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<channel>
	<title>Kick Debt Off</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.kickdebtoff.com</link>
	<description>A Christian Perspective of Money and Debt</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:48:00 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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			<item>
		<title>Securing Your Smartphone and PDAs</title>
		<link>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/securing-your-smartphone-and-pdas/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/securing-your-smartphone-and-pdas/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:48:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joe</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Identity theft]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kickdebtoff.com/?p=929</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Smart phones are becoming really ‘smart’ and most people are replacing their pc use with the smart phones. Software developers are also creating applications specifically suited for smart phones thereby attracting more and more users and the trend is on the rise. The security of these mobile devices is therefore becoming an alarming issue; and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Fsecuring-your-smartphone-and-pdas%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Fsecuring-your-smartphone-and-pdas%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>Smart phones are becoming really ‘smart’ and most people are replacing their pc use with the smart phones. Software developers are also creating applications specifically suited for smart phones thereby attracting more and more users and the trend is on the rise. The security of these mobile devices is therefore becoming an alarming issue; and many people are unaware that smart phones and other handheld devices are highly vulnerable to information theft and online security threats even much more than computers are.</p>
<p> If you have a smart and you use it to access personal information online such as emails, bank accounts or even other personal social media sites, securing your <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-931" title="Smartphone Security" src="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Smartphone-202x300.jpg" alt="Smartphone" width="202" height="300" />Smartphone should be a priority. There are basic security measures that you can take to make it a little harder for data stored on your phone to be compromised or deny access to unauthorized user.</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Enable passkey / PINon your phone</strong> .</span><br />
This is the very basic protection on your phone. If you lose your mobile device only persons who knows your PIN can unlock it.</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Enable encryption on your smartphone.</strong> </span><br />
This encryption capability will make it possible to send encrypted data over the Web.</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Install Smartphone antivirus software.</strong></span><br />
There several options out there for mobile antivirus make sure that your phone is protected from these daily evolving viruses.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">Be careful to follow links sent in e-mail or text messages.</span></strong><br />
Be suspicious of URLs sent in unsolicited e-mail or text messages. While the links may appear to be legitimate, they may actually direct you to a malicious websites.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">Be wary of downloadable software.</span></strong><br />
There are many sites that offer games and other software you can download onto your Smartphone. Some of these applications could contain malicious code. Avoid downloading files from sites that you do not trust.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">Disable Bluetooth when not in use.</span></strong><br />
Attackers may take advantage of bluetooth connections to access or download information on your device. To avoid unauthorized access to your mobile device, disable bluetooth when you are not using it.</p>
<p><span style="color: #993300;"><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Create a backup</strong>.</span> </span><br />
Regularly Synchronize your phone to create a back up of your information should you lose your mobile device.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">You may also like:</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a title="Permanent link to How to Minimize Risks of Identity Theft" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/how-to-minimize-risks-identity-theft/">How to Minimize Risks of Identity Theft</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Medical Identity Theft Rising" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/medical-identity-theft-rising/">Medical Identity Theft Rising</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to The Risks of Using a Debit Card" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/the-risks-of-using-debit-cards/">The Risks of Using a Debit Card</a></li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Risks of Using a Debit Card</title>
		<link>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/the-risks-of-using-debit-cards/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/the-risks-of-using-debit-cards/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:11:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joe</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Credit Cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kickdebtoff.com/?p=921</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I have been out of the blogsphere for a month;  my wife and i took a vacation and we made a lot of memories with family and friends. But now that i am back, i want to keep writing and talking about the stuff that makes us wake up early, and stay late in the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Fthe-risks-of-using-debit-cards%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Fthe-risks-of-using-debit-cards%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>I have been out of the blogsphere for a month;  my wife and i took a vacation and we made a lot of memories with family and friends. But now that i am back, i want to keep writing and talking about the stuff that makes us wake up early, and stay late in the office or wherever we go.. that is <strong>money</strong> and <strong>debt</strong>; because quite frankly you either have money or debt. In most cases most people have more debt  than the money and we are trying to look for more money to get rid of the debt!</p>
<p>Today we look at the risks involved when using a debit card. I am not a proponent of credit cards  and infact, after paying off over $15,000 in credit card debt i would be the last person to advice on using that credit card. However, when using the debit or checkcards, there are several risks that you should be aware of- previously published at <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/109692/the-dangers-of-using-a-debit-card?mod=bb-checking_savings">yahoo money</a>.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s the brief version of the risks involved when using  debit or check cards:</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">1. Loss Limits<br />
</span></strong>Like credit cards, federal law limits your liability for fraudulent transactions on a debit card to $50. But that&#8217;s only if you notify your financial institution within two days of discovering the theft. If you&#8217;re a space cadet and don&#8217;t check your bank statements for a couple of months, you could lose everything.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">2. Pay Now/Reimburse Later</span><br />
</strong>If someone has fraudulently used your credit card, you don&#8217;t have to pay the charge. But when somebody has fraudulently used your <strong>debit card</strong>, the money comes directly out of your account in real time. That means you&#8217;re out the money while the bank does a leisurely examination of their records to investigate your fraud claim. Many consumers complaining to Privacy Rights Clearing House said they lost access to their funds for several weeks. In the meantime, they were caught short and unable to pay their bills.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">3. Merchant Disputes</span><br />
