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Archive for the ‘Repair Credit’ Category

Tracking Spending Reboot

Posted by Oswald Goldstein on January 24th, 2012

This is a series following my experience tracking my expenses through January. I’m exploring this cash flow management technique with an eye towards what it feels like to write down every single time I spend money. It’s not that people don’t know how to track their expenses (the nuts and bolts are not particularly difficult), but there are buckets full of internal obstacles that make the practice very difficult.

I’m posting about the experience so when you try tracking your spending (because slaying ignorance leads to more budgeting peace of mind) you’ll know you’re not alone, this stuff is hard, but hopefully in the end tracking your spending is worth it.

Theres good news and bad news. And then some more good news.

Good news

I tracked my spending, from plane tickets to parking meters (and lots of groceries as youll remember) for a solid 16 days.

Bad news

I somehow rationalized not tracking my spending starting on the 17th. I dont thin

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Tags: Tracking, Tracking Spending
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Capgemini Survey Reveals More than 25 Percent of Fortune 1000 Companies’ Hiring Capabilities May Suffer Due to Delayed Cash Flow

Posted by Oswald Goldstein on January 14th, 2012

Capgemini, one of the worlds foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, today released the findings of its most recent Executive Insight Survey that found Fortune 1000 companies are feeling the pressures of late payments on their bottom line. The top three areas affected by delayed cash flow, as cited by the surveyed executives, include growth (29 percent), hiring (27 percent) and revenue (20 percent).

The survey, commissioned by Capgemini and conducted online in September 2011 by Harris Interactive, polled 304 executives from Fortune 1000 companies and found that nearly half (45 percent) have seen an increase in late payments from their clients. Fifteen percent of executives noted a major increase (a jump of 25 percent or more) in late payments within the past year. Nearly a quarter of those affected by payment delays said that this trend has had a significant impact on their business.

Some companies may adopt tactics to mitigate the impact of late payments from their customers, including outsourcing cash collections.

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Tags: 1000, Fortune 1000
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Watch China

Posted by Oswald Goldstein on January 4th, 2012

Earlier, I was saying “Watch the Euro”. Well, now might be a good time to watch China.

A couple of possibly correlated events happened in the past few days in China. Days after intense media attention on those 10 Foxconn suicides + 3 unsuccessful attempts at the huge 420,000-employee factory in Shenzhen China which churns out, among other things, Apple iPhones, Sony Playstations, and various gadgets for many other companies including HP, Nintendo, Motorola and Dell, it has been announced that the workers there have been given a 20% pay raise on Friday. Around the same time, workers at a Honda factory are still on strike, coming into its second week, even after it was announced that Honda would be giving out a 24% pay raise – inflation expectations, anyone?

Next, we’ve got Bloomberg reporting that : “Chinese manufacturing expanded at a slower pace in May 2010, adding to signs that growth may moderate in the world’s third-biggest economy. The Purchasing Managers’ Index fell to 53.9 from 55.7 in April, seasonally adjusted.

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Tags: China, Watch China
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Occupy Vancouver movement almost takes over Catholic church

Posted by Oswald Goldstein on January 4th, 2012

 

Vancouver Archbishop Michael Miler anticipated the march of protesters and requested extra police protection outside the cathedral to prevent the disruption of the mass.

Organizers of the Occupy Vancouver movement almost took over the Holy Rosary Cathedral in downtown Vancouver on Sunday morning.

Vancouver Police stopped the protesters from disrupting mass at the Catholic church. A spokesman for the group, which renamed itself Occupy Vatican, said the purpose of the aborted church takeover was to bring to the Catholic Church’s attention the thousands of residential school survivors who suffered under the clergy.

However, some members of the Occupy Vancouver movement said that the Occupy Vatican movement did not secure consensus at their Saturday night general assembly and was not supported by the majority of protestors.

