How to Refinance With a Foreclosure & Poor Credit

Filed under: Credit Card Advice

Refinancing a home after foreclosure process is a not a hard deal.How much mortgage you can afford.You can certainly do so after, during and before foreclosure.How much mortgage can I afford. The creditors or bankers actually want you to pay their principal with interest. It is of no any practical benefit for them if you lose your house due to foreclosure proceedings. They may threaten you to file foreclosure but they feel mostly content if you can pay them back on time. Nobody wants to get into legal hassle. However, there are many ways one can employ to avoid home foreclosures. For example, short term and long term loan restructuring, mortgage repayment plans and mortgage loan modification plans are some options a mortgage holder can turn to.

You need to negotiate your creditors to get a favorable mortgage modification by changing the terms and condition. Creditors may temporarily agree to accept your proposal. They would most probably reduce the interest rate or the principal or extend the loan term in order to reduce the overall monthly payment obligation or chip away total debt. Some creditors may take it a hard sell. So, it is better to have a foreclosure negotiator who will handle your case on your behalf.

You can propose a repayment plan over certain period of time. First you will pay off the arrearage and then pay down the balance over the term of a newly structured payment plan. Lenders would most possibly accept your deal if you have a consistent flow of income along with some good down payment. A general scenario shows that you pay the arrearages along with associated legal costs and upfront fees from six to nine months. If you can put a sound deposit amount, it could secure for you a long term payment plan and favorable interest.

You may search for foreclosure lenders who are specialized in loaning money at low credit score. These lenders will give you loan after assessing your property market value against your total paid amount. A house with good equity can make them get an interest over you to help you out with loan money.

One should refinance his mortgage only if he thinks that he will be able to secure a better rate. There is a habit among some folk to always switch to new terms and rate. But, the closing cost may actually mar the expected benefit of refinance. Therefore, take your decision after judiciously assessing every aspect of the process.

Low Credit Score Credit Cards

Filed under: Credit Card Advice

Having a credit card is no longer a luxury and is rapidly becoming an essential accessory for modern day living. However those who have had financial problems in the past may find it is difficult to find a lender who is willing to view their application sympathetically.

Unfortunately, randomly applying to lenders in the hope they approve your application can actually worsen your credit score. The reason for this is that the applications leave a footprint on your credit file and when a new lender sees this, he may assume that you are in financial difficulties – hence the multiple applications – or may be overstretching yourself.

It is therefore essential to restrict applications to lenders who are more likely to approve those with a less than perfect past, at least until the credit score has improved.

The best way to find a lender is to use either comparison or money advice sites as many of these highlight the best companies to approach for those with a poor credit score. If you are unsure how bad your score is, some places also offer a free credit checker which provides an idea of how your credit file may appear to a lender based on some simple questions.

Unfortunately the best deals in the market, such as the 0% APR offers are usually only offered to those with exemplary credit records making them out of reach for those with black marks on their file.

Anyone who has financial problems or little cash to spare should avoid further borrowing, but there is an exception: if you are trying to rebuild your credit rating.

There are several steps you can take to bump up your score, such as closing inactive accounts, correcting inaccuracies on your file and ensuring you are on the electoral roll. However, one of the best ways is to simply get more credit and run the account impeccably, ensuring that all payments are made on time without exception.

The only problem with this approach is that often the only cards that will accept applicants with a poor credit score charge extortionate levels of interest. But as the card is only being obtained for the sole purpose of improving the credit score this doesn`t actually matter too much .

This may sound rather confusing but the key is in how the card is used. Under no circumstances should it be run like a normal credit card with the balance paid off over several months as this will prove extremely costly with the amount of interest that will be added. Instead, the balance should be paid off in full each month, which means that it will avoid any interest charges but also will add even more points to the credit score as lenders like to see borrowers paying back more than the minimum installment.

However, some individuals will struggle to get their application accepted and there is an alternative route which is open to everyone which will help to add points to the credit file, for a small cost.

Prepaid cards offer no credit facility and must be topped up before use – essentially a pay-as-you-go credit card. It provides holders with the convenience of a credit card even when they have a poor record. As there is no credit facility, users will not improve their credit score by using this type of card.unless they add a credit building option.

