We have helpful finance management advice on debt, loans and credit cards

Americans all have something in common. Liberty? The right to the pursuit of happiness? No, it’s debt. No one starts out as a young person looking forward to having a lot of debt when they get older. But before we are even out of college, we have probably accumulated some debt in the form of college loans and credit card debt to pay for books and clothing. The next thing you know, you are married, with a couple of kids, and a house and a car. And you are still paying for that old debt, and have added a few more on, such as a mortgage and a car loan and some more credit card debt to buy things for you and your family.

Maybe you have decided to make this the year you are going to get rid of your credit card debt. How do you go about doing this/ Well, you might consider destroying all the credit records, or killing off the people who lent you money, but then you would just be sent to jail and when you got out, your credit record would be even worse.

Figuring our the fastest and easiest way to get rid of credit card debt may seem like a difficult task, but it can be very simple and easy. The first thing you have to do is is get out all of your credit card statements and look at the interest rate on each one. Make a list of all of the cards, how much is outstanding on each one and what the interest rate is. This may be a depressing exercise, but it is necessary. Next, go online. Go into Google and search for debt consolidation loans. You want to take all of your credit card balances and consolidate them into one balance and one monthly payment on that balance. You are going to shop around on the net for the lowest interest rate. You may consider a loan, or perhaps a new credit card that you will transfer all of your other credit card balances to. The most important thing is the annual percentage rate. You are paying high interest rates on your credit cards balances so that when you reduce the interest rate, you will reduce how much you have to pay in total. Yes, you have to pay off the principal that you used to buy things for you and your family, but do you want to throw away money on interest that doesn’t get you anything else. Get your interest rate down, and you can start to eliminate the debt.

It may take a while, but you can eliminate this credit card debt. Using your computer as a search tool, you will be able to find the best interest rate offer for you and then consolidate all of the loans into one.

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Protect your good credit –Your divorce does not releive you from any joint credit card debt you may have had while you wer married. You are responsible for joint accounts from any credit card s you may have along with car loans and home mortgages. Even if a divorce judge orders your ex spouse to pay a certain credit card bill, you are still legally responsible for making sure that this bill is being paid. If not your credit can be ruined.

The bank, credit card issuer, mortgage company or other credit lending buinesses that you have credit with also has the legal right to report any negative information to a credit bureau if your ex pays late on a joint account that you may have. If your ex decide that he or she does not want to pay the bill at all you will probally have to pay or action can be taken to get the debt paid off.

Until you can seperate your accounts you can not afford to miss a payment on your bills to avoid reporting to the credit bureaus. Send in at least the minimum payments due on all joint bills until they can be seperated. One missed payment can have a negative effect on your credit report at times up to 7 years. Do not try to run up the debts, play by the rules and make all payments with at least the minimum due.

If you’ve recently been through a divorce – or are contemplating one – you may want to look closely at issues involving credit. Understanding the different kinds of credit accounts opened during a marriage may help illuminate the potential benefits and pitfalls of each.

If you’re considering divorce or separation, pay special attention to the status of all the credit accounts that you may have. If you maintain joint accounts during this time, it’s important to make regular payments so your credit will not suffer from the divorce. As long as there’s an outstanding balance on a joint account, you and your spouse are still responsible for this payment.

If you divorce, you may want to close joint accounts or accounts in which your former spouse was an authorized user. Or ask the creditor to convert these accounts to individual accounts.

The easiest way to find out what kind of debts you and your spouse owe is to get a credit report. Credit reports are a little like the weather. Everybody talks about them, but only three companies really do anything to produce them:

Equifax. Equifax Credit Information Services, Wildwood Plaza, Suite 500, Marietta, GA 30067. 800-685-1111.
Experian (formerly TRW). Consumer Assistance Center, P.O. Box 749029, Dallas, TX 75374. 800-392-1122.
Trans Union. 760 Sproul Road, Springfield, PA 19064. 800 916-8800.

If you’ve ever looked for a way to decrease your bills and expenses, you’re not alone. In today’s culture, it is not uncommon to own a home, have school loans and maybe even carry a few credit card balances from month to month. These expenditures are not unusual, but often produce feelings of financial worry and anxiety. This is the point where many people begin looking for ways to save money when it comes to their monthly expenses.

There are a variety of ways to cut a typical budget, although some are more subtle than others. While your cable TV package may be able to be eliminated or reduced, other expenses such as insurance coverage and even your grocery budget may not be as flexible. However, if you are a homeowner there are two money saving options that you may not have even thought of.

