Low Interest Student Loan
Whether you're looking for your first student loan, or your trying to figure out how to pay off the ones you have this article will have all the information you need to make the process easier.
Student loans and how they work can be confusing for most people. At the same time, it is very important for you to understand how student loans work in order to get the best deal and avoid common but costly mistakes.
After reading this article you will have a basic understanding about student loans. We will also talk about your options to paying off your student loans in good times or bad.
What is a Student Loan?
At the basic level a student loan is usually an unsecured loan made by a bank or government back institution to you and depending on your age, your parents.
If you are going to attend College, you will more then likely need to borrow money to finance your education. In most cases your payments will not start until after you graduate, and hopefully have a job.
Should You Take Student Loans in Today's Economy?
If you are about to graduate High School, I suggest the better question would be what are your options in today's economy? Sadly even college grads can have a difficult time finding a job in down economical times, but you will never go wrong with a college degree in the long haul.
Our economy runs in cycles and when things start to pick up those that have degrees will be the first hired, while those without will need to wait longer for good employment.
When there are no jobs, the best place to be is in college furthering your education, preparing for a better tomorrow.
What if You Have Loans but No Job?
Because the economy is struggling, some resent College grads, might find themselves underemployed or even unemployed. This makes it difficult to make payments on student loans.
Low interest student loans are available through federal student loan sources as well as private sectors. Almost all private low interest student loans will require you to pass a credit check and this can be difficult if you are looking for private student loans options with bad or no credit. You will find that a many of the federal student loan programs do not require you to have collateral or even a credit check.
A lower interest rate means lower payments, a shortened repayment period and more money in your pocket. Interest will be charged beginning on the date of the first loan disbursement. Interest can be paid as it accrues or it will be added to the loan's principal balance upon repayment.
While it is sometimes possible to get a private loan with a very low interest rate, your best bet is with federal student loans. Federal education loans are available in either the Direct Loan or federally-guaranteed student loan programs. The Federal education loan programs offer lower interest rates and more flexible repayment plans than most consumer loans, making them an attractive way to finance your education.
Federal student financing (Stafford, Direct and Perkins loans) can be combined with outside and/or school awarded scholarships, like Pell grants (which do not have to be repaid), PLUS loans (made to students' parents), and other financing.
Start the process by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and submitting the application starting January 1 each year. Once your form is reviewed by the government, they will send you a letter called the student aid report. This report will tell you what programs you qualify for and how much money.
The school you listed on your FAFSA will also receive a copy of this report and will then structure a financial aid package, based on your qualified programs and send to you.
Don't pass up your opportunity for the lower rates offered by the government run programs, just because of paper work needed. The biggest benefit of filing a FAFSA could be that you also qualify for grants that you don't have to pay back.
The Federal student loan program is called the Direct Loan program. This is a low interest loan for students and parents to help pay for education beyond high school.
The loan is issued by the U.S. Department of Education directly, and there are no banks involved with these loans. Because you are borrowing directly from the federal government you will be able to administer everything to do with your loans using the Direct Loan Servicing Center. This makes it easier especially if you have multiple loans from different schools.
There are a number of types of loans that fall under the Direct Loan Program and there are some important differences that you should be aware of about how they charge interest.
The subsidized loan is for students that have a financial need determined by federal regulations. With this loan there are no interest charges while the student is in school at least half time. There is also no interest charge during the six month grace period following the completion or termination of classes, nor any deferment periods.
The unsubsidized loan is not based on financial need, and there will be interest charged as soon as the money is distributed. This means that even though you are not obligated to pay on the loan while in school, you will be charged interest during this period. You will also be charged interest during the six month grace period and any deferment periods.
The Plus loan is an unsubsidized loan for the parent of the student to help cover any educational costs not covered by any other financial assistance. Interest is charged during all periods for this type of loan.
There is also a Consolidation loan that combines any eligible federal student loans into one Direct Consolidation Loan. This has the advantages to lower your monthly payments by spreading you loan out over a longer term. While you will lower your monthly payment, you will pay more interest because of the longer term.
You can apply for any of the Direct Loans by filling out the Federal Student Aid application online. The information in the application is transmitted to the school you list in the applications and is used to determine all financial aid that might be available to the student.
There are no required payments due until the student falls below a half time status and there is also a six month grace period after graduation or termination in most cases. We will cover payment requirements and options in future articles.Whether you're looking for your first student loan, or your trying to figure out how to pay off the ones you have this article will have all the information you need to make the process easier.
Student loans and how they work can be confusing for most people. At the same time, it is very important for you to understand how student loans work in order to get the best deal and avoid common but costly mistakes.
After reading this article you will have a basic understanding about student loans. We will also talk about your options to paying off your student loans in good times or bad.
What is a Student Loan?
At the basic level a student loan is usually an unsecured loan made by a bank or government back institution to you and depending on your age, your parents.
If you are going to attend College, you will more then likely need to borrow money to finance your education. In most cases your payments will not start until after you graduate, and hopefully have a job.
Should You Take Student Loans in Today's Economy?
If you are about to graduate High School, I suggest the better question would be what are your options in today's economy? Sadly even college grads can have a difficult time finding a job in down economical times, but you will never go wrong with a college degree in the long haul.
Our economy runs in cycles and when things start to pick up those that have degrees will be the first hired, while those without will need to wait longer for good employment.
When there are no jobs, the best place to be is in college furthering your education, preparing for a better tomorrow.
What if You Have Loans but No Job?
Because the economy is struggling, some resent College grads, might find themselves underemployed or even unemployed. This makes it difficult to make payments on student loans.
Low interest student loans are available through federal student loan sources as well as private sectors. Almost all private low interest student loans will require you to pass a credit check and this can be difficult if you are looking for private student loans options with bad or no credit. You will find that a many of the federal student loan programs do not require you to have collateral or even a credit check.
A lower interest rate means lower payments, a shortened repayment period and more money in your pocket. Interest will be charged beginning on the date of the first loan disbursement. Interest can be paid as it accrues or it will be added to the loan's principal balance upon repayment.
While it is sometimes possible to get a private loan with a very low interest rate, your best bet is with federal student loans. Federal education loans are available in either the Direct Loan or federally-guaranteed student loan programs. The Federal education loan programs offer lower interest rates and more flexible repayment plans than most consumer loans, making them an attractive way to finance your education.
Federal student financing (Stafford, Direct and Perkins loans) can be combined with outside and/or school awarded scholarships, like Pell grants (which do not have to be repaid), PLUS loans (made to students' parents), and other financing.
Start the process by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and submitting the application starting January 1 each year. Once your form is reviewed by the government, they will send you a letter called the student aid report. This report will tell you what programs you qualify for and how much money.
The school you listed on your FAFSA will also receive a copy of this report and will then structure a financial aid package, based on your qualified programs and send to you.
Don't pass up your opportunity for the lower rates offered by the government run programs, just because of paper work needed. The biggest benefit of filing a FAFSA could be that you also qualify for grants that you don't have to pay back.
The Federal student loan program is called the Direct Loan program. This is a low interest loan for students and parents to help pay for education beyond high school.
The loan is issued by the U.S. Department of Education directly, and there are no banks involved with these loans. Because you are borrowing directly from the federal government you will be able to administer everything to do with your loans using the Direct Loan Servicing Center. This makes it easier especially if you have multiple loans from different schools.
There are a number of types of loans that fall under the Direct Loan Program and there are some important differences that you should be aware of about how they charge interest.
The subsidized loan is for students that have a financial need determined by federal regulations. With this loan there are no interest charges while the student is in school at least half time. There is also no interest charge during the six month grace period following the completion or termination of classes, nor any deferment periods.
The unsubsidized loan is not based on financial need, and there will be interest charged as soon as the money is distributed. This means that even though you are not obligated to pay on the loan while in school, you will be charged interest during this period. You will also be charged interest during the six month grace period and any deferment periods.
The Plus loan is an unsubsidized loan for the parent of the student to help cover any educational costs not covered by any other financial assistance. Interest is charged during all periods for this type of loan.
There is also a Consolidation loan that combines any eligible federal student loans into one Direct Consolidation Loan. This has the advantages to lower your monthly payments by spreading you loan out over a longer term. While you will lower your monthly payment, you will pay more interest because of the longer term.
You can apply for any of the Direct Loans by filling out the Federal Student Aid application online. The information in the application is transmitted to the school you list in the applications and is used to determine all financial aid that might be available to the student.
There are no required payments due until the student falls below a half time status and there is also a six month grace period after graduation or termination in most cases. We will cover payment requirements and options in future articles.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Debt Management
Debt management: great service to get free from debts
Debt management: great service to get free from debts
Every attempt to consolidate the multiple debts of a debtor fails because the action is not set in a well planned manner. Debt is a serious issue and demands to be dissolving with rational policies, and considering the debt management program is one of such deliberate advice that concentrates to dispose the debts to zero. The earlier steps taken regard them past, and approach for the debt management program for a rewarding and effective resolution. The objectives and principles of debt management program are adopted after assumptions and speculations which can stabilize or aid to rebuild the badly affected financial score in a sparing manner. Tactically and subtly, the policies are fused and carried out in a managerial way to consolidate the single or multiple debts as they are stronghold enough. Being a debtor is not a wrong sign; in order to qualify all the varied financial needs, inadequacy of required finance compels a person to take monetary support in the form of loans. However taking debt is considered bad in the society. Debtors, gradually, go in fix of debt trap due to mismanagement of repayment planning. Considering the fact of the matter, the lending authority has come up with the generous provision of bad debt management. Under the plan, debt elimination process is worked out.
Debt management program can be subscribed in a straightforward procedure. The practice of advancing debt management program is traditional and online, but the later is given the preference as it provides instant results to the applicants. While applying for a debt management program furnish data in an elusive manner and accurately in order to avoid delay. The services of debt program management reinstate and assist to supervise the future debts along with realizing demands.
Some people do not know how to manage their money. Others turn a deaf years despite warning signs of poor money management. However, getting out of debt is a function of learning and consistently applying good money bad debt management practices.
First of all, individuals must truly acknowledge they need help managing their debts. Once they truly decide to do something about their debts, they need a plan. Subsequently, figure out exactly how much they have owed. Write down all on a piece of paper. If unable to understand, then it is better to take help of any financial expert available nearby.
In prospect of providing a good bad debt management service, there are many lenders available in the money market for this generous cause. However with the advent of the internet, availing bad debt management has become very simple and easy. Henceforth, debtors have to fill in simple application forms available right online. Thereafter, a lender works for the debtor.
The lender gives entire of the debts into a single entity name, and calculates the amount and interest rates thereupon. After matching your dues and the amount you have, the lender makes a single monthly repayment scheme considerably. In such a way that both the creditors and the lender may not have to bear up any financial burnt. Debtors find their elimination of their debts under the provision of bad debt management very easy and simple.
The results of this debt management program are creditable. In short, the explicit advice deducts the monthly burden which you are obligated to different lenders. Multiple debts will be cut down to a single and debtors will have to be answerable to a particular creditor adding to the shedding of mental stress. In the market, the service of debt management program is provided by finance lending institutions in an easy way and the eligibility criteria is to be a victim of debts. The debt management program is released or functioning under different names, debt management service, debt management advice, debt consolidation program, debt consolidation advice and such, so that debtors can easily consolidate the debts. With the sustenance of such program debtors can also spot a lender who allocates finance at marginal rate of interest.
Debt management program can be subscribed in a straightforward procedure. The practice of advancing debt management program is traditional and online, but the later is given the preference as it provides instant results to the applicants. While applying for a debt management program furnish data in an elusive manner and accurately in order to avoid delay. The services of debt program management reinstate and assist to supervise the future debts along with realizing demands.
Some people do not know how to manage their money. Others turn a deaf years despite warning signs of poor money management. However, getting out of debt is a function of learning and consistently applying good money bad debt management practices.
First of all, individuals must truly acknowledge they need help managing their debts. Once they truly decide to do something about their debts, they need a plan. Subsequently, figure out exactly how much they have owed. Write down all on a piece of paper. If unable to understand, then it is better to take help of any financial expert available nearby.
In prospect of providing a good bad debt management service, there are many lenders available in the money market for this generous cause. However with the advent of the internet, availing bad debt management has become very simple and easy. Henceforth, debtors have to fill in simple application forms available right online. Thereafter, a lender works for the debtor.
The lender gives entire of the debts into a single entity name, and calculates the amount and interest rates thereupon. After matching your dues and the amount you have, the lender makes a single monthly repayment scheme considerably. In such a way that both the creditors and the lender may not have to bear up any financial burnt. Debtors find their elimination of their debts under the provision of bad debt management very easy and simple.
The results of this debt management program are creditable. In short, the explicit advice deducts the monthly burden which you are obligated to different lenders. Multiple debts will be cut down to a single and debtors will have to be answerable to a particular creditor adding to the shedding of mental stress. In the market, the service of debt management program is provided by finance lending institutions in an easy way and the eligibility criteria is to be a victim of debts. The debt management program is released or functioning under different names, debt management service, debt management advice, debt consolidation program, debt consolidation advice and such, so that debtors can easily consolidate the debts. With the sustenance of such program debtors can also spot a lender who allocates finance at marginal rate of interest.
Loan Consolidation
Fast debt consolidation loans: remove all your debts fast
Missed repayments lead to accumulation of debts for the borrower which in turn can hamper the credit history of the borrower. It is very important to remove these debts to avoid financial problems in the future. The borrower can get rid of these debts easily with the help of fast debt consolidation loans.
Fast debt consolidation loans helps the borrower by uniting all his debts into one single amount and pays it off to remove the multiple debts completely. The borrower now just has to repay one loan which is the fast debt consolidation loans instead of multiple unpaid debts which are charged at a higher rate of interest. This reduces the monthly outbound amount of the borrower and makes repayment comfortable for him.
The fast debt consolidation loans are borrowed at a rate of interest lower than the unpaid debts. This also helps in saving money of the borrower as interest, in addition to reducing the hassles that are caused to the borrower by the debts. Fast debt consolidation loans are beneficial to the borrowers who have debts of more than two lenders, amounting to more than £5000.
The borrower can take up the fast debt consolidation loans in the secured form by pledging collateral or in the unsecured form without attaching any collateral. Through secured form, he will get an even lower rate of interest than unsecured form.
Fast debt consolidation loans are available to bad credit borrowers also. They can use it to remove the debts and thus finally improve their credit history. The rates of interest offered to them are slightly higher but can be lowered by proper researching for loan deals.
Online availability of the fast debt consolidation loans helps the borrowers in undertaking a proper comparison of the loan deals. This way they can obtain lower rates with greater benefits.
With fast debt consolidation loans, the borrowers can have a sigh of relief as their debts can be removed easily and they can prevent debt problems in the future.
Fast debt consolidation loans: remove all your debts fast
Missed repayments lead to accumulation of debts for the borrower which in turn can hamper the credit history of the borrower. It is very important to remove these debts to avoid financial problems in the future. The borrower can get rid of these debts easily with the help of fast debt consolidation loans.
Fast debt consolidation loans helps the borrower by uniting all his debts into one single amount and pays it off to remove the multiple debts completely. The borrower now just has to repay one loan which is the fast debt consolidation loans instead of multiple unpaid debts which are charged at a higher rate of interest. This reduces the monthly outbound amount of the borrower and makes repayment comfortable for him.
The fast debt consolidation loans are borrowed at a rate of interest lower than the unpaid debts. This also helps in saving money of the borrower as interest, in addition to reducing the hassles that are caused to the borrower by the debts. Fast debt consolidation loans are beneficial to the borrowers who have debts of more than two lenders, amounting to more than £5000.
The borrower can take up the fast debt consolidation loans in the secured form by pledging collateral or in the unsecured form without attaching any collateral. Through secured form, he will get an even lower rate of interest than unsecured form.
Fast debt consolidation loans are available to bad credit borrowers also. They can use it to remove the debts and thus finally improve their credit history. The rates of interest offered to them are slightly higher but can be lowered by proper researching for loan deals.
Online availability of the fast debt consolidation loans helps the borrowers in undertaking a proper comparison of the loan deals. This way they can obtain lower rates with greater benefits.
