Categories
Fast Loans

Discover The Fastest Ways to Repay Loans

Paying your loans off in small amounts can be easier on the wallet in the short term, but in the long run, you’ll end up spending more and being burdened with debt for longer.

Learn the fastest ways to repay loans below and reap the benefits!

Here are some tips for paying back your loan faster

1. Pay more

If you can afford it, make larger monthly payments to pay off the principal more quickly.

For example, a $2500 fast loan with 6.8 % interest and a 10-year payback period would cost $28.8 a month. Making $70 monthly payments instead of $28.8 enables you to repay the fast loan in just over 36 months.

By paying the principal more quickly, you will also pay less on interest.

2. Make additional payments

The less you owe, the less interest that you will be charged. By budgeting effectively or receiving a bonus from work, you may be able to make additional payments to your fast loan.

3. Create a clear plan

Creating a clear plan is one of the simplest and fastest ways to repay loans.

  1. Start by understanding exactly when your loans will end or if it’s a credit card, then check the current balance.
  2. Next, create a goal to pay it off within a specific period of time. You’ll need to understand exactly how much money to put aside each week to achieve this.
  3. Commit to your plan and you’ll have a clear pathway to becoming debt free ahead.

Make it a routine to pay it off monthly. If you’re facing difficulty in coming up with the monthly payments, create a budget and cut back on your expenses. This way, you can lift your debt obligations off your shoulder faster than ever.

4. Automate savings

Automatically transferring money into alternative accounts is a great way to save extra cash. Rather than spending money on trivial things such as movie tickets or unhealthy meals, automatic payments can help you set aside that extra cash to pay off your debt. 

Make sure you will only use that account to repay your fast loans and other types of debt. This will require sacrifice in certain areas, but it will ensure you are one step closer to financial freedom.

Hide your credit card in a safe place

Don’t be a victim of credit card theft. With easy access to your credit cards via pay pass; strangers who have access to a lost credit card can easily tap on purchases less than $100. Keep your credit card securely in your wallet. If you lend your card to friends or family, make sure you keep track of any transactions online.

Keep your phone in your pocket. 

The same rule applies to your mobile phone. With the rise of Apple Pay, you can purchase your transactions through your mobile phone. Make sure that you keep your phone locked with a passcode so that strangers cannot make any payments without facial recognition or a passcode.

5. Close some credit cards

Having them in your wallet may tempt you to spend more. Leave only the low-interest credit cards for your urgent needs.

6. Consolidate your debts

One of the best ways of ensuring that you continue to pay off your loan quickly is to consolidate your debts into one neat and tidy bundle. This will also protect you against the rising interest rates across different loans. This will benefit you in the long run; whilst making it easier to manage your debts.

7. Be proactive by increasing your income

Earning cash while dealing with your debts is a good way to stay proactive about overcoming debts. You don’t only generate wealth to pay for your loans; you also build your nest egg. If you can put away $100 every month out of your income, that would be $1,200 in annual savings.

At the Australian Lending Centre, we can clear debt management plans to help you move towards a financially secure life. It takes discipline and planning, but you can surely do it.

Contact Australian Lending Centre to get back on track. 

Categories
Debt Consolidation

Is Debt Consolidation better than Bankruptcy?

When you have a lot of debts with different interest rates, the first thing you will think of is debt consolidation. However, there are certain situations when debt consolidation doesn’t make the cut and other options seem more feasible. Is bankruptcy one of them?

We will compare two financial services—debt consolidation and bankruptcy—and see which one is better for your situation. Note that before you request these types of financial services, you will need to contact an expert to get an idea of what to expect and whether it is a good idea.

Debt Consolidation

Debt consolidation is a great tool you can use to save money and leave your credit rating unaffected. Debt consolidation will transform all your debt payments into one payment. This method’s idea is to lower the monthly payment and interest rate.

You can consolidate your debts through a secured or an unsecured loan. This service requires a certain fee but in the end, you might save more money than before, and you will regain control over your finances.

