BY ED D’ALESSIO

Even before the coronavirus pandemic that has challenged our nation’s financial system, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) called attention to the fact that over 60 million adults in the U.S. are either unbanked or underbanked (PDF). This figure, which equates to nearly one-third of all U.S. adults, demonstrates that despite the public policy emphasis on banks as the panacea for every financial need, there remains a mismatch between bank products and the needs of everyday Americans, many of whom choose to use non-depository financial providers.

Whatever the reason for the numbers of unbanked and underbanked Americans, it has taken the current crisis to demonstrate that in order to truly provide financial inclusion, and to ensure that all Americans can maintain their financial lives, the financial service center industry must be fully recognized as an “essential” branch of our nation’s “critical infrastructure.”

These local, financial service centers process over 350 million transactions annually, employ tens of thousands of Americans, and are located in the neighborhoods where their customers live and work. Being of and from the community ensures that customers are treated with respect and, importantly, in their native tongues.

As the coronavirus pandemic degrades our economy and stretches thin the budgets of millions of families who are confronting health care and childcare needs, rent, utility and other bills, and other existential financial challenges, it is critical that consumers have access to as many safe and reliable financial service options as are possible. Licensed financial service centers provide just that — safe, reliable, convenient, and regulated financial services.

Thankfully today, thousands of financial service centers remain open and operating, providing regulated financial services while following all CDC guidelines and ensuring the health and safety of customers and employees, and continuity of financial services in all communities. In fact, governors and other public officials from across the country — including in California, Illinois(PDF), Kentucky(PDF), New Jersey and New York, to name a few — agree that neighborhood financial service centers are critical, designating these businesses as “essential” in meeting the needs of Americans. These financial service centers remain open, despite the closure of scores of other businesses, including other financial services providers who have simply elected to close.

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Car Capital Financial

Car Capital offers title loans at competitive rates, regardless of your credit score. If you’re interested in a title loan and live in Southern California, call Car Capital at 1-888-500-9887 and you could have cash in hand within 30 minutes. We are open weekdays from 8am to 5pm, and Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. We can get you the money you need today!

Life is spontaneous, and it’s impossible to plan for everything. That’s why it’s smart to have a backup plan when life throws you a curveball. Sometimes, the only thing standing between you and your goals is a lack of cash. Whether you’re looking to expand your business, finance your honeymoon, or simply need a little extra spending money over the holidays, an increasing number of Californians are considering personal loans vs. title loans. The accessibility of these loans makes them a convenient choice for anyone in an immediate cash bind.

How is a Title Loan different from a Personal Loan?

But while personal cash loans are helpful in their own respect, there may be an even better option. If you are the owner of a motor vehicle, you may want to consider taking out a title loan. These loans are backed by collateral (in this case, your vehicle), so they tend to be larger and set under more relaxed terms. They are also just as convenient as a personal loan: in most cases, you can have cash in hand within as little as 30 minutes. In many cases, people who choose to take out title loans are able to borrow more money with lower interest rates and fewer background checks. The choice between a personal loan and a title loan has the potential to save you thousands of dollars.

Unsecured Loan Drawbacks

A personal loan is considered an unsecured loan, since you’re not offering up any collateral for the money you’ll be borrowing. Because of this, lenders tend to loan out smaller amounts, which reduces their risk of you defaulting on their loan and running with the cash. To qualify for a personal loan, you’ll have to supply proof of income, such as a pay stub or bank statement, for approval. This shows the lender you have a plan in place to pay back their loan. You may also be required to verify your credit score or run a credit check. It’s possible to get a personal loan without having your credit checked, but this may lead to lower loan amounts and higher interest rates.

Accessing the value of your pink slip

In contrast, a title loan is what’s known as a collateral loan or secured loan, because you temporarily swap your car title for the money you are loaned. Obviously, you’ll need to own a motor vehicle in order to take out a title loan. However, it’s not always necessary to physically hand over your car — in fact, eligible borrowers only need to relinquish the title of their car. This means you can continue to drive your car, but it will be legally owned by the lender until you pay the money back. These loans are usually larger than personal loans, but the amount of your loan will ultimately be based on the value of your vehicle. A lender will typically factor in the physical condition of your vehicle, as well as its year, make, model, and mileage. Because of the collateral used, there are generally fewer credit checks involved, making title loans a primary option for people with low credit scores or anyone looking for a quick and easy way to borrow money.

It’s important to fully understand the terms associated with different types of loans. Keep up your expectations, but also be aware of your limitations. Remember that a loan is not a permanent fix, but merely a temporary one. In any case, title loans are one of the most popular options on the market, and for good reason.

Car Capital offers title loans at competitive rates, regardless of your credit score. If you’re interested in a title loan and live in Southern California, call Car Capital at 1-888-500-9887 and you could have cash in hand within 30 minutes. We are open weekdays from 8am to 5pm, and Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. We can get you the money you need today!

Now that graduation season is upon us, many grads are walking across the stage and receiving their college diploma, but many are wondering how they’re going to pay for it when they need to pay off student loans.

For those graduates fortunate enough to have lined up a great job, you may be riding high right now, but fast-forward a few months and student loans could quickly begin to dominate your financial concerns.

You are not alone.

Paying off student loans is no easy task, and it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to do it quickly, but there are some excellent ways to shorten your repayment period by months or even years! How? Try one or all of the methods below and you could end up saving thousands of dollars!

Make a plan

The first thing you’ll need to do is draft a budget, create a spending plan, and determine just how long it’s going to take to get your loans paid off.

If you’re not satisfied with the results, it may be time to start making cuts to your expenses. Lop a little money off the spending side, and you could start spending more on paying down that debt.

Stop going out with friends, don’t throw away any more money on grabbing the latest tech gadgets, cut your cable bill and don’t partake in any more shopping sprees.

Start Paying Immediately

If you qualify for a six month grace period, don’t wait until it expires to start making monthly payments.

You’ll end up owing less in interest if you start paying down the debt right now, and it’ll help you get into the routine of allocating enough funds toward your monthly payments, rather than spending them on unnecessary expenses.

If you’re disciplined up front, you’ll set up some positive habits and end up being far ahead of everybody else. If you’re still in school, any amount you can contribute to your student loans could end up helping greatly.

Schedule Multiple Payments Per Month

It’s common knowledge that you can pay your mortgage off more quickly by making two payments per month, but many people don’t realize that you can do a similar thing with student loans!

Making two payments per month will end up reducing the amount of total interest you accumulate, allowing you to get out of debt sooner, and at a lower cost.

Also, by making payments every two weeks, you’ll end up making more payments than you would have made on the monthly plan, since paying every other week equals 26 payments per year!

While that’ll cost you more money in the short-run, it’ll save you tremendous amounts over the lifetime of your loan.

If you can’t afford to make extra payments in full, then send in whatever you can manage to divert with each payment, as even an extra $5 or $25 per month will add up to some big savings over time.

Remember, every dollar you allocate toward your payments now could save you hundreds of dollars in interest fees over the course of the loan.

Make Sacrifices & Cuts

The more you can cut expenses, the sooner you’ll be out of debt.

Whether that means dropping your overly expensive cell phone plan, reducing the number of nights you go out each week, or skipping out on a big vacation, whatever you can do to drop your expenses will allow you to allocate more cash for those monthly payments.

Set a strict monthly budget for yourself, and don’t just stick to it, but aggressively cut any absolutely unnecessary monthly expenses. Figure out exactly where all of your money is going, then reduce the amount being spent on frivolous purchases so you can free up more cash for your loans.

If you’ve never set up a budget before, look for online advice about how to create one. Write it all down, or build a spreadsheet and make sure to keep it up to date. The more you watch your spending, the more costs you’ll cut and the sooner you can get out of debt.

Take Advantage of Discounts

Are you aware of all the ways you can reduce your debt?

Signing up for automatic monthly payments or consolidating your loans could earn you an interest rate reduction, saving you some serious money.

Most lenders will offer you an interest rate reduction of 0.25% just for enrolling in their autopay program, so get signed up now and you can start saving today!

Tackle High-Interest Loans First

Your high-interest rate loans are costing the most money, so you need to pay them off first.

Just like you’d do with credit card debt, you’ll want to focus on paying off your student loans that come with the highest interest rates, which will reduce the amount of money you end up having to pay over the life of your loans.

Getting rid of your high-interest rate loans first could save you thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars, so don’t neglect this essential, important tactic.

Any extra money that you can come up with each month should be directed toward the payment for your highest-interest loan.

Make Extra Income

Have you looked into taking on a second job? Looked for freelancing opportunities? Are you aware of all the weird ways to make additional money?

You might be surprised by how much money you can raise by taking on additional responsibilities, like filling out surveys, writing reviews or doing simple manual labor.

Ask the neighbors if they need help with chores, look for extra work on the outsourcing websites like Odesk or eLance, and be sure to watch for opportunities on your local Craigslist job board too.

Consolidate Student Loans

Student loan debt consolidation is convenient and free of charge for federal loan holders; however it’s not always in your best interest to consolidate.

Any time that you can consolidate private loans to get a lower interest rate, that’s probably worth pursuing, but be cautious with your federal loans.

Some federal student loans come with amazing financial benefits, and consolidating them with a direct consolidation loan could wipe out your eligibility to take advantage of them.

Be careful too, because even though a consolidation might reduce your monthly payments, it typically also ends up making your loan more expensive over the long-haul, since it stretches out your monthly payments to last for more years, giving interest more time to accumulate.

Student Loan Forgiveness Programs

Public service workers and government employees, educators and nurses are sometimes eligible for student loan forgiveness programs.

The U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid website provides a comprehensive listing of the most common discharge, cancellation and forgiveness programs.