With fast debt consolidation loans, the borrowers can have a sigh of relief as their debts can be removed easily and they can prevent debt problems in the future.
Credit Card Types
Low Interest Credit Cards: These are credit cards that offer low interest rates. These types of cards typically require that you have a good to great credit score/standing to get approved. Chase, Citi, and American Express are the leading providers of low interest credit cards today. These cards typically offer a 0% intro apr for at least 12 months.
Airline Travel Reward Credit Cards: These credit cards typically offer Airline rewards in the form of air miles. The leading provider of these cards is either American Express or Bank of America. These cards allow you to accumulate air miles every time you use the credit card. In return you can save on flights all over the world by simply using your credit card. This is the perfect card for the frequent flyer.
Cash Back Credit Cards: Cash back cards offer just that! Cash back on purchases. Most cards offer up to about 5% cash back on purchases. Some require that you make purchases at "selected locations" while others give you cash back on purchases anywhere. Chase has Cash Plus Reward Visa that is currently the leading cash back credit card on the market today.
Instant Approval Credit Cards: The instant approval credit cards require excellent credit! These cards will approve you instantly online with no waiting involved. American Express is the leader in online instant approval applications. In most cases you receive a decision in less than only 30 seconds.
Bad-Credit Credit Cards: Bad-credit credit cards are for those looking to rebuild or establish their credit. These are normally going to carry a yearly fee, and require that you make your payments very promptly. Orchard Bank & First Premier Bank are the leading providers of credit cards for bad credit.
Balance Transfer Credit Cards: If your looking to transfer the balance from one card to another then balance transfer credit cards are what you need! These typically offer 0% interest on any balances you transfer from other credit cards onto them.
Business Credit Cards: These cards are naturally for businesses. They have high limits and many perks that only those in the business world would really be interested in earning. Business cards normally require good credit standing due to the high credit limit you will receive. Again American Express is the leader in business credit card offers.
Gas Credit Cards: These cards offer what we all need! Gas rewards! You can earn up to 5% cash back on all gas purchases. Gas credit cards include the shell gas card from Citi and the Chase Cash Plus Reward Visa.
Hotel Reward Credit Cards: These cards allow you to accumulate hotel rewards or "points" you can then redeem the points for free nights at the hotels of your choice. We currently offer hotel cards for the Hilton hotels.
Student Credit Cards: Are you a student? need to establish some credit of your own? Well these are the perfect fit for you. Student cards by CitiBank and Chase offer rewards and credit building to all students.
Reward Credit Cards: Last but not least are the reward credit cards. These just offer airmiles, cash back, reward points, etc. These cards are for those looking to earn rewards for the charges made on your credit cards each day! Reward yourself with a reward credit card.
Low Interest Credit Cards: These are credit cards that offer low interest rates. These types of cards typically require that you have a good to great credit score/standing to get approved. Chase, Citi, and American Express are the leading providers of low interest credit cards today. These cards typically offer a 0% intro apr for at least 12 months.
Airline Travel Reward Credit Cards: These credit cards typically offer Airline rewards in the form of air miles. The leading provider of these cards is either American Express or Bank of America. These cards allow you to accumulate air miles every time you use the credit card. In return you can save on flights all over the world by simply using your credit card. This is the perfect card for the frequent flyer.
Cash Back Credit Cards: Cash back cards offer just that! Cash back on purchases. Most cards offer up to about 5% cash back on purchases. Some require that you make purchases at "selected locations" while others give you cash back on purchases anywhere. Chase has Cash Plus Reward Visa that is currently the leading cash back credit card on the market today.
Instant Approval Credit Cards: The instant approval credit cards require excellent credit! These cards will approve you instantly online with no waiting involved. American Express is the leader in online instant approval applications. In most cases you receive a decision in less than only 30 seconds.
Bad-Credit Credit Cards: Bad-credit credit cards are for those looking to rebuild or establish their credit. These are normally going to carry a yearly fee, and require that you make your payments very promptly. Orchard Bank & First Premier Bank are the leading providers of credit cards for bad credit.
Balance Transfer Credit Cards: If your looking to transfer the balance from one card to another then balance transfer credit cards are what you need! These typically offer 0% interest on any balances you transfer from other credit cards onto them.
Business Credit Cards: These cards are naturally for businesses. They have high limits and many perks that only those in the business world would really be interested in earning. Business cards normally require good credit standing due to the high credit limit you will receive. Again American Express is the leader in business credit card offers.
Gas Credit Cards: These cards offer what we all need! Gas rewards! You can earn up to 5% cash back on all gas purchases. Gas credit cards include the shell gas card from Citi and the Chase Cash Plus Reward Visa.
Hotel Reward Credit Cards: These cards allow you to accumulate hotel rewards or "points" you can then redeem the points for free nights at the hotels of your choice. We currently offer hotel cards for the Hilton hotels.
Student Credit Cards: Are you a student? need to establish some credit of your own? Well these are the perfect fit for you. Student cards by CitiBank and Chase offer rewards and credit building to all students.
Reward Credit Cards: Last but not least are the reward credit cards. These just offer airmiles, cash back, reward points, etc. These cards are for those looking to earn rewards for the charges made on your credit cards each day! Reward yourself with a reward credit card.
Cash for Structured Settlement
Cash for Structured Settlement.
In the market fall of 2008, you might have witnessed many families being rendered homeless and even you might have felt bitter touch of recession. These kinds of incidents are very common during an economic crisis. But how do you avoid such circumstances? You could cut down on your expenses to keep you floating. But what do you do if you lost your job and don't see any bright one’s ahead? Here's an instance of a family that I know of and how they were able to find the light deep in the jungle of darkness.
The husband of this family in consideration is a great friend of mine and he happened to narrate this incident to me once. He was working as a senior manager in a software firm. He had a loving wife, three kids and a very well paid job. To sum it up, he was living a great life. But when the markets came stumbling down, little did he know that this hit would affect him to the extent that it did. He lost his job. And due to his lavish lifestyle, it was not uncommon that he had a lot of loans on him. The loan lenders started to trouble him day and night asking him to either pay back the loan or vacate their home so that they can sell it off to settle the bill.
He saw no way out of this dangerous maze. Every direction he could take seemed to end up with a negative result. At this point, the family started going through all their financial assets to see if anything could lift them out of this hell hole. They found some sundry assets but they were not enough to pay off their debt and save their home. That's when the wife found the structured settlement she had received long back when she met with an accident. The structured settlement was scheduled for 30 years and it paid $900 a month. But this was insufficient either. So they decided to sell the structured settlement.
Consider yourself a plaintiff who has just won a compensation case. Now you are asked to choose the type of compensation you wish to receive i.e. a one time cash settlement or a structured settlement. The decision you make at this point of time must include a well thought over choice. In order to receive the right type of settlement, you need to analyze your over all situation and then decide which settlement will help you the most.
In most cases, a cash settlement is preferred, but it may not always be the right choice depending on your specific financial situation or future needs. In a case where you receive settlement for a case of injury where you had to be hospitalized, going for a lump sum settlement would seem better as you may wish to pay the mounting hospital bills without any burden. You may also take up any project that you had previously been holding back due to lack of sufficient funds. For example, getting a new house and setting it up the way you like, going on a vacation around the globe, etc. Cash settlements usually change your whole way of living, which might be a real pleasurable experience.
Lump sum settlements provide you with the total cash under your control. You may use it to invest in your business or take up a new career etc. The point is, cash sum settlements, and you are once and for all done with the defendant in the case and are totally free to make decisions as to where the money goes and how it circulates. This specific point will lead us to analyze the disadvantages of cash settlements due to the basic human tendency of making wrong decisions.
In case of lump sum settlements, you will be handed the total amount. Now it is your decision on the how to handle this sum of cash that will invariably decide the destiny of this amount. The general human behavior is to spend according to the income. Hence, you may start spending lavishly on account of the lump sum balance in your bank. If not planned properly, this amount that once seemed an inexhaustible sum will be merely enough to buy you, or if you are a nice person, just your date a movie ticket.
Another disadvantage of a lump sum settlement is that it tends to be much smaller then the structured payout. Usually people find that the lump sum settlement ideas not provide the relief for the pain and suffering. . A series of structured settlements will create ongoing compensation even for the individual’s lifetime that a lump sum amount does not provide. Hence one is required to consider all these factors while prompting for the type of settlement.
These are the very basic advantages and disadvantages of a lump sum settlement. To know the deeper and more technical aspects of lump sum settlements, talk to an expert in this field at Fair Field Funding. Fairfield Funding is a direct buyer of structured settlement annuities, will help get you cash for settlement.
If you were involved in an accident at work (workers compensation claim), been involved in an automobile accident, or a wrongful death case and won that lawsuit then you were awarded a settlement. If the amount was small it would have been awarded to you in a lump sum. If it was a rather large amount then it would be awarded to you in a Structured Settlement.
Another benefit of structured settlements is that they are specially designed to meet your needs over the period of time. In case of the death of payee the guaranteed portion of settlement is paid to beneficiary named in papers. One of the highlighted benefits of these regular payments is the excellent tax advantages that come with it. It is basically income exempted from taxes unlike the usual salary or other forms of income like royalty or dividends.
Selling your structured settlement payments will make you lose many tax benefits in the process. Selling this guaranteed income has only an advantage of large yet single payment. Ultimately, with structured settlements both parties are in a win-win situation; you become the recipient of a constant flow of income (possibly for life) and the responsible party for paying doesn't have to worry themselves with monthly or annual payments.
If your structured settlement is already in place, keep in mind that it was probably set up from the beginning in a way that is tax-advantaged for you. You may therefore have significant tax penalties if you decide to sell your payments for a lump sum. After receiving the necessary documents, from your attorney, most decisions are made within 48 business hours, depending on how soon they can talk with your attorney. When approved for funding, your funds are received within 24-48 business hours.
Even though the country was in chaos over the recession, a company decided to buy the family's structured settlement for a well bargained $50,000. This might have seemed as a stupid deal to outsiders but it was a splendid boon to the family. It just took them a couple of months to get their money wired to their account. They were finally successful in not only clearing off their loans but also were left with sufficient funds to help start their own business. The family currently run a computer trouble shooting business and is doing pretty well.
In the market fall of 2008, you might have witnessed many families being rendered homeless and even you might have felt bitter touch of recession. These kinds of incidents are very common during an economic crisis. But how do you avoid such circumstances? You could cut down on your expenses to keep you floating. But what do you do if you lost your job and don't see any bright one’s ahead? Here's an instance of a family that I know of and how they were able to find the light deep in the jungle of darkness.
The husband of this family in consideration is a great friend of mine and he happened to narrate this incident to me once. He was working as a senior manager in a software firm. He had a loving wife, three kids and a very well paid job. To sum it up, he was living a great life. But when the markets came stumbling down, little did he know that this hit would affect him to the extent that it did. He lost his job. And due to his lavish lifestyle, it was not uncommon that he had a lot of loans on him. The loan lenders started to trouble him day and night asking him to either pay back the loan or vacate their home so that they can sell it off to settle the bill.
He saw no way out of this dangerous maze. Every direction he could take seemed to end up with a negative result. At this point, the family started going through all their financial assets to see if anything could lift them out of this hell hole. They found some sundry assets but they were not enough to pay off their debt and save their home. That's when the wife found the structured settlement she had received long back when she met with an accident. The structured settlement was scheduled for 30 years and it paid $900 a month. But this was insufficient either. So they decided to sell the structured settlement.
Consider yourself a plaintiff who has just won a compensation case. Now you are asked to choose the type of compensation you wish to receive i.e. a one time cash settlement or a structured settlement. The decision you make at this point of time must include a well thought over choice. In order to receive the right type of settlement, you need to analyze your over all situation and then decide which settlement will help you the most.
In most cases, a cash settlement is preferred, but it may not always be the right choice depending on your specific financial situation or future needs. In a case where you receive settlement for a case of injury where you had to be hospitalized, going for a lump sum settlement would seem better as you may wish to pay the mounting hospital bills without any burden. You may also take up any project that you had previously been holding back due to lack of sufficient funds. For example, getting a new house and setting it up the way you like, going on a vacation around the globe, etc. Cash settlements usually change your whole way of living, which might be a real pleasurable experience.
Lump sum settlements provide you with the total cash under your control. You may use it to invest in your business or take up a new career etc. The point is, cash sum settlements, and you are once and for all done with the defendant in the case and are totally free to make decisions as to where the money goes and how it circulates. This specific point will lead us to analyze the disadvantages of cash settlements due to the basic human tendency of making wrong decisions.
In case of lump sum settlements, you will be handed the total amount. Now it is your decision on the how to handle this sum of cash that will invariably decide the destiny of this amount. The general human behavior is to spend according to the income. Hence, you may start spending lavishly on account of the lump sum balance in your bank. If not planned properly, this amount that once seemed an inexhaustible sum will be merely enough to buy you, or if you are a nice person, just your date a movie ticket.
Another disadvantage of a lump sum settlement is that it tends to be much smaller then the structured payout. Usually people find that the lump sum settlement ideas not provide the relief for the pain and suffering. . A series of structured settlements will create ongoing compensation even for the individual’s lifetime that a lump sum amount does not provide. Hence one is required to consider all these factors while prompting for the type of settlement.
These are the very basic advantages and disadvantages of a lump sum settlement. To know the deeper and more technical aspects of lump sum settlements, talk to an expert in this field at Fair Field Funding. Fairfield Funding is a direct buyer of structured settlement annuities, will help get you cash for settlement.
If you were involved in an accident at work (workers compensation claim), been involved in an automobile accident, or a wrongful death case and won that lawsuit then you were awarded a settlement. If the amount was small it would have been awarded to you in a lump sum. If it was a rather large amount then it would be awarded to you in a Structured Settlement.
Another benefit of structured settlements is that they are specially designed to meet your needs over the period of time. In case of the death of payee the guaranteed portion of settlement is paid to beneficiary named in papers. One of the highlighted benefits of these regular payments is the excellent tax advantages that come with it. It is basically income exempted from taxes unlike the usual salary or other forms of income like royalty or dividends.
Selling your structured settlement payments will make you lose many tax benefits in the process. Selling this guaranteed income has only an advantage of large yet single payment. Ultimately, with structured settlements both parties are in a win-win situation; you become the recipient of a constant flow of income (possibly for life) and the responsible party for paying doesn't have to worry themselves with monthly or annual payments.
If your structured settlement is already in place, keep in mind that it was probably set up from the beginning in a way that is tax-advantaged for you. You may therefore have significant tax penalties if you decide to sell your payments for a lump sum. After receiving the necessary documents, from your attorney, most decisions are made within 48 business hours, depending on how soon they can talk with your attorney. When approved for funding, your funds are received within 24-48 business hours.
Even though the country was in chaos over the recession, a company decided to buy the family's structured settlement for a well bargained $50,000. This might have seemed as a stupid deal to outsiders but it was a splendid boon to the family. It just took them a couple of months to get their money wired to their account. They were finally successful in not only clearing off their loans but also were left with sufficient funds to help start their own business. The family currently run a computer trouble shooting business and is doing pretty well.
Best Student Loan Lender
Low Cost Best Student Loan Lender
How to Select the Best Student Loan Lender
There are a variety of lenders offering low cost federal student loans as well as many options in private student loans.
Your student loan will possibly impact on your financial situation for several years, thus it is important for you to choose the best lender and a loan with the best terms that suits your situation and gives you some financial flexibility.
Many lenders offer various benefits to students, including reduced up-front fees or repayment incentives, which helps you save some money and have some financial flexibility.
As a student, it can be very difficult to decide which lender is good for you and which one lender should be avoided. By following simple tips, you will be able to select the best student loan lender.
Your selection of the lender should be based on the type of loan you want. There are many different loans that come from different loan programs. Therefore, you should have knowledge about these programs in order to choose one that best suits your needs and requirements. You can opt for federal student loans or private loans. The choice is yours. However, your selection process does not end here.
You also need to know what loan fees you will be paying when taking out the loan. Many lenders ask for origination fee to process the documents and you should find out what this fee is. If you have a good credit rating, it is quite possible that the lender will waive this fee.
Another aspect that you have to pay attention to is the interest rates. Federal loans have a set interest rate, so you do not have to worry about the rate changing. But this is not the case with private loans. Therefore, it is in your best interests to opt for a federal loan.
