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  • Six Ways your Cell Phone Could Annoy People

    By Dr. Kavita

    Cell phones have become notorious as annoyance agents all over the world. The weirdest thing about these gadgets is that no one wants to find out how their own cell phone and the manner it is being used is irritating people.

    Here are six ways your cell phone could annoy people:

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    Driving and using your cell phone

    It is great to have excellent multi tasking skills, but do you really want to use those skills while you are driving and a moment’s diversion of attention could cost one or more lives? I cannot say how much I detest those people who behave in such an irresponsible manner and continue putting their lives and that of others too at risk.

    Ignoring people in front of you

    If you ask my opinion, I think that if a person cannot understand a simple etiquette of looking at people and focusing on what they say when in their company, then this person is a moron. How can you simply ignore people sitting / standing in front of you as they talk to you and continue to fiddle on your stupid cell phone? This sort of behavior announces about a person’s lack of civility and should be avoided at all costs.

    Leaving the phone on ring mode

    You may be besotted with your silly little ringtone, but not everyone around you thinks so. Just like people would like you to shut up in places where silence is expected of you, teach yourself to set the phone on silent alert or vibration mode and shut up in public places like the library, hospital or when attending social events, while watching movies in the theatre and even at your workplace.

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    Talking on your cell phone

    I agree that your cell phone is supposed to be a gadget that helps you to make and receive calls. But I believe that the Almighty has blessed you with the basic common sense to judge if the situation is suitable for blabbering away on your phone.

    I have seen people disregard all norms and blabber loudly in the theatres, in hospitals and even in banks and other places where no one wants to be bothered by someone talking in a loud voice.

    Playing games

    All of us have by now come across at least one such situation in our lives where we are left to feel like fools and are at a loss to decide whether to walk away or remain seated, while the person in front of you and supposed to be sharing meaningful conversation with you is busy playing a game on his / her cell phone. That is just dumb behavior!

    Clicking pictures

    Some people have an obnoxious habit of clicking photos almost incessantly. They are forever hooked to Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and think that the world would be extinct without their photos flooding the internet. Stop clicking, we are mad at you!

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  • Factors Impacting your Car Insurance Rate

    By Dr. Kavita

    Car insurance companies use a lot of factors to find out how much of insurance premiums should be collected from customers. The best part about these factors is that most of them can be modified and controlled by the consumers themselves, so basically it is like being able to control how much premiums you should be paying on your car insurance.

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    Extent of cover and deductible amount

    You must be already aware that you will have to pay more towards premiums if you opt for a lower deductible amount on your car insurance and vice versa. Also there are options available for you to decide if you want to add extra coverage or not, that may not be deemed compulsory by you State laws.

    Your car model and brand

    It is common knowledge that not all cars are created equal. Some models are better than others and some brands have more value and credibility when compared to other brands in the market. All these factors can decide the premium amount of your car insurance as well.

    So if your car insurance company thinks that the model and brand of the car that you drive is eligible for a discount because of its comparatively lesser risk of getting involved in damages, injury to the occupants and so on, then you will be charged lesser. But on the other hand, if your brand is devalued by the insurance company because of its sketchy history of being more susceptible to damage and occupant injury, then you will have to pay more to offset the high risk

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    Miles used by your car

    This is another common sense factor that everyone can relate to. The more distance that your car has run, more are the chance of developing repairs and damage in the near future. The insurance company has to foresee this risk and expenses that are possibly coming up for claim and that is why they will decide to charge you more for your premiums.

    Your address

    We may not want to accept this fact openly, but not all localities and neighborhoods are the same when it comes to safety. Some areas and neighborhoods are notorious for thefts and acts of vandalism by the local goons, while other areas are comparatively peaceful and safer.

    If your choice of a home address has been wrong, then you will have to pay more to compensate for this mistake of yours.

    Your driving record

    If you are considered to be a risky driver who has caused more than a few accidents during your driving history, then you will be charged more for your car insurance premiums. If you have managed to drive safely without bringing even a single blemish on your history, then you can confidently look forward to discounted and lesser premium rates on your car insurance. So it definitely pays to drive safely!

