Fun with Credit CardsWritten by Terry Mitchell
For those of us who know how to use them properly, credit cards can actually be quite fun and lucrative. To those who do not know how to use them properly, I would say that you should stop reading this column right about now, or at least I would advise you not to try any of this stuff at home. What I'm about to describe is not one of those illegal credit card schemes. Instead, I'm talking about taking full advantage of benefits and offers that credit card companies and store chains offer their customers all time. I get several credit card offers each month, but I only accept those that come with no annual fee and pay me at least one percent cash back or credit on my purchases. I don't care about interest rate. It could be some exorbitant rate like 50% for all I care, since I never carry a balance and always pay off what I owe at end of each month. Right now, I probably have about 15 different cards, but I only regularly use three of them. I have one card that gives me an instant five percent credit on my gasoline purchases. Therefore, I buy all of my gasoline with this card and never use cash to buy it. I have another card that gives me five percent cash back on any purchase I make at a drug store or grocery store. Needless to say, I try to use that card exclusively at those establishments. The third card I regularly use gives me a one percent instant credit on all purchases. I use it for just about everything except purchases of gasoline or purchases at drug stores or grocery stores. The more I use my cards more credits and cash back I get. The credit card companies are, in effect, paying me to use their cards and I am more than happy to oblige. Some credit card companies will take things one step further and even pay you to take their cards. These payments will take form of gift certificates, bonus cash back, and/or bonus credits. There is one minor catch in that most companies will generally require that you use cards at least once each to get those benefits. That's never a problem for me as I will use them once to get benefits and then toss them into my "inactive" drawer. Having lots of credit cards means I get lots of offers in mail (and sometimes by phone) from credit card companies in which I am asked to try out some kind of worthless subscription for 30 days. Most of time, I just throw these offers in trash can. However, there are some that I will try because they will "bribe" me adequately to do so. However, they must offer me at least $10 and offer must have a free trial period. I will then cash their check, put money in my pocket, and cancel before free trial period ends. However, I have found that I need to be careful with these offers. Sometimes they'll offer me $10 to try something that costs $10 (or more) per month, with no free trial period. I avoid those like plague, since best I can do is break even. Speaking of worthless subscription offers, most credit card companies will push some kind of credit card insurance. The way it works that you pay about half of one percent of your monthly purchase totals so that this insurance will make your minimum monthly payment in case your are disabled, laid off, have a death in family, or suffer some other kind of qualifying malady. This insurance may be a good idea for those who run a monthly balance and only make minimum payment, but it's worthless to those of us who pay off our balances each month. However, credit card companies will never acknowledge this fact and will pay you to try it and will usually give you a free trial period.
| | The Rules of Horse Racing - types of betWritten by Alan Cramer
ow to bet on horse racing and win! The first thing to understand is that in traditional horse racing betting, you are in direct competition with 'bookie' - person or company that lays odds. They want your money, and you want theirs. Each bookie has an 'oddsmaker' - a person or system that creates their 'book'. In theory a book is structured so that bookie can't lose - whoever wins race, odds are so structured as to guarantee a profit to bookmaker.The most common types of horse race bets are:- Straight bet (a.k.a 'Single' or 'Win' bet). This is a bet that a certain horse will win. For this, you are given definite odds. If your selection wins, so do you, receiving back amount specified by odds you accepted. Place bet. This is a bet that your horse will finish either first or second, and of course has worse odds than a straight bet. Show Bet. This is a bet that your horse will finish either first, second, or third and of course has worse odds than a place bet. Combination Bet. This bet allows you to choose between two and four horses to win in a specified order. The cumulative odds on this can multiply rapidly if you get it right. Pick 3 bet. You must pick winners of three consecutive races. This is surprisingly hard to do, as you have to choose all 3 before first one kicks off. Pick 6 bet. You must pick winners of six consecutive races, choosing all 6 before first one kicks off. Quiniela or Reverse Forecast (UK) bet. You can bet on two horses to finish first and second in a single race where order doesn't matter - either horse A is first and Horse B is second, or vice versa. To bet you say "$10 quiniela, numbers 3 and 7". If results of first two horses are either 3-7 or 7-3, you win. Perfecta / Exacta / Straight Forecast (UK) bet. You bet on two horses to cross finish line in exactly your chosen order. To bet you say " $5 Perfecta, 4-7." Only if horses finish 4-7 you win. Trifecta / Tricast / Treble Forecast (UK) bet. Like a Perfecta, but betting on three horses to cross finish line in exactly your chosen order. To bet you say "$10 trifecta numbers 3,2 and 5." Only if they finish 3-2-5 you win.
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