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By Everett Maclachlan

When you have too much debt, it almost feels like you are carrying around 30 or 40 extra pounds on your body. The extra financial weight is always there lurking, even when you are not trying to take out a loan or apply for a low-interest rate credit card. However, when you do need to borrow money or qualify for credit, suddenly the weight of your situation becomes all-too-clear.

There are many types of debt, including mortgage debt, auto loans, student loans, department store cards and of course credit card debt. In terms of their effect on your FICO (credit) score, credit card debt is by far the worst in the eyes of creditors.

It is not at all uncommon these days for people to have $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 or more in credit card debt. Much of this is high-interest debt, which makes it particularly hard to pay down. Making only the monthly minimum payments is not enough – doing only that would mean most people would never get out of debt during their lifetimes. The more you try to pay it down, the more the debt seems to add up.

One way out is a consolidation-of-debt loan. This type of loan works by your taking out a single, low-interest loan that you use to pay down the credit card debt. The challenge is that, if you have a bad credit score, it can be hard to take out a personal unsecured loan.

If you need a consolidation-of-debt loan, personal unsecured loans may be the way to go. Here are 5 steps to getting funded:

1. Get a clear picture of your financial standing:

If you really want to get out of debt once and for all, you will need to take clear stock of your financial standing. This means really facing the facts about how much debt you have and at what interest rate. Rather than just throwing more money at your debt with a new loan, you will want to take a calculated approach to getting yourself out of debt.

2. Know the landscape of your credit report:

Next, before you start applying for loans, be sure to run your credit report with at least 2-3 of the top credit bureaus. Note the reasons for your bad credit score. And, be sure to report any errors on your report so that you can get them removed.

3. Put together a plan for repayment of your personal unsecured loan:

Next, you will want to put together a plan. Once you take out this new loan, how will you repay it? After all, the goal is to get yourself out of debt, not stay in it forever.

4. Build a lender list:

Now, it is time to find your lender. Make sure to do searches for “bad debt personal unsecured loan lender.” You will want a list of at least 4 or 5 lenders before you begin applying to any of them.

5. Apply using strong negotiation tactics:

There are two ways to apply for a personal loan: passively or proactively. Don’t just be passive, filling out the application and doing the minimum to get approved. Instead, be proactive. Be ready to address any concerns the lender may have about your credit report. Be prepared to show the lender that you are credit-worthy; show your employment history, residential history, and any other factors that can help your case.

Take these 5 steps to getting approved for an unsecured personal consolidation loan.

About the Author: Get a fail-safe how-to guide on securing a personal loan today at:

Miracle Bad Credit Loan Source

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By Nick Nikolis

Risk management is the analysis of risk coupled with the implementation of quality risk controls. Risk management is needed for banks and financial institutions, mainly because it insures a margin of safety that guarantees a levered financial firm’s solvency.

The unpredictability and inherent risks associated with the financial markets makes it vital for financial institutions and banks to implement risk management controls. The level of quality risk management policy and controls can make or break (literally) banks or financial institutions.

The term “risk management” has evolved over the past twenty years from the term “insurance management”. This evolved term covers a wider variety of responsibilities than insurance management ever did.

Financial risk management products, derivatives and other such contracts that help hedge and protect the downside, include interest rate swaps, foreign exchange swaps and contracts, as well as a plethora of derivative securities. There are dozens of types of risk management related derivative products, the most popular of them Credit Default Swaps.

The most important part of risk management is the transferring of risk. A bank or a financial institution can protect itself from the potential risks and pitfalls of its asset portfolio by purchasing some Credit Default Swaps.

Credit Default Swaps, the most popular kind of derivative, are derivative swaps that transfer exposure to fixed income assets (bonds, mortgages, loans) from the purchaser to the seller of said derivative.

Credit Default Swaps are more or less an insurance policy taken out by a creditor that pays out if the borrower defaults. The underwriter of the swap, in return for agreeing to assume the risk of the underlying asset, receives a stream of premium payments (premiums like the ones received by insurance companies).

Credit Default Swaps are the most popular form of Credit Derivative, derivative products that protect creditors against systemic risks in both the market and in the borrower.

Risk management related credit derivative products such as Credit Default Swaps, albeit good hedges for risk, are truly double edged swords, if coupled with wanton speculation and overleveraging.

