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Consumer Credit Card Debt Relief Scams! Are They Real?

2011-04-17T17:13:00.000-07:00

I have been in the credit card debt relief industry for just about 10 years now and have been in the financial industry for over 20 years. The point of this article is to give people a heads up on debt relief companies also known as debt settlement or debt negotiation companies. I will give you the pro's and con's of this process and what to watch out for when interviewing a company to help you get out of debt. Before I go on I want to let you know that this will be a rather long article and by the end of it my goal is to have you understand how the debt negotiation/settlement process works in case you don't already know and I would like you to understand the tactics of companies out there that do not truly have your best interest at heart.

First I would like to state that the process of debt negotiation as your means of consumer debt relief is not for everyone, some people are better suited for bankruptcy and others do not have the correct mindset to go through this process.

I would like you to first understand what debt negotiation is and how it works. The goal of a debt negotiator is to obtain a debt settlement for you on the current debt amount you owe your creditor. So for example you may owe one particular creditor $10,000 so the goal of the negotiator would be to have you end up paying back say $6,000. The two main benefits of going through this process are to save money on what you currently owe your creditors and to save time. By just paying the minimum payment with even a modest interest rate you will be looking at 30 or more years to become debt free, with a sound debt negotiation program you will be out of debt within 2-3 years or sooner depending on your current financial situation.

Now you must understand these are great benefits but as with anything in life there are drawbacks, nothing is perfect and this consumer debt relief procedure is no different. For starters your creditors will not be willing to negotiate a debt settlement at all if you are current with your monthly minimum payments. They would prefer you to stay on their credit treadmill for the next thirty years and pay them back over four times the balance in interest alone. So you must fall behind on your payments to put the creditors into a position where they will be willing to settle. Once you stop paying them the ball game changes completely and they will then be willing to talk in terms of negotiating a settlement.

So obviously for some people the beginning of this process will have a negative effect on their credit score. For those who are already falling behind then the negative effect will be no different than it already is. Unfortunately for some people this will be the deterring factor that keeps them from going into debt settlement making them a slave to their creditors for the next thirty years. The good news is that this negative effect does not last forever, in fact once the settlements start coming through your credit score will begin to rebound and go back up. The reason being over 30% of your credit score according to MyFICO is based on how much debt you owe. But if you are stuck in a bad debt situation even if you are current with your payments your score is probably not all that good in the first place, and besides when stuck deep in debt your focus should be on how to get out of debt as quickly as possible, not on your ability to accrue future debt.

Now by falling behind on your debts you must understand that these creditors are just not going to roll over and play dead, they will be calling to try and collect the debt. For some this is not a problem at all, for others it is, that is why I stated above this process is not for everyone and the consumer must be in the correct mind set. From my years of helping people there is no rhyme or reason to how many calls you will receive some clients of mine barely get calls while others get them almost everyday. Something to keep in mind too is that no company has the power to legally stop the calls, so any company that tells you they can is flat out lying.

As you can see like I said earlier there are pro's and con's, but if you can accept the con's you will be quickly on the road to financial freedom and will save a lot of money in the process. Now to get to the meat of the matter and why I named this article "consumer credit card debt relief scams".

We here in America over the past couple of years have been experiencing a very negative downturn in our economy. Thus putting many consumers in a compromising position financially, leaving boat loads of people stuck in credit card debt. So naturally this opened up a much larger market for debt negotiation. Many fly by night companies have been popping up all over the country, many of which are ex mortgage brokers who sold people bad loans and helped them get into this sticky position in the first place. Now I use the word scam which can take on a few meanings, while yes there are some companies out there that are flat out scams and have no intent on doing any work for you at all, most of the times that is not the case. Instead many companies simply do not give people all the facts on how debt negotiation works nor do they truly put them on a plan for success, which I will explain in a minute.

One common issue that most consumers have with debt settlement companies is they do not fully tell them about how the process works, instead they sugar coat things and just preach about the great benefits. I have spoken to countless amounts of people who have signed up with companies and were under the impression that they were going to stay current with their creditors and will never receive any calls. So needless to say this became a huge problem once they began.

Another major problem a lot of these companies have is deceiving people into the kind of savings they will be getting on their debts. Some companies will say they will save you 70% of what you owe. Now while they may get settlements that low what their opting not to tell you is how much you will be saving after you have A) paid them their fees, and B) paid back the creditors. Honest companies will tell you what your true savings will be. If you will save somewhere between 40-50% of what you owe including their fees and paying the creditors than that is pretty darn good. Plus many of these companies will try and guarantee a certain amount of savings, if you hear this run for the hills. NO one in this industry can guarantee a certain amount that is why it is called DEBT NEGOTIATION! They are negotiating to get a settlement for as low as they can get.