Find out if the lender has any incentives for borrowers. There are some lenders who reduce the interest rate once several on-time payments are made. Although this may seem inconsequential to you, remember it will make a big difference when you start repaying the loan amount after you graduate.
If you do not have a good credit or have not managed to establish credit, make sure that whoever signs as the co-borrower or co-signor has a good credit history. Usually this person is a family member or a close friend. This way you can be assured of getting a low interest rate and when you start repaying the loan, it will not seem so burdensome and inconvenient.
It is important for you to know that lenders may vary on different areas like interest rates, offers and terms and conditions. You will therefore to make a thorough research on some selected lenders and compare what they offer to make sure that you will get the loan that suits your needs and gives you the financial flexibility.
So Here Are The 7 Key Things You Will Need To Consider When Searching For A Lender For Your Student Loan?
1.The most useful forms of student loan programs are the Stafford and Plus federal loan programs, so you will need to establish if the prospect lender is part of the Stafford and Plus programs.
2.Most schools or colleges where you will be attending have a list of recommended loan lenders, and this is an important starting point for you. This list will give you a list of good lenders, from which you can start to do your research on who can offer you a loan that best suit your situation.
3.Find out from your prospect lender if they participate in electronic processes. Some lenders offer the option for electronic Fund Transfer in streamlining the student loan process. There are some who send loans via paper check to your schools, and it is necessary for you to know their procedures so that you will be able to choose the lender that will be convenient for you.
4.It is also recommended for you to know if student loan lender offers a special program that helps students avoid loan default.
5.It is important for you to find out if your prospect lender uses a service company. Borrowing money from a lender may be paying the money back to a service that is hired by the lender to take care of the management of the loan. You will need to know about all the parties involved in the student loan process.
6.Some lenders offer to sell loans to secondary markets, which can help you enjoy additional benefits like reduced interest rates. It is important for you to find out if the lender does offer an option to sell student loans.
7.Find out about the discounts, interest reductions and rebate programs which the prospective lender offers. Spend some time researching and checking on their websites to know more about their offers. Having a loan that has various favorable offers means that you will be able to make some savings.
It is important for you to have a student loan that is suited to you, and leaves you with time to focus on your studies. By following the hints stated about, you can easily get a loan that is stress-free and suited to your circumstances.
How to Select the Best Student Loan Lender
There are a variety of lenders offering low cost federal student loans as well as many options in private student loans.
Your student loan will possibly impact on your financial situation for several years, thus it is important for you to choose the best lender and a loan with the best terms that suits your situation and gives you some financial flexibility.
Many lenders offer various benefits to students, including reduced up-front fees or repayment incentives, which helps you save some money and have some financial flexibility.
As a student, it can be very difficult to decide which lender is good for you and which one lender should be avoided. By following simple tips, you will be able to select the best student loan lender.
Your selection of the lender should be based on the type of loan you want. There are many different loans that come from different loan programs. Therefore, you should have knowledge about these programs in order to choose one that best suits your needs and requirements. You can opt for federal student loans or private loans. The choice is yours. However, your selection process does not end here.
You also need to know what loan fees you will be paying when taking out the loan. Many lenders ask for origination fee to process the documents and you should find out what this fee is. If you have a good credit rating, it is quite possible that the lender will waive this fee.
Another aspect that you have to pay attention to is the interest rates. Federal loans have a set interest rate, so you do not have to worry about the rate changing. But this is not the case with private loans. Therefore, it is in your best interests to opt for a federal loan.
Find out if the lender has any incentives for borrowers. There are some lenders who reduce the interest rate once several on-time payments are made. Although this may seem inconsequential to you, remember it will make a big difference when you start repaying the loan amount after you graduate.
If you do not have a good credit or have not managed to establish credit, make sure that whoever signs as the co-borrower or co-signor has a good credit history. Usually this person is a family member or a close friend. This way you can be assured of getting a low interest rate and when you start repaying the loan, it will not seem so burdensome and inconvenient.
It is important for you to know that lenders may vary on different areas like interest rates, offers and terms and conditions. You will therefore to make a thorough research on some selected lenders and compare what they offer to make sure that you will get the loan that suits your needs and gives you the financial flexibility.
So Here Are The 7 Key Things You Will Need To Consider When Searching For A Lender For Your Student Loan?
1.The most useful forms of student loan programs are the Stafford and Plus federal loan programs, so you will need to establish if the prospect lender is part of the Stafford and Plus programs.
2.Most schools or colleges where you will be attending have a list of recommended loan lenders, and this is an important starting point for you. This list will give you a list of good lenders, from which you can start to do your research on who can offer you a loan that best suit your situation.
3.Find out from your prospect lender if they participate in electronic processes. Some lenders offer the option for electronic Fund Transfer in streamlining the student loan process. There are some who send loans via paper check to your schools, and it is necessary for you to know their procedures so that you will be able to choose the lender that will be convenient for you.
4.It is also recommended for you to know if student loan lender offers a special program that helps students avoid loan default.
5.It is important for you to find out if your prospect lender uses a service company. Borrowing money from a lender may be paying the money back to a service that is hired by the lender to take care of the management of the loan. You will need to know about all the parties involved in the student loan process.
6.Some lenders offer to sell loans to secondary markets, which can help you enjoy additional benefits like reduced interest rates. It is important for you to find out if the lender does offer an option to sell student loans.
7.Find out about the discounts, interest reductions and rebate programs which the prospective lender offers. Spend some time researching and checking on their websites to know more about their offers. Having a loan that has various favorable offers means that you will be able to make some savings.
It is important for you to have a student loan that is suited to you, and leaves you with time to focus on your studies. By following the hints stated about, you can easily get a loan that is stress-free and suited to your circumstances.
Bankruptcy and Student Loans
Bankruptcy and Student Loans.
Many people are under the impression that bankruptcy and student loans go together. When faced with outrageous prices for education it would seem that it would be an answer to many seeking relief. However, they do not mix and it is extremely difficult to have them discharged in a bankruptcy court.
Interestingly, in the 1970's it became common practice for someone to attend school and then file bankruptcy and student loans would disappear. It was a sure way to get a free education. Of course, as these cases grew, the government decided to limit the availability of this option. It became increasingly difficult to file for bankruptcy right after school. The common practice was now to wait at least seven years so the loan would be old. In order to file a person simply had to show that they had made their first payment seven years prior and that the loan was causing undue hardship. It was easy to prove the benefits of filing for bankruptcy.
In October 1998, the issue of bankruptcy and student loans again came to the forefront. The court ruled that such a case could not be filed and discharged unless three criteria were met. A person could not open a case unless they met this criterion. The first of these criteria is that you must prove to the court that you cannot keep up with your payment schedule. The second criterion is that you must prove to the court is that you are unable to pay in the future and that your financial situation is permanent. The third and final criterion is that you have made a good-faith effort to pay them back. If and only if you meet all of these criterions, may you open and file a bankruptcy and student loans case.
Even if you meet all of the requirements for opening a bankruptcy and student loans case, there is no guarantee that your loans will be discharged. It will depend on the judge that is hearing your case. Some judges will discharge some of the loans and leave you to pay part of them. Some judges will hear your case and will not discharge any of your loans. Once in awhile, a judge will take your particular case under advisement and discharge everything. This is extremely rare, but it is possible. It is not easy work to get a bankruptcy and student loans case discharged!
When you pursue your education, act responsibly and think before you apply for a student loan. Without foresight into your future, you could find yourself filing a bankruptcy and student loans case and damage the very future you have been working so hard to achieve.
When facing serious financial difficulties, most people resort to filing bankruptcy to eradicate their personal debts and start anew. Though it's clear that declaring bankruptcy is a viable option, discussing it further with your lawyer will determine whether it really is the best move to take. Some debts, such as those on student loans, can't be nullified by bankruptcy unless certain special conditions are met.
Other debts, such as child support obligations and federal taxes, also can't be resolved by bankruptcy. Likewise, drunken driving cases that resulted to criminal fees or judgments will still have to be attended to. Student loans fall into this category.
It's important to understand the logic behind student loans. Congress makes it difficult to eliminate student loans to encourage lending companies to give out such loans. This lets more individuals go to college and generate higher incomes as they reach working age.
Resorting to bankruptcy because of student loan difficulties isn't easy. You have to be familiar with "undue hardship" if you want to wipe out your loans. "Undue hardship" basically means you can't settle your debts, even when living at the lowest acceptable standard of living set by the government. When that sounds like your situation, then a sympathetic judge just might order your student loan debts wiped.
The law isn't very clear in such situations, but if you can satisfactorily prove that you've tried (and failed) to settle your debts in the past, and that your situation isn't likely to get better anytime soon, and then you stand a good chance of winning.
If bankruptcy doesn't take care of your student loan debts, you may want to resort to an administrative discharge. While the chances are slim, it's still worth a try. For instance, if you're disabled for life, then you'll likely qualify for an administrative discharge that eliminates your student loan debts. Joining the military or the Peace Corps are also good ways to wipe out your debts.
Student loans and Bankruptcy - why can't they be wiped out with a Chapter 7? Congress passed a law that made student loans payable no matter what your circumstances are, there is no statute of limitations on the debt which means you will owe this debt until you can pay it off. There have been some cases of proof of financial hardship where the court might have reduced the debt or deferred payment, but this is rare.
So what is financial hardship? Would mean that you would have a limited amount of money and a lot of mouths to feed and no money left over to pay this debt off over 10 years and sometimes stretching it over 25 years with consideration by the court of increased wages over the future years.
There are some cases of wiping out part of your debt by a chapter 7 and even deferring payment over a year or so. Usually this will depend on the state where you live and the court to decide what they can do with your student loan because of the new law passed by Congress.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcies do have the option to accept payments in the amount deemed by the trustee and an amount that you can afford, but when the chapter 13 is over you still owe the balance and the interest due on the student loan.
If you cosigned on a student loan you are also responsible to pay the loan back even if you the student cannot pay it and again it cannot go through bankruptcy and be discharged. Check with a Bankruptcy Attorney about the student loan and your bankruptcy plans so you can find the best solution for your circumstance.
Many people are under the impression that bankruptcy and student loans go together. When faced with outrageous prices for education it would seem that it would be an answer to many seeking relief. However, they do not mix and it is extremely difficult to have them discharged in a bankruptcy court.
Interestingly, in the 1970's it became common practice for someone to attend school and then file bankruptcy and student loans would disappear. It was a sure way to get a free education. Of course, as these cases grew, the government decided to limit the availability of this option. It became increasingly difficult to file for bankruptcy right after school. The common practice was now to wait at least seven years so the loan would be old. In order to file a person simply had to show that they had made their first payment seven years prior and that the loan was causing undue hardship. It was easy to prove the benefits of filing for bankruptcy.
In October 1998, the issue of bankruptcy and student loans again came to the forefront. The court ruled that such a case could not be filed and discharged unless three criteria were met. A person could not open a case unless they met this criterion. The first of these criteria is that you must prove to the court that you cannot keep up with your payment schedule. The second criterion is that you must prove to the court is that you are unable to pay in the future and that your financial situation is permanent. The third and final criterion is that you have made a good-faith effort to pay them back. If and only if you meet all of these criterions, may you open and file a bankruptcy and student loans case.
Even if you meet all of the requirements for opening a bankruptcy and student loans case, there is no guarantee that your loans will be discharged. It will depend on the judge that is hearing your case. Some judges will discharge some of the loans and leave you to pay part of them. Some judges will hear your case and will not discharge any of your loans. Once in awhile, a judge will take your particular case under advisement and discharge everything. This is extremely rare, but it is possible. It is not easy work to get a bankruptcy and student loans case discharged!
When you pursue your education, act responsibly and think before you apply for a student loan. Without foresight into your future, you could find yourself filing a bankruptcy and student loans case and damage the very future you have been working so hard to achieve.
When facing serious financial difficulties, most people resort to filing bankruptcy to eradicate their personal debts and start anew. Though it's clear that declaring bankruptcy is a viable option, discussing it further with your lawyer will determine whether it really is the best move to take. Some debts, such as those on student loans, can't be nullified by bankruptcy unless certain special conditions are met.
Other debts, such as child support obligations and federal taxes, also can't be resolved by bankruptcy. Likewise, drunken driving cases that resulted to criminal fees or judgments will still have to be attended to. Student loans fall into this category.
It's important to understand the logic behind student loans. Congress makes it difficult to eliminate student loans to encourage lending companies to give out such loans. This lets more individuals go to college and generate higher incomes as they reach working age.
Resorting to bankruptcy because of student loan difficulties isn't easy. You have to be familiar with "undue hardship" if you want to wipe out your loans. "Undue hardship" basically means you can't settle your debts, even when living at the lowest acceptable standard of living set by the government. When that sounds like your situation, then a sympathetic judge just might order your student loan debts wiped.
The law isn't very clear in such situations, but if you can satisfactorily prove that you've tried (and failed) to settle your debts in the past, and that your situation isn't likely to get better anytime soon, and then you stand a good chance of winning.
If bankruptcy doesn't take care of your student loan debts, you may want to resort to an administrative discharge. While the chances are slim, it's still worth a try. For instance, if you're disabled for life, then you'll likely qualify for an administrative discharge that eliminates your student loan debts. Joining the military or the Peace Corps are also good ways to wipe out your debts.
Student loans and Bankruptcy - why can't they be wiped out with a Chapter 7? Congress passed a law that made student loans payable no matter what your circumstances are, there is no statute of limitations on the debt which means you will owe this debt until you can pay it off. There have been some cases of proof of financial hardship where the court might have reduced the debt or deferred payment, but this is rare.
So what is financial hardship? Would mean that you would have a limited amount of money and a lot of mouths to feed and no money left over to pay this debt off over 10 years and sometimes stretching it over 25 years with consideration by the court of increased wages over the future years.
There are some cases of wiping out part of your debt by a chapter 7 and even deferring payment over a year or so. Usually this will depend on the state where you live and the court to decide what they can do with your student loan because of the new law passed by Congress.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcies do have the option to accept payments in the amount deemed by the trustee and an amount that you can afford, but when the chapter 13 is over you still owe the balance and the interest due on the student loan.
If you cosigned on a student loan you are also responsible to pay the loan back even if you the student cannot pay it and again it cannot go through bankruptcy and be discharged. Check with a Bankruptcy Attorney about the student loan and your bankruptcy plans so you can find the best solution for your circumstance.
Bankruptcy
Choosing a Right Bankruptcy Attorney
It takes a great deal of consideration and thought before anyone is able to make the decision to go through with filing bankruptcy. If you have taken all the time you need to make this decision, than it is time to move forward. There is nothing more important than making sure that the bankruptcy process goes smoothly and every done according to the bankruptcy laws. In order to do this you are advised to hire a bankruptcy lawyer. Only a qualified professional can make sure your bankruptcy case is smooth and successful.
What you may be wondering now is how you are expected to afford to hire a Bankruptcy Lawyer when you are clearly in financial distress. This is often decided between the court of bankruptcy and the lawyer you hire depending on the seriousness of your case. You will find the more you learn about bankruptcy the more you will begin to see that it is nothing like a simple call and debts are eliminated and you can start over. There are many steps which need to be completed and not every bankruptcy case works the same.
Many people assume once they reach the point of declaring bankruptcy, there is nothing anyone can do and it is nothing more than saying "I am bankrupt". However, there is a great deal more to the process and there is no better step you can take than hiring a bankruptcy lawyer to guide you through to the other side. Don't try to go through bankruptcy alone, you will find nothing but more stress, confusion and paperwork. It is a great deal of work so why not rely on a professional to help you cope?
The first part of a bankruptcy case you may not be aware of is choosing which chapter of bankruptcy to file. There are 6 different chapters but the most common ones filed are chapter 7 and chapter 13. There is no one better to decide which chapter your situation falls under than a bankruptcy lawyer. The process of bankruptcy from here can be more than overwhelming. You will be inundated with paperwork and documentation to prove your income, your debts, your spending and your banking information to state just an example. It is at this point in the bankruptcy stage people either panic and cancels the entire thing because they do not know what they are being asked to do and they do not understand the process or they hire a bankruptcy lawyer to clarify everything.
