0% Interest Cards With the Best Intro Periods in 2013

January 11, 2013 By 1 Comment

VISA credit card0% interest credit cards are a bit of a misnomer, since no credit card offers 0% interest forever. That would be cool, huh?

Credit cards billed as 0% interest cards actually refer to the intro periods these cards use as sign-up incentives. The best intro periods are the ones that charge no interest on purchases and balance transfers for a specific period of time.

Obviously, you want to to pay no interest for as long as you can, making the best 0% interest cards the ones with the longest intro periods. These cards are especially useful for consumers hoping to transfer their credit debt from one card with high interest to a new, zero interest credit card.

This is the most popular way to eliminate interest fees without paying back all of your credit at once. However, because some consumers have more credit debt than others (a recent report from the credit bureau TransUnion said that the average borrower owed close to $5,000 in credit debt alone), the best 0 interest credit cards are the ones with the longest introductory periods.

So if you’re hoping to save money on interest fees in the coming year, consider transferring your credit debt to one of the 0% interest credit cards below with the longest intro periods.

  • Discover itâ„¢ Card â“ 18 Month Balance Transfer

No 0% interest balance transfer card on the market today has a longer intro period than 18 months. That said, a full year-and-a-half is a generous amount of time to pay back your credit debt interest-free.

There are only a handful of 18-month intro period credit cards, and the new Discover itâ„¢ - 18 Month Balance Transfer Card is simply one of the best. An upgrade to their popular More ® Card series, Discover itâ„¢ offers cardholders a lucrative rewards program, with 5% cash back opportunities on rotating categories, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

It’s also especially useful for jet-setters since it charges no foreign transaction fees (as opposed to the usual 3%), and there’s no annual fee and they’ll even waive the fee on the first late payment you make (it’s $35 thereafter).

But this credit card from Discover is most useful thanks to its 0% intro period. If you’re hoping to back credit debt over time, you literally won’t find a better offer than the one afforded by the Discover itâ„¢ â“ 18 Month Balance Transfer Card.

  • Citi Simplicity Card

No credit card with 0% interest for 18 months is better suited for the consumer looking to simplify and consolidate their debt than the Citi Simplicity Card.

Like it’s name, this Citi card makes transferring debt simple; no interest on purchases and balance transfers for 18 months, no annual fees and â“ best of all â“ no late payment fees! OK, you should really avoid late payments since they’ll hurt your credit score, but it’s nice to know your wallet won’t get docked, too.

The only knock on this credit card with no interest is that it doesn’t offer a rewards program. That said, this an easy credit card to monitor in terms of payments and fees, and is one of the very best if your main goal is to alleviate credit debt in 2013.

  • Slate from Chase â“ No Balance Transfer Fee

Finally, the Slate from Chase â“ No Balance Transfer Fee Card is popular because, like its name makes mention of, it’s the only card on the market today that doesn’t charge a fee when you transfer a balance.

The average balance transfer fee is 3% of the total balance you plan on transferring. (That’s also the rate used by the aforementioned 0 interest cards above.) Slate from Chase â“ No Balance Transfer Fee is the only card that offers a balance transfer to its card free of charge. Note that no fee balance transfers are only eligible when made within 60 days of the credit card account opening.

The intro period attached to this card is slightly shorter â“ 15 months â“ but the fact that it waives the standard balance transfer fee make it one of the three best 0% interest credit cards of 2013.

This guest post was written by Jason Bushey. Jason is a personal finance blogger and the editor of Creditnet.com.

photo by dahlstroms

Filed Under: Credit, General Finance Tagged With: ,

Buying and Selling Shares: The Basics

January 10, 2013 By 5 Comments

brokerMost people have heard of stocks and stock trading. Many people recognize the name Wall Street❠and associate it with shares and making money. Some may have dabbled in the stock markets based on rumors and the suggestions of friends or family but without and understanding of how the markets operate. While it is certainly possible to make money on the stock market, it should be done with an understanding of its fundamentals. Before attempting to make money with stocks, it is important to know how shares work and how money can be made from the buying and selling (tradingâ)of shares in companies.

