Free Bounce Dryer Bar

Bounce is giving away 2 full size dryer bars to 3,000 lucky winners in this great giveaway. Sign up on their Facebook page (you don't need to like the page if you don't want to) for your chance to win. Bounce will be awarding around 100 winners daily from now until 9/16/2011. I have used these in the past and absolutely love them so I am certainly entering. Hurry for your chance, the sooner your sign up the more likely you are to win. Good Luck!




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Travel Insurance: Is It Really Worth It?

by Jason Collazo

Yes, Hurricane Irene tumbled throughout the United States’ Atlantic coast this past week and every corner of the news could only forecast doom-and-gloom situations. The impact was bad, but not as bad as many believed. And thus, at the very least, it led to a few ruined vacations for some poor folks out there, who had waited until the end of August to finally “get away” (mission:  unaccomplished).

Would these folks in question have benefited from a little thing called “travel insurance?” Well, take a wild guess.

Gabe Saglie is the senior editor for the website Travelzoo. On the issue of travel insurance, he advises (according to the website DailyFinance) people at “this time of year” to consider it.

“It’s the peak of hurricane season,” he explains as his reasoning. So, if you’re venturing off into an area sensitive to be hit by hurricanes (i.e. the Atlantic coast) it might be a smart venture.

"Hopefully you never need it, but travel insurance is a cushion that could offset thousands of dollars,” he added. And what traveler wouldn’t feel better with that kind of safety cushion!

That being said, getting travel venture can be quite risky. Almost as risky as deciding to take a trip when a hurricane is imminent! Companies shell out attractive offers so you will be drawn to their policy. The odds are typically in their favor, too, because odds are your trip will not be affected and you won’t need any compensation for the reasons stated in the policy you agree to.

Travel insurance usually runs in the ballpark of $100 to $200, but a good rule of thumb is this:  it will be about 4 to 8% of the trip’s total. In addition to that, travel insurance depends on the following:  trip cost, trip length, age of travelers. Any add-ons you get will affect the overall price. And, lastly, it is in YOUR best interest to use a comparison website for pricing.

There’s also the trip’s value to take into account. For example:  a lavish honeymoon, which is (usually) an expensive outing (unless you decide to just check into the neighborhood Holiday Inn). Cruises also fall under this category (especially if you have to fly to your port). Cruise companies, though, have very strict refund policies. And if you’re planning a vacation far ahead in the future, you should consider insurance. As we all know, a lot can happen within the course of just a year.

Saglie recommended, to the Daily Finance, Travel Guard and Access America, if you decide travel insurance is in your best interest.

“But read the fine print,” he advised. Weather can be a gray area for carriers as well as policies that can shift on anything from terrorism to baggage to illness, etc.

Be sure to pick an insurance policy, though, that is independent of your airline or trip packager (if you went that route). Also try and avoid going to places where the hazard of catastrophes such as hurricanes is high.

Another suggestion for any traveler scoping out insurance policies, according to the website Smartmoney, is to secure the insurance right after you book your trip (except if you are taking a cruise). Make sure you are not duplicating your claim:  check with your respective credit card company to find out what it indemnifies.

It all comes down to how you feel about your vacation plans. Do you think you are possibly in jeopardy and need the peace of mind insurance can provide? Then, go for it. If not, bon voyage and hopefully you will be in a destination with minimal risk (i.e. not a hurricane hot-spot or the side of a volcano).

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Learning not to spend on your car

Guest Post by Emma Barnes

Image courtesy of Images of Money

Cars are prized possessions for most people. They provide the freedom to travel directly to necessary destinations whenever required and public transport just doesn't compare. However, they also eat cash and in tough economic times, it is beneficial to make a few small changes in order to save money. It is easy to do by following these few simple suggestions.

Firstly, you need to find the cheapest car insurance available for your make and model. When people are flush with cash they often simply renew insurance with their existing provider but new insurers generally offer a discounted price and additional benefits. These potential insurers want to secure your business in a competitive marketplace and often reduce the price and offer other rewards such as breakdown cover or vacation insurance.

