|
|
|
Pocket Change
September 2010 Volume 2 Issue 9
|
|
|
|
Dear Readers,
This issue of Pocket Change is dedicated to CREDIT. In our current economic climate, with lending requirements being stricter than ever, it is critical to have good credit. This issue introduces Mint.com- an online personal finances management tool, the new credit card rules, and ways to improve your credit. We also offer Money School classes about credit such as Reaching for that Perfect Credit Score on September 21st and Financial Health Tool Kit on October 4th (click to register).
Since many of us need help in rebuilding our credit, The From Purses to Portfolios Conference will host the DCRAC Wachovia Credit Clinic. Credit counselors will be available to print your credit report and help you take control of your credit and money situation. The clinic will be open all day!
Enjoy reading and see you at the conference,
Tami |
|
Did you know that women manage an average of 80 cents of every dollar spent by American households?
You are your own financial planner...
Learn to be a good one!
 | |
Join Candace Bahr and Ginita Wall, the co-founders of
The Women's Institute for Financial Education (WIFE.org) and the creators of the tag line "A Man is Not a Financial Plan", at the From Purses to Portfolios Conference and learn how to be a great financial planner!
Lots of free resources, great doorprizes, free parking, and more...
October 23, 2010 9:00am-5:30pm
Chase Center on the Riverfront Event is Free! Registration is required. Register online here,
or call 1.888.846.4220 toll free. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Deal of the Month: Mint.com |  Mint created a simple and effective way to manage, save and grow
your money... and it's free. In five minutes or less, you'll see where
you're spending your money and set up realistic budgets. The Goals
feature, helps you set and track your progress towards goals-like buying a house, saving for retirement -or create your own savings goals. Mint.com uses bank-level data security and you're anonymous; you don't share your name, address, social security number or account numbers. Mint.com has been named the best online personal finance tool by Money Magazine, PC Magazine, and is PC World's Editor's Choice.
Visit www.mint.com and get started today! |
|
FIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR
CREDIT!
- Set up a budget -
 Determine your cost of living. List and add up all of your expenses. Then list and add up any income you have. Subtract your expenses from your income. Are you left with a negative balance?
- Contact your creditors - If you're having trouble making ends meet, don't wait until you're further behind. Call your creditors now. Describe your situation, and try to work out a modified payment plan that reduces your monthly payment.
-
Seek outside help - If you need help making financial changes, consider contacting a trustworthy credit counseling service.
-
Explain yourself - If credit problems are due to circumstances beyond your control, contact credit reporting agencies to document your situation. Ask them to include a copy of your written explanation in your personal file.
- Cut back on spending - Find ways to economize. Consider car pooling to work or packing lunch instead of eating out.
|
| |
Take Financial Action in your Life...Become a First State Saver! Start Small...Think Big! |
 Build wealth not debt! Enroll and become a First State Saver today! Get access to low or no-fee bank accounts, online resources and invitations to attend free financial education classes. * You will never be asked to disclose bank account/balance information.
|
| | |
Excerpt from "New Credit Card Rules Take Effect"
By Christine Park, ABC 30 HD
The new credit card rules could help protect your money. But restrictions
on credit card fees have banks looking for other ways to charge you. A
new law means lower late payment fees which max out at $25 a
month, or the amount of your minimum payment, whichever is lower.
There are no more inactivity fees if you leave your card at home, and
your credit card company has to give better explanations any time your
interest rate increases.
Debit Card fees are one new area banks are targeting to replace the lost income from credit cards. Many credit card companies are also
bringing back annual fees and raising interest rates on new charges,
since they can't change the rates on previous purchases. It comes down
to being careful and knowing where your credit card can cost you.
|
| MARY AND MONEY
Life on a Short Leash
 What do you get when you mix a tough economy and job market with
amazing wireless technology? The answer is a really long work day.
Most of us have to spend some of our "personal" time conducting
business. Who hasn't received that off hours email or phone call from
the boss? Often times it is not an issue, but what if your boss really
oversteps the boundaries- can you reel them back in? That is the
question I asked one of my favorite career guru's Nicole Williams.
She wrote the fabulous book: GIRL ON TOP: YOUR GUIDE TO
TURNING DATING RULES INTO CAREER SUCCESS.
Mary: What do you recommend when it comes to boundaries and the boss?
Nicole: This is such a great question because honestly I think people are grappling with this. Due to the economy and layoffs, the work load has been put on fewer people and they're taxed to the brim. And really it's an old dating adage but it's like teaching people how to treat you. You have to, in some instances, lay down the law. There are times when there are heavy duty projects and at 6 o'clock you can be expected to be in communication with the office. But at 2 o'clock in the morning on a Sunday or a Saturday night, that's a big NO NO.
You can respond back quickly on the Sunday morning  saying "I'd love to take care of this, you know I'll give it some thought over the course of the weekend and let's touch base first thing Monday morning." You help to set the boundaries, as long as you're indicating you're a team player and as long as there isn't a sense of urgency. If there's a real emergency I do believe you have to step up at the end of the day.
Mary: But what if that "emergency" keeps re-occurring?
Nicole: If this emergency is happening every single weekend, depending on the industry your in, you may need to re-think whether or not this is the industry or the company for you.
Mary: But if it's just a bad habit your boss has developed, you may have to lay down the law-delicately, right?
 Nicole: Don't be afraid of saying no. But say no in a
positive way. Another great way of saying no is "Hey,
listen there are five tasks that I have on my to-do
list here, help me to prioritize. What do you think is most
important? This way the boss will be more understanding
that you do have a lot of things on your agenda and you
are working weekends and nights to fill all of the
requirements but allow them to help you to prioritize. So
this way you are not saying "I won't do this" but rather
"Hey, help me to understand which is the priority here."
BTW Nicole says before you have the "boundary talk" with your boss-get a script together and make sure it is up-beat. Then, rehearse it-and finally, stick to it!
Check out Mary's website Mary Talks Money.
Join Mary at the From Purses to Portfolios Conference on October 23, 2010! |
Meals for a $teal
Check out this delicious and easy recipe for roast chicken! Earn 1 Purses' hour: email me your favorite Money $aving recipes and I will feature them in our newsletters and add them to my personal cookbook (tami@dfli.org).
Enjoy!
TamiSpicy
Rapid Roast Chicken Prep Time: 15 Min
Cook Time: 1 Hr
Ingredients 1 (3
pound) whole chicken 1/4
teaspoon ground black pepper
1
tablespoon olive oil 1/8
teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4
teaspoon paprika
1/4
teaspoon dried oregano
1/4
teaspoon dried basil
1. Preheat oven to 450
degrees F (230 degrees C). 2. Rinse chicken
thoroughly inside and out under cold running water and remove all fat. Pat dry with paper towels. 3. Put chicken into a
small baking pan. Rub with olive oil. Mix the salt, pepper, oregano, basil,
paprika and cayenne pepper together and sprinkle over chicken. 4. Roast the chicken in
the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Lower the oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees
C) and continue roasting 40 minutes, to a minimum internal temperature of 180
degrees F (85 degrees C). Let cool 10 to 15 minutes and serve. For more recipes: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spicy-Rapid-Roast-Chicken/Detail.aspx
|
|
|
| Here are this month's best buy items. Look for them at your local grocery stores.
 Breakfast foods
- hot & cold cereals
- oatmeal
- frozen
pastries
- sandwiches
- pancake mix Compiled by Teri Gault, author of Shop Smart, Save More. | |
|
Keep Up with The Money School
& From Purses to Portfolios
Class updates, links, quotes, and lots of valuable information!
|
|
|
