http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/108239/fICO-reveals-how-common-credit-mistakes-affect-scores?mod=bb-creditreports
Disclosed for the 1st time, 'damage points' taken off for late payments
Borrowers already knew that late payments hurt their credit scores, but for the first time, they now know the extent of that damage.
Did you max out your credit card? Expect a credit score drop of 10 to 45 points. Declare bankruptcy? Your score will plummet by up to 240 points, and your odds of getting credit will nosedive with it.
The "damage points" data, unveiled recently by FICO, are part of the most revealing glimpse into the firm's once-secret -- and still mysterious -- credit scoring model. The new information discloses how many points borrowers' scores will drop when they make the most-common mistakes.
'Help People Understand' Scores
"I hope this information will help people to better understand FICO scores and the value for them of avoiding credit missteps. It illustrates key points such as the higher your score, the farther it can fall if you stumble," says FICO spokesman Craig Watts. "Getting and maintaining a good score isn't complicated. We all just need to pay our bills on time, keep credit card balances low and take on new debt sparingly. "
The greater transparency about FICO scores is important because American consumers' ability to get credit rises and falls with the number. FICO, the company that pioneered credit scoring, assigns consumers a three-digit number from 300 to 850, depending on how well they handle credit. Other companies also offer scores, but FICO's version is the most widely used by lenders in determining whether a consumer can borrow, and at what rate.
FICO's credit score has been around for decades, but only within the past decade have consumers gradually gained access to theirs. Though the raw numbers can be purchased, how they're figured remains a FICO secret, as closely guarded as the formula for Coca-Cola. Until Thursday, FICO revealed only broad categories of factors influencing the score, but not the number of points at stake for consumers who fail to pay as agreed. The "damage points" information, revealed in a report by personal finance writer Liz Pulliam Weston, will be made available through its myFICO.com Web site starting this weekend.
FICO's information shows that bankruptcy does the most serious damage to a credit score (up to 240 points), followed by foreclosure (up to 160 points) while maxing out a credit card has the least numerical impact (as few as 10 points).
Those with good or excellent credit -- so-called prime borrowers -- put more points at risk with each mistake. For example, someone with an average credit score of 680 who pays a bill 30 days late will see a drop of 60 to 80 points. But for someone with an excellent credit score -- 780 -- that same delinquency can send a FICO score tumbling by 90 to 100 points.
The Cost in Dollars
In order to show just how badly a drop in your FICO score can hurt your wallet, we spoke with members of the home mortgage, auto and credit card lending industries. We presented hypothetical scenarios of a consumer who decided to apply for a $200,000, 30-year mortgage; a $20,000, five-year auto loan and a credit card. While all the industry insiders stressed that a FICO score isn't the only factor in determining who gets credit and at what cost (other factors they cited include the borrower's debt-to-income ratio and whether they have already established a relationship with the lender), they were able to provide an idea of what a borrower who had the following credit scores could expect.
For a Consumer Who Started With a FICO Score of 780:
•Following a 30-day late payment, the consumer's car loan rate would jump nearly 3 percent, costing the borrower $26 more each month.
•Following a debt settlement, the consumer would pay as much as $109 more each month on a home mortgage.
For a Consumer Who Started With a FICO Score of 680:
•Following a 30-day late payment, the consumer would pay $41 more each month for a car loan.
•Following a 30-day late payment, the consumer would pay as much as $95 more each month on a home mortgage.
•Following a debt settlement, the consumer would no longer qualify for a credit card.
Some Surprised By the Details
Consumer advocates say it's important for borrowers to know what can damage their FICO scores. "If they know it in advance, they won't go out and step in a pile of doo-doo. They won't go out and do some of these things," says Linda Sherry, director of national priorities with advocacy group Consumer Action. Even experts found some surprises in today's news. "FICO imposes bigger hits than I would have thought for being maxed out or 30-days late just once, reinforcing my view that it is a cruder, blunter instrument than they like to claim. Nevertheless, it is a powerful, widely used crude blunt instrument," says Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program director for the U.S. PIRG consumer advocacy group.
Of course, knowing the impact on a FICO score and actually avoiding these mistakes are two separate things: Amid rising unemployment and other daily financial struggles, paying bills and staying on-track financially becomes a much bigger challenge for many borrowers.
"Some of these things are out of their control," Sherry says of consumers.
Additionally, as Weston points out, consumers with identical FICO scores can have different credit histories. That means the same slip-up -- such as maxing out a credit card -- could have different impacts on consumers who have the same FICO score. In the examples they provided, FICO assumed each borrower had several active major credit cards, a mortgage, car loan and student loans.
Sherry acknowledges the benefit of putting a number to a financial blunder. "I don't think we necessarily knew the numbers that a bankruptcy could apply to a credit score," Sherry says.
Helping You Make Better Decisions
While knowing the numbers may not keep you filing for bankruptcy if given no other choice, the information may help you make the best decision when faced with a bad situation.
FICO scores -- and the access to credit they provide -- are a valuable asset to consumers and supply a safety net when incomes are stretched. It's an asset that needs to be protected, Sherry says, even if job loss or catastrophic illness makes bill paying problematic.
"In that period of time, paying down debt is the last thing on your mind. Paying the minimum payment may also be the last thing on your mind, but you'll be doing yourself a big favor if you do," Sherry says.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
7 big money mistakes to avoid (comments)
Posted by Redvioletskydancer Fri Nov 6, 2009 6:50am PST
Those are some good ideas. There are 20 good money saving tips at www.womensave.org link: http://www.womensave.org/tips.php that will help you save all year. They also have phone numbers to call to see if the state comptroller is holding money for you that you could use for the upcoming holiday season and menus to feed a family of 4 on $50 a week. They want women to join their forum and share HEALTHY menus for $50 a week too.
Posted by Cindy Fri Nov 6, 2009 10:42am PST
I'm an avid believer of protecting yourself first, so I heartily agree with #2. Your kids don't always turn out to be the kind of person you want them to be. What happens if after you've raised them to adulthood and paid for their college education and down payments on their homes and whatnot and you find yourself in old age and they decide they don't want to take care of you? Or because you've been providing for them your whole life, they don't know how to provide for themselves and providing for you would be way beyond their means and comprehension. With that in mind, it's in your best interest to pay for your retirement first. I'm actually an optimistic person, but I like to be prepared for the worst.