Here are the pros of Debt Consolidation:

  • Your credit rating and reputation are protected. Your credit score won’t be affected, and you won’t be bankrupt, meaning that your financial status won’t be made public. Bankruptcy records are easy to find and view, and this kind of reputation can affect your future financial endeavours.
  • You can simplify your debts. This means that you will focus on one payment with one interest rate, but you will also get to pay every debt in one go. In other words, you will no longer have to worry about missing a payment or paying it later than usual and suffering the penalties.
  • Unlike other services, debt consolidation will also let you keep your credit cards.

Cons of Debt Consolidation:

While debt consolidation is an excellent method of regaining control over your debts and economy, you could end up paying more in hidden fees and even lose the property. Here are some things to consider:

  • Hidden costs: Many people don’t consider the loan term. When you apply for debt consolidation, you will pay less every month and have a lower interest rate, but the loan term will be increased. If you stay in debt for an extended period, you may end up losing more money in the long run.
  • Losing property: If you default on your loan, you can lose your car or even your house. Depending on the agreement you signed with your lender, you might end up losing a lot more than just money if you default on your consolidation loan.

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy should only ever be considered as a very last resort. You can eliminate certain debts when filing for bankruptcy. Here are a couple of positive things that bankruptcy brings:

  • When you file for bankruptcy, the creditors cannot harass you or take legal action against you. That means that you also are protected against foreclosures or repossessions.
  • Back to square one: Bankruptcy will eliminate most of your debts, and you can get a fresh start. Depending on your financial situation, you can even keep your car and home and pay them at a reduced rate.

The Negatives of Bankruptcy

Like any other financial service, bankruptcy has negative factors that you need to consider before applying. Here are a couple of things you should check:

  • Credit rating: Your credit rating will be lowered depending on the type of bankruptcy you apply for and your situation. Your credit report will show the bankruptcy for anywhere from seven to ten years. Of course, you may already have bad credit, seeing that you owe a lot of money and are bankrupt because of it.
  • You can have a fresh start once you receive your bankruptcy discharge, but until then, you will have trouble with lenders and other financial institutions.
  • Your reputation: Your employer or people who are associated with you business-wise can easily discover bankruptcy.
  • Financial sacrifices: You will have to sell your possessions if you want to be eligible for bankruptcy.

In the End

So, is debt consolidation better than bankruptcy? It really depends on your situation and what you want to achieve, but yes. Debt consolidation is a financial solution that can have a positive impact on your life, whereas bankruptcy comes with serious drawbacks.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of debt consolidation call us on 1300 138 188 or visit the Australian Lending Centre for expert advice.

Categories
Debt Consolidation

What To Do if Your Debt Consolidation Application Is Declined

Debt consolidation can help us out of an unpleasant financial situation. Even so, we rely too much on these types of financial services to get back on our feet and rarely do we learn our lesson.

But what happens if your request for debt consolidation is denied?

It can be a nightmare for your finances and can slowly turn into a storm of debts. Is there a solution when such a request is denied? Let’s find out:

What Do You Plan to Achieve?

Debt consolidation is used to gather all debts into a single one with one interest rate and a one-time payment per month. It can make a difference in the long run, and you won’t have to pay a huge interest rate. So, this service is something to look for if you are having troubles paying your debt.

What You Should Do If Your Debt Consolidation Application Is Declined

The first thing you should do is not panic. You can still do a lot more to save your money. Ask your lender why your request was denied. Was it because of bad credit? Was it because you have too many defaults? When you get that information, try to change some elements from your credit file.

For example, if you have bad credit, start paying your debts. If that isn’t enough, go to a credit repair service. Maybe the request for debt consolidation was refused because the lender saw your income and thought that you are a risk for him. Talk to him, bring evidence and convince him that this is not the case.

other-options

Other Options

You can apply for a loan to help you out with an emergency or pay some debts. You can also request a home loan repayment arrangement if you are in financial difficulty.