Be sure to look into these benefits, as some of them could dramatically reduce your expenses, saving you thousands to even tens of thousands of dollars.

Car Capital Financial

Following one or all of these strategies will help put you on the fast track to paying off your student loan debt and saving you thousands of dollars in interest accumulation!

However, with these tougher economic times, if your student loans are making it difficult to pay your rent or pay bills on time, then you may need to look elsewhere for assistance.

Before you sign up for dangerous neighborhood loans or credit card cash advances, be sure to look into the affordable car title loans offered by Car Capital Financial.

Car Capital offers secured personal loans in the form of car and other vehicle title loans. Loans do not require a credit check, and cash can be delivered in as little as 30 minutes. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

Car Capital Financial has provided safe, reliable and affordable car title loans to residents of Southern California for over 15 years, and can get you the money you want today. If you need money quickly, then please call 1-888-500-9887 now.

 

Due to the recent foreclosure crisis, stories of people sticking out a 30-year mortgage in the same home are becoming rarer by the day. However, this economic crisis has also served as a motivator for people to go all-out in their efforts to become debt free sooner.

If you’re financially secure and free of high-interest debt, then paying off your mortgage early can be a lot easier than you think.

Below are four easy ways to pay off your mortgage early:

1. Make Additional Mortgage Payments

Whenever you can, it is savvy to begin making extra payments. An advantage of these extra payments is that all that money goes toward the principal balance you we (instead of toward interest).

Even just one extra payment per year year can have a huge impact on the total cost of your mortgage. Even better is the fact that you can make this extra payment any time of the year, and oftentimes, in any amount. Whether you want to put an extra $5 or an extra $500 toward your mortgage, you should be able to use it.

Do you receive any additional income throughout the year? Have you already received your tax refund? You may want to consider applying some, if not all of this additional income to the principal balance of your mortgage. What makes this a great strategy is that you will not be required to make a higher monthly payment and you won’t miss this extra money since you didn’t count on having the money in the first place.

2. Refinance Your Interest Rate

Have you thought about refinancing your mortgage to receive a better interest rate? A lower interest rate can help you save thousands of dollars in just one year! The amount you save will depend on the exact figures of your mortgage, but over the lifetime of the loan, that could be substantial. Many people fail to refinance because they think their credit isn’t good enough to do it, but it’s always worth exploring the opportunities, no matter how bad your credit score might be.

People, who refinanced their mortgage rates in 2012, lowered their rate by an average of 1.5 percent. For a $200,000 home loan, that translates to savings of about $2,900 in interest payments over a 12 month period, according to Freddie Mac.

If you decide to refinance your mortgage, you will need to get all financial paperwork in order. That means showing your proof of income, tax returns, assets and any investments to your mortgage lender. Having these financial documents in order will help show your lender that you are able to afford your mortgage loan and thus make it easier to refinance your loan.

3. Cut Unnecessary Expenses

You may want to consider cutting some of your monthly expenses and put the money you save towards your mortgage.

Can you switch to a cheaper cell phone plan? Can you do away with cable TV? Create a budget, list out your living expenses and look for ways you can save money, and then devote that extra money to your mortgage payments.

It may be difficult to cut those living expenses, but it may be worth it considering your goal is to pay off your mortgage and be debt-free!

4. Make Bi-Weekly Payments

Chances are that you are making monthly payments, which is understandable since the average mortgage is structured for you to make only one payment each month. This payment structure is generally a good thing, since you will make the mortgage payment at the same time each month and it will be easier for you to create your monthly budget.

However, have you ever considered splitting that monthly mortgage payment to bi-weekly payments? Surprisingly, making bi-weekly payments instead of a single monthly payment could save you thousands of dollars and cut years off your mortgage.

By paying half of your monthly payment every two weeks, you will erase almost six years off a 30-year mortgage, according to Bankrate.com.

If you decide to use this strategy remember to contact your lender to change your payment schedule and be aware that there may be a set-up fee to do this. You will also need to remember to have enough funds during those 2 months where you’ll be making three payments instead of two.

Car Capital Financial

Mortgage rates today can seem high, but if you follow these tips you can end up with a lower interest rate on your mortgage and with thousands of dollars extra in your bank account.

If you have the opposite problem (too little cash rather than too much) and need to raise some money quickly, then consider taking out a car title loan from Car Capital Financial.

We’re Southern California’s leading title loans company, and we can get you the money you want in as little as 30 minutes!

If you own your car in full, or only have a few remaining payments left, then you are likely to qualify for one of our cash title loans. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan. Call us now at 1-888-500-9887 to find out how much money you can get!

It’s an unfortunate reality that each day thousands of people are hurt in car accidents, workplace injuries and other calamities, leading them to have to deal with something far more serious than cuts and bruises.

Facing costly medical bills, expensive car or home repairs and other costs, you may find yourself in need of negotiating an insurance settlement in order to afford all the expenses you’re facing.

Should the situation arise, you’ll be forced to file a car or personal insurance claim with the proper insurance company and then sit down at the negotiating table to work out the details.

In some cases, you’ll need to hire a lawyer to guide you through the negotiating process, but that’s not always necessary.

This post will help you understand what’s involved so that you can play a more active role in negotiations, increasing the chances that you’ll receive the maximum potential payout for whatever injury or damage you’re facing.

Negotiating an Insurance Settlement

If you do decide to go at it alone, the first thing you should do is come up with a dollar amount you would accept to settle your case.

Negotiating an insurance settlement is kind of like bargaining at a garage sale – both parties will know how much debt you’ve incurred as a result of the accident (including medical bills, damage to your car or other property, etc.), but the insurance company won’t know how much you are willing to take to keep this out of court. That’s where things get complicated.

Negotiations can be as straightforward, or circuitous. Sometimes it’s a simple process of asking for a certain dollar amount, then agreeing to whatever the insurance company offers back, while other times there are long, drawn-out negotiations and arguments over who’s really responsible for the injuries and damages, what the financial extent of those injuries and damages really amounts to.

To get the settlement amount that you deserve, you’ll need to prepare for every stage of your insurance claim, and should be ready to tackle:

• Providing a full report, and responding to investigative questions

• Offering supporting documents (medical bills, mechanic bills, etc.)

• Furnishing a demand letter that requests restitution for those costs, including a specific dollar amount that you would be willing to settle for

• An explanation of how quickly you need the money (be careful with this one – if you say that you need the money immediately, the insurance company will have additional leverage over you in the negotiations process)

Your ability to handle these steps during the settlement negotiations process could make or break your case, allowing things to go smoothly and ensuring you receive the maximum payout, or harming your ability to get a settlement, and reducing the amount of money that you’ll receive.

Remember, even if you don’t end up hiring a lawyer to officially represent you during negotiations, it’s almost always worth consulting with one to make sure that you haven’t overlooked anything, and to ensure that you have a solid understanding of the legal implications of your situation.

Car Capital Financial

If you need to raise emergency money quickly, then Car Capital Financial can help.

We have provided safe, affordable and reliable car title loans to Southern California residents for over 15 years, and we can get you the cash you want in as little as 30 minutes.

If you own your car in full, or have just a few remaining payments on it, then you likely qualify for one of our no credit check cash title loans. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

Call us now at 1-888-500-9887 to find out how much money you can get!

In today’s economy, virtually everyone is looking for various ways to save money, and when it comes to car insurance that is certainly no exception.

Many of today’s drivers try to find the cheapest car insurance rates available, but with cheap rates comes less-than-adequate coverage and poor customer service.

Fortunately, you can take advantage of these five ways to save money on car insurance without having to sacrifice quality coverage.

Keep a Clean Record

The first obvious method is for you to maintain a clean driving record. If you have a history of being involved in traffic accidents, the insurance company will consider you a risk that could potentially cost them lots of money. The more traffic accidents and moving violations you have on your driving record, the higher the insurance premiums will be for you.

Maintain Good Credit

Car insurance companies look at various factors before giving you a quote on your insurance premium. One of those factors that you may not be aware of is your credit score. Having a good credit score will help you receive lower cost car insurance!

The reasoning behind your credit rating being a factor is that car insurers believe drivers who are responsible with their finances tend to carry over that responsibility to their driving habits.

If you have bad credit, then you may need to focus on raising your credit score by reducing your debt and paying your bills on time. This will not only ensure that you can receive affordable car insurance premiums, but it will also help you achieve great interest rates if and when you decide to apply for a credit card or a loan.

Compare Insurance Rates

When the time comes to renew your car insurance and you see that the annual premium has gone up, then you need to start shopping and obtaining quotes from other car insurance companies.

Most drivers fail to do some comparison shopping, but this one simple trick alone can save you hundreds to thousands of dollars a year!

It is imperative that you to go out and compare insurance rates every year to two so that you can find out if you are getting the best deal available.

It is also important to check how your car insurance rate may change when there is a change in your marital status, or after you received a traffic violation. These and other factors can affect how much you pay each month.

Ask for Higher Deductibles

When it comes time to determine your car insurance rates, you’ll be asked to choose a deductible, which is the amount of money you have to pay out of pocket before insurance starts covering the costs of any claim.

Deductibles can range from $200 to $1,000, or more, and it all depends on the type of policy you select. If you choose to pay a lower deductible, then the annual premium will be higher. Likewise, if you pay a higher deductible at the start, the lower the premium will be.

If you don’t think you’ll even need to use your insurance, then choose a higher deductible to make the annual insurance premium better by several percentage points, which will save you a great deal of money as long as you don’t need to make a claim!

Be sure to check with your car insurance company to see how your premium may be affected if you raise your deductible.

Bundle Your Coverage

Many car insurers will give you a discount on your car insurance if you package your vehicle coverage with your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. Another way to get this discount is by having more than one car insured with the same company.

