Does using Facebook cause you to spend money you don’t have and to pig out on junk food?
As far-fetched as that might sound, a pair of U.S. marketing professors say they have found a relationship between time spent on Facebook and lower credit scores, higher credit card debt and bigger waistlines. The authors say their work is the first study of its kind to link Facebook to personal financial habits.
The research is among a growing number of studies that are seeking to explain how the use of Facebook and other new technologies is shaping our lives, for better and worse, in areas as diverse as social and civic interactions, commerce and psychological well-being. This month, Facebook said it surpassed 1 billion active users worldwide. About half of U.S. adults say they use at least one social networking site — twice that of just four years ago.
The researchers, Keith Wilcox of Columbia Business School and Andrew Stephen of the University of Pittsburgh’s business school, are not suggesting that people log onto Facebook and then, zombie-like, gorge themselves on debt and Twinkies. Instead, they say, the effects are subtle and cumulative.
The effects are most pronounced, they say, on Facebook users who have strong ties to their online friends. They say the process works like this: People browse through their social network of close friends. Participating in that supportive online community boosts their self-esteem. That brief increase in self-esteem reduces self-control.
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I have come across interesting Talks,Sites and Bogs on the subject of BorrowingMoney.
There used to be a time when borrowing was considered to be a sin and it was treated as a Crime to delay payment.
Now, thanks to changing value systems and the Modern economy, if you do not borrow, you are not recognised and we are now used to a Lifestyle of wanting more than what we earn and in some cases what we deserve.
No point in suggesting people the safest and carefree Life is Not to Borrow.
Since there are no takers, the next option is to find out How To Borrow Intelligently.
‘As any smart borrower could tell you, it’s important to read the fine print when it comes to lenders. Sure, that balance transfer may sound appealing now, but what happens in 6 months when the interest rates sky rocket? Credit card companies are notorious for hiding their little tricks in the fine print so pull at the magnifying glass if necessary.
Even if you choose to consolidate debt and borrow more, always make more than the minimum required payments. By consolidating your debt, you may be eligible for lower monthly payments, but they won’t help you get your debt paid off any faster. Smart borrowers even go so far as to pay off their entire balance each month.
Do you only have one or two credit cards? Do yourself a favor and keep it that way. Trying to juggle too many lines of credit is the opposite of smart borrowing. It’s simply too difficult to keep track of a dozen different credit cards, with their different due dates and minimum monthly payments. It’s almost inevitable that those who have too many credit options end up putting themselves in debt.
If you’re planning on taking out a new credit card or any type of line of credit, do your homework to find the best possible interest rate. By now, everyone should know how important their interest rates are. In essence, they represent the cost of borrowing money and if you get stuck with a high rate, you’ll end up paying a lot more over time.
No matter how much debt you’ve accumulated or how much you still need to borrow, saving money is always important. While repaying borrowed money is probably your number one priority, do not neglect your savings. You just never know when something could happen, such as a car accident or hospital visit, that could require you to break out the savings.
Finally, don’t fall for the idea that declaring bankruptcy will be an easy fix to your debt problems. While bankruptcy may be able to help some people in the right situation, it can be a disaster for many. Declaring bankruptcy will absolutely ruin your credit score for the next several years and making borrowing more money all but impossible.’
Treat every purchase like it’s a major purchase. You have a few opportunities in life to save a lot of money, but it’s the small daily ones that will make or break you.
Vacation close to home so you can drive instead of fly.
Delay big purchases as long as possible. You may lose interest or find an alternate solution.
Hang dry your laundry, indoors if necessary.
Choose a hairstyle that does not require frequent trims.
Repair instead of replace. This goes for appliances, furniture, clothing, whatever.
Bank at a credit union instead of a corporate bank. You’ll most likely save on fees.
Wear the clothes you already own instead of buying new stuff all the time.
Cook from scratch and save restaurant meals for special occasions.
Make sure you have a few easy meals on hand for those nights when takeout dinner is calling your name. There’s nothing wrong with serving scrambled eggs and toast for dinner.
Use your library for books, magazines, movies and CD‘s. And then make sure to return them on time!
Foster your relationships with like minded friends. They won’t make you feel bad about sticking to a budget.
Pack your own work and school lunches.
Replace expensive recipe ingredients with inexpensive options. Perfect example? Kale instead of basil in pesto.
Don’t be a snob about older electronics. You will survive without the newest iPhone.
Learn how to mend and de-stain your clothing. If half your wardrobe is out of commission, you’re missing out.
At best I would go for Debit cards, the reason being if you have money you spend and do not spend anticipating income.
However to day it becomes difficult with out using either Credit/Debit Cards.
Though the chances of your bring fleeced by processing fees and cumbersome Billing Process,there are people like my daughter who has never paid a fine or excess in addition to using the Card to its fullest .
The selection of credit card is difficult.
