You might think I am crazy, but it seems to me right now, or very soon, is a perfect time to invest.

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How long before the US Dollar is worthless?

What can we even do about it?

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Debt has knock-on effects beyond simple and obvious financial setback. It causes stress, loss of self esteem and feelings of inadequacy. In reaction people often think all they need to do is “tighten their belts”, make some sacrifices, and all will be well.

The problem with this thinking is nowhere in this “self control” and “pay it down” concept does the person address the root causes of their debt.
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Talking to friends and reading forums I see a popular misconception about how success, and in particular money work that I want to share with you to get your feedback on.

This way of thinking in particular I call a “Wealth Limiting Thought“, but there are of course many such beliefs that hold us back.

The reason I picked on this one is because of all of them I think people really do believe the wrong thing, it is not just something we tell ourselves but we even see it as the root idea behind advice. What is this misconception? Read the full story

If you are a sports fan, you might recently have heard pundits talking about this scary quote

60 per cent of retired NBA players go broke five years after their NBA paycheques stop arriving.

Yes, those same basketball players who live millionaire lifestyles many of us could only dream of. One day they wake up and realize they have lower net-worth than members of their entourage, or even their pool boy. How does this happen? Read the full story

APR or Annual Percentage Rate is the true interest rate you’re paying, on an annual basis, on your credit card contract or financial agreement.  This include hidden costs and fees. Knowing the APR should allow you to compare rates among lenders.

The APR includes:

• All fees
• Insurance
• Interest

Once you know the yearly amount of your interest and fees combined, you can do a comprehensive comparison. If you have good credit, you’ll most likely get a credit card with the lowest APR. If you’re applying for a credit card and you’ve never had one before, expect to pay a higher APR. Still, with all the numbers in one tidy APR figure, you’ll have an easier time finding the best rate.

If you’re looking to purchase a house or car, your lender will probably want to look into your credit rating to make sure you’re not a risk.  Your credit rating details your spending habits, but more important, it tells about your payment habits. It should go without saying someone who pays off debts in a timely manner will have a higher credit rating than one who doesn’t always meet his obligations.

While a credit rating is a good indicator of who is a good candidate for a loan, if an applicant has no credit history at all, and therefore no credit rating ,he may also have problems applying for a loan - even if he’s never been in debt his life.

To get a credit history the best thing to do is to apply for a low interest credit card. Use it to make purchases and pay off your balance right away. Soon, you’ll have an excellent credit history, an excellent credit rating and all will be well when you apply for a loan.

Keep in mind that using a credit card to live beyond your means is the best way to ruin your credit history, so use it wisely and responsibly.

Image via stock.xchnge

Most Americans over the age of 18 have at least two credit cards each. From cashback rewards to single monthly payments, credit cards can be handy for sure.

However, they can also be trouble, especially for those who don’t take the time to educate themselves as to how to use credit cards smartly.

Even so, there are some people who simply cannot get credit cards because of bad credit or other reason. For those who can’t use credit cards, or those who don’t want credit cards, there are ways to get along without. Behold:

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The Credit Card APR can be a source of much confusion. It’s funny, a financial tool that is partly about making spending money easy should be so confusing. Even more funny, the very companies that should be explaining this stuff seem to want to keep the mystery going. So here it is, the APR in a nutshell!

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I’ve saved $5000 in the last five years by using a credit card for all my purchases. When I look back at the amount, it amazes me.

Over the last five years I’ve put all my major purchases, from groceries and car down payments to gas for my car and oil to heat my home. When I first started, my card was called Chase Freedom and now it is called Chase Perfect but throughout that time I received 3% cash back on all gas purchases and 1% cash back on everything else.

Doesn’t seem like much, but it really does ad up.

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