Monday, September 26, 2005
The Steps to Financial Freedom - Part Two
Imagine what you could do in your life if you had financial freedom. In the first article in this series we looked at taking control of your current situation. Controlling your spending, controlling and eliminating your debt, and starting a savings plan - all so you can have a firm foundation to take the leap to financial freedom.
In this article we're going to look at some simple strategies to go from financial control to financial power.
More...
In this article we're going to look at some simple strategies to go from financial control to financial power.
More...
Eight Steps to Financial Freedom - Part One
Imagine what you could do in your life if you had financial freedom. Perhaps you would never work again. Or you would work, only it would be what interested you. Perhaps you would get that house, or car, or boat you dreamed of. And the best part would be that you wouldn't have to worry about how you were going to afford these things.
Financial freedom is a great thing, it really is. But to get there it takes work, and if you aren't prepared to put in that effort, then there's no point in reading on. But if you do read on, you'll learn that although it takes hard work to get financial freedom, the steps to it aren't that many.
More...
Financial freedom is a great thing, it really is. But to get there it takes work, and if you aren't prepared to put in that effort, then there's no point in reading on. But if you do read on, you'll learn that although it takes hard work to get financial freedom, the steps to it aren't that many.
More...
Sunday, September 25, 2005
The advantages of term life insurance
There are two main types of life insurance that are available to everyone; there is whole life insurance and term life insurance. Many people are unaware even of the existence of term life insurance, which is a shame because term life insurance is usually much cheaper than the whole life insurance equivalent. If you are a shrewd investor then term life insurance could be just the option you are looking for. It can work out thousands of dollars cheaper every year giving you that extra money to invest yourself. Insurance companies are normally very conservative when investing your money; some people like this while others prefer a more risky but greater return investment opportunity.
Cost.
The obvious advantage of taking a term life insurance policy over a whole life insurance policy is the cost. Often a term life insurance policy will cost you hundreds of dollars a year but a similar whole life insurance policy can cost as much as thousands. In fact, there are some term life insurance policies that will cover you to the value of $100,000 over a ten year term that cost less than ten dollars a month. Obviously, similar factors are taking into consideration when applying for term life insurance as they are when applying for whole life insurance; factors such as health, family history, lifestyle and age.
Flexibility.
Term life insurance offers you a greater level of flexibility over it's whole life insurance counterpart. For less money you are able to take out short 10, 20 or 30 year plans and you are able to determine the exact level of cover that this offers. You may have a 4-year-old son and a partner who has opted to stay at home and look after him. Right now he is dependant on your earning money to feed, clothe and care for him but in twenty years he will have finished school, finished college and hopefully got himself a job. This means he is no longer your dependant and you may not need to make financial allowances for him in your life insurance. Alternatively, your mortgage may expire in ten years. You won't need to pay to cover your mortgage once it has been fully paid up.
Investment.
A term life insurance policy costs you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars a year less than a whole life insurance policy. This means that you can invest your money yourself instead of relying on the insurance company to do so. Insurers are typically very conservative when investing your money, so by taking a term life insurance policy you are able to be a little less strict over the type of investment you choose affording you a greater potential to make more money.
About the Author
Stacey Zimmerman is the owner and webmaster of Free Insurance Quotes. His site offers free online insurance quotes for homeowners, auto, life, health, car and long term care insurance. Be sure to visit his site http://www.freeinsurancequotes.us for the latest articles, news and tips on all types of insurance.
Cost.
The obvious advantage of taking a term life insurance policy over a whole life insurance policy is the cost. Often a term life insurance policy will cost you hundreds of dollars a year but a similar whole life insurance policy can cost as much as thousands. In fact, there are some term life insurance policies that will cover you to the value of $100,000 over a ten year term that cost less than ten dollars a month. Obviously, similar factors are taking into consideration when applying for term life insurance as they are when applying for whole life insurance; factors such as health, family history, lifestyle and age.
Flexibility.
