Payday Loans Blog

There are countless aspects of our lives in which we wish we had more control; relationships, parenting, job positions...the list could go on and on. Although there may be many aspects of our lives that we just can't control past a certain extent, our finances is not one of them. Okay, sure, we wish we had more control over how much income were getting; but the type of control I'm referring to is controlling what we do with our finances, what our finances do for us (yes! you're money CAN make money for you if you take the time to control it!) and how we can best control our finances to get us to where we want to be.

If this sound like something you may be interested in accomplishing, here are some great pages for you:

Tips for handling your Finances

Insuring Your Finances

Financial Lifesavers for Newlyweds

Financially Preparing for a Home

Planning Vacations Finances

Putting Your Finances on a Diet

Financial Tip: Is it too early to start investing?

Do you have a steady income? Then it is never too early to begin investing. Too many people wait way too long to begin investing or socking away for their future or retirement, and the longer you wait, the harder it is to get a good financial cushion under you.

How much money do I need to start investing?

Unfortunately, many people do not even have even a basic understanding of investing and how it works. More specifically, the generation who are either in or freshly out of college. Too many young adults think, "when I am older and have a good job, I can start investing....whatever that is."

Well, if this sounds familiar, we have some good news for you. Investing is much easier than you thought. And you do not need to have a ton of money nor make great money to begin investing. For example, even a broke college student who has a part time job could probably sock away $25 a month. Now, this may not seem like it would get you very far, however take a look at this:

Mutual Fund:

$25 per month

x 40 years

x 8% return

=$87,000

Not too shabby, eh? And then of course, as you get older and perhaps begin to receive more income, you can put away even more and perhaps receive even higher returns through different investing. This is just to give you an idea at how even the bare minimum can pay off...and if you don't think $87,000 sounds like it is worth th $25 a month, how about you call up your grandparents and ask them if they could use an extra $87,000.

Start asking questions:

A good place to start would be to do a little further research online to find out some basic information about investing. Then, you could go down to your local financial institutions and begin asking even more questions.

Check City will soon be adding a Financial Resources page to their website which will offer some vital, basic information on a wide array of financial topics, including the basics of investing. Be sure to check back soon to see the new pages. Also, remember that Check City offers a variety of financial services: Payday Loans, Check Cashing, Gold Buying and much more.

Did you know that the average American will have an average of 11 jobs over the course of their lifetime?

Well if you are like the average American and you have set up 401ks or IRAs with many or all of the businesses that you have been employed with, that is a lot of money and accounts to try to keep track of.

So, what should you do?

Consolidate your accounts:

It would be a good idea for you try to consolidate all of your 401k and IRA accounts as soon as possible. This way, no matter what happens, you and your loved ones can find where your money is. Also, keep in mind that the older you get, it may be harder for you to remember where all of your accounts are and who they are with. The last thing that you would want to do would be to forget about some money and have it get lost along the way.

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. 

You may be surprised to learn that some of the so called "facts" about gas mileage and your car are actually not facts at all, but instead commonly believed myths.  Today, I'd like to introduce you to some of those myths, most of which you have probably heard at least once, and give you the real facts on gas mileage, ways to save on it, and how to ensure that you get the most out of every penny. These tips can especially come in handy as gas prices are once again on the upward climb and with summer just around the corner, many families are beginning to make their summer travel plans.

MYTH 1: If your car manual says that premium fuel is recommended, and you use regular fuel, you will mess up the engine or other parts of your car. 

Fact: The truth is that unless you are running from the cops or are in a NASCAR event, the chances that using regular gas in a "premium" gas car, will not hurt it in any way.  Doing this, could save you up to 25 cents per gallon.  The only time you may even notice the difference is in the horsepower if you are driving faster than you should be. However, be aware of whether your owners manual says the premium fuel is required or just recommended. Cars that require premium fuel, will experience more problems and over time the engine may wear down faster.

MYTH 2:  In the summer, when the air is hot and humid, buy your gas at night or early in the morning, so that it will be colder, because colder gas is more condensed, and therefore you can get more for your gallon.

