How to Use Excel for Flexible Money Management

Create and save a new Excel workbook. Create 8 columns with the following headings: Month, Day, Description, Save, Debit, Credit, Checking Balance, Savings Balance. Bold the headings, and use the freeze panes function to freeze the top row so that you always see it at the top of your spreadsheet (Hint: look under the View tab in Office 2007, or under Window in older versions). Format columns D through H as currency (right click, format cells), and choose to have negative amounts show up in red. Use your vast knowledge of Excel to make the spreadsheet pretty if you like, but avoid the table function of Excel 2007 -- it is a pain!
Type the name of the current month in the first row of the Month Column, and type today's day in first row of the day column. Type your current Checking Balance and Savings Balance in the first row of the appropriate columns.
Now, enter the recurring bills (rent, car payment, insurance, credit card, cell phone, etc.) that are coming up between now and your next paycheck, putting each one on a new row. Type in the date you actually mail the check to pay a bill or the date it is debited from your checking account. Type a generic description of the bill (ex., 'Discover Card'), and type the bill amount into the Debit column.
Enter rows (without date) for Gas, Grocery, and Miscellaneous. You should have actually created a budget at some point, so that you know about how much money you have to spend on these things. If you like, you can split Miscellaneous into additional categories. Round each bill amount UP to the nearest $5 or $10 (ex., $70, not $66).
Type in the date of your next paycheck, describe it (ex., Paycheck) and type the pay amount into the credit column. Round your approximate pay DOWN to the nearest $5 or $10 (ex., $1025 or $1020, not $1028). On the next row, enter the description Savings, and type the amount you plan to save from each paycheck into the Savings column.
Now, enter the recurring bills coming up between this paycheck and the next, followed by the Gas, Grocery, Miscellaneous categories. Then, enter the next paycheck amount, followed by savings. Repeat until you have entered all of the info for the next six months -- you should be able to copy and paste most of this info to save time. Enter any additional income as needed, typing the amount into the credit column. Be sure to type the name of the new month at the appropriate place.
Now that you have the basic framework, you need to enter formulas into the Checking Balance and Savings Balance columns so that it will automatically calculate for you. For this example, I am going to assume that your headings are in row 1, your starting balances are in row 2, and your columns are A-Month, B-Day, C-Description, D-Save, E-Debit, F-Credit, G-Checking Balance, and H-Savings Balance. In cell G3, enter =G2-D2-E2+F2 This will subtract any savings and debit and add any pay to your checking balance.In cell H3, enter =H2+D2 This will add the amount you save to your savings balance.Copy and paste these formulas into all of the cells of columns G and H.
Periodically -- once a week or before/after any unusual purchases -- look up your ACTUAL bank balances and type them into the balance column on the appropriate date. Be sure that all of the items listed before that date HAVE already come out of your account -- if not, you may need to shift a row up or down. If you move any rows, re-copy or retype the formulas in columns G and H to be sure they are correct.
Now, just look over your balances. Will your checking balance go into the red in two months? If so, you need to cut something out! Spend less on entertainment, eat Ramen, or as a last resort, reduce the amount you are paying to your credit card or saving. I find that actually having to cut those payment amounts makes me really re-think sushi lunches!
If you keep going into the red, you need to take a look at your bank statement to see where you are overspending your budget.Try to keep your savings balance above $100 at all times. If you have a good bit more, increase the amount you are paying on your credit card or saving -- don't just let that money sit there burning a hole in your pocket, or you will spend it.
Delete past months, and keep planning at least six months ahead. When you get used to this method, you will be able to realistically plan your spending, quickly see when you are spending too much, and adjust so that you don't go into the red!
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How to Transfer Worldperks to Flexperks

Receive your new FlexPerks card in the mail. WorldPerks members do not need to reapply for a FlexPerks card and will keep their existing WorldPerks card number. All WorldPerks points will automatically be converted to FlexPerks points.
Activate the FlexPerks card by calling US Bank's Cardmember Services at 877-978-7446 for a FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Signature® Card, 800-692-8472 for a FlexPerks Select Rewards Visa Card or 800-285-8585 for a FlexPerks Cash Rewards Visa Card. Card holders can also follow the instructions that were mailed with the new FlexPerks card to activate their new Visa.
After activation, receive an additional 10,000 bonus Flexpoints after spending $500.
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How to Use Points to Redeem Prizes

