Hard times have made consumers more determined to negotiate and businesses more willing to make a better deal. Image: CC jazzengirly/Flickr

A positive side effect of the recession for many Americans is learning how to negotiate for better deals. Dickering on price is ingrained in many cultures, but Americans traditionally negotiate only on cars and houses. However, tough economic times have an affect on sellers as well as buyers. Businesses in home repair, car repair and even health care will forgo a few dollars to get your business.

Negotiating medical bills

When it comes to negotiating medical bills, doctors and hospitals do it all the time with insurance companies. As people lose their health insurance and are forced into lesser coverage, negotiating with patients is becoming more common. A procedure often has different rates based on whether Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance pays for it. Doctors and hospitals would much rather work with a patient than deal with a bill collector. Negotiate for a better deal directly with the doctor. Offer to pay quick cash up front. When the hospital gives a quote, make a counteroffer. It’s easy to find the going rate for medical procedures in different regions of the country online.

Negotiating auto repairs

Americans are accustomed to negotiating for a better deal with auto dealerships. So why not do the same with auto mechanics? Take a look at the auto repair estimate and ask if after market parts can be substituted for original equipment. Never give auto mechanics carte blanche. Some of the items on the estimate could be eliminated outright. Never ask questions such as “do I need a tune up” that may signal uncertainty about what repairs are required. If the car repairs aren’t an emergency, shop around for the best deal. Find an auto repair estimate database online. Always know exactly what kind of work will be done on your car before dropping it off.

Negotiating home repairs

Home repair contractors are notorious for including costly change orders that grossly inflate the original estimate. Get several bids, check references and wait until the home repair contract is signed before handing over any money. Include a budget for contingencies and unexpected problems. Each payment in the contract should rest upon a particular degree of progress made on the project. A sum equal to 15 percent of the total home repair contract should be held as a final payment that isn’t made until all the work is complete.

Sources

New York Times

Supermechanics.com

Suite 101

A new car loan could be cheaper than buying used thanks to 0 percent financing and a low inventory of used vehicles for sale. Image: CC madro21/Flickr

In an economy turned upside-down, a new car loan has become more affordable that buying used. Car buyer incentives from some automakers are so generous that conventional wisdom about car buying can be tossed out the window. Certain makes and models cost less per month new than the same vehicle driven for a year by a previous owner.

Free financing sends auto lending askew

Unless you’re paying quick cash, getting a loan for a new car could be smarter in many cases than buying used. Because interest rates remain extremely low in the aftermath of the recession, loan rates for new vehicles have imploded. According to Edmunds.com, the average rate for an auto loan was a mere 4.16 percent in December. Strangely enough, more than 15 percent of auto loans are virtually devoid of interest. General Motors, which is showing signs of life after a notorious government bailout, offers 0 percent financing on 50 percent of its auto loans. However, 0 percent financing isn’t for everyone. Strong credit is needed to qualify for such a sweet deal, to the tune of a FICO score of at least 650 and sometimes above 700.

How new cars can be cheaper than used cars

While average interest rates for new car loans are about 4 percent, rates for used cars are still about 8 percent. Plus, the price difference between used and new cars has also narrowed for a number of reasons. The “cash for clunkers” program in 2009 cleared the market of about 700,000 used cars. The financial crisis and credit crunch that hit new car sales so hard affected the amount of used cars being traded in. And some deals on new cars are so generous that a new vehicle is cheaper over the life of a five-year car loan that a one-year-old edition of an identical model.

Which new cars are cheaper than used cars?

To make a list of new cars that are cheaper than used cars, Edmunds.com compared the average used car interest rate of 7.7 percent with a 0 percent new car loan available for certain models. Auto loans were for five year terms, and other incentives were figured in. Some of the vehicles on the list include the Audi S4 Premium Plus Quattro Sedan, with a savings of $1,020; the Honda CR-V EX with a savings of $1,320; and the Toyota FJ Cruiser base model, also with a savings of $1,320.

