Archive for the ‘Credit’ Category

Loanio Roundup – Congratulations President-Elect Obama

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010
President-Elect Obama

President-Elect Obama

Loanio extends its congratulations to President-Elect Obama for running an excellent campaign.

This week’s edition of Loanio’s roundup takes a look at the election and what it means for the economy. What are your thoughts to the issues? We’ve also included several links for business entrepreneurs and on p2p lending for your weekend reading.

The Economy and the Election:

Small Business:

Peer-to-Peer Lending:

Loanio in the News:

Photo Credit: 1

Originally posted 2008-11-09 05:33:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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  • crunchyResisting Panic: A Quick Guide to Surviving The Credit Crunch A few years ago if you referenced the term "credit crunch", most people would be puzzled. Today barely a single day can pass without the phrase seeing consistent if not constant use in the newspapers and on television. The credit crunch is a crisis that is affecting numerous financial institutions......
  • blog traffic exchangeProsper Manual Bid or 3 via Bid Ladder and New Q and A Feature I was trying to emulate pensioner's bidding strategy with my risk tolerance.  I came up with a saved search based roughly on my standing order interest rates, extended credit filters, and ordered by time left remaining such that the soonest to end was at the top.  My strategy was to......
  • home.jpgDiscrimination in Mortgage Lending Dual Income No Kids had an article based on a book published regarding race and poverty. Wow, that's a big topic that could fill its on site. James reviewed the books thoughts and summarized it. In closing James remarked: So, it seems that lower wealth in African-American and Hispanic families......
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  • blog traffic exchangeRateLadder 2008 Goals Happy New Year!  Here are my goals for 2008 with RateLadder and p2p lending. Current Expectation Goal Stretch Goal 2008 Year Ending Account Value Prosper $11,519.59 $15,500 $16,000 $17,000 Prosper Quicken ROI 10.16% 6% 8% 10% Prosper Lending Stats ROI 3.92% 4% 5% 6% Prosper Eric's CC ROI 8.42% 8%......

8 Tips for College Student Budgets

Saturday, March 6th, 2010
Tips for College Students

#4 Pace Yourself

Below are eight tips for college students about money and finances.

1. Track your Expenses

If you track your spending for a few weeks, you will be better able to figure out where your money is going. Are you spending an exorbitant amount of money on Starbucks? You may want to cut back. Most college students do not realize where their money is going until they really take the time to pay attention to their receipts at the end of the week.

2. Formulate a Plan

The best way to manage your finances over the course of a semester is simply to sit down and really take the time to map out a budget. List all of your sources of income, tracking potential income and actual income earned. Then list all of your expenses, including tuition, books, groceries, and so on. When you have a plan formulated, you can better track money coming in and going out.

3. Make Room for Good Time Money

You need to make plans to have a little bit of personal spending money for entertainment purposes, eating out or other special purchases, otherwise you can easily throw your entire budget plan out of whack. Make some room for entertainment money and just vow to stay within your budget from month to month.

4. Pace Yourself

If you spend too much money at the beginning of the semester you will run out of money before the end. Give yourself a weekly spending limit based on how much income you have, and stick to it so you don’t end up tapped out by the end of the semester.

5. Go Easy on Credit

Credit cards are nice, and useful, but only for some purchases and not all. One quick way to spend way beyond your means is to use credit in the wrong ways. Use your credit cards sparingly if you have them, otherwise you may end up hooked on charging things, which is a great way to rack up unavoidable, unnecessary debt.

6. Set a Personal Credit Line

Just because your credit card has a limit of $2,000, that does not mean you have to spend that much. Only spend what you can actually pay back. If you only have $500 to attribute to paying back a credit card, only spend that much on the card and you will be fine.

7. Be Realistic

You can do what you want to do, but you cannot necessarily do everything that you want to do. Make some choices and be prepared to make some sacrifices because doing things and buying things is going to make a dent in your wallet, but some expenses can be easier on the wallet than others and provide just as much return on investment.

8. Plan Ahead for Emergencies

If you bust your entire budget this week on something you want to do, make sure to make up for it next week. If you constantly spend your entire budget frivolously, you can end up unprepared for emergencies like auto maintenance costs, course materials, health costs and so on.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-11-06 05:11:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Should You Be Worried About the Economy?

Thursday, February 25th, 2010
If you are worried about gas, try carpooling.

If you are worried about gas, try carpooling.

If you follow the news, chances are the state of the economy may have you a little concerned. Bad news is rampant, the housing market is shaky and doom appears to be around every corner. While there are some definite problems with the economy right now, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to start panicking. Smart money management is always important, but if you find that you are overly worried about the state of the economy, there are a few steps that you can take to shore up your financial defenses and stop worrying.

The first step is to take a hard look at your mortgage payments, car payments and any other loans that you may have. If they are calculated under a variable rate, now is the time to start allocating a little extra each month to ensure that you have enough to keep up with the payments. If your mortgage payment looks like it is going to be too high, act quickly by negotiating with your bank for either a payment deferment or even a refinance. No one wins in a foreclosure situation and most banks will be willing to work something out with you.

The second step is to think about consolidating your credit card bills if necessary. If you are paying on multiple cards that all have high interest rates, you could be wasting a lot of money each month. Take advantage of a low or no interest card that will allow you to transfer those high balances into one. Just make sure you read the fine print to see how long the interest rate will remain low. Or use Loanio to receive a loan from lenders, this is easy and painless to do. This not only helps you save money on high interest fees, but you can also save time by paying only one bill every month.

Next, you can take a look at what you’re spending and how rising prices are affecting you. For example, the cost of gas right now has many people worried. You may find that you’re spending more to get to work than you may make for the day, or the ratio may have changed dramatically. If this is the case, consider setting up a carpool with other workers to save money, or you may even be able to arrange to telecommute. There are many ways that you can reduce your monthly expenses and free up more money to handle the rising cost of necessities.

This is also a good time to think about setting up an emergency fund. This is a very beneficial type of savings account that can tide you over if you run short during the month, or if you end up with a personal crisis on your hands. When you have the security of a savings account, emergency fund or other means of income, you’ll be in a much better position to weather any economic storm.

While the economy has been better, there is certainly no need to start panicking right now. Simply follow smart money practices, and you’ll be in a position where you can withstand whatever comes.

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Originally posted 2008-10-28 20:01:41. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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How to Fix a Mistake On Your Credit Report

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
Know your credit!

Know your credit!

We all make mistakes, but when it comes to your credit report, a simple or small error can have a big impact. In fact, one small error is more than enough to drag down your FICO score and could even prevent you from getting a loan in the future. It is very important to monitor your credit report and score on a regular basis to spot any errors that occur. This will enable you to take quick action to fix any damage that has been caused before it can affect you adversely. Here are the steps you need to take to fix a mistake on your credit report.

1. File a Dispute.

This is done through the actual credit bureau. Since there are three different major reporting agencies, you may need to monitor all three to see if all of your reports are being affected. Each one will have to be dealt with separately, especially if the error appears on all three reports. In many cases, it may take 60 days or more for something to show up on a report, so if you do spot an error, you will need to keep monitoring your other reports as well.

All three bureaus now offer the ability to file a dispute online, or you can file it by phone or through regular mail, depending on your preference. You will need to select the reason for your dispute and provide the correct information if necessary. Expect to wait up to 45 days for a response one way or the other.

2. Contact Creditor Directly.

If your dispute is denied and you are certain that there is still an error on your report, you can contact the creditor directly. Keep a record of all communications and send a copy of everything you send to a creditor to the three major reporting agencies as well. Always use registered mail when you contact a creditor, since they will need to respond to you within 45 days to remain compliant.

If you do not hear back within that time frame, you will need to contact the reporting agencies to update them on the status of the dispute. In many cases if the creditor has not responded within that time frame, the agencies will simply remove the error.

