cars - Cash Loans: Are They Worth the Cost?

It is a fact that sometimes, money is tight. Everyone will be in this situation at some stage in their life. They are in urgent need of funds to avoid bouncing checks or missing important payments. If you have a steady source of income, and you need money for only a short period of time, a cash loan, or paycheck advance may seem like an attractive option. But take care, as they are often a lot less attractive than they seem. Cash loans are for relatively small amounts and are very fast and easy to arrange. They are for very short periods but the rates of interest charged can be very hefty indeed. The whole loan can be arranged in minutes and typically involves presenting your paycheck or other security such as a car title. If the loan is approved you can walk out with a check or a transfer can be made instantly to your account. However, they are extremely expensive forms of credit. While most credit cards offer a grace period during which you can pay your bill and avoid interest charges, cash loans usually start charging interest immediately. There may also be a fee for arranging the loan and other charges. If you add this up, the interest rate will usually be shocking. Indeed, even the high rates of interest charged by credit card companies for taking out a cash advance may turn out to be significantly cheaper than cash loans. Luckily, there are alternatives to these cash loans. One such option is an overdraft on your current account. This will be provided by your bank and will have associated fees, but it means that you can spend up to an agreed amount more than you have in your account. While the charges and interest rates vary, they should work out cheaper than cash loans. Another option is to contact your creditors and try to negotiate an extension or rearrange your repayment schedule. Many lenders will be willing to work with you if you are having trouble keeping up with repayments. For example they may be willing to extend the period of the loan so that your monthly repayments are lower. Finally, if you do need to go for the cash loan, try to take out the bare minimum necessary to tie you over till your next pay check. Then, when you have the money, pay back the loan immediately. It is tempting to extend the cash loan but in the long run, the cost of this is not worth it. Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the loan information sites http://www.selectloans.co.uk/ and also http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk. At the Personal Loan Store you can find all the different Loan Types explained. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Kenny cars - How To Buy a Cheap Car You want to buy cheap car. To buy a good cheap car that you'll always be glad to have, you should know what to look for when you're looking at cars you're interested in and test driving them, then a few things we'll detail about cheap cars in general. Everyone knows you'd be a fool not to test drive every car you're interested in, but what should you be doing during the test drive? : unless you're experienced under the hood, the tests you'll perform yourself are probably going to be limited to giving the car a test drive and listening for any suspicious clangs, bangs, squeaks, or vibrations : make sure all paint colors match and that there aren't any suspicious-looking body parts or dents. These could all indicate an accident. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Pay attention to your gut : note how many miles the car has been driven; are you comfortable with that number? : checking the tires will let you know how soon you'll need to purchase new ones. Turn a penny so that Lincoln's head is upside down. Stick the penny in the groove of the tire tread. If you can still see the top of his head, it's time for new tires. Also look for objects stuck in the tires and check for valve leaks : turn the key to the first position and make sure all the warning lights come on. Then fully start the car to make sure all the warning lights go off : ask about taking the car to a shop for a quick inspection. An honest seller isn't going to deny you the chance to have the vehicle checked out by a professional : rust is bad, especially in parts of the car where you don't normally find it (underneath the car, on the wheels, etc.) : look for leaks of any kind under the car : notice any unusual noises and smoke from the tailpipe When you're test driving a car, pay attention to how easy it is to find the controls and how well the air, heat and defrost controls work. Do you feel comfortable behind the wheel? Adjust the seat to see how the car fits. Notice how the dashboard is set up. Do you like it? Can you see everything clearly and reach everything easily? This is not just for comfort, but for safety too. If you aren't comfortable with how the dashboard is arranged, cross that car off your list and test drive another one. Make sure the brakes feel new and that all the lights, fans, locks, windows and doors work properly. Inspect the outside of the car to make sure there aren't any dents or scratches. Look in the trunk, the back seat, glove compartment and other areas that are important to you. The car should start right away. Listen carefully for any noises that seem out of place. Notice how the engine performs when the car is on but not moving (especially in used cars). Test drive enough cars to make an intelligent decision on the one you want. Notice how they handle bumps, curves and acceleration onto the highway. It's important to test drive a car on both the highway and in residential areas. This will give the best idea of how the car will perform in short stops, changes in speed and when idling. Push the car a bit more than you would if you owned it. Accelerate faster, brake harder, turn corners more sharply. See what the car can and can't do, and how it feels as it's doing it. Most dealerships encourage this kind of test driving. Over-supply, low interest rates and easy credit make this a great time to buy cheap car. The "used" in used car used to mean "used up," but more people are trading in their used vehicles for new cars, leaving the used-car market with a glut of quality, pre-owned vehicles.