Category Archives: Uncategorized

Making Choices For Your Financial Security

Posted on September 22, 2012 by CCFI • 0 Comments

Basic Tips to Plan for Future Financial Security-

Credit Accepted

Keep Your Financial Future Bright!

Most Americans aren’t on the proper path to be financially set for retirement. It requires a lot more planning than simply putting a pile of money into a savings account every month. Requirements for future financial stability differ from person to person, but with a few simple tips and a little bit of careful planning, you can be sure to be on your way to a pleasant retirement.

How to Maximize Your Savings and Your Confidence for Retirement

  • Start as soon as possible. You can never start saving too early. Putting a set amount of money away into a savings account will accumulate greatly over time with the included interest.
  • Treat your monthly savings as an expense. Rather than simply putting the remainder of your monthly balance into your savings, budget it into your expenses, just as you would your electric bill or rent. This will help to reduce the temptation to spend your extra cash on other items. Some banks allow you to automatically debit a savings amount to a retirement account on the day your paycheck is deposited.
  • Do the budgeting work. The temptation may be to save as much money as possible, but if this means taking on higher-interest loans because you can only make smaller monthly payments, the trade-off might not be that good. Balance your expenses to maximize efficiency.
  • Place your savings into a tax-deferred account. The portion of your paycheck that is added to a tax-deferred account will not be taxed until it is withdrawn from the account. This is not just a deterrent to not spend this money — because the tax is based on income level, withdrawing from the account after retirement when you have little or no income will mean that the tax is much smaller.
  • Work with an expert. A financial planner can help you to understand the nuances of financial planning so you can maximize your savings potential and help you to catch factors you may have missed.

Community Choice Financial™ Inc. Can Help You to Start Saving

Community Choice Financial™ Inc. is a commercial service that specializes in helping consumers operate in the modern financial atmosphere. Some of our services include short-term consumer loans, money orders, check cashing, and money transfers. Visit our webpage to learn more about what we do.

… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Financial Consulting, financial education, Financial Planning, Giving Back, money, News, Payday Loans, Prepaid Cards, Retirement Funds, Taxes, Uncategorized

Improve Your Credit Score

Posted on September 20, 2012 by CCFI • 0 Comments

7 Tips to Improve Your Credit Score

Credit Report

If you have a low credit score, you aren’t the only one. Many Americans are facing difficulties acquiring sensible loans or credit cards because their credit scores are too low (FICO credit scores below 620). However, there is hope! Below are some tips on how to monitor and rebuild your credit score.

  • Don’t be afraid to get a credit card. You don’t have to carry a balance on your credit card, but you should have at least one. A secured credit card works too, in which case the bank will extend a credit line based on the deposit you make. If you do this, make sure it’s reported to three credit bureaus.
  • Have an installment loan. Revolving (credit cards) and installment (personal/student loans, auto, mortgage) are two major kinds of credit that can build your score quickly if you handle them responsibly.
  • Pay down your credit cards to keep the overall balance low. Try to keep your balance below 30%—or even 10% if you can—of your credit limit. Try bank alerts to let yourself know when you reach a certain threshold.
  • Check your limit frequently. Sometimes your lender shows lower limits than you actually have available, and sometimes bureaus take the highest recorded balance as an alternative to your credit limit. These practices can make it seem like you’re maxing out a card even if you’re not carrying a particularly high balance. This is why it’s important to know your actual limit so you can address any issues that show up on your credit report.
  • Continue to use older cards instead of opening new ones. Having a long-term credit card that you’ve been making payments on for a long time looks better to credit bureaus than having old, inactive accounts and several newer cards.
  • Learn what to monitor on your credit report. Rather than taking issue with every small discrepancy you find, make sure to keep an eye out for these significant errors:
  1. Late payments or collections noted that aren’t yours
  2. Credit limits on an account are reported lower than they actually are
  3. Accounts listed as unpaid or paid late that you actually paid on time (make sure to keep relevant statements so you can prove this)
  4. Anything marked as “unpaid” that should have been included in a bankruptcy
  5. Negative items seven years or older (ten in bankruptcy) that should have fallen off your report

By following some of these basic practices, you should be on your way to an improved credit score!

… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Bad Credit Score, Building Your Credit, credit report errors, credit score errors, financial education, Fix Credit, Fixing Bad Credit, Giving Back, money, News, Payday Loans, Prepaid Cards, Taxes, Uncategorized

5th Annual Unified Triathlon

Posted on September 20, 2012 by CCFI • 0 Comments

On Sat. Sept 8th, I participated in the 5th annual Unified Triathlon to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics. There were two events, the triathlon, followed by a much shorter course for the Special Olympians. It was a powerful event, despite the 95 degree temperature. All of the triathletes after finishing their event, stayed at he finish line to cheer the real heroes, the Special Olympians. I believe we were all humbled by their performance. We think we give 100%, but these kids compete with so much soul and determination, they put us to shame. To see the joy and accomplishment when they crossed the finish line, made us all think we can train that much harder.

Perhaps the most powerful moment came when Ronnie, a 14 year old boy with Down Syndrome, sang the National Anthem. He was a little off key, and had trouble with a couple of words, but I cannot remember a moving and heartfelt rendition. There was not a dry eye in the crowd, and it was a perfect send off for the triathletes. Everyone was high-fiving him before we hit the water. This is my first involvement with the Special Olympics, but it will definitely be a organization that I will support in the future.

-Robin

… Continue Reading

Filed Under: financial education, Giving Back, money, News, Payday Loans, Prepaid Cards, Taxes, Uncategorized

Avoiding Debt with Cash Advances

Posted on September 20, 2012 by CCFI • 0 Comments

Tips to Avoid Debt When Using Cash Advances

Money

Sometimes you need cash fast due to an emergency or lack of an emergency fund—we understand that. If taking out a cash advance is on your mind, you need to learn how to handle it safely, as it can be costly and provide an opportunity to fall further into debt if it’s not repaid quickly. Below are some tips for using cash advances and an alternative that will benefit you in avoiding the pitfall of debt.

Things to Know Before Money is Taken Out

  • Be familiar with credit card terms. Read your credit card agreement to find out what the exact fees are. If you have any questions, contact a representative. If you need guidance, we at Community Choice Financial™ can discuss the best option for your situation.
  • Realize that your credit card limit is different than your cash advance limit. Research to make sure you are not taking out more money than you should be, which results in high fees and costs you probably will not expect.
  • Don’t risk taking out more money than needed. Maybe you want to pocket some extra cash—don’t do it. It may be harder to pay back in the future. If you do end up needing more money down the line, taking out another transaction is better and safer for your finances.
  • If you haven’t repaid your advance yet, keep spending to a minimum. It’s better to save your money and put it toward the amount you already owe, instead of risking more debt.
  • If you need to take out a cash advance, don’t do it on the card you use most frequently for purchases. Different types of balances on a card often get paid off at a different rate, meaning that purchases you intended to pay off may remain accumulating interest while you pay off the larger cash advance sum. Simply use a card that has a balance of zero.

Be Smart With Your Money

A smart alternative to a cash advance is a small loan. Community Choice Financial™ can provide a way for you to obtain the financial help you need today. In addition, we also offer assistance in finance and credit counseling. Call or email us for more information.

… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Finances, Financial Consulting, financial education, Financial Planning, Giving Back, money, News, Payday Loans, Prepaid Cards, Taxes, Uncategorized

Making Smart Auto Financing Decisions in Today’s Economy

Posted on September 20, 2012 by CCFI • 0 Comments

Borrow Smart in This Recovering Economy

Dollar Sign

Let’s face it, recovering in this economy can be tough; however, borrowing doesn’t have to be thanks to the changing financial landscape. It has taken a few years, but finally interest rates are starting to fall and credit restrictions are loosening, making car financing easier than it has been in quite some time. This can be attributed somewhat to car shoppers who are now planning ahead for their trip to the dealership, reducing the higher trend in the past of impulse buying.

