The Fall of a Real Estate Giant

The small business

The installment loan could be the answer to a small business' financial woes. In today's economy everyone is feeling the cash crunch. With unemployment rates at an all time high and the housing market crashing, businesses are hard-pressed to bring in customers. Whether or not funds come in, debt needs to be paid. An installment loan can help businesses by extending cash when it's needed. It is worth a look when the end of the month is looming and break-even points are nowhere to be seen. A simple application process and speedy review are both selling points of the installment loan. Sometimes it is the most viable option to save businesses from defaulting on payments.

The economy and a real estate giant

On April 16th, the second-largest U.S. mall owner, General Growth Properties Inc, filed bankruptcy, making this the largest real estate failure in economic history. The company is trying to refinance their debts, and more than 200 retail malls throughout the U.S. are involved in the mess. When a business conglomerate as large as General Growth Properties Inc. takes a fall, it affects a lot of other entities in the market, such as the employees, creditors and financial institutions.

Who is General Growth Properties Inc.?

General Growth Properties Inc. has been a staple in the American economy since 1954, when two brothers joined together to build a shopping center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. From that time, they began buying buildings and malls and expanding their property empire in the retail market. During the real estate boom, the company aggressively bought properties with the intent of being the biggest retail corporation in the U.S. The acquisition of new properties created wealth, but also meant that the company was increasing their debt. Roll-over financing for businesses is common, but when lenders stopped extending funds last fall, General Growth was left without an option to pay its debts. Chief Executive Adam Metz stated, "We have worked tirelessly…to address our maturing debts, the collapse of the credit markets has made it imposs ible for us to refinance maturing debt outside of Chapter 11." ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "The Fall of a Real Estate Giant"

Ken Lewis, Bank of America Board Keeps Their Jobs

Bank CEO was protested

Despite outcry from shareholders and protests at Bank of America’s annual shareholder meeting today, Ken Lewis will retain his position as CEO of Bank of America.

The rest of the board will also remain in their current jobs. For details on protests, read my earlier post.

Thou doth not protest enough

Though shareholders were up in arms because of the purchase of failing Merrill Lynch, Bank of America spokesman James Mahoney says all of the board’s 18 members were re-elected by “a comfortable margin.”

Groups such as the California Public Employees Retirement System fund and companies including Egan- Jones Proxy Services called for Lewis to quit and voted against his re-election in the shareholder’s meeting. Nevertheless, the Bank of American board will remain unchanged, and the bank will continue business as usual, including mortgage loan modification and cash advances.

Root of the controversy

The shareholders were angered by the purchase of Merrill Lynch late last year because of a lack of disclosure on Lewis and the board’s part. The Bank of American board failed to inform shareholders of the dire financial situation Merrill Lynch was facing before it held a vote on the matter. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Ken Lewis, Bank of America Board Keeps Their Jobs"

Repair Your Credit | Building Good Credit (Pt. 1)

Building and Maintaining Credit

Welcome back to the “Repair Your Credit” E-book. Last time, we talked about eliminating consumer credit debt and considering whether that last line of defense - bankruptcy - was right for you. This time, let’s talk more about you’re going to rebuild your credit without excessive use of online payday loans or credit cards.

Good credit, meed financial success

A big part of financial success depends on building and maintaining your personal credit. Everyone has a credit scored determined by the nation’s three leading consumer credit bureaus. I’m talking Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. The credit score is then used by creditors to judge your financial reputation and how likely they think you’ll be to repay the credit you’re petitioning for them to grant you. The higher your composite score - your FICO score -  the better your financial reputation. You’ll have more opportunities to obtain goods and services through credit. Not only that, but you will receive lower interest rates and be able to borrow larger sums of money that someone with a lower credit score would, whether it’s for buying a car, house, business or anything e lse.

Establishing a higher credit score will also allow you to obtain a line of credit with your bank. This may sound the same as being able to borrow larger sums of money like I just mentioned, but there’s an added perk: you will have access to funds on a regular basis without prior approval. This type of credit line can be a life-saver for a small business, because it truly does “take money to make money.” ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Repair Your Credit | Building Good Credit (Pt. 1)"

I wish I could get a payday loan

I'm a realtor in Marin County, California

I am painfully aware that that simple sentence may conjure up images of a shiny new Mercedes Benz parked outside a chichi Parisian-style café in the middle of the afternoon on a nice summer day in some swanky Northern California neighborhood. But that's a far cry from me. I'm one of the invisible Marin County realtors. There are a lot of us – members of the Association of Invisible Marin County Realtors. We work and we struggle and we wonder how in the world we eve r came to this. We wonder why we don't have real jobs, and we're constantly on the look for them. And we wonder how we're going to pay our bills.

