TITLE AND SUBJECT OF ARTICLE

 

Store Cards, Credit Cards And Loans – How To Borrow Money Effectively.

You don’t have to have the lifestyle demands of Paris Hilton to need extra money these days. According to Credit Action, the total UK personal debt was 1,122 billion, a growth of about 10.5% over the previous year and in the UK and each adult in the UK has an average of 4.1 credit cards in their wallet.

In their most recent report, Credit Action also recorded 2.3 million personal loan agreements in the second quarter of 2005. Interesting, the national money education chari...

Personal finance, personal loans, credit cards, store card, loans UK, consumer borrowing

You don’t have to have the lifestyle demands of Paris Hilton to need extra money these days. According to Credit Action, the total UK personal debt was 1,122 billion, a growth of about 10.5% over the previous year and in the UK and each adult in the UK has an average of 4.1 credit cards in their wallet.

In their most recent report, Credit Action also recorded 2.3 million personal loan agreements in the second quarter of 2005. Interesting, the national money education charity discovered a gap between the interest rates advertised for loans and the actual interest rates paid by the borrowers.

So, with such volumes of debt, what is the best way forward in managing your money?

1) Prioritise your spending

Decide what you need to buy and when you need it. If it’s not a necessity, put it to the bottom of the list. With Christmas approaching, it’s important that you have an awareness of your budget. Make a list of things you need to buy – including Christmas presents. Once you have a list, shop around for the cheapest deal – including some internet research. Thirty minutes of surfing the internet could result in significant savings, which will either reduce outstanding debt or contribute to savings.

2) Prioritise your borrowing

If you borrow money, when do you think you’d be able to pay it back? For example, for smaller amounts of money that could be paid within a shorter period of time – a credit card might be the most flexible way of borrowing money. Alternatively, if you need to borrow a larger sum of money and wish to make the repayments over a longer period of time – then a personal loan could be more effective. Do some homework online, sites such as moneynet and moneyfacts provide online financial product guides and price comparison information.

3) Prioritise your requirements

In addition to thinking about how much money you need to borrow and how you want to repay it, you may wish to look at other ways in which your financial products could work for you. Examples include cash-back, reward points, charity donations etc.

4) Never, ever, take out a store card

Whatever the discount the store offers you on the day, remember, it won’t be as a gesture of goodwill. Nearly all store cards carry a vastly inflated rate of interest and they rely on you not being able to pay off the balance in full straight away. There is a strong chance that what you ultimately end up paying – is far greater than the discount on the actual day.

5) Do you really need it?

As Christmas approaches, it’s easy to spend a little extra on clothes, food and drink and presents. However, if you make a list of what you need and stick to it, you’re likely to save yourself more money this way than if you went out impulse shopping.

Resources:
http://www.moneynet.co.uk/credit-card/index.shtml
http://www.moneynet.co.uk/personal-loan-guide/index.shtml

 

Student Credit Card - How To Choose The Right One

This article will help you understand how to choose a student credit card.

student credit cards, credit cards for college students, student credit card

Getting a student credit card is not hard to do. The problem comes in how it is used. Your student should not be carrying large sums of cash each month to get through the month. It could easily be lost or stolen. I had a friend that was considered a genius. While we were at school he couldn't remember from one day to the next what he had done the previous day, or where he put anything, including his money. Another friend constantly ran out of money by the middle of the month and was either borrowing form other students or on the phone crying to his father about needing more. Not to say I was a saint, but that is another story.

A student credit card may be the first line of credit your child has. It will depend on the child if they understand the responsibilities of having one. Student credit cards can come with a monthly limit or with no limit at all except for the bank limit. You have a choice in that matter, because usually the student will need a co-signer for that card.

In a credit based family a child may have signature loans by the time they are twelve. My uncle was one of those people. They used a well known institution for signature loans and he would take out six month to one year loans for music equipment that he was easily able to pay back in half the time. By the time he was sixteen his credit rating soared and to this day he has no problems with getting what he wants when he wants it.

Most of us are not that lucky however, and some students just are not driven by desire. A student credit card should not be a gift and should not be considered a gift by the parents. The students themselves should be mentally-aware of how to handle finances. If your child is one of those that still has a quarter when you give them the second one a week later, then chances are they can handle a credit card. If it was lost or spent, you may need to start worrying.

For the sake of the article we will assume that, while yet unproven, there is no indication that your student will use the credit card for junk. First sit down with the student and decide what the credit card will be used for. Keep in mind that a cola and pizza a day adds up to over $4475 plus tips, in credit over a year! The sum does not take into consideration other meals and snacks. A single candy bar at a school could easily add up to $365 dollars in credit over a year, if they only ate one a day. Try to remember your eating habits when you were a student.

Dormitory, apartment rent, books and tuition should be paid by check. If there is a car involved it should also be paid for by check, unless you and your student are familiar with online banking and the great benefits a good system offers.

If you are giving support to your student you can setup an auto withdrawal from your bank account each month to payoff the student credit card payments. The credit card can be great for just about anything but it, just like everything else, needs to be in moderation, and I mean moderation within your budget, not necessarily the students budget.

After you have decided on what the credit card will be used for go online and start searching. Make sure you pay attention to the all of the details of the card, and all of its terms and conditions. Above all, make sure there is an automatic bill payment feature so the card is never paid late.

 

Home Refinancing For People With Bad Credit - How To Avoid High Fees

Avoiding high fees when home refinancing with bad credit is as important as finding low rates. With fees adding up to thousands of dollars, make sure that you are getting the best deal by comparing lenders. Also look at other types of credit to securing cash out financing.

Ask About Closing Costs And Fees

To save yourself money, research lenders before settling on a refi loan. Request loan quotes that include information on closing costs and fees. The APR will include t...

mortgage refinance, bad credit, home refinancing

Avoiding high fees when home refinancing with bad credit is as important as finding low rates. With fees adding up to thousands of dollars, make sure that you are getting the best deal by comparing lenders. Also look at other types of credit to securing cash out financing.

Ask About Closing Costs And Fees

To save yourself money, research lenders before settling on a refi loan. Request loan quotes that include information on closing costs and fees. The APR will include the interest rate, closing costs, and any annual fees. But be sure to also ask about early payment or any other fees.

Be aware of fees or closing costs that are included as part of the principle. These are often labeled as “zero down” loans, but in reality you are paying for those fees throughout the loan.

With loan quotes, know that even the fees are negotiable. You can ask for them to be removed or eliminated. Some fees, such as the early payment fee, are only removed if you pay an additional amount at closing.

Select Low Fee Terms

While you are researching financing companies, also take a look at how they structure their loans. Often the lowest rates, such as interest only or balloon payment loans, have the highest fees.

Select terms that are more favorable for low fees, such as fixed or adjustable rates. Adjustable rates are usually the lowest costing loans with some risk of increasing future rates.

Other Ways To Cash Out Your Equity

If you are simply refinancing to cash out part of your equity, consider applying for different types of credit to save on fees. Second mortgages and lines of credit have much lower closing costs than refinancing your total mortgage. They can also be held for a shorter period, which also saves you money.

While low fees may be your goal, be open to better financing options. By comparing the APR, you may find that average fees can yield better rates that will save you money. The longer you keep your loan, the more important low rates will be.