Is it time for Debt Consolidation?

Debt to a consumer is like water to a sinking ship. If it's coming in too fast, it really doesn't matter how fast you bail-your ship is going to sink. However, this sad but true predicament can have a happy ending, courtesy of a debt consolidation mortgage, which can rescue your finances like the Coast Guard can rescue you.

Understanding debt consolidation

A debt consolidation loan combines all your outstanding debts into one single loan. You pay interest only on one principal amount, and generally at a lower rate. The bottom line is that you'll have a lower monthly payment, which will help you keep your head above water until your debts are paid off.

Tips for success
Here are some things to consider when thinking about a debt consolidation loan:

Look at your monthly payments. Chances are that you've got a variety of different debts. Maybe a few different credit card balances? A consumer loan or two? There's also a good chance that you're paying double-digit interest rates on those balances. With a debt consolidation loan, you consolidate all those separate payments into one single lump sum, and lower your interest rate into one that's in the single digits.

Budget your expenditures. A surefire way to tell if your ship is taking on water is to make a budget. Is your debt slowly driving you down? Contact a lender and find out how much a debt consolidation loan can reduce your monthly expenditures. If it gets your outflows in line with your monthly income, you know you're in business.

If you think that you're a good candidate for a debt consolidation loan, start checking out your options. Homeowners have plenty of choices, such as a cash-out refinance, a home equity loan, or a home equity line of credit. No matter which instrument you choose, you'll likely find that these loans are the top-notch choices for improving your bottom line and keeping your financial ship afloat.

Debt Concepts Confuse too many Americans

Writer Dean Koontz once wrote, "When things are baffling, they usually don't unbaffle themselves." Koontz's observation doesn't bode well for the many Americans who are confused by basic debt concepts.

Survey results from the Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Literacy (CEEL) conclude that Americans lack the fiscal know-how needed to make savvy financial decisions. The survey, conducted nationwide in December, found that many Americans were unable to provide correct answers to basic questions about consumer debt, debt management, and credit cards.
Consumer debt management missteps
Survey respondents demonstrated incomplete knowledge on a range of topics related to consumer debt management, including mortgages, basic math, and FICO scores. For example:

•More than half of the respondents didn't know what a subprime mortgage was.
•Two-thirds didn't know that total interest costs on a mortgage loan could effectively double the cost of the home. Breaking this down further, only 20 percent of respondents aged 18 to 24 identified mortgage costs correctly. In comparison, 40 percent of older respondents, aged 45 to 64, answered this question correctly.
•Nearly two-thirds could not calculate 8 minus 25 percent.
•A full 56 percent didn't identify the FICO score as the primary factor in obtaining a loan approval.


Credit card confusion

More than one-third of survey respondents admitted that they didn't have a budget that would allow them to repay their credit cards in full by year-end 2009. Also, three quarters of respondents didn't know that writing a bad check for $100 would be more expensive than advancing that money from credit cards, or taking out a payday loan.

Responses to the telephone survey also suggested that younger Americans were more likely to measure the affordability of a purchase by the size of the monthly payment. These twenty- and thirty-somethings weren't as concerned with the total cost of the purchase including borrowing fees.

Many respondents openly admitted to making poor decisions with respect to debt management. And, more than half the respondents admitted that they'd over-drafted a checking account at least once in the past.

Recession amplifies bad decisions

The CEEL survey results are somewhat ominous, considering that the U.S. economy is grinding its way through recession. At a time when many households could experience a loss of income, it's important that consumers know how to manage their borrowing costs. Bad habits, like ignoring the total cost of financed purchases or incurring unnecessary bank charges, can be disastrous when household cash flow is already tight.

CEEL is a financial literacy program that reaches out to young people with quick and relevant quizzes. The organization seeks to "unbaffle" a wide range of personal finance topics, including credit cards, taxes, savings and debt management. More information is available at www.Econ4U.org.

Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer

Most people don’t think about looking for criminal defense attorney until they need one, and then it is usually an emergency situation. Sometimes people call the first person that comes to mind who is an attorney—perhaps a neighbor, or a cousin, or someone they met at a party months ago. While it may be an advantage to contact someone you know when you find yourself arrested on a Friday night and you don’t know who else to call, once you are released and awaiting your next hearing, it may be worthwhile to find someone who specializes in criminal law. Criminal proceedings can be complicated and risking time in jail is not something anyone should take lightly.

Choose Locally

It is important to choose an attorney who is informed about the criminal justice system in your jurisdiction. Most crimes are punishable under state, rather than federal, laws. Some, like drugs and weapons offenses, may be punishable under both. Although all states must comply with certain federal constitutional minimums, there are considerable variations from one state to another.
It is often helpful to hire an attorney who knows the community and the local court system. A local attorney will know what judges want to see and what works for reducing bail, or for getting a better plea bargain. A local attorney will also have a better understanding of the people likely to serve on the jury in that community. An attorney accustomed to working in a large city may be unfamiliar with the system of the smaller community and be at a huge disadvantage because he doesn’t know the local rules or procedures for working through your case. Likewise, a small town attorney may not be able to work through the system of a large city.

Crimnal Defense Legal Help Affordability

Can you afford one? Should you take advantage of the public defender if you cannot? If you cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint an attorney to take your case for free. In some states, you will pay your attorney an amount based on your financial situation and the court’s determination of what you can afford to pay. While the public defender will likely not have as much time to get to know your case as a private attorney hired by you, he will know the system well. He will have a working relationship with the prosecutors in that particular county and should be able to work efficiently with the prosecutors and the judges. It is far better to take advantage of the services of a public defender than to attempt to go through the criminal justice system on your own.

