Category: Debts

An Overview Of Payday Loans

Canadian moneyNo matter the reason that a person obtains a payday loan, it is always important to make sure that any borrowed funds can be paid back by their due date. This helps to ensure that a person does not become trapped in the unfortunate payday cycle that many consumers find their selves stuck in.

Overview of Payday Loans
Everyone knows that life is unpredictable. From unforeseen medical bills to unexpected automobile expenses, it never fails that something always happens; this is what makes payday loans so advantageous. When it comes to payday loans and cash advances, there is no denying that they have their advantages and drawbacks. By knowing the ins-and-outs of payday loans, consumers can become better aware of their cash options which proves beneficial when hard times strike.

What is a Payday Loan?
When a person obtains a cash loan from a business instead of a bank, this is known as a payday loan. This type of loan is generally referred to as a payday loan because the borrower is usually required to pay back the borrowed funds from the next paycheck that he or she receives. People who provide payday loans will many times take postdated checks as a form of collateral. One of the most negative aspects of these types of loans is that they come accompanied with large fees. In fact, some of the loans have interest rates as high as 400%.

Paying Back a Payday Loan
Many times, people go about getting payday loans with good intentions; however, when it comes to paying them back, along with paying their monthly bills, the payback becomes too financially burdensome. This often causes borrowers to become dependant on payday businesses; so dependant that borrowers often take out loans from several payday lenders so that they can pay off ones they have already borrowed from. Needless to say, borrowing from payday lenders often becomes a vicious cycle that borrowers find their selves stuck in.

Alternatives to Payday Loans
For most consumers, it is best to avoid payday loans unless they become an absolute necessity. There are other ways to go about obtaining cash advances including borrowing money from a bank, and banks tend to accompany their loans with lower interest rates than payday lenders. If a person has already found him or herself trapped in the vicious cycle of taking out payday loans, it is best to stop immediately, and try to pay back the borrowed funds as quickly as possible.

Benefits of Payday Loans
On the other hand, for people who know that they have the ability to pay back the funds borrowed from a payday loan, this type of cash advance is one with many benefits. For starters, it provides a great way to access cash in a small amount of time. In fact, many payday lenders can provide cash to a borrower within 24 hours of the borrower’s payday application being approved. By being able to access cash in such a short amount of time, borrowers do not have to fret about their bills being overdue. This also helps borrowers from enduring late fees on their bills.

Acacia Black knows how sometimes life gets in the way, and you dont have enough money to get you till the next paycheque. She had a family to take care of, and that is why she trusted Zaplo for her payday advance. They offer a variety of affordable, and reasonable payday loans. Visit their website to learn more.

You Want Money For What?

Some of us work hard, pay our dues, but are still flat broke at the end of the month. Then there are those who seem to cruise through life and they are always doing the things we cannot afford to, despite the fact that they have a worse job and yet still drive a more expensive car than that which we drive. It is okay to feel aggrieved, but when you realise those people are bouncing from one loan to another and are rapidly reducing their spending power, it is also okay to feel a little happier. The problem is that those kinds of people always seem to manage to scrape their way out of a financial mess right at the last minute, but is that any way to live your life.

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What is a Good Reason?

We all know the answer, nobody wants to dread letters coming through the door because they don’t know if they are going to be able to pay them or not, that’s why it’s important to make sure we use loans responsibly. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t get ridiculously in debt for a family holiday to Cancun, it just means we shouldn’t do it twice in a year, although many people do just that. On a less serious note, some people have come up with some crazy reasons for loans that are definitely worth sharing.

Top Five Mad Loan Reasons

1. I want to buy a pet snake, Spider, Monkey or other exotic animal

Fair enough, exotic animals need the correct environment and a great deal of care. Bills at the vets are liable to run into thousands if animals lack proper care, but borrowing a few thousand pounds to kit out a spare room like a Brazilian rainforest is a little eccentric. It’s a little more worrying when there is not spare room and the person states that they live in a one-bedroom flat.

2. A loan for a Friend

One sure way to lose friends is to lend them money. Well, that’s not strictly true. Lending the money is fine; it’s asking them to make repayments that often cause the arguments. If someone cannot get a loan, it’s usually for a reason so you are well advised to leave them to deal with their own problems. Things come to a head when repayments are late and the friend is out on the town every weekend.

3. Borrowing to Invest

In all fairness, most businesses borrow to invest, but that is a lot different from someone taking out a personal loan to invest in a business venture or worse, the stock market. There is no safe investment out there that provides a better income than the cost of a loan; otherwise, the loan companies would put their money into those investments instead of risking it with customers.

4. A loan to pay off  a loan

This is not to be confused with a debt consolidation loan, which in certain circumstances is very useful. The type of loan that is not useful is the kind that people use to cover missed payments, late payments or any other short-term problem. People are far better off when they speak to the company they have a loan with and explain the situation.

5. A loan for Cosmetic Surgery

This is a new one, but both men and women are becoming so conscious of their appearance, they are prepared to take out huge loans to achieve a certain look. The problem is they are rarely satisfied even after spending thousands and of course, the cost rises even higher when interest is on top. Most plastic surgeons offer finance solutions to customers and this is nice little side earner for the practice who already rakes it in with the surgery costs.

Most people are not silly enough to get themselves in a great deal of debt because of something as stupid as the five reasons here, but we are all guilty of putting the odd thing on a credit card when we know it’s not a necessary purchase. The important thing to do is make sure you stay within your means. In other words, live the life you can afford to live and avoid plastic surgery, exotic pets and high maintenance friends if you want to protect your credit record.

William Bancs is a writer who enjoys blogging about his financial experiences and often writes interesting articles to offer advice to help loan companies communicate better with customers.

Finding the right credit card for you – it’s easier than you think

Choosing right credit cardWhen you begin the search for a good UK credit card, you are likely to encounter a vast amount of information. A lot of this information can be conflicting, as well as confusing, and you might feel that you will never be able to root out the best credit card deal to suit your circumstances.

The way to find the best credit card for you is to cut through all the waffle and jargon and simply focus on what you need from a credit card. Once you know this, you can narrow down your options so that there are only a small number of deals to compare and to choose from.

What type of credit card is best for you?

To get the best credit card deal, you need to understand your spending patterns and to have a good grip on your finances. This will help you find a card that you can afford and that suits your needs. Here are a few examples of credit card types along with who they are best suited to:

  • Credit cards with low interest rates (low APRs) – these may attract your attention, but they are not for everyone. These are best if you want a card to use only occasionally and that you can afford to pay off in full each month. If you want a credit card for a specific purpose, this is not the option for you.
  • 0% balance transfer credit cards – these cards, which give you 0% for a limited period (i.e. 12 months) are designed for people who already have debt and who will be able to pay off that debt by the expiry of the 0% period. They allow you to transfer the balance (debt) to the 0% card so that you get a better deal and can more easily manage your debts.
  • Cash back credit cards offer you money back on everyday purchases on everyday purchases, which is very beneficial but only worth it if you can your balance off in full (or very nearly) every month.
  • Low-rate life of balance credit cards – similarly to balance transfer offers, these cards allow you to switch existing debt over to a new card. The difference is that these cards give you a guarantee that the interest rate on the debt won’t increase as long as you can make minimum payments each month. These cards are best for people who can’t afford to completely clear their debts before 0% offer periods run out (usually within 12-18 months).

Advantage Of Working With A Mortgage Broker

Mortgage BrokerOne of the best things that people hope for in their lives is to finally own a home of their own. Very few people have the privilege of buying a home and making all the payments at once. Since many people cannot afford this option, people opt to get a mortgage.

The best way to get a mortgage is actually doing so via a mortgage specialist. A mortgage specialist will help you get the right type of mortgage that will fit your needs and assist you to acquire that house you have always wanted.

Who is a Mortgage Specialist?

A mortgage specialist is a person who has specialized in mortgages and can sometimes act as a liaison between you and the lender. The advice that they can give you is very valuable and comes in handy when it comes down to choosing the right type of mortgage to get.

Why should you get advice from a mortgage specialist?

  • You can get the information by yourself but chances are that you will not be able to get a very good deal on your own because you do not have sufficient knowledge in the area of mortgages. They are experienced and so they know the mortgage industry in and out so they are able to give you sound advice about mortgages of all shapes and sizes.
  • The second reason why you should take the advice of a mortgage specialist is because today you are faced with a lot of information which can easily misguide you when you are choosing your lender.
  • The third reason is because you will be getting the information about mortgages for free. You will get the advice for free because the mortgage specialists can only get paid a commission when they have made a client sign a loan from a lender.
  • Many people have poor credit scores and so when they apply for a mortgage, they are forced to pay higher interest rates than the people with good credit scores. The mortgage specialist can assist you to get lower rates from a lender than you would if you tried to do it yourself directly to the lender.
  • The fourth reason is so that you can have someone do most of the legwork in terms of the negotiating and paperwork that needs to be done. They do the hard work for you so you do not have to go through it. The mortgage specialist will also become the point of contact regarding all the things that are related to your financing.

Other advantages of a mortgage specialist

You will save yourself a lot of time when you get the advice directly from a mortgage specialist. This is because all the time that you would have spent doing research online can be spent on other things related to the mortgage, all because you decided to get accurate information from your mortgage specialist.

If you are ever faced by a situation where you need to refinance your mortgage, the mortgage specialist will give the right advice and direct you in getting your mortgage refinanced the right way.

The amount of convenience that you will find from getting advice from a mortgage specialist is incomparable to the hassle that you would have to go through if you are going to gather the information for yourself from scratch. Another major advantage is that the mortgage specialist is always aware of new deals and changes in the industry so you can benefit from the most current information about mortgages.

How Do I Know Which Loan To Choose?

equity-rate_how-to-choose-the-best-home-equity-loans_1-3When selecting the right loan for your situation, it’s necessary to look at a range of different factors; these range from the types of loans that are generally available, through to the importance of understanding interest rates and your how much your credit score determines what you can borrow. It’s also important to think about what the loan is for, and what options there are if you have bad credit.

Types of Loans

Loans can be divided into several broad categories, which include secured and unsecured loans. A secured loan is generally taken out against something valuable that you own, whether that be a piece of property, a car, or jewellery. The lender can choose to repossess an asset or sell it in order to pay off the loan. Secured loans do produce low interest rates and longer contract terms than unsecured loans, but with a higher risk of losing valuable assets.

Unsecured loans, then, represent forms of credit that don’t use assets, but are instead valued through their rates of interest – this might include a personal loan from a bank, a credit card, or an emergency or payday loan – these loans are worth considering if you need money quickly, and if you can take out a loan off the back of a positive credit score.

Interest Rates and Your Credit Score

How much you can stand to borrow and repay on a loan will depend on interest rates and your credit score. The base rate of interest is set by the Bank of England in the UK, and is currently at 0.5 per cent – most lenders will charge above this for loans, although mortgages can be taken out to match the base rate. In terms of an average loan, you can might pay 5.2 per cent on a £3,000 payment, with 1 year to repay – this 5.2 per cent interest will mean you repay around £230 a month to cover the loan.

Credit card interest rates are also variable, and can go from very low introductory offers to about 18.9 per cent and higher in interest charges per year. Payday loans, which are easy to apply for, but come with the understanding that you make a full repayment with interest at the end of a month, can charge up to 1400 per cent in interest for their quick lending.

The kind of interest rate you have to pay will primarily depend on your credit score, which is worked out through your past borrowing history, as well as through your employment and address history. A negative credit score can result from defaulting on loans, and from consistent periods of time away from work; this can make it difficult to get credit, and can mean that you have to work to rebuild your score with credit agencies such as Equifax, Callcredit, and Experian.

What the Loan is For

Whatever loan you need, remember to consider how much risk you’re willing to enter into – what is the purpose of the loan, and can you realistically expect to make repayments with interest within a given contract? Also, think about what kind of collateral, or assets, that you can afford to gamble with. If you do have bad credit, it’s similarly worth considering approaches that lower your personal risk – getting a loan with a guarantor can be useful, as they agree to make payments on your behalf if you are having problems. Borrowing against the equity in your home can also represent a calculated risk if you need to raise a significant amount of money in a short period of time.