People can bypass the bank completely with a peer to peer loan lender. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Someone who needs to get a loan but doesn’t want to go to a bank can look into peer to peer loan lenders. With peer to peer lending, people who want to borrow money are put in touch with people who have capital. It is becoming a booming business.

Peer to peer loan lenders cut out the middleman

Those looking to get a personal loan for whatever reason — be it for home improvement or for debt consolidation — don’t always have to go to traditional loan lenders like banks. There’s a new service called peer to peer lending that become popular in the last few years. Peer to peer lending is fairly simple. A person interested in borrowing money goes to a website and applies to get a loan. If the service accepts the applicant, then the person who applied may get offered a loan by any party that has money to lend. Then the applicant can decide to accept or decline the loan that’s offered. The funding comes from investors, which is how a lot of banks get lending capital. It also has returns for investors equal to or better than the stock market, according to Forbes.

Services differ

There are numerous peer to peer lending services, and there can be differing manners in which the loan is offered. For instance, investors can pledge money together in a loan bundle. On the peer to peer service Prosper, lenders or investors can make competing offers to loan applicants. Interest rates and terms can vary, so it isn’t guaranteed people will get loan offers they want.

That does not mean easy money

Most of these services are as discerning as banks and won’t accept an applicant with a credit score in the tank. However, interest rates can often be a lot lower than an installment loan from mainstream financial institution like a bank or finance company.

Sources

Forbes

People looking for some instant money from the hybrid car tax rebate had better act fast, as the credit is expiring. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Car buyers wanting to take advantage of instant money from the hybrid vehicle tax rebate had better act fast. The tax rebate on most hybrid cars and trucks, and on some diesels, is expiring in January 2011. Tax credits do remain for some plug-in vehicles, though.

Tax rebate for green cars to expire

In 2005, the government rolled out a new tax credit that promised instant money at tax time if a person purchased a hybrid car or certain diesel powered vehicles as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit, for those who could or did take advantage of it, offered a great incentive to consult a loan company to finance a greener car. However, according to USA Today, that incentive is expiring. As of January 2011, there won’t be a break on the income tax bill for buying a hybrid car like the uber-popular Toyota Prius or eligible diesel models such as a Volkswagen Jetta TDI.

Some rebates still available

Though the bulk of the rebates are expiring, there are some that will still be available. Tax rebates will still be available for plug-in electric vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf. The hitch, though, is that to get those vehicles, a person has to get a personal loan for a lot more. The Leaf lists for $32,000 or more before any instant cash off the tax bill, and the Volt goes for about $40,000 before the rebate. The Prius, by contrast, goes for less than $25,000, although the Prius is no longer eligible for a rebate. Part of the bill was that once a car maker had sold 60,000 green vehicles, the rebate would no longer be available.

Better act fast

There are still some rebates available on some hybrid or diesel models, but only two weeks remain for the credit to be used. There is a list on USA Today and Consumer Reports of which vehicles are eligible for a rebate until Jan. 1, 2011.

Sources

USA Today

Consumer Reports

Sometimes, getting out the calculator and getting creative with budgeting can create a little debt relief too. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

As the economy is not in the best of shape, a lot of people are looking to divest their debt. Getting a better interest rate thanks to mortgage loan modification is not a bad way to go, and some people looked to get some instant cash with a second mortgage to pay off other debts. When the market began to tank, that’s when those strategies started to backfire. True debt settlement relief may be harder than you think, and you have to be very careful about who you contract to help you.

Hard to fix debt with more debt

Before the real estate market took a nosedive, it was common for people to either refinance or take out second mortgages to pay other debts, such as their credit cards. This only borrows from Peter to pay the debt with Paul. If you can get a mortgage refinanced to the market rate, currently less than 5 percent, that can be helpful. However, according to Newsday, that is if you have the credit rating to qualify. So if you have any negative dings on your credit score, you may not be able to get a cash advance from your budget with a lower rate if you can’t qualify.

Beware wolves clothed as sheepish debt counselors

You also have to be careful of who you go through for debt consolidation. You may be better off if you get a personal loan to do it yourself. There are plenty of non-profit agencies, such as the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, that can help you out of debt. These services are often free, so you won’t necessarily be sent running for payday loans to pay for help getting out of debt. Also, getting a debt consolidation loan at a higher interest rate than the debt you already have because of your credit rating guarantees paying more in the end.

