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The holiday shopping season is upon us and this usually means gifts for loved ones and bills for you early New Year. CreditGUARD of America, Inc., a non-profit credit counseling company has first hand experience in dealing with holiday spending blues and therefore offers the following 5 steps to curb your overspending habits.
During the course of the last year overall foreclosure numbers saw a steady rise in the United States. According to the U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, 92,845 properties nationwide entered some stage of foreclosure during July of 2006.
In the year 2005, there were 151 significant identity breaches throughout the United States affecting more than 57.7 million consumers. Approximately half of those breaches occurred at educational institutes where hackers used the school’s computer network to access personal information.
Soaring gas prices predicted to remain in the high range throughout the year have forced consumers to find their own remedies to ease the pain at the pump. Credit cards that offer cash back are becoming increasingly popular with consumers who are searching for savvy ways to save a couple of bucks at the pump.
It used to be small radios and toasters, and then came camping gear and milkshake makers; now it is all about Visa gift cards and iPods. According to CreditGUARD of America, Inc., opening a new checking or savings account has never been so attractive as of present day and many consumers are drawn to these new perks offered by various banks.
The new 'VantageScore' created in collaboration by the three major credit bureaus will be available to lenders in the coming few weeks. According to the credit bureaus, the new credit score will simplify the credit application process by providing lenders with a more accurate and consistent credit score among the three bureaus.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) along with other federal agencies pledged to crack down on companies that claim to remove negative information from consumer credit reports. To address this problem, we at CreditGUARD of America, Inc. have put together the following article to educate our clients and consumers about the severity of this problem, how to avoid these scam agencies and steps to take if you have been victimized.
Many U.S. based companies have changed the retirement outlook of this country by straying away from traditional retirement pension plans and focusing towards more profitable 401k plans. To help consumers understand the basics of 401k plans, we at CreditGUARD of America, Inc. have put together the following Do's and Don'ts of 401k plans.
The United States has been in the forefront of charitable giving with an estimated $248 billion raised last year with mostly coming from individual contributions. While the greatest reward for donating to a charity may be in knowing that you have helped someone who is in dire need, your contributions may get you valuable deductions on your income tax returns.
As a company based in Boca Raton, Florida, CreditGUARD of America, Inc. feels the pain and anguish that most of these people suffered due to these hurricanes. As a result, we have compiled and listed some of the disaster relief programs that are designed to provide assistance to residents in various disaster areas.
Victims of hurricane Katrina and Rita who have lost their jobs, homes and businesses are more likely to apply for bankruptcy in the coming weeks and months and the new bankruptcy law will only add more burden to their already unstable financial conditions.
Apart from getting used to the heavy course loads and assignments, students have to learn to handle their finances in a mature manner which involves good judgments and smart spending. The following tips and guidelines are created to help college students adapt to their new life style in a financially smart manner.
Federal regulators are pressuring major credit card companies to increase the current minimum credit card payments from 2% to 4% of the total outstanding balances. The regulators argue that taking such a step would help consumers get out of debt sooner and hence reduce their overall interest charges.
Generally, a creditor gives up the right to file suit and collect outstanding debt after a period of 6 years from the time the debt first became delinquent. However, many states have adopted their own limitations which can range anywhere from 2 to 15 years.
In the last couple of years, the government and consumers have come down hard on the payday lending industry, accusing them of loan sharking and lending fraud. This article will review how payday lenders operate within legal limitations, the benefits it offers to consumers, the risks of obtaining payday loans as well as alternatives to payday loans.
Summer is just around the corner and soon many Americans across the country will embark on their well deserved summer vacations. Vacationers need to carefully plan their summer getaways to make their vacations financially feasible. To help consumers effectively manage their summer finances, we at CreditGUARD of America have put together the following tips and guidelines.
Nowadays, credit cards are freely available to teenagers, but unfortunately most of them lack the maturity and responsibility of making credit smart decisions. Visa has introduced the new Visa Buxx card which is a prepaid and rechargeable debit card that allow parents to deposit money into the account as needed. Teenagers can use the new card anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. The users are also protected from any unauthorized purchases, making the card safer than carrying cash.
The IRS estimates that the average refund for this year will be close to $2,000. This has many Americans across the country struggling with the decision of whether to buy a vacation package to the Caribbean or to utilize the extra income towards something more useful. If you are one of the millions of people caught in the middle of such a debate, CreditGUARD of America has five smart ways on how to put that income tax return to good use.
It is a known fact that most military service men and women who are called to active duty go through many financial hardships. As a result, many military personnel fall behind on their rent/mortgage payments, default on their credit card payments and auto loans and may even have to file for bankruptcy. Many of them are not aware of some of the important protections available to them under the provisions of the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act (SSCRA).
