When You Need Some Extra Cash--A Guide to Finding the Right Loan

What You Must Know When You Need Cash

Almost every day, you are involved in some type of financial transaction requiring an educated decision. And we all need extra cash from time to time. Maybe you need extra funds to purchase your "dream" home, or a more reliable vehicle. Perhaps you want to provide that "fairy book" wedding for your only daughter, or take that once-in-a lifetime paradise vacation.

Sometimes it is simply not practical to make a purchase by saving up the cash, and that's where a loan can help. Nearly everyone needs to borrow at some time in their life--to finance a house, buy a new automobile or send the kids to college. But with so many different types of loans from so many different financial institutions, how do you decide which is best for you?

When you set out to borrow money you are barraged with the jargon of the banking industry. Revolving loans, points, adjustable rates, bridge loans, beacon scores, amortization and on and on and on. It is important to understand these terms in order to get your best possible deal at the lowest interest rates that are currently available. Take some time, research the terminology and become a smart money shopper.

Not many years ago, banks were the only "boys on the block" when it came time to obtain a loan. You got dressed in your finest outfit, got a haircut, and shined your shoes in advance of your meeting with the bank manager. Today, loan providers are everywhere. Supermarkets, credit unions, television ads, daily credit card offers in the mail, finance companies, and the payday loan building on the corner. Where do you start? Obviously the first question--how much money do I need?--must be answered. If you are shopping for a home, for example, you will not be using a credit card. Here is where your neighborhood bank can help. And even Uncle Sam--if you get a Veteran's Administration (VA) or a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan.

Other types of loans available include: car loans, business loans, debt consolidation loans, home improvement loans, home equity loans, refinance loans, personal loans, payday loans, and bridging loans (used to "bridge" a short-term financial gap when cash is needed for a special project). There are nearly as many loan types available as there are reasons to borrow money. Approval for loans is based upon a number of factors, such as age, employment, income, and credit rating.

Even if you have a poor credit rating or bad credit history, you can still find a range of "bad credit" personal loans, although the interest rates are generally higher than on standard loans. Beware, however, of the "payday" loans. Sometimes called cash advance loans, check advance loans, deferred deposit check loans or post-dated check loans, however check cashers or finance companies refer to them--they are EXPENSIVE.

Usually, a borrower writes a personal check payable to the lender for the amount needed plus a fee. Let's say you need a quick $100 and write a check to the lender for $115. You receive $100 and the lender agrees not to deposit your check until your pay day arrives three days in the future. It cost you $15 to borrow $100 for three days! You don't even want to know the Annual Percentage Rate (APR)on that loan.

When you need credit, shop carefully. Compare offers and institutions. Look for loans with the lowest APR. Compare the total finance charges, which include fees, interest and of types of credit costs. By going online you can obtain a multitude of loan options including: interest rates, length of the loan and the actual total monthly payment cost.

Learn the lending terminology, understand the different types of loans that are readily available and then make a choice that is best for your unique situation. In the borrowing world, there is no "one-size-fits all" solution. Your credit history, ability to repay the loan in a timely fashion, and the purpose of the loan should all be thoroughly considered.

By Credit Plus Health

Fruit May Save Your Sight

Fruit Is Good For You

Eating fruit has been found to reduce the risk of losing your eyesight in later life. In a study published in Archives of Ophthalmology, people who ate at least three servings of fruit per day were found to have more than one-third lower risk of developing an eye condition called age-related macular degeneration.Below we look at the issue in more depth.

WHAT IS AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION?

Age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of sight loss in people aged 60 years and older.

The macula is a small area at the centre of the retina, the area at the back of the eye that converts light into images. This area is responsible for seeing fine details, for example when reading or recognising people's faces.

Macular degeneration (also known as maculopathy) is when the cells of the macula become damaged and stop working. People with macular degeneration have blurry or distorted central vision, and sometimes see shapes and colours that are not there. Peripheral vision (vision at the outer edges of the eye) is not affected, and it does not result in complete blindness.

WHAT CAUSES AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION?

There are two types of macular degeneration.