I have poor credit and I don't have credit cards

I drive a 14-year-old Honda Accord. I rent a two-bedroom cottage. It's cute, in that California garden-court 1920s sort of way. But nothing works, not even the heat, and I pay $1750 a month. Yes, I heat the place with the gas oven. Yes, the landlord knows it doesn't work. Yes, I've had PG&E come take a look. Yes, yes, yes. And no, I won't push the issue. When you're living on the financial edge, you don't push your landlord. You lose your personal power and your self-respect when you struggle with money. Plus, in this part of the country, it's tough to find a place to rent, especially when you have a dog, poor credit, and a not-too-steady income. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "I wish I could get a payday loan"

Repair Your Credit | Avoid the Minimum Payment (Pt. 2)

Like I said last time…

Welcome back to “Repair Your Credit.” CLICK HERE if you missed part one of this article. You’re here because

…enough is enough!

Believe me, I’ve been there. I have receipts from quick payday loans and debt relief to show for it. One day you will awaken to find that all you are able to pay to your creditors is the minimum payments. You simply can’t do anything more, which is unfortunate, because as I’ve already mentioned in this E-book, paying the minimum is the longest, most expensive possible path to take and still be able to pay off an account. If you’re OK with it taking years longer (and costing you much more than the credit you originally used), then paying the minimum is your speed. You shouldn’t go there, however.

Minimum payments are subtle, enticing and ultimately dangerous. They are financial time bombs that will leave your money in disarray if you lean upon them. They may seem convenient and affordable, but they are neither one of those things in the long run.

But they’re convenient for someone!

That’s right - for your creditors. It’s convenient for them because your paying the minimum only amounts to a cash machine in their employ. If you have a $1,000 debt, an interest rate of 18 percent and a two-and-one-half percent minimum monthly charge on your balance, paying it all off by only making minimum payments would take you 13 years. Again, I’ve mentioned this before. You need to know how much damage you can do to your finances with simple decisions. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Repair Your Credit | Avoid the Minimum Payment (Pt. 2)"

Installment Loans and Twitter Break “Fourth Wall” Part 1

What is Twitter?

People are either seeking installment loans nowadays or are screaming and annoyed, asking, "Why does the media world have to monopolize everything, even Twitter?" Yes, it is true that the site has become a tad celebrity-crazy lately. Just driving down the street, I noticed a billboard that read: Follow Ashton Kutcher on Twitter. I was struck for a moment, thinking to myself, what in the world is happening?

The early bird catches the worm

There have been early birds catching the worm through Twitter, and what I mean by that is early adopters like Lily Allen, Kevin Smith, and LaVar Burton, along with star couple on Twitter, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher have garnered many followers through their tweets. They are creating a brand new era of celebrity: accessible, yet inaccessible, protected by those boundaring cyberspace limits. Although I personally don't think other people should be so engulfed in the personal lives of these stars, it's the reality of what's "hot" now. These stars see and understand the potential of the new era, by being able to promote themselves without looking like an attention junkie, or a self-promoting empty vessel.

Social Networking on the Rise

Sites such as Celebritytweet features articles that offer "Must-Follows," while fans are steadily scrambling to find out which celebrities are worth following. Most media sources are speculating that Twitter recently acquired the services of a publicist, due to the large amount of media attention the site has been getting in the recent few weeks. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Installment Loans and Twitter Break "Fourth Wall" Part 1"

Americans are Using Payday Loans to Manage Debt

Falling behind is not hard in today's economy

The payday loan is an option for paying emergency debt. In today's market, it's easy to fall behind on bills or have an unplanned debt come up. Payday loans are quickly becoming a simple and quick way to handle debt by receiving upfront cash before your pay period. To apply for a payday loan you need to be over 18 years of age, employed and have a bank account. If you are approved, you wi ll typically have the emergency funds within 24-48 hours, usually even less. This is why the loans are so popular today. They are meeting the needs of qualified economy-burdened consumers.

American Debt Increasing

It is estimated that the next American crisis will be dealing with debt. The recession has brought many people to the brink of financial collapse, forcing them to file for unemployment, face foreclosure and rethink their financial plans. Both the mortgage crisis and the job decline have propelled people into serious arrears. Despite the $700 billion banking bailout, consumers are still struggling because the bailout is estimated to bring tangible economic improvement in mid-2010. Until then, people have to be smarter and more frugal than ever. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Americans are Using Payday Loans to Manage Debt"

Make sure you get your resume right

It’s a dog-eat-dog world

Things are more than tough out there in the job hunting arena. It's a dog-eat-dog situation at all levels of employment, from mailroom operator to CEO. Companies are changing their top management in an effort to deflect financial disaster. Top managers are also resigning for various reasons – difficulties with the board of directors, poor results and inability to fulfill expectations. The result of this is that there are many top people looking for jobs.

