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A credit card can prove to be a great asset in time if used wisely. Some people shy away from applying for a credit card because they have seen some on or the other burn their fingers by misusing the card and running into a debt trap they found pretty difficult to get out of. However, a credit card can be of great use if you use it, only an in emergency that is if you are not a big spender. A credit card is ready cash when you need it most. So don’t go by others opinions on a credit card if you follow some simple rules of credit you will never run into bad weather with your card. So, if you are planning to get yourself a credit card here is how to apply for a credit card.

Unfortunately credit cards are not really handed out like candy, contrary to popular belief, you do have to apply and qualify for a credit card before you get one. Fortunately for you there are many simple and fast ways to go about this. You can apply online, over the phone or send in your credit card application by mail. A point to remember is that when you apply for a credit card you will be required to divulge some very personal details. So, ensure that you are speaking to a credit card company employee and not just any one representing the company, they can misuse this information like selling it to marketing companies. Al credit card companies require you to give them your social security number to enable them to verify your credit history. So, if you have bad a bad credit history you should try the various ways to improve it before you apply for a credit card because an application for a credit card that is turned down will only worsen your credit history.

Do your homework
Before you decide on which credit card you want to apply for do some research on the charges that come with the card. Different cards have different charges such as the interest they charge and the annual fee for the card. Many credit card companies waive the annual fee entirely and some just waive it for the first year you hold the card. The Annual Percentage Rate or APR is also of prime importance. Choose the card with the lowest APR and you will be saving a lot in the long run.

Rewards Program
Check out the rewards program and the bonuses the companies offer. Many credit card companies offer 5% cash back on every transaction you carry out through your card. This could lead to a huge savings for you if you do all your purchasing with your card. However you should be very prompt with your repayments when the bill arrives. Pay off the entire sum if you can but never settle for less than half the bill amount.

Interest free period
The next thing to look for is the credit period the card is offering. Some cards offer as little as fifteen days credit on their cards. This is no deal and will finally leave you with a big bill to clear. The companies that offer 50 days or more credit, this means that from the date of the bill you will be given that many days to clear the payment before the company begins to charge you interest on the outstanding payment.

Credit Limit
Next is the credit limit, which should never be too high as this is the proverbial carrot the credit card companies use to lure you to spend big time. Always go for the lower credit limit cards and you will leave yourself less of a chance to get caught in a debt trap.

Once you know where to apply and how to do your research you will know how to apply for a credit card and choose the best one to suit your needs.

MOTORCYCLE TRANSPORT BUSINESS HAS COME TO KENYA

The boda boda bicycle transport business are believed to have originated in the Kenya border town of Busia .Bicycles were used for a very along time in the town before it was spread to the other towns in Kenya .The name boda boda is derived from the operation of the business across the border of the two countries of Kenya and Uganda .The boda boda is believed to have been started by a few people fro the luhya tribes of the area and it has grow in to very big and well organised groups of bicycle owners .The working together as a group has enabled them to solve their problems effectively and thus causing the business to be recognised as a means of public transport .

The business has spread to the other towns of the country of Kenya and the number of people who are involved in the business has grown and become a force to mind about .The bicycles have become a major means of transport after the buses and taxis in places like Kisumu, Kitale, kakamega and kericho land the use of bicycles is still spreading towards the central, eastern and coastal regions of the country of Kenya.

However things are changing and motorcycles are taking over the place of bicycles The only place that is known to most of us where motorcycles are used for taxi purposes is in Nigeria ,they are called okada there Kenyans too seem to be switching to the use of motorcycles for the same purposes .In kericho town , the motorcycles have taken over the business from the bicycles and more and more people are joining the business .They charge only twenty shillings for a distance of up to two kilometres just like the bicycles .Currently ,it is on the tea estates routes that they get more customers than the rest of the routes in the town

In Kenya, in the past, motorcycles were very expensive to buy and maintain and there very few people owned them .However, the coming of the new makes of motorcycles has changed things upside down completely. In the past, the Honda and the Yamaha makes dominated the markets but nowadays, there are new makes like the focus and others .The secrets behind the turning of things upside down so abruptly is not yet clearly known but it is strongly believed that it must be because of the prices .The new makes must be cheaper in prices and maintenance costs. If that is how this will work, then everyone in Kenya will soon be riding on a motorcycle.

