makesnoscents.com

Archive for the ‘Get Rich Quick Schemes’

← Previous Entries
Next Entries →

How to Save Money on Auto Insurance – Easy Ways to Save Money 0

Posted on February 07, 2012 by Admin

title="Auto Insurance" href="http://freefrombroke.com/auto-insurance/">Auto insurance is a necessary expense, but one that we often spend too much for.

Many people seem to be much more likely to look for ways to save on groceries by clipping coupons or to save on gas by driving around town trying to find the lowest per gallon price rather than looking at their auto insurance.  Often people choose their auto insurer, pay their premium every six months, and don’t think about it further.

Yet why pay more than you have to? 

There are plenty of ways to trim your costs and save money on car insurance.

Consider the following easy ways to save on auto insurance:

id="more-11654">

Bundle your policies

Chances are auto insurance isn’t your only insurance expense.  You likely have title="Homeowners Insurance Coverage: Are You Truly Covered?" href="http://freefrombroke.com/homeowners-insurance-coverage-are-you-truly-covered/">homeowner’s insurance and life insurance, to name a few.  Call your insurer and see if you will get a discount on your policies if you bundle them all together.  We get a discount for bundling our title="What is Renter’s Insurance and Why You Need It" href="http://freefrombroke.com/what-is-renters-insurance-why-do-i-need-it/">renter’s insurance and auto insurance together.

Make sure to crunch numbers to see that you are getting the best deal.  You may find one insurer offers a good price on auto insurance but a much higher price than you are currently paying on life insurance.  In that case, bundling may not make sense.

Take a defensive driving course

If you take a defensive driving course, most insurers reward you with an insurance discount.  Call your insurance agency and see what program they recommend.  In my state, I can take a defensive driving course with the secretary of state and get a discount.  Because our premium is already quite low, I haven’t done this, but I would be much more motivated if I had a high premium.

Maintain an excellent credit score

You may wonder why your title="Get Your Credit Score…For Free" href="http://freefrombroke.com/get-your-credit-score-for-free/">credit score has anything to do with how much money you pay for insurance.

Whether you realize it or not, many insurers are using your credit score to determine how much you pay for insurance.  As reported in href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2011/08/23/how-credit-affects-your-insurance-score/">Fox News, “’Most auto, homeowner and other property insurers use a credit-based insurance score to determine how likely it is you’ll file a claim,’ according to David Snyder, vice president and associate general counsel of the American Insurance Association.”

Your credit score is one piece of your insurance score, which also includes the state you live in and your driving record.

The better your credit score, the less you are likely to pay for insurance.  If you know you have a great credit score, make sure you bring it up to the insurer.

Look for group discounts

Often, if you can buy insurance as part of a group, you will pay a lower price.

You can see if your university alumni association offers a group insurance discount as well as a union you may belong to for work, your bank, or your credit union.  In some cases these groups actually offer the insurance; in other places, they offer a discount if you purchase the insurance by using your affiliation.

Drop coverage you don’t need

id="attachment_9378" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 200px"> class="size-full wp-image-9378" title="wrecked_car" src="http://cdn.freefrombroke.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/wrecked_car.jpg?cda6c1" alt="save on auto insurance" width="200" height="133" /> class="wp-caption-text">Don't pay too much. It's easy to save on your car insurance.

As your car ages and loses value, you may want to consider dropping full coverage.  Some people opt to carry coverage that only covers third parties such as damage to someone else’s car or injury to another person.  If your car was damaged, insurance would not cover the damages.  Obviously, you only want to consider carrying this type of insurance if your vehicle has very little monetary value.

Raise your deductible

Deductibles range from 0 to ,000.  The higher you set your deductible, the less you have to pay in insurance.

However, before raising your deductible, make sure you have a title="Another Case For Emergency Savings – Credit Score" href="http://freefrombroke.com/emergency-savings-protect-credit-score/">healthy emergency fund.  If you have a ,000 deductible and have an accident, you will need to pay the first ,000 in repairs.

Don’t report small accidents

If you accidentally hit your bumper on the corner of the garage and find out it will cost ,200 to fix, consider if you want to report this to your insurer.  If you have a ,000 deductible, it may be better to pay the extra 0 out of pocket rather than report it.

As you make claims, your href="http://prairieecothrifter.com/2012/01/insuring-car-online-car-insurance-insurance-agent.html">car insurance inevitably goes up.  Also, if you make too many claims within a certain time frame, you risk losing your insurance completely.

On the flip side, the longer you go without a claim, the lower your insurance will go.  Often paying for small accidents out of pocket is a smart insurance move.

Shop around regularly

Every year or two, take the time to shop around with other insurance carriers.  The insurance you have now might have been the best deal five years ago, but is it still the best deal?

Only shopping around will tell you that.  Simply take your current href="http://cashmoneylife.com/affordable-auto-insurance-rates/">auto insurance policy and call other agencies asking for the exact same coverage.  This can take as little as an hour of your time, but the savings can be impressive.

See if the insurer offers a discount for good grades

Adding a teen driver to your insurance can raise the premiums significantly.  One way to help reduce this is to see if your insurer offers a good grade discount.  Many offer discounts for teen who are earnings As and Bs.

To Close

While auto insurance can be expensive, you can lower it significantly by taking advantage of available discounts.  Each of these strategies can help you reduce your insurance bill a bit.  Even if you only save 0 a year, over 30 years of driving, that can add up to ,000.  More likely, you will save more than that, giving you a savings well into the tens of thousands over your lifetime of driving.

What is your best strategy for saving money on car insurance?

Copyright © Free From Broke – A href="http://freefrombroke.com/">Personal Finance Blog Please visit for more great content!

href="http://freefrombroke.com/how-to-save-money-on-auto-insurance/">How to Save Money on Auto Insurance – Easy Ways to Save Money


Free From Broke

Tags:
Category Get Rich Quick Schemes

Federal Income Tax Deadlines to File Taxes for 2012 0

Posted on February 07, 2012 by Admin

We’re now into that time the year that accountants and other title="Who Should I Pick To Do My Taxes?" href="http://freefrombroke.com/cpa-tax-software-tax-preparation-company/">tax preparers refer to as “tax season.”

For the rest of us it’s panic season.  We scramble to get together our tax documents and hope that we won’t have to pay taxes.

How many of you have filed your return the day it was due?  I’m raising my hand (not easy to type like that).

Stressful, isn’t it?

Add to the stress the fact that not everyone files taxes the same.  Some are individual filers while others file as self-employed.  Corporations file taxes too.

But the tax deadlines aren’t all the same in every case.  It’s enough to make your head spin, wondering “when are the tax deadlines for my taxes?”

Below you will find Federal Income Tax deadlines for 2012.  Use these dates to your advantage and plan enough time to prepare your taxes before they are due.

Individual income tax filing due dates

id="more-11660">

When it comes to filing income taxes, everyone is well acquainted with “April 15”— a date in America that’s so universally recognized that it sits in a category with the Fourth of July and December 25th.

But this year as last, April 15th isn’t April 15th, if you know what I mean.  The IRS does adjust that date based on the calendar, and this is another one of those years.

