Monday, July 1, 2019

7 Reasons Why Payday Loans Are Ideal for Working Quinquagenarians with Poor Credit



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Finances can become a touchy subject for a quinquagenarian (a person between the ages of 50-59). By the time you've reached this age, in most cases, you're either comfortably wealthy to the point of already being an investor or entrepreneur, or you're like most others who are still in the position of needing to work to pay their bills. 

If you're in the latter group like the vast majority of the population, it can be easy to find yourself encountering financial jams as you get older due to compiling debts and obligations combined with increased forgetfulness. This is why you might want to get a payday loan.

Payday loans are sometimes criticized for their short-term repayment requirements and above average interest rates, but for many people, they can provide a means to fixing their finances in a hurry. 

They're particularly ideal for older citizens who don't want to create additional long-term debt commitments and only need a quick band-aid to turn around a minor financial predicament. Likewise, they can often be the only option for people with poor credit.

With that said, here are seven reasons why payday loans can be ideal for an employed quinquagenarian:


1. You Only Need Proof of Income to get a Payday Loan


Regardless of your age, if you have poor credit, you're going to find it difficult to obtain approval for any kind of financing other than a payday loan. Payday loan providers are able to offer loans without conducting any credit checks because they verify proof of employment before granting approval. 




Furthermore, when you get a payday loan, you'll be initiating a direct deposit agreement with your bank to automatically transfer the loan amount to the lender on a specified date – typically the date of your next paycheck. In this way, lenders are able to issue payday loans while only requiring proof of identity and proof of employment.

2. You Can Be Approved Quickly


Submitting an application for a conventional loan of any kind can leave you waiting for days to receive an approval or denial notice. Payday lenders can approve you on the spot and the money will be transferred to your bank account within 1-2 business days. If you visit a physical office location, you can walk out of the building the same day with your loan in hand.


3. Failure to Repay Generally Does Not Affect Your Credit


One of the biggest concerns when taking out a loan is that it might negatively affect your credit if you're unable to make payments on time. That's certainly a valid concern, especially if you already have a low credit score. 

While you should always make your best effort to make repayments as planned, failure to repay a payday loan usually won't affect your credit report or score in any way. There are cases in which a lender could sell your debt to a collection agency, which could then file a claim with one of the major credit reporting agencies, but in the vast majority of cases, this does not happen. 

However, keep in mind that failure to repay your payday loan will render you ineligible for future payday loans from the same lender or network, which is a significant consequence for someone who can't obtain approval for any other kind of loan.

4. The Terms and Fees Motivate You to Repay it Quickly


One of the dangers in creating any sort of debt is that you could wind up being burdened by repayments and taxed by interest and fees for years to come. While long-term loans will usually give you better interest rates, they'll also have you making repayments for many months. 

On the other hand, payday loans generally charge higher interest and fees for late payments, so you'll have all the incentive you need to get your debt squared away instead of putting it off with minimum repayments.

5. You Don't Even Have to Leave the House to Get the Money


Applying for a payday loan is a process that can be handled fully online. You may need to take a picture of your ID to submit along with your application. All of the information required by loan providers can be submitted on their website or via email. 

Once approved, the money can be transferred directly to your bank within a matter of 1-3 business days.

6. The Loan Amounts Are Doable


Borrowing ability can be just as much of a risk as it is an advantage when over-utilized. Since payday loans are given in modest amounts that range from $100 to $3,000, they keep you from over-extending yourself with a $5,000 to $10,000 personal loan. 

Plus, the recommended repayment and loan amounts are calculated based on your income, so you should have no problem paying them back with a bit of discipline. Furthermore, since the amounts are usually small, you give yourself a fighting chance of getting out of the hole even if you were to fall behind on payments.

7. They're Enough to Cover Most Household Bills


If you're struggling to pay your bills on time and are looking for fast relief, payday loans are an ideal option because they're usually enough to cover essential living expenses like rent, utilities, internet, phone, gas, and food. 