FTC to tackle dirty debt practices

Financial reform has been in the air for some time. One of the big projects for the Federal Trade Commission is quashing crooked debt relief services. According to the Washington Post, a debt consolidation service can’t charge a fee in advance and has to disclose all potential costs to customers.

Further Reading

Washington Post

Newsday

Many people think overdraft fee policies at most banks make them snakes in the grass. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

A lawsuit in California concerning Wells Fargo and its practices regarding overdraft fees concluded recently. The presiding judge, William Alsup, handed a ruling which ordered Wells Fargo to pay back a substantial sum to Californians that it had unfairly dinged for overdrafts. The judge found the bank had deliberately manipulated overdraft practices to profit heavily, and did not mince words in his decision to penalize the bank for its actions. Overdraft fees are controversial, and some contend that people are better off getting a cash advance than using overdraft protection.

Judge orders $230 million in restitution

According to Forbes, Federal judge William Alsup ordered Wells Fargo to pay $230 million to customers it has charged overdraft fees. Depending on the amount of the overdraft, a single overdraft fee can carry an APR far higher than a payday loan. The judge also highlighted that Wells Fargo had a practice of clearing the largest charges first, which guaranteed that customers would lapse into overdraft and be charged $35, even if customers overdrew their accounts by a few dollars.

You can bank on high fees

Wells Fargo also didn’t extend the option for customers to decline a transaction that would put them into overdraft. The decision highlighted documents from the bank that demonstrate the bank establishing covert lines of credit for checking accounts, guaranteeing transactions wouldn’t be declined and the account holder would be charged. The judge also cited that internal communications from Wells Fargo proved the motive was explicitly to profit from overdraft fees. The bank generated $1.4 billion from 2005 to 2007 in California alone. The interest rate on overdraft fees can be higher than if a person were to get a personal loan to float them.

Overdraft practices overhauled

There are new rules in place concerning overdraft practices, and other credit from banks such as credit cards. The Federal Reserve instituted a rule that mandates banks give customers the option of enrolling in overdraft protection, according to CNN Money. Overdraft fees generate more than $38 billion in income for banks annually.

Further Reading

Forbes

CNN Money

Some may need a submarine in this real estate market. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

A recent survey indicates that just more than 20 percent of American homeowners are underwater on their mortgages. That means that one in five people who own their homes would be no better off with mortgage loan modification, even if they could get it. The number of people who owe more than their homes are worth is slowly but surely declining. However, some areas are worse off than others, as large metropolitan areas are still experiencing greater numbers of foreclosures.

A fifth of all homes underwater

According to CNN Money, a real estate survey indicated that just more than 20 percent of American home owners owed more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. However, the 21.5 percent who are currently underwater is down from 23.3 percent from the previous quarter, which means some homes gained more than a payday loans worth. This means there is less negative equity. That said,  one in five people still probably won’t get offered mortgage loan modification, as it would do them no good. As less equity means less debt relief in a depressed market, some would be better off if they were to get a personal loan to get out of a house inching closer to foreclosure.

Values climb but so do foreclosures

Real estate values are starting to climb in some areas. Granted, one can never expect to buy a house for a cash advance, but home prices are starting to climb. Major metro areas where most homes are underwater benefited most. However, the number of foreclosures increased for 75 percent of all major cities despite home values creeping up. Las Vegas, Nev., is still the worst city in America for real estate. Unemployment there is higher than 14 percent, and almost 74 percent of homes in Sin City are underwater. About one in 15 homes are in foreclosure.

Slow and steady

There are few relative improvements to speak of. The unemployment rate has dipped slightly, and some people are not as bad off as they used to be on their mortgages. What recovery has taken place is doing so at a very slow pace.

Further Reading

CNN Money on Underwater Mortgages

CNN Money on Foreclosures

Until legislators in the Sacramento capital building create a balanced budget, state employees may have their pay cut. Image from Flickr.

In the state of California, where a state budget has yet to be passed, state employees are facing a huge pay cut. The governor has asked that until a budget is passed, all employees have their pay cut to minimum wage. Some banks and credit unions are offering a quick payday to these employees, including no-interest installment payday loans.

