| Sorting out the 'good' debt from the 'bad'
You may have heard people refer to "good debt" and "bad debt." Ideally, we'd have no debt at all because we'd be rich enough to never need a loan. But few of us belong to that exclusive club, so sometimes we take on debt out of necessity. One key to achieving financial stability is to minimize bad debt wherever possible, while looking for opportunities where so-called good debt works to your advantage. A simple distinction: Good debt can help boost your credit rating or allow you to buy something that will increase in value over time, while bad debt often fuels purchasing items that are disposable, unnecessary or that rapidly depreciate in value. Good debt might include: Building credit history. One of the best ways to build a strong credit history is to show lenders that you can pay off debt responsibly, possibly by taking out a student loan to finance your education, or by opening a credit card account and using it wisely.
Gautier had a history before Wheeler
As a businessman of this area longer than Gautier has been a city, I ask what is going on in the city of Gautier? A customer showed me an ad out of The Mississippi Press: the ad gave credit and a dozen reasons for heaping "at-a-girl" praises on city manager, Christy Wheeler. Example: Gautier was the only city on the Gulf Coast to be fully functional after Katrina. History tells us, that this area "Bit the Bullet" and decided to comply with the 1972 Clean Water Act, within an area of 30 some square miles. A commission was elected, and the Gautier Utility District became a reality. The taxpaying city and businesses started to pay the huge loan to buy up the Mom and Pop utility systems; and to start repairs and putting in new lift stations, water and sewer lines.
All’s shipshape for the future
THE majestic cruise ship the MV Balmoral sailed into Newry's newly-refurbished Victoria Lock on Thursday marking the completion of an 841,000 cross-border initiative.
The ship's short journey from Carlingford Lough, organised by Newry and Mourne District Council and Louth County Council, was to celebrate the official opening of Victoria Lock Gates by Rural Development Minister Michelle Gildernew.
Mayor of Newry and Mourne Michael Carr was also on board both the project and the ship.
"The original launch of this initiative back in June 2005 was one of my first engagements as deputy mayor and now two years on, with my term almost at an end, I am delighted to acknowledge the completion of yet another project undertaken by both councils," he said.
The project, which also saw the renovation of Carlingford Lough, was made possible by Interreg IIIA funding.
Housing Bubble and Real Estate Market Tracker
Judy Weil submits: Here's our summary of articles and data points on the housing market. It's part of Seeking Alpha's coverage of the real estate market and homebuilder stocks. Like all other topics and stock coverage from Seeking Alpha, you can have this sent to your Blackberry or desktop email by signing up for our no-spam free email subscription service. Quote of the Day- "From the House's Mouth" "It is frustrating to report these poor operating margins and a loss for the quarter. What is even more frustrating is reporting that the housing market continues to slip further in many locations in terms of both sales pace and sales price, but that is what has occurred in the latter part of the second quarter and the slower conditions have continued into May." – Ara K.
'Piggybacking' roils credit industry
(AP) - Only a low credit score stood between Alipio Estruch and a mortgage to buy a $449,000 Spanish-style house in Weston, Fla., a few miles west of Fort Lauderdale.
Instead of spending several years repairing his credit rating, which he said was marred by two forgotten cell phone bills and identity theft, the 37-year-old real estate agent paid $1,800 to an Internet-based company to bump up his score almost overnight.
The result was a happy ending for Estruch, but the growing practice is sending shivers through the mortgage industry. Federal regulators are also reviewing the practice. And after being contacted by The Associated Press for this story, Fair Isaac Corp., the developer of the widely used FICO score, said it will change its credit scoring system beginning later this year in a way it contends will end this little-known but potentially high-impact mortgage loan loophole.
Start off right: Say 'I do' frugally
Many people recall their wedding day as one of their happiest, filled with cherished memories and promises of a bright future. But at an average cost of more than $27,000, it's not surprising that some weddings start couples off on the wrong financial footing, setting the stage for future money problems. Marriage unites two lives, including two separate financial track records. While you each may bring assets and savings to the table, if one or both of you are burdened with student loans, car payments or high credit card balances, that can have a bearing on how you start out life together. Given that financial problems play a major role in many divorces, doesn't it make sense to start your marriage off on the right foot by communicating openly about finances? A good place to start is with the wedding itself.
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