Once you have decided to hire a professional they will guide you through the next steps which almost always include meetings with your creditors. During this stage of the process creditors as well as the bankruptcy court will try to organize a payment schedule to pay off your debts instead of liquidating your assets; if this can be avoided. Having a bankruptcy lawyer at your side during these meetings can really take a load of your mind and help you understand what is happening and what is best for your situation.
One of the biggest challenges of the average consumer today is how to budget his money wisely. Because of the rising costs of many commodities as well as other financial obligations, it isn't a surprise that millions of Americans are facing a crisis. People fall into huge amounts of debt, businesses fail, and payables remain unpaid. When worse comes to worst, there may be no other way but to file for bankruptcy. If you find yourself in such a situation, then it is high time to get the help of bankruptcy lawyers.
Bankruptcy lawyers may also be considered under the category of family lawyers, since they help settle family-related matters that involve the use of money and properties. Depending on your current financial status, a bankruptcy lawyer can determine your best ways of settling with the parties you are indebted to, or how you can pay off your debts. Take note that not all dire financial situations call for the filing of bankruptcy. Bankruptcy lawyers make it possible for you to assess your current standing, and assist you in getting back on track to a better financial status.
When a client files for bankruptcy, the lawyer represents you in a meeting where all your creditors are involved. Such companies that may be represented are your mortgage firm, your credit card company, auto loan provider, and others. If a client does not have enough to pay such debts, bankruptcy lawyers will negotiate the best ways for all parties to be appeased. When the court has determined that the client in question is unable to pay for his debts, he will be declared as bankrupt. Under this condition, a client cannot apply for loans and other restrictions will be imposed. After a period of five years, bankruptcy may be lifted, and the client has options for rebuilding his credit.
The current American depression is hitting everyone hard. Many people were having trouble staying afloat before the depression capsized their finances. To end their debtor’s calls many are considering bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is not a path to take lightly. Choosing to file can follow you for years and you need to see a professional so that you are sure it’s the right step to make. One of the biggest decisions you can make for your future, when faced with bankruptcy, is which lawyer to see.
There are many attributes that make a good bankruptcy lawyer, but even more which will mean a bad one. By knowing what to look for you can find a lawyer who will help you. Many people who are considering bankruptcy look for lawyers who offer a free consultation. Make sure you find a lawyer who offers a free consultation as it means they have nothing to hide. If they ask for money upfront there is no way to know what their service is like before you pay. The lawyer will outline your options and suggest which ones they think are best for you.
Just like you, lawyers need to make money. Some lawyers only collect money once you file for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Do not allow a lawyer to rush you into a decision. Its you financial future not theirs. Even though you do not have a lot of extra money to spend you will save money by spending a little on a good lawyer. A good lawyer will be able to save you money and assets or help you find a better way of dealing with your credit issue. Spend money on a good lawyer, it pays off.
A lawyer who is not attentive to your questions does not have your best interests in mind. If you feel that your lawyer is not listening to and answering you questions you should find a new lawyer. Lawyers see a lot of client and they have likely deal with a case just like yours but that does not give them the right to provide you sub par service. Fortunately there are many lawyers who will give you their undivided attention, just make sure you find those that make you comfortable.
Just as you choose a lawyer you should look for a law firm. Busy law firms often take batch cases and assign paralegals to bankruptcy cases. A lawyer who is to busy to talk to you is a direct message that your case is not important to them. If you don't feel comfortable with a law firm after your free consultation you can always look elsewhere. It is also a good idea to do a little research on your own. Before showing up to a law firm, find a little out about the many paths of bankruptcy. Research the meanings of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 or how to build credit afterwards. Above all make sure to think about your financial future whether that be choosing a lawyer or asking for a loan
It takes a great deal of consideration and thought before anyone is able to make the decision to go through with filing bankruptcy. If you have taken all the time you need to make this decision, than it is time to move forward. There is nothing more important than making sure that the bankruptcy process goes smoothly and every done according to the bankruptcy laws. In order to do this you are advised to hire a bankruptcy lawyer. Only a qualified professional can make sure your bankruptcy case is smooth and successful.
What you may be wondering now is how you are expected to afford to hire a Bankruptcy Lawyer when you are clearly in financial distress. This is often decided between the court of bankruptcy and the lawyer you hire depending on the seriousness of your case. You will find the more you learn about bankruptcy the more you will begin to see that it is nothing like a simple call and debts are eliminated and you can start over. There are many steps which need to be completed and not every bankruptcy case works the same.
Many people assume once they reach the point of declaring bankruptcy, there is nothing anyone can do and it is nothing more than saying "I am bankrupt". However, there is a great deal more to the process and there is no better step you can take than hiring a bankruptcy lawyer to guide you through to the other side. Don't try to go through bankruptcy alone, you will find nothing but more stress, confusion and paperwork. It is a great deal of work so why not rely on a professional to help you cope?
The first part of a bankruptcy case you may not be aware of is choosing which chapter of bankruptcy to file. There are 6 different chapters but the most common ones filed are chapter 7 and chapter 13. There is no one better to decide which chapter your situation falls under than a bankruptcy lawyer. The process of bankruptcy from here can be more than overwhelming. You will be inundated with paperwork and documentation to prove your income, your debts, your spending and your banking information to state just an example. It is at this point in the bankruptcy stage people either panic and cancels the entire thing because they do not know what they are being asked to do and they do not understand the process or they hire a bankruptcy lawyer to clarify everything.
Once you have decided to hire a professional they will guide you through the next steps which almost always include meetings with your creditors. During this stage of the process creditors as well as the bankruptcy court will try to organize a payment schedule to pay off your debts instead of liquidating your assets; if this can be avoided. Having a bankruptcy lawyer at your side during these meetings can really take a load of your mind and help you understand what is happening and what is best for your situation.
One of the biggest challenges of the average consumer today is how to budget his money wisely. Because of the rising costs of many commodities as well as other financial obligations, it isn't a surprise that millions of Americans are facing a crisis. People fall into huge amounts of debt, businesses fail, and payables remain unpaid. When worse comes to worst, there may be no other way but to file for bankruptcy. If you find yourself in such a situation, then it is high time to get the help of bankruptcy lawyers.
Bankruptcy lawyers may also be considered under the category of family lawyers, since they help settle family-related matters that involve the use of money and properties. Depending on your current financial status, a bankruptcy lawyer can determine your best ways of settling with the parties you are indebted to, or how you can pay off your debts. Take note that not all dire financial situations call for the filing of bankruptcy. Bankruptcy lawyers make it possible for you to assess your current standing, and assist you in getting back on track to a better financial status.
When a client files for bankruptcy, the lawyer represents you in a meeting where all your creditors are involved. Such companies that may be represented are your mortgage firm, your credit card company, auto loan provider, and others. If a client does not have enough to pay such debts, bankruptcy lawyers will negotiate the best ways for all parties to be appeased. When the court has determined that the client in question is unable to pay for his debts, he will be declared as bankrupt. Under this condition, a client cannot apply for loans and other restrictions will be imposed. After a period of five years, bankruptcy may be lifted, and the client has options for rebuilding his credit.
The current American depression is hitting everyone hard. Many people were having trouble staying afloat before the depression capsized their finances. To end their debtor’s calls many are considering bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is not a path to take lightly. Choosing to file can follow you for years and you need to see a professional so that you are sure it’s the right step to make. One of the biggest decisions you can make for your future, when faced with bankruptcy, is which lawyer to see.
There are many attributes that make a good bankruptcy lawyer, but even more which will mean a bad one. By knowing what to look for you can find a lawyer who will help you. Many people who are considering bankruptcy look for lawyers who offer a free consultation. Make sure you find a lawyer who offers a free consultation as it means they have nothing to hide. If they ask for money upfront there is no way to know what their service is like before you pay. The lawyer will outline your options and suggest which ones they think are best for you.
Just like you, lawyers need to make money. Some lawyers only collect money once you file for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Do not allow a lawyer to rush you into a decision. Its you financial future not theirs. Even though you do not have a lot of extra money to spend you will save money by spending a little on a good lawyer. A good lawyer will be able to save you money and assets or help you find a better way of dealing with your credit issue. Spend money on a good lawyer, it pays off.
A lawyer who is not attentive to your questions does not have your best interests in mind. If you feel that your lawyer is not listening to and answering you questions you should find a new lawyer. Lawyers see a lot of client and they have likely deal with a case just like yours but that does not give them the right to provide you sub par service. Fortunately there are many lawyers who will give you their undivided attention, just make sure you find those that make you comfortable.
Just as you choose a lawyer you should look for a law firm. Busy law firms often take batch cases and assign paralegals to bankruptcy cases. A lawyer who is to busy to talk to you is a direct message that your case is not important to them. If you don't feel comfortable with a law firm after your free consultation you can always look elsewhere. It is also a good idea to do a little research on your own. Before showing up to a law firm, find a little out about the many paths of bankruptcy. Research the meanings of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 or how to build credit afterwards. Above all make sure to think about your financial future whether that be choosing a lawyer or asking for a loan
Bad Credit Student Loans
Bad Credit Private Student Loans - No Credit Check
Are you looking for bad credit student loans with no credit history required? Then this guide is going to help you find out your best options, to save time and money and get your student loan approved fast. You know how most lenders refuse to provide a loan to people with less than perfect credit history. No matter how much you need your loan and what an honest person you are, most loan companies will not trust you if you have a poor credit.
So how can you get your student loan? How can you get the financial means you need to continue your desired education? The good news is, there is a solution to help you get your loan: Bad credit student loans. No matter what your credit history is. Actually almost no credit is required. The success rate for this type of loan is very high because there are no strict credit history requirements - unlike other normal types of loans.
Bad credit student loans are an easy, almost guaranteed way for students with bad credit to easily get their desired loan. There are many lenders and companies that understand your situation and are willing to help you with your education. They don't look at your credit history and accept you based on your other qualifications - like your educational background.
There is just little downside to this type of loan comparing to normal Federal government student loan, which is a bit higher interest rates. So if you have tried to apply for Federal loans and it got rejected, you can easily try student loans for poor credit and you are almost guaranteed to succeed.
There are many different kinds of student financial aid. There are scholarships, grants, federal aid, school-based aid, and private aid. All of this aid is based off of different criteria, and the major kinds include academic, athletic, need, and credit. If you can possess the necessary requirements in any of these areas then there is a good chance that you will be able to qualify that particular kind of student financial aid. In this way you can get a variety of financial aid that will be based on your own personal circumstances and achievements, as well as your level of need. The problem is that the cost of tuition has risen considerably over the past ten to fifteen years or so and many students are finding it difficult to get the aid they need to attend their college of choice. Many students have either no credit or bad credit and need to find a credit worthy cosigner before they can secure any private student loans. If their parents don't have good credit then they are often left out in the rain wondering how they can come up with the remaining costs for attendance.
For this reason it is vital that you exhaust all of your student loan financing options before you decide to put off going to college completely. Many private student loan lenders will try and capitalize on your disposition by trying to lure you into their website so that you apply. They will say that they have private student loans for bad credit individuals, they will say that they have private student loans where no credit check is required, and they will say that they can provide you with a private student loan without a cosigner.
The reality of these statements is quite bleak though, because the bottom line with private student loans is that they are a credit-based product and unless you have good credit, or your cosigner has good credit then there is little chance that you will be able to get approved for such financing. You may have heard that there are private student loan lenders that specialize in providing students with bad credit student loans but the reality is that these kinds of student loan lenders don't exist. You must either have good credit or your cosigner must have good credit or you will be denied, so if you are looking for this kind of financial aid then you are going to have to have either of these if you want to get approved.
Are you looking for more money than you are already getting to help you pay for your tuition, books, fees, and living expenses? Do you need to get money to help you through college, but you know you have no credit or bad credit? There are ways to get private student loans for bad credit if you know what to do. Here is what you need to consider as your options for this type of loan.
First, you need to make sure you have already maxed out all your other options. There are scholarships that you can get to help you and you need to do some diligent searching to make sure you find and apply for all that you might qualify for. This is free money so you must do this so that you can possibly get help with your expenses without having to pay the money back to anybody at all.
Second, before you go looking for private student loans for bad credit you need to talk to your financial aid department to find out if you qualify for federal student loans and the Pell grant. These are government backed and have absolutely no credit requirement. The Pell Grant is more free money you never have to pay back. If you have maximized these out and cannot get anymore you can look for private student loans for bad credit.
Last, the only way you will get a private loan for college when you have bad credit is with a good credit co signer. The good news is there will not be an income requirement so this could be a retired family member or anybody at all as long as they have good credit and are over the age of 21. This is not a hard loan to get once you have a good credit co signer, but that is the only way to go
Are you looking for bad credit student loans with no credit history required? Then this guide is going to help you find out your best options, to save time and money and get your student loan approved fast. You know how most lenders refuse to provide a loan to people with less than perfect credit history. No matter how much you need your loan and what an honest person you are, most loan companies will not trust you if you have a poor credit.
So how can you get your student loan? How can you get the financial means you need to continue your desired education? The good news is, there is a solution to help you get your loan: Bad credit student loans. No matter what your credit history is. Actually almost no credit is required. The success rate for this type of loan is very high because there are no strict credit history requirements - unlike other normal types of loans.
Bad credit student loans are an easy, almost guaranteed way for students with bad credit to easily get their desired loan. There are many lenders and companies that understand your situation and are willing to help you with your education. They don't look at your credit history and accept you based on your other qualifications - like your educational background.
There is just little downside to this type of loan comparing to normal Federal government student loan, which is a bit higher interest rates. So if you have tried to apply for Federal loans and it got rejected, you can easily try student loans for poor credit and you are almost guaranteed to succeed.
There are many different kinds of student financial aid. There are scholarships, grants, federal aid, school-based aid, and private aid. All of this aid is based off of different criteria, and the major kinds include academic, athletic, need, and credit. If you can possess the necessary requirements in any of these areas then there is a good chance that you will be able to qualify that particular kind of student financial aid. In this way you can get a variety of financial aid that will be based on your own personal circumstances and achievements, as well as your level of need. The problem is that the cost of tuition has risen considerably over the past ten to fifteen years or so and many students are finding it difficult to get the aid they need to attend their college of choice. Many students have either no credit or bad credit and need to find a credit worthy cosigner before they can secure any private student loans. If their parents don't have good credit then they are often left out in the rain wondering how they can come up with the remaining costs for attendance.
For this reason it is vital that you exhaust all of your student loan financing options before you decide to put off going to college completely. Many private student loan lenders will try and capitalize on your disposition by trying to lure you into their website so that you apply. They will say that they have private student loans for bad credit individuals, they will say that they have private student loans where no credit check is required, and they will say that they can provide you with a private student loan without a cosigner.
The reality of these statements is quite bleak though, because the bottom line with private student loans is that they are a credit-based product and unless you have good credit, or your cosigner has good credit then there is little chance that you will be able to get approved for such financing. You may have heard that there are private student loan lenders that specialize in providing students with bad credit student loans but the reality is that these kinds of student loan lenders don't exist. You must either have good credit or your cosigner must have good credit or you will be denied, so if you are looking for this kind of financial aid then you are going to have to have either of these if you want to get approved.
Are you looking for more money than you are already getting to help you pay for your tuition, books, fees, and living expenses? Do you need to get money to help you through college, but you know you have no credit or bad credit? There are ways to get private student loans for bad credit if you know what to do. Here is what you need to consider as your options for this type of loan.
First, you need to make sure you have already maxed out all your other options. There are scholarships that you can get to help you and you need to do some diligent searching to make sure you find and apply for all that you might qualify for. This is free money so you must do this so that you can possibly get help with your expenses without having to pay the money back to anybody at all.
Second, before you go looking for private student loans for bad credit you need to talk to your financial aid department to find out if you qualify for federal student loans and the Pell grant. These are government backed and have absolutely no credit requirement. The Pell Grant is more free money you never have to pay back. If you have maximized these out and cannot get anymore you can look for private student loans for bad credit.
