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	<title>Personal Finance: Credit, Debt, and Investing Advice</title>
	<atom:link href="http://ratebox.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://ratebox.com</link>
	<description>Start saving money today!</description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:51:07 +0000</pubDate>
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			<item>
		<title>Planning to invest in out of state properties?</title>
		<link>http://ratebox.com/planning-to-invest-in-out-of-state-properties/</link>
		<comments>http://ratebox.com/planning-to-invest-in-out-of-state-properties/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:51:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jesse Davis</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Investments]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[buyers]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[buying houses]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[cash flow]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Finance:Investing]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[flipping]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[foreclosures]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[income]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[investing]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[investment]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[leasing]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[real estate]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[real estate articles]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[real estate tips]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[real;estate]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[rehabbing]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[rental]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[selling houses]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ratebox.com/?p=1060</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are times in your life when you have to make decisions that others may question you on in order to change your future.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="byline" style="italic;">There are times in your life when you have to make decisions that others may question you on in order to change your future.</div>
<p>That is the case with investors who would want to build a rental portfolio or invest in real estate but their market is so crazy that a 2/1 shack is 200k or the taxes are so high that they cannot get a positive cash flow. So what can you do?</p>
<p>Search for properties in another area or even another state, which are affordable and give you positive cash flow.</p>
<p>There are lots of the areas that the news never talks about because they don&#8217;t have 50 percent appreciation in a year. They just steadily grow at a measly 3 to 5 percent, and guess what When the Bubble burst they also didn&#8217;t have 50% depreciation in a year. In fact, they just hang out and many people just don&#8217;t even notice.</p>
<p>What are the keys to finding a stable area that won&#8217;t blow up or down? Here are 7 steps to finding out your area properties to invest in.</p>
<p>1. Look for areas that have a strong rental market, where a good majority of houses are owned by investors who are renting property. It tells you that the taxes are low and the rent rates are high enough to attract investors wanting cash flow.</p>
<p>2. Look for the areas that other out of state investors are buying in. Google is one way that comes to mind. Craigslist.com is also a very good source. In fact, I think it is one of the best sources to find good deals.</p>
<p>3. When you found the area, talk to people there about the markets overall appreciation. Find a market that is simply boring, one where no one really understood all of the hype about the real estate bubble because it wasn&#8217;t happening there.</p>
<p>4. When you find the area that other out of state buyers are buying in, the work begins. You are not there, so someone will have to do your legwork. What is the best way to find the local deals? Find the local wholesaler!</p>
<p>5. Just like a spy gathering intelligence, find somebody who is connected, who is the big dog dealer around, and try to get him on your side. That is what you should do to find the best deals in the area.</p>
<p>6. Find out who the hard moneylenders are in the area. Guess whom they will be friends with? That&#8217;s right, the local wholesaler. By finding the moneylenders you will find the best deal finder. They will be the one constantly finding great deals and bringing buyers who need to borrow their money.  Easy - just like a spy!</p>
<p>7. Contact the wholesaler in your area. It&#8217;s much easier and less work than working with realtors. Be sure to do some checking and asking around, make sure he or she is the big dog, so to speak.  They run their business off of volume so they find the deals and mark them up just a few thousand and move them so they can keep buying more properties. Besides, the local wholesaler is going to snatch all the best deals up anyway because they are going to have all the relationships with the realtors anyway and get 1st call on the deals.</p>
<p>Overall the local wholesalers for the work they do - looking at hundreds of houses and making hundreds of offers to get their deals - are more than worth the measly mark up they make. Let them tell you who the best property mangers and contractors are, and they will help you get properties - quality properties - faster, so you can achieve your investing goals.</p>
<p>Then what? Start working, do some deals, build your cash flow, and take charge of your future. Be Bold and Courageous, you won&#8217;t regret it!</p>
<div class="resource">
<div class="about" style="italic;">About the Author:</div>
<div class="links">About the author: Jesse Davis is an experienced wholesaler in the Jackson, Mississippi, Real Estate market. He has wholesaled over 80 properties this year alone, and he teaches a seminar on how to really be successful in today&#8217;s market. Go here <a href="http://www.howtofindthebuyers.com">to learn how to find all the buyers you will ever need to build a massive monthly income in Real Estate today</a></div>
</div>
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		<item>
		<title>Getting the Best Deal on American Auto Insurance</title>
		<link>http://ratebox.com/getting-the-best-deal-on-american-auto-insurance/</link>
