debt consolidation

Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit

July 5, 2014 by arizona

Because your credit is part of your financial record from the time you become an adult, you may have inadvertently damaged it in your younger days. If you have bad credit, you might wonder if it’s possible for you to get your debts consolidated. Here is a little information on bad credit and debt consolidation.

What are some signs that you may need to look for debt consolidation loans for bad credit?

When you are struggling each month to make your payments or make them in a timely fashion you may have realized that you need assistance. Let’s look at a few other signs that it may be time to look into getting debt consolidation loans for bad credit.

Bill collectors call frequently.
You’re only making partial payments.
You’re using one credit card to pay another.
You miss payments or are late.

Can I get debt consolidation loans for bad credit?

There are still a few options for you to explore as far as debt consolidation with bad credit. One of these is the payday advance. On the plus side, these are usually easy to get and not secured by anything except the agreement to pay and sometimes a post dated check.

Another type of debt consolidation loan for bad credit is a simple personal one. With this type of loan, you would go directly through the lender, so it does cut out the middle man. Remember that even loans specifically for debt consolidation often give better interest rates to people with better credit though, so always go into it expecting that.

These loans do have the added bonus of being very easy to handle. Many times you can actually go through the whole process online, and have the money deposited directly into your bank account.

Some ways to get a debt consolidation loan for bad credit

Your first step should be to examine your personal situation closely and see what adjustments can be made to your budget to make things run more smoothly in your life. Sometimes the trouble started because of accident, injury or some other unforeseen circumstance, but this isn’t always the case. So, just clean it up where you are able.

Next, you should sit down and make a list of your monthly income and your expenses in order to figure out how much you need to borrow to consolidate all of your debts into one payment. After this, research some actual lending institutions and get some information on requirements and interest rates available. Do keep in mind that you may have to get a co-signer if things are really bad with your credit or payment/job history.

You should also understand ahead of time, that if you are refused a loan even with a co-signer, your only choice may be to pursue a bankruptcy. This seems unpleasant, but it might come down to necessity at that point.

What else is there to know about debt consolidation loans for bad credit?

While it can be difficult to get loans with bad credit or even slightly imperfect credit, they can be very useful when it comes to consolidate your debts into one easy monthly payment. This makes it easier for you to get caught up with everything and eventually even improve your credit.

There are a growing number of companies that specialize in the service of debt consolidation. Wading through all of the information that they put out can be daunting but, let’s look at how to make the decision a little bit easier.

When you decide that you are ready to take the steps to debt consolidation, you first should sit down and go through your financial information. If you are too overwhelmed by doing this on your own, remember that there are counselors that specialize in this type of service and you can always reach out to them. That’s what they are there for. This is very important because you need to know what you owe and what your payments will be like. There are scams out there, so you want to have all of the information on your own finances at your fingertips and easy for you to understand.

After this you can easily contact a lending institution and feel more comfortable with discussing this type of loan with them. Remember to pay careful attention to the loan repayment, so that you don’t get in a worse situation.

With all of this information available, you should be able to make an informed decision and feel much more comfortable about the direction that your finances are heading. Even though it can seem like a huge thing to undertake, once you start getting everything organized in your budget and paying your debts off in an easier fashion, you will be well on your way to improving your credit and your outlook on life.

Get out of Debt with a Debt Management Plan

March 10, 2014 by arizona

Once you have fallen into debt it’s like falling into a sea of overwhelming phone calls, letters and emails from debt collectors. Once these collectors have locked onto you they will relentlessly call you day and night in order to try to get you to pay up. These collectors are paid commission so they are motivated to get you to pay your dues or at least sign up for a payment plan.

The 2 Ways Out of Debt

Once you have acquired a large amount of debt it is difficult to get rid of. There are really only two ways to relieve yourself from the debt collectors which are unfortunately, either pay off the debt, or file bankruptcy which you probably want to avoid. However, bankruptcy tends to be a popular option, in fact, a 12 year study ended in September of last year which should over 1.2 million people filed for bankruptcy. However, this seems to be an unethical way of doing things. As those who filed did not handle their debt responsibly and basically cheated their creditors out of money.