3. Know Your Rights.

It is a very good idea to review the Fair Credit Debt Collections Protection Act so that you are aware of your rights when it comes to dealing with creditors, reporting agencies and collection agencies. The information contained in this act will assist you in determining your further course of action if you cannot get the error removed from your report.

With diligence, you can protect your credit rating from adverse affects due to errors, but it is up to you to make sure that they are taken care of promptly. If you are not currently monitoring your credit reports, you may want to consider doing so, especially if you plan on applying for a loan within the next 180 days.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-10-13 05:18:27. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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4 Ways To Get Out of Debt

Saturday, January 30th, 2010
Earn some extra money - hold a yard sale.

Earn some extra money - hold a yard sale.

For thousands of people, the specter of debt is an all too real problem that affects not only their financial life, but the rest of their lives as well. However, there are steps that can be taken to get yourself out of debt, reasonably quickly, despite how much you owe. While the length of time needed to pay off those debts may vary, taking action as quickly as possible can help prevent debt from mounting up further. Let’s take a look at four easy ways that you can get out of debt, starting today.

1. Negotiate with Creditors and Consolidate.

Many creditors are willing to negotiate with you, especially if you have had a good payment history with them. The worst thing they can tell you is no, so it definitely pays to take the time to see if you can’t work out a better arrangement. Credit card companies, for example, will often reduce the interest, or they may be willing to take a partial lump sum on the balance.

If you are unsuccessful in negotiating your debts down yourself, you may want to consider consolidation by working with a reputable debt consolidation or debt relief organization. There are some questionable ones out there, so do your homework and be careful.

Finally, and arguably the best approach, is to get a lower interest rate loan (see #4) that will allow you to zero out your other debt and leave you with one simple monthly payment.

Consolidating your monthly payments and lowering the overall amount of interest you owe can have a dramatic effect on your finances.

2. Get a second job.

If you truly want to get out of debt quickly, one of the best ways is simply to get a second job until the debt has been paid off. You can funnel everything you make from your second job into paying off your debts and get them taken care of in short order. A second job doesn’t have to mean slaving away at McDonalds however.

You may be able to find ways of earning extra income from other avenues, such as leveraging your abilities to find work in your community, or by starting your own business to help you make enough money to pay off your debts in less time.

3. Reduce your junk.

Holding a yard sale may be a slower way of paying down your debt, but there are many ways that you can turn your household items into cash that can in turn be used to pay off your debts. You can sell items on Ebay, put ads in the paper and find people that are interested in buying your possessions. Depending on what you own, you may be able to quickly sell off everything to take care of your debts.

You may also want to consider cutting back on extraneous expenses, getting a cheaper car, and finding other ways to save money. With what you have left over, you can start using it to pay off your debts until you are completely caught up. Don’t let your debt control your life. You can find ways to get it paid off – and quickly.

4. Debt Consolidation via Loanio

Loanio is now open for for business! You could post a loan request there asking for a lower rate and then pay off your higher interest debts.

Loanio is an auction based, peer lending platform where individuals can borrow or lend money to each other. By cutting out “traditional lenders,” and adding an auction based element, borrowers can get lower rates and lenders can get higher returns than other banking options. Give it a try!Borrow money with Loanio.

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Originally posted 2008-10-03 16:40:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Is Some Debt Good For Your Credit?

Sunday, January 17th, 2010
Does debt improve credit?

Does debt improve credit?

There is no doubt about this, first of all: Getting into debt is more than capable of getting you into trouble. Although there is definitely a large downside to debt, borrowing money can also do you some good. Some debt is actually good for your credit, but only if you understand why, and how much debt is good in comparison to when your debt has become too much.

With the help of credit, you can achieve some of your financial goals. Debt allows you to take advantage of experiences and opportunities that enhance your life, like buying a car or purchasing your dream home, going to the best school or taking a cruise around the world. Getting the true value out of your credit has to do with developing a spending plan that allows you to get there in the time frame that you have set, without ruining you financially.

