Advice for Saving Money on a New Car 16 Oct 2014 12:28 PM (10 years ago)
When
it comes time to buy a new car, you are probably excited about what you are
going to end up with. After all, most people enjoy a fresh set of wheels. While
this may be something you are looking forward to, you could soon kill the
excitement if you don’t get a deal you are happy with.
Details
to Consider
There
are a lot of things to consider when buying a new car, but here are three
points of advice you definitely want to consider if saving money is on your
mind:
- Shop around for the best deal, no matter how long it takes
- Be ready to negotiate to ensure that you save as much as possible
- Walk away from the seller if you are not comfortable with the terms of the agreement
When
you shop around, you know you are going to get the best deal because you have
spoken with several sellers about what they can do for you.
Are
you the type who enjoys a good negotiation? Although this may scare you a bit,
there is nothing to worry about. You should know what price you want to pay,
and then go into the negotiation realizing that you are going to get a killer
deal.
Are
you going to be ready to walk away if things don’t go your way the first time
around? This can be hard to do, especially if you have fallen in love with a
particular vehicle, however, it is something that may be necessary at some
point.
When
you walk away, you are taking all the power from the seller. Don’t be surprised
if you hear from the sales person sooner rather than later. At that point, you
know you have the upper hand.
These
are just a few of the many things you can do to ensure that you are saving
money on your new car. Are you ready to find your dream vehicle today?
Best Use of Direct Savings Accounts 28 Sep 2013 6:45 AM (11 years ago)
The act of saving money is a
worthwhile endeavor that allows you to be able to afford certain things like
gadgets, clothing, food, and many more. It also gives you a sense of value. In
building your sense of value, you are also growing as an individual capable of
achieving many things. You are also instilling in yourself a sense of delayed
gratification in saving money for a goal that you want to reach. May it be a
long overdue vacation or a pricey gadget, the only way you are going to be able
to do this is by saving.
Set up a Direct Savings Account
In setting up a direct to savings
account, you are constantly putting hard earned money from your paycheck
directly to a savings account. It will require you to be a bit frugal in yourlifestyle as you will not have enough cash on hand to spend but by doing this,
your savings account constantly grows.
By having minimum cash on hand due
to most of your earnings going straight to the savings account, you will still
have some cash to spend. This will mean that you must be smart in choosing what
to spend on.
You must also remember that there is a reason why you are saving.
In having a reason, you will feel very motivated to continue being smart about spending
the cash that you have. It is a great example of the end justifying the means
as you will get gratification in being able to go on holiday or to buy that
high tech gadget that you have been dreaming about. So go and create that straight
to savings account so that you may achieve your heart’s desire.
PPI Compensation Bill Reaches £18 Billion 21 Aug 2013 6:26 AM (11 years ago)
The latest reports that banks and lenders have increased the
funds available for repaying mis sold PPI to over £18billion – a truly
staggering amount – simply serve to confirm that this is a scandal that has not
gone away. Indeed, many more people are making claims as the public becomes
increasingly aware of the right to get back the fees on mis sold policies. The
Financial Ombudsman, which deals with disputes between lenders and consumers,
has reported a slight decrease in the numbers of people claiming, but still
handles over 2000 cases each day.
Biggest Scandal of
All Time
The payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal has been
called the worst of all time to hit the UK finance industry, and rightly so:
over a course of many years, several million people were sold policies that
were either of no use to them or that they did not want, and a recent ruling by
the High Court means all fees on so-called mis-sold PPI policies must be repaid
to the customer. With the three biggest banks in the UK – Lloyds Banking Group,
RBS and Barclays – heading the list of names involved it is clear that
mis-selling has been widespread throughout the industry.
Calculating the
Payment
The average PPI payment is currently around £3000, but there
have been many that were considerably more; the amount in each case is
determined by the individual circumstances, as well as the size and type of
credit agreement concerned. The added awareness that has come with all the
publicity has led to many people using websites with an online PPI calculator, such as PPI Claims Advice Line to get an idea of how much they may be awarded. This
is a convenient way of an advance warning, but must only be taken as an
estimate.
An Ongoing Saga
One notable aspect of the scandal has been a fall in
confidence on the part of the consumer; the man on the street no longer trusts
the financial industry after discovering it has been selling products outsidethe regulations. It remains to be seen how – or if – this can be restored any
time in the near future.
Are You a Compulsive Shopper? 21 Aug 2013 5:08 AM (11 years ago)
Differentiating what you want and need may be a really difficult
endeavor, especially if you are a compulsive
shopper. In
being a compulsive shopper you have a weakness in
wanting to shop. A good way to save
on money is
to shop in places that have
sales and discounted prices.
