How to Check Your Credit for Free

Image via CrunchBase

Credit is a large portion of how most Americans do business in today's world. It can be the means to secure a home, purchase a car, or even assist in applying for a job. Many Americans don't know what their credit score is or if there is even damage to their credit report. A credit report can show past amounts that are due, whether an individual is a late payer, and can help discern if a person's identity has been taken and used for credit-related purposes.

You have worked hard throughout your life to keep your credit intact and don't want to be a victim by paying bills that don't belong to you. Some of these credit reports can cost money you don't have. However, there are several ways one can access this information for free both online and off.

1. FreeCreditReport.com - Millions of people use FreeCreditReport.com regularly in order to receive their free annual report. The downside to most online methods is that they don't include your credit score. This score can be very important when dealing with banks, retirement methods, and/or insurance plans.

2. Rent-a-Car Locations - Some rental car companies commit to a credit check when you apply. Those rental companies will accept or reject your application to rent a vehicle based on your credit score. Oddly enough, some of them will print out the reason for your rejection by handing you a receipt of the actual score itself. In some areas, Hertz Rent-a-Car prints this number for you in bold. All it will cost you is five to ten minutes of your time to apply.

3. AnnualCreditReport.com - Another online method you could explore is using AnnualCreditReport.com. It's similar to FreeCreditReport.com as it will scan for your information from the three major credit reporting agencies. Unfortunately, this report doesn't include your actual credit score either. Getting your actual number could cost between $7.95 and $10 depending on what site you go to in order to get it.

4. Three Major Reports - Each of the three major credit reporting agencies provide an annual credit check that you can obtain for free. Each one can be visited individually at any time. Many people will spread each visit throughout the year in order to have three separate monitoring methods. As each one will give you one free report per year, you could get one in April, August, and December and have a quarterly view of your credit statistics. These companies are:

  Experian

  TransUnion

  Equifax

5. Aspects of Banking - Various methods of banking could net a credit report including your score. Some lenders will provide a credit report or synopsis including the score number during a loan or new account procedure. Although most of the time they will require a follow-through of the cash loan or new account, some of them don't. It's quite a bit of effort just to find your credit information for free, but the whole process could be illuminating to find out how your credit looks to the banking world.

It's always a good idea to make sure your credit is in sound condition. Any discrepancies you find should be dealt with immediately for they could hinder your benefits and insurance claims. Keep your eye on your credit rating and take advantage of free information. It's your credit, it should belong to you.

Author Byline:

Allison once she graduated from college, as it allowed her to combine her two passions: writing and children. She has enjoyed furthering her writing career with www.nannyclassifieds.com. She can be in touch through e-mail allisonDOTnannyclassifiedsATgmail rest you know.

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Maintaining Positive Cash Flow in Your Business

If you do not have good cash flow, your business will suffer. As in your own life, the lack of cash flow can cause bad decisions to be made.

You may say my company makes lots of money. You pay all your bills and even have cash reserves for future projects. You don’t have cash flow projections, and you’re doing fine. 

The problem with good revenue flow is that all that cash could cover up bad business practices. The problem comes when the revenue falls.

Here are a few good tips for your cash flow management.

1. Always keep a percentage of cash as a reserve

When starting a business, you have an initial stake in cash. Many businesses make their first mistake by thinking everything will go well. In the first year of a new business, many things can go wrong. 

Business owners are great with business ideas but bad with the management of day to day operations. Keeping a percentage of cash in reserve will soften the bumps along the way of your new business.

Evaluating a company's financial statements helps you decide how to improve your business’s finances and plan long-term growth. Financing cash flow is a favorable option for businesses that generate revenue for sales but don’t have assets to offer as collateral.

Cash flow financing means borrowers use cash as collateral to secure a loan.

2. Accounts receivable collection times can be a nightmare

In the best scenario, you serve your client and expect prompt payment. But in reality, your client doesn’t see things the same way. Their business is on their minds, not paying you. 

Don’t let collections become a major part of your business day. You need to convey to your clients through invoices and communication that you want to be paid in a timely way.

