Close up of red pencil erasing the word debt on paper

Getting through rehab and getting your life back on track seems like an impossible task. This is especially true when you’re under a mountain of debt. Thankfully, you’ve already done the hard part, you’ve gotten clean and sober.

All that you need to do to get rid of your debt is to create a plan of action and stick to it. Not sure where to start on your plan to get rid of debt? We’ve got you covered! Just follow these tips and you’ll be well on your way to a debt-free life.

Interested? Read on for more!

Get a Side Hustle

It sucks, and we know it, but if your day job just isn’t getting the bills paid then it’s probably time to consider a side hustle. This is true even if your day job leaves you with enough money to cover your bills.

If you can get a job that helps you generate just $200 more per week, then you’ll be bringing home an extra $800 a month, minimum. You can use your paycheck from your primary job to pay off debt and live off the money you make at your second job. Trust us, a little side hustle can make a big difference.

If you think you’re alone in the need for a second job, think again. More and more Americans are working second and third jobs to cover their bills. If you’re working more than one job then you can bet your friends probably are, too.

Get Rid of Debt by Paying More Than the Minimum

First, stop using your credit cards altogether. They’re what got you here. Only use cash to pay for your expenses.

Next, aggressively pay down your debt. Once you’ve set a realistic budget, dedicate excess income to paying off your credit cards. For example, if your credit card has a minimum payment of $50, trying paying $100 or more toward it. This way you’re paying off the principle and not just the interest.

Tackle cards with the smallest balance first. Once they’re paid off, use the money that you were using to pay on the previous card to put toward your next smallest balance. Eventually, this will snowball and you’ll be able to put a significant amount of money toward your high-balance credit cards.

Once you’ve paid off your credit cards, you can use them again, but only in moderation! Try putting your recurring expenses on your credit card and immediately paying them off each month. You worked hard to clear up your debt, don’t fall into the debt trap again.

Set a Budget and Stick to It

Sit down and detail your income each month after taxes and benefits. Deduct your monthly expenses, including credit card payments that are more than the minimum. Then divide up your remaining income into weekly budgets that include gas, groceries, and entertainment.

If you’re having a hard time sticking to your budget, it may help to contextualize what you’re doing. Rehab facilities, like Inspire Malibu, help their patients take their recovery one day and one step at a time. You’ll have moments that are difficult, some bigger than others, but sticking to your recovery will ultimately lead to success.

The same philosophy is true for budgeting. If you give yourself $150 for gas, entertainment, and groceries per week, then you need to stick to it. It may seem difficult, especially if friends or family invite you out, but stick to it!

And remember, if you create a weekly budget, relief will come again in less than seven days. You can do it.

Ready to Tackle Your Debt?

With these three simple steps, you’ll be able to get rid of debt for good.

No one is saying it’ll be easy, in fact, it’ll probably be hard work at times. But just like the work you put into your recovery from addiction, getting your debt paid down will be an incredibly rewarding endeavor.

Want more help? Check out our financial security toolkit to help you get a jumpstart on tackling your debt!

Everyone who invests wishes they could have a crystal ball to figure out what the next hot investment trend is going to be. It’s a good wish, but not a practical one, so it’s down to reading the tea leaves to figure out what is most likely to take off in 2019. Changing attitudes towards marijuana, green energy, and privatizing space exploration are leading the pack for the hottest investment trends and for good reasons. The potential for solid growth is in all of these industries as they mature and become the next wave of sensible products that the world needs.

Marijuana

Image via Flickr by Rick Obst

The decriminalization and legalization of the infamous mind-altering herb is gaining traction even in a political climate that looks askance at the use of recreational marijuana. However, corporations are looking into the concept of marijuana as a potential cash crop as more states flaunt the federal government and legalize. It’s a sure bet that more states will follow the examples of the ten states that currently allow legal marijuana as they seek out new streams of revenue. It’s an industry, albeit an unusual one, that’s poised for explosive growth as people enjoy the end of marijuana prohibition.

Space Exploration

Elon Musk may be the most famous person to get his SpaceX program off the ground, but he’s not the only one. NASA and other governments around the world have largely backed off their space exploration programs, leaving a void that private companies are stepping into. Transporting space cargo like satellites is a mature industry and the focus is now bringing the cost down along with getting humans into space. The newer aerospace industry players are worth investing in as they push the limits of technology. Aerospace companies are also a great option to make money with penny stocks as the smaller companies will be lifted along with the major players.