		<comments>http://ratebox.com/getting-the-best-deal-on-american-auto-insurance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:59:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Thomas Kielez</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[auto]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[auto insurance]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[automobile insurance]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[automobiles]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[autos]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[car]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[car insurance]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[cars]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Finance:Insurance]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[home]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[insurance]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[lifestyle]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[personal finance]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[vehicle insurance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ratebox.com/?p=1098</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In America, rates on auto insurance vary from company to company and even from policy to policy depending on the coverage you choose.  Because their is a lot of variation from provider to provider it is well worth your while to shop around and do some in depth research.  There are many sources you can use to find information about American auto insurance providers.  Besides contacting companies directly on the phone or online, your State will have an Insurance Department that can provide useful information as well.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="byline" style="italic;">In America, rates on auto insurance vary from company to company and even from policy to policy depending on the coverage you choose.  Because their is a lot of variation from provider to provider it is well worth your while to shop around and do some in depth research.  There are many sources you can use to find information about American auto insurance providers.  Besides contacting companies directly on the phone or online, your State will have an Insurance Department that can provide useful information as well.</div>
<p>Much as in other areas of the world, American auto insurance is designed to protect drivers from suffering a financial loss or from being held liable if they cause an accident.  When choosing an insurance company for your auto coverage you should first consider the financial strength of each company.  By checking with insurance rating companies like A.M. Best or Standard &amp; Poor&#8217;s you can make sure you are dealing with a company that you can depend on in the long run.</p>
<p>Some insurance companies sell policies through independent insurance agents.  These independent agents represent several different companies and can provide a lot of good information about multiple providers.  Other companies have their own branches throughout the country that are manned by their employees.  While others simply market their policies on line or over the phone exclusively.</p>
<p>Besides price, you will also want to consider other factors.  Does the company you are considering offer good service, answer your questions clearly and have a good reputation for satisfying claims.  You may be able to get information about specific companies by checking with the State Insurance Department.  It can also be helpful to ask friends and neighbors about their experience with different companies and get referrals for the companies they liked the best.</p>
<p>There are several ways to reduce the cost of American auto insurance.  One of the most common ways is by accepting higher deductibles.  Deductibles are the amount of money you have to pay out of your own pocket before the insurance policy kicks in. Compare the cost of the policy with different deductibles to see how much you can save.  If you end up choosing a high deductible make sure you set aside enough money to cover it if you are in an accident.</p>
<p>You can also save in car insurance by dropping comprehensive coverage.  You would only want to do this for older vehicles that wouldn&#8217;t cost much to replace and that are paid off.  If you have a loan on the car you will normally be required to have full comprehensive insurance coverage.</p>
<p>If you already have some other type of insurance you may want to check with that provider to find out if you can get any kind of discount for also getting your auto insurance through them.  This may not always be the best deal but it is something you should check out.</p>
<p>Surprisingly, your credit record also affects the insurance rates you will get.  The better your credit scores are the lower your rates will normally be.  That means you have another reason to make sure your bills are paid on time and that you check your credit record occasionally to make sure their are no errors that are lowering your scores.</p>
<p>If you drive less than most people because you work at home or carpool you may be able to get a low mileage discount from some companies.  You may also want to check with your employer or any groups that you belong to see if they have any group plan available at a discounted rate.</p>
<p>If you have been with an insurance company for a long time and have a good driving record take a minute to check with them and find out if they have a discount for long term customers.  If you have a young driver on your policy check on any good student discounts they offer.  If your young driver is away from home at college without access to a car they may also qualify for a discount.</p>
<div class="resource">
<div class="about" style="italic;">About the Author:</div>
<div class="links">Need more information? The <a href="http://www.americanautoinsuranceblog.com">Auto Insurance</a> blog has helpful resources that will help you make informed <a href="http://www.americanautoinsuranceblog.com/auto-insurance-comparisons/auto-insurance-comparisons">auto insurance comparisons</a> and get the best coverage for the lowest price.</div>
</div>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>No Credit Check Student Loans: How to Find Them</title>
		<link>http://ratebox.com/no-credit-check-student-loans-how-to-find-them/</link>