</strong>The same problem affects merchant disputes. If you pay with a credit card when ordering something online, and that product comes damaged, broken or not at all, you can dispute the charge and stop payment with your credit card. If you used your debit card, the charge is paid when you made the order. By the time you find out the goods weren&#8217;t what was advertised, the merchant has your cash and you&#8217;re in the unenviable position of having to fight to get your money back.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">4. Phantom Charges</span><br />
</strong>If you use a credit card at a hotel, the hotel takes an imprint when you check in, but doesn&#8217;t charge your card until you check out. It&#8217;s a far different story with a debit card. Generally, hotels will put a “hold” on funds in your account for more than you&#8217;re spending. Yes, more. They hold the full amount of your stay, plus an estimated amount for “incidentals,” such as meals at the hotel restaurant and dipping into the mini-bar. This is not an actual charge–the hold will come off your account at the end of your stay. But it affects the available balance in your checking account anyway and can lead to overdrafts. One consumer said these phantom charges cost him $140 in overdraft fees. These “holds” are commonly placed on debit card transactions made at hotels, gas stations and rental car companies.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">5. Overdrafts, Overdrafts and More Overdrafts<br />
</span></strong>Overdraft charges have been soaring in recent years and the vast majority of consumers who pay them explain that their overdraft was the result of a debit card transaction. Many consumers naively assumed that if they didn&#8217;t have sufficient funds in their accounts, their bank wouldn&#8217;t approve a debit swipe. But they were wrong. The result: a $4 coffee could trigger a $35 overdraft fee. Government regulators are reigning in these fees by demanding that banks give consumers a chance to “opt out” of automatic overdraft protection, but that doesn&#8217;t start for existing accounts until August. (If you have a new account, it&#8217;s starts in July.)</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;"> </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">6. Skimming</span><br />
</strong>Financial crooks have gotten sophisticated in recent years and are using “skimming” machines to read your card data and charge your account. When your debit card is skimmed, your bank account can be drained before you know that you&#8217;ve been had.</p>
<p> <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">You may also like:</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Avoid Bank Overdraft Fees by Opting Out" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/avoid-bank-overdraft-fees-by-opting-out/">Avoid Bank Overdraft Fees by Opting Out</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Using the Envelope System to Control Spending" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/using-the-envelope-system-to-control-spending/">Using the Envelope System to Control Spending</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Changing Lifestyle -To Get Out of Debt" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/changing-lifestyle-become-debt-free/">Changing Lifestyle -To Get Out of Debt</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to The new Credit Card Rules" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/the-new-credit-card-rules/">The new Credit Card Rules</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Avoiding a financial shipwreck for teens" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/avoiding-a-financial-shipwreck-for-teens/">Avoiding a financial shipwreck for teens</a></li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Avoid Bank Overdraft Fees by Opting Out</title>
		<link>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/avoid-bank-overdraft-fees-by-opting-out/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/avoid-bank-overdraft-fees-by-opting-out/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Jun 2010 17:27:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joe</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Finances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Plan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kickdebtoff.com/?p=915</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I recently got a letter from my bank giving me a choice to opt in or out of a plan of how they will be dealing with overdrafts. Previously, the bank used to automatically honor all the checks issued or any transaction charged whether there is money in the bank accountor not. Then, they would [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Favoid-bank-overdraft-fees-by-opting-out%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Favoid-bank-overdraft-fees-by-opting-out%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>I recently got a letter from my bank giving me a choice to opt in or out of a plan of how they will be dealing with overdrafts. Previously, the bank used to automatically honor all the checks issued or any transaction charged whether there is money in the bank accountor not. Then, they would charge an NSF fee of about $38.00 for every transaction that occurs when the account is on the red.</p>
<p>Needless to say, but NSF/ overdraft fees is one of the huge money making machines for the banks. However, following the recent bank regulations, the banks (at least my bank) are having to explicitly ask the customers to choose whether they want  the bank to honor the transactions even when there is no money in the account and incur NSF charges or the bank can decline any transaction when there is less money in the account to cover up for that specific transaction.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;">My NSF ordeal</span></h2>
<p>I learnt the hard way about updating my check book and debit card. Summer 2006, i had some few dollars in my bank account, but i was expecting a payment to go through into the bank so i knew i would have money in a few days. I never checked whether the deposit went through, i just waited one extra week and started charging my debit card for small stuff like soda, chewing gum, and lunch here and there; and after a week or so i had charged about eight to ten transactions that did not even amount to 35 dollars in total. Then i received a note from the bank which i did not care to open until after two days when I got another note. I opened the note that was sealed like a check and WOW!!  I had $357.00 on NSF fee? No! It can’t be. I drove to the bank before i could even lock my mailbox because in my mind knew they were robbing me or someone else is. At the bank customer service, they pulled my bank transactions record and to my surprise, the money that was supposed be deposited into my account was never deposited.. and the bank was also charging $7.00 every day that the account remained negative on top of the NSF fees.</p>
<p>So, “what can you do to help me?”  I asked the Bank Rep, “as you can clearly see from my statements this is my first time to be in the red!”  He said that he can only waive the first NSF and the daily fees, and i would have to pay the $319 plus any extra transaction that may go through before the account is brought back to the positive.</p>
<p>It took me over two months to recover from that NSF ordeal and i ended up paying even extra three more overdrafts fees but I learned my lesson.</p>
<p>Within this time I also noted that on the three subsequent NSF charges, the bank posted the larger debits first, then the smaller ones, even if the smaller ones were charged first thereby causing overdrafts of the smaller and larger debits charges. May be I was so outraged that I started looking for reasons to blame the bank but it appeared like that is what they were doing.  Of course, personal responsibility should be exercised- but i like the new regulations where the customer has opt in or out but it is not automatic as it has been.</p>