This year’s due date for individual income taxes is Tuesday, April 17th.  That’s right, you get two extra days to prepare and file your taxes (of course it’s better to have them prepared as early as possible).

It’s been extended by two days because the 15th falls on a Sunday this year, and the Monday after is href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Day#Washington.2C_D.C.">Emancipation Day (which is a recognized holiday in Washington, DC, and several states).

If you are really on top of your taxes, the title="Where is My IRS Form 1040 Tax Package (or Where Can I File Free)?" href="http://freefrombroke.com/where-is-my-irs-form-1040-package-free-tax-file/">IRS started accepting e-file and Free File returns on January 17th.

Need an extension to file?

Filing an extension moves the filing date out six months, to October 15, 2012.

The extension is automatic with the filing of Form 4868 (Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return). You must file the title="5 Things You Should Know About Filing a Tax Extension" href="http://freefrombroke.com/5-things-you-should-know-about-filing-a-tax-extension/">tax extension form no later than the tax filing date of April 17.

It’s important to remember that the extension is NOT an extension to pay your taxes, but only to file the return.

Any tax liability required by the final return must be paid by April 17 otherwise tax penalties and interest will be incurred.

What about estimated tax payments for the self-employed?

id="attachment_11275" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 175px"> class="size-full wp-image-11275" title="Taxes_Are_Work-175" src="http://cdn.freefrombroke.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Taxes_Are_Work-175.jpg?cda6c1" alt="federal income tax deadlines" width="175" height="117" /> class="wp-caption-text">Make sure you know the federal income tax deadlines for 2012!

Many taxpayers, particularly the self-employed, are required to make title="What is Self-Employment Tax?" href="http://freefrombroke.com/what-is-self-employment-tax/">estimated income tax payments.  This is done by sending tax payments with Form 1040ES.

The due dates for estimated tax payments are:

1st payment, April 17, 2012 – For the period January 1st through March 31st /> 2nd payment, June 15, 2012 - For the period April 1st through May 31st /> 3rd payment, September 17, 2012 - For the period June 1st through August 31st /> 4th payment, January 15, 2013 - For the period September 1st through December 31st

Corporate income tax return (1120) filing dates

Since so many people are self-employed—many maintaining corporations in the process—it’s worth noting that corporate entities work on a different filing schedule.

The filing deadline for both corporations and S corporations is March 15.  Or rather, the 15th of the third month after the corporation’s tax year ends.  Many corporations follow the calendar year.  If the corporation doesn’t then the third month rule applies after their fiscal year ends.

If you cannot file by the due date, you can file Form 7004, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other Returns.  This will provide a 6-month extension of time to file (September 15, 2012).  The corporation must file Form 7004 by the regular due date of the return.

Tax estimates are also required to be paid by corporations four times per year.

The due dates for the tax estimate installments are:

1st payment, April 15, 2012 /> 2nd payment, June 15, 2012 /> 3rd payment, September 15, 2012 /> 4th payment, December 15, 2012

If any date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the installment is due on the next regular business day.

Check with your accountant or income tax preparer for these and other significant tax date, or go to href="http://www.irs.gov/">IRS.gov for more information.

Remember, if you are mailing in taxes they must be postmarked by the due date.

Don’t wait until the last minute.  You never know what may come up or get lost.  Give yourself a time cushion to prepare your taxes.  It will feel SO much better to have them taken care of before their due date.

Copyright © Free From Broke – A href="http://freefrombroke.com/">Personal Finance Blog Please visit for more great content!

href="http://freefrombroke.com/federal-income-tax-deadlines-to-file-taxes/">Federal Income Tax Deadlines to File Taxes for 2012


Free From Broke

Tags:
Category Get Rich Quick Schemes

Obama Mortgage Relief Refinancing Plan – A Tax on Big Banks and More 0

Posted on February 05, 2012 by Admin

We Can’t Wait

That’s the new slogan that the Obama Administration is trying out, presumably thinking of the campaign as Obama approaches the full force of election season.

In Las Vegas, one of hardest hit housing markets in the United States, Obama said, “we can’t wait” for an increasingly dysfunctional Congress to do its job and provide relief for the millions of Americans title="Making Home Affordable – How The Government Is Helping You Refinance" href="http://freefrombroke.com/making-home-affordable-refinance-mortgage/">underwater on their mortgages.

Obama went on to say that the housing bubble was the greatest cause of the current economy and that millions of Americans have continued to responsibly pay their mortgage even though their home is worth less than the value of the loan.  In his recent State of the Union address, Obama laid out a plan to title="Could Changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) Benefit You?" href="http://freefrombroke.com/could-changes-to-the-home-affordable-refinance-program-harp-benefit-you/">help underwater homeowners.

Here’s how the mortgage relief plan would work. id="more-11679">

Lower Mortgage Payments

Underwater homeowners who haven’t had more than one late payment in the last six months, would be eligible for the program.

Homeowners would be able to refinance their home and possibly see hundreds of dollars knocked off their mortgage payment.

In the past, those with underwater mortgages weren’t able to refinance because banks didn’t want to take the write down that would come with the refinancing process, but under new rules, homeowners may qualify for an FHA backed loan.  The proposal also requires banks to reduce mortgage balances for homeowners who owe more than 140% of their home’s current value.

In a bold statement, President Obama said, “It is wrong for anybody to suggest that the only option for struggling, responsible homeowners is to sit and wait for the housing market to hit bottom.”

In a housing market that has failed to gain traction since the crisis of 2008 and 2009, Obama’s statement and housing relief proposal comes at a time when homeowners are having trouble seeing a way out of their underwater title="When is a Good Time to Consider Refinancing Your Mortgage?" href="http://freefrombroke.com/when-is-a-good-time-to-consider-refinancing-your-mortgage/">mortgage.

Even worse, in order to sell their home, some homeowners have to put up a large sums of money during the closing, making selling difficult to impossible for some.

The Obama Administration estimates that the new program could benefit as many as 3.5 million homeowners.

Criticism to the Mortgage Relief Plan

id="attachment_7957" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 225px"> class="size-full wp-image-7957" title="Model_House" src="http://cdn.freefrombroke.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Model_House.png?cda6c1" alt="mortgage refinance plan" width="225" height="169" /> class="wp-caption-text">The latest mortgage relief plan focuses on refinancing.

It didn’t take long for Republicans to fire back.

Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner said that this program is another in a long line of similar programs that haven’t worked, referring to a past program that attempted to provide relief that largely fell flat.

The Populist

As Obama begins to ramp up his campaign, he has taken on a more populist tone.

The mortgage relief program joins the student loan assistance program and numerous small business incentives, all aimed at helping individuals escape the crippling effects of the challenging economy.

In recent appearances, Obama has made statements like, “I’ve instructed my administration to look every day for actions we can take without the approval of Congress.” This attack on the grid lock that exists within both houses of Congress is aimed at making the administration look better equipped to make changes that will reach individual citizens.

To Sum Up

Obama’s mortgage relief proposal may provide needed relief for millions of underwater homeowners throughout the country but not all lawmakers believe that this program will provide any more relief than the less than stellar programs of the past.

