Carnival of Consumer Credit #3

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! Welcome to the third Carnival of Consumer Credit. There are a lot of great posts in here to help you navigate the tight credit market, holiday shopping, and even debts from holidays past. Thanks to everybody who submitted, and have a happy and safe holiday!

Credit Cards

Mr. CC can’t believe he fell for it, reminding us all to beware too-good-to-be-true credit card promotions, because there is always an expensive catch. On a similar note, WWS asks are credit cards friend of foe? Jim suggests that local banks may offer no-fee 0% balance transfers, and CreditShout has a roundup of the best gas credit cards.

LAL asks whether credit cards could be the next meltdown, Mickey C. has some helpful tips to not abuse your credit card, and CreditAddict shows us how to evaluate credit card balance transfer offers. (And balance transfer offers are a hot topic: Nickel also steps in with some more 0% balance transfer offers).

Gary Fehdrau presents the 10 Rules Of Credit Cards and Credit Card Assist joins in with 7 credit card rules to live by. The Smarter Wallet asks why not use credit cards to reduce your mortgage?. Finally, Apply 4 Credit asks how much plastic is too much?

Your Credit

Two entries in the credit category this week. Michael Bass ponders a tough question many of use face from time to time: Should you cosign for a friend or family member? Next, Joseph asks are credit reports and scores really free?

Loans and Interest Rates

Don says finding student aid to attend community college was never easy. Now it has become even tougher as major banks and other lenders are cutting back or ending loans to students attending a two year college. Here’s his article on the topic: Big banks ending student loans for community college students.

Debt

Patrick @ Cash Money Life asks should you pay a debt consolidation company? Dave doesn’t think you ever should, and explains why in his post three reasons why you should never use a credit counseling agency. Jeremy Zongker presents 76 ways to save money while saving the environment, and Neko presents 8 great ways to beat holiday debt. Last but not least in the debt category, DebbieDragon presents the article: Drowning in debt? Here’s how to rescue your finances.

Other Personal Finance

On topics not directly related to credit and debt, KCLau investigates if either one of two joint-account holders dies, who gets the money? and Save Money presents 101 ways to magnetize money.

Thanks again to everybody who submitted. The next edition will be published during the week of December 15th at American Consumer News. Submit your articles here.