I am a real stickler for credit. I need to have excellent credit. And after the rules changed, my credit is okay...but it could be better. I needed to find out ways to improve my credit score, and take advantage of certain rules.
First rule. Never go over your credit limit. Better yet, try not to go over 50% of your credit limit. Here are some guidelines:
1% - 10% Ideal. You want to use your credit card to keep it active, but want to show credit companies that you are in control of your credit. Some drawbacks is that card companies are now looking at your credit utilization and are cutting your credit limit if you do not use enough of it.
11% - 25% Good.
26% - 30% Okay.
75% or over NEVER! Never, ever do this. Once credit companies see that you are using more than a third of your credit, they will begin to worry and start closing your cards thinking you are out of control. This includes balance transfers. I transferred my balance from one card to another to benefit from a lower APR, but I was also using about 95% of my credit on that one card. After about a month, card companies started sending me letters saying that they are closing my account. On that note...
Rule #2
Spread your debt among your cards. It is better to have a bunch of cards using about 25% of your credit on each card than having it all on one card using 50%. For example, it is better for you to split your $5,000 debt among 5 cards with a $5000 dollar limit than have it all on one card with a $10,000 limit.
Rule #3
Never be late. Don't ever send a late payment. That really hurts your score.
Rule #4
Pay off your debt ASAP. Carrying a high balance on your cards is also hurtful to your score.
Rule #5
Keep those cards active and open. You don't want to have credit card companies lowering your credit or closing your credit. The higher your limit, the higher your score.
Rule #6
Keep that card you got in High School Open!! No matter how much you hate that card, keep it open. That card is keeping your score up. The moment that card closes, it will look like you lost a few years in your credit history.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Friday, September 10, 2010
Easy to find; easy to make recipes - Mole
No. Not the animal. The name is pronounced Moh-Lay. This is kind of like a curry.
Ingredients
-A can/glass/container of mole (there are different varieties. Mild, spicy, green, red... My favorite is the red mole, mild or spicy). You can find these at a Spanish store like Cardenas, Northgate, Superior.
-Chicken leg quarters or Chicken drumsticks
-Water
-Knorr (Chicken Broth)
Materials Needed
Two Pots (One large, One medium)
Blender
Directions
First, you want to get a large pot of water boiling. Add some knorr (chicken flavor). You want to taste it so that it is just over the bland taste. To the point where you question whether you should add more salt, but it is still sufficient. Then you want to wash the chicken. You can peel off the skin if you want, or buy it without skin. After that, put the chicken into the water (boiling or not) and bring it to a boil. You want the chicken to be cooked thoroughly. You can check the internal temperature of the chicken if you'd like, but what I do is I poke the chicken to the bone. If it bleeds, it still needs more cook time. If not, your chicken is ready.
In the blender, you want to add some of the chicken broth to the blender (about one to one and a half mole container worth). Any excess chicken water/broth you want to pour out. Add the mole and blend. You want this to be a consistency of spaghetti sauce to tomato soup. Then you want to transfer it to a pot and boil it. After it boils you want to put this sauce into the pot with the chicken. Let it simmer for a while and you are done. You can serve this over rice, or eat it with bread, or eat it with tortillas. It is all up to you!
Ingredients
-A can/glass/container of mole (there are different varieties. Mild, spicy, green, red... My favorite is the red mole, mild or spicy). You can find these at a Spanish store like Cardenas, Northgate, Superior.
-Chicken leg quarters or Chicken drumsticks
-Water
-Knorr (Chicken Broth)
Materials Needed
Two Pots (One large, One medium)
Blender
Directions
First, you want to get a large pot of water boiling. Add some knorr (chicken flavor). You want to taste it so that it is just over the bland taste. To the point where you question whether you should add more salt, but it is still sufficient. Then you want to wash the chicken. You can peel off the skin if you want, or buy it without skin. After that, put the chicken into the water (boiling or not) and bring it to a boil. You want the chicken to be cooked thoroughly. You can check the internal temperature of the chicken if you'd like, but what I do is I poke the chicken to the bone. If it bleeds, it still needs more cook time. If not, your chicken is ready.
In the blender, you want to add some of the chicken broth to the blender (about one to one and a half mole container worth). Any excess chicken water/broth you want to pour out. Add the mole and blend. You want this to be a consistency of spaghetti sauce to tomato soup. Then you want to transfer it to a pot and boil it. After it boils you want to put this sauce into the pot with the chicken. Let it simmer for a while and you are done. You can serve this over rice, or eat it with bread, or eat it with tortillas. It is all up to you!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Easy to find; easy to make recipes - Spaghetti
Ingerdients:
Barilla Spaghetti
Prego Sauce (can be any that you like)
Salt
Olive oil
Cooking oil
Garlic
Onion (white or brown)
Mushroom (precut or whole)
Ground beef (1/2 lb)
Optional: Meatballs
Supplies:
2 Pans (one for spaghetti, one for sauce)
Knife for cutting
Cutting board
Cooking spoon (wooden or anything that won't transfer heat)
Preparation and Cooking
Bring a pot of water to boil for the spaghetti. Add about a teaspoon of olive oil and a little dash of salt (this is going to be thrown away after the spaghetti cooks, so use sparingly. While the water is coming to a boil, cut mushrooms in slices (like pizza topping). After, cut the onion (minced). An easy way to do this is to cut slices (like a checkerboard) but don't cut all the way through, just about half way through the onion. After that, you can slice the other way, and you will have minced onions every time you slice. (video to come).