Swine influenza

2009 outbreak in humans

Main article: 2009 flu pandemic
The 2009 flu outbreak is due to a new strain of subtype H1N1 not previously reported in pigs.[5] In late April, Margaret Chan, the World Health Organization's director-general, declared a "public health emergency of international concern" under the rules of the WHO's new International Health Regulations when the first cases of the H1N1 virus were reported in the United States.[46] [47] Following the outbreak, on May 2, 2009, it was reported in pigs at a farm in Alberta, Canada, with a link to the outbreak in Mexico. The pigs are suspected to have caught this new strain of virus from a farm worker who recently returned from Mexico, then showed symptoms of an influenza-like illness.[48] These are probable cases, pending confirmation by laboratory testing.

The new strain was initially described as an apparent reassortment of at least four strains of influenza A virus subtype H1N1, including one strain endemic in humans, one endemic in birds, and two endemic in swine.[49] Subsequent analysis suggested it was a reassortment of just two strains, both found in swine.[4] Although initial reports identified the new strain as swine influenza (i.e., a zoonosis originating in swine), its origin is unknown. Several countries took precautionary measures to reduce the chances for a global pandemic of the disease.[50] The Swine flu has been compared to other similar types of influenza virus in terms of mortality: "in the US it appears that for every 1000 people who get infected, about 40 people need admission to hospital and about one person dies".[51]

This new article template is the perfect cure for your ideal customer’s pain

This template is based on the concept of pain. More specifically, the pain your ideal customers may experience and the pain reliever you can provide. Two simple questions form the backbone of this template:

What are some PAIN points that your ideal customers experience?
What are some STRENGTHS/BENEFITS your company delivers to remove or prevent those pain points?
Let’s imagine you’re going to write an article using this template. The article is targeted at small business owners who are curious about article marketing. Some pain points you might consider addressing would be:

Pain of losing a competitive advantage
Pain of not having traffic
Pain of not being recognized
Pain of not knowing how to get your articles & message out to the market
Pain of not wanting to screw up when trying the article marketing process
Etc…
You’d want to pick only (1) pain point for each article. For this particular example, let’s say you pick the first one, “Pain of losing a competitive advantage.” With that in mind, you then identify the specific ingredients (strengths/benefits) of article marketing that would help relieve this particular pain. Some ingredients (strengths/benefits) might include:

Worldwide exposure of your articles, and hence your products or services
Scalable marketing
Combined benefits of increased website traffic and improved credibility
Zero up-front cash investment
Highly targeted
The next step is to build your article around the pain point and the prescribed pain reliever ingredients. Each of the ingredients is explained in terms of how it can help alleviate the reader’s particular pain.

The article wraps up by summarizing how your suggested pain reliever has many of the ingredients necessary to cure your reader’s pain. Then of course your Resource Box gives them a link to obtaining your suggested pain reliever. In the case of this example, that link would probably be http://EzineArticles.com/submit/ or perhaps to the EzineArticles home page.

In a nutshell, the Pain Points article template works like this:

Choose (1) pain point of your ideal customer.
In the first paragraph or two clearly describe the target niche and identify with their specific pain point.
The next paragraph introduces your particular brand of pain reliever and an overview of the ingredients (strengths/benefits) that pertain directly to the reader’s pain.
In the following paragraphs, these ingredients are explained in-depth in terms of how each can help alleviate the reader’s particular pain.
Before closing the article, be sure to give an example or two of how others have gotten relief from their pain by following this prescription.
The closing paragraphs pull all of the ingredients back together to reinforce your pain reliever as the right one.
Finally, it’s important that your Resource Box provides the reader access to your suggested solution for their pain.
At the risk of totally overdoing our medicine metaphor… this particular article template should be an easy pill to swallow. It’s targeted, fairly simple to understand and it shows empathy for your niche customers. Best of all, this one template can provide many, many articles. How many is only limited to the number of pain points you can identify.

Set a goal for yourself to write at least (5) articles this week using this template. Then leave a comment about what you discovered along the way.

When Does One Need Car Train Horns?

People's fascination with car train horns has raised different questions regarding the need and use of such horns. This is because, usually, a normal horn would suffice whatever purpose it is one may need it for. However, the need is dictated on various grounds. Safety, the environment and the type of road upon which one normally drives are some of the important considerations in establishing the need for such products.

Many drivers who operate in cities where roads are broad and well lit may hardly see the need for these. Such environments may point to the car horn sufficing for the task at hand. A train horn would not be ideal because if it is very loud it could cause more harm than good. Other drivers may be startled if they hear loud sounds hence making the possibility of losing concentration increasing drastically. However, if one is in a remote area with few cars, many of them will usually be driven at high speed. Large open spaces normally work against the transmission of sounds. Chances of the sound reaching the desired destination will be lower hence the need to employ a device whose sound capacity is higher.

They would then be the right option in such a case. Similarly on roads that are not well lit during the night, it is prudent to have these installed on one's vehicle if one drives regularly at night. One can then make up for decreased visibility by using the train horn where necessary. This may also come in handy during foggy weather conditions. Very busy streets with large vehicular and human traffic could also benefit from drivers using train horns for ease of movement. Before drivers install car train horns they need to be aware of the legal provisions that govern the installation and use of such devices. Such legal restrictions are sometimes placed the installation train horns with certain sound outputs to safeguard public interests.

There would be no reason for to need these installed on them that have the largest sound out put. This variety, usually the stage five horn kits would be more suited to large trucks that cover long distances. Stage one train horns on the other hand would suffice for small cars and buses. The installation and use of car train horns is at time guided by other factors. Cultural beliefs and practices have a huge impact on whether drivers should install and use train horns on their vehicles. In India for example, it is not only common but also acceptable to see drivers blaring horns at each other. In the United States such behavior may be criminal offence that attracts a heavy fine or a sentence along with other penalties.

