Category: Budgeting

Investing While in Debt is Totally Possible

debt investmentsDo you have some money saved up? It is completely normal to want to see that money grow in investments. If you happen to be in debt, though, investing seems like nothing more than a pipe dream. How do you get out from under a mortgage while investing money at the same time? Well, fr.doylesalewski.ca says that you can do just that. There are many ways in which you can balance your debts while investing in new ventures.

Know the Types of Debt You Have

Your ability to invest while in debt is based on the type of debt you’re trying to pay off. Some types of debt make it a very bad idea to invest in other ventures during. Others are not so bad. High-interest debt is the worst kind. This type includes credit card debts and similar situations where the interest rate is more than 10%. Low-interest debt, on the other hand, is easier to invest during. This includes car loans, mortgages, and bank loans for personal use.

Why Should You Invest While in Debt?

Getting rid of debt is a process that takes a long time. Loans that last for up to 30 years exist. You don’t want to dedicate all your time and money to paying off these debts and find that you have nothing waiting for you at the end of it. When you pay off debt on its own without investing, you gain financial freedom at the end of the period. This comes at the cost of less time for any future investments to mature. If you start a portfolio right now, the time value of money is such that a $100 investment today could yield over $10000 at the end of the 30-year period of your loan. This value depends on the interest rate of your investment over this period of time.

You Need a Different Portfolio

Investing while in debt is different to investing in ventures in the traditional way. The difference here is that instead of making low-risk investments you use that money to pay off your loans and long-term debts. The returns, in this case, include a reduced debt balance as well as the return on your high-risk investments including stocks. The higher the risk you take with your investments, the less money will go towards your loan payments. Of course, you need to consider budgeting to make sure that regardless of your investments you will still have just enough to pay off your loans.

Investing is still possible when you’re in debt. The question you should be asking yourself is: should you? This is a very personal decision. It depends on your confidence, your ability to assess risk vs. reward, and much more. This isn’t something that should be engaged in on a whim. You’ll be making some high-risk investments. Make sure you’re psychologically ready for this adventure. You don’t want to wind up demotivated and possibly depressed because an investment falls through. Learn to roll with the punches and focus on managing your debt too.

Buying or renewing a bike insurance is a click away: 10 Benefits to Go Online

byke insurance renewalIn today’s internet savvy world, we all purchase something or the other online. From apparels, airline tickets, to gadgets, literally EVERYTHING is only a few clicks away! Even while writing this article, I ordered for a purple kurta to be worn in my office Holi party!

In fact, it’s not just clothes and groceries that are selling like hotcakes in the internet world, as people are buying insurance online as well.

Either you or someone in your acquaintance might have bought bike insurance online. After all, as per the research across 18 cities, more and more people are buying insurance online. Of the 3007 respondents,24% purchased motor insurance online.

However, if you are reluctant about going ahead with the online mode and prefer the conventional mode of arranging a meeting with various insurance agents and visiting their offices for detailed discussion, this article is meant just for YOU!

Benefits of online buying/renewing bike insurance:

Buying or renewing bike insurance online can prove advantageous in various ways, such as:

1. Automated servicing: The online platform is not meant for buying insurance only. As a prompt and efficient servicing channel, current policyholders can adopt the online mode to renew their policy as well, regardless of whether they purchased their policy online or not. Further, with just one click, you can download product literature like brochures, policy wordings, etc. and get instant premium quotes online.

2. Online assistance: If you are purchasing the insurance online, it doesn’t mean you will not get any assistance. Most of the insurance companies have live chat facility on their websites where customers can seek clarification in case of any query. Also, customers can call on the toll-free number of insurance companies to clear all doubts. You can go further and ask the insurer for a face-to-face meeting. The insurer will send an executive for further assistance.

3. Paperless transactions: Getting into paperwork is both time consuming and boring. But when you go online to buy an insurance policy, it requires just a few easy steps. Besides being efficient, you are protecting the Mother Nature by going paperless!

4. Time-saving and convenient: To purchase insurance offline, you need to go through the tedious task of filling long insurance forms. However, when you buy insurance online, you need to submit only a few details. Also, at the time of policy renewal, it’s easy to reload your information. As the insurer already has your details, you only need to submit your policy number. Further, insurance companies have designed an easy-to-understand user interface which has made the entire process of buying the insurance quicker and easier. And who wouldn’t love to cut the hassles of going out and standing in long queues, when buying and renewing of bike insurance can be done from the comfort of home. While watching the ‘Friends’ season on television, or during the office break or even from your mobile, bike insurance can be purchased in a hassle-free manner.

5. Cheaper premium rates: It is disheartening to see that nearly 75% of two-wheelers plying on roads are uninsured even when it is mandatory to have a third-party insurance to ply your vehicle on roads. Many times, people avoid the insurance to save some penny.However, buying a bike insurance online ensures additional savings. The insurance quotes are given for free, and in fact, you can ask for as many quotes as you want. Moreover, there is no obligation to purchase either! As there is no involvement of any agent and the insurer saves on paper and administrative cost, the same is passed on to policyholders in the form of cheaper premium rates.

