Through credit cards and other loans and overdrafts, Jack found that he had accumulated what he describes as a huge debt of £13,000. He did not worry about it at all as he had a good job and was earning good wages but when he moved to another area things suddenly changed.

He found that he could not match the wages he was getting before. The only work that was available was temping contracts and he says that the wages he got for them were peanuts compared to the wages he had been earning previously. He thought that this was a temporary glitch, and to bridge the gap in his finances he just kept borrowing more money and things were just getting worse all the time.

He was advised by a friend to talk to Gregory Pennington Debt Management. He said “I contacted Gregory Pennington who were friendly and helpful from the very first phone call”. He was informed from the start that there would be some charges to pay, that it was not a free service, but that did not worry him. Those charges were nothing compared with the peace of mind and freedom from worry that he found once his debts were being properly managed.

At first he started paying back £400 a month which he found he could afford with his current job and it all worked out well. Eventually his circumstances improved and he got a much better job and was able to increase his payments to nearly £800. Now he is only one year away from clearing all his debts.

He set up a special bank account that worked well with the Gregory Pennington Debt Management scheme. He said that once you get used to it living on a budget was much easier than people think. Jack began to appreciate every penny and to look forward to the time when he would be out of debt.

While this is true, there is an addendum, “but it doesn’t have to be your money.” Many people may have a good idea for a business, only to find that the banks will not forward the start-up funds for their enterprise. Home ownership, on the other hand, is actively encouraged by both the government and banking industries. A down payment of 20% will secure almost anyone 80% leverage on an investment that easily returns its cash. Oftentimes, even less is demanded. There are theories that rely on buying homes in foreclosure, ‘fix-er up-ers’, and trading-up and cashing out, all of which can be successful, but again, fall outside the knowledge of the average American. While the skill can be learned, what is here recommended is the slow-but-steady purchase of real estate of sound make and good location, for the purpose of rental income. Over the course of the 15- to 30-year loan, as the investor takes his rental income, tends to repairs, and reinvests the extra either in the mortgage or an additional purchase, wealth is created from a minimal initial down payment.

There are risks to consider, and annoyances to overcome, but the traditional 7% return on real estate coupled with the coverage of mortgage payment by the renter makes real estate the easiest investment field for the average American. All it requires is a little study, a little money, a little discipline, and a long-term investment position. By adopting this mindset, financial investment can become possible for all, and not simply the purview of the experienced fund manager. There may not be the expectation of instant riches, but a secure financial future is awaiting those who can take the first step.

The original bill, which favoured the struggling banker over the taxpayer, was revised offering a sweeter deal for families and businesses to win over the skeptics.

Some of the changes included are:

Raises government’s guarantee on savings from $100,000 to $250,000
Tax breaks to help small businesses and promote renewable energy
Expansion of child tax credit and help for victims of recent hurricanes

The House of Representatives is expected to vote yea or nay today. President Bush said, “The American people expect, and our economy demands, that the House pass this good bill this week and send it to my desk”. However, do Americans really want to be burdened with a bailout bill and its massive tax implications?

Despite early optimism due to passing the first hurdle with the Senate, the House have the last vote and determine whether or not this massive rescue plan goes forth.

Barack Obama and John McCain are both in favour of the bill.

Read full article here

What do you think? Should taxpayers have to bail out the US economy due to bad banking practises like risky lending during the peak of the property bubble? What would happen if the government did not step in? Would the economy melt down?

What are your thoughts?

The OTS decided to step in before matters got worse and before selling its assets to JPMorgan Chase who eventually paid a mere $1.9 billion adding to its ever growing portfolio including the acquisition of Bear Stearns earlier this year.

Washington Mutual, or WaMu, was one of the worst hit banks after the collapse of the US sub-prime housing market in addition to sky high mortgage defaults. The OTS said, “With insufficient liquidity to meet its obligations, WaMu was in an unsafe and unsound condition to transact business”.

Bank customers were reassured their savings were safe said the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). WaMu had around $307 billion in total assets of which $188 billion were made up from deposits. It had raised an extra $7 billion in capital from consortium group TPG in April however, mortgage defaults from lending to poor credit homeowners contributed to its demise.

JPMorgan’s acquisition of WaMu makes up its second fire-sale purchase since the credit crisis began last year.

Many people have already begun the somewhat painful pinch of the purse strings and the word “budget” has become a household catchphrase. Riding out this credit crisis can be made a bit easier by improving our household finances even more.

Below you will find a few common sense tips, thanks to the Fool.co.uk

1. Improve your budgeting - The basic tenet here is “don’t spend more than you earn”. Plain, simple, to the point. Easy? It can and should be but prior to the credit crisis and easily available credi many of us learned very bad spending habits. Times have changed and so must our attitude about money, borrowing, spending and budgeting.
2. Work Your Mortgage - If your mortgage is currently on a fixed rate but will be ending soon, contact your lender to get an idea of how much your payments will increase once it reverts to the typical SVR. See your lender as your ally and if the numbers don’t stack up, consider remortgaging well before your fixed rate ends. On that note, be sure you understand any costs and fees involved in a remortgage. Will your current lender or new lender charge a fee? Will they both? Find out as soon as possible and weigh the alternatives.
3. Avoid Borrowing (if possible) - According to the Fool, Britons have acquired over £200 billion in non-mortgage debt including credit cards, personal loans, store cards, etc. If possible, make higher repayments than your monthly minimum. Consider 0% balance transfer credit cards but be sure to read the fine print to see if there are any fees involved.
4. Shop Around For Better Deals - For example, before your insurance policy is up for renewal, shop around online. Price comparison sites allow you to compare everything from gas and electric to car insurance and broadband. Use these services to find the best deals and get into the habit of comparing. The more consumers compare and shop around the more providers are compelled to offer competitive prices.
5. Add To Your Savings - When possible, consider higher interest savings accounts including ISAs. Put this money way “for a rainy day” and let your savings build interest. Ultimately, it’s better to pay off your debts before saving because the interest charged on unsecured debt is usually higher than interest earned from your savings account. However, if you have spare cash then invest it and earn tax-free interest.

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