efforts on this issue since last October.

“The new policy is much more of a user guide to how to manage your data,” said Jules Polonetsky, the director of the Future of Privacy Forum, which was consulted by Facebook.

Facebook has been criticized as not doing enough to protect user privacy and this latest effort is in answer to that.

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) And Facebook Announce New Ways To Enhance Web Privacy was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Amazon has recently announced the launch of unlimited video streaming service through Amazon Prime. Whether or not this will pose a problem for Netflix in the future depends largely on the type of services customers are most interested in.

To better understand this we need only look at the numbers side-by-side. In terms of selection and delivery platforms, Netflix has Amazon Prime’s streaming movie service beat. Where Netflix might see defectors is in the price and additional benefits of Prime membership.

The cost of an Amazon Prime membership is $79 per year. This now includes the unlimited movie streaming service. It also provided members with shipping discounts for select items sold on Amazon. This includes unlimited 2-day shipping regardless of order size (no minimum) and one-day shipping at a flat rate of $4 per item. Members who already take advantage of the benefits associated with Prime may find the addition of a steaming video service to be enough to choose Prime over Netflix for their movie choice.

On the other hand, individuals who are not frequent Amazon shoppers or those who would not normally consider Prime to be beneficial without the streaming video will likely stay with Netflix. Netflix offers four times the number of titles from which to select, with the most popular choices available more in line with what today’s viewers are seeking. The number of selections and the delivery platform available through Netflix may be enough to overcome he lower price offered by Amazon Prime.

At the end of the day, who wins this competition is not really the question. Each provider is really targeting a different type of buyer. For many, Amazon Prime will be the clear winner because the overall package meets the subscribers needs. The same will be true for Netflix members. At least now buyers have some options when deciding how to receive their streaming videos.

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) Enters Video Streaming Service Competition with Prime was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Google of course has made searching for what you need quick and easy. They have a new Google recipe view link. When you use the new recipe link page, Google will narrow your results so that only recipes will come up. No more wasted time sifting through results to find the recipe you need. You can even filter your recipe search to find recipes with certain ingredients, cooking times and calorie count.

In the past if people did a search for a recipe on Google, results would come up that were not always the ones the user was looking for. For example, if you use Google to search for spaghetti some search results would be to recipes, but others that come up are links to restaurants with Spaghetti in their name as well as the history of spaghetti and so on. The new search link is much more user friendly for those just wanting to find a great recipe.

The recipe search premiered in the US and Japan this week and Google has plans to extend it to other countries in the near future. The new link is in response to users searching for recipes and Google has said that approximately one percent of all of searches on the site account for recipes.

Some bloggers however, are reporting that Google is going to need to get some kinks out of their new recipe search function. According to an article at the WashingtonPost.com:

The Google recipe search also proved buggy this afternoon. Several features designed to narrow and refine searches to particular ingredients or cooking times were not available, or intermittently available. A spokeswoman for Google e-mailed this afternoon, saying that the site is a work in progress.

“Search features roll out gradually to our various data centers so it can take as long as a few days to reach everyone,” the spokeswoman wrote.

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Rolls Out A New Recipe Search Function was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Rescue workers were contacted as soon as it was realized where the baby was. They had to pump oxygen into the air–tight vault. The rescue workers along with a lock safe technician were finally able to rescue the baby about four hours after she became trapped.

Mike Lee of the Rockdale County Fire Department said, “During close down this evening, customers had left the bank and the toddler walked off and walked into the vault and just about the time the vault closed with its time lock.”

Gene Wilson, Police Chief of Conyers, GA told reporters that it was a “very tense scene.” The rescue time was just about four hours long.

Ron Snively was the safe tech who was called to the scene to help with opening the vault. It was reported that he said that the call was a typical one, except of course for the child being locked inside.

“This is what I do all the time, other than a child being in there it was an easy job. You take the drill point and unlock it,” he said.

“She was crying before I got to her. She was scared because of the drilling noise and all that, but once I heard her crying I knew everything was okay, it was just a matter of time,” he added.

Jay Lawrence, a spokesperson for Wells Fargo bank said that even though the baby was trapped for four hours, during that time no danger was posed to her.

Police Chief Conyers said, “She’s great. I think she had cried for a while but when they went in there she was just laying there, she took the fellow that opened the safe, she took him a note, and this is one of those things, this is a happy ending, it’s nice to have one of these.”

Resource:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/trapped-toddler-rescued-bank-vault/story?id=13008684&page=1

Baby Rescued From Inside Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) Bank Vault was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Previous reports indicated that there may be a delay in the date that the iPad 2 would actually be released, but more recent rumors from supposed inside sources have said that the device may be ready to purchase much sooner than anyone anticipated.

Digitaltrends.com reports that:

According to “people familiar with the matter,” Apple has begun making preparations for a “large-scale, consumer-oriented product roll out” for the second half of next week. Considering March 2 lands on a Wednesday, that would mean the iPad 2 could be made available to the public almost immediately after it’s official announcement.

Of course, this information is all speculation and since Apple has not officially announced when the new iPad 2 will be ready for consumer purchase, we will have to wait and see. At the same time however, in the past these types of rumors and speculations from these sources have been true.

When all is said and done, consumers will have to wait until next week for the official word as to when they will be able to get their hands on the new iPad 2. Will the date be next week, or at the beginning of April as originally anticipated?

The iPad 2 is expected to have some new features over the first edition. A slimmer design is expected at about 30% slimmer than its predecessor. While the displays are being reported as identical to the first, at 1024*768, the new version is expected to have new anti reflection capabilities to reduce glare and increase the viewing angle. Also anticipated is a faster speed and a dual camera.

Rumors Are The Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPad 2 Will Be Available Immediately After Launch On March 2nd was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Overstock was coming in at the top of Google searches due to the artificial rankings and when Google caught on, the company’s ranking dropped to the 5^th or 6^th page.

Overstock.com was caught giving discounts to students and faculty members at Universities in exchange for links to overstock pages on college websites. According to internet experts, when links are added to sites with .edu in the website address, Google often ranks these higher than other commercial sites.

“Google has made clear they believe these links should not factor into their search algorithm,” said Patrick Byrne, Overstock’s chief executive, in a statement. “We understand Google’s position and have made the appropriate changes to remain within Google’s guidelines.”

Google did not comment on the incident and said the company has a policy in place against talking about specific websites. A spokesperson for the company did say its goal, “is to deliver the most relevant information possible.” He added that “attempts to game Google’s ranking go on 24 hours a day, every single day.”

Companies are always trying to get high Google rankings, and for good reason. When your site appears higher on a Google ranking page, you get more visitors to your website. SEO or Search Engine Optimization is how a site ranks and many companies hire SEO experts to help them receive a higher ranking on Google.

Overstock is not the first company to be targeted for faulty tactics to get their site ranked higher. Earlier just this month JC Penny was also caught artificially boosting their ranking though faulty SEO tactics. An SEO consultant was fired after the incident and the company has stated that they were unaware of the tactics and will work hard to regain their rankings.

