https://www.3clickloan.com Cash in a click Wed, 11 Mar 2015 23:57:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 https://www.3clickloan.com/the-collateral-battle-unsecured-personal-loans-versus-car-title-loans/ https://www.3clickloan.com/the-collateral-battle-unsecured-personal-loans-versus-car-title-loans/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Brad Simpson Unsecured Personal Loans car title loans cash title loans unsecured personal loans http://www.clicknloan.com/?p=251 <p>Before you make the decision between unsecured personal loans or car title loans, it’s important to compare their benefits and drawbacks, as well as understand why collateral plays such a pivotal role in these borrowing choices.</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/the-collateral-battle-unsecured-personal-loans-versus-car-title-loans/">The Collateral Battle: Unsecured Personal Loans versus Car Title Loans</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> <p>Among the gamut of borrowing options, alternative lending choices may be the quickest to catch a consumer’s eye. Not only are they fast, but they don’t require a lot from a borrower upfront.</p> <p>However, if you look beyond the surface of their instant accessibility you may see more red flags than green lights to move forward with a short-term secured option, like a title loan. By contrast, an unsecured personal loan may require a few more hurdles, but end up costing you less over the long-term.</p> <p>Before you make the decision between unsecured personal loans or car title loans, it’s important to compare their benefits and drawbacks, as well as understand why collateral plays such a pivotal role in these borrowing choices.</p> <h3>Car Title and Unsecured Loans By Definition</h3> <p>A car title loan is the kind of borrowing alternative you might choose when your current financial situation is your biggest obstacle.</p> <p>“Cash title loans have a market in the event the consumer does not have the credit or income to qualify for a personal loan,” says Jim Landy, President and CEO of <a href="http://carfinance.com/">CarFinance.com</a>.</p> <p>Title loan borrowers receive cash from the lender in exchange for signing over the title of the car (and quite often a copy of the keys) as collateral. Similar to the requirements of other short-term loans, there’s typically only a minimum income and a title for a paid-off vehicle are needed to qualify. The loan terms tend to last about 30 days.</p> <p>“If the consumer and their car qualify for a refinancing where the existing loan is paid off, often at a lower rate, it is much less expensive,” adds Landy.</p> <p>An unsecured loan on the other hand, requires no collateral but does include a credit check. While the idea of a credit check may seem daunting to those with lower scores, it’s still possible to achieve <a href="http://www.clicknloan.com/how-to-boost-your-chances-at-an-unsecured-personal-loan-with-bad-credit/">unsecured personal loans with bad credit</a>—you may just have to be prepared for higher than average interest rates.</p> <h3>The Underlying Costs of Unsecured and Car Title Loans</h3> <p>While the prospect of a high interest rate on an unsecured loan may be enough to deter you, it’s important to consider that you’ll probably experience even higher rates with a car title loan. While title loan APRs flirt with triple digits, the highest rates you tend to see with unsecured loans are closer to the 20 to 30 percent range.</p> <p>As a result, unsecured loans may give you a little more financial wiggle room in the length of time you have to pay off the amount at less interest than a title loan.</p> <p>Additionally, the Consumer Federation of America reports that the borrowing amount from a title loan is often limited to a disappointing one-third or less of the car’s current value. That means with interest, the loan-to-value amount may not be to your advantage.</p> <h3>The Drama Behind Default</h3> <p>In the event that an unexpected financial bump in the road doesn’t allow you to fulfill repayment obligations, you may have a lot more to lose with a car title loan than an unsecured loan.</p> <p>Title lenders can not only repossess your car, but if they sell it to pay for the loan amount and are still left with debt, you may be legally responsible for the difference. Not only will you be lacking a mode of transportation critical to your livelihood, but the repossession won’t necessarily make your debt go away. Borrowing a small amount of cash from a title lender may not be worth such a price.</p> <p>However, you may have more to gain over the long-term from personal loan use.</p> <p>“A personal loan through a bank will most likely be reported to the credit bureaus, which can improve the consumer&#8217;s credit file,” says Landy.</p> <p>This can work to the opposite effect by hurting your score with late or missed payments, as well. In this case, consider your credit score to be the collateral of your unsecured loan—you may not have to worry about losing property, but how you use this kind of loan can influence the future borrowing opportunities available.</p> <h3>Making Smart Borrowing Choices</h3> <p>The lack of a credit check may feel like a car title loan is more readily accessible. But for those without a vehicle, or any substantial valuable assets, these secured loans aren’t a viable option.</p> <p>Unsecured personal loans could be the solution to build up your credit at lower interest rates. Before borrowing, consider the necessity of the loan, calculate how much you need, and how each borrowed dollar will be spent to ensure you don’t get a loan amount beyond your income means.</p> <p>It’s up to you to weigh the consequences that each type of loan may bring. But no matter which one you settle on, be sure that the loan interest doesn’t become worse than the initial emergency cash need.</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/the-collateral-battle-unsecured-personal-loans-versus-car-title-loans/">The Collateral Battle: Unsecured Personal Loans versus Car Title Loans</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> https://www.3clickloan.com/the-collateral-battle-unsecured-personal-loans-versus-car-title-loans/feed/ 0 https://www.3clickloan.com/how-to-boost-your-chances-at-an-unsecured-personal-loan-with-bad-credit/ https://www.3clickloan.com/how-to-boost-your-chances-at-an-unsecured-personal-loan-with-bad-credit/#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Brad Simpson Personal Finance Unsecured Personal Loans bad credit personal loans unsecured personal loan tips unsecured personal loan with bad credit http://www.clicknloan.com/?p=249 <p>Bad credit can make you feel like you’re pigeonholed by fewer borrowing options when you need them most. And according to Experian, roughly 44 million individuals contend with the limitations of bad credit.</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/how-to-boost-your-chances-at-an-unsecured-personal-loan-with-bad-credit/">How to Boost Your Chances at an Unsecured Personal Loan with Bad Credit</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> <p>Bad credit can make you feel like you’re pigeonholed by fewer borrowing options when you need them most. And according to Experian, roughly 44 million individuals contend with the limitations of bad credit.</p> <p>Circumstances like a home repair, medical expense and flat tire don’t stop to consider your financial situation. As a result, it’s up to you as a potential borrower to find a way to take the unfavorable factors that make up your credit and turn it around for the better.</p> <p>In fact, with the right approach, it’s possible to obtain an <a href="http://www.clicknloan.com/questions/">unsecured personal loan with bad credit</a>. Whether you implement a shortcut or invest in a long term strategy, the flexibility in turning to a personal loan can make it that much easier to face a rough financial patch.</p> <h3>Should I Apply For a Personal Loan with Bad Credit?