MAKE MONEY ONLINE POSTS: 01/17/20

الجمعة، 17 يناير 2020

The Best Student Loan Companies For Refinancing

Refinancing your student loans can make good financial sense, and that’s especially true if your current loans are stuck at a high-interest rate. With a new loan at a lower APR, you could save a bundle of money on interest each month and ultimately pay your student debt off faster. Consolidating several loans into one new one can also simplify your financial life and make keeping up with bills a lot easier.

College Ave and Earnest topped our list, but since student loan refinancing is an incredibly competitive space, you’ll also want to spend time comparing student loan companies to see who offers the best deal. Many lenders in this space offer incredibly low APRs, flexible payment options, borrower incentives, and more. This means it’s more important than ever to shop around so you wind up with the best student loan for your needs.

Refinance your student loan with our top pick, College Ave

What You Should Know About Refinancing Federal Student Loans with a Private Lender

The lenders on this list can help you consolidate and refinance both federal student loans and private student loans. However, there are a few details to be aware of before you refinance federal loans with a private lender.

Switching federal loans to private means giving up federal protections like deferment and forbearance. You also give up your chance to qualify for income-driven repayment plans like Pay As You Earn (PAYE) or Income Based Repayment (IBR). Income-driven repayment plans let you pay a percentage of your discretionary income for 20 to 25 years before ultimately forgiving your remaining loan balances, so this perk isn’t one you should give up without careful thought and consideration.

Best Student Loan Refinancing Companies of 2020

As you start your search to find the best student loan for your lifestyle, take the time to compare lenders and all they offer their customers. While there are a ton of reputable companies offering high-quality student loan refinancing products on the market today, there are also companies you should probably steer clear of.

To make your search easier, we took the time to compare most of the top lenders in this space in terms of interest rates offered, fees, borrower benefits, and more. The following student loan companies are the cream of the crop, so you should start your search here.

Our Top Picks:

Student Loan Refinancing Company Reviews

1. College Ave

College Ave offers student loan refinancing products that can be tailored to your needs. They offer low fixed and variable interest rates, for example, and you’ll never pay an application fee or an origination fee. You can even qualify for a discount if you set your loan up on autopay, and a wide range of repayment schedules are available.

College Ave also offers a wide range of online calculators and tools that can help you figure out how much student loan refinancing could help you save and whether the move would be worth it in the end. Considering their low variable rates start at just 2.74% APR, there’s a good chance you could save money by refinancing if you have excellent credit or a cosigner with great credit.

2. Earnest

Earnest is another online lender that focuses most of its efforts on offering high-quality student loans. This company lets you consolidate debt at a lower interest rate than you might find elsewhere, and you get the option to pick a monthly payment and repayment period that works with your budget and your lifestyle.

While you’ll need excellent credit to qualify for the lowest interest rates, loans from Earnest come with variable APRs starting at 1.81% and low fixed rates starting at just 3.45%. To qualify for student loan refinancing with Earnest, you’ll need a minimum credit score of 650 and a strong employment and income history. You also need to be current on all your bills and cannot have a bankruptcy on your credit profile.

3. SoFi

Also make sure to check out student loan refinancing company SoFi as you continue your search. This online lender offers some of the best student loan refinancing products available today, including loans with no application fee, origination fee, or hidden fees.

SoFi lets you apply for and complete the entire loan process online, and they offer live customer support 7 days a week. You can also check your rate online without a hard inquiry on your credit report, which makes it easier to see how much you could save before you commit.

4. Commonbond

Commonbond is another online student lender who lets you check your rate online without a hard inquiry on your credit report. With student loan refinancing from Commonbond, you could easily save thousands of dollars on interest with a new fixed interest rate as low as 3.21%. Repayment terms are offered for 5 to 20 years as well, letting you choose a new monthly payment and repayment timeline that works for your needs.

You can apply for your new loan online and note that these loans don’t come with an origination fee or any prepayment penalties. Your loan could also qualify for forbearance, which means having up to 24 months without payments during times of financial hardship.

5. LendKey

LendKey offers private student loans and flexible student loan refinancing options to serve a variety of needs. You can repay your loan between 5 and 20 years, and their refinance loans don’t charge an origination fee.

You can use this company’s online interface to check your rate without a hard inquiry on your credit report, and variable APRs start at just 2.01% for graduates with excellent credit. LendKey loans also receive 9.3 out of 10 possible stars in recent reviews, meaning their customers are mostly happy with their decision to go with this company.

6. Wells Fargo

While Wells Fargo is mostly popular for their banking products, home mortgage products, and personal loans, this bank also offers student loan refinancing products. These loans let you consolidate student debts into a new loan with a low variable or fixed interest rate, and you can even score a discount for setting your loan up on autopay.

Terms for Wells Fargo loans are available anywhere from 5 to 20 years, meaning you can choose a repayment schedule and monthly payment that suits your needs. Wells Fargo also lets you check your rate online without a hard inquiry on your credit report.

7. PenFed Credit Union

PenFed Credit Union offers unique student loan products powered by Purefy. You might be able to qualify for a lower interest rate that could lead to enormous interest savings over time, and PenFed lets you choose a repayment term and monthly payment that fits with your budget and lifestyle.

You can apply for student loan refinancing on your own, but PenFed Credit Union also allows cosigners. Low fixed interest rates start at just 3.48% APR, and you can check your rate online without a hard inquiry on your credit report.

8. Splash Financial

Splash Financial may be a newer company in the student loan refinancing space, but their offerings are competitive. This company lets you check your rate online without a hard inquiry on your credit report, and their variable rates currently start at just 2.25% APR.

Not only are interest rates offered by Splash Financial industry-leading, but the company has a 95% customer satisfaction rate so far. Their cutting-edge technology also lets you apply for your loan and complete the loan process online, meaning less hassle and stress for you as the borrower.

