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Remember when I didn’t pay my taxes almost six months ago? Yeah, that was pretty sweet. Now that I finally did, though, it kind of complicated things. Not being entirely sure of the math even now, I just sent in what I knew, knowing full well that the nice folks at the Internal Revenue Service would happily send me a bill for the difference.
Send a bill they did, and I gotta tell ya, this is like nothing I had expected.
It’s to the point where I’m not even sure what to do about it. I was expecting something like $20, but this is just unreasonable. So, I leave it to you, oh wise readers of mine, to tell me what exactly I ought to do about this:
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This article is a guest post by UK money writer Les Mitchell, who regularly writes about finance topics across the web.
Most people with bad credit feel they are out of options when it comes to getting any type of loan, but that isn’t always the case.
Although you need decent credit to qualify for low-interest loans and credit cards, there are financial products out there that are extended to people with a troubled financial past.
If you’re in a bind and need cash quickly, payday loans are the easiest option. These are short term cash advances that you get the same day you apply.
Payday loans come with high interest rates and must be paid back with your next paycheck, hence the term “payday loan.”
You can apply for paydays loans in person, on the phone, or even online. The majority of companies that offer these loans don’t require a credit check. All you need is proof of employment in the form of your last paystub.
The disadvantage of payday loans is that they are costly. You can expect a fee of around $25 for every one hundred dollars you borrow. If you borrow $500, you have to pay an additional $125 in fees.
Aside from payday loans, personal loans may be available to those with bad credit.
Although these require credit checks, it’s not impossible to get one with less-than-perfect scores. You just have to pay a higher interest rate than someone with a high credit score.
Alternatively, bad credit credit cards are another option. While you will be more limited in the types of cards you can apply for, it’s relatively easy to get a bad credit credit cards.
Most of these cards come with low credit limits and high interest rates, but if you can manage the credit card responsibility, it’s the best way to rebuild your credit in a relatively short amount of time.
You may also consider a secured credit card. These work like debit cards in that you pay a certain amount in order to establish your limit. They even help you rebuild credit, just like unsecured credit cards.
Although secured credit cards won’t do much good if you find yourself in an emergency situation, you can treat them like savings accounts and pay into the balance every month before an emergency arises.
If you find yourself completely out of options, talk to a trusted friend or family member about co-signing. This may work better if your financial troubles are in the past and you’ve been living responsibly for a while, since most people may be wary of taking responsibility for someone else’s loan if they cannot pay.
Never borrow more money from a loan or credit card than you know you can afford to pay back. That will only get you into more financial trouble.
If you find yourself unable to get back on your feet without taking out a loan, it may be time to seek credit counseling.
Contact local non-profit debt counseling services to see what they can do to help you get back on track. You may find that you can rebuild your credit quicker than you thought.
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Well, things have certainly been busy around here. So much so that this isn’t really a mid-month update, but more of a “what I’ve been doing” update. First off, Lee happened. We got about 14 inches of rain here.
This picture is pretty tame, but the quickest I could find, and from just up the street. As a result, there were several deaths around the midstate, including a couple right here around town. For a bit, there was pretty much no decent way out of the county, with major roads either flooded or badly damaged all around. Records from Agnes were broken. Lucky me, I live a whole 5 blocks from work, which was of course, busy as all hell. First it was pumps (out and in and out again). And then water heaters. Way after the fact, and things still haven’t slowed down – I pulled 65.5 hours last week, including two 15 hour shifts, for a total of 116.5hrs in the pay period. I’m gonna be rich, sure, but was it worth it? To not even have time for 8 hours of sleep between shifts? Hell no.
I would imagine my spending is pretty much in check, as I simply haven’t had the time to be spending any money. One thing I have been doing, though, is cracking down on my Japanese studies, as I’ve been slacking hard there. And I’ll tell ya what, this video is a horrible way to learn anything.
This one, on the other hand, I am in love with. It’s pretty awesome to see a darker side to Hatsune Miku, and it just… works. So well.
And as a result, I so very much want this figurine, but really can’t see spending 16,000 yen on it (about $200), especially when I’m trying to reduce my possessions and *not* take on stuff like this. But it’s just soooo nice.
So yeah. That’s where I’ve been.
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This article is a guest post by UK money writer Les Mitchell, who regularly writes about finance topics across the web.
The world is connected like never before and decisions still haunt us years after being made. The resultant effect on credit rating means that you are only entitled to credit cards aimed at those with bad credit. A bad credit card has a high interest rate, excessive late fees, yearly fees and fees, fees and more fees.
Bad credit credit cards are designed to help you to rebuild your credit rating. A small amount of debt that is handled responsibly is the best way to go about proving that you can handle debt.
If your credit rating has been damaged, it is important that you know which cards may help you to rebuild your score. The best deals are for those with an excellent credit score, so it is often only credit cards for bad credit that will be on offer.
The best way to compare the options available to you would be to use a comparison website such as money supermarket, which will give you a number of options.
Once you have selected that card that you feel most suited to your circumstances, make your application. Do not be tempted to apply for as many cards as possible in the hope that one company will accept you.
Multiple applications have a detrimental effect on your credit rating, as companies assume that you are desperate and they will be less willing to take on the risk.
You should be aware that a bad credit credit card will come with a lower credit limit and a high APR. The lower limit will encourage you to keep within sensible spending limits.
The higher interest rate will only be payable on the outstanding balance, so pay the card off in full each month and you will not get stung by the high interest rate.
It is also important that you are keeping in control of your other finances. Maintaining a good record with one card company will not be good for your overall credit score if you are failing to keep your other financial commitments.
Seeking debt advice from a professional debt advisor could be of use, particularly if you are finding it difficult to organise a reasonable budget. Although this often costs money, you could find that the money you save in the long run more than covers the initial outlay.
Bankruptcy is the final option for someone who is struggling and can find no other option. This really is a last resort step and should only be considered if all other options have failed. Bankruptcy will have a long- reaching effect on your ability to get future credit.
Once you have established a workable budget, do not be afraid to use your credit card. The important thing to remember is that you should only spend that which you can pay off in full each month. That way, you will be proving you can be responsible and you are not actually increasing your debt month on month.
A good way to avoid temptation is to keep your credit card at home and not in your wallet or purse. This can dramatically reduce the chances of impulse buying something that you do not actually need.
Ask yourself if you can afford the item you are thinking of buying. If the honest answer is yes, then ask yourself if you need the item. If the answer to this second question is also yes, only then should you consider using your credit card to buy it.
Damage to your credit rating can take months, or even years, to repair. It is important that you are patient, as there is no easy way of speeding up the process.
A credit card for bad credit can be a very useful tool in both improving the way in which you think about spending and in rebuilding your credit when the damage has already been done.
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From August 1 to September 2, my net worth increased an average of $30.72 per day, or $952.42 overall, to -$34,000.94. This is a 2.80% increase, and results in a projected zero net worth on 5/29/2014.
Things and stuff of note
Sadly, my snowball was only about $200 this month, thanks to my finally paying for things such as my train tickets to and from FINCON, and my federal taxes. Rather than the usual split, it’s all going to dear Mother and no extra on the scooter.
I am currently exactly $400/mo behind on my 33% payoff goal for this year. Why? I wasn’t paying attention to that particular goal, that’s why. Of all things.
My magic number has gone up $11 to $1,162.37.
Everything’s sort of flat in a blah sort of way.
Everything’s sort of blah in a flat sort of way.
If you meet a buddha, kill the buddha.
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