Extended Entry Articles

If you are in need of cash, you have lots of options to choose from, some better than others, and some more accessible than others. Loans, credit cards, and borrowing from a friend may all be a quick cash source opportunity, but what is the best cash source for you? If you own your own home, or at least have built equity in it, you should consider a home equity loan. The following are questions and answers about home equity loan basics and what makes them a good quick cash source.

What is a home equity loan?

Home equity loans have become extremely popular and an efficient way to borrow. A home equity loan is a loan that uses the equity you have earned in you home as collateral to secure the loan. Equity is the difference between your home's appraised value and your outstanding mortgage. The less you owe in mortgage, the larger the home equity loan you can get. Taking out a home equity loan reduces your equity or ownership in your home and if you default on the loan payments, you may loose you home.

"Home Equity Loan Basics" »

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People often use cash out refinancing loans as a way to gain access to quick cash. While a cash out refinancing loan may be the best option for you, it is important to look at your other loan options for quick cash. A home equity loan could be the best fit for your financial needs and it could save you a lot of money on interest.

What is a cash out refinancing loan?
A cash out refinancing loan is similar to a home equity loan because you can cash out the equity of your home. This means you can gain access to your home equity and use this money to pay for other financial obligations you may have. A cash out refinancing loan allows you to cash out the money and then refinance your home. In order to qualify for a cash out refinancing loan, you need to have a high credit rating and be a qualified candidate. A lender is taking on more risk with a cash out refinancing loan and they have strict lending policies.

Lenders are eager to give you the money, but they don't want to give you too much. If you cash in on 70 percent of your home's equity, the lender is taking a huge risk. There needs to be some equity left in the home after the refinancing. If there is a limited amount of equity available, you will get a higher loan rate. Even with the higher interest rate, a cash out refinancing loan can give you access to a lot of cash.

"Home equity loans versus cash out refinancing" »

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When money is tight and your need cash quickly, you may consider taking out a personal signature loan. This is a quick cash source that is convenient and easy to use. Anyone with any level of credit score can walk into their bank or lending institution and be approved for some type of personal signature loan. The difference comes in how much you can get and the terms on which you get it. You will want to make sure you get the best loan possible for you and your circumstances, but how do you do it? Below are some tips to make sure you get the maximum value for your personal signature loan both in the amount and terms of the loan.

Tip #1: Shop Around

Different lenders offer different deals. The best way for you to find the best deal for your situation is to shop around. Find out what lenders are offering. Don't forget that the interest rate doesn't tell you the full story. One lender may have a good interest rate, but lots of extra fees or an early payback penalty while another lender may offer a slightly higher interest rate, but no fees or no early payback penalty. There are loan searching companies that can do the leg work for you if you don't mind paying a professional fee for their services. This can cut down on your research time and help you make sure you really are getting the best deal possible. Whether you decide to do the work yourself or hire a professional to assist you, the advice is the same, shop around to find the best personal signature loan for you.

"How to get a Signature Loan and get the Maximum Value" »

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A cash advance is a short-term loan that you can take to help cover unexpected expenses. Cash advances should only be used to cover financial emergencies in the short-term, they should never be used to solve long-term financial issues. You can receive a cash advance either through your credit card or through a loan from a money-lending store. Since a cash advance is considered a short-term loan, through either your credit card company or the money-lending store, there are going to be terms and conditions that you must follow when obtaining cash advances.

Before you decide on using cash advances to help you out with your financial emergency you should carefully consider all aspects of cash advances. To do this you are going to need to find out what the advantages and disadvantages are for using cash advances. Once you know the pros and cons of cash advances, you will be able to determine if using a cash advance is in your best interest or if you should explore other options to help you solve your short-term financial problems.

"Cash advances" »

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Eating costs are one of the biggest drains on your wallet. You have to eat to live, and yet there can be a huge difference in cost depending on how you choose to eat. Eating is something that provides enjoyment for many, and thus should not be an area that you scrimp on too much, but it is also an area of spending where you can really let your control get away from you, and find yourself over-spending rapidly if you do not impose some restrictions. The following is a look at ways you can really save money on your eating costs without cutting out your enjoyment.

