Save Money on Gas
February 29, 2008
Gas prices have soared to unimaginable heights of late. Since most of us are not likely to turn to bikes or horse-drawn buggies we will have to learn to get the most from our gas dollars. Try a few of the following tips to make your gas go farther.
? Combine trips. With your errand list in hand try to visit as many places as possible in one trip.
? Make sure that you tires are properly inflated. Read through the owner’s manual for specific information on proper pressure for your car.
? Change your air filter regularly. Clogged air filters can rob you of precious gas mileage and add as much as ten percent to your transportation budget.
? Notice how your mileage relates to your fuel gauge. If you seem to go through a tank of gas too quickly in relation to miles traveled consider trying another brand or grade; an oil change or a tune-up.
? Check out sites such as www.gasbuddy.com to learn about cheap gas deals in your area. Many local news stations also feature "cheap gas," or other sites with similar information.
Home Equity Loans ? There?s Gold In That There House
February 29, 2008
To paraphrase an old familiar quote that goes "there’s gold in them there hills, you could say, there’s gold in that house. As Martha Stewart would say, "it’s a good thing".
A home equity loan can be a very good thing if you formulate a plan and stick to it. Home equity loans are becoming much more common and most banking companies have specific re-financing plans available for today’s consumer.
Read on and you will see that a home equity loan used for the proper purpose and managed correctly can indeed be a "good thing".
A Home Equity Loan - Just what is it?Types Of Home Equity Loans HEL or HELOC?
There are two types of home equity loans. A regular home equity loan and the home equity line of credit or HELOC. A regular home equity loan is a fixed sum borrowed at a fixed rate over a period of time. A HELOC allows the client to borrow various sums up to a fixed amount over a period of time. A line of credit works in a similar way as a credit card; you use it when you need it. Different States set their own laws on limits you can borrow against your house.
Mr. Cheapies Frugal Budget Tips
February 28, 2008
So you feel like a hamster spinning your wheel? The faster you run, the faster the wheel spins. Just when you get a raise, you notice the price of hamster wheels jumps!
Mr. Cheapie is here with his super-charged budget-cutting tips.
One of the biggest wastes of money is restaurant meals. You can cook a meal at home for about 2 cents a plate. Just put leftovers in the microwave, and Presto!
Those same leftovers cost a lot more at a restaurant. They call it “the buffet”, and they sell it to you for $10.95.
Consider also the steak dinner that costs, say, $7 at home. At the restaurant, you pay $13.95 for the same meal. Or, if you want fancy napkins, $39.95.
Plus tax.
Funny thing about eating at home; you don’t pay tax. But step into a restaurant, and guess who jumps in: “Hello, my name is Taxman. I’ll be your waiter tonight. Would you like to start with something to drink? Perhaps a very nice glass of wine? That will be 50 cents, plus the price of the wine, of course.”
“Why would you tax my wine?” Mr. Cheapie wonders. “It’s not like the government made it.”
Debunking the FAFSA Myth
February 27, 2008
With the plethora of big-business entities jockeying for the money of students on the path to becoming well-to-do responsible consumers with a house, car, and 1.5 children, it’s often missed that the US Government is the first place to start when planning student finances.
Scholarships, traineeships, fellowships, loans: Uncle Sam is nothing if not prolific in the diversity of programs available. For most students, the acroynm FAFSA is their first encounter with the cold hard seriousness of bureaucratic forms, most commonly dealt with before the dreaded and stereotypically cryptic IRS forms such as the 1040.
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a free form and free service provided by the Department of Education. If you do not fill it in you will not be eligible for federal (government-backed) student loans. However, you will still be eligible for private, or alternative student loans.
Almost every school sets its own deadline for when the different forms of financial aid are due. Some may be as early as the second week of January and some have no deadlines at all. It is strongly recommended to check with your own school’s financial aid office to find out exactly when your deadlines may fall. In order to meet a “Transaction Receipt Date” deadline for your college, it is recommended to submit to us at least 2 weeks prior to the published deadline to insure submission.
Comprehending a Credit Report
February 26, 2008
Obtaining a credit report is an excellent way to begin taking control of your financial future. It’s recommended that you review your credit report once a year, not only to be aware of your standing with creditors but to also keep abreast of errors and fraud. However, once your report arrives you may have trouble making sense of it. How are you to read and understand a credit report?
There are three major credit reporting agencies that issue credit bureau reports; Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. It is recommended that you obtain reports from all 3 credit report agencies as they most likely contain varying information since creditors subscribe to agencies on a purely voluntary basis. The credit reports provided by each of the different bureaus may present somewhat differently but generally speaking the information will be broken down in much the same way.