6. Away from nasty agents: Though, an insurance agent plays an important role, sometimes they may not be helpful. Often, insurance agents prove to be pushy and may even have vested interests in a particular insurance policy. But when you go online, you get an option of comparing and choosing the right insurance policy after analyzing every aspect carefully. Also, there will be no interference or biased suggestion from insurance agents!

7. Instant policy issuance: When you buy a policy offline, the insurer takes a lot of time in processing physical documents. Whereas, in the internet world, the processing of information is instant and so is the issuance of your bike insurance.

8. Storage of policy documents at one place: When you go online, you will always have the soft copy of your insurance policy in your email. It means, you can access your policy anytime and anywhere. Did you know the Insurance Regulatory Authority of India (IRDAI) has introduced a digital motor insurance initiative known as e-VahanBima?It says that you don’t need to carry your motor insurance policy document every time you take out your vehicle on the road.

9. Check policy review: As you do it at the time of purchasing other things on the internet, you can check the reviews of previous customers and their experience with the insurance company before going ahead. It means, you can compare features of different policies and know about the reputation of a company before zeroing in on.

10. No impact of demonetisation: I know, the ‘demonetisation phase’ is over, but what if the government comes up with its second season? As it is said, ‘once bitten, twice shy’ so, go for the online mode to ensure that any cash crunch scenario doesn’t affect the process of buying or renewing bike insurance. All you would require doing is, log on to the insurer’s website and fill the important details, including policy information, vehicle registration number, add-ons, if any, and make payment via net banking.

Remember, accidents happen unannounced.Therefore, the least you can do is, apply for a comprehensive bike insurance that takes care of the associated expenses and ensures your financial security.

Further, it is reassuring to know that buying bike insurance online doesn’t pose any serious safety threats as every step is taken by an insurer to keep your personal information confidential.

4 Steps to Follow before Applying for a Personal Loan

loans for youFinancial institutions provide credit to individuals to help them meet fund requirements, such as medical emergency, wedding, or a dream holiday. These loans are offered based on their credit history. The Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited (CIBIL) collects information from financial institutions to maintain credit scores for individuals across the country.

Availing of personal finance loans allows individuals to overcome any liquidity crises. However, before applying for the loan, it will be beneficial to know the procedure and the pros and cons of such credit facilities.

Understanding the loan application process

Most financial institutions in the country offer personal loans to individuals. However, the procedure may vary from one lender to another. Understanding the process and the rules and regulations of the institutions before making the choice is recommended. It is advisable to review the loan application form to comprehend the terms and conditions in order to make an accurate decision.

Here are four steps to follow before applying for a loan.

1. Check the interest rates

Each lender levies different rate of interest. Some institutions may offer fixed rates while others may offer reducing balance rate of interest. In the latter calculation, the interest is charged on monthly reducing balance determined after decreasing the Equated Monthly Installment (EMI). However, with a fixed rate, the interest remains the same during the entire loan tenure.

2. Determine the Equated Monthly Installment (EMI)

Lenders determine the loan amount based on the income of the applicants and their credit score. It is important to choose an EMI that may be repaid without facing financial constraints. It is advisable that all the EMIs do not exceed 50% of the borrower’s monthly income to prevent a liquidity crisis.

3. Understand the documentation

Some of the commonly required documents include an identity, age, and residence proof along with the duly filled application form. Furthermore, applicants may need to provide details of their income and bank accounts to the lenders.

4. Confirm the loan eligibility

Applicants must use a personal loan online calculator to determine their eligibility before applying for a loan. Any individual aged between 21 years and 58 years may apply for such loans. The minimum net monthly income must be at least INR 25,000 with two years of work experience. An online calculator will help borrowers to know the approximate amount they may procure as a loan.

Having understood the loan application procedure, here are three benefits of applying for such loans.

1. Collateral not required

Unlike other credit facilities like home or auto loans, personal loans are unsecured. This means borrowers do not need to provide any personal asset as collateral against the loan. In case an individual fails to make timely repayments, the risk of losing the asset is eliminated with these loans.

2. Quick approval

These loans require applicants to submit some basic documents for receiving approval. Furthermore, these are unsecured credit facilities that make it easier for lenders to sanction the loans. Since the loan approval is primarily based on the credit history of the applicant, an easy personal loan is disbursed within a short period of time.

3. Affordability

Contrary to belief, these loans are available at competitive interest rates. Furthermore, the processing fees and other charges are nominal, which makes it affordable for individuals to avail of these credit facilities.

Personal finance may be used for any legal purpose. This provides flexibility to the borrowers without limiting the use of these funds. Several financial institutions offer these loans and provide loan-related information on their websites.Individuals must conduct extensive research and review these details in order to land the best deal.

5 Simple and Effective Tips For Budgeting in The New Year

budgeting tips for new yearWell, we made it. We’re past the tumultuous year that was 2016 and now 2017 is upon us. What can we expect from this year? It’s hard to say, but one thing we can all afford to do a little better, is budgeting our finances.

That’s why today we’re going to look at 5 awesome tips for budgeting yourself in 2017, and ultimately leading yourself to a more successful year than the one that just ended.

5 Strategies For Improving Your Budget in 2017

The overall concept of a budget can be scary, but if you break it down into simple strategies, it becomes a lot easier to see how everything fits together. Here are five ways you can get your budget back under control in 2017:

1. Drop Unneeded Subscriptions

We all have things like a Netflix subscription, and possibly a few others, including that gym membership you keep saying you’ll use. When you look at these monthly spendings, they suddenly add up to a lot more than you would expect. Just a few $20 monthly subscriptions can add another $500 or more to your yearly budget.

If you have more than one video subscription, why not narrow it down to one you can’t live without? As far as the gym goes, you don’t need to pay someone to exercise. Take a walk around your neighborhood, go to the park, heck, even do pushups in your living room. Don’t let me money disappear from your budget on things you don’t use or need.

2. Create Alerts on Your Phone

I am one of those people who gets very forgetful with all the stress of daily life. Simple things like credit card payments would slip by if I didn’t have some kind of reminder in place. Life is complicated, so don’t depend on yourself to simply remember things like these. Set up alerts on your phone that give you a heads up when something is due, so you can take care of it before it becomes late.

Late payments can be detrimental to your credit score, and for some people, they can’t afford to lose any more points off their credit. Thankfully, you can utilize credit repair if you need to with this resource: www.debtsteps.com credit repair companies list.

Either way, keeping yourself on track to pay everything on time will help you budget better in the long run.

3. Break it Down Week-by-Week

If you break your budget down into weekly limits on your spending, you’ll have a better grasp of where you stand on any given day or time in the month. This also allows you to be more in tune with how much you have to spare, if any, on weeks where you might need to take a break and go out one night to reset.

This is why it’s also important to set realistic goals. You can’t completely cut yourself off from the possibility of going out to dinner one night or renting a movie when you’re bored. Financial health is important, but you also have to think about your mental well-being.

4. Make a List (and Stick to It)

Anytime you’re going out shopping for things you need or even things you want, keep yourself in budget by creating a list. For example, let’s say you’re going to the grocery store. You’ll probably be tempted to pick up a few things that are nice, but not completely necessary. We’re all guilty of it, but it can bring up a grocery bill pretty fast.

If you make a list and stick to it, you’ll stay within your budget by a reasonable degree. Most grocery stores also offer the ability to clip digital coupons and use them with your phone number at the register. Take advantage of programs like this to save even more money when you’re shopping.

5. Keep Track of Everything

Our final tip is one that comes straight from my own strategies. I like to keep track of everything in my budget using an online spreadsheet that I customize myself. It allows me to write down all my bills and expenses in one place and keep track of the due dates. When it comes time to pay something, I just utilize the miracle of mobile banking to get it done.

I marked the bills as paid in my sheet and I can refer to it at any time of the month to see where I stand on budgeting. It’s an optional, but very helpful way of keeping track.

Final Thoughts

We’re in a new year, full of new possibilities. It’s time to think about how you can restructure your budget and make this year better than the last. How do you plan on improving your budget this year? Let us know in the comments!

How to Get Home Loan with a Low CIBIL Score

understanding bad credit scoreThe biggest nuisance with applying for a home loan is getting the application rejected. While there are many reasons that lead to a loan disapproval, having a low CIBIL score is a major factor, which makes getting a loan seem impossible. However, there are several ways around the CIBIL score that can get your home loan approved. Here are some alternate ways that may help you to get your home loan approved, irrespective of your CIBIL score.

Consider your income

If your source of income is good enabling you to repay your home loan on time without adding any financial burden on you, you can get your application approved even if your CIBIL score is lower than the required number.

Check your family’s CIBIL score

If you have a bad CIBIL score, you should consider the score of your spouse, either one of your parents and other family members. With a good CIBIL score in the family, you can request them to get your home loan application approved by simply becoming a joint loan holder.

Turn to lenders that offer loans with low CIBIL scores

There are certain NBFCs and HFCs that offer home loans to even individuals with a low credit score. But you may get stuck with comparatively high interest rates on the loan.

Go for loan against collateral

To get a home loan with low CIBIL score, you can even go for collateral security, which includes FDs, shares, assets, etc.. For such loans, lenders don’t bother about the CIBIL score of the applicant.

Getting a low-interest home loan with a CIBIL score of 0 or -1

A CIBIL score of 0 or -1 means you have no credit history that a lender can go through to determine the status of your loan application. You can simply talk to your lender about your creditworthiness and ask for help to get the ball rolling. Show your income proofs, credit appraisals, employer and employment details, etc. to the lender to negotiate the rate of interest.

Once you have secured your home loan with 0 or -1 CIBIL score, make sure that you pay it off on time to get this recorded in your CIBIL report for future reference. Also, keep in mind that foreclosure and arriving at a settlement with the lender is bad for your CIBIL score.