If I look into my credit card statement right now it says that I have accumulated (in the past 6 months or so) 65,315 points. If I go into redeem points it gives me the option to cash out at $653! That means that in a year my credit card PAYS ME about $1300!!! How did I get this to happen? It's easier than you think! Let me show you. In this blog I will teach you the joy of a good rewards credit card and how to make sure you are making your money work for you!
Find a good rewards card!- This is the part where I get you to LOVE credit cards! :) If used correctly your credit card will work for you. First, you have to find the right credit card. There are many rewards cards out there you just have to find the one that is best for YOU. Rewards vary from cash, gift cards, gas, airline miles, if you can dream it you can probably reap it! Shop around and consider your needs before diving into that "perfect card". Make sure everything checks out- no annual fee, hidden fees, etc.
Charge it!- Never thought you'd hear me say that huh? A reward's card will only reap rewards if used! I charge pretty much EVERYTHING! Mortgage, bills that allow it, GAS (remember I'm already saving on gas click here to learn how. I am actually saving even more than the $1 buy using my credit card) groceries- you get it, if I can charge it I will. Remember, I am not spending MORE money, I am charging the things I already buy anyway and get rewarded for it.
Charge Safe!- Remember- pay it off monthly so you don't get stuck paying interest, charge ONLY what you can pay off that month! I actually pay my card off at the end of every week to be safe.
Enjoy!- A big pay out like this should be celebrated! You can use it to help get yourself out of debt or get your finances ahead. I use it to pay for Christmas (when most credit card debt is incurred) or like this year, it will help fund our family vacation. Whatever you choose take pride in knowing your credit card is working for YOU! :)
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Insanity
In high school at a size 2, 110 pounds I was the fattest person I knew- in my brain that is. I remember working out at least 5 days a week, eating next to nothing, and still looking in that dreaded mirror and thinking- ugh, I guess this will have to do.... I now look at pictures from that time (early college years) and wonder what in the world was I thinking?! I was almost skin and bones!
After Emily was born, I gained a ton of weight. Metabolism, bad choices, and sitting at a desk all day took a big toll on my body. It was a very unhappy time. I do have pictures- I will NOT show them to you... haha
After 3 children I have been at EVERY side of the weight spectrum. I have been under weight, way over weight, and everything in between. I am at a point in my life where I have (now a size 4/6, 130 pounds) become content with where I am. I would in an ideal world like to loose like 10 pounds and tone up but I am overall content. I have always said that I don't want to be one of those moms that look like they can't lift their babies. I do want to me a mom that can keep up with my babies- and sometimes they are really fast!
I usually run as my workout, I enjoy it. Kiohud bought the Insanity dvds last week so I thought I'd give it a try with him. If I do them as they should be done Kiohud says I can eat anything I want and still maintain or loose weight... I should also get some of the toning I am looking for- amazing what changes occur after 3 kids... :( Anyways, here is how this has gone so far:
Saturday- Sunday I could not walk! I had ran 5 days in a row prior to starting this and I think that was a mistake.
I mustered up some energy and gave it a second try on Sunday- this time it was abs so not quite as hard.
Monday I had a severe allergy day and gave myself the day off.
Tuesday: probably one of the hardest workout's I've ever done. To be honest this workout makes me feel pretty inadequate as a human since I can't do half of the moves! According to Kiohud as long as my heart is pumping and I am sweating nearly to death it will work and maybe eventually I might be able to keep up.
Wednesday: I woke up starving with a huge headache! Kiohud had asked me if I wanted to eat the night before but I wasn't hungry and I hate protein shakes. Apparently you should eat something after you work out because the increase in metabolism drops your blood sugar and you wake up grumpy! I recovered after some breakfast and Aspirin. No workout- I don't have any great excuse.
Today: I am all geared up and ready to work out. I have to admit I am starting to miss my runs. Today I made the decision that I will do Insanity with Kiohud on days that he is home and when he is working I can run.
