Archive for June, 2006

Perks of Citibank credit card

Posted in Credit Cards on June 17th, 2006

Citibank credit cards offer a wide range of benefits. Basically, all of it features offer clients with security during emergencies, the advantage of not bringing cash and checks, and improving independence and responsibility in financial management.

Other than these basic perks of credit cards, there are specified benefits the Citibank credit cards have to offer. Here are some of the credit cards and their corresponding perks:

1) Diners club international credit card. This kind of credit card provides you with the decision of your own credit limit. The interest rates would not show on your bill for fifty days. Since this Citibank credit card could be used all around the world, it gives you the privilege of using it within five million companies worldwide. The ATM card could be used anywhere in the world. And lastly, there is no extra fee when the Citibank credit card is lost.

2) The Citibank Gold Card. This kind of Citibank credit card provides you with a higher credit and cash limit. It offers you access on international lounges and airports. It has a strong and secured insurance. And there is no fee when the credit card has been stolen, lost or damaged.

3) Jet Airways Citibank International Gold Card. This kind of credit card allows the cardholder to take advantage of jet privileges and promos on jet miles when you make use of the credit or cash. When you have been approved with this kind of credit card, you will be automatically given a jet airways ride of 1500 miles. Plus, the services and credit card is insured.

4) The Citibank Silver Card. This kind of credit card has several kinds of insurances like personal accidents, baggage and household insurances that would cover up your expenses. There are also occasional discounts on certain stores and zero costing on lost credit cards.

5) The Citibank Womans card. This kind of credit card targets the women. It provides women with discounts on jewelry, cosmetics, health products, clothes and many shopping stores. It also provides jewelry insurance and there is no extra fee when the Citibank credit card is lost.

6) Specialty cards. There are Citibank credit cards that provide you specifically with music and book stores usage, gives you an advantage on concerts and movie passes, and could give you discounts on oil transactions. These kinds of credit cards would depend on which you apply for and use regularly.

With those numerous advantages, you will surely wonder how you were able to get along without it.

Tomas asks for P256M fresh funds 

Posted in Budgeting on June 16th, 2006

Tomas asks for P256M fresh funds 
Mayor Tomas Osme a yesterday submitted to the City Council his proposed P256.6-million second supplemental budget to prepare the Cebu City Government for the Asean summit in December.

Would you hire these people? 
Would you hire these people? Experts offer new grads tips on how to dress for job interviews

Kenya: Coffee Farmer On the Verge of Despair 
The past six years have convinced Mr Charles Mathangani, 45, that he would be better off without his 400 coffee bushes, which used to be his main source of income.

Property taxes in AG district won’t go up 
Albert Gallatin Area School Board members met to discuss the 2006-2007 tentative budget for the school district during a work session Wednesday and said they will not raise property taxes, choosing to dip into the district’s fund balance instead.

REFINANCING YOUR LOAN WITH ANOTHER LOAN

Posted in Finances on June 16th, 2006

The Advantages And Disadvantages

There is no certainty about our financial future. No matter how hard we strive, no matter how much effort we invest to secure stability for ourselves and our families, there will always be some variables that will come to play and disrupt whatever expectations we have of an obligations-free existence.

Most of us would be left with no recourse but to enter into a loan agreement with a lending institution at one point. Much as we would try to protect the integrity of our budget plans, there are still some things that are beyond our control. Emergencies for example, that necessitate expenditures way above what we have planned.

And when these loans become due and demandable, yet we dont have the means to pay for them, what are we to do? Should we forever avoid the collection agents that would be sent by the lending institution? Should we allow it to ruin our credit score and jeopardize our ability to be granted another loan elsewhere, or worse, our chance to be employed in a wonderful job?

Thankfully, when the chips are down come the time that we have to settle our financial obligations, there exists another option. We could choose to refinance our existing loans. Refinancing a loan is quite simple in principle. All you need to do is to secure another loan to pay off the old one. The end result is a new loan with an extended maturity date.

There are a lot of advantages that can be derived from loan refinancing. Lets take a look at some of them.

* Loan refinancing, as we have previously discussed, would extend the maturity date of your previous loan. This is because the new loan would govern when the same would be due and demandable, and the previous loan would be considered extinguished for all intents and purposes.

* The new loan can have a lower interest rate than the previous one. This would make things easier for your budget. You wont have to endure a rapidly ballooning obligation as the new loan would be less onerous to comply with.

* Debt refinancing can also make your payment schemes simpler. For example, you have many existing loans. Instead of dealing with multiple parties, you could get one loan to pay them off, and youll only have the new loan to contend with.

Dont get your hopes up for debt refinancing that quickly, however. This process is not without its share of disadvantages. Lets take a look at them so that youd be guided properly in determining if this route is the right one for you.

* Paying a smaller interest rate for the new loan is not guaranteed. Sometimes, the accumulated percentage for the new loan would be bigger than the sum total of the interests you have been paying for the old loan or loans.

* It would be difficult to get a new loan if you have existing loans to contend with. You would have to find a lending institution that specializes in refinancing subsisting loam or loans. Existing loans leave a mark on your credit history, and many lending institutions would be wary of the same.

* And in the event that you would find a lending institution that would be willing to refinance your existing loan or loans, chances are, it would consider you as a high risk investment, what with the inability you have shown of failing to pay off your subsisting loan or loans. As such, a new loan may be granted only if you would assent to relatively high interest rate.

Debt refinancing, however, remains a viable option, for the extension of the due date of the existing loan or loans more than anything else. If you feel that youve reached the end of your rope and debts which have matured are adding to the weight youre carrying, then it might be wise to consider refinancing the same at the soonest possible time.

Otherwise, do try your best to pay off your existing loan or loans, as this would be the safest way to preserve your good credit score.

“Low Interest Rates = Bigger Savings”

Posted in Credit Cards on June 14th, 2006

When choosing a credit card, the interest rate should be the first thing to consider. Low interest rates only mean one thing: more savings! The bigger the balance of the account, the bigger sum of money will be saved. As more money gets saved, more money gets stored and more interests will roll in the bank account.

Other credit cards companies have reasonable interest rates and offers more like giving the percentage of money back. The more money spent on credit, more money will be returned to the cards user. Most credit cards use 5% on special purchases and 1% on regular purchases.

Some banks give Reward Points. These Reward Points accumulate as the credit card is used and it may be exchanged for certain items catalogued by the bank. Points may be exchanged for microwaves, cell phones, televisions and the like. This is yet another great feature to be considered when looking for a card.

A number of major banks offer low interest rates. A few major banks would be: Citibank, American express and JP Morgan Chase. These banks are known to give 0% introductory APR (Annual Percentage Rate) for 12 months. Most of these cards offer no annual rates.

Here are some credit cards with low interest rates:

Citi Dividend Platinum Select Card (Citibank):
-it features 0% APR (Annual Percentage Rate) for 12 months
-it rewards the user. The more this card is used, the bigger the rewards.
-earn 5% return from expenses in supermarkets, drug stores and gas stations.
-earn 1% return from other expenses.

Citi Premier Pass Card (Citibank):
-0% introductory APR.
-get points by flying. Every mile gets you a point.

American Express Blue Card (American Express):
-3.99% fixed interest rate.
-0% introductory APR for 15 months.

Chase Cash Plus Visa (JP Morgan Chase):
-0% interest rate for 12 months.
-has other cash back promos.

Chase Flexible Rewards Platinum Visa Card (JP Morgan Chase):
-0% introductory APR for 12 months.
-a dollar spent equals a point.
-no annual fee.

Pulaski Bank Visa Master Card:
-0% on balance transfers for 5 months
-6.99% fixed rate
-$35 annual fee

Discover Card:
-0% APR for the first 10 months.
-$0 annual fee.
-9.99% fixed interest rate.

These cards have the lowest interest rates in the credit card market today. These cards do not only offer low rates, but they also give certain rewards for the frequent users of the card.

Agencies told to prepare for possible cuts

Posted in Budgeting on June 13th, 2006

Agencies told to prepare for possible cuts
Dallas Morning News (subscription), TX - Jun 7, 2006Rick Perry’s budget office and Republican legislative leaders asked departments to get ready to absorb a 10 percent cut in their funding in the next two-year …

How to fix our $5 million budget deficit
Palo Alto Online, CA - Jun 10, 2006… On budget night this Monday, it will be time to take strong … Finally, we must prepare a clear, actionable and measurable implementation plan, dedicating …

Governor’s office: Prepare for budget cuts
KVUE (subscription), TX - Jun 7, 2006… Rick Perry’s budget office is directing state agencies to prepare 2007/2008 budgets that spend 10 percent less money than they did in the 2006/2007 budget cycle …

A day in the life of Francine DelMonte
Niagara Gazette, NY - 6 hours ago… Noon: DelMonte is holding a forum to discuss the health care budget at the new Heart Center in half an hour and needs to prepare. …