Research the options available to you and call the insurers to check if any online price could be discounted even further. Insurers will want to convince you there and then to take their insurance and, particularly if they have had a slow day or month, may give even more incentives. You will save money as a result and in some cases, this is a significant amount.

Secondly, consider different ways to reduce your fuel costs, which can include simple actions such as closing your windows and sunroof because this makes the car more aerodynamic and thus uses less fuel. If you have a roof rack, remove it at once as the extra weight guzzles your gas by a massive 30% quicker than if you did not have one. This goes for anything heavy, so if you're a builder, plumber or any type of handyperson, remove your tools from your car when you are not working.

Thirdly, plan your route well so that you do not take unnecessary detours and use more fuel. A sat-nav system can be a good investment as it will help you find the quickest and therefore most fuel efficient way of getting to your destination. Avoid areas that have lots of speed bumps or crossings because slowing down continuously uses more fuel.

If your route is simply to the local store for a carton of milk, consider if you can either wait to purchase the item or walk there instead. Short journeys are not cost-efficient but sometimes people simply hop in the car as a matter of routine. Walking will save you money, help the environment, burn off calories and get your heart pumping nicely, so there are lots of benefits!

Additionally, consider car sharing. Not only is this more eco-friendly, in some cities it will allow you to access special lanes that tend to move through rush-hour traffic more easily. If you car share, your passenger should help pay towards fuel costs which will help you save more money.

So, there are numerous ways to save, rather than spend on your car, from accessing the cheapest car insurance to finding the best route. These should help you save money and time so give it a go and see what a difference it will make. Good luck!



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Free Tena Underwear

Try a free sample of TENA® Every Day Underwear courtesy of WalMart.com. TENA® knows men and women are different that is why they make there TENA® Every Day Underwear different One for men and one for women.



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Free Huggies Sample

For those of you young parents out there WalMart has free samples of HUGGIES® Snug & Dry. Get your Free sample before they are gone.


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Free Sample Poise® Hourglass Pads from WalMart

Get your free sample of Poise® Hourglass Pads before they are gone. Hurry, WalMart samples always run out quickly.


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Thank you very much San Diego Laser Cutting Services

Hey all I would like to welcome a new sponsor to this site: San Diego Laser Cutting Services. They print everything from T-shirts and awards to signs and banners. If you need some graphic work done then check them out. If you aren't in the San Diego area they can even ship some of their work to you. So go ahead check them out.




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Should YOU be worried about debit card fees?

by Jason Collazo

Well, if you are a Wells Fargo accountholder living in Washington, Georgia, Oregon, New Mexico or Nevada then the answer is yes. This upcoming fall on October 14, the banks intends to trot out a new $3 monthly fee that will apply to all debit and ATM cards when used to make purchases regardless of whether “debit” or “credit” is selected at the register. Wells Fargo will be closely monitoring customer response.

"That's why it's a test. Some people understand why we do this but others don't like fees regardless" of the reason, said a spokeswoman for the bank as reported by the Wall Street Journal. 

Wells Fargo customers in those five states were alerted to the fee increase by an "important fee change information" letter that the bank distributed via email or along with their monthly statement. ATM only transactions will not be subjected to the fee.

Not The Only One

There are other banks that are testing out similar fees. Regions Bank and Sun Trust bank is experimenting with charging debit card users $4 and $5 fees, respectively. Back in February, J.P. Morgan Chase picked the state of Wisconsin in which to run a trial $3 debit card fee. The Wall Street Journal reported that Bank of America retail banking executive Laurie Readhead announced to investors in May that "pricing for debit cards, that's something that we're talking about potentially testing." A BofA spokeswoman stated more recently that the bank wasn't testing a debit fee at this time, "but we are evaluating pricing across all our payments products."