With the help of credit, you can send a message to potential lenders. If you have never had any debt, then you have never used credit before and will not have a credit score or a credit report to speak of. In today’s world, however, it is difficult if not completely impossible to live without credit, because credit is vital for purchasing most big ticket items, like higher education, vehicles and homes. Credit is also heavily relied upon for the purpose of preparing for life’s emergencies. For all of these reasons, having a good credit reputation is going to show potential lenders that you are a good and healthy credit risk by showing that you can handle a little bit of debt. By showing your capability to repay debt, you can put yourself in a good position to attract creditors offering favorable terms and rates.

Credit and debt are also capable of giving people a sense of how responsible you are. If you had no debt or credit history, you would find yourself being disadvantaged in other ways. Should a prospective employer check your credit record and come up empty for example, they may find this strange, and not want to hire you. Without a credit record, employers, lenders and other individuals lose out on a potential way to appraise who you are. Debt and credit are important for getting an apartment, applying for car insurance, buying a home, even sometimes renting a car. Even if you can afford to do some of these things, using debt and credit to create a history of how you handle money is an advantageous option in favor of just using cash for everything. Credit is not only a tool for extra income, but it is also a way to show lenders, employers and other individuals how responsible you are when it comes to borrowing, spending and repaying your money.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2009-01-19 05:45:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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4 Tips for College Students Budgets

Sunday, December 13th, 2009
Study and Save Money

Study and Save Money

If you are a college student, then your primary focus is probably set on your studies and trying to maintain your education so that you will be benefited in the future. Unfortunately, one of the things that you may not be putting enough consideration into is how you are handling your money. Even more unfortunately is the fact that failing to manage your finances now can put you in a pretty deep financial hole by the time you are graduating from college. For this reason above all else it is absolutely vital that you take control of your finances now so that you can have a bright financial future when you are through with your education. Here are some tips for college student budgets and how you can avoid college financial disasters.

1 – Only use credit cards in absolute emergencies.

Once you obtain a credit card, it can seem all too easy to begin racking up some debt, but this is a terrible way to start out, and may completely destroy your credit long before you graduate. Remember that the money that you spend on credit cards will eventually need to be repaid, and if you are not financially stable enough for this, you can put yourself into some serious debt with little effort. It is better to have a credit card that is intended only for emergencies rather than using it to purchase a new pair of shoes or to buy groceries if you can help it.

2 – Pay your credit card balance off every single month.

If you have a credit card, it has an interest rate, and if you want to avoid this interest, you absolutely have to pay your credit card balance off before each month is through. If you pay your balance off every single month, then you will avoid credit card debt and save a substantial amount of money that would normally have to go to interest rates and finance charges.

3 – Pay your bills off on time, every time.

Now is the most ideal time for you to begin building your credit history, and one of the best ways to do this is to always pay your bills off on time. If you are not able to pay your bills off on time, it can become quite expensive to deal with late fees and cut off charges. Many companies are more than willing to overwhelm you with late fees, shut off charges, renewal charges and deposits if you do not pay on time, and interest rates may also rise if you are late, costing you even more money in the long run.

4 – Start putting money away now.

Many college students never really grasp how important it is to save money. If you start saving money now, while you are still in school, you can reap a large number of benefits when you are older. Get into the habit of saving now, and you will begin to earn money from the money that you put away. When emergencies come up in the future, you will be better prepared which will save you time, money and hassle in the process.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-12-15 05:36:10. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Loanio Roundup – P2P Lending and More

Saturday, November 21st, 2009
What investments are you making?

What investments are you making?

Good morning readers and welcome to another edition of Loanio’s weekly roundup. Below you’ll find several great articles under the categories of small business, the economy, p2p lending, and investing. We hope you find them helpful and interesting.

The Economy:

Small Business:

Peer-to-Peer Lending:

Investing:

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Originally posted 2008-11-23 05:19:07. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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