Stephen Leonardi on Unsplash

Many people think they’re stuck with the mortgage they have, but that’s not the case. A mortgage refinance can be a great personal finance tool. It can lower your monthly payments, lower your interest rate, and put cash in your pocket for things like paying off high-interest credit card debt or making much-needed home improvements.

A mortgage refinance can save you money but if you’re still traumatized from the nightmarish home buying process, you might be hesitant. Add to that the number of refinancing companies there are to consider, and plenty of people decide that it’s not worth the hassle.

Best Mortgage Refinance Companies

If you’re considering a refinance, here are some of the top companies that make the process quick and easy.

New American Funding

With New American Funding you get a 5 year rate protection pledge, which means if rates drop, you can refinance with no fees (terms apply). Check your rates now right here in under 2 minutes by answering a few questions and find out how much cash you might be able to get.

New American Funding has funded $69 billion in home loans since 2010. There is no minimum credit score to get approved with New American Funding.

No minimum credit score.

New American Funding: NMLS#6606

LendingTree

LendingTree is an online lending marketplace. The company streamlines the shopping process by allowing you to gather and compare rates from multiple mortgage refinance companies in one place.

LendingTree allows you to shop a wide range of financial products, including personal loans, credit cards, and of course, mortgage refinance offers.

The company draws from its network of over 700 lenders to help customers find the best rates. LendingTree has facilitated over 65 million loan requests since 1996.

What is a Mortgage Refinance?

A mortgage refinance is the act of taking out a new loan to pay off your original mortgage. With the original mortgage paid off, borrowers can take advantage of a new mortgage with a lower interest rate or better terms.

Why Refinance Your Mortgage?

People refinance to save money in some way or to get access to cash. Borrowers refinance in order to take advantage of lower interest rates, reduce their monthly payments by increasing their repayment term, or cash out some of the equity they’ve built in their home.

If you didn’t put down 20% when you bought your home, you’re paying PMI, primary mortgage insurance. PMI protects the lender in case you default on the loan. The thought is that if you don’t have at least a 20% stake in your home, it’s easier to make the decision to walk away if you can’t afford to pay your mortgage anymore.

The average annual PMI premium generally ranges from .55% to 2.25% of the original loan amount each year. For a $250,000 home, your PMI can cost between $1,375 and $5,625 per year or $114.58 to $468.75 per month!

If you’ve accumulated enough equity to do so, you can refinance your mortgage and eliminate PMI entirely.

When to Refinance Your Mortgage

If you can qualify for an interest rate at least 1 percentage point lower than your current rate, refinancing can save you a great deal of money over the life of the loan. But it only makes sense to refinance if you plan on staying in your home for several more years. It takes most refinances several months to several years to break even and start saving you money, so if you plan to move in the reasonably near future, it’s not the right time.

How to Refinance Your Mortgage

The process of refinancing your mortgage is not all that different from the process of obtaining a mortgage.

• Shop around for a lender that offers the terms that best suit your needs.
• Apply with at least two lenders so you can compare offers.
• Choose an offer.
• Lock in your interest rate.
• Close the loan.

How to Choose the Right Mortgage Refinance Lender For You

Be sure to shop around. Think of refinancing your home as making a significant purchase — a six-figure purchase, because that’s essentially what you’re doing. If you were buying anything that would cost you a six-figure dollar amount, you would be sure to do your research.

With so many mortgage refinance companies out there, there’s at least one that will meet your needs. That’s why it’s generally not a good idea to refinance with your current mortgage lender. You may not have shopped around for the best mortgage when you bought your home and that may have been several years ago, so it’s a good idea to see what offers might be out there now.

And if you bought your home many years ago, you probably didn’t have the option of an online mortgage. Still, there are plenty of online options for refinancing, and many of them have better rates than do traditional lenders because they don’t have the same overhead costs. Those savings are passed on to you, the borrower.

Look for a lender with the lowest interest rates, as this is where the greatest cost savings come from. Understand any fees involved in your refinance, which vary by lender. There are upfront fees, like closing costs, and ongoing fees, like a late payment fee or an early repayment fee. You don’t want the fees to exceed the amount of money you’re saving with a lower interest rate.

Save Some Money Today

We all love to save money, but often, we are penny-wise and pound-foolish. If you really want to save money, an impactful amount of money, refinancing your mortgage can be a great way to do it.
Whether you refinance to a lower interest rate or do a cash-out refinance to pay off your credit card debt, a mortgage refinance can put a lot of money back in your pocket.

The post 2 Best Mortgage Refinance Companies Of 2024 appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

RyanJLane on iStock

With the addition of online checking accounts, there are more options than ever when looking to open a new checking account. Because banks with online accounts are often able to save money on overhead costs, they are also able to offer more benefits and perks.

There are online checking accounts that even offer interest — something scarce in the world of checking accounts. If you’re paying your bank for the privilege of loaning out your money, it might to time to find yourself an online checking account.

The Best Online Checking Accounts

If you’re on the hunt for an online checking account, check out a few of our top options.

CIT Bank eChecking Account

With a CIT Bank eChecking account, you’ll earn a modest interest rate. There is no monthly fee to keep the account, and the minimum balance is just $100.

CIT is not part of an ATM network, but you can still use other banks’ ATMs and CIT will reimburse you up to $30 per month in ATM fees.

Monthly fee: $0

Minimum balance: $100

Why we like it: Earn interest on your checking balance. No monthly fee or hidden fees. FDIC insured.

Additional features: Reimbursement of up to $30 in ATM fees per month.

Axos Bank Rewards Online Checking Account

If you plan on using your online checking account heavily, the Axos Bank Rewards online checking account might be a great option for you. With $1,000 in direct deposits and at least 15 debit card transactions each month, you could earn a high APY on your balance. Make a minimum opening deposit of $50 and watch your money grow!

Monthly fee: $0

Minimum balance: $0

Why we like it: Earn interest with at least $1,000 in direct deposits and 15 debit card transactions each month. No monthly fee or minimum balance. FDIC insured.

Additional features: No overdraft fees or insufficient fund fees. No ATM fees on domestic ATM transactions. Reimbursement for any ATM fees charged.

Axos Bank Essential Checking Account

If fees are what you loathe most about banking, the Axos Bank Essential Checking account might be a breath of fresh air. This account has no fees — no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, no non-sufficient funds fees, and no hidden fees. What’s more is that you’ll enjoy unlimited ATM reimbursements!

Monthly fee: $0

Minimum balance: $0

Why we like it: No fees or minimum balance requirements. Get access to your direct deposit funds up to two days early. FDIC insured.

Additional features: No hidden fees, overdraft fees, or non-sufficient funds fees. Unlimited reimbursements on domestic ATM fees.

Nationwide by Axos Interest Checking Account

If you want to earn interest on your checking account funds, Nationwide Interest Checking account might be a good fit for you — a product that features interest tiers based on different balance amounts. This account even comes with no monthly fee or minimum balance requirement!

Monthly fee: $0

Minimum balance: $0

Why we like it: Earn higher interest rates as your balance grows. Access direct deposit funds early. No monthly fee or minimum balance requirements. FDIC insured.

Additional features: Get reimbursed for up to $30 in domestic ATM fees per month.

What is an Online Checking Account?

An online checking account works much like a traditional checking account. You can use it to pay your bills, transfer money, and withdraw cash at an ATM via a debit card. The difference is that most of your typical banking functions can be performed from the comfort of your own home. No more standing in line at your local branch!

Pros of an Online Checking Account

With an online checking account, you’re more likely to benefit from the bank’s lower overhead costs. Often, this means better interest rates, fewer fees, and sometimes even no fees!

What’s more? Online checking accounts offer greater convenience to the user. Skip the hassle of driving over to a physical branch, and instead make transactions, deposit checks, and review your account activity from your smartphone or computer!

Cons of an Online Checking Account

Because online checking accounts depend on the internet and technology, there may be times every so often when the bank’s online service goes down — whether it’s due to maintenance or a system error.

Many people are also wary of security threats and identity theft concerns with regard to online checking accounts. While the protection of online accounts has improved by leaps and bounds, cybersecurity might still sway you to stick with a traditional checking account.

What’s the Best Online Checking Account For Me?

With hundreds of different banks competing to hold your money, you shouldn’t have to settle for an account that charges heavy fees, imposes high minimum balance requirements, and yet pays you little to nothing in interest.

Instead, check out a few online checking accounts and be sure to compare line items such as the following:

• Minimum opening deposits
• Minimum balance requirements
• Interest rates
• ATM networks
• ATM fees
• Foreign transaction fees
• FDIC insurance

Should I Have More Than One Online Checking Account?

If you’re living with someone and you share expenses but your finances are not 100% combined — be it a partner, a spouse, or someone you trust — having more than one online checking account can make splitting expenses less complicated. You have your own account, as does the other person, and ideally, you have a joint account from which shared expenses are paid.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the FDIC insurance maximum is $250,000 per account. If you happen to be sitting on that kind of money and are keeping it in an online checking account, you should open multiple accounts so that no single account contains more than $250,000.

And of course, it’s wise to have both an online checking account and a savings account. Putting your savings into a separate account that is dedicated for savings can help prevent the temptation of spending that money.

Do Online Checking Accounts Earn Interest?

Most checking accounts, traditional or online, don’t offer interest; but there are exceptions, and it’s more common among online checking accounts. Some of the online checking accounts on our list pay interest!

Can I Open an Online Checking Account With No Money?

