Fall Noted In Borrowing Outlook
July 31, 2008
Less people are looking to save, borrow or invest money, according to the publication of new figures.
According to GfK NOP’s latest UK Financial Activity Bulletin (FAB) carried out for JGFR, an estimated 35.5 million Britons are expecting to do at least one of the above actions over the next six months, a fall from the 39.5 million recorded this time last year. Some 2.9 million fewer consumers intend to put money into a savings or investment scheme, with those planning to borrow via personal loans and credit cards falling by 1.8 million.
Commenting on the findings, John Gilbert, author of the report, said: “The latest Financial Activity Survey data reflects the straitjacket many consumers find themselves in. More people have adopted a cautious approach to personal finances - seemingly preferring to focus on meeting monthly commitments and spending out of income.”
Mr Gilbert claimed that the study also reveals that financial services providers are set to introduce a series of “attractive offers” over the remainder of the summer months in an attempt to encourage consumer spending activity despite the impact of recent interest rate increases and “squeezed2 household budgets. “As in March the current climate remains a tough one for retail financial services providers. With higher-margin consumer credit constrained by continuing bad debt write-offs, many are having to seek new ways of generating revenue from financially restrained consumers - or cut costs,” he added.
Figures from the firm also indicated that Britons are particularly pessimistic about lending money. The FAB Borrowing Index was reported to have remained unchanged from March’s figures at 74.0 - a record low. Meanwhile, the Consumer Credit Index was shown to have slumped to 74.9 - the lowest figure ever recorded and the fifth consecutive quarter in which Britons’ outlook on credit usage fell. Down from March’s figure of 77.6, the index was also below the 101.1 witnessed in June 2006. The shortfall in demand for consumer credit was attributed to borrowers becoming more careful on how they spend their money amid concerns over future base rate rises by the Bank of England.
Despite fewer people borrowing via credit cards and personal loans in recent months, GfK NOP reported that the past two years have witnessed ‘high levels’ of consumers making repayments on various debts. In turn, the proportion of the adults expecting to complete debt repayments in the coming months has reduced from about a third to less than 25 per cent over the last 12 months. However, the decrease in debt servicing was partially attributed to more consumers taking a break from making secured loan repayments.
At the beginning of last month Alliance & Leicester’s senior personal loans manager Richard Al-Dabbagh claimed that those who borrow money should do so with careful planning and thought. His comments come after research from the company showed that almost half (42 per cent) of car buyers choose an expensive forecourt finance deal as they find it a convenient option. Mr Al-Dabbagh reported that those funding a large purchase via store or credit cards may find a cheap personal loan to be a more competitive choice.
Abbi Rouse writes for the 1 Stop Finance Shop where you can apply online for debt consolidation loans. We specialise in all sorts of personal loans with online application. Visit Today: http://news.1stopfinanceshopuk.biz/
5 Ways to Find the Best Stock Picks
July 31, 2008
There is no doubt that penny stocks are a risky and thinly traded breed of stocks issued by relatively tiny companies. Also, the SEC does not require penny stocks to follow their reporting rules. This combined with unclear or unverifiable financials can make this stock seem like something to avoid altogether. Penny stocks can be dangerous for investors of all experience levels but especially for amateurs just getting their feet wet. Here are five tips to help find the best penny stock picks.
1. Profit
First off is the company you are interested in investing in experiencing any sizeable profits. Better yet is their profit to debt ration favorable. Youd be hard pressed to find one of these little companies without debt but that doesnt mean you cant be picky. In this case the least amount of debt with the most profit will be a better investment. Another thing to watch is how progressive the debt payoffs have been. This would be a sign of good or bad financial management.
2. Industry Trends
This is one of those methods that almost all people use anyway. If there is a high demand for oil then people instinctively want to go buy oil stocks. The only problem with this kind of trend analysis is it really isnt forward looking analysis. This is just waiting and seeing which doesnt get you in on the ground floor of and investment before the public takes notice. Investing ahead of an industry trend is far better. So look for stocks in industries that are the edge of more demand.
