Tag: Compare

How to Save Money

Posted by FinancialGuruOnline.com – November 10, 2009

How to Save MoneyIn an economy that is constantly getting tighter, a consumer must find ways to cinch the belt and save money. The question most consumers are asking is “How to save money?”

There are plenty of ways to save a few pennies here and there. Whether it’s making changes in lifestyle to save over the long haul or choosing less expensive options for various items – you can save money if you try.

Start by saving long-term pennies on utility bills. Turn off lights, computers, and other electrical items when not in use. Turn your water heater temperature setting lower to reduce your electric bill. Install low-flow shower heads and aerators on your faucets to cut down your water consumption.

Rack up some savings through savvy shopping and you’ll keep more than a few pennies in your pocket. Shop local thrift stores for clothing, furniture, toys, books and other household items. When the weather is nice plan to shop yard sales for bargains.

Compare prices between stores. Peruse the sale fliers that usually come in the Sunday newspapers and compare prices from store to store to get the best deals on the items you need. Many grocery stores and even discount stores (like Wal-Mart) will do price matching if you can show them a competitor’s ad with a better advertised price.

Stay home. One of the best ways to save money is by staying home. If you aren’t in a store you won’t be tempted to buy something you don’t need.

Combine trips. Cut down on transportation costs by combining your trips. Try to plan out your week so you can make stops for groceries, household items and errands in an ordered fashion that will save gas and time. If you can have one day full of errands in stead of three partial days of errands, you will be that much ahead on gas savings.

Make a list before you go shopping. Write down the items you need to buy then stick to the list. Extra items that you notice and think “Oh hey! I want one of those!” can set your budget back.

Shop during the least busy hours. If the store you are shopping in is crowded, you are more likely to spend more money just to get out of there. This happens because you don’t compare prices, you simply grab the first items you can get to in order to just get out of the store and away from the crowd. Figure out the least crowded time for your favorite stores – whether it’s at 7 a.m. or 10 p.m. and try to plan your shopping around those times.

Make use of your local library. You can check out (for free) new release DVDs, new release books and new issues of magazines at most local libraries. You can also get free internet and wifi access at many libraries. Check to see what yours has to offer and make use of it to save money.

Is a Private Party Auto Loan for You?

Posted by admin – October 20, 2009

buying-a-carA car is a big purchase. For some people a car is the next biggest buy after their house. For a big purchase like this, many people need car loans. If you buy from a dealer it is possible to get an auto loan. They do all the work for you and you only need to sign the forms. But, what if you buy a car from another person? You may still need a loan. For these kinds of purchases there are private party auto loans.

Private party loans are slightly different than other types of loans. Your auto dealership does these types of loans on a regular basis and so sometimes they can offer better terms. But a private party loan may have slightly worse terms. You may only be able to take these loans out over a shorter period of time, for example over 48 months compared to 72 months for an auto dealership loan. The interest rates may also be slightly more than for a dealership loan.

This means that you may be paying slightly more for your car if you take out a private party auto loan. But over time, this just adds to what you pay for your car any way in terms of insurance and running costs.

Other factors are also important when considering whether you will get a loan like this or not. Your credit score is usually the most important factor when determining your eligibility. Also, whether or not you have a deposit to pay will also affect whether you are accepted for these types of loans. But on the whole, these loans are usually better and easier to get than normal. After all, your car is used as security, isn’t it? Read the small print carefully, but on the whole, go for it!

Top 5 Credit Cards compared

Posted by admin – August 13, 2009

There are many credit cards on the market, and deciding which one is the best can be subjective and dependent on the consumer’s needs and wants in a lending product. However, the best credit cards available to the most people usually come from Citibank. Citibank provides a number of MasterCard and Visa products to people with good credit and students. In addition, they have some of the best customer service, lowest interest rates, and a number of benefits. It is also easy to change one type of rewards card to another product without hassle or an additional credit check. A close runner-up is American Express, but some of their card interest rates can be high and their best credit cards are often suited only for those with high income and perfect credit.

One of the best credit cards for those seeking low interest rates is the Citibank Platinum Select. This MasterCard product has no annual fee and no interest on both purchases and balance transfers for the first year of card membership. Though no rewards are offered, the Citibank Platinum Select MasterCard’s usual interest rate of 7.74 percent after the first year along with the credit limits (some users of CreditBoards report receiving more than $20,000 with a few credit blemishes) and customer service of Citibank make this card the best.

American Express Blue Cash credit card has a number of benefits afforded both by the card itself and American Express membership, but its drawback is it is usually only offered to people with superior credit and low use of existing credit, according to members of CreditBoards. The benefits alone make it one of the best credit cards out there. Blue Cash has no annual fee and 5 percent cash back rewards on purchases. American Express members qualify for 24-hour legal and travel assistance. The interest rate on Blue Cash is zero percent for a year, then prime rate plus 7.99 percent.

The Citi Select/AA Advantage American Express card combines the best of American Express and Citibank and also offers extensive American Airlines airfare travel benefits to create one of the best credit cards for those seeking travel rewards. In the first four months of purchases, new cardholders earn 25,000 bonus miles which is enough for a free airline ticket. There is no annual fee for the first year, and each dollar spent earns 1 American Airlines frequent flyer mile. The average interest rate is 13.24 percent. After the first year of membership, the annual fee is $85.

Citi CashReturns MasterCard offers seamless cash back rewards, a low interest rate, and other Citibank benefits that earn it a place among the best credit cards. The MasterCard earns 1 percent cash back on all purchases, and each time $50 of rewards is accrued, Citibank automatically mails a check to the cardholder. There is no annual fee, and the interest rate is as low as 9.99 percent. For those wanting easy cash back, low interest, good customer service, and no annual fee, Citi CashReturns MasterCard is a good bet.
Citi Dividend Platinum Select Card for College Students is offered to those in college with no credit history, and usually starts out with a credit limit of about $1,000. This is one of the best credit cards for this segment of the market. The card does not expire once the student leaves college if it is left in good standing. For the first six months, cardholders get 5 percent cash back on purchases at grocery and drug stores, utility payments including cable, and transactions at gas stations and convenient stores. After six months, the cash back on these purchases is 3 percent, and at all times other purchases accrue 1 percent benefits. There is no annual fee, and the interest rate is 13.24 percent.

Compare Loans Properly

Posted by admin – October 14, 2008

An emergency, the new car, the long-awaited vacation or otherwise the realization of a wish. Good reasons for a loan, there are many, but the matching credit is finding increasingly difficult. It was formerly with the terms of their own house documentation that exists today a wide range with countless variations and credit providers. Under these circumstances, a comparison of the credit providers is essential. To view not to lose helps the Internet.

What’s important now, however? Basically on interest amount, duration and amount of credit.

Interest calculation
The interest rates depend on the amount of the loan amount, the duration of use, and increasingly even after the creditworthiness of the borrower. Loans make sense to compare, you should be on the effective interest rates are respected.

The appropriate term
Normally, it is that the shorter the duration, the lower the lending rates, because the shorter duration and the risk to the lender decreases. However, a low maturity also mostly higher monthly loan rate, since the loan amount in a few payments to be repaid, it may blow her budget.

How much money do I need?
This of course depends on individual use of the loan from. Often it is recommended that the loan amount to calculate relatively generous to include any hidden costs into account. A real threshold represents than CHF 1,000 that many banks no credit loans under this limit.

General Tip: Be careful when comparing their different maturities for you to the appropriate relationship between maturity and interest to be found. Next it is also the principle loan amount compared to Bim vary.

Consider these points when comparing the task is to find their loan request nothing in the way.