If you have a part-time job that doesn't pay much, you might have a hard time getting approved for a higher amount that will make the loan worthwhile. As such, these loans are usually better for people who are employed full-time.

Try to Avoid an Income-Reducing Debt Cycle


Although all of the above points are definitely valid reasons why quinquagenarians can benefit from payday loans, there's also a downside in that your next upcoming paycheck will be less than usual due to the interest and fees. 

Since most payday lenders will offer to immediately renew the loan, that's often the best option for making sure you still have spending money left on payday. However, it may be better to practice restraint and refrain from renewing the loan repeatedly, as you could get into a cycle that has you losing a significant percentage of your income to interest.




Saturday, June 29, 2019

How to Make College More Affordable and Practical for Your Lifestyle



College seems like a necessity if you want to get a good job. For some, though, the process of going to college just seems impractical. If you're looking for a better way to get through school, you may want to consider one of the methods below.

Do School Part-Time with Work


One of the most realistic ways to make college affordable is to cut down on your number of credit hours so that you can hold a job at the same time. Though it's hard to find a part-time job that you can use to support yourself during a full course load, it's easier to find one that works with a reduced schedule. 


Though it will take longer to graduate, choosing one of these programs does usually help many to make college a bit more affordable.

Attend online


Attending college online might be the best bet for those who cannot travel to school, for those who need to take classes outside of normal class hours, or who have commitments that would make it harder to go to a typical campus. 




There are many different online schools, including online colleges for military veterans. With a little research, you can find a program that's perfect for you.

Get Scholarships through High-Demand Majors


If you're looking for a way to bring the cost of college down, you might want to look at the majors that are in the highest demand. Many businesses offer scholarships for students who choose certain majors, with some even offering to pay all or a portion of a student's tuition if they work for the company. 


Engineers, doctors, teachers, and others can get scholarships simply because those jobs are in such high demand and companies (and schools) want to lock down potential employees as soon as possible.

Look for Accelerated Graduation Programs


For some, the problem with going to college isn't the money but rather the time spent at school. Four years can be a very long time, especially if you are a non-traditional student. If you're looking for a way to get through college more quickly, you may want to look for accelerated programs. 


These programs allow students to get through an advanced degree in a shorter period of time, shaving as much as a year and a half off of the total time spent in school by providing a higher load of classes.

There are solutions out there for anyone who would like to go to college. Whether you need financial help or just a way to attend classes, there are solutions that will work for you. If you're able to use one of the methods above, you may be able to make your dreams of higher education come true.


Friday, June 28, 2019

Financial Security: 4 Ways to Save More Money for Retirement



Financial security for retirement is the name of the game when it comes to saving. Here are some things that you can do to ensure that you have more money for retirement.

Keep Using Items


In our modern society, people have a habit of using items and throwing them out before those items have been completely used up. If you save items and use them for the entire duration of their lives, you will save a lot of money. 


For example, you don’t have to get a new car every two years just for the sake of having a new car; keep the car that you have until it becomes unusable, unsafe and/or not cost effective. The same thing goes for clothing. 

You don’t have to buy a new wardrobe every season. All you have to do is take good care of your clothing and keep wearing it. If you keep using and reusing items for a long time, you will realize that things like cars and wardrobes will last many years and decades before needing replacement. 

You may also want to consider selling items you aren’t using anymore for some extra cash to tuck away in your retirement fund. A lot of people have gold items or collectibles they don’t find value in anymore. You can discover more on how to sell items like this at local pawn shops.

Set a Budget and Live within Your Means


Too many people do not live within reasonable budgets. Living beyond one’s means results in having less money and, in some cases, being in debt. Take a good, hard look at how much money you have, and set a budget. Do not take out loans or use credit to pay for things that you don’t need. 




For example, you do not absolutely need to deck yourself out in expensive, trendy clothing all of the time. We live in an age where there are a lot of expensive, trendy gadgets that people don’t really need. Don’t buy these gadgets if you don’t need them.