Term life insurance offers you a greater level of flexibility over it's whole life insurance counterpart. For less money you are able to take out short 10, 20 or 30 year plans and you are able to determine the exact level of cover that this offers. You may have a 4-year-old son and a partner who has opted to stay at home and look after him. Right now he is dependant on your earning money to feed, clothe and care for him but in twenty years he will have finished school, finished college and hopefully got himself a job. This means he is no longer your dependant and you may not need to make financial allowances for him in your life insurance. Alternatively, your mortgage may expire in ten years. You won't need to pay to cover your mortgage once it has been fully paid up.
Investment.
A term life insurance policy costs you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars a year less than a whole life insurance policy. This means that you can invest your money yourself instead of relying on the insurance company to do so. Insurers are typically very conservative when investing your money, so by taking a term life insurance policy you are able to be a little less strict over the type of investment you choose affording you a greater potential to make more money.
About the Author
Stacey Zimmerman is the owner and webmaster of Free Insurance Quotes. His site offers free online insurance quotes for homeowners, auto, life, health, car and long term care insurance. Be sure to visit his site http://www.freeinsurancequotes.us for the latest articles, news and tips on all types of insurance.
Friday, September 23, 2005
10 Tips To Make Sure Your Financial Budget Will Succeed
You've analyzed your past expenses, put them into spreadsheets, loaded Quicken with all of your data and come up with a budget. Now what? The tough part! You actually have to stick to your budget and put your plans into action. This is easier said than done. In many cases you will have forgotten about your budget and your financial goals 6 months or a year down the road. How do you keep this from happening to you?
Here's how. Make sure you follow some of these tips below so this doesn't happen to you.
1. Create a budget with realistic targets - Let's say one of your budget goals is to not eat out for lunch or dinner on a regular basis. If you are honest with yourself you may find this to be an unrealistic goal. Sometimes it's a nice break to eat out and have a relaxing rewarding evening. In other words, don't set the bar too high. Drastic and unrealistic goals are one of the surefire ways your budget will not succeed.
2. Budget for expenses that don't occur on a routine basis - Make sure you give consideration to expenses that occur once a year, such as holiday presents, birthdays, vacations, weddings, car maintenance costs, etc. These expenses don't occur every month and they will bust your budget plans wide open. Make a list of these events on a calendar and put a dollar figure to them. Place them in the month they are expected to occur so you can plan in advance how you will pay for them. The regular routine expenses are not the reason your budget will fail. It is these "gotchas" that will wreck havoc on your budget if you don't plan for them.
3. Put your budget in writing - Take the time to write down your budget plans. Making a mental note of your budget goals is a recipe for failure. Don't assume that your financial future will take care of itself by making a simple mental note to yourself. If you have your budget goals detailed in writing you can review and remind yourself weekly and monthly of your financial goals.
4. If you have a bad month or week, don't give up! - Let's say you have been reaching your budget goals for three months. In the fourth month, for whatever reason, you didn't reach your budget goals. Maybe you even stopped trying to stick to your budget! If this happens, don't just throw your hands up in the air and admit to failure. Everyone falls off the wagon sometimes. Your budget is a journey. There will be bumps in the road, so the key is to realize that everyone makes mistakes. This relates to a story I like about a great old time golfer named Walter Hagen. Before each round of golf, he told himself that he would have 4 or 5 bad shots. During the golf round, if he hit his ball into a bunker, he would tell himself, "There is one of my bad shots that I was expecting", hit the ball out of the bunker and move on. It didn't phase him one bit because he had knew there would be some bad shots in his round.
5. Adjust your budget over time - This one is a biggie! It can take months or even years to fine tune a personal budget. When you initially made your budget plans, you probably had to guess at some of your figures. They might not have been in touch with the realities of every day life. For example, you may have underestimated your monthly grocery or utility bills. If this happens, analyze all of the underlying money that was spend in this category to see if your initial estimate was unrealistic. If it was, try to come up with a more accurate number and then to stick to that new figure. It is this type of adjustment that is one of the keys to making sure you can stick to your budget.