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  • Basic Steps to Fix your Credit Score

    By Dr. Kavita

    Your credit score could have plummeted due to several reasons that were out of your control. Maybe you were hit by the recession. Or you just went through a divorce or you lost your job.

    These reasons have no way of being controlled and modified by you, but try saying that to your credit reporting bureau. Even if you were in no way responsible for what happened, you will still be held accountable for your poor credit score that has resulted from these occurrences.

    Here are some basic steps that you can take to fix your poor credit score.

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    Do a quick assessment

    Any situation needs to be studied properly before you can apply any remedial measures to rectify the problems. So, take a quick view of your financial affairs and see what can be fixed and what needs to go. In case you find yourself to be incapable of paying your credit card bills on time, you will have to say so frankly and intimate your credit card company.

    They will agree to accept a certain amount (that is lower than your current outstanding amount) and end the matter there. But they will send a report to the bureau which reads ‘not paid as agreed’. If this is the case you will be hurting your score all the more. Instead, get the company to send in another report which reads ‘now paying as agreed’. But the nature of the reports will depend hugely upon your negotiation skills.

    Use the notes section

    Your poor credit score can hurt your prospects of finding a new job. Employers usually run a credit check before employing anyone. You must make use of the notes section on the credit reports to inform your prospective employers about the reason that led to your poor credit score. You can even attach proof like a doctor’s note to prove that you were ill or hospitalized and that was what affected your job and score.

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    Apply for secured credit cards

    Secured credit cards are a boon for people like you who are struggling to build back their credit reputation after it was butchered by a poor credit score. Apply for one and use it to slowly build back your credibility. Secured cards are prepaid cards that offer only a certain percentage of credit against your deposited amount.

    Try out credit unions

    Credit unions do entertain people with poor credit scores. They usually have a variety of packages to help people out like free counseling, credit cards specifically designed for people with low credit scores, options for starting a rebuilder or credit builder loan etc.

    Whatever you do to tackle poor credit scores must be aimed at building back your creditworthiness.

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  • Cell Phone Etiquette Tips

    By Dr. Kavita

    Nowadays it is really hard to find someone who does not own a cell phone. But the same cannot be said about cell phone etiquette. It sometimes feels strange to see people whom you would gladly describe as ‘gentlemen’ and ‘ladies’ act like small children when using their cell phones.

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    Do not use your cell phone while driving

    Unless you are using the hands free option to answer your calls, do not even think of using your cell phone while driving. Most of us commonly encounter irresponsible drivers roaming around in their cars, balancing their steering wheel with one hand and their cell phone with the other. This is not only illegal (in many countries) but dangerous too.

    Switch off your cell phone

    Your cell phone need not be perpetually switched on and made use of. There are certain places and situations like churches, hospitals, movie theaters, funerals and so on where it is better to switch off your cell phone.

    Set an appropriate alert tone

    People do not seem to understand that their cell phone ring tones can drive people nuts, especially when it rings on full volume in a silent environment like the workplace or in the hospital or maybe the library. Use the vibration mode or silent alert mode during such situations.

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    Heed the rules

    If the flight attendant tells you to switch off the cell phone during your flight, you should heed the rules. Many people feel it is an insult to take orders from the flight attendant and defiantly keep their cell phones switched on. Really, do you need to look like a fool?

    Learn to prioritize

    It is a common sight nowadays to see hapless wives sitting with a bewildered look on their faces while their husbands keep yapping away on their cell phones and the couple was supposed to enjoy their night out having dinner with one another.

    Or you see people attending social functions and when they are introduced to someone new, instead of engaging in conversation with them, they start replying to their questions with a yes or no or make sounds like hmmm, while they are busy sending updates on their social media profiles.

    You need to learn to prioritize between people in front of you physically and those trying to disturb you with their nosy phone calls and following you wherever you go. It feels downright insulting and demeaning when people pay no attention to you when they are trying to make a conversation or interaction with you.

    Be discreet

    Do not forget that others have ears and they can hear your voice clearly, while you are having an intimate conversation with your spouse or girlfriend on your cell phone. Some men think it is okay to crack vulgar jokes and use foul words when they are on the cell phone with their guy friends. Whatever is the nature of your conversation, be discreet about it. You should not share all the details with the world.