3. Set up terms and discounts on your invoices

You’re not in the financing business. Offering credit to your clients is a courtesy, not a requirement. Do not let them abuse it. It’s OK to have terms on your invoices but don’t go overboard.

3. Don’t pay fees

Whether it’s late fees on your bills or NSF fees to the bank, it’s just unnecessary. Keeping track and being aware of what’s happening in your business is your job.

4. Discounts aren’t always necessary

It is not unreasonable to charge a reasonable price for your goods and services. Yet many companies fear losing business by not giving discounts. You will find when making business-to-business sales that your customers are not looking for unreasonable prices. 

They are counting on you, and they like your product or service. They want to buy from you and know you need to make a profit.

5. Don’t forget to pay yourself

There are two kinds of business owners, the ones that like to grow companies and are entrepreneurial and the others that look at the company as a cash machine. 

There are problems with both types. The business builder gets their satisfaction out of seeing a company flourish. The big spender looks for the company to furnish a high lifestyle. 

You need to find a happy medium between the two. The amount of pay an owner takes has to balance with the company's state. Finding the balance is the trick.

Cash flow is the lifeblood of your business. How you manage it determines if your company prospers or fails.

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Knock a Zero Off of Your Energy Bills: A Practical Guide

Look for this logo when considering your new roofing materials (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Let’s face facts, energy is not getting any cheaper, and we use more of it now than ever before. From modern appliances to keeping your home warm through the winter, almost everything you rely on for a comfortable life at home uses energy. It is no surprise that energy bills can become one of your biggest outgoings each month, but they really do not have to be as big as they are. There are so many different ways that you can use energy more efficiently, and in the process money. Some may be obvious, some not so much, but by putting some tried and tested methods into effect you could easily knock a zero off of your energy bills. An average family in the United States spends around $2,000 or more on energy bills each year, but by following some energy saving guidelines you could reduce this amount by up to 25%.

In the Kitchen

Let’s start with the refrigerator. Your refrigerator is on 24/7, and is probably using somewhere in the region of 20% of your household’s daily energy consumption. You may have never looked at or changed the settings of your refrigerator, and if not now is the time. Switch your refrigerator temperature to 37 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer to 3 degrees Fahrenheit, which are widely regarded as being the most energy efficient settings, use the power saver mode if your refrigerator has one, and you will make a considerable saving.

When it comes to cooking, use some common sense to save cash. Use correct sized pans and pots, keep the lids on when you are cooking to retain the heat inside, and measure water you need so you do not waste energy heating more than you will use. Also, for washing machines and dishwashers, always wait until you have a full load and run them at a low temperature. Don’t use drying cycles unless you really have too, instead let dishes air dry in a rack and put clothes out on the line to dry.

Heating and Lighting

Many water heaters are set at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but you can easily knock that down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit and it would be hard to notice the difference. The Department of Energy claims you can save between 3 to 5 percent off you energy bills for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit you lower your water heater by, so knock it down a few more notched for extra savings! Also, take a short shower instead of a bath to save money, and attach a low-flow showerhead to save more.

Choosing the right temperature to heat and cool you home really depends on where you live, but try not to overheat or over cool your house. Research has shown that the most efficient setting for thermostats is 78 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer, 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter days, and 55 degrees Fahrenheit on the winter nights. Make sure you don’t leave windows or doors open when you are heating or cooling your home, because you are literally letting cash blow way into the wind.

An obvious one perhaps, but you really should have switched all your incandescent light bulbs for energy saving bulbs by now. You can save up to 75 percent on energy used for lighting by using energy efficient bulbs, so do it now if you have not.

Appliances and Gadgets

Leaving TVs, DVD players, laptops, computers, mobile phones, and pretty much anything else plugged into a wall socket means that it will be sucking juice out of the socket whether you are using it or not. Plug all your home electronic into multi-socket power strips, which can be turned off quickly so you don’t have to unplug or switch off everything from the wall socket. Appliances left of standby still use power, so get out of the habit of doing that too.