A Debt Management Plan

If you wish to go about handling your debt responsibly and taking the ethical route, you will want to establish a debt management plan. You could create a debt management plan yourself and try to negotiate and deal with your creditors, or, you could hire a consumer credit agency in order to assist you in handling your debt management plan. Consumer Debt Agencies are not that difficult to find and usually every city or town has at least 1 or 2. However, if you happen to not be able to find an agency near you, you can find one on the internet. Just be careful that you don’t run into a fraud scheme, as there are many on-line. Before you decide to do business with these companies, research them and make sure they have good ratings and are accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

Debt Consolidation

If you use a credit counseling agency you will consolidate your debts in no time. You will be provided with a personal counselor who will look-over and review your financial records. Your counselor will then contact your credit companies and negotiate for lower payments and interest rates. Once this is successfully completed by your counselor and all your credit agencies have agreed to your payment plan your debts will be consolidated into one easy payment that you will issue directly to your Consumer Credit Counseling Agency who will then use the money responsibly in your debt management plan.

The Upside of a Debt Management Plan

One of the best upsides of having a debt management plan is that once your bills have been consolidated your over all monthly bills will be reduced from what you were previously paying out. Once your payments have been sent into a payment plan, you will no longer have to search through numerous papers and bills and risk missing a payment resulting in another late fee. With debt consolidation, you will have one quick and easy payment per month, until your payment plan is completed.

The Downside of a Debt Management Plan

Although there is a big upside of the reduction of monthly bills and the headache of sorting them out, there is still one downside to having a debt management plan and that is the fact that the average plan runs for approximately 5 years. In order for your plan to work out successfully you will have to manage your money more efficiently and stick to a long term budget. Once you have acquired a debt management plan, it is very important that you keep up with your monthly payments. It is likely for them to drop your plan if you miss payments and then it is very difficult to get the payment plans back. This will then put you in a much worse state than you were previously in. So, when dealing with a debt management plan make sure you have the proper amount of money each month to completely pay it. You don’t want to make your financial burdens worse.

Another Alternative

Rather than using a debt management plan many Americans are choosing to use a debt settlement. There are many reasons this is a more popular form of clearing debt and it is much more realistic and ethic than filing for bankruptcy. It costs less than Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies and other forms of debt consolidation loans. Thousands of families have already been helped by using debt settlement plans and maybe you could too.

It is no secret that the U.S. economy is in a type of financial crisis, although we are still a first world Country, we are losing jobs and falling further into debt more and more each day.

The Right Financial Tips during Divorce

January 10, 2014 by arizona

Divorce is certainly one of the hardest – and most expensive – moments of the life of any couple. Unfortunately every single year we have thousands of divorces going on all around the world and although this is a time for deep sadness it is also a time for a lot of attention, especially money wise. In fact money is one of the main causes for divorces these days, after all each spouse works a lot and does not want to be left alone and without anything or even no bank in the account. In fact the lack of money during the marriage is certainly one of the biggest causes for divorce in the first place.

One of the biggest financial tips during divorce or even before it actually happens is to have a professional of the field give professional advice. There is nothing better than to have someone who truly understands the matter show the couple the best options for both parts. That way the both parties will not have to sort it all out when they are too angry to even talk to each other! The sooner a couple knows their rights the best, especially while in the middle of a traumatic event such as a divorce.

What to do if divorce is unavoidable?

When it comes to financial matters it is always important to analyze, think through carefully and then finally make a decision. Although these might seem like very easy to understand and follow rules most couples do not do! Yes, in fact most couples simply do not discuss financial matters while they are married or even while dating. This is very important because if it was done the divorce could certainly be avoided. The more a couple talks, the best, especially when the subject is as delicate as finances.

Now if you are not married anymore and is facing some tough times getting through the divorce, here are some very useful tips to guarantee your part will be preserved.