3. Personal Interest
Theres a saying that you do well at things you enjoy to do. This makes logical sense and it works with stocks as well. If you invest in something that actually interests you then you will naturally be more studious and make more of an effort to choose the best stocks. It can be very boring researching stocks that dont interest you and you are likely not to be as thorough as you should be.
4. Tenure
How long has the company been in business? This is not to say that investing in newer companies is a bad idea but its more likely to be safer investing in a more established company with some kind of track record.
5. Bad Behavior
Last tip is an obvious one. Stay away from companies whose operations or transactions have been questionable. Even if the bad press is not completely true it will be difficult for a company to recover in the short and maybe even long term.
Scott Johns conducts research and analysis of stock market picks for a penny stock analysis company. To check out penny shares for some of his company’s latest picks.
Airline Credit Card Who Needs Them
July 30, 2008
An airline credit card is one which rewards purchases with air travel miles or points which can be redeemed for them. Airline credit cards ideally fit a certain user profile. Typically users of airline cards are financially well off and travel frequently. But who else needs them?
Ideal Airline Credit Card User Checklist
Before deciding to go for an airline credit card you should check your credit history. If it is perfect or almost perfect, you can check off one of the requirements of the ideal airline credit card user checklist. If you pay your credit card debt on time, you fulfill the second requirement of the checklist. It is also important that your debts on other credit cards and other bills are paid one time. You are a big spender, and spend it through your airline card. Most importantly, the travel miles are useful or important to you.
Reasons for the Airline Card Checklist
Airline cards usually charge higher interest than ordinary cards. If you are not timely in your credit payments, you incur a lot of interest. Also if you do not have excellent credit ratings, you fall into a higher interest bracket and do not qualify for the lower APR credit cards. This makes airline cards very expensive to own. It is also important to pay other debts regularly, since the rules link you credit ratings across debts. What this means is, if you have a bad credit rating in relation to another credit card you own, it affects your credit rating in the airline credit card and you may have to pay a higher rate of interest.
If you are not a big spender and do not spend much through your airline card you will not earn enough miles to travel by air for a long time. If travel isn’t interesting to you or is not incidental to your line of work, you may be better off looking for a low APR credit card.
If you do purchase an airline credit card, make the most of it, by using it whenever you shop. Also use your airline miles at the first chance you get. It is better to use your airline miles for long flights to make the most of them. Airline cards are used best when they are redeemed for airline miles. It is generally not worth it to redeem your airline card on other products.
Airline cards vary greatly in terms of their bundle of offerings. There are different APR’s and differing credit requirements (but you must have good credit). Also some airline credit cards offer bonus air miles. Different annual fees are charged. Bank sponsored airline cards allow you to redeem your air miles through a number of airlines. With airline sponsored cards you have to patronize the issuing airline. An informed purchase of your airline credit card can lead to smart savings for some, and free holidays for others. Remember to combine the informed purchase with smart usage of your airline card. If you can choose and use your airline credit card wisely, the only negative effect you can expect is jet lag.
For more information on airline credit card offers, Robert Alan recommends that you visit CreditCardAssist.com
Debt Consolidation Explained
July 30, 2008
The aim of debt consolidation is to allow you to pay off your debts and have lower monthly payments. Therefore, detailed research is necessary to ensure the lowest interest rate is obtained. This is because lowering the rate means the loan costs less. This saves money and allows the loan to be paid off sooner.
If you own your own home you have an advantage over those who do not. This is because you can apply for a debt consolidation loan and use the equity in your home as security. If you refinance in this way you are more likely to get approval and get a lower rate of interest. You must be disciplined though. For this method to work you must pay off your other debts with the money from the new loan. You should only use your home as collateral if you intend to make the payments on your new loan.
If you are paying a number of loans at once such as credit cards and unsecured personal loans then a debt consolidation loan may be the answer for you. The debt consolidation process combines all the loans into one loan. This means you only have one monthly statement meaning only one monthly payment. It can be hard keeping track of all your loan payments each month. With debt consolidation, this means you will only have one payment. The process is normally a good option but the downside is the debt consolidation loan is normally over a longer period of time and so the overall cost is often higher.
It may seem a bit odd to be talking about refinancing as a way of debt negation but to be honest taking out a debt consolidation loan is one way where you can renegotiate the terms of your loans. It is not the only way though. Most lenders are often open to the possibility of renegotiating your loan as a way of reducing the risk of default. A debt consolidation loan is not the only way forward.