Overstock.com was founded in 1999 and is mostly known for selling merchandise at a discount. The company is based out of Salt Lake City, UT and last month was reported as having 10 million visitors.

Resource:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704520504576162753779521700.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_News_BlogsModule

Overstock Penalized By Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) For Artificially Boosting Rankings was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

In recent months, some of the largest US banks have been doing the best they can to reassure investors on their portfolios. They have taken the stance that their costs in association with faulty foreclosures are within their realm, and investors should not be concerned.

“I’m sure the banks are ready to put this past them and investors would certainly like to but this is not an issue that is going to go away,” Blake Howells, an analyst at Becker Capital Management Inc. in Portland, Oregon, said in an interview. “There will be more lawsuits that come down the road.” Becker Capital oversees $2.4 billion.

In all 50 states, attorney generals have been investigating foreclosure practices to determine if they were legit. The investigation came after allegations that banks were foreclosing and seizing homes without going through proper foreclosure procedures. Homes were found to have been foreclosed on without proper documentation to do so.

US regulators from the Dept of Housing and the Treasury Department may be imposing up to $20 billion in penalties to the banks that were found to have followed unlawful foreclosure procedures. To date, banks have still not been informed of whether or not they will be part of the fines.

Litigation costs are expected to be high for both Wells Fargo and Bank Of America. Wells Fargo is estimating on the high end that their costs could be upwards of $1.2 billion and that figure is above and beyond the amount that they already have set aside in reserves. Banks of America estimates that their losses could be even higher and expects that they will come in right around $1.5 billion.

Resource:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-26/bank-of-america-wells-fargo-see-fines-actions-on-foreclosures.html

Wells Fargo, (NYSE: WFC) Bank Of America (NYSE: BAC) and Others Expecting Fines On Foreclosures was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

For Android users to take advantage all they need to do is to visit Google’s Android market and find the link for Books which is right next to the on line store’s search icon.

Android users are now able to easily search for and find the books that they want to read. Already, there is a huge variety of titles available and users just need to do a quick search for what they want. Then they can then purchase and download their selections. Searching is fairly easy and you can search for the category of book you are looking for like mystery, romance, science fiction or biography, for example. You can also search for a particular title or your favorite authors. Once you find what you are looking for you will have the option of reading it directly on the web or you can choose to download it so that you can read it on your Android device using the free app for Google books.

Rumors have it that books may be just the beginning. SlashGear along with additional sources are saying that Google is most likely eying music and even movies for the near future. URL searches show that pages may already be under development for the music and movies stores. While rumors have been around for sometime about Google opening their own music store, recently it has been reported that the store is a sure thing and should be launching in the near future.

Google, working to increase its Android market recently did an overhaul of their app store. They updated their web based downloads, offering customers more details about each of their apps. While Google is currently the leader in Android software, they seem to be gearing up for competition. Amazon is expected to open an Android app store in the near future.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-20036438-251.html

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android Market Now Offering eBooks: What Could Be Next? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The need for this type of program has grown just as the number of businesses around the world who have “gone Google” has grown. Today there are over 3 million businesses who have adopted Google Apps, getting started with the help of over 2,500 Google Apps Authorized Resellers. The Google Apps Certification Program will allow Google partners to not only demonstrate their expertise but also prove their competence in an extremely competitive industry.

IT professionals with access to the Internet and a browser can now register to take the online exam. The cost of the exam is $100 plus an additional $45 for the Kryterion Flexible Neck Webcam. The certification exam consists of 98 multiple choice questions which must be answered in the allowed time of 2 hours and 45 minutes. This exam is virtually proctored and is available every day between the hours of 7AM and 11PM Pacific Time. Other information including answers anticipated questions are available online.

Google Apps Authorized Resellers hope to generate interest from new clients through this certification program. As stated by Jon Hallett, CEO of Cloud Sherpas, “As we continue to build out our global Google Apps practice, it is essential for us to differentiate ourselves and to gain recognition for the great depth of Apps expertise we have developed with so many customers. The Google Apps Certification Program will help generate new client interest by highlighting our commitment to offering the highest-value consulting services to the market.”

Google encourages IT professionals interested in taking the certification exam to first review the prerequisites required.

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Apps Certification Program Now Available was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Media outlets will be receiving invitations to the event. The invitation shows an IOS calendar icon with the March 2^nd date notated. In the background, an iPad screen is featured which provides strong indication that the event does indeed pertain to the iPad’s successor.

Earlier in the month, there were rumors circulating that Apple was expected to release a faster version of the popular iPad. It is believed the device will not only have faster hardware components but a FaceTime camera will also be a part of the new design. It is also expected the next iPad will be lighter and thinner than the first one.

Apple is said to have manufactured around 5 million of the iPad2 devices to date before the launch. Up to 4 more million will be ready by April. The first iPad was released in April 2010. The sales of the initial device exceeded even Apple’s expectations having sold over 14.8 million units at the end of 2010. It is expected Apple will sell 30 million more units in 2011.

Apple needs to continue its success rate with the iPad due to growing competition from Samsung Electronics and Research in Motion, that are predicted to add high-speed data access capabilities. It is currently believed that the new iPad will be available initially through AT & T and Verizon Wireless but no confirmation from any of the companies on the sales situation.

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) Ready to Announce Release of iPad2 was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Citibank has over 200,000 million customer accounts around the world. The offer is open to all Citibank card holders. Cleartrip, which launched in July 2006 has become one of the leading websites promoting online travel in India. The site works to make the process of booking travel arrangements simple. The company’s website is user-friendly and includes an easy four-step book process for travel arrangements.

Citibank and Cleartrip’s exclusive cash back offer is a step forward to making digital business full of incentives for consumers. Cleartrip says its dedicated to providing their customers with services that exceed expectations and remain on the edge of innovation. The partnership with Citibank is a sign for consumers of a deeper commitment by both companies commitment to outstanding customer service.

There is no mention on the site of how long the cash back incentive will last for travel booking customers but the site does offer a select number of choices for booking travel via airlines, trains, accommodations, and even airfare alerts. There are even travel guides available on the site to help those who are still in the process of planning their trips.

Citibank (NYSE: C) and Cleartrip Team Up for Big Consumer Travel Discounts was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Assembly of the trucks at the Norfolk VA manufacturing plant possibly went wrong and the airbag systems appeared to have been assembled incorrectly. The assembly may trigger a short circuit wire problem that can cause the airbags to deploy without warning.

The company acknowledged that they have received complaints from drivers citing the problems with the airbags but the number of complaints received was not made public. However, the chief concern from drivers was that the airbags in the F-150’s were deploying shortly after the driver had started the truck.

Information about injuries incurred due to the air bag problems were also not relayed to the public. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not immediately posted the information about the Ford trucks. There was mention by a company representative of an injury related to a driver having to jump from the vehicle once the bags had been deployed.

