Kellys Credit Information

Saving Money: Quick Cash, High Cost


I didn't think it was possible. But it is. Folks, there is something worse out there than putting everyday expenses on a credit card, then carrying the balance. The guys I'm going to tell you about make the credit card people look downright benevolent. Meet your smiling neighborhood cash advance parlor.

These legal loan sharks go by names like EZ Money, Cash 'N Go, Red E Cash, Cash in a Flash, the Money Tree, and others.

Here's how it works. You want cash now. Payday isn't for another two weeks. So you head on down to the loan shop. Just show them your driver's license, bank statement and pay stub. Write a check dated two weeks from now for, say, $200. A minute later, you're back on the street, $170 making a comforting bulge in your wallet. Two weeks later, the loan shop deposits your check. Pretty cool, huh?

What's that? You say your check was for $200, not $170? Do you recall when they mentioned a "small convenience fee"? That's the missing $30.

What would you say if I told you that "small convenience fee" amounted to an annual interest rate of 416%?

How do these lenders get away with rates this high when the credit card companies are limited to 24% or less (cry me a river)? Because, technically, you don't pay any interest. Just that flat fee.

So what are the alternatives? Just try going into a bank and asking to borrow a couple hundred for a few days. I can still hear the loan officer giggling. Not a pretty sound.

One great alternative goes by many names. My bank calls it "Ready Reserve." It's a revolving line of credit tied to my checking account. If I write a check for more than my account balance, good ol' Ready Reserve transfers in money to cover the check. Next payday, I cover the reserve by telling the bank to apply part of my deposit to the reserve account. There's a small annual fee (around $10), plus credit card rates are applied to any standing balances.

If your need for cash is truly occasional, for unforeseen emergencies (are there foreseen emergencies?), try being your own quickie lender. Hold a garage sale, auction off some stuff, or take on part-time or temporary work in order to put a few hundred dollars in a war chest. Take the cash and buy traveler's checks. Put them away; just don't forget where. When you need the money, write out a check, put it in your stash, and take out the traveler's checks. Next payday, buy more traveler's checks and "redeem" your check. If you don't do it this way, most of you won't pay back the stash.

(Note: Some traveler's checks expire. Make sure you redeem them for new checks before the expiration date.)

If you find yourself short of money month after month, you need to make more money. Taking a $200 cash advance 10 times a year will cost you $300 a year or more.

John McCabe's Web Guides show you how to find more and better success in all facets of your life.

For more articles on living an abundant, vibrant, joyous life, come to http://Web-Guides.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Town Hall

CREDIT MARKETS: Few Issues Cap Busy Week For Corporate Bonds
Wall Street Journal
In high-yield, Ford Motor Credit Corp.'s 7-year notes sold on Wednesday were similarly oversubscribed. Even secondary trading volumes have picked up since ...
CREDIT MARKETS: Tepid Auction, Refi Fears Dominate TradingWall Street Journal
Analysis: Equity 'volatility' vs credit market, what to believe?Reuters UK

all 355 news articles »


This is Money

The New Credit-Card Tricks
Wall Street Journal
The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, known as the Card Act, was intended to reshape the contours of consumer finance. ...
What is a merchant supposed to do when a credit card is left at his or her ...Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)
5 Ways to Quickly Boost Your Credit ScoreU.S. News & World Report (blog)
Do prepaid debit and credit cards affect your credit score?Helium
e-wisdom.com (blog) -Which? -CardRatings.com (blog)
all 16 news articles »


Christian Science Monitor

What Credit Cards Cost the Poor
The Atlantic
It's fairly well-known that less affluent people have trouble getting credit cards, and when they do they often are forced to pay higher interest rates. ...
Use Balance Transfers to Reduce Credit Card Debt, Says SmartBalanceTransfers.comMarketWatch (press release)
Who Pays For Credit Card Rewards?NPR (blog)
4 Common Fees and How to Avoid ThemU.S. News & World Report (blog)
The Economist (blog) -Forbes (blog) -JoongAng Daily
all 101 news articles »


MDC Holdings 2Q Loss Narrows, Helped By Tax Credit; Orders Up
Wall Street Journal
Outside of orders, home builders have seen better results in recent quarters, helped by the federal government's tax credit given to first-time home buyers. ...
M.D.C. Holdings Announces Second Quarter 2010 ResultsMarketWatch (press release)
Homebuilder MDC Holdings narrows loss in Q2 as closings soar 71%Denver Business Journal

all 22 news articles »


US CREDIT-Lincoln National bonds attractive after earnings
Reuters
N) bonds may be a safe bet as the insurer enhances its liquidity, sees positive credit ratings actions and pays off its obligations to the US government. ...
Lincoln Beats, Growth Across BoardZacks.com

all 4 news articles »


FreightCar America gets $30M credit facility
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Railcar manufacturer FreightCar America Inc. said Friday that it has entered into a senior secured revolving credit facility for $30 million. ...

and more »


Credit card debt reduction companies: The Real Deal
NewsChannel 9 WSYR
Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - Everyone has heard the ads for companies that promise to reduce credit card debt. For years, they've been charging big bucks upfront to ...
Credit Score Drops Tremendously in the USTimes News World (blog)
Giving credit where it is dueMail & Guardian Online
Why you need to go with a Credit Card debt consolidation company to get the ...TMCnet
OfficialWire (press release) -WDBJ7.com -CardRatings.com
all 62 news articles »


Give Mike Brown credit ... this signing was brilliant
Boston Herald
Brown didn't get much credit for that title, so it's only fair to give him credit for this: The signing of Terrell Owens was a masterstroke and should be ...

and more »


Weyerhaeuser Says Pace of US Housing Recovery Uncertain After Tax Credit
Bloomberg
“This has been especially evident in the market retreat following the expiration of the federal homebuyer tax credit at the end of April. ...

and more »


TheStreet.com

AT&T Bonds Fall After Unusually Timed Credit-Rating News
Wall Street Journal
The credit ratings agency also said it has concerns about AT&T's pension and post-retirement obligations. Gatlin, the AT&T spokesman, defended the company's ...
S&P upgrades Invesco credit ratingsBusinessWeek
S&P says may cut AT&T's credit rating by one notchReuters
AT&T's corporate credit rating faltersSan Antonio Express
TheStreet.com -Barron's (blog) -Dallas Business Journal
all 52 news articles »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006