How To Stay Out Of Jail And Have A Blast On Spring Break - Traveling Abroad Tips And Tricks

I worked for several years as a Travel Host for a major travel company escorting tour groups to resort destinations in foreign countries. During that time I saw a lot and learned a lot. One of the most important things I learned was how to keep my charges safe and out of trouble.

Over 200,000 American teenagers and young adults travel to timeshare and hotel resort areas throughout the Bahamas, Jamaica, Mexico and various other foreign country destinations during college spring break each year. Most will simply enjoy their travel and vacation without incident. But several may actually die in accidents or be killed. Many hundreds will be arrested and placed in horrible jails. Many hundreds more will make tragic mistakes that may affect them for the rest of their lives.

There are, unfortunately, dozens of ways to create problems for yourself when traveling abroad. The good news is that it is really very easy to stay safe and have a great time. It just takes a little know how and common sense. Following are six proven spring break travel tips that you can use.

Travel Tip number one. Before you travel, become generally familiar with the basic laws and customs of the country you plan to visit. A great source for getting a good overall feel for any country is the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook . The CIA is a whole lot more than a bunch of clandestine spooks chasing bad actors around the globe, as sometimes characterized by Hollywood. Use their services to learn about the country you will visit.

Travel Tip number two. Remember that reckless behavior while in another country can do more than ruin your vacation; it can land you in a foreign jail or worse. To have a safe trip, avoid risky behavior and plan ahead. Alcohol is involved in the vast majority of arrests, accidents, violent crimes, rapes, and deaths suffered by Americans on Spring Break.

Young people should travel in at least pairs and always use a buddy system. One person should remain sober and drug free on the buddy plan. There have always been and will always be predators looking for easy targets of opportunity. These creeps wait in the shadows and look for the impaired; the drunk, stoned, and otherwise defenseless targets.

Travel Tip number three. Phone home every couple days to assure family members of your safety and let them know where you are. Remember old mom and dad? Well, they really do want to hear from you. If you happen to later get in a jam it will help if they have a good idea of where you are. Let your hotel or timeshare [http://www.edisneytimeshare.com] resort know where you are going and your approximate time schedule.

Travel Tip number four. Remember, you are in a foreign country! The laws are different than those in the US and you are subject to the laws and customs regulations of the country you are visiting. Respect the people, the culture, and the laws and you will be fine. Acting arrogant or being ignorant, can lead to big problems. A foreign country law can impose harsh penalties for violations that would be considered minor in the United States. Remember that U.S. citizenship in no way exempts travelers from full prosecution under the host country criminal justice system.

Travel Tip number five. Holiday makers should use extreme caution when renting vehicles and anything else that moves. This includes jet skis, mopeds, and even beach bikes. Many are not properly serviced and in poor condition. Many are uninsured or under-insured. Read rental contracts carefully to be sure your own insurance will cover you in the event of an accident.

Travel Tip number six. Drivers of any vehicle, including jet skis and mopeds, should exercise extreme caution. Always ask the rental agency about local laws and procedures before operating the vehicle. The US Department of State has received many reports of scam equipment rental operators. The scam is to sometimes use locals to form a mob which then intimidates young customers into paying exorbitant amounts for damage to rented equipment that never actually occurred.

Stay safe, have fun, and enjoy your travel adventure!

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7BHzsInj1U&hl=en

Fatigue at the Wheel: Root of Serious Traffic Accidents

Last year in Germany, the police authorities reported a total of 3034 accidents triggered by fatigue, including 1786 collisions resulting in personal injury. This equates to about 0.5 percent of all serious accidents. Nonetheless, safety experts believe that the figure is much higher. This is because at the present time it is difficult to verify signs of fatigue by the time accidents are reconstructed.

Scientific studies revealed that between 10 and 20 percent of traffic accidents is caused by drowsiness. According to investigations conducted by insurance companies in said territory, 1 out of 4 fatal motorway accidents are caused by fatigue. Further, the probability of being killed in a road accident due to fatigue is 2.5 times higher than for other causes.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in the United States, over 100,000 accidents are caused by driver fatigue. Out of which, 1500 people are killed and 71,000 are injured.

