Student Credit Card Or The Bank Of Mom And Dad
Student Credit Card Or The Bank Of Mom And Dad
Student credit cards can be a quick and easy solution to an unexpected cash crunch. Lets say you work at a local hot-dog stand on weekends to help make ends meet. But the boss ran into a little gambling problem and couldn’t pay you this week. But you bought a case of beer for the weekend and your last text book will finally be in at the bookstore on Monday (only a month late). This is an excellent situation to put a student credit card to use. You know you need the book, you know that your boss will have the money next week, and you’ll be able to pay off the debt easily. This is a great situation to use a credit card as a student.
Now lets say that horror of horrors the hot-dog stand job falls through. Now you’re in a serious bind. Not only are you short on cash, you’ve got no new cash coming in, perhaps for a long time. In a case like this, for those who can, it is time to call on the bank of Mom and Dad.
Now I should perhaps explain what the Bank of Mom and Dad is supposed to be. Well it is basically just what it says: Hitting up your parents for a low/no interest loan to see you through a hard time. Now of course not everyone has this background support. In that case, you can think of the Bank of M&D as being any low/no interest source of funds you can find (real banks, line of credit, scholarships/bursaries). The basic principal remains the same.
In a situation where you are going to need money for a longer period of time use money that costs you the least to borrow. Typical credit cards, especially for students, start at 19% and go higher. These days, if you qualify, a line of credit or a personal bank loan can be in the 6% range. There are many scholarships and hardship bursaries available on every campus, often from multiple sources (student union, your department, the university, private sources).
Regardless of whom you are or what you are studying, you need to take care of your finances while you are a student. You will most likely end up in a situation where your money runs out and you need to pay for something essential like food. When it happens to you, calmly size up the situation and decide which route is best for you at that moment: a quick fix with your student credit card or a longer term solution with a low or no cost loan from the Bank of Mom and Dad (or similar sources).
Refinance After Bankruptcy Bad Credit Refi Lenders
Refinancing your home mortgage following a bankruptcy may put extra cash in your pocket to help finance large home improvement projects and lower your monthly mortgage payments. On the other hand, the bankruptcy may ruin any chances of securing a low rate. In this instance, a refinancing would be pointless. Before refinancing, contact several refi lenders and learn about your options.
Practical Reasons to Refinance a Mortgage Loan
Mortgage refinancing serves many purposes. The primary basis for refinancing involves low mortgage interest rates. Thus, homeowners who obtained a mortgage with a rate above 8 percent can refinance for rates around 5 or 6 percent and enjoy the savings.
The goal of refinancing is to free up money. The monthly savings could go toward investing, saving, etc. Moreover, some homeowners choose to increase the total cost of their home by obtaining a cash-out refinancing. This method entails borrowing money from your home’s equity. This is ideal for debt consolidation, home improvement projects, etc.
Improve Credit Score Before Refinancing
If refinancing immediately following a bankruptcy, the chances of getting a low rate are slim. Thus, it may be a wise choice to improve credit before applying for a new mortgage loan.
Prior to refinancing, obtain a copy of your credit report and score. Strive to increase your credit score within the next six months to one year. To do this, you will need to establish new lines of credit. These could be a secured credit card, store charge account, gas card, etc. Attempt to open three new credit accounts. Do not accumulate a lot debt. If possible, pay off the credit cards each month.
Use the Internet to Find and Compare Refi Lenders
Several lenders offer refi loan packages to individuals with past bankruptcies. Sub prime lenders and bad credit mortgage lenders have a range of loans available. To begin your search, complete an online quote request with a mortgage broker. Brokers are the easiest way to gain access to sub prime lenders because they have access to many loans and lenders. After weeding through a large selection of lenders, brokers will remit quotes from four different refi lenders eager to have your business.
Reduce Debt – How To Prevent Bankruptcy By Reducing And
Reduce Debt – How To Prevent Bankruptcy By Reducing And Consolidating Your Debt
You can prevent bankruptcy by consolidating your debt with the help of a loan or debt consolidation agency to reduce your monthly payments and quickly pay off your liability. But before signing final paperwork, you should develop a financial plan and research your options.
