Credit cards were not a common buying method for our parents and earlier generations. Yet, since the early 1990s, credit card debt has increased significantly. Even people as old as 80-plus are suffering from the risk of potential bankruptcy and other losses due to their lack of advice or knowledge on how to manage their credit cards more efficiently.

Often people over 50 do not own a computer or are unable to navigate the Internet to locate valuable information. Even if you don't own a computer, you may be able to use a computer at your local library. Contact your local community college and inquire about its adult education program for seniors. Ask about classes on Internet navigation and computer literacy skills.

Set-up fees are made when a new credit card is purchased. This fee is for all the work that goes into setting up your card.

Credit limit increase fees are paid for increasing the amount of credit that's on your card. So if you had a card for $2,000, and you ask for $1,000 more, you'll be charged a credit limit increase fee to get more money on your card.

Cash advance fees are used for setting up a cash advance. It could be a percentage of the cash advance, or just a flat fee.

Other fees include things such as customer service and looking into your account. Some credit card companies even charge you fees for using your card over the phone.

Interest rates for credit cards are fees you pay in addition to paying back the money you originally spent on the credit card. The card collects interest over time, and you pay this back inside your other payments. Really the only way to avoid or lower interest rates would be to pay your monthly bill, in full, on time each month.

There are usually three ways that credit card interest rates are calculated. The first is known as the previous balance method, the next is the average daily balance method, and the last is known as the adjusted balance method.

The first method (previous balance) is calculated by the finance charge based on the amount of last month's payments.

The second method (average daily balance) is calculated by the daily balance on every day of your pay period, subtracting received (made) payments, divided by the number of days in your pay period. If you make your payment earlier, this method of calculating interest rates will not be as high.

The final method is the adjusted balance method. This payment is determined by subtracting all the payments you made during your current payment from the last balance you paid on your last pay period.

Credit card interest rates can be determined by several other factors. For starters, the more your card is worth, that is, the more money that's on your card, the higher your interest rate is likely to be. Also, the amount of time you keep your card and the amount of time it takes to pay your monthly balance can have a role in your interest rate as well. Annual fees on credit cards can also determine how high your interest rate will be. Other random fees can influence the amount of your interest rates, too.

Some credit card companies have no interest rate, but most of them do. If a credit card company has no interest rate, this usually means that your other fees, such as annual fees and late payment fees will be higher, so the company is pretty much making up for the money they would have lost with no interest rate in the first place.

Are you feeling the pinch in your pocket?

If you are, you are certainly not alone. Millions of people are feeling the effects of an economic downturn, environmental uncertainty and a slow job market. Saving money has never been so important in some households than right now. With this need to save money so urgent, here are seven simple ways that you can help you start saving money today.

Cook your own dinner
Even if you don't know how to cook or think you may not like it, eating out is by far one of the most costly pleasures that many of us indulge in. Eating out may not seem like a big part of your spending budget, especially if you are careful about where you eat and head for the happy hour specials. But eating out is often one of those seemingly invisible drains on our savings. Unlike a major purchase or a vacation, it can be hard to keep track of how many times we eat out every week or how much we spend on that smoothie, latte or brunch. One of the simplest ways to begin to save money is to get into the habit of cooking often at home.

Brown bag it to work
Speaking of eating out, work lunches are another of those invisible drains on our wallet. Eating out for lunch often does not feel like eating out because it is usually not a pleasure outing. You are simply filling up before heading back to work. But if you are like most people, it can be very easy to eat out several times a week without even realizing how much money you are spending on lunch. If you're serious about saving your hard-earned cash, make it a priority to brown bag your lunch at least three times a week. If you still need incentive, sit down and do the math. Once you have seen exactly how much you're spending just by going to work, you might feel differently about brown bagging it.

Make a shopping list (and stick to it)
One of the biggest mistakes that most of us make before going shopping is that we arrive at the store unprepared. It can be very hard to resist temptation if you arrive at the grocery store without a plan of attack. Without a list, there is a very high chance that you will buy items that are not urgent or even necessary. You may even leave the store without buying one or more of the items you came to buy! Before heading to the grocery store, make a real effort to sit down and make a complete list of everything you really need. Don't rely on your excellent memory and cross off each item as you move along the aisles.

Stock up on perishable items when they're on sale
Be savvy when you go shopping. You will always need certain items: toothpaste, toilet paper, shampoo, cereals and other common household goods are good things to stock up on when they happen to be on sale.

Use your local library
Maybe you haven't stepped inside a library since . . . ever. If you are not familiar with the modern library, you will probably be surprised about what you'll find inside. Free internet use, new release movies, bestsellers, free movie nights-many local libraries offer numerous opportunities for free entertainment. Remember that your taxes pay for the library, so go ahead and use it.

