Parents are finding that the giving their teens a prepaid credit card is an effective way of monitoring their teens’ spending. A prepaid credit card is used just like a regular credit card or debit card. The difference with a prepaid credit card is that there is nothing to pay back! With a prepaid credit card you deposit a certain amount into the the account associated with the prepaid card and you then have that amount of credit to spend. It’s similar to a gift card, only you can use it wherever credit cards are accepted rather than a specific store.

Prepaid credit cards are becoming more popular because of the monitoring, the ability to improve credit by using them and many find them a safer alternative to cash.

Why do parents like it? Instead of parents giving their teenager cash for spending, they take that money and put it towards a prepaid card. They can put their chosen amount on the card and their teens are only allowed to spend that amount. In fact, it’s a great way for teens to learn responsible money management because they are given a limit. Parents will also know what their teens are spending money on, because, just like with a credit card, a statement comes in each month to show where the money went. It comes as a relief to parents because it is another way that they can know what is happening in their teen’s life.

Using a prepaid credit card also allows for credit building. Parents can put the card in their teen’s name and it will begin to show results on the teen’s credit report, building a positive credit history. People that need to rebuild a credit history will choose prepaid credit cards as a way of paying for everything so that it is reported to the credit bureaus in a positive manner.

Technorati Tags: credit card, Finance, money, money saving tips, prepaid credit card

Tags: credit card, Finance, money, money saving tips, prepaid credit card

Birthdays, holidays, and special occasions can be stressful, especially when gifts are involved. Gift giving can become a chore when the gift is meant for a co-worker, or someone you haven’t seen in years and are unsure of what they would want. Gift cards have become more and more common as a great way of telling someone you care, without the risk of buying a PETA member a fur coat (or other similar social faux pas). Gift cards have also evolved from being confined in use at a particular store to the more flexible credit-card type gift cards with logos from major credit card companies that can be spent for any type of purchase.

Shopping for gifts instantly became easier the moment gift cards were invented; however it still required some thought since most cards could only be used at a particular store. The American Express Gift Card is a prepayment device that is accepted anywhere that accepts American Express within the United States. The card can be used in place of a credit card so long as the purchase price is covered by the purchasing power of the card (or the balance is paid by other means). So similar to a pre-paid credit card, it is not limited by store; however, it cannot be recharged for continued use.

The card does charge an initial activation-type fee that can range from $3 to $7, but the American Express Gift Card does not charge other service fees. Prepaid amounts can range from $25 to $3000, and if they are bought online can be personalized with the recipient’s name. The cards ordered online can only be purchased for prepaid amounts ranging from $25 to $500 but can be delivered directly to the recipient. There are also a few instances in which these gift cards cannot be used, such as on recurring balances, casinos, cruise lines, and international airlines.

Technorati Tags: american express, american express gift card, gift giving, gifts, holidays

Tags: american express, american express gift card, gift giving, gifts, holidays

When an unexpected expense occurs, it may often strike with fear, worry and panic — especially when a person does not have any saved money to spare. Luckily, there is a way that an individual can receive some money right away without having to fill out pages and pages of applications. Payday loans are simple: a person fills out some basic information (online) and sends it away to a company that specializes in granting emergency or short-term loans. People who are looking for loans that are less than $500 (in total) will often receive approval and get their money in less than an hour from start to finish.

As stated above, the process of receiving the money starts by a person filling out an application. The questions typically address an individual’s income, their address, age, and a few other details. It is important that a person that wishes to receive the money fast, choose direct deposit as the method for getting the loan. For loans in excess of $500, more detailed information, such as providing information contained in a bank statement, will be required. That being said, the process is still very easy.

Websites that offer these loans can be found almost anywhere on the internet. Many lenders are dedicated to giving these simple loans to people who find themselves in a moment of need. Many of these sites all appear very similar, so it is important that a person double-check the lender and ensure that they are legitimate.

Also, because the loans are for relatively small amounts, there usually isn’t a credit check on these types of loans. As mentioned above, these lenders require minimal information to be released. Easy. Fast. Reliable. Because of these three reasons, people are able to get the money they need when they need it.