Have an attorney from day one – Although you and your spouse might seem pretty agreeable, when it comes to money people sometimes lose control. It is always important to have a good and responsible attorney by your side that way you will have professional advice during the whole process. Filling in for divorce as well as dividing the assets is made much easier with the help of such professional.
Division of assets – Other important financial tips during divorce includes deciding who will stay with which asset. It is always important to evaluate the value of each and every item and then divide. In case your spouse does not agree with what you would like to keep a good idea is to sell everything and then share the revenue.
Children – There are several different aspects during a divorce that involve children. First of all the judge will decide who will stay with the child, if someone will have to pay child support and also who will have the right to claim for the child in the tax return papers. Every single detail should be carefully discussed (preferably by the side of your trusted attorney). Apart from these legal matters it is also very important to talk to your children and try to make the whole process as smooth as possible, after all the whole thing can be even more traumatic for the child.

Where and how to begin the whole divorce process?

There are some tips for you to pay attention to if divorcing ever crosses your mind. Of course you might change your mind and get things settled before you also become part of the divorce statistics. Here are some very good financial tips during divorce that will be of great help:

If you feel a divorce is coming open a separate bank account. This is a great way to start saving your very own money in case the worst happens. In case you are already getting divorced this is also a very good way to separate what was under both your name and your spouse’s in the past.
Change the name in your documents as well as change the name of who will get part of your insurances. The faster you do it the less chances your spouse will have to get any more money from you.
Make sure your child support is getting in your account every month. Although this might seem impossible there are some parents that simply forgive each other for not paying child support. This should not happen as your child needs his rights and it is your responsibility to guarantee him that.
If you do not know what to do contact professional help. This is the best way to always do the right thing when dealing with finances.

Getting a Business Debt Consolidation

October 24, 2013 by arizona

Most businesses become in debt, and many times it become far beyond your control on how bad it becomes. However when your debt is out of hand you might want to think about business debt consolidation. This is a great way to increase your liquidity or to reduce costs because you will no longer have multiple creditors every month.

It is important to make sure that when you begin a business debt consolidation you are able to meet the daily operating costs. It is important to make sure that your profit is able to cover your operating costs or you will find reluctant lenders. To be successful in reducing your business debt, you need to plan your business debts consolidation. There are certain guidelines that businesses need to follow when planning on consolidating debts due.

Gathering Information

It is important that before you begin the process of a business debt consolidation that you bring all your information into one location. You will want to find all your debts, credit, loans, and billing statements. Anything that you think would be relevant to the consolidation. Breakdown your bills and label them based on their priority. Later you will be able to divide them based on their required repayment or the interest rates. You would decide if they wish to consolidate all their debts or just some of them.

Compare

When looking into business debt consolidation, compare loans is going to be the first step to success. You will not want to get the loan from the first place. You will want to compare the different interest rates, terms of the loans, as well as fees that will be accrued. To receive the loans some lenders will require information on your total debts, deposit accounts, ability to make monthly installments, as well as the properties owned.

Types of Loan Options

There are many different ways to go about getting a loan to assist in a business debt consolidation. There are several different types of loans and or places to get them.
Apply for a loan through a lender that is part of the Small Business Association (SBA). This type of a loan is best when you are able to obtain lower interest that you are currently paying. The loan is also only beneficial if the terms are not longer than the current loan amount.
You can also receive a debt consolidation loan through a private lender. They are also able to provide sound advice on different business debt consolidation programs. The information that is required for this type of a loan is similar to a loan received through the SBA.
There is also the option of a nonprofit credit counseling service. These have less fees than the other types of loan. They are commonly offered with business debt consolidation services as well.

Consolidation Services

Business debt consolidation companies offer the ability to have an experienced debt counselor to help you decide the best course of action for your business. This option has its own set of steps that will be followed to achieve your goal.

You will discuss your situation and be assessed by a debt counselor.
Create a plan to restructure both your debts as well as your current finances.
Create a budget that can determine what you are able to afford without further damaging the company.
Determine which creditors need to be paid back first, as well as an ordered list of debts to pay.
The counseling service can also negotiate as your representative with your creditors.