Preparing for a Mortgage Refinance

Interest rates are at historic lows, and it's the government's intent that the rock-bottom rates will prompt more people to seek a mortgage refinance. These hopes are slowly being realized, as a mortgage application is no longer something to be afraid of. More and more people are returning to lenders to refinance their homes.

The lending landscape has changed, however. The days of automatic approvals are a thing of the past. Today, there are a number of things to consider before you fill out that mortgage application

Refinancing mortgage loan? Check credit and home value first!

During the recent hey-day of the mortgage refinance boom, lenders were approving almost every application that came across their desks. This type of behavior led to the massive housing bust, mass foreclosures, and the banking system bailout. Those days are over, which means consumers can't expect an automatic loan. So, before you even visit a lender or check out a rate, review your credit score. Lenders have become hesitant to lend to people who pose a credit risk. If your score is too low, scratch "refinancing mortgage loan" off your to-do list. Instead, stabilize your spending and wait until your credit score starts to climb.

Your home may have also decreased in value to the point where you don't have enough equity to refinance your loan. Eventually, those home values should rebound but, for the time being, you may have to sit this refinance boom out.

Get your paperwork together

The low interest rates are definitely a draw for homeowners. However, they shouldn't be the sole driving force behind a mortgage refinance. Consider your rate and term. If you have a slightly higher interest rate, for example, but can pay off your loan in two or three years, a lower mortgage rate might not allow you to recoup your costs.

The length of time you plan to stay in your current residence should also be a consideration. Why get a 30-year fixed rate mortgage if you're going to move in five years?

If you decide to pursue a refinance, make sure your paperwork is in order. Lenders today are more finicky than ever, and they'll be looking for documentation on your income, your taxes, and other financial details. Having your information in order will help speed the process, and allow you to lock in a great deal on a moment's notice.

The mortgage refinance is quickly returning as one of America's great opportunities. Before you fill out a mortgage application, remember that times have changed. Review your credit score, your home's value, and personal goals before you decide to join the stampede to your local lender.

Oil prices slide on demand worries

NEW YORK:

Oil prices slumped Monday, extending heavy losses seen last week as the market reconsidered prospects for a quick recovery from the global economic crisis after weak US labor market data.

Prices slumped despite a new pipeline attack in Nigeria, an important exporter of oil. Meanwhile France and Britain agreed to press Group of Eight partners to support a plan for stabilizing the erratic oil market.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for August delivery, shed 2.68 dollars to close at 64.05 dollars a barrel as trade resumed after a three-day holiday weekend in the United States.

Brent North Sea crude for delivery in August dropped 1.56 dollars to settle at the same level of 64.05 dollars a barrel in London trade.

"The fear is that the economy is taking the turn for the worse," said Phil Flynn at Alaron Trading. "People just want to get out of oil."

John Kilduff at MF Global said last week's shockingly weak US employment report dampened hopes for recovery from recession in the world's biggest economy, a key factor for energy demand.

"For some time the fundamentals have not squared with prices being seen on the exchange," he said.

Kilduff said that the optimism of the past few weeks was based on the notion of a "green shoots" recovery that now seems more distant.

"The reality, of course, has been that conditions merely got less bad rather than good," he said. "We have always considered employment rates as among the paramount predictors of energy demand and prices.

"The previously noted economic hopefulness has run head-long into the reality of extraordinary joblessness in the US and globally, and there is a growing unease over the legitimacy of the perceived recovery."

A closely watched US Labor Department report last week showed US job losses had surged more than expected to 467,000 in June, pushing the unemployment rate to a new 26-year high of 9.5 percent.

The report, seen as one of the best indicators of economic momentum, reversed the improvement seen the previous month when job losses fell to 322,000.

The market also watched the situation in Nigeria, where militants said they destroyed a Chevron oil pipeline junction and seized six crew from a ship in the latest attacks on Nigeria's key money earner since the government offered an amnesty.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said it attacked the Okan manifold and captured three Russians, two Filipinos and one Indian from a tanker, both on Sunday.

According to the rebels, the manifold controls about 80 percent of the crude that Chevron Nigeria Limited sends to its BOP Crude Loading Platform.

A Chevron spokesman said an investigation had started and no comment would be made.

Elsewhere on Monday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown declared they would soon put forward proposals for talks to address the volatility of the oil market at the Group of Eight summit.

After meeting in France, Sarkozy said the world could no longer tolerate "yo-yo" fluctuations "from one excess to another."

Oil prices have slumped owing to the severe economic downturn after striking historic peaks of more than 147 dollars a barrel a year ago.

The Basics of Car Insurance

Auto Insurance

If you operate a motor vehicle, it's very important for you to understand the basics of car insurance. Driving a car is an important part of daily life for many people. No one likes to think about being in an automobile accident, but it's a fact that vehicle collisions occur quite frequently. Making sure that you are properly insured is an important part of being a responsible driver.

Understanding Insurance Requirements

If you finance the purchase of your car, your lender is going to require you to carry a collision and comprehensive insurance policy. This type of coverage provides protection that will defray the costs of repairing your vehicle in the event it is involved in an accident or other covered event.

Individuals who own their cars outright, you are not obligated to carry this type of coverage. However, it's important to realize that even a minor fender bender can result in very expensive vehicle damage. If your car is damaged in an accident that is your fault and you do not have collision coverage, you will have to pay for the entire cost of repairs on your own.

If you live in a state that has a mandatory insurance law, you are legally obligated to carry liability insurance. This type of insurance doesn't have anything to do with providing repairs to your own vehicle. Instead, it protects the interests of others whose property might be damaged through accidents that are your fault.