In 90 percent of people with macular degeneration the cells of their macula slowly stop working, due to wear and tear. It usually develops slowly, affects both eyes equally and is known as "dry" macular degeneration.1v In the other 10 percent of people with macular degeneration, the disease develops when small blood vessels behind the eye bleed, causing build up of fluid and scarring. This form of the disease can progress quickly, leading to severe and rapid loss of vision. It tends to affect one eye first, although the other is often affected later. This form is known as "wet" or neovascular macular degeneration.

WHO GETS AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION?

Age-related macular degeneration is common in people aged 60 years and older.1 It accounts for almost 50 percent of people registered blind or partially sighted in the UK, and up to a third of UK people aged more than 70 have it.

People are more at risk of developing age-related macular degeneration if they smoke, have high blood pressure or have close relatives with the condition.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO TREAT AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION?

Unfortunately, there are no cures for the dry form of age-related macular degeneration currently available. However, there are lots of ways to make the best of the remaining peripheral vision.

The wet form of macular degeneration can be treated by laser if it is detected at an early stage. Laser treatment may prevent vision from getting worse, slow down the progression of the condition and sometimes bring back sight that has already been lost.

Because there are no effective treatments for late-stage age-related macular degeneration, prevention is important. For more on prevention, please see the final question and answer of this hot topic.

DOES EATING FRUIT HELP TO REDUCE THE RISK OF AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION?

Yes. People who ate three or more servings of fruit per day had 36 percent lower risk of developing the wet form of age-related macular degeneration than people who ate less than one and a half servings per day.

The results were similar for men and women.

DID FRUIT REDUCE THE RISK OF ALL TYPES OF MACULAR DEGENERATION

No. The protective effect of eating fruit was only seen for the wet form of macular degeneration.

WHICH FRUITS ARE BEST?

Oranges and bananas were associated with the greatest reduction in risk of age-related macular degeneration. Other fruits were not so good at lowering the risk.

DO VEGETABLES HELP TO REDUCE THE RISK OF AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION?

No. The researchers found that eating vegetables did not seem to have a effect on lowering age-related macular degeneration.

WHAT ELSE DID THE STUDY LOOK AT?

The study also looked at dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins and carotenes (yellow or orange substances that are converted into vitamin A). A previous study showed high doses of antioxidants vitamins C and E, beta carotene and zinc delayed the progression of age-related macular degeneration.

However, this study failed to show that antioxidant vitamins and carotenes had a protective effect.

WHY DOES FRUIT REDUCE THE RISK OF AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION?

Although it is not known for certain how fruit helps to protect against age-related macular degeneration, there is a theory that may offer an explanation. It is thought that the antioxidants in fruit may help protect macular cells in the retina by mopping up free radical molecules. These free radical molecules, which are produced by the body's normal chemical reactions, are thought to attack cells and cause irreparable damage. By neutralising free radicals before they can attack macular cells, antioxidants can help to protect a person's sight. However, because the antioxidant vitamins and carotenes did not contribute to the prevention in age-related macular degeneration, it is possible that other molecules in fruit may be playing a role.

Other constituents of fruits that may be beneficial to health include potassium, folic acid, fibre, flavonoids and other chemicals. At the moment it is not known how these may help prevent age-related macular degeneration.

COULD THE REDUCED RISK BE DUE TO ANYTHING ELSE?

Often, people who eat lots of fruit also lead more healthy lifestyles than people who don't eat fruit. Another key factor is that fruit eaters tend not to smoke. It's possible that the apparent benefits of fruit were due to not smoking. However, the researchers controlled for this and found that there was still a protective benefit in eating fruit.

HOW WAS THE STUDY CONDUCTED?

The study looked at the eating habits and lifestyles of 77,562 women and 40,866 men over the age of fifty. The participants were followed for up to 18 years for the women and 12 years for the men. They did not have macular degeneration at the start of the study.

During the course of the study 316 people developed age-related macular degeneration. The researchers looked at how much fruit these people ate. This was done by using up to five questionnaires to assess their diet, including the number of servings of fruit and vegetables they ate each day.

