Apr 28
All of Europe — and more and more countries across the globe are moving to chip and PIN technology for credit card identification. Traditional magnetic swipe credit cards are quickly becoming obsolete. In addition to improved security, the chip and PIN system has lowered the incidence of fraud at point of sale purchases in the countries where it has been implemented. But many international travelers are increasingly frustrated to find that their magnetic stripe card is no longer being accepted while traveling abroad.
Although American Express, MasterCard and Visa require retailers and merchants anywhere in the world to accept their valid credit cards, it can be a nuisance and may require a bit of pressure to get some merchants to comply. And f
Read more…
Tags: Cards, Credit Cards
Apr 28
Leo Babauta: Free from Debt
The best thing about paying down your credit card debt is that you don’t have to wait: you can start tackling it right here, right now. Here are three stories of people who made the difficult but rewarding journey from being saddled with debt to being debt free.
Leo Babauta, founder of the blog zenhabits.net, got himself and his family (with six children!) out of debt by canceling his credit cards, striking “shopping” from his list of recreational activities, and bringing in extra income. These
Read more…
Tags: Now, Now Debtfree
Apr 27
When a loved one passes on, financial burden can increase the family’s hardship and suffering. With so many life expenses ranging from mortgages to car loans to credit card debt, student loans, and everything in between, it’s a common worry to think about the future of large debts and whether or not that debt is inherited. Before worrying too much over inheriting debt, it is important to understand what actually happens when a loved one passes on and leaves a large debt behind.
So what happens when someone with a large amount of credit card debt dies? Is the debt left behind for their families or surviving spouse to pay off? Is the debt forgiven?
Read more…
Tags: Debt, Debt Need