US Finance World

Financial products such as interest free credit cards are useful when you use them on a regular basis, but what about if you have an emergency? Many people make use of their credit card for things such as this, like if they have an unexpected payment they need to make at short notice. As long as you stay within your credit limit, this is absolutely fine, but what about once you have taken care of the emergency?

Managing your credit card payments is always important as you have certain obligations to meet as a card holder. This means you need to make at least your minimum payment every month in order to keep up with your commitments. This is arguably even more important if you have used your credit card in an emergency situation, such as to take care of repair bills or to pay for a hotel if your car breaks down.

This is because the expenditure will be out of the norm for you, and so it is important to budget it for it so you can pay it off as quickly and easily as possible. Read more…

As a major car dealer falls foul of the Office of Fair Trading, we expose the tricks of the trade.

Last week used-car seller Carcraft was humbled by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). The consumer watchdog criticised Carcraft, which owns 11 car supermarkets in England and Wales, for poor business practices in its before- and after-sales service.

The regulator launched an investigation after some Carcraft customers complained that their cars developed serious faults shortly after purchase. The OFT found that Carcraft’s 120-point pre-sale vehicle inspections were not always carried out properly.

As a result of unsatisfactory cars not being repaired or replaced, the OFT criticised Carcraft’s after-sales guarantee.

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A recent survey of 300 professionals involved in the hiring process indicated that 91% of them have used social media profiles to screen job applicants.

Amongst the three major social networks:

- 76% used Facebook

- 53% used

- 48% used LinkedIn

The breakdown may seem a bit surprising at first. Intuitively you may think that LinkedIn would be used the most, but Facebook has a much higher adoption rate and is likely to show a bit more of what youre really about (LinkedIn essentially serves as an online resume with network connections).

Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for dirt on you! 69% of survey respondents have rejected candidates based on what they found in your profile. Reasons cited include inappropriate photos or comments, lying about your qualifications, drinking/drug comments, negative comments about your previous employers, and confidential information shared.

Why are Recruiters Using Social Media Profiles?

This may come as a shock to you that employers are using your authentic musings against you, but it shouldnt!

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Whether you’re just starting out or have incurred a lot of debt, having a financial plan can create a new financial outlook for you. Some people choose to do it on their own while others look forward to working with professional planners. Regardless of how you decide to do it, know that there are a variety of local organizations that offer quality financial planning services. All you have to do is your research and a simple web search. However, with either option you choose, there are some things that you must do to get the most out of your financial planning.

Before you do anything, put together a list of all of your short and long term goals. Even include goals that will require you spend a good grip of money. This may be vacationing, buying a home, car or sending a child to college. Regardless of what it is, you must include it. A Read more…

Retailers are betting that cheap e-readers will help them sell more e-books. That may be true, but readers also have many new options for free or very cheap e-books.

Amazon, which launched a $79 Kindle in late September, announced Thursday that it would offer members of its $79 Amazon Prime service the opportunity to borrow e-books from a catalogue of more than 5,000 titles. Barnes & Noble, which is expected to announce its new lineup of Nook e-readers Nov. 7, may eventually follow suit with a similar subscription-type offering, says Peter Wahlstrom, a senior analyst for Morningstar.

In the meantime, however, readers have no lack of free content, says Alex Goldfayn, a marketing consultant specializing in consumer electronics. Earlier this fall, Amazon joined Barnes & Noble and Sony in making titles available to libraries for consumer borrowing. (Some libraries may soon also let you borrow a Kindle itself, free.) Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Books and other sites also have thousands of out-of-copyright titles available for free.

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It’s quite tough to get a job after retirement. This is not only because of the declining physical conditions of the body, but also due to the deteriorating mental strength of the individuals during that age. This is where equity release appears to be blessing for the retirees.

The trivial pension that the old individuals get is hardly able to meet the essential expenses. The scheme of releasing equity has several benefits to avail which the retirees have to be eligible in different terms.

To be eligible, however, here are the eligibility criteria that one requires to fulfil:

-          First is to have an eligible age, and

-          The second is to have an ownership of a house.

When it comes to the second eligibility criteria, just possessing a property is not enough. But one needs to have a house that is well-maintained. Before giving their consent to the equity release application, the lenders pay a visit to the asset of the applicants.

Based on the value of the property, they decide whether or not to allow the retirees the loan. The better maintain Read more…

Are you tired of renting a home to live in? Have you found the perfect home in the United Kingdom and now want to get a mortgage to buy it? What most people don’t realize is that getting a mortgage is simple once you know how to do it and have prepared for it. What some people don’t understand is that the more prepared you are for a mortgage the easier it all will be. If there is one thing that I know it is that you have to qualify for a mortgage and if you don’t then you won’t be able to get a house.

The first thing that you need to do in order to get a mortgage is to make sure your credit is ok. Most banks will not give money to somebody that can’t pay their bills back and has things that are outstanding. If you want to get a mortgage, then you need to pay all your bills on time or else risk the possibility of a bad loan.

Did you know that your income affects your ability to get a home loan? Most peop Read more…

You can make bumper returns on your cash by locking it away in these ace accounts!

Since March 2009, the Bank of England’s base rate has been firmly stuck at an all-time low of 0.5% a year. While ultra-low rates are great for mortgage borrowers, they’ve caused savers huge stress.

What’s more, with savings rates plunging to lifetime lows, it’s almost impossible for cash deposits to beat the steeply rising cost of living. Right now, inflation is running at 5.2% a year, which beats 99.9% of savings accounts hands down!

One way to fight back against low savings rates is to lock away your cash for pre-arranged periods.

By ‘handcuffing’ your cash for a year or more, you can dramatically boost the returns it earns.

Read more…