Imagine a credit card that has the picture of your loved pet with stunning design. Won’t you like to gift this credit card to your pet? No more waiting the Bank of America – Pet Rewards Visa Card is here. Designed specifically for pets, this Visa card brings a host of rewards for your pet and that too with great credit card benefits. In this article we take a look at the features and costs associated with this credit card.

The Pet Rewards Visa Card from Bank of America gives you , two points for every dollar you spend on qualifying purchases at pet food retailers, specialty stores, farm stores, feed stores, or even veterinarian clinics. Good thing for your pet indeed. this helps you save more as you spend on your pet. Points can also be redeemed for discount certificates on pet-food. With your first purchase you get 500 bonus points and the rewards start at 750 points. This limit is very low and you can start using your rewards within a short period of time. In addition to these the Bank of America – Pet Rewards Visa Card provides you cash access at more than 380000 ATMs, total Security Protection Package including Zero Liability for unauthorized card use and fraud monitoring, emergency medical and travel services and auto rental insurance.

Listed below are the fees and interest rates associated with Bank of America – Pet Rewards Visa Card
Continue reading this post…

In order to pay off ones debts it is absolutely essential to manage ones finances effectively. Debt negotiation too plays a very important role. People are under the impression that it is necessary to approach a debt relief agency with professionals to carry out negotiations on their behalf. However this is not at all true. You can negotiate for yourself and save a lot of money too by doing so.

Firstly, you should get all your documents and records pertaining to your debts in order. Put your finances in order. Enlist your sources of income, your expenses and your savings per month. Formulate a realistic budget and set targets that will enable you to pay off your loans. While doing so it will also help you realize how much you can pay per month, how many installments will be required and the level till which you need to negotiate.

While negotiating always remember that you have the upper hand as the money is yet with you. The creditors prefer negotiations rather than filing a case against you or running the risk of you filing for bankruptcy. So always stay calm and determined. Never give in to their pressure.

Some tips while negotiating with the debt collector are:

• Never state the actual amount you are ready to pay right at the start. May be it could reduce further in the course of the negotiations.

• Stay cool. Avoid losing your temper as it could worsen matters. Even if you do not agree you could speak to a senior officer the next day.

• Remain determined and do not yield in to what the collector may try to convince you about.

• Avoid disclosing too much information. Only talk about what is required. The extra information could be used against you.
Continue reading this post…

It’s no myth, having lingering student loans after graduation can be a drag. Think about it — by the time you graduate from college, you’re ready to get on with your life, right? If student loans got you through college, you better believe that they’ll stay with you for years after you graduate – until you pay them off – that’s the honest truth.

Student Loan Consolidation: Offering a way out of student loans

If you have student loans, don’t despair! There is a great way to manage your student loan debt after college (aside from not having any student loans in the first place): student loan consolidation could be the absolute simplest and most money-saving way to manage your student loan debt. Some student loan companies do a heck of a job of it (check out OneSimpleLoan for a great example). So, why anyone would want to defame one of the greatest gifts Uncle Sam has given the modern-day college graduate is, quite frankly, baffling.

Don’t believe the gossip – Student Loan Consolidation is as good as it sounds!

Student loan consolidation is nothing more than taking all of your student loans, along with all their different interest rates, payment slips and loan balances, and combining them into one loan, with one interest rate and one monthly payment. Now, we know that your mother may have said “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” but in this case, your mother would be wrong!

Want to know why? Click here for some classic myths and facts about student loan consolidation.
Continue reading this post…

The American Council of Live Insurers estimates that one third of all adults between the ages of 35 and 65 become disabled for a period of 90 days or more, and one in seven workers will become disabled for more than five years.

Can you afford to live and take care of your family for 3 months or 5 years without income? Probably not! Many people wrongly believe that long-term disability is usually a result of a major accident or some rare cause, but the reality is, most adults become unable to work due to illnesses like heart disease or cancer.

Becoming disabled or otherwise unable to go to work causes a loss of income so devastating to most families that it is the reason for 46% of all home foreclosures, according to statistics provided by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

What is Disability Insurance?

Disability insurance provides coverage for when you are unable to work due to injury or illness. It will replace a portion of your income if you become disabled and cannot work. Many employers offer group disability insurance policies, and will generally replace 60% of your current salary. You can purchase a supplemental individual disability insurance policy to cover up to 70% or 80% of your salary. If you pay for your disability insurance yourself (your employer does not pay for it) it is tax-free.

Employer-Offered Group Disability Insurance
Continue reading this post…

An IVA is a true alternative to bankruptcy. An Insolvency Practitioner (IP) is responsible for liaising with your various creditors to help work out terms in your favor and ensure that you adhere to the agreed payment amount.

What is an IVA?

An IVA is a formal, legally binding agreement between a debtor and his creditors. Designed to free you of the burden of debt in five years or less, an IVA does not publicize your insolvency like bankruptcy. As per the agreement an IP helps you distribute a single monthly payment (over a set period of time usually 5 years) equally between participating creditors. If you have any assets (including equity in your property) it maybe made available to your creditors. However you remain in charge of how they are disbursed.

How Will You As A Debtor Benefit From An IVA?

•High interest rates and charges on all your debts will be frozen

•You can retain your home and assets

•Your employment will not be affected

•Re establish your credit rating

•Self employed can continue to trade

•You are rid of creditor harassment

Are There Any Disadvantages With The Choice Of An IVA?

•75% of your creditors have to agree to the terms and conditions of the IVA

Continue reading this post…