test.com - credit card 0 or low apr


Menu



Google



Now! - identifying hidden credit card charges; snack food cravings, and - Brief Article

Ylonda Gault Caviness

HOT NOW!

golden rules

THE GOLD RUSH IS ON THIS SEASON. SO LOOK FOR EVERYTHING THAT GLITTERS TO SET OFF YOUR LOOK FOR FALL: GOLD JEWELRY, GOLD CLOTHES--EVEN GOLD MAKEUP

WORD FOR WORD

`You know what real power is? Real power is when you are doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing the best it can be done.... There's a kind of energy.... And nobody has to tell you "You go, girl," because you know you're already gone.'

Oprah Winfrey, speaking to students at Salem College

HEALTH UPDATE

snacks and your psyche

Physically speaking, "You are what you eat." But did you know that your choice of snack foods may actually hold the key to your character? Personality tests administered by the Smell and Taste Treatment Center in Chicago had these surprising findings about munchies and the people who love them:

* A craving for potato chips indicates you're a high achiever. * If you prefer tortilla chips, you're likely a perfectionist. * Pretzel people enjoy novelty and excitement. * Cracker lovers are often shy and pensive.

Be sure to enjoy salty snacks in moderation, and drink plenty of [H.sub.2]O to offset their dehydrating effects. Also consider healthy options like fruit, yogurt and carrot sticks. We say people who prefer these are smart.

KA-CHING

your best interest

Credit-card companies flood our mailboxes, wooing us with promotional interest rates--some less than 2 percent annually. Don't be fooled. When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Look out for:

* Hidden fees. Some card companies tack on as much as $30 to your bill if your payment is just one day late. Others may charge you an annual Tee for signing up.

* Interest rates. Some card issuers charge two interest rates--an attractive low one for your transfer balance and a higher one for new purchases. Sometimes rates jump sharply if you're late on a payment.

* Grace periods. If you do pay off your balance in full each month, look for a grace period (the amount of time you have to pay your bill before interest accrues) of 25 days or longer. Believe it or not, some cards begin charging you interest at the time of purchase.

* Terms. No matter how sweet the deal may seem, you need to make sure you understand the terms. If any of those terms or conditions change, you should receive a warning at least 15 days in advance. So keep an eye on your bills and read the fine print, not just the balance due.

REMEMBER

Fannie Lou Hamer, a leader of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party whose words "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired" became a motto of the Civil Rights Movement, was born this month in 1917.

WHY NOT ...

... RENT A SCARY MOVIE FOR HALLOWEEN? FOR SOME CAMPY FUN, DON'T SLEEP ON THE OLD ALFRED HITCHCOCK CLASSICS OR SEVENTIES CULT FLICKS SUCH AS BLACULA. FOR FAMILY VIEWING, TRY GHOSTBUSTERS.

GOOD WORKS

because he cares, inc.

Yvonne and Darryl Brake have been reaching out to young people for the past 20 years with their Ohio ministry. To combat some of the negative images in our inner cities, they have developed Saturday and after-school enrichment programs, which include arts lessons, Bible clubs and entrepreneurship training for kids 3 and up. So far, Because He Cares (BHC) has touched the lives of more than 100,000 youngsters. Now, as part of its mission to encourage kids to save their communities, BHC has planned a philanthropic track to teach children our tradition of giving back.

ACT NOW

keep sisters safe

The National Violence Against Women Act is up for reauthorization. Passed as part of the Crime Act of 1994, it provides government money for domestic-violence safety-and-awareness programs. Lobby your congressperson to make sure funding keeps flowing to help support battered women and their children.

TIP-OFF

that's the ticket

Why stand in line for concert tickets? New Web sites will allow you to tap in your credit-card number and get the tickets in the mail or at the box office. Soon Ticketmaster's site will even let you print out the tickets at home. Sites to check: * Ticketmaster.com, which handles sports, music and art events; handling fee: $3 to $6. * Culturefinder.com, specializing in the arts; fee: $2 to $4.50. * Tickets.com, covering major entertainment and sports events; fee: $3 to $5.

KNOW HOW

to fireproof your home

U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATOR CARRYE BURLEY BROWN OFFERS THESE TIPS: * KEEP CURTAINS AND OTHER FLAMMABLE ITEMS AWAY FROM CANDLE FLAMES AND FIRE-PLACES, AND NEVER APPROACH A FLAME WEARING FLOWING GARMENTS. * INSTALL A WORKING SMOKE DETECTOR ON EVERY FLOOR IN EVERY SLEEPING AREA. * MAP AN ESCAPE PLAN, AND MAKE SURE EACH FAMILY MEMBER KNOWS IT. * UNPLUG YOUR APPLIANCES WHEN NOT IN USE. * HAVE YOUR HEATING SYSTEM EVALUATED FOR SAFETY. * EXTINGUISH FIRES BEFORE GOING TO BED. FOR MORE, VISIT WWW.USFA.FEMA.GOV.

PLAN NOW

The National Brotherhood of Skiers hosts its 2001 Summit in Keystone, Colorado, March 25 to April 1. For more information about this and regional events this winter, call (773) 955-4100.

COPYRIGHT 2000 Essence Communications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group