Best Gas Mileage: November 2008

Sunday 30 November 2008

Best Gas Mileage - They Laughed When I Said One Day Cars Would Run On Water... Guess Who's Laughing

This article shows how I was thoroughly laughed at by my friends when I told them cars would run on water... but guess who's laughing now.

Many years ago I remarked to my friends during one of our chatting sessions- "One day cars will run on water". I can still remember how they all laughed at me as if I was crazy. Among them was someone who knew so much about the mechanics of a car and how it works. He was the one that laughed the loudest and took time to explain to us, especially me, how it wasn't possible for cars to EVER run on water, even 30% water.

I wish I could see his face right now while demonstrating the water car technology to him. For the rest of my friends who were there that day that I still contact, they are so filled with shame for ever laughing at me that day.

If you know anyone that has also doubted the workability of the water car technology, tell them that not only is it now workable but anyone can make it work from the comfort of their home.

That's right. The water car technology can be made workable by just about anyone, who has access to the right information and the right devices needed.

How exactly this water car technology works?

This water car technology is the use of simple technology of putting together of home-made devices that use a little electricity out of your car's battery to separate water into a gas called HHO (2 Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen). HHO, also known as Brown's Gas or Hydroxy, burns beautifully and by so doing provides TONS of energy.

And the most remarkable beauty is that this pound for pound HHO gas is even much more potent than gasoline. In fact 3 times more potent than gasoline.

To get started, learn more about how this works and how you too can do it yourself on your car. With the power of the Internet you can find this information for free. When you arm yourself with this information you will be amazed at how easy it can be to make this water car technology work for you.

To learn more about water for gas technology and how you too can build your own water for gas powered car, visit http://CarWater4G

Best Gas Mileage - You Can Help Save Thousands Of US Soldiers In Iraq!

No matter what argument the USA government has put forward on why they had to do the Iraq war, it's obvious that OIL is one of the reasons for the war. And because of this war in Iraq, US soldiers continue to die on a daily basis. And no matter how much you hate and scuff at the US government for the war, they didn't have much choice.

The people of USA need the oil and the government has to get it for them at ANY cost. Even at the cost of its soldiers' lives. But do you know what is tragic?

It's the fact that such deaths from such wars as the Iraq war can be avoided! They can be avoided if we can reduce our dependence on oil. And we can reduce our dependence on oil by using alternative energy to power our vehicles and other such fuel consuming machines such as generators.

As incredible as this sounds, it's possible and even now a reality. we can do without all that oil that we consume on a daily basis, not only in the USA but all over the world.

The oil we consume in powering our cars and other vehicles can be reduced drastically... ... by powering our vehicles with WATER! Yes, you heard that right. We can now power our cars with water and by so doing reduce our dependence on oil.

The less we get dependent on oil, the less we would need to get involved in such wars as that in Iraq. And the less we get involved in such wars, the less our soldiers will die! So, yes, you too can get involved in helping to save the lives of US soldiers in Iraq by powering your car with water and helping to spread the word about it.

To get involved in knowing all there is to know and in learning how to POWER YOUR CAR WITH WATER, visit http://CarWater4G

Best Gas Mileage - Learn How To Save Gas Cost By Running Your Car or Truck On Water

This article looks at the claims of running your car on 100% water and tells you if it's really possible or not.

When you look closely at such 100% water driven technology, one ends up spending even more than using the usual fuel for powering vehicles.

So, the method I recommend for powering your car with water that will save you cost of fuel is to make your own low-cost hybrid car that will run on water and gas, thereby saving you huge costs you would have spent using only gas.

In other words - Hydrogen-On-Demand system where you run your car on Hydrogen WHEN you need it!

Note that I am not saying you should build a car from scratch that will run on water. Not at all. This instead is about constructing simple devices that will enable your car to run on water as well as gas. You don't have to alter your car make-up or get a new car. The technology can work with almost any car or truck.

In simple words, this technology involves putting together home-made devices that use a little electricity out of your car's battery to separate water into a gas called HHO (2 Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen). HHO, also known as Brown's Gas or Hydroxy, burns beautifully and by so doing provides TONS of energy.

And the most remarkable beauty is that this pound for pound HHO gas is even much more potent than gasoline. In fact 3 times more potent than gasoline.

By using such cars you effectively save money that would have been spent on fuel for your car. It is estimated that this could save you as much as $897.40 per year. If you are two, three or four drivers in the family, this yearly savings increases dramatically. And what if you have a fleet of 50 drivers in your company? Then your yearly savings will multiply to $44,870.

First things first... this isn't about running your car on 100% water. Of course there are information available about running your car on 100% water but I don't recommend them because they are not only complicated but seriously expensive and completely unpredictable.

To learn more about water for gas technology and how you too can build your own water for gas powered car, visit http://CarWater4G

for all the SECRETS of Water Car Technology

Saturday 29 November 2008

Best Gas Mileage - 7 INCREDIBLE Advantages Of Water-Powered Car Technology For YOU

No doubts about it, it's now possible to power your car on water as well as gas, instead of 100% gas. Apart from the many advantages that this technology have on the planet, it also has many widespread advantages to many individuals around the world, including YOU.

Below are 7 of these incredible advantages of the water for gas to YOU:

1- Improves your gas mileage by up to 35%. This includes both city and highway driving conditions. Imagine how much money this would save you at the end of the month and at the end of the year. It is estimated that this could save you as much as $897.40 per year. If you are two, three or four drivers in the family, this yearly savings increases dramatically. And what if you have a fleet of 50 drivers in your company? Then your yearly savings will multiply to $44,870. More if you have more drivers.

2- Eliminates harmful exhaust emission that pollute the environment and contribute to global warming. Your engine will ADD oxygen to the environment instead of polluting it. How about doing something good to help the environment for a change?

3- Greatly enhance engine power and performance. The more gas you use on your car, the more the engine gets battered- thus reducing the performance. But by using water as an alternative, this enhances your engine power instead and improves performance.

4- Remove carbon deposits and prevent future carbon build up.

5- Reduce the operating temperature of the engine and waste heat into the environment.

6- You will notice a calmer, quieter and much smoother engine operation and smoother gearshifts. This is due to the effect water has on the combustion cycle inside your engine.

7- Enjoy a longer life expectancy of your engine, especially the pistons, rings and valves.

These are just some of the many advantages of water for gas technology to YOU. Remember, even YOU can build the device needed to make this technology work for YOU, from the comfort of your home.

To learn more about water for gas technology and how you too can build your own water for gas powered car, visit http://CarWater4G

for all the SECRETS of Water Car Technology.

Best Gas Mileage - Learn How To Get IRS Refunds Using Water Powered Car

First, in case you don't previously know that it's possible to power your car with water, this is to inform you that not only is it possible but you can actually make your car to run on water from the comfort of your home.

Yes, you heard that right. You can put it all together yourself, with the right guide and the right devices.

The beauty of water powered car, apart from the fact that you can put it together yourself and apart from the fact that it helps you in saving the costs of fuel, is that you can actually get IRS refunds for doing so.

By using such water powered car you are driving a "green" car and thus helping our National economy by reducing the costs that the government spends on pollution, hospitals, sick days.

And most importantly, you help to reduce our national debt for imported oil, not to mention the painful price of economic dependability on oil.

Since 2005 the IRS could not afford to continue ignoring alternative fuel anymore, and started giving considerable rewards for "green" cars, "green" fuels and "green" upgrades.

You can get back up to $2,000 for a car, or up to $50,000 for a truck. Specifically, below is the word for word text out of the new IRS code:

"Deduction limit. The maximum deduction you can claim for qualified clean-fuel vehicle property with respect to any motor vehicle is one of the following.

1. $50,000 for a truck or van with a gross vehicle weight rating over 26,000 pounds or for a bus with a seating capacity of at least 20 adults (excluding the driver).

2. $5,000 for a truck or van with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds but not more than 26,000 pounds.

3. $2,000 for a vehicle not included in (1) or (2)."

But of course you must provide receipts that show your costs in installing and setting up your water powered car.

If you are thinking that it will cost you a fortune to set up water powered cars, think again. With the right information you would only need to spend very little money to install the device in your car that will make it run on water and gas, thereby reducing the consumption of gas.

You can start by using Google or any of the search engines to search for information on how to make your own water powered car using simple home-made devices.

Are you Thinking of making your own low-cost water powered car? Visit http://CarWater4G for all the SECRETS of Water Car Technology.

Best Gas Mileage - How To Modify Your Car Cheaply To RUN ON WATER

THE PROBLEMS:

Foolish petrol prices, petrol battles, pollution and global climate change. You know what I'm referring to.

THE BAD NEWS:

One likely way out, that you may have heard of, is water automobiles. As distinct from water hybrids, water powered automobiles are yet to be rolled out of the assembly plants. You could get a minimum of 10 strategies of water powered automobiles to try out. Regrettably those designs are too costly to put together, are very knotty, and absolutely unpredictable.

THE GOOD NEWS:

Widespread development and experimentation by numerous back yard engineers has proven one method FEASIBLE. With this method you can run your traditional automobiles PARTIALLY ON WATER (that's a "Water Hybrid") with little or no modifications.

"¢ You should be able to increase your gas efficiency by as much as 59% (Toyota 99) or even 70% (Cadillac 99).

"¢ You could drastically cut down discharges and help reduce Global Warming.

