Payday Loans Blog

There are lots reasons why everyone should be constantly striving to build up their credit score to the best that it could be:

• To get a good interest rate for a new home
• To get lower interest rates on credit cards and other types of loans
• Even to get a job in some case     

 Whatever your reason may be for trying to build up your credit score, here are some simple tips that you can raise your credit score on your own:

• Make Bill On Time: It is important to your credit score that you make your bills on time. Even if you have a bad credit score from not making bills on time, by begininng to do so, you will be able to show that you are capable of changing this. If you know that you will be short for the month and cannot make a bill, you might want to look into something like an affordable Payday Loan that will allow you to make your bill on time and raise your credit score by doing so.
• Don't Open Too Much New Credit: Having too many lines of new credit (such as more than one new credit card or loans) will appear as though you might be having a hard time financially and deem you as higher risk to get into bad debt and as a result lower your credit score.
• Get Rid Of Outstanding Debt: Don't let old debt just sit there and not do anything with it. Even if all you can do is make phone calls and try to work something out, it will help.
• Keep Your Debt Under Control: Limit the amount of debt that you hve to what you can pay off in a reasonable amount of time.

Beginning tomorrow, Saturday June 19 - 26, 2010 (closed sunday), is the 13th Annual Cedar Hills Family Festival.

Located at Heritage Park in Cedar Hills, Ut, this family fun festival is free to attend!

If you only have time to visit this festival for one day, perhaps the best day to go would be on Saturday 26th when they will be featuring fireworks, a parade, food, childrens games, crafts, outdoor performances and much more.

This festival is also featuring an annual Fun Run along with 5K races, a Battle of the Bands, and an annual Firecracker Golf Tournament. It doesn't get much more entertaining than this, especially for free!

For more great events happening in Utah, visit here.

This blog is brought to you by Check City; a leader for over 23 years in the payday loan industry. You can count on Check City to get you through when you are in a pinch. Check City offers various short-term financial services from payday loans to check cashing and gold buying to pre-paid phone cards. Visit Check City on the web or at one of their friendly store location.

A news conference is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET today at the Utah football stadium following a meeting with the school’s board of trustees, and if you’re a Utah fan, you know exactly what will be announced.  Utah will most likely be leaving the Mountain West Conference for the Pac-10. 

Utah will be joining USC, UCLA, Stanford, California, Washington, Washington State, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon and Oregon State as members of the Pac-10. 

This is not a surprise to me considering Utah has been robbed of a title shot for the second time in four years.  Under the current Bowl Championship Series, the Mountain West Conference does not have an automatic bid to play in the top bowl games.  So why wouldn’t Utah want to jump the second they got the chance?

Utah is leaving a conference that was looking to add some strength to the schedule by adding Boise State.  With the add of Boise State, the Mountain West would have been a very strong conference with Utah, BYU, Boise State and TCU.  Now that Utah is leaving, the Mountain West Conference is back to where they started. 

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff was very angry at Utah being denied a shot at the National title.  He has been investigating the BCS for antitrust violations.  U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch has also expressed anger.
The current BCS formula gives a huge advantage to schools in the bigger, more popular conferences.  Not only are they given a better chance at playing in a big bowl game, they make a lot more money. 

Do you need another chance on making your bills this month? Sometimes we all fall a little short in the bank and need someone to help give us another chance! At Check City, you can get a fast and affordable payday loan to hold you over until your next paycheck comes in. You can apply online or in store and get the money you need right away.

Anyone who works with people struggling to either get out of or stay out of debt would warn people to avoid using credit cards and stick with using your debit whenever possible.

A recent report however by ABC news would like to contradict the common believe that we should avoid credit at all costs.

According to the report, there are a few instances in which you should use your credit card over your debit card:

1. When buying a "big ticket" item such as a television or maybe even a washer and dryer for example

• Reason: (especially if buying these items online) if there is a problem with the items, your credit card company will fight the battle for you verses if you bought the item using your debit card, you will be left to having to fight your own battles.
• Also, many credit cards will add to the manufacture's warranty on the purchased products. (Note: not ALL credit cards will result in this however so double check before purchasing)

2. When purchasing things like gas, hotel, and car rentals.

• Reason: These types of purchases will place holds on your account. If you use your debit card, you may forget about the purchase and leave yourself short at some point.

