5 Tips For Hiring A Professional Debt Settlement Company!

Keywords:
hire debt settlement company,debt relief,get out of debt,personal finance,debt consolidation

If you’re considering using debt settlement to help you pay off your credit cards, here are 5 tips to help you decide on a company to help you.

Keep in mind that hiring a debt settlement company is no different than hiring any business to perform a service for you – so make sure you find the one that fits your needs the best. Not all debt settlement companies are the same. Like with any industry, there are good ones, and there are the rest.

Unfortunately, when it comes to settling credit card debts, you often hear more stories about people who complain than those who receive good service (and there are many).

How do you determine which settlement company will offer you the best service?

1) Shop around
When hiring a settlement company, you should contact at least 2-3 different businesses and compare the services and terms they offer. Not only will you find the best company to represent you, but you will learn a lot about how debt settlement works, and how it can help you.

2) Check with the BBB
While not everyone with a complaint contacts the Better Business Bureau (so a clean record may be misleading) if there are several unresolved complaints, that is a “red flag” to find out why there are unhappy customers. If the complaints have been resolved, that is a good sign that the debt settlement company offers good customer service. You can search for company records online at www.BBB.org.

3) Check references
While debt settlement is a confidential process, and therefore you may not find many companies willing to give out names of happy customers, it is worth asking. Talking to a former customer will tell you more about a company than any brochure or website.

4) Get all the details in writing first
This is an absolute MUST – you should never agree to anything, sign any paperwork, or send in any money until you get all the terms and conditions in writing. A written contract will help you understand what service you should receive, how much it will cost you, and protect you if an issue comes up.

5) Ask lots of questions
If you have any questions (and the more settlement companies you talk to, the more questions you will have) make sure to ask them – and get the answers you want. If a company is not willing to take the time to answer your questions now, how will they respond to you once you become a client and your money is at stake?

Bottom line, it is your responsibility to “do your homework” and research the best company to help you settle your debts.

If you take the time and effort to find the company that will fit your needs the best – just like you would when hiring any professional – you will greatly reduce the chances of a major problem occurring.

Settling your credit card debt is a big decision for anyone to make, so don’t make the decision lightly!

Active Stock Market Timing

Keywords:
stock market timing, timing the stock market, market timing

Much has been written about the virtues and dangers of active stock market trading, or “market timing.”

Most of the pundits and so called "experts" will tell you that stock market timing doesn't work, that it's dangerous, and that "buy and hold" is the best and only way to invest.

But this conventional wisdom is patently untrue. Here are the facts based on my research and extensive real time experience.

If you want to be a successful stock market timer, you need three key elements:

1. A system that actually works.

2. Discipline to follow the system.

3. Patience to stick with the system long enough to make it work for you.

And it’s tough to do all three.

Here’s why:

Most market timing systems don’t work. Or don’t work consistently enough to be valid. Some will work in trending markets but get slaughtered during flat times. Most systems don’t work in all markets.

Investors lack the discipline to follow a proven system. Once an investor finds a viable program, he or she needs the discipline to follow it. Sadly, some either can’t or won’t do that. When they let their own judgment or intuitions interfere, they don’t get the results they want or could have enjoyed by simply following the buy and sell signals they receive.

Investors lack the patience to stick with their system. Many investors are constantly in search of the Holy Grail, a program that never loses a trade. The fact is, no method will win every trade, and investors without patience will find themselves hopping from advisor to advisor with no rewards to show for their efforts.

However, there are a number of proven systems available that recognize these pitfalls and successfully time the market to massive profits year after year. Anything you hear or read to the contrary is simply not true. Wall Street has a vested interest in opposing stock market timing because it is a threat to their very existence.

Investors have two choices. They can pursue the conventional wisdom of buy and hold and hope for the best, or the modern investor can educate himself and find a timing system with which he is comfortable to protect and grow his wealth. There are a number of proven options available, but the absolute worst thing one can do is listen to the pundits who tell you that “stock market timing" doesn't work.

7 Common Refinancing Mistakes to Avoid

Keywords:
7 Common Refinancing Mistakes to Avoid

Whenever interest rates drop, a refinancing frenzy naturally follows. Whether you're looking to trim your mortgage payments, eliminate credit-card debt or pay off your car loan, experts say you should fully understand all of the options available to you before deciding to refinance.

