5 Tips For Purchasing A Car With A Credit Card

by Nasr-Eddine VerhaeghCredit Card

When it comes to purchasing a car, many people opt to use a credit card. While this can be a great way to finance your purchase, there are a few things you need to keep in mind in order to make sure you get the best deal possible. Here are five tips for purchasing a car with a credit card:

1. Make sure you have a good credit score. In order to get the best interest rate on your credit card, you will need to have a good credit score. If your credit score is not good, you may still be able to get a credit card with a high interest rate, but you will likely have to pay a higher annual percentage rate (APR).

2. Shop around for the best interest rate. Not all credit cards offer the same interest rate, so it is important to shop around and compare rates before you decide which card to use. In general, you will get a lower interest rate if you have a good credit score.

3. Read the fine print. Before you agree to use a particular credit card, be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully. You need to know what the interest rate is, what the late payment fees are, and any other fees that may apply.

4. Make your payments on time. One of the best ways to avoid paying interest on your credit card balance is to make your payments on time. If you do not make your payments on time, you will be charged a late fee, and your interest rate may increase.

5. Pay off your balance in full each month. If you carry a balance on your credit card from month to month, you will be charged interest on that balance. To avoid paying interest, try to pay off your balance in full each month. This may not be possible if you have a large purchase to make, but it is a good goal to strive for.

If you follow these tips, you can save money on interest and fees when you use a credit card to purchase a car. Just be sure to read the terms and conditions of your card carefully before you agree to use it.

 

How to Be Financially Literate While You’re in College

by PATRICIA HolmesPersonal Finance

You might be physically fit while you’re young and in college, but staying in good financial shape is another matter. Being solvent is easily one of the hardest of accomplishments because there are a lot of other things to focus on: the effort to get good grades, your social life, your love life, and your health. Most students eschew financial considerations in hopes that they’ll make good money with a decent job after college.

Statistically speaking, counting on your postgraduate job does make some sense. In terms of college degree earnings, college grads make $549 per week more than high school grads on average. And, nearly 15 percent more college grads are employed. Yet, student loan debt provides a stark contrast to these numbers. The average class of 2016 grad owes $37,172, and the grand total of nationwide debt is $1.31 trillion (yeah that’s 1.31 with ten zeros after it).

No one would blame you for wanting to keep from apart of that stat. To avoid looming student loan debt, consider the following:

Take Online Courses

Why online courses? To avoid student loan debt, you should work while in college, and online classes allow you more flexibility so you can tailor your schedule accordingly.

Here’s how it works

You have some great options in terms of paying for college:

  • Find an employer who offers tuition assistance: For example, Starbucks will pay for your tuition at Arizona State University, and there are other companies that will help you pay for college as well
  • Apply for federal grants: A grant is basically sponsorship money for your education
  • Apply for scholarships: There are a great many scholarships available from private and public organizations
  • Join the military: A tough pill to swallow for some, but the G.I. Bill can help pay your way through college

Noticing a common trend with all of the above? They require extra legwork, but don’t fret; if you work hard to pay your way through college with all the available options, your time after school will be much more enjoyable.

Student Loan Debt Is Like a Steel Trap

Here’s how it works

You’re not required to begin paying on loans till after you graduate, and even then there’s a grace period. But once the payment terms kick in, they’re a very serious loan, and your history with payments reflects on you for a long time. Never default on student loans—it hurts your FICO credit score. Within the first year, skipping a payment on a fixed-rate 15-year loan will hurt you for the next 22 years. If you default on the loan—which means you don’t make payments for more than 270 days—it will seriously damage your credit score for seven years. You won’t be able to buy a house, it’ll be tough to buy a good car—just don’t do it.

Build Good Credit

If you’re working, you have the opportunity to start building your credit score, meaning when you graduate you’ll be in good financial standing, ready to succeed on your own.

Here’s how it works

Even if you have to take out loans, student debt and credit score are not necessarily poor bedfellows. Save up money while you’re working and then make regular payments on your loan. Don’t make partial payments, pay the entire amount due each time your bill comes around. Credit agencies will take note and your score will climb steadily.

Even during college you can begin building good credit. Get a student credit card and get smart with it. Only make credit purchases you can afford pay off immediately. In other words, make strategic purchases on the card. Check how much you have in the bank, then buy a few things (the fun part), then pay what you owe at the end of the month.

The interest rate on your college card will skyrocket after the initial terms expire, I guarantee it. That’s one reason why you must pay off card debts in full when payment is due. Once you have the chance to get a new card with better terms (such as a cash rewards card), take it. Then, make sure your original card is free of all debts, dispute any incorrect records, and leave the card open with zero debts. This shows creditors you’re responsible.

You Can’t Lose

If you maintain a job during college, look into grants and scholarships, and pay your way, you’ll graduate debt-free and in good financial standing. Maintain that college credit card in good standing along the way. Or, take out loans, get a job, save money, and pay your loans off reliably after you graduate.

You can’t lose with these strategies because you’ll be free of the steel trap that is student loan debt, and your credit score will be stacked to make important purchases. What’s more, you’ll have that degree, which pretty much guarantees you’ll make more money than high school grads. It also guarantees you learned something, and that’s the most valuable thing of all.

My Top 5 Favorite Financial Apps

by PATRICIA HolmesPersonal Finance

There is an existing app designed to make almost every aspect of life easier: calorie-counting, exercise-tracking, navigating and traveling, recipe-learning, sales and shopping, language-learning, news-reading, and the list goes on. It’s all accessible with a touch and a swipe on your mobile device. But some of the most useful apps (to me) are apps that help me to better manage my money. Days are busy and I don’t always have time to stop what I am doing and think about tracking my spending, let alone budgeting for the future. Here are my top 5 favorite financial apps that simplify the money side of life!

1. LearnVest

This app helps you to create budgets and outline your financial goals, while keeping you on track to meet those goals. This app connects to your personal accounts – checking, savings, credit cards, and investments – to track your spending. This feature is designed to give you an instant picture of how you are spending your money, and whether you are spending too much in one area.

2. HelloWallet

This app takes a behavioral science approach to business to help you plan your financial future. The founder of the app molded behavioral psychology with technology to come up with an app that offers individualized personal finance recommendations based on your age, spending patterns, and income. It also brings to your attention financial gaps in your life, for example, inadequate emergency-savings plans.

3. OnBudget

This app includes a fee-free prepaid card, so that you cannot spend more than what you have in the budget. With the MasterCard prepaid debit card, this app is designed to help you organize your spending by using different “envelopes” for each spending category. The envelopes are used to track spending patterns, give you tips on saving, and to give you constructive advice on better decision-making.