Green Energy

Green energy is another industry that’s poised for growth due to the growing awareness of the need for renewables. Couple that with the fact the technology behind the renewables is getting better by leaps and bounds and you get an industry that’s going to become a serious contender with traditional forms of energy generation. Again, major corporations are starting to invest in renewable technologies such as wind turbines and solar panel fields. This effort is going on around the world as countries are figuring out they can free themselves from dependencies on oil and gas to power their homes and businesses.

It’s important to not dismiss green energy as a fad. The oil crisis of the 70s prompted people to start looking at renewables, but technology wasn’t up to the task. It fell by the wayside as oil prices came down. Nowadays, people are tired of pollution from said industries and want responsible energy generation to have an earth that’s worth living on.

All of these industries require research before investing, but they are the wave of the future in terms of things that become a part of daily life. The potential for them to become hot in 2019 is very strong indeed.

Have you ever brood over, why money is looked-for everything? If everything is not about money, then why everything needs money? In fact, our human-made systems are responsible for creating this clutter by making a trivial chunk of paper responsible for fulfilling human needs and desires. To run this system’s cycle money is the current source of survival, in short, everything needs money. In our community, noone has the same circumstances, as there is a number of people who are rich (have a lot of money to get the whole lot they wished for) while others are mediocre or even poor. To meet end needs, somehow people use to get online payday loans on a regular basis. It’s a nowadays’ dilemma. Taking a loan online is not a shameful act, as far as you can pay it back on time. More or less, about everyone have some debts to the pact with.

Situations where you might need a payday loan online

Sometimes it can occur a situation where you are facing a financial problem, such as

•    Your salary is delayed for some reason and you have to buy groceries for your house
•    You don’t have enough money to pay your child’s school fee
•    Your car needs urgent repair but you have been left with not enough money in your bank
•    You or some of your relatives got into some medical condition that has to be cured, but you don’t have money for the treatment.

The above mentioned examples are just a few ones as there are so many other situations where we are in a need for money and payday loans are the solution to your way out. Payday loans are a simple, easy and quick way to get money at the time of need. This is a one-time solution but can be turned into an ongoing debt cycle if you don’t pay it back on the agreed date and time. You may encounter problems with your lender. Huge debts can cause a huge crisis. Payday loans are functional means for borrowing a small amount of money for a short time period. They can give you maximum benefits if you use them correctly with good intent, and hence enable you to yield your set out your goals.

Controversies

Unfortunately it has been observed that payday loans have been a subject of controversies for years. They earned a reputation as a tool for loan sharks, money mongers, and scammers when in reality they can benefit millions of people.

Myths and facts

A notoriety of people’s financial destruction that has been pushing them into the dark wells of debts has been associated with payday loans. This is all just because of some non-serious and imprecise borrowers who misuse and misunderstand the payday loan system. As a potential customer, it is important for you to understand the myths linked with payday loans. Below are some myths and facts about the latters.

By now hopefully, you should have developed an understanding and a positive image of payday loans.

As a business owner, your biggest asset is your brand. It’s the shining billboard in the darkness that points customers the way to your business. It’s the thing that tells you’re just right for them, the story of your business and what it can offer that it makes it so tempting to shop with. It’s more enduring than any individual advert, product or piece of marketing, built over the course of years, to endure for years.

Consider the power of the John Lewis brand: their tentpole piece of marketing is their Christmas advert which doesn’t actually include products they sell or prices. It’s an affirmation and dramatization of their brand values – and it’s all they need to keep that story of the John Lewis brand being told in customer’s heads and ensure they keep coming back.

You need to make sure the brand you build – the brand you’re building every day – is right for your business. The John Lewis approach is perfect for a high-end department and home goods store. It’s less so for a fast food restaurant, or a hairdresser: you need to make sure your brand is the right one for your business. It doesn’t sound very exciting, but the best experiences customers have, the ones that bring them back time and again, are when they get what they expected: when your brand tells a story and the experience they have bears that story out.

The first thing you need to do is make sure you’re checking what your customers really think. Data is the most important tool in your arsenal and working with market research companies gets you good data you can work with to drive your business forward. Brand tracking surveys show you want consumers think of your brand – what qualities they associate with it, and how they rank it with other brands.

Demographic surveys show you what groups make up your market: whether the people buying your products are young or old, rich or poor, urban livers of countryside dwellers, and even what newspaper they read.

Combining these two sources of data lets you make sure your brand is the right one for you. Do people rate your brand highly for the qualities that resonate with the demographics you’re chasing. If they don’t, it may be that you need to change the approach you have to your marketing, to target it more effectively at the people you have pegged as your customers.