Fact:  Doing this, could in the long run possibly save you a little bit of money, but it is hard to get cold gas, and in addition, it doesn't add up to high amounts of savings and therefore may not really be worth your time. 

MYTH 3: Shopping around for gas is seldomly worth the effort because of the gas you use to find the cheaper price.

Fact: Crossing state lines, and checking online are great ways to find cheaper gas, and could in reality save you quite a bit of money each year.

If you are still looking for other ways to save money, Check City offers great rates on online payday loans as well as a number of other financial services to help you save the most money possible.  Whether you are looking for a short term payday cash loan, title loan, or a simple way to quickly cash your check, we have professionals who are standing ready to help. Visit one of our many Store Locations or at Check City Online to get all of the details on our services. 

A new prepaid debit card called the Campus Dough DebitSmart™ Visa® Prepaid Card is supposed to help students, and their parents better manage their money and finances, according to the Miami Herald, who reported that both Florida and Colorado schools are currently looking into the program.  This reloadable card is being called the first of its kind and it is helping students find many new ways to manage their finances as well as save money. The card gives students discounts in places they often shop as well as providing online, easy to understand banking solutions. 

Discounts:

The discounts offered on this new card, are from 5-60% off at places that college students are known to frequently go to in the area. Students and parents alike are looking forward to the freedom and financial stability it can help offer students, and the great benefits and discounts it has to offer. 

Fees:

This card does not carry the traditional penalties and fees that come with a credit card, such as overdraft penalties and late payment fees because of the prepaid nature of the card. Check City has a similar card for you as well. Get the netspend Prepaid Debit Card from Check City to help you better manage your finances while avoiding fees and other penalties and interest that comes with a traditional credit card. 

Application Process:

There is no card application and all students are eligible for the card. Visit www.campusdough.com to check out all of the specifications and benefits that a prepaid debit card can offer you. 

After months in the dumps, Credit Card companies and businesses are finally rejoicing as monthly credit card data are slowly improving.  Data was taken from major companies, Capital One Financial Corp. (COF), Discover Financial Services (DFS), J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Bank of America Corp. (BAC).  These companies report that while their credit losses are still at high levels, they seem to be leveling off for the first time in a while. They are also reporting that deliquency payments are slowing as people either catch up to the bad economy or the economy starts to turn around.

Card companies point to decline in delinquency as one of the top predictors of growth and turn around.  They are however, still a little unsure about how quickly the turn around will happen.  Some point to summer as a definite turning point, but the outlook is still a little unsure. 

Now that many companies are seeing a turn around however, new problems may be "biting" into their profits in the form of the recent Credit Card Act that has been put into place. 

However long it takes though, many Americans are just happy to see growth for the first time in literally years. 

Check City offers consumers another way to get the benefits of credit cards without having to make monthly payments with their Prepaid Debit Cards. With a prepaid card you deposit money onto the card according to how much you have to spend, or think you will want or need, and then when you run out, the card is void until more money is added. You won't have to worry about monthly payments or overdraft fees. Visit Check City Online today to learn more about our netspend Prepaid Debit Card.

Heartland Payment Systems is revolutionizing the way Financial Aid is dispersed to college students. This company has created a new system called Acceluraid which will enable electronic aid disbursement from a single account to multiple student I.D. cards through the individual campus card systems.  This system will allow students to have fast and immediate access to their financial aid, using the new system. The program can be used as a stand alone financial aid distributor, or in connection with campus braded big name debit card companies to disperse the funds adequately and correctly.

Heartland hopes that with this new program and system in place, they can eliminate the need for paper statements, which will reduce costs, delays and some of the operational hurdles that come with financial aid dispersement. This program comes at a time when many campuses and financial aid centers are cancelling systems similar because of inefficiency in operations and changed regulations.  This system will not only be efficient, but meets all the rules and regulations in place. 

A press relase on the system states that "by using an integrated financial account for both the debit and prepaid campus ID cards, campus administrators only need to make deposits to -- and manage -- a single account for each student. "

The North Central Missouri College has already implemented this program and so far it has been successful for them. The hope is that this new program can be implemented at a number of schools, helping to cut costs, and allowing for easier distribution of funds.

Are you in need of a big or small money loan, just to hold you over until your next paycheck? Maybe your financial aid is taking a little longer to arrive than you had hoped. Check City has a number of short term financial options.  We offer online payday loans as well as Title Loans that can hold you over for a short amount of time until you receive the money you need. Visit Check City online or in one of our many Store Locations to learn about our loan and payment options. 

Small routine procedures and steps can help your car last longer than ever.  Cars are now being built to last, and the average age of many cars on the road is 10 years or more. There are steps you can follow and procedures that you should routinely perform on your car that can ensure it will last for years.  The average car can last for up to 13 years and many will last well over 200,000 miles if taken care of properly. This blog will give you a few routine things you can do to make sure your car lasts. Why is it good to have an older reliable car and why will holding on to your car help you? If you hold onto your car instead of trading it in every few years, you won't have to make more car payments, insurance costs will go down, and it will give you time to save up for your next car. 

1. Follow your cars maintenance schedule.  Don't put off taking it in to change the oil or check the brakes, etc.  Not only will this keep your car in top operating condition and help you save hundreds or even thousands in repairs, not taking your car in may void your manufacturer's warranty.
   
2. Be on the lookout for recalls. You can usually get these issues fixed for free at the local dealership and it can save you later from getting in accidents or other problems that can occur from not having this fixed.
   
3. Take it easy on the engine. Keeping your speeds low, avoiding idling, don't race the engine while idling. Other tips include avoiding towing or carrying heavy loads.
4. Dilligently change your oil.
   
5. Check your fluids and other engine parts and belts everytime you change your oil. 
6. Find a good mechanic to perform all your repairs and stick with them.
   

Following these few simple maintenence steps should help you avoid numerous repairs and ensure that your car will run for years.  Do you need a short term loan for a large amount of money?  Visit Check City to learn all about our Title Loans. You can borrow against the value of your car and we don't require credit checks. Just bring in your car title and your state I.D., we will get you money and you can continue driving your car.

Is your relationship stuck in the current bumps and holes of the recession? Try some of these tips and tricks for economically prepare and recession proof your relationship.   Arguments about money and other financial problems are the number one reason of divorce. Don't let a simple money disagreement ruin your marriage or get in the way of having a healthy and happy relationship. Here are five tips for keeping your relationship with your significant other, and with your finance on the up.

1. Talk to your partner about money and finances.  Find out what type of spender or saver your partner is. Know the history of your partner's finances and the financial atmosphere he or she was raised in. Does he or she know the value of a good, hard day's work or were they raised as a trust fund baby with everything constantly handed to them?
2. Assess your current spending and saving habits, including whether or not you are paying bills on time. Also assess whether or not you and your partner have any assets either individually or as a couple. Get these things in order before you move in together or get married, if you aren't already in one of these situations. 
   
3. Be willing to show your parenter your credit report so that you can decide together what to do if one or both of you are in debt. It is especially important to know whether or not your partner has unpaid back taxes so that you can take care of any underlying issues and get them all out in the open to discuss and fix.
4. Make a budget. I have discussed this idea in detail in other blogs and there are a lot of ways to ensure that you have a budget that you can not only live with, but will help you save money as well as still leaving you with money for the things you want and need. Decide if and when you will get a joint banking account. This can resolve spending problems, as well as unneccessary spending and arguments.
5. Visit a professional financial advisor for yourself to see where you stand in the financial area. Get advice for you and your partner as a couple and individually.  Be sure to speak with your partner however before going to speak with a financial advisor so that your partner can feel a part of the process. They may even choose to speak with the advisor as well.
   

Find solutions to your financial problems at Check City. Check City's Financial Services can help you save money in a number of places.  We can save you money on our great Mortgage Plans.  Mortgage Plans and services are only available to our Utah customers because of the complexity of the service.