Is it Better To Buy or To Rent a House?

Before rushing out and putting a down payment on a house, take a quick glance at the pros and cons of buying as against renting a home.
 There are cases where home renting might be better.
 1. If you are going to be in a place for just a short time, you may want to rent. Unless of course the market goes through the roof in a brief time, your appreciation in a house could be eaten up by buying and selling costs.
 2. If you live in a place where rents are cheap and appreciation of housing price is low, you might be better off renting and putting your money in something other than a house.
 3. If you depend on a superintendent to fix your apartment and can never do it yourself, home ownership is not for you. But most individuals think the advantages of buying far outweigh those of renting.

When you rent a home, you are left with a bunch of rent receipts instead of a value that is your own. With the tax deduction, you pay less for a house compared to the renter paying the same amount as rent. In many regions, rents are going up. Paying for the same amount or even a bit more in mortgage payments pays back in tax deductions and housing appreciation. In high-rent areas, the aftertax cost of owning is similar as renting for households earning $50,000 a year or more. Given those circumstances, why rent? That is a decision you must make depending on the situation in your area. Whatever your situation, prior to buying a home, you might want to consider the true cost of buying, as well as all expenses and gains.

Choosing a House to Buy: New House or Old House?

Basic Guidelines in Buying Real Estate Property

Should You Consider Home Refinancing?

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What is a Mutual Fund?


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A mutual fund is a type of investment in which individu­als can pool their money to buy various types of securities, such as bonds and stocks. Mutual funds generally are sound investment options for the low-budget investor since they allow for variegation and professional management. Several mutual funds invest in fast-growing and aggressive companies, while some invest in more static "blue chip" stocks.  Just like in most investments, you could lose money as well as profit from it.  Choose your fund based on cost, risk, and track record.

Mutual funds operate to produce profit, first for the company managing your funds and second, for you, the investor. The company and salespeople make revenues through fee systems. There are two types of fees structures: front-load and no-load. Front-load mutual funds charge a fee once you purchase your shares, thus your initial investment is reduced by the amount of the fee. "No-load," on the other hand, means that instead of charging you up front, the fee is amortized over a number of years. Theoretically, a no-load fund should earn more since more of your money is working for you. Pretty much, there is little difference between the two.
A lot of mutual fund companies offer investors the flexibility of flipping their investments among various funds in their selected group of funds. Hence, you are able to switch from growth stocks to blue chip stocks or from bonds to stocks, or even to a money market account, where your funds are held in cash.

This is a helpful alternative. If interest rates are high, and stock prices are low, you will consider shifting to an interest-bearing account. Then, when stock prices oscillate up, you could shift to a secure stock fund. Most reputable business magazines evaluate the track records of mutual funds on a regular basis.  It is worth con­sulting these financial publications for selections.



© Athena G

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What is a Certificate of Deposit?


A CD or certificate of deposit is an interest-bearing note issued by a bank. These are time-related notes that grow and are payable according to your contractual arrangement with the bank. The time period may vary from thirty days to ten years. Typically, the longer the maturity time period, the higher the interest earned. Early withdrawal results in forfeiture of a substantial portion of the interest.
Certificate of deposits are insured up to $100,000 per depositor if the issuing bank is a member of the Federal Depositors' Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Those issued by a Savings and Loan should be insured by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corpo­ration (FSLIC).


© Athena G

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Home Refinancing



What are the advantages and disadvantages of refinancing a home if the prevailing interest rates are lower than the mortgage rate?

Many individuals refinance their home  if they can get a lower interest rate. Still, one needs to deliberate the additional costs. Primarily, the homeowner has to pay a loan up-front fee for the processing of a new loan, and you possibly will have to pay-off the penalty on the previous loan. In addition, you will be charged with attorney's fees, closing costs, etc.

If you plan to stay in the home for a long period of time, or longer than three years, you  may be able to regain the expenses with the lower interest rate (if the new  rate is at least two percent lower than the old one). But if you aim to put up the property for sale soon, you may actually pass up a benefit. Your former loan may be assumable, even if it has a higher rate, and the new loan may not be. So if the rates go up again and you try to sell your home, you may encounter difficulty because the purchaser would be required to pay the latest interest rate.