4. Better Haves

Better Haves is a budgeting app designed for couples. This app allows you to easily manage a budgeting envelope, and allows you to track expenses individually and together. 

5. Checks   

This app monitors your bills, accounts, and credit cards and reminds you of payments you need to make. If you are prone to being late or missing payments, this app may help keep you on track! 

Auto Loan Refinancing in your 20s: When to Refinance Your Car Loan

by PATRICIA HolmesUncategorized

The first few years of your credit history are critical to your long term financial picture. When borrowers are in their 20s, they are typically a few years into their first credit cards, auto loans and student loans. How you handle your debts now can affect how much you pay for credit down the road. To that end, auto loan refinancing can play a crucial role in your financial future.

When to Consider an Auto Loan Refinance

The goal of refinancing a car loan is to reduce your interest rate, your monthly payments or the total amount you pay over the life of the loan. In some cases, an auto loan refinance can achieve all three. If you are in one of the following situations, you should consider refinancing:

You have an exorbitantly high car loan interest rate. Most auto interest rates are between 1 to 5 percent. Anything in the double digits is a bona fide rip off, usually enacted at the hands of a greedy auto dealer. Shop around and you’ll find much lower rates to refinance at.

You’ve established credit history. Your first loans have higher interest rates because you have no credit history. Now that you have a few months or years of on time payments, you can most likely get a lower interest rate without taking on more debt.

You have more income. As you transition from a part-time job or student stipend to a full time salaried position, you’ll likely have the income needed to comfortably reduce the term of your car loan. This will increase your monthly payment, but will drastically reduce your interest rate and overall cost of the loan.

When Not to Consider Refinancing Your Car Loan
Auto loan refinances are not cure-alls for whatever ails your bottom-line. There are a few situations where a car loan refinance will cost you more than it helps you, including:

You have less than $7,500 outstanding on your car loan. Most lenders can’t turn a profit on such a small auto loan principle. If you have extra cash, you’ll be better off by paying down your loan early.

The prepayment penalties outweigh the cost savings. Some lenders incur prepayment penalties for paying off your loan early. Carefully calculate how much money you’ll save in the long run versus how much you’ll spend up front to get out from under your current loan before making a decision.

You are desperate for cash. Cash out refinancing exists for auto loans, where you can borrow more than your car is worth or draw down on some of the equity you’ve built in your vehicle. For some situations, this can be a good strategic move—but if you are doing so out of desperation, you’ll just be digging yourself deeper into debt, especially since car values always decrease (unlike home values). Proceed with caution if you’ll be refinancing to get more cash on hand.

None of the above scenarios are hard and fast, so take time to assess your situation before moving forward. Your best first step is to shop around for car loan refinance quotes on sites such as MoneyAisle.com, where you can see the kinds of interest rates you can get with your current credit score without making a commitment. If opportunity exists, take it.

The Low-Down on Auto Insurance

by PATRICIA HolmesUncategorized

Angelina Jolie!  Brad Pitt!  Ok, now that I’ve got your attention, we need to talk about something a little less exciting than celebrity gossip, but a lot more important–car insurance.  Although it’s not always that fun to talk about, it can save you a lot of money and protect you against devastating money losses and lawsuits should you get into an accident.  Anything that can save you money can’t be bad, so read on.

The basics

There are six components to auto insurance policies.

1. Bodily injury liability:  When you’re at the wheel and suddenly get into an accident and someone is injured , bodily injury liability is the type of insurance that pays.  If the accident is your fault, or the fault of a family member or anyone else driving your car with your permission, this insurance covers you.  Bodily injury liability is required in every state, however required minimums may not be enough to cover all expenses—you may want to consider increasing your coverage, depending on your financial situation.

 2. Property damage liability: This kind of insurance is similar to bodily injury liability—it pays if you or anyone driving your car with your permission damages someone else’s property.

3. Medical payments:  Just as you may have guessed, medical payments cover medical expenses for anyone injured in your car, no matter who’s at fault. 

 4. Uninsured and underinsured:  Say you’re on your way home at night and are stopped at a traffic light.  Suddenly, someone rear-ends you out of nowhere, and speeds off into the darkness.  You’re too stunned to catch a license plate number, so are you out of luck?  Uninsured or underinsured insurance policies provide protection for situations like these, and also in situations where a driver doesn’t have any insurance.  Again, most states require this type of insurance.  You may have also heard the term “Uninsured Motorist”, which  means the same as  uninsured and underinsured.

5. Collision insurance: Exactly how it sounds—collision insurance pays for damages to your vehicle.  It doesn’t matter whose fault the accident is, or whether it occurred between multiple vehicles or a single vehicle and a tree.  There are a lot of ways to damage your car, and collision insurance will cover you.  Unfortunately, collision insurance can spike your insurance premiums, so don’t pay for more coverage than you actually need. 

6. Comprehensive coverage: Imagine a tornado sweeps across your city, scooping up your car, and dropping it into your neighbor’s yard.  Sound a bit far-fetched?  Perhaps, but comprehensive coverage would pay for this kind of damage.  It also pays for damage to your vehicle from theft, flooding, fire and other kinds of hazards.  These scenarios may seem a bit outlandish, but you’d sure be glad you had coverage if you woke up to a crumpled pile of metal in your neighbor’s front yard—was that really my car?

How much does auto insurance cost?
Auto insurance costs take into account tons of factors:
• The make and model of your car
• Your car’s age
• Your age
• Your driving record (This includes speeding tickets, so give your lead foot a rest!)
• Where you live
• Your gender
• Your marital status
• They type of coverage you select

You could qualify for discounts on your auto insurance if:
• You are a good student
• Your vehicle has certain safety features (for example air bags, antilock brakes, antitheft devices etc.)
• You have multiple policies with an insurer
• You pay in full for a given time period (for example, if you pay for 6 months at a time)

Keep in mind that the higher your deductible (the amount of money you pay out-of-pocket before insurance policies kick in), the lower the premium (the amount of money you pay each month).  A typical deductible is usually around $500, but can be as much as you’re willing to pay. 

If you drive an older car, you might choose not to carry collision and comprehensive coverage.  In other words, if you get into an accident, you’re responsible for the repair or replacement cost of the vehicle.

Different insurance companies often offer the exact same coverage at different prices so…shop around!  A quick Internet search for “auto insurance policies” will produce a lot of options.  A little comparison can go a long way to saving you money on auto insurance. 

Young Entrepreneur’s Guide to Credit Cards, Part 2

by PATRICIA HolmesBusiness

In part 1, I discussed setting up your business to do e-commerce and accepting credit card payments. In this installment, I’ll discuss personal and business credit cards for the young entrepreneur.

