Problem: Article: Using either Microsoft Excel or free online tools like Google Sheets, include information like your current monthly payment, the minimum monthly payment, the monthly due date, and the interest rate being charged (if applicable). This spreadsheet will help with your bill consolidation but will also be a handy reference for future budgeting! Record more information (account balances, credit limits, accounts numbers) to create an even more complete spreadsheet of your current bills. The more information you have in front of you the better. Now create a way to differentiate your debts by payment terms and status. The following are common types of debt that can help you categorize and prioritize your debt: Secured debt is secured by collateral, such as your mortgage loan being secured by your house. This collateral can be repossessed if you do not make your payments. You should usually pay secured debt first. Unsecured debt uses no collateral, such as many credit cards or a personal loan. These usually have a high interest rate as they are a bigger risk to the lender. Fixed interest rate debt means you pay the same interest rate for the life of the loan. Variable interest rate debt means the interest rate may vary for the life of the loan, going either up or down. Fixed repayment term means the debt must be paid within a certain time period or by a predetermined date. Variable repayment term means there is no predetermined end date by which you must pay back the loan. A deductible loan, such as a mortgage or student loan, has some tax benefits. A deductible loan, such as a credit card, has no tax benefits attached. Gain some immediate insight into your current financial situation by looking at which debts/bills are charging you the highest annual percentage rate (APR). APR is a combination of your interest rate as well as any additional costs or fees. These will be the first priority to consolidate and/or pay off since they are costing you the most money. Prioritize your payments. Now that you can see which debts are costing you the most, focus on putting any extra money into those debts first. Anything above the minimum payment on a debt will help to pay down the debt faster, but note that you'll need to keep paying at least the minimum on all your bills to avoid costly late fees. You may be able to transfer your high interest rate account balances over to lower (or zero) interest rate credit accounts. This process is called a balance transfer. Balance transfers are usually limited by your current credit rating; it can difficult to qualify for the lower-rate credit card offering the balance transfer. In addition, balance transfer terms may contain harsher penalties. One late payment may be enough to rescind the original interest rate and raise it to one higher than what you were paying before you executed the transfer. Lastly, balance transfers typically charge a percentage fee on each transaction and these fees will add to your total cost. For more detailed information on balance transfers, read How to Apply for a Credit Card Balance Transfer and How to Find Credit Card Balance Transfer Offers. One risk here is that you'll transfer the account balance, then run the original debt back up, effectively doubling the debt. Avoid this by closing the original debt account. Watch for offers from your bank or other banks guaranteeing a specified time frame in which you won't be assessed an interest rate on new balance transfers. Use your spreadsheet and your priority list to make a plan and follow it. Setting up automatic payments or other reminders is a great way to avoid being late and incurring more fees. It also simplifies your life and is one less thing to remember. If your account balance is zero you may want to close those accounts; however, keep in mind that canceling a credit card can negatively affect your credit score. If you don't think you'll be too tempted to use the card in the future, go ahead and keep the account open and just don't use it.
Summary: Compile a spreadsheet of all your bills. Separate your bills by type. Rank the unsecured bills by APR. Consider a balance transfer. Set up a payment plan. Consider closing unnecessary accounts.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Small cardstock boxes make ideal decorative boxes for chocolates. They keep the chocolates cool to prevent heat from melting them. You can fold one yourself or purchase a small paper gift box from most craft stores. Measure your chocolates beforehand to make sure you choose or fold a box large enough for them. You can also use a metal canister as an alternative, but metal is more likely to attract heat. Before adding any tissue papers or decorations to the box, put the chocolates inside to make sure they fit. If you're packing individual chocolates, place them on a candy cup to prevent them from touching any decorations. After you place the chocolates in the box, pad it with tissue paper. This prevents the chocolate from breaking as you handle the box and helps to keep it cool. Although you can use bubble wrap to keep the chocolates cool and intact, tissue paper is much more decorative. Try finding tissue paper in bold colors or patterns to help it make a celebratory statement. You can also wrap tissue paper around the bottom and top of the box for an extra flair. This can make the container look more ornate, especially if you're gifting your chocolates to someone else. Cut the decorative paper to fit the sides of your container and use craft glue or a glue stick to secure it in place. You can use art paper, construction paper, wrapping paper, wallpaper samples, or even newspaper to decorate your container. If your box is a solid color, use a decorative stamp or sticker to give it color. Use between 1-3 types of stamps or stickers at most, as too much decoration can overwhelm the box's style. Avoid using both stamps and stickers to avoid oversaturating the box with decoration. You can also glue buttons or beads to the box for a more unique design. In a pinch, colored office supply stickers can function as a simple decoration. You can purchase colored sticker dots from most office supply stores. Ribbons can give your container a decorative flair. Tie the ribbon on top of or around the container, or tie the ribbon into a bow and glue it to the top or side. Curl the ribbons with scissors to make them look especially ornamental.

SUMMARY: Make or find a cardstock gift box for your chocolates. Place the chocolates into the box. Stuff the container with tissue paper. Wrap your container in decorative paper. Decorate the box with stamps or stickers. Tie a ribbon to your container.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Florida no longer requires "fault" for a divorce. Instead, both parties must claim that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." Fault may be considered later, when deciding alimony, equitable division of marital property, and child custody. In order to get a divorce in Florida, one party must have been a resident of the state for the preceding 6 months. Couples who have children must take an online course before filing for divorce. Sometimes the children must also take a course specially designed for them. One recommended Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course costs $19.95. You should expect to pay a fee for the class. If you are getting a Simplified Divorce, then you do not have to take this class (because a requirement of a Simplified Divorce is that you have no children). You should contact the court clerk with questions about the specific course approved for your county.
Summary:
Be sure the marriage is irretrievably broken. Satisfy residency requirements. Take an online class.