The key to finding the right job? A good resume.

This is the key to opening new doors for mid- and top-management level professionals who need to get back into the job market.

The right resume

There are various ways of getting a great resume. One is to take a Cash Advance and hire a professional resume writer, one who, although he cannot guarantee results, will guarantee that the resume is great and will make the right impression in the important places. The other way is to update and polish your own resume until it is as near perfect as you can get it.

Don't try and mislead your job interviewer

There is an art to resume writing that even top executives get wrong from time to time. Job seekers at the executive level are often either too humble or too blasé to note and highlight their achievements and accomplishments. These are essential to allow a future employer or headhunter to distinguish skills and talents. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Make sure you get your resume right"

GM Says it Might Miss $1 Billion Debt Payment

Bankruptcy ‘probable’ says finance chief

Number crunchers at GM think bankruptcy may be the only way out.

General Motors is proving to be a good example of what can happen if you take on more debt than you can handle. Unfortunately for the automaker, I don’t think any amount of debt consolidation can dig this company out of the hole.

GM has a $1 billion debt payment coming up; it’s due June 1. Finance Chief Ray Young says GM might not be able to make the payment and is instead relying on a debt-for-equity exchange.

Headed for

GM will need to undergo some serious credit repair if it does default on a $1 billion payment. That $1 billion is only a small fraction of the company’s total debt, which is $28 billion.

GM spokeswoman Renee Rashid-Merem says that the company won’t be able to pay if the debt-for-equity exchange doesn’t go through or if the company goes bankrupt before the June 1 deadline.

Bankruptcy rumors

Young told reporters at a Chinese auto industry summit in Detroit that bankruptcy is “probable” for GM. The U.S. government is backing the company, and Young said that GM will get back on track “in court or out of court.”

Goldman Sachs also said today that both GM and Chrysler will likely file for bankruptcy in coming weeks. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "GM Says it Might Miss $1 Billion Debt Payment"

Smurfing Leads to New Laws | Iowa Waits for Money

Grant money not yet in use

Pseudoephedrine

Obama signed a $750,000 grant into the 2009 budget to help fight meth, and Iowa plans to use the money to prevent smurfing. Smurfing means buying pseudophedrine at multiple pharmacies to skirt the laws that limit the amount one person can purchase.

Iowa and several other states plan to implement an electronic tracking system to stop smurfing, which people do in order to be able to make methamphetamine. Now they just need the money.

Smurfing made easy by old system

Pharmacies currently do track the amount of pseudophedrine sold and who buys it. However, the pharmacists in Iowa have been using paper ledgers and writing down the information by hand. This method only ensures that people don’t exceed the monthly limit in purchases at one location.

Drug makers could get small short-term loans, purchase pseudophedrine at several pharmacies, and turn that money into a big profit by selling meth.

New system on the way

The new electronic tracking system will allow pharmacies to easily track how much product one person is buying at every pharmacy in the state. However, instead of not allowing the pharmacy to make an illegal sale, police will be notified after an illegal sale is made.

Tracking trend

Five other states already have systems similar to the one Iowa is planning to install and others are planning to do the same. Statistics show that meth-related arrests fell sharply after the law limiting the sale of pseudophedrine was passed. Police believe the new system in Iowa will get more drug dealers off the streets. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Smurfing Leads to New Laws | Iowa Waits for Money"

Make Google Voice Calls via T-Mobile MyFaves - FREE

Making free calls with your T-Mobile phone?

We all need to save money these days. Instant payday loans and credit cards are there in a pinch, but relying upon them regularly can be a financial no-no. If you have a T-Mobile cell phone, however, there may just be another way that you can save money each month.

This tip comes from the Mind/Averse blog. Set up your myFaves with Google Voice and enter in your own number as one of your favorites. Why? Once you do, you can receive and make calls to that number with no charge. According to Mind/Averse, you’ll never use your own minutes and you’ll have more than one way to complete a call in your arsenal. Furthermore, use sites like FreeConferenceCall.com and set the conference number it assigns to your favorites. The numbers are generally from the 605 area code. You can also connect to the number with Google Voice.