Goal Of Consolidation
The goal of consolidation is to lower your monthly payments so you can pay off your debt and avoid bankruptcy. However, consolidation only works if you make it part of a larger financial plan. You have to be committed to reducing your liability and saving for financial emergencies.
Once you have consolidated your loans, it is a good idea to build a financial cushion of six months worth of cash reserves. This ensures that you can pay cash for the inevitable financial emergency and not increase your credit load.
Your next goal should be to make extra payments. The sooner you can pay off your principal the less you will pay in interest payments.
Types Of Debt Consolidation Loans And Programs
The two types of debt consolidation loans are mortgage loans and personal loans. Mortgage loans are ideal since their interest is tax deductible. However, you need to be sure that you have enough equity to borrow against and that you can recoup the cost of up front fees.
The other option is to use a personal loan. Personal loans are based on your credit score and income. Personal loans typically have lower interest rates than credit cards, but are usually higher than mortgages rates.
Instead of a loan, you can also use a debt consolidation service. These companies will negotiate lower interest rates with your creditors. There are no fees involved since these companies are usually non profit. They also provide credit counseling, offering financial advice and guidance.
Debt Consolidation Providers
Depending on what type of loan or program you choose, debt consolidation providers are relatively easy to find. If you are planning to use your home equity, then you will want to search for a mortgage lender. Many lenders offer free quotes online for easy comparison.
Personal loan lenders also can be found online. As with any financing company, you need to research rates and terms to find the best deal. Requesting a quote from a lender does not lock you into a loan. Legitimate lenders will be more than willing to provide this information to help you make a wise financial choice.
You can also get connected with debt consolidation services online. Some directory sites will help you find an agency in your area or you can work with a national agency.
One Step Closer To Bankruptcy
I have written a couple articles so far about the downfall of GM and Ford, although I have mostly focused on GM. GM announced today that they are going to offer some 113,000 hourly employees a severance package in the six figure range to leave and waive their rights to their healthcare benefits. Here is the link to the article making the announcement: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,188732,00.html.
If I were in the position of some of these workers I would have a difficult decision to make. You have to weigh the fact that you would possibly get $140,000 to walk away from GM and the healthcare benefits you have worked years to secure against the fact that GM may go out of business by the time you retire and you would have turned down the package and still not get the healthcare benefits.
I know, you think I am crazy because I say GM may go out of business, right? Most people do think I am crazy when I say that. I bet a lot of people never thought Enron would crumble either and on paper they were a strong company. GM is a failing company on paper. The article above states that GM announced last week a loss of $10.6 billion. They have been losing billions and billions for years. They are well over $300 billion in debt and they continue to struggle with labor issues, declining market share, and more. I would like to know how anyone thinks they can stay in business.
As I have said in previous articles, GM is known for their cars but they are actually just as involved in mortgages and other financial tools through GMAC. GMAC has done well for the past few years because of the recent housing boom but they will pay the price within a couple years, adding to their already worsening financial situation. A former co-worker of mine was an attorney and he did closings on the side to make extra money. He did them for GMAC. He said many of the loans he did closings for were usually for people in bad shape financially. A lot of them were ARM mortgages or interest only mortgages.
What is going to happen is once the rates climb higher these people will end up not being able to make their mortgage payments because the payments will have increased too much do to the adjustable rates. GM is going to end up losing a lot of money on this side of their business as well.
Oldsmobile went out of business a couple years ago and there has been some speculation that another one of the GM brands will be going out of business as well. I have read some experts articles that feel Pontiac will be the next to go do to slipping sales. Chevy is obviously the staple of the company, Cadillac does pretty well from what I have read, Saturn is one of the more successful brands as well. Hummer is a niche market and they continue to develop that to market to more types of customers. Saab is a foreign car and most people probably do not even realize they are owned by GM so they will most likely make the cut. This leaves Pontiac. The sales on their highly marketed GTO were weak and with good reason. I dont think you can bring back a legendary name like the GTO and make it nothing more than a glorified Cavalier/Grand Am.
I have always stuck by my belief that bad management has brought GM to the position it is in and the GTO is the perfect example. They didnt build a car that lived up to the name and yet they were trying to pre-sell the cars for $35,000 or more.