Making Sure You Are Fully Covered

When selecting car insurance, the best option is to choose a policy that provides you with a combination of liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. When you have these types of coverage in place, you'll be protected against legal claims from individuals who experience loss related to accidents that might be your fault. You'll also be able to rely on your insurance company to cover the bulk of the expenses associated with repairing your car if it is damaged as a result of a situation covered under the terms of your policy.

Read the Fine Print

Before making a final decision about the best car insurance policy for your needs, make sure you read and understand the fine print of the agreement. What one company describes as full coverage might be very different from a policy that another provider defines with the same terminology.

Pay close attention to the deductible amounts associated with each type of claim, so that you know exactly how much out of pocket expense you will be expected to cover if you have to file a claim. It's also important to make sure you understand the limits of liability, so that you are aware of exactly how much protection you really have.

Additionally, it's important to pay close attention to the exclusions detailed in the fine print of your car insurance policy. For example, if you live an area where hurricanes are likely to occur, you probably don't want to select a car insurance policy that has an exclusion for wind damage in the comprehensive coverage.

Select a Reputable Insurance Provider

While choosing a policy that meets your needs is very important, it's also necessary to make sure you choose a reputable insurance company to handle your automobile coverage needs. Make sure the provider has the appropriate licenses necessary to operate in your state, and verify that the organization is in good standing with your state's insurance commission.

Life Insurance Basics: What is Life Insurance?

Life insurance is a contract between an insurance company and a policy owner in which the insurer agrees to pay an amount of money in the event of the insured person’s death or other circumstances like terminal illnesses. The policy payer in return, pays an agreed amount that is called a premium at intervals or lump sums.

One stipulation of insurance is that the insurer will pay the insurance claims to the beneficiaries of the insured if an insured event that is covered by the policy occurs. Insured events are specified events covered by the insurance policy. These events should be based on the lives of the people included in the policy. Sickness can be covered by an insurance policy.

Like any other contract, life insurance has terms that describe the liabilities and limitations of the insurer and the insurance coverage respectively. Events that are excluded from coverage are generally written in the contract to limit the insurance company’s liability. One example of exclusion is suicide.

Life-based insurance has two major types. Protection policies are those that are designed to grant benefit upon the occurrence of a specified event. The insurance claims are usually paid in lump sums. Term life insurance is an example of this policy. Another type is investment policies. The objective of these is to assist the build up of cash value by regular premiums. The common forms of these policies are whole life, variable life and universal life insurance.

The parties involved in insurance contracts are the insurer, the policy owner, the insured, and the beneficiaries. The insured and the policy owner are often the same person, but there are circumstances that they are two different individuals. A wife who purchases insurance for her husband is the policy owner, while the husband is the insured person. The wife is the person responsible for the payment of monthly premiums, while the husband is the person that is covered by insurance. In the event that the insured person dies, the insurance claims are then paid to the beneficiaries of the insured. The beneficiaries are normally the dependents who receive the death benefit to be paid by the insurance company. They may either be persons, business entities or organizations.

The cost of the insurance premiums are normally based on the risk that an insurer has to take to insure a person, the probability that a person will die, and the administrative costs and profits to be incurred by the insurance company. The probability of death is taken from mortality tables that are based on age, gender, and tobacco use.

In the event of the insured’s death, beneficiaries are required an acceptable proof of death before they are paid the insurance claims. The normal required proof is a death certificate and a completed insurer’s claim form. In circumstances where the death of the insured individual is suspicious, the insurance company has the right to investigate on the death before deciding if it has an obligation to pay the death benefit for the life insurance to the beneficiaries of the insured.

Apartment Refinance

Apartment refinancing could save a consumer thousands of dollars and take years off the term of a loan by lowering the rates and monthly payment. Refinancing options are most likely available both through a current lending institution and through other financial companies. They should be researched fully to determine the best deal. Read the fine print on apartment refinancing contracts as the lending institution could be hiding closing fees or early payment fees. The benefits of apartment refinance programs are clear and with interest rates threatening to climb, it is a good time to lock in at the current rate. Often, even with some initial fees, the long-term value of choosing to refinance will make the option an attractive and wise investment.

One option to consider is a commercial lending institution. These lenders are familiar with dealing with large money amounts and will understand the debt/income ratio level more fully than a local bank that is used to dealing in residential loans. Commercial lenders that deal with multi-family apartment refinancing can be found online. These institutions are comfortable seeing figures ranging from the hundreds of thousands to the millions and can often locate an apartment refinance plan that is suitable for any property. There are also many options are available for buildings that do not range in the millions of dollars. These services can be researched online to compare interest rates, term lengths and closing costs.

Taxes and insurance payments often present a problem to apartment owners who do not roll these costs into the monthly loan payment. Check to see if the lending company chosen allows the individual or business to add these extra expenses into the loan payment. If the business chooses an apartment refinance option that does not allow for these expenses to be included, it is important to calculate how much must be set aside each month in addition to the apartment refinancing loan. This way the business or individual will be prepared when the tax bills arrive. Apartment refinance options are available to owners who have demonstrated faithfulness in their bill-paying habits. These options should be considered by owners who have a higher interest rate than the current rate or who have realized their payments could be recalculated to reduce the term of the loan. Available options, as with other money matters, need to be considered from a biblical standpoint. "For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:6)

Student Loan Consolidation

Student Loan Consolidation - How does it Work?

Student loans are a great source of financial aid for students who need help paying for their education. Unfortunately, students often leave college with burdensome debt. In addition, they often have multiple loans from different lenders, meaning they are writing more than one loan repayment check each month. The solution to this problem is loan consolidation.

What is loan consolidation?

