1. Don’t Ignore the Problem

The incessant phone calls, letters of demand and knocks on the door will not stop if the problem is simply ignored. Admitting there is a problem and formulating a plan of action is the first step to a debt-free future.

2. Break the Cycle

Payday loans and credit cards can involve people in a cycle of debt that is difficult to break free from. Instead of applying for further loans in order to pay existing liabilities, stopping the cycle of debt once and for all is essential for a brighter future.

3. Record All Expenditures

The struggle with debt often relates to a person’s inability to keep track of their spending. However, an doing so will help you keep abreast of your spending patterns.

4. Categorize Spending

Categorizing expenditure allows people to budget for the essential expenses in life. Have a weekly grocery budget for instance, will help a person to prioritize other areas of spending.

5. List All Debts

It is common for people struggling with credit card and payday loan debt to owe money to two or more different providers. Writing this information down will help with the budgeting process.

6. Cut out Luxuries

Whether it’s that gym membership you pay for but never use or your lavish weekend takeaway meals, cutting out unnecessary spending will deliver surprising savings – freeing up funds for debt repayments.

7. Pay the Maximum Monthly Amount Possible

Living with debt can cause major problems; including difficulty in obtaining a mortgage and securing certain types of employment. Setting aside the maximum monthly amount for repayments will allow people to get their life back on track as quickly as possible.

8. Stay Disciplined

Planning and budgeting is only the start of the process. Maintaining repayments on a regular basis is key to securing a debt-free future.

9. Negotiate a Repayment Plan

Many consumers are surprised to discover that creditors can be sympathetic to the plight of their debt-ridden customers. It is often possible to freeze interest charges and secure reduced monthly repayments through negotiation.

10. Seek Expert Debt Help

If you can’t pay payday loans, you may be unsure or nervous about dealing with several creditors, but help with debt can be sought out from experts. Experienced specialists will often negotiate with your creditors for you – leaving you to start planning a future free from the financial chains of debt.

1st Point Debt Solutions offers debt management solutions to help you resolve your debt problems.  If you require help on your payday loan debt, please visit – http://www.1stpointdebtsolutions.co.uk

Now, they’re back to announce the Float Planned Spending Program launch. The Planned Spending Program (or PSP) is designed to appeal to budget-conscious people trying to find a way to create a budget cushion or a “rainy day” fund via Float’s  no-interest and no-fees credit line.

The PSP system automatically delivers gift cards on a schedule the user creates so they can do their local shopping. You set up your recurring order of gift cards and delivery dates as you want. The order is then processed and delivered once or twice a month on your schedule. Most importantly, each purchase of gift cards goes toward building up your average monthly shopping which in turn builds up your interest-free credit line with Float.

How Does Float Work?

Float members build a credit line which is determined by two things:

1. The user’s Membership Level, which is initially determined by your credit report and then rises over time as the user continues to use Float.
2. Membership Level is multiplied by: The user’s average monthly shopping through the Float network. Members can shop online with Float’s internet merchants, and in local stores with Float’s selection of gift cards (groceries, gas, pharmacy, etc.). The more shopping you do this way, the more your credit line grows. The PSP focuses activity on the gift cards, but you can still do online shopping to add to your overall total as well. Click here  to see how Float works in general, or click here to read more about the Planned Spending Program specifically.

For example, a member with $800 of monthly shopping with Float gift cards (an easy number to hit with just groceries and gas) who has a Member Level of 150, can borrow $1200 interest-free. Member Level goes up the longer you stay with Float.

How Is the PSP Different from Regular Float?

The Planned Spending Program leverages the fact that we all do our normal monthly shopping at pretty much the same set of stores. Everyone has that little route they run for groceries, morning coffee, home supplies, gas, pharmacy, etc. The PSP delivers gift cards for those same retailers with the same regularity that you do your shopping. Its added value is incredible convenience and that it’s a natural extension of household budgeting – gift cards with a defined value will help you stay on a budget. Plus, they always have a few gift cards discounted for PSP members.

Interest-free credit runs counter to what we all expect from lenders. But Float makes a commission on purchases made through their shopping network, so, similar to how some websites offer cash back for shopping, Float instead makes interest-free loans. They make money from merchants rather than their customers. The more a member shops with Float’s merchants, the greater the credit line they can build.

Float members use loan funds for many things, but the most applicable uses are for filling budget gaps, unexpected expenses, creating a ‘rainy day’ fund, and paying down other high-interest debt. Click to learn more on Float’s site.

