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Convenient Ways to Get Emergency Cash

August 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

One of the fastest, easiest ways to get emergency cash is to borrow. Here are some options:

Personal Loans

If your credit is good, a bank may grant you a small personal loan. Be careful, as many require a minimum loan amount that may exceed your current financial need; however, if you have other debts, you might reduce interest by shifting the debt.

Credit

While it’s not technically a loan, many people find themselves obtaining a credit card when in need. While online applications can make approval fast, waiting on the card can take some time. Some banks offer faster shipping of the card for a fee, but many banks offer arrangements to transfer a cash advance to your checking account without the card in your hand.

Family

They say you should never mix family with business, and the cliché can be sage advice; however, in some circumstances, asking a family member or friend for a loan can be the best option available. Just make sure you write out the agreement in a promissory note and understand that your relationship with that person can be influenced by your financial integrity.

Small, Fast Loans

There are places that offer small, short-term loans in a matter of minutes. Many people have benefited from using a payday loan, and a no fax payday advance is available online for convenience. In addition, instead of using your checking as collateral for a short term loan, you can use other assets at local pawn shops.

Always read the fine print, and if it isn’t provided, find out where it is. No matter what the situation, never let desperation influence your financial decisions.

Filed Under: Benefits, Business Costs Tagged With: , ,

Business Travel: How to Budget These Trips

July 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Traveling for business is already difficult. Being away from family and friends for weeks at a time isn’t easy. When these trips are also expensive, that can cause extra unintended strife. There are several ways to budget your business trips to save some money. Careful planning can ease the burden of travel and result in less strain on your wallet.

The first step is to book your travel for the least amount of money possible. There are a number of sites competing for your business and finding a great deal on flight and hotel is only as far away as doing your due diligence. Sites like hotwire.com and expedia.com offer low rates on travel arrangements and you can pit them against each other to find yourself a great deal.

Being away from home can also encourage frivolous spending. In order to avoid spending too much money on airport snacks and travel tokens, put a small amount of money on Visa prepaid credit cards. That way you have a finite amount of money reserved for airport magazines and similar items and won’t empty your wallet on junk you don’t otherwise need.

Saving money on business travel is a matter budgeting and planning. If you treat business travel like a vacation, the tendency will be to spend money like you are on vacation. Instead, meticulously budget each step of your business travel so that you don’t end up spending more money than you are making on your trip.

Filed Under: Business, Business Costs Tagged With: , ,

Pros and Cons of Credit Cards

July 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Sample American Express-type credit card featu...

Image via Wikipedia

Should or should you not get yourself a credit card. This is the question that people wrestle with. Truthfully, if you are having this debate then you are showing more will power than most who don’t ever question it. The reality of credit cards is that there are some good and bad things about having them so this is something worth talking about. Here are the pros and cons of having a credit card.

PROS

  • Nothing helps you build credit quite like a credit card. If you ever hope to have a car or a house in the future, you need to get credit. This could be a great way to help.
  • They are great in an emergency. Let’s face it, we all wish we had big savings, but for those who don’t a credit card could be your best friend.
  • They often offer rewards on the money you spend. As long as you are paying off the card in full every month it could really be worth your while.

CONS

  • The interest rate on a credit card is usually high. This is just a bad idea for someone who often struggles with their credit issues. A prepaid Visa card might be best.
  • Free spending is nice, but it’s only a solid choice if you are the kind of person who can curb your spending at any time. If you have trouble with self-control you are going to be in for a very bad experience.
  • If you make a mistake with the credit card it will take you years to recover. It’s not worth it for those who lack good discipline.

Getting a credit card is the great debate, but it comes down to self-control. If you have it, go for it. If not, stay away.

Filed Under: Business, General Tagged With: , ,