[Z-man]

Speaking of credit cards and interest rates: recently, we called up all our credit card companies, and strongly requested that our interest rates be lowered. At first, most places said that can't be done. But we were persistent and they all lowered the interest rate.

Now typically, we are not concerned about the interest rate, since we pay off our credit cards 99% of the time. It's just that 1% of the time that I'd rather pay 9% vs. 21%!

I also request to lower my credit limit on the cards -- if I want to spend over $10k, I am better off taking on a low interest home equity loan at my bank.

Oh - and I don't pay any annual fee on my credit cards. The minute they try that crap on me -- I'm outta there, and onto any of the other thousands of credit card companies that will grant me a cc for no annual fee.
-Z-man.