Posted by Giz Fri Nov 6, 2009 12:41pm PST
For the record "none" and "cindy", I worked 60+ hours a week in college, spread between 2-3 jobs at a time. My siblings all had/have 30 + hour a week jobs while in college and we all paid for our own books, housing and some of our college tuition as well. I, at 26 years old, have a good job and have been paying any non-school related bills 100% by myself ever since the age of 18. I bought my own cars and house and the only debt I have is my mortgage (which I put extra money towards every month). I drove across the country, up the coast and back on my own for 6 weeks when I was 22, camping the whole way, and I paid for everything. Any vacation I took after the age of 16 was financed soley by me.
My parents taught me responsibility better than anyone I know. They also taught me that it was important to provide your children with the best opportunities in life and the only way to do that is to make sure they have access to education. Many kids I know didn't have that access because their parents didn't care enough to think about it and they couldn't balance working enough to afford school along with handling the classes needed to graduate. For the record, I haven't finished school yet. I have a solid career in Real Estate and Marketing that I have been working hard for since the age of 17. I'll finish when I'm ready. At this point, I will of course be paying for everything on my own. That is the path that is best for me.
I have 3 siblings who were better off getting through all of the education they wanted right after high school. That doesn't mean they were being stupid, irresponsible or wasting money. What an ignorant statement. None of us party/partied. My older sister also has a home and car as well as a grad degree she paid for entirely on her own. My little sister and brother both contribute a decent amount to their schooling and finance their own living expenses, study abroad programs, books, food, transportation etc. None of us use credit cards or any other sort of financing that doesn't involve a mortgage.
I learned very well how to provide for myself and had my parents not taken care of me or been there to support me while I was growing and learning to do so, that may not have been the case. They taught me how to use credit wisely, save money, budget, separate want from need, have a good work ethic and balance both work and other life responsibilities. The issue is that many parents don't teach their kids before the age of 18 how to be an adult and are then shocked when they toss them out the door to fend for themselves and they get completely lost and fail. Parents assisting with college tuition has nothing to do with kids not being capable of handling their own lives and finances. The two items are completely separate.
Posted by maryl Fri Nov 6, 2009 2:36pm PST
Take care of yourself first, . . you cannot carry someone else if you are cut at the knees! SAVE,SAVE,SAVE!!!
Posted by B Fri Nov 6, 2009 3:57pm PST
Joy in Seattle, I'm not sorry for you. You decided to have a child so now you need to stop whining and get your stuff together. I don' care if you were married, in a relationship or whatever when you got pregnant. If you decide to bring a child to this world you should know that you have to be able to provide for it, alone if necessary. I do not believe that most Americans don't have money for basic things, because if they have the money to spend it on junk they don't need then I take it they have it for the basics. Oh wait, this is why the economy is down the drain, because they did not have the money and were buying stuff they could not afford anyways. Ooops! Long live the credit card!.
I am a full time student and only my husband works,and he does not make buckets of money. But we still are able to afford all the stuff we need, pay for my books and school supplies, have some fun and save cash and have additional retirement plan to the one he gets through his company. If you think you have to have it all, you will end up in deep red.
I also agree that the whole big name college stuff is overrated because unless you want to work for Fortune 500 company, most employers don't care what school you went to or what your GPA was. Unless you get a free ride, or have rich parents who are either rich enough so that they can pay for retirement and your school or dumb enough to pay for your school only, go to community college, study hard and have good grades there and get a scholarship when you transfer to a four year institution. Works totally ok.
Posted by SUSAN M Fri Nov 6, 2009 5:00pm PST
I disagree with not paying extra on the mortgage. Pull out you amoritization (sp) chart and look and how much of your payment goes to interest vs principal! It will make you sick. Add a bit more and save a few hundred bucks in interest! It is not rocket science. I am 35 and own a modest home but it is nearly paid for. While I will lose my tax deduction, I dont owe enough on my house to make the interest tax deductable over standard deductions. Tax man said I needed to buy a bigger house or have a kid. I choose C- none of the above and take the tax hit. In this economy and last year when I was on medical leave for 6 months of year I thanked God everyday I had small house payments!
Posted by sitter_ragdoll Sat Nov 7, 2009 1:34am PST
B is right. I'm sick of single mothers whining about how poor they are. Maybe you should have thought of that before you got knocked up. My grandmother's husband died in the war and she raised three kids while working 3 jobs to get by so when my co-workers complain about cut hours yet spend 100$ on a slutty halloween costume or go out for lunch everyday, it makes me roll my eyes. you made choices and now you have to live with them.
Those are some good ideas. There are 20 good money saving tips at www.womensave.org link: http://www.womensave.org/tips.php that will help you save all year. They also have phone numbers to call to see if the state comptroller is holding money for you that you could use for the upcoming holiday season and menus to feed a family of 4 on $50 a week. They want women to join their forum and share HEALTHY menus for $50 a week too.
Posted by Cindy Fri Nov 6, 2009 10:42am PST
I'm an avid believer of protecting yourself first, so I heartily agree with #2. Your kids don't always turn out to be the kind of person you want them to be. What happens if after you've raised them to adulthood and paid for their college education and down payments on their homes and whatnot and you find yourself in old age and they decide they don't want to take care of you? Or because you've been providing for them your whole life, they don't know how to provide for themselves and providing for you would be way beyond their means and comprehension. With that in mind, it's in your best interest to pay for your retirement first. I'm actually an optimistic person, but I like to be prepared for the worst.
Posted by Giz Fri Nov 6, 2009 12:41pm PST
For the record "none" and "cindy", I worked 60+ hours a week in college, spread between 2-3 jobs at a time. My siblings all had/have 30 + hour a week jobs while in college and we all paid for our own books, housing and some of our college tuition as well. I, at 26 years old, have a good job and have been paying any non-school related bills 100% by myself ever since the age of 18. I bought my own cars and house and the only debt I have is my mortgage (which I put extra money towards every month). I drove across the country, up the coast and back on my own for 6 weeks when I was 22, camping the whole way, and I paid for everything. Any vacation I took after the age of 16 was financed soley by me.
