Dec
10
Filed Under Non Fiction | Leave a Comment
Mike Singh asked:
Are you looking into buying a car? Or refinancing an existing car loan? This article is an excellent starting point of your research. Lets roll …
You should begin by requesting your credit report and FICO score. These two in combination will give you an idea of how lenders view you. This helps answer the simple question ‘Credit-worthy or not?’. The higher your creditworthiness, the better interest rate you will get on your loan.
Its best to request copies from all three major credit bureaus. This is because you never know which report is favored by a lender. Also, this will help iron out any inconsistencies in these reports early in the process.
1) Equifax: PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374; www.equifax.com
2) Experian: PO Box 2002, Allen TX 75013, www.experian.com
3) TransUnion: PO Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022; www.transunion.com
The next thing to do is figure out the numbers that make sense for your situation. There are times when a 0% loan is on offer by the dealer. This is enticing in comparison to a 5% interest rate or higher. Before you jump on the deal, take another look at the offer. You could be in a better financial position by capitalizing on a cash rebate instead.
This will be clearer with an example of your monthly payment calculation.
In the event that you get a 36-month loan at 4% with a $2000 rebate, your payments (monthly) will be $30 lower. You would also save a little ove $1100 over the cost of the 0% loan. Always run the numbers. If you are a little math-phobic that’s okay. Use one of the many online loan calculators available.
Before you go car shopping, you should make arrangements for the financing. This approach has a number of advantages. This will help figure out your budget and how much the monthly payments you will have to make for a loan amount.
One point that people often overlook is that you have a advantage while negotiating the price with the dealer if you will get approved for the loan or not. Fairly often the dealer will take you up on the lower price if their financing offer is acceptable to you. As mentioned earlier, do the numbers before you go car shopping.
One tip regarding accepting dealer financing. If you think the offer is within your price range you can accept it. But nothing prevents you from refinancing the day after. There are costs associated with refinancing a loan. So, do take those into consideration when doing the math.
One added benefit of having researched financing options is advance is your increased ability in weeding out the bad deals. Sometimes you will get different offers on virtually identical cars at different dealerships. Since you have run through different numbers before you will be able to compare deals easily. Of course, do factor in the service you will receive post-purchase in your final buying decision.
Lastly, look at the advantages and disadvantages of leasing versus getting loan or even some other form of financing. For instance if you own your own place, a home equity loan or line of credit could give you access to cash at lower rates of interest.
In the beginning this may seem like a lot of work. But as you get more experience you will get more creative in your financing options being fully aware which ones save you the most money.
KRIS
Are you looking into buying a car? Or refinancing an existing car loan? This article is an excellent starting point of your research. Lets roll …
You should begin by requesting your credit report and FICO score. These two in combination will give you an idea of how lenders view you. This helps answer the simple question ‘Credit-worthy or not?’. The higher your creditworthiness, the better interest rate you will get on your loan.
Its best to request copies from all three major credit bureaus. This is because you never know which report is favored by a lender. Also, this will help iron out any inconsistencies in these reports early in the process.
1) Equifax: PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374; www.equifax.com
2) Experian: PO Box 2002, Allen TX 75013, www.experian.com
3) TransUnion: PO Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022; www.transunion.com
The next thing to do is figure out the numbers that make sense for your situation. There are times when a 0% loan is on offer by the dealer. This is enticing in comparison to a 5% interest rate or higher. Before you jump on the deal, take another look at the offer. You could be in a better financial position by capitalizing on a cash rebate instead.
This will be clearer with an example of your monthly payment calculation.
In the event that you get a 36-month loan at 4% with a $2000 rebate, your payments (monthly) will be $30 lower. You would also save a little ove $1100 over the cost of the 0% loan. Always run the numbers. If you are a little math-phobic that’s okay. Use one of the many online loan calculators available.
Before you go car shopping, you should make arrangements for the financing. This approach has a number of advantages. This will help figure out your budget and how much the monthly payments you will have to make for a loan amount.
One point that people often overlook is that you have a advantage while negotiating the price with the dealer if you will get approved for the loan or not. Fairly often the dealer will take you up on the lower price if their financing offer is acceptable to you. As mentioned earlier, do the numbers before you go car shopping.
One tip regarding accepting dealer financing. If you think the offer is within your price range you can accept it. But nothing prevents you from refinancing the day after. There are costs associated with refinancing a loan. So, do take those into consideration when doing the math.
One added benefit of having researched financing options is advance is your increased ability in weeding out the bad deals. Sometimes you will get different offers on virtually identical cars at different dealerships. Since you have run through different numbers before you will be able to compare deals easily. Of course, do factor in the service you will receive post-purchase in your final buying decision.
Lastly, look at the advantages and disadvantages of leasing versus getting loan or even some other form of financing. For instance if you own your own place, a home equity loan or line of credit could give you access to cash at lower rates of interest.
In the beginning this may seem like a lot of work. But as you get more experience you will get more creative in your financing options being fully aware which ones save you the most money.
KRIS
Feb
7
Bonnie Davis asked:
Been thinking that maybe it’s time to spread your writing wings a bit and pen something new? More specifically, you may be thinking about writing an article or several articles about a topic that is totally outside your usual subject area.
If you are, then Congratulations! This is a phase of the natural evolutionary process that writers experience … it simply means that you’re moving forward in your work. Writing articles about different subjects is an effective way of gaining even more exposure for yourself and your business.
Besides, marketing with articles doesn’t limit you to being an authority on only one topic. All you need to do choose a new subject area in which to focus your writing.
Sure, you can always hit the Search Engines and reap the return of hot keywords up for grabs … or, you can pick a topic off the top of your head … maybe something you heard on the news… some new-age subject or relatively obscure concept about which you can write, provided you can research it well enough to do a credible article.
Or, you can stick with what you know.
Huh? But you’re chomping at the bit to expand your writing into different areas. How is writing more about what you know going to offer a new challenge or more exposure for you?
As writers, we sometimes develop tunnel vision. In other words, we can’t see the actual forest for the proverbial trees. Writing what you know isn’t necessarily writing about the same subject.
That is, unless you only know that one topic about which you’ve been writing articles.
Lucky for you… you’re a walking encyclopedia!
Sure you are, take a stroll through your own variegated alphabet of personal interests, those beyond your professional and/or career knowledge. You’ll be surprised to realize that there are several subjects for which you already have the knowledge and expertise to produce incredible articles.
A airplanes - antiques - aquariums - art - autos B ballet - baseball - birds - boating - building C camping - cats - coins - cooking - crafts D dancing - dating - decorating - dining - dolls E ecology - eclipses - electronics - environment -ethics F fencing - fishing - fitness - folksongs - figure-skating G gardening - genealogy - golf - graphics - gymnastics H hardware - history - hobbyhorses, hockey, hunting I imaging - inns - insects - inspiration - investing J java script - jazz - jewelry - jogging - jujitsu K kayaking - keyboards - kids - kiting - knitting L languages- lanterns - lapidary - laptops - lithography M magic - martial arts - movies - museums - music N nature - nightclubs - nostalgia - numerology - nuts O occasions - ornaments - organization - outdoors - outfits P painting - pets - picnics - photography - puzzles Q quartz - quatrains - quiches - quilting - quotes R racing - racquetball - recipes - retirement - robotics S snorkeling - skiing - software - stenciling - swimming T theatre - toys - trading cards - travel - trucks U UFO’s - umpiring - unicycles - urbanism - utilities V vacations - vases - veterans - videos - vineyards W wallpapering - waltzes - weight-lifting - wines - woodworking X xenophobia - xylophone - x-ray astronomy Y yachting - yard designs - yoga - yo-yo’s - yodeling Z zip files - zodiac - zoos - zoom lenses
It’s okay if you don’t see one of your particular interests or hobbies in the above list. In fact, that’s even better.
Now, this is where you get to carve out your niche for writing articles. The hobbies and interests listed aren’t meant to limit you, they’re meant to inspire you!
Airplanes for A may not have struck a cord with you, but now auto’s that’s a different story. You’ve been into classic cars for as long as you can remember. There’s your niche!
If the b in ballet stands for boring as far as you’re concerned, consider what it means to you in building. Yes, you, the one who’s always sporting a carpenter’s apron and hammer every Saturday. Another niche nailed down!
Moving right along to the letter C, scratch the cats-coins-and-crafts and that’s your category. Camping is one of your passions. And when it comes to cooking you grill a mean steak, if you do say so yourself. But wait… that comes under G for grilling. How about combining it with outdoors from O and recipes from R? Looks like you’ve cooked up your own niche article ideas in Outdoors + Grilling + Recipes = Savory Campsite Cuisine. You could do an entire series of articles on that topic!
As a writer, it’s essential to remain genuine in order to be effective. Writing about what you know and on subjects about which you are truly passionate is one of the best ways to distinguish yourself. It’s the feeling that comes through naturally as you write about certain topics, which is apparent to the reader and reflects you as an authority.
While research is indeed a part of writing, it does have its place. Hours invested in research will never replace what is written from within. If a subject is not in your heart, it will never be in your head … and certainly not in your writing.
Call it old-school or back-to-basics, but being genuine is what separates real writers from those who are merely content generators. Unplug for a while to rediscover your own true interests and passions, but keep a pen and paper handy. A breath of creative fresh air breeds countless intriguing ideas… you can rely on your collective notes and inspirations when you return to your keyboard. Rest assured … they will serve your writing well!