GM should really be studied in MBA programs in management classes. It should be made the example of what can happen when you have an industry leading company for decades fall apart because of some bad decisions. It has got to send, or at least should send a message that regardless of how big a company gets you still need to stay on top of your game or you could risk going out of business as well.
Maybe GM will fix things and end up not going out of business. Maybe things arent as bad as they appear to be. If you are reading this and you are a manager be sure to take a close look at what you are doing and make sure it is the right thing to do. If you are just an interested reader keep watching the headlines over the coming months and look for more bad news from GM, I think it is coming.
Life After Bankruptcy
So you’ve finally been discharged from your bankruptcy, and now you are free to do whatever you want again. The world is your oyster!
But before you grab a bucket and head for the beach, there are a few things you need to know. First of all, a bankruptcy discharge is not a license to shop. That itch to celebrate your newfound freedom might almost impossible to ignore, but if you want to stay debt-free, you are going to have to lay low for awhile, especially in the three months after your discharge.
Here’s why: you probably feel like you’ve been in debt forever, but you’re not the only one who knows it. Credit card companies have caught the scent too, and chances are you’re getting applications left, right and center these days. Talk about tempting! The best thing you can do is to throw those applications right into the recycle bin, regardless of how much this or that company says they want to help you rebuild your credit. The truth is they don’t want to help you rebuild; they want to help you get back in the position that caused you to go bankrupt in the first place.
Those ‘high-risk’ cards come with a lot of caveats – the fee you pay to get the card, for instance. Some cards will actually charge you for the card by placing it on your card. So if your card has a $100 limit and it cost you $75 to get, guess what? You only have $75 in credit. Go over that, and get ready for some nasty fees.
So how can you get your life back to normal? Before you do anything else, you have to change your spending habits. Really think about the cost and quality of things and put yourself in control. For example, is it really worth it to buy that brand-name bread when the store brand is just as good and costs a dollar less? It’s a small-scale example, but if you can apply that kind of thinking in baby steps, pretty soon you’ll be able to apply it to everything you buy, no matter how large. So clip coupons, try to buy when things are on sale, and don’t go hog wild when you do buy.
Second, prioritize your bills. Your most important, must-pay-on-time bill every month should be your rent or mortgage. It’s your shelter, and without it, handling anything else that comes your way becomes a lot more difficult. Your utilities are next, because you have to be able to cook and store your food. Your third most important bill might be the telephone, the fourth your cable TV or satellite, and so on. Take an average of how much of your pay check goes for rent/mortgage and bills. Then, set aside a little bit of each check to put toward each bill. It might be tedious, but trust me; it will be worth it once you get into the flow.
The second thing you have to do is save up $500, doing the same as you’ve done for your bills – take a bit out of each pay check. Only this time, open a new account. Once you’ve saved $500, run to your nearest bank and request a secured bank loan for that amount. The bank should have no problem granting your request, as the money’s already there. For the next 90 days, make your payments on time, every time. You will be amazed at how much faster this will build your credit than those high-risk cards!
If you have to use credit, why not do so to your advantage? Here’s how: purchase an item that’s on sale with your credit card. Then, when your credit card bill arrives, pay the item off in full. That’s it! You get to enjoy your new item for a month before you have to pay for it. If you can stick to this, your credit will have nowhere to go but up.
By applying the above tips, your credit will be given a boost at a time when you need it the most – in the first 3 or 4 months after a bankruptcy discharge. You’ve been given a second chance. Don’t give up – you can do it!
Internet Banking – How Secure is it?
The biggest concern that people have when they start using Internet banking is security. The media is full of scare stories about foreign hackers breaking into thousands of bank accounts and draining out all the money, leaving some poor old couple missing their life savings. Many people have even been scared out of signing up for Internet banking at all by these kind of stories, thinking that it somehow puts them at risk. However, as long as you take the time to learn a little about the Internet, nothing could be further from the truth.
Before we go any further, there is one thing that is absolutely the most important thing you can know about Internet banking security. It is this: there is absolutely no guarantee that emails are from who they say theyre from. E-mail was designed back before people were concerned about Internet security (thats why you get so much spam), and if you know what youre doing, its really very easy to make an email look like it came from absolutely anyone, anywhere. With this in mind, you should simply ignore any email that says it comes from your bank, and never click any links that the emails may contain.