You can refinance your mortgage or get a second mortgage as a means of debt consolidation. Whether or not you can get a second mortgage for debt consolidation depends on how much equity you have. You are not likely to get a second mortgage if you do not have any equity. A debt consolidation loan does not have to be secured on your home but you are normally able to get a lower inter rate if the debt consolidation loan is secured.
Shelley Green is the owner of http://www.mortgages-click.com, a site that specializes in Mortgages. Shelley Green is also the owner of Loans Click and Refinance Click.
Low Interest Rate Mortgages Do They Exist
July 30, 2008
Whether you want to obtain a credit card, loan, or mortgage, you will have to deal with interest rates. Unfortunately, interest rates can turn something that would otherwise be affordable into something that no longer is. To combat this problem, you are encouraged to search for low interest rates.
Obtaining a low interest rate, especially with a mortgage, is often easier said than done. As a potential homeowner, you have little control over the rate which you are being offered. This is why many individuals believe that low rate mortgages do not exist. Despite that belief, it is still possible to obtain a low interest rate mortgage.
If you are interested in obtaining a low interest rate mortgage, you will need to be prepared to do a little bit of research. You will have to find lenders that specialize in low interest rate mortgages. They are out there, but it may take a little bit of time to find them. In addition to finding low rate lenders, you may also want to examine and possibly improve your credit.
If you are wondering what your credit has to do with obtaining a low interest rate mortgage, you are not alone. Many believe that the interest rate is solely decided by the lender that they are seeking to obtain a mortgage from. While it is true that your financial lender will have the deciding say in what your interest rate will be, your credit can have an impact as well.
Mortgage lenders often have a preset interest range that they are allowed to charge. This preset range is often implemented by the government to keep the cost of owning a home affordable. Mortgage lenders, like all other financial lenders, are a little bit leery of doing business with an individual that has a low credit rating. To offer themselves security, they tend to charge those with poor credit a higher rate. This is not always the case, but a large number of lenders operate this way.
The good news about your credit is that you can improve it. If you know that you would like to buy a home in the future, you are encouraged to examine your credit. If you find anything that is unpaid, you are encouraged to pay it as soon as possible. In addition to having an impact on your interest rate, an improved credit score may even increase the amount of money that you are able to have to purchase a home.
Since interest rates vary and depend on a number of factors, you may want to do a little bit of comparison. The interest rate being advertised may not necessarily be the one that you will be offered. To receive an exact rate, you may be required to provide a mortgage lender with a little bit of information. Once they take your credit, your current financial situation, and the amount of money you are requesting into consideration they should be able to determine what the interest rate of your mortgage will be.
Once you have examined the rates from a number of mortgage lenders, you can easily compare your findings. If you are seeking a low interest rate mortgage, you will want to go with the lender who is offering you the lowest interest rate. It may take a little bit of time to compile all of this information together, but the amount of money you save on interest may be worth it in the end.
Joe Kenny writes for the Credit Card Guide, offering views on credit cards in the UK, visit them today for some great 0% balance transfer offers and start clearing credit card debt today.
Choosing a Credit Card When You Have Poor Credit
July 29, 2008
Poor credit is something that can happen to just about anyone, and it’s not always due to circumstances we could have controlled. Sometimes life events just go beyond what even the most budget conscious could have paid for.
Once you have things back under control, it’s time to start rebuilding your credit. Even if you hope to never have debt in your life again, building a good credit history can help you.
Your credit history can impact your ability to get a job, a car, a home. It can even impact the rates you pay on insurance. Places you wouldn’t necessarily think of may run a credit check on you.
This makes selecting a credit card to help you build up that score very important. You want it to be something that will help you rather than make things worse.
Many credit cards for poor credit have annual fees. These may not sound too bad, and in many cases really aren’t that bad, until you add them on top of all the other fees that may be charged. Some companies have a fee to join and a monthly fee on top of that, to where the fees are costing you more than you may have planned on spending on the card.
Right off the top, make sure you understand the fee schedule before you even apply for the card. There’s no point in paying for a card you’re going to loathe. Take a little time and you can find much more reasonably priced credit cards.
