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Megan Connors of Harford County, Md., says she got a great education at Auburn University but a brutal lesson on private student loans.

Federal aid wasn't enough to cover four years at the Alabama school, so Connors made up the difference with private loans. Now, four years after graduation and working at a job far afield from her major, the prekindergarten teacher struggles to repay about $101,000 in private loans.

"If I knew I would be in this much debt, I probably wouldn't have pursued a four-year degree," said the 30-year-old, whose retired parents help with the loan payments.

Granted, Connors' case is unusual. But it's a dramatic example of how some young adults have relied on private education loans to fulfill a college dream, not realizing the long-term financial consequences to themselves and the family members who co-sign. It's an issue that has long concerned student advocates -- and now Congress.

The Dodd-Frank law requires the Education Department and the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to report on private education loans by July. As part of that, the consumer bureau recently announced it was seeking answers from students, schools and lenders to a series of questions.

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -12/18/11)- Thankster today announced that the company has added support for QR codes to its online thank you store. Now, in addition to being able to send real paper notes and thank you cards much more easily than in the past (with real handwriting), users can turn static cards into dynamic multimedia showcases by including these codes on its printed thank you cards, invitations and greeting cards. The QR codes give card recipients an easy way to access and enjoy related photos, videos, and other online mementos.

"Thankster has always been about combining online convenience with social niceties and gratitude," said Paul Geller, Thankster CEO. "Now, with the addition of QR codes, we offer yet another high tech way to improve the experience of sending and receiving real cards. It is often de rigueur to send a physical card, either by etiquette or tradition," he continued, and "Our new QR feature lets you bring the traditional paper card to life." Mr. Geller described a typical example, in which "A user would first derive great satisfaction from reading his wedding or Bar Mitzvah thank you note , and then be further pleased to scan the QR code on the back and see a photo or video from the affair, perhaps one with all the people from his table."

The new functionality makes it possible to add QR codes to printed or electronic cards, en masse or individually, tailored to each recipient. In just a few steps, users can upload the files, or link to images from sites such as Flickr or YouTube, and associate these with a QR code that gets printed on the cards they are sending. Recipients can use any cell phone or computing device that has a camera and a QR code reader app to scan the code and instantly call up the images, offering a great way to summon cherished images or other content, and evoke warm feelings and strengthen social bonds.

Some Thankster Features

Thankster makes it easy for the digital generation to connect with actual "handwritten" cards:

The collection agencies are hounding you relentlessly. The calls keep coming in at all hours, your making the best effort to meet the obligations of your various creditors, and you are scrambling to make ends meet. Despite your best efforts, your finances are simply upside down and you are considering declaring bankruptcy. You are aware that it can provide relief and allow you to restructure your debt and settle obligations with the bankers, but is it right for you?

When you are facing the decision to file for bankruptcy it can seem like financial weight of the world is lined up against you, and in some cases upside down obligations and high interest rate debt is. Going bankrupt, often first encountered in our youth after a hard fought session of Monopoly, is not the result anyone seeks after pouring so much blood sweat and tears into their fiscal endeavors, but going bankrupt can provide a second chance opportunity to press the reset button on your money matters.

What You Need To Know About Bankruptcy Before You File

Filing for bankruptcy has consequences. The acknowledgement that you can no longer pay your bills has an obvious impact on your credit reputation for years to come and can pre-disqualify you for future borrowing opportunities. I understand fully that in this present moment, crushed by debt, future borrowing is the last thing on your mind but bears taking a moments consideration. Going bankrupt is the single most damaging thing you can do to your credit history and will remain on your consumer credit reports for 7 to 10 years.

There are a variety of alternatives that should be explored before you decide to file to eliminate your debts. For example, there are often opportunities to restructure your debt through consolidation loans, negotiation with your creditors, or to get your finances back on their feet through downsizing and or asset restructuring. The credit impact is that serious, that you will want to be sure that you have explored every possible alternative to declaring bankruptcy.

You may have heard that a home equity line of credit (HELOC) is a convenient, flexible and low-cost way to borrow money. All of these statements can be true if you manage your HELOC prudently. But if you don't, a HELOC can become very expensive and get you into financial trouble. Here's how.

Rising Interest Rates Can Increase Monthly Payments and Total Borrowing Costs
HELOCs generally have variable interest rates. The interest rate is based on a benchmark rate, such as the Fed funds rate, plus a margin, which is established by the lender. When interest rates go up, your monthly payment will go up.

There's no way to predict when increases will happen or how much they will be. Your new monthly payment could be unaffordable, and getting behind on your payments can lower your credit score and increase the amount of interest you owe. The fine print of your HELOC should state a maximum possible interest rate, but if your current interest rate is 6% and the maximum is 20%, that information isn't going to be very comforting.

Be patient. Accept that changes to your financial situation may come slowly. You didn't get into debt overnight. It probably took many months or years to dig yourself into an economic ditch. It may take even longer to reach financial stability. Don't become discouraged or upset if your progress is not immediately apparent. Significant change takes time. Celebrate small accomplishments during your debt repayment plan. Remember that your goal is to avoid digging yourself into further debt - even if it is a slow process.

Research bankruptcy and debt management. You've already taken a step in the right direction - you've obtained the financial help of a free consumer credit counseling service. Make sure that you listen to your counselor and closely follow the debt management plan and economic advice that he or she provides. Most counselors have helped an endless number of people who are facing the same financial difficulties as you. Sign up for e-mail newsletters that offer money-saving and budgeting advice. Check out a book at the library on how to create a budget and increase your assets. Look into free online debt management and bankruptcy courses. You will learn invaluable information that can help you make the most of your consumer credit counseling services.

Look for ways to increase your income outside of your regular job. If you feel that you've earned it, ask your boss for a raise. Get a second job. Sell items online. There are many different ways to make money. Increasing your take-home pay can help you get out of debt much faster. You do not have to work extra hours permanently, just until you are able to put some money toward your debt management plan.

Reduce your spending. Many consumer credit counseling services suggest that you try to temporarily live below your means. It will make a considerable difference in your overall debt management plan. Learning to live on less money can also help you develop sensible spending habits that will help you avoid bankruptcy in the future.

Change your lifestyle. Become an expert at saving money and being frugal. Rent videos and books from the library. Dine out at restaurants less often. Shop at thrift stores or discount retail chains. Buy foods in bulk. Don't purchase anything that isn't necessary. It may not be fun, but it will help you put more money toward your debt management plan.

The goal of the program is to help consumers in getting out of debt in the fastest possible time without spending a lot of money on fees and other expenses. It also provides credit counseling once the debt concerns have been discussed. Other organizations tend to conduct 'secret dealings' with creditors and this is a situation that you should avoid.

When looking for a third party that can help you with your debt problems, you have to be sure that it is an independent institution and non profit as well. You need to conduct a significant background check to determine if past clients were satisfied with their services. One way to do this is by checking with Better Business Bureau.

You also need to be aware that some third party organizations are connected with creditors or lenders. Never work with a company that asks for very high upfront fees, even if they haven't performed anything yet. A reputable company collects fees after the job is done.

Among the solutions that you can expect from the program is debt consolidation and bankruptcy. Usually, the last option is bankruptcy since this will only have long term implications on your credit standing. If it's still possible to consolidate all your debts, the professional can evaluate your current financial situation.

In debt consolidation, your total debts can be repaid through a single loan with lower rate of interest. The interest is usually much lower that the previous interests charged on your loans and the monthly payments can be reduced as well. This, however, will depend on your creditor.

Early in the morning on the first Friday of every month the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the famous Non-Farm Payroll Report, which is the most awaited piece of economic news market traders of all kinds look forward to. Non-Farm payrolls is the most reliable of the economic indicators and gives us information about the number of jobs added or lost in the U.S. economy over the past thirty days exclusive of jobs in the agricultural sector, and is eagerly awaited by so many investors, because it's responsible for many of the largest single-day price swings in history, and much money can be quickly earned when markets are moving so much.

If the number of new jobs created by the domestic Economy is larger than expected by market participants, people can conclude that the economy is "overheating", and they can sell the dollar against other world currencies because they believe that a growing economy will put upward upward pressure on inflation, which is bad for the dollar. If the number of new jobs turns out to be less than expected, traders may also sell the dollar, because they might expect the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates to stimulate the economy. Foreign currency history shows us that in the foreign exchange market pro forex traders can react to the same news differently on different days, so when you've got economic news that has the potential to move the market so much it's easy to see why it's why so much volatility is inherent to the forex market.

Outside the agricultural sector, the ADP figure is another factor that causes changes in the value of a currency versus another. There are so many factors that market professionals that make a living trading in forex must be aware at all times what news is breaking. Here is a list of these items you can begin to prepare for:

1) interest rates. Money tends to flow to locations on the map, which gives the best "real return". The real return can be defined as risk-free rate minus inflation. The U.S. risk-free rate is generally accepted as the return on U.S. Treasury securities. The Inflation rate is what is published by the same Bureau of Labor Statistics. When you subtract the prevailing inflation rate from the U.S. Treasury yield, you arrive at the real rate of return for the domestic economy. If that trend rises then you'd expect the dollar to also to rise.

2) current account deficits. Current account measures the balance of trade between a country and its normal trading partners. This will reflect the flow of money between these nations used to pay for imports and exports. If a country exports more goods than it imports it will run a current account surplus, and it begins to accumulate some excess reserves of its counter-party Foreign currency. The greater the accumulation the more of that foreign currency will be in circulation, and according to the laws of supply and demand, when you increase the supply of something, the price goes down.

Most of us have always wondered that life would have been so much easier if someone provided us with free money, which never needs to be repaid. A lot of financial problems would be solved instantly. Well, the US government has such a solution for your financial problems. It provides free government grants for all the different financial needs of different individuals. It provides this funding under various categories. For example, education grants include: Federal Pell grants, training grants, grants for research, grants for universities, Stafford loans, etc. Free government housing grants include: first time home buyer grants, grants for commercial properties, land development, mobile homes, parks, new constructions, etc.

Housing grants can be availed by anyone who wishes to buy his dream home and needs financial assistance. The term' first-time home buyer' does not only refer to those people who have never bought a home before, but also to those individuals who haven't owned a home in the past three years. Also, if you owned a mobile home which is portable, you are eligible to apply for first time home buyer grants.

Due to the worldwide economic recession, the real estate market has declined leading to a drop in home prices. There are several foreclosed and vacant homes and the prices are extremely low. So, it is the ideal time to buy your dream home. Housing grants cover the following expenses: down payment, closing costs, percentage of purchasing price of the home, educational courses to make you a more knowledgeable home owner, renovations and home repair, debt consolidation, etc.

There are special grants available for home repairs. If your home needs a new roof or the pipes require fixing, you can avail home repair grants. These grants can also be used for home improvements such as: securing stairs, renovations for modernizing your home, repair damage from natural disasters, etc. Home improvement projects are often neglected due to the tight financial situations and credit restrictions. However, you no longer need to ignore the needs of your home because home repair grants aim to suffice these financial needs.

Applying for government grants is no longer a hectic process, though it requires you to spend time in researching about the available grants and grantors. The entire application process can be done online once you choose a grant that best suits your needs. All you need to do is, convince the grantor that you need the money more than any other applicant.本文出自 Mr.J ....

Just about the time the congressional "supercommittee" declared failure, our national debt clock rolled past $15 trillion. Even as the discussions, co-chaired by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., ground to a halt and Congress left the Capitol for Thanksgiving, the debt clock kept ticking.

That means each taxpayer's portion of our debt is now $133,687.

Where will this all stop? Are we headed for another partisan meltdown over raising our debt ceiling? Will we see another downgrading of our nation's credit rating?

It is no wonder investors are keeping their money in their pockets. Credit analysts are beginning to question our nation's ability to repay what we have borrowed, and the financial markets are rising and plunging like the cars on a roller coaster.

It is time to look north and take some valuable lessons from our Canadian friends.

MANILA, Philippines - The peso exchange rate closed higher at P43.84 to the US dollar yesterday, the last trading day of 2011 at the Philippine Dealing Exchange Corp. (PDEx) from P43.97 the previous day. The weighted average rate appreciated to P43.919 from P43.928. Total volume amounted to $683 million.

D.B.M. sets P90M for scholarships

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said that it has invested P90.3 million in a comprehensive scholarship program to support 1,050 scholars in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and veterinary medicine education.

Aimed at boosting the competitiveness of the agriculture sector, Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad said the government needs to develop a steady base of competent professionals who will unlock the potential of the country’s agriculture and fisheries sector.

"President Aquino is committed to ensuring rice self-sufficiency by 2013 and, ultimately, to developing a robust agriculture sector that provides meaningful and sustainable livelihood for the rural poor," Abad said. (CSL)