Here’s how one can get a car loan with a low credit score

Here’s how one can get a car loan with a low credit score

A good credit score is crucial for maintaining financial health, as it affects the availability of financial assistance through banks and other institutions. A low credit score usually does not prevent one from finding a car loan. However, only some have a perfect credit score, while some may require help obtaining car loans. Fortunately, various tips and tricks are available to secure a car loan with a low credit score. Let’s explore these options below.

Check credit score
A crucial aspect of managing one’s finances is understanding their credit score. The FICO credit scoring system is a widely used tool that ranges from 300 to 850. Anything below 580 is considered a poor rating according to this range. Therefore, the first step is to check the rating to determine the benefits and limitations that may arise.
These scores are based on factors like the credit history’s length, payment history that may include any past defaults, how much one has to owe, spending more than the available monthly credit, and having a short credit history.
Also, one of the expert’s tips is that one must not consider getting a new credit card or loan before applying for a car loan. Instead, improving one’s current credit score will help one be in a favorable position.

Save for a down payment
One of the easy hacks to obtain a car loan is first to be able to provide the down payment. Once one has selected which car they would like, calculate the down payment required for that vehicle. Start saving up for this upfront money because the chances of getting a car loan increase significantly if one provides a down payment on the spot. This also helps offset the higher interest rates, which can assist in securing the loan. So, aim for a larger down payment instead of the minimal amount of $1,000.

Prepare thoroughly
One must research the annual percentage rate at which one will be charged based on one’s credit score. Also, one must check an estimate of how much of the monthly payment one can afford if the loan goes through. It is important to remember these numbers as they will help negotiate with the loaning institute. Additionally, one must check for deals that match the monthly payment budget and if one can reduce the APR by any number.
Statistics show that credit scores ranging from 300 to 600 can get anywhere between 14% to 12% of APR on new cars and 21% to 18% on used cars. These values will change specifically to the bank one is going to.

Get a co-signer
One should consider getting a trusted friend or family member to be a co-signer on one’s car loan. It can help one get an approved car loan quickly and surely. One must take that offer if that individual has a good credit score and is willing to help with this co-signing. Doing so will be a great negotiating tool during the car loan process, which can help get a lower interest rate. However, the co-signer’s credit score can be affected if the loan becomes delinquent, even though they don’t own a vehicle.

Previous Read

5 mistakes to avoid when buying tickets for live concerts or shows

Concerts in large stadiums provide a truly unique experience. But finding tickets for the best rows before they sell out can be time-consuming. Tickets can be purchased in different ways, including online, at the venue, or through a middleman. Regardless of the method you choose, it is essential to confirm the tickets' validity to prevent becoming a victim of fraud. Here are some things to avoid when buying live concert and show tickets. Visiting fake links Scammers often use phishing to obtain financial and personal information from people booking tickets online. Once they have this information, they access the victim's bank and credit card accounts. They mainly trick buyers by sending emails or text messages that appear to be from legitimate banks, credit card companies, or event organizers. These emails include a link to a different page that asks for personal data like birthdate, social security number, and bank account details. As a result, the con artist gains direct access to the victim's account. To avoid fraud, ensure the links you visit are valid and come from reliable sources. Last-minute bookings Tickets to shows featuring popular performers sell out shortly after the dates are made public. So, booking tickets just a few days before the show or concert can be risky. To ensure you get the passes, purchase tickets as soon as you learn that your favorite artist is performing. Doing so also gives you time to look for discounts or special offers and pick the best seats inside the stadium. If necessary, set a reminder for when the tickets go on sale. Ignoring the terms and conditions Before buying live concert or show tickets, carefully read the fine print. Check for any stated age restrictions to avoid wasting money and being denied entry at the gate. Also, read the terms and conditions to understand what is permitted in the stadium or ballroom and what should be left behind to avoid confusion later. Further, check the return and exchange policies to avoid last-minute stress. Falling for fake tickets During big events, scammers produce fake tickets and mark them down to lure customers. After receiving the payment, they disappear or present a fake ticket. Buying tickets directly from the venue or a trustworthy secondary source is advised to save money and avoid falling for such cons. Search for official websites, investigate the vendors, and purchase tickets only from sources that provide a justifiable return. Finally, use a credit card to buy tickets as they are more secure than other forms of payment. You can cancel credit card payments immediately if you discover the tickets are fake. Using third-party apps for booking Avoid downloading third-party apps that promote simple ticket booking, deals, discounts, and other benefits on the day of the concerts. These apps may contain spyware and malware, compromising your smartphone and exposing personal information. Only use the Google Play Store or App Store to download apps for booking live concert or show tickets. You can check out reliable websites like VividSeats and StubHub to book tickets to concerts, shows, and other events. The platforms offer exciting deals and discounts for events like the Superbowl and performances by popular artists like Madonna and Taylor Swift. 

Next Read

4 tips for choosing the right water bottle

Water bottles are one of those essential products that continue to be used by people of all ages. Today, one can find a wide variety of types and designs of water bottles that cater to diverse needs. But, when choosing a bottle, one may overlook certain must-have features and instead opt for trendy options that don’t meet all requirements. To make an informed decision, here are a few tips for choosing the right water bottle: 1. Consider the usage The first thing to consider before purchasing a water bottle is individual usage. So, one needs to know if they are buying a bottle for their home, carrying it to work, or for traveling. Based on this, one can choose the right size and material for the water bottle. For instance, glass is a great, relatively safe material for storing water, but glass bottles work best for home as they can break with rough use. For portability, one should consider plastic, stainless steel, and silicone bottles, as they are sturdier options. 2. Prioritize health and safety Plastic is commonly used for single-use and reusable water bottles, as it is a lightweight, versatile, and affordable material. However, when choosing plastic bottles, one must make sure they pick BPA-free variants. BPA (Bisphenol-A) is a chemical usually found in plastics, which is known to leach into food and drinks stored in plastic containers. So, plastic bottles could mean one ends up ingesting high amounts of this chemical, which has been linked to health issues such as heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and cancer. So, to avoid BPA, one must check the product label for a BPA-free tag. Additionally, a reusable bottle with a built-in filter can get rid of disease-causing contaminants found in water. The filter, which usually has activated carbon, can also minimize the taste and odor of chlorine found in treated water. So, one should invest in BPA-free water bottles with filters. However, one should change the filter regularly to keep their drinking water free from impurities. 3. Consider insulation If one is purchasing a water bottle for outdoor usage, say, while traveling, one must consider insulation. An insulated water bottle has a double-wall construction that maintains the original water temperature for hours. This is especially useful when one is traveling in extreme weather conditions. 4. Inspect the lid and locking mechanism Water bottles come with various types of lids and locking mechanisms. Some of the most common options include a simple screw-top lid, flip lid, and spout-type lid. Before purchasing a bottle, one must check the lid to choose the most easy-to-use design or one that they like the most. Secondly, one must also check if the water bottle lid is leak-proof. To ensure one makes the right choice, they should inspect the bottle thoroughly before making a purchase.

Our Blogs

4 tips that can help you pick the right investment advisor

4 tips that can help you pick the right investment advisor

An investment advisor can be a game-changer. A capable advisor can help solve most of your financial issues and give you the best investment advice so that you can turn market situations to your favor. But, finding the right investment advisor is not easy. Here are a few things you need to keep in mind while looking for the best investment advisor. Know what type of service you need First, you need to decide what kind of financial assistance you need. Do you need help picking investments? Or are you seeking advice on real estate, retirement, or insurance needs? Asking yourself these questions will help determine the type of investment advisor you are looking for. Nowadays, many people use a robo-advisor, which is as competent as a human investment advisor. A robo-advisor is great for investment management and other basic investments. But if you want substantial transformation in your money-situation, a human advisor is the viable option. Choose a fee-only advisor If you’ve decided to pick a human advisor, the next step is to choose the type of advisor: commission-based, fee-based, or fee-only. If you’re planning something big financially, you must pick a fee-only advisor. Such advisors work for and get paid by other clients like you, so they always act in their clients’ best interest.
Read More
Handy tips for retirement-focused investments

Handy tips for retirement-focused investments

With pension plans becoming more and more obsolete, retirement-focused investments have come to the fore in the past few years. Besides helping you fund your future, these valuable assets also provide incredible gains, and in some cases, constant income till the end of life. Since investing for retirement—and planning it—can prove to be challenging, we have put together a list of tips that may be helpful in the process. Assess your options Multiple investment vehicles are ideal for long-term gains and can return a sizable amount by the time you retire. Mutual funds, stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds, cash investments, annuities, and dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs) are also good sources of high returns, although they depend on investor characteristics and risk aptitude. Saving money in certain tax-advantaged accounts such as 401(k), individual retirement accounts (IRA), and brokerage accounts is also an option. Start early and young No one is ever too young to invest. It’s a healthy habit that can earn serious money in the long term, with even the smallest of investments capable of making a difference a few years down the line. Starting early gives your money time to grow and lets you accumulate more compound interest over a period of time.
Read More
4 popular credit cards for college students

4 popular credit cards for college students

A good credit score is essential as it can be a criterion for lucrative job prospects or renting an apartment. Moreover, a good credit score is an uncompromisable necessity while applying for a loan that has terms and conditions that favor you. To ensure that you have a good credit score, it is better to start building it young and early. One of the easiest ways to do so is by applying for a student credit card from prominent credit cards companies. Now, there are several credit cards companies that offer lucrative credit cards, making choosing the right one confusing. To help you narrow down your choices, here are some of the best credit cards companies that offer student credit cards. Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students: One of the biggest credit card companies in the country Bank of America offers a slew of benefits with its student credit card. With each dollar spent using this card, students can earn 1.5 points. This applies to purchases without any caps. The points can be redeemed as discounts on hotels, flights, rental cars, and vacation packages. There are no restrictions or blackout dates applicable for availing these discounts. With no foreign transaction fee or annual fee, the card allows one to earn nearly 25,000 points on spending about $1000 in the first 90 days.
Read More
What you must know about guaranteed business loans

What you must know about guaranteed business loans

If you’re looking for funding your small business with a loan, you’ll most likely come across the term “guaranteed business loans.” People often misunderstand this term as business loans that are guaranteed to be approved. But, this is not what guaranteed business loans means. To clarify the confusion, let’s understand what the term actually means, and discuss the most popular types of guaranteed business loans. What are guaranteed business loans? In simple terms, guaranteed business loans in the world of small business loans refer to loans that are secured or backed by a guarantee. The guarantee can be in the form of collateral, deposit, or an agreement. This essentially means that the lender is guaranteed to receive their money back even if the borrower fails to pay. When we talk about guaranteed business loans, we refer to loans with a personal guarantee or, more commonly, loans guaranteed by the small business administration (SBA). Let’s take a look at both these types. Personally guaranteed business loans As you understand from the term “personal,” when you make a personal guarantee on a business loan, you essentially agree to sell your assets to pay off the loan, if your business is unable to do so.
Read More
5 mistakes to avoid when investing in a high dividend ETF

5 mistakes to avoid when investing in a high dividend ETF

Exchange-traded funds (ETF) have been gaining popularity in the investment sector for some time now. Along with mutual funds, they have been one of the most preferred investment options among investors. With investors having pumped in billions of dollars in ETFs by now, these funds sure seem like a lucrative investment avenue. However, financial experts suggest treading this path carefully so as to avoid unforeseeable losses. Here are a few mistakes that you can avoid while investing in high dividend ETFs: Overlooking long-term investment Looking at long-term goals is the golden rule when it comes to any type of investment. However, seasoned investors invest in ETFs on a short-term basis through a type of trading called intraday trade. This type of trading allows the investors to buy and sell stocks and other investments on the same day. However, if not thought out carefully, investing in high dividend ETFs through intraday trading can result in lower returns and higher trading costs. Buying an ETF simply based on its name This is one of the most common mistakes people make when investing in high dividend ETFs. Investors may think that an ETF’s name provides an insight into its investment reach, i.e., whether the ETF has local or/and global investors.
Read More
How to qualify for a reverse mortgage

How to qualify for a reverse mortgage

A reverse mortgage provides the elderly access to equity in their homes and supplements their income. With its flexible repayment option, it gives homeowners more control over their money. However, the government has laid out strict rules and guidelines concerning reverse mortgage eligibility criteria. So, if you’re considering a reverse mortgage, read on to know the reverse mortgage eligibility criteria and the types of reverse mortgages. Reverse mortgage eligibility criteria The first criterion for a reverse mortgage is that the primary homeowner must be at least 62 years of age. If your spouse is under the age of 62, you might still be eligible if you meet other reverse mortgage eligibility criteria. If you’re not 62 or older than 62, then you won’t qualify for a reverse mortgage even if you satisfy the criteria mentioned below. You must be the primary resident of the home you’re seeking a reverse mortgage for. Note that vacation homes or rental properties do not qualify. You must either entirely own the house or have at least 50% equity in it. If you have any mortgage balance remaining while applying for a reverse mortgage, you must be in a financial position to pay off that balance.
Read More