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Preserve Your Credit Score When Applying for a Loan

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Your credit score is an indicator to lenders and landlords of how well you have handled your credit over the past few years. A number of issues can make your score drop, including problems that weren't your fault, such as excessive medical debt. So, keeping your score as high as possible is crucial for landing both good properties and loans. The fact that inquiries on your credit report can drop your score is extremely frustrating, but you have another option. Why you don't want hard inquiries Your credit report shows a type of inquiry known as a hard inquiry. Most inquiries made by companies into your credit are hard inquiries because these are basically requests for detailed credit information specifically for the purpose of issuing more credit. Even housing inquiries involve a type of credit, namely your promise to pay rent over a series of months. Credit bureaus don't distinguish between someone looking for credit for a once-in-a-while loan and someone

Struggling with debt? Here's how to manage the stress

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If you're struggling with debt, you're not alone. Between student loans, credit cards, mortgages, medical bills, and more, a huge fraction of adults are struggling with debt in some form. While debt can be frustrating, it's important to manage it in a way that doesn't create extra stress. Here are some helpful tips for managing your debt without letting the stress get in the way of your daily life. Be aware of how much you owe It can be tempting to try to ignore your debt and put it out of your mind, but this can cause problems that will just lead to more stress. You should be aware of how much you owe at any given time, so you can plan ahead when making purchases. If you have debt from multiple creditors, keep a master list of all of your debts and update them as you pay them off. Keeping close track of your progress in this way will help you feel more in control.  Put together a payment calendar Making your payments late will negatively affect your c

Should I Get a Personal Loan?

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A personal loan is an option if you’re looking to consolidate high-interest debt or finance a large expense like a home improvement project. Interest rates on personal loans are typically lower than credit cards for borrowers with good credit, and most personal loans are unsecured, meaning they don’t require collateral. But financial experts generally advise against using a personal loan for a weeklong stay at the beach or a new TV. For discretionary purchases, it’s best to pay with less expensive alternatives like a 0% interest credit card or — the cheapest option — money you’ve saved up. What is a personal loan? Personal loans are a type of credit that consumers take out for a variety of personal reasons. Unlike mortgages or auto loans, personal loans aren’t earmarked for a specific purpose. You can use the loan for almost any reason. Personal loans are installment loans; if you’re approved, you’ll receive a lump sum of cash that you repay in fixed amounts on a monthly basis un

How To Get Out of Debt On Your Own: A DIY Guide

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I managed to pay off $80,000 in auto, credit card, and student loans debt in just over three years. I know how to get out of debt and I know you can do it, too. As a debt junkie for almost ten years, I ran up credit card after credit card living like my salary was about four times its actual size. Stupid things I bought on credit included flying lessons, weekends in Las Vegas, and a brand new pickup truck. Hey, I never said I wasn’t having fun. (Remember, I’m on the other side of 25 now, so I started college pre-recession… during the dot-com boom. Back then, I actually thought I could graduate with a sociology major and find a $75k a year job—because I knew people who did!) We all know that didn’t happen, and soon enough, the debt caught up with me. As I approached my 26th birthday, I maxed out with debt of around $80,000. All of a sudden, I couldn’t keep borrowing my way out of trouble anymore. At the same time, I realized that the stress of barely making my monthly payments and

3 Women Share Their Inspiring Financial Wins

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Statistics have shown that women have a tougher time building wealth than men. Not only do we earn $0.82 for every dollar earned by a man, but we also spend more time caring for children and elderly relatives. We may also be passed over for promotions "just in case" we leave to have a child or care for a relative. Here are three inspirational women who have forged their own financial paths. To read more, visit the original post: 3 Women Share Their Inspiring Financial Wins . The post appeared first on The Motley Fool .

What You Need to Know About Balance Transfers

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One of the common ways to manage multiple credit cards and pay off debt quickly is by doing a credit card balance transfer. This is when you move your balances from one or multiple credit cards to a single card that offers a much lower interest rate, usually for a fixed period of time. Typically, you'll find balance transfer offers advertised at a 0% introductory interest rate. Doing a credit card balance transfer might work if you're trying to save money on interest while you pay off your debt. But it's also a huge trap people fall into! This is because credit card companies offer balance transfers and the associated incentives as a way to make money. To read more, visit the original post: What You Need to Know About Balance Transfers . The post appeared first on Clever Girl Finance .

Should I Get A Quick Cash Loan?

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Even the most fiscally responsible people sometimes encounter cash flow problems and are left a few dollars short in their bank account. A quick loan is an easy and fast way to make sure you have the money you need when something important comes up. There are many online lenders that now offer convenient same-day loans with low stress application processes. You can select from a range of payment plans, fees, and rates, and there are even options for borrowers with low credit. Here are some scenarios where you can benefit from taking out a quick cash loan . Vehicle Repairs When you rely on your vehicle to get around, you can't have it taken out of commission for too long if you get in an accident. However, vehicle repairs can be very expensive, and it can take a long time for insurance to cover them - if they cover them at all. A quick cash loan gives you the money you need to get your vehicle taken care of right away, so you can get back on the road again in no time.

Why Bad Credit doesn't have to be a Barrier to Installment Loans

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If you’ve currently got a bad credit score, chances are it could be causing you to feel stressed. After all, access to credit is essential for when life throws those little niggling problems at you. Picture the scene. It’s Monday afternoon, you’ve just finished work and need to pick the children up from school. However, your car mysteriously won’t start and you can’t afford to pay a mechanic on-the-spot to take a look at it – neither can you afford to arrange alternative transport. This nightmare scenario is just one of many that routinely affect people with a poor credit rating. The solution might be to turn to a high cost payday lender to secure immediate funding – but with incredibly high repayments, this might not be ideal and could land you even further in debt than you already are. Thankfully, there are a number of alternative loans for bad credit that could help you out in this sort of situation. Installment loans for bad credit: Helping you when you need it most

Free Debt Advice To Help You Start the Year On A High

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Taking out a loan or getting business supplies generates a lot of pressure on an individual or business when it comes to paying creditors or lenders. Without a proper plan, these debts can pile up and become too much to handle. Getting the right debt advice can help you or your venture to live debt free through gradual but effective payment strategies.  The biggest challenge for businesses or companies when trying to offset their debts is staying afloat. You don’t want to use all your capital trying to pay your debts while leaving your business without any resources to operate. For personal debts, staying debt free gives you peace of mind and space to work on other projects. Below is a list of debt advice tips to boost your financial position. 1. Keep your debts organized The first step in offsetting your debts is knowing who and how much you owe. Compile details about the interest rates charged on the loan or credit, the total amount you owe and the monthly installments

6 Tips For Becoming Financially Independent

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Whether you’re currently in debt, in the process of paying off your bills or are completely debt free, you might be wondering how one truly becomes financially independent. Before we outline some ways you can achieve financial independence, let’s discuss exactly what the term “financially independent” means. When you’re financially independent it simply means that you have enough capital or wealth to live on without needing to work any longer. Essentially, if you’re financially independent, you also have enough assets which can create income that's equal to or below your expenses. If you’re looking forward to living a life without having to worry about a nine to five work routine, then look no further than these six tips to get you started: Establish a plan Before changing your financial outlook and becoming financially independent, you’ll need to outline a plan that works for your income, savings, spending and existing debt. You can start by creating your plan wi