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"Many politicians are in the habit of laying it down as a self-evident proposition that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story who resolved not to go into the water till he had learned to swim."

Thomas B. Macaulay



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Featured Structured Settlements Articles

Buy Mortgage Notes
This article provides useful, detailed information about Buy Mortgage Notes. Before beginning to actually start buying mortgage notes, buyers need to consider several options and avenues. They first need to select the right mortgage note ...

Credit Report – Check Yours Regularly.and for Free
In the twenty-first century, there are few documents that have a greater impact on the lives of Americans then their credit report. Credit rating determines one's ability to buy a home, a car, or to obtain a credit card or a job. Since these things are ...

To Factor or Not to Factor?
The purchasing of accounts receivable (invoices) is generally known as factoring. Businesses can sell their invoices to companies known as factors. Although not all businesses are familiar with factoring, historians claim that factoring dates back to the ...




Minimum Credit Card Payments to Rise
 
For years, major credit card companies have allowed cardholders to make minimum payments of 2% of the outstanding balances on their credit cards. Having customers pay the minimum doesn't reduce the balance by very much, but when the 18-30% interest rates that many credit cards charge is applied, the result is a profitable ones for the banks that issue credit cards. A balance of $1000 can take nine years to pay off at 20% interest if the borrower only pays the minimum due each month.

Clearly, it is not in the best interests of consumers to pay the minimum every month. But tens of thousands of Americans do just that, carrying huge balances and paying the minimum every month. The average household now carries $10,000 in credit card debt; for many people, paying the minimum is all they can manage. Due to changes in Federal law, several major credit card issuing banks will soon raise the minimum amount due to 4%. This might seem like a small increase, but if you are already deep in debt and paying the minimum amount, this could cause your payments to double. If you have a $10,000 balance and you are paying $200 per month, you will soon need to come up with $400 instead. Many people will find this impossible to do, as they are already paying as much as they can. What solutions are available?

The usual common sense rules of credit card use apply here. Stop using your credit cards. See if you can consolidate your debt on another credit card with lower interest. See if you can cut out some unnecessary expenses in order to free up some more money to pay your balance. Consider a home equity loan to consolidate your debt. Call your card issuing bank and see if they can work out repayment plan or lower your interest rate. There are numerous solutions available, but card holders need to be aware that the minimum payment is rising, and it isn't going to come back down. By charging a 4% minimum, the credit card issuing banks are hoping that consumers will pay off their debt a bit sooner and that fewer consumers will find themselves in a situation where filing for bankruptcy is the only solution. And once October comes around, even filing for bankruptcy will be more difficult. Credit card holders with large balances on their accounts should give considerable thought to reducing their debt now, as payment options and requirements are going to be more strict from now on.

About the Author
©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling, and StructuredSettlementHelp.com, a site devoted to information regarding structured settlements.


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Structured Settlements News

David Miller Appointed Chief Executive Officer of J.G. Wentworth - Businesswire.com
BRYN MAWR, Pa.--( BUSINESS WIRE )--David Miller has been named chief executive officer of J.G. Wentworth effective January 5, 2009, according to Randi Sellari, president and chief operating officer of the company. “We are delighted to have an ...

The Quartet's Hypocrisy and Failure in Occupied Palestine - Boston IMC
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Ozark Profile : Carson thrives on bench while filling seat for ... - Northwest Arkansas News
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URBANA – Between September and December 2008, volunteers contributed about 9,000 hours of free labor to Urbana schools. At the Tuesday meeting of the Urbana school board – held at 7:30 p.m. at 205 N. Race St., U – Barbara Linder, the school ...

minazione e resistenza irakena - Uruk Net
La XX Assemblea Generale dell’ONU (1965) dichiara "la legittimità della lotta da parte dei popoli sotto oppressione coloniale, per esercitare il loro diritto all' autodeter- minazione e all'indipendenza". Inoltre, l'Assemblea invita "tutti gli ...