My parents taught me responsibility better than anyone I know. They also taught me that it was important to provide your children with the best opportunities in life and the only way to do that is to make sure they have access to education. Many kids I know didn't have that access because their parents didn't care enough to think about it and they couldn't balance working enough to afford school along with handling the classes needed to graduate. For the record, I haven't finished school yet. I have a solid career in Real Estate and Marketing that I have been working hard for since the age of 17. I'll finish when I'm ready. At this point, I will of course be paying for everything on my own. That is the path that is best for me.
I have 3 siblings who were better off getting through all of the education they wanted right after high school. That doesn't mean they were being stupid, irresponsible or wasting money. What an ignorant statement. None of us party/partied. My older sister also has a home and car as well as a grad degree she paid for entirely on her own. My little sister and brother both contribute a decent amount to their schooling and finance their own living expenses, study abroad programs, books, food, transportation etc. None of us use credit cards or any other sort of financing that doesn't involve a mortgage.
I learned very well how to provide for myself and had my parents not taken care of me or been there to support me while I was growing and learning to do so, that may not have been the case. They taught me how to use credit wisely, save money, budget, separate want from need, have a good work ethic and balance both work and other life responsibilities. The issue is that many parents don't teach their kids before the age of 18 how to be an adult and are then shocked when they toss them out the door to fend for themselves and they get completely lost and fail. Parents assisting with college tuition has nothing to do with kids not being capable of handling their own lives and finances. The two items are completely separate.
Posted by maryl Fri Nov 6, 2009 2:36pm PST
Take care of yourself first, . . you cannot carry someone else if you are cut at the knees! SAVE,SAVE,SAVE!!!
Posted by B Fri Nov 6, 2009 3:57pm PST
Joy in Seattle, I'm not sorry for you. You decided to have a child so now you need to stop whining and get your stuff together. I don' care if you were married, in a relationship or whatever when you got pregnant. If you decide to bring a child to this world you should know that you have to be able to provide for it, alone if necessary. I do not believe that most Americans don't have money for basic things, because if they have the money to spend it on junk they don't need then I take it they have it for the basics. Oh wait, this is why the economy is down the drain, because they did not have the money and were buying stuff they could not afford anyways. Ooops! Long live the credit card!.
I am a full time student and only my husband works,and he does not make buckets of money. But we still are able to afford all the stuff we need, pay for my books and school supplies, have some fun and save cash and have additional retirement plan to the one he gets through his company. If you think you have to have it all, you will end up in deep red.
I also agree that the whole big name college stuff is overrated because unless you want to work for Fortune 500 company, most employers don't care what school you went to or what your GPA was. Unless you get a free ride, or have rich parents who are either rich enough so that they can pay for retirement and your school or dumb enough to pay for your school only, go to community college, study hard and have good grades there and get a scholarship when you transfer to a four year institution. Works totally ok.
