Material Girl
Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 16, 2002I recently went on a date with this guy I met online. We had been emailing for a few weeks before we decided to go out together.We met at a restaurant, and he brought me a huge vase of flowers. He was sweet, polite and gentlemanly toward me ... more...

Before You Purchase A New Car Watch Out For These Scams!
Purchasing a new automobile is hard enough without having to deal with the sales pressure from a car salesman. Its no big secret that almost every car dealership can be talked down on the initial price they want for a car. The key is to know what scams to watch out for in order to maximize your ... more...

Lions and Loans: Why Finance Should Always be Personal
Different types of loans are available for almost every aspect of your life: personal loans, car loans, secured and unsecured loans, home loans, homeowner loans, student loans, graduate loans and career development loans (CDL). If youve suffered from credit problems in the past and now hold ... more...

Secured Loans Tips
Here are some useful secured loans tips. Secured loans enable most homeowners to borrow capital against the value of their property. A secured loan is where the amount you borrow is secured against the value of your home. This is a loan that's secured on your property, which, if you already have a ... more...

Be Careful When Choosing A Credit Counselor
When you find yourself in a bad credit situation it is easy to find hope in credit counseling agencies. You feel safe when someone says that they are a non-profit organization. But often, those that are offering help are only helping themselves.Federal and state regulators are warning consumers ... more...

The Myth of the Christmas Loan
If you think Harry Potter was going to be the most imaginative marketing plot this Christmas, think again. Each Christmas as consumers look at their finances and investigate the different sources of funding to cover their Christmas shopping, loan companies and credit card providers polish up their ... more...

15 Important Credit Card Terms to Consider Before Applying for a Credit Card!!
If you don't understand the language, credit card offers and statements could lead you to deep debt -- or at least furious frustration. For the big scoop on the fine print, here's what these frequently used credit card terms mean.1.Average daily balance -- This is the method by which most credit ... more...

Credit and Its Cost
What is Credit? Credit is money granted by a lender (or creditor) to a debtor (or borrower) whereby the lender defers receiving payment of the debt for a period. In exchange for the credit allowed, the lender will get back the money lent plus interest. The borrower has use of the money immediately, ... more...

Home Mortgage Refinancing and Home Equity Loans - How To Shop Lowest Mortgage Rates And Survive It
Spend a little time online and you'll be bombarded with ads screaming that the best home equity loan or home refinancing deal is just a click away. As a matter of fact it seems the most eye catching multi-colored 3D ads are all related to financing or refinancing your home.It's no wonder there's ... more...