Do you feel like you never have enough money? If so, you’re not alone.

After all, it’s easy to fall behind on bills and feel like you’ll never be able to catch up. Especially if you’ve experienced some recent hardships such as getting injured on the job, gotten laid off, or your car has broken down and needs to be replaced.

The simple truth is that money makes the world go round. Thus when you run low on cash, you need to understand the different ways to borrow money so that you can get back on your feet. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place for advice.

This article takes a look at ways to borrow money that you might not know about. Keep reading to get the inside scoop.

1. Credit Cards

Let’s start by discussing your credit cards. After all, most credit card companies will allow you to borrow money on your cards based on the amount of credit you have available.

In other words, whatever your credit limit happens to be on an individual credit, you can borrow any amount up to your limit.

For example, if you have a $5,000 limit, you can’t borrow up to that amount. But if you only have $500 of remaining credit left on the card, that’s all you’ll be able to borrow.

Just keep in mind that you’ll need to make your monthly payments on time, and will likely face steep interest rates and fees for cash advances on your cards. But you’ll also enjoy the convenience of not having to worry about applying for a loan.

2. Car Title Loan

Your next option is a car title loan. This is a great way to get money fast as long as you have a clean title. You’ll simply need to fill out an application with some basic information, and hand over your title in exchange for a check.

This post will help you understand how to get a car loan.

3. Home Equity Loan

Next, you could apply for a home equity loan. The amount of the loan will be based on how much equity you have in your home. You’re simply borrowing against its value, thus it’s a fairly quick process.

4. Secured Loan

A secured loan means that you will be required to offer some form of collateral in exchange for the loan amount. This collateral has to be an asset that’s of equal or greater value to the amount of the loan. Just keep in mind that if you fail to repay the loan, you’ll have to forget the collateral.

5. Unsecured Loan

An unsecured loan doesn’t require collateral but does include an extremely high-interest rate plus fees. This type of loan can be useful if you have bad credit or lack the necessary assets to qualify for a secured loan.

6. Personal Loan

You could also borrow money from family or friends. This is a great way to avoid expensive fees and high-interest rates. Just be aware that borrowing money from loved ones can potentially cause tension in your relationship.

Your Guide to Understanding the Different Ways to Borrow Money When You Need Cash Fast

Life can be challenging sometimes. Fortunately, this guide to the different ways to borrow money can help make the tough times slightly less stressful.

Keep scrolling to discover more great lifestyle tips and advice on this blog.

Owning and running a business is filled with many risks, both unknown and known. Wise business owners will take up different types of covers to protect themselves. These insurance covers also protect their businesses against liability and financial losses.

Companies have the opportunity to turn their expenses into potential profits. They can do this by choosing either captive insurance or self-insurance. While these two insurance types are similar, they have distinctive differences.

Read on to learn the differences.

What Is Self-Insurance?

Self-Insurance is the act of setting aside some money to cover yourself against certain risks.

A start-up business can systematically save some money to cover specific problems. These problems may include cash flow issues caused by delayed payments and losses.

The concept behind self-insurance is that extensive saving could help a business cover anything that’s covered by traditional policies.

All states have different requirements for employers who choose self-insurance. Some require the employer to have worker’s compensation insurance or run a financially stable business.

What Is Captive Insurance?

Captive insurance means that one or more clients own and control the insurance policy. The goal is for the insureds to protect themselves against a common risk.

Self-insurance and captive insurance operate under the same concept. However, captive insurance is a bit complex and expensive to maintain.

An example of captive insurance is when a group of farmers create their own captive insurance company to protect themselves from financial losses due to crop destruction. The group is supposed to pay premiums to their insurance carriers the same way it’s done in commercial insurance coverage.

How Captive Insurance Is Different From Self-Insurance

Captive insurance is not an answer to all your insurance issues. But it could be a practical option for companies looking to take more control of their losses.

In traditional insurance coverage, you pay the insurance company directly. However, in captive insurance, you can see all the distinctive components that make up its premium. You will also control the delivery of the coverage and the pricing.

