Finance Discussion Board

Second Home Buyers tax Credit

MRSverret — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:27:49 GMT

I am SO happy about this!! We are about to put in an offer on a house and this will help us out tremendously =)

Second Home Buyers tax Credit

bkovacs — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:05:08 GMT

It works for me, too. I've been thinking that this is a good time to buy property and an incentive like this definitely helps.

--Bob

Second Home Buyers tax Credit

TheBard — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:42:58 GMT

Along with the unemployment insurance extension the Congress has passed (and the President is set to sign) an extension of the first-time homebuyers ($8,500) tax credit and expanded the program by giving homeowners looking to purchase a new home-who have been in their current home at least five years-a $6,500 tax credit. Good idea, bad idea? It works for me since my wife and I are looking for a new (larger) home.

personal financial management

Robertus — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:52:49 GMT

Have check that site recently....great informative site....I am learning a lot from that site....You people will be happy to know that while surfing for business management tips, i came across a financial site - www.fintel.us - I am finding this site very interesting....This is really helpful for all those who are into business or planning to start a business.

Does Secure Credit card Help!

kinusca — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:49:24 GMT

My friends tell me that secure credit credit card helps develop credit hstory. However I donot feel so. What do u feel ?

Options Trading

AnnaBanana — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:36:16 GMT

Sure, if someone else is willing to take a chance and access this guy's website, and it looks okay, let me know. Since you seem to trust this, Bob, why don't YOU access his website and let US know.

Options Trading

bkovacs — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:56:51 GMT

At another site, grad students have asked for help with surveys a few times and it was always the real deal. I initially was suspicious but in every case (perhaps four or five time) it really was a student looking for people to give opinions for a university project. Once people knew that, they were happy to help.

I wouldn't rush to judge this request. Maybe someone can track it down using a computer at the library -- if it's the real thing, let us know.

--Bob

Options Trading

AnnaBanana — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 07:12:02 GMT

I can't help but wonder what kind of success you are having with this. My guess is that your chances are not too bodacious here.

First, with all the hacking problems out on the Internet now, most people are not going to access the website of anyone they don't know just to answer a survey. Most of us are answering enough surveys already for outfits that we can know we can trust.

Another thing that bothers me about this is that I feel you may be trying to sell something here. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's how it looks. That's been tried before here.

Options Trading

JohnJohnson3rd — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:19:34 GMT

Help a graduate student complete a research project!

As part of a research consulting project I need to determine what type of market exists for Options trading education. Please take a few minutes to fill out this brief anonymous survey for me:

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB229TWA4B479

(Copy and paste into another window...)

Who thinks credit card companies suck?

jlowe308 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:24:45 GMT

I do.They try to lure you in with a new credit card with all the whistles and bells.Sign on the little dotted line.You can get cash back and lots of prizes and then after you sign you realize your intrest rate is around 91.9 %.Wow this is alot.The card looked appatizing when the ad first came to light now you better hope you can make your payments on time for like life or your gonna have to file bankruptcy.

Being Financially Responsible has just become a BAD thing!

Kathmonster — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:37:42 GMT

I use my debit card for everything. I used to have cash in my pocket because I waitressed as a second job, but since kids, I only have one job. I hated writing checks and the card is so easy, I just have to remember to write the sale in the check register. I've never had a problem, but maybe I'm just lucky? I also like that I don't have to show my license to use the card or hand it over the to clerk (who more than once forgot to give it back). There is no paper trail with the electronic pad at the registers. That seems like a plus.

I had a Chase Disney Visa for a few years. I accrued over three hundred dollars in Disney dollars (the reward for purchases) to use when we went on vacation last year. The beginning of this year('09), the company sent me a notice that they were changing my fixed 9.9% rate to a variable rate + prime. That sounded way to fishy for me. I called the company - I was a great customer, never a late payment, payed double the minimum every month - I was sure it was a mistake. They refused to change me back to my fixed rate. If I wanted to keep the 9.9%rate on the balance (which now included the vacation) I had to cancel the card. I was floored. Well, I cancelled the card and paid off the balance. My mother, who had the same card, got her notice of rate change about three months after me. She never even carried a balance. She'd charge $2,000.00 each month for all her bills, and then pay the balance at the end of the month. It doesn't get any better than that, and they jacked her rate. It's all a big scam. I think all credit card companies are crooked, and the banks are right behind. I hope I can pull myself out of debt at some point, put my own money away in a bag under my bed and loan myself money when I need it, no interest at all. I think that's the only way you wil ever get ahead.

