Money Blue Book

I have a little secret to share. Well it’s not really a secret so much as it’s a phobia that I’ve held since I was a little kid. Here’s the  secret - I am deathly afraid of household insects, but in particular - cockroaches. There, I’ve said it - the cat’s out of the bag - go ahead and laugh, but it’s not funny (maybe just a little bit). Funny or not, it’s something that makes my heart beat fast, makes my pupils dilate like saucers, and summons forth caveman like instincts to grab the nearest bunny slipper or rolled up U.S. News and World Report magazine for some self-preservation-inspired bug pounding.

The mere sight of the creepy crawly legs and wiggling antennas of the common household cockroach jetting out from dark corners and scampering across bathroom counters and kitchen floors utterly freaks me out. While I don’t instantly jump onto chairs, call my mommy, or scream at the top of my lungs like a little girl, I do become visibly startled and immediately shift into fight mode whenever I encounter a lost spider or resident evil roach in my apartment. I’m sure you PETA fanatics out there may be turned off by my disdain and opposition to the plight of roaches and other household vermin, but I don’t care. Roaches and insects have no place in my home and I’ll do whatever it takes to eradicate the pests. I’ve had too many unfortunate experiences and bad memories of living with roaches during my student years.

Fortunately, I’m currently at a place and time in my life where my financial means now permit me to live in a nicer home far away from roach, rat, and vermin infestation that used to plague the ghetto row houses and low cost apartment rentals where I used to live as a college and graduate student. It’s been a while since I’ve had to deal with the nuisance of roaches or had to arm myself with high caliber anti-roach weaponry to fight off the onslaught of the mighty cockroach horde. But sometimes, scenes on TV and real life will remind me of how things used to be. Right now there’s a really fascinating but disgusting show on the Discovery Channel called the Verminators that I absolutely love to watch. The reality TV show follows a crack team of household pest exterminators as they go from problem home to another, wiping out severe rat, roach, ant, maggot, spider, and even pigeon infestations. The reason I love the show is the gleeful delight and absolute warlike approach the personalities on the show exhibit towards their determination to kill off all resident bugs that infest the homes of their desperate clients. The exterminator pros show no mercy and go full out with their armament of sprays, powders, and oxygen masks to combat the invaders. One time they even brought out an actual gun to take out a mega-rat that was hiding in someone’s attic. The show, while visually horrendous, brings me back to my graduate school days when I faced a massive roach infestation of my own.

My Failed Battle Against The Impressive Roach Army That Resulted In Eventual Retreat and Surrender

Until recently, I’ve always had a roach problem wherever I lived. Even though I consider myself relatively clean when it comes keeping my home tidy, roaches always seemed to invade my home. Probably the biggest reason for that was the fact that much of my early life was spent as a financially frugal student. As I was primarily supported by my overseas-living parents during my early years, I made a conscientious decision to live in apartments and neighborhoods that were affordable, to help lessen the financial burden on my parents who had several tuitions and living expenses to pay for. But as a result of my cost saving measures, every place I’ve lived at was infested with vermin of all types - from rats to roaches. As indicated above, it wasn’t until my recent later years in my late 20’s that I’ve been able to move on up the financial ladder to higher class, vermin-free housing.

Probably the absolute worst out-of-control infestation experience occurred during my post law school years when I was still struggling to settle down with my fledgling law career and build a sustainable living. To keep expenses low and save money, I decided to move into a quiet garden apartment community in a suburb of Maryland. The commute was great, proximity to grocery stores was excellent, and the price seemed too good to be true - it was. Months into my lease, the nightmare began. While I maintained a clean apartment, washing my dishes after every meal and storing away all food products into air tight containers, I kept noticing the appearance of roaches. At first it was just one or two encounters a week. I squished the roaches with my shoe and flushed them down the toilet each time and hoped they would go away, but they never did. They simply started appearing in greater and greater numbers. It got to the point where everytime I turned on my bathroom light, I would see two or three small roaches hanging around the ceiling area or visibly trying to scurry into a wall corner. Each time I got chills and sweated profusely at the sight of the nightmarish invaders. Eventually, their presence spread from the bathroom and into the kitchen, and eventually into the living room. In time I started seeing them during the day as well, a warning sign that I had a serious problem. Roaches are biologically night animals. If you see one during the day, it likely indicates that you have a serious infestation as overcrowding under cabinets and refrigerators probably has forced them out into the open. For each single roach you see in the open, it probably represents hundreds more hiding behind your drywall or between your floorboards.

At the time I was busy with work so I had little time to deal with my apartment management and forcefully compel them to eliminate the pests. But in response to a few calls and complaints, my apartment complex hired an exterminator, but the roach baits they set forth were ineffective. Eventually I simply went full out and took matters into my own hands. I headed to Home Depot to arm myself with all that consumer bug fighting technology had to offer. I purchased every single roach bait, egg stopper, roach gels, boric acid powder, and roach spray brand I could find - everything from MaxForce to Raid. I probably purchased more roach motel traps and roach gel bait devices than I needed, but I was determined to eliminate their presence from my home forever. All in all, I probably had more than 60 individual roach bait traps for a small apartment that was only about 700 square feet in all. I lined all corners and walls with multiple roach baits, and inserted gel bait poisons into all cabinet cracks and wall corners. I also dusted hard to reach areas with a layer of boric acid, a white powder that is not grossly toxic to humans or most pets like cats, dogs, and birds, but is supposedly deadly towards insects as it eats away their hard shell skin thereby dehydrating them to death. However, while I started seeing piles of upside down roaches everywhere, indications that my baits were working, the onslaught kept coming. Everyday I would see dead roaches everywhere, but new live ones seemed to keep taking their places, gnawing on the dead roach carcasses for nourishment.

Even my poor pet parrot was not immune to the onslaught. Even though he was never physically harmed, his cage was also slowly invaded by the swarming roaches. To protect my pet parrot to the best of my ability, I made sure to keep his cage clean at all times and placed his cage on a plastic lawn furniture table in my living room. I lined the bottom of the plastic table with a thick coat of boric acid powder to ensure that the only way that roaches could invade the cage was by walking through the white powder of insect death. However, day in and day out, I would look at my parrot’s bedding liner to find that the roaches had determinedly strolled through the boric acid powder and made their way into the bottom liner of his cage to seek out food products. When I pulled out the cage’s poop tray to clean it one time, I freaked out when more than 15 roaches scurried out from the plate and began crawling the walls, heading to the ceiling to escape like some horror movie. The nightmarish sight sent deathly chills down my back, made me sweat in horror, and even caused me to bleat out a few uncontrollable expletives. Although upon inspection, the bird cage invading roaches were covered with boric acid powder from head to toe, the resilient suckers simply refused to die. While most online commentators generally cheer the beneficial roach killing abilities of boric acid powder, I must point out that the effects are often slow and unpredictable.

