Here is the key to your Financial Toolbox

Friday, February 1, 2013

Take Your Financial Wellbeing Seriously


So many people have financially trapped themselves and feel they are in their trap forever. By taking the time and reconcile your bank statements making sure all the information on those statements is correct. Computers make errors and if the bank you are dealing with makes an error in your favor you can be rest assured they are going to come back to you to resolve the error. Well, you are entitled to do the same. With your statement as the evidence right in your hand approach a bank official with it and have them correct the mistake immediately. If you get a fee call a bank official and try to get the fee removed. Question why you got the fee, especially if you do not regularly have overdraft or similar activities occurring in your account or accounts. Make them investigate and be firm but not belligerent. Sometimes it is how the bank processes your account to their advantage adding excess fees. If the processing was to their advantage and you have a good account record ask for your money back. If they refuse tell them you will never refer their bank to anyone and say to them you considering doing your banking else ware. Follow though if they are still uncooperative on one or more occasions. By finding a new institution to work with you protecting yourself from and your account from becoming targeted by the bank for future excess fees. Be ever aware of these tips because they only the tip of the iceberg of how banks are getting over on you the consumer. By not keeping accurate records you could be wasting valuable money in which you could save and pay off debt instead of going further into debt. You can actually start saving money toward a positive cash flow along with so much more working for you toward the positive.

 

You as a consumer have to fight back. The banking industry has changed by leaps and bounds in the last ten to fifteen years. So many laws have been past in favor of the banking industry it has become profitable for these large commercial banks to crush the smaller banks and the lower income consumer. With all the high fees and unruly tactics banks’ profits go into the billions every year and no one can do anything about it except be diligent and take action to protect yourself. Again I am just tipping the Iceberg and if you working hard and not getting ahead you are falling victim to these legal crimes against the consumer.

 

If you deal in cash get receipts or better yet get a prepaid bankcard where you can start getting statements and tracking your money. Keep an accurate record of where all your money is going giving you a better chance of improving your financial position and decisions. By researching and getting the right Prepaid Bankcard you will actually be saving money by not paying check cashing fees again at a competing bank or a check cashing agency along with your travel expenses to go to those institutions. You will be saving precious time because many of those bills you traveled around to pay in the past you now can safely pay online by going website site to website of the vendor or the utility instead of door to door with cash. The top advantage is if it is available to you, you can have your paycheck deposited right into your prepaid account again saving you time and money. Take your time and match the prepaid bankcard to your personal financial plan. Some banks offer great prepaid packages where others are fee happy. It pays in dividends to find the right prepaid card so do your research and do not settle for the ad you had seen or the application that came in the mail.

Switching to a Credit Union over a bank for your needs maybe the best decision you ever make. My wife and I have and it has changed our lives for the better. As in our 2011 blog post, “Are You Working for Your Financial Institution or is Your Financial Institution Working for You?” we explain many advantages of Credit Unions over banking with commercial banks. Again with the convenience of direct deposit you can overcome many of the fees, the unjust treatment as well as constant disadvantages which comes with a institutions geared to it’s stock holders instead of it’s customers. Yes, the commercial banks have more convenient branches but that is all they have to offer besides fees after fees and loan denial after loan denial unless your credit score is excellent which most of us are fair to good. Find a Credit Union near you. Ask them about their membership policy you may be surprised how easy it is to join let alone deal with people with your interests in mind. Membership has its privileges.

Credit Cards have some good features and bad features. If you have a savings credit cards can help you keep your savings intact while you overcome a temporary financial problem. The best way if you can spread your unsecured debt over a few cards and pay with a payment plan you develop monthly. This plan should be goal based with a definite pay off date. Here is where we can go wrong with credit cards by not being frugal. If a card’s interest rate is real high, pay your debt off with that card as soon as possible. You are almost better off using your savings to pay the debt and rebuild your savings but this is a personal decision weighing your options. Make sure your unsecured debt or credit cards do not exceed your savings. The truth to be told is if your unsecured debt is more than your savings and assets you are not saving anymore you are just plain in debt.

Do not carry balances on high interest cards use them for emergencies only. High interest credit cards are still far better than taking Pay Day or Car Title Loans so use them cautiously. Find a credit card with a lower interest if you can and cancel the high interest card if you can and be very diligent about the balances on your new card leaving you plenty of room for emergencies. If you are stuck with a high interest card and it is maxed out call the credit card company and get fixed payment terms with a lower interest rate by canceling the card and pay monthly until you can get a lower interest loan to pay it off. And lastly if you are maxed out on all your unsecured debt find another source and pay off your credit cards then cancel and destroy them. They are no good to you until you lower all your unsecured debt.. If you cannot find a loan through other sources try a credit union. It costs nothing to ask. As one of your last resorts, look into go to a credit counseling agency. You can learn more by going to our 2011 blog post "The First Step to Financial Freedom is the Hardest".

By not caring about your finances affects every aspect of your life believe it or not. Setting up a comprehensive banking plan with a budget is easy to research and do yourself. Dealing with the right institutions for your finances will help you feel better about yourself and everything you do. Take the time to end the hopelessness of poor record keeping and take the time to make sure the institutions you deal with have you the customer in mind. Keep in mind commercial banks serve themselves and not the customer however, some smaller banks can be better and more customer friendly than the larger banks. Take the idea that you are fighting those in control you and your money because they are controlling you and your money believe it or not. Always keep in you mind the commercial financial world are groups of faceless corporations with their rich executives getting bonuses by tacking fee after fee on you the consumer, and their stockholders getting their dip into the profit pot, are always looking after their interests maybe it is time you did to.

These are your rights as a consumer. Take the time to learn more of how the financial industry works. Do not let them take your money by doing your research. With this blog post we are telling you to look for the good guys and get rid of the bad guys. Send them the message wire are not going to take it anymore. By being educated and professional about all you financial needs you can turn any bad financial situation into a good one and you do not have to go bankrupt to do it.

 Go to "Are You Working for Your Financial Institution or is Your Financial Institution Working for You?" by Clicking Here!
 
Go to "The First Step to Financial Freedom is the Hardest" by Clicking Here!
Look Into the Netspend Prepaid Bankcard if you choose to join Netpend will give you $20.00 for joining. Then start refering friends and get $20.00 for each referal deposited to your Netspend account!!!
 
Open Netspend in a new window by Clicking Here!

Get Your Copy of Money Saving Emergencies by Dave Ramson

No comments: