Mind you she was being represented by a real estate agent that attended her church who told her that as soon as the house increased in value she could refinance. ...
According to a new survey by COUNTRY Financial folks are tapping into their savings rather than taking on new debt which is a good thing. Continue reading Another Day Older and Deeper in Debt
ssociation, "The rate of foreclosure filings for prime fixed loans rose from 0.16% to 0.22%."
People demonstrate outside a HOPE NOW home ownership preservation workshop at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Tuesday, April 1, 2008. Demonstrators hoped to draw attention subprime mortgage crisis. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
AP
Joseph Barratt, 55, and others demonstrate outside a HOPE NOW home ownership preservation workshop at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Tuesday, April 1, 2008. Demonstrators hoped to draw attention subprime mortgage crisis. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
AP
LAGUNA HILLS, CA - MARCH 28: A foreclosure sign stands in the yard of a house to be sold in an upcoming 11-day foreclosure auction of more than 1500 southern California homes March 28, 2008 in Laguna Hills, California. Cleaning up foreclosed properties is full-time work as home foreclosures are booming in the wake of the sub-prime loan crises, leading to abandoned and run-down properties that suppress neighboring home values and lower property tax revenues. Sub-prime loans make up 14 of total mortgages but account for about 60 of foreclosures. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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LAGUNA HILLS, CA - MARCH 28: Sebastian Villalba mows grass and weeds to prepare a house to be sold in an upcoming 11-day foreclosure auction of more than 1500 southern California homes March 28, 2008 in Laguna Hills, California. Cleaning up foreclosed properties is full-time work as home foreclosures are booming in the wake of the sub-prime loan crises, leading to abandoned and run-down properties that suppress neighboring home values and lower property tax revenues. Sub-prime loans make up 14 of total mortgages but account for about 60 of foreclosures. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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LAGUNA HILLS, CA - MARCH 28: An Orange County Sheriff eviction notice hangs on a house to be sold in an upcoming 11-day foreclosure auction of more than 1500 southern California homes March 28, 2008 in Laguna Hills, California. Cleaning up foreclosed properties is full-time work as home foreclosures are booming in the wake of the sub-prime loan crises, leading to abandoned and run-down properties that suppress neighboring home values and lower property tax revenues. Sub-prime loans make up 14 of total mortgages but account for about 60 of foreclosures. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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LAGUNA HILLS, CA - MARCH 28: Sebastian Villalba mows grass and weeds to prepare a house to be sold in an upcoming 11-day foreclosure auction of more than 1500 southern California homes March 28, 2008 in Laguna Hills, California. Cleaning up foreclosed properties is full-time work as home foreclosures are booming in the wake of the sub-prime loan crises, leading to abandoned and run-down properties that suppress neighboring home values and lower property tax revenues. Sub-prime loans make up 14 of total mortgages but account for about 60 of foreclosures. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Getty Images
LAGUNA HILLS, CA - MARCH 28: Sebastian Villalba mows grass and weeds to prepare a house to be sold in an upcoming 11-day foreclosure auction of more than 1500 southern California homes March 28, 2008 in Laguna Hills, California. Cleaning up foreclosed properties is full-time work as home foreclosures are booming in the wake of the sub-prime loan crises, leading to abandoned and run-down properties that suppress neighboring home values and lower property tax revenues. Sub-prime loans make up 14 of total mortgages but account for about 60 of foreclosures. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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A crowd of protesters hold up anti-war signs Friday March 28, 2008, in Freehold Township, N.J., as one of the presidential helicopters lands near a company where President Bush was visiting to spotlight the administration's efforts to save struggling homeowners from foreclosure. The president plans to stop by a mortgage counseling company that's part of the "Hope Now" alliance. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
AP
Bill Suky, right, points out the arriving helicopter of President Bush Friday March 28, 2008, in Freehold Township, N.J., to wife, Dolores Suky, second right, Lucille Cerbini, left and Francine Jordan, second left, as they stand with a gathering of Bush supporters. President Bush was visiting New Jersey to spotlight efforts to save struggling homeowners from foreclosure. The president plans to stop by a mortgage counseling company that's part of the Hope Now alliance. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
AP
Diane Beeny holds up an anti-war sign as she stands with a large crowd of protesters Friday March 28, 2008, in Freehold Township, N.J., near a company where President Bush was visiting to spotlight efforts to save struggling homeowners from foreclosure. The president plans to stop by a mortgage counseling company that's part of the Hope Now alliance. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
AP
Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield may have been risen to the top in the boxing ring, but recent financial troubles have been brought him to his knees. His $10 million estate in Atlanta is under foreclosure, he owes another $550,000 to a Utah landscaping company who is suing, and if that isn't enough, one of his baby mommas is taking him back to court for missed child support payments, ranging from around $3,000 a month for one child. In 2003, courts came to the conclusion that Evander was making around $604,000 a month when stipulations for child support was being made.
Stephen Shugerman, Getty Images
This month, Ed McMahon, best known as the late Johnny Carson's sidekick and spokesman for Publishers Clearinghouse, appeared on Larry King Live explaining how he fell more than $600,000 behind in payments on his $4.8 million in mortgage. The comedy giant says he's hoping to avoid foreclosure on his multi-million dollar Beverly-Hills home, but that may be an uphill battle since medical problems have kept him from working.
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The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, found herself singing the blues when her claims 700,000 mansion in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan slipped into foreclosure. Her attorney claims it was all a mistake that occurred over $445 in 2005 taxes and late fees. Turns out the state may have been on to a delinquency trend because she now owes a total of $19,192 in back taxes on the property through 2007.
Jason Squire, WireImage.com
The Death Row Music label made legends out of Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur but it's now up for sale. Why? Back in 2006, Founder Marion 'Suge' Knight filed for bankruptcy in the face of he a $107 Million judgement. In the court papers he filed in the case, he estimated his assets to be $50,000 or less with debts totaling more than $100 million.
Robert Mora, Getty Images
He may be best known for his hit "Can't Touch This" but Rapper/Singer M.C. Hammer was hit by a money crisis. The man who had no problem bringing hip-hop music mainstream ran into problems when he hired his close friends, making him responsible for a $500,000-a-month payroll. He also had a $30 million mansion combined with extravagant cars and even exotic animals. All of these things put the hammer down on Stanley Burrell's loot. He eventually lost it all, including some of the "friends" he tried to give a leg up.
Tina Fultz, ZUMA Press
Pint size child actor Gary Coleman whose famous for the line "what you talking about Willis?" is frequently found talking about his financial woes. It has been reported that chilhood star Gary Coleman was paid $1,500 per episode the first season of Different Stroke; that later went up to $20,000 , then $40,000, and as high as $70,000. He also made almost $18 million from his tv and movies work during the period Diff'rent Strokes was on the air (1978-1986). But, when Coleman reached adulthood he found that bad investments and lavish spending on the part of his parents, left him nearly penniless. Now, Gary Coleman has been selling various items on the Ebay including his autographed pants and a Saturn-model car.
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Rumors of the King of Pop's finances going bust have been swirling for years. Recently, his famed Neverland Ranch was even threatened by foreclosure but he received a last minute reprieve a given by Colony Capital, a private equity group, to whom he now owes $23 million. In 2006, he was forced to use his Beatles catalog as well as copyrights to his own songs, as collateral for roughly $270 million in bank loans. So, what happened to all the money the man who has been making music since 1975 made, lavish spending sprees, exotic animals and unusual purchases like a hyperbaric chamber are said to be to blame. He may have danced in a solution to his money problems. He may be slated to headline a show on the Vegas strip.
AP
"Iron" Mike Tyson isn't as strong financial as one would think after earning a reportedly earning some 300 million dollars in the boxing ring. Still, he KO'd his own financial future by declaring bankruptcy in 2003. He was also forced to sell the Connecticut mansion he shared with ex-wife Robin Givens, which was later purchased by Rapper 50 Cent. Tyson blamed his lavish spending and promoter Don King for his empty pockets.
Critics once said she had one of the clearest voices in music, but diva Whitney Houston his a sour note in 2006 when she came close to losing her $6 million, 10-acre New Jersey estate. The songstress reportedly owed thousands of dollars in back taxes. Then, in 2007, dozens of Houston's belongings were auctioned off bras, bustiers, and other props from her past tours, along with ah $400,000 see-through grand piano and her ex-husband Bobby Brown's grammy awards. The reason for the auction, she allegedly owed the storage company $200,000 in back rent.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Say "Bye-Bye" to Your Grace Period
No grace period means that you'll start accruing interest the moment you charge something and that can cost you a bundle of "extra" interest. Most credit card issuers have already reduced their grace period from 25 days to 20 days. Many others have eliminated the grace period altogether. Now they are coming up with more and more reasons to take away your grace period. Miss a payment? Stop carrying a balance? Bye-bye grace period!
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Punishing You for Being Smart
These fees are the lowest of the low because they penalize you for being a responsible credit card user. Some of the biggest offenders include charging you a fee for:
+ Closing your account
+ Failing to use a card for a period of time (such as six months or a year)
+ Not carrying a balance
+ Every transaction each and every time that you use your card
If your card charges you any of these fees, it's time to look for a new card!
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Lowering Your Minimum Payment
Another way some cards try to jack up their profits and lure you deeper into debt is by lowering the minimum payment due on your balance. It used to be cards required a minimum monthly payment of about 4% of your balance, but many now require as little at 2%. Don't fall for it! Going from a $40 payment to a $25 payment on a $2,500 balance means it will take you an extra 19 months to pay off your balance!
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Inviting You to Skip a Payment
Broke this month? In their infinite generosity (ha!), some cards will "invite" you to skip a payment. This "helpful" offer, which sounds great at first blush, often comes after the holidays when your balance is big and your wallet is stretched. DON'T DO IT! Skipping that payment can lead to a host of trouble from a higher interest rate to possibly having to make extra payments in the future. Are you starting to notice a pattern?! You should be skeptical whenever your credit card company does something "nice" for you without you asking for it!
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Tricky Timing
We all know that our payment is due on a certain date or it's late, right? But a new twist being thrown into the mix is having your payment due by a certain time on the due date. If your payment is due at noon, and gets processed at 12:01, you get socked with a late fee AND likely a higher interest rate. Gimme a break! Carefully check your statement so you avoid this trap.
SOURCE: Dirty Credit Card Tricks provided by AOL Money & Finance
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Continue reading Credit Crusade to Regulate the Bloodsuckers
Have a plan. First, take a look in the pantry and refrigerator to determine what you need and make a list. You will avoid purchasing items you don't need or already have.
Take a look at what's in the sales circular and plan your meals accordingly.
Buy fruits and vegetables that are in season and buy at the local farmers market. You'll have fresh produce that hasn't been shipped and it will cost you less.
Avoid b.o.g.o or buy one get one free. Opt for sales that allow you to purchase several of the same item at a discount. You can buy one item and still get the discounted price.
Keep walking pass the gourmet counter that offers prepackaged or prepared foods. You can marinate and season your meat using common ingredients like lemon juice and teriyaki sauce with the same outcome.
Deborah Owens is author of "Nickel and Dime Your Way To Wealth" and host of "Real Money" on NPR Affiliate Weaa 88.9 FM. Visit deborahowens.com