Firesaw: July 2014

Thursday, July 31, 2014

I loved a song on Last.fm: Florida Georgia Line - Round Here

Florida Georgia Line - Round Here

I loved a song on Last.fm: Tim McGraw - Just to See You Smile

Tim McGraw - Just to See You Smile

I loved a song on Last.fm: Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried

Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried

I loved a song on Last.fm: Blake Shelton - Sure Be Cool If You Did

Blake Shelton - Sure Be Cool If You Did

I loved a song on Last.fm: Eric Church - Springsteen

Eric Church - Springsteen

I loved a song on Last.fm: Carrie Underwood - Blown Away

Carrie Underwood - Blown Away

I loved a song on Last.fm: Jason Aldean - Dirt Road Anthem

Jason Aldean - Dirt Road Anthem

I loved a song on Last.fm: Jon Pardi - Up All Night

Jon Pardi - Up All Night

I loved a song on Last.fm: The Band Perry - You Lie

The Band Perry - You Lie

I loved a song on Last.fm: Lady Antebellum - We Owned the Night

Lady Antebellum - We Owned the Night

I loved a song on Last.fm: Luke Bryan - Drunk On You

Luke Bryan - Drunk On You

I loved a song on Last.fm: Billy Currington - Hey Girl

Billy Currington - Hey Girl

I loved a song on Last.fm: Gloriana - Can't Shake You

Gloriana - Can't Shake You

I loved a song on Last.fm: Carrie Underwood - Before He Cheats

Carrie Underwood - Before He Cheats

I loved a song on Last.fm: Dierks Bentley - 5-1-5-0

Dierks Bentley - 5-1-5-0

I loved a song on Last.fm: The Band Perry - Done.

The Band Perry - Done.

I loved a song on Last.fm: Zac Brown Band - Colder Weather

Zac Brown Band - Colder Weather

I loved a song on Last.fm: Jana Kramer - Why Ya Wanna

Jana Kramer - Why Ya Wanna

I loved a song on Last.fm: Brad Paisley - Southern Comfort Zone

Brad Paisley - Southern Comfort Zone

I loved a song on Last.fm: Kip Moore - Hey Pretty Girl

Kip Moore - Hey Pretty Girl

I loved a song on Last.fm: Keith Urban - Kiss A Girl

Keith Urban - Kiss A Girl

Today: Create Your Gamer Masterpiece

It has been amazing to watch the PlayStation community embrace “Where The Greatest Play,” first with our E3 Mural, then by selecting one of their own, Mr. Joey Chiu, to represent them in our Gamer Masterpiece. Now, we’d like to give everyone the chance to be a part of their own Gamer Masterpiece alongside their favorite gaming heroes.

An interesting read via PlayStation.Blog

Percentage Calculator does the math so you don't have to

Percentage Calculator is one of those utility apps that you don't realize you need until you need it. The app is not your typical calculator with a numeric keypad and operators. Instead, it's a forumla tool that lets you calculate interest,...

An interesting read via TUAW: Apple news, reviews and how-tos since 2004 RSS Feed

Shazam for OS X Identifies Songs Playing Around You

Mac: Popular song identification app Shazam has now landed on Mac OS X. It runs unobtrusively in the background to tell you which songs are playing in your vicinity, using the built-in microphone.

Never Use Your Credit Card to Pay for These 10 Things

Plastic comes in handy during an emergency, and when you're building reward points or your credit history. But although credit cards can be used for just about any purchase, there are things you should never charge to your card. Sometimes, you're better off using cash or a debit card. Here are 10 things you should never put on your credit card.

1. Mortgage Payments

Some banks do not allow customers to pay their mortgage or auto loan with a credit card. However, if your bank allows this method of payment, you might be tempted if you're short on cash. However, robbing Peter to pay Paul doesn't solve the situation — it complicates it. It's one thing to pay your mortgage with a credit card, and then immediately pay off the credit card. But if this debt sits on your card for several weeks or months, it's a move that can trigger costly credit card debt.

2. Medical Bills

It might seem logical to pull out your credit card and pay off expensive medical bills. However, it's more cost-effective to work out a payment plan with your healthcare provider. Hospitals and doctor's offices are usually accommodating. Depending on the facility, you can possibly pay off your medical bills interest-free over several months, or pay an interest rate that's cheaper than most credit card rates.

3. College Tuition

Unless you're absolutely certain that you're able to pay off this debt before the end of the semester, never charge college tuition to a credit card. Some colleges and universities that accept credit card payments charge a processing fee. However, there are low-interest loan options available, and unlike a credit card, federal student loan repayment doesn't start until after graduation. (See also: Best Credit Cards for College Students)

4. Gambling

If you're cash-strapped, you might take a chance and charge lottery tickets or hit the casino with your credit card. Yet, the chances of hitting it big are slim to none. And even if you win some money, it may not be enough to pay off charges put on your credit card. You could end up losing money, plus dealing with the aftermath of high credit card debt.

5. Weddings

Since one in two marriages in the U.S. end with divorce, charging a big wedding is a recipe for financial disaster. You might be happily in love today, but this can change in the future. And if you use a credit card to pay for an elaborate wedding, you might carry this debt long after the marriage ends. (See also: Say No! 7 Reasons You Shouldn't Get Married If You're in Debt)

6. Vacations

You may crave the chance to escape and clear your head. But if you charge an expensive vacation to your credit card, the excitement of the trip will be short-lived. Rather than coming home with a clear mind, you're forced to deal with a mountain of new credit card debt, which can raise your stress level and kill your vacation high. (See our list of credit cards with the best sign-up bonuses for airline miles)

7. Income Taxes

If you owe Uncle Sam big money, using your credit card is one option for getting rid of your income tax worries. But just like paying your mortgage with plastic, you're basically trading one debt for another. And unfortunately, when you use your credit card to pay income taxes, there's a hefty processing fee based on the amount you owe. Rather than pay with a credit card, contact the Internal Revenue Service to setup a low-interest repayment plan.

8. Bar Tab

If you're hanging out with friends, it might be convenient to start a bar tab on your credit card. However, since cash isn't actually leaving your hand, you can get carried away and splurge on costly drinks. Bar drinks aren't cheap, and if you don't monitor how much you're spending, you'll get a shock at the end of the night. Bring cash instead.

9. Mail-Order Purchases

Rather than shop through mail order, visit a retail in-person or shop online. With mail order, you're required to put your credit card information on the form. Unfortunately, if your order gets lost in the mail, your credit card number can end up in the wrong hands, which increases your risk of identity theft.

10. Money Orders

Using a credit card to get a money order doesn't seem like a big deal. However, your credit card company might view this as a cash advance; and unfortunately, cash advances carry a fee of around 3% of the cost. Also, these transactions have higher interest rates than standard purchases. You could end up paying way more than the value of the money order.

What are some other purchases that should never be put on credit cards? Let me know in the comments below.

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Written by Mikey Rox and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.