For some, “credit card” is like a bad word. For the young entrepreneur, it’s a necessity. Without a credit card, you have to siphon personal spending money directly from your business the minute you make a profit. Yet, at the outset, profit can be hard to come by. I’m not advocating for you to go into debt. I’m saying that using credit cards the smart way can help keep your head above water as you navigate the beginnings of a business.

Personal Credit Card Versus Business Credit Card

Some solid advice from Entrepreneur Magazine: “If you think you won’t be able to pay off purchases in a single billing period, it might be better to charge them on the personal plastic, rather than a business card.”

Business cards come with incredibly high interest rates, and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation found that every $1,000 of credit card debt your business accrues will make you 2 percent more likely to fail.

In other words, take on $10,000 in debt, and your chances of failure are 20 percent higher than they would have been otherwise. And that’s just due to credit card debt alone. There are countless other issues that can throw a wrench in the works, such as staffing issues, ineffective marketing, and inventory problems.

For the most part, keep business expenses and personal expenses separate when you’re paying with credit cards. But think hard about whether you should burden your business credit with expenses over a certain amount.

Establish a set baseline figure you can afford to put on the business card—it should not exceed revenue. Fill out a cash flow statement. Look at projected expenses, revenue and profits, and charge basic expenses on the business card. Then, charge additional expenses onto your personal card. If you can’t pay it off right away, your creditor can’t raise the interest rate like they can with a business card.

Consider tried-and-true methods of stacking savings—for you, the number one piece of advice here is to use a cashback credit card.

You won’t be able to get a cashback credit card unless your credit is good enough as is. Once you’re able to get one, use business profits, your own savings, as well as investor funds to pay off the card immediately. Try to pay your entire balance each month. You’ll make extra money that can go right back into the business. And you’ll build your own credit.

Building Business Credit

Your own credit score is extremely pertinent to your business credit. Before you even begin looking for a business credit card, check your FICO score and dispute any claims you think may be in error. Next, review your options for your business credit card.

Noobpreneur points out that the best option may not come from a major company. Rather, talk to the bank you’re using for your merchant account. They may be able to offer you a card more tailored to your specific business needs, and since they want to be competitive, they could give you a better interest rate.

Think about the nature of your business. If a lot of travel is involved, look for a card that earns you frequent flyer miles. If you’re confident you can pay off the card at the end of the month, find a rewards card, even if it has a higher interest rate. This is a gamble, but those rewards can really pay off. Ignoring them is one of the big mistakes small businesses make with credit cards.

Another mistake is paying interest. Again, if you can’t pay in full or miss payments, your credit issuer can immediately raise interest rates. But your credit issuer may initially give you a deal in which you pay no interest on purchases and balance transfers. For the new entrepreneur, it’s a wise idea to take advantage of those offers.

Make sure to protect your business against fraud by keeping your financial docs in a safe place, and only allow your most trusted employees access to the card for business expenses. Monitor the account and make sure no large, unfamiliar charges pop up, and be careful when you’re exchanging any sort of financial info with clients.

Watch your cash flow carefully and only charge what you can afford to the business card. Regular payment will build your business credit.

At the outset, do your best not to rack up credit card debt. Use any other means you can to finance your business. Small business loans are more forgiving than credit card debt, and your friends, family, investors, and personal savings are better sources of funding than credit cards. Once your business is on stable footing and you have good data to plug into your cash flow doc, you’ll be able to reasonably predict expenses, revenue, and profits. Then, make smart charges to your business credit card as you continue building credit.

Young Entrepreneur’s Guide to Credit Cards, Part 1

by PATRICIA HolmesBusiness

As an aspiring entrepreneur, you have your sights set on pursuing your passion, competing with the best entrepreneurs in your niche, and earning enough to take care of yourself and the ones you love. But there’s a basic fact you may be overlooking: to be a great entrepreneur you must be good with finances.

At the outset, you can’t afford a financial adviser. The entrepreneur who masters finances on her own has more money to put into the business, therefore she gets more out of it. As the saying goes, you have to spend money to make money. Is that necessarily true? Well, now this thing called credit enables entrepreneurship. If you use credit correctly and run your business well, you can spend other people’s money to make money. This guide will help you understand how to do just that. Let’s start with making money through credit payments online.

E-Commerce and Credit Card Payments

E-commerce isn’t a buzzword and it’s not something only big corporations like Amazon do. The first quarter of 2017 saw e-commerce sales makeup 8.5 percent of the retail market. Given the fact that e-commerce has only been a thing since 1994, that number is huge. And that’s just the retail market; all sorts of e-commerce comes in the form of subscribing to software-as-a-service, buying white papers, and paying to access scientific research.

So, as a young entrepreneur you can either setup your e-commerce site on a hosted platform or choose the self-hosted option. One primary difference between a hosted platform and a self-hosted platform is that the latter allows for more customization. A hosted platform, however, will include built-in best practices.

One of the best practices is to accept credit card payments. This may seem like a no-brainer to you, but there are some things to understand about ecommerce credit card processing:

  • Open a merchant account: You must have a merchant account setup with a bank to accept credit card payments on your website

– If you have good credit and can pass a risk assessment, a dedicated merchant account will allow you to  set your own sales rates

– A third party account through Paypal or Square is easier to establish and works great for small businesses

  • Choose a secure payment gateway: This is the form through which the customer inputs payment

– The platform you use for your e-commerce site will help you determine which payment gateway to use

– Pick a payment gateway that has a plug-in for the platform you’re using; this will make it easier to setup

  • Know you’ll deal with a processor: The payment processor handles the transaction between your payment gateway and the banks involved, including your bank and the customer’s credit issuer
  • Know about fees: There are processor fees, interchange fees from credit card organizations, and possibly monthly service charges from your gateway service; pay close attention to fees involved and compare rates

Seems like a lot to think about, right? It’s worth it, because so many people use credit cards. Without accepting them, you won’t compete with all the other e-commerce sites.

There’s one gigantic issue with setting up an e-commerce site, accepting credit cards, and doing your best to steer customers to your business: security. Basically, you’ll be accumulating data when you’re operating an e-commerce site. The accumulation of data brings security risks with it.

You’ll need to do marketing to direct people to your site. The majority of effective web marketing involves analyzing your target audience’s data as well as that of your customers. You need a place to house these data, and it’s typically the cloud. What’s more, there’s all manner of data related to your internal operations. These data are a byproduct of e-commerce, just like the records you would create when running a brick-and-mortar operation. Since there’s not a lot of room on hard drives, a lot of your business data will end up on the cloud, which is a burgeoning business itself. Whether it’s on the cloud or on hard drives, the data is vulnerable.

Be careful—as you operate in the light on the World Wide Web, the dark web is there, with its huge contingent of hackers and bad actors. Basically, as people are making payments on your site and you’re collecting data, hackers operating on the dark web can tap in and steal data. They can also steal your internal data. They’re so sneaky, the average data breach takes over 200 days to detect. A third party discovers about 85 percent of breaches.

That’s why it’s very important to prioritize security. You can earn a great deal more money by taking credit payments, but there’s more to lose from threats such as ransomware and other types of malware. Do your best to keep all software up to date, and use a best-in-class data security solution to make sure you don’t fall prey to hackers.

In the next installment, I’ll talk about entrepreneurship, business credit cards, and personal credit cards.

Generation Debt: Hope for Echo Boomers in Trouble

by PATRICIA HolmesPersonal Finance

The children of Baby Boomers have many nicknames: Echo Boomers, the Millennial Generation and Generation Y. With birth dates ranging from 1978 and 1994, Generation Y makes up 60 million of America’s 300 million population.

They’re demanding, technically savvy, ambitious, question everything and, as a group, are in financial trouble. No group has ever started adult life so deeply in the hole, thanks to mounting college costs, dwindling financial aid and credit-card debt. Here’s how Generation Y became Generation Debt, and how they can turn things around.

1. Cushy Upbringings
Raised by Baby Boomer parents who wanted a better life for their children, Generation Y was pampered, nurtured and given everything they needed or simply wanted. It’s no wonder they grew up with a sense of entitlement.

2. Easy Access to Consumer Credit
Consumer credit companies handed out cards to Generation Y like candy, allowing them to instantly gratify their desires with the latest iPod, laptop or phone upgrade. As a result, Generation Y now faces a median credit-card debt of $8,200.

4. College a Must
Many Baby Boomers were the first in their families to earn a college degree. It was only natural they expected their children to follow in their footsteps. A recent survey found 70 percent of Generation Y felt a college degree was a necessity to compete in the shrinking job market.

5. Financing College
Many entered college just as tuition inflation set in and college loans became more difficult to secure, resulting in an average college debt of $20,000.

6. Poor Financial Skills
While they’re technically savvy, many of this generation are financially illiterate. The education system hasn’t kept pace with the increasing complexity of financial products and the easy availability of consumer debt. This attitude is reflected in the 52 percent of Generation Y who say, “Loans were always expensive; I’ll worry about them later.”

7. Necessity of a Degree
High school graduates face fewer jobs and a more-qualified workforce than ever before. Many employers, faced with an overwhelming number of applicants for each job posting, weed down these numbers by requiring a minimum of a BA or BS for even rock-bottom entry positions.

8. Unemployment Statistics
Roughly one-in-five young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 is unemployed, compared with a 7 percent unemployment rate for those over age 30.

9. Poor Debt Financing
With an entire generation facing underemployment or unemployment, many have turned to the bank of Mom and Dad or borrowing from friends to keep their heads above water.

10. No Bail Outs
Recession recovery programs rarely address Generation Y financial concerns. 80 percent of those still in college think the financial bailout won’t provide help with tuition or student loans.

11. Taking the Easy Out
When debt payments become insupportable, many Generation Y members think bankruptcy will provide an easy out. People between ages 25 and 34 make up 22.7 percent of all U.S. bankruptcies. Unfortunately, college loans aren’t forgiven through bankruptcy.

So what’s a generation to do? For those trapped in debt and struggling to get on top financially, Coupon Sherpa offers the following five strategies.

1. Adjust Expectations
Although the challenges facing young people are real, out-sized expectations are a large part of the problem. For example, most people historically don’t buy their first home until they’ve reached financial stability, in their late 20s and early 30s, yet many GenYs took on mortgages at a much younger age.

2. Track Expenses
There’s a reason the rich are rich. They treat their spending like a business and know exactly where each penny is spent. Create a budget and record every expense according to category. Are you eating out too often? Cell phone carrier bill too high? Tracking expenses allows you to see where it’s possible to cut back.

3. Use Online Financial-management Aids
• Yodlee helps you create a budget, track spending, monitor online accounts, create expense analysis charts, and track your net worth.
• Mint is a free money-management tool that allows you to analyze spending, savings and other financial habits. Best of all, Mint offers suggestions for improvements, including showing users how much money they could save or earn by using a credit card with a lower interest rate, earning higher interest from a bank account, buying a less expensive cable service, and more.
• Wesabe combines social networking with money management and tracking capabilities. Users can join groups, set financial goals, and share tips and information with each other.  Wesabe also allows users to create tags for expenditures and automatically label store purchases.

4. Finance College With Minimal Debt
The recession has made it more difficult to obtain private student loans, but government loan programs now offer more loans, more money, and better rates, while increasing tax breaks for parents. An expanded tuition credit for households with up to $160,000 in adjusted gross income could trim as much as $2,500 in taxes. Go Frugal offers five public and private ways to finance college.

5. Face Up to Collectors
Avoiding collectors’ calls or letters will just delay the inevitable and usually make things worse. It’s important, however, to know your rights. Collector may not harass you; falsely imply they represent the government or that you’ve committed a crime; or suggest you’ll be arrested if you don’t pay up.

6. Chip Away at Debt
Aggressively pay down your highest-rate balances while making on-time minimum payments on the others. Your budget will dictate how much you can devote to paying down your balances each month. If possible, use any savings, bonuses or overtime pay to buy-down debt.

7. Educate Yourself
There’s a lot of free help on the Internet. Financial Guru Suze Orman, MSN’s Money Central, CNNMoney.com, and, of course, Young Money are excellent, unbiased resources that don’t push specific products.

8. Don’t Give Up
You didn’t get into debt overnight and you won’t be able to climb out quickly. It takes time and patience, but you’ll find it worthwhile in the long run.


How to make the Most of Your Finances after College

by PATRICIA HolmesPersonal Finance

College graduation is exhilarating. When I walked, and when I threw my hat in the air, it seemed like everything good was happening at once. No more homework, no more stress over exams.

But when freedom hit, it hit hard. Freedom meant I was chained to bills, the looming student loan payments, the constant search for a job to justify my forty-thousand dollar English degree. Rent, utilities, insurance, car payments, loan payments–all of it came crashing down hard. Plus, how was I going to start saving for any important things, such as marriage, buying a house, having kids, retirement?

The college grad who can navigate through the post-grad financial maze might as well be a guru. I made it through, but not without a struggle. I made mistakes. The entirety of what I learned from the mistakes could be a novel. Since there’s not enough room for that here, and your time is money, here’s a more economical take on my findings.

