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DEBTSMART® EMAIL NEWSLETTER
ISSN 1538-6740|
December 17, 2003 Issue 65

Tools for financial success! A Free E-Mail Newsletter from DebtSmart Online and Press One Publishing.

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Publisher: Scott Bilker, mailto:publisher@debtsmart.com

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IN THIS ISSUE

==> Cool Quote

==> Letter from the Publisher

==> Special Holiday Book Offer

==> WANTED: Beta Testers for Debtsmart Premium Services

==> Household Math™: Holiday Budget

==> 5 Simple Ways to Get Organized for the Holidays

==> Overlimit fees waived!

==> Spendaholic

==> DebtSmart® Resources

==> Subscribe/Unsubscribe/Disclaimer Information

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COOL QUOTE

“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the life-long attempt to acquire it.” 
--Albert Einstein

Click below for quotes from all previous newsletters: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/031217_en.cgi?04&7428

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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER 
by Scott Bilker

Hi,

I hope everything is going well with you as we approach this holiday season. I have a special holiday offer for my books in this issue. Even if you already own the books, they would certainly make great gifts for friends.

Everything in this issue of DebtSmart is new and packed with some great information! It’s the busy season but please try to get to as much as possible.

I’m starting to develop a new service for DebtSmart, and I’m inviting you to be part of its development. (See Wanted: Beta Testers...)

That’s all for now.

Have a great holiday and Happy New Year!

Regards, 
Scott 
PS: Everyone should do well with the Household Math™ problem-- it’s very straightforward.

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SPECIAL HOLIDAY BOOK OFFER!

Thanks again for reading the DebtSmart Email Newsletter!

I have a special holiday offer to go along with my latest book, “Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt.” This book is a comprehensive guide to negotiating with credit card banks by phone. I cover many specific situations from getting fees waived to getting rates reduced--even settlements!

The book contains 52 phone call transcripts from my personal recorded phone calls! They always say they record us for training purposes, well, this time I’ve recorded them!

Here’s the offer: Get my new book for $19.95 and I’ll include my first two books at no additional cost! So you’ll get “Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt”, “Credit Card and Debt Management” (recommended by Newsweek this year), and “How to be more Credit Card and Debt Smart” all for only $19.95 plus shipping! That’s a $49.85 value for only $19.95!

By the way, I guarantee that you’ll save money by reading my new book. If you don’t believe that “Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt” can save you 10 times the cost of the book, then you can return it for a full refund and keep the other books as a gift! That’s how confident I am that you will save money!

Is there a catch?

Yes. You must order right now! Click on the link below to see the offer online and then click on the “Buy Scott’s New Book!” button to order the book.

You have nothing to lose and thousands to save!

Click below to order: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/031217_en.cgi?05&7428

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WANTED: BETA TESTERS FOR DEBTSMART PREMIUM SERVICES 
by Scott Bilker

Personal debt was the reason that I started developing methods to save money. After nearly a decade of writing books and developing DebtSmart.com I believe I have an idea for creating the right (maybe even the best) service to help everyone manage debt and budgeting, beat the banks, take total control of their financial lives, and make more money!

I’m looking for a few people to help me develop the service by being beta testers. All you need to do is actually use the service (at no cost, of course), make suggestions, and let me know when you run into problems.

If you’re interested in being a beta tester for this exciting new DebtSmart Premium Service, then please click on the below link to learn more (and how to sign-up): 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/031217_en.cgi?06&7428

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HOUSEHOLD MATH™

Holiday Budget by Scott Bilker

Kim has decided to spend an average of $16 for gifts on each of her eight friends for the holidays. So far she’s spent $17 on Scott, $14 on Ralph, $12 on Linda, $22 on Pete, $11 on Gary, and $20 on Grady. How much can she spend, on average, on her remaining two friends Mark and Tom?

Click below to solve problem: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/031217_en.cgi?07&7428

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5 SIMPLE WAYS TO GET ORGANIZED FOR THE HOLIDAYS 
by Maria Gracia

The holidays are approaching. Here are 5 great ways to get organized for this festive season.

FIND GIFTS IN YOUR OWN HOME. This is the perfect time of year to go through your home with a large plastic bag, and gather all those items you no longer need or want. The holiday season is the perfect time to donate clothing, toys, coats, etc. to needy families. Donate to the Salvation Army, or another charity organization. You will have an even...

Click below to read article: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/031217_en.cgi?08&7428

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OVERLIMIT FEES WAIVED!

Hi Scott,

Just wanted to share with you a recent success I had negotiating with Capital One. I received a card from them last month that clearly said I could take out the entire balance up to the credit limit as a cash-advance. I needed to purchase some extra raw materials for a spike in demand in one of my businesses so I promptly did so.

Last week I was busy so I forgot to make the first payment. I came across the statement four days after it was due and called to make a payment over the phone, only to discover through their automated system they had tacked on almost $90 in overlimit and late fees!

Needless to say, I was incensed. I got a customer service rep on the line and they refused to budge, saying they didn't have the authority to remove any charges. I refused to budge as well, and kept demanding to speak to a supervisor that did have the authority. After going through two levels of customer service reps I finally got through to someone that had the authority. Curiously enough, the entire time he was talking to me I could hear someone talking to him over his shoulder coaching him on how to handle me.

I very loudly and passionately refused to accept anything less than a full removal of all late charges and overlimit fees, and eventually after about five minutes of back and forth they agreed to remove all of it. I wouldn't have thought this was possible without having read your newsletter, so in a very real sense your free newsletter saved me about $90 in less than ten minutes!

Thanks for being there, Scott.

Sincerely, 
Douglas Gibbens

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SPENDAHOLIC 
by Gary Foreman

Gary, I am 22 years old and I live in NYC. I am in some serious debt, which I have turned over to a debt consolidation company. I make a decent amount of money, however, I can't seem to keep it for more than a few hours. I end up spending my entire paycheck within the first day I have it....seriously. I am trying to find a support group in NYC, but am having no luck. I know I have a problem and I can't continue to live like this. --Donna

Click below to read article: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/031217_en.cgi?09&7428

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DEBTSMART® RESOURCES

DebtSmart® Books, software, reports, in-print and downloads: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/031217_en.cgi?01&7428

Archive of DebtSmart® Email Newsletters online: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/031217_en.cgi?02&7428

How to use DebtSmart® articles FREE in your e-zine or on your web site: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/031217_en.cgi?03&7428

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HOW TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS NEWSLETTER

All recipients of DEBTSMART® EMAIL NEWSLETTER have signed up voluntarily for the newsletter via our website.

TO SUBSCRIBE to this newsletter, click on the below link and complete the subscription form: 
http://www.debtsmart.com/cgi-pl/go/031217_en.cgi?00&7428

Please contact mailto:comments@debtsmart.com with any comments, problems, or concerns.

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The author(s), Press One Publishing, and DebtSmart.com shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly by the information contained in this email newsletter and/or at the DebtSmart.com web site. The information, methods and techniques described may not work for you and no recommendation is made to follow the same course of action. Every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of all content contained herein. However, there may be mistakes; typographical, mathematical, or in content. This email newsletter and the DebtSmart.com web site have been created for your entertainment only. You must always seek the proper professional advice before taking any financial or legal action. You have been warned.

Copyright © 2003 Press One Publishing. All rights reserved. Please do not reprint, or host on your web site, without explicit permission. However, if you found this newsletter helpful, we grant you permission, and strongly encourage you, to e-mail it to a business associate or a friend. Thank you.