Top 7 Things You Should Know About Credit Card Balance Transfer

Credit card balance transfer is a great way of consolidating your credit card debt, and also finding a way of avoiding the terrible burden that debt can bring. Transfer offers are in high demand and many credit card issuers highlight their balance transfer features up front as part of their overall advertising package. These days the credit card companies are in heavy competition with each other to get your business.

But have you ever considered the dream ticket of always having an interest free credit card at all times, no matter what the circumstances? Well here is a check list of seven things you must do in order to get the best out of it.

1. Always make sure that your credit card balance transfers are carried out on time and with no overlap periods from one card to the next, which will cost you money in nasty interest charges. Make allowances for delays in the post when notifying banks and credit card companies by mail, and also note that different banks will move at different speeds when responding to requests.

2. Make sure that 0 balance transfer credit card offers are always current and available at the time you apply. There's no point in making a mental note of an offer and then applying for it after it has expired.

3. Interest free balance transfer credit cards must be exactly that; be careful and look out for any hidden charges in the small print. A 0 APR credit card should be exactly what it says it is.

4. The type of card to transfer balances from is crucial. Store cards tend to have a higher rate of APR than normal credit cards, so consider transferring all these balances on one or more low interest card. You can end up saving a substantial amount of money. Proper use of the credit card balance transfer feature can be useful and convenient, and a vital way of avoiding credit card debt.

5. Trust your source. A low interest credit card or 0 interest credit card should be easy to identify, preferably from a source where you are able to make comparisons between different types of card. Ideally you should deal with a source which is impartial and which does not promote one credit card or bank over another. Also, your source should provide easy to read and understand comparative charts to help you make such decisions swiftly, without undue pressure, and without any fear of being misled.

6. Keep a note of the exact date of when your 0 interest period finishes, and apply for your new credit card balance transfer at least two weeks before that date.

7. Try and ensure that your interest free credit card balance transfer facility is flexible and quick. At present it is the norm to put details of your credit balance transfers in writing at the time of application. Bear in mind that both parties need to know what is going on at the same time. Make it easy for everyone, including yourself.

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Choose Your Own Headboard Designs

Everyone has different stylistic ideas and desires, and these come out most easily in bedroom designs. One way that a number of people choose to express themselves is through the choice of headboards that make the focal point on the beds. Some people choose to keep the design minimalistic and simple, while others opt for extravagant pieces that stand out regardless of the additional décor in the room. Unfortunately, some people don't realize that there is a style of headboard out there for them and forego this huge element in their bedroom, leaving it with an empty or unfinished appearance.

Rest assured, there is a headboard out there for any bedroom. If you can't find the perfect design style immediately, there are always other options. You may want to start by looking at something basic and versatile, like wrought iron headboards, that fit into any basic theme you may create in your bedroom space. These can be left blank to hold their own focus, or you can dress them up with additional fabrics and décor to weave them into the design of the room more wholly.

Leather headboards can create a sophisticated look for your bedroom area, making it look expensive and tasteful. They really draw attention to themselves as the center focus of the room, so other elements don't need to be as strong as with some other styles. Many of these headboards are large and imposing, though, so if you are a minimalist, this type of headboard is probably not the number one option for you. You might want to consider something smaller and less dominating of the space.

If you are really having trouble finding your style, consider purchasing a blank slate. If you take a simple wooden or particleboard headboard and purchase the material of your choice along with some cotton batting, you can create upholstered headboards that are customized to your liking. That way, you can match it perfectly to the rest of the room, and you can rest assured that you will really like the design. Also, if you ever tire of the look, you can remove the current upholstery and recover the headboard to match your new style. It's a simple process that doesn't take long and only requires a good staple gun and a pair of scissors to remove excess cloth.

If all else fails, you can work with something function, like bookcase headboards. These will surround the bed and give you quite a bit of storage space for anything from books and magazines to a telephone and photo frames that are to be displayed in your bedroom. The only real downside to this kind of headboard is the need to dust it frequently, since the shelving is exposed. However, if you just brush over it daily with a duster, it will not become a painful chore. Best of all, you not only have a headboard that is a great focal point but also lots of space for other things that you keep in your bedroom.

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Simple Autumn Room Decorating Tips

When we think of autumn, a small palette of colors springs to mind. Colors like pumpkin, deep gold, and rust. The colors we associate with this season come straight from the harvest. Why not jazz up your traditional fall displays with something unexpected? A deep pumpkin color looks dramatic with an infusion of eggplant or a fresh apple green. Apple red along with the warm gold adds fun to your tabletop display, centerpiece, or porch vignette.

For the dining room table or sideboard, think outside the box. We tend to create and choose table decorations and vignettes that conform to a square or circle shape. Some of the most dramatic tabletop decorating travels down an imaginary center line of the table, and leads your eye to the other end. Tabletop candleholders are popular right now in long horizontal shapes. A simple holder in a dark finish of wood or metal would look wonderful with assorted Autumn-hued silk foliage running casually alongside it. If you love the look of hurricane lamps, use three or four, instead of one, then add your autumn foliage at the bases, for a casual "I just carried this in from the outdoors" look.

