Monday, March 20, 2006
Monday, March 06, 2006
How to clear your credit card debts
These days there are so many ways to let credit get out of control that you will probably be constantly aware of the dangers of over spending. So many people have access to far more credit than they think they need or can afford, and it is a constant challenge not to let it get out of hand and fall into the trap of spending it all. For most people, credit cards are probably the most dangerous element of this situation and the one they will keep tabs on most closely. If you can get your credit card debts under control then you will have gone a good way to getting your finances and especially your spending under control. This is vital as credit card debt and other similar short term debts are one of the first places future lenders will look when assessing your credit worthiness for future borrowing.
There are a few very simple ways to go about keeping credit card debts under control. They are really just common sense but it is useful to recap over them as many people fall into the trap of thinking that there is some sort of magical short cut to clearing your credit card debts. Sadly this is simply not the case, and despite all the amazing deals on the market, such as zero per cent balance transfers, and loyalty rewards, the only way to clear your self of your credit card debts is to simply pay them all back.
The first thing you should do is cut back on your credit card use. You will have to stop spending so much so that your repayments can start to go back to reducing your balance rather than just keeping it where it is. If you think you will have trouble cutting back on your spending, then perhaps you should think about removing your credit cards from your wallet or purse, and leaving them at home. An even more drastic step is to cut them up.
You should also make sure you are making more than the minimum repayments. Making minimum repayments will never clear the debt, or at least it will take you a very very long time. What you should do is make as much above the minimum payment as you can afford, concentrating most of your repayments on the cards with the highest interest rates.
If you are having real difficulty meeting repayments, then you should perhaps consider contacting the credit card company and telling them of the situation and asking them if they can do anything to help you.
How to Get Out Of Debt ... Better than Debt Consolidation
How to Get Out Of Debt ... Better than Debt Consolidation! (Hint: Ignoring This Will Cost You Thousands) Part 2
Create Ongoing Success in Your Life
I hope you read Part 1 which gives a very basic introduction to The basics of how to manipulate your debt to your own advantage in order to clear it quickly.
But you want different results from your life from now on, right?
Well change starts from within. There is ONLY one way to change the results you get in life - you must change what produced those results.
How?
Everything starts with a thought. The chair you're sitting on, the movie you last watched, the company you work for, (or the organisation that pays your benefits) - the thought comes first.
Your thoughts have created your world and will continue to do so.
If you cannot change your thoughts you will not change your behaviour. If you cannot change your behaviour you will not change the results you get from life. You will never lick the debt problem, let alone get wealthy.
If you want to get different results in life YOU must live your life differently. Change your behaviour - and that means change your thinking first!
This is not rocket science - it is well-documented fact and you've probably already realised it, you've just maybe never done anything about it.
BUT you cannot learn everything you need to know to be successful in this life by working on a 'trial and error' basis. It is essential to learn from other people's successes - and their failures.
You will need to find out what's been holding you back all these years and why you've gotten into a mess in the first place!
You also will need to know how to apply fundamental and universal principles in your personal life that will guarantee that you start getting different results - the results you really wanted all along!
There is now a wealth of wisdom that is proven and accepted, indeed recognised and applauded by some of the greatest men of all time.
These practical insights reach from today, right back into the great American depression of the 1930's.
You probably don't need me to tell you that the challenges that we face today, the hurdles and the principles for success - they're the same today as they have always been.
Yes there are 13 Essential Secrets for Success ... Practised by Life's Great Achievers and Wealth Builders.
By learning and applying some essential ageless and universally recognised principles we can leap-frog our current capabilities.
Today you can benefit from the distilled wisdom of some profoundly successful people. It's a fact ... Henry Ford, Charles Schwabb and Thomas Eddison all practised the same 13 simple principles. YOU too can enjoy real, unbridled success when you employ these same, easy principles. Principles that are daily delivering ordinary people from scratch to Riches ... Converting their Ideas into money.
You can easily discover; * What's been holding you back in life - why you haven't gotten the results you wanted! * What it takes to generate True Wealth. * What really works in business and in life - and why. * You can have all the ideas in the world - but how do you actually make things happen - turn them into money?
