“I was very skeptical but my doubts are erased”

I cannot sit still in my seat…………..unbelievable results in 1 month.  Please continue to work on it and when I get a chance to speak with Krista, I will cover a few more inaccuracies to get cleaned up.

I am so sick with the flu but I am very grateful to you and your company. I am working on getting names and numbers to refer to you although I have very few people in my circle…

A million thanks and please tell Elham that I truly appreciate you guys. I was very skeptical but my doubts are erased.

-Sadie Knight

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New Year’s Eve Facts And Trivia

By Maria Vultaggio

New Year’s Eve is one of the favorite celebration days for many people. Parties aside, the impending New Year typically brings hope for a more prosperous and happy 365 days. There are also some fun facts and trivia associated with the celebration. Check them out below, courtesy of the Examiner and Patch.

• The first New Year was celebrated 4,000 years by the ancient Babylonians.
• It’s tradition to ring in New Year’s with family and friends because the first people you see will either give you good luck or bad luck. So make sure to keep friends close and foes very far away
• More vehicles are stolen on New Year’s Day than any other holiday, statistics from the National Insurance Crime Bureau revealed.The top three places to celebrate New Year’s Eve are Las Vegas, Disney World and of course, New York City.
• Internationally, one of the biggest celebrations is in Sydney, Australia. More than 80,000 fireworks are set off from Sydney Harbour Bridge.
• Time Square New Year’s Eve Ball was first dropped in 1907 after there was a fireworks ban. Back then, a 700-pound ball embellished with 25-watt bulbs made of iron and wood was dropped. Now, however, it weighs 11,875 pounds, is 12 feet in diameter and is adorned with 2,668 Waterford crystals.
• The tradition has continued in Times Square, except for in 1942 and 1943. The ball was not lowered because of wartime restrictions.
• In Italy, people wear red underwear on New Year’s Day to bring good luck all year long.
• In Colombia, Cuba and Puerto Rico, some families stuff a large doll, which is called Mr. Old Year, with memories from the past year. They also dress him in clothes from the outgoing year. At midnight, he is set ablaze, thus burning away the bad memories.
• It’s good luck to eat foods like black eyed peas, ham and cabbage because it is thought they bring prosperity. But if you want to have a happy new year, don’t eat lobster or chicken. Lobsters can move backward and chickens can scratch in reverse, so it is thought these foods could bring a reversal of fortune.
• Chinese New Year is celebrated the second full moon after the winter solstice.
• Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah. Apples and honey are traditionally eaten.
• In ancient Rome the new year began on March 1.
• The traditional New Year’s song, “Auld Lang Syne,” means, “times gone by.”
• The top 10 resolutions are usually to lose weight, eat more healthily, exercise more, stop smoking, stick to a budget, save money, get more organized, be more patient, find a better job and to just be a better person over all.
• Using a baby to signify the New Year began in ancient Greece around 600 B.C.

Posted by ehoyer on December 30th, 2014 :: Filed under Bankground Checks

The end of the year is the perfect time to reflect on the past 12 months, and when you’re being smart about money, this includes your finances. What should you have done differently last year to make your credit stronger, your debt smaller, and your bank account fuller? It’s a brand-new year — a perfect time to commit to wise financial resolutions that will leave your bank account and credit history in better shape than ever. See how many of these resolutions you can incorporate into your life this year.

1. Pay Down Debt

There’s nothing that feels quite as good as being debt-free. Give yourself the gift of paying down your debt steadily starting today to make a big difference in your finances — and your life — that you’ll be proud of in 2016.

2. Save For Emergencies

Just because credit cards are available in emergencies does not mean you should use them. Avoid the pitfalls of emergency-induced debt by saving a portion of your paycheck each month, just in case.

3. Pay Bills On Time

Do whatever it takes, whether it’s setting reminders on your calendar or putting a note on the fridge, to pay your bills early or on time. Save yourself — and your credit — from the aggravation caused by late payments.

4. Understand Your Spending

This year, make an effort to know precisely what you’re spending on. Add up superfluous monthly expenses and multiply by 12 — what else could you be doing with that money?

5. Ask For A Lower Interest Rate

One short phone call could lower the interest rates on your credit cards. It never hurts to ask — and if they say no, see about transferring your debt to a lower-interest card.

6. Use Autopayments

Simplify your life and banish late payments in one fell swoop by setting up autopayments. Be sure to leave a safety buffer in your checking account just in case.

7. Make Smart Investments

Got a little extra cash on hand? Put it aside into safe investments like CDs or high-yield savings accounts to make that money work for you.

8. Never Max Out Your Credit

If you’re hitting the limit on your credit cards regularly, you’re damaging your credit score. Aim for only using 30% of your credit line — and if you’re paying down your credit cards, first shoot for the 30% rule while you’re working your way down to zero.

9. Hang On To Old Accounts

Having long-term credit accounts actually helps your credit history. If you’ve moved to a different creditor, consider keeping the old account — just be sure to monitor it to ensure there are never any outstanding charges.

10. Dispute Any Errors

Order your annual free credit report closely to check for errors. Clear up any mistakes as soon as you see them to keep your credit history clean and accurate.

If you know you can make one or more of these resolutions, but need help figuring out how, give us a call. We’d be more than happy to help you find a way to make —and keep — positive financial resolutions this year.