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Archive for the ‘Money problems’ Category

Introduction.

Summer 2010 and the unemployment rate stubbornly remains at around the 10% mark. Time was and only the unskilled and semi-skilled workers would worry about such a high unemployment rate but, since the recession of a couple of years ago ex-workers from across the employment sectors are struggling to find both new jobs and finances. The net result of this is that highly qualified and skilled workers such as accountants and IT specialist etc are now wondering what their 99er prospects are.

99er payments ending.

Not everyone in the 99er jobless queue is a down and out!

Therein lays the problem for millions of people in the USA right now - that for folk who lost their jobs at the start of the recession, the 99 weeks of federal unemployment support will shortly be coming to an end. Of course the effects of unemployment are devastating to all, but they are also relative to the individual concerned. The classic view that unemployed people must be unskilled workers with no means of personal financial support, other than that offered by the government, is no longer true. Along with this is the fact that not all 99ers will be hopelessly in debt and fighting to pay a sub-prime mortgage before their home mortgage is foreclosed. Such skilled and professionals who have found themselves in the unenviable position of being 99ers will, by and large, have had some financial cushion to help supplement the federal aid. However, with that aid coming to an end - what can they do before all of their savings become depleted?

Work for yourself.

The answer to that last question is that they should re-think their attitude to work and think - why should “I work for the man” when I can work for myself? For a very modest outlay they can equip themselves to become an online trader in things like Forex and CFD. Forex trading is where you make your money by finding the best deals in foreign exchange currencies using, requiring only a computer, fast broadband and a the specialist Forex trading software. CFD stands for contract for difference, whereby you make money trading shares online according the opening and closing prices that they are quoted at. If that sounds too complex - why not find your own niche market and become the number 1 online trader in that instead.

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Introduction.

With so many people struggling now to take out personal loans - it has been almost inevitable that some unscrupulous lenders would try to worm there way into the market. As the High Street banks become less inclined to offer loans especially to low credit score borrowers - the more people turn to online loans providers to get hold of the cash they so desperately need. For most people, most of the time, this is not a problem at all and there are many great offers out there to be had in online loans. However, if a personal loan provider wants to charge you an up-front loan fee before giving you any of the loan cash - you’re better off refusing them and seeking your loan from another online lender.

Bogus loan companies.

The idea is they lend you money - not you give them your money!

Even if you have the worst possible credit score imaginable, there really is no reason for a finance company to ask you to pay a fee up-front before deciding whether or not to offer you a loan. Any company that insists on you making a payment before giving you the cash should be treated as at best suspicious - if not a downright bogus loans company who have no intention at all of lending you any money. A typical scenario is for you to work through the application procedure only to find that before the company can process your application you have to pay an ‘administration fee’ of anything around $100 to well over $1000!

3 reasons not to pay an up front fee for a loan.

The simplest possible of reasons here is that there is no guarantee that having handed over your cash - that they’ll then agree to your loan request at all. The chances of you being ripped off like this are quite high from companies demanding up-front payments - it really is just a scam for them to get money from you. Second, OK so the company you’re borrowing money from wants to make a profit itself - fair enough they’re not a charity, but if they need you to pay them for a bit of administration in advance - then you really should worry as to whether they can afford to lend you the money in the first place. Third, even if a loan company says you’re a bad risk to lend money to - that’s no reason to get you to pay them for giving you a loan before you’ve seen the color of their money, they’ll soon enough recoup any expenditure they make through the interest rate they charge you anyway.

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Introduction.

It’s a fact, but worldwide financial instability and political uncertainty is once again wreaking havoc with USA money markets, quite apart from our own ‘home-grown’ financial problems. One result of these problems has been a rise in the rate of inflation from -0.4% in 2009 to nearly +2.4% already this year, or put another way in less than a year inflation has risen 3%. The net result of this is that interest rates on loans will be rising - something that can hit anyone paying off their student debts really hard.

The cost of graduating.

Can’t believe where all that student debt’s come from?