Shop Around

Don’t be afraid to switch energy providers if you think you are paying too much or an introductory offer will save you money. This is your right as a consumer, so anything you can do to save cash, do it. Also, when you by new appliances, no matter what it is, check to see if it has an ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR products meet energy efficiency guidelines set out by the Department of Energy. To knock some dollars off your energy bills you should try to upgrade all your appliances so that they meet ENERGY STAR guidelines when you need to replace them. All of the tips included in this article can be easily done, and most cost nothing to do, so put them in action and watch your energy bills drop!

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Things to Consider for Housing When Moving Overseas

English: Punta Cana beach, Dominicana (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The recession has made it tough on many folks to make a comfortable living. These people are now looking at countries abroad that can offer better living standards without raising the cost of living. Some of the Caribbean Islands qualify and come on top in such searches. Not only is the area very beautiful and scenic, but it also offers a good lifestyle for less. The governments has simple immigration laws that allow people to come into the country and start working without having to wait for citizenship. This also allows immigrants to get started with their new life instantly. 

The millions of tourists and visitors coming to the island shores ensure that all businesses work regardless of whether it is a small shop selling goods or a large business rendering a service. The islands are developing fast in terms of infrastructure and facilities, with great connectivity to other countries around the globe, good educational institutes for lower as well as higher studies, ample healthcare facilities and renowned hospitals, and so on.

When you are moving to a foreign country such as the Dominican Republic, one of your biggest priorities is to find a perfect home to move into. This being said, you first need to decide where you want to move and whether you want to buy or rent a home. For example, you can easily find Punta Cana apartments for rent through a real estate agency, but you need to first decide whether you want to move to this fairly small tourist town in DR. Once you decide on a country, do your research about the place in reference to your profession and needs. This means that unless you have already found a job and know where you need to move, find out where the demand lies for your profession. For instance, if you are a chef or working in the hospitality industry, or want to work as a taxi driver, you may want to check out the various tourist destinations in the country. These are where you might be paid the best, and get better job satisfaction.

You must also take into consideration your whole family and their needs before making your final decision about which town to move to. Take a good look at your family. Ask questions like how many people are moving? This question will tell you how big your future house needs to be. A family of four will at least need a three bedrooms, living and kitchen space to be comfortable. What about education for the kids? If you have young children, it is imperative that you first pick a good school and find a home that is close to it. After all, you don’t want to be a hop away from your work while your children have to travel 30 minutes just to get to school? Do you like peace and quiet or want to be close to the city center  This will help you to zero in on several areas that can be considered for a house to buy or rent. Also, keep in mind that if you have an elderly person in your family it may be wise to choose a locality that is in close proximity to a hospital.

Whether you want a humble apartment for rent or are buying a lavish villa, you can be sure to get nowhere without the help of a real estate agency. This is the precise reason why the first thing you need to do once you have decided on a place, is contact a good local real estate agency.

Bio

Bryan is a freelance writer for the http://www.gopuntacanarealestate.com/. He has lived in the Dominican Republic for a short period and recommends Punta Cana apartments for rent to vacationers as well as anyone who wish to move to this beautiful country. Being a avid traveler with an adventurous spirit, he is always hopping from one country to another and hope to do it until he dies.

How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt in 2013

English: First 4 digits of a credit card (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With 2013 just around the corner many will be making new year’s resolutions about how they are going to join the gym, stop eating chocolate or fix their finances. While these pacts are all made with the best intentions, come Mid-February the majority of people will revert back to their old ways and forget about their resolution.

The one resolution that we are going to focus on throughout this article is the one regarding finances; and the various ways you can go about consolidating debt.

Debt can come in many forms, however arguable the most common is credit card debt; whether you've slowly amounted debt or have maxed it out in a matter of one purchase; getting it off your back is not that easy. Making minimum payments will chip away at the amount however depending on the amount owed and the interest rates attached; this method can take a number of years.

Arguably the best way to get rid of credit card debt is to transfer the complete debt over to a 0% balance transfer card. These work on the basis that you are charged no interest for a specific time frame; instead you will be charged a small transfer fee of roughly 3% of the balance.

