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DebtSmart® Email Newsletter

ISSN 1538-6740
September 8, 2004 Issue 82

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

Publisher: Scott Bilker


In this Issue

Cool Quote

Letter from the Publisher

First Ever DebtSmart® Presidential Survey

Chronic Debtor Help!

You Can Beat the Banks!

Household Math™: Fast Mortgage Payoff

American Express Blue

Low-rate money for life--what do I do?

DebtSmart Help Center

DebtSmart Custom Alexa Toolbar

How I Made an $1,800 Profit with My Credit Cards

Save Money When Going Out

DebtSmart® Resources

Subscribe/Disclaimer Information


Cool Quote

"While shopping, you’ll find that it’s far easier to put something in the basket than it is to remove it from the basket."
--Scott Bilker

Quotes from all previous newsletters



Letter from the Publisher 
by Scott Bilker

Hi,

It’s back-to-school for most kids this week. I always enjoyed going back in the beginning of the year as well as the fall season. It’s especially good for our kids here in my town of Barnegat, NJ.

How are things going in your town with education? You may want to think about getting involved. Contact your board of education and see how you can help your district in making it a great place to educate the children of your community.

Here are a few interesting items in no particular order:
1) If you’re in the military, or have family in the military, you should be familiar with the Service Members Civil Relief Act, which will help reduce the costs of your debts.
2) Update on Nancy. I spoke with her last week and she sounds great and is working on handling her debt!
3) First ever DebtSmart Presidential Survey is in this issue. I’d really like to see everyone take this so we can all learn who DebtSmart thinks should lead the nation!
4) Google has started scanning entire catalogs. You can check out these in-print scans here.

Best Always,
Scott
PS: If you haven't done so already, please update your subscription information--thanks!
UPDATE your Email Address or personal information



DebtSmart® Presidential Survey
by Scott Bilker

It’s almost time to cast your vote on who is going to lead our country for the next four years. The stakes are high, as always, and I wonder what you’re thinking. I see the polls reported each day but still, I keep thinking, "Who do DebtSmart readers want in the oval office?" Who do you think will do a better a job for you with your money?

This survey will compare your views on candidate Kerry and incumbent Bush.

I’d really like to see everyone take this so we can all learn who DebtSmart thinks should lead the nation!

Please take this first ever DebtSmart Presidential Survey



Chronic Debtor Help!

by Scott Bilker

Dear Scott,

I can relate to Nancy's feelings that debt is deadly! I do not know what to do or where to turn. I only know that debt has ruined my self-esteem and caused my family great hardship.

I come from a very dysfunctional family (my mother is schizophrenic, my father alcoholic). The only thing I was ever taught about finances is (1) there is never enough and (2) no one in the family can handle money. If my mother did not have a case-manager that handled her finances she would have nothing. I am going down the same path and it scares me to death.

You see Scott my husband makes $75,000 a year and I have managed to keep us so far in debt we cannot even refinance our home (we did that twice hoping I would learn how to responsibly handle a credit card). The worse part about it is I have nothing to show for the thousands of dollars of debt.

Currently we are two truck payments behind and two mortgage payments. My husband suffered a back injury and is currently looking at surgery. He has no feeling in his leg. Although he is somehow managing to work 30 hours a week, it tears me apart knowing that he has to keep going because of my irresponsibility.

If one is an alcoholic there are so many places to turn for help. If there were a hospital for debtors I would check myself in immediately. I tried going to Spenders and Debtors support groups. However, I was very discouraged by the fact that many people who were there had multiple addictions (mainly drug and alcohol). It didn't seem like an environment that would benefit me. Please help!

Sincerely,
Michelle

Finish Reading Article



You Can Beat the Banks!

Hi,

In case you don’t know already, I’m offering  all my books for only $19.95. That’s, Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt, Credit Card and Debt Management, and How to be more Credit Card and Debt Smart for the cost of one book!

I also guaranteed that you will save money and be completely happy with what you learn or your money back. And I mean your money back any time in the future. If ten years from now you think, "Gee, I’m not getting my monies worth out of these books," then just send Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt back and keep the other two as gifts.