Of course data like this can also reveal your assumptions are wrong. Perhaps you’ve been fixated on the wrong customers all along and what you really need to do is pivot to the people your brand really does strike a chord with.

Are you in need of quick cash?

Is your pay still a few days away but you have to pay your bills right now? Getting a traditional personal loan is out of the question – approval takes too long and there’s no guarantee you’ll get the loan.

For one thing, your credit score might not be ideal. Approximately 30% of people in the country suffer from mediocre credit and this can cripple your chances of a reliable financial solution.

This is where small personal loans come in.

Not sure how these loans work? Uncertain if you qualify or how to find the right small personal loan for your specific needs?

We’ve got you covered. Read on below to discover all you need to know about these loans and how they can help you:

What are Small Personal Loans?

Small personal loans are for short use. They won’t help you launch a business or make a major investment. The intention is to use these loans to pay emergency medical bills, late mortgage payments, utility bills, and due credit payments.

Don’t expect these loans to offer a large amount. You can expect most small loans to be between $300 and $3,000. The amount you qualify for depends on several factors, which we will discuss below.

It’s also important to note that these small loans have a quick turnaround. Unlike traditional loans, you must pay these loans within a few weeks. Some lenders require you to pay as early as your next payday, bridging the lines between payday loans and personal bank loans.

What are the Requirements?

Do you qualify for a small loan?

The requirements may change from lender to lender but there are common standards you should keep in mind. For one thing, you need to have a stable source of income.

This could be from a regular job or paychecks coming in from government support or from a spouse.

You should be of legal age and some lenders will require you to have a valid, active bank account. This ensures there is an account they can deposit the money to.

Your bank may also be accountable in case you’re not able to pay the loan back.

Valid identification is also a common requirement. This guarantees the lender you use your real name. Black hats use a different name and this makes it difficult for lenders if the applicant won’t pay back the loan.

Identification also proves your address as well as connection to your bank and income source. It also proves you are of legal age.

What About Credit Score?

Another requirement is a good credit score. If you don’t know how credit scores work or how your spending habit affects it, you should speak to a financial adviser. A simple budget discussion and credit explanation can help you build a better credit score.

An excellent credit score is above 650 to a perfect 850 and anything below 400 is horrible. You will need something along the middle to qualify for the smallest personal loan available. Your credit score will determine how much the lender is willing to give you.

What if you don’t have a good credit score or no score at all?

Not all lenders will give you a chance but there are a few who offer an alternative.

Instead of looking at your credit score, they’ll ask for a collateral. This could be your phone or the documents for your car. If you can’t pay your loan by the due date, they’ll take your item as payment.

Other lenders will give you a loan without asking for a collateral.

They are the ideal solution for someone in need of a quick loan and have the income to pay for it. You can learn more about this type of small loan, which requires no credit check, at Bonsai Finance.

Pros and Cons of a Small Personal Loan

Is a personal loan the right solution for you? Here’s a quick rundown of the benefits and disadvantages you need to consider before signing the dotted line.

Some of the pros include:

• Higher chance of getting a loan
• Quicker process
• Credit score may not be a factor
• Great for people with a new bank account
• Ideal solution for quick financial emergencies

As for the disadvantages, you should consider the following:

• High-interest fees
• High penalties
• Can’t loan a large amount
• A collateral may be a risk

If you look over the pros and cons, small personal loans appear as a great solution. You’re only at risk if you don’t commit to paying the loan off. If you take financial advice to heed and pay the loan on your next paycheck, you should be in the clear.

How to Get a Small Loan

Great, so a small loan is a viable solution in case you have a sudden emergency to pay off. Do you have to pay your Internet bill or a hospital bill a few days before your paycheck comes in? These are the ideal loans for you then.

But how do you apply for one?

Traditional loans take forever. You have to go to the bank, fall in line, and speak to a bank representative to apply for a loan. The process can take days or even weeks, even if the loan is only for a small amount.

Online small personal loans don’t take this long. You don’t even have to step out of your house.

Remember Bonsai Finance, the folks we mentioned above?

With a few clicks of a mouse, we can help you find the ideal lender for your specific needs. Bonsai Finance helps you find all of the lenders available online and you can reach out to them after filling up a simple form.

Get a Small Personal Loan Today!

What are you waiting for? If you have to pay something off quickly, apply for small personal loans now. These loans could help stabilize your finances until you’re back on your feet.

But financial advice doesn’t end here. We have a lot more to help you with.

If you feel like you’re in a financial rut or you simply don’t understand some of the more complex jargon in the industry, we’re here to clear the path. Feel free to contact us and we can get you started on a better financial future.

If you’ve settled on purchasing a used Nissan GTR, you’ve already made an excellent decision. Not only is this car a fantastic choice, but going with used over new is almost always the right move. Your next job is to find a Nissan dealership in your area and get yourself the best possible deal on your new car. We help you do that by providing essential car buying guidance in the sections below.

Assess Your Needs

One crucial piece of the puzzle is understanding your priorities. While you’ve already done most of that work in deciding to go with the Nissan GTR, there is one more matter to consider. It is how “used” you want that vehicle to be. On one end of the spectrum, you have cars that are under a year old and usually have less than 10,000 miles on them. These vehicles perform like they are brand new, but have a slightly higher price. On the other end, you have ones that are a few years old or more. The lifespan on them will be shorter, but you’ll pay much less up front. There is no correct choice here, just the right one for you and your situation.

Come Up With a Target Price

Once you know what condition you want your GTR to be in, you can come up with a target price. While this sum won’t be a precise limit on how much you’ll pay, it is useful to have a benchmark when heading into the car buying process. The most famous provider of these estimates is Kelly Blue Book, but there are a variety of options out there. Having a general idea of what you should pay will go a long way in getting a fair deal.

Pay Attention to Financing Terms

One of the crucial components of your deal is the financing terms. The reason is that small changes in percentages can add up to a substantial amount of money over the two or three years that you pay your car off. While one deal might look good on the basis of a lower monthly payment or less money upfront, you might end up with an inflated bill for a much more extended period than you’d like. One thing to note is that if you have the means to pay the full cost upfront, this is a point that you don’t have to worry about.

Explore Trade-In Options

Unless it is truly on its last legs, your old car likely has some value. What this means is that you might be able to get a discount on your GTR by trading in your current vehicle. If the dealership isn’t interested, you can also look into selling your old car to a different auto dealer.

Look For Incentives

Many sales associates have a full toolkit of sales and incentives that they only bring out when needed. The result for you, the buyer, is that you can utilize these discounts by pursuing them. The first way you can do so is through browsing the dealership website and seeing if it has a special offers page. Next, you can ask a salesperson for a discount at the dealership.

Take a Test Drive

Though the Nissan GTR is an exceptional vehicle, every one of them is different. You’ll definitely want to take one out for a test drive before deciding to purchase it.

Choose a Great Dealer

Lastly, choosing a great dealer is an integral piece of getting the deal you’re looking for. Doing so will decrease the need for intense negotiation and careful assessment of terms, as you’re dealing with an ethical business that has your best interest in mind.

Choosing a used Nissan GTR is an excellent decision, but the process is not over. Now, you must search for the right dealer to sell you one. We hope the tips on this list help you find a great deal. That way, you can enjoy your new car even more by knowing you received a fair offer.

If you’re looking for certified pre-owned vehicles for sale, you’re making a great choice. A certified pre-owned or “CPO” car is a vehicle that has been inspected, maintained, and serviced by the dealer, and meets the car manufacturer’s standards for quality and reliability.

In most cases, a CPO car will offer you better reliability than a used car, so they are very popular among used car buyers who want to protect their purchases.

However, there are quite a few misconceptions about certified pre-owned cars. Let’s take a look at a few of these myths now.

1. Getting A CPO Vehicle Is Just Like Getting An Extended Warranty

This is not true. You can get an extended warranty for just about any car from a third-party company, but CPO vehicles are different. Certified pre-owned cars are also sometimes called “factory-backed,” because their warranties are issued by the dealer, and are backed by the manufacturer.

You do not have to pay extra for any kind of warranty when you get a CPO car. The additional coverage comes with the vehicle without any kind of fees or extras, and there is typically are no deductibles or other extra costs for the repair of a covered CPO car.

2. Any Car Can Be Certified As A CPO Vehicle 

Again, this is not true. While dealers do have the authority to certify their vehicles on their own, they face serious sanctions and penalties from manufacturers and regulators if they abuse this privilege in any way.

To be certified as a CPO car, a vehicle must pass a very rigorous inspection process. Its overall condition, level of wear and tear, mechanical soundness, and other factors are taken into account, and repairs or maintenance may be conducted to bring it up to near-factory condition.

3. Buying A Used Car At A Dealership Is The Same As Getting A CPO Car

You may have noticed that not all vehicles at a car dealership are certified. These cars are simply sold as “used,” and if you buy one, you do not get the same protections and guarantees that you would if you purchased a CPO vehicle.

When you are sold a used car that is not certified pre-owned, and you don’t buy a warranty, you’re liable for all repairs. Period.

However, if you buy a CPO vehicle, the dealer is assuming liability for repairs based on the specifics of the CPO program, even if you do buy a warranty.

While there are often hundreds of used cars available at a dealer, there are usually only a handful of certified pre-owned vehicles for sale. So make sure that you choose a car that is certified, and not just “used.”

4. Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles Pass The Same Inspection – No Matter The Manufacturer 

This is also not true. Different automakers have different inspection processes for certifying CPO vehicles. They also may have different policies when it comes to coverage.

For example, a certified pre-owned vehicle for sale at a Ford dealership will usually have a different warranty than one sold at a Toyota dealership. It’s very important to take the time to read the guidelines and details about the certification process and to understand what is – and is not – covered by the CPO guarantee.

5. Certified Pre-Owned Cars Cost A Lot More

Here’s another common myth. Many people think that CPO vehicles cost a lot more because dealers essentially build the cost of a warranty into the purchase price. But this is not the case. On average, a CPO car usually only costs a few hundred dollars more than a used vehicle, and the difference is often even lower.

In general, a CPO car will cost a bit more than a used vehicle. But it will be guaranteed to be mechanically sound, and the dealer will assume liability for repairs, based on the CPO program details – so a CPO car is usually well-worth the investment.

Don’t Fall For These Certified Pre-Owned Myths!

A certified pre-owned car is a great investment. You get a vehicle that has been treated well and properly-maintained – but you avoid both the depreciation of buying a new car and the repair liability of a used vehicle.

So shop smart and find a certified pre-owned vehicle for sale near you. If you do, you’re sure to make a great investment in a reliable vehicle.

A broken furnace is always a significant inconvenience. Not only do you lose your heating capabilities, but you could also be in for a high repair cost. Luckily, you can protect yourself against both of these traps by understanding the elements of furnace repair costs and how you can avoid malfunctions altogether. We help you do so in the sections below.

Typical Cost Ranges

The vast majority of homeowners pay between $150 and $400 for furnace repair. In rare cases, that number extends from $50 to $1,000. Once you reach the upper end of that range, it is likely time to consider a new furnace over repairing your old one. This decision is best discussed with a professional.

Common Furnace Issues

Before talking about the elements of cost, let’s discuss the common issues that furnaces run into.

• Improper Maintenance – The primary tasks that you need to carry out are following proper usage guidelines, changing the filter, cleaning ducts, and checking for leaks. If you do not prioritize these responsibilities, you are putting your furnace at risk.
• Filter – The most important factor of the three we presented above is changing your filter. If you don’t, you’ll raise your electricity bill, make your furnace work harder for the same results, and make its lifespan than it should be.
• General Wear and Tear – No matter what, every piece of machinery is going to degrade over time. Your furnace is no different. Proper maintenance can help, but age will take its toll no matter what.
• Dysfunctional Thermostat – Your issue could be unrelated to your furnace. Instead, it might be your thermostat. Luckily, repairs for this element of your heating system should be much less expensive than the more complicated machinery.

The 3 Factors That Affect Cost

The following three factors are the primary drivers of cost for Winnipeg furnace repairs.

• Warranty – You might find that your system is still under warranty when you start to have issues. This realization is significant, as it can lower or eliminate your repair costs. The best way to find out is by talking to the manufacturer.
• Damage – The second essential piece of information is the extent of your damage. Minor issues will have a low price tag, while others will be so expensive that buying a new system is cheaper than repairs.
• Service Provider – Lastly, different service providers have different pricing structures. One way to get a great deal is getting quotes from multiple companies before choosing which to go with.

Maintenance Tips

The two most important maintenance tasks you can carry out are changing filters and cleaning ducts. For the former, your best bet is switching your filter every month during periods of high usage, and every other when your usage is low. For the latter, you should vacuum the vents that feed into your home at regular intervals. You can also hire a professional to carry out a deep clean of your entire duct system, which comes with a variety of benefits.

The Value the Right Service Provider

As we mentioned above, the company that you choose for your furnace maintenance will dictate how much you pay for the service. Another reason why they are important is that proper repairs lead to years without needing more work, while a shoddy job will quickly lead to another malfunction. Lastly, the best businesses will give you an accurate idea of whether or not you need a new system, rather than a repair. These two additional functions are further proof that choosing the right service provider is crucial.

You can take two things from this article. First, adhere to the maintenance tips on this list so that your furnace stays functional for as long as possible. Next, you can utilize your knowledge of repair costs to choose an excellent service provider and get a great deal. Combining those two actions will save you a significant amount of time, money, and frustration going forward.