What do you need to do in order to be a smart car shopper? Here are some things we think you should have in mind as you start planning for that trip to the dealership:

◦      Keep to a Budget – Your monthly car payment should be under 18% of your monthly income. Make sure to add in other expenses like monthly fuel and insurance costs when you start planning your purchase. Maybe consider buying a used model if the new car you want is above your ideal budget.

◦      Access Your Credit Report – Looking at a free credit report can tell you if there is anything you should be correcting or anything you should be aware of that may be adversely affecting your credit score. Getting everything worked out with the credit bureaus now makes it easier to finance your car later.

◦      Secure a Pre-Approved Loan – By getting pre-approved for financing before you even start looking for a car, you can go to the dealership with confidence that you know exactly what you can afford. This will enable you to spend your efforts looking at and test driving cars you know will be within your budget. There’s nothing worse than finding the perfect new model only to discover that you can’t secure the proper financing to fit your budget.

◦      Know the Important Terms – If you are going to purchase or finance a vehicle, make sure to brush up on your financial and leasing terms so you understand exactly what you are agreeing to.

◦      Save for a Larger Down Payment – You should make a down payment of 20% regardless of your credit level. This is beneficial in two ways:

▪      If you have good credit, it will reduce the amount of money you end up paying in interest in the long-term.

▪      If you have poor credit, it will increase your likelihood of being approved.

For more helpful tips on securing loans and monitoring your finances in the current economy, contact CCFI today!

… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Dollars, financial education, Financial Planning, fixing credit errors, Giving Back, money, News, Payday Loans, Prepaid Cards, Taxes, Uncategorized

Getting Your Credit Report For Free

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Easy Money • 0 Comments

How to Get Three Credit Reports a Year for Free

For anyone concerned with maintaining their financial health, it is very important to keep tabs on your ongoing credit rating. At Community Choice Financial™ Inc., we’re serious about your credit status and financial security. Our commitment to providing responsible services and solutions to consumers is unmatched, and we specialize in helping you deal with day-to-day finance matters. Since being aware of the contents of your credit report is essential to keeping a close eye on your credit score, we recommend that you take advantage of this easy method to get three free credit reports over the course of a year.

The Real Deal, No Strings Attached

Credit Score

A credit report will list all the credit accounts and loans you have outstanding, along with a record of your monthly payments. This is highly useful information, in part because you will be able to see if there are any accounts linked to you that you know nothing about. By reviewing your credit report, you will also be able to correct any discrepancies that appear due to neglect or malicious activity such as identity theft.

By law, annualcreditreport.com is the only authorized service from which you can get a free annual credit report. Three major agencies — Equifax, Experian, and Transunion — compile financial information from which your credit report is generated. To ensure that you get a report from each of the major credit agencies, it is suggested that you set yourself a schedule of three dates (with 3-4 months between each), and visit annualcreditreport.com on each of those dates to request your report from one of the agencies. On the next date, request from a different agency, and on the last, get your report from the remaining service.

It’s simple, easy, and best of all, it’s free. Plus, you will have all the information you need to monitor your credit situation.

Trust CCFI for All Your Financial Needs

We are happy to provide essential financial products and services, specializing in

offering prepaid debit cards, check cashing, short-term loans, and money transfers. Our network includes 12 brands with 492 retail outlets in 14 different states. When you visit one of our locations, you will have access to a host of responsible financial services and helpful products that you can depend upon. Let the professionals in the Community Choice Financial™ Inc. network help you today!

… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Bad Credit Score, Credit Card Tips, Credit Denied, Credit reports, financial education, Financial Planning, Giving Back, money, News, Payday Loans, Pre Paid Credit Card, Prepaid Cards, Taxes, Uncategorized

Learn All About How Your Credit Score Affects You

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Easy Money • 0 Comments

Regaining Control of Your Credit Score

good credit bad credit

Good Credit Or Bad Credit? Which Path Will You Take?