What To Look For When Refinancing

If you decide you want to refinance your student loans, you’ll be happy to know the refinancing market is more robust than ever. A variety of lenders offer insanely attractive loan options for those who can qualify, although you should know that student loan companies tend to be very finicky about your credit score. Some also won’t let you refinance if you didn’t graduate from college, or even if you graduated from an “unapproved” school.

While you should be aware of any lender-specific eligibility requirements before you apply with any student loan company, there are plenty of other factors to look out for. Here’s everything you should look for in a student loan refinancing company before you decide to trust them with your loans.

Low Interest Rate

Obviously, the main reason you’re probably thinking of refinancing your loans is the potential to save money on interest. Lenders who offer the lowest rates available today can potentially help you save more, although it’s important to consider that you may not qualify for the lowest rates available if you don’t have excellent credit.

Cosigner Requirements

Also consider that most lenders will offer better rates and loan terms if you have a cosigner with better credit than you have. This is especially true if your credit isn’t great, so make sure to ask family members if they’re willing to cosign on your new student loan if you hope to get the best rate. Just remember that your cosigner will be jointly liable for repayment, meaning you could quickly damage your relationship if you default on your loan and leave them holding the bag.

Low Fees or No Fees

Student loans are like any other loan in the fact that some charge higher fees or more fees than others. Since many student loans come with an application fee or an origination fee, you’ll want to look for lenders that don’t charge these fees. Also check for hidden fees like prepayment penalties.

Discounts Available

Some student loan companies let you qualify for discounts, the most popular of which is a discount for using autopay. If you’re able and willing to set up automatic payments on your credit card, you could save .25% or .50% off your interest rate depending on the lender you go with.

Rate Check Option

Many of the top student loan refinancing companies on this list make it possible to check your interest rate online without a hard inquiry on your credit report. This is a huge benefit since knowing your rate can help you figure out if refinancing is even worth it before you take the time to fill out a full loan application.

Flexible Repayment Plan

Also make sure any lender you go with offers some flexibility in your repayment plan and your monthly payment. You’ll want to make sure refinancing aligns with your long-term financial goals and your monthly budget, and it’s crucial to choose a new loan with a monthly payment you can live with.

Most lenders in this space offer repayment timelines of up to 20 years, which means you could spread your payments over several decades to get a monthly payment that makes sense with your income. Keep in mind, however, that you’ll pay more interest over the life of your loan when you take a long time to pay it off, so you may want to consider prioritizing a faster payment plan.

The Bottom Line

Student loan refinancing may not sound like a lot of fun. However, taking the time to consider all your loan options could easily save you thousands of dollars. This is especially true if you have a lot of debt at a high interest rate. By consolidating all your student loans into a new one with a lower APR, you could make loan repayment easier with a single payment and save a ton of money that would otherwise go to straight to interest without helping you pay off your loans.

The first step of the loan process is the hardest, however, and that’s choosing a student loan refinancing company that you trust. The lenders on this list are highly rated, but they also offer some of the best loan products on the market today.

Work with College Ave, our top pick, to refinance your student loan.

Start your search here and you’re bound to wind up with a student loan you can live with. At the very least, you’ll have a better idea of the loans that are available and how much you might save if you decide to refinance later on.

The post The Best Student Loan Companies For Refinancing appeared first on Good Financial Cents®.

Source Good Financial Cents® https://ift.tt/2uVjn6p

Wondering How to Become an Audiobook Narrator? Here’s How

While readers and writers have skeptically watched the fluctuating publishing industry in recent years, one literary market has caught us all a bit by surprise: audiobooks.

Somewhere along the path of lengthy commutes and ubiquitous smartphones, a market for audiobooks erupted: people who don’t otherwise read much.

This exploding market makes it imperative for authors and publishers to get books into audio form and on the most popular platforms — Audible (Amazon) and iTunes.

Enter Amazon’s Audiobook Creative Exchange (ACX), which connects audiobook narrators with books to narrate.

Like other publishing services you’ll find at Amazon — CreateSpace for print-on-demand books, CDs and DVDs; and Kindle Direct Publishing for ebooks — ACX simplifies the process of producing an audiobook from start to finish.

If you’re an actor or voice-over artist, you could make money working in this market.

Not sure where to start? Here’s our guide.

How to Become an Audiobook Narrator

Actor Kris Keppeler has been doing voice-over work for over a decade. She now makes her full-time living from voice-overs, acting and writing.

“I got started through freelancing and bidding on work,” Keppeler said. “I bid on a short audiobook and got that, and it went well. When ACX came along, I started auditioning there… It’s taken a little bit to discover where my voice fits.”

Based on her experience, Keppeler shares some advice — and warnings — for anyone interested in doing audiobook work.

What You Need to Know Before Auditioning

Before you spend months auditioning to land your first gig, we have some tips to help you get started.

“My voice just fits with audiobook work,” Keppeler said. “Actors are especially tuned in for audiobook work, by the nature of our training.”

That’s because actors learn how to represent multiple characters, necessary for fiction narration in particular. Even for nonfiction, acting training can help you animate narration and make a book interesting.

“You definitely have to have some training,” Keppeler said. “If you regularly listen to audiobooks and like them, that’s a good starting point. But you have to have a real desire to do this kind of work, because it’s a lot of work.”

How is narrating an audiobook different from just reading a book aloud?

“When you read a book, you’re seeing and hearing things in your mind,” she said. “When you’re narrating that book, what you’re seeing and hearing in your mind you have to then vocalize. That’s not easy!”

Because an audiobook listener relies entirely on your narration, painting the picture just right (and meeting the author’s vision) is vital. It’s a distinct difference from other voice-over work, like commercials, where images or video complement the narration.

Because of this need to draw the reader into a made-up world, narrating fiction requires acting skills. Not everyone is cut out for it.

But, “nonfiction has its own challenge,” Keppeler said. “Sometimes what you’re reading is kind of dry, but you still have to make it interesting.”

She says it doesn’t necessarily matter whether a book is interesting to her.

“At this point, whether it is or not, I am narrating it and finding the interesting bits for me and putting it into my voice,” Keppeler said.