The idea of a 0% balance transfer card is that you pay the complete balance off within the 0% interest time frame – failing to do this will result in you being charged interest each month after the 0% timeframe. Of course, one way of avoiding interest is to transfer the remaining balance over to another 0% interest card and continue to repay the debt that way.

The only problem with 0% balance transfer cards is their availability. Often, only those with immaculate credit histories will be eligible, therefore anyone with missed payments or defaults on their record will be declined.

When this is the case there are still a few options available. Many choose to take out a debt consolidation loan, much like credit cards, the cheapest rates will be reserved for those with immaculate credit history meaning that if you have had trouble with credit commitments in the past then the subprime loan market may be the only option.

Naturally, with subprime lenders offering finance to those with bad credit they will be less willing to lend large amounts and the rates will be much higher. Generally credit card debt will range from £1,000 to £10,000 and there are only two types of subprime loans that offer this amount; guarantor and logbook loans.

Logbook loans are loans that are secured against your vehicle, the amount offered by the lender will be dependent on the value of the car. The rates may however be more expensive than the interest rates of your credit card, although they are one way you could organise your debt if you have more than one credit card.

Guarantor loans are a unique loan product that requires the backing of an individual to stand as guarantor on the loan application. The guarantor simply supports the application and promises to pay if the borrower fails to do so. Guarantor loan lenders will be able to offer between £1000 and £7,500 over a term of 1 to 5 years. 

Author Bio: This article has been written by Jason Scott on behalf of UK Credit Guarantor Loans. To learn more about the loan market or for more money saving tips, visit their website and click on the blog section. 

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Small Business Blues: How the Little Guy Funds IT Emergencies

Every small business goes through periods where cash is tight. Investments in new software or a few hours of professional IT service could put you in a very bad situation. What do you do when you do not have the money to fix the computer functions keeping your business operational? Funding emergencies like this takes a plan. That plan should include backups and a strategic alignment with the right professionals who can help.

Hide Emergency Funds

Small businesses can circumvent most types of financial emergencies by having a backup plan in place. A small fund, tucked away with a few thousand dollars can provide the savings necessary for big problems. Remove the funds from the operating budget. Place in an interest-bearing account that is not easily accessible through a debit card. This helps prevent those situations where temptation may lure you into withdrawing funds for the wrong reasons. A backup fund like this is a fantastic plan, especially when you put just a few hundred dollars into it each cycle. It is easy to fund. Via Flickr by newleoforex

Find an Immediate Lender

Turning to pay day loans for your immediate cash flow needs is ideal. In fact, you may face the least amount of downtime this route because you can get cash in hand within a very short period of time, sometimes just hours. However, another key advantage is this option does not come with a long-term repayment. Instead of getting a small business loan that takes weeks to fund and requires credit approval and long-term repayment, this option requires none of these limitations. Repay it within a few weeks when business picks up. Via Flickr by PostPhoto 365

Invest in a Retainer

Going to look for an IT pro when you are facing a shutdown of your system does not make sense. Not only do you have to trust this person to know how to fix the system, but you also have to shell out a small fortune for the service as an emergency. To cut costs and to gain confidence in your IT professional, hire someone to keep on retainer. When you need the help, pick up the phone and call. You will pay less overall if you contact these professionals with small problems that avoid big catastrophes. Via Flickr from Joba1984

Buy on Credit as a Last Resort

Finally, when all else fails, pulling out the plastic may be the route to take. Using a credit card to purchase new equipment or to hire an IT tech may be an option. However, it is an expensive one since most businesses hold onto debt long-term. To make it less overwhelming, get approval for a zero-interest credit card for your business account. Some even offer cash back savings. Make it a priority to repay the debt as soon as possible to prevent any additional charges or lawsuits that could force you to find additional lawsuit funding that would add stress to your business. Via Flickr from demosphere


IT concerns can bring any business to the ground. Yet, nothing is worse than being unable to fund the repairs you need to keep your business operational. With a plan and a backup option or two, you can avoid the risks associated with shutting your doors when your tech stops working. Via Flickr from Julio López Saguar

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