One reason that insurance companies offer premium discounts to customers who package their policies is that it discourages them from shopping around with the competition.

Be sure you’re not being tricked into thinking you’re getting a great discount by shopping around, and ensuring that your provider really is offering you the best deal.

Car Capital Financial

Car insurance rates may continue to rise, but if you follow these tips you will find out that saving money isn’t as hard as you originally thought.

Whether you end up incorporating some of these ideas, or all of them, you should have no trouble putting at least a little bit of money back into your pocket.

If you need some emergency cash assistance, then keep in mind that you can always give Car Capital Financial a call for a low-interest, secured personal loan.

Our car title loans are provided within minutes of receiving your initial call, getting you the cash you need today, and without even requiring you to face a credit check. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

Call us now at 1-888-500-9887 to find out if one of our safe, reliable and affordable auto title loans would be a good fit for your financial needs.

 

The purpose of the bail system is to guarantee the appearance of a criminal defendant in court.

To fully understand the system, it is important that you understand the bail bonds process:

1. The Court sets a bail amount
2.  A bail bondsman pays this amount to the court
3. If the defendant shows up to all their court dates, then the bail bondsman gets his money back

Most people hear about bail on the news when someone gets arrested. We hear things like, “So-and-so was released on X thousand dollars bail and will return to court at a later date.”

But what does bail really mean? To answer that question here is a good overview of what bail is, how bail bonds work, and what bail bondsmen do:

Bail Background

If you are ever arrested on suspicion of a crime, you will be taken to jail for booking. During this process, you will have your mug shot taken, you will be fingerprinted and you will be asked for a statement. Before your court trial date arrives, you’ll have two options:

1. Remain in jail until your court date
2. Post bail so that you can be released

What Bail Is?

Bail is a way for the court to increase the chances that you’ll actually return for your court date. When the court takes your bail money, it’s like they’re taking a hostage from you, which you’ll only get back if you arrive in court at a later date.

Since bail amounts are typically relatively large (they wouldn’t be compelling if there wasn’t enough money on the line), most people have to rely on Bail Bondsmen to front the money for them, giving it to the court on their behalf.

In that case, bail is a financial agreement that a bail bonds company makes for you with the criminal court in order to get you released from jail while you await your trial date.

The court sets the bail amount and the bail bond company pays the bail on your behalf with cash, assets, or a bond.

A bond is a surety that the full bail amount will be paid, kind of like an official IOU, and while some courts require the full amount to be paid up front, others will accept as little as a 10% cash down payment to secure your release.

The trick here is that after the bail agency posts bail on your behalf, they are the ones who become financially responsible for ensuring that you arrive for your day in court.

If you fail to show up for your appearance, it’s highly likely that the bail bonds agency will hire a bounty hunter to track you down and bring you back, as that’s the only way they’ll be able to get back the money they spent posting your bail.

What is a Bail Bondsman?

A Bail Bondsman is the person who posts bail on your behalf.

Typically, bail bondsmen work for a bail bonding company, but there are also independent operators who handle everything on their own.

The way that bail bondsmen make money is by charging you a fee for fronting the money used to post your bail. That fee is usually something like 10% of the amount of money required to post your bail, and is a fee that is not refundable, even if the case gets thrown out after you post bail.

Most times, bail bondsmen will take out a security against any assets you have in order to cover the cost of your bail. If you don’t have enough assets to cover bail, then the bondsman may need to take out securities against anyone who can help vouch for you (think of them like cosigners on a loan), including your friends and family.

When the bail bondsman takes out their security against your assets, he or she will typically require you to pay 10% of the total in cash in addition to the mortgage on a person’s home that would equal the full amount of the bail money owed.

If you don’t arrive in court on your specified date, the bail bondsman will probably hire a bounty hunter to track you down, but he or she will also have the right to sue you for the money handed over to the court to post your bail.

Your bail bondsman or bail bonds company is also likely to claim any assets that you or the individuals who helped vouch for listed when you signed the original contract with them.

Car Capital Financial

If you or someone you know is in dire need of some emergency money to cover the costs of posting bail, then Car Capital Financial may be able to help.

For more than 15 years, we’ve provided safe, reliable, and affordable car title loans to people who needed money quickly, regardless of what they needed it for.

Our car title loans allow you to raise money quickly and easily, netting you thousands of dollars in mere minutes by using the value of your vehicle as collateral for a short-term, low-interest secured loan.

But better yet, our loans don’t require a credit check, and they don’t require you to leave your vehicle with us!

In fact, you can continue to drive your car however and wherever you like as long as you keep making monthly payments to pay back the loan. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

Get the money you need in as little as 15 minutes by calling us now at 1-888-500-9887.

For millions of Americans who don’t have a bank account or who cannot qualify for one, check cashing centers provide a place to cash checks, pay the bills, get a neighborhood loan and more.

Although check cashing services may not exactly be the most economical way to cash your check without a checking account, they are a useful service for those people who have no other options.

Check cashing comes in a variety of flavors too, with 24 hour check cashing centers, personal check cashing services, and even online check cashing operators.

Pros & Cons of Check Cashing

Many people are wary of relying on check cashing services due to concerns about cost and safety, but some prefer them to traditional banks.

What are the potential benefits and potential setbacks that you could face by relying on a check cashing vendor?

It gets complicated, but fortunately, we’re here to break it down for you and help you determine whether or not this avenue fits your financial situation.

Advantages of Check Cashing Centers

For some, the use of check cashing centers is almost a necessity because they are unable to open checking accounts at traditional banks.

This could be due to terrible credit issues, financial fraud or other concerns that end up being cut off from the typical banking that most Americans enjoy, but whatever the case, there is another way to get money from your checks.

Check cashing centers are often more convenient than traditional banks, because they often have longer business hours (opening earlier and closing later), but they also offer a variety of other useful services, like:

• Neighborhood loans and other types of short term installment loans
• Money transfers
• Bill payments
• Money orders
• Stamps, envelopes, and mailing services
• Notary public
• Currency exchange
• Prepaid debit and credit cards

Check cashing centers are also faster than traditional banks, leading to some consumers relying on them when time is of the essence.

When a check is cashed into a traditional bank’s checking account, the whole amount of the check isn’t usually accessible, but that’s not the case at a check cashing center.

When you use check cashing services, your funds are made immediately available, because the amount of your check is given to you in cash (minus the service/transaction fee).

Disadvantages of Check Cashing Centers

Some people certainly love check cashing centers, and will return to them repeatedly, but for many individuals, their convenience comes at too hefty a price.

The most common argument against the use of check cashing is that their fees are simply too high. Typically, these places charge customers an average of 3-5% per check, regardless of the nature of the check.

On average, the annual costs of using a check cashing service is significantly higher than the fees associated with using a checking account for similar needs.

Now that most banks offer online access, direct deposits, and electronic payments, check cashing has become significantly less popular, even for those individuals who are unable to open a traditional bank account.

Check Cashing Alternatives

In recent years, many Americans have turned to new alternatives, like second chance bank accounts, which provide users the convenience of check cashing accounts without the requirement of passing a credit check, or Chex Systems verification.

Most people are unaware that there are other ways of paying your bills and cashing your check without going to a check cashing center, but there really are plenty of alternative options, including:

Prepaid Cards

Most prepaid debit card companies allow card holders to have payroll and government issued checks directly deposited into their account for free. Once a payroll check is deposited, the card holder can withdraw their money, or make purchases against the deposited funds.

Walmart

Most Walmarts across the nation allow customers to cash payroll checks, as well as some government issued checks. Walmart will cash checks that are equal or less than $1,500.

The cost for cashing a check is usually a maximum charge of $3, and it depends on the amount and nature of the check, but it’s typically less costly than visiting a check cashing center.

To cash a check, the customer has to show a valid ID and enter their social security number using a PIN pad, but that’s it!

Grocery Stores

Some local grocery and liquor stores now offer check cashing services to their customers.

For example, most grocery stores will cash non-personal checks other than tax refund checks, typically with a low fee like $1 for every $100 cashed.

Car Capital Financial

Deciding on whether to use a check cashing center comes down to personal choice. In the end, there are good reasons for and against using such a service. Accessibility, convenience, cost, and your financial situation should all come into play when deciding which service will work best for you.

Should you need emergency cash assistance keep in mind that there are safer, more reliable options for raising money quickly than check cashing, credit card advances, and neighborhood loans.

Call Car Capital Financial to get yourself a low-interest, secured personal loan, in the form of a car title loan. Our loans use the equity in your vehicle as collateral for a cash loan, allowing you to raise a great deal of money quickly, and without having to sacrifice the use of your car!

Whether you’ve got a car, motorcycle, rv, boat or other titled vehicle, we can get you the cash you need in as little as 30 minutes. We’re Southern California’s leading auto title loans company, and we’ve offered our safe, reliable and affordable title loans to Southern California residents for over 15 years. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

To get you the money you want in as little as 30 minutes, give us a call now at 1-888-500-9887.

 

During financial hard times, many people turn to pawn shops and pawn loans when looking to raise some emergency cash.

However, before you consider going to a pawn shop, you need to understand how a pawn shop works and what to pawn to make money.

Below are the steps you will need to follow in order to successfully raise money by visiting the local pawn shop.

The Process of Pawning

Pawning is the process of borrowing money against the value of one or more of your personal items. Essentially, pawn loans are another form of collateral loans.

You can use gold, silver, platinum or diamond jewelry to get a pawn loan, or you can use more basic goods like household items, or exotic items, like musical instruments, collectibles and anything else that has some value. Gold, precious metals and jewelry are typically the most useful items to pawn, since they hold their value over time, while electronics and computers depreciate much more quickly, and won’t net you much money from a pawn broker.