In recent years risk management products such as credit derivatives have evolved into vehicles of speculation, instruments used by financial firms and institutions to make speculative and sometimes irresponsible bets on market movements.

Lack of regulation, coupled with poor understanding of complex and Byzantine instruments, led to the credit derivative market degenerate into, to put it bluntly, a Wall Street casino.

The downturn in the housing markets has led this derivative house of cards (no pun intended) to collapse upon itself, leading to insolvency and systemic failure. Credit default swaps, however are a zero sum game. Some financial institutions have profited from correct bearish housing market bets.

If risk management products were used responsibly by banks and financial institutions, instead of used to make levered bets, the whole financial calamity could have been minimized. It is quite ironic that systems put into place to reduce risks ending up being the root of exacerbated risk.

Once the damages of the financial crash are cleaned up and settled, proper risk management can again be put into place. The need for regulation, however, is an issue up for debate.

There are too many arguments for and against regulation of credit derivative markets for there to be a concrete solution to the credit derivative problem.

There is simply too much nuance in the moral, social and financial ramifications of credit derivative rules, regulation and policy; in no way is the credit default swap debate a black or white issue.

As long as banks and financial institutions use credit derivative products such as credit default swaps for hedging purposes only, the integrity of the risk management instruments will stay in place.

The whole concept of risk management for banks and financial institutions is nullified by improper and risky speculative activities. Risk management, if done in a proper and responsible way, can effectively mitigate systemic and market risks, risks that are both inherent in today’s global financial marketplace.

For risk management to truly be risk management there should be zero tolerance for rampant, irresponsible speculation. The last thing a bank or a financial institution needs to do is exacerbate its risks by mixing gambling (speculation) with risk management.

About the Author: Nick Nikolis is living and working in Rhodos Greece and writing about Self help, Business, Hospitality Industry and destinations. Check here Rhodes Greece villas and Rhodes Greece apartments.

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By Gilbert Martinez

Gift giving has been a practice that has a place within the earliest recollection of human interaction. Throughout history, gifts or presents have been transferred from one to another in the form of goods, money, and even intangible items that one cannot touch, smell, or see, but feel in their heart, such as compassion or friendship. For some, the act of gift giving was rewarded with some form of power, social standing, and sometimes even a wife. Others have been purely satisfied with doing something nice for another and not receiving a thing in return.

One of the first memories of gift giving also shows a lesson in life, love, and sacrifice. Even in the book of Genesis, Cain and Abel gave gifts to God. Eventually, this tale would lead to one of the most known passages in the Bible regarding jealousy and murder. As the story goes, the gardener Cain gave fruit as a gift to God, while his brother, Abel offered the very best lamb from his flock. God was quite pleased with Abel’s gift, but not as impressed with Cain’s gesture. Since Abel chose to bestow a gift he valued for himself, God greatly appreciated the sacrifice. The same viewpoint on gift giving stands today.

For instance, if you took the time to travel many miles to a florist that produced the same bouquet of flowers for your parent’s wedding anniversary, this gift would mean much more to them than if you took the time to pick roses from the backyard. While the bouquet of flowers from the florist may look beautiful and smell just as sweet, the parents are probably more pleased by the sacrifice of driving such a distance to pay tribute to their anniversary with an unforgettable memory.

Sometimes, there are moments that do not call for the giving of gifts, but require a delicate, personal approach to the circumstances. For instance, when a friend is going through a divorce, they most likely would appreciate face-to-face comfort than receiving a gift in the mail from a long-distance friend. When this is not possible, there are still plenty of unique gift baskets on the market that can bring a smile to the most downtrodden individual.

For some, spending money on a gift may put a strain on their finances, but there are many great gifts that cost nothing at all or only require a few bucks. There are also a lot of gift givers who will accompany unique gift baskets and flowers with a present that took thousands of dollars to pull off. The average cost of a gift is hard to determine. The range really involves personal preferences and budget limitations. Many individuals have also found great gift savings through making purchases on the Internet.

For those trying to save a little money, the concept of re-gifting has been used. This usually occurs when one receives a gift that is not necessarily needed or wanted. It could be a silver serving dish that you already have or an unattractive sweater that you don’t have the heart to ask for an exchange receipt. In any case, you put the gift to good use by delivering it to someone else on a special occasion or holiday. If you make this a regular process, it is important to remember whom you received the original gift from (people have been known to re-gift back to the person who gave them the present in the first place).