Holiday shopping can be a fun activity for most of us and it might be one of the things that we look forward to this season. For others, holiday shopping can be stressful and nerve wrecking, especially when they think about their credit card bills early next year. This article will provide you with some basic tips and information on how to be a smart shopper this holiday season without dealing with any anxiety or unpleasantness.
The FICO Expansion score is geared towards consumers who have limited or no credit history to generate a traditional FICO score. The new score is complied by using information from non-traditional sources such as, payday lenders, rent-to-own stores and companies that monitor and blacklist people who bounce checks.
As a company based in Florida, CreditGUARD of America, a non-profit credit counseling agency, understands the challenges that faces repairing and rebuilding after Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Frances, Hurricane Ivan and Hurricane Jeanne. Our credit counseling service has compiled a list of disaster relief programs to help hurricane victims find the emergency disaster relief and long-term disaster relief they need.
College students are back in school and will soon be starting their credit "rite of passage" by applying for credit cards and student loans. CreditGUARD of America offers some starling statistics on undergraduate credit usage and the debt burden these college students are carrying. Our non-profit credit counseling agency offers valuable credit tips on how to borrow responsibly and avoid credit problems.
Gasoline Prices: Filling Up on The Card reviews gas rebate credit cards to find out whether or not these credit cards offer real savings. CreditGUARD of America, a non-profit credit counseling agency, shows you additional ways to save on gasoline prices.
Phishing is a technique that criminals use to commit identity theft and fraud. CreditGUARD of America, a non-profit credit counseling agency, explains how to spot phishing and protect yourself from identity theft.
Buy Now, Pay Later: Generation Y’s Budget Deficit explains how Americans’ spending habits affects pre-teens, teens and young adults. CreditGUARD of America, a non-profit credit counseling agency, explains how youth marketers target our children and what parents can do to correct their child’s spending habits.
Debt Trap Grows Larger for Consumers Living Paycheck to Paycheck
While credit card companies are lowering interest rates and discontinuing annual fees, there is a new trend in the credit industry to boost income by increasing penalty fees. These new fees are estimated to bring an additional $1 billion dollars to credit card companies. CreditGUARD of America, non-profit credit counseling agency, offers advice to consumers who have credit card debt and want information on how to handle these penalty changes.
Budgeting is a way to turn your dreams into a reality by setting realistic goals and priorities. Budgeting Made Easy! shows consumers how to setup a personal budget and then make your budget work. This educational pamphlet includes income worksheet, credit card worksheet, fixed expenses worksheet, flexible expenses worksheet, discretionary expenses worksheet and end-of-the-month budget analyzer.
Learn how to successfully manage your money and avoid credit problems by using Budgeting: Your Money Guide for Getting Through School. This educational pamphlet has useful tips for managing debt, how to use credit cards, student loan strategies, and ways to save money.
Today, your credit report affects more than your ability to get a loan so it is important to avoid credit problems. Credit Cards: What You Need to Know shows consumers the pros and cons to using credit cards. This educational pamphlet gives advise on where you can get a credit card, what to look for before you get a credit card, what your consumer credit rights are, and building your credit history.
Thinking about divorce? Avoid credit problems by making intelligent financial decisions and protect yourself. Divorce & Your Credit explains what to do if you are going through a divorce, and quick facts about how divorce effects your credit. If you’ve already gone through a divorce and it has destroyed your credit, this educational pamphlet gives additional advice on how to rebuild your credit.
No matter how much you love the holidays, studies show that holidays are some of the most stressful times for consumers. Happy Holidays! gives strategies for creating a less stressful, less expensive holiday season. This educational pamphlet encourages consumers to look at the most important part of the holiday, your loved ones.
Find out what a credit score is and how to make the most of your credit score. Make the Most of Your Credit Score discusses the factors that create a credit score, how to effectively manage your credit score, and the negative items that can give you a bad credit score. Lastly, this educational pamphlet discusses how a debt management program can affect your credit score.
“ First comes love, then comes marriage…” and for many couples next comes financial problems. New Families & Finances discusses how marriage consolidates debt and how to manage your finances together so the honeymoon does not end too early. This educational pamphlet gives strategies on how to communicate about financial problems and working together for financial freedom.
Most consumers that have had credit problems in the past feel like their bad credit history is never going away. Rebuilding Good Credit gives practical advice for overcoming bad credit and rebuilding your credit portfolio. Good credit is not impossible, it just takes time and a strategy to approaching your credit problems.
The best way to save is to spend your money more wisely. Shopping & Saving gives tips on spending smarter and how to curtail bad habits that cause consumers to overspend. This educational pamphlet shows you ways to save money on transportation, insurance, investments, credit cards, major appliances and utilities.
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