6. Review your budget every month - This is where you will make any adjustments that are needed. Set aside the first day of each new month to review your income and expenditures and match them to your budget goals. By actively reviewing your finances and comparing it to your budget, you can adjust your spending habits. This gives you a chance to analyze areas that exceeded your budget expectations and make the adjustments in your spending habits or your budget. The goal here is to not forget about your budget. One tip that has worked for me is to put a printout of my basic budget goals on the refrigerator. That way every day, several times a day, I would notice my budget goals sheet. I may not read it every time, but I notice it and it reminds me that I need to stick to my budget. That is why tip number 3 is so important.
7. Set specific short-term goals - Let's say one of your budget goals is to have all of your credit card bills paid off in two years. If your credit card balances total $20,000 that would be $10,000 a year. Divide that number further into quarterly reductions in your credit card bills, in this case $2,500 every 3 months. Now, this is a more tangible budget goal to shoot for isn't it? I find that when I divide intermediate and long term goals into short-term tangible stepping stones, I am able to feel a greater sense of accomplishment and am more likely to succeed. This brings us to number eight...
8. Reward yourself - That's right! Treat yourself when you reach your some of your short-term goals. Since your financial budget is really a journey, take some time to smell the roses on your way. Sticking to your budget should not be a restrictive, unpleasant experience. Not only should you take the time to enjoy your financial accomplishments along the way, but use part of your budget for fun things that you enjoy. Just make sure your rewards don't end up breaking your budget!
9. Pay yourself first - I'm sure that one of your budget goals is to save and invest a portion of your income. One of the keys to make sure you succeed at this is to do what the IRS does with your paycheck, take it out of your discretionary income immediately. This way, the money is saved away right off the bat. Move the money immediately into a savings or mutual fund account. Many mutual fund companies can setup automatic deductions from your paycheck. Despite your best intentions to save, the hectic, daily demands of life can reduce the amount you are able to save.
10. Attitude is everything - When most people think of a budget, they picture restrictions and pain. Almost like a diet. You know what happens with most diets? They don't seem work for long! First, if your budget is too strict, too restrictive on your spending, it won't work either. However, you will need to limit your spending in some areas and this will take some adjustment in your attitude. I found that when I am feeling limited and sorry for myself when I can't purchase something that I want, I remember my financial goals I set with my budget. I think about the satisfaction I feel when I reach those goals. Over time, you find that you don't want to disappoint yourself by breaking your spending goals on a spur of the moment purchase. Now, I actually get more pleasure knowing that I am reaching my budget goals when the thought of an impulse purchase crosses my mind.
If you follow these tips, your budget plans are more likely to be a great success. By taking some simple steps you will find that living within a budget is not as tough as you imagined. It can actually be fun and rewarding!
About the Author
Greg Quincy is the publisher of the website http://www.financialtipsforyou.com, offering his insights and personal finance budget tips that he has gained from working in the financial industry and the economic challenges of raising a family. Copyright © 2005 http://www.FinancialTipsForYou.com
Here's how. Make sure you follow some of these tips below so this doesn't happen to you.
1. Create a budget with realistic targets - Let's say one of your budget goals is to not eat out for lunch or dinner on a regular basis. If you are honest with yourself you may find this to be an unrealistic goal. Sometimes it's a nice break to eat out and have a relaxing rewarding evening. In other words, don't set the bar too high. Drastic and unrealistic goals are one of the surefire ways your budget will not succeed.
2. Budget for expenses that don't occur on a routine basis - Make sure you give consideration to expenses that occur once a year, such as holiday presents, birthdays, vacations, weddings, car maintenance costs, etc. These expenses don't occur every month and they will bust your budget plans wide open. Make a list of these events on a calendar and put a dollar figure to them. Place them in the month they are expected to occur so you can plan in advance how you will pay for them. The regular routine expenses are not the reason your budget will fail. It is these "gotchas" that will wreck havoc on your budget if you don't plan for them.
3. Put your budget in writing - Take the time to write down your budget plans. Making a mental note of your budget goals is a recipe for failure. Don't assume that your financial future will take care of itself by making a simple mental note to yourself. If you have your budget goals detailed in writing you can review and remind yourself weekly and monthly of your financial goals.
