The Difference Between a Secured and Bad Credit Card

If you have bad credit or you're simply looking to re-establish your credit, you may want to look into a secured card. If you haven't heard of a secured card before, I'll explain how it works. A secured card is very similar to a bad credit card but instead it takes a deposit in order to use it. Some people may find this as a downfall but it's the only way some people can establish credit.

Before you go on your search for a bad credit cards, you're first going to want to decide if you should head toward a bad or a secured credit card. The difference between the two is that one takes a deposit and the other is simply a credit card with a higher APR rate. Please keep in mind that the chances of you getting approved for a bad credit card are slimmer than a secured credit card.

What credit card should I choose then?

The first thing you're going to want to look at is how bad your credit really is. If you have declared bankruptcy in the past or your credit score is below 500, you're probably going to want to go toward a secured credit card because your chances of being approved are going to be great than a bad credit credit card.

A bad card is generally designed for people that have mediocre credit, so don't let the word "bad" fool you. Sometimes people look at the word bad and just assume they have bad credit. The thing they don't realize Is that you still can get denied for an application. Most people assume that they will be approved regardless. This is not the case with a bad credit card but with a secured credit card, you chances of being approved are great.

I'm still confused, what's the difference?

I'm going to point out the main points on each card. Let's first talk about a bad credit card. This type of credit card is designed for people with mediocre credit like I mentioned above. If you have declared bankruptcy, I highly recommend you apply for a secured card. A bad card generally has a higher APR compared to most regular credit card. Keep in mind that these cards also don't carry any rewards like most credit cards, so don't rely on this.

A secured card on the other hand is geared toward people with awful credit. Your chances of being approved for this card is very great since you have to send in a deposit for this card. If you don't pay off your bill in time, the bank will simply dip into your deposit. Also watch out for annual fees and minimum deposit requirements.

I'm hoping you have a better understanding of these types of cards. Remember, it's your goal to research each one in more depth and see which one works for your credit building. Once you have your card, remember to pay it off on time and learn from your mistakes in the past. If you learn from your mistakes, your credit will be great in no time.

Bankruptcy Attorney Fees - Help Your Attorney to Help You

If you have decided to pay out for a bankruptcy attorney, then you have indeed chosen wisely and you should now be fortunate enough to be in safe hands. However, your attorney, while expert in the fields of bankruptcy, can only be as effective as you allow him to be.

Now what does that mean? Your attorney is going to be trying to do the best for you, and to represent you in the most effective way. He will be giving you advice that will be uniquely tailored to your own situation. However he will need help from you along the way. He or she can only be as good as the information that you give them.

So do bear this in mind. Follow the three steps below and give your attorney the best possible chance of doing his best for you. Prepare your paperwork. Don't just hand them a bag of papers. They will have to use valuable time and resource sorting through them (some will refuse to do this), when they could be doing other more useful tasks for you.

With each file of paper, for example your bank of America credit card statement. Write a quick over. Details of when you got the card, how much you owe on it, when you stopped paying (if you did). This will only take you a couple of minutes but will provide a great quick look up for your attorney. Remember he may be dealing with hundreds of cases, so make it easy for her to deal with yours.

Full disclosure. This is the most vital and crucial piece of advice I can give you if you are going to file a bankruptcy. Tell all, and I mean all. Remember your attorney will have seen it all and heard it all before. Nothing you tell them will shock them. That is what they are there for. Your story will not be much different to all the others.

Do not hide anything. Never think 'oh but I cannot tell them that'. If you do withhold information, it just might come back and bite you further down the line. And your attorney will not be impressed at having to clean up the mess. They cannot help you if you are not giving them the full story. Help your lawyer to help you and you will be in a win win situation.

IRS Or Federal Tax Audit Guidelines

Are you being audited by the IRS? If so, you need to know how to prepare for this. After all, you don't go into a one hoping that you can beat the IRS at its own game. If you do you will probably come out on the losing end of the stick.

Preparing for a and IRS or State audit is not as difficult as you may think. While doing this, consider these details:

1. Read your notice carefully. What exactly is the IRS asking for? What type of tax audit are you facing? There is plenty of information available on the notice that you received in the mail - this is the first thing you must read and understand.

2. Do not waste anytime. It is easy to slack off when preparing for a tax audit, but this is not something you want to do. From the moment you receive a notice you should be thinking about how you can overcome this minor obstacle. The longer you wait the more problems you are causing.

3. Get in touch with a tax professional. Yes, you can prepare for a tax audit on your own but this can be a daunting task. When you hire a professional you are going to have the help of somebody who knows exactly what you are up against. This will work in your favor in many ways.