Don't stop yourself after simply decorating a dining room table for the season. Look around your house for other opportunities to celebrate the harvest season. Fall colors can be added with guest towels, kitchen towels, or a bowl of seasonal fruit on your kitchen counter. Guest soaps, lotions, and candles, can be purchased in the delicious scents of autumn. A trio of pumpkins in various sizes, set on your fireplace hearth, gives a cozy feeling. A great visual trick of decorating is to display items in odd numbers, and to vary the size as much as possible. Also, choosing a few larger accessories or decorations, rather than several small ones, makes a stronger statement and gives you less clutter. If you already have a collection of small autumn decorations, display them as a set with one large anchor piece, instead of spreading them around the room, for maximum impact!

Autumn is a wonderful time for decorating your porch. Wonderfully large mums in containers are available at a variety of garden stores and farm stands right now. Don't be content with a few beautiful plants. Create a vignette. Along with your fall plants, add a ceramic container in a complimentary color (remember those lively greens or a deep eggplant!). An autumn-hued door garland and wreath say, "Welcome." My favorite fall wreaths have unexpected touches of color, a variety of materials, and sometimes a hint of shimmer. A gorgeous fall wreath with puffs of dried hydrangea, or faux pomegranates stand out on any door. A variety of seasonal doormats are available, as well, to complete the look. If you have been thinking of painting your front door, now is a great time to do it! Choose a color that gives your entry character, and makes a great backdrop for your seasonal decorations. Your front entry should make you smile every time you walk up to your door. Decorating for the seasons is a wonderful tradition that celebrates the change of seasons, and the cycle of life.

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Time Need To Build A New House

It is really hard to put a certain time on when your project will be finished. There are so many different factors that can extend or shorten the process by months. However, there should always be a period of six months that can go either way from unexpected delays or events. While building you could run across a huge road bump that you didn't plan, you need to be aware of this and know its part of building a home. What if some of your supplies don't arrive on time, or maybe your workers didn't show up for work. This things happen all the time and will slow down your building speed.

When building your new home the best thing to do is be patient and flexible. If you become short tempered and frustrated with other people it will not make for a good working environment. As a result, this can actually lengthen the project time because you will have angry contract workers who won't want to do any work. Remember this is the home you want to stay in and enjoy for your retirement. Try to take that relaxed mindset into the building process, keep everything cool even when unexpected plans happen. If everything is rushed and not properly thought out you will run into problems with your home later on. Poor and half effort work results in a badly built home.

With that being said it is still fine to get an estimated time frame for your project. Here are some things you need to consider to decide an get an educated guess on how long it will take you to make your home:


---Finding your property. The time for you to get your land will all depend on how fast you find something you like and the property owner. Some times it may take years before you find that perfect piece of land you were always looking for. Often once the land has been purchased, you may not have permission to built for months. This process can take anywhere from months to years.


---Designing your home. As you can imagine there is no set time for your designing decisions. You could pick something really fast or you could take months to really find the perfect style you want your home to look like. Most designs must be spent in for approval before you can even start so keep that in mind.


---Building. Once you have everything set up and planned out you need to start the building process. This period will all depend on how many people who you have working on the home and what the size of the home will be. It makes sense that the more people you have working on the home the faster it will be done.


---Moving in. This time period is entirely up to you.

So the exact time period is very hard to set. The best way to complete your project as fast as possible is to have everything planned out before. This lowers the risk of mistakes and setbacks.

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How To Pay Off Student Loan Debt In An Easy Way

Most students take out student loans to cover the various expenses associated with a university or college education. However, the real problem starts once the student leaves college and starts working. The student loans that helped the student financially during his college days end up feeling like a burden that never eases.

A college graduate who has managed to secure a high paying job will be the only one who will be able to repay the loans without any problems. Others would face difficulty. However, you do not need to be in this situation. If you plan now, you can shoulder the burden of repaying the loans once you graduate. Here are some simple ways to pay off your student loan debt without causing yourself any stress.

? While most college freshmen do not think about the future, it is necessary to take steps from the very first year. Think about opting for a part time job and instead of spending all the money on enjoying yourself, save a portion each month. This saved money could be more than enough to pay off the loan once you leave college.

? Make sure you conduct a thorough research before taking out a student loan. This way you will have greater understanding of the payment plan, what your options are as a borrower and what are your rights. You may be required to contact the lender to discuss deferment options but make sure that you do not default on the repayments as it will adversely affect your credit rating.

? Make sure you have working knowledge of financial aid. This will enable you to apply for scholarships. Check out the financial aid office in your college and see whether you can get a scholarship. Also, apply for as many federal grants as possible as so that your dependence on private student loans becomes less. The federal government allows deferred loan repayment and if you can get a subsidized federal loan, nothing like it.

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4 Things You Should Know About Bank Repossessed Cars

The reason why the number of people looking for bank repossessed cars is really unknown, but the place where people can find them is something that people can learn more on.


