We know that there are times when money gets a little tight and for whatever reason, you could use some help with your financial situation. That’s where we at First Virginia™ Loans come in. We can offer Norfolk residents Western Union services, a line of credit, prepaid Visa cards, tax and money order help, and… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Making Choices For Your Financial Security
Basic Tips to Plan for Future Financial Security- Keep Your Financial Future Bright! Most Americans aren’t on the proper path to be financially set for retirement. It requires a lot more planning than simply putting a pile of money into a savings account every month. Requirements for future financial stability differ from person to person,… Continue Reading
Improve Your Credit Score
7 Tips to Improve Your Credit Score If you have a low credit score, you aren’t the only one. Many Americans are facing difficulties acquiring sensible loans or credit cards because their credit scores are too low (FICO credit scores below 620). However, there is hope! Below are some tips on how to monitor… Continue Reading
5th Annual Unified Triathlon
On Sat. Sept 8th, I participated in the 5th annual Unified Triathlon to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics. There were two events, the triathlon, followed by a much shorter course for the Special Olympians. It was a powerful event, despite the 95 degree temperature. All of the triathletes after finishing their event, stayed at he finish line to cheer the real heroes, the Special Olympians. I believe we were all humbled by their performance. We think we give 100%, but these kids compete with so much soul and determination, they put us to shame. To see the joy and accomplishment when they crossed the finish line, made us all think we can train that much harder.
Perhaps the most powerful moment came when Ronnie, a 14 year old boy with Down Syndrome, sang the National Anthem. He was a little off key, and had trouble with a couple of words, but I cannot remember a moving and heartfelt rendition. There was not a dry eye in the crowd, and it was a perfect send off for the triathletes. Everyone was high-fiving him before we hit the water. This is my first involvement with the Special Olympics, but it will definitely be a organization that I will support in the future.
-Robin
Find the Right Insurance for Your Family
Successfully Shopping for Family Insurance
We know that protecting your family is your number one concern. We also know that good health and stable financial plans are a part of that, which is why we have provided a simple guide on how to successfully shop for health insurance. The following tips can help you ensure your family gets the insurance they need at a minimum cost.
Calculate Your Total Cost
There are many factors that go into determining how much you are truly paying for health insurance. Keep the following in mind as you shop around:
- Is your deductible an annual figure, or do you have one that applies for each doctor visit?
- Make sure to add in any deductibles for lab work, emergency room visits, and other medical situations.
- Research the family deductible maximum, as well as the total out-of-pocket cost that must be reached after which insurance will pay 100 percent.
- Take into account how much you will end up paying throughout the year on co-pays for lab tests, hospital stays, trips to the emergency room, and office visits.
Regular vs. Specialized Doctors
Do you have a regular doctor you like to see? Make sure the health plan you want has your regular doctor on their list. The best way to do this is to call your doctor’s office and see if they accept the potential plan.
Is there a person in your family that needs specialized healthcare services? Every health plan has certain avenues you must go through for full coverage with a specialist. Keep this in mind when shopping for the most affordable and most convenient insurance.
Hospital Availability
Do any of your family members travel? If so, you may want to see what different hospitals and doctors the plan you are considering covers. You don’t want to end up paying extreme costs simply because someone needed medical care outside of your home area and couldn’t find a covered medical facility.
Prescription Coverage
Protect your prescriptions with a plan that has full coverage. Be thorough and make sure every important medication is covered—sometimes a prescription can fall under a group that isn’t covered by your insurance provider.
Making Smart Auto Financing Decisions in Today’s Economy
Borrow Smart in This Recovering Economy
Let’s face it, recovering in this economy can be tough; however, borrowing doesn’t have to be thanks to the changing financial landscape. It has taken a few years, but finally interest rates are starting to fall and credit restrictions are loosening, making car financing easier than it has been in quite some time. This can be attributed somewhat to car shoppers who are now planning ahead for their trip to the dealership, reducing the higher trend in the past of impulse buying.
What do you need to do in order to be a smart car shopper? Here are some things we think you should have in mind as you start planning for that trip to the dealership:
◦ Keep to a Budget – Your monthly car payment should be under 18% of your monthly income. Make sure to add in other expenses like monthly fuel and insurance costs when you start planning your purchase. Maybe consider buying a used model if the new car you want is above your ideal budget.
◦ Access Your Credit Report – Looking at a free credit report can tell you if there is anything you should be correcting or anything you should be aware of that may be adversely affecting your credit score. Getting everything worked out with the credit bureaus now makes it easier to finance your car later.
◦ Secure a Pre-Approved Loan – By getting pre-approved for financing before you even start looking for a car, you can go to the dealership with confidence that you know exactly what you can afford. This will enable you to spend your efforts looking at and test driving cars you know will be within your budget. There’s nothing worse than finding the perfect new model only to discover that you can’t secure the proper financing to fit your budget.
◦ Know the Important Terms – If you are going to purchase or finance a vehicle, make sure to brush up on your financial and leasing terms so you understand exactly what you are agreeing to.
◦ Save for a Larger Down Payment – You should make a down payment of 20% regardless of your credit level. This is beneficial in two ways:
▪ If you have good credit, it will reduce the amount of money you end up paying in interest in the long-term.
▪ If you have poor credit, it will increase your likelihood of being approved.
For more helpful tips on securing loans and monitoring your finances in the current economy, contact CCFI today!
Getting Your Credit Report For Free
How to Get Three Credit Reports a Year for Free
For anyone concerned with maintaining their financial health, it is very important to keep tabs on your ongoing credit rating. At Community Choice Financial™ Inc., we’re serious about your credit status and financial security. Our commitment to providing responsible services and solutions to consumers is unmatched, and we specialize in helping you deal with day-to-day finance matters. Since being aware of the contents of your credit report is essential to keeping a close eye on your credit score, we recommend that you take advantage of this easy method to get three free credit reports over the course of a year.
The Real Deal, No Strings Attached
A credit report will list all the credit accounts and loans you have outstanding, along with a record of your monthly payments. This is highly useful information, in part because you will be able to see if there are any accounts linked to you that you know nothing about. By reviewing your credit report, you will also be able to correct any discrepancies that appear due to neglect or malicious activity such as identity theft.
By law, annualcreditreport.com is the only authorized service from which you can get a free annual credit report. Three major agencies — Equifax, Experian, and Transunion — compile financial information from which your credit report is generated. To ensure that you get a report from each of the major credit agencies, it is suggested that you set yourself a schedule of three dates (with 3-4 months between each), and visit annualcreditreport.com on each of those dates to request your report from one of the agencies. On the next date, request from a different agency, and on the last, get your report from the remaining service.
It’s simple, easy, and best of all, it’s free. Plus, you will have all the information you need to monitor your credit situation.
Trust CCFI for All Your Financial Needs
We are happy to provide essential financial products and services, specializing in
offering prepaid debit cards, check cashing, short-term loans, and money transfers. Our network includes 12 brands with 492 retail outlets in 14 different states. When you visit one of our locations, you will have access to a host of responsible financial services and helpful products that you can depend upon. Let the professionals in the Community Choice Financial™ Inc. network help you today!
Learn All About How Your Credit Score Affects You
Regaining Control of Your Credit Score
Good Credit Or Bad Credit? Which Path Will You Take?
A credit score is an inescapable thing in today’s modern society, for better or for worse. Learning to manage your credit score is important not only for your current financial situation, but also to help you build good, long-lasting financial habits. It can be difficult to crawl out of bad credit, but like most things worth fighting for, with persistence, it can be done!
What is a Credit Score?
All payments you make, from home and auto loans to utility bills, are tracked by credit agencies. Your timeliness in making these payments affects your overall credit score. Payments made on time improve your rating, while truant payments hurt it. A good rating can help you qualify for loans with low interest rates, while a poor rating does the opposite, limiting you to options with higher rates.
Recovering From a Bad Credit Rating
- Know your credit score. A credit check is available free online every 12 months. This detailed report will tell you when/where late payments have been made and can be a good indicator of your financial habits.
- Work on reducing your debt. This may sound obvious, but reducing your debt will help to increase your credit score and financial freedom. It may be difficult, but regular, timely payments are the only way to rebuild your credit.
- Set up payment reminders. Online banking has made paying bills easier than ever. Many online programs allow you to set up monthly reminders to pay bills and even allow you to set up an automatic withdrawal for these payments.
- Work on getting current with your bills. If you have missed payments, get them sorted out as soon as you can — otherwise, you will continue to be considered behind on what you owe, even if you haven’t missed a payment since the initial issue. Past credit problems created by overdue bills count less toward your credit score than recent on-time payments, so staying current is a great way to rebuild your rating.
Community Choice Financial™ Believes in the Power of Financial Education
Community Choice Financial™ specializes in financial services, including short-term consumer loans and check cashing. We believe that knowledge is the key to navigating today’s financial market and staying fiscally healthy. Visit us on the web to see what we can do for you.
How To Correct A Credit Report With Errors On It
Correct a Credit Reporting Error With Help From Community Choice Financial™ Inc.
If you’re looking for instruction on how to correct a credit reporting error, then you’ve come to the right place. At Community Choice Financial, Inc., we pride ourselves on helping consumers manage their day-to-day financial needs, providing a variety of banking services through a large network of retail stores in 14 states. Of course, your credit score determines your ability to get a loan at a good rate, and we’re here to help make sure that you have the highest score possible. Errors on your credit score can unfairly damage your credit score, and so it’s obviously a good idea to rectify the situation — we’d like to discuss how.
Check Often To Keep Your Credit Score High!
Correcting Errors on Your Credit Report
If you’re in need of instructions on how to correct a credit reporting error, take heed: once you notice an error, you should act right away to get it taken care of. After all, a low credit score can have a broad impact on your ability to get any type of credit. Here’s how you fix those errors.
Contact the credit bureau in writing to report the information that you believe to be inaccurate. Because of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the credit bureau must investigate the allegation within thirty days. In your letter, include copies of the applicable documents. Include your full name and address, state the facts of the case, and request a correction or deletion. Send the letter via certified mail and keep copies of everything.
Next, write to your creditor to explain that you’re disputing a given entry with the credit bureau. Again, you’ll want to be sure to include all applicable documents to your claim. You should request that the creditor send you a copy of any related correspondence they send to the credit bureau. Overall, the entire process should take between one and three months.
Choose Community Choice Financial, Inc.
Do you need more help figuring out how to correct a credit reporting error? Do you need any other kind of banking or credit assistance? Then all of us at Community Choice Financial™ Inc. will be happy to help. You can reach us by clicking the Contact Us tab on our website — we look forward to assisting you with your banking needs.
Repaying Your Student Loans
Handling Student Loans: Helpful Tips From Community Choice Financial™ Inc.
With the ever-rising cost of a college education, more and more students are choosing to use student loans in order to pay for tuition, room and board, and textbooks. Student loans can be a blessing to those who have no other way to finance their education — but with the uncertainty of your financial status after graduation, they can quickly become a curse. CommunityChoiceFinancial is here with some helpful information for dealing with trouble when it comes to repaying your student loans.
Repaying Your Student Loans Helps Your Credit
What to do if You Have Trouble Repaying Student Loans
If you should happen to miss a payment, it’s important that you contact your lender as soon as possible to talk about the possible repercussions. It is typical to receive late fees if you miss a payment, but taking care of the problem sooner is always better than later. If you find yourself in a situation where you aren’t able to make your full student loan payments each month, you can contact your lender to ask about the possibility of changing your payment plan. Extending your repayment plan can reduce your monthly payments, but you are likely to end up paying more in the long run.
If you’ve yet to land a job after you graduate and can’t make any payments towards your loan, you may have the option to defer your loan for a period of time. This basically just postpones when your payments start, but generally the loan will still accrue interest during the deferment period. You can contact your lender to find out about the availability of such deferment options. It is important that you take some form of action if you find yourself unable to make your payments, as you could end up paying a large sum in late fees and your loan could eventually go into default. Your credit rating could also suffer, which will make it more difficult to get good rates on future credit-based purchases such as cars and mortgages.
Community Choice Financial: Your Source for Reliable Financial Information
If you would like more information about handling your student loan debt or are having trouble with any area of your personal finances, contact Community Choice Financial™ today. We take pride in helping people understand their financial situation, and we will work hard to help you in any way that we can.