Make comparison shopping a habit
No matter what kind of purchase you're making, large or small, the smart consumer always does a complete price check. Whether you're planning on buying a new book or a new car, simply checking online and making a few calls can save you a lot of money.

Get organized
One of the easiest ways you can save money year-round is by becoming more organized. Organize your monthly bills, credit card accounts, shopping lists, clip coupons and organize all of these in one easily accessible folder. Save money on unnecessary late fees and don't overpay simply by organizing your financial papers and accounts.

To read more about how to avoid getting into debt or how to get out of debt, have a look at this…<Click Here> 

Also if you would like to read more about How to Setup a Family Budget…<Click Here>

Celebrate this Easter in style with the fun recipes, games and craft ideas in the Family

Fun Easter Activity Collection.

 The Family Fun Easter Activity Collection. gives you instructions to make mouthwatering dinner recipes such as Easter Roast Lamb with Apple Tartlets, classic Hot Cross Buns and Maple-Glazed Roast Turkey Breast with Cornbread. Or how about some great confections like Easter Bunny Cake, and the World's Best Chocolate Easter Eggs.

You will also find easy to make craft ideas for your child as well as puzzles, coloring book pages and games for hours of Easter activities.

• EASTER RECIPES – BREADS AND MEATS
  • BRAIDED EASTER BREAD 
  • BUNNY BISCUITS
  • BUNNY BREAD
  • CARROT SALAD
  • CHOCOLATE BUNNY BREAD
  • DEVILED EGGS
  • DEVILED EGGS II 
  • EASTER BISCUITS
  • EASTER BREAD RING
  • EASTER BRISKE
• EASTER CRAFTS
  • COTTON BALL EASTER EGG
  • DESIGNER EGG GIFT CASE
  • EASTER BUNNY EARS
  • EASTER BUNNY MASK
  • EASTER PARADE BONNET 
  • EASY NO-BAKE CLAY FOR EASTER ORNAMENTS
  • EGG CARTON MINI-EASTER BASKETS 
  • EGGSHELL MOSAIC
  • EMPTY DESIGNER EGGS
  • GIANT EASTER EGGS
  • HOMEMADE COLORED BOILED EGGS
  • HOMEMADE NATURAL DYE FOR EASTER EGGS
  • PAPER BAG EASTER BUNNY 
  • PAPER PLATE EASTER BUNNY
• EASTER GAMES
  • DUCK WALK RACE
  • EASTER BUNNY TAG
  • EASTER BUNNY WORD SCRAMBLE
  • EASTER CANDY TOSS
  • EASTER EGG BOWLING MATCH 
  • EASTER EGG HUNT FOR LITTLE ONES
  • EASTER EGG MATCH-UP 
  • EASTER EGG MEMORY HUNT GAME
  • EASTER EGG ROLL GAME 
  • EASTER EGG SPOON RACE
  • EASTER EGG TOSS
  • EASTER GUESS THE NUMBER GAME
  • FAIR-FOR-ALL EASTER EGG HUNT
  • FIND YOUR NAME EASTER EGG HUNT
• PUZZLES AND COLORING PAGES

 And Much, Much, Much more

With over 200 pages of family fun, you will find an array of tasty confections and simple craft projects that will put your family in the Easter spirit. The Family Fun Easter Activity Collection will have the whole family joining in on the holiday fun.

Here is some of the great Easter Ideas featured in this brilliant 209 page Easter Family Collection:

SECTION 1
EASTER RECIPES

BRAIDED EASTER BREAD
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
2/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
2 eggs
5 whole eggs, dyed if desired
2 tablespoons butter, melted

In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, sugar, salt and yeast; stir well. Combine milk and butter in a small saucepan; heat until milk is warm and butter is softened but not melted. Gradually add the milk and butter to the flour mixture; stirring constantly.Add two eggs and 1/2 cup flour; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cupat a time, stirring well after each addition.
When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil.
Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal size rounds; cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Roll each round into a long roll about 36 inches long and 1/2 inches thick. Using the two long pieces of dough, form a loosely braidedring, leaving spaces for the five colored eggs. Seal the ends of the ring together and use your fingers to slide the eggs between the braids of dough.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place loaf on a butteredbaking sheet and cover loosely with a damp towel. Place loaf in a warm place and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.Brush risen loaf with melted butter.
Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until golden.
Makes 1 – 1 pound loaf.

