Yearly Archives: 2010
-
MyFICO score +79 point in 2 months!
Posted on April 29, 2010 by MANIFEST ME! in Banking/Money/Finance, Manifest MeEvery year for the past three years I have been getting a free annual credit report. Sometimes I would go the extra mile and pay to look at my score. This year, 2010, I have taken everything more seriously.
So, In March I paid for myFICO will TransUnion and Equifax, Experian no longer was available through MyFico.com so, I went to Experian website to get that score. I notice that some stuff had fallen off that was hurting my score. My score had improved but it was still bad. So, I disputed a couple collections items that were listed more than once, same account but different agency.
Look I am not perfect and my credit is improving. So many of you can witness my testimony of needing your credit improved but you don’t know exactly how to do it. I was always told that a credit card would or unsecured lines of credits would help you bring your credit score up.
The issue about that is…. When you have bad credit…. No one gives you a credit card. If you can get a credit card from one of the bad-credit card companies such as Orchard Bank; the fees are OUTRAGEOUS and on top of that you start with a very low available balance. The catch to those types of cards is they charge you with some product up front on how to build your credit and then you have to figure the rest out.
Here’s my story….
I received a letter from a debt collection agency over a year ago named Jefferson Capital. It was a small debt; the debt was about 3 years old. The debt came about from a credit card that I had. My husband and I both had great jobs and we were fixing to close on a brand new house built from the ground up. On the same day, I lost my job and two months later he lost his. We didn’t close on our house. We lost a brand new SUV that we had just purchased. Hadn’t had the car two months and could not afford one payment. Things got bad, but we had experienced worse. So, I had a great deal error going on.
So, when this agency contacted me, I tried it. The payments were low $21 for 12 months and then the balance would be transferred to the new credit card. With 0% interest, it sounded too good to be true. I paid the debt in 3 months. I got the Emblem MasterCard two weeks after my final payment. I have had the card for a year and received credit increase every three months. I have always paid down the balance.
Everything bill that I pay online using my debit card; I apply those payments to my credit card and use my credit card to pay bills. So, when its time for my statement, it show that the card has been used but my balance is paid down. Which give me a positive credit to debt ratio when its time for them to report to the credit bureau on a monthly basis. So credit cards are not of the Devil. If you use them wisely, it can truly help you.
What happen with the disputed items…?
I told you that we couldn’t afford to pay anything right… Well, we had repossession on our credit for $25,000 for that SUV we bought. That would really some damage to your credit report, right? Remind you that was only three years ago. So, it was hard to get a car. About a year ago when I pulled my credit and got all the account updated to make sure it was accurate, the repossession showed up as if it had just happen. Drop our credit score again!
In March, I know I was opening up a can of worms to check the accounts but I checked into the item. This time, instead of updating it the repossession and the collections agencies on the repossession were deleted from my credit report. I thought it would raise it dramatically but it only raised my score 19 points. I had received a 50 point increase in two month just by paying my balances down on my credit cards.
We received a letter from the collection agency in which finance our vehicle on behalf of the banking institution and all account that there was a $0 balance and the repossession had been removed as if there was no account for it at all. That in and of itself was a miracle! I was honestly trying to check into items so I could really get my credit cleared up. God went above it and wiped it clean!
So two months +79 increased in credit score. I can’t wait to see what it looks like in 6 months!!
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
Intense Style is here!
Posted on April 26, 2010 by MANIFEST ME! in General [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="728" caption="http://www.intensestyleonline.com "][/caption]
East Texas its here!
Intense Style Magazine covering all of East Texas. In the Fall of 2010 Intense Style will launch its first issue of the style magazine.
What is in it?
Everything that has to do with style! Intense Style is a publication for the East Texas Area coverging of cities such as: Athens, Bonham, Canton, Chandler, Dangerfield, Edgewood, Emory, Gladwater, Gilmer, Greenville, Hughes Springs, Kilgore, Lufkin, Marshall, Longview, Mineola, Mt. Pleasant, Nacogodches, New Boston, Paris, Supher Springs, Texarkana, White Oak, Tyler, Waskom and Winnsboro. (DFW and Shreveport areas included)
The Cost?