Saved by a friend – guarantors

A guarantor can help your situation. Thanks to him/her, you can increase your borrowing power. Your request for a loan can get accepted if you find a guarantor with a clean credit history. While it may seem tempting to get a big loan, now that you have a guarantor helping you, it’s best to borrow within a certain limit.

Failing to do so can result in other future debts, and next time there will be no guarantor to help you. And you will also get him/her into trouble too. So please, analyse your spending habits, your income and how much you can borrow.

Talk to a credit counsellor

I know you are short of money. But do not worry, since there are plenty of places where you can find free counselling sessions. And in situations like this, the advice is always welcomed.

During a counselling meeting, you will explain to the expert the situation you are in and what you are looking to achieve. Feel free to ask him or her all the questions that come to your mind and also, offer all the information needed to assess your financial problems. Some details might be more important than you think.

The credit counsellor will offer you some advice and options according to your financial situation, and all you have to do is choose the one that suits your needs and possibilities better.

budget-living

Live on a budget

A simpler solution that does not involve making other debts is educating yourself to live on a budget; at least until you get rid of some of your debts and become trustworthy again in the eyes of the banks. Make a plan for your expenses and set limits. It is essential that you stick to that plan, or all your work would have been in vain.

Take advantage of your assets

Another method you can use is taking advantage of your assets. Depending on your debt and the assets you own, you can find this option very flexible. For example, selling your car can help you control some of your debts, and you’ll have a chance to apply for a loan.

If your debts are more serious, you may have to sell your house. You will cover all your debts and still have some money left so you can start over. But this is entirely up to you and your situation. If selling does not appeal to you, you could get another mortgage in case you already have one.

Final Thoughts

So, whenever your application for debt consolidation gets declined, you will be prepared if you keep these tips in mind. For more information, you may contact us for a free consultation and advice. We may be able to offer you that debt consolidation service that you need so much, or at least some tips on how to fix this problem. Check out our offers, stay positive and your problems will get fixed in no time. Call us now on 1300 138 188.

Categories
News

Variable-Based Tips On How To Manage Your Debt

If you’re planning to get a new loan, but you’re not sure if you can repay it on time, here are tips on how to effectively manage your debt, based on 2 financial variables.

Financial success does not depend on the amount of money you have but on specific strategies that apply to your situation. Whether you will use the funds for personal or business purposes-increasing your cash flow is still vital to a successful debt management plan. Debts may increase or decreases depending on your strategy, in the same way as your spending habits influence your cash flow.

You cannot just say that you are going to pay back your debts without some detailed strategy.

The first thing that you can do to manage your debt is to improve the variables that eventually determine your financial capacity to repay. Improving these 3 variables about your debts you will increase cash flow and pay off your debts and improve your finances.

Earnings

How much is your after-tax net income? What about your after-debt repayment income? When computing your free-money, look into your debt to income ratio first.

Your debt income ratio refers to a certain percentage of your monthly gross income that you use to pay debts. It has two classifications: The front-end ratio, or the percentage of income you use to pay for your mortgage, rent, property taxes and other similar housing costs. Second, the back-end ratio, which is the percentage of your income that you pay for all your personal loan and credit card payments and other recurring debt payments, including those covered by the front-end ratio. As long as it is recurring debt, it is still covered by the back-end ratio.

To calculate your debt-to-income ratio, add up all your monthly debt payments. Divide that number by your current monthly income. Get the percentage by multiplying the result by 100. Let’s say if you spend $1000 each month on debt and have a monthly income of $4,000, your debt to income ratio would be 25%.

Increasing your income and at the same time paying your debts can help you lower your debt to income ratio, giving you higher free cash for your other needs. You can also increase your debt payment to quickly pay off your debts until you achieve a zero-debt ratio.

Financial satisfaction

Are you satisfied with your present financial situation? Or, do you find it difficult to meet your monthly payments on your bills?