This will go a very long way in saving
you some money as
the clothes, gadgets and other items are cheaper than originally priced. It is
a best of both worlds situation that you are able to obtain what you desire and
save a little money while spending.
Look For
Sales
Looking for places that have sales and bargained prices are an efficient way to save money. It is a way for you to be able to
buy certain items while saving
money as
those items are cheaper than originally priced. You may also get selected items
at a buy-one-take-one rate which will allow you to
have more than you planned for. You will be able to give these buy-one-take-one items as a gift for your loved one,
friend, or family member.
In shopping in places that are on
sale, the money that you
save may be
used for a vacation fund that you may use to visit places and countries that
you have never been to before. You will be able to experience the various cultures and wonders that the country
has to offer. It is a worthwhile endeavor that will allow you to discover more
about yourself as well as the country that you visit because you mind and
outlook becomes different when you visit other countries. You become a more cultured person as you save from buying in places that have sales and discounted prices.
3 Essential Money Saving Tips 1 Jul 2013 11:07 PM (11 years ago)
There are various ways to save money which
can make all the difference between living beyond your means and living well.
Therefore, there can be no doubt that saving money has desirable consequences.
To be in debt is not a positive state of affairs and this can lead to much
decline and problems. To stay financially secure means that you have to be wise
in your spending habits.
Here are some tips for saving money.
Use Cash Rather Than Credit Cards
Credit cards are the best way for companies
to make money. You need to make sure that you use cash instead as this can
boost your chances of spending less. You need to be able to use credit cardsonly for limited purchases.
Make a List of Essential Items
Make a list of the basic necessities that
you need to purchase and ensure that you do not go beyond a certain list of
items. There is no doubt that sticking to your basic essentials will enable you
to spend your money wisely.
Limit Your Spending
Make sure that you spend wisely and do not
live beyond your means. This is the key to saving money. There is very little
emphasis on how to save money nowadays. Heightened consumerism has glorified spending
on excessively fancy items. To counter this mindset, you need to be more proactive in limiting your spending.
There can be no doubt that saving money is
a key to living well. If you spend beyond your means, then you will definitely
not be able to do anything about improving your living standards. Living in
debt is a terrible problem. You need to be able to avoid this if you want to
live a happy and comfortable life.
Tips For Eliminating Credit Card Debt 4 Jun 2013 4:27 AM (11 years ago)
Do you dream of being debt
free? Being free from debt is what most of the credit card holders dream of. It
might seem very easy to achieve but in reality you get to know about the
challenges and difficulties.
It is no doubt very
difficult to eliminate credit card debts but it is not impossible at all. Let
us find out the tips to eliminate credit card debts.
If
you really want to come out of your debts, you have to stop using your credit
cards. Debit card is an alternative option as it will help you to purchase
within your limited budget. If you continue purchasing with your credit cards,
you can never come out from the piles of debts.
When
you are struggling to get rid of your credit card debts, you have to cut downyour expenses on unnecessary things. Do you need to go out for having coffee or
lunch every day? You have to get rid of this luxury lifestyle if you want to
eliminate the credit card debts.
There
are several banks and financial companies that provide debt consolidation loans
to pay off your credit card debts. But you have to be cautious and careful that
nothing is being charged to your credit card. Instead of paying off your debt
don’t get trapped into deeper financial crisis.
When
you are trapped under the debris of debts, try to make an extra payment in the
months when you can afford it. This way you can get rid of your credit card
debts faster. But unfortunately majority of the people make the minimum payment
on their credit cards and have to walk with the debts for a longer period of
time.
When you have made up your
mind to pay off all your credit card debts, try saving money from now and start
repaying it.
Is the PPI scandal past its peak? 25 May 2013 3:04 PM (11 years ago)
PPI scandal, the biggest ever scandal to
hit the UK financial sector basically arose from the fact that the PPI policies
were mis-sold. The financial institutions and banks which provided the PPI did
not give out the accurate and complete information about the policy to the
customers. The misleading information only increased the number of complaints
that the customers had against PPI as, following the recession, 85% of people who tried to make use of the policy were declined as they were ineligible to make a claim.
The number of people claiming back PPI increased ever since the Bankers’ Association decided not to appeal
against the High Court ruling against the mis-selling of the PPI. However, the
latest figures released show that the number of claims that the banks and
financial institutions are getting has reduced. The FSA was scrapped on April
1, 2013 and in its place the FCA or Financial Conduct Authority now handles all
complaints against the PPI. The FCA also releases figures on the complaints
that are received by specific bodies in the financial sector.
As per the figures released by the FCA,
there has been a slight decline in the number of PPI mis-selling scandal in the
second half of the year 2012. During the second half, there were a total of 2.1
million complaints that were received as compared to 2.2 million complaints
that were received during the first half of the same year.
The figures, however, also revealed the
fact that the number of complaints received regarding PPI was the largest in
the sector. An estimated 63 % of all complaints received were against payment
insurance. A number of institutions have also been fined for failing to meet
the PPI claims. In addition, banks
are now pushing for a deadline to be applied to the PPI claims.
Thus, it seems that the worst is over and
that the PPI scandal is past its peak.
Save on Internet, Phone and TV 8 May 2013 1:12 AM (11 years ago)
Most homes in the UK now have broadband connections, but are
you one of the many who still has their internet, land line phone and TV
supplied by different providers? The fact is that many households have simply
bought the best deal for each – separately – and, as a result, may be paying
somewhat over the odds. By bundling all three – and it can be done very easily
– it is possible to get a very good deal that may be considerably cheaper in
the long run.
Unlimited or Otherwise
One thing to pay attention to is whether your package
includes unlimited broadband, or has a limit on the amount of data included in
the package. Some offer a genuine unlimited deal, others a ‘within reasonable
use’ deal, and some include many more offers that make them more attractive
overall. You should also consider how often you use your landline, and the
option of free TV channels and pay per view deals, as all can make for a more
accessible package.
Landline Usage
The advent of the mobile phone has seen landline usage fall,
but one is still necessary for broadband hence the need for bundling. To this
end, you should consider how often you use your landline to make calls; if it
is rarely – as with many mobile users – then the offer of free calls at certain
times, which many providers include as part of the package, may not be of any
value to you. Look for advantages that are ideal, and pick the best package for
you.
Check your current provider
The best way to get the right package deal is to talk to your
current broadband provider; they may be able to offer you an all in one package
that suits your need, and would be able to see how your usage pans out across a
given month and offer you a great package. Remember, there are many different
packages on offer, and choosing the right one can be bewildering, so use all
the comparison tools you can to look at the options, and you may find a very
good deal.
How Identity Theft Can Damage Your Credit 27 Mar 2013 5:35 AM (12 years ago)
A poor credit score can have a negative impact on you in a number of ways. You
could have a hard time getting a new job, getting a loan or convincing a
potential landlord to let you live in the unit they have. There are a number of
factors that can harm your credit card.
One of the threats people don’t think
enough about is identity theft. You need know if your identity is stolen and
take the necessary steps to reverse the damage they have done.
There are a number of ways fraudsters can
damage your credit when they steal your identity. Here are some factors you
need to be aware of.
They Increase Existing Credit
Most identity thieves use your existing
lines of credit to make purchases. Of course, they aren’t going to be nice
enough to pay your bills for you. You may be unable to make your payments when
they have gone on a shopping spree with your credit card numbers.
Opening Up New Lines of Credit
Some people also take out new lines of
credit in their victims’ names. This can damage your credit much more for two
reasons. First of all, your credit will drop slightly the moment they open up a
new account in your name. Secondly, you probably won’t even know about these
new lines of credit right away. You won’t be able to make the payments on an
account you didn’t know existed, which can obliterate your credit.
Collections on Delinquent Accounts
Identity thieves can receive medical care,
make phone calls and do any number of other things under your name. The
companies providing these services may decide to call a collection agency when
the bills aren’t paid.
Preventing the Damage of Identity Theft
You can mitigate the damages a criminal
creates for you when they steal your identity. Here are some factors you need
to be aware of:
- You need to be aware of identity theft before you can take corrective measures. Check your credit reports on a regular basis. Make sure that you report anything suspicious to the proper agencies so that you aren’t liable for damages.
- Check your credit card statements and bank accounts as well. The United States has a law that requires people to report fraudulent purchases within 60 days before they are liable of the charges. I am not familiar with the laws in other countries, but I expect they are similar. Make sure that you track your accounts carefully.
- Get a police report after reporting the fraud. This will add credibility to your case and you creditors will be more likely to believe you. You will also want to report it to the credit bureaus so they can know to fix your credit score.
Millions of people fall victim to identity
theft every year. Make sure that you identity it early on so that you can save
your credit. The damage will be more severe if you don’t address it early on.