Related debt help programs featured on the Debt Consolidation Loan Directory:

• Home Equity Loans - Consolidate your charge cards and other debts with a home equity line of credit or home equity loan.
• Debt Management and Credit Counseling - Have too many charge cards and other bills to keep up with the required minimum payments? Start here by reviewing different debt management and credit counseling options for getting help with your monthly obligations.

Alaska Information:

The state of Alaska, abbreviated as AK, has a population of 663,661 according to the 2005 census. It covers 656,425 square miles, making it the largest state in the country followed by Texas and California. Alaska is located in the northwest with no other US states on its borders (Hawaii - by ocean and Washington - closest in the lower 48 states), only having Canada as a neighboring country. Bodies of water bordering Alaska are the Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Beaufort Sea, Bering Sea, and Gulf of Alaska. Flying is a way of life in Alaska and a trip there would not be complete without a flight over majestic Mt. McKinley, which at 20,320 feet above sea level is the highest point in the United States.

Juneau - [visit site], the state capital of Alaska, is a multinational city located in the heart of the Tongass National Forest. The largest city in the state is Anchorage - [visit site], which is surrounded by six mountain ranges and warmed by a maritime climate.

Money Management Tips and Avoiding the Need for Debt Consolidation:

Don't Let the Payment Cloud Your Judgment!

New cars for only $239 a month, big screen plasma TV's from $30 a month and that new living room set you have been wanting is only a $50 monthly payment away. We hear and see these advertisements every day, but are they really the big deals they are made out to be? Not always. Don't fall for the trap of thinking you can afford to make a new purchase simply by looking at the minimum monthly payment. Although your monthly payment on any new debt (and how well it fits within your budget) should be an important consideration, it should never be the sole one.

1. As already mentioned, can you afford to make the purchase? Take a look at your budget and weigh the following: How badly do you need the item? vs. How much money do you need for other existing necessities? (food, housing, insurance, utilities, etc.). Also, keep in mind that the meaning of the word "need" is not up to your own personal interpretation. If you have a lot of debt and are struggling to make ends meet, you should already know whether you truly need something or simply just want it. Here is a quick test: If you even have to think about it, you probably do not need the item.
2. You should also make an effort to understand the life-time cost of using credit debt to buy something when deciding if you can really afford it. For example, that big plasma screen television that has just gone on sale for $200 off the regular price might appear tempting with a payment of only $30 a month. But, the total cost might end up twice the regular price (or more) if you only make the minimum monthly payments. It can take 5, 10, 20 or even more years to pay off a single credit card purchase by making only the minimum monthly payment. Whenever possible, always pay more than the minimum monthly payment required by a lender on this type of debt. For additional tips on this subject, also read: Don't Spend Money that You Don't Have  
3. Finally, how long do you intend to keep the item? Or, how long will it last before it is no longer useful? Do you want to know how to get into a negative equity position or upside-down on your automobile loan (owing more than your vehicle is worth)? True, your car will lose value soon after buying it, which may result in this situation. However, this means relatively nothing if you plan on keeping your car until the loan on it is paid off.

On the other hand, if you have a habit of buying a new car every three years, why finance it for five? Refer to the logic in #2 above. If you cannot afford the three year payment, buy a less expensive vehicle with fewer options. An automobile, unlike a home, will almost always decline in value. This is why so many consumers wind out trading in their cars while still owing more than their trade-in value. That negative equity (or money owed above what the car is worth) is tacked onto the new loan. The rule of thumb here is, never finance an item for longer than you plan on using it, or for longer than you can use it. By the way, if you do purchase that new plasma TV, here is another reason for not just making the minimum payments: It will be burned out long before you are done paying for it.

Other Debt Consolidation Loan directories specific to AK:

• Alaska Banking Listings - List of banks in Alaska provided by the Open Directory Project (ODP).

Directory of Advertisers:

Other larger Alaska cities include:

• Fairbanks - [visit site] - "City of Fairbanks - Extremely Alaska."
• Ketchikan - [visit site] - "Our lifestyle, your reward."
• Kodiak - [visit site] - "the Emerald Isle."
• Palmer - [visit site] - "Alaska at its Best."
• Seward - [visit site] - "Gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park."
• Valdez - [visit site] - "Even Mother Nature has Favorites."

For more Alaska information, visit the following:

• State of Alaska Home Page
• State of Alaska Travel and Vacation Information
• U.S. Census Bureau State and County QuickFacts

Looking for more information, bill consolidation or debt counseling in a particular state?

Pennsylvania personal loan | Kentucky debt consolidation | consolidate debts in Arizona | Nebraska credit counseling

Make the right decisions when shopping for debt consolidation and related financial services. Educate yourself!

Please note that the Debt Consolidation Loan Directory has a growing library of informative financial resources for consumers shopping for many types of financial services, such as consolidating bills and auto insurance. Their is no better way to make decisions regarding the management of your personal finances than to become educated. Please feel free to visit our consumer resource and information library.

• Getting a Home Equity Loan: Questions to Ask - Check here for a list of questions you really should ask before getting a home equity loan. Such as, Have you evaluated all of your other options before using your home as collateral for a loan?
• Understanding Credit Cards - They can be a great financial resource if they are used responsibly. Unfortunately, for a lot of consumers, they are a big problem when it comes to managing their personal finances. This article from the FDIC stresses the importance of evaluating your true needs and how credit cards work.
• Mortgage Term Glossary - Provides definitions for some of the most common home loan terms and phrases related to the mortgage lending process like debt to income ratio and underwriting.

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