Secure Your Financial Future

by myd at 01:59 PM on May 01, 2009
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Read the newspapers, turn on the radio or television, and you'll get overwhelming evidence of something you probably already know: Times are tough. Unemployment is rising. Debt is rising. Credit is difficult to come by. And Americans are saving absolutely nothing. So what do you do? My philosophy in all sorts of tough times is to control the things you can control. You'll be surprised how much of a difference—both financially and emotionally—a few small moves will make.Step 1: Build a Cushion Having an emergency fund to fall back on is going to help you sleep at night during the best of times, and in a shaky economy, it can be a real lifesaver, particularly if you lose y...

Tools for a College Student's Financial Success

by myd at 01:56 PM on May 01, 2009
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If you have a college-bound teen, prepare to hear all of the reasons why that mini-fridge, bean-bag chair, Nintendo Wii and other dorm room "essentials" are critical to their academic success. Weed out the packing list if you must, but make sure you don't send your kid off to school without two vital financial tools: a foolproof bank account and credit card. College students are prime targets for credit-card issuers and banks alike, says Ruth Susswein, a spokeswoman for advocacy group Consumer Action. Students tend to be loyal customers, and their first financial stumbles can yield big bucks for the financial institutions that snare them. "College is the only time in a per...

LINKS

by myd at 01:44 PM on May 01, 2009
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FinAid http://www.finaid.org/        The SmartStudentTM Guide to Financial AidFederal Student Aid http://www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov/ The source for free information, guidance and tools for federal student assistancePractical Money Skillshttp://www.practicalmoneyskills.comHelp students practice better money management for life The Motley Foolhttp://www.fool.comTo educate, enrich, and amuseCNN Moneyhttp://money.cnn.com/CNN Money resources toolNellie Maehttp://www.nelliemae.com/A Sallie Mae Student Loan CompanyYoung Moneyhttp://www.youngmoney...

Glossary of Banking Terms

by myd at 01:43 PM on May 01, 2009
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account -- Money deposited with a financial institution for investment and/or safekeeping purposes.adjusted balance -- The balance that remains when all payments made during a billing cycle are subtracted from the balance from the previous billing cycle. This balance does not include finance charges for the current billing cycle.affinity card -- A credit card offered by a lending institution in partnership with another institution. These cards are also known as co-brand cards, because both institutions lend their branding to the card.annual fee -- A yearly fee charged to a customer to participate in an open-ended credit program.annual percen...

A Primer on Check and ATM Cards

by myd at 01:41 PM on May 01, 2009
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The following information has been gathered in order to assist you on the latest trends in the wide range of financial service products, namely debit cards.What is a debit card?A debit card is a banking card enhanced with automated teller machine (ATM) and point-of-sale (POS) features so that it can be used at merchant locations. A debit card is linked to an individual's checking account, allowing funds to be withdrawn at the ATM and point-of-sale without writing a check. Each financial institution creates an identity for its debit card to customize the product and differentiate it in the market. Debit cards can also be called deposit access cards.What ...

5 Steps to Secure Your financial future

by myd at 08:38 AM on October 18, 2008
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Read the newspapers, turn on the radio or television, and you'll get overwhelming evidence of something you probably already know: Times are tough. Unemployment is rising. Debt is rising. Credit is difficult to come by. And Americans are saving absolutely nothing. So what do you do? My philosophy in all sorts of tough times is to control the things you can control. You'll be surprised how much of a difference—both financially and emotionally—a few small moves will make.Step 1: Build a Cushion Having an emergency fund to fall back on is going to help you sleep at night during the best of times, and in a shaky economy, it can be a real lifesaver, partic...