Debt Consolidation Credit Counseling In Austin Debt Consolidation Credit Counseling In Austin

Find out more on Debt Consolidation Credit Counseling In Austin Now!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Bill Consolidation Cons And Pros:Options To Decide On

By Frank Froggatt

If you are weighing starting a debt consolidation there are a great deal of beneficial things that can occur from one. First the foremost cause to get a debt consolidation is if you are having trouble paying off your debts, or you want to get rid of all your debts.

In virtually all cases you will have all of your old accounts closed. This is in truth a positive thing because chances are it is your inability to restrain your credit expenditure that got you into this position in the first place. Getting them closed will keep you out of difficulty.

There are two paths you can get into debt consolidation. If you own a house, you can gain a house equity debt consolidation and if you don't possess a home you can have a party aid you with debt consolidation by merging your payments.

The benefits of the house equity debt consolidation include a loan with a lighter interest rate, because your house is collateral for the cash you are getting. You can get the loan for the sum of your assessment minus what you have already given on the home. What is left over can be used for the debt consolidation.

After the finances are received you can then get in touch with your creditors and close your accounts. Hacking up all of the old credit cards is a very great thought just so the enticement isn't there any longer. This is such a good choice because it grants you more control of the situation. You can still negotiate to get your bills lowered or you can choose to mail the creditors the total sum the choice is yours, as long as they are in accord.

If you do not have a home of your own you must get a debt consolidation payment. This is where all of your debts are still separate, but a company speaks to creditors on your behalf and gets them to decrease payments, cease late payment charges, and decrease your interest rate, for the time you are in the debt consolidation plan.

While you are engaged with the party you will have cash taken out of your account every calendar month to pay back the debts. The wonderful thing about this is that it removes all of the duty of making the payments off of you. You merely need to make a point that the money is in your bank account. If you are in this type of program incessantly affirm that the payments are being made as there are scams that occasionally happen.

You want to be careful too with acquiring more credit accounts. Although the accounts that you have in the program will be shut that doesn't deny you the ability to acquire more. Recognize though that if you do, the rates of interest will be a great deal higher as a consequence of the consolidation on your credit record. It would be most beneficial if that didn't even cross your mind though considering how that is what started the whole problem anyway.

If you have difficulty keeping up with your creditors and making payments on time, debt consolidation could be a good option for you. You can get hold of any verifiable debt consolidation company and talk over your choices anytime with no committal, just keep in mind that it will affect your credit rating, but equated to late payments it may be the greatest option.

About the Author:

Set About To Find the Best Debt Consolidation Companies

By Frank Froggatt

When you find yourself inundated with outstanding debt it can be tough to pull yourself back up. One way to do this is to get help from a debt consolidation company. It is crucial that you make certain to acquire the best debt consolidation company that you can..

A sound debt consolidation company is able and efficient in teaching you to discover how to handle your debt. They should likewise help you to square away your on going state of affairs by rendering helpful advice. The best companies will be able to help you with interest that has increased over the years.

The best debt consolidation companies will offer you a complimentary estimate. They will go over your debts, bills, and financial state of affairs. After they have assessed all of your information they will then give you a quote for any fees that you will be charged. Beware of those that require money right off the bat, as some are scams.

Before you settle on the best company for you, you should make a list of everything that you will need from them. This permits you to find the best company for your state of affairs. After you have chosen the debt consolidation company you desire to use, you should be given a counselor that is experienced in rendering advice on how to manage your debts.

You should be aware that you won't be able to consolidate all of your debt. All of your secured debt such as mortgages and automobile loans will not fit into the plan. The only accounts that will be able to be implemented into debt consolidation are the unsecured debts such as credit cards and hospital bills. You will need to stay current on all of your secured debt while proceeding through this procedure to keep your credit in healthy repair. The rest of the bills will not harm you as they will be managed by the company. Remember the best debt consolidation companies will not allow any injury to come to your credit while you are getting through this process.

