Archive for July, 2008

Buying a Used Car: Avoiding the Scams

There are a few things that you should always look for if you are buying a used car. Here are the tips that you will need not to get a lemon.

1. Warranty Facts

You can sometimes get a car that is still under warranty. If this is the case, check with the warranty (perhaps call the number in the warranty book) to ask if there is anything that you need to do to keep the warranty when you buy the car. This often just involves sending out a letter with the purchase information to the dealership.

If you buy from a car dealership, you can often get warranties on used cars. If you want peace of mind when purchasing, consider this option for sure.

2. Warning Signs

If the odometer reading doesn?t match the wear and tear of the car, then you should definitely ask for some records.

If there is any vagueness about getting the service records for the car, you might want to walk away.

3. Getting a Good Price

Because the cost of new cars is going up, there is more of a demand for used cars. This means that some dealerships believe that they can take more money than the car is worth. There are a few things that you need to do to get a good price.

Do your research; check online and in used car guides (often available at the local library) to find out what the prices of cars listed online to sell are. If you are uncertain about buying a car online, then don?t. Often purchasing a car online means that it will come from a long distance, and as such, you will have to pay exorbitant shipping or delivery costs, which will not be worth the money that you are saving off the sticker price.

4. Making the Payments

Instead of getting a car loan from the dealership and paying the dealer or the seller monthly payments, consider taking out a loan from the bank. You will often get better interest (or financing, as it is called with cars) rates. Go to a bank or credit union before you go shopping for your car. Salespeople will try to talk you into going with the dealership?s rates; you will be better off if you already have your financing set up. Credit unions can sometimes offer even better rates than banks on loans and are an often-overlooked choice.

5. The Information to Get

In Ontario, and in some states, you can ask to get the used vehicle information package. This will have the details of the previous maintenance and ownership history of the car.

Always do a complete visual inspection of a car. Even if you are buying a car from the internet, buy one from your province or state so that you can go and check it out first. Alternatively, agree with the seller that you have the right to return the car for a full refund (including shipping) if it does not meet your standards.

6. What not to Trust

Don?t judge the use of a car by it?s brakes; a dealer can buy new brake pads for less than $10, which is often an easy fix for a car.

If a car has rear-door-hinges that are very worn, it might have been used as a taxi, and you should probably find another one. Check the roof of the car to see if there have been any holes filled in; this could have been a sign for a delivery vehicle. They also often have been used a lot.

Be careful if a car looks like it has been freshly painted. This could mean that it has been in an accident that is trying to be covered up.

7. And finally?

Buying a used car can be a great deal for you. You can save money on the car itself, and you can get a safe means to travel. Remember, the condition of the car is more important than if it has had multiple owners, or even the odometer reading. Good luck shopping!

For information on how to get a loan for a used car, visit http://www.theguideto-carloans.com/used_car_loans/ The Guide to Car Loans. The more you know in advance could save you more money when you buy!

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The Importance of Debt Consolidation

It is certainly no secret that levels of personal debt have been on the rise, even as levels of personal savings and investments have been declining.

Getting a handle on all this debt through the debt consolidation is one of the most important things consumers can do to get themselves off to a fresh financial start.

It is important for consumers to understand just what is involved in the debt consolidation process, and to understand how to determine whether or not debt consolidation is the best course of action.

The Idea Behind A Debt Consolidation Loan

The idea behind a debt consolidation loan, of course, is to save money on monthly payments by paying off all those high interest credit cards and other debt with a lower interest rate loan.

Simply getting a lower interest rate can have a significant impact on monthly payments, and that is one of the things that makes debt consolidation so popular these days.

Even as interest rates in general have declined, the interest rates on credit cards have remained very high, and this can make it very difficult for the average consumer to pay off even a small balance.

Adding Up How Much Money You Owe

When deciding whether or not a debt consolidation loan is the best choice, it is important to gather as much information together as possible.

It is important, for instance, to know exactly how much is owed, as this will represent the amount of money that must be borrowed for the debt consolidation loan.

Add Up All Of Your Monthly Payments

It is also important to add up all the monthly payments that are currently being made.

Knowing how much money is being used to service current debt will help consumers to know how much they can save through taking out a debt consolidation loan.

Depending on the level of debt and the interest rate being charged, a debt consolidation plan can save hundreds of dollars a month or even more, so it is definitely worth checking into.

Shopping Around For The Best Possible Deal On The Debt Consolidation Loan You Need

After you have gathered up all your bills and prepared a list of everything you owe, it is time to start shopping around for the best possible deal on the debt consolidation loan you need.

There are many different lenders who make these kinds of debt consolidation loans, so it is important to shop around not only at local banks but at regional banks, national banks, savings and loan associations and credit unions as well.

Shopping around as widely as possible is one of the best ways to make sure you get the best possible deal, and save the greatest amount of money, when taking out a debt consolidation loan.

