The Resilient Dollar

Welcome to the second edition of the Loanio Roundup. This edition focuses heavily on the national economy and peer-to-peer lending news. We hope you enjoy pursuing through the links below. Leave a comment and tell us what you think – we’d love to hear your views on the Wall Street Crisis and National Bailout.

The National Economy:

• McCain reshuffles rescue deal writes Wall Street Journal.
• NPR asks is the financial storm about to break?
• Business Week talks on the financial crisis: how to stop the panic.
• Economist focuses on the resilient dollar especially on why the greenback has managed to so far withstand the financial panic.
• NYT says ignoring reality has a price.

Career and Home:

• CNN Money says jobless claims fall from 7-year high.
• Yahoo! Money presents the How-to Guide: Buying Life Insurance.
• Kiplinger talks about marriage and money.

Peer-to-Peer Lending and Loanio in the News:

• FiLife writes new age borrowing: peer to peer loans.
• My Card Blog posts Loanio launches person-to-person lending service.
• American Banker writes Loanio P-to-P firm caters to subprime borrowers
• Center Networks says peer-to-peer lender Loanio launches to help credit challenged people obtain loans.

Photo Credit: 1

Originally posted 2008-10-12 09:26:41. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early? With the trouble in the housing market, those that are financially stable are left wondering whether now may be a good time to pay off their mortgages. There are some definite pros and cons to early payment, and this strategy is one that must be carefully considered before taking action.......
• Loanio Roundup - Credit and P2P Lending /caption] Welcome to the third edition of the Loanio Roundup. This edition looks at what is going on in P2P lending, the economy, and more. There are some links on college financing and a swift look at the auto industry. Browse the links below and tell us what you think.......
• Loanio Roundup - Congratulations President-Elect Obama /caption] Loanio extends its congratulations to President-Elect Obama for running an excellent campaign. This week's edition of Loanio's roundup takes a look at the election and what it means for the economy. What are your thoughts to the issues? We've also included several links for business entrepreneurs and on p2p......
• Loanio Roundup #1- National Economy /caption] Good morning everyone! Welcome to Loanio's first ever roundup post. We'd like to thank the blog community for their support. You are the best press releases out there. Then lastly before we start with the links we would like to take a moment to wish everyone a splendid weekend.......
• Do You Need a Money Manager? /caption] If your idea of organizing your finances is throwing a receipt in a big pile, you may want to consider the benefits of hiring a money manager. There is a new trend in the financial world where daily money managers are becoming very popular, and for many consumers, they......

• Become Debt Free Faster With The Lending Club DebtBuster Challenge Become debt free by making a commitment. Lending Club’s DebtBuster Challenge encourages you to pay off your debt quickly. In the thick of the holiday season, I am seeing myself part with my cash faster than I normally would during any other month. The festivities have a way of making......
• Peer To Peer Lending: Lend Money And Invest A while back, I covered the world of social lending, when I was relatively new to the whole peer to peer lending premise. Now that I’ve become much more familiar with it, and have had some time to see how things operate in this field, I’ve decided to review......
• Earning 11.89% Interest By Lending Money At Lending Club. Back in February 2008, I wrote a post titled "Why I Started Lending Money With Prosper And Lending Club" that outlined why I had veered from my savings account mentality into the world of peer-to-peer lending. Basically, I wanted to try to beat the rate that my online bank was......
• Lessons Learned from Canada: Banking is Supposed to be Boring Banking is supposed to be boring. There, I said it. I'm not a banker, nor will I likely ever be one in the future (unless my P2P lending plan works out supremely well), but as I've mentioned several times, banking is all about the boring ol' 3-6-3 rule. Bring in......
• The Friday Gathering - Hey! They blocked my blog! A little bit of Sunshine by *Micky For the first time in weeks it seems, we actually had a fairly quiet week in the GLBL household. Nobody has been sick, work hasn't been to crazy, and we enjoyed a little downtime. One surprise this week for me was Gather......

Track how much money you spend on small things.

We typically consider our rent or mortgage payments, car loans and utilities as the only items that need to be budgeted, but there are many small items that can crop up and eat away at your bank balance. These are typically unnecessary expenses, and over time, enough of them can quickly add up. Let’s take a look at how to determine how much you spend and how you can get your expenditures in line with what you make.

It’s a great idea to keep a little log book and write down everything you buy for the period of one month. Everything, no matter how small, should be noted down in your log. At the end of the month, total everything up and see just how much money you have going out the door. This is probably the easiest way to figure out what needs to be cut, since you’ll have everything right in front of you. Here are some of the most common culprits.

1. Eating Out.

Americans spend thousands, if not tens of thousands, eating out and these expenses can quickly add up. You can save quite a lot of money simply by cutting out one meal out a week, and even more if you really get serious about cutting back. Once you’ve logged how much you spend on food, you may be surprised at how much of your paycheck is missing.

2. Recurring Subscriptions.

This is a problem for many online. You sign up for something, forget to ask for a refund before the trial is over, and before you know it, you’ve got several “memberships” or recurring fees that you don’t even know about, all being taken right out of your account every month. These will add up fast, and can do a lot of damage if they are not caught in time.

3. Superfluous Items.

Even though these items are typically small, they take up a big chunk of your budget. All too often we don’t think about the little, “it’s only a dollar,” items that we see at the store. While each one may be inexpensive, when you add them all up, it can be shocking to see just how much you are spending. The log book of your monthly expenses really comes in handy to see which of these items can be cut from your budget.

By taking the time to see how much money you actually do spend, you can stop overspending before it gets out of control and starts to eat away at your paycheck.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-10-10 05:16:41. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Is Leasing an Auto a Good Option Right Now? /caption] With the current state of the economy and rising interest rates, many are considering leasing an auto instead of making an outright purchase or financing one. While there are a few benefits that can come through a leased vehicle, this is a decision that will require some careful thought......
• 5 Tips for College Students on Budgets When you are in college, it can become easy to get caught up in your busy, stressful lifestyle. With all of the studying and working that you have to do, coupled with hanging out with your friends, working part time jobs and participating in extra activities, it can actually become......
• Defining Your Budget and Crafting Your Financial Future A budget or spending plan is a specific money management tool that is designed to put you in control of your spending, keeping you out of credit trouble and other financial trouble. Your budget is vital because it is your personal plan for spending the income that you have, making......
• Should You Be Worried About the Economy? /caption] If you follow the news, chances are the state of the economy may have you a little concerned. Bad news is rampant, the housing market is shaky and doom appears to be around every corner. While there are some definite problems with the economy right now, that doesn’t necessarily......
• Breaking Down Budgeting A personal budget is simply a spending plan. Before you work on personal budget planning you need to have a good idea of where and how your money is being spent. It can be a tedious process, but it can also be a true eye opener if you are not......

• are American kids stupid about personal finance? American kids are stupid about financial matters. That's what a Federal Reserve study says. From the Washington Post: High school seniors, on average, answered correctly only 48.3 percent of questions about personal finance and economics, according to a nationwide survey released Wednesday by the Federal Reserve. That was even lower......
• Review: The Teen's Guide to Personal Finance: Basic concepts in personal finance that every teen should know. Time is a resource that many teenagers don't realize is their greatest resource for finacial independence. "The Teen's Guide to Personal Finance" is a tome that will provide teenagers with important financial lessons, in a manner which will pull their interest and convey itself effectively in its intended task. The......
• A Personal Finance Perspective on the U.S. Budget It's challenging for me to get a good feel of what changes to the U.S budget means, because I don't normally work in billions and trillions of dollars. To get a better understanding, I decided to loosely translate the 2010 U.S. Budget, deficit and proposed spending freeze by President Obama......
• The Personal Finance Hour, Episode 20: Spending Smart with Greg Karp On this week’s installment of The Personal Finance Hour, Jim and I spent the hour talking with nationally-syndicated financial columnist Greg Karp. Greg is the author of The 1-2-3 Money Plan, which I reviewed last week. We had a wide-ranging conversation about spending smart. Spending Smart One of Karp’s mottos......
• 9 Personal Finance Lessons from Legend of Zelda As I was going through this Week's Carnival of Personal Finance hosted by Free Money Finance (hell yeah my article on Verifying your Beneficiaries was chosen by FMF) I found a GREAT blog post that I had to rip off.   Let me be clear, I am completely ripping off Pimp Your Finances'......

Money managers for many are necessary.

If your idea of organizing your finances is throwing a receipt in a big pile, you may want to consider the benefits of hiring a money manager. There is a new trend in the financial world where daily money managers are becoming very popular, and for many consumers, they are very necessary. Let’s take a look at what a daily money manager does and how they may be able to benefit your personal finances.

1. Organize paperwork and receipts.

When it comes to getting your paperwork in order, or keeping a record of all of your receipts, most of us end up failing miserably. Trying to track down little slips of paper is maddening at best, and for those of us with little time on our hands, the task of getting our paperwork organized is simply too much. We put it off and before long you end up with a slew of jumbled papers and you can’t find the one receipt you really need. A daily money manager will catalog all of your paperwork, filing it away and help you keep track of expenditures by organizing your receipts.

2. Paying bills on time.

If your schedule is hectic, or you simply aren’t good about dates, paying your bills on time can be a struggle. A daily money manager can be used to help you make sure that all of your deadlines are met, and that nothing is left unpaid by the end of the month. Once again, for those with a busy lifestyle or an inability to keep everything running smoothly, a daily money manager can be a true financial lifesaver.

3. Mediation.

A daily money manager does not replace an accountant or a lawyer, but they can assist in mediating between their clients and these professionals. For example, if you have filed a claim with an insurance agency, a money manager can assist you in handling the communication with the agency and getting all of your necessary documents together. The vast majority of daily money managers are trained and have backgrounds that include legal, financial, and insurance expertise.

4. Day to Day Basics.

For many of us, the devil is in the daily basics of keeping our finances ordered. Instead of letting things get out of hand for months at a time, a daily money manager can offer assistance in keeping checkbooks balanced, paperwork accounted for and everything you need to have handled in your personal finance life done.

