personal finances help

ReadyForZero is one of the simplest and easiest-to-use tools that can help you build a plan to eliminate your credit card debt. Once you sign up for a free account, prove your identity by supplying your mailing address and last four digits of your social security number. ReadyForZero than pulls how much you owe to all your credit card companies combined and lets you link your credit card accounts to pull exact details.

The tool than shows you how much time and interest it would take to pay off your cards if you keep making minimum payments. Click on “Let’s improve this” and the tool will show you various options. You can pick the monthly amount you are willing to spend or your target date to get rid of debt and ReadyForZero will display details based on this new plan. Once finalized, you can keep track of your progress and see how much more money/time is needed for payoff.

Features:

• Create a plan to pay off credit card debt.
• Link your credit cards and explore different options.
• Track your progress or adjust plan.
• Similar tools: Creditable, Mint, Paystr, Accpal and TripLittle.

Visit ReadyForZero @ www.readyforzero.com

I’ve told you before about PerkStreet Financial’s online checking before. To remind you, they provide free online checking.  That’s rarity in itself these days but they also provide a cash back bonus on the spending you make with their debit card.  This tends to to be about 1-2%.  Well, every month PerkStreet announces different cash back categories that net you 5% cash back.  Here are the March 2011 5% cash back categories:



1) Home Supply Stores – Shop at stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s and you earn 5% cash back when you use your PerkStreet debit card.

2) Sporting Goods and Apparel stores – Shop for your favorite team’s apparel or stock up on sports equipment and earn 5%.

3) Tax Preparation Solutions – H&R Block, Turbo Tax Online, TaxAct, Liberty Tax Services, and Jackson Hewitt will earn you 5% cash back.

Pretty neat, huh?

Here’s some legal mumbo-jumbo I gotta add:

The amount you can earn at the 5% cash back bonus rate is limited to $250 per household annually (starting on the day your account was opened). The total amount of cash back you can earn remains unlimited. Unless specific stores are named, qualifying purchases are determined by MCC codes. Non-PIN debit card purchases will earn 5% cash back in March in the following categories: Home Supply Warehouse Stores (5200), Sports Apparel and Riding Apparel Stores (5655), and at Sporting Goods Stores (5941) PowerPerks are also available through April 30, 2010 at: H & R Block®, Jackson Hewitt®, TaxAct®, Liberty Tax Service® & TurboTax® (online only).

**The Standard Cash Back Rate Still Stands**:

Earn 2% cash back on all non-PIN purchases for the first 3 months (90 days) following account opening. Once the 90 days is up, earn 2% cash back on all non-PIN purchases when your Account Balance is $5k or more. Or, earn 1% cash back on purchases when your Account Balance is less than $5k – either way you won’t find another bank in America that gives you more rewards on debit.

Check out my review of PerkStreet if you want to find out more about them.

And now for some great personal finance articles you should read:

Good Financial Cents | Home Equity Loan vs. a Hone Equity Line of Credit.

Amateur Asset Allocator | What A Financial Advisor Can And Cannot Do For You

Sense To Save | Renting a Rug Doctor vs. buying my own carpet cleaner

Oblivious Investor | Picking Mutual Funds: Don’t Just Look at the Winners

Toilet Paper Entrepreneur | Inexpensive Ways To Prevent Business Disaster

Clariity Blog | Happily Ever After: Money Matters You MUST Discuss Before Marriage

Generation X Finance | The Mortgage Tax Deduction Myth

PF Firewall | 4 Great Things You Could Be Doing Instead Of Gaming

The Wisdom Journal | Recession Lessons Are Fading Fast – Unless You’re Young (like under 29)

Consumerism Commentary | The Power of the Coupon Compels You

Money Smarts Blog | How to Unlock your Ontario LIRA or locked-in Retirement Account

Debt Free Adventure | Commonly Missed Tax Deductions

Five Cent Nickel | The Home Office Tax Deduction

The Dough Roller | Must Use Websites For Your Resume

Wealth Pilgrim | How To Teach Kids About Money And Get Results

The Simple Dollar | Health Insurance and Downgrading Your Job

PT Money | How to Start a Business with No Money | Want it Bad Enough?

My Journey to Millions | What Do I Need to Bring CPA or Accountant Tax Preparation

Smart on Money | Education Tax Credits Can Help Pay For College Costs

Canadian Couch Potato | How to Lower Your Rebalancing Costs

Couple Money | Save Money By Joining a CSA

The Military Wallet | The Case for Automating your Finances

Moolanomy | Is Using a Debt Snowball a Good Idea?

Credit Card Offers IQ | The Rundown on Foreign Transaction Fees

Studenomics | Why Chasing Bank Interest Rates is a Waste

Cash Money Life | Don’t Chase High Dividend Stocks

And these are the carnivals Free From Broke took part in:

Carnival of Traders and Investors – Edition #5

» Carnival of Personal Finance #298 – | Saving to Inve$t

Carnival of Passive Investing # 3 – Random Probability Examples Edition – February 28th, 2011 – My Personal Finance Journey

Festival of Frugality: 21 Ways to Save for a Rainy Day

Tax Carnival #82: The Tax Awards – Don’t Mess With Taxes

Carnival of Financial Planning – Edition #174 – March 4, 2011

Surface Encounters proudly ensures purchaser satisfaction and selling price putting in granite assurance. “I’m frequently skeptical going with new organisations, but your employees has crafted me a believer!” - Steve, Indianapolis

Surface Encounters is really a fast-growing surface encounters provider and, nevertheless they have kept speed with all the current client referrals. “This organization is amongst the most low-priced, dependable and pleasant organisations inside overall state. I'd endorse them to just about anyone.” - Mike R., South Bend

A whole lot of effort goes into generating breathtaking countertops from nature. The process comes with laser measurement artistic vein matching, precision diamond and water-jet cutting, edging and professional installation. One particular are unable to simply just phone within their buy for a customized countertop and also have it in daily or two. High quality takes time.