Loan consolidation means bundling all your student loans into a single loan with one lender and one repayment plan. You can think of loan consolidation as akin to refinancing a home mortgage. When you consolidate your student loans, the balances of your existing student loans are paid off, with the total balance rolling over into one consolidated loan. The end result is that you have only one student loan to pay on.

Both students and their parents can consolidate loans.

Should I consolidate my loans?
Loan consolidation offers many benefits:

Locks in a fixed, usually lower, interest rate for the term of your loan, potentially saving you thousands of dollars (depending on the interest rates of your original loans)
Lowers your monthly payment
Combines your student loan payments into one monthly bill


In addition, consolidated loans have flexible repayment options and no fees, charges, or prepayment penalties. There are also no credit checks or co-signers required.

You should consider consolidating your loans if the consolidation loan would have a lower interest rate than your current loans, particularly if you are having trouble making you monthly payments. However, if you are close to paying off your existing loans, consolidation may not be worth it.

How will the interest rate for the consolidated loan be?

The interest rate for your consolidated loan is calculated by averaging the interest rate of all the loans being consolidated and then rounding up to the next one-eighth of one percent. The maximum interest rate is 8.25 percent.

To figure your interest rate, visit loanconsolidation.ed.gov for an online calculator that will do the math for you.

How much can I save?

How much you save by consolidating loans depends on what interest rate you get and whether you choose to extend your repayment plan. According to Sallie Mae, the leading provider of student loans in the United States, consolidating student loans can reduce monthly payments by up to 54 percent. However, the only way to reduce your payment this much is to extend your repayment plan. You typically have 10 years to repay student loans, but, depending on the amount you're consolidating, you can extend your repayment plan all the way up to 30 years. Remember that if you choose to extend your repayment term, it will take longer to pay off your overall debt and you'll pay more in interest. There are no preypayment penalties, so you can always choose to pay off the loan early.

Am I eligible to consolidate my loans?

In order to consolidate your loans, you must meet the following criteria:

You are in your six-month grace period following graduation or you have started repaying your loans
You have eligible loans totaling over $7,500
You have more than one lender
You have not already consolidated your student loans, or since consolidation you have gone back to school and acquired new student loans


The following types of loans can be consolidated:

Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
Direct PLUS Loans and Federal PLUS Loans
Direct Consolidation Loans and Federal Consolidation Loans
Guaranteed Student Loans
Federal Insured Student Loans
Federal Supplemental Loans for Students
Auxiliary Loans to Assist Students
Federal Perkins Loans
National Direct Student Loans
National Defense Student Loans
Health Education Assistance Loans
Health Professions Student Loans
Loans for Disadvantaged Students
Nursing Student Loans


Where can I get a consolidation loan?

You can consolidate your loans through any bank or credit union that participates in the Federal Family Education Loan Program, or directly from the U.S. Department of Education. The loan terms and conditions are generally the same, regardless of where you consolidate. You may want to check first with the lenders that hold your current loans.

If all your loans are with one lender, you must consolidate with that lender.

If you decide to consolidate your student loans, remember that you can only do so once unless you go back to school and take out more loans. Therefore, you will want to make sure you get the best deal the first time. The interest rate will be the same from all lenders, but some lenders may offer future rate discounts for prompt payment and a discount for having monthly payments directly debited from your account.

Can my spouse and I consolidate our loans together?

You can consolidate your loans together, but it is not a good idea for a couple reasons:

Both of you will always be responsible to repay the loan, even if you later separate or divorce
If you need to defer payment on the loan, both of you will have to meet the deferment criteria


When should I consolidate my loans?

You can consolidate your loans any time during your six-month grace period or after you have started repaying your loans. If you consolidate during your grace period, you may be able to get a lower interest rate. However, since you will lose the rest of the grace period, it is a good idea to wait until the fifth month of the grace period before consolidating. The consolidation process usually takes 30-45 days.

This article is distributed by NextStudent. At NextStudent, we believe that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we're dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding as easy as possible. We invite you to learn more about Student Loan Consolidation at NexStudent.com.

Proposal on Fabrication of Biogas Plant

Under Population Women Environment Development Organization (PWEDO)

BACKGROUND
Kathmandu Valley has five of the 58 municipalities in the country and is home to about 30% of the total urban population. The city of Kathmandu is by far the largest city in the country, with more than 20% of the total urban population. The population of the three districts of Kathmandu Valley increased from 1,107,370 in 1991 to 1,647,092 in 2001. The annual population growth rate in Kathmandu district was 4.71%. The population of Kathmandu district was 1,081,845 in 2001 (4.7% of Nepal’s population). The urban population density of Kathmandu Valley is 10,265 (the population is 995,966 and the area 97 sq.km). On the other hand, the rural population is also increasing slowly in the valley. The average annual growth of the rural population is comparatively higher than for Nepal as a whole. If present growth continues, the population of the valley in 2020 will reach 2.5 million.
This vast growing population of Kathmandu has led many problems. One of the major problem associated with the rapid increasing population is in “Waste Management”. Solid waste management (SWM) services have consistently failed to keep up with the vast amount of solid waste produced in urban areas. There is not currently an efficient system in place for the management, storage, collection, and transportation of solid waste. Kathmandu City, an important urban center of South Asia, is no exception. In Kathmandu Metropolitan City, solid waste generation is predicted to be 1091 m3/d (245 tons/day) and 1155 m3/d (260 tons/day) for the years 2005 and 2006, respectively. The majority (89%) of households in Kathmandu Metropolitan City are willing to segregate the organic and non-organic portions of their waste. [1]
The organic type of waste can be effectively managed by utilizing it to produce biogas. The biogas can be an excellent alternative to the LPG which is associated with high cost and scarcity (sometimes). A simple type of biogas plant can be established in the household with a low initial cost and utilizing the wastes material generated in the same household.
PROBLEM DEFINATION
• Wastes generated in Kathmandu are not managed or utilized effectively even if they have potential for extracting energy.
• Petroleum products as fuel are expensive.
• No simple technology seen in the urban areas to generate biogas from organic household wastes.

