Get credit for making smart financial decisions

You're faced with a dilemma. It's the end of the month and you have a stack of bills due. You were hoping to go on a special weekend getaway with friends, but don't have the money to pay all your bills and enjoy the trip. You realize something has got to give, so you decide to skip a payment on your credit card to have money for the weekend. It's only 30 days, you say to yourself, and you plan to really get serious about paying down your bills after this month.

That decision could cost you thousands of dollars.

"Making late payments is really the number-one way that consumers can damage their credit report and credit score," says Chaomei Chen, head of credit risk for the credit card division of Seattle-based Washington Mutual. "Conversely, making on-time payments is the easiest way to increase a consumer's credit score over time."

Keeping Score On Your Credit Score

Credit scores are derived from information found in your credit reports, which are maintained independently by each of the three major bureaus-TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. The data is run through a mathematical formula to produce your "FICO" score. Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) invented and popularized the methodology for determining consumer credit risk. Most FICO scores run between 300 and 850. The higher the score, the better, because consumers with high scores are offered the lowest interest rates for homes, automobiles and other consumer loans.

Even One Late Payment Can Hurt

Chen pointed out that only one late credit card payment could have a negligible effect on the score of consumers who already have a dramatically low FICO score, and conversely could drop the FICO scores of people who already have very high FICO scores up to 100 points. "That difference in FICO score can add many thousands of dollars in interest payments over the life of a loan. It's in the consumer's best interest to pay bills on time each and every month."

According to Fair Isaac, for a $250,000 home loan, based on recent interest rates, a consumer with a 700 FICO score would have a monthly payment of $1,614 for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. A consumer with a 550 credit score would pay an estimated $2,094 a month for the same loan. That's a difference of $480 a month, and $173,000 in additional interest over the life of a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

That weekend getaway has become very costly.

In addition to paying bills promptly, Washington Mutual - the only credit card issuer in the U. S. that provides its credit card customers free online access to their FICO scores-recommends other simple ways to increase credit scores, including:

• Pay more than the minimum due on credit card accounts each month.

• Keep the balances on revolving credit accounts below 50% of the credit line.

• Check your credit report at least once per year to ensure that information is being correctly reported.

Don't be late in paying your bills. Even one late credit card payment can cause a credit score to fall up to 100 points.

Gift baskets a great way to celebrate easter

Easter is such a special time of year. I can recall fond memories of Easters past when my mother and father would hide brightly colored eggs in the yard and send my sisters and I out to find them. What joy we had running around the yard, looking in every nook and cranny for the eggs we had hand decorated together as a family. As I recall, whoever found the most always received a special gift, usually a dollar or two. That was a lot of money to us kids in those days. After the hunt, we would eat dinner together and then my parents would give each of us an Easter basket.

They were smart to make sure we had dinner first, knowing full well that we would never touch our food if we were given the baskets beforehand. I can still recall the happiness we shared, eating our chocolates, jelly beans, marshmallow candies and other sweet treats. I think I always enjoyed digging through the plastic green "grass" the most. It was like discovering gold to dig through the basket and find one of the last few treats which had fallen to the bottom.

Today, I get just as much enjoyment from watching my children having the same fun I had as a child. It's wonderful to view the next generation enjoying the traditions of the past that still remain so much part of our culture. Today, however, I give Easter gift baskets to my children, my siblings, and close friends every year at this time. They're wonderful for the kids and the adults all appreciate them as well since, like me, they remember the joy of getting an Easter basket. Easter gift baskets are filled with delectable treats that both children and adults can enjoy.

I order enough for my friends and family and my extended family as well since Easter gift baskets can be shipped anywhere. I find that they make a great gift for kids or for the kid in all of us. This year, I may even order one for myself. I may be older, but I still have a sweet tooth!

Zero down mortgage loans - is 100 financing a good idea and can you get approved

Are you wondering if you can get approved for a home loan with 100% financing? Are you also wondering if its a good idea to get a mortgage loan with no money down? Here are some points to keep in mind as you apply and consider your different mortgage loan options.

To qualify for 100% financing on a purchase mortgage loan, it would be important for you to have a credit score of at least 600 or higher. If you are between 600-650 on your credit rating, you may need to go through a subprime mortgage lender in order to get 100% financed.

If your credit score is higher than 650, you can probably apply with most mortgage lending companies online and be able to get an approval.

If your credit score is between 580-600, you will probably need at least 5% down to make the loan work with a subprime mortgage lender.

Getting a mortgage loan with 100% financing can sometimes mean a higher rate. Sometimes an alternative is to get an 80/20 loan, which is a first and second mortgage, with the first mortgage being at a lower rate and the second mortgage being at a higher interest rate. The benefit to doing this type of loan is that it eliminates the need for PMI insurance, which can be $100 or more a month, depending on the size of your loan.