</h3> <p>There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to applying for an unsecured personal loan with bad credit. But you should consider if taking on this financial responsibility will create a ripple effect with the rest of your budget.</p> <p>Personal loan lenders tend to charge higher interest (as much as 20 to 30 percent APR) as a tradeoff for less than stellar credit. Ask yourself what’s driving your need for a personal loan.</p> <p>“If you are taking out a personal loan in order to pay off higher interest loans and reduce your monthly debt payments as part of an overall get-out-of debt plan, then applying for a personal loan can be a fine choice,” says New Jersey bankruptcy lawyer John W. Hargrave. “Having a get out-out-of-debt plan is key.”</p> <p>Otherwise, you risk using a personal loan to spend more money, which puts you at increased odds for debt moving forward, essentially defeating the purpose of borrowing in the first place.</p> <h3>Tips to Work Toward an Unsecured Personal Loan with Bad Credit</h3> <p>Because your credit score is the key influencer in a lender’s decision of loan amount and APR, improving this score is central to shaping the rest of your application approach.</p> <p><strong>Scour for potential errors.</strong> Every consumer is entitled to an annual free credit report, which is a perfect opportunity to check for any errors that could be responsible for dragging your scores through the mud.</p> <p>Thanks to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you may have more rights in fixing these wrongs than you think. Write a letter to the credit issuer to request an investigation of the error, which they must complete within 30 days.</p> <p>“If the party reporting the wrong information does not verify the accuracy of the report to the credit agency they must remove the item from your credit report,” says Hargrave.</p> <p><strong>Work on rebuilding your score.</strong> Hargrave advises to start small in reducing your debts.</p> <p>“If you have bad credit, follow a plan to rebuild your credit score,” he says.</p> <p>Whether you get a low limit credit card, secured credit card or begin to pay off existing I.O.U’s, demonstrating that you can pay a balance in full repeatedly can show a creditor you’re capable of taking on financial responsibility.</p> <p><strong>Consider a co-signer. </strong>Often, the need for an unsecured personal loan with bad credit supersedes the surefire, yet long-term process of rebuilding credit. In this case, a co-signer is a potential shortcut. But like all shortcuts, you should be wary of a few things.</p> <p>When a co-signing friend or relative with good credit teams up with you to apply for your personal loan, it can increase your approval chances and lower your rates.</p> <p>However, a co-signer will end up bearing an equal burden for repayment, and if you end up defaulting on the loan, the co-signer will be 100 percent responsible. Not only could these circumstances negatively affect the co-signers credit score, but can sour your existing relationship with them fast.</p> <p>Getting an unsecured personal loan with bad credit is possible, but you should make sure that it’s a realistic commitment in the broader scope of your personal finances. A personal loan should be a means to stimulate your cash flow and get you back on track, rather than put you further into debt.</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/how-to-boost-your-chances-at-an-unsecured-personal-loan-with-bad-credit/">How to Boost Your Chances at an Unsecured Personal Loan with Bad Credit</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> https://www.3clickloan.com/how-to-boost-your-chances-at-an-unsecured-personal-loan-with-bad-credit/feed/ 0 https://www.3clickloan.com/should-an-unsecured-personal-loan-be-used-for-debt-consolidation/ https://www.3clickloan.com/should-an-unsecured-personal-loan-be-used-for-debt-consolidation/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Brad Simpson News Personal Finance Unsecured Personal Loans http://www.clicknloan.com/?p=244 <p>For consumers with lingering debts after the holidays, turning to an unsecured personal loan may seem like a good idea: it puts all your debt in one, easy-to-manage payment, and offers unorganized consumers an ideal way to manage their debt throughout the year. But is a personal loan really necessary to take care of your debt?</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/should-an-unsecured-personal-loan-be-used-for-debt-consolidation/">Ask the Experts: Should an Unsecured Personal Loan be used for Debt Consolidation?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> <p>The New York Federal Reserve announced that consumer debt in the third quarter of 2012 decreased slightly, an all-around good sign for the economy and the fast-approaching fiscal cliff.</p> <p>But with the holiday season upon us, that debt is expected to creep back up, as more than half of consumers are expected to use a credit card for their holiday spending, reported <a href="http://www.myfico.com">myFICO</a> in a recent survey.</p> <p>For consumers with lingering debts after the holidays, turning to an unsecured personal loan may seem like a good idea: it puts all your debt in one, easy-to-manage payment, and offers unorganized consumers an ideal way to manage their debt throughout the year.</p> <p>But is a personal loan really necessary to take care of your debt?</p> <h3>The Experts Weigh In: Is a Loan an Effective Debt Solution?</h3> <p>For answers, we turned to three financial professionals, all of whom expressed what an important decision it is to try to manage your debt yourself before turning to any type of consolidation or relief program.</p> <p>“Personal loans play an important role for those who are trying to get out of debt quickly,” said Greg Meyer, Community Relations Manager of Meriwest Credit Union. “Properly used, they can be an easy way to paying off high interest credit card debt.” But, he warns: “If they are used improperly, they are a fast ticket to a lower credit score” and even further debt.</p> <p>According to Meyer, the point of a loan for debt consolidation is threefold: to eliminate debt, improve credit scores and create financial plans that can help avoid future debt. Although these are simple enough, it’s borrower irresponsibility that often makes these loans trouble.</p> <p>“A person can get a consolidation loan, consolidate their debts into a more reasonable and affordable alternative and then go out and acquire more debt,” Meyer said. “This completely defeats the purpose of bill consolidation and puts them on the fast track to a low credit score or worse.”</p> <p>Meyer suggests looking into balance transfer credit cards that may offer better interest rates and increased flexibility. He warns, however, that intro specials and teaser rates should be examined carefully, and all payments should be made on time to avoid increased interest rates as a penalty.</p> <h3>Looking Past the Convenience</h3> <p>Leslie Tayne, financial attorney and debt advisor, believes that using a personal loan to consolidate debt is “robbing Peter to pay Paul,&#8221; or simply a way of shifting your debts without actually making much forward progress on them.</p> <p>“You are taking your current debt and simply moving it into another form,” Tayne said. “While this can mean less paper bills each month, it does not necessarily present a savings or a good vehicle for achieving your goal of being debt-free.”</p> <p>Instead, Tayne suggests finding ways to creatively reduce your spending, tighten your budget<ins cite="mailto:Julia" datetime="2012-12-06T12:09">,</ins> and try to tackle your debt before seeking an alternative solution.</p> <p>“Sometimes a tweak of a budget is all that is needed to become debt-free,” said Tayne.</p> <h3>Seeking Alternatives Before a Personal Loan</h3> <p>Personal finance teacher and Productive Leaders CEO Mary Kelly suggests that an <a href="http://www.clicknloan.com">unsecured personal loan</a> for debt consolidation is often more expensive than other loans.