Then there are the companies who will let you pay whatever you can to get on their program. These are the worst because they do not truly have your interest at heart and know they are setting you up to fail and not succeed. You must understand to achieve the type of savings I stated above this process should take no more than three years, preferably two or less. And the bottom line is some people simply cannot get it done in that time frame and should realistically be looking into bankruptcy. What these unscrupulous consumer debt relief companies will do is put you on a program for 4 or more years and basically accepts whatever payment you can afford. Knowing full well you are not going to be saving much of anything and will more than likely fail off the program, all they care about is getting the fees and that is it. An honest company will diligently review your budget with you and make sure this is something that you can manage, as well as fully explain to you both the benefits and drawbacks of doing this. And let you make the conscience decision as to whether this is the best consumer debt relief method for your situation.

Another very good way to evaluate a company is to make sure they are registered with the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and that they are in good standings with very few complaints. And if there are complaints make sure they were resolved to the clients liking.

Like I said I have been in this business for almost 10 years now and currently I work for an outstanding company with a great track record and an amazing record with the BBB, the FSLC. If you want an honest evaluation of your situation to see if this is the right method of consumer debt relief for you than follow the link below in the signature file and fill out an application. I will go over in great detail how this process works and whether you are a good candidate. I hope after reading this article you feel more educated as to how this process works and what to look out for when you are interviewing companies to potentially help you out.

Steve Bis is a senior debt analyst and research assistant with the FSLC which deals primarily in consumer credit card debt relief

By Stephen Bis

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1832819

Should You Sign Your Credit Card?

2011-03-21T16:57:00.000-07:00

It sounds like a no-brainer. You receive your credit card in the mail, along with a note that tells you, among other things, to sign the back of your credit card immediately. Lately, people have seriously questioned this course of action, pointing out that if your card is stolen, a thief then has a perfect copy of your signature to duplicate. Instead, say many, in the space for your signature on a credit card, you should write 'Ask for Photo I.D.'

It sounds like good advice. But what do the experts have to say? According to all three major credit card companies - Visa, Master Card and American Express, the answer is - sign your credit card immediately. In fact, all of them have rules that prohibit merchants from accepting credit cards that don't have a valid signature. Visa states that a merchant may not complete a transaction UNTIL the card is signed.

Bottom line on the question of whether to sign your credit card, then, is yes, you absolutely SHOULD sign your credit card as soon as you get it. But what about other security measures you can take to guard against credit card fraud? Here are five security tips to help you safeguard your credit card security:

1. Never give your credit card number to someone that calls you on the telephone. If the caller purports to be from a company that you do business with, or from the credit card company itself, tell them that you'll call them back at the number that YOU have for the company. That way you'll know that the person you're speaking with is legitimate. If they demur at all, hang up immediately and call your credit card company's fraud line with any details of the call.

2. Ditto for any email you receive asking you to 'verify' details for your credit card info by clicking on a link in the email to take you to a verification page. If it's a company with which you do business - PayPal for instance - open a new browser window and type in the URL to the legitimate site by hand.

3. Keep a separate low credit limit credit card for paying online - or use a credit card company that will provide one-time verification numbers. That way if your credit card security is compromised, you're losses are limited by the amount available on the card. Or - use a debit card that you keep just for online purchases the same way.

4. Reconcile your credit card bill every month just as you would your checking account. Go over the bill with your receipts, and report any charges for which you don't have a receipt or don't recognize.

5. If you have the option, register all your credit cards with a credit card registration service. In any case, write down all of your credit card numbers, expiration dates and contact telephone numbers for each card and keep it in a safe place. If your wallet and credit cards are ever stolen, you'll have a handy reference to make sure that you don't miss anyone when you're calling to report your credit cards stolen.

Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the credit card comparison sites http://www.credit-cards-info.com/ and also http://www.creditcards121.com/

By Joseph Kenny

Credit Card Debt Consolidation - How to Bundle Up Unsecured Debts and Eliminate 50%

2010-06-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

If you are about to get help for removing all your liabilities, it will be a wise idea to opt for credit card debt consolidation through a reliable financial firm. To make the credit card debt consolidation effective, it is a must for you to provide genuine details about your financial status as well as your assets and liabilities.