During the course of the study 316 people developed age-related macular degeneration. The researchers looked at how much fruit these people ate. This was done by using up to five questionnaires to assess their diet, including the number of servings of fruit and vegetables they ate each day.

WHAT CAN I DO TO LOWER MY RISK OF AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION?

You can reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration by:

-- eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, including three servings of fruit (preferably including bananas and oranges)
-- not smoking
-- eating a low fat diet
-- keeping physically active
-- the Government recommends at least 30 of moderate level physical minutes five times a week
-- maintaining a healthy weight for you height

By Health Fitness InfoCentre

Flexible Payment Mortgages

With most mortgages, your payment is the same every month. But what if your paycheck isn’t so regular? Would you like to be able to vary your mortgage payment depending on your cash flow?

An option ARM -- also called a flex-ARM or pick-a-payment loan -- allows you to do just that.

How does it work?

An option ARM is an adjustable-rate mortgage with a twist. You don’t pay a set amount each month. Instead, the lender sends a monthly statement with up to four payment options. You simply choose the amount you want to pay that month and then submit your payment.
The options vary, but here’s the most common menu:

Minimum payment: This is calculated using an “initial” interest rate that can start as low as 1.25 percent. Because this payment is so low, it’s useful for months when you don’t have much cash on hand, perhaps because you are waiting for a commission or bonus check. But any unpaid interest gets deferred, or added to the principal of the loan, so your principal grows.

Interest only: You pay all the interest due, but none of the principal. This doesn’t reduce your mortgage balance, but it allows you to avoid deferring interest.

30-year amortized: This matches the monthly payment of a mortgage amortized over 30 years at your current interest rate. It includes both principal and interest.

15-year amortized: The same as above, but amortized over 15 years. This is the highest monthly payment. Choosing it allows you to reduce your principal faster than any other option.

The fine print

The biggest caveat with option ARMs is that those enticing initial rates are short-lived. The low minimum payments that make these mortgages so attractive can increase dramatically. In addition, every five years, the loan is recast -- that is, a new amortization schedule is drawn up to ensure that the remaining balance will be paid off by the end of the loan’s term. When that happens, the minimum payment can be pushed even higher.

What’s more, if you defer too much interest, you can reach what’s called negative amortization. If your balance grows to 10 percent to 25 percent (depending on state law) greater than the original principal, your loan is automatically recast and you have to start paying the fully amortized rate, which will increase your monthly payments.

Another potential downside of option ARMs is that they’re more complicated than most other mortgages. Home buyers may be seduced without fully understanding how much the minimum payments will increase over the long-term. When the monthly amounts go up, these people can experience payment shock.

By LendingTree Editorial Staff

Wedding Loans : Perfect Finance Option for a Perfect Wedding

Planning For Wedding Can Be A Nightmare For Couple?

After seeing each other for years and being tagged as ‘in love’ since eternity, you desire to bring this to a logical end. You are wrong if you think I am suggesting a divorce even before you are actually married. The end to every love is wedding -the wedding of two bodies and two souls.

Have you been planning wedding since a long time but have been hindered because of the huge cost weddings entail nowadays.

Worry not. Spend as much as you can, because wedding loans are there to pay every penny of the expenses.

Average wedding costs anywhere between $19,000 – $27,000. This may go much higher if one is planning to have a gala wedding with all the pomp and show included.

And why shan’t one. Wedding is a once in a lifetime event. People would take all efforts to make the wedding truly memorable.

But the society and the customs have changed much. Just as the parents or guardians lost their say over the choice of bride or groom, they have little to do in the planning and financing of the wedding. So it is the couple who does all the spending on the wedding.

So how do the couples bear the expenses of wedding, in spite of being new to their professions and low on the income graph?

Wedding loans are an effective tool in their hands which they use to pay the entire wedding expenses. Wedding loans can finance practically every wedding expense right from the elegant wedding dress to the exquisitely beautiful engagement ring, from the lavish reception to the impeccable church decoration.

