If you are a newlywed and not a custom to managing your finances such as your check book one of the worst things you can see on your bank statement is insufficient funds or not sufficient funds. This is a term used by banks that simply means you have written a check and the available balance in your account is not sufficient to cover the amount.
There are financial consequences that will affect you. The fees that are charged when this occurs can be substantial. In most cases your bank will charge you an overdraft fee and there will also be a fee from the person or company you wrote the check. The fees may very depending on the bank policies. If this occurs you should try to rectify the situation immediately and it should not affect your credit or status with your bank. Another consequence would be your check will not be except by the business or person it was issued to in the future.
One way to prevent having a check returned on your account would be to have overdraft protection from your bank. You may have your savings account link to your checking account or a credit card or a line of credit set up especially for this purpose.
It is a good idea to have online banking from your bank as you can check on your account balance and available funds on a daily basis. This would prevent you from writing a check for insufficient funds as you would always know what your available balance would be.
Feb 4, 2012
Feb 3, 2012
Health Care Power of Attorney
Being a newlywed the furthest thing from your mind is getting sick and having to go to the hospital but in these days and times you never know so you should always be prepared.
If for some reason you have to enter a hospital for surgery or any life-threatening problems you should fill out a Health Care Power of Attorney. The reason for this is you never know if you will be able to make decisions necessary throughout your treatment. This will allow your husband or a family member to make decisions for you should you be impaired.
Most hospitals will have the necessary forms for you to fill out such as the health care power of attorney you should use their form if possible. If this form is not available you can pick it up at most office supply stores, or from a paralegal or notary in your area. Be sure to check with the hospital that your form will be honored their.
If for some reason you have to enter a hospital for surgery or any life-threatening problems you should fill out a Health Care Power of Attorney. The reason for this is you never know if you will be able to make decisions necessary throughout your treatment. This will allow your husband or a family member to make decisions for you should you be impaired.
Most hospitals will have the necessary forms for you to fill out such as the health care power of attorney you should use their form if possible. If this form is not available you can pick it up at most office supply stores, or from a paralegal or notary in your area. Be sure to check with the hospital that your form will be honored their.
Jan 31, 2012
Wedding Disputes
You have painstakingly plan the perfect wedding but as you know there's always some things that can go wrong.
If you were disappointed in a service or a product provided you at your wedding what is your recourse? Well first you would try to solve the problem with the contractor of the service or product. If this does not work you could take the company to your local small claims court. This court will handle cases of $5000 or less.
Let us say that you contracted a photographer take photos of your wedding. When viewing the final product you were very disappointed. What to do you have already paid him? If the company refuses to help you or give you a refund or even a partial refund you probably have a case for small claims court.
Remember the person who goes to court with a well documented case and all the necessary evidence to prove it will generally be the winner. So make sure you have the sign contract you entered into with them as well as the final product you ended up with. If you have a witness who can testify to the quality of work of the defendant it would also be very helpful. If you win your case you will not only be reimbursed with initial money that you laid out but also for the legal fees that you have incurred while processing your claim to the court. So keep in mind be well prepared when presenting your case.
Jan 30, 2012
Roommate Agreement
Having a roommate is a great idea that will allow you to have a much better place to live. Let's face it splitting your expenses two ways is definitely is an advantage.
When searching for a suitable roommate you have to be careful and check this person out thoroughly as you don't want to end up with the roommate from hell. One way to do this is check with his or her previous landlord to see what kind of a tenant they were. Did they pay the rent on time? Did they leave the property in good condition? These are important questions that you should know the answer to before entering into any kind of roommate agreement.
When renting a condo, apartment, or a house remember that the lease you sign will be in each person's name and you will be held liable for the full rent or damages. This means that if you get the wrong roommate and they fail to pay their rent you will be responsible for the entire amount.
This is why you should have a separate roommate agreement. The agreement should state that if they fail to pay their part of the rent you will have the legal right to evict them from the property. This contract would give you leverage if you would have to sue your roommate in a small claims court for nonpayment of the rent or damages. This agreement would not stop the landlord from legal action against you for the rent money. It is to your advantage to have an agreement like this to recoup funds you could lose if your roommate defaults on his commitment. This is a simple contract that you can pick up in any office supplies store and fill out yourself. It is a good idea though to have it notarized in case your roommate disputes that they signed it.
Jan 29, 2012
Best Neighbors Ever
Guest post of the week by Brittany Booker:
I am so fortunate to have good neighbors. When I moved into my apartment about a year and a half ago, I figured that living here would be the same as living in my old apartment. I barely saw any of my neighbors. I actually had no idea who lived in any of the apartments around me. I was pleasantly surprised when I got a knock at the door one week after I moved in. It was my neighbor, Jim, Inviting me out to a neighborhood happy hour. Since I moved in he has helped with so many things. He helped me train my puppy, which was so nice. It was a really difficult job, and I needed the help. When I had trouble with my cable company, Jim suggested I go to directstartv.com and get satellite instead, which was great advice. I have also met a bunch of people in the neighborhood through him, which has made my social life so much better. It was definitely the right move to leave my old apartment. I finally found the social scene I am looking for at my new place.