How much money is enough and well-enough for you? What might be enough to pay all your debts may not be well enough to sustain your lifestyle, pay for your emergency and daily needs and invest for the future. Or, it could be sufficient for you as long as you plan your budget wisely.  Decide how much might be enough for you and your family if you have one to know what number you should definitely try to reach.

Discover more tips on how to manage your debt by talking to our in-house loan experts at Australian Lending Centre today!

Categories
Debt Consolidation

When Is a Debt Consolidation Loan Feasible?

Debt consolidation loans are meant to pack multiple small loans into one that is more manageable. It is one of the most common forms of debt relief. However, not many people seem to know when a debt consolidation loan is feasible.

There are some things you must take into consideration when you’re tempted to amass your loans into one.

So when is a debt consolidation loan feasible?

  1. When you pay extremely high-interest rates

Credit cards, usually, have the highest interest rates. When you need to pay a lot of interest, the debt is growing at an alarming pace, faster than you can repay it. Debt consolidation loans, on the other hand, might offer you better interest rates altogether. If you pay more than you can afford in interest, you should definitely consider a consolidation loan.

  1. An endless number of bills

Getting tons of bills can make it so easy to forget to pay a certain debt. You simply cannot keep track of everything. A consolidation loan is feasible if you’re in such a situation since you’ll be receiving just one bill until you’ve dissolved your debt. This will automatically lead to better management of your time and money.

  1. When the loan is unsecured

If a loan is “unsecured,” it means that it is not attached to any of your assets, like your house and car. Secured ones are certainly not a good idea because if you fail to repay the debt, you could get homeless or devoid of the asset you’ve secured the loan on. Try to stay away from secured loans at all times. It’s just better to find another way to pay your debt without risking your house as collateral.

  1. When you’re willing to repay for a longer time

Debt consolidation loans allow you to pay less than you paid on your previous debts, but that means that the repayment is going to take longer. Are you willing to do that? This can be a hassle for some people who want to get it over with as fast as possible. Still, if you have no problem with that, then you should consider taking such a loan.

  1. When you don’t end up paying more interest

Yes, it is possible to end up paying more interest on a consolidation debt than you would’ve paid for all the other separate loans. Surely, that will impact your credit score if you fail to pay. And before you know it, your credit rating will be so damaged that you will find it even harder to get another loan in the future.

Debt consolidation loans can truly be a great help, but you must know when you need them. Moreover, there are many other aspects that come into play, like the ones mentioned above. So, review your situation thoroughly before you take such a debt consolidation loan because it can have disastrous consequences if you go for it lightheartedly.

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Categories
Debt Consolidation

Are You Falling for these Debt Consolidation Traps?

Do you feel burdened by several credit card debts and other outstanding loans and you think debt consolidation could provide some serious relief? Debt consolidation is a new loan that allows you to pay off your multiple balances in one monthly payment. It doesn’t erase all your debts but simply makes it easier for you to repay. So, if you want to have a clean slate for keeps, make sure that you don’t fall into these debt consolidation traps:

Ignoring the cause of your debt problems.

Debt consolidation helps people manage the repercussions of bad debts. But it is just a temporary solution to your problem. Addressing the root cause of your debts, such as your lifestyle, money-management issues and other related things can help you analyze why you sunk in debt and how you can get out of it.

It is important to ask yourself, “What got me into a pile of debt?” Remember that it takes a while before debts become unmanageable. It is almost impossible to come up with a quick solution to internal debt issues when you fail to see where and how it started.

Debts did not grow overnight so unless you come up with a concrete idea with what got you into a financial mess, the same situation is likely to repeat itself.

Australian Lending Centre has in-house professionals to help you in retracing your financial actions. We can help you with our debt management plan and debt consolidation loans to deal with your present debts as we help you identify your spending habits.

Perhaps you were taking high-interest loans without knowing it or you are not paying your loans right. In other cases, the problem could be as simple as forgetting the due dates or the existence of debts itself.

Not making a proactive effort in searching for the best consolidation loan.

