While buying a used car you can not only save thousands of dollars in depreciation, taxes and factory costs, but also wind up spending more on your financing. As new car manufacturers lure buyers with 0% interest rates and no-money-down offers, it’s hard to find a better deal when you’re purchasing a used vehicle.

If you’re planning to buy a used car, keep reading for some financing tips that will save you money.

1. Shop Around for a Better Rate

If you need to obtain financing for your used car purchase, try shopping around for the best rate. While the dealership may often offer you a good financing option, you should to check with your bank and other lending institutions to see if they can do better.

Other car financing options that may get you a better rate include a line of credit, which can sometimes be as low as 5%, or simply offer a low-interest home equity line of credit loan from your lending institution.

A slight drop in the interest rate can save hundreds – sometimes thousands – of dollars over the life of the loan, so this is a worthwhile investigation.

2. Be Ready to Walk

If you’re obtaining financing directly through the used car dealership and you’re not happy with the offered rate, be ready to politely walk away from the deal. Most dealerships would rather lower their interest rate by a half point or full point than see a potential sale walk through the exit door – especially in tough economic times like today when gasoline prices are so high and car sales are low.

Additionally, if you are able to wait until the end of a month to buy from a dealer, you may have some additional leverage with salesmen who are under pressure to meet a monthly or quarterly quota.

3. Pay in Cash

The best way to save on financing costs is to avoid financing and credit all together. If you can do it, pay in cash.

Let’s say you’re buying a five-year-old Civic for about $10,000 – that can be saved up in a year at a rate of about $833 per month or two years at $416 per month. Rather than taking out a car loan, put that money in a high interest-yielding savings account and you’ll reach your goal even faster.

4. Pay it Off Fast

If you can afford to do it, the faster you pay off your car, the less you pay in interest and financing costs. While it would be unwise to stretch your family budget too tight in an effort to pay off your vehicle, you should avoid long-term financing that drags on for four or five years.

5. Refinance Down the Road

Let’s say you need a new used car this year but you’ve just put money in the house, perhaps had a baby, had a dip in your credit rating and money is tight. Well, you might accept a higher interest rate now, but in a year – once things improve – you should investigate the prospect of refinancing that loan with another lending institution that can offer you a lower interest rate.

When you file bankruptcy in PA you need to think about choosing between a Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 type of bankruptcy. You might be wondering, what is the difference between these two chapters? Most people say that bankruptcy is just a privilege that can get you out of debt. Wrong! You need to understand that when you decide to file bankruptcy in PA it is a point of no return. Bankruptcy can erase some of your debts but not all of it. The other things you have to consider are the effects after filing bankruptcy.  It becomes a huge red mark on your credit report that can last for many years and second is getting a new line of credit.  Other reasons can bring a negative effect on your future employment. Decide first if you really need to file bankruptcy, because if not there are other ways to solve your debt.

In case you have debt that can cover threefold of your lifetime’s salary, then I guess it is time for you to consider bankruptcy. From this point on, learn what type of bankruptcy suits you, not the one that you like. Take note that the new changes in the bankruptcy law were made effect last October 17, 2005. This makes it hard for people to file bankruptcy, especially in PA. Chapter 7 is difficult to in PA. In order to become eligible for this type of bankruptcy you need to pass the means test. This test will prove if you have the means to repay your debt. One requirement is to go to a credit counseling agency for a credit counseling session. This agency will provide you a repayment plan which is in the first place not for a Chapter 7 type bankruptcy. The new law seems to encourage residents in PA to file bankruptcy the chapter 13 type of bankruptcy.

You can file Chapter 7 if only you have a below average income. This means more than likely you have no other means to pay for your debts and can easily meet the qualifications of chapter 7 eligibility. Filing Chapter 13 usually costs more because you have to pay the counseling and other requirements.

The difference between a chapter 7 and a chapter 13 is the way debt is resolved. In chapter 7, the idea is the debtor will have all of his properties liquidated and the proceeds will be distributed to the creditors in exchange that all debts will be discharged. Chapter 13 on the other hand is a repayment plan that is agreed upon by all parties involved, the debtor should have a steady sufficient disposable balance to pay the debt in a reasonable amount of time.

When you have decided which type of bankruptcy is right for you, you can file without being dismissed. You don’t need a lawyer because that would cost you more.  You can just hire a bankruptcy petition preparer to help you with the paperwork.  This is the easiest and the cheapest way you can file bankruptcy in PA.

