Author: Betty Hernandez

From Idea to Business – SCORE Success Story

Learn how with the assistance of a SCORE mentor, this woman turned her wall art idea into a viable business.

This post is aligned with a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

Find additional information and resources on small business grants and loans, home buyer programs and impact investment programs from around the world.

What You Need To Know About Benefits.Gov

The United States Federal Government launched the Benefits.gov Website in 2002 in the hopes of providing every American with easy and convenient online access to government benefits and programs.

This post is part of a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

For more information on small business grant and home ownership programs visit TopGovernmentGrants.com.

How To Make The Most Out Of Your Credit Cards

When credit cards are good they are very good, but when they are bad they are evil. Like most things, credit cards are difficult to deal with if you don’t have the proper knowledge or advice. Read on for some great tips and advice for anyone who wishes to educate themselves on the ins and outs of credit cards.

Work at improving your credit score if you want a credit card with lower interest rates. Creditors use your credit score to decide what type of card to offer you. Most of the time, cards with the lowest interest rates and bonus features are offered to those with the best credit scores.

Make sure that you do not order any credit cards in the mail if you do not have a lock on your mailbox. Credit card thieves have stated that they steal cards out of unlocked mailboxes.

Many people wonder if it is better to have one credit card or many. For most people, it is best to have two or three credit cards open. This helps build up your credit, particularly if you pay your cards in full monthly. However, if there are more than three cards to your name, a lender may think that’s no good when looking at your personal credit bureau report.

Always make a copy of receipts made from online purchases. Don’t throw away the receipt until after you get your statement. Check the statement against the bill to ensure you weren’t overcharged. If there is an incorrect charge, contact your credit card company immediately. Doing so helps to prevent overcharges on purchases.

Never keep a written record of your pin number or password. Keep it stored in your head so that nobody else can access it. Writing down your PIN, especially if you store it with your card, can put your account in jeopardy if the information falls into the wrong hands.

Don’t give into someone else wanting to borrow your bank cards. It’s a bad idea to lend them out to anyone, even friends in need. There are other ways to help a friend or family member in need other than allowing them to borrow your card.

Any fraudulent charges made using your credit should be reported immediately. This way, they will be more likely to discover the culprit. It will also serve to make sure you are not going to be held accountable for any false charges. Most fraudulent charges can be reported with a quick phone call or email to your credit card company.

If you use your credit card to make online purchases, be sure the seller is a legitimate one. Call the contact numbers on the website to ensure they are working, and avoid venders that do not list a physical address.

It is essential to keep an eye on your credit score. The benchmark score which is considered good by lenders is 700 or above. Put your credit to work to maintain that score or to help you reach it. At a score of 700 or higher, you’ll receive the best credit offers with the lowest rates.

As stated earlier, credit cards can pose a challenge for many people But, proper information can make it more simple to deal with charge cards. Follow this article to have better credit card luck.

If you have financial problems in your life, tell your card company. If you are at risk of being unable to make payments in a timely manner, the credit card issuer will usually try to arrange a payment plan that you can stick to. Doing so means they may not report your late payments.

Grants from the Department of the Interior

The responsibilities of the Department of the Interior include the management and conservation of federal lands and natural resources, including the administration of programs that are associated with Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, territorial affairs, and to insular areas of the United States.

This post is aligned with a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

For more information on small business grant and home ownership programs visit TopGovernmentGrants.com.

Business Loans From GovLoans

Interested businesses that are looking to procure a loan from the federal government can visit the GovLoans website, as it serves as the public’s gateway to government loan information.

This post is aligned with a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

Find additional information and resources on nonprofit information, educational grants and Civic Engagement programs from around the world.

Use Your Bank Cards The Right Way

Anyone can build credit, while managing their finances, with a credit card. Understanding the cards is important, so that a consumer always makes educated choices. The following contains advice on credit cards that can help people get better at using their cards, so they don’t damage their credit score and get into debt.

Credit Card

Before canceling a credit card and closing your account, ensure you understand how canceling it affect your credit. Depending on the situation, closing a credit card account might leave a negative mark on your credit history, something you should avoid at all costs. In addition, if you have cards that make up a large portion of your entire credit history, try to keep them open and active.