There are a number of other expenses which seem insignificant if seen individually, but become difficult to repay when taken in totality. These can be very easily paid through wedding loans.

Besides, wedding loans can be a much cheaper option to use for the payment rather than credit cards or past savings. Using a credit card can be simple if one goes by the immediate outcomes. But when the credit card debts are due for payment you find them to be much more than what you really spent. No, the credit card company is not indulging in any king of overcharging or cheating. This is only because of the accumulation of interest. Payment through credit cards is just like drawing a loan, but at a much higher rate.

Utilizing past savings for a one day affair like a wedding would be a waste. It could have been a lot better had the past savings been used for some productive purposes.

A wedding loan allows the customer to enjoy two benefits. The first benefit of wedding loan is that the customer will not have to pay an exorbitantly high amount. Most of the lenders offer loans at reasonable rates of interest.

The second benefit is regarding the timing of payment. Even though a customer has to pay more than what he would have spent, he accepts this because he does not have to pay the whole amount at one go. Monthly payments require to be made towards the payment of loan.

A certain amount of planning is necessary when taking a wedding loan. If parents are ready to be a part of the finances then they must be included in discussions. How much can they spend on the wedding needs to be decided well in advance. This will determine the amount of wedding loan that needs to be applied for.

Secured wedding loans taken against ones home will be much cheaper. A valuation of the home or property will be done. One can draw loan depending upon the worth of his home. However there are options for those who do not have a home or who do not want to put their home under any kind of obligation.

Next comes the choice of lenders. It is no longer necessary to depend on lenders in one particular locality or region. Almost every big and small lender is available online. An internet connection is what is needed. One does not even have to leave his home or office, and loan can be applied for instantly. Such a relief from the previous times when a customer had to go to each and every lender to just get the quotes. Few customers were ready to go through this grind, and hence accepted whatever offer was given.

These loans are very easy to approve. With the valuation of property and credibility check over, it is very easy to get loans approved. Filling up each and every detail with caution and accuracy can save enough of time in the approval process.

Did you promise your wife an impeccable wedding ring? You can keep on the promise since wedding loans are there to meet the expense.

By Aditya Thakur

Aditya Thakur is a financial consultant and is currently pursuing masters in journalism from JMI University. To find a secured loan that suits your need visit http://www.ukfinanceworld.co.uk

Get Educated At Condomania Asia

The gift of love is an education in itself.- Eleanor Roosevelt

Although no condom guarantees 100% protection against failure, it is important to know that most condom failures result from improper storage or use. Here are some tips to help you get the most comfort and security out of your condom. With dozens of sizes, styles, shapes, and features to choose from the right condom for each person and situation does exist. Try different styles; find what suits you and your partner — this will only increase your protection and pleasure.

How To Care For Condoms

Store your condoms in a cool, dark place. Exposure to sunlight, heat, or humidy can break down latex, causing it to rupture or tear more easily.

Condoms are usable up to four years after the date of manufacture. Always check the date on the box. Some dates are marked MFG, which indicates the manufacturing date. These condoms are good up to four years from the MFG date. Others are marked EXP, which indicates the expiration date after which the condom should not be used. If you are unsure how old the condom is, throw it away and use a new one.

Be aware that lambskin condoms, or natural condoms are not effective in the prevention of disease. For the best protection, be sure to use only latex condoms.

How To Use Condom


Be careful when opening a condom package that you do not tear or nick the latex with your teeth, nails, or rings. Do not unroll the condom before putting it on; it can weaken the latex and make it difficult to use.



Hold the receptacle end of the condom between your thumb and forefinger against the head of the penis. If the penis is uncircumcised, pull back the foreskin first. Make sure to leave space at the tip so the semen will not leak out the side of the condom. Squeeze out any excess air to prevent the condom from bursting.



Roll the condom over the entire length of the penis.

Use plenty of water-based lubricant during intercourse. Putting a drop of lubricant inside the tip of the condom can increase both sensation and safety. Never use an oil-based product such as Crisco, lotion, Vaseline, or baby oil as it will weaken the latex and cause it to break.
After ejaculation, pull out while the penis is still hard, holding onto the base of the condom to prevent it from falling off. Roll it gently toward the tip of the penis to remove.

