Turn Your Car Into Cash: Why Selling Your Junk Car Is the Right Move

Turn Your Car Into Cash: Why Selling Your Junk Car Is the Right Move

Yeah, you know, you should take care of that old junker sitting in your yard or driveway. You may have even received complaints from the neighbors or threats from the local government ordering you to get rid of it. But with all the time and hassle it would take, you tend to keep putting it off.

But turning your old junk car into cash can be easy and profitable. To see how, let’s take a look at why selling old cars is the right move, and some tips on how to make the process quick and easy.

Why You Should Consider Selling a Junk Car

The most obvious reason why you should offload your old junk car is that it’s a waste of real estate. If you have a garage, that junker is taking up valuable space that would be better used for the things you actually want to keep.

And if you’re storing it out in your yard or driveway, it’s arguably an even worse waste of space. A junk car sitting out in plain view is a serious eyesore. And it has a way of sapping the surrounding property values, which the neighbors tend to not appreciate.

Junkers sitting out can also be damaging the environment. Did you know that a single quart of motor oil can pollute 250,000 gallons of water? And that’s to say nothing of whatever other chemicals or heavy metals that could be leaching out of an old, broken-down car.

And most significantly, selling your old car can not only earn you money in the short term, but save you money in the long run.

Some states require that any car, no matter the condition, must have an up-to-date registry. And in some localities, having junkers sitting out in the open can open you up to fines. Getting your old car off your property can save you a tidy sum in potential penalties.

Tips for Turning an Old Car Into Cash

When it comes to getting cash for junk cars, the biggest favor you can do for yourself is to work with a quality salvage. Buying and selling junk cars is their entire business, and they can help you navigate the formalities. And almost all of them offer free pick-up, so the convenience alone makes them the obvious choice.

As for your responsibilities, you want to make sure you have as much information about your car as possible. Having things like the car title, make, model, year, mileage, body condition, engine condition, and signs of damage prepared when you go to sell will streamline the process and help you get the highest quote possible.

And that’s about it. Depending on your locality, you may need to fill out some extra paperwork, but your salvage company should be able to help you out with that as well. Then it’s only a matter of setting a time for pick up and collecting your cash payment.

Do Your Due Diligence Before You Sell Your Car for Cash

The most important thing to remember when you try to turn your old car into cash is to do everything by the book. Dealing with a proper salvage broker can help expedite that process, with their representatives walking you through each step.

But getting cash for old cars is far from the only way to procure some quick income. For more ideas on how to raise some quick cash, be sure to follow our latest business news and guides.

How to Find a Top Financial Advisor

How to Find a Top Financial Advisor

If you are looking for a top financial advisor, you are most certainly not the only one. As millions of us take stock and re-assess our financial priorities, demand for qualified financial advisor services has skyrocketed. What this means is that finding a financial advisor that is right for you might be harder than ever.

However, there is no need to panic. As this financial advisor guide demonstrates, finding the right advisor for you simply requires a little bit of know-how about the industry. Read on to find out exactly how to find a financial advisor that will help you meet your money goals.

1. Know What You Need

The first and most important step before seeking financial advisor advice is to know exactly what your goals are. There are many different official designations for financial advisors in America. It is important to determine which one is right for you. For example, if you want to grow your investment portfolio, you might want to consult a Certified Fund Specialist (CFS).

Meanwhile, you might be looking for a financial advisor near me who specializes in arranging structured settlements for people in your situation. You can learn more here about how to find a structured settlement advisor who can help you get the outcome you are looking for.

2. Check Those Top Financial Advisor Credentials

When seeking financial advice, always check the credentials. Any worthwhile advisor will have easily furnished credentials and qualifications from an accredited, nationally recognized system. CFP, PFS, CFA, the list goes on.

One reliable way to check this is to head to the National Association of Financial Advisors and search the name of your potential advisor. This should give you a full list of their credentials and experience. If you can’t find these, choose someone else.

3. Understand How They Get Paid

There are two types of financial advisors in this world – those who work for a fee and those who work on commission. Each has its merits, but it is important to know how compensation impacts service. Commission-based advisors are cheaper.