4. If you have a bad month or week, don't give up! - Let's say you have been reaching your budget goals for three months. In the fourth month, for whatever reason, you didn't reach your budget goals. Maybe you even stopped trying to stick to your budget! If this happens, don't just throw your hands up in the air and admit to failure. Everyone falls off the wagon sometimes. Your budget is a journey. There will be bumps in the road, so the key is to realize that everyone makes mistakes. This relates to a story I like about a great old time golfer named Walter Hagen. Before each round of golf, he told himself that he would have 4 or 5 bad shots. During the golf round, if he hit his ball into a bunker, he would tell himself, "There is one of my bad shots that I was expecting", hit the ball out of the bunker and move on. It didn't phase him one bit because he had knew there would be some bad shots in his round.
5. Adjust your budget over time - This one is a biggie! It can take months or even years to fine tune a personal budget. When you initially made your budget plans, you probably had to guess at some of your figures. They might not have been in touch with the realities of every day life. For example, you may have underestimated your monthly grocery or utility bills. If this happens, analyze all of the underlying money that was spend in this category to see if your initial estimate was unrealistic. If it was, try to come up with a more accurate number and then to stick to that new figure. It is this type of adjustment that is one of the keys to making sure you can stick to your budget.
6. Review your budget every month - This is where you will make any adjustments that are needed. Set aside the first day of each new month to review your income and expenditures and match them to your budget goals. By actively reviewing your finances and comparing it to your budget, you can adjust your spending habits. This gives you a chance to analyze areas that exceeded your budget expectations and make the adjustments in your spending habits or your budget. The goal here is to not forget about your budget. One tip that has worked for me is to put a printout of my basic budget goals on the refrigerator. That way every day, several times a day, I would notice my budget goals sheet. I may not read it every time, but I notice it and it reminds me that I need to stick to my budget. That is why tip number 3 is so important.
7. Set specific short-term goals - Let's say one of your budget goals is to have all of your credit card bills paid off in two years. If your credit card balances total $20,000 that would be $10,000 a year. Divide that number further into quarterly reductions in your credit card bills, in this case $2,500 every 3 months. Now, this is a more tangible budget goal to shoot for isn't it? I find that when I divide intermediate and long term goals into short-term tangible stepping stones, I am able to feel a greater sense of accomplishment and am more likely to succeed. This brings us to number eight...
8. Reward yourself - That's right! Treat yourself when you reach your some of your short-term goals. Since your financial budget is really a journey, take some time to smell the roses on your way. Sticking to your budget should not be a restrictive, unpleasant experience. Not only should you take the time to enjoy your financial accomplishments along the way, but use part of your budget for fun things that you enjoy. Just make sure your rewards don't end up breaking your budget!
9. Pay yourself first - I'm sure that one of your budget goals is to save and invest a portion of your income. One of the keys to make sure you succeed at this is to do what the IRS does with your paycheck, take it out of your discretionary income immediately. This way, the money is saved away right off the bat. Move the money immediately into a savings or mutual fund account. Many mutual fund companies can setup automatic deductions from your paycheck. Despite your best intentions to save, the hectic, daily demands of life can reduce the amount you are able to save.
10. Attitude is everything - When most people think of a budget, they picture restrictions and pain. Almost like a diet. You know what happens with most diets? They don't seem work for long! First, if your budget is too strict, too restrictive on your spending, it won't work either. However, you will need to limit your spending in some areas and this will take some adjustment in your attitude. I found that when I am feeling limited and sorry for myself when I can't purchase something that I want, I remember my financial goals I set with my budget. I think about the satisfaction I feel when I reach those goals. Over time, you find that you don't want to disappoint yourself by breaking your spending goals on a spur of the moment purchase. Now, I actually get more pleasure knowing that I am reaching my budget goals when the thought of an impulse purchase crosses my mind.
If you follow these tips, your budget plans are more likely to be a great success. By taking some simple steps you will find that living within a budget is not as tough as you imagined. It can actually be fun and rewarding!