    If only everyone would follow these cell phone etiquette tips, the world be such a better place to live in!

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  • How Switching to a VoIP Phone Could Save you Money

    By Dr. Kavita

    This post is for you if you are spending hundreds of dollars each month on your cell phone and regular phone. Each month you have various needs like making calls to your local contacts, connecting with your international contacts and sending messages to both local and international contacts, making video calls and so on.

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    What is your option then?

    When you depend upon your cell phone provider for all these facilities, you are charged through the roof and the bills that you get each month often dissuades you from maintaining any contacts at all. But you could change all that and more by doing a simple thing. Changing or switching to a VOIP phone could prove beneficial for you in so many different ways. And the greatest part is that you would be saving a lot of money and getting so many different features enabled at a fraction of the price that your cell phone plan provider would charge you.

    Your phone calls get cheaper

    You can make both local and international calls at a fraction of the price that your regular phone and cell phone providers charge you. The best part about making calls via VOIP phone is that you can enable video calls too at no additional charge. Even better is the fact that you can make calls to any kind of phone, i.e. a regular phone, a cell phone, a computer or a VOIP phone. The choice is entirely yours and the charge variations are too minimal to bother you.

    No hassles about bill payments

    The VOIP phone service can be availed of via simple monthly payments and there is absolutely no hassle of keeping track of your calls and usage. Your account will reveal in clear detail about the numbers to which calls were placed and also the durations and the amounts deducted for each activity. Keeping track of your usage and understanding your call charges becomes very easy.

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    Handle loads of calls with ease

    Business owners are increasingly opting to switch over to VOIP phones because it makes great economical sense to them. There is a high volume of calls to be made each day for businesses to complete their day to day transactions and it is not uncommon to see hundreds of calls being made by small and moderate sized businesses per day.

    If these calls are made using the regular phone or the cell phones, then the budget for phone calls will accumulate to a huge amount. There are many business owners who are struggling to maintain these costs without creating a dent in their profits. A VOIP phone makes it easy and reduces the costs by a considerable amount leading to more savings and more profits for the business owners.

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  • Keep Cell Phone Safety in Mind

    By Dr. Kavita

    In today’s world, the cell phone has transformed from being a gadget to a necessity. That definitely is not good news, because this implies how often and frequently people are handling these gadgets.

    One cell phone so many concerns

    Being in close contact with cell phones has always posed a concern for cell phone user’s health? Is it really safe to use these cell phones for prolonged periods and is it safe for every cell phone user? Does the gadget lead to any health risks for certain sectors of the population, like for example younger users who are children or teens or the older age groups?

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    Contradictions galore

    There have been no definitive answers yet, because of the obvious commercial interests of the cell phone industry. There have been contradictory reports emerging about the effect of cell phones on human health, despite the fact that the research done on it was claimed to be extensive and thorough. So where does this leave the cell phone users? Should we or should we not use cell phones at all?

    When in doubt, choose the safer path! At least that is the only practical solution for cell phone users worldwide now. No one wants to be told that cell phones should not be used at all, because we have all become so dependent upon the convenience and reach of communication that these gadgets provide us. So today’s post is about safety tips for cell phone users.

    Simple steps to cell phone safety

    • Do not permit young children and those less than 20 years of age to use the phones, unless they are faced with an emergency situation.
    • Pregnant women should take extra care to avoid unnecessary usage of the cell phones and keep the cell phones away from their abdomens at all times.
    • It is always safer to keep the handset as far from your body as you can while using it. So bring on the wireless headsets and headphones with low radiation levels.
    • Try and make yourself comfortable using the speakers while you make and receive calls and use more of texting and less of calling.
    • Never use the cell phone when its battery displays very low amount of electrical charge. This is the time when this gadget emits the maximum radiations, so use only with ample amount of re-charging.
    • While you carry your phone along with you, try to keep it tucked away in your handbag or in a pocket of your coat that avoids too much of skin contact with your cell phone.

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    These safety tips described above should be heeded and put into practice as often as possible, in order to safeguard your health and that of your loved ones as well. Stay safe!