The California pay cut

At the beginning of the California fiscal year on July 1, the state had passed no official budget. Without the budget in place, the state of California is facing a $19.1 billion budget deficit. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered that all 200,000 state employees have their wages reduced to minimum wage until a budget is passed. State Controller John Chiang issued a statement saying that worker wages cannot be reduced until the state budget system is completely overhauled — something that will take at least two years and several million dollars.

“Impasse” loans offered

Several large banks and small credit unions, including Wells Fargo and Bank of America, are offering no fax pay day loans called “budget impasse loans.” These loans are offered for no interest and no credit check. Instead, state employees are extended extra credit or cash money to make up the gap. When the state budget is passed, employees will be given a retroactive payment that they can use to pay off these impasse loans.

Qualifying for impasse loans

California state employees who need to get a personal loan to cover the budget impasse do not immediately qualify for these zero-interest loans. Instead, the state employees must already have an account with the bank or credit union. For many of the financial institutions, the state employee’s pay must also be deposited directly into his or her bank account. Given that California has only passed a balanced budget by the beginning of the fiscal year in 10 of the last 34 years, it is not surprising that many banks have created solutions to help employees that are left in the dust.

There are ways of getting a rate on personal loans which don't end up breaking the piggy bank. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

If you’re getting into the market for personal loans, there are a few things that can help you get the best personal loan rates.

First thing in rates for personal loans is credit score

Your credit score is one of the most important details about your financial life, and it is also significant when you apply for personal loans.  It may seem unfair, based on past occurrences and not reflective of your present ability to repay a loan, but unfortunately it is entrenched.  To better your chances to get a personal loan, you want to boost your credit score.  Pay off the credit cards, first and foremost. If you have multiple cards, pay them off until you are down to one or two, and keep the balances low.  Even if you have bad debt that’s been charged off, some payment is better than none.

Lay your money down

The more you offer as a down payment, the less you’ll owe on the principle. The less you owe on the principle, the better the interest rate will be and the less you’ll have to pay.  Typically, a down payment is something you’ll only have to worry about with a home or a car.  According to a recent Forbes piece, a 20 percent down payment on a home is beginning to get out of reach. This is part of an overall trend, as the requirements to make that upfront payment loosen.  That practice is starting to get nipped in the bud, so for any large personal loan, expect it to come up.

Shop around and don’t be afraid to refinance

As with any product or service, shop around.  One of the great things about credit unions is that they carry lower risk structurally than a bank does, and often can offer lower rates than some banks.  If a company doesn’t have lavish bonuses to shell out, that means lower overhead.  Also, if you have a large enough loan, such as a mortgage loan, car loan, student loan or business loan, don’t be afraid to refinance once you’re in the right position. Lower interest rates mean lower payments, which means more money in your pocket.

Eppicards can be used the same as a standard debit card. Image from Flickr.

There are currently 19 U.S. states that use Eppicard to process and distribute state payments. Recently, Eppicard users have been the target of phishing scams. Are Eppicards an effective way for states to distribute benefits?

How Eppicard is used

The Eppicard system is a third-party “servicing” company that provides financial services for states. In 19 states, Eppicards are used to provide child support, unemployment and state benefit payments. In general, an Eppicard works very much like a debit card – the payment is deposited into an Eppicard account, and then the money is debited electronically when the card is used at an ATM or store.

Eppicards targeted by phishing

In Ohio, many Eppicard users are being targeted by e-mail and text message phishing scams. Eppicard users are receiving messages asking for them to update their Eppicard PIN. The Eppicard users are told that they need to update their information in order to get a personal loan or continue accessing their account. If Eppicard customers use the fake link or text message to “update” information, the scam artist empties their accounts. The FBI and state benefit agencies have issued warnings to rely only on www.eppicard.com or the state agency for information on Eppicard accounts.

Are Eppicards best for benefits?

The Eppicard system is, in general, a contractor for state benefits. The Eppicard system does offer benefits for some users; because they look and act like debit cards, Eppicards can be much simpler to use than other available benefit systems. However, Eppicard has garnered multiple complaints for business practices that look more like a Rush Card than a public service. Eppicard charges as much as $1 for every ATM transaction. Calling Eppicard customer service also creates an additional charge. Card replacement, denial of funds, overdraft fees and even balance inquiries end up with charges. While the Eppicard may be simple for states to use, there are concerns that the additional charges are taking advantage of people receiving state benefits. Most states, though, provide an alternative to the Eppicard, such as paper checks or direct-deposit systems.