So that is my new "fit plan" I don't have a "before pic" but in 60 days (that's how long this is supposed to take to make you AMAZING) if I by the grace of God end up with a 6 pack or something crazy like the way this advertises then trust me I'll post pics! :)
After Emily was born, I gained a ton of weight. Metabolism, bad choices, and sitting at a desk all day took a big toll on my body. It was a very unhappy time. I do have pictures- I will NOT show them to you... haha
After 3 children I have been at EVERY side of the weight spectrum. I have been under weight, way over weight, and everything in between. I am at a point in my life where I have (now a size 4/6, 130 pounds) become content with where I am. I would in an ideal world like to loose like 10 pounds and tone up but I am overall content. I have always said that I don't want to be one of those moms that look like they can't lift their babies. I do want to me a mom that can keep up with my babies- and sometimes they are really fast!
I usually run as my workout, I enjoy it. Kiohud bought the Insanity dvds last week so I thought I'd give it a try with him. If I do them as they should be done Kiohud says I can eat anything I want and still maintain or loose weight... I should also get some of the toning I am looking for- amazing what changes occur after 3 kids... :( Anyways, here is how this has gone so far:
Saturday- Sunday I could not walk! I had ran 5 days in a row prior to starting this and I think that was a mistake.
I mustered up some energy and gave it a second try on Sunday- this time it was abs so not quite as hard.
Monday I had a severe allergy day and gave myself the day off.
Tuesday: probably one of the hardest workout's I've ever done. To be honest this workout makes me feel pretty inadequate as a human since I can't do half of the moves! According to Kiohud as long as my heart is pumping and I am sweating nearly to death it will work and maybe eventually I might be able to keep up.
Wednesday: I woke up starving with a huge headache! Kiohud had asked me if I wanted to eat the night before but I wasn't hungry and I hate protein shakes. Apparently you should eat something after you work out because the increase in metabolism drops your blood sugar and you wake up grumpy! I recovered after some breakfast and Aspirin. No workout- I don't have any great excuse.
Today: I am all geared up and ready to work out. I have to admit I am starting to miss my runs. Today I made the decision that I will do Insanity with Kiohud on days that he is home and when he is working I can run.
So that is my new "fit plan" I don't have a "before pic" but in 60 days (that's how long this is supposed to take to make you AMAZING) if I by the grace of God end up with a 6 pack or something crazy like the way this advertises then trust me I'll post pics! :)
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Fees, Fines, and Interest- What to look out for on Your Next Credit Card
In this blog I am going to show you what fees to avoid and how to find them.
So you have that offer in your hand- everything looks to be good but wait before you sign up for this "amazing deal of a card" turn the page over! Hidden in a lot of words usually on the back (sometimes on the next page) is what you REALLY need to know about this card. So here is what you are looking for...
Annual Fee: Annual fees can range from $20 to about $125 per year. Personally I would never take an annual fee card because there are too many cards out there without them! If you do take this card please be advised that this is an ANNUAL fee so it will be CHARGED to your card every year. This means that if you don't pay this right away you will also be charged interest on this amount.
Interest Rate: Depending on your credit score this will vary considerably. Sometimes the interest rate will be really high but do you want to know a secret? If you keep a zero balance on your card- IT DOESN'T MATTER how high the rate is!!!! If you don't have a balance to pay interest on- you don't pay interest! Now, if you plan on keeping a balance on this card (which I DO NOT recommend- click here for how to payoff those cards) then look for a card with the lowest interest rate. If this card is simply to earn rewards (next blog) or to help with your credit then it does not matter.
Late Fees: Late fees are usually $15-$39. I have seen some late fees as high as $70! You do not want to pay your card late! Credit card companies are not "generous companies" and will not usually be willing to waive these fees. Payments on credit cards are usually DUE BY NOON ON THE DUE DATE and it doesn't matter if your payment is post marked or payment was made online later that evening. If you are late- you will pay this hefty fine. Do yourself a favor and set up automatic payments if you choose to keep a balance on your card.