Here are the steps

For those of you who are unfamiliar with using the Google Voice service to make calls, Mind/Averse even walks you through it. Take a gander at these steps; it’s quite simple if you have any experience using Google services and Web-enabled cell phones:

1. Dial a number. When you dial your Google Voice number from a phone on your Voice account, you either listen to voice mail or press 2 to dial a call. Press 2, by all means! You can then dial a number and while you’re on the line, Google Voice will connect the call with unlimited talk time at your disposal! Just in case you are obsessive about checking and rechecking your caller ID, remember that your receiver will see the incoming as having come from your Google Voice number.
2. Use the Web. Remember, your Google Voice contacts are the same as the ones that you have set up in your Gmail account. If you sync your phone’s contacts with your Google Contacts, integration is seamless. Your friends’ phone numbers will pop up in the Google Voice dashboard. All you have to do is click in order to call them. Again, you are called by your Google Voice number, then your friend is connected and the talking can commence! Since the call was from your Voice number, there is absolutely no charge.
3. Use the mobile interface: This is very much like the Web interface option. Simply select a contact from your list of friends and Google Voice will connect your call by dialing your number, then connecting the friend.
4. Coming to iPhone Soon: An application called GV Mobile for the iPhone will eventually appear in the Apple’s App Store. This will directly interface with your iPhone contacts the same way Google Voice uses your Gmail contact information.

Get while the getting is good

According to Mind/Averse, it’s uncertain how long you’ll be able to do this with your T-Mobile phone. In my opinion, it seems questionable that any of this could be done over something other than a Wi-Fi connection (like 3G), but I’m no expert. In a recession like this, take advantage of gifts like this while you can! ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Make Google Voice Calls via T-Mobile MyFaves - FREE"

Stay Away from Scams | Debt Consolidation Part 8

Con artists everywhere

As is the case with mortgage loan modification, any time there is an increased demand for a financial service, scam artists come out of the woodwork. There is always someone looking to prey on desperation and anxiety if it can help them make a buck.

Debt consolidation is no different. There are plenty of legitimate, reputable debt consolidation companies out there who will act as your counselor, advocate nd stress reliever. However, there are also people who want to take your money and run.

How scammers operate

Generally, debt consolidation scammers represent fake companies, pose as debt counselors, pretend they’ve gotten  your debt reduced and consolidated and ask you to write them a check or wire a certain amount every month.

You can probably see where this is going. The scammer keeps the money, the creditors don’t get paid, and you are left even worse off than where you started.

Here are some ways to avoid debt consolidation scammers:

1. Do your homework

Ask your debt consolidation counselor a lot of questions about the company. If counselors are not willing to give you thorough information about the company, the process and what exactly they do, this is a red flag. If a counselor isn’t upfront about answering your questions, you may want to try another company. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Stay Away from Scams | Debt Consolidation Part 8"

Small Businesses and Short term loans

Can a short term loan solve small business cash woes?

The House of Representatives

Short term loans have been used by small businesses for years to overcome debt. Because of the economy, however, the government is looking into alternative ways of jump starting businesses. The House of Representatives dusted off an old bill and suggested using it to help small businesses and low-income employees, but does it offer the solution needed?

The proposed payroll tax holiday

Illinois Republican representative Aaron Schock and Idaho Democratic representative Walt Minnick had an interesting proposal. The two house members suggested a bill that would offer small business owners a break from paying payroll taxes. Under this bill, businesses with 50 or fewer employees would not pay Social Security or Medicare taxes for a six-month period. Employers and employees pay 6.2% Social Security tax and a 1.45% Medicare tax all year long. The hope was that small business and lower-paid employees benefited from suspending these taxes. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, over 60 million taxpayers had tax returns with payroll taxes that were greater than their income taxes. This bill could potentially affect 5 million small businesses and over 34 million employees according to the National Federation of Independent Business. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Small Businesses and Short term loans "

Danny Pang Admits to Ponzi Scheme (Pt. 2)

Born a gamblin’ Pang

Now we get to the nitty gritty of Danny Pang‘s Ponzi scheme, mixed in with other shenanigans that could cause honest people to question what they believe. CLICK HERE if you missed the beginning of this mini portrait of a 2009 cheat who has put people in need of instant payday loans and credit repair…

• Early 2000s: Pang founds Private Equity Management Group. Among the organization’s accomplishments is “a fund that would buy life-insurance policies from elderly people and collect when they died,” according to the Wall Street Journal. He gains a reputation at this time as “a gambler”
• 2006: Pang uses money intended for a time-share fund to buy a Gulfstream IV jet for Private Equity
• July 12, 2007: Takes women from the office to Las Vegas on said jet. On the return flight, he opens a briefcase with $10,000 in casino winnings. He throws the money around at women on the plane and makes sure to photograph the display
• 2007: Pang’s life insurance isn’t showing enough profit because “everybody lived a long time,” so he starts a Ponzi scheme. According to one of his employees, Pang said “Nasar, I want you to know we are in a Ponzi scheme.” Reportedly, he added that he’d “fix the problem by doing well on another investment”
• 2009: Pang’s lawyer drafts an agreement promising to pay Nasar $500,000 if he tells The Wall Street Journal that the statement regarding the Ponzi scheme were false. By way of explanation, Pang supposedly made the statements because stress “affected his judgment and mental well-being.” In related events, Private Equity Management Group’s company Web site ceases to function

