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Handy Tools Ease the Pain
Manufactures have been making a name — and a profit — for themselves creating tools and gadgets to help consumers get a "better grip" on countless household tasks. And I'm not knocking it. But I love it when I don't have to …Read more.
Let the Decluttering Begin
I know it's time. It's been time for at least five years, possibly longer. I need to clean my kitchen. Now, before you send the Health Department to my address, let me explain. What I mean by "clean" is that I need to clean out and …Read more.
A Glimmer of Hope to Cling To
Think back to a low point in your life. Don't struggle with this, just try to recall when you were going through a difficult season and life seemed bleak. Now recall that first glimmer of hope you clung to as you could see that things were beginning …Read more.
Homemade Solutions Are Budget-friendly
Dear Mary: Do you have a homemade recipe for bathroom air freshener refills? I have Air Wick brand, and I'm wondering if there is an easier and cheaper way to refill it when it runs dry. — D.R., California
Dear D.R.: Four to eight drops of …Read more.
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Lenders Prefer Students Pay Ahead, Not Pay DownDear Mary: I read your book "How to Debt-Proof Your Marriage." You talked about paying down the mortgage principal with a 13th payment each year (adding one-twelfth of one payment each month to your regular payment, so that after 12 months you have added one full payment). How can I do this to my student loans? When I pay extra, it's recorded as if I paid ahead, but I want to pay it down. I pay online, but I don't see any options for designating my extra payment be applied to pay down the principle. — Anna, email Dear Anna: Great idea, and yes, you absolutely can do this. All education loans, including federal and private student loans, allow for penalty-free prepayment. This means you can make extra payments to reduce the balance of the loan, or even pay off the entire balance early, without having to pay extra fees. However, the law also allows for lenders to apply a prepayment to "future installments by advancing the next payment due date," unless otherwise specified by the borrower. The lender wants you to "pay ahead," rather than "pay down," and that's what your lender is doing because you have not "otherwise specified." Do this: Include a note with any prepayments that you make, indicating that you want the prepayment applied to reduce the principal balance of the loan. When you do this, watch very closely for how the lender applies the prepayment amount. You may also need to contact the lender multiple times to get them to credit your prepayment to the outstanding principal balance. If you need a little ammunition to make your point, mention the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, which amended the Truth in Lending Act to add section 140(e) and allows for early repayment or prepayment of any private education loan without fees or penalties. Dear Mary: Are there any legitimate work-at-home data-entry jobs? The companies I've found either have bad things written about them or they want an upfront fee.
Dear John: There are legitimate opportunities out there, but it requires a lot of diligence and persistence to find them. A growing trend for many retailers is to outsource their customer service operations to third-party companies like Alpine Access (www.AlpineAccess.com) and Working Solutions (www.WorkingSolutions.com), who then hire home-based workers to handle customer service. The reps, who typically work 20-30 hours a week, take calls for large and small companies. While the hourly rate is about $9, agents can earn up to $20 an hour with incentives and bonuses. Many companies also provide benefits like health and dental insurance and a matching 401(k) plan. Another idea is to search for companies in your area who are looking for part-time employees with your skill set. Contact them with the idea of working from home as an independent contractor. It just might be a win-win situation that benefits both of you. Good luck in your search. Do you have a question for Mary? Email her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM
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