First,Most of the time, these bank repossessed cars are sold during auctions - whether it be a public or a dealer's auction. If it is your first time joining in auctions like these, you can get to know about the schedules on local newspapers. Conveniently, you can also find out about these auctions through actual banks. You can inquire by calling them and asking about the necessary details. This is probably the most convenient method because you can do it even when you are just in the confines of your own home.


Second,Another convenient method that one can use to find out about the auctions selling these mentioned cars. Even though most online sites require a specific membership fee, you are guaranteed to hear the latest information about the auctions available.

The third thing that people should know when buying bank repossessed cars is that they are not buying brand new cars. Given this fact, they should be careful in choosing the car that they are going to buy. They must first research about the history of the car; how the previous owner took care and maintained the car that you are interested in. A vehicle history report comes in handy during times like this because you will know the damages and repairs done to the car when it still belonged to its previous owner. This is a very convenient way to make sure that your money will not be put to waste by buying the care that you are interested in.

Forth,It is also safe to set a specific budget so that you can weigh your options properly when you are already there in the auction. Taking into consideration all the accessories and features included with the car is also a good move because this way, you will be able to truly gauge your budget fairly.

Even though many people feel that these kinds of cars are not a good buy, you can still make the most out of them. These bank repossessed cars become very handy and convenient when you are conscious about the amount of money that you are going to spend for it and when you are fully aware of the important information you need when buying one.

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Quickly Guides To Make Your Kitchen Green

If you’re building a new home or updating an older one and want to go green wherever you can, you’ve got more options than ever in eco-chic materials for countertops, flooring and cabinets. Here’s a quick guide to eco-friendly kitchen materials — including five favorites of eco-design experts, plus top materials to avoid.

Thumbs Up: 5 Eco-Optimal Options

1.Recycled glass: “Recycled glass is one of my favorite things to use for countertops,” says environmental design consultant Michelle Bexelius. “It’s so beautiful and comes in so many colors.” Look for glass tile that is 100 percent recycled, either from post-industrial or post-consumer sources.

2.PaperStone: It’s a pretty cool concept — paper that’s pressed into a stonelike material. It’s strong and workable like stone, but made from recycled paper. PaperStone comes in various colors and uses no petroleum products. “I really love this stuff,” Bexelius says. It’s ideal for countertops — or anywhere else you would use stone. Find a dealer through Paperstoneproducts.net

3.Bamboo: Don’t be fooled by bamboo’s stick-like appearance in the forest — it’s an extremely hard and durable material that's ideal for countertops, cabinets or flooring. Bamboo's eco-friendly status comes from the fact that it’s a completely renewable resource — it grows amazingly fast. Also check out other sustainably harvested wood flooring options, such as cork oak.

4.Marmoleum: This natural flooring material is made from linseed oil, wood flour, rosin, jute and limestone. “It’s a great alternative to traditional linoleum flooring,” says Bexelius.

5.Natural plaster: Skip the dry-wall mud and the VOCs (volatile organic compounds) found in conventional paints. This fume-free wall finishing alternative, also known as earth plaster, is made from natural clay and pigments in a range of earthy colors. It goes directly on almost any material including dry wall, wood, adobe, straw bale or masonry. You can texture it as you like or leave it smooth. Either way you get an organic-looking finished effect that's far more interesting than the homogeneous wall mud sold at home improvement stores.



Thumbs Down: 4 Materials to Avoid

1.Particleboard: “Do not use particleboard for cabinets,” cautions Debra Lynn Dadd, author of "Home Safe Home: Creating a Healthy Home Environment by Reducing Exposure to Toxic Household Products." “It emits formaldehyde, which can make your eyes water and cause rashes.” It’s also a suspected human carcinogen. Cabinet-grade plywood is a better alternative, and custom-made solid wood cabinets (preferably reclaimed wood) are the best option, Dadd says.

2.Imported Materials: “Try to source materials as locally as possible,” Dadd says. The material itself isn’t usually the problem; after all, products like marble and granite are natural stone — usually a good choice. “But it’s all about how you get it here,” she says. Shipping granite from Italy, for example, uses a tremendous amount of fuel and other resources. Check with local kitchen remodeling stores and services to see if they have some decent-sized hunks of scrap stone that can work for your project.

3.Toxic glues, grouts and stains: Even the most eco-friendly product gets tainted if high-VOC products are used to adhere or finish it. Follow the process through and make sure you specify low-VOC products. Ask your builder or your local hardware store about the most environmentally friendly options, such as nontoxic glues, low-VOC tile adhesive and polymer-free grout. Using polymers does help prevent mold, so be sure to use an eco-friendly sealant in their place. And use natural materials — like beeswax to seal bamboo — whenever possible, Bexelius says.

4.Wood from non-sustainable forests: Hardwood is a wonderful natural material, but deforestation concerns make it important to do your homework. Contact the lumberyard, the manufacturer or your contractor and start asking questions. “Be your own reporter; find out if the wood is coming from a sustainably managed forest,” Bexelius says. “Are the trees being replanted? If not, don’t buy it.”

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