Normally, if you have plans of settling in your home for several years and you could lower the interest rate by refinancing, it's a good idea.

Strategies on Investing Your Savings 

What is Homeowner’s Insurance Policy?

© 2011 Athena Goodlight

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Is an Additional Retirement Plan Needed Aside from Social Security?

Many individuals approaching retire­ment age may depend on Social Security as their primary income source. With the things people are hearing about how underfunded the system is, it is not unusual that doubts abound on how secure our Social Security really is.

The most estimable matter that anybody can do is offer an opinion on the financial competence of the Social Security system.  As of now, those who are already receiving benefits will be covered to the extent of the government's capacity.

The potential problems for them are twofold: first off, inflation can easily devaluate any fixed income retirement plan. Social Security has a built-in cost-of-living adjuster, but any extended inflationary cycle would almost certainly involve necessary modification. This can happen if the government is deficient in funds to override double-digit inflation. Second, the trend in Congress is aimed at shifting costs, such as Medicare, to the recipients and taxing benefits at a later date. Either of these can create mayhem when you're living on a limited income.

If a married retired couple will both be living off on retirement benefits, and one faces death, the survivor may have to deal with inade­quate income to fund the daily needs. It would be best to have another income source, such as a part time job and formulate a sav­ings plan that could eventually provide extra income outside of Social Security.

For younger workers just getting into the system, the future of Social Security cannot be fully depended upon.  If there will be fewer new workers contributing to the sys­tem, and recipients are living longer, this would cause a big problem if not remedied by the government.  It is almost certain that retirement ages will be pushed back, and benefits will be cut down beyond in a few decades from now. In 1935 the system started with seventeen contribu­tors for each recipient. By 1980 it was seven to one, by the year 2000 about four to one. If this trend stays, by 2025 there will be only two contributors for every recipient.  The worse that could happen is that, the system will be bankrupt earlier than expected. It is just sensible for anyone to have an alternate retirement plan.



© 2011 Athena Goodlight

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What is Homeowner’s Insurance Policy?


A homeowner’s insurance policy is a comprehen­sive insurance program that covers the home, its con­tents, and any liability linked with the property. Typically, a homeowner’s policy is the least expensive way of insuring a home.

Individuals or families, who buy a house, will most likely be offered a fire insurance policy by the mort­gage company. First time homeowners may not be aware that there are other options. More often, they will not be informed either. Later, they will discover that they could have bought a homeowner’s pol­icy for nearly half of what was paid. It pays to do some research.

What options are available in homeowner’s insurance policies?  READ MORE

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Debt: How to Get Out of It


When you have overspent for the last three or four years, chances are it would eventually catch up with you. You may go through bill consolidation loans, loans from parents, and equity loans. Still you might find yourselves unable to pay the bills again. Added to that, you may also have overdue credit card bills, but still are using credit cards just to live month by month. How do you get out of this mess?

One of the simplest economic principles ever written: "If you don't borrow money, you can't get into debt" The second simplest economic principle is, "If you don't borrow any more money, you can't get further into debt"

Read more:  Start Getting Out of Debt Now



Debt-Free Forever Negotiate and Settle Your DebtsZero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom 2nd edition

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Difference Between Banks vs. Owner Financing



It can often be difficult to get a loan from banks, this is among the reasons why owner financing is growing in popularity among real estate buyers.  Among the many benefits of owner financing, the seller often accepts a lower down payment as compared to banks who often charge 20% or even more.  Additionally, several owner financed properties can be obtained without a credit check.  This is particularly good for anyone who has a few flaws on his/her credit report, which causes banks to charge a higher than regular interest rates.  An individual, or real estate developer, who is in the business of providing owner financing will likely extend financing to anyone who agrees to keep the payments current.

In recent years, the internet has become a hub for owner financing properties while also providing plenty of lending opportunities for anyone who wishes to apply for a loan from banks.  Currently, a lot of the major internet auction sites have a category that is specifically designed for buying and selling real estate.  These categories are more often used for owner financing options related to land purchases, but buyers will find a few homes sprinkled in now and then.  From a mountainous retreat to a tropical island paradise, there is owner financing for land in these and other areas.