"¢ You can improve efficient burning of fuel and consequently lessen wear and tear, engine clatter, high temperature in the engine, carbon deposits, etc.

You see, you have just hit upon a unique piece of information. As there is a small number of persons on the World Wide Web who will not sell you products, but rather when you become a member of a group or club, you will will gain knowledge of how to make these stuffs yourself at home. A number of them will even provide you a COMPLIMENTARY HYDROGEN BOOSTER SYSTEM, fully put together set to go into your vehicle, so you can authenticate its practicability and have a copy for replication. Again, this is a COMPLIMENTARY GIFT for you, for becoming a member and a researcher

You could make use of this mock system to switch nearly any vehicle into an trial, wholly functional WATER HYBRID in one slow day, with the aid of simple tools at home. Back in I knew nothing about automobiles, I had no garage and no special tools, yet I installed one un-aided within a quarter of an hour. This was in an era when all I had was half a page of instructions. Nowadays you can obtain complete informational products or ebooks, packed with guidelines and suggestions. There are also support groups to assist you with any mechanical, electrical or tuning trouble. These new groups have labored hard to make it SIMPLE FOR YOU. And it is the influence of the group that makes your path so much easier and smoother.

IT GETS EVEN BETTER:

You will also be skilled in how to become a home manufacturer of numerous models of hydrogen generating system. Again, basic skills and easy tools is all that is need to replicate these systems for your friends, family or clients. PAY NO ROYALTIES OR LICENSE FEE - you keep all the cash!

When you get into one of these exceptional clubs or groups, you can discover answers to your questions:

1. Is this really practical? How come it's so easy?

2. Why didn't anyone tell me about it before?

3. could water technology do for me?

4. Why should I become a member of a group/club?

So"¦you will start to realize why water hybrid (water car / watercar) secrets have been unknown until today.

To get involved in knowing all there is to know and in learning how to POWER YOUR CAR WITH WATER, visit http://CarWater4G

Friday 28 November 2008

Best Gas Mileage - Is It Possible To Run Your Car On Water?

Congratulations! You have just found a way to own a water-to-energy converter for your car. Water4Gas is one of the most PRACTICAL free-energy devices, marked by extraordinary simplicity and effectiveness. You cannot get anything, anywhere near this good, for twice the price.

We offer devices that use a little electricity out of your car's battery, to separate water into a gas called HHO (2 Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen). HHO, also called Brown's Gas or Hydroxy, burns beautifully and provides TONS of energy - while the end product is just WATER! Mobile Magazine says HHO provides the atomic power of Hydrogen, while maintaining the chemical stability of water.

DID YOU KNOW: Pound for pound HHO GAS IS 3 TIMES MORE POTENT THAN GASOLINE!!! HHO is a fast growing trend for boosting performance and MPG.

We took a 90-year-old suppressed technology,

We SIMPLIFIED it,

You can have affordable yet very effective devices, right now.

You have our permission to replicate all our devices - we'll even show you how!

Easy to install & maintain.

Good for carb/fuel injection, gas/diesel. Old/new cars, light trucks, boats, more.

To get involved in knowing all there is to know and in learning how to POWER YOUR CAR WITH WATER, visit http://CarWater4G

Best Gas Mileage - The Biggest Cause of Poor Fuel Economy!

There is an activity that is the single biggest gas robber. You must constantly battle this gas robber to prevent it from stealing your gas. Any time you drive your car you encounter this problem.

The greatest gas robbing problem is: allowing your car to run when your car is not moving. To state it more simply, allowing your car to idle. Idling is the greatest single factor in decreasing your fuel economy.

When your car is running and you are stopped you are getting zero miles per gallon. This is worth repeating. When your car is idling meaning the motor is running but you are not going anywhere, you are getting zero miles per gallon.

If you are on the freeway for 15 minutes and getting 20 miles per gallon, and all of a sudden traffic stops and you idle without moving for 15 minutes your average miles per gallon just dropped from 20 down to 10. The longer you idle, the worse your average fuel economy gets.

There are a number of factors that contribute to situations that cause you to waste gas idling. The biggest culprit is red lights. Every time you need to stop at a red light, you are forced to idle your car and consequently burn fuel at a rate of zero miles per gallon. I have to point out that I am by no means telling you not to stop at red lights. I am just acknowledging that it is a problem.

The next factor contributing to situations of excessive idling is rush hour. During rush hour, with the high volume of traffic on the road, you are forced to drive slower and stop more frequently. Consequently you are idling more than in non rush hour periods.

The red light problem becomes exaggerated during rush hour. Because there is higher traffic volume in the rush hour period, you have to spend more time at red lights. For example, you may be able to make it through a red light in one cycle during normal driving conditions, but that same red light may take two, three or even four cycles to get through in the rush hour period. Your idling time is thereby increased two, three or even four times.

This increased idling is robbing you of fuel economy, and lowering your average miles per gallon. Additionally there is one more major cause of increased idling time: the hated orange barrels. Road construction slows and stops traffic. This of course increases your idling time. Add rush hour to the mix and it exacerbates this problem producing even more traffic delays and more idling time.

How can you fight this excessive idling? The short answer is planning. You have to plan your driving trips to avoid as many idling situations as possible. I don't advocate not stopping at red lights but you can reduce your idling by planning your travel routes to minimize red lights. Avoid lights that you know have long wait cycles. Plan to avoid areas where you know there is construction. Avoid driving during rush hour if at all possible. Arrive earlier at work to avoid the heavy traffic or stay later at work. Try to stagger your work hours so your commute takes advantage of non rush hour times.

Minimizing the time you find yourself sitting in an idling car will help you maintain better fuel economy. Avoiding idle producing situations will go a long way towards achieving better fuel economy, thereby saving you money and saving you gas.

Scott Siegel has written a 143 page manual of industry insider secrets on saving gas and dollars at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to discover how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.

Thursday 27 November 2008

Best Gas Mileage - The Best Ways to Save Some Money by Saving on Gas

The price of gas is disgusting. I sometimes think that I spend more money on gas for my car than I do on food in a week. In some states, consumers have witnessed gasoline reach, and pass record price levels. The scary thing is there is no relief in sight but to manage our fuel economy and driving habits to squeeze the most out of each gallon of fuel.

What can we do about it? Well, we aren't left with much of a choice what we can do besides pay the price of gas or start walking. That's why it is so important to watch how we drive and perform regular maintenance on our cars to insure we are getting good fuel economy.

There are a few things we can do to keep our vehicles running in top shape and get the best mileage. Here are just a few tips that should give you a slight increase in miles per gallon individually but used together will really add up.

Warming up engines – Remember when your dad told you to always warm up your car so that all the engine parts are good to go instead of just starting the car and driving off? Well, it turns out dad was wrong on this one. Most mechanics recommend only about half a minute at tops to warm up a car.

Properly inflated tires – Tires that are not inflated to factory specifications causes drag to the rest of the car and in turn leads to poor gas mileage. It also increases wear and tire to the tire. Check with the owner's manual to find out what your vehicles proper Psi should be. You can even get away with over-inflating tires for even better miles per gallon, but check with a mechanic beforehand.

Too much weight – For some of us out there, our cars are our second home. We live out of our cars and therefore keep a second set of everyday basics in our car. All those extra pounds of "stuff" leads to extra weight which hurts your fuel economy. Make it a habit to clean out your car at least once a week of non-essential items.

Good motor oil – The oil used in a car's engine has one sole purpose and that is to reduce friction between all of its many moving parts and less friction means less gas being used. That's why it's important to always use the correct grade motor oil to reduce the risk of overheating and potential engine problems. It doesn't hurt with helping your car's fuel economy either.

Avoid unnecessary short trips – In order to use your car as little as possible, plan out any and all possible trips you'll be making for the day. You'll save gas by using the car for one long trip for the day instead of a lot of short back and forth trips since engines burn more fuel when they are cold and also results in more greenhouse emissions harmful to our environment.

Driving habits – Wild, stop and go driving can burn through a tank of gas faster than anything on this list. Poor driving or driving too fast practices lowers your car's gas mileage by up to a third. Some of the things you need to "steer" clear of is speeding, heavy braking, and rapid acceleration.

Air filters – Did you know that a clean, well-maintained air filter can save you gas by up to 15%? A dirty, worn-out filter lets dirt into the engine impacting the amount of fuel used.

For further stories like this be sure to check the countless cheap magazines available for purchase at Magsforless at They sell over 75 different magazine subscriptions with hundreds of other subjects to choose from.

Best Gas Mileage - How to Save Fuel with Synthetic Oils while helping the Environment!

Reduce Skyrocketing Gas Costs With AMSOIL Synthetic Oil...the Number One rated Synthetic Oil in the World!

Industry tests have shown improved fuel economy of 2 - 5% in vehicles using synthetic lubricants. Many AMSOIL customer testimonials tell of even greater savings. But there is another way to reduce oil usage. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are designed for extended drain intervals and reduce the amount of oil used by as much as 80%. Fewer oil changes means less oil used. "Keep America on the road with AMSOIL, the original synthetic motor oil.

"We can reduce the dependency on foreign oil by converting our vehicles to synthetic oils and lubricants. Amsoil is 100% American made and manufactured. Amsoil puts less waste back in the environment, and it saves gas. This is a WIN-WIN combination for America right now. Let's do our part to reduce our dependency on Middle Eastern Oil."