<p> I never want a replay of that episode ever.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">You may also like</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Things Money Can’t Buy" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/things-money-cant-buy/">Things Money Can’t Buy</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Avoiding a financial shipwreck for teens" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/avoiding-a-financial-shipwreck-for-teens/">Avoiding a financial shipwreck for teens</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Using the Envelope System to Control Spending" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/using-the-envelope-system-to-control-spending/">Using the Envelope System to Control Spending</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Getting Out Of Debt – What Motivates You?" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/what-motivates-you/">Getting Out Of Debt – What Motivates You?</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Financial Fitness Test" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/financial-fitness-test/">Financial Fitness Test</a><strong></strong></li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Why You Need Life Insurance</title>
		<link>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/why-you-need-life-insurance/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/why-you-need-life-insurance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 May 2010 14:59:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joe</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Living]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kickdebtoff.com/?p=907</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ There is a general trend and a classic argument of avoiding life insurance especially among Christians. Some have the idea that it (life insurance) weakens your faith in God because once you sign up for life insurance you risk putting your security on the insurance rather than on God.  Other people ask: “If I die, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Fwhy-you-need-life-insurance%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Fwhy-you-need-life-insurance%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p> There is a general trend and a classic argument of avoiding life insurance especially among Christians. Some have the idea that it (life insurance) weakens your faith in God because once you sign up for life insurance you risk putting your security on the insurance rather than on God.  Other people ask: “If I die, why do i need money for?”</p>
<p>These are valid arguments, but we need to understand that faith and trust in God stems up from a changed heart that has been transformed to solely rely on God’s provision. Therefore, with or without insurance&#8230; such a heart will remain steadfast. On the other argument, once you die&#8230; you are gone; and any money/wealth that you had is worthless to you. However, if you are survived by family or other causes and or business that you support, they will need to continue thriving even though you are dead. </p>
<p>We can learn that from Job in the Bible (Job 1:1-4) he was the Greatest man  among all the people of the east in wealth, influence and character; yet he wholeheartedly trusted  in God even when all he had was taken away from him including his children and his own health through calamities, sickness  &amp; death.</p>
<p>On the other hand, there people whose motivation to get life insurance is greed, and desire to get rich. These kinds of people can do anything possible to claim the money they think they deserve – but such is the nature of the society that we live in.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;">Should Christians Carry a Life Insurance?</span></h2>
<p>Absolutely yes would be my answer. If this is a new concept to you, seek for advice from a trusted financial counselor.  You also need to complete a financial need analysis to determine what your financial needs might be should something happen to you. This is especially critical if you consider having or already have a family.</p>
<p> To begin, understand that there are two basic types of life insurance – term life policies and whole life policies. It is important to know the difference between the two when looking to purchase a life insurance policy.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Term insurance</span> policies are for life coverage only. In the event of death of the insured, term insurance will pay the face amount of the policy to the named beneficiary. Term life insurance can be bought for periods of one year to thirty years.  Having been through Financial Peace University, I have a deep appreciation of term life insurance.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Whole Life</span> policy offers death benefits and a savings account /cash value; so that if you live, you get back at least some of the money back. You can get this money back either by cashing in the policy or by borrowing against it.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"> How Much Term Life Coverage Do You Need?</span></h2>
<p>There is no simple answer to how much coverage is enough &#8211; every individual is in a unique circumstance and the ‘financial need analysis’ should give you an idea of how much life insurance you require.</p>
<p>Some financial planners say you need enough insurance to replace five to eight years of your annual income. If you have young children or significant debt, you should bump up your coverage so you have enough to replace as much as 10 years of your salary, they say. That would mean a person making $30,000 a year should have anywhere from $150,000 to $250,000 worth of coverage or more.</p>
<p>Remember, the sole purpose of life insurance is to replace your income in case you die, so that your dependents can maintain their current lifestyle. It should not be viewed as an investment. In fact, if you live in the United states and are below fifty.. Chances are if you take a term life of 25 years it will expire before you die because life expectancy is high.</p>
<p><strong>What are your thoughts about life insurance?</strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">You may also like:</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Time to write your will" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/time-to-write-your-will/">Time to write your will</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Financial Fitness Test" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/financial-fitness-test/">Financial Fitness Test</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Changing Lifestyle -To Get Out of Debt" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/changing-lifestyle-become-debt-free/">Changing Lifestyle -To Get Out of Debt</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Health Insurance For Kids" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/health-insurance-for-kids/">Health Insurance For Kids</a></li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>10 Ways You are Getting Ripped Off</title>
		<link>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/10-ways-you-are-getting-ripped-off/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/10-ways-you-are-getting-ripped-off/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 May 2010 21:08:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>guest</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Living]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kickdebtoff.com/?p=902</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I came across this article on forbes online and thought it might be helpful to readers&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;
&#8221; We&#8217;re not talking fraud here, though there&#8217;s plenty of that going around, too. We&#8217;re talking about all the ways, within the law, that we allow ourselves to be taken for a ride.