Say Bye! To Rewards

Wells Fargo and other lenders have already cut reward point programs for debit cards. All of this is being done in response to the projected losses of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of revenue as a result of the Durbin Amendment, which was recently passed. Durbin caps the “swipe” fee at 21 cents that merchants pay banks for every debit card transaction. Thus, banks have been examining all options available to them in order to recoup some of that money and consumers are suffering.  

Spokesman for Wells Fargo, Jay Lawrence, says that some accounts are exempt from additional fees, and customers have options available to avoid the fee such as enrolling in direct deposit or else maintaining a minimum balance, reveals to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Consumers can also get around paying debit fees by using a credit card for purchases instead of debit cards.

More Now Work To Stay 'Free'

CBS News Business and Economics Correspondent Rebecca Jarvis discussed the debit card fee debacle last week on the Today Show, "Some banks are going to tell you that you can avoid paying fees, but there are certain stipulations that come along with that. For example, keeping an average daily balance can be in place to avoid paying fees. Also, limitations on the number of transactions, in some cases you have to go over a certain number of transactions to keep from paying fees and sometimes you have to stay under a certain number of transactions, so read the fine print because sometimes if you're told this is 'no fee,' it comes with limitations," Jarvis said.

She also advised customers to "always negotiate."

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Freebie: Dannon Oikos Yogurt

All fans of Dannon's Facebook page can get a coupon for a free Dannon Oikos Yogurt. This coupon will be emailed to you within 24 hours of signing up. Yogurt can make a great fast breakfast that is also quite healthy for you. Try this great Dannon Yogurt to see if you like this more than your normal yogurt.


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A Look at the Markets Through This Mornings Blog Postings

by Kevin Surbaugh

I was looking around the net this morning and found a couple of interesting articles on investing that I thought I would share with you.

Warren Buffett's High Conviction Investments

Below are Warren Buffett's largest equity investments according Berkshire Hathaway’s (BRK.A, BRK.B) latest 13F filing. I have only listed those positions valued at over $2 billion, indicating Warren Buffett feels relatively comfortable with the future prospects for these investments. I have also provided their present yield as well as their 1-month and 2011-to-date performance rates.

Coca-Cola Co (KO)

• Current Yield: 2.7%
• 1-month performance: -3.52%
• 2011-to-date performance: 2.27%

Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC)

• Current Yield: 1.9%
• 1-month performance: -21.44%
• 2011-to-date performance: -26.14%

American Express (AXP)

• Current Yield: 1.6%
• 1-month performance: -14.61%
• 2011-to-date performance: 3.91%

Procter & Gamble (PG)

• Current Yield: 3.4%
• 1-month performance: -3.95%
• 2011-to-date performance: -4.07%

Kraft Foods (KFT)

• Current Yield: 3.4%
• 1-month performance: -5.3%
• 2011-to-date performance: -6.46%

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

• Current Yield: 3.5%
• 1-month performance: -5.13%
• 2011-to-date performance: 2.33%

Wal-Mart (WMT)

• Current Yield: 2.8%
• 1-month performance: -4.26%
• 2011-to-date performance: -3.23%

- Seeking Alpha

Apple Producing Lower-Cost 8GB iPhone: Report

Technology giant Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has begun production of a cheaper 8GB version of its wildly popular iPhone, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters Tuesday.

The move would likely be aimed at growing Apple's global market penetration by targeting lower-end users who don't want to pay $200 or more for a smartphone.

Notoriously secretive, Apple takes extreme measures to protect its proprietary information and pipeline products. The phone is only speculative at this point, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the company aim for a broader market segment.

Read more: http://www.benzinga.com/news/11/08/1876381/apple-producing-lower-cost-8gb-iphone-report#ixzz1VrCjeHmk

- Benzinga

Finally Street Insider reports
Goldman Sachs Cuts Price Target On SAFEWAY (SWY)

Goldman Sachs lowered its 6-month price target on SAFEWAY (NYSE: SWY) from $20 to $17, saying traditional grocers will find it increasingly challenging to pass on rising costs with a slow macro backdrop.