</p> <p>Why? Because lenders that offer these types of loans know exactly why you’re seeking one: because you have debt. From a lender’s point of view, the fact that you’re borrowing while already carrying debt doesn’t make you look like an ideal borrower.</p> <p>For that reason, interest rates are often higher, and a debt consolidation loan may end up costing you more than it’s worth.</p> <p>Kelly has simple solutions to consider before a debt loan.</p> <p>“Call your credit card companies to see, politely, if they’ll give you a lower rate for six months,” Kelly said, “which may give you more time to increase your income and pay down your debt.”</p> <p>She also suggests refinancing your vehicle, if possible, and to shift that monthly savings to paying down debt. As a last resort, she recommends doing what you can to stay financially lean.</p> <p>“If you are close to getting a personal consolidation loan, consider living on a ‘needs only’ budget diet for three months,” said Kelly. “You and your family agree to only buy absolute necessities, such as items found in grocery stores. Most people are amazed at how much they can save.”</p> <h3>Taking the Right Debt Approach</h3> <p>Although it can be a helpful way to reduce the number of debts you have, an unsecured loan used to consolidate debt is hardly a cure-all. Before seeking a loan, consider what you can do to decrease your monthly expenses, or find ways to increase your income.</p> <p>Making small adjustments may save you from taking out a loan and only moving your debts around, not paying them down. But if you do end up getting a consolidation loan, be sure to make timely payments and effectively work your loan into your monthly and yearly budget. <ins cite="mailto:Julia" datetime="2012-12-06T12:10"></ins></p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/should-an-unsecured-personal-loan-be-used-for-debt-consolidation/">Ask the Experts: Should an Unsecured Personal Loan be used for Debt Consolidation?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> https://www.3clickloan.com/should-an-unsecured-personal-loan-be-used-for-debt-consolidation/feed/ 0 https://www.3clickloan.com/4-holiday-shopping-mistakes-to-avoid-in-the-homestretch/ https://www.3clickloan.com/4-holiday-shopping-mistakes-to-avoid-in-the-homestretch/#comments Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Brad Simpson Personal Finance holiday shopping mistakes holiday shopping tips top holiday shopping mistakes http://www.clicknloan.com/?p=241 <p>With just over two weeks remaining, last-minute shoppers may be starting to feel the noose of the December 25th deadline circling around their necks when it comes to gifts. But coming up empty-handed now doesn’t mean consumers won’t pay a pretty penny for what eventually lands in their shopping carts.</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/4-holiday-shopping-mistakes-to-avoid-in-the-homestretch/">4 Holiday Shopping Mistakes to Avoid in the Homestretch</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> <p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-243" title="top-holiday-shopping-mistakes" src="http://www.clicknloan.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/1013969931-300x241.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="241" /></p> <p>With just over two weeks remaining, last-minute shoppers may be starting to feel the noose of the December 25th deadline circling around their necks when it comes to gifts. But coming up empty-handed now doesn’t mean consumers won’t pay a pretty penny for what eventually lands in their shopping carts.</p> <p>According to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) holiday spending survey, consumers are ready to fulfill longer wish lists. The average shopper will spend $749.51 on gifts and other holiday incidentals, which is a 4 percent increase over last year’s figure of $740.57.</p> <p>When the Federal Reserve reports that the average household boasts $15,328 in credit card debt, shoppers need all the help they can get to cut these holiday expenses, which many are vulnerable to in the final weeks of December.</p> <p>“People forget how to think about money logically and next thing they know they just racked up a ton of credit card debt and burned through their savings,” says Steve Siebold, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rich-People-Think-Steve-Siebold/dp/0975500341"><em>How Rich People Think</em></a>.</p> <p>In order to get through the Christmas chaos financially unscathed, consumers should consider how the right preparations and precautions of everything from payment behaviors to online habits can impact their bank account.</p> <p>Avoid these last-minute holiday shopping mistakes with a few expert quick fixes.</p> <h3>Getting Caught Up in the Moment</h3> <p>The holiday season is the primary time of year when such a huge emphasis is placed on what consumers buy—and retailers are only fueling the fire.</p> <p>“Retailers get people to part with their money at the holidays by tapping into the emotional side of the shopper, and it works because most people look at money through the eyes of emotion at the holidays,” says Siebold. “Stores are decorated like the North Pole and a beautiful Christmas Village, and on top of that the advertisers play it up that the doorstopper deals are just too good to be missed, and people buy into it.”</p> <p><strong>The fix: Find a way to slow down.</strong></p> <p>Before purchasing that next impulse Christmas gift, have the strength to walk away for a time period.</p> <p>“Since time is more limited during the holiday season, try to follow a ‘2 week rule’, or a ‘1 week rule,’” says Leslie H. Tayne, financial attorney and debt management specialist. “Taking the step to leave the store without buying the item could help you realize whether or not the item is really worth a trip back to the store and could curb your temptation to overspend.”</p> <p>And if shoppers lack the willpower to put down the last in-stock item, they may need to take more drastic measures—like having someone they trust along with them to talk them down or buy the gifts for them.</p> <h3>Relying Too Much on Credit</h3> <p>Plastic can be an all-too-powerful spending weapon to put down during Christmastime. Overspending one’s budget or maxing out a card’s credit limit can spell a dangerous debt trap, only made worse by the interest rates of carrying a balance.</p> <p>“The buy now pay later concept is an oldie but a goody for creditors &#8211; yet poses dangerous ground for consumers,” says Tayne. “Risk of overspending is much easier when using credit and is more difficult territory to cross when using cash.”</p> <p><strong>The fix: Budget and tread carefully with card choices.</strong></p> <p>Siebold says having a budget in place this time of year is essential. He advises to calculate how much money one needs for essentials like rent, insurance and car payments before determining what to spend on loved ones.</p> <p>Consumers can also be proactive about paying for what they do spend, by putting aside the cash to pay for items before the card statement even comes.</p> <p>For shoppers using a zero interest card to ease the season’s financial hangover, Tayne advises to have a plan in place before that period ends to avoid any retroactive high interest fees once it ends.</p> <h3>Paying Unnecessary Costs</h3> <p>When shoppers are racing against the clock, paying a higher price for convenience often wins out over searching for the best bargain. But Becki Dilworth, Director of Online Marketing for ShopAtHome.com suggests you can have convenience at a deal.</p> <p>“It&#8217;s easy to get distracted by the sights and sounds of the holiday season and go overboard on your holiday spending budget,” says Dilworth. “Impulse shoppers are likely to overspend when they don&#8217;t check for coupon and Cash Back deals. A quick search on a coupon search engine site like <a href="http://www.shopathome.com/">ShopAtHome.com</a> can keep holiday shoppers within their budget and help them find the best deals available.”</p> <p><strong>The fix: Exercise that search engine.