Getting out of debt has got to be one of the most difficult and most sought after topics in American culture today. Everyone it seems would love to be debt free but few people ever seem to achieve it.

Is it their skill level? Is it their lack of knowledge? Is it their circumstances?

Every seems to have a solution don’t they?

I find it ironic that the very same companies that spend billions of dollars every year to get you and I and everyone else to become dependant on their little credit cards are also marketing just as heavily that they are the end-all solution to our debt problems as well.

If you REALLY want to get out of debt, there is one tool that can get you half-way to your freedom dreams with very little effort: your own mind.

Millionaire entrepreneur and best selling author, Robert Kiyosaki says that we need to stop responding to money questions with, “I can’t afford that” and instead respond with, “How can I afford that?”

This is simply a shift in thinking; a change in one’s perspective that looks at what you can do to make your situation what you want it to be instead of accepting the way it is.

Sure, some knowledge helps. It’s very nice to know how to set up a budget, manage investments and make wise choices about what bill to pay off first. But most people can get halfway there with the knowledge and skill they already have.

How? By CHOOSING to. Making the mental shift that Kiyosaki recommends doesn’t require a college degree or a big bank account, only a willingness to CHOOSE to use the mind we already have. Once you make up your mind to get out of debt, you are 50% of the way to making your financial dreams a reality.

If you’ve ever run a race, whether it’s a marathon or a 100 yard dash, getting to the halfway point is a huge milestone. This is not because you’ve just completed 50% of the distance, but because you’ve just confirmed that you CAN go half-way. Not only that, all of the distance remaining grows continually shorter than the distance you just covered.

Doesn’t matter if you are a biker, runner or swimmer, this brings a tremendous amount of motivation and drive to finish, as the length to finish line continues to shrink.

It’s the same with your debt-reduction efforts. Once you make up your mind that you are going to make it happen for you, excitement and motivation will build as you pick up momentum and realize that you are already half-way there.

In his book, The Millionaire Mind, Thomas Stanley discovered after years of research this very fact: that today’s self-made millionaires achieved their goal because they had already made it half-way there, mentally.

Your debt-reduction efforts are no different.

If you keep giving yourself reasons why you shouldn’t bother with it or keep convincing yourself that there’s no way YOU could ever get out of debt, then you have already lost the race and will NEVER achieve the success you desire.

If you want to win, then THINK like you want to win. KNOW that you will win!

That might sound like self affirmation mumbo jumbo to some and to those folks I ask, are you debt free?

If you are unwilling to take a close, hard look at your attitude with regards to successfully achieving freedom from your debt, then you’ve already lost the game before it’s even begun.

Once you determine in your mind though that you are going to make it happen and no one is going to stop you, you’ve already made serious headway to crossing the finish line! You’re already half-way there!

About the author
Paul Smith is author of the debt elimination program,

By midsummer flowers are in full bloom. Now is the time to gather flowers for a child flower activity. Make your own potpourri using fresh flowers from the garden. Rose petals are real lovely dried, but try flowers such as mums, marigolds, bachelor s buttons etc.

Once the flowers are picked, pull the petals off the stem and spread out on a baking sheet. Let them air dry for several days. You may need to collect flowers and dry until a fairly large amount is accumulated. Store the dried petals in a container or jar until you are ready to make the potpourri.

Also needed is orrisroot powder and concentrated rose oil, which can be purchased at a local nursery or crafts store. Additional items such as dried eucalyptus leaves, sage leaves and rosemary stems can be added to the potpourri.

To make the potpourri, mix together the flower petals, leaves, orrisroot powder in a large bowl. Drop 4 -5 drops of rose oil on the flower mix and toss well. Two to four cups of flower mixture will make approximately ten sachets.

To make sachets, cut white or ecru tulle (netting) into 6″ circles. Place a small amount of potpourri in the center of the circle, gather up the net, and secure with a ribbon. Older children can make small bags of satin or brocade, by sewing three sides of a 4″ square of fabric. Fill the bag with potpourri, gather the top of the bag, and tie closed with ribbon.