AMSOIL gives a 5% increase in fuel economy on average, and in some cases 20% and even more! Why use ordinary oils when our superior AMSOIL synthetic oils outperform all others? AMSOIL Synthetic Oil achieves superior lubrication, extends engine life by reducing friction and wear and creates more horsepower. As a home-based AMSOIL dealer, you can build a great repeat-order business.

WELCOME TO THE 21st CENTURY!

You love technology! Personal computers, hand helds, cell phones, and digital cameras. Your vehicle is state of the art engine technology. Then why are you using dinosaur squeezings to lubricate it? Petroleum oil is the way we lubricated the first cars in 1890. Synthetic oil is Jet Engine technology. Don't use 19th Century technology on your 21st Century vehicle. Welcome to the future, the future is now! Synthetic oil's time has arrived, don't get left in the past!

AMSOIL lubricants reduce friction in your engine, your transmission, and your gear boxes. When friction is reduced it takes less energy to turn the wheels of your vehicle, thus increased efficiency and increased fuel economy. Many customers report having to set down their idle on the fuel system because it was too high after switching to AMSOIL. Engines run higher RPM on the same fuel, reduced friction means better gas economy and better protection for your engine.

AMSOIL should save you enough per year in fuel savings to pay for all your vehicles lubrication needs.- If you get an average of 20 miles per gallon and travel 15,000 miles per year you use 750 gallons of gas per year. At the present cost of unleaded gas ($2.58) in my area, you'll spend $1935.00 per year on fuel. If you can get a 2 mile per gallon increase (10%), your gas usage will decrease to 682 gallons or $1759.00 per year. That's a savings of $176.00 per year! You can get your engine and transmission protected with AMSOIL for a lot less. Even just a one mile per gallon increase would save $93.00 per year, which is enough to switch over your engine to AMSOIL for the year plus you'll have $48 left over!

PREVENT BILLIONS OF QUARTS FROM BEING DUMPED

Most automobile manufacturers recommend oil drain intervals of 3,000 to 6,000 miles for petroleum motor oils. AMSOIL recommends up to a 35,000-mile oil change which is 5 to 11 times fewer oil changes. Just think about the savings on the environment if, for example, the 135 million cars (excluding trucks, buses and taxis) in the United States were equipped with AMSOIL motor oil. Assuming an average service-life of 100,000 miles and an oil capacity of 5 quarts each, 11.4 billion to 22.3 billion quarts of used oil will be generated during a regular service lifetime (with regular oil changes every 3,000 to 6,000 miles). If you put 22.3 billion quarts of used oil into 55-gallon barrels and loaded them onto semi-trucks, a line of trucks would stretch end-to-end from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. and back to Los Angeles.

AMSOIL SOLUTIONS

For nearly three decades, AMSOIL INC. has been recognized as the leader in synthetic lubrication technology. AMSOIL was the first to introduce a synthetic motor oil qualified by the American Petroleum Institute, the first to recommend 25,000-mile/1-year drain intervals, the first to recommend 35,000-mile/1-year drain intervals, and the first to implement a system for dramatically increasing drain intervals with oil analysis. Decades of research, laboratory analysis and millions of engine miles have kept AMSOIL the leader in automotive applications for synthetic lubrication. Although the results have paid off in maximizing efficiency and minimizing waste, they are not conclusive. AMSOIL is the leader in synthetics and with continued research, analysis and product development will remain the industry's leader.

LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE

In 1983 AMSOIL created the TRI-GARD system. The life of a lubricant is dependent on the quality of oil and the filtration system's ability to keep it clean. The AMSOIL TRI-GARD system incorporates AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil, the AMSOIL Foam Air Filter, the AMSOIL By-Pass Filter and oil analysis to dramatically extend the oil change interval. Less oil changed means less oil disposal and less oil pollution. With regards to the environment, the AMSOIL TRI-GARD System is the most technologically sound, environmentally friendly motor oil program to reduce oil disposal.

OTHER ECOLOGICAL/ECONOMICAL BENEFITS OF AMSOIL

Reduces Emissions: Increases Engine Life

Each year nearly 600 million gallons of motor oil are burned and exit through the tailpipes of cars and trucks, creating emissions pollution. Petroleum oils volatilize (burn off) more readily than AMSOIL synthetic oils and create more emissions pollution.

The graph at the right (will be available soon) shows the results of five oils that underwent the NOACK Volatility Test. Of all the oils tested, AMSOIL shows dramatically less weight loss . . . less than half the weight loss of its closest counterpart. Some oils tested lost 20 percent of their weight. That means almost one fifth of the oil boils away and is released into the environment. For most cars, that's approximately a quart of oil being burned and expelled into nature.

The thicker oil left behind after volatization contributes to damaging deposits, sticky piston rings and oil blow-by, all of which cause reduced engine life, reduced fuel economy and increased air pollution.

"Each month, petroleum products emit the equivalent of an 'oil spill' into the Los Angeles Basin's air as massive as the 10-million-gallon spill from the Exxon Valdez, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District." (Truckers' News Magazine)

GREATER FUEL ECONOMY

The advanced lubricity (slipperiness) of AMSOIL synthetic lubricants has been proven to increase fuel economy by 2-5%. AMSOIL reduces friction and allows your engine to use its heat-energy more efficiently.

How Much Is a 5% Savings in Fuel? The average person drives slightly more than 10,000 miles each year. A 5% savings in fuel gives you more than $25 in savings a year (assuming you get 30 mpg, at $1.60 per gallon). And if you get 20 mpg a 5% savings in fuel gives you $39 in savings a year and you get better gas mileage!

Worldwide Vehicle Population: 1970: 245 million 1985: 520 million 2000: (est.): 800 million If, in the year 2000, these vehicles change oil 3 times each year and have 5 quart systems, 1 billion quarts of waste oil will be generated each month.

Harvey Vickery has knowledge of many things to help the environment as well as the best synthetic oils available today and recommends Amsoil Synthetic Oils. You can get Amsoil at wholesale online at

Harvey Vickery

Best Gas Mileage - Never Use Payday Loans

Should I Ever Use a Payday Loan Service?

In the past several years, payday loan stores have been popping up all over the country. With names like "Check Into Cash," "The Cash Store," and "EZ Money," they offer unsophisticated consumers the promise of quick, easy cash with few questions asked. But at what price?

The High Cost of easy money

Americans paid more than $6 billion in payday loan fees in 2005, and the number is likely to be much higher when the results for 2006 are tabulated. Payday lending is a big business, and it's also one of the fastest growing in the country. EZCorp, for example, was a lowly Texas-based pawnbroker just a few years ago. Thanks to expanding into the payday loans business in 2002, the company has more than quintupled its profits, and its stock had the best one-year price performance of any company traded on the major exchanges or NASDAQ, through June, 2006.

While buying EZCorp's stock a year ago would have been a wise financial decision, actually using the company's services has never been a good idea. The reason EZCorp and companies like it make so much money is because they rip off their customers, and this is hardly a matter of opinion. According to EZCorp's 2006 report for shareholders, the average payday loan has an annual percentage rate (APR) of 530 percent - and that's not a typo - that's highway robbery. So why would anyone ever use a payday loan service?

Target Market - The Unsophisticated and Credit Constrained Consumer

Most of the payday loan business's customers are people who are unsophisticated and / or have made bad decisions with their credit in the past. These are people with no savings and no credit, who live check-to-check. They don't realize that when they agree to pay a $40 fee for a $200, two-week loan, they are paying an astronomical annual interest rate. Or in some cases, they just don't care - they feel that they have no other options.

A disturbingly large percentage of people use payday loan services in order to avoid incurring NSF (non-sufficient funds) charges with their banks. People living check-to-check, with no access to conventional credit, can be devastated by unexpected expenses. Imagine a single mother who needs to write a $200 check to get her car fixed in order to get to work the next day, but she doesn't have the $200 in her bank account. She writes the check and then immediately goes to the payday loan store, where she can usually borrow the $200 with nothing beyond verification of her employment with a recent check stub. In this case, the single mom may actually be making a wise choice - since NSF fees are said to have an APR of 665 percent, and bank overdraft fees are even higher, at 1,160 percent APR. Clearly, the system is stacked against those who need the most help.

The Cycle of Indentured Servitude - And How To Avoid It

In the worst cases, people end up working all week in order to pay back their payday loan, and then have to take out another payday loan in order to make ends meet. Thus, the cycle continues, and these unfortunate people are relegated to the modern equivalent of indentured servitude.

The best way to prevent this from happening to you is to always maintain adequate lines of credit. In the above example, if the person could have simply charged the $200 repair bill on her Visa or Mastercard, all would have been well. Using a credit card to automatically pay for your regularly occurring charges, such as your phone and cable bills, is a good way to avoid NSF or bank overdraft fees, as well.

If you find yourself in trouble, be sure to always pay the minimum due on your credit cards - make this a priority second only to survival. If you default on your credit cards, you may have a very difficult time getting credit again in the future. Avoid the mistakes of the payday loan consumer, and of course, avoid the payday loan stores. Your money should be applied for your own benefit, not to the bottom line of unethical companies that make profits for their shareholders by exploiting the poor.

Take Care,

James

James T. Marshall has been working in finance and internet marketing for a number of years. He obtained a Masters in Business Administration. Apply for a Credit Card Today on . You're Approved! Are you looking for a credit card online? There are tons of banks out there that want your business, and are willing to give the absolute BEST CREDIT CARD OFFERS to benefit you the consumer. Whether it is cash back offers, airline miles, or even gas rewards cards, there are thousands of ways you can make credit cards work for you.