The cost of the magazine will be free to the public and ads in the magazine can be purchased by business that would like to be apart of Intense Style.
Where will Intense Style Be Available?
Intense Style will be in every where in your community. Since this is a community magazine, what you will get from Intense Style is more about the businesses in your area. So the images you see, from the Magazine, may be someone that you know. Not only only will the magazine will be avaliable in print but it is also an Online Version of the Magazine.
Intense Style Online will give more information about salons and businesses that you find in the publication. Including brief bios of all style artist, images of their work, salon highlights and prices and much more!
Its Intense!
Peace, Love, & STILLETTOS!
TaWana S.
2 Comments. Continue Reading... -
Look for unlimited hosting….
Posted on April 16, 2010 by MANIFEST ME! in GeneralThis is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Nexx Inc. All opinions are 100% mine.
When I first started my website my main concern was the “domain name” but then someone mentioned to me that I needed hosting. This is the way it works; if you are not familiar with something and you ask someone what do they recommend.. you trust their word, right? Well my friend told me exactly where to go. I have been with that hosting company since I started in 2006, and they have not given me one reason to go anywhere else because the benefits are just that good!When you are looking for a good hosting plan, there are so many options online you simply do not know who to use. Let me recommend Nexx Unlimited Web Hosting with a free domain name for only $10. You are not going to find many hosting companies with UNLIMITED hosting and a FREE domain for only $10! I mean unlimited disk space, unlimited bandwidth, free domain, 24/7 customer support and ad bucks from Google and Facebook! You want to start a blog or easily implement a website with seamlessly? You can do that with Wordpress and other blog installations being one click away. You guess it… Its free with the hosting!
This is a great deal to get started with unlimited space and bandwidth for your first year. I don’t know about you but you need unlimited bandwidth! Its nothing like going to a site not being about to log on or view it because the bandwidth have been exceeded!
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
So you want to be a blogger….
Posted on April 16, 2010 by MANIFEST ME! in GeneralSo you want to be a blogger….
First, let me just start here…. I can only share with you my experience so, this topic may be broken so keep checking back!
Where did I start?
Pay Per Post drawn my attention to wanting to be a blogger. I didn’t even know what blogging was. But, I had other websites like mykingdomconnection.com that I was hosting. Then through My Cpanel of my hosting service there was Fantastico! What’s a fantastic source of extension that were free with my hosting package.
So, I had already had the domain name “tawanastegall.com” and I had started a blog from one of the extensions which named…/tawanasaid…
I didn’t know what anything about Wordpress. So, being the person I researched it out. Looked at some videos and all of the grand capabilities. My blog had to be at least 30 days old in order for me to start accepting paid post. My original intent was to do it for extra money.
Its possible
Then ABC had a program on one night interviewing top bloggers. Making 40,000 a month from blogging. No way! Soon to find out that it was possible if you know how to implement it! I had to learn from some mistakes and I will soon share those mistakes with you.
By no way have I made any where close to 40,000. I haven’t made anything near that. Because I haven’t put in the work to do that. But, After my blog was over 30 days old, I immediately started writing about what ever came to mind. I did make $500 within the first month between paid post and advertisement through commission junction.
So that was my beginning… But I am sure you want to know TaWana, what do I need in order to get started?
Getting Started
First… get a domain name! If you want to make any type of extra money blogging guess what…. Services that pay you to type such as Pay Per Post no longer accept the free blogging accounts. True, you can start a blog through google blogspot, Wordpress for free but when you have a dedicated domain name you have a better opportunity…
To be continued….
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
2010 Homebuyers Tax Credit
Posted on April 16, 2010 by MANIFEST ME! in GeneralThis is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Coldwell Banker. All opinions are 100% mine.
I have been in the Real Estate industry since 2002… so that make me experienced, right? Well, believe me when I tell you that your time for 2010 Homebuyer Tax Credits is soon to expire!
I started working for a title company when the sub-prime lending market was thrashing with people with 500+ credit scores receiving 100% financing on mortgages. Which lead to recession and a time where people were in need of help. Prior to the 2010 Homebuyers Tax credit, the credit was available but the key factor was it had to been paid back if you claim it on your taxes. Since the economy took a turn for the worst, the government implemented guidelines for the Homebuyers Tax Credit where the money was yours to keep on certain guidelines such as, if you were a first time home buyer and if you were selling your home.