The F-150 is Ford’s top-selling vehicle in the US and has place Ford at the top of the market in the truck industry. The high sales is said to be one reason for the fast turnaround of Ford’s profits recently.

The notice of the recall is going to be sent out to Ford customers starting in early March. Repairs for replacing the faulty wire would be done as a courtesy to Ford owners by dealerships. The repair work would take less than a day.

Ford (NYSE: F) Announces Recall on 144,000 F-150 Pick-ups for Bad Airbags was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Getting Information

One of the best ways to learn about the mortgage loan market and determine if the time is right to get a mortgage loan is to talk with a mortgage loan consultant from a mortgage loan office or banking institution that you have done business with in the past. A mortgage loan broker can accomplish the same thing and give you the information that you need to make an informed decision about whether it is right time for you to obtain a mortgage loan, whether you’re looking for a conventional mortgage or a bad credit mortgage.

The mortgage loan market fluctuates up and down regularly and different times of the year will have different numbers set as the prime interest rate. Changes in the interest rates will change the amount of money paid on top of the principal of the mortgage loan.  It is important to look at the mortgage loan market with your mortgage loan consultant to find out what is the best option for your needs.

If the mortgage loan market is doing well, interest rates will be higher because there are more people borrowing. Therefore, the mortgage loan companies can to make more money because they are in a better position with so many people borrowing. However, if there are less people borrowing, then there will be lower interest rates because the mortgage loan lenders want to entice people to borrow. Look at the mortgage loan market and time your loan request to ensure it is made at the right time.

You should also look around for mortgage companies, whether you’re looking for a traditional loan broker or a bad credit mortgage company, make sure that you get quite a few quotes before locking in,

How to Learn About Mortgages in 2011 was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

On Thursday, at the Mobile World Congress being held in Barcelona, Spain, Analyst Brian White with Ticonderoga Securities issued a note to investors. In the note, investors were informed that there has been a rising interest in the use of near field communications (NFC) at the show this year. As reported in Apple Insider, “White said that his sources have indicated to him that the next iPhone will include NFC technology. However, Apple’s approach will reportedly have ‘a twist that will make it unique versus his peers.’ White did not give any indication as to what the ‘twist’ could be.”

White also noted that earlier this week, Samsung revealed that their upcoming Samsung Galaxy S II will use the NFC technology in their device. White also said that Google has been pushing the RFID technology because it “has the opportunity to revolutionize electronic commerce and payments.”

So far the rumor of Apple using this technology appears that they are looking to use it for more than just as an e-wallet to use for processing payment at retail stores.

Last year, a rumor claimed that Apple was using the NFC technology in their future iPhones and Macs so they could allow their users to securely use a nearby Mac as their own personal computer. The rumors even suggested that the use of this technology allowed users to use the computers with custom settings, personal passwords, and even customize desktop backgrounds.

Apple has already filed patents that are related to NFC technology. One such patent was discovered last July that allowed users who used this technology to obtain information on a range of products wirelessly and could be used to obtain information about a product and then receive promotions and coupons for the product.

As reported in Apple Insider, “The Cupertino, Calif.-based iPhone maker has also hired experts on near-field communications, and was even rumored to be testing iPhone models with RFID chips as recently as August. Also in his note issued on Thursday, White noted that Softbank has issued all 20,000 of its employees both an iPhone and iPad from Apple. He said the news is ‘a sign of things to come across enterprises,’ predicting further corporate adoption of Apple’s iOS devices.”

Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone 5 is Expected to Use RFID In A New Way was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

As reported in Pocket Gamer, “Apple has told Capcom in no uncertain terms that its freemium children’s game has been causing problems with an increasingly significant number of parents who have complained that their children have been racking up large amounts of in-app purchases without their knowledge.”

Capcom is defensive about these “accidental” purchases because they do warn on their App Store listing that the app “charges real money for additional in-app content” and they also give the ability to disable the option to purchase this in-app content.

In the description it also notes that the iOS keeps users logged in for 15 minutes after they have entered their iTunes password in to purchase content from the App Store. The additional purchases don’t require re-entering the password in if it is during this 15 minute time span. “This is a function of the iOS software and not within our control,” Capcom wrote.

As stated by Pocket Gamer, they have “heard that Apple has refunded numerous parents after their children made “accidental purchases” in the Smurfs game. It also said that Apple could be “looking to tighten up its iTunes log in procedure” and reducing the time to 5 minutes.”

Apple Insider has also received many complaints and inquiries about the app. Apple Insider stated that one person wrote, “I’m curious if you are aware (of) any formal complaints about the iOS game Smurfs Village? The game appears to be a scam, but has lasted surprisingly long on the App Store. It’s free, but charges outrageous in-app fees to buy varying amounts of ‘Smurf Berries.’”

This isn’t the first app to take advantage of the in-app purchases available for them to profit from. Last year, it is reported that Apple refunded money to unauthorized purchases being made from a Chinese app that was used as a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game.

Apple appears to be doing something about the use of in-app links and purchases though. This week Apple announced that they would offer recurring subscriptions for app content, and they also banned the use of links to out of app purchases.

‘Smurfs’ Village’ In-App Purchases are Reportedly Annoying Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Earlier this month, Apple launched the digital billing service for The Daily. Subscriptions offered through the Apple App Store will only be sold by using the App Store billing system. Publishers of the subscriptions will offer customers the opportunity to purchase subscriptions on a weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, bi-yearly or yearly rate. Customers of these subscriptions will also have the ability to view and manage their subscriptions on their personal account page, including the ability to cancel their automatic renewal of subscriptions.

So, how much does Apple earn off of these subscriptions? As stated in Apple Insider, “Our philosophy is simple — when Apple brings a new subscriber to the app, Apple earns a 30 percent share; when the publisher brings an existing or new subscriber to the app, the publisher keeps 100 percent and Apple earns nothing,” Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said. “All we require is that, if a publisher is making a subscription offer outside of the app, the same (or better) offer be made inside the app, so that customers can easily subscribe with one-click right in the app. We believe that this innovative subscription service will provide publishers with a brand new opportunity to expand digital access to their content onto the iPad, iPod touch and iPhone, delighting both new and existing subscribers.”

Not all publishers are thrilled with the plan, but Apple does further explain that publishers are also able to sell digital subscriptions to their publications on their websites and that they could also provide free access for their existing subscribers. However, Apple will not allow the publishers to provide links in the app that sends them to their websites to purchase the app there.

Apple continues to keep customer privacy as a main feature on their App Store transactions. As Apple Insider stated, “customers purchasing a subscription through the App Store will be given the option of providing the publisher with their name, email address and zip code when they subscribe. The use of personal information will be governed by the publisher’s privacy policy rather than Apple’s. Publishers may seek additional information from App Store customers provided those customers are given a clear choice, and are informed that any additional information will be handled under the publisher’s privacy policy rather than Apple’s.”