There are four main parts to the credit report: personal profile, credit history, public records and inquires. Check each section carefully for any errors. Note any errors you may discover on a separate piece of paper as you read over your report.
Personal Profile
Refinancing Your Mortgage Can Open Up A Lot Of Options For You And Your Family
February 25, 2008
It can happen to anyone, the roof is leaking, the credit card bills are pilling up and it is almost time for a new car. But where are you going to get the money to do all of these things? The need for extra cash can be very frustrating and worrisome, however if you are a home owner you have a variety of financial options available to you that you may not even be aware of. You should look into refinancing as a viable option to solve your financial worries.
Refinancing your mortgage can give you a lot of options as far as the freedom of a little bit extra cash. There are a few different ways that you can go about refinancing and the best way for you depends on what you are hoping to accomplish and what your own personal situation is.
What Is My Current Situation?
The first thing that you need to look at is what your current situation is. You need to do a little background research into your own situation. Many home owners do not know what they are paying for an interest rate or in some cases, home owners do not know the term of their mortgage or any of the details.
New Credit Scoring Model Could Help Millions
February 24, 2008
Mark and Beth, a young married couple in their twenties, established a goal to buy a home within the first three years of their marriage before starting a family. They budgeted and used their money wisely in order to save for the down payment. Whenever they purchased something they always paid cash - no credit cards for them. Why waste money by paying interest to a credit card company?
Within two years they’d reached their savings goal and began house hunting. They found their "American Dream" home in a new community with lots of amenities that seemed perfect for their soon-to-be family. They were elated that their years of saving were about to finally payoff.
But, they ran into a big problem when they went shopping for a mortgage. Even though they had enough income to make mortgage payments and enough money saved to afford the down payment, they had no credit history. Lenders had no FICO score to evaluate their creditworthiness in order to offer them a loan. Fair Isaacs Co. established a credit scoring system in the 1980’s and since then FICO scores have been used to determine if someone will qualify for a mortgage and the interest rate they would pay.
Follow A Few Simple Steps To Make Shopping For Your New Home Loan A Little Easier
February 24, 2008
It is likely to be one of the largest purchases of your life, and it can be extremely nerve racking and overwhelming. Buying a new home! Whether you are buying your first home, or moving to a new home; purchasing a home and shopping for home loans is a major decision that requires a lot of time and energy.
Where Do I Start?
If you are shopping for a new home and a home loan for the very first time then you may become very overwhelmed very quickly if you do not take it slowly. The first thing that you should do is start researching your options. Collect all of the financial information that you have and approach your bank.
A good place to start is with the financial institution that you do most of your banking with. You have likely built up a reputation and perhaps a relationship with your bank and that will help when you are trying to get a loan. You will have to gather together all of your financial information including:
* Pay stubs * Proof of other income sources * Car payment records * Other debt information * Savings and investment information
PayDay & Cash Advance Loans Online ? How Do Online Payday Loans Work?
February 23, 2008
How online payday loans or cash advance loans work? Online payday loans usually work by first filling out a pre-approval application. 90% of the time, your credit is not pulled. Most payday loans are not based on your credit history, so, even if you have bad credit you are still welcome to apply. If having your credit pulled is a concern to you, check their FAQ’s page, that will usually tell you whether or not your credit will be pulled.
After you have filled out the initial application, you should receive a response on whether you are pre-approved or not. Responses vary, but most online payday loan companies will give you a response instantly. By clicking on the link below, you can view our list of recommended payday loan companies and we will tell you which ones can give you a 30-second approval.
If you are pre-approved, they will usually ask for some kind of income verification. Some online payday loan companies require you to fax them a pay stub and/or a bank statement. They sometimes want to verify that you have a valid phone number and email address. There are other companies who are "faxless" who help you get the loan processed without you having to fax in any verification. These loans usually verify income by telephone.
Essence of Self Certified Mortgages
February 22, 2008
Your search for a mortgage isn’t leading results.
Check for any impediments. May be the lenders dread offering credit on the grounds that you are self employed.
But are you alone in the pursuit? No. The statistics put the figure of self employed people at around three million. Add to this the people who are working freelance and those working as temporary hires. They too are denied mortgages on the same grounds as a self employed.
If the mortgage companies continue with this step motherly attitude towards such a vast group of population, it is not late when they lose plenty of their business.
And what are the grounds for such denial. The most basic reason is that these persons do not have a stable income. The self employed persons, for instance, earn a lot one month, and nothing in another. This increases the chances of a default or arrears.
Second reason for not allowing them an access to mortgages is that they get their income from varied sources, thus making the computation of income difficult. A freelancer may work for a number of people, each paying him/ her different remuneration for his services.