  • Terrific Strategies For Budgeting Money

    By Dr. Kavita

    Budgeting money needs some special skills, but sadly not everyone has these skills to perfection. But as the old saying goes,” Necessity Is The Mother Of Invention” and when you are faced with acute money crunch, you automatically become an expert at creating some terrific strategies to budget money.

    Here are some budgeting strategies that could work:

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    Don’t always buy new

    Buying new or first hand is no more the trend nowadays. With majority of households facing a cash crunch, thanks to our economic policies and the recessions, I guess every one now values the current inclination of sharing, re-using and using “pre-owned items”. This not only helps you save money but also will help the environment by cutting back on wastage and reducing the usage of fresh raw materials in creating new products.

    Avoid expensive entertainment plans

    Entertainment is one activity out of the numerous activities in your life where you can freely cut back on spending money, without going over the guilt trip. It won’t kill you if you cut back on entertainment all together. But if you feel that you cannot go to that extreme, and actually qualify to be entertained at least once in a month, then adjust to getting entertained at cheaper places and locales.

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    There are so many amusement parks that offer entry free for children, and it really does not make a great difference between the paid and the free ones as far as kids are concerned (they only want to have fun). Adult entertainment can also be found cheap at second run movie theaters, where the ticket prices are down by almost 90%. So go and enjoy a second run flick over there.

    Reduce your shopping trips

    No matter how hard you want to argue with me on this point, but the more you visit the mall or the stores, more will be your tendency to spend and splurge. This holds good even if you think you will rush to the store to get just one item, because then you inevitably end up buying three more and taking many such unplanned trips to the store or mall each month is a definite recipe for budget failure.

    Discipline yourself to do a mega shopping trip only once or twice in a month and before your trip, sit down and prepare a detailed list of all the necessities and provisions that you will need, taking care not to forget even a single item.

    Collect coupons

    Finally, there are the coupons that we all so dearly love. What would we do without them, right? Collecting coupons and getting discounts from them is a method to save money on your shopping that I usually recommend very highly to everyone.

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  • Six Credit Card Secrets you Did not Know

    By Dr. Kavita

    Argue as much as you want to, but there are many secrets about your credit cards that you still do not know. Despite using this plastic money for years together, credit card companies still manage to keep many important facts hidden from the general consumers. So, what are those secrets? Read through this post to find out now.

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    Rate of interest charged on your credit card

    You signed up for your credit card expecting a certain rate of interest to be charged by the credit card company when you put the card in to use. But these rates are not permanent and can be hiked to any level.

    The top ten banks that are issuing credit cards are under no obligation to follow the CARD act that limits the hiking of interest rates beyond a certain level. This is because these banks are federally chartered.

    You can refuse interest hikes

    If your credit card provider decided to hike your interest rates, then you are not under any obligation to pay it. This is because you are protected by the CARD Act. Though the credit card company can charge higher rates and then when you refuse to pay up, they could take stringent measures like hiking the minimum amount to be paid on your credit card bills each month, closing your credit limit or closing your credit card, they still can’t force you to use the card at higher interest rates.

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    Credit card protection for purchases

    This is a benefit that most of the credit card users tend to forget and overlook. Whenever you make purchases with your credit card, you are protected. What does this mean? In case you made a purchase and it did not turn up the way it was meant to be or never was delivered at all, you can claim a refund

    Your cards may not work internationally

    Most of the credit cards in the US have a magnetic strip in them. But many international locations have credit card reading machines that do not recognize these magnetic strips. Only those cards that have a computer chip may work here.

    Before travelling abroad make sure that your cards will be accepted there or else ask your credit card issuer to provide you with an EMV version that chip recognizing credit card reading machines can acknowledge.

    The rules for card balance are complicated

    There are some cards that offer a great benefit called ‘no spending limit’. A huge number of consumers are using these kinds of cards too. But what these cards do not reveal is though there is no limit on spending; there definitely is a limit to how much balance you can carry forward to next month. When you overshoot this limit, this could reflect badly in your credit report.

    Don’t panic about late payments

    People think that they will be reported to the credit bureaus if they miss the payment before the end of the grace period, which is usually between 20- 30 days. But the act is that your credit card company cannot report your late payment unless you have not paid for one whole cycle, which is 30 days after the end of grace period.