Wednesday 26 November 2008

Best Gas Mileage - Gas Prices Going Back Up

I'm sure that very few of you are surprised by this, but it looks like the price of gasoline is going up again. Thankfully, we have all enjoyed a few months where prices were staying stable and even dropping. But it looks like the winds of change are blowing again. According to CNN Money, prices have gone up an average of $0.065 in the last two weeks, and this will be just the beginning.

On the bright side, at the beginning of the year analysts assumed that prices would be much higher than they are now. While I don't think that prices are going to go up dramatically at this point, any increase will still take more out of your and my pocket each time we go to the pump. But don't worry too much about prices going up to $4.00 a gallon any time soon.

One of the reasons why prices are going up is because refineries will soon be switching over to the winter blend of gasoline. Some may have already started this process, and that could be affecting the current price of gasoline. While the refineries make this change the prices will likely go up for a short period until they get back to full production. The good news is that the winter blend of gasoline is overall cheaper than the summer blend, which is one reason why gas prices are generally cheaper in the winter.

With the constant fluctuation in gas prices, you should really consider using a fuel saving gas additive if you aren't already. Using a fuel additive can increase your miles per gallon, and reduce the overall cost you experience at the pump.

You should also consider doing other things to improve your gas mileage such as getting regular tune-ups to your car, checking your tire air pressure, and reducing unnecessary trips. Every little bit helps!

About the Author:

Dan Patterson is the owner a FuelAdditiveS a site where you can buy a good fuel saving gas additive for your car or truck to save money on gas.

Best Gas Mileage - What the Heck is The Larry Rule ?

The Larry Rule - Is Applying for Store Credit Cards Bad for Your Credit?

Larry Lindsey is probably not a name that you know, but he is an important figure in the history of personal finance. Currently, Mr. Lindsey is President Bush's chief domestic economic advisor. Prior to that, he was a Federal Reserve Board Governor. But neither of these distinctions are what make Larry Lindsey significant. Instead, it was a little incident at Toys 'R Us that gave birth to "The Larry Rule."

The Larry Rule - What No Retail Clerk Will Ever Tell You

In 1996, Larry Lindsey was a Federal Reserve Board Governor. While it isn't known for sure, it's probably safe to assume that Mr. Lindsey was then, and is now, a millionaire. An even safer assumption is that he always paid his bills on time and should have had a top-notch credit score. After all, he was a member of the most prestigious financial committee in the world, and his personal credit history was undoubtedly vetted by politicians and regulators before he could be appointed to the Fed.

Despite all of this, Mr. Lindsey was denied a store credit card - at Toys 'R Us of all places. The reason? He lacked a sufficient credit score due to too many recent inquiries. You see, Larry Lindsey had been trying to prove a point. Whenever a retail clerk offered him an opportunity to apply for credit, he did so. He filled out the application correctly, even stating that he was a Fed Board Governor under "employment." He listed his six-figure income and all other pertinent data, and until Toys 'R Us came along, he had always been approved.

It wasn't that Mr. Lindsey actually wanted or needed all of these retail credit cards. His objective was to point out this flaw in the credit scoring system - applying for too many retail charge accounts can hurt your credit and prevent you from qualifying for real credit cards. Ask yourself, which is more important - the charge card at JCPenny that can only be used at JC Penny, or a real Visa or Mastercard that can be used at JCPenny and everywhere else, too?

To Apply or Not to Apply - That is the Question

On one level, the Larry Rule makes at least a little sense. After all, someone who is out there applying for credit all over town would seem to be in some form of financial distress. When the credit bureaus created their scoring criteria years ago, they didn't factor in pushy retail clerks who get bonuses for getting people to apply for cards they don't need. You do need a real credit card. Having two or three isn't a bad idea. But department store cards count as lines of credit on your credit report, and having too many of them can make you look like an unworthy applicant in the eyes of real credit card companies.

Armed with the knowledge that applying for and receiving retail store credit can be harmful to your credit, you should think twice before applying. First, ask yourself if you really want the store credit card, or are you just filling out the application so that the clerk will stop bugging you? If the store offers you a discount for applying, ask yourself if the money you'll save is worth the negative impact that the inquiry (or even being accepted) could have on your credit score.

If you actually do want the card or the discount is a real money-saver, then ask yourself this question: Will I need to apply for credit for something important, like a real credit card, a car, or a home loan, in the near future? If the answer is yes, then it is probably best to "just say no" to the retail application. You wouldn't want an inquiry from Toys 'R Us to inhibit your financial future.

We highly recommend that you research your credit card options before applying for a card. Then, choose the best one that is best for you, not one placed in front of you by a store clerk. In fact, you can search hundreds of cards right now at:

We recommend you browse this directory and pick our one or two solid cards that you plan on keeping for the long term. With this sound financial advice, you will be on track for a great credit future.

Regards,

James Marshall

Best Gas Mileage - Submitting Websites to Directories

Submitting your website to the various online directories is an important part of any Link Popularity campaign. While your traffic from many directories may be minor or irrelevant, relevant incoming links to your website will help in your overall search engine link popularity.

Paying for your directory submission can be a waste of money. You can get just as good a result from submitting to free directories. Personally, I wouldn't recommend you pay for what you can get free elsewhere.

The best directories to submit your site to are Search Engine Friendly directories (those that actually have your site URL listed at some point, rather than outlinks that are simply code). Some will ask for a reciprocal link, some will not. One list of non-reciprocal directories is at . Opinion at the moment is suggesting that non-reciprocal or one-way links are better, although any relevant link is useful. Directories that do not encode outgoing links will help your website's Search Engine Ranking.

Deep Linking can be worth linking to other pages on your site other than your main page. Before doing this, make sure that the directory you are submitting to permits you to both submit URLs other than your home page (some only allow top level submission), and for the same site to be submitted to different categories (not all directories permit what are essentially multiple submissions of the same website). This will work especially if you have online tools or directories (such as your links page) on your site that are useful and relevant to add to other directory categories. Choose the relevant directory category for your website. Most directories will have many categories you can submit your site to. Decide on the one that is most relevant, preferably a keyword that you are aiming for high search engine ranking in, and try to submit to the same or similar category in every directory, at least for your main page. This will increase the ranking of your site relating to the keyword chosen.

Submit to different categories as long as your website is relevant to those categories. This will increase the number of incoming links to your website. Writing the title for your website is very important. Try to include a keyword you are aiming for ranking in the title, but make the use of it appropriate. Describe your website in a way that will attract visitors. The length of your description will vary from directory to directory, but most will be under 250 characters. Some will allow up to 1,000 characters, and in those cases write the most comprehensive description of your site and its features that you can. It is a good idea to write several descriptions of different lengths, say from under 50 characters for a brief overview, to around 150 characters for a fuller description, up to 250 characters for a yet more comprehensive listing, and finally a full description as previously mentioned for over 250 characters. Keep your listing pertinent to your website, insert keywords where relevant and appropriate, but do not just submit a keyword listing, as most directories will reject your submission. Save all your descriptions in a text file, and just copy & paste into the descriptions boxes when needed rather than typing the same descriptions out again and again.

Again, as with the description mentioned above, the amount of keywords you can use will vary from directory to directory. Some will not give the option, some will allow you numbers of keywords, whilst others go by numbers of characters. Make a list of all relevant keywords for your site, from most important to least, and basically keep adding keywords until either you get to the bottom of your list (unlikely unless your list is really short) or you run out allowed characters/keywords. Check what keywords your competitors are going for if you need inspiration. This can often be done by viewing the source of a web page and checking the META tags. Again, save your keywords to a text file.

James T. Marshall has been working in finance and internet marketing for a number of years. He obtained a Masters in Business Administration. Submit your website to a major search engine. Visit . Submit your website to search engines, Hype your Business, Promote your Website, Pimp-U ! When it comes to owning a website, traffic is the most important concern. Traffic means customers. Pimp-U offers search and link engine submission and website promotion services that will assist in driving traffic to your website.

Submit your best quality articles for massive exposure to the high-traffic

Tuesday 25 November 2008

Best Gas Mileage - How Do Secured Credit Cards Work?

Secured Credit Cards - Pros, Cons, and What to Watch Out For

If you've been turned down for several credit cards, even with low credit limits, a secured credit card may be the right product for you.

In today's society, having a credit card is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity. You need a credit card in order to rent a car, book a hotel room, or in the most extreme cases, to rent a movie from the local video store. People without credit cards are locked out of the e-commerce revolution, since a credit card is needed to buy online. Most people can qualify for a traditional credit card, even if it is with a low credit limit and high interest rate. But what about the people who've made serious mistakes in the past? Are they doomed?

The Advantages of a Secured Credit Card

While it's true that a debit card attached to your bank account can substitute for a credit card in most cases, the sad truth is that using a debit card doesn't utilize credit - and therefore, it can't help to improve your credit score. Since a debit card withdraws money from your checking or savings at the moment of purchase, there is no risk of you not paying, and because you're using your own money, you aren't showing future creditors that you can be trusted. In order to do that, you have to use other people's money.

A secured credit card falls somewhere in between. In order to set up an account, you have to place funds in a certificate of deposit (CD). Your credit card is then secured by this CD, meaning that if you seriously default on your credit card bills, the secured credit card company can recoup its money by taking the CD.