Float’s mission is to help Americans improve their financial health by providing safe, accessible credit that keeps families away from high-interest debt. Budgeting is something you can do to help yourself, but Float and their interest-free credit is something you can’t get anywhere else.

Your daily life is packed with dozens of money saving opportunities.

Grab 10 easy tips that will help you put a halt on overspending:

1. Plan in Advance And Go Grocery Shopping Only Once a Week

You might not realize it just yet, but all those little extra things you buy everyday for your meals represent a whole lot of money. Not to mention that a half-empty fridge may lead you to go out to a restaurant for lunch or dinner, which is costly. So try to organize yourself: Plan your week in advance and go buy everything you need in just one trip to the grocery store or the market. You’ll be surprised at how much money you can save by doing this.

2. Get a Reusable Coffee Mug

Instead of buying your coffee at the coffee shop every morning, prepare it at home and drink it on the go, in a reusable coffee mug!

3. Avoid Using Your Drying Machine

Your clothes dryer comes second after your refrigerator on the list of the most energy-hungry household appliances. Try to avoid using it, at least once in a while. Instead, hang your clothes to dry them – preferably outside if you can, but inside will do too. It will help you save money… and it will also make your clothes last longer.

4. Use Rags Instead of Paper Towels for Cleaning

Not only is this trick good for your wallet, it is also good for the environment. Lose the habit of using paper towels for cleaning, and start using rags. They are just as effective as paper towels, plus they are reusable. Wanna go extra thrifty? Use old towels or clothes to cut your rags from!

5. Learn All The Different – And Surprising! – Uses of Some Everyday Products

You might not know it yet, but some of the products you use everyday are surprisingly versatile. Olive oil, for example, can be used as a skin moisturizer, shoe polisher, eye makeup remover or as bath oil. White vinegar, when mixed with water, makes a great and cheap multi-surface cleaner. It can also be used as a dishwasher cleaner, brass and copper shiner and much, much more.

6. Walk or Ride a Bike

A car is convenient… too convenient. Cars have become such a huge part of our lives that we use them to go everywhere and to do everything without thinking twice. If you live in an urban area, try to use your car as less as possible! Trade it for a bike, or even walk: It won’t cost you a dime plus it’ll help you stay in shape. What are you waiting for?

7. Subscribe to a Public Library

Instead of buying the books and magazines your like, subscribe to a public library and rent them there. Granted, you might have to wait a couple of weeks before being able to read a new trendy best-seller, but the savings you’ll make in the end will make it worth it!

8. Make Your Home Energy-Efficient

A lot of our money is spent on energy bills. To help cut on costs, make your home energy efficient! Before winter, seal your windows with heat shrinkable plastic covers to avoid cold drafts from sneaking in. Buy programmable electronic thermostats: Program them to lower the temperature when you are at work or during the night. During summer heat waves, close all windows and curtains during the day so that no hot air and no sunlight is coming in: This will help keeping your house cool without having to crank up the AC. Also, take the habit of turning the lights off as soon as you exit a room. On a yearly basis, such simple gestures can reduce your energy bill of as much as 30%.

9. Buy Second Hand

A product does not have to be brand new in order to be perfectly satisfying. By buying your things used, you can save tremendous amounts of money. Granted, some products are better bought new, like electronics, for instance, or household electrical appliances. But you can find some pretty decent furniture, clothes, tools and even vehicles if you look in specialized second hand shops or on websites such as Craigslist or Freecycle.

10. Make You Own Beauty Products

Not only will making your own beauty products save you dozens of dollars, it will also spare you from being exposed to all the harmful chemicals found in commercial creams, lotions, shampoos… It’s quite amazing to see how many products can easily be made at home, and, often, with ingredients that we already have in our fridge, our food closet or our cupboards. You’ll find plenty of ideas and tutorials on the internet: For starters, check out the Daily Green’s homemade beauty products ideas, or Colleen Vanderlinden’s Top 50 list of products you can make yourself.

Mireille is a travel, music and theater enthusiast. She wrote for the stage and television, and is now working as a freelance blogger for Standard Life, a leading long-term savings and investment company, providing Canadians with advices on Quebec retirement planning.

Here are some simple, practical tips on how to prevent ID theft:

Monitor your accounts daily. Make an effort to monitor your credit accounts. The reason is that a single case of identity theft could spiral into months of abuse on your accounts. An identity thief could use and re-use your identity credentials. The more instances that your credentials have been used, the more transactions there will be on your credit history that could send your credit score hurtling towards bad credit.