Do not flush condoms down the toilet because they can clog plumbing. Wrap in a tissue and throw away. Remember, condoms cannot be reused.

Try not to panic. It is important that women not douche; it can cause injury to internal tissue and push sperm further into the body. Cover the entire genital area with a contraceptive foam, which has a high concentration of spermicide and will help neutralize any infectious agent. Try to figure out why the condom broke so that you can prevent it from happening again. If you are concerned about pregnancy or exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, contact your doctor or one of the hotlines listed in this manual.

By Condomania Asia

What Is Stomach Cancer?

Stomach cancer, which is also called gastric cancer, is a cancer that starts in the stomach.

After food is chewed and swallowed, it enters the esophagus, a tube-shaped organ that carries food through the neck and chest. The esophagus joins the stomach just beneath the diaphragm (the breathing muscle under the lungs). The stomach is a sac-like organ that holds food and begins the digestive process by secreting gastric juice. The food and gastric juice are mixed and then emptied into the first part of the small intestine called the duodenum.

The word stomach is often used to refer to the area of the body between the chest and the pelvic area. For instance, some patients with diseases of the appendix, small intestine, colon (large intestine), or stomach may say they have a "stomach ache." The medical term for this area is the abdomen. And doctors would refer to this symptom as abdominal pain.

This point is important in considering gastrointestinal cancers. The stomach is only one of many organs in the abdomen in which cancers may develop. It is important not to confuse stomach cancer with cancers of the colon (large intestine), liver, pancreas, or small intestine because these cancers may have different symptoms, a different prognosis (outlook for chances of survival), and different treatments.

The stomach is divided into 5 sections. The upper portion (closest to the esophagus) of the stomach is called the cardia or proximal stomach. Next to this is the fundus. Some cells of these areas of the stomach produce acid and pepsin (a digestive enzyme), the ingredients of the gastric juice that help digest food. The lower portion (closest to the intestine) is the distal stomach. This area includes the antrum, where the food is mixed with gastric juice, and the pylorus, which acts as a valve to control emptying of the stomach contents into the small intestine. The area between the proximal and distal stomach is the body of the stomach.

The stomach has 2 curves, which form its upper and lower borders. They are called the lesser curve and greater curve, respectively. Other organs next to the stomach include the colon, liver, spleen, small intestine, and pancreas.

The stomach has 5 layers. It is important to know about these layers because as a cancer grows deeper into them, the prognosis (outlook for cure) gets worse. Starting from the inside and working out, the innermost layer is the mucosa. This is where stomach acid and digestive enzymes are made. Next is a supporting layer called the submucosa. This is surrounded by the muscularis, a layer of muscle that moves and mixes the stomach contents. The next 2 layers, the subserosa and the outermost serosa, act as wrapping layers for the stomach.

Most stomach cancers start in the mucosa. Cancers beginning in different sections may produce different symptoms and tend to have different outcomes. The location can also affect some of the treatment options that are available.

Stomach cancers are believed to develop slowly over many years. Before a true cancer develops, there are usually pre-cancerous changes that occur in the lining of the stomach. These early changes rarely produce symptoms and therefore often go undetected.

Stomach cancers can spread, or metastasize, in several different ways. They can grow through the wall of the stomach and eventually grow into nearby organs. They can also spread to the lymph system, including lymph vessels and lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are bean-sized structures located near many body structures to fight infections. The stomach has a very rich network of lymph vessels and nodes. If cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, the outlook for cure also gets worse. When the stomach cancer becomes more advanced, it will travel through the bloodstream and form deposits (called metastases) in organs such as the liver, lungs, and bones.

Approximately 90% to 95% of cancerous (malignant) tumors of the stomach are adenocarcinomas. The term stomach cancer, or gastric cancer, almost always refers to adenocarcinoma-type cancer of the stomach. This cancer develops from the epithelial cells that form the innermost lining of the stomach’s mucosa.