Although I was incredibly busy with my job at the time, I eventually found time to storm into my apartment complex manager’s office to demand that they hire a competent exterminator to fix this emergency situation. Eventually the management relented and hired a more expensive crew to come in and flush the roaches out. The professionals came in with their roach pesticide sprays and laid down lines of defensive deadly roach pesticide trails designed to kill roaches on contact that trample onto them. Then they used a special roach flushing agent to spray into floorboard cracks and underneath appliances to flush out the roach colonies into the open so that they would walk onto the pesticide laden floors. It worked for a while - as there was a huge spike in dead roach bodies as the flushed out roach families were annihilated. But even with professional baits laid out to control the outbreak, the efforts were ultimately futile. The roaches continued to crawl around my dishes, hide in my television set, relax in my stove, and even find their way into my fridge of all places. The final straw was when friends came over to visit me and one of them sat down on my sofa only to stand up moments later with a squished roach on her butt.

Eventually, I shifted into lawyer mode and sent a very threatening legal letter to my landlord demanding that I be fully released from my apartment lease obligations, citing the management’s violation and breach of our contract to keep the premises a safe and reasonably livable place. There was simply nothing else I could do. After talking with the exterminator, I learned that I was fighting a losing cause. Because my discount apartment complex was so old and populated by lower income families that had a habit of illegally stuffing multiple families into one apartment meant for only one, sanitation and cleanliness were major problems. Even though I kept my own apartment clean, massive roach infestations in the adjacent apartments were causing them to spill over into my unit. At the end, I was released from my lease and left my ghetto apartment in a hurry. Ultimately, I had to pay substantially more in monthly rent to live at a new, clean, and higher class apartment complex free of roaches and vermin. My rent soared from $800 a month at my old place to more than $1475 for the new place. While it’s a lot more money, I don’t regret a single thing about my decision to pay more in rent. Freedom from roach infestations is definitely worth the heavier financial price. Saving money is great, but having that extra few hundred in my account isn’t worth the sheer torment of living with roaches invading your life completely and taking over your sanity.

Roach Infestations Are Bad For Your Health and Must Be Eliminated Quickly (Easier Said Than Done)

So other than the scare factor, why are cockroaches and the infestation that they bring to our homes so bad for you and I? First of all, it should be noted that not all insects are inherently bad. Some bugs like spiders and millipedes actually serve useful ecological purposes. Without their presence, our human existence would be inundated with out of control growth populations of pesky critters of all sorts. Most of these utilitarian insects help to control general insect population by building webs to trap, eat, and kill off other insects, helping to keep a lid on spiraling population growth. While I’m generally afraid of insects and roaches in particular, there are bugs that I have friendly, harmonious relationships with. When I see insects like lady bugs or even cicadas, I don’t mind picking them up with my bare fingers to inspect them. I see them as friendly insects that help the environment, so I’m not automatically afraid of them. Roaches of all breeds on the other hand are a different story - they are simply vile. While cockroaches live all around the world and come in all shapes and sizes, the breeds I’m most adverse to are the classic American and German cockroach. These two breeds are the most common roach pests found in American homes.

Roaches are the ultimate scavengers and harbingers of disease, germs, and insect fecal wastes. They have no qualms about walking through through poo or other disgusting solids and liquids. Their bodies frequently carry around all sorts of germs and potential infection spreading agents. One huge problem that they cause for inhabitants of homes that they infect is the creation of roach dust that they build up and leave behind. Roach dust is made up of decayed roach body parts and droppings that become airborne, infecting our breathing and embedding itself onto our hairs, clothes, and furniture. Roach dust is a powerful asthmatic agent that has the potential to trigger significant asthma attacks in sensitive people.

Cockroaches will consume almost anything organic and even somethings otherwise inorganic. They’ll chew threw paper, cloth, oils, bodily wastes, and any type of food or liquid product you leave behind. These little evil cannibals will even snack on the dead bodies of their fellow roach comrades they come across. Nothing is off limits when it comes to their diets. In their never ending pursuit for food, roaches often follow the footsteps of humans into homes and stay close to sources of water and food - which is why they are often found in bathrooms, kitchens, and places where food is plentiful (like near your dog or cat’s food bowl).

The one singular thing that makes them so terrible and deserving of a spot in the Bible as an Old Testament plague is the fact they breed insanely fast and are nearly impossible to get rid of. Female roaches can lay up to 40 eggs at a time, laying up to a 400 evil babies in a lifetime. Their lifespan is a year long and adult roaches can go for a month without food, and even up to an hour without oxygen. They can live off of virtually anything. Even the organic glue compound found on the back of stamps or the nourishment of your dead skin flakes can sustain them for weeks.

Cockroaches are also very difficult to kill. Not only do they run like Olympic track stars, their bodies are extremely well adapted to fend off damage. Because their breathing system is made up of tubes on their bodies called trachea, they can continue to live even after their heads or limbs are chopped off - talk about walking zombies. Also, have you tried to chase down a roach with your shoe before? It’s nearly impossible. It’s like playing whack a mole on steroids as they dart around so fast, it’s scary. They are able to quickly scurry into wall corners and flatten their bodies to avoid your newspaper punishment. They are also primarily nocturnal, preferring to come out at night. When they do, they are very stealthy and experts at staying hidden, invading your cabinets, sinks, toothbrushes, and your food stocks right under your nose. At the mere presence of light, they often smartly run for cover, unlike their more stupid cousin bugs that often sit there, succumbing to flattening attacks by humans.

How Do I Get Rid Of A Mild Cockroach Infestation, and Kill Roaches Using Roach Bait and Roach Traps?

The following words of advice are only suitable for those of you who have mild roach outbreaks in your home. If you only see a lone roach wandering around your home once every year, you probably don’t have an infestation as it probably piggybacked into your home via a plastic grocery bag or something like that. However, if you are seeing them every few days, particular during the daytime when they are supposed to be in hiding, you may have a serious problem. If professional treatment and baiting are powerless, your only recourse may be to move out of your home completely like I did and not look back (if that option is available to you). Some things in life are lost causes. In serious infestations, the roaches probably have spread throughout all apartment buildings or all parts of your house. They’ve probably inhabited your base walls and have set up massive colonies of roach eggs and roach nurseries that are nearly impossible to eliminate completely. Remember, a single female roach once impregnated can continue to lay eggs throughout her entire life, spawning hundreds of hatchlings from just a single individual.