Many professionals in the financial industry warn against the dangers of student credit card use. They fear that young people will let their credit card use run out of control. Instead of fearing that young people will fail, try educating them about credit card use. After all, the benefits of getting a credit card while young far outweigh the risks.

The Risks Involved

Many young people have the perception that using a credit card is the same as paying with their bank debit card. They do not consider the extra fees or the risk of building debt. These people think that they can just go ahead and use their credit card for any purchases that they cannot afford at the time. This type of thinking can lead to a huge credit card balance. With young people, this can be particularly dangerous, as they do not have the income to pay off the balance. Credit cards allow young people to dig a financial hole that they do not have the resources to climb out of.

As their credit card debt builds, young people often don’t recognize the problem until it is too late. Eventually their debt gets to the point that the minimum monthly payment only pays off the interest charges. Instead of seeking help with their debt, many young people ignore the problem and, worse yet, they even try to get a second credit card to build more debt. As these young people are trying to prove their independence to their parents, they are often too embarrassed to ask for help. It can lead to a feeling of helplessness.

Education is the Key

The root of the problem is that young people are never taught how to responsibly use credit cards. The school system chooses not to teach such life skills as money management or credit card use. This leaves the responsibility solely in the hands of the parents. Unfortunately many parents are starting to lose touch with their children just when credit education is most necessary. There are also some parents who do not know about responsible credit card use themselves.

Young people need to know how to use a credit card responsibly and how to avoid credit card debt. They need to know to only use their credit card for as much as they can reasonably pay off each month. They need to know all about credit card interest charges too. Without credit education, it is far too easy to make mistakes with your credit card.

The Benefits of Getting a Credit Card Younger

Sure there is the convenience factor of having a credit card when you are just out of high school. More importantly, a credit card helps build credit over time. The earlier you start building credit, the easier it will be to make large purchases in the future. Anytime you need a loan from the bank, the bank will look at your credit history. The longer you’ve built credit, the easier it is to get a loan. Plus you will pay lower interest rates. Without built up credit, you might even get declined for that loan.

Credit cards also give young people the independence that they need. Who wants to phone their parents each time they want to order something online? What about when you sign up for a video rental account or when you register for phone service? A credit card is a must. A credit card can even act as a financial safety net in tough times.

Conclusion

So unless young people get educated about credit card use, there is a good chance that they will have to learn by making mistakes. Help protect their future by giving them the tools to succeed today.

As we stumble through repairing this mess called a financial system, I find myself yearning for the days of big factories billowing smoke all over the countryside. Back when a factory whistle and the smell of something burning were as intertwined into America’s fiber as our Levis. Now, I am having this halcyon moment because the days of cheap jeans and burning cinders are over; replaced by $200 Euro-trash designer jeans and anything that got our hands dirty was shipped off to India or China.

However, this isn’t going to be another conversation about Wall Street or Washington because, quite frankly, I just don’t have it in me. This is more about me sticking my tongue out at the financial markets in a way that you would if you were 3. I send a raspberry to Wall Street to show my displeasure with their behavior and to make them aware that we are tired of all the spin doctoring and hype. Times up boys, in the words of Michael Corleone; you’re out Tom!

That’s right, it’s time this country remembers that it was founded by people who sweat for a living! That we’re not just a country that makes its collective living shorting stocks, and maybe, just maybe, we should climb into the way-back machine and start making things again! Great companies like Dial and ITT, once Goliaths, got crushed under their own weight. Others, like GE, adapted and moved into other industries that provided better liquidity and higher margins.