Danny Pang should have to answer for his Ponzi scheme, once the SEC gets around to it. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Danny Pang Admits to Ponzi Scheme (Pt. 2)"

Repair Your Credit | The After-School APR Special (Pt. 6)

Want to know what your loan costs?

You want to “Repair Your Credit.” That’s why you’re here.

Last time, if you’ll recall, we were talking about what opponents of the short term loan industry says to try to get you to believe that the annual percentage rate on said loans was just out of sight. Never mind that that the majority of payday loans are two-week loans where an annual percentage rate is less than useful. It doesn’t tell you what you’re going to be paying for the two-week pleasure of the money loaned, which is exactly what people want to know. But whoever accused the government of serving the people?

Their argument as unforgettable after-school special

To further explain this, let’s take a closer look at the argument offered forth by opponents of the personal loan industry:

Joe Sixpack Opponent: “Payday loans charge 391 percent interest, I tell ya! That’s too much for hardworking American families!”

Ear of the Consumer: “Gosh! That means it’s going to cost me four times the amount of the loan in interest charges!”

Voice of Reason: “No, no, you’ve got it all wrong. Joe, keep quiet. Ear, do what you do. 391 percent is the annual percentage rate. Ear, you’d have to pay this if you borrowed a two-week cash advance on your paycheck and allowed it to lapse for an entire year, or 26 times in a row. That’s without ever paying a dime towards the original loan amount. Would you do that, Ear?” ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Repair Your Credit | The After-School APR Special (Pt. 6)"

Pajamas TV Seeks Algorithm for College Grad Earnings

Internet TV company aids grass-roots movement

Conservative Internet TV company Pajamas TV has launched multiple initiatives to report on the economy and how it will affect future generations.

Contest

Last month the organization launched its “Generational Theft Contest.” College students can enter by to joining forces with professors to calculate the financial impact of the current economic environment on a 2009 college graduate. From Fox Business:

In particular, PJTV is looking for the best method or tool to forecast a bachelor’s degree holder’s annual income in 2014, 2019, 2024 and 2034 after factoring in the cost of current government programs, including TARP and TALF, and stimulus packages, including their associated interest payments, health-care reform, inflation, taxes, etc.

The grand prize is $10,000 for the college student or student team, and $10,000 for the professor. That should keep them from needing payday loans for a while. Read up on rules of the contest and how to enter the Generational Theft Contest.

Tea parties

Pajamas TV also focuses on coverage of the “tea parties” that have been springing up across the country. The next big event Pajamas TV will cover is the Tax Day Tea Party. The April 15 event is being sponsored by The Nationwide Tea Party Coalition. The theme of the event is “Repeal the Pork, Cut Taxes and Spending.” ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Pajamas TV Seeks Algorithm for College Grad Earnings"

6 Easy Steps to Your Own Garden Patch

Short term loan, garden, steps to garden,

1.Start with a Good Gardening Handbook

A good gardening handbook outlining the basics of setting up, planting, and maintaining a garden is invaluable. These aren't very expensive, and you can often find one that is specific to your area. There is a lot of information online, but a book is great to sit and read. You'll find you will keep going back to it to refresh your memory. All the while you are learning and the information will be retained.

2. Decide What Type of Garden Will Suit You Best

The type of garden you have will determine how much money you'll need to get started. If you have a big yard you might want to go for garden beds. If you are a little cramped for space perhaps some large containers would be best. Even a small balcony can house pots with fresh salads, herbs and vegetables. Just remember plants in pots need good drainage and frequent watering. If you are looking at gardening for small spaces, look around for additional books on that subject.

3. Start Small And Build Up

Sometimes it's easy to get all enthusiastic and try to put everything in at once. If you have little or no gardening experience, start off with some salad vegetables suited to your climate. Ask around and talk to people who might have a garden in your area and see what grows well, Ask at your local plant nursery. If you have three or four ingredients that can make up a salad or the basis of a salad, you'll have an instant meal ready anytime. Things like salad greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and some herbs might be enough to get your confidence up. And think of the money you will save with instant, free dinners out of your yard all summer. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "6 Easy Steps to Your Own Garden Patch"

America is high on double-edged cash advances

Loads of new plans and approvals

It's true that the cash advances given by the government to the economy seem to be working, but now the government seems to be overdoing it. The latest in the long list of bailouts and blueprints for the next year is the approval of President Obama's mega budget plan of $3.5 trillion by Congress. The approval came just before Congress went on its regular break.

