In the United States, Americans observe the Martin Luther King Jr. day to celebrate the life of this patriot and icon. For young people and students, the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. day can be made even more special by pondering about the vision of the man himself. Why not start the year 2012 with resolutions inspired by Martin Luther King Jr? Consider the following ideals:

“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”

While Martin Luther King Jr. is primarily referring to the goal of justice, this same ideal can be applied on almost every aspect of life- including personal finances. If you came from a poor family, don’t let your financial situation dishearten you from pursuing your goals. You can improve your finances through hard work, starting from your college studies.

If you find yourself stuck in a problem such as bad credit, do not lose hope or become frustrated. DO not try to ignore the problem. Instead, begin working towards a solution by taking one small step at a time. Minimize your expenditures and save every possible cent you can. Use every cent you save to pay off your debts. Apply yourself in a part time job during school breaks and manage your earnings responsibly.

“The question is not whether we will be extremists but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice?”

Youngsters can take inspiration from Martin Luther King on believing in love and justice and on pursuing acts that promote love and impartiality. As a student, do you show acts of love and kindness to your teachers, fellow schoolmates, peers, parents, neighbors and the people in your community? Pondering over this admirable ideal is the perfect way to begin the year. However, don’t stop with just pondering during the Martin Luther King Jr day. Everyone should exercise this ideal regardless of age, educational background or status in life.

“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.”

Martin Luther King Jr reminds us that changes in our situations and life are inevitable. However, we can choose to adapt to these changes and find ways to better our situations. Once again, this particular ideal can also apply to your personal finances.

When times get tough, we must recognize and accept the need for change even if it means giving up a lifestyle or something you’ve always enjoyed. For instance, if you used to go out with your friends every weekends, you may consider finding other ways to unwind that do not require spending. If you have not yet started building your personal savings, then perhaps it’s about time that you begin setting aside money for emergencies.

You may also like:

• Financial Student Tips on Martin Luther King Day

About the Author:
Samantha Wilson is a consultant for credit cards for students. For years she has written student credit card reviews articles that would help build student credits.

Sam Wilson

In the US, Americans celebrate the Martin Luther King Jr Day to promote equal rights among people, regardless of background or race. How can it affect you as a student, especially when it comes to your personal finances? Consider the following tips:

Think about your future plans. In honor of Martin Luther King day, ponder about your future plans. How can you make the most out of your college years, if you’re still in college? How can you make the most out of your studies if you’re a high school student?

Apply for a Martin Luther King, Jr. college scholarship. If you’re about to enter college soon check if you are eligible to apply for the Martin Luther King scholarship. Request for an honest assessment from your high school teacher and check out your options.

Celebrate with friends but don’t get into debt. Do you plan to celebrate with your friends by dining out or partying? If yes, see to it that you don’t get stuck in debt by not using your credit card to pay your restaurant bills or to purchase things. Keep in mind that credit cards carry interest rates and if you fail to pay off your full balance for the month, you will end up spending more on APR charges.

When faced with an obstacle, find your way around. Martin Luther King is known for his courage despite being faced with harsh realities and obstacles along the way, he did not give up on his dreams. Instead, he found a way around the problem and successfully prevailed.

You can apply this positive principle in your daily life, even with your personal finances. When stuck in financial crisis, don’t be afraid to ask for help from your parents or guardian instead of taking out high interest loan right away.

Work on building good credit. When it comes to your personal finances, what can you do to establish credit history or build good credit? How can you strengthen your personal finances even through you’re still pursuing higher education?

One way to build solid credit history and a high credit score is to apply for credit and manage it efficiently. Using a student credit card regularly to pay for small purchases is a good strategy so long as you can submit full payment on time. Keep in mind that you don’t need to continuously carry a balance to boost your credit score. What’s more important is for you utilize your credit responsibly and to submit your payments on time.

Believe in what’s possible and work towards your goal. Martin Luther King strongly believed in the power of the dream and working hard to achieve that dream. With regards to personal finance, it’s important to set definite goals even while in college and believe that you can make them happen by taking positive actions.

For instance, you can start building your personal savings now even while in college so that when you are confronted with emergencies or unexpected expenses, you won’t need to rely on commercial lenders or private lenders that offer short term loans.

About the Author:

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for student bad credit cards. For years she has written student credit card reviews that would help build student credits.

Sam Wilson

The start of the year is always a good time to reflect on the previous events and make plans for the better. If you own a student credit card, consider the following tips that you can include in your list of New Year’s Resolutions.

Zero in your credit card debt before 2012. Do you still have unpaid balances in your credit card accounts? If possible, pay off your full balance before the New Year begins. Thus, you can start the year fresh without unpaid charges to worry about.