Customers who wish to apply for loans from banks will find a variety of credit and loan resources online.  These sites offer a customer the ability to have banks competing for their business.  According to these sites, offers may begin arriving within hours.  Not everyone will be approved, however, as there are a number of deciding factors that banks look at when deciding to extend credit.  Among them, the customers credit history, debt to income ratio, ability to repay the loan and the presence of regular income. 

Loans that are obtained through banks will require documentation, which may include previous 2-3 years of tax returns, current pay stubs and/or proof of employment.  If they own land, individuals who are interested in buying or building a home will find that they have more success with banks.  The reason is because the land will become partial collateral for the loan and, if the buyer defaults, banks will foreclose on both the house and the land.  In addition, many land owners do not have to come up with the money for a down payment as the equity in their land will serve as the down payment.

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Divorce and Life Insurance Fine Print

 Did you know that your life insurance policy could nevertheless cover your ex even if you two are already divorced and no longer like to be a part of each other's lives? Insurance policies have many fine writing when it concerns this. You don't want to neglect your insurance decisions since it may end up making you pay more than you think. The divorce laws vary for every state, so you'll want to check into what it means for you and your spouse, because you might find yourself in the midst of some expensive ramifications. If you have a good insurance broker, you might be able to protect yourself from this. You'll want to make certain that you think carefully about your insurance choices when it comes to your mate...READ MORE>>>

Personal Finance (Personal Financial Survival Kit)

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How to Maximize Your Home as an Investment Asset

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Is your home a valuable asset or a liability?

With the present economic crunch, many homeowners are left thinking if their house is a wise investment or merely place to stay. Is your home a valuable asset or a liability? Here are some of the major concerns of homeowners and tips on what they can do with the property given the present economic situation.

Is my home more of an investment or a liability?

Although your home can be considered your most valuable asset, it is unlikely to deliver greater gains in the long run as compared to investing in a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds. This has been held true even before the drop of real estate values. Over the past two decades – including the period of the real estate investment growth—the average gains of home prices are just about 3.6% per annum as compared to stocks, despite their recent drops, were up 8.4% about the same period.

The Long-Term Advantages
There are, however, other important financial benefits of owning a home. A homeowner can benefit from tax breaks. These are deductions for property taxes and mortgage interests (plus, the first 500,000 that couples make after selling is tax-free). Owning a home could also be counted as an ideal savings tool— with every mortgage payment, you are forced to set aside money, thus keeping your savings intact in form of a tangible asset. This is also the key reason why most homeowners have a higher net worth than renters. Throughout history, real estate has been considered a good hedge against inflation.

Additional Tips
If you plan to resell your home in the future, don’t overspend in renovations, you might recoup when you sell. Instead, focus on fixing its problems and invest in projects that add functionality to the home.

Be realistic about your gains. In the long run, the value of your home can have an expected rise of about one to two percentage points over inflation.

© 2010 Athena Goodlight

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Being a Personal Loan Co-signer

Uniform Residential Loan Application - pages 3 and 4Being a co-signer on a personal loan for a friend or a relative is a very benevolent offer as it will likely mean the difference between them being able to qualify for such a loan and not being eligible. However, the decision of being a co-signer for a personal loan should not be taken lightly. It is the responsibility of potential co-signers to educate themselves about how this situation affects them, especially with regard to their responsibility to the loan in case the borrower default.

Most co-signers don’t realize that this loan is going to show up on their credit report. Keep in mind that this might affect your ability to get your own loan down the road as the personal loan you co-signed on with by used to calculate your debt to income ratio. It can also affect the interest rate you get your own loans at. If you feel it is a good idea to co-sign a personal loan for a friend or family member, do so with the understanding that after a set amount of making on time payments the borrower will attempt to redo the loan under their own name only. The more money you co-sign for, the longer you can expect to be a part of that loan.

Since the loan can both positively and negatively impact the credit rating of the co-signer it is important to set the loan up so that they co-signer can access the account information. This will allow you to find out what has been paid on the loan and what is still owed. Make sure the lender will inform you of any late payments or non-payment issues with the borrower as soon as they happen. Too often co-signers aren’t aware there was an issue with the loan until it has already impacted their credit.