Save the extra potpourri in a clear canning jar, covered with lace or tulle. Again tie the fabric around the top of the jar with a ribbon. Give this pretty child flower activity as a gift to your mom, grandmother, aunt, special friend or teacher!

As a mother, grandmother, and child development professional, Nancy Johnson, shares over 20 years experience working with children and planning activities on her website, Creative-Child-Activity-Notebook.com. Check it out for more school age creative-child-activity-notebook.com/ child activity ideas including party, outdoor, learning, nature, and creative-child-activity-notebook.com/child-summer-activity.html child summer activity ideas.

In this second installment, we will further examine what kinds of SBA loan options are available, and for what kinds of businesses they are most advantageous. We will also discuss the different types of SBA lenders.

There are several different lending programs for those who qualify for an SBA loan. However, it should be noted that not every SBA approved lender offers every loan option; some lenders may be flexible than others.

SBA loan programs are generally intended to encourage long term small business financing, however, actual loan maturities are based on several different factors. 1) the ability to repay, 2) the purpose of the loan proceeds, and 3) the useful life of the assets financed. However, maximum loan maturities have been established: twenty-five years for real estate and equipment and seven years for working
capital.

Basic 7(a) loan Guaranty: The 7(a) is an SBA guaranteed loan provided through SBA certified commercial lending institutions. The maximum loan amount for a 7(a) is $2 million, with the SBA guaranteeing up to 75% or $1.5 million.

Interest rates for 7(a) SBA loans are usually negotiated between the borrower and the lending institution. However, the SBA itself has set maximum interest rates depending on the loan amount, the highest rate being 4.75 percent on a loan of $25,000 or less with a maturity of seven years or more.

Because of it’s flexibility, the 7(a) is ideally suited for start-up or small growing businesses who are denied financing through other sources. The loan funds can also be used for a wide variety of purposes: renovation, real estate, equipment, payment of prior debts, etc.

Certified Development Company (CDC), a 504 Loan Program: The 504 SBA loan is designed to not only benefit the small business that receives the loan funds, but also the community in which the business resides. Each 504 loan is administered through a CDC, a private, nonprofit corporations set up to contribute to the economic development of their specific community or region. The CDC will make small business loans up to a maximum of $2 million with the understanding that the business will use the funds in a manner that will further community or regional public policy goals. Typical goals may include: business district revitalization, export expansion, rural development, expansion of minority business development, etc. In total, there are about 270 CDCs nationwide, each covering a specific
geographical area.

Interest rates on 504 loans are pegged to an increment above the current market rate for five-year and 10-year U.S. Treasury issues. Maturities of either 10 or 20 years are available. The 504 loan program is ideal for businesses in need of “brick and mortar” financing such as equipment or building acquisition.

MicroLoan, a 7(m) Loan Program: The MicroLoan Program provides very small loans to start-up or growing small business concerns. Under this program, the SBA makes funds available to nonprofit community based lenders who act as intermediaries. These lenders in turn make loans to eligible borrowers in amounts up to a maximum of $35,000. The average loan size is about $10,500. Applications are submitted to the local intermediary and all credit decisions are made on the local level.

In addition, each intermediary is required to provide business based training and technical assistance to its borrowers. Individuals and small businesses applying for microloan financing may be required to fulfill training and/or planning requirements before a loan application is considered.

This type of SBA loan is ideal for small businesses that need extra money for working capital or the purchase of inventory, supplies, furniture, fixtures, machinery or equipment. However, the loan funds may not be used for the purchase of real estate or to pay existing debts.

If you qualify for and receive an SBA loan, you can look forward to several benefits. SBA loans typically have longer maturities than comparable bank loans. Because you will be paying the loan back over a longer period of time, down payments and interest rates are usually lower which means you’re monthly payment
will also be significantly lower than it would be under the terms of a conventional loan.

Cameron Brown is an internet marketer specializing in 10xmarketing.com/res/ranking-automation.asp ranking automation. For information on how an sncloans.com/SBALnsLndPg.html SBA Loan can help you, visit sncloans.com Security National Capital.

The Schaumburg Library is probably one of the best libraries in all of Illinois. The resources it provides are better that most college libraries. They have programs for every age and every reading level.