Sources

MarketWatch

MoneyWatch

Edmunds.com

Lawsuit lenders convince cash-strapped plaintiffs to give up most of their future settlement in exchange for money now. Image: CC mrmaccc/Flickr

Lawsuit lending involves investing cash in a legal case for a percentage of the proceeds if the plaintiff wins. Lawsuit lending has exploded in the last decade as banks and hedge funds look for lucrative investment alternatives. Lawsuit loans are unregulated in most states and the practice is being called “legal loan-sharking” by consumer advocates.

Lawsuit lenders deny making loans

Lawsuit lenders shell out more than $100 million a year in bets that plaintiffs will win their cases. Lawsuit loans escape regulation by lending laws because companies engaging in the practice contend they are not lenders. Lawsuit lenders call their transactions investments, not loans, because a client doesn’t have to pay the money back if they lose their case.  Because they are not subject to limits on interest rates, lawsuit lenders charge APRs as high as 215 percent, claiming that lawsuit loans are riskier than other forms of lending.

Lawsuit loans billed as quick cash and easy money

The claim by lawsuit lenders that lawsuit loans are risky is challenged by certain facts. Lawsuit lenders scan legal notices for prospects and saturate late-night television with ads promising quick cash and easy money. They cherry-pick opportunities to look for sure things such as pharmaceutical class action suits and cash-strapped plaintiffs involved in personal injury cases. A personal injury lawyer told the New York Times that when he was hired to screen applicants for a lawsuit lender he was told to never mention the cost of the loan, which could go as high as 99 percent of the lawsuit loan amount.

States catching up with lawsuit lenders

Lawsuit lenders have escaped regulation by successfully lobbying state legislatures to exclude lawsuit loans from laws that regulate the credit and lending industries. But a law exempting lawsuit lenders from regulation was blocked Jan. 7 in the Illinois General Assembly. In December, Colorado filed a lawsuit against two of the nation’s largest lawsuit lenders, Oasis and LawCash. Colorado attorney general John W. Suthers said that since borrowers are charged interest once they receive a settlement, lawsuit loans are indeed loans, and Oasis and LawCash are violating Colorado lending laws.

Sources

New York Times

PointOfLaw.com

LawWeekOnline

The Social Security Administration just closed a loophole that some wealthy people exploited for a quick payday at everyone's expense. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Recently, Congress closed a loophole in Social Security that some people were exploiting for a quick payday. The loophole allowed the well off to get more instant cash out of the system than they would have otherwise. The government was not amused and closed the loophole.

Quick payday loophole in Social Security

Some people are creative when it comes to getting a quick payday. One way some people figured out how to was the Social Security administration, according to USA Today. People can file for Social Security benefits at age 62, but they get reduced benefits as long as they receive them. The loophole was that a person could withdraw their application to receive benefits and refile for benefits at full retirement age. They would get the full benefit they were entitled to, only if they repaid the quick cash they had already received. Essentially, some very wealthy people were getting low interest loans, in fact no interest loans, from the government.

Social Security Administration end scheme

Financial advisers had known about this and some told seniors to exploit this loophole. Social Security checks would go into savings, until they withdrew their request for benefits and refiled for benefits at full retirement age after repaying the government. The Social Security Administration figured the scheme out and put a halt to it. A retiree now has to file an application to cancel benefits within 12 months of originally receiving them. There had been no set window prior to the rule change. The scheme, while crafty, takes present and future money out of the pool for people receiving benefits. It isn’t as if the SSA can get payday loans if it needs them.

Social Security only way for some to subsist

Social Security is the only way some people are able to keep a roof over their head. There is some debate over whether it should exist, but it is hard to get past the fact that since Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid were launched, life expectancy and standards of living for seniors drastically improved in the United States.

Sources

USA Today

Retailers can celebrate, as the November haul of quick cash was better than anticipated. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

The retail industry has cause to celebrate, as the haul of quick cash was better than expected last month. November brings with it Black Friday at the end, which is when a lot of money gets spent. The retail industry has been hurting for payday cash throughout the recession.

