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	<title>SettlementMax - Financial Freedom&#187; Tips Archives  &#8211; settlementmax</title>
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	<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog</link>
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		<title>10 lies that got you (and keep you) in credit card debt</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/10-lies-keep-credit-card-debt/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/10-lies-keep-credit-card-debt/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:56:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bank]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[banks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bill]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bills]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit card]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt relief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[finances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial freedom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[manage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[managing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[payment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[payments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Settlementmax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spending]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[unemployed]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[unemployment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=89</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Although we don't have credit card debt now, except for 0% APR balance transfers, there were times that we did. We never let our credit cards get completely out of control although we did build up thousands of dollars on our credit cards when I first got out of college...

]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://settlementmax.com/blog/10-lies-keep-credit-card-debt/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Do You Have High Credit Card Balances?</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/do-you-have-high-credit-card-balances/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/do-you-have-high-credit-card-balances/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:11:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[balance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[balances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[card]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit card]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[de]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt and guilt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt relief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[High credit card balances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[settle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[settlementm]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Settlementmax]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=727</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you owe a lot of money to a few credit card companies and can&#8217;t pay it off so fast, there are still some steps you could take to protect yourself. Make an effort to pay off your credit cards as soon as possible.  Cut back on expenses and luxuries so you have extra cash [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://settlementmax.com/blog/do-you-have-high-credit-card-balances/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Lessons from the older generation</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/lessons-older-generation/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/lessons-older-generation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:45:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[aarp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt relief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[generation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holiday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lesson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lessons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Settlementmax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shop]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shopping]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=613</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[oll that came from AARP said that the older generation will spend around the same amount this Christmas as they did last year...
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://settlementmax.com/blog/lessons-older-generation/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bankruptcy &#8211; Not all of your debts can be discharged</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/bankruptcy-debts-discharged/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/bankruptcy-debts-discharged/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:44:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bankrupt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bankruptcy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[filing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial freedom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Settlementmax]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=607</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Did you know that certain types of debt and financial obligations cannot be discharged when filing for bankruptcy?  There are debts that are exempt from bankruptcy laws and you need to pay them whether or not you file for bankruptcy protection.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://settlementmax.com/blog/bankruptcy-debts-discharged/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Spend less this holiday</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/spend-holiday/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/spend-holiday/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:42:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budgeting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holiday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Settlementmax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spend less]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spend less this holiday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spending]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=596</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[pending less during the holiday season does not mean you will have less fun.  Make sure you plan an affordable holiday.

Create a holiday budget.  A spending plan is a good start for a cheaper holiday season.  Don’t forget to include the cost of decorations, food and gifts into your budget.

Make a gift list and don’t go over your spending limit.  Get your gift ideas down on paper before heading out to the shop...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://settlementmax.com/blog/spend-holiday/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Avoid using your credit card during the holiday season</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/credit-card-during-holiday-season/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/credit-card-during-holiday-season/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:36:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[christmas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit card]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holiday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Settlementmax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tip]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=592</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It’s the holiday season, the biggest shopping season of the whole year.  It’s this time that many Americans end up with thousands of dollars in credit card debt they cant afford to pay back.  Here are some reasons to avoid using your credit card while shopping for the holidays.

If you have a debt on your credit card now, you will only be adding to it.  You will spend more money with a credit card because there is no physical sign telling you to stop spending.  Try to avoid using your credit card and use some cash you have put aside for holiday shopping.  You will pay more with a credit card as well because you pay interest on balance...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://settlementmax.com/blog/credit-card-during-holiday-season/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Holiday Spending Tips</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/holiday-spending-tips/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/holiday-spending-tips/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:27:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit card]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gifts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holiday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Settlementmax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shop]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shopping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spending]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=584</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With the holidays just around the corner, many credit card rules and normal spending habits are forgotten.  Many charge up credit card balances that can take months and even years to pay back.  Here are ten mistakes that are commonly made during the holiday season.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://settlementmax.com/blog/holiday-spending-tips/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to save money on utilities</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/how-save-money-utilities/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/how-save-money-utilities/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:18:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bill]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bills]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[save]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Settlementmax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[utilities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[utility]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=575</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By turning your thermostat down three degrees, you can save around 3% on your heating bills.  Make sure it is off when you are at work and turn it down even lower when you are sleeping to save even more money.  Shut the doors to any rooms that aren’t being used to conserve energy.  Weatherstripping doors and windows can amount to using less heat.  An insulated attic can also reduce the cost of your heating bills.  The refrigerator, hot water heater and the heating system are three of the biggest energy consumers in your home.  To improve the efficiency of your appliances, Make sure you give your ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://settlementmax.com/blog/how-save-money-utilities/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to save money on transportation</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/how-to-save-money-on-transportation/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/how-to-save-money-on-transportation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:13:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[car]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Settlementmax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[transport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[transportation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vehicle]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=568</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Did you know that when you buy a new car, the value of the car immediately depreciates when you get it home? By buying a car that is one year old, you will be paying close to what the car is actually worth. Most cars are worth half their value within a two year period. Buying a car with a high residual value may allow you to sell or trade it in for ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://settlementmax.com/blog/how-to-save-money-on-transportation/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to save money on groceries</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/how-save-money-groceries/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/how-save-money-groceries/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:38:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt relief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[groceries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Settlementmax]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=564</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[People who know exactly how much they spend each month on groceries are twenty times less likely to be deep in debt than those who don’t know how much they have spent.  When we include dining out, vending machines and fast food into the list of food related purchases, we realize how much we are spending.  Prepackaged and ready to eat meals also end up costing a lot of money.  Eating is a necessity but there are many ways to noticeably reduce your food budget.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://settlementmax.com/blog/how-save-money-groceries/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Here are some tips to help you improve your finances</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/tips-improve-finances/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/tips-improve-finances/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:10:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bill]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bills]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit card]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt relief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[finances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[improve]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Settlementmax]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=477</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The longer you leave a debt problem the worse it gets and by facing your debts immediately, you’ll be out of your debt problem a whole lot sooner. There is a solution for everyone.  Here are a number of basic tips to get you started
Pay your priority debts first

Priority debts include council tax, TV license, fines, rent, mortgage, utilities bills, hire-purchase agreements, taxes and child maintenance.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://settlementmax.com/blog/tips-improve-finances/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Do Not Live From Paycheck To Paycheck</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/live-paycheck-paycheck/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/live-paycheck-paycheck/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:34:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt relief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[deposit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[paycheck]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[saving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[savings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Settlementmax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spending]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=463</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Stop using your credit and debit cards immediately.  Also stop taking other loans, either from banks or finance companies or friends or family. Stop getting into more debt. 
SAVE! The most important step you can take, in the beginning, is to start a small savings account if you haven’t already. Begin depositing into it regularly, at least $100 per paycheck if you can. If you can’t find $100 then see the next step for how. Make it an automatic deposit, the first bill you pay each payday, because it is the most important! A savings account will help you smooth out your finances — when an emergency comes up, like your car breaking down or someone having to go to the hospital, you won’t be thrown back into debt. You will have some cash to pay for that emergency, and you can use your regular paycheck for regular expenses. 
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://settlementmax.com/blog/live-paycheck-paycheck/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Overcome Your Impulse Spending</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/overcome-impulse-spending/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/overcome-impulse-spending/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:26:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt relief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[impulse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[overcome]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Settlementmax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spending]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urge]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=454</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Impulse spending is a common problem that many people have.  The first step in fixing this problem is to monitor your urges for about two weeks.  Keeping a small notebook in your pocket and using it to tally every time an urge comes along to buy something can be very useful.  Even if you decide not to purchase the item, it would be a good idea to keep track of the urges.  The reason being is that these urges are commonly in our subconscious.  If we record every time we have an urge to buy something, it will be our first step toward ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://settlementmax.com/blog/overcome-impulse-spending/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Budgeting 101</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/budgeting-101/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/budgeting-101/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:17:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[101]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bills]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budgeting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt relief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial freedom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[help]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[paperwork]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[payslips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[settlement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Settlementmax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spreadsheet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[top 5]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=363</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[1. Pull together your paperwork Rounding up and managing one&#8217;s paperwork is the dullest aspect of budgeting.  Without a grip on your paperwork, you have no power over your personal finances. So, get this task out of the way quickly by gathering together all of your statements, payslips and so on. 2. Set up a spreadsheet Set [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://settlementmax.com/blog/budgeting-101/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How Did We End Up In Debt?</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/up-debt/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/up-debt/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:56:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bank]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=331</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the past, it was simply too easy for consumers to obtain credit.  Because credit was so easy to get, consumers figured out how to leverage their credit card rewards and balance transfer cards in order to make money. Many tried to perform credit card arbitrage by taking out cash advances and balance transfers from these cards, then investing the amounts into a rising stock market. This was one of those things you'd consider to be a "sign of the times." Of course, things are different today, but the 2000s was a ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://settlementmax.com/blog/up-debt/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Financial Journey of the Average American</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/financial-journey-average-american/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/financial-journey-average-american/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:56:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=152</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The first payment-based debt for the average American gets incurred while still in high school. Interest rates on department store cards can be as staggering as 33%. Target is in the top 10 issuers of credit cards. Over 173 Million Americans own at least one credit card. The average rate for standard bank credit cards [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Story of Credit Card Hell – An American Perspective</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/story-credit-card-hell-american-perspective/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/story-credit-card-hell-american-perspective/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:30:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=140</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You pay your credit card off every month, but happened to miss an auto loan or an electric bill payment.  A single late payment on your credit report can trigger a rate increase.  It is called Universal Default.
0% APR is great, but ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Is your debt making you sick?</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/debt-making-sick/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/debt-making-sick/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:20:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=74</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the past year, Chad, a 38-year-old former president of a social media communications company, has gained 30 pounds, seen his hair turned gray, and admits that both his blood pressure and cholesterol have increased. The cause is none other than the economy. “The economic downturn hit us early last year when people stopped paying,” he says. “We had a mountain of uncollectible outstanding invoices.”]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Top 5 reasons why people go get into debt</title>
		<link>http://settlementmax.com/blog/5-reasons-people-debt/</link>
		<comments>http://settlementmax.com/blog/5-reasons-people-debt/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:36:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Power User</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://settlementmax.com/blog/?p=33</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Excessive spending - With easy availability of credit over the past decade, the spending habits of Americans have skyrocketed. The old days of paying for something with cash are long gone and we now live in a society that borrows money to buy goods and services.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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