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Yesterday I got a payday loan. Tomorrow I’m headed to New Zealand
I’m headed to New Zealand, because I have cash today, thanks to an online payday advance. Plenty of people will call that irresponsible, but plenty of people haven’t walked in my shoes. If [...]

Frustrated Over Credit Card Hikes?

Paid on Time? Too Bad!
If you have been relying on credit cards to get by each month, you may need to borrow money just to pay the minimum payment these days. Credit card companies are raising interest rates dramatically in an effort to stay ahead of the declining economy. But [...]

Credit card interest rates are going up. Has your bank dropped the bomb on you? (Photo: wilpf.org)

Payday Advances: An Alternative to Credit Cards

APPLY for Payday Advances HERE!
Payday advances help make ends meet
Just when you could really use it, you run out of cash. You scrape together enough money to pay the mortgage, and the home insurance bill comes in the mail. You might be able to let that slide until next payday, [...]

If you want to use plastic without overspending, get a payday advance and use your debit card.

Anonymous Credit Cards: Safety for Consumers, Merchants and Banks

Convenience – But At What Cost?

Using credit cards can be a pleasure and a pain. Will anonymous credit cards make security one less thing to worry about? (Photo: flickr.com)

Credit cards are both a blessing and a curse for millions of people worldwide. Managed use of this form of consumer credit [...]

Using credit cards can be a pleasure and a pain. Will anonymous credit cards make security one less thing to worry about? (Photo: flickr.com)

Major Benefits of the New Laws for Credit Cards

New laws
The Obama administration is working hard to reform laws for companies who issue credit cards. On May 22, the president signed off on the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure, or Credit CARD, act of 2009.
The bill is set to improve the way companies deal with consumers and act [...]

Hire Movers without Maxing-Out Your Credit Cards

Moving can be a disaster
No one wants to max out their credit cards when moving. But that’s what happened to John Winston of Salem, Massachusetts: “We were a simple move…going to a neighboring city. Our moving company promised that it would cost $875, and a possible added cost for extra [...]

Add a c to Shleppers and you may have an arduous journey! (photo: flickr.com)

The Cost of Payday Loans: Not Excessive, Study Shows

Study of Detroit Area Households Yields Surprising Results
There are numerous entries in the volumes of study on payday loans which suggest that low- to middle-income (LMI) families are the most frequent users of the product. Where access to credit and liquid assets are limited – particularly in areas that are [...]

Pursuit of alternative financial services like payday loans is sometimes necessary. But do the costs break the budget? (Photo: flickr.com)

Using Credit Cards for Overseas Travel

Summer plans
Now that the recession is leveling off, many people are getting ready to start using their credit cards again. Because the economy is projected to reach its turnaround point mid-summer, consumers are looking to use their cards to pay for summer vacations.
Marilyn Dean of Los Angeles, California stated, [...]

Even a place like this is hard to enjoy when you dont know what youre paying! (photo: wikimedia.org)

Installment Loans: A Strong Option When Credit Access is Limited

Do Race and Ethnicity Restrict Access to Traditional Credit?
You’ve more than likely heard the call to arms “Stimulate the economy!” before. It takes expenditure in order to keep the wheels of commerce flowing. While the current recession has made that difficult – people are still highly unwilling to spend on [...]

Installment loans have been there for people from all walks of life who have been failed by the traditional credit and lending system. (Photo: flickr.com)

‘Paranormal Activity’ Promises to Scare You

Scariest movie award
Well, it seems at least a few people are finally getting over the “Saw” franchise. Then again, it was the second highest grossing film at the box office last weekend. However, more people chose to buy tickets to “Paranormal Activity.” In the ads for “Paranormal Activity” it promises [...]

Image from Flickr.

Japanese Credit Card System – Option One or Two?

The Curious Japanese Card System
Despite Japan being one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world, it is largely a cash-based society. Larger stores do allow you pay with a credit card, but on the whole, Japanese shoppers don’t use credit cards as often as Americans do. I was [...]

Japanese Credit Card System

Will Cell Phones Replace Credit Cards?

Cell phones and credit
In many countries outside the U.S., cell phones have replaced credit cards. In Japan and Finland, for example, travelers rarely carry cash, checks or credit cards, but rather swipe their phones or send text messages to pay for train rides.
In the U.S., the cell phone hasn’t yet [...]

Will Cell Phones Replace Credit Cards?

Can Credit Cards Fix Tennis Damage?

Temper, Temper, Novak Djokovic
“Use one of your credit cards, Novak!” I shout from my semi-comatose position on the couch. I just witnessed a tennis player’s breakdown that’s going to cost him money, maybe lots of it. Novak Djokovic missed a tiny little lob over the net and smashed his racquet [...]

Novak Djokovic may need one of his credit cards to help pay the fines for his latest on-court outburst.  (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

Payday Loans and Tax Rebates: How Consumers Handle Shocks

Educated Consumers Use Payday Loans During the Recession
There currently exists no definitive study of how payday loans are used. Researchers from both sides of the aisle (pro and anti-payday loan interests) are working on it, however. For now, there are studies like “What Do High-Interest Borrowers Do With Their Tax [...]

Rather than being a product of impulse or vanity, payday loans are a reflection of consumers' reaction to a harsh economic climate. (Photo: flickr.com)

Credit Cards Newest Area of Potential Problems for Banks

Banks and credit cards
Banks have suffered through the recession with huge mortgage industry defaults, but a new fear that credit cards will do the same is looming. Ken Lewis, Bank of America CEO, stated he believes that despite the government’s $700 billion rescue program, it will be “an awful year” [...]

Credit cards

Interest Rates on Credit Cards are Steadily Rising

Interest rates are up across the board
Although many interest rates were recently cut, credit cards lenders are set to increase theirs. Mortgages and savings rates have fallen dramatically due to government intervention; however, credit card rates have moved up. Even cards listed as “low-rate” are averaging 11.62%, balance-transfer cards [...]

Credit card companies gamble with the risk of bankrupcy (photo by Freerangestock.com)

Fed Study Unintentionally Paints Rosier Picture for Payday Loans

Why Use Credit Cards When There Are Payday Loans?
Credit cards have proven to be both a useful tool in establishing a credit history and a bane to those consumers who hope to maintain a good credit history. The temptation to “swipe and go” has been actively cultivated by the American [...]

This Federal Reserve/Vanderbilt/Penn study tries to connect payday loans to credit ruin, but what they leave out suggests a rosier alternative. (Photo: flickr.com)

New Rules Will Prohibit Teens from Having Credit Cards

Drinking age is the new credit card age
When a new piece of legislation takes effect in February, anyone younger than 21 will need a cosigner older than 21 to get a credit card. I believe this is a very positive step that will keep a lot of people from getting [...]

People younger than 21 can no longer get credit cards on their own.

Congress Calls for Financial Overhaul to Help Debt Relief

Regulating the Banking System
Due to the recession, people are looking for debt relief more than ever.  Credit lenders are no longer as readily available as they once were.  Mortgages are difficult to handle.  The unemployment rate continues to rise.  Because of these problems, the Obama administration is calling for a [...]

Will the Federal Reserve create the framework consumers need to experience debt relief? (Photo: flickr.com)

‘Wishful Drinking’ by Carrie Fisher | Capitalizing on Hollywood

‘Wishful Drinking’ book, one-woman show
Carrie Fisher, more commonly referred to as Princess Leia, appeared on “Today” this morning to talk about “Wishful Drinking.” The piece is both a book and a one-woman Broadway show.
You can buy the book “Wishful Drinking” for about $10 for the paperback or $18 for the [...]

Carrie Fisher, 30 years ago. Image from Flikr.