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Your 3 Step Survival Guide to the Market Mayhem

Written by Jai Borchgrevink on January 7, 2012.

I go on vacation for a week and look what happens!

First I apologize for not having any updates last week, but for what its worth I did enjoy a nice, Internet-free family vacation at a cottage in Michigan.

I managed to rest, which was much-needed and very beneficial for me.

I came back to a big surprise in the market, and figured a response to the goings on would be beneficial for readers today.

Here is your 3-step survival guide for the market mayhem:

1.  Remember That God Is Still In Control

No matter what happens in the market, God reigns.

He is in control.

This should be an incredible comfort in times like this.

I cant help but think of the story in Matthew 8:23-27 where Jesus is sleeping on the boat while his disciples panicked as the fierce storm rocked their ship.  Jesus finally woke up and rebuked the winds and waves, and there was a great calm.

Ultimately, if you are a believer in Jesus, you have nothing to worry about.  

Yes, we may experiences job losses, investment losses or worse. But the fa

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Reduce Credit Card Late Fees With Electronic Bill Payment

Written by Jai Borchgrevink on December 30, 2011.

When used responsibly, credit cards are an incredibly convenient and efficient method of payment. Nevertheless, some credit card users get in trouble when they fail to make accurate and timely payments. Fortunately, most banks now offer electronic bill payment systems. When used correctly, these systems enable customers to reliably pay their credit card bills on time each month.

The Two Ways To Pay Credit Card Bills Electronically

When it comes to paying bills online, credit card users have two options. They can use the bill payment feature that credit card issuers have built into their web site, or they can use the website of the bank that holds their checking account. When using their card issuer’s web site, the transaction is initiated by the recipient of the funds, the institution that issued the credit card. Those who hold credit cards from multiple banks will then have to log on to, and learn the interface for each bank.

On the other hand, most banks that offer checking accounts now provide free online bill payment. I

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Brits ‘will spend more on women this Christmas’

Written by Jai Borchgrevink on December 7, 2011.

Christmas shoppers who are hitting the shops with a credit card to buy gifts for their friends and family are more likely to be spending money on women than they are on men, new research has revealed.A survey conducted by insurance provider More Than found male and female Brits both plan on spending more money on grandmothers, mothers, mother-in-laws and sisters than their male counterparts.Children will still be prioritised above all others, with the national average spent on kids standing at £104.Sons and daughters in the south-east may only receive £84 worth of presents, but those in the north-east will receive almost double this if their mums and dads budget for the regional average of £164 on their offspring.Pets will not be left out of the celebrations as around £16 worth of toys and treats will be waiting under the tree for the dog to enjoy.”Even with the squeeze on family budgets, people are clearly still investing a lot of time and money into selecting the perfect gifts for their nearest and dearest,” commented head of home insurance for More Than Matt Pernet.However, if individuals wish to avoid financial difficulties such as a bad credit rating when the festive period is over, they ought to take care with their finances and not spend beyond their means.Head of banking at price comparison site MoneySupermarket.com Kevin Mountford advised people “keep a sensible head under their Santa hat”.Research conducted by his organisation found one in four UK adults have set a budget, but expect to exceed its limit.Despite tight budgets and money concerns exacerbated by the current economic climate, many will still be helping maintain a festive community sprit.This is because the More Than study indicated a third expect to give their childs teacher a present to express their gratitude for their work and 23 per cent of Brits intend to visit their neighbours

5 Money Myths About Housing And Taxes That Can Cost You Big!

Written by Jai Borchgrevink on November 28, 2011.

Many of us grow up hearing various sayings about money. Some of them are passed down as wise quotes, while others may be pieces of advice given to us by by someone trying to help us out. A small number of these things turn out to be good, sound advice; however, the majority of them are really nothing more than money myths!  

Recently, Investopedia posted an article giving 10 bank-breaking money myths. Because I love reading and analyzing these ideas, I thought it would be good for us to take a look at them here.

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First we will look at housing and tax money myths, and then we will look at investment and credit-related financial misconceptions!  

Money Myths About Housing And Taxes

Since I have clients that come to me for tax preparation, I hear this one all the time. It

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Tips to Help Choose Credit Cards with 0% Rates on Purchases

Written by Jai Borchgrevink on November 25, 2011.

Credit card users often see advertisements for cards that offer a 0% intro APR on balance transfers. What is less prominent are 0% promotional APRs on purchases. While these promotional rates can offer customers substantial savings, cardholders should carefully understand both their benefits and drawbacks.

Credit cards advertise 0% interest rates in large print, while confining the details to a separate page. The page that describes the precise terms and conditions of these promotions is mandated by law. This page is commonly referred to as the Schumer Box, after Charles Schumer, the legislator most responsible for its requirement.

When examining a credit card’s promotional offer, go straight to the link labeled “terms and conditions” to see the Schumer Box. There you will find the duration of the promotional rate, as well as the standard rates that will apply when it expires. When

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Brits ‘more concerned for finances’

Written by Jai Borchgrevink on November 19, 2011.

Many individuals could be facing difficulties such as a bad credit history as growing numbers of Britons are increasingly concerned about their financial circumstances.Research from advisory website unbiased.co.uk found almost half of the population – 47 per cent – are more worried about this topic than they were six months ago.Savings were the most commonly cited concern – with 41 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds and 33 per cent of 35 to 54-year-olds acknowledging this is on their mind.Chief executive of the organisation Karen Barrett noted the security of mortgages and pensions is also a worry and advised people to seek professional advice in order to reduce the chances of running into problems.”Given the economic climate over the last few years, financial planning should be at the forefront of everyones minds,” she commented.Head of consumer finance at lovemoney.com Ed Bowsher recently claimed sensible money management could vastly improve a persons quality of life and called for an increase in financial education in order to help children do this.

How Do You Know When God Asks You to Give Up Your Treasure?

Written by Jai Borchgrevink on November 10, 2011.

Im currently reading Pursuit of Godby A.W. Tozer.  I first read it eight years ago, but I wanted to re-read it because I remember how powerful it was at the time.

If I had to choose only one book to recommend that will challenge you in your walk with God, it would be this book!  It will confront your idols and give you a grander picture of your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Thats exactly what is happening, again, as I read this book.  The 2nd chapter, entitled The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing, retells the story of Gods testing of Abraham through the giving up of his son Isaac, the most-prized treasure in Abrahams life. 

His point is that gifts from God often wind up replacing God himself in our hearts.  It was never intended to be this way.  Heres a line from page 22:

Things have become necessary to us, a development never originally intended.  Gods gifts now take the place of God, and the whole course of nature is upset by the monstrous substitution.

God confronted the idol of Abrahams love for his son Isaac.  God knew that Abraham treasured his son more than God himself, so he put him to the test.

Is God your most-prized possession?

Is He the thi

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