Thats the biggest risk out of the way, but there are still a few other things to watch out for. When you go to your banks website, make sure that youve really ended up at the right place by looking for the address in the address bar towards the top of the screen it should be the address of your banks website, not anything strange. Also, make sure to look for the padlock icon in the bottom-right of your screen, as this tells you that your connection is secure. If youre ever in doubt, close your web browser and start again, copying the banks website address carefully from a letter they sent you.
Internet Banking – Are you online?
Internet banking has changed the way we manage our money forever. Instead of having to call the bank, go there or wait for a statement to find out how much money weve got or where its all gone, we can now just log on at the banks website and find out instantly. Its a huge money and time saver, for both the customer and the bank.
Yet Internet banking has had a bad press recently, primarily due to concerns about the security of accessing your bank accounts over the public Internet. Stories abound of hackers stealing account or card details and going on exotic shopping sprees, with the unsuspecting customer left to chase their bank for the money they lost. These fears have contributed to many people switching back to phone banking, for fear of becoming a victim of identity theft.
Many fears of Internet banking are unfounded, however. The most common way fraudsters get account details is not by hacking the bank, but instead by sending out scattershot spam to millions of people telling them to click a link and enter their account details for some reason, in the hope that a few will. Theres always someone who knows little enough about how the web works to enter their details into an untrusted website, not even realising anything happened until the fraudsters drain their bank account.
Very basic education can stop this threat in its tracks, however, and make your Internet banking experience almost 100% safe. The easiest piece of advice is not to click any link in an email that claims to be from your bank: instead, use your web browser and type in the address of the banks website yourself. Also, when you are asked for your account details and password, make sure to look at the address bar in your web browser, to check that you are looking at your banks website and not an impostor.
If youre still scared, remember that Internet banking fraud makes up a tiny percentage of all bank fraud. Youre much more likely to become a victim when you hand your credit card over in a restaurant than you are when you bank online. Just like any other kind of fraud, your bank should cover you for any money you lose, but its really very unlikely that it will ever happen.
How Your Clients Can Benefit From Online Banking
These days, customer service representatives have got it easy. Why? Because computers are taking over their responsibilities. More and more, people are using home computers for everyday tasks, from ordering gifts and groceries to making appointments and dates to booking movie and travel tickets. It is no wonder then that online banking is becoming increasingly popular. Even smaller banks are recognizing the benefits of online services.
There are numerous perks to online banking. For example:
- Say goodbye long lines! Instead, customers can manage accounts on their own time from the comfort of their own home.
- No need for customers to worry about organizing bank statements or filing canceled checks! They can list their latest transactions online in a tidy manner.
- No more waiting for payments to clear or statements to come in the mail. All accounts are continually updated online.
Still not sold on the idea?
How about if your customers could pay all their utility bills and credit card bills without ever leaving their home or buying a stamp? What if they could set up automatic payments that would be sent out on a pre-arranged date?
All your customers need to do is carve out a little bit of time (probably no more than thirty minutes) to get their information online. Then, before they know it, they are paying bills with just the click of a mouse. In a flash, they have done away stamps, envelopes, and trips to the post office. Whats more, they have created a valuable online record of all their payments that they can access at any time of any day.
Be prepared for your clients to ask for help when they are setting up their online banking system. Most bank branches have financial officers who are delighted to walk clients through this initial process. They will assist in setting up accounts, listing the addresses, amounts of payments, dates of payments etc. And trust us, after customers log on to do their banking for the first time, they will be hooked. It really is that easy and convenient.
But besides convenience, online banking offers some perks that one cant get the old-fashioned way. Lets say you have a customer who wants to create a budget for the next three years. Online banking programs can do this! And, down the line, if a customer wishes to tweak a budget, all they have to do is log on and type in the changes.
One thing to keep in mind is that banking customers will probably have questions about the safety of online banking systems. It will be the banks job to calm these concerns and explain that the information is encrypted and no one else can access the individual accounts.