Here are some factors that you need to consider when choosing a loan consolidation program:

    • all of your outstanding debts
    • interest rates
    • lenders’ willingness to negotiate a lower rate
    • consolidation options

Consolidating debts has its own implications. Some lenders offer rates and fees that creep up over time. Others will charge you hefty fees that may put your assets in line in exchange of deceiving interest rates.

Australian Lending Centre gives you different options to pay for your debts. If you want to pay a lump sum to settle all your debts for less than what you actually owe, we can help you do that. You can also talk to us about our debt management program and see whether or not it can work for you. A debt management plan usually involves making an agreement with your creditors to consolidate the full amount of your loans. The negotiation is successful if you get lower interest rates or longer repayment period.

Thinking that you are finally out of debt.

Debt consolidation is still a loan. While you no longer have to deal with angry collection calls and you are not pestered with high-interest credit card bills, you cannot go back to your old habits. One of the big debt consolidation traps is forgetting he your debt problems were caused in the first place. Avoid falling back to maxing out your credit cards once again. Don’t give in to the temptation of charging all of your credit cards with zero balances once again, especially if there is no urgent need to do so.

Bear in mind that you still have a substantial amount of outstanding debt. So, if you cannot close most of your credit cards leave them at home and put only your low-charging credit cards in your wallet for emergencies.

Call us today!

Categories
Budgeting

How to Save Money on Family Holiday Trips

If you’re a full-time worker, going on holiday is the best solution to just get away from it all. But sometimes going on holidays can also be stressful if you don’t have enough money or if you’re worried about spending while you’re on holiday if you’re on a tight budget.

Fear not! If you want to save money while on holiday trip with your family, here are a few useful tips on how to do just that. Follow these simple steps on how to save money during a holiday trip with your family.

How to Save Money on Holidays

  1. Bring toys – Keep your kids behave by bringing small toys, books or gadgets to keep them busy. This way, there is no need for you to stop by at a convenience store to buy overpriced toys.
  2. Snacks & Drinks – Pack bread, chips, sandwich, and ready to eat foods. You don’t need to bring too much but you can save money by at least bringing snacks. Candies and energy bars cost higher if bought from convenience stores.
  3. Charger – Bring power banks, chargers, connectors so you don’t have to pay extra for charging fees. You can also bring extra batteries if you have.
  4. Sanitary kits – Vendo machines are everywhere. Save money by bringing your own sanitary napkin, tissue, etc. Bring wipes, sanitizers to avoid mess.
  5. Drinks – Bring soft bottled water so you can refill it from taps. You may also want to pack fruit juices, sodas, milk or bottled water to keep you hydrated.
  6. Travel tour offers – Go online and see what the latest travel offers are. Ticket price may change depending on the season.
  7. Hotel and Restaurant – Check the rates and freebies. Is there a free WiFi, or free breakfast? Some hotel packages may offer free spa and other freebies so don’t be afraid to ask of what’s included in the package. Remember that your goal is to save money. You can take advantage of the hotel’s amenities without paying extra charges.
  8. Travel with other relatives – The more the merrier. Travelling with your other relatives or with another family may have an advantage. This is ideal if you prefer to stay in a house for rent. The fee is fixed so the more relatives you bring the rate becomes smaller because you divide it per head.

Travelling with your family is not so expensive at all if you learn how to consider other cheap options. You can save money by following the above simple steps. Travelling is no longer a form of luxury these days so it is also a great way to economise with your family while you’re all on holidays.

Holidays are the best time to bond and bring the family closer. Why not go on a holiday with these easy tips so you can enjoy some time off and save money at the same time?

Categories
Business Consolidation Loans Business Loans

Business Debt Rising

While there has been signs of business recovery in wake of the GFC, don’t be fooled into thinking that all businesses are out of the woods.

Recent data from the Australian Bankers’ Association, ASIC and the credit brokers show that there’s another wave of bad debts, administrations and insolvencies pending in small business land.

ASIC’s latest data on companies entering external administration for February 2010, was 827 which was higher than 2009 at 796 – with company insolvencies hitting 1159 nationally.