Posted by SUSAN M Fri Nov 6, 2009 5:00pm PST
I disagree with not paying extra on the mortgage. Pull out you amoritization (sp) chart and look and how much of your payment goes to interest vs principal! It will make you sick. Add a bit more and save a few hundred bucks in interest! It is not rocket science. I am 35 and own a modest home but it is nearly paid for. While I will lose my tax deduction, I dont owe enough on my house to make the interest tax deductable over standard deductions. Tax man said I needed to buy a bigger house or have a kid. I choose C- none of the above and take the tax hit. In this economy and last year when I was on medical leave for 6 months of year I thanked God everyday I had small house payments!
Posted by sitter_ragdoll Sat Nov 7, 2009 1:34am PST
B is right. I'm sick of single mothers whining about how poor they are. Maybe you should have thought of that before you got knocked up. My grandmother's husband died in the war and she raised three kids while working 3 jobs to get by so when my co-workers complain about cut hours yet spend 100$ on a slutty halloween costume or go out for lunch everyday, it makes me roll my eyes. you made choices and now you have to live with them.
有一种女人嫁给谁都能幸福
有一种女人嫁给谁都能幸福
http://bbs.creaders.net/romance/bbsviewer.php?trd_id=421766&blog_id=50510
有一种女人，不管她嫁的是建筑工人还是国会议员，她都有能力让自己过得幸福。
我见到明依是在好友的聚会上，一个35岁的女人，中等姿色，学历也不高，却嫁了个气宇轩昂的好老公，
他据说是硕士，后来做家具生意发了家，结婚10年，有一个粉雕玉镯的小女儿，好友说完后半妒半羡地感叹，
嫁到这么好的男人，明依真幸福，我笑着不说话，想来她的故事不会这么简单。
明依嫁给老公的时候，他还是大学里年轻的讲师，站在讲台上激情飞扬地大谈犬儒主义和叔本华，
台下的女生们多数是冲着英俊老师来的，明依全身心的投入和迷恋这份感情，
那时候她当然不会去考虑台上气质非凡的男人名下只有一间 20 平米的筒子楼宿舍。婚后的现状虽然不尽如人意，
但如胶似漆的爱情可以弥补一切。小两口一起在公共用水间洗衣服，一人一头拧床单；在烟熏火燎的楼道里做饭，
饭后老公陪着她边洗碗边聊天；周末手拉手去看场电影或是回婆家吃顿饭。明依觉得小日子虽然清贫，
但一样觉得幸福甜蜜，她把眼光从简陋的家，朴素的衣裳，自己光秃秃的脖子手指上移开，
每月精打细算的捂着手中不多的钱把日子过好，明依做得一手好菜，老公最爱喝她熬的汤，排骨炖莲藕，
鲫鱼萝卜丝，芋头娃娃菜……每次喝的肚儿圆圆才放下碗。看到老公简单满足的微笑，明依觉得，这就是幸福。
大学的谈资论辈终于令老公厌烦了。明依看出了他的心思，鼓励他去经商创业，
那一阵，家里家外的事情全靠明依一手操持，老公在外面联系洽谈，四处求人，有时候碰壁受气，回家难免冲着老婆发泄。
日子比刚结婚那阵更苦，心理压力也大，明依背地里也哭过，当面也和老公吵过，
但每当一早醒来看见老公的头颅孩子一般依恋在自己的肩头，心里便像温水里融化的蜜，暖暖的，甜甜的。
她比以往更加用心操持家务，把 500 元租来的小房间布置得整洁温馨；老公夜归的时候她总在灯下等着，
接下沉重的公文包，递上一杯热茶；临睡前两口子坐在床头聊聊烦心的事情，共同商量解决问题的办法。
怀上孩子的时候，老公的事业刚起步，天天周旋于客户和朋友间，请客吃饭，陪酒，陪玩，
每晚不到深更半夜回不了家。明依非常难过，面前的男人虽然还是熟悉的面孔，却好像完全换了一个灵魂。
他没时间对着大肚子的老婆嘘寒问暖，没精力回应老婆的温存关切，在生活的残酷考验下，
他还原了男人爱事业不爱美人的本质，简直就是一个工作狂。明依觉得自己的温柔克己完全白费了，
眼前的男人已经不是当初自己深爱的那一个，再勉强下去还有什么意义？
定居美国的大姐回来看她，明依哭着告诉她：老公给不了我想要的幸福，我想离婚。
大姐缄默，第二天给她带来一本美国专栏女作家的畅销小集子，里面有一句话让明依有所触动：有一种女人，
不管她嫁的是建筑工人还是国会议员，她都有能力让自己过得幸福。
没错，女人的幸福，为什么要靠男人给呢？每个女人，都应该有让自己，让家庭幸福的能力。
大着肚子的明依向父母求援，请妈妈过来帮忙买菜做饭，照顾这个自己无力兼顾的小家。
她强迫自己不去想烦心的事情，每天吃好睡好，安心养胎；她不再等老公夜归，
不再像以前那样每天缠着他问长问短，不再拿鸡毛蒜皮的小事去烦他；在他偶尔有空的时间里让他搀着自己散步，
彼此取笑着对方为孩子取名字。也怪了，一天天平静安稳地过去，原本觉得天昏暗地的生活，渐渐变得阳光灿烂起来。
女儿快 3 岁了，他们搬了新家。钱都花在房款上了，明依雇了个油漆匠把墙一刷，购置了简单的家具，
就这样凑合着先搬进去了。老公每天回家都能看到一点点新的变化：
客厅里别致的灯罩是用硬纸壳蒙上米色暗红碎花图案的棉布做的；自己到海南出差带回来的椰子，
吃剩的硬壳被巧妙改造成了造型可爱的小猪扑满；卷筒纸用完了，明依给简芯细致地裹上了一层米白色亚麻细布，
教女儿用蜡笔涂鸦，画出五彩的虹，绿的树，蓝色的河流，金色的太阳公公，这样一个 DIY 小笔筒摆在书桌上，
做爸爸的每次看到心里都暖洋洋的。一个原本平凡的空间在明依手里渐渐改头换面，一天比一天丰富，一天比一天有情趣。
汤妮的出现差点儿击碎了明依的幸福梦想。她是老公生意上的重要合伙人之一，年轻，家境富裕，有生意头脑和管
理能力，带着一种咄咄逼人的美和气势。汤妮明显地向老公老公表示好感，根本不在乎他的已婚身份，
男人到了这种地步，不免有些心猿意马，暧昧不明。很多人都来向明依告密，有的是打抱不平，有的纯粹为了看热闹。
明依却还是和以前一样，看自己的书，种自己的花花草草，照顾刚上小学的女儿。在老公回家的时候，
给他送上舒服的拖鞋；在他起床洗漱的时候，提前给他挤好牙膏。她对烹调的兴趣越发浓厚，
时不时来些新奇的花样。比如把香蕉切成小块，浇上酸奶，然后裹上全麦饼干屑；
去凤凰旅游的时候学会了用蒜叶和新鲜芫菜加干辣椒炝炒；跟婆婆学会了做四川泡菜。
种种小创意让在外面吃惯了大鱼大肉的老公回到家来就会忍不住多添一碗饭，赞一句，还是家里的菜好吃。
明依把周末的时间精心策划起来，老公有空的时候，带上孩子，开车到附近的农家乐，踏青，看红叶，
老公没空陪她，她就自己带着女儿去儿童乐园，或是看最新上映的动画大片。每次娘俩儿都开心的手牵手回家，
女儿欢声笑语，明依红光满面。
老公终日担心，如果明依提出那个难堪的问题，他不知道该如何回答。但明依开开心心地过自己的日子，
从来不多问一句。当然明依也有变化：她恢复了几分婚前活泼可爱的样子，穿衣打扮越发精致；
她参加了瑜伽课，学打网球；她组织姐妹旅行团去尼泊尔，回来容光焕发，给女儿带回一条手工绣花的小裙子，