If you want to keep your credit cards for business your counsel should not seek to pressure you to get rid of them. When dealing with a safe company your counsel should be trained to teach you a better method of repayment when it is needed to keep credit cards. They must be able to work with your credit card company to achieve this. It is crucial for a debt consolidation company to have a good kinship with these financial institutions. That is why you should make sure to find the most effective company that suits your needs.

Another important element in the search for the best debt consolidation company is to view the type of services they provide. For instance, several companies merely offer to consolidate your debts into one monthly payment. Some will only assist by negotiating with the creditors. You may want to check into one of the companies that extend services to rectify your credit. It is important to compare the services of the companies before you decide which company is the best for you.

About the Author:

Order Checks Online - Save 50%!

By Peggy Ann Morgan

You're almost out of checks and before you run dry you may be thinking about running to the bank. But you can order checks online and save the middleman bank markup. There is no need to let the bank profit from your purchase.

Your bank marks up the price of checks before they sell them to the customer. By purchasing direct, the middleman is cut out and you put the difference into your wallet. Oder checks online thru your computer and save taxes, time and gas.

Another nice surprise is that you get to look over a more varied and a greater variety of check designs than you would had you been relegated only to the banks offering. The abundance of categories offer many choices.

You'll save about 50% when you order direct. The quality of checks is no different then the quality of checks the bank sell you. After all you and they will be buying for essentially the same place. The only difference is you have more choices of categories and motifs.

Contact cards, checkbook covers, matching address label as well as various types of check formats are available. Popular side tear, top stub and 3 per page and other personal and business check formats are also available. Your draft checks needs to be vigilantly balanced as you well know. Easy to view accounting check registers are also an important consideration.

When someone accepts a check and deposits it in their account is called a payee. If the payee is unsure of the funds, often they will take it to the branch bank it is drawn in and cash the check at that location.

When a check refused at the drawee bank (because there are insufficient funds for the check to clear), it is said that the check has bounced. Another situation that may arise is that the drawee bank returns the check to the bank that it was deposited at because of non-sufficient funds.

Bounced checks make money for the banks via steep service charges. It can be extremely depressing whey one gets a steam of bounced checks because of deposits that do not clear.

About the Author:

Getting A Loan Despite Bad Credit Scores

By Ray W Garvin

Having a poor credit record doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to have to be a renter for the rest of your life. On the other hand, what it does mean is that you're going to have to educate yourself about credit scores and their impact on mortgage loan rates.

You're going to have to be ready to get out there and sift through numerous bad credit lenders to find one that will offer you a reasonable deal. You're also going to have to prepare yourself to hand any prospective lender some serious documentation to sway them in your favor.

Because the FICO score (developed by Fair Isaac & Company) is the one that pretty much all lenders use, before you go out there and try getting your home loan, it's good to know what yours is. Once you do, you'll have a good feel for what to expect from the people you'll be submitting your loan application to and what your chances of approval are.

All financial institutions do not use exactly the same version of the FICO score. Specific examples of this are the credit card, insurance, and auto loan industries which all have their own little variation of the credit score that specifically meets their needs. Yet they all share the characteristic that says that the higher your score, the better a deal you'll be eligible for.

In case you didn't know it or it slipped out of your mind, you have three credit scores, not one. Because all three credit bureaus work independently, and because there's no legislation requiring that credit information be reported to all three bureaus, your credit file will vary from one to the other. The only way to get as accurate a snapshot of your credit profile as possible is to order your credit score from each one of them.

It's common knowledge that a sizable percentage of credit reports contain errors. When you receive yours, most experts recommend that you go through it with a fine-toothed comb in order to make sure that there are no mistakes there that make your file look worse than it really is. Any mistake you find should be signaled to the corresponding credit bureau for correction. Remember to followup (usually within a month's time) to make sure that appropriate action has been taken and that your information is now accurate.

When people have bad credit, they often don't bother knowing how the credit system works, because they think that they're not going to need that information. As it turns out, getting to know the basics of the credit scoring system can prove beneficial. You'll either know what to expect from bad credit finance companies, or you'll decide to take the time to clean up your credit and apply for a loan when your credit profile looks better. In both cases, you come out ahead because an informed customer is always better off than an uninformed one.