I am so fortunate to have good neighbors. When I moved into my apartment about a year and a half ago, I figured that living here would be the same as living in my old apartment. I barely saw any of my neighbors. I actually had no idea who lived in any of the apartments around me. I was pleasantly surprised when I got a knock at the door one week after I moved in. It was my neighbor, Jim, Inviting me out to a neighborhood happy hour. Since I moved in he has helped with so many things. He helped me train my puppy, which was so nice. It was a really difficult job, and I needed the help. When I had trouble with my cable company, Jim suggested I go to directstartv.com and get satellite instead, which was great advice. I have also met a bunch of people in the neighborhood through him, which has made my social life so much better. It was definitely the right move to leave my old apartment. I finally found the social scene I am looking for at my new place.
Jan 26, 2012
San Pedro, Belize
When planning your honeymoon you might want to consider the island of San Pedro located in Belize.
If you like sandy white beaches, lush rain forests and exotic adventures then you will love the island of San Pedro. The island is rated one of the 10 best dive destinations in the world. It is the home of the Belize barrier reef that runs along the entire coast of Belize. The reef is located only a quarter a mile from the beach so it is easily accessible. There also many bars and restaurants to enjoy while listening to reggae and Latin music. There are also tours available to the Maya archaeological sites. So check with your local traveling about honeymoon tours to the island.
If you like sandy white beaches, lush rain forests and exotic adventures then you will love the island of San Pedro. The island is rated one of the 10 best dive destinations in the world. It is the home of the Belize barrier reef that runs along the entire coast of Belize. The reef is located only a quarter a mile from the beach so it is easily accessible. There also many bars and restaurants to enjoy while listening to reggae and Latin music. There are also tours available to the Maya archaeological sites. So check with your local traveling about honeymoon tours to the island.
Jan 25, 2012
Bill Collectors
If you are a newlywed couple for some reason or another you might have gotten behind in your bills. This happens to many of us.
I am sure you have been called by a bill collector. In 2010 there were over 10,000 bill collecting agencies registered. They have collected approximately $9 billion dollars.
If you are being harassed by one of these agencies you do have rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. This abuse can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission and also your local state attorney generals office.
When you are contacted by the debt collecting company you have to remember they really don't care about your circumstances the bottom line is to get as much money out of you as possible. Their philosophy is all debtors are habitual liars and will say anything. They will make such ridiculous suggestions as borrow the money from your friends, take the money out of your retirement plan such as a 401(k), use another credit card. All of these ideas are horrible and go against any advice that you would get from a financial planner. I am not saying that you should not pay your debts but don't be intimidated into doing something foolish by one of these agencies. These companies will even call you at work and try to intimidate you. All you have to do is simply state do not call me at my place of employment anymore they must stop that is the law. So if you are intimidated by a debt collecting agency contact the government agencies mentioned above and file a complaint you do have your rights.
I am sure you have been called by a bill collector. In 2010 there were over 10,000 bill collecting agencies registered. They have collected approximately $9 billion dollars.
If you are being harassed by one of these agencies you do have rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. This abuse can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission and also your local state attorney generals office.
When you are contacted by the debt collecting company you have to remember they really don't care about your circumstances the bottom line is to get as much money out of you as possible. Their philosophy is all debtors are habitual liars and will say anything. They will make such ridiculous suggestions as borrow the money from your friends, take the money out of your retirement plan such as a 401(k), use another credit card. All of these ideas are horrible and go against any advice that you would get from a financial planner. I am not saying that you should not pay your debts but don't be intimidated into doing something foolish by one of these agencies. These companies will even call you at work and try to intimidate you. All you have to do is simply state do not call me at my place of employment anymore they must stop that is the law. So if you are intimidated by a debt collecting agency contact the government agencies mentioned above and file a complaint you do have your rights.
Jan 18, 2012
Disadvantage of Low Credit Score
There are many disadvantages of having a low credit score. The most obvious one would be approval when applying for a loan.
Having a low credit score can add much stress to your life and even affect your relationships. When you have a low credit score businesses such as banks consider you a high risk when making a loan request. If you are eventually approved for a loan you can be sure it will be at a high rate of interest. Another disadvantage would be high deposits that companies such as utilities and cell phone compaines will require of you if you have a poor credit score. Many apartment complexes will check your credit score before renting to you this could cause you not to be approved.
There are ways to improve your credit score such as applying for a credit card with a security deposit make sure this company reports transactions to the credit bureau. If you keep up your payments it will reflect well on your credit score. There are many organizations that have programs to give free financial advice for people with imperfect credit. You should go to one of these and get some tips on improving your credit worthiness.
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