Let us create a 3D eBook for you!
Let us create a 3d Digital eBook for you! DigyCat.com

 

Saving Money: Quick Cash, High Cost


I didn't think it was possible. But it is. Folks, there is something worse out there than putting everyday expenses on a credit card, then carrying the balance. The guys I'm going to tell you about make the credit card people look downright benevolent. Meet your smiling neighborhood cash advance parlor.

These legal loan sharks go by names like EZ Money, Cash 'N Go, Red E Cash, Cash in a Flash, the Money Tree, and others.

Here's how it works. You want cash now. Payday isn't for another two weeks. So you head on down to the loan shop. Just show them your driver's license, bank statement and pay stub. Write a check dated two weeks from now for, say, $200. A minute later, you're back on the street, $170 making a comforting bulge in your wallet. Two weeks later, the loan shop deposits your check. Pretty cool, huh?

What's that? You say your check was for $200, not $170? Do you recall when they mentioned a "small convenience fee"? That's the missing $30.

What would you say if I told you that "small convenience fee" amounted to an annual interest rate of 416%?

How do these lenders get away with rates this high when the credit card companies are limited to 24% or less (cry me a river)? Because, technically, you don't pay any interest. Just that flat fee.

So what are the alternatives? Just try going into a bank and asking to borrow a couple hundred for a few days. I can still hear the loan officer giggling. Not a pretty sound.

One great alternative goes by many names. My bank calls it "Ready Reserve." It's a revolving line of credit tied to my checking account. If I write a check for more than my account balance, good ol' Ready Reserve transfers in money to cover the check. Next payday, I cover the reserve by telling the bank to apply part of my deposit to the reserve account. There's a small annual fee (around $10), plus credit card rates are applied to any standing balances.

If your need for cash is truly occasional, for unforeseen emergencies (are there foreseen emergencies?), try being your own quickie lender. Hold a garage sale, auction off some stuff, or take on part-time or temporary work in order to put a few hundred dollars in a war chest. Take the cash and buy traveler's checks. Put them away; just don't forget where. When you need the money, write out a check, put it in your stash, and take out the traveler's checks. Next payday, buy more traveler's checks and "redeem" your check. If you don't do it this way, most of you won't pay back the stash.

(Note: Some traveler's checks expire. Make sure you redeem them for new checks before the expiration date.)

If you find yourself short of money month after month, you need to make more money. Taking a $200 cash advance 10 times a year will cost you $300 a year or more.

John McCabe's Web Guides show you how to find more and better success in all facets of your life.

For more articles on living an abundant, vibrant, joyous life, come to http://Web-Guides.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Credit - Google News

Credit Suisse Bonus-Bond Deferral Spares Investment-Bank Profit - BusinessWeek


New York Times

Credit Suisse Bonus-Bond Deferral Spares Investment-Bank Profit
BusinessWeek
9 (Bloomberg) -- Credit Suisse Group AG's investment bank salvaged a full-year profit in 2011 by pushing 500 million Swiss francs ($549 million) of employee bonus costs into 2012. Without the deferral, the division's 79 million franc pretax profit ...
Credit Suisse Reports First Quarterly Loss in 3 YearsNew York Times
Credit Suisse Posts First Loss in Three Years on Investment BankBloomberg
Credit Suisse Swings to Surprise LossWall Street Journal
Reuters -San Francisco Chronicle -Huffington Post
all 271 news articles »

Europe Bank Risk Premium Vanishing on ECB Cash: Credit Markets - San Francisco Chronicle


New York Times

Europe Bank Risk Premium Vanishing on ECB Cash: Credit Markets
San Francisco Chronicle
Credit-default swaps on 13 European banks including BNP Paribas SA and UniCredit SpA converged with those tied to the six largest US peers such as Citigroup Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co., with the gap at 17 basis points as of yesterday, down from 33 on ...
TEXT-ECB approves credit claim collateral rule changesReuters
ECB Meeting: Looking Intensively at Credit Tightening RiskAction Forex
Draghi Says LTRO Helped Avoid Major Credit CrunchMNI News
BusinessWeek -Monsters and Critics.com
all 1,461 news articles »

An Earned Income Tax Credit Q&A - Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)