A credit score is an inescapable thing in today’s modern society, for better or for worse. Learning to manage your credit score is important not only for your current financial situation, but also to help you build good, long-lasting financial habits. It can be difficult to crawl out of bad credit, but like most things worth fighting for, with persistence, it can be done!

What is a Credit Score?

All payments you make, from home and auto loans to utility bills, are tracked by credit agencies. Your timeliness in making these payments affects your overall credit score. Payments made on time improve your rating, while truant payments hurt it. A good rating can help you qualify for loans with low interest rates, while a poor rating does the opposite, limiting you to options with higher rates.

Recovering From a Bad Credit Rating

  • Know your credit score. A credit check is available free online every 12 months. This detailed report will tell you when/where late payments have been made and can be a good indicator of your financial habits.
  • Work on reducing your debt. This may sound obvious, but reducing your debt will help to increase your credit score and financial freedom. It may be difficult, but regular, timely payments are the only way to rebuild your credit.
  • Set up payment reminders. Online banking has made paying bills easier than ever. Many online programs allow you to set up monthly reminders to pay bills and even allow you to set up an automatic withdrawal for these payments.
  • Work on getting current with your bills. If you have missed payments, get them sorted out as soon as you can — otherwise, you will continue to be considered behind on what you owe, even if you haven’t missed a payment since the initial issue. Past credit problems created by overdue bills count less toward your credit score than recent on-time payments, so staying current is a great way to rebuild your rating.

Community Choice Financial™ Believes in the Power of Financial Education

Community Choice Financial™ specializes in financial services, including short-term consumer loans and check cashing. We believe that knowledge is the key to navigating today’s financial market and staying fiscally healthy. Visit us on the web to see what we can do for you.

… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Bad Credit Score, financial education, Financial Planning, Fixing Bad Credit, Giving Back, News, Payday Loans, Prepaid Cards, Taxes, Uncategorized

How To Correct A Credit Report With Errors On It

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Easy Money • 0 Comments

Correct a Credit Reporting Error With Help From Community Choice Financial™ Inc.

If you’re looking for instruction on how to correct a credit reporting error, then you’ve come to the right place. At Community Choice Financial™, Inc., we pride ourselves on helping consumers manage their day-to-day financial needs, providing a variety of banking services through a large network of retail stores in 14 states. Of course, your credit score determines your ability to get a loan at a good rate, and we’re here to help make sure that you have the highest score possible. Errors on your credit score can unfairly damage your credit score, and so it’s obviously a good idea to rectify the situation — we’d like to discuss how.

Credit Score

Check Often To Keep Your Credit Score High!

Correcting Errors on Your Credit Report

If you’re in need of instructions on how to correct a credit reporting error, take heed: once you notice an error, you should act right away to get it taken care of. After all, a low credit score can have a broad impact on your ability to get any type of credit. Here’s how you fix those errors.

Contact the credit bureau in writing to report the information that you believe to be inaccurate. Because of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the credit bureau must investigate the allegation within thirty days. In your letter, include copies of the applicable documents. Include your full name and address, state the facts of the case, and request a correction or deletion. Send the letter via certified mail and keep copies of everything.

Next, write to your creditor to explain that you’re disputing a given entry with the credit bureau. Again, you’ll want to be sure to include all applicable documents to your claim. You should request that the creditor send you a copy of any related correspondence they send to the credit bureau. Overall, the entire process should take between one and three months.

Choose Community Choice Financial™, Inc.

Do you need more help figuring out how to correct a credit reporting error? Do you need any other kind of banking or credit assistance? Then all of us at Community Choice Financial™ Inc. will be happy to help. You can reach us by clicking the Contact Us tab on our website — we look forward to assisting you with your banking needs.

… Continue Reading

Filed Under: credit report errors, credit score errors, financial education, fixing credit errors, Giving Back, News, Payday Loans, