The Green Dot card is a prepaid credit card. Commonly used by individuals without a bank account.

Card holders get free direct deposit, which can save hundreds of dollars a year on check cashing fees. It is accepted world wide.

There is a monthly maintenance fee of $4.95 however if you deposit $750 or more monthly this fee is waived. There is no credit check or bank account required for approval.

It is accepted online and over the phone. You can access your cash at almost one million ATM’s world wide.

Frequent criticisms of this card are; the number of fees and poor customer service. It carries a reload fee of $4.95 when a MoneyPak is used to deposit funds.

These are purchased at retailer locations such as Walgreens, Wal-mart, Kroger, CVS and more. There is also a $2.50 ATM Withdrawal fee and a $9.95 activation fee.

The Columbus Bank and Trust Company issues the card and it comes as a Visa or MasterCard.

You can upgrade your account to Premier Membership; the benefit is priority customer service. The fee for this is a one time payment of $20.

Upon completion of your application you will be mailed a card in 7 - 10 business days. You can also purchase this card at many retail locations.

Frequently parents will use this card to teach a child how to manage money. It also gives parents an easy way sending financial help to students that are away at school.

This is a much safer alternative to carrying cash. Also your money is protected should your card ever be lost or stolen.

Using this will give you an easy method of staying within your budget and track your spending. It can also be used to pay your bills such as; utilities, cable, and internet…

In sum we do not suggest this card, We are alarmed that there are additional fees for priority service. We feel that when it comes to your money you are entitled to priority service.

There are lots of students who could not afford to go to college or to remain in college through their graduate school years without college loans. The fact that these loans are the only factor actively allowing some student to stay in school and graduate makes their value incalculable. The understanding that these loans will not have to be repaid until sometime in the seemingly distant future make college loans even more attractive. But that trying day will come, and a few months after leaving college, students are asked to begin paying back the college education loan.

If you have or are thinking about applying for college loans, there are a few things you should realize. College education loans are often your initial experience with being a borrower. It is important that former students make it a priority to establish good financial habits. Students credit histories are usually short, and that can be a strike against you should you decide to apply for any other type of loan. Repaying your college education loans on time each month is a smart way of building a respectable credit history.

You make an agreement to repay all college loans when you accept the money. There are serious penalties to those who disregard that fact. If you do not make your monthly payments, your credit report will reflect that for many years, making it very difficult to get a car or home loan.

Your wages can be garnished. You can even be denied any tax refunds due you. College loans are not so much fun after you actually graduate college, so if you have not applied yet, you might want to consider how much money you really want to borrow.

College loans afford excellent opportunities, but they come with serious adult expectations. Do not treat them lightly. They cannot only get you through college; they can be your initial introduction into the world of financial responsibility. Think of it as a way of proving yourself. Who knows? Responsible repayment of student loans may make you attractive to potential lenders, even with a short history of financial behavior.

The Centennial card is issued by The First Premier Bank a member of the FDIC. This is an unsecured card created for individuals looking for a second chance.

There are easy requirements for approval; however it does carry some fees. This includes a one time $95 fee, an account set up fee of $29, and an annual fee of $48.

You will see these charges on your first monthly bill. They will be charged towards your available credit limit.

Your card will have an initial $250 limit, and a 9.9% APR.

It can come as a MasterCard or Visa; you will decide when you apply. Additionally if you apply online you will have a response to your application within 60 seconds.

If you make your monthly payment on time you can build a positive payment history on your report.

Your utilization ratio is also an important factor in your score. This is the amount of debt you have compared to how much available credit you have. Your score will get the most benefit if you can keep your balance at roughly 30% of you limit.

If your card has a limit of $250 then you want to keep the monthly balance around $75. After you have paid on time for 6 months you will be eligible for a limit increase.

The First Premier Bank is a member of the Better Business Bureau. They are located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and have issued cards to over 3 million people.

It is accepted everywhere you see the Visa or MasterCard logo displayed. To qualify you must be over 18 years of age and have a valid social security number.

Lately there has been a rise on interest rates, even on good credit cards. The rates have jumped to around 30% and this is without cause. This Means that interest rates are rising even on customers that pay on time.

In sum we suggest you look into all your options for credit. It may make more sense to do some work on removing negative marks or apply for a secured or prepaid card instead.

Business credit cards are used in a very similar way to consumer credit cards. The have a normal application and approval process, you still have to pay interest on purchases, and they have an impact on credit scores, usually for the business, not the owner.

Low interest rates, easy online account access, rewards programs, and services to support business needs are all trademarks of credit cards for business. Also, their credit limit is often times higher than what you are used to as a consumer.

Most businesses don’t have a credit history on their own, so the owner’s credit history is checked during the application process. So if you want a card for your company, make sure that you have fairly good personal credit. This means that you will be personally guaranteeing the company’s credit line.

A business credit card allows you to keep track of business spending, as well as spending of employees. Because of this, a business credit card makes for an excellent tool for managing business expenses.

If you need to track where and what your business spends money on, then the annual and quarterly expense reports that most business credit cards offer is a very handy feature. They allow you to track expenses as well as figure out future budgets.

Rewards programs are very common on business credit cards, and can be similar to those that are found on normal consumer cards. However, a lot of credit cards that cater to the business owner also have rewards programs that cater more to business needs and desires.

A business credit card can help your business grow, especially when it comes to finances. However, you need to make sure you find one that not only suits your business, yet offers the maximum benefits to your company.

Business credit cards should be used as tools for success and should never be abused. Since they are designed specifically for corporate and small businesses clients, they are an affective tool that can grow and change with your business needs.

1) The latest figures show that an average American has a credit score of 677. The difference on monthly or yearly payments with a credit score of 677 and 720, for instance, is an average savings of $421 per month or $5,052 per year (i.e. house payments, car payments, credit cards, etc.).

2) Many people often wonder if credit repair really works, and the short answer is , “Yes, definitely.” The U.S. Public Interest Research Group released a report in June 2004 saying that 79% of the consumer credit reports surveyed contained some kind of error or mistake. Even today, million of erroneous items have been removed from credit reports, and tens of thousands get deleted daily, including collections, late payments, bankruptcies, and foreclosures.

3) Although there are many credit repair companies out there…use caution and avoid being scammed. The Fair Credit Reporting Act guarantees any customer the credit repair process.

4) Also, the credit repair organizations must give you a copy of the “Consumer Credit File Rights Under State and Federal Law” before you sign a contract. Unless they give you a written contract that spells out your rights and obligations, assume you are being scammed.

5) A credit repair company cannot do the following until you give your signature:

* Claim facts about their services that are false

* Charge you until they have completed the promised services

* Perform any services, and even after your signature is on a written contract, they must complete a three-day waiting period

During this time, you can cancel the contract without paying any fees.

Be sure the contract specifies:

* Payment terms for services and total cost

* A description of the services down to the itty-bitty details the company will be performing

* How many days, hours and minutes to achieve their promised results…okay maybe not that specific, but really drill them on when the services will be completed

* 100% guarantees the company offers

* Company name and address

If you are an entrepreneur, chances are you are going to need to have a business credit card. It is not a wise choice to use your own personal credit cards for expenses your business has, as you are required to separate your business expenses from your personal expenses.

The number of uses you will find for your business credit card are pretty much limitless. These include paying for travel expenses, paying company bills online, and entertaining clients.

CitiBank, with their CitiBusiness card, is one of the leading issuers of business credit cards. The CitiBusiness small business credit card is especially tailored to the person who owns their own business.

With the ability to get additional cards for employees, and set the credit limit for each card, CitiBusiness puts you in complete control of your business finances. CitiBusiness credit cards come with online account management that allows you to view card charges, view your statements, add employees, and otherwise manage your CitiBusiness account.

CitiBank offers low interest business credit cards that may perfectly fit the needs of your business. They are also often running specials that give you low introductory interest rates on purchases or balance transfers for a given length of time. This really lets you get a handle on your cash flow without having to pay interest.

Reward programs are also available with some CitiBusiness credit cards. These programs give you a certain number of points for every dollar you put on your card. You then can choose how you wish to redeem your rewards points. You will have several different ways to redeem you points with CitiBank, because choices are a good thing!