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) Reveals New Subscription Services was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

According to the Taiwanese publication DigiTimes, the component suppliers are reporting that Apple is expanding the size of the screen for the fifth generation iPhones to 4 inches so that they can compete with the competition’s “super phones” that are ranging in the 4 to 7 inch size range. Currently, the fourth generation iPhone has a 3.5 inch display.

As reported in DigiTimes, “The component suppliers noted that the production lines for Apple’s next generation iPhone have begun testing, and Apple is interesting in expanding the screen size to 4-inches to support the tablet PC market as the vendor only has a 9.7-inch iPad in the market.”

If the recent report in DigiTimes is correct, it would seem that the recent rumors of a possible “iPhone nano” and the possible larger version of the iPhone is setting Apple up to give even more size options for their customers. A smaller version of the phone would also perhaps lower the price for the popular smartphone, whereas the larger version would likely cost more than the 3.5 inch display size.

There may be even more options besides the size of the screen. As stated in Apple Insider, “a recent unverified report from another Taiwanese website claimed that Apple has built three prototype models for the “iPhone 5,” including a version with a “sliding cover” that conceals a keyboard.”

The new generation of iPhones will also have faster processors. As stated in Apple Insider, “a second report from DigiTimes claims that Apple is hoping to outsource the production of its A4 processor and the next-generation A5 processor, which will likely utilize the ARM Cortex A9 design, to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company due to concerns over increased competition between Samsung and Apple. At this week’s Mobile World Congress, Samsung has shown a number of new products, such as the Galaxy S II smartphone and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet, that will directly compete with Apple’s iPhone and iPad.”

All Apple product prototypes and rumors of Apple products come and go often, so the future products will be unknown for certain until Apple is ready to release the information to the public.

Is A 4 Inch Screen In The Future For Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The program, as described, will be set up to allow the bank to reduce the principal of mortgage holders if they face trouble. Payments may also be able to be extended and rates can be increased. The goal is to allow military members serving in active duty less worries about their homes when they are away from home. Military members will be encouraged to contact the bank as soon as concerns come about.

There have been several reported incidents where soldiers serving overseas had been working with Bank of America to meet mortgage payments but later on the bank ended up seeking back payments on amounts due or homeowners would have to face foreclosure. Time and again soldiers faced the task of calling and re-calling the bank but only wound up getting transferred from one unhelpful representative to the next. One soldier in such a quandary reached out to ABC network show Good Morning America for help when he couldn’t get the bank to assist him. GMA and ABC News contacted Bank of America who eventually fixed the error with the soldier’s mortgage arrangement.

The soldier stories struck a cord with the bank who then decided to launch the program to help other soldiers facing the same problems meeting their mortgage payments. The bank feels it is their obligation to defend the homes of those defending the homeland.

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) Announces Military Homeowner Help was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

During the pre-order promotion period. Verizon is said to have sold out. No sales figures were released but the company has said the event was the ‘most successful fist day sales in the history of the company’. Verizon and Apple stores also took pre-orders on February 9. As of Thursday, both Walmart and Best Buy had merchandise stocked on their shelves. Online analytics show that traffic to Verizon’s website showed millions of visitors on the February 3^rd event date with 38% of the visitors hitting the pre-order web page of the site. 39% of those visitors completed the full transaction of the pre-order. The conversion rate was impressive and it also did not calculate those consumers wanting to complete an order but who faced technical difficulties in getting to the end. Overall it is estimated that Verizon sold upwards of a million iPhones as of launch day.

Interestingly, it appeared to some that Verizon stores were much more committed to the days leading up to the iPhone release than Apple stores were. In some cases, it was reported that consumers had no idea the iPhone 4 was even being sold in some of the Apple store locations.

AT&T released their iPhone 4 this past June and people were lined up around the block to get access to the latest device. It that case the iPhone 4 model was an entirely new creation whereas Verizon is essentially selling the same version of the phone, which has been on the market for several months. Some consumers may also be waiting for the advent of the new event, the iPhone 5.

iPhone Launch at Verizon (NYSE:VZ) Saw Small Lines with Preorders Prevailing was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Nokia is planning to use Microsoft Windows program as its primary software for their phones. Experts believe the move is Nokia’s admission that it strategies for its own platform has been proven a failure. The strategic move is said to be the biggest Nokia has made since they first started producing mobile phones in the 80’s. The company has been working to revive itself after its presence in the smartphone market keeps declining and their shares have been going down with it.

Microsoft has also been working to renew the acceptance of its Windows Phone 7 sofware. Before the iPhone debuted, the Windows Mobile software license sales had doubled annually. Microsoft is said to benefit from the access it has to the world’s largest mobile phone distributor. Microsoft and Nokia will combine their assets and develop jointly products for the mobile. Both companies will also have a hand in marketing the devices. Currently, they are working on the first Nokia Windows phone.

Nokia also has plans in the works to ship upwards of 150 million new phones based on the Symbian smartphone operating system but the company also plans on reducing it’s R  & D budget which may lead to job cuts for the 3000 workers in their Finland facility.  It will also affect the current sales of the Symbian devices since the platform will be completely phased out before the Microsoft phones begin sales, expected in 2012.

Nokia began as a mill for wood pulp in 1865. Eventually the company went on to make rubber, paper, cables, and equipment for telephones before venturing into the mobile phone market in the 1980s. In 1999, the company outpaced Motorola as being the largest producer of mobile phones. It was also listed in that same years as the most valuable company in Europe.

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) to Venture with Nokia (NYSE: NOK) was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Apple is expected to offer the iPad 2 in three versions. The WiFi only version of the second generation iPad will probably be cheaper than the other two versions, but should still be highly popular. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of Concord Securities reported to Apple Insider last month that the iPad 2 will be available on 3G networks as a GSM/UMTS version that wireless carriers such as AT&T would be supporting, and also a CDMA/EVDO model that Verizon would be supporting. Kuo explained that the naming of these models will be called K93, K94, and K95, respectively. Currently, the iPhone 4 on the Verizon network is codenamed N92.

According to Ming-Chi Kuo, as reported in Apple Insider, “his checks in the Far East indicate production figures of 38 percent for the K93 WiFi model, 46 percent of the K46 3G model, and 16 percent for the Verizon-compatible K95 CDMA version. This indicates that Apple apparently expects most iPad 2 users will opt for 3G models, even on Verizon where new iPhone buyers have the option to pay $20 for hotspot service through their new smartphone.”

Apple’s iPad is selling extremely well, but which model is currently selling the best? To get a closer look at this, consider that Apple stated last month that their average selling price of all of their iPads for the fourth quarter of 2010 was at about $600. The cheapest version of the iPad is the WiFi only version for $499. The cheapest 3G model is the 16GB 3G model which comes in at $629. This would mean that these two versions were more than likely the most popular models that Apple sells, so similar options and prices for the second generation of iPads is likely.