Shaunta Pleasant is a professional writer and editor on debt consolidation topics. Visit my site to learn more about planning the perfect wedding at http://www.debt-consolidation-help-services.com

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10 Ways Your Chamber of Commerce Can Help Your Business Grow

Joining your area’s Chamber of Commerce can be a smart move for your home business. Because businesses that participate in this group promote each other and work together, your own business can grow and prosper quickly. Here are just a few ways you can benefit by joining your local Chamber of Commerce:

- If you make it known that your product or service makes great client or employee gifts, you could wind up with a very nice flow of business from your fellow Chamber members.

- You may be able to line up some lunchtime sales or parties featuring your products at local businesses to help employees with gift shopping (especially at Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day).

- You may qualify for less-expensive health insurance and business insurance available to Chamber of Commerce members.

- You can find out about local events where you might set up a booth and promote your business.

- You’ll meet good, reliable sources for products and services like accounting, printing, computer support, etc.

- You’ll be referred to other Chamber members’ contacts.

- You have a good chance of meeting local retailers who may be interested in carrying your products.

- You’ll have an opportunity to do joint ventures with other local businesses, such as cooperative advertising or trunk shows.

- Your business name can be associated with improving your community, since Chambers of Commerce generally work on civic improvement, legislation favoring local businesses, and economic development.

- You may have access to mentors who can help you develop your business; or you may be able to serve as a mentor to someone else.

These are just a few of the many ways your area’s Chamber of Commerce can give you access to a valuable networking and marketing system. You can find your local Chamber of Commerce in the business listings of your phone book.

Rena Klingenberg is a jewelry artist and small business owner. Her websites, http://www.trade-show-booth-display.com and http://www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com, are filled with new success tips and articles to help other small businesses market their products.

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Want Bigger Profits? Think of Your Web Site as a Catalog, Not a Store

For years people have been talking about web sites being
storefronts. The truth is, web sites have little in common with
traditional stores. Thinking of your site as a web storefront
can take you down the wrong path from the start.

This is a topic I delve into in my new book “Profitable
e-Marketing: Success Strategies That Pay Off.”

Look at how customers use stores. It is a social experience
for many. Teens go to the mall to be seen. A work-at-home
parent may go to the store just to get out of the house. People
like to touch items and talk to the clerk. I even see some
entire families going to the store so they can argue with each
other over what to buy. A store is more than just a place to get
supplies — it’s a social, entertainment venue that only works
the way it does because it is a real place with real people.

How does that change when the store moves online to cyberspace?
People use a web site very differently, much more like the way
they use a catalog than the way they use a store.

Customers are almost always shopping alone, and anonymously.
Suddenly other factors become important. For example, people
want a deep selection. Unlike Kmart and Walmart, which tend to
have just a few choices in a great many product categories, web
sites can offer a big and varied number of choices in a single
product area. Walmart might give me a choice of three different
toasters. A kitchen appliance site could easily extend that
selection to 20 toasters. Or maybe your site features only three
toasters, but those three are unusual and not available in
stores.

Just as in catalogs, customers want product photos and detailed
descriptions. They also like to read what other people who have
purchased the item are saying about its usability and
reliability. Give those who own the item a chance to log their
comments online for all to see. Don’t worry, those who have
purchased usually say good things about their decision to buy.

Deep selection isn’t the only thing customers crave. They also
want speed. Speed drives the Internet, and is one of the main
reasons people shop online. Customers should be able to quickly
find the products or services they are looking for, learn as much
as they want about them, then buy within a few seconds using an
online shopping cart. Depending upon the size of your business,
you need fast, automated inventory information and online
customer service to make your site accurate and helpful.

Here’s a word of warning about technology. Don’t add the latest
online automation just because it is there. Think hard about
whether the technology makes the shopping experience faster and
easier, or just adds another layer of complication. Simplicity is
often your site’s best asset, so be careful not to destroy it
with too many bells and whistles.

Some of the things that will make your online catalog a big
success are very simple. Make sure people know what you sell and
how you can help them from the very first glance at your home
page. Make your site easy to navigate. If customers can’t
quickly find what they are looking for, they will click to a
competitor.

Finally, don’t try to make all your sales on the customer’s first
visit. Real profits come when the same customers return to your
site again and again. Offer to send customers valuable
information or updates via email. Build your house list of names
and addresses, then work your list to remind people you are
there. Keep them coming back.