We are aware that the financial firms help the people to get reduction on the liabilities whether it is huge or less. There are lots of financial relief firms in the market today and every firm follows the credit card debt consolidation method before negotiating the liabilities with the creditors. If you do not want to pay the full amount to your creditor because of your low financial position, it is a must for you to seek help and advice from the financial experts who represents the financial firm. If you consult with the experts, they can help you choose the right option for getting your financial problems solved. However, the financial expert or a lawyer will ask for details about your liabilities like the amount and number of creditors.

If you have more than $10,000 as unsecured liability and if it is more than 6 months old, you can be eligible for the liability settlement program. Before your liabilities are settled, the credit card debt consolidation is performed by the financial firm. This is nothing but an addition of all your unsecured liabilities. Unless your liabilities are added up, you will not know the exact amount that has to be paid back to the creditor along with the interest. While adding up your liabilities, you should not forget to include your monthly expenses and income.

Most of the financial settlement firms give a reduction of at least 50 percent while the top companies give up to 70 percent. If your liabilities are less, you can be eligible for credit card debt consolidation and then you can pay back your creditors. The financial firm will analyse your monthly income and then decides to provide a fresh loan. With the new loan, which is approved by the financial firm, you can pay the old loans to your creditors. You have to pay back the newly approved loan within 6 months time through monthly installments.
If you do not want to take the new loan, you can request for the liability reduction up to 50 percent and pay only half the amount.

Debt settlement is clearly a better alternative than bankruptcy and due to the massive amounts of consumers in debt, creditors are agreeing to very generous debt settlement deals. To compare debt settlement companies it would be wise to visit a free debt relief network which will locate the best performing companies in your area for free.
Free Debt Help.

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Four Clothing Care Tips That Will Save You a Bundle

2010-05-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

In today's economy, saving money on your wardrobe is like finding a treasure chest in your closet. While spending less on clothing by shopping discount stores and sales is always an option, there are ways you can save a bundle by just making your current wardrobe look better and last longer.

1. Only dry clean your clothing after wearing them several times
Most dry cleanable garments do not have to be cleaned after every wear. In fact, dry cleaning your clothes too often may even damage the fiber of the clothes. Opt for cleaning garments after about 3 or 4 wears. If your garment has an odor from perspiration, try store bought dryer sheets designed for dry clean items to freshen it up.

2. Store expensive items in acid-free paper
Archive expensive garments and special occasion clothes that you don't wear often in acid-free tissue paper. Regular tissue paper contains acid that will break down fabric fiber and cause clothing to yellow over time. Always make sure these items are professionally cleaned before storing, especially if they are stained, to avoid insect infestation. Acid -free tissue paper can be purchased online or at stores specializing in organizing or storage items.

3. Never hang sweaters on hangers
Never, ever hang your sweaters on hangers. Hangers tend to ruin the shape of sweaters, stretching areas of the garment to accommodate the hanger. Fold your sweaters and store them on shelves, in sweater bags, or in drawers to keep them looking fresh and beautiful.

4. Provide ample hanging space for your clothing
This is usually a tough one for most fashionistas but, hanging your clothes with with ample breathing space is a must. Most women have their closets jammed to capacity. However, over-filling your closets with garments presents a couple of problems.

First, you can't see what you have to wear if an item is stuffed in your closet behind something else.

Second, your favorite dress or blouse can be wrinkled or worse yet, damaged by getting hooked or torn by an adornment on another item. Ideally, clothes should be hung about an inch apart. Try making more room in your closet by investing in rod expanders to double the hanging space.

Leslie Smith is a lifestyle strategist and a self proclaimed fashionista. For more tips on organizing and mature style visit her blog, Closetquest at http://lifesnewpage.typepad.com/closetquest.

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Why Organic Baby Clothing is the Best Option For Your Bundle of Joy

2010-05-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

We always want to provide our child with the best things the world has to offer. In our quest to buy quality clothing for our children, we often fail to understand which fabric would be best for their skin. A baby's skin is extremely delicate and more fragile than that of an adult, and is also less resistant to harmful bacteria and toxins present in the environment. Therefore, selecting the right fabric is essential while buying baby clothes. Here are some of the reasons why you should buy organic baby clothing for your precious tot:

• Bid Adieu to Toxic, Traditional Cotton
Though cotton crops are grown on only 2.5% of the world's agricultural land, almost 25% and 10% of global pesticide and insecticide produce respectively is being used in their production. Also, a large amount of softeners, petroleum scouring agents, ammonia, heavy metals and formaldehyde is used in the cloth manufacturing process, thus loading clothes with innumerable chemicals that can actually damage your baby's skin. Besides environmental concerns, the use of such chemicals can have a negative impact on your child's health, and hence, organic child clothing is a far safer choice.