Do Your Own Chores


Do not pay others to do chores that you can do for yourself. If you do your own chores, you will save yourself a lot of money. Only pay someone to do chores for you if you are not physically capable of doing them and there are no other people in your life who will help you.


Diversify


It is a harsh reality that no form of savings is completely secure. Each form of savings can become destroyed in some way or another. For example, a given amount of money in the bank may be worth a lot less in the next ten years as a result of inflation. Cash can whither, deteriorate or get stolen. 


Gold can also get stolen. Stocks can go down. This is why a person should diversify his or her life savings by putting it into a variety of different forms. You can discover more on how to diversify your savings by doing an internet search.

If you want to save up as much money for retirement as possible, you should live within your means, keep using items without replacing them too soon, do your own chores, set a budget to live within your means and diversify your savings.



Thursday, June 27, 2019

Managing Medical Expenses: A Guide for Seniors



Reaching your golden years with a healthy retirement nest egg is no easy feat. Spending that money wisely once your retirement begins isn’t either. Americans fall behind the rest of the world when it comes to saving for retirement and spending those funds wisely, experts say. Also, both tasks can be made exponentially harder by medical bills.

If you’ve reached your golden years only to face a serious illness and all of the steep medical costs associated with it, you may be incredibly frustrated. This is supposed to be a time for you to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labors, not a time for worrying about money and your family’s future. 


Life doesn’t play by our rules, but there are still things that you can do to keep afloat financially and maximize your finances during your golden years.

Make sure you’re getting the most out of Medicare


Do you have Medicare? If you’re 65 or older and no longer on a private insurance plan, then you probably already signed up for some type of Medicare plan. Medicare can be tricky, though, and especially if you’re trying to make sure that you’re saving every cent possible.

It’s a good idea to turn to online resources to help you compare and sign up for plans during the Medicare OEP (open enrollment period). Consider turning to advisors to help you weigh your options, and remember to consider “gap plans” to cover things that Medicare does not (such as healthcare while you’re outside of the United States). 




Proper planning on the health insurance front can make a world of difference for you, your health, and your finances.

Look for ways to turn assets into cash


You’ve worked hard all of your life to save up for retirement, but your retirement fund isn’t the only place where your wealth resides. Many seniors also have extremely valuable assets, including everything from real estate and insurance policies to collectibles and antiques.

When you’re feeling as if you’ve been backed into a financial corner, take another look at these kinds of assets. You may be able to sell some off for that cash that you need in order to cover those medical bills.

You can even sell life insurance policies, experts say. These sorts of arrangements are called “viatical settlements,” and they are powerful ways to get cash quickly. The idea is this: If you’ve been paying into a life insurance policy, your beneficiaries are destined to receive a settlement when you pass away. 


However, that money may be worth more to you, your family, and your eventual estate if you can access it now and use it to pay down bills and debts that might otherwise snowball. That’s why, sometimes, it makes sense to sell off your future settlement for cash now.

In some cases, you can even turn assets into cash without selling them outright and immediately. Take a reverse mortgage, for instance: That’s an arrangement under which you sell your home bit by bit, accepting monthly payments from your lender (the opposite of sending money to your lender to pay down your old traditional mortgage). 


You’ll get to enjoy your home for the rest of your life, and then your heirs can choose how to pay off the loan (they could sell the house or, if they choose, pay in cash and keep the property).

Get help when you need it


Not everyone has access to every method for saving money on healthcare, and this sort of thing can quickly become confusing no matter what your age or familiarity with the system. That’s why it pays to turn to a professional when you need one. 


You could get financial advice from a financial advisor or, if necessary, chat with an attorney who specializes in bankruptcy. While hardly an appealing option, bankruptcy could help you make the best of a bad situation and end the stressful cycle of debt.



Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Have an Expensive Car? 4 Ways to Save on Costly Repairs



It is easy to spend a lot on a new car right off the dealer’s lot. With such a huge financial commitment, it can be a bit of a disappointment to learn that a new, expensive car needs repairs. 

Yet, this happens more often than people think. Like all mechanical devices, cars have a tendency to break down and need fixing from time-to-time. The following are four tips on how to save money when the need to do car repairs arises.

Be the Mechanic


A lot of car owners waste tons of money on minor repairs they could easily learn to do themselves. Today, it is almost trivial to find instructional videos online which cover virtually every aspect of car maintenance and repair. In fact, some people even learn to do some advanced work on their expensive cars too. 


This may not be an ideal way to save money on car repairs for everyone, but it is a strategy that everyone should honestly consider. This is especially true for women who are finding they are a lot better with a wrench than they thought they might be.

Buy Your Own Replacement Parts


Another way to save money when repairing an expensive car is to get in the habit of buying the replacement parts needed for the job beforehand. There are a lot of places where a person can get their hands on used Ford Mustang parts, for example. 




When buying used parts, it is important to learn about the discount that comes from handing over the damaged part, often referred to as core.

Keeping Spare Tires in Your Garage


It is a good habit to get in the practice of buying tires for an expensive car when a tire shop is running a special sale. Often it is possible to save loads of money with a buy one get one free tire deal. 


After acquiring the tires, then simply store them away in the garage for when they are needed. This way it will be easy to ensure a spare tire is available when a replacement is necessary.

Get Quotes from Local Mechanics


For a lot of people, DIY mechanic work is not going to be a solution. That is okay, because it can still be economical to take an expensive car to a mechanic if a person takes the time to call and get quotes from the mechanics who operate in their local area. 


It is also going to be important to read reviews and gain a sense of what quality of work can be expected form a particular mechanic or company, especially in terms of customer service and billing.

When you save up to get an expensive car, the last thing you want is to pay out more for repairs and maintenance. Take the time to consider these options next time your vehicle needs a checkup. Doing so will help you keep your nice car affordable and well-maintained.


Monday, June 24, 2019

5 Easy Precautions You Can Take Against Identity Theft



Did you know that on average, victims of identity theft spend at least 600 hours trying to clear their name? In addition to repairing the financial damage that’s been done, victims also have to prove that they are who they say they are. How unnerving is that?

As horrible as it sounds, there is a bright side to identity theft. Although you can’t be 100 percent sure it will never happen to you, there are things you can to protect yourself.


Monitor Online Accounts


If your bank offers online banking, sign up for it. Frequently log in to make sure you have no unauthorized transactions. Also, make sure to keep your login information safe. Never write it down or save it in your phone. also, never enable automatic logins.


Order Annual Credit Reports


You’re eligible for a free credit report from all three major bureaus. However, there are also apps that allow you to check your credit as often as you like. Credit Karma gives you instant access to your credit report for free. 




Sign up and check your report once a month for anything that looks out of the ordinary. You’d be surprised how many unauthorized accounts slip through the cracks.

Memorize Your Social Security Number


If someone gets a hold of your social security number, your credit can be destroyed in an instant. Play it safe and memorize your social security number. Make sure you contact a criminal defense group if your identity is indeed stolen. 


 Furthermore, make sure to be mindful of your surroundings when giving your social security number to customer service representatives.

Opt Out of Pre-Approved Credit Card Offers


You know those pre-approved credit card offers you get in the mail from time to time? Do not accept them. Tear them into pieces and throw them away. Thieves are notorious for using these kinds of offers to obtain other people’s credit card information. You can also opt out them to ensure you never get the offers again.

No matter how vigilant you are, there’s always the risk of identity theft. Even a disgruntled waiter can snap a photo of your credit card and go on a shopping spree. Play it safe and stay on top of your finances and purchases. 


If something doesn’t look right or you don’t remember giving that aforementioned waiter a tip, act upon it. The sooner you identify an issue, the sooner you can rectify it.



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