Useful Things You Should Know to Boost Your Credit Score

When applying for loans, opening a bank account or even renting out an apartment, your credit report is required. It helps determine whether or not you have the capability to repay the loans that you have taken out. 

Of course these credit companies would like to know if you are a good risk or not. If you have poor ratings on your credit report, there is a lesser chance that your loan will not get approved or you will not get the interest rate that you want. 

More often than not, people with bad credit reports will run the chance of paying loans with high interest rates and shorter payment terms. If you want to improve your credit score, here are some useful things you should know: 

• Get a copy of your credit report from the credit bureaus. It will be difficult to improve your credit score if you don’t know your current standing. Credit reports are given free once each year, but if you want to know your credit score then you have to pay minimal amount for it. FICO credit score is the most commonly used by creditors. There are three credit bureaus that can supply you with this score namely Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. 
• Don’t accept all the pre-approved credit card offers. There are times when you will get this type of credit card offer in your mail and even online. Resist the temptation of responding to these offers because easily approved credit cards can affect your credit score. Whenever there’s an inquiry in on national credit bureaus, points are deducted from your score. Frequent and impulsive checking of your credit score can harm your score. 
• Avoid transferring from one credit card to another. You may think the transferring your balance will not hurt you because you will receive 0% interest rate for a particular period of time. However, it will be much better if you don’t close your old credit card because long-stand credit card will look good in your credit report and may give you a good credit score too. 
• Don’t miss out on due dates. Paying your bills on time and on a regular basis if you want to avoid credit score dings. For every late payment you make on your bills, it depicts a picture that you are not reliable. Keep in mind that a huge chunk of your credit score is based on your payment history. If creditors can see that you are a responsible in paying your bills, it can improve you credit score big time. 
• Raise disputes when necessary. If you see that something is wrong in your credit report, make sure that you dispute it. If you have been a bad person as far as your creditors are concerned, you can get one bad thing out of the report yearly. You just need to be consistent in improving your credit scores. If there are negative notations on your credit report, make sure that you dispute these things. Be patient because it is not easy to remove any negative information on your credit reports. 

About the Author: The article is done by Mackenzie Sulivan, technology, seo and finance copywriter, guest blogger and web developer. She likes covering seo, technology and finance articles and news via online edition. She contributes to this site: 12 Month Loans from eMoneyBuddy.

Some Currency Trends to Note in the Future

Yen (Photo credit: Mr Wabu)

When I trade currencies, I do so with a lot of leverage, usually a 10x leverage ratio. However, if you're a long term investor and still want to try playing with currencies, that is possible. All you have to do is be aware of the long term trends that are happening between different currency pairs. So without further ado, here are some megatrends we're going to see in the next couple of years between the major currencies.

 

US Dollars vs. Euro

As you might know, I'm super bearish on the Euro at this point. I think that one day, the Euro will cease to exist. Why? It's rather simple. The Euro has two big problems.

• Debt.
• A Monetary Union but no Fiscal Union.

As you probably know, practically every country in the Euro with the exception of Germany is drowning in debt. That's thanks to the Europeans' policy towards 3 hour lunches and 60 vacation days a year - unproductive! Coupled with the fact that Europeans really like to live the good life, the only way they can do so is to go heavily into debt (which they are). 

Right now, Germany is the only thing that's holding the Euro together. The Germans are the only economic engine that's functioning in Europe. Which means that at this moment, the Germans are taking their surpluses and handing them out to their fellow Europeans who are drowning in debt. But nowadays, the Germans are getting angrier - their attitude towards helping their fellow Europeans is "why should I waste my money bailing you out when this debt problem was created by yourself?" When election time comes, the German politicians will reconsider their handing out economic aid. When the Germans stop the flow of aid, the Euro will crumble and cease to exist. 

In addition, the Euro is inherently flawed. The Euro is a monetary union (money policy) but not a fiscal union (government spending policy). Thus, what happens is that these two policies often clash. Like a dog with two heads, the dog goes nowhere if the two heads have different ideas about what to do. 

Hence, I believe that within the next 5 years, the Euro will cease to exist. Pretty scary forecast, eh? But remember, the impossible has happened in the past. 