• More Skin Friendly
Organic baby clothing assists in better air circulation, which is beneficial as a baby's skin is not able to produce enough sweat which is needed to maintain an adequate body temperature. These organic clothes are naturally antimicrobial and dye free, thus making them suitable for the sensitive skin of children.

• Cost Effective and Sturdy
Organic child cloth is often not preferred by parents, as they usually cost more than conventional cotton clothes. However, organic clothes will prove to be cheaper in the long run and are well worth the money spent, since they are a good investment for your child. Due to harsh production procedures used during conventional cotton material manufacturing, the fibre of 'normal' clothes is weak and breaks down easily just after 10-20 washes. Organic cotton, on the other hand, lasts longer, and it is only in due course of time that one may see signs of wear and tear. With people fast taking to organic clothing, and the popularity of chemical-free material witnessing a steady rise, there has been a dip in the prices of child garments that are manufactured using pesticide free processes.

• Support the 'Go Green' Initiative
Organic child clothing is made using bamboo or other natural substances that are manufactured using non-toxic processes. These natural substances are renewable sources that grow back quickly without anyone having to take measures to ensure their speedy growth. Organic child clothing not only ensures the proper care of your child's skin by absorbing sweat and regulating body temperature, but also remains one of the most eco friendly ways to do so.

One can find organic baby and child clothing at http://www.naturebub.com. There is a range of cozy clothing for cooler weather, and T-shirts, dresses and one-pieces for warmer weather as well as bedding, gifts, accessories and preemie baby clothing. Buying organic baby apparel, will protect your child and also help protect the environment.

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5 Ways to Look Stylish on a Budget

2010-04-30T05:33:00.000-07:00

If you, like many others are having to tighten your purse strings, don't despair. It really is possible to look stylish without spending lots of money. In many cases, those have lots of money are far from stylish. By thinking carefully about your wardrobe, you can look stylish on a budget.

Here are 5 great ways to do so.

1. Look at your existing wardrobe and decide what you really need. Think carefully about what items will be suitable for your lifestyle and that you are likely to wear often. Also think about what will suit your body shape and what sort of styles you like. You can research types of clothes and what body shapes look best in what using magazines and books. You should also think about what clothes will compliment the clothes that you already have in your wardrobe.

2. Clear out any clothes that you have not worn for over a year. You can swap these clothes for something that you need or will wear. Alternatively, you can sell them and use the money to buy yourself something new.

3. Look for second hand clothes. This is a great way to get great quality clothes at a fraction of the cost of new clothes. Often second hand clothes are almost as good as new and have hardly been worn. There is a huge choice of second hand clothes available through second hand clothes websites.

4. If you do buy new clothes shop around. Price comparison websites, discount voucher codes, seasonal sales and designer sample sales are all great ways of getting a bargain but remember to stick to your list of what you need.

5. Always by clothes that will not go out of fashion. If you opt for quality basics, they will be a real investment as they will last for many years to come. You can always update your look a bit each season with some accessories.

This article was written by Ceri Heathcote for posh-swaps.com, a website for swapping, buying and selling second hand and vintage clothing.
Clothes swap and buying and selling second hand clothes is a great way to reduce the impact of fashion on the environment and to save money.

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10 Great Reasons to Buy Second Hand Clothes

2010-04-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

Have you ever considered buying used or second hand clothes? If not, why not? There are plenty of good reasons to buy them and plenty of very stylish people who either wear them exclusively or a mixture of second hand and new.
1. It helps to reduce waste - any used and unwanted clothing that is bought is clothing that will not be disposed of in landfill. Landfill is a huge problem in the UK and also contributes to global warming by producing green house gases.
2. They cost less than new items - a piece of clothing in a charity shop, car boot sale or second hand clothing website will almost certainly cost a fraction of it's original new price.
3. You will get much better quality and even designer clothes for the same price as low quality new clothes.
4. It is great fun shopping for second hand clothes and the thrill of finding something amazing that costs next to nothing is much better than shopping for new.
5. By shopping for second hand clothes in charity shops, you can help to support the charity and it's valuable work.
6. Second hand clothes are bit different to the usual clothes that you can buy on the high street, you are a lot less likely to see someone wearing the same clothes as you if you wear second hand.
7. There is a huge choice of second hand clothes available from a variety of places including car boot sales, charity shops, vintage shops and websites so there is no reason why you won't be able to find exactly what you want.
8. Shopping for used clothing forces you to think more carefully about what you buy so you usually end up with a very stylish outfit that looks amazing on you.
9. Buying second hand clothes is a great way to experiment with new styles and looks. As the clothes are not expensive as buying new it is less risky and if you make a mistake you can always sell or swap it.
10. Buying second hand clothes instead of new reduces the environmental impacts that are associated with the manufacture of new clothes.
So buying used clothing is not only good for the environment, it is also good for your and for your wallet. Your wardrobe will also look better for a few carefully chosen pre loved clothes. Why not give it a try, you will probably be very surprised at what you find?