Protect yourself by being vigilant. Gather your mail as soon as you arrive home. Better yet, put your mail where no one else can take it, except for you and your household members. Shred your documents, especially bank and credit card company documents. If you won’t use the pre-approved credit cards that come in, cut them up and shred the letters and envelopes they came with, as well. Mail and trash theft are two of the likely damaging sources of data used in identity theft.

Don’t hesitate to use a credit freeze. You may put a credit freeze on your accounts anytime any suspicious activity has been detected. If you have no need for credit in the next few months or years, this is a good option. If you actively use your credit accounts, use them wisely and sparingly, to avoid being a victim of ID theft.

Guard your credit history. It is among your most important data, whether as a single mom or otherwise. The bad credit effects that you reap when you fail to work on preventing credit scams can make a major blow to your finances and you wouldn’t want that happening to you. So be vigilant and work on protecting yourself and your family!

Joy Mali is an active blogger who is fond of sharing interesting finance related articles to encourage people to manage and protect their finances. She also covers topics on managing bad credit and credit monitoring that can help people manage and protect their credit from theft and fraud.

And earning free airline tickets via the Rapid Rewards program can’t hurt!  If you travel a lot then you know expenses racks up quickly and anything you can do to get a few freebies and perks makes it easier on your wallet.

You’ll love Southwest Air for the following reasons:

• No baggage fees
• Great customer service
• Always on time (flights are rarely late in my experiences with them)
• Great ticket prices when you book early

But it gets better – if you like free airline tickets and hotel stays?  Maybe?  Yes?  Those are just 2 of the reward benefits that Southwest Air Rewards card holders get when using this card to earn Rapid Rewards!

Rapid Rewards Program at a glance:

I recently flew into Atlanta for a social media conference and the whole experience was great with Southwest.  As I mentioned earlier, the customer service with Southwest surpasses every other airline.  I flew in via Business Select which allowed me to board before everyone else.  This was literally a one day trip so it meant flying in early morning and then back to DC later on that evening.  Talk about exhausting!  For that very reason I decided to change my departure time to an hour earlier instead of waiting until later that evening to fly out.

The change process was a breeze and there were no change fees as with other airlines.  As always they make the process hassle free with no baggage fees and as I mentioned, no change fees.  With other airlines I tend to buy my return flight once I get to my destination but with Southwest I can make changes as needed.

Is This Card For Me?

If you travel frequently (and like Southwest) then it’s worth it since you stand to rack up the Rewards quickly.  If you don’t travel often, you can still earn points as they don’t expire.  You’d just have to make sure that you have an earning activity at least once over a 24 month period.

Want to learn more and apply?  Check out the following reviews from Cash Money Life and Free From Broke.  Both reviews go into depth about the card, restrictions and caveats.

Remember, ultimately, this card is for you if you can afford to pay the balance off every month.  Otherwise, the related fees (interest and late fees) make the rewards pointless.  Be mindful and spend accordingly.

Happy flying!

This is where Qmee comes in. Whilst it won’t make you filthy rich, it’s a legitimate tool that rewards you for searching online, and it doesn’t require you to do anything different.

Intrigued?

Qmee is a free browser app, that once installed, works in the background so that when you do a search on Google, Bing, Yahoo or even on Amazon or eBay, Qmee displays alternative results that show cash rewards. By clicking on these results, you earn that reward. They aren’t points you can earn that eventually add up so you can trade them in for something – it’s real cash that gets immediately added to your piggy bank.

You can even see the reward being added to your piggy bank in real-time with the little icon in your browser.

The results are small, typically between 5 cents and 40 cents so they are never going to make you filthy rich, but getting cash rewards for relevant results you were going to click on anyway versus getting no cash reward for clicking on a result?  This is a no-brainer.

But that doesn’t mean you get spammed with irrelevant results – Qmee works really hard to ensure the results you see are relevant and interesting to you. So Qmee doesn’t appear all the time, only when there’s something you really might be interested in. And they don’t take over your whole screen like those annoying popups – it’s just a toolbar down the left-hand side and you can click to close the Qmee results if you aren’t interested.

One of the best things is that there’s no minimum cash out amount, i.e. if you have 15 cents in your piggy bank and you want to cash out that 15 cents now, you can – straight to your PayPal account. You also have the option to donate to charity.