The following are other, less common tumors that are found in the stomach:

Lymphoma: These are cancers of the immune system tissue that are sometimes found in the wall of the stomach. They account for about 4% of stomach cancers. Prognosis and treatment depend on whether the cancer is an aggressive lymphoma or a slow-growing (indolent) lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT).

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST): These are rare tumors that appear to develop from cells in the wall of the stomach called interstitial cells of Cajal. Some are non-cancerous (benign); others are cancerous (malignant). Although these cancers can be found anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, the majority (70%) occur in the stomach.

Carcinoid tumors: These are tumors of hormone-producing cells of the stomach. Most of these do not spread to other organs. About 3% of stomach cancers are carcinoid tumors.

By Health Fitness InfoCentre

Flipping Properties For Profit

Real estate, like any other commodity, is bought and sold every day of the week. Many people become real estate agents because they know a small piece of a large pie means big bucks. Agents help facilitate a sale by finding a willing buyer for a willing seller, earning a commission of approximately four to seven percent of the sales price for making the deal happen.

It is relatively simple to get a real estate license, and it is a lucrative field for many people. However, as you may expect, there is strong competition among agents, and the ones that are successful work long, hard hours. In fact, most agents are on call weekends and nights, with their cell phones glued to their ears.

Furthermore, real estate agents are required to take continuing education classes and follow strict guidelines set forth by bureaucratic agencies. There are better ways for an "entrepreneur" to make a living!

The flipper

Investors that "flip" houses accomplish the same basic task that real estate agents accomplish. Specifically, the "flipper" investor buys real estate with the intention of immediate resale for profit. As a flipper, he buys properties at substantially less than the going or "retail" rate. He acts as both principal and middleman, buying at one price, then reselling at a higher price.
If a deal is marginal (not much profit), and he adds no value to the property, the flipper's profit is commensurate to that of a real estate agent. However, unlike an agent, the flipper may only have a few hours of his time tied up in the deal. Furthermore, the flipper's upside profit potential is much higher than an agent's commission, since an occasional bargain purchase can bring a tremendous return.

The flipper does not need a license to practice, nor is he under the oppression of a government agency. He benefits from low overhead, flexible work hours and he doesn't have to drive a Mercedes to be taken seriously (although he can certainly afford one).

Three different types of flippers

There are three different types of flipper investors, usually based upon experience:

1. The scout
2. The dealer
3. The retailer

The scout

The Scout is an information gatherer. He is the "bird dog" who finds potential deals and sells the information to other investors. Many people get started as a Scout for other investors because it does not take any cash or prior knowledge to look for distressed properties.
The Scout finds a property for sale, gathers the necessary information, and then provides this information to investors for a fee. The fee will vary depending on the price of the property and the profit potential. The Scout can expect to make five hundred to one thousand dollars each time he provides information that leads to a purchase by another investor.

The dealer

The Dealer, like the Scout, locates deals for other investors. He locates a bargain property and signs a purchase contract with the owner. He then has the option of closing on the property and selling it outright, or just selling his contract to another investor. He is providing more than just information; he is controlling the property with a binding purchase contract.
The Dealer often puts up earnest money to secure the deal, so he assumes more risk than the Scout does. Since the Dealer controls the property with a purchase contract, he has greater profit potential than the Scout does. Dealers can flip as many deals as they can find.
On a full-time basis, a Dealer can make well over $15,000 a month without ever fixing a property or dealing with a tenant. On a part-time basis, a dealer could easily make an extra $3,000 a month flipping a property or two. The dealer's lifestyle is that of a true "entrepreneur." He can work as much or as little as he likes, with no boss, no employees and the freedom to do as he pleases!

The retailer

The Retailer usually buys properties from a Dealer or with the assistance of a real estate agent or Scout. The Retailer's goal is to fix up the property so he can sell it for full retail price to an owner-occupant.

Compared to other flippers, the Retailer puts up the most money, has the most risk and stands to make the largest profit on each deal. However, it may take the Retailer months to realize his profit, unlike the Scout or Dealer who makes his money in a matter or days or weeks.

By Sean Toh
Credit Plus Health