Debt Consolidation Basics
Sometimes, managing your money can be a challenge. The idea of having things now instead of later is very attractive, but unfortunately excitement can sometimes take over from logic, and you are left with lots of little debts with repayments eating up your spare cash. There is a solution though!
Debt consolidation is a method of rolling all of your debts into one, making it easier to stay on top of them all with a single repayment. The basics of debt consolidation are fairly simple, as far as financial matters go. This is an overview of how you can straighten out most debt issues in three easy steps.
Step One: Budgeting
Figure out your total household income and subtract your total expenses. Don’t forget to keep all the receipts you are getting for miscellaneous things like ATM visits and small debit transactions. If you can’t find them all, then just request a detailed account summary from your bank. Most banks are happy to oblige for free or next to free.
Once you know how much you are spending, decide what categories and how much in each are essential and how much are elective. If you can cut your wasteful spending habits by even half, you are setting yourself up to be financially stable in the future. An important tip: if you are in debt, stop going to restaurants. Learn to cook at home from scratch: it’s fun, easier than you think and you can add up how much you save at the end of the month.
Step Two: Determine Your Total Debt and Decide
Tally up all your debt that exist beyond a single month and decide if you need a debt consolidation loan. Not everyone does. Signs that you need a consolidation loan are: debts, other than mortgages, that are higher than a total year of your disposable income; and mortgages that have unfair terms and interest rates higher than the present average. (This part might take some local research.) Most people intuitively know when they are in over their heads, so if you have the feeling that you are, then you most likely do need a consolidation loan from a bank or third party. Remember that when you are negotiating your consolidation loan, the overall goal is to prevent debt snowballing from high interest rates, so always check if the loan you are offered is actually a better rate.
Step Three: Setting a Repayment Schedule
This step depends a lot on how much you pull in with regards to income. A good guideline for people of modest means is to try to use 15% of your monthly income towards debt repayment. If you can afford to allocate more, then go for it, as the sooner you pay the less interest you pay.
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Fast Credit Card
While we always have to be cautious concerning the debt load we carry, at the same time, most of us need at least one fast credit card to cover ourselves in case of emergencies. So even though it’s wise not to build up debt and the high interest rates that accompany credit cards, at the same time it can be just as unwise to not have a backup up credit card in case something unexpected happens. Just remember to pay off those credit card bills before the interest rates kick in, and you’ll do OK.
With that in mind, here are some tips to ensure you get quick approval for a credit card application.
The credit card application itself:
While it may seem to be a no-brainer, surprisingly, many people don’t properly complete a credit card application, elongating the process and unnecessarily prolonging the approval of the application. So we can think something on a credit card application is not that important and so don’t pay the attention to it we must, all that does is ensure a rejection and need to correct it and send it back. This usually applies to personal information, which is so common to ourselves that we tend to go over it too quickly.
So read the application while you’re filling it out, and read it again at least one more time to make sure all the required information is in it. Reading the credit card application at least a couple of times also helps you to understand exactly what you’re signing. So many people just want their card and have no idea of the terms involved in the agreement. So go over it a minimum of two times for understanding and checking to see that all your personal information is included.
Getting help with your application:
If you’ve never have filled out a credit card application before, or you’re having trouble with a new card you’re applying for, see if any of your family, friends or neighbors have the card and ask them about specifics for filling it out if you’re unsure about anything. After that, if you’re still unsure, call the company and get the answers you need before signing. Never want it so bad that you sign up with absolutely no knowledge of what you signed.
Check your credit report:
Before signing up have your credit score and report handy, along with any balances to your existing credit cards you have if that’s applicable. That way you can take care of any things that may need to be cleaned up before proceeding. If there’s something not accurate in your report or that has been taken care of, it’s necessary to clear that up and out of your report, or your credit card application will probably be turned down. If you have existing creditors One important thing many consumers aren’t aware of is the way credit card companies report payments to the credit bureau. In some cases they can be a month or two behind, making it look like you’re behind. If that’s the case, call them up and ask them to update their report to reflect your actual payments and not the timing of when they enter them.
Realistic Credit Expectations:
I know a lot of people that try to get the highest amount of credit they can without regard to their income. This is a sure way to get rejected, as there are strict formulas in place by companies, and it makes no sense to get credit which you are unable to pay back if anything unexpected happens; which it always does.
Overall Household Income:
Sometimes when credit is applied for, the consumer forgets their overall household income and only includes a single income. It’s best to report all your household income for the best at getting your credit card application approved. Finance companies love to see extra leeway and room to wiggle if something happens. What if you’re rejected? Many times a credit card application is rejected for a number of the reasons mentioned above, so don’t just accept the rejection, but call to find out what the reasoning behind the rejection was, if it’s not made clear to you.
Assuming you’re a legitimate credit risk, most of the time it’s forgetting to input information that results in your rejection, which slows down the process. When and if that happens, just find the information and get it quickly to the credit card company and you’ll get your application approved.
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Good Credit Card Review: Chase
If you are looking for a good credit card company to give your business to, but are unsure of which one to choose, then you may want to consider Chase. They are known for being one of the best credit cards around. They make applying for one of their cards very simple and there are no hidden charges.
When you sign up, they will give you all of the information about any charges that they may charge you. They do not have annual fees and offer a 0% interest introductory rate. Also, Chase offers fraud protection, which is a very important thing to have these days.
It is so easy to apply for a Chase credit card. Applying on their website is simple, too. Their website is also a great place to learn more about their credit cards including the interest rates and pictures of each kind of card.
You can also pay your credit card bill online. This is a fast and secure way for you to pay your credit card bill. If you do not have a Chase credit card, but have heard great things about the company, you can sign-up on their website. If you fill out the form correctly, then you could be a Chase member in just a few days.
Chase offers individual accounts and small business accounts. This is great for those of you who are looking for a credit card to start your small business.
Chase credit cards are accepted all over the world, so you do not have to worry about being able to use it on a trip abroad. Chase also gives their customers air miles for every dollar, so you may be able to take a vacation much cheaper than you think.
Recently, Chase has went through some bad press – mainly aimed at their customer service practices, but they have made strides to make their customer service better and to lower their interest rates. If you are looking for a credit card with a proven track record, then you will want to consider Chase.
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