Many online banks do allow customers to open an account with no opening deposit and some even allow you to open an account with no minimum opening deposit and no minimum monthly balance.

It’s Time For a Change

It might be that your current checking account isn’t doing you any favors. Tired of hidden fees, high minimum balance requirements, and low interest rates? Consider making the switch to an online checking account today!

The post 4 Best Online Checking Accounts Of 2024 appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

ipopba on iStock

Today, a bank account is a necessity. Without one, tasks like paying bills, saving money, and accessing your paycheck are less convenient and more expensive. In the past, you would have had to open a new bank account at a brick and mortar location — which limited you to what was available in your immediate area.

But thanks to the proliferation of online banking, consumers have more choices than ever and can open an online bank account that offers greater benefits. If you’re on the search for a top online bank account, you’ve come to the right place!

The Best Online Bank Accounts

Ready to make the leap from a traditional bank account to an online bank account? Check out a few of the best options available.

CIT Bank Savings Builder Account

By funding this account with just $100, you could reap the many benefits of a CIT Bank Savings Builder online account. The bank offers a generous interest rate on your balance and doesn’t even charge a monthly fee!

Monthly fee: $0

Minimum opening balance: $100

Why we like it: High interest. Daily compounding interest to maximize your earning potential. FDIC insured.

Additional features: Deposit checks remotely and make transfers with the CIT Bank mobile app.

Axos Bank

Axos Bank Rewards Online Checking Account

Do very few fees and interest on your balance sound too good to be true? With just $50, you can open an Axos Bank Rewards online checking account — an account that comes with no monthly maintenance fees, overdraft fees, or insufficient fund fees.

Monthly fee: $0

Minimum balance: $0

Why we like it: Earn interest when you have at least $1,000 in direct deposits and 15 debit card transactions per month. No maintenance fees, overdraft fees, or insufficient fund fees. FDIC insured.

Additional features: No charges on domestic ATM transactions, plus reimbursement on any charges from ATM operator.

Axos Bank Essential Checking Account

If you want to switch over to online banking and avoid all of the fees that typically come with a traditional account, check out the Axos Bank Essential Checking account. In addition to no monthly fees, no overdraft fees, no non-sufficient funds fees, you’ll even get access to your direct deposit funds up to two days early!

Monthly fee: $0

Minimum balance: $0

Why we like it: No fees and no minimum balance requirements. Access direct deposit funds up to two days early. FDIC insured.

Additional features: No overdraft or non-sufficient funds fees. Unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements.

Nationwide by Axos Interest Checking Account

The Nationwide Interest Checking account allows you to earn interest on your checking balance without any minimum balance requirements. With that said, keeping a larger balance will allow you to earn an even higher interest rate! Not to mention, this account has no monthly fee, and even reimburses you on up to $30 in domestic ATM fees each month.

Monthly fee: $0

Minimum balance: $0

Why we like it: Earn interest, including higher rates on higher balances. Access your direct deposit funds two days early. No monthly fee or minimum balance requirements. FDIC insured.

Additional features: Reimbursement on up to $30 in domestic ATM fees each month.

Nationwide by Axos My Savings Account

If you’re all about interest, check out the Nationwide My Savings account — an account that will allow you to earn a very generous interest rate on your balance. All you need is $100 to fund your account and you’ll enjoy all of the features of this online savings account, including no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement!

Monthly fee: $0

Minimum balance: $0

Why we like it: Earn a high interest rate on your balance. No monthly fee or minimum balance requirements. FDIC insured.

Additional features: Open a Nationwide My Checking account, set up a $1,000 direct deposit, and you’ll earn an even higher interest rate!

The Rise of Online Bank Accounts

While online bank accounts relatively new, online banking is quickly becoming the norm. The millennial generation, in particular, has spearheaded the preference of online bank accounts, and it’s estimated that more than 161 million Americans already use online banking today.

Pros of Online Bank Accounts

Better rates and fees: Because online bank accounts typically have lower overhead costs, they usually come with better interest rates and fewer fees — sometimes no fees at all!

A better user experience: By spending and investing in technology, today’s banks offer online bank account services that are easier and faster for customers.

ATM fees: One of the downsides of an online bank account is that it typically isn’t part of a major ATM network. However, customers are often reimbursed for fees after using another bank’s ATM.

Easy integration: An online bank account can often be integrated with software such as Slack, QuickBooks, and budgeting programs, so that users don’t have to manually enter financial data.

Cons of Online Bank Accounts

Occasional downtime: As online bank account services need to be updated and maintained, you may not be able to access your account every now and then.

Potential security issues: Although cybersecurity has come a long way and online bank accounts are highly guarded, security threats still lurk online— however rare such an event may be.

How to Open an Online Bank Account

You can open an online bank account in less time than it took you to read this article, and of course, everything is done online. Provide your personal information, including your name, address, date of birth, and social security number. Some banks require that you submit verification documents, such as a valid ID and a utility bill in your name at the address you listed. Most will allow you to upload copies of those documents through their online portal.

Be prepared to fund your online bank account with an opening deposit, although some online bank accounts do not have minimum deposit requirements.

Join the 21st Century!

Ready to enjoy the convenience of an online bank account? While there are a handful of great options out there, be sure to compare items such as monthly fees, minimum balance requirements, and interest rates!

The post 5 Best Online Bank Accounts Of 2024 appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

We hate to think about it, but who would make the mortgage or rent payments if something were to happen to you? One of the smartest moves you can make is to help protect your family’s financial future. Many people underestimate how much money is needed to provide for their families after they die. This is why life insurance is very important.

The older you are, the more expensive life insurance becomes. And because today is the youngest you’ll ever be, there’s no better time than today to get a life insurance policy.

3 Of The Best Life Insurance Companies

When you need to buy life insurance, the following companies could offer the kind of policy you need.

1. Ladder (Coverage Amounts From $100,000 to $8,000,000)

ergonofis on Unsplash

Ladder policies are available to applicants between the ages of 20 and 60. Ladder is 100% digital for coverage up to $3 million which means no medical exams or filling out paperwork! You’ll simply have to answer a few health questions as part of the online application.

Get your free quote from Ladder today by clicking here and help ensure your family’s financial future is secure. Ladder has helped protect many families and has provided over $56 billion in coverage.

Type of Policies: Term life insurance with 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30-year terms.

Coverage Amounts: $100,000 to $8,000,000.

Why We Like It: Ladder has no policy fees and a price lock guarantee. As you age and your health declines, you’ll get to keep paying that same low premium. It allows you to cancel anytime and has a money back guarantee. It has no brokers, no upselling.

Cost: Ladder offer’s term life insurance policies starting from as little as $5 a month and goes higher depending on factors like age and health.

Click here to get a free Ladder quote.

2. Ethos (Coverage Amounts From $100,000 to $2,000,000)

Kelli McClintock on Unsplash

Ethos, a company that lets you apply online in minutes without leaving your couch (no medical exams, no blood tests) and get personalized term life insurance offers based on your family’s needs. Coverage ranges from $100,000 – $2,000,000 and may cost as little as the price of a few coffees each month.

You’ll simply answer a few health questions as part of the online application. Ethos has helped protect over 100,000 families and has provided over $34 billion in coverage.

Type of Policies: Term life insurance with 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30-year terms.

Cost: Ethos offer’s term life insurance policies starting from as little as $7 a month and goes higher depending on factors like age and health.

Why we like it: You can complete the company’s application in 5 minutes. You’ll simply have to answer a few health questions as part of the online application.

Click here to get your free quote from Ethos today and help ensure your family’s financial future is secure.

3. Fabric by Gerber Life (Coverage Amounts From 100,000 to $5,000,000)

When you buy life insurance through Fabric, you won’t have to deal with an agent or broker trying to upsell you on products or more coverage than you need.

Apply online in minutes for applicants between the ages of 21-70. Fabric offers term life insurance in all states apart from California, and New York.

Most applicants do not require a medical exam. If it is required, it would be at no cost to you and entails a trained professional working around your schedule to meet you conveniently at home or work.

Type of Policies: Term life insurance with terms of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years.

Coverage Amounts: $100,000 to $5,000,000 for term life.

Why We Like It: Fabric by Gerber Life can give parents coverage that is affordable, plus wills, access to college savings funds, and more tools to help protect your family’s financial future—all in an easy online experience. It’s the digital convenience of Fabric, now partnered with a brand trusted by millions of families like yours for more than 50 years.

Click here to start your application. You could be covered in less than 10 minutes.

What is Life Insurance?

A life insurance policy is a contract between an insurance company and a policyholder under which the insurance company guarantees a payout or death benefit to the beneficiaries chosen by the policyholder upon his or her death in exchange for premiums paid by the policyholder.

Types of Life Insurance

There are two main types of life insurance: term and whole life. There are also other less common types of policies that include universal, variable, variable universal, simplified, guaranteed issue, final expense, and group life.

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance protects your beneficiaries in the event of your premature death. If you have a term policy and die before the end of the term, your heirs will receive a payout. The policy has no additional value.

Terms are usually 10, 20, and 30 years and for most policies. The payout or death benefits and the cost or premium remain the same for the entirety of the term.

Whole Life Insurance

Whole life insurance has a term of your entire life. Your beneficiaries get a payout after your death. It also has an investment component that is known as the cash value of the policy. You can borrow against the cash value or end the policy for a cash payout. If you don’t repay a loan taken against the cash value with interest before you die, the amount of the death benefit is reduced by the amount you failed to pay back.

Who Needs Life Insurance?