When eating out:

Eating out is a lot of fun, and while many experts will recommend that to save on eating costs you avoid eating out, the reality is that most people enjoy doing so, and thus do not want to eliminate it completely. So, the first tip is to cut back some, and do not make a habit out of eating out for every meal, rather reserve it for date nights or special occasions. However, in addition to simply cutting back the frequency with which you eat out, you can cut your eating costs by doing some of the following:

"How to save money on eating costs" »

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Saving money on your auto insurance is a nice thought. It could mean more money in your pocket every month, and an easier time making your ends meet. However, if you are not careful, you could spend less, and get less as well. Saving money on insurance is not just about having lower premiums, it is about having lower premiums and superior coverage. So, how do you improve your coverage or keep it high and reduce your premiums each month? The following are all ideas for how you can cut costs without cutting coverage:

Drive safe.
The best way to save money on auto insurance is simply to drive safely. If you want to have money in your pocket, instead of paying it out to your insurance company, you should not get into accidents, or get tickets for driving too fast, etc. Of course the best way to do this is to mind the rule of the road, and to learn how to drive in a defensive manner so that you do not get in any accidents that are not your fault.

Part of driving safely is paying attention to your driving, and not allowing yourself to be distracted by other things. The following are some safe driving tips:

"Auto insurance" »

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Getting higher education is a valuable thing, and while most everyone recognizes its value, not everyone can afford to make it happen. The cost of college can be astronomical, and affording tuition alone can be difficult, not to mention the other expenses such as books, housing, food, transportation, and all the other extras like paper, pens, computer, etc. So, what are some things you can do to reduce your college costs, making it more affordable, and thus more possible? Try some of the following suggestions:

First and foremost, try for scholarships. Scholarships mean money that is free, you had to earn it, and may have to continue earning it (such as by keeping your grades up, or performing on the athletic field), but it is not money you have to pay back. If scholarships are possible, take full advantage of them. You can often get part scholarships, such as half tuition as an academic scholarship because of a high GPA, etc. If scholarships are not possible, do not worry, you do have other options.

Second, apply for grants. The government offers education grants for people with low income. This means if you are claiming yourself on your taxes, and are not making much, you will probably qualify for a federal pell grant. Or, if your parents claim you, and they do not make much money, then you will qualify. So, the worst that can happen is that you do not qualify for the pell grant, however, in most cases you can at least get some of the grant money, even if you can't get a full grant. A full grant is typically $4000 per year of school. While this may not cover all of your tuition, or other costs, it can certainly help. To apply for a federal pell grant you would want to visit the financial department of your school. Or, you can go online and fill out the FAFSA forms to apply. There are some scams out there, so remember, you never have to pay to apply for a federal pell grant.

"Reduce college costs" »

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Housing is an important item to spend your money on, but sometimes your choices are limited or your budget is limited. If you are looking for cheap apartments there are a few things you can do to better expand the choice pool, and to find a place that will suit your housing needs and fit your budget. The following is a look at the various ways to find cheap apartments.

Using the web.

The internet is always the best place to start when looking for just about anything. This is because it allows you to get a general sense of what is available, what it should cost you, and how many options, or lack of options, you have. In addition to that, it allows you to do all of this from the comfort of your home. So, when looking for a cheap apartment, always use the web.

"Cheap apartments" »

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Christmas shopping is one of the most loved or most hated parts of Christmas. Everyone loves to give and receive gifts, but sometimes the fact is simply that they do not have as much money at Christmas as they want for the gifts and items they want to purchase. Not having money set aside for Christmas, or over-spending on Christmas gifts can be very stressful, so the following are some great tips to help you save money on Christmas shopping so that the gift aspect of Christmas can be enjoyable instead of stressful:

"How to save money on Christmas shopping" »

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In today's society the thing about cell phones is that they are no longer viewed as a luxury item, they are actually viewed as a necessity. People now a day's cannot function without a cell phone. In fact many people only have cell phones; they no longer have land lines because of the rising cost of a basic phone line that cannot do nearly as much as a cell phone.

With cell phones you can call your friends and family, but you can also use it for email, text messaging haring pictures and a variety of other things depending on what cell phone you choose. But at the very least every cell phone now a day's is internet ready and can be used for calling or texting family and friends. But where many people are struggling is in paying their cell phone bills and with the cost of everything else on the rise many people are looking for the best ways to save money and that includes on their cell phone bill.

Here are some tips that you can follow to help save money on your cell phone bill.