Mince the garlic (about 1 tooth).
In another pot add about a tablespoon of cooking oil (I use canola or vegetable oil) and add the ground beef and cook. When the meat looks cooked, add the minced onion, the prego sauce, and the minced garlic. The fire should be about medium to medium high (you can judge this by making sure the sauce bubbles, but not violently where sauce gets everywhere.
After that, your water should be boiling. Add a teaspoon of olive oil, and some salt. This is to add flavor. I know some people say it is pointless, but I like to do it. Add the spaghetti. Cook according to box directions. Drain and rinse spaghetti after cooking.
After that, turn off the fire from any pots, serve sauce over spaghetti, add some cheese on top (optional) and enjoy!
Barilla Spaghetti
Prego Sauce (can be any that you like)
Salt
Olive oil
Cooking oil
Garlic
Onion (white or brown)
Mushroom (precut or whole)
Ground beef (1/2 lb)
Optional: Meatballs
Supplies:
2 Pans (one for spaghetti, one for sauce)
Knife for cutting
Cutting board
Cooking spoon (wooden or anything that won't transfer heat)
Preparation and Cooking
Bring a pot of water to boil for the spaghetti. Add about a teaspoon of olive oil and a little dash of salt (this is going to be thrown away after the spaghetti cooks, so use sparingly. While the water is coming to a boil, cut mushrooms in slices (like pizza topping). After, cut the onion (minced). An easy way to do this is to cut slices (like a checkerboard) but don't cut all the way through, just about half way through the onion. After that, you can slice the other way, and you will have minced onions every time you slice. (video to come).
Mince the garlic (about 1 tooth).
In another pot add about a tablespoon of cooking oil (I use canola or vegetable oil) and add the ground beef and cook. When the meat looks cooked, add the minced onion, the prego sauce, and the minced garlic. The fire should be about medium to medium high (you can judge this by making sure the sauce bubbles, but not violently where sauce gets everywhere.
After that, your water should be boiling. Add a teaspoon of olive oil, and some salt. This is to add flavor. I know some people say it is pointless, but I like to do it. Add the spaghetti. Cook according to box directions. Drain and rinse spaghetti after cooking.
After that, turn off the fire from any pots, serve sauce over spaghetti, add some cheese on top (optional) and enjoy!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Heroes of Newerth - Is it free?
Looking at my analysis of website usage, I see that people are concerned if Heroes of Newerth (HoN) is free. Well, how do I break this news to you...No.
It used to be free when it was in beta, but now that it is not and it is now a released version, it is not free. You can buy the released version for $30.00 and play it for life (there is no monthly service charge. Once you buy it, it is yours to play forever (like starcraft, diablo, or warcraft III (not World of Warcraft))).
BUT!!!!
Every now and then, S2 gives out free days, weeks, weekends. Make sure you sign up with them here and download a free copy (not playable until you pay, or there is a free week). They will send emails informing you about free days.
It used to be free when it was in beta, but now that it is not and it is now a released version, it is not free. You can buy the released version for $30.00 and play it for life (there is no monthly service charge. Once you buy it, it is yours to play forever (like starcraft, diablo, or warcraft III (not World of Warcraft))).
BUT!!!!
Every now and then, S2 gives out free days, weeks, weekends. Make sure you sign up with them here and download a free copy (not playable until you pay, or there is a free week). They will send emails informing you about free days.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Rain, Rain, Go away..
Anyone else have this problem?
Comment =D
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Wednesday, January 27, 2010
New Traffic Law
Apparently, there is a new traffic law that requires drivers to move over when there is an emergency vehicle on the side.
It's common sense and all drivers should know that when driving and you see an emergency vehicle, pull over to the side (right side). Now a new rule:
If you see a cop car, paramedic, fire fighter, etc to the side (right side), drivers need to move over to the left to give the emergency vehicles space. This prevents cops or pulled over vehicles from getting hurt or damaged. If moving over is not possible, the driver needs to slow down to 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit.
This used to be common courtesy, but now it is mandatory. If not, you can get a $50.00 fine.
For more information: http://www.moveoveramerica.com/
Homepage
It's common sense and all drivers should know that when driving and you see an emergency vehicle, pull over to the side (right side). Now a new rule:
If you see a cop car, paramedic, fire fighter, etc to the side (right side), drivers need to move over to the left to give the emergency vehicles space. This prevents cops or pulled over vehicles from getting hurt or damaged. If moving over is not possible, the driver needs to slow down to 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit.
This used to be common courtesy, but now it is mandatory. If not, you can get a $50.00 fine.
For more information: http://www.moveoveramerica.com/
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