送老公一个乌木镶银的烟灰缸；她甚至开始学习英文，居然可以磕磕巴巴地和美国网友聊天！
这个跟了自己 10 年的女人身上原来还有那么多自己不了解的特质和能量，这一切都让他感觉既陌生又熟悉，并深深为之吸引。
汤妮的事情居然就这么慢慢地淡了，没了，女友去看明依，崇拜无比地追问她处理方式。
明依笑说，见怪不怪，其怪自败。以前我老觉得嫁个好老公就能幸福，
现在看起来，女人的幸福不是靠男人给的。女人要有让自己幸福的能力。热爱生活，照顾好家庭，不冷落自己，
这才是女人真正的幸福。
这话有道理，一个家庭幸不幸福， 80% 以上取决于女主人。有能力让自己幸福，有能力给男人幸福，
才是聪明的好女人
http://bbs.creaders.net/romance/bbsviewer.php?trd_id=421766&blog_id=50510
有一种女人，不管她嫁的是建筑工人还是国会议员，她都有能力让自己过得幸福。
我见到明依是在好友的聚会上，一个35岁的女人，中等姿色，学历也不高，却嫁了个气宇轩昂的好老公，
他据说是硕士，后来做家具生意发了家，结婚10年，有一个粉雕玉镯的小女儿，好友说完后半妒半羡地感叹，
嫁到这么好的男人，明依真幸福，我笑着不说话，想来她的故事不会这么简单。
明依嫁给老公的时候，他还是大学里年轻的讲师，站在讲台上激情飞扬地大谈犬儒主义和叔本华，
台下的女生们多数是冲着英俊老师来的，明依全身心的投入和迷恋这份感情，
那时候她当然不会去考虑台上气质非凡的男人名下只有一间 20 平米的筒子楼宿舍。婚后的现状虽然不尽如人意，
但如胶似漆的爱情可以弥补一切。小两口一起在公共用水间洗衣服，一人一头拧床单；在烟熏火燎的楼道里做饭，
饭后老公陪着她边洗碗边聊天；周末手拉手去看场电影或是回婆家吃顿饭。明依觉得小日子虽然清贫，
但一样觉得幸福甜蜜，她把眼光从简陋的家，朴素的衣裳，自己光秃秃的脖子手指上移开，
每月精打细算的捂着手中不多的钱把日子过好，明依做得一手好菜，老公最爱喝她熬的汤，排骨炖莲藕，
鲫鱼萝卜丝，芋头娃娃菜……每次喝的肚儿圆圆才放下碗。看到老公简单满足的微笑，明依觉得，这就是幸福。
大学的谈资论辈终于令老公厌烦了。明依看出了他的心思，鼓励他去经商创业，
那一阵，家里家外的事情全靠明依一手操持，老公在外面联系洽谈，四处求人，有时候碰壁受气，回家难免冲着老婆发泄。
日子比刚结婚那阵更苦，心理压力也大，明依背地里也哭过，当面也和老公吵过，
但每当一早醒来看见老公的头颅孩子一般依恋在自己的肩头，心里便像温水里融化的蜜，暖暖的，甜甜的。
她比以往更加用心操持家务，把 500 元租来的小房间布置得整洁温馨；老公夜归的时候她总在灯下等着，
接下沉重的公文包，递上一杯热茶；临睡前两口子坐在床头聊聊烦心的事情，共同商量解决问题的办法。
怀上孩子的时候，老公的事业刚起步，天天周旋于客户和朋友间，请客吃饭，陪酒，陪玩，
每晚不到深更半夜回不了家。明依非常难过，面前的男人虽然还是熟悉的面孔，却好像完全换了一个灵魂。
他没时间对着大肚子的老婆嘘寒问暖，没精力回应老婆的温存关切，在生活的残酷考验下，
他还原了男人爱事业不爱美人的本质，简直就是一个工作狂。明依觉得自己的温柔克己完全白费了，
眼前的男人已经不是当初自己深爱的那一个，再勉强下去还有什么意义？
定居美国的大姐回来看她，明依哭着告诉她：老公给不了我想要的幸福，我想离婚。
大姐缄默，第二天给她带来一本美国专栏女作家的畅销小集子，里面有一句话让明依有所触动：有一种女人，
不管她嫁的是建筑工人还是国会议员，她都有能力让自己过得幸福。
没错，女人的幸福，为什么要靠男人给呢？每个女人，都应该有让自己，让家庭幸福的能力。
大着肚子的明依向父母求援，请妈妈过来帮忙买菜做饭，照顾这个自己无力兼顾的小家。
她强迫自己不去想烦心的事情，每天吃好睡好，安心养胎；她不再等老公夜归，
不再像以前那样每天缠着他问长问短，不再拿鸡毛蒜皮的小事去烦他；在他偶尔有空的时间里让他搀着自己散步，
彼此取笑着对方为孩子取名字。也怪了，一天天平静安稳地过去，原本觉得天昏暗地的生活，渐渐变得阳光灿烂起来。
女儿快 3 岁了，他们搬了新家。钱都花在房款上了，明依雇了个油漆匠把墙一刷，购置了简单的家具，
就这样凑合着先搬进去了。老公每天回家都能看到一点点新的变化：
客厅里别致的灯罩是用硬纸壳蒙上米色暗红碎花图案的棉布做的；自己到海南出差带回来的椰子，
吃剩的硬壳被巧妙改造成了造型可爱的小猪扑满；卷筒纸用完了，明依给简芯细致地裹上了一层米白色亚麻细布，
教女儿用蜡笔涂鸦，画出五彩的虹，绿的树，蓝色的河流，金色的太阳公公，这样一个 DIY 小笔筒摆在书桌上，
做爸爸的每次看到心里都暖洋洋的。一个原本平凡的空间在明依手里渐渐改头换面，一天比一天丰富，一天比一天有情趣。
汤妮的出现差点儿击碎了明依的幸福梦想。她是老公生意上的重要合伙人之一，年轻，家境富裕，有生意头脑和管
理能力，带着一种咄咄逼人的美和气势。汤妮明显地向老公老公表示好感，根本不在乎他的已婚身份，
男人到了这种地步，不免有些心猿意马，暧昧不明。很多人都来向明依告密，有的是打抱不平，有的纯粹为了看热闹。
明依却还是和以前一样，看自己的书，种自己的花花草草，照顾刚上小学的女儿。在老公回家的时候，
给他送上舒服的拖鞋；在他起床洗漱的时候，提前给他挤好牙膏。她对烹调的兴趣越发浓厚，
时不时来些新奇的花样。比如把香蕉切成小块，浇上酸奶，然后裹上全麦饼干屑；
去凤凰旅游的时候学会了用蒜叶和新鲜芫菜加干辣椒炝炒；跟婆婆学会了做四川泡菜。
种种小创意让在外面吃惯了大鱼大肉的老公回到家来就会忍不住多添一碗饭，赞一句，还是家里的菜好吃。
明依把周末的时间精心策划起来，老公有空的时候，带上孩子，开车到附近的农家乐，踏青，看红叶，
老公没空陪她，她就自己带着女儿去儿童乐园，或是看最新上映的动画大片。每次娘俩儿都开心的手牵手回家，
女儿欢声笑语，明依红光满面。
老公终日担心，如果明依提出那个难堪的问题，他不知道该如何回答。但明依开开心心地过自己的日子，
从来不多问一句。当然明依也有变化：她恢复了几分婚前活泼可爱的样子，穿衣打扮越发精致；
她参加了瑜伽课，学打网球；她组织姐妹旅行团去尼泊尔，回来容光焕发，给女儿带回一条手工绣花的小裙子，
送老公一个乌木镶银的烟灰缸；她甚至开始学习英文，居然可以磕磕巴巴地和美国网友聊天！
这个跟了自己 10 年的女人身上原来还有那么多自己不了解的特质和能量，这一切都让他感觉既陌生又熟悉，并深深为之吸引。
汤妮的事情居然就这么慢慢地淡了，没了，女友去看明依，崇拜无比地追问她处理方式。
明依笑说，见怪不怪，其怪自败。以前我老觉得嫁个好老公就能幸福，
现在看起来，女人的幸福不是靠男人给的。女人要有让自己幸福的能力。热爱生活，照顾好家庭，不冷落自己，
这才是女人真正的幸福。
这话有道理，一个家庭幸不幸福， 80% 以上取决于女主人。有能力让自己幸福，有能力给男人幸福，
才是聪明的好女人
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
7 big money mistakes to avoid
By Mary Hunt
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/7-big-money-mistakes-to-avoid-541533/print/
I’m going to guess you’ve made a financial mistake or two in your life. Who hasn’t? For some of us, it was more than an occasional late fee or random urge to overspend that brought us to our financial knees. But I’m not talking about the kind of blunders that got us into trouble—we could list those in our sleep. Instead, I want to focus on the mistakes people make while they’re working their way back to financial health. Whether you’re recovering from a season of unemployment or from a financial mess you created on your own, avoid these goofs and you’ll get where you want to go much faster.
