Tag Archives: lost

What Are The Benefits of Prepaid Credit Cards?

Prepaid credit cards have become all the rage lately as these cards provide a valuable financial transaction service that many people have long since needed. Essentially, prepaid credit cards are not credit cards at all because they do not extend credit. That service is the ability to use a debit card wherever credit cards are accepted. Instead of advancing credit charges one draws from a finite amount of deposited cash. Now, some may consider this a somewhat unnecessary service, but when one examines the benefits of prepaid credit cards it becomes obvious that these cards have a great deal to offer.

For starters, prepaid credit cards are a great way to protect oneself from fraud. While we would all like to assume that the world is made up of honest people, it is not. As such, there have been a great number of instances where people have been defrauded of their credit card funds. This happens often online as a number of less than reputable sellers operating out of seemingly unknown locations in the world rip people off for their credit card information. Considering the following common scenario: a person finds a website selling used books and makes a purchase using credit card information and when the credit card statement arrives it is discovered that the $5 book purchase led to $2,000 of purchases with the provided (and compromised) credit card information. Now, a prepaid credit card would be quite beneficial in this instance or in any instance where one is purchasing from an unknown vendor. For example, one could keep a very minimal amount on the prepaid card (say $20) so that if it is compromised the losses will be minimal and the card can simply be discarded.

Also, these prepaid credit cards are the same as using cash to pay for items without having to carry cash around. This can provide a safety net so to speak if the card is lost or stolen. For example, if you record the account number of the prepaid card and the card ends up being lost you could quickly transfer the balance of the card to another account. This way, no money is lost. Now, if a wallet full of cash was lost then…oh well…it is gone forever. As such, the ability to replace cash with an alternate means of payment is always a huge positive particularly one that also has a threshold limit of spending much lower than a credit card as a lost credit card can prove even more calamitous than lost cash.

Another aspect of prepaid credit cards that is supremely beneficial is the fact that these cards are based on a finite amount of money as opposed to advancing money on a borrowed basis. For some, there is a lack of desire to amass credit card debt, but the need for a credit card in the modern world is generally unavoidable. Additionally, there will be those individuals who would like a credit card but for a number or reasons they are turned down due to bad credit, lack of credit, etc. In regards to these problems, these prepaid credit cards come in handy as they provide a solution to such a dilemma.

As one can see, prepaid credit cards have a host of benefits that speak volumes for the value of these cards. So, if worries about lost or stolen cash or credit cards, overextending oneself on credit or simply wanted to avoid the complexities of applying for a credit card, prepaid credit cards provide a simple, safe and sane solution. What better of an endorsement could one ask for than that?

How to Get Money, Even If the Credit Score Is Bad

It is very difficult to get a loan nowadays. Banks have restricted to lend money to people with bad credit reports. This is a result of the financial crisis. Even many people with good credit scores in the beginning of the financial crisis are meanwhile in trouble. They might have lost their job due to the layoffs of masses of people. They might have lost a comfortable side income besides their main job and their income does not cover longer their monthly expenses. Small business owners struggle to survive and need money in order to gap financial straits.

There might be good reasons to need money quickly. Even people who lead a modest life can suffer serious financial problems. The heating or the plumbing of the home needs urgent repair. The car crashed down and needs to be replaced in order to go to work. Children need school equipment, e.g. a new computer for their homework. The dentist bill has to be paid.

The first and best advice is always to work out a budget with the monthly income and expenses and to exercise strict financial discipline. It is better to save the money for unexpected, urgent expenses than to apply for a loan. All these good advices are helpless for the working poor or for people who have lost their job and need to care for a family.

There are solutions for people with a bad credit score:

Government Grants for US residents

Even people with bad credits have access to government grants in the US. It is possible to apply for different kinds of useful government grants: home repair, school supplies, medical bills, public transportation, tutoring or teaching, general living expenses. A government grant could be helpful in order to get assistance to consolidate the consumer debt situation. Several thousand Dollars can be available in a single case. No fees and interest rates need to be paid.

There are some interesting facts about government grants. More than 20 million US people get government grants every year. Six million people get money to go to college, 10 million people get free help and training for a better job. One million entrepreneurs receive money to start or expand a business and four million people get money to invest in real estate.

Pawnbrokers or pawnshops as an alternative for borrowers throughout the world

Pawnbrokers are the lenders of last resort for people with a bad credit reputation. Whoever fails to get a loan elsewhere finds a chance at a pawnbroker or pawnshop. Pawnbrokers can be found everywhere in the world. How does it work? Borrowers get cash quickly by selling the old merchandise or by using their valuables as collateral on a small loan. Once they repay their loan and interest, the collateral will be returned. However, those who borrow money from a local pawnshop should be aware that if the loan is not repaid by the specified time, the pawnbroker has the right to keep the collateral. Pawnbrokers take usually consumer goods as electronics, jewelry, valuable music instruments or antique pieces of art as collateral for a loan. By the way, pawnshops are an interesting source to acquire a consumer good to a good bargain. Not all of the goods that have been given as collateral will be bought back.

More about how to make money can be read at Make Money Tip. The website also offers free tools for personal finance, a link to the best free on-line course about financial markets and a section with ideas to make money.

Liliane Waldner