About the Author
Greg Quincy is the publisher of the website http://www.financialtipsforyou.com, offering his insights and personal finance budget tips that he has gained from working in the financial industry and the economic challenges of raising a family. Copyright © 2005 http://www.FinancialTipsForYou.com
Your Debt To Income Ratio
To stay out of debt, you must spend less money than you earn. Implementing this financial plan is often more difficult than it would seem. Your debt to income ratio is an important part of your overall credit history. If you spend more money than you earn, your debt to income ratio will be high, making it hard to finance a home or make major purchases. There are two basic factors are used in calculating your debt to income ratio - your net worth and your total debt. There are standard guidelines used in the credit industry to determine if your debt to income ratio is too high. The standard may be a bit low due to the fact that many have an acceptable debt to income ratio but still struggle to pay monthly expenses.
Your total net worth includes your monthly net pay, overtime and bonuses, and any other annual income. Your total debt includes your mortgage, other loan payments or revolving accounts, car payment, credit cards, and any child support you pay. If you divide you total monthly debt payments by your monthly income, you have your debt to income ratio. In the eyes of a creditor, if your debt to income ratio is lower than 36% you are in good financial shape. However, your personal situation, your unique expenses, and your number of dependants will determine how much debt you can reasonably pay each month. If your debt to income ratio is less than 30 percent, you are in excellent financial condition; 30-36% - you will have no trouble with lenders, but should work to bring this number down to 30 or less; 36-40% - you will most likely be able to get a loan, but you may have trouble meeting your monthly obligations; 40 percent or higher - you will need to evaluate your finances and work towards eliminating debts.
Your credit card debt plays a major role in determining your debt to income ratio. The amount you owe on your credit cards has a direct bearing on your credit score. If your debt exceeds your income, your credit score will drop. Many factors go into determining your credit score, all of which are indicators of your overall financial health. Lowering credit card debt is one of the best ways to improve your credit score and your debt to income ratio. The average American has over $8000 in credit card debt. If you are paying the minimum payments each month, this still takes a big bite out of your income. Even if your credit history is excellent, with very few or no late payments, if you have too much debt, you could be denied a loan.
Take control of your credit score by lowering your credit card debt or eliminating it all together. Your credit score will rise and you will lower your debt to income ratio. If you plan to apply for a loan, purchase a new home, or want to buy a new car, you must make sure your level of debt does not exceed more than 36% of your income. In addition, if you have several credit cards with very low or zero balances, you would benefit by closing those accounts and transferring any outstanding balances to a credit card with a low interest rate. Some lenders will calculate your debt to income ratio based on the amount of credit that is available to you. If you have several dependants, you may want to lower your debt to income ratio to around 20% to ensure that you can pay your monthly debt comfortably.
This article has been provided courtesy of Creditor Web. Creditor Web offers great credit card articles available for reprint and other tools to help you search and compare credit card offers.
Your total net worth includes your monthly net pay, overtime and bonuses, and any other annual income. Your total debt includes your mortgage, other loan payments or revolving accounts, car payment, credit cards, and any child support you pay. If you divide you total monthly debt payments by your monthly income, you have your debt to income ratio. In the eyes of a creditor, if your debt to income ratio is lower than 36% you are in good financial shape. However, your personal situation, your unique expenses, and your number of dependants will determine how much debt you can reasonably pay each month. If your debt to income ratio is less than 30 percent, you are in excellent financial condition; 30-36% - you will have no trouble with lenders, but should work to bring this number down to 30 or less; 36-40% - you will most likely be able to get a loan, but you may have trouble meeting your monthly obligations; 40 percent or higher - you will need to evaluate your finances and work towards eliminating debts.
Your credit card debt plays a major role in determining your debt to income ratio. The amount you owe on your credit cards has a direct bearing on your credit score. If your debt exceeds your income, your credit score will drop. Many factors go into determining your credit score, all of which are indicators of your overall financial health. Lowering credit card debt is one of the best ways to improve your credit score and your debt to income ratio. The average American has over $8000 in credit card debt. If you are paying the minimum payments each month, this still takes a big bite out of your income. Even if your credit history is excellent, with very few or no late payments, if you have too much debt, you could be denied a loan.