Refinance & save

Have you ever thought of refinancing your mortgage loan? Those who have built enough equity into their home may greatly benefit from mortgage refinancing, however this may not be a viable option for some newer homeowners because they will have little equity in their home at this point. If interest rates are lower now than when you first signed your mortgage papers, it may be something to consider. This process can really make a difference in your monthly payments. The money you save each month can be used in the following ways:

• Pay back your mortgage loan faster
• Get ahead by making additional mortgage payments
• Consolidate debt
• Pay off school loans
• Finance your child’s education
• Fund home improvement products

One rule of thumb with refinancing is to check and see if you can lower your interest rate by at least one percentage point. This is a safe number to keep in mind when considering additional fees like closing costs. You want to make sure that the money you are saving in interest will more than make up for the fees associated with securing a new loan. And this percentage point rule should be a good gauge to help you do just that.

Whatever you choose to do with your home’s available equity, refinancing should save you money in the long run. If you choose to refinance to a shorter term, you will save a substantial amount of interest over the life of the loan.

There are many ways to cut down on monthly expenses. Some homeowners start with the smaller things like eating out less or cutting out extra shopping trips to the mall. However, others like to begin with the types of money saving options that can save more money over the long run. Refinancing can be one of those ways. Learn more about how you can take advantage of current mortgage refinance rates available today to see if refinancing is the right money saving solution for your situation.

But wait, there is another way to save:

Now that you’re thinking about ways you, as a homeowner, can save money why not shop around for a lower home insurance quote? Whether you’re looking for a higher deductable and lower monthly payments or simply a cheaper quote for the coverage you already have, there are companies out there that offer homeowners insurance discounts for any of the following reasons:

• Multiple policy discount – Do you have multiple policies with the same provider?
• Protective device discount – Do you have smoke detectors, fire or burglary alarms?
• Claims-free discount – Have you filed a home insurance claim recently?
• Age of construction discount – Do you own a newer home?
• Age of insured discount – Are you 60 or older?
• Personal status discount – Are you married or widowed?

So, why not just try it and request a home insurance quote while you’re looking into other money saving options like mortgage refinancing today?

A credit card consolidation program is an attempt to help you improve your credit history. The repayments you make on your earlier debts determine your credit worthiness. It is also an indicator of the willingness and affordability of an individual to the lenders who decide the credit limit they’ll make available.

Poor credit history has many repercussions for borrowers. However, a poor credit rating can be reversed with a few timely repayments. The best way to be in the good books of lenders is to regularly pay bills on time and not accumulate more debt. If your credit scores are not so perfect and you already have a bad rating from the credit bureaux then it will take effort, time and patience to turn them around into good credit scores.

BEWARE. A credit card consolidation company can also ruin your credit, and make your situation ten times worse.

- They may not make your payments to your creditors on time;
- They may charge high fees;
- The fact you’re using one will show up on your credit record, and
- Using one may leave you feeling you can now run up MORE debt, with impunity.

There are many private counselling services available that can help you to know exactly where you stand and how much effort you need to put in to be on the credit performance track. You can join such a program to make informed choice about your debt solutions.

These credit repair services also negotiate with the lending agencies for a more convenient repayment schedule to help you with better management of your finances. A credit card consolidation service also empowers you to negotiate for the type of report the agencies will send to the credit bureaus.

Credit bureaus are key players in deciding your credit scores and preparing a report based on the scores. Creditors access their reports when you apply for any kind of loan. Obtain a copy of your credit report from the bureau and check for errors and mistakes. A monthly free copy of said report also helps you to be on the performance track.

Various credit card companies offer consolidation programs to individuals who have just started their financial career, like students. Such individuals fall into the debt trap easily without proper guidance or experience of money management. If you are not sure about opting for credit card debt consolidation, then just log on to the net and fill up the prequalification forms available at multiple websites. This hardly takes a few minutes. In exchange, you will receive quotes from various companies and can compare them for the most affordable options available.

Want advice? Go to the Consumer Credit Counselling Service http://www.cccs.co.uk; they are truly independent. The rest are touts for private debt management agencies.

Non Comforming Loan Comparison: Adjustable Rate Mortgage Versus Fixed Rate Mortgage

Are all mortgage loans the same? Or can making a choice between one particular type of mortgage get you in trouble if you arent careful. In the case of an adjustable rate mortgage versus a fixed rate mortgage it is true that all mortgages are not alike.

