Say Good-Bye To Payday Loans With Debt Consolidation

By Layla Vanderbilt

In today's rough economy, many people are struggling with day-to-day expenses. Costs have gone up, salaries have gone down, people are getting laid-off, and the simple act of paying bills and buying food can be a struggle. Even those who have no problems paying their monthly living expenses may still have nothing left for vacations, shopping trips or extra entertainment. Payday loans are a tempting way to get quick cash to cover a bill or get a head-start on a shopping trip; however, they can lead you into financial ruin.

Even if your car breaks down, an appliance breaks, or the kids need school clothes, don't be tempted by the payday loan advertisements you see all around you. It may seem a simple way to get some quick cash, but if you can't afford the expense today, it's very likely you won't be able to afford the payday loan payment tomorrow.

It's unfortunate, but many people do end up in the cycle of finding themselves cash-poor at the end of each month, which can be made worse by payday loans. They often find themselves borrowing month after month to pay off bills. If this describes you, then perhaps debt consolidation is for you.

Debt consolidation can save truly save one hundreds or possibly thousands of dollars a month. The trick is to get a lower rate on the debt consolidation loan than what the payday loans are charging. One must be sure to look at all of their loans and the associated interest rate to insure that the consolidation loan?s rate is better. Besides the lower payment, a debt consolidation offers the added benefit of paying one amount to one entity, instead of numerous amounts to a bunch of companies.

If you have own your house you should look into your mortgage for relief from your high interest debt. You can take out a second mortgage or an equity loan that you can location all your high interest debt into and receive a much lower interest rate. Since this is a secured loan, unlike credit card debt that is unsecured the banks are able to offer very competitive rates.

Payday loans sing a sweet song. They say how helpful they will be; how they will get the poor soul throw a difficult financial time. Yet they are like the mythological Sirens. Once they have lured in someone, it?s so hard to break free of their wretched grasp. Payday loans are nothing more than a wolf in sheep?s clothing. They don?t help, they just fuel financial hardship.

Money management is a skill that everyone can learn, and the rewards will be tremendous. Don't be ashamed if you have fallen for the false advertising of the payday loan companies, because you are not alone. Most people fall short in bill payments from time to time and have difficulty paying debts. Knowing who to turn to in times of distress is key. Once you seek help from a credit counseling company and learn to handle your finances, you will find yourself making all of your payments without having to change your lifestyle. You may find yourself saving thousands of dollars, and your days of turning to the payday loan companies will be a thing of the past. - 23210

About the Author:

Layla Vanderbilt is the webmaster for a leading website that offers for debt consolidation advice and guidance.

Real Estate Investing For The Human Animal

By Doc Schmyz

Ever noticed how when you walk in to a book store and find your way to the business or financial books all the views that are expressed in the titles are almost the same??? Almost all of them,in one way or another, call out for a monetary version of bloodshed. I mean the titles are about how you can crush the other guy, or it's not personal its business. Years ago when I got into the real estate investment game I spent hours looking thru the book titles. Trying to find the one book that would teach me how to become a "REAL ESTATE INVESTING GOD" That I knew I could become. After reading most of the popular books of the time I actually would feel beat up over the content. I mean did I have to be a "take no prisoners " type of investor? Did I have to prey on some one else's misfortune?? No, of course I dont. However I did need to learn to take somethings to heart and NEVER let go of them. I had to build my investment suit of armor so to say. So I set out to build a list of my investment rules. We each should have our own set of investment rules. It will help you keep the animal investor inside of you in check. In my case,being that I am a VERY competitive aggressive alpha male type personality I need rules that would keep me "Human". My own set of personal laws that would keep me on the "non- predatory" path. Doc's Rules for investing:

1) Set up personal guidelines: Define and follow your personal guidelines. This is the most important rule I have. My guidelines define the investments I will go after as well as the amount of investment I'm willing to part with to get it. It outlines my investment strategy as well as how I want to conduct my investment business. Things to include, but not limit you to, are: Top dollar amount and lowest dollar amount. Type of investment you want to deal with. Period of term for investment.. Etc etc. (Between you and me I even have a guideline about the amount of time I will work per-day)

2) Remember some ones family is behind the deal you?re working on. Simply put,whoever you are dealing with has mouths to feed. Treat everyone with dignity and respect. If the price they are offering still falls within the personal investing guidelines you have set for yourself don't use your position to abuse the seller. If you are getting the house for .40 cents on the dollar,don't be a jerk and push for .30 cents. Always remember...it could be you in the sellers postion. (This rule DOES NOT come in to play when dealing with a bank owned property)

3) Always ask for what you want. Why can't you ask for something in an investment deal you like, For example. You're looking at a piece of real estate,ask the seller if they would be willing to throw in new carpet to the sale. I met a investor who was looking at a house that had been on the market for several months. When he went to talk to the seller he happen to see a 1954 Merc Coupe in the garage, so he asked if it was included in the deal. The deal eventually closed for the house AND the car. 4) Make bird dogs. I always give several of my business cards to anyone I do business with and offer them a portion of any profit I make from any investments they help me locate. You would be amazed at how many people will help you make money when they get a small part of it. (And if you follow rule #2 you will be amazed at how many of those bird dogs will sing your praises from the highest mountains)

Just some ideas of things to keep in mind when you're working on your investment mindset. I have used these rules over the years,and in many cases they, have gotten me more return and repeat networking opportunities then I can count. - 23210

About the Author:

Doc Schmyz has worked with investors all over the US and Canada. His website shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Find Real estate investing information by state

Is Your Retirement Slipping Away? How Are You Going To Rebuild Your Wealth?

By Marc Abrams

One step forward, five steps back. This seems to be the motto lately, especially when it comes to investing. Many people thought that 8% to 10% annual returns were just something to be expected. After all, how many of you used those returns in your retirement projections? Well, we have reluctantly entered a new age with new questions to be asked. What are you going to do?

There is only one person that is going to look out for you during these frustrating times. It probably is not your broker, or even your financial advisor. After all, they allowed you to get into this position, right? Well, that person is YOU!

You as an investor must train yourself to think differently. You might find that you can no longer afford to wait until losing stocks to recover, you know, those that you are emotionally tied to. That is fine. You realize that you need to make a change. Who cares how those positive investment returns come. What is important is that they do come.

The reality is that the average investor's thinking needs to be changed. We need to teach ourselves to invest with common sense, not emotion. I treat my investing like a business. If a particular trade is not working out as planned, I close it out and move on.

I have been told my real estate investor clients that the profit for a property is made at the time of purchase, not on the resale. Is it possible to apply that thinking to the stock market? Absolutely, I have clients that do that very thing.

Your change in thinking will shift your focus from emotion to common sense. Such as hoping for a particular trades increase in value to monitoring the trade during its expected life. You will know the trades expected life prior to entering into the trade. Yes, you will have an exit strategy!

You need to teach yourself to run your investing activities like a business, monitoring the trade through its life cycle. You will no longer be at the whim of the stock market. I can assure you that you will feel in control of your investments.

Did you know that there are stock market investing strategies that allow you significantly more control over the outcome? I know that the stock markets most successful investors do not just hope things go their way. They simply use the tools at their disposal to give them the best chance of success.

Successful investors rely strategies that tip the odds in their favor, and they have learned to treat investing like a business. What are these strategies? Well, that is beyond the scope of this article. However, in order to find success you can start by changing the way you think. - 23210

About the Author:

About the Author: Marc Abrams is a Certified Public Accountant with over 15 years of financial and investing experience. Visit Marc's website for more information on stock market investing to help rebuild your wealth.

Learning Technical Analysis Terminology

By Ahmad Hassam

As a currency trader, you need to understand the various terms that are frequently used in Technical Analysis. By definition, Technical Analysis is the study of historical and ongoing price data through charts, price patterns and chart indicators. Charts display price action in time intervals using bars and candlesticks.

Technical Analysis is based on the following assumptions. 1) All available information is already impounded in the market prices of the securities. 2) Prices always move in trends or patterns. 3) History repeats itself meaning you can predict the future market by studying the past market prices.

We follow trends because experience has shown that once a trend is in motion, it is most likely to continue rather than reverse it. The more one studies chart patterns, the clearer it becomes that reading and interpreting chart patterns are more an art form than a skill.

Charts come in two types: Bar and Candlesticks. Bar charts display price data in vertical lines which represents price action during a given time period. The tip at the top is the high for the period and the tip at the bottom is the low for the period. The open and close are represented by small horizontal dashes called tics. The tic to the left of the line is the open and the tic to the right of the line is the close.

Candlestick charts are similar to bar charts in that the top of the vertical line represent the high and the bottom of the vertical line represents the low. However, the market activity between the open and the close is represented differently by the use of candlestick bodies. A hollow body represents a higher closing above a lower opening. A shaded body represents a lower closing below a higher opening.

The price activity above and below the body is referred to as wicks or tails. A trader may use a 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 and 180 minutes charts. For swing and position trading, a trader may use a daily, weekly or a monthly chart. These charts all use the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or the Eastern Standard Time (EST) depending on the software that you use. But you can always adjust them according to your local time.

You need to understand what are markets patterns? What are Uptrends? What are downtrends? And what are sideway trends? Markets expand and retrace constantly. It is the nature of the market to surge and then pause and retrace. Market prices may continue to expand for sometimes either upward or downward.

Trends in markets make a series of peaks and troughs as they move. An uptrend consists of a series of ascending peaks and troughs, each peak higher than the last peak and each trough lower than the last trough. A downtrend consists of a series of descending peaks and troughs. A sidways trend consists of a series of horizontal peaks and troughs meaning all peaks and all troughs are almost on the same level. - 23210

About the Author:

Mr. Ahmad Hassam is a Harvard University Graduate. He is interested in day trading and swing trading stocks and currencies. Trade Dow Futures. Learn Forex Trading.

You Can Make Money With Mutual Funds

By Mike Swanson

If you've never really looked at mutual funds before, they can be a bit scary. After all, most people aren't used to the prospect of investors putting their money somewhere it will be placed in multiple areas, and in this climate, they don't want to risk it. However, you'll find a little risk can earn you a lot.

Once you start getting into this option, you'll immediately be looking at purchasing options. Do it directly, or find a broker online or offline. Otherwise, you can work with your bank or another agent. Just make sure you know there are people who will be sure to only take in the best investments.

There are lots of ways to make this process work for you, but three are especially effective. First, there is capital appreciation, where you simply sell your shares for more than you initially paid for them. This is a good option for people who want to make money quickly.

Dividends are another option where available. When a company earns money, part of this goes out to the stockholders, and as a stockholder, you will make money off the deal. You'll also make money or earn more stocks through distributions when a manager sells a stock and sends off the profits.

You'll find that you have a lot of choices, and you should investigate them all. You want the money you put in spread out over different areas, so if something happens to one, the rest is still safe. If you're still a little uncomfortable, there will always be people around willing to help you through things.

Of course, you're going to be taking on some element of chance. Thankfully, though, this is rather limited when it comes to mutual funds. In the end, you'll be glad you jumped into things and took the time to investigate an option other people might not ever be willing to discover. - 23210

About the Author:

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