2 ways to stay afloat during financial storms

By Peter Andrew

The bad news

If you're a student or recent graduate, you're entitled to feel resentful. These are supposed to be among the best years of your life (I know; I sound so old), but they're turning out very differently.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), only about 25 percent of college graduates who completed job applications in May 2010 actually found work, compared with half who did so three years earlier. And the unemployment rate among college graduates aged under 25 is running at nine percent. The news isn't much more cheerful for those who do find work. Salaries fell for those with bachelor degrees from the class of 2010 when measured against those of their predecessors in 2009.

It's the same if you're a little older but are finding that you're now encountering financial challenges. In August 2010, unemployment was at or close to a 27-year high. And if you add in those highly qualified people who've had to take part-time or menial jobs to stay afloat, the number of Americans who are likely to have debt problems is staggering.

What's really frustrating is that older generations - many of whom had it easy themselves - are quick to criticize younger people who find themselves in financial difficulties. Many find it impossible to sympathize, even though - or perhaps because - they're the ones who got the country into this mess.

The slightly better news

There

By Megg Mueller

When it comes to saving money, everyone has their own, tried-and-true tactics. I clip coupons for the grocery store and compare them against my shopping list and against the grocery store sales flyers from my local paper. Maybe you keep your thermostat tightly regulated, doling out paper fans and sweaters to your family as the season's change. Whatever your personal money saving tips are, I bet there's a few you might not have thought of that just might save you a bit more each month.

1. Talk is not always cheap. Many people initially get locked into a cell phone contract, and then never look at their plan again except to pay the bill. But every few months, you should evaluate your usage. Are you texting more, and talking less? Have your monthly call minutes gone up due to that new boyfriend who isn't with the same carrier? Options such as unlimited text messaging, or family share plans can often save you money in the long run.

Your life changes, and so should your cell phone plan. Most carriers today allow you to change your plan at any time during your contract period. However, the catch is that you'll likely have to start a whole new contract, which extends your time with that carrier, so make sure to find out the details of your plan before switching.

2. Information is power. Most people know that a budget is a good

By MoneyBlueBook

Usually when I open my credit card statements, my eye goes right to the line that tells me how much I made during the past month in cash back and credit card rewards points. Recently, though, something else caught my eye when I opened my monthly statement: the brand-spanking-new statement format mandated by the Federal Reserve.

As of July 1, credit card issuers were required to conform with new rules approved by the Federal Reserve Board to protect consumers from what many have seen as unfair (or at least unclear) practices by the card issuers.

The new statement does a lot of things right--it's now abundantly clear, for example, just how long it'll take you to pay off even a small balance if you just send in the minimum payment required (and how much interest you'll rack up in the process). Closing one of the classic traps of card usage that have ensnared many, the new statements must tell cardholders up-front just how much their credit card rates will jump and how much the late fee will be if you're late with your payment. And interest fees and fee charges of all types are now labeled clearly--you'll be able to see at a glance whether that zero percent balance transfer transaction was correctly implemented.

FiveCentNickel.com has a nifty infographic with mouseover highlights of the new changes:

Credit Card Statement Changes from Five Cent Nickel

By MoneyBlueBook

A balance transfer credit card can be a useful resource for a credit card debt elimination plan. It allows you to consolidate debt into a single account and may lower your overall interest rate, helping to reduce your monthly payments and pay off your debt more quickly.

Of course, opening a balance transfer credit card on its own won't make your debt evaporate overnight and shouldn't be an excuse to spend more--but if you understand what the balance transfer credit card is for and stay disciplined in your debt payments, it can be a very useful tool.

Ten Steps to Debt Reduction Using Zero Balance Transfer Credit Cards

By MoneyBlueBook

Review Of The Balance Transfer Credit Cards I Use To Pay Off Debt

As a fan of balance transfers and zero percent credit cards, I've been feeling rather forlorn these past few months. With the recent enactment of new laws and regulations clamping down on how credit card issuers run their practices, it seems the era of 0% balance transfers and 0% APR deals has finally reached its apex and is now beginning its downward decent into the annals of credit card lore. Only a mere few years ago, one could effortlessly lighten the burden of high interest credit card debt with the assistance of balance transfer offers - lucrative deals that dangled everything from waived transfer fees to long term interest free durations that extended into perpetuity for the entire life of the loan. At its heyday, it was a common place to hear stories of those who were able to engage in balance transfer arbitrage and profit immensely from the 0% APR offers that credit card companies issued to attract new card members to the fold. Back then, the savvy and opportunistic card arbitrager could simply apply for a credit card, obtain a 0% balance transfer, pay no money up front, and immediately transfer the free funds into a remarkably high yielding (5.00 - 6.00% APY) online savings account - reaping what was essentially free interest profit.

Sadly for those of us who once depended on these types of offers for so long, those days are now sorely missed and all but gone,

By MoneyBlueBook

As a long time apartment renter for many years, I'm finally on the verge on purchasing my very first home. As such, I've been super keen on tracking my credit reports and credit scores closely in recent months to boost my attributes as a prospective mortgage loan seeker. For a while now, I've been spending a tremendous amount of time learning everything I can about home mortgages and figuring out how to position myself to ultimately qualify for the very best rate on a home mortgage���� loan. One of the most crucial pre-requisites I've discovered about interest rates for mortgages and personal loans in general - is the shear importance of having a clean credit report and a good credit score. Banks, credit unions, mortgage brokers, and even credit card issuers utilize credit reports and credit scores to ascertain the credit worthiness of loan applicants - mulling over everything from the number of timely on-time credit payments and the severity of late payments, to the age and number of active credit accounts. Such historical data is compiled and reviewed by the lender to determine the appropriate interest rate the lender must charge the loan applicant to compensate the lender for the level of credit risk that it must expend. Those applicants with banged up credit histories and low credit scores tend to get slapped with higher interest rate fees on their loan offers than those with stellar credit histories. Individuals who have decent credit reports with good credit scores to match almost invariably enjoy much