If the roach outbreak is not so dire where moving out is demanded, hiring a professional exterminator might due the trick. Professional exterminators have legal access to much more powerful roach flushing agents and pesticides to kill those little critters. For those who have children and pets in the home and are leery about using toxic pesticides, professional exterminators also have access to potent roach baits and gels that are less toxic for humans and pets. They work by slowly poisoning roaches. Laced with attractive smells to entice a roach, the victim eats the bait and ingests the delayed action poison that will ultimately kill it. When it travels back into the wall boards, it brings some of the poisoned food with it to share with others. In time, roach baits can kill off entire roach populations if the problem has not completely spiraled out of control.

In my opinion, cockroach bombs and roach foggers should be avoided. Not only are they extremely toxic to humans and pets, but their limitations are very well documented and observed. The irritants do drive away roaches temporarily, but they are not effective in killing the populations completely. The roaches will simply run for cover and hide until the toxic plumes have faded. As soon as you move back into your home after the roach bomb has done its work, they will come back out to play. Also, don’t waste your money on those pointless electronic pest control repellent scams that you see on TV all the time. Supposedly, simply by plugging the electronic pest control repellent device into your electrical outlet and activating it, the system emits an ultra high frequency wave that irritates and drives away pests like roaches and rodents. These devices are supposed to be safe for both humans and pets. However, they’re pure junk and scams in my opinion. Both rats and roaches are extremely durable and hardy animals, conditioned to survive even nuclear devastations if it ever came down to it, so neither of them is likely going to be stopped by some pointless frequency wave. To get rid of them, you’re going to have to resort to good old fashioned roach food deprivation and chemical warfare. Ditch the expensive electronic pest control repellent devices and don’t waste your money.

For those of you with mild roach infestations, here are some home remedies and homemade solutions to help you kill them, exterminate their colonies, and keep your home free of pesky cockroaches. Much of your efforts will be spent targeting notorious problem areas like the kitchen and bathroom.

Household Solutions To Get Rid Of A Mild To Manageable Roach Problem:

1) Eliminate the Roaches’ Source Of Food, Water, Shelter, and Entry - Unless you live in a shared apartment complex that allows roaches to travel freely from one unit until into another, keeping your home clean is the most effective way to get rid of roaches. Cockroaches invade our homes usually to seek out food and water. Wash your dishes immediately after every meal and wipe down kitchen counters frequently, as roaches like to snack on greases and food oils. Vacuum your carpet and wipe down your hardwood floors and tiles as often as you can to ensure no food or liquid particles remain to feed the roaches. Fix leaky faucets as well as they offer roaches a free tasty source of water to drink from. If you have pets like cats, dogs, or even birds, clean the pet living areas frequently and make sure their food bowls are washed and cleaned after use. Dog food sacks are frequently targets of roaches - always seal them in special airtight containers. Also, make sure there are no open canisters of food or liquids anywhere in your home. Roaches can sniff them out and they will find them. Practice throwing out your trash bags on a daily basis. Trash cans contain all sorts of attractive aromas for roaches. Eliminate this prevalent food source if you can.

Finding out how they are getting into your home is easier said than done. Oftentimes roaches found their way into your home via air vents, front doors, or even cracks outside of your home. Oftentimes, telltale signs like roach droppings - tiny brown pellets of slime, indicate the presence of roaches. Frequently, professional help is needed to help you pinpoint the entry way. Finding out where they are living in your home exactly is also difficult without expert help. But once you locate how they enter your home and where they congregate, a liberal application of roach pesticide spray along the access points will provide long lasting walkways of doom for these roaches.

2) Use Non Toxic Boric Acid Or Diatomaceous Earth - While I’ve personally had limited success with using boric acid or even diatomaceous earth powder to control roach populations, perhaps you’ll have more success than I. Borate powders are generally non toxic to humans, pets, and children although you obviously shouldn’t intentionally ingest them. My parrot, my friend’s cat, and myself remained perfectly healthy in the presence of boric dusted rooms. However, these powders are supposedly toxic and deadly for inspects. As insects like roaches come into contact with the powder, the powder sticks onto their outer shell, causing gradual roach death. The downside is that boric acid powder kills very slowly and sometimes it may take days before the acid takes effect. But the plus side is that the compound can remain effective for years if the powder remains dry. Boric acid powders also allow you to dust in areas where the roaches are likely to hide and where humans and pets are less likely to come in contact with - such as in the crevices behind your kitchen appliances and spaces underneath your refrigerator.

Boric acid can be purchased at local retail hardware stores and most drug stores. They usually come in a squeeze bottle with a narrow spout that allows easy dusting once cut. Retail boric acid powder is usually white although some brands color the product light blue so you can see the product better. The key is to dust in areas where roaches are likely to walk through. Roach behavior usually dictates that they prefer to walk along edges where their bodies are in constant contact with some type of wall. Thus, remember to dust the boric acid under your stove and refrigerator, along wall edges, around door frames and open spaces inside of cabinets, sinks, and shelves.

Another product that is used by some is a form of illegal insecticide commonly called “Chinese Chalk”, because of their sale in many Chinatown locations. However the sale and purchase of Chinese Chalk is illegal due to the many child related poisonings attributed to the product’s resemblance to common classroom chalk. Supposedly, one can use the chalk to draw lines of kill zones on the ground to poison any roach or ant that walks across it. It probably works the same way as boric acid, but with substantially greater toxicity and health danger to humans. I don’t recommend using it - it’s illegal anyway.

3) Use Roach Traps, Roach Bait, and Roach Gels - Roach baits in all forms contain a combination of poison chemical and attractive food lures to entice roaches to eat them. They are actually quite effective if used in large quantities in strategic indoor locations where it’s dark and moist. Like boric acid powder, they both kill slowly. However, this slow killing power is actually the most effective form of mild roach infestation control because it allows the poison to be ingested and taken by the roach into the roach lair to kill the population at its source.

The baits can come in the form of a little plastic roach bait station (roach motel) or they can come in gel syringe form. The plastic roach baits are easier to set and tend to last longer in duration, but I think they are slightly less effective than roach gel baits. Gel baits are very effective but they tend to dry out quicker, not to mention the gels are messier and harder to clean up. The gels also need to be re-applied every few weeks for maximum effect. Roach gels should be lightly applied in corners, on plumping fixtures, on interior cabinet edge corners, and under appliances where it’s usually dark. Remember not to combine roach bait and roach gels with instant killing pesticide sprays. The objective with baits is not to kill them instantly, but to allow one infected roach to spread the poison love to others. Popular retail roach bait brands include MaxForce, Combat, and Raid. I don’t have any preferences or recommendations because they’re all about the same in terms of effectiveness. Try buying all three and using them all simultaneously if you have the money to do so - their poison chemical compositions differ somewhat.

