In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: The interest rate is the single most important detail when negotiating a loan. With good credit, banks will more openly compete for a loan. With bad credit, you need to take initiative and negotiate the terms of the agreement by yourself. Explain any medical bill debt. Many times, lenders are more willing to work with you if your credit score is negatively affected by medical bills. Some lenders even remove medical debt from the equation when calculating your interest rate. Compare multiple quotes. Get a quote from your bank or credit union, and consider getting quotes from other banks and credit unions nearby. There are also many online services that will give you quotes for a home equity loan or line of credit. Don't be afraid to turn a lender down. If you don't like your offer, or you think you can do better, don't accept it. Patience will help you get a better offer. Make banks compete against each other. Tell your potential lenders that you are shopping around for better rates, as this will provide with some leverage in your negotiation. See which lenders are willing to negotiate the terms of your loan, and which aren't. There are many lenders who will happily take advantage of someone with bad credit and a lack of knowledge. By understanding the terms of the loan, you can properly negotiate your contract and avoid being taken advantage of. Some common details worth negotiating are detailed below. Interest rate. This is the most important detail to negotiate, and will end up saving you the most money if you are able to get a good offer. Closing costs. The lender is legally obligated to provide you with a Good Faith Estimate of the closing costs. Compare closing costs between your offers and take note of any which seem particularly high. Make sure you plan for closing costs when you are measuring your finances for payments. Making your monthly payments is important, but missing the closing costs can undo all of your diligent work. Rate structure. Some home equity loans have the option to be adjustable or fixed. While fixed rate loans have lower risk to the borrower (because the rate is fixed and will not change), adjustable rate loans can be beneficial for people who plan to sell their homes within the next several years. Adjustable rate loans change their rate over time - if you're considering one be sure to look at the periodic cap (the limit for rate changes at any one time). Also check the lifetime cap (the limit for rate changes throughout the loan term). Read over the terms of your loan carefully before signing the final documents. Make sure no unrequested changes have been made in the contract. Ask questions about any details which are unclear. This is a good way to catch and avoid deceptive lender practices. If you feel like you are being scammed or taken advantage of, consider using another lender.
Summary: Negotiate the interest rate. Negotiate the details. Re-read your terms before accepting.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: If you're nervous about the prospect of talking to others, it can be stressful to strike up a conversation. Going into a social situation, strive to relax. This way, you will be able to smoothly start conversations without fumbling over your words. Try doing something physical before social interactions to help you relax. meditate or practice something like progressive muscle relaxation. Find a quiet spot to engage in a relaxation ritual prior to a social event. This will help you go into the event calm. At a minimum, take a few slow deep breaths. You want to make sure someone wants to talk before striking up conversation with them. You will not be able to talk to anyone if you approach people before they want to be approached. Watch for signs someone is ready to engage before beginning a conversation if they seem closed off, wait until they're more relaxed. Look for open body language. Someone should not be blocking their torso by doing things like crossing their arms. People who want to talk will be standing tall with their arms at their sides. Someone may also catch your eye briefly, indicating they are open to conversation. This is a good sign it's safe to approach someone. A question is a great way to open a conversation. It gets things going and conveys interest in the other person. Shortly after introducing yourself, try asking a question. Also, it is best to ask an open-ended question that requires more than a "yes" or a "no" answer. If you're at a party, for example, open by saying something like, "How do you know the host?" If you're at a networking event, ask someone about their work. Say something like, "What exactly does your job entail?" You can also try working with what you have to begin a conversation. If you're stumbling to think of a question or a topic, comment on your surroundings. Look around the room and pull a conversation starter from there. For example, say something like, "I love the wood floors here. It feels so old fashioned." You can also invite the other person to share their input, which can spur a conversation. For example, "What do you think of this wallpaper? I've never seen anything like it."
Summary: Relax going into the situation. Watch body language. Open with a question. Use your surroundings to strike up a conversation.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: If you are apart from your boyfriend, you likely make use of video chat services anyway. For his birthday, make it a special date by both of you cooking the same meal and eating "together" while chatting. Alternatively, have takeout delivered to him where he is and get the same food for you to enjoy. You could also read him a poem you wrote or play him a special song, one you wrote or one that makes you think of him. Nothing says you're missing him like a package from you! If he's far from home, he'll appreciate some little things that he misses. If you're the one that's far away, send him some special items from where you are. For instance, if you're still at home while your boyfriend is in another state or country, send him some snacks he loves that he can't get where he is. Throw in a homemade baked good or something else he misses, such as his favorite shampoo he can't find where he is. Alternatively, send him something special from where you are, such as a local food item or a novelty item. You could also send him something sentimental, such as a rock from a local park you hung out in or sand from a beach where you're visiting. That is, print out a picture of him, and then take him around to special sites where you are. Take a picture with the photo, and then send him a collage of all the pictures you took. This present will make him feel like he's there with you! Gather messages, notes, and small gifts from your boyfriend's friends and family, and then mail them altogether in a package. Your boyfriend will feel the love even from a distance! Alternatively, take video of different friends and family wishing him happy birthday. Put them together into a single video, and send it to your boyfriend for his birthday. Have each person hold up one letter of a birthday wish, such as "Happy Birthday, John," and take a picture of each one individually. Put them together on a card, and have everyone sign it before you mail it off. You can also just have them all hold a banner in one large picture.
Summary:
Have an extra-special video chat date. Send your boyfriend a care package. Create a photo collage of you and your boyfriend at local sites. Get your boyfriend's friend and family in on the fun. Create a friends and family birthday card with pictures.