While co-signing a loan for a friend or family member can help them, be aware of how it will affect not only your credit but your relationship as well. Nothing can sour relationships faster than money issues. It is important for a co-signer to look at the circumstances that lead to the individual needing one in the first place. If it comes down to simple money mismanagement, then you aren’t doing them or yourself any favors. However, it is the result of circumstances they had no control over you may want to consider it.

To minimize your risk as a co-signer, don’t make it habit of offering to do so for friends and family. The word will spread like wildfire with more requests heading your direction. If you don’t feel your own credit and finances can’t hold up if the borrower doesn’t repay the loan, then do not co-sign for a personal loan. It can be difficult to say no, but it is important you are able to.

You might consider having the borrower provide your with verification that payments are being made including regular statements or canceled checks. To further reduce your risk as a co-signer insist the borrower purchases personal loan insurance that can cover loan payments for a particular amount of time due to unemployment, illness, or death.

Co-signing a personal loan for someone is more than giving your signature. You are putting your financial history and worthiness on the line for that person. It is important that you carefully review the borrowers need for the money as well as their spending patterns. If they owe other people money or continually live beyond their means, walk away with a clear conscious. There are times that being a co-signer on a personal loan is the right thing to do. Only you can make that decision. If you decide to go forward with it make sure you can afford the cost of any missed payments and that the lender is going to keep you informed on the payment status on the personal loan.

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Second Mortgage Loans

Second mortgage loans are loans taken out against your home equity after your primary loan has been taken out. Your home equity is your collateral for this type of loan. In cases of default on both primary and secondary loan, the first loan should be paid first before paying the balance of your second loan.
Many home owners enter a second mortgage loan for several reasons.

Read more: Second Mortgage Loans

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Pros and Cons of Tapping into Your 401K to Avoid Foreclosure

Foreclosure has become a crisis in America and many homeowners are desperately trying to find solutions to prevent foreclosure. More and more of them, if they haven’t already, are thinking about tapping into their 401K’s or IRA’s to avoid foreclosure.
When the housing market was up and the interest rates were at a historical low, there was a refinance frenzy taking place. Most of these mortgages were refinanced with an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) and when there mortgage increased, homeowners were unable to pay the additional amount. When the housing market plummeted, not only did people lose jobs, but many homeowners could not even sell their homes to get out of foreclosure.
No matter what the situation, if you are one of the many homeowners facing foreclosure and your are thinking about using retirement savings, check out these “pros” and “cons” on using your 401K or IRA to avoid foreclosure.

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Faxless Payday Loans 101: Where to Apply What Are the Application Requirements

The faxless payday loan is ideal for people who are looking to borrow money on a short-term basis and who are willing to guarantee the loan against their next paycheck. Considering the alternatives such as credit card cash advances and the conventional bank loan, a faxless payday loan is quick, convenient and offers far more competitive rates.

Most lenders do business online. This reduces their overhead costs such as office supplies (e.g. paper, pens used for application forms), and allows them to automate processes such as application assessments. Lenders are able to operate more efficiently, so that the cost savings can be passed on to their customers.

Read more: Faxless Payday Loans 101: Where to Apply What Are the Application Requirements

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How To Avoid Late Fees

Past due bills
Although it may be overstated, there is a lot of truth to people ruining their credit score due to missing payments and paying their credit card bills late. The fees can pile up and the interest rates can grow before you know it, and after a while you won’t even be able to pay the minimum amount of payment. If you don’t do something fast - it could be the beginning of the end.

To make sure this don’t happen to you, you should always pay your bill on time, and always avoid missing a payment. Sometimes, it can be hard to make your payments on time, although you should always do everything in your power to ensure that you stay on top of things. Below, you’ll find some tips to help you with your credit card payments.

As stated above, you should always pay your bill on time. If something comes up and you aren’t able to pay, you’ll be penalized. Even though you may think what has come up will justify a late payment, it doesn’t justify the means in the eyes of your credit card company. Inside of your bill, you’ll find detailed instructions regarding payment. You should always follow them as accurately as possible, pay where and when you are supposed to pay - and do it on time.

If you simply aren’t able to pay your entire bill, you shouldn’t worry about it - but instead pay the minimum amount possible. Even though you may be able to pay more later, you should always pay at least the minimum amount. Then, when you have more money, you can always add to your minimum payment by sending in an additional payment.

