Back in the days where banks were the only lenders in the business, getting a loan meant putting on your best clothes to go to a nervy appointment with the bank manager. You'd sit there for some minutes, feeling like you're facing the school headmaster and bracing yourself for humiliation. It is then such a relief that these days, things aren't so bad.
Banks used to have the market for personal loans all to themselves. This is because they were the only business entities that could offer personal loans. And because of this, they charge you extortionate rates, confident in the knowledge that the borrower has no other choice. Well, it's a little different now. The market is open, which means that banks are no longer the only ones from whom you can get your personal loan. There are many places where you can apply for personal loans. And because of the increase in supply of consumer credit, the rates have become increasingly competitive.
You can find loan providers everywhere. Supermarkets, gas suppliers, junk mail, television, and magazines are only a few of the places where you can look for personal loans. This means that a wide array of options is held open for you, assuring you only the best of deals. However, with so many places to choose from, where do you start?
Personal Loans - The Beginning
Let's start at the beginning. What is a personal loan? A personal loan is money lent to an individual by a financial institution for a specific personal purpose. The circumstance does not include buying a house since that is covered in wholly different loan category. One main difference between a personal loan and a home loan is that most personal loans are unsecured. So, that means that there is no collateral provided and the only guarantee that a borrower can give the lender is his reputation for good credit. This is also one of the main reasons why personal loans have interest rates that are a percentage higher than most other loans.
The Factors to Consider
To work out the answer for this, you will need to find out how much you can afford on monthly repayments. Do your calculation by looking at your monthly household income. Afterwards, find out what your monthly expenses are. These include your maintenance payments, food, outstanding debts, any bills, clothes, and any other miscellaneous spending money. Add all these figures and work out a safety margin of 10% just to be on the safe side. You will then take all your expenses and subtract them from your monthly income. What you have left is your available cash for your personal loan.
When you're taking out a loan, it doesn't really matter what your reason is. The main question is whether or not you can afford to make the monthly repayments.
Debit and Credit - Learning Accounting Basics
The terms ‘debit’ and ‘credit’ can be confusing when learning accounting for the first time but why is that? If you go to the bank and put money into your account then teller will say, “I am crediting your account with X amount of dollars,” on the other hand take money out of your account and the teller will say, “I am debiting your account X amount of dollars.” Plus with debit machines everywhere and everyone carrying at least one credit card these two terms take on a whole new meaning.
How to Refinance Your Home
There are several reasons why you should consider a refinance mortgage on your home loan. When you refinance your home, you can cut your monthly mortgage payments. In addition, you can tap into your equity, or your home value, in order to pay off other loans and credit cards. This in turn helps you to deduct your mortgage interest from your taxes.
Is A Home Equity Credit Line Right for You?
Using credit lines against the equity of your home are one source of consumer credit that is fast gaining popularity. Home equity is a valuable asset which both lenders and borrowers can benefit from and as such, lenders are offering home equity credit lines in a variety of ways.
