You began using the card responsibly, buying school books or other essentials needed during the first semester, and paying the balance off every month. Then, Spring Break arrived – you used your card to buy your plane ticket to Cancun, Mexico, the hotel room and all of your souvenirs for the trip. What started out as a responsible decision, turned into a payment that you simply couldn’t afford to pay!

High Interest Surprise

When you heard the “Free money” song at the beginning of the semester, you didn’t pay attention to an important factor on the card agreement – the interest rate! Now, you have debt from your trip, and interest charges that are being stacked onto your minimum payment each month!

Fast Forward: You’re about to graduate college and looking for a job. You’ve still got this crazy credit card bill from your college Spring Break booze fest! The last thing that you want to do is go into your new “real job” with boatloads of credit card debt!

Balance Transfers: Put a Halt on those Interest Charges

Now that you have settled into your career, you need to set up a plan to eliminate this Spring Break burden. One of the best ways to do this is to set up a Balance Transfer to a new lower interest credit card.

A balance transfer takes the outstanding balance on your high-interest credit card and moving it to another credit card. It’s advised to do this through a 0% APR promotion. Balance transfers are also used to consolidate existing debt from multiple credit cards onto one.

Once you have transferred your credit card balances, you can do the math and figure out how long it will take you to pay it off during your promotion. For example, if you have a balance of $1,500 and an introductory APR of 0% for 18 months – your minimum payment would be around $84 monthly. This excludes any fees that may come with your new card.

Things to Consider

When you apply for the balance transfer, you must read and understand the card member agreement that comes with it. Be sure to pick one with a long promotion, a low interest-rate after the promotion is over, no annual fee, and a low balance transfer fee (if not 0). If you can pay off the balance before the introductory rate expires, you can be rid of your credit card debt and free of interest charges!

Recommended Cards

The Slate from Chase – No Balance Transfer Fee is one of the best balance transfer credit card offers out there. For 15 months, there’s no interest on balance transfers or purchases. With no annual fee and no balance transfer fee for the first 30 days of card membership! You’ll be able to pay down your balance faster and avoid fees.

The Discover® More Card – 18 Month Promotional Balance Transfer offer is a cash rewards credit card that has 0% APR on balance transfers for the first 18 months of card membership. You’ll earn Cashback Bonus® on all purchases and there’s no annual fee.

The Citi Simplicity® Visa Card
is a great card to sign up for if you still plan on making purchases while paying off your existing debts. For 18 months, there’s 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases. With no annual fee and a fantastic introductory promotion, it’s ideal for those looking to avoid interest charges for 18 months!

Consider This…

If you carry debt from credit cards (Spring Break), cars, furniture, loans, etc., a balance transfer offer could be the key to eliminating what you owe. Remember, with all credit card offers, you may or may not be approved based upon your credit history.

With this opportunity to save on interest, you should manage your spending wisely or else you could defeat the purpose of the transfer. If you make this decision and use it in a responsible way, there is a possibility for positive change!

You’ve learned from your early foray into credit during your freshman year. It’s now part of your habit to read the fine print, and if you’re so inclined apply for a balance transfer credit card that could save you money and stress!

For more excellent credit card offers uniquely suited to consumers seeking a promotional 0% introductory balance transfer rate, please visit CardOffers.com

Flint Mobile Inc.’s first product is a FREE iPhone(TM) app that enables merchants to easily and securely process credit card payments using only their phone. Current solutions in the mobile card processing arena require a separate card reader. However, Flint uses the phone’s camera to process payments without the use of any additional hardware…no reader…no tablet…nothing else.

Therefore it appears merchants on Flint’s platform are rewarded with a simple to use service that comes with high levels of consumer privacy protection and fraud prevention to help keep processing fees in check (and relatively low) – the company has the lowest debit fees around (more on that later.)

The app also integrates customizable receipts with built-in social marketing tools that enable merchants to better engage with their customers and to tap into online word-of-mouth referrals.

“Flint’s goal is to transform the everyday commerce capabilities of tens of millions of small services businesses and sole proprietors who are highly mobile,” said Greg Goldfarb, Co-founder and CEO of Flint Mobile. “Our first product takes the hassle out of on-the-go credit card processing and provides an easy on-ramp to capitalize on social marketing. Essentially, we are starting to turn credit card transaction fees into an investment in online customer engagement.”

Since 2008 there has been a rise (70% increase) in the amount of people who classify themselves as independent agents. The mobile market is representative of that shift towards sole proprietorship and the changing needs of the retail sector.