Technorati Tags: Business, economy, Finance, loans, money

Tags: Business, economy, Finance, loans, money

We can across this amazing infographic over at BlackBookClub.org:

Literary Hot Spots of the Harlem Renaissance

Even the best of gamblers need help. They need professional advice from people that have seen them all in the world of gambling. Wisdom comes with experience and if you’re a rookie in gambling, you’ll need plenty of the wisdom factor, even if you’re born with a gambling acumen and a killer instinct. Luck can only hold until your time is right and when you’re swimming with the flow. Once the tide turns and your luck turns for the worse, you’ll need plenty of intelligent thinking and a deep seated knowledge of gambling waters to swim upstream and come out winning.

How we all wish we could have some sort of ‘insider’ knowledge when we place bets, or if we had a cheat code, which we can use to gain the best deals? Cheating is unfair, but a little extra trick up the sleeve is fair game. Talking to past masters in the art of gambling, be it the poker table, the slot machine or even NFL betting will surely help. But, how many of us have access to them on a daily basis? Very few people can have the direct guidance of the wizards of the game, and, even if we do, how long do you think the geniuses will keep giving us vital tips?

The better option is to have a ready-reckoner handbook or something that we can refer to every time we’re confronted with a dicey situation. This is where books written by the experts can help us. People who have been there and seen all have written so many books that novices and semi-experts among us can use. These books do not only contain information on how to pick winning bets and help you beat the house; they also contain info on possible ways that your opponent can cut you short. An online sportsbook can help you with fast payouts and the best odds, but when you also have the gambling books to back you up, your luck is going to hold good for as long as you play. And, if you thought you were “the man” when it comes to gambling, just read the gambling books, and you’ll come to know about all things that you never knew!

Florida (Eyewitness Travel Guide) (Turtleback)

-by DK Publishing    Price: $16.50 (Amazon.com)

This is a very good book for travelers who want to explore Florida to the fullest. A very well written book, most suited for travelers who want to go off the beaten tracks and explore all areas of Florida. The best thing about this book is that each page is full of photos with very concise information. There is a piece on Walt Disney vacation deals, as well, for all theme park fans.

Real Florida: A Travel Guide for the Passionate yet Practical (The Budget Romance Traveler series) (Paperback)

-by Walter Roark          Price: $11.53 (Amazon.com)

This is a book that delivers information on all places that might otherwise not interest seasoned travelers to Florida’s regular haunts such as theme parks and beaches. The title suggests that the book is about places in Florida that offer plenty of privacy in romantic settings, and the book keeps up to the promise shown in the title. A very good book if your partner and you prefer romantic St. Petersburg and Sanibel Island to crowded and claustrophobic theme parks and beaches. This is a very good book for budget conscious romantic travelers.

Frommer’s Florida 2009 (Frommer’s Complete) (Paperback)

-by Lesley Abravanel        Price: $15.74 (Amazon.com)

As usual, Frommer’s travel guide to Florida is as good as all travel guides from Frommer–an honest book that deals objectively with theme parks and nearby attractions. The book gives in-depth information on restaurants and shopping etc. Overall—a handy travel guide to Florida.

Florida off the Beaten Path, 10th: A Guide to Unique Places (Off the Beaten Path Series) (Paperback)

-by Diana Gleasner    Price: $11.66 (Amazon.com)

This book is a practical guide to off-beat places in the sunshine state. The book contains information on all attractions in the same area and also contains information on events held in an area including dates and contact info. A very good Florida travel handbook for backpackers!

Florida (Regional Guide) (Paperback)

-by Willy Volk, Adam Karlin, and Becca Blond    Price: $14.95 (Amazon.com)

This book is a complete and comprehensive guide to everything that Florida has to offer. The book contains information on everything from scuba diving and theme parks to exploring the culture of the state. This is a very good book for adults and kids, alike. One of the best buys on Amazon.com, definitely!

All books contain information on accommodation choices available in Florida from expensive, claustrophobic hotels to spacious, cheap vacation rentals. Vacation rentals like condos, rental homes and beach houses sound better suited to budget conscious travelers who prefer cheap yet quality Florida vacations.

