3 ways to get money with a bad credit score

3 ways to get money with a bad credit score

Getting a loan is a complicated process, and with a bad credit score, the process becomes even more stressful. However, there are some ways to get a loan despite a bad credit score. There are some tips one can follow to improve one’s chances of approval or reach out to some online lenders who offer loans to people with bad credit scores. That said, here are three ways individuals with bad credit scores can obtain money.

1. Add a co-signer
In some cases, having a co-signer with a better credit score can be beneficial to obtaining a loan. This means that they take equal responsibility for paying the loan back, which makes it easy to get a loan even with a bad score, as together, one’s credit score improves. It is always advised to make a repayment plan with the co-signer beforehand and ensure clear communication with this agreement.

2. Check with community credit unions
Before heading to other financial institutes to check for loans on bad credit scores, one must first approach known community credit and bank unions. If the bank knows a person and their spending habits, they may offer better loan terms than other lenders despite the low credit score. However, if this option does not work, some online lenders can offer loans to those with a bad credit score. Here are two options:

  • Upstart
    This is a good lending platform, especially for anyone seeking a personal loan. One of their selling points is that there is no minimum credit score required, which makes anyone eligible to get a loan. Their requirement suggests that one must have some credit score and the individual must have passed a higher education program. Another thing to consider is that they do not give too high interest rates.  However, this may vary from case to case, but it is affordable for someone with a bad credit score.
  • Regions
    One of the pros of getting a loan from Regions is that there are both secured and unsecured loans available, the interest rates are low, and there are no origination fees. However, there are some limitations to getting a loan through Regions, which include the borrower should already have an account with them, and the loan amount cannot exceed the available deposit account balance. Another thing to be careful of is that there is a late charge fee when the money is not paid on the agreed-upon due date. The late fee is 5% of the unpaid amount and goes up to $100.

3. Provide collateral
For the banks to know that one can repay the loan even with a bad score, it is important to provide collateral they can use. This increases one’s chances of getting a loan as it decreases the risk of lending the money. In an unfortunate case when the repayment is not made, the lender at least knows they can sell or auction off the collateral to get their money back.

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Pros and cons of automated investing

Automated investing services, or Robo advisors, have become ubiquitous in the present times. Many financial service companies now have their own automated investing services. There’s no doubt that the introduction of Robo advisors has made investing an accessible financial option to many. However, automated investing has some disadvantages as well. So, before you decide to opt for the best automated investing service, have a look at its pros and cons.Pros of using Robo advisorsLow feeLow management fees are one of the biggest advantages of opting for a Robo advisor. Big names in the finance industry such as Charles Schwab Corp.'s Intelligent Portfolios offer Robo advisors for free, while some financial institutes such as Betterment and Wealthfront charge a low 0.25% as a management fee. High-quality investment portfoliosAlgorithms used in some of the best automated investing services such as the ones provided by Betterment are backed by Nobel prize-winning investment models. These models are created to offer the greatest return on investment for the smallest risks. Access to a financial advisorMany traditional financial services companies now use Robo advisors to select assets for their client’s investment portfolios. This allows them to offer their clients financial advisers that can help them with taxes, loans, and any kind of financing or investment.Easy to useRobo advisors make the entire investing process extremely quick and easy. With Robo advisors, all you need to do is answer some questions about your financial goal, risk tolerance, and capital, and the algorithm will come up with an investment portfolio that is suitable for your needs. Low minimum balanceEven individuals with low net worth can enjoy the services of professional advisory via Robo advisors. Several investment companies such as Betterment and Ellevest offer access to the best automated investing services even with zero balance. Cons of using Robo advisorsThey're not financial plannersIndeed, in terms of purely creating profit-racking portfolios, the best automated investing systems can be better than human financial planners. However, a Robo advisor cannot understand your short- and long-term goals and financial concerns as a human financial advisor. A good financial planner understands your financial aims and helps you create a portfolio that helps you meet your future retirement goals. Financial planners are especially helpful at times when the market is not performing well. They can be limitingRobo advisors can’t go beyond their pre-programmed questions when creating an investment portfolio. They can also be limiting if you’re looking for more complex investment strategies, and can’t engage in trading on your terms. Many sophisticated investors demand a larger investment portfolio with different asset classes, which may not be possible even with the best automated investing systems.

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Top 5 buy now, pay later apps to check out right now

In recent years, buy now, pay later (BNPL) apps have become increasingly popular. These apps are convenient for users because they allow them to divide their purchases into equal, small payments. At times, with no interest and late fees. Users can find small and long-term financing options for various purchases. Some apps also feature loyalty programs that can be coupled with rewards, in-app purchases, and discounts to help save on purchases. Here are 5 apps one can check out: Affirm Available on both Apple and Android, Affirm is one of the most reliable BNPL apps for phones. Users can access various financing options covering a wide range of purchases. The app offers simple payment options for both small as well as big purchases. When buying via Affirm, users also get an idea about their monthly payable amount against the purchase. With its allowance for high-ticket items, Affirm is equivalent to loans that can be repaid within a set period. The platform integrates with numerous e-commerce platforms and usually has a no-late fee clause. PayPal PayPal is a popular payment gateway available globally. It has recently entered the short-term repayments market. The Pay in 4 by PayPal is a service available to the citizens of the country that distributes their purchases into 4 equal repayment amounts. However, it must be noted that the first repayment would be due at checkout. The other three payments would be equally distributed over six weeks, each due every two weeks. Pay in 4 is available as an option with most retailers that support the PayPal platform. Sezzle Sezzle was founded in 2016 and has grown to become one of the most frequented platforms for individuals looking for deferred payment loans. Sezzle, like Pay in 4, offers a repayment installment that involves 4 payments. The repayment plan starts at checkout, with each consecutive payment due at the two-week mark from the previous one. If individuals miss a payment, they are charged a $10 fine and a $5 fine if they reschedule any payments. The reschedule option is a feature that can sway people into using Sezzle over other BNPL apps. Additionally, users’ activity does not impact their credit score. Afterpay Afterpay is a BNPL app that offers pay-in-four and monthly payments options to its users. Like most other apps, Afterpay also needs users to make their first payment at checkout. It also offers interest-free loans for their pay-later buyers. However, for people who forget payments, Afterpay can be expensive since they charge late fees. The penalties can amount to up to 25% of the cost of the purchase. The application is user-friendly, and it integrates with their supported retailers. Alternatives to Afterpay include using their website or the Afterpay card. Klarna Klarna is another BNPL application individuals can easily access on their phones. It offers customers three different repayment options for their purchases. Short-term repayment options include a single payment in 30 days and 4-interest-free payments distributed over six weeks with payment due every two weeks. Moreover, a long-term repayment option is also available that can last from 6 to 36 months. However, customers should know that Klarna charges late fees along with interest on their long-term financing features.

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