Archive for June, 2010

Fees You’re Charged But May Not be Aware of

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Managing the family’s finances can be a daunting task and not easy to do as some people might think. It’s not just about adding and subtracting because other skills are required to ensure that money that comes in and goes out are properly accounted for.

In terms of dealing with credit cards, bank accounts and other financial matters, it pays to be meticulous about the fees involved. Being educated about the company or financial institution’s terms and conditions or policies can be a big help towards avoiding unnecessary fees and saving money moving forward. Recent financial reports and research findings revealed that many consumers still lack knowledge about the costs involved particularly in their use of the credit card that they end up facing huge bills and struggling to pay for them.

Financial experts strongly recommend reading and understanding the policies of each company that you deal with to ensure that you stay away from charges that are not supposed to be charged to you. This is the first and very important step to take when applying for a new credit card, a personal loan and even before you open a bank account.

Take for instance the credit card. Many consumers own more than one card but not all are perhaps aware of the fees involved every time they use the card for purchases or for withdrawing money. They may not even be aware of the annual fees they need to pay. But you need to be aware that some credit card providers have started charging annual fees on cards that are not active. The aim is to encourage them to spend using the plastic. Fees can range from $40 to $60 if consumers don’t use the card for a period of one year.

There are also credit cards that charge certain fees if you wish to redeem rewards points or frequent flier miles. The fee can range from $25 to $50 although some airlines can charge you up to hundreds of dollars just to avail of your mileage credits. Experts advise consumers to stick to one airline and do your best to achieve their gold or platinum status to avoid redemption fees. Also, it’s important to weigh the yearly fee against the benefit you will get because it’s not all the time that companies are fair in their dealings.

Another issue with rewards cards is that they can take away some of the points you’ve already earned during a certain billing cycle once you’re late paying your monthly due. If you request for a reinstatement of your points, you have to pay for it or it’s gone for good. The point here then is to pay your dues on time and the best way, according to experts, is to schedule automatic payments.

With short term personal loans, you should develop the same attitude. In other words, ask your questions first from the fees to the repayment terms before signing the contract. It’s better to be informed beforehand than later when you’re already feeling regretful. It’s been reported that some loan providers apply hidden fees that borrowers don’t know of so to avoid this, always read and understand the terms and conditions of the lender you’re dealing with.

Getting Financial Aid for College

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

Parents are always proud if their children make it through college. At least, they can sit back and relax once their child has obtained a degree and ready to take on a job.

However, parents of students starting or continuing through college still have to struggle particularly when it comes to finances. With tuition fees on the rise and college financial aids being reduced, many are feeling the pinch today. Some of them have not even fully recovered from the global financial crisis and here comes more expenses as a child enters college. For those who are not earning that much, being in this situation can indeed be stressful.

If you’re one of those preparing to send a child to college, you ask yourself every now and then how are you going to pay your dues? With news all over the place that private as well as state colleges and universities have increased their tuition fees, you think deeply many times over if can you really afford to let your child obtain a college education. The fear slowly sets in and if no solution is in sight, some may get very depressed with their financial situation.

But then again, there’s still hope amid this depressing situation. Financial experts stressed there are short term techniques parents can follow to avail of college financial aids with a wider coverage for their child. Those in the low to middle-income levels, they can negotiate with the school to get a better aid package. These financial counselors advise parents to show their so-called neediness to get the school’s sympathy for their situation.

There are colleges and universities that can adjust to their student’s financial situation. For instance, they are capable of providing a better aid package to a student whose parent was affected by the financial crisis in terms of less working hours or say, less profits in the business due to a reduction in the number of regular clients. So it’s all a matter of being honest about your finances and asking for a little consideration or more aptly, asking for help from the administrators. One of the best ways is to write a letter to the school administrator explaining your difficult financial situation due to low employment or business income. You may also add if there are assets you own that are not easily available to allow you to pay for your child’s college education.

It’s okay to ask for help when needed. In fact, it’s a reality that the number of students seeking financial aid for college is increasing. Many are showing their compassion to students and making adjustments to their student aid packages.

Another alternative if the financial aid takes some time to process is to take out a short term payday or cash advance loan. If money is not readily available during the enrollment period, getting a personal loan may be the right solution. It’s fast and easy to apply and get your loan and you can even do it in the convenience of your home as many short term lenders now operate online.