And don’t pay a fee until you actually get the card. This is one of the best ways to avoid being scammed. You may be having a hard time building up your credit, but that’s no reason to skip your due diligence. It’s for your own protection.
The interest rate offered to you matters, even if you aren’t particularly planning on carrying a balance. You might need to at some point, so do take this into consideration.
A big consideration is whether you want to go with a secured or unsecured credit card. You can find these available to you, pretty much no matter what your credit looks like. Which you prefer is pretty much up to you.
However, if you prefer a secured credit card, make sure that it is a true secured card and reported to the credit bureaus. You do not want to be wasting your efforts with a prepaid debit card when you’re trying to rebuild your credit score. The two can sound very similar, so be sure to ask the company when in doubt.
The grace period can be another major sticking point. You want to have enough time that you actually have a chance of getting your payments in on time. You may be capable of taking that bill the day you get it and sending your payment straight in, but what if you don’t? You need a sufficient grace period to allow yourself to comfortably make that payment.
Beyond all these factors, you want to look at what you really want from the card. If you’re going to carry a balance, a rewards card honestly is probably not the best choice, since the interest will probably eat up your benefits.
Going from a poor credit score to a good one takes time, but it’s a necessity of modern life for most people. If you work at it you should be able to improve your credit score steadily and make the move to a regular credit card over time.
Stephanie Foster blogs at http://credit-blog.findcreditonline.com/ on credit related issues. If you need to find a credit card for poor credit, she suggests looking over the unsecured credit cards at her site.
Tips On How To Cut Your Monthly Expenditures
July 29, 2008
Money can certainly be tight for many of us, and most of us could use a few tips on how to cut down our monthly bills. While not all tips will ever work for anyone, a number of these can be used by most - that means that there should be something here you can use. Here are a few ideas on how to cut down on your monthly expenses.
1. Combine Your Credit Cards
Most credit cards have a rather high interest rate on them - at least anything is high if it is greater than 0% APR interest. Many credit card offers will now give you 0% APR interest rates for balance transfers and give you great savings each month. All credit card offers are not equal, though, so you should do a little comparison shopping in order to get a good one. If you cannot get a credit card with this level of interest, then try to get one for as low a level as you can get. Also, watch out for balance transfer fees.
2. Comparison Shop
Rather than doing impulse buying, you will usually save a considerable amount of money by looking around for those better deals. This may mean it takes a little more time to shop, but it will help your bottom dollar line. By saving money on good deals, however, should mean that you may have a little more money at the end of each month to either put into savings, or, pay a little extra on those bills to reduce your debt. Much comparison shopping, as you know, can be done on the Internet - and save you some gas money, too.
3. Reduce Your Bills
While this may sound like it is so easy, it may not be for some. Some ways, however, that many can begin to save even more money is by cutting back their thermostat one or two degrees. That little bit can really add up over a year. Another way may be to take that new car and trade it in for a good used one - one that might get a little better gas mileage, too. Other bills that could be reduced may be your Internet service providers (which can be obtained for as little as $6.95), cable TV, and maybe even your car insurance could give you more savings if you increase your deductible.
4. Eat At Home More
Another great expense in many homes is the frequency of eating out. It obviously costs more to eat at a fast food restaurant than it does at home. Besides, it is healthier to eat a balanced home cooked meal than you will ever get at any fast food chain. Another thing that will help is if you plan your menus, and don’t go food shopping when you are hungry. By eating at home more often, it could be possible to save as much as $20 to $30 each week - something that you could put into savings, or use to help reduce your debt in other areas. And another thing, eating at home more could give everyone a little more family time, too.
5. Know Where Your Money Is Going
Most homes have no real idea of where every penny goes. If you keep track of every penny for about two or three weeks, you will know. But as you look over the things you spend money on each week, you may conclude that a lot of money was spent on things that you could have done without. Knowledge, someone said, is power, and knowing where your money is actually going will help you make some wise corrections.
As you become more conscious about where your money is going, and start to make more informed choices about your expenditures, you will soon find other ways to save even more. It all starts with making yourself conscious of where it is going, and knowing what do you want and need to do with it.