The firm continues to advocate leaning into secular stories with accelerating fundamentals, like Whole Foods (NYSE: WFM), and out of mature, "share donors that cannot create their own wake" - like SAFEWAY and Kroger (NYSE: KR).
- Street Insider

Disclaimer: This article is intended to be informative and should not be construed as personalized advice as it does not take into account your specific situation or objectives.

Disclosure: I am own some stock in KO, BRK.B, WMT, SWY, KR and WFM

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Review: The Wealth Cure

After being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, CSI: NY actor and bestselling author Hill Harper came to terms with what was really important in his life. According to a press statement his publisher sent out, he realized that all the cars and homes no longer mattered. The result of this realization Harper put pen to paper to give birth to "The Wealth Cure: Putting Money in it's Place." The book which goes on sale tomorrow August 23, 2011 is one that not only motivates readers to build financial wealth but also in every other area of their lives.

The book talks about things that he learned while on a train trip from Los Angeles to Chicago. A trip he used to clear his mind. One thing he discusses is what he calls a "Life Account." What is a life account? I will let you read that for yourself.

I highly recommend that you read this book. It is a book that seems to agree with this blog and our sister website by encouraging the reader to avoid debt especially credit card debt. Check it out for yourself. The book will be available tomorrow Tuesday August 23, 2011 at all bookstores.

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Did the CARD Act Make Consumers Happier?

Did the CARD Act Make Consumers Happier?

by Jason Collazo

Believe it or not, recent showings on J.D. Power are saying “yes, yes it did.” The government’s CARD act was passed in 2009 and revolutionized the credit card industry as Americans had grown to know it. 

Although there has been some controversy surrounding the policy, mostly loudly by the card companies themselves, overall Americans seem content with it and the changes it enforced. Changes such as making it increasingly more difficult for lenders to charge fees and raise interest rates for any reason whatsoever and at any time. 

Also required was the clarification of lenders’ disclosures. Thus, U.S. credit card consumers are the happiest they have been since 2008, so says the annual J.D. Power and Associates report, which came out last Thursday morning (Aug. 18). 

Overall, on J.D. Power’s 1000-point scale, the rating rose to 731 from 714 in 2010.

"The transparency created by the legislation helped," said Michael Beird who is the sitting director of banking services at J.D. Power and Associates. “…the new layout and design of people's statements were generally well-received.”

2009 was a bad year for credit card companies and their consumers, as ratings sat as low as 705. That was due to the financial crisis then which rocked Americans and their spending habits. It was in May, then, that President Obama signed into effect the CARD Act, which stands for “Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure.” The credit card industry itself was no fan of the legislation.

The last compliance required on behalf of the act was done in August of 2010. The credit card industry suffered major financial losses due to the CARD Act, reportedly losing some $11 billion in revenue.

Despite that, though, credit card industries seem to be gaining in the long run, thanks to the government’s interference. More customers, according to the survey, understand the terms of their agreements than a year ago, due to increased educational efforts done by the companies. 

The J.D. Powers survey scores credit card lenders according to these six factors: interaction with their customers; credit card terms; billing and payment processes; rewards; benefits and services; and problem resolution.

So, did the CARD act make the American consumer a happier person? In some senses, it appears so! At least, with their credit cards, they seem to be.

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JMC Ministries Newsletter August 22, 2011