In terms of a retail store’s credit options, you should never get a card with them unless you’re a loyal, regular customer. Each time a retail store inquires about your credit report, it gets recorded, regardless of whether you actually take the card. A lot of inquiries from stores can lower your credit rating.

Only inquire in regards to opening retail cards if you seriously shop at that store regularly. Even applying for a card with the store will reflect badly on your credit score if you’re not accepted, and there’s no sense in applying if you’re not a regular shopper. Excessive inquiries from those retailers on your report can drop your credit score.

Keep track of your purchases made by credit card to make sure that you do not spend more than you can afford. It can be easy to run up a huge debt without realizing it, unless you keep tabs on how much you’re spending.

Credit card companies set minimum payments in order to make as much money from you as they can. Pay much more than what the minimum payment indicates. Over time, this will help you to avoid paying so much out in interest.

When it comes to credit cards, it is imperative that you read the contract and fine print. If you receive a pre-approved offer, look over the conditions and terms. Knowing the details is important. Know how much your interest rate will be and how long you’ll have to pay it. Also, know what fees are associated with the account and if there are any grace periods.

Credit Card

Make sure that you fully comprehend the terms and conditions of a credit card policy before you start using the card. In most cases, using the credit card for the first time means you agree with all the terms. The fine print on the terms of the agreement is small, but it’s well worth the time and effort to read the agreement and understand it completely.

It can not be stressed enough how important it is to pay for your credit card bills no later than the invoice deadline. Your credit card payments have a date that they are due by and ignoring them will cost you additional fees. Also, the majority of card companies will increase your rate, which means all future purchases cost you more money.

Make sure you know what your interest rate will be with a given credit card. It’s vital that you know what the interest rate is before signing up for a credit card. If you aren’t aware of the rate, it could turn out to be much higher than you initially thought. Paying more may keep you from having the ability to pay the debt off every month.

As said earlier, credit cards can be good and they can be bad. They can help to build a good credit score, but they can also get you in trouble. However, take the time to truly understand the credit cards and what they can do to help you, so you are able to make informed decisions. With the information in this article, you should be better armed to avoid the dangers bank cards can pose.

Grants From The Department of Labor

The Department of Labor was primarily created to nurture, promote and develop the welfare of job seekers, wage earners, and retirees of the United States of America, as well as to improve the country’s working conditions, advance employment opportunities and ensure work-related rights and benefits.

This post is aligned with a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

For more information on small business grant and home ownership programs visit TopGovernmentGrants.com.

SBA Resources for Women-Owned Businesses

The Small Business Administration has a variety of offerings to assist woman entrepreneurs start and grow and their business endeavors. This latest video provides an in introduction to how the SBA can help you.

This post is aligned with a network of sites interested with the intersection of small business, the philanthropic sector and government in creating healthy and sustainable communities.

For more information on small business grant and home ownership programs visit TopGovernmentGrants.com.

Various Tips And Tricks For Repairing Bad Credit

Has your poor credit been giving you a hard time? Due to the condition of the economy, many people are left with a bad credit score. Luckily, there are things you can do to improve your score. You can start today after reading these tips for credit score improvement.

The higher your credit score, the lower the interest rate that you can obtain will be. This allows you to eliminate debt by making monthly payments more manageable. Getting a good offer and competitive credit rates is the key to credit that can easily be paid off and give you a good credit score.

Credit Score

Creating a payment plan and sticking with it is just the first step to getting your credit on the road to repair. You must be committed to making real changes in the way you spend money. Avoid buying what you don’t need. Ask yourself whether every purchase is both affordable and necessary, and only buy if the answer to both questions is “yes”.

A respectable credit score makes it much easier for you to purchase a home with a mortgage. Paying mortgage notes on time will keep your credit scores high. Owning your own home gives you a significant asset to use in securing your finances, and your credit score will reflect that asset. Having a home also makes you a safer credit risk when you are applying for loans.

You can work with the credit card companies to start repairing your credit. Doing so will help you to ensure that you do not go further into debt and make your credit worse. You can do this by speaking with them and asking to change the monthly charges or due date.

Be wary of credit improvement scams that can get you in legal trouble. Don’t buy into scams that suggest you create new credit files. This is illegal and you will most certainly get caught. Think of the legal costs and the possibility of doing hard time.

