Looking for some good investments……

I was too stuck with the same issues of investing in the right place but then I realized (with some advice from my friends)….to go for investing in real estate that really turned out a luck of pot for me and I was glad that I took that step. I would advice you on the same and would like you to focus more on the REI so that it would be a benefit and a mode of security too.

I can't say that I agree there Mozish. Right now real estate can be a very risky investment for a first time invester with the condition of the housing markets. Flipping houses can be a good idea if you know the right people to work with and have a lot of patience finding the right deals. As far as buying homes to rent, it can be very hard to find good renters nowadays that will pay you on time every month and not trash your home in the meantime.

Granis, are you looking into things like stocks, annuities, and bonds. If so I would stay clear of the financial sector until the "credit crisis" blows over. I know a lot of people who are investing a lot of their money in alternative energy companies. I don't think this will give you a great return immediately but in the long run lets face, gas won't last forever!

Best of luck.

The american dollar is in bad shape right now.

Boy you can say that again (but don't). I see gas fell to $115 a barrell on Friday so at least we will save a few more cents there.

It takes a little while to follow suit at the pump, hopefully we will see some relief.

That would really be so nice. It is ashame that we can't make it a little better on my hubbues income. The gas eats up all of teh extrta money we use to have each month and even takes from the bill money here and there. When he got this job I can remember thinking wow finally less struggle and with me being laid off in the winter we wouldn't be struggling so much.. Just about a year later boom all this hit. I try not to tell him how tight things really get because this is the best job he has ever had and he is and has always been such a good worker. He is really proud of himself as he should be so I just keep quiet and lose the sleep.

That is being a good supportive spouse but you should not shoulder it all on your own. I find that if you don't let them see the real picture they tend to want to spend, spend, spend. All the stress on your shoulders can be unhealthy too and then where does that leave you.

True. He does have some idea. I just don't think he sees the big picture cause when I do try to talk to him he always says "don't worry I can handle it". It is fine until vacation or holidays hit a paycheck. Thats when it gets rough and then the 0% interest runs out this Nov. and if I don't get it paid it will add all the back interest.
I thought I could take care of it until thigs went the way they did this year. I guess we can always go take out a loan through the bank with lower interest but it will still leave a bigger payment.

What I think is that identity theft is one of the major crimes in US which cannot be stopped. This will happen even if you keep all your documents out of the reach of outsiders, because there are possibilities of identity theft at home itself. So it is better to always register fraud alert service with the credit bureaus. This service is a powerful weapon to prevent identity theft because whenever anybody tries to open a new line of credit with your name, the creditor will be required to verify with you before offering him credit.

Yes, I too agree with Anthony because if you have fraud alert services, you would be informed even if your family members tries to get a credit in your name. But in addition to this, precautions should also be taken while using credit cards, because credit cards are also a important source of identity theft. For this try to use at the most two credit cards and deactivate all other cards you have so that you can keep track of the spending on these cards. But don't deactivate or close down old card accounts because old accounts add to your credit score. If needed always try to close new accounts. Another thing is that, you need to be alert whenever you are making any payment with your cards.

Really good advice. Credit cards are usually the most sought after when someone is trying to steal an identity so thoae watch dog places do come in handy.

I think that fraud alert services are the best way to prevent identity theft. But as far as I know, once you activate fraud alert services with the credit bureaus, it remains operative for 90 days after which the service is deactivated.

I agree justin. It is 90 days once activated.

This is a really good service if you feel that you are at risk for identity theft, you can easily access these services on credit reporting pages.

If you feel like you are ever at any risk for identity theft please act as prompltly as possible. It can quickly save your credit the sooner you act.

these fraud alerts are good for this

Yes fraud alert is the best way to prevent identity theft. As far as I know, whenever you opt for fraud alert service with the credit bureaus, you are entitled to one free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus. Moreover, you need not contact all the three bureaus for activating fraud alert services. If you ask one of the bureaus to activate the service, the service would be activated with the other bureaus automatically.

Really good point Carol. You are correct in informing the poster all three will not be automatically contacted by contacting one. The poster can alos have three free reports (one from each bureau) even if she just wants to check her credit annually. Just visit "www.annualcreditreport.com". Always print the copy and keep it for future reference because after 30 days you can no longer view it for free on the net.

I might add that if you file any disputes online you should also print a copy of it. You can also comment on each entry on your report, you can print these off too. Keeping a copy of all this may come in handy later, especially if you are disputing items on your report.

that is good advice erb, you will want to have it all in print form and follow up with the credit reporting agency if necessary.

Thanks for adding ERB. I never thought that would really be a wise thing to do. Glad you jumped in.

I have learned the hard way, just got another bill in the mail, an old bill that was paid off along time ago, I have to dig out my paid in full letter and let them know that this was paid in full a long time ago, I just hope these jerks did not tag my credit report already.

This is exactly why you have to get it in print.

Isn't that insane. I hate when you have something paid and they send you another bill. Like I need to go through all the aggravation again. I had this done to me by Berkheimer a few years ago.
They sent my husband and I both letters saying we forgot to pay our personal taxes in 2001. So I paid then. With lots of fees added on. The original was only 20 bucks but when they were done it was almost 60 EACH.
Well the next week I got a new set,yep for both of us..same amounts..so I thought no way I forgot these two years in a row (I am anal when it comes to paying taxes).So i took the letters to my tax collector. She said they were doing this with everyone and she was having complaints. She hoped I didn't pay anything yet.
She looked them up and I had in fact paid 2001 but not 2002. Those people at berkheimer wouldn't even credit the payment to 2002 and once you pay them they DO NOT refund. They are not legally entitled to.
I tried everything, even shopwing copies and still had to pay again. I was steamed.

My name is Mike, i am a graphic designer. My hobby is to write about alternative enegy, environment, in conclusion green news. I wonder is in this forum is any topic about this field?

Hi Mike

As you can see we are a credit related community. We would gladly answer any credit related query that you may have or would like your participation in the same matter. However, we do not entertain any thing other than that in our forums.

I was same issue but letter on I inverts money in my shop. I no that there is no more benefit but my money my safe. I can see myself which passion have my money.
O.K. give that
You can inverts your money in policies,in banks,wherever but you
must take care about tour money. So if you inverts money in self businesses you get benefit

In thia market you cna look at some of the Healthcare stocks and also some thefinancials.

If you are goign to invest in FI, then you neeed to vigilant and probably invest for short term and take out the money

ya it all depends on if your looking for like stocks, like with stocks once, i invested $100 in &2 stocks, and about a year later, the stocks went up to $18 per stock, so i just made $800 off a $100 investment.

ya i also agree with anthony, fraud alert systems can be most useful, especially with credit cards and all that. like mary said you only want one or two credit cards, and you want to keep old accounts, and get rid of new ones if your getting rid of them.

yup those are mainly the most important things to investments and all that stuff, hope i helped, although i didnt really give any ood imformation, but oh well.

I know alot of people are now cashing in their investments to live, like 401k's, my husbands company has been bought out again, we have rolled the 401k several times. The new company does not have a 401k, they have a pension, so I think that we will probably cash it out, suffer the penalty and pay down our mortgage.

We know the risks and what we will have to pay, but the benefit of knocking out 25 thousand off the mortgage will greatly benefit us.