The Times Square suspicious package was a wild goose chase, but understandable. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Just days after a failed bombing attempt by Faisal Shahzad, a Times Square suspicious package scare caused the evacuation of Times Square by police. The bomb squad was called in to investigate, and traffic was redirected around Times Square.  The package was found near the Marriott Marquis Hotel. The package was just an unattended bag, so there’s no need to get a personal loan for a bomb shelter quite yet.

Times Square suspicious package innocuous

The New York City Police Department brought bomb squad officers in to investigate the suspicious package in Times Square.  The parcel in question was a small, non-plastic, white cooler left unattended, near the Marriott Marquis, near 45th street and Broadway.  The package was reported by a street vendor, and upon investigation by the NYPD, the package was found to contain nothing dangerous, according to the New York Post. The evacuation has been called off.

Times Square suspicious package bottled water

According to the Washington Post, all that the cloth cooler contained was bottled water. Granted, bottled water doesn’t explode, but it could cause the normal person to explode with anger when they realize how much they overpay for it.  (Believe it or not, a fair amount of water bottlers actually use municipal sources – that’s tap water!) Come to think of it, considering what they make the bottles out of, and considering bottled water has less stringent standards than tap, maybe the suspicious package in Times Square was harmful after all.

You aren’t paranoid if they really are out to get you

Though this incident could easily be chalked up to sheer paranoia and may seem laughable, recent events would easily make for an atmosphere conducive to paranoia.  I’d think the same thing, too.  The intersection where the package was found was the same block where Faisal Shahzad’s ticking Times Square car bomb was discovered.  Thankfully, he was totally inept at bomb making. Though this seems a bit of a mountain made out of a molehill, the reality is that unfortunately, an ugly and odious air of Fear and Loathing is setting in. One wonders if we shall ever get a reprieve.

If you can't complete your tax return, or pay your taxes, by April 15, you will need to file a tax extension form. Image from Picasa.

Tax day is quickly approaching, and if you need extra time to complete your 2009 federal taxes, you will need to submit a tax extension form 2010 to the IRS. There are two types of an IRS extension form – one that extends your filing deadline, and one that extends your tax resolution deadline. Make sure you file the right tax extension form with the IRS by Midnight on Thursday, April 15.

IRS extension form 4868 – extend your tax deadline

If you, for almost any reason, need extra time to complete your taxes, then you will need IRS extension form 4868. The IRS extension form generally gives you an additional six months to file your taxes. However, IRS extension form 4868 still requires taxpayers to pay their estimated tax debt. If you file IRS extension form 4868 without paying what you estimate you will owe in taxes, you can still be charged interest and penalties on the amount. If you file tax extension form by April 15, you will automatically have until Oct. 15 to file a completed tax return.

Special rules for tax extension form 4868

If you are living outside the U.S., are filing a married-filing-jointly return, or are serving in a combat zone, tax extension form 4868 has special rules. Specifically, an automatic two-month tax extension is allowed for U.S. citizens or residents who are living outside of the U.S. or Puerto Rico. Married couples who are filing a joint return only need to file one tax extension form 4868. Members of the military have up to 180 days after they leave a combat zone to file their taxes.

Filing a tax extension form to extend payment time

IRS Extension form 4868 can be used only if you will be paying what you estimate in taxes by April 15. If you are not able to pay all of your taxes at the time you file your return, you need to file a very different type of tax extension form. One of the four tax extension form types might be used. Unlike tax extension form 4868, the IRS tax extension forms that extend your time to pay are very closely scrutinized and not automatically granted.

Tax extension forms to extend payments

There are four types of IRS tax extension forms that will help you extend the time you have to pay the IRS before they charge you penalties that may require you to get a personal loan.

• Use IRS tax extension form 1127 if you are asking the IRS to postpone payment of the full amount of your tax debt. If you can pay the full amount in one chunk, just not by April 15, file this tax extension form.
• Use IRS tax extension form 4768 to apply for a tax extension on filing or paying estate taxes
• IRS tax extension form 9465 is the form to file if you need to request an installment agreement from the IRS. You do not need to file this form if you set up a payment plan through the IRS website. If you can pay your full tax debt in 120 days or less, call 1-800-829-1040 – they may be able to help you avoid the fees of setting up a payment plan.
• There is no official tax extension form if you do not qualify for a tax installment agreement or tax postponement. However, IRS Publication 594 outlines the IRS collection process and your rights and responsibilities during that process.