		<comments>http://ratebox.com/no-credit-check-student-loans-how-to-find-them/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:33:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>William Blake</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Loans]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[college loan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[credit]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[education loan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[educational debt]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[loan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[no credit check student loans]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[personal finance]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[student debt]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Student Loans]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ratebox.com/?p=1059</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You want to go to college but you just can't seem to come up with the money to attend the classes you need to graduate. You'd like to get financial aid but you don't qualify for a grant and you don't have the credit necessary to get a student loan. Is all hope lost? No, it's not; not if you can find a no credit check student loan.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="byline" style="italic;">You want to go to college but you just can&#8217;t seem to come up with the money to attend the classes you need to graduate. You&#8217;d like to get financial aid but you don&#8217;t qualify for a grant and you don&#8217;t have the credit necessary to get a student loan. Is all hope lost? No, it&#8217;s not; not if you can find a no credit check student loan.</div>
<p>A no credit check student loan will allow you to get the funds you need to attend college and eventually get that great job you have always dreamt of.  The first step to getting your education could be investigating the possibilities of getting a no credit check student loan.</p>
<p>Check With The College</p>
<p>To find no credit check student loans, go to the financial aid office of the college you wish to attend. Most of the time, they have the information you need to find financial aid of all kinds. This is a great place to find no credit check student loans. These loans may cover all of your tuition or it may just cover part but at least it will get you started in classes so that you can work on getting the rest of the money to pay for the completion of your degree.</p>
<p>Keep an Eye on Interest Rates</p>
<p>It is very important that you read the fine print and completely understand all the details of any no credit check student loan agreement that you are thinking about signing.  Student loans that are offered without a credit check often are charged excessively high interest rates.  This is necessary because the lender is entering into a moderately risky agreement.  Check to see if the interest rates on these loans will make your monthly too much to afford before you sign anything.</p>
<p>Typically, you have six months after graduation, or after you quit school, before your payments become due. So make sure you are going to be able to afford these payments when that time comes.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t get overly concerned; a no credit check student loan could be a wonderful opportunity for you if you will be able to afford the monthly payments on the loan.  Finding a way to pay for your college education by means of financial aid sources will allow you to focus on your schooling and, after graduating, find a great job.</p>
<div class="resource">
<div class="about" style="italic;">About the Author:</div>
<div class="links">How would you like to find some extra money to help <a href="http://www.debtreductionacademy.com">wipe out credit card debt</a> starting today? Visit the Debt Reduction Academy website, where you can claim your free 5 day mini course &#8220;Operation Money-Find: How To Find Money To Start Paying Off Your Debt This Month&#8221;. Go get your copy now at http://www.debtreductionacademy.com/minicourse.php</div>
</div>
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		<title>How Well Do You Understand Global Finances?</title>
		<link>http://ratebox.com/how-well-do-you-understand-global-finances/</link>
		<comments>http://ratebox.com/how-well-do-you-understand-global-finances/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:54:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Stuart Russell</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Investments]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[investment]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[money]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ratebox.com/?p=1058</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Money makes the world go around. Or was it that money goes around the world? Either way, I want to tell you about a new website I found the other day that is all about.. you guessed it.. money.  The name of the site was imoneybuzz, and it's all about money, finances, the economy, news, and everything that has to do with money.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="byline" style="italic;">Money makes the world go around. Or was it that money goes around the world? Either way, I want to tell you about a new website I found the other day that is all about.. you guessed it.. money.  The name of the site was imoneybuzz, and it&#8217;s all about money, finances, the economy, news, and everything that has to do with money.</div>
<p>If money makes it into the news, it will be found on this cool website. Whatever the news may be, this site will have it, from banking and finances to corporate takeovers. I was really surprised by how much information the website had about all the news that impacts money all over the world.</p>
<p>The world has come a long from the days when each country regulated its own economy. Today, global transactions have local impact, and big business has an affect on even the smallest financial details of our lives. Today, it takes a source of information like imoneybuzz to keep up with the global financial situations.</p>
<p>This website that I&#8217;ve been talking about is an exciting new way to stay on top of the financial happenings all over the world, or right in your own backyard. It has all of the latest market information, and how that information is going to play a part in your family&#8217;s future.</p>
