Is debt management or credit counseling the answer to bankruptcy?

  What is the alternative to bankruptcy?

 Changes in the bankruptcy laws, which became effective in October 2005, have removed the easiest alternative that many consumers had turned to in the past for debt relief. This was to file chapter 7 bankruptcies. So how can you keep your wits, pay those bills and still maintain a reasonable standard of living?

 Is debt management/ credit counseling, debt negotiation or credit repair the answer?

 There are several names that are touted as debt resolution agencies. For example, debt management, debt negotiation, credit repair and others. Many of these agencies operate as non-profit. However, there are vast differences among them.

Homeowners to benefit from Florida tax-cuts

Included in the massive tax-cuts proposed by Florida governor, Jeb Bush is a $100 rebate to Florida homeowners who have Homestead exemptions or own their own mobile home. The governor proposed tax cuts earlier this week amounting to $1.5 billion.

 Also proposed is nine percent reduction in the school taxes paid by all property owners. This $570 million tax cut would be another major benefit to homeowners. 

In proposing the cuts Bush said, “In times of growth, tax dollars should be returned to working families, and small businesses in Florida.” 

The tax-cut package calls for spending more than $1 billion on the tax rebate and tax cut for homeowners. The governor also proposed other significant cuts including completely eliminating the state’s tangible tax on stocks and bonds, and a tax on alcoholic beverages consumed at restaurants and bars. 

Florida’s current strong economy has prompted economists to predict that state legislators will have billions more than was expected to spend in the coming year.

Change in leadership at the Federal Reserve  

Garth A. Rose, Ph.D. 

A major change took place in the leadership of America’s central bank earlier this week when Ben Bernanke succeeded Alan Greenspan as Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Greenspan, who served as chairman for aljost 19 years, demitted office on January 31. 

Along with an effective tenure as chairman of the Fed Reserve, Greenspan was widely acknowledged as a formidable economist and a “maestro” in today’s critical world of money and banking. He has guided the U.S. economy through many crises and has succeeded in keeping the economy on a sustained growth path.  

It is commonly believed by U.S. economists that Bernanke, who holds a Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will be a worthwhile successor to Greenspan. Many agree, as President Bush stated in his appointment of Bernanke last October, he is the right man to build on the record of Greenspan.

Read the Fine Print When Choosing a Rewards Credit Card

Like getting cash back, frequent flyer miles, or other rewards when you use your credit card?  If so, check the fine print on card offers to make sure that what you think you're getting is what you actually get.  Here are seven tips to keep in mind when searching for a credit card that pays you back, according to industry Web site IndexCreditCards.com (http://www.indexcreditcards.com):

1. If you carry a balance on your credit card, do not get a rewards credit card. First things first:  jost rewards credit cards have higher interest rates than non-rewards cards.  If you carry a balance on your cards, it is aljost impossible to earn more from rewards than you will pay out in extra interest charges. However, if you pay off your cards in full each month, read on.