Useful Tips

Do sign up and use your bank’s bill pay service, as most accounts are processed monthly and it can save you the inconvenience of buying stamps and writing out checks. Remember to allow approximately a week for your payment to be processed.

STEP 4: Credit Score

Unfortunately but justifiably, the primary measure of your social status in The USA is your credit score.

Additionally, this number will impact not only the rate at which you borrow money but also your insurance costs and possibly, your job prospects in some cases employers have been known to enquire about your credit scoring.

TIPS TO HELP YOU MANAGE YOUR CREDIT SCORE

To obtain a credit score, you must possess a legitimate social security number. There’s no alternative. Presently, there are three major national credit bureaus:

·         Experian (www.experian.com)

·           Equifax (www.equifax.com)

·           TransUnion (www.transunion.com)

·           Innovis (www.innovis.com)is another agency which has been around for some time. Companies are beginning to use their services more often.

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These incidents will stay on your record with ChexSystems for 5 (FIVE) years from the date the incident was reported. Many banks operate the policy of not opening a checking account for you if you mishandled your account and have one or more incidents reported to ChexSystems. For more information visit http://chexsys.tripod.com/

STEP 3: Cheques can take a long time to clear so

Don’t spend the money until its fully cleared into your account, you will see ‘pending’ on your account’.

Don’t rely on the figure you see on the website or through telephone banking, it is not always accurate. If you make the mistake to spend money before its cleared they can charge you an overdrawn fee.

You don’t have the same protection here, afforded by the ‘Direct Debit’ system at home. Here, with your bank details a company can access your account and extract monies as and when they please. It’s very difficult to stop this, and the banks can be very unhelpful. Frequently, the only solution is to close the account and start afresh.

Don’t forget usually, checks are not free, you have to purchase them. Luckily you don’t have to order them from your bank. Its recommended you have your address printed on them. Write the cents part as a fraction ie. Thirty Dollars and 20/100. On the memo line, you can insert the account number your are paying, any other special instructions.

You may already be aware of your FICO Score (www.myfico.com). This is the most commonly used method to condense your credit score into a single number ranging from 350 to 900. A good score is considered to be 720 and above. Each of the major credit unions may and probably will report your credit slightly differently. You’ll actually have 3 slightly different credit scores and to solve this little inconsistency, lenders will calculate a ‘tri-merged’ score when you’re taking out a major loan, which represents the average score from all three major bureaus.

Only credit will build your credit score, in other words, you have to borrow money and pay it back to get a credit score. Paying the rent, utility bills can not and will not build your credit. However, failure to pay your bills or paying them late can have a serious impact and reduce your credit

TIPS TO REMEMBER BEFORE SIGNING CONTRACTS

Read and ensure you thoroughly understand the contract before you sign. As you are aware once signed, contracts normally cannot be changed or broken unless both parties agree. The time to amend or delete any conditions of a contract you are unhappy with is before you sign additionally, its a good idea to include in the contract any verbal agreements made by the contractor before you sign.

·         Be wary of vaguely worded provisions, exclusions or limitations that could later pose a problem.

·         Request that confusing or ambiguous statements be either deleted or clarified to your full satisfaction.

·         Don't ever be pressured into signing a contract before you're ready. Be sure you understand all the terms and conditions first

		· Keep a copy of the signed contract. Your copy of the contract is the only proof you have of the conditions of the agreement. · Make sure that all oral promises are included in the contract. Keep in mind that oral promises are not always legally binding. · All parts of the contract should be completed before you sign. Never sign a blank contract. · In some cases, you should have your contract reviewed by a legal counsel before signing.
5		TIPS TO REMEMBER BEFORE YOU HIRE A COMPANY
		To avoid being the victim of a of possible scam we strongly recommend the following: · Call the Better Business Bureau (in the state the company resides in) to see if there have been any complaints against the company. · Ask the company if you can talk to any of their happy customers. Please be aware that companies can and will give you false customers to talk to. If these people sound way too happy, I would be a little wary.
6		WANT TO SAVE ENERGY AND MONEY ON YOUR UTILITIES?
		According to the US Department of Energy, their studies have shown that a typical US family spends approximately $1,500 a year on home utility bills. We can save money by making a few small changes and introducing a whole-house efficiency plan which can reduce our energy costs by 10% to 50%.

