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When you buy real estate, it’s very exciting. First, you shop until you find your dream home (or maybe your dream home minus some bedrooms and closets). Then, you write possibly the biggest check of your life.

What is it? What happens to it?

It’s Not Actually A “Down Payment”

Because it’s the first money that a buyer puts “down” against the purchase, buyers often refer to it in slang as the “down payment.” That’s not technically correct, mostly because a purchase might involve more money down later.

For example, you might buy a $400,000 house and hand over 5% of the purchase price (or $20,000), when you sign the contract, and then put another 5% down at closing, so that your entire down payment is $40,000, in addition to the fact that you’re handing the seller a mortgage for the last 90%.

How To Handle That “Earnest Money”

So technically, that check that goes with the contract is known in the trade as “earnest money” (because it’s used to prove that you’re very, very earnest about buying this property) or the “contract deposit.” You don’t, however, want to just hand it over. It should go into a special account, kn

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Cashing in your hard earned points for gift cards or gift certificates is one option you have when it comes to redeeming your rewards. If you are the type that likes to trade in your points for gift cards or gift certificates, then there are a few things you should consider when choosing a rewards card. The purpose of a rewards card is to save you money and the way you can do that by maximizing your rewards card so you are using it to the full potential. If gift cards are your thing, then remember to think about these questions when you are on the hunt for a good rewards card. Also, check out the Discover More card featured below which is a great card to use for those that want gift cards!

The first thing to consider when searching for a rewards card is how many participating merchants does the card company partner with. You want to set yourself up with a credit card that gives many options.

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American Express offers some of the best rewards programs. The American Express Membership Rewards Program allows you to do the things you love the most by providing you with a wide range of dining, shopping, entertainment, and travel rewards. You can earn points fast and its easy to redeem them whenever you want. You can use your points in whatever way you want and your points never expire. There is no limit on the number of Membership Rewards points you can earn. This means you can save up for as long as you wish and get the rewards you really want.

When you shop online you will earn extra points, 10x points to be exact. There are over 300 brands to shop at the Earn Points section. With the Points Advance option you can get an advancement of points which will allow you to get what you want even when you come up short. If you need to purchase extra points thats not a problem either.

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If you’re graduating this spring and you don’t have a job lined up, you mayhave a tough time finding one. Even graduates from the class of 2009 are still finding their degrees not as useful as they had hoped. A study reported by the New York Times shows that of all 2009 graduates, 22.4% aren’t working. Of the 77.6% with jobs, 22% have jobs that don’t require a college degree.

These numbers are bleak, but not impossible to overcome.

In a study reported by CBS, 55% of college graduates believe their education helped them prepare for a job or career. And the wage gap between high school and college graduates is reported at nearly $19,550. To make sure you start off your job search on the right foot, here are three quick steps to take.

1. Polish your resume. Your resume is your chance to market yourself to potential employers. This me

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The Clear from American Express® is known for being clear and simple. You can enjoy having no annual fee, no late fees, no balance transfer fees, no over-limit fees, and no cash advance fees with a Clear Card. This card is designed for those that want a simple way to earn rewards for your spending. With this card you get all the great protections offered by American Express.

• Enjoy Automatic Rewards: Get a $25 American Express® shopping card for every eligible $2,500 you spend on your Card.
• Flexibility to Pay Over Time: You decide if you want to pay charges over time or pay in full just another way to simplify your finances with Clear.
• Powerful Shopping: We can extend the length of the original manufacturers warranty up to one additional year on your eligible purchases that have U.S. w

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Congratulations to you, recent grad! You’ve just received your degree, and now you’re ready to enter the world.

But get ready, because you’re not in college anymore.

Whether you’re entering the working world or continuing your job search, you’re going to need to budget, especially if you’ll be paying off student loans, like over a third of Credit Karma users.

Consider some of the following tips for making smart money choices to budget your money.

Watch your costs.

Credit cards. In order to build your credit, a credit card can be a useful tool. But if your card tempts you to spend money you don’t have, take extra precautions. Leave your credit card at home when you go out with friends and take cash you’ve budgeted for the evening. Use your credit

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