How To Earn Some Extra Income

May 17, 2013 By

In these difficult economic conditions getting your hands on a little extra regular cash would be most welcome. But how can you do this? Well perhaps the most obvious solution is to get an additional part-time job. Having said that, the jobs market is not that great these days either and trying to hold down two jobs might seem exhausting to most people.

So are there any alternatives? The good news is that with the internet there are now a number of ways you can make a little extra cash, all from the comfort of your own home. All you need is a computer or a laptop and an internet connection. Here are a few suggestions that most people could implement pretty quickly:

Become a writer

Most internet marketers are crying out for good quality writers to produce content either for their website or for their marketing activities. If you have a certain facility with words, why not sign up as a writer with one of the many content creation services out there like iWriter or iNeed Articles? The rates of pay depend on the size of the article and your degree of expertise. If you are good, you will soon become more highly ranked. Most good writers can produce a number of 500 word articles each day and at anywhere from $2.00-$10.00 apiece, this could provide you with some decent extra income.

Join a micro jobs network

If you have a hidden talent – like writing – why not join a micro jobs site like Fiverr, Tenbux or one of the many clone sites out there? Check these sites out and you will be amazed at the variety of jobs that people will do. It could be something conventional like graphic design or SEO work, to the much more unusual such as young ladies writing messages on parts of their anatomy! The point is, there is almost certainly something that you can do that would interest people enough to buy from you. Build up a good reputation and this could provide a very healthy additional income stream.

Sell your hair

Yes you read that right! Did you know that there is a thriving marketplace to buy and sell hair? The hair is then used in hairpieces and wigs. If you have thick, lustrous and healthy hair, this could be a simple way to get a little extra cash quickly. And the beauty of it is that because your hair keeps growing, you can sell batches several times over the course of a year!

Filed Under: General, Money Saving Tips, Personal Finance

Should You Use a PPI Claims Company?

May 16, 2013 By

Financial experts are now estimating that the PPI claims industry is worth around 9 billion UK pounds a year.

With this in mind, if you are yet to claim back what you are rightfully owed, then don’t you think that it’s time you got yourself a piece of this lucrative pie?

Don’t feel sorry for the banks. They had no problem with taking money from innocent customers just like you, using illegal tactics to sell dodgy policies. Quite simply, this is your time for revenge, so don’t put it off another second.

One of the main questions many people have is “should I use a PPI claims company?” This is not a straight forward answer, as everybody has unique circumstances to take into account.

Basically, you have two main options when reclaiming PPI. You can go it alone by sending the bank a letter, or you can use a company such as ppitemplateletter.co to do everything for you.

The following tips should give you a clearer picture on which option is better for you…

Do you understand financial jargon?

If like the majority of the population you are not an expert in financial matters, and reading financial jargon is like trying to understand a foreign language, then going it alone may not be the best option for you.

By using a PPI claims company, you will be enlisting the services of financial experts who understand this industry inside and out.

This means they can get right to the heart of the matter and get your money as quickly as possible, instead of you having to spend months of your time getting to grips with the subject.

Are you prepared to give a percentage?

When you use a PPI claims company and they win your case, then expect to give a percentage of the money over to them. Obviously, they don’t work for free, which is why they need to compensated accordingly.

You need to decide whether you are prepared to give away a percentage of your money to one of these companies. If you decide to go it alone then you can keep every last penny, even if that means it takes you longer to get the money.

It’s worth noting that the majority of PPI claims companies work on a no win no fee basis, which means if they are unsuccessful in getting your money, then you don’t pay anything.

You should stay well away from companies that demand any kind of payment upfront, as this is typically a scam and there is a high chance you will never hear from them again.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

How to Get a Loan With a Low Credit Score

May 16, 2013 By

One of the main disadvantages of having a low credit score is that it severely hinders your chance of getting a loan. Not only that, but if you are fortunate enough to get a loan, you can expect to be paying interest rates that are well above the industry norm.

In the long-term, it’s a good idea to look at ways on how to improve credit score so you can become more appealing to lenders. However, if you are need of a loan urgently, then you should follow the tips below..

Look at payday loans

Sure, payday loans do carry high interest rates, but if you need cash urgently they are one of the easiest options available.

Quite possibly the main benefit of payday loans is that lenders do not run any kind of credit check when you apply for the loan. This means you can get accepted for the loan even when you have a low credit score.

Just make sure you pay the loan back on time, as late payment will result in extra fees and a higher interest rate, as well as a note of the situation being recorded on your credit file.

Use a broker

Looking for a loan but don’t know which way to turn? In this situation the best way forward might be to use a broker.

The main advantage of using a broker is that they normally have good relationships with many different lenders, meaning they should be able to arrange for you to get a bad credit loan without much hassle.

Consider a cosigner

While this option is not usually available to many people, it is still a viable way to get a loan when you have a low credit score.

Basically, a cosigner is someone with good credit credit that makes a joint application with you for the loan. This could be family member or good friend, or anybody else who is willing to accept responsibility for the loan.

Obviously, it can be a real challenge to find a cosigner, because if you don’t keep up with the repayments, then they become liable to pay back the loan.

Can you offer collateral?

If you are a homeowner, or you own any kind of property, then you stand a good chance of getting a secured loan from a bank or mainstream lender.

By offering collateral, you reduce the risk on the lenders part, which means they may be prepared to offer you a large loan even when your credit score is in poor standing.

Just be aware that getting this kind of loan does put you at risk, especially if you can’t keep up with the repayments, as the lender is then well within their rights to then take ownership of your house or property.

Image: Freedigitalphotos.net

Filed Under: General, Money Saving Tips, Personal Finance

Is That Loan Really Necessary?