Consolidate your credit card debt. If you have unpaid balances on a number of credit cards, consider debt consolidation by transferring your balances from a high rate credit card to a card with a low rate. You can also apply for a new student credit card with zero balance transfer interest rate. This way, you can concentrate on paying off your original balance without incurring additional APR charges each month.

Pay off your monthly balance in full. Make it a habit to pay off your credit card balance in full each month to avoid interest rate charges. If you’re not sure whether or not you can afford full payment on time, it’s best to skip using your credit card and pay with cash instead.

Start building your savings account. If you have not yet started building your own savings account, then it’s about time to think about building one. Open a savings account with your local bank or ask your parent to assist you in opening an account.

Get a part time job. College years are the perfect time for you to train yourself in the ways of life. Owning a student credit card is a good way to practice control and credit management. Acquiring part time jobs during school breaks gives you a chance to develop your skills and earn your own income at the same time. Use the money you earn to build up your personal savings and to pay off your credit card debt as well.

Pay off your student loans. You do not need to wait until you graduate before starting to pay down your student loans. You can use your earnings from part time jobs to pay off even the interest rate of your student loan. Hence, you can reduce your student loan debt so you can have much less debt when you graduate.

Monitor your personal credit report. Consumers have the right to receive one free credit report from each major credit bureau (Experian, Equifax,TransUnion) once each year. You can order your free report online at www.annualcreditreport.com.

Carefully check your report if there are any errors, inaccurate detail or outdated information. Keep in mind that even a single error can badly pull down your credit score. It is also your consumer right to dispute credit report errors. If you notice any detail that needs to be corrected, you should send a letter to the bureau that issued your report. Disputing credit report errors can take up to 30 days to complete.

Top Related Stories:

• Financial New Year’s Resolutions Tips for Students

• Manage Your Student Credit Card This Holiday Season

• Credit Card Guide for Students This Holiday Season

• Should You Get a New Student Credit Card for the New Year?

• Students Start Building Good Credit This New Year

STUDENT CREDIT CARD RESOURCES

•Instant Approval
•Good Credit Cards
•Bad Credit Cards
•Rewards Credit Cards
•Car Loans for Student

About the Author:

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for student bad credit cards. For years she has written student credit card reviews that would help build student credits.

Sam Wilson

Using your student credit card this holiday is not entirely a bad idea. In fact, paying with a credit card can be a smart way to make holiday shopping convenient and hassle-free. It all depends on how you use the card and you pay off your charges. On this post, we will focus on tips on how you can manage your student credit card smartly this year:

Set your own spending limit. If your student credit card allows you to charge up to $500 a month, it’s best to set your own spending limit, which is at least 50% lower than the actual limit. Student cardholders are often provided with a much lower limit than regular cardholders so you could quickly max out your credit if you are not aware of your charges.

Make a list of things that you plan to pay with your credit card and keep it separate from the things you want to pay in cash. For each item, jot down your estimated price and calculate the total cost of your purchases. Creating a list will give you a clear view as to how much you’ll end up paying for so you can avoid splurges or going over the budget.

Pay off your full balance. Some students pay only the minimum due that their credit card requires but such a strategy only increases the risk of debt build-up. The best way to handle credit card debt is to pay off your monthly charges in full.

Are you having second thoughts whether or not you can pay your full balance this month? In this case, you might be better off paying cash than using your credit card. Keep in mind that carrying a balance in your account will cost you additional interest rate charges each month until you’re able to zero in your balance.

Review your billing statement. If you used your student credit card, carefully check your statement of account to make sure that there are no incorrect charges. If you notice unfamiliar transactions in your bill, do not hesitate to call up your issuer to dispute those charges.

Does your student credit card offer liability protection? Some cards provide $0 liability protection so you don’t need to pay a single cent for unauthorized charges. Review the terms and conditions of your student credit card so you can be reminded of your privileges and limits as a cardholder.

Keep your charges minimal. You need to be more cautious when using your student credit card for payment. By keeping your charges as minimal as possible, you can minimize the risk of bad debt. It will be much easier for you to pay off your balance in full and you can save money by avoiding interest rate charges and late fees.

More importantly, students must keep in mind that all their account activities will reflect on their personal credit reports. Therefore, managing your student credit card responsibly will help you build and maintain good credit history and score.

Top Related Stories:

• Credit Card Guide for Students This Holiday Season

• Should You Get a New Student Credit Card for the New Year?