Joe Kenny writes for the Credit Card Guide, offering views on credit cards in the UK, visit them today for some great 0% balance transfer offers and start clearing credit card debt today.
Debt Consolidation Explained
July 28, 2008
The aim of debt consolidation is to allow you to pay off your debts and have lower monthly payments. Therefore, detailed research is necessary to ensure the lowest interest rate is obtained. This is because lowering the rate means the loan costs less. This saves money and allows the loan to be paid off sooner.
If you own your own home you have an advantage over those who do not. This is because you can apply for a debt consolidation loan and use the equity in your home as security. If you refinance in this way you are more likely to get approval and get a lower rate of interest. You must be disciplined though. For this method to work you must pay off your other debts with the money from the new loan. You should only use your home as collateral if you intend to make the payments on your new loan.
If you are paying a number of loans at once such as credit cards and unsecured personal loans then a debt consolidation loan may be the answer for you. The debt consolidation process combines all the loans into one loan. This means you only have one monthly statement meaning only one monthly payment. It can be hard keeping track of all your loan payments each month. With debt consolidation, this means you will only have one payment. The process is normally a good option but the downside is the debt consolidation loan is normally over a longer period of time and so the overall cost is often higher.
It may seem a bit odd to be talking about refinancing as a way of debt negation but to be honest taking out a debt consolidation loan is one way where you can renegotiate the terms of your loans. It is not the only way though. Most lenders are often open to the possibility of renegotiating your loan as a way of reducing the risk of default. A debt consolidation loan is not the only way forward.
You can refinance your mortgage or get a second mortgage as a means of debt consolidation. Whether or not you can get a second mortgage for debt consolidation depends on how much equity you have. You are not likely to get a second mortgage if you do not have any equity. A debt consolidation loan does not have to be secured on your home but you are normally able to get a lower inter rate if the debt consolidation loan is secured.
Shelley Green is the owner of http://www.mortgages-click.com, a site that specializes in Mortgages. Shelley Green is also the owner of Loans Click and Refinance Click.
How To Get Debt Collectors Off Your Back Permanently
July 28, 2008
Debt collectors are liars, cheaters, etc… They take advantage of every loophole possible and even break the law. They have been featured on almost every news program from CNN to 60 Minutes. There are laws in place to contain their harassment and collection efforts and to make this process more civil, but most figure the risk of getting caught is minimal and that the rewards of endlessly harassing and fleecing victims is far greater. We now have the power to take back our lives, stop them in their tracks and sue them for more than they are trying to collect.
First, lets start with what is actually owed and how most collection agencies work. Usually a unpaid debt is either sold or turned over to a collection agency. 95% or more of these debts are credit cards, store cards, gas cards, etc… These debts are then tiered according to age of debt, amount, credit, job history, etc… Generally most debts are bought for pennies on the dollar. Recent debt may go for $.15 to $.25 on the dollar whereas old debt that has had numerous collection attempts goes for $.05 or less and debt that is beyond the statues of limitations for the state the debtor resides in goes for less than $.01. So, for instance if you owed $10000.00 on a credit card, the debt collection agency paid at most $2500.00, but probably paid less than $1500 for it. Now, what’s interesting is that they will call and write you stating that you now owe $14000.00 or so stating that it has accrued interest and various questionable fees. This is all profit if you were dumb enough to pay that. A fair settlement would be $1700.00 or less. So, the point here is that you don’t ever owe what they are trying to collect from you - it is always far, far less.
Secondly, lets give you some more ammunition - The 1977 FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) gives you rights the debt collectors won’t tell you about. If you don’t want to hear from them again, its easy. Just write them a letter stating that you wish they cease all contact with you (make sure you put in the letter that - P.S. This letter is in no way an acknowledgement of the above listed debt(s) - that way they cannot even attempt to try and re-age your debt (add another 7years of collection and reporting to further harass). Send the letter registered return receipt requested mail and keep your proof of receipt. If they contact you after this for any reason other than to tell you they are either dropping the issue or taking it to court (99.99% won’t go to court as it costs them more money and their odds of getting anything are almost zero - even with a judgement) then you can sue them for each occurrence for $1,000. People win these suits every day - most settle out of court for a lot more than the original debt (just look this up on the internet under small claims court). You also have the right to question the debt and have the debt collector provide proof. Many debt collection agencies are being sued by many debtors for their failure to provide proof. Just look up Asset Acceptance on the internet - they are one of the biggest abusers of this federal law with thousands of outstanding lawsuits for harassing debt collection practices.