Tips To Save Energy Today

· Set your thermostat comfortably low in the winter and comfortably high in the summer. Install a programmable thermostat that is compatible with your heating system. In the summer, the thermostat should be set no lower than 78°F to 80°F. For every degree the thermostat is raised, 4% to 8% can be saved on cooling costs, and in winter 68°F is a comfortable and cost saving temperature.

· Use compact fluorescent light bulbs

· Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.

· Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).

· Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120° F.

· When buying new appliances look for the ENERGY STAR^® symbol which will also save you money

· Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes. Use the warm or cold setting and always avoid using ‘hot’ unless absolutely necessary.

· Look for the ENERGY STAR^® label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Board Certified Medical Specialists. Remember to call your local medical society to check if any complaints or suits have been filed against the doctors you are considering.

You can also use the CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) provider directory to create a list of potential doctors.
Find out more about the doctors you are considering. Call the doctor’s office and talk with the office staff about how the office runs. Or you may want to visit the doctor you are interested in (ask whether they charge you for this visit beforehand) and talk to the staff or doctor. Bring your medical records and a list of the medications you are currently taking. Ask the staff or doctor questions about the doctor or his/her practice. For example:

What are the doctor’s qualifications (board certified) and education?
Does this doctor have many older patients?
Does this doctor support alternative treatment?
How does the doctor feel about involving family in care decisions?
Will the doctor honor living wills, durable powers of attorney for health care, and other advance directives?
Also inquire about office policies, such as office hours, house calls, waiting time per appointment, and length of the average visit.
Ask about payment procedures.

Make sure they participate in your medical plan and are accepting new patients.
Research information about a provider.

There are discounts available to auto owners that could help shave dollars off your premium. In most instances, you'll have to inquire about the rate reductions for which you may qualify; agents don't always volunteer this information. To help you save money on your premium, the Better Business Bureau suggests you consider the following:

Combine policies with one carrier. Most owners with two or more cars will know that it makes sense to insure all their vehicles under one policy. But you can also get a multi-vehicle discount if you insure a trailer or recreational vehicle on the same policy as your car. Also, many auto insurers will reduce your car premium if you buy other coverage from them, such as, homeowners' and life insurance. But don't switch carriers unless the rates for the other policies are competitive.
Buy a car that costs less to insure. Expensive high-performance cars are fun to drive, but they're costly to repair and the premiums can run two to three times higher than less expensive cars.
Equip your new car with safety gear. An approved alarm system or other devices that deter thefts can get you a savings of five to ten percent. Air bags for both driver and passenger can reduce injury, and costly medical bills in an accident, and may qualify you for a discount.
Maintain a good driving record. No claims or traffic tickets for 36 months may qualify you for a reduced premium. Drivers over the age of 50 with a clean driving record may also claim a rate reduction.
Use public transit or a carpool to get to work. Drivers who hold their driving below 7,500 miles a year generally qualify for a discount, and lessening or eliminating your use of a car to commute can trim your premium.

TIPS FOR CHOOSING YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSCIAN (PCP)

Having a primary doctor is crucial in maintaining good health and it is especially important as you get older. Your primary doctor can encourage you to live a healthy lifestyle (exercise, food intake), help you prevent disease, and help you make important medical decisions.

If you don’t have a primary doctor or are not satisfied with your current one, the following suggestions may help you find a new doctor whom you can talk to. Identify what are important factors in finding a doctor. Make a list of all the qualities that are important to you.

List your needs.

Is the doctor covered by your insurance plan? Does the doctor accept Medicare?
Do you want your doctor's office to be near home or work?
Do you have a preference about the gender, race, age, or religion of the doctor?
What's the most convenient time of day for appointments?
Do you have a medical condition that requires a specialist?

Talk to friends and relatives.
- Ask people you know and trust if they have any recommendations.
- If you've just moved from out of town, ask your previous doctor for a recommendation.

Narrow your choices.
- Consult reference sources. There are two resources available at many libraries that provide a list of doctors to choose from. These include The Directory of Physicians in the United States and the Official American Board of Medical Specialties Directory.

