Payday Loans Blog

If you are basketball fan and you are going to be in Salt Lake City on Wednesday March 3, make sure that you do not miss out on the Utah vs BYU game.  The stadium will be packed full as the two rival teams play each other.

The energy in the stadium will be indescribable and the basketball will not disappoint.  The Utes will be celebrating all of their Senior players and will acknowledge them before the game begins.

 The game will be held in the Jon M. Hunstman Center at the University of Utah.  Tip-off will be held at 7 p.m. and the game is scheduled to end at 9 p.m.  If you are interested in attending the game you will want to buy your tickets now, because they will sell out quick.

You can purchase them online here.  If you do not have a debit or a credit card to make your online purchase, come into any of Check City’s Utah locations and we will set you up with a Netspend Prepaid Debit Card.  This card will give you the ability to make safe and secure purchase online.  Our Netspend Prepaid Debit Cards are accepted anywhere that Visa or Mastercard is accepted so you can also use the Debit cards for some concessions at the game!

There are a number of ways your children can get hurt everyday and many of these ways may not even cross your mind when thinking of ways to keep your children safe on a day to day basis.  In this blog I have included some ways in which you can help your children stay safe in ways that you may not have even though about.  Some of these safety tips include, car seat, bike, pedestrian, fire and poison safety.

Car Seat Safety:

• Infants: Infants should only ride in back facing convertible seats, or infant seats.  Pay attention to the weight and age limits on the infant seats and move your child into a rearfacing convertible seat when appropriate.
• Toddlers/Pre-school aged children: Convertible, forward facing seats with a harness or seat belt. It is important for children to ride rear facing as long as possible.
• School Aged Children: Children should ride in booster seats until they can ride comfortably with just a seatbelt and are at least 4'9". Most states recommend waiting until around the age of 12 to move children from booster seats to seatbelts.  Many states also have laws about booster seats, which you may want to look into before taking your child out of the booster seat.
• Everyone else should ride in a seatbelt.

Bike Safety:

• All bike riders should always wear a helmet.  Lives are saved each year by helmets.  Make sure your helmet is approved by the Consumer Safety Commission, that you always strap your bike helmet and that it fits your properly.
• Make sure you have reflectors on your bike and when riding at night you should always wear light colors such as white or yellow so that riders can be seen by cars.
• Make sure all of your handle bars and seats, etc are on tight when leaving on a bike ride.
• Always check for traffic and ride your bike with the flow of cars.

Pedestrian Safety:

• Teach your children to cross only at cross walks and corners and to obey all traffic signals.
• Walk on a sidewalk if there is one, if not, stay as far away from the street as possible.
• Pedestrians should walk against the flow of traffic so that they can see oncoming cars.
• Make sure to cross the street infront of cars, so you can be seen, and wait for the bus driver to give you the signal that it is ok to cross.
• Hold an adult's hand when crossing the street and wear light colored clothing when out at night.

Fire Safety:

• This is one area of safety that your children often learn about in school but it is still important to teach them at home. 
• If you are ever on fire, stop, drop and roll.
• Make sure your children know how to safetly leave your home in case of fire.
• Check the doorknob for heat before opening a door.
• Sleep with your bedroom door closed, if your children don't like to sleep in complete darkness, give them a night light or close their door after they have fallen asleep.

Poison Safety:

• Make sure your children know the number for the local Poison control center incase they consume something they shouldn't.
• If you have toddlers in your home, keep all cabinets child proofed to avoid children getting ahold of something that does not go in their mouth.
• Do not make your child vomit, just try to get them to spit out everything they have swallowed and remove it from their mouth if it is still there.
• Get your child to open air, and if there is any poison in the air, avoid deep breathing.

These are just a few ways to help keep your children safe.  Check City offers affordable and great Insurance Plans to help keep your family safe. We have insurance for your cars, your home and your life.  This is just another way that we at Check City show we care.  Visit one of our Convenient Locations or Check City Online to get more details about our Insurance Plans and how we can help you get the most for your money.

Kim Yu-Na has been dubbed Queen of Figure Skating after her performance in Vancouver last night. Many believe that her world record performance will be remembered as one of the greatest performances of all time.

Kim Yu-Na earned the gold-medal easily with a score of 228.56 points. This score is a full 18 points higher than the world record that she had set before.

Kim’s win was not only a big win for her, but for her country. This gold medal will be the first to be taken home to South Korea for a sport other than speed skating. South Korea celebrated loudly at the end of her performance.

Upon the announcement of the score Kim gasped and her Coach Brian Orser victory punched the air. With a smile that spread from ear to ear she took her place on the top of the podium. Kissing both sides of the gold medal, she was only barely able to hold back the tears until the South Korean anthem began to play.

Kim said, "I still can't believe it...I waited a long time for the Olympics, and it feels like a large weight has been lifted off...Truly I still can't believe that I did what I wanted to do at the Olympics." Her coach, Brian Orser, said, “It's one of those programs that, when it's done like that, when it's perfection ..."

The score that Kim earned was so high that it would have placed her ninth in the men’s competition, even without skating the extra 30 seconds and doing another jump.

Skating under immense pressure, Kim performed beautifully. By far the most popular athlete in South Korea, she knew that her entire nation was watching her. They have nicknamed her “Queen Yu-na.” Her popularity is so great that photographers will attend her practice sessions and she has to keep bodyguards whenever she travels back home.

After her dazzling performance, people are hoping that she will bring back the glory of figure skating that Michelle Kwan and very few others were able to give the sport.

Orser commented on Kim’s performance and gave some advice about performing in the Olympics. He said, “It's not any time to hold back. It's not a time to be conservative or cautious. Be Olympic," Orser said. "We've talked about that, coming here. You've got to be Olympic. You've got to be a competitor. Yes, you're beautiful. Yes, the programs are beautiful. Beautiful lines. Great presentation and choreography...But you've got to be Olympic and you've got to be fierce. And she was."

The beauty, elegance, and grace of figure skating and Kim’s performance will set a high standard for many to come. Kim Yu-Na achieved her dream and inspired many others to pursue their dreams as well.

You can also achieve your dreams with a little dedication and through setting goals. If you are a little short on money, Check City will buy your scrap gold or give you a title loan. If you need a great phone plan so that you can do a lot of networking, try one of Check City’s pre-paid phone cards. We have phone cards that will fit every lifestyle and need. Talk with our friendly and professional staff or visit Check City’s website to find out how you can get the funds you need to pursue your dreams. They can make a plan that will specifically meet your needs help you achieve your goals.

To read more about Kim Yu-Na's glorious victory visit:
 http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-features/news/newsid=448061.html

If you are going to be in San Francisco this weekend you will be just in time for the Chinese New Year Parade.  Since the Gold Rush San Francisco has hosted a Chinese New Year Parade that brings hundreds and thousands of people to the main streets of downtown San Francisco.

The parade is an extravagant display of floats and costumes.  There are ferocious lions and exploding firecrackers throughout the program.  One of the most popular floats is the Golden Dragon or ‘Gum Lung’.  This dragon takes over 100 men and women to carry.  As the Golden Dragon weaves in and out of the streets of San Francisco the crowds are able to experience the Chinese culture.  Miss Chinatown U.S.A. and her court will also be present during the parade.

The show will go one, through rain or shine.  The parade will take place on February 27th from 6:00-8:00p.m.  If you want a prime spot to watch the parade from you will have to be early.  If you are looking to file your taxes early as well to avoid the stress in April come into one of Check City locations today and get your taxes started with one of our tax professionals.  Our tax services will have you on your way to a stress free April in no time.

This is part two of what will be a multi-part coverage of what exactly the effects of Credit Card Act of 2009 will be and exactly how they will affect you and your family. Today I want to briefly touch on fees and what the act has done to the fee section of many credit card agreements. Most of the changes being made are good, however there are less changes than people think.  A lot of the agreements will be the same. Only very specific rules are changing, so you should check back with us every day to see what small or large changes are being made and to keep yourself on top of the changes.

Changes Made:

Fees for overdraft or over the credit limit charges cannot be made unless you are specifically signed up for this service.