When you take your items to the pawn shop, the broker will evaluate them, tell you what they think they’re worth, then offer you a short-term loan based on the value of your items.

If you agree to take the loan, the pawn shop takes temporary possession of your items, storing them away for safe keeping so that they can be returned to you in exactly the same condition that they were received.

When your pawn loan comes due, if you can pay it all back in full, you’ll get your items back. If you can’t afford to pay the loan off, the pawn shop will serve you a 30 day final notice, offering you the chance to either pay off the loan in full, or extend the loan by paying interest and other fees.

If you can’t make those payments, then the pawn shop is legally allowed to take possession of your items by transferring ownership of the property from you to themselves, and you will be forced to buy the items back from the pawn shop at whatever price they decide to sell them at.

Advantages of Pawning

Pawn loans are available to people with no credit, bad credit, or other financial problems since the loans are secured by collateral (whatever items you pawn).

That means pawn shops are a great place to get a loan with bad credit and no credit check.

Pawn shops are also able to provide you with a loan quickly, getting you the cash you want the same day (and often within minutes), but there are some downsides as well.

Downsides of Pawning

Pawn loans aren’t cheap, with a high interest rate placed on the loan to ensure that the pawn shop gets some value out of lending you their money for a limited time.

Pawn loans also don’t run for very long, with the average loan period ranging somewhere around just 90 days. That means you only get 3 months to pay back the loan before your items are taken from you, which for many people, simply won’t be enough time to come up with the funds.

And finally, pawn loans typically don’t provide much cash, with most loans ranging somewhere in the $100 to a few hundred dollars range. It is possible to get a larger loan from a pawn shop, but to do that, you’ve got to have more valuable items to pawn.

Alternatives to Pawning

If you need to raise money quickly, but don’t want to risk a family heirloom, then consider taking out a car title loan instead.

Car title loans are a form of secured personal loans that use the equity in your vehicle as collateral for a loan, allowing you to raise a great deal of money instantly.

Better yet, car title loans from Car Capital Financial don’t require you to stop using your vehicle throughout the course of the loan, meaning that you’ll get a cash loan, but still be able to drive your car, motorcycle, rv, boat or other titled vehicle as much as you like while you’re paying the loan back. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

Car Capital Financial is Southern California’s leading auto title loans company and has offered safe, reliable and affordable title loans for over 15 years.

To get you the money you need in as little as 30 minutes, give us a call now at 1-888-500-9887.

 

 

Buying a new cell phone or upgrading your existing one usually binds you to an expensive 2 -year contract, but prepaid phones offer the same basic services of regular cell phones without the 2 year commitment.

The major difference being that there’s no long term contract requirements or overage charges for minutes that exceed the monthly plan. Before you decide to go with prepaid phones, here are some of the facts you need to know.

Prepaid Phone Plans

There are two popular kinds of prepaid plans. They are the pay-as-you-go plan and the prepaid monthly plan. The pay-as-you-go cell phones are simple – you buy the phone, purchase a set amount of minutes and you’re set! Once you finish up your minutes, you can simply buy more minutes.

The prepaid monthly plan is pretty self-explanatory as well, but it works more like a traditional cell phone plan. You pay a monthly rate to your wireless carrier, which typically costs about $30 – for a set number of minutes, along with text and data.

If you end up running out of minutes, or data, you can always pay to add more, just like you would with the prepaid plan.

For heavy users, we suggest looking into prepaid plans which offer unlimited talk, text and data, as these will save you some money compared to always having to pay for extra minutes or extra data after you’ve already run out.

These plans typically cost between $40-50 a month, depending on your cell phone provider.

Cons of Prepaid Phones

Those prices sound pretty good, but they do come with a few downsides. First, you’ll have to pay the full price for your cell phone (the actual phone itself) upfront, unlike standard cell phone plans which sometimes waive or subsidize the cost in exchange for a two year contract.

Your selection of phones will be more limited as well, often limiting your access to older models, or at least non-premium phones. Also, depending on your wireless carrier, the coverage and data plans aren’t usually as strong as those offered by traditional contracts (non-prepaid phone contracts).

Benefits of Prepaid Phones

If you’re someone who doesn’t spend too much time on your phone, going prepaid can potentially save you hundreds of dollars over a standard plan. To determine what you’ll be able to save, you’ll need to assess your usage and current costs, and then compare them to the prepaid options on the market.

Keep in mind that while cell phones are a necessity these days, the pricey contracts you can do without.

Prepaid phones offer the freedom of no contracts, no credit checks, no carrier fees or hidden taxes. You will be free to talk whenever you want, as long as you want (if you get an unlimited plan), and you won’t have to pay a monthly bill as long as you don’t run out of minutes each month.

Talking more, one month and less the next month makes no difference to prepaid plans, as long as those plans are exclusively based around purchasing minutes. Plus, if you want to change to a different type of plan, a prepaid phone gives you the freedom to switch whenever you want, without facing early contract termination fees.

There are a lot of benefits to prepaid plans, but perhaps the biggest is the flexibility and customization possible when you aren’t locked into a long-term contract.

Car Capital Financial

If you are trying to cut your monthly expenses, then switching from the traditional expensive long-term cell phone contract to a much cheaper prepaid plan might be a great idea.

But if you need to raise a lot of money quickly, then a no credit check car title loan might be your best bet toward reaching your financial goals.

A title loan works by awarding you a cash sum based on the value of your car, and in exchange the title loan company temporarily takes ownership of your title. You are free to drive your car as you pay back your loan, and the title will be returned into your name as soon as you have paid off your loan in full. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

Getting the emergency money you need without having to give up driving your car, pawning off family heirlooms or sacrificing personal relationships may be your best bet in this time of need. For more information about our vehicle title loans, please contact us now at 1-888-500-9887!

 

With an installment loan, you borrow a specific dollar amount from a lender and you agree to pay the loan back, plus interest, in a series of payments.

Qualifying for an installment loan is a great way to pay for your car, home, higher education expenses or other personal costs. Home equity loans, which come in handy for home repairs and maintenance, are an example of installment loans.

Other examples of installment loans include mortgages, car loans, student loans, neighborhood loans and any other form of loan that involves paying back the original principal over a series of monthly, weekly, or other regularly scheduled payments.

Not everyone qualifies for installment loans, because it’s risky for lenders to give money away that they aren’t sure they’ll get back, so oftentimes credit scores, debt-to-income ratios and financial history are used to determine whether or not a borrower will qualify for the loan.

 

When getting a traditional installment loan from a bank or credit union, interest rates typically fluctuate based on credit scores, with lower interest rates only being offered to those borrowers with great credit, and those with poor credit either being disqualified from the process entirely, or being forced to pay high interest rates.

For newer installment loans, like car title loans, neighborhood loans and other similar types of secured personal loans, credit scores are typically ignored, and interest rates won’t fluctuate depending on financial history.

When you apply for an installment loan from a traditional financial institution, your potential lender is likely to want a great deal of information from you, including the name, address and phone number of your current employer, the number of years you’ve worked at your current job, your income level, and a variety of other related information.

However, when you apply for one of the newer types of installment loans (like car title loans), you typically won’t have to provide nearly as much information about yourself, since your credit score and other details won’t have any impact on the terms of your loan.

Before You Apply for an Installment Loan

Due to the fact that your credit score is such an important part of the loan application process for traditional loans, it is important to keep close tabs on your credit score in the months before you apply for an installment loan.

You also will want to make sure your credit reports are accurate and error-free before applying for an installment loan. You can (and should) request a free credit report once per year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – and should immediately address any errors that you find within them.

For traditional installment loans, good places to begin shopping include your local bank or credit union, or some other lender where you’ve already established a financial relationship.  For the more modern types of loans, you can get the loan from anyone who offers them, and don’t need any previous relationship with the lender.

Car Capital Financial

If you are in need of immediate cash and you own your own car in full, or have nearly paid it off, then it’s likely that you would qualify for an affordable car title loan from Car Capital Financial.

With our loans, you trade temporary ownership of your vehicle’s title for instant cash, which can be delivered in as little as 30 minutes.

During the course of your loan, you’ll continue to enjoy complete access to and use of your vehicle, without any restrictions, and once you’ve paid back the loan in full, we’ll return the title to your name.

Our auto title loans are similar to auto pawn loans, but with us, you can keep driving your car!

Our title loans let you raise money fast, without forcing you to sell or stop using any of your valuable possessions, but better yet, they’re generally much safer than other forms of fast cash, like neighborhood loans, being a human guinea pig, or taking out a credit card cash advance. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

To get the money you want right away, give us a call at 1-888-500-9887.

What exactly are prepaid debit cards? A prepaid debit card (not prepaid credit card) is an alternative to using cash for your day-to-day transactions.

These cards function exactly like a regular credit or debit card, except that they are not tied to any specific bank or checking account.

While the autonomy from big banks may seem appealing, there are a few myths that need to be debunked before you decide to sign up for your own prepaid debit card.

Myth #1 – No Hidden Fees

Many people believe that prepaid debit cards are a great way to avoid pesky bank fees, but that isn’t always the case. While prepaid cards help chronic over-spenders avoid overdraft fees, the price for using the card is more expensive than the price for using a traditional debit card.

In fact, some prepaid debit cards charge you every time you make a deposit or a withdrawal, and that doesn’t even account for the monthly maintenance fee which you’ll have to pay for the convenience of using a prepaid card.

It may not seem like much, these little fees can add up over time, and may leave you wondering why you started using the prepaid card in the first place.

Myth #2 – Safer Than Other Forms of Payment

Banks and credit card companies provide protection to customers who are the victims of theft resulting from fraud. This means that if someone else uses your credit card, you’ll likely have an opportunity to get your money back.

Typically, banks and credit card companies both provide this type of protection, but that service is not usually available with prepaid debit cards. On the contrary, if your prepaid card is stolen and used, it’s likely that you will not be able to get any of the money back.

And even in those rare cases where prepaid cards do offer some kind of fraud protection coverage, it’s often voluntary – meaning that the prepaid debit card company can revise or rescind their coverage at any time.

Myth #3 – Improve Your Credit Score

This may be the biggest misconception of them all!

Some prepaid debit cards do have relationships with credit bureaus, where they offer access to credit score trackers, or credit reports, but using a prepaid card will do nothing to improve your credit score.

Because prepaid cards have no debt obligation, none of the data related to using them will impact your score in any way.

If you’re looking to improve your credit, the first step should be to find ways to reduce your spending, which will allow you to start paying down whatever debt you may currently have.

When prepaid debit cards are a good option?

Prepaid debit cards are typically appropriate as a short-term financial solution, or for people with serious spending problems, but that’s about it.

If you’re traveling, it may be wiser to carry a prepaid debit card than a travelers check or a wallet filled with cash, because it reduces the risk of losing lots of money all at once, but with fraud protection built into credit card and traditional debit cards, it’s not really all that necessary.

Prepaid cards should not be seen as a long-term option for your cash-handling needs either, and are definitely not necessary for people with poor credit scores.

If you’ve got bad credit, and need some financial assistance, the good news is that you do have other options. For details, check out our guide to bad credit personal loans.

Car Capital Financial

Just because you have bad credit doesn’t mean that a pre-paid debit card will be the best solution for your financial needs. And if you need to raise some serious money quickly, then prepaid debit cards aren’t going to do a thing to help!

Instead, look into getting a safe, affordable and reliable car title loan from Car Capital Financial. We’re Southern California’s premier auto title loans company, and our no credit check loans are the perfect solution for people with poor credit.

All you need is a vehicle that’s paid off, or nearly paid off, and you can get the cash you want in as little as 30 minutes! Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

To get a great loan today, call us now at 1-888-500-9887.

When taking out a loan, your lender will explain details of the interest rate and the way that the interest rate impacts your monthly payment, but this can be a confusing process for new borrowers.

It’s especially hard to understand how this works without some basic information, and some lenders simply don’t take the time to make sure that their borrowers fully understand the complexities of interest rates, but Car Capital Financial is different.

This guide will help you better understand the differences between types of interest rates, allowing you to make a more informed, better decision about whether or not one of our safe, reliable and no-credit check car title loans is a good idea for you.

Types of Interest

First, comes the question what is interest, and what is an interest rate?

Interest is simply defined as the cost of borrowing money. Typically, interest is expressed in a percentage, and is used to calculate how much money you’ll need to pay your lender for the convenience of receiving a loan from them.

In lending, the amount of money you originally borrowed  is called the principal, which you’ll have to pay back, along with the added cost of borrowing the money, which is referred to as interest.

If you borrowed $1,000, and had an interest rate of 10%, then you’d owe $1,100 to your lender, since you owe the original principal amount ($1,000) plus the interest cost (10% of $1,000, which is $100).

Interest comes in a variety of forms though, which is where some people get confused.

Fixed Interest Rate Loans

Fixed interest rate loans are the simplest types of loans, and typically, the best for consumers.

They come with an interest rate that won’t fluctuate over time, isn’t tied to market conditions, or anything else – because it’s fixed.

When you take out a fixed interest rate loan, you know exactly how much money you’ll need to pay back over the lifespan of the loan, because it’s easy to calculate the total cost of added interest.

The major advantage to getting a fixed interest rate loan is that you’re protected from rising interest rates, better able to plan your finances well into the future, and can easily plan a monthly budget since you know the exact price of your monthly payments.

Downsides to fixed interest rate loans are that you can’t take advantage of rate reductions (should interest rates fall), and other potential additional costs like not being allowed to pay more than your monthly payment, or not being allowed to pay your loan off early.

Variable Rate Interest Loans

With variable interest rate loans, lenders reserve the right to update interest rates at some specified point in time so that they match prevailing market conditions.

Typically, these types of loans are worse for borrowers, since a lender would only update the interest rate if the rates have risen since they originally issued the loan, thus making the borrowers monthly payments more expensive.

If you take out a variable interest rate loan, then you don’t know what your monthly payments will be as soon as the interest rate is allowed to fluctuate, since you can’t predict whether or not interest rates will rise and fall by that time, or by how much they might change.

The good news about variable interest rate loans is that they typically don’t come with restrictions on making additional payments (meaning you can pay the loan off early), but this isn’t always the case.

The bad news about variable interest rate loans is that they often end up costing borrowers way more than they originally thought, since increasing the interest rate can dramatically inflate the costs of the loan.

Annual Percentage Rate

Often expressed as APR, this is the percentage of interest that is paid on the loan, calculated annually (yearly). If your monthly interest rate is 2%, the APR would actually be 24%, as the percentage gets multiplied by 12 months in the year.

The APR is a calculated rate that not only includes the interest rate, but also takes into account other lender fees required to finance the loan.

The idea behind APR is to help consumers understand the tradeoffs between interest rates and the fees paid at closing (such as paying higher fees to lower interest rates or increasing interest rates to cover closing costs).

For the purposes of this article, the most important thing to keep in mind is that you understand whether or not your loan will come with a fixed interest rate, or a variable interest rate, and that if it does come with a variable interest rate, that you understand the potential implications.

Car Capital Financial

If you are still unsure of what type of loan best fits your financial situation, and you are in need of some immediate cash assistance, give Car Capital Financial a call now to find out about your options.

We’ve provided safe, reliable and affordable car title loans to Southern California residents for over 15 years, and we offer low-interest, secured personal loans without requiring credit checks.

All you need is a car that’s fully paid off, or near being paid off, and we can get you up to thousands of dollars in cold, hard cash in as little as 30 minutes. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

Call us at 1-888-500-9887 to find out if our safe, reliable and affordable auto title loans are a good fit for your financial needs.

With the holiday season fast approaching and gas prices going up, you may start to see the money in your wallet evaporating more quickly.

Fortunately, with a few simple solutions, you can reduce your overall fuel consumption, allowing you to spend less money on gas.

Below are six effective ways you can start saving money on gas right now!

1. Remove the Junk From Your Trunk

Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%, with more weight reducing your gas mileage even further.

The heavier your car, the more gas it’ll take to get to your destination. Keep in mind that this has a bigger impact on smaller vehicles than larger ones as well, so it’s especially important for those of us driving small, gas-efficient cars.

2. Proper Maintenance

Keeping your tires filled with air and your air filter clean can help you save big money over the long-run. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage, but they also affect the handling, braking and tread life of your tires.

When your tires don’t have enough air in them, their rolling resistance is dramatically increased, so it takes more gas to get anywhere.

In fact, according to the Department of Energy, simply keeping your tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3%.

Even more important than tire air pressure is cleaning the air filters in your car regularly, which can improve your gas mileage by up to 7%. That may not seem like much, but it equates to some serious savings over the life of your vehicle.

3. Time Your Trips to the Pump

During a regular week, you want to fill up your tank on Wednesday or Thursday, before 10 a.m., says Chris Faulkner, president and CEO of Breitling Oil and Gas.

The reason: gas prices rise on Thursdays in anticipation of “weekend travel” and “10 a.m.” is when most station owners make their price change for the day.

Unless it is an emergency, do not buy gas Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Try to fill up before major holidays as well, when prices tend to rise dramatically in anticipation of all the driving that gets done.

4. Alternatives to Driving to Work

One of the best ways to lower your fuel expenses is to carpool to work.

You can reduce the inconvenience by sharing a ride with someone that works at the same company, and who lives near your home. Many companies have an Intranet web site where you may be able to find someone to carpool with.

Another great option is public transportation, where train and bus passes are usually available at discounted rates. Although you have to pay to use public transportation, it’s usually much less expensive than driving to work, especially if you have to pay for parking.

If you live close enough, consider walking or cycling to work, each of which will save you significant money in the long-run.

5. Turn Right

In the early 2000’s, UPS employed new routing software to increase the efficiency of its delivery fleet and reduce fuel consumption.

By eliminating as many left-hand turns as possible, UPS was able to save an estimated 10 million gallons of gas over an eight year period of time.

What makes the rule so effective? Before making a left-hand turn on a busy two-way street, you usually wind up idling—getting 0 mpg. In contrast to that, right-hand turns keep you moving, and using that gas to get somewhere rather than sitting still.

6. Drive Smoothly

If you can avoid rapid accelerations and stops, you’ll be able to further improve your fuel economy. Herky-jerky driving eats up gas because it’s inefficient, so if you’re a start-stop driver, it’s time to change that bad habit!

Once up to speed on the freeway, maintain a steady pace in top gear. Smooth acceleration, cornering, and braking also extend the life of the engine, transmission, brakes, and tires, saving you significant money on repairs and replacement expenses for your vehicle.

Car Capital Financial

Follow these six ways to save gas and you could find yourself stockpiling cash in no time!

If you need to raise cash fast, or come up with a larger amount that can be saved by cutting your gasoline costs, then keep in mind that Car Capital Financial can help.

We understand that there are times when only a quick, cash loan will help, and we’re prepared to provide financial assistance at a moment’s notice.

We offer secured personal loans in the form of car and other vehicle title loans, which can be awarded in as little as 30 minutes, and which don’t require a credit check. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

We’ve provided safe, reliable and affordable car title loans to residents of Southern California for over 15 years, and we’d be happy to offer you a loan today.

If you need money quickly, then please call us now at 1-888-500-9887.

Sometimes the hardest thing about saving money is just getting started. It’s not easy to start saving, because most of us are stubborn, and we have trouble changing our spending habits.