Thus, as a long term investor it might be highly profitable if you buy the US dollar and sell the Euro. 

US Dollar vs. Yuan

For those of you who don't know, the Yuan is China's currency (also known as Ren Min Bi). Currently, the Yuan is semi-controlled by the Chinese government. This means that China allows for the Yuan to fluctuate by a maximum range. This, in effect, means that the Yuan is being artificially depressed by the Chinese so that their exports remain strong (devalued Yuan = cheaper Chinese goods = more exports for China). 

In the next 5 years, the Chinese are planning to liberalize their financial laws. And one of these financial reforms includes letting go of controls on the Yuan. China will cease to restrict the Yuan's fluctuation because only then can the Yuan have a serious chance at challenging the U.S. Dollar as the world's reserve currency (something the Chinese are itching to do). 

Thus, when the Chinese government transforms the Yuan into a total free market mechanism (meaning that the government no longer restrict's the Yuan's fluctuation), the first thing the Yuan will do is increase in value because the government is no longer artificially depressing the Yuan's value. Thus, it might be a wise decision for long term investors to load up on the Yuan and sell the US dollar, which is basically a bullish call on the Yuan. 

US Dollar vs. Yen

Not to be confused with the Yuan, the Yen is Japan's currency. In the past few months, the biggest news has been the devaluation of the Yen. Abe (Japanese Prime Minister) is doing everything in his power to depress the value of the Yen and create inflation so that the Japanese economy and exports can become competitive again. 

In the future (meaning for the next 5 years), I expect the Yen to continue devaluing. HOWEVER, the reasons behind the Yen's devaluation will change. 

Right now, the Yen is being devalued because the Japanese government is printing money like there's no tomorrow. HOWEVER, eventually that inflation will get out of control and become hyperinflation. When hyperinflation hits, the Yen will continue to devalue. So for y'all long term investors out there, selling the Yen and buying the USD will be the bonanza of the decade. 

A Note

2 notes, actually. As you might have noticed, all these predictions are the USD vs. something. That's because based on the Bretton Woods agreement, all currencies are valued in USD. 

Hence, one cannot directly say what the value of the Yen to Euro is. The second note is that if you're investing in currencies, you have to use a stop loss. A stop loss will protect your rear end and prevent a small loss from becoming a bigger loss (should you lose some money). 

Troy blogs at Badass Currency Trading, where he discusses the currencies of various nations and other how-to-play-currencies information. So if you're interested in currencies, please check out my site. Cheers, and all the best!

Debt Management - A Way to Clear Your Debts

Are you worried with huge slice of debts? Are you attempting very difficult to come out the economical debt trap? Everybody might have gone through economical debt relevant problems at least once in their lifestyle. Most individuals fail to obvious their economical obligations because of their bad managing economical debt. 

It can bring pressure, worry, agony and pain, if you are not paying promptly. It is appropriately compared with quicksand which is easy to fall but very difficult to come out, the more you fight to come out of snare the more you are going to drain, if you don’t have an appropriate planning. 

Following is a way to obvious your economical obligations. Few individuals obvious their economical obligations without any battle, but few individuals have to face many difficulties to obvious their economical obligations, all these because of managing economical debt. 

Take advice from managing economical debt services

You can take help from managing economical debt organizations like Fresh Finance who can settle with the lenders as your representative for smallest quantity necessary to obvious your economical obligations. You can take help from managing economical debt organizations because they are expertise in discussing with their years of experience. But you have to pay affordable fee to acquire their facility which is very minimal quantity. 

List out the debts

Create sure that you are record out all the current economical obligations to understand each economical debt and its situations before taking help from the managing economical debt solutions. You should also record out value resources like benefits, investment, home and vehicles. 

Pay off the tiniest economical obligations first

It is better to obvious your small economical obligations which add more interest in the lengthy run. It will reduce the economical debt pressure in the lengthy run. 

Savings plan

According to business experts, you should save at least 20% from your income to meet economical requirements. You can use this stored cash to pay the economical obligations. An appropriate benefits strategy not only helps you to obvious your debts, it can even reduce mental linked to pressure to economical emergency situations. Try to reduce the use of bank credit score cards and applying for new bank credit score cards until you pay off your current economical obligations. 