RATIONALE
• Organic wastes produced in the household level can be effectively utilized.
• The biogas produced can be an excellent alternative (if not supplement) to the LPG.
• The biogas plant can be constructed with a low initial cost.

METHODOLOGY
1. Collection of Ideas from different sources: The ideas are collected from different documentaries, experts in this field and different websites.

2. Collection of fund from different sources: This will be achieved by submitting the proposals to different organizations working in the energy sector.

3. Design and fabrication of the biogas plant: The design will be based on the documentary of Appropriate Rural Energy Technology (ARTI), India. The fabrication will be done according to the design.

4. Installation and testing of the plant: The plant will be installed at the premises of “Population Women Environment Development Organization (PWEDO)”, Tahachal. The testing period of the plant will depend on the season. (4-5 days in summer, 25-30 days in winter)

5. Cost analysis of the biogas plant: This will be done using the various ideas from economics.


COST ESTIMATION
PARTICULARS RATE (NRs) COST(NRs)
1000ltr plastic tank (1 piece) 10,500/- 10,500/-
750ltr plastic tank (1 piece) 8,900/- 8,900/-
90 mm PVC T piece (1 piece) 510/- 510/-
90mm female adapter (1 piece) 400/- 400/-
90mm male adapter (2 piece) 288/- 576/-
90 mm end cap, threaded (1 piece) 400/- 400/-
90 mm rigid PVC pipe (1 piece) 800/- 800/-
63 mm PVC elbow (1 piece) 70/- 70/-
63 mm male adapter (2 piece) 150/- 300/-
63 mm check nut (1 piece) 35/- 35/-
63 mm rigid PVC pipe (1 piece) 700/- 700/-
12.5 mm male adapter (1 piece) 135/- 135/-
12.5 mm GI elbow (1 piece) 200/- 200/-
Adhesive solution 200/- 200/-
Bio-gas stove (1 piece) 800/- 800/-
Gas cock (Brass) (1 piece) 250/- 250/-
Rubber Washers (4 piece) 20/- 80/-
15 mm Ball Valve (1 piece) 800/- 800/-
90 mm, 63 mm, 15 mm, 12.5 mm barrel piece (1 piece each) 210/- 210/-
Labor cost 1800/- 1800/-
Tool cost 1500/- 1000/-
Miscellaneous 1500/- 1500/-
Total (included tax of 13% to materials) 33,528.58/- (thirty three thousand five hundred twenty eight and fifty eight paisa only.)

REFRENCES
.

1. R. Alam, M.A.I. Chowdhurya, G.M.J. Hasana, B. Karanjita and L.R. Shrestha (2007). Generation, storage, collection and transportation of municipal solid waste – A case study in the city of Kathmandu, capital of Nepal. Elsevier Ltd
2. Design concept based on the documentary of Appropriate Rural Technology Institute (ARTI), India

We're Here to Help you Avoid the Pitfalls!

I started my path to freedom on a very bumpy road. I thought that all I had to do was search around on the internet, locate a suitable "Get Rich Quick" scheme, invest my cash and sit back and let the dollars flow in... Well, guess what - as the old saying goes; "A fool and his money are soon parted"!

After many failed attempts at "investing" in all sorts of things, I finally learned a very important lesson; There are NO get rich quick schemes! I'll qualify that statement by adding that there certainly are ways of bringing in huge rewards, BUT, you have to get your hands dirty, roll up the sleaves and actually DO something.

Let me ask you this questions.. "If there are schemes out there, where all you had to do is put up some cash, and BAM -Instant Millionaire.. Why doesn't everyone just do that and we'd all live happily ever after?" Why is it that these "Sellers of Dreams" always say that it's very easy and anyone can be a millionaire on the "internet".. The Internet is just a market place - OK, a very BIG market place, but a market place all the same. In a market, if you want to make money you have to provide some service, or have some product that people will want to buy.. Right? So, the trick is to find a product and/or service that you can sell from home, with as little effort as possible (this does not mean NO effort). That's where "The Home Business Helper" comes in!

I've spent years reading, testing, actually signing up to many of the top online opportunities around - and some real losers! I've "been there done that" as they say. So, I can tell you the low down on most of them, and point you in the direction of what I believe is the best one at the moment.

Take a look through the Program Reviews, and then don't forget to look at this weeks TOP TIP - it's a good one!

Read the stuff, get what you need and most of all - Have Fun!

Automotive Direct Mail Marketing

1. Direct Mail is Flexible
Automotive direct mail can support just about any marketing objective. Whether it's a service reminder to existing customers, or a lead generation program for potential customers, automotive direct mail can deliver results. Here are some of the most common uses for automotive direct mail marketing:

•Lead generation campaigns
•New model announcements
•Customer rewards / loyalty programs
•Service reminders
•Inventory updates
These are some of the most common uses for automotive direct mail, but they are by far not the only ways to use the medium. Forward-thinking automotive companies are finding new ways to use direct mail every day. Direct mail is a dynamic, versatile marketing tool.

2. Direct Mail is Cost-Effective
Automotive direct mail campaigns can be tailored to any marketing budget. This is due to several factors. For one thing, direct mail can be as simple as a 4" x 6" postcard, or as complex as multi-part brochure kit. So the savvy automotive marketer can use the more affordable pieces for demand generation, while reserving the high-end pieces for current or past customers.