Airline Club Memberships
The Rip-Off: A year of access to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2F10-ways-you-are-getting-ripped-off%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2F10-ways-you-are-getting-ripped-off%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>I came across this article on <a href="http://www.forbes.com/2010/05/07/getting-ripped-off-entrepreneurs-finance-rip-off.html" target="_blank">forbes </a>online and thought it might be helpful to readers<strong>&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;</strong></p>
<p>&#8221; We&#8217;re not talking fraud here, though there&#8217;s plenty of that going around, too. We&#8217;re talking about all the ways, within the law, that we allow ourselves to be taken for a ride.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;">Airline Club Memberships</span></h2>
<p><strong>The Rip-Off: </strong>A year of access to United Airlines&#8217; Red Carpet Club costs $425, plus a $50 sign-up fee. For that you get cushy chairs, short customer service lines and peace and quiet at some of America&#8217;s busiest airports. Sounds nice, except that the airline is taking you for a ride.</p>
<p><strong>How to Avoid It:</strong> For $375 a year you can get a United Mileage Plus Club Visa card that earns airline miles and includes a Red Carpet Club membership. Delta Air Lines  and Continental offer similar deals.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;"> Fitness Shoes</span></h2>
<p><strong>The Rip-Off: </strong>Reebok calls it the EasyTone; Skechers, the ShapeUp. These curved-sole shoes, transforming people into human rocking chairs, cost up to $130 and promise to keep you fit even while grocery shopping. During 2009 sales grew 14-fold to $245 million, estimates market researcher NPD. One problem: &#8220;They mostly affect the foot and ankle,&#8221; says Dr. Michael Ross, director of Rothman Institute&#8217;s Sports Performance Lab, which counts the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies and Flyers among its clients. &#8220;There is no evidence they will help you tone better or quicker than a regular shoe.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>How to Avoid It:</strong> Join a gym.</p>
<h2> <span style="color: #ff6600;">College Textbooks</span></h2>
<p><strong>The Rip-Off: </strong>Textbooks cost the average American student about $900 per year. New editions often come out every three years and tend to run 45% more than used copies of previous editions. Between 1995 and 2004 textbook prices rose at more than four times the rate of inflation, according to Nicole Allen, a director at Student Public Interest Research Group, a student advocacy group. &#8220;Students are a captive audience since professors decide what books they need to buy,&#8221; says Allen.</p>
<p><strong>How to Avoid It:</strong> Sites like ecampus.com and alibris.com offer better deals than campus bookstores. Then there&#8217;s chegg.com, a textbook rental site with an approach similar to that of Netflix</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;">Travel Insurance</span></h2>
<p><strong>The Rip-Off:</strong> Americans spend more than $1 billion on travel insurance (paid to agents) to guard against cancelled flights and stolen bags. Thing is, other policies often cover the same stuff. Some homeowners&#8217; policies and credit cards cover lost luggage; airlines reimburse travelers for up to $3,000 worth of goods. &#8220;It&#8217;s not a good economic decision for most people,&#8221; says Robert Hunter, director of insurance at the Consumer Federation of America.</p>
<p><strong>How to Avoid It: </strong>If you just can&#8217;t sleep without insurance, &#8220;don&#8217;t buy from someone who&#8217;s selling you something else,&#8221; say Hunter. &#8220;It&#8217;s almost always a bad deal involving kickbacks to whoever&#8217;s offering the service.&#8221; </p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;">Ready-to-Drink Baby Formula</span></h2>
<p><strong>The Rip-Off:</strong> Is it that hard to mix powder with water to feed your child? Take Enfamil&#8217;s Premium Lipil, a popular formula brand. A 32-ounce can that you can crack open and serve might last a day or two. On Diapers.com a 6-pack of 32-ounce cans (192 fluid ounces of formula) costs $45, while a container of Enfamil&#8217;s water-mix powder that makes 168 ounces goes for $25. That&#8217;s 23.4 cents an ounce for liquid vs. 14.9 cents an ounce for powdered&#8211;a 57% markup.</p>
<p><strong>How to Avoid It:</strong> Buy a $30 Brita pitcher (to purify the water), add powder, shake. </p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;">Credit Card Gift Cards</span></h2>
<p><strong>The Rip-Off: </strong>Consumer protection types are coming down on hard on aggressive credit card companies. They might take issue with gift cards, too. American Express charges $3.95 for its cards, whether you&#8217;re buying a $25 card or a $3,000 one; Visa charges $3.50 for cards purchased at bank branches and tacks on a $2.50 monthly fee after the first 12 months following the purchase date. Another rub: Merchants often reject cards bearing amounts less than the price of an item. (So much for that $2.59 left on your card.)</p>
<p><strong>How to Avoid It:</strong> Give cash. </p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;">Prepackaged Deli Meat</span></h2>
<p><strong>The Rip-Off:</strong> Plenty of supermarkets offer pre-sliced, prepackaged deli meats while employing lots of people to slice the same stuff at the deli counter. The grab-and-go premium? Whole Foods charges $4.29 for a 4-ounce package of Applegate Farms soppressata. The same meat (likely fresher) at the deli counter: $13.49 per pound, or $3.37 for 4 ounces. That&#8217;s a 27% markup for the packaged stuff.</p>
<p><strong>How to Avoid It: </strong>Walk over to the deli counter and have them slice it for you. </p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;">&#8220;Germ-Fighting&#8221; Supplements</span></h2>
<p><strong>The Rip-Off:</strong> These products initially claimed to fight germs, help battle colds and boost the immune system. They don&#8217;t. In 2007 and 2008 the Federal Trade Commission charged manufacturers of three products with making false and deceptive advertising claims. All have since changed their packaging. Airborne Health, marketer of Airborne, paid $23.5 million to settle charges. CVS agreed to pay $2.8 million in consumer refunds and to stop making certain claims.</p>
<p><strong>How to Avoid It:</strong> Wash your hands and get enough sleep. </p>
<h2> <span style="color: #ff6600;">Title Insurance</span></h2>
<p><strong>The Rip-Off:</strong> If you need a mortgage, you need title insurance. But costs and regulations vary wildly from state to state. Insurance on a $500,000 home can cost $3,000 in Houston and less than $2,000 in Boston. Your real estate broker will likely steer you to a title company with which the broker has a relationship, but it may not offer the best deal.</p>