Determine your priorities

When I graduated, I was faced with a choice. Did I want to live in my own place, pay rent, and work to get by while I kept looking for the job I really wanted? Or did I want to move back in with my parents, save money, and pay off debts ASAP? I chose to live in my own place, which lengthened the amount of time it took to pay off loans.

About 72% of the jobs created after the Great Recession went to college graduates. 2.8 million of those jobs pay more than $53,000 a year. You stand a good chance of finding a good job coming out of college, and it’s tempting to want to have as much independence as you can, right away.

But if you want to make the absolute most of your post-grad income, go with the least expensive living situation. That way, you can settle loans as soon as possible. You can start setting money aside, and maybe some of your savings can go toward that awesome trip to Europe or trip around the world you’ve been planning.

Pay off those loans

After you graduate, there’s typically a six month grace period from your lender. I made the mistake of thinking about everything but my loan debt during that time. I simply thought, ‘When the time comes, I’ll start paying.’ I then proceeded to make minimum payments, accruing interest along the way.

Instead, after college, earmark as much of your initial take-home as possible for paying off loans. You’ll pay less on interest overall and will avoid the long-term headache of continuing payments. Schedule auto-debit, which typically comes with an interest rate reduction. If you can, choose a payment plan with the highest monthly payment. The quicker you get debt out of the way the less interest you’ll pay.

If you’ve already been paying on your loans and are feeling overwhelmed, there are several options. You can either consolidate or refinance your loans:

Consolidation   

Pros

  • If you have more than one loan, the federal government can combine them all into one, giving you less paperwork to juggle
  • This will change variable interest rates to a single fixed rate
  • This can lower monthly payments

Cons

  • Lower monthly payments mean you pay more on interest, long-term
  • You’ll lose any borrower benefits you had before, such as interest rate discounts and principal rebates (principal is the total amount you borrowed)

Consolidation is a way to get everything squared so you’re not multi-tasking payments.  Refinancing is a little different:

Refinancing

Pros

  • If you have good credit, a private lender can buy all your loans, consolidate them, and give you a consolidated loan with a lower interest rate  
  • You may end up with a lower interest rate and terms that suit you better than your previous loans

Cons   

  • You’ll lose the possibility of student loan forgiveness that comes with federal loans, and you won’t be able to participate in REPAYE (income-based payment terms)
  • The variable interest rate can rise over time
  • Like consolidation, you’ll lose any of your original borrower benefits

If you’ve been financially sound throughout college and have good credit, refinancing is an option for paying off your loans fast, at a lower interest rate.

Build credit

When I was in college, I opened a student credit card. Seems like a terrible idea. The interest rates on those cards are incredibly high. As an irresponsible student, I was walking into the hot lava that is bad credit.

If you just make minimum payments, the high interest rate on a student card means you’re spending far more than the actual cost of what you buy.

But opening a card and being responsible with it is one of the primary ways for you to build credit. In the future, good credit will open the door for a new house, a new car, a good job. Open a card but don’t owe more than 30% of the limit. Pay it off, and leave the card open. This shows lenders you have a good credit history. Here are some other tips on building good credit:

  • Monitor your credit report–this will keep you aware of what you need to work on
  • Settle debts–payment history accounts for 35% of your credit score
  • Don’t apply for new cards–if you still owe on a card, applying for new ones will cause a credit check, and will hurt your score  
  • Pay bills–if you don’t pay your bills and they go to collections, this hurts your credit; and, if you don’t have any previous credit, FICO can now use your utility bill payment history to determine your score
  • Get a secured credit card–with a secured card, you put down cash and receive a card worth that amount; this helps you build credit

If you can qualify for a cashback rewards card, do it. Just like it sounds, the rewards card pays you money for making purchases. Stay below 30% of your spending limit, pay it off each month, and you’re building credit while you make money.

Explore savings options   

I have always been very loyal to my bank. Looking back, I don’t think this is the best strategy. The interest you earn from a single savings account is paltry compared to what you could be earning by diversifying.

There’s nothing wrong with being loyal to a single bank, it reflects well on you financially and your bank will be eager to give you loans and different lines of credit with positive terms. But the fact is, other banks are constantly offering incentives to open new accounts. Oftentimes, they’re cash incentives.

Furthermore, both a CD and an IRA are ways to save and earn money at the same time. With a CD (Certificate of Deposit):

  • You earn a higher interest rate than with a savings account
  • You promise to keep your money in the account for a certain amount of time
  • If you take your money out, you’re penalized

Optimally, get a CD when the interest rate on it is higher than the Federal Reserve’s short-term interest rate. You’ll make more on the CD than you will with savings.

An IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is specifically designed to set you up for retirement:

  • Through the IRA account you invest in stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and real estate
  • You determine what types of investments will be in the account  
  • You decide how much money to put into the account
  • All the money you make from investments goes untaxed as long as it’s in the account  

With a traditional IRA, your contributions are tax-deductible, but you’ll pay income tax on what you withdraw. With a Roth IRA, your contributions aren’t tax-deductible, but you won’t pay income tax after you take your money out. In both cases, you’ll withdraw your money after age 59 ½. Calculate how much you can afford to save and automate transfers from your checking account to your IRA. You’ll be saving and earning money instead of spending it.

Get a 401(k) and an HSA

I eventually got savvy to both of these, and I don’t regret it. Look for jobs that offer these benefits.

A 401(k) is retirement savings method whereby you set aside a certain amount of your paycheck. Your employer matches your contribution, up to a percentage of your income. This money comes out of your paycheck pre-tax, meaning you don’t pay taxes on it like you do the rest of your income. You also get free money from your employer. The money goes toward investments in stocks, bonds, and money markets.

The HSA (Health Savings Account) also involves a certain amount you deduct from your paycheck, pre-tax. Your employer matches that amount, up to a certain percentage. You then have money to pay for preventive medical checkups. According to Villanova University, this covers medical expenses not covered by your health insurance. As of 2016, the contribution limit for families has gone up from $6,650 to $6,750.

Both the 401(k) and the HSA are great ways to set aside your money for important things and save money on taxes.

How To Write Checks

by PATRICIA HolmesUncategorized

Patricia Holmes, from NorState Federal Credit Union, says checks are “not used as often as they used to be, but they are still used for paychecks by a lot of businesses and for personal transactions.”

For me, check-writing comes in handy every month when I pay rent. Checks make personal transactions easier, too. For example, I pay my roommate in checks for the electricity bill and other utilities, because it’s rare that I have cash on me. 