And if all of this is not enough, customers will also be pleased to know that they will save money by banking online because they will not have to buy stamps or envelopes or any more paper checks!
Online banking is a win-win situation. Banks can attract new customers by offering new electronic options, and customers will be instantly pleased with the results. Today, people want to feel in control of their money. By offering clients an online banking system, you are also offering them a much needed sense of power and peace.
How To Get Out Of Credit Card Debt Much Faster
How To Get Out Of Credit Card Debt Much Faster & Save Lots Of Money Without Filing For Bankruptcy!
The most important lesson I learned about getting out of debt is that you’ll NEVER get out of debt playing by the rules of your creditors. No matter what they say, they really don’t want you to get out of debt.
After all, the longer it takes you to pay off your debt, the more money they’ll make.
So trust me, youll NEVER get out of debt by just making minimum payments. Or by paying ridiculously high interest rates…or by paying late fees, overlimit fees, or any other fees charged by your creditors.
How You Can Get Out Of Debt Faster, Too
So, how do you pay off your credit card bills…especially when money is REAL tight?
Work out an agreement with your creditors to pay off your credit card bills at a reduced amount. You’ll be able to pay off your bills more quickly, and the credit card companies will get their money faster.
This process is called debt negotiation, or debt settlement.
Most people don’t know this type of debt reduction is even an option – which is exactly what the creditors want you to think. (You’ll also learn other strategies to help you get out of debt faster.)
But believe me, debt negotiation really does work.
Find Out If Debt Negotiation Is Right For You
Debt negotiation is a more aggressive approach to getting out of debt (usually, you must be behind on your payments to get the creditors to agree to a settlement), and is not necessarily right for everyone.
So make sure to ask lots of questions. And compare different programs. Then decide if it is right for you.
My only regret is that I did not find out about this option until I had already paid my credit card companies thousands of dollars in interest!
The most important point to remember is that youll NEVER get out of debt playing by the creditors rules.
So take a few minutes to find out how you can pay off your credit card bills faster, and save yourself LOTS OF MONEY at the same time.
If you’re looking for a more traditional way to get out of debt, then debt consolidation may be the answer for you. You might not get out of debt as fast, but you still may be able to lower your interest rates and save yourself a bunch of money!
How To Borrow Money From Your Bank
If you need some extra money, then borrowing from your bank might be the answer. If you use a bank simply for savings and a current account, then perhaps it is time to look at other financial products that your bank can offer. If you want to borrow from your bank, here are some of the possible options and benefits.
Why borrow money?
People borrow money for all sorts of reasons, and in all different ways. If you are finding it hard to make ends meet at the moment then getting a credit card or loan may help you out over the next few months. Also, if you need to make a large purchase but you need to spread the cost, then borrowing from your bank is a good option.
Credit cards
Perhaps the most common way to borrow from your bank is to get a credit card. A credit card gives you a certain amount of money or credit that you can spend, which you have to pay back with interest. Bills are paid monthly and you can choose to pay the full amount or just the minimum payment each month. Borrowing money on a credit card is expensive, but for short-term purchases they can be great if you pay the balance back in full each month.
Loans
Loans are another common way to borrow from your bank. Your bank is likely to have a variety of loans on offer, ranging from small personal loans to much larger loans for business or home improvements. If you need to pay off high interest debts or make a large purchase and pay it back slowly, then loans might be the right option for you.
Mortgages
Many banks also offer mortgages, which are probably the biggest amount of money you will ever borrow. Mortgages are used to buy property, and have low interest rates. If you are looking to buy a home then your bank might be able to help you with your mortgage.
Advantages of using your bank
The main advantage of using your bank to borrow money is that they know what sort of spending patterns you have, and if you have built a rapport with them they are likely to be more generous than other lending institutions. It may also be convenient to use the same bank that you do now, as all your accounts are in one place and you can manage your money more easily.
Disadvantages
There are also a number of disadvantages to using your own bank. Although your bank may give you a good deal, it may not be the best deal you can possibly find. Although speaking to your own bank is a good idea, you should shop around and look at other lenders in order to get the best possible terms. You should also make sure that borrowing money is right for you, and that you can make any repayments that are required.