But now is as good a time as there’s going to be for a manufacturing resurgence in this country. Lower shipping costs, higher manufacturing standards, and good old American know-how can once again prosper as we build a foundation around a manufacturing sector that is smarter and leaner than days gone by. Not to mention, given our current financial condition, it can’t be as risky making refrigerators as it is trading Chinese short-term rice derivatives on margin (I made that up). Don’t get me wrong, I am certainly not anticipating a land grab throughout Middle America to raise smokestacks and stoke the fires that once made this country great.

But maybe we can develop a more rational formula for what we consider an acceptable return from the companies we invest in. In other words, we promise to accept a few percentage points less if they promise not to poison our drinking water to save margins since at the end of the day, we are ALL responsible for this mess, from Main Street to Wall Street.

Don’t agree? Let’s review. From our never ending quest to get the lowest possible prices on everything we buy to getting the highest return in our 401k’s to having the whitest whites and the softest sheets, we force companies to cut corners in order to provide their customers, investors, and employees the results they demand. Do you think we as consumers have any responsibility in this mess? What would you do to clean up Wall Street?

Carrying one credit card may seem like putting all of your eggs in one basket, but for some people it’s a good choice. It’s difficult to make many transactions without a credit card, and credit cards are very convenient and have other advantages. One is enough, and arguably a better choice than having eight or ten credit cards in your wallet!

Basically, having one credit card simplifies your finances. Much more than one can be inconvenient when bill paying time rolls around. Having only one credit card tells you at a glance what you owe in total on your credit cards. Store cards and regular credit cards offer “teasers” that can actually be quite a good deal for the consumer, used well. Having a backup or store cards is no problem, if you are disciplined enough not to use them. Either having one credit card or locking up all but the one you use regularly can be a very good habit to develop.

The credit limit should not be a problem for most people, since often credit card companies will increase the limit on your card after six months or a year without you even asking. It’s probably also easier not to let the balance slide on one credit card – you’re paying off what you will eventually have to pay anyway and you can use the interest you would have paid to the credit card company to buy other goods or services, or save money.

Only using one credit card also has the benefit of a built-in mechanism to limit credit card spending. Once the limit is reached, you can’t use it any more. It’s easier to pay off one full credit card than many.

Losing a credit card is a hassle, especially while traveling, but often carrying more than one credit card and having your wallet or purse stolen results in all of the credit cards you’re carrying being gone anyway. Knowing how to contact your credit card company if your card is lost or stolen is a good idea, and calling ahead to see what their procedures are is also a good idea. So only carrying one credit card won’t really matter if it’s lost or stolen – you would go through most of the same procedures to have it replaced. Also, when it’s gone, you know it’s gone. If you have five, how can you possibly know which ones are missing? And have the correct information to report it to the issuers promptly?

Often it’s tempting to use “easy” credit. But having one credit card might prompt you how to think about financing large purchases in other ways. A loan from a financial institution is usually much cheaper than a typical credit card.

Consumers have so many choices in our modern economy, and so many wonderful goods and services to buy, that credit card balances can easily start to ruin a person’s credit history and cause a lot of stress. Simplifying by having only one credit card does not really limit most consumers in any way and can pay off handsomely in terms of reduced stress and healthy finances.

The most important thing is that, it will affect your business is your credibility. People buy only from a company that they think is trusty and credible. This is the reason why people prefer to go for branded goods because these goods mean that they are coming from a reputable brand.
Now the question is how can you build credibility for your business on the internet? The answer is consistency. Consumers like consistent behavior. In case there is a news letter that you publish for your consumers every month, then it is important that you are consistent with it. It is important that the quality of the news letter remains the same. You should also ensure that the frequency of the issues is also the same; an irregular issue will cause distrust and confusion in the minds of the consumers.
Consistency means that you are consistent in all the aspects. If you are providing a guarantee period for your goods, then it is advisable that you do not change the guarantee period too often, also try and provide goods that have a standard quality and price.
To gain trust there are a lot of things that you can do. Some software companies give a free trial of the product to the consumer, before they can buy it. Others also give a “share ware” version of the product to try. This enables the consumer to see if the product will do the job that it promises to do.
Another way of gaining credibility can be by sharing your knowledge. It can be easily done by monitoring discussion boards and lists that your customers visit frequently. You should answer the questions that are posted this way you will be able to gain the trust of the customers.
It is important that you do not make over the top claims about your products on the web. Write things only that are true and the things which the customers will find believable. Telling the truth is always the best way. It pays to think not as seller and to think as a customer. Try and think of all the features that you would be looking in a product before buying it, and try and include it in the advertisement.
Testimonials are also a great way to increase your credibility. Testimonials are statements from happy customers rating how the product has helped him and how much he liked it. Before publishing a testimonial you have to take permission from the author to publish it. Also it is wise not to make up testimonials as more often than not you will be caught and will create a bad impression in the minds of prospective customers.