Holmes says that knowing how to write a check can be useful when electronic payments are not accepted, like for your landlord, or when electronic systems are not working.  Knowing how to read a check is just as important. That way, when you bring it in to cash or deposit at your credit union, or when you’re depositing through mobile check deposit, you can be sure that it will be accepted. 

If the check is not written correctly, the credit union may not cash or deposit your check. In that case, you must go back to the check writer to have it replaced or corrected. Some common mistakes are

  • incorrect date
  • numerical and written amounts don’t match
  • check writer’s signature missing on the front
  • ripped or altered checks
  • and checks written in pencil. 

Financial Aid & Student Loans Gone, Now What?

by PATRICIA HolmesPersonal Finance

Q: How does one go about getting education loans to help offset the cost of college after all financial aid and federal student loans have been issued?

To answer this question, Matt offered an excerpt from his new book Financial Planning for Your First Job.

A: Understanding Student Loans

If you’ve started researching student loans, you’ve probably already discovered the two main types—those that have strict borrowing limits, but offer low interest rates, and those that offer all the money you need (and then some), but charge very high interest rates.  So which type is right for you?  How can you make sure you select the best loan possible and not make a decision you’ll regret later?  It will take research and careful planning, but if you follow the outline provided, you’ll be able to find the right combination of loans to meet all your needs.

FEDERAL VS PRIVATE LOANS

To start the loan selection process you first need to know about the two main types—federal loans and private loans.  Federal loans, also known as Stafford Loans, are provided by the US government and carry a fixed interest rate—currently 6.80 percent.  Federal loans allow the borrower to postpone making principal and interest payments until six months after graduation.  Private loans are not so generous.  They’re less regulated than federal loans and often charge high variable interest rates like credit cards, and the interest starts to accrue immediately.  You should use private loans sparingly, and only consider them when there’s a gap between what federal loans will cover and the final cost of your education.

INTEREST RATE COMPARISON

For student loans, as with most debt, you want to select the loan with the lowest interest rate.  The national interest rate for Stafford Loans is currently 6.80 percent, while the average private loan interest rate is 8.00 percent.  Stafford Loans have fixed interest rates, while the rates on private loans will change over time depending on the lender and market conditions.  The low, fixed interest rates provided by Stafford Loans are an advantage that tips the scale in their favor over private loans.  Use a free website like www.bankrate.com to compare the interest rates for student loans in your area.

HOW TO APPLY FOR STUDENT LOANS

When the time comes to apply for a student loan, you should first meet with the financial aid officer at the school you’ll be attending to learn about all of your financial aid options.  The officer should help you determine if you’ll qualify for federal loans based on your current income and the value of your assets.  If you won’t qualify for federal loans, the officer should provide guidance on what loans you should turn to next, which will probably be a combination of private loans. 

If you’ve narrowed down your list of colleges but haven’t made your final decision yet, make sure you meet with the financial aid officer at each potential school to learn about the different financial aid packages available.  You’ll find that some schools are much more accommodating than others.  Once you’ve done your research, you can apply for a federal loan online by visiting www.staffordloan.com.  You’ll also be required to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.  If you’re applying for a private loan, you’ll need to communicate directly with the lender, which will usually be a bank or credit union.

UNDERSTANDING THE FINE PRINT

If you’ve started researching student loans, you may have seen a few words over and over again, but you may not know exactly what they mean.  It’s important that you understand these words because they can potentially save you thousands of dollars.  The must know words are subsidized, unsubsidized, deferment, and forbearance.

Subsidized: Subsidized loans are loans that the borrower does not have to pay interest on while he or she is still in school.  Instead, a third party (usually the US government) pays interest while the borrower is in school and interest does not start to accrue until after graduation.  You should try to maximize your subsidized federal loans to the fullest extent possible, but beware; these loans are largely based on financial need so you may not qualify.

Unsubsidized: An unsubsidized loan is a loan where the interest starts to accrue immediately, even though payments aren’t due until six months after graduation.  The fact that interest accrues while you’re still in school makes these loans less desirable than subsidized loans.

Deferment: A deferment means the borrower can postpone making principal and interest payments on a student loan if certain hardship conditions apply.  For example, deferment is allowed if the borrower is still in school, unemployed after graduation, or experiencing economic hardship for up to three years.  Even though the borrower isn’t required to make monthly payments, interest continues to accrue unless the loan is subsidized.

Forbearance: A borrower may qualify for student loan forbearance if he or she has difficulty making loan payments on time.  Forbearance is similar to deferment, but it’s granted at the discretion of the lender and documentation is required to prove economic hardship.

COLLEGE FUNDING SUMMARY

If you’ve decided the pay-as-you-go strategy won’t work for your tuition bill and you need the help of student loans, consider using them in the following order. 

 1. Subsidized federal loans
 2. Unsubsidized federal loans
 3. Private student loans

Only consider these options after you’ve met with a financial aid officer and exhausted all possible grants, scholarships, and awards you might be eligible for.

10 Events Make College Kids Grow up Financially

by PATRICIA HolmesPersonal Finance

Coming out of high school there isn’t much to worry about. Most students have been gracefully given a free public education with opportunities to earn dual credit through a nearby community college, opportunities to earn AP credit, and probably making some degree of a salary be it an allowance or part-time job. The majority of students coming out of high school have a clear plate, before entering into college.
Unless students have been taught fiscal responsibility and money management, they won’t know what hit them when they realize what they are paying for and how much it is costing them and not their parents. College education is primarily a solo gig for students, which means loans, jobs and knowing how to manage personal finances. So what exactly is it that forces students to grow up financially? It’s those times when they realize they’re on their own. And it’s just the beginning. And this process of growing up is crucial for one’s personal and financial well being.


1. Usually the first step to opening one’s eyes to the high costs of a college education is seeing an unrealistic and high EFC which creates an all too low estimate of financial aid. Seeing these numbers alongside the cost of tuition for a prospective university is stifling. And it’s frightening, too.


2. Getting a work-study or part time job while going to school. The pressure to succeed in academics while having a job can be stressful, but once students learn to manage time effectively, having a job during college is a great idea.


3. Seeing the money come out of their bank account. This is one of the first reality checks for students who are paying for their own education. And it makes students not only work harder for that money, but work harder in their classes because money can’t be blown for a mediocre class performance. Not only does seeing this money disappear force students to value education more, but it teaches students to value the money they earn along with the hard work behind it.


4. Second semester comes around and students have to take out more money than was anticipated. Another loan means more money to pay off once graduation rolls around.


5. Next is when students start seeking advice from online forums and blogs as to what they can do to prevent going into more debt. Students at this point realize that they need to become more aware of their personal financial situation, so they seek out wisdom from the great world known as The Web. And it delivers through many avenues.