DigiTimes recently reported that the sales of iPads shipped around December of 2010, were 60 to 65% 3G models. This means that consumers want the capability to use their iPads at anytime and anywhere to connect to the Internet. This popularity means that Apple will be working closer with wireless carriers, such as AT&T and Verizon, to provide the consumer need for this option on their iPad 2.

Over Half of Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPad 2 Tablets will be 3G Models was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

AT&T ads are focusing on claiming that they have high network speeds and can provide their customers with voice and data at the same time. In their new ad, they don’t exactly name Verizon directly to show that they are the better option. The commercial shows a man working at an office, late at night, and his wife calls to remind him of their anniversary. As he is talking to her, he is doing a quick search on his phone for “fine dining” and then assures her that he didn’t forget, and is on the way. At the end of the commercial, the narrator comes on to say “only AT&T’s network let your iPhone talk and surf at the same time.” This ad does however show that they think they are better because Verizon’s iPhone 4 does not allow their users to access data when talking on the phone.

Verizon is aiming their ads to show off their larger coverage areas and network capacity. Verizon’s popular “can you hear me now?” network technician appears once again in a new commercial, showing off iPhone 4 images and saying how beautiful it is, but does it work? Then the network technician answers the phone and says, “Yes, I can hear you now.” Verizon’s commercial is simple, and to the point, and is also a big jab to AT&T without mentioning them. AT&T has had a high amount of negative feedback on their service with the iPhone due to dropped calls, so this ad is really trying to get those customers to switch over to Verizon who has America’s largest and most reliable network.

In 2009 through 2010, Verizon supported RIM’s Blackberry Storm, and then the Android-based phones. Verizon’s Droid campaign “Droid Does” even listed ways the Droid devices were better than the iPhone 3GS. However, after the release of Apple’s iOS 4.0 and then the launch of Apple’s iPhone 4 last year, Verizon realized that it was also a fierce competitor and added it to their network. Verizon has changed their marketing strategies and is now also highly promoting their version of the iPhone 4.

Despite the huge popularity of the iPhone 4 on both the AT&T and Verizon networks, they also both offer competing phones that use the Android operating system. These phones are aimed primarily at the 4G service, and the iPhone 4 does not currently use this.

AT&T and Verizon Ads Target Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone 4 Users was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

As reported by Apple Insider, only a few days after this announcement, the security firm Sophos issued a warning saying that Google’s execution of app sales on their website is severely flawed because they don’t have their users use an acceptance step on their phone.

Apple’s highly popular iTunes Preview website allows their users to search for apps on the web, but then sends them to iTunes where they can securely purchase their apps. Apple also only accepts apps that have gone through the review process, and never sends out apps to a user’s device without them accepting it first.

Google’s Android Market allows their users to select and buy the apps directly on the web site, and then have the purchased apps remotely installed to their device. The apps then stream onto the phone and are automatically installed. If things worked like they were supposed to and hackers weren’t out there, this would be fine. However, the Internet is not a safe place. What happens if someone installs an app on your account? Well, it would be downloaded, and because there is no acceptance feature for apps to install onto your device, you probably wouldn’t even notice that the app was even installed.

To make matters worse, Android apps have a much larger access to features on the device. Google allows the user to set the security settings related to apps when they are purchased. So, apps could read all the data on the phone, track where the user is at, and send fee based SMS messages.

The malicious software that is added could use this information to collect highly sensitive data from the phone, and then sell on a foreign market before you even notice that a new app was even installed. There will likely be a sharp increase in Gmail phishing attacks in the very near future that aim at installing this type of malicious app on an Android device.

Google should update their Android devices to only allow apps to be installed if the user verifies that it is okay to install. However, that may never happen. So, in the meantime, Android users should have a strong password on their account, and regularly check their device for apps they didn’t want installed on their device.

Google’s (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android Market Web Could Cause Security Issues For Users was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

This announcement by the FDA was made earlier this week, and gave the green light for Mobile MIM, which is the iOS app component of the secure medical imaging product that is sold by MIM Software.

As explained in Apple Insider, the FDA stated that the application “is not intended to replace full workstations and is indicated for use only when there is no access to a workstation,” but William Maisel, MD, MPH, the chief scientist and deputy director for science in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, noted that “this important mobile technology provides physicians with the ability to immediately view images and make diagnoses without having to be back at the workstation or wait for film.”

When used, the Mobile MIM app will allow radiological images to be securely sent to doctors on the iPad or iPhone. The doctors can then enlarge the images which can help enable them to make medical diagnoses “based on computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nuclear medicine technology, such as positron emission tomography (PET).” This groundbreaking app will allow the doctors to measure the distance on the image, and also adjust the image intensity values and display the measurement lines, annotations, and regions of interest.

As further explained in Apple Insider, “In its evaluation, the FDA reviewed performance test results on various portable devices,” the agency said. “These tests measured luminance, image quality (resolution), and noise in accordance with international standards and guidelines. The FDA also reviewed results from demonstration studies with qualified radiologists under different lighting conditions. All participants agreed that the device was sufficient for diagnostic image interpretation under the recommended lighting conditions.” MIM Software’s chief technology officer Mark Cain stats on the company’s website that “establishing a diagnostic protocol for medical imaging is no simple matter for a device like the iPhone or iPad. It is critical to understand the characteristics of the device and to establish methods and tools that are safe and effective, while working within those constraints. There has been a gap in the market for a remote imaging device like this, and now it can be filled.”

This revolutionary medical app will be available in 14 languages, and available for use in 34 countries in addition to the United States. The app is expected to be available in Apple’s App Store later next week.

Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPad and iPhone Radiology App for Mobile Diagnoses Approved by FDA was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The bonus for Moynihan was give as restricted stock from the North Carolina-based bank. His salary of $950,000 stayed the same. Thomas K. Montag received $14.3 million in restricted stock and cash awards of $900,000 for his job as leader of the global banking and markets. His salary also increased from $800,000 to $850,000. Montag’s division earned the bank $6.3 billion in 2010 while Moynihan carried $12.4 billion in impairments which were purchased by his predecessor. Bank of America’s shares were reported to underperform during 2010 after dropping 11% after losses were tallied from faulty mortgages from investors which included Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

Rival banks have been known to increase base salaries for executives due to the regulations on company bonuses. Bank of America set approximately 10% less on the side for compensation funds for the end of the year due to the decrease in revenue.  Regulators are working on a draft of rules that will help to limit what is considered risky practices by banking institutions.

There were concerns expressed about the awarding of the big bonuses despite such a poor year. Some felt the top execs should not be rewarded for the events of 2010. However, the board of directors for Bank of America reported in their filing that the increase in salaries and the cash bonuses were awarded based on stock price and future performance. End of the year compensation was deferred and tied to the measure of stockholder value.

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) CEO to Receive Big Time Bonus Money was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

One problem is that consumers are not very willing to buy that many electric cars overall. It is expected that electric car enthusiasts will be willing to make the purchase but not the general public. This is largely due to the high costs of purchase and the limitations on the road. There is still a federal government tax incentive available that may encourage some sales. The $7500 tax credit may lure in some drivers but the almost $33,000 price tag for the Nissan Leaf or the $41,000 tag on Chevrolet’s Volt may still be out of range for many struggling consumers.