The good news is that your CD earns interest. If you established a $2,500 secured credit card account, and you always paid your bills in full and on time, you would actually make money with your credit card, excluding any annual fees. The bad news is that some secured credit card companies report to the credit bureaus that your card is secured. By doing so, it makes the account seem less valid than an unsecured account, since there is ultimately very little risk to the card issuer. Because of this, look for a secured credit card company that offers both secured and unsecured cards, and make sure that they will not report your account as being secured.

Make Sure That You're Secure Too

Since credit constrained consumers are the target market for secured credit cards, there are plenty of unethical companies that seek to take advantage of their desperation. Unless your secured credit card is through a reputable, national institution that you've heard of and know well, you should probably contact the Better Business Bureau to verify that the company doesn't have excessive complaints against it. Even the best companies, particularly larger ones, are sure to get a few complaints now and then, but if your company seems to have a slew of dissatisfied customers, look elsewhere. Thanks to the internet and web sites like this one, you have no shortage of options.

Remember, we've got a full range of cards for you to choose from right at our site:

Sincerely,

James

Best Gas Mileage - How to Check Credit Reports

Credit Reports - What's On Them, and How to Check Yours

Businesses in the United States buy more than two billion credit reports every year. Since there are currently fewer than 300 million people in the country, this means that the average adult has his or her credit reports examined by someone about once every other month. And yet, only a small percentage of Americans have ever laid eyes on their own credit reports. Viewing your credit reports at least twice a year is a necessity in today's electronic age, and while it may not always be free, getting access to your credit reports is much easier and less expensive than it has been at almost any time in history.

What is a Credit Report?

There are three major credit bureaus in the United States. They are Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. These three companies are competitors, and therefore they don't share information with one another. As a result, your Equifax credit report may be significantly different from your Experian credit report, and your TransUnion report may be different still. Sometimes this is a good thing - if only one of the credit agencies reports a bad history, for example. But more often than not, it's a headache, since at least one of your credit reports is bound to have some incorrect, negative information on it.

What's On Your Credit Report?

Although each of the three credit agencies record slightly different information, the following is a basic list of what you'll find on each of your credit reports: Your name and your spouse's name. Where you live, where you work, and where you used to live (and used to work). Your social security number, phone number, and birth date. A list of your credit accounts and when you've paid your bills - on time, late, late by more than 30 days, late by more than 60 days, etc. How much total credit you have available. Whether and to whom you've made an application for credit in the past six months. Which companies have requested and obtained your credit report. And finally, dreaded "public records" - bankruptcies, foreclosures, repossessions, court judgments, convictions, and tax liens.

How Long Does Information Stay On Your Credit Report?

Positive information stays on your credit report indefinitely, which is a good thing. Most negative information should be deleted after seven years, with the exception of certain types of bankruptcy, which can stay on your report for ten years. If one of your credit reports is missing positive information or contains negative information that's older than seven years, contact the appropriate credit bureau. Their website addresses are listed at the end of this article.

How To Obtain Copies of Your Credit Reports

Usually, you may have to pay for your credit reports. The fees that the credit bureaus can charge vary by state, but the maximum is $9.50. You can find out more information by visiting the individual sites of the three bureaus: and

So go ahead and do it now! Find out what your score is, it could make or break your financial future.

Sincerely,

James

Best Gas Mileage - How Credit Works

In order to acquire and maintain access to credit, one must have a working understanding of how credit works - namely, how credit scores are established and tracked by the three major credit bureaus.

Inquiry Myths

As discussed in "The Larry Rule," people who repetitively apply for credit are viewed with suspicion by the credit agencies. However, there are some caveats to the Larry Rule. First, multiple inquiries for the same purpose - shopping for the best deal on a home loan, for example - count as just one inquiry. Secondly, it is never harmful for you to check your own credit report - only applications for credit (not mere inquiries) count against you. Third, and most importantly, inquiry data is only kept on file for six months. So in other words, the Larry Rule has a six month statute of limitations.

The exceptions to the Larry Rule outlined above are all good news for consumers. Unfortunately, not everything contained in this article is so pleasant. For example, you may believe that your permission must be given in order for someone to check your credit. Unfortunately, this is a myth, except where it applies to employers. A potential creditor, an insurance company, a landlord, or virtually anyone else can access your credit report without your permission.

Credit Repair Myths

Many people believe that paying off debts immediately improves their credit score. Unfortunately, this one of many credit repair myths. While a paid debt is marginally preferable to an unpaid liability, the truth is that missed payments and past delinquencies are still ugly marks on your credit report, and simply paying off an old debt may not improve your credit score by even one point.

The good news is that late payment and old delinquency information will disappear after seven years. But the idea that all negative information is wiped out after seven years is another credit repair myth. The truth is that Chapter 7 bankruptcy stays on your record for 10 years, and unpaid judgments can potentially remain on your credit report forever.

Another popular myth is that the act of closing your credit cards is good for your credit score. This myth is perhaps the most painful, as many people who close open accounts have difficulty opening new ones in the future. The truth is that open, active, and up-to-date accounts help your credit. Unused credit capacity (i.e. available credit) is a positive factor in determining your credit score.

Credit Counseling Myths

Credit counselors and debt management services have received a bad name over the years, and much of the negative publicity has been deserved. It is, for example, a myth that you can simply pay a company to "fix your credit." Any firm that claims to perform this hands-off service should be avoided.

But there are good, reputable credit counseling and debt management services who truly do help people. And despite the myth that using such a service inevitably hurts your credit, the truth is that many of these companies are able to reduce their clients' debts and maintain or improve their credit scores at the same time. When considering a credit counselor, look for firms that have these dual goals, not companies that focus solely lowering your liabilities.

Sincerely,

James

Monday 24 November 2008

Best Gas Mileage - What is Interest?

Unless you have a degree in finance, you probably don't know all that you need to know in order to be an informed, responsible credit card user. Now you don't need to be a finance expert to comprehend the basics covered in this article, but after reading it, you might feel like one the next time the subject comes up with your co-workers, friends, or family.

What is Interest?

If you borrow $5,000 from your grandma and promise to pay her back in six months, you might return $5,000 to her a year later. Grandma would probably be happy with that because she loves you. But if you wanted to borrow $5,000 from a bank, you know you would not get off the hook nearly as easily. The bank would almost definitely expect regular monthly payments, and would absolutely expect to be compensated in the form of interest. But compensated for what? So long as you pay back the money, why should the bank deserve any extra compensation?

Interest is first and foremost, compensation for what is known as "default risk." When you borrow money from the bank, there is a chance you won't pay it back. There's an even greater chance that you won't pay it back in full, or that the bank will spend time and money bugging you about late payments. If not for interest, it would only take one missed payment by one borrower for the bank to lose money. Therefore, the bank must charge interest in order to offset deadbeat debtors and make a little (or not so little) profit for itself. Otherwise, why be in business?

Secondly, interest is charged on loans because the use of money is "mutually exclusive." If the bank has only $5,000 in its vault, it can't lend $5,000 to you and to your sister. (Actually it can, but how banks are able to do this is well beyond the scope of this article). Imagine your friend wanted to borrow $50 from you, but if you lent the money to him, you wouldn't be able to take your girlfriend out to a fancy dinner. How much "compensation" would make lending him the money worth it to you? How much would you have to add in to cover his "default risk?"

A third reason that interest must be charged is inflation. If you borrowed $5,000 in 1966 and paid it back in full 40 years later, much of the value of the money would have evaporated. In order to replace the buying power that $5,000 had in 1966, you'd have to come up with more than $31,000 in 2006 dollars. Inflation is a constant fact of life in America (and around the world), so at the very least, interest must offset it. In recent times, inflation in the US has been hovering around 3 percent per year.

How Do Credit Card Companies Determine Interest Rates?

Credit card companies exist to make money, and they do this by charging interest and fees. In order to attract the most business possible, they offer different interest rates and fee schedules to different people. In business lingo, this is called "price discrimination," but don't bother contacting your lawyer - this form of discrimination is perfectly legal (if a bit unfair at times).

Credit card companies consider your default risk, the cost of lending (taking into account the mutual exclusivity of money use), and inflation expectations in determining the interest rate you will pay. Obviously, only default risk is unique to you, and it is determined by your credit history. The better your credit, the lower the interest rate you'll be offered.

Stay safe.

Sincerely,

James

Best Gas Mileage - Young Adult Credit

Credit Care for Teens and Young Adults

It's great when parents are willing to help out with their kids' futures, but make sure that you understand all of the implications before you help your kids build credit.

A credit card is a great way to start building credit as a teen or young adult, and many young people receive their first credit card from their parents. Before you hand your teen a credit card as they head off to the mall, think about whether it's helping (or possibly hurting) their future credit.

Authorized Users vs. Co-Applicants

Often, a teen's first introduction to credit is becoming an authorized user on a parent's credit card. This is an easy way to get a credit card, but it's not usually the best way. In almost every case, an authorized user does not build positive credit of their own, but if the primary cardholder goes into default, it can be reflected on the authorized user's credit report. In other words, your child does not stand to benefit from your good credit but could suffer if you fall into hard times.

