There’s been a lot of hype hitting the media airwaves since the current economic crisis took hold. Most of the talk has been about getting out of debt. There are financial talk shows and organizations promising to cut your credit card debt. Evidently, all that talk isn’t helping because consumer-related debt continues to rise out of control into the trillions of dollars.

But, there’s still one program that does what it says it is going to do — show you some of the fastest ways to zero debt. Even better, they can do it with no change to your current income and no refinancing of your current mortgage! The company is called United First Financial ® and their amazing Web-based software is called the Money Merge Account ® program.

UFirst ™ starts with a simple strategy: eliminate debt and build wealth simultaneously by putting your money to work for you. From there, they assist you in achieving your financial goals through interest cancellation. Simply enter your debts: principal balance, interest, and term — then follow the program to become debt free!

When signing on the dotted line for your mortgage, was your biggest concern the interest rate? While many homeowners realize they can save money with lower interest rates, few think about the length of time they will be paying or the gross amount they will be paying, including interest, at the end of the loan’s term. This is one of the Money Merge Account program’s strong points — reducing your mortgage term and minimizing the amount of interest you’ll pay.

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Ask yourself these questions …

How long could you survive if you lost your job today or a family member was struck down with a life-threatening illness?

Do you have the financial resources to deal with a routine, but unexpected, auto repair?

Could your budget handle the aftermath of forgetting to enter a couple debits into your bank register?

Any one of these scenarios could spell financial disaster — even for someone already on the path to becoming debt free. We all live in fear of these things happening to us as individuals and to our extended families. But are you prepared?

If you’re on a debt-reduction program, you might not have thought about the wealth part of the puzzle — accumulating cash and other resources for the future. Think about this for a minute … if you have $500 in savings, then you’ve only got $500 protecting you from the cold, cruel outside world. Scary, huh?

Look at your monthly expense budget and multiply it times three. That’s how much money you’d need to live for three months if your source of income suddenly ran dry. We’re not talking about available credit levels on credit cards or lines of credit to come up with the three month total — it needs to be cash savings accumulating interest in case of an emergency.

Beyond food and shelter expenses, think about your car’s license plates expiring during an emergency, registering the kids for school during a layoff, or recurring prescriptions that need filling during a spouse’s reduction in income. Do you have a three-month emergency fund in savings? No? Then start saving TODAY and find a program designed to not only make you debt free, but build wealth too.

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In reference to a consumer, a credit report is a detailed record of an individual’s past borrowing and repayment history. Key information on a credit report also includes information concerning late payments and bankruptcy. The three main credit bureaus — Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian — collect your payment information from lenders, merchants, and landlords, and then sell the report to business so they can decide your credit worthiness.

The statement also includes your Social Security Number (SSN), current and former residences, current and former employers, telephone number, and date of birth. When a consumer submits an application to extend credit, their information is forwarded to a credit bureau. This is why it is very important for creditors of all types to verify and then provide accurate data to credit bureaus.

There has been much discussion on both sides over the accuracy of the data in credit reports. However, the only scientific research studies that include data samples large enough to be tested have concluded that the data in consumer credit reports is very accurate. The Consumer Data Industry Association testified before Congress that less than two percent of those reports that resulted in a consumer disputes had data removed because it was found to be inaccurate.

If a consumer disputes any portion of information in a credit report, the credit bureau has 30 days to verify the data or it must be removed. On average, 70 percent of consumer disputes are resolved within 14 days and then the consumer is notified of the resolution. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states that one large credit bureau noted that 95 percent of those who formally dispute an item seem satisfied with the decision of the credit bureau whether the outcome was in their favor or not.

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In today’s hectic world, the thought of saving 25 cents on a 4-pack of toilet paper hardly seems worth the effort or the time. Well, times are a-changin’. With families literally counting pennies, every opportunity to save money is now given a second look. One of those opportunities is coupons.

One way to look at coupons is to view them as cash — no different than the green bills in your purse. For example, if you went to the store and purchased a package of diapers for $16.99 with no coupon, the diapers would run you $16.99 plus sales tax. If you purchased that same package of diapers but with a $2 coupon, they would only cost $14.99. Plus, you get the added benefit or paying lower taxes because sales tax isn’t applied until the coupon is redeemed at the register.

Being a price-savvy consumer isn’t that difficult and can trim down your monthly grocery bill if you take the time, and have a dose of discipline and patience. First, get yourself organized with ironically, an organizer. Either purchase an easy-to-use coupon organizer or make your own.

Next, keep an eye out for coupons on products you use on a regular basis or are seriously interested in giving a try. Don’t be tempted to purchase a product simply because you have a great coupon. Manufacturers are fully aware of consumers who can’t pass up a good buy — even on a product they don’t need.

Coupons aren’t just stuffed into Sunday’s edition of the newspaper. They can be found in magazines, bulk mail coupon mailers, food packaging, the back of grocery store receipts, and even the Internet. You can also join grocery store savings clubs and use manufacturers’ coupons to increase savings.

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There’s nobody on the planet that will tell you they have too much money, would turn down a pay raise, or donate their entire inheritance to charity. Most of us are actually thinking up ingenious ways to make our last $20 stretch until payday. If your job has already announced “pay freezes” for the next fiscal year, there is still something you can do about needing additional income — get a job.

Even if you’re already on a tight schedule and feel there aren’t any hours left on the clock for a part-time job — everyone has something to offer. Plus, you can do want you like to do to make money. In particular, working from home is the perfect supplement to your get-out-of-debt efforts! Here are a few traditional and home-based ideas that can add up to money in your pocket.

Pizza Delivery
Don’t laugh, if you know your neighborhood then the tips (and sometimes free pizza) can make this job seem more like fun.

Garage/Yard Sales
You’d be hard-pressed to find a home that didn’t have knickknacks, furniture, collectibles, and other goodies the owners couldn’t live without (this means your house, too). Larger items can be sold in local newspaper ads.

Lawn Care
If getting outside and breaking a sweat is more your speed, then mowing and watering lawns could bring some well-needed exercise and cash for your wallet. Even better, the equipment you need is probably already sitting in your garage.

Day Job
What better way to make money than to keep doing what you’re already doing. But this time, you’re the boss! For example, if you’re a carpenter/builder then look for the small jobs on the weekends that most construction companies bypass. Plus, the training will be minimal because you’re already trained!

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