On top of that, the plan is to be financed by fees charged to big banks based on the size and risk of their portfolios.  Is it a stretch to think that banks will find some way to pass these costs on to their customers (I’m looking at you title="Three Stories That Prove Consumers Still Have Power" href="http://freefrombroke.com/consumers-still-have-power-to-enact-change/">debit card fees)?  The cost of this plan is somewhere between billion and billion.

It will be interesting to see where this goes in this an election year.  There are far too many homeowners out there that have truly been hurt due to risky financial gambles on the part of big banks and investment firms.  At the same time there are many who took on too much debt than they could afford.  Banks weren’t the only ones who took on risk.  But banks got bailouts and homeowners are still losing their homes to foreclosure.

I don’t think there’s an easy solution.

What do you think of this latest mortgage relief plan that focuses on refinancing?

 

Sources: /> href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/obama-offers-mortgage-relief-plan-we-cant-wait-for-congress/">http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/obama-offers-mortgage-relief-plan-we-cant-wait-for-congress/ /> href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/1/obama-floats-latest-homeowner-relief-plan/">http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/1/obama-floats-latest-homeowner-relief-plan/ /> href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/business/mortgage-plan-targets-refinancing.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/business/mortgage-plan-targets-refinancing.html

Copyright © Free From Broke – A href="http://freefrombroke.com/">Personal Finance Blog Please visit for more great content!

href="http://freefrombroke.com/obama-mortgage-relief-refinancing-plan-a-tax-on-big-banks-and-more/">Obama Mortgage Relief Refinancing Plan – A Tax on Big Banks and More


Free From Broke

Tags:
Category Get Rich Quick Schemes

H&R Block At Home™ Online Tax Software – Review 0

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Admin

With more then 55 years in business, H&R Block is one of the most recognized tax preparation companies. Their do-it-yourself tax preparation with their online software, is one of the easiest ways to get your taxes done fast and accurately.

H&R Block online has a variety of support features and guarantees, making doing your taxes yourself worry free and simple.

Features of H&R Block Online Tax Prep Software:

id="more-6821">

  • free online support offered with each program
  • one live tax advice session from an H&R Block tax professional included (fees apply for the Free, Basic and Deluxe products).
  • help topics related to every tax situation
  • simple language that you don’t need to be a tax professional to understand
  • prompts to be sure you get every tax deduction for all of your life situations

H&R Block Guarantees:

Accurate calculations guarantee - If the H&R software makes a calculation error that cause you to to pay a penalty or interest to the IRS then H&R Block will reimburse you up to ,000 (see the site for specific details).

Maximum refund guarantee - If you find that another online tax prep. program provides you with a bigger return, or lower liability, then H&R Block will refund the fees you paid (of course you must have given the exact same data to the other tax preparation software).

Complimentary Worry-free Audit Support® – In the rare event of an audit, they do happen, you get free audit support from an H&R Block enrolled agent.  The agent will help you with all communication with the IRS or the State Department of Revenue; outline what to expect and how to prepare for your audit; and they can represent you before an IRS representative, if you wish.

onmouseover="window.status='http://www.hrblock.com';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/j4116cy63y5LOSRMRTNLNMROPONQ?sid=review" target="_blank"> /> class="alignright" style="border: 0pt none;" title="H&R Block At Home Online Tax Prep Software" src="http://www.awltovhc.com/dh108bosgmk58CB6BD7576B8987A" alt="Save 25% on H&R Block At Home Online Products" width="120" height="60" border="0" />You can visit href="http://freefrombroke.com/go/HRBlockAtHomeOnlineProducts/">www.hrblock.com for all of the details regarding the features and guarantees of the online tax preparation software.

Which Program to Choose?

H&R Block online offers four product packages, and you can choose the one that is right for you based on your tax situation.

These packages include:  Free Edition, Basic, Deluxe, and Premium.

FREE EDITION

The Free Edition is best for first time filers and those with basic tax returns.  This includes those filling form 1040, 1040A, and 1040EZ.  This version still includes all of the features and guarantees of the paid versions, including live chat tax help and audit support.

It is free to prepare, print, and e-file.

(Learn more about the href="http://freefrombroke.com/go/HRBlockAtHomeOnlineFreeEdition/">Free Edition)

BASIC (.95)

This version includes everything from the Free Edition, but also offers the convenience of importing last year’s tax return data and an error check feature (this includes your W-2, 1099).

This edition is best for those with simple tax situations, but can also be used for homeowners and small business owners, such as those with direct sales or home based businesses.

(Learn more about the href="http://freefrombroke.com/go/HRBlockAtHomeOnlineBasic/">Basic Edition)

DELUXE (.95)

The Deluxe edition of H&R blocks tax software is designed for homeowners and investors.  This version includes everything from the previous two versions as well as a search for more deductions, information about stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, and helps with mortgage interest and charitable donations.

(Learn more about the href="http://freefrombroke.com/go/HRBlockAtHomeOnlineDeluxe/">Deluxe Edition)

PREMIUM (.95)

This version is for the most complicated tax situations.  The Premium edition is designed for self-employed persons (schedule C guidance included), those with rental income, and filers needing more tax guidance.  Included in this version is advanced tax calculators and tax law guidance, as well as everything supported in the earlier versions.

(Learn more about the href="http://freefrombroke.com/go/HRBlockAtHomeOnlinePremium/">Premium Version)

Not sure which version to choose?

You can do a side-by-side comparison of the features of each version.  Also, once you get started with one version, you will answer questions about yourself and your circumstances.  If the version you have chosen won’t work for you, a suggestion will be given for which version is better and the information you have already entered will be transferred to the other version.

Go through the preparation and see if you like the results.  If you’re satisfied with the results then go ahead and pay.

With the support of live tax professionals and years of experience, choosing to prepare your tax return with H&R Block At Home™ Online is a breeze.

class="alert"> href="http://freefrombroke.com/go/HRBlockAtHomeOnlineProducts/">Start with H&R Block’s At Home Online tax software and make your tax preparation easier. />

Copyright © Free From Broke – A href="http://freefrombroke.com/">Personal Finance Blog Please visit for more great content!

href="http://freefrombroke.com/hr-block-at-home-online-tax-preparation-software-review/">H&R Block At Home™ Online Tax Software – Review


Free From Broke

Tags:
Category Get Rich Quick Schemes

How to Negotiate Lower Rent in Your Current Apartment 0

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Admin

In this market, many new renters are title="How to Get a Bargain When Apartment Hunting" href="http://freefrombroke.com/how-to-get-a-bargain-when-apartment-hunting/">freely negotiating with prospective landlords on the price of rent and having success.

However, what if you are currently locked into a lease and don’t really want to move?

If you have been in your apartment for several years, before the downturn of the housing market, you may be paying up to a couple hundred dollars more than new tenants.

Luckily, there are still ways you can negotiate a lower rent payment.

How to Negotiate Lower Rent in Your Current Apartment

Know the market.

id="more-11016"> /> Take the time to find out what others in your building are paying.  You may find that new tenants are moving in for 0 a month while you are paying ,000 a month for the same style apartment.  If you don’t want to come right out and ask the new tenant, you can do a Google search of your address and find ads for the apartment for rent to get an idea of what the landlord is charging (though keep in mind the new tenants may negotiate down from that point.)