Placing your child on your account as a co-applicant can have even more harmful consequences. If your credit card company requests a signature from the child, they are likely adding the child as a co-applicant. Think long an hard before you take that step. Being a co-applicant means that they are equally liable for any debts that you incur. If your child is an authorized user and you run up $25,000 in debt that you can't pay, your child could get an ugly stain on his or her credit. However, if you list your child as a co-applicant, the credit card company can expect them to pay back that money, and even take him or her to court!

Make sure you look at all the factors. Even if your credit is great and you have no intention of racking up debt, is there a possibility that a lost job, medical bills, or another disaster could change your circumstances? If there is virtually no chance of that happening, your child might be fine being a co-applicant or an authorized user. However, even if you won't hurt your child's credit, you won't help them much either. The best course of action is to get a card in the child's name tied to his or her social security number only. If you've been thinking of adding your child to one of your cards, call you credit card company and ask to open a separate account in your child's name instead. Since you already have an open account with the company, and are bringing them additional business, you will usually get a better rate for your kid than he or she could get on his/her own.

Why Start Early at All?

Even if he or she has to open a starter credit card offer with a high interest rate, it will still help your child's credit in the long run, as long as you teach him or her to act responsibly. The easiest way to help them build good credit is to have them use their card for one use, paying his cell phone bill or buying gas, and pay it off each month. When your kids get an early start on credit, they'll have a huge advantage over their peers. If you show them how to use their new card responsibly, the credit card company will reward them in the future with higher credit lines and lower rates, so they can gradually use their credit card for more "adult" things, like furniture for their first apartment or a post-graduation vacation.

Don't let common mistakes like adding your child as an authorized user or a co-applicant harm his or her future credit. Imagine what a shock it would be if she attempted to buy a car or pass a credit check for an apartment, and she found out that the credit card she'd been making payments to for years isn't on her credit report. And furthermore, imagine the phone call you'd get shortly after asking for a loan! Your kids' credit can have a negative financial impact on you as well, so start early! Stay safe.

Sincerely,

James

Best Gas Mileage - Hughes Leaving Team Miletich

In what has been the biggest news story of the day, Matt Hughes posted a small blog on his website which stated that he and his brother Mark were going to open up their own gym. It was also reported on Sherdog's Savage Dog Show that Matt Hughes would also leave Pat Miletich's camp in Iowa, if true many wonder how this may affect his training for his fight against Matt Serra in December at UFC 79.

Here's the quote from Matt Hughes' Blog:

"Mark and I have been busy on the farm getting things ready for harvest. Also, I am going to open a gym in the Granite City area; but I will have more info on that later."

Also of note, it is also being reported that Robbie Lawler is going to team up with Matt Hughes on his new gym which would also mean that he's intending to leave the Miletich Fight System. We'll have more on this as we get it.

Tim Ngo is an Editor for 5thR

Sunday 23 November 2008

Best Gas Mileage - Ultimate Fighter Season 6 Cast

Today the official fighter list for Season Six of The Ultimate Fighter reality television show was released to the media today. As you know by now, Matt Hughes and Matt Serra are going to be the coaches on this season with a fight in December at UFC 77 for the Welterweight Title on the line. There are some rumors going around about this season's show, but we can tell you from the preview that was seen at UFC 74 this past weekend that it looks like it's going to once again be the craziest seasons ever. Don't be surprised if some fighters are kicked out of the house for their antics.

Here's the list of fighters that'll be on this season's Ultimate Fighter courtesy of Dave Meltzer & The Los Angeles Times:

Matt Arroyo - The 24-year-old Arroyo is a former baseball player at the University of Tampa, who left the sport in favor of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.He now teaches at the Gracie Academy in Tampa, and came in worried about not seeing his family for six weeks and not being able to go on MySpace. He has a 2-1 record.

Daniel Barrera - A farm boy from Rupert, Idaho, he wrestled in high school and boxed in the Air Force, once losing to gold medalist Andre Ward. He's 26, has a 1-0 record and currently works for the local fire department. He's working on getting a degree in criminology.

Blake Bowman - Bowman is friends with Cole Miller, from season five of the Ultimate Fighter. They met when Bowman was out of shape at 240 pounds in college. He has a psychology degree from West Georgia University. Now 70 pounds lighter, the 25-year-old has a 4-3 record.

Mac Danzig - The 27-year-old Pittsburgh native is the closest thing to a name fighter on the cast, with a 17-4-1 record and six years experience. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue his fighting career.

Paul Georgieff - Originally from St. Paul, he first went to college at the University of Vermont, and debuted in MMA in 2002. The 24-year-old transferred to Wisconsin, where he's working on a masters degree in Structural Engineering. He's now 7-1, and considers wrestling as his weakness.

Richie Hightower - Hightower had a solid high school sports background including being Arizona state high school champion in the discus in 2000, as well as a football star. He went into mortgage brokering, and by the age of 21, he was 5-8, 265 pounds, and was suffering health problems. He gave up smoking and drinking, and began training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with UFC fighter Eddie Sanchez. After dropping 95 pounds, the 25-year-old has a 7-1 record.

John Kolosci - The oldest fighter in the house at 32, he began training in 2002 and has an 8-4 record. He lives in Portage, Ind., and competed in three sports in high school.

Troy Mandaloniz - A native if Hilo, Hawaii, who grew up as a friend of B.J. Penn, he began training as a teenager. He moved to Las Vegas at the age of 21, working at the airport and as a bartender to pay the bills while training under Mark Laimon. Now 27, he has a 3-1 record. (Also is a referee for the Rumble on the Rock fights in Hawaii).

Billy Miles - A former high school and college wrestler, the 29-year-old Miles is a Youth Correctional Officer in Loomis, Calif. He was an Academic All-American at Sacramento State University and has a Masters Degree. He has a 2-1 record.

Roman Mitchyan - A former actor who is a native of Armenia, he trains with fellow Armenians Karo Parisyan and Manny Gamburyan. He grew up in Armenia, moved to Moscow, and then ended up in Los Angeles to pursue acting. Now 28, he has an 8-1 record.

Dorian Price - The 29-year-old got his Masters in Business Administration from Ohio State in 2005, and has an 8-2 MMA record.

Jared Rollins - A Carlson Gracie student starting at the age of 22 in 1999, J-Roc has a 9-3 record. He's a former football player at Chapman College.

Ben Saunders - A 24-year-old member of the American Top Team based in Orlando, Fla. He has been a UFC fan since it started in 1993. He has a 4-0-2 record.

Joe Scarola - A protege of Serra, the 28-year-old Scarola took up BJJ under Serra after graduating high school in 1997. He was Serra's first black belt in 2005, and now teaches at his gym. He has a 6-0 record.

George Sotiropoulis - A native of Australia who lives in San Diego, Sotiropoulis competed in Australian Rules Football, cricket and karate , he moved to the U.S. to achieve his goal to be an MMA fighter. He has a 7-2 record.

Tommy Speer - An all-state cornerback at Melville High School in Elgin, Minn., Speer went to nationals in wrestling as a senior. He made his pro debut in 2005 and has a 9-1 record. He lives on a dairy farm, hence his nickname, "Farm Boy."

Don't forget the season premiere is on September 19th, which is a Wednesday as Spike TV announced they were moving the show from Thursday night, to Wednesday nights.

Tim Ngo is an Editor for 5thR

Best Gas Mileage - College Student Credit

If you're a college student, chances are you've been offered more than a few credit cards. Maybe you have a friend who has already run up credit card bills on par with her student debt, and so you've steered clear of the credit card offers. Or maybe you're one of the few who have received their first credit cards and used them responsibly - so far, at least. Regardless, you probably don't realize just how important responsible use of your first credit card is to your financial future. It could have a significant impact on whether or not you'll be able to get financing for your first new car or house, and increasingly, it could even determine whether or not you get hired for your first professional job.

If you're not a college student, be sure to forward this message to anyone you know who is -- it's that important.

The Importance of Building Credit History

For many people, credit is a Catch-22: They can't get approved for credit because they don't have a credit history, but they can't build a credit history without first being approved for credit. Luckily for them, college students don't tend to have this problem. Credit card companies view them as low risk, at least compared to other young people with no credit, and so they're willing to give them a first chance. As a new cardholder, it's vitally important that you make good use of this first chance.

When you have a credit card, the issuing company reports information to each of the three major credit bureaus - Experian, Equifax, and Transunion. This information includes the amount of credit you've been approved for, how much of that credit you are currently using, and most importantly, your payment history. All payments - both late and timely - show up on your credit report, and even one late payment can hurt you rather badly when you lack a solid credit history. This is why you should always, no matter what, pay at least the minimum due on each of your credit card bills. Always Try To Pay More Than The Minimum Due

While it's important to always pay at least the minimum due, you should never only pay this amount unless you are completely unable to pay more. In fact, it may not be a bad idea to pay the minimum immediately upon receiving your bill and then pay more later in the month when you have more money.

If you pay less than the total amount due, you will be charged interest on your next bill. Even though the credit card company holds you in higher esteem than one of your high school peers who didn't go on to college, they still regard you as a rather risky proposition - which means you'll probably be paying a very high interest rate. If you only pay the minimum due on a card with a high interest rate, it could take you several years to pay off even a modest amount of debt.

Take Advantage of Your Opportunities - But Use Your Credit Wisely

Believe it or not, it may be easier to get approved for credit while you're in college then after you get out - particularly if you don't start a professional job right away (or at all). The high interest rates you're asked to pay are just part of being a newcomer to the world of adult finance. But then again, if you always pay your credit card bills in full, interest rates will be irrelevant.

