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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>

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>

You Don't Have To Live a Life Filled With Stress And Anxiety From Being Over Worked and Over Loaded with Debt. Be Happy, Debt Free And Create The Life You Desire…      It's Simple When You Know How!

We have compiled this 'life changing – life saving', 53 page e-book “Simply Living, Debt Free” for You!

If you don't want Life to be a Constant Struggle then this could be the single most important guide you will find.

In these uncertain times where stock markets have been crashing, mortgage defaults are high, people getting retrenched and businesses are going under, it is no wonder most people are more worried than ever about how they are going to make ends meet, pay the bills and put food on the table, particularly with high levels of crippling consumer debt.

It does not have to be all Doom and Gloom. You really can take control of your situation and live a comfortable lifestyle when you know how… "Debt Elimination – Simply Living Debt Free" can show you how to get out of the debt trap and give you peace of mind so you can enjoy life, even in these challenging economic times.

Today's "I've got to have it now" mentality is robbing tens of thousands of people from enjoying life. The stress and anxiety from being over-worked and loaded with debt takes a toll – yet they keep on doing what they are doing. They feel Trapped! (does this sound familiar?) If they keep on doing what they are doing, they'll keep on getting what they have been getting – deeper in debt and more stressed!

To put it in perspective, consider these facts:

• Consumers have accumulated more than $2.2 trillion in purchases by using major credit cards in the past year.
• The majority have a habit of spending more than they have and it has become an acceptable practice and way of life.
• Credit card debit grew by 315% from 1989 to 2006!
• Less and less people are paying credit card bills on time, piling on interest and penalties to already soaring debt.
• Americans have more debt today than ever before – and growing! (And the rest of the world for that matter)
• Credit cards have become a way of life and way to horde more material possessions than a person can use.
• Buying things without having money is easier today than ever before.
• 80% of Students are solicited by credit card companies every day – drawing them into the web of debt.
• Debt, like weight gain, often sneaks up on us. The truth is, debt happens one purchase at a time; one decision at a time.

Don’t just think about it! Take action and take control of your life before you suffocate in a mountain of debt! When you are in control, you are able to overcome obstacles and identify capabilities deep inside you that until now, you did not know existed!

Isn't it time to make a change?

It's about Simple living. It's not about things; it's about beliefs and principles and making some simple changes in your life. Amongst an extensive list of informative subjects, we talk about four major areas of life associated with "wealth" in this empowering book:

All of these areas of your life are interrelated and interconnected in some way (if they are not aligned you could find yourself crippled with a serious debt problem). How "wealthy" you are in each area is most likely determined by your values and goals. When you approach life with goals that are incongruent with your values, you create confusion and anxiety for your body, your mind, and your life!

Conflicting values and goals can lead to unhappiness, insecurity, stress, depression, and both mental and physical illness. But when you establish goals that are driven by your true values, then you have greater harmony and peace in your life. Read on to discover how you can simplify your life and lead a debt free, simple and abundant lifestyle.

re: Extract from Simply Living Debt Free; Page 9 – 10 /53

Life is a balancing act:

Today’s hectic world requires multi-tasking at every level. Work, family, and social life are all filled with numerous activities and demands on our time. It’s difficult to determine where and how to spend your time with so many commitments and activities tugging at you. It’s a balancing act that feels more like a juggling act and it has most people filled with anxiety and stress.

Over 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, with no cushion or planning for emergencies. They are juggling their money and their debt and getting nowhere – except further in debt and perilously close to a mental breakdown from the stress and anxiety of their situation. Their lives are so stressful and difficult, they don’t have time to enjoy living.

But when you make the commitment to simplify your life and live a good life while still taking care of every other aspect of your life, it becomes a much more manageable task. It all starts with a good hard look at what’s important to you in this life. It requires you to:

Insightful thinking and honestly answering questions about your current life, compared to the life you would really like to live, will lead to a greater understanding of what is needed to achieve that new life. Pulling back the covers and accepting the cold, hard facts about what is wrong with your current life will eventually lead to a better life.

You must take control of your life and make changes to reach the destination you dream about. Don’t just think about it – take action and take control of your life.

When you are in control, you are able to overcome obstacles and identify capabilities deep inside you that until now, you did not know existed.

It’s an enlightening, exciting realization to discover that you can control your own destiny!

Consider some of the questions that will give you a greater understanding of your current situation and the simpler life that that awaits you:

Looking at yourself honestly and assessing your current situation is a harsh reality for many. Once you sit down and evaluate where you are currently spending your time, money, and energy, you may be surprised at the choices you have made. You may discover that your actions are not aligned with your goals.

And more importantly, you may realize that your goals are in conflict with your values!

Scary? It can be, but it doesn’t have to be.

Change can be hard and it may be painful – but the pain will be short-lived and your new life will be abundant with happiness. If you don’t change, aren’t you going to go through even more pain with no end to your debt, unhappiness, and stress in sight?

For less than the cost of a meal at a nice restaurant can you afford not to get your hands on this life saving guide that can help save you from debilitating debt for good.

You'll refer to 'Debt Elimination – Simply Living Debt Free' over and over! It will become your 'bible' for living a Debt Free, Abundant Lifestyle that will give you back your Freedom and let you enjoy Life the way it was meant to.

It's an enlightening, exciting realization to discover that you can control your own destiny.

It will be the wisest investment decision you'll make for a better future.

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and
endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet
with a success unexpected in common hours.
~ Henry David Thoreau