Essentially, anyone who has financial dependents needs life insurance. If you were to die, life insurance would help replace your salary so your loved ones could maintain the same standard of living they enjoyed while you were alive.

For those who don’t have financial dependents but have a loan that someone co-signed, life insurance can pay off that loan in the event of your death so the consignor isn’t on the hook for the remaining balance.

How Much Does Life Insurance Cost?

The cost of life insurance varies significantly according to a variety of factors, the two most important being age and health. The younger and healthier you are, the less your premiums will cost. Other factors include:

• Gender
• Family medical history
• Marital status
• Location
• Lifestyle
• Medical test results (if required)
• Length of the term selected.
• Amount of coverage selected.

Most people can find affordable life insurance with some policies (depending on the factors mentioned above), costing less than $20 per month.

How to Get Life Insurance

In the past, the only way to get life insurance was to go through a lengthy process of submitting plenty of paperwork and supporting documentation and undergoing a medical exam. In total, the process took several weeks to be approved and for the policy to take effect.

Thanks to a new generation of insurance companies like the four we’ve highlighted as the best life insurance companies, the process is much faster and easier. Generally, these are the steps:

• Complete an online application
• Undergo a physical exam and lab work if required
• Pay the first premium

That’s all there is to it!

Requirements for Life Insurance

Most insurance companies have an age bracket you must fall within to qualify. The answers to your questions during the application process regarding your health and lifestyle are used to determine if your application will be approved or not.

If your answers are “wrong,” you have a family history of chronic diseases or conditions, you smoke, or you work in a dangerous occupation, this doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be able to qualify for life insurance. Still, your premiums will likely be higher than if your answers were different.

How To Choose the Best Life Insurance Company For You

Price shouldn’t be the only determining factor when you’re shopping for something as important as life insurance. Look for a life insurance company that offers products that fit the needs of your family. Determine the terms of the type of policy you need, the length of the term (if you’ve chosen term rather than whole life), and the amount of insurance you need.

Life Insurance is Essential

We often avoid dealing with things that make us face our own mortality, and shopping for life insurance is one of those things. It’s hard to think about. But what’s even harder to think about is your family being in financial distress because you died without life insurance.

Don’t wait any longer. Buying life insurance is essential, fast, and easy. And with some of the best life insurance companies covered above, you have a great place to start!

The post 3 Best Life Insurance Companies Of 2024 appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

BBH Singapore on Unsplash

A personal loan can be a tremendous financial tool. It can help you better manage your debt, pay for necessary expenses like home repairs, and help see you through a tough financial time due to a job loss or an illness.

Today, it’s faster and easier than ever to get a personal loan. You don’t have to walk into a bank armed with reams of financial documents or wait weeks to find out if your loan has been approved.

You can apply for and be approved for a loan in less time than it takes to read this article. But not all personal loans are created equal; these are the best personal loans for your financial needs.

The Best Personal Loans

If you’re looking for a personal loan, these are some of the best options available.

1. Credible

Credible is an online loan marketplace that will show you up to 16 top lender options in just 2 minutes. The advantage for borrowers is the ability to enter their financial information on a single site and see offers from several different lenders.

Loan Amounts: $600 to $100,000
Terms: 12-84 months.
Fees: Credible does not charge a fee to use its service, but the lender you take a loan from may charge fees.
Why We Like It: Credible is so sure that you’ll find the best rates through them that they offer the Best Loan Guarantee. If you find a better rate elsewhere, Credible will give you $200. See terms.
Minimum credit score: At least 620 or higher.

Click here to see your Credible personal loan rates.

2. Upstart

Upstart underwrites the loans it offers. The underwriting model does not solely depend on a borrower’s credit score but looks at additional factors like level of education, job history, and residence to evaluate potential borrowers.

Loan Amounts: $1,000 to $50,000.
Terms: Three years and five years.
Fees: Upstart charges an origination fee of 0% to 8% of the amount of the loan. There is a fee for late payments of $15 or 5% of the amount past due, whichever amount is higher.
Why We Like It: Upstart is excellent for those who don’t have a lot of credit history or don’t have an ideal credit score but do have high earning potential, the kind of borrowers many other lenders reject.
Minimum credit score: At least 620 or higher.

Currently Upstart loans are not offered in: WV and IA.

Click here to see your Upstart rate.

3. Payoff

Payoff loans are for paying off credit card debt. The loans come from Payoff’s partners, including Alliant Credit Union, First Electronic Bank, and Technology Credit Union. Payoff offers exceptional customer support that includes welcome calls and quarterly check-ins during the first year of your loan.

Loan Amounts: $5,000 to $40,000.
Terms: 24 to 60 months.
Fees: No application fee, no prepayment penalty, no late fees, no annual fee. An origination fee of 0% to 5%.
Why We Like It: Payoff is very flexible, it may allow you to defer or skip a payment or change your payment date if you’re having trouble making a payment. For those using the loan to pay off other debts, you can participate in Direct Card Payoff and have Payoff pay their other debts using the borrowed money.
Minimum credit score: At least 640 or higher.

Currently Payoff loans are not offered in: MA, MS, NE, and NV.

Click here to see your Payoff rate.

4. Fiona

Fiona is an online loan marketplace where you can shop different loan offers based on your credit score, how much money you are looking to borrow, the purpose of the loan, and the area you live in.

Loan Amounts: $1,000 to $100,000
Terms: 24-84 months.
Fees: Fiona does not charge a fee to use its service, but the lender you take a loan from may charge fees.
Why We Like It: Fiona has a very easy to use interface. Borrowers can shop for loans based on various factors.
Minimum credit score: At least 620 or higher.

Click here to see your Fiona personal loan rates.

What is a Personal Loan?

A personal loan is money you borrow from an online lender, a bank, or credit union that is paid back in fixed monthly payments — generally over a term of two to seven years. The amount of the loan varies from lender to lender but generally range from $1,500 to $100,000.

Types of Personal Loans

There are several types of personal loans.

• Unsecured: The loan does not require collateral.
• Secured: The loan is backed by collateral.
• Fixed-Rate: The interest rate remains the same throughout the life of the loan, meaning your monthly payment remains the same month to month.
• Variable Rate: The interest rate is based on a benchmark set by banks and fluctuates based on that benchmark. Monthly payments vary with the interest rate.
• Debt Consolidation: This loan rolls multiple debts into a single loan with a lower interest rate to save money.
• Cosigned: A person who cannot qualify for a loan on their own adds another person to the loan who is responsible for paying it back should they default on payments.
• Line of Credit: This is not a lump sum of money but gives you access to a credit line you can borrow against as needed.

What Is the Difference Between an Unsecured Personal Loan and a Secured Loan?

A secured loan requires collateral, a valuable item — such as a home or a car — that the lender can take possession of if the borrower defaults on the loan. A mortgage is an example of a secured loan; the house is collateral.

An unsecured loan does not require collateral. Most personal loans are unsecured.

Personal Loan Interest Rates and Fees

Interest rates will vary according to your credit score, the term of the loan, amount of the loan, and the lender. The better your score, the lower the rate. Generally, rates will range from 10% to 36%.

Not all personal loans come with each of these fees, but they are fees you should be aware of when choosing a lender.

• Origination fee: This is a one-time fee paid when you receive the loan. It’s deducted from the money lent to you and typically ranges from 1% to 8% of the loan amount.
• Late fee: If you make your payment late, you’ll be charged a fee. Sometimes it’s a set amount and sometimes a percentage of your loan balance.
• Prepayment penalty: Lenders don’t want you to pay off a loan early because they lose money in interest when you do. To make up for this loss, you may be charged a penalty for paying your loan off before the term ends. The amount might be calculated based on the loan’s principal or how much interest is remaining at the time you paid off the loan.

Personal Loan Requirements

The requirements to qualify for a personal loan vary by lender, but here are some of most common requirements:

• U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, a Social Security number, or a long-term visa.
• Live in a state where the lender you choose is allowed to operate.
• Be 18 years old or older.
• Meet the credit score requirements of the lender.
• Provide government issues identification.
• Have a permanent address.
• A verified source of steady income.
• Provide any requested documentation.

When Should I Get a Personal Loan?

There are several scenarios in which a personal loan can be a helpful solution:

• Debt consolidation: If you have high-interest debt — such as credit card debt — a personal loan that has a lower interest rate than the rates on the cards can save you a lot of money.
• Home improvement or repairs: If you want to upgrade your home or make necessary repairs but don’t have the cash to pay for them, a personal loan can be a low-cost alternative if you qualify for a low-interest rate.
• Medical or dental expenses: Even if you have insurance, medical and dental expenses can be a financial burden. A personal loan can help you get the care you need.

When Should I Not Get a Personal Loan?

A personal loan comes with certain costs, including an interest rate and any associated fees. Some expenses are not worth taking on those added costs:

• Non-Essential Items: Items like televisions and new furniture are not essentials. They’re nice to have, but you shouldn’t build debt to acquire them. Instead, save up to pay for these kinds of things.
• Vacations: We all love a good holiday, but taking a trip is not a good reason to go into debt.
• Weddings: Starting your married life off thousands of dollars in debt spent on a single day is no way to kick off your new life. There are plenty of ways to have a memorable, enjoyable wedding without spending money you don’t have.