Vancouver Archbishop Michael Miler anticipated the march of protesters and requested extra police protection outside the cathedral to prevent the disruption of the mass.

In the U.S., protesters from Nashville and San Diego were arrested over the weekend after police moved into their camps at night.

Nashville police used a new law that banned overnight camping near the Tennessee state capital. Sa

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Tags: Vancouver, Vancouver Movement
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Beware this year’s holiday shopping craze: mobile mania

Posted by Oswald Goldstein on December 17th, 2011

Photo courtesy of flickr user Yutaka Tsutano

Our fancy mobile devices are meant to make our lives easier. But am I the only one feeling like the smartphone in my purse is complicating holiday shopping?

 

Retailers like Target are luring customers through social networks, offering special deals if you check the store’s Facebook page or respond to a tweet. Sites like Gilt Groupe, Amazon, and HSN are aggressively emailing you about sales during peak shopping times (like they did on Black Friday and surely will continue to do), in the hopes that you’ll abandon your spot in line to shop online. And location-based mobile apps like Foursquare and Shopkick offer you rewards points and discounts by simply recognizing when you walk into a store.

 

Head spinning yet? T

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Tags: Mobile, Mobile Mania
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Gift Card Rules and Tips

Posted by Oswald Goldstein on December 8th, 2011

Remember the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009?  I know Ill never forget.  Horses were being replaced with motorcars, the Beatles were on top of the charts, and Shirley Temple was dancing her way into the hearts of Americans.  (Im no good with history)  Anyway, while the CARD Act changed several rules in the credit card industry, it also affected gift cards.  So whether youre giving one or you receive one this holiday season, its important to know what has changed.

For a rundown of the major impacts the CARD Act had on the credit card industry, check out THIS POST.  Otherwise, see the list below to find out about the impact on gift cards.  We also threw in some general tips on buying/using gift cards.

  • Funds on gift cards must be good for at least five years. Money added later must also be good for at least five years.
  • Issuers generally arent allowed to charge any fees within the first year after a gift card is purchased. Howeve

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Tags: Card, Card Rules
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How to Get a Short Term Loan

Posted by admin on December 8th, 2011

Short term loans are available for those who need access to quick cash due to unexpected bills and expenses. These types of loans are known as quick loans or payday loans and they can be a real lifesaver. Getting a fast loan is not difficult if you have the right qualifications and know the process. With a little information you can have access to a cash advance in just a day or two.

There are many reputable lenders who provide quick loans so be sure to search out a few so you’ll have some options with regard to fees, terms, conditions and payment schedule.

Check out each quick loan lender’s website to review fees and any other charges or terms. You may also find a website that matches a borrower and a lender handy. These sites allow you to apply to multiple lenders at once and easily review offers from a wider source of quick loan providers.

Once you’ve gathered a list of potential lenders, check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and other consumer review sites to see how the lenders perform and if there have been a significant number of complaints lodged against them. Onlin Read full post…

Tags: Short Term Loan
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I.C. System Sends Key Executives to Washington, D.C. for Industry Fly-in

Posted by Oswald Goldstein on December 2nd, 2011

Two key executives from I.C. System, a privately owned debt collection agency based in St. Paul, Minnesota, attended an industry event in Washington, DC, intended to build awareness and support for improvements in industry legislative terminology.

The “Fly-in” trip to Capitol Hill was held on November 1st & 2nd, 2011, and is part of ACA International’s advocacy efforts to modernize and clarify the wording of collections industry legislation such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The laws govern debt collection practices in the United States of America. They have become increasingly outdated and provide little clarity with respect to the use of such technologies as cell phones and the internet.

One specific effort being lobbied for is the passage of H.R. 3035, a proposed amendment to the TCPA which would allow more equitable treatment of cell phones and land lines.

“Hopefully we can help make a difference and get some of these outdated things changed,” said Mike Dunn, Chief Operating Officer of I.C. System, “

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Tags: Industry, Key Executives
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