The functionality needed for on-the-go business owners means that simplicity is imperative to growing their business and many want a way to accept credit cards without worrying about extra hardware or accessories.

With Flint’s app not only is the card reader not a necessity but they are able to market their product and service via a social networking proponent. So even the most mundane everyday purchases can be marketed to social media channels driven by word-of-mouth or more “APPtly” a status update.

“Flint will be a game changer in the world of mobile payments for small businesses,” said Alex Mendez, Founding Managing Director of Storm Ventures. “They have created a simple approach that couples payments and social marketing to provide a huge leap forward for the mobile small businesses that form the backbone of our economy.”

Further Details

Low transaction fees: 1.95% + $0.20 per transaction for debit cards and 2.95% + $0.20 per transaction for credit cards.

Frictionless Setup: no merchant account headaches or upfront costs and no waiting to get a card reader.

Safety and security: data is protected according to industry PCI DSS guidelines, and Flint has developed patent pending methods to protect consumer privacy.

Small business owners and merchants interested in more information or in requesting an invitation to the Beta program should sign up at www.flintmo.com .

What are Prepaid Cards?

Unlike traditional debit cards, prepaid cards aren’t tied to a bank checking account and they are usually designed for those with poor or low credit. Prepaid cards provide great convenience as you cannot be charged overdraft fees – that’s because the money you load onto your card are the only funds you have available to use.

Your money can normally be reloaded at various major retailers, and you can withdraw cash for free from certain ATMs that are part of a large network. Prepaid cards can also be used for online purchases, or to pay several of your bills when you prefer not to walk around with loads of cash.

Chase Liquid Prepaid Card

The Chase Liquid Prepaid Card is sure to stand out from the rest due to the simple fact that it only charges a flat monthly fee of $4.95. That’s right – there is no ATM withdrawal fee (as long as it’s within the bank’s network) nor any activation fee. Bankrate conducted a study that showed out of 18 prepaid cards, two-thirds have a monthly fee somewhere between $2.50 – $9.95.

Although customers do not have to open an account at Chase in order to sign up for the Liquid Prepaid card, a $25 initial deposit onto the card is required.

Ryan McInerney, CEO of consumer banking at Chase, said, “Chase Liquid is a low-cost alternative to traditional checking accounts, and its terms are clear and simple.”

You have to give it to Chase – most prepaid cards catch you by surprise when you look at their Terms and Conditions, and there are more fees hiding in the fine print than you can count. However, Chase wants to make a strong stand in the prepaid card industry and by only charging one small fee, it seems like they’re on the right track.

Here’s a breakdown of Chase Liquid’s features:

• Pay only a flat monthly fee
• No activation fee
• Easy to set up direct deposit
• Withdraw cash from over 17,500 Chase ATMs
• Use it wherever Visa(R) debit is accepted
• Funds are FDIC insured
• Withdraw up to $500 per day
• Monitor your balance via text alerts or email messages

Alerts you can set up:

• Your daily card summary
• When your balance falls below an amount you specify
• When a Chase Liquid Card transaction exceeds an amount you specify
• When an ATM withdrawal exceeds an amount you specify
• When a Direct Deposit greater than an amount you specify has posted

How To Apply For Chase Liquid

The new Chase Liquid Prepaid Card is currently only available at 200 Chase branches. However, you will be able to find it nationwide this summer at all 5,500 branches. Until then, you can review a wide list of features and benefits on the Chase website.

If you don’t want to use a credit card for financial purposes but still need a cash alternative for your day-to-day spending, then the Chase Liquid Prepaid Card may be the right choice for you. It may be in stiff competition, but with a low monthly fee – its only fee! – this is definitely one of the best prepaid cards you’ll find.

*** For a list of available Chase cards, visit CardOffers.com ***

Better for the Environment and your Wallet

Public transportation saves the U.S. the equivalent of 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually – and more than 11 million gallons of gasoline per day. If an individual switches from driving 20 miles a day to using a public transportation service, they could save $812 a year!

Ways to Get Around Town

Commuter trains are meant for transporting people back and forth from the city to the suburbs. Traveling within a small urban area, some cities employ Light Rail trams to take you from one side of town to the other.

To travel a shorter distance in the city, a city’s bus transport service is a great option. Typically, metro buses are a countywide service and are mandated to be wheelchair accessible and offer numerous routes that criss-cross and traverse the urban and suburban landscape.

Tickets and Passes – Things to Know:

If you are likely to only use the public service for a special occasion, you probably won’t need a frequent rider pass – rather just for the day would suffice. Some buses still take cash when you board, others require you to buy a day pass.