</strong></p> <p>Dilworth suggests that something as simple as searching for the hottest holiday toy’s coupon code can give shoppers a deep discount without having to fight the crowds or stand in lines.</p> <p>She adds that one of the season’s biggest faux pas is giving in to paying for shipping. Find those retailers that are offering no minimum purchase stipulations along with expedited shipping after the 17^th—those deals are out there, and shops are participating in these sweet deals to win shoppers’ attention.</p> <h3>Neglecting Online Security</h3> <p>The holiday rush also becomes a breeding ground for unwanted attention from hackers ready to pounce on sensitive consumer information made vulnerable by the wrong mouse click. Unfortunately, they’re easily equipped to outsmart shoppers.</p> <p>“Cybercriminals are trendier than you might think, and where the crowds go, they follow,” says Marian Merritt, Internet Safety Advocate for Norton. “Holiday shopping season is of particular interest because criminals know there will be lots of valuable information exchanged, like credit card numbers and other valuable personal information. Knowing that people may also be anxious to find the best deal possible makes planting a scam that much easier for the bad guys.”</p> <p>Merritt says cyber crooks employ a variety of evolving and slick tactics including setting up a fake fan page or offer “Like” on Facebook, which prompts you to fill out your login credentials. Malware can even make its way to text messages.</p> <p><strong>The fix: Stay one step ahead when online shopping</strong></p> <p>The potential for a great bargain is never worth the risk of jeopardizing one’s identity or personal finances. And a little consumer savvy before opening the internet browser can help.</p> <p>First, Merritt advises to stick to familiar sites. In the address bar of these sites, look for HTTPS and make sure it’s highlighted green. The lack of an “s” and a red color means there’s no security in the exchange of personal information.</p> <p>Second, avoid the age-old trick of using the same password for everything. While it may be convenient, cracking one account means online thieves can crack them all.</p> <p>Also, steer clear of shopping on public Wi-Fi, where hackers are ready to snatch up data.</p> <p>“Wait until you get home and are on a secure network to put in your credit card info, or think about using a personal VPN to keep your private info private,” Merritt adds.</p> <p>‘Tis the season to spend, but it can also be the season to save cash, too. When shoppers can keep their cash under closer wrap in the midst of holiday euphoria by tweaking their existing habits, they just may have what it takes to ring in a healthy financial New Year.</p> <p><em>If you use these quick fixes and still find your post-Christmas bank account needs a little boost, learn the right way to <a href="https://www.clicknloan.com/how-it-works/">borrow online with Click N’ Loan</a>. </em></p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/4-holiday-shopping-mistakes-to-avoid-in-the-homestretch/">4 Holiday Shopping Mistakes to Avoid in the Homestretch</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> https://www.3clickloan.com/4-holiday-shopping-mistakes-to-avoid-in-the-homestretch/feed/ 0 https://www.3clickloan.com/3-shopping-excuses-women-give-that-drive-men-crazy/ https://www.3clickloan.com/3-shopping-excuses-women-give-that-drive-men-crazy/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Brad Simpson Personal Finance overspending excuses shopping excuses things women do that drive men crazy http://www.clicknloan.com/?p=237 <p>What do Carrie Bradshaw, Cher Horowitz, Elle Woods, and Sophie Kinsella’s Rebecca Bloomwood all have in common? They’re all fashionably chic pop culture heroines that perpetuate the notion of women as shopaholics. And while women may scoff at such a generalization, many can admit to coveting their Jimmy Choo’s and Louis Vuitton purses.</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/3-shopping-excuses-women-give-that-drive-men-crazy/">3 Shopping Excuses Women Give That Drive Men Crazy</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> <p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-239" title="biggest-overspending-excuses" src="http://www.clicknloan.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/1018551881-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></p> <p>What do Carrie Bradshaw, Cher Horowitz, Elle Woods, and Sophie Kinsella’s Rebecca Bloomwood all have in common? They’re all fashionably chic pop culture heroines that perpetuate the notion of women as shopaholics. And while women may scoff at such a generalization, many can admit to coveting their Jimmy Choo’s and Louis Vuitton purses.</p> <p>Sometimes that retail temptation can creep into our realities. Rather than give in to buyer’s remorse and fess up to a spouse or partner, one may find a justifiable reason to acknowledge the purchase.</p> <p>“What drives men to not understand women&#8217;s purchases? Simple. Men think like men,” says <a href="http://sharigoldsmith.com/">Shari Goldsmith</a>, women&#8217;s mental health therapist, life coach, speaker and author of <em>31 Days to Finding Your Inner Sass</em>. “They don&#8217;t have the perspective of being a woman. Therefore, when they see a purchase, they view it from their perspective of whether it&#8217;s a viable purchase.”</p> <p>And while men may cast judgment on their ladies’ retail sessions, they may not have a lot of room to argue. In fact, Shopaholics Anonymous mentioned a Stanford study which revealed that men and women compulsively shop and spend equally.</p> <p>But the fresh perspective of questioning an impulse purchase may not be so bad for those who want to start salvaging their budget. Learn how the excuses that make men facepalm in unison can translate into overspending risks.</p> <h3>“It Was On Sale”</h3> <p>Perhaps the oldest excuse in the book, “it was on sale” often becomes less about the bargain and more about justifying the purchase of an item.</p> <p>“Retailers know they can influence buying behavior by offering their new product with a discount and they target women shoppers with great results to the frustration of men,” says Adam Tijerina, personal finance expert for Debt Consolidation USA.</p> <p>Instead of being boxed in by the fear of missing out on a good deal, understand that paying less once in a while doesn’t hurt, but that bargain-hunting on a frequent basis can become an expensive habit. After all, one too many sale items isn’t a deal for your wallet at all.</p> <h3>“I Deserve It”</h3> <p>A rough day or a rocky week can make you feel like you’re entitled to some retail therapy. Anything from a cup of coffee to a pair of shoes can qualify for that self-imposed treat.</p> <p>However, the good intentions of this spending entitlement can become a slippery slope. You may start to find more frequent yet less substantial reasons to “treat” yourself. Not all of our budgets can afford necessities, much less frivolities.</p> <p>Being a little more frugal with your dollars doesn’t necessarily mean deprivation. Instead, think about how some extra savings might be an even better treat for you than spending it immediately.</p> <h3>“I’ll Use It A Lot”</h3> <p>The idea that adding more mileage on a purchase gives it more value can seem like a noble consumer notion. But this excuse is also used in conjunction with more expensive purchases. Champagne taste on a beer budget is a dangerous way to fall into debt.</p> <p>While one pair of quality stilettos may give you more wear than four cheaper pairs that cost less altogether, it’s crucial to take heed of your budget. Your pricey purchase may be the most versatile item in the world, but the fact remains that more money spent can push your budget to uncomfortable boundaries.</p> <p>See if you can find a balance between budget and quality. A happy medium can still give you the quality you seek with less damage to your finances. For example, comparison shopping and reading other consumer reviews may help you find a knockoff version of that expensive little black dress, which holds up just as well the original.