Allied Mortgage Consultants, a mortgage company recognized for educating consumers on the realities behind new home loans and refinancing, reveals seven common mistakes people make when refinancing.

1. Not saving enough to justify refinancing. It's best to decrease your rate by at least .75 percent to 1 percent. This will save you about $100 a month on a $150,000 mortgage.

2. Not knowing your closing costs up front. By law, closing costs must be disclosed within three days of the loan application. However, there are different approaches to calculating them. Until the details of your loan are clear, the closing costs quoted to you are only estimates. Plan for the worst-case scenario.

3. Not fully understanding your reasons for refinancing. Besides reducing your interest rate, there are other legitimate reasons to refinance, such as debt consolidation, home improvements or major purchases. In some cases, you may be able to deduct your interest payments on your tax return. Always consult an accountant or tax attorney before making these types of decisions.

4. Not being aware of APR "teaser rates." Some mortgage brokers use annual percentage rates to get your attention, but it may actually end up costing you more. APRs often are derived by using a 30-year mortgage coupled with an accelerated payment plan. Make sure you know the actual interest rate you will be paying throughout the life of the loan.

5. Not weighing the pros and cons of adjustable rate mortgages. ARMs can minimize your monthly payment, but not if additional refinancing occurs. In this case, they can cost more in the long run.

6. Not being aware of the service you should expect from a mortgage broker. The process of refinancing should be hassle-free and accomplished quickly. Ask your mortgage broker to provide details of its service plan and performance guarantees.

7. Not knowing to ask the mortgage broker about all available loan products, terms and rates. Subtle differences can save or cost you thousands of dollars.

6 Steps to Take before Bankruptcy

Keywords:
bankruptcy, debt relief, debt free, grid rid of debt, alternative option, debt consolidation

If you currently have unbearable debts and thinking of wipe it off from your statement by declaring bankruptcy; Just on-hold your decision for a while, there may be other options available. Try to improve your situation before you investigate the bankruptcy option. No matter which way you go, evaluate the 5 steps below to see if you could avoid taking that drastic step.

1. Detail out all your debts

First, look at all your secured debts such as mortgage and car loan. How much are the repayment for each month? What are the interest rates?

Then, list down all the fixed expenses such as power, phone, insurance, food, etc. What are the total costs for these expenses?

Follow by examining your credit card debts. Take out all your credit card statement and write down the amount you owe for each card and their interest rate.

Finally, write down all your other expandable; these are your optional expenses such as entertainment, gym, membership, dinners at restaurant and other impulsive purchase.

2. Eliminate the unnecessary expenses

Now you should have a better idea on where your money goes; Make a diet plan on your cash; In your Cash Diet Plan, list down all the your savings from the elimination of the optional expenses. You will be surprise that how much money you can save by carefully control your expenses. The money you saved can be used to pay down your debts.

3. Get your family involve and work as a team

Don't do it alone because under such as stress condition, you may out of control and may not think and plan in clear mind; get your family together and let them know your financial problem and have them to work together to control the household spending and eliminate the unnecessary expenses.

4. Cash out with your assets

If you have equity, you are in a better situation because you could refinance or get a secured loan for pay off your debts. If you are looking for bankruptcy as your debt relief options, your may not have any equity in hand already. But equity is not the only asset; many people tend to forget that things that have cash value, but not sentimental value. Think antiques, old clothes or collectibles.

List down all the assets you own which your can sell and cash out. Check the closets, garage and storage locker, she says, "and find out what you can live without". Then, cash them out through garage sales, eBay or consignment shops. Use the money to pay down your debts as much as possible.

5. Go for consumer counseling service

Arrange an appointment with a credit counseling agency and let the counselor to understand your finance situation and draft a budget for you. Review the debt management plan proposed to you before your sign to enroll into the plan. You may get a few plans from other credit counseling agencies for comparison. Choose the one which best suit your current financial needs. Although a debt-management plan can have a negative impact on your credit, it's better than bankruptcy.

6. Get A second or part time job

Utilize your out-of-work time on second or part time job. Although you may not earn much in your part time job, a little money coming in can keep a bad financial situation from getting worse.