Also, consider getting quotes for 100% financing and then quotes for 95% financing, with you putting 5% down. See, if the savings on the interest rate is worth putting the money down.

To view our list of recommended mortgage lenders online who can provide 100% financing for good and bad credit, visit this page: abcloanguide. com/mortgageloans. shtml.

How can i stay motivated when it comes to home exercise

An exercise workout program is not going to be successful for anyone unless they can stay motivated and focused on their goal. Home exercise can be even more challenging than other types of available exercise because there are not as many factors inside the home to act in an encouraging manner for a person, which might help them to exercise and stay focused. As a result, while many people prefer working out in their own home for comfort reasons, they can find staying motivated in the actuality of this task to be more difficult. Here are some tips to help individuals stay committed to their exercise regiment and their weight-loss or muscle building goals.

Music is a great motivator. Sports teams play music in their locker rooms, during half-time shows or other game breaks and/or during events when specific players go up to perform in their games. Music is just as motivating for exercise enthusiasts as it is for professional players and training athletes. Most people prefer pulse-beating music while they exercise, but the favored or preferred music of the individual will most likely be the best music to which that person can work out. Taking your mind off the 'discomfort' of working your muscles and offering some great motivation, music is a great resource for individuals who want to exercise.

In many gyms today, individuals can find televisions. Most people have this amenity in their home as well. Television is another great way to distract the exerciser when they are performing an activity that does not require their immediate and constant attention. Such activities can include working out on an exercise bike, a total home gym apparatus, elliptical machine, stepper and/or the like. It passes the time and allows the individual to take part in a more 'pleasant' activity. At the same time, individuals can utilize the television in another way as well - as a way to play and watch exercise programs. DVDs and VCR cassettes have been designed for exercisers in order to help keep people motivated with a specific exercise program. If you need instruction to stay motivated and with a set timeframe for the program, the television and playable exercise programs can be a great help.

Exercising at home does not mean exercising alone. You can always bring a buddy to your house to exercise. Additional motivation can easily be found in an exercise partner and this is very reassuring to many people who want to stay focused, but who may not want to leave the comfort of their own home.

Lastly, consider visualization. It's easy to have a textual goal or a number in your mind. "I would like to lose twenty-five pounds". You might find yourself saying that over and over again in your mind, trying to convince yourself to stay focused. But this number repetition may not be the best thing for you. Instead, find a picture of yourself when you weighed your ideal weight. If you do not have a picture, try to visualize the way that your body would look if you lost that weight. Having a mental image can help you more than a simple number-filled phrase might.

What does it take to get a payday loan

If you have ever thought that you might need some emergency cash, then you have probably also thought about getting a payday loan. The ads are everywhere - in the mail and online. Now, though, you are wondering if it might be something you can get. Here is what you need to know about getting a payday loan.

One thing you will not need to get a payday loan is a good credit rating. It does not matter what your credit score is and they will not even check it. You could just have declared bankruptcy a week ago and it will not effect your ability to get a payday loan.

You will, however, need to be employed, and you will be required to have been there for at least three months. Besides this, there will also be an interest on how much you make each month - they will look for at least $1,000, possibly $1,500 per month. Your employer may be called to verify your employment there, or you will be asked to fax recent paystubs.

The amount of money that you can borrow will be determined by how much you make, and how many loans you have had. Many pay loan lenders will let you have the first loan for free - no interest. But, then, you may only be able to borrow up to $400, too. If you pay it off on time, then your credit limit may be raised - if your income will permit it.

After you fill in the application, and if they decide that your information looks good, the lender will usually call you. This will be to confirm information, or to request some more. You should be ready to provide more information in case it is requested.

You will also need to have an active checking account, too. This will need to have been active for at least three months, in most cases. If you are approved, you will then supply them your account information so they can put the money directly into your account. Also, you will need to approve a withdrawal on the day the loan is due. Getting the money is what it is all about. Depending on how soon you need it, it is possible to have it within 1 hour.

If, for some reason, you are not ready to make the payment when it is due, then you can roll the loan over. This will, however, require that you at least pay the interest on the payday loan. The same amount of interest will be charged again, and you will have to the following payday to pay the new loan. You will want to think seriously about that, though, because the interest on a payday loan can be rather high - as much as 30%.

As with any loan, you should shop around for the best deal. Some payday loan lenders will give you more time to repay it. Some will also let you make multiple payments, too - which makes it even much more convenient.

A beginners guide on how to paint a wall mural

Obviously the first thing you need to do is figure out what to paint on the wall. When I know what I want to paint, I typically follow that up by finding different representations, photos, drawings to use as a reference, or by going to a location to take some pictures that I can use as a model. For example, if I wanted to paint a seascape I might drive around the beach area where I look for objects or scenery I want to include in my painting. Most times I am piecing together a scene to create my mural.