Though details of the budget are not yet available, it is for sure that President Obama has high hopes with the budget and he is sure that the plans would help stabilize the shaky U.S. economy. Following his footsteps, different states too have announced their own packages and measures.

Size does matter…

These plans, including that of President Obama, are certainly big enough to make a difference. But the problem at this point of time is that we just can't afford to face a difference that is negative. With every new plan, the deficit levels are widening.

For this reason at least, it's all the more important that these cash advances produce the desired result to bridge the widening deficits. But if they fail, then very soon these deficits will swallow the whole economy. That is why the margin of error and ineffectiveness has to be very less, perhaps next to zero; otherwise what is being done to save the economy may throw the economy into a deeper mess.

…and so does flexibility

After coming up with a huge package under the bailouts, President Obama is trying to be proactive in dealing with the crisis. One step in the direction has been the approval that he received from Congress. Now, how this whole budget thing actually works depends on various factors including how it is being dealt with by the respective states. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "America is high on double-edged cash advances"

'Retail Anarchy' Book Causes a Stir

Could book cause retail revolution?

“Retail Anarchy” has gotten mixed reviews and a lot of attention. This nonfiction novel about consumerism examines marketing, brand name loyalty and spending. Reviewers on Amazon.com said “Retail Anarchy” made them laugh out loud.

Of course, the book has only been out for three days, so you sort of have to wonder if the powers that be are using the same marketing manipulation that is criticized in the text.

About the book

“Retail Anarchy” begins with the story of George Clinton, who managed to work the system by releasing music by the same band through several different record companies by using a different name.

The book explores how marketers and companies manipulate consumers. It compares advertising to funk music and, according to readers, explains how to end up with a whole car full of pudding or cell phones without needing a payday loan.

About the author

“Retail Anarchy” writer Sam Pocker also keeps a Retail Anarchy blog, retailanarchy.com, which he labels simply “a blog about consumerism.” He also hosts a “radio talk show” (podcast) about “bargains, discounts, deals, and freebies.” The podcast, “Your Mileage May Vary,” can be downloaded from the Retail Anarchy blog.

Unsatisfied customer

Apparently, “Retail Anarchy” is not every reader’s cup of tea. Blogger  Unmainstream Mom says: ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "'Retail Anarchy' Book Causes a Stir"

Repair Your Credit | A Loan That's Best For You (Pt. 1)

Choose the loan that meets your needs

You’re on the road to “Repair Your Credit.” If you missed the first installment, CLICK HERE.

No matter the financial need, you’re likely to find the right type of loan to meet your needs. It doesn’t matter whether you need to finance an automobile purchase, home or schooling; you can find a loan. However, the need for smaller amounts of money necessitate a different approach. Why not try a personal loan? This type of loan is unique to your needs. Circumstances where a personal loan might come in handy could include car repairs, a temporary leave from work due to a deceased family member, or anything else where emergency funds are necessary.

Personal loans typically do not require the applicant to disclose their reasons for seeking the loan. For some, this may be private information that they would prefer not to disclose, making the personal loan option particularly attractive.

Before signing on the dotted line, however, consider that there are multiple kinds of personal loans. “Repair Your Credit” hopes the following information will guide you in discerning the differences and advantages of the options on the table. Let’s take a look at some of the most common, easy-access options for personal loans: secured personal loans, unsecured personal loans, short- term personal loans and personal payday loans. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Repair Your Credit | A Loan That's Best For You (Pt. 1)"

LegiStorm Part 8 | What Are They Up To Now?

Keep tabs on Capitol Hill

Exercise your right to know public information.

We are nearing the end of this tour of LegiStorm.com, the site that lets you look at extensive financial information about our nation’s leaders. Now, it’s time to take a look at what’s possibly my favorite section on the site.

Click on the tab called The Score, and you can get a look at the everyday activities of Congress.

The ticker

This section has up-to-the-hour information about what’s going on in that big building on Capitol Hill. When the House is in session, the House Floor Ticker shows which motions and bills are currently being debated.

If no legislation is in play, it shows the upcoming schedule, so you can check in when your favorite bills are up for discussion. So, if you want to find out when the next round of payday loan legislation is up for debate, check it out.

The schedule

Different sections of The Score show the schedule for the House and Senate floors as well as their respective committees. Under Events it shows when the legislature will be on break and other significant meetings that aren’t listed in the above schedules.