Of course in many cases the type of loan you can secure has to do with how good or bad your credit has been over the years. Your FICO score will often determine the loan you will be offered. Basically, FICO is an acronym for Fair Isaac Corporation and refers to your best-known credit score calculated by using a specific mathematical formula.

GMAC takes the FICO score into account and also explains the difference between a fixed rate mortgage and adjustable rate mortgage, depending on which loan you might be eligible for, Most mortgage loans have either a fixed interest rate or an adjustable interest rate. With a fixed-rate mortgage, the interest rate never changes and your payments remain stable throughout the life of your loan. With an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), the interest rate changes at regular intervals usually once every year based on a formula that uses a market index. For most ARM options, rate adjustments begin after an initial period usually between three months and ten years during which the rate is fixed.

That said you might be wondering why in the world a person would opt for a loan with rates that fluctuate like the wind. There are some good reasons such as that in some cases a lender will charge a lower interest rate for an ARM at the beginning of the loan than as compared to a fixed-rate loan. This will not only increase your buying power, but in many cases it can prove quite frugal if interest rates remain steady or decrease.

At bankrate.com it states, With a fixed rate mortgage (FRM), your monthly payments will be steady. In contrast, with an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM)you typically have an initial fixed rate lower than the rate of a comparable fixed rate mortgage. The initial fixed rate period is followed by adjustment intervals. For example, a “3/1 ARM” is fixed at an initial low rate for the first 3 years, and then adjusts every year based on an index. Common ARMs are: 1/1, 3/1, 5/1, 7/1, and 10/1.

For the most part a quick rule of thumb is to remember that a fixed rate is a great idea if you plan on being in your home for a long time and the interest rates are low when you buy. As for an adjustable rate mortgage this is a good idea if you dont plan to stay in your house very long and the rates are higher than usual when youre initially buying.

Since it has become very difficult to purchase anything without a credit card, one consideration to helping raise a credit score, and ultimately a credit rating when you are having trouble getting a credit card is to get a pre-paid card. Many lenders offer a pre-paid Visa or Master Card, which for all purposes look and work just like credit cards. The main difference is, instead of purchasing things strictly on credit, you make a deposit into a bank account that secures the amount of the card limit. Often there is a deposit fee required for opening a pre-paid credit account, and your limit is based upon the size of the deposit that has been pre-paid. The advantages of prepaid cards include that they really can help with credit repair; and, if in fact your credit is really in bad shape, they may be your only option for repairing it.

The best solution to credit problems is to exercise some debt management skills and pay your bills as on-time as possible while avoiding spending money on items you do not really have a need for. Making wise decisions about spending and considering the implications of the decisions from all perspectives will help you make better overall spending decisions. Sure, bad credit is a tough hurdle to get over once you have developed bad spending habits, but it, like bad spending habits, can eventually be overcome. If you need help formulating a working plan that you can stick with on a long term basis, consider credit counseling as an option.

Credit Reports

Taking charge of your credit reports can really help you reclaim your life. There is no reason to let bad credit ruin your plans, but in order to repair your credit it is very important to know what your credit report status really is. After all, if you know what you owe, you can take the necessary steps to repay it. Also, it is very important to keep in mind that although the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Trans Union, and Expedient) may seem all knowing and all powerful, the information they have on you may contain mistakes. It has been known to happen to others.

Obtain a copy of your report from each of the bureaus, but dont do what everyone says and just apply for a loan in order to get a free report. Every time you apply for a loan there is a mark made against your credit rating and points accumulate. Instead, just pay the fees attached, it will save you money in the long run, probably a lot more than the fees to get the reports.

As you formulate your credit repair plan be sure to consider long and short term steps that you can take. For example, prepaid credit cards will help in the short-term as they allow you access to purchases that can only be made with a credit card. However, they offer little in the line of long term credit restoration. While they are used like a credit card, the contribution that they have toward building or repairing credit is so small, that it is not really distinguishable on the credit reports.

Other cards will claim they can help restore your credit worthiness by offering you a larger balance card. Of course, they want a fee of $200-300 up front. Be warned, some of these companies are scams and should be avoided. When in doubt as to whether or not an agency is offering you a legitimate offer, check with the Better Business Bureaus to see if they have any complaints on file.