The Schaumburg Library provides an environment that will teach your kids to love reading and learning. The under two story time will start toddlers on their journey to loving reading. The story time leader will provide an animated story experience and give tips to parents on how to get their children to love reading.

The Schaumburg Library has a huge multimedia section with DVD, VHS, and music checkout. Also Schaumburg Library has a large amount of books on tape.

The first floor of the Schaumburg Library has the fiction area with all the best sellers. Near the best sellers section you have a quite reading section with a great environment next to a fireplace. Also located on the first floor is the children s section with computers and a larger amount of children s books from reading level 1 to Jr. High School. The children s section also has a small computer lab for educational games and fun.

The second floor of the Schaumburg Library has the computer lab and the non-fiction literature. The second floor is also the quiet study area. Schaumburg library also provides Wi-Fi Internet access and drive up book pick-up and drop off.

The Schaumburg library holds tons of events for kids and has a summer concert schedule, which takes place in the outdoor theater. The Schaumburg library is not just a library it is a corner stone of Schaumburg Village.

Schaumburg Computers has been serving Schaumburg for many years go to schaumburgcomputers.com schaumburgcomputers.com and get your computer fixed today. Having a great running computer will put your child on the fast track to learning. To learn more about wireless networking go to wirelessninja.com wirelessninja.com

The Canada savings bond is offered by the government of Canada to investors from early October through April 1. These bonds were introduced in 1946 under the name “Victory Bonds” to serve as a viable and secure option for investors who wanted more security than mutual funds or stocks could offer. Before this time, however, Canada had trading instruments that were similar to Savings Bonds, such as the Canada Fourth Victory Loan of 1943 and the Canada-Dominion War Savings Certificate, issued in 1944.

What are the different types of CSBs?

1) The Canada Retirement Savings Plan (RSP): This is a no cost RRSP (registered retirement savings plan) implemented for carrying Canada Premium and Canada Savings Bonds.

2) The Canada Premium Bond: This provides a fixed rate of return in regular and compound interest.

3) The Canada Retirement Income Fund (RIF): This is no cost fund implemented for carrying the Canada Premium and Canada Savings Bond.

The Canada Savings Bond and the Canada Premium Bond are very similar; however the Savings Bond can be cashed at any time of the year, while the Premium is cashable only one time a year. Either bond can be purchased with a registered retirement savings or a retirement income fund. Premium bonds will always have a higher interest rate than those of Savings bonds sold at the same time. They can be purchased in compound interest form or simple interest form, and one kind can be exchanged for the other at any time.

Why are the Canada Savings Bonds popular?

One reason that Canada Savings Bonds are popular is the security they offer to investors. Since they are backed by the government, they make an excellent addition to the secure portion of any portfolio. In addition, Canada Savings Bonds have a guaranteed interest rate: they can increase along market lines, but never fall below a stated percentage for each investment period. They are an affordable option for almost everyone, with prices as low as $100.

Who is eligible to purchase these and where can these be bought?

The Canada Saving Bond, which is available only to Canada residents, can be purchased on-line, on the phone, in person at a bank or from an investment broker during its six-month enrollment period. It can even be acquired through a direct payroll deduction, making them accessible to just about everyone in the country. And, there is no brokerage fees involved in purchasing a Canada Savings Bond. With millions of Canadian investors purchasing bonds every year, the security of these bonds will continue to strengthen portfolios of investors around the country.

On bond-trading.org bond-trading.org/ you will find articles on bond-trading.org/municipal-bond-funds.html insured municipal bond investments and bond-trading.org/candian_savings_bond.html canada savings bonds.

Unsecured personal loans are those loans, which do not require the borrower to pledge any collateral. People who don’t have or don’t want to offer any collateral can take advantage of unsecured personal loans and solve their financial difficulties. Unsecured personal loans are more favourable because it involves less formality and are quick in approval. You are also saved from much paper work as there is no need for collateral evaluation and ownership verification. Absence of collateral provisions makes unsecured personal loans highly beneficial and risk free.