Take control of your credit score by lowering your credit card debt or eliminating it all together. Your credit score will rise and you will lower your debt to income ratio. If you plan to apply for a loan, purchase a new home, or want to buy a new car, you must make sure your level of debt does not exceed more than 36% of your income. In addition, if you have several credit cards with very low or zero balances, you would benefit by closing those accounts and transferring any outstanding balances to a credit card with a low interest rate. Some lenders will calculate your debt to income ratio based on the amount of credit that is available to you. If you have several dependants, you may want to lower your debt to income ratio to around 20% to ensure that you can pay your monthly debt comfortably.
This article has been provided courtesy of Creditor Web. Creditor Web offers great credit card articles available for reprint and other tools to help you search and compare credit card offers.
Getting The Best Deal On Personal Loans
A personal loan is a sum that any adult individual borrows to fulfill his financial requirements. There are many purposes for which any individual can take a personal loan. Personal loans can be used to provide funds to buy a car, pay for your dream cruise or that remote island escapade, buy a boat, pay mortgage arrears, finance your home improvement plans, payment of alimony or paying for credit card bills etc. In fact personal loans can be taken for most of the financial emergencies you can think of.
There are many banks and financial institutions, which provide personal loans. All of them have their own terms and conditions. To get the best deal on your personal loan you must ensure that you contact and consult as many lending institutions as possible. Tell them about your financial requirements and situation. Get quotes from them and check whether you can repay the personal loan with ease.
The banks will provide you with a lump sum amount when you complete the formalities of getting the loan. The money can be used to fund your requirements. The amount banks will recover from you will include the debt, coupled with the interest charged on it over the repayment period. The longer the repayment term the less will be the interest to be paid on the personal loan.
Personal loans are preferred due to their flexibility. The two most common types of personal loans are secured and unsecured personal loans. The option of secured and unsecured personal loans are linked to the fact whether you can offer any property or fixed asset as collateral for the loan. These loans are discussed below in detail.
Secured personal loan A loan secured against some immovable or movable asset is called a secured loan. These loans are easy to get since the lending institutions feel comfortable while giving them. The reason for their comfort is the collateral you provide. Secured personal loans have lower interests and easy repayment options. Lending institutions don't hesitate in giving a large loan against high value collateral. Generally, secured personal loans are given against house owned by a person, but if you have put your house on mortgage you can still avail a secured personal loan against the proportion of the home you own. Banks and financial institutions often overlook negative credit ratings, CCJ, defaults or pending debts since they get collateral for their loan. Secured personal loans are available to individuals within 30 days of giving an application.
Unsecured Personal Loan In an unsecured personal loan the amount given by the bank or financial institution is not secured by collateral. The lending institution gives the loan solely on the creditworthiness of the person concerned. This type of loan has a greater element of risk for the lenders, so it carries a greater rate of interest and is often followed by a through background check on the financial soundness of the individual. The loan amount can start from as little as £500 and go up to £25,000. Since the loan is unsecured, lenders are wary of giving large amounts as loans. Unsecured personal loan is good for tenants, people who don't own their homes and those who cannot offer anything as collateral. In case the borrower defaults on payments then the lender will use the credit agreement and take legal help in recovering the outstanding amount.
Before jumping to a decision, the interest rate charged should be given a serious look while taking a personal loan. The amount of interest you will be charged, will decide what you finally pay to the bank. Lenders have a legal obligation to tell you the interest they will charge on your loan. The APR (Annual Percentage Rate) shows the real interest rate the banks will charge from you. The lower the APR, the better it will be for the borrower. The borrower is also advised to investigate whether the interest charged by banks is fixed, or a floating one. Ask the bank about prepayment penalties and other cost incurred in getting a loan.
Every financial institution has its own way of enquiring about the borrowers. Some might want to ask personal questions, get a feel of what you will do with the loan amount and how you wish to build your future before lending you anything. Be prepared to answer such queries.
Every loan that is taken has to be repaid. The banks and financial institutions derive part of their profits by the interest you pay. It is fine if everything goes as planned, and you repay the entire loan in due course with no hiccups. However life is known for its glorious uncertainties. Plans fail, calamities come and something disastrous often thwarts our plans. This might lead to repayment problems. This happens and one should not get panicky in such situations. If you get into one such situation, the first thing that you should do is to talk to your lender. They are interested in recovering their money, a mutually agreeable solution can be reached, which is less tense for you to manage and appears promising to lenders also.