• Students Start Building Good Credit This New Year

• Student Credit Card Tips for the Holidays

• How to Smartly Use Your Student Credit Card for a Holiday Trip

• The College Student’s Frugal Spending Guide This Holiday

• Holiday Spending Tips for College Students

• Christmas Shopping Tips for Students

• New Year’s Financial Resolution Tips for Students

About the Author:

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for student bad credit cards. For years she has written student credit card reviews that would help build student credits.

Sam Wilson

If you are a college student in need of a car loan, what are the things you should consider to make sure that you can get the best deal? What if you have bad credit? Can you still qualify for a car loan? If yes, what can you do to avoid being ripped-off by bad credit loan lenders who may try to take advantage of you? On this post, let us answer these questions one by one.

Do You Really Need a Car Loan?

Do you really need to drive your own car at this time? Before applying for an auto loan, consider your situation carefully. Will it be better if you move to a boarding school so you can be near the campus? . Don’t forget that aside from your car loan payments, maintaining a car is not cheap as well. Gas purchases and repair fees can prove to be costly too. This is why you should compare the costs involved before taking out a loan.

Bad Credit Car Loans and Students

Some students who are stuck in bad credit may think that they have no other choice. If you can wait for at least another year or until your credit score improves before getting a car, you will be in a much better position to apply for a car loan.

However, if getting a car now is really the most practical thing to do, you can look for a bad credit car loan lender that offers a reasonable deal. Be ready to spend time and effort comparing bad credit loan deals in the market. Even if you have been offered an attractive loan package, never sign up a deal until you conducted research and comparison.

Tips When Applying for a Bad Credit Student Car Loan

If you’re ready to apply for a bad credit student auto loan, below are essential points to remember:

Buy an affordable car. If you have bad credit, you may find that car loan rates are higher compared to standard car loans. Needless to say, the best car loan deals are reserved for customers with good to excellent credit. So if you have bad credit, this is not the best time to buy your dream car.

Opt for a less expensive car that can serve your purpose. Have you considered buying a second-hand car? You can surely save much if you buy a used car instead of a new one. Whether you choose to buy a new or used car, make sure that it is in good condition. Do test drives and ask for advice from someone who is knowledgeable about cars or a professional mechanic.

Comparison bad credit car loan offers. The only way you can make the right choice is by comparing bad credit loan offers in the market. It’s easy to gather quotes from the internet but do not make quick decisions. No matter how attractive a loan deal is, do further research, particularly when it comes to the lending company’s background, reputation, terms and conditions.

Plan your car loan repayment strategy. Once you have made a decision, use your bad credit car loan to improve your personal credit score through timely submission of your monthly loan payments. See to it that you can afford the monthly costs and that you will be able to keep up with repayment from the start until the end of your loan’s term.

You may also like:

Car Loan Tips for College Students

About the Author:

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for credit cards for students. For years she has written credit card for college articles that would help build student credits.

Sam Wilson

Credit cards for students are especially designed with features and services to benefit this particular group so if you are student, you should take advantage of your privileges as a cardholder. However, using a credit card can also increase the risk of bad debt and this is why youngsters should watch out their spending.

On this post, we present smart tips on how you can use your student credit card to enjoy savings from your back-to-school purchases while avoiding bad debt:

Choose a low rate cash back card. If you are going to apply for a student credit card, consider a card with cash back rewards. Don’t forget to compares interest rates and choose the one with the most reasonable deal. Cash back reward cards are popular in the market because the program is simple and fits everyone’s lifestyle. You don’t need to drive a car or be a frequent traveller to get rewarded. Cash back cards give consumers the chance to earn cash incentives out of their spending so they are often ideal for students.

Read the fine print. Take the time to read the complete Terms and Conditions. See to it that you understand the rules of the reward program. How will you be able to earn points? What types of purchases are eligible? How many points can you earn per dollar spent? Generally, cash back cards offer 1 point for every dollar spent using the card. However, you might be able to find credit cards that offer double points to match your purchases.

Aside from the rules of earning points, you should also understand the rules on how to redeem points. What are the restrictions imposed by the issuer? Will your points expire after a certain time period? Will you be stop earning points after you collected a certain value of cash back in a month or in a year? The specific terms vary from one issuer to another so you want to make sure that your chosen student credit card complements your lifestyle.

Avoid interest rate fees. All reward cardholders must do everything to avoid the interest rate charges. The only way you can get rewarded is you do not pay these extra fees. Remember that reward credit cards usually carry higher interest rates than their non-reward counterparts. Thus, if you fail your full balance on time, you would end up spending more on interest rates. Such additional costs can offset the rewards you earn.