</p> <p>Champagne may taste great, but in some cases, beer can be just as enjoyable.</p> <p>Between irresistible bargains and our innermost desires, live countless reasons that justify purchases. But when you can understand the hidden context behind these excuses, you may be able to wrangle the retail urge for the sake of your budget.</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/3-shopping-excuses-women-give-that-drive-men-crazy/">3 Shopping Excuses Women Give That Drive Men Crazy</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> https://www.3clickloan.com/3-shopping-excuses-women-give-that-drive-men-crazy/feed/ 0 https://www.3clickloan.com/6-creative-small-business-money-saving-tips-everyone-can-tackle/ https://www.3clickloan.com/6-creative-small-business-money-saving-tips-everyone-can-tackle/#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Brad Simpson News Personal Finance money saving small business tips small business tips small businesses save cash http://www.clicknloan.com/?p=230 <p>In the current uphill economy, it takes more than the obvious for businesses to excel. Not everyone can get by with cutting labor and reducing utilities to stay in the black. When you’re dealing with economic factors beyond your immediate control, it may take creativity and serious reflection of your operations to find a light at the end of the tunnel.</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/6-creative-small-business-money-saving-tips-everyone-can-tackle/">6 Creative Small Business Money Saving Tips Everyone Can Tackle</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> <p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-236" title="86498765" src="http://www.clicknloan.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/864987651-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></p> <p>For many small business owners, saving cash is paramount to all other endeavors to ensure survival and boost revenue. And recent national figures indicate this private sector may be on the right track to achieving this goal.</p> <p>The Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed these businesses added 171,000 jobs in October, which accounts for the 32^nd straight month of positive growth. The Bureau also found that businesses with less than 500 employees have been responsible for nearly 65 percent of new jobs created since 1992, suggesting that small business has a huge role in shaping the backbone of our economy.</p> <p>But not every business owner feels the rosy impact of these statistics. Small businesses are not without their daily struggles to stay above water, especially when it comes to federal regulations.</p> <p>“The continued uncertainty over tax, regulatory and healthcare policy makes being a small business leader in this economy very uncomfortable,” says Rick Schardein, President and CEO of Current360, a brand building agency. “Tightening discretionary spending among consumers is further constraining entrepreneurial opportunity.”</p> <p>“One of my biggest concerns is the federal debt and deficit – particularly how it will affect securing funding, customer spending, and hiring,” says Livingstone Mukasa, founder and CEO of <a href="http://archability.com/">Archability.</a>  “Whatever is agreed upon in Washington, we certainly don’t want the burden to be placed on small business owners.”</p> <p>In the current uphill economy, it takes more than the obvious for businesses to excel. Not everyone can get by with cutting labor and reducing utilities to stay in the black. When you’re dealing with economic factors beyond your immediate control, it may take creativity and serious reflection of your operations to find a light at the end of the tunnel.</p> <p>If you’re coming up short on creative ways to create new cash flow, consider how you might be able to apply these expert small business money saving tips from people who have been in your situation.</p> <h3>Look to Your Customer Base for Advertising</h3> <p>If you think you need a hefty advertising budget to attract flocks of customers, you’re wrong. Susan Baroncini-Moe, business and marketing strategist and founder of <a href="http://businessinbluejeans.com/">Business in Blue Jeans</a> says that when you have the foundation of a great product or service, you can use your customers as your pro-bono ad execs.</p> <p>“Usually, delivering value and great service are free, but there are many  low-cost ways to expand on delivering value so that your customers and clients get even more excited and talk about you even more,” says Baroncini-Moe. “This nets you great reviews on social media sites like Yelp and Angie&#8217;s List and creates raving fans on Facebook.”</p> <h3>Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Feedback</h3> <p>Feedback is integral to evolving your business, and you should consider it from more than one angle—from employees as well as customers.</p> <p>When it comes to customers, listening to their input can allow you to focus on what you do well.</p> <p>“By having frequent discussions whether directly or via surveys, customers can help you scale back and concentrate on the core services and products,” says Mukasa. “This can create huge savings which can then be redeployed in areas that are crucial and of value.”</p> <p>Kathleen Brush, global management consultant and author, emphasizes that constructive feedback from your employers is worth considering, because they may identify areas of weakness you’ve never thought of.</p> <p>“You&#8217;d be surprised with what they can come up with,” says Brush. “Everything from no one drinks decaf, to do we need cleaners every day? Why not let Fred do this rather than paying consultant A, why are we paying a retainer for service A that we never use, no one reads that magazine, we don&#8217;t attend that association&#8217;s meetings anymore, if we bought in bulk.”</p> <h3>Open Source Software Possibilities</h3> <p>Bryan Marsden of <a href="http://www.fatwallet.com/">FatWallet.com</a> suggests that business owners can save thousands by implementing a bit of tech creativity by using open source software instead of pricy applications like MS Office Suite or Adobe Photoshop.</p> <p>“While you may want to replace it with more powerful software when you get financially grounded, these will get you up and running on a shoe string budget,” Marsden says.</p> <p>Marsden says programs like OpenOffice, GimpShop, BugZilla and TimeTrex, GNUCash can provide everything from creating documents to tracking revenue.</p> <h3>Ask For Discounts</h3> <p>Just like the old adage goes, it never hurts to ask, especially when it comes to your suppliers. Depending on the quantity you buy or the relationship you’ve built with your sources, they may be willing to help you cut expenses.</p> <p>“With a previous company, when our main customer began to struggle, they approached us to reduce our price,” says John Slafkosky, president of Pie Guy. “We approached our vendors and asked for a discount in order to save this account and volume. Out of 9 main suppliers, 7 reduced our cost. In turn we reduced our cost to our customer.”</p> <p>Additionally, if you don’t get the discounts you’re looking for, you can also look for competitive bids elsewhere.</p> <h3>Research the Right Healthcare Plan</h3> <p>Affordable healthcare can be difficult for many small business owners to achieve. But depending on the size of your business you may be able to use a tax advantaged benefit plan. According to Anne Case, director of marketing and communications at BASEOnline, self-employed individuals can save as much as $4,000 annually in taxes while a small business with multiple employees could reduce insurance premiums by 10 to 50 percent with the help of a defined contribution plan.</p> <h3>Get More Out of What You’ve Got</h3> <p>Instead of looking for additional resources to complete tasks, you may be able to increase efficiency with your current employees. Schardein has used the in-house approach for Current360 with the help of technology.</p> <p>“Our company—54 employees—have leveraged technology to deliver more services to our clients via in house resources versus outside vendors,” Schardein says. “We&#8217;ve established areas of specific expertise and operate those sub-units as individual profit centers.  The result is higher gross profit at stagnant revenue levels.  Our clients win, and we win.  Technology makes it possible.”</p> <p>A little bit of the right encouragement can also help a business’s bottom line by boosting output. Brush says this could be something as small as a compliment to creating a rewards-based productivity contest.</p> <p>“Employees love to know what they are doing is going to achieve something. I&#8217;d like to say something big but honestly a lot of times employees just need to know that there is a plan and they are part of it.”</p> <p>No matter which tip fits into your business model, they all prove one thing: you don’t necessarily have to cut corners to save money. Whether you find the extra revenue from your customers, employees, suppliers or operational tools, seeking out new cash-saving measures can only further enhance your business’s ability to adapt to a fluctuating economy.</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/6-creative-small-business-money-saving-tips-everyone-can-tackle/">6 Creative Small Business Money Saving Tips Everyone Can Tackle</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> https://www.3clickloan.com/6-creative-small-business-money-saving-tips-everyone-can-tackle/feed/ 0 https://www.3clickloan.com/financial-fallout-from-hurricane-sandy-are-disaster-loans-the-best-way-to-go/ https://www.3clickloan.com/financial-fallout-from-hurricane-sandy-are-disaster-loans-the-best-way-to-go/#comments Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Brad Simpson News Personal Finance Unsecured Personal Loans disaster loans personal loans unsecured personal loans http://www.clicknloan.com/test/?p=215 <p>Now that the dust has settled after Hurricane Sandy, many East Coasters are facing the unfortunate reality of how the storm has rattled their finances. Time Magazine estimates that Sandy will cost $60 billion between property damage and lost business. But banks and lenders have placed a sliver of hope on the horizon.</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/financial-fallout-from-hurricane-sandy-are-disaster-loans-the-best-way-to-go/">Financial Fallout from Hurricane Sandy: Are Disaster Loans the Best Way to Go?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> <p>Now that the dust has settled after Hurricane Sandy, many East Coasters are facing the unfortunate reality of how the storm has rattled their finances. <em>Time Magazine </em>estimates that Sandy will cost $60 billion between property damage and lost business. But banks and lenders have placed a sliver of hope on the horizon.</p> <p><em>CNN Money</em> recently revealed that banks are giving hurricane victims several generous breaks on credit and personal loans. For example, Wells Fargo is offering <a href="http://www.clicknloan.com/4-ways-you-can-use-an-unsecured-personal-loan-and-1-way-you-shouldnt/">unsecured personal loans</a> to residents in FEMA-designated areas at a low rate of 6.75 percent, instead of basing their borrowing decisions on creditworthiness.</p> <p>Palisades Federal Credit Union in New York City reported that they’re offering personal loans at half off the standard rates for the next two years for storm-affected residents. Goldman Sachs also pledged $10 million in loan relief funds for small businesses while the Small Business Association is offering special disaster loans.</p> <p>Whether you’re searching for aid to fix the damage or are left with little in your pocket after paying for repairs, there are a few things to consider before you reach out for an unsecured personal loan. In the midst of natural disaster chaos, it can be difficult to determine if you’re making the right moves.</p> <p>Fortunately, applying a few level-headed moves may help reduce the risk of regretting the decisions you do make for the health of your bank account.</p> <h3>Lean on Your Insurance First</h3> <p>It’s important to know what options your insurance company can provide you before you seek out a loan. You may have a hurricane deductible anywhere between 1 and 5 percent of your home value without even realizing it.</p> <p>As a result, you may not need as large of a loan amount after an insurance adjuster assesses the payout size. Because your payout has the potential to cover all extraneous costs, it’s vital to photograph and document every single piece of damage to ensure maximized compensation.</p> <h3>Avoid the Instant Access of Payday Loans</h3> <p>Payday loans may seem like a quick fix, but in the midst of dealing with a disaster, these loan terms may be too short for what you need.</p> <p>You may not be able to contend with the interest coupled with the repayment, especially when the cost of damage lingers longer than the loan terms. In this case, you may get unintentionally caught in a debt spiral from taking out another payday loan to compensate for the previous one.</p> <h3>Explore Your Options</h3> <p>Storm victims don’t have to necessarily settle for standard borrowing options. Rely on basics like food and clothing from donations from the Red Cross, FEMA and local shelters so that you can funnel your dollars toward paying for home or business damage.</p> <p>You can also see how family or friends unaffected by the storm might be able to help you in the meantime. No matter how low disaster loan rates may seem, you will likely find no interest rates from loved ones.</p> <p>Another option is to consider if a balance transfer card with a zero introductory rate is enough to stave off some of the hurricane’s financial costs until you can get better organized.</p> <p><em>If you’d like to learn more about if unsecured personal loans are the way to handle your post-hurricane finances, check out <a href="http://www.clicknloan.com/how-it-works/">Click N’ Loans today</a>.</em></p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/financial-fallout-from-hurricane-sandy-are-disaster-loans-the-best-way-to-go/">Financial Fallout from Hurricane Sandy: Are Disaster Loans the Best Way to Go?</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> https://www.3clickloan.com/financial-fallout-from-hurricane-sandy-are-disaster-loans-the-best-way-to-go/feed/ 0 https://www.3clickloan.com/more-consumers-cashing-in-their-401k/ https://www.3clickloan.com/more-consumers-cashing-in-their-401k/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Brad Simpson News 401K borrowing personal loans http://www.clicknloan.com/?p=212 <p>Consumers may be maintaining the highest 401k balances in over 12 years, according to Fidelity Investments, but they’re also borrowing from these retirement savings at a much more frequent rate.</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/more-consumers-cashing-in-their-401k/">More Consumers Cashing in their 401K</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> <p>Consumers may be maintaining the highest 401k balances in over 12 years, according to Fidelity Investments, but they’re also borrowing from these retirement savings at a much more frequent rate.</p> <p>The firm found that employee 401k contributions have increased by 7 percent over the past five years, and the average account balance is now more than $75,000. But what the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) recently published is painting the employee-401k relationship in another light.</p> <p><strong>401K Borrowing at Highest Rate Since 1996</strong></p> <p>Up against staggeringly high unemployment and more restrictive lending terms, workers are borrowing against their retirement savings at an increasing rate, creating an uncertain future for their post-work financial status.</p> <p>“When cash is tight people are looking anywhere they can,” said Paul Lemon, president of Integrated Financial Planning. “Banks aren’t lending money to people, so they have to take it from retirement.”