If you’re like most people, you probably keep a couple of credit cards in your wallet to pay for most of your purchases. Writing checks is too cumbersome – two forms of I.D., etc. – and paying cash for gas, groceries, or any other daily expense is just not practical. That’s why most people end up paying by credit card. On the flip side, credit cards can easily get you in over your head, as you can easily pay for any impulse item by simply handing the clerk your card.

Before you know it, you’ve spent thousands of dollars over your monthly budget for items you could simply do without. How do you control that urge to spend but still take advantage of a credit card’s convenience? Read below for some of our “credit card spending” tips. Keep to a monthly budget At the beginning of each month, set a monthly budget for credit card purchases. When you reach your limit, take out your credit card from your wallet and keep some cash available for any necessary purchases.

Guntersville, Alabama, a charmed mountain lake community in Northern Alabama, has captivated visitors for generations. With a traditional lake town feel and a welcoming family setting, Guntersville continues to be a favorite destination for fishing, hiking, birding or purely enjoying the scenic beauty of this Alabama mountain lake region.

Families looking to reconnect in this growing scenic area now have a new option to allow them to enjoy the lake and community with the introduction of the new lakefront resort community, Lighthouse Pointe.

 People from across the country have been coming to visit the area for years, and we welcome them with open arms to continue their traditions at Lighthouse Pointe.  
Tourism growth to Lake Guntersville and the surrounding area has grown steadily over the past 6 years, and remains on track for strong growth in 2008. Just last year tourism-related revenue to the Alabama Mountain Lakes region saw a 17% increase —a remarkable number—which represents growing awareness of the area.

Choosing the right furniture for your house can either make or break the look. You would be surprised how just by picking out the “right” pieces can turn an old-fashioned, dark room, into a relaxing, comfortable area to socialize with your friends or family. The secret is how to create that comfortable, homey feeling without spending lots of money. Find out how below by reading some of our easy-to-follow suggestions.

Less is more A common misconception is that you have to fill your room with furniture in order to make it inviting. In home decorating, less furniture can create a stronger statement than a room overfilled with chairs, lamps, and rugs. Make your living room sofa the centerpiece of the room and decorate around it, but not too much. Most rooms just need a couple chairs, a coffee table, and a throw rug. If you have guests, just pull out the folding chairs from the closet.

I think that most people will agree that it is important that one understands the car buying process and how credit rating affects interest rates and the overall car buying experience before one goes to the dealership.

First, the car buyer should know that banks, lenders, insurers and car dealerships regard a credit rating or credit score as a reasonably accurate indicator of future consumption behavior. While insurance companies relate credit scores to the probability of claims being filed, lenders, on the other hand, use the rating as an indicator of potential defaults.

Low credit ratings, therefore, translate to tougher loan terms and higher insurance premiums. That is why it is recommended that car buyers check their credit report for discrepancies in their credit history. They can find out by contacting any one of the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian or TransUnion.

The recent financial trends have not been encouraging for those who have bad credit or little credit. The rise in foreclosures, the steady climb in inflation that outstrip the rise in wages, the astronomical increase in gas prices all combine to make several of us think of our financial situation and our credit rating. 

A slight move in your credit score can make a world of a difference when it comes to the interest rate you will pay for loans such as auto and mortgage loans. Here are five things that affect your credit rating negatively. 

#1 The biggest factor affecting your FICO score is your payment history: How promptly you pay and how often you've been delinquent on monthly payments. If you are late on your bill payments, event a 30 day late on credit cards or regular bills such as utilities, phone or house payments and your FICO score will begin to decrease dramatically for each late payment. So it is very important that you pay your bills on time. There is no room for procrastination when it comes to your credit. 

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) and O&S Holdings, LLC are pleased to announce the highly anticipated opening of The Westin Huntsville on Saturday, April 12, 2008.  The 11-story hotel features 210 beautifully appointed guest rooms and 74 residential condominiums on the top six floors.  Guests are invited to refresh and rejuvenate at this elegant new property with the help of the Westin brand’s signature services and amenities. 

Overlooking a scenic, ten-acre lake, The Westin Huntsville is the newest addition to the Bridge Street Town Centre, a premier mixed-use lifestyle center within Huntsville's Cummings Research Park, the hub of North Alabama’s space and defense industry and the second largest technology park in the United States.  The offices of Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin are all close by. Guests will also enjoy proximity to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, the Huntsville Botanical Gardens and several area golf courses.

Blizzard! As the cold freeze passes over the auto and home mortgage industry companies are trying to figure out what is the most expedient financial approach to stay afloat and to keep the cash register ringing – caching!

Many car manufactures and auto dealerships have created zero down payment car loans, no credit bad credit loans or no interest payments financing. VW, however, is in the process of introducing something unorthodox. The company is in the process of introducing a 9 year car loan financing program. I know, I know! Nine years! 108 months! If you were to buy a car with a nine year loan you will be through paying them by 2017.

The average auto loan is now 64 months, once was 36 months. Recent research has indicated that about 45 percent of new car buyers are opting for a car loan that is longer than six years. The question you should ask yourself before choosing this option is whether that would be good for your credit and how much more do you have to pay verses a 36 months or 64 months car loan.

Items in this feature may be faxed to 532-4420 or e-mailed to marian.accardi@htimes.com. Event information should include date, time, place, cost and contact information. Deadline is Wednesday noon for Sunday publication:

BNI - Business Network International wants to give small-business owners and sales professionals referrals. Chapters meet Tuesday through Thursday for breakfast or lunch. For more info on dates and times, call 866-291-9496, e-mail meg@bni.com or visit bnialabama.com. For more info, call Jennifer Rogers at 683-9952 or Jerry Williamson at 513-6448.

Monday

Realty World South will host a free "Lease to Own" seminar at 1874 Slaughter Road, Madison, at 6 p.m. Learn how to improve your credit score and become a homeowner. This seminar is conducted each Monday. Call 325-8500 for reservations.

Tuesday

Huntsville is hanging out the "Help Wanted" sign — in Atlanta.

A job expo in Midtown on Tuesday is aimed at luring talent to the northeast corner of Alabama to fill thousands of openings in an economy bolstered by government spending on aeronautics, the military and space.

About 30 businesses will be in recruiting mode at the Atlanta Marriott Suites Midtown between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., part of the "Huntsville on the Road 2008 Career Expo."

Among the companies looking to hire in Atlanta are Boeing, Westar Aerospace & Defense Group and Dynetics, Inc., as well as NASA, according to the Chamber of Commerce for Huntsville and Madison County

David Karabinos and his associates at the Huntsville Angel Network have some cash - up to $750,000 - they may invest in your idea or company. But first, some advice: Do your homework. Shoot straight. Be patient. And, perhaps most important, listen. Even if you don't like what you hear.

Karabinos, managing partner of Harvest Business Advisors in Huntsville, can tell within minutes of an entrepreneur's pitch whether the plan has a chance to make it big or is destined to fail. He knows firsthand, experiencing several "false starts" as an entrepreneur before co-founding the highly successful EquaTerra, an outsourcing advisory firm that he left two years ago as chief operating officer.