But don’t fret, because you’ve already taken the first step to ending the month in the black by searching for some solutions. The good news is that there are a variety of easy, simple ways to save money, and the even better news is that you can start right now!

Follow these lucky 7 tips to start saving huge amounts of cash each month.

Record Your Expenses

The most important step to start saving money today is figuring out just how much you’ve been spending, especially on nonessential items.

For one entire month, keep a record of everything you’ve spent. That includes EVERYTHING – every coffee, every newspaper, and every break-time snack you purchase, for the entire month.

Map it all out on an Excel spreadsheet (or something similar), tracking what you spent on essential items like Food and Groceries, Mortgage or Rent, Bills and Transportation, but also figure out how much you’ve blown on Luxury Items like Gifts, Clothes, Entertainment and other nonessential expenses.

You might be shocked at just how much you wasted on things you didn’t need! Many people find out that simply figuring out what they’ve been spending creates enough of a wake-up call to start culling their spending habits, and saving some serious coin.

Make a Budget

Now that you’ve got an idea of what you’re spending, it’s time to build a budget so that you’ve got a plan, and a way to limit over-spending next time around. There’s no better way to start socking money away for a rainy day than by limiting yourself to a tight budget, and sticking to it.

Remember to include regular expenses that don’t occur every month, like paying for your car insurance, registration, oil changes and other maintenance issues, or you’ll find yourself creating something totally unrealistic that can’t possibly be stuck to.

Be a realist, don’t expect that you won’t be able to spend a single cent on entertainment, but limit yourself to some reasonable number that works for your income level.

Learn How to Coupon

Find out how to save money with coupons, then start doing it right away!

Did you know that clipping just a couple coupons a week could end up saving you hundreds of dollars a year? Get into extreme couponing and you might be able to keep thousands of dollars in your bank account.

Coupons traditionally come from newspapers, magazines and other print materials, but these days you can also find excellent offers far more easily by taking your search online, and looking for things via Google.

Check out the big coupon websites dedicated to providing free offers to their fans and followers, sign up for some email newsletters that announce new deals, and start saving today!

Biking and Carpooling

In many areas, this won’t work, as virtually all suburbs require a car, but in some places you might be able to get away with a significantly cheaper alternative – your bike!

Where biking isn’t an option, try carpooling. Think about how much you could stand to save by reducing those expensive gas bills each month – for most Americans it’s a couple hundred dollars per month, at minimum.

Just because you’ve got a car, and even if you need it for work, doesn’t mean you can’t start biking locally either! Whenever the opportunity presents itself, try riding your bike or hitching a ride with a colleague, spouse or friend so you can save some cash, and the planet while you’re at it.

Consolidate and Pay off Debt

If you’re carrying any debt, the first step to getting your finances in order is to get rid of it by paying it off quickly.

The longer you’re in debt, the more it ends up costing you in the long-run, as interest charges will quickly eat into your account.

Consolidate high-interest rate debts into lower interest rate loans, then pay them down with whatever disposable income you’ve got at the end of each month.

Remember that any money paid in interest is essentially money you could have spent on investments, so don’t waste your hard-earned cash making other people rich, unless you’ve got absolutely no other choice than to carry that debt.

Entertain at Home

Almost every activity at home is less expensive than going out.

Skip the club or the bar and invite your friends over for a cocktail party, cookout or potluck meal instead, then play some cards and enjoy your massive savings!

Some people have forgotten how much fun it can be to stay in, but one great party and everyone will be back on track to finishing the month in the black.

Costs are low, and once you’ve played entertainer, your friends are likely to reciprocate with an invitation of their own at some point in the near future as well.

For family entertainment options don’t forget that most children, and especially young ones, can be entertained quite cheaply at home.

Chuckie Cheese isn’t necessary when you’ve got arts and crafts supplies that let their creativity run wild!

Make a game out of ordinary stuff around the house, like tossing pennies into a jar, or just playing cards or an old board game, and soon you’ll realize that what your children want most from you isn’t money, but time and attention.

This isn’t just a cheaper way to live, it’s a more fulfilling, more interesting, and more loving way to do it as well, so don’t neglect this simple, yet powerful money saving tip!

Unplug

Don’t forget to unplug appliances when they aren’t in use.

Stop wasting power (and money) on the TV, computer, toaster and cell phone chargers which suck energy whether they’re in use or not.

Turn off the lights when you leave a room, switch to LED lightbulbs, install dimmer switches, and keep that thermostat at a reasonable temperature.

You’d be surprised just how much of a difference these simple solutions can make!

It’s an easy thing to forget thanks to the mad dash that modern life has become, but keeping utility costs in check is an immediate way to both saving money and reducing our carbon footprint at the same time.

Car Capital Financial

Whether you end up incorporating some of these ideas, or all of them, you should have no trouble seeing your bank account start to grow in no time at all.

However, if an unfortunate incident should arise and you need emergency cash assistance, then keep in mind that you can always give Car Capital Financial a call to get a low-interest, secured personal loan.

We deliver car and other vehicle title loans within minutes of receiving your call, providing you with cold, hard cash, and requiring nothing more than temporary possession of your vehicle’s title. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

Call us at 1-888-500-9887 to find out if one of our safe, reliable and affordable auto title loans would be a good fit for your financial needs.

Managing your money is no easy task these days.

Between paying off student loans, credit card debt, saving for retirement and attempting to navigate the complicated and expensive housing market, most of us are overwhelmed, and unable to manage our money effectively, but we’re here to help!

Some people resort to financial advisors and outsource the task to people who specialize in it, but the good news is that managing your own money is much simpler than most people think, and something that you should be doing to ensure there’s more in your account at the end of each month.

Here are 5 easy tips to help you regain control of your finances, figure out where your cash is going, and ensure that you’re saving as much as possible from each paycheck.

1. Ignore Your Salary

Whether or not you’re making good money, it’s time to return to living beneath your means.

Your job may require professional clothes and expensive housing, but you’ll want to cut costs basically everywhere else.

Don’t get a new car, don’t buy an expensive computer, use your old phone and forget about going out to fancy dinners – you’re in money saving mode now, and the savings will start to rack up quickly.

Hundreds to thousands of dollars a year can be saved simply by saying no to unnecessary expenses, so start doing that now and you’ll soon see big savings accumulating in your account.

2. Limit Credit Card Debt

Don’t rack up any more debt than you’ve already got, especially on non-essential purchases.

Remember, you need to cut costs wherever you can, and part of that is limiting the amount of exposure you have to interest on debt, which is one of the most expensive and unnecessary ways to waste money.

Credit cards carry high interest rates, tons of fees, and other costs that can cause big problems for your bank account, so avoid them wherever possible, and use cash, checks, or a debit card for everything you purchase.

Unless you’re facing a serious emergency, it’s best to avoid those credit cards altogether.

3. Pay off Debt

Keeping debt in mind, your goal should be paying it off in full each month, whenever that’s possible.

If you owe money, then it’s time to start paying off your debt as soon as possible. To decide which debts to pay off first, choose the one with the highest interest rate, as that’s the one that’ll cost you the most money in the long-run.

Put any money saved from Steps 1 & 2 towards paying down your debt, and get rid of those expensive and wasteful interest charges as quickly as you can.

4. Create an Emergency Cushion

Once you’ve got some breathing room, put together a cash cushion of at least $500 for emergency expenses, like car repairs, unexpected medical or dental costs and other absolute emergencies.

It’s not easy to stash cash, but having a cushion will help soften the blow to your bank account when that rainy day comes, and could prevent you from having to resort to new loans.

Your goal should be to have six months’ worth of expenses stored in your bank account just in case you hit a major disaster, like unexpected unemployment, or a serious injury that prevents you from earning any income.

5. Monitor Your Investments

Many people forget to keep their eyes on their investments, checking the fees, management costs and portfolio balance as their investments age.

This can result in a loss of earnings and a serious lack of preparedness for the day that retirement comes calling, which is a major problem.

Be sure to check your accounts quarterly, at the very least, and ask whoever handles your investments (if you have outsourced that task) questions about fees, opportunities and everything else.

Make sure that money is working for you, or it’s sure to be working for someone else at your expense!

Car Capital Financial

Whether you end up incorporating all of these ideas, or just a few, as long as you can keep your expenses under control you should have no trouble making some huge savings.

However, if you’re still coming up short, keep in mind that you can always give us a call here at Car Capital Financial to get a low-interest secured personal loan.

We deliver car and other vehicle title loans within minutes of receiving your call, providing you with cold, hard cash, and requiring nothing more than temporary possession of your vehicle’s title.

Whether you’ve got great credit, terrible credit, or no credit at all, we are ready and willing to help. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

Call us at 1-888-500-9887 now to find out if one of our safe, reliable and affordable auto title loans would be a good fit with your financial needs.

We’ve all heard the phrase – “extreme couponing” – along with the stories about how learning to coupon can save hundreds to even thousands of dollars on grocery bills and other expenses, but how does it work?

This guide will walk you through the process of learning how to extreme coupon, and teach you how to start saving money today!

Why Coupon?

Getting a second job or having to resort to selling your prized possessions isn’t the only way to raise money quickly. A better way to keep your wallet full is to learn how to spend less of your income, which is where couponing comes in.

Coupons come in all shapes and sizes, for a range of products, and in a range of ways, but in the end, all of them are effective money-saving solutions that you should start taking advantage of immediately.

From printable coupons to manufacturer coupons, coupon clipping services, or receiving coupons by mail, this effective money saving tactic is one of the best ways to reduce your spending since it requires so little actual time and effort.

How to Start Couponing

While some reality shows have given couponing a bad name, coupon usage continues to be a hot trend, with sellers and buyers continuing to take advantage of their unique benefits.