<p><strong>How to Avoid It:</strong> You can&#8217;t avoid title insurance, but you can shop around. Your best bet: contact the company hired by the previous owner. They&#8217;ve already done most of the work and are likely to give you a good rate.</p>
<h2> <span style="color: #ff6600;">Cable Television</span></h2>
<p><strong>The Rip-Off: </strong>All you want is basic cable, but your cable company wants you to have so much more&#8211;and pay through the nose for it. That&#8217;s why it bundles in a whole mess of channels, including dozens that even the most feckless of couch potatoes won&#8217;t watch.</p>
<p><strong>How to Avoid It: </strong>Hulu.com offers thousands of videos, TV episodes (new and old) and full-length movies&#8211;all free. And Netflix charges as little as $9 a month for access to more than 100,000 TV episodes on DVD, as well as 12,000 movies.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>We would love to hear your thoughts</strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">You may also like</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Changing Lifestyle -To Get Out of Debt" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/changing-lifestyle-become-debt-free/">Changing Lifestyle -To Get Out of Debt</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Dangerous Internet Scams" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/dangerous-internet-scams/">Dangerous Internet Scams</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to How do you deal with frustrations?" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/how-to-deal-with-frustrations/">How do you deal with frustrations?</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Things To Consider Before Buying Electronics." href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/things-to-consider-before-buying-electronics/">Things To Consider Before Buying Electronics.</a></li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Choosing The Right Mutual Fund</title>
		<link>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/choosing-the-right-mutual-fund/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/choosing-the-right-mutual-fund/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 14 May 2010 14:13:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joe</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Plan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kickdebtoff.com/?p=893</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ Today I will ask readers and experts out there to share with me and others who may be asking themselves these investments  questions:

How do I determine the right mutual fund for my investments?
Do i need a fund manager or can i do it myself?
What are the red flags to watch when getting into mutual funds?
What would [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Fchoosing-the-right-mutual-fund%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Fchoosing-the-right-mutual-fund%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p> Today I will ask readers and experts out there to share with me and others who may be asking themselves these investments  questions:</p>
<ol>
<li>How do I determine the right mutual fund for my investments?</li>
<li>Do i need a fund manager or can i do it myself?</li>
<li>What are the red flags to watch when getting into mutual funds?</li>
<li>What would you recommend?</li>
</ol>
<p> In my finance classes a while ago and my little research i <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-895" title="Investments" src="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Investments-275x300.jpg" alt="Investments" width="275" height="300" />gathered that you have to know your risk tolerance, know what type of the fund it is and also the size of the fund.</p>
<p>I hope this questions will stir up some discussion on this subject and shed some light on  this type of investments.</p>
<p> <strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">You may also like:</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a title="Permanent link to What the Bible Says about Saving Money" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/what-bible-say-about-saving-money/">What the Bible Says about Saving Money</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to The Debt Free Cornerstones" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/the-debt-free-cornerstones/">The Debt Free Cornerstones</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Financial Fitness Test" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/financial-fitness-test/">Financial Fitness Test</a></li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
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		<title>Debts That Settlement Can&#8217;t Fix</title>
		<link>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/debts-that-settlement-cant-fix/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/debts-that-settlement-cant-fix/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 May 2010 14:32:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>guest</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Debt]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kickdebtoff.com/?p=888</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you owe  student loans, back taxes or some other type of debts, you need to be aware that they cannot vanish into a debt settlement plan. Debt settlement  is a process of negotiating with creditors to accept payment that is less than the full amount of the debt owed, typically between 20% and 75% of what [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Fdebts-that-settlement-cant-fix%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Fdebts-that-settlement-cant-fix%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>If you owe  student loans, back taxes or some other type of debts, you need to be aware that they cannot vanish into a debt settlement plan. Debt settlement  is a process of negotiating with creditors to accept payment that is less than the full amount of the debt owed, typically between 20% and 75% of what you owe &#8212; the creditor forgives the rest of your debt and starts reporting it to the credit bureaus as settled. This article published at <a href="http://www.bankrate.com/finance/debt/debts-that-debt-settlement-can-t-solve.aspx">bankrate </a> highlights some of these debts.</p>
<blockquote><p>When you&#8217;re drowning in debt and dodging creditors, a debt settlement plan with one low monthly payment to a single creditor sounds like a dream solution. But some debts won&#8217;t go into that settlement bucket.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff6600;">Here are some of those debts and what you can do about them.</span></h2>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">Utility bills</span></strong><br />
Are you behind on a utility bill? In many instances, a call to your electric, gas, phone or water company might help.<br />