The UK lending market is buzzing with lending companies offering unsecured personal loans. But, unsecured personal loans come with higher interest rates in comparison to secured loans. The monthly installments are also comparatively high and the repayment period is shorter as against secured loans. But with some extensive research of the financial market and some hard bargaining with lenders you can always avail an unsecured personal loan as per your needs and financial capability.

Internet is the best medium to shop around for an unsecured personal loan. Log on to the websites of various lenders and request for their loan quote. Comparing those loan quotes on the basis of APR will be an excellent idea. Once you have chosen a plan with a particular lender you can procure a low cost unsecured personal loan by just filling up an online application form and let the lender take care of the rest of formalities.

About The Author :
The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting Uk-Direct-Loans as a finance specialist.

For more information please visit at:

As a regular employee of a company, you are required by the Internal Revenue Service to have withheld from you earnings FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) and Medicare taxes. FICA is also known as the Social Security tax. You pay these taxes into the government and they are used for retired, unemployed, and disabled Americans and their dependants in the form of Social Security payments and Medicare benefits.

The Self Employment (SE) Tax is similar to these aforementioned taxes except that they are for self employed individuals and are imposed on self employed earnings. It allows those who are self employed to be eligible for these benefits later in life, just as an employee is.

The current rate for self employment tax is 15.3%. That percentage is broken down into two (2) parts: 12.4% is for Social Security and 2.9% is for Medicare. Even if you are receiving Social Security or Medicare benefits and no matter your age you are still responsible for the self employment tax.

In order to determine if you are responsible for this tax you must first know if you are considered self employed by the IRS. What exactly qualifies a person as self employed to the IRS you may ask?

According to the IRS you are self-employed if any of these apply to you:

- You carry on a trade or business as a sole proprietor;

- You are a member of a partnership or limited liability company that files a Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership that carries on a trade or business; or

- You are otherwise in business for yourself. (Examples: Independent Contractor, Direct Sales, etc.)

- You have a part-time business, in addition to your regular job.

For more information on whether or not you are considered self employed, visit the following link. irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=98846,00.html

Ok, you have determined that you are in fact considered self employed by the IRS. Now, how do you know if you are required to pay the Self Employment Tax?

If you had net earnings of $400 or more in the year, or if you had church employee income of $108.28 or more, you are required to pay the self employment tax on those earnings.

How to pay the tax is the next thing you should know. In order to pay self employment taxes you must have one (1) of the following:

- A social security number or
- An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)

Since income tax is a pay as you go tax, you have to pay the tax as you earn your income during the year. If your expected tax liability is more than $1,000, including the self employment tax, and you have no taxes withheld, you must make estimated tax payments. Click here for more information on estimated taxes.

The following forms are a few that may be needed when dealing with the self employment tax: (Please note this is not an all inclusive list and other forms may be required by the IRS.)

- Form 1040 US Individual Tax Return

- Schedule SE Self Employment Tax: Figure your self employment net earnings. Be sure you figure your total earnings that are included in the self employment tax.

- Short Schedule SE: Some can file the shortened version of Schedule SE. Follow the guide to determine if this is possible in your situation.

- Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business: Enter your business income and expenses, cost of goods sold, and/or vehicle and mileage information.

- Form 8829 Expenses for Business Use of Your Home: Figure the area used for your business and any allowable expenses that may pertain to your home.

A listing of available forms and instructions can be found at the IRS website: www.irs.gov.

Arika Lewis is the work at home mom behind Take5VA.com www.Take5VA.com. If you are self employed and need a hand with keeping on Uncle Sam’s good side, check out her blog at momsgonevirtual.blogspot.com www.momsgonevirtual.blogspot.com for more tips.

Christmas break is (unfortunately) over and your spring semester is in full swing. You have books to read, tests to study for and papers to write. You can t afford to miss class. You don t have time to get sick.

The reality is though students get sick. You become stressed out by all your academic commitments, skimp on sleep, fill up on junk food and then when your compromised immune system brushes by some germs – well – pass the tissues. Luckily, there are ways to keep your energy levels up and your immune system strong, able to ward off stress and fight infection. If you re looking for ways to keep your mind, body and spirit healthy in 2007 and beyond, practice these 10 simple affirmations:

1. I will allow myself enough sleep each night to fully rest my body, recharge my batteries and support my immune system to protect against illness.