The secret rate hike: Did you know that even if you make all of your payments on time your credit card company can raise your rate if you are late paying ANOTHER lender? This is a fact, actually about 40% of companies do this- so pay everyone on time!
The NO balance fee: Make sure that your card DOES NOT have this fee! Some cards will actually charge you about $2/month if you choose to keep a zero balance on your card! So watch out for these ones and keep searching for a better deal.
Cash advance fees: If you go to the bank and ask for cash off of your card- there is a fee. If you have to use your card- it's always better to swipe.
As you can see the world of credit cards is full of sharks and bandits! It's no wonder these companies have billions of dollars! Do yourself a favor- read your statements and keep those balances at zero you will save yourself a lot of money!
So you have that offer in your hand- everything looks to be good but wait before you sign up for this "amazing deal of a card" turn the page over! Hidden in a lot of words usually on the back (sometimes on the next page) is what you REALLY need to know about this card. So here is what you are looking for...
Annual Fee: Annual fees can range from $20 to about $125 per year. Personally I would never take an annual fee card because there are too many cards out there without them! If you do take this card please be advised that this is an ANNUAL fee so it will be CHARGED to your card every year. This means that if you don't pay this right away you will also be charged interest on this amount.
Interest Rate: Depending on your credit score this will vary considerably. Sometimes the interest rate will be really high but do you want to know a secret? If you keep a zero balance on your card- IT DOESN'T MATTER how high the rate is!!!! If you don't have a balance to pay interest on- you don't pay interest! Now, if you plan on keeping a balance on this card (which I DO NOT recommend- click here for how to payoff those cards) then look for a card with the lowest interest rate. If this card is simply to earn rewards (next blog) or to help with your credit then it does not matter.
Late Fees: Late fees are usually $15-$39. I have seen some late fees as high as $70! You do not want to pay your card late! Credit card companies are not "generous companies" and will not usually be willing to waive these fees. Payments on credit cards are usually DUE BY NOON ON THE DUE DATE and it doesn't matter if your payment is post marked or payment was made online later that evening. If you are late- you will pay this hefty fine. Do yourself a favor and set up automatic payments if you choose to keep a balance on your card.
The secret rate hike: Did you know that even if you make all of your payments on time your credit card company can raise your rate if you are late paying ANOTHER lender? This is a fact, actually about 40% of companies do this- so pay everyone on time!
The NO balance fee: Make sure that your card DOES NOT have this fee! Some cards will actually charge you about $2/month if you choose to keep a zero balance on your card! So watch out for these ones and keep searching for a better deal.
Cash advance fees: If you go to the bank and ask for cash off of your card- there is a fee. If you have to use your card- it's always better to swipe.
As you can see the world of credit cards is full of sharks and bandits! It's no wonder these companies have billions of dollars! Do yourself a favor- read your statements and keep those balances at zero you will save yourself a lot of money!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Which credit card is right for you???
Open the mailbox and you are usually bombarded with TONS of credit card offers! Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, CITI Bank, etc., etc. free points, low APR- it can all be a bit overwhelming! So which credit card SHOULD you choose? Well, that depends on only you, I will try to help and outline them for you so that next time you choose a credit card you can make an informed decision. Now before I proceed I have to say- I am a FIRM believer in the ZERO balance. Credit cards are not bad if you do not keep a balance on them! Use your credit card(s) with care please, only put on it what you can pay off THAT MONTH. This will help your credit and also make you eligible to reap some great rewards (next blog). With that said- here we go!
Secured Credit Card: A secured credit card is- secured. That means that you have to put something (collateral) down to qualify for this card. This is usually cash but can also be an auto, boat, etc. This card is for you if you are a new credit user or are trying to reestablish your credit. Limits are usually about $250-$300 and fees may be involved. This can be a great way accumulate some credit history and show those companies how responsible you are.
