Life on servernce...is time running out?

If the article below resembles your circumstance, you need my help...

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BudgetGrinch
Columns on Examiner: Link
LivePerson Consultations: Link
Email Contact: nanavati@givinggirnch.com


Paul Joegriner hasn't worked since March 2008, when he was laid off from his job as chief executive officer of a small bank. But you wouldn't know it by appearances. His wife, Marzena, shuttles their two young children to private school every morning. The family recently vacationed in Virginia Beach, Va., and likes to dine on Porterhouse steaks.

The family's lifestyle over the past year and a half has been propped up by a $200,000 severance package and another $100,000 in savings -- funds the family has burned through rapidly. By Mr. Joegriner's own calculations, the family will be out of money in six months if he doesn't find work.

Read on...http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125780714976639687.html

Free credit scores...really.

Most sites that offer a “free credit report,” are not really free. Many require you to sign up to some monitoring program that starts off around $15/month.

Free credit monitoring
A do-it-yourself approach exists courtesy of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This act requires each of the credit reporting firms (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) to provide one free copy of your report, upon request, every 12 months. You can obtain your report, no strings attached, by visiting annualcreditreport.com. By Staggering your request every 3-4 months you can monitor your own credit report. I’ll talk more about this later.

Free credit score
Want to know your credit score? With annualcreditreport.com you’ll have to pay a fee, but there are now credible sites that will give you a credit score with no strings attached. I evaluated two of these sites: Quizzle and Credit.com.

Quizzle.com is an independent company founded by Quicken Loans. In less than five minutes I set up my account, answered a few questions and received a free Experian credit report and my Experian credit score. Quizzle also provides tailored advice on how to improve credit, home value, budget, mortgage or savings.

Some of these recommendations shed light as to how this site makes money, but none of these features obstruct access to your credit score and report. Overall, I like this site. I was under no obligation to take part in any of the services and I can request a new credit report and score (for free) every 182 days. This means I now have two more opportunities to monitor my credit report.

Credit.com is the second site I reviewed. This site does not give you an actual credit score. Rather, it provides a credit grade based on payment history, debt usage, credit age, account mix, and credit inquiries.

The grade is tied to credit score ranges so you’ll have a good idea of how you stack up. Credit.com is more up-front about the various pay and subscriber services they offer. You must enroll if you want to know your actual credit score or to receive a copy of your credit report. For my purpose, I found the credit range a viable alternative.

Why check your credit report?
A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, whether you’ve been sued, arrested or have filed for bankruptcy. Make sure the information is accurate and up-to-date before you take out a loan, apply for insurance or a job.

Check for identity theft
I’ve given you five opportunities a year to check your credit report. Use these opportunities to check against identity theft. Identify theft occurs when someone uses your personal information (name, social security number or credit card) to commit fraud. For example, identity thieves may use your information to open a new credit card in your name. When they don’t pay the bills the delinquent account is reported on your credit report. Inaccurate information could affect your ability to get credit, insurance or even a job.

Report errors
If you find any errors in your credit report, contact the credit reporting agencies and the information provider (credit card, loan agency, etc) to advise them of what you think is inaccurate. They will investigate the matter and provide you with written results. Learn more about report errors by visiting annualcreditreport.com.

Where the (every day) chear air fares are

Air Fares: A Short-Term Forecast

According to the Bureau of Transportation and Statistics (BTS) domestic U.S. air fares had the largest percent decline since 2002. With summer in our rear view mirror, the prospects of a slow economic recovery and a decrease in airline capacity many experts believe prices have stabilized. There are still great deals out there; you just have to know where to look. The following suggestions may improve your odds.

Destination Selection

* Trips to business markets, especially those dominated by one carrier (a fortress hub) generally cost more. A fortress hub is a large airport dominated by one carrier. American at Dallas-Ft. Worth, Continental at Houston Intercontinental and Delta at Cincinnati are examples. In these markets the dominant carrier provides non-stop service to points throughout the nation. This level of service allows the carrier to maintain pricing power.

* Pick a destination that is served my multiple carriers (ideally both major and low cost carriers).

* Carriers like Air Tran, Southwest, Frontier, JetBlue, Virgin America, Spirit and Allegiant have taken market share from major carriers by introducing lower fares. This doesn’t mean they always offer the lowest fare. To maintain market share, major carriers will price match. Austin, Las Vegas and Ft. Lauderdale are three examples of markets with a healthy mix of major and LCC competition.

* Select a destination with multiple airports. Below are the average itinerary fares for Houston, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and the Washington D.C. area. As you can see, the fares vary greatly by airport. If you are flexible research fares to an alternative airport. Tip: add ground transportation costs (taxi, car rental, public transportation) to your airfare to compare the total cost of each option.

Source: Bureau of Transportation and Statistics

The Lowest Average Fares in America

Of the top 100 airports (by originating passengers) the most affordable destinations are Long Beach, Oakland, Burbank, Dallas (Love Field) and Las Vegas. Conversely, the most expensive airports are Huntsville, Cincinnati, Grand Rapids, Savannah and Des Moines. Below are the top 30 from both ends of the spectrum. It should not shock you that many of the expensive markets have fortress hubs or limited competition.

Source: Bureau of Transportation and Statistics

A Final Tip: The Best Time to Travel in 2009

The period between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a low period for air travel. During this time both business and leisure travel drop significantly. In an attempt to generate bookings airlines open their inventory to their lowest fares. But don’t buy your ticket too soon...we’re still in a recession after all! There is likelihood even lower/sale fares will emerge between 60 and 21 days to departure – especially in competitive markets. Of course, the only thing less rational than air fares are trying to predict them...buyer beware and happy trails!