Last, the only way you will get a private loan for college when you have bad credit is with a good credit co signer. The good news is there will not be an income requirement so this could be a retired family member or anybody at all as long as they have good credit and are over the age of 21. This is not a hard loan to get once you have a good credit co signer, but that is the only way to go
Bad Credit Appartment Rent
Steps to Rent an Apartment with Bad Credit
Not too many people realize the damaging effects of having a bad credit until they're stuck in the actual situation. For instance, renting an apartment can be a big challenge for those with bad credit. If you think your credit report would not be questioned by a landlord, you're mistaken. Apartment owners often check on an individual's credit report before accepting him as tenant.
Does bad credit mean you can't rent an apartment? Fortunately not! If you need a place to rent, there are still many options available to you. Here are few tips on how to get the apartment that you want regardless of bad credit.
Look for apartments that do not have strict policies on credit. Use the internet to search for apartments that do not have a credit check policy. You may also look at the classified ads of your local newspaper to find home rentals, condos or apartments that are more lenient in accepting tenants. If you know some real estate agents, they might also know some properties for rent that do not necessarily check on a person's credit.
Get recommendations from reputable people. You may get recommendations from your bank, lawyer, employer, or former landlords as a proof of your credibility. The letter should state why your credit history has been tainted. If you've been through a difficult situation, you can try to appeal with the landlord's consideration.
Seek a co-signer.
If you have a friend or a relative with excellent credit, you can seek their help to vouch for your credibility. Remember, having a co-signer means your co-signer will be held accountable to pay for your debts in case you default on your lease. If you're going get a co-signer, make sure that he understands this condition before signing the agreement. In addition, respect your co-signer's good will and make sure that you do not cause any problems for your co-signer's credit.
Offer a bigger security deposit.
Expect that you need to put down a bigger upfront payment to make up for the absence of your credit. A higher deposit would give your landlord more security if he's worried about the possibility of defaults. Some landlords have asked for up to 6 months in advance from renters that not only have bad credit, but have a history of being evicted from prior lodgings. If your landlord ask for such a hefty deposit, try to work out a payment program, Its not unheard that they will take 3 months down and allow you to pay the additional security over a certain agreed upon time period. Make sure you can make these payments; defaulting on these side agreements can mean immediate eviction.
Clearly, not having good credit to back you up does have its consequences. If you know that you have a bad credit problem, the best thing to do is try to improve your credit even before you start looking for a new place.
If you have unpaid debts with a creditor, pay it in full and request that a letter from your creditor stating that you have already settled the accounts reflected in your credit report. Better yet, if you know that you'll be moving out soon, do all the necessary steps to settle your debts and make sure that your payments are properly reported to the credit bureaus. Do your best to boost your credit rating as early as possible so you can have more freedom in choosing the apartment you want?
Not too many people realize the damaging effects of having a bad credit until they're stuck in the actual situation. For instance, renting an apartment can be a big challenge for those with bad credit. If you think your credit report would not be questioned by a landlord, you're mistaken. Apartment owners often check on an individual's credit report before accepting him as tenant.
Does bad credit mean you can't rent an apartment? Fortunately not! If you need a place to rent, there are still many options available to you. Here are few tips on how to get the apartment that you want regardless of bad credit.
Look for apartments that do not have strict policies on credit. Use the internet to search for apartments that do not have a credit check policy. You may also look at the classified ads of your local newspaper to find home rentals, condos or apartments that are more lenient in accepting tenants. If you know some real estate agents, they might also know some properties for rent that do not necessarily check on a person's credit.
Get recommendations from reputable people. You may get recommendations from your bank, lawyer, employer, or former landlords as a proof of your credibility. The letter should state why your credit history has been tainted. If you've been through a difficult situation, you can try to appeal with the landlord's consideration.
Seek a co-signer.
If you have a friend or a relative with excellent credit, you can seek their help to vouch for your credibility. Remember, having a co-signer means your co-signer will be held accountable to pay for your debts in case you default on your lease. If you're going get a co-signer, make sure that he understands this condition before signing the agreement. In addition, respect your co-signer's good will and make sure that you do not cause any problems for your co-signer's credit.
Offer a bigger security deposit.
Expect that you need to put down a bigger upfront payment to make up for the absence of your credit. A higher deposit would give your landlord more security if he's worried about the possibility of defaults. Some landlords have asked for up to 6 months in advance from renters that not only have bad credit, but have a history of being evicted from prior lodgings. If your landlord ask for such a hefty deposit, try to work out a payment program, Its not unheard that they will take 3 months down and allow you to pay the additional security over a certain agreed upon time period. Make sure you can make these payments; defaulting on these side agreements can mean immediate eviction.
Clearly, not having good credit to back you up does have its consequences. If you know that you have a bad credit problem, the best thing to do is try to improve your credit even before you start looking for a new place.
If you have unpaid debts with a creditor, pay it in full and request that a letter from your creditor stating that you have already settled the accounts reflected in your credit report. Better yet, if you know that you'll be moving out soon, do all the necessary steps to settle your debts and make sure that your payments are properly reported to the credit bureaus. Do your best to boost your credit rating as early as possible so you can have more freedom in choosing the apartment you want?
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Adverse debt levels blight UK consumers personal finances
Debt levels are at an all time high in the UK. The younger generation tend to be feeling the pinch the most, but parents are increasingly being required to bail them out, often at great expense to their own limited mortgage or retirement savings.
It has become almost accepted as a fact of life that graduates will begin their careers with a considerable level of personal debt. The Association of Investment Trust Companies found that on average students expected to graduate with £7,208 of debt, while parents believed it would be nearer to £9,741, however the real average was found to be currently running at £13,501. Graduates then need to service credit cards, take out a mortgage, then cover the payments, repay university loans, not to mention the pressure to start saving earlier, and save more, for their retirement, whilst the basic state pension increasingly becomes inadequate. The government revealed in June that student debt for 2003-04 was seven times higher than they were in 1994-95 and the Student Loans Company has shown that debts owed to them has risen to more than £13bn.
It is not only students who face financial difficulties early in life. Consumer Credit Counselling Services - Scotland, has indicated that young adults in general, under the age of 25, now account for more than 10 per cent of the estimated 32,000 people who have fallen into severe arrears on non-mortgage debts of more than £1 billion.
Malcolm Hurlston, Chairman of the Consumer Credit Counselling Services (CCCS) said, "It is noticeable that young people are accounting for an increasing proportion and the number of them seeking assistance has risen by about 25 per cent over the past two years or so."
Analysts have been bracing themselves for news of a sharp increase in adverse debt levels from the major high street banks following report figures of a 21 per cent increase in bad debts levels at Lloyds TSB. City analysts expect HBOS and Royal Bank of Scotland to declare that bad debt charges have risen by around 20% in their personal banking businesses, and Barclays, HSBC and Alliance & Leicester are all expected to tell a similar tale of rising loan defaults. Citigroup analysts are expecting bad debt charges from its retail banking division to rise about 24% in the first half of this year to £230m, while last year HBOS’s provisions for bad debt rose from £1bn to £1.2bn.
Keith Stevens, of the chartered accountants firm Wilkins Kennedy, said: "Creditors profit by lending money to people and collecting interest, and the longer they can keep that cycle going the better for them. Unless borrowers own property of significant value, it’s often not in creditors’ interest to call in their debts." He also continued that he believed some creditors were increasingly taking a hands-off approach, allowing debtors to pile up large amounts of debt, and then collecting interest and penalty charges for as long as borrowers were able to continue paying. This has lead to an increase in the number of borrowers filing for bankruptcy themselves when previously they would have been forced into it earlier by their lenders.
House repossessions have also significantly increased over the past year, with the Council of Mortgage Lenders announcing 4,640 home repossessions during the first half of 2005, compared with 3,070 for the last half of 2004. Government figures show that there has also been an increase in the number of homeowners being taken to court for mortgage arrears.
Some of the major banks and financial service providers have taken the initiative and started to help police the growing adverse debt problems with HSBC announcing that it will share their full credit record, of both positive and negative information, on its personal customers with other regulated financial services companies through the Experian, Equifax and CallCredit credit reference agencies, in efforts to keep tabs on its consumers' debt.
Michael Geoghegan, Chief Executive of HSBC said: "It is no more in the interests of a customer to borrow more money than they can afford than it is for a bank to lend them the money." The move has been widely heralded by analysts, as Michael Geoghegan added, "It is the only way to ensure that lenders properly understand the full financial exposure of customers before they let them sign up to debt that some simply can't afford."
This all comes amidst media pressure for financial firms to become more responsible. One case widely featured in the news concerns a couple who took out the £5,740 loan at 34.9% APR for house improvements, but they were already in arrears on two prior mortgages, and became unable to keep up the loan repayments. Over the course of the 15 year loan term the amount repayable had escalated to £384,000. Attempts by the loan company to still enforce the huge debt, eventually had to be fought off by the couple through the law courts.
The couple urged others considering taking out a loan to seek advice and to, "obviously read the small print and ask the questions that perhaps you don't think about at the time, and just make sure you know exactly what the consequences are should anything go wrong".
There are currently many sources of information to help consumers make decisions regarding their finances and debt levels. Financial comparison sites like Moneynet can provide impartial information on loans, mortgages, adverse credit, etc, to find the best product for individual circumstances. Consumer help sites like the National Debtline provide free confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems, and the Citizens Advice Bureau are there with trained volunteers to help with legal, monetary and other problems, through a free, independent and confidential advice service.
The more help and information that is available to consumers and the more responsible the lending agencies become, the safer finance will be for the most vulnerable who are looking to borrow money, to prevent them getting into un-repayable levels of debt, however these services can only be of help if people actually use them.
Malcolm Hurlston of CCCS said, "We are advising about 4,000 people in Scotland and I would estimate that our figures represent only about one in eight of those who need help".
Financial education is something needs to be provided at an early stage to make people realise the importance of taking on the accountability for their own finances, as well as highlighting where to access help for when it is required. Budgeting is a subject many school leavers have little practical knowledge of, but one which they desperately need to be made aware of before they start to control their own finances.
Where there is existing advice or help, this must be made available and known to all in order to prevent more people getting too deeply into debt, or falling prey to loan sharks like the recent case of Mark Washington Johnson who has been jailed in Birmingham for nearly four years. Mr Johnson was found guilty of charging up to 8,000 per cent interest on loans, taking Social Security benefit books or National Insurance numbers as "security" for the unauthorised loans and then piling on default charges for missed payments. If we are to prevent this sort of abuse occurring to the weakest members of society then public awareness needs to be raised and the most vulnerable people given the assistance best suited to understand and control their own money.
About the Author
Richard lives in Edinburgh working for bigmouthmedia, occasionally writing for the personal finance blog Cashzilla, and considering the possibility of there being intelligent life on Earth.
Written by: Richard Green
It has become almost accepted as a fact of life that graduates will begin their careers with a considerable level of personal debt. The Association of Investment Trust Companies found that on average students expected to graduate with £7,208 of debt, while parents believed it would be nearer to £9,741, however the real average was found to be currently running at £13,501. Graduates then need to service credit cards, take out a mortgage, then cover the payments, repay university loans, not to mention the pressure to start saving earlier, and save more, for their retirement, whilst the basic state pension increasingly becomes inadequate. The government revealed in June that student debt for 2003-04 was seven times higher than they were in 1994-95 and the Student Loans Company has shown that debts owed to them has risen to more than £13bn.
It is not only students who face financial difficulties early in life. Consumer Credit Counselling Services - Scotland, has indicated that young adults in general, under the age of 25, now account for more than 10 per cent of the estimated 32,000 people who have fallen into severe arrears on non-mortgage debts of more than £1 billion.
Malcolm Hurlston, Chairman of the Consumer Credit Counselling Services (CCCS) said, "It is noticeable that young people are accounting for an increasing proportion and the number of them seeking assistance has risen by about 25 per cent over the past two years or so."
Analysts have been bracing themselves for news of a sharp increase in adverse debt levels from the major high street banks following report figures of a 21 per cent increase in bad debts levels at Lloyds TSB. City analysts expect HBOS and Royal Bank of Scotland to declare that bad debt charges have risen by around 20% in their personal banking businesses, and Barclays, HSBC and Alliance & Leicester are all expected to tell a similar tale of rising loan defaults. Citigroup analysts are expecting bad debt charges from its retail banking division to rise about 24% in the first half of this year to £230m, while last year HBOS’s provisions for bad debt rose from £1bn to £1.2bn.
Keith Stevens, of the chartered accountants firm Wilkins Kennedy, said: "Creditors profit by lending money to people and collecting interest, and the longer they can keep that cycle going the better for them. Unless borrowers own property of significant value, it’s often not in creditors’ interest to call in their debts." He also continued that he believed some creditors were increasingly taking a hands-off approach, allowing debtors to pile up large amounts of debt, and then collecting interest and penalty charges for as long as borrowers were able to continue paying. This has lead to an increase in the number of borrowers filing for bankruptcy themselves when previously they would have been forced into it earlier by their lenders.
House repossessions have also significantly increased over the past year, with the Council of Mortgage Lenders announcing 4,640 home repossessions during the first half of 2005, compared with 3,070 for the last half of 2004. Government figures show that there has also been an increase in the number of homeowners being taken to court for mortgage arrears.
Some of the major banks and financial service providers have taken the initiative and started to help police the growing adverse debt problems with HSBC announcing that it will share their full credit record, of both positive and negative information, on its personal customers with other regulated financial services companies through the Experian, Equifax and CallCredit credit reference agencies, in efforts to keep tabs on its consumers' debt.
Michael Geoghegan, Chief Executive of HSBC said: "It is no more in the interests of a customer to borrow more money than they can afford than it is for a bank to lend them the money." The move has been widely heralded by analysts, as Michael Geoghegan added, "It is the only way to ensure that lenders properly understand the full financial exposure of customers before they let them sign up to debt that some simply can't afford."
This all comes amidst media pressure for financial firms to become more responsible. One case widely featured in the news concerns a couple who took out the £5,740 loan at 34.9% APR for house improvements, but they were already in arrears on two prior mortgages, and became unable to keep up the loan repayments. Over the course of the 15 year loan term the amount repayable had escalated to £384,000. Attempts by the loan company to still enforce the huge debt, eventually had to be fought off by the couple through the law courts.
The couple urged others considering taking out a loan to seek advice and to, "obviously read the small print and ask the questions that perhaps you don't think about at the time, and just make sure you know exactly what the consequences are should anything go wrong".
There are currently many sources of information to help consumers make decisions regarding their finances and debt levels. Financial comparison sites like Moneynet can provide impartial information on loans, mortgages, adverse credit, etc, to find the best product for individual circumstances. Consumer help sites like the National Debtline provide free confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems, and the Citizens Advice Bureau are there with trained volunteers to help with legal, monetary and other problems, through a free, independent and confidential advice service.
The more help and information that is available to consumers and the more responsible the lending agencies become, the safer finance will be for the most vulnerable who are looking to borrow money, to prevent them getting into un-repayable levels of debt, however these services can only be of help if people actually use them.
Malcolm Hurlston of CCCS said, "We are advising about 4,000 people in Scotland and I would estimate that our figures represent only about one in eight of those who need help".
Financial education is something needs to be provided at an early stage to make people realise the importance of taking on the accountability for their own finances, as well as highlighting where to access help for when it is required. Budgeting is a subject many school leavers have little practical knowledge of, but one which they desperately need to be made aware of before they start to control their own finances.
Where there is existing advice or help, this must be made available and known to all in order to prevent more people getting too deeply into debt, or falling prey to loan sharks like the recent case of Mark Washington Johnson who has been jailed in Birmingham for nearly four years. Mr Johnson was found guilty of charging up to 8,000 per cent interest on loans, taking Social Security benefit books or National Insurance numbers as "security" for the unauthorised loans and then piling on default charges for missed payments. If we are to prevent this sort of abuse occurring to the weakest members of society then public awareness needs to be raised and the most vulnerable people given the assistance best suited to understand and control their own money.
About the Author
Richard lives in Edinburgh working for bigmouthmedia, occasionally writing for the personal finance blog Cashzilla, and considering the possibility of there being intelligent life on Earth.
Written by: Richard Green
Adverse Credit Remortgage: Refinance at Better Terms
Getting a remortgage with adverse credit is a daunting task and it is increasingly becoming a widespread problem in UK. An adverse credit remortgage is a type of mortgage, which is particularly used by people who have adverse remarks in their credit history.