Credit card companies are now also prohibited from charging extra based on bill pay.  They can no longer discriminate against you because you choose to pay your bill on the phone or over the internet and can no longer tack on extra fees when you pay that way.  They can however tack on fees if you ask to speed up your payment, so it won't be late, or if you ask for customer service help when paying.

No Change:

Credit card companies will still be able to charge annual fees, inactivity fees, and other fees. And because they have been cutting out other fees, an increase in the fees they are allowed to continue to charge is an almost certainty. There may be other fees that vary by company and it may be beneficial to check on the fees charged by your card company.  Fees, where they are allowed, will increase because these companies are losing billions by not being able to charge over-the-limit fees so they must make that money up by raising other fees, and adding fees not even invented yet.

Doesn't the thought of all of those fees just want to make you curse the Credit Card companies? Don't worry Check City has FREE Money Orders.  That's right, no fees involved.  You can bring in your check or cash to the nearest Check City location and we can put it right on a Money Order in your name or someone else's name. Its easy, and without the usual attached fees you are sure to be satisfied.

Did you know that there are a number of states that don't charge sales taxes.  There are also a number of states that charge different rates for different items you purchase.  Are you paying sales tax, do you even know? Is your state one of those lucky few that don't have to deal with the hassle of sales taxes? This article will attempt to break down the sales taxes paid, which states don't have to pay and which states have to pay different tax rates for different items. 

Taxes by Rates:

None- Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon

2% - Colorado (2.9%)

4% - Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, New York, South Dakota, Wyoming, Missouri (4.225%), Oklahoma (4.5%), Utah (4.65%)

5% - Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota, Virginia, Wisconsin, Ohio (5.5%), Kansas (5.35%), Arizona (5.6%), Nebraska (5.5%), District of Columbia (5.75%)

6% - Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia, Washington (6.5%), Minnesota(6.5%), Illinois (6.25%), Nevada (6.5%), Texas (6.25%)

7% - Mississippi, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Tennessee, California (7.25%)

Many states with taxes include taxes on food, non-prescription and prescription drugs in addition to the traditional sales tax.  Some states have exemptions for just a few of these and still charge for the others.  For example, Utah charges extra food taxes, and the general sales tax on their prescription drugs, but non-prescription drugs are exempt from taxes. You can visit the Federation of Tax Administrators to get more specific information for your state.  It is good for you to be aware that the states with low or no sales tax, may have higher income and other tax rates in the state.

Are you still having a little trouble figuring out all of the details pertaining to your taxes? Check City has great Tax Preparation Services and experienced tax professionals to help you get the most out of your tax return.  With over 20 years of experience, our people know what they are doing and are ready to help you with whatever you need. Check City also offers the RAL loan, which is explained in a little more detail in the following article found on the blog. What is a Tax Refund Anticipation Loan?

Over the past decade the average number of hours that doctors working in the United States worked has fallen consistently. Many believe the drop is a result of the inflation-adjusted fees, lack of sufficient physicians to meet medical demand, and fewer fees being paid to doctors.

In 1996, the number of hours a doctor typically worked had remained unchanged. Since then the average number of hours worked has fallen four hours per week.

The shortage of doctors in the United States is so severe that some Americans do not have easy access to a doctor on a daily basis. This shortage has directly resulted in overworked emergency rooms.

Generally, it is a good rule to keep one doctor per 2,000 people. However, studies show that the United States is 16,787 doctors short of meeting this minimum.

There is a debate about whether this shortage is simply because of the uneven spread of doctors across geographical locations and varying specialties or whether there really is a shortage. To make this shortage even worse, the number of new doctors is slowly decreasing.

Douglas O. Staiger, an economist at Dartmouth College and co-author of a study on this decline, said, “would be hard-pressed to find a profession that has experienced such a drop in hours over a decade…We concluded that doctors weren’t seeing either the financial or nonfinancial rewards that made it worth working that last hour.”

Staiger pointed out that the study showed that the locations where fees were low, the number of hours worked were also low. This trend was consistent among all doctors despite age, gender, and experience.

In comparison, other major professions have seen very little fluctuation in the number of hours they work.  Staiger said a typical fluctuation allowance would be about an hour more or less over a ten year period. The unaffected professions included in the study are lawyers, engineers, and registered nurses.