How To Get the Best Personal Loan

Of course, you want to get the best possible rate on your personal loan. Taking these steps can help:

• Check your credit score. Generally, you will qualify for the best interest rates if your credit score is 760 or above. If you aren’t there, you can take steps to improve your score.
• Consider fees as well as interest rates. Fees could make a loan with a slightly lower interest rate cost more than a loan with a higher rate but fewer or lower fees.
• Choose a short-term loan. Shorter-term loans are less risky for lenders, so the best interest rates are often available for these loans than loans with a longer-term.
• Choose a variable rate, short-term loan. Variable-rate loans typically have lower interest rates than fixed-rate loans. If you can pay the loan back quickly, the rates likely won’t be too high.
• Get a cosigner. If your credit score is low or you have no credit history, you can probably get a lower interest rate when you borrow with a cosigner.

Pre-qualify for a Personal Loan

Pre-qualifying for a personal loan gives potential lenders a glimpse into how creditworthy you are and gives you an idea of the loan options you might qualify for. This process doesn’t mean you’ll be approved; lenders will require that you verify the information you’ve provided before making a decision. These are the steps usually involved in the pre-qualification process:

• Fill out a form providing information such as your income, occupation, and amount of current debt.
• The lender will do a soft credit pull; this does not impact your credit score.
• The lender decides if you’re pre-qualified. If so, you’ll see the terms of the loans you might be offered, including the amount you’re eligible for.
• You can choose to go forward and accept the offer. If you do, you’ll officially apply for the loan and will be required to provide and verify additional financial information.

Can I Get a Personal Loan with Bad Credit?

You generally need a credit score of at least 600 to get approval for an unsecured personal loan and the terms may not be great. The interest rate will likely be high. A better option may be to apply for a secured loan using your home, car, or savings as collateral. Be warned that, if you default, your collateral could be repossessed by the lender.

Another option is to ask a close friend or family member to cosign the loan with you. But as discussed earlier, if you default, that person is on the hook for the remaining loan balance.

How Fast Can I Get a Loan?

Getting a personal loan can take just a few minutes or several weeks. Many online and peer-to-peer lenders can approve your loan in only a few minutes and deposit the cash into your account within a business day or two. Traditional banks and credit unions can take much longer — weeks in some cases.

What are the Best Alternatives to Personal Loans?

If a personal loan isn’t an option for you, you may be able to use one of the alternatives.

• Balance transfer credit card: If you want a loan to consolidate credit card debt, you can apply for a balance transfer credit card. The card has an introductory period ranging from 6 to 24 months, during which there is no interest. You can transfer the balance from high-interest cards, and every payment goes to paying down the principal without accruing further interest.
• 0% interest credit card: Similar to a balance transfer credit card, these cards charge no interest on purchases during the introductory period.

Take Advantage of the Best Personal Loans Today

If you could use a personal loan to help improve your financial situation, consider one of the best personal loans we’ve covered here. It’s fast and easy to apply!

The post 4 Best Personal Loans Of 2024 appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

Siavash Ghanbari on Unsplash

If you’ve ever had a debt that went to collections, you know how stressful the constant calls and letters from the company that holds the debt can be. Some of the tactics these companies use can be intimidating and, in some cases, downright abusive.

Once a debt has gone to collections, it is likely to show up on your credit history with at least one of the three major credit bureaus, Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax. Once that happens, it will remain on your credit report, dragging down your credit score for seven long years.

Some of the damage has indeed been done, but there are steps you can take to repair the damage and steps you can take so that the situation doesn’t get even worse. We’ll show you how to deal with debt collectors.

Don’t Ignore the Calls and Letters

It’s easy just to stick your head in the sand and ignore calls and letters about a debt. You can simply not answer the phone, block numbers, and toss the letters unopened into the trash. But that’s the wrong strategy, ignoring a debt is not going to make it go away. In fact, the longer you ignore it, the worse the situation can become. Debt collection agencies want their money and are often willing to work with you, but the longer you wait, the fewer options they will likely be open to offering to you.

So first thing’s first, open any overdue bills, so you know exactly what you’re dealing with. It might be worse than you thought, or it might not be as bad as you thought. But you can’t know for sure if you continue to ignore the situation.

Know Your Rights

No matter how old or how large a debt is, debt collectors, don’t have a pass to treat you any way they want. Consumers have certain rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Before you engage with someone calling about a debt, know your rights and their limitations.

Proof of Debt

Never pay a debt that you’re not sure you owe. Under the FDCPA, you have the right to know the amount of the debt and the name of the creditor. The debt collector must provide this information in writing within five days of their first communication with you unless that information has already been provided in the initial notice.

The Name of the Collection Agency

We don’t need to tell you how many scam artists are out there trying to get money and personal information by pretending to be any number of things, the IRS, your local police department, deposed foreign royalty, and debt collectors.

Anyone attempting to collect a debt from you is required to provide the name, address, and contact number of the company they are working for. And it’s not enough to get the information, be sure to verify it as well. A quick Google search should be enough to prove whether or not the agency is legitimate.

Harassment is Illegal

A debt collection call probably won’t be the most pleasant interaction, but they can only go so far. They cannot call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., scream, curse, or use vulgar language or threaten you in any manner, including threats of arrest, physical harm, deportation, or publically releasing information about your debt.

Part of the prohibition against publically releasing information about your debt covers who a debt collection agency can speak to regarding your debt. That list includes only you, your spouse, and your attorney if you have one. They are allowed to reach out to others in your life, such as relatives or employers, but only in an attempt to track you down and are still forbidden to discuss your debt with those people.

Calling You at Work

A collector can call you at work, but if you make it known that the calls are interrupting your workday or that you’re forbidden to receive personal calls at work, the collector must stop calling you there.

Statute of Limitations

Debts often get sold and resold several times. If the original creditor fails to collect, they may sell the debt off for much less than it’s worth to get some money. Typically, it will be sold to an “official” debt collection agency. If they fail to collect, they may sell it to another collector and so on.

If you’ve been dodging a debt for a long time or the collectors have had a hard time tracking you down, the clock might have run out on your legal obligation to pay the debt. Every state has its own statute of limitations, but in many places in ranges from three to six years.

However, in some states, if you pay any amount or even say that you will pay some amount on a debt past the statute of limitations, it restarts the clock and, in some cases, means the collector can sue you for the amount owed. This is why you should never pay anything or even commit to doing so verbally or in writing before the debt, including the age of it, has been verified.

Document Everything

The first and most important documentation is verifying the debt, as mentioned above. Once that has been done, don’t stop documenting each and every interaction you have with anyone trying to collect a debt, be it on paper, or with a phone call. Some states allow telephone calls to be recorded with one-party consent meaning you can record a call without the other person’s permission. There are several free smartphone apps that allow you to record your phone calls.

If you do settle a debt, be sure to keep the records that prove the debt has been settled or resolved.

Debt Management Help

Dealing with some trying to collect a debt from you is stressful, and as a layperson, it’s hard to know what options you have. You can’t depend on the collector to inform you of all of them. If this is something you feel is too overwhelming to handle alone, which may be the case if you have several debts in collection, there is help available.

An accredited debt counseling agency can help. These agencies can help create an agreement between you and your creditors. You’ll make a single monthly payment to one of these nonprofit agencies, who will then distribute the money to your creditors.

These agencies can often get finance charges and fees reduced or waived, help with budgeting, and instruct you on how to start rebuilding your credit score.

Making Payments

If you choose not to work with a debt counseling agency to make your payments, be sure to go about it the right way. It’s best to avoid giving a creditor information about your financial accounts or to provide them with direct access to them. Therefore, don’t pay with a check which has your bank account number printed on the bottom and don’t give them access to debit payments from your account directly.

You do want to make sure you have a paper trail of your payments, though, so consider paying with a money order which you can buy at several locations, including some grocery and drug stores, your bank, credit union, or post office.

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is not something to be taken lightly. It has severe consequences that can last for years. You can lose your home, car, and other property, your credit score will plunge, and it may be years before you can qualify for a mortgage.

Those are the downsides of bankruptcy, but there are advantages too. One of the first you’ll notice is the collection calls, and letters stop. Once you file for bankruptcy, creditors can no longer contact you or take you to court to collect a debt with a few exceptions in cases of criminal actions, family issues, and taxes.

Bankruptcy will eliminate most of the kinds of debt that lead people to file for bankruptcy, including credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans. Please note that student loan debt is almost never forgiven under bankruptcy or for any other reason.

If a creditor has a court order that allows them to garnish your wages, to take a portion of your paycheck, filing for bankruptcy automatically stops that. This, coupled with the fact that you are no longer paying anything on most of your debts, can result in more money in your pocket every month.

While bankruptcy does hurt your credit score, the clean slate it gives you means you can start rebuilding your credit much sooner than if you took years and years to pay off your debt.

Filing for bankruptcy should never be your first option, but if you have multiple debts that you can never realistically pay off, it is an option.

There is Help and Hope

If debt collectors are breathing down your neck, you do have options. It may merely be a matter of employing a very strict budget for a time and picking up a side hustle. It may be enough to work with a legitimate debt counseling agency. Or you may have to take the drastic action of declaring bankruptcy. Whatever your situation, if you’re dealing with debt and debt collectors, there is help and hope.

The post How To Deal With Debt Collectors appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

Maxim Ilyahov on Unsplash

Millions of Americans are saddled with debt. Debt from credit cards, medical bills, student loans, homes, and cars. When you have debt, particularly high-interest debt, it can be tough or downright impossible to make progress on your financial goals like buying for a home, starting a business, and saving for your retirement.

If you find yourself struggling with debt, you have options. Debt consolidation is one option, and it comes in several forms meaning there is a type for different kinds of debt and a kind that will work best for your situation.