Another strategy is to look on Craigslist or other sites for comparable apartments.  You may be surprised to find that apartments with better amenities are going for the same price or less than you are currently paying.

Having this information gives you href="http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/negotiate-salary-examples/">negotiating power.

Put it in writing.

id="attachment_11554" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 225px"> class="size-full wp-image-11554" title="For_Rent" src="http://cdn.freefrombroke.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/For_Rent.jpg?cda6c1" alt="for rent" width="225" height="313" /> class="wp-caption-text">You can still negotiate your rent, even if you plan to stay at your current apartment.

Write your landlord a letter stating how long you have been a tenant, how diligently you have paid your rent on time and how difficult it is too find good tenants in this current market.  Also include research documenting how rent prices have decreased in the last few years (if that is the case), and how much you feel you are now overpaying for your current apartment.  Then, state how much you would like to pay.

Be careful with this number as you want to leave yourself room to negotiate, but you also don’t want to offend the landlord with an unreasonably low number.

Agree to sign a longer lease.

If you feel comfortable with it, agree to sign a longer lease, perhaps 1.5 or two years.  This gives the landlord a benefit in the negotiations too because she won’t have to look for a new tenant for at least 18 to 24 months.

Considering how expensive it can be to get a vacant apartment ready to show and to lose the href="http://lifehacker.com/5877079/bring-this-checklist-with-you-next-time-youre-apartment-hunting">rent on an empty apartment, the landlord may be agreeable to a modest decrease in rent.

Look for discounts in other ways.

If the landlord is not willing to negotiate on the rent, perhaps you can negotiate other ways to get reductions.

Maybe the landlord would be willing to take off your rent a month if you pay before the first of the month.  If you live in a smaller place, maybe she would give you a reduction if you take care of the lawn by mowing in the summer and shoveling and applying salt in the winter.

Be willing to walk away.

If you truly feel the rent you are paying is unwarranted, be willing to walk away from the apartment and move.

Most people don’t like the hassle of moving, but it may be worth it if your landlord won’t negotiate and you feel you are paying a few hundred dollars more a month than the property is worth.  Chances are, when you title="What is Renter’s Insurance and Why You Need It" href="http://freefrombroke.com/what-is-renters-insurance-why-do-i-need-it/">look for a new apartment, the new landlord will be willing to negotiate.

The current economy and renter’s market gives tenants negotiating power.

If you are facing a rent increase or feel that your current rent is too high based on the market, don’t be afraid to negotiate.

Chances are you may be pleasantly surprised.

If your landlord is not willing to work with you and reward your punctual payments, it may be time to move out and negotiate with a new landlord who is desperately looking for a reliable tenant with title="Get Your Credit Score…For Free" href="http://freefrombroke.com/get-your-credit-score-for-free/">good credit.

The choice is ultimately yours.

Copyright © Free From Broke – A href="http://freefrombroke.com/">Personal Finance Blog Please visit for more great content!

href="http://freefrombroke.com/how-to-negotiate-lower-rent-in-your-current-apartment/">How to Negotiate Lower Rent in Your Current Apartment


Free From Broke

Tags:
Category Get Rich Quick Schemes

What is Tax Evasion and How Could it Affect You 0

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Admin

As tax season moves into high gear, thoughts turn toward how to improve tax efficiency.

There are a number of legal ways to reduce what you owe in taxes, thanks to deductions and credits.  If you think about your expenses, and re-examine your position, it is quite likely that you will find a few title="10 Common Overlooked Tax Deductions" href="http://freefrombroke.com/common-overlooked-tax-deductions/">commonly overlooked deductions and credits that you missed.

Additionally, with a little thought, it is even possible to title="Still Want a Deduction for Tax Year 2011? It’s Not Too Late" href="http://freefrombroke.com/still-want-a-deduction-for-tax-year-2011-its-not-too-late/">reduce your tax liability for the previous year — even though a new year is under way.

However, there is a very real difference between employing legal and properly documented tax breaks to reduce what you owe, and evading taxes in order to avoid paying what you are bound to pay by law.

Tax evasion is a serious matter, and you need to be careful to avoid engaging in it.

What is Tax Evasion?

id="more-11519"> /> Tax evasion is intentionally avoiding paying what you know you owe to the government.  There are different activities that are considered tax evasion. Some of these activities include:

  • Refusal to file a tax return
  • Taking fake deductions, or deducting more than you actually spent
  • Claiming credits you aren’t actually entitled to
  • Lying on your tax return
  • Failure to report all of your income (including tips and cash)
  • Failure to report offshore bank accounts and/or foreign income
  • Claiming personal expenses as business expenses
  • Claiming to transfer money in order to write it off — even though you didn’t complete the transfer
  • Claiming extra exemptions
  • Writing off losses (property, business, theft, etc.) that didn’t take place
  • Writing off losses that you were reimbursed for by your insurance company
  • Claiming expenses that you have already been reimbursed for
  • Using sneaky accounting practices to make it appear that you have greater expenses or lower income than you do
  • Putting your assets in someone else’s name to avoid paying taxes

As you can see, there are a number of actions that qualify as tax evasion.

However, the burden of proof is on the IRS to prove that your intent was to avoid paying what you owe. However, even if your inaccurate return was the product of an honest mistake, you will still be subject to repaying what you owe, and probably paying interest and penalties as well.

If you have been trying to avoid paying taxes, though, things can get much, much uglier.

What Happens to Tax Evaders?

id="attachment_11543" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 275px"> class="size-full wp-image-11543" title="handcuffs" src="http://cdn.freefrombroke.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/handcuffs.jpg?cda6c1" alt="tax evasion" width="275" height="150" /> class="wp-caption-text">Tax evasion will have huge repercussions on your life!

Tax evasion comes with serious criminal charges.  You can be sent to prison and you can be levied hefty penalties.  In the case of willfully failing to file, you can be sent to prison for up to a year, and pay fines of up to 0,000.

Making a false statement can net you up to three years in prison and up to 0,000 in fines.  The same penalties apply if you attempt to hinder an IRS representative in his or her efforts to get to the bottom of the situation or to collect.

When you are convicted of attempting to evade your taxes, or conspiring to defraud the United States by helping someone else evade payment, you could go to prison for up to five years, and pay fines of up to 0,000.  And, all of these fines are on top of repaying what you owe, and covering the cost of prosecuting you.

Tax evasion becomes very expensive indeed. Tax evasion is considered a felony, so that means it will go on your record as such, and the public records relating to your tax debt will also be noted on your credit report.

The government also has a number of methods available to it for attempting to collect the money you owe. The government can take tax credits you are eligible for in the future, place liens on property that you own, garnish your wages, and even take money directly out of your bank account.

Before you take a deduction, and before you claim less income, check your records.  In the event of an href="http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/tax-audit-tips.html">audit, you want to be able to show the documentation that backs up your claims.  If you don’t have that documentation, and it appears that you are being evasive, the IRS could move forward with prosecution.

What Should You Do If You Can’t Pay Taxes?