This article was written by Ceri Heathcote for posh-swaps.com, a website for swapping, buying and selling second hand and vintage clothing. Clothes swap and buying and selling second hand clothes is a great way to reduce the impact of fashion on the environment and to save money

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Canterbury Rugby Clothing - Practical Garments

2010-04-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

An interesting brand that can be found at an online sporting goods store is Canterbury rugby clothing. A Canterbury mills beanie hat can make the perfect winter accessory when it's cold out and you need added protection from the cold winter breeze that blows against your ears. This beanie is made of 100% acrylic so it will be sure to trap the much needed heat to keep your head warm.

There is also Canterbury rugby clothing available when you're not on the field. A nice Canterbury CCC T-shirt can be paired with jeans for your casual look off of the field. This can show your dedication to the sport in a subtle, but definitive way.

You can pair this together with Canterbury rugby clothing shorts to give you a well matched look. These shorts come in a variety of colours and are made with 100% cotton, welted seams, taped side pockets as well as an elastic waist cord. This feature is perfect for added adjustment and fit.

If the ones above aren't exactly what you are looking for another great item you can buy from an online store to add to your sporting clothes collection is a pair of Canterbury Professional Rugby Shorts. These come in white, navy and black and a range of sizes from a 28 inch waist all the way up to 46 inch waist. They are made of 100% cotton, have welted seams, taped side pockets and an elastic waist band with a tie cord at the waist for added fit.

Another great piece of Canterbury rugby clothing that you will look sharp on the field in is the Canterbury Rugby Performance Training Jersey. Contrasting, yet complimentary colours of silver, black or navy and white make up the design scheme of this shirt. It is made of 74% polyester and 26% cotton. You have the option of choosing the black, grey and white combination or the navy, white, and grey combinations. Each one is tailored to fit your specific needs. This is just another item you can buy at an online store.

When its cooler out and you want to keep your upper body warm and away from excess moisture the Canterbury Turbo Rugby Top is a perfect choice. This top is 100% polyester and has a micro diamond water proof fabric. The shell is breathable and comes with a nylon Lycra neck and cuffs with binding on them. The CCC logo is on the front mid chest and the middle of the back shoulders. This is a great choice when it comes to choosing a sporty top.

Canterbury Open Hem Stadium Pants are another great Canterbury rugby clothing item. These pants are made of 100% polyester and come in navy and black. The sizes range from small to a 3xl. They have a cotton liner underneath, which is a nice feature to keep sweat away from the body. They have an elastic waist with draw cord, full length leg zips as well as an open hem cuff adjuster.

So the next time you are shopping online try finding a store that sells rugby items this will ensure a quick shopping experience with very little effort on your part. It will also help you find the products you need at the prices you want all in one convenient place.

Established in 1973, Morrant Group Ltd is a family run business with over 35 years experience in mail order team sports equipment. Father, Daughter, Son and staff are working hard every day to ensure that our company achieves its aim. We sell a range of sports gear, including Canterbury rugby clothing and goods. Please visit our website at http://www.morrant.com.
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How to Start Your Own Wholesale Clothing Business

2010-04-23T10:37:00.000-07:00

With large opportunities and still a progressive amount of sales events and gross earnings, one will emphatically desire to participate in the wholesale clothing business. Beginning a wholesale clothing business enterprise will to be certain and simple for you as you will not be going to deal with individual clients. Alternatively you will trade with educated retailers who simply place their volume orders. This economizes you from customer's bargain fighting and you hold a lot of virtual savings on your worries as well. In this article we will look at some of the truly useful hints and ways which you should practice to become a renowned, esteemed and respected wholesale clothing supplier in the region.

1) What you actually got to do?