What are Shares?

Shares or “stock” represent a stake in a company. If an individual owns shares in a company then they own a part of it. They share that company with all of the other shareholders. There are basically two ways to make money from shares: sell shares and appreciation. Dividends may be paid out to shareholders from a company’s profits. They also may not be paid out. Companies are not obligated to pay dividends and therefore it is not a reliable way to generate an income from shares. Then there is the second way: from appreciation. This means the degree to which the shares go up in value. For most people who buy and sell shares, the whole point is to buy a share that that goes up in value. When it grows in value it may then be sold at a higher sum than was paid for it. This is capitalism at its simplest. Buy for less, sell for more. That is what Wall Street is all about in the most basic terms. Of course, there is more to it.

What Does a Stockbroker do?

Their job is to facilitate the law of supply and demand. In other words, they help those who want to sell find those who want to buy. Representatives of buyers and sellers agree on a price and the stock gets sold. Hopefully with both parties happy with the trade. This is what happens on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) every day. It could be considered a high dollar version of a Saturday morning flea market. Unlike the NYSE, electronic stock exchanges like the NASDAQ operate without a physical trading floor. Instead, the buying and selling happens electronically. In keeping with the flea market analogy, markets like the NASDAQ could be likened to an online classified ads website. Both the NYSE and the NASDAQ work on the same principle, just with different venues.

How Are Shares Sold?

In the old days before the widespread use of computers, a person who owned shares in a particular company would be issued a stock certificate. This was a piece of paper indicating that they owned a certain number of shares. If they wanted to sell their shares they would go to a stockbroker with their certificate in hand. These days, online brokers are able to buy and sell shares electronically. The ability to trade shares without paper means that the process is faster and easier for everyone. Benefits provided by online stockbrokers include:

Online trading tools.
Lower fees per trade.
Full control of trades.
Speed of trading.
Access to multiple markets.

Thanks to online brokers, trading shares is no longer the province of the wealthy. Anyone with a little money to invest and an internet connection has the opportunity to grow their wealth. For every trader, the path to stock market success starts with an understanding of the basics of buying and selling shares.

photo by The-O

Filed Under: Investing

When To Foot the Food Bill

January 9, 2013 By 3 Comments

food billI wholeheartedly believe in generosity, but there are definitely times where I notice that some of my most generous friends, and even myself, have been taken advantage of by others at restaurants. In today’s day and age where etiquette is growing increasingly cloudy, it can be easy to forget who should pay for what and when. Plus, not all of us are raised in the same way with the same rules, so it can be challenging to navigate many of these situations if your friends don’t know or don’t understand these things the way you do.

So, below are some tips of what I have learned growing up and by experiencing awkward situations when it comes to money at restaurants. They are by no means hard and fast rules for etiquette nor do I claim to be an expert on manners. They are just situations that I’ve noticed over the years that could help someone else get out of some of those sticky moments. So without further ado, here’s when you should foot the bill:

1. When You Extend The Invitation

The number one thing that can get each and every one of us out of an awkward situation is to be very clear about our intentions. Many awkward who-grabs-the-check moments can be avoided if the host would extend an invitation like, Do you want to go grab a sandwich with me? My treat!❠Conversely, you can say, Do you want to go try that new restaurant in town? I’d love to treat you but I can’t today. It would be great to have the company though if you can come!❠You can also answer when the waiter asks if the bill is together or separate. If you’re feeling especially generous, you can also put your guest at ease by saying, Order whatever you want! I know I am. It’s my treat.❠The point is that if you are ready to extend the invitation, be ready to pay for your guest’s meal as well.

2. When You’re a Guy On A Date

I sense that I may possibly get comments from those who disagree with me on this. So, I definitely want to reiterate that I am no expert when it comes to modern day etiquette. I just know that when I was dating, I really appreciated it each and every time a man paid for my dinner. I found it to be very sweet and kind. Even today, I always let my husband pay for the bill, even though it comes out of the same bank account. There’s just something about having him take care of me that woos me. However, I can understand women who insist on paying for their own half of a meal if that is what makes them more comfortable. Either way, I find that it’s always important to offer.

3. When You Want To Honor Your Parents

I believe there comes a point in everyone’s life where they should treat their parents to dinner. I know that mine always pay for everyone’s meal, but as I progress in my career over the next few years, I look forward to taking them out to dinner some time to repay the favor. Resentment can definitely build if you eat with your family and expect someone else to pay every time. Like the situation above, even if your parents or grandparents love to treat everyone, offering to pay for your portion might be a gesture that is appreciated, even if they turn you down.

So there, you have it: three situations where you should foot the bill. I know there are more that I’m not listing, so please leave a comment below and share your take on it.

photo by epsos

Filed Under: Life Experience Tagged With: ,

Exploring Google Mobileâ™s Impressive Line of Free Smartphone Apps

January 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment

You don’t have to be an Android fan to appreciate Google’s quite impressive offering of Google branded smartphone apps. Since Android is a Google platform, all of the company’s mobile apps will work on Android devices. Many of Google’s mobile apps will work on iPhone, Windows, Blackberry, Nokia/S60 and even some non-smartphones. If you are using a non-Android device, you can visit m.google.com from your device browser to see which apps are available for your phone. In the meantime, below are a few fun, innovative, must-have goodies:

Google Translate

This application allows you to translate back and forth between over 50 languages. The voice input feature allows you to say a word or phrase to obtain translation. There are also dictionaries in over 30 languages. Perhaps the most interesting feature is conversation mode. Enable this to allow speech to speech translation, making it easy to have a conversation with someone who speaks a foreign language.

Google Sky Map

This open sourced app offers an impressive look at the night sky (although it does work during the day). I like it because there have been numerous times when I am curious about a bright star or planet. I simply point my phone to the sky and an exact map of the planets, stars and constellations appears on my screen. You can also search for a specific star or planet. Just type in what you want to locate, and the app will point your device directly to the object!

Google Talk

Google Talk allows you to chat or video chat with any other Talk user. While this app is most handy on smartphones, don’t be afraid to download it to your tablet. And, if you have a Gmail account and a front facing camera, you can enable it from your PC. While iPhone users cannot download Talk to their devices, a third part app called Vtok by Skymobius, Inc. will allow you to make video calls to your Google contacts.

Google Play Books

Yes, there are a number of book apps out there, but Google’s rendition isn’t too shabby. Books purchased are available on your computer and on all devices which you download the application (including IOS). This versatile platform allows you to change reading font, save your page position and sync across all of your devices, and includes a night reading mode.

Google Earth

This popular desktop application is available for mobile devices. The entire world is literally at the palm of your hands. Search and zoom to anywhere you would like â“ from your own home to pyramids in Egypt â“ the possibilities are endless!

Google Goggles

Search the internet by taking a photo! Want to know more information about a landmark? Take a photo of it and Google Goggles will look it up and return information about it. Another neat feature is the ability to scan a business card and add full contact information to your phone contacts without typing a single word. The application also recognizes logos and artwork, and can translate text. So, the next time you are in a foreign country and cannot read the menu, simply scan the menu item you would like to know about and Goggles will translate it for you. Google Goggles was previously only available for Android, but now iOS 4.0 users can download the application as well.

Google Maps

This popular app offers accurate maps which pinpoint your location, voice-guided turn-by-turn GPS navigation and search features to locate restaurants, businesses, etc. near you. The Android version also offers Indoor Maps, 3D Maps and Street View. Google Maps is now available for iOS user platforms.

Google Currents

Access your favorite blogs, publications and content in a user-friendly magazine format. Download free editions of magazines from popular publishers, available for both high-speed and offline reading.

Google Shopper

Looking for prices, reviews, specs or other information on a product? Google Shopper puts it all right at your fingertips. Search by voice, barcode or scanning (books, CDs, DVDs and video games). Find local stores as well as online offers.