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When you are considering getting a credit card you should be fully aware of all the consequences that could come with the responsibility of having and using one. Some people prefer to make use of a debit card instead of a credit card to keep them out of financial peril. This is all a matter of personal opinion and needs, wants, and desires. When you use a credit card, if you are not careful you could end up in a deep financial hole that is extremely difficult to get out of. Using a credit card takes a mature responsibility of resisting temptation, setting and sticking to a budget, and having the ability to pay off the charges at the end of each month.

A debit card is a form of Credit Card that generally comes with the Visa or MasterCard logo upon and works just like a credit card would with a few exceptions. These debit cards; if they have the major credit card logo upon it, can be used to any retailer that accepts those specific cards and for any purchases such as items, hotel reservations, and car rentals. The exceptions and differences between a credit card and a debit card is that a credit card is linked directly to your savings or checking account. Unlike a credit card, a debit card has a limit that is based upon the amount of personal money you have within these accounts. You cannot go over your limit, so there are no fees; however, you will want to be extremely careful, because as stated it goes by the amount of money you have within the account.

Additionally, because a debit card is linked to your savings or checking account you can use the card at any ATM without having fees applied (Unless you use an ATM of a non-accepting bank, then you may be charged $1.00 – $1.50 for using that ATM). By using a debit card you will avoid the fees typically associated with a credit card, such as interest charges on balances, cash advance fees, and it will not affect your credit rating at all. By using a debit card, you will be able to better control your spending because the charges will come directly out of the money within your account, this will help you (if you stick to a budget as mentioned before) refrain from over spending and keeping financial stability.

The idea of a prepaid credit card has been around for a number of years, but it’s only now, with the level of personal debt soaring, that it has really started to take off.

But what is a prepaid credit card? How does it work? And most importantly, can it help you avoid getting any deeper into debt?

The Basic Idea

If you’re familiar with the idea of a prepaid phone card or a prepaid gift card, the idea won’t be new to you. It’s basically just a credit card without the credit. You load money into your card account and can then spend it using your plastic card as you would with a normal credit card.

These prepaid credit cards are accepted by hundreds of thousands of retailers and online merchants.

Dozens of financial institutions offer prepaid accounts backed by either Visa and Mastercard so they can be used globally. In fact, anyone who accepts credit cards will be able to accept your prepaid card.

And the uses are almost endless;

Top up your cell phone

Pay your bills

Buy groceries and petrol

Shop online

Book flights, hotels, tickets

Hire cars

Transfer money to family and friends

You can even withdraw cash from your account at millions of ATMs all around the globe

And once you’ve spent the money in your account, you can “recharge” it with more money.

The Benefits

The main benefit is that these cards are extremely flexible. You can load money onto your account using cash, bank transfer, or even using another credit card (but that’s probably best avoided if you want to avoid debt).

And because most prepaid cards are backed by Visa or Mastercard, you can use them anywhere in the world as you would with a traditional credit card. In fact, the use of these cards is so similar to credit cards that they’re usually called prepaid credit cards, despite the fact that credit is not involved.

The only difference is that you have to fill up your account with your own money before you use your prepaid card, which brings us to the other main benefit. It’s impossible to get into debt using one of these cards, because if you don’t have any money in your card account, it won’t be accepted.

That gives you more control over your spending. It allows you to set a budget and put that amount in your account. There’s no risk of overspending on one of these cards, which is a major advantage if you’re trying to escape debt or are worried about getting into debt. And as with credit cards, you’ll receive a regular breakdown of your spending on the card, which is great for keeping track of your spending.

And because you’re not advanced any credit, there’s no interest to pay and no credit checks to get one of these accounts. That means everybody is eligible to get a prepaid card, even if you have a bad credit record.

Other benefits include;

Travel: These cards have the same travel benefits as normal credit cards. They’re accepted worldwide, especially those backed by Visa and Mastercard. You can withdraw cash from millions of ATMs across the globe. If you select the right prepaid card, you’ll also be able to take advantage of foreign exchange services without paying fees. And if you lose your card, just contact your provider and they’ll provide you with a new one.

Safety: If you use your card to make a purchase (by phone, internet or in person) and it is used fraudulently, the provider of your card will cover the loss just like a traditional credit card. These cards are also safer than carrying cash, which brings us to the final prepaid benefit.

Children: Prepaid cards are the perfect way to provide your children with a safe way to have access to money that you can control. Many prepaid cards are open to people of all ages, although as with traditional credit cards, some companies restrict the use of their prepaid card to people aged 18 and over.

