Online Loans - The cure for holiday overindulgence

Overspending throughout the holiday season can leave many people with empty wallets and feeling that they’ll never get catch up on finances. This can lead to an overwhelming sense of stress and depression.

The rise of the online loan industry has given many consumers the ability to get the personal loans they need during a financial emergency, in a convenient and secure manner. Many people with less than perfect credit have benefited greatly from online lending. Online secure cash advances have allowed many customers the freedom to get the money they need without the hassle of credit checks or waiting in line.

Before making the decision to apply for an online loan, here are some things that you should look for in a lender:

1. You want to make sure that the website is an actual company and not just a marketer. Read the “about us” page for more information and see what the company says about themselves.

2. Make sure the company is legitimate. Look for a clearly posted phone number or additional contact information.

3. Give the company a call and see if the greeting you receive includes the company name.

4. Look for a business address that is clear posted on the website. Some companies do not have an actual physical address because they operate solely online. In this case refer to number three.

5. Look to see if the company has posted their business hours on the site.

6. When you go to fill out an application, make sure your personal information is being processed in a Secure Socket Layer. This encrypts the data that you give in your application so that no one else can see it. You’ll know if your date is safe if the http at the top of the page reads https. The s stands for secure.

Save $100 a week – Continued

Some folks may choose to live life on the edge, living from paycheck to paycheck. But when it’s time to have something repaired – like the home heating or the family car, there’s nothing saved for those kinds of emergencies. If there’s nothing saved and there’s no family to borrow cash from, people most often have no other choice, but to apply for some sort of short term loan. Most often opting for a cash advance from a store front location or online. But maybe you’ve decided that you’re tired of living from paycheck to paycheck and want to start actually saving some money!

There are some very obvious ways to save a buck or two here and there.

First of all… Quit eating out for lunch! This may seem tough to do if you like to eat with your co-workers on a regular basis, but this is one of the biggest money drainers of them all. If we figure that the average lunch costs $8 to $10, and then we multiply that by 5 working days, that’s $40 to $50 a week that you could be saving. Instead, start packing your lunch every day. With the $40 you would have spent on lunch, you can purchase enough groceries for a week’s worth of lunches and dinners. Why pay someone $10 to make you a sandwich when you can do it for $2 or less by yourself?

*You’ll also save on gasoline by not slogging through lunch hour traffic every day just to grab a bite to eat.

And that leads to my second piece of advice… Get a SAM’s Club card. Buying in bulk can be a great way to save on things like paper towels, drinks and other short-term usage items. There is a membership fee of $25, but the savings you’ll see in just a few months time will more than pay for it.

Save $100 a week

With most people living from paycheck to paycheck, it can be very difficult to save money. And that can make for very stressful times when emergency cash is needed.

But there are some easy ways to save a few bucks here and there...

1. Pay yourself a percentage of your paycheck. It doesn’t matter if it’s 10% or 1%. As long as you sock away some part of your paycheck consistently, your efforts will pay off in time. If you’re living from paycheck to paycheck and think it’s just not possible to spare another cent for savings, try again. Think about that iced coffee you just bought. There was probably some change left over right? Well, there you go. This brings us to the next point.

2. Save every penny! Every time you buy something with cash, there’s usually some change involved. Instead of throwing that change in your pocket or under the seat, put it into a jar and save it up. You’ll be amazed by what you have after only a few weeks time. Save your change up for a few months and you’ll have a nice chunk of change that you can take to the bank.

3. Need it or Want it? Things like beauty magazines, a new pair of shoes, a wrench set, or the latest cell phone might be things you want, but do you really need them? Evaluate every purchase from the standpoint of “Do I absolutely need this product at this point in time?” When you stop and think about this, you can save yourself on a lot of impulse buying.

Check back on Friday, when I’ll include some more tips to help you save $100 a week.

Buying a car in today's market - Part 1

In today’s economy, many consumers have been worried about making large purchases. For example, purchasing a car may seem impossible. Many are finding it difficult to get a loan these days. But for those with satisfactory credit, now is the time to get a great deal.
With jammed up car lots continuing to fill up with overstock, car dealers are desperate to lure people in to buy. And to do so, they are enticing customers with some great offers. Including, amazingly low interest rates and rebate offers, as well as additional end of the year savings. Toyota recently announced its 0% interest financing and other leading car manufacturers have quickly followed.

The U.S. Treasury Department recently announced a new program to increase the availability of auto loans. The announcement came soon after a key request from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). The new program will benefit both the consumer and the auto dealer. It is hoped that the news will likely go a long way in helping to restore consumer confidence and aid in rebuilding economic stability throughout the country.

Source: www.CNNMoney.com
Source: www.nada.org

Continuing the holiday gift giving theme…

Let’s face it - times are tough. And now, as if you weren’t strapped for cash enough, the holidays are quickly approaching.

For the kids on your list, there are several inexpensive choices for gift giving.

1. Old fashioned board games! Games like Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders can be purchased for $5.00 or less.

2. Or visit the local dollar store to rack up on some great toy knick knacks for a $1.00 each.

3. Puzzles (you can usually find some of these for $2.99)

4. Fun and colorful socks or underware (still under $10)

5. Gel pens and pretty stationary

6. Sometimes you can find great deals on books too. Book stores like Books-A-Million often have a special sale section located toward the back of the store that’s filled with great deals on children’s book selections.