This rise in inflation and interest rates means that all but the best paid graduates, with large loans to repay, will be particularly hard hit as the re-payments will rise completely out of proportion to their wages; with the risk that whereas last year they were making great in-roads into paying off their student loans - they will now find the gains they made last year wiped out and even reversed this year. As if that’s not bad enough, with many graduates having to take out personal loans on completing their courses to afford things like the clothing they’ll need for their new jobs, fitting out an apartment to live in or even just needing an auto loan to buy a car so they can get to work - having all of these loans whilst struggling to establish yourself in a new job can seem just too much.

Consolidate your debts.

If you’ve recently graduated and are struggling to repay your loans the solution is to seek a debt consolidation loan; putting all of the separate loans together - meaning that you have one repayment to make, to one company and at one interest rate. As student loans traditionally have lower interest rates than other types of unsecured loans, you will need to make sure that the actual student loan you’re repaying isn’t better left as a separate loan and then just consolidate the other ones. Either way, the fewer companies you have to deal with when clearing student debt the better.

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Introduction.

I guess it was only a matter of time before Mohammed Yunus’s Nobel Peace Prize in economics, for his pioneering work in micro-loans, - started to draw attention from the big banks and finance houses. The problem is quite simple really, what started out as a system whereby one person lent a relatively small amount of money to someone else for the purpose of, say, improving their sewing business in a developing country - has blossomed into a $60 billion a year loans industry.

Micro-Loans in the beginning.

As mentioned above the idea of micro-loans was originally very straightforward and low key. Rather than leaving any spare cash you had in a bank, instead you made micro-loans to individuals or small organizations and  businesses - who when they then repaid your loan had to pay a small amount of interest; often as little as 10% and way below commercial loan interest rates but generally higher than savings interest rates too. This made the micro-loan business more akin to a charitable system than a business one. However, to the people making the loans that didn’t matter as, by and large, they were as interested in their money doing ‘good’ as they were in turning a profit.

Micro-Loans today.

A loan for a very small amount of money into a sewing business for a machine, can transform someone else’s business life.

Fast forward a few years and the demand for micro-loans now by far out-strips the supply. Yes there are a lot of people out there that want to ‘do good’ with their spare cash; but there is only a finite supply of it. Needless to say the big banks and finance houses are stepping in to fill the void, ever keen to turn a dollar and even if it is to a high risk venture in somewhere like Nigeria. The sad part of this is, however, the interest rates that they are choosing to charge. No longer set at the charitable 10% - some of these big banks and finance houses are charging as much as 100% interest to high risk projects - as bad as if the borrower had gone to a loan shark. Ironically, they’re saying the high interest rates are because of the high demand for micro-loans in the first place! If you have some spare cash but do need to make a small profit on it and yet are basically of an altruistic nature - then providing micro-loans is something to consider. To get involved in micro-lending, look for a social lending website that is transparent about giving loans to poorer people to help them - rather than to just simply make a profit out of them.

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Introduction.

As the run up to Christmas closes in is there really a way that you can make using a credit card pay for you? Unfortunately Santa Claus, or Father Christmas if you prefer, doesn’t include his own brand of special Christmas credit card - but that’s not to say that you can’t find one to match the type of spending power you’re likely to need.

Holding credit card balances.

Are you getting a good deal from your credit card this Christmas?

It’s a fact that the majority of credit card holders keep a balance of some sort on them. Of course this is not an ideal situation to be in as you are always owing at least some money to the credit card company and, if you at least don’t keep up with the minimum repayments, the interest you get charged can start to mount up leaving you with an absolutely huge bill. What you have to remember is that every time you use your credit card you are in effect taking out a small personal loan; so it’s not just the cost of whatever you buy that needs repaying, but that cost plus interest. It is therefore absolutely essential that you apply for a credit card with the lowest APR (interest rate) that you can find. If you have a good credit report, especially when applying for a new credit card, then use that as a bargaining tool with your credit card company to reduce your APR. Alternatively, if you have a high APR credit card, look for a company willing to give you a lower APR one and transfer your outstanding credit card debt.

If you regularly clear your credit card balance.

For those that can afford it the very best way to use a credit card is to buy things with it - but then always clear the balance as soon as the credit card bill comes through. If you are such a customer you should be able to negotiate a great APR, even though you rarely need to worry about it. Also, as a good credit card customer you can expect to pay no, or at least, reduced annual credit card or transfer fees that some of the credit card companies charge for.

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Introduction.

Being in need of a quick loan in the pre-Christmas rush can make some people just a little bit sloppy, about where they’re getting a personal loan from or what interest rates they’re being charged. Quite frankly, December can be one of the worst times to get caught out when looking for some cash to spend on your Christmas preparations, so we hope you’ll find the following couple of things helpful.

Search, think, take!

Whether you’re looking for an online personal loan, applying for one over the phone or even walking into a local finance office - always do some searching around for the loan offers and then have a think about them before you take one out. For example, we all know how easy it is to search for and find an internet loan; however, you should never just accept the first offer that you come across. Always seek one or two other offers to compare it to - to make sure it really is the best deal. The advantage of searching online for a personal loan is that you can take your time searching around, unlike with a phone application or being in an office with a sales-person constantly trying to tell you how marvelous their offer is.

Ask questions.

Finance companies - the modern day Ebenezer Scrooge!

Whether you opt for an online loan or get one from somewhere else, always ask questions about the deal you’re being offered. Don’t forget that modern day finance companies are simply the Scrooge of today. It is always worth asking if they can lower the repayment interest rates, remember - if you don’t ask, you’ll never find out! If a loans company thinks they can charge you 20% interest they will, but, and especially if you’ve got a good credit report, they’d probably agree to charge you 15% rather than lose your business. Also, an absolutely vital question to ask is, do they have a ‘cooling off period’. This means if you change your mind about taking out the loan within say a day or two, it can be cancelled without you incurring any penalties.

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Introduction.

With the Christmas season being truly upon us now and all the spending that it entails, it is also the time of year that you need to start financially preparing for 2010 to avoid those New Year money blues. On the basis that the New Year will bring with it all the bills for the money you spent on the Christmas celebrations - should you be worried that you’re probably not going to be saving any money?

Savers are losers!

Do you want to start 2010 with the New Year blues?

The immediate response to that question is that you really shouldn’t feel too bad about not being able to save any money in the first part of 2010. The Federal funds rate has been pretty steady since 2008 at 0.25% and it’s showing little, if any, sign of improving in the New Year. The net result of that is that putting your money into a regular savings account with a bank will not yield any interest of any significance at all. However, that low rate could be potentially very attractive to borrowers. By that it is simply the case that, if you have taken out a personal loan to cover the costs of Christmas, it will have a low rate of interest attached to it - making it easier for you to repay. So, why bother thinking you’ll save some of the spare cash you have and re-pay the debt, when you might was well simply use all of the spare cash to pay off the loan more quickly. Paying off the loan ahead of schedule may well help you to reduce the total interest you pay and could significantly help your credit score when you next apply for your free credit report.

Loans you’ve already got.

Another tip when preparing for 2010 is to think carefully about switching any variable rate loans to fixed ones. The longer term your variable rate loan has to run the more reason you have to switch it. If you can’t repay the current loan and the finance company won’t let you switch it to a fixed rate loan - talk to a financial advisor about taking out a new loan on a fixed rate to repay it instead.

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Introduction.

Life and debt is becoming every bit as much of a reality for most folk as the inevitability of life and death. No matter whether you’re on one of the lower wages, comfortably off on a middle income or consider yourself to be doing quite well, this recession has hit everyone in one way or another. No matter whether that’s worrying over whether you can pay this months rent or worrying that your pension fund seems to be evaporating before your eyes.

Take control of your debt.

The single most important thing for anyone to do if they’re in debt is to budget. Surprisingly, the more income people have the less inclined they are to budget. Unlike people on a restricted income, they think money isn’t in short supply so why do they need to budget? Their problems can then quickly start to multiply when they suddenly need to access spare cash, having been used to spending it all - there’s none available. A simple budget plan can save you hundreds of dollars a month. Just budgeting to only spend a set amount on food or socializing will not only save you money - but might just get you thinking how wasteful you’ve been in the past. Along with your budget keep a spending diary recording all your expenditure, you can then use that information to refine your monthly budget even further.

Still in debt?

If you still find yourself in debt then you should think about seeking expert advice. You can do some things for yourself like getting your free credit report, so you can check up on exactly how much debt you have. The more debts you have on personal loans, mortgages or credit cards the more money you have to pay out in interest. So you could see what online financial advice you can gain about how to reduce the amount of interest you’re paying, so that you can then concentrate on paying off the capital and clear the debts.

No use sitting on the dock of the bay thinking the tide will wash your debt away.

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Introduction.

If ever you needed a reason for getting a free credit report, even if you believe you’ll have a good credit rating - then that time is probably now. Apparently it has been exposed that people who had genuinely good credit reports and credit scores can suddenly find themselves being able to access the best online loan offers.

Why you might need your latest credit report.

Apparently credit companies have been tracking who’s looking for online loans, then if someone repeatedly returns to one particular online loan offer, in order to consider it further or compare it to other online loan offers, when they do eventually apply for the loan they suddenly find they’re being offered a different rate to the one originally advertized. Needless to say the online loan companies are reluctant to discuss the way, or why, they track potential customers IP addresses - but they do and so you might well need proof of your good credit history, from your free credit report, in order to prove to them that you’re worthy of a better loan deal.

Getting a free credit report.

Without knowing your credit report - you don't know what elephants might be in the room?

If you don’t already know - everyone is entitled to at least one free credit report a year from each of the major consumer reporting companies - that’s Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Your credit report lists your credit history and status, by calculating what is known as your FICO score. Basically, the higher your FICO score the more credit worthy you are and the better you should be able to persuade a personal loan company that you will be a good, low risk, customer and get some favorable repayment terms from them. Your free credit report will also include all sorts of other information including your home address, banking details and employment etc, which along with details of all the loans you’ve had can help you to check that you’re not the victim of an identity theft scam.

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Introduction.

With the whole country seemingly fixated by what may or may not happen regarding health insurance, a financial problem of potentially equal enormity seems to have been pushed to the back-burner, that of pension planning for retirement. It is currently estimated that only one third of the population are adequately planning for their pension, which in effect means that only one third of us are paying sufficient funds into our pension pots.

The cost of putting off pension planning.

Want to waltz your way into retirement?

The main problem with pension planning is planning for the effects of inflation, or indeed further market crashes, in years to come. What might seem adequate and a good deal now - in 20 years time might not be so good. A simple example here would be suppose you retire now at 65 on a $20,000 a year pension. You can quite realistically expect to live for another 20 years or more, but in 20 years with inflation at just 3% a year, you’ll need nearer to $40,000 to maintain your lifestyle. Add to this the fact that you may well need extra medical insurance as you get older to deal with the ailments that age can bring - and what seems like a good pension can soon look like not so good a deal. If that sounds like the situation you might be in - do discuss your pension requirements and planning with one of the reputable and professional independent financial advisors you can find on the internet, by searching for something as simple as ‘pensions advice‘.

401(k) investing.

Even if money is tight right now, avoiding providing adequately for your old age really is a false economy. So, if you’re working for a company operating the 401(k) pension scheme, start up a pension plan now. No matter how small the amount you invest in it now, it will pay dividends for you in the long run, especially if you can add catch-up contributions when you get nearer to retirement age and any financial commitments to your immediate family probably decrease. Following last years recession stocks have risen about 50% in the last eight months, so if you’re waiting for the markets to recover before starting a pension plan - you’ve already lost out on several months saving, so delay no longer and review or start your pension plan now!

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