Payday Loans Blog

Our cat was acting odd; I knew something wasn't right. I thought that perhaps he ate something bad but when he wasn't getting any better, we decided to take him to the vet. Well over $300 later, we figured out the problem. Whiskers is part of the family and we would have made any sacrifice we could for him, but that vet bill was more than we anticipated, and a bit more than we had in the bank. My friend suggested that we head down to Check City and get a Cash Advance. I had never gotten one before but she told me that they had the best rates in town. The Cash Advance was fast and very affordable. We were happy to have Whiskers back his mischievous-self again! And with rates like that, we'd do it again in a heart beat!

Do you need a Cash Advance? 

A Cash Advance is a handy tool to get you the money you need before your next paycheck comes in. A Cash Advance can not only get you out of a tight financial situation, but they can save you from expensive fees from late bills or over drafted bank accounts.

You do not even need a credit check to get approved. If you have a checking account, a photo ID and a steady income you can get the money you need by today!

Just visit a Check City near you today or visit them online to apply now!

Payday Loans are handy tools that can really help you out in a tight situation and can save you big money from having to pay expensive late fees or overdraft fees. But not everyone who needs some extra money should get themselves a payday loan. Here, we will discuss who should get a payday loan and how to use one responsibly.

If you would like more information on exactly what a payday loan is, you should visit our previous blog: What is a Payday Loan?

Who should get a payday loan?

Just because money is tight does not mean that you should get a payday loan. Payday loans are a great source of quick money so long as you intend on paying them back right away (usually on or shortly after your next paycheck). As with any credit, those who get a payday loan need to be responsible in paying them back and if not paid back on time, a payday loan could end up costing you a lot more money than you would have wanted. For this reason, only those who are in need of quick cash to get them through a tight situation before their next payday should get a payday loan. Those who are just tight on money and simply do not want to wait for an item or trip should look for another source of getting funds.

Payday loans are great tools for:

• An unexpected bill or expense that you do not have to money for before your next paycheck; such as a car repair or medical or vet bill.
• Having money in your account if you are a little short for the month to save you from expensive overdraft fees from bills or expenses that will pull from your account.
• Getting a bill paid on time before your next paycheck comes in so that you can keep your bills paid on time and protect your credit score.
• An unexpected flight out of town for a family emergency that you do not have quite enough money for before your next paycheck.
• Any short-term expense that you anticipate having the money for shortly but need the money right away.

Payday loans should not be used for:

• Unnecessary spending because you want them now and do not want to wait.
• Buying unnessisay items that you could save up for.
• Anything that you will not be able to payback by your next paycheck or shortly after.

How do I use a payday loan responsibly?

Payday loans are quick sources or cash for those who are in need. Only those who are in need of cash should get a payday loan and not those who simply want cash. To use a payday loan responsibly, you need to make sure that when your next paycheck arrives in your bank account that there will be enough funds in the account to cover the loan amount you borrowing along with the small fee for the loan that you will be notified of before the loan is approved and the funds are deposited into your account. Any money left over that you did not need from you payday loan should not be used for making any additional purchases that you do not have the money for.

Check City would like to thank all of their loyal customers who use their services and pay them back responsibly and to remind all of their guests to use their payday loans and any other types of their services, such as cash advances and title loans, responsibly. Thank you. Don't forget to check out the new Rewards Program for all of you returning guests out there!

My sister who lives in another state was close to having her fourth child. With her husband working all of the time, she didn't know what to do when she started having complications and the doctors told her she needed to stay in bed until the baby was due. Having three little ones running around made that impossible for her but she and the baby were at great risk if she didn't. Luckily I was in a position to be able to fly in to help, but my husband was not getting paid for a couple more weeks and didn't quite have enough for the travel expense. We went online and got a cash advance. We had heard of cash advances before, but did not really know how they worked. We were surprised to find out how affordable it was and they had they money we needed in our bank account the very next day. My sister and her husband were so relieved that I was able to come. And now, I have a happy and healthy new nephew to love!