Consolidating debt can be a tremendously helpful financial tool. These loans can pay off high-interest debt, improve your credit score, and simplify your bill-paying every month. We’ll explain everything you need to know about debt consolidation is so that you can get out from under your debt faster and more efficiently.

What is Debt Consolidation?

Debt consolidation means taking out a new loan to pay off an existing debt, usually unsecured debt, which is debt not backed by collateral. Several debts are combined into one larger debt. In some cases, the consumer gets the money directly and uses it to pay off debts themselves, and in others, the institution making the loan pays the old debts directly on the consumer’s behalf.

How does taking on new debt help your financial situation? Because if your credit score is good enough, you’ll typically be able to get a lower interest rate on the new debt than you had on the old debts.

You may also get other more favorable loan terms like a lower monthly payment or a shorter or longer loan term. Taking this step also simplifies your bill paying. Rather than having several due dates and minimum payments to keep track of, you’ll have a single payment to the new lender.

Consumers can use this strategy to pay off credit card debt, student loan debt, medical debt, and any other consumer debt.

Reasons to Consolidate Debt

The primary function and benefit of debt consolidation is to save money on interest. Some debt, like credit card debt, can have interest rates in the teens and even higher, making it tough to dig your way out of debt. These loans typically have a much lower interest rate than do credit cards.

It also reduces the number of payments you have to keep track of each month, provides a fixed interest rate, improves your credit score, and can put much-needed cash in your hands.

How to Consolidate Debt

While personal loans are what most people think of when they think of ways to consolidate debt, they aren’t the only option.

Personal Loan

A personal loan is money borrowed from a lender. Personal loans can be used for a variety of needs, and usually start at a much lower interest rate than a credit card. These loans are typically for amounts between $1,000 to $100,000. They are unsecured loans; meaning they don’t require the borrower to provide collateral. Thanks to the internet, you no longer have to go through the arduous process of taking a personal loan from a bank. You can borrow the money online and often have the money as soon as the next business day.

Credible: This online loan marketplace connects borrowers and lenders. You can enter a few pieces of basic information and see offers from up to 11 lenders in just two minutes. You can borrow from $1,000 up to $100,000. Credible is so sure that you won’t find a better rate on a personal loan anywhere else that they offer the Credible Personal Loan Best Rate Guarantee. If you find and close a loan with a better rate elsewhere, Credible will give you $200 (terms apply, see the Credible website for details).

Balance Transfer Cards

A balance transfer credit card allows users to roll the balance of a high-interest credit card to a new card, which typically has a 0% APR introductory period ranging from 6-24 months. During that period, no interest accrues, allowing you to pay off the balance more quickly because all of your payments are going towards principle.

See top balance transfer credit card options.

Mortgage Refinance

Some homeowners may be able to do a cash-out refinance and use the money to pay off debt. A cash-out refinance means taking out a mortgage for more than is owed on the home and taking the difference in cash. The interest rates on a mortgage are typically much lower than the rates on credit cards.

Homeowners can also do a standard refinance to lower their interest rate, lower their monthly payment, or change the length of their mortgage.

Credible: This online loan marketplace will show you mortgage refinance options from up to 6 top lenders in just 3 minutes.

NMLS ID# 1681276 320 Blackwell St. Suite 200. Durham, North Carolina 27701

Home Equity Loan

A home equity loan lets homeowners borrow against the value of their home minus the amount of their outstanding mortgage. It can provide an infusion of cash and is easier to qualify for than some other types of loans because your home is used at collateral to secure the loan.

Figure: This company allows you to handle the entire process online. Approved borrowers can have their cash in as few as five days and offer loans up to $150,000.

Student Loan Refinance

Refinancing your student loans doesn’t put cash directly in your hands, but it can save you money. You take out a new loan at a lower interest rate, and the new lender uses the money to pay off the student loans you currently have. You make future payments to the new lender at your new interest rate.

Splash Financial: Answer a few questions, and you’ll receive new offers from up to three lenders in under 3 minutes with no impact on your credit score. You can choose fixed, or variable rate offers and term lengths of 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, and 20 years.

Should I Consolidate My Debt?

Before you investigate your options, it’s a good idea to check your credit score, which you can do for free at Credit Sesame. Your credit score will be a big part of what determines the interest rate you’ll get on your loan.

Each lender uses its own formula, but generally, borrowers with scores of 720 or higher will get the best rates.

When Debt Consolidation is a Good Idea

If your credit score is high enough to qualify for a loan at a lower interest rate than you are currently paying on the debts you want to consolidate, it’s a great way to save money, potentially thousands of dollars.

When Debt Consolidation is a Bad Idea

If you use the money from your consolidation to pay off credit card debt and then start accumulating more debt once the cards have available room on the again, it won’t help you. In fact, it will put you even further into debt.

If your debt was caused by a spending problem rather than something like a job loss or a medical expense, and you don’t address the issue, debt consolidation will not be a solution.

Does Debt Consolidation Hurt Your Credit?

Most of the companies on this list allow you to search for loans without impacting your credit score. They do what is known as a soft credit check, which makes no difference as far as your credit score goes.

But once you take the next step and apply for the loan, the company will do a hard credit check, also known as a hard pull, and that does impact your credit score and will appear on your credit report as an inquiry. The number of inquiries you have is part of what makes up your credit score. This does lower your credit score slightly, typically about 5 points, which is really not that much.

But if you are using a loan to pay off credit card debt, the overall impact on your credit score will be positive. Having various types of credit improves your score, and if you take out a personal loan, for example, that is considered an installment loan. In contrast, credit cards are considered revolving credit.

When you pay off credit cards, it lowers your credit utilization ratio, one of the factors that make up your credit score. Credit utilization means how much of your available credit you’re currently using. A utilization under 30% is recommended. If you had a total credit limit across all credit cards of $1,000, for example, you wouldn’t want an outstanding balance of more than $300.

Is it Better to Pay Off Debt or Consolidate?

If you don’t have a tremendous amount of debt, and what that means will be subjective for everyone, consider if you could simply buckle down and pay the debt off without having to use a consolidation method.

Cut back on your spending and create a plan to tackle the debt strategically. If you can do that for a few months and kill your debt, you don’t need a consolidation loan.

Take Advantage of a Debt Consolidation Loan Today

In the past, if you needed a loan to consolidate debt you had to fill out lots of forms and provide tons of documentation. And then wait. And wait some more to find out if your application was approved and wait a little more before you had the money.

But thanks to a new generation of fintech companies, you can apply for a consolidation loan in about the same amount of time that it took you to read this article! Even better, you can shop around for the best rates. If you still had to get a loan the old fashioned way, you would probably take the first offer you got because you didn’t want to repeat the process with multiple lenders. And that meant you might not get the lowest interest rate or the best terms.

But today, you’re in control; you get to choose the best loan for you and your financial situation. If you are considering a debt consolidation loan, the time has never been better.

The post Everything You Need To Know About Debt Consolidation appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

Shutterstock

Sometimes you need cash, and you need it fast. Maybe the rent is due, and you’re a little short, or perhaps you ran into an emergency that your emergency fund couldn’t handle.

If you need money now, you may turn to a cash advance on your credit card. We all know that the interest rates on credit cards are high but did you know the rate on a cash advance might be even higher than it is on purchases? There’s also no grace period on credit card cash advances. The moment you pull that money off the card, it starts accruing interest.

When you’re in a situation where you need money now, you might also consider a payday loan. A payday loan is an even worse choice than a credit card cash advance. Payday loans often come with triple-digit interest. Taking out a payday loan is a sure-fire way to make an already bad situation worse.

Before you panic, take a deep breath and check out these 35 legit ways to get money when you need cash now.

Get Money Quickly with a Personal Loan (Up to 100k)

Getting a personal loan online is fast and easy. Personal loans are simply loans that can be provided for ‘personal’ reasons – such as paying for a medical expense, credit card debt, home renovation, etc. – compared to an auto loan or mortgage. You can read about all the things you can do with a personal loan to learn more.

When you get a personal loan online, you can have the money within just a few days.

1. Fiona: Get offers for up to $100k from multiple lenders in seconds.

Fiona

Fiona is an online personal loan marketplace that does all the hard work for you. Just fill out a simple form and Fiona will check offers from all the top personal loan providers for you in seconds (saving you lots of time).

Based on the info you provide and your creditworthiness, Fiona will match you with the right offer to meet your needs.

Borrowers can get loans in amounts from $1,000 to $100,000.

2. Get up to $50k from a company that will look at more than your credit score.

Alexander Mils on Unsplash

Upstart is a personal loan company that believes you’re more than your credit score. Founded by ex-Googlers, it will take into consideration your education and job history when giving you a rate (although you still need a credit score of at least 620). Borrowers can get loans in amounts from $1,000 to $50,000.

If you’re unsure what your credit score is, check it for free with Credit Sesame.

Home Equity Loan To Get Cash Now

Your home is probably your most significant investment, and you can tap into it to get money quickly with a home equity loan.

3. Figure: Turn your home into a source of fast cash.

Jesse Roberts on Unsplash

Figure offers home equity loans ranging from $15,000 to $150,000 with repayment terms of five, 10, 15, and 30 years. Apply online, and you’ll receive an offer. This doesn’t impact your credit score.

If you choose to accept the Figure home equity loan, you can have the money in as few as five days. The only fee Figure charges borrowers is an origination fee of up to 3% of your initial draw.

Negotiate Your Bills As A Way To Free Up Cash

When you need to make money fast, you might not think of cutting costs as a way to do it. But when you negotiate your bills, you’ll be amazed at how much money you can free up every month.

4. Credible: Save thousands on your student loans.

Credible

Paying back student loans each month can feel like an endless journey, but – luckily – there is a way to ease the pain and cost.

Did you know you could refinance your student loans and get a lower interest rate in minutes? Refinancing your student loans just means replacing your existing loan with a new loan with less interest. Refinancing can save you thousands over the life of the loan, and lower your monthly bill starting this month.

Credible is an online loan marketplace that makes the student loan refinancing process a breeze. You can compare prequalified refinancing rates from up to 10 lenders in 2 minutes without affecting your credit score. It’s also 100% free to do!

Credible has a best rate guarantee that will give you $200 if you find a better rate elsewhere.

5. Trim: Eliminate those monthly expenses that are draining your bank account.

Trim

Trim will be one of your favorite personal finance apps, and it’s totally free to sign up. It analyzes your spending looking for recurring monthly payments like subscription services, your Comcast and auto insurance bills. Trim will ask if you want to cancel any of your subscriptions. If you do, Trim does it for you! No digging up your username and passwords, logging in, and canceling.

Trim also negotiates and finds better rates for you. It’s genuinely the lazy, frugal person’s best friend!

Don’t Wait Until Payday, Get Paid Today

You worked today but won’t get paid until Friday. What if there was a way to get paid right now for work you’ve just completed.

6. Earnin: you worked today, get paid right now.

Earnin

If you’ve got a paycheck on the way but need money now, Earnin can help.

Earnin gives you control of and access to your pay as soon as you’ve worked with no fees, interest or hidden costs.

You can cash out your earnings anytime you want, up to $100 per day. When your paycheck is direct deposited, Earnin will deduct the amount you cashed out.

Side Hustles to Make Money Now

We live in the age of side hustles. Making money on the side is nothing new of course, that’s what a second, part-time job was for. But the difference between a part-time job and a side hustle is the amount of flexibility each offers.

Most part-time jobs require you to adhere to a specific schedule, someone else’s schedule, which may not always be convenient or even possible for some people. But most side hustles let you work on your schedule. If you have some free time, you can get money quickly.

7. Airbnb: Share your home and rake in the profits.

Joseph Albanese on Unsplash

Most of you are probably familiar with Airbnb. It allows people to list their entire home (or apartment or condo), or just a room in their home to travelers. You might think that unless you live in an in-demand area that you can’t make money on Airbnb – but that isn’t true.

Not everyone who rents an Airbnb is on vacation. Some might be visiting relatives or friends, traveling for business, or looking for a temporary place to stay in a new city until they can get the lay of the land and rent an apartment or buy a home. So even if you don’t live in a vacation destination, it can still be worthwhile to list your space.

Very worthwhile. Some people rent their home out a few nights a month, which generates enough income to cover their mortgage payment! Check out our ultimate guide to listing your space on Airbnb to learn more.

8. Turo: Turn your car from a money pit to a money earner.

Jimmy Chang on Unsplash

Think of Turo like Airbnb for cars!

Turo is an especially good way to get money quickly if you work from home and your car is just sitting in your driveway idle. You create a profile for your car, including pictures and your rates (or you can let Turo set the prices for you) and choose when to make your vehicle available to renters.

Renters can book, locate, and unlock your vehicle straight from the app with your approval. You’re covered with up to $1 million in liability insurance, and your car is contractually protected against theft and physical damage, unless you have commercial rental insurance and choose to waive protection offered through Turo Insurance Agency for yourself and your customers.

9. Getaround: If you need money now, your car can help.

Alora Griffiths on Unsplash

Getaround is similar to Turo. You create a profile for your car, set your rates, and accept or decline potential renters. Some Getaround users have made over $30,000 renting out their car.

You don’t have to meet to drop off and pick up your car, your car can be rented and unlocked with the Getaround app with your approval. Even if you do work from home, this is nice because you don’t have to worry about meeting renters to hand over the keys. Every trip includes $1,000,000 insurance and 24/7 roadside assistance.

(Pro tip: sign up and list your car on both Turo and Getaround to maximize earning potential)

10. Rover: What better way to make money than by spending time with dogs.

Matt Nelson on Unsplash

If you’re a dog lover, Rover will be your favorite way to get money quickly. Rover connects people who need someone to care for their dog, which can mean boarding a pet in your home, dog sitting in the dog’s house, or dog walking.

You’ll create a profile on the site which includes information about your availability, which services you offer, the size of the pets you’re willing to handle, and your rates. The fact that you set your rates makes Rover one of the most appealing options for making money fast. If you’re not sure what to charge, take a look at the prices of similar pet sitting services in your area.

11. DoorDash: Make money feeding people who don’t want to cook.

DoorDash

DoorDash is a food delivery service. Many restaurants are moving away from employing dedicated delivery drivers and instead using services like DoorDash to make deliveries. As a Dasher, you’ll pick up restaurant orders and deliver them to people’s homes and offices.

The amount of money you make will vary as there will be certain days and times that are busier than others. If you already work a standard 9-to-5 job, DoorDash can be a great way to get extra money quickly because the busiest times for deliveries tend to be evenings and weekends.

12. Postmates: People need more than food delivered to their doors.

Postmates

Postmates is similar to DoorDash, but drivers pick up and deliver not only restaurant orders but things like groceries, alcohol, coffee, and evening clothing as well. Drivers pay for the items via a pre-paid debit card provided by Postmates. You can deliver via car, bike, scooter, moped, or motorcycle.

Your income driving with Postmates will depend on the volume of orders coming in during a shift. Get free weekly deposits or cash out your earnings instantly anytime you want.

13. UberEATS: And you thought Uber was just for getting a ride.

@charlesdeluvio on Unsplash

UberEATS is a branch of Uber, the ride-sharing service. Drivers pick up and deliver restaurant orders.

Delivering with Uber comes with a lot of flexibility. Grab your car, bike, scooter, or even shoes, and deliver whenever you want—for an hour, a weekend, or throughout the week. You can set up Instant Pay to get same-day payouts up to 5 times a day.

14. Instacart Shopper: If you love food shopping, why not get paid for it?

Clark Young on Unsplash

If you love grocery shopping, becoming an Instacart shopper might be right up your alley. Customers place grocery orders through Instacart, and the list is sent to shoppers who shop for and deliver the items to the customer.

The income potential varies by a number of factors including the city you live in, and you can earn extra money via special promotions and bonuses. Instacart isn’t as flexible as most of the other options on this list. Shoppers can choose their own hours, but they must commit to those hours ahead of time, unlike something like driving for Uber where you can just turn on the app whenever you’re ready to work.

15. Lyft: Take passengers around town.

Victor Xok on Unsplash

Most of us are familiar with the ride-sharing app Lyft even if we’ve never used it ourselves. While driving with Lyft, you pick up people who request a ride via the Lyft app on their phone and take them to their destination.

Driving with Lyft gives you a ton of schedule flexibility. You can also make more money with increased pricing during peak hours, and Lyft lets you earn and keep the whole tip amount from your passengers. Lyft is currently offering a $1,000 guarantee to new drivers.

16. Uber: A go-to for those who need money now.

freestocks-photos on Pixabay

Uber is a ride-sharing service like Lyft. Drivers give rides to those who request them through the Uber app.

Drivers can set their own hours, and there is no minimum number of hours required. Those that drive with Uber get to choose how and when they get paid.

Get Money Quickly with Survey & Reward Sites

Survey sites are great because you can earn money in your downtime while doing things like watching TV or waiting for your pasta water to boil. Survey sites aren’t quite passive income, but they are one of the fastest and easiest ways to make a few bucks when you need money fast.

Reward sites are a consumer favorite because they pay you for things you already do. You can earn cash and free gift cards for making everyday purchases, watching movies, and more.

17. Survey Junkie: Earn points for giving your opinion.

Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie is great for lots of reasons. It’s one of the best paying survey sites available, where you can earn $1 to $3 per survey, and most surveys take about 15 minutes. There are lots of surveys available. The minimum to cash out is just $10, and you can redeem your points for actual cash via PayPal rather than just for gift cards.

18. PointClub: Set a goal and reach it as you climb each tier.

PointClub

PointClub is unique among survey sites. Rather than earning points and then choosing how you want to cash those points out, you set a goal (like $50 via PayPal), and then you work on earning points to reach that goal.

There is also a tiered system. The higher your tier, the more points the surveys are worth. To move up to the higher levels, it’s essential to log in and take at least one survey each day, but this isn’t difficult as PointsClub offers lots of surveys.

19. Vindale Research: When you need money now, this is the best paying survey site out there.

Vindale Research

Vindale Research touts themselves as the best paying survey site on the internet, and you will occasionally see surveys paying as much as $75! If that’s not reason enough to sign up, this might persuade you: Vindale doesn’t work off a point system. Each survey earns you cash, not points, so you don’t have to pull out the calculator to figure out if a survey is worth your time.

You can be paid via PayPal or mailed a check.

20. InboxDollars: So many ways to earn that you’ll have your money in no time.

InboxDollars

InboxDollars offers users more ways to earn than just surveys. You can shop, search the web, watch videos, read emails, and play games to earn money quickly. This is another site that rewards users with dollars rather than points.

You’ll need a minimum of $30 to cash out which you can do via paper check, an ePayment, or pre-paid debit cards. InboxDollars has paid its members over $56 million in rewards.