Adverse credit ratings are rising as people are finding it difficult to repay the loans they took in order to remedy their financial exigencies. The credit ratings are remarks given by your previous creditors based on your repayment history. If you are punctual and prompt in repaying the installments they give you a positive remark and a negative rating incurs, if you miss their installments and are erratic in the repayment schedule.
Lenders are wary of this negative or adverse credit rating. They find it risky to lend any amount to such persons and reject their applications in most of the cases.
While, applying for an Adverse credit remortgage, the borrower has to face two kinds of situations. In the first case, although he has an adverse credit rating against him, he can offer something like a house or home equity as a collateral to the remortgage. In second case the borrower with the adverse credit history doesn't have anything to offer as collateral or the value of collateral is not adequate to guarantee the loan.
The lenders, if they find that they can get something as collateral for the remortgage offer, are prompt in lending as compared to a situation where they have to lend solely on the basis of creditworthiness of the borrower. The lenders are comfortable by the fact that if the borrower defaults in payments, they can repossess the collateral. Depending on the collateral and creditworthiness, lenders fix interest rates, lending amount and the repayment schedules.
Remortgaging involves changing the mortgage without changing the existing house or property. Adverse credit remortgage can be used for getting a better deal on mortgage from a different lender. It can also be used to get an improved deal on mortgage from the existing lender. Adverse credit remortgage may also be used to provide funds or to get a loan on the increased equity in home or property. They are very useful in consolidating existing debts from various sources into one single manageable loan. Emergency expenditures like the purchase of a car, a holiday, some reconstruction or medical bills can be funded by such remortgages.
Getting an adverse credit remortgage to finance these purchases is considered a wise option because remortgage offers lower interest rates and easy repayment options as compared to other methods of borrowing.
People with adverse credit should be very cautious while taking a remortgage. Mortgage lenders in UK are squeezing such people with higher interest rates and unreasonable terms and conditions.
Remortgaging involves many fees, which increase the cost of the process. There are early redemption penalties, re-appraisal of property, solicitor fees, office and conveyance charges, which have to be taken into consideration while taking an adverse credit remortgage. The fact that a borrower has an adverse credit rating makes the situation even worse for him. As the lending market in UK is very competitive the borrower is advised to shop around for lenders, which offer zero product fees, cashback, free basic property valuation and minimum fee for legal and other expenses. A good lender, who provides adverse credit remortgage will negotiate the best possible deal on prepayment penalties for its client. Finding such a lender is not easy but ultimately it will be worth the effort.
For most of us, if we have something to offer as collateral, getting an adverse credit remortgage will be quite easy. The new lender will ask for all the documents and complete the formalities. If everything goes smoothly, it won't take long to get an adverse credit remortgage.
Andrew baker has done his masters in finance from CPIT. He is engaged in providing free, professional, and independent advice to the residents of the UK.He works for the Secured loan web site uk finance world for any type of uk secured and unsecured loan please visit http://www.ukfinanceworld.co.uk
About the Author
Andrew baker has done his masters in finance from CPIT. He is engaged in providing free, professional, and independent advice to the residents of the UK.He works for the Secured loan web site uk finance world for any type of uk secured and unsecured loan please visit http://www.ukfinanceworld.co.u
Adverse credit ratings are rising as people are finding it difficult to repay the loans they took in order to remedy their financial exigencies. The credit ratings are remarks given by your previous creditors based on your repayment history. If you are punctual and prompt in repaying the installments they give you a positive remark and a negative rating incurs, if you miss their installments and are erratic in the repayment schedule.
Lenders are wary of this negative or adverse credit rating. They find it risky to lend any amount to such persons and reject their applications in most of the cases.
While, applying for an Adverse credit remortgage, the borrower has to face two kinds of situations. In the first case, although he has an adverse credit rating against him, he can offer something like a house or home equity as a collateral to the remortgage. In second case the borrower with the adverse credit history doesn't have anything to offer as collateral or the value of collateral is not adequate to guarantee the loan.
The lenders, if they find that they can get something as collateral for the remortgage offer, are prompt in lending as compared to a situation where they have to lend solely on the basis of creditworthiness of the borrower. The lenders are comfortable by the fact that if the borrower defaults in payments, they can repossess the collateral. Depending on the collateral and creditworthiness, lenders fix interest rates, lending amount and the repayment schedules.
Remortgaging involves changing the mortgage without changing the existing house or property. Adverse credit remortgage can be used for getting a better deal on mortgage from a different lender. It can also be used to get an improved deal on mortgage from the existing lender. Adverse credit remortgage may also be used to provide funds or to get a loan on the increased equity in home or property. They are very useful in consolidating existing debts from various sources into one single manageable loan. Emergency expenditures like the purchase of a car, a holiday, some reconstruction or medical bills can be funded by such remortgages.
Getting an adverse credit remortgage to finance these purchases is considered a wise option because remortgage offers lower interest rates and easy repayment options as compared to other methods of borrowing.
People with adverse credit should be very cautious while taking a remortgage. Mortgage lenders in UK are squeezing such people with higher interest rates and unreasonable terms and conditions.
Remortgaging involves many fees, which increase the cost of the process. There are early redemption penalties, re-appraisal of property, solicitor fees, office and conveyance charges, which have to be taken into consideration while taking an adverse credit remortgage. The fact that a borrower has an adverse credit rating makes the situation even worse for him. As the lending market in UK is very competitive the borrower is advised to shop around for lenders, which offer zero product fees, cashback, free basic property valuation and minimum fee for legal and other expenses. A good lender, who provides adverse credit remortgage will negotiate the best possible deal on prepayment penalties for its client. Finding such a lender is not easy but ultimately it will be worth the effort.
For most of us, if we have something to offer as collateral, getting an adverse credit remortgage will be quite easy. The new lender will ask for all the documents and complete the formalities. If everything goes smoothly, it won't take long to get an adverse credit remortgage.
Andrew baker has done his masters in finance from CPIT. He is engaged in providing free, professional, and independent advice to the residents of the UK.He works for the Secured loan web site uk finance world for any type of uk secured and unsecured loan please visit http://www.ukfinanceworld.co.uk
About the Author
Andrew baker has done his masters in finance from CPIT. He is engaged in providing free, professional, and independent advice to the residents of the UK.He works for the Secured loan web site uk finance world for any type of uk secured and unsecured loan please visit http://www.ukfinanceworld.co.u
A Mortgage Refinance with Bad Credit - The Pros and Cons
To many, the term 'bad credit' is the end of the world when it comes to getting financing in the near future. However, it doesn't always have to be like that, you can take the bad credit mortgage refinance option!
Mortgage refinance vs. equity finance
It is essential at the outset that you understand there is a fundamental difference between mortgage refinancing and equity financing. Basically, with equity financing you are using the surplus amount you may have stored up in your property between your outstanding mortgage amount and the appraised value of your home. However a mortgage refinance is where you find a new lender willing to lend you the whole appraised value of your property, the sum of which you then use to repay your existing mortgage lender and the remaining sum you can utilize in any manner you wish. Because of this, you are faced with a different set of problems than would be the case with an equity financing.
The pros of a bad credit mortgage refinance
Aside from any possible equity financing you can do with your property, without doubt the biggest upside to a bad credit mortgage refinance is the fact that it is a long-term and cheap form of borrowing. Interest rates are likely to be low and, possibly, can even be fixed. You could even possibly benefit from certain tax advantages from a bad credit mortgage refinance.
Because of this, bad credit mortgage finance can allow you to do things financially that may not otherwise be available to you as a person with a bad credit rating. You could use the equity you free up after you repay your original mortgage lender to invest in stocks and savings that will give you a better yield than you are currently getting on the property.
Alternatively, you could pay off all outstanding debts you have so that you have no interest and debt payments to make each month – merely a mortgage repayment. Finally, you could even use the equity you get to invest in a long-term investment plan like your pension. In fact the options are so limitless that you should really consult with a financial expert who can best advise you on how you should put that money to the best use for you!
The cons of bad credit mortgage refinance
The number one downside to any mortgage refinancing, whether it be bad credit or otherwise, is the fact that mortgage lenders do not like to be repaid early. As such they usually incorporate some expensive penalty clauses to try and make it not worth your while repaying them early. With this in mind, you will need to read your original mortgage agreement with your original lender very carefully to make sure you won't have any onerous default payments to make; or, you could try and arrange for the new lender to swallow these.
That said, if you make any arrangements with the new lender that they agree to pay these fees for you, you then need to make sure they do not put any restrictive clauses in your new refinance mortgage agreement that would prohibit you from refinancing your mortgage again at some time in the future if the occasion warrants such.
Without a doubt, as a person with a bad credit history and bad credit rating, a bad credit mortgage refinance can open up avenues to you that would not otherwise be there. You do, however, need to give consideration as to whether or not you want to take this route. Not least because at the end of the day your house and family home is on the line!
About The Author
Monique Thomas helps you find the resources and information you need to make an informed decision on your finances. Subcribe to our announcement list by visiting: http://www.crazydebt.com
Mortgage refinance vs. equity finance
It is essential at the outset that you understand there is a fundamental difference between mortgage refinancing and equity financing. Basically, with equity financing you are using the surplus amount you may have stored up in your property between your outstanding mortgage amount and the appraised value of your home. However a mortgage refinance is where you find a new lender willing to lend you the whole appraised value of your property, the sum of which you then use to repay your existing mortgage lender and the remaining sum you can utilize in any manner you wish. Because of this, you are faced with a different set of problems than would be the case with an equity financing.
The pros of a bad credit mortgage refinance
Aside from any possible equity financing you can do with your property, without doubt the biggest upside to a bad credit mortgage refinance is the fact that it is a long-term and cheap form of borrowing. Interest rates are likely to be low and, possibly, can even be fixed. You could even possibly benefit from certain tax advantages from a bad credit mortgage refinance.
Because of this, bad credit mortgage finance can allow you to do things financially that may not otherwise be available to you as a person with a bad credit rating. You could use the equity you free up after you repay your original mortgage lender to invest in stocks and savings that will give you a better yield than you are currently getting on the property.
Alternatively, you could pay off all outstanding debts you have so that you have no interest and debt payments to make each month – merely a mortgage repayment. Finally, you could even use the equity you get to invest in a long-term investment plan like your pension. In fact the options are so limitless that you should really consult with a financial expert who can best advise you on how you should put that money to the best use for you!
The cons of bad credit mortgage refinance
The number one downside to any mortgage refinancing, whether it be bad credit or otherwise, is the fact that mortgage lenders do not like to be repaid early. As such they usually incorporate some expensive penalty clauses to try and make it not worth your while repaying them early. With this in mind, you will need to read your original mortgage agreement with your original lender very carefully to make sure you won't have any onerous default payments to make; or, you could try and arrange for the new lender to swallow these.
That said, if you make any arrangements with the new lender that they agree to pay these fees for you, you then need to make sure they do not put any restrictive clauses in your new refinance mortgage agreement that would prohibit you from refinancing your mortgage again at some time in the future if the occasion warrants such.
Without a doubt, as a person with a bad credit history and bad credit rating, a bad credit mortgage refinance can open up avenues to you that would not otherwise be there. You do, however, need to give consideration as to whether or not you want to take this route. Not least because at the end of the day your house and family home is on the line!
About The Author
Monique Thomas helps you find the resources and information you need to make an informed decision on your finances. Subcribe to our announcement list by visiting: http://www.crazydebt.com
A Guide to Bad Credit Finance Options
Have you been trying to find out what bad credit finance options were available? Perhaps you're in the market for a new car or truck, but aren't sure if you can find a dealer or lender who'll offer you a bad credit finance?
You shouldn't worry too much about bad credit finance options, because there are several financing options available regardless of your credit history… some of them charge higher interest rates or require some additional security, but in the end may be just what you're looking for.
Vehicle financing
If you're looking for a bad credit finance for a new or used vehicle, your best option is most likely going to be to visit a finance company as opposed to a traditional bank.
Some finance companies are more likely to offer bad credit finance options for vehicles than others, and the financing will usually depend upon the type of vehicle being financed, where the vehicle is being purchased from, and what sort of insurance and driving record you have.
Other factors that will be taken into consideration include your annual and monthly income, any cosigners that you might have for the loan, and any recommendations or referrals that you might have.
Home financing
Finding someone to offer you a bad credit finance for a house or other real estate can sometimes be tricky, but generally real estate shouldn't be too difficult to finance.
Major factors in getting a mortgage lender to approve you for bad credit finance options include your income, any insurance that you will purchase for the house or real estate, the amount of a down payment that you're willing to offer, and any references of former landlords that you can offer.
Mortgage lenders for bad credit finance loans can be found online, at finance companies, and at some real estate and property management services.
Other financing
Should you be seeking bad credit finance options for other items (such as collectibles or electronics), you might find your search to be a little more difficult.
Smaller and less valuable items are often harder to repossess and find buyers for than vehicles and real estate, so many finance companies are hesitant to lend money to people with bad credit in order to purchase these items. Instead of financing, you might want to consider other venues for bad credit loans (such as auto title loans and the like) to get you the money that you need for your purchases.
Some lenders will offer financing for these items, though, but the only way to find out is to see for yourself. Should you be rejected, asking for a reference as to where to find financing might point you in the right direction.
You may freely reprint this article provided the following author's biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:
About the Author
John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help homeowners find the best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.
You shouldn't worry too much about bad credit finance options, because there are several financing options available regardless of your credit history… some of them charge higher interest rates or require some additional security, but in the end may be just what you're looking for.
Vehicle financing
If you're looking for a bad credit finance for a new or used vehicle, your best option is most likely going to be to visit a finance company as opposed to a traditional bank.
Some finance companies are more likely to offer bad credit finance options for vehicles than others, and the financing will usually depend upon the type of vehicle being financed, where the vehicle is being purchased from, and what sort of insurance and driving record you have.
Other factors that will be taken into consideration include your annual and monthly income, any cosigners that you might have for the loan, and any recommendations or referrals that you might have.
Home financing
Finding someone to offer you a bad credit finance for a house or other real estate can sometimes be tricky, but generally real estate shouldn't be too difficult to finance.
Major factors in getting a mortgage lender to approve you for bad credit finance options include your income, any insurance that you will purchase for the house or real estate, the amount of a down payment that you're willing to offer, and any references of former landlords that you can offer.
Mortgage lenders for bad credit finance loans can be found online, at finance companies, and at some real estate and property management services.
Other financing
Should you be seeking bad credit finance options for other items (such as collectibles or electronics), you might find your search to be a little more difficult.
Smaller and less valuable items are often harder to repossess and find buyers for than vehicles and real estate, so many finance companies are hesitant to lend money to people with bad credit in order to purchase these items. Instead of financing, you might want to consider other venues for bad credit loans (such as auto title loans and the like) to get you the money that you need for your purchases.
Some lenders will offer financing for these items, though, but the only way to find out is to see for yourself. Should you be rejected, asking for a reference as to where to find financing might point you in the right direction.
You may freely reprint this article provided the following author's biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:
About the Author
John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help homeowners find the best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.
A Good Credit Report - The Key To Cheap Finance
Is your credit report important? There are a lot of people who would not consider their credit rating as something too important to them in their life. There are others who, while recognising its importance, would not be overly concerned about the issue or understand the reasons for its importance. Well, to those people, they should at least be aware of some of the uses that are made of credit reports in the world in which we live.
While it may seem obvious to state it, credit reports are predominantly concerned with assessing the risk involved in lending money to you. Lenders are obsessed with one thing, getting repaid, and their entire industry revolves around making this occur. Therefore, they have developed the credit score that will assess your likely hood of repaying them and this is then used to either approve or reject your application for credit. While this is the basic purpose, some more sophisticated lenders desire to get in on an ever larger share of the market and in order to lend to higher risk borrowers, they create different categories of loans which people with lower scores can qualify for. These loans will invariably have higher interest rates and other less favourable conditions and this will be the price you pay for having a lower credit rating.
Since loans are used to finance homes, education, cars, and most other large purchases in life, the inability to get access to credit, or only to be able to get it at less attractive terms and rates, is a substantially reason to care about your credit report and try to keep it in as good a condition as possible.
