LexChoice Finance

Financial News and Information

Credit Cards, Designed by the Devil?

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It’s pretty obvious our economy is a mess, but who is really to blame? You hear a lot of talk about how banks, credit card companies, and other lending companies are all to blame. It is their irresponsibility that has got America into the financial mess we are in today. But is this really true? Can we blame this mess on the people who lend the money?

Is it really the responsibility of lenders to take care of us and make us pay or financial obligations? Do they need to babysit us and make sure we send our payments in each month? Or is it our responsibility as adults to make sure that before we take out a loan, we can actually afford to repay the debt?

I think that credit cards, banks and other lending institutions are great financial tools if used properly and responsibly. If an excellent credit offer comes your way and you can responsibly control your finances then take advantage of the offer. I have personally used a credit card for over 6 years to pay my monthly expenses and paid the bill every month. I have never been late on a payment or missed a payment (on this card, I was late one time on another card), therefore I have came out way ahead since I get 1% cash back on all purchases.

If used properly credit cards, banks and other lending institutions can be great financial tools. If you are looking for a place to find some great deals on credit cards you may want to take a look at www.requestcredit.com. Be smart, be responsible and be successful!

Debt defined and explained in less than 600 words

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Debt Defined
The definition of the term itself is simple, something that which is owed. However it’s meaning goes far beyond this simple 5 word phrase. Most of the time we refer to debt as something monetary, you owe someone else money or they owe you money. I suppose you can be in debt other ways such as owing someone your time, borrowing a cup of sugar (which usually never gets repaid) or if you save someone’s life I guess you would owe your life to them? Anyway, at this site we are going to talk about the monetary aspect of debt: the different types of debt, how to manage debt, personal debt, business debt, and we might even debate if debt is good or bad.

How Debt is Repaid
Before any debt is established there has to be an agreement of how the debtor will repay the creditor. The debt can be paid back in a lump sum or over a stated period of time. Most of the time the debtor will pay the creditor interest on the debt. For example, if you (the debtor) borrow a cup of sugar from your neighbor you might agree to pay back the sugar to your neighbor (the creditor) in a lump sum when you go to the store the following Saturday. You might also agree to pay back interest and buy them a whole bag of sugar for their courtesy.

Types of Debt
The simplest monetary type of debt is a basic loan. A lending institution such as a bank agrees to loan a certain amount of money for a fixed period of time usually paid back in payments over the agreed time. Many of us have borrowed money from a bank or lending institution in order to purchase big ticket items such as a car, house, boat. These loans are considered secured loans because the items stand good for the loan. If you don’t pay the payments the items can be taken back by the bank to help pay the loan. Other types of debt include syndicated loan, bonds, and promissory notes, but these mostly deal with businesses so we won’t discuss them much for now.

Effects of Debt
The effects of debt can be debated as good or bad. Many extremists such as Dave Ramsey see debt as a complete negative influence on our lives and should be avoided at all costs. Other disagree and say that debt allows people and organizations the opportunity to do many wonderful things they would otherwise not be able, or allowed to do. I guess I fall somewhere in the middle with my beliefs. I think if utilized correctly debt can used for good, but very few people or organizations possess the power to control debt for the greater good.

Get Out of Debt
Getting out of debt can be one of the hardest tasks you will every have to attempt. After all most of us didn’t get into debt overnight, it took months, maybe years to get deep into debt. I guarantee you won’t be able to get out of debt overnight either. If you want to get out of debt you have to have a plan and a lot of sacrifice and discipline. You may have to take a part-time job or work extra hours at your current job. You’ll also have to give up some of the things you enjoy. Most important you will have to track your spending and create a budget.