Automotive direct mail is also cost-effective due to volume factors. Most direct mail companies offer price breaks with increased volume — the more you mail, the more you save per piece. Automotive direct mail volumes can be easily scaled up or down to coincide with budget cycles or limitations.

Then there's the ROI factor. When used effectively, direct mail yields favorable ROIs. It has for decades, and it will for many more years. Sure, the strategies have changed with advances in technology, Internet, etc. But the fact remains that automotive direct mail produces results. Why else would 95% of auto manufacturers use direct mail?

3. Direct Mail is Measurable
Direct mail is one of the most measurable of all marketing channels. Once you have a response-tracking mechanism in place (like special 800 numbers, web page tracking, or business-reply cards), the rest is simple math. With television or radio advertising, you have no way of knowing how many people saw your ad, even if you can count responses.

Mesothelioma in Alabama

Laws that banned the use of Asbestos or made it at least a necessity to inform workers that they would be working with Asbestos were passed in 1980. Before that people in mills, asbestos industries and mine workers were exposed to Asbestos without any knowledge of the fact.

They were endangered as were there family members and it was after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) set up laws that limits were imposed that allowed only a minimal level of asbestos to be exposed in the workplace. Yet, even then the danger of Asbestos exposure remains. While people in the workplace are now asked to wear protective gear not all industries follow the rules set out.

Native Alabamians working in foundries, mills, welding and construction industries and asbestos mining have been exposed to asbestos fibers and are in danger of contracting Mesothelioma. Symptoms develop after more than three decades and the effect is swift and deadly.

Mesothelioma is a menace that is man made and must be eliminated in all states especially Alabama.
While the figures may not be high the fact is even one death related to Mesothelioma could create a domino effect as second hand exposure to family members can take place and the effect will be seen again after more than three decades. There is a statute of limitations and the fact is if you know that you have been exposed to carcinogenic particles you are due fair compensation.

If you are a victim or family member of a victim you must ensure that you visit a Mesothelioma attorney in Alabama and take action now.

cheap car insurance

Finding the cheapest auto insurance price possible is part of every driver’s quest as they search for the perfect policy. In most of their minds, this perfect policy would include the minimum state requirements as well as the remaining part of full coverage for their own vehicle and medical expenses, all for a very low price. The problem these drivers come across is that the low cost option doesn’t come into fruition very easily and more often than not drivers struggle as they can only get a policy that costs more than what they had hoped for.

However, there are some ways to guarantee getting the cheapest automobile insurance rates and we’ve listed them below. Take note that most of these ways revolve around choices the driver makes, and are not just random coincidental low pricing.

Obey the Laws of the Land
While this suggestion may initially sound a bit like goodie-two-shoes, it stands to be one of the most effective means of having affordable coverage. Always know and follow the speed limit, come to a complete stop at stop signs, and obey other traffic laws. Drivers who abide by traffic laws are involved in fewer accidents and receive fewer tickets, which is the key to this suggestion.

Automobile insurance companies award drivers who have a clean driving record with lower rates. People who carry little to no traffic incidents in their history have also filed little to no claims in the past with their insurer, thus giving the driver a low risk level of ever filing a claim. The lower this risk is, the more inexpensive the insurance policy is going to be. If a driving record isn’t as clean as it should be, drivers can work on obeying traffic laws and becoming more observant to avoid adding any more negative traffic incidents to their record to begin the “clean-up” process. Over time, their rates will become cheaper as the insurer observes their efforts to become safer drivers.

Group Your Vehicles and Household Members Together
If your household owns more than one vehicle, keep all of the vehicles on the same policy to get really cheap auto insurance. When comparing this method to having each vehicle on its own policy, policyholders will notice their savings when they are all kept on one policy. Auto insurance companies figure they will make more money in the long run by giving the policyholder a discount for each vehicle as opposed to the policyholder using a different company to insure the other vehicles.

This method of thinking also holds true for household members being added to the same policy. Instead of keeping spouses on separate policies, which would be more expensive, put both individuals on the same policy and benefit from those savings. Also, when a teenager begins to drive, keep him/her on the parent’s policy for more savings. Listing the teen as someone who drives only part of the time will add to the savings.

Be Aware of your Vehicle
The vehicle(s) to be insured will affect the ability to purchase auto insurance cheap. It should be common knowledge that cars that have the ability to be driven at fast speeds — like sports cars — will be charged higher rates to insure, due to the statistical evidence of those particular vehicles’ high involvement in accidents. Expensive luxury cars are also charged more, mostly due to their rarity and the higher expense for repairing parts or to fully replace it. Another factor is the year the car was manufactured, because an older car has less cash value than a newer car and is less expensive to insure.

The purpose in which the vehicle is used and how often it is driven also determines whether or not the rates will be cheap. Some cars are driven for leisure, while others are used as a method of daily transportation to and from work. Leisure cars are generally cared for more and driven less compared to cars that are used to get to and from daily destinations. The more often a vehicle is found on the road or the higher the number of miles driven each year, the more expensive it is to insure.

Find Discounts
Each car insurance company offers clear discounts to their customers who follow certain guidelines and show responsibility in other areas of life. One discount that is offered by most insurers is a defensive driving course that any driver may take. When the driver has passed the class, they will receive a discount for a certain period of time, after which the class must be retaken and passed to continue the savings.

Another popular discount is the good student discount, allowing for both high school and college-aged students to get cheaper insurance rates for earning good grades. Every company requires a different grade point average, but typically it’s a “B” average or better as the requirement. Not always, but in most cases students who work hard to receive these grades are more responsible than their peers. This responsible attitude can spill over into driving skills, resulting in a more cautious driver.