About the Author:

The Truth About Jumbo Mortgage Loans

By Sarah Turner

The average price of a home in the United States is right around 300,000 dollars. When you apply for a mortgage to purchase a home around that average price, the general rules of mortgage loans apply. But what happens when the price of the home you want to purchase far exceeds the typical home price? Jumbo Mortgage loans are offered by banks for homes that exceed a certain price limit.

There is a great deal more risk for the lender when they issue this type of loan. Most of the homes that fall into this high priced category are considered high-end luxury homes. Obviously, these types of homes are large, beautiful, and sometimes extravagant. Because of this, they are often harder to resell. Many people looking to spend that kind of money on a home are looking to customize their own home, and not necessarily buy one that was already designed and built.

Since the homes are harder to sell, banks know that if the owner defaults on the loan, there isn't much of likelihood that they'll be able to sell the home, even in foreclosure. Since banks know these homes are high risk homes to finance, banks only offer the mortgages with specific guidelines.

Clearly, the larger and more expensive homes are chancy for banks to finance. So why do banks still consider issuing these types of mortgages helping people buy expensive homes? Banks make it worth their while by issuing the loans only after the borrower has put down a large down payment.

The second way banks absorb some of the risk is by attaching high interest rates to the mortgage. This allows the bank to make more money in the short and long run of the loan. This also makes the monthly mortgage payment a lot higher as well so the homes are quite costly to the borrower.

Closing costs on the loans are very high as well. Overall, this type of mortgage is really expensive. In the past, these types of mortgages were only needed for high-end luxury homes, but in recent years, housing prices have skyrocketed. Many people in areas like California and Washington D.C. were forced to become jumbo borrowers even though they were buying a modest home.

The amount of the loan is high which means they are already making money, but with a higher interest rate, they make even more money. The closing costs are also elevated. This all translates to more money for the lender.

For those of you who have expensive taste and want to own an expensive home, realize that you will have to take on a jumbo mortgage in order to purchase the home.

About the Author:

The Unfair Bad Reputation Of Secured Loans

By Jeremy Beckwith

Not too long ago, getting a loan was a truly cumbersome affair that involved physically going to the bank and bringing with you a good amount of documentation in order for your application to be processed and eventually approved. Even if the case of secured loans, while the approval process was considerably speedier, you still had to show up.

Since the World Wide Web started gaining in popularity in the mid-90's, the financial industry has been taking advantage of the many opportunities this medium offers, notably in the area of lending. When it comes to secured loans, the process has really been streamlined. In theory, this is the "safest" type of loan a financial institution can give out: the borrower gives a collateral of equal value to the loan that he/she is applying for, and allows that collateral to be taken away if the loan is not paid off. Thus what happens is that information that pertains to your capacity to repay the loan becomes largely irrelevant.

All you actually need to provide is basic details about you, your job, and submit yourself to a security verification. The most important part of the transaction is providing the documents that state that the collateral is yours and is authentic, to make sure that the financial institution that's granting you the loan will actually be able to take possession of that asset if you don't pay for your loan in a timely fashion.

Some people are fervent critics of secured loans. They point out that it's foolish to borrow money against funds that are already yours, and that you could have used interest-free, as opposed to having to pay interest on that secured loan. While the argument might look iron-clad, there are a couple of circumstances where it no longer holds up that well. Here are a few of them.

1. Your credit is bad. If you happen to have bad credit, you know first-hand how hard it can be to get a loan. Actually, it might not be that hard, but the interest rates that you will be charged are just sky-high. If you have a little bit of savings, secured loans can help you in two ways: you get better interest rates thanks to your collateral that makes your credit history irrelevant; and by repaying the loan on time, you get to rebuild your credit.

2. Your credit file is thin. Some options (such as PRBC) have been made available to people with thin credit files. The term thin credit file is used to designate people whose credit file is either completely empty of contains very little information. In those situations, credit bureaus are unable to assign them a credit score, and lenders are unwilling to do business with them because they have no credit history. If that's your situation, it could be wise for you to get a secured loan and start paying it off, so that your installment payments start showing up on your credit file to start building that credit history.