About the Author
Peter Taylor is a senior financial analyst at easyfinance4u with acumen for finance and insurance. In recent years he has taken up to provide independent financial advice through his informative articles. His articles are widely read because of the lucid manner of writing and thoroughly researched data. To find Secured loans, secured personal loans, secured debt consolidation loans in UK that best suits your need visit http://www.easyfinance4u.com
There are many banks and financial institutions, which provide personal loans. All of them have their own terms and conditions. To get the best deal on your personal loan you must ensure that you contact and consult as many lending institutions as possible. Tell them about your financial requirements and situation. Get quotes from them and check whether you can repay the personal loan with ease.
The banks will provide you with a lump sum amount when you complete the formalities of getting the loan. The money can be used to fund your requirements. The amount banks will recover from you will include the debt, coupled with the interest charged on it over the repayment period. The longer the repayment term the less will be the interest to be paid on the personal loan.
Personal loans are preferred due to their flexibility. The two most common types of personal loans are secured and unsecured personal loans. The option of secured and unsecured personal loans are linked to the fact whether you can offer any property or fixed asset as collateral for the loan. These loans are discussed below in detail.
Secured personal loan A loan secured against some immovable or movable asset is called a secured loan. These loans are easy to get since the lending institutions feel comfortable while giving them. The reason for their comfort is the collateral you provide. Secured personal loans have lower interests and easy repayment options. Lending institutions don't hesitate in giving a large loan against high value collateral. Generally, secured personal loans are given against house owned by a person, but if you have put your house on mortgage you can still avail a secured personal loan against the proportion of the home you own. Banks and financial institutions often overlook negative credit ratings, CCJ, defaults or pending debts since they get collateral for their loan. Secured personal loans are available to individuals within 30 days of giving an application.
Unsecured Personal Loan In an unsecured personal loan the amount given by the bank or financial institution is not secured by collateral. The lending institution gives the loan solely on the creditworthiness of the person concerned. This type of loan has a greater element of risk for the lenders, so it carries a greater rate of interest and is often followed by a through background check on the financial soundness of the individual. The loan amount can start from as little as £500 and go up to £25,000. Since the loan is unsecured, lenders are wary of giving large amounts as loans. Unsecured personal loan is good for tenants, people who don't own their homes and those who cannot offer anything as collateral. In case the borrower defaults on payments then the lender will use the credit agreement and take legal help in recovering the outstanding amount.
Before jumping to a decision, the interest rate charged should be given a serious look while taking a personal loan. The amount of interest you will be charged, will decide what you finally pay to the bank. Lenders have a legal obligation to tell you the interest they will charge on your loan. The APR (Annual Percentage Rate) shows the real interest rate the banks will charge from you. The lower the APR, the better it will be for the borrower. The borrower is also advised to investigate whether the interest charged by banks is fixed, or a floating one. Ask the bank about prepayment penalties and other cost incurred in getting a loan.
Every financial institution has its own way of enquiring about the borrowers. Some might want to ask personal questions, get a feel of what you will do with the loan amount and how you wish to build your future before lending you anything. Be prepared to answer such queries.
Every loan that is taken has to be repaid. The banks and financial institutions derive part of their profits by the interest you pay. It is fine if everything goes as planned, and you repay the entire loan in due course with no hiccups. However life is known for its glorious uncertainties. Plans fail, calamities come and something disastrous often thwarts our plans. This might lead to repayment problems. This happens and one should not get panicky in such situations. If you get into one such situation, the first thing that you should do is to talk to your lender. They are interested in recovering their money, a mutually agreeable solution can be reached, which is less tense for you to manage and appears promising to lenders also.
About the Author
Peter Taylor is a senior financial analyst at easyfinance4u with acumen for finance and insurance. In recent years he has taken up to provide independent financial advice through his informative articles. His articles are widely read because of the lucid manner of writing and thoroughly researched data. To find Secured loans, secured personal loans, secured debt consolidation loans in UK that best suits your need visit http://www.easyfinance4u.com
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Credit Card Minimum Payment Rising
Credit card companies have been asked to increase the monthly minimum payment to a greater portion of the balance. The change may hurt in the short-term, but will benefit you in the long term.