For captive insurance to be an effective solution, it must allow an increase in profits rather than unwanted expenses. This is achieved by financing smaller and more significant risks alike.

Members of a captive insurance plan can also buy reinsurance. This move adds an extra layer of security to their businesses. The additional cover reinsures business losses above a specific point.

Captive insurance can cover a much larger percentage of losses than self-insurance. These losses are caused by realized business risk. However, if this risk is not realized, all the premium payments go to waste.

Which Is the Best Cover for You

Now you understand the difference between self-insurance and captive insurance. Therefore, it’s up to you to choose the best coverage depending on your business needs. Take into account all your business risks and choose the best plan.

For more insightful business advice, check out other posts on our website.

Victims who suffer severe car accident injuries may be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits if they can no longer work or if their ability to work is compromised after the crash. While there is a heavy focus on the recovery of immediate compensation in a court case, the extensive process of applying for SSDI is often overlooked. Knowledge of all of the benefits available to victims is crucial as a person begins to regain control of his or her life.

Understanding SSDI Benefits

Social Security Disability Insurance is a payroll insurance program funded by the federal government through taxes. Managed and maintained by the Social Security Administration (SSA), SSDI’s main purpose is to provide financial relief to those who find themselves greatly reduced in their work capacity due to physical or mental disabilities. The cause of these disabilities, whether the result of an ongoing condition since birth or a recent injury accident, matters very little as long as up to five questions can be answered to the SSA’s satisfaction. The questions are as follows:

1. Is the claimant performing substantial gainful activity?
2. Is the claimant’s impairment severe?
3. Does the impairment meet or equal the severity of the impairments in the Listing of Impairments?
4. Is the claimant able to perform past work?
5. Is the claimant able to perform any work in the economy?

Once the questions are answered to their satisfaction, the SSA provides monthly SSDI benefits to the individual. The amount a person with a disability receives is based on a portion of past earnings. These benefits may take a considerable amount of time to acquire, especially if there is an appeal or reconsideration.

If an injury is not listed within the SSA’s Listing of Impairments, the victim may still qualify for benefits if it is established that the disability is medically equivalent to one in the listing. A doctor is often enlisted to assist with creating a residual functioning capacity form (RFC) to determine the severity of the impairment. This can be a practitioner enlisted by the SSA or the treating doctor of the claimant. The RFC is determined by evaluating the workload the individual can complete easily, ranging from heavy factory work to sedentary work. Usually, one needs to be scored as less than capable of performing sedentary workloads. Exceptions for the rules exist. If the applicant is over the age of 55 or cannot change jobs due to a lack of education or formal training, then that is taken into consideration.

Victims do not need to have a permanent injury for the Social Security Administration to approve the disability checks. If the disability is severe enough to prevent an individual from performing substantial gainful activity for at least twelve months, then the person is likely eligible to receive benefits from the SSA to compensate for lost wages in the short term. For individuals who are able to work, but must accept a position with significantly reduced wages due to impairments from the car accident, some benefits may still apply.

A marriage is a legal transaction that involves creating a partnership where assets are shared. The dissolution of this partnership through a divorce requires the appropriation and distribution of those assets. Assets that may need dividing are financial holdings, retirement accounts, businesses, and real estate properties. The family home is included among these assets. In the absence of a prenuptial agreement, dividing family assets requires a thorough mediation process.

Ownership of Marital Assets

While many may assume that assets are divided up evenly based upon a dollar amount, that simply isn’t always the case. There is no way to fairly and evenly divide certain assets such as a house, rental properties, or vehicles. This is because it is rare for both partners to enter into a marriage with identical resources. Therefore, any wise divorce lawyer will try to divide assets as equitably as possible between both parties.

It should be noted that assets acquired during the marriage are seen in the eyes of the law as acquired by both parties. It would be simple to see a house as shared marital property, especially if both spouses are included in the mortgage. However, the shared marital property could also include property that technically only has one name from the partnership on paper.

