University of California Berkeley - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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CREDIT FOR DEBITS lere are many companies nich advertise on televi- bn purporting to clear up iiur bad credit history, to lit you major credit iirds, all for a modest fee, nich they often do not ad- ' !rtise. The fact is, these com- linies can do no more for •)u than you can do for ' )urself. In fact, you can do i;actly what they would do ■ but costlessly. They can- )t clean up your credit rec- d if your bad credit report IS not stayed in the port- lio for the statutory re- jired length of time. Usu- ly, the major credit irds you get are issued by ly by night banks which large the maximum inter- 3t allowed by law (which, nee deregulation, is al- ost to get a list of your rights. (TRW is just one among several companies who keep a record of everyone ' s credit history.) For example, did you know that if you were turned down for a credit card or a loan be- cause of a bad credit rating, you have the right to review your credit file free of charge? Furthermore, you have the right to review your credit file at any time, for a fee though. You also have the right to place notes regarding a credit malady into your file. For ex- ample, suppose you apply for a loan but are refused because of a small credit mishap, even though the rest of you report is clean. With the note, the le hole in your pocket came from digging to find spare change, not flames? nything within reason ) and have a heftier annual fee than ost So, what can you do if you ever get into a bad credit tuation ' r ' Some will probably recommend contacting a lawyer in order r you to learn your rights, but that is only if you ' re in a case here you may have to declare bankruptcy to get the creditors ■f of your back Usually, for small problems, contacting a TRW ■presentative or the credit bureau is enough for you bank may be more sympathetic to your inability to pay In short, the credit file is not just for banks To get credit, make sure you can verify a steady income, your address (by placing your name on the telephone billing state- ment) and shop around for the best interest rate and services offered by the bank Most never run into any problems. But if you ' re one who can ' t resist signing at the X , leaving the card at home always works. Credit For Debits Berkeley Store Guide 29

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LONG LIVED SALES W- I r3ff Your mom always told you to save for a rainy day. But California is always fiaving a droughit, so, spend you did. Ten dollars at Rasputin ' s, anothier $50 at The Gap, some spare change at Headlines, and then who knows where that last bit went off to. Perhaps it was to some vendor on Tel- egraph. But the 50%, 75%, 100% off(?) sale is not difficult to find in Berkeley Rasputin ' s, The Gap, Headlines, Divali, Marika, World of Pants, Hustons - these stores are fa- mous for their year- round sales more than anything else You might luck out at Ras- putins and find an old Beetles 45 for only 25 cents. Headlines usu- ally has the two for one deals World of Pants and Hustons have a sale banner permanently plas- Photos by Eric Jarvis tered to their bill- board The Gap and Divali have sales almost every- day too Though the stores may not look like Ma- cy ' s or Nordstrom ' s, the prices won ' t give you a bloody nose ei- ther So, what are some other stores in Berkeley with terrific sales ' Whole Earth Access on Ashby near the 880 Freeway has top of the line mer- chandise often at rock bottom prices. The Papyrus outlet in West Berkeley has an unusual assortment of party favors and dec- orations as well as I out-of-print cards for 1 cheap Some cards l originally selling for S3 ' or more are just 50 ■ cents Straw Into Gold ' alloys you to knit a ' wool sweater for un- der $30. If you want ' the most out of your ' buck, look up these places You won ' t be disappointed Having GnOUOh money to bum is fun, but what if 28 Berkeley Store GuiHe l fig I ived Sales

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WHERE Gift-giving is a dual edged sword. On the one hand, giving something the time for nothing, no matter how many times you repeat to yourself, It ' s the were uncreative, thoughtless, or worst, just plain forgot. But where can yo and rare first editions can sometimes be found at Black Oak Books. They i case you can get a personalized autograph. If money is no object, Zosak collectibles, such as jewelry boxes, xylophones and drums. If the persor definitely the place. For the geologically inclined. The Rock Shop has an un to have medicinal qualities. If it ' s designer silks and wools you ' re looking fc feature designer fabric from Ellen Tracy, Ann Klein II, Calvin Klen and othj games in which case Games of Berkeley is probably the only place yoJ Japanese Imari bowls, vases and tea sets, handcrafted and signed by Ja| gifts. Acme Bread has fresh bread to munch on, if you get there in time. ( 30 Berkeley Store Guide Where To Gel It