The ash and gas spit into the air by erupting volcanoes can wreak havoc on the global climate. Image from Flickr.

Last Saturday, the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland began to shake, shiver and spit out lava and steam. Iceland volcanic activity has a long history, though this particular volcano hasn’t shown any volcanic activity for almost 200 years. A larger concern than the Iceland volcanic activity of Eyjafjallajokull, though, is the potential eruption of Katla, the much larger nearby volcano. If Iceland volcanic activity continues to increase, the atmosphere could be darkened with ash that could lead to global cooling that no fax loans for scientists could solve.

Iceland Volcanic Activity follows a pattern

Volcanic activity is a notoriously difficult-to-predict phenomenon. However, volcanic activity on Iceland has historically been preceded by seismic activity, much like the recent earthquakes around the world.

Volcanoes in Iceland sit on top of the Atlantic’s mid-oceanic ridge, and when earthquakes push magma and hot rock to the surface, Iceland volcanoes are more likely to erupt. Scientists who study Iceland volcanic activity have said that, historically, when Eyjafjallajokull begins erupting, Katla always eventually follows. This is partially because Eyjafjallajokull’s lava and steam melts the glacier caps on top of Katla, which makes it easier for Katla to blow its top.

Iceland volcanic activity causes cooling

In 1783, the volcanic gasses and ash that were released from that Iceland volcanic activity were enough to create a globe-cooling smog. The gasses were so thick that some residents of the British Isles died from being poisoned by the gas alone. Crop production across Europe fell, causing famine across the continent. The winter of 1794 was the longest and coldest winter on record in North America — so cold that the Mississippi river froze in New Orleans. In 1991, Chile’s Mount Pinatubo erupted, spewed ash and gasses into the atmosphere, and cooled the globe by about 4 degrees for a full year.

Not necessarily a nightmare scenario

While the stories of what can happen when Iceland volcanic activity starts to rise can be the stuff of Hollywood movies, that doesn’t mean it will be the worst-case scenario. The last time Eyjafjallajokull erupted, it was a two-year-long “lazy” eruption in 1821 that did not cause any major environmental effects outside of Iceland.

Volcanoes in Iceland are unique, however, in that their eruptions can be even more difficult to predict because of the glaciers they sit under. In the end, the best bet is to get a personal loan to stock up your emergency supplies, but don’t lock yourselves in underground bunkers quite yet.

Sources:

USA Today
The Associated Press at /news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100322/ap_on_sc/eu_iceland_volcano

Chief Justice John Roberts. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

John Roberts is probably shaking his head right about now. Appointed to the Chief Justice position in 2005 by president George W. Bush, a rumor started today that this dedicated conservative judge was going to step down in less time than it takes to get a personal loan. Radar Online first published the story about Chief Justice John Roberts stepping down, and it was quickly picked up around the world. The rumor, however, turned out to be just a rumor and nothing more.

John Roberts rumor started by a law professor

Abovethelaw.com, an online magazine dedicated to law-related topics, lays out the entire story. Apparently a law professor at Georgetown started his class with the announcement that he had heard from an “unnamed source” that John Roberts would be stepping down later that day. Later on in the hour, he let the class in on the secret that John Roberts would NOT be stepping down. The professor was trying to make a point that even sources that are generally considered as reliable cannot always be trusted. Little did he know.

Chief Justice news exploded

Twenty years ago, a classroom object lesson like this about the Chief Justice of the supreme court wouldn’t have gone any further than the classroom itself. However, law students now use laptops to take notes, and are constantly connected. Almost as soon as the words came out of professor Peter Tague’s mouth, the rumor mill had already started churning – and kept churning. The news spread far and wide faster than no fax cash advances are deposited into your bank account. Even a retraction by the original source doesn’t mean the rumor will be quiet for any amount of time.

Does John Roberts really have health problems?