A business credit card that is in the name of your business is something that you really need as a small business owner. Not only will this separate your business and personal expenses, but it lets you see what you are spending money on for your business.

Every business could use a credit card, so it is a wise decision to have a credit card that is specifically intended for business use. The CitiBusiness credit cards are a great choice as far as business credit cards are concerned. CitiBusiness cards offer some useful benefits for the entrepreneur, so you really ought to look into their cards for your business.

Credit cards come from many different issuers, offering different incentives to entice you to choose their card. There are rewards cards, cards that give you special treatment at restaurants and the such, and cards that show your allegiance to a particular sports team. If you look hard enough, you probably can find a credit card that matches every personality.

As a business owner, you really should be using a credit card designed with the needs of the entrepreneur in mind. You may not be so interested in the perks of a normal consumer card, but rather you want and need a credit card with business benefits. There isn’t the wide selection of business cards as there is for consumers, but there are still a good selection.

Many of the larger financial institutions have credit cards that are tailored towards business. Most issuers allow you to get individual cards for your employees and allow you to control the spending on these cards, thus giving you great control over your credit card account.

It is important to go with a credit card issuer that comprehends the needs of the small business owner. An example of such a company is Advanta with their Advanta credit card. Advanta specialized in dealing with the small business owner, which means they are one of the best when it comes to serving the entrepreneur.

Issuing business credit cards is all that Advanta does, so they are the small business specialists. This allows them to produce a line of business credit cards that are specifically tailored with the business owner in mind.

We have been Advanta card holders for many years, and are extremely happy with their business credit card. We highly recommend that any entrepreneur take a look at this product, if you need a business credit card.

When it comes time to choose a credit card for your business, go with one that is tailored to the requirements of business owners. Choosing the right credit card for your needs is very important, as this means you are using the best banking tools available to the entrepreneur.

A well fact amongst the trading community is that 90 percent of investors lose money in futures and Forex tradin! This leaves 10%, which is then broken down to 4-6 percent break even and only 4-6 percent make money.

What Group Are YOU in?

Given the high numbers of clients that are unsuccessful, it is all the more important for investors to approach futures and forex trading in the right manner. So we have put together some rules that hopefully help you become a more successful trader.

Secret 1: Trade with Money you can afford to Lose

Now that you have decided to get involved in trading, sit down and asses how much money am I going to trade, investor, speculate on the market with. I understand that this is trading and therefore there is the chance that I can lose my money.

Secret 2: It’s Not how many trades: Do not OVERTRADE

So many new traders come to the market thinking, I am going to pick 8 winners out of 10 and make all of this money. Well it is possible to pick more winners but still lose on the market. Why because of risk and money management, so always put in equal amounts per trade. Eg: if you have $20,000 to trade, break it up into $2,000 trades, this will help with you staying in much longer and increasing your success to become a successful or a full time trader.

Secret 3: Run with the profits, and cut those losers.

If a trade goes against you, remember to cut it. No one can pick the market 100% of the time, so don’t think you are different. If the trade is going the wrong way cut it. Re look at the trade, there is going to be plenty more. Once they start going up, let them go, who knows how high they go. Remember always use trailing stop losses.

Secret 4: Feel Like you can’t pick your nose- Have a Break

It can be possible that you are just not picking the market right or there are strange market conditions if this is the case take a break. Walk away and then come back and look again.

Secret 5: Work like an Egyptian build pyramids

As the market moves up and you are long much earlier, you must learn not to double up your positions. Instead, reduce your positions each time you add to a position. If at first you had 10 contracts, the second should not be more than 5-6 contracts and the third should be 50% of your second (i.e. 3 contracts). An upside down pyramid will be top heavy and could wipe out all your hard-earned profits should the market reverse.

Secret 6 : Don’t Double Down- It just compounds losses

If start to add to a losing position by averaging down this is going to be very dangerous. Remember you are investing with “margin”. The contract is not yours; you merely paid a percentage of the total value. Averaging a losing position is equivalent to not admitting your mistakes, that you were wrong in the first place. Successful traders cut their losses short and realize that you can’t get 100% of winning trades. We all try, but we can’t. So cut losses.

Secret 7: WHO wants to be a millionaire? Don’t Put it all in One Trade

Use risk and money management to protect your capital, divide your trading capital into 10 equal parts and never lose more than 10 percent on one trade. If you lost the first trade, you still have nine more opportunities to be right. Putting all your capital on one trade is suicidal and you will go down.

Secret 8: NEVER MEET MARGIN CALLS - CUT THE $hit- Saves you Money

When you are wrong about the market, get out, admit it and move on. Once you start thinking, very often prices will go against your position, further triggering a margin call from your broker. A margin call simply means that you are wrong in the market and your position should be closed out. Margin calls are made because people do not want to admit being wrong and take a loss; they hope the market will eventually go in their direction and that they will get there money back. It will come back, I am not wrong. Yes you are.. Get out. To avoid this mistake, you should never meet margin calls. Just cut your losses and “get the hell out”.

Secret 9: Transfer Profits

Probably no more than 1% of traders have a rule to take profits out of their trading account. The few wise investors I know have bought their house, a car or simply put part of their winnings into a fixed deposit account, or into some long term shares, otherwise the chances are high that they may lose them all back.

Secret 10: James Blunt knows- Baby because I’ve got a plan Make a Plan

Lack of planning can only result in no plan, and without a plan you are gambling. Look at getting advice, from stock market reports, Great Broker look finding a great stock broker, use this site to see who they recommend.

HELP HINTS: Most traders should listen to the Kenny Rogers song The Gambler, there are aspects of that song that can learn from, mainly, know when to hold them, know when to fold them, and know when to ‘cut’ RUN

1. Know when and at what price you are going to enter the market. 2. Know how much money you are going to risk on each and every trade. 3. Know when and at what price you are going to get out when you are wrong. 4. Know when and at what price you are going to take your profits if you are right. 5. Know how much money you are going to make if you are right. 6. Have a safety stop in case the market does the unexpected. 7. Have an approximate idea of when the market should meet your objectives or when it should begin to make a move; and if it has not done so, get out.

FINAL WRAP UP

One of the most important things to take away are set a plan, has your risk and money management plan in front of you and stick to it. If you have that plan and it doesn’t work, re plan, that’s why if you start small you can soon build up to be whatever trader you want to be.

Happy Trading

With a bankruptcy mark on your report your score will be lowered considerably. However there is hope, you can remove this mark and by building some positive credit you can create a good score.

Contrary to popular belief this mark can be removed from your report and without waiting 10 years. To remove this mark we suggest:

1. Dispute the mark with each bureau.

You can do this yourself or by hiring a service, a dispute letter must be sent to each bureau disputing the accuracy of the mark. Upon receipt the bureaus will investigate, however because bankruptcies are recorded in public records which the bureaus will not check during an investigation, the mark will not be verified.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act says that any mark that can not be verified by the bureau must be removed from your report. Additionally this mark says that you the consumer can dispute any item on your report that you do not feel is accurate. Often people are concerned with the legality of credit repair, and you should know you will never be fined, prosecuted, arrested, or face any legal action for disputing an item.

It is rumored that after 2 years it is easier to remove this mark, however it is not required. Additionally we suggest you make sure that any negative item on your report reads “included in bankruptcy.” The reason for this is you will later dispute the validity of these items because your report does not show a bankruptcy.

2. Once you have removed the initial mark, you can start disputing each negative item.

This can be done because no where on your credit report does it say you have filed a bankruptcy so how can these negative items be included? Upon an investigation the marks should be erased and this will provide you with a clean report.

3. Build positive credit. This will help the most if you have a new revolving line of credit such as a credit card.

When you make your on time monthly payments you will create a positive payment history on your report. Additionally this will help your utilization ratio, this is how the bureaus decide if you are in over you head financially. It is measured by the amount of available credit you have versus how much debt you have. These are the two biggest factors when your score is calculated.

While it is not illegal to dispute an accurate mark on your report it may not be the most ethical thing to do. However in my opinion charging people outrageous interest rates upwards of 30% and charging late fees is not ethical either.

In sum you don’t just have to live with bad credit. You can remove the items and you can do it today. You can create a high score for yourself by removing the bad items and building positive marks. This will save you; on interest rates, embarrassment from a low score, and give you the purchasing power you deserve.