Credit reports are also used when you apply for renting or leasing accommodation. This is usually because the landlord wants to be fairly certain that you'll be able to pay your rent as it falls due. So keeping your credit score healthy at this stage will pay off if you need to be approved for renting or leasing residential property.
There is also a trend among employer to start using credit ratings when assessing job applicants. The reasons they are making use of credit reports are of course different for every employer but there is a consensus that a healthy credit report and a good past record of meeting financial commitments is a good sign that the job applicant is someone reliable and worth employing. While it does seem slightly perverse that the very people that will need a job the most are precisely the ones that can be denied it but that's the direction things are moving in.
About the author:
Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the UK credit card comparison site http://www.creditcards121.co m/, where you can find a selection of credit card advice. For US visitors there is also the comparison site http://www.credit-cards-i nfo.com/ for all US interest free offers.
Written by: Joseph Kenny
While it may seem obvious to state it, credit reports are predominantly concerned with assessing the risk involved in lending money to you. Lenders are obsessed with one thing, getting repaid, and their entire industry revolves around making this occur. Therefore, they have developed the credit score that will assess your likely hood of repaying them and this is then used to either approve or reject your application for credit. While this is the basic purpose, some more sophisticated lenders desire to get in on an ever larger share of the market and in order to lend to higher risk borrowers, they create different categories of loans which people with lower scores can qualify for. These loans will invariably have higher interest rates and other less favourable conditions and this will be the price you pay for having a lower credit rating.
Since loans are used to finance homes, education, cars, and most other large purchases in life, the inability to get access to credit, or only to be able to get it at less attractive terms and rates, is a substantially reason to care about your credit report and try to keep it in as good a condition as possible.
Credit reports are also used when you apply for renting or leasing accommodation. This is usually because the landlord wants to be fairly certain that you'll be able to pay your rent as it falls due. So keeping your credit score healthy at this stage will pay off if you need to be approved for renting or leasing residential property.
There is also a trend among employer to start using credit ratings when assessing job applicants. The reasons they are making use of credit reports are of course different for every employer but there is a consensus that a healthy credit report and a good past record of meeting financial commitments is a good sign that the job applicant is someone reliable and worth employing. While it does seem slightly perverse that the very people that will need a job the most are precisely the ones that can be denied it but that's the direction things are moving in.
About the author:
Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the UK credit card comparison site http://www.creditcards121.co m/, where you can find a selection of credit card advice. For US visitors there is also the comparison site http://www.credit-cards-i nfo.com/ for all US interest free offers.
Written by: Joseph Kenny
A Fresh Start for Family Finances in 2005
While 40% to 50% of us make New Year’s resolutions on January 1—a ritual that has existed since ancient times—approximately 60% to 80% of us have already broken them by the end of February, according to researchers.
It’s still not too late, however, to reset the trajectory on your family’s finances, experts note.
1. Build a Budget
If you haven’t already done so, create a realistic budget.
Approximately 85% of your income should be set aside for necessities like housing, food, health care and clothing, according to the professionals at VISA USA.
This leaves 15% for entertainment—and something many consumers completely neglect: savings.
2. Distinguish “Needs” from “Wants”
Make sure you have a clear understanding of what you need in life versus what you want in life.
You need to pay for the antibiotics when the doctor diagnoses a respiratory infection. You don’t need to buy the latest movie released on DVD to aid in your recovery.
You need to pay the rent or mortgage. You don’t need to buy the lovely accent pillows that beckon to you from the interior design boutique.
Always separate the needs from the wants—particularly if money is tight.
3. Monitor Your Spending
To see what you really spend each month, keep a running log of all purchases—no matter how small—for a full month. This will give you a visual display of where your money goes after you deposit your paycheck.
You may find that the $3 cup of coffee that starts each day adds up to $90 a month—a pocketbook pincher that may prompt you to buy a pound of coffee beans at the local market and grind them yourself. That $90 blossoms into $1,080 in savings at the end of a year.
4. Create an Emergency Fund
Life is full of surprises—both positive and negative. If you happen to lose your job or suffer an illness that temporarily sidelines you, you will need cash reserves to support you during the rough months.
“In most cases, consumers who find themselves dealing with a financial hardship are unprepared and have not saved for unexpected situations,” says Diane Giarratano, director of education for Novadebt, a U.S. financial management service agency, with multiple locations, that provides credit counseling, budgeting and financial education.
5. Educate Yourself
When you attended high school or college, you studied history, mathematics, language and science, but there was probably no course in basic money management.
If you need help in meeting a financial goal—whether it’s buying a home or reducing your debt—take advantage of community resources.
“Consumers should feel free to contact a good credit-counseling agency to obtain free advice with regard to establishing a budget or to learn how to handle unexpected hardships,” Giarratano says.
6. Don’t Become a Victim
Identity theft has become an international epidemic, so be extremely cautious when giving out your credit card or personal identifying information. Monitor your credit card bills carefully for unauthorized charges, and immediately report suspicious activity to the issuing company.
“Identity theft is often an inside job,” warns Robert L. Siciliano, a personal security expert with Boston, Massachusetts-based SafetyMinute Seminars and author of “The Safety Minute.”
“Lower-level help desk workers and frontline call center employees often have access to all our personal information in their databases,” he says. “What are you doing to protect yourself? If you’re not paying attention, you could be a victim, too.”
And when a disaster strikes, such as the recent killer tsunamis in South Asia and East Africa, be wary of scammers from fake charities before reaching for your checkbook. Unfortunately, there will always be unscrupulous individuals who seize such opportunities to profit from others’ misfortune.
“Avoid using your credit card to make contributions,” advises James Walsh, author of “You Can’t Cheat An Honest Man: How Ponzi Schemes and Pyramid Frauds Work…and Why They’re More Common Than Ever.”
“Even though this can be a convenient way to proceed, many crooks are looking for credit card numbers,” Walsh says. “They will press strongly for ‘immediate support.’ Don’t rush.”
Instead, initiate the call yourself, and select a reputable charity.
“Go with recognized names,” Walsh says. “No organization is perfect; even the best-meaning groups occasionally misallocate money or fall victim to abusive employees. But larger charitable groups—like the Red Cross, the United Way and Catholic Charities—have the mechanisms in place to audit their people and performance.”
Charitable contributions are tax-deductible, so keep good records of all donations—including small cash gifts.
---------
Fox Symes assists all Australians discover the truth about their debts and how they can rapidly reduce them. There are methods available to the Australian public and you can discover how to use these to assist you in reducing your debt with a free phone consultation from Fox Symes. Visit http://www.foxsymes.com.au or contact them directly on 1300 361 204
It’s still not too late, however, to reset the trajectory on your family’s finances, experts note.
1. Build a Budget
If you haven’t already done so, create a realistic budget.
Approximately 85% of your income should be set aside for necessities like housing, food, health care and clothing, according to the professionals at VISA USA.
This leaves 15% for entertainment—and something many consumers completely neglect: savings.
2. Distinguish “Needs” from “Wants”
Make sure you have a clear understanding of what you need in life versus what you want in life.
You need to pay for the antibiotics when the doctor diagnoses a respiratory infection. You don’t need to buy the latest movie released on DVD to aid in your recovery.
You need to pay the rent or mortgage. You don’t need to buy the lovely accent pillows that beckon to you from the interior design boutique.
Always separate the needs from the wants—particularly if money is tight.
3. Monitor Your Spending
To see what you really spend each month, keep a running log of all purchases—no matter how small—for a full month. This will give you a visual display of where your money goes after you deposit your paycheck.
You may find that the $3 cup of coffee that starts each day adds up to $90 a month—a pocketbook pincher that may prompt you to buy a pound of coffee beans at the local market and grind them yourself. That $90 blossoms into $1,080 in savings at the end of a year.
4. Create an Emergency Fund
Life is full of surprises—both positive and negative. If you happen to lose your job or suffer an illness that temporarily sidelines you, you will need cash reserves to support you during the rough months.
“In most cases, consumers who find themselves dealing with a financial hardship are unprepared and have not saved for unexpected situations,” says Diane Giarratano, director of education for Novadebt, a U.S. financial management service agency, with multiple locations, that provides credit counseling, budgeting and financial education.
5. Educate Yourself
When you attended high school or college, you studied history, mathematics, language and science, but there was probably no course in basic money management.
If you need help in meeting a financial goal—whether it’s buying a home or reducing your debt—take advantage of community resources.
“Consumers should feel free to contact a good credit-counseling agency to obtain free advice with regard to establishing a budget or to learn how to handle unexpected hardships,” Giarratano says.
6. Don’t Become a Victim
Identity theft has become an international epidemic, so be extremely cautious when giving out your credit card or personal identifying information. Monitor your credit card bills carefully for unauthorized charges, and immediately report suspicious activity to the issuing company.
“Identity theft is often an inside job,” warns Robert L. Siciliano, a personal security expert with Boston, Massachusetts-based SafetyMinute Seminars and author of “The Safety Minute.”
“Lower-level help desk workers and frontline call center employees often have access to all our personal information in their databases,” he says. “What are you doing to protect yourself? If you’re not paying attention, you could be a victim, too.”
And when a disaster strikes, such as the recent killer tsunamis in South Asia and East Africa, be wary of scammers from fake charities before reaching for your checkbook. Unfortunately, there will always be unscrupulous individuals who seize such opportunities to profit from others’ misfortune.
“Avoid using your credit card to make contributions,” advises James Walsh, author of “You Can’t Cheat An Honest Man: How Ponzi Schemes and Pyramid Frauds Work…and Why They’re More Common Than Ever.”
“Even though this can be a convenient way to proceed, many crooks are looking for credit card numbers,” Walsh says. “They will press strongly for ‘immediate support.’ Don’t rush.”
Instead, initiate the call yourself, and select a reputable charity.
“Go with recognized names,” Walsh says. “No organization is perfect; even the best-meaning groups occasionally misallocate money or fall victim to abusive employees. But larger charitable groups—like the Red Cross, the United Way and Catholic Charities—have the mechanisms in place to audit their people and performance.”
Charitable contributions are tax-deductible, so keep good records of all donations—including small cash gifts.
---------
Fox Symes assists all Australians discover the truth about their debts and how they can rapidly reduce them. There are methods available to the Australian public and you can discover how to use these to assist you in reducing your debt with a free phone consultation from Fox Symes. Visit http://www.foxsymes.com.au or contact them directly on 1300 361 204
A College Loan Will Finance Your Education!
A college loan has given people all over the United States a chance to further their education, even if they are not making a lot of money. Education loans can be a big help in paying for college. You'll find these loans offer a low interest rate and a generous repayment period. Of course, student loans must be repaid, usually with interest, although some education loans have provisions for cancellation if the borrower performs a program-related service. If you are looking for a loan, be aware that there are many different types of loans. Try to find the student loan that fits you the best. For example, there is a loan called the Federal Stafford Loan. The Federal Stafford Loan is the most widely used loan in the student education loan program. Federal guidelines limit the maximum interest rate to no more than 8.25% and outline repayment terms of up to 10 years. Remember that if you ever need help or are falling behind on payments, consider a consolidate student loan.
Tips on getting a deferment for your College Loan.
If for some reason you are unable to meet your monthly payments, consider a college loan deferment. A deferment is a suspension of payments for special reasons. Usually, those who borrowed their first Stafford Loans after July 1, 1993, are eligible to defer payments if are enrolled in at least half-time at an eligible school, unemployed, in a graduate fellowship program, in a rehabilitation training program for people with disabilities, or suffering economic hardship. A college education is expensive, but with the right student loan you will be attending class without financial worry in no time
Tips on getting a deferment for your College Loan.
If for some reason you are unable to meet your monthly payments, consider a college loan deferment. A deferment is a suspension of payments for special reasons. Usually, those who borrowed their first Stafford Loans after July 1, 1993, are eligible to defer payments if are enrolled in at least half-time at an eligible school, unemployed, in a graduate fellowship program, in a rehabilitation training program for people with disabilities, or suffering economic hardship. A college education is expensive, but with the right student loan you will be attending class without financial worry in no time
4 Good Reasons to Get a Refinance Home Loan
Refinance Your Home Now and Lower Your Interest Rate
What is a refinance home loan?
A refinance home loan or a home loan refinance is a new loan obtained through your lender or a new lender to pay off existing loan. However, you may opt to apply for a lower interest rate and or cash out on your homes equity.
When should I refinance my home? It is a known fact that interest rates are lower than they have been in years. This is due to our fast paced and ever changing economy and market. Now would be the perfect opportunity to refinance your home to obtain a lower interest rate. Even a .25 difference can save you thousands of dollars a year in mortgage payments.
Why should I refinance my home?
There are several reasons home owners decides to refinance. The four most common reasons include:
To obtain a lower interest rate
Home owner generally are aware of interest rate down fall. They take advantage of this opportunity by applying to a refinance loan to lower their existing interest rates and save money on mortgage expenses. The money that a borrower saves on mortgage expenses can be invested in other financial investments.
To receive a refinance cash out
Some home owners who have enough equity accumulated in their homes refinance to cash out their equity and get a lower interest rate
To make home improvements
Sooner than later you will find that maintaining your home is hard work (not to mention quite expensive). In most cases, home owners will pursue a refinance, rather than a personal loan, in order to save on interest rates. A personal loan may have higher interest rates and are normally, not as large as a home improvement loan.
To change loan programs
A majority of home owner refinance because they are not satisfied with their current loan program. They may be under a 5 year arm, but somewhere down the line they decided they would prefer a 30 year fixed loan. Whatever the reason may be, a refinance home loan will solve the problem.
What are the benefits of refinancing my home?
There are several benefits included with refinancing your home, including:
Your credit may be in better standings then before you purchased your home, now you can refinance and obtain a more suitable loan, with lower interest rates and terms.
Or, you can obtain a home equity line of credit and have cash available when you need it.
With refinance cash out, your lender can consolidate your bills and pay off all of your debt. You will not have to deal with the hassle by yourself.
What are the different refinance loan options?
As with a traditional loan, refinance home loans offer some of the same loan programs, such as:
10/15/30 year fixed
Zero Down
Interest Only
And so on
Where can I refinance my loan?
You can apply for a refinance home loan through your current lender. Or you may search for a new lender more suitable to your financial needs. This search can be done by internet search, flipping through the yellow pages, or consulting with your real estate agent.
About the Author
Khali S. founder of Home Loan Guidance - a free online guide to help discover more home loan options secrets
What is a refinance home loan?
A refinance home loan or a home loan refinance is a new loan obtained through your lender or a new lender to pay off existing loan. However, you may opt to apply for a lower interest rate and or cash out on your homes equity.
When should I refinance my home? It is a known fact that interest rates are lower than they have been in years. This is due to our fast paced and ever changing economy and market. Now would be the perfect opportunity to refinance your home to obtain a lower interest rate. Even a .25 difference can save you thousands of dollars a year in mortgage payments.
Why should I refinance my home?
There are several reasons home owners decides to refinance. The four most common reasons include:
To obtain a lower interest rate
Home owner generally are aware of interest rate down fall. They take advantage of this opportunity by applying to a refinance loan to lower their existing interest rates and save money on mortgage expenses. The money that a borrower saves on mortgage expenses can be invested in other financial investments.
To receive a refinance cash out
Some home owners who have enough equity accumulated in their homes refinance to cash out their equity and get a lower interest rate
To make home improvements
Sooner than later you will find that maintaining your home is hard work (not to mention quite expensive). In most cases, home owners will pursue a refinance, rather than a personal loan, in order to save on interest rates. A personal loan may have higher interest rates and are normally, not as large as a home improvement loan.
To change loan programs
A majority of home owner refinance because they are not satisfied with their current loan program. They may be under a 5 year arm, but somewhere down the line they decided they would prefer a 30 year fixed loan. Whatever the reason may be, a refinance home loan will solve the problem.
What are the benefits of refinancing my home?
There are several benefits included with refinancing your home, including:
Your credit may be in better standings then before you purchased your home, now you can refinance and obtain a more suitable loan, with lower interest rates and terms.
Or, you can obtain a home equity line of credit and have cash available when you need it.
With refinance cash out, your lender can consolidate your bills and pay off all of your debt. You will not have to deal with the hassle by yourself.
What are the different refinance loan options?