However, they earn commission by pushing financial products, often highly volatile ones, onto customers. This makes some commission-based advisors less trustworthy. Fee-based ones are more expensive but more likely to be actually looking out for your best interests.

4. Ask the Right Questions

When you think you have found the right financial advisor for you, it is time to get down to brass tacks. Do not shy away from asking the questions that you need answers to before you make your choice. Before you hire them, always ask:

  • How do you make money from your services?
  • Are you contractually bound to sell financial products on behalf of another company?
  • How long have you been practicing?
  • Have you ever filed for bankruptcy?
  • Can you provide me with at least two references of current or former customers?
  • Can you walk me through different projections for my financial future?

Make Your Money Work for You

Finding a top financial advisor is essential if you want to make your money more productive. For more tips on making your money work for you and boosting your lifetime wealth, you have come to the right place. Our dedicated Money guides have all of the advice you need to start planning your financial future.

3 Keys When it Comes to Business Growth

3 Keys When it Comes to Business Growth

Growing your business is one of the key things you can do over time when you are the head of the operation.

With that thought in mind, what will it take for you to position your business for growth as the years go by?

From being in a good financial spot to marketing the heck out of your business, there are things you need to be on top of.

So, how confident are you in your abilities to score growth for all you’ve worked for?

Position Your Business for Success

When it comes to growth and ultimately success for your business, here are three keys to hone in on:

  1. Monitoring finances – It goes without saying you won’t be around too long if you do not have a good sense of finances. Too many financial miscues can put you out of business before you know it. That said you want to keep a close eye on your financial books. Look for any red flags that can in fact land you in the red all too often if not careful. While most companies go through a few peaks and valleys in sales and revenue, you do not want to be mired in the red. Also look to pay down any sizable company debt you have. Too much debt can saddle you with tough times. The most notable would be if you have major credit card debt. You also want to be sure you are getting good deals. When buying company supplies from vendors; do your best to get deals.
  2. Deciding when change is needed– You also want to keep your eye on the prize when it comes time to make any major changes. As an example, do you have visions of changing your business from an LLC to C corp? If yes, you want to be sure and determine when it is best to do this. Doing so can help you with going after more capital, finding more tax benefits and so on. You also need to be on top of when it may be time to expand your business to a bigger office. If space is tight, you are feeling cramped? Also, is it impacting your bottom line when it comes to money and production? If yes, a bigger space may be the way to go. Having your finger on the pulse of change is key so you do not miss out on opportunities to grow.
  3. Spread the word each day – Finally, can you imagine how challenging it would be to grow if too few folks knew about you? Yes, not doing a good job of marketing your brand can be a real killer for you and your business. That said use all the tools available at your disposal to get the word out. Also make it a point to give good customer service each time out. This can be the easiest and best way to grow your business. Happy customers tend to tell other people they know about specific brands. That of course can lead to more sales and revenue.

When growing your business is a big priority for you, how will you tackle this major project?

How Can You Become a Better Consumer?

How Can You Become a Better Consumer?

Being a good consumer often means you find the goods or services you need and you save some money in the process.

With that in mind, are there actions you would be wise to take so you can become a better consumer moving ahead?

By being the best consumer, you can feel better about your shopping needs now and moving ahead.

What Role Can the Internet Play?

According to Invesp, America leads the world in average revenue per online shopper, coming in at $1,804. The United Kingdom ranks second at $1,629.

So, it may be a case of where you’ve done some online shopping but not much or you do a good deal of shopping over the Internet.

In shopping online, know that you can find most goods and services you have an interest in.

For instance, are you into video gaming or looking to begin playing anytime soon? If yes, much of your needs for equipment and accessories can be met online.

So, if in search of the best headset for Xbox series X or similar items, odds are you will find all the info online. That is on which headset will best meet your needs and how to order it.

You can also find info you need when searching for consoles, gaming mice, gaming lamps and much more.

At the end of the day, you can pretty much order all your gaming needs from the comfort of your home or office.

Also look to the Internet to better educate you on items and brands.

By becoming more educated, there is less chance you will end up buying the wrong items or overpaying.

Know When Best to Shop

Are you good at knowing when the best times are to shop?

Unfortunately, some folks spend too much money because they went after an item at the wrong time.

For example, many auto dealers have sales during specific holidays. They may also do sales when looking to later in the year move current inventory for new vehicles. These would be good times to consider buying your next car or truck.

Another example of knowing best when to shop is the times you need to go to the grocery store.

In the event you go shopping with a big appetite, odds are you will end up spending more money. The hunger you feel can translate into you spending added dollars that you may be able to use elsewhere.

You should also network with outside family and friends in your efforts to be a smart consumer.

Some of the people in your inner circle may be aware of sales. 

These would be sales involving brands you like and benefit from. If you miss some of the sales alerts, a family member or friend could tip you off. Do the same for them and this networking can lead to savings and more for all involved.

Yes, being a better consumer should be something that catches your attention.

In doing all you can to win as a consumer, where will your focus turn to?

Cryptocurrency: What is the Value of Bitcoin

Cryptocurrency: What is the Value of Bitcoin

By now, you’ve almost certainly heard of Bitcoin. Around 46 million Americans have now invested in cryptocurrency, making it one of the fastest-growing commodities in recent years. So, how much is Bitcoin worth?

That’s actually quite a complicated question. This article tells you everything you need to know about the value of bitcoin.

The Value of Bitcoin in Dollars

Of course, one way to look at the value of Bitcoin is to examine how much it’s worth in US dollars. As of the 23rd of July 2021, the value of a single Bitcoin was $32,528.13. While this is a lot of money, the value of Bitcoin has actually decreased quite significantly in the last few months.

Months ago, the price of Bitcoin was well over $40,000. One thing that you’ll notice about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is that the value is quite volatile. On any given day, the price can easily increase or decrease by thousands of dollars.

This can be quite scary as a first-time investor, but these kinds of fluctuations tend not to scare Bitcoin veterans.

The value of Bitcoin in dollars is also significant if you want to buy Bitcoin through a site like ByteFederal.

The Value of Bitcoin as an Investment

A lot of the value in Bitcoin comes from its potential as an investment. The price of bitcoin is susceptible to a huge upswing, so it makes sense to see the value in terms of what it could be worth rather than what it’s worth right now.

For this reason, many people see Bitcoin as more valuable when the price is lower than when the price is high. This is because you can buy Bitcoin at a low price and then sell it for a higher price.

This is why many investors will enthusiastically buy Bitcoin as the price goes down. They’re confident that the price will go back up, so cheap Bitcoin has a lot of value to them.

The Value of Bitcoin as Technology

Some believe that Bitcoin will usher in a financial revolution. Some Bitcoin enthusiasts go so far as to believe Bitcoin will revolutionize global finance. Some argue that Bitcoin will eventually replace the global banking system by creating a worldwide, decentralized currency.

People with this view don’t necessarily worry about the price in the short term as they believe Bitcoin will be worth a huge amount of money in the long term. People who believe in Bitcoin to this extent are generally very reluctant to sell their coins.

The Value of Bitcoin Depends on Your Perspective

This article has demonstrated that the value of Bitcoin depends on your perspective. If you’re someone who just wants to spend your coins, the current Bitcoin to the dollar exchange rate is very important.

On the other hand, if you’re a long-term investor, the value is much less clear-cut.

If you want to learn about other Bitcoin-related topics, check out the rest of our blog posts.

How to Reduce Credit Card Processing Fees: 7 Simple Steps

How to Reduce Credit Card Processing Fees: 7 Simple Steps

Did you know that the inventor of the first bank-issued credit card is John Briggs? He’s a former banker from New York State.

Are you a business, and are tired of wracking up credit card processing fees? Those fees cut into your profit, and cause you to earn less than compared to those who pay with cash.

Is there a way to lower those fees you might wonder? In this article, explore all about those pesky credit card processing fees, and if there’s a way around them. Read on to discover these tips and tricks you won’t want to miss out on to save more of your hard-earned cash.

What Are Merchant Credit Card Processing Fees?

If your business accepts credit cards for purchases, there will be what’s known as a processing fee. Since it can add up quickly, some companies will reward those paying with cash by offering a slightly lower rate.

The added fee for credit card users is known as credit card surcharging. Processing fees include payment processor’s markups, interchange fees, and service fees.

What Are Assessment and Interchange Fees?

Your interchange rate is what tends to make your credit card processing fee as high as it is. This is the fee that the acquiring bank pays to the issuing bank when someone makes a purchase. They’re normally a portion of the sale amount, or a percentage plus a fixed rate.

Some factors can make them vary such as how you process your payments, the card’s brand, the merchant, and type of card. Each purchase will also have an assessment fee. The assessment fee is how the card’s networks make money. In addition to these, there’s an additional fee that you’ll need to pay to your payment processor for services.

Repeated Costs

You’ll have rental fees or terminal leases on a recurring basis depending on the processor. Certain processors will have you sign a long-term lease or rent for a period of time.

You might have an annual or monthly fee. There might be a minimum processor fee every month as well.

1. Payment Terms and Processes

First, it’s a good idea to look around for a payment provider, and don’t just go with the first option. Do a comparison, and take a look at the different phrases and words you’ll see for each option.

2. Shop Lowest Markups

Next, take a look at different markups. Since there are many factors that’ll go into the different rates, it’s a good idea to take a look at what’s negotiable, and what’s not. For example, assessment and interchange fees are non-negotiable elements.

Markups can be controlled. This is the amount you pay in addition to fees that go to card networks and banks. It’s a good rule of thumb to not go by rates, but instead, by markups.

Processors should be able to tell you the markup rate, and if they can’t, that’s not a good sign. You’ll want to identify those who have a smaller markup since rates don’t give you a full understanding of the cost.

3. Lower Fraud Risks

In order to lower your rate, you’ll want to reduce your risk of fraud. When you have a higher fraud risk, you’ll receive higher processing fees.

Never key in the card information since that increases your risk of fraud. Instead, swipe credit cards. Swiping the credit card has a lower risk of fraud.

4. Address Verification

When you can, it’s a good idea to enter the security code and billing zip code. Address verification will verify the address of the cardholder which will reduce your risk of fraud.

You can set up an address verification service in order to check the cardholder’s address. This is great in reducing chargebacks as well.

The way an address verification service works is, your potential customer will enter their address. The service will do a comparison of that address, to the address on file with the bank.

You as the merchant will then receive a code to either reject or authorize the transaction. Certain companies will provide lower interchange rates when you have this service.

5. Speak With an Expert

If you’re looking for a credit card processing fee calculator, it’s a good idea to speak to an expert. Speak with a credit card processing expert to have a better understanding of the process and different fees.

Many processors will buy their rates straight from a credit card company and have the potential to resell these rates to other companies. This means that you don’t have to always switch vendors to receive a lower fee. An expert can look into a lower fee for your current service.

6. Negotiations

You can negotiate credit card processing fees by showing your transaction volume to the experts. The more items you sell, the more a credit card processor will make. Due to this, they’re more likely to reduce the cost of your fees based on the current volume of your sales.

7. Don’t Wait

Don’t delay on lowering your credit card fees today. When you wait to obtain a lower rate, that means higher fees you’ll be paying overtime, and less of a profit for you.

Understand how the industry works, and know your payment metrics before proceeding. Determine the pricing model you like best, and then speak with the different vendors.

Exploring How To Lower Credit Card Processing Fees

Now that you’ve explored how to lower credit card processing fees, you should be ready to obtain lower rates than you currently have. Would you like to read more business content? For everything from business to money, check out our other articles today.

7 Impressive Advantages of Structured Settlements

7 Impressive Advantages of Structured Settlements

Structured settlements were originally adopted as a way to protect settlement recipients. Yet today, nearly 40 years after they became common, structured settlement annuities remain poorly understood.

If you’ve been awarded a settlement or are considering one, here are the key benefits you need to know about.

What Are Structured Settlements?

Structured settlements happen when you sue someone and either win the case in court or agree to settle out of court. The defendant agrees to pay you a total amount of money, say $400,000. Instead of paying it to you all at once, they pay a qualified third-party company.

The third-party intermediary then pays that money out to you over time. For example, they might contract to pay you $10,000 a month for the life of the debt. This arrangement is a structured settlement.

What Are the Benefits of Structured Settlements?

Courts first adopted structured settlements to help recipients handle large settlement awards. Recipients often experience less stress and make better financial choices when they receive smaller, more regular payments than when they get large sums all at once.

That isn’t the only advantage of structured settlements, however. Here are the top seven most impressive structured settlement benefits.

Tax and Asset Protection

Tax law gives special treatment to structured settlements. They are often tax-free. They are also protected in other ways.

For example, in many cases, creditors and family members can claim rights to portions of an individual’s income in the event of debt or divorce. Structured settlements cannot be claimed the same way.

Consistency

Structured settlements make it easy for recipients to plan and organize their finances. They can keep recipients in their homes, prevent them from losing vehicles, and provide stability during times of stress and upheaval.

Cost of Living Adjustments

Many structured settlements contain cost of living clauses. When this happens, recipients receive more money over time as their award increases to balance out inflation.

Security

These payments are exceptionally secure. Direct deposit and other optional features can make them even more so.

No Market Fluctuations

One of the biggest benefits of structured settlements is that they are not affected by fluctuations in the stock market. Recipients’ awards are consistent and secure and do not lose value in any circumstances.

No Fees

Recipients pay no fees associated with their settlement awards. The company handling the settlement pays for everything.

No Interruption of Other Benefits

Receiving an annuity does not affect beneficiaries’ eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or Medicare, public assistance programs, or other income-based supports. In that respect, it is “free money.”

The Other Benefit

Structured settlements also offer a hidden benefit. They can be turned into lump-sum payments at any time. Recipients can sell their rights to some or all of their settlement and receive a lump-sum right away from a financial services company.

Check out Rightway Funding yelp reviews to learn more about how that option works and why people choose it.

Smart Money Moves

Structured settlements can help you make good money choices. So can learning more about how the financial world works. Check out our Money Section for more tips, tricks, and information on how to handle your money well today.

6 Financial Resolutions for the New Year

6 Financial Resolutions for the New Year

The New Year is the perfect time for renewed motivation in every aspect of our lives. Whether it’s going running twice a week, stopping smoking or reducing your drinking, January is the month when we are full of good intentions and ready for a new challenge. 

The same applies to our financial lives. Many people start the year with a financial to-do list and goals that they want to achieve. But what are the most popular financial resolutions people are setting this year? Let’s take a look.

  1. Save more

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the most popular financial resolution this year is to save more money. Nearly half (49 percent) of the respondents to a recent Experian study said they wanted to put more money away every month. There are lots of different ways you can do this, from budgeting more effectively to cutting back on unnecessary spending and transferring your existing savings into a high-interest account. 

  1. Improve your credit score

Building a good credit score is one route to affordable and accessible credit. If you’re looking to borrow money, whether it’s a short term loan from a lender like Wonga or a mortgage from the bank, taking steps to improve your credit score will allow you to access the best possible rates. Find out more about the steps you can take to boost your credit score.   

  1. Create a personal budget

31 percent of the respondents to the Experian study said 2020 would be the year when they created a personal budget. Tracking your money and seeing where it goes every month can be a hugely valuable exercise. It can help you reduce your spending in certain areas and assign more of your income to debt repayments and savings.

  1. Pay off a credit card entirely

Are you stuck making the minimum payments on your credit card and unable to clear the balance? This could be the year when all that changes. If you have a credit card debt you’re struggling to clear, a balance transfer credit card, which offers an interest-free period of up to 24 months, could give you the breathing space you need to finally clear that credit card debt. 

  1. Pay your credit card balance in full every month

Have you ever thought about limiting your credit card spending to an amount you can afford to pay off in full every month? Repaying your full balance at the end of the month will help to improve your credit rating and reduce the amount of money you waste in interest payments and fees.

  1. Not open any more credit cards

A positive step that 20 percent of respondents said they wanted to take this year was to not sign up for any more credit cards. The average number of credit card accounts per South African consumer increased from 1.4 to 1.5 over the last year, with an average debt of R16,481. There’s no right number of credit cards, it all depends on how many you can manage responsibly. However, as a very simple rule, the fewer you have, the better!

What are your financial resolutions for the new year? Please share yours with our readers in the comments below.  

3 Keys to Saving Dollars When Outside Your Home

3 Keys to Saving Dollars When Outside Your Home

As much as you may love your home, you can’t afford for your own sanity to be in it 24/7.

That said what kinds of things do you like to do that involve getting outside of your home?

From trips across the country or even further to doing things not far from home, there are options for you to enjoy.

With this in mind, how can you go out and have fun and still save some money in the process?

Be on the Lookout for Deals

When it comes to saving money when you are away from home, keep these keys in mind:

1. Finding deals before you head out – One of your best ways to save money when out of home is finding deals ahead of time. So, you might be thinking about going to Disneyland, one of America’s greatest theme parks. If so, you can go on the Internet and search for discount Disneyland tickets. By securing those tickets ahead of time, you will often save and not have to worry about buying at a ticket window. No matter the business you want to work with in saving money, also know you may have other options. You might find tickets to an event or locale you want by getting them from an approved ticket reseller. No matter the choices you have, save money and make your experiences even more enjoyable.

2. Getting more social – If you use social media, you have taken an important step on the road to trying to save more. It is not uncommon for consumers to talk about their spending on sites such as Facebook and others. As a result, you could win when viewing or even taking part in such conversations. Whether you know the people chatting online or not, see what they have to say. Often, you can pick up some tips from others on how to go about saving money when away from home.

3. Knowing what kind of budget you have – It is also a good idea to know what kind of budget you may have when you plan to go out. This can be everything from a trip to a theme park or taking a vacation to a routine visit to your local store. By knowing what you can and can’t afford, you are less likely to run into financial predicaments. If money has been tight for you for a long time or in more recent times, have you done any budgeting along the way? By coming up with a budget, you are less likely to spend more money than you need to. As an example, grocery shopping can add up rather fast if one is not careful. That said have a list of what you absolutely need when you go to the store. Try your best to stick to that list. Also, avoid if you can going to the grocery store when on an empty stomach. Going when you are quite hungry can lead you to buying and of course spending more.

By trying your best to save dollars when outside the home, you can relax more once you do in fact get home.

Are You Good at Discovering Deals?

Are You Good at Discovering Deals?

How good of a job would you say you do when it comes to finding deals?

In the event you are not too good at this all-important task in life, is it time to change this up?

Not finding deals over the course of time can lead you to spend more money and not enjoy life as much as you should be.

So, how can you track down more deals moving forward?

Internet is Always Good Starting Point

In your efforts to find more deals and in fact keep more of your money, start by using the Internet to your advantage.

When you go online, you can oftentimes see where you can save money.

An example of this would be if a day trip or even a longer getaway is in the back of your mind.

If you are contemplating Disney tips, deals, and secrets, they are there for the taking.

A day or more at Disney can mean can fun for you and others without breaking the bank in the process.

Look for not only Disney but others selling tickets to one of the most famous theme parks out there.

With a visit to Disney, you get not only a lot of activities, but an iconic venue. That is a venue that millions have come to fall in love with over the years.

While on the Internet, it does not hurt to do some searching for deals on social media too.

Sites like Facebook are great for learning how others go about locating deals. Whether you know the folks or not talking about such money-saving efforts, chime in on the talk.

In using your online options, you move a step closer to saving money each day.

Sign up for Savings

You would be remiss if you did not sign up for savings’ opportunities whenever possible.

With that being the case, are you signed up for savings at your stores, airline carrier or hotel of choice and more?

Too many consumers fail to get their names on lists for such savings. As a result, they end up paying the full price when they could have saved even 10 percent or more. In the end, all the savings does in fact add up. As a result, do your best to get savings at each turn.

Some good places to sing up for savings can include when at:

· Local stores

· Airport, hotels and rental car agencies

· Street fairs

It is also a good idea to share such savings opportunities with outside family and friends.

Given you are not going to track down all the opportunities out there; turning to others you know helps. They can tip you off on when there are saving chances for you and vice-versa.

Finally, finding the affordable vacation, day trip or items at the store, can make life more fun.

If you struggle with money, knowing you have savings whenever possible takes a load off your mind.

In your quest to discover deals, make sure you leave no stone un-turned.