Summary

Bankruptcy may be your easy way out from debts but the consequences may follow you for 7 to 10 years. Always look for other alternative before choose for this dramatic options.

A Cheap Strategy to Play Microsoft

Keywords:
stocks,investing,trading,options,technical analysis,george leong,money,finance,small cap stocks

Bill Gates is super rich but his once high-flying software company has been in the doldrums since mid-2002 after falling from the $35 level. The problem with Microsoft (MSFT) has been its failure to grow both its revenues and earnings at the superlative rates the company once enjoyed.

Any company the size of Microsoft, with a market-cap of $242 billion, will find growth an issue because of its size. But this is not to say the stock is dead. Far from it, Microsoft remains a viable long-term software company and is cash rich with $34 billion or $3.28 per share in cash. This gives the stock plenty of financial flexibility to develop or buy growth technologies. Microsoft just announced it would spend $1.1 billion in R&D at its MSN Internet unit in the FY07. And according to the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft is exploring the possibility of taking a stake in Internet media company Yahoo (YHOO) to take on Internet advertising behemoth Google (GOOG).

But with an estimated five-year earnings growth rate of a pitiful 12%, the company has its work cut out for it. Trading at 16.30x its estimated FY07 EPS of $1.44, the stock is not expensive but appears to be priced not as a growth stock.

Its PEG on the surface of 1.51 is not cheap, but if you discount in the cash of $3.28 per share, the estimated PEG falls to around 1,0, a decent valuation. Also, if Microsoft can improve on its estimated 12% growth rate, the PEG would decline further.

The fact is Microsoft at the current price deserves a look. If you want to play the stock but don’t want to shell out the $2,347 for a 100-share block, you may want to take a look at the long-term options, also known as LEAPS. For instance, the in-the-money January 2008 $22.50 Microsoft Call LEAPS not set to expire until January 18, 2008 currently costs $380 a contract (100 shares).

This means you risk a total of $380 for the chance to participate in the potential upside of 100 shares of Microsoft over the next 20 months. The breakeven price is $26.30. If Microsoft breaks $26.30, you would begin to make money on your LEAPS. Conversely, if Microsoft fails to do anything, your maximum risk is $380 on the initial option play.

Warning: The aforementioned example is for illustrative purposes only and not to be construed as an actual option strategy. Due to the higher risk inherent in options, I recommend you speak with an investment professional before deciding to employ any strategy involving options.

How do I stop a nosebleed?

How do I stop a nosebleed?
First have your child sit or stand up to reduce the blood pressure in the veins of the nose so that bleeding slows. Then have him lean forward and spit out any blood. Gently pinch the nose shut near the tip with a tissue or clean washcloth. Remind your child to breathe through his mouth and to continue to lean forward, spitting out any blood that has accumulated in his mouth. Apply gentle but constant pressure for a full 10 minutes. If your child seems scared or worried, reassure him that there's no danger. If the bleeding continues longer than 15 minutes despite your having followed these steps, call your child's doctor.

Two important tips:
1. Don't tilt your child's head back; that allows blood to flow down the throat, which could make him vomit.
2. And don't pack the nose with cotton after a nosebleed; bleeding can resume when you remove the cotton later and disrupt any clots that have formed.

Are frequent nosebleeds something to worry about?
No. Nosebleeds are common in children, especially in winter when sinus infections, colds, and dry air all contribute to them. Your child may make matters worse by rubbing or picking his nose. If he gets a nosebleed at night, you may find dried blood on the pillowcase in the morning. Again, there's no reason to worry.

However, you should call the doctor immediately if your child gets a nosebleed from a blow to the head or a fall. Also call the doctor if your child has just started taking a new medicine and begins to get a lot of nosebleeds. If nosebleeds become a frequent problem or he gets them more often than usual - especially if your child seems to bruise easily or has bleeding gums - check with the doctor.

How can I prevent nosebleeds?
If the air in your home is dry, use a humidifier in your child's room at night. You may also want to apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to the center wall inside his nose to relieve dryness. If your child has a habit of picking his nose, keep his fingernails trimmed so he's less likely to injure the lining of his nose.