1. Not Saving
7 Big Money Mistakes to Avoid
You’ve heard this plenty, and here it comes again: Jump to the front of the line— ahead of your creditors—when you divvy up your paycheck. Get over feeling guilty about keeping money for yourself. You need a fat emergency fund, and the only way to build it is to pay yourself first! Stuff happens, and if you’re not financially prepared for those emergencies, you’ll keep falling back into debt.
You’ll need enough in your fund to pay all your bills for at least six months. But don’t let that big number discourage you. Start by saving enough to live on for two weeks, then up it to one month, and so on until you reach goal.
Solution: Put your savings on autopilot—you won’t miss what you don’t see. Commit to saving 10 percent of every paycheck. If you can’t start there, start with 2 percent. Then in a few weeks, change it to 5 percent, then 7 and so forth until you reach at least 10 percent.
2. Paying for College
If you must make a choice between adequately funding your own retirement and paying for your kids’ college education, put retirement first. Contributing to college funds, going into debt by cosigning for student loans or taking out a home equity loan to cover tuition before you’ve taken care of your own future are huge blunders. The best gift you can give your kids is to make sure you won’t become a financial burden to them in your sunset years.
Solution: Kids have far more options for funding their college education than you have for your retirement. They’ve got scholarships, grants, financial aid, student loans, work-study programs and the not-to-be-forgotten method of working their way through college. Once your own future is secure and you’re out of debt, that’s when you’re in a position to help pay for education. Use the free Retirement Calculator at MoneyCentral.MSN.com/Retire/Planner.aspx to determine how much you need to be setting aside for retirement each month.
3. Too Much House
Add up your shelter costs (monthly mortgage payment plus taxes and insurance). Your total shouldn’t exceed 28 to 33 percent of your gross income—and that’s only if you don’t have a lot of other debt. Biting off more house than you can chew leaves you wide open to foreclosure and bankruptcy.
Solution: Don’t let a commissioned professional talk you into buying the most house you can qualify for. Do your own research and run your own numbers to determine how much house you can afford. You need a 20 percent down payment and a 30-year fixed-rate loan, with monthly payments that can easily fit within 28 to 33 percent of your current gross household income. If you’re over your head in a house you can’t afford, maybe it’s time to sell. If you’ve fallen behind or fear you may soon, but you owe more than the house is currently worth, call your lender immediately. You may be able to enter into a short sale (the lender agrees to settle your debt for the sale price that you can get for the house now, and forgives the balance you owe). Or speak with a HUD-approved housing counselor to find out about other options, such as loan modification (the lender agrees to adjust the terms of your loan so you can afford to keep living in your home).
4. Refinancing a Fixed-Rate Mortgage
With mortgage rates at a 50- year low, it’s tempting to refinance to get a lower monthly payment. But before you do that, ask yourself this: Can you take the difference between the payment you have now and the lower payment and use it to repay all your refinancing costs within 24 months?
Let’s do the math. The average closing cost is 2.5 to 5 percent on a $150,000 loan ($3,750 to $7,500), but the percentage normally goes down as the loan increases. Divide the amount you’ll save each month into the closing cost. If the result is more than 24, you’ll be making a big mistake by refinancing.
Even worse, refinancing with this lower monthly payment will “reset the clock,” putting you back on a 30- year payback schedule. Your goal should be to pay off the home so you own it free and clear before you retire If you’re 10 years from paying off your home and you refinance to get a lower monthly payment— but end up with a new 30-year term—you’ll be making those new “lower” payments for an additional 20 years! If the payment is, say, $2,000, you’ll end up paying an additional $480,000 just because you refinanced and reset the clock.
Solution: If you did the math earlier and it worked out in your favor, go ahead and refinance—but keep making the original, larger mortgage payments you’ve been making all along. Now, that lower payment will make an authentic, financially wise difference. You’ve managed to outsmart that reset clock and the extra interest that comes with it.
5. Paying Off the Mortgage Too Soon
Paying extra on your mortgage each month is laudable, but not if you time it badly. Your mortgage should be the last debt you pay off. Why? First, its interest rate is a lot lower than the interest you’re paying on your other debts (credit cards, student loans). Second, mortgage interest on your primary residence is tax-deductible. While you’re in debt having that deduction helps to ease the pain by lowering your tax bill.
Solution: Once you’ve built up a fat emergency fund and all of your high-interest, unsecured debts are paid in full—only then should you consider putting money toward paying off your mortgage.
6. Investing in the Wrong Thing
If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past year, it’s that money invested in the stock market is at risk. You could lose it! Don’t jeopardize any of your hard-earned money while you’re carrying high-interest, unsecured debt. Instead, invest in your debt—it’s a much smarter move. Let me explain: If you have a $2,000 credit card balance at 14.5 percent interest, you’re paying $290 per year in interest, or $24.16 per month. Instead of taking a $2,000 gamble on the stock market, put it toward reducing your credit card debt Now each month, rather than paying that $24.16 interest to the credit card company, you get to keep it.
