debt services PAY DAY LOANS - WHAT IS THE COST? Several sources, including a consumer report by the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and the CFA (Consumer Federation of America) state that usual the usual APR is between 350 - 650% with some as high as 780%. A loan of $100 ranges in cost between $15 - $30. If the loan is not repaid by the pay date then it can be renewed with another fee due at each renewal. A loan of $100 can cost $60 in fees after 3 renewals. PAY DAY LOANS - WHO BENEFITS? Based on the warnings issued by federal and consumer organizations it is clear that using pay day loans or cash advances from these businesses can often lead to more debt and problems. Some sites were reported to automatically roll over the loan and only withdraw the renewal fee on the pay date. Other sites surveyed by the CFA required customers to agree in contract to not participate in class action suits or to file for bankruptcy. For those who are having debt problems it is recommended to seek no- or low-cost credit counseling from a local non-profit organization. These organizations can help with reducing current interest charges and lowering monthly payments. If the problem is budget, you should look to a financial planner who can help you to manage the money you do have and avoid using credit at all. The Saga of a Mortgage Lender When the going gets tough and the tough just keeps on going, mortgage lenders may seem like godsend angels at your doorstep. Due to some unavoidable circumstances, more and more people are getting deeper into debt. As a result, many people are seeking alternatives for dealing with their financial problems, and ways they can minimize and consolidate their expenses. One way to do this is by securing a mortgage. Basically, a mortgage is a legal record or document designed to protect the mortgage lender against delay of payment or the debtor's refusal to pay the debt. A mortgage lender can be any financial institution or even an individual who has the capacity to lend money to the borrower. There are, actually, various types of mortgage lenders. The key in selecting a mortgage is to choose the right one that fits your needs. Look for a mortgage that has the capacity to lend you the right amount of money at a reasonable rate of interest. The most common and well-known mortgage lender is the bank. You can opt to choose the bank as your mortgage lender for reliability, convenience, and nippy approval on loans. Banks generally work faster in processing your loans as compared to other mortgage lenders. Banks are also a one-stop center for all your lending needs. You can also secure a mortgage through a mortgage broker. A mortgage broker is a type of mortgage lender that usually acts as a middleman and finds the appropriate loan that best fits your needs. Finally, you may want to consider credit unions and thrifts as other types of lending institutions where mortgages can be secured. Whatever type of mortgage lender you choose; your credit history will have a definite influence on the placement of a mortgage and availability of money. Whichever form of mortgage you choose, be sure to do your homework before making a final decision. Get recommendations from friends or relatives who know reliable mortgage lenders. As a final step in the process, be sure to check the mortgage lender's credentials so you can be certain that your financial transactions will be secure and dependable. You really have to pay more attention on these things. After all, it's your money that's at stake if things will not go on smoothly. So, it would be better to be sure with your mortgage lender even if it means you're the one who is asking for favor. What’s the Deal with Interest Only Mortgages? Have you heard that commercial about interest-only mortgages...the one where you’re told about what a wonderful benefit it is to have a low, low mortgage payment and all the wonderful tax write-offs you will receive? Before you decide to buy now and pay later, that is pay “big time” later, take a moment to enlighten yourself a bit more about these so-called “interest only mortgages.” Think about it for a moment. If you just pay the interest on your home, will you ever start paying on principal and will you ever earn any equity into your property? By definition, a mortgage is a temporary, conditional pledge of property to a creditor as security for performance of an obligation or repayment of a debt. Simplified, that means you borrow money from a financial institution and they essentially buy your house and you pay it back. How can this happen if you’re just paying interest? More accurately, interest-only mortgages are a temporary reprieve for paying off a traditional mortgage. You may actually be prolonging the inevitable and eventually making it even more costly to pay off your mortgage. Far too many people are in debt way over their heads because of interest-only mortgages. They took advantage of attractive offers to buy now and pay later. With an interest only payment you’re keeping the principal at minimum value while continuing to pay interest at 100%. With a more conventional mortgage you’d be slowly dwindling down the total interest amount. Most interest-only payment schedules are offered on Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs), but they can also be found on a fixed rate mortgage. Interest-only payment periods almost never run for the entire term of the loan which is typically 15 or 30 years. Depending on the terms of your contract, you could be expected to start paying on the principal in five, seven or ten years. Once the interest-only period ends, your monthly payment will go up because then you’ll be paying on both principal and interest. Conversely, interest-only mortgages can be a good thing for some people. For those people wanting to purchase a bigger/better home for a lower down payment AND who anticipate moving within seven years, the interest-only payment method may be the way to go. However, keep in-mind that in a "down" realestate market you generally won’t be building equity and making money by doing it this way. The majority of the money made from investing in real estate comes from an increase in value to the home. The average person moves every seven years anyway. Gone are the days when people stay in a home thirty years. Hence, if you anticipate moving before you’ll have to start paying on the principal, then an interest-only payment may be ideal for you. There’s a great deal of fine print to any mortgage. Evaluate your own goals; be vigilant when reviewing the terms on the loan you’re considering before acting. Practicing Realistic Spending Get out of debt and stay out of debt, are words to live by for Editor Lisa Laskey and her family. "By the time I met the man who would become my future husband, I was in more debt than I could handle. After a few years together, my husband's thrifty ways and his parent's great financial modeling helped me learn the importance of living within our means and not planning to pay it off "next month." This may sound unexciting and not spontaneous to some, but it has gotten us through many lean years and insures that we will enjoy the extra income of the non-so-lean years."