November nets retail industry a lot of quick cash

Holidays bring with them tradition. Thanksgiving, in particular, has certain traditions like pumpkin pie and the Thanksgiving Classic series of football games, but the day after Thanksgiving, or Black Friday, is a huge shopping day. Many people spend a lot of quick cash buy Christmas presents for themselves or others, and the retail year revolves around that time period. November 2010 retail sales, according to USA Today, were even better than expected, and a better pay day for an industry in a down economy is good news, indeed. Also, since fewer shoppers are using credit cards, that means fewer installment loans are needed to cover the tab in January.

Gains posted over last year

Analysts were predicting a gain in retail sales of 3 to 4 percent in November 2010 over November of 2009, but were closer to 6 percent. That means more instant cash is going into the economy, and also reveals that consumers are feeling more confident this year. Luxury retail stores Neiman Marcus and Saks posted sales gains over 5 percent more in November 2010 than in 2009, and Abercrombie and Fitch posted a 22 percent gain in November 2010 over November 2009. These brands experienced declining sales in 2009, but have begun rebounding. This is impressive, since some items in those stores would send the average person running for payday loans to cover the bill.

Good signs

This does not exactly mean that gray skies are clearing up and happy days are here again, but it means that recovery is certainly on track. The American economy is a consumer economy, and that is where some very positive signs are coming from.

Sources

USA Today

How no credit check installment loans help

A widowed friend of mine had decided to sell her home and buy a new one. It was a great decision for her for many reasons. Her home sold quickly and she found a new one to purchase. Everything was going smoothly, but there was an overlap in moving out of the old home and into the new one, putting her in a position where she needed quick cash to make it through. So she applied for a payday loan and was approved instantly. She received the cash she needed and was able to get through the unfortunate situation effortlessly. What an exciting opportunity it was for her to eliminate the stress by simply applying for quick payday loans!

Getting quick cash can save the day for you, too!

If you are in need of quick cash, like my friend was, you may be able to get out of a tight situation, too. Apply now for no credit check installment loans and get over the tough times in almost no time at all. These online lenders understand that emergencies can happen unexpectedly, and they are always there to help. With some of the best personal loan rates, they can have you out of your current tough situation as fast as my friend was. Apply online and see how easy it is to get no credit check installment loans today.

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A Shanghai monkey (Photo: F3rn4nd0/Wikimedia/CC-BY)

The common idea is that animals are under the stewardship of humankind. This means that we are to care for them, to an extent. The modern view is that they have rights, and these rights require recognition, protection and respect.

Entire organizations and movements in society have recently sprung up regarding animal rights. They have protested against the treatment of animals in society. They are against cruelty to animals, animal blood sports and the slaughter of animals for consumption. In fact, they are against animal-based products of any kind. Some contend that animals have an inherent social value. However, the more widely accepted idea is that some animals should be cared for, but the existence of their rights is a mere social construction.

Social danger of animals

Animals are known to be a natural danger to humans, and their primal and wild nature in effect will cause human injuries and, in some case, fatalities. Animals are, in fact, inherently dangerous to humans. This is reinforced by the incident in which a monkey abducted a baby in Malaysia and killed it. (Link to story below.) This suggests that the danger of an animal merits a reassessment. The usual notion is that fierce animals such as lions and bears slay humans. However, we forget that most, if not all, of these creatures are primal and can kill a human given the right conditions. Communities live among animals, and this heightens the danger from animals, even from creatures like monkeys.

The natural order

In the scenario in which a baby was killed by a monkey, there were concerns that those who hunted down the monkey may have killed the wrong one. The Darwinian concept may offer an explanation for this: Either humans kill the monkey that killed the child or hunt a different money to even things out so there would be one less animal to worry about. It’s a reduction of potential child abductors and killers.

With or without animal rights, wild creatures cannot be held accountable for harms done to human beings. Many people believe that the only defense against these animals would be to hunt them down and kill them. Some humans believe animal rights undermine human rights, which are considered more important and valuable. These are the kind of rights protected by law and public policy.

Needed measures

Animal rights need to be a matter of social convenience, but it has to be set aside when human safety is at stake. Moreover, the culture of animal rights activism must be brought to perspective and limited to merely caring for animals, not a prohibition to kill them if it is what public welfare and safety require. This is to prevent any more injuries on humans. There may be a need for funding — grants, a low-rate personal loan or a small loan to get quick cash — to research better ways to deal with this issue and other related cases.

Sources

The Straits Times

The Case for Animal Rights (PDF)

Banks and credit unions don't offer a loan until payday like a payday loan lender, because they can't. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

There is a good reason a traditional bank or credit union doesn’t offer a loan until payday to customers. Many people have wondered why it is that a small loan for a short period of time is solely the province of payday lenders. Banks and credit unions steer clear of the practice. There are good reasons why payday loans will never be offered by traditional institutions.

Typical institutions do not offer a loan until payday

A lot of people have observed that while you can visit any payday loan store for a loan until payday, a similar loan is not available at a bank or credit union. It turns out there are some very good reasons for that. Firstly, banks and credit unions have to shield themselves against risk. Most people who use payday loans when they need to borrow money do repay them, but the limited documentation needed is less than the average bank or credit union is willing to accept. Part of bank underwriting criteria is normally to perform a check of credit scores, which a person who needs quick cash doesn’t have the time to wait for.

Studies prove they can’t

Banks and credit unions cannot afford to offer a loan until payday, the way a cash advance or payday loan lender does. It isn’t profitable enough for them, and a bank’s first priority is usually the shareholders. A study by Victor Stango revealed that not only were credit unions not able to offer lower prices on payday products and break even or profit, they were also hampered by not having hours or locations as convenient as payday lenders. The same study revealed only 6 percent of National Credit Union Association members offered a similar product.

Reformers should not hold their breath

It is not likely that banks or credit unions will offer a loan until payday anytime soon. They have status as institutions, which leads many to think they are safe. However, the credit cards and overdraft policies many have makes them anything but. You can read more in the Payday Loan Facts and Statistics Report on Personal Money Market.

What options are left when you need money now and don’t want your credit pulled? Have you considered payday loans?

Pleasant dwelling with payday loans

Payday loans can provide a fast solution to your problem. These payday advance loans can help you avoid having your credit checked. You can get the money you need and pay it back over a short period of time. Because there are generally no credit check required for these loans, you can get fast approval in no time and focus more on moving into your dream home. Typically, all you need is to have a job, a bank account and be able to prove you are a U.S. citizen who is at least 18 years of age.

Payday loans have other advantages

Even if you aren’t buying a home, you can still get payday advance loans for other emergency expenses, like car repairs and utility bills. If your credit isn’t where you would like it to be in order to qualify for a bank loan or credit card, rest assured knowing that it won’t affect your chances of approval with almost all types of payday loans. The application is quick and easy, you are not required to fax in paperwork or fill it out and bring it in the next day, approvals are quick and the money will be deposited directly in your bank account in just a few hours, in most cases.

Don’t let your credit get dinged with every credit application you put out, especially if there is a risk for a denial. Stop looking for solutions to your money problems or give up on your dream house, because if you have read this far, you already found your answer.

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What might be coming if police budget cuts continue to gain traction. (Photo Credit: ThinkStock)

When police budget cuts and layoffs make responding to fraud, burglary and theft calls impossible, some cities count on an infusion of quick cash to turn the tide. However, as USA Today reports, police agencies on the other side of the tracks are resorting to unconventional measures to fill vacancies. Paid and volunteer civilian police jobs are cheaper to support and becoming increasingly common.

Civilian police jobs: not so well-paid, not so experienced

Thanks to the recession, civilian police jobs are taking Monday morning quarterbacks and turning them into crime-scene investigators, photographers and evidence gatherers, writes USA Today. Charges of undermining the professionalism of those who walk the thin blue line have peppered the offices of the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), said Executive Director Bill Johnson. Even within the profession, there is controversy over some civilian police jobs that ignore standard pay and benefits negotiated for true police officers.

