Luke 14:28-30 (The Message)

-John C. Maxwell

By getting your money sooner you can apply it to debt or invest right away. If you owe money, the longer you keep it the more time you have it to work for you.

This day and age, credit card fraud is very common.  Victims of credit card fraud often experience a lot of hassle and stress.  If you have a credit card, you should always be aware of the security features that’s included with the card.  If you’re looking to get a credit card, you should always make sure that it offers plenty of security.

With credit card companies all over the United States, credit card fraud is becoming more and more common.  Consumers are becoming more and more aware of the situation, and always look for ways to protect themselves.  Many companies that offer credit cards are looking into other methods of security, to prevent credit card fraud from happening.

The ideal way to protect yourself against fraud is to check the monthly credit card statements you receive.  By looking at your statements, youíll easily be able to tell if your account has suffered any type of fraud.  If you notice any type of fraudulent charges, you should instantly contact your credit card company and inform them.  This way, they look into it and try to retrieve the money that was illegally stolen from you.

Another way that you protect yourself from fraud is to never reply to emails that may appear to be sent by your bank or credit card company.  There are a lot of fake emails going around, that will steal your information should you enter it in.  You should always use caution with emails, and reply only if you know that the email was indeed sent from your bank or credit card provider.

You can also protect yourself from fraud by keeping your credit card around you at all times.  When you hand it to someone to make a payment, ensure that it is given back to you promptly. You should also keep it safe from others so they canít view your information.  When you carry your credit card with you, you should always keep it in a safe place, such as your wallet.  This way, you donít have to worry about it falling out.

There are always steps that you can take, to avoid falling into the trap of thieves and criminals.  Criminals are always out there, looking for ways that they can steal your credit card information.  Therefore, itís up to you to protect yourself.  Credit card fraud happens quite frequently these days, normally as a result of credit card holders not being aware of how to protect themselves.  Anytime you suspect credit card fraud, you should contact your bank or company.  This way, you can let them know what happened – and take the necessary steps in stopping fraud before it goes on any farther.

I would like yourrecommendations of the ideal ways you know to get out of debt. I have listed a few below to get the ideas flowing in your mind. Use the contact form above to submit your ideas. I will than put the ideas together and show them to you in a future post. So if you have arecommendation please submit it today.

• Stay out of Debt. Pay cash for all your purchases and don’t take on any new debt accept for a home home.
• Spend less than you earn. Live below your income.
• When your debt is closed out, put 60% into savings and enjoy the remaining 40%,
• Know your liabilities. Create a spreadsheet showing exactly everything you owe, include monthly payments, interest, balances and a running total of all your balances. Update it monthly as you pay off debt. It is very motivating to watch the change.
• Only have one credit card. It must have a low limit and you must pay it off every month.
• Build your emergency fund. Any extra money, via tax return, birthday, raise, etc. put into your emergency fund. Once that’s built add it to your debt payoff.
• Cut up your credit cards and do not get any new ones.

Money is like a reputation for ability–more easily made than kept.
-Samuel Butler

The safest way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it in your pocket.
-Frank McKinney Hubbard

Money begets money.
-Italian Proverb

Anybody can make a fortune, it takes a genius to hold on to one.
-Jay Gould (attributed)

Money is flat and meant to be piled up.
-Scottish Proverb

There are times it helps to transfer credit card debt to another that has a much lower interest rate. By doing this it will give you a lower interest payment. However this does not solve the debt problem and may give you the feeling that you might have something and than you become lazy on your debt payoff plan.

Switching to a lower interest rate is okay, but only saving 2% of the plan. You still have 98% to payoff and $100 of your $2,500 debt isn’t the problem. So be wary of the temptation that a transfer to a lower rate will fix your debt problem.

Take Higher Deductibles. In a way you are partially self-insuring yourself by being willing to take the chance that you will not get sick, you won’t crash your car, or you will not get burglarized. The higher your deductible the lower your premium will be. Insurance companies actually compensate the customer who is willing to take on part of the risk.

Commute by Carpool. You will find that most insurance companies offer discounts to low-mileage drivers, and you can keep your mileage down by carpooling with your friends to work.

Insurance Discounts. Find a company that gives discounts if you have all your insurance under them. Insurance companies are able to offer volume discounts under these circumstances.

Don’t make Small Claims. Submitting many small claims can lead to a policy cancellation or premium hikes. Most insurance companies think that a frequent filer is heading for a serious accident.

Don’t be Predictable. If you park your vehicle in the same place for the same amount of time day or night, thieves know about it and know how much time they’ll need to make off with it. So be unpredictable in your automobile parking habits.

Here are a few tips to save you money when you are on heading out on vacation this summer.

Ask for a cheaper rate at a hotel/motel

Make sure that you are talking to someone in authority such as a manager if you want to bargain. A good strategy is to call before you arrive and imply that you’ll only be staying there if their rates appease you.

Don’t pay for anything other than your room

Food, gifts, movies, whatever. Just about everything in the a motel/hotel are priced high so if you need something get it elsewhere.

Look at the great outdoors

On a week-long summer excursion to Glacier National Park, you will pay $12 per night for the right stay in the campgrounds. Those who lodge in the chalet 1/4 mile away will pay in excess of $100 per night. (prices may change so do not quote these, check them out for sureon the webor by phone)