An increasing number of prepaid card providers are offering account holders the chance to add points to their credit score each month by purchasing a credit building product. Typically this costs around £5 each month, which the company class as a loan and report each monthly payment to the credit bureaus, thus increasing your credit score.

Many people have the misfortune to experience financial problems and are refused credit but with the right approach it is possible to get accepted for both a credit card and a loan for bad credit.

Balance Transfers

Filed under: Credit Card Advice

A credit card balance transfer involves the transferring of an outstanding credit card debt, or outstanding credit card balance, from one credit card (Card 1) to another credit card (Card 2). Balance transfer can be a very effective tool in reducing existing debt and also in reducing any future debt.

Shop around for a credit card that has a lower interest rate than your existing card. By securing a lower interest rate on your existing credit card debt, you can reduce the total amount you will have to spend to pay off your balance.

While this can be a very efficient way to save money, be certain to thoroughly read and completely understand the often complicated terms of your new credit card`s balance transfer agreement. Sometimes the fine print can be confusing, or even misleading, at first glance. If necessary, seek advice from a financial professional so that you don`t end up being unpleasantly surprised by the misunderstood details of your new credit card`s terms. In the balance transfer game mistakes can be quite costly.

One of the most important detailed items to closely examine is your new credit card`s interest rate. Many banks offer introductory interest rates on balance transfers that are lower than their standard rates. They do this in order to entice people to transfer their balances. By law, U.S. banks are required to maintain the introductory interest rate for a minimum of six months.

Some banks will maintain the stated rate for an extended, specific period of time; for instance, one year from the date you first transfer your balance. After this initial, pre-stated time period, pay attention to how much the interest rate will go up. A significant increase in the interest rate after the introductory period may be cause for concern. Think carefully before selecting the right card for your particular situation.

Almost always, the banks will charge a balance transfer fee, which is either a percentage of the total amount of debt transferred or rather a simple flat-fee charge. If a bank states that they will charge 2% to transfer your balance and you intend to transfer $5,000, your transfer fee would cost $100. Some banks may state that they will charge a $300 flat-fee, whether you intend to transfer $250, $5,000, or $40,000.

Some banks will also charge penalty fees if you neglect to pay off your transferred balance within a given amount of time. Make note of how these fees are calculated. Is the bank going to charge you an exorbitant amount if you do not pay off the entire balance within one month? This might not be a problem if you`re transferring a small amount of debt, but if your debt is significant, this may be an impossible feat.

In addition, as with all credit cards, if you miss a payment, you will be charged a late fee. Pay attention to this detail. Some cards actually have the right to raise your interest rate permanently if you miss one payment, even by just one day. This is something to be taken into account when shopping around for a card.

In some cases, you may want to transfer your balance, pay it off as quickly as possible and then cancel the new credit card. Make sure that you have the right to do this, without some sort of penalty fees.

Add up the total costs included with your balance transfer and shop around to find the card that has the best interest rate and lowest fees for your specific situation. Not every deal works for every debt. What works for balance transfer may not work for Mortgages. Do your research. Your rate of repayment and the amount of money you are transferring should dictate which credit card agreement will work best for you.

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Getting a student instead of a regular credit card – why and how to do it

Filed under: Credit Cards in the News, General Information, Updates

What is the point of getting a student instead of a regular credit card?

Although there are very few Student credit cards that you would describe credit card offers 0 interest , there are many specially designed cards to help you manage your costs while allowing you to build a stellar credit report which will benefit you later in life. Today, good credit is required for all people to be approved for an apartment purchase or rental, for a loan on a car, and even landing some jobs so the earlier that good credit is established, the better.

Credit for students is also regularly attached to rewards and benefits with many financial institutions so it can help to make the journey through college more smooth. A lower limit, online access and stellar service all make sure that the card is simple to manage and use.

How am I able to request a credit card if I am a student?

The simplest way to apply for a student credit card is by completing an application on the web. However, be certain to review and identify your individual desires before hand, each program is different. Fortunately, researching and comparing different programs is a snap. Read carefully the terms and conditions of each card. Then when you find one for you, fill out an application and you can finish by obtaining a license for the credit within minutes! It really is this simple.

For students, you will find that it is the best way to get quick debt finance. Building good credit and learning to use credit to manage your expenses every day is an important step in the life of every modern student.