Prepaid credit cards: I have to start off by saying you are being MISLEAD! This actually is not a credit card at all. What you put into the card you are able to use minus all of the fees that they charge you. Fees are usually to load, withdrawal from ATMS and a monthly fee. This card does not report to the credit bureaus since you are not making payments. This card is primarily for the convenience of utilizing a credit card but in my opinion, they're not worth all of the fees that come with them!
Balance transfer credit cards: A balance transfer card gives you a teaser rate usually ZERO percent interest for 6 months to a year on balances transferred over from your higher rate cards. This is a great way to get out of credit card debt IF you can be be disciplined with it. Transfer the balances over and pay them off in the allotted time. WARNING- If you do not pay the balance in full within this period, the interest from the ENTIRE period usually gets added to your balance. Save yourself a headache and write the date BOLDLY in a visible place.
Rewards Cards: MY FAVORITE!!!!!!! Ok, so I will elaborate more on this on one of my next blogs but you can earn rewards just by swiping that card. Rewards cards come in all forms; cash back, general, travel, gas, retail, automobile manufacturer, airline- the list goes on pretty much forever. With these cards $1 usually equals 1 point, once points are accumulated you can shop away!
Home Equity: This type of card is secured to your home. Limits are usually very high and this will show as a 2nd (or 3rd) mortgage on your credit bureau. I would not suggest having this much money on a revolving debt UNLESS you have a great investment you are sure you will be able to pay off. I will admit I do have one of these and use it for large investments only- primarily real estate. Do not use this card to go on a shopping spree! With limits this high- you will get yourself in trouble for sure!
So these are your options- stay tuned for my next blogs, Fees, Fines, and Interest- What to look out for on Your Next Credit Card and My Credit Card Payed Me HOW MUCH?!?!? The Joys of a good Rewards Card! :)
Secured Credit Card: A secured credit card is- secured. That means that you have to put something (collateral) down to qualify for this card. This is usually cash but can also be an auto, boat, etc. This card is for you if you are a new credit user or are trying to reestablish your credit. Limits are usually about $250-$300 and fees may be involved. This can be a great way accumulate some credit history and show those companies how responsible you are.
Prepaid credit cards: I have to start off by saying you are being MISLEAD! This actually is not a credit card at all. What you put into the card you are able to use minus all of the fees that they charge you. Fees are usually to load, withdrawal from ATMS and a monthly fee. This card does not report to the credit bureaus since you are not making payments. This card is primarily for the convenience of utilizing a credit card but in my opinion, they're not worth all of the fees that come with them!
Balance transfer credit cards: A balance transfer card gives you a teaser rate usually ZERO percent interest for 6 months to a year on balances transferred over from your higher rate cards. This is a great way to get out of credit card debt IF you can be be disciplined with it. Transfer the balances over and pay them off in the allotted time. WARNING- If you do not pay the balance in full within this period, the interest from the ENTIRE period usually gets added to your balance. Save yourself a headache and write the date BOLDLY in a visible place.
Rewards Cards: MY FAVORITE!!!!!!! Ok, so I will elaborate more on this on one of my next blogs but you can earn rewards just by swiping that card. Rewards cards come in all forms; cash back, general, travel, gas, retail, automobile manufacturer, airline- the list goes on pretty much forever. With these cards $1 usually equals 1 point, once points are accumulated you can shop away!
Home Equity: This type of card is secured to your home. Limits are usually very high and this will show as a 2nd (or 3rd) mortgage on your credit bureau. I would not suggest having this much money on a revolving debt UNLESS you have a great investment you are sure you will be able to pay off. I will admit I do have one of these and use it for large investments only- primarily real estate. Do not use this card to go on a shopping spree! With limits this high- you will get yourself in trouble for sure!