“The economy ought not to be pushing this,” said Johnson to USA Today. “You want the real deal when you call 911.”

Budget cuts and civilian police

In cities big and small, police budget cuts have made civilian law enforcement necessary. In San Francisco, for instance, 16 civilians were recently hired to investigate burglary and property crime through a $1 million program that would have cost significantly more if unionized police personnel had been retained to do the same jobs. Assistant Police Chief Thomas Shawyer told USA Today that the program saved the city $40,000 per person in training, gear and benefits. The police department in Mesa, Ariz., saved about $15,000 per person in salary by using eight civilian investigators starting in 2009. The civilian replacements whose charge was to investigate property crimes and fraud had previously worked in customer service at Costco, Barnes & Noble and Southwest Airlines.

Where it gets scary is Durham, N.C. Inexperienced civilian operatives are required to canvass neighborhoods following murders and other violent crimes. It puts needed eyes on the street to make up for officers lost due to police layoffs, but as Johnson puts it, “At that point of contact, we want a full-fledged police officer dealing with the public.”

Sources

USA Today

Johnny, get your gun

What's he sad about: male menopause or how badly he's been fooled by big pharmaceuticals? (Photo Credit: ThinkStock)

According to WebMD, the concept of male menopause is controversial at best. Aside from in men who undergo testosterone therapy or male athletes who binge on performance enhancing drugs, there does not appear to be a recognizable male hormone cycle. Yet that hasn’t stopped pharmaceutical companies from pushing male menopause treatments, reports the Washington Post. Male menopause prescriptions reportedly skyrocketed in the U.S. from 2.4 million men in 2005 to 3.9 million in 2009.

Male menopause is something men should fear, says big pharma

According to a no-doubt well-compensated urologist, 5 million U.S. males experience low libido, mood swings and hot flashes that point toward supposed male menopause. It’s yet another hook big pharma has cast to prey upon vanity. Doctors the Post interviewed indicate that a life change is not uncommon for men, but whether the majority of men need medication to “deal” with the changes is debatable. Chicago Northwestern Memorial Hospital urologist Robert Brannigan categorizes the testosterone change in the late 30s/early 40s for men as “subtle” compared with the change in women.

In clinical terms, this subtle shift is known as hypogonadism. Depression, irritability, weight gain, sexual dysfunction and various other symptoms can occur, but once again, the prevalence is a matter of debate. Brannigan claims it’s a “huge problem” that goes largely undiagnosed, but the fabric of male history clearly didn’t unravel before pharmaceutical companies rode in with their expensive products. Studies cited in Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin claim that men’s testosterone levels commonly do not drop significantly with age, so male menopause drugs could be a corporate invention. The pharmaceutical industry made a reported $643 billion in 2006 and it seems likely that that annual figure has increased significantly since then. What’s another few million or more each year for male menopause drugs? Big pharma is swimming in quick cash and (conceivably) has more money to lend than most countries.

Avoiding the trap

Endocrinologist Jason Wexler of Washington Hospital center tells the Post that men should be concerned about unnecessary screening for male menopause. “Low testosterone levels don’t represent a problem to be ‘discovered’. ” There isn’t enough literature to support the safety of testosterone supplements in aging men, Wexler doubts whether the costs are worth it, and the benefits are largely unknown.

Sources:

The Washington Post

WebMD

Wikipedia entry on pharmaceutical industry

Some people who got homebuyer tax credits owe the IRS, as their credit was no refund. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

One of the few things that helped to prop up an anemic housing market was the homebuyer tax credit from the government. The way it worked was that a person that bought a home could get some fast cash from Uncle Sam as a gift for doing their part in stimulating recovery, under certain conditions. A fair portion of those people are going to have to pay that credit back, as the initial tax credit offered for a purchase of a home was no credit; those refunds were essentially low interest loans.