"Cell Phones feature article" »

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If you have children then you are already aware of the fact that birthday parties are a huge source of joy for kids, if you have really young children you will be soon learning just how much fun children have at birthday parties. And because of how much fun children have at birthday parties it is very easy for you as a parent to get caught up in trying to throw your child the best birthday party ever. But other parents tend to find it easier to go somewhere else to have the birthday party so that they don't have to deal with the mess or with any of the planning. In either case the main thing that you need to realize is that doing this can cause you to spend a lot of money on that birthday party, which means you end up being stressed out rather than happy because of how much it cost you.

Here are some tips to follow to help you save money on birthday parties.

Tip one:
You can use your living room or your backyard, depending on the weather and the time of year, to have your kid's birthday party. Many parents tend to forget that a lot of kids still find it a joy to have a simple birthday party at their own house because most of what they care about is getting presents and playing with their friends. If you have it at your house there are plenty of things that you can do to both save you money and keep your kid's birthday party interesting.

"Birthday parties: Feature Article" »

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The Christmas holiday is a wonderful time of year to celebrate with loved ones and show your friends and family members how much you love and appreciate them. The Christmas season should be enjoyable and affordable. Unfortunately, many people wind up spending too much money on Christmas gifts and they are left with insurmountable debt that they need to pay off in future years. It is a wise idea to have a Christmas budget in place before you begin your Christmas shopping. Having a Christmas budget will help you stay on track and avoid spending more money than you had planned on.

When you begin setting up your Christmas budget, you need to remember the additional costs of the season. Not only will you be purchasing Christmas presents, but you will purchase additional food, Christmas cards, holiday decorating, electrical costs, gift wrapping, and entertainment. Unfortunately, many people do not consider the additional costs and they only focus on the costs of presents. Start your Christmas budget in October, this way it gives you 2 months to save money for Christmas and you will know exactly how much money you have for food, decorations, and presents.

"Christmas budgets: Feature Article" »

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Christmas shopping can be a lot of fun, but it can also be one of the most stressful activities. Finding that perfect gift for everyone on your list can be a bit of a hassle especially if that gift is quite popular and is sold out at practically every store you visit. The day after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest shopping days of the year because retailers drastically slash prices and offer discounts on hard-to-get items. If you are planning on Christmas shopping on the day after Thanksgiving, here are a few pointers to help you eliminate stress.

You need to plan for an all day adventure. Most stores open their doors early, around 5 or 6 am. If you really want to get a good deal, you need to "camp out" at the store in a tent or with a sleeping bag. There will be a big line of customers who are waiting to get in, so be prepared to stand in line for a long time. Even when you do get to the store early, you still need to watch out for lines of people waiting to check out and lines of people in each aisle. Stores generally don't have a limit on how many people they will allow in the store at one time, so as long as you have money to spend, they will let you in.

"Eliminate stress while you Christmas shop: Feature Article" »

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When times are hard, people really feel the strain financially. When the economy goes down people start to get worried, and sometimes crisis follows. One of the best ways to thrive, not just survive economic downturns, and hard times is to learn how to be happy with what you have. When you are content with your situation, you are far less likely to overspend, get into debt, or do anything else that might be detrimental financially. The following is a look at how being happy with what you have will help you thrive during hard times:

Just because funds are tight or the economy is bad, does not mean you can't turn things around personally, but it does not take a special budget, or some fancy software, it takes the right attitude. The fact is if you can learn to be happy with what you have, and content where you are, you will spend less, save more, get out of debt, and start building wealth no matter what the economy is like. It starts with the right mindset, and some discipline. No matter who you are, or what your income level is, you can thrive during hard times if you approach it the right way.

Start by changing the way you think about money, spending, saving and your finances.

First start with you attitude about money. Money is something that you use to buy the things you need. It should not be looked at as deserved, or as something to use when you need a break, or deserve something special. If you can learn to take a non-emotional approach toward your money, you will far better. Too many people say they want to get out of debt, and build a savings, but they do not do anything about it. Why? Because they are emotional with their money. Logic says if you do not have money for it, you do not buy it. Emotions say that you deserve it, want it, and can figure out a way to pay for it later. This is what got you into debt in the first place. So, start looking at money logically rather than emotionally.

"Being happy with what you have to thrive during hard times: Feature Article" »

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When times get tough and the economy is down, people start to hunker down and look for ways to save. One area that many people think that they won't be able to save in with their home and housing expenses. Usually the price of your house is pretty well fixed. However, despite popular belief, it is possible to reduce housing expenses, especially during hard times. By reducing housing expenses you can make life easier on yourself.