Credit Repairing Service

Filed under: Credit Repair Information

There are literally hundreds of credit repair websites and a lot of them try to guarantee success but the reality is most of them are just a waste of money. They use methods of repairing your credit you can do yourself if you simply google credit repair templates. Their process is very lengthy and requires months and even years to get a lot of things removed and sometimes the bad marks can come back as some companies are very persistent, especially if you still owe them money.

The only guaranteed method to repair your credit is to pay off the old bills and get your derogatory balances to $0. “Well that isn’t very helpful” is probably what you are saying. Since none of us just have cash laying around to do that there are other things you can do that are guaranteed to increase your FICO score practically overnight and start rebuilding your credit.

It’s actually very simple. Sign up for Millennium Secured Credit Card and send them $300. Buy $90 worth of groceries on it and make the payments. Keep the balance under $90. Then sign up for www.alliedtrustdiamond.com and get a $10,000 unsecured credit card, buy something and make the payments. Do a google search for USA Shopping Club and sign up with them for $12,500 unsecured credit card buy something and make the payments, Eclub USA and get your $3,500 credit card and finally Horizon Gold and get your $500 credit card.

Once all of these companies report to the credit bureaus you are going to see an immediate increase in your FICO score. Guaranteed. Then you can work on getting the bad marks paid off and removed. It’s much easier to get them permanently deleted if you don’t owe them any more money.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/article-marketing-articles/credit-repairing-service-941623.html

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Credit Repair Software

Filed under: Credit Repair Information

Credit Repair Software

Some people believe that credit repair software is a great way to help a person get organized in a journey to a debt-free life. They might also believe that these computer programs offer ways to get organized with bill paying and valuable information for reaching financial goals. But in reality, only an experienced credit repair service can factually improve your credit score.

Selecting a credit repair company to help you improve your credit score is a big decision. A typical credit repair service will cost you a few hundred dollars and will take up to a year to complete their service. Choosing the wrong credit repair company can end up wasting money and perhaps more importantly, your time. Choosing the right credit repair company, however, may be one of the best things you can possibly do for your financial future.

What do you need a credit repair company to do for you?

A good place to start when determining which credit repair company is best for you is to figure out what needs to be done to improve your credit. The process of repairing your credit can involve much more than simply disputing your credit with the credit bureaus.  You should make sure to use a credit repair company that can fulfill all of your credit needs.

When most people think of credit repair they think of a process that has become known as credit report repair. When working to repair your credit using credit report repair, a credit repair company is using your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act to dispute certain items in your credit reports directly with the credit bureaus. This element of credit repair has helped many people with erroneous, incomplete, or unverifiable information on their credit reports improve their credit scores.

While credit report repair is a good start, many people find that it is not enough. Many leading credit repair companies will also work directly with your creditors using a variety of tactics to get them to stop reporting the negative accounts to the credit bureaus. They may also work with collections agencies and others to get them to stop reporting negative accounts or change the way the accounts are reported. A credit repair company may even go so far as to challenge the legitimacy of a reported debt.

Depending on your current credit situation, you may be best served by a credit repair company specializing solely in credit report repair or one that can also provide a full catalog of credit repair services.

How can I tell if a credit repair company should be trusted?

Unfortunately, credit repair is an industry that has received a bad reputation because of the publicity afforded to credit repair scams. While fraudulent credit repair firms tend to be shut down quickly, it is still in your best interest to learn how to identify the differences between a legitimate credit repair service and a credit repair scam.

An easy way to do this is to know a few of the laws that govern credit repair companies. These laws as defined in the Credit Repair Organizations Act were designed to protect you from credit repair scams while also protecting your right to get help with repairing your credit reports. 

Another way you can find out about a specific credit repair company is to look up their BBB (Better Business Bureau) reports. The BBB keeps notes on complaints made against companies. If the BBB report for a credit repair company lists multiple unresolved complaints or an overall low rating, you should be wary of the company. In addition, beware of any credit repair company that does not list credit repair services as one of their offerings in their BBB filing. The BBB has very strict standards for credit repair companies so many fraudulent companies will not report to the BBB that they offer credit repair.

Debt-free living is definitely the goal. A Christian must be wise in the choice he makes concerning his financial history and his ongoing financial dealings. Every financial decision needs to be a well-researched, well-thought-out decision. As Christians, we have additional resources for dealing with our bad spending habits. He can consult a local pastor or a trusted friend. Becoming debt free will not happen overnight so patience and perseverance are keys to success. Romans 15:5 says, “God of patience grant you be like-minded.” God will help us gain the patience and perseverance we need to follow through with our plans to be debt free, and that may entail credit repair software programs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/personal-finance-articles/credit-repair-software-876195.html

About the Author

John is a DJ and radio producer by trade who has performed in the U.S., Russia, Turkey, Macedonia, Serbia & Kosovo. Through a strange twist of fate he found himself working in the debt consolidation and debt settlement field in Chicago. John has a great interest in charity work as well.

His other interests include fitness, science & technology, modern medicine, poltics, world events and pop culture.

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All Credit Repair Companies Are Not Created Equal

Filed under: Credit Repair Information

With thousands of credit repair companies conducting business across the country, finding the right one can be difficult and intimidating but it is imperative that you take the time required to not only find a reputable one but also find one that has the knowledge, experience and ability to provide the level of service you expect and the optimal results you deserve. Your decision should not be impulsive. Choosing a bad credit repair company will leave you vulnerable and increases the probability that further damage will be caused to your personal credit file but on the other hand, choosing a good credit repair company has the potential to be one of the best financial decisions of your life by dramatically cleaning up your personal credit file and improving your credit score. There are numerous items to consider beyond price when making your decision. Recognizing the difference between price and value is imperative as seeking assistance from a company in the credit repair industry is almost always a case of, “You get what you pay for”. The following paragraphs explain the four types of credit repair companies that make up the industry and what to expect from each.

Credit Repair Company Type 1:
The first type of credit repair company is typically a one-man show run out of a home office. In general, this type of company advertises extremely low rates for their service and will usually have unbelievable service guarantees to top it off. It is not uncommon for this type of credit repair company to be a complete scam and take the consumers’ money without providing any service at all. Moreover, if you are dealing with a company that falls into this category you are lucky if the only thing you lose is your money and not your identity in the process. In this day and age, identity theft is happening on epidemic proportions. Unless you know the company to be reputable, you should think twice before handing over your personal identification information.

While all credit repair companies that fall into this category are not scams, it is very common for the individual running this type of company to be completely unaware of the compliance all credit repair organizations must adhere to. This company will typically use 3 or 4 standard dispute letters that are extremely generic and not intended to be used in every situation. Although using standard dispute letters may provide some level of positive results, their use also has the potential to further damage your credit. Moreover, the use of standard dispute letters usually only provides temporary results as the negative information removed from your personal credit file will most likely reappear on your credit file the next time it is reported by the creditor.

Credit Repair Company Type 2:
The second type of credit repair company generally appears to be much more legitimate. They will have a physical office but similar to credit repair company type 1, they only use the same standard dispute letters mentioned above. While typically not intending to operate illegally, compliance issues are usually overlooked. The largest difference between credit repair company type 1 and 2 is that the second usually makes use of an inexpensive software program that allows it to produce volume and handle clients on a much larger scale. The letters used are extremely generic and for that reason, will not get the best results possible. Although this type of credit repair company may do a large amount of business, they are not setup to handle consumers that have specific credit related problems. This type of credit repair company uses more of a cookie cutter approach.

The first two types of credit repair companies mentioned make up for more than 90% of the credit repair industry. Credit repair company type 3 and 4 are completely different and make up for less than 10% of the industry. It is very important to note the differences.

Credit Repair Company Type 3:
Not only is the third type of credit repair company usually compliant with the laws governing credit repair organizations, but it is also usually well versed in the U.S. Code used to dispute negative credit items on the consumers’ credit file. Using more than just standard dispute letters, this type of company can be much more effective than the first two. Because this type of credit repair company has such a good understanding of the U.S. Code related to credit, it is typical for this type of company to offer custom credit repair work to its clients. The ability to provide custom work for its clients allows this type of company to go above and beyond the level of service provided by the first two types of credit repair companies.

Credit Repair Company Type 4:
The forth type of credit repair company is very much like the third type in that it is usually compliant with federal law, extremely well versed in the U.S. Code required to be effective in the credit repair industry and typically also offers to perform custom dispute work for its clients. The largest difference between credit repair company type 3 and 4 is that credit repair company type 4 has attorneys on staff or is contracted with a law firm. Credit repair company type 4 will also usually be more expensive than the other three credit repair company types but will almost always be more effective. Not only can an attorney based credit repair company provide the best results possible, but a credit repair company that has attorneys on staff or is contracted with a law firm can also enforce the consumers’ rights should legal action be required to correct inaccurate items on a consumer’s personal credit file. Beyond that, by using an attorney based credit restoration company, the consumer can minimize the possibility that an item will be re-reported by a creditor as an attorney has the ability to take additional steps to block negative items from being re-reported on a consumer’s personal credit file. There are very few credit repair companies that fall into this category.

As you can see, it is not only important to find a credit repair company that is staffed with subject matter experts and has the ability to provide great results but it is also very important to find one that is compliant with the guidelines set forth by the federal government. Further, you should now understand the benefit of using a credit repair company that has attorneys on staff or is contracted with a law firm. Your credit report has more of an influence in determining your financial future than most anything else. You should not put your credit report in the hands of just anyone. Choose a credit repair company that is compliant, well versed in the related U.S. Code, staffed by subject matter experts and attorneys or employs the services of a law firm.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/credit-articles/all-credit-repair-companies-are-not-created-equal-1625029.html

About the Author

Alexander Wright has been involved in article writing and providing free information on credit repair and credit restoration for Credit Restoration Bureau, also known as CRB. Credit Restoration Bureau is a professional credit restoration organization and is one of the country’s leading authorities in credit repair and credit restoration. It’s helped thousands of American consumers get a fresh start through credit report repair. Credit Restoration Bureau is located in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and can be contacted at: 1-888-342-6758.

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Facts on Credit Repair and Pitfalls

Filed under: Credit Repair Information

When it concerns your credit entry, it’s important to be sure that you’re doing everything you are able to from the very beginning in order to make it all work out for your personal finance finally. If you begin your adult life without any regard to how your credit will be bore upon by your activities, you’ll for certain be in the need of credit fixing. When it concerns needing poor credit repair, there’s noting more crucial then making sure you’re acquiring the correct advice for everything.

If you find that in the end you’re in need of some professional person help to attend of your bad credit repair needs then you would like to be sure that you browse around. This is to be sure that you finish up with a company that knows precisely what they are performing in order that you do not end up wasting away your time or income. You would like to be sure that the bad credit repair company is one that’s been around for a few a long time instead of a company that’s brand new and likely to make some errors that could cost you.

Whenever you prefer to do all of this yourself and learn how to fix bad credit on your own, then there’s numerous stuff that you’re going to have to address. Whether it is bad credit mortgage repair or bad credit from credit cards, there’s a good deal that you’ve to arrange to be sure that it is all attended of in a suitable manner. A good place to start learning everything you need to know is by reading different articles and magazines out there that are directed towards assisting people find their way out of debt.

Among the biggest things that you can have in life is bad credit. Without any credit or bad credit, there are a lot of crucial things that you’re not going to be capable tof doing, and you’ll actually not be able to have the life that you always dreamed of if you don’t have good credit score.

Whether you prefer to pay for a credit repair service or you are interested in an free bad credit repair service, there perhaps things that can be arranged to wipe off some bad marks on your register. In a few cases, but not all, creditors may offer you a deal and ask that if you bring your account statement current they’ll delete former marks on your credit. Whenever you are interested in seeing if your creditor will do this, merely ask. Free bad credit repair is going to be arduous to discover, as most companies want their revenue in order to pay for their overhead.

The first matter that you should do if you want to repair credit score is check into your own credit. You are able to get your credit score through your bank or other financial organisation, and you are able to also order it yourself online and get it in the mail or through e-mail. This is an significant step because if you would like to repair credit score you’re going to need to have a look at where you beginning from.

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Balance Transfer as an Option for Consolidating Your Credit Card Debts

Filed under: Credit Card Advice

Credit card debt can drag your personal finances down and limit your day-to-day monetary options. If you have a large outstanding credit card debt, it’s high time that you consolidate your credit card debts with the multiple credit card consolidation options. Becoming debt free is certainly a goal that most debtors strive to accomplish, even those who fall into the low income group. But credit card debt is certainly difficult to get rid of, if you’re not following a tight financial schedule. While there are many ways of consolidating your credit card debts, transferring your balance to a low interest credit card is perhaps the most common way adopted by people. Have a look at the things that you must watch out for before transferring your balance to a low interest credit card.

Transferring to a 0% teaser rate

If you are thinking of transferring your high interest debt to a low interest card, you must be aware of the introductory period. Almost all balance transfer cards carry an introductory period during which the interest rate remains low. But as soon as the introductory period ends, the interest rate is subject to a huge change due to which you can go bankrupt instead of settling your debts. If you already have a low fixed interest rate, in spite of being charged finance fees each month, it is advisable that you must stay with the low fixed rate, if you have a low monthly income. The introductory period is something that must be checked before shopping for a credit card. Generally credit card companies do not disclose the information of the introductory period.

The balance transfer fees

Here is another thing that you must check out before transferring your balance. Balance transfer may be an excellent way of consolidating your credit card debts, but it has got many unknown things that later on cost the debtor hugely. While you go shopping for your balance transfer card, you must look out for cards that have no balance transfer fee. Though there are lots of companies that offer cards with very low fee, but there are also others who offer hefty fees for consolidating your debts. Generally, the fee scale followed by the majority of the trustworthy credit card companies is 3% of the amount transferred with a minimum and maximum fee.

Make sure that you pay on the right time on a balance transfer card

If you have finished transferring your entire balance to a low interest card, you are required making timely and regular payments towards the card. If you pay late even in one month, your teaser rate will increase and you will be left with a much less desirable interest rate. Your ultimate financial goal must be achieving a debt free life. Thus, if you’re subject to high interest rates for a single late payment, then transferring your balance will not make much sense.

Thus, if you’re mired in debt and are looking for credit card consolidation, you need to check out the things that have to be followed while consolidating your debts through a balance transfer credit card. Shop around for choosing the best card available that is designed to suit your needs.

Using Your Credit Card for Christmas Shopping?

Filed under: Credit Card Advice

Once again, the holidays are approaching!  In addition to dozens of sales circulars and catalogs filling your mailbox every day, you’re also getting those annual credit card offers?  And, they’re tempting, aren’t they? Should you use a credit card for your Christmas shopping?  Does it make good economic sense?  Believe it or not, it might just be the smartest move you could make this holiday season!

Here are a few of the reasons why you should use credit cards to do your Christmas shopping:

  • Online Shopping – Literally millions of people do their Christmas shopping online every year. With online pricing at places like Amazon.com competing for your business, it only makes sense to take advantage of the deals.  However, using your debit card, or writing a virtual check can put your bank account at risk, and expose you to serious financial problems.  While most banks will credit your account for fraudulent charges, it can take time, and effort to resolve these problems, and can damage your credit score in the process.  Credit cards, on the other hand, are much easier to cancel, and you’re only liable for a small fee, usually around $50, in the event your card number is stolen.
  • Carry Less Cash – If you’re one of those people who loves to crawl the malls and discount stores on black Friday, you’ll definitely understand how easy it can be to have your wallet stolen in the crush of shoppers! Doing all your holiday shopping using a single credit card can eliminate the opportunity to have your wallet (your cash and your identity) stolen!  At most, you’d only need to carry your credit card, and your driver’s license or other form of identification.  Think how much easier it will be to grab those bargains this coming black Friday!
  • Purchase Protection – Many credit cards offer you additional purchase protection, and even insurance, if the goods purchased with your card are lost, stolen, or damaged within a certain amount of time.   This additional protection can even extend will beyond the manufacturer’s warranty on an item.   Even if you lose the receipt, your credit card statement will vouch for the original purchase, and you’ll still be covered!  (This one’s especially good for those expensive toys that never seem to last past the new year.)
  • Cash Back (and other) Rewards Programs – What?  Cash back for shopping?  Yes.  Using a cash back reward credit card for your holiday shopping can be a really smart way to save!  In addition to getting those gifts on sale, you can get up to 5% cash back on qualified purchases, just for using the right credit card when you buy.  Provided you pay the card off when you get the bill, you could reap substantial rewards from this year’s holiday shopping season.

So you see, using your credit card for Christmas shopping can be very smart, if you do so wisely! But, it’s important to be as prudent with your credit card as you would be with using your cash to shop…keep track of your purchases, and make sure you stay within your budget.  That way, you won’t get that ugly January surprise when you receive the credit card bill.

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