(c) 2006, Davis Virtual Assistance.
GUY
Been thinking that maybe it’s time to spread your writing wings a bit and pen something new? More specifically, you may be thinking about writing an article or several articles about a topic that is totally outside your usual subject area.
If you are, then Congratulations! This is a phase of the natural evolutionary process that writers experience … it simply means that you’re moving forward in your work. Writing articles about different subjects is an effective way of gaining even more exposure for yourself and your business.
Besides, marketing with articles doesn’t limit you to being an authority on only one topic. All you need to do choose a new subject area in which to focus your writing.
Sure, you can always hit the Search Engines and reap the return of hot keywords up for grabs … or, you can pick a topic off the top of your head … maybe something you heard on the news… some new-age subject or relatively obscure concept about which you can write, provided you can research it well enough to do a credible article.
Or, you can stick with what you know.
Huh? But you’re chomping at the bit to expand your writing into different areas. How is writing more about what you know going to offer a new challenge or more exposure for you?
As writers, we sometimes develop tunnel vision. In other words, we can’t see the actual forest for the proverbial trees. Writing what you know isn’t necessarily writing about the same subject.
That is, unless you only know that one topic about which you’ve been writing articles.
Lucky for you… you’re a walking encyclopedia!
Sure you are, take a stroll through your own variegated alphabet of personal interests, those beyond your professional and/or career knowledge. You’ll be surprised to realize that there are several subjects for which you already have the knowledge and expertise to produce incredible articles.
A airplanes - antiques - aquariums - art - autos B ballet - baseball - birds - boating - building C camping - cats - coins - cooking - crafts D dancing - dating - decorating - dining - dolls E ecology - eclipses - electronics - environment -ethics F fencing - fishing - fitness - folksongs - figure-skating G gardening - genealogy - golf - graphics - gymnastics H hardware - history - hobbyhorses, hockey, hunting I imaging - inns - insects - inspiration - investing J java script - jazz - jewelry - jogging - jujitsu K kayaking - keyboards - kids - kiting - knitting L languages- lanterns - lapidary - laptops - lithography M magic - martial arts - movies - museums - music N nature - nightclubs - nostalgia - numerology - nuts O occasions - ornaments - organization - outdoors - outfits P painting - pets - picnics - photography - puzzles Q quartz - quatrains - quiches - quilting - quotes R racing - racquetball - recipes - retirement - robotics S snorkeling - skiing - software - stenciling - swimming T theatre - toys - trading cards - travel - trucks U UFO’s - umpiring - unicycles - urbanism - utilities V vacations - vases - veterans - videos - vineyards W wallpapering - waltzes - weight-lifting - wines - woodworking X xenophobia - xylophone - x-ray astronomy Y yachting - yard designs - yoga - yo-yo’s - yodeling Z zip files - zodiac - zoos - zoom lenses
It’s okay if you don’t see one of your particular interests or hobbies in the above list. In fact, that’s even better.
Now, this is where you get to carve out your niche for writing articles. The hobbies and interests listed aren’t meant to limit you, they’re meant to inspire you!
Airplanes for A may not have struck a cord with you, but now auto’s that’s a different story. You’ve been into classic cars for as long as you can remember. There’s your niche!
If the b in ballet stands for boring as far as you’re concerned, consider what it means to you in building. Yes, you, the one who’s always sporting a carpenter’s apron and hammer every Saturday. Another niche nailed down!
Moving right along to the letter C, scratch the cats-coins-and-crafts and that’s your category. Camping is one of your passions. And when it comes to cooking you grill a mean steak, if you do say so yourself. But wait… that comes under G for grilling. How about combining it with outdoors from O and recipes from R? Looks like you’ve cooked up your own niche article ideas in Outdoors + Grilling + Recipes = Savory Campsite Cuisine. You could do an entire series of articles on that topic!
As a writer, it’s essential to remain genuine in order to be effective. Writing about what you know and on subjects about which you are truly passionate is one of the best ways to distinguish yourself. It’s the feeling that comes through naturally as you write about certain topics, which is apparent to the reader and reflects you as an authority.
While research is indeed a part of writing, it does have its place. Hours invested in research will never replace what is written from within. If a subject is not in your heart, it will never be in your head … and certainly not in your writing.
Call it old-school or back-to-basics, but being genuine is what separates real writers from those who are merely content generators. Unplug for a while to rediscover your own true interests and passions, but keep a pen and paper handy. A breath of creative fresh air breeds countless intriguing ideas… you can rely on your collective notes and inspirations when you return to your keyboard. Rest assured … they will serve your writing well!
(c) 2006, Davis Virtual Assistance.
GUY