Just failing to file your tax return can result in hefty cash penalties, and you don’t want to do anything that might trigger an interest in you as a tax evader.  As a result, it is a good idea to be up front if you can’t pay your taxes.

File your tax return, and then contact the IRS.  The IRS offers an href="http://freefrombroke.com/6-tips-avoid-irs-penalties-interest-filing-fees-tax-season/">installment plan that you can use to suggest a schedule that would be reasonable for repayment.  It is also possible for you to suggest a settlement, where you offer to pay what you can, and the IRS forgives the rest (this is difficult, though, and hiring a knowledgeable tax attorney is vital in such situations).

In the end, it’s best if you adhere to the law, and show honesty in your tax dealings. You’ll have less to worry about.

Copyright © Free From Broke – A href="http://freefrombroke.com/">Personal Finance Blog Please visit for more great content!

href="http://freefrombroke.com/what-is-tax-evasion-and-how-could-it-affect-you/">What is Tax Evasion and How Could it Affect You


Free From Broke

Tags:
Category Get Rich Quick Schemes

How to Make Your Own Pre-Paid Debit Card – And Suze Orman’s Approved Card 0

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Admin

There’s been a bit of a title="PT Money talks about Suze's new Approved Card" href="http://ptmoney.com/suze-orman-approved-card-prepaid-card/">ruckus with the release Suze Orman’s pre-paid debit card — the Approved Card.

Her card joins other celebrity cards such as the Rush Card and the Kardashian Card.

The problem, many claim, is that pre-paid debit cards come with fees to use them.  With Suze’s card, people are claiming that she is just profiting from her audience.

I’d like to show you an alternative to pre-paid debit cards.  In fact, I’m going to show you how to make your own pre-paid debit card!

First though, let’s go over what a pre-paid debit card is.

What is a Pre-Paid Debit Card?

id="more-11437"> /> Basically, a pre-paid debit card is a card that you put money on to spend with, almost like a gift card.  The card isn’t typically attached to a bank account, like a standard debit card is.

It’s typically used by people who don’t have checking accounts, don’t want to use credit cards or cash, or to give to someone so they can only spend a certain limit (like giving one to your kid in college).

It can be one way to control your spending and make sure you don’t go over budget.

But with the use of the card there typically comes a number of fees, some which can be: cost for the card itself; monthly usage fee; fee for not keeping a minimm; fees for checking your balance at an ATM; fees for calling customer service; general ATM fees; and more.

A pre-paid debit card can have its uses but there are ways to achieve something similar without the fees.

How to Make Your Own PrePaid Debit Card

- Head on over to ING Direct and open up an href="http://freefrombroke.com/go/INGElectricOrange/">Electric Orange account (this can also be done with PerkStreet). This is their online checking account. (Heck, there’s even a href="http://freefrombroke.com/ing-direct-electric-orange-online-checking-sign-up-bonus/"> bonus if you sign up!)

- Deposit ONLY what you can budget to spend with the card.

- Use card for purchases without the fees of a prepaid debit card.

- If you run out, stop spending until you can refill the card again (when it fits your budget).

There you go, your own prepaid debit card!

And with an ING Direct Electric Orange account you get no fees style="font-size: 11px;">*; no minimum deposits; free ATM use at over 35,000 locations; awesome customer service; free bill pay; they will mail out checks for you; and more.

(*for the most part there are no traditional checking account fees and there are certainly less fees than pre-paid debit card have.)

Yes, I know, you need to open up a bank account.  I admit I’m cheating a bit when I say you can make your own prepaid debit card.

But if you plan on using any substantial amount of money for more then one time then you really should have one.

A prepaid debit card is useful to some.  But you need to understand the fees that are attached to most of them.

If you can open up a bank account, like a title="Free Online Checking Accounts – Why Pay More Fees Than You Have To" href="http://freefrombroke.com/free-online-checking-accounts/">great free online checking account, then you have so many more benefits than a prepaid card can offer.

But I Don’t Want to Spend Too Much

id="attachment_7893" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 225px"> class="size-full wp-image-7893" title="credit-cards-on-keyboard" src="http://cdn.freefrombroke.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/credit-cards-on-keyboard.jpg?cda6c1" alt="pre-paid debit card" width="225" height="150" /> class="wp-caption-text">Make your own prepaid debit card and avoid the fees.

I hear you.  A credit card can be wicked tempting.  I’ve had my share of credit card debt.

But why are you afraid of spending too much?

Habits are hard to change, for sure, but in the long run you need to understand your spending and get a grasp on it.  Avoiding it will only work for so long.

Suze Orman’s The Approved Card

So that brings us back to Suze’s pre-paid debit card.

The title="Approved Card write-up at Consumerism Commentary" href="http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/suze-ormans-approved-card/" target="_blank">Approved Card costs to buy.  After that there is a per month account maintenance fee, which is waived the first month.  ATM withdrawals at an Allpoint location is (waived for 30 days with a direct deposit).  If you need to call customer service your first call is free.  After that your call is .

There are more fees you can check out on the href="http://www.theapprovedcard.com/fees/" target="_blank">Fees page.

What differentiates the Approved Card from other prepaid debit cards is that this card is part of an initiative that will anonymously report your spending activity to TransUnion®, one of the three credit bureaus.

See, an issue with using debit cards for purchases, rather than credit cards, is your activity isn’t reported to the credit bureaus so you can’t build credit with them.

You still won’t build credit with the Approved card though.

The initiative to report spending activity will go on for 18-24 months.  After that TransUnion will determine if it makes any sense to use the card’s spending activity in credit reporting.  So it will probably take about two years before anyone would benefit from this IF it is even determined it should be used in credit reporting.

The card also gives its users a free TransUnion credit report with unlimited updates as well as free href="http://consumerist.com/2012/01/consumer-reports-money-adviser-dont-buy-into-expensive-id-theft-protection-services.html" target="_blank">identity theft protection from Trusted ID®.

These are certainly interesting additions.  But how useful are they really for a person who doesn’t have a bank account and isn’t using credit cards?  I wonder.  Your card usage doesn’t help your credit score so what are you really monitoring score-wise?

Anyone can use a number of title="Get Your Credit Score…For Free" href="http://freefrombroke.com/get-your-credit-score-for-free/" target="_blank">free credit score sites to get a credit score and monitor how their score changes.  Keep in mind, the Approved Card doesn’t give you your FICO score, which is what most lenders use to determine a potential loan.

Summary

If you need a pre-paid card for limited use then a prepaid card has its place.

But if you need a debit card for long-term use, why not get a checking account?  If you want to limit your spending then you can set up an online checking account that only has a limited amount of money.

You can get your credit score for free without getting a prepaid debit card, so while that is an interesting feature of a card, it shouldn’t be the reason you get a prepaid debit card.

What do you think of making your own prepaid debit card? What about Suze Orman’s new card?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.  If you use prepaid debit cards I’d love to hear from you too!

Here are some other takes on Suze Orman’s Approved Card: /> href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/09/suze-orman-launched-pre-paid-debit-card_n_1195634.html">Suze Orman Launches Pre-Paid Debit Card, Talks Life Lessons /> href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/your-money/suze-orman-to-offer-her-own-prepaid-debit-card.html?pagewanted=all">Suze Orman to Offer Her Own Prepaid Debit Card – NYTimes.com /> href="http://moneyland.time.com/2012/01/10/suze-ormans-new-prepaid-debit-card-debuts/?iid=pf-main-lede">Personal Finance Guru Suze Orman Offers Prepaid Debit Card | Moneyland | TIME.com /> href="http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-01-09/news/30606540_1_russell-simmons-rush-card-debit-cards-kardashian-kard">Sorry, Suze Orman’s New Prepaid Debit Card Won’t Rescue Your Credit – Business Insider /> href="http://20andengaged.com/suze-orman-approved-card-denied">Suze Orman’s “Approved Card” Gets Denied; Thinks PF Bloggers Are Idiots | 20 and Engaged /> href="http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/suze-orman-pre-paid-debit-card">Suze Orman Pre-Paid Debit Card: Can We Afford It? #DenySuzeCard – Girls Just Wanna Have Funds /> href="http://www.thedebtprincess.com/2012/01/11/suze-ormans-approved-prepaid-debit-card-bad-for-consumers/">Suze Orman’s Approved PrePaid Debit Card: Bad for Consumers! | The Debt Princess /> href="http://www.thousandaire.com/blog/suze-ormans-card-is-not-approved-by-me/">Suze Orman's Card is Not Approved by Me | Thousandaire /> href="http://www.mybanktracker.com/bank-news/2012/01/10/suze-ormans-approved-prepaid-card-reviewed/">Suze Orman's Approved Prepaid Card Reviewed | MyBankTracker.com /> href="http://genxfinance.com/suze-orman-shows-true-colors-with-her-approved-prepaid-debit-card/">Suze Orman Shows True Colors With Her Approved Prepaid Debit Card

Copyright © Free From Broke – A href="http://freefrombroke.com/">Personal Finance Blog Please visit for more great content!

href="http://freefrombroke.com/how-to-make-your-own-pre-paid-debit-card-and-suze-ormans-approved-card/">How to Make Your Own Pre-Paid Debit Card – And Suze Orman’s Approved Card


Free From Broke

Tags:
Category Get Rich Quick Schemes

How to Use Gift Cards Wisely to Maximize Their Value 0

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Admin

class="post_image_link" href="http://freefrombroke.com/use-gift-cards-wisely-maximize-value/" title="Permanent link to How to Use Gift Cards Wisely to Maximize Their Value"> class="post_image aligncenter frame" src="http://cdn.freefrombroke.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/gift-cards.jpg?cda6c1" width="468" height="348" alt="Post image for How to Use Gift Cards Wisely to Maximize Their Value" />

style="text-align: justify;">The holidays have come and gone!

style="text-align: justify;">I’m sure many of you have gotten a gift card or two as a gift.  I know I love getting a href="http://cashmoneylife.com/pros-and-cons-of-giving-gift-cards-this-holiday-season/" target="_blank">gift card to a store I love!

style="text-align: justify;">Don’t go spending what’s on those cards just yet though.  With a little forethought you can make sure you use the gift card wisely and maximize it’s benefits.  This way you make the gift card more valuable.

Here are 8 ways to maximize the value of gift cards:

id="more-949">

Wait for a great sale

style="text-align: justify;">You have a gift card with X dollars on it.

style="text-align: justify;">Don’t waste it paying retail!  There are great sales that extend after the holidays end.  Use that to your advantage.

style="text-align: justify;">You can find clothing for 50% or more off in many stores as they prepare for Spring items.  Many electronics have great sales too.  The point is, combine the card with a great sale and get more then the face value of the card!

Use a coupon

style="text-align: justify;">Lots of places offer coupons both physical and online.  This is similar to finding a great sale in that you shouldn’t pay full retail price.  I’ve seen store coupons that offer 30% off and I’m sure there are ones that are better.  A coupon like that means you get 30% more value for your gift card!

Don’t use it right away

style="text-align: justify;">Your friends all know what you love don’t they?

style="text-align: justify;">So there may very well be a chance that you get more than one gift card for a particular store.  If you can wait (or you have a birthday or some other event soon) you might get another card that you can combine.

style="text-align: justify;">Warning: If a href="http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/10/29/gift-cards-and-bankruptcy-what-to-do-when-stores-go-broke/">store were to go bankrupt you could lose the value on the card.

Combine with returns

style="text-align: justify;">Some might not like this… But if get a gift from the store the card is from and you aren’t too fond of the gift you could return it ad combine the cost of the gift with the gift card to get yourself something you really want!

style="text-align: justify;">I know, some people feel icky doing that but shouldn’t a gift be something you like and will use?

Look for extras

style="text-align: justify;">On a site like title="Amazon Affiliate Link" href="http://freefrombroke.com/go/Amazon/">Amazon you will often see deals where you buy one items and get another item free or at a great discount.  Keep an eye out for deals like this to make your gift card go farther!.

Make sure you understand the terms

style="text-align: justify;">Not all gift cards are created equal!

style="text-align: justify;">Make sure you understand the terms of the card.  Some things to look for:  Not being able to use the card online; not being able to use the gift card with other offers; and the actual stores that will accept the card (you might actually find that you have more options to use it if the store falls under an umbrella of stores that all accept each other’s cards).

Re-gift

style="text-align: justify;">You might not like the store the gift card is from.  What do you do?  Go buy something that you won’t use?

style="text-align: justify;">Why not href="http://freefrombroke.com/the-art-of-getting-rid-of-unwanted-gifts/">re-gift the card to someone else?

Buy something to donate

style="text-align: justify;">What better way to celebrate the holiday spirit than to give a donation.  Use you card to buy something you can donate to a charitable organization!  You may even be able to donate the card itself.

style="text-align: justify;">So there you go.  Eight ways to maximize your gift cards!

Can you think of any more?  Let me know!

Copyright © Free From Broke – A href="http://freefrombroke.com/">Personal Finance Blog Please visit for more great content!

href="http://freefrombroke.com/use-gift-cards-wisely-maximize-value/">How to Use Gift Cards Wisely to Maximize Their Value


Free From Broke

Tags:
Category Get Rich Quick Schemes

The Best 0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards 0

Posted on January 06, 2012 by Admin

For a while, 0% balance transfer credit cards disappeared from mailboxes.

Now, though, they are starting to make a comeback as the economy improves, and as credit scores start to rise.

If you are looking to transfer some of your higher-interest credit card balances, you can use one of these offers — you usually receive 0% on purchases for the introductory period as well.

Saving Money with 0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards

One of the great things about the best 0% balance transfer cards is that you can save money in interest, and pay down your debt faster.

These credit cards don’t charge you interest for the introductory period, so whatever you pay goes right to the principal.  This can help you get out of debt faster.  Of course, make sure you pay more than the minimum to really take advantage.

Additionally, if you plan to make a large purchase within the introductory period, a 0% APR credit card can help you get what you want and then pay it off quickly — without paying interest at all.  It’s a great way to save money instead of putting the item on a high interest credit card, or getting a loan. id="more-11328">

Watch Out for Pitfalls

You do need to be aware of the pitfalls that can be associated with 0% balance transfer offers, though.