Compare Companies
Finally, to know where the cheapest rates are being offered, drivers will need to compare the prices of a number of local companies. Don’t assume that just because the driving record is clean, the car is just right and not too expensive or driven too much, and a defensive driving class has been taken that the driver will automatically pay the least amount for insurance. Another company just might offer the same coverage even cheaper, and by conducting a search on our site, we can help compare other companies.

Low-priced vehicle insurance is a requirement by almost all drivers, but it isn’t the easiest thing to find. It takes work to make responsible choices and demonstrate they deserve the lowest rates available. Remember, just because a friend is getting a great rate from their insurance company does not mean they will give that rate to just anyone. Most likely that friend did some extra work along the way to deserve a cheap rate.

Conclusion: For more information on obtaining cheap automobile insurance visit our cheap auto insurance quotes page where you can insert your zip code then review each company side by side; therefore selecting the best quote for you!

Helpful Tips to Make Relationships Work

You meet a lot interesting people each day. You see them in the malls, parks, subways, restaurants and even on social networking sites. From all these people that you meet, there are few with whom you build relationships. You build relationships with the cashier at the supermarket whom you see every Sunday when you buy your groceries, the neighbor who you bump into each morning when you walk the dog, the guard who checks your bag at the subway station, the parking attendant in the restaurant where you usually have your dinner and your old classmate whom you chanced upon again after several years on the internet.

Somewhere along the way you will also meet your ideal mate. You will meet that person with whom you will spend the rest of your lives. But however ideal that person is for you and you for them, you still have to exert effort to make the relationship work. This is because you will encounter relationship problems along the way.

Here are some tips to guide you to make your relationships work.

1.Know yourself well.
It is never going to work if you do not know yourself well. You will never be able to connect well with anyone if you cannot even connect with yourself.

2.Know your partner.
Knowing your partner is equally important. You have to know his or her personality. Know the things that you like in him or her. Know also those that you don't. Assess which one of these you want to change and which one you just have to accept and be ready to live with.

3.Talk to each other.
Some relationships fail because they forget to talk to each other about important things that happen to them. When you go home at night ask how your partner's day was. Tell your partner how your day went as well. It will also be good if you can once in a while go out on 'dates' just to talk.

4.Undergo relationship coaching.
Relationship coaching would sound negative to most couples. But always remember that this is not only for those who have problems. It is meant to help couples improve the way they manage their relationships. It is like an acting workshop attended by already good actors or seminars participated in by professionals. It teaches you things that you may already know but you may be forgetting to apply.

Being in a relationship can be fun. But it is also something that you have to be serious with. When you get into a relationship, make sure that you set your mind that you are really going to make it work

Dreams (and Sleep) Have Meaning

SEATTLE: Dreams may not be the secret window into the frustrated desires of the unconscious that Sigmund Freud first posited in 1899, but growing evidence suggests that dreams - and, more so, sleep - are powerfully connected to the processing of human emotions.

According to new research presented last week at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Seattle, adequate sleep may underpin our ability to understand complex emotions properly in waking life. "Sleep essentially is resetting the magnetic north of your emotional compass," says Mathew Walker, director of the at the University of California, Berkeley.

A recent study by Walker and his colleagues examined how rest - specifically,rapid eye movement (REM) sleep - influences our ability to read emotions in other people's faces. In the small analysis of 36 adults, volunteers were asked to interpret the facial expressions of people in photographs, following either a 60- or 90-minute nap during the day or with no nap. Participants who had reached REM sleep (when dreaming most frequently occurs) during their nap were better able to identify expressions of positive emotions like happiness in other people, compared with participants who did not achieve REM sleep or did not nap at all. Those volunteers were more sensitive to negative expressions, including anger and fear.

Past research by Walker and colleagues at Harvard Medical School, which was published in the journal Current Biology, found that in people who were sleep deprived, activity in the prefrontal lobe - a region of the brain involved in controlling emotion - was significantly diminished. He suggests that a similar response may be occurring in the nap-deprived volunteers, albeit to a lesser extent, and that it may have its roots in evolution. "If you're walking through the jungle and you're tired, it might benefit you more to be hypersensitive to negative things," he says. The idea is that with little mental energy to spare, you're emotionally more attuned to things that are likely to be the most threatening in the immediate moment. Inversely, when you're well rested, you may be more sensitive to positive emotions, which could benefit long-term survival, he suggests: "If it's getting food, if it's getting some kind of reward, finding a wife - those things are pretty good to pick up on."

Our daily existence is largely influenced by our ability "to understand our societal interactions, to understand someone else's emotional state of mind, to understand the expression on their face," says Ninad Gujar, a senior research scientist at Walker's lab and lead author of the study, which was recently submitted for publication. "These are the most fundamental processes guiding our personal and professional lives."

REM sleep appears to not only improve our ability to identify positive emotions in others; it may also round out the sharp angles of our own emotional experiences. Walker suggests that one function of REM sleep - dreaming, in particular - is to allow the brain to sift through that day's events, process any negative emotion attached to them, then strip it away from the memories. He likens the process to applying a "nocturnal soothing balm." REM sleep, he says, "tries to ameliorate the sharp emotional chips and dents that life gives you along the way."

"It's not that you've forgotten. You haven't," he says. "It's a memory of an emotional episode, but it's no longer emotional itself."

That palliative safety-valve quality of sleep may be hampered when we fail to reach REM sleep or when REM sleep is disrupted, Walker says. "If you don't let go of the emotion, what results is a constant state of anxiety," he says.

The theory is consistent with new research conducted by Rebecca Bernert, a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at Florida State University who specializes in the relationship between sleep and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and who also presented her work at the sleep conference this week.