Articles written by Michael Killian

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About me - Michael Killian

Mike has been an Internet Guide/Writer in the field of Credit/Debt Management for over 10 years. His site was awarded Best Of Net by Forbes Publication from 2000 to 2005 with site visitation doubling to over 500,000 average views per month in the last year.

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Personal Finance > Credit Cards The truth about secured credit cards: 1 of 12
Secured Credit Cards Can Be GoodIf you are unable to get a normal credit card because of poor credit, all hope is not lost. A secured credit card is different in that it utilizes funds a consumer has placed in a savings account. The secured card is protected by the savings account. Therefore the consumer is "borrowing" from h... More..
Personal Finance > Taxes How to deal with the IRS: 1 of 4
On occasion you may have to deal with the IRS. It may be as simple as a notice that you did not sign your tax form or maybe more complicated as with an audit. In any case some ground rules should first be established within your own mind. 1. IRS folks are people also. Some are motivated and some are not. Some are sharper than... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Politics, News & Issues (Other) What's the problem with a cashless society?: 1 of 4
Have you seen the commercial showing the entire world of people, flowers and animals merrily skipping about until one person writes a check for their purchase? The whole world comes to a dead stop waiting for the consumer to write out a check. The audacity of the consumer to actually slow things down by writing a check. How s... More..
Personal Finance > Credit Cards Credit trap: Keeping young adults on the right track with credit cards: 2 of 7
As an avid consumer advocate in the field of credit and debt management, I have been opposed to unleashed campus credit for years.In 2001 I began writing a series of articles opposing this trend starting with the review of a CBS special. CBS initiated their expose with the words: "Across America's college campuses, students a... More..
Home & Garden > Buying & Selling Homes Tips for avoiding foreclosure: 3 of 10
Foreclosure,Eviction and RepossessionWant to discuss a nightmare? Foreclosure, eviction, or repossession may be at the top of the list. What is involved in foreclosure, eviction, or repossession? How long does the process take? Does a consumer have recourse? ForeclosureForeclosure can take from 6-18 months to wrap up dependin... More..
Personal Finance > Budgets & Saving Explaining compound interest: 5 of 15
Have you ever asked yourself why there always seems to be too much month left over at the end of the money? This article attempts to explain that monthly crisis by exploring how we have been lulled into thinking in terms of "monthly" instead of "total" cost.Actually, the monthly phenomenon has more to do with compound interes... More..
Personal Finance > Managing Debt How serious are your debt problems: 1 of 3
The American consumer is looking at a very scary environment! He/she is also becoming more and more vulnerable to serious debt collection issues. The new bankruptcy law, increased minimum credit card payment, tightening of debt counseling options, exceptionally easy access to very high credit limits and even skyrocketing fuel... More..
Personal Finance > Managing Credit The ins and outs of credit services: 1 of 3
Credit Cards With Bad CreditWhen the individual is unable to procure a credit card because of no or bad credit history, a secured credit card may be a viable alternative.A secured credit card looks and acts exactly like any other credit card except that it is backed up or "secured" by the card holders savings account. For exa... More..
Personal Finance > Managing Debt How to prioritize your debt payments: 4 of 11
What do you do when all of a sudden the month is just beginning and the $$$$'s are gone? You put the emotion away and get crackin' with bill priorities and some cold hard facts about your bills... and maybe even the priorities in your life. Believe it or not, some bills are definitely more important than others. Don't forget,... More..
Personal Finance > Managing Debt Steps to becoming debt-free: 19 of 52
Bogey Never Said ItDid you know there was an extensive list of erroneous and misleading pieces of information being distributed in the field of credit and debt management? Just as Bogey never said, "Play it again, Sam." there are select pieces of information that have slipped into our societal psyche but are as untrue as the ... More..