4. Gather and organize the information that the IRS has requested. For instance, you may be asked for receipts that backup your deductions. Once you have the proper information together, and realize that your return was accurate, all you have to do is prove this to the IRS.

5. Respond to the tax audit. If you are requested to mail the proper information to the IRS, do so. If they want to meet with you in person, that is fine as well. You have nothing to hide. Respond to the audit in whatever manner is requested of you.

By following these five steps you will be able to prepare yourself for a tax audit without stressing out too much or making any mistakes.

Business Networking - 3 Business Card Tips for Making a Great Impression That Doesn't Cost a Cent

Business cards are a great tool to help you make a positive first impression. The Japanese have an elegant way of presenting business cards. They hold out the card in front of them with both hands, and hand over the card with a slight bow. It's a sign of respect, and almost becomes a little ceremony. When they receive your card, they look at it carefully and admire it. You are expected to do the same when you receive their card.

How can you use this etiquette to make a great impression in business today? You don't have to be Japanese, and the extra moments you take in handing out your business cards won't cost you a penny.

1. Compliment the card. When you receive a business card, don't stuff it into your pocket. Instead, take a moment and look at it carefully. Admire it. Find something to say, and make a positive comment. It can be about their product or service, their logo, or the location of their office. It doesn't matter what you say, as long as it's positive. In reality, you are complimenting the person who gave you the card.

2. Treat it with respect. Don't fold the card in half. Don't pick your teeth with it. Never put it into your back pocket and sit on it. Don't write anything on it without first asking permission. Instead, carefully place it in a business card holder or pocket of your jacket.

3. Don't hand out your card while you are shaking hands. When you meet someone and shake hands, give that person your full attention. Make eye contact long enough to notice the color or his or her eyes. Shake hands warmly and firmly. Smile. Say their name, and how nice it is to meet them. Then when you exchange business cards afterwards, make that a small ceremony, as with the Japanese. It will give you a way to connect again.

Business card etiquette says a great deal about your professionalism in general. It only take a few seconds, and doesn't cost a penny to show etiquette when you hand out a business card. Why not take that extra step to create a great first impression?

You are invited to use these tips to make a great first impression when networking.

Where We Once Belonged by Sia Figiel

Where We Once Belonged by Sia Figiel is a novel set in Samoa, a novel that won the Commonwealth Writers Prize. At one level it is a simple story of one girl's journey through childhood and adolescence. Alofa tells us about her school life, her church, her favourite television programmes, and her family. She tells us of local practices, customs and mores. She describes what she eats and how it is cooked. She details her relationships with her friends, parents and teachers. And in this way she builds for us a picture and sensation of growing up in Samoa.

Alofa is quite a late developer. Long after her friends have succumbed to the moon sickness, she has not begun to menstruate. It troubles her. She worries that she is not like other people, that she might be destined for a life that is different from theirs.

But she discovers what all adolescents discover, and delights in telling the minute detail of every encounter. There are older men, younger men, and girls, mothers and boys. She has her share of experiences and learns that sometimes people are not what they seem.

Through Where We Once Belonged the reader thus experiences Samoan life, how it once was, and how it is changing. It is not a rich life, for sure, but the poverty, both material and personal, never grinds down either the community or the individual. Like everywhere else in human existence, some can cope with apparent ease, whilst others find the process of life more taxing.

The true beauty of Sia Figiel's novel, however, is that it provides a foil to external, Western interpretations of Samoan life. Mention of this contrast with ´official´ views of the culture come late in the book, because the perspective is consistently that of the young girl narrator. In some ways this is unfortunate, since the book has real direction once this is understood. Until then, a casual reader may not develop this informative and rewarding overview.

An uncommitted reader might also find the book a difficult read. There is extensive use of Samoan words, whole sentences in places. Though there is a glossary, it is far from complete. There is a temptation not to refer to it and thus to gloss over some of the detail, and it is in this detail that the book's real richness lies. Eventually, it is a rewarding read, in its particularistic, individual way.

Medigap Individual Health Insurance To Lower Costs

Medigap individual health insurance is something that can be important to seniors. This can help cover the gap that Medicare can leave. There are many advantages of having this type of plan intact and this can help lower costs and provide better coverage.

Some of the most popular Mediacare plans have a very high deductible. This can leave a senior scrambling to pay this deductible before they can receive the coverage they need. Medigap can help to pay for this deductible and allow someone to have the coverage they need.

Medicare is something that is closely monitored and there are very strict laws pertaining to the Medicare rules and regulations. This can allow someone that needs Medigap to feel more comfortable about the process. You can trust this type of coverage and you will not have any surprises with changes to your coverage in the middle of your plan.

Calling and talking to a representative can help you to decide if Medigap can be a benefit to your existing coverage. You can often only enroll during the enrollment periods and these are dates you will want to be aware of.

