Sunday, November 30, 2008

Protecting Against Identity Theft with IdentityTruth

Everybody needs to be mindful of the issues created by ID theft crimes. If you are doing what you can to not become a victim of ID theft, then you need to investigate identity fraud protection.

With the rising use of credit, and with people taking out loans on a fairly regular basis, much of your personally identifying information is floating around. If there is more of your personal data out in the open, the more it is likely you will fall victim to identity theft.

Luckily, there are actions that you can take to minimize your risk of ID theft. Most likely the step that is most affective, and is one of the easiest items that you can do is to make use of an identity theft protection company, such as identityTruth.

IdentityTruth offers protection from ID theft by using a few different methods. First and foremost they put a credit fraud alert on your credit bureau report with the big three credit bureaus. What this does is that anytime a new credit loan is attempted to be opened using your information, you are first notified of this. This means that you have the ultimate say on who begins a loan in your good name.

Secondly, identityTruth watches many sites that illegally trade in people's information, to ensure that your personal information is not being traded. Also, identityTruth removes your name from junk mail lists so that you stop getting those offers of new credit in the postal service, thus minimizing the chance of mail ID theft.

Other services exist that provide shielding from ID theft, other than identityTruth. If you want an alternative to identityTruth, take a glance at Trusted ID.

A smart consumer should be aware of what is going on with their personal information. Being one step ahead of the issue of identity theft is something that should be of great concern to you. If you want to find out more about identity theft and fraud, then you really should look at what identityTruth has going for it.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

You Need Good Credit And Cash Management Skills To Stay Financial Trouble Free

money management skills

It can be a real thrill for a teenager or young adult to get their first job and start earning their own money, as they will begin to feel the independence and freedom that they have longed for all throughout their childhood. But for many who allow the thrill to override common sense and sound judgment, starting to earn a full-time income can end up causing some financial woes down the line unless they learn about credit and cash management early on.

The biggest problem that many young adults run into when they are first out on their own is having what appears to be too much money. They find themselves cashing their paycheck after a couple weeks on the job and discover more money in their hands than they have ever seen before. Suddenly, they begin thinking about all the great things they have always wanted to buy and often they go about spending without taking the time to set up any kind of budget for themselves or a good personal finance money management plan.

The next thing that typically happens is that the offers for credit cards start rolling in, each one with a better offer and more attractive bonuses and incentives to get them to open various credit card accounts. In no time at all, these young adults can find themselves with tens of thousands of dollars of available credit lines, but without a solid credit and cash management plan, all too often they will use that credit for frivolous purchases.

When that happens, they can quickly get deep into debt and find they are soon having trouble keeping up with their rent, their other basic living expenses and their credit card payments. Suddenly, the salary that appeared to be more than they needed is now far too little and the financial stress starts to mount quickly. The exhilaration of earning a full-time income is over and financial worries become a reality that most never saw coming.

A personal money management crisis can usually be completely avoided, or at least minimized to a large extent, if people become educated about proper cash and credit management and begin to use money management tool options in their personal finances. This financial education can lead to acquiring money management skills that will stay with them for life. It can be the most important line of defense against getting in over your head and into dire straights financially.

Credit and cash management classes, software, and other products are available from numerous sources and these resources can help young people learn exactly how they can get and stay in control of their money. Many of these financial management solutions and resources are now available online, which makes it extremely easy, especially for the younger, internet savvy generation, to take care of their personal money management.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Bank Secured Loans – Advantages Of Taking Out A Bank Secured Loan

Some of the reasons to take bank secured loans are: poor credit history, having problems obtaining an unsecured loan or because they're easier to get when you want a larger amount of money. The flexibility of the lenders is bigger when secured loans are involved, so you have a better chance of getting them, even if you were rejected for an unsecured loan.

You can use secured loans for improving your house, getting a new car or going on a luxury holiday.

Bad credit is not that important when it comes to secured loans, as they are secured on property. That's why defaults, CCJs and arrears don't count that much. That's why secured loans are favorites for those that usually aren't approved by their local banks for loans.

A bank secured loan can be taken even if you don't own your home outright. You can use a mortgaged house in the amount you own as a security.

The amount that can be borrowed varies between £5,000 and £75,000, and can be paid over a period of time between 5 and 25 years. You only need to choose the monthly payment that suits your circumstances best. Usually, unsecured loans are more expensive then secured loans or other types of loans.

For a secured loan, the interest rate can vary depending on a number of factors, like the length of time, the amount of money or other personal details. Your payment can also be insured if you want, so you don't worry about being unable to work or losing your job.

Some of the benefits that come with secured loans are the ability to borrow more money, having smaller monthly repayments or having them over an increased period of time.

Learn how to get a bank secured loan at my site. Learn more about secured bank loans and their requirements.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Safeguard Your Savings

Here is a recent financial advice report for people lucky enough to have savings:

Cash ISAs


Cash ISAs are a good place to invest as your
money earns interest without being taxed.
You can put away up to £3,600 a year and
you will generally earn interest upwards of
6% depending on which ISA you choose.
However, interest rates on instant-access
ISAs are variable and many change in
accordance with the Bank of England's.
You can choose a fixed-rate ISA, which
guarantees a specific rate provided you do
not withdraw funds for an agreed term
(typically 1 to 5 years). The best thing to do
is shop around and choose an ISA that can
earn you the best interest rate while suiting
your needs.

Savings accounts


Another place to keep your money is in a
savings account. Although, interest earned
on this money will be taxed, competitive
interest rates are on offer as banks compete
to get hold of your money in the current
financial climate. The different types of
savings accounts are:-


Instant access: With this type of account you
can access your money on demand without
incurring a penalty. Make sure you read the
small print as some so-called 'Instant Access'
accounts may punish you for withdrawals by
docking your interest. Others only offer an
introductory rate of interest that will be
reduced after a certain period of time.


Fixed term savings: You will be able to earn
higher rates of interest if you agree to lock
your money away for a certain period of time.
However, you need to be aware that if you
do need to withdraw before the end of the
agreed term some accounts may punish you
by taking some or all of the interest earned.
Regular

Savings: If you plan on putting
money away every month you may be
eligible for some of the best rates available.
However, regular saving accounts often
come with some of the most stringent terms
and conditions, such as limits on
withdrawals and mandatory monthly
deposits, you have to pay attention and keep
on top of your regular savings.
Keeping your savings safe


The legacy of the collapse of Northern Rock
means more and more people are concerned
with the safety of their savings. It is possible
to protect your savings so you can sleep a
little easier at night.


The most important thing is to save with
those covered by the Financial Services
Compensation Scheme (FSCS), an
independent fund coordinated by the FSA
(Financial Services Authority).


Under the FSCS, as at the beginning of
October, your first £50,000 is protected
(£100,000 on a joint account), but due to
the economic climate these figures may
change. However, it is important to realise
that this amount applies to your savings per
institution as opposed to per account.

Outlook

There is always an argument for taking
things too far and blowing the fear of
economic crisis out of proportion. The best
thing to do is to become educated, know
what's on offer and choose the best savings
plan that suits you and your personal
financial position.

Provided by DeverauxMontague Financial Advisors

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Credit Fraud Protection From LifeLock

This day and age, you really need to be familiar with the chance that your identity can be stolen. Since ID theft is on the rise, the chance of you falling victim to ID theft grows as each day passes.

Companies such as LifeLock try to protect against identity theft by putting a theft alert on your credit bureau report. So if somebody goes to open up a new credit account with your personal information, you will be notified first. This means you verify that you really want the new account to be opened, instead of someone trying to steal your identity.

LifeLock continually checks many sources, such as online sites, for suspicious activity dealing with your personal data. ID theft criminals will trade personal information as a way of making money. Because they monitor the normal sites were such activities take place, LifeLock is proactive when it comes to credit identity theft.

And because they offer a $1 Million Total Service Guarantee, LifeLock is putting their reputation on the line that they can protect you from ID theft. If your identity is stolen when you are a subscriber to LifeLock’s service, they pay up to $1 Million to fight your identity theft. This is definitely a comfort to have such a company supporting you when it comes to identity fraud protection.

LifeLock only offers plans for individuals and kids. Currently, they do not have a service that covers your household. LifeLock has competitors that offers this type of coverage, so if this is of great importance to you, there are other ways to go.

Protecting your identity is very important and LifeLock is one of the leading identity prevention services. With plans beginning at just $9 per month, there is no better solution available to you when it comes to protecting your identity.

Make the smart move and start using LifeLock to keep from becoming the next victim of identity theft. Since the crime of identity theft is on the rise, protecting yourself becomes of great importance. Using LifeLock is a great start and they offer incredible prevention protection for pennies a day.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

What Are Your Options For Credit Card Debt Consolidation

If you are in Visa or Mastercard debt, then you may wish to try going to their credit card support to find out what you want to do to get out of debt. Typically , it's possible to get out of debt on your own if you have a plan and stick to it.

However, that is also terribly not easy to do, particularly if you don't have an already existing budget to go off of. The credit card support team will help you work out what you must do to pay off your card debt.

This is better than a generic recommendation, since you will be much more likely to be in a position to follow it without giving up too much. As the major credit card firms have lately doubled their minimum amount payments, now is a nice time to outline the diverse options available to most buyers who have more debt than they can handle.

By cutting out all additional spending, you can most likely save many hundred of dollars each month. Or, if you own your own home, you almost certainly have some equity built up. You can get a home equity loan or credit line and transfer some of your debt to that loan.

As a bonus, your home equity loan interest is usually tax deductible. If you transfer your debt to a home equity loan, you can lose your house if you don't pay it back.

You may be in a position to have interest rates reduced or have late fees surrendered. Instead, you must keep looking till you find a credit card advisor who will let you get debt analysis without paying too much. Whilst most of us finish up going to a debt advisor to cope with Visa card debt, card analysis isn't the sole service that you can look for.

Instead, you can get counseled for all of your debt. You can do this by searching for a debt advisor rather than a Visa or Mastercard advisor - but ensure that you are still searching for a non-profit company.

It's possilbe that you will be told to consolidate your debt by the debt advisor but that is not the sole option that you have. Usually a credit card debt counselor will give you lots of options so you can make a good decision.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Bad Debt Secured Loan – Can You Still Get A Secured Loan With Bad Debt?

It's not as easy to get a bad debt secured loan as it is to get a normal one. The bank needs information on all the debt you accumulated in time, so they can decide on the amount of money they will give you.

Just because you're in debt, doesn't mean you can't use your properties to get loans, but it usually comes with an increased interest rate. This happens both for secured loan lenders, even if they're loan companies or banks.

The credit rating attached to your name is influenced by late payments, bankruptcy, CCJs or arrears with other creditors. If they put a default on your credit, you will find it much harder in the future to find unsecured credit, such as store cards or credit cards.

Can I apply for a secured loan with bad debt?

Yes, it's possible, especially if you own a home that holds some equity, so you can use it as collateral. If you have a house but no equity you might still apply but it depends how you do it. By getting your application for a bad debt secured loan online, you will be able to pay the debts you have and cancel those defaults put on credit cards by companies.

Right, what's the best way of applying it then?

It's good that you asked that. Using a broker that will compare interest rates, as bad debt secured loans can get expensive if you pick the first company you look at. The broker will compare lenders and banks and will help you save some money.

There are a lot of brokers that you can choose from in the UK. Pick the one that has the most experience since he or she can help you obtain the best secured personal loan.

Discover where to get the best bad debt secured loan online. Learn where to get cheap secured loan in UK.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Make No Mistake...The Credit Card Company is in Control

If there is one thing I know for sure it is the credit cards certainly know how to work time in their favor!

Today I am addressing how quickly a credit Card company will act when raising your interest rate and the impact it will have on you.

First how long before the credit card company can raise your rate...One billing cycle...that's it!

 So how long could it possibly take you to reverse this increase if not addressed immediately? Depends on the credit card company but here are the highs and lows. Some credit cards require 12 straight months of paying on time before they will reduce your rate. The shortest time I have seen so far is 4 months.

OK...Let's assume this is the first time you have ever been late. There is a slight chance that your credit card company will not raise your rate. Let's assume they do raise your rate immediately.

 All is not lost but you must act fast!

You get what you negotiate not what you deserve. Remember, you have nothing to lose and a great deal of your money to save!

So what should you do...call your company and ask for the manager or supervisor. By the way, the best time to call is during regular business hours when a true decision maker is there. I have tried this strategy at night only to discover that no-one was available that had the power to overturn my increase! So is it really worth the fight?

Think that maybe it is not worth your effort to fight this interest rate increase? Take a look at the numbers and then determine what this will REALLY cost you.

Let's use a $5,000 balance breaking down the next 12 months only.

I am going with an original interest rate of 10% and an increased interest rate of 25%. Note that many credit card companies are raising interest rates to as high as 32%!

Here is the interest money you would have to pay in the 12 month period:

10% interest = $456.62

25% interest = $1,221.72

Looking for more incentive to fight that increased interest rate? How about this stat:

At the 10% interest rate your remaining balance = $4,086.74

At the 25% interest rate your remaining balance = $4,755.63

To me this equates to a total loss of $1,433.99 ($765.10 in new interest and $668.89 in additional remaining balance). THIS IS JUST THE FIRST 12 MONTHS!

You should have no doubt...you must fight to prevent this increase or pay dearly moving forward! You will find more infomtation related to this subject and other personal finances on our website www.NoDebtUniversity.com

Protect Yourself From Identity Theft with TrustedID

With the incredibly rapid growth of ID theft, there have been a few companies that have been formed with the express intent of battling this crime epidemic. By putting a fraud alert on your credit bureau report, these identity theft prevention companies cause banks to get ahold of you before opening up new accounts with your information. These companies also monitor various sources to see if your personal information is being used for criminal purposes.

If you are looking for protection against identity theft, then you can do no better than choosing the industry leader, TrustedID. With individual identity theft protection plans starting at less than $10 per month, TrustedID offers you the most excellent protection against ID theft of any of the ID theft protection solution providers.

When you use TrustedID, you get fraud alerts put on all of the major credit reporting agencies, which causes you to be contacted before any new credit can be opened in your name. TrustedID will also supply you with annual credit reports from all the major credit bureaus, so that you can make sure that the credit bureau report is showing the correct information. When you add in their constant monitoring of the black market and other sources to make sure your person information isn’t being traded between criminals, TrustedID is a great ID theft service.

Their customer service is available every day of the week, during all hours, and with a service plan to help you protect yourself against identity theft for your whole family costing less than $16 monthly, TrustedID is one of the best choices for identity theft protection. And with a risk-free 2-month trial, you have plenty of time to make sure that TrustedID is the right solution for your situation.

While TrustedID should be the correct choice for most people, there are other solutions to choose from. As a very good alternative for identity theft protection, you should check out LifeLock review.

Start protecting your identity right now by using an ID theft prevention company. The piece of mind that comes with using an ID theft protection solution provider is worth more than the pennies a day the service will cost you. Don’t become identity theft's next victim. Invest in your financial peach of mind today.

Bad Credit Secured Personal Loans – Secured Personal Loans With Bad Credit

Are you a bad or good credit holder? If you're looking for a loan that will meet your requirements and get rid of the bad credit problems, then you can try to get a bad credit secured personal loan, which is made especially for people in the same situation as you.

This type of loan is designed especially for people that have money problems. They can make the foundation for a better money situation by using this type of loans.

Bad credit secured personal loans can be obtained quite easily, as the person that borrows needs to place some collaterals against the loan in order to get it. This will serve as security for the bank, on the loan that is given. That's why the bad credit personal loans are given to anyone that have defaults, CCJs, late payments etc.

Bad credit secured personal loans are formatted, so they give benefits to those that use them. To meet the needs of the borrower, the amount of the loan can vary between £5,000 and £ 75,000, depending on the requirements and his credit ability. If the collaterals are big enough, a bigger loan is possible. The payment of the debt can be made in a period of time that is not longer than 25 years.

The bad credit history is the cause of the increased rate of interest that bad credit loans come with. Despite the higher interest rate, if they are in a competitive market the borrowers can obtain a good rate. If they take a few measures, they can even get better rates. They should look around for loan quotes from different companies, and pick the best rate from all the offers.

If you want bad credit secured personal loans you can also apply for them online and get approved fast. This way you spend much less time looking for what you need. The online applications are free so anyone can use them.

Getting over financial difficulties can be easy for holders of bad credit, if they use bad credit personal loans to help.

Discover the best bad credit secured personal loans online. Learn more about where to get secured personal loans with bad credit.

Get in Control of Your Debt!

I remember back several years ago, my wife and I were in the process of moving. We had great jobs making a considerable bit of money. I had no doubt that I was living the American Dream! Qualifying for a home loan was going to be so easy or so I thought! See despite making great money my wife and I fell into the trap that so many other people do. We were on a never ending spending spree with no real idea exactly how much we were spending. I did not realize at the time that our debt had mounted at an alarming rate. See, despite making all kinds of money my wife and I had a very low credit score due to our high debt. Sure we were making our monthly payments but our debt to income ratio which is directly tied to your fico credit score was way to close!

So here was what we learned. It is extremely important that you know where your money is going each month. Most of us have no clue when, where and what we spend our money on. The surest way to know is to start a daily debt journal. This journal will be a real eye opener to what your spending habits are. So here is the game plan!

1. For one month, write down every cent you spend. I do mean EVERYTHING! Pack of gum, gas for the car, credit card bills, groceries, that Starbucks coffee, rent or mortgage...EVERYTHING!

2. Use a monthly expenditure sheet and list each and every item from your journal onto your sheet. You will now know exactly where your money is going. If you do not have one you can use the sheet available on our website at www.NoDebtUniversity.com

3. On the same monthly expenditure sheet list your monthly net income. This is the amount of money your actually bring home after taxes and other deductions.

4. Breakdown each line cost and to determine which items you can eliminate or cut back on. You will discover EXACTLY where you can reduce your spending without truly impacting your day to day life.

5. Attack your existing debt with your new found money! Understand this is a key component to controlling your debt but there is much more you can do to speed up the process of gaining control. Continue your debt elimination education. Trust me learning more about your debt will save you tens and even hundreds of thousands in your lifetime!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Don't Spend More Than You Make

This society is one piled high with debt.  You hear the horror stories all the time.  There is probably a person in debt living in your neighborhood or sitting next to you at the ballgames.  People are getting into financial trouble for one simple reason  they are spending more money than they earn.  Here are some useful tips for how to live within your means.

A budget is essential.  Quite simply, in order to for things to work smoothly you need to make more money that you spend. If things get out of balance and you're spending more than you make, your options are either to make more or spend less.  If you try to continue living without balancing your budget, you will suffer economic ruin.  To begin preparing your budget, you need to find out exactly what your income is, how much you save in your bank account, and how much you are spending.

Set your priorities.  If you have to have two cars then choose a smaller house.  If you have to have a large house then you could choose one in the country (where prices are lower).  If you have to have cable then subscribe to the smallest package possible.

If you feel the need to remodel your home, do your homework before deciding which company to use or whether or not to do it yourself.  Find a company that does good quality work at a reasonable price.

If you're already in debt, take charge and do everything in your power to pay it off.  Work at eliminating one debt at a time while being careful not to incur new ones.  You will no doubt be shocked once all of your debts are payed off and you realize how much extra cash you can use for other purposes.

Find ways to make more money doing things that you enjoy (sewing, writing, gardening or babysitting), or take a seasonal job to save for specific needs.  Taking a special job during the Christmas holidays, even for just a few weeks, could give you the money you need for your holiday spending.  You could also use any extra income to pay off your debts or to start an emergency savings fund. 

Regardless of how much you think about different ways to save money in your bank account, if you spend more money than you make, your financial situation will be a disaster.  You need to do something right away.  Come up with a good plan without delay and you will soon be on your way to financial security.

Putting together a budget, setting priorities, eliminating debt and bringing in more money are all steps to getting your finances in the right balance.

Retirement Planning Calculator Should Be Handy Tool When Planning A Future

Budgeting for your retirement can be a trying balancing act to do, but there is a wealth of data available online to help you walk that tight rope.  Perhaps one of the most important tools in helping to budget for retirement is the "retirement planning calculator." With a retirement planning calculator, you can find out whether or not you will have the money you need set aside to exist the right kind of lifestyle.  Poor planning can leave you with retirement savings that fall short, hampering your retirement.  With a retirement planning calculator, you can ensure that your funds are adequate enough to live well.

Most retirement planning calculators function by taking account of your age and earning potential, and contrasting that against the kind of lifestyle that you wish for post retirement.  One of the best retirement planning calculators found on the internet can be found at CNNMoney.com.  Determining your future financial health is easy, yet thorough enough to get an accurate reading of your position.  The retirement planning calculator begins by asking your current age, income, desired retirement age, and desired retirement income.

Once that information has been accounted for, the majority of retirement income calculators go on to take your future earning potential, in addition to portfolio investments, into account.  Although it's difficult to really know how much you will make years down the line, such calculators give you a good picture of how you're doing on saving for retirement.  Some retirement planning calculators, such as the one at CNN Money, will even offer advice on how to make up the difference if you fall short of your goals.

Tools like this are a great tool in financial planning.  It is very simple to lose sight of earning potential, leading to a shortfall in your retirement years.  Finding out that your present plans are bad is a revealing moment, but also saves you from later consequences.  If the issue is caught early on, you can possibly set aside more each year, making wise investments.  Simply setting aside more money with each paycheck into a 401K or other secure account is an effective way of improving retirement funding.

Other financial companies such as Bloomberg offer effective financial planning systems.  The retirement planning calculator on Bloomberg.com is very powerful, taking a range of factors into account.  This is a great way to get an accurate picture of retirement income.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Tips to Prevent Identity Theft Online

The problem of identity theft should be taken very seriously by everyone. There are thousands of people around the world who have been made a victim of this crime and have suffered greatly for it. This means taking your personal information and using it for illegal purposes.

The home computer is one of the latest places for identity theft to occur. An intelligent online identity thief can easily get all of your personal information. With it, he can destroy your credit, which could take years to repair even if you can prove you are a victim.

One of the easiest ways for someone to get a huge amount of your information is when you replace your old computer. People can be so excited about their new computer that they simply unplug the old one and set it aside until it's time to dispose of it.

This is one of the worst things you can do. That old computer has all of your passwords, bookmarks, emails, and internet history. Someone just has to take it home and plug it in to see what you have been doing, buying, and looking at.

The internet itself is used to gain access to all kinds of personal information. College students are at very high risk because their personal information and grades are often posted on the internet so they can check it. Once someone cracks their password, the thieves have information that they can use for fraudulent purposes.

It isn't difficult to keep this from taking place. Use difficult passwords. Don't use anything that is related to you. Don't use names, numbers or dates. Your password should be 8 to 10 characters in length, using both letters and numbers. This is very difficult to figure out.

Another way to prevent identity theft is by monitoring your credit report. Keep an eye on it by checking it at least every couple of months. You want to ensure that there is no activity going on that you were not aware of.

Another tip is to be very cautious with your credit card information when online shopping. Be careful where you shop, sticking to only a few stores that you trust. Be certain that the sites you buy from are secure and that they protect your privacy.

In addition, take care when responding to emails. Frequently, scammers will send you a bogus email that is trying to obtain your personal information fraudulently. The message might congratulate you on getting a job that you made an online application for, or pose as some sort of financial institution as a way of obtaining your personal details.

Even though there's no guarantee that you will completely avoid online identity theft, following these tips should help you to feel more secure.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

What Will You Do If ... You Win the Lotto?

Lotto Winner

Most of us fantasize at some point about sudden wealth. What if we were fortunate enough to inherit untold riches, or won the lottery, or won a big-money contest? Well, it does happen; what if it happens to you?

If you win the lotto your life is never going to be the same again. Not only your life, but your friends' and relatives’ lives will also change, and the change may not always be good. Incredible things have happened to people who have overnight attained the status of being a lotto winner.

Whether you drew the winning lotto numbers yourself or used the windows lotto pro software, the fact is that you will be richer by tens of millions of pounds or euros, and things will start to change almost immediately.

Winning a record prize of £ 11 million, Mark Gardiner knew that all his problems were a thing of the past. However, though his present problems vanished, Mark found himself with new ones that he was not capable of or trained to handling. With his friend and business partner Paul Maddison, Mark won the jackpot. Together they had record winngs of £ 22 million and Mark got his share of £ 11 million. Paul shunned the limelight; he retreated into the background while Mark decided to have some fun.

Before he could realize it, Mark went through half of his winnings. He gave to friends and relatives, bought expensive cars and houses, married and then divorced, but his problems never seemed to end. His family rejected him almost as if he had committed a crime. Finally, Mark regained his bearings, grew wiser, and remarried his first wife, a childhood sweetheart, whom he had divorced when he was penniless.

Happily, not every story is as heart breaking as the one mentioned above. There have been countless people who have made good on their fortune and remained grounded. Ianthe Fullagar, a student, won an awe-inspiring £ 7,055,142. After screaming in disbelief she settled down and called her family, and her boyfriend, and shared the news with them. Ianthe intends to share her new found wealth with her near ones and to continue to pursue her law school studies. The only thing she planned to buy was a new car.

An anonymous winner donated all winnings of $3 million to his church without batting an eye. The church has decided to expand to accommodate their growing congregation; they will also donate some of the money to charities.

The point is, as a lotto winner you are suddenly in the enviable position to do a lot of good for yourself and for those around you. Your community will benefit as well -- if you maintain a cool head and spend the money wisely. So, think ahead -- just in case.



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