I’ve highlighted some of my favorite Google mobile apps, but, of course, there are many others. And, you can count on Google to continue expanding their app offerings, so be sure to check frequently to see what’s new.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab you smartphone and start downloading!!

Gina Smith writes freelance articles for magazines, online outlets and publications on behalf of a number of companies, including Global Response. Smith covers the latest topics in the business, golf, tourism, technology and entertainment industries.

Filed Under: General Finance

How Fitness Affects Your Finances

January 4, 2013 By 12 Comments

fitness and financesWe sometimes try to separate our lives into various boxes. There’s the social box, the faith box, the work box, and also the finance box and the fitness box. Though we may try to approach each area of our lives as if it were in a separate box, the reality is that many of these boxes are actually connected. This is especially true of the fitness and personal finance boxes.

Though it seems like an odd combination, there’s a lot of overplay between the two, especially in the way that fitness can affect your finances.

Fitness increases your energy level, helping you to do your job

Our ability to perform our work is intimately affected by our levels of health and fitness. In order to earn a living we need to have a sense of well-being and a minimum level of energy. Fitness helps with both.

By maintaining a regular exercise program, you feel better about yourself because you have more energy for whatever it is you need to do. Cardiovascular fitness, in particular, is helpful here. It improves blood flow and the functioning of virtually your entire body, and that improves your performance. The better you feel, the more you’ll be able accomplish, and ultimately the higher your income will be.

A higher energy level will also help you to make forward progress. As you improve your energy level, you’ll be in a position to take on new challenges more easily. This will include career challenges.

Creating a healthy diversion produces greater balance

The financial aspect of life has very long arms â“ it can affect nearly every other area of your life. It’s not at all hard to become obsessed with our financial condition especially at the extremes. If you’re doing very well, it’s easy to obsess over your success and attaining more of it. If you’re going through financially difficult times, it’s easy to get so wrapped up in them that you can’t see anything but.

Actively pursuing fitness provides you with an important diversion that can keep you focused on other areas of your life. There’s something about connecting with yourself physically that is so basic that it can pull you away even from those areas of life that you are obsessing over. Once you do, it takes you away from your most immediate problems and helps you to improve your perspective.

Better health reduces medical expenses and health insurance premiums

Probably the most direct benefit of fitness on your finances is the fact that it improves your health. That ultimately lowers your medical expenses. Because you feel better, you’ll be healthier, and that will mean fewer trips the doctor and less need for medications.

Better health can also help to reduce stress. When you feel better, you just feel less stressed. And if you focus at least some of your energy on improving your career and your finances, you will balance out your life which will lower your stress levels even more.

As your level of health improves, you may even see your health insurance premiums drop. This can happen if you see long-term improvements in areas were you need ongoing therapies, such as the use of blood pressure medications.

If you can overcome yourself you’re ready for anything

For most of us, the biggest obstacle we face each day is the person staring back at us in the mirror. We often think we are unable to face difficult challenges, and that thinking often flows from the fact that we sense a lack of control over ourselves. For example, if you are overweight this probably makes perfect sense to you. Your weight is by itself a constant obstacle that you may fee that you cannot overcome.

If you can be successful dealing with problems on the most personal level, you will be able to better face external challenges, such as financial problems or career issues. A certain amount of confidence comes from being able to control and improve yourself, and it will flow over everything else you do including your finances.

In a real way, adopting a better fitness routine can help you to be ready for whatever else you are facing in life.

photo by DVIDS

Filed Under: Life Experience

Choosing a Credit Card Rate on Your Terms

January 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment

In today’s market it seems difficult to save money when there are so many creative ways to spend it â“ especially when a credit card is conveniently able to accept all your charges. However, as you make more of these charges, the total sum on your credit card accumulates to a balance that is difficult to pay off.

