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Friday, January 23, 2009

Smart-with-Money Mindset Needed

By Paul J. Easton

Unlike the popular belief we are told over and over again, credit cards are not free money. If you are not cautious enough, it can be the straightforward way to financial hell. There is some good news though. Your way out is still possible with efforts from your part.

Many experts say that one of the best hidden ways to get rid of credit card debt, that your bank don't tell you about, is with the use of a debt consolidation loan. If you have a number of credit cards then a consolidation loan may be a good advice. This comes along with a condition though. Be ready to give up your cards because these accounts will be suspended by your credit card lenders. A good indication that you need this is when you are already having missed payments for three or more consecutive months. This is much better than to suffer the consequences of a negatively impacted credit rating.

Consolidating your credit card debts into one big loan offers you a way to get rid of high interest rates from credit card lenders. This offers you a scheme to pay your bills without the hidden charges and extra fees. It also gives you the time to pay the balances in a much more feasible time frame. In addition, you don't have to keep track of several statements with various credit cards because you will only recall one due date with your consolidated loan. This eliminates the late payments when dealing with a lot of bills at different times of the month.

Explore with various banks and get the best debt consolidation loans with respect to the interests and the terms they offer. Take the time to search and compare loans if possible. Bear in mind that you are trying to better your financial situation, so you need to get a debt consolidation loan that offers you better rates and terms than your credit card lenders altogether.

Take the necessary steps and make the religious payments every time and you are on the right track to a debt-free life soon. There is a bad news however. A lot of people will take a debt consolidation loan to get out of their credit card debts. But after a few months, they get another card and splurge their way to another shopping spree.

This only worsens their problems because they have to make the new set of payments on the new credit cards. And don't forget the consolidated loan payment. Unless a person learns how to deal with the finances, he will still be running in circles with this financial disaster. So to make the most of this opportunity, learn not to go back to this financial trap and be smart with money.

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The Truth About Choosing The Right Fixed Rate Mortgage

By James Redder

The monthly repayments for 30 year or 15 year fixed mortgage are just one important consideration for many people who are looking to buy a home. Many of us are buying homes later in life these days so it is not unreasonable to have the house paid off early. Although before signing any documents, there are many things to consider. One important point is to ensure that the interest rate doesn't change during the life of the loan.

It is not uncommon to see lenders offering deals that are too good to be true. For loans that have 15 year fixed mortgage rates, the same amount of interest is maintained throughout the life of the loan. This is of great benefit for anyone that does not like surprises. Both my wife and I decided to research fixed rate mortgages when we started looking at homes for sale.

Even though it was important for us to pay off our loan at the earliest possible opportunity, we didn't want high, unrealistic monthly payments which we would have trouble maintaining. Considering longer term fixed rate mortgages was one option if we could not afford a 15 year plan. We didn't really like the prospect of having a mortgage as we approached retirement so were really hoping to get one of the loans with 15 year fixed mortgage rates. We felt that there was a great deal of emphasis on paying the mortgage off early.

After careful consideration we decided to take the longer term 30 year repayment option instead of the 15 year plan. Although a number of things had to be pondered over, eventually the choice was made for us. Finding out my wife was having a baby made making the choice so much easier! My wife decided she wanted to raise our child at home so I couldn't be certain of her monthly financial commitment to our household expenses. The problem we could see was the increased financial commitment on a monthly basis if we had opted for the 15 year fixed mortgage rate. We just simply didn't want to get in over our heads with a higher monthly payment. We found that the monthly repayments on a 30 year loan were more manageable.

We are also able to make extra payments throughout the year to make the principal shrink quicker. Those few extra payments also help reduce the number of years you have to pay the loan over. In the long term, this is a strategy well worth pursuing if you are able. Although we would have much preferred a loan with a 15 year fixed mortgage rate we had to take our needs and abilities into consideration. Anyway, everything worked out fine despite our hesitancy.

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Be Careful When Taking out Loans Online

By Trinity Robison

We live in a new age of convenience and ease. Obtaining loans is now easier than ever with companies offering online loans. In fact, it is possible to receive a loan without ever leaving the comfort of your own home. It's a luxury that might seem nice, but just like most conveniences that seem too good to be true; there are risks in taking out loans online.

Risk number one is potential identity theft. When you apply for a loan online, you are required to enter personal information. The scary thing is that the personal information is accessible by anyone who has access to the World Wide Web. The only way to avoid others getting access to your information is if the company you apply for a loan with has a secure website with firewalls set up to protect against identity theft.

The riskiest move would be to borrow from a lender that doesn't reside in the United States. If the company didn't stay true to the terms and conditions, it would be almost impossible to hold them accountable since the laws where the company resides are different than those in the U.S. Be sure to do your research if you do decide to apply for an online loan. Check the history of the company to make sure that they can prove a track record of honest lending.

Perhaps the scariest risk of all involved with online loans is the possibility of identity theft. Anytime you enter personal information into an online application, you open the door for identity thieves to steal information that would allow them to take your money and destroy your credit history.

Hypothetically, once someone has your account number and routing number for your personal bank accounts, it is really easy for them to take money out just as they are capable of putting money in the account. When this happens, it can be really difficult to track down the true perpetrators and hold them accountable, especially if the lender is not in the United States.

Overall, it is still quite possible to take out a loan online if you are responsible and do you research. Be sure to find a company that has a good history of issuing loans. Make sure their website is secure and there is little risk of your personal information being stolen. If the company has these things in place, you can probably take out a loan with no real issues. Just remember, that when applying for a loan online, there is really no such thing as no risk.

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The Way Personal Finance Software Can Change Your Life Forever

By Jenni Snook

Without personal finance software, do you seem to think that your money disappears just like a magic trick? Does the statement from your credit card company leave you wondering how and when you spent so much money continually? What about the last time you took money out of the ATM, has that money already disappeared? Keeping your personal finances under tight control may be difficult for you especially if you find yourself in one of the above situations or have a tight budget.

There are many people out there that have their paychecks eaten up so quickly by incoming bills through the mail. If this situation sounds too familiar to you, then it's likely that you will living from paycheck to paycheck to meet your financial obligations, and maybe even credit too.

It's probable that you have wondered on many occasions how you got to be in such a situation. Rest assured that you are by far not the only one struggling in the financial area of your life. Today on average, an individual has 1 income stream which then has to distributed to another 30 sources, this is how modern society is today.

By simply looking at the amount of payments you make on a regular basis such as credit cards, mortgages and insurance, you should be able to see why money seems to disappear so quickly before our eyes. Nevertheless, how would you feel if you could always know where money went and shape your life in a way that would guarantee you financial freedom for a long time? Fortunate for you, where you find a will, there is certainly a way.

There is a recommended personal finance software program commonly known as Family Finance Planner. If you are not aware of the program, it is essentially free budgeting software for your family which is available on various sites online.

This piece of software is making a lot of noise in the personal finance world as it's solving a lot of problems for people just like yourself. It's easy to use and you would be foolish not to try out this piece of personal finance software.

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Steps In Processing Pay Day Loans UK

By Rashel Dan

As means of getting immediate cash, pay day loans UK are quite popular. These loans allow for quick cash just when you need it most. However, one has to understand how these loans can be attained and what might be needed before entering any legal agreements with any loan stores or financial institutions.

Here are a couple of basic things to keep in mind about these personal loans:

The Loan Itself

Since this is a pay day loan, this means that a loan store will expect that a loan will be paid off the next time a person receives his or her paycheck. Typically, a short term lease like this will last for two weeks tops.

There are requirements to present when applying for a pay day loan. The pay day loans UK require that one bring some sort of proof that one is able to pay the loan in full plus the interest rates. This can be proven by giving some kind of proof of income so that a loan company can ascertain the borrower's ability to pay. Other required materials will be contact details, possible collaterals, etc.

Where One Avail Of Such A Loan

One can opt to go for usual loans from banks or go with other loan shops. For example, there are many retail outlets in the UK that allow these types of loans. These pay day lending stores will offer small cash loans but expect the loan to be paid back during ones pay day.

They also add a little interest for the loan which can be a typical 390 percent on top of the loan itself. The best way to make sure that one doesn't forget to pay is to give a loan establishment a post dated check so that it can be cashed on the due date. However, one has to consider the penalties for paying late or not paying at all. These penalties include the lending stores right to add penalty fees on top of the loan that was applied for.

The internet has also become another popular place for lending activities. Internet pay day loans UK are now typical and much better since the interest rates are the lowest. These pay day loans are marketed through emails, ads, and through referrals.

All one has to do is fill out an online application that asks for personal information as well as bank information. The lack of a middle man makes sure that these pay day loans UK are cheap and withdrawals of a loan payment can be made electronically on borrowers' next pay day.

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?Foreclosure Auctions: A Bargain Hunter's Dream

By Michael Geoffrey

Buying a home at a foreclosure auction could be perfect for you if you are interested in purchasing a home for the lowest price possible. The courts will determine the price of foreclosure homes, which is most commonly below the market valued price of the home. If the lending agency that forecloses on the home requests that they do so, the court can use three different appraisals to determine the value of foreclosed property. These appraisals can be appealed by the lender, however.

For several weeks before the foreclosure auction is held, advertisements will be published. Remember that in the majority of states the house must sell for at least two thirds of the appraised value it was given. You should also keep in mind that there are not usually a lot of people trying to find inexpensive homes at foreclosure auctions.

Foreclosure auctions tend to be very simple events and the only people in attendance are often the lender who started the foreclosure process and one or two people who are thinking about buying the property. A foreclosure auction where lots of people attend and more than two or three separate bids are made would be a rare occurrence.

Getting Ready to Purchase a Foreclosure Home

Winning bidders at foreclosure auctions are expected to provide payment of 10 percent of the purchase price at the end of the auction. The payment has to be in some for of earnest money such as cash, certified cashier check or money order.

Most auctions will not accept these payments by credit card or personal check. The house will be resold immediately if the winning bidder is unable to make the 10% payment in an accepted form at the end of the auction.

The winning bidder will need to get a loan to cover the rest of the price of the foreclosure home they purchased at the auction within a predetermined period of time, usually thirty days. If they cannot get a loan to pay for the balance of the home price they will lose the right to purchase the home. They will also lose the 10% payment they made on the day of the auction. In order to prevent such unpleasant occurrences, most people set up the financing they will need before they bid on a home.

When a home has to be sold a second time because of the first winner's inability to pay, the first winning bidder may have to pay any difference in price between their winning bid and the second one, besides losing out on their 10% payment. Remember that winning a bid of a foreclosure home is like entering into a contract and the auction sales are final.

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Using Business Credit Cards with Your Business

By Caressa Waechter

A business credit card is obtained in much the same way as a consumer credit card is. They have a very similar application and approval process, you still get charged interest if you carry a balance, and they have an impact on a credit rating, but usually on the businesses', not the consumer's.

These cards generally offer low interest rates, various rewards options, easy online account access and other account services to support the needs of your business. They often times have higher credit limits than the typical consumer card.

If you are a typical entrepreneur applying for a credit card for your business, your personal credit history will be checked. This is because most small businesses do not have their own separate credit history, so as the owner, you are essentially personally guaranteeing the business card.

On tool that really can help the business owner keep track of expenses is a credit card. You can easily track where business funds are spent, and they allow for the tracking of employee spending as well.

Most credit cards for business offer quarterly and annual reports of your credit card charges. This really can assist you in seeing how much is spent on what category every year, helping you to formulate financial strategies.

Another feature of a business credit card is rewards programs. These can be similar to what is offered on a normal consumer credit card, but generally have rewards that are more tailored to the needs of a business owner, or the company itself.

A business credit card can help your business grow, especially when it comes to finances. However, you need to make sure you find one that not only suits your business, yet offers the maximum benefits to your company.

Business credit cards should be used as tools for success and should never be abused. Since they are designed specifically for corporate and small businesses clients, they are an affective tool that can grow and change with your business needs.

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