Marriott Rewards Credit Card from Chase: 50,000 bonus points + free night

Sign up for the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase and earn 50,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 or more in the first three months. Plus, receive a free night stay upon account approval, and another free night stay on your account anniversary. Together, that’s enough for up to eight nights for free and, although this card lacked the $1,000 minimum purchase requirement two weeks ago, it’s still a very strong offer if you’re looking for hotel bonuses. (50,000 reward points are enough for six nights at a category 1 hotel; the free night credit for account approval is valid for stays at category 1 to 4 hotels, while the account anniversary credit is valid on category 1 to 5 hotels.) Plus, earn 5 points for every $1 spent at Marriott locations, 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible dining, airline, and rental car purchases, and 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Other card features include earning 15 nights credit toward your next Elite membership level every year, an additional Elite Night Credit for every $3,000 spent per year, and no foreign transaction fees. There’s no annual fee for the first year, but an $85 annual fee applies for each additional year.

What Does My Credit Score Mean?

by: William Hauselberg

Are you thinking about applying for a loan, or wondering why your interest rate is what it is? Chances are good that your credit score is going to play a big role in both. What is your credit score? Your credit score is your ability to pay your debts and how big of a risk to a lender you would be. The higher the score, the higher your chances of getting a good loan with a lower interest rate.

How is my Credit Score Calculated?

There are many factors that go into this. Roughly a third of your score is determined by your credit history and whether you pay your bills on time. Other factors that go into your credit score are how many lines of credit your have and how much of your credit you have used up. The more cards you have the better and the less credit your have used up the better.

What are Some Ways I can Check my Credit Score?

The first step to checking your credit score is to get your credit report. How do I get my credit report? You can go to one of the three credit bureaus and request a credit score. You can also go to your bank or credit union and request a copy. Each borrower gets one free copy of their credit report a year.

One thing that can affect your score is the accuracy of your credit report. There could be mistakes on my credit report that could affect my credit score, you might be asking? Yes, not all creditors report accurately on your credit report, so make sure that it is accurate by requesting a copy at least a year to check for errors that can be holding your score down.

How Else can you Improve Your Credit Score?

Pay your bills on time and make sure that you don’t get in over your head with debt. Repossessions and bankruptcies can damage your score and make it less likely to get a loan in the future.

Your credit score is going to be the way that a lender determines whether or not to give you a loan. If you have a high score you are going to have a better shot at getting a loan for a car or a house. Make sure you are keeping up with your credit report and paying your bills on time.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_16035.shtml

Is Mortgage Refinancing Right for You? by Jess Hall

These days, it’s hard not to be enticed by the historically low mortgage refinancing rates. Now could be the perfect time to refinance, but is refinancing your loan right for you? Here are a few points to take into consideration if you’re thinking about refinancing your home loan.

The Benefits of Refinancing

Beyond potentially saving you thousands of dollars, refinancing your mortgage can also help you consolidate debt and pay off other bills. Your life has probably changed from the time you first got your home loan. Perhaps you got a better paying job or you have a new baby on the way. You may have new expenses that never existed before, or you may be making more money than when you started. In many cases, refinancing your home loan could save you hundreds, or even thousands of dollars – money which could be well spent in other areas of your life. Ideally, your mortgage should not be costing you above one third of your total gross income. If you’re dealing with a high interest rate, you’ve been hit with an adjustable rate that has skyrocketed, or you’ve experienced a drop in income for whatever reason – it’s a good idea to consider refinancing and locking in a better rate.

Working with a Trusted Lender

Working with a trusted lender is one of the best decisions you can make when you decide to refinance. Trusted lenders, like Aurora Bank (Equal Housing Lender, member FDIC) for example, understand a multitude of product options and can explain those options to you as well as the costs that are involved in the refinancing process.

Know Your Options

There’s no shortage of lending companies vying for your business. But it pays to do your own research as well.Take advantage of online mortgage calculators and run different scenarios based on your income, property tax, and extra payments you can afford to make.See exactly how much home you can afford and create a spectrum of possibilities for refinancing. Then, speak with a home loan consultant who can help you with your financing needs.You may be pleasantly surprised at just how much money you’ll save by refinancing at today’s low rates. Overall, honest, exceptional service and a dedication to customer satisfaction are what make the best mortgage refinancing lenders stand out.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_16057.shtml

Citi(r) Dividend Cards: 5% cash back at Macy’s, electronics stores, & toy stores

From October 1 through December 31, Citi Dividend Cardholders can get 5% cash back on purchases at Macy’s, electronics stores, and toy stores by activating the offer at Citi.com. (You’ll earn 4% cash back in addition to your 1% standard cash back.) With the holiday season fast approaching, it’s a very useful lineup of qualifying stores. A maximum bonus reward accumulation of $300 cash back per calendar year applies.

Don’t have a Citi Dividend card? Sign up for a Citi® Dividend Platinum Select® Card and receive $100 cash back when you spend $500 or more in the first three months.

Chase Sapphire(r) Preferred Card: 40,000 bonus points toward free flights/hotels

Sign up for the Chase Sapphire® Preferred Credit Card and earn 40,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 or more in the first three months of cardmembership. That’s equal to $500 toward airfare or hotel accommodations and the best offer we’ve seen from Chase since December when it offered 50,000 bonus points. (The number of points required to redeem for free flights or hotel stays is dependent on fare or room availability, destination, date, and more.) Plus, pay no foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside the United States and earn 7% annual points dividend on all points earned in the previous year. Also, earn 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining and 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases. There’s no annual fee for the first year, but a $95 annual fee applies for each additional year.

Checks Unlimited: Up to 70% off + free shipping

Checks Unlimited continues to cut up to 70% off select checks via coupon code “27QG”.

A best bet is one box of Superman Checks (pictured) for $21.99 before the coupon, $7.50 after. With free shipping, that’s $14 off and tied with last week’s mention of a similar box of checks for the lowest total price we could find.

Citi(R) Hilton HHonorsTM Reserve Card: 2 nights w/$2,500 spent in 4 months

Sign up for the Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Reserve Card and earn two weekend night certificates good for stays at select Hilton Worldwide properties after you spend $2,500 or more in the first four months of account opening. (Valid on standard accommodation at category 1-7 hotels and select Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts. Click here for more information.) Plus, earn 10 HHonors Bonus Points for every $1 spent on hotel stays within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio, earn five HHonors Bonus Points for every $1 spent on airline and car rental purchases, and earn three HHonors Bonus Points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Also, earn an anniversary bonus of one weekend night stay at select Hilton Worldwide properties when you spend $10,000 or more on eligible purchases in each cardmembership year. Finally, receive complimentary HHonors Gold status as long as you’re a cardmember. (HHonors Diamond status is achieved when spending $40,000 or more in a calendar year.) A $95 annual fee applies.

EARN TWO WEEKEND NIGHT certificates, each good for one weekend night (standard room, double occupancy) at select hotels and resorts within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio, after $2,500 in eligible purchases within the first four months of cardmembership.

NO FOREIGN PURCHASE TRANSACTION FEES.

TRAVEL WITH EASE and enjoy global acceptance with your
Citi chip credit card.

EARN AN ANNIVERSARY BONUS OF ONE WEEKEND NIGHT certificate good for one weekend night (standard room, double occupancy), at select hotels and resorts within the Hilton Worldwide portfolio when you spend $10,000 or more on eligible purchases each cardmembership year.

ENJOY COMPLIMENTARY HHONORS GOLD STATUS as long as you are a cardmember. Earn an upgrade to HHonors Diamond status when you make $40,000 or more in eligible purchases each calendar year.

Annual fee $95.

ING Direct: Open an Electric Orange Checking Account, get $50 credit

At ING Direct, open a new FDIC-insured Electric Orange Checking Account and make three purchases or Person2Person payments within 45 days to get a $50 Account Credit for free. The credit will be deposited into your account on day 50. That’s tied with our mention from last week and among the best deals we’ve seen from ING Direct in recent months.

Electric Orange Checking Rates

Account Balance	Interest Rate	APY	Effective Date
$0 – $49,999.99	0.19%	0.20%	10/10/2012
$50,000.00 – $99,999.99	0.79%	0.80%	10/10/2012
$100,000.00 or more	0.84%	0.85%	10/10/2012

Annual Percentage Yields are variable.

$250 Cashback with New Chase Freedom Credit Card Approval After You Spend $500 in 3 Months

Chase offers $250 Cashback with New Chase Freedom Credit Card Approval After You Spend $500 in 3 Months. No Annual Membership Fee. 5% Cash Back in bonus categories like gas, grocery stores, dining, even home improvement stores. 1% cash back on everything else.

Citi Platinum Select MasterCard: $30 credit w/ $30 purchase

Citi® Platinum Select® MasterCard® offers a $30 statement credit when you spend $30 or more in the first three months. Other card features include an introductory 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases for the first 18, 12, or 7 months of cardmembership as well as no annual fee.

Citi(r) Diamond Preferred(r) Rewards Card: $50 gift card w/ $300 purchase

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Rewards Card offers a $50 gift card when you spend $300 or more in the first three months. (Spending $300 in the first three months will earn you 6,000 bonus points which you can redeem for the gift card.) Other card features include earning ThankYou Points on all purchases, a 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers for the first 15 or 7 months of card membership, and no annual fee. For more terms and conditions,

ChecksUnlimited.com: 400 personal checks for $11, more

ChecksUnlimited.com continues to offer several discounts on checks for home and business via the coupon codes listed below. Over 110 great check designs. 100% satisfaction guaranteed.

The codes:

• 2 boxes of checks for $11 or 4 boxes for $22 via code “R5YV” (new customers only)

• buy 3 boxes and receive a 4th box + custom lettering for free via code “9B5X”

• 20% off business checks via code “YXYC”

• 30% off accessories via code “Z384”

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