Changes in Asset Value

An additional factor to consider is appreciation, both active and passive. Active appreciation is an addition to the value of assets through direct action, such as deposits and contributions towards investments. These are easy to track with proper documentation. Passive appreciation is the result of outside forces influencing an asset’s value, such as a market supply and demand, inflation and devaluation. Real estate lawyers are keenly aware of these factors and can be an asset in property valuation during divorce proceedings.

Asset Distribution

Redistributing assets is by no means an easy action to take. When it gets down to the matter, dividing up sentimentally valued property and financial holdings accumulated as a team is an exceptionally emotional event. This process can quickly become emotionally charged with everything else that is going on during a divorce. When personal items are thrown up for evaluation, it can leave feelings of bitterness should negotiations break down, and the goal switches from amicable separation to trying to get the best deal from the transaction. As such, a family home can quickly become a difficult asset to divide.

Separating couples can choose to handle this asset in different ways. First, the divorcees can choose to sell the home and divide the profit equally. This is the simplest way to divide the equity of the home. If one spouse does not wish to abandon the family home, he or she can refinance the mortgage to remove the name of the former spouse. This means that the home is no longer a shared asset as the old debt is replaced with a new loan. The spouse retaining the property may need to buy out the other person’s share of the equity. Finally, the asset may continue to be shared. This is a viable option for partners who choose a nesting method for child custody.

 

To beginners, the concept of learning how to successfully buy and sell shares in a company can seem overwhelming. There are plenty of stories out there about people who have made their fortunes learning how to master the stock market and make the right acquisitions at the correct times. However, you can also find plenty of tales of people who have rushed into the landscape too fast and wasted their money in the process. Becoming a successful trader is a process that takes significant time and effort. You’ll need to make sure that you’re evaluating the market carefully, building a successful strategy, and diversifying your investments as you go. So, what do you need to get started?

A Solid Plan

The first step in becoming successful at anything, is having a solid strategy. For share traders, this means thinking about what you want to accomplish with your investments and building a plan to help you reach those goals. A trading plan is something that in the past you might create with the assistance of a financial advisor, and a brokerage team. Today you can also create a plan yourself, using various trading resources that are available online.

Essentially, you determine what it’s going to take to get you to enter a position in a trade, and what might cause you to step back and sell an asset. You’ll also think about things like money management, and how frequently you’re going to buy and sell. Only once you have a solid plan in mind can you start looking for an online stock trading provider that can help you to achieve your goals. As you progress in the industry and learn more about your markets, you can adapt your plan as you go.

The Right Tools

The bar to entry for trading is lower today than it’s been in quite some time. You don’t need to be a huge business owner or have a lot of cash to get started. All you need is an online account with the right brokerage firm, and enough cash to begin building your portfolio. However, there are various other tools that can help you to improve your chances of success. For instance, if you’re a day trader, then you’re going to need an account that allows you to make multiple trades a day, and a computer with a fast internet connection to keep you ahead of the curve. If you’re a beginner in stock trading, a paper account that allows you to practice your skills before you put your money at risk will be an essential step.

Patience

The best investors in the world didn’t make their cash overnight. Even the most effective traders have had to put plenty of time and effort into ensuring that their strategies work. This means that you’re going to need to have a little patience before you can classify yourself as an advanced trader. The more time you put into testing your strategies, reading up about your markets, and learning new skills as you go, the more likely it is that you’ll have what it takes to build a portfolio that actually delivers measurable results. Rush in too quickly, and you could lose everything.

 

Property taxes are generally not dischargeable in bankruptcy. However, homeowners can use the bankruptcy process to help if they fall behind on property taxes to avoid losing a home. Paying property taxes is one of the responsibilities of a homeowner, and failing to do so puts a homeowner at risk of losing a home through the foreclosure process. Chapter 7 bankruptcy provides minimal protection in this instance. However, through Chapter 13, homeowners can include property taxes in the distribution process, buying time to pay back what is owed.