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JMC Ministries Chillicothe, OH Christian/Gospel / Christian / Instrumental Play Songs »   Share Songs »   Visit Profile » Dear Friends, It has been many weeks since we have sent out a newsletter, the reason is because Miranda has been very sick with her continued health problems. At the beginning of August Miranda started seeing a Gastroentologist.  They have run tons of tests on her, including blood work and also a gastro emptying scan.  However, after the blood work results came back immediately the doctors office was calling us at 8:30 a.m. to tell us the news that every person dreads.  The Secretary informs us that the blood tests came back and there are signs that Miranda may have an intestinal disease along with her stomach problems.  So the doctor has scheduled Miranda for a colonoscopy for Next Wednesday.  To say the least we have been a little stressed.  Along with this news I am trying to continue doing JMC Ministries along with my college education and trying to take care of Miranda all at the same time.  But thankfully Miranda's family have stepped in to take care of her while I'm in school on days she is very sick and needs someone to stay with her or she goes to stay with family for a few days so they can monitor her in case she gets sick, which sadly is nearly every day now.  Miranda has severe pains in her intestines to the point she is crying out in pain.  And all I can do is hold her hand and pray, I feel completely helpless and we just cry out to God for help. The only good news in all this is that Miranda is now on new medication for her stomach that is helping.  However, her days are scheduled around taking medication every 2-3 hours to keep her from being sick to her stomach.  In a 24 hour period Miranda takes up to 9 pills just so she can eat some what normally, but even then her intestine problems still keep her sick most days. We are in desperate need of prayer, and a healing touch from the Lord.  Miranda has been sick like this for over 3 years now and it is truly taking a toll on us physically, mentally and spiritually.  As for JMC Ministries I am continuing do what I can when I have time, but the ministry has taken a back seat because of Miranda's illness.  But on days I get a break as well as Miranda we are still doing Eternal Flame News, JMC Live and writing and talking to people who ask for Prayer and are in need.   We will keep all of you updated on Miranda's condition as we find out more what is going on after the colonoscopy and other tests are run.  God Bless you friends JMC Ministries Jeremy and MIranda Caverley LINKS  ReverbNation       Artist Website       other       Facebook       Myspace

Number 2000

by Kevin Surbaugh

This weekend when my Anniversary post was published it marked the 2000th post that I have published on this site. Can you believe after about 5 and a half years we are marking this great milestone. Number 2000! What a wonderful day and what a wonderful time to accomplish this feet. My wife's and I's 1st wedding anniversary and post number 2000. Praise God. Looking forward to 2000 more posts and many many happy years of wedded bliss.



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1st Anniversary Post

Greetings to all my readers. Today is my wife and mines 1-year anniversary. As such this post was written beforehand as neither my wife or I will be connecting to the internet at all this weekend. This weekend is 100% just the two of us. I love her and aside from God there is no one else that I love more then her. She is all to me. I can't wait to see what the next year brings and the year after that and....so on and so on.



Happy Anniversary to my beautiful wife,
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Something New For Debit Card Rewards

by Jason Collazo
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Credit cards can lead to trouble: who can refuse such convenience, perks, flyer miles and rewards programs? Of course the downside is that bill you receive at the end of the month. According to the folks at the Federal Reserve, Americans carry a monthly average of $9,000 in credit card debt. That’s a lot of charging, and unfortunately, a lot of interest being accumulated. Of course, you could always choose to use your debit card instead, that is one way to stay “debt free forever,” if you don’t have the cash, you cannot make the purchase. Debit cards are safe, they come with no frills, little rewards programs, but that may soon be changing.

Since the government passed the ruling to place a cap on the swipe fees that banks can charge merchants for processing transactions, many banks have been reducing benefits of debit cards, or altogether canceling their debit card rewards programs. Now banks have found a way around the cost of rewards programs by offering customers discounts that come from the retailers directly themselves. The system will work something like this: when you log into your online back account, there will be a rewards or offers tab. Going from there, you can shop the list of offers, and when you see something that you like, click on it to activate the right offer. The discount will be applied the next time your shop using your debit card at the point of purchase.

The banks, too, will profit from this new paradigm in rewards programs. When a consumer utilizes the discount, the retailer pays a commission to the bank. This tends to be usually a percentage of the offer, as a sort of finder’s fee. It does appear as a win/win situation: you receive a discount, the banks earn money on the transaction, and the retailer has a lot of customers steered to their stores. This is not only being utilized by traditional brick and mortar stores, many online services are using it also, including big names like Amazon and ITunes. The program will most likely begin to localize offers as it catches on. The only drawback is for consumers who don’t feel safe having their shopping habits monitored, a consequence many internet shoppers find a little too George Orwell “Big Brother” for their tastes.