We may be able to help you save more money than simple Consumer Credit Counseling while protecting you from the harsh impacts of bankruptcy. We think we have the best solution for most consumers with serious debt concerns. We are largest nationally based Debt Relief organization specializing in debt relief. We understand your situation and together, with you, we will look at all the options that may be available to resolve your debt.

Debt Relief Experts has earned their reputation by taking an honest and informative approach to helping people find the best solution for handling their debt. Debt Relief Experts provides information about debt, where you may stand and what options may be available to assist you in managing your debt and offering the solution to reduce your debt.

Our team of consumer debt consultants works individually with each client to help with their particular situation and personal goals. Debt Relief Experts maintains and continues to develop relationships with creditors throughout the country. By establishing cooperative and professional relationships with each creditor, we are able to reach the most favorable settlement offers for our clients. We work directly and 100% for you!

Our goal is to provide our clients with an affordable program to get back on their feet financially within 12 to 36 months and find a real solution for the strain and stress caused by debt. With honest and informative advice, outstanding customer service and a proven debt settlement process, we can provide a fast and ethical way for our clients to become debt free and get back on the path to financial freedom.

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Many personal finance articles have been written on the issue of money.  Can’t say I have been moved to action by many.  First I’d like to say it is ok that you feel down about the current situation about your personal finances.  I give you permission to feel your feeling for the next 24 hours and then pull yourself by your boot straps and let’s what we can do. 

There exist many a definition, I want to share with you  my personal finance definition:

Financial freedom is not an event, it is a skill.

I bet right now with the current economic situation you are saying to yourself, “I just wish I could the lotto!”  Boy don’t we all and yet statistics and personal finance facts show that the majority of people who win the lottery, end up broke and worse off before their winnings! Imagine that.  You among the many seeking wealth, riches, fame few people realize that money isn’t the solution to their problems;  the way you think about money is the problem and the solution. 

I can almost see you going oh yeah, give me the money and I’ll show you change in mindset!

My favorite entrepreneur of all times, Henry Ford was once asked, “What if you lost everything you own?” He responded without missing a beat: “I’d have it all back and more within 5 years.”

Being a master of your own personal finance is not about what is in the bank; it’s about the ability to acquire the skill that will show you how to produce new streams of income and wealth based on your knowledge and experience.

So before we go any further on this issue let us tackle the real problem here that is impeding your personal finance for good!  Why you might ask?  Well without the mastery of these 5 steps, your desire for your goal for financial success and financial freedom is highly unlikely!  This is why big players in any industry have coaches, Oprah has a life coach, football players and basketball players have coaches and mentors.  Tiger woods after every bad game will go in for coaching and training.  Why?  Those who achieve great financial success do not go it alone.  They always have a team.  Those who achieve great poverty have the do it yourself mentality!

Why is it important to plan personal finances?

5 Steps That Will Guarantee You Become Master Your Personal Finances

1. How do you think about money? Say you come up with an idea to do something. Do you think that will never work?  Are you afraid to follow through?  Are you scared of loosing money or do you see every dollar spent as an investment?

2. How do you manage and invest your time?  The average man has at his disposal  6 discretionary hours.  This is time they can do whatever they want.  No work, no chores etc.  Many will watch T.V., attend pricey sports events, spend money on meals at a restaurant and movies, see where I am going with this? Do you do personal finance budgeting?

3. How do you leverage the talents and life experiences you ALREADY POSSESS?

Most people see their experiences as failures.  They only talk of how they tried to do something as failed.  Thomas Edison failed more than I care to count, and yet he persisted to light the whole world. Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. Thomas A. Edison

4. Do you have a mentor and/or coach with a proven personal finance curriculum? This is the true measure of your desire for financial freedom.  This is where you literally put your money where your mouth is, can’t afford a mentor you say?  Well what was the last book you read? Gossip magazines do not count as literature sorry ?!

5. What do you think is “risky,” and what do you think is “safe and secure”?  Most people never break into the realm of the 5% wealthy group who own 95% of  the worlds resources because they want to play it safe.  They want the money, the fame, the accolades but they feel they should not have to go through the process of creating this wealth.  No wonder the internet and other places are full of scams and get rich quick opportunities.  Remember this success does not  happen overnight, but one night success does happen.  Someone once said to me, it takes 3 years to be an overnight success!