The easiest way to do this, is to always have the minimum payment amount set aside, so that you have it once your credit card bill arrives. Once you have assured yourself that you won’t be penalized or charged any late fees, you should look into paying a higher amount than just the minimum balance. By paying the minimum amount, you’ll also ensure that no other fees will be added to your next credit card bill.

Another option includes skip a payment, although you’ll need to check whether or not your credit card company offers it or not. This service will allow you to request a waiver regarding your payment, when something comes up and you don’t have the money to pay your bill. Make sure that you use this service wisely if you have it, as it can only be used once a year. Therefore, you should always ensure that the situation is truly an emergency and there are no other options available for you. This service will normally have a cost as well, and you’ll need to pay it the following month.

Although credit cards can be great for numerous reasons, you should always know your interest rates and have a good general idea of what your bill is going to be before you make a purchase. Many times, those who have credit cards will make purchases, knowing they can’t make the payments - then suffer when they get the bill and aren’t able to pay it.

Anytime you have a credit card, you should always make sure that you have the money to pay the bill, or the minimum amount, the minute it arrives. This way, you’ll remain in good standing with your company and your credit score will continue to increase. If you simply aren’t able to make your payment, you should contact your credit card issuer immediately and see if you can work something out.

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Re-Financing with Bad Credit

Couple arguing over bills
Many years ago, it would have been extremely difficult for those with bad credit to obtain a mortgage loan in the first place. However, today there are so many loan options available and so many ways for lenders to protect themselves that those with bad credit can not only find a suitable mortgage but can also find appealing re-financing options as well.

Those with poor credit should carefully consider whether or not re-financing is ideal for them at the present time but the process is not much different for them as it is for those with good credit. Those with bad credit who want to learn more about re-financing should consult a mortgage advisor who specializes in mortgages for those with bad credit. Additionally the homeowner should carefully evaluate their credit score and whether or not it has improved. Finally the homeowner should evaluate their options carefully to ensure they are making the best possible decision.

Consult a Mortgage Advisor
Consulting with a mortgage advisor is recommended for those with poor credit. These homeowners may be knowledgeable about the process of re-financing but their situation warrants consulting with an industry expert. This is important because a mortgage advisor who specializes in obtaining mortgages and re-financing for those with bad credit will likely be very knowledgeable about the types of options available to the homeowners.

When consulting with the mortgage advisor, the homeowners should be completely honest about their financial situation and should provide the expert with all of the information he needs to assist them in finding an ideal re-financing agreement. Being completely candid will be very helpful in enabling the mortgage advisor to assist the homeowner in the best way possible.

Consider Whether or Not Your Credit has Improved
Homeowners with bad credit should carefully consider whether or not their credit has improved since the original mortgage was secured. Homeowners who have documented proof of past credit scores can compare these scores to current values. Each citizen is entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the major credit reporting agencies. Homeowners can obtain these reports for use in making comparisons to the previous credit scores. Imperfections on the credit report such as bankruptcies, delinquent or missed payments and other transgressions do not remain on the credit report.

These blemishes are often erased from the credit report after a certain period of time. The amount of time the transgression remains on the report is proportional to the severity of the offense. For example a bankruptcy will remain on the credit report for significantly longer than a late payment. In examining the credit report, homeowners should consider the overall credit score but should also note whether or not previous offenses are being erased from the credit report in a timely fashion.

Evaluate Re-Financing Options Carefully
Once a homeowner has tentatively made a decision to re-finance the mortgage, it is time to start considering the many options that are available to the homeowner during the process of re-financing. Most homeowners mistakenly believe one factor of the re-financing process they have no control over is the interest rate. While this rate is largely dependent on the homeowners credit score, even those with poor credit have the ability to lower their interest rate by purchasing point. A point is typically equally to 1% of the total loan amount and may translate to a ¼ of a percentage point on the interest rate. When deciding whether or not to purchase points, the homeowner should carefully consider the amount of time it would take the homeowner to recoup the cost of purchasing the points. This will help to determine whether or not it is worthwhile to purchase one or more points when re-financing.

