Archive for the ‘Credit’ Category

Trading In An Old Car Can Cost You

Friday, March 12th, 2010

The car is probably one of the biggest money drains people waste their hard earned sweat on. Suppose there is a new car you want and an old one you want to get rid of. The dealer offers you the new one for $22,500 less $6000 for your old one in trade. You figure you can’t do much better, but you may be wrong.

In the first place, it’s very little trouble to put a three line ad in your local paper offering your old car for $8500. You might sell it for that yourself. In the second place you might get that new car for $20,000 cash if you try. If you trade you will lay out $16,500 and have anew car. If you sell and buy you will lay out only $14,000 and have the same new car.

How did you make that $2500 extra? By going to a little trouble. The dealer, you see, has to make an investment in that old jalopy of yours and take a chance on selling it. If you do it yourself he doesn’t mind. You might very well scare up more cash for it and he doesn’t mind getting cash instead of the trade-in. Try it. Cash is powerful!

The same thing applies to other items, particularly small boats, The dealer will take your old one in a trade, but if you sell it yourself at the beginning of the season you might very well get more for it. Just remember that when you accept the dealer’s offer of a trade-in, he is only using that as a sales device. He rarely makes money on the used item.

He has to make an investment in it; to store and repair it; then to sell it in a separate transaction requiring more bookkeeping. He has to consider all that in the deal he makes you. Remember this also: no experienced dealer will ever pay you more than something is worth. A less knowledgeable buyer just might.

Incidentally, if you do trade in your old car for a new one be sure that the contract states exactly what the trade-in price is AND THAT IT WILL REMAIN THE SAME between the time of making the deal and the delivery of the new car.

What’s more, don’t turn your old car over to the dealer, not even the registration, until you have the new car in hand and it belongs to you.

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Bankruptcy in Massachusetts

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Times are generally tough for one group of people or another and it really doesn’t matter what the overall economic situation is in the country. Chances are, there are people out there — in Massachusetts and everywhere else — who are considering bankruptcy as an option to deal with their financial troubles. Well, in the Bay State, what to know about bankruptcy in Massachusetts can be important no matter the economy.

In 2005, the federal laws governing bankruptcy across the nation were revised in certain ways. Each state also has exemptions on the books that help to deal with differences in a state’s laws and Massachusetts is no different. Congress passed a series of changes to bankruptcy procedures (25 of them, to be exact), so keep that in mind when considering bankruptcy as an option to deal with financial ills.

Bay State residents can expect several different exemptions that revolve around the exclusion of certain property, for the most part. It’s hard to put down exactly when might be the right time to file for bankruptcy, just as there are no definites when it comes to what can be included and what can be excluded from a filing. As was said, there are many different reasons for why people file, with home foreclosure and job loss be two of the biggest ones.

Whatever the reason for filing might be, it’s also smart to understand that there are two different kinds that can be filed for in Massachusetts and every other state; Chapter 7 (sometimes called “clean slate” or “liquidation” bankruptcy) and Chapter 13 (sometimes called “Wage Earner Bankruptcy”). The kind of bankruptcy option that should be selected depends on what’s trying to be done on the part of the filer in accordance with bankruptcy laws.

Chapter 7 is the most popular (if that’s the word to use) form of bankruptcy that most people file for when they’re looking for a fresh start or a clean slate. Today, this form of bankruptcy will require a means test and a hearing to determine if the petitioner meets the criteria for Chapter 7. Once it’s approved, all but exempt assets will be sold off and then creditors paid off. Chapter 13 is a reorganization and then a set payment schedule.

All bankruptcy in Massachusetts procedures have their genesis with the filing of an official bankruptcy petition to the federal bankruptcy court. A statement of financial affairs is provided to the court along with a schedule of actions to be taken in order to proceed. There’s a $299 filing fee for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which is the most common form. It’s probably best to take on an experienced bankruptcy lawyer before proceeding, though.

Facing the prospect of bankruptcy in Massachusetts can be scary. It’s important that you have confidence in your decisions and an experienced bankruptcy attorney MA can help guide you down the right path.

Arranging, Fun Tips And Meditations On Spending Money For Holiday

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Learning to control Spending Money For Holiday is essential to your good time away from home.

- Fun. Because your vacation is for pleasure, you will want to be sure to have enough money to play with. -

If you are going to gamble at a casino, you will need money to throw away, so to speak. Unless, of course, you win. Then you will want to walk away with your new found money. If you are visiting friends on holiday, you will want to bring a gift, or perhaps something to share with a meal, like a bottle of wine. Make sure you have enough for these extra spending times.

If you intend to shop in Paris, or London, you will want to have a lot of play money. The fashion centers of the world await you, so you will not want to skimp in their shops. Rather you will want to return home after your vacation having bought something absolutely stunning. But try to keep some of that fun money for other types of fun, like cocktails and shows, perhaps.

- Organization. Your money should be organized so that you have ample funds for the necessary things while on holiday. -

For transportation you will need separate cash, especially if buses take exact change, or you want to tip the taxi driver. And the meals will be extra, including tips, which are always appreciated. Be sure to know what the recommended rate for tipping is for the area. And room service may not have been accounted for, either, also along with the tip. Of course, if you use a credit card for everything, it is easier. But it is also easier to go overboard and lose track of your spending. Perhaps it would be better to have one credit card for shopping and gambling, and another for transportation, meals, and hotel.

- Emergency. Stuff happens. Be prepared. -

Even if just in the back of your mind, it is wise to put aside emergency funds in case of a mishap. Indeed disasters even happen to unfortunate vacationers. Hopefully, nothing serious will happen while you are visiting away from home. But if it did, you would be happy to have excess emergency funds available, just in case. These funds could be in the form of a separate credit card that is only used for this purpose. It could be additional insurance. Or it can simply be cash that is not touched, unless needed in the event of a disaster.

Getting back to a great vacation, keep these Tips on Spending Money For Holiday with you.

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