Regardless of all the cautionary tales, you should definitely open up at least one credit card account while in college to begin building a solid credit history. If you can show the credit card companies that you're responsible, you'll soon be paying much lower interest rates, and you'll be able to get that new car or house when the time is right. If you ignore or abuse your credit opportunities in college, it could be one of the worst mistakes of your life. You're an adult now - it's time to stand up, take responsibility, and enjoy your share of the American Dream. And it all begins with responsible use of credit!

To see our full listing of Student cards, simply visit: http://www.CC-Yes.com/categories/student_credit_cards

James Marshall

Best Gas Mileage - Credit - Over the Limit

Imagine you had a credit card was a $500 limit, and in the run-up to Christmas, you nearly maxed out your card. Before taking that last shopping trip of the season, you went online to check your balance and saw that you had $19 of available credit. "No matter," you say to yourself, "I'll pay the balance in full when I get my Christmas bonus from the office." The only other charge you made was for a couple of mochachinos at the local coffee house, but two days later you were shocked to learn that you somehow went over your credit limit! Worse yet, your card company hit you with a $29 fee! The Mochachino That Broke the Camel's Back

This can happen a lot easier than you might expect. In the above example, you may have recently "paid at the pump." Oftentimes a gas station charges your card only $1 at the point-of-purchase and applies the remainder of the charge to your card later that day (or the next day). Let's say you had $17 in gas that you forgot about. That would reduce your available credit to $3 ($19 - $17 + $1 for the refunding of the temporary charge). Then when you bought two $2.50 drinks, you pushed your balance to $502, exceeding your credit limit by $2, and receiving a whopping $29 fine. It happens all the time.

The real question should be, "Why do credit card companies let this happen?" After all, couldn't they just reject your card at the coffeehouse? The gas station reserves the funds on your card even before it charges them, so shouldn't you not be able to buy the coffee and go over your credit limit? It depends. Some people would find this embarrassing fate more horrible than the $29 over-limit fee, particularly if the second coffee was for a romantic interest or client. But the reality is that credit card companies exist in the world to make money. There's nothing wrong with that, but you need to be aware of the fees and expenses associated with your card and do your best to avoid them. Tips for Avoiding Over-Limit Fees

1. Use a separate card for your gas purchases. Since "pay at the pump" can distort your true balance, it is wise to use one card exclusively for gas. This can be an actual gas card or just a regular card card that you designate as your own gas card. It might be okay to have some recurring charges (cable bill, subscription charges, etc.) also on the card, but don't use it to make "discretionary" purchases. If you have $200 of recurring charges on your card and you typically spend $80 a month on gas, this means you'll only need a card with a $300 limit. Then again, $500 would be better for a little cushion in case you spend more on gas - either because you take a trip or because gas prices to through the roof!

2. Check your balance on a daily basis. If you maximize the benefits of your credit cards by nearly maxing them out each month and then paying off the balance in full, then you need to spend a little more time making sure managing your cards. Check your balance online every day and look at the itemized charges. Sometimes charges don't show up right away, so be on the lookout for anything that's missing. And if you do use your card for gas, make sure you keep your gas receipts so you know how much you really spent when your statement still says "$1."

The Real Cost of Exceeding Your Limit

No one likes paying $29 extra for a couple of coffees, but the even greater cost of going over your credit limit is the damage it does to your credit. Many card companies begin charging you the maximum interest after just one overage - and not the card you went over on. An entirely unrelated company might also jack up your interest rate, even though you've always paid your bills on time with them, so do everything you can to avoid going over.

Credit cards are wonderful tools, but they come with serious responsibilities. You should be using a credit card to your advantage - whether that means getting an interest-free loan every month by paying your balance off in full, or just the simple security and satisfaction that having extra buying power at your fingertips can bring. But when you start paying $29 fees and higher interest, you are letting the powerful tool wield itself against you. Be a smart consumer, but also check the over-limit fees and practices of cards before you sign up for them. No one intends on exceeding their credit limit, but it does happen to most people, so be aware!

Sincerely,

James

James Marshall

Saturday 22 November 2008

Best Gas Mileage - Credit Repair and History

The Credit Repair Equation

Although credit cards may be what land the most people in credit trouble, they're also the best tool for credit repair. If you find yourself faced with mounting debts and worsening credit, the most important things you can do are always paying your minimum credit card bills, and not exceeding your card's credit limit. If you allow your card to be cancelled or "charged off," you will have a very hard time getting credit in the future, which will make it even more difficult to restore your credit rating.

Or, if it's too late and you've already had your cards cancelled or charged off, you should apply for a card from a company that specializes in servicing clients with not-so-good credit. Even if the card's interest rate is exorbitant and there's a costly annual fee, it's worth it to have an open, active credit account. Otherwise, how are you ever going to rebuild your credit?

Rebuilding + Revamping = Repairing

But rebuilding your credit through the timely payment of your new bills is only half of the credit repair equation. There's also the matter of the items that are already listed on your credit reports. If you can get an item deleted from one of your credit reports, then to that credit bureau and all who use it, it's as if it never happened - the instance of not-so-good credit will have been expunged from your record. Surprisingly, it's easier to have this done than you might think.

Obtain and Review Your Credit Reports

First, you need to obtain your credit reports from the three major credit agencies - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This can be accomplished by visiting their web sites ( and transunion.com), and paying the necessary fee. If you've been denied for credit, insurance, or employment in the past 60 days, you are entitled to free credit reports. Send documentation of your denial along with your credit report requests.

Once you have your reports in hand, scan for inaccurate information - negative, of course. If some untrue positive information somehow made its way on to one or more of your reports, you are under no legal obligation to identify it as being false. It's probably best to turn a blind eye. But as for the negative information, photocopy your reports and use a highlighter to indicate what you would like to be changed. Send a letter explaining how the information is false and include any corroborating documents that support your claims.

Once you've dealt with the inaccurate information, it's time to move on to the things you only wish were inaccurate. It's important to note that any negative information (excluding a bankruptcy) that's older than seven years old should not appear on your credit report. You have every right to request its removal, and the credit agency must comply.

Set Realistic Goals - And Make Them Concrete

But next you need to decide what you would like to have removed, and how realistic your chances are of having it deleted. If you declared bankruptcy last year, or you have an unpaid judgment against you, there's not much of a chance you'll succeed. But if you got divorced four years ago and your husband stopped making the car payments, which ultimately resulted in a repossession on your credit record, you just might get it expunged.

Other, minor debts aren't as difficult to have removed. For example, if you owe a credit card company $1,100 for a canceled card, you may be able to get them to remove the information from your report if you pay them in full. Normally charges like this go unpaid or end up being settled for pennies on the dollar, so if you have the ability to pay your debts in full (or close to it), you may be able to get your creditor to send letters to the credit bureaus saying that it was all a big misunderstanding.

The key is to evaluate your credit report and decide what can realistically be accomplished. Give yourself three achievable goals and go from there. And in the meantime, make sure you don't repeat the mistakes of your past. Keep two or three credit cards open and active and pay the bills in full and on time. It won't happen overnight, but by following these guidelines, your credit will be rebuilt, revamped, and restored. The sooner you get started, the sooner the process will be complete.

Best of luck in your important journey,

James

P.S. Don't forget, having a solid, ongoing payment history with a card is your best way forward. Find yours now.

James Marshall

Best Gas Mileage - Credit Cards - Can You Live Without Them?

Credit Cards - Can You Really Live Without Them?

In 2007, having a credit card is no longer a luxury or even a convenience - it's a necessity. You can't rent a car, check into a motel, or order online without a credit card. If you want a cell phone, you'll probably have to purchase prepaid minutes - at a premium - unless you have some plastic with your name on it. And without a credit card, you either have to carry around a lot of cash, make frequent trips to the bank, or hope that the stores you patronize will accept your personal checks.

Credit Cards Can Be Lifesavers in the Case of an Emergency

Worst of all, people who lack sufficient access to credit are the most likely to use payday loan services. Later in this series we will explore this subject in depth, but for now, just consider this: If a single mother is hit with a sudden, unexpected expense - say a car repair for $600 - what can she do if she doesn't have the money? She needs the car to get to work, and she doesn't know anyone who can afford to lend her the money out of friendship. So she decides to use the local payday loan shop and ends up paying a 530 percent APR (annual percentage rate) interest. If, instead, she had a credit card with at least $600 of available credit, she wouldn't have had to use the payday charlatans, and would have paid a much, much lower interest rate. Many people who use payday loan services, even once, fall into an inescapable spiral of debt, where they work all week to pay back their payday loans, and then have to take out new payday loans to meet their weekly expenses. People who use their credit cards responsibly never fall victim to this scenario.

Credit Cards Can Help With Budgeting

Credit cards help spendthrifts easily track their expenditures. One simple technique is to use one credit card to automatically pay your recurring monthly expenses (phone, cable, utilities, etc.), another to buy your groceries and gas, and a third for all other expenses (entertainment, eating out, etc.). When you get your bills each month you can compare how much you spent on your wants versus your needs and make adjustments as necessary.

Protections Offered by Credit Cards

Although the media likes to focus on the "epidemic" of identity theft, the truth is that using a credit card is much safer than using cash, a check, or virtually any other means of exchange. If you're carrying cash and your wallet is stolen, you'll never see a dime of your money. If a merchant cashes your check and refuses to grant you a refund, chances are, you're out of luck. But in either scenario, using a credit card would have offered you protection.