4) Use Roach Insecticide Sprays - These aerosol powered spray cans contain a lethal dose of bug killing liquids. By spraying the roach insecticide chemicals along hidden baseboard floors and on dark and hidden areas underneath and inside cabinets where roaches frequent, you provide tremendous roach killing power on contact. The insecticide sprays contain a chemical that instantly starts to kill the roaches on contact should one wander across a sprayed area. While it’s great to know that it’s lights out for any roach that crosses its path, the sprays do not provide much residual or long lasting roach control. Only roach baits can target the roach nests and hit the source of the spawning problem. However, back when I had a heavy roach problem, I always kept a few bottles around at the ready. Chasing a fast running roach is much easier with a roach spray. It beats having to swing wildly like a drunkard with a shoe or newspaper.

5) Use Water Jars (Vegas Roach Jars) - Another common household remedy to combat mild roach problems is the use of a so-called Las Vegas roach trap jar. It’s called that because the practice was recently popularized by a Las Vegas news report of its effectiveness in catching roaches. While I’ve never tried it out, the concept sounds rather interesting.  The Vegas  cockroach trap consists of a glass jar filled with coffee grounds (as bait), and a little bit of water that is placed against a wall. It is important that the roach jar trap is placed against a wall because roaches prefer to travel along edges where their bodies can maintain constant contact with a wall. Some people like to place Scotch masking tape on the outside of the jar to give the roach more traction. However, once they fall into the jar, the slippery glass surface prevents them from being able to climb out. Supposedly, cockroaches are attracted to these water jars. This type of homemade anti-roach remedy if effective, is a wonderful alternative to using toxic insecticides and baits. But frankly, I’m not fully convinced the technique actually works.

I’m sure everyone has their own secrets and methods to killing roaches. Feel free to share your ideas.

Cheapskate, Appropriately Frugal, or Brilliantly Simple? You Decide

Well we’ve finally reached the dog days of summer - the hottest stretch of heat sweltering days of July and August. For those of you who live in colder climates, bless your hearts - enjoy the mild temperatures while you can because colder weather will be upon you soon. But for everyone else who lives in a state or region that enjoys four seasons year round with hot and humid summers like I do, it’s time for all of us to get outside and enjoy that nice sunshine warmth.

One of the best ways to get some mild exercise, and enjoy the great outdoors with the family at the same time is to visit an amusement theme park like Six Flags, Busch Gardens, or Disney World. Now you might be thinking to yourself - wait, visiting an amusement isn’t exercise and it sure isn’t the great outdoors. Where is the huffing and puffing, and where are the essential greenery that make up the great outdoors? I guess that’s where you and I differ - I consider the great outdoors to be anywhere that’s not cooped up inside an air conditioned house or apartment on a summer’s day spent watching TV or playing Nintendo Wii. As long as you are out and about, walking around outside, enjoying the sun’s natural Vitamin-D inducing rays, you are immersed in the great outdoors my friend.

In addition, all that walking around, waiting in line, and strolling from roller coaster ride to concession stand is definitely exercise. It’s not exactly running an Olympic marathon, but you’ll likely burn off some needed calories in the process. The last time I went to Six Flags, my poor puppies (my weird slang for feet) ached after walking around all day. I visited the amusement theme park during pre-season so the lines were incredibly short and non existent, prompting me and my travel companion to walk around even faster to ensure we hit every single roller coaster ride and gaming stand by day’s end. It was a fun, but rather tiring and dizzying experience.

You’re Getting Off Track Again - What About The Free Roller Coaster Photos?

Now, anyone who has ever been to one knows that spending a day at the amusement park does not come cheap. In fact, most places are pretty expensive and if you’re not careful about your budget or keep a tight reign on careless spending on snacks and drinks, you mind find yourself blowing more money than expected - just like you do at the movies. At amusement theme parks like Six Flags, you can expect to shell out anywhere from $25 to $50 per person depending on your age and height, and even more on top of that for meals and other gaming experiences. At mega theme parks like Orlando Florida’s Disney World resorts, tickets range anywhere from $70 for young children to more than $160 for adults for multi-park access. Thus, any little thing you can do to cut costs here and there will help you save lots of money in the long run and prevent you from losing your financial mind.

Here’s a little tip I picked up a while back on how to get free roller coaster photographs of yourself and free on-board pictures of your friends at any amusement theme park. After every major roller coaster ride, as you’re walking down the exit ramp rather dizzily from the experience, you’re likely to bump into the ubiquitous roller coaster souvenir photo booth. At the stand you’ll usually find a sales counter along with multiple television monitors mounted high up, cycling through live digital photo shots of roller coaster riders taken in various stages of facial displays ranging from joy and happiness, to sheer terror (but they are usually all funny). The images are all photos automatically taken by strategically mounted on-ride cameras located throughout the track. Oftentimes, the cameras are installed on segments where the riders experience the greatest speed, resulting in a variety of funny displays of wacky and distorted expressions due to excitement, fear, or just plain wind resistance. Sometimes, all occupants of a single roller coaster car are displayed in one photograph, and sometimes only two or four people are displayed at one time. The photos on the display screen are usually numbered and park customers willing to purchase their own can do so. The instant photos are usually available immediately after the ride is over should you choose to buy them - and they frequently come in a variety of specialty trinket forms like T-shirts and key chains. The prices charged however, are frequently expensive rip off prices. A tiny wallet size photo may cost in excess of $15-20 each. Larger photos may be priced as high as $25-$35 each. Keychains and T shirts can easily cost in excess of $25-$45.

For those who want to get their roller coaster photos for free, you’ll have to act fast as soon as the ride is over. Usually the rollercoaster souvenir booth video displays cycle through the most recent ride results from one car to another before moving on to the next set of new vehicle riders. As guests exit the ride, the display screens update the photos with the latest riders, thereby gradually burying the photos of riders that came before. If you want to save some money, take the limited time opportunity to raise up your digital camera, zoom in, and take a direct digital photograph of the display screen when your rollercoaster shot cycles through. You’ll want to act fast as your photo will likely only be flipped through a few times before disappearing for good. If you’re quick, you just might be able to walk away with a high quality, free roller coaster self shot.

The last time I was at Six Flags, I did just that for numerous rides. It sort of baffled me at the time why no one else was doing it though. As soon as I saw the screen display of my friend and I, I raised my Canon Digital Elph sky high to rise above the crowd of riders waiting to buy souvenir photos, and quickly snapped off a few free shots. As soon as I did that, everyone looked at me with eyes widened, and immediately took out their own cameras to do the same - frantically snapping their own self pics as the display screens flipped to images of them. Such frugal tips seem so common-sensical that we oftentimes fail to realize that we can easily get many things for free just by trying.

Financially or Morally Ethical? It’s Up To You - But Remember, You Did Pay The Price Of Your Pricey Admissions Ticket

While I doubt Six Flags, Disney World, Disney Land, Kings Dominion, Busch Gardens, or Cedar Point officials condone this type of free photograph taking, I’ve never noticed any signs or ticket stub fine print restricting this frugal (albeit freeloading) practice. Support the park and pay your $35 roller coaster souvenir photo at Kingda Ka or any other popular ride if you want. However, in my opinion, you’ve already paid for your price of amusement park admission, so you might as well maximize your budget by taking advantage of free photographing opportunities. Once you snap a photo with your digital camera, you can pretty much make as many digital prints as you want.

I suppose the lawyer part of me feels compelled to address one more concern. As for questions about copyright infringement legalities, don’t worry. Copyright laws only protect the rights of actual tangible mediums of expression whether it be an expression of writing, photography, or music. Yes it would be a possible copyright violation if you were to copy the digital photographs off of the souvenir booth computers directly and reproduce them (that might be considered criminal theft as well). But by using your own personal digital camera to take a photograph of the monitor indirectly, you are in the clear. Feel free to snap away. You are now your own paparazzi!

Updated List Of The Best Credit Card Cash Back Rewards For Google Adwords, Yahoo Search Marketing, and MSN AdCenter

As a personal finance blogger and a dot com mogul-super affiliate tycoon wannabe (I’m joking), I regularly spend sums of money on domain name registrations, web hosting services, and home office computer supplies. However, the bulk of my tax deductible business expenses consist of expenditures for online advertising through top search engines like Google, Yahoo, and MSN. While compared to the big boys (and girls) my advertising budget is comparatively puny, I still seek to maximize my money however I can, whether that means utilizing free promotional coupons for extra savings and free online advertising, or taking advantage of credit card offers to earn cashback rebates on Google Adword purchases.

Online Advertising Through Pay Per Click Works, But It Can Get Expensive Depending On Subject Niche

Those who are familiar with online advertising know that there are a variety of ways and methods to get your website brand or blog name into the search engines and thus into the public eye for maximum traffic. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that all of the methods are created equal. Currently the most popular search engine with the most capability to leverage the most search traffic by far is run by Google. But while the Google Adword program’s certainly the most dominant player in the online marketing world, there are also other lesser options worth mentioning - most notably Yahoo Search Marketing and Microsoft’s MSN AdCenter. Neither Yahoo Search nor MSN AdCenter are likely to topple the 800 pound gorilla of Google Adwords anytime soon, but the smaller search sites still own a small, albeit dwindling piece of the search engine pie.

For those who spend money on internet advertising through Google, Yahoo, or MSN, probably the bulk is spent on paid text link advertising or pay per click (PPC) promotional campaigns. Both paid text links and PPC advertising are used by many bloggers and website promoters to generate traffic needed to convert organic search traffic into profitable affiliate sales. Personally, I highly advise against engaging in buying or selling paid text links, and refuse to engage in paid text link buying or selling myself. The frowned upon practice is a form of marketing suicide in my opinion, and is the number one way to incur the wrath of Google, which sees the buying and selling of paid backlinks as a form of guerrilla attack on the integrity of the Google search engine algorithm.

In contrast, pay per click advertising and the purchasing of approved advertisement links through Google, Yahoo, or MSN’s network of publisher banners and ads are proven and permitted ways to drive website traffic. However, as anyone who engages in pay per click advertising or other affiliate marketing means through Google Adsense or Yahoo Ads knows, the cost to promote a successful PPC ad campaign isn’t cheap. While newbies to internet advertising are unlikely to spend much money initially (a few hundred dollars a month at most), larger scale promoters frequently spend upwards of hundreds to thousands, or even hundred thousands, of dollars on monthly pay per click advertising alone.

Use Credit Card Rewards To Save Money On Online Business and Advertising Expenses (Google Adwords, Yahoo Search Marketing, MSN AdCenter)

Smart business types should always try to find ways to minimize business expenses and utilize as many discounts and promotional offers as possible to net the greatest overall profit. One of the best ways for bloggers and affiliate marketers to save money in this area is to maximize and strategize their use of credit cards rewards. Presuming you are savvy and responsible with your usage of credit, and maintain a respectable FICO credit score to boot, reward credit cards are essential ways for online entrepreneurs and advertisers to maximize their small business spending. Surprised that there are credit card reward programs dedicated and suited for web based businesses and online marketers? Don’t be! While Yahoo and Google credit card advertising rewards are not as well known as say, credit card discount programs for groceries and gas, the area is a steadily growing (albeit not fully tapped) segment of the credit card rewards market. Currently, most of the best cash back credit card rewards for bloggers, webmasters, and internet marketers are not widely advertised, and to get the details requires some digging, which I’ve done below.

For the tax minded business folks who wonder if there is an income tax on credit card rewards or aren’t sure whether one is obligated to report all cash back rewards and point rebates earned through the use of credit cards, rest assured - there is no such tax. Credit card rewards earned by consumers and businesses are viewed as purchase incentives by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the nature of discounts and coupons, not subject to personal income tax liability. So don’t miss out on the cash back savings and discount potential of specialized credit card incentive programs designed to help you finance and pay for your online advertising and promotional efforts.

1) Google Adword and Adsense Pay Per Click Advertising - Get Up To 5% Cash Back With Reward Credit Cards

Until the day Google announces the release of its long awaited Google credit card and starts up its own Google credit card rewards program, the following card offers are your best bet when it comes to earning cashback for money spent on Google advertising. Personally, I can’t wait for Google to come out with its own Google credit card and would be the first to camp out in line for something like that - I’m quite the Google fan. Just the thought of earning Google rebate rewards on a percentage of all Adwords expenditures and the ability to redeem points for either cash or Google branded products like T shirts, mouse pads, and even portable Google fridges would be quite lovely. I used to carry around a Yahoo credit card back when Yahoo offered its own card program. When they eventually discontinued the Yahoo credit card rewards program, I was sad to see it go. It was pretty neat being able to redeem points for cool Yahoo T-shirts and other merchandise - techie stuff you couldn’t get anywhere else.