Currently reports show that GM has plans to produce up to 45,000 Chevrolet Volts over the next year. The Nissan Leaf has production plans for 150,000 vehicles in the same time frame. There are concerns that the electric vehicles, particularly the Nissan Leaf, have limitations for driving. The Leaf can only about 100 miles before a charge must be used. This likely is a big limitation to most drivers interested in the benefits of going electric.

Obama Expected to Miss Electric Car Goal Despite GM (NYSE: GM) Efforts was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The company hopes both sales will be completed by the end of 2012. BP also announced its intention to restart dividends to their stockholders. In 2010, the company reported a loss of $4.9 billion dollars. That amount includes $41 billon in expenses incurred during the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The company’s reported loss is the first one since 1992.

The Texas City refinery that is now up for sale was acquired by BP in 1998 when it merged with Amoco. Despite the large size of the facility, it has proven to be the location with the most problems. In 2005 an explosion at the refinery killed 15 people and left more than 170 others with injuries.

The BP refinery in Texas also has a history of environmental troubles and is still under investigation by the state and federal agencies for emissions events last year. During a 40 day time period, the refinery released more than 500,000 pounds of chemicals into the air.

The economic impact will surely be felt across the state. The Texas City refinery is the largest employer in the area. BP has also been a mainstay in the local community due to their charitable donations, employee associations, and activity sponsorships. Studies show that a $22 billion economic hit will be taken by the Texas economy. The numbers include payroll figures for the staff as well as outside contractors. Additionally, business down with other companies will take a loss.

Many of BP’s employees found out about the sale of the Texas refinery when they came into work following the announcement. BP says it hopes that the new buyer will remain ‘sensitive to the area’.

BP (NYSE: BP) Announces Sale of Texas Oil Refinery was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

But to get the maximum benefit from any rainy day fund it’s always better to start saving sooner rather than later and a good way to get going is to create, and stick to, a budget plan.

But how do you go about creating a budget plan? Below are 5 tips on how to get started…how you go about sticking to it is up to you!

1. Consider the year gone by and the year ahead.

When looking to start a budget for the forthcoming year (never just plan for the month ahead) you first need to look back at the year gone by to work out your biggest outgoings as well as identifying any mistakes you may have made. An easy way to go about this is to collect bank statements from the previous year as these should give a good overview of the last 12 months’ income and expenditure. The make a note of the outgoings that remain constant for the forthcoming year, for example, rent, utility bills etc.

When you have highlighted these expenses it is important to then plan for the ad hoc expenses for the year ahead, such as household repairs, birthdays and even vacations. For example, if you spend $1,000 on a vacation then this should be factored into your budget at a level of between $80 and $90 per month.

Once all of these outgoings have been factored in, they can be offset against your income to form the basis of your budget plan.

2. Get the details right

Many budget plans fail to work out because they don’t take account of the small, everyday expenses such as money spent on snacks, newspapers and other sundries. And whilst these things may seem inconsequential at the time, a couple of dollars here and there can really add up, for example, paying $2.00 for a coffee on the way to work each day will add up to around $500 over the course of the year.

Similarly, it is best to try and avoid putting too many variables into one category, for example, the costs incurred when running a car. If you simply put a certain amount of money aside each month to cover your car’s running costs, you need to make sure that this category covers every aspect of running that car including things like, petrol, car insurance, breakdown cover, services, repairs, MOTs and even things like car washing and anti-freeze for the winter.

3. Keep records and keep them in order

Keeping a record of your incomings and outgoings is the only way to keep on top of and ensure you adhere to your budget. It’s a good idea to set up a budgeting spread sheet as this will work out your disposable income and give you an at-a-glance overview of your income and expenditure.

If you don’t have the capabilities to keep a spreadsheet then the easiest way to keep a record is to keep the receipts from any purchases you make, including online purchases, and then at the end of each month record when and where your money has gone. In keeping a comprehensive list of all your outgoings you’ll be able to identify exactly where your money has gone, something that is particularly useful if you happen to fall short one month.

And whilst getting receipts for every purchase may seem a little over the top, this is common practice in business and there is no reason why you shouldn’t be as thorough with your personal finances as you would be with your business finances.

4. Make saving the norm

The basic idea of creating a personal budget plan is to ensure that you don’t fall into debt, or at least don’t fall further into debt, but the ultimate aim is to have enough money at the end of each month to put aside as savings.

That is why, wherever possible, you should factor in savings as part of your budget. And it doesn’t matter if you can only put a few dollars aside each month as even a small amount can adds up to a decent ‘rainy day’ fund.

Once you have decided on an amount that you can comfortably save each month then it’s a good idea to set up a direct payment from your bank account to your savings account as this will make sure that the money is being put aside each month.

It’s also important that you pick the right savings account that will yield the greatest return on your investment.

As it is coming towards the end of the financial year in the UK, many investors will be looking at taking out an ISA account over the next few months, that is the tax-free savings account that is the equivalent of the LSA, or Lifetime Savings Account in the US. The best thing about these accounts are the tax breaks that you are given, for example, if you open an LSA, you can contribute up to $7,500 to is every year and whatever money you put in is non-tax deductable and whatever returns you gain on the investment are tax-free.

The greatest advantage of this type of account is that you have the freedom to save for whatever you want as, unlike an Education Savings Account, it doesn’t necessarily have to go towards a college fund though it can do if you wish. In addition, you can roll any other savings accounts you may have, such as an Education Savings Account, into your LSA.

5. Give up your bad habits

This is potentially the hardest thing you’ll have to do when budgeting to save money but giving up some or all of your bad habits will make a massive difference to the amount of money you have available to put aside each month. The amount of money that can be saved by giving up smoking, drinking or gambling can be quite staggering…although giving up any of these habits is quite an undertaking!

Even just cutting down on these habits can ensure you save a fair amount of money, especially if this is done in tandem with other frugal living tips such as cutting out any unnecessary car journeys and cutting down on the amount of take away or eat-out meals you have.

And taking steps to cut out drinking or smoking as well as preparing your own meals and walking more often can have some positive health benefits as well as financial ones!

Of course, there are more steps that can be taken but if take these 5 steps as a starting point and make sure you stick to them then 2011 could be a financially sound year.

Article written by Andreas Nicolaides, budgeting expert at Moneysupermarket.com

5 Steps to a Successful Budget was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The case involved was against Recon Trust Company NA, a subsidiary of Bank Of America. Suzanne A. North, has taken suit against the bank, stating that Recon Trust fraudulently tried to foreclose on her home.

Bank of America is fighting to overturn the injunction and says that they along with Recon Trust were within the perimeters of the laws in Nevada that pertain to foreclosures and that the borrower’s case does not have a chance.