I want you to start saving money today! I want people to call their banks! If everyone would do this then banks will have to listen more carefully to consumers.

Take part in this movement by getting my books today--risk free!

Regards,
Scott

Read more about Scott's books



Household Math™: Fast Mortgage Payoff
by Scott Bilker

Dear Scott,

My question is, I want to pay my $138,000, 5.125% APR, 15-year mortgage, off early. We just refinanced. My first payment is July 7th. We plan on making one extra mortgage payment a year, but I would like to add an extra $100.00 monthly to principal only. By doing these two extras, how early will I pay my mortgage off?

Leah

Answer this problem



American Express Blue

Enjoy the low APR--Enjoy a 0% APR on purchases for up to 15 months.

Low Balance Transfer APR--3.99% Fixed APR for the life of the balance.

Free Rewards Program--Earn points redeemable for travel, merchandise, and more.

No Annual Fee

Learn more about the American Express Blue



Low-rate money for life--what do I do?
by Scott Bilker

Dear Scott,

I constantly call my credit card companies to find out about special deals.

Any credit card debt I have is at either 3.9% or 4.9%, I have about $1,500.00 at 5.9%. All are for the life of the loan.

I called Citibank and they are offering 3.9% for the life of the loan, I called AT&T (which is owned by Citibank) and they are offering a comparable rate for the life of the loan.

I do not need the money now so I am waiting until the offer expires.

When I ask when the offer expires, sometimes both companies say 9/17. Other times they tell me they do not know, and they try to encourage me to make to make a transfer immediately.

In neither case have either company mailed me an offer, it has all been over the phone.

My question is with interest rates going up, is it safe to wait until September, or should I make the transfer right away?

Jesse

Finish Reading Article



DebtSmart Help Center 
by Scott Bilker

Hi,

Helping you with your debt is very important to me personally! If you've been reading my articles, you know that I always encourage self-help as a first step. However, being buried in debt can be very overwhelming, which is why you may want to explore other options.

One of those options is professional, ongoing help with credit counselors. I've started to personally check out certain companies so I can recommend the ones that are worth considering!

If you would like to speak with a representative from a...

Read More at the DebtSmart Help Center



DebtSmart Custom Alexa Toolbar

By using the Alexa Toolbar you help promote and support DebtSmart.com plus much more... 

It's a GREAT tool for knocking out pop-up ads. It installs in seconds and becomes part of your browser window. It’s also easy to turn off, just go to "view, toolbars" and unclick Alexa.

Alexa is an Amazon company. They track, and rank, all web sites based on activity of toolbar users. That’s fine with me because Amazon is a trusted online company, and I’m tired of the pop-up ads.

This toolbar really did the trick of eliminating those annoying pop-ups, which is especially great if you have kids so they don’t tricked into clicking on something you wouldn’t want them to see. You can decide which sites you want to block the pop-up from and those whose you need. For example, you don’t want to block pop-ups from DebtSmart.com.

Please support DebtSmart.com by installing this custom Alexa Toolbar right now--thanks!

Learn more about the DebtSmart-Alexa Toolbar



How I Made an $1,800 Profit with My Credit Cards
by Scott Bilker

Hi Scott,

I recently heard you on NPR radio 90.9 FM WBUR from Boston.

I was interested in how you borrowed from your credit card at a low interest rate and then invested it in a CD and earned about $1,800.

Which of your books covers that interesting topic I’d like to know more!

Thanks,
Leo

Answer:

Leo,

Thanks for listening!

Actually, I didn’t put the money into a CD, it was a Money Market Account. Also, I don’t cover that in any of my books but I will cover it here.

First off, I want to be clear that I’m not recommending that you do this. I present it here for your pure entertainment. "Kids, don’t try this at home." I don’t want to hear that someone cash advanced money and got into more debt, because you do get into more debt.

Okay, so now that I’m disclaimed and all (I hope), here goes...

Finish Reading Article


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DISCLAIMER

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 ©2004 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.


 

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"The DebtSmart Email Newsletter is packed with cutting-edge strategies for solving credit problems. I highly recommend it."--Gerri Detweiler, radio host and author of The Ultimate Credit Handbook




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