There are secured credit cards available if your credit rating is too low to open up a regular credit card account. These types of credit cards often require a good faith deposit to open a new account. Using this card responsibly will improve your credit rating over time, and eventually you’ll be able to get a normal credit card again.

Before you commit to a settlement, you should first determine exactly how the agreement will affect your credit. Some ways of dealing with debt repayment are better for your credit score than others, so make sure you are achieving the best outcome for you before you sign anything. Creditors are only trying to get the money that you owe them and could care less how that hurts your credit score.

If you find a mistake on your credit report, be sure to dispute it! You should compose a letter to the agencies that have made the errors, and provide proof that you are correct. Ask for a return receipt so that you can prove that the agency got your package.

Get a written copy of any payment plan you negotiate with a creditor. This will provide proof of your agreement in case any problems ever arise. If you manage to pay off your debt, make sure you receive proper documentation as proof to send to credit reporting agencies.

If you have credit cards with a balance that exceeds 50% of your credit limit, you must continue to pay on them until the balance is lower than 50% of the credit limit. Your credit score can be negatively impacted if you are carrying a large balance compared to the available credit you have. While you are paying off these cards, reduce the balance to a small percentage of your available limit.

If you’ve been discouraged about your credit situation, use the tips provided can turn your frown upside down. Stop your credit score from spiraling downward, and look for ways to get back on track.

Click Here To Read All About Debt Consolidation

Debt consolidation can help anybody pay off their debt. Though doing so may not release you from your financial woes, it can benefit you by only making a single combined payment to all your creditors each month. You’ll find a lot of helpful advice in this article if you find you are in a budget crunch lately and having difficulty getting caught up.

Don’t go with debt consolidators due to them claiming they’re “non-profit.” It is a common misconception that this label indicates a firm is a step above the rest. Check the BBB’s website to find good companies.

At times, filing for bankruptcy is necessary. Although bankruptcy might be the answer, it can really do a lot of damage to your credit. But, if you have no way to pay down your debts and you’re missing payments, your credit could be irreparable already. A bankruptcy filing can eliminate some of your debt and help you work your way towards financial freedom.

Review your credit report before you decide on debt consolidation. This is the first step to fixing your debt issues. Find out how much you owe and whom you owe it to. Without this information, you may struggle to find out who you need to be paying.

Credit Card

Consider applying for a low interest credit card in order to consolidate debts. Putting your debt onto a low-interest card will not only reduce interest costs, but also simplify your situation by giving you a single monthly payment to make. When you’ve consolidated your debt on a single credit card, try paying that off prior to the introductory interest offer expiring.

Debt consolidation loans don’t affect credit scores. In fact, if you pay it off on time and in full, it will make your score go up. This is an excellent strategy if you can afford to make all your payments on time.

Do not assume a non-profit company is your best bet when looking at debt consolidations companies. These types of companies can be predatory, and your loan terms can be very unfavorable. To find a debt consolidation company, you could use a recommended group or check out the BBB.

You might be able to get a temporary loan from your friends or family if you cannot get one elsewhere. Be determined to repay it, though, and have all the terms in writing. Borrowing money from friends can often cause problems.

So why are you in so much debt? Figure this out prior to consolidating your debts. If you’re not able to fix what is causing you to have this problem, then alleviating your debt isn’t going to really help. Find the problem, and put and end to it once and for all.

Make sure that you find out the fees charged by debt consolidation companies. All fees ought to be spelled out in writing. As well, get intel on exactly how your payments are being divvied out to your creditors. The consolidation firm should give you a schedule showing when each creditor will receive a payment.

Make sure the counselors working for a debt consolidation service have the proper qualifications. Do these company’s have all of the proper certifications? Are they backed by reputable institutions? This is a great way to figure out whether the company you are considering is worth your time.

Do you think debt management could be a better option for you? Paying off bills that accrue interest can save you money because they will no longer be accruing that interest each month. All you need to do is work with a firm who will negotiate new, lower interest rates for you.

Debt Consolidation

If you’re trying to get away from debts as quickly as you can, then debt consolidation may be something that can help you. Use the above information to help you get the most out of debt consolidation. Use the tips from this article to help your debt issues.

Scams abound when it comes to debt consolidation. Deals that look incredible are usually not true. Ask a ton of questions and get the answers before you agree to use their services.