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  • How to Obtain a Credit Card with Bad Credit

    By Dr. Kavita

    Having to live with bad credit is equal to go through life branded as a person with a bad character. At least that is what the current attitudes of banks, credit card companies and almost every financial institution says.

    People who are faced with bad credit are often at a huge loss when it comes to obtaining credit cards. But do not worry as there are still some loopholes for consumers like you and today’s post is all about those loopholes that anyone with bad credit can use to get credit cards.

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    Secured credit cards save the day

    Secured credit cars are simply awesome when it comes to getting a credit card with bad credit. The way these secured credit cards work is that you deposit some amount of money in to a bank account. The lender will then extend a credit for either the same amount that you deposited or an amount that is slightly higher than it, via a secured credit card.

    So, basically you are being given the option to use your own money on credit and in case you do not pay the credit card bills, the company can always confiscate the deposit that you have placed in the bank. Remember that you are not using a secured credit card for credit benefit. You are using it merely to establish a blemish free credit report and build your credit score, so that after about six months to one year, you can apply for regular credit cards and get approved too.

    Apply for a sub-prime credit card

    Sub-prime credit cards are not recommended except as a last resort for the reason that they charge interest through the roof. But if you look at the situation from the point of view of the credit card company, they are taking a huge risk by lending credit to a person who has a history of not managing his/her finances properly. In other words, the chances of you not being able to pay back their dues are very high. That justifies the high interest rates that sub-prime credit cards charge consumers.

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    Search for credit cards for bad credit

    Certain banks and credit card companies have come out with credit cards that are specifically meant for people with a poor credit score. These credit cards may not come with any frills and advantages, but at least you can obtain a credit card for your necessities. Be warned that these cards will have a much higher rate of interest than the regular credit cards

    The best thing you can do when you have a bad credit score, is to take immediate measures to improve your score. Otherwise you will be stuck for life without any chance of obtaining good credit card offers.

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  • Amazing Ways to Improve your Credit Score

    By Dr. Kavita

    Your credit score is a crucial factor that can be a determining factor in so many things in your life. Having to live with poor credit score is nothing short of a nightmare because you start realizing that a major part of your financial life gets limited and restricted.

    Thankfully you do not have to go through your entire life bemoaning a poor credit score. Here are some amazing ways to improve your credit score, and regain your life back again.

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    Double check for errors

    It is amazing how common it is for errors to creep up in to your credit score and demolish your credit score for no reason of yours. The payment history of your credit card and other dues makes up for almost 35 % of your credit score. If this gets riddled with errors then your credit score can take a nosedive.

    According to FICO, the commonest reason for errors in payment history is when there is an identity theft or interchanging of credit report details with someone who shares your name. So always check your credit report for errors and intimate the credit reporting agency so that they can get the errors rectified. Rectification of errors will improve your credit score in a huge way.

    Pay your bills more than once a month

    Most credit card users wait until the end of the month or the last day of the grace period to pay their outstanding dues. Even if you are paying all your outstanding bills without keeping any balance, still you may be hurting your credit score.

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    This is because the report is sent to the credit bureau on a day that is chosen by the bank and not on the day after you complete your payment. In case you make a payment after the report is sent to the bureau, then it reflects your outstanding balance and this contributes towards a poor credit score.

    So always try to pay your bills in two or three divided installments throughout the month.

    Use less of credit

    Even though your credit card comes with a certain spending limit, it is not necessary to make use of that entire amount every month. Suppose your credit limit is $ 5000, do not use a credit of the entire $ 5000. Instead aim for a safe amount like 10 % of your limit, which is equal to $ 500. Using more of your available credit hurts your credit score, so avoid doing that.

    Keep your cards active

    Sometimes people think it is safer to totally avoid using the credit cards, in order to improve their credit score. But beware of doing this as an unused credit card is a reason for a poor credit score. Instead of total avoidance of credit card usage, use it wisely (use the card no more than 10 % of the credit limit) and build your credit score by proving to the reporting bureaus that you know how to handle your debts responsibly.

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