Even if you don’t enjoy the subject matter, you can still enjoy the process of producing the book for readers.

Learn Proper Technique

Before landing her first gig through ACX, Keppeler submitted auditions to the platform for well over a year.

Why does it take so long to land a gig?

Some of it, Keppeler says, is just learning how to narrate correctly. “I had some coaching that finally brought me to the point of doing a fairly good job.”

Author Joanna Penn recorded the audio versions of some of her own books. If you can’t afford coaching, she offers some tips for beginners at The Creative Penn to help you get started.

Some tricks to consider:

If you’re new at recording, schedule sessions a few days apart to ensure you have enough energy.
Try to avoid dairy before recording. Same goes for foods like peanut butter or anything that clogs up your mouth or throat (yeck!).
Try to modulate your breathing so you don’t end up holding your breath. This has a real effect on stamina.

Find Your Niche

Once she’d mastered the audiobook reading techniques, Keppeler said, she had to find her niche.

She used trial and error. She took whatever narration work came her way, and listened to client feedback. When an author liked her voice, she knew it was a good fit.

“In voice-over in general, there are so many different genres,” she said. “Most people find you have certain specialities and certain ones don’t fit.”

Once you know your voice and which genres are the best fit, she says, jobs come much more quickly.

Only audition for gigs that fit your voice, and the success rate is much higher. You can even search for books by genre.

“I’m becoming a bit of a nonfiction specialist,” Keppeler said. “[When it comes to fiction], it’s hard to learn to do the different voices… Fiction books are heavily character-based, so you’re going to have to handle [those] unless you’re hired to work with a group, but that’s not that common.”

The Challenges of Audiobook Narration

A man speaks into a microphone at home while recording himself.

Some of the work involved goes beyond just recording the voice-over. “Especially if you work through ACX, you have to do the producing yourself,” Keppeler said. “[That’s] editing and mastering yourself. There’s a technical learning curve.”

Audiobooks require hours and hours of editing, making them much more labor intensive than a lot of other voice-over work.

“What I learned editing smaller jobs contributed a lot to being able to jump into audiobooks,” Keppeler said.

So you might consider starting small.

Search online for voice-over jobs — you’ll find promotional videos under five minutes or corporate training videos of 5-15 minutes.

Even online course videos requiring a few hours of voice-over are much shorter than most audiobooks, which run closer to 10-15 hours. Hone your skills on smaller jobs and work your way up to the lengthier projects.

What about contracting the technical stuff out to an audio editor? Keppeler says that for what you’re paid, it’s not usually worth it for an audiobook.

You’re expected to record, produce and deliver a finished product. Any additional help you bring in will cut into your pay. Keppeler says you’re better off just learning to do it yourself.

The Creative Penn also offers a few editing tips you might not have considered:

Avoid page turning noises — read from a tablet, Kindle or other electronic device.
Turn off any devices’ wifi connections and set them to Airplane mode to avoid static noises. (They may be there, even if you can’t hear them.)
Each ACX file needs to be a single chapter of the book. It’s easier to record these as separate files rather than cut it up later.
The ACX technical requirements mean you have to add a few seconds of Room Tone at the beginning and end of the file.

How Much Money Can You Make Reading Audiobooks?

ACX doesn’t set or recommend rates for producers to charge.

But it does point out many narrators are members of the SAG-AFTRA union, which lists minimum rate restrictions.

These guaranteed rates vary by publisher/producer. Author Roz Morris tells authors to expect to pay around $200 per finished hour for audiobook narration.

However, Keppeler says most freelance audiobook work will be paid in royalties. As you might guess, this reduces an author’s upfront cost — as well as their risk in hiring you.

While ACX may be a good place to find the work, the pay is usually lower, especially compared with freelance broker sites that aren’t dedicated solely to audiobook narration.

When you record an audiobook with ACX, you’ll choose between setting your own per-finished-hour rate or splitting royalties 50/50 with the rights holder (usually the book’s author or publisher).

If you charge a flat rate, you’ll be paid upon completion of the book. Royalties are paid monthly based on sales from the previous month.

Mostly, Keppeler focuses on short books she can quickly complete. And she gets paid a flat rate of about $100 per finished hour, rather than royalties.

“I have done royalty deals but only on ACX with short books,” she said.

“I don’t want to tie up my time, because you [typically] make very little on royalty books… I have four royalty books [on ACX], and about $20 trickles in every quarter.”

Whether or not a royalty deal pays off is largely based on an author’s platform, The Creative Penn points out. Research an author before signing an agreement.

If you’re just looking for a quick job and aren’t concerned with long-term sales, you can work with an author regardless of their audience. Set a flat rate, and get your money when the job’s done.

But if you want to develop a long-term relationship with an author and you’ve found someone with a sizable audience, you may be better off with the royalty deal.

Long term, you could make much more money in sales royalties. Your working relationship with the author also will be strengthened, because you’ll be invested in the book’s success.

Where to Find Audiobook Work

As with any freelance work, booking a gig directly with the client in your network allows you the most autonomy in setting your rate.

Connecting with a client through a freelance broker like Upwork and Freelancer offers less autonomy and usually lower rates than working with someone directly.

Bidding through an exchange site like ACX offers the lowest of both.

“I only go out to ACX when I don’t have other paid work,” Keppeler said.

ACX also makes it difficult to achieve one of the staples of successful freelance work: repeat clients.

Keppeler said the platform isn’t really set up to connect authors with narrators long-term. Instead you audition for each job. It eliminates a huge opportunity for narrators to work with an author on a series or future books.

Directly connecting through a freelance broker does offer that opportunity. Keppeler said it’s how she found the author of this series of books on Wicca, which offered her ongoing work.

What ACX is good for, she said, is building your portfolio.

If you’re just getting started, the platform gives you an opportunity to hone your chops.

Practice your narrating and editing skills through auditions, and improve from author feedback. Once you land a few gigs, use those as samples to land clients elsewhere.

