Category Archives: Personal Lessons

Advantages and Disadvantages of Bank Loans

Bank loans are designed to help us in times of financial struggle, with websites like https://www.towerloan.com/lending/installment-loans/ being used for this help. They help us to survive financially by allowing us to borrow enough money to settle our bills. That said, there are several types of bank loans, among which the most popular ones are home and business loans. The former is opted by individuals usually when they want to purchase properties like new construction homes, but the prices are so high that their savings might prove insufficient in front of the creeping costs.

In business, however, bank loans are available to be used in purchasing equipment, inventory and to obtain the funds and operation capital for our business expansions. Also, bank loans are regarded as reliable and honored methods to finance our business, either big or small. However, they cannot be obtained that easily. Bank loans can only be obtained if we have a long history of credit worthiness and can produce collateral as a guarantee for banks and finance firms. Aside from that, some banks are strict when it comes to their bank loan offers, which is why many people opt for bridging loans instead.

Given that, as citizens and probably business owners, weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of having bank loans must be considered. In this way, regrets can be avoided in the end, and more success can be met. Below are only some of the top advantages and disadvantages of bank loans in our life both as citizens and business owners. So, let’s start!

Advantages of Bank Loans

More Control in the Business

The first advantage of bank loans is that it can give us more control in the business. With bank loans, we can borrow an amount that we can use to improve our business, as well as its capability to provide more services or products to the valued customers. Now, as we already borrowed an amount from a bank, we can control the operation of our business, its plan, and its goals in the future. As we hold the money for these things to happen, we are poised to ensure that our business becomes successful.

Moreover, unlike equity finance, bank personnel do not become involved in a business’s operations or decisions. Thus, the control of the business is still left to its owners.

It is only temporary

Next, if we borrowed an amount from a bank through a loan and we finished paying it on time and contract, it will literally come to an end. So, bank accounts are temporary depending on the amount we borrowed, as well as the agreed amount of dividend payments in a certain period. Once we have finished paying our loan, we will no longer be obliged to be involved with the bank lenders and the bank itself. With this, we can enjoy more of the running of our business while we earn.

Tax-Deductible Interest

Lastly, bank loans have tax-deductible interests. Additionally, this is best with fixed-rate loans wherein interest rates are not changing during the course of the loan. With that, loan service payments will remain the same throughout the period of the loan. Also, with these, it can make be easier for us to plan and budget our monthly loan payments. With the additional help from a spreadsheet for computing our future payments in the business, our business life can be managed easily and effectively.

Enough with the advantages, let us now proceed to the disadvantages of bank loans.

Disadvantages of Bank Loans

Tough to Qualify

The top and greatest disadvantage that we can possibly encounter with bank loans are that it is tough to qualify. Here, it will be hard for us and our business unless there is a valuable collateral or a substantial track record such as real estate. This is because banks are being careful when it comes to their clients. They see to it that the clients have the capability to pay loans and to ensure that there will be no losses or defaults. Moreover, business borrowers will be required to provide personal guarantees wherein assets are seized when failure or being unable to pay the loans result.

Even if you are not looking for a business loan and want a personal loan, it could be tough to qualify for it due to the same reason mentioned above. Nevertheless, if you are in desperate need of money for your personal use, then there are other options you could look at. For instance, you can talk to a relative who has a good reputation for loaning money to family (of course, that person might have a huge cash reserve that allows him to lend money to kins in distress). Keep in mind that borrowing money from family can be an easier way of getting out of financial tensions. (Remember that you need to repay it to the concerned individual within the given time frame).

Truth be told, the problem with banks is that it might take the institution weeks to fund the loan from the time you apply for it. This can be a problem for real estate companies that require a quick turnaround. Due to the uniqueness of each piece of real estate, sellers may receive multiple competing offers. The ability to make a quick payment could mean the difference between obtaining or losing the property. That is why borrowers tend to look for other options as well, such as bridge loans. The primary reason that hard money lenders act faster than banks is that bridge lenders fund loans more quickly than banks. The speed with which bridge loans are approved and funded can put real estate investors ahead of the competition.

High-Interest Rates

When it comes to businesses, there can be an increase in terms of the interest rates as well as insufficient bank funding. High-interest rates in bank loans will never help with funding a business. Instead, it will only make it more difficult for us when repaying the loan. So, we better be wise when choosing a bank that offers bank loans with interest rates.

3 Ways to Deal with Marriage Breakups and Divorce

Marriage breakups are difficult and upsetting. They can, however, be made more difficult by the way that we deal with them. Trying to soften the situation, this article will look at the best ways to handle relationship breakups that are likely to end in divorce, including when to get support from divorce lawyers london, or similar lawyers wherever you reside.

Discussions

Most divorces are not pursued lightly, they will have often resulted from less than happy times having been shared prior to them taking place. They are the product of a relationship that has pushed sweethearts further apart in a relationship that has soured over time. Some differences can be sorted out, whereas others have become so wide that there is no chance of repairing the cracks that have formed in the relationship. This is when both parties will be looking for denver divorce lawyers, or lawyers wherever they might be, to help settle financial and personal matters between the separated couple.

The advice, then, is in the way that discussions are handled prior to the inevitable. Both parties need to be satisfied that they have had sufficient discussions to establish the reasons for divorcing and that these are the same for both parties. Marriage guidance counselors can help couples to identify where the differences lie and ultimately get both potential divorcees talking. Then, all those involved can be certain that everything has been talked through. This will ultimately make the divorce process run more smoothly.

Telling Everyone

The way to deal with telling everyone is to decide whether it is better to tell everyone at once or individually. The risk of making individual announcements is that your news may reach persons close to you before you have had a chance to tell them yourself. This can be hurtful and damaging to your relationship with them. So, instead of ending up with just one marriage breakup, you find yourself breaking up with many of your relatives at a time when you could do with them most for support.

Informing people about a marriage breakup and imminent divorce has become harder these days, not easier, because of social media platforms. It means that a message to one person can be easily shared with many others very quickly. This makes it important to inform those closest either at the same time or in the best possible order. That is, not to consider it a pecking order as such, but more of an order of who will be hurt most by the upsetting news and start by explaining the joint decision to them first.

One of the first persons to here of a marriage breakup or of divorce plans, might be a young child. It should be considered that children see and comprehend things completely differently to adults. How do you, for instance, break it to a child that they are going to have a part-time mother or father, and that they will perhaps not be able to see one of them much in the future? Tips for advising children might include choosing the right language to use, not going into too many details about why the divorce is happening, and reassuring children that it is okay for them to be upset, as you are too, and to then use words and actions that comfort them.

Protecting Interests

After getting over the initial upset of a breakup, it would be wise to make sure that the interests of all concerned are protected. This is best achieved by enlisting the help of a divorce lawyer, similar to those at https://www.thetxattorneys.com/, as the process reaches this climatical stage. Then, it is possible to protect not only personal and business assets and property but also access to any children. Financial affairs can be as complicated as legal procedures, but a divorce lawyer is best placed to know either from a legal perspective. Assets will need to be divided fairly in accordance with the law, and any property left to provide a roof over the heads of children. Last Wills and Testaments may need to be changed to alter the benefactors. It might be a wish that money is put into trust for children, so that they have financial security in the future. All of these considerations can be addressed best if a skilled divorce lawyer is consulted, such as those found at mlawgroup.ca. Such a lawyer can ensure that the interests of his client are protected at all times.

And there you have it, three ways to deal better with marriage or relationship breakups and divorce–having thorough discussions first, informing those close in a sympathetic order, and finding a good divorce lawyer at an early stage to protect everyone’s interests, not just your own. Hope this post can be of some help to you in your troubled times.

How To Use Credit Cards To Your Best Advantage

A good number of people use credit cards and have more than one. Even students have now come to rely on this form of plastic to help them with their finances, relying on overdrafts and cards from a bank similar to Atlantic Union Bank to aid with daily living. While they can be a big benefit, they can also be detrimental to financial health. To prevent this, it means using credit cards to your best advantage.

Choosing The Right Cards

There are a large number of credit cards to choose from. There are credit cards which can be used as personal finance options for Veterans, while for students, there are different cards and schemes. They each have their own perks, but they also have their own policies that cardholders must agree to. This is where there can be some significant difference. Paying attention to the credit rate is very important, but also being informed about some of the other contract details are equally as important. By being informed about what a credit card company has to offer and what their terms are can help you choose the best card for you.

The Main Purpose

People want credit cards for different reasons. Some want a card to use in case of emergencies. Others want cards because they like to travel. Some want to build points. Others may want a credit card where they can transfer all their other credit card debts too as they can manage debt better when it’s all in one place.

It is important to know what the primary purpose of the card is going to be. That way, you can shop around for the card that will best meet that specific need. For example, some credit cards are geared towards travelers and offer some great perks and travel type discounts. Then there are credit cards that allow for transfers of balances. They will offer a lower interest rate for a period of time. Allowing the cardholder the opportunity to really pay down the debt because of the lower rates. Those with SoFi’s credit card (see it here – https://www.sofi.com/credit-card/) will know and appreciate its ability to help them pay down debt, along with other benefits including its helpfulness in saving and investing, as well as the exciting rewards in the form of cryptocurrencies.

Making Payments

It is really easy to get carried away with credit cards and to become overextended. Meaning running up the balances quickly by purchasing items that may not be a necessity. The best way to use a credit card is only to make those purchases where cash is not an option. Also, to keep the purchases low enough so the credit card balance can be paid out at the end of the month. If this is not possible because of a big purchase, then refrain from using the card again until the balance has been cleared.

Paying On Time

This may not seem to be that important, but a late payment fee can really eat into the payment that you are making on your credit card. It can also harm your credit score.

Credit Score

If you are trying to mend a bad credit score, you can use a credit card to help with this. All it takes is paying the bill out each month and paying it on time.

Don’t Rely on Minimum Payments

A big mistake that a lot of credit card holders make is just making the minimum payments. Doing this does not reduce the principal amount owed, and it can take years to pay off the balance. At the very least, try to make even a small payment beyond the minimum.

Review Your Statements

It is easy to get into the habit of just receiving your credit card statements and looking at what the payment needs to be made. This is not a good habit as you should review all the other information that can be found on these statements. There should be a list of transactions that were made since the last billing. These should be reviewed. Mistakes can be made, and you want to be sure that no unauthorized purchases have been made.

Staying in Harmony With Your Budget

If you intend to get yourself financially secure, you may have created a budget for yourself. You want to keep this in mind when using your credit cards. Make sure the purchases fit in with what you have allotted for buying with the credit cards. For example, if you budget $200. a month for gas for your vehicle, then be sure to keep this within the credit card spend and include the interest as part of the amount allotted for the gas expenditure.

With some careful planning, you can use your credit cards to your best advantage.