It is nice to know that when one becomes involved with a business debt consolidation services you have someone on your side that specializes in helping you get your business out of debt. They are able to help you take all of your debts and combine them into one single monthly payment. A single payment means that all of those fees that are expected to be paid debt are cut down to only one interest rate. This can relieve the stress of bankruptcy on the business.

Avoid Debt

There is so many times that this is not possible when you are working within the bounds of your business. However, it is very important that after you become part of a business debt consolidation program that you watch your expenses to reduce the chances of becoming more in debt.

When you realize that the debt is out of control for your business does not be afraid to look into the options for a business debt consolidation program. Gather your information so that everything you might need is easily at your fingertips before beginning any part of looking for a service. Compare your debts as well as the types of loans available to you. Be sure that you find the services that are best for you and your business.

Debt Consolidation Online Services

September 30, 2013 by arizona

Though most debt consolidation online service providers are genuine in their desire to help their clients with their debt problems, they all have to make money to continue in business. The two keys to profitability in the debt consolidation business are:

Successfully assembling a portfolio of loans that will produce enough interest income to offset potential loan default losses;
And keeping operating costs as low as possible.

Companies that specialize in debt consolidation online services have an obvious cost advantage over their “bricks and mortar” competitors – except in cases where the client has been able to maintain a high credit score. In those cases, the client’s bank or credit union may be in a position to provide better debt consolidation loan terms. A high credit score assures that the client’s default risk is very low, and if the client already has a borrowing, checking, or savings history with the bank or credit union, the cost of qualifying the client for an additional loan is minimal.

Borrowers with credit scores lower than the threshold for bank or credit union loans may need to seek debt consolidation assistance from a specialty debt consolidation company.

Risks and Advantages of Using Specialized Debt Consolidation Companies

Since specialized debt consolidation online companies don’t expect to serve clients with strong credit scores, they can start out with three basic assumptions about the clients that will seek their services:

Prospective clients already know that they will have to pay higher interest rates than they would at a bank or credit union;
The clients wouldn’t be there unless they had debt levels that were causing them significant pain;
At least a portion of the clients will need a loan quickly, and a will be experiencing a degree of stress that impairs their ability to carefully evaluate the credit terms offered.

Those three assumptions make the specialized debt consolidation online business attractive to operators willing to cash in on the vulnerabilities of the clients they serve without much (or any) regard for actually helping the clients. Choosing a reputable debt consolidation company is important. Fortunately there are plenty to choose from.

The good debt consolidation firms take the time to fully understand the client’s financial circumstances and put together a debt consolidation package that is the best realistically possible. If a simple debt consolidation loan does not provide a practical solution, some specialized debt management companies offer contracts (sometimes called Debt Management Plans or DMP’s) that allow the company to collect a single affordable monthly payment from the client, and then negotiate with each of the client’s creditors for lower interest rates, extended payment terms, or even partial debt forgiveness. They use the offer of an assured portion of the single payment the client makes to the company as negotiating leverage.

Signing a contract for a Debt management Plan may be the only way short of petitioning for bankruptcy for a family to get out from under their debt burden. There are, however, a number of things to consider before signing a contract:

There are a lot of expenses incurred by the company administering a Debt Management Plan, and those expenses get passed along to the client, along with a profit margin sufficient to cover the costs the firm must absorb when other clients default on their monthly payment commitment.
Debt Management Plans may include debt consolidation loans which increase the total number of monthly payments required to pay down debt without significantly lowering the interest rate on the debt. The result is that the client ends up paying a great deal more interest than they would have without the DMP.
Any Debt Management Plan that includes forgiveness of all or a portion of a debt will have a serious negative effect on the user’s credit score.
Individuals considering paying a debt consolidation online service provider to negotiate lower interest rates or extended payment terms from their creditors can often do as well or better by contacting the credit card issuers themselves.