I have come across some information which I am reproducing below.
“CardRatings.com is the most comprehensive free source for comparing credit card offers and has helped millions of consumers research and find the best credit cards. If you are in the market for a new card, choose from among our featured cards below and apply easily and securely online.
Transfer your higher rate balances during the first 30 days your account is open and you will pay no balance transfer fee! After that, the balance transfer fee is 3% of the amount transferred with a minimum of $5
0% Intro APR for up to 12 months – a variable APR as low as 11.99-21.99% after your 0% ends
Slate with Blueprint helps you pay down your balances faster and save on interest
Keeps track of the Reward Points accruing to her, en-cashes them in time.
Selects products/out lets where she will get the Best Buy.
She is loyal to a particular Credit card.
I may add the following points as well.
Do not leave the card to a waiter or gas Station Attendant to effect payment.
Personally handle the transaction and see that the Decoder comes to normal settings before you leave.
Do not enter the ATM’s when it is crowded; if possible enter when it is empty.
See to it that the ATM Screen flashes Home Screen before you leave.
Ask for balance statement only if you must.
Never leave your balance slip in the ATM kiosk.
Now read on for Professional advice.
Credit Card.
Still, the fine print of how to use credit cards remains a mystery for many. Every year, hundreds of credit card users complain about being charged excessive fees or about receiving abusive calls if they haven’t paid their credit card bills for a long time. Complaints from credit card usersreportedly topped the list of grievances handled by India’s central bank between 2009 and 2010.
Banks and card issuers give users all the information they need in the “terms and conditions” that come with the cards. But consumers tend to overlook the fine print and largely rely on what the credit card salesperson tells them at the time of purchase. And they are unlikely to draw full attention to the many catches, preferring to focus on the positives of owning a credit card instead.
Ultimately, it’s up to the credit card users to know what they are getting into. Here are five things you should know about your credit card that you are unlikely to hear in a sales pitch:
The long list of fees: Understanding the credit card statement seems to be a major hurdle, said Jairam Sridharan, head of consumer lending and payments at Axis Bank in Mumbai. “I don’t understand how you calculated the interest or fees’…this is the most common problem people face,” he said. So make a point of finding out what all the charges are in advance.
If you are offered a “free card” or one with no annual fees, make sure the fee doesn’t kick in after the first year or two. It’s also a good idea to find out whether there are joining fees and how much you’d have to pay for late payment charges, cash advance charges (applicable on withdrawals from an ATM), and charges for spending more than your credit limit.
Some of the highest fees are charged when you don’t pay your credit card bill in full by the due date. You may have to pay an interest of up to 42% on the unpaid amount, plus a service tax of 10.30%. You may also lose your interest-free period for the next cycle if you haven’t cleared all your bills in time.
In case you haven’t even paid the minimum amount due per month to the credit card company late payment charges will be levied. These are typically 500 rupees ($10.5) to 600 rupees foroutstanding amounts of 10,000 rupees to 20,000 rupees. For greater amounts, the fee is higher.
If you use your credit card to withdraw money from the ATM, you may have to pay your credit card company or bank 3% of that amount, or a minimum of 300 rupees ($6.3), plus interest.
Why your credit card matters for your car loan: Did you know that your chances of getting a home or car loan depend on your credit card usage? If you didn’t, now you do.
Here’s why: The credit card usage of individuals in India is tracked by an independent agency that prepares a “credit score” for each individual. This score is basically a snapshot of your credit worthiness, a high score showing that you are highly likely to pay back your loans and a low score that you are not. The credit score, drawn up by the Credit Information Bureau India Ltd., is based on factors like how promptly you pay your credit card bills and how many cards you have. Consistently late payments or too many cards would result in a lower score. The credit score ranges from 300 to 900 and is constantly reassessed.
“When you apply for (home or car) loans, your Credit Card Information Report and your score are very critical elements and indicate your financial discipline,” said Arun Thukral, managing director at CIBIL.
To keep your score high, “avoid spending closer to the credit limit,” said Parag Rao, a senior executive and head of the credit card division at HDFC Bank Ltd. “A credit card should not become a means of financing your day-to-day finances,” said Mr. Rao.
As a business owner, you should understand the importance ofcredit card processing or a merchant account. It doesn’t matter whether you operate your business in a physical location or over the internet, your customers want to pay you with credit and debit cards. For internet based businesses, however, if you don’t accept credit cards you may as well not bother. Who wants to go through the hassle of mailing a check or money order when buying something online?
Here are some general tips to help you avoid problems with your merchant account or payment processing providers:
Most online business owners use online merchant accounts to process credit cards. Do not wait until you need to process a credit or debit card to set it up because it can take a few days before your new merchant account is usable. Online credit card processing is generally faster to set up than traditional bank merchant accounts, but it’s rarely instant, and you want to be prepared.
Review and Understand Your Credit Card Processing Fees.
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