First of all, if you miss a payment during the introductory period, your low rate immediately disappears to be replaced with a higher interest rate that could cost you even more in the long run.  Make sure you have some title="Stay on Top of Credit Card Payments – How to Make Sure You Pay Your Credit Card on Time" href="http://freefrombroke.com/stay-on-top-of-credit-card-payments-how-to-make-sure-you-pay-your-credit-card-on-time/">system in place to make sure you pay your credit card on time.

Another concern is that it is easy to justify making large, unnecessary purchases with your credit card when you think that you won’t have to pay interest on them.

If you do use your 0 percent balance transfer credit card to make purchases, they should be items that you had already planned to purchase — and you should have a plan to repay the entire amount before the introductory period expires.

Don’t use a 0% card as an excuse to buy something that you wouldn’t normally purchase.

Finally, understand that many 0% balance transfer credit cards come with fees.

You will likely pay a balance transfer fee of between 3% and 5% of the total balance you move to the new credit card.  Double check to ensure that your interest savings will make up for the fee you pay to transfer the balance.

A hefty fee can erase all of the good you do by making the transfer.  For most, the savings in being able to pay off more principal and pay off their credit card debt faster make the transfer fee do-able.

The Best 0% Balance Transfer Cards Available

Before you apply for one of the 0% balance transfer cards, it’s important that you understand that you need good to excellent credit to qualify.  If you have fair or poor credit, you will not be offered the best terms, and almost certainly won’t receive the 0% balance transfer offer.

If you do have good credit, here are some 0% balance transfer credit cards to consider applying for (none of them have annual fees):

onmouseover="window.status='Citi Simplicity® Card'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://oc.cardsynergy.com/t/?cr=3840&c=22145816&aid=128438&sid=18132&tid=best0baltrancardart&last_updated=1307734135" target="_blank"> class="alignleft" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: 0px;" src="http://www.imgsynergy.com/product_creatives/90355a7d-d31a-4afe-8222-bfaade503383.jpg?128438&18132" alt="Citi Simplicity® Card" width="142" height="89" border="0" /> onmouseover="window.status='Citi Simplicity® Card'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://oc.cardsynergy.com/t/?cr=1227&c=22145816&aid=128438&sid=18132&tid=best0baltran&last_updated=1307723862" target="_blank">Citi Simplicity® Card – A whopping 21 month 0% balance transfer card from Citi. You also get 0% APR on purchases for 21 months as well.

If the long duration 0% balance transfer wasn’t enough, the Citi Simplicity is special in that there are no late fees or penalty rate hikes if you make a payment late.

The balance transfer fee is 3%.

This is great for someone who has a large balance to transfer that will take a while to pay off and they are still working on a good system to pay their bills on time. ( title="Citi Simplicity Review" href="http://freefrombroke.com/citi-simplicity-card-review/" target="_blank">Citi Simplicity Review)

onmouseover="window.status='Slate® from Chase'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://oc.cardsynergy.com/t/?cr=4214&c=22125998&aid=128438&sid=18132&tid=best0baltran_cardart&last_updated=1320180246" target="_blank"> class="alignleft" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: 0px;" src="http://www.imgsynergy.com/product_creatives/bc3939ab81ccb2dd9c2f7586c733e1ea.jpg?128438&18132" alt="Slate® from Chase" width="89" height="142" border="0" /> onmouseover="window.status='Slate® from Chase'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://oc.cardsynergy.com/t/?cr=4213&c=22125998&aid=128438&sid=18132&tid=best0baltran&last_updated=1320180214" target="_blank">Slate® from Chase - One of the great things about this credit card is that for a limited time, there is no balance transfer fee.  Just make your balance transfer within the first 30 days of having your account.

So, you get 0% APR on balance transfers and on purchases for 12 months — completely fee-free. This is a great offer, especially for those who have higher interest balances. The variable rate, once the intro period expires, is between 11.99% and 21.99%.

You also get Slate with Blueprint to help you organize your spending to help you pay down your balances faster.

onmouseover="window.status='Chase Freedom® MasterCard - 0 Bonus Cash Back'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://oc.cardsynergy.com/t/?cr=3412&c=22124641&aid=128438&sid=18132&tid=best0baltrancardart&last_updated=1297804246" target="_blank"> class="alignleft" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: 0px;" src="http://www.imgsynergy.com/product_creatives/6ebc37ad-be87-48f4-b842-b0e3d071ba8d.jpg?128438&18132" alt="Chase Freedom® MasterCard - 0 Bonus Cash Back" width="142" height="89" border="0" /> onmouseover="window.status='Chase Freedom® MasterCard - <a>00 Bonus Cash Back'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://oc.cardsynergy.com/t/?cr=878&c=22124641&aid=128438&sid=18132&tid=best0baltran&last_updated=1301508528" target="_blank">Chase Freedom® MasterCard – 0 Bonus Cash Back – Yes, there is a 3% balance transfer fee on this card.  However, the Chase Freedom card comes with a 0 cash back bonus, which will go a long way toward offsetting what balance transfer fee you do pay.  You will need to make 0 in purchases over the course of three months if you want the cash back, though.

You receive the 0% on balance transfers for 12 months, and purchases are 0% for six months.

Chase Freedom comes with a great rewards program, with generous rewards on rotating categories. Currently you can earn 5% cash back on up to ,500 spent at gas stations and Amazon.com from 1/1/12-3/31/12. You get unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

onmouseover="window.status='Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® Visa® Card - 0 Cash Back'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://oc.cardsynergy.com/t/?cr=2181&c=22144464&aid=128438&sid=18132&tid=best0baltrancardart&last_updated=1311366669" target="_blank"> class="alignleft" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: 0px;" src="http://www.imgsynergy.com/product_creatives/e14f8f0b83f025dc22a475a24c6d715d.png?128438&18132" alt="Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® Visa® Card - 0 Cash Back" width="142" height="89" border="0" /> onmouseover="window.status='Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® Visa® Card - <a>00 Cash Back'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://oc.cardsynergy.com/t/?cr=93&c=22144464&aid=128438&sid=18132&tid=best0baltran&last_updated=1311357760" target="_blank">Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® Visa® Card – 0 Cash Back – The cash back on this card is 0.  You need to spend 0 within three months in order to get the 0 cash back.

You have 0% on balance transfers and purchases for 12 months with this credit card.

The balance transfer fee is 3%.

The Dividend Platinum Select Visa also comes with a cash back program, including extra cash back on rotating categories.  Currently you can earn 5% cash back on health care, fitness club, and utility purchases made between 1/1/12 and 3/31/12.  You earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.

onmouseover="window.status='Discover® More® Card'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://oc.cardsynergy.com/t/?cr=4299&c=22186045&aid=128438&sid=18132&tid=best0baltrancardart&last_updated=1325699638" target="_blank"> class="alignleft" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: 0px;" src="http://www.imgsynergy.com/product_creatives/952c6713022e444e36e61a13a8932cde.jpg?128438&18132" alt="Discover® More® Card" width="142" height="89" border="0" /> onmouseover="window.status='Discover® More® Card'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://oc.cardsynergy.com/t/?cr=4295&c=22186045&aid=128438&sid=18132&tid=best0baltran&last_updated=1325693517" target="_blank">Discover® More® Card – Here’s another card that has a limited-time balance transfer fee!

