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"Bridging the Gap": Don't Forget Your Core Customers!
The big news in the business sector last month was the resignation of Millard Drexler as CEO of The Gap. The once highflying retail chain has hit hard times, losing money in the last four quarters and slipping disastrously close to bankruptcy. ...
Profiles Of The Powerful: Advertising Exec Steve Grasse
After ten minutes with Ed Tettemer in the offices of the agency
he founded with partner, Steve Red, you begin to understand the
agency's passion for excellence. After an hour with Ed, you
begin to understand the intensity of his personal passion....
Qualities of a winner
Out of millions, comes one big winner and out of billios, comes
a winner who overtakes everyother winner in the world. Look at
the history of the world, and you will always find few
individuals during a certain period who were winners of...
The Top 10 Brainstorming Techniques for Business Success
We experience creativity every time a fresh idea pops into our minds. We recognize creative imagination in everything from a pastel painting to a business plan. By trying these ten tips, you will discover some amazing creative abilities that may...
Worse Than Tsunami, Trade Protectionism Hurts Third World Citizens
Last Thursday, I was heartened to read the news that my church, Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY, had collected $732,000 from its members (beyond its weekly giving) for tsunami relief in Southeast Asia. That partially offset the news...
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Winning the Credit Game
Everywhere we go, the word credit can be found, shining huge
dollar signs in front of our very eyes. Everyday we receive
solicitation and promotions offering us credit. Credit
actually makes the financial world go round, yet just the
mere mention of the word can make many people very nervous.
So why does credit get such a bad reputation?
It's been my experience that credit falls into the same
category as politics and religion. People have very strong
opinions about Credit. It has been around since the
beginning of mankind. People would borrow either goods or
services, to be repaid at a later date with interest.
There's nothing wrong with that. And like anything else, it
can be used, or abused.
There are programs that allow you to borrow from your IRA,
or you can borrow from the equity that had built up in your
home. Credit card companies often offer promotions to borrow
money at a lowered rate of interest for a predetermined
period. It's all good news for the consumer. One of the
simplest ways to borrow money to use a Credit Card. The
choices available are plentiful, with a variety of interest
charges, annual fees, loyalty programs, and reward systems.
Many companies offer 6 months no interest credit. This is
often an excellent way of saving money as you are basically
given an interest free loan for those months. It's even more
valuable if you are able to transfer some of the card debt
from a different company into the interest free loan. The
best advice is to make sure you always have the money in
the bank, or in a savings account, to pay off your card when
you are taking advantage of the interest free
promotion.
That way you benefit from earning interest on your savings
at your bank, but as soon as the interest free credit period
has ended, you can pay the entire bill off without being
hit for high interest charges. If you intend to pay off
you credit card bill at the end of every month, there are
many benefit programs and reward packages available.
You can receive award points every time you make a purchase
with that card. These points can be redeemed in cash or
discounts, and can even be used for the purchase of airline
miles, etc. Some companies offer a consumer guarantee
protection on items purchased with the card, and many
will extend the warranties on those items. Many offer
discounts such as car rentals, travel insurance, accidental
damage insurance for any products you buy.
Also some companies charge an annual fee for using their
card (especially business credit card accounts), so these
should be considered against the cards benefits. If you
are not paying off your monthly credit card bills, look for
a card that offers a low interest. If you are paying off
your monthly credit card bills, look for additional card
benefits. Interest free credit periods are good news for
saving money. Credit Cards are an effective, and easy way to
borrow money for a short time. Be wise and prudent when
deciding to use credit. The bottom line is the credit
card companies want your business, and there is a credit
card out there that can meet everyone's needs.
About the Author
Cecily Backstrom is founder of All About Credit an excellent resource site dedicated to information about credit
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