Category: Savings

Clearing Debt Fast

clearing your debtsIf you’re in over your head with debt, you may be desperately seeking ways to get rid of it. Debt can hang over you like a black cloud about to strike you with lightning, but there are ways out. The first rule when it comes to clearing any sort of debt is to tackle it head on instead of avoiding it. Avoiding things like debt will just make the situation worse. So, how do you clear debt fast?

Plan It

Before you put any plan into action, you need to sit down and figure out where to start. What debt do you have? What are the interest rates on your Credit 24 loans and credit cards? Lay it all out in front of you, even if facing it makes you feel anxious. Common sense would tell you to pay a little towards each one every month, but it’s best to tackle the debt with the highest interest rate first. That’s not to say you should completely ignore the others, but if you can put more money towards the one with the highest interest rate, your payment per month should significantly decrease over time.

Transfer Your Balance

When you got your loans or credit cards, you may have been in a position where you had no choice but to go for higher interest rates because they were the only ones that would accept you. By transferring your balance to a loan or card with a lower interest rate or a 0% interest rate for a certain amount of time card, you’ll have the chance to catch up on payments.

Prioritize Payments

You shouldn’t take money that supposed to go towards your mortgage to pay a credit card. There are ways you can save money but you must prioritise your payments. Sort out the needs from the wants. For example, paying your electricity bill is a top priority, but paying for games on your Xbox is something you can cut back on. Here’s a list of other cut backs you can make to save money. The money you save can go towards paying your debt so don’t be tempted to use it on things you want.

Stop Using Credit Cards

There’s no point in working hard to pay off your debt if you’re still spending at the same time. It can be a habitat and an addiction when it comes to spending. So, if you don’t trust yourself with your card, ask a family member or friend that you trust to keep it for you. If you know you’re likely to spend again and end up in the same situation, maybe it’s time to give the card the chop.

The main thing to do when it comes to clearing debt is to not bury your head in the sand. If you need help, ask for it. There are many places you can get advice and it helps you to feel like you’re not alone. Just by reading this, you’re already on the right track. Good luck!

Got A Big Payment On Your Hands? Here’s How You Can Easily Afford It

bills to payThere always comes a time when all of us could do with a little extra cash. The unexpected payout can sometimes be launched on us as a result of something beyond our control – a sudden illness or a car crash, for example. Or, it could be the case that you have something to pay off (like a vacation) and it has just dawned on you that you may not have the money together in time. Whichever situation is relevant to you, there’s no denying that having a large bill weighing on your shoulders can be extremely stressful. Your focus should, therefore, be on being as thrifty as possible to get the money together in time – but what do you do when time itself is against you? Here are a few ways you can save and make money quickly so you can afford that big payout with no questions asked.

Cut out everything you don’t need

The impending payment you need to make may be necessary to your life, or something that you can’t possible wriggle your way out of. However, if you sit back and take a good look at your finances, you may find that you notice certain things that maybe aren’t quite as necessary to your life. For example, could you still be paying a subscription fee for a magazine you don’t even read anymore? Or, perhaps you are wasting lots of money each month by overusing the heating in your home – don’t simply turn it on every morning just due to a force of habit! Cancel everything that isn’t integral to your everyday life, and isn’t something your family relies on too much. These little savings might not seem like a lot initially, but they can certainly go a long way.

See what you might be owed

You might not realize it, but you could have money hidden away in places you weren’t aware of. Read this Fairfield Funding structured settlement review for more information on structured settlements. You may be receiving your settlement in monthly payments at present, but if you urgently need money for something specific, you can apply to have the cash presented to you in a lump sum instead. Equally, if you have been particularly frugal with your household bills lately, you could be in credit with your energy companies, in which case they will owe you money.

Sell, sell, sell

Most of us have a whole hoard of clothes and items taking up space in our homes. Back in the day, we relied on garage sales and car boots to get rid of the things we no longer needed. But thanks to the internet, it has now never been easier to quickly sell your unwanted possessions online for a decent price. Teach yourself the basics of websites like eBay, Gumtree, and Shpock. Providing you can take a few good pictures of your items, and you have the time to post them quickly to your buyers, you can make a lot of easy money just by using websites like these.

4 Steps to Follow before Applying for a Personal Loan

loans for youFinancial institutions provide credit to individuals to help them meet fund requirements, such as medical emergency, wedding, or a dream holiday. These loans are offered based on their credit history. The Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited (CIBIL) collects information from financial institutions to maintain credit scores for individuals across the country.

Availing of personal finance loans allows individuals to overcome any liquidity crises. However, before applying for the loan, it will be beneficial to know the procedure and the pros and cons of such credit facilities.

Understanding the loan application process

Most financial institutions in the country offer personal loans to individuals. However, the procedure may vary from one lender to another. Understanding the process and the rules and regulations of the institutions before making the choice is recommended. It is advisable to review the loan application form to comprehend the terms and conditions in order to make an accurate decision.

Here are four steps to follow before applying for a loan.

1. Check the interest rates

Each lender levies different rate of interest. Some institutions may offer fixed rates while others may offer reducing balance rate of interest. In the latter calculation, the interest is charged on monthly reducing balance determined after decreasing the Equated Monthly Installment (EMI). However, with a fixed rate, the interest remains the same during the entire loan tenure.

2. Determine the Equated Monthly Installment (EMI)

Lenders determine the loan amount based on the income of the applicants and their credit score. It is important to choose an EMI that may be repaid without facing financial constraints. It is advisable that all the EMIs do not exceed 50% of the borrower’s monthly income to prevent a liquidity crisis.

3. Understand the documentation

Some of the commonly required documents include an identity, age, and residence proof along with the duly filled application form. Furthermore, applicants may need to provide details of their income and bank accounts to the lenders.

4. Confirm the loan eligibility

Applicants must use a personal loan online calculator to determine their eligibility before applying for a loan. Any individual aged between 21 years and 58 years may apply for such loans. The minimum net monthly income must be at least INR 25,000 with two years of work experience. An online calculator will help borrowers to know the approximate amount they may procure as a loan.

Having understood the loan application procedure, here are three benefits of applying for such loans.

1. Collateral not required

Unlike other credit facilities like home or auto loans, personal loans are unsecured. This means borrowers do not need to provide any personal asset as collateral against the loan. In case an individual fails to make timely repayments, the risk of losing the asset is eliminated with these loans.

2. Quick approval

These loans require applicants to submit some basic documents for receiving approval. Furthermore, these are unsecured credit facilities that make it easier for lenders to sanction the loans. Since the loan approval is primarily based on the credit history of the applicant, an easy personal loan is disbursed within a short period of time.

3. Affordability

Contrary to belief, these loans are available at competitive interest rates. Furthermore, the processing fees and other charges are nominal, which makes it affordable for individuals to avail of these credit facilities.

Personal finance may be used for any legal purpose. This provides flexibility to the borrowers without limiting the use of these funds. Several financial institutions offer these loans and provide loan-related information on their websites.Individuals must conduct extensive research and review these details in order to land the best deal.

5 Simple and Effective Tips For Budgeting in The New Year

budgeting tips for new yearWell, we made it. We’re past the tumultuous year that was 2016 and now 2017 is upon us. What can we expect from this year? It’s hard to say, but one thing we can all afford to do a little better, is budgeting our finances.

That’s why today we’re going to look at 5 awesome tips for budgeting yourself in 2017, and ultimately leading yourself to a more successful year than the one that just ended.

5 Strategies For Improving Your Budget in 2017

The overall concept of a budget can be scary, but if you break it down into simple strategies, it becomes a lot easier to see how everything fits together. Here are five ways you can get your budget back under control in 2017:

1. Drop Unneeded Subscriptions

We all have things like a Netflix subscription, and possibly a few others, including that gym membership you keep saying you’ll use. When you look at these monthly spendings, they suddenly add up to a lot more than you would expect. Just a few $20 monthly subscriptions can add another $500 or more to your yearly budget.

If you have more than one video subscription, why not narrow it down to one you can’t live without? As far as the gym goes, you don’t need to pay someone to exercise. Take a walk around your neighborhood, go to the park, heck, even do pushups in your living room. Don’t let me money disappear from your budget on things you don’t use or need.

2. Create Alerts on Your Phone

I am one of those people who gets very forgetful with all the stress of daily life. Simple things like credit card payments would slip by if I didn’t have some kind of reminder in place. Life is complicated, so don’t depend on yourself to simply remember things like these. Set up alerts on your phone that give you a heads up when something is due, so you can take care of it before it becomes late.

Late payments can be detrimental to your credit score, and for some people, they can’t afford to lose any more points off their credit. Thankfully, you can utilize credit repair if you need to with this resource: www.debtsteps.com credit repair companies list.

Either way, keeping yourself on track to pay everything on time will help you budget better in the long run.

3. Break it Down Week-by-Week

If you break your budget down into weekly limits on your spending, you’ll have a better grasp of where you stand on any given day or time in the month. This also allows you to be more in tune with how much you have to spare, if any, on weeks where you might need to take a break and go out one night to reset.

This is why it’s also important to set realistic goals. You can’t completely cut yourself off from the possibility of going out to dinner one night or renting a movie when you’re bored. Financial health is important, but you also have to think about your mental well-being.

4. Make a List (and Stick to It)

Anytime you’re going out shopping for things you need or even things you want, keep yourself in budget by creating a list. For example, let’s say you’re going to the grocery store. You’ll probably be tempted to pick up a few things that are nice, but not completely necessary. We’re all guilty of it, but it can bring up a grocery bill pretty fast.

If you make a list and stick to it, you’ll stay within your budget by a reasonable degree. Most grocery stores also offer the ability to clip digital coupons and use them with your phone number at the register. Take advantage of programs like this to save even more money when you’re shopping.

5. Keep Track of Everything

Our final tip is one that comes straight from my own strategies. I like to keep track of everything in my budget using an online spreadsheet that I customize myself. It allows me to write down all my bills and expenses in one place and keep track of the due dates. When it comes time to pay something, I just utilize the miracle of mobile banking to get it done.

I marked the bills as paid in my sheet and I can refer to it at any time of the month to see where I stand on budgeting. It’s an optional, but very helpful way of keeping track.

Final Thoughts

We’re in a new year, full of new possibilities. It’s time to think about how you can restructure your budget and make this year better than the last. How do you plan on improving your budget this year? Let us know in the comments!

Government Employees Can Choose Their NPS Fund Managers

pension plansThe National Pension System (NPS) is a defined contribution retirement plan offered by the government. The plan is regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

Subscribers must avail their Tier 1 NPS accounts with one of the PFRDA-appointed Point of Presence (POP). The contributions may be invested in 3 asset classes’ viz. equities, government securities, and corporate bonds. These funds are managed by professional fund managers designated by the regulator.

NPS is compulsory for government employees except the armed forces. The plan is optional for the private sector personnel. An increasing number of private sector employees are choosing NPS to take advantage of the various tax benefits available under the Income Tax (IT) Act.

Here is how government employees may choose fund managers

Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN)

Applicants are updated about their PRAN application status through an email or SMS. This number is unique for each subscriber, which makes the NPS account completely portable. The applicants may check the status with the POP or the regulator’s website in case the PRAN card is not received.

Choosing the fund manager

Government employees did not have the liberty of choosing their fund manager as available under the All Citizen Model. The state or the central government had the responsibility of choosing the fund managers. However, recently, PFRDA announced that public sector employees will now be at par and may choose their preferred fund manager to handletheir NPS contributions.

Being able to choose their preferred fund manager provides the subscribers an opportunity to assume higher risks and enjoy better NPS interest rate. The returns on NPS contributions depend on the percentage that is invested in the different asset classes. Therefore, by investing the maximum permissible amount (50% of the total annual contribution) in equities offers investors the chance to earn higher returns.

Changing the fund manager

The private sector personnel also have the option of changing the fund manager in case they are unsatisfied with the services. The proposed modification by the regulator also makes the option of changing the fund manager available for the government employees.

Opportunity to earn higher returns

The public sector employer matches the annual contribution made by the employees to the NPS. Having the option to choose their preferred fund manager allows the subscribers to take advantage of investing more in equities, which may potentially increase their returns.

The NPS corpus may be withdrawn on maturity. Investors may withdraw 60% of this amount as a lump sum. The balance must be compulsorily converted to an annuity plan. Subscribers may use a pension plan calculator to estimate the potential returns on their investments.

The revised norms for government subscribers make NPS beneficial for the investors. They may now choose the fund manager and the investment breakdown to maximize their returns.However, the existing system of the government choosing the fund manager will also continue for those subscribers who do not want to make their own choice.