Speedy Gambling

As we march head long into the new millennium it would seem that a Credit Card is an essential accessory of modern life.

There are not many places on our planet where you can’t use the ‘fantastic plastic’ for purchases large and small. In this phenomenon (the vastness of the credit card network) lies the ambush of the credit epidemic.

Unfortunately for some of us we are unable to control the use of our credit cards and we fall into the downward spiral of ever deepening debt. The fact that financial institutions freely issue credit cards to those whom they almost certainly realize do not have the capacity to control their spending or the means to repay the limits of their credit is irresponsible on their part.

Of course on the other hand there are millions of responsible users of credit. For many people a credit card is a means by which they can deal with their current situation, thereby allowing them to take control of their finances. By this means then, they can successfully manage to climb out of the slippery hole of debt and maintain control of their spending.

The responsible use of credit cards involves us being in control of our lives. For many ‘retail therapy’ is an escape from the reality of what is actually happening in their day to day circumstances. To be a responsible Credit Card user there are several things we must consider:

1. Never spend more than we can really afford! It seems fairly obvious to the thinking person, however the temptation is always lurking there to use our Credit Cards for things we think we can’t do without.

2. If we do need to use our Credit Card for large ticket items then do not use them again until we have completely eliminated the negative balance from that Card.

3. Ideally each month pay the entire balance outstanding, and at the very least pay more than the minimum payment amount (and hopefully do not spend any more until our Credit Card is again debt free).

4. If we are using our Credit Card for everything i.e. groceries, utility bills, daily expenses etc as a means of tracking our expenditure then set up an automatic payment system with our bank so that the balance is paid out each month within the interest free timeframe.

5. When we are going browsing – don’t take our card so that we aren’t tempted to spend on unnecessary items. Our wallets can actually get along without our Credit Card (can we?).

6. If all else fails – freeze your Credit! Yes literally fill a large container with water, place your Credit Card in a sealable plastic bag and suspend it in the water, now place the container in the bottom of your freezer and leave in place until completely frozen. At the very least this will make you have some “thinking time” before you are able to use your card.

Credit Cards are a good thing when used wisely. If we find ourselves in debt over our heads seek professional help. It is not a sign of weakness to ask for assistance in managing our finances, in fact it is quite the opposite. Many people have discovered release from crippling debt by taking the step and finding someone who will help them.

About the Author
Lisa R Johnson is co-owner of www.getfastcreditcards.com, a website where American citizens can view and compare countless credit card offers, and can also then apply online immediately for credit cards.

With so many out of work, laid off or staying in dead end jobs to make the ends meet, we need creative ways of generating extra income. Here are a few simple, innovative ideas to get the cash you need quickly.

1) Your personal gold mine, can be staring you right in the face. Many of us save momentos for years for nostalgia or for that one time that we might need them. That time never seems to come though. Why not allow someone else to enjoy them as much as you have. These nick nacks may seem inconsequential or even like junk to you and may seem like buried treasure to some one else.

Go through your closets. Clear off your bookshelves. Unload those dresser drawers and create streams of income. Turn that old typewriter into a writer’s dream and earn extra pocket money. Take that nineteen fifties dress out of the closet and make a retro chick happy, while filling your bank account.

With the invention of online auctions, like ebay and ubid, you can turn trash to cash. Or you can go to flea markets and offer your treasure up to vendors for half the profits. Books can be redeemed for a partial profit through sites like half.com or even amazon.com.

Once you have emptied your own closets, you can scour the malls for sales and resell those items online. Or better yet find a deal on one online auction and resell it on another. The only lmitation lies within your own imagination.

2) Have a brilliant idea or hobby? Turn it into an ebook. Write it using word or wordperfect and convert it into a pdf file using adobe 5.0. Then sell it on digibuy.com for 80% of the profits over and over again!

3) Recently sell your home through owner financing? If you are holding a note, there are companies that will purchase it from you for upfront cash. You may have to take a bit of a discount and you will have a large portion of your cash today instead of thirty years from now.

4) Won a lawsuit and recieving payments? You can do the same thing. Companies will actually pay you a large portion of what you won for the right to your payments. It’s like taking the lump sum in a lottery winning!

5) Don’t have a business of your own and need extra cash? There are plenty of affiliate programs out there that would be delighted to give you a percentage of their profits, for the privalege of having you market their products. Choose programs that you have personally used, so you can attest to the quality. Also choose programs that are at least two tiered. This means that you get paid wether you make a sale or someone you referred to the program makes a sale. Just one good referal can bring you a steady stream of montly income.

About The Author

Caterina Christakos is a published author and independent investor. For more information on how to turn notes, annuities and settlements into fast cash go to: http://www.webpagedesignerforrealestate.com/cash_for_notes.html;
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