</p> <p>According to a recent EBRI study, 21 percent of people borrowed from their 401k in 2010, the highest rate in nearly 14 years, and almost 4 percent higher than before the recession.</p> <p>The report found that the average loan amount is 14 percent of remaining account balance.</p> <p>Although 401k loans are less common than personal loans, an Aon Hewitt study found that 40 percent of employees cash out their 401ks when they leave a job, rather than transferring them to another retirement plan. They found this to be most frequent among their 20-something workers.</p> <p><strong>Cons Often Outweigh Pros of a 401K Loan</strong></p> <p>Borrowing against your 401k savings may come with certain benefits. You don’t have to undergo a credit check to qualify<strong> </strong>and you<strong> </strong>don’t have to provide a reason as to why you’re borrowing the money, but these short term benefits are met with long term repercussions.<strong></strong></p> <p><strong>Tax Hit, Times Two:</strong> When employees borrow against their 401k, the loan repayments are made with after-tax dollars. So you end up paying the loan off with your income, which has already been taxed, by replenishing your non-taxed account with taxed money, thus reducing your cash flow to repay the loan.<strong></strong></p> <p><strong>Career Change? Think Twice:</strong> If you’re amid a job search, definitely consider other options rather than borrowing from your 401k. Repaying the loan can become an issue if you leave your employer before you pay off the loan. <strong></strong></p> <p>If this happens, the balance is due in full, typically within 60-90 days, and failure to pay means you’ll now owe the full amount in income taxes. Also,<strong> </strong>if you’re under 59 ½, you’ll also have to pay a 10 percent tax penalty.<strong></strong></p> <p><strong>Making Up for Lost Contributions: </strong>Depending on the entire amount you’ll need to borrow, the cost to repay your 401k loan can become tough to manage in addition to your regular monthly contributions.</p> <p>“The guidance we try to give people is make sure they know when their money is out of the 401(k) it’s not working for them,” said Mike Shamrell, of Fidelity, “especially in the last year when we have seen positive market behavior.”<strong></strong></p> <p>The <a href="https://www.clicknloan.com/the-consumer-guide-to-credit-use/">bottom line for consumers</a> is that even though you may be tempted to borrow against your retirement savings, the short-term assistance can also be detrimental to your future. You’re borrowing from yourself, but the money comes with the price of borrower-lender transaction with interest payments and tax penalties.</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/more-consumers-cashing-in-their-401k/">More Consumers Cashing in their 401K</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> https://www.3clickloan.com/more-consumers-cashing-in-their-401k/feed/ 0 https://www.3clickloan.com/settling-unsecured-personal-loan-woes-with-debt-agencies/ https://www.3clickloan.com/settling-unsecured-personal-loan-woes-with-debt-agencies/#comments Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Brad Simpson News Unsecured Personal Loans debt settlement agency unsecured personal loans http://www.clicknloan.com/test/?p=211 <p>When it comes to consumers that have bit off more than they can chew with their unsecured personal loans, debt settlement traps could be costly.</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/settling-unsecured-personal-loan-woes-with-debt-agencies/">Settling Unsecured Personal Loan Woes with Debt Agencies</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> <p>At times it can feel as though for every useful product that appears for consumers, two scams weasel their way into the market.</p> <p>And according to a new <a href="http://www.nacba.org/Portals/0/Documents/NACBA%20Docs/NACBA%20debt%20settlement%20trap%20consumer%20alert.pdf">report</a> by the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA), that product is hardly a product at all. It’s a service – one that is supposed to alleviate cash-strapped consumers.</p> <p>As NACBA states, few as one in every ten consumers who enlist the help of “debt settlement” agencies actually end up clearing their negative slate.</p> <p>“Already struggling with home foreclosures, harsh bank and credit card fees and other major financial challenges, America’s most deeply indebted consumers are now falling victim to a new threat,” the research paper explained. “So-called ‘debt-settlement’ schemes that promise to make clients ‘debt free’ in a relatively short period of time.”</p> <p>According to an article by <a href="http://www.smartmoney.com/spend/rip-offs/reasons-hiring-a-debt-settlement-firm-is-not-always-worth-it/">Smart Money</a>, debt settlement agencies will typically offer an indebted consumer a one-time payment – typically 40 to 60 percent of their current debt – to be paid to the creditor. The debt will then be forgiven, but the consumer can end up digging themselves into an even deeper pit if they’re not prepared to fork over the cash on the spot.</p> <p>There’s a business brewing with unscrupulous debt settlement agencies. Where there’s a market for something, even if its downtrodden consumers faced with serious debt loads, there’s a dollar to be made. And when it comes to consumers that have bit off more than they can chew with their <a href="http://www.clicknloan.com/">unsecured personal loans</a>, that settlement trap could be costly.</p> <h2>Hardly Advantageous</h2> <p>On average, debt agencies will typically offer two kinds of services. The first is a settlement, which would clear the consumer of all debt so long as they pay about half of the standing balance. However, there are a few byproducts that can come from a partially settled debt load.</p> <p>Herein lies the first issue with the settlement: tax liability.</p> <p>For the tenth of consumers who actually benefit from the settlement program, the amount of savings is typically considered to be taxable income, as lenders and credit card companies have the ability to report a debt reduction to the IRS.</p> <p>“Typically, customers are told to stop paying their bills and instead send money to the debt-relief firm, which holds on to the money with the intention of offering creditors a lump-sum offer for less than what’s owed,” explained Michelle Singletary of <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/debt-settlement-is-rarely-a-done-deal/2012/10/18/d9abe54e-1881-11e2-8bfd-12e2ee90dcf2_story.html">The Washington Post</a>.</p> <p>And for those nine-tenths that fail to overcome the settlement hurdle, their failure to pay is even more costly. Borrowers are essentially accruing yet another kind of debt on top of their previous credit. And the agencies are particularly tactful with their sugarcoating, with most promising painless and quick roads to alleviating debt loads.</p> <p>As for the agency’s second service of debt counseling, even that advice can go astray.</p> <p>As the NACBA report found, a great deal of agencies urged borrowers to default on their loans if they were unable to scrape up the change for nearly half of the current outstanding debt.</p> <p>Defaulting with an unsecured personal loan can lead to fines, penalties and hiked interest fees right off the bat. Not to mention, the lender has the right to report a default to credit agencies, resulting in a plummeting score if the loan is sizable enough.</p> <p>And, as the report went on to state, some lenders can even find ways to ensure Uncle Sam is on their side, with many defaults resulting in wage garnishments.</p> <h2>Treading Murky Waters with Debt Problems</h2> <p>It’s no secret why debt settlement agencies have produced such a booming business. Many consumers have struggled to maintain an acceptable standard of living in the recession, and taking on larger amounts of credit through cards and personal loans, has been increasingly common.</p> <p>Given this, even the slightest promise of debt alleviation can be tremendously tempting for indebted individuals.