6. Fiscally buying groceries is another eye opener for college students. And another great way that college students learn how to save money! Coupons, cheaper grocers and generic brands are all red flags that students look for when buying groceries once they realize they are tight for finances.


7. Setting a budget with fixed expenses (i.e. tuition & fees, monthly housing, monthly insurance payments, books) and setting a budget with flexible payments (i.e. food and home supplies, clothing, transportation, entertainment).


8. Being constrained to do something because of finances. This could be any activity from going out on a Friday night to studying abroad in Paris for the summer. When a budget is in place there isn’t much leeway for even the smallest activities. And when studying abroad seems hopeful, students visit student financial services and realize more loans would have to be taken out. And who wants more of those?


9. Realizing that winning scholarships isn’t as easy as the winners make it seem.


10. Doing the math to figure out how much each class costs on a daily basis, and being motivated by that large number to never miss a class again.

Verizon Backs Out of Google Wallet

by PATRICIA HolmesPersonal Finance

Google has suffered yet another setback in its attempts to re-imagine electronic payments.

The Associated Press reports that Verizon, one of Google’s key allies in the mobile sphere, has decided not to include the company’s new Google Wallet function in its latest smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

Verizon was integral in the promotion of Android-based phones as an alternative to iPhones, but the company has been slow to warm up to the Wallet app, which is designed to allow users to attach virtual “credit cards” to the phone and pay by simply tapping the phone on a type of reader.

Verizon noted potential security concerns with the new system, but the company’s reticence to adopt the technology likely stems at least in part with its place in ISIS, a group of telecommunications companies that are hoping to create their own mobile payments system.

The only phone currently allowing the use of Google Wallet is run through Sprint, which is not a part of ISIS. The Los Angeles Times notes that the move to block Google Wallet is particularly surprising given that the Galaxy Nexus was designed specifically to have such capabilities.

3 Debt Tips from a Debt Collector

by PATRICIA HolmesPersonal Finance

With the holiday shopping season well underway, the spirit of giving to family, friends and just causes comes with a high cost. According to creditcards.com, the total U.S. consumer debt stands at $2.43 trillion for 2011, and falling into debt during the holidays is a reality for many. In fact, the National Retail Federation found that Americans spent $52 billion on Black Friday shopping this year.

As a leading consumer advocate (www.stopthesecriminals.com), well-respected debt collector and bestselling author (Out of Control: Cases of Debt-Collection Abuse in America & What We Can Do About It), Bill Bartmann is available to help you avoid holiday spending mishaps.

Beware of the phony debt collector…
These days, falling behind on some bills is the new normal since so many people are juggling unemployment checks or part time salaries. But that opens the door for fake collectors to scam people out of credit card numbers and bank account information. According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a debt collector cannot threaten arrest, call you after 9 p.m., at your place of work or contact others regarding your debt. If so, that person may very well be a scam artist.

Don’t be ‘naughty’ with your credit cards…
Credit cards can be useful tools for consumers, but you have to be careful not to abuse them during the holiday season. They can spell a quick slide into unmanageable debt if misused. Creditcards.com reported that the average credit card debt per household was $15,799 and the average annual percentage rate on credit card with a balance on it was 13.10 percent, as of May 2011.

Have no fear; help is on the way…
Not paying off debt can have other consequences besides having to dole out extra cash due to a high interest rate. A lowered credit score can affect your ability to snag a great deal on your next car, appliance, home or other purchases – or may prevent you from obtaining future credit altogether. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 70% of consumers surveyed say they have noticed new credit card disclosures on their bills. But fewer than one-third say this caused them to make bigger payments or stop charging up their cards.

5 Tax Planning Tips to Use Now

by PATRICIA HolmesPersonal Finance

Only a fraction of people prepare as much as they should for tax season. I was burned last year by not saving enough money to pay in April. Jackson Hewitt has decided to give us a few tips so that we are all better prepared.

  • Save more for retirement – By increasing retirement plan contributions, you can reduce your income for tax purposes. Taxpayers can contribute up to $16,500 to a 401(k), 403(b) or Federal Government Thrift Savings Plan; those over age 50 can contribute an additional $5,500.
  • Prepay January payments in December – Taking care of your January mortgage payment, 4th quarter state tax estimate, or winter semester tuition now lets you claim these payments on your 2011 tax return.
  • Get to the doctor – If you are holding off on a major medical procedure until after the holidays, stop procrastinating and make an appointment now to increase your 2011 medical expense deductions.
  • Give to charity – Giving cash and non-cash donations to charity can give back on your taxes. And volunteering time counts too, which means volunteers throughout the country may be able to deduct their out-of-pocket expenses on a tax return.
  • Save energy, save $500 on your taxes – If you are planning to buy an energy saving hot water heater or install energy efficient windows or insulation to your home, do it now.  Up to $500 in credit may be available for making energy-related home improvements.

5 Q’s Before Deciding to Lease!

by PATRICIA HolmesUncategorized

1. How many miles are you planning on driving?

The average lease agreement accounts for 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year. There is a fee for every mile that you surpass the pre-determined mileage. Figure out your commute to work or school, and factor in some extra miles for traveling. If you go over the 10 – 12K mark, maybe leasing isn’t right for you. 

2. Do you care about making modifications to your car? 

If adding spoilers, hood scoops, sound systems, or other modification to your vehicle is important to you, you won’t enjoy a lease agreement. You’re not allowed to make any modifications to the car! 

3. Are you looking to have lower insurance payments? 

There is often a fixed minimum policy requirement for leased vehicles to cover the cost of damage and liability. Find out what the payment will be before getting into a lease! 

4. Is having a new model every few years important to you? 

If you enjoy riding in the latest models, with the latest technologies and features, leasing may be the cheapest way to do that. There are other perks to driving a new leased car, with major repairs being covered by warranty and leasing fees often covering maintenance of the car. 

5. Do you want to build equity in your car so that you can have cash when you decide to sell? 

Building equity means that the payments you are making are going towards your equity in the car. So, when you eventually decide to sell, you will be able to receive some money for the car. 

Make the best choice for YOU! 🙂 

Take care! 

To Lease or To Finance: That is the Question!

by PATRICIA HolmesUncategorized

When it comes to buying a new car, you have three options: purchasing it with cash, purchasing it through a loan (also known as financing) or leasing it. For most shoppers, the decision comes down to buying or leasing.