Buy from affiliates. Check out which shops and merchants are affiliated with your student credit card. You can surely earn bigger points per dollar spent when you purchase from sponsoring merchants. Most reward credit cards for students also offer exclusive back-to-school discounts but you need to be aware of the rules. If you are going to purchase online, you might be able to enjoy even bigger savings but you might need to enter a special code upon checkout to enjoy the discount.

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for credit cards for students. For years she has written student credit card reviews articles that would help build student credits.

Sam Wilson

As students get ready for the back-to-school season, parents must also create a strategy to save their shopping budget. Take a look at the following tips on how you can cut back on school expenses this year.

Clothing. Budget on clothes can prove to be expensive especially if you have more than one child to send to school. At least a month before school starts, conduct a closet inventory and see which items of clothing still fit or are still in good condition. Don’t forget to consider alterations. Some clothes can still be worn just by making a few alterations such as hemming the length, adjusting the waistline, mending, etc.

Make a list of clothing pieces that you have and then plan the items you need to buy. This way, you can avoid buying unnecessary pieces and you can start with the most important things first. You may also consider trading clothes with other parents in your child’s school. Call up your friends and organize a trading party. Many parents organize yearly trade parties to minimize their expenses and make the best out of a small budget.

Books. Ask student in the higher grade if they plan to sell their old books at a bargain. Perhaps you can even ask to trade for old books or someone might be willing to give it to your child for free. Remember, second-hand buys is cheaper and is more practical when it comes to books. You can look for bookstores that sell old books or check out online auction sites. If you’re going to buy online, don’t forget to look for merchants that offer free shipping.

Supplies. Once you get your list of supplies from your child’s school, check the most important things and buy these first. Check your stocks at home and look for school supplies from last year that might have been left unused.

Make-over. Old notebooks and things can be good as new again with a simple make-over. Consider adding a new cover or adding embellishments to give it a fresh look. If you plan to buy, plain items are usually cheaper than the ones which are readily designed. You can personalize and brighten up a plan item by adding embellishments.

Meals. As early as possible, create your weekly meal plan to stretch your food budget and ensure that your child can eat nutritious and delicious meals. Home-cooked meals are best and much cheaper rather than buying pre-processed or instant meals. Prepare home-cooked packed lunches for your child instead of letting them buy everyday from the school canteen.

Set a definite budget. Create a list of all your possible expenses for this coming school season – from clothing, food, school supplies, allowance, etc. Create a separate column for each category and calculate the total amount for each category. By making a list, you will have a clear idea as to how much you need. If your budget on hand is limited, you can make the necessary adjustments right away.

About the Author:

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for credit card for students. For years she has written student credit card application articles that would help build student credits.

Sam Wilson

If you own a student credit card with rewards, this back-to-school season is the perfect time for you to make the most out of it. Consider the following tips on how you can rack up more points without failing into bad debt:

1. Make a shopping list. Create a list of the things you need to purchase this school year. Arrange your list into categories such as clothing, books, supplies, and miscellaneous expenses. This way, you can seriously consider each purchase and avoid unnecessary expenses.
2. Plan your card use. The next step is to plan which items on your list will be purchased using cash and which ones will be charged to your credit card. Although charging more purchases to your card would mean earning more points, you should also consider your credit limit, and your repayment obligations.
3. Pay in full. In reality, credit cards with rewards carry higher rates of interest than non-rewards cards. This is true even for student credit cards. If you fail to pay back your full balance by your due date, you will incur the interest rate and it would mean paying more for your purchases. Obviously, this is not the way to get rewarded. Thus, before charging purchases to your card, seriously consider if you will be able to submit full payment on time.
4. Shop at affiliates. Find out which merchants and shops are affiliated with your student reward credit card. Most affiliate shops offer double points or bigger points for every dollar spent using the card.
5. Review the fine print. It’s a good idea for you to review the Terms and Conditions of your student credit card before back-to-school season. Your issuer might have made some changes in the past months that you might have missed such as an increased rate, a change in the rules of the reward program, etc. Before using your card to shop for your school needs, you should be aware about your privileges as well as limitations as a cardholder.
6. Pay tuition with your credit card. If your college university accepts credit card payment, this is a great strategy to rack up more points without spending extra. However, you must make sure that you have the exact amount of cash available on hand so you can pay your credit card charge immediately to avoid incurring interest rate.
7. Watch out extra fees. Aside from avoiding interest rate charges, you must also be conscious about extra fees such as late penalty and over-the-limit charges. Be sure to check your account first before shopping with your credit card to avoid maxing out or exceeding your limit.
8. Check your bill. Examine your credit card statement for the month to make sure that you are not being billed for purchases that you did not make. Errors or inaccurate billing is not a rare occurrence, and if you don’t take this extra step, you could end up paying more on charges you did not owe.