Mimisan 90% dapat diatasi sendiri. Jangan panik.

Bagian dalam hidung dilapisi oleh selaput lendir yang selalu basah. Selaput lendir ini banyak mengandung jalinan pembuluh darah. Di bagian depan, jalinan pembuluh darah disebut sebagai pleksus Kiesselbach. Di bagian belakang juga ditemukan jalinan pembuluh darah. Bila pembuluh darah ini pecah, terlihat sebagai mimisan.

Sebagian besar mimisan dapat berhenti dengan pertolongan sederhana atau bahkan berhenti sendiri. Yang sering terlihat menakutkan dan membuat ibu panik adalah bila anak mengalami muntah darah, padahal sebenarnya hanya memuntahkan darah yang tertelan. Demikian pula dengan batuk darah, bukan berasal dari paru melainkan karena batuk mendorong darah yang ada di tenggorokan.

Penyebab
1. Penyebab paling sering adalah benturan atau kebiasaan mengkorek-korek hidung.
2. Udara panas dan kering menyebabkan selaput lendir hidung menjadi kering dan pecah.
3. Bila hidung tersumbat terus dan berbau busuk, mungkin disebabkan anak memasukkan suatu benda ke dalam hidungnya.
4. Sekat hidung yang bengkok, menyebabkan aliran udara kurang baik. Akibatnya selaput lendir hidung menjadi kering dan pecah.
5. Pilek dan alergi. Peradangan di rongga hidung dan membuang ingus terlalu keras dapat menyebabkan mimisan.
6. Mencium bahan kimia, misalnya asam sulfat, bensin, amonia.
7. Kadang-kadang mimisan adalah gejala penyakit darah, misalnya kurang trombosit, kurang faktor pembekuan, leukemia, dan lain-lain. Pada penyakit-penyakit tersebut, sering ada gejala lain misalnya pucat, biru-biru di kulit, dan lain-lain.
8. Mimisan pada orang dewasa dapat disebabkan merokok, tekanan darah tinggi, alkohol, atau makan obat yang mengencerkan darah.
9. Anak yang minum obat yang mengandung asetosal dan ibuprofen juga dapat mengalami mimisan karena darah menjadi kurang cepat membeku.

Mencegah mimisan
1. Jangan mengkorek-korek hidung.
2. Jangan membuang ingus keras-keras.
3. Hindari asap rokok atau bahan kimia lain.
4. Gunakan pelembab ruangan bila cuaca terlalu kering.
5. Gunakan tetes hidung NaCl atau air garam steril untuk membasahi hidung.
6. Oleskan vaselin atau pelembab ke bagian dalam hidung sebelum tidur, untuk mencegah kering.
7. Hindari benturan pada hidung.

Pertolongan
1. Duduk, agar hidung anak lebih tinggi dari jantung.
2. Membungkuk ke depan sedikit, dan bernapas dari mulut.
3. Jangan tidur terlentang. Aliran darah ke hidung bertambah deras, dan darah dapat tertelan ke belakang.
4. Tekan hidung selama 5 menit. Yang ditekan adalah seluruh bagian depan cuping hidung, tepat di atas lubang hidung.
5. Tangan yang lain dapat digunakan untuk memberi kompres dingin menggunakan es pada tulang hidung, untuk memperlambat aliran darah ke hidung.
6. Bila setelah 5 menit masih berdarah, tekan lagi selama 10 menit.
7. Kalau masih tetap berdarah, bawalah anak ke ruang gawat darurat rumah sakit.
8. Bila sudah sering mengalami mimisan, dapat meminta campuran lidokain 4% untuk mengurangi nyeri dan epinefrin 1 : 10.000 untuk mempercepat darah berhenti. Pemasangan selama 10-15 menit seringkali sudah cukup. Semprotan hidung oxymetazoline 0.05% juga dapat membantu.

Bagaimana dengan daun sirih? Daun sirih merupakan adstringent, yang berfungsi menciutkan pembuluh darah. Daun sirih dapat menolong, tetapi sterilitasnya kurang terjaga. Jangan-jangan mimisannya sembuh tetapi jadi mengalami infeksi. Tekan dengan jari akan lebih aman.