As we get busier as a society, it is clear that there is a definite need for daily money managers. If you do decide to hire a daily money manager to help manage your finances, there are a few things to consider ahead of time. First, you will need to make sure that they are accredited and licensed. This professional will have access to your documents and it is vital to ensure that you can trust them. Look for a major national firm or someone in your local community that you can rely on.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-10-09 05:14:08. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Save Money by Managing Your Money /caption] There are plenty of ways for you to save money simply by managing it. It does not necessarily mean that you have to be frugal, but rather you simply have to be wise in the decisions that you make. Too many people these days are finding that they were......
• Personal Budget Planning /caption] The key to your financial success in life is your own personal money management skills. Your personal money management practices make up your own personal method of reaching both your goals and your dreams. No one likes the idea of personal budget planning, but you will never know if......
• How to Put Together an Emergency Fund /caption] If you are concerned about the state of your finances, your job or if you would just like to have a safety net that will be there to catch you if something goes wrong, an emergency fund is a very powerful tool to have in your financial arsenal. Emergency......
• Managing Money Wisely /caption] One of the hardest things for many people to accomplish is managing money wisely. We may all know the basics, and understand that spending too much is a good way to get on the road to financial ruin. However, when push comes to shove, we end up making mistakes......
• Should You Be Worried About the Economy? /caption] If you follow the news, chances are the state of the economy may have you a little concerned. Bad news is rampant, the housing market is shaky and doom appears to be around every corner. While there are some definite problems with the economy right now, that doesn’t necessarily......

• Organize Your Personal Finances in No Time by Debbie Stanley If nothing else, the state of the economy has shown that millions of people don’t have a good grasp of how to manage their personal finances. There are hundreds of books written every year on the subject and yet, this concept still seems to elude many. Some books are either......
• Are you ready to win? Often the hardest part of doing something is just getting started. For example, millions of Americans smoke and most people know that smoking will cause long-term health issues, yet they don't quit. Why? The majority of people know that McDonalds is not only fast, but it can also be......
• Review: The Teen's Guide to Personal Finance: Basic concepts in personal finance that every teen should know. Time is a resource that many teenagers don't realize is their greatest resource for finacial independence. "The Teen's Guide to Personal Finance" is a tome that will provide teenagers with important financial lessons, in a manner which will pull their interest and convey itself effectively in its intended task. The......
• Link roundup: Mrs. MBH birthday edition Monday was my wonderful wife's birthday. She got most of her presents early. But that's all right. I have a really hard time surprising her because she's very smart. (And not only did I manage to remember it, Wii Fit did too! The animated balance board had a birthday hat......
• The Personal Finance Hour, Episode 20: Spending Smart with Greg Karp On this week’s installment of The Personal Finance Hour, Jim and I spent the hour talking with nationally-syndicated financial columnist Greg Karp. Greg is the author of The 1-2-3 Money Plan, which I reviewed last week. We had a wide-ranging conversation about spending smart. Spending Smart One of Karp’s mottos......

Your appliances are adding to your energy bill.

We live in a digital age and the vast majority of us rely heavily on numerous technological devices to get us through our days. What we may not realize however is just how much these gadgets cost to run. Companies throughout the United States are finding out that they are wasting millions if not billions of dollars overnight in their companies and consumers face the same problem, even if the cost isn’t quite that high.

The energy drain caused by our gadgets is quite significant and can greatly affect a monthly power bill. Here are some tips to help you reduce your power bills, and keep your gadgets from sucking the life out of your wallet.

1. Turn off your computer at night.

Even though it is convenient to let the computer go into sleep mode, it is still using power, even if it doesn’t look like it. Simply turning off your computer can result in big energy savings, since it is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to energy drain.

2. Turn off your monitor.

In addition to shutting down your computer, it is also very important to turn off your monitor. Once again, we’re dealing with a sleeping issue, but in reality, that monitor is pulling quite a bit of juice throughout the night. Many consider monitors, especially CRT’s to be one of the biggest energy drainers in existence and they can greatly impact how much you spend on your power bill every month.

3. Unplug unnecessary items.

Just because a gadget is off doesn’t mean that it is not using power. It is best to unplug any unnecessary items throughout the night, especially if you have several throughout the house. Take a quick inventory of your home and see just how many different things you have plugged in. The amount may surprise you. Try unplugging a few at first and see just how much money you can save. Chances are you’ll be inspired to unplug the rest.

4. Consider rechargeable batteries.

They may not be on your power bill each month, but many of our devices rely on batteries and it doesn’t take long for the costs to mount up. You may want to consider purchasing a battery recharger to help you lower your reliance on new batteries. The initial cost can easily be paid off in a short time with the money you save on your batteries. For Wii owners, the rechargeable remote stations are a big money saver!

5. Less is more.

If you have a copier, fax machine and printer all plugged in, you’re increasing the amount of energy you’re using without doing a thing. Consider getting an all in one machine that will be more efficient. In addition to saving money on your power bill, you’ll also be able to save some space.

We need our gadgets, and as a result, there is a price to pay. How high that price is will depend on how well you implement energy saving techniques throughout your home.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-10-08 05:10:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• 3 Tips for Teen Investing Parents like to complain that their teenage children do not listen to them. However, when it comes to matters dealing with money, the opposite is actually often true. Teenagers often welcome the advice that their parents have to give regarding finances, money management and investments. In the past few years,......
• Finding a Legitimate High Yield Investment Most people hear the words High Yield Investment Program, or the acronym HYIP, and many of them quiver. This is not completely unnatural, because high yield investments only come with high risks, and most HYIP opportunities are not even legitimate to begin with. There are simply too many people out......
• 4 Tips for College Students Budgets /caption] If you are a college student, then your primary focus is probably set on your studies and trying to maintain your education so that you will be benefited in the future. Unfortunately, one of the things that you may not be putting enough consideration into is how you are......
• Tips for College Student Budgets /caption] Trying to make ends meet when you are in college is not an easy task. Your income is usually pretty limited and expenses can be high, even if you have a scholarship. If you’re trying to save money or just get by, there are some great tips for college......
• Breaking Down Budgeting A personal budget is simply a spending plan. Before you work on personal budget planning you need to have a good idea of where and how your money is being spent. It can be a tedious process, but it can also be a true eye opener if you are not......