In the meantime, for those of you who spend a lot of money or even just a little bit on Google Adwords and Google Adsense advertising, here are the best credit cards cards to help you save money and get cash back rewards on your PPC advertising efforts. The rewards you earn can be used for whatever you wish, including plowing them back into more PPC marketing. While Google does not currently have any special deals with any particular credit card issuer to offer Google discounts, there are a few specially suited cards for such purposes.

1. Advanta Platinum BusinessCard For Online Marketers - Also known as the Advanta Platinum Business Card With Customized Cash Back Options, this card offers cardholders the ability to earn as high as 5% cash back on all online marketing expenditures. It’s probably the best overall reward credit card for new bloggers and affiliate marketers who are just getting into the PPC advertising scene. The expenditures that are covered include Google Adwords, Yahoo, MSN Search, and eBay fees. The Advanta rewards program also covers office expenses as well. The high 5% rebate rate is only provided for the first $1,500 of qualified expenditures, and after that it’s a tiered 1% cashback on everything spent.
2. American Express Plum Card - With the highly advertised Plum Card from American Express Open (the Plum card yogurt commercial is everywhere on TV these days), you get an astounding 2% cashback rewards on everything purchased with the card if you pay within 10 days of your billing cycle. The catch is you’ll need to spend above $5,000 a month with your Plum credit card. Anything less and you’ll only earn 1% cashback. Of course, the card was designed for big time spenders and small businesses with high expenses. If you spend a lot of money on Google Adwords or other forms of advertising, you may want to think about the Amex Plum card. There is a hefty $185 annual fee that’s waived for the first year, but it’s easily worth it if your business spends a lot of money on online advertising or other business expenses.
3. Chase Business Cash Rewards Card - With the Chase Business Cash Rewards offer, online entrepreneurs and small business owners can earn up to a tiered 5% cashback on all purchases with no merchant or category restrictions. Your rewards earning potential is unlimited and there is no restriction as to how much you can earn. Your cash back percentage rate rises and falls depending on how much you spend per month. For online marketers who expect to spend more than $2,000 a month on Google Adwords (that’s when the high 5% kicks in), this is a nice card to have.
4. Fidelity Rewards Signature Card - While the card requires a Fidelity Investment broker account to maximize rewards earning potential, if you’ve got one or are willing to sign up for one, you can earn 1.5% cash back on all your online advertising efforts. Actually, coupled with a Fidelity account, the card allows you to earn an effective 1.5% cashback on all products and services you purchase with the card, with no category or store limitation. Most comparable card programs only offer 1% back for general purchases so if you are a major spender, this is an ideal and recommended card to get. The Fidelity Signature is one of the reward cards I use on a regular basis.

2) Yahoo Search Marketing - Get 5% or More CashBack Savings Using American Express Business Credit Cards

Currently, savvy online entrepreneurs have the ability to take advantage of American Express’ Open Network Business credit cards to net themselves more than 5% cash back rewards when they spend money on Yahoo Search Marketing services. Through a special partnership between Amex and Yahoo announced not too long ago, American Express business credit card users will now get to enjoy a 5% discount on all their Yahoo based advertising and web promotional expenditures simply by using their Amex business cards. This not only includes pay per click advertising using Yahoo’s Search Marketing, but also includes Yahoo publisher services ranging from web site hosting, e-commerce, to domain name registration.

While Yahoo is not the most popular or even a serious contender in second place, its PPC advertising fees are substantially lower than that charged by more popular services like Google Adwords where greater bidding competition among advertisers drives up promotion costs - making Yahoo a cheaper, but still viable alternative. Besides, it’s good to diversify one’s advertisement methods. One can even take credit card rewards one step further. Currently, there are certain select Amex business cards that offer even more lucrative rebate rewards on top of the existing 5% discount for Yahoo services. All of the following American Express Open business credit card offers below offer additional cumulative rewards on top of the 5% discount on Yahoo Search Marketing:

1. Blue Cash For Business Amex Card - With this high earning business credit card offer, you have the potential to earn up to a tiered 5% cash back rebate on eligible special category purchases. For everything else, including PPC advertising expenses, you get a tiered 2.5% cash back rewards rate. The special purchase categories include gas stations, drug stores, and supermarkets. In addition, Amex business cardholders also get to enjoy the usual Amex Open network savings on free hotel stays, car rentals, and airline travel.
2. American Express Business Gold Rewards - This popular premium small business card with no preset spending limit can help you save up to 25% off your business expenses. There is an unlimited rewards earning potential on purchases and your Membership Rewards never expire.
3. American Express Platinum Business Card - This business card from Amex is a popular choice to earn purchase rebates redeemable for retail, entertainment, and dining rewards. There is no annual fee and there is no limit to the number of points you can earn.
4. American Express Simply Cash For Business - You can use the card to earn 5% cashback on wireless services and home office supplies (like laptops and office gadgets). You also get 3% cashback on gas and 1% for everything else. There is no annual fee and no rewards limit.

3) MSN AdCenter - Get 3% Cash Back Rewards By Using Mastercard Business Credit Cards

Currently, Microsoft’s MSN AdCenter has a partnership with Mastercard’s network of business credit cards to offer MSN AdCenter advertisers 3% cash back rewards on money spent. While American Express is the card of choice for most business owners, the MasterCard partnership with MSN AdCenter makes Mastercard sort of a must have for heavy or even mild users of MSN’s advertising network.

To be eligible for the 3% cash back savings, Mastercard business credit card holders need to register and enroll their cards into the Master Card Easy Savings Network. While fairly straightforward, you can review the MasterCard Easy Savings FAQ if you need more info about the program. Keep in mind, along with the 3% rewards you can earn on all MSN AdCenter expenditures, you still get to earn the usual credit card rewards (if offered) on top of that. This has the potential to effectively boost your total reward earning percentage way past 3%. Here’s a list of the best Mastercard business credit cards for MSN Ad Center affiliate marketers and pay per click advertisers:

1. Advanta Platinum Business Customized Rewards Mastercard - This business credit card option by Mastercard is your best bet when it comes to maximizing your MSN AdCenter savings and online advertising spending in general. Along with the ability to earn 3% reward savings on all MSN AdCenter expenditures, you also get to earn an extra 5% cash back rate (with purchase limits) on top of the 3% for money spent on fees with online advertisers and merchant sites like Google Adwords, Yahoo, and even eBay. You also get cashback rewards for money spent on utilities and telecommunications, not to mention additional business savings for computer electronics and related office supplies as well.
2. Chase Business Rebate Mastercard - Earn up to 3% cash back on office supplies, restaurant dining, gas, hardware, and home improvement expenditures. Currently there is also a long 15 month 0% APR balance transfer promotional period as well.