As for the debate over whether it’s a good idea for children to be allowed a prepaid card, some people argue that it will make children more financially aware from an earlier age. They claim it will teach them to understand the value of money and develop better money management skills as they grow up. It will allow them to budget without the risk of getting into debt.

Other people claim that it will encourage them to develop reckless spending habits, especially if their parents keep topping up the account. If parents are too generous, their children could get used to the pot that never runs dry, and get into serious debt when they eventually get their own credit cards.

Ultimately, it’s a decision that all parents will have to make for themselves, but if used responsibly, the benefits of prepaid credit cards heavily outnumber the disadvantages, for all users.

Loan Comparison: Interest Only Home Equity Loans Versus Balloon 2nd Mortgage

What is an interest only home equity loan? This is a loan where the principal borrowed is not paid back each month only the interest is repaid. The principal borrowed may be due in 10, 15 or 20 years. A borrower may decrease the amount of principal due in the future by making payments on the principal.

Interest only mortgages may be adjustable rate mortgages (ARM) or fixed rate mortgages. A fixed rate mortgage will have a set payment for the period of the loan. ARM mortgages will have a fixed rate initially for a six-month period, and then the rate will increase or decrease based on an index, prime rate or five-year treasury rate.

A balloon second mortgage is a short-term mortgage with a fixed rate of interest. Balloon mortgages require repayment of principal and interest. The monthly payments of principal are not based on the five-year term of the mortgage but a longer amortization period of 30 years. Balloon mortgages must be refinanced every five years at the expense of the borrower and subject to any dramatic increase in interest rates.

One of the advantages of the balloon second mortgage is the lower monthly payments could yield additional funds for debt consolidation and home improvements. With lower monthly payments the homeowner has more money to budget towards other expenses.

If the balloon mortgage is repayable in five years and the ARM is a 5/20 loan, both loans must be refinanced in five years. The balloon second mortgage must be refinanced with a new second mortgage, a line of credit or a home equity line at the expense of the borrower. ARM mortgage rates reset using a mechanical rate adjustment procedure set in the original contract and have a cap on the amount the rate of interest may be increased.

Currently the rates on balloon mortgages are generally lower then the rates on ARM mortgages. If one were sure that rates would be lower in five years, the balloon mortgage would be a wise choice. If one is unsure of future interest rates the security of knowing the maximum rate the interest can be five years in the future would be worth the slightly higher cost of the ARM mortgage.

Both of these second mortgage loans can co behind a negative amortization loan in 1st position, as long as the broker or lender allows the deferred interest loan. Check with your home equity lenders to make sure that they will allow you to get a home line of credit or second mortgage behind a payment option ARM.

If we had a crystal ball to look into the future the comparison would be simple. In a scenario with 15% interest rates the ARM would be the wise choice while in a scenario with 5% interest rates the balloon mortgage would be the wise choice. Unfortunately the uncertainty of the future of interest rates makes it clear there is some risk involved in making this decision.

Does credit cart consolidation really provide a reduction in your debt owed? Many people want to know the answer to this. The answer is simple: yes, you can receive your debt consolidation at a lower interest rate, but you will be required to put up collateral to receive it.

A debt consolidation loan generally relieves you of a huge amount of pressure to pay off your debt, since it combines all your payments into one.

Unfortunately, in this day and age numerous people find themselves having to pay off multiple creditors. By combining all your debts into a single payment, it makes the process of keeping track of and paying off your debts easier than ever.

Debt consolidation is done through different ways; first, by taking out debt consolidation loans, debt consolidation mortgage, debt consolidation re-mortgage, and also through debt counseling.

A debt consolidation loan is received by a couple different methods: unsecured and secured debt consolidation loan. A secured loan simply mean you need to provide collateral if you are in breach of payment.

An unsecured loan means you dont have to give up collateral. Heres an important fact: you generally need a good credit history in order to obtain an unsecured loan. Keep this in mind when applying.

No mater how much debt you are in, dont lose hope. Some of the greatest entrepreneurs in the world today were at one point over $100,000 in debt before they got out and eventually created the lifestyle theyd always wanted. In fact, being in debt could be the greatest thing that ever happened to you-if you use it to learn from it and move on.

If, however, you simply resign yourself to a lifetime of paying off your bills, and never learn from your mistakes, you will stay stuck the rest of your life. The choice is yours. This could, in a weird way, be the greatest thing that ever happened to you.

Will you use it as a benefit, or a hindrance? Therefore, the most important thing is to obtain a debt reduction credit card consolidation loan, and then move forward in learning to achieve financial freedom.