Credit Information

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:

GM, Chrysler, credit unions expand loan programs
Forbes, NY - 1 hour ago
AP , 01.07.09, 03:29 PM EST General Motors and Chrysler say they're both expanding deals that offer low-cost loans and special pricing incentives to credit ...
GM, Chrysler, credit unions expand loan programs The Associated Press
GM, Chrysler, credit unions expand low rate plan nationwide DetNews.com
GM To Expand Credit Union Discounts Nationwide CNNMoney.com
Automotive News - Crain's Detroit Business
all 73 news articles


US consumer credit worsens in December: Fitch
Reuters - 4 hours ago
NEW YORK, Jan 7 (Reuters) - US consumer credit deteriorated in December as credit card defaults rose and cardholder payment rates suffered the largest one ...
Credit card defaults rise again in December Forbes
Credit-Card Charge Offs Jump Wall Street Journal Blogs
Fitch: US Credit Card Defaults Rise, Payments Slow as Consumers ... Earthtimes (press release)
all 16 news articles


Lear Trying To Amend Credit Pact On Poor Industry Conditions
CNNMoney.com - 23 hours ago
(LEA) is seeking an amendment and waiver under its primary credit facility, citing current and longer-term industry conditions, after fully borrowing ...
Lear Corp. seeks to amend credit agreement Forbes
Lear seeks to amend credit facility Reuters
Lear seeks credit facility waiver urethanes-technology-international (subscription)
PR Newswire (press release) - Automotive World (subscription)
all 35 news articles


Fair Isaac inks deal with Romanian credit bureau
Bizjournals.com, NC - 5 hours ago
Fair Isaac Corp. has reached a deal that will take its FICO credit score into the Romanian market. The Minneapolis-based analytics company said Wednesday it ...
Biroul de Credit Brings FICO Credit Score to Romania WELT ONLINE
Fair Isaac joins 'green' IT organization MinnPost.com
Fair Isaac reveals additional cost reductions; to cut 250 ... RTT News
WELT ONLINE
all 47 news articles


Free Credit Repair Guide Offers Hope for Homeowners
MSNBC - 2 hours ago
LOS ANGELES, CA - With the current state of the economy it's becoming increasingly difficult to qualify for a loan -- even if you have perfect credit. ...


Carbon Credit for Reprocessed Coal Ash?
New York Times, United States - 3 hours ago
The group also argues that Dominion would be reprocessing fly-ash anyway because it makes business sense — and therefore allowing this as a carbon credit ...


Canoe.ca

Canada Budget Will Seek to Ease Credit, Flaherty Says
Bloomberg - Jan 6, 2009
6 (Bloomberg) -- Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said he may use his budget later this month to help ease tight credit markets and reverse a slowdown ...
Canada budget to address credit access: minister Reuters Canada
Canada to work with banks to provide credit Reuters
Credit availability key economic issue: Flaherty CTV.ca
Toronto Star - Globe and Mail
all 547 news articles


Credit Scores: What You Need to Know
New York Times, United States - Jan 6, 2009
By JENNIFER BARRETT You may not have checked your credit score lately, but there’sa good chance someone else has. If you have applied for a mortgage or a ...
Local credit scores sliding Cincinnati.com
Local credit scores dropping Cincinnati.com
all 3 news articles


FinFacts Ireland

S&P projects credit losses will rise into 2010
BusinessWeek - Jan 6, 2009
Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's said Tuesday it expects nonperforming loans to continue to rise through 2009 and into 2010, forcing banks to add to ...
S&P says US banks face credit quality decline Reuters
Banks’ Credit Quality Expected to Worsen Wall Street Journal Blogs
Credit-card delinquencies rising Asbury Park Press
Seeking Alpha - Barron's
all 68 news articles


Toll Brothers' January 14 Presentation At The Credit Suisse ...
MSNBC - 6 hours ago
Click on the "Conferences" box and follow the link for the webcast under "Credit Suisse Homebuilder Conference". Participants are encouraged to log on at ...
DR Horton, Inc. Presentation at the 2009 Credit Suisse Homebuilder ... WELT ONLINE
Hovnanian Enterprises Presentation at the 2009 Credit Suisse ... PR Newswire (press release)
all 23 news articles

Credit - Google News

Good Credit Loans | home | site map | School Bus Clothing | Florida Pool Heating
© 2006