As audiobooks increase in popularity, Keppeler is seeing more audiobook work appear on Upwork. Freelancers, she says, tend to be better for general voice-over gigs, but not audiobook narration.

Audiobook Narrator Must-Haves

Keppeler’s top tip for anyone getting into voice-over work is to invest in a good microphone and headphones.

Early on, she says, “I lost out on work because I didn’t have a really great pair of headphones, and there was background noise that I wasn’t hearing. If you send something out that’s not good enough, they will never hire you again.”

Eventually, she hired a professional to help improve her set-up. She says she wishes she had done it up front, instead of DIYing.

A good pre-amp or audiobox can also help clean up your sound and eliminate background noise. But Keppeler warns against buying a cheap one — it’s a tool worth spending money on.

Finally, “You have to have a desire to learn the technical part of it,” she said. “You can ruin an audiobook with bad editing.”

How to Get Started

ACX offers comprehensive guides and FAQs for authors, narrators and publishers, so review those before you get started.

Here’s an overview of how it works:

Create a profile to detail your experience.
Upload samples to your profile to showcase your various skills — accents, genre, style, etc.
Determine whether you’ll always want to be paid per finished hour or by royalty agreements, or if you’re open to either.
Search for books authors/publishers have posted, and record a few minutes of the manuscript to audition for the gig.
When you’re chosen by the author/publisher, they’ll send you an offer. To take the job, accept the offer. All of this should happen through ACX (not over the phone or via email) to ensure the contract terms are on record.
Record and edit a 15-minute sample for feedback before recording and editing the full project. They’ll also have the right to approve or request changes once you’ve submitted the full project.
You’ll be paid a flat rate upon completion and approval of the project or monthly royalty payments based on book sales.

If you’re just getting started in voice-over work, try browsing Upwork for smaller projects you can use to find your voice, build your technical skills and grow your portfolio.

Or reach into your network, and get creative to find freelancing gigs on your own.

Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a former branded content editor at The Penny Hoarder.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

source The Penny Hoarder https://ift.tt/2R405EQ

Brink’s Prepaid Mastercard® Review

The lives up the Brinks Home Security name, as it is perfect for those who prioritize safety and want protection against unauthorized transactions. With no late fees or interest charges that usually accompany a credit card, this prepaid debit card offers cardholders a chance to rein in their discretionary budget. The Brink’s Prepaid Mastercard® won’t raise your credit score, but it does allow users to escape the hassle of credit checks and interest charges if you simply crave cashless convenience.

What we like about the Brink’s Prepaid Mastercard®

Payback Rewards: Cardholders earn cash back for everyday purchases and receive customized offers for using the card.
Speedy direct deposit: If you choose your Brink’s Prepaid Mastercard® for direct deposit, you can see your payment reflect on your account up to two days faster.
Mobile check deposit: Deposit checks to your account through the card’s mobile app with a few photos.
Text alerts: Get text alerts to receive notifications regarding your deposits, transactions or budget alerts.
No credit check: The Brink’s Prepaid Mastercard® isn’t a credit card, so there’s no hard credit inquiry or impact on your credit score as a result.
No bank account necessary: Unlike a regular debit card that’s linked to a checking account, a prepaid card allows you to load money straight onto the card.

Things to consider

No impact on credit score: If you want to get a better credit score or need to rebuild your credit, debit cards don’t appear on your credit history and don’t influence your credit score.
Monthly fee: A monthly fee is automatically assessed to your account unless you choose the pay-as-you-go plan, which charges you per transaction.
Foreign transaction fees: Traveling abroad? Beware — this card charges you a 3.5% charge for each international purchase.
Regular transaction fees: Regardless of what type of payment plan you choose, there are certain transactions you’ll always pay a fee for including withdrawing cash at an ATM.
Penalty for account inactivity: If you don’t use your card for 90 days, you’ll be charged an inactivity fee.

Brink’s Prepaid Mastercard® prepaid details

The is ideal for those who don’t desire a credit card but want a cashless experience. With this card, users will have to decide between a pay-as-you-go plan or pay individual transaction fees. Although there is no minimum balance required, you’ll need to make sure that you keep your card active to avoid an inactivity fee.

Cardholders who enroll in the optional payback rewards can earn statement credit with qualifying signature-required purchases. If you use your for direct deposits, you can get access to a $10 purchase cushion. The feature covers you if you’re a few dollars short to make a purchase. The card’s Mastercard zero liability protection feature takes you off the hook for any unauthorized transactions.

Brink’s Prepaid Mastercard® fees

There are several fee structures that cardholders can choose from with the . For the pay-as-you-go plan, you won’t be charged on a monthly basis. The card’s monthly plan, however, charges you $9.95 each month, and the reduced monthly plan charges $5 each month. If you’re on a monthly plan, you won’t pay any purchase fees. But if you’re on a pay-as-you-go plan, you’ll be charged between $1 and $2 per transaction.

Luckily, there are no fees for ACH payments or customer service calls. ATM balance inquiry fees will set you back 50 cents, and you’ll be charged $2.50 to withdraw cash at a bank or ATM within the U.S.

Be wary of using your card abroad since there’s a foreign transaction surcharge of 3.5% per purchase and a $4.95 charge for withdrawing money, plus the fees that an ATM operator can charge you.

How does it compare to other prepaid cards?

If you like the convenience offered by the but not the fees, the Bluebird by American Express may be a better option. The Bluebird offers benefits like no fees on purchases, no monthly fees, no costs for activation or inactivity and free withdrawals at all MoneyPass network ATMs. But if you want a card built for secure online shopping, consider the MOVO Digital Prepaid Visa, which can be linked to Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay on your phone.

