Michael Knowles

10 Ways To Annoy Telemarketers

10 Ways To Annoy Telemarketers Michael Knowles Don't you just hate it when you sit down to eat and the phone rings? Or maybe you are in the middle of your favourite show and the phone rings and for some reason you don't have a Tivo and you can't paus... Read >

They Don't Want You to Pay

They Don't Want You to Pay Michael Knowles In all your dealings with credit cards, remember this one thing: they don't want you to pay. The moment you pay back everything you owe, you're free from their interest, and that's not what they want. They wa... Read >

So You Missed a Payment

So You Missed a Payment Michael Knowles There are three reasons that you might have missed a payment on your credit card: either you can't afford to pay, the payment didn't get there in time or you just plain forgot. I sympathize: paying credit card b... Read >

The Human Side: Debt Stress

The Human Side: Debt Stress Michael Knowles In all the technical discussion you hear about credit card debt, the best ways to manage it and pay it off and all the rest, one thing goes largely ignored. Credit card debt is extremely stressful, and can h... Read >

You're Not Alone: Credit Card Statistics

You're Not Alone: Credit Card StatisticsMichael KnowlesDo you have any idea just how common credit cards are? Let's take a look at a few statistics from the USA.The average family carries a balance of between $5,000 and $8,000 on all their credit cards, d... Read >

Stop Paying the Minimum

Stop Paying the Minimum Michael Knowles Credit cards are there to put you in debt and keep you in debt. When they do it, they have one tool at their disposal that is more effective than all the others. It's called the minimum payment. What's a Mini... Read >

Pay it Back Strategically

Pay it Back Strategically Michael Knowles When you're paying back debts, a little strategy can make a difference of hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The best strategy is simple, but effective. Create An Emergency Fund You should have an emer... Read >

A Credit Card Jargon Buster

A Credit Card Jargon Buster Michael Knowles Credit cards, as part of the financial industry, use a massive array of jargon. You can't be expected to recognise all these technical terms, and some of them are quite important ' so here's a quick guide, i... Read >

Beware the Sudden Rate Hike

Beware the Sudden Rate Hike Michael Knowles There are some credit card lenders out there who are trying to scam you. They'll offer you a good interest rate, wait for you to spend a lot of money, and then suddenly jack up the interest through the roof.... Read >

Always Avoid Payment Holidays

Always Avoid Payment Holidays Michael Knowles Once you've been paying off a credit card for a while, you might be offered a 'payment holiday'. You'll get a letter, saying that since the company knows it's difficult for some families around Christmas (... Read >

Should I Get a Consolidation Loan?

Should I Get a Consolidation Loan? Michael Knowles If you've got a really unmanageable amount of credit card debt, you might be considering a consolidation loan. This is a loan that you can use to pay off all your debts, meaning that you can pay them ... Read >

Before the Last Resort: What to Do If You're Considering Bankruptcy

Before the Last Resort: What to Do If You're Considering Bankruptcy Michael Knowles Filing for bankruptcy is an extreme move, not a quick fix. It's a long, painful process with a huge stigma, and you're unlikely to be able to get any kind of credit fo... Read >

Negotiating Your Debts

Negotiating Your Debts Michael Knowles If you're in a really bad situation, and you just can't even make your minimum payments this month, don't worry. You can negotiate your debts, and pay back much less than you owe – as long as they get their debt ... Read >

The Liars and Scammers of the Credit Card Industry

The Liars and Scammers of the Credit Card Industry Michael Knowles In the world of credit cards, there are plenty of people who are desperate to borrow money, and just as many people who are desperate to get back out of debt again. Given that, it's no... Read >

Alternatives To Credit Cards

Alternatives To Credit Cards Michael Knowles Are you one of those people who only ever got a credit card for the convenience of being able to pay without cash, or because you weren't aware of any other easy way to borrow money? Millions of us are, tha... Read >