Quick cash from Washington

When the recession began, it hit the housing market like a hurricane. Foreclosures shot through the roof, prices and available capital for home finance loans plummeted. Almost right away, part of the initial stimulus programs was a homebuyer tax credit. In 2008, qualified buyers could deduct the lesser of $7,500 or 10 percent of the purchase price from their income taxes. In 2009, the credit was extended but augmented to a refund, rather than a deduction. The hitch is that the deduction from the initial tax credit, according to CNN, was not just a break on the tax bill. It was a loan.

Due to the IRS in 15 years

Those who claimed the tax credit have 15 years to pay it back. There are 950,000 people who owe for the low cost loans, according to the Internal Revenue Service. However, the IRS does not know exactly who owes and who doesn’t, and is investigating inaccurate and fraudulent paperwork. Among the discrepancies is that there were tax credits filed for people who are dead. There were 1,326 homebuyer tax credits claimed by people listed as deceased by the Social Security Administration, but over 500 were tossed out.

The worth of the stimulus

The effectiveness of the stimulus programs has been questioned rigorously in the past months. Rightly so; the mortgage modification program hasn’t been very successful, and the bonus that 950,000 or more people believed they were getting for a home purchase has to be paid back. There is also the question of whether these people would have bought homes had they known they weren’t really getting a tax break.

Sources

CNN

Photo: Thinkstock

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You may need some of these during your back-to-school shopping. (Photo Credit: CC BY/Chris Metcalf/Flickr)

The recession continues to hit American families hard, leaving them in need of money to meet recurring expenses. Even the cost of putting children through public schools becomes an issue when supplies and other back to school shopping items are considered. However, families with young children and a need for quick cash in North Carolina will catch a break this weekend: it’s tax free weekend NC 2010.

Tax free weekend NC 2010 runs today, August 6 through Sunday, August 8

Families hoping for cash quick have reason to cheer on tax free weekend NC 2010. Individual school supply items may not be expensive, but an entire list of must-haves for the first day of school can quickly add up. Not having to pay sales tax can make a big difference for financially disadvantaged families. The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that many retailers are getting in the spirit and running sales on school items to help even more.

Pencils, paper, notebooks and more will fly off the shelves. Nicole Lawrence, operations supervisor of an Office Max in Buncombe County, North Carolina told the Citizen-Times that “It’s insanity around here. Tax-free weekend is busier than Black Friday for us. It’s that way for most office supply stores.”

Helpful strategies for back-to-school shopping

Consider going to retailers that sell more than just school supplies. Places that sell clothing, sporting goods and other tax-free items could make for a more efficient shopping trip. Remember, less driving means less gasoline consumed. Before leaving, check newspaper and online ads for sales, and do some comparison shopping. If you need a popular item that’s on sale, don’t wait to leave for the store. Perhaps most importantly, be patient. Stores will be busy, and good will is always appreciated.

For those who need extra help

Families who need more financial assistance than North Carolina’s tax-free weekend can provide may be in luck. Such programs as Eblen Kimmel Charities’ “Tools for Schools” program provides some school supplies for families in need, Communications Director Jan Blunt of Buncombe County Schools told the Citizen-Times. The child’s Social Security number and grade level will be necessary for families to participate. Supplies can be picked up at Eblen Kimmel’s main office at 50 Westgate Parkway on Aug. 16. Those who would like to donate new, unopened school supplies for the giveaway are encouraged to do so on Wednesday, Aug. 11 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the Ingles market on Tunnel Road.

Sources:

Asheville Citizen-Times

Eblen Kimmel Charities

Ingles Markets

Tax-free back-to-school shopping tips from the BBB

Jonathan Goldsmith, the man behind Dos Equis' brand power. (Photo Credit: CC BY-SA/Toglenn/Wikipedia)

Brand power can be defined in a number of ways, but ultimately each definition will mean very little if it does not translate into sales growth for the product. Fast Company writes that Dos Equis beer and Old Spice men’s deodorant products both have extremely popular spokesmen who have gone viral online, but only one of the products has experienced consistent sales growth. While Old Spice’s “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” (Isaiah Mustafa) has attracted more than 94 million views on YouTube and more than 630,000 Facebook fans, retail market intelligence organization a SymphonyIRI found that sales of Old Spice Red Zone body wash recently fell 7 percent. On the other hand, Dos Equis’ equally viral “The Most Interesting Man in the World” (Jonathan Goldsmith) has translated into consistent sales growth over the length of the two-year campaign.