Solution: As long as you’re carrying unsecured debt, do everything you can to pay it down each month. You’ll get a return equal to the amount of interest you would have paid to the credit card company.
7. Debt Consolidation
Sounds great, doesn’t it? Get a new low-interest loan to pay off all your high-interest debts! But more often than not, that’s a big faux pas. Low-rate consolidation loans are typically tied to something of value like your home’s equity. Bad enough, but here’s the real problem: The financially immature person gets that equity loan and then keeps using those credit cards. In no time, the balances creep back to the limit. And that means double the trouble.
Solution: Forget about consolidating old debt into new debt. Instead, get serious about cutting your spending so you can pay off the debts you have as quickly as possible. If you have a good payment history, call the creditor and ask for a lower interest rate. You never know— you just might get it!
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/7-big-money-mistakes-to-avoid-541533/print/
I’m going to guess you’ve made a financial mistake or two in your life. Who hasn’t? For some of us, it was more than an occasional late fee or random urge to overspend that brought us to our financial knees. But I’m not talking about the kind of blunders that got us into trouble—we could list those in our sleep. Instead, I want to focus on the mistakes people make while they’re working their way back to financial health. Whether you’re recovering from a season of unemployment or from a financial mess you created on your own, avoid these goofs and you’ll get where you want to go much faster.
1. Not Saving
7 Big Money Mistakes to Avoid
You’ve heard this plenty, and here it comes again: Jump to the front of the line— ahead of your creditors—when you divvy up your paycheck. Get over feeling guilty about keeping money for yourself. You need a fat emergency fund, and the only way to build it is to pay yourself first! Stuff happens, and if you’re not financially prepared for those emergencies, you’ll keep falling back into debt.
You’ll need enough in your fund to pay all your bills for at least six months. But don’t let that big number discourage you. Start by saving enough to live on for two weeks, then up it to one month, and so on until you reach goal.
Solution: Put your savings on autopilot—you won’t miss what you don’t see. Commit to saving 10 percent of every paycheck. If you can’t start there, start with 2 percent. Then in a few weeks, change it to 5 percent, then 7 and so forth until you reach at least 10 percent.
2. Paying for College
If you must make a choice between adequately funding your own retirement and paying for your kids’ college education, put retirement first. Contributing to college funds, going into debt by cosigning for student loans or taking out a home equity loan to cover tuition before you’ve taken care of your own future are huge blunders. The best gift you can give your kids is to make sure you won’t become a financial burden to them in your sunset years.
Solution: Kids have far more options for funding their college education than you have for your retirement. They’ve got scholarships, grants, financial aid, student loans, work-study programs and the not-to-be-forgotten method of working their way through college. Once your own future is secure and you’re out of debt, that’s when you’re in a position to help pay for education. Use the free Retirement Calculator at MoneyCentral.MSN.com/Retire/Planner.aspx to determine how much you need to be setting aside for retirement each month.
3. Too Much House
Add up your shelter costs (monthly mortgage payment plus taxes and insurance). Your total shouldn’t exceed 28 to 33 percent of your gross income—and that’s only if you don’t have a lot of other debt. Biting off more house than you can chew leaves you wide open to foreclosure and bankruptcy.
Solution: Don’t let a commissioned professional talk you into buying the most house you can qualify for. Do your own research and run your own numbers to determine how much house you can afford. You need a 20 percent down payment and a 30-year fixed-rate loan, with monthly payments that can easily fit within 28 to 33 percent of your current gross household income. If you’re over your head in a house you can’t afford, maybe it’s time to sell. If you’ve fallen behind or fear you may soon, but you owe more than the house is currently worth, call your lender immediately. You may be able to enter into a short sale (the lender agrees to settle your debt for the sale price that you can get for the house now, and forgives the balance you owe). Or speak with a HUD-approved housing counselor to find out about other options, such as loan modification (the lender agrees to adjust the terms of your loan so you can afford to keep living in your home).
4. Refinancing a Fixed-Rate Mortgage
With mortgage rates at a 50- year low, it’s tempting to refinance to get a lower monthly payment. But before you do that, ask yourself this: Can you take the difference between the payment you have now and the lower payment and use it to repay all your refinancing costs within 24 months?
Let’s do the math. The average closing cost is 2.5 to 5 percent on a $150,000 loan ($3,750 to $7,500), but the percentage normally goes down as the loan increases. Divide the amount you’ll save each month into the closing cost. If the result is more than 24, you’ll be making a big mistake by refinancing.
Even worse, refinancing with this lower monthly payment will “reset the clock,” putting you back on a 30- year payback schedule. Your goal should be to pay off the home so you own it free and clear before you retire If you’re 10 years from paying off your home and you refinance to get a lower monthly payment— but end up with a new 30-year term—you’ll be making those new “lower” payments for an additional 20 years! If the payment is, say, $2,000, you’ll end up paying an additional $480,000 just because you refinanced and reset the clock.
Solution: If you did the math earlier and it worked out in your favor, go ahead and refinance—but keep making the original, larger mortgage payments you’ve been making all along. Now, that lower payment will make an authentic, financially wise difference. You’ve managed to outsmart that reset clock and the extra interest that comes with it.
5. Paying Off the Mortgage Too Soon
Paying extra on your mortgage each month is laudable, but not if you time it badly. Your mortgage should be the last debt you pay off. Why? First, its interest rate is a lot lower than the interest you’re paying on your other debts (credit cards, student loans). Second, mortgage interest on your primary residence is tax-deductible. While you’re in debt having that deduction helps to ease the pain by lowering your tax bill.
Solution: Once you’ve built up a fat emergency fund and all of your high-interest, unsecured debts are paid in full—only then should you consider putting money toward paying off your mortgage.
6. Investing in the Wrong Thing
If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past year, it’s that money invested in the stock market is at risk. You could lose it! Don’t jeopardize any of your hard-earned money while you’re carrying high-interest, unsecured debt. Instead, invest in your debt—it’s a much smarter move. Let me explain: If you have a $2,000 credit card balance at 14.5 percent interest, you’re paying $290 per year in interest, or $24.16 per month. Instead of taking a $2,000 gamble on the stock market, put it toward reducing your credit card debt Now each month, rather than paying that $24.16 interest to the credit card company, you get to keep it.