Remember that to gain credibility you have to provide value for money. You have to be accessible and solve all the consumer problems to be in their good books.

Humour In the News, Dec. 8, 2007

Good Day…..

In World news today, the courts confirmed that an elderly British woman appropriately left an unusually large sum of money to the happy owners of a Chinese restaurant located just east of London, in Essex County.

Mrs. Golda Bechal, who passed away in 1994 at the fine age of 88 , left 20 million dollars to smiling Kim Sing Man and his wife, Bee Lian Man, who had kindly befriended the lonely woman over many years as she ate regularly at their restaurant.

Her family unsuccessfully contested the will, stating clearly that the price of the pickled leeks and bean spouts she ate was reasonable, but no fortune cookie was worth that much.

Closer to home in Minocqua, Wisconsin, Christmas came early to dozens of delighted residents who had the unequaled opportunity to fill their cars up with gasoline at $0.33 a gallon. Apparently it was a mistake; it was supposed to be $3.299 a gallon, but nobody noticed until store manager Andrea Reuland pushed the panic button.

One lucky resident who had pumped 27 gallons of gas was heard to say:

” They put it back up to $3.299 right away. I was very upset that there’s that many dishonest people”- referring to the billionaires running Big Oil.

In Canada, an ongoing inquiry into the Airbus Scandal was told by star witness Karlheinz Schreiber that although he had admittedly handed out a lot of cash in brown envelopes, he wasn’t quite certain if the purported recipient, ex-Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney had been to Minocqua, Wisconsin to purchase gasoline using cash or not.

Mr. Mulroney, discovering that he had released his book of memoirs a couple of weeks too soon, scheduled himself to appear at the hearing next week and was calling his publisher to have his book recalled and modified to include the allegation that he made Mr. Schreiber’s pants fall down on camera .

“The bare facts will be made public” he gleefully insisted. “He’ll get a wedgie next time.”

The opposition Liberal and New Democratic party members participated fully in the House of Commons ethics committee hearing in Ottawa, suggesting that Mr. Schrieber may have been in Great Britain, lobbying for restauranteur, the very same Bee Lian Man over in Essex county, just east of London, and was apparently overheard by informants insisting that

” baking big fortune cookies is, indeed, serious business”.

Unfortunately, it has come to light that although the fortune cookies he made were larger than usual, they were not found to contain any messages advising recipients to leave their fortunes to restauranteurs in Essex county, or to hand bags of cash to retired Canadian Prime Ministers.

Further details released today blamed the whole fiasco on the writer’s strike in Hollywood which is now in it’s second month. Documents handed over by the star witness revealed that not only had the strike resulted in many repeat showings of “Happy Days” in Germany, but to the chagrin of the Canadian ethics inquiry, it also revealed that no words of wisdom or bags of cash had been placed in fortune cookies baked for the ex Prime Minister either.

In other news, it has been reported from reliable sources that President George W. stared in disbelief at the blank piece of paper he retrieved from his fortune cookie at lunch just prior to his meeting with television and newspaper reporters and mumbled :

” What am I going to tell them now?”

That’s it for our news for December 08, 2007, and it’s a good day out there, -especially if you buy gas in Minocqua, Wisconsin – or if you cook Chinese food in Essex county, across the Pond.

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