Card	Purchase APR	Annual Fee	Intro Bonus	Credit Needed	Key features
Brink’s Prepaid Mastercard®	N/A	None	None	N/A	Protection from unauthorized purchases; $10 purchase cushion when you’re short on a transaction; Cash back rewards applied directly to your account
Bluebird by American Express	N/A	None	None	N/A	No fees for ATM withdrawals within MoneyPass Network; Access to Bluebird mobile app with options to set aside money for savings goals or add additional card users; Add funds to your account with cash or debit at participating retailers
MOVO Digital Prepaid Visa	N/A	None	None	N/A	No credit check required; No monthly fees; Users can withdraw cash for free from 6,000 ATMs and $2 for out-of-network ATMs

The bottom line

If you just want a cashless prepaid card, the could be a great option. However, it’s important to weigh the convenience of this card with the fee structure. If you have a checking account, it might be more worthwhile to get a debit card linked to the associated account that has fewer costs.

Editorial Note: Compensation does not influence our recommendations. However, we may earn a commission on sales from the companies featured in this post. To view a list of partners, click here. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertisers. Reasonable efforts are made to present accurate info, however all information is presented without warranty. Consult our advertiser's page for terms & conditions.

The post Brink’s Prepaid Mastercard® Review appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Source The Simple Dollar https://ift.tt/2NB3SqJ

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card Review

The is a simple and straightforward card, that allows carholders to build credit by making on-time payments. There’s no credit check required — all that’s needed is a minimum refundable security deposit of at least $200, which determines your line of credit.
This card can help people with no credit history, such as students and young adults, build credit by making on-time payments. It can also help those with poor to fair credit increase their credit scores with responsible use.

Cardholders get access to online card management, as well as automatic payment set-up, so they can build up their credit with ease. While it does carry a small annual fee, this card has a lower variable APR compared to similar credit-building cards.

What we like about the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

You could potentially get an initial credit line of up to $3,000, depending on your deposit. This is much higher than most secured credit cards.
You don’t need a debit card to fund your one-time deposit, while some other secured credit cards require a debit account for funding.
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card works just like any Visa credit card. You can use it abroad for foreign transactions, access cash from ATMs with it and set up online management with automatic payment options.
You can get email alerts for reminders for due payments or when credits and returns have been posted.
You can add authorized users to the card for more credit-building opportunities.
The variable APR rate of 18.89% (variable) is more forgiving compared to higher rates typically found with secured credit cards.
The online presence of OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is focused on educating cardholders and helping them make wise credit decisions to build up their scores.
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card’s credit-building knowledge bank is vast and easy to understand, making the website a great resource for younger cardholders who are new to building credit. There’s also a supportive Facebook page with financial articles and resources.

Things to Consider

The annual fee of $35 may turn off cardholders who know they’re going to make on-time payments and can get a credit-building card with no annual fee. Cards that have a higher variable APR fee may not matter to cardholders who plan to make full, on-time payments.
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card offers no rewards program, like cash back or travel perks.
While the Facebook page focuses on community, it’s also the only place where cardholders can review the card. If you don’t have Facebook but want to leave a review to help others, you’re out of luck.

OpenSky® Secured Visa® credit-building details

Those who are interested in the can apply in minutes in just four steps since there’s no credit check and no risk of having your credit report pulled to apply. The card’s high approval odds make it a solid tool for rebuilding credit by making on-time payments.

You choose a credit line and secure it by making a one-time, refundable deposit, from $200 to up to $3,000, subject to approval. You can fund the deposit with a debit card or go through Western Union or mail a check or money order.

Once you’re approved, your card usage is reported to all three major credit bureaus so you can build your credit. OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card claims 99% of cardholders who started without a credit score were able to build a score in as few as six months.

As you use your account and make on-time payments, you’ll be offered opportunities to increase your credit line with no additional deposit. You can request a credit line increase at any time.

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card fees

The charges an annual fee of $35. The card’s annual fee is higher than some other credit cards focused on building credit, some of which require no annual fee. If you’d like a higher line of credit, the annual fee may be worth it with the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card.

Other fees for this card are fairly standard for secured credit cards. The foreign transaction fee is of each transaction in U.S. dollars. The cash advance fee is $6 or 5% of each cash advance, whichever is greater. Penalty fees are also standard. Late payment fees are up to $38, while returned payment fees are up to $25.

How does it compare to other credit-building cards?

If you’re looking for a credit-building credit card, you may want to compare the to other options. The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is a great choice if you have more funds for your refundable security deposit and want to access a higher line of credit, with a low variable APR. But if you want to make a lower refundable deposit, don’t want to pay annual fees and want no foreign transaction fees, the is a better choice. If you’re looking for a secured credit card that enables you to earn cash back with no annual fee, the credit card is a fantastic option.

Card	Purchase APR	Annual Fee	Intro Bonus	Credit Needed	Credit-Building Key Features
	18.89% (variable)	$35	None	Bad	Get up to a $3,000 line of credit. No credit check is required. The card requires a one-time refundable deposit between $200-$3,000.
Capital One® Secured Mastercard®	26.74% (Variable) APR	$0	None	Limited, Bad	There are no foreign transaction fees. Get travel accident insurance and warranty protection. The card requires a one-time refundable deposit of $49, $99 or $200.
Discover it® Secured	24.49% Variable APR	$0	Get all cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year matched automatically.	No Credit History	Get 2% cash back on restaurant and gas station on up to $1,000 in transactions each quarter, then get unlimited 1% cash back on other transactions automatically. The card requires a one-time refundable deposit of at least $200. There is no late fee on your first late payment.

The bottom line

If you want to give your credit score a boost, the is a good option. If you use your card responsibly and don’t overspend, you may be able to increase your credit score more quickly compared to similar cards with lower lines of credit. If you’re looking for rewards like cash back, or you don’t want to make as high of a security deposit, there are other credit-building options.

The post OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card Review appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Source The Simple Dollar https://ift.tt/38nbeq5

The Best Same-Day Loans of 2020

A same-day loan is easy to find when you know where to look, but the key is knowing what makes a good loan stand out from the rest. Good same-day loans have a few things in common that set them apart like competitive APRs, leniency with credit history, reasonable loan limits and easy online applications.

Check Your Personal Loan Rates

Answer a few questions to see which personal loans you pre-qualify for. The process is quick and easy, and it will not impact your credit score.