Homeowners will also have options in terms of the type of loan they choose when re-financing. Common options include fixed rate mortgages, adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) and hybrid mortgages. The interest rate remains constant with a fixed rate mortgage, adjusts with an ARM and is fixed for a period of time and adjustable for the remainder of the loan period with a hybrid loan.

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Get Out of Credit Card Debt

Credit Card Wrapped in Chains and Padlocked
Can I get out of credit card debt?

Yes, you can get out of credit card debt. If you are determined to get out of credit card debt you surely can get out of credit card debt. Though it’s a bit difficult to get out of credit card debt, it isn’t impossible. All you need to get out of credit card debt is determination and planning. Both are equally important (or maybe determination is even more important). Determination doesn’t come without proper reason. So, you need to first ask this question to yourself – “What will I get if I am able to get out of credit card debt?”, “What difference will it make”, “What’s in it for me” or “Is it really beneficial to get out of credit card debt”. Use the answers to build your determination. The fact that all the nagging via mails/phone (by the credit card supplier and/or their collection agent), will be gone, should do good to strengthening your determination and should provide you with a reason on why you should endeavour to get out of credit card debt. Think about the stress-free life after you get out of credit card debt. Try to link various reasons together and try to see the benefits through them. All these collectively will help in bolstering your determination and prevent it from getting weak at any point in time.

The second thing that you need to get out of credit card debt is planning. The planning to get out of credit card debt will start with making a list of the credit cards that you currently posses and noting the debt and the APR for each of them. The sum total of all these various credit card debts, will give you the total credit card debt. You also need to check if you have been defaulting on payments on some of these credit cards (and hence incurring a late fee). You will need to avoid that and put it on the plan you have prepared to get out of credit card debt. The next step in getting out of credit card debt is to check your current financial position and make an assessment of what you expect your future financial position to be. Next comes the research to check the various balance transfer offers available in the market; to see if one of these can prove beneficial to you. Use all this information to calculate how much time you will require to get out of credit card debt and how you will distribute the debt payment across your various credit cards (ensuring that you payoff the debt that is hitting you the most and also ensuring that you don’t incur late fees on any credit card payments.

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What is Bad Debt Credit Card?

Money Matters
Bad debt credit card is basically a credit card that the credit card suppliers offer to the people who have bad debt. Did that astonish you? Well, don’t let your thoughts run just yet.
You can classify bad debt credit cards into 2 categories based on what you understand by bad debt credit card. The first category of bad debt credit cards is those credit cards that are secured (and are also known as secured credit cards). These bad debt credit cards require a security i.e. you have to open (and maintain) a bank account with the bad debt credit card supplier. The credit limit on your bad debt credit card is calculated as a percentage of the balance you hold in the bank account you have opened with bad debt credit card supplier. Generally, this is 50-100% of your bank account balance. So, this bad debt credit card enables you to spend the amount you hold in your bank account; only the way you spend it changes (i.e. instead of spending that as cash you spend it using your bad debt credit card). So bad debt credit card lets you enjoy the convenience and other benefits that are associated with credit cards, even with a bad debt. This security is as such important for the bad debt credit card supplier; after all how can you trust someone who has a bad credit rating.
The other category of bad debt credit cards are nothing unusual, they are the same cards that we know of most commonly; the only difference is in the way you get them and the objective behind getting them. Here, we are talking about the credit cards that you use as a debt consolidation mechanism i.e. consolidating bad debt (as such any debt is bad). So we can call them bad debt credit cards too. These operate by transferring of the balance you owe on your current, high interest credit cards to these bad debt credit cards that have a lower APR (at least for some initial period). Hence, these bad debt credit cards help you in consolidating your debt and getting some relief from the higher APR that you were experiencing on your current card.
Some people accept both of the above categories of credit cards as bad debt credit cards while others tend to go with one or the other. So, what you regard as a bad debt credit card is really a matter of personal choice.

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A problem called ‘Credit Card Debt ‘

portrait of a young woman pulling her hair
Credit cards are no more a luxury, they are almost a necessity. So, you would imagine a lot of people going for credit cards. In fact, a lot of people posses more than one credit cards. So, the credit card industry is growing by leaps and bounds. However, the credit card industry and credit card holders are posed with a big problem called ‘Credit Card Debt’. In order to understand what ‘credit card debt’ actually means, we need to understand the workflow associated with the use of credit cards as such.
Credit cards, as the name suggests, are cards on which you can get credit i.e. make borrowings (your credit card debt). Your credit card is a representative of the credit account that you hold with the credit card supplier. Whatever payments you make using your credit card are actually your borrowings that contribute towards your credit card debt. Your total credit card debt is the total amount you owe credit card supplier. You must settle your credit card debt on a monthly basis. So, you receive a monthly statement or your credit card bill which shows your total credit card debt. You must pay off your credit card debt by the payment due date failing which you will incur late fee and interest charges. However, you have the option of making a partial (minimum) payment too, in which case you don’t incur late fee but just the interest charges on your credit card debt. If you don’t pay off your credit card debt in full, the interest charges too get added to it. So your credit card debt keeps on increasing, more so because the interest rates on credit card debt are generally higher than the interest rates on other kind of loans/borrowings. Further, the interest charges add on to your credit card debt each month to form the new balance or the new credit card debt amount. If you continue making partial payments (or no payments) the interest charges are calculated afresh on the new credit card debt. So you end up paying interest on the last month’s interest too. Thus your credit card debt accumulates rapidly and soon you find that what was once a relatively small credit card debt has ballooned into a big amount which you find almost impossible to pay. Moreover, if you don’t still control your spending habits, your credit card debt rises even faster. This is how the vicious circle of credit card debt works.

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Collection Process on Personal Loans

IOU and receipts pinned to cork board
Personal loans are available for a variety of uses. Most individuals who obtain them have every intention of repaying them as outlined in the terms of the loan. However, we all know that life can have plans for us that differ from what we envision for ourselves. There are also individuals out there who suck the life from any financial resource available, with absolutely no intention of repaying the funds.

There are many courses of action lenders can take in an effort to collect unpaid personal loans. If you find yourself in a situation where you can’t repay your personal loan, it is in your best interest to contact the lender immediately. They are more willing to work with you than to turn you into collections. Being honest about your situation will help them explore all the available options with you. In some cases, you can revise the loan to have lower payments or even skip a few payments without it causing a negative impact on your credit report.

The collection process for each lender is different. It is an area you should familiarize yourself with prior to accepting the terms of the loan. If you obtained a personal loan using the assistance of collateral attached to the personal loan or a co-signer than you in a dire situation that requires your attention to remedy it as quickly as possible.

Most creditors don’t care who repays the loan, as long as the funds get paid. Therefore, they have every intention of holding a co-signer liable for the balance due on the loan when the borrower is in default. The creditor may still desire to pursue legal action against the borrower. This can be done by taking the borrower to court. However, due to the time and cost involved they will likely just choose to pursue the co-signer for the funds. If a co-signer refuses to pay, then the creditor is likely to take both the borrower and co-signer to court or send the account to a collection agency.

Neither option works well for the borrower or co-signer. Court costs are expensive and you may need to pay for legal representation. The court can mandate you pay a set amount of money each month, or face the consequences of the legal system. Collection agencies generally will continually hound both the borrower and co-signer with phone calls and letters. They can also choose to garnish your paycheck, greatly reducing the amount of take home income you have.

Secured personal loans that go into default mean the creditor will be taking the asset you tied into the loan. This can be property, a vehicle, or other type of asset. Keep in mind that just because they have that asset, your loan may not be settled. Often, they will sell the asset for whatever amount they can get, and then apply that amount towards the balance due. The remaining balance will still be your responsibility, thus it could result in court proceedings or collections.

To prevent your personal loan from spiraling out of control, make sure you only borrow the amount of money you absolutely need. This will help keep your monthly payments low. Budget each month for repayment of your personal loan. If you have extra funds, consider paying in advance or placing the money into a savings account for emergencies.

Lenders find court proceedings and collections a costly and time consuming part of doing business. They will also collect on any collateral you put forth to secure the loan. They don’t enjoy it, but will take such action as means of recovering the money they lend. It is very important that you contact your lender immediately if you are not able to make a payment. This will allow them to work with you before the issue gets out of control. If you find a lender can’t help you, consider contacting a consumer counseling agency for further assistance.

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