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Car Loan After Bankruptcy
A car loan after bankruptcy can be one of two things. It can be a great experience as part of a plan to help you rebuild your credit and get you back to a better financial standing, or it can be a giant problem and a way into more high interest debt. Even if you’re in a situation where you’re desperate for a vehicle, you can still try and make your experience become the first one.
Bankruptcy is supposed to be a new start. Sadly for many people after things are finalized they are left not knowing what to do next, and still in a nasty financial situation.
Before you start looking to get a car loan after bankruptcy I recommend building up your credit a bit if possible. There are two types of credit you’re going to want to have, installment and revolving. Installment payments are for things like loans, where as revolving is for things like credit cards.
Obviously in your situation getting a traditional unsecured credit card can be difficult. You do have the option, however, to get a secured credit card. You can usually find these at your current bank or credit union. You deposit a few hundred dollars into a savings account which will be used as security to secure your credit limit on your new card. After approximately a year you will be able to apply for an unsecured card. Make sure that the company you work with reports to the three major credit bureaus about your on time monthly payments so that you build positive credit history.
It is recommended that you wait six months to get a car loan after bankruptcy, not just to build up your credit a bit, but because most lenders won’t work with you before then, and the ones who will, will offer you an even higher interest rate than you’d be offered if you wait a while.
Even after six months to a year you will still be offered very high rates. This is because you are seen as a risky customer. You can try to offset this risk by offering your home, another vehicle, or high priced collectibles as collateral and you will have an easier time both finding a lender and getting a better interest rate. You can also make things easier by finding a cosigner if collateral isn’t an option for you, but you should be aware that if you fail to make your payments this person will be held responsible.
These high rates are generally considered worth the cost, not just because you need a vehicle, but because by paying these rates now and making your payments on time every month you build up a positive credit history and will be offered better rates in the future and generally have an easier time of things financially.
By being responsible and in control of your finances a car loan after bankruptcy can be part of a plan to get yourself back on track.
0 APR Credit Card Truths and Traps (Page 1 of 2)
If you are struggling with ever-increasing credit card debt, a 0 APR credit card could be the magic wand for you. There are a number of 0 APR credit cards in the marketplace. These 0 Interest credit cards offer cardholders zero percent on new purchases and certain 0 APR credit card offers also allow balance transfers, lowering the interest burden even further.
The Truth About 0 APR Credit Cards
These types of 0 APR credit cards are offered by popular credit card lenders including American Express, Citibank, Chase, HSBC, and Discover. These cards have many benefits to offer if you have a good to excellent credit rating.
Keep in mind, that the zero percent offered with these cards is not permanent. It is an introductory rate and is typically offered for ninety days to as long as 12 months. At the end of the interest-free or zero percent periods, cardholders will have to pay a higher ongoing interest rate. Generally, these rates could vary between 10 % – 14% and sometimes can be as high as 24%.
A 0 APR credit card is ideal when you want to purchase something expensive but cannot find another way to finance it. There will be no interest charges for the in and you will have the introductory buffer period to pay off the expense. But buyer beware … make sure you can pay the purchase off before the introductory APR expires.
Most 0 Interest credit cards allow balance transfers from your existing higher interest cards and many will waive the transfer fees. This is one of the best methods to pay off debts at a faster rate, leading to substantial savings on the interest charges incurred.
It is possible that a single credit card can have multiple APRs including the following: 1) One APR for balance transfers, one for purchases, and one for cash advances the APR normally would be higher for cash advances compared to balance transfers and purchases. 2) Tiered APRs Different APR levels can be assigned for different account balance levels or tiers, e.g., 15% for balances between $1 – $500 and 17% for balances higher than $500, etc.. 3) Introductory APR 0 APR as the introductory offer and a higher rate upon expiration of the introductory period. 4) Penalty APR A penalty APR rate may apply if you are late with your payments.
The Traps to Watch Out For: A 0 APR credit card is an attractive proposition, and often is too tempting an offer to resist. However, it is essential to be informed about the often-untold catches in these lucrative offers.
1. The 0 APR is a Limited Time Offer In general, the 0 APR offered is only for a limited period. The period could vary from 3 months to 12 months. This implies that purchases made during this period will not attract any interest. You need to be cautious about the expiry period and remember to pay off before the period ends inorder to avoid hefty interest charges.
2. Once the introductory period is over, the 0 APR credit card may have a ridiculously high interest rate like 20% or higher.