Read up on policies

Any recent policy decisions are listed under policy reports. This is a great place to get a straight-forward account of policy decisions as they happened without any sort of media influence. You can browse the following categories: Executive Orders, Statements of Administration Policy, Congressional Budget Office Reports and GAO Reports. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "LegiStorm Part 8 | What Are They Up To Now?"

GM Segway Part 2 | More Opinions on PUMA

‘Today Show’ takes a test drive

GM and Segway have partnered to make a tiny, electric vehicle, the PUMA, that more closely resembles a scooter than a car. I shared my outsider’s opinion in Part 1 of this article, but there are plenty of other people out their sharing their thoughts.

This morning on the “Today Show,” a developer gave show host Meredith Viera a test drive in the passenger seat. Check out the video at Kicking Tires.

Word from the inside

As Viera rode around in the PUMA (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility), she had a few insights of her own to share. She commented that she wouldn’t feel safe riding in the PUMA in the streets. She also said they’d need to create an enclosed version in order for people to use it in the winter.

The driver of the PUMA, called “Mike the engineer” in the video, said it was a very early prototype and more safety features would be developed. GM executive Larry Burns said the vehicles will be “fully designed and test-driven” by January. It sounds like it will take more than a payday loan to buy one, though. The vehicles will cost up to a third as much as an average car.

Harsh words from Business Pundit

Though Burns sounded enthusiastic about developing the PUMA, some business analysts don’t think this risky venture is best for a company living on a government lifeline. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "GM Segway Part 2 | More Opinions on PUMA"

Snapfish Saves Money on Photo Prints, Storage Space

Good deal for April

Shutterbugs have lots of online options.

For the rest of the month, Snapfish is offering 50 free prints and a 20 percent discount on photo books to its customers, new and returning.

Snapfish, run by Hewlett-Packard, is an online photo storage and printshop. It offers inexpensive photo prints and items such as calenders and posters, and you can store unlimited photos for free. Well, almost free.

Cheap prints

There’s a small catch at Snapfish. If you want to store photos there indefinitely, you must buy something once a year. However, there is no minimum purchase price. Snapfish sells prints of your pictures for 9 cents, which is the best price I have seen out there.

Shutterfly will store your photos for free indefinitely, even if you don’t buy anything. But their photo print prices appear to bottom out at 10 cents apiece. You wouldn’t want to have to take out a payday loan to print your pictures.

Beware if you use EasyShare

The almost-free storage at Snapfish and free storage at Shutterfly are bad news for the Kodak EasyShare Gallery. Kodak recently announced that customers must make a purchase by May 16 or their photos will be deleted. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Snapfish Saves Money on Photo Prints, Storage Space"

Tips to start a home based business

Sounds like smooth sailing…

There comes a time when a thriving home based one- or two- person service business with no inventory, rent or employees, without all the overhead sounds like smooth sailing. Most of these people are sadly mistaken, especially when the phone starts ringing off the hook, orders are piling in, and invoices plus shipments have to be made. By following these few steps to form your home based business into the professional yet personal success it's meant to be, you won't burn yourself out from wearing too many hats.

Increase Sales to One Product or Service by Marketing, Selling, and Promoting It.

It's often tempting to play all roles in your marketing attempts, but that could lead to risky business. It's less risky and more profitable (in most cases) to pick one or two products that you know about well and can execute fully.

Expand Your Line: Offer Complementary Services and Products.

Once you’ve found a product or service that customers seem to really like, don’t miss the opportunity to diversify your product line to make it more appealing. This allows your customers to choose from a wider selection, and also gives your products more appeal in regards to retailers — who like to stock an entire line of products as opposed to just one item.

Hire One Employee, a Freelancer, Intern, Independent contractor, or Even Your Children.

There are lots of talented people who you couldn't possibly afford to hire full-time, but by investing in a part-time employee, freelancer, independent contractor, or intern can free up cash flow by simply adjusting your expenses to match the work coming in. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Tips to start a home based business"

Corporate Sponsors Cutting Back at The Masters

No “Amen Corner” for corporate sponsors

Georgia’s Augusta National Country Club is a holy place for golf fans. It is there that each year since 1934, The Masters has been held. Luminaries of the fairway from Bobby Jones to Tiger Woods have tasted victory and donned the green jacket (a tradition since 1937). For corporate sponsors, The Masters has also been a place of great honor - and profit. Advertising comes at a premium, but the possible name recognition among the old guard of elite fans (read: elite businessmen) is priceless.

However, as Russ Bynum reports for the Huffington Post, big corporate sponsors who have received the cash advance of government bailout money may be staying home this time. Corporate chef Karl Kwoka has more cancellations than customers this year as four large corporations have backed out. For Kwoka, this means a loss of “more than $70,000,” not to mention temporary staff who won’t have a high-profile job to do.