Being Financially Responsible has just become a BAD thing!

vivasuzi — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:12:02 GMT

Sounds like a good site! Thankfully my bank was not included in this report and I would hope they would give me a break as a loyal customer. But I will keep that in mind in case they ever do start doing this crazy fees thing!

Being Financially Responsible has just become a BAD thing!

vivasuzi — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:11:04 GMT

Bob I've heard that before about Debit cards which is why I only use credit. I gave that same argument to people who try to tell me to use debit :)

The only way I'd even consider using Debit cards is if all Credit Card companies started doing these fees. If it comes down to carrying around Cash or a Debit Card, I think I'd choose the Debit card.

Being Financially Responsible has just become a BAD thing!

Reviewer11 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:32:03 GMT

Yikes! Thanks so much for the warning. :O

Being Financially Responsible has just become a BAD thing!

JovialCougar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:30:08 GMT

Thanks for the warning. This sounds like a round-about way to get money out of people who want a high credit score. There's a webite called creditcard .com where you can search for credit cards based on your needs (low rate, rewards, credit status, etc..)

Being Financially Responsible has just become a BAD thing!

bkovacs — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:13:46 GMT

If my credit card company began charging such fees, I'd find a different company.

Be very careful about using debit cards. They do not give you the protections that credit cards do. Once you pay for something with a debit card, the company you paid has YOUR money. When you pay for something with a credit card, the company has the credit card company's money. There's a big difference between the two.

You can easily contest purchases with a credit card but it's MUCH harder with a debit card. And all the time, the company will have your money. Try to maintain a credit card just to get this protection. Good luck!

--Bob

Being Financially Responsible has just become a BAD thing!

vivasuzi — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:44:16 GMT

My husband told me he heard this on the radio, and of course I said "no way!" so I had to look it up. Guess what, it's true! Here's the story:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/columnist/block/2009-10-19-bank-of-america-card-fee_N.htm

In summary: Some credit card companies are going to start charging fees to those customers that pay their balance in full each month. Others are charging customers for NOT using their credit card and keeping it active.

Solution: If my bank decides to do this, first I will take the advice of the article and call them. I have been a customer my entire life (my mom started my accounts there when I was a kid) so perhaps they would waive the fees for a loyal customer like me.

Second, if they refused to waive the fees - I would close the cards and start paying cash or going with another credit card company that doesn't have the fees. Sure closing cards supposedly hurts your credit, but I have great credit so I'm not too worried about it.

Currently the only reason I use my credit card is a) so I don't have to carry cash and b) so I can get rewards. My banker was trying to convince me to use my debit card and I might consider it if my credit card company jumps on board with this.

What do you think of this? Ridiculous if you ask me! As if the card companies don't make enough money off of people who DON'T pay their bills each month, now they want to make it off people who DO pay off their bills. What would you do if your card company put one of these fees in place? Do you think people will start using cash more and more in the future?

Saving money on phone bill

RudiXeno — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:50:44 GMT

My wife has suggested tat we consider dropping our landline. The only prpblem I see with te idea is the lack of extensions for the same number. When we're at home and my wife's cell phone rings, she's virtually never in the vicinity of her phone.

Saving money on phone bill

UWPiPhiAngel — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:08:37 GMT

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Skype. If you have internet access, you can get unlimited US & Canada calling for $2.95/month. You can purchase an online number to receive incoming calls. I only subscribed to the unlimited calling plan for one month to get a discount on an online number because I usually use my boyfriend's cell phone (paid for by his company) to make calls. Other times I use Gmail to text people for free.

I got a forwarding number through Google Voice so I can just give out that number to everyone and forward calls to either my Skype number (when I have internet access), my boyfriend's number (when I'm with him), or my cell phone (when I go out alone). Since I rarely go out without my boyfriend, I don't use my cell phone much. I purchased a prepaid SIM card for my unlocked iPhone for $5 and it came with $7.42 worth of talk/text at $0.14/min and $0.05/text (first text of the day is $0.10). I can also make calls through Skype with my iPhone whenever there is Wi-Fi.

When my boyfriend's work switches to reimbursing $85/month for cell phone, we're going to get the cheapest plan that includes unlimited web since we can just make calls through Skype on the iPhone.

GETTING A GOVERNMENT GRANT

poemanxxl — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:22:29 GMT

i have come to a conclusion. there is no help for the poor. hard work has nothing to do with becoming successful,learning how to steal and lie is your best bet. finding out what the poor is most interested in and capatalizing on our weakness. SODOMIZE THE POOR,AND LOVING STROKES FOR THE RICH!!!!!