Just this week a friend of mine was able to beat the deadline and take advantage of the 8,000 new home buyer’s tax credit. He was able to claim it on his 2009 taxes even though he close in 2010. Isn’t that amazing! This credit is cash money, no gimmicks!
You have to the end of this month, April 30, 2010 to have a written binding agreement on your soon to be new home. Here are the details you may need to know:
- For first-time homebuyers, or those who have not owned in the last three years, can receive up to an $8,000 tax credit.
- Homeowners who have lived in a current home consecutively for 5 of the past 8 years can receive up to a $6,500 tax credit when purchasing a home.
- There may be no future extensions, so all qualified homebuyers are urged to act and have a written, binding contract by April 30, 2010 (close by June 30, 2010.)
- Income limits are now $125,000 for singles, $225,000 for married couples with a $20,000 phase-out of the credit for both.
Remember you still have time! Enter into the contract that you are looking for by April 30, 2010 and close by June 30.210 and your taxes can be amended and you can recieve the money this year!
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
UPDATE!
Posted on April 16, 2010 by MANIFEST ME! in GeneralIts has been a while since I have written. I have been so consumed with school, projects and so have it that blogging had been put on the back burner. Since I have had so many people to register to my blog, I had to come and share some things with all my friends and Stiletto lovers. =)
I am currently an IT student in Web Development and I am loving it! My last couple of classes were border line. One of them was an Adobe passion an another was simply technology. It didn’t tickle my fancy to much so I am so happy it is over with! But I made it out with the grace of God and He truly gets al the glory!
I have received so many heartfelt emails from people all over the world. Let me tell you, my heart is just over joyed! I really appreciate all of the input on the post about the injured spouse form when filing your taxes. I will be stressing on that topic some more. There has been many poeple that have shared their experiences and all have been different.
I have also had people to ask, how do I start a blog…. Well I am going to stress that too! I just want to thank all of you… My mailing list is almost at 1000 and who would have thought that I would have almost 1000 people on my mailing list. I appreciate you all off my friends from all over the world.
Don’t forget that Manifest Me is not just for me. If you want to contribute to sharing your own post…. Let me know, you can write on this blog!
Peace, Love and STILETTOS!
TaWana S.
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
Think SMART!
Posted on April 16, 2010 by MANIFEST ME! in GeneralThis is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of eSmart Tax. All opinions are 100% mine
April 15th was the dead line to file your taxes without penalty. Who loves paying the IRS? No one but I can also guarantee that no one enjoys paying to have their taxes done by a professional nor do people like spending extra money on software to do it themselves. Serioulsy, does Jackson Hewit really do a $450 job? Yet they charge an arm and a leg in the preparing and filing your basic taxes. Me myself, I like to do my own and I wish I would have known about eSmartTax.com before now.
Why? Because there is no software to buy in order to do your taxes. You can do your basic taxes and file for free. Its gets better…. using software such as Turbo Tax and such, you know up front that the cost jumps the more complex your tax situation may be. The more money you made in the year only results in paying more for the software that you will only use once online. So the great thing about eSmartTax.com is that if your name just happen to be Johnson your in luck! Johnsons file freeis just for you! There are over 2 millions Johnson’s according to the Census Bureau. It just so happen that my maiden name is Johnson, so it is a very common name!
If you do owe the IRS and you have not filed your taxes, do it today! You do not want to wait any longer nor put it off anymore. Even if you can not pay; its in your best interest to go ahead and file now and get a payment plan or an extension on the balance.
Think smart and visit eSmartTax.com today!
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
My ZenniOptical.com experience! Lenses and Frames for $8!!!!
Posted on January 7, 2010 by MANIFEST ME! in General, Money Saver!So here is the deal. I have blogged about ZenniOptical.com a few times and this post is about my latest order. I told you that I would come back and post the results so here goes!! I am not getting paid for this post. Again this is NOT A PAID POST!!
I ordered my Glasses from Zenni Optical after I had ordered my daughter a pair and was very successful with the product, the shipping process and the overall order. I was very pleased that Zenni Optical was quicker than my local optical sending their product off to the lab.