So, now you know how to stop debt collection agencies in their tracks. You know how to get relief - sue them! If enough people sue them things will change. Also use your state and local resources. State Attorney generals go after debt collection agencies that routinely break the law, Consumer protection agencies (the Better Business Bureau, etc…), the Federal Trade Commission goes after the worst abusers, and, of course, your state department of insurance and finance (whom actually licenses these agencies rto operate in your state). You state department of finance and insurance, or similar, has the power to fine, punish and even banish the debt collection agency from your state. Every state requires a debt collection agency to be licensed and put up a large financial bond (around $50,000) to operate in your state. Call these folks if you are having problems with a debt collection agency - they will get immediate results in your favor. Don’t threaten the collection agency that you have these rights - use them. Bring the collection agency to its knees if they are violating your rights.
The other problem is are these bills, debts even correct? Many hospitals, doctors, etc… have no ethics and will purposely double or even triple bill patients without insurance because they know they can get away with it. If you have a question about your bill demand a itemized bill and have this professionally examined. This will reveal things like overcharging ($100 tissue boxes, 1000 percent markup on medicines, etc…) We entrust these hospitals and doctors with our lives and then they screw us by double billing or worse. Right now there is no government policing on hospitals. Many times a debt collector will actually make up a debt or illegally pass one on to you from someone else (Asset Acceptance has been sued for this many times). Do not assume that you owe any debt and take them to task. If you do owe it, pay it, but pay the least amount possible, and pay it on your terms. If they break the law - make them pay!
If you have a problem with a bill make it known to your state politicians. If enough people do this things will change. Write to your local newspaper, tell a friend, do a press release. Tell others of their rights. Cigarette boxes come with warnings - shouldn’t debt collectors and debt collection agencies with their high propensity to skirt the law also come with mandatory warnings? The more the word gets out, the better the odds something will be done about it.
David Maillie holds numerous patents including his recently awarded patent for headlight repair, cleaner and restorer. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: MDwholesale.com Bestskinpeel.com
Finding That Free Debt Consolidation Quote
July 27, 2008
If you have gotten yourself into debt and are considering debt consolidation you should do all you can to get a free quote first. Getting a consolidation is usually the best way to get out of debt when you are in way too deep. Being into deep is exactly the reason you will need to look at getting a free quote to help you decide your next step. Make sure you get these free debt consolidation quotes from several different places in order to ensure you are getting the best one.
How exactly do you go about getting a free quote? First of all you want to make sure you compare, as many of them as you can, so be sure to check at as many different agencies as possible. Do your research and thoroughly look at all aspects of the loan.
There are certain things to look at and consider when looking at a free consolidation quote. When looking around for a free debt consolidation quote you should make sure that you are looking at interest rates and finding the lowest one possible. This means one that is lower than your current rate. When getting a free quote try as hard as you can to get an unsecured loan so that you do not have to put up your home or car up as collateral. These types of loans usually have slightly higher interest rates but will eliminate any unneeded stress later on due to another mortgage or car loan.
So where should you go to start looking for a free debt consolidation quote? First you should know that there are several different companies that can offer a free quote so you should have no problem finding one that offers the best deal for you and your needs. When looking for a free quote you give the company your information, whether over the phone or on an application that is mailed to you. Another place to look for a free consolidation quote is online where you will also fill out an application and maybe even get the quote in very little time. This offers a lot of convenience and speed when it comes to getting the quote.
Getting as many free debt consolidation quotes as possible before actually getting a consolidation is the best way to go in the end. This is because you will be able to get a variety of different quotes and see all your options at once. This in turn will allow you to get the best deal you possibly can for you and your needs. So when looking at your consolidation loans always remember it is a good idea to get a free consolidation quote first.
Check out http://www.my-credit-center.com/ for more articles on no credit credit cards and accept credit card merchant account.