Perhaps this can be read as a sign of things to come and a big boon for the debit card industry. Right now the services is still in its infancy, and let’s face it, there are few perks here. Right now a debit card can’t compete with the fun of applying for a credit card; there are just so many different rewards programs out there. Given time and expansion though, this program may just give traditional credit cards a run for their money.

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Freebies: Flix Stick Floss

Flix Stick has a free samples of their teeth cleaning sticks. These sticks are better then the normal dental floss and are great for:

Reduces Odor-Causing Bacteria

Removes Plaque

Provides a time-released Fluoride Treatment to reduce cavities

Freshens Breath

Massages Gum Tissue

Request your free Flix Stick Sample before they are gone.

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Freebies: Oprah's Journal

The first million respondents to sign up will receive a Free Copy of Oprah’s Class Journal.. So hurry before they are gone.
Besides the journal you will be entered for a chance to win a trip to Atlanta, GA

Get your journal & enter the sweepstakes
for a chance to meet Oprah!

Two tickets to the O You! event in Atlanta on October 15, 2011
You and a friend will get to meet Oprah and be some of her first students in the class
All expense paid trip for two - airfare, ground transportation, lodging and meals

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Freebies: Mary Kay

Hey ladies Mary Kay is giving away free samples of their Belera perfume. This perfume has an invigorating blend of luminous florals and creamy notes that you and your significant other are sure to love. Mary Kay is known around the US for their great makeup and perfume. Now is a great chance to try one for free.

Update: This seems to be expired!

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College Students Are Left to Suffer, Thanks to Government Debt Rulings

Students Are Left To Suffer, Thanks to Government Rulings

By: Jason Collazo

The government’s recent struggles with the debt ceiling have been good for no one overall, but perhaps no one will be walking away sorer than the nation’s college students. How so? According to a recent article by the Associated Press, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has “plans to identify at least another $1.2 trillion in deficit reductions by Thanksgiving.”

A holiday that once was comforting to students, on break visiting family and friends at home, will come as a cold reality to this coming year. College programs are chief among those government programs at risk of costly government cuts. 

There are several ways students are really at risk here, to be much more specific. Take subsidized loans, for example, an ever-popular option amongst the college age group. Come July 2012, and graduate and professional students will no longer be eligible for these. As the name somewhat implies, these loans are crucial to many because the government will not charge interest on them. That leaves college and professional students in a bad way next summer. And taking out an unsubsidized loan isn’t a panacea by any means; according to finaid.org, that can take debt up a staggering 16 percent for students after graduating.

The $17 billion the government will be saving itself by doing this will then be released into Pell Grants. This is only a temporary solution, however.  The government seems to be doing this so it won’t have to make immediate cuts. Pell Grants, though, are of very high importance:  they are for the most financially needy of students. The students that receive them come from families which make $40,000 or less. These students will still be able to get up to $5,550 per year. 

Do you remember (maybe) when you were a student and could get a discount on a loan, if paid on time? Not anymore! The government cut those, too. And federal loans, with their fixed interest rates? The government has done a commendable job of keeping it at 6.8 percent, but those days might be just as much as history as the dinosaurs and war heroes students study about. 

Tax breaks that help make the cost of college more affordable are in jeopardy as well- those lawmakers will have the chance to reform the applicable laws – and  529 college saving plans also stand to lose. 

So what can you do? As a college student, or a parent? Well one thing- keep your eye on what is transpiring both in Washington and on Wall Street. Don’t make any drastic decisions (such as the idea to pay for your tuition with a credit card or postponing any educational plans) and maybe consider any unneeded costs that you can. Wait out the storm and hopefully things will cheer up, soon.

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Want Your Ideas

My 1-year wedding anniversary is fast approaching and I rally want this year to be special. After last years dirty hotel, our 1st anniversary really has to be special. I am still praying for God to provide all of our needs for this month. In the mean time I thought I would ask each of you, my readers for ideas to help make this special. But remember, don't tell her. It's a secret.