Why Give a Gift?

Gifts satisfy an assortment of needs and beliefs. They are used to express a wide range of feelings, such as love, friendship, and gratitude. Gift giving may serve as a form of charity, as well as shows support (as seen in political arenas). Gifts also provide a way for people to celebrate a wealth of special occasions, customs, traditions, and holidays. Below, you will find some of the most important events that bring about the outpouring of gifts:

Birthdays

Gifts play an important role in celebrating the one day of the year you call your very own. The receipt of gifts and cards, as well as unique gift baskets and flowers for the ladies are common ways to make this personal holiday even more special. As one gets older, the gift giving seems to lessen, but the act is still a frequent occurrence for individuals of all ages.

Valentine’s Day

This romantic day for sweethearts often calls for the exchange of pink teddy bears, syrupy greeting cards, unique gift baskets filled with chocolates and scented candles, as well as colorful bouquets of flowers, such as bright red roses.

Christmas

Although most of the credit goes to Santa Claus for the gift giving that occurs during this holiday season, plenty of people have delivered unique flower bouquets of poinsettias, and selected beautifully decorated unique gift baskets filled with peppermint-flavored treats, red and green accented delights, and jingle bells.

Wedding

After attending the exchange of wedding vows, guests wine and dine at a ceremony where they bring gifts for the newly married couple. While monetary gifts serve as a tradition in many cultural circles, physical gifts, such as household goods and personal mementos are quite common.

When it comes time to give a gift, there are many other occasions that call for this type of exchange. People all over the globe mark their calendars each year to make sure they don’t miss gift-giving occasions, including baby showers, anniversaries, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, graduation, and housewarming get-togethers. As gift ideas wear thin, you can always turn to the perfect unique gift basket or colorful bouquet of flowers to give family and friends. For all your gift giving needs goto www.giftbaskets-flowers.com

About the Author: Gilbert Martinez offers gift giving ideas Various resources includes Love & Romance Gift, Corporate Gift’s, Birthday Gift’s and Anniversary Gift’s

For more information about Please visit giftbaskets-flowers.com

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By William I. Neil

Times have changed. A person can no longer have a good night’s sleep in their home despite living in a quiet neighborhood since robbery and crime is now lurking in almost all places Even for a tightly guarded suburban community, burglary is now a common problem. With the financial crisis at hand almost anyone, even the most innocent looking individuals, are forced into doing robbery such as breaking into homes just to have a decent meal for their hungry family.

Home securities are a good investment and a definite must-have these days not just to protect our properties and assets that we have worked hard for, but most importantly our love ones who will protect no matter what. A door is held only together by a latch, dead bolt, and plate. Security door jam stop doors from being pried open inwards by outsiders. It is portable, lightweight, set-ups in a few minutes, and can withstand a force of 500 pounds; all of these features and it does not even damage your doors.

Unfortunately not all security door jams are made the same, you really must do your homework before placing your trust and the safety of your household on such an item, there are reports or break-ins where the homeowners used a cheap door jam only to be found it shattered into pieces by burglars. Do not fall prey under a false sense of security, cheap security door jams does not offer anything but hurt your wallet. A well invested quality security door jam serves as an important extra security tool in an exposed spot like your doors. There are a lot of types and sizes of door jams available for your needs and budget. Also, do not be afraid to get help from your friendly store clerk since some door jams need extra chiselling of the door frame for a tighter fit. Installing door jams are easy; first you have to make sure that your door opens inwards, since installing a security door jam to a door that open outwards will have no use at all.

The next step is to measure how wide your door is, and then depending on the model of the door jam you might have to carve off a section of the door frame so that the door jam will fit. Afterwards you have to install the brackets with long screws at either side of the door which will hold the door jam in place, just make sure you position it so it would not pose as an obstacle for you entering the door. Once you followed all the above instructions then you are ready to set your home security system, simply lock your doors normally and let the security door jam serve as a strong barrier from letting intruders open your doors. If you want to go out and open your doors, simply lift up the security door jam and tuck it away for storage until you want to secure your doors again. Following the above steps will enable you to have a safe, protected and secure home to relax to and take away your worries.

About the Author: William I. Neil is an architect, providing home improvement information and business directory listing about security door jam also categories, e.g. glass door security

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