About the Author
Al Bredenberg is a leading authority on making money online. His
new book is “Profitable e-Marketing: Success Strategies That Pay
Off.” The 610 pages are packed with a detailed blueprint for
designing and implementing an integrated online marketing
program, based on time-tested methods developed by Internet
entrepreneurs since the mid-1990s. Get your copy at
http://www.profitableemarketing.com Reach Al at
ab@copywriter.com or 203-743-1946.
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FranklinCovey closes Consumer Solutions Business Unit sale to … RTT News, NY - Jul 7, 2008 (RTTNews) - FranklinCovey Co.(FC: News, Chart, Quote ) announced that it has completed its sale of of assets of its Consumer Solutions Business Unit to …

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Knott’s Berry Farm will add six new mazes for Halloween Haunt 2008, including a movie tie-in with the upcoming horror-thriller “Quarantine,” according to theme park officials.
The 36th annual Knott’s Scary Farm will take place on Wednesdays through Sundays nights from Sept. 25 through Nov. 1, 2008.
The granddaddy of Halloween events will feature 13 “murder manor” […]
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Guide to Shopping Online Safely

Shopping on the Internet has now become commonplace. The Internet is an exciting tool that puts vast information at your fingertips. With a click of a mouse, it lets you buy an airline ticket, book a hotel, send flowers to a friend, purchase your favourite item, bank and invest online. Shopping online offers lots of benefits that you won?t find shopping in a store or by mail. The Internet is always open ? seven days a week, 24 hours a day ? and bargains can be numerous online. Most consumers use credit or debit cards to pay for online purchases.

Online Payment options:

Most online shoppers use credit cards to pay for their online purchases. But debit cards - which authorize merchants to debit your bank account electronically - are increasing in use. To complete a debit card transaction, you may have to use a personal identification number (PIN), some form of a signature or other identification, or a combination of these identifiers. Some cards have both credit and debit features: You select the payment option at the point-of-sale. But remember, although a debit card may look like a credit card, the money for debit purchases is transferred almost immediately from your bank account to the merchant’s account. In addition, your liability limits for a lost or stolen debit card and unauthorized use are different from your liability if your credit card is lost, stolen or used without your authorization.

Precautions:

Shopping on the Internet is no less safe than shopping in a store or by mail. Keep the following tips in mind to help ensure that your online shopping experience is a safe one.

?Use a secure browser - software that encrypts or scrambles the purchase information you send over the Internet - to help guard the security of your information as it is transmitted to a website. When submitting your purchase information, look for the “lock” icon on the browser’s status bar, and the phrase “https” in the URL address for a website, to be sure your information is secure during transmission.

?Check the site’s privacy policy, before you provide any personal financial information to a website. In particular, determine how the information will be used or shared with others. Also check the site’s statements about the security provided for your information. Some websites’ disclosures are easier to find than others - look at the bottom of the home page, on order forms or in the “About” or “FAQs” section of a site. If you’re not comfortable with the policy, consider doing business elsewhere.

?Read and understand the refund and shipping policies of a website you visit, before you make your purchase. Look closely at disclosures about the website’s refund and shipping policies. Again, search through the website for these disclosures.

?Keep your personal information private. Don’t disclose your personal information - your address, telephone number, bank account number or e-mail address - unless you know who’s collecting the information, why they’re collecting it and how they’ll use it.

?Give payment information only to businesses you know and trust, and only when and where it is appropriate - like an order form. Never give your password to anyone online, even your Internet service provider.

?Keep records of your online transactions and check your e-mail for contacts by merchants with whom you’re doing business. Merchants may send you important information about your purchases.

?Review your monthly credit card and bank statements for any errors or unauthorized purchases promptly and thoroughly. Notify your credit or debit card issuer immediately if your credit or debit card is lost or stolen, or if you suspect someone is using your accounts without your permission.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author’s biography remains intact:

About the Author
John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

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Holiday De-Stressing Tips for Kids

The holiday season can be a hectic, stressing time not only for adults, but also for children: lots of driving around town in traffic jams; schlepping through overcrowded shopping malls; giving up your room for out-of-town relatives who emit a funny smell. Yep, it can be a difficult time. Here are a few tips to keep your little ones, and yourself, calm and comfortable during the holiday season.
* Lay on the floor together with your legs propped up against the wall; toes pointing to the ceiling. Talk to each other or just silently count the turns of the ceiling fan.
* Go for a walk together. Take an early morning walk before everyone wakes up, or an evening walk after dinner. Remind your child that this is your special relax time together. Make time for it each day.
* Blow bubbles together. Use pre-made bubble solution or make your own. Mix together water, dishwashing liquid and a small amount of corn syrup. Add a few drops of food coloring for more colorful fun.
* Fold towels. It may sound silly at first, but the simplicity of the folds, combined with the warmth of the towels fresh from the dryer, create a very calming and comforting feeling.
* When all else fails, remember that hugs are free! Sometimes the best stress reliever is a comforting hug from someone we love.

About The Author

Deborah Shelton is the author of the brand new book The Five Minute Parent: Fun & Fast Activities for You and Your Little Ones. Visit The Five Minute Parent for fun rainy-day activities, family links, and a free email newsletter filled with craft ideas, guest articles, contests and so much more! http://www.fiveminuteparent.com

deborah@fiveminuteparent.com

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