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Freebies: Free Food at Quiznos

Quiznos is celebrating their 30th Anniversary by giving out coupons to their guests. Print this four pack of coupons and you can get anything from one free sub to savings on the purchase of a single sub. Check out the coupons and start saving on a lunch for yourself and a friend as soon as this afternoon.



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Freebie: Free Flowers

Like Kudzu.com on Facebook, then you can sign up for a free packet of flower seeds.


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Receiving Free Deserts for my Aniversary

 by Kevin Surbaugh

This month we are collecting donations for Muscular Dystrophy at work. So far I have won the daily prize 3 times for collecting the most donations for each day.

I have won:
2 free Chick-fil-a shakes
1 free small cup of Amy's Ice cream

These will come in very handy during my wife's and mines anniversary celebration come the weekend of the 20th, 21st and 22nd. So next Saturday we will stop by Chick-fil-a for the free shakes and perhaps Sunday (the day of our anniversary) we will make it by Amy's for the best ice cream in Texas.

Thank you Jesus for these free deserts they are a true blessing.

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Car Horn Now Fixed

 by Kevin Surbaugh


Monday I did get the car horn fixed. I now have an exterior horn on my dashboard so I can once again sound the horn if I need to. The piece cost me $7.57 and the guy that helped me refused to accept any cash for helping me. Even though he had some troubles with it overheating at first.

The work was done on a Monday night during the food-bank our church operates each Monday.
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Credit Card's Coming Back in 2011

By: Jason Collazo

2011 may be remembered, by some at least, as the year of the credit card’s big comeback. Yes, after the unspectacular events in the credit industry for the past few years, things seem to be bouncing up for the big credit card names out there, such as Visa and MasterCard. The reason? It’s one competitive market out there- consumers are more aware than ever before of the options available to them.

Each week it seems one card company is trying to come out to top-up another leading one. Incentives are being thrown at consumers, left and right! Take for example, the APR rate. As of last year, a good APR rate for a transfer card trying to gain some new customers would have been 0, at first, for a year. This, as well as a nice 5% balance transfer fee, thrown in to the equation.

Then, this past January, Discover Bank whipped out a no balance transfer fee card. In fact, at the time, it was the only one on the market. You bet those other credit card companies took notice. Even though it was discontinued as of February (only having lasted a month), debt-plagued consumers that were smart enough to take advantage of it discovered they could save themselves from unwanted burdensome fees with it. And the interest of the consumer was piqued. 

However, that golden age is gone, because no major credit card company (Chase credit card, Mastercard, whatever card you can think of!) is offering no balance transfer fee cards anymore. It’s now just a sweet memory for the majority of us. But there are very similar offers out there. Take this into consideration:  the best offer out there to customers right now is 24 months with an incredible 0% APR financing. That’s something to take notice of, by any stretch of the financially-knowing imagination.

In other news, cash back and travel programs have been affected by these developments as well. Ah, yes, those old standbys of the credit card world. Chase has really gone crazy on this front, offering consumers $50 cash bonuses, after their first hundred in purchases on their new card. Then, threatened by their vigilant competition, Chase bumped it up to 100. You bet consumers took notice. Most people would take notice. And not only that, Chase eventually went up again to $150, making their rivals more uncomfortable and the consumer much more interested. 

Their Freedom card alone offers other incentives such as a good 5% cash back on the first $1,500 spent in certain purchasing areas consumers are prone to spending in most, like gas and entertainment. Most recently, they partnered with British Airways to tempt any otherwise unsure consumers with two free round-trip flights being offered with their “British Airways Visa Signature from Chase” (after approval and spending $2,500 their first few months). Furthermore:  you get NO foreign transaction fees on this card, which can be a pain, as many world-weary travelers can attest to.

So with perks like that, and APR getting lower or just disappearing in some scenarios, it’s no wonder 2011 sees the credit card fighting its way to a needed comeback!

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