The Right Way to Use Debt Consolidation Online Service Providers:

If you think that the using debt consolidation online services is the best course for you and your family, here are some guidelines to follow:

Get a current copy of your credit report (and your spouse’s if applicable);
Make a complete list of all your debts;
Make a complete list of your fixed and variable monthly expenses;
Take the credit report(s), list of debts, and the lists of fixed and variable monthly expenses to a qualified non-profit debt counseling service to get an objective opinion as to whether using debt consolidation online services is really the best option for you and your family;
Be a smart shopper. Look at fees published on each firm’s website, and beware of firms that promise to solve all of your credit problems at little or no cost to you. If claims seem too good to be true, they usually are;
Check each firm’s track record with your community’s Better Business Bureau;
When contact the company you select, have a clear idea of what services you want, and what those services are going to cost you.

Tackle Unpaid Bills with Medical Debt Consolidation

August 21, 2013 by arizona

Medical debt consolidation is a great way to help you take care of unpaid medical bills. Medical debt is something that often occurs without any type of warning. The truth of the matter is that we never know when we are going to need to go to the hospital. Even with adequate medical insurance, there are occasions when your insurance will not cover everything. If you have medical debt starting to pile up, medical debt consolidation may be your best option for taking control of the situation.

What is Medical Debt Consolidation?

The first step in conquering medical debt is deciding what you are going to do about it, such as choosing debt consolidation. Medical debt consolidation is the processes of having a debt consolidation company manage your medical debts. This is typically done in one of two ways:

The first way that medical debt is handled is the company will determine a minimum payment that will cover all of your debts. They will then contact each creditor that you owe money to and attempt to negotiate lower interest rates. You will only be responsible for making one monthly payment to the debt consolidation company, who will in turn pay each of your creditors.

Another method of medical debt consolidation is obtaining a loan that will cover all of your medical bills. This instantly gives you a single payment to focus on, allowing you to rest easy knowing that your medical bills are taken care of.

Understand Your Medical Debt Situation

Even though debt consolidation can help you tackle your medical bills, you should still have a good understanding of all of the factors involved. Before you sign a contract with a debt consolidation company, ensure that you have considered all of the following information:

How much you owe
Payment schedule and options
Administrative fees and other charges
Length of contract
Interest rates

Start by figuring how much exactly you owe. Get out all of your bills and add up all of your medical debts. When you contact a debt consolidation company, discuss the payment schedule and options. Make sure that there will be a single monthly payment and find out if there are any charges for making a payment late. Sometimes, if payments are late, the debt consolidation company will increase your interest rates. Ask the company if there are any administrative fees and other charges. It is not uncommon for a debt consolidation company to charge a monthly fee for handling your debts.

If there are several different debt consolidation companies to choose from, compare interest rates before deciding on one. The lower the interest rates, the lower your monthly payment will be. The final step in looking over he conditions of a debt consolidation contract is determining how long it will take to pay off your debts. Knowing the life of your loan may make it easier for you to budget your finances.

Precautions against Acquiring Future Medical Debt

In addition to taking care of your medical debt, it is a good idea to know how to prevent the medical bills from piling up in the event of future hospital visits. Here are four suggestions that should help you avoid future medical debt:

Payment plans – This allows you to pay a portion of your bill each month. As long as you make your monthly payments, you can avoid additional fees.
Paying with cash – Some hospitals will offer discounts when bills are paid with cash. Also, it helps you keep yourself from compiling extra debt onto credit cards.
Discussing costs before procedures – By discussing the price of an operation before it happens, you may be able to find lower cost alternatives. This lets the hospital know that cost is an issue for you, possibly allowing them to find other ways to cut your bills as well.
Scheduling of procedures – At certain hospitals, the cost of an operation may vary depending on the day of the week and the time of day.

Look into all of these factors the next time you go to the hospital to prevent future debt. These same precautions can be taken whether you are going to the hospital for a major operation or simply going for a checkup. As with a regular business, the hospital does not want to stick you with more debt than you can afford to pay.

