• Home Equity Loan   • Home Refinance Loan   • Home Purchase Loan   • Second Mortgage Loan   • Debt Consolidation Loan
Home Equity Loan Store «A website where you can find the lowest interest rates on home loans with absolutely free quotes from multiple lenders»
::

Cash Loans: The Good, the Bad, and the Debt-Free


Happiness is what they're selling. Relief from the crushing weight of that gigantic rock we're all forced to carry called 'financial burden.' It's heavy and cumbersome, and the very thought of unloading it for a short time is so tempting, that some of us find it easy to throw caution to the wind and apply for the quick cash loans these small payday advance lenders offer.

Why not? The cops towed your car off, and you need eighty bucks to pay off the ticket. You can't work without your car. You don't have the money to get your car. You don't get paid until next week. A cash advance seems like the logical solution. They don't even look at your credit history. They just want to see a paycheck stub and a bank account. How easy is that? Then there's that thing you've been wanting to buy...it's only a few bucks more, so you may as well make it a hundred instead of eighty dollars. Oh, and your kid has been begging for that game. Another twenty won't make a difference.

The excuses for more will keep adding up, and here's this company ready and waiting to hand you a wad of cash. Cold hard cash. The kind that's easy to spend, because it's in your pocket (burning a hole) instead of in the bank (waiting for bills).

Why not? Because if you don't have the money you need saved in the bank, it shows you have a hard time controlling your spending habits, and you're probably going to have a hard time paying off cash loans. This means a new set of weekly fees that you hadn't planned. Before you're through, you'll end up spending much more than you borrowed just in interest and late fees. Stop the mad cycle of easy cash loans and payday advances. You might have no choice but to borrow, but following a few simple steps can help eliminate the painful after-math of a cash advance.

Only borrow as much cash as you need

This might be one of the hardest parts. When you're applying for a cash loan, and you know you'll be out of diapers before your paycheck comes, it's so tempting to add a few bucks of spending cash to the credit line.

Stop yourself right there. Ask yourself a few questions.

  • Do I need this money right now?
  • Will I spend the money immediately on something that is necessary?
  • Can I do without the money by conserving my resources?
  • Will I actually use the money on this excuse, or will I end up blowing it on something frivolous?

Can you wait for the extra money? You probably can. It's nice to have everything you want without waiting for it, but it will save you a lot of money if you just hold off until payday.

Will you spend this money immediately? If you want to advance an extra thirty bucks so you'll have enough to for gas on Friday, you should reconsider. If you know for certain that you'll need it, fill your tank on the way home. Don't carry the extra cash in your pocket, because you're likely to spend it on something else.

Can you find another way to get by? Most of us are surprised by what we can accomplish when we're strapped for cash. Use only half the soap for laundry loads. Buy the cheap hotdogs for supper tomorrow, and reheat last night's meal for tonight. But don't use credit.

Are you really going to spend the money on what you think you're borrowing it for? Cash is hard to hold on to. You know your habits. If you've blown the grocery money at a restaurant before, then don't borrow it.

Don't let the late penalties kill you

You've followed good sense and only borrowed what you needed. You skimped by on as little as possible, and now your pantry and gas tank are empty. You want to stop at the bank, cash your check, and buy a few things before going to the loan company to take care of your advance.

Here's where you'll make your biggest mistake. When you have your paycheck, go straight out and pay off that loan...all of it. The groceries can wait. The movie rentals can wait. Your only concern should be to get out of debt. Most loan companies can cash your check for you. This will make it easier to do all at once. Don't spend a single penny until your debts are satisfied. If you delay your payment, or only pay it partially, you'll start that ugly cycle again, and who knows when it will end, or how much extra you'll spend. Sell all your toys and eat macaroni and cheese for the next two weeks, but settle that loan.

Now it's time for discipline

You borrowed only what you needed. You paid all your cash loans in full the very day your paycheck came. Now you're debt free and living easy on payday. You even have a few extra bucks in your pocket. Maybe you can afford to buy the gourmet coffee. Just one cup to celebrate. Oh, and a doughnut to go with it. Wrong.

Now comes the real work. Now it's time to roll up your sleeves and keep this from ever happening again. You need to restructure your spending habits. You need to stop thinking of those extra dollars as spending cash, and start thinking of them as your safety net. Put the money away. Put it in a different account. Not a checking account, but a savings account. One that you need to actually go to the bank in order to withdraw, because the situation will rise again. You'll have another emergency, and you'll need cash. Your car will get towed again, your water heater will stop working, or you'll get a tooth ache and have to go to the dentist who only accepts payment at the time of service.

Here are a few tips to avoid frivolous spending.

  • Don't carry cash. As mentioned before, cash burns a hole in your pocket, so don't keep it with you. If you feel it's necessary to have a stash, keep it at home.
  • If you're spending more than fifty dollars, sleep on it. We've all bought things on the spur of the moment and regretted it later. If you make a strict rule and hold yourself to it, you'll cut down on most of these regrets.
  • No credit means good credit. Cancel your credit cards. All of them. If you can't do it, then take your one credit card, put it in a Tupperware bowl filled with water, and put the bowl in the freezer. Eliminate any records you have of your credit card numbers.
  • Go through your monthly bills and decide which ones to eliminate. Don't 'decide if you can eliminate any.' Decide that you're going to get rid of at least one and figure out which one it is. We all have unnecessary monthly bills. Be honest. Do you really need two cell phones? Do you even need one? If you can eliminate one of them, and put exactly that amount away every month, you'll be surprised at how fast your safety net grows.
  • As you put away your groceries, look for items you can do without the next trip. Most people could cut down their grocery bills by over 25% just by not buying what will go to waste anyway. Look at everything you throw away, and ask yourself why you bought it to begin with.
  • Cash loans are convenient, and sometimes necessary, but they are not ideal. They are for emergencies, but with some careful planning and healthy spending habits, you can avoid the need for them altogether.

