RENTAL HELP OPTIONS

Although many banks don't pay interest on checking accounts, all banks pay interest on savings accounts. Banks used to pay S percent interest on all savings accounts because it was a federal regulation. Then along came banking deregulation in 1986, and interest rates haven't been the same since. Deregulation allowed banks to offer different kinds of accounts, which became competitive with each other and earned substantial interest. The higher interest on those accounts resulted in savings account interest rates being lowered. Still, it pays to shop around because the amount of interest varies from bank to bank.In addition to www.bankrate.com, financial magazines such as Money publish lists of the highest-paying bank accounts each month.

A lot of the same points we discussed about checking accounts apply when you're looking for a personal finance software place to open a savings account. You'll need to figure out your savings habits and find a bank that has a deal that will best suit your habits.Most banks will charge a monthly or quarterly maintenance fee and maybe an additional fee if your balance falls below a required minimum. In addition, you might be required to keep a savings account active for a specified time, or face penalties. Review the list of questions suggested in the section on checking accounts, and ask those that apply to savings when you're looking for a place to set up your account. You'll also need to ask a few other questions that apply to savings accounts.

The government offers a wide range of assistance, both during and after your debt crisis. You can find everything from information to financial aid among the many government departments and services designed to help consumers.

Better known as HUD, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development can offer you considerable help while you're in fnancial straits. Whether you own a home that you're afraid of losing, you want to refnance, you can't afford rent in your area, or you just can't come up with enough of a down payment to get started in home ownership, this department has agencies and programs that can help.

You can find the phone number and address of your local HUD office by looking in the Government-Federal section of the phone book. However, the easiest way to explore what HUD has to offer is on the Internet. Access its site at www. hud. gov and click on the subject that interests you. You may want to start by clicking on Own a Home or Rental Help. Under Own a Home, you'll find links to Keeping Your Home (which includes avoiding foreclosure) and Refnancing. Both links give more information about the Housing Counseling Agencies. These agencies are designed to help you find the financing or assistance you need so that you don't lose your home.

The Rental Help option offers information about Federal Rental Assistance and Low Income Housing that may be available to you. Because the defnition of low income is based on the median income for your area, you may be surprised by what constitutes low income where you live. Even
if you don't want to rely on government aid long-term or don't particularly want to live in the type of minimal housing that the program offers, this assistance might help you get back on your feet if your fnancial situation is severe.

Despite what some people think, the IRS really doesn't want to ruin your life. Of course, your best bet is always to pay all your taxes on time. However, if circumstances have become overwhelming and you're in trouble with the IRS, help is available. One section of the IRS, the Taxpayer Advocate, has the power to intervene in any case where signifcant hardship would result from action taken by the IRS.
(A legal action put into motion by the IRS can end in a number of situations that could cause hardship, such as the sus pension of your business, garnishment of your wages, or the need to hire costly representation to defend you against the IRS in court.)
If an IRS action would prevent you from being able to aFford basic necessities, like housing, food, transportation, and utilities, you can get help. Form 911 is the Application for Taxpayer Assistance; it's the way you enlist the aid of the Taxpayer Advocate.

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