Professor Tague claimed that Chief Justice John Roberts would be stepping down from the Supreme Court because of “health concerns.” While most Supreme Court watchers would laugh out loud at the very thought that John Roberts would allow a Democratic president to appoint his successor. However, part of the reason the rumor was able to take off so quickly is that John Roberts has had health concerns in the past. According to Wikipedia John Roberts did suffer a seizure on July 30, 2007. This fairly recent history of a health concern is most likely what helped the rumor gain traction so quickly.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has been under constant fire since the beginning of the great recession. Some people say he was put into a difficult situation, but still others maintain that his performance has been worthy of scorn. Marketwatch reports that gold prices have fallen for the third straight day, while Reuters reports that the Bernanke testimony has people skittish on jobs and America’s economic recovery. Payroll loans should be expected to continue at their current rate as the economy remains uncertain.

Frank McGhee of Integrated Brokerage Services told Reuters that difficulties with the euro have shifted some of gold’s value back toward the dollar. Gold bullion, which has generally been seen as safe in tough economic times, is tending to run with riskier markets, which some consider to be a bad sign.

Recovery “not yet sustainable”

Continued low interest rates go along with this, which does little to encourage investors. Bernanke testimony included a promise to Congress that the Federal Reserve will abandon its “ultra-low monetary policy” when there is real recovery, namely by adjusting the rate for lending between banks.

Gold and currency trade are down

That’s the way it will stay until there are more obvious signs of recovery, signs that sustainable recovery is well underway. Reuters indicates that the International Monetary Fund is attempting to liquefy its gold supply, which is influencing prices and keeping traders wary. It all leaves regular people wondering where they can get a personal loan to make expenses. The Bernanke testimony doesn’t make things appear any more positive at the moment.

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/ / CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Today is National Tortilla Chip Day, and I’m feeling fine. Once I start crunching those crunchy chips, strips, rounds and triangles, I get on the salt flow and thunder ahead. Just like pretzels at a bar, I can never eat just one. Thankfully, I don’t suffer from Addison’s disease. Then I’d need to get a personal loan to cover all the consults. There are limits to the amount of salt I can intake.

And what about all the colors?

You’ve seen white, red, blue, yellow (and sometimes green) tortilla chips out there. They’re all tasty. I prefer to eat mine straight, as opposed to going the Doritos route of having artificial flavor injected into my beloved snack. If I’m in need of greater nacho stimulation, I’ll go for the salsa (something spicy, or even some nice salsa fresca), queso, sour cream or – and here’s where I start to wig out in taste nirvana – guacamole! I say ole!

Tortillas are a staple in numerous countries

Originally named by Spanish conquistadors, tortillas are thin cornmeal or flour pancakes. Their popularity has spread far beyond the Spain-Mexico cradle, and the world is better a place as a result. According to MyPunchBowl, tortilla chips were created by Rebecca Webb Carranza in Los Angeles during the 1940s. Some tortillas came out of the automated tortilla machine misshapen, but Carranza knew that a lack of pleasing roundness wasn’t enough reason to let good food go to waste. Cut them into pieces, fry them and sell them for a dime a bag. That’s what El Zarape Tortilla Factory did. By 1994, Carranza had won a Golden Tortilla Award for her contribution to Mexican food.

Want a recipe for National Tortilla Chip Day?

OK, here you are. Courtesy of Cooks.com, here’s what you’ll need for Mexican style beef and rice on tortilla chips:

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 med. onion chopped
1 clove garlic
2 c. water
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. cumin seed
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. instant rice
Tortilla chips

Click here for instructions. No easy cash loans are required.

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Everything hinges on money, or in my case,  the lack of money. Life is always easier the first few days after payday, before the dry stretch until the next payday sets in. Sometimes, with payday still almost two weeks away, I get so consumed worrying about what I’m going to pay or do first once I finally get my next paycheck, that it’s worth it to me to get a personal loan and be done with the issues.

When I’m preoccupied with how I’ll catch up once payday arrives, it’s hard just to function. It’s hard to get work done, hard to be a mom, and hard to enjoy being home. It’s hard to sleep and even harder to get out of bed.

Some things are worth more than the cost of an Instant Cash Loan

When my life gets like this, and I know that I can manage comfortably on my next paycheck after paying back a small personal loan, I apply for one. Once I know that extra cash is on its way to my bank account, I’m able to focus at work, enjoy life, and sleep at night. For me, keeping my cool until payday is worth more than the cost of an instant cash loan.