Avoid Cash Advance Loans If You Can, Else Learn About It If You Must

When it comes to the subject of money and finance, certain things seem to inherently come with bad raps, and it’s not always deservedly so. As someone with a legal background, I feel that I’ve been naturally trained and conditioned to reflexively see both angles of a debate. Generally, I can take either opposing positions of a controversial issue. For example, when it comes to credit cards, I can see both the negatives and the positives. Some see credit cards as the scourge of consumer debt, and the ultimate symbols of excessive consumerism and financial servitude, responsible for trapping generations of consumers into irresistible cycles of minimum payments and high interest credit card debt. But at the same time, I can also see the rewarding aspects of credit card usage - the ability to use a powerful and versatile financial tool to not only build much needed credit history, but to make money and earn cash back rewards through responsible use and management.

However, even with a self proclaimed balanced view towards the use of semi-controversial financial tools for arbitrage profit and monetary gain, there are some practices out there I am reluctant to defend. Currently, I’m loathe to take a positive stance when it comes to the area of payroll advance loans and high interest short term cash advances. While I begrudgingly admit that payroll cash advances do serve a certain purpose and that there is an unmet need in the marketplace for their existence, I still see them as the pinnacle manifestations and ultimate symbols of financial distress, familial desperation, and loan sharking. Allow me to share some of my research and thoughts on the matter.

What Are Payroll Advance Loans and Where Are They Obtained?

Payday advance loans are a type of very high interest, short term cash loans used by lower to middle income people with jobs, usually during times of great financial turmoil and desperation. Payday loans have many names either formally or colloquially, including - cash advance, quick cash, post dated check loans, payroll advance loans, deferred deposit lending, and even loan shark advances. Pay day loans are almost always taken on by people who are experiencing some type of financial emergency and temporary cash shortfall that necessitates the use of risky short term loans to meet that monetary need. Oftentimes, consumers who find themselves pressed into seeking out payday cash advance loans do so because of their lack of preparedness to handle large bills arising from things like sudden medical expenses, unexpected car repairs, large electricity bills, and overextended rental payments.

Payday cash advance services can be found in most cities, at least in states that haven’t outlawed or made the practice illegal. While previously limited to stores found in low income neighborhood slums next to liquor stores, bail bonds, and gun depots with barred up windows, many are now poking their collective heads into well trafficked downtown area malls and mainstream commercial centers. Currently, payday loans can be obtained at many Western Union cash checking type stores, at standalone payday lending storefronts, and even in many pawn shops. As select states have gradually begun to legislate against the practice of payday lending, many cash advance stores are now bypassing individual states and heading online to do business. A great number of new payday loaners can now be found through search engines and pay per click online ads - the new frontier for customers and businesses.

Who Uses Payday Loans and Why Would Anyone Resort To Using Them?

So what type of person represents the typical payday loan user? The answer might surprise you. No, it’s not the drug addict, dead beat dad, or even the homeless guy who roams the streets, despite commonly held stereotypes to the contrary. The typical payday loan user according to some news research reports, and U.S. census bureau data from 2000 - is a lower middle class individual with a steady job, with average annual household income of around $40,000 who has bills to pay but has exhausted most financial alternatives. Thus it seems evident that payday loan consumers are generally not financial indigents or those who are unemployed. They almost always work a steady wage paying job, but struggle mightily with paycheck to paycheck living and their inability to pay down debt and deal with recurring daily expenses. However, the idea still persists in the public’s mind that payday lending stores prey upon the downtrodden through the use of predatory lending practices. In one of its many attempts to dispel the notion that the payday lending industry preys upon less educated, low income families, military personnel, and even immigrants, the nation’s largest payday lender, Advance America (link) (absolutely NOT an endorsement) points out that 90% of payday loan users have at least high school degrees with almost half of all loan applicants owning their own homes. While these statistics help to temper my perception somewhat, they don’t really change the negative opinion I hold about these risky, high interest financial traps.

In almost all cases, the eligibility requirements to receive a payday loan are all too easy to meet - you merely have to be at least 18 years old, have a steady job with reliable wages, have a funded bank checking account, and you must have appropriate financial documentation like pay stubs to prove your income status. While some lenders demand that cash advance borrowers possess a phone, have residency status, or have at least $1,000 or so of monthly income, in most cases, not much personal or financial information is needed other than documentation of income. Not even a credit check is required. By definition, consumers of high interest pay day loans are usually cash-only spenders with shoddy or ruined credit at best. Otherwise, they probably would have gone with credit cards or utilized more mainstream ways to acquire loans exhibiting more favorable terms.

How Do Payday Loans Work and Why Are These High Interest Cash Advance Loans So Fraught With Hidden Dangers?

Payday loans are usually obtained by the financially distressed via the many paycheck anticipation loan storefronts that dot the landscape and via the many payday loan websites that can be easily accessed online. While “more reputable” and socially accepted lending institutions like banks and credit unions usually require borrowers to undergo necessary hoops and hurdles to qualify for loans, payday lenders are notoriously well known for their service with a smile and the relative ease in the way they rapidly approve consumers for these risky high interest loans. The convenience of instant approval is why they are so attractive to the financially desperate. Customers are usually only required to provide the most basic of personal information pertaining to themselves, although sometimes they are required to provide some names and phone numbers of family and friends for reference purposes (presumably to track you down in case you don’t pay back your loan). The application and approval process frequently only takes minutes from inquiry to cash in hand. This rapid approval process is also how most payday lenders seem to justify their outrageously high transaction fee charges. Their explanation is that the high cost of quick approvals, assumption of higher default risk, and distribution of extremely short term loans demand much higher premiums on customers and require higher rates of return on loans offered for themselves.

Payday advance loans are offered by lenders for very short periods of time - usually anywhere from 2 weeks to 1 month at the very most (with the option to renew). Once approved, the applicant is required to write a check to the payday lender for the amount of the loan (usually anywhere from $100 to $500) plus an extra payday loan fee that the lender will ultimately keep. This is the where the devastating payday loan trap springs into action and why their use is so despised by many - the interest and payday loan fee that lenders charge is absolutely outrageous and insanely high.