The Final Word on Medical Debt Consolidation

As you can see, using medical debt consolidation to help eliminate hefty medical bills can save you a lot of trouble later on. Compiling your medical bills into one monthly payment makes paying off your debts a simple process, which lets you get back into good health without having the added worry of paying enormous medical bills. Once you have taken care of your debt, remember to take precautions to avoid future debts.

What You Need to Know about Debt Consolidation in Arizona

August 12, 2013 by arizona

If you are having problems with your finances then the one thing you cannot do is to ignore the problem hoping it will sort itself out. It does not matter if you have been involved in an emergency that has used up all of your savings, lost your job or been irresponsible with credit card purchases. Once you are in difficulty then it is important to sort out of the problem before your credit is damaged, lose your assets or end up in bankruptcy.

Here are some ways that you can sort out your finances and get back to a position that you are no longer struggling to pay your bills.

Document your financial position so that you can identify where your income is being spent, how much debt you have.
Reduce your expenses as much as possible by cutting non essentials that will allow you to put more of your income to paying your debts down as quickly as possible.
Increase your income. This can be difficult but you can approach your employer for extra hours or try to get a part time job on the weekends so that you can pay down your debt to a more comfortable level.
Finance high interest debts like credit card debt with a consolidation loan so that you have a single lower repayment.
Contact one of the organizations and companies that specialize in debt consolidation in Arizona.

Debt Consolidation Loans in Arizona

A loan can be a great way to pay off credit cards that have high interest rates. This is known as a debt consolidation loan and has become very popular because it is relatively easy to obtain a loan at a favorable interest rate if your credit history is reasonable. There are different loans available and these include low or no interest balance transfers, unsecured debt consolidation loans and secured debt consolidation loans.

Here is some information about low and no interest balance transfers.

A great way to reduce your monthly payments is to take advantage of any balance transfer offers. This allows you to transfer your current credit card balance to a credit card at a low or no interest.
Offers lower repayments.
Is usually very quick and can be completed within a week from applying.
Consolidates all of your high interest debt into a single monthly payment.
You can tailor the repayment time for a lower monthly payment over a longer time or a higher repayment over a shorter time.
Many institutions from banks, credit unions and specialist lenders have unsecured loans available at favorable rates.

Advantages of an Unsecured Loans for Debt Consolidation in Arizona

Secured loans for debt consolidation in Arizona usually have the best rates but care must be taken because you will lose your security if you default on the loan.

This type of loan usually has the lowest interest rate available.
Is more likely to be approved even with a poor credit score or credit history.
Can be used if you need to consolidate loans that are too large for unsecured loans.

All of these loans can be a very good way to consolidate your debt and make it easier to repay. The problem with all of them is if you do not change the behavior that caused you to get into problems in the first place then you can end up in the same position with even more debt.

Debt Management Programs in Arizona

One of the more popular ways that people are using when they need debt consolidation in Arizona is to use a debt consolidation company or a credit counseling agency. These organizations specialize in helping people with debt problems. Let’s look at some of the ways that they can help people to stabilize their finances.

They comprehensively look at your finances so that they can understand your income, expense and debt situation.
Produce a budget that is used as part of debt payment plan so that you can afford to repay the debts that you have and still pay your bills and living expenses.
Negotiate with your creditors to adjust payments and interest rates so that you can repay the debts in a timely fashion.
Educate you on how to keep yourself from getting into further debt trouble.
Provide a single payment system where you pay them and they distribute the funds to the creditors making it simper to make your payments.
Provide information on how to budget so you can better handle your finances.

Debt consolidation in Arizona is a way to save your financial situation before you get so deeply in debt that you are forced into bankruptcy. It is a simple process that only takes a few visits and the commitment to stick to a budget and not accumulate more debt.