If, for example, your wallet full of credit cards is stolen, you will not be liable for any more than $50 of fraudulent charges, per card. This is the legal limit, but in reality, most card issuers don't even hold you liable for the first $50 - they just stick the merchants with the bill. And if a merchant refuses to give you a refund that you deserve, you can file a "chargeback," in which the credit card company will side with you 99 percent of the time. Paying in cash or with a check offers no such protections.

Your Credit Card - Don't Leave Home Without It

Credit cards are ideal for traveling abroad because they automatically convert to the local currency. This means you won't have to waste time with the money changer or carry around several foreign currencies, and of course, not carrying cash makes you much less susceptible to pick-pocketing.

The main thing to understand is that credit cards can be wonderful tools that greatly enhance our lives. All that we need to do is be informed, active, and responsible users of these powerful little pieces of plastic.

Stay safe.

Sincerely,

James

www.CC-Y James Marshall

Best Gas Mileage - Bad Credit? Start Rebuilding

Bad Credit? Lose The Shame, Take Responsibility, and Begin Rebuilding

According to the research firm Sherbrooke and Associates, 43 percent of American households are "credit constrained." This is probably because they carry too much current debt, or they were forced into making poor choices with their credit in the past. With interest rates rising and the housing market cooling, the number of credit constrained households is likely to increase. If you find yourself in a such a situation, know that you're not alone.

Having excess debt and bad credit is a source of shame for many, and it has even been known to break up otherwise loving marriages. Many people who are credit-constrained feel there is no way out - particularly now that bankruptcy laws have been changed to make filing for bankruptcy more difficult for people with even average incomes. The truth, contrary to what most bankruptcy lawyers will tell you, is that bankruptcy is rarely the answer. You can dig yourself out of debt and repair your credit - all that it takes is commitment, discipline, and most of all, a new attitude.

Step #1 - Let Go Of Your Shame

Unless you fraudulently charged items that you had no intention of paying for, you need to let go of all shame related to your bad credit and debt. After all, the credit system is set up with the understanding that some people will be unable to pay their debts - that's why lenders are paid interest, to compensate them for risk. If you buy a corporate bond and the company goes under, nobody feels sorry for you, so don't let your creditors make you feel sorry for them. Just like buying a bond, your creditors took a financial risk by lending to you, and they didn't do it out of the kindness of their hearts - they did it to make money. So long as you had every reason to believe that you'd be able to pay for your debts, you have nothing to feel guilty about.

Letting go of your guilt and shame is not the same as abdicating all responsibility. To one degree or another, you are responsible for your situation. To another degree, externalities - things in the outside world - are responsible. Take responsibility for your actions, but do not let anyone make you feel guilty or they will wield that guilt as a weapon against you.

Step #2 - Contact Your Creditors

Once you've let go of your shame and have committed to taking responsibility, it will be much easier to face your creditors. Explain to them that you're over your head in debt, and while you want to honor your commitments, you would appreciate it if they would work with you to make doing so easier. Most of the time, your creditors will be more receptive than you would imagine - after all, they're used to people in your position ducking under a rock and ultimately sticking them with the bill.

Your creditors may offer to let you skip a payment or two in order to help you get back on your feet, or they might offer to lower your interest rates. If you still have your accounts open, they might offer to suspend your credit while you pay off the balance in principal only at regular monthly intervals. Finally, they may offer to settle your accounts at less than the full amount due if you pay in one lump sum.

Step #3 - Begin Rebuilding Your Credit

While restructuring your payment terms, by all means, stop abusing credit. You need to work out a budget that will prevent you from finding yourself in this situation again. If you still have credit cards that haven't been canceled, you should continue to use them - but make absolutely sure that you can pay for everything you've charged that month when the bill comes due. By doing this, you'll keep a credit account active, which is good for your credit.

Many of these negotiated payment plans will adversely affect your credit - particularly settling for less than the total amount due, which will be a black mark on your credit report for up to seven years. The fact is that negotiated settlements may still may be superior to falling deeper and deeper into debt, which could ultimately destroy your credit and lead to legal action being taken against you.

Once you're back on your feet, be sure not to repeat the same mistakes you made in the past, but don't swear off credit altogether, either. Just because you're in bad shape now doesn't mean that you always have to be. Open up a small credit account and pay your bills in full and on time, and in a matter of just a few short years, your credit can be just as good as anyone else's. The sooner you start rebuilding after a near credit meltdown, the sooner you'll be able to experience the security and peace of mind that the other 57 percent of Americans enjoy.

Stay safe.

Sincerely,

James

James Marshall

Friday 21 November 2008

Best Gas Mileage - Why Credit Cards Are Good

Because credit is something that is so important, but also sometimes confusing, we are going to lay everything out for you, in simple terms.

We'll also show you how to get the credit you deserve, how to make the most of your credit, and ways to improve your overall credit rating, no matter where it is now.

For years, the conventional financial wisdom was "credit cards are bad." We were told that cutting up our credit cards was the only way to free ourselves from debt-ridden indentured servitude. People needed to "live within their means," and if credit cards were ever to be used, it should be "only in the case of an emergency."

This conventional "wisdom" turned out to be not only untrue, but hurtful to those who listened to it. The truth is that credit cards are our friends. They are our allies in building credit. How easy do you think it is it to qualify for a home loan when you've never even had a credit card? Responsible credit card usage shows potential lenders that you're able to manage your finances. What's more, an intelligent credit card user turns the interest game on its head, and actually uses his credit cards to give himself interest-free loans.

Use Your Credit Cards to earn money For You

In order to get the most out of your credit cards you need to use them, and use them frequently. If you have two cards with $500 limits, you might want to nearly max them out each month. Set one card up to pay your recurring monthly bills (cable, cell phone, auto insurance, etc.), and use the other one for gas and grocery purchases. If you have cards with much higher limits, say $5,000 or $10,000, then maxing them out each month probably isn't a good idea, but you should use your credit cards to the fullest extent possible - and you should pay them in full every month.

Say you have a $90 cable bill due on the 3rd, a $110 cell phone bill on the 12th, and $150 in auto insurance premiums due on the 15th of each month. You "pay at the pump" using your credit card on the 4th, 11th, 18th, and 26th, spending a total of $165. That's a total of $515. But here's the beauty - your credit card company sends your statement on the 1st, but doesn't require payment until the 15th. This means that the charges of $515, some of which date back to the third day of the previous month, aren't due until the 15th of the next month. Since interest is only charged on the unpaid portion of your monthly balance, this represents a month-and-a-half interest-free loan! If you have a $1,000 credit limit (or two $500 credit cards), you can continue charging on the card into the second month before ever paying for the first month's charges.

What's the big deal? Well imagine you had $1,000 sitting in a money market savings account yielding 5 percent. Your money would be earning interest for you. In essence, you would be earning money each time you used your credit card.

Balance Transfers - Another Way to Turn the Credit Card

Game on its Head

If you have a higher credit limit, credit cards can be used for the short-term financing of larger purchases. Say you had a $10,000 credit limit and you wanted to buy a new sofa for $2,500. The financing options at furniture stores are normally rip-offs, so why not finance the purchase yourself? You could have an interest-free loan for up to 45 days (maybe 60, depending on your credit card's "grace period"), during which time you could save the money to pay off the entire amount, or at least a portion. And the best thing about your mailbox being constantly flooded with credit card offers is that oftentimes you can transfer existing credit card balances to new cards with introductory interest rates of 0 percent!

For example, imagine you purchased a used car for $9,000 - completely on your credit card. Conventional wisdom would say this was a terribly foolish thing to do, but you know better. You have already been offered and approved for an additional card with a $10,000 credit limit, and an introductory interest rate of 0 percent for one full year. After making one payment on your existing card's balance, you transfer $8,500 to your new card, where you can pay it off in full with 12 payments of $708 - all principal, no interest. After that, you'll own the car, debt-free.

If the $708 was too much for you, you could pay less each month, of course. An even riskier, but potentially rewarding strategy would be to pay as little as possible on the new card, and then hope for another 0 percent introductory offer coming in the next year. There's nothing illegal or even unscrupulous about playing the credit card game this way - it only makes financial sense. Credit card companies exist to make money from your mistakes, but if you're a vigilant consumer, you can invert the game and make money for yourself! What's even better, if a bit strange, is that the credit card companies will find you all the more desirable. So the next time you read an article in which the financial guru tells you to tear up your credit cards, do yourself a favor and tear up the magazine instead.

Sincerely,

James

And remember, don't forget to visit our site for the best selection of cards on the Internet. No matter what your credit picture is like, we have the perfect card for you: James Marshall

Best Gas Mileage - Credit Cards - Can You Really Live Without Them?

Credit Cards - Can You Really Live Without Them?

Credit Cards Can Be Lifesavers in the Case of an Emergency

Credit Cards Can Help With Budgeting

Protections Offered by Credit Cards

Your Credit Card - Don't Leave Home Without It

Stay safe.

Sincerely,

James

Sunday 30 November 2008

Saturday 29 November 2008

Friday 28 November 2008

Thursday 27 November 2008

Wednesday 26 November 2008

Tuesday 25 November 2008

Monday 24 November 2008

Sunday 23 November 2008

Saturday 22 November 2008

Friday 21 November 2008

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