It’s easy to get an Instant Cash Loan online

Nothing to fax

No credit check

Bad credit, no credit, bankruptcy, and foreclosure okay

Installment loans for bad credit

Loans of up to $1500

One short application instantly finds the best loan

Funds deposited directly to your bank account

Paid back automatically on an agreed schedule

Quick, hassle-free loan-approval process

For me, an Instant Cash Loan is a better budgeting tool than a credit card

It’s not that I make a habit of getting instant cash loans, but a cash advance from time to time makes all the difference for me. Getting an instant cash loan to cover an unusual or unexpected expense is no different from using a credit card, but for me, it’s a better budgeting tool. With a cash advance, I’m not tempted to buy things I don’t really need and there’s no surprise at the end of the month when the statement comes, like there can be with a credit card.

Sometimes I really do balance the budget with an Instant Cash Loan

I live on a tight budget and obviously I can’t control when extra expenses come up. It’s not like I can tell my insurance carrier not to bill me now, but to wait until the third week of this month when I know I’ll have money left over after paying the mortgage and utility bills. So rather than worry about it, I borrow money now and pay the insurance on time. Then I pay the loan back with the extra cash I knew I’d have left over on payday.

Getting an instant cash loan is worth avoiding late fees or an interruption in my insurance coverage. Balancing the buget? Sure, it worth getting an instant cash loan to do that. But forget the budget, what’s really worth it is the peace of mind.

Apply here for an Instant Cash Loan!

Guaranteed Loans and Santa Claus: They're not real!

There are no such things as guaranteed loans. (You kind of knew that when you asked.) But if you’re hoping to get cash today, it’s guaranteed that Personal Money Market can almost always find a lender to grant your wish on the very best terms available.

There are no guaranteed loans, but payday loans are easy to get

Although there are no guaranteed loans, payday lenders generally don’t run credit checks. You can usually get a payday loan even if you have bad credit or no credit at all. You can usually get a payday loan despite having financial problems. You can get a payday loan if you’ve filed for bankruptcy, had your wages garnished, lost your home or car in a foreclosure or repossession, or are getting a divorce.

Payday loans are probably the most easily accessible form of credit available today. At Personal Money Market, your application is very likely to be approved even though there are no guaranteed loans.

You must be a sane adult with a regular income

To get a payday loan, you usually must have a job with a regular income and you must have been employed for the minimum time prescribed by the lender. You must have legal capacity to enter into a contract, so you cannot, for example, be a minor. Nor can you be insane. (Insanity can be a problem for people who have reached the age of majority but still believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and Guaranteed Loans.)

You must be a sociable person with a bank account

If you want an online payday loan, you have to have a bank account because online payday lenders deliver loan funds by electronic transfer. You usually have to know at least two people to get a payday loan, because lenders usually require personal references, although they generally don’t contact the references before making the loan. (References can be a problem for hermits, recluses, and other shut-ins, even when they have regular incomes and bank accounts.)

You mustn’t have too much of a good thing

Depending on whether your state has a “cooling off” law, you may not be able to get a payday loan if you’ve recently had too many in a row. Many state legislatures have determined that if there were were such things as guaranteed loans, too many people would become too deeply mired in payday loan debt all too quickly.

Some payday lenders obtain Teletrack reports

It bears repeating that payday lenders generally don’t run formal credit checks. Some, however, use Teletrack reports to make credit-risk assessments. Teletrack is not a traditional credit bureau, and unlike a credit check, a Teletrack check won’t show up on your credit report. Teletrack provides analyses of consumer credit histories based on information obtained from payday loan companies, furniture companies, vehicle financing firms, high-risk consumer finance companies, credit card companies, banks and credit unions, as well as public records.

Teletrack doesn’t make credit-worthiness decisions, but it provides information to payday lenders who may then use it to approve or deny loan applications. Teletrack is considered a consumer credit reporting firm and is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

You won’t get a loan if you don’t apply, guaranteed

So you see, there are no guaranteed loans, although you’re very likely to get a personal loan when you apply at Personal Money Market. If you need to borrow money now and know that you can pay it back on your next payday without having to borrow again, then apply today. Chances are your wish will be granted right away.

Apply for the Best Payday Loans HERE!

No one likes the thought of borrowing money. But most of us have had to do it at one time or another. Especially today, with the cost of living soaring and incomes dropping, sometimes you have to get a personal loan just to make ends meet. If you get a personal loan today, and know that you’ll still be able to get by on your next paycheck after paying the loan back, a quick payday loan can solve a lot of problems.