As with a traditional loan, refinance home loans offer some of the same loan programs, such as:
10/15/30 year fixed
Zero Down
Interest Only
And so on
Where can I refinance my loan?
You can apply for a refinance home loan through your current lender. Or you may search for a new lender more suitable to your financial needs. This search can be done by internet search, flipping through the yellow pages, or consulting with your real estate agent.
About the Author
Khali S. founder of Home Loan Guidance - a free online guide to help discover more home loan options secrets
1st And 2nd Mortgage Refinance Loan - Why Refinance Both Mortgages?
The hassle of making two monthly mortgage payments has prompted many homeowners to consider refinancing their 1st and 2nd mortgages into one loan. While combining both loans into one mortgage is convenient, and may save you money, homeowners should carefully weigh the risks and advantages before choosing to refinance their mortgages.
Benefits Associated with Combining 1st and 2nd Mortgages
Aside from consolidating your mortgages and making one monthly payment, a mortgage consolidation may lower your monthly payments to mortgage lenders. If you acquired your 1st or 2nd mortgage before home loan rates began to decline, you are likely paying an interest rate that is at least two points above current market rates. If so, a refinancing will greatly benefit you. By refinancing both mortgages with a low interest rate, you may save hundreds on your monthly mortgage payment.
Furthermore, if you accepted a 1st and 2nd mortgage with an adjustable mortgage rate, refinancing both loans at a fixed rate may benefit you in the long run. Even if your current rates are low, these rates are not guaranteed to remain low. As market trends fluctuated, your adjustable rate mortgages are free to rise. Higher mortgage rates will cause your mortgage payment to climb considerably. Refinancing both mortgages with a fixed rate will ensure that your mortgage remains predictable.
Disadvantages to Refinancing 1st and 2nd Mortgage
Before choosing to refinance your mortgages, it is imperative to consider the drawbacks of combining both mortgages. To begin, refinancing a mortgage involves the same procedures as applying for the initial mortgage. Thus, you are required to pay closing costs and fees. In this case, refinancing is best for those who plan to live in their homes for a long time.
If your credit score has dropped considerably within recent years, lenders may not approve you for a low rate refinancing. By refinancing and consolidating both mortgages, be prepared to pay a higher interest rate. Before accepting an offer, carefully compare the savings.
Moreover, refinancing your two mortgages may result in you paying private mortgage insurance (PMI). PMI is required for home loans with less than 20% equity. To avoid paying private mortgage insurance, homeowners may consider refinancing both mortgages separately, as opposed to consolidating both mortgage loans.
About the author:
Carrie Reeder offers advice about Mortgage Refinance Loans Online. View our Recommended Lowest Rate Mtg Refinance Lenders Online.
Benefits Associated with Combining 1st and 2nd Mortgages
Aside from consolidating your mortgages and making one monthly payment, a mortgage consolidation may lower your monthly payments to mortgage lenders. If you acquired your 1st or 2nd mortgage before home loan rates began to decline, you are likely paying an interest rate that is at least two points above current market rates. If so, a refinancing will greatly benefit you. By refinancing both mortgages with a low interest rate, you may save hundreds on your monthly mortgage payment.
Furthermore, if you accepted a 1st and 2nd mortgage with an adjustable mortgage rate, refinancing both loans at a fixed rate may benefit you in the long run. Even if your current rates are low, these rates are not guaranteed to remain low. As market trends fluctuated, your adjustable rate mortgages are free to rise. Higher mortgage rates will cause your mortgage payment to climb considerably. Refinancing both mortgages with a fixed rate will ensure that your mortgage remains predictable.
Disadvantages to Refinancing 1st and 2nd Mortgage
Before choosing to refinance your mortgages, it is imperative to consider the drawbacks of combining both mortgages. To begin, refinancing a mortgage involves the same procedures as applying for the initial mortgage. Thus, you are required to pay closing costs and fees. In this case, refinancing is best for those who plan to live in their homes for a long time.
If your credit score has dropped considerably within recent years, lenders may not approve you for a low rate refinancing. By refinancing and consolidating both mortgages, be prepared to pay a higher interest rate. Before accepting an offer, carefully compare the savings.
Moreover, refinancing your two mortgages may result in you paying private mortgage insurance (PMI). PMI is required for home loans with less than 20% equity. To avoid paying private mortgage insurance, homeowners may consider refinancing both mortgages separately, as opposed to consolidating both mortgage loans.
About the author:
Carrie Reeder offers advice about Mortgage Refinance Loans Online. View our Recommended Lowest Rate Mtg Refinance Lenders Online.
1st And 2nd Mortgage Refinance Loan
Refinancing a first and second mortgage requires some extra considerations. Depending on your equity, you may find that combining the two mortgages results in a higher interest rate. You may also find that you have to carry PMI with the refinanced mortgage.
Will Refinancing Benefit You?
Refinancing two mortgages allows you to consolidate your loans into one payment, often lowering your monthly bill. You may also find lower rates under the right circumstances.
Those with a large amount of equity benefit most from consolidating loans since they qualify for the lowest rates. It is important to look at interest savings, not just monthly numbers which can be misleading.
However, if you have less than 25% equity, you may end up qualifying for higher rates. With less than 20% equity, you will also have to pay for private mortgage insurance. Even with these factors, you may still find that you will save money by refinancing.
Have You Done Your Research?
To see if refinancing makes sense for you, research mortgage lenders. You can quickly go online and request quotes and terms. Look at the different offers, and work out the numbers. An online mortgage calculator can help you figure out monthly payments and interest costs.
An easy way to compare cost is to first add up your interest payments for both mortgages. Use this number to compare interest payments with each potential mortgage.
You also need to factor in the cost of refinancing. Just like with your original mortgage, you will have to pay fees and points. You want to be sure that you can recoup these costs with your interest savings.
Why Do You Want To Refinance Both Mortgages?
While refinancing both mortgages is convenient, you may decide to refinance only one or both separately. With your main mortgage, you can expect to get low rates.
A second mortgage will usually qualify for higher rates, but you can lock them in. You may also choose to convert from a line of credit to an actual mortgage. Again, you will want to investigate financial packages before signing up with a lender.
About the author:
View our recommended mortgage Refi lenders. Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.
Will Refinancing Benefit You?
Refinancing two mortgages allows you to consolidate your loans into one payment, often lowering your monthly bill. You may also find lower rates under the right circumstances.
Those with a large amount of equity benefit most from consolidating loans since they qualify for the lowest rates. It is important to look at interest savings, not just monthly numbers which can be misleading.
However, if you have less than 25% equity, you may end up qualifying for higher rates. With less than 20% equity, you will also have to pay for private mortgage insurance. Even with these factors, you may still find that you will save money by refinancing.
Have You Done Your Research?
To see if refinancing makes sense for you, research mortgage lenders. You can quickly go online and request quotes and terms. Look at the different offers, and work out the numbers. An online mortgage calculator can help you figure out monthly payments and interest costs.
An easy way to compare cost is to first add up your interest payments for both mortgages. Use this number to compare interest payments with each potential mortgage.
You also need to factor in the cost of refinancing. Just like with your original mortgage, you will have to pay fees and points. You want to be sure that you can recoup these costs with your interest savings.
Why Do You Want To Refinance Both Mortgages?
While refinancing both mortgages is convenient, you may decide to refinance only one or both separately. With your main mortgage, you can expect to get low rates.
A second mortgage will usually qualify for higher rates, but you can lock them in. You may also choose to convert from a line of credit to an actual mortgage. Again, you will want to investigate financial packages before signing up with a lender.
About the author:
View our recommended mortgage Refi lenders. Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.
Monday, October 26, 2009
10 Easy Ways To Organize Your Business Finances
Whether you are a new entrepreneur or a more experienced business owner, taking control of your finances can feel like a part-time job. Some simple tips can help you streamline your time, organize your finances and reduce the stress of business money matters.
1. Keep Your Bills in One Place
When the mail comes, make sure it goes in one place. Misplaced bills can be the cause of unwanted late fees and can damage your credit rating. Whether it's a drawer, a box, or a file, be consistent. Size is also important. If you get a lot of mail, use an area that won't get filled up too quickly.
2. Pay Your Bills on Schedule
Bill paying can be simplified if it's done at scheduled times during the month. Depending on how many bills you receive, you can establish set times each month when none of your bills will be late. If you're paying bills as you receive them, chances are you're spending too much time in front of the checkbook. Although bills may state "Payable Upon Receipt", there's always a grace period. Call the creditor to find out when they need to receive payment before the bill is considered late.
3. Read Your Credit Card Statements
Most people take advantage of low interest credit card offers but never read their statements when paying the bill. Credit cards are notorious for using low interest as bait for new customers then switching to higher rates after a few months. Make a habit of looking at your statement carefully to see what interest rate you are paying each month and if any transaction fees have been applied. If the rate increases or a transaction fee appears on your statement, a simple call to the credit card company can oftentimes be beneficial in resolving the matter. If not, try to switch your money to a more favorable rate.
4. Take Advantage of Automatic Payments
Most banks offer a way to automatically deduct money from your account to pay creditors. In addition, the creditors usually offer a lower interest rate when you sign up for this payment option because they get their money faster and on-time. Consider it as one fewer check to write, envelope to lick and stamp to buy. Just make sure you record the deduction when the automatic payment is scheduled or you run the risk of bouncing other checks.
5. Computerize Your Checkbook
Using a software program is a handy way to organize your finances. Whether it's Quicken(r), Microsoft Money(r) or another package, these easy-to-use programs make bill paying and bank reconciliation a cinch. Computer checks can be ordered almost anywhere and fit right into most printers. Once the checks are printed, all of the information is automatically recorded in your electronic checkbook. Furthermore, many banks have direct downloads into these software packages so when money is deposited or withdrawn, the transaction is entered immediately onto your computer. And, when it comes time to do taxes, it couldn't be easier.
6. Get Overdraft Protection
Most banks have a service where, if you run the risk of bouncing a check, the money will come from another source. For a nominal fee, the bank will link your checking account to either a savings, money market, or credit card so the embarrassment of bouncing a check will be avoided. Call or visit your bank to learn about this convenient feature.
7. Cancel Unused Accounts
Whether it's a credit card or bank account, write a letter requesting that the account is formally closed. Not only will this improve your credit score, it is a useful way to avoid money from being scattered all over the place. Don't let department stores and credit card companies lure you into opening new accounts by offering favorable interest rates and purchase discounts. It's easy for credit to get out of hand by taking advantage of every credit offer that comes your way.
8. Consolidate Your Accounts
If you have several credit card accounts with outstanding balances, try to consolidate them into one. Be careful and check the balance transfer interest rates and one-time fees. Also, make a list of all your open Money Markets, Savings, CDs, IRAs, Mutual Funds, and other accounts to see if any consolidation can be done. Keeping your money in fewer places eliminates all of the guesswork involved and reduces errors.
9. Establish Automatic Savings
Create a link from your checking account into a savings account that will not be touched. This can usually be done through the banks and automatic amounts will be transferred over each month. Most people will not put money into a savings account on a regular basis. They may wait until a large tax refund check arrives or some other event to actually deposit money into savings, retirement or other accounts. If you establish an automatic savings deposit every month, your accounts will begin accumulating money faster than you think.
10. Clean up Your Files
Make sure your paid bills are organized in a filing cabinet. Keep individual files for paid bills. Go through your files at the end of each year and throw out bills and receipts no longer needed for auditing purposes. Contact your local IRS office to see how long records need to be kept for audits. Usually federal tax return audits can be done three years back but cancelled checks may need to be kept for seven. Consult the Internet for auditing and records-keeping procedures for your state or region.
(c) 2005 DebtGuru.com(r). This article may be freely distributed as long as the signature file and active link are included. About the author:Michael G. Peterson is the Vice President of American Credit Foundation, an IRS 501 (c)(3) non-profit consumer credit counseling organization that has assisted thousands of individuals and families with their financial situations through seminars, education, counseling services, and, debt management plans. For more information, and free consumer resources visit http://www.debtguru.com/. Written by: Michael G. Peterson
1. Keep Your Bills in One Place
When the mail comes, make sure it goes in one place. Misplaced bills can be the cause of unwanted late fees and can damage your credit rating. Whether it's a drawer, a box, or a file, be consistent. Size is also important. If you get a lot of mail, use an area that won't get filled up too quickly.
2. Pay Your Bills on Schedule
Bill paying can be simplified if it's done at scheduled times during the month. Depending on how many bills you receive, you can establish set times each month when none of your bills will be late. If you're paying bills as you receive them, chances are you're spending too much time in front of the checkbook. Although bills may state "Payable Upon Receipt", there's always a grace period. Call the creditor to find out when they need to receive payment before the bill is considered late.
3. Read Your Credit Card Statements
Most people take advantage of low interest credit card offers but never read their statements when paying the bill. Credit cards are notorious for using low interest as bait for new customers then switching to higher rates after a few months. Make a habit of looking at your statement carefully to see what interest rate you are paying each month and if any transaction fees have been applied. If the rate increases or a transaction fee appears on your statement, a simple call to the credit card company can oftentimes be beneficial in resolving the matter. If not, try to switch your money to a more favorable rate.
4. Take Advantage of Automatic Payments
Most banks offer a way to automatically deduct money from your account to pay creditors. In addition, the creditors usually offer a lower interest rate when you sign up for this payment option because they get their money faster and on-time. Consider it as one fewer check to write, envelope to lick and stamp to buy. Just make sure you record the deduction when the automatic payment is scheduled or you run the risk of bouncing other checks.
5. Computerize Your Checkbook
Using a software program is a handy way to organize your finances. Whether it's Quicken(r), Microsoft Money(r) or another package, these easy-to-use programs make bill paying and bank reconciliation a cinch. Computer checks can be ordered almost anywhere and fit right into most printers. Once the checks are printed, all of the information is automatically recorded in your electronic checkbook. Furthermore, many banks have direct downloads into these software packages so when money is deposited or withdrawn, the transaction is entered immediately onto your computer. And, when it comes time to do taxes, it couldn't be easier.
6. Get Overdraft Protection
Most banks have a service where, if you run the risk of bouncing a check, the money will come from another source. For a nominal fee, the bank will link your checking account to either a savings, money market, or credit card so the embarrassment of bouncing a check will be avoided. Call or visit your bank to learn about this convenient feature.
7. Cancel Unused Accounts
Whether it's a credit card or bank account, write a letter requesting that the account is formally closed. Not only will this improve your credit score, it is a useful way to avoid money from being scattered all over the place. Don't let department stores and credit card companies lure you into opening new accounts by offering favorable interest rates and purchase discounts. It's easy for credit to get out of hand by taking advantage of every credit offer that comes your way.
8. Consolidate Your Accounts
If you have several credit card accounts with outstanding balances, try to consolidate them into one. Be careful and check the balance transfer interest rates and one-time fees. Also, make a list of all your open Money Markets, Savings, CDs, IRAs, Mutual Funds, and other accounts to see if any consolidation can be done. Keeping your money in fewer places eliminates all of the guesswork involved and reduces errors.
9. Establish Automatic Savings
Create a link from your checking account into a savings account that will not be touched. This can usually be done through the banks and automatic amounts will be transferred over each month. Most people will not put money into a savings account on a regular basis. They may wait until a large tax refund check arrives or some other event to actually deposit money into savings, retirement or other accounts. If you establish an automatic savings deposit every month, your accounts will begin accumulating money faster than you think.
10. Clean up Your Files
Make sure your paid bills are organized in a filing cabinet. Keep individual files for paid bills. Go through your files at the end of each year and throw out bills and receipts no longer needed for auditing purposes. Contact your local IRS office to see how long records need to be kept for audits. Usually federal tax return audits can be done three years back but cancelled checks may need to be kept for seven. Consult the Internet for auditing and records-keeping procedures for your state or region.
(c) 2005 DebtGuru.com(r). This article may be freely distributed as long as the signature file and active link are included. About the author:Michael G. Peterson is the Vice President of American Credit Foundation, an IRS 501 (c)(3) non-profit consumer credit counseling organization that has assisted thousands of individuals and families with their financial situations through seminars, education, counseling services, and, debt management plans. For more information, and free consumer resources visit http://www.debtguru.com/. Written by: Michael G. Peterson
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