&#8220;Typically, utility companies and local taxing entities will work out a payment plan and will let you pay it off on a monthly basis,&#8221; says Gail Cunningham of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling in Silver Spring, Md.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">Student loans</span></strong><br />
If you&#8217;re trying to catch up on your college loans, the D-word is deferment, not debt settlement.<br />
&#8220;Of all the different types of debt, (student loans) are fairly flexible to work with,&#8221; says Jessica Cecere, the president of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast in Florida. &#8220;Payment plans on student loans can (be extended) for years &#8212; 30 years or more.&#8221;<br />
But rarely are student loans forgiven, according to Bankrate&#8217;s Debt Adviser, Steve Bucci. So, Cecere says, eventually you&#8217;ll have to pay. &#8220;At some point, you can&#8217;t defer anymore,&#8221; she says.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">The Internal Revenue Service</span></strong><br />
Your tax debts can&#8217;t go into a settlement plan. If you owe taxes but can&#8217;t pay the full amount, there are other ways to fulfill your government obligation. &#8220;You can apply to pay them over time,&#8221; Cecere says. &#8220;That&#8217;s something you have to be in contact with them about. You will pay interest. But if you don&#8217;t pay the IRS, they can garnish your wages.&#8221;</p>
<p>You also may be able to settle with the IRS. &#8220;It&#8217;s called an &#8216;offer in compromise,&#8217;&#8221; Cecere says. &#8220;You meet with an IRS representative and say, &#8216;There&#8217;s no way I can pay all this. What can we work out?&#8217;&#8221;<br />
Even if the IRS makes the deal, you&#8217;ll have to pay taxes on the amount of debt that&#8217;s forgiven, Cunningham says.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">Child support and alimony</span></strong><br />
Child support and alimony are legal, court-ordered obligations even if your checking account is empty. In some states, such as Florida, the court can take your driver&#8217;s license away for nonpayment, Cecere says. If you can&#8217;t pay, there is an answer. &#8220;Go to court. Document that you can&#8217;t pay,&#8221; she says.</p>
<p> <strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">Secured Debt/Loan</span></strong><br />
You likely wouldn&#8217;t use debt settlement to make your car payment; mortgage or other secured debt, because those creditors don&#8217;t need a settlement plan. They can simply take your car or home, Cecere says.</p>
<p>&#8220;You need to take care of those things &#8212; your car, your house. Credit card bills are important, but if you have to choose between paying your Visa bill or making your house payment, you should make your house payment,&#8221; Cecere says.</p>
<p>For all debt, the key is communication. &#8220;It&#8217;s important to call and say, &#8216;I can&#8217;t make this payment. I&#8217;d like to work something out,&#8217;&#8221; Cecere says. &#8220;All they can say is no.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">You may also like:</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Unforgiveness – A debt that you need to pay NOW" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/unforgiveness-a-debt-that-you-need-to-pay-now/">Unforgiveness – A debt that you need to pay NOW</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to The $555,000 student-loan debt" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/the-555000-student-loan-debt/">The $555,000 student-loan debt</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Changing Lifestyle -To Get Out of Debt" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/changing-lifestyle-become-debt-free/">Changing Lifestyle -To Get Out of Debt</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to I.O.U.S.A – The National Debt Crisis" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/i-o-u-s-a-the-national-debt-crisis/">I.O.U.S.A – The National Debt Crisis</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to The Debt Free Cornerstones" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/the-debt-free-cornerstones/">The Debt Free Cornerstones</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Student Loans – A Debt Generator" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/student-loans-debt-part2/">Student Loans – A Debt Generator</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Student Loans – Huge Debt Generator" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/student-loans-debt-part1/">Student Loans – Huge Debt Generator</a><strong></strong></li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Faith &amp; FINANCES: In God We Trust &#8211; Book Review</title>
		<link>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/faith-finances-in-god-we-trust-book-review/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/faith-finances-in-god-we-trust-book-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 May 2010 20:36:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joe</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Book Review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finances]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kickdebtoff.com/?p=875</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was recently approached by a book promoter to do a review of the book that is related to the subject matter that i talk about here at kickdebtoff-A Christian Perspective of Money &#38; Debt. On Monday i posted an excerpt from the book “The investment that counts most” and today i will give my review [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Ffaith-finances-in-god-we-trust-book-review%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Ffaith-finances-in-god-we-trust-book-review%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>I was recently approached by a book promoter to do a review of the book that is related to the subject matter that i talk about here at kickdebtoff-A Christian Perspective of Money &amp; Debt. On Monday i posted an excerpt from the book “<a href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/investments-that-count-most/" target="_blank">The investment that counts most</a>” and today i will give my review of the book. In exchange, i got a free digital copy of the book.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982206542?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=kicdeboff-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0982206542">Faith &amp; FINANCES: In God We Trust, A Journey to Financial Dependence</a><img style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=kicdeboff-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=0982206542" border="0" alt="" width="1" height="1" /> is an easy to read book written by several <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-883" title="Faith and Finances" src="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Faith-and-Finances-199x300.jpg" alt="" width="199" height="300" />contributors. It is a different kind of devotional because it has a story line, yet it carries the devotional aspect but not the normal daily devotional format. At the end of every chapter the reader is provided with a place to write their thoughts in a journal format.  There are tons of biblical applications that reader can take from the book.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">What I liked about the Book</span></strong></p>
<ol>
<li>The non-traditional format of the devotional</li>
<li>As mentioned earlier there are biblical applications to life that a reader can take from this book. In addition to the excerpt that I wrote on Monday this one here about seeking excellence in whatever we do stood out</li>
</ol>
<blockquote><p>We all like to feel that we’re making a difference. For many years I was employed by the headquarters of a seafood restaurant chain. Though I enjoyed my job, at times it was difficult to see that my efforts had any lasting effect. I mean, I didn’t have a significant impact on people’s lives, as those who work in the medical profession do. Nor was I feeding their souls as a minister would. No, if I worked my hardest and focused on striving for absolute excellence in my job, the best I would do is sell more fish and increase my company’s stock price.  Where’s the lasting value in that?</p>
<p> Surely Joseph must have had similar thoughts. There he was, betrayed by his own brothers, then bought by a wealthy Egyptian to be a house slave. He, who was his father’s favorite and one of God’s chosen people, was working as a lowly servant for a foreigner. How much more futile could life get? Why strive for excellence when the results of your hard work would only mean success for someone who didn’t even know the Lord</p></blockquote>
<p> Joseph referenced above is in the bible <strong>(Genesis 37- 47)</strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">What I did not like</span></strong></p>
<ol>
<li>The flow of the content.. to me it felt inconsistent like flowing over rapids..</li>
<li>The cover page is artistically designed,  but does not grab attention from the shelf.</li>
</ol>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">Overall</span></strong><br />
It is a great easy to read non-traditional devotional.</p>
<p>Learn more about Faith and Finances during April and May while they tour cyberspace. To find other tour stops, visit the <a href="http://bookpromotionservices.com/2010/03/02/faith-finances/%20/">book promotion</a>. For other details about the book or to get more information about Christian Devotions visit <a href="http://www.faithandfinances.us/">http://www.faithandfinances.us/</a>. The book is for sale at: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982206542?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;tag=kickdebtoff-20&amp;amp;link_code=as3&amp;amp;camp=211189&amp;amp;creative=373489&amp;amp;creativeASIN=0982206542%22%3eFaith%20&amp;amp">Amazon</a> or your local book store</p>
<p><small><strong>Disclaimer: This is purely personal review of the book and I have not been paid to do this review.  I received a free digital copy of this book.  If you order through Amazon by clicking the link above I may receive compensation.</strong></small></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<title>Time Management Part III- Managing Distractions</title>
		<link>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/time-management-part-3-managing-distractions/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/time-management-part-3-managing-distractions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 May 2010 12:00:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joe</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Organization]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kickdebtoff.com/?p=865</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Previously we looked at the value of time in Part I of time management and then we looked at setting priorities in Part II of time management series. Today we will look at Part three of this series which is managing distractions.  It is a fair statement to say that life is full of distractions. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Ftime-management-part-3-managing-distractions%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Ftime-management-part-3-managing-distractions%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>Previously we looked at the value of time in Part I of time management and then we looked at setting priorities in Part II of time management series. Today we will look at Part three of this series which is managing distractions.  It is a fair statement to say that life is full of distractions. Imagine driving from home to work and try to remember the distractions that you have to deal with.. a fancy looking car, a good looking human being, a car wreck that just happened, or even a train of thought that make you zone out of your focus.</p>
<p>Because distractions are part of our life, managing distractions is another necessary skill to be successful in time management.<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-868" title="Time management" src="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Time-management-282x300.jpg" alt="Time Management" width="282" height="300" /></p>
<p>A day only has so many hours in it, a handful of even the smallest interruptions can rob you of the time you need to achieve your goals and be successful in your work-life and personal life. We drew this conclusion in part I of these series where we looked at the annual cost of an hour spread out in different demographics. Beyond this, distractions can break your focus, meaning that you have to spend time re-engaging with the thought processes needed to continue with the task from the point of interruption and successfully complete that task.</p>
<p>The key to effectively managing distractions well begin by knowing what they are and whether they are necessary, and to plan for them in your daily priority list.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #ff0000;">Tips to effectively manage interruptions</span></h2>
<p>These tips that will help you stop distractions from frustrating you and get a grip on your daily schedule.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">Begin your day early</span></strong><br />
The early bird catches the worm.. is a very old saying but yet still true. In most cases, this is the best time to have  uninterrupted time ,whether you have a house full of kids or taking care of older ones, the early morning is the best time to escape the distractions of daily life, and have some private moment.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">Begin your day with the end in mind</span></strong><br />
This simply mean that you have an idea of what you want to have accomplished when the sunset.  Knowing this helps to narrow the focus so your attention and energy is not on anything but on something.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">Write your priority list</span></strong><br />
This is an extension of the above point. Once you know what you which to accomplish write it down on a Things to do pad. I have found this technique to be very effective.  When I put things down and mark them as I go i have discovered that more often than not I have more time at the end of the tasks – versus more tasks at the end of the time.</p>
<p><strong> <span style="color: #ff0000;">Learn To Say NO</span><br />
</strong>Saying NO is a skill that most successful individuals have mastered both in their personal life and professional field.  Learn to graciously say no to unnecessary phone calls, unnecessary requests and when you accept them be careful where you put them in your priority quadrant, discussed in our part two series.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">You May also like:</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Time Management Part 1 – Time Is Money" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/time-management-part-1-time-is-money/">Time Management Part 1 – Time Is Money</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Time Management Part II – Setting Priorities" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/time-management-part-2-setting-priorities/">Time Management Part II – Setting Priorities</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to 8 Steps to Effectively Organize Your Time" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/8-steps-to-effectively-organize-your-time/">8 Steps to Effectively Organize Your Time</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to 10 Tips for Setting Achievable Goals" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/setting-achievable-goals/">10 Tips for Setting Achievable Goals</a></li>
</ul>
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		<title>Investments That Count Most</title>
		<link>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/investments-that-count-most/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kickdebtoff.com/investments-that-count-most/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 May 2010 11:30:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joe</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Godly]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kickdebtoff.com/?p=845</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With the strain in the economy, a lot of people are closely watching their investments; some in total desperation watching their retirement  portfolio almost go down the drain, while others have taken the advantage of the down turn and are watching their investments grow.
Today’s post will be an excerpt from Faith &#38; FINANCES: In [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Finvestments-that-count-most%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kickdebtoff.com%2Finvestments-that-count-most%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>With the strain in the economy, a lot of people are closely watching their investments; some in total desperation watching their retirement  portfolio almost go down the drain, while others have taken the advantage of the down turn and are watching their investments grow.</p>
<p>Today’s post will be an excerpt from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982206542?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=kickdebtoff-20&amp;link_code=as3&amp;camp=211189&amp;creative=373489&amp;creativeASIN=0982206542">Faith &amp; FINANCES: In God We Trust, A Journey to Financial Dependence</a>, that brings to light other areas of our lives that we need to invest in.</p>
<p>“God’s word calls us to be people of faith and integrity in every circumstance. He calls us to be salt and light in this world. He calls us to invest in the things that make a difference. Here are some steps that will lead you to a higher return on your investments:</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong> </strong><strong>Invest in a positive outlook. </strong></span><br />
Limit your exposure to the media. All the “breaking” news tends to produce an excessive amount of dread, fear and anxiety. Instead, stay informed without overdoing it. Choose to remind yourself of the blessings you are experiencing today. Express your gratitude to the Lord and to others. An attitude of thankfulness will help anchor your thinking on the things that matter.</p>
<p> <strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">Invest in the lives of those around you. </span></strong><br />
Share your knowledge with others. Volunteer to teach or coach. Mentor someone. Encourage those who have a passion for the skills you possess. God has graced you with talents. Share them.</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"> <strong>Invest in relationships. </strong></span><br />
Cultivate friendships. Take time to make a call or write a note of encouragement. A smile is the gift that gives back, so give yours away.</p>
<p> <strong><span style="color: #ff6600;">Invest in your spiritual growth. </span></strong><br />
Spend time in prayer. Study God’s word. Meditate on His truth. Claim His promises. Pray the prayers found in scripture. Examine the way others in the Bible have praised God. Share the Lord’s love with a Bible study group. Continue to give financial gifts to help further the work of the Lord.</p>
<p> When we are faithful in attitude and action, remembering His ways, He will help us through the turbulent times and we will bless others along the way.”</p>
<p>We invite you to learn more about Faith and Finances during April and May while they tour cyberspace. To find other tour stops, visit the <a href="http://bookpromotionservices.com/2010/03/02/faith-finances/%20/">book promotion</a>.  For other details about the book or to get more information about Christian Devotions visit <a href="http://www.faithandfinances.us/">http://www.faithandfinances.us/</a>. The book is for sale at: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982206542?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;tag=kickdebtoff-20&amp;amp;link_code=as3&amp;amp;camp=211189&amp;amp;creative=373489&amp;amp;creativeASIN=0982206542%22%3eFaith%20&amp;amp">Amazon</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff6600;"> <strong>You may also like:</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Finding True Contentment" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/finding-true-contentment/">Finding True Contentment</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Is God In Your Financial Equation?" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/is-god-in-the-equation/">Is God In Your Financial Equation?</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to How do you deal with frustrations?" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/how-to-deal-with-frustrations/">How do you deal with frustrations?</a></li>
<li><a title="Permanent link to Unforgiveness – A debt that you need to pay NOW" href="http://www.kickdebtoff.com/unforgiveness-a-debt-that-you-need-to-pay-now/">Unforgiveness – A debt that you need to pay NOW</a></li>
</ul>
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