Loans Debts And Students
Archive for February, 2010
What To Do BEFORE You Shop For A Bad Credit Auto Loan
Feb 24th
Poor Credit Car Loans. How To Prepare Yourself Before Visiting The Dealership In Order To Get A Good Deal!
It can be hard enough finding a good pre owned auto that will be reliable and give you at least a few years of good service. But finding that along with an auto loan to go along with it, if you have a bankruptcy can be a lot more challenging. There are plenty of car dealerships out there that will give you a fair deal on a new or used car. The problem is that when you do find that great deal, make sure the dealer does not try and add in tons of extras that you do not need, that will do nothing but wind up costing you a great deal of cash that you really cannot afford to lay out!
If there are blemishes on your credit, it can be tough to take when your car dealer tries to tell you that you do not qualify for a lower interest rate and better terms on your auto loan. It can sometimes make people feel helpless in getting a decent auto finance offer.
The bottom line is that car dealers want and need your business. If you feel like you are not getting a fantastic deal, you have the power to walk away and continue your car shopping journey elsewhere! In this article I will give you some insight on what to do to prepare yourself for haggling and getting a fair deal on an auto loan quote online.
The most important thing to get before you shop is “Credit FICO Score”. You need this in order to receive an idea of where you stand and how bad your credit really is. Most of the times people go about the whole buying process backwards. They go to a car dealer, find a clean vehicle that they agree to purchase and then the salesman comes back with an car financing approval only to tell you that you barely qualified for this car because of your limited credit history and credit score. They may just be trying to charge you a higher interest rate and in turn make a few thousand dollars extra on your deal, than if you already knew what your credit history looked like. a 1 to 5% increase in your interest rate can mean as much as $3000 more in interest payments coming out of your wallet over the life of the loan! This is obviously something you want to avoid.
Initially, do a search on Bing for free credit reports with credit scores. You are going to need to arm yourself with an accurate credit score from all three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and Trans-Union. You are actually eligible for a for a free credit report yearly, so take advantage of that so you can get the best deal possible on your car loan.
The most important part of a credit report used for determining your credit worthiness is your FICO Score. This score is determined by a calculated formula used by the credit reporting agencies. Usually your credit score can be as low as a 400 and as high as 850 to 900 in some cases! As the score gets higher typically over 700, thats when you start to reap the rewards of getting a better deal. If you do not know your FICO score, you may be led to believe that with your credit history this is all you qualify for. This way they can charge you more interest and in the long run you can end up paying thousands of dollars more over the life of the car financing. Remember car store are in business to make money, and given the opportunity, that is exactly what they are going to do. Don’t get me wrong, car dealers do deserve to make money or they could not keep their doors open and pay their bills. But consumers also deserve to get a good!
Its never been easier to discover an easy car loan on the internet. These days all you have to do is search for auto financing with bankruptcy and within seconds you will find Top websites like DrCarLoan.com.
categories: consumer,loan,lending,leasing,personal finance,debt consolidation,bankruptcy,students,military,armed forces,mortgage,refinance,family,vehicles
History Of Pell Grants
Feb 22nd
The history of the United States can easily be compared to the history of college grants. In fact, grants for obtaining a college education appears to be an American invention. In 1643, one Lady Anne Radcliffe Mowlson created the first, as a way to help Harvard to become the world institution it is today.
One of the beneficiaries of such a grant was one Claiborne Pell. He obtained his Bachelors before World War II, and then served in the Great War until it ended in 1945. From there, he got his Masters from Columbia University thanks in part to the GI Bill. He would go on to be part of the officials that created the United Nations and become a U.S. Senator.
So in 1972, Pell promoted a bill to create what would become the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant, also known as the BEOG. It would provide federal money, based on need, for academically worthy students to achieve advanced degrees. It became so successful that in 1980, Congress renamed the BEOG the Pell Grant, a name this act still goes by.
The grant has changed considerably. Over the years, it had expanded its qualifications, allowing more students to get student loans and grants. That’s ended up being a two-edged sword. While the number grants permitted has grown geometrically, the cost of going for that degree, whether for a campus or online degree, has risen even more.
When it comes to obtaining college grants, the U.S. Department of Education has just released a report that’s truly cautionary. It shows the maximum amount of money one can get from Pell Grants has increased to as much as $5,350, the cost of higher education has increased to over $15,000 per year.
Even with President Obama pushing for an increase next year’s cap to $5,750 a year, these grants cover barely a third of overall college costs. The cost of a higher education is clearly outstripping what the federal government is willing to give.
For comparison, USA Today reports that when the Pell started in 1973, the maximum grant was $452, but the average tuition at that time was $438. In hard numbers, if Obama’s proposal goes through, the Pell will have gone up 1275%. At the same time, costs have exploded by 3400%, nearly three times faster than the money provided to the Pell. To top it, state pell grant have shrunk considerably, citing the current economy as the reason.
The good news is there still are plenty of other college grants besides the Pell. Private grants like the one Lady Mowlson gave Harvard are out there. It takes work, stamina and patience to get more than just the Pell Grant. You just have to look for them, and you could be on your way to that Bachelors degree everyone needs to advance in these modern times.
Mapping Out A Vegas Spring Break For College Students
Feb 21st
I would like to assume that if you are perusing over this article, than you are a college student that is looking to determine the very best place to host your spring break extravaganza this year. While you might have plenty of options and locations to choose from, the reality is that the party never stops in Las Vegas. The best part is, planning a Las Vegas spring break for college students is fairly simple if you plan ahead.
But where do you even get started? The spring break is quickly approaching and so you have to get the planning happening now if you want to make a trip like Vegas happen. While Las Vegas might always have available rooms and interesting things to see, you will learn rather quickly that a little bit of planning and a mild amount of scheduling can go a long way.
I’m sure that you aren’t wanting to go to Las Vegas to spend the whole week hanging out in your hotel room and watching television. Vegas has an endless supply of entertainment available all the time, and so you have to learn what’s out there and what you want to experience. You also need to be aware that there are some undesirable areas of Las Vegas, much like any major city. So carefully plan this trip.
So what do you do? There is no shortage of available activities in this city to take advantage of, you just have to understand the main focal points. You see, in planning for this trip, there are three main focus points that you should consider and address, and you will ensure that your trip over the break will be as exciting as it is memorable.You have to consider where you are going to stay, show business, and of course, a little bit of gambling.
Perhaps one of the very first things that you should concern yourself with when you are taking off for Vegas is where you are going to stay. The good thing here, is that the city is comprised of one of the largest arrays of themed hotels that you are likely to find anywhere. So perhaps your decision should be more centered on what theme appeals the most to you.
If you are planning out a trip to Vegas, you really wouldn’t be doing yourself any favors by missing out on the various means of entertainment that the city offers every single day and night of the year. There is plenty to take in, and there is something for everyone. If you like comedy, Broadway, magic, or a vast list of musical artists playing every night. So you are certain to have a good time any time of the day.
The last aspect that you need to consider is the gambling. I mean let’s face it, you cannot go to Las Vegas, Nevada without partaking in a little bit of gambling. There is everything that you can try to risk a little bit of the money you have. Blackjack, Roulette, Slots, Poker and a plethora of other games and methods to win big on your little trip.
If you are planning a Las Vegas spring break for college students then you have to do just that, plan. You see, without some careful consideration of the three points listed above, you risk missing out on one of the best and most memorable experiences of your lifetime. So it’s really in your best interest to book ahead.
If you’re looking to take the trip of a lifetime over college spring break, or you’re a generous parent who wants their child to get a chance to spend their break being part of a fantastic experience. Spring Break Las Vegas is truly a unique time that you will remember always.