<p>For my own part, I have never given much thought to the world of money. I mean, sure, I know how the monetary system works, but until I found imoneybuzz, I didn&#8217;t really understand how deeply entwined the markets of the world are. After only a few minutes looking around on the site, I understood more about world finances than I even knew I was ignorant of.</p>
<p>Whether we are talking about U.S. Dollar, Euro, or the Japanese yen, money is what makes the world go round. It fuels our cars, buys our homes, and feeds our children. It is probably more important for you to understand how one form of money interacts with others, than you have ever realised.</p>
<p>Personal finances are only truly yours individually as long as they are contained within the currency of your own country. Once those funds have been deposited into a bank, or invested into stocks or bonds, they lose their independent nature, and become part of web of commerce that spans the entire globe. This makes it important to understand how the markets work in order to maximise the usefulness of the cash you have in hand.</p>
<p>So, the amount of helpful information I was able to find on the website was astounding in its scope. Before going there, I had never contemplated how intricate world financial markets really are, and now that I&#8217;ve found imoneybuzz, I can see those interactions everywhere I go.</p>
<div class="resource">
<div class="about" style="italic;">About the Author:</div>
<div class="links">if you are looking for the latest <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6yz2w8">finance</a> news, then take a look at this superb new blog. Full of <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6l5fso">money matters</a>, it is a must for those wishing to keep abreast of the worlds markets.</div>
</div>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Your Budget Can Make You Rich!</title>
		<link>http://ratebox.com/your-budget-can-make-you-rich/</link>
		<comments>http://ratebox.com/your-budget-can-make-you-rich/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:19:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Gary Antosh</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Budget]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[income]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ratebox.com/?p=1050</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Creating a budget for you and your household is a fairly elementary task that everyone must do regularly in order to keep a tally of their finances and expenses.  Many people do not do this, however, for various reasons.  Maybe they don't know how to use a spreadsheet, aren't good at balancing checkbooks, or just aren't "math people."  This can mean disaster, though, if the budget is neglected.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="byline" style="italic;">Creating a budget for you and your household is a fairly elementary task that everyone must do regularly in order to keep a tally of their finances and expenses.  Many people do not do this, however, for various reasons.  Maybe they don&#8217;t know how to use a spreadsheet, aren&#8217;t good at balancing checkbooks, or just aren&#8217;t &#8220;math people.&#8221;  This can mean disaster, though, if the budget is neglected.</div>
<p>It&#8217;s in everyone&#8217;s self-interest to create a budget and balance their income with their expenses so that they are never running short.  Some people opt to hire someone else to do the task, which is fine if you find someone you can trust.  Budgets include simple totals of income and expenses every month along with projected increases or drops to either.  A good budget also has a &#8220;buffer&#8221; so that if something unexpected comes up or something changes in the budget itself, it can be accounted for.</p>
<p>If you are comfortable with spreadsheet software, you can use any number of programs to make and track your monthly budget.  Spreadsheets like Microsoft&#8217;s Excel, OpenOffice&#8217;s Calc, and others are commonly available and known.  Even Google has a free spreadsheet software on their site.</p>
<p>If you don&#8217;t use software spreadsheets, use a pencil and notepad to create one by drawing lines vertically and horizontally to make columns and rows.  In one column, have your monthly income sources listed (job, interest or annuities, etc.) and in the other have your monthly expenses (mortgage or rent, car payment, and so forth).  Include everything and refer to your last month&#8217;s bills for proper numbers.</p>
<p>Now compare the totals in the two columns: what you make versus what you spend.  Now you can see if you&#8217;re ahead or behind yourself or barely breaking even.  Now to do some more fun budgeting.</p>
<p>Re-figure the expenses column and remove interest on your auto loan and credit cards.  Remove about 25% of your impulse buys from shopping visits.  Now total your expenses.  See how much you could save if you were to cut down on your impulsive shopping and credit card spending?  What about if you were to refinance your car or pay it off early?  For most people, this is a substantial amount of money!</p>
<p>The key to keeping a good budget is two-fold: realism and determination.  Be realistic with the numbers you list and how they affect your life and budget.  Be determined to save money, stay within your budget, and pay off your debts and interest quickly.  After you&#8217;ve had a good look at your budget and how interest and other things affect where your money goes, you&#8217;ll be less likely to buy things on credit, saving up to buy them with cash instead.</p>
<p>You&#8217;ll also see how you can manipulate your money to make it work for you, so you can save by consolidating some credit card bills or paying more towards one instead of another to get it paid off more quickly.  <a href="http://www.debtjerk.com/hidden-charges-draining-account.html">High-interest credit cards</a> and loans as well as other cards that go with hidden fees and charges are the biggest detriment to most people&#8217;s budgets and should be eliminated as quickly as possible.  Seek for helpful pieces of advice from a financial advisor or check out the list of bank service information in your area.</p>
<p>So make a monthly budget and review it often.  See where you stand right now, as the month progresses, and stick to your plans to save!  This is the real secret to getting rich.</p>
<div class="resource">
<div class="about" style="italic;">About the Author:</div>
<div class="links">Learn more about <a href="http://www.debtjerk.com/hidden-charges-draining-account.html">bank service fees</a> today!</div>
</div>
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