Though couponing seems to be an intricate process, the reality is that it couldn’t be simpler, and while it may seem daunting at first glance, it’s really not all that complicated at all.

The good news is that starting is the hardest part of couponing. Most people who give up on couponing never really give it a solid effort, but this is one money-saving technique that really is worth your time.

Don’t give up if your first trip out only results in a few dollars saved, because you’ve got to remember that clipping a few coupons here and there for things already on your list isn’t what’s going to make a huge difference in your grocery bills – you’ve got to get more involved!

To save massive amounts of money with coupons, you’ll need to stop buying only the things you want or need each week, and start reaching for whatever’s on sale, buying as much as you think you could possibly use before it spoils, and focusing on purchasing only those items that do come with savings.

It may not be easy at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’re sure to start racking up hundreds to thousands of dollars in savings!

Where to Find Coupons

There are two major sources for coupons these days – first, the traditional newspaper, magazine or store saver weekly ads, and second, the more-modern printable online coupons.

For other sources of coupons, don’t ignore offers for free coupon booklets, either from retail locations or snail-mailed directly to your house, as well as manufacturers coupons, which can often be found online.

To download your coupons from the Internet, be sure to regularly check Coupons.com, Coupon Network, Red Plum and Smart Source – the most comprehensive coupon websites around.

For secondary sources, look to Coupon Bloggers like “Coupon Mom”, “Coupon Suzy” and “Coupon Lady”, all of whom regularly share excellent deals with their followers.

And finally, don’t forget Social Media! If you haven’t noticed it yet – coupons are often distributed by company Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, and other Social outlets.

Organize Your Coupons

This part of the process is likely to make or break your extreme couponing experience – if you can’t get organized, it’ll be tough to realize any serious gains.

Don’t worry though, as there are a few different methods that you can try to keep all of your coupons in one place, and organized in an efficient manner.

One of the most popular, though it seems old-timey, coupon organization methods is to utilize a simple file box. What you’ll need is a box with traditional file folders, dividers or tabs of some sort, where you can gather up your coupons and sort them by store, product, brand, or in whatever other way makes the most sense for you.

Gather all the coupons you can from your traditional sources, websites, bloggers and other outlets, then be sure to add them to your files. Come up with a labelling system that lets you quickly view each tab or file folder to find the expiration date, product, and source for the coupon, so that you can spot things at a glance and grab only what you need on any particular shopping outing.

Traditionally, most successful couponers organize their clippings and printable coupons by category, labeling their folders with topics like “Food”, “Household Items”, “Automotive”, etc., but trying some different organization systems is the only way to find the one that works best for you.

Organizing your coupons will only take a few minutes each week, and is one sure-fire way to make sure that you don’t misplace, forget about, or fail to take advantage of the money-saving opportunities at hand!

Start Using Coupons

Now that you’ve got your coupons organized, it’s time to start saving money.

The key to maximizing your value from coupons is using them at just the right time! Wait for those items to go on sale, then hit the store with your coupon and get whatever it is for a deep discount, doing this repeatedly, and limiting yourself as much as possible to purchasing items that are both on sale, and for which you’ve got a coupon.

It won’t work for everything, because some staples never get discounted, but the more that you can leverage this tactic, the more money you’ll find accumulating in your bank account each month.

Watch for promotions, sales, and discounts of all types, scouring your weekly store ads, leveraging online offers and manufacturers’ direct coupons to maximize the value of your efforts.

Get social and start leveraging message boards, forums, social media channels and the blogosphere to identify excellent opportunities in your area, and you’re sure to start saving some serious coin on each trip to the store.

Most importantly though – don’t give up, and don’t be afraid to try new things. Sure, you might think you don’t like that flavor of juice, or that brand of bread, but how could you know for sure until you give it a shot?

Car Capital Financial

If you don’t have the time to begin couponing, or if you need to raise a large amount of cash right now, then consider calling Car Capital Financial to find out about our safe, reliable and affordable car title loans. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

We’re Southern California’s leading title loans company, and we can get you the money you need in as little as 30 minutes.

If you own your car outright, or have only a few remaining payments left, then you’ll qualify for one of our no-credit check title loans, so call us today!

Call us now at 1-888-500-9887 to find out how much money you can get!

Are you planning on getting an IRS tax refund soon? Don’t let the excitement get the better of you, and be wary of lenders promoting tax refund loans, because these can be extremely risky.

Before you consider a tax refund loan, be sure to check out alternative fundraising opportunities that are significantly less risky.

Tax refund loans, also called refund anticipation loans, provide borrowers the same amount that they anticipate receiving from their tax refund, but prior to actually receiving any money from the government.

These loans typically have extremely short life-spans, sometimes lasting less than 10 days from borrowing to repayment, with lenders requesting that the loan get repaid in full as soon as your tax refund check from the IRS appears.

Tax refund loans are typically extremely expensive, with interest rates hovering somewhere between 40% and 700%, which is extremely high, even for a short term loan.

And unless you’ve already been turned down from every other alternative fundraising opportunity, that’s probably far more than you should be spending to come up with some quick cash.

Alternatives to Tax Refund Loans

There are a number of ways to get your income tax returns sooner, without paying fees, or facing extreme interest rates. The easiest method is to submit your tax return early, as soon as you get your W-2.

You also have the option of going completely electronic, which dramatically speeds up the process. To get your refund as quickly as possible, you’ll need to abandon the traditional paper return sent via mail and file online instead.

You can get the money almost as fast as you would with a tax refund loan, but avoid the added costs of origination fees, interest and potential penalties. In fact, you may not need to pay for anything at all!

An Internal Revenue Service partnership with tax preparers and software companies offers free online tax preparation and e-filing to some taxpayers, so find out if you’re eligible, then do it if you are.

Via the Free File Fillable Tax Form option, anyone, regardless of income, can enter their tax data using online forms, and then file those forms directly with the IRS for free.

This is not a tax software program, but simply blank forms you can access via the Internet, which can be filed directly over the web, rather than having to be printed out, completed by hand, and mailed in.

The IRS says that those citizens who take advantage of e-filing will their tax refunds much more quickly than they would by doing things the traditional way – mailing in a paper tax return. Most electronic filers can expect their tax checks to show up in their mailboxes in half the amount of time it would take to get a refund from a paper-based return.

Electronic filers who opt to receive their refunds via direct deposit do even better! The IRS says that it’s possible to issue refunds to these types of filers within just 10 to 14 days of receiving their return.

But better yet, even if you choose to file the old-fashioned way (via a paper tax return), choosing the direct deposit option for your refund will still reduce the length of time you have to wait for the refund to be issued.

Car Capital Financial

If your tax refund check hasn’t arrived and you’re in dire need of emergency cash, then consider taking out a car title loan from Car Capital Financial.

We are Southern California’s leading title loans company, and we’ve got over 15 years of experience in providing safe, reliable, affordable title loans to people throughout the region.

Whether you need money to fund a business venture or wonder how to get a business loan despite having a bad credit, pay your bills, or take a vacation, we can help.

Bad credit, bankruptcies and other financial problems won’t affect your ability to get a loan from us, and won’t impact your loans terms either. In fact, we won’t even need to run a credit check. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

To get the cash you need in as little as 30 minutes, call us now at 1-888-500-9887

Borrowing money is risky business. If you seek help in the wrong places you could end up living the ultimate financial nightmare: the never-ending loan!

There are a couple of situations when borrowing money is appropriate:

First, when it’s profitable, meaning that you earn more with the borrowed money than you pay in interest.

Second, when you find yourself in a financial emergency and you simply don’t have a choice.

Let’s explore some of the smarter ways to borrow money.

Borrowing From Family or Friends

If the circumstances are right and proper precautions are taken, then borrowing from a family member would be good because you could avoid the notoriously high interest rates associated with some forms of borrowing (like neighborhood loans).

To make sure that everyone is on the same page, draft a legal document specifying loan rates, loan terms and a due date. You can find the necessary forms for cheap, or even for free, at any number of legal-information websites. Type the phrase “promissory note” into Google to find some example templates.

Perhaps more than any other type of loan, a personal loan from a family member or friend will require making payments on-time and perfectly understanding just what will happen if payments aren’t made on time, or if you end up defaulting on the loan (being unable to pay it back at all).

Nobody likes seeing their friends or family spending on frivolous, unnecessary things like vacations or luxury items when they’re still owed money, so if you’re going to take this route, then you’d best be prepared to make some financial sacrifices until you can pay back all the money you borrow.

Peer-To-Peer Lending

Peer-to-peer lending might also be a good way to find lower-rate loans, but it’s a little bit more technical and complicated. To utilize peer-to-peer lending, you’ll need to search for a lender on websites like Lending Club or Prosper.

The rate of interest you’ll pay will depend on your credit, just like it does with traditional loans. If your credit score is very low, you may not be able to borrow this way at all. However, if you have a good credit score and need a small, short-term loan, peer-to-peer borrowing can be quite effective.

Credit Unions

Credit unions offer flexible lending and lower interest rates than traditional banks. In fact, according to DataTrac, the average credit union interest rate on a car loan is 1.5 to 2 percentage points lower than the same loan offered by banks, and home equity lines of credit average about half a percentage point lower as well.

Credit unions might also offer signature loans – an unsecured loan guaranteed only by your signature. Obviously, you’ll need membership and good credit to qualify for these types of loans, but if you’ve got both of those conditions covered then have at it!

Car Title Loans

If you are really struggling financially and are in need of immediate cash, then you may need to consider a car title loan from Car Capital Financial.

If you have paid off or nearly paid off your vehicle, then it’s likely that you would qualify for one of our safe, affordable and reliable car title loans.

The process of obtaining a car or vehicle title loan is almost guaranteed to be much faster than that of a traditional loan. Our title loans work by awarding you with a cash loan amount based on the value of your car, in exchange for taking temporary ownership of your car’s title. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

You will then have up to 3 years to gradually pay back your loan in monthly installments, during which time you will remain free to continue driving and using your vehicle as much and however you want, as long as you don’t start missing payments!

To talk to one of our loan specialists, please call us now at 1-888-500-9887.

What Should You Do?

At the end of the day there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to borrowing money, but if you’re going to borrow, then make sure to consider these three top options to reduce your costs and the amount of time it takes you to get out of debt.

Are you hoping for a cheap Valentine’s Day this year? The holiday is just around the corner, and it doesn’t necessarily have to burn a hole in your wallet.

While it’s important to do something special for your loved one, there are many ways you can enjoy a romantic but affordable Valentine’s Day.

To enjoy a budget Valentines Day this year, consider the following affordable Valentines Day ideas:

1.     Stay In

If you’re planning being with the one you truly love this Valentine’s Day, why not enjoy a cozy night in? Cook a meal and uncork that bottle of wine or champagne you’ve been saving – now’s the time to enjoy it! With a little imagination, staying in can be anything but boring and of course a very affordable way to celebrate the holiday.

2.     Take A Hike

Do you and your partner or spouse enjoy hiking and the great outdoors? Then you may want to consider celebrating this romantic day with a hike. Maybe you could pick your favorite hiking trail or choose one that’s well known for its romantic views. Other than the gas money to get to the trail, this cheap Valentine’s Day date idea is completely free!

3.     Give a Meaningful Message

Instead of the usual flowers and card, why not write a meaningful, hand written love note instead? Write a letter that expresses entirely how you feel for him or her, you can make it as witty or poetic as you choose! This idea isn’t just cheap, but is also thoughtful and bound to touch your date’s heart.

4.     Enjoy a Staycation

If you have some cash to spare this Valentine’s Day but can’t afford a full-blown vacation, consider a staycation. Pick a city or destination within driving distance from where you live, and book a hotel night (or two) on or around Valentine’s Day. Getting away is a great way to spice things up, and it will also allow you to explore somewhere local from the unique perspective of a tourist.

5.     Shop Around for Deals

Are you a member of GroupOn or other online deal sites? The chances are there will be hot deals on these sites specifically for Valentine’s Day, which could allow you to do something special for much less than the usual going rate. Shop around well in advance to make sure you don’t miss out on these potential deals – they could help you save a small fortune!

Car Capital Financial

If you really want to make this Valentine’s Day extra special and you just don’t have the funds to do so – consider a loan from Car Capital Financial. We are one of Southern California’s leading title loan companies – and can award you with a cash title loan as fast as 30 minutes!

If you own your car in full or only have a few remaining payments – you could easily qualify for one our cash title loans. Title loans are issued based on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.

Call us now at 1-888-500-9887to get your title loan as fast as today!

Saving money at Christmas is something that everyone should aspire to do, especially when budgets are tight and the economy continues to sputter. But, did you know that you could have a cheap 2014 Christmas without necessarily having to sacrifice on the quality of the experience?

For many people, Christmas is literally the best time of the year; but it can also be one of the most expensive. The combined costs of gifts, meals, ornaments, decorations, trees and party outfits can reach astronomical rates, leaving some wondering if they can even afford to celebrate Christmas at all!

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Most of the time, cheap Christmas gifts look, feel and seem just that – cheap, but did you know that you could gift inexpensive gifts that aren’t low quality?

Many of us have had to tighten our budgets since the 2008 recession, which can make gift shopping for the 2014 holidays a huge challenge. We all aim to enjoy give perfect gifts, but on a tight budget this can prove to be stressful or even seem impossible.

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Graduate school is undeniably expensive, but it can be worthwhile if it leads to career advancement and a better salary. Due to the high costs of graduate school, the majority of graduate students can’t fund their graduate education solely based on their savings and usually have to take out some kind of loan or get a part-time job in order to make ends meet.

If you’re considering attending graduate school, there are many options for funding your education. Here are some suggestions on how you can raise money for graduate school:

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Aside from rent and paying the bills, groceries can easily be one of our biggest monthly expenses. We need to eat, but we often overspend on groceries without even realizing it.

In fact, did you know that you can easily shave your monthly grocery bill by at least $25-$50 through following a few basic money saving tips? Groceries are a necessity but they shouldn’t have to bankrupt you, so here are 10 tips on how to save money on groceries:

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Ten Weird Ways to Make Money

In these tough economic times, it can be hard to make a decent living. Cutbacks, layoffs and companies disappearing all together are making it increasingly difficult for ordinary folk to follow traditional avenues of earning a stable income.

But did you know that there’s a variety of wacky gigs that could help you pull in a steady income without working full time? Read on to find ten quick, easy and creative ways to make money without sitting in a cubicle!

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In today’s tough economic climate, it’s hard to get ahead in the workforce without having at least an undergraduate degree. Unfortunately, the price tag of a degree can often put many people off from attending college, but if you learn how to save money in college, you may be able to graduate with very little to no debt! One of the best ways to save money in college, is by buying your college supplies online.

Reducing College Costs is Easy

College may be very expensive, but getting your degree doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go broke. There are many ways to save money in college and even graduate either completely or nearly debt free. If you want to attend college, but don’t want to get into substantial debt, consider these top ten ways to help reduce your college costs.

1. Study Local

Did you know that if you study in your home state and at a local state school you could potentially save tens of thousands of dollars a year in tuition costs? As an in-state student, you won’t have to pay out-of-state fees (which can be huge) and state universities generally offer substantially cheaper tuition rates than private colleges. By attending a local school, the chances are much higher that you can graduate from college without too far into the red. Also remember that every state has prestigious schools, so you don’t necessarily have to leave your home state in order to receive a top quality education.

2. Try Community College

Community colleges are often greatly underrated, and they really shouldn’t be. Most community colleges offer transferrable college courses for a fraction of the price of what regular four-year colleges and universities charge. Budget savvy students can avoid going broke in college by getting their first two years of college education at a super cheap rate. What’s more, most community colleges offer financial aid services, providing you with the chance to save even more on your first few years of college education.

3. Live at Home

If your family is OK with you living at home for free for another four to five years, then you may want to study at a college that’s a commutable from home. This way you can save a boatload of money from not having to pay for student accommodation, money which you can then use to help pay for your other college fees. Living at home while you’re at college may not seem that glamorous or exciting, but if it means you can pay for college more easily, this sacrifice may just be worth it.

4. Apply For Scholarships

You may think that scholarships are only for the super brainy or sporty types, but most colleges offer a plethora of scholarships, all geared toward different types of students. You should apply to as many scholarships for college students as possible – you’ll likely be surprised what you’ll qualify for. Even if you are rewarded only a partial scholarship, this can still go a long way toward paying for your college fees, and help you graduate without going completely broke.

5. Ask Your Family for Financial Help

Some students are able to graduate debt free because their parents are willing to completely pay for their tuition and other college fees. If you are in this boat, consider yourself very lucky as you are one of the very privileged few people who can do just that. However, if you know that your family can’t afford to pay for the entirety of your college fees, you may still want to ask them if they can help out a bit. You could even pledge to pay the money back once you have a steady job after graduation. Even if your family can only put a couple hundred dollars a month toward your education, this could still go a long way toward reducing your loan debt.

6. Take Out a Student Loan

If you want to go to college but really can’t afford to pay for it all upfront, then you may need to take out a student loan. To avoid graduating with an unmanageable amount of student loan debt, try to borrow predominantly federal loans rather than student loans from private lending companies, as the government typically offers substantially lower interest rates and an easier repayment schedule. However, keep in mind that most federal lenders offer smaller amounts than private lenders do, so you’ll probably only want to consider this option if you’re studying at a low-cost school (such as at a state or community college).

7. Consider Other Loan Options

If you are really stuck financially but have college fees you have to pay – you may need to consider other loan options. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to take out risky loans such as neighborhood loans but you may want to consider taking out a car title loan if you own any kind of vehicle. A title loan will give you money upfront (which you can use to cover essential college expenses) in exchange for temporary ownership of your car’s title. Taking out this kind of loan may sound risky, but as long as you can make your payments on time you’ll receive ownership of your title again once you’ve repaid the debt, and you’ll have the money you needed in the mean time to keep from going completely bust.

8. Study Online

Studying online may have got a bad rap in the past, but times have changed. Many prestigious schools now offer online programs, often for substantially less than what it would cost to attend comparable brick-and-mortar programs. Not only are tuition rates generally cheaper online than at in-person colleges, but the savings in commuting costs can go a long way toward making college far more affordable. Furthermore, many textbooks for online programs are downloadable, making them significantly cheaper. Overall, completing an online program can be a very wise solution for saving money while in college.

9. Attend a Free Tuition College

You’ll likely be surprised to learn that there are some colleges across America that provide their students with free tuition. The catch is, you have to work as you study. Most of these colleges require that you work 16-20 hours per week in exchange for free tuition. Although this does mean you have to work, the free tuition will save you a bucket load and you could even be able to graduate completely debt free. Unfortunately many of these colleges aren’t open to everyone, so you’ll have to check their admissions pages to see if you meet their specific requirements.

10. Study on a Part-Time Basis

Perhaps one of the most obvious ways to save money in college and graduate without being financially ruined is to study on a part-time basis. This should allow you to still earn a full-time income which you can use to pay for your education. Studying part-time does mean it will take longer for you to complete your degree, but if this means you can graduate in a financially stable position with virtually no student debt, it’s likely more than worth the wait.

College may come at a high price, but it shouldn’t have to bankrupt you. Use the above tips to help you save as much as possible while you’re in college. Good luck!