Sometimes it makes good sense to get a personal loan

Needing money means different things to different people. You might be struggling to get by until payday after an uninsured medical emergency. You might be completely out of cash until payday when your car breaks down. You might be piecing your finances back together after overextending them on a recent vacation. You might even own a good house, have a good job, drive a nice car, be current on all your bills, and still find yourself short of cash until payday. Whatever your standard, and whatever your reason, when it makes sense for you to get a personal loan, Personal Money Market is the best place to find one.

Sometimes you can cut your losses when you get a personal loan

When you’re short of cash until payday and are running the risk of late fees or bounced check charges, it can make sense to get a personal loan. Late fees on the rent or mortgage can be significant, and it can cost hundreds of dollars to reconnect the electric service. Credit card companies today are more determined than ever before to collect late fees. Being just one day late on a charge account can really set you back when you’re already scraping to make ends meet.

No one loves to borrow money. On the other hand, there are bigger fees to pay than the price of a quick payday loan.

Anyone who’s ever had to get a personal loan knows what it’s like

Even with the economy in shambles, there are plenty of people who’ve never had to get a personal loan. But there are plenty more of us who struggle to make it from paycheck to paycheck. We know what it’s like to need money so badly that you’re willing to get a personal loan just to get by for a few more days until payday.

Get a personal loan for peace of mind

When you know that you can pay the loan back on payday without having to borrow again, and it feels like a little money in your pocket will change your whole life, paying a few dollars to get a personal loan is worth every penny. You may save money and you may put food on the table; you may make the landlord go away and you may get your car out of hock; but sometimes the peace of mind alone is reason enough to get a personal loan.

Applying for a personal loan is easy:

Itching to live in a big city? You'll probably spend more time in your car than you do in your dramatically overpriced home.

A few weeks ago I wrote an article called “I’m Sorry I Don’t Want to Live in the Big City.” Yet another couple of my friends are moving across the state this weekend, further aggravating my condition.

My condition is one of mild irritation. It gets inflamed when people who live in this perfectly good mid-sized metro talk about “the big city” as though it is so superior. That’s fine — people are entitled to their opinions.

Fanning the flames

However, mild irritation is replaced by frustration and higher blood pressure when people try to talk me into jumping on this horribly ill-advised big-city bandwagon. Worse yet, they act befuddled when I tell them I have no interest in doing so.

They go all wide-eyed and gasp “Why not?” as though I’ve just said I don’t like puppies and music. Because of my frustration and blood pressure heightening condition, I usually just gasp “Whyyyyyyyy would I?” and leave it at that. But now, thanks to this nifty calculator I found on CNN, I can calmly, and coolly explain that I don’t want to have to get a personal loan every month just to pay my rent.

Check out the cost of living calculator

I found this simple cost of living calculator at CNN Money. It simply asks “How far will my salary go in another city?” You plug in  your yearly earnings and the city you live in, and it tells you how much you’d have to make per year to maintain a comparable standard of living in whichever city you choose to compare it to.

The best part, at least for me, is that it not only tells you how much you’d have to make to “get by” in this other city, it says how much more things cost there. For instance, in “the big city,” compared to the city I live in now, groceries cost 16 percent more and health care costs 12 percent more.

The dealbreaker

Best of all, I found out from the cost of living calculator that in this “big city,” this ridiculously overcrowded metropolis on the other side of the state, housing costs 91 percent more!

So next time I get the shocked, aghast “Why not?!” I have statistical evidence that life will not be superior in the magical, mystical big city. Not to mention that I’d have to make almost $10,000 more per year to maintain my eating and paying rent habits.

Don’t even try

There is more than one “big city” in my neck of the woods that my fellow residents apparently hold some sort of hero worship for just because it’s “bigger” and “closer to the beach.” So  it’s possible that after I’ve thwarted the Big City Number One argument, they’ll just start talking up Big City Two.

But I am a step ahead! I checked on this other Big City. The one that’s not quite so big but a little bit farther away and has a few more hippies. It says housing in this hip, environmentally friendly place will cost 65 percent more, groceries will cost 10 percent and utilities will be 11 percent more.

So, if you’re like me, and sick of fielding questions on why on earth you don’t want to pack up all of your things and move to a place where you’ll pay thousands more in rent for the privilege of sitting in traffic jams on a daily basis, check out the cost of living calculator.