The first thing you want to ask yourself when trying to reduce housing expenses is do you really need what you have. While it may seem a bit extreme, most people would agree that the best way to reduce your housing expenses is to downsize. Smaller homes use less utilities, costs less, require less furniture and décor, and typically have lower property taxes as well. So downsizing can help you save a bundle in housing.

When determining if you should downsize or not, consider the following:

Is the average home or income in your neighborhood above your means? Many people move into homes that while seemingly affordable are in higher end neighborhoods, and places beyond their means. While their house may not be costing them too much, the inclination to keep up with the wealthier neighbors may. So, make sure you choose a neighborhood that fits your means.

"Tips for reducing housing expenses: Feature Article" »

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When you have a home, it comes with expenses, including maintenance and repair. When times are hard, and finances are tight, sometimes these expenses seem a little overwhelming. Often times people wonder if it would be better to try and fix up and remodel their home, or buy a new ones. The answer really depends on the person and the situation, but let's take a look at the pros and cons of both options, fixing old, or buying new.

"Should you fix up your home or buy new?: Feature Article" »

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Insurance is a necessary part of life, and most people, when they use it, are grateful they have it. However, when times are tough, and money is tight, it can be hard not think of insurance as a waste of money. This is especially difficult if you are having a hard time making bills. Because insurance is something that is worth keeping, even if it doesn't seem like it, let's look at some ways to reduce the cost of insurance but keep your coverage. The following are some tips for reducing insurance costs without sacrificing coverage:

General tips for insurance cost reduction, no matter the insurance type:

First, improve your credit: Insurance companies do consider your credit when setting policy premiums. So, make sure you have good credit, and chances are you will get better premiums. If your credit is poor, and you work to improve it, ask your insurance company to re-evaluate your premiums.

Next, make sure you have a decent insurance history. If your insurance history shows a lot of claims being made, and you costing the insurance company too much money, you will pay more for coverage.

Shop around. If you want to reduce insurance costs you can't always just go with the first person who tries to sell you an insurance package. You need to comparison shop and do your best to find the company that will give you the lowest rates on the best policies.

Combine policies. You can usually save money by using the same insurance provider for all of your insurance needs. The more policies you have with the same company, the better the chance you have of getting reduced rates.

Ask for discounts. A lot of insurance companies offer reductions in insurance rates, but only if you ask for them. In some cases you need to know what questions to ask, in other cases just asking if there are any sort of discounts offered will do the trick. For example, if you are a veteran you might get a discount. If you have good grades at school, or if you go certain amounts of time without making a claim, etc. you can get discounts.

"Reducing insurance costs: Feature Article" »

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When times are good people do not worry about little things like the cost of a gallon of milk going up, or the more expensive produce prices, but when times are tough, that increase in staples like bread, peanut butter, and meats is felt. Food costs are going up, and grocery bills are getting higher. In addition to the cost rising, today households on average toss 14 percent of the food they buy. Waste is increasing as well. This can make putting food on the table for your family and children extremely difficult. However, despite the increase in prices, it is possible to reduce grocery costs during tough times, or easy times with a little forethought, planning, and research. The following are some great suggestions for making your grocery dollar stretch further so that you do not have to sacrifice quality in order to feed your family:

"Reducing grocery costs during tough times: Feature Article" »

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Getting an education is something that is very important to many people. It is considered one of the most important steps in growing up in our society and people who seek an education are often more prepared for the problems that life throws at them. Financing your education can be difficult at any point in your life but especially when the economy is having a rough time. Here is some information to help you pay for school during rough economic times.

There are many ways that people pay for their education. Some choose to work while attending school, others get scholarships, and other have other people pay for them. Each person will have different needs and expectations when it comes to getting an education and paying for it at the same time. Paying for school can be difficult anyway and many are concerned that the cost of education is getting so high. Tuitions at all kinds of schools keep increasing at rates faster than inflation and many people wonder if getting an education is still worth the time and money. But no matter what people say, getting an education is worth more than just having a diploma in your hand or a few extra words you can write on your resumé. Going to school and putting in everything you can will teach you a lot about life as well as managing your finances.

"How to pay for school during rough economic times: Feature Article" »

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When the economy starts to take a tumble, and when times get hard and making your financial obligations is tough, being more frugal can be extremely helpful. The following is a look at some great tips for being more frugal in all areas of your life.

Being more frugal when it comes to food and groceries:

Today households throw out 14% of the food they buy because it goes bad before they use it. In addition to that, grocery prices are up, and people are more worried about convenience than price.