Cash Advances make your needs easy and affordable

There are countless reasons why a person might need a cash advance. And there are a few vital reasons why a person should get a cash advance:

• To protect your credit score. Unpaid or late bills can hurt your credit score making it difficult to get future loans or good rates costing you hundreds or thousands in the long run.
• To save you from expensive fees. The cost of expensive overdraft fees or late payments can be double, triple or more of what it would cost you to get a cash advance instead.
• To fulfill your needs when you need it. Whether it is an emergency flight out of town or need car repairs, if you cannot wait, a cash advance is there for you.

We have been in the short-term loan industry for over 23 years and we have made it possible for nearly anyone to get a fast and affordable cash advance, without even requiring a credit check. Visit us today on the web, or stop by one of our many store locations to find out for yourself how fast and affordable it can be to get the money you need today.

Any college student who wants to receive financial aid of any kind, must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as a FAFSA before June 30 to even be considered for aid. However, the earlier you get your forms in, the better a chance you have for getting state or federal aid. You may want to remember as well that states have different deadlines and so you may miss your state's deadline if you delay turning your forms in.  This system works on a first come/first serve basis so the sooner you get your forms in, the better chance you have of being chosen or even considered for financial assistance from the state or federal government.

State Deadlines

The earliest listed deadline on the FAFSA website is February 15, which has long since passed, and that is for the state of Connecticut.  For a full listing of deadlines and specific state requirements visit the FAFSA Website. 

It is hard to file early or even on time at times, because you cannot file your FAFSA until your taxes are filed.  Your work statements however usually don't get mailed by the federal government until the end of January, and so for some, it is difficult to get your FAFSA in by the state deadlines. 

Average deadlines fall somewhere around March 15, and if you want to be sure you have the best possible chance for receiving aid, you can estimate your taxes, then change it later, when your taxes have been completed. 

If you don't qualify for financial aid, you can also receive aid in the form of Unsubsidized or Subsidized Student Stafford Loans.  These are long term loans that will need to be paid off upon graduation.  If you are looking for a short term solution, you could check out one of Check City's many fast cash loans.  Remember that Check City's loans, no matter how big or small they are, are meant to be short term loans, and you should not count on them as a long term financial solution. However these payday loans can be helpful when seeking financial aid help that doesn't require a credit check and is something that can work for almost anyone. 

Friday I talked a little about a few commonly believed myths when it comes to gas mileage and the facts that prove them wrong. Today I want to address a few more of those myths and correct them once again so that together we can stop the spread of false information and save some extra money. Check City also has some financial options to help you get quick cash when you need it. We offer customers quick loans, as well as money transfers and check cashing services for your convenience. Here are three more myths, and their corresponding facts to help you make sure you get it straight.

MYTH 4: For the best gas mileage you should not drive faster than 55 mph. 

Fact: The gas mileage remains about the same until you hit speeds of 60 or greater, or are doing city driving. Smoothness in driving is actually a much better predictor of gas mileage and hurts it much more than driving fast. According to the U.S. department of energy, most cars peak in efficiency between 35 and 60 miles per hour. They also say that for every five miles you drive above 60 adds about 24 cents to each gallon of gas you are paying for, because of the extra wind resistance. Drive as though there is an egg underneath the pedal, so that you aren't constantly letting on and off of the pedal. This will help reduce your gas usage by as much as 33 percent. 

MYTH 5: A car with a manual transmission will always get better gas mileage than an automatic. 

Fact: Newer automatic trasnmissions can get just as good or even sometimes better gas mileage than a manual transmission.  Before oil embargoes, manuals did indeed get better gas mileage, but because of the increased technology, including the updated five speeds on many automatic transmission cars, they are about even. When driving in town however, the manual may still get slightly better mileage. 

MYTH 6: This may be the one you were waiting to hear about. Shutting off the car's A/C and opening windows will help to reduce gas mileage. 

Fact: At higher speeds, opening the windows, creates so much air resistance that it cancels out most, if not all of the benefits gained from turning off the air conditioner.  However, air condition does burn up gas, and alternate recommendations include turning down the A/C and changing the mode to vent. Ford Motor Company says to reduce use of the A/C until the temperatures are above 80 degrees. 

Names are being added almost daily to the short list of people that may possibly replace the recently retired Justice John Paul Stevens.  Justice Stevens worked as a Supreme Court Justice for 35 years and announced on Friday April 9, 2010 that he would be retiring. Many republicans are worried that this will give President Barack Obama too much power in the Supreme Court, as he has already replaced another justice and are hoping for a semi-conservative replacement.  The shortlist now includes around 10 candidates.

The List:

• Martha Minow: Dean of Harvard's Law School
• Sidney Thomas: 14-Year Veteran on the U.S. Court of Appeals  
• Elizabeth Warren: Head of the Congressional Oversight Panel and Harvard Law Professor
• Hillary Clinton: Current Secretary of State (Officials are pushing to get her off of this list)
• Elana Kagan: Solicitor General
  
• Merrick Garland: Federal Appellate Judge
  
• Diane Wood: Federal Appellate Judge

Obama has promised the American people that he plans to nominate someone that can relate to the American people and will represent the average American interests and life.

Check City can help you by offering average everyday services for the average everyday family with financial problems. We offer services from cash advance loans to Check Cashing and you can participate in our services Online or in one of our many Store Locations. Visit us today to learn about our many services and to see how we can help you out with your many financial decisions.

Whether you prefer to cut coupons or just buy during sales, there is never a bad time or way to save yourself some extra money.  Even if you don't get the Sunday paper, with all of the great coupons there are definitely cost cutting steps you can take to help save yourself and your family extra money.  Check City can also help you save money and get the money you earned, when you actually need it.  We offer Payday Loans also known as Cash Advances, and Check Cashing for the times when you are running a little short on cash, or have just forgotten to cash your paycheck. With our financial professionals ready to help, you can be sure we will get you exactly what you need.

1. Cut out the coupons from the Sunday paper and organize them.  Make sure you don't keep coupons you know you will never use, because this creates unwanted clutter.
   
2. Know the regular prices on items and try to avoid buying unless they are on sale. For instance, don't buy meats unless they are under a certain threshold, and when you do, buy plenty to save and freeze.
   
3. Make a plan to avoid overspending. Go to the store knowing exactly what you need and corresponding sales with coupons. Don't buy what isn't on your list, unless it is on sale.
   
4. Pick up the stores flyer on your way in, to combine with other savings and learn what is on sale.
5. There are online sites, such as Coupons.com that offer great deals you can print out from home.
   

Don't forget to visit Check City to get great deals on our many financial services as well. 

Here is the second half of dos and don'ts when it comes to your 401 (k) retirement savings.  So far we have discussed increasing your yearly contributions, avoiding risky behavior, participation in employee benefit plans, and autopilot plans, often provided by your employer to keep track of and alter the plan on a yearly basis, based on a system you set up.  Here are four more helpful dos and don'ts to increase your 401(k) so you can keep up the lifestyle you are currently used to, and avoid digging yourself into a hole that will cause you to work past your retirement age.

5. Get Help- Everyone is somewhat embarrassed to admit they need help, no matter what the situation, but statistics show that those who receive counseling in the area of their financial and retirement plans are better off than those who try to do it all on their own. 

6. Don't Forfeit Free Money- Many employees do not contribute enough to their retirement fund to receive the match contribution from their employer. Don't short yourself of free money that is available to you. 

7. Don't withdraw early- Many people, when they change careers or jobs, will withdraw their retirement funds. In fact about 46% do. DON'T! You may have to pay up to 10% for withdrawing early, and taxes on the withdraw amount is also due. 

8. Don't Over Invest in Company Stock- You can lose wellness points, and also a lot of money if you put all of your assets into the company you work for.  If the company fails, you will not only lose your job, but all of your retirement money as well. 

Check City can help you with one or more of our many Financial Services.  We have Insurance Plans, Check Cashing Programs and Payday Loans.  Visit us Online or in one of our many Store Locations to learn all about our many helpful Financial Services. 

The economic problems that we face today are not easy to wrap your mind around.  There are many ins and outs to the financial system that operates in the United States, and there are also hundreds and even thousands of people trying to explain what is going on.  With so much to understand and so many opinions giving us advice and words of wisdom, sometimes as consumers we feel lost and are unsure of who we can turn to for answers.  In an article, published Wednesday, March 31, 2010 in the Huffington Post, one journalist claims he can explain the entire economic situation in one fell swoop.  Let's put him to the test.

In the article, the author tells us about the beginning of home investments, which had its booming start in the early 1990s.  The government was backing the buying of this type of investment with liquidity to residential mortgages and many journalists, reporters and financial analysts were encouraging this type of aggressive home buying as well.  Consumers, believing that these investments (homes) would double in value every year, and with the growing need to "keep up with the Jones'" the article points out that smart buyers as well as average everyday consumers were not only buying homes, they were buying elaborate, expensive properties. 

According to the article, lenders were thrilled that everyone wanted to borrow and kept finding more and more ways to lend these people financial aid in the form of loans.  These banks and lenders in turn, didn't have to worry about the lendee repaying the loan, because the loan was backed by government funding and therefore sold to investment bankers, posing almost a no-risk situation to lenders and bankers alike.  Because of these large numbers of loans, many lenders however, became stuck with loans before they could be sold or pushed off onto another company as was the case for Citibank.

The government, feeling as though they were safe from harm and foul, never checked up on many of these loans and lenders, causing themselves much pain and frustration in the long run, when many loans defaulted because lenders didn't understand their rights and responsibilities and the government began to pay for their lack of concern. They naively believed that housing prices would always be on the rise as long as other prices were rising.

At Check City, we make sure you understand all of your rights and responsibilities as a consumer before we grant you a Payday Loan, or any other type of loan for that matter. We want you to feel as though you are part of the family, and we treat you as such. 

Well consumers and the government were wrong again.  Housing prices dropped, financial hardships began to hit the hard working Americans and financing loans and mortgages became a nightmare.   People had pay off their mortgages, lenders weren't able to lend money, because they didn't have any equity to lend against, and the housing industry was in trouble, big trouble.  By 2006 people were defaulting on their mortgages at literally every turn.  Mortgage securities were dropping and by 2007 through 2008 banks were so paranoid and untrusting of each other, that the economy found itself in a virtual standstill.  

In other words, he points out; greed, and the human desire for more and more and the need to keep up with the Jones' drove the American economy to the brink of self destruction, and that same human nature can save it. 

Visit CheckCity.com to see about our great Payday Loans and find a way to stimulate your economic situation. 

Even though many critics of payday lenders would tell you different, the ease and convenience offered by Payday Loans far outweigh the drawbacks of fees and interest rates.  These loans are always meant to be for the short term, and should never be considered for a long term financial solution. With a Payday Loan from Check City, also referred to as a Cash Advance by some, you can get great rates without having great credit.  At Check City you don't have to have any credit at all, we don't run a credit check, and you can get everything you need in one place. 

Payday Loans are currently banned in 12 states, and regulators keep a watchful eye on the other states that allow to have these short term solutions.  In another article published on the blog, these types of loans are referred to as a taxi; the rates may be high for a time, but it is convenient, easy, affordable, and only meant to be used for a short time. Check here for the full Payday Loan Taxi Article.

Check City makes fast, convenient cash advances on your next paycheck surprisingly easy and affordable.*

Just visit a Check City Store near you--or apply for a cash advance online. Either way, the process only takes a few minutes. Here's how it works:

    * You write a personal check for the amount you need (plus our standard fee) and walk away with cash
    * Check City holds the check until your next payday or some other date you specify
    * To qualify for a cash advance, you must have a steady source of income, a checking account in your name, and a state or federal ID

*Cash advance loans should be used for short-term financial needs only, not as a long-term financial solution. If you are experiencing credit difficulties, we encourage you to seek credit counseling. Although we strive to assist every applicant, not all loan applications will be approved.