Read more about the rising credit card minimum payment.
Read more about the rising credit card minimum payment.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Convenience can be costly - Understanding cash advances
You’ve just opened your credit card bill and attached to your statement you find a “convenience check” included. It may already be filled out with a dollar amount such as $300, $500, or even $1,000. Your mind fills with ideas of what you could buy with this “instant” money. A new summer wardrobe, a nice dinner and tickets to a concert, a weekend getaway.
But before you go off on a shopping spree, you should be aware that your “convenience check” is nothing more than a cash advance on your credit card. Cash advances on credit cards carry many extra fees, often overlooked or misunderstood by consumers.
Here’s a quick look at the types of fees most card issuers charge for a cash advance:
1) Upfront fee of 2-4% of the amount advanced. On a $1,000 cash advance your fee will range from $20-$40 in addition to the interest charges.
2) Higher interest rate than on purchases. Many credit card companies charge 18% or more on cash advances. In addition, most companies apply only a small percentage of your monthly minimum payment toward the cash advance.
Some require that you pay down the balance on your purchases first before applying payments to the higher-interest advance. In other words, you’ll be paying fees and interest on your cash advance for a long time, especially if you only pay the minimum payment.
3) Cash advances normally carry no grace period. This means interest charges accrue as soon as you withdraw money or cash the convenience check.
By law your credit card company must disclose any fees associated with a cash advance. The easiest way to find out what fees are charged is to carefully read your credit card statement or to call your credit issuer’s toll-free customer service number and ask questions.
Credit card companies charge these fees for two main reasons. One, to cover the costs to process this transaction which are often higher than a regular credit card purchase. And secondly because of the percentage of defaults among credit advance users. These costs are then passed along to you the consumer in the fees and interest rates associated with a cash advance.
The next time you are tempted to cash that convenience check or withdraw money from an ATM using your credit card, be sure you understand the fees and long term effects of using a credit card cash advance.
About the author
© 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com
Author: James H. Dimmitt
James is editor of “To Your Credit” a FREE weekly newsletter focusing on managing your personal finances and credit. Subscribe and get a FREE copy of your credit report when you visit: YourFreeCreditReportNow.com
But before you go off on a shopping spree, you should be aware that your “convenience check” is nothing more than a cash advance on your credit card. Cash advances on credit cards carry many extra fees, often overlooked or misunderstood by consumers.
Here’s a quick look at the types of fees most card issuers charge for a cash advance:
1) Upfront fee of 2-4% of the amount advanced. On a $1,000 cash advance your fee will range from $20-$40 in addition to the interest charges.
2) Higher interest rate than on purchases. Many credit card companies charge 18% or more on cash advances. In addition, most companies apply only a small percentage of your monthly minimum payment toward the cash advance.
Some require that you pay down the balance on your purchases first before applying payments to the higher-interest advance. In other words, you’ll be paying fees and interest on your cash advance for a long time, especially if you only pay the minimum payment.
3) Cash advances normally carry no grace period. This means interest charges accrue as soon as you withdraw money or cash the convenience check.
By law your credit card company must disclose any fees associated with a cash advance. The easiest way to find out what fees are charged is to carefully read your credit card statement or to call your credit issuer’s toll-free customer service number and ask questions.
Credit card companies charge these fees for two main reasons. One, to cover the costs to process this transaction which are often higher than a regular credit card purchase. And secondly because of the percentage of defaults among credit advance users. These costs are then passed along to you the consumer in the fees and interest rates associated with a cash advance.
The next time you are tempted to cash that convenience check or withdraw money from an ATM using your credit card, be sure you understand the fees and long term effects of using a credit card cash advance.
About the author
© 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com
Author: James H. Dimmitt
James is editor of “To Your Credit” a FREE weekly newsletter focusing on managing your personal finances and credit. Subscribe and get a FREE copy of your credit report when you visit: YourFreeCreditReportNow.com