21. Swagbucks: Earn points doing everyday tasks you usually do for free.

Swagbucks

Swagbucks pays out 7,000 gift cards each day. It offers numerous ways for users to earn points. Earn points taking surveys, shopping (what the app is best known for), watching videos, doing online searches, and playing games.

Points can be turned into cash via PayPal in denominations of $25, $50, $100, and $250, or into gift cards with denominations between $1 and $100. Check out our full Swagbucks review to learn more.

22. MyPoints: Frequent online shoppers will love earning money with every purchase.

MyPoints

MyPoints offers several ways to earn points, including taking surveys, shopping online, buying local deals, (via Groupon or Living Social), printing coupons, watching videos, and doing online searches.

The minimum threshold for a cash payout via PayPal is $25. The thresholds for gift cards vary from card to card.

23. Nielsen Panel: The most passive money you’ll ever make.

Nielsen

Yes, this is the same Nielsen that does TV ratings. Nielsen collects data on many things, including how people use their mobile devices. Of all the passive income apps out there, Nielsen Panel is the most passive.

All you have to do to earn points is to download the app onto your mobile devices. It works quietly in the background collecting consumer data like which sites you visit (the URL only, not the content of the site), how long you stay on a website, the time of day visited, etc. You’ll earn points which can be converted to gift cards worth $50 each year.

Shop with an App To Make Money Now

Who wants to waste their time with those paper coupons you get in the Sunday paper that save you a quarter when you buy three boxes of cereal? Not worth the time or trouble. If you want to save money shopping, it’s all about apps now!

24. Rakuten: A new name for an old favorite.

Rakuten

If the name doesn’t sound familiar, how about Ebates? Rakuten is the app formerly known as Ebates, and when you join the site and make your first eligible purchase, you’ll get $10! Users can earn as much as 40% in cash back when they shop with more than 2,500 online retailers.

Every quarter, you’ll receive your cashback rewards via PayPal or check.

25. Ibotta: Don’t throw away that receipt. Turn it into cash.

Ibotta

Ibotta gives you cash back for both online and brick-and-mortar shopping. The app saves you money on lots of things, including grocery items, travel, restaurants, and drug stores. Upload a copy of the receipt showing the eligible items you purchased, and the amount will be added to your account.

Once your account has at least $20 in it, you can transfer it to your PayPal or Venmo account. You can read our full Ibotta review to learn more.

26. Paribus: Get the refund you didn’t know you had coming.

Paribus

Paribus tracks your eligible online purchases through the receipts in your email, and when it sees a price drop for something you recently purchased, the app sends you a notification and sets about getting you any refund you’re entitled to.

If you book a hotel room and the price drops before your stay, you’ll get a notification from Paribus. Plus, if you have a package that is late being delivered, Paribus can help you get compensated for the delay.

Paribus compensates us when you sign up for Paribus using the links provided.

27. Shopkick: Get your kicks just walking into a store.

Shopkick

Shopkick doesn’t even require you to buy anything to earn rewards! You earn points (called “kicks”) by entering a store and scanning certain items with your smartphone. Each time you scan, you earn more “kicks.”

You can earn further kicks for doing things like purchasing items and watching movies. These kicks can then be redeemed for gift cards. To learn more, read our full Shopkick review.

28. Drop: Link your card and earn money.

Drop

Drop is an app that rewards users for shopping with their partnered retailers. Link your debit or credit card to your Drop account, and when you spend money with those retailers, you earn points.

The points can be redeemed for gift cards. Read our full Drop review to learn more.

Freelance to Make Money Now

The internet is making freelancers out of all of us, even those of us who work a regular job. And why not? It’s a great way to get money quickly.

29. TaskRabbit: Because everyone needs a little help around the house.

rawpixel on Unsplash

When you read the word “freelancer,” you might think of people who can do things like build websites or write articles. If you don’t have those kinds of skills, you might think freelancing isn’t something you can do. But with TaskRabbit, you too can freelance.

TaskRabbit is a site for people who need odd jobs done with people who can do the odd job. Tasks can include things like putting together a piece of furniture, hanging paintings, bartending for a party, cleaning houses, or doing yard work.

Taskers are paid per hour or per job. Customers name their price and taskers bid on the job.

30. Fiverr: Put your skills to work.

Joseph Gruenthal on Unsplash

Fiverr is a more traditional freelancing site. Freelancers list their services for things like writing, graphic design, translation, and voice-overs. They also set their rates and despite the name of the site, can charge more than $5.

Clients peruse the sight and choose the right freelancer for the job.

Clean Out Your House

Not many of us look forward to cleaning out closets, the garage, the attic, the cabinets. But if you sell the stuff, you’re willing to part with, making a little money can be a pretty good incentive to do a purge.

31. Gazelle: Because no one needs a drawer full of old electronics.

Gazelle

Gazelle will give you money for your old electronic devices, including smartphones, tablets, computers, and iPods. Enter the make and model, answer some questions about the condition, and Gazelle will make you an offer.

If you accept the offer, mail the item in. Gazelle will confirm the condition and if it’s in the same condition you stated, pay you for your device.

32. Decluttr: Turn the stuff cluttering up your house into cash.

decluttr

Decluttr is similar to Gazelle but accepts a broader range of items including DVDs, CDs, Blu-ray disks, games, books, phones and tablets. You can use the app to scan the barcodes of the items you want to sell or search for them on the desktop site. Based on this information, you’ll get an offer.

If you accept, ship the items, and upon receiving them, they’ll be inspected. If they pass inspection, you get paid.

33. Pawn It: An old school solution when you need money now.

Shutterstock

While you’re cleaning out your house, the items that sites like Gazelle and Decluttr don’t accept might interest a pawn shop. Pawn shops buy things like jewelry, electronics, tools, and musical instruments.

People think of pawn shops as places to go to get a loan using your items as collateral. Once the loan is paid off, you get the items back. But pawn shops also straight-up buy things too, and you’ll generally be offered more if you’re selling an item rather than pawning it.

Get Money Quickly by Recycling:

Paweł Czerwiński on Unsplash

We should all practice more recycling because it’s better for the environment than tossing things we no longer need into a landfill. If you’re not recycling, maybe a little financial incentive is in order.

34. Scrap It and Recycle: Be green, make money.

When we think of recycling, we often think of things like glass, plastic, paper and metal cans. There are plenty of other everyday items you can recycle for money like wine corks and used electronics.

Recycling aluminum cans can be a source of extra cash. Metals like steel, copper, brass, and aluminum can all be recycled for cash at a scrap yard. If you have a vehicle that isn’t worth anything on the used-car market or even for a trade-in, you may be able to get something for it at a scrap yard.

35. Blood Money: Do a good deed, make some cash.

Pranidchakan on Pexels

People often donate blood but did you know that you can make money selling plasma? It’s true, and you can do it several times a month and make as much as $20 to $50 per visit. There are plasma centers all across the U.S. so everyone should be able to locate one near them.

It’s Out There

If you need money now, it’s out there!

There are so many ways to get money quickly no matter what skills you have and no matter how little extra time you have. Making extra money is easier than ever, thanks to the internet and the sharing economy.

And after your immediate financial problem is resolved, you might realize that spending some of your free time making some extra money isn’t too bad – and may even continue doing it so you can build an emergency fund and not find yourself in this situation again!

The post Need Money Now? 35 Legit Ways To Get Money Quickly appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

Shutterstock

Anyone who finds themselves in the position of needing to get a vehicle must first start their journey by answering one not-so-simple question: buy or lease?

Regardless of whether you lease or buy a car, it’s a commitment – and each choice comes with its own complications. Depending on your individual needs and budget, the decision isn’t always easy.

When it comes to leasing vs buying a car pros and cons, it really comes down to a number of personal and practical factors.

This guide was put together to help you figure out if leasing vs buying a car would be right for you – so you can have enough knowledge to make the right choice while making the car-buying journey an enjoyable experience instead of a stressful one.

Leasing vs Borrowing a Car: Pros and Cons

Let’s first make sure we know the difference between leasing vs buying a car, because the details are important.

Leasing a car is not that different than renting an apartment. When you lease a car, you’re never going to own it. At the end of the lease, you return the car to the lessor. You aren’t responsible if something goes wrong with the car, the dealer takes care of that.

When you buy a car, you have to pay the entire cost of the car with cash, a loan, the value of a trade-in or a combination of all of these. When you lease a car, you only pay the difference between the price of the car and the car’s expected value at the end of the lease period plus interest and fees.

How Do Leases Work?

Leasing involves signing a contract, typically for a few years, for a fixed monthly price to keep a vehicle and drive it as if it’s your own. After the lease is over, you don’t need to deal with selling an outdated vehicle – and you avoided having to pay the full sticker price the entire time you had the car.

It sounds straightforward and uncomplicated, but there are some important things to consider if you’re choosing to either lease or buy a car.

Pros of Leasing

• If you’re looking to lower your monthly expenses, a car lease payment will typically be lower than the monthly payment for an auto loan
• Your leased car is under warranty so the cost of any necessary repairs won’t come out of your pocket. The dealership takes care of these things.
• You get a shiny new car every two to three years. Vroom, vroom!
• You don’t have to worry about selling the car or the trade-in value. At the end of the lease, you hand over the keys and walk away.

Cons of Leasing

• If you run into financial trouble, you can’t sell the car and it can be hard to get out of a car lease.
• There is a limit to the number of miles you can drive the car over the term of the lease. If you go over the stated number of miles, you’ll be charged for each mile.
• You must maintain the car. This means not only adhering to the recommended maintenance schedule but keeping the interior of the car clean and undamaged.
• You are often required to purchase gap insurance.
• While the monthly payments for a leased car are often lower than those for a purchased car, over the long-term.