EASTER GREEK LAMB
5 lb leg of lamb — boneless
1 c olive oil
1/2 c red wine vinegar
2 TB garlic — minced
1/2 c parsley — chopped
1/2 c dill — chopped
4 TB oregano — rubbed
black pepper

Whisk together the oil, vinegar, garlic, parsley, dill, oregano, and pepper. Butterfly the lamb and pepper generously on both sides. Cut some slits in themeat. Marinate the lamb for 2 to 24 hours. Drain marinade from lamb and put lamb in 425F oven in shallow roasting panfor about 45 minutes. You want an internal temperature of 135F. Let lamb
rest before serving. Yield: 8 Servings

SECTION 2
EASTER CRAFTS

EASTER BUNNY EARS

Construction paper (pink and white)GlueCut out bunny ears using the white construction paper; then cut out smaller ears using the pink construction paper.Glue the pink ears onto the white ears so the pink resembles the inside of the bunny's ears.Using the white construction paper, make a band the right size to fit around the child's head. Staple in place.Attach the bunny ears to the band.

EASTER BUNNY MASK

Paper Plate
Pink Construction Paper
White Pipe Cleaners
Yarn
Cut out eyes and nose in the paper plate.
Next cut out the bunny ears from the pink construction paper and glue the ears to the plate. Use the pipe cleaners to make the bunny whiskers. Attach them to the plate by gluing them on.Tie the yarn to each side of the plate; use the yarn to hold the mask in place

SECTION 3

EASTER GAMES

EASTER EGG TOSS

This is best done outside.Pair off the kids facing each other. The object of the game is to have the kids
toss an egg back and forth, moving farther away from each other after each toss. The first one to drop the egg is disqualified. The winning team would receive a prize For younger kids you can use plastic eggs or even hard-boiled eggs. For older kids, use fresh eggs. This can be hilarious but rather messy so be sure the kids are properly dressed for the occasion.

GOLDEN EASTER EGG HUNT

Have the kids decorate their own Easter baskets, each using a different color. They are then told that the eggs they will be looking for must be the samecolor as their baskets (they aren't to touch the other colors). This makesit easier for smaller children as the eggs can be out in plain view where the older the kids the harder they have to search for their Easter eggs. You canalso hide one (or more) gold egg which contains a special prize. The prize canbe anything you'd like (place money inside the egg or they can redeem the golden egg for a special prize).

Section 4
Puzzles and Coloring Pages

To get your hands on a copy of this exiting Easter Family Activity eBook, <Click Here>

Best Regards and a Beautiful Easter to you and your family.

What you can do to avoid getting into debt?

Experts say there are certain money missteps that many of us are likely to make. Here are the major money missteps that can easily land you in debt. These are very common missteps that many of us fall into without even knowing it.

Buying a new car.

OK, this is not so much a money misstep (unless you really can't afford a new car, or if you finance it with a high interest rate) as a preference that can easily get you into debt. Sure, you love that new car smell, the feeling that you are the one adding up the miles, but it is a known fact that new cars depreciate several thousand dollars as within the first year. Save yourself all that money that you're paying for the privilege of the new car smell and buy a high quality pre-owned vehicle. Many used cars still carry the original warranty-even more incentive for buying a quality used vehicle.

Borrowing from your 401(k) or 403(b)

In most cases, you won't get a great deal at all. Your 401(k) deals are pre-tax, which means that eventually the money that you put in will get taxed when you withdraw it. Taking out a loan from your 401(k) or 403(b) means that you will be borrowing from pre-tax dollar which will eventually have to be repaid. When you eventually retire and begin your withdrawals, you will be taxed again. If you borrow money from your 401(k) or 403(b), you will effectively be getting taxed twice. Did you know that you are also required to repay the loan in only a few months? If you don't happen to have the money for repayment, your loan will be treated as a withdrawal. You can expect a whopping 10 percent early withdrawal penalty.

Using your home equity line of credit to pay off your credit card debt

You can lose your home if this doesn't work out. Credit card debt is often described by unsecured debt, because there's no real collateral that the credit card company can force you to sell in order to collect on the debt. A home mortgage and home equity loan is known as secured debt because your home is the collateral. But if you fall behind your payments, the lender can easily require you to sell your home in order to collect on the debt.

Avoid buying a variable annuity

When you buy a variable annuity you are making a contract with the insurance company and the money is used to buy mutual funds. Salesmen may try to pitch this kind of investment as a way of buying and selling funds inside the annuity without the tax bills as long as the money is invested. But did you know that you will have to pay income tax on any withdrawals? Plus, if you withdraw any money from your variable annuities before you are approximately 60 years of age, you will also be penalized with a 10 percent fee. So watch out for what may seem like a great deal on that tempting variable annuity. There are often many buried fees that are attached to variable annuities. Make sure to read all the fine print.

Do not finance your new home purchase with a variable interest loan

Avoid those low initial teaser rates for financing your new home. If you can't afford the home otherwise, you should probably not buy the home. Avoid option adjustable rate mortgages too. This will usually cause your loan balance to become bigger each month as the lender adds the unpaid interest on the balance of your home loan. Watch out for those great introductory rates-they can often turn out to be not-so-great.

To read more about how to avoid getting into debt or how to get out of debt, have a look at this…<Click Here>