There are many ways that you can enroll in Medicare and many plans available. This is why you may need some outside assistance to help you choose the plan that is perfect for your needs.

Medigap individual health insurance can be a great supplement to your existing plan. Many people are struggling to maintain health insurance and you might need all the help you can get.

Industrial Accident Compensation: The Role of Workers Compensation Department

Industrial accident compensation is perhaps one of the most sought after compensations in the UK. This comes as no surprise because the UK has one of the best redress of the compensation claims owing to industrial injuries and the Workers Compensation Department makes every effort to help those affected. It is this department which strives to make the prompt and able compensation to the affected or the family of the same in case of death. In fact, it is this department which is also striving hard to rehabilitate those affected by any kind of industrial accident and providing nursing care too.

The industrial accident compensation insurance is a measure which protects the employee and his family from any untoward happening that may befall upon him in terms of finances. That is if an employee is affected in some way physically, either temporarily or permanently, it is this insurance claim which stands him in good stead. However, one can benefit from this type of claim only if it is redressed in time. It is the Workers Compensation Department which makes every possible effort in this direction.

One can claim the compensation for the payment of medical benefits, compensation for the business being suspended, for being wounded and sick, compensation for any kind of disorder accrued. The family can claim for even funeral expenses in case of death. Before one goes on to claim the compensation, a claimant should know what and how much of compensation he stands to gain for his specific case.

Leukemia is a Type of Cancer

Leukemia is a type of cancer. It kills many individuals each year. There are treatments available for this disease.

Leukemia is a certain type of cancer. Cancer is a disease that causes cells to become abnormal. Normal cells in the body divide and than die when they are no longer needed. Abnormal cells divide more than they should and do not die when they are no longer needed. It begins in the blood or the tissue that forms the blood. Bone marrow forms blood and often this disease starts in bone marrow. Leukemia cancer causes many abnormal blood cells to produce.

There are two types of leukemia cancer: acute leukemia and chronic leukemia.

A person who is diagnosed with chronic leukemia cancer often does not have any symptoms. Leukemia cells in a chronic leukemia patient often can still work as white blood cells. Chronic leukemia slowly worsens over time.

A person who is diagnosed with acute leukemia cancer often does not have leukemia cells that can function as white blood cells. Acute leukemia worsens very quickly.

A regular physical exam might lead a doctor to think a person has leukemia. When this disease is suspected in a patient the doctor will usually order blood work on the patient. A complete blood count that includes the count of the number of white blood cells a person has will often be able to diagnose the disease.

One form of treatment for this disease is radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses radiation to kill leukemia cells. Another form of treatment for leukemia is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy involves using drugs to kill leukemia cells. There are also other types of treatments for individuals who have this disease.

Tips for a Smooth Home Business Insurance Claim

If you ever have to file a home business insurance claim, take steps to ensure the process goes smoothly. Provide your insurer with as much information as necessary to ensure payout. Carefully read the details of your insurance policy when you purchase it and look over the policy again before you file a claim.

The first thing you need to do is call the police or fire department if the damage was caused by an accident, fire, fraud, theft or vandalism. A police report and other necessary documents need to be on file. Next, contact your insurer and relay the problem. Gather receipts and any other documents that demonstrate proof of ownership. It is strongly recommended that you maintain copies of business records such as assets and inventory in a safe place, preferably off-site. You will need access to these documents if your home business incurs loss or damage or a lawsuit is filed against your business.

Have professionals assess and repair the damage as soon as possible. Obtain at least two or three repair estimates from reputable sources. Typically, you do not need authorization from your insurer to make emergency repairs that ensure the business is safe and operational. Keep in mind the insurer needs to see receipts for repair parts and services.

Consider having an attorney prepare the insurance claim. Attorneys who specialize in insurance claims know the information an adjuster needs to settle the claim. It is also a good idea to obtain legal counsel if the claims process stall due to a dispute.

If you plan to file an interruption of business claim, expect to show the level of income your business was generating before and after the loss. Maintain detailed records of all your business activity, including any expenses you incur while operating out of temporary location. Also note recurring expenses like phone and utilities if you must temporarily close or shut down service.

Establish a specific timeframe for the claims process. Neglecting to follow up may result in a claim delay. Keep in close contact with your insurance representative if you feel the claims process is not progressing fast enough. File a complaint with the insurance company if you think the claim has stalled. Try contacting your state department if you continue to have problems with the insurance company. Contact an attorney if you would like to pursue legal action.

Know when to cut your losses. Filing an insurance claim often increases business insurance premiums. You must weigh the cost of repair or replacement against the cost of higher premiums. In some cases, you may be better off spending the money to make the repairs yourself.