Monthly Archives: June 2011

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GHOSTour Ireland!

Tours of Terror’s first-ever GHOSTour of Scotland returned and the castle-packed travel adventure was a huge success. About the only thing that could have made the vacation better was if the Loch Ness monster surfaced while the group was there. In its place was a magnificent rainbow across Loch Ness (see photo by Karri Snider). The event was hosted by Richard Felix of TV’s “Most Haunted.” 

While on their journey visiting the most haunted locales in Scotland, the tour-group of 50 decided that the next destination they wanted to ghost-hunt was Ireland. So whereas the 2012 GHOSTour returns to England, the first-ever GHOSTour to Ireland is scheduled to take place May 5-12, 2013.
 
Few places in the world are as spooky as Ireland. After Scotland, Ireland boasts the most haunted castles and reported lake monsters in the world. The tour is expected to visit sites such as: Dublin Castle, built in 1204, where invaders to the castle were beheaded and displayed on the castle wall. Countless decapitated bodies are buried under the castle. Their vengeful souls still roam the castle, and tour guides report poltergeist activity. Marsh’s Library, built in 1701, is an ornate library and the site of ghostly activity. Malahide Castle was the home of Lord Talbot and his descendant’s 1185-1973. The castle has a long history of being haunted. New Grange is a 5,000-year-old megalithic cemetery (burial mound). Leap Castle is said to be the most haunted castle in Ireland. Hill of Tarais the ancient site of Ireland’s high kings and pagan community prior to the emergence of Christianity. This was the site of the original renaissance faire.    

  
Combine this with independent late-night séances, visits to graveyards, on-board classic ghost & genre films, a mad monster mash masquerade ball farewell party and other surprises, and you’ve got what should be one of the most memorable macabre tours in haunted history. The event will be hosted once again by Richard Felix and Horror Happenings’ “Cryptmaster Chiller Chucky” (Charles F. Rosenay). Be sure to visit www.GHOSTour.com for further information, and to read past tour reports.
 
For all travel packages, see www.ToursAndEvents.com.
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Credit Card Tips

 

Credit Card Tips

By Steve Gillman

There are little known tricks that credit card companies play on you, as well as tricks you can use to get rid of fees and pay off your debt sooner. Here are some of the best credit card tips, tricks and secrets.

1. You can get rid of annual fees. If you have good credit, just call and ask for fee to be removed. This worked on three out of four cards I called on, and I just dumped the other. Of course threatening to cancel the cards helped get the fees dropped.

2. Read the fine print, and pay on time. Be aware that under “universal default” rules, if you are late on one card, your interest rate can be increased on other cards as well. They love to get you with this one.

3. Watch for changing due dates. This is a trick used by some credit card companies to get you to pay late, so they can collect the late fees. They will also be able to raise your rate, and the rate on other cards you may have. Don’t assume that your payment due date will always be the same.

4. Use promotional checks with care. Transferring balances to 0 interest promotions can be a good idea, but watch out for those that charge “balance transfer fees.” Transferring a balance that you were going to pay off soon anyhow will just cost you more if there is a 3% transfer fee.

5. Try credit unions for cards. Their cards usually have lower rates. My credit union Visa rate hasn’t been over 10% in years, and I have zero liability for unauthorized charges.

6. Ask to have the late fee waived. If you’ve never been late before, some credit card companies will waive a late fee – but only if you ask. Why not try it? All it takes is a phone call.

7. Pay in full every month. Credit cards are for convenience, not for hiding the true cost of things. Don’t pay interest – just pay the balance every month.

8. Don’t buy the credit card insurance. This typically stops your payments when you are injured or unemployed. It is one of the most over-priced insurances out there, and doesn’t eliminate the debt, but just delays it.

9. Avoid credit card security insurance. It pays for unauthorized charges when your card is stolen, but you are only liable for the first $50 if you report the theft in any case, and many cards already have 0 liability.

10. Pay high-interest cards first to reduce credit card debt. If you have $200 monthly to apply to your credit card debt, pay only the minimums only on all cards but the card with the highest interest rate. Put all the rest of the money towards that one. Once that one is paid off, work on the next highest. This is the fastest way to get rid of your credit card debt, and the most important of these credit card tips.

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Used Car Buying Tips

 

Used Car Buying Tips

By Steve Gillman

Some of these used car buying tips won’t be new to you. That’s okay, because we all need reminding, and sometimes a stimulus to apply what you already know. On the other hand, when it comes to expensive areas of life like buying a car, learn just one new thing and you can save hundreds of dollars. Try one or more of the following.

1. Make a low offer. Okay, you knew this one. A trick you may not have used, though, is to make a low offer, and then leave your phone number with the seller. Time has a way of making sellers desperate, especially after you just helped convince them that they are asking too much.

2. Be careful with car price guides. Use the “blue book” etc, but try not to pay more than wholesale. I can’t think of many times when people I know have paid more than “bluebook,” so these “average” sales prices are doubtful.

3. Talk to people. This is one of the simplest and effective used car buying tips. Just let friends, family and others know you’re looking for a car. Quite often people would be happy to avoid the whole process of advertising and showing their car if they could just get rid of it by giving a good deal to a friend.

4. Check out the engine. Have a mechanic look at the car, and tell you what it’s likely to need in the next year or so. Then make a list, so the seller can see in writing why you are offering less than he wants.

5. Auctions. See if there is a public auction in your area. If not, maybe you can go with a dealer friend and give him a $100 to buy a car for you.

6. www.carfax.com. It’s around $25 to run vehicle background checks for a month – long enough to find your next car. They’ll show the chain of title, accident reports for the car, and even safety and reliability scores for that model.

7. “Ugly” cars. Watch for cars that sit on the lot for months. Dealers will often sell these “ugly ducklings” at a loss just to move them. Again, you may want to leave your phone number with a low offer.

8. Rental company cars. They are sold fairly cheap when they get the new ones in. Buy at bluebook wholesale or less, because they have had many different drivers, so they’ve more wear than normal.

9. Repos. Credit unions and some small banks do their own selling of repossessed cars. You usually bid on paper, maybe with a $50 deposit, and then get your $50 back if you’re not the winning bidder. If they don’t sell their own repossessions, ask where they are sold.

10. Consider gas mileage. High mileage may be better, but maybe a car that costs $500 less will use only $400 more gas in the two years you expect to own it. Do the math.

Use the tips here the next time you are shopping for a used car. Meanwhile, why not learn a few negotiating strategies. This helps in many areas of life, and is the most important of these used car buying tips.

These are some of the 400 ways to save money in the bonus “Money Saving Secrets” that comes with the “You Aren’t Supposed To Know” package. Learn more and get a free gift at: CLICK HERE