The Benefits of Debt Consolidation in Arizona

August 6, 2013 by arizona

Modern society presents us all with a virtual minefield of opportunities to take on more debt than we can easily handle. Do any of these “debt enhancers” sound familiar:

An unsolicited credit card with a low interest rate that skyrockets after a year, or if you’re a single day late with a monthly payment!
A layoff or unexpected gap between employment contracts
The uncovered expenses of an automobile accident
The loss of one income in a two income family
The gift a loved one really desires, when “no” is not an option

And this list doesn’t even include the costs of the numerous impulse buying opportunities that highly skilled and well paid marketers are constantly tempting us with. If you are a young person already carrying the burden of Student Loans, or anyone else facing credit card debt problem, take a moment to talk to trusted friends or relatives. It is more than likely that almost everyone you know has taken advantage of the benefits of debt consolidation at some point during their lives. Most will say that debt consolidation was a smart thing for them to do at the time. The ones that care about you will also caution you that using a debt consolidation loan to allow yourself to run up still more debt is a REALLY bad idea!

Here are some factors to consider if you are thinking about a debt consolidation loan:

Debt Consolidation Loans Can Lower the Cost of Getting Out Of Debt

One of the principal benefits of debt consolidation loans, of course, is that the interest rate is almost always lower. More of your money goes to paying down your actual debt, and less goes to profit for the lender.

Homeowners who use a second mortgage as the vehicle for achieving the benefits of debt consolidation may reap the additional benefit that the interest they pay on their debt consolidation loan may be tax deductible.

Debt Consolidation Loans Can Get You Out Of Debt Sooner

The combination of low minimum payments and high interest rates can make progress on paying down some credit card balances nearly impossible. People sometimes find that the monthly interest charge added to their balance, plus the few new purchases they simply had to put on the card, more than wipe out any reduction in the outstanding balance from the small monthly payments they make. Properly constructed debt consolidation loans assure you that each monthly payment will result in at least some progress toward reducing the balance.

If your debt consolidation loan allows it, making occasional payments, even small ones, between your scheduled payments, can significantly shorten the time needed to pay off the loan. Talk to your lender for the surprising details.

Debt Consolidation Loans Reduce Stress

Keeping track of the balance due on a half dozen consumer loans with different payment dates each month can be a real nightmare. With a debt consolidation loan you have just one single payment to worry about, saving you time and anxiety. You always know the exact amount you must pay, and the date that one payment is due. Having the payment automatically deducted further simplifies matters.

Some who have struggled with too much debt, and too many payments, for too many years, insist that the most single most important benefits debt consolidation brought to them was ending the embarrassing and humiliating collection calls that always seemed to come when guests were in the home or dinner was on the table.

Debt Consolidation Loans Make Wise Investments Possible

Life is a precious gift. There isn’t much we can do to change what has happened in the past, but there is much we can do to shape the future. One of the principal benefits of debt consolidation is that it can provide the cash flow to make meaningful investments in the future that would otherwise not be possible. These investments may be in the form of minor home improvements that lower fuel consumption cost while adding to the resale value of the home, or educational opportunities to increase future our earning potential.

Importantly, part of that extra cash flow may also be used for increased contributions to an IRA or the 401(k) plan offered by your employer. Today’s typical American can expect to live to 85 or older. Social Security and Government health benefits are intended to cover only a portion of our post retirement living expenses. Getting money safely invested in a tax sheltered retirement account is vitally important, and the earlier one starts, the better. Yes, that does mean you should start saving for retirement even if you are still paying down old debts.

Remember, however, that you will not enjoy the benefits of debt consolidation if you are unable to manage impulse buying, or if your household budget contains fixed costs such as mortgage payments, real estate taxes, or similar costs associated with the maintenance of a second home. In cases where the benefits of debt consolidation alone are insufficient, the services of a professional budget advisor may provide the best path to regaining control of your current and future financial security.

Reasons Why You Must Care For Your Credit Score

June 24, 2013 by arizona

Some people usually have two opinions about credit score monitoring. One of them is that it is unnecessary. They think that monitoring how well you take care of debt is unimportant if you are paying off what you owe regularly. There are others who think that it is ridiculous to take care of it as well – especially since raising one’s score involves putting yourself in debt.

If you are one of the people who believe the issues mentioned above, here are some of the things that you must consider.