The Process
I was in need of some glasses because I did not have a back up pair. I didn’t want to go and spend over a hundred dollars on a supply of contacts but I ended up doing that any way because I could not go get glasses in an hour under a hundred dollars.
I tried Eyemart Express, the one hour lab processing for glasses. They advertise one pair of glasses for $38.74. So, I went to check out their selection. There were only 9 frames to choose from and the selection was horrible!! I wouldn’t be caught dead in the glasses, from my stand point anyway. =) Not only that, my prescription is -5.50 so I need to get my lenses thinner and they told me that that would be an extra $30 for the. So, for one hour from their horrible selection of 38.74 glasses (for a backup plan) I would have spent over $70 with tax on glasses. I don’t think so!
I do have insurance, YEAH! But, my insurance is not accepted at Eyemart Express and I had already used it because with my insurance plan I can get contacts once a year but glasses once every two years. Since my most corrective lenses were within a year, I had to come out of pocket for glasses. True, I would get a 20% discount but the prices of frames along are outrageous! Since my eye site is a bit more badly than most, I would have to pay even more out of pocket if I wanted to look decent. Otherwise I would have to settle for plastic lenses that would probably result in about 1 -2 inches thick, CAN YOU IMAGINE? Oh NOOO!! Not to mention the optical that accepts my insurance sends the frames to a lab which takes 7-14 days to get back.
I have done my research about Zenni Optical. So, after I purchased my contacts I went ahead and ordered my daughter a pair of glasses since she needed some. One week later that they were being shipped. I received the package 2 days after that notification. So, this gave them a 9 day turn around with the exception of one holiday.
The day I received the shipment notification I went ahead and ordered me a pair of glasses. So I ordered my glasses online November 10th and received a notification that they were being shipped on November 24th. That was exactly 2 weeks. They were shipped the week of Thanksgiving and I received them right after thanksgiving. So for me my shipping turn around time was 2-3 weeks. The first time was within 2 weeks.
I took images of how the glasses were packaged and mailed. I chose the $8 pair (FRAMES & LENSES). Since my prescription is -5.50, I went with the $17 increase for 1.61 High Index. The next time I think I am going to pay the $37 for the 1.67 High Index to get them a bit thinner. But, I am very happy with the results! I love them.
My total purchase — $8.00 (Frames & Lenses) + $17.00(1.61 High Index) +$4.95 (Premium Anti Reflective Coating) +4.95 (Shipping & Handling) = $34.90.
YOU CAN”T BEAT IT!!!!!
(With my daughter I paid $8 for the pair and $4.95 Shipping, total cost $12.95. )
Zenni Optical carries Bi-Focal, Reading, and Progressive & Single Vision Lenses. The shipping is $4.95 no matter how many pair you order.
They have many styles and frames to choose from!
Peace, Love & Stilettos!!
TaWana
[gallery link="file" columns="4"]2 Comments. Continue Reading... -
It begins in 2010!
Posted on January 6, 2010 by MANIFEST ME! in GeneralSo its 2010, what now? Many of us a made a new years resolution only to not keep it. Even if you say that you are one of the ones that don’t declare a resolutions, you may have attended service on New Years Eve night leading into new years and declared a whole lot of stuff. You have still made a declaration and whether you want to be believe it or what you declared has to be resolve. So, when the next new year roll around, and what you declared did not manifest then more than likely you didn’t hold up to your end of the bargain.
Even though I declared that I was not dragging anything into 2010 that was dead weight, I look for my load to be a little bit lighter! The things that I face in life, though they are many, can surely be accomplished because the weight that I carry is not dead weight. The much God has given to me is required. So, I thank God for using me in such a time as this.
I know that it may appear to some that I am rumbling on, but if you can catch what I am saying with your spiritual ear, you’ll understand!
It has already begun. This is a DO IT year, since it has begun, let’s get it done and see the evidence by the end of the year. I want this year to be full of accomplishments! There are some wonderful things happening this year. I celebrate 10 years of marriage! I will be 30! And the list goes on…. Surely theres is revelation in the tens!!
As always,
Peace, Love & Stilettos!!!
TaWana
No Comments. Continue Reading...
