money guidance and how to get rich_16

_{It will take longer than an entire lifetime — if you're a gorilla. For}

_{minimum percentage due. Most cards have a minimum due of between}

_{1.5% and 2.5% of your outstanding balance. Let's say that}

_{you owe $4,500 on your card. If so, it'll take you about 44 years to}

_{pay it off — and you'll end up paying a total of $17,000. Yowza.}

_{That's a pretty powerful demonstration of how vital it is to pay down}

_{your balance.}

_{Yup. By law, consumers can't be held responsible for more than $50}

_{if they are the victims of fraud and report the theft promptly. So, you}

_{should contact the card company as soon as you notice that a card has}

_{been lost or stolen.}

_{In addition, be careful with "pre-approved" offers you receive in the}

_{mail. If you toss them out and a dastardly sort picks one up, he can}

_{change the address on it to his own and get a card in your name. This}

_{is one way that identities are stolen. It's not a bad idea to buy a paper}

_{shredder to destroy credit card offers and documents with confidential}

_{information. At office supply stores, you should be able to pick up}

_{a modest shredder for around $20 or $30.}