Procter & Gamble did experience greater brand power overall

According to the SymphonyIRI study, Old Spice parent company Procter & Gamble did experience sales growth for men’s products overall. Yet it does not attribute the growth to the presence of the sculpted Mustafa. Rather, the company claims that an aggressive, high-value coupon campaign helped its brand power. Over a four-week period ending June 13, Procter & Gamble experienced sales increases of 277 percent for Gillette and 63 percent for Nivea Men. Old Spice increased 106 percent but quickly fell in the months following the study period.

Experience that moves units

Enter “The Most Interesting Man in the World.” He is a man of the world who has experienced life. He is smooth and confident. Rather than being a slick, sculpted young man like Mustafa’s Old Spice Guy, Goldsmith’s character extols the value of experience that only time can bring. And this has helped Dos Equis’ brand power a great deal. Brand manager Ryan Thompson told Fast Company that sales of Dos Equis rose by 26 percent since January 2010 alone. Keep in mind that this campaign isn’t just getting off the ground; it’s been around in earnest for two years. Goldsmith first began his association with Dos Equis in 2006. “We’re now the fastest growing beer import in the country,” says Thompson.

Infinite experience versus fleeting promise

“The Most Interesting Man in the World” brings infinite experience, never jaded. His simple wisdom speaks to both sexes. “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like,” who is likely directed at female shoppers and homosexual men, purrs the fleeting promise of pleasurable experience, perhaps through fantasy wish fulfillment. A pleasurable moment does not in itself translate into a life well-lived. Goldsmith, a veteran television actor, showed some simple wisdom of his own when he told Fast Company that when it comes to Dos Equis, “I think the campaign is so successful because every man, including me, would like to be like him.” Experience has proven to be a huge cash advance for Dos Equis. Men choose the “Most Interesting Man” not merely for a moment, but for all time. To have truly lived is to be a master of the game.

Sources:

Fast Company

Saving money, thanks to the Least Interesting Man in the World

Get cash today even if you have bad credit

It’s becoming more and more difficult to qualify for credit cards and bank loans, but borrowing extra cash until payday is still a reassuringly simple matter. You can almost always get a payday loan without a credit check, and that’s a great relief for millions of American consumers who now have bad credit.

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How it works

Personal Money Market works with a wide network of payday advance lenders that strive to provide consumers what they need as quickly and easily as possible. We know how difficult and time-consuming it can be to locate the right lender, which is why we offer loans with instant approval directly online.

Once you complete and submit the loan application, we will search and find the best lender for you, based on the provided information. The application can be completed in less than 3 to 5 minutes, and you get a quick response every time. There’s no waiting or wondering for hours; we’ll give you an answer almost the very moment you click submit. Upon approval, you can have cash in your hands, sometimes in as little as two hours.

Loans with instant approval provides quick help

When life’s unforeseen financial mishaps call for immediate attention, you can’t afford to waste any more time and money. Waiting till the last minute to take action can be costly. So if a little help today can get you back on your feet financially, apply today for loans with instant approval and get the quick help you need right here, right now.

Start your instant loan application HERE!

Save money with quick cash from a payday loan

When you need quick cash, think twice before you use a credit card. Credit cards have become an extremely expensive way to borrow money, and the new credit-card lending regulations aren’t likely to change that. Banks struggling to meet the bottom line will always find creative new ways to generate revenue at the expense of credit-card users.

Withdraw cash, write checks or use your debit card

When you need to borrow money, get quick cash from a payday loan rather than a credit card. You won’t accidentally overspend or run up a debt that you can’t pay off. You’ll know exactly how much money you have in the bank, how much you can spend, and how much the credit will cost. With quick cash from a payday loan in your bank account, you can withdraw cash, write checks or use a debit card, whichever you prefer.

