Smart Consumers Save Money with Gas Rebate Credit Cards

Help offset rising gasoline expenses by paying with cards that pay you back each time you fill up the tank.

Prices at the pump continue to skyrocket, leaving most Americans frustrated and stressed by budgets that are strained to the limit. High gas prices shocked consumers and made headlines a couple of years ago, but by now everyone knows that they are here as a permanent reality. The only news worth mentioning nowadays is practical advice on how to survive the rising expense of fueling our cars, trucks, SUVs, recreational vehicles, boats, and other kinds of miscellaneous gas-powered equipment.

But many consumer experts recommend a simple and straightforward solution that offers a direct way to address the problem. Credit cards that offer cash rebates and other benefits are not only safe and convenient for buying gas, but they offer significant savings that go directly back into your wallet, not into your fuel tank. By buying gas and other items with the right card - or the right combination of different cards - you can offset the financial impact of overpriced gasoline without paying added fees, high interest rates, or hidden costs.

The credit markets are in turmoil because of the spillover of problems related to bad mortgage loans, and banks and other lenders who offer credit cards are competing fiercely to get your business as their own profits get pinched. Take advantage of their generous offers while you still have the chance and you can leverage the bleak situation to your own advantage by paying less for gasoline.

For example, dozens of major credit cards now offer a wide range of benefits, cash-back offers, and other incentives for using plastic, including these:

• Apply for some cards and they will give you $50 back after your first purchase.
• Many cards pay 5 percent or more cash back to you for ordinary purchases such as gas, groceries, or prescription medications at the local drug store.
• Some combine these rebates with other perks; such as coupons you can redeem for merchandise or travel upgrades.
• The more you use some cards, the more cash you earn. Use these types of cards often enough to qualify for preferred card user status - which isn't hard if you buy gas on a regular basis - and companies will even throw in other gifts and cash rewards.
• Lots of cards do matching programs; so that for every dollar you spend you get a bonus point. Many offer double rebates, to double your points or cash savings.
  
• Apply for many of these popular cards and you can get a free signing bonus worth, for instance, as many as 12,000 bonus miles that you can redeem for travel awards with any airline without restrictions on which dates you fly.
  
• An important feature of the best rebate cards is that they do not charge you any annual fee, unlike most frequent flier or frequent user programs that charge as much as $100 or more just to join and be a member.

With lots of these cards you can also get zero percent financing for up to a full year on all your purchases and credit card balance transfers. So if you have costly credit card debt you can switch it to a rebate card and make money in a matter of minutes. Say, for example, that you owe $3,000 on a credit card that is charging you 18 percent interest. Shift that balance to a zero percent card and you automatically save yourself 18 percent interest, which is approximately $540 or nearly 50 bucks a month.

On top of that instant interest rate savings you will, of course, still be entitled to whatever rebates and benefits the card offers. That kind of consumer strategy is like giving yourself an unexpected payroll raise. Soon the credit card company of your choice will be pitching in to pay for your gas each time you fill up the tank. That is a great way to manage your finances in partnership with those who issue plastic, during these challenging economic times.

For more information about gas rebate credit cards and to compare the benefits of the top cards, please visit http://www.1stChoiceApply.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_O'bannon

Buying a Condo May Be Smarter Than Buying a House

By: Seb Frey

Many people don't realize that there is a big difference between buying a condo and buying a house. Depending on your home owner style, you may prefer to buy one or the other, but the fact is, going with a condo may actually be the better idea.

When you buy a house, you are purchasing not only the actual home, you are also purchasing the land it sits on. You are responsible for the upkeep of the house, its exterior and yard, if any. This can get rather expensive, and, in general, houses are more expensive to buy than condos. While you can customize the exterior of a house fairly easily and usually without complaints, you have to decide if this is important enough to take on the responsibility of a house.

Condos, on the other hand, are homes that share common land and walls. Though there are now instances of detached condos, the majority are still built in rows, somewhat like townhouses, with a common wall between them. When you buy a condo, you are purchasing the interior and will become part of a homeowner's association. The homeowners are jointly responsible for the property, requiring you to pay a monthly fee for upkeep and maintenance.

It's important to read the legal documents carefully because there are a lot of rules that go along with joint ownership of the condo complex. Each homeowner's association will have different rules and the paperwork can get pretty lengthy. There may be regulations against changing the exterior appearance of your home, even by planting flowers. If you don't do well with such strict guidelines, you'd be better off looking for a place that has looser ones.

That being said, there are some distinct advantages to purchasing a condo, over buying a house. For busy home owners, not having to actually deal with the upkeep and looks of their home can be a very good thing. In some cases, utilities such as water, gas and electricity are included in the monthly homeowner's fee, meaning a big savings in the long run.

In addition, condos tend to be cheaper to buy, in part because of the monthly fee requirement and in part because they are smaller than a regular house. Still, a condo is an excellent choice, particularly for young, single people or young couples who are looking for something comfortable that requires minimal upkeep. This can be an excellent way to start out your life in your own home. You have the benefits of home ownership, without all the responsibilities that go along with owning property. Security and living stability, but the maintenance is taken care of.

Condos are not right for everyone, but they can be a good choice for anyone looking to own a place without having to take care of it much. Just be sure to look carefully at the documents before signing anything and you'll be fine.

Article Source: http://www.article.e-booksdownload.com

Seb Frey is a Capitola, California Real Estate Broker specializing in Santa Cruz Real Estate. He is fluent in Spanish and enjoys helping people find their piece of the American Dream in Santa Cruz. You can find Seb's blog at SantaCruzHomeBroker.com/blog.

Great Tips For Saving Money On Valentine's Day

By: dror klar

Valentine's Day is just one of those holidays where people are typically expected to spend a lot of money to show their love toward others, but do you really have to spend a lot of money to show someone how much you care about them?

There are a lot of ways to show someone that you care about them without having to spend all of the money that is associated with Valentine's Day, one of the most expensive holidays in the United States next to Christmas. But, shhh! They do not have to know you saved on their gift.

If you just have to send flowers to your valentine on February 14th, there are a number of options available. One of the most popular gifts on Valentine's Day is flowers and most people think of roses, but you can actually save a lot of money by choosing a different flower, such as tulips. There are also lots of different coupons available for online flower shops and all you have to do is search for them.

If you like to give greeting cards, there are a lot of places online where you can download free cards from the internet and print them out on your home computer. Print them out on good printing paper and you will not run the risk of looking cheap and you will have enough cards to go around for everyone.

There are also coupons available online for candies that you can purchase. Some places will give you coupon codes if you sign up for their newsletter and sometimes you can obtain free shipping if you order a certain amount of merchandise.

As always, homemade gifts usually hold a special place in the heart of the person receiving them, so consider making your own assorted box of chocolates. It is thoughtful and as cheap as you need it to be. While it is possible it may not seem that romantic to adults, children are sure to adore them.

Baking cookies shaped like hearts are typically a hit with everyone and if you know how to package them correctly, these can be romantic, especially if you only give them only to one person.

Valentine's Day does not have to be an expensive holiday for you or anyone else, but that does not mean it has to be skimped on. Take some of these ideas and expand on them any way you wish to fit your situation.

Article Source: http://www.article.e-booksdownload.com

Dror Klar is a writer in the field of finances and is currently assisting those in need of cash advances and payday loans, particularly serving Tennessee Cash Advance Payday Loans.