    Virginia Douglas is a freelance writer for http://www.faxless-payday-loans.net an online website that offers information about fast cash loans and payday advances.


    MORE RESOURCES:

    Hybrid Cars News

    Federally Backed Car Maker Hits Bump
    Wall Street Journal
    Fisker was promised $529 million in loans from an Energy Department program to boost development of electric vehicles. The Anaheim, Calif., company said it would use the money to retool a former General Motors Co. factory in Delaware to build a new ...
    Fisker Stops Work on Car Factory After US Blocks LoanBusinessWeek
    Fisker is not another Solyndra ... yetCNNMoney
    Fisker's Federal Loans Frozen, Layoffs FollowHybrid Cars News
    Fox News -Engadget -Motor Authority
    all 217 news articles »


    Bloomberg

    Auto and Student Loans Drive Borrowing Surge
    Wall Street Journal
    Household borrowing through credit cards, car loans, student loans and other installment debt—which excludes mortgages—rose at a seasonally adjusted 9.3% annual rate in December, following a 9.9% rise in November, the Fed said Tuesday.
    New Bank Loan Standards Cause Hike in Consumer CreditGo Banking Rates
    Consumer credit jumps by $19.3 billion in DecemberLos Angeles Times
    Consumer credit surges in DecemberMarketWatch
    New York Times -Fox News
    all 283 news articles »


    Bloomberg

    Bad Home Loans Top $72 Billion in 'Colossal Failure': Mortgages
    BusinessWeek
    The wrangling over the status of old loans has made some banks more reluctant to make new ones, even as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke appeals for action to increase lending and fix the US housing market because it's a drag on the economic ...
    Faulty Loans Top $72 Billion as Banks Seek Deal With Regulators: MortgagesBloomberg
    Banks Near $25 Billion Pact on Foreclosure ProbeWall Street Journal
    Banks largely reserved for US mortgage pact costReuters
    Chicago Tribune
    all 46 news articles »


    TribLocal

    As acceptance letters start trickling in, a look behind changes in college aid
    Chicago Tribune
    That's because there's a vast patchwork of grants, scholarships and loans available. But a failure to properly compare the options and explore the alternatives could mean the difference in thousands of dollars in debt upon graduation.
    Families must do their college loan homeworkStatesman Journal

    all 193 news articles »


    UPI.com

    Student Debt: The Next Financial Crisis?
    Forbes
    College seniors graduating with student loans in 2010 owed an average of $25250--a 5% increase from the prior year. The mortgage debt crisis has barely been resolved but there's already talk of the next big financial crisis in the US: student debt.
    Are Student Loans the Next Debt Bomb?U.S. News & World Report
    Student debt could be 'next bomb for the U.S. economy'Chicago Sun-Times
    Student loans could be next 'debt bomb'UPI.com
    Huffington Post -LoanSafe -Mother Nature Network (blog)
    all 70 news articles »


    Loans.org Accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ Rating
    Houston Chronicle
    In order to further establish credibility, Loans.org made an appeal to the Better Business Bureau. The loan quote site is now accredited with an A+ rating. Loans.org, the nationwide loan quote gathering hub, is proud to announce it is now accredited by ...

    and more »


    For home loans, now pay a bigger pie of property value
    Times of India
    MUMBAI: Prospective home loan seekers will now have to shell out 25% to 30% of the value of a property as against 20% until now with the Reserve Bank of India asking banks to exclude stamp duty, registration fee and other levies from total cost.

    and more »


    Deadline for Physical Damage Disaster Loan Applications in Virginia is March 5
    MarketWatch (press release)
    The US Small Business Administration reminds homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations of the deadline to submit disaster loan applications for damages caused by the earthquake. The deadline to file an SBA disaster loan application ...
    SBA 504 Loans Hit Record Low Interest Rate for FebruaryBusiness Wire (press release)

    all 12 news articles »


    Qatar Loans Sudan $2 Billion Amid Slipping Currency
    LoanSafe
    by Alex Ferreras on February 8, 2012 in Latest Financial News Source: Sudan Tribune -- The government of Qatar is set to loan Sudan USD $2 billion as the country enters a phase of deep economic crisis that was compounded by the secession of the oil ...

    and more »


    DOE to Recover 70% of Bankruptcy Loan
    CleanTechnica
    The Department of Energy (DOE) has been under fire with several investigations for loans to companies that have later filed bankruptcy. The most infamous and largest is with Solyndra, but Ener1 and Beacon Power also received loans.

    and more »

    Google News

    Home Equity Loan | Home Refinance Loan | Home Purchase Loan | Second Mortgage Loan | Home Improvement Loan | Debt Consolidation Loan | Loans | Leases & Leasing | Personal Finance | Mortgage Refinance | Debt Consolidation | Debt Relief | Finance Resources
    © 2006 Home Equity Loan Store | Loans Information | Loans Articles