So whilst it may not help towards buying a brand new car or a house, it at least puts some money towards treat items we always need once in a while, and it’s giving you something back for the value you provide to advertisers.

Qmee really is that simple. Once you signup, which only requires a username and password, you install the add-on and begin searching. It works best in Chrome and Firefox but it is also available in IE and Safari.

Qmee is invite only at the moment, details of how to get an invite here: http://blog.qmee.com/how-can-i-get-a-qmee-invite/

Banks use credit scores as reported by the major credit reference agencies, such as Experian and Equifax, to determine whether an applicant is in good standing.  What this means is that people who have a credit history often lose out during the credit application process.  There was once a time when being a student without a credit history meant easy approval for a credit card.

Most students and new immigrants may not have a credit score at all. Extending loans to people without a credit score is a risk for the banks, as they have no indication of the applicant’s likely behavior when it comes to managing their finances, or repaying loans. For example, when a utility bill has not been paid and the provider has passed the payment to a collection agency, there will be a negative impact on the payee’s credit score.  Being a new player to the world of credit, students don’t have a history to demonstrate financial responsibility to the banks.

Aqua credit cards offer a solution. Aqua card offers a student credit card, ideally suited for people with no credit scores.

Each application is considered on an individual basis. Having obtained the card, it becomes very easy to build up a good credit score. Building up a good credit score is an investment, as it opens up access to affordable loans in future. It also demonstrates dependability to potential employers, landlords, and others.

Tips To Increase Credit Score

The basic method to improve credit score is making timely payments. All aqua credit cards offer an interest free repayment window of 51 days on purchases. Students who make full payments within the interest free period and handle their credit card responsibly will start to develop a positive credit rating, as timely payments contribute to high credit scores.

Building a good credit score however requires more than simply making payments on time. It requires handling bills responsibly, and managing finances well. The major credit reference agencies, Experian and Equifax, assign a high credit score to people who do not over-extend or top-out their available credit. Taking out credit in moderation requires preparing a budget, tracking spending and scheduling on time payments.  It is a responsibility over and above simply making payments on time. All aqua cards offer reasonable credit limits allowing students to remain well within the limits.

Shopaholic.

This is what we usually call someone who shops a lot.  Who are we kidding.  That’s what we call a woman when her shopping habits are out of control!  And, we all know someone like this.

There’s clearly a spending addiction at play and sometimes it can be difficult to determine if there’s a true addiction or if the person just needs help controlling their spending.

What’s Worse?

Compulsive shopping can evolve into life changing consequences.  The emotional highs and lows mirror a physical addiction because of the adrenaline rush that occurs when engaging in the shopping spree.  Once the shopper starts to come from the high then feel the need to shop again to avoid feelings of depression and anxiety.  Pretty vicious cycle where the shopper just can’t seem to jump off the merry go around of spending addiction.  If not addressed, then there can be deleterious consequences such as financial problems that can lead to divorce, bankruptcy and even broken relationships.

Are You A Binge Shopper?

Take this quiz from ShadesofHope to determine if you have a problem:

• Do you use shopping to improve your mood?
• Do you use shopping as a reward for good behavior?
• Do you spend more money shopping than you can afford?
• Do you rationalize your overspending (e.g. it was on sale, it’s just a little splurge, this was a bargain, etc.)?
• Do you feel giddy or “high” when you make a purchase?
• Do you feel guilt, regret or shame after shopping?
• Do you have “secret” credit cards?
• Do you hide purchases?
• Do you forget purchases you bought?
• Do you tell your loved ones you spent less than you did on shopping?
• Do you shop year-round?
• Is it hard for you to browse without purchasing?
• Can you stop yourself from shopping?
• Does shopping preoccupy your thoughts?
• If you cannot purchase something you want, do you feel overly angry, upset or frustrated?
• Do you juggle expenses to accommodate your shopping?
• Is your shopping hurting your overall budget?
• Do you dread the day your bills come in the mail?
• Are you often surprised at the amount you’ve spent when confronted by a credit card bill, your bank statement, a loved one or your accountant?
• Are you honest with your loved ones about how much you spend or what you buy?
• Is your shopping behavior hurting a loved one (e.g. loved one who has to pay bills, children who need college funds, a parent who has to cover your debt, etc.)?

If you find yourself answering yes to several questions, then you may have a problem.

Help Anyone?

I wrote about finding help over at Binge Behavior.   There I go into detail about the root causes as well as where to find help!  Check it out!