Middleman is not only a for-profit business but too a requirement in the product supply strand. Without a wholesale selling supplier, the business enterprise cannot go complete. Why is so? Whenever a wholesale clothing manufacturer get up with a new contrive of cowling neck or bigger cut tunica, it is essential to send huge bulks of these products to retailers who can promote deal their merchandises to final stage users. But selling to each individual batch of retail merchants is not viable for a maker because retail merchants are of comparatively micro sizes than the producers. Thus a middlemen or a mediator is necessary to hold place. This intermediary is the wholesale provider. Wholesale clothing supplier buys wholesale lots of merchandises from the producer, then bundle it in small deals and mail to small resellers throughout the world.

Wholesale provider holds a good margin of benefit. Even then, they reached product at retail merchants market is cheap and low-priced for final stage user.

2) Get prepared:

As you have determined to begin a wholesale clothing business concern, there's a lot to set earlier to you are truly capable of obtaining bulks from manufacturers and trading it to retailers. Initially you should be certain that the make or producer with which you're extending to do business is identified and recognized adequately. Going for cheap but unidentified and less general brand will not let you find as numerous retailers to trade to.

Attempt to talk terms with the lowest degree feasible cost with a renowned and esteemed maker. It likewise expects talking terms skills. After affirmed with the manufacturer, you should now worry regarding the handling and care of the volume dozens as they will be arriving through endless seas and oceans millions of miles far.

In fact the winning of your business bets upon your manufacturer as the winning of retailer business concern counts upon the wholesale provider. Think your maker shipping you fake excellence and backward merchandises. Evidently, the retail merchants will turn to some other wholesale supplier.

3) Begin it!

Once you have received the bulk lot from the manufacturer at your position, then you should set up for receiving those products. Beware of every of the traditions and legalities that are involved in the wholesale selling and wholesale clothing business enterprise.

Afterwards completing all the signatures and legalities, travel the containers to your storage warehouses. Wholesale clothing businesses commonly do not need high end modern and fashionable markets with bright Formica and attracting dummies with expensive costumes attended on them. Though they have it all, but at a comparatively smaller degree because they do not have to trade with the final stage client straightaway. They however have an intermediary in their way up to the final stage user.

Having reached your productions at warehouses, you are now allowed to open gates for retail merchants. Putting many of the magnificent and pleasant conceptions on net with their cloth and sizing particulars can render you with a plenty of customers. Greatest of wishes for your wholesale clothing business organization!

Sandra Burke has been in the wholesale business since 2000. She became one of the largest wholesale clothing importer.

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Get Kids to Recycle Old T-Shirts

2010-04-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

Instead of throwing out those favorite t-shirts that you got from a special event or that you just bought because it was fun and colorful, keep them. You can turn them into throw pillows. It's easy, fun and really cheap to do. Your kids will love helping you turn their old t-shirt into a soft pillow for their bed or favorite chair.

You can look at this as duo recycling project. First, if you have any old tattered pillows you can use them as a starter. If not, you can buy fiber fill, polyester fill or a piece of foam to get you started on stuffing your t-shirt. If you do have an old pillow you would like to cover start with a t-shirt that fits with the pillow size. In other words, if you have a small pillow start with a child's t-shirt or a baby-t if necessary. You will want to make sure that you use as much of the t-shirt as possible.

If your t-shirt has a fun logo or character on the front you will want to be sure that the shirt size will accommodate the size of the pillow. Slip the t-shirt over the pillow and adjust it so your logo or picture is centered. Cut away any excess fabric, but don't toss it away there are other uses for it. Next, pull together the neck opening and pin with stick pins. You can cut the sleeves and pin the openings close. Hand stitch to close all openings using a colorful thread that matches the t-shirt. And you are all done redecorating an old pillow.

If you decide to stuff your old t-shirt with filling you will want to make sure all openings are stitched shut. You can close the ends of your sleeves and stuff those as well or you can cut them and recycle them. If you don't wont to stitch the bottom of you t-shirt just tie it in a big not or use some fun colorful ribbon at the bottom. When you are done just toss the pillow on the bed or in a favorite chair.

If you have any t-shirts that are just to worn and stained, simply cut them or shred them and turn them into shops rags. Shop rags come in handy for messy spills in your garage. They are also great for cleaning dashboards, windows and even car rims. If you don't have a use for them in your own garage, you can sell them or give them to your local mechanic or even a neighbor. Happy recycling!

Get Kids To Read. If you need some tips to get you started please visit my blog at http://memelynne.wordpress.com and get great ideas for getting your kids to read.

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