There are many good books written on substance abuse in recent years, and most of them do make good reads and also give substantial information on the causes and treatments for substance abuse. Most good books are available on the Internet as digital versions, and also as hard copy versions that you can order online. Drug and alcohol abuse is rampant in all parts of the world. The economic differences across countries do not play a part in the prevalence and patterns of alcohol and drug abuse in the global population, and the developed, under-developed, and the developing countries have this problem of substance abuse in segments of their populations. These factors make it necessary for people to have a simple understanding of causes—psychological, physical and economical—behind substance abuse, and find ways to counter the threat and eradicate this global problem. Amazon.com has come out with very good books on this problem, and we have selected the top 5 books that we think not only elucidate the problem in simple words that are easily understandable to the layman as much as the expert.

1. Cracked: Life on the Edge in a Rehab Clinic

-by Dr. Drew Pinsky   Price: $11.69

This is a very honest and frank book that may sometimes border on the brutal. This is a great book that contains enough information for both the addicts and the people close to them. Dr. Pinsky has made efforts that the messages are transferred to the reader in an entertaining way. It contains hard reality information on drug addictions, and the processes of making people come out of their addictions. Although, some parts may contain information that is tailor- made for appealing to the reader( This, at times, can intimidate some readers, too), most of the information is very valuable to addicts and their families, and for the professionals involved in de-addictions such as doctors and counselors. Overall; a good value-for-money book!

2. Addict In The Family: Stories of Loss, Hope, and Recovery

-by Beverly Conyers      Price: $10.04

This is a must-have-book for people who have addicts in their families. Parents, especially, will find this book very helpful. The author breaks down the information in a way that makes reading the book very easy. This book is a step by step account of how one can recognize the symptoms of addictions early in a person, and how one can react and respond to the first visible signs that a person is slipping into addiction. This book will be a definite asset to all parents that have teenaged children. This book is a good investment if you want to be sure of your wards and detect any early signs of addictions in them. The earlier you pick up the signs, the faster you can treat the problem seems to be the message of this book. A necessary handbook for all parents!

3. Hooked: Five Addicts Challenge Our Misguided Drug Rehab System (Paperback)

-by Lonny Shavelson      Price: From $20 (New) From $9.22(Used)

Finally, — a drug rehab book that puts across points from the side of the addict. Lonny Shavelson, literally, lives with 5 addicts and goes through the turmoil and tribulations of addicts that want to get out of their addictions. This book exposes the weaknesses of the drug de-addiction systems present, and it explores options through the eyes of the addicts, themselves. Prevalent myths and conceptions are shattered by Shavelson as he presents facts based on ground realities in the organized de-addiction systems of this country. This book is a necessary buy for all people that are looking forward to making their de-addiction programs more effective.

4. Rising Above The Influence: A True Story about Alcohol, Drugs, and Recovery (Paperback)

-by Stephen J. Della Valle   Price: &14.93

This is a beautifully written book that illustrates the author’s struggle with his personal addiction problems. Stephen J. Della Valle has given an honest account with his drug and alcohol dependency problems without catering to the reader’s perceptions of a good read. A hard hitting look at realistic problems faced by drug addicts today, and the author himself does not hide anything when revealing situations in his life that made him fall in and out of addictions. Although, the book is a first person account of the author’s personal addictions and the related consequences, the author has been careful to put across his story in an interesting way. This book makes for a very compelling read, and this one is a real treat for someone who is looking for inspiration from a fellow member who has been there and seen it all.

5. The Best Damn Drug Rehab Book – Black & White Edition: The Must-Have Substance Abuse And Narcotics Addiction Guide (Paperback)

- by Ryan Wade Brown      Price: $19.99

If you want to know the A to Z of drug and alcohol, then, this is the book you have to buy. This is a book of comprehensive information on causes of addictions and the types of rehabilitation and de-addiction treatments available. Ryan Brown fills the pages of the book with accurate information on the psychological and physical causes for substance abuse, and also methods employed today to treat those causes. The author even illustrates the specific roles that medicines play in the treatments, giving break-ups of the chemicals that make up the medicines, and he tells us how each chemical plays its part in the treatment of addictions. A very good investment if you want to have information that addresses all areas of addictions.

All the above books are available on Amazon.com with options to have a brief look at the contents inside. All the 5 books are very useful if you know someone who is undergoing some sort of addiction problems, or if you yourself need to have more information on substance abuse and the treatments available.

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