Why Paying Property Taxes Is So Important

Failing to pay property taxes can cause a homeowner to lose the home. When back taxes are owed, the delinquent property taxes, along with the interest and penalties, become a lien on the property. The taxing authority has the right to repossess the home and sell it to satisfy the debt. In addition, if the homeowner has a mortgage on the home, the back property taxes can put the owner in breach of the mortgage contract. As a result, the mortgage provider can repossess the home. Because of this, falling behind on property taxes puts an individual at serious risk of losing a home. This is why many turn to bankruptcy in hopes of finding protection.

Using Bankruptcy to Help with Property Taxes

Property taxes cannot be discharged in Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Filing for Chapter 7 still leaves the individual responsible for all back taxes. However, people may be able to use Chapter 13 bankruptcy to help.

Under Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection, a debtor places all of the existing debts into a payment plan that is controlled by a Trustee. Each month, the debtor pays the Trustee a set amount, and then that amount is distributed to the creditors based on a pre-determined repayment schedule. Debtors can include back property taxes in the distribution process. The goal of this repayment plan is to make it something that fits the individual’s budget to make the debts easier to manage.

This buys the debtor time to repay the property taxes. Once the property taxes are in the Chapter 13 distribution, the debtor receives an automatic stay. This prevents the taxing authority and mortgage provider from performing collection activities.

Even though property taxes are not dischargeable in bankruptcy, help is available. Debtors who have fallen behind do not have to lose their home if they take advantage of Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection. With the help of a Chapter 13 repayment plan, debtors can protect the home and avoid the pitfalls of back property taxes.

Chapter 7 and Property Taxes

Though property taxes are not dischargeable in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 7 may be able to help debtors in other ways. By discharging credit card debt and similar debts, debtors may be able to free up enough money in the budget to address back property taxes. This strategy only works if the home is not in danger of foreclosure yet. Bankruptcy attorneys can help debtors weigh their options to deal with back property taxes.

The USCIS Form I-864 dictates that a US citizen should support their spouse or ex-spouse with an amount of money not less than 125% of the US Poverty Guideline levels. Even after a divorce, the affidavit of support requires US citizens and permanent residents to continue supporting their ex-spouse until the immigrant spouse achieves the following:

• Becomes a United States citizen
• Leaves the country permanently
• Earns 40 work quarters toward social security; this is after about ten years of working.
• Dies

Divorce is not covered by the affidavit of support; hence many American citizens deem it unfair, especially when the divorced immigrant is a wealthy individual or can secure a good job independently.

Challenging Form I-864 in Court

After learning of the dictates of the controversial Form I-864, an American citizen may be compelled to challenge its enforceability in court. This is a lost course since when signing the Affidavit of support, the US citizen or permanent resident spouse agreed to the form’s provisions.

When this form was initially unleashed, many attorneys questioned whether the provisions would be legally enforceable. While the government could sue and be reimbursed for the benefits granted to an immigrant, the form does not provide a direct agreement between the sponsor and the immigrant.

U.S. courts, however, have asserted that a legal obligation exists between the sponsoring spouse and the immigrant spouse.

The Law Does Not Require the Immigrant to Mitigate Damages

The law does not require the ex-spouse immigrant to mitigate the damages by, for instance, making a reasonable effort to secure employment. Many asserted that the courts should hold the immigrant spouses accountable by prompting them to self-support, get a job, or even start a business. The affidavit of support, however, only provides for an immigrant’s claim of support from the sponsor. Nothing in the USCIS form suggests a duty to mitigate damages.

When the Immigrant Spouse Is Living with Someone Else

The Form I-864 provisions mean sponsors must come to terms with the fact that an immigrant ex-spouse could be living a comfortable life with a newly found romantic partner while collecting support from the sponsor. However, since the affidavit of support only applies to the support of the immigrant spouse, the sponsoring spouse is under no obligation to provide support for anyone else with whom the immigrant chooses to reside.

Can a Legal Citizen Sponsor Revoke an Immigration Sponsorship

Unless the immigrant ex dies, becomes a permanent citizen, performs about 10 years of work while paying into the Social Security system, or leaves the country permanently, a sponsor is required to support the immigrant. However, if the sponsorship is still pending and has not been approved, a sponsor could petition to have it canceled. Sponsors can write to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or visit their offices to withdraw sponsorship accordingly.