So these are your options- stay tuned for my next blogs, Fees, Fines, and Interest- What to look out for on Your Next Credit Card and My Credit Card Payed Me HOW MUCH?!?!? The Joys of a good Rewards Card! :)
Monday, April 9, 2012
Grounded!
I know, I know I owe you guys the rest of my credit card series- I will get to it this week I PROMISE!
First, I thought I'd catch you up on where I have been for the last few weeks...
Remember that pile of receipts I had piled? As I watched the calender switch to April 1st I realized I better take care of that NOW. I am not usually such a procrastinator but this year was different business-wise and I have been totally mortified at what my taxes were going to look like. Also, after the "separating process" of my receipts I realized this was going to take a lot of work and honestly I didn't want to deal with it- but mostly it was me being a chicken.
So time to dive in- I decided before hand that the only way I was EVER going to accomplish this goal was to ground myself. It works for my kids- it should work for me- right? So, NO Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Blogging, reading, etc. Working- only the basics, housework minimal. If you've been playing Drawsomething against me- you were actually playing against Kiohud- and I have to add, I'm sorry some of those were TERRIBLE! Every free moment would be dedicated to completing this dreaded task. I did allow myself to take a run every night (in order to keep my sanity).
A lot of you have asked me and now I can tell you that Neatreceipts is AMAZING!!!!!! It saved my life! You scan the receipt in at any direction, it formats it, takes out the store name, date, amount paid, and sales tax, and inserts it into Quickbooks (or Quicken) for you. This eliminated half of my work. I did actually have to sit here and make sure the receipt went in correctly and that the amounts added up. It will sometimes read them wrong. (it was usually pretty accurate) I will add that if you have as many receipts as I did I would go for the bigger version (which I just found out excised) I will be purchasing that this year as it is supposed to compute at greater speeds. After all of the scanning I complied all of the rest of my data and created what I think is a pretty great Profit and Loss report.
I have an appointment with my accountant April 14th. If all goes well than I was able to pull this off with a day to spare! Pretty good considering I already had my paperwork ready in case I needed to file an extension. Hopefully my taxes go as well as my profit and loss and for now, I am officially un-grounded! :)
First, I thought I'd catch you up on where I have been for the last few weeks...
Remember that pile of receipts I had piled? As I watched the calender switch to April 1st I realized I better take care of that NOW. I am not usually such a procrastinator but this year was different business-wise and I have been totally mortified at what my taxes were going to look like. Also, after the "separating process" of my receipts I realized this was going to take a lot of work and honestly I didn't want to deal with it- but mostly it was me being a chicken.
So time to dive in- I decided before hand that the only way I was EVER going to accomplish this goal was to ground myself. It works for my kids- it should work for me- right? So, NO Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Blogging, reading, etc. Working- only the basics, housework minimal. If you've been playing Drawsomething against me- you were actually playing against Kiohud- and I have to add, I'm sorry some of those were TERRIBLE! Every free moment would be dedicated to completing this dreaded task. I did allow myself to take a run every night (in order to keep my sanity).
A lot of you have asked me and now I can tell you that Neatreceipts is AMAZING!!!!!! It saved my life! You scan the receipt in at any direction, it formats it, takes out the store name, date, amount paid, and sales tax, and inserts it into Quickbooks (or Quicken) for you. This eliminated half of my work. I did actually have to sit here and make sure the receipt went in correctly and that the amounts added up. It will sometimes read them wrong. (it was usually pretty accurate) I will add that if you have as many receipts as I did I would go for the bigger version (which I just found out excised) I will be purchasing that this year as it is supposed to compute at greater speeds. After all of the scanning I complied all of the rest of my data and created what I think is a pretty great Profit and Loss report.
I have an appointment with my accountant April 14th. If all goes well than I was able to pull this off with a day to spare! Pretty good considering I already had my paperwork ready in case I needed to file an extension. Hopefully my taxes go as well as my profit and loss and for now, I am officially un-grounded! :)
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