How Buying a Car Works

Between leasing vs buying a car, purchasing is likely the one most people are familiar with.

There are a few ways to buy a car. You can buy from a private seller for cash, from a dealer for cash, or from a dealer with financing. You can get financing from an online lender, a peer-to-peer lender, a bank, or the dealership. The interest rate you get on an auto loan will depend on your credit score.

Pros of Buying

• The car is yours in the same way a house you buy is yours. Once you pay the loan off, you will own the car outright.
• Because you own the car, you can customize it to your liking.
• There is no limit on the number of miles you can drive the car.
• You can buy a used car for cash which saves money over financing because you’re not paying interest.

Cons of Buying

• Your monthly payments will be higher than for a leased car.
• Any repairs and maintenance outside of any warranty period will be out of pocket.
• You have to sell, trade-in, or donate the car when you need a new one.

Leasing vs Buying a Car: Which is Right for You?

The pros and cons we’ve listed are general for those figuring out whether to lease or buy a car. But what about more specific situations? When does it make sense to lease a car and when is it best to buy a car?

You Should Lease If

• You own a business that requires you to have a car. Generally, you can deduct your lease payment (the actual expenses, not the standard mileage rate) from your expenses. If your business buys a car, you have to break out the monthly payment amounts between the interest you paid and the depreciation allowance. Car depreciation is written off over a period of several years so you can get a bigger deduction with a leased car.
• You see a good deal. Dealerships often offer car leases, especially for expensive cars, at bargain prices. This happens because high-end cars often have a higher resale value. The dealer can sell your leased car as a “certified pre-owned” car which is dealer fancy talk for a used car.
• You only need a car for a relatively short time. A lot of people think a car is an everyday necessity but that isn’t true for everyone. In a situation where you only need a car for a relatively short amount of time, it makes more sense to lease than to buy.
• You don’t drive that many miles.

You Should Buy If

• You have a sizable cash down payment. If you don’t have enough money for a hefty downpayment, you’ll have a higher interest rate on the borrowed amount.
• You have a good credit score. Your credit score determines the interest rate on your car loan. The higher your score, the lower your interest rate. And the lower your interest rate, the more money you save on a car loan or any other kind of loan. If you have a credit score of 760 or higher, that’s enough to get you the best interest rate on your loan.
• The car you’re going to buy has a high resale value. We all know how quickly cars depreciate in value but some cars hold their resale value more than others. You can get a ballpark for how much your potential car will be worth in X years time at Kelley Blue Book.
• You are good at and enjoy car maintenance and repairs. Some people love nothing more than popping the hood and fixing a problem themselves. If you’re one of them, owning a car that you can keep in good working condition for many years without having to pay a mechanic.
• You have a kid who will be driving soon and you want to pass your car down to them when the time comes.
• You drive a lot of miles. There is a limit to the number of miles you can drive a leased car. If you go over that limit, you’ll be charged per mile.

Now You’re Ready to Lease or Buy a Car!

The leasing vs buying a car pros and cons are important to know, especially since vehicles are such major purchases for most people – and vital for many households across the country.

Whether you decide to lease or buy a car, make sure you are thinking into the long term and taking into consideration any variable that might push you to one decision or the other.

Shop around, research the true value of a potential vehicle online, and don’t make any impulse decisions. Make an informed decision, and you won’t regret the consequences of the choice you made when you were considering leasing vs buying a car.

The post Pros And Cons: Leasing vs. Buying A Car appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.

Shutterstock

Sometimes unexpected expenses pop up, and sometimes we find that our paycheck just isn’t going to cover all of our expenses for the month. Ideally, we would have an emergency fund for situations like these, but not everyone does.

When we need money fast, we might turn to a quick and easy solution – like a payday lender or a credit card cash advance. These high-interest options can be a costly mistake, and often cause borrowers to spend more in the long run.

Something a lot of people who need money now might not consider is pawn shops. You hand over an item, and the pawn shop gives you cash. If you repay the money before a set period of time, you get the item back. If not, the pawn shop keeps the item and sells it.

You can also just sell your items outright without intending to return and buy it back, and – if you do – you may get more money than if you pawn them. Pawn shops do charge interest, but the rate is usually relatively low, and certainly lower than a payday lender or credit card company would cost you.

Sounds pretty good, right? Because needing money fast can happen to anyone, we’ve put together this list of all the ways you can find a pawn shop in your area.

How to Find the Best Pawn Shop Near Me

If you’ve never been to a pawn shop, you might think of a dark, dingy shop in a run-down strip mall on the wrong side of the tracks. And those kinds of pawn shops do exits, but they’re not all like that.

If you’re looking to pawn some items, don’t just go to the pawn shop closest to your house. Know what makes a good pawn shop before you start Googling “Pawn shops near me.”

In order to get the best deal and the smoothest experience, these are some easy steps you can take.

1. Find Out if the Shop is Licensed

Pawn shops are required to follow several laws and rules. They must adhere to federal laws, comply with IRS regulations, the Truth in Lending Act, and the Patriot Act.

Additionally, pawn shops are licensed at the state and local level. A legitimate pawn shop will have a pawnbroker’s license, and many will also have a secondhand dealer license and a general business license.

You can search for business licenses here.

2. Check Out the Reviews

You can’t use review sites like Yelp as gospel truth. People are much more apt to complain about a bad experience than to rave about a good one.

A negative review could be from a customer with unrealistic expectations (a nice way of saying a customer who is a flat out jerk) or a person who has never even visited a business but has some kind of personal ax to grind against the owner. And super-glowing reviews could be from the business owner, their friends, and family.

So a good rule of thumb is to disregard crazy, ranting complaint reviews and overly wonderful reviews. What you’re left with will usually be an accurate enough review and what most people can expect when patronizing a business.

3. Ask Your Neighbors

We don’t mean knock on their doors and ask. That would be a little too forward! You can create a post asking for recommendations on local Facebook pages in your area and your neighborhood on Nextdoor.

4. Window Shop

No, you’re not buying anything, but you can still stop by pawn shops in your area and browse around. This way you can get a sense of the shop; is it clean and well-organized, what are they selling (so you know what kind of items they accept)?

Stick around long enough to observe some customer interactions. Is the staff helpful and respectful to the customers? We all have a sixth-sense, and you can get a feel for a place pretty quickly. Within a few minutes, you should be able to tell if this is the pawn shop you want to work with.

If there are other businesses very nearby, go in and ask the employees (when they’re not busy) about the pawn shop. Maybe they’ve done business there themselves and can really give you the scoop.

5. Find the Right Pawn Shop

While most pawn shops deal in general merchandise, they often specialize in a few particular items; electronics, musical instruments, power tools, or jewelry, for example.

Rather than just searching for “pawn shops near me,” try to find a shop that specializes in what you plan to sell or pawn. You may get more money for your item when the shop understands precisely what it is and how much it’s worth.

6. Research Prices

Once you find a few pawn shops that you think are good ones, do some research to learn the value of the item you’re pawning or selling. You want to make sure any offers you get are fair. eBay and other similar auction sites are good places to learn the resale value of your item.

If you’re trying to pawn or sell something quite valuable, like jewelry or artwork, it may be worth it to take the item to an appraiser to find out the value from a neutral third party before you start shopping it around at pawn stores. Bring any documentation from the appraisal with you when you’re ready to pawn your item.

7. Understand the Terms

Before you bring your item into the pawn shop, ask an employee to explain the terms if you’re planning to pawn rather than sell your item. Everything should be clearly laid out for you; the interest rate, any additional fees that you may be charged, and how much time you have to pay the loan back before your item is forfeited and becomes the property of the shop.

If the person is unwilling to explain things clearly, it’s likely time to go to another pawn shop in your area. This should be a pretty straightforward transaction without lots of hidden costs or fees that are sprung on you at the last minute – and a legitimate pawn shop would keep things honest.

8. Shop Your Items Around

Don’t just take your item to the nearest pawn shop and call it a day. If you were taking out a personal loan or wanted to refinance your student loans, you wouldn’t take the first offer you saw. You would shop around for the best deal.

Once you’ve found a few good shops, take your item to each of them and see how much they offer you. An offer isn’t binding. If you don’t think it’s fair, you can walk away. Even if you do think it’s appropriate, you should still shop the item around. You need money, so of course, you want to get the most money you can.

We did an entire article on how to get the best price for your items at a pawn shop.

9. Do Business With a Pawn Shop You’re Comfortable With

A pawn shop can be fully licensed, have great reviews, and look tidy and well organized. But if you have what is scientifically known as “a bad vibe,” it might be best to walk out and take your business elsewhere. There are likely several other pawn shops in your metro area, so trust your gut and try to deal with businesses that seem honest.

What Makes a Good Pawn Shop?

What makes a good pawn shop isn’t that different from what makes any other kind of business a good business to patronize. It’s appropriately licensed, it has a good reputation, the people who work there are knowledgable and respectful to the customers, it’s pleasant inside, and you feel that you were given a fair deal.

Often, if you need to pawn something, you’re under some stress and perhaps not in the best frame of mind. You want to make a difficult situation as easy as it can be and finding a good pawn shop that quickly and reliably processes your item will help you do so.

The post 9 Ways To Find The Best Pawn Shops Near Me appeared first on Wall Street Insanity.