3. For your every day purchases if your are on a rewards program, so long as you keep track of your spendings. (Note: NOT paying your balance in full at the end of the month is pretty much reversing any rewards or costing even more on top of that with interest.)

4. Any time you make an online purchase.

• According to the article, credit cards offer more protection against fraudulent charges and this will protect such people from having access to your checking account.

The report does make some good points, however, card holders should use particular caution when using credit as to make sure theystay out of debt and keep themselves from paying more for their purchases than they are worth. Credit when used properly can be a useful tool although too many people get trapped by their credit card abuse such as by using their credit cards to pay for bills and then not paying off the balance at the end of the month.

If you are running short in the bank and need a little extra money to get you through until your next payday, Check City offers a great alternative to using your credit cards to pay your bills. You can apply online or stop by a Check City store location and get a payday loan. Once your paycheck comes, the money along with a small fee is deducted. Its fast, easy and more affordable than you thought possible.

February is a time we have set apart as Americans to celebrate our history in many different ways.  With President's Day and Black History month there is definitely plenty to celebrate and plenty to learn about our heritage as an American people.  Some of us, however aren't fully aware of the many contributions the Black population has made to American history, despite their early struggling against a racist white America. I have listed just a few below and who the contribution was made by.  No matter what your race may be, it is important to embrace our history as a nation and to learn all we can about it. Here are some of the great contributions offered by the African American population.

• In 1872 Elijah McCoy invented an automated lubricator for steam engines. The popularly coined phrase "The Real McCoy" is believed to come from the reliability of his product.
• in 1972 George Carruther's ultraviolent, electrographic camera was used to take pictures aboard the Apollo 16 mission providing us with amazing pictures of deep space objects.  He has recently been inducted into the inventor's hall of fame.
• James West's research in sound technology provided a pathway to the microphone and telephone devices, and many of his technology is still used today.
• Lonnie G. Johnson invented the number one selling children's toy in 1991 the Supersoaker.
• John Love invented the pencil sharpenere in  1897.
• Wilt Chamberlain was the first player to ever score 100 points in a single game.
• Martin Luther King Jr. gave the I had a dream speech revolutionizing the American dream.
• President Barack Obama was elected the first black president in 2009.

May we all take time this month to pause and think about these great contributions and inventions given us by these great Americans.

You don't have to be rich, famous or even all that important to become a preferred customer with Check City. You just have to take out 5 of our Payday Loans and pay them back on time. You can then get preferred customer discounts and save yourself lots of money. When you successfully take out ten or more loans and pay them back you can become a gold preferred member and receive up to 15% off of our Payday Loan services. Visit our Preferred Customer information page to learn more.

Is your home in dire need of a great room/living room make over? Are your walls suffering from drab paint colors and a significant lack of wall hangings? How about your furniture; is it lifeless or look as though you have had it for years...and not in a sophisticated antique sort of way? Redecoration and a home makeover may be a little easier than you think.  If you take a few simple rules and apply them to your home, you will find your living room fresh and full of life again and feel comfortable, inviting people into it, instead of steering them away. 

1. Choose a color scheme. You don't have to pick bold colors to make your home feel fresh and alive. A light yellow or green work to give your walls a little extra color and add some flare to your living space. If you do pick bold colors though, try to stick to just one or two, and mix in a neutral color or two to even out the bold statement you are making. Keep in mind, you don't have to deviate from the colors you already have in the room, just find new ways to use what you have, and maybe add a fresh coat of paint or an area rug to spruce up your space.
   
2. Warm the room. You can make the room feel a little warmer and more like home by adding a slight tan or grayish hue to your molding or trim, instead of leaving it stark white. Especially if the colors you have chosen are bold, you can bring the room back to earth a little by slightly changed the trim and molding colors. 
3. Keep frames the same and remember not everything can stand out. One quality of a good design is to keep it simple and the same, but not too the same. If you have similar pictures, or more than one picture next to each other, try to keep the frames the same color and style, it helps even out the room and helps the room to feel more organized and simple, yet elegant.
   
4. Connect the spaces. Carry over colors from one part of the living space to the other. If your living room is used for multiple purposes, such as a living area, and a study area, carry colors from one space to the next, don't try to make them different rooms.  Do this by adding accent pillows, throw blankets, or curtains as just a few examples.
   
5. Let light in! A big reason your living room may feel cramped and dark is because it isn't receiving enough light. Be sure to keep your living area well lit, keep the windows clean and the blinds or curtains open, this will help liven up your living room perhaps more than anything else.  If there is not sufficient natural light in your living room, try brightening it with light colors and lighting fixtures. 

Are your finances feeling a little drab? Check City offers great financial services to help you in your time of crisis.  We have affordable Payday Loans to help you get that extra money when you need it.   You can pay it all back by your next paycheck too, which means that you don't have that financial burden hanging on your back. We also offer services to help you get that little bit of extra cash you need. We have a Gold Buying Program. Search your home for all your unwanted gold, silver and platinum items then bring them into Check City or send them to us through our mailing service. We give you 3-4 times as much as other cash for gold programs and it could be just what you need to get your home make over started.

Many Americans have spent months and even years jobless with the economy at record lows.  Hopefully you are one of the lucky people who have a job even if it is brand new and not exactly what you were expecting. Even though you finally have a new job, no doubt your bills have piled up and credit card debt seems to be looming over your head. It may be hard, but bounce back is a very real possibility. It may take you a lot of scrimping and saving, but you can make it back from that lost job. Here are a few ideas to help you get back to where you were and stay ahead of the game.

Face your Debt Head On

Talk to creditors and negotiate with them. Try to get all of your high interest balance transferred to cards with zero or at least very low interst fees.  Pay off a little each month, and try to make at least the minimum payment while you have low interest. Make sure you aren't so upset and worried about your credit card bills that you don't leave enough for month to month expenses though.  If you do this, you will have to start using your credit cards again anyways. Getting yourself into that cycle of revolving debt. When paying off debt it is very important to have a strict budget and to stick to it. You can help yourself out with this by using only debit cards or cash when you buy something. This way, you are using only what you have. Sometimes refinancing your mortgage can help you out as well, and doing it while you are employed with the current great rates could really help you out. Check City offers Mortgage Services. Because of the complexity of the service we unfortunately only have it in our Utah Locations right now, but the tips we have on mortgages could be used anywhere. 

Use Social Networking and other sites to Network and Market Yourself

Meet and build relationships with everyone and anyone you can. This includes people inside your company as well as out.  Talk to people in the same or similar industries you are in and make a name for yourself. Be someone that people remember, in a good way of course.  Volunteer with community programs and foundations as well to show that you care about the community and are willing to work for it and give back to it.  In addition to building yourself as a marketable and hot item, continue building your resume, make sure you keep it up to date and prove to your current company that you are an asset worth having.  Just in case, make sure there is a Plan B. 

Save Money            

You've heard it time and time again, when are you going to start listening? Have an emergency fund.  It only takes a tiny percentage from each paycheck to make a small emergency fund.  You can do it while you are paying off debts as well, it just means you have to start living a little less lavishly. Only eat out one time a week instead of two or even three and use that money you would have spent to eat out as your emergency money for the month. Don't take it back out when the month is over, thinking, I didn't need it last month, I'll use it for this month! Keep building on that fund so that you have a little pouch money for emergencies if the need arises. Don't forget about retirement either.  There are many different retirement plans, and I discussed a few of them yesterday. Make sure you know what they are and which would be best for you. Also discuss your options with your current employer. 

Yes, these are simple solutions to a problem that may seem overwhelming to you at the moment, but paying off debts, marketing yourself and saving for the future are things you should be doing all the time.  When these ideas are put into play you can seriously reduce the stress in your life, which may lead to long term health problems as well. 

Are you overwhelmed by your current bills and afraid you don't have enough money to get by until your next paycheck? Visit CheckCity.com or one of our many Store Locations today to learn about our helpful Payday Advances.  We can offer you a portion of your next paycheck right now with our convenient Payday Loans.  You can pay it off when it is best for you and the process is simple. Just fill out an application found on our website or in one of our stores and get started today. If you apply at one of our Store Locations you can get your check immediately, but online we can only guarantee your money by the next day. Visit us or even get a payday loan by phone! Call (866) 294-4672 for more information.

Cash advances and payday loans are two commonly used terms for the same service.  Simply put, a payday loan or cash advance provides you with money you would be receiving at a later date, at a time when you need it more.

Requirements for a payday loan/cash advance.

·         You must have be employed/ or a steady source of income and be able to prove it.

·         You must have a checking account under your name.

·         A state or federal ID

·         Other restrictions may apply based on your state of residence

·         Most states provide a renewal option.

  The process is simple and anyone can do it.  Come into the nearest Check City location, or visit us online if there is not yet a location in your state.  Click here for a complete list of states in which you can qualify for a payday loan, and here to see if there is a location in your area.  If your state is not on the list of qualifying states, payday lenders may not be allowed to service you.

Here is how the process works: 

1.       After we verify that you meet the requirements specified above, you will write Check City a personal check for the amount that you need (plus our standard fee). 

2.       We give you cash for the amount that you need.

3.       We then hold the check until your next payday or the date you have specified on the check and then cash it for the money owed to us. 

4.       If you prefer not to pay the loan in full on the date due, most states provide a renewal plan with flexible payment options.

Cash advances are not intended to be a long-term solution to your financial needs.  They are meant to provide quick solutions to unexpected problems.  If you have financial difficulties or credit problems that extend beyond the measures of a payday loan we advise you to seek credit counseling.   We strive to do our best to assist every customer, but we cannot accept all applicants. 

Now that Christmas is over you might be surprised at the great bargains you can find on Christmas decorations and other after Christmas sales. Many times stores do not sell all of their Christmas inventory before Christmas and after Christmas sales are a great way to save you money. If you didn't have enough time to get something for everyone on your list, or if there is still someone on your list who you haven't seen, now is the perfect time to go shopping. You can save money while still getting the presents you wanted to. When you are buying Christmas decorations however, be sure not to buy things that may not be useful or in season for the coming Christmas year.

Here are a few ideas for some timeless items that you could save money on by buying them in the after Christmas sales.

Dinner and cookware

Silverware (Plastic or Silver)

Decorative napkins or placemats

Christmas lights

Most outdoor decorations

Ornaments

If you are running low on cash from Christmas shopping, but still have things you need to buy, visit us at Check City today to see how we can help you out with the cash you need. We offer great rates on Cash advances as well as a way to get money for all your unwanted gold, silver and platinum precious metals with our new gold buying program. You can send your items to us by filling out an information sheet online and getting your gold packet in the mail, or you can simply bring them into your nearest Check City location. They will weigh and determine the precious metal content of your item and then hand you cash and send you on your way. 

With winter coming up and the snow piling up- many of us will be dreaming of sandy beaches, margaritas, and the hot sun.

When it comes time to plan your vacation take a look at your finances. If you need a little extra cash you can look into getting a payday loan.

Once you have planned a vacation and have received a payday loan to help cover your expenses, now is the time to put your vacation money to use.

Depending on what type of traveler you and those going with you are and where your destination is you will have to determine all the expenses of the trip.

Here are some of the common vacation expenses:

• Plane Ticket
• Accommodations
• Dinning
• Souvenirs
• Admission Costs- Shows/Theme Parks/Parks/Museums/Exhibits

When you take the time to plan out expenses before a trip you have a better idea of what you are getting yourself into and can plan accordingly. 

You can also use the Netspend prepaid debit card to your advantage on vacations. When you have at least a rough estimate of costs then you can put the money on your card while still maintaining the discipline to not go over.