Once you have what you need to put together your scene, painting the background first is essential. I start at the top and work my way down. So I lay down the sky first, then the horizon, where I may have mountains, trees, water or land. After I have my background in I will place my other objects, such as people, cars, roads or whatever the subject may be. Sometimes I hand paint in these objects and sometimes I may use a projector first to cast the image on the wall, trace it out and then hand paint it. A projector is very helpful to maintain the correct proportions and to help in placement of the object.

You may be wondering what medium to use on a wall. I use a mixture of acrylic paint that you can buy in any craft or art supply store and also latex paint that you would purchase by the gallon in a paint or hardware store. Both of these mediums dry quickly and clean up easily with water. Also, acrylic paint has no fumes so working with it will not bother you during the process. I typically purchase a gallon of extra bright white paint that I mix with the acrylic colors. This will stretch your dollar, because purchasing small tubes of acrylic paint alone can add up quickly especially if you are painting a large area.

Once you have finished your mural, I suggest painting a clear coat of polyeurothane over it to protect it. Look for a coating that will not yellow with age. The clear coating allows cleanup in case of dirt or fingerprints.

Abundance flourishes in an atmosphere of integrity

There's no way to fake INTEGRITY. You are either are IN INTEGRITY offering a PURE positive vibration which the Law of Attraction responds to. Or you're OUT of INTEGRITY which creates a negative or mixed vibration, which the Law of Attraction cannot ignore.

Here's a real-life story which demonstrates what happens to our vibration when we are out of INTEGRITY.

I was feeling pretty upbeat after our coaching session yesterday and really excited about winning a prize pack from the radio station.

After picking up my prize, I noticed Spyware, an electronics store, and decided to go in and compare prices with an item I had just bought from Radio Shack yesterday. Spyware had the exact same item on sale for $10.00 less so I bought it with the intention of returning the first item to Radio Shack. When I compared the two products they were exactly the same, with the exact same bar codes and packaging. However, I noticed the cheaper item had one wire a couple centimeters shorter than the more expensive item.

I made a decision to return the item with the shorter wire (the one purchased at Spyware) back to Radio Shack and keep the original item. Thus saving $10.00 but keeping the better product.

After the clerk had finished all the paperwork I felt extremely guilty. But then I rationalized it was too late to do anything about it and told myself I would just have to let this guilt go. What a way to bring my high vibration to a crashing halt. I reminded myself that this is why I shouldn't do things like this in the first place because not only can I not live with the guilt but now it is a double whammy because I'm so aware of my vibration and this is bringing it way down.

Anytime we do something that is not in alignment with our core values, we feel negative emotions which hinder us from receiving the real desires of our heart.

The antidote is simple: be honest, pay all debts, return what you've borrowed, speak kindly about others and keep your word. In other words, do nothing that will hinder the flow of pure positive energy toward you. Be true to your self an you'll open the way for receiving everything that will make you happy.

This same client had such an opportunity to 'make it right' on an energetic level. Again, she wrote:

I was feeling pretty bad when I returned to my office, and then remembered I needed to go to the bank. I went up to the bank machine and there was $40.00 sitting in the slot. Someone had forgotten to take it with them after they finished their transaction. They had also forgotten to take their bank slip. I took both out of the machine and put them in my pocket while I did my own banking.

Now I was dealing with the moral dilemma of what I should do with the found money. I so badly wanted to keep the money as I am heavily in debt with all my credit cards almost maxed out. I tried rationalizing: The bank slip doesn't have the account number on it so it's not like one can trace it but it did say that the person had a balance of $195.00 which isn't very much.

I remembered how I felt when I once left $20.00 in the bank machine myself and went back for it but it was gone.

I then decided to go into the bank and leave the $40.00 with a bank teller. While I was waiting in line, another lady came into the bank and told me I left my card in the bank machine so I went back to get it. Then she came back again saying now I'd left my bank slip in the machine. This is how frazzled I was!

Anyways, I gave the money to a bank teller with my business card and I am feeling much better.

I feel like the Universe gave me an opportunity not only to redeem myself but also an opportunity to change my vibration after something I've done in the past that I feel badly about.

Indeed! This client demonstrates the wonderful way the Law of Attraction works: Her dominant intention was to offer a high vibration so that she can attract more money and enjoy her life.

The Law of Attraction arranged an opportunity (the item from Radio Shack.) Her actions in the first opportunity caused her vibration to drop, which didn't feel good. So she RESET her intention to feel good, and the Law of Attraction sent her another opportunity to take actions that feel better.