In Canada, a study about fatigue at the wheel established that 1 out of 5 has at some time nodded off while driving. Finding also showed that two thirds of fatigue-induced accidents occur during nighttime. Majority of incidents occur in the early hours of the morning between 2 and 6. They can also occur in the middle of the afternoon.

Moreover, safety experts employed by automakers are concentrating on improving safety features of their lineup. According to automotive reports one of the major causes of serious traffic accidents is - over-fatigue. Moreover, safety experts are trying to develop a system that recognizes fatigue to warn the driver. This system will be integrated to automobiles to be accessible to drivers.

Engineers from the Mercedes-Benz Technology Centre also conducted several studies and testing regarding this potent auto system. Said engineers have tested more than 200 motorists on motorways and in the driving simulator. This system is expected to be released in a few years' time.

In order to obtain objective indicators of fatigue, Mercedes safety experts employed electroencephalogram (EEG) and other physiological readings. Another method used is the analysis of dynamic driving data.

Mercedes assistance systems will be mated to Mercedes-Benz car parts to avoid real-life accident scenarios. Today, Mercedes safety systems like Electronic Stability Program and Brake Assist, have contributed significantly to the reduction of serious road accident.

According to studies, many motorists are actually able to recognize when they are tired, but by then it is often too late. Moreover, safety experts recommend that drivers should take a break when they are tired to avoid road accidents.

Tips Investing Rental Property - How to Start Investing in Property

I was once told, "If you want to invest your money, you need to invest in real estate, especially if you want to invest in something that only increases in value." That has been proven to be a true statement. Call up several local real estate offices and ask if they have any rental property. You might be surprised at the number realtors that have rental property. Why buy rental property? Because it is an easy way to make your money make money for you. Are there any Tips Investing Rental Property? Yes, there are several ways a person can do this.

The easiest tip would be to watch your local newspaper for low priced sells on houses, manufactured homes and apartment complexes. Secure a loan through your bank allowing enough to cover some remodeling expenses. Set a rental rate to cover your payments and rental insurance. Keep in mind that the idea is to make money, not lose money.

Contact your Land Commissioner's office in your state captiol. The land commissioner's office publishes a book of delinquent taxes on property in every county in your state. This book is sent out every three months on a quarterly basis. This book is free to the public. Once you get your book from the land commissioner's office, you will need to go to any real estate office and get a book that give the land description and where it is located. Research the property before you buy it. This is by far the best of the Tips Investing Rental Property. This is how realtors buy their property. So keep in mind when you are bidding, you are more than likely bidding against realtors with easy money in their pockets. How this actually works is, after taxes have gone delinquent for four to five years, the state reclaims that land and will auction the land to the highest bidder.

If you are interested in vacant land so that you can start a subdivision such as a mobile home park or to build houses, you will need to find out some answers to some questions. Is city water and electricity available? Does the land require city sewage or septic tanks? If it requires septic tanks, will the land pass perk tests? These are the most important questions you will need to ask when purchasing vacant land.

Setting your rental property up as a home business is another of the Tips Investing Rental Property. This is so that you can claim deductions on your income taxes. Because any repairs that you do are tax deductible. For every month that your property sits vacant, you can claim loss of income.

Remember, it takes money to make money, so do not be afraid to spend a little. Do your research and do it thoroughly this is your future and that of your family. Seek the advice of an attorney on how to setup your rental contract, or if you need to do credit checks on renters. The list is endless. So enjoy yourself and invest in your future.

The Staff at Smith-Berclair in Memphis, TN

www.smithberclair.com Meet the team at Smith-Berclair Insurance in Memphis, Tennessee! Were here to help find the right auto, home, business, life, or health policy for you. We serve Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, and Kentucky. Visit our website at www.smithberclair.com to learn more or to get a free quote!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLWqBUMrtpc&hl=en

Buy-Sell Agreements - A True Story

More than a decade ago, three friends got together to start a company. They invested money and time into the start-up and got it going. Early on, they had a buy-sell agreement prepared.

Fast forward to late 2006. My friend was called in to discuss the prospects for selling the company. As part of his engagement, he priced the business for the owners, concluding that his best single-point estimate of value in a sale was $20 million for their collective equity, or about $6.7 million each. He reviewed the company's buy-sell agreement and found a troubling provision. The agreement had a fixed price, the value of life insurance taken out on each of the owners' lives, or $1.0 million per one-third share. This price had been set in 1994 and had not been updated since then.

Realizing the problem instantly, my friend alerted the owners of the disparity between the company's current value and their buy-sell agreement price. If one of them should die at the present time, the estate would have an agreed-upon value of $1.0 million for an interest worth close to $7 million. To the owners' collective credit, they all recognized the problem immediately and slowed down their sale discussion long enough to have their agreement price updated to a current value. Having done so, they've authorized my friend to pursue interested buyers and to conclude the sale of the business. The sale will occur or it won't. Things happen along the way to closings. But my friend's involvement with the owners of this company has been of enormous value to all three shareholders, regardless of the outcome.

The bottom line. Value per interest grew over time from $1 million to nearly $7 million. Had there been an untimely death of any of the three shareholders along the way, the agreement would not have protected his family. The real bottom line is that my friend's involvement with this company has had enormous value to its shareholders, regardless of the outcome of this current sale initiative.

Reprise. Fixed price buy-sell agreements are dangerous. Let me be clear about my recommendations:



If you have a fixed price in your agreement, revisit it now.

If you have a friend with a fixed price in his or her buy-sell agreement, encourage him or her to revisit the price now.

If you have a client who has a fixed-price buy-sell agreement, set up an appointment to talk about fixing the problem.

Tax Help For Small Business Owners

Tax tips and tax help to assist taxpayers by describing options for tax reduction and tax cuts through lawful tax deductions.

Small business owners need all the tax help which is available. Tax deductions allow small business owners to keep more of what they earn. With a 35% marginal tax rate, the government is a silent partner who takes no risk and over one-third of the profits. Tax deductions are neither simple, straight forward, or intuitive. However, the effort to increase tax deductions is well worth the effort.

Tax Help Tip 1: Tax deductions reduce taxable income for small business owners but do not directly reduce federal income taxes. (Tax credits, such as low income housing investment tax credits, directly reduce federal income taxes) Both cash and non-cash tax deductions merit review.

Tax Help Tip 2: Cash disbursements can be expensed (used as a tax deduction in the current year) or depreciated (capitalized and depreciated or amortized over a period of years). Due to the judgment required to determine what should be capitalized, there is some discretion. For example, a local gang paints graffiti on a portion of the side of your building. You decide to repaint the entire side of the building instead of just the portion with graffiti. Is this a repair (can be used as a tax deduction) or should it be capitalized (and depreciated over time)? Some owners would elect to expense repainting the entire building. Business owners should seek counsel from their advisor regarding discretionary tax deductions.

Tax Help Tip 3: Real estate provides bountiful tax deductions for small business owners. Most real estate owners inadvertently understate depreciation and thus forego available tax deductions. The common practice is to simply separate land and long-life property (depreciated over 39 years for commercial property and 27.5 years for rental residential property). Real estate owners can typically increase depreciation by 50-100% in the first 5-7 years of ownership by utilizing cost segregation. Cost segregation can separate up to 130 items that can be depreciated over 5, 7, or 15 years (instead of 27.5-39 years). These short-life items typically comprise about 20-40% of the improvement cost basis. The increased depreciation increases tax deductions.

Cost segregation can be utilized for recently purchased or built properties and for properties owned for a period of years (1/1/87 or later). Long-term real estate owners can claim a one-time tax deduction windfall using catch-up depreciation.

Tax Help Tip 4: After a cost segregation study is prepared, the owner can "catch-up" previously under-reported depreciation (without filing any amended tax returns).

Tax Help Tip 5: Another source of "hidden" tax deductions is a careful review of your fixed asset schedule. Many fixed asset schedule include items which should have been expensed or which have been discarded (or should be thrown away). Misclassified items are another source of additional tax deduction. In some cases the depreciation life for an asset has been overstated through clerical error. A fixed asset audit typically generates meaningful tax deductions.

Other Tax Help Articles: Other non-cash sources of tax deductions are amortization, casualty losses, and charitable contributions, which are addressed in separate articles. Planning tax deductions requires a modest effort but the rewards are worth the effort. You work hard to serve your clients and earn a profit; don't give more than is legally required to your silent partner.

Cost segregation produces tax deductions and reduces federal income taxes across the country and in every size market. Below are just a few examples of cities where cost segregation generates meaningful tax deductions.

City:

Memphis, TN Baltimore, MD Las Vegas, NV Boston, MA Miami, FL New Orleans, LA Atlanta, GA Washington, DC Phoenix, AZ Houston, TX Albuquerque, NM Sacramento, CA Sarasota, FL Salt Lake City, UT Albany, NY Virginia Beach, VA Oxnard, CA New Haven, CT Chicago, IL Kansas City, MO Buffalo, NY Jackson, MS Tucson, AZ Raleigh, NC Dayton, OH Pittsburgh, PA Scranton, PA Jacksonville, TN Portland, OR Birmingham, AL Cost segregation produces tax deductions for virtually all property types, including the following:

Property Type:

Veterinary clinic Single-tenant retail Auto dealer Amusement park Community shopping center Convenience store Airplane hangar Research and development Shopping mall Office warehouse Almost every industry, including the following, can generate cost-efficient tax deductions by using cost segregation.

Industry:

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation Frozen food manufacturing Real estate lesser Plastic and rubber products manufacturing Warehousing and storage Building supply dealers Electronic and appliance stores Food and beverage stores Durable good wholesalers Electrical component manufacturing

Lil Flip accomplishment Chamillionaire Paul Wall Slim Thug - North 2 Da South

[talking] Whoa yeah, Lil' Flip the Freestyle King Hold up, from the North to the South Uh, uh, uh [Lil' Flip] Welcome to the South, where niggaz ride 84 swangas Nothing but the screwed shit, in they cd changers You know me, as I slide down the block Nothing but princess cuts, slide off my watch As I slide out my block, sipping Sprite syrup Wearing Iceberg, bout to hit the right curb I might swerve, when I'm under the influence They pull me over, but I got my license and insurance You know me, as I'm on six-ten In a big Benz, swangas poke like stick-ends Riding on chrome, with my Prime Co. phone I'm the Freestyle King, cause I'm sitting on my throne The Southside, we ride down MLK The Southside, turn three lanes to a one way The Southside, you gon get some gun play Hands in my pants, but my name ain't Al Bun-day [Hook: Chamillionaire] It ain't a game, we switching lanes Sitting on D's or swangs, gripping and squeezing grain See me, I ain't ashamed to throw up the set I claim It's a Northside Southside, Dirty South thang [Chamillionaire] We on lights that got word, choppers on block 'burbs Make sure that you lock your, Denali's and droppers Got nuts and got nerds, if you caught without your Heat in your boxers, no feathers they got birds Man I'm sitting crooked on a switch, and your misses wondering If she'd freeze her lips, if she kissed my wrist Top of the list top gun, tops for the drop got none Where they pop Don pop gun, and run when the cops come That's where I'm from ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjLR-b1xt3s&hl=en

Contract Purchase - Sale - a true story.

More than a decade ago, three friends got together to start a company. They invested money and time into the start-up and got it going. Early on, they had a buy-sell agreement prepared.

Fast forward to late 2006. My friend was called in to discuss the prospects for selling the company. As part of his engagement, he priced the business for the owners, concluding that his best single-point estimate of value in a sale was $20 million for their collective equity, or about $6.7 million each. He reviewed the company's buy-sell agreement and found a troubling provision. The agreement had a fixed price, the value of life insurance taken out on each of the owners' lives, or $1.0 million per one-third share. This price had been set in 1994 and had not been updated since then.

Realizing the problem instantly, my friend alerted the owners of the disparity between the company's current value and their buy-sell agreement price. If one of them should die at the present time, the estate would have an agreed-upon value of $1.0 million for an interest worth close to $7 million. To the owners' collective credit, they all recognized the problem immediately and slowed down their sale discussion long enough to have their agreement price updated to a current value. Having done so, they've authorized my friend to pursue interested buyers and to conclude the sale of the business. The sale will occur or it won't. Things happen along the way to closings. But my friend's involvement with the owners of this company has been of enormous value to all three shareholders, regardless of the outcome.

The bottom line. Value per interest grew over time from $1 million to nearly $7 million. Had there been an untimely death of any of the three shareholders along the way, the agreement would not have protected his family. The real bottom line is that my friend's involvement with this company has had enormous value to its shareholders, regardless of the outcome of this current sale initiative.

Reprise. Fixed price buy-sell agreements are dangerous. Let me be clear about my recommendations:



If you have a fixed price in your agreement, revisit it now.

If you have a friend with a fixed price in his or her buy-sell agreement, encourage him or her to revisit the price now.

If you have a client who has a fixed-price buy-sell agreement, set up an appointment to talk about fixing the Problem

Carco - Keith Richards

A rock legend helps explain insurance matters. From The Wiseguys Sketch Show, 5/9/08 www.wiseguysimprov.com



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3r-HP5zoqI&hl=en

How To Find Out If You Have A Warrant For Arrest

Do you know how to find out about warrant for your arrest?

Do you know if there are any warrants for your arrest outstanding? Have you checked lately? There are a number of reasons why warrants may have been placed on you and you might not even be aware of it. If you do have warrants and you ignore them it could prove costly for you when they finally catch up and arrest you. So how do you find out if you have a warrant for arrest?

There might be warrants issued against you for some very simple reasons. You might have some unpaid parking tickets that you've forgotten about. Perhaps you missed a court appearance or there's been a clerical error at the courthouse. You might even be a suspect in a crime and they simply haven't been able to find you yet.

Ways to find out if you have a warrant for arrest - Ask a police officer

The easiest way to find out if you have a warrant for arrest is to ask a police officer. They will access their databases and will be able to tell you quickly and at no cost to you. No cost that is unless you do have a warrant against you and they decide to arrest you on the spot. If you don't like the idea of possibly being arrested then don't ask a police officer.

Visit your courthouse

If you suspect that you have a warrant for arrest and you know which area it would have been issued in then go and ask at the relevant courthouse. They will be able to tell you if you've been issued with any and you probably won't get arrested unless the crime is serious. This approach is less effective if the warrant was issued elsewhere.

Use an online service

You can now find out if you have warrants for arrest anywhere in the US by using an online website. All the public databases you need are now available to you in an easy to access and affordable way. In addition, they are completely confidential so there is no possibility of you getting arrested by using them.

If you simply ignore the possibility that you may have warrants for your arrest they will catch up to you eventually by which time the fines and costs could be substantial. Don't take the risk, find out if you have a warrant for arrest now.

The Lawyers of Wiseman Bray PLLC are Out of This World!

Our firm specializes in a wide range of personal injury cases in Memphis and Nashville, including: Car accidents, Motorcycle accidents, Truck accidents, Wrongful death cases, Workplace injuries and construction accidents, Products liability, Insurance disputes. In addition, our attorneys represent families and individuals who have suffered from spinal cord and/or spine injury, brain injury, closed head injury, scarring, paralysis, quadriplegia, paraplegia, bed sores or wrong site surgery. We also handle medical malpractice cases including Pharmacy errors, Chiropractor malpractice, Birth injuries, Nursing home negligence/abuse, and Hospital negligence/malpractice errors.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX9BQ0rvYVI&hl=en

"Health Insurance 4 All" Memphis Jones

Memphis needs his Health Insurance,and so do you!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgbcTE3DWK8&hl=en

The Senate Doctors Show from Southaven, Mississippi -- 08/27/2009

Sen. Roger Wicker hosted Sens. Tom Coburn, MD, John Barrasso, MD, in Southaven, Mississippi, for an airing of "The Senate Doctors Show." The Senators took questions about health care reform from local medical professionals.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzMBEQGinbc&hl=en

Truth TV World News-9/11 LIVE- BUSH LIED ON 9/11 and ABC let him GET AWAY WITH IT!

Please join our peace campaign. Send us either/or your Youtube USER ID ie youtube.com or phone number and/or real name or an active email/name to post on the front pages of Truth TV. This will allow US/World Citizen to let them(US/One World Government's) know that WE DON'T FEAR THEM! They have separated the world citizen with FEAR, Religion, Money and Politics. FEAR is being pumped into our subconsicious memory via TV, Radios, Newspapers, Magazines ect.. TURN off YOUR TV, Radio, quit paying for Mind-Control. Unhook your cable/DTV, don't BUY and read the daily newspapers, dont BUY people, cosmoplitan magazine, dont go to movies and pay $12 to be "brainwashed". The ONLY way we are ever going to beat them is through joining together and doing the above mentioned. They have us right where they want us by the below four things: 1. Fear- In fear- not to post your real identity on the internet, even though most of you do banking, shop, pay car insurance daily on the internet. 2. Religion- Fear of a Creator that is going to punish us if we don't do what religious leaders say ie Christians are being taught Muslims are worshipping the devil- Muslims are being taught Christians ARE the devil and need to be killed 3 Money- They (politicians,people with money) have most of it while WE(world citizen,most coming to youtube) struggle to eat and have a place to call home 4. Politics-They have us convinced that THEY(politicians) are protecting us from the EVIL(TERRORISTS) that lurks on ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxLgTJ0Vaok&hl=en

A mothers instinct, belief from St. Jude

MEMPHIS, TENN. -- Each year, St. Jude Children's Research hospital treats over 5-thousand sick kids. One such patient is 4-year old Sean Witsoe. Its a story that started with a mother's gut feeling that something was wrong. In 4-short years, Sean Witsoe has accomplished so much. But much of the journey has been long and painful. The trouble started in 2008 with a mother's intuition. I was sitting on his bed and I was thinking gosh, what is wrong with him? I thought, he has a balance problem. The thought flew into my mind, could he have a brain tumor? Katie Witsoe. He did. At 3-years old, Sean underwent surgery in his home state of Indiana. To continue care his parents chose the premier children's research hospital in country, located nearly 300-miles away in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude. "When he came out of surgery he couldn't walk, he couldn't talk and he's obviously doing all those things again, Witsoe. Katie credits the entire staff for making them feel welcome these past nine months. Its not just the doctors. It's the nurses. It's the people who clean the floor of this hospital. They just make this place work and make it a better place for us to be everyday, Witsoe. Being kid hasn't been lost among the chemotherapy and radiation treatments. It costs 1.4 million dollars a day for St. Jude to operate. For families like Sean's it's nice to know they can concentrate on his recovery, rather then the financial burden that comes with treating a child with cancer. "I'm sure ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3PomwoUjhM&hl=en

Smith-Berclair Insurance is Giving Away an iPod Touch!

www.smithberclair.com At Smith-Berclair, we treat our customers right. That's why we held a contest to give away a FREE iPod Touch! Visit our website at www.smithberclair.com to enter our next contest!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d9aEtjN-xY&hl=en

Secured Credit Cards- Consumer Tips

Whether you have no credit or damaged credit, secured credit cards are a good tool for building a good credit history.

Several months ago Tom, a member of CreditBoards.com, filed for a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Now he is in the process of rebuilding his credit history. It's a task that is not easy, but with patient persistence he is seeing progress already. Daily he checks his credit score and is slowly seeing improvement.

1 - In addition to correcting every mistake, even the smallest ones, on his credit report, he is using a secured credit card.

2 - This secured card is an important tool in the overall process of building or rebuilding credit.

Who should consider a secured credit card?

Someone who has no credit history.

Someone with a damaged credit history.

What is a secured credit card?

Secured cards are credit cards opened with a deposit into a savings account, money market or certificate of deposit. The amount of deposit required varies from card to card, but generally minimum amounts range from $250 - $500. These funds are considered your security and will even earn a little interest since they are being held in a savings account. Your credit limit is determined by the amount you deposit into the savings account. Sometimes the limit will be for the full amount of the deposit; other times it will be a percentage of the total.

It is important to keep in mind that a secured card is a credit card, not a debit card. If full payments are not made each month, then interest is charged on the outstanding balance. And the lending institution uses the security money to pay off the debt only as a last resort. Even though the card is secured, it is still possible to damage credit.

What are the benefits of a secured credit card?

Establishing credit. If you have never had a credit card, a good first step in establishing good credit is applying for a secured credit card. Assistant Professor of Economics at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN, Jerry Plummer says, "A secured card is most useful for the person starting out on their credit history, since it says that the person is willing to take the extra step to establish credit."

Reestablishing credit. If your credit history is damaged, you may only be able to qualify for a secured credit card. Using this secured card appropriately and within the set parameters will help rebuild your credit and qualify you for an unsecured card. If you have had to file for bankruptcy, however, you may not qualify until it has been discharged.

Preset limit cannot be exceeded. If poor spending habits were part of the cause for bad credit, then a secured credit card will help keep spending in check.

Useful for transactions that require a credit card. Hotels and car rentals require the use of a credit card. If you don't qualify for an unsecured card but you do for a secured card, then you are still able to make the transaction.

What should I look for or avoid when shopping for a secured credit card?

Fees. This is the area you will really want to research when shopping for a secured credit card. Some cards will come with fees that run into the hundreds of dollars, eating away much of the credit you secured with the savings account. Professor Plummer says a card with no fee is the best, but a small one-time fee can be okay. Annual fees for attractive secured cards typically range from $20-$35. Be sure to watch out for hidden fees such as "registration charges" and "setup fees."

Interest Rate. Just because you have no or poor credit doesn't mean you have to settle for the highest interest rate. Interest rates for attractive secured cards should not exceed 19%. Shop around and get the most competitive rate available.

Read the fine print. Linda Tucker, Director of Education for Consumer Credit Counseling Service for Arkansas and Memphis, TN, stresses the importance of reading the fine print. Doing so will let you know your exact obligations to the issuing company: for example, the grace period, what happens if you don't make a full payment, and what fees are attached if you don't make the full payment. Understanding these details will help make sure you are not further damaging your credit.

Fraudulent Offers. As with unsecured cards you need to watch out for fraudulent offers.The Federal Trade Commission gives the following advice to protect yourself from credit card fraud:

Offers of easy credit. No one can guarantee to get you credit. Before deciding whether to give you a credit card, legitimate credit providers examine your credit report.



A call to a '900' number for a credit card. You pay for calls with a '900' prefix -- and you may never receive a credit card.



Credit cards offered by "credit repair" companies or "credit clinics." These businesses also may offer to clean up your credit history for a fee. However, you can correct genuine mistakes or outdated information yourself by contacting credit bureaus directly. Remember that only time and good credit habits will restore your credit worthiness.

When will I qualify for an unsecured credit card?

It can take several months to see an improvement in your credit history. Bankrate says it's a good indicator when you start receiving flyers in the mail for unsecured cards that your credit is improving. However, it's a good idea to continue taking things slowly. Using a secured card will help you learn healthy habits so that when you do get an unsecured credit card you remain in control of your spending and credit.

Where can I find a secured credit card?

Most companies don't advertise secured cards. But you can visit the Card Reports section of http://www.CardRatings.com to find out where and how to apply. Click on the link entitled "Cards for Consumers with Poor or No Credit".

Other tips

Tom recommends sticking with only one or two cards and keeping spending to a minimum. The goal is to pay the card off each month.

Tucker emphasizes the importance of paying the amount due each month; otherwise late fees can be charged, interest rates raised, privileges lost, and credit history negatively affected.

Make sure you are getting a credit card as opposed to a gas card or a department store card.

Make sure a reputable bank or credit union, even a local one, is issuing the card. And, don't automatically assume a bank is issuing the card.

Not all issuers report to the three major credit agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). It's important to get a card that does report to all three agencies; otherwise you will be wasting your time. Fortunately, secured cards normally report to the credit agencies just like unsecured cards (you should verify this before applying).

If you have filed for bankruptcy, you may need to wait until it has been discharged before qualifying for a secured card.

Get one only if you cannot get credit, since you have no credit record; or if you have poor credit. Plummer says, "Many companies will not even count them as credit, such as automobile F&I (Finance and Insurance) people, although they will not admit it." So, if you don't really need a secured card, you will be doing more harm than good.

Finally, whatever situation you are in, no credit or poor credit, the best way to build good credit is to set up a budget and then stick with it.

1 You can pay membership fees to any one of the three credit bureaus - Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax- to be able to check your credit score online daily. Visit our Credit Information section for more details. Tom recommends purchasing Microsoft Money 2004, which comes with a one-year membership to Experian (value of $99.00).

2 To find out more about correcting errors on your credit report, read our article How to Correct Mixed or Split Credit Reports.

Non-Hybrid Seeds

Non-Hybrid Seeds haven't been this popular since the advent of so called modern farming. After the end of World War II, farming methods that had been proven for decades were pushed aside in the name of progress. The family farm became passe. We were promised that the worlds hunger problems would be solved. It was going to be better living through chemistry. We were shown big tractors cultivating fields that were acres long and told how much more efficient it was. What they forgot to say however was that it wasn't sustainable. They also neglected to tell us about all the health risks these chemicals seem to draw like a magnet.

Oops. I don't think I ever heard Uncle Walt ask the question about the long term effects of these new chemicals. I doubt Andy Rooney ever asked "I wonder why these genetically engineered plants can't reproduce? Well times have changed since the 60's. Who among us then ever thought that the radicals who were protesting in the streets, burning flags, bombing police stations and warning against "Big Brother" would be the same radicals in the White House today?

Those people who lauded free speech then now want to stop ours. Remember the joke "I'm from the government and I am here to help you." It's not funny any more is it?

My Grandfather would have run them off back in that day.

The economic recession that we are in the grips of is fueling a resurgence in home gardening. With mounting unemployment and lower wages, families are becoming more creative in ways to stretch the budget. Self sufficiency can be a comforting thought. Every day seems to bring another harbinger of bad news. In a matter of months "Hope And Change" has brought us a national debt of nightmarish proportions. Do you think we are going to turn things around like this? It sounds like fertile ground for a new Hal Lindsy novel, doesn't it?

His plots would seem more plausible today than at any other time in history. Lack of accountability or consequences for politicians and government employees continues to weaken America's ability to bounce back. All the while the private sector is deluged with character assignations about being corrupt and greedy as their taxation and regulation increases. Some arrogant suit that has worked his whole life in government wants to convince me this is social justice? That's not social justice, it's social destruction. Why was is Bernie Madoff in prison while Barney Frank is walking around?

Popular radio personality Glenn Beck tells listeners to consider starting a food pantry and to think about starting a victory garden. He talks about having insurance, just in case. Gee, how radical and insane is that! Well, I agree wholeheartedly. I am glad that there a few people on the airwaves who are actually thinking and asking questions. God knows the days of investigative reporting are over as well. Now we have talking heads and pretty girls script from a teleprompter, regurgitating what they have been paid to publize while ignoring embarrassing issues. Here in Memphis, Tennessee a forecast foretelling the slightest possibility of snow will have the bread and milk cleared off the shelves in a matter of hours. People get scared, they start thinking what if? I don't know what would happen in our city if there ever was a real disaster or catastrophe. After the earth quake in Chile I saw video reports of open looting in the streets within hours. Not very comforting is it. Do you have an emergency supply of food?

Growing your own food can dramatically reduce your grocery expense and provide you with extra to store. I have been an organic gardener forever it seems and I realize that not everyone has that experience. Non-Hybrid Seeds pay for themselves over and over, year after year. But they wont help you a bit if you don't know how to grow. I encourage you to invest in some non-hybrid seeds now and discover for yourself how easy it is to grow your own food when you work in harmony with nature. Come on, let's get something growing.

Copyright 2010 Greg Traver

Ferrell Law Firm - Statute of Limitations for Memphis Personal Injury Cases

LawFerrell.com - Don't expect the same result or settlement as your neighbor. When it comes to personal injury cases each and every one is different. Memphis personal injury lawyer James Ferrell discusses how two cases with the same injury can have vastly different outcomes and settlements.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgAsyIKfEGY&hl=en