2. I will exercise daily doing things I enjoy, even if that means squeezing in a 20-minute walk in between classes.

3. I will pay attention to my emotions and find positive ways to calm my mind &amp body down when I m stressed. I will try deep breathing yoga or I ll call a friend up and do something fun!

4. I will follow my intuition about what s right for my future and not be swayed by the expectations and demands of others.

5. Before I say “yes” (again) to something or someone, I will ask myself, “Is this new task in alignment with my goals? Will saying yes make me happy? Do I have time to add another thing to my schedule? What will I have to sacrifice if I say yes to this new activity?” Be honest and don t be afraid to put your own needs first every now and then!

6. I will be grateful for the body I was born with, taking time to appreciate its unique wonder. I will stand proud knowing that I am able to judge by own body by my standards, not by unrealistic media/advertiser standards.

7. Sometimes, I will leap before I look, take chances and give my dreams the chance to come true.

8. I will stop analyzing the past, worrying about the future and start living right in the present. Really, really LIVING. Day by day, taking a moment to appreciate things just the way they are.

9. I will nourish my body with healthy, whole foods, which will give me more energy, strength and endurance to live life to the fullest. I will remember that eating healthy is not about looking good in my jeans, but about how it makes me feel inside and out.

10. I will remember to go easy on myself and to laugh at my mistakes. After all, I am fabulously human and am allowed MANY moments of imperfection.

Laugh a little more. Worry a little less. 2007 could be your healthiest year yet!

Do you:

· Ever find yourself getting sick during finals week every year?

· Believe that stress plays a big part in compromising your immune system?

Shoot me an email and let s discuss this. I love to hear from students!

Maria Pascucci is the President of Campus Calm ( campuscalm.com/ campuscalm.com).
She helps high school & college students achieve balance, reduce stress, increase self-confidence and gain perspective in our hectic, achievement obsessed world. Free reports for students, parents and educators available with subscription to Campus Calm Connections. Maria lives in Buffalo, New York with her graphic designer husband, Shaun, who shares the homepage of their personal writing/design website ( creativetypeco.com/ creativetypeco.com). Contact her at mailto:maria@campuscalm.com maria@campuscalm.com.

Clearly one of the most important considerations when looking for a new credit card is the interest rate. The interest rate is not the only factor that one should consider when shopping for a new card, however. Even the best low interest credit cards can be a bad deal if they require excessively high annual fees. The final arbiter over whether low interest credit cards are right for you is your credit situation and how you use your credit cards.

Those who use their credit cards heavily are the ones who are most interested in low interest credit cards. Heavy credit users are typically willing to put up with higher annual fees if they can recoup the fee costs by having to pay less in finance charges. Low interest credit cards that are coupled with a high annual fee are not generally a good choice for someone who only uses their card occasionally, since the interest savings are unlikely to be enough to offset the amount paid to the card issuer in the form of an annual fee.

How can you determine if a low interest credit card is worth the annual fee? Fortunately, the mathematics is pretty simple. What you need to do is to consider how much you expect to use the credit card, as well as how much balance you expect to carry. From this amount, calculate the amount that you would be charged in interest at the rate of the card that you are considering. If you are uncomfortable with the math, there are a number of websites that will handle the calculations for you.

Once you come up with the finance charge that you would have to pay using low interest credit cards, you can compare that amount to the annual fee. If the savings on the low interest credit cards is higher than the amount paid to the issuer in the form of an annual fee, then the low interest credit cards will end up saving you money.

Low interest credit cards are always tempting, particularly if they are coupled with an incredibly low introductory rate (a common tactic). The only way to know if low interest credit cards will save you money in the long term is to look at your own credit history and start crunching the numbers.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning find-cards-now.com/categories/low_apr_interest_credit_cards Low Interest Credit Cards, including assistance with the find-cards-now.com/types/amex American Express Credit Card Application. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting find-cards-now.com.