Outstanding credit card balances are then subject to interest penalties using the interest rate you agreed to when you acquired the card. These interest rates vary depending on the credit card and the provider, but there are ways you can leverage a lower more affordable interest rate. The internet has made online shopping a convenience that many people use for their benefit, and the newly launched LowestRates lets you compare credit cards and credit card rates.

LowestRates provides you with lists of credit cards and credit card rates from leading credit card providers across the US. With this information at hand in minutes, you can find a credit card with the lowest possible rate that fits your unique budget and lifestyle. LowestRates is designed to help you find a credit card plan on your terms without letting a bank or creditor dictate what they believe is the rate you should pay â“ in essence this service gives you back time, money, and your personal financial freedom.

Affordable credit cards are very important for your financial stability, but you also want to leverage lower rates on other financial products like insurance. With LowestRates, you can gain access to information on more affordable car, travel, health, and life insurance plans. This service helps you orchestrate better coverage for insurance plans at the lowest rate that you can find.

If you are a homeowner or plan on purchasing a home in the short term, you will definitely appreciate a service to acquire a low cost, mortgage plan. Many Americans consider their homes to be the most important investment they will make in their lives and like with any good investment, there are three important things you want from it â“ low cost, low risk, and high return. LowestRates helps you secure a mortgage with low monthly mortgage payments so you can enjoy living in your home without worrying about paying it off.

Financial control and freedom can be yours with just a few minutes of browsing through the services that LowestRates has to offer â“ a few minutes online can keep thousands of extra dollars in your bank account.

photo by scobleizer

Filed Under: CC Reviews, Credit, Debt

New Years Goals: How To Finally Save Some Money

January 2, 2013 By 1 Comment

The New Year is upon us, and with it, a fresh start! This is the time for everyone to make their resolutions about losing weight, staying fit, spending more time with their families, and of course, saving some money. I’m not sure why it’s so hard for us to keep these resolutions as the months go by, but I think it’s because we try to do way too many things at once. Remembering to floss your teeth every night and do 30 pushups in the morning and track your spending can be a little overwhelming. No one can keep up with all of those habit changes at once. What’s best is to start one of these habits slowly and steadily, especially when it comes to saving money. I know that I personally will keep up with money goal #3 that I have listed below, but I hope all of these ideas will inspire you in some way!

1. Put Your Change in a Piggy Bank

It sounds a little silly, but the ol’ piggy bank has worked for years for kids and adults alike. If you find that you’re unlikely to move money into a savings account each month, try walking in the door after work every day and dropping your change in a piggy bank. When you clean your house on the weekends and you find a quarter in the cushions, put it in the piggy back. When you pick up a penny off the ground, continue with the same habit. Save it all year and next New Year’s Day, see how much you have. There have been news stories about people buying entire cars with the coins they have saved up over the years. Read up on those for a little inspiration!

2. Tell Someone About It

We’re more likely to save for something if we have someone to keep us accountable. However, I would recommend taking it a step further. Instead of just telling you mom that you want to save for a new car, ask her to check in on you regularly to see how you’re doing. If you know someone is going to ask you about it, you’ll be more likely to save so that you have something new to report. You can also start a blog and make other blogger friends who can encourage you when you meet small goals.

3. Track Your Spending

A great habit to get into is simply tracking your spending. I always recommend this to people as a first step. You don’t have to vow to save any money. You don’t have to promise to cut corners. All you have to do is simply write down what you spend every day. The reason this works is that once people start doing this, they realize which areas they can improve upon. Once it becomes habit, you have to really want something in order to put it on your list. If you’re married, do what I do. I jot down my own spending every day and then each night I ask my husband if he bought anything that day. He usually remembers, but it should be a daily question, since most of us are apt to forget 2-3 days down the road.

So there you have it: 3 ways to get motivated to start saving some money during the new year. As I said, taking on all three of these suggestions would be too much for one person. Just choose the one that seems like it would work best with your lifestyle and start slowly. As with any budgeting and savings journey, there are always bumps in the road. What’s important is that you always get back on track and remember your goals. Good luck this year!

photo by Cherry Point

Filed Under: Budgeting