If you’re carrying any significant credit card debt that you’re stuck paying interest on, it may benefit you to transfer that high-interest balance to a credit card that offers 0% interest on balance transfers for a long period of time. Understanding the terms offered by many credit cards designed for no interest balance transfers can be difficult, however, so I’ve done the research and listed my favorite balance transfer credit cards below.

Here are the best balance transfer credit cards currently on the market:

Slate from Chase – The Slate from Chase Card is my favorite balance transfer credit card currently available.  The reason I like the Slate from Chase Card so much is because it allows cardholders to transfer a balance for free if they conduct the transfer in the first 60 days that they have the card. In addition, the card offers a 0% introductory APR on both purchases and balance transfers for 15 months.

The Slate from Chase Card also offers Patented Fraud Protection and zero liability on unauthorized purchases, and requires no annual fee. While you may be able to find a balance transfer credit card that offers a rewards program, or a longer 0% intro APR period, there’s not another card on the market that requires no balance transfer fee and still has a very long 0% APR on balance transfers intro period. Lastly, the Slate from Chase Card requires no annual fee.

Discover it – The Discover it Card is a fairly new credit card from Discover. With the Discover it Card, Discover is looking to simplify the credit card process by making the terms simple and easy to understand. With the Discover it Card, cardholders receive a 0% introductory APR period on balance transfers for 18 months, as well as a 0% introductory APR period on purchases for 6 months.

Cardholders also receive 5% cash back on purchases in categories that rotate throughout the year, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. The card also does not require any annual fee, over limit fee, foreign transaction fees, or pay-by-phone fees. In my opinion, the Discover it Card is the best balance transfer credit card on the market that offers a rewards program.

Citi Simplicity Visa – The Citi Simplicity Visa rounds out my list of the best balance transfer credit cards currently available. With the Citi Simplicity Visa, cardholders receive an extra-long 18-month 0% introductory APR period on both balance transfers and purchases. The Citi Simplicity Visa never requires late fees, penalty rates, or an annual fee.

The only reason this card is rated lower than the comparable Slate from Chase Card is because the Citi Simplicity Visa requires a balance transfer fee equal to 3% of the amount of the transfer, or $5, whichever is greater.

This article was written by Logan Abbott. Logan is a credit card expert with over a decade of experience writing about credit and personal finance. He is also the editor of MyRatePlan.com, an authority credit card comparison site.

Believe it or not, while there are consumers who struggle with debt repayment, there are some who benefit tremendously from using credit cards wisely.   If you travel, pay for gas or groceries or even use the ATM, there’s a rewards card out there with your name on it. The following details tips that you’ll need to keep in mind when choosing a rewards credit card.

Lifestyle Credit Cards

For example, if you don’t travel much, then it doesnt make sense to get a  points credit cards that gives you reward points for traveling because you’re not doing much of it.  However, if you’re spending a lot of money on gas and groceries then it makes sense to get a card that gives you cash back.

Read the Fine Print. Not Once But Twice

Read them carefully and understand what every word means.  Just because the fine print says “up to 5%” cash back, this does not mean that you get 5% cash back on everything.  This simply means that on some purchases you may receive 5% and on others you may actually receive less.

Pay Your Bill One Time – Preferably In Full

Here’s the deal with credit cards.  The credit card companies are praying that you’ll carry a bill every month and earn them money in the process of getting a few points here and there.  Beat them at their own game and spend wisely.  Pay your bill on time and if possible, in full every month.  Otherwise, you’re hunting for fool’s gold by paying fees and interest for the privilege of getting a few points in return.

Use With Care

Temptation is serious business when you engage in using credit cards primarily for rewards purposes.  Know ahead of time when you’re using the card.  Therefore, if one card allows you cash back at a specific grocery chain then only use it for that purpose.  This way you carry a small balance, can pay it off monthly and still get the benefits instead of being steeped in debt.

Compare Rewards and Rates

Every devil has a different color dress.  Know your cards and pick them based on their potential benefit to you.  Compare credit cards rates and go for the cards with low/no fees and the most percentage back for your purchases.  In order words, choose and use the card that gives you the most bang for your buck.  Furthermore, please don’t ever pay an annual fee for a credit card.  You shouldn’t be paying a fee and interest to use a card because this further negates the benefits of the card.

Follow these rules and you’ll be on your way to playing the credit card companies at their own game.  Remember, they are counting on you to rack up fees and interest charges.  Choose and use them wisely and you’ll avoid falling into this trap of never ending debt repayment.