Use this credit card to get 0% on balance transfers and purchases for 12 months.

On top of that, Discover is known for its great cash back program.  Discover recently added a rotating categories aspect to its cash back program where you can earn up to 5% cash back, in addition to an unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases.

Discover is also ranked #1 in customer loyalty–15 years in a row! (2011 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report.)

onmouseover="window.status='Citi® Platinum Select® MasterCard®'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://oc.cardsynergy.com/t/?cr=1707&c=22144458&aid=128438&sid=18132&tid=best0baltrancardart&last_updated=1180673159" target="_blank"> class="alignleft" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: 0px;" src="http://www.imgsynergy.com/product_creatives/4617335009732fb5915d1e82786304dc.png?128438&18132" alt="Citi® Platinum Select® MasterCard®" width="142" height="89" border="0" /> onmouseover="window.status='Citi® Platinum Select® MasterCard®'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://oc.cardsynergy.com/t/?cr=96&c=22144458&aid=128438&sid=18132&tid=best0baltran&last_updated=1234543352" target="_blank">Citi® Platinum Select® MasterCard® – The best feature of this 0% balance transfer card is that it has a long introductory period — 21 months.  That’s almost two years.

If your interest is in paying off high interest credit card debt, this is a good choice.

There isn’t a rewards program to go with it, but if your main goal is saving money on interest, this is the card for you.  The fee of 3% can be overcome on interest savings if you have a larger balance.

onmouseover="window.status='Discover® More® Card'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://oc.cardsynergy.com/t/?cr=3617&c=22185667&aid=128438&sid=18132&tid=best0baltrancardart&last_updated=1304260992" target="_blank"> class="alignleft" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-width: 0px;" src="http://www.imgsynergy.com/product_creatives/1bfe9dae-9331-4117-bdf5-787fc1512ba9.jpg?128438&18132" alt="Discover® More® Card" width="142" height="89" border="0" /> onmouseover="window.status='Discover® More® Card'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;" href="http://oc.cardsynergy.com/t/?cr=1071&c=22185667&aid=128438&sid=18132&tid=best0baltran&last_updated=1312201061" target="_blank">Discover® More® Card – What, another Discover More card? Huh?

This is similar to the previous More card except this card offers up 18 months of 0% balance transfer.  You give up the balance transfer fee that the other card offers for a longer 0% on your balance transfer.

The balance transfer fee is 3% for transfers made by 7/10/12 and 5% thereafter.

There’s also 6 months of 0% intro. APR on purchases.

You also get the great cash back program with 5% cash back on rotating categories and 1% on all other purchases.

My Story

Back when I got serious about getting out of credit card debt, I used a few 0% balance transfer credit cards.

I was living paycheck-to-paycheck in NYC in a small studio apartment.  It was killing me that I was paying so much every month for credit cards but I was barely, if at all, putting a dent in my debt.

As my credit improved I started to see offers in the mail for credit cards.  One of them had a 0% balance transfer interest rate.  I applied and transfered over a balance.

I quickly saw that I was able to pay off much more of my debt when I wasn’t also paying off interest on thousands of dollars.

Zero % balance transfer credit cards greatly helped me in getting rid of my credit card debt!

All of these cards can help you save money on high interest credit card debt.

Carefully consider your options and needs before you apply.  If you have a low to moderate amount of credit card debt, one of the cards with a shorter intro period and rewards might better serve your purposes.

If you have a higher balance, though, you might be better served by choosing a card with fewer frills — but with a longer period in which to pay off your debt. />

Copyright © Free From Broke – A href="http://freefrombroke.com/">Personal Finance Blog Please visit for more great content!

href="http://freefrombroke.com/best-0-percent-balance-transfer-credit-cards/">The Best 0% Balance Transfer Credit Cards


Free From Broke

Tags:
Category Get Rich Quick Schemes

Happy New Year and Links 0

Posted on January 02, 2012 by Admin

Another year has come and gone.

The clock has just turned over into a new year.  There are 366 days (leap year!) left in this new year for you to make an impact on your financial situation.

This past year saw unemployment above 9% and the national debt crossing the trillion mark.  There’s not much you and I can do to fix the massive amount of problems at the Federal government level, but we can definitely impact our own situations.

Make this year the year you finally change your situation. Here are some articles to guide you on your way:

id="more-11338"> /> FINCON | href="http://www.financialbloggerconference.com/fincon-local-nyc-december-meetup/">Successful FinCon Local NYC Meetup – Plus More Meetup Opportunities in Your Town /> Roth IRA’s Retirement Planning Blog | href="http://www.rothira.com/blog/why-a-roth-ira-is-better-than-a-401k/">Why a Roth IRA is Better than a 401k /> Saving Money Today | href="http://savingmoneytoday.net/2011/how-to-work-from-home-when-caring-for-young-children/">How to Work from Home When Caring for Young Children /> Consumerism Commentary | href="http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/the-power-of-customer-outrage/">The Power of Customer Outrage /> Stupid Cents | href="http://stupidcents.com/post-holiday-financial-check-up/">Post Holiday Financial Check Up /> The Consumerist | href="http://consumerist.com/2011/12/what-to-do-with-all-those-gifts-you-hate.html">What To Do With All Those Gifts You Hate /> Boomer and Echo | href="http://www.boomerandecho.com/dividend-aristocrats-2012-canadian-edition/">2012 Dividend Aristocrats /> Five Cent Nickel | href="http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2011/12/28/tips-for-returning-unwanted-gifts/">Tips for Returning Unwanted Gifts /> Sense to Save | href="http://sensetosave.com/2011/12/18/when-youre-acting-contrary-to-the-financial-experts/">When you’re acting contrary to the financial experts /> NPR’s Planet Money | href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/12/27/144317128/the-undertakers-of-the-retail-industry">The Undertakers of the Retail Industry /> Couple Money | href="http://couplemoney.com/goals/2012-financial-goals/">Our 2012 Financial Goals /> Get Rich Slowly | href="http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/12/29/expectations-and-money/">Expectations and Your Money /> I Will Teach You to Be Rich | href="http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/the-psychology-of-buying-high-and-selling-low/">The Psychology of Buying High and Selling Low /> The Simple Dollar | href="http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2011/12/31/how-i-switched-to-long-term-thinking">How I Switched to Long Term Thinking

Free From Broke was featured in the following carnivals:

href="http://moneycactus.com/carnival-of-personal-finance-australia/">Carnival of Personal Finance Australia /> href="http://www.passiveincometoretire.com/yakezie-carnival-christmas-edition/">Yakezie Carnival – Christmas Edition – Passive Income to Retire />

Copyright © Free From Broke – A href="http://freefrombroke.com/">Personal Finance Blog Please visit for more great content!

href="http://freefrombroke.com/happy-new-year-and-links/">Happy New Year and Links


Free From Broke

Tags:
Category Get Rich Quick Schemes

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »


↑ Top