First of all, your credit score will play a huge role in any financial assistance that you plan to apply for in the future. If you wish to buy a home or put up your own business, you need to start taking care of your credit score now. Lenders and most banking institutions look at your credit report to see your payment behavior and if you can still accommodate the debt that you are about to loan. A bad credit score will not keep you from being approved of the loan but it can spell the difference between a 5% and 15% interest. If you have a low credit score, that makes you a high risk borrower. Lenders will have to take steps to protect their loan investment and that is usually in the form of a high interest rate. Think about the savings that you will get if you only took time to take care of your credit score.

Prospect employers will also look at your score before they hire you. It may not be the main reason for hiring you but when it comes to choosing between two applicants with the same qualifications, they will definitely go for the one with the better score.

Landlords also look at the credit report of applying tenants. It can cause you a home in a safe neighborhood if you have a bad score. You can end up in a not so reputable place where your security and that of your family can be an issue. If you want to live in a good and safe neighborhood, you have to take better care of your score.

Also, you can save yourself from the destructive effects of identity theft. Your credit report can help you spot unauthorized loans under your name. You can report it immediately to the account involved. Not doing so could end up forcing you to pay for a debt that someone else benefitted from.

If you are in debt and you are worried about the effects of debt relief on your score, know that there are options that will not harm it. Debt consolidation is a great option that will keep your score from being damaged. It hardly has an effect and in fact, it will help you raise your score. This type of debt relief restructures your payment scheme so that it becomes easier to accomplish. Since there is no debt reduction, it should not be reflected in your credit report. All it will register is the fact that you are now paying your dues more responsibly.

What You Need To Know About Refinancing Your Debts

June 16, 2013 by arizona

Refinancing your debts is the best way that you can consolidate both your secure and unsecured loans. If you are burdened with mortgage, credit card, medical bills, utility dues and other types of debt, this is something that you can consider. You refinance your mortgage – meaning, you put your home on the line so you can adapt a lower interest rate, longer payment term and possibly have extra to pay off your other debts.

While that may seem appealing, you need to understand what refinancing is all about before you choose it as your debt solution. Like other debt relief programs, this can work perfectly for some while it can lead to disaster for other financial situations.

First of all, you have to understand why you are refinancing your mortgage. If you want a solution that will actively take on your debt payments, then this is not your solution. This only restructures your debt and does not really pay it off.

Most of the time, your goal in refinancing should be to consolidate your debts to allow you to make better progress in your payments. The single payment scheme will allow you to put in less effort in monitoring your debt and more into growing your income.

Another goal of refinancing is to get a lower interest rate. This happens because it extends your payment term to 15 or 30 years. If you do not like a term that long, then refinancing is not for you as well. Debt consolidation loans may prove to be the better option as it usually takes only 5 years. But even if the term is very long in refinancing, you can really benefit from the low interest.

This type of debt solution will allow you to make lower monthly payments and the low interest may be appealing for those who want to solve high interest credit card debt. But remember, you could end up paying more in interest. You are only relieving yourself of high monthly payments but if you total it, you actually increased your overall debt payment.

The key to making this successful is to do it only once. Believe it or not, people sometimes refinance several times. This happens because they do not have the discipline to correct past mistakes. The single payment can be deceiving in the sense that it gives consumers the false sense of security and thus prompts them to reuse the credit cards that were paid off by the refinancing. This puts them in a tight spot once more and prompts them to do another refinancing. It becomes a cycle that you need to be careful of. Do it once and make sure you learn your lesson so you never incur more debt.

Refinancing a mortgage will entail costs and you have to think about that. You need to pay off closing costs for you to complete your refinancing. Before the lender approves of the loan, they need to have the home appraised and that involves costs that you will shoulder.

Bottom line is this – make sure you are going through refinancing with the right intentions and with a clear and solid plan to pay it off. Check out your old loan and see if there are prepayment penalties. Do all the appropriate calculations to make sure that it will do you well financially to go for this type of debt relief option. See if it will help you achieve your financial goals – not just making your life easier in terms of debt payments.