The managed care begun around 1995 is suspected to be the cause of decreased hours worked by doctors by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. They believe the decline occurred at this time because of increasing insurance competition, pressure, and fee slashing.

The shortage of doctors and inflation has caused the rates for medical services to increase. Prepare for emergencies by making sure you have the best insurance for the best price possible. Check City gives free quotes on many different types of insurance including life, homeowners, auto, and many more. The process is simple and easy-just pick up the phone and call in for a quote. Then, take enough time to decide which insurance plan would be the best for you and simply pick up a policy whenever you are able to come by one of our convenient locations. Or you can stop by to review the quotes and select a policy at the same time. Life is fast paced and busy, we can make our schedule fit yours.

To read more about the shortage of doctors in the United States visit:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=a1tbL9.eTmrk

As the Credit Card Reform Act takes effect, you may discover that there are many changes to current terms and conditions.  One area that has made some changes is that of interest rates.  Much has changed about interest rates, but there are also some aspects of this act that have left things exactly the way they are.  The changes made are meant to improve and reign in the credit card companies, and their practices and policies.  The Act aims to help consumers better understand the terms and conditions of their credit card companies, what they do, and why.

Interest Rates:

Today I will be talking a little bit about Interest Rates and what exactly is happening with the interest rates in response to the Reform Act.

Changed:

• Credit Card companies cannot raise interest rates on existing balances found on cards.
• If you open a new Credit Card account companies cannot raise interest rates for 12 months.
• Consumers can no longer receive hiked interest rates on money they have already borrowed.

Not Changed:

• There are no limits to the rates card companies can charge new customers.
• It also has no regulations on how much rates can raise on future purchases made.
• The changes made on the interest rates have reporters and legislators predicting that original rates and changing rates will most likely start higher than before so as to keep the money flowing and the income for companies' high.
• Because of these reforms, banks have moved slightly away from fixed-rate cards.
• There are low introductory rates that are most likley to be raised after the first year, or six monts, so be sure to read the fine print.
• If you are late on a payment, especially if you are over 60 days late, but are working on payments, the old interest rate must be charged instead of the new one, even if the company must revert back.

As you can see there are many ways that Credit Card reform can effect you, even whenjust speaking of interest rates. Check back with us daily to learn more about this large Credit Card Reform Act to see how it could affect you and your family.  Check City has great rates on its fixed price Prepaid Debit Cards. With our netspend Prepaid Debit Cards, you bring the money to us that you want on the card, and when that money runs out, you must reload the card in order to use it again. There are no interest fees involved and with various options available its easy to add money to your card, pay bills, or manage your account no matter where you are.

There are many options when it comes to what to spend your tax refund on. You could use it to pay off some bills that have been mounting up, you could use it to reward yoruself for a job well done in the past year, or you could use it to add to your little nest egg for furutre expenses and emergencies.  No matter what you decide to do with your refund, it is important to weigh the options and choose which will work best for you and what could benefit you the most physically, mentally and financially.

When deciding what to do with your 2009 tax refund ask yourself these few questions.

1. Am I behind on any bills or payments?
2. Do I have insurance or property taxes that are owed anytime soon?
3. Do you have consumer debt? (Such as Credit Card debt)
4. Do you have a good, healthy emergency fund, or an emergency fund at all?
5. Are you putting away investments for retirement?

If you have all of your bills paid off and you have a healthy retirement savings as well as a good emergency fund and food supply then lucky you! You are the exceptionally prepared minority of people and you can set your refund or return aside for a vacation or for a special treat for yourself, or you can go ahead and use it to pay one of your upcoming bills. It is ultimately up to you to decide where it could best be used and to use it wisely.

Check City is currently offering our Tax Preparation Services at a great discounted price. We have recently tacked on an even deeper discount by offering 50% off of our current Tax Services when you bring in our Tax Discount coupon.  We offer professional Tax Preparation Services at great prices and our customers have been satisfied with our professional and inexpensive services for over 20 years. We also partner with Lightning Tax Refunds so that you can get your refunds in record time. Come visit one of our Check City locations or visit us Online to get started on your taxes today.