Let’s say you want to borrow $500 for 2 short weeks to pay off your rent or some type of utility bill that is overdue. You have an employment payroll check coming in at that time that will allow you to pay the loan back plus fee. Most payday lenders will charge you a whopping $100 or more fee to lend you that amount. If you want to borrow $500, you will need to write the lender a post dated check for $600 ($500 plus the $100 fee), posted to be cashed in 2 weeks. The check is held by the lender to ensure you will ultimately pay. In the process, this creates an incredibly high potential annual percentage rate (APR) of (brace yourself) - 521% interest. No, that is not a typo - it really is that high. When the payday advance loan comes due in 2 weeks, the entire $600 is owed in full. However, pay day lenders frequently offer the option to roll over, or renew the loan. Instead of cashing the $600 when the short term cash advance comes due, payday lenders often encourage borrowers to pay another $100 fee to extend, or flip the loan for another two weeks. Oftentimes, cash strapped borrowers are unable to pay the hefty full $600 and are forced to pay the new fee instead. In the process, the borrower is not getting more money, but is merely floating and rolling over the same loan money he received in the beginning. If not paid in full as soon as possible, what started out as a small loan can quickly balloon into a monstrous debt.

The greatest payday loan danger occurs when consumers fall into this destructive pattern of chronic payday loan borrowing. The cycle of financial devastation can be potentially crushing. Just think - let’s say you took on that original $500 payday loan for 2 weeks and at the end of the 2 week period you were unable to pay off that loan plus the fee so you kept rolling the debt for 6 more cycles (2 weeks each) for a total of 12 weeks, or about 3 months give or take. By floating the cash advance loan 6 times, you’ll have paid out $600 worth of payday loan fees. At the end of the period, you’ll have to pay out an astounding $1,200 out of pocket cost to cover what was once a manageable $600 loan. If not paid off quickly, payday loans have the potential to make credit card debt seem like a minor nuisance in comparison.

The Growing Governmental Regulation and Legal Opposition To Payday Advance Lending

It’s difficult for me to say anything positive or in defense of the payday loan industry despite my general willingness to let free market play itself out. After all, on some level it’s hard to deny that there is a thriving market for these types of short term, instant cash loans to pay down short term debt and bills. Instead of blaming payday loan companies, maybe we should be blaming the mainstream banks and credit card companies for not doing a better job of providing more accessible outlets for this type of consumer need. But regardless of the niche that they fulfill, in the interest of protecting the public from such imbalanced financial transactions and to shield people from such potentially predatory risks, many states are starting to crack down. Currently, some state legislatures have already made payday loans illegal and outlawed the practice. Many states are even in the process of enacting usury laws that impose caps and limits on the amount of interest that short term payday lenders can charge, effectively putting them out of business in those states. Currently, payday loans are illegal in the states of Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and West Virginia (but this roster may change as prohibitive laws are challenged by lobbyists for the industry). While not illegal in Washington D.C., caps on payday loan interest of 24% APR (essentially a mere 92 cents on a $100 loan) has effectively driven out all lenders in the district. Other states have imposed mandatory longer lending terms to give consumers more of a fighting chance.

The dangers of payday loans and their perceived blight on society is also why the federal government has stepped in as well, into an area that has been primarily regulated by state governments. The United States enacted a law that became effective in 2007, capping short term cash advance loan interest rate to 36% APR for all military personnel, citing the terrible financial distractions and conflicts of security interest that they cause. While this rate cap may still seem pretty high, the rate restriction limit is mere pennies compared to the nearly 500% APR or more that payday lenders used to charge civilians, and military service men and women. However, as a result, payday stores simply stopped lending to military personnel altogether, forcing needy servicemen and women to look elsewhere, a rather disconcerting thought.

Of course, with the increasing regulatory efforts, many payday lenders have migrated onto the Internet, a rather disturbing trend, but perhaps a sobering reminder that their presence in some shape or another fulfills a need in society whether we like it or not. They may not be available now in all states, but financially desperate borrowers still seem to seek them out.

For those of you who insist on seeking out payday loans, I highly advise you to reconsider. There are options and alternatives out there my friend. While payday advances may seem attractive and easy to obtain, it’s a financial debt/death trap in waiting. Unless you are absolutely certain you have the means to pay off the short term loan in one loan cycle, don’t even think about it. Why not consider other more reasonable alternatives to payday loans?

Much Better Financial Alternatives To Getting A Pay Day Cash Advance:

• Ask your existing creditor, lender, landlord, or bill collector for additional time to pay your bill in full. This is the quickest and most recommended way to get yourself out of an immediate cash shortfall. Unfortunately, this option is not always dependable as not all of your existing creditors will be agreeable to this type of generosity.
• Borrow from your friends or family instead if you can. Put the short term loan in writing and back up your good word with future action.
• Perhaps you can request a one time or temporary pay advance from your employer. While it may not look good in the eyes of your employer to ask for a pay advance, desperate times do require more desperate measures.
• Get a short term loan from your bank or credit union, or apply for a 0% balance transfer credit card offer. If your credit score is still salvageable, the 0% balance transfer option is the recommended way to go. I’ve personally used 0% APR balance transfer cards to get myself through difficult financial jams before. Read this guide to 0% balance transfers if you don’t know what they are. Transferring existing high interest debt to 0% APR credit cards works.
• Try visiting a pawn shop instead. While pawn shops and pawn brokers still charge rather hefty interest and fees for loaning you money in exchange for collateral as security, their rates tend to be on par with that imposed by credit cards. If you must choose, I suggest going with a pawn shop instead of a payday storefront branch. It’s a bit more paperwork to come up with the right collateral, but the terms are better.

Where To Find The Best Payday Loan Lenders Online (If You Insist On This Course Of Action)

While payday loans do serve a need, always seek out better options first! I will admit I’m no expert when it comes to finding the best payday loan lenders. While I occasionally recommend sites in the form of affiliate recommendations, I’m extremely leery of inserting payday loan affiliate links here. Instead. you can find payday lenders through Google searches, online banners, website ads, and through the Community Financial Service Association (CFSA)’s list of CFSA member payday loan companies. Despite the organization’s name, the CFSA represents the payday advance industry’s interests completely and does not have your best interest as a consumer in mind. The list of approved payday loan companies is provided only as a useful resource and not as a recommendation of any of the companies listed.  While it’s a financially morbid choice I would prefer not to make, I’d rather you get financially ripped off by a “reputable”, industry-certified lender because you affirmatively decided you must get a payday loan, than get yourself ripped off and have your identity stolen via some unscrupulous and unknown payday loan scammer’s website.