    

   About the Author:

   Samantha Wilson is a consultant for credit cards for students. For years she has written credit cards for students articles that would help build student credits.

Sam Wilson

Mothers can save a great deal from their back-to-school shopping through planning and the right strategy. Consider the following tips on how you can be frugal this back-to-school season.

Do clothing inventory. Before going to the mall to shop for new clothes, check your kid’s closet first and see which items still fit or are still in good condition. Make a list of each item so you’ll know exactly what pieces of clothing you will need to buy and what items you can purchase to match what’s already in your child’s closet.

Buy most important items first. Once you receive the list of supplies for the year, check which ones are the most important and buy these first. Some of the items on the list can be bought later when they’re needed. This way, you can cut back on your back-to-school budget.

Teach your kids the value of budgeting. Teach your kids about the importance of budgeting and saving money. You can do this by making your shopping list, listing down the price for each item and calculating the total expenses together. This way, your child becomes aware of how much money is available and how much will be spent.

Go with the basics. When it comes to clothing items, invest on a number of good quality clothes in basic colors so you it will be easy to mix and match these with other less expensive clothing items and accessories.

Discuss the plan with your child. Before you take your child to the mall for shopping, make sure that your child understands what you’re looking for and the budget you need to work with.

Buy in bulk. Buying in large quantities is still a great way to buy at a cheaper price. Check which items in your list will be used most frequently for the entire school year and be ready to buy these in bulk. Make sure that the item will stay in good condition for an entire year such as paper, notebooks, pencils, etc.

Shop in groups. Collaborate with other parents in your child’s school or a friend before shopping for schools supplies. This is another great strategy to buy in bulk at a bargain. You can divide the contents of the package with the group and share the cost as well.

Do comparison shopping. The internet is a convenient way to compare prices of different items sold at different shops and merchants. You can find a number of websites that offer free shopping comparison tools to help you out with your shopping.

Enjoy free shipping. Many merchants will offer various deals for the back-to-school season. See to it that you can enjoy free delivery of your purchases right to your door. Thus, you can save on gas and skip shipping costs at the same time.

Use coupon codes. Parents must make the extra effort to find coupon codes that will match their purchases. Saving at least 5% or 10% for each item can save you hundreds of dollars overall.

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for credit card for students. For years she has written student credit card application articles that would help build student credits.

Sam Wilson

Many young people own a credit card or two while in college. If you are a student who owns a college credit card, consider the following tips on how you can stay out of debt this back-to-school season.

Plan your purchases. Before you go out to buy supplies and new things for the school opening, create your shopping list ahead of time. Thus, you can avoid buying items out of impulse or purchasing supplies that are not really necessary.

Use your credit card carefully. Shopping with a credit card can be risky if you do not take complete control. See to it that you will only charge important expenses to your card. More importantly, you want to make sure that you will be able to pay your full balance on time to avoid incurring interest rate charges.

Check your balance. Don’t forget to access your student credit card account to make sure that you will not max out or exceed your available balance. Keep in mind that maxing out your credit not only increases the risk of bad debt, but will also hurt your personal credit score. If you go over the limit, you will be penalised with more fees.

Use cash too. Do not charge all your purchases to your student credit card. Make a list of purchases on which you will use cash too. This is a great way to keep your credit usage minimal and avoid overspending as well.

Buy what you need first. It can be tempting to buy new clothing and other things especially when you are shopping with your student credit card. However, you must first check your list and choose the most important things you need first.

Watch out for new card offers. Many consumers receive various offers from credit card companies via post mail and email. These credit card offers can be exciting and you might be tempted to sign up for one or two new cards, even when you already have one. Keep in mind that managing too many accounts can prove to be a big challenge especially for a student like you. Since you do not yet have permanent employment, it’s best to stick with just one card.

Be careful with that rewards card. If you own a student reward credit card, you might think that it’s okay to charge more purchases to your card in order to earn more points. However, reward credit cards usually carry much higher interest rates than non-rewards credit cards. Failing to pay back your full balance on time would mean incurring expensive APR charges. Why would you spend more from your purchases just to earn reward points? The only way you can get rewarded is if you can avoid paying the extra fees from your student reward card.

Check your bill. After using your student credit card for shopping, check your credit card statement to make sure that all charges in your account are correct. Should you discover unfamiliar charges in your bill, don’t hesitate to dispute those charges.

Samantha Wilson is a consultant for credit cards for students. For years she has written credit cards for students articles that would help build student credits.

Sam Wilson