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DebtSmart® Email Newsletter
April 19, 2006

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

 
Letter from the Publisher
by Scott Bilker

Hi,

Boy, I'm in the wrong business. How much do think the Capital One Financial's, CEO, Richard D. Fairbanks was compensated in 2005?

Ready for this...$280,083,843!

That's $280 million! This guy wins the Powerball Lottery every year!

Mr. Fairbanks is one of many high-paid CEO's who salaries are in the stratosphere. Are these people worth that kind of money? Can they add that much value to the product? In his case, that money is made up of our interest payments!

Let's do the math. If the average interest rate (APR) is 13 percent, and the average household has $8,000 in debt, then his salary represents an entire year's interest payments for 269,311 households! Wow! That's 14 times the number of people that live in my NJ town!

You can take a look at the entire "Special report: Executive compensation" in USA Today by clicking here.

What are you worth? PLENTY! There's a lot of money out there in the world--now let's go get it!

Best,
Scott

 
9 Steps to Get Organized for Financial Success!
by Scott Bilker

The beginning of my financial life was when I received my driver's license. Before that I rode my bicycle around and had no bills. Well, I needed a car, right? I had to get to work so I could pay for the car, to get to work.

That's what started the bill cycle. The car was used (pre-owned), so I had no payments, but I was using my gas credit card to get around. And let's not forget that I could now go to the mall, buy stuff, and take Larissa on dates better than McDonalds (we started dating before I could drive). So it didn't take long for the bills to start arriving in the mail.

Finish reading article

 
"I saved $1,334 per hour. It was so easy!"

"I spent about 2 hours reading this book (Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt), getting comfortable with the strategies. Then, after my first phone call, which saved me $210 per year, I was off and running! I was able to reduce my interest rate by as much as 9%. I called all six of my Mastercard/Visa companies and was able to save $1,983 per year from the finance charges plus having a $59.00 annual fee removed and a late fee removed ($29.00). The $/hour saved ranged from $141/hour to $2,464/hour and averaged $1,334/hour. It was so easy!!"

Fred Robinson, Teacher, Milford, NH

Read about special offer for all three of Scott Bilker's best-selling books

 
Household Math™: Coupons and Sandwiches
by Scott Bilker

Every time you order a sub, whether it's a whole sub or a half-sub you get a coupon. When you accumulate 15 coupons you get a free whole sub. Four (4) of us from work are going out to lunch, everybody is going to order the Cheese, Boiled Ham, Proscuittini, Cappacuolo sandwich which costs $7.45 for a whole sub and $4.70 for a half-sub. Each person eats a half-sub for lunch and we plan on going here all the time.

We've already collected 11 coupons. Is it better to get 4 half-subs now and get the free whole sub next time, or is it better to split 2 whole subs this time and next time, and get the free whole sub on the third lunch trip?

Answer this problem

 
No money down
by Gary Foreman

Hi Gary,

I see a guy on TV all the time. He says that you can buy a home with no money down and then come from closing with money in your pocket. Supposedly people buy homes and make millions a year. Do you know about this? How this could be done? Is it worth the 3 payments of $59.99? Or is it a scam?

Kevin

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 check out certain companies personally 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

 
Thrift shops
by Harvey L. Bilker

What are thrift shops? Where do you find them? What are they all about? How can they help you cut down on your debts?

What are Thrift Shops?

Hospitals, churches, and other charitable organizations establish thrift shops to raise money for their causes. Items from clothes through appliances to devices to aid the elderly, such as wheelchairs and walkers, are donated to them.

The cost of running a thrift shop is nil, especially if the rental is donated. Volunteers spend a few hours a day there in shifts and help patrons of all ages.

Certain thrift shops specialize in specific items. Those could be books, maternity clothes, sweaters, shoes, and other articles. Many carry children's clothes and toys.

Thrift shops can help immensely with family budgets, especially these days when it's raining pink slips.

Finish reading article

 
Your finances
by Terry Rigg

I believe that financially, people fall into one of three categories.

Which category do you fall in?

Family 1 has all the money they need for necessities and more and manage it very well.

Family 2 has all the money they need for necessities and more but live payday to payday with ever increasing debt.

Family 3 doesn't have enough money even for necessities.

Finish Reading Article

COOL QUOTE

" All things are difficult before they are easy."--John Norley
Quotes from all previous newsletters
 

IN THIS ISSUE #122

Cool Quote
Credit and Debt Statistics Database
Letter from the publisher
9 Steps to Get Organized for Financial Success!
"I saved $1,334 per hour. It was so easy!"
Household Math™: Coupons and Sandwiches
No money down
More credit, more options
DebtSmart® Help Center
Thrift shops
Stop Debt Collectors Cold!
Your finances
DebtSmart® Resources
Subscribe/Disclaimer Information
Free DebtSmart® Column for in print publication, ezine, or web site
Hire Scott Bilker to speak
Advertising
Publisher: Scott Bilker
Editor: Larissa S. Bilker
Assistant Editor: Denise Troy

ISSN 1538-6740

 

U.S. Family Finances

46.2% of all families now carry a credit card balance. This is up from 44.4% in 2001. Households are also carrying higher balances; the mean balance is now $5,100 ($4,400 in 2001) and the median balance is $2,200 ($2,000 in 2001). The median income is currently $43,200 and the typical family's credit card balance is now almost 5% of their annual income.
Credit and Debt Statistics Database
 
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Stop Debt Collectors Cold!

Stop Debt Collectors Cold! Plus four (4) special reports! Finally, a solution for dealing with these horrible collectors!

 
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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 ©2006 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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