May 15, 2013 By

Many people are struggling these days just to make end meets. The economy has been in a downward spiral almost five years now, the jobs position is precarious for many, and there seems to be little sign of light on the horizon.

The fallout from the credit crisis has left many people all around the country with very real worries about whether they will be able to pay their bills each month or in some cases put food on the table for their families. As a result the financial services landscape has changed dramatically and one of the most obvious of these changes can be seen in the barrage of TV adverts for loans from payday loan lenders.

These loans are the subject of huge controversy – some of the criticism of these products is undoubtedly merited, while some may simply be part of a knee-jerk reaction. Their main selling point is the speed and simplicity of application although there are signs that this may be about to change. If you are giving some thought to applying for a payday loan here are a few pointers to consider before making a final decision:

Short term use only

The main problem for people who apply for payday loans is that they fail for one reason or another to pay the loan back when it’s due. This can have crippling financial repercussions. The interest rates are extremely high on payday loans so they should only be used for short periods. If you do not pay them back on your next payday you will be faced with continuing interest charges as well as rollover fees as well.

Is it really urgent

When all is said and done, there are severalother ways to raise funds relatively quickly. You could apply for a personal loan or overdraft your bank, use your credit card or even look for a loan from your local credit agency. All of these options will be considerably less expensive than a payday loan. So, if things are not very urgent and you can afford to wait for a few days, why not exhaust these options first before considering a payday advance? And if you find yourself really in a fix you could even think about pawning some goods to get access to cash in a hurry.

Do not borrow too much

When it comes to payday advances, you can usually borrow anything from £50-£1000. If you have never taken out a payday loan before it makes sense to borrow the lowest amount that will allow you to get by. That way your interest charges will be kept to a minimum and if you end up struggling to repay the loan on the due date, the implications are likely to be less serious than if you had borrowed more.

Filed Under: Budgetting, Loans, Money Saving Tips, Personal Finance

Learning to Drive- An Absolute Essential or An Unnecessary Outlay?

May 15, 2013 By

In a time where we are all tightening our purse strings in order to stay afloat during an unsteady financial period, can you or your son or daughter really afford to learn how to drive and pay out for the additional expenses that will follow? On the other hand, perhaps you see being able to drive as a great attribute to have as it enables you to travel further afield without any real difficulty to get work.

Whichever stance you take, hopefully the following breakdown of the costs associated with learning to drive should help you make the decision of whether being able to drive is an absolute essential or an unnecessary financial outlay with things how they are at present;

Obtaining a Provisional Driving Licence

Before you start driving you need to apply for your provisional driving licence which, in the UK, will cost you £50. A provisional licence can be obtained three months before your 17th birthday and, on passing your practical driving test, will be upgraded to a full driving licence without any extra cost.

Cost of Driving Lessons

Whilst each driving school varies in relation to what they charge for each lesson, the average amount you can expect to pay is between £20 and £30 each time. Look out for discounts if you book a large number of lessons in one go and also for any reduced rates you can get for having a two hour lesson instead of the standard one hour.

Research completed by the Driving Standards Agency found that it takes the average learner driver 47 lessons to pass their practical test so if you were to say each lesson cost £25, you could expect to pay £1175 in order to get to the stage at which you could pass your test.

There are other options available to you which can work out cheaper, such as intensive driving courses that condense your learning down considerably, potentially completing six hours of driving a day, so you can get to the stage at which you can take your test far quicker. This does mean that you will have to pay out for learning to drive all in one go though as opposed to weekly like you would with standard lessons.

Complete Theory Test

Before you can even consider booking your practical driving test you need to complete and pass your theory test. Testing your knowledge of driving and the Highway Code in addition to studying your level of hazard perception, the theory test will set you back £31.

Practical Driving Test

Once you have passed your theory test and completed the number of lessons required to get you up the highest possible standard of driving, the next step is to book your practical driving test. A driving test in the UK will cost £62 on a weekday and rises to £75 if you wish to take your test on a weekday evening or weekend.

Most learner drivers will also use their driving instructor’s car to take the test in as they are familiar with it, which means you must include the cost of a lesson, which equates to the amount of time you use the car for your test, on top of this price. You may also decide to have a lesson for an hour before the test to sharpen up your skills and ask your instructor any last minute questions, which will then result in you having to pay for the equivalent of two lessons and the driving test for the day.

Costs After Passing

Whilst this post is designed to look at the costs associated with learning how to drive, it is important to be aware some of the costs you will have to pay once you have passed, which include the following;

• Cost of a New Car- After passing your practical test you will almost certainly want to get behind the wheel of your own car, so paying out for your first car is a cost to take into consideration.

• Cost of Insurance- Once you have your first car, you then need to insure it which won’t come cheap. Premiums are at their highest for new drivers so be sure to shop around to find an affordable policy that offers the level of cover you require.

• Cost of Running- You then of course need to consider the cost of running your car, with fuel prices particularly high at present and the need for tax and an annual MOT further expenses.

Hopefully this has given you a clearer breakdown of the costs associated with learning how to drive and has enabled you to make a decision on whether or not the time is right for you at present to start learning. There is absolutely no doubt though that being able to drive offers many benefits, from the independence it provides through to how positive holding a full driving licence will look in the eyes of a potential employer, so is now the time for you to get behind the wheel? Only you can answer that!

This post was written by Oliver Kyle for intensive driving school Learn Drive; if you are looking to pass your test in a short period of time and get behind the wheel of your own car, an intensive driving course could be just right for you.

Image: Freedigitalphotos.net

Filed Under: General, Personal Finance
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