If you are riding the train, you typically have to buy a day pass at vending machines located at the station. Depending on where you are, the payment options vary. At some locations, you can only pay cash for your day pass, while others take credit cards.

If you use Discover or American Express, it’s important to carry another form of payment since some stations only take Visa or MasterCard. When making ticket purchases online, you can pay with a card, but can only choose from the card brands provided.

The chart provides the top 25 cities in the United States. All of the websites and rider portals (since many have machines at the terminals) for public transportation in these cities accept MasterCard and Visa to purchase tickets and passes. 14 out of 25 accept American Express and 16 out of 25 accept Discover.

Gas Ain’t Cheap!

Although public transportation is one of the more reliable and cheap choices to make when it comes to traveling, it’s sometimes not the most convenient. If your choice destination is too far off the beaten path or just not your cup of tea, then you might as well have a credit card that earns you extra cash back for your gasoline purchases. With a gas rewards credit card, you can be rewarded for your purchases at gas stations.

The Discover® Open Road Card gives back to those who drive their cars to work, school, etc. everyday. You end up spending a lot of cash at the pump! Every time you use your card you will earn 2% Cashback Bonus® at gas stations and restaurants.

When you use this fantastic gas rewards credit card from Discover, there’s no annual fee, 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months and top notch customer service! For all of your other purchases you will enjoy 1% Cashback Bonus® on all other purchases. Your Cashback Bonus® will never expire as long as you keep you account open and active!

Discover has been ranked #1 in customer loyalty for 16 years in a row! Not only will you get Cashback Bonus® at gas stations, restaurants, and all other purchases, but you can redeem your Cashback Bonus® for gift cards, charity donations, merchandise, a bank deposit, or a statement credit!

Always on the Move!

As Americans, it’s Go Go GO – always! With a balanced transportation system, we can avoid the stress that parallels driving – the gas, the aggravation, the traffic, the economy, our health and the environment.

When you take advantage of public transportation, you can improve your local economy by increasing mobility for all of its citizens. Public transportation connects people with jobs, medical facilities, schools, retail merchants, and recreational activities. If you haven’t Discovered it or its been a while—why not try it? You’ll save time, energy and money!

Citi ThankYou(R) Rewards for Small Business Program

Based on research that found small business owners value their ThankYou points – especially if the rewards come from services that meet their personal or business needs – this exciting Citi program will allow customers to enjoy redeeming their points in more ways than before.

Maria Veltre, Managing Director of Citi’s Small Business, explained:

“Points will add up faster and the ThankYou Points can be redeemed for everything from gift cards to travel to electronics. This is just another way we can reward our small business customers for choosing Citibank. At Citibank, small businesses are a big deal.”

How You Can Qualify

Eligible business customers can now earn and redeem their ThankYou points for their checking account and business services with Citi. Qualified customers must have a CitiBusiness(R) Streamlined Checking or CitiBusiness Flexible Checking account. Monthly ThankYou points are earned when customers either perform two CitiBusiness Online Bill Payments or have two checks paid each month (or any combination thereof).

Promotional Offer

There is an enticing promotion currently taking place – good until June 30. When you open a CitiBusiness Streamlined or Flexible checking account, as well as get a cash management product or financing solution such as Citi(R) Merchant Services, you will receive 40,000 ThankYou points. These points can be redeemed for up to $400 worth in gift cards.

Veltre is confident that the new ThankYou(R) Rewards program for small business owners will provide better reward benefits and a more secure banking relationship.

She said, “In listening to our small business clients, it became clear that they want to earn rewards for things they do every day for their personal lives and business, such as using cash management services, making credit card purchases or having a small business loan. By making Citi’s proprietary ThankYou loyalty program available to these clients, we are providing the most value to their banking relationship.”

CitiBusiness ThankYou(SM) Card

As a loyal Citi credit cardholder, you will be introduced to not only an incredible rewards program but you will also be the recipient of other perks and benefits. Take advantage of everything Citi has to offer by signing up for the CitiBusiness ThankYou(SM) Card

Enjoy a special 0% introductory APR offer on purchases for the first six months and earn 15,000 Bonus ThankYou(R) points with initial spending. Your business will thank you for it!

Small Business, Big Rewards

Citibank is always looking for ways to better serve their customers and provide them with answers and products that will help their business thrive. The new Citi ThankYou(R) Rewards for Small Business program may be just what your company has been hoping for!

LivingSocial offers consumers who are social-buying enthusiasts with locally targeted deals daily and the ability to earn rewards for their purchases.

