INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Rental agreements are straightforward: you pay a certain amount each month, then return the copier when finished. This is the worst value for your money, so it's typically reserved for companies with a sudden surge in copy requirements. Avoid complex rental agreements with additional charges. You should be able to find a service with a flat fee and no complications. This requires the most money at time-of-purchase. You should be confident that you'll use this copier for more than a couple years. If you have the funds, there are two main advantages to this tactic: You might be able to write off the expense in one tax year, which could give you a short-term financial advantage. Consult a local tax lawyer. You won't be stuck under a lease agreement, which may save you a little money if you do end up changing copiers later. A used copier usually goes for about 1/5th the price of a new one. If you're starting a new business and don't know what your copy volume will be, this is the lowest risk investment. Ask for the copier's "copy count," or number-of-copies printed. A high-quality printer with speeds of 45+ pages per minute may be good for 15 or 20 million copies. A slower, older, or lower quality printer may decline after 15 million. Leasing is a common middle ground between buying and renting. You pay a monthly fee to use the copier for one to five years. At the end of this time, you have the option to purchase it permanently. Leases are very difficult to escape once signed, so read them thoroughly. Fair Market Value (FMV) leases usually cost $100 USD to $650 USD each month, depending on copier quality. Once it's over, the bank sets a price for the copier based on current market value. $1 Out leases let you buy the copier for US $1 at the end of the lease. This is essentially a purchase in installments, with higher monthly fees. If you're a new business, the owner may need to sign a personal guarantee. This means the owner will have to pay the lease fees out of pocket if the business cannot. To save money, stay away from packaged lease + service deals. Instead, hire a different company to keep your copier stocked and repaired. Review the service agreement for the following information: Find the cost of service per copy. Multiply this by your monthly copy volume to find the monthly fee. Look for a minimum monthly fee. During slow months, you may end up paying this fee instead of the service per copy. Estimate the additional cost based on the last twelve months of copy volume. Ideally, look for a four hour maximum response time for emergency repairs. If your office operates outside of normal business hours, make sure emergency repairs are covered during those times.

SUMMARY: Rent a copier for short-term use. Buy the copier outright if affordable. Consider buying a used copier. Read lease agreements carefully. Get a separate servicing agreement.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Different card issuers offer different types of benefits when you open a card. These may be promotional benefits that last for a set period or they may be used throughout the lifetime of the card! Some cards offer 1% or 2% cash back on all purchases, no annual fee, credit points toward purchases, or promotional interest rates. Benefits should not be the main reason you choose a certain card, think of them as icing on the cake! If you are a student, you may qualify for special offers and promotions. Remember, the interest rate is dependent upon your credit history, so the rates you are offered may change over time. That being said, if this is your first credit card and you have little credit history, you will most likely be approved for a card with a high interest rate. The interest rate will be applied to the remaining balance on your bill if you do not pay it off each month. You should always try to pay your balance in full so you avoid incurring additional interest charges. Know your interest type. Some cards charge interest from the date of purchase, while others charge interest from the billing date. If you are offered a promotional interest rate, find out the terms of payment and when the rate will expire. Most cards apply payments to lowest interest charges first, leaving your higher interest charges to collect interest until the entire amount is paid off. A high interest rate for your first card is not unusual, especially if you have little or no credit history. As you use your first card responsibly, you may qualify for better rates. There can be a variety of different fees that may be applied to your card, which could make some cards better options than others. There may be an annual fee, an application fee, an account service charge, an over-limit fee, a late-payment fee, a cash advance fee, and other miscellaneous fees. Compare these fees to other cards, along with their interest rates and other benefits to make sure you find the best card for you. There are typically three ways to apply for a credit card: through the mail, over the phone and on the Internet. Once you have decided on the right first card for you, you will need to apply for it with the card issuer. They will either accept or deny your application for credit. While a lot of this decision is based on credit history, credit issuers realize that first time card applicants will have very different credit histories than more established credit card users. Card issuers will usually ask about your current income and the current balance in your accounts. They use this information to decide what sort of credit line to assign you, and will commonly ask for proof of income as part of the approval process. You do not have to have a bank account to open a credit card, but you do need to prove that you have a source of income so the card issuer knows you will pay back your purchases. Activating your card usually involves calling in to the credit issuer to confirm that you have received it. Sign the back of your card before you begin using it, this adds an additional layer of security. You can use the credit card wherever they are accepted, online or in person. If your card is ever lost or stolen, contact the credit card issuer immediately. If your card has been used fraudulently, freeze the credit card immediately with your issuer.

SUMMARY: Look at the benefits. Look at interest rates. Ask about fees and charges. Apply. Activate the card.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Removing the marker stain will be easier if you have all your materials ready and accessible before you start. You're going to need: A mild abrasive cleaner or enzyme cleaner. You can get these at any big box store and most supermarkets. Rubbing alcohol, also available at most supermarkets, drugstores, and big box stores. A damp washcloth. Hold a clean washcloth under running water and squeeze out the excess water. You want to make sure the spot you're cleaning is facing up so that the cleaner doesn't run down the surface of the wood. Make sure you cover the entire area of the marker stain. Let the cleaner sit for 2-3 minutes. Wipe in a circular motion until you remove the stain. This may take a few minutes. Rinse any remaining cleaner from the wood using a clean corner of your damp washcloth. If the stain is still there after using cleaner, soak your washcloth in rubbing alcohol. Wipe the alcohol-soaked washcloth over the stained area a few times, then rinse.

SUMMARY:
Gather your materials. Turn the piece of wood so that the marked surface is accessible. Spray the abrasive or enzyme cleaner onto the surface of the wood. Wipe off the marker stain with a damp washcloth. Remove remaining marker with a washcloth soaked in rubbing alcohol.