3. You have an emergency. Sometimes it's not even about your credit. You might have good credit and everything but you're suddenly faced with unplanned and urgent expenses that you must meet. It might feel uncomfortable depleting your emergency savings fund. You might also not want to cash out a CD and forfeit months of interest. In those cases, you can borrow against those funds and pay off the loan over time as your money continues to earn interest.

Obviously, secured loans serve a purpose. And since they're offered by lenders, it's obvious that they fill a need. The biggest knock against them is their very nature: you have to have the money in order to benefit from their advantages. Besides that consideration, they're absolutely great to have as an option, since there's a lot you can benefit from (and improve) by tapping into them.

About the Author:

Centennial Credit Card - Review

By Daniel Moskel

The Centennial credit card is an unsecured card created for individuals with a damaged credit report. It is issued by First Premier Bank an FDIC member.

It has easy approval requirements, but does carry some fees. Including a one time $95 fee, an account set up fee of $29, and an annual fee of $48.

These charges are assessed to your available credit limit. When you receive your card you will have these charges shown on the balance.

It comes with an initial credit limit of $250, and an APR of 9.9%.

It can come as a MasterCard or Visa; you will decide when you apply. Additionally if you apply online you will have a response to your application within 60 seconds.

When making your monthly on time payments you will create a positive payment history on your credit report.

Your utilization ratio is also an important factor in your score. This is the amount of debt you have compared to how much available credit you have. Your score will get the most benefit if you can keep your balance at roughly 30% of you limit.

In other words a $250 limit, you want to keep your balance at $75. You will be eligible for a credit limit increase after six months.

The First Premier Bank is in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They are a member of the Better Business Bureau and have served over 3 million people.

Your card is accepted everywhere the Visa or MasterCard logo is seen. You can qualify for the card if you are over 18 years old and have a valid social security number.

Lately there has been a rise on interest rates, even on good credit cards. The rates have jumped to around 30% and this is without cause. This Means that interest rates are rising even on customers that pay on time.

In sum we suggest you look into all your options for credit. It may make more sense to do some work on removing negative marks or apply for a secured or prepaid card instead.

About the Author:

Locking a Mortgage Rate in a Volatile Market

By Mortgage Wizard

Your home financing is a big commitment and big investment. You need to make sure you are happy with your loan.

As an average consumer it is hard to study the mortgage market in these volatile times and accurately decide when a good time to lock into a new interest rate will be. Rates are changing multiple times a day.

The first thing you need to understand is that what is causing the rates to go up and down right now with the major banks may have nothing to do with the stock market or treasury yields or any of the other typical indicators that we can look at to try and follow the trends of mortgage rates.

More than 300 mortgage banks have gone out of business during this real estate and economic crisis in the last two years. The one common thread for the ones that are still around is that they have been forced to reduce their staff to skeleton versions of what they once were to try and weather the storm.

As mortgage rates decrease and the demand for new loans increases the banks are finding themselves in a position of overflow. They no longer have the robust back office staff that can support millions dollars of new loans every day. To control the increased volume that is slowing down their processing turn times they are pricing themselves out of the market to deter new business while they catch up.

So all the indicators that we study as consumers to determine when to lock into a new mortgage rate may not apply. The market is moving up and down because of the lack of work force of the individual banks, not the change in price on the mortgage notes.

Do not try and monitor these swings on your own. Work with a mortgage company that watches these swings in real time. If you provide them with the documentation they need to qualify you for a loan they can watch for the sudden dips in the market and secure a low mortgage for you.

About the Author:

Become Familiar with Mortgage Refinance Terminology

By Madeline Zidan

Mortgage Refinance on a commercial property can be tricky, but it is possible to prepare yourself by becoming very familiar with how the process works, what to beware of and some of the terminology, this will help you understand what to expect at the same time increasing your knowledge.

