Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Two Steps To Avoiding Poverty In NJ

If consumers want to avoid staying poor or becoming poorer, they should avoid several common financial pitfalls. Some of these, like payday loans, are relatively easy to identify and avoid. Other things are not as easy to identify and avoid like buying the cheapest car insurance NJ drivers can find. Consumers should avoid making these common mistakes, but they should also be proactive about their finances. For instance, they should focus on investing as much money as possible in a retirement account.

Several financial products are packaged and marketed to look helpful for consumers. However, they are actually harmful traps. One of the most insidious products currently available for consumers is a payday loan. These short-term loans provide borrowers with fast cash. They are convenient because they are easy to get, and the repayment date is always the same date as the consumer's next payday. However, these loans carry such high fees that they often pull borrowers into a trap. Consumers end up in a cycle where they continuously borrow money and repay it only to borrow it again. Ultimately, they pay the payday lender a large percentage of their monthly income thanks to the large fees. If people are in a real financial bind, they should either bear the consequences of the problem, or they should borrow money from a friend who does not charge such large fees.

Another common mistake that many consumers make is buying the very cheapest car insurance NJ drivers can have. Cheap policies are usually cheap because they do not offer much coverage. They may have very high deductibles. Thus, when the consumer gets in an accident, they are saddled with thousands of dollars worth of payments rather than a simple $250 payment. Many of these cheap policies only cover the risk of collision. If a consumer opts not to have comprehensive coverage, they risk losing their car in the case of an accident. A cheap policy will cost the consumer many times more than the money they allegedly saved on premiums.

Avoiding bad financial products like those is only half of the battle. Consumers also need to be proactive. One of the best things they can do is to save for their retirement. Regardless of how young they are, they should start saving. If a consumer begins saving while they are in their twenties, they will not have to save as much. In fact, their investments will be worth twice as much as they would have been worth if they had waited until their thirties to start saving. Even saving a small amount like ten dollars a week can lead to a healthy retirement savings account.

No one wants to struggle forever, and no one wants to have to work when they are seventy. By making a few smart financial moves, consumers can avoid this eventuality. The first step is to avoid negative financial products. These include payday loans, and they include the cheapest car insurance NJ drivers can afford. These products are made to look helpful, but they are harmful in the long run. The second step is to be proactive about their finances. Small steps can have a lasting positive financial impact.

About the Author

Please visit our website here for more information or visit our blog. Thank you.

No comments:

Post a Comment