“Mardi Gras” for the country club crowd

In its 75-year history, The Masters has earned its reputation as the “Mardi Gras for the country club crowd.” According to Bynum, The Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau estimate that the Masters brings over $100 million into the economy of the city. Typically, they depend upon “the Army’s Fort Gordon, a medical college, several hospitals and a smattering of manufacturing” to support the economy the rest of the year. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Corporate Sponsors Cutting Back at The Masters"

Payday Loans and Successful Affiliate Marketing

Getting started…

For those just learning about affiliate marketing, everything seems so fresh and exciting, like when you realize you can get a fast payday loan in just hours. But for those individuals who've made a little money from it, they start becoming fat and lazy. It is that contentment that gets most affili ate marketing "gurus" left behind, with a huge hole in their pockets and a stick in between their wheels. I'll list a few tips that could equal successful affiliate marketing for you.

Look Out for New Niches

As with the pilgrims, affiliate marketers never know when those streams will dry up. Make sure to always look out for new and emerging niches. If you keep testing new niches and markets then you're likely to be one less "guru" left behind when the next big thing hits the market.

Create a Network

Try to attend an internet/web conference if you never have. Attending at least one a year will allow you to see the greatest that technology can offer. You can also network and form possible profitable partnerships. If, by chance, you meet some affiliate managers, jump on the opportunity. After all, they adore talking business with affiliates, it's what they do!

Work the list

The "list" is where the money's at. As you find new niches, also be looking for ways to expand your email list. After checking out those emails for weight-loss pills and payday loans, research services such as Feedburner or Aweber. These sites can assist you with keeping in contact with your email list or help you to construct one. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Payday Loans and Successful Affiliate Marketing"

Coming Soon: Rod Blagojevich Indictment

Ahead of schedule

The indictment against Rod Blagojevich will reportedly be filed later today. Though federal prosecutors have until Tuesday  to produce and indictment regarding a “significant criminal matter,” they say it will be done today.

Though U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald has not flatly said that the high-profile indictment to be filed today is Blagojevich’s, Chicagoans have widely accepted confirmation from other sources.

Blago’s whereabouts

As federal attorneys plan to file the indictment against the former governor, Blagojevich possibly was riding Space Mountain or eating a $10 hot dog. Blagojevich reportedly in at Disney World now with his family. With all of the fines that he will undoubtedly have to pay, I hope he funded his trip with payday loans.

The pending charges

Blagojevich officially is being charged with political corruption. Prosecutors say that he tried to sell or trade the Illinois Senate seat left vacant when Barack Obama won the presidency.

“An affidavit accompanying the complaint accuses Blagojevich of trying to squeeze companies for campaign money and pressure the Chicago Tribune to fire editorial writers calling for his impeachment.” - From the Associated Press.

Unemployed

Blagojevich has already been impeached from office, and his post has been taken over by Pat Quinn. Blagojevich was impeached Jan. 9 and convicted Jan. 29 by the Senate. He already has had one lawyer quit on him. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Coming Soon: Rod Blagojevich Indictment"

Gideon Yu, Chief Financial Officer, Leaving Facebook

Facebook plans for IPO

Gideon Yu

Online social network Facebook has confirmed that Gideon Yu will be leaving the company. Yu has been Facebook’s chief financial officer since 2007. Facebook also confirms that its goal is to be on track to file for an initial public offering.

Company outgrows Yu

Yu has a history of helping young companies. He previously worked for Google and Yahoo. His recruitment to Facebook in 2007 was highly touted. He helped the company raise more than $500 million in cash advances from investors. However, now that Facebook is planning an IPO, it is searching for a CFO who has experience running a  public company.

New business plan

During his time working for Facebook, Yu sought venture capital and other types of funding for the quickly growing company. Rumors have been floating around for a while that the company was not pulling in enough funding. Now, with the social network’s membership quckly approaching 200 million, the company must evaluate how to continue to fund hardware and personnel.

Details

Facebook says it is using Spencer Stuart search firm in its quest for a new CFO. Although going public during a recession is a risky move, the growing company might be making the best choice. With such rapid growth and deteriorating options for venture capital, it might be the only way for the company to stay in business.

Still growing

Facebook started in 2005. The company made $210 million in revenue last year. It is expected to make $230 million this year. The company started as a social network that was only available to college students. However, it expanded to allow high school students to join shortly thereafter. Now, Facebook is available to anyone, and it appears everyone wants in. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Gideon Yu, Chief Financial Officer, Leaving Facebook"