Dan Dougherty, director, Chase Card Services says, “For local merchants, LivingSocial has helped redefine how businesses connect with consumers to promote their products and services and increase sales.”

Members of the new JPMorgan Chase credit card have the opportunity to earn points at an accelerated rate.

A customer might use a LivingSocial deal to spend $20 for a $40 voucher at a nearby retailer. It also provides five points for every dollar spent on LivingSocial deals and three points for dining with one point being garnered for all other purchases.

Cardmembers also aren’t subjected to any limits on the amount of points they can earn, with 100 points equaling one LivingSocial Deal Buck which are credits that can automatically be applied towards a cardmember’s next eligible purchase on LivingSocial.com.

As part of a special promotion for 2012, cardmembers receive 10 Deal Bucks after making 10 purchases each billing cycle.

In a previous survey conducted by LightSpeed Research, in 2011, 27% of LivingSocial members reported they were interested in a LivingSocial-branded credit card. Survey researchers also found that the daily-deals customers were more responsible with credit and often times had higher incomes.

For more information on the LivingSocial Visa Card, visit www.chase.com/livingsocial. Deal Bucks may be used for eligible purchases on LivingSocial; for full terms and conditions, please see www.livingsocial.com/terms.

During the economic recession, consumers struggle with debt – especially with credit cards. This does NOT have to include you. If you feel that you could benefit from consulting with a credit counselor, you should do a bit of homework and ask questions.

What’s a Financial Adviser?

A financial adviser or credit counselor is a professional who helps individuals maintain the desired balance of income to match their lifestyle needs.

The main purpose is to assist clients with the planning and arrangement of their finances. A financial adviser needs to understand a clients financial situation as well as their need for financial stability.

Personal Finance experts have become very popular across the country – especially when they make appearances on popular daytime talk shows. Credit counseling is typically helpful for those that are in credit card debt, but you can also seek a financial manager when trying to build your credit.

There are hundreds of credit cards out there and most of them are geared for different consumers. A credit counselor can assist you when finding the perfect card for you.

Some of the terms and questions that you may wish to consider on your quest for the right credit card:

Annual Percentage Rate (APR): The finance charge based on an annual rate.

Introductory Rate: The interest rate charged to a customer during the initial stages of card membership. Sometimes these rates include promotions and are referred to as a “teaser” rate.

Annual Fee: A fee that is charged on a yearly basis for the financing services (can commonly be waived depending on the card and the issuer).

Application and Processing Fees: Additional fee’s that are charged when you sign up (waived depending on the card and bank provided).

Late Payment Fee: Imposed when your payment is received after the due date or grace period. Some cards have late fees based on your credit card balance, others have a fixed rate.

Other Fees: When visiting your credit counselor, it’s important to find out what you are being charged for such as balance-transfer, reward redemption, over-the-limit, account termination and other fees.

When and how can a variable rate be changed: It’s important to go over the terms and conditions of the card with your credit counselor. Sometimes the rates can change based on your contract, credit worthiness, and prime rate of the cardholder.

Payment Questions: These days, you can pay your balance online. However, it’s important to check the company policy if you have trouble paying your minimum payment.

Rewards Program: There are hundreds of cards that reward shoppers for their spending. Some reward cardholders with airline rewards, travel, merchandise, gas, gift cards and cash back. Check your contract to see what exactly you earn and how you can rack up reward points.

Security and Protection: Most cards come with a program to protect you against fraud and identity theft. You shouldn’t be responsible for unauthorized charges.

Credit Counseling

When you visit a credit counselor, you are assigned a counselor who will collect all of your relevant financial information. Make sure to inform your counselor on your goals and why you are shopping for a credit card.

When they collect your financial information they gather an idea of your financial state and then suggest a card that fits your needs. When using counselor services, confidentiality is guaranteed to protect you and your finances.

What You’ll Need:

• Sources and amounts of all monthly income
• Detailed monthly expenses
• Any current financing
• Credit report
• Checking/savings account information
• Co-signer if you are under 21

Questions?

When you search for an agency, ensure that it is a non-profit entity. Counselors should be certified by an independent organization. You can check the legitimacy of the agency by visiting the Better Business Bureau and crosschecking the agency. Also, check with the agency’s services – some of the agencies do not reveal the services they provide. Make sure that they disclose what they offer in writing.

Remember, even if a financial counselor can answer your questions when signing up, it’s your job to be responsible with your credit card. The best thing to do is pay your balance in-full each month. If you do that, there will be no interest and no debt. It’s the best way to build credit without falling into the hole. A credit card can be a great benefit to you, but it comes with responsibility.