Without some familiarity pertaining to a Mortgage Refinance it could be difficult to understand where to start. Without some experience in financing, whether it's on an initial loan or a Residential Loan, these terms may seem like foreign language or somewhat silly for such a serious matter. A few examples would be: Arm, Balloon, Bridge Loans, Mezzanine Loans, Conduit or CMBS Loans etc.

If you think back to when you applied for your original Commercial Mortgage Finance, you will remember specific terminology slightly different than that of Loan Refinance. You had to think about the price of the commercial property, the time it will take to secure a loan this size, it is possible for the amount of time specified on the contract to run out before you get funded, protection from default on such a large loan, not to mention collateral, down payment, closing costs and so on, not too unlike a mortgage on a house.

If you think back to when you applied for your original Commercial Mortgage Finance, you will remember thinking with a slightly different approach than you would with Mortgage Refinance. You had to think about the price of the commercial property, the time it will take to secure a loan this size, it is possible for the amount of time specified on the contract to run out before you get funded, protection from default on such a large loan, not to mention collateral, closing costs and so on. Things can become very complicated on a loan this size for a commercial property.

Before we move on to Loan Refinance terms let's recap what terms you had to learn before, such as 1031 Tax Exchange, Environmental Reports, what type of commercial property qualifies for what type of loan, which is a lot for one to learn, the difference between Conduit and Mezzanine Loans, and so on.

Let's recap what terms you had to learn before, such as 1031 Tax Exchange, Environmental Reports, what type of commercial property qualifies for what type of loan, which is a lot for one to learn, the difference between Conduit and Mezzanine Loans, and so on. Most importantly, you had to find a great Broker that offers a variety of innovative loan programs for your specific need. So now, it is time to look at Mortgage Refinance.

You will find out some things are a little different when it comes to Mortgage Refinance. The terminology is a little bit different. You start looking at possible Cash Out Proceeds, and maybe you want to inject the money you cash out into another property or use it to remodel the current property, what is the Discounted Cash Flow, Current vs. Proposed, will you have prepayment penalties?

Remember, knowledge is power, stay informed by reading and researching your topic. Be very clear about your reasons for Mortgage Refinance so you won't make mistakes that could cost you more in the long run.

About the Author:

Low Cost Dental Insurance

By Jim Gatton

Dental Insurance in the United States is insurance designed to pay the costs associated with dental care. It is very seldom however that dental insurance will pay all of the cost associated with dental care.

When you are looking for dental insurance plan quotes consider whether you want a flexible dental plan tailored to your needs or whether, in order to save money on premiums, you can deal with a less flexible type of discount dental plan.

You do have many choices when purchasing an insurance plan. In sorting through your options remember that indemnity plans allow you to go to any dentist of your choice. In general terms the insurance company wants to know that the dentist is actually licensed in your state but beyond that they do not care what dentist you go to.

It is important to realize that dental insurance plans differ greatly in the amount of reimbursement that they all offer for certain procedures. They also each have their own maximum amounts that day will reimburse you for during the course of a calendar year or a contract year. Check these things out first before you buy.

Most of us looking for dental insurance are hoping to find one that provides free checkups, cleanings, x-rays, and sometimes even more. Those benefits are not likely to be found in any individual dental insurance plan. You are more likely to find these items covered in a discount fee for service program.

Dental insurance may be obtained by a person for individual or group dental care, such as for family members or employees. There are many more options available on the dental insurance market for employers because with an employer based dental plan the insurance company can spread the cost over more people and they know that most of the covered employees will never actually utilize the insurance coverage.

Dental insurance may also encompass treatment, routine check, and preventive dental procedures. This range of coverage is almost universal but do not assume that those things are covered. Double check before you buy.

The cost of your visits are frequently covered by most of the dental plans available in the US a market. As you continue to search for a product availability in your area do it once again with your eyes wide open realizing that insurance is not normally design to cover 100% of your cost but rather to share the cost of dental work more equitably among people.

About the Author:

Risks of Taking out Loans Online

By Trinity Robison

In this day and age, there are many conveniences at our finger tips. If we need to get our hands on some extra money, it is possible to do it without even leaving our home. Online loans do offer some nice perks, but they are not without their risks.