An Earned Income Tax Credit Q&A
Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)
How many Washington residents miss out on getting a refund from the IRS because they don't file for the Earned Income Tax Credit? We estimate that on a national average, one in five taxpayers who are eligible for EITC do not claim it or file a tax ...
18 tax credits and deductions to take this yearCBS News
Susan Tompor: Tax refund is vital chunk of annual budget for many peopleDetroit Free Press

all 15 news articles »

CORRECT: Fitch Jan Credit-Card Charge-Off Index At 4-Year Low - Wall Street Journal


CORRECT: Fitch Jan Credit-Card Charge-Off Index At 4-Year Low
Wall Street Journal
("Fitch Jan Prime Credit-Card Charge-Off Index 5.33%, A 4-Year Low," at 9:49 am EST, misstated the early-stage delinquent index, in the fifth paragraph. The correct version follows:) US prime credit-card asset-backed securities saw charge-offs in ...
Fitch: Chargeoffs Hit Four-Year Low for US Credit Card ABSMarketWatch (press release)
TEXT-Fitch:Chargeoffs hit four-year low for US credit card ABSReuters

all 6 news articles »

IRS Offers Tool on Repayment of Home Buyer Tax Credit - New York Times (blog)


Chiropractic Economics

IRS Offers Tool on Repayment of Home Buyer Tax Credit
New York Times (blog)
By ANN CARRNS If you are among those who must repay the home buyer tax credit, the Internal Revenue Service now has an online tool to help you determine how to handle repayment of the credit on your federal income tax return.
IRS Extends Deadline to Claim Vet CreditWall Street Journal (blog)
IRS Tax Tip: Tax Law Changes for 2011 Federal Tax ReturnsNJ TODAY

all 19 news articles »

Financial News: Forex Moves Weigh On Credit Suisse Private Bank - Wall Street Journal


Financial News: Forex Moves Weigh On Credit Suisse Private Bank
Wall Street Journal
By Vivek Ahuja Of FINANCIAL NEWS Credit Suisse's private banking arm garnered CHF44.5 billion in net new assets last year, including CHF7.6 billion in the final three months of the year, although growth was stymied by adverse exchange rate moves.

and more »

US Credit Swaps Reverse Rise as Greece Strikes Austerity Deal - BusinessWeek


US Credit Swaps Reverse Rise as Greece Strikes Austerity Deal
BusinessWeek
9 (Bloomberg) -- A benchmark gauge of US company credit risk reversed an earlier rise as Greek political leaders struck a deal on austerity measures needed for a rescue package, curbing concern Europe's fiscal crisis may escalate.

and more »

Bank Credit Ratings, 'Zombie Banks,' PepisCo: Compliance - BusinessWeek


Bank Credit Ratings, 'Zombie Banks,' PepisCo: Compliance
BusinessWeek
9 (Bloomberg) -- Banks may be forced to strengthen capital buffers if regulators toss out credit ratings now used to calculate how much they need to cover possible trading losses, according to financial industry trade groups.

and more »

AM Best Revises Outlook to Stable for Ratings of Atradius Trade Credit ... - MarketWatch (press release)


AM Best Revises Outlook to Stable for Ratings of Atradius Trade Credit ...
MarketWatch (press release)
OLDWICK, NJ, Feb 09, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best Co. has revised the outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings of "a-" of Atradius Trade Credit Insurance, ...

and more »

Republicans Target Tax Credits for Undocumented Immigrants - Fox News


The Associated Press

Republicans Target Tax Credits for Undocumented Immigrants
Fox News
Republicans are looking to deny illegal immigrants the child tax credit, and refund checks as one way to help pay for extending the Social Security tax cut another 10 months. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) Print Email Share Comments Recommend Tweet Some ...
Republicans: No tax break for illegal immigrantsThe Associated Press
Republicans target child tax-break 'free-funds' for illegal immigrantsMy Fox Boston
Republicans want to deny child tax credit to illegal immigrants to pay for ...Washington Post

all 237 news articles »

Click here for Best Buy In-Store Pickup

StreetSideAuto.com

Looking For Royalty Free Photos for your Website, Business or Advertising?

My Life Through The Lens

YourFree.biz Domain Is For Sale - $5,000 For Enquiries eMail Us

© www.YourFree.biz 2011

home | site map | links

eXTReMe Tracker