Solution: As long as you’re carrying unsecured debt, do everything you can to pay it down each month. You’ll get a return equal to the amount of interest you would have paid to the credit card company.
7. Debt Consolidation
Sounds great, doesn’t it? Get a new low-interest loan to pay off all your high-interest debts! But more often than not, that’s a big faux pas. Low-rate consolidation loans are typically tied to something of value like your home’s equity. Bad enough, but here’s the real problem: The financially immature person gets that equity loan and then keeps using those credit cards. In no time, the balances creep back to the limit. And that means double the trouble.
Solution: Forget about consolidating old debt into new debt. Instead, get serious about cutting your spending so you can pay off the debts you have as quickly as possible. If you have a good payment history, call the creditor and ask for a lower interest rate. You never know— you just might get it!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
5 Things Never to Say to Your Insurers
5 Things Never to Say to Your Insurers
by Ismat Sarah Mangla
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
http://finance.yahoo.com/insurance/article/108074/5-things-never-to-say-to-your-insurers?mod=insurance
Some words are red flags to insurers and using them could mean that your claim might be delayed or even denied.
1. "I Think ..."
Never begin a statement regarding a claim with these words. If you aren't sure, don't guess. What you say could cause your claim to be delayed or denied, says attorney Vedica Puri. And if you're wrong -- say, you report driving at 30 miles per hour before an accident but police later prove you were going 50 -- it could hurt your credibility.
More from CNNMoney.com:
• The Most Expensive Colleges
• Health Test for Insurance Coverage
• What to Do With $50,000 Right Now
Particularly beware of speculating on blame or causation. For example, if you suggest that a water leak is due to a construction defect, you could give the insurer an out if that's a policy exclusion.
Stick to the facts. Should the insurance rep ask you a question you can't answer, simply say, "I don't know." If the person is taking a written or recorded statement, ask for a transcript to review for misstatements.
2. "I Got Whiplash"
Fraud costs auto insurers up to $6.8 billion a year, reports the Insurance Research Council. And suing for damages caused by whiplash is a fraudster favorite ("Oh, my neck!"). Merely mentioning the term is likely to get your claim flagged for further investigation, says Amy Danise of Insure.com.
Whiplash is a specific diagnosis. If a doctor says that you have it, then you should report it as such. Other wise, if you feel neck pain, just refer to it that way.
3. "It's an Experimental Treatment"
Truly experimental or investigational medical procedures are typically not eligible for health insurance coverage. So if a doctor tells you he wants to experiment with a treatment, don't represent it using those words. "In medical terms it may not actually be experimental or investigational," explains Danise. "If it's proven effective, your doctor deems it medically necessary, and it's not an exclusion, it should be covered." Verify with your doctor that it meets the above litmus tests before going to the insurer.
4. "My Basement Flooded"
With homeowners insurance, "flood" is a red flag. "The word refers to an act of weather or an overflow from a nearby body of water," says Danise. "And a standard homeowners policy doesn't cover it. You'd need flood insurance."
So don't use the f-word if your basement is knee-deep in water because of a burst pipe. Damages from such an incident should be covered by a homeowners policy. But calling it a "flood" could muddy the waters, so to speak.
5. "Just Send Me a Check"
When filing a home or auto claim, don't emphasize that you're just looking for the cash.
"If you were to say, 'I don't care about the roof leak, I just need the money,' that admission could slow things to a halt," says Puri. Technically, you're supposed to use the payout to make the repair for which you filed. While it's true that most insurance companies aren't going to check up on you, you'll certainly raise the fraud unit's suspicions if you imply that you won't. And then you might lose out on the money altogether.
by Ismat Sarah Mangla
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
http://finance.yahoo.com/insurance/article/108074/5-things-never-to-say-to-your-insurers?mod=insurance
Some words are red flags to insurers and using them could mean that your claim might be delayed or even denied.
1. "I Think ..."
Never begin a statement regarding a claim with these words. If you aren't sure, don't guess. What you say could cause your claim to be delayed or denied, says attorney Vedica Puri. And if you're wrong -- say, you report driving at 30 miles per hour before an accident but police later prove you were going 50 -- it could hurt your credibility.
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Particularly beware of speculating on blame or causation. For example, if you suggest that a water leak is due to a construction defect, you could give the insurer an out if that's a policy exclusion.
Stick to the facts. Should the insurance rep ask you a question you can't answer, simply say, "I don't know." If the person is taking a written or recorded statement, ask for a transcript to review for misstatements.
2. "I Got Whiplash"
Fraud costs auto insurers up to $6.8 billion a year, reports the Insurance Research Council. And suing for damages caused by whiplash is a fraudster favorite ("Oh, my neck!"). Merely mentioning the term is likely to get your claim flagged for further investigation, says Amy Danise of Insure.com.
Whiplash is a specific diagnosis. If a doctor says that you have it, then you should report it as such. Other wise, if you feel neck pain, just refer to it that way.
3. "It's an Experimental Treatment"
Truly experimental or investigational medical procedures are typically not eligible for health insurance coverage. So if a doctor tells you he wants to experiment with a treatment, don't represent it using those words. "In medical terms it may not actually be experimental or investigational," explains Danise. "If it's proven effective, your doctor deems it medically necessary, and it's not an exclusion, it should be covered." Verify with your doctor that it meets the above litmus tests before going to the insurer.
4. "My Basement Flooded"
With homeowners insurance, "flood" is a red flag. "The word refers to an act of weather or an overflow from a nearby body of water," says Danise. "And a standard homeowners policy doesn't cover it. You'd need flood insurance."
So don't use the f-word if your basement is knee-deep in water because of a burst pipe. Damages from such an incident should be covered by a homeowners policy. But calling it a "flood" could muddy the waters, so to speak.
5. "Just Send Me a Check"
When filing a home or auto claim, don't emphasize that you're just looking for the cash.
"If you were to say, 'I don't care about the roof leak, I just need the money,' that admission could slow things to a halt," says Puri. Technically, you're supposed to use the payout to make the repair for which you filed. While it's true that most insurance companies aren't going to check up on you, you'll certainly raise the fraud unit's suspicions if you imply that you won't. And then you might lose out on the money altogether.
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