There are a lot of different companies out there that offer online loans. One risk is that it is often difficult to know the integrity of the company you are borrowing from. Even though the company has to follow the laws of the state in which it resides, many states don't have very strict guidelines for online loans. This leaves the borrower in a vulnerable situation.

The truth is that identity theft has become a multimillion dollar criminal endeavor. Those that are making money off of it are really good at what they do. The only way to protect yourself is to be really smart about how much information you put on the web. So when it comes to applying for a loan, the safest way to do it is still to apply in person.

One of the most important pieces of personal information to protect is your bank account information. There is a financial risk when you apply for an online loan. One of the services of an online loan is receiving the loan direct deposit to your savings or checking account. In order for the lender to do this, you have to provide them with your account number and routing number so they can deposit the money in your account.

Even if the company claims to have a secure website which does decrease the risk of identity theft, there is still a chance that the wrong person could get a hold of your personal information. The best way to protect yourself is to be very wise about what kind of information you put on the internet. The safe thing to do would be to apply for a loan in person and avoid the internet all together.

Overall, it is still quite possible to take out a loan online if you are responsible and do you research. Be sure to find a company that has a good history of issuing loans. Make sure their website is secure and there is little risk of your personal information being stolen. If the company has these things in place, you can probably take out a loan with no real issues. Just remember, that when applying for a loan online, there is really no such thing as no risk.

About the Author:

Getting Student Loans Forgiven: How to Do It

By Marlin Baccus

Many students accumulate hundreds of dollars in student loans during their college days that by the time they leave school; they are more or less in the brink of bankruptcy. If you are one of those students who are up to their foreheads on debts and could not seem to payoff off even just the minimum repayments of your student debts even if you work on three jobs and don't get any sleep at all, you might as well consider filing for bankruptcy.

Even though filing for bankruptcy shortly after graduation from college does not seem like a good move financially, it might be your only option if you are buried beneath insurmountable debt from college.

Filing For Bankruptcy

The actual process of filing for bankruptcy can get confusing. Remember that you have to do more than fill out some papers. You will be required to appear in court before a judge whose responsibility it is to decide if you really qualify for bankruptcy or not.

The meeting with a judge can be confusing, so doing some research into the entire process is very important for anyone considering filing for bankruptcy, even more so if you will not be able to pay for the assistance of a legal professional. Filing for bankruptcy will permit the authorities to divest you of assets you own in order to reconcile your current student loan debt.

Some of your personal property cannot be seized. Be sure to notice which properties fall into this category when you do your bankruptcy research. All of the laws associated should be read thoroughly and completely. If you do not quite understand something, get someone who does to assist you since this is a very serious matter.

Remember that paying for a bankruptcy lawyer would be best if you are feeling overwhelmed with all the details of your bankruptcy. They can advise you on what you should do to deal with your student loan debt.

The good thing about hiring a bankruptcy lawyer is that this person knows how to get most if not all of your student loans forgiven. Most of these bankruptcy lawyers understand your financial difficulties so they will not really charge you so much.

About the Author:

Learn Where Your Money Goes By Budgeting

By Steve Collins

Does it seem like money just vanishes as soon as you get it? On Monday you stuck a couple of twenties in your wallet and by Thursday all you have is some loose change. For a lot of folks, if you have it, you will spend it. Cash seems to slip out of your hands, whether it is spent on a Cappuccino or a magazine at the news stand.

With a few budgeting basics, however, you can be educated to track all of your spending and make sure your money goes only where you intend, and not on needless luxuries. A solid understanding of budgeting basics allows you to determine where your money needs to be directed and where cuts should be made. Creating a budget is not that difficult; but it does require a little time and organization. It is fairly simple to grasp the basics of budgeting.

To create a budget, you must first have some records of your spending. You should put together your financial records, including your checkbook records, store receipts and credit card statements which track where your money is being spent. Ideally, you should try to get an idea of how much you have spent in a number of different categories over the last six months. sturdy budgeting calls for a chart consisting of categories that detail your spending habits. Transportation, medical bills, food, entertainment, school and housing are just a few of the categories.