Surface Encounters encourages individuals to go to a showroom to find out much more about purely natural stone countertops. In addition to the variety and fabrication practice, one other necessary part of client care is ensuring one is aware the way to care for his or her granite countertop to maintain it searching new for years to arrive.

Granite may be a wonderful all-natural stone product which can be a favorite material employed for countertops and floor tiles in kitchens and bathrooms. Granite has surpassed marble in popularity due to the fact is it all the more durable and a lot easier to treatment for. Granite is unmatched by synthetic goods for its strength and sturdiness, tolerance to temperature modifications and resistance to stains and scratches.

Granite is usually a effortlessly formed stone that may be quarried from deep inside earth, harvested, lower, polished, sealed and set up in homes to add attractiveness, elegance and design. Mainly because it's a organic merchandise, no two slabs are just alike. Granite is obtainable in many colors through the a number of minerals which might be identified while in the rock. Due to the fact it arrives from all over the planet, unique regions and environmental aspects make it different.

Granite is largely produced up of quartz crystal, nonetheless it also incorporates different amounts of other metals together with feldspar, mica, copper and iron. Some granite could have bits of gold or silver. The quantity of each metal is dependent about the area it comes from. All granite is formed right into a hard stone by warmth and stress. Rain adds other minerals as it is forming. It can be on the market throughout the world, in every single region, and just about every region will provide a surface encounters different number of granite.

Surface Encounters state-of-the-art machinery makes sure the greatest superior finished product because they layout and generate a number of the greatest kitchens and bathrooms. Granite Countertops boost the warmth and splendor of houses although increasing their worth and strengthening lifestyles.

Surface Encounters is also involved with worker morale; delighted staff are even more probably to contribute to your success of a corporation. Additionally to being a victorious enterprise and a person that is definitely great to get the job done for, Surface Encounters does their piece to protect our planet.

Surface Encounters does what on earth is precise for their users, workers and then the environment. Surface Encounters utilizes innovative water recycling capabilities to recycle up to 43,000 gallons of drinking water daily. Additionally, 100 percent in the scrap created in producing tasteful kitchens and fabulous baths is re-used as aggregate in road building, surface preparations and concrete.

The Columbus, Ohio Grand Opening of Surface Encounters benefits an art gallery showroom of Granite, Marble, Quartz and Engineered Stone counter tops. Keep Manager, Scott Donnelly unlocked the doorways of your showroom at 4717 Roberts Road, just west of the I-270 Beltway. The Surface Encounters production plan uses precision, automated know-how through the fabrication in the customer's custom-made counter the best, this kind of as: a laser measuring alignment that plans the diamond-tipped sculpturing blades. Surface Encounters' method consists of computer-driven software programs that perpetuates the stone's purely natural veins. Each and every Surface Encounter keep has at least 1 registered, interior designer to help you in setting up the finished challenge you may be wanting for. The craftsmanship continues through the

Home owners are choosing to remodel instead than promote their homes in today’s industry
Granite countertops have become a leading preference between Wixom shoppers for kitchen remodeling tasks. Kitchen remodeling is usually the primary undertaking tackled with families shelling out 3,000 hrs or even more annually within their kitchen. Granite countertops supply an environment that enhances the high quality time invested with friends and family and close friends. Granite countertops very last a lifetime and boost the quality of residences.

Surface Encounters Wixom keep supervisor, Sal Dellacasa, says there are various good reasons people are looking for granite for their countertop demands. “Granite countertops add splendor and elegance to a kitchen. Granite is accessible in a very selection of vibrant colors and abundant textures and its strength and durability is unmatched by any other organic stone or artificial countertop substance.”

Surface Encounters’ buyers love certified services and a pleasant, helpful workers to guidebook them through the kitchen remodeling system. Countless of Surface Encounters new shoppers are referred to them by earlier potential customers.
"This agency has become the most economical, reputable, and friendly organisations during the complete state. I might endorse them to any individual." Mike R. Clinton Twp., MI

"The provider has at all times been there to assist me in what ever way probable. Thank you so much!" David V. Lapeer, MI


Surface Encounters Macomb is the dwelling of half-off granite for kitchen and bathroom countertops. Granite countertops by Surface Encounters have quickly end up the best alternative for Macomb residents who're remodeling their kitchens. Kitchen remodeling can take priority with families spending 3,000 hrs or more per year within their kitchen. Granite countertops provide an setting that enhances the top notch time spent with household and colleagues and improve the level of quality of real estate.

Surface Encounters Macomb shop manager, Sal Dellacasa, says there are many good reasons shoppers are looking for granite for their countertop demands. “Granite countertops add attractiveness and elegance to a kitchen. Granite is offered within a selection of vibrant shades and loaded textures and its strength and durability is unmatched by any other surface encounters normal stone or synthetic countertop material.”

Surface Encounters’ customers enjoy certified service along with a friendly, very helpful staff to tutorial them with the kitchen remodeling process. A number of of Surface Encounters new buyers are referred to them by past buyers.