In some cases, the divorcing parties may also be able to file for revocation if they are both in agreement to peacefully terminate the sponsorship.

An experienced divorce attorney may also be able to negotiate a cash settlement with the immigrant ex-spouse to help the sponsoring spouse avoid ongoing spousal support payments.

Picture this. You’re sitting at the dealership, you sign the last bit of paperwork, and the agent hands you your new set of keys. You are now the proud owner of your own car. What an exciting moment! Owning a car gives you freedom to go anywhere you need to go whenever fits your schedule. But as you prepare for all your adventures in your new car, be sure that you’re keeping all the extra costs of car ownership in mind as well.

Purchasing a car has costs beyond the sticker price. Sure, you put down a down payment and you’ve set up a financing plan, but what about the cost of gas? What about car insurance costs? What happens if something breaks down and you need to get it fixed? The real cost of buying a car comes in these small details. Let’s break down what you need to budget for as we uncover the true cost of car ownership.

Car Insurance

Licensed drivers need car insurance. As with all insurance policies, your auto insurance is there in case you get into an accident and need comprehensive coverage for bodily injury, property damage, or collision coverage. Your auto insurance will also cover some medical expenses if a car accident results in personal injury. Car insurance prices will range based on your auto policy, age, driving record, car make and model, and location. It’s important to shop around for different auto insurance quotes to guarantee you’re getting good insurance coverage at the best price for you. You can directly compare prices online from insurance providers like Geico and Liberty Mutual to give you the peace of mind that you and your car will be taken care of in the event of an emergency — without breaking the bank.

Financing

Chances are you didn’t buy your car outright. Most people set up a financing plan to pay off your car loan over a period of a few years. While this technically is the cost of the car, your financing plan will include interest that you’ll need to financially plan for. Depending on the type of car you purchase, whether it is a new car or a used car, your interest rates and prices may vary. This will also depend on your credit history.

Of course, there are options to buy used cars at a discount that will allow you to purchase your vehicle outright without taking out a loan. For example, cars for sale in ghana are selling for under $5,000. These have financing options that are incredibly reasonable. So if you’re looking to only pay $20-$30 a month, this may be an effective option for you.

Fuel

Your car isn’t going to do much good just sitting in the garage all day, but you need gas to make it go. Putting fuel in your vehicle is another cost to account for. Depending on your driving routine and ever-changing gas prices, this cost can be hard to completely plan for. Just be aware that you’ll need to keep your gas tank full as you travel around in your car.

Maintenance

Ultimately, a car is a machine, and machines can break down. You will need regular maintenance done on your vehicle to guarantee everything stays in proper working order. Search your area for the best deals on repairs, oil changes after you hit a certain mileage, and general maintenance. It also may be a good idea to have some savings set aside in case of a costly emergency you weren’t planning on.

Documentation

Legally, you are not allowed to get behind the wheel of a car without a driver’s license. While this usually isn’t a big cost, you do have to factor that into the cost of owning a car. Beyond just your license, you will need to pay for the title, tags, and license plate. Registering your car can be costly depending on your state, so be prepared for that extra cost.

Did you know nearly 80% of the American working force lives paycheck to paycheck? This is a systemic problem in our society that needs to change. However, that will take time and no small amount of effort.

So what do you do in the meantime if you need money sooner rather than later? What can you do when there’s more month than money?

Your best bet is to look into your finance options. But tread carefully here, as you don’t want to make your financial situation worse.

We’re here to help. Keep reading for your top five options.

1. Take Out a Personal Loan

If you have decent credit, you may be able to take out a traditional personal loan through your bank. However, most unsecured personal loans, even with good credit, come with higher interest rates.

If you plan to pay off the loan within a few months, this isn’t a big deal. However, if you hold onto the loan for several years, you’ll end up paying hundreds of dollars toward credit alone.

2. Use a Credit Card

If you don’t want to apply for another line of credit, you could use your credit card for the funding you need. You can either charge the money straight to the card or take out a cash advance, assuming you have room on it.

However, credit cards have exceedingly high interest rates. There are also additional charges for taking out a cash advance. This should only be used as a last resort.

3. Get a Bad Credit Loan

If you have bad credit but still require a loan, you’re not without finance options. There are companies that cater specifically to people in your situation. These smaller, short-term loans can be life-savers.

Check out your options for bad credit loans to see if they are an appropriate solution for your needs.

4. Take Out a Title Loan

Other finance options include title loans. As the name suggests, these loans provide funding using the title of your car as collateral. Should you fail to pay the loan back or make payments, the bank has the legal authority to repossess your vehicle.

This is a good option for people with poor credit, though it does carry extra risks.

5. Get a Loan From a Friend or Family Member

Finally, if you have friends or family members who have financial security, it may be worth it to approach them for help. You can tell them about your financial needs and ask if they’d be willing to extend a loan to you out of their own pocket.

If you go this route, make it clear that you’ll respect their decision either way. It’s also important that they know you’re taking their contribution seriously. Present a repayment plan to them so they know you’ll make paying them back a top priority.

Looking for More Finance Options and Advice?

We know how easy it is to fall between a rock and a hard place financially. As noted above, most Americans live paycheck to paycheck – all it takes is one financial emergency to throw things out of sync.

If you’re looking for more information and advice about finance options or finance in general, we can help. Be sure to check out some of our other articles before you go.

Eighty-five percent of people who buy a timeshare regret the purchase. Only a small fraction of these buyers, however, move fast enough to cancel their purchase during the legally-mandated recission period. The rest are left with timeshares they do not want or cannot use, and all the costs associated with them.

Unfortunately, figuring out how to get rid of a timeshare is much harder than buying one. Here’s what you need to know about avoiding scams and unloading your timeshare for free.

Timeshare Basics

What is a timeshare and why do people want out of them so badly? As you probably already know, timeshares are a form of vacation property.

Buyers purchase rights to a certain amount of time at a property. In return, they pay annual fees. These fees can be hefty and go up over time, leading many owners to seek a way out.

How to Get Out of a Timeshare

When you buy into a timeshare, you sign a legal contract. Owners who want to get out of timeshare properties often find that doing so is a time-consuming, expensive, and complicated process.

The primary options for getting out of a timeshare include:

• Selling it
• Renting it out
• Gifting or donating it
• Deeding it back to the timeshare company
• Defaulting
• Getting help

Selling

Owners who look into how to sell a timeshare often find that the resale market is a nightmare. The sale process can be long and difficult, and they rarely get back what they invested in the original purchase. Reselling can be a good option, however, for owners who need to recoup some money from the property.

Renting

Renting is another option that sounds good in theory but seldom works in practice. It is time-consuming and difficult to rent out your timeshare if your contract even allows you to do so. Owners are also rarely able to rent their properties for enough to recoup what they are paying in fees.

Gifting or Donating

While is it possible to gift your timeshare to someone, this only works if the other party is willing to fully assume the financial burdens associated with the property. While donating property shares to charity is a popular idea, most legitimate charities will not accept timeshares unless you continue to pay the fees which does you no good.

Moreover, the laws and tax consequences around such gifts can lead to unpleasant situations.

Deeding It Back to the Timeshare Company

Increasingly, timeshare developers are quietly offering programs by which owners can give their timeshare back to the company they bought it from. These programs can be hard to find, as developers intentionally do not advertise them. They can also be expensive, as owners often have to pay several thousand dollars to surrender their shares.

Defaulting

Defaulting is when owners simply stop paying their timeshare fees. While this will eventually result in foreclosure and loss of the property, it can also ruin your credit and finances.

Getting Help

For many owners struggling to get out of timeshare properties for free, the best solution is to get help. Working with specialty companies who deal exclusively with this issue is often the fastest, cheapest, and least stressful solution.

Making Good Financial Choices

Getting rid of a timeshare can be a great choice financially. Find more great information on how to make the best choices for your money in our finance section.