Bank of America is also taking a strong stance and arguing that the halting of foreclosures in Nevada and across the country is ultimately harming local citizens and the public interest. They used a quote from Timothy Geithner, the US Treasury Secretary as a means to help support their case:

“Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner opined that ceasing the foreclosure process is `very damaging’ and harms the public as communities are forced to live longer with empty homes, there is increased downward pressure on home prices and increasing blight,” the bank said. “The order also harms those subject to the foreclosure process because those individuals, especially those in mediation trying to stay in their homes, are now forced into a state of limbo for an unspecified duration.”

Fighting back, north’s attorney does not plan to back down and has said that if necessary he will find others and seek class action status for the suit. This is not good news for the mortgage companies.

This Nevada case follows a similar one earlier this month in Massachusetts where the Supreme Court there voided two foreclosures when the banks were unable to come up with the proper documentation to prove that they actually owned the loans that were foreclosed on. This is a precedent that has opened up scrutiny for foreclosures across the country.

Reference:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/political-economy/2011/01/bank_of_america_seeks_to_overt.html#more

Bank Of America (NYSE: BAC) Planning To Appeal Nevada Judge’s Order Halting 8,900 Foreclosures In The State was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

First and foremost, the Apple iPad 2 is expected to have a built in camera. While Apple does currently control the market for tablets, with the competitors boasting built in cameras, this is the one new feature that is totally expected. It is also expected that the built in camera will have dual camera capabilities.

The New Apple iPad 2 is expected to have the bonus feature of a USB port. The New model is expected to have a mini USB port that will make it easier for users to be able to upload video feeds and other files at a faster speed.

An upgrade to a high-resolution Retina Display is also expected. The new iPhone 4 already has the technology, which many believe is a sign that the iPad 2 will also have it.

The new Apple iPad 2 is also rumored to have a dual core graphics and this would put them on the top when it comes to the most powerful tablet available to consumers.

Flash support may also be on the new iPad 2. It is rumored that Apple may possibly be working with Adobe and if so the
new iPad might offer users Flash support that will enhance web surfing capabilities.

While we wait for the actual specs from Apple, it is hard for many Apple fans to believe that just a year ago iPad tablets had just been announced but were not yet on the market. Since released last April Apple has sold almost 5 million of the first version of their tablet. Will the phenomenon continue? Stay tuned to find out.

Reference:

http://news.oneindia.in/2011/01/30/apple-ipad2-specs-features-launch-review-aid0102.html

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPad 2: The Latest Rumors was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Technology has become its own branch of most business plans as a way to address budgeting for the new technology and priority lists for updating current company technology and software. Choosing software, that makes your company more effective and cost-efficient, while also having the capabilities to grow with the company’s needs, takes research and careful planning.

Some software companies now offer specialized software for businesses as a way to meet their unique industry needs. It’s more expensive than buying general software, but the programs will be designed with requested features that would not be included in the general software. However, unless the company has industry-specific needs that must be met, common software may
be the best choice in the long run, especially for a business in its beginning stages. For example, Contract Logix is a company that offers contract management software. Although the company has general software, it was designed to be used by companies of varied sizes and their changing volume of contract needs.

In the business plan, there needs to be a detailed description of the company’s technology needs and areas of the company that need the most work. The list needs to also be categorized in order of priority for the company to function. When choosing technology take note of the function, ease of use, security, cost, and ease of integration with current
software.

There are many ways and options for updating company software, and with the technological advances everyday there are more options to increase a company’s efficiency. Only research and detailed consideration will help decide the best technology to comply with a business plan for company
advancement.

Technology Takes An Integral Role In Business Plans was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

The short answer to “What is Mozy.com?” is that the company provides online data backup services to individuals and businesses, allowing them to store their data on off-site servers that are secure and encrypted.  This way the individuals and companies that choose to use the service are shielded from devastating record and file loss in the event of a server outage or computer hard drive crash.  The company offers several different levels of protection for individuals and businesses in order to appeal to a wide range of consumers.

Many people are interested in learning “What is Mozy.com?” because of the innovative way the company operates.  An unlimited amount of data can be saved on Mozy.com’s secure servers by uploading the information using the cloud service.  This service allows users to backup their files and documents remotely, manually, or according to a preset schedule determined by the user.  These files can be accessed at a later date by using a personal password created when the account with the company was initiated.

The first software products offered by Mozy.com were designed for use by individuals backing up personal information using a home computer.  Today, the products offered by the company include a free version for basic usage and a pro version designed for business use.  The free version allows users to save a limited amount of data for an unlimited amount of time on Mozy.com’s secure servers.

What Is Mozy.com: Answering The Question Of “What Is Mozy.com?” was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Amazon.com is still the biggest online retailer, and had it’s public offering nearly 14 years ago. Analysts in a Bloomberg survey estimated their first quarter at $9.36 billion, but Amazon reported sales in the first quarter will be as low as $9.1 billion. Despite these numbers, Amazon has 17 times bigger revenue than Facebook with $34.2 billion in sales in 2010 compared to Facebook’s 2010 revenue of $2 billion.

Facebook has more than 500 million users who enjoy the social networking activities offered through the site. Emarketer Inc., a researching company, estimates that ad spending on Facebook will double to a little over $4 billion in 2011. It’s current valuation of $82.9 billion is a 40% jump since the middle of December.

SharesPost Inc.

SharesPost Inc. bases private company valuations on research estimates, transactions and venture-funding. This month, shares of Facebook stock have sold as high as $60 each, which indicate there are investors who believe the social networking giant is worth $136 billion. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. provided $1.5 billion in financing to Facebook earlier in January, which brought the company valuation to $50 billion at the start of January.

By the end of the year, Facebook expects to have 500 shareholders or more. The U.S Securities and Exchange Commission requires that companies with 500 shareholders begin reporting financial results, even if they haven’t held an initial public offering.
The second largest company on SharesPost is the Zynga Game Network Inc., which is a very distant second to Facebook, is valued at $5.7 billion.

Investor Skepticism

Despite Facebook’s high valuation on the secondary markets, there is an increase in skepticism among investors. In a survey of 1,000 Bloomberg customers (investors, analysts or traders), 69% believe Facebook is overvalued.

Reference:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-01-28/facebook-s-value-tops-amazon-com-trails-only-google-on-web.html

Internet Company Values: Facebook Worth More Than Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) – Second Only to Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Barnes and Noble reports that eBooks sold for it’s Nook eBook reader is also outpacing sales of paperback and hardcover books.

Why Kindle Sales Aren’t All That Important to Amazon

Amazon’s ebook formats can be read on devices other than the Kindle itself, with a variety of Kindle apps available for smartphones, PCs, Macs, and tablet computers. Future plans may involve the release of ebook-in-a-browser, similar to Google’s concept, which would allow Amazon’s ebooks to be read from any device connected to the internet via a web browser.