Budget plan 

You are like immeasurable other individuals who generate income for a living; you can live a simpler lifestyle by setting a price range strategy. You should have a well-planned price range to exercise more control over cash to obvious your economical obligations. A well-conceived price range strategy gives a wide idea on income and expenses. You can reduce the cash you are spending on needless items so that you can pay to obvious your economical obligations. 

Consolidate your debts 

Ask your lender to allow another financial loan to obvious other economical obligations. It brings together the different types of economical obligations for making it simpler. Merging is the best way to obvious your economical obligations without having difficulties very difficult. You can turn all your per month installments to a single transaction. It allows you to pay per month expenses promptly without unable. You can ask for ppi on your payday loan. If you are unable to pay per month installments, PPI statements will get triggered to offer reimbursements. 

8 Tips to Business Travel on a Budget

When business travelers are on-the-go, there are three distinct expenses: transportation, dining, and accommodations. Here are tips to reduce costs in each of those three categories during business travel.

Saving on Transportation

Your business traveler is probably used to luxury and carefree cars. However, in this economy he or she can be expected to take a more cost-effective route to meetings and conferences.

Buy a Metro Card

Rather than splurge on a rental car for the week of travel, consider getting your business person a metro or subway card. If the city is safe like DC, then there is no reason not to take public transit. You can save hundreds of dollars by choosing metro and bus passes, and that's before insurance costs!

Carpool With Co-Workers

Consider sharing the cost of a rental van with another company. Both companies could save money, and the team would get better acquainted on the way.

Accrue Those Flyer Miles

Sign up to earn frequent flyer miles on every single credit card purchase. Here are some of the things your company could earn:

• Cheap Flights to Italy
• Free hotel stays 
• Rental Car Discounts 
• Dining Woes Become Wins

Everyone needs to eat, but it doesn't have to be a negative expense. Rather than stipend all meals for your traveler, make those occasions count.

Lunch Meetings

Your traveler should schedule a lunch meeting every day of his or her trip. This can be written-off, and is substantially less expensive than dinner meetings. Also, this saves on the amount companies have to stipend to travelers, too.

Team Meals

Rather than giving the team a company credit card you could arrange an open buffet for them at their hotel. Many hotels like the Stratosphere in Las Vegas are doing this for business travelers, so that they can eat all day for a reduced cost.

Accommodations Savings for Businesses

Accommodations are the biggest budgetary black hole for travelers. However, there are a few savings tips to leverage.

Make a Deal With Management

When you book a hotel call and ask for the manager. Explain to him or her how often your company will be in town, and ask for a frequent visitor discount. Be loyal to the hotel that offers you the best 'frequent flyer' deal. You could save a hundred dollars a week or more if the hotel values your business.

Examine Hidden Fees

While one hotel might seem cheaper at first blush, you should always Google their hidden fees. Some hotels charge $25 a night for parking, while others charge $10 a day for Internet service. Find out which hotel is really cheapest with a little research, and you could save hundreds each visit.

Continental Breakfast FTW!

Your traveling team can meet every morning over the free hotel continental breakfast and save as much as $20 a person on that meal. Many hotels offer this option if you call and ask for it, even if it's not advertised.

Take the time to save money on your next business trip. It could amount to more than a thousand dollars if you are visiting an expensive city like London or New York City.

5 Things You Can Do Each Week to Save Money

We would all like to have more money, but we generally think of it as the result of a raise or a new job. But there are many ways to increase your disposable income by saving it along the way. Then, earn even more by allowing interest to work for you.

1. Watch and Compare Sizes

You don't always get the best deal by purchasing the larger size package. If you look at the per-ounce amount on the things you buy, you might be surprised. True, in many cases buying the larger bag of something is more economical, but not always. The opposite is often true.

The 200-ounce bottle of Tide might be $3.25. But wait, the 100-ounce bottle costs only $1.50. It isn't always apparent when looking strictly at the price alone. Dig a little deeper. You could save a bit just by paying attention to the pricing. When combined with bigger savings, like you can find at Brian Ferdinand Liquid Holdings, you won't believe how much extra money you'll have in the bank.

2. Discounts

This is a great way to save money on things you need or regularly purchase. Many employers offer discounts on various items, such as fitness memberships, passes to community events, and cell phone programs. But be careful not to be duped into buying things you wouldn't normally buy just because it is discounted. Buying something you normally wouldn't because it is $20 instead of $30 just cost you $20.

3. Prescriptions and Glasses

You can save significantly by having you doctor write you a prescription for double your normal dosage. Take those pills and cut them in half. A prescription for 30 pills at 50 milligrams might cost $90. But the same prescription for 100-milligram pills will only cost around $10 more. You can see how quickly you will start saving.

Also, try purchasing your glasses online. These websites walk you through the measurements so the glasses will fit your face correctly. These glasses quite often cost a fraction of what you would pay locally for a similar pair. 

4. Coupons

Extreme couponers will buy groceries for a third the cost of their retail-shopping counterparts. But you don't have to go extreme to save money. Between mailers, coupon books, newspapers, and online options, there are many ways to save money at almost every restaurant, for almost every product, and for many services.

Online stores offer discounts using secret coupon codes found at several different sites. There are many deals and reductions available if you're willing to search a little.

5. Set Aside Money

Yes, save money by saving. This is actually a way to earn money by using the power of compounding interest. For example, if you were to take and put $20 a week (the money you save by using the tips above) into an interest bearing account at 5%, at the end of 10 years you would have $13,735. That's thousands of dollars earned by simply setting it aside and not touching it. Not a bad day's work.

There are so many ways you can save money, the secret is acting on a few and saving a little here and a little there. It adds up quickly.

4 Things You Should Consider Before Financing a Car

Good auto financing options differ from person to person. Not only do these options depend on your own financial situation and credit score, but they also are determined by the age of the car that you're looking to finance and the financial institution itself. Before you buy your next car, consider how these factors will impact your financing.

How Much Can You Afford to Pay Each Month?

Financing a car means you'll have monthly payments. Make sure you choose a car and financing option that fits into your budget. Do you think you can afford $500 a month, or is $300 closer to your range? The amount that you can afford will influence the kind of car that you buy, but almost anyone can find an affordable option. Also, keep in mind that most financial institutions won't grant an auto loan for less than $5000. 

How Large is Your Down Payment?

The more you can spend on a down payment now, the less money you have to borrow to purchase the car. That means paying more now could equal smaller monthly payments, which can come in handy during rough times.

Most lenders and finance offices will also give you better interest rates when you put down a significant amount of money. Someone with a $1,000 down payment might pay five percent interest. With a $5,000 down payment, that same person might pay closer to four percent. That single percentage point can add up to big savings over a few years.

Lower interest is attractive, but you shouldn't spend your entire savings on a down payment. What would you do if you lost your job or had unexpected expenses that made it difficult for you to repay the loan? A couple thousand dollars in savings could get you out of a difficult situation.

How Healthy is Your Credit?

Your credit rating will have a big impact on your finance options, so you should get a copy of your credit report before you start looking for a new car. If you have excellent credit, then you can expect lenders and dealerships to give you lower interest rates. That excellent score makes you an attractive customer, so they're willing to give you competitive rates.

If you have mediocre or bad credit, then you can expect to pay higher interest rates. That doesn't mean it's impossible to get financing. You can still get a bad credit auto loan, but it will cost a little more. 

How Long Will You Keep the Car?

Most people forget to think about how long they actually want their cars, but that's an important consideration when you plan to finance the vehicle. If you plan to drive the car for ten years, then you can probably live with a four-year loan. Then you'll have six years of payment-free driving.

If you only plan to drive the car for a couple years, though, you don't want a four-year loan. Then you'll have to worry about repaying the loan's balance before selling it for a new vehicle. Instead, you'll want to choose a shorter-term lease that helps you pay for the car quickly.

What other things do you think people should consider before financing a car? Have you ever found out too late that you made a mistake when getting a loan?