Obtain your rewards card and accumulate points. Present the card or enter your rewards card number when making purchases in a store or online, accumulating points. Each eligible purchase awards a certain number of points to your rewards card.
Review the rewards prizes to find out how many points are required to receive a particular prize of your choice.
Redeem your prizes after you have enough points, applying the accumulated point value to the prize. Use your points to order the item.
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How to Get Paid for Stories Jokes (4 Steps)

Write down a list of material you have. Break the material up into categories. Jokes should be categorized by subject matter. Stories should by separated by genre and by subject matter. Selling our jokes and stories is about finding markets that accept the type of stuff you have to offer. You should know your material before you attempt to sell it.
Locate markets based on the type of work you have. There are plenty of greeting card market listings online, as well as greeting card websites that offer writer guidelines. These companies often purchase jokes for their greeting cards. Other markets for your work include novelty websites, which also have writer's guidelines on their websites if they accept freelance material. Not all companies do. If you're selling stories, the 'Writer's Market' is a book -- there's a membership website as well -- database of markets that purchase stories. The book gives contact information, tells you what to submit and how to format the submission and how much you will be paid. There are also a number of market listings online that can be used free of charge.
Write a market beside as many of your jokes and stories as you can. The markets and work you choose to pair up should come from reading market guidelines to determine the type of work a market accepts and placing that market with the best suited of your work. Pair up as many of your jokes and stories with a market as you can. The more work you have in circulation, the better your chance of getting published.
Submit the jokes and stories to the markets you select. Follow specific submission guidelines of each market. The markets give you guidelines because they want submissions delivered as instructed. Ignoring those guidelines can result in your work being ignored or tossed in the trash. With each submission, include a brief letter introducing yourself and indicating that you are submitting a joke or story for consideration. Make the note short and thank the addressee for taking the time to consider your work.
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How to Earn Back Good Credit

Pay off any debts you have now. Call up each one you have a debt with, whether they are collection agencies or the business you owe the money to. Get all of your bills together and figure out how much you can pay each one per month. Call each one and tell them how much you can pay each month. They will set you up with a payment plan and send you a bill each month for your new monthly payment. Pay the bills as soon as they come in every month.
Obtain a credit card for people with bad credit (see Resources below). You will have to pay an annual fee and a fee to get the credit card started. This may seem frivolous at first, but this may be the only way you can get a credit card. Once you have paid the annual fee and any other fees associated with this new credit card, you can start charging, but do so carefully--charge a small amount (an amount you know you can pay off each month). When the bill comes in, pay your entire balance off, not just the minimum payments.
Pay more money on your debts when you can. The only way to keep the bills out of collections is to call the billing department and set up a payment plan, and follow through by paying the agreed-upon payment every month when the bill comes in. If, for any reason, you are not able to make the payment, call as soon as possible to sort something out.
Sign up with an agency that will track your credit for you. Privacy Matters can track your credit report for you for a low monthly fee. It will alert you every time something changes with your credit report. This will ensure that you are aware of everything going on with your credit (see Resources below)
Limit how much you allow people to access your credit report. Anytime you apply for any type of credit (loans, credit cards, gas cards, department store cards) you are allowing them to access your credit report. This will show up on your credit report, and the more people you have accessing your credit report, the worse it looks.
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How to Make Money With Prepaid Cards

Examine the cardholder agreement carefully. Avoid buying prepaid cads from retail locations that don't provide you with a detailed contract. Most of the better prepaid cards offer no transaction fees, free ATM usage and other perks. The worst cards charge money on every transaction, charge large ATM fees, have a substantial activation fee and charge you even more money if you attempt to make a transaction that is too large for the card balance to cover.
Consider using a prepaid debit card as a means to borrow money from a credit card account without paying cash advance fees. Purchase a prepaid card with another credit card and then take the prepaid card to an ATM and withdraw the funds. Using this method, you can borrow cash at low rates, particularly if the credit card being used is in a 0% introductory period.
Avoid paying overdraft fees when using a prepaid debit card. If you are coming close to the card limit, you can empty out the account only with an exact purchase. One way to accomplish this is to buy an item from a store paying only part of it in cash and use the card for the remainder. For example, if you had $2 left on a prepaid card, you could select a $5 item from the store, pay $3 in cash and then use the card to pay the remaining $2.
Collect any cash back or rewards points that you may have earned by using the prepaid card and invest them into purchasing new cards. This will earn you a small profit so long as you carefully manage your fees and avoid incurring any penalties. There is no credit check for purchasing most prepaid cards, so you can attain as many of them as you like.
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