With economic times still tough for consumers, many of us are looking for ways to acquire some extra cash or to save money on necessities we have to purchase. Typical ways to acquire extra cash are to sell something or to find extra work. Buying goods and services at a discount helps us save on those necessities. How do you tell the real, practical options from the risky or fraudulent schemes? In this report, I'll give you some tips on how to tell the difference in several popular areas.
Selling gold, jewelry, coins and/or collectibles. Traveling buyers road shows are pulling in thousands of consumers all over the country today. Multiple ads on radio, TV, and billboards and full-page spreads in newspapers invite consumers to bring in their gold or jewelry (broken okay) or other collectibles to sell for "top dollar." While many of these shows are run by reputable companies, you will not necessarily get the best offer from them for your jewelry or collectibles.
Is Now a Good Time for a New Mortgage or Refinancing Your Current Mortgage?
Current mortgage interest rates in the U.S. are historically low. If you're considering buying a new home, there's a large stock of new and existing homes for sale, many at much lower prices than at the height of the real estate boom. Even with this good news, however, mortgage loan applications in July 2010 hit new lows.
Why aren't more people taking advantage of what appear to be real opportunities? Several factors may play a role. The slow economy and concerns about job security have many people sitting tight. In addition, everyone has heard that loans are harder to get because lenders have tightened lending criteria and have less money to loan. That's not the whole story, however. Many lenders, particularly credit unions, are in good shape financially and are ready to make new mortgages or refinance existing mortgages for qualified consumers.
If you are interested in buying a new home or refinancing the mortgage on your current home, is now a good time to act? And what qualifications will give you the best chance? This report covers some of the basics.
Are These Social Media Practices Endangering Your Privacy and Your Kids' Privacy?
New developments or types of social media launch almost daily. Because such Internet-based applications or programs enable individuals and groups to connect easily and openly to share all types of information, you or your children may be putting private information at risk. Often you may not be aware just how much or what information you are sharing.
Here are just a few recent examples. In late April, Facebook, the largest social network, launched new features including Open Graph/Instant Personalization, with default settings that said yes to sharing more information with third party sites unless you opted out. Although consumer pushback forced Facebook to make some positive changes, there are still potential privacy problems. In February, Google introduced its new social networking program Buzz by enabling it by default for all Gmail users (rather than offering the option to opt in or not); Buzz then would follow everyone in the Gmail users' contact list. In June, Yahoo announced its intention to build social networking Yahoo Updates using the Yahoo email data base. Beyond such controversial participation protocols, however, much more is happening in the social web universe. Did you see where the Library of Congress is going to archive public tweets on Twitter (and the vast majority of tweets are public)? Then, there's Blippy an application that automatically shares all your credit card purchases. The list goes on.
Considering Debt Settlement? Why That's Probably a Dangerous Idea
As economic times remain tough, U.S. consumers' credit card debt hovers at about 852 billion dollars. Average household credit card debt is over $15,000. If you are struggling to manage debt, then ads like these may be tempting:
Eliminate 50 -70% of your debt legally. It's your right!
Pay off your debt for pennies on the dollar.
New government programs! Take advantage of free and easy programs for those in debt right now.
If we can't get you out of debt in 24 hours, we'll pay you $100!
Stop harassing calls from debt collectors!
What's the problem with such "offers"? They are misleading and deceptive at best. At worst, they are fraudulent, abusive and unfair. Signing up for them could leave you in worse shape financially than before. This report gives you the facts behind the claims of debt settlement companies and profiles better options for resolving debt problems.
Thinking About Home Improvement? What Do You Need to Know? Tips for Saving Money and Avoiding Rip-Offs
In the spring, a homeowner’s thoughts turn naturally to home improvement. As sure as the flowers bloom, however, the thoughts of home improvement service providers—the good, the not-so-good, and the scamsters—turn to selling their services and wares to homeowners. How do you get the improvements you plan done right and at the right price? No matter the type and size of your project, from a “simple” paint job or roof repair to a home expansion, knowing how to define your project, find the appropriate financing if necessary, and locate and evaluate the appropriate products and contractors is a must. This report covers those basics step by step.
First, research your project and budget
What’s the scope of your project? The more you know about what your specific home improvement project entails, the more ably you can evaluate appropriate products and proposed services. This tip holds true for something as “simple” as interior painting and re-carpeting all the way to planning an extensive remodel or expansion to your home.
Reports
Feed Entries 
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010