Tag Archives: holiday

A Simple Guide before Acquiring a Holiday Loan

A Simple Guide before Acquiring a Holiday Loan
We are all very excited as the holiday season is nearing. However, many feel anxious spending for presents, party, a new home project, or even for a holiday vacation especially when the budget is tight during this time of season. Not wanting to spoil the joyfulness of the holidays because of lack of funds, holiday loans are being offered here and there by a lot of companies. Before you can be drawn quickly in getting one, here are three simple things you have to remember:
First, think of your holiday goals in terms of your personal and family’s needs. Jot down what you really want to have or do during the holidays. If you plan to have a vacation break with your family or be alone if you’re single, make sure you have a clear plan where to go and how much you would want to spend for it, or research on places you want to go to set a clear budget. But if this coming holiday season, you wish to have something to buy or something to organize within your homes, then still list down the items and how much each item cost. Visit places where you can find shops that offer pre- holiday sale or special holiday coupons. Knowing your wishes or goals for the Christmas season will help you make a decision if you need to grab a holiday loan for that matter.
Second, assess your current financial status. One question you can ask yourself is, “Would I be able to give the monthly pay-off if I acquire a holiday loan?” It is very important that you could do a simple addition and subtraction of your monthly income. Is it visible to you and viable on your finances that you can live after the holidays with another additional outlay? Undoubtedly, the status of your finances should be clear so that you can decide suitably if you will acquire a holiday loan.
Lastly, do a research on companies offering holiday loans (even when you are still contemplating on getting one). In order to have a better insight if a loan for the holidays is a good step for you, give yourself time to research on the different offers by the different companies. Get the disadvantages and advantages to enable you have better options or best deals when you decide to have a go with it. It is good that you personally visit the business office of the company that offer such loans and spend time with their representatives so they can directly answer questions you have in mind. You can research on the internet to get a listing of companies offering holiday loans and check if they are within your area so you can pay a visit. Compare them based on the quality of service they provide, flexibility of loans, payment options, good feedback by customers, and a reputable market position.
So before you really have to settle on a holiday loan, consider these things out and it might help you have a rewarding and a happier holiday season.

Consolidate Maxed Out Credit Cards Using Your Home – Post-Holiday Spending Tips

During the holiday season many families will turn to credit cards to finance Christmas expenses. This makes it less stressful to make ends meet, especially during the holidays. Sometimes we don’t even realize how much damage is done until the credit card bills start to arrive in January.

Credit cards are very convenient but have their pitfalls. Credit cards bear very high interest rates, often more than 20% interest and in the case of department store cards up to 30%. Interest is calculated monthly so if you get caught up in a pattern of only making minimum monthly payments, they can take years to pay off. Credit cards that have balances more than 75% of their limits will damage your credit rating/credit score.

The last thing you want to do is go into the next holiday season with credit cards that have balances from the spending you did the past holiday season. The best thing to do if you have accumulated balances on credit cards from holiday spending is to consolidate maxed out credit cards using your home.

There are many reasons why it is a great idea to consolidate maxed out credit cards using your home. Here are just a few:

1. Using your home to consolidate maxed out credit cards will enable you to start the New Year on a fresh foot and with a single monthly payment.

2. Using your home to consolidate maxed out credit cards will increase cash flow because a home equity loan or line of credit will bear a much lesser payment than what you are paying to your credit cards on a monthly basis.

3. Using your home to consolidate maxed out credit cards will reduce the overall interest that you are paying to loans and credit cards. Home equity loan and home equity line of credit interest rates are much less than what you are paying to your individual credit cards.

4. Using your home to consolidate debt will improve your credit because all of your credit card balances will be reduced to zero and the less debt reporting to your credit report, the higher your credit score will be. Also, as we mentioned when credit card balances exceed 75% of your limits, it reduces your credit score and will trigger a message to appear on your credit report that indicates that your credit card balances are too high in proportion to your credit limits.

It is important that if you consolidate your maxed out credit cards using your home equity that you don’t continue to use your credit cards. Put them away and only use a single card and make sure to use the card in denominations that you can afford to pay off in full each month. This will ensure that you don’t find yourself in the future with a new payment on a consolidation loan and paying credit card balances.

Start your New Year off with your finances in order and without the stress of having to pay a windfall of credit bills.