Learn to; * Establish the starting point for ALL achievement. * Turn life's setbacks into stepping stones to success. * Organise & apply knowledge, convert it into whatever you wish that is of use, without wasting time. * Take a thought, translate that into an idea, then make organised plans to realise your dreams. * Accumulate sufficient money to guarantee your financial independence. * Having learned what to do and how to do it, acquire the needed stimulus to make a start!
There are genuine, practised and proven shortcuts to becoming debt-free and generating true wealth. With this knowledge you can access the successes and the failures, the common attributes and the principle methods that others have needed to succeed.
It will cost you very little indeed to acquire wisdom - wisdom that others fought for - painful lessons that cost them dearly.
Learn fast from the life experiences of men who actually accumulated riches in huge amounts. These are not privileged people. They are not geniuses, but ordinary people just like you and I. People who began in poverty, with little education and without influence.
If you want to know how to extend and marry these universal principles and lessons with state of the art business-building information - specialised knowledge that is today only really understood and implemented by a select few - you guessed it, you just need to ask.
This really does give the 'average' man or woman - those who really need a helping hand - a chance to really turn things around once and for all.
Radically Increase Your Income Imagine if you could JUMPSTART one (and then several) additional streams of income by learning exactly where to go and what to do - in effect standing on the shoulders of giants - right from your own home and in your spare time.
We live in the 'information age' and today we have a huge opportunity, the scale of which few people really understand. You and I can use the same principles that rocketed men into fame and wealth during the early 1900's (a time that held enormous and unbounded potential). Just like them, you and I also face a time that holds enormous and unbounded potential.
It is possible - even fairly easy - to combine the above with practical insights and little-understood business secrets from some of today's most successful entrepreneurs.
Now we can apply these timeless and well-proven principles to the age of the internet. Yes today you and I have an opportunity that makes the guys above look small-fry!
Imagine what would happen of there were certain shortcuts to being successful in life - and in business - that could propel you to success - you just hadn't found them until now!
Imagine how your life would change if you could switch-on a stream of income that came in regardless of what you were doing. In other words, you did something that made you money - but then the money kept coming in whether you were ill, sleeping, working on something else (maybe a job) or even travelling the world.
Suppose that it were really very easy to do this - you just didn't know about it until now. Sounds too good to be true?
Today the internet is coming of age. There are more opportunities available than people to fill them.
Did you know; * Online spending reached $95,700,000,000 in 2003! (That's 95.7 billion dollars!). A recent Forrester Research report showed that online spending was $95.7 billion in 2003... and it's projected to grow to $229 billion in 2008! That's a staggering 139% increase! * Nearly 5 million NEW households will shop online in the next five years! Forrester Research also reports that nearly 5 million NEW households will shop online in the next five years... and that the total number of U.S. online shopping households will reach 63 MILLION By 2008! That means that, by 2008, online retail sales will account for 10% of the total U.S. retail sales! * Even a complete beginner can now build a web site in less than 48 hours... for LESS than $100! Five years ago, if you wanted a web site, you needed to either learn HTML time-consuming) or hire a web designer to do it for you (expensive). Now, however, there are tons of FREE and low-cost tools and resources available that allow you to build a professional-looking web site by yourself, without ANY knowledge of HTML! If you can "point & click" your way through a program like Microsoft Word, you can build a web site and put it up on the Internet -- in less than 48 hours! * It's EASY to find lucrative business ideas and products to sell ... using FREE research tools! For the first time in history, it's EASY to know what products people are actively looking for... because there are FREE and low-cost research tools that compile all the figures and statistics for you! Plus, once you know exactly what people want, it's EASY to find products to sell to them because there are online tools that will help you do that, too! * There are literally 1,000's of FREE and dirt-cheap sources of traffic for your web site! It's shocking, but true. There are literally thousands of "neglected" traffic streams -- groups of people who are LOOKING for web sites with particular products and information, but who can't find what they're looking for because nobody is talking to them!
You should know that effective marketing is the lifeblood of any business; a great idea will fail if it isn't marketed right; a poor idea can be a spectacular success if it is! The single best way to market ANY business is Direct Marketing -- 'speaking' direct to prospective customers and existing customers.
The single biggest opportunity for Direct Marketing ANY business today is using the internet. It's SO powerful, fast and efficient compared with traditional techniques that there is no comparison!
And yet ...
I talk to business owners every day who astound me with just how little they are actually doing about this spectacular opportunity!
Why are they doing so little about it? Simple - they just don't know where to start!
Try this test yourself ...
Ask anyone you know; 'what exactly are you doing that leverages business using the internet as an effective marketing tool?'
I don't mean 'putting up a website' ... that is like building a factory and then just sitting around waiting for someone to knock on your door to do business ... it isn't going to happen ... and that's just what most people are doing!
Ask them and see!
I don't care what your business is, or where. After twenty years managing and consulting to businesses of all kinds I know what works and what doesn't! You can quickly have more genuine, in-demand, hands-on knowledge of how to boost any business in today's world ...than 99% of the people around you!
Leverage Your Time & Efforts It has taken people literally thousands of man-hours to accumulate and communicate this information to your benefit.
It cost people millions of dollars and bucket-loads of blood, sweat and tears to acquire.
All this knowledge is available to you NOW.
Well, I said this Report would be short. Action is the proper fruit of knowledge, so over to you;
Tell me which area you want to know more about (fixing your debts, creating ongoing success or radically increasing your income - or all three).
Tell me what, specifically you would like help with and I will do my best to deliver!
Let me know what interested you and what you want to know next.
Helpful debt reduction tips
Developing the best plan to reduce your debt is only half the battle, and pointless if you keep running up your other debts. The biggest problem today is the credit card because it is so easy to get one and even easier to just swipe it to pay for what you want. We have a tendency to not consider the high interest rates we are paying, especially when we don't pay off the balance each month. When your balance rolls over and you only pay the minimums, your debt can spiral out of control. Coming up with a good reduction plan will put an end to this.
One place that any debt reduction advisor will tell you to start with is to eliminate your credit card spending. This will atleast stop your balances from growing, keeping you from falling further behind. You should consider cutting up all cards except one, keeping it for emergencies only. Keep the one with the lowest interest rate, preferably one with a fixed rate.
You should also consider consolidating your high interest debts into one low interest, fixed rate offer. Credit card companies periodically run specials to try to get people to sign up with them, allowing you to transfer several outstanding amounts to theirs while giving significantly lower rates. This is a relatively easy way to allow you to make one payment each month, only paying interest once.
Think about applying for a debt consolidation loan as well. This is another way to lump all your high interest outstanding debts into one easy to manage loan. You will make one payment each month, paying much less overall interest. You balances will decrease much faster over time, putting you back on solid financial ground. Planning for your future will soon become much easier without debt hanging over you.
Once you find the right plans to help you reduce your debts, you must exercise discipline with your spending. Try not to spend more than you make and only use your credit card for emergencies. Remember how much work it was to get yourself back on track and vow not to repeat the sins of the past. Stick to the plan laid out for you to avoid future problems.
Secured Loans - Arrange Cash Without Hassles
Gone are the days when living within ones financial limits was considered a virtue. Today it is thought well of people if they possess all the luxuries of life. Without becoming indebted much, people can easily get themselves the luxuries of life. Secured loans will be very helpful in this venture. Through secured loans, borrowers can get cash for purchasing several assets that their limited income would have rarely been able to sustain.
A secured loan is an advance to the borrower by a loan provider. Homeowners are particularly preferred for lending secured loans. Several banks and financial institutions operating in the UK may accept to lend to the borrower. However, the terms on which secured loans are lent are dependant largely on the credit status of borrower.
Credit status refers to the credit report of borrower as shown by credit file. This is prepared by the credit reference agencies, namely, Experian and Equifax. Though bad credit status does not bear significantly on the decision to lend secured loans, they do result in some strictness in terms. Terms such as the amount to be lent as secured loans are decided in conjunction with credit history.
The secured loan puts cash in the hands of borrower, which is to be used in the manner decided by the borrower. Once the cash is received, borrower can choose to spend it in varied ways. Loan provider seldom exercises any control on the uses of the loan proceeds. Some of the common uses of secured loan proceeds are in debt consolidation, making improvements in home, purchasing car or other assets, going on holidays etc.
Secured loans use any asset of borrower to cover lender against any risk emerging in the future. More often, it is the home of borrower that is offered as collateral. This is when large secured loan proceeds are being drawn. When smaller loan proceeds are required, lenders may accept to use automobiles and other secondary assets as collateral.
Because of the use of collateral, the risk involved in secured loans is minimal. Since borrower agrees to use his home or any asset as collateral, he also agrees that lender has the right to recover any unpaid loan amount through liquidation of asset. Therefore, lender has little or no risk. However, this process is cumbersome and often prolonged. Therefore, lenders want to skip such a situation. A lender who gives more emphasis on yours being with good credit has the same consideration at the bottom of his mind.
Borrowers can gain secured loans at attractive rates of interest. This again is the result of reduced risks. Always try to get a cheap rate secured loan. You will hear this often when you get on the venture of finding secured loans. However, beware of lenders who lower interest rate and increase other charges, which are given in fine print and not often read by borrower. Compare APR instead of rate of interest.
How does a person know of the least APR on secured loans? Provided the search for secured loan is conducted online, it is very easy. Just fill up the loan quote with certain lenders that one finds desirable. The application for loan quote is available on their website. The website also contains other important information about the lender and the specific product. Within hours or even less, borrower will receive loan quotes from several lenders. Compare these loan quotes and make your decision.
However, do not hurry. This is the advice from loan experts. They say that one must search over several loan providers offerings before choosing a particular lender. Larger is the purview of search undertaken, greater are the chances of getting the best secured loan deal. With the help of internet, searching the best secured loan is not difficult any longer.
Debt consolidation for unemployed: Fixing numerous debts
When the unemployed people accrue debts, it becomes particularly difficult for them to get any help in debt consolidation from regular loans. For regular loans, the case of unemployed people is far too perilous to be advanced any sum. Such borrowers get respite in debt consolidation loans for unemployed.
Debt consolidation for unemployed are similar to the regular personal loans; only that a few alterations are made to suit the unemployed people. Are the unemployed people complaining? No, since they would not have been able to get a regular loan from any of the high street banks. Certain loan providers may have used this as an opportunity to trick borrowers into paying a high rate of interest.
Is borrower insulated from such trickery when using debt consolidation loans for unemployed? Yes! A borrower can easily get information on prevailing rate of interest from loan experts. The loan experts will also educate borrowers about what to expect and what not to expect on debt consolidation loan for unemployed. Therefore, borrowers planning to take the loan can differentiate between a competitive deal and a not so competitive deal.
Borrowers must expect a high rate of interest on debt consolidation loans for unemployed. Two sets of bad credit remark are present on the credit file of unemployed. Firstly, the borrower is unemployed. Secondly, the borrower has accrued a large number of debts, which may transform into defaults, bankruptcy etc. The risk involved in dealing with the unemployed people is thus larger. This is the main reason for an increase in rate of interest in debt consolidation loans for unemployed.
Before you agree to take debt consolidation at the stated rate, it will be essential that adequate comparisons have been made. You may be unnecessarily filling the coffers of the loan provider by paying a higher rate of interest.
Use of collateral can help bring down the rate of interest by few points. Collateral is any asset on which borrower gives loan provider a right. For instance, if debt consolidation loan for unemployed has been taken against ones home, home is the collateral. Loan provider enjoys right or lien on house. He has the powers to demand liquidation of house to recover loan proceeds. This is in the event of non-repayment of loan. Until then borrower is free to stay in the house and of course pay taxes and other dues on house as earlier.
Another expected feature of debt consolidation loans for unemployed is the relatively low amount that is offered. Had it been for a regular loan, borrower would have obtained a much better amount. However, since the risk involved in lending to the unemployed people is larger, loan providers are not very generous in lending. Proper search can however help one find loans up to ones desired amount.
The proceeds of the debt consolidation loan for unemployed goes towards settlement of debts. As in debt consolidation loans from high street banks, debt consolidation help may not come free. However, if borrower feels that he lacks the necessary expertise to settle debts successfully, then they can contact IFAs. Independent financial advisors offer professional and independent advice. Their advice will go a long way in clearing the debt load from the borrower's shoulders.
Repayment of the debt consolidation loan for unemployed will depend on several factors. When debt consolidation loan for unemployed is secured on ones home, borrower has the chances of gaining term of repayment for as long as 25 years. The minimum term for which the debt consolidation loan is available is 5 years. Depending upon ones requirement, borrowers can either stretch the term or constrict it down
Debt help & advice - IVA vs BAnkruptcy
Bankruptcy versus IVA : FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is an Individual Voluntary Arrangement 'IVA'?
A: An IVA is a legally binding contract between yourself and your creditors, which will generally last for 5 years. You will put forward an offer as settlement of your debts to your creditors based upon the following: o A fixed monthly contribution based upon your available disposable income o If you own your property you will be required to take reasonable steps, (by way of remortgage), to make a proportion of the equity available to your creditors. o If you are unable to remortgage at the end of the term, you will NOT be required to sell your property o If the IVA is a sole proposal you are only obliged to realise your share of equity in a jointly owned property, ensuring your partner's share remains unaffected.
Provided 75% of those creditors who vote are in favour of the proposal the IVA is accepted. As long you keep to the terms of your IVA once it has been approved, all of your creditors who were entitled to vote are legally bound. This means that: o Your creditors can not bring further action against you o Your creditors can not change their minds at a later date From the date of approval of your Arrangement all interest and charges are frozen. Unlike bankruptcy there is no advertisement of the IVA in a local paper. Your professional status or ability to hold public office will not be affected. On completion of the IVA term, provided you have adhered to the terms of the Arrangement, the balance of your debts is written off. On the basis of the information which you have provided this would appear an appropriate solution to your financial problems.
Q: What is bankruptcy?
A: Bankruptcy is a serious matter. You will have to give up possessions of value and your interest in your home. It will almost certainly involve the closure of any business you run and the dismissal of your employees. Bankruptcy may also impose certain restrictions on you. Subject to certain exemptions, bankruptcy means that the Official Receiver will take control of all your assets on the making of a bankruptcy order. He or she, or any insolvency practitioner who is appointed trustee, will dispose of them and use the money to pay the fees, costs and expenses of the bankruptcy and then your creditors. Assets you would be allowed to keep include: 7. Ordinary household contents; 8. A modest motor vehicle; 9. Tools required for your trade
The trustee may apply to the court for an order restoring property to him or her if you disposed of it in a way which was unfair to your creditors (for example, if before bankruptcy you had transferred property to a relative for less than it is worth). If you have a surplus income above the needs of yourself and your dependants, you will be expected to make contributions to your creditors during the bankruptcy, and may be ordered to do so by the court. If you come into any money during the bankruptcy, such an inheritance or a lottery win, that too will be available to your creditors. In addition your bankruptcy would be advertised in a local paper. Generally you will be automatically discharged from bankruptcy after 1 year although you may be required to pay into the bankruptcy for 3 years.
Q: What are the main differences between an IVA and bankruptcy? 10. Assets In bankruptcy you loose control of your assets as these vest in the Trustee. The Trustee will then dispose of these assets and use the funds to pay their fees and disbursements and distribute the remaining funds among your creditors. In an IVA you make an offer to your creditors. This should be your best offer and so may include the disposal of excessive assets for the benefit of your creditors. However it is possible to specifically exclude assets from the Arrangement such as life assurance policies, pensions, motorcars etc. In bankruptcy your home will vest in the trustee whereas in an IVA you will be expected to use your best endeavours to realise, by way of re-mortgage, the equity you have in your property. You will not be expected to sell your home and will not loose it. 11. Duration An IVA will generally last for 5 years whereas it is normal to get a discharge from bankruptcy after 1 year with payments to the bankruptcy lasting three years. 12. Publicity Your bankruptcy is advertised in a local newspaper which is not the case in an IVA
Q. Do I have to be in full time employment?
A: No. You need to have a regular source of income, from which once you have paid your household bills, you have a surplus income.
Q. Do I have to tell my partner?
A: An IVA will generally last for 5 years and if you own a property you will be expected to try to realise your share of the equity at the end of the term. In addition the information, which is presented to your creditors needs to show the total household income, although an allowance is given to your partner which is calculated based upon the level of their income and household expenditure. You will almost certainly, then, have to tell your partner if you are entering into an IVA.
Q. Does an IVA cover all of my debts?
A: Only unsecured and preferential debts can be included. Secured debts cannot be included but a provision will be made in your income and expenditure to allow you to continue to repay your monthly instalments. Certain other debts are specifically excluded from your IVA such as fines and arrears on CSA payments. Please note these cannot be included in bankruptcy.
Q. Can I be made bankrupt when I am in an IVA?
A: No. An IVA precludes those creditors bound by the IVA from taking any further action, provided you adhere to the terms of the IVA.
Q. Can CCJ be registered against me when I am in arrangement?
A: As the arrangement is a legally binding contract the creditors are not able to pursue further action against you unless you breech the terms of the arrangement
Q. What happens if I am unable to make a repayment?
A: During your arrangement it is important that you make every effort to adhere to the terms as agreed with your creditors. However, if you need to miss a payment for any reason this must be agreed with your supervisor.
Q. My partner and I have joint debts but they do not want to enter into an IVA. What will happen?
A: If you and your partner have debts, which you took out in both your names then you are both jointly and severally liable in respect of those debts. The credit company is therefore at liberty to pursue your partner for the entire debt. Some creditors may be prepared to wait for their repayment under the IVA; however some may not so your partner may need to make a provision to pay the monthly repayments in line with the original credit agreement.
Q. How will an IVA affect my credit rating?
A: An IVA will be listed on your credit file with the different information providers. This information will show that you have entered into an arrangement. Once you have completed your IVA you will be issued with a certificate of compliance stating that you have completed your IVA satisfactorily. You will need to send this to the credit reference agencies who will then register your IVA as satisfied and this will stay on record for a further six years.
Q. Will I be able to obtain credit whilst I am in my IVA?
A: No further credit, with the exception of utilities, can be taken whilst in an IVA. Failure to adhere to this term is a fundamental breach of its terms and is likely to result in the failure of your IVA.
Q. What will happen if my circumstances change during my IVA?
A: Your creditors may be willing to look your change in circumstances which have resulted in you being unable to keep to the terms of the arrangement. Once all the facts have been established, a variation meeting can be called and an amended proposal put forward to your creditors for their consideration.
Q Who will know about my IVA?
A: Unlike bankruptcy an IVA is not published in any newspaper, however it is listed with the department of trade and industry and is available for public inspection if requested. Your employers do not need to be advised of the arrangement.
Bad Credit Personal Loans
Average personal debt in the UK has risen above the £4,000 mark for the first time ever according to recent research from Datamonitor. In February 2005 figures were published which showed that debt on personal loans, credit cards, finance deals and overdrafts amounted to £4004 per UK adult by the end of 2004. Credit borrowing it seems is still at a very strong level, despite last year's interest rate rises and an uncertain housing market.
Borrowing on bad credit personal loans has contributed to this debt figure too. There has been a steady increase in the number of applicants applying for bad credit personal loans in the UK. CCJs, mortgage arrears and house repossessions are at an all time low, allowing borrowers to break free of the traditional chains that have prevented them from being accepted for personal loans on the back of a bad credit history. This has made bad credit personal loans more accessible to consumers, with loans companies more willing to extend credit to people with a bad credit history based on income-debt ratios and the ability of the applicant to handle debt responsibly.
Facts about bad credit personal loans
Bad credit personal loans are ideal for people who have found it difficult to secure personal loans in the past because of a bad credit record or for tenants. They are issued by specialist loans providers who lend money based on criteria other than your full credit history. If you have CCJs against your name, or if you have bad debts, mortgage arrears or have been declared bankrupt, then these specialist loans companies will be able to help you.
There are essentially two types of personal loans available for people with a bad credit history - secured bad credit loans and unsecured bad credit loans. Secured loans require collateral, such as equity in your home; unsecured loans do not officially require collateral, but it does help if you are a homeowner.
Bad credit loans will adopt a higher APR than standard personal loans. An APR that is 2% to 4% higher than the APR on standard personal loans is not unusual on a bad credit loan. The total amount available for borrowing will be less too, and minimum monthly payments are likely to be higher as well.
A bad credit personal loan is a good opportunity for people with bad credit to start repairing their credit record. Time is a healer in this respect, and the longer you can go without defaulting on your personal loans repayments, then the better your credit record will become. In fact, many providers of bad credit personal loans will switch you to a mainstream personal loans deal with more favourable rates if you can prove your ability to repay for the first two or three years of the loan term.