Think as far back into your financial records as possible, in order to get a more precise picture of your spending habits and budgeting needs. You will be amazed at the amount of money you spend on luxuries. If you are disposed to drop five dollars here and three dollars there without thinking, it is a surprise to see how much money slips away over a short period of time.

Budgeting basics, once appreciated, are skills you should use all your life, because your budget is in constant flux. If you stick to it, you will not have to wonder where all your money goes.

About the Author:

Do it yourself Credit Repair

By Rob Kosberg

You found yourself in a very bad financial situation. You may feel emotional, hopeless, guilty or all of them. You are afraid of hitting rock bottom. Before that happens, you need to take the necessary steps to get your financial life in order. You need to look long and hard at your credit use and spending habits. It doesn't mean a "debt consolidation," program or a home equity loan .The word is PLAN.

Round up all credit reports, bill payment and credit card records, loan and mortgage records. You can find debt worksheets on line that will assist with making your plan. Most likely sections of your planning will be occurring at the same time.

Be meticulous about ensuring that your credit reports (there are 3 major credit reporting agencies) are accurate and truly reflect your credit status. To complete this project may take some written communications with one or all of the credit reporting agencies. Stay with the process.

Record in black and white all of your financial obligations. This will affect the money management part of the plan. Do list all credit cards in order of highest to lowest interest rates. Also include the monthly minimum payment required for each card.

After this, you are going to look at the picture of "disposable income" and "discretionary income." What are these? You have a certain amount of your salary that pays for your necessary expenses such as loans, utilities, mortgages, insurances, and credit cards. This is disposable income. Subtract the total from salary and this is discretionary income which is the amount you have to assign to reducing debt.

Determine which credit cards and loans you can pay down in order. For the first on the list, pay as much over minimum as possible. Pay minimum on the others. When the first is completed, apply that payment to the next in line and so on. This will be an ongoing money management strategy for a long time.

There will be some personal discomfort as you tackle this project. There will need to be changes in your lifestyle. You will need to cease purchasing that is not essential. You will need to stop charging, pay bills on time, minimize travel and entertainment, dine more at home and perhaps give up other indulgences.

The bottom line of the situation is that you are responsible for creating it. There is no credit angel. You need to fix it and use smart money management techniques to maintain your repairs.

About the Author:

Financing A Computer With a Poor Credit History

By Terry Piper

It is hard to see everyone's situation, but in general computer financing for people with bad credit is yet another brick in a wall of doom. Regular credit usually isn't possible for one in this position for a reason.

The credit rating system is mainly there to protect businesses from bad risks, but it also helps to stop us from compounding our money mistakes with ever greater debts. Most people got a bad rating by making poor decisions, and it isn't a good idea to let people continue down this self destructive road. Sometimes you need to step up to the plate and admit that it might be a good idea to fix your debt mistakes before getting more.

If you have decided to go ahead and get computer financing for people with bad credit, then you really need to be on top of things. It is easy to sign up for a revolving debt loan that you will never be rid of!

The interest rate will be really high if you have bad credit. While this is fair since they are taking extra risk by dealing with you, some loans are excessively expensive. With an interest rate of more than twenty-eight percent, if you accept the wrong terms you will be paying for that outdated laptop when your grand children are getting married!

A big down payment will shorten the loan or lower your monthly payments, so you should always put as much down as you can up front. Zero down is a fancy way of saying, "be our slave" as you pay for your poor credit rating. with that large down-payment your monthly payments can be lower, or your loan length can be shorter, or both.

Take this loan over as short a term as you possibly can. Six months would be great, one year not bad, and two or three years a horrible idea. Imagine buying a machine for $1000 and then paying $3000 for it over three years! Talk about being taken to the cleaners.

These are a few of the issues you should think about while looking for computer financing for people with bad credit. Once you have gone over the pros and cons you may decide to save up instead, or at the very least get a cheaper computer for several hundred dollars less. Either way, good luck and take care of your financial health.

About the Author: