BusinessWeek says Amazon is buying a stake in "Bill Me Later" a firm that offers open lines of credit to customers so they can shop without using a credit card.

The deal should be final by the first quarter of 2008. Anyone used "Bill Me Later"?

The ongoing subprime meltdown is The Wall Street Journal analyzed more than $2.5 trillion in subprime loans made since 2000 and found that as the number of subprime loans grew, the loans were being issued to borrowers with better and better credit scores—borrowers who could have qualified for traditional loans with more reasonable terms.

In fact, the WSJ says that at the peak of the subprime boom in 2005 over half of the subprime loans went to people with good credit.

By 2006, 61% of subprime loans were going to people with good or even excellent credit scores.

Why?
The surprisingly high number of subprime loans among more credit-worthy borrowers shows how far such mortgages have spread into the economy -- including middle-class and wealthy communities where they once were scarce. They also affirm that thousands of borrowers took out loans -- perhaps foolishly -- with little or no documentation, or no down payment, or without the income to qualify for a conventional loan of the size they wanted.

The analysis also raises pointed questions about the practices of major mortgage lenders. Many borrowers whose credit scores might have qualified them for more conventional loans say they were pushed into risky subprime loans. They say lenders or brokers aggressively marketed the loans, offering easier and faster approvals -- and playing down or hiding the onerous price paid over the long haul in higher interest rates or stricter repayment terms. As we've It has now become common for store to offer, in addition to their regular store-brand credit card, a co-branded Visa, Amex or Mastercard.

But which should you chose? Bankrate breaks it down:

Private label:

Easier to qualify.
One high APR for all.
Low credit limit.
Use only in one store.
Rewards for shopping in store.

Co-branded cards:

APR depends on credit rating.
Variable APR, lower than private label.
Credit limit depends on rating.
Use anywhere.
Rewards for shopping anywhere.

Generally speaking the co-branded cards are a better deal, but some people prefer the store cards because they have low limits and are easier to get. We've never felt the need for a branded credit card aside from the occasional no interest deal (that we paid off within the interest free period.) Do you find that the deals are worth it?

Bankrate is concerned that you'll spend more than you can afford this holiday shopping season, so they've got a list of 7 "budget busters":

1. Don't make a list
2. Act like Santa Claus
3.