Apply for quick cash in minutes

When you need quick cash, save time and hassle by applying at Personal Money Market. One short online application instantly finds the best payday lender for your particular needs. You won’t be asked why you need quick cash and you won’t be kept waiting for a response.

• Bad credit not a problem
• Bankruptcy history okay
• Credit checks rarely required
• No faxing necessary in most cases
• Everything done securely and privately online
• Immediate response to your loan request
• Automatic deposit to your checking account in as little as two hours

Pay quick cash back on payday

Quick cash from a payday loan is as easy to pay back as it is to get. Most online payday loans are paid in one payment and you’re completely out of debt on your next payday. When you need a little extra time to get caught up on your finances, installment payday loans and installment loans for bad credit are also available.

Need payday loans? Start your application HERE!

Wall Street is on watch, thanks to the whistle-blower provision in the new reform law. (Photo Credit: epicharmus/Flickr/CC BY)

The Wall Street reform bill has been signed into law by President Obama. Yet the vast majority of those who support the Obama administration’s call for tighter regulation of banking and investment are probably unaware of a whistle-blower provision, reports the Los Angeles Times. This bounty provision entitles private sector individuals who blow the whistle on rule-breaking organizations to receive 10 to 30 percent of money the federal government obtains from fines and settlements.

A whistle-blower provision to catch Ponzi and insider trading schemes

The whistle-blower provision requires that the citizen “provide the Securities and Exchange Commission with original information that reveals the fraud and leads to a successful recovery,” writes the Times. Lawmakers hope the bounty provision will provide the necessary incentive to strengthen Wall Street reform, but some legal experts see potential problems. For instance, if an employee is more likely to go to the SEC rather than to internal management if they spot something suspicious, a potential climate of fear scenario could erode business acumen. Not only that, but there is great fear that the potential pay day for whistle-blowers represented by aggressive law firms will invite a flood of new claims. In both cases, a “society of paid informants,” as Walter Olson of the Cato Institute puts it, would be the result.

‘Fast’ cash for the whistle-blower

Imagine if this whistle-blower provision had been in place when Goldman Sachs settled with the SEC for $550 million. If a whistle-blower had turned in the tip leading to Goldman Sachs’ censure, that whistle-blower would have made at least $55 million in quick cash. That’s money going back to the taxpayer, points out Stephen Kohn of the Washington-based National Whistleblowers Center. Of course, “quick cash” is a relative term. Long legal proceedings will follow, but if whistle-blowers’ tips pay off, they’ll have their pay day when the government collects from the guilty corporation. However, the government must recover at least $1 million for the whistle-blower provision to go into effect for an informant.

Sources:

Los Angeles Times

An example of whistle-blowing in high government:

How long does it take to get payday loans?

The time it takes to apply for payday loans — whether it is online or over the telephone — is minimal. In just a few minutes, you can apply for the money you need without the hassle! Typically, neither faxing nor a credit check are required, which is advantageous to those of us who don’t have access to that technology or have a lower than desirable credit rating. And honestly, who among us wants any more information on our credit report than what is absolutely necessary? What’s more, the benefit of not typically having to deal with a credit check means one less inquiry made into your credit history, which can translate into a better FICO score.

After approval, what can I expect?

Upon approval for a loan, the method of delivery couldn’t be simpler. Within two hours, you may receive the funds in your bank account via direct deposit! Just think of it — from the comfort of your own home, apply for payday loans in minutes, providing basic personal, employment and banking references.

The approval process is also fast. Who wants to wait when there’s a cash emergency at hand? Delivery of funds via direct deposit continues the speedy process, making it that much easier for you to tackle your financial issues. Finally, the repayment terms of your loan (which typically comes due within about two weeks) are reasonable, clear and easy to follow. What are you waiting for? Apply now!

Apply for payday loans | Start HERE!