Kardashian Kard killed - but prepaid cards set to take off

By Peter Andrew

Call me old-fashioned (no, really--everyone else does), but I know next to nothing about the Kardashian sisters. However, even with the tiny amount of knowledge I have, I struggle to picture a family breakfast scene in which Kim, licking maple syrup from her perfectly manicured fingers, glances up from her copy of The Wall Street Journal, and remarks to Khloe and Kourtney: "It says here that analysts are forecasting explosive growth for the prepaid card market. I think we should establish an aggressive presence in that sector."

No, I suspect that some Svengali-like figure on the sisters' business management team persuaded the family that launching the Kardashian Kard was a good idea. And it might be fairer to blame him or her than the girls for the fact that the Kard is likely to end up entering the record books as one of the shortest-lived products in the history of financial services.

Kard killer

The Kard was withdrawn Nov. 30, just three weeks after its glitzy launch. And its cause of death was the sheer weight of negative publicity that followed a blistering attack on it by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. He's quoted as referring to the product's "pernicious and predatory fees," saying, "Among the prepaid debit cards now on the market, the Kardashian Kard is particularly troubling because of its high fees combined with its appeal to financially unsophisticated young adult Kardashian fans. Keeping

By Jim Sloan

Our family loves the holidays, but every year after the tinsel and pine needles have been vacuumed up, we find ourselves with a couple of small problems: Too much credit card debt and a couple of heart-felt gifts we really don't want and can't return.

The answer for us has been pretty simple: eBay. By selling some of our unwanted stuff--sometimes it's Christmas gifts and sometimes it's just items we find in the garage when we put the decorations away--we're able to put a dent in that debt, even when we've used zero percent credit cards.

If this sounds like something you'd like to try, here's a 12-step program to help you use eBay to whittle down that credit card debt:

1. Start small. If you're new to eBay, begin by selling something that's easy to price, easy to photograph and easy to ship. This way you can practice setting up an auction, monitoring your sale and making sure you get good feedback from your first buyer right off the bat. This small transaction will also give you an idea about how costs and commissions work on eBay.

2. Sell something new. New goods are easier to price and sell than used goods. If your Aunt Florence gives you linen napkins every year and you're starting to

By Lisa Tortorello

If you are like most people, you probably cringe when it is time to pay the bills. It is a chore almost as dreaded as spending a Saturday afternoon at the post office and dry cleaners. Perhaps the most frustrating and stressful bills to open are those from credit card companies.

If you carry a balance like most of us do, every month you may be battling the disappointment of a cemented balance. This means that you are actively trying to reduce your credit card debt by sending more than the minimum payment each month, and have vowed to no longer use your cards unless absolutely necessary, but your balance does not budge - it seems to be stuck in the cement. In fact, it may even increase due to steep interest rates that outrank the amount you are paying every month.

Several years ago, the credit card bills stuffed in your mailbox were probably accompanied by an equal number of offers to transfer your higher-interest balances to zero interest credit cards with no balance transfer fees. This could have certainly helped you chisel your balances out of their concrete cells.

While those zero percent balance transfers are no longer weighing down your mail carrier's bag like in years past, there are still a few out there that can help you pay down your balances more quickly.

Zero interest credit cards - not zero risk

While

By Tom Tennant

The other day, someone asked me, if given the option, which I preferred: charge cards or credit cards. My answer: "There's a difference?"

There is. And who knew? (If you knew, kudos, because I always thought "charge card" was what our ancient ancestors - Mom and Dad - called the plastic we carry around in our wallet.)

In short, charge cards offer no revolving credit and no interest rate. Sure, you can borrow up to your limit, but only for about 30 days. After that, the balance is due in full (that's why there's no interest rate). Can't pay? You'll likely incur a fee - it could be hefty - and your account could be suspended.

Credit cards, on the other hand, give you the option of making a monthly minimum payment. If you don't pay your balance in full each month, the balance rolls over (or revolves) into the next month. This "convenience" comes with a catch. Interest is levied on the balance, making your purchase cost more than its original price. This can be painful if all you do is pay the minimum.

Which is better?

The answer depends on your financial goals and the type of spender you are. If you're a student trying to establish credit for the first time, for example, or you are rebuilding credit, then opt for a charge card. Here are three reasons

By Ann Cameron

Today, it's often difficult for anyone to get a credit card - whether it's a zero percent balance transfer card or a best cash back credit card. And if you're just starting out -or starting over - getting an approval based on your credit score can be even more of a hassle. This is what makes pre-paid cards so attractive if you want to use them for online shopping, travel or even just everyday expenses.

As more and more of us are embracing the "card-only" lifestyle, a pre-paid card can be a great alternative to using a debit card or zero interest credit card.

If you need any more reassurance, take a friend's recent example. She attended an industry conference for a few days and needed to secure her room with a card - standard operating procedure for any hotel. She'd used her debit card to cover incidentals that she incurred, such as meals, Internet connection and minibar snacks. No problem.

But later that night at dinner, her debit card was rejected for being over her bank account limit. Apparently, the hotel was holding $150 on her debit card for those "incidentals" for each of the three nights she planned to spend there. Although the $450 was credited at the end of her

By Jim Sloan

I never really paid much attention to the rewards programs offered by different credit card companies. I was raised to use credit cards only for emergencies and not for everyday use, so my sole criteria for getting a card was that the interest rate be as low as possible.

But then a friend of mine told me he was planning a trip to China, and was going to pay for his plane ticket through the rewards he was earning on his credit card.

"I'm paying for everything with my card," he said. "All my monthly bills - the rent, the groceries, the phone bill, everything. Then at the end of the month, I just write a check to the credit card company instead of eight or 10 checks to all these other places."

And it worked. After several months, my friend and his wife were able to get the tickets for next to nothing--all thanks to the judicious use of their credit card.

The fine print of rewards cards

Even if you're not planning a trip to China, this approach can work for anyone, provided you keep a few things in mind as you decide which rewards credit card programs works best for you:

• Rewards cards usually carry higher interest rates than non-rewards cards. That means if you're not paying off the balance every month, your interest payments will quickly exceed your rewards.
• Look for rewards that you'll use. The points you earn