HOME	CONTACT	FORUM

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1		TIPS TO COPE WITH "CULTURE SHOCK"
		If you have relocated the United States, or are coming to the United States to stay for an extended period of time, naturally you will want to make new friends and learn about the culture - every thing from attitudes and beliefs to social customs. However, having to deal with new situations can be stressful and frustrating. The term *culture shock* describes the anxiety that develops when individuals relocate to a new environment, it can also be compared to homesickness. When we visit a new place we find ourselves in a position where we are forced to deal with our everyday needs, and adapt to a totally new life style. Recovery from culture shock all depends on the individual. He/she must have both the desire to improve their situation and move on plus the ability to be positive about this new unfamiliar phase in their life. The following are suggestions to deal with Culture Shock:
		Relax, Be Patient
		Remember, it doesn’t matter how much forward planning we do or how informed or prepared we think we are for our new environment, its totally natural to feel overwhelmed sometimes. Jet lag can also be an important factor. Be patient, take a deep breath, relax and give yourself the time to adjust and gradually things will begin to feel more comfortable and less complicated. Keep an open mind, it helps Try to remain open minded about the new culture and environment. Being critical of the food, manners communication styles for example, can create a block which will prevent you from exploring and trying new different things. Try to be objective, don’t get caught up in stereotypes which typically, are inaccurate. When examining the differences between your home and the US culture, recognize the fact that the US culture is not better or worse than yours but just different.

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Culture Shock is a normal emotional part of our adjustment, and you can turn this experience into a positive learning experience as you work your way through it.

Talk and keep in touch

There are organizations, and people that are available to help you. UK US CONNECTIONS is a great place for you to visit and meet new friends, arrange meet ups and access great links to get in touch with other people. In the near future, we will be also organizing events where we will be able to do just that.

Additionally, keep in touch telephone family and friends, hearing that familiar voice always makes a world of difference, they always have a way making us feel better. Email is another fabulous way to keep in touch, UK US CONNECTIONS’ Links page displays links to various companies who make it possible for you to keep in touch for example, Skype offers the ability to keep in touch via making a call over the internet on your computer and its FREE.

Keep Your Sense of Humour

Humour is one of the best remedies for any challenging situation. So try to develop the attitude that you can live with the differences and confusions, take this opportunity to learn and still enjoy yourself.

2		TIPS TO HELP YOU OPEN & MANAGE YOUR US BANK ACCOUNT
		STEP 1: Opening Your Account 1. Open a bank account as soon as possible. Choose one of the majors, ie. Bank of America, Citibank, Bank One etc as opposed to one of the small ones, or a credit union 2. Generally, it’s a bank’s policy to red flag your account for the first 90 days while the bank monitors your account to ensure you are not trying to cash a forged cheque. Be patient during this delay. STEP 2: Avoid being reported to ChexSystems If your account is closed for ‘cause’, US banks and credit unions will report this incident to ChexSystems to protect themselves and other banks. Banks have different criteria for reporting you to ChexSystems listed below are some examples: · Providing false information when opening an account · Savings account, debit card or ATM abuse · Fraud · Multiple overdrafts on the account · Bank unable to collect for an overdraft, ATM transaction, or automatic payment which they honored on insufficient funds. (NB: amount is immaterial and often without waiting more than a few days)

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8		AUTO INSURANCE - HOW TO KEEP THE COST DOWN
		With hundreds of auto insurance companies writing policies offering a variety of coverage options, shopping for a policy has become such a confusing ordeal that many people don't bother to comparison shop, ending up paying more than they need for premiums. Driving expensive high-performance cars, getting stopped for moving violations, putting a lot of miles on your car each year, and having a young driver at home can run up your insurance costs sharply. But how big a premium you pay also depends on the levels of coverage you buy, so consider your choices carefully.


		Having a teenage driver in your home with a good academic record, can qualify you for a discount. Also if your child attends a college that is more than 100 miles from home and doesn't take a car along, that may qualify you for a discount. If you own more than one vehicle ( and your insurance company allows it), add the teenager to your policy as the occasional driver of your least expensive car - and make sure he or she drives that car only.