So while the Kindle is a higher priced item than the eBooks, Amazon has made it easy to buy and download ebooks for any format, which helps increase the sales of their eBooks (since the readers are not limited to the Kindle device to enjoy them). Amazon has the largest available library of eBooks over all competitors at the moment, which also tends to bring buyers to the site when they’re in need of eBooks – regardless of whether they own a Kindle device or not.
There’s no question that the Kindle is selling. On Thursday, Amazon announced that the Kindle 3 has sold more units than the final book of the Harry Potter series, which makes the Kindle 3 Amazon’s top-selling product of all time.

Why eBooks Sell More
One of the obvious reasons eBooks may be selling more than physical books is simply because they are less expensive. With the average ebook cost under $10, many consumers prefer the electronic or digital editions of their reading materials just to save money.

Some consumers prefer the format for ease of storage. Where as avid readers used to run out of physical space to store their growing collections of books – having books stored in digital formats means you have unlimited space capabilities and can continue to grow your reading collections as long as you have electronic memory to do so!

Reference:

http://www.itworld.com/personal-tech/135222/why-amazon-may-be-selling-lots-ebooks-not-so-many-kindles

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) Sells 115 eBooks to Every 100 Paperbacks Sold was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Matt Cutts, Google’s search expert, said the changes are targeted to about 2% of searches. “The net effect is that searchers are more likely to see the sites that wrote the original content rather than a site that scraped or copied the original site’s content,” Cutts said in his blog post on the matter.

How Do the Search Algorithm Changes Effect Site Owners?

Website owners and operators are unclear how these changes will impact the position of their website in the search engine results. While many site owners seem happy about the change, there are many people with questions about how Google will decide which website posted the content originally and which website posted “scraped”, copied, or reworded content. How will it judge the content on sites to determine high quality content versus low quality content – to weed out the “spam” results that currently appear in search engines? You know the sites – they hit all the keywords but don’t really offer any useful information on the topic.

Will larger sites have more credibility than smaller sites, even if they post duplicate content? Sometimes there are legitimate reasons for mirrored, or copied content – like relaying news and factual information.  How will the search results reflect the legitimate sites with copies?
Google Meets with the Federal Trade Commission

Recently, Cutts also met with the Federal Trade Commission to represent Google’s belief that search results are done via computer algorithms and should not be regulated. Internet service providers have been pushing the FTC for search neutrality regulations, which would prevent search engines from sending packets of traffic faster or slower than the others on the networks.

Reference:

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/google/google-launches-algorithm-change-to-tackle-content-copying-will-it-help/2766

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) Changes Search Algorithm to Reward Sites With Original Content was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), creater of all of the “i” devices (iPad, iPod, etc), the Mac OS X and iOS software, had end of day trading value of $309 billion compared to the $238 billion for Microsoft. Some would argue that Apple is actually a bigger technology company, particularly over this past holiday season with Apple bringing in $26.7 billion compared to Microsoft’s holiday revenue of $20 billion. If you were to compare profitability for the same holiday time period, however, Microsoft boasts $6.6 billion versus Apple’s $6 billion.

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), with its mobile device Android operating system and the upcoming Chrome OS for desktop and notebook computers is the next closest competitor to the technology giants of Microsot and Apple. For the quarter ending December 31, 2010 Google reported an increase of 26% in revenues compared to the fourth quarter of 2009, with $8.44 billion.

Stock prices at close of trading today were as follows: Mcirosoft down $1.11 (3.8%) at $27.76; Apple down $7.16 (2.1%) at $336.05 and Google down $15.80 (2.6%) to $600.99.

Economic Outlook
Some analysts say the stock prices and performance of technology companies is simply a reflection of the economy that continues to struggle. The Commerce Department reported that the United States economy has grown 3.2% pace during the fourth quarter. This is a healthy growth overall, but is below predictions and expectations of both economists and investors. The unemployment rate was not affected significantly by the increase since it was too slow of a growth.

Technology by the Numbers: Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) & Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

In addition to the money donated in 2010, Wells Fargo team members volunteered their time, with more than 50,000 hours spent helping rebuild and renovate 650 homes – many of which were abandoned properties or foreclosures. The homes were rebuilt with green components and energy efficiency in mind. Additionally, Wells Fargo donated 19 properties to the Habitat, for use in creating affordable housing opportunities.

About The Habitat for Humanity

The Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 through an ecumenical Christian ministry. The organization is committed to eliminating poverty housing through rebuilding, rehabilitating or improving houses around the world. Since it’s inception, the Habitat for Humanity has improved more than 400,000 homes and created affordable shelter for more than 2 million people. You can offer volunteer time or money contributions to support their efforts by visiting Habitat.org.
Pledge for 2011

Wells Fargo’s Housing Foundation has made an additional pledge of $5 million for the Habitat for Humanity’s “Money for Muscle” team member volunteer program to be made during 2011.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company was founded in 1852 and is currently headquarted in San Francisco. They are a community-based financial service company that provides banking, mortgages, consumer and commercial financing, insurance and investments through more than 9,000 store locations and via the internet on wellsfargo.com and wachovia.com. They currently service one out of every three households in the United States.

Reference:

http://www.vadvert.co.uk/society/8344-wells-fargo-exceeds-8-million-commitment-to-habitat-for-humanity-in-2010-by-nearly-50-percent-providing-11-8-million.html

Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) Contributes $11.8 Million to Habitat for Humanity in 2010 was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Wells Fargo came in second only to JP Morgan Chase in 2010 in terms of net income. The bank has reported a net income of $12.4 billion for 2010, surpassing their income from 2009. In 2009 the bank became the top mortgage lender and stayed on top in 2010. The bank originated $386 billion in home loans while competitors like Bank of America spent the majority of their time trying to recover from troubled mortgages.

“Wells is in a uniquely strong position to continue to outperform its peers,” says Andrew Marquardt, an analyst at Evercore Partners in New York. “They have weathered the storm far better than most.”

While other banks are still struggling with the impact of the mortgage crisis, Wells Fargo seems to have pushed through to the other side. This does not mean that they have not had their fair share of difficulties along the way. Back in 2008 when the bank bought Wachovia they inherited a portfolio full of option-ARM mortgages. These mortgages tend to have a history of high default rates. To date, Wells Fargo still has $90 billion worth of unpaid principals from this batch of loans, so they could still have difficulties with these loans down the road. When Wells took on the loans however, they did take the precaution of setting aside $26 billion to cover losses and they still have not exhausted these funds.

Looking ahead Wells Fargo is planning to branch out to new opportunities, possibly lending to mid size businesses. During 2011 the bank plans to increase its work force by 10% in the area of business lending. Currently they have 2,400 employees who work with businesses that have somewhere between $10 million and $500 million in revenue.

Additionally, the bank plans to begin offering a wider variety of other types of loan products and letting their local branch salespeople have the authority to make these loans. Currently Wells Fargo operates 187 commercial banking branches in locations around the US.

Reference:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_06/b4214043656537.htm

It’s Full Steam Ahead For Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) was created by and is property of American Consumer News.