Holidaying With Credit Cards

The use of plastic money has gained wide popularity not only in the United States of America but through out the world. Reports suggest that on an average an American household uses approximately 14 credit cards.

If the credit cards are not used judiciously, it may lead to a situation where a consumer may have to run from pillar to post to get his finances back on track again. Come December and you can feel the demand for credit cards skyrocketing.

However, the most important factor that needs to be kept in mind is to use the credit cards wisely. A consumer may get tempted by the various offers, the credit card companies offer during the festive seasons and during the holidays. It is often seen that people get tempted to avail various credit card offers during the holiday season and end up losing control over their finances.

Save yourself from "holiday hangover"
There are many financial experts who refer this habit as "holiday hangover". It has been observed that generally people tend to overspend with credit cards and become very impulsive during the holiday season.

However, there is one way to spend for the holiday season. You can start saving small amount of money the year round and buy gifts depending on the availability of your finances.

You can follow the tips given below to control your usage of a credit card during the holidays-

• Do not get tempted to buy a credit card which does not have long term low interest rate (APR).

• Once you have decided with your credit card, go through the rules and guidelines thoroughly because the credit card companies frequently change rules.

• Make it a point to make your payments regularly.

• Make the full payment and do not stagger your payments.

• You should never exceed your credit limit. That way you can keep a check on your impulsive buying.

• Avoid availing cash advances. Cash advances attract a very high rate of interest and if you do not pay on time, your outstanding balance go on increasing.

• Try to carry only one credit card. By doing so, you can keep your expenses in control.

• If you have not been able to maintain the golden rules for avoiding the "holiday hangover" and finally land up in debt, get out of debt at the earliest.

You should remember that just as plastic money can be of immense help and saves your from carrying cash, it can draw you into a vicious cycle of debt. So before your credit cards start controlling you, you control them, especially during the holidays.

Buying printer ink is a rip off!

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

I paid about $60 for a new Epson computer printer, which didn't seem too expensive at the time.  Then, I ran out of ink, and the nightmare began!  To replace all four standard colors(black,blue,yellow,purple) cost me almost $58!!

What's wrong with this picture?  At first I thought....well, it's the color of course!  I'll just by black ink, which runs between $17 and $19 a cartridge, and blow off the other colors!  WRONG!  You can't just replace the black ink!  You must get all four color  cartridges, that is, unless you can figure out which color is totally empty.  Then and only then, can you buy just one empty color....and that seldom happens.

If you are lucky, you'll be back printing for between $12 and $15, which is still expensive!  It seems just as economic to buy a new printer each time, rather than pay to refill its ink!  Where is the light at the end of this nightmare?

I talked with a sales guy at the 'Office Depot' on Bascom Avenue in Campbell, California, and told me there is some hope!  He said you can always get cartridge refills, however, not with all brands of printers such as Epson or the new HP models....but, you have to shop around.

If you own Cannon, Brother, Dell, Lexmark, or an older HP model printer, many stores such as Walgreen's and Office Depot have refill centers for certain printers. Going online helps even more. Check out sites like 'Ink Technologies.com', 'Ink Grabber.com', and Cartridge World.

Cartridge World offers anything and everything involving printer color and toner needs, and they have more than 600 stores in the United States....including Bay Area locations such as San Jose, Campbell, Milpitas, Sunnyvale, Redwood City, Hayward,  San Leandro, Pleasanton, and San Francisco.

Like many places, they take online orders with cheap shipping deals, however, keeping your printer filled with ink still costs consumers an arm and a leg--while companies who sell them get mega-rich!

Black ink costs the most because it runs out the fastest (of course), and in most other cases, all four colors either run-out or dry-up at the same time!  The best advice is to print as sparingly as possible, and check the color levels closely.  In many cases, the printer window on your computer will display a color gage.  Use it, if you have it!

Meanwhile, let us all hope that someday, printer ink prices will go down....the same way calculators, digital watches, and vcr's did!  It's possible...but, highly improbable!

Take care, and keep the faith

Sincerely,  PeteCam4

"Best Wishes"--PTCJr

Debt Negotiation: A Path to Debt Freedom

Debt negotiation is one of the ways to achieve debt freedom. It helps the consumers regain financial stability. Through debt negotiation, you can manage your debts in a systematic and organized manner.

What is Debt Negotiation?

Debt negotiation is also known as debt settlement. It is that process in which you negotiate with your creditors, so that they agree to accept a reduced amount of your debts. The basic purpose of debt negotiation is to help a debtor pay off his debts through reduced rate of interest and lower monthly payments.

When Should You Go for Debt Negotiation?

Debt negotiation helps you reduce your loan amount by 40% to 60% and can make you debt free within 1 to 3 years. It is considered to be a better option than bankruptcy and you can go for it if you have any of the following problems:

• It is mainly availed by people who fail to manage their debts through their debt consolidation programs. A debt consolidation program requires you to pay a minimum amount to pay off your debts, but if you cannot make this payment, you should go for debt negotiation.

• If your creditor has decided to file a lawsuit against you, then negotiation may save you from this situation.

• If you have failed to make your payments in the past 3 months, then you should go for debt negotiation.

How Does Debt Negotiation Work?

When you avail a debt negotiation program, you are not required to pay any amount to the creditors. Instead, you pay that amount to the debt counseling firm. The firm will negotiate on your behalf with your creditors. It will keep some funds aside and accumulate it till it becomes half of the outstanding balance. Meanwhile, the firm chalks out a repayment plan for you. Finally, when the creditor agrees to the repayment plan, the debt counseling firm pays off all at once.