• When you can buy fresh foods at local farms, do so, it is usually a better price because you do not have any middle men.
• Never buy coffee, soda, or other drinks or snacks out. You would pay $2-$4 for a soda with your meal at a sit down restaurant, you could buy several times as much soda for the same price, or the same amount for a fraction of the price at a grocery store. This is also true for specialty coffees. Make them at home yourself for a fraction of the price.
• Always grocery shop with a list, you buy less, and waste less this way.
• Take advantage of sales on items that you would normally buy, and stock up when the item is on sale.
• Only shop once a month. The fewer times you shop, the less money you spend.
• Buy generic items especially when you won't notice a quality difference, such as items for baking, or for things like pastas, etc.
• Use the Grocery Game or other online shopping sites to help you find the best deal, and get coupons for discounts.
• Plan meals. This will help you know what to buy, and overlap ingredients. You can even step it up a notch by planning the meals you make for the week around what things are on sale that week. For example, if chicken is on sale, plan chicken tacos instead of beef.
• Take advantage of rainchecks, just because the store is out does not mean you can't still take advantage of the savings.
• Use rebates and coupons whenever you can.
• Take advantage of stores that double coupons.

"Frugal tips for all areas of your life: Feature Article" »

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When the economy starts to go bad, you can count on people hunkering down, and trying to save, or be more frugal with their finances. One of the areas that gets hit by a poor economy is education. Many people find that if times are hard, paying for an expensive tuition is just too much of a strain. So, they look for alternative ways to pay for college, and often, go to less expensive schools. However, it is good to note that while public and community colleges are generally cheaper, private colleges usually offer more financial aid.

Let's look at ways to pay for college when funds are tight, whether you go to a private or public college:

"Paying for college when funds are tight: Feature Article" »

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When times are tough filling the gas tank can be hard. It is hard on the wallet, and in some cases it means having to use a credit card to be able to afford the high prices. The following is a look at some of the things you can do to boost your gas mileage, or save on gas during tough times.

First, let's look at ways to use less gas:

Using less gas is the best way to save on gas when times are tough. Besides helping your car get better fuel economy, which we will look at later, here are some ideas for using less gas.

Drive less, if you live within a mile of your destination, walk to it, you may have to leave a few minutes earlier, and wear more comfortable shoes, but you will save money. You can extend this concept to further destinations by riding a bike, ride the bus or other public transit, or you could even join a carpool so that you do not have to drive as often. In addition to using alternative methods to driving, plan your errand running, etc. better so you do not have to go out and drive as often. Combine errand running, and make lists so you never forget anything causing you to go back.

If you can do so easily, reduce your commute by moving closer to work or working closer to home. If you have a work that lets you work from home on occasion, take advantage of that option.

Park in the first spot you find, even if it is not the closest spot. Walking will do you good, and it will mean less gas from sitting idle waiting for a spot to open up.

Now let's look at ways to save at the pump:

Gas prices are not negotiable, but there are some ways to save money at the pump.

Find good prices by using websites dedicated to helping you find good prices, such as gasbuddy.com, GasPriceWatch.com, GasPricesRelief.com etc. These sites often tell you the station with the best price in your area, and some allow you to sign up for text message updates. Also, if you worry more about price then brand you can save a lot. If you are buying the same octane, there is very little difference between brands, except for those that add cleaning agents to their gas.

"Boosting your mileage and saving on gas during tough times: Feature Article" »

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Many people see the stock market drop and the cost of living rise, and think that with economic decline, and job loss on the verge, it is best to sell your home and rent. Others are told that buying during an economic decline is stupid because home values could drop significantly like the stocks do, and thus they lose money. However, despite speculation and worry there are some real advantages to buying a home during an economic decline, so let's take a look at a few:

First, it is important to understand that if you are going to invest your money during an economic decline, a home is a solid place to invest it because while it is easy to see the stock market woes and think real estate is the next thing to go, housing markets tend to be steadier. The fact is that since there are fairly high transaction costs to purchasing a home, unlike stocks, and to selling a home, far fewer people speculate in the housing market, and you do not see tons of people up and selling, and you see far less turnover. The reason for this is there are agent fees to consider. There is the cost of getting a mortgage, of title searches, appraisals, listing services, and more. It is a fairly expensive undertaking to buy or sell homes, and because unlike stocks, homes give the owner value beyond the money (meaning they provide living quarters and shelter to the owner), there is far less likelihood of panic selling.

"Advantages of buying a home during an economic decline: Feature Article" »

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