• 5 Ways to Save Money on Your Summer Energy Bill Summer has arrived and the temperature is rising. Now the goal is to find ways to keep your bills at a reasonable level. Every May, when we have the first eighty degree day, I’m always tempted to put on the air conditioner at full blast. It feels so good but......
• Reader Help: Building A CD Ladder I got an email from a reader named Janine W recently. She had a couple of questions about starting up a CD ladder.  I gave her some advice and then I thought that getting some reader input might help. Here's Janine's email: Hi, I was reading your article on......
• Save Money Without Doing Anything. Seriously. This actually is about something you can buy that will save you money the first day you start using it and you never have to worry about it again. It could possibly cut your electric bill by quite a bit of money while at the same time help curb global......
• Money Saving Tips: 75 Ways to Survive Recession Regardless of how economists refer to this economy, recession or no recession, people are hurting, financially. Unemployment, flat wages and rising costs for food and gas have many hurting. Check out these great money saving tips to help your family survive these tough times. Here are a few money saving......
• The state of my finances Part of goal-setting involves monitoring your progress. I do this mentally on a regular basis, but sometimes it's good to step back and actually write out the bigger picture as well. I believe that it's good to do that at least annually. Here is a checkup on the money-related goals......

Mortgage rates are changing - what should you do?

There was big news within the mortgage industry recently as interest rates finally went back below 6%. The reaction was mixed, but the rate did prompt many people to rush to refinance their homes. For those that are stuck with variable rate mortgages, the current situation in the housing market has been volatile to say the least and many consumer advocates have been pushing the need to refinance if at all possible.

This has not been easy for many, especially since interest rates were quite high until this week. Every small drop helps however and the current resurgence for refinances could help bolster the struggling housing market. While much damage has been done, there is still light at the end of the tunnel, despite the decision to take over Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, two of the US’s biggest lenders.

While there is hope for some borrowers, those in a subprime position may not find it easy to refinance their homes, in spite of the drop in rates. Banks are shying away from this sub-set of borrowers and the specter of foreclosure still looms for many. For those that are unable to refinance, there are steps that can be taken to avoid foreclosure, but they must be taken quickly.

The first step is to determine how to free up enough cash to handle increased mortgage payments. For those that did not plan ahead for a switch to a variable rate, the shock of a much higher payment was a rude awakening. Although thousands knew that their fixed rates were only short term, there was a general lack of awareness of how this would affect them personally.

If you have been switched to a variable rate mortgage and are struggling to make your payments, foreclosure does not need to be the first option. In many cases, the difference in payments can be as small as $50, or as high as several hundred dollars. For those that are living above their means, simply curtailing some additional expenses can free up the funds necessary to make those higher payments.

Other options include getting a second job on a temporary basis until the rates do drop to a point where payments become livable again. For those that do not have the time for this option, selling a car, or other household items may be the best solution.

Today’s news was heartening to many and does show that rates may be on the way back down, at least temporarily. If you can get a refinance plan on a home loan, taking action now may be beneficial. If you cannot seek this type of assistance however there still are plenty of other options available that can help you keep your home, until the economic outlook brightens again. Housing changes and rate fluctuations are normal, and riding out the storm is typically the best solution.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-10-07 05:12:06. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• What Are Safe Investments? /caption] If you are trying to accumulate wealth, set aside money for the future or you would just like to have a few more streams of income coming in, investments are usually the first thing people turn to. However, the most common question that many people have is what are......
• Breaking Down Budgeting A personal budget is simply a spending plan. Before you work on personal budget planning you need to have a good idea of where and how your money is being spent. It can be a tedious process, but it can also be a true eye opener if you are not......
• How Do Savings Bonds Work? /caption] Savings bonds are a major offering in credit unions and at banks. It is important to know what savings bonds are all about so that you can understand whether or not they will benefit you in any way. This page is going to take you through some of the......
• What Are Safe Investments? /caption] If you are putting consideration into investing money, but you are not sure which is the safest way to invest your money, then your first stop should be someplace where you can get professional advice on the subject. The last thing that you are going to want to do......
• Personal Budget Planning /caption] Personal budget planning is an important part of keeping a handle on your finances. Because there is so much turmoil in today's economy, maintaining a healthy personal budget is more vital than ever. Crafting a personal budget begins with determining how money comes in, and how money goes out,......

• What Does Variable Interest Rate Mean?  The variable interest rate is adjustable.  It allows the consumer to take advantage of the current economic conditions and pay a lower rate of interest on the loan; however if the economic conditions change the rate may interest.  The interest rate for a variable interest loan can be effect by......
• Deciding On The Proper Time To Refinance A House Deciding on the proper time to refinance a house can be a difficult decision.  After purchase, years are spent paying down the mortgage to build equity in the house, but sometimes there are financial incentives to refinance the house with a new mortgage.  Choosing the proper time to refinance could......
• Introduction to Mortgages pt 1 of 5 The housing market is an interesting beast, because it comes and goes, rises and falls, allows some people to flourish and brings others to ruins. If you want to understand how the housing market works, you should begin with an introduction to home mortgages. This is part one in a......
• follow the Poor Dad sometimes If you spend any time on personal finance sites, you’ll hear about Rich Dad, Poor Dad. Personally, I would credit it with a tremendous amount of influence on my life since I read it in late 2003. This book changed the way I think about money, about priorities and even......
• Time to Refinance? Mortgage rates have dropped recently, to an average 5.5% fixed rate for a 30 year mortgage. While there's talk of the treasury trying to arrange for a 4.5% rate, this rate is only for new home buyers, not refinances. On a $200K mortgage, this would only be a difference in......

Start your own personal business.

1. The first place to start is with your job.

If you’re up for a raise, don’t be shy about asking for it. If you can work a few extra hours and make some overtime, go for it. This is probably the easiest way to get a little extra cash flowing in every month. While it may not make you a millionaire over night, getting some extra take home pay can free up your finances a bit and make it easier to get to your next paycheck.

Before you jump in however, you’ll have to remember the basic problem of overspending so you can avoid this issue. Getting paid more is not a license to run out and start spending more money. This is however the perfect opportunity to get more cash coming in that can be used for savings or to keep current on your bills.

2. Consider opening your own business.

If you have a skill that you can exploit for more income, this is the perfect answer to help increase your cash flow. Whether you are good at fixing cars, watching children or even cooking, there is a huge market for this kind of work. Pay attention to the needs of your local community and then see how you can help fill them with your expertise. Obtain a loan through Loanio to jumpstart your business.

You can also get a second job, at least temporarily, especially if money is particularly tight. This is a fast way to increase your cash flow, even if it does require more work on your part.

3. Set up some safe investments.

Creating multiple streams of income is always a good idea, and if you have some safe investments you can make that won’t put your finances in jeopardy, this is a very easy way to increase your cash flow and help you build up extra income that you can rely on for many years to come. Investments or annuities can be very useful when you’re caught short, and the money they bring in can easily be put to good use.

You don’t have to struggle to make ends meet if you don’t want to. Simply taking the time to build up your cash flow can produce terrific results and give you the peace of mind of knowing that you do have alternatives out there to reduce your reliance on your normal paycheck.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-10-06 16:16:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Managing Money Wisely /caption] One of the hardest things for many people to accomplish is managing money wisely. We may all know the basics, and understand that spending too much is a good way to get on the road to financial ruin. However, when push comes to shove, we end up making mistakes......
• Defining Your Budget and Crafting Your Financial Future A budget or spending plan is a specific money management tool that is designed to put you in control of your spending, keeping you out of credit trouble and other financial trouble. Your budget is vital because it is your personal plan for spending the income that you have, making......
• Child Savings and Investment /caption] Having children is not a cheap proposition these days, especially when you consider long term costs. The older your children become, the more they are going to end up costing in the long run. High education prices, for example, continue to soar making it nearly impossible for you to......
• Save Money by Managing Your Money /caption] There are plenty of ways for you to save money simply by managing it. It does not necessarily mean that you have to be frugal, but rather you simply have to be wise in the decisions that you make. Too many people these days are finding that they were......
• What Are Safe Investments? /caption] If you are trying to accumulate wealth, set aside money for the future or you would just like to have a few more streams of income coming in, investments are usually the first thing people turn to. However, the most common question that many people have is what are......

• What You Need to Know About Cash Flow Management Jason Price is a volunteer financial coach and personal finance blogger at One Money Design. He helps people manage money wisely for everyday life using practical ideas and Biblical financial principles. If you want to get his free money management tips and put your personal finances in order, follow him......
• Save Time, Money and Space in Over 80 Ways If you're looking for handy gadgets, tools and various items that can save you time, money or space (or all three!) this list of more than 80 top products is just what you need. Everyone's got saving money on their minds these days. Some of us are always looking to......
• Keeping Track of Cash Flow - Your Household is Your Business You should create a budget to track your spending and get a handle on your finances. You plan out all of your bills, and the amounts look good. The budget is the first step in getting your finances under control. However, the budget is not the only step. There is......
• Attaining Better Cash Flow for Your Business Every businessman, whether they are venturing in the online or ‘real’ world, have always been dreaming of a better cash flow in their business. By this means a better business for them, right? But how does one attain this for their business?...
• How to Keep Cash Flow Coming In One of the main problems facing Americans today is a lack of cash flow. As the economy gets worse and gas prices go up, it is getting harder to make ends meet. If you are completely reliant on your paycheck each month, the last few days or weeks of the......

Roundup #1

Good morning everyone! Welcome to Loanio’s first ever roundup post. We’d like to thank the blog community for their support. You are the best press releases out there. Then lastly before we start with the links we would like to take a moment to wish everyone a splendid weekend. Take care.

The National Economy:

• As Lenders Tighten Flow of Credit, Growth at Risk writes New York Times.
• Kiplinger asks What Should Investors Do Now?
• Smart Money writes about The Cost of Securing Your Money.
• Economists brace for big drop in payrolls says Market Watch.

Stocks:

• Check out the Roadmap to Saving and Investing at Best Growth Stock Weblog.
• News Day writes about Investing Your Money: Stock pickers seek big opportunities.
• Asian Stock Market presents the stock investing guide – make your homework for better returns
• One Mistake that WILL Lose YOU Lots of Money cautions the Wild Investor.

Peer-to-Peer Lending and Loanio in the News:

• Center Networks writes Peer-to-Peer Lender Loanio Launches to Help Credit Challenged People Obtain Loans.
• Net Banker says Loanio Launches New Person-to-Person Lending Service
• Loanio launch II by P2P Banking.
• Eric’s Credit Community exclaims Loanio Launches At Last.
• Prosper Lending Review in Loanio Launches.
• Loanio Launches New Person-to-Person Lending Service by Free Esignal.
• P2P lending site Loanio targets sub-prime borrowers over at Finextra.
• Lazy Man and Money presents Loanio Launches!

Photo Credit: 1

Originally posted 2008-10-05 05:57:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• 4 Tips for College Students Budgets /caption] If you are a college student, then your primary focus is probably set on your studies and trying to maintain your education so that you will be benefited in the future. Unfortunately, one of the things that you may not be putting enough consideration into is how you are......
• The Best Small Investments /caption] Wall Street's recent cataclysmic events are still unfolding and the entire planet is feeling their aftershocks. For this reason, interest in what is going on in the stock market is rising quickly, even for those who do not normally understand what the stock market is all about, or what......
• Loanio Roundup - Wall Street Crisis and the Resilient Dollar /caption] Welcome to the second edition of the Loanio Roundup. This edition focuses heavily on the national economy and peer-to-peer lending news. We hope you enjoy pursuing through the links below. Leave a comment and tell us what you think - we'd love to hear your views on the Wall......
• What Are Safe Investments? /caption] If you are trying to accumulate wealth, set aside money for the future or you would just like to have a few more streams of income coming in, investments are usually the first thing people turn to. However, the most common question that many people have is what are......
• Is Some Debt Good For Your Credit? /caption] There is no doubt about this, first of all: Getting into debt is more than capable of getting you into trouble. Although there is definitely a large downside to debt, borrowing money can also do you some good. Some debt is actually good for your credit, but only if......

• Why I think P2P lending is a bad idea Photo by: Unhindered by Talent The rage around money lending these days, at least in the blogosphere is Peer to Peer Lending (P2P). Services like Lending Club and Prosper enable loans between individuals, bypassing traditional loans generally provided by banks. The P2P concept in theory, allows individuals to reap......
• Earning 11.89% Interest By Lending Money At Lending Club. Back in February 2008, I wrote a post titled "Why I Started Lending Money With Prosper And Lending Club" that outlined why I had veered from my savings account mentality into the world of peer-to-peer lending. Basically, I wanted to try to beat the rate that my online bank was......
• Sunday Money Madness - Veterans Day Edition It's a little late coming, since Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th, but I wanted to take a moment and give thanks to all the Veterans out there whose bravery and courage have kept us safe and protected. Frugal | Money Saving Tips: Am I Frugal? How I Balance......
• Is Lending Money on Prosper.com Competitive With Other Investments? When most of us loan money to our friends, we give them $20 or $30, and they pay us back a week or two later and we think nothing of it. If the person was willing to pay a little bit in interest, you could make a little bit of......
• Group writing project: Preparing for or dealing with job loss After reading and listening to a story about a recent Northwest Airlines "severance package" there were several things I thought of. The main story deals with 60 laid-off employees of the bankrupt airline who received a tip sheet on "101 Ways to Save Money." All of the tips are sensible......

Earn some extra money - hold a yard sale.

For thousands of people, the specter of debt is an all too real problem that affects not only their financial life, but the rest of their lives as well. However, there are steps that can be taken to get yourself out of debt, reasonably quickly, despite how much you owe. While the length of time needed to pay off those debts may vary, taking action as quickly as possible can help prevent debt from mounting up further. Let’s take a look at four easy ways that you can get out of debt, starting today.

1. Negotiate with Creditors and Consolidate.

Many creditors are willing to negotiate with you, especially if you have had a good payment history with them. The worst thing they can tell you is no, so it definitely pays to take the time to see if you can’t work out a better arrangement. Credit card companies, for example, will often reduce the interest, or they may be willing to take a partial lump sum on the balance.

If you are unsuccessful in negotiating your debts down yourself, you may want to consider consolidation by working with a reputable debt consolidation or debt relief organization. There are some questionable ones out there, so do your homework and be careful.

Finally, and arguably the best approach, is to get a lower interest rate loan (see #4) that will allow you to zero out your other debt and leave you with one simple monthly payment.

Consolidating your monthly payments and lowering the overall amount of interest you owe can have a dramatic effect on your finances.

2. Get a second job.

If you truly want to get out of debt quickly, one of the best ways is simply to get a second job until the debt has been paid off. You can funnel everything you make from your second job into paying off your debts and get them taken care of in short order. A second job doesn’t have to mean slaving away at McDonalds however.

You may be able to find ways of earning extra income from other avenues, such as leveraging your abilities to find work in your community, or by starting your own business to help you make enough money to pay off your debts in less time.

3. Reduce your junk.

Holding a yard sale may be a slower way of paying down your debt, but there are many ways that you can turn your household items into cash that can in turn be used to pay off your debts. You can sell items on Ebay, put ads in the paper and find people that are interested in buying your possessions. Depending on what you own, you may be able to quickly sell off everything to take care of your debts.

You may also want to consider cutting back on extraneous expenses, getting a cheaper car, and finding other ways to save money. With what you have left over, you can start using it to pay off your debts until you are completely caught up. Don’t let your debt control your life. You can find ways to get it paid off – and quickly.

4. Debt Consolidation via Loanio

Loanio is now open for for business! You could post a loan request there asking for a lower rate and then pay off your higher interest debts.

Loanio is an auction based, peer lending platform where individuals can borrow or lend money to each other. By cutting out “traditional lenders,” and adding an auction based element, borrowers can get lower rates and lenders can get higher returns than other banking options. Give it a try!Borrow money with Loanio.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-10-03 16:40:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Best Small Investments When you are looking to generate money through investing in the shortest amount of time, and you do not have a lot of money to begin with, then you are going to want to learn how to take small investments and turn them into big rewards. If you have a......
• What Are Safe Investments? /caption] If you are putting consideration into investing money, but you are not sure which is the safest way to invest your money, then your first stop should be someplace where you can get professional advice on the subject. The last thing that you are going to want to do......
• Defining Your Budget and Crafting Your Financial Future A budget or spending plan is a specific money management tool that is designed to put you in control of your spending, keeping you out of credit trouble and other financial trouble. Your budget is vital because it is your personal plan for spending the income that you have, making......
• Is Some Debt Good For Your Credit? /caption] There is no doubt about this, first of all: Getting into debt is more than capable of getting you into trouble. Although there is definitely a large downside to debt, borrowing money can also do you some good. Some debt is actually good for your credit, but only if......
• How to Fix a Mistake On Your Credit Report /caption] We all make mistakes, but when it comes to your credit report, a simple or small error can have a big impact. In fact, one small error is more than enough to drag down your FICO score and could even prevent you from getting a loan in the future.......

• Are You Managing Your Debt Correctly? Although debt is a dirty word to many, the fact of the matter is that the vast majority of us are in debt in some way or another. No matter how hard we try, there are times when you simply need something and cannot afford to pay for it straight......
• Debt Consolidation Credit cards are financial devices which their users end up digging themselves too deep with. Pay it later is too easy with a credit card. Too many users will buy stuff that is outside of their means and as such will get into trouble. Compound this with numerous cards, and......
• 5 Rules For Debt Freedom Individuals across the nation are facing a financial crisis today, with skyrocketing debt, unaffordable homes, and job losses occurring in many major industries.  Many of the problems that are facing individuals today could have been avoided by following a few simple financial rules that they should have learned before they......
• Find Out More Info About Ways To Make Money Online in this Blog Publication Money online for happy people.I suppose that you are in low spirits now because you’ve just lost your current job. I can understand your emotions. But please don’t intend to surrender because of this nasty thing. It’s not the end of your life. You are a relatively young and strong......
• wealthstreaming, or snowflaking for income When my post on wealth ideas lost to I've Paid For This Twice Already in FMF's March Madness Tournament, I started thinking about snowflaking. Snowflaking is a spinoff of the "snowball" debt elimination concept invented by Dave Ramsey but the snowflaking version of this concept has really been popularized......

The week leading up to this launch has been a wonderful time for me and my family. My son just turned one, I won $1,000 in the New York State lottery, the Jewish New Year began, and now Loanio has finally launched! However, the week also continued with lots of uncertainty about the future health of U.S. financial markets and economy. I for one am quite confident that things will eventually get back on track, but I believe we have a long road ahead of us. With that said, I suppose you could argue that it is either the best of times to introduce a new “alternative” lending and borrowing platform–like Loanio–or the worst of times. We are passionate about the former and we hope you are too.

At this time, I wish to thank everyone who has been supporting this project from day one. The development of this website has been a very long, complex, and winding journey–it simply would not have been possible without them.

I am extremely excited and bullish on the future that is ahead for Loanio and the rest of the peer to peer lending community. I invite you to join us toward the goal of bringing these great alternative borrowing and lending vehicles to everyone.

Michael Solomon
CEO and Founder

Originally posted 2008-10-02 07:55:23. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Tips for College Student Budgets /caption] Trying to make ends meet when you are in college is not an easy task. Your income is usually pretty limited and expenses can be high, even if you have a scholarship. If you’re trying to save money or just get by, there are some great tips for college......
• Is Some Debt Good For Your Credit? /caption] There is no doubt about this, first of all: Getting into debt is more than capable of getting you into trouble. Although there is definitely a large downside to debt, borrowing money can also do you some good. Some debt is actually good for your credit, but only if......
• Loanio Roundup #1- National Economy /caption] Good morning everyone! Welcome to Loanio's first ever roundup post. We'd like to thank the blog community for their support. You are the best press releases out there. Then lastly before we start with the links we would like to take a moment to wish everyone a splendid weekend.......
• 8 Tips for College Student Budgets /caption] Below are eight tips for college students about money and finances. 1. Track your Expenses If you track your spending for a few weeks, you will be better able to figure out where your money is going. Are you spending an exorbitant amount of money on Starbucks? You may......
• Loanio Roundup - Veteran's Edition /caption] Loanio would like to thank all the men and women who have put their lives on the line to protect America's freedom and ideals. Your sacrifices and bravery have been beneficial to many and are greatly appreciated. Below you'll find links to resources, both blog and news articles on......

• Getting an affordable loan with peer to peer lending Today many people find themselves rejected at banks when trying to attain a loan due to their credit score, and other factors. But now there is a new way to get a loan, Peer to Peer Lending. Borrowers receive loans through websites such as Lendingclub.com. These lending sites allow two......
• Introduction To Peer-To-Peer Lending: Signing Up To Use Lending Club If you're thinking of signing up for a Lending Club account, please check out the referral code and affiliate link at the bottom to get a $25 cash bonus if you sign up using our referral link! Peer to peer lending has been a hot topic on personal finance blogs......
• Weight Lost: 46 Pounds in 6 Weeks aka Over 7lbs this Week! After 6 weeks on the medically assisted weightless program JumpStart medicine with Dr. Sean Bourke, I have lost 46 pounds in 45 days (just over a pound a day... Wow!) I highly recommed Jumpstart. I have a special offer for anyone in wanting to try Jumpstart in Redwood City or Mountain View: $25......
• Borrow Money & Lend Money at Prosper Having been a member of Prosper.com for about 16 months now, I decided to give a round-up of what I've learned. I'm going to break this up into three areas: The Reason to Borrow Money - If you have credit card debt that you are trying to pay off, you......
• Peer To Peer Lending: Lend Money And Invest A while back, I covered the world of social lending, when I was relatively new to the whole peer to peer lending premise. Now that I’ve become much more familiar with it, and have had some time to see how things operate in this field, I’ve decided to review......

Does debt improve credit?

There is no doubt about this, first of all: Getting into debt is more than capable of getting you into trouble. Although there is definitely a large downside to debt, borrowing money can also do you some good. Some debt is actually good for your credit, but only if you understand why, and how much debt is good in comparison to when your debt has become too much.

With the help of credit, you can achieve some of your financial goals. Debt allows you to take advantage of experiences and opportunities that enhance your life, like buying a car or purchasing your dream home, going to the best school or taking a cruise around the world. Getting the true value out of your credit has to do with developing a spending plan that allows you to get there in the time frame that you have set, without ruining you financially.

With the help of credit, you can send a message to potential lenders. If you have never had any debt, then you have never used credit before and will not have a credit score or a credit report to speak of. In today’s world, however, it is difficult if not completely impossible to live without credit, because credit is vital for purchasing most big ticket items, like higher education, vehicles and homes. Credit is also heavily relied upon for the purpose of preparing for life’s emergencies. For all of these reasons, having a good credit reputation is going to show potential lenders that you are a good and healthy credit risk by showing that you can handle a little bit of debt. By showing your capability to repay debt, you can put yourself in a good position to attract creditors offering favorable terms and rates.

Credit and debt are also capable of giving people a sense of how responsible you are. If you had no debt or credit history, you would find yourself being disadvantaged in other ways. Should a prospective employer check your credit record and come up empty for example, they may find this strange, and not want to hire you. Without a credit record, employers, lenders and other individuals lose out on a potential way to appraise who you are. Debt and credit are important for getting an apartment, applying for car insurance, buying a home, even sometimes renting a car. Even if you can afford to do some of these things, using debt and credit to create a history of how you handle money is an advantageous option in favor of just using cash for everything. Credit is not only a tool for extra income, but it is also a way to show lenders, employers and other individuals how responsible you are when it comes to borrowing, spending and repaying your money.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2009-01-19 05:45:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Teach Teens to Save Money /caption] One of the biggest reasons why having a teenage child can be difficult is because teenagers tend to spend money easily and freely without any real regard for what goes into earning that money in the first place. Teenagers tend to spend a great deal of money on clothes,......
• Do You Need a Money Manager? /caption] If your idea of organizing your finances is throwing a receipt in a big pile, you may want to consider the benefits of hiring a money manager. There is a new trend in the financial world where daily money managers are becoming very popular, and for many consumers, they......
• Is Leasing an Auto a Good Option Right Now? /caption] With the current state of the economy and rising interest rates, many are considering leasing an auto instead of making an outright purchase or financing one. While there are a few benefits that can come through a leased vehicle, this is a decision that will require some careful thought......
• Personal Budget Planning /caption] Personal budget planning is an important part of keeping a handle on your finances. Because there is so much turmoil in today's economy, maintaining a healthy personal budget is more vital than ever. Crafting a personal budget begins with determining how money comes in, and how money goes out,......
• 4 Tips for College Students Budgets /caption] If you are a college student, then your primary focus is probably set on your studies and trying to maintain your education so that you will be benefited in the future. Unfortunately, one of the things that you may not be putting enough consideration into is how you are......

• Purge yourself of toxic debt! We've heard a lot about "toxic debt" in reference to banks and subprime loans, but what about personal toxic debt? Toxic debt for individuals, not to be confused with Zombie debt, is debt where: The lender can change rates and terms at any time. The standard or default interest......
• Eliminate Credit Card Debt Have you recently decided to eliminate credit card debt from your personal finances? Although it may seem like a lofty idea, you should know that it is definitely an achievable goal. You just have to come up with a game plan to will get you where you want to go.......
• Looking To Get Rid Of Credit Card Debt? Millions of individuals have found themselves deeply in debt because they have been charging items to their credit cards and allowing the balances on those credit cards to reach levels that they cannot easily pay off.  Getting out of credit card debt is very difficult because many credit card companies......
• Save Time, Money and Space in Over 80 Ways If you're looking for handy gadgets, tools and various items that can save you time, money or space (or all three!) this list of more than 80 top products is just what you need. Everyone's got saving money on their minds these days. Some of us are always looking to......
• Paying off Debt in 9 Steps pt 2 Part two in the series on paying off debt: Throwing away your bills and shredding your credit card payment reminders simply is not going to make the problem go away. Debt is going to hover over you until you find a way to deal with it. Interest will continue to......