On the surface, the differences between leasing and buying a vehicle seem fairly straightforward. Leasing a car means you’ll usually have access to a new set of wheels every few years; buying it likely means that you plan to drive the same car for a much longer period of time. Leasing usually includes a warranty that covers most of your repairs; buying means accepting larger repair costs, which are inevitable as the car ages. Leasing agreements can limit your mileage and your ability to customize your ride; buying means you can put as many miles as you want on the car and customize it however you’d like.

Looking only at the comparisons above, you might conclude that buying a car is a more practical and economical option than leasing a car—but if that’s really the case, why are monthly lease payments so much lower (often 40% lower!) than monthly loan payments? Why is leasing considered more expensive in the long term if you’re paying less on a month-to-month basis? To answer these questions, let’s take a look at the concept of depreciation.

Depreciation means a loss of value over time. New cars are a textbook example—you’ve likely heard that a car loses thousands of dollars in value the moment you drive it off the lot. That’s accurate, and that’s depreciation at work (and yes, it can be kind of depressing).

All cars depreciate in value over time, but the steepest drop happens in the first three to five years, as you can see below:

  • Brand new to 5 years old—the car depreciates by 15% to 20% of its value each year
  • From 5 years to 10 years—the rate of depreciation slows slightly to 10% to 15% of its value each year
  • 10+ years—the rate of depreciation tends to level out to less than 5% a year. By this time, the car is usually worth less than one-fifth of its retail price! 

Depreciation takes its toll on the value of every vehicle. However, your decision to lease or buy will have an effect on how that depreciation influences your finances. 

When you finance a car, you own it once you pay off the loan. This means that you personally take the hit on its depreciation, but it also means you also “own” its residual value. Although that value depreciates over time, if there comes a time when you’re ready to sell it or trade it in, you get the benefit of that resale or trade-in value.

By contrast, when you lease a car, you never actually own it. The company that leases the car to you is responsible for selling the car once you’ve completed your lease term. The leasing company also ultimately deals with the car’s depreciation in value. You get to drive a brand new car without needing to think about its loss in value. That sounds pretty great, right? In reality, even though the leasing company deals with the eventual sale of the car, you’re the one who makes up for its loss in value through your monthly payments. That payment includes an estimate of how much the car will depreciate by the time your term is up. Monthly payments are lower because you’re not paying for the entire car—you’re just paying for how much the car will depreciate in those few years that you’re driving it (a period of time when, coincidentally, the car depreciates the most).

When you finance a car, the monthly payments are higher because you are paying for the entire car, plus interest on the loan. When you pay the loan back, your monthly payments stop (unlike leasing payments, which continue as long as you’re still leasing) and even though your car will have depreciated in value by that point, you will own the remaining value. 

As with any major financial decision, there are also other factors that come into play. You need to be realistic about your budget and honest about your lifestyle, and you need to figure out what’s most important to you as a new car owner. How comfortable are you with the limitations set by a lease agreement? How prepared are you to pay for eventual car repairs? Will driving a new car every two to three years be worth thousands of dollars more in the long run? To some people, it might be—it all depends on a combination of your personal needs and preferences.

Young & Free Maine Team

Boost Mobile Black Friday Coupons, Boost Mobile Sale 2014

by Nasr-Eddine VerhaeghSeasonal & Holiday

As phones develop quickly, more and more revolutions have been applied to them, and bring us much more convenience than ever before. So now have you experience the newest type of smartphone? If you feel it too expensive to replace your old phone, Black Friday is the best time to get a new one at an outstanding price. Boost Mobile Black Friday Promo Code helps a lot when it comes to discount. See as follows Boost Mobile Black Friday Sale 2014.

Can’t-Missed Boost Mobile Promo Code 2014:

  • Boost Mobile Free Shipping Coupon Code: You can get any product you buy at Boost Mobile with Free shipping. You can enjoy Free overnight shipping now.
  • Shrinking Payments: With every 6 on-time payments, you can get $5 on your monthly payment, up to $15/month totally.

 

Boost Mobile Coupons and Deals in 2014:

  • Free Gift with Moto G: As a new Droid smartphone, Moto G brings outstanding performance at low price. Get Moto G for only $129.99 with free shipping, plus an additional 50GB of Google Drive storage for two years.
  • Pre-Owned Phones: At Boost Mobile you can enjoy varying degrees of discounts on their certified pre-owned phones. Those smartphones have exceptional prices and are without compromising quality.
  • The Boost Mobile Buyback Program: Send your unused wireless devices to Boost Mobile, and you can receive your Boost account credit if they’re eligible. New and existing Boost subscribers get an account credit for a wide selection of eligible wireless devices. If your equipment does not qualify for a credit, you can still recycle it with Project Connect.
  • Boost Mobile Coupon Code: Receive a unique Boost Mobile promo code to receive a $25 account credit for your each successful referral.
  • HTC One SV is for $279.99 plus Free shipping. And it is also available certified pre-owned – $199.99.
  • Apple iPhone 5c is for $449.99. And the latest iPhone 5s is for $549.99.
  • Phone accessories for phones of various brands’ and of all types start from only $19.9.
  • $50 OFF Select Phones: Save $5o on select phones when you buy it online or in-store. LG Optimus F7 and Samsung Galaxy Prevail 2 are both included in the sale, and you can get them with Free shipping. Offer expires 12/31/14.
  • Up to $60 in Account Credit: New customers who buy and activate on a Boost monthly unlimited plan receive a $60 credit.

 

Choose from Six Plans for Your Phone:

When you buy a brand-new smartphone with Boost Mobile Black Friday Promo Code, choose a suitable plan for it. Boost Mobile provide 6 plans which are implemented for different customer needs.

Monthly Plans：

  • $50 Monthly Unlimited: This package is available for featured phones and includes unlimited talk, text and data. With Shrinking Payments you can reduce your payments by $35/month.
  • $55 Monthly Unlimited: Users of smartphones can choose this plan which gives you unlimited talk, text and data. And you can save up to $15 per month with Shrinking Payments.
  • $60 Monthly Unlimited: This plan is only for BlackBerry phones and includes unlimited talk, text, data and BlackBerry Messenger now with BBM Voice. With Shrinking Payments you can reduce your monthly payment to as little as $45/month.
  • $45 Monthly Unlimited: Users of BlackBerry Curve 9310 are eligible for this package including unlimited talk, text and BlackBerry Messenger now with BBM Voice. Shrinking Payments reduces your monthly payments by $30/month.

 

Daily Plans:

  • $3 Daily Unlimited: Smartphones choose this plan including unlimited talk, text and data at a low daily rate of just $3/day.
  • $3 Daily Unlimited: This one is the same as $3 but is only available for featured phones.

 

Boost Mobile Black Friday promo code is so limited-time. If there is any phone hitting your fancy get it this time, avoiding regretting!