Get Started

The 3 best same-day loans of 2020

: Best for emergency funding
TD Bank: Best for unsecured express loans
Rise Credit: Best for bad credit loans

Lender	APR	Loan Terms	Min. Loan	Max Loan	Time to Funding
OneMain Financial	18.00% – 35.99%	24–60 months	$1,500	$20,000	Same-day if approved by noon
TD Bank	6.99% – 18.99%	24–60 months	$2,000	$25,000	48 hours
Rise Credit	Up to 299%	Up to 26 months	Varies by state	$5,000	Next business day

The 4 Best same-day loans of 2020

OneMain Financial — Best for emergencies

Financial has streamlined not only its application process but also its funding process, creating a true same-day loan product for customers in dire straits. One of the best things about OneMain is its rates and products. Not only does it provide emergency funding to its customers, but there are products for weddings, travel, debt consolidation and more available at attractive rates considering its fast funding and flexible credit score requirements.

With an APR between 18% and 35.99%, OneMain Financial’s personal loans sit a little bit higher than other lenders, but the lender takes into account multiple factors when considering loans. Collateral, expenses, credit history and bankruptcies are all taken into consideration when approving or rejecting loans.

TD Bank — Best for unsecured express loans

TD Bank was established over 150 years ago. Today, it has over 1,250 different locations that span the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., Carolinas, and Florida. It’s also considered to be one of the top 10 banks in the U.S.

We like the unsecured express loans offered by TD Bank. While not exactly same-day loans, express loans are a fast way to get the cash you need when you need it most. In fact, the bank’s express loans can be approved in as little as 48 hours. You can borrow amounts between $2,000 and $25,000 for terms between 24 and 60 months. APRs are fixed but vary according to the market, your credit history, and other factors. Currently, APRs range between 6.99% and 18.99%. You’ll need a FICO score of at least 660 to get started.

Rise Credit — Best for payday loans

Rise Credit offers payday loans from $500 to $5,000, based on your location. Rates depend on the state you live in. With Illinois as an example, available loan limits are between $2,000 to $4,000 for terms of 15 to 25 months and with APRs vary by state and your credit and financial situation. Yes, these rates are still extremely high, but for payday loans, they are significantly lower than much of the competition. Traditionally, payday loans are associated with APRs as high as 300% and sometimes higher. For this reason, it’s best to consider payday loan alternatives and only use payday loans as a last resort.

The application takes minutes to complete and, if approved, you can access funds as early as the next business day. Moreover, rather than providing you with the requested financing and moving on while you get stuck in a never-ending cycle of borrowing, Rise offers sound advice to help you improve your credit and financial health. It provides access to your TransUnion credit report, personal finance tools, and a “Money Matters” blog to point you in the right direction for improving your overall financial health.

What is a same-day loan?

A same-day loan is a loan that is pre-certified and sometimes approved within the first 24 hours. Sometimes the funds for these loans are also released within the initial 24-hour period, but that’s not always the case. Regardless of how quickly funds are released, though, the point of a same-day loan is to streamline the application process to get you pre-certified and approved faster than with conventional loans. Generally, these same-day loans offer a way to get fast cash, but depending on the type of loan, the funds might be directed to a third party — the intended recipient of the funds.

How should I choose the right same-day loans?

Choosing the right same-day loan begins with determining your need. What do you need the funds for? Same-day loans are often specific to the purpose and when they aren’t, a more generalized personal loan can be used. Once you know what you need the funds for, then it’s time to shop around for the best rate and provider.

Not all same-day loan providers service all areas — especially online lenders. So, make sure to read the fine print before beginning the application process. It’s also a good idea to check your credit history in advance. If you find anything that seems off, you can challenge it and sometimes have it removed or corrected, which could give your FICO score a bump and improve your chances of securing conventional financing.

Check Your Personal Loan Rates

Answer a few questions to see which personal loans you pre-qualify for. The process is quick and easy, and it will not impact your credit score.

Get Started

The bottom line

When you need cash fast, a same-day loan offers a tempting solution that’s hard to beat. Depending on your specific needs, your income, credit history, the lender and other factors, APRs can be higher than conventional loans. In some cases, they can be significantly higher. So, sometimes it’s better to avoid taking out certain types of same-day loans if possible. If you have poor credit, for instance, a bad credit loan may be the best option for you.

To avoid having to borrow for small emergencies, build your emergency savings. You can also improve your FICO score by paying off debt and paying bills on time. A higher FICO score can help you qualify for better rates for bigger emergencies. That’s not always an option for everyone or every situation. Sometimes problems occur when you least expect them to and you have to go with the flow. In those cases, be sure to do your homework and shop around for the best rates.

The post The Best Same-Day Loans of 2020 appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Source The Simple Dollar https://ift.tt/2Rjom8K

11 Tips to Meet Your New Year’s Resolution to Travel More

Don’t let your finances kill your wanderlust.

If you started the year off vowing to visit new places and make unforgettable memories, monthly bills and day-to-day expenses can easily veer you off track.

Yes, it’s important to stay on top of your financial obligations, but what’s life without a little adventure?

These 11 tips will show you how you can travel more and do it affordably.

1. Save Up for Vacation Over Time

First, you’ll need to estimate how much your vacation will cost. Add up everything. Airfare and lodging might set you back the most, but don’t forget about food, activities and souvenirs.

Next, you’ll take that (perhaps overwhelming) total and divide it by the number of months left until you plan to take your trip. Now you’ll know how much money you need to set aside every month to afford your upcoming vacation.

This is a savings strategy that personal finance nerds refer to as a sinking fund.

If you find the monthly savings amount doesn’t fit into your budget, push back your travel date, plan a less expensive trip, pick up a side hustle or implement some of these tips to save money fast.

2. Travel During the Shoulder Season

Airfare and room rates fluctuate throughout the year. Planning a vacation during the holidays or when millions of tourists are traveling to the same destination means you’ll pay a premium.

Save money by taking a trip in the shoulder season instead — that’s the period between the peak season and the off-season. October is a less busy travel month, so you’ll often see better deals.

3. Plan a Groupon Getaway

Groupon isn’t just for finding deals at restaurants and spas. You can book entire vacations — better known as Groupon Getaways.

Groupon advertises deals for hotels, cruises and airfare-inclusive international travel packages. Find something that works for within your budget.

4. Take a Day Trip

Day trips are a great way to travel more without spending a lot of money. After all, you don’t have to book a flight, rent a car or stay in a hotel when you visit a city within a few hours drive.

Planning a staycation takes your savings even further. Schedule some fun activities, get a spa treatment and eat at that fancy place in town that you’ve been dying to try.

5. Find the Best Deal on Flights

When it comes to booking flights, there’s a right time and a wrong time to do it. Purchasing airfare two weeks before a vacation is not the move to make if you’re trying to save money.

The cheapest days to fly will generally fall between three weeks and four months before your trip. However, the best time to buy is also influenced by the season and your destination.

6. Skip the Plane and Plan a Road Trip

Even though it can mean being cramped in a car for hours, you’ll often save money by driving instead of flying — especially if the whole family’s coming along.

These road trip tips will keep your vacation budget friendly so you can travel more throughout the year.

7. Make the Most of Credit Card Rewards

Swiping your rewards credit card all year will help you bank points that’ll be useful when it’s time to book your trip. However, beware of falling for these mistakes when using your travel rewards credit card.

Among those mistakes is not knowing what perks come with your card. You could get reimbursed for expenses due to a trip delay, or your card could cover rental car insurance.

8. Avoid Extra Fees When Renting a Car

Credit card perks aren’t the only way to get out of paying for rental car insurance. Your regular auto insurance policy might include coverage for rentals.

If you need a set of wheels on vacation, try to avoid these additional mistakes when renting a car.

9. Stay in a Hostel Instead of a Hotel

If you aren’t picky about where you stay, choosing a hostel over a hotel can save you money.

You’ll usually sleep in a room with strangers, but in return for the lack of privacy you’ll get cheaper rates, group activities and the potential to make new friends.

10. Earn Income While Traveling

Squeezing a little work into your vacation can help offset costs so you can travel more for less. Work exchange opportunities, selling travel photos and house-sitting are all ways you can get paid to travel.

11. Spend Less Money on Food

It’s easy to spend more than normal on food when you’re traveling, but don’t let dining costs gobble up your vacation budget.

Try some of these tips on how to save money on food while traveling. Packing snacks from home and visiting the grocery store can save you from overpriced convenience store goodies. When you do venture out to a nice restaurant, consider appetizers instead of entrees or dine out for lunch instead of dinner.

Nicole Dow is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.

source The Penny Hoarder https://ift.tt/2NBXrUo

Milestone® Gold Mastercard® Review

The is a credit card designed for rebuilding credit. This card has flexible approval requirements, a competitive annual percentage rate (APR) and comes with the Mastercard Gold benefits. Further, all payment activity is reported to the three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and Transunion). As long as you are managing the card responsibly, it can help you build a positive credit history . However, before you sign up, you should compare it against other entry-level credit cards, as there are alternatives that offer more in terms of affordability and perks.

What we like about the Milestone® Gold Mastercard®

The card comes with chip protection to add additional fraud protection.
Customer service is available online, 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
IDT provides numerous resolution services if your identity is stolen. It will search the web routinely looking for compromised credentials, send alerts and send a monthly newsletter with information on your risk score and educational articles about good identity protection practices.
You will also have access to a team of identity theft resolution specialists who are available around-the-clock if you need help resolving an identity theft incident and preventing it from happening again.
You get 15% savings on airport meet-and-greet services. You will even have your very own personal agent to escort you through the airport, and in some airports, you may be expedited through security saving you a lot of time.

Things to consider

The credit line is $300, which limits this card to smaller purchases.
If your payment is late, you can be charged late fees and a penalty APR.
The annual fees can range from $35-$99, and you won’t know what your annual fee will be until you are approved.
The annual fee gets deducted immediately from the $300 credit limit right when you open the card, further limiting your purchase power.
There is no balance transfer option.
There are no rewards or cash back programs.

Milestone® Gold Mastercard® subprime card details

The is designed for people who have no credit or bad credit, so you can likely get approved even if you have no credit history or have made financial mistakes in your past. You don’t have to have good credit to be approved, and the 24.90% APR is competitive compared to other cards for people with lower credit scores.

Even better, the pre-approval check can be done instantly and won’t impact your credit score. Once you get approved, there is a 25-day grace period to make payments without interest.

Milestone® Gold Mastercard® fees

The offers different annual fee structures depending on your credit score. People with higher scores may pay a fee as low as $35 a year, while those with lower scores will pay $59 or $75 for the first year and $99 a year thereafter.

The annual fee you get is based on your creditworthiness and will be deducted from your credit line as soon as your account is opened. The Milestone® Gold Mastercard® also comes with a up to $39 fee for late payments, returned payments or going over your credit limit.

As for the interest costs, this card offers a 24.90% APR, which is fairly competitive considering the card is for people with subprime credit. However, if you are late on a payment, the APR jumps up to the 29.90% penalty APR. Unfortunately, one late payment may put your account in late fee status indefinitely.

How does it compare to other cards for subprime credit?

If your credit is less-than-perfect, you can consider this card, but it’s not your only option. Aside from the , the and the are two similar unsecured credit cards aimed at helping people rebuild their credit score.

Card	Purchase APR	Annual Fee	Intro Bonus	Credit Needed	Key features
	24.90%	$35-$99	None	Good to excellent	Mastercard Gold Benefits. 1% foreign transaction fee. Pre-approval does not affect credit score.
	19.49% to 25.49% Variable	$0-$99	None	Good to excellent	1% cash back on all eligible purchases. Terms Apply. Free online access to your Experian credit report. Account auto-reviewed for credit line increases.
Capital One® Platinum Credit Card	26.74% (Variable)	$0	None	Fair to Good	Higher credit line after making your first five monthly payments on time. Unlimited access to your credit score and tools to help you monitor your credit profile with CreditWise from Capital One® No foreign transaction fees.

The bottom line

If you are looking to reestablish your credit, the may be a good fit for you. It is easy to get approved with this card, and it grants you a small credit line with the chance to prove you can manage it responsibly. Further, you can enjoy Milestone® Gold Mastercard® Benefits such as airport concierge and identity theft protection.

However, when compared to cards like the or , the Milestone® Gold Mastercard® may not have some desired perks. For example, with the Capital One® Platinum Credit Card, you can enjoy a higher credit line after five months and no annual fee. Further, with the Credit One Bank® Unsecured Platinum Visa®, you earn 1% cash back on all purchases. So consider the Milestone® Gold Mastercard®, but be sure to compare it against two or three other options to ensure you get the most out of your credit card for poor credit.

The post Milestone® Gold Mastercard® Review appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Source The Simple Dollar https://ift.tt/2R6T3z7

The Business Platinum® Card from American Express Review

is the ultimate travel rewards card for serious businesses. With its monstrous $595 annual fee and perks geared directly to travel and business expenses, you’ll need to spend a significant amount every month in those two categories to take full advantage of what this card has to offer.

If you and others in your company do spend a lot of time at the airport, this card is absolutely worth the large annual fee. The Business Platinum® Card from American Express has a large welcome bonus (paired with an equally high minimum spend) and premium travel perks like access to Amex’s luxurious Centurion Lounges and automatic Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors.

What we like about The Business Platinum® Card from American Express

Massive welcome bonus: You can earn up to 75,000 Membership Rewards points. You’ll earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $10,000 and an extra 25,000 bonus points after you spend an additional $10,000 on all eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership.
Bonus rewards on flights and hotels: Earn 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on Amex Travel.
35% bonus on flights: When you use your Membership Rewards points to pay for all or part of a flight, you’ll get 35% of those points back up to 500,000 bonus points per calendar year when flight is booked on amextravel.com on business and first-class tickets for all airlines and any fare class on your selected airline.
Lounge access: Get access to more than 1,200 airport lounges across 130 countries with the American Express Global Lounge Collection, including the luxurious Centurion Lounges.

Things to consider

High annual fee: The annual fee of $595 See Rates & Fees is a steep price to pay if you won’t be able to take full advantage of this card’s benefits.
High minimum spend for welcome bonus: Your business will need to spend $20,000 on your account to earn the full 75,000-point bonus reward.
Rewards weighted towards travel: If travel isn’t a big part of your business, you might find it difficult to take full advantage of all The Business Platinum® Card from American Express has to offer.
Charge card, not a credit card: You must pay your balance in full every month unless you enroll in the Pay Over Time feature.

The Business Platinum® Card from American Express travel rewards details

Designed for businesses on the move, boasts serious travel rewards and perks. You’ll earn 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel and 1x points per dollar on all other eligible purchases, plus 50% more points on qualifying business purchases of $5,000 or more. You’ll also receive a fantastic welcome bonus of up to 75,000 Membership Rewards points — 50,000 points when you spend $10,000, plus an extra 25,000 points when you spend an additional $10,000 in the first three months of card membership.

The included $200 airline fee credit reimburses you for baggage and other related airline fees, helping reduce the impact of the $595 See Rates & Fees annual fee. When you take full advantage of the card’s premium perks, like airport lounge access and Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, The Business Platinum® Card from American Express is a powerful tool for business owners that travel.

The Business Platinum® Card from American Express fees

The fees for include the $595 See Rates & Fees annual fee, a returned payment fee of $39 and a late payment fee of $39 or 2.99% of any past due amount, whichever is greater.

How does it compare to other travel rewards cards?

is a powerful card for your business, but it certainly is not the right choice for everyone. If you’re a smaller business that wants to get an American Express credit card but don’t travel as often or don’t spend enough to earn the full rewards rate, the is another great option. If you can’t stomach The Business Platinum® Card from American Express’s annual fee, the offers an exceptional rewards rate without all the premium perks that drive the annual fee up.

Ongoing Purchase APR	Annual Fee	Intro Bonus	Credit Needed	Key features
N/A	$595 See Rates & Fees	Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $10,000 and an extra 25,000 points after you spend an additional $10,000 on eligible purchases within your first three months of card membership. Terms Apply.	Excellent	5x points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels through Amextravel.com, 1.5x points on eligible purchases over $5,000 and 1x point per dollar on all other purchases; 35% airline bonus; $200 annual airline fee credit; airport lounge access. Terms Apply.
18.49% (Variable)	$0 intro for first year; $95 after that	Earn 50,000 bonus miles when you spend $5,000 in the first three months and 150,000 bonus miles when you spend $50,000 in the first six months.	Good to Excellent	5x miles on hotels and car rentals when booking through Capital One Travel and unlimited 2x points on all other purchases; $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck; Easy miles transfer to 10+ travel partners
15.74% - 23.74% Variable See Rates & Fees	$295 See Rates & Fees	Earn 35,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $5,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership	Good to Excellent	4x points per dollar on the two categories where you spend the most each month and 1x point for all other purchases; 25% back when you book a flight using Pay with Points, up to 250,000 points back per calendar year; Flexible payment options

The bottom line

makes business travel more comfortable and convenient. This card is perfect for companies who spend a lot of time out of the office (and the country), earning them points for flying and giving them access to some of the best airport lounges in the world. These perks, however, come with a hefty price tag. The Business Platinum® Card from American Express will not be a great fit for smaller businesses who don’t spend or travel enough to take full advantage of the card’s rewards.

For rates and fees of The Business Platinum® Card from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of American Express® Business Gold Card, please click here

The post The Business Platinum® Card from American Express Review appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Source The Simple Dollar https://ift.tt/2uZhLZz