</p> <p>However, borrowers should continue to beware of agencies offering “quick fixes” for substantial debt issues. Accruing considerable debt didn’t happen overnight, so consumers should take that same mentality and apply it to their eventual escape.</p> <p><strong>Never default on a loan.</strong></p> <p>As tempting as it may be to throw up a white flag of defeat with an unsecured personal loan, borrowers should always be wary of defaulting. Although it’s seen as an exclamation of defeat – similar to bankruptcy – the problems will only continue to escalate for the indebted.</p> <p>And as for access to feasible interest rates for any kind of credit in the future, consumers can completely forget it if they decide to default.</p> <p><strong>“Self-help” whenever possible.</strong></p> <p>As troublesome as it may sound, consumers will benefit from a financial standpoint if they make an effort to individually alleviate themselves from debt.</p> <p>The <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre19.shtm">Federal Trade Commission</a> recently offered a list of tips for indebted consumers looking to help themselves surface from financial problems. The first and foremost advice was to outline a budget, and separate all expenses as either “fixed” or “variable”. According to the FTC, those “variable” expenses should be trimmed as much as possible.</p> <p>But beyond this, the FTC also strongly suggests that borrowers contact their creditors at the first sign of financial stress. Consumers should explain them why it’s difficult for you to keep payments, and request some kind of modified plan if at all possible.</p> <p><strong>Seek non-profit debt agencies.</strong></p> <p>Non-profit debt organizations, especially those tied to the government, will offer the best kinds of rates for consumer help. And more often than not, these kinds of services are free to the public.</p> <p>Escaping the thralls of debt is no easy task. While it’s tempting to seek the quickest, easiest and most simple solutions, borrowers must also consider the sheer weight that a debt load holds. While being debt-free is certainly an attainable goal, it will come with some considerable work on the part of the consumer.</p> <p>However, unscrupulous settlement agencies should be avoided at all costs.</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/settling-unsecured-personal-loan-woes-with-debt-agencies/">Settling Unsecured Personal Loan Woes with Debt Agencies</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> https://www.3clickloan.com/settling-unsecured-personal-loan-woes-with-debt-agencies/feed/ 0 https://www.3clickloan.com/thwarting-predatory-schemes-on-unsecured-personal-loans/ https://www.3clickloan.com/thwarting-predatory-schemes-on-unsecured-personal-loans/#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Brad Simpson News Personal Finance Unsecured Personal Loans consumer tips online personal loans predator lenders unsecured personal loans http://www.clicknloan.com/?p=208 <p>During your eleventh-hour of financial need, it may become difficult to distinguish an honest lender from a predator. When a lender is saying all of the right things that make you want to sign on the dotted line, your normally sound judgment can start to show some cracks.</p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/thwarting-predatory-schemes-on-unsecured-personal-loans/">Thwarting Predatory Schemes on Unsecured Personal Loans</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> <p>During your eleventh-hour of financial need, it may become difficult to distinguish an honest lender from a predator. When a lender is saying all of the right things that make you want to sign on the dotted line, your normally sound judgment can start to show some cracks.</p> <p>And consumers are not immune to falling for potential loan schemes.</p> <p>In July, 33 people were charged with a 62-count indictment that targeted more than <a href="http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1207/120710buffalo.htm">2,000 loan application victims</a> who lost a collective $2.7 million. The fraudulent plot involved having numerous websites and search engines direct unsecured personal loan applicants to fake financial companies.</p> <p>Additionally, consumers are presented with increasing opportunity and awareness in turning to personal loans, which can make them vulnerable by default. Research firm Mintel Comperemedia revealed that Americans received 424.8 million personal loan offers in the mail last year, compared to just 290.5 million in 2010.</p> <p>The demand for personal loans combined with the possibility for fraudsters to capitalize on these borrowing situations underscores the need for consumers to be vigilant. While Click N’ Loan is dedicated to the utmost transparency and connecting you to credible lenders, you can never be too careful.</p> <p>Employing these practices can be your first layer of defense in protecting your financial health.</p> <h3>Verify Lender’s Existence</h3> <p>A good personal loan lender has nothing to hide, and will happily oblige you with essential contact or company information that corroborates their legitimacy. But it’s equally important not to take the information at face value.</p> <p>And like in the July indictment, clever predatory lenders may use a copycat name that mimics a larger, well-reputed institution.</p> <p>Once you obtain the lender’s phone number, website and address, do a little detective work. Call the number and check the website for trust indicators (like the address bar’s lock icon, or security certificates in the footer).</p> <p>Because a fraudster can supply you with any random address or P.O. Box, don’t be afraid to bust out the street view of Google Earth.</p> <h3>Devil in the (Lack of) Details</h3> <p>While your first priority may be to discern what’s detailed in your personal loan agreement, it’s what’s not written that can get you in trouble.</p> <p>Unless your paperwork thoroughly outlines your principal loan amount, interest, and additional fees, your giving that possible predator more wiggle room to fill in the blanks of your loan terms.</p> <p>Every dollar you’re responsible to repay should be disclosed right off the bat. Never sign anything that’s vague in terms, not set in stone or mutually agreed upon.</p> <h3>Know Your Rights</h3> <p>When you’re not the finance expert, it’s all too easy to hang on to a lender’s every word and nod in agreement. Between interest rates and credit scores, separating fact from fiction becomes tricky.</p> <p>Fortunately, federal regulations determine how lending institutions can treat you. Among the <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt028.shtm">Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) guidelines</a>:</p> <ul> <li>It’s illegal for a lender to promise a loan by phone and ask for any form of repayment prior to delivery. A phone-only lender is frequently a surefire sign of an unscrupulous situation.</li> <li>A legitimate lender won’t guarantee a loan. Without collateral, unsecured personal loans require a peek into your credit to establish your borrowing habits and ultimately, your interest rate.</li> <li>All lenders are required to be registered in their states of operation. Registration doesn’t always certify smooth sailing for borrowers but the FTC notes that it can “help weed out the crooks.” You can verify registration through your states Attorney General’s office.</li> </ul> <p>While your financial demands for an online personal loan may seem great, don’t rush into the borrowing process. Procrastination and urgency can breed mistakes, so it pays to do your research.</p> <p><em>Start researching lenders today at </em><a href="http://www.clicknloan.com/how-it-works/"><em>Click N’ Loan</em></a><em> using our best practice tips.</em></p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com/thwarting-predatory-schemes-on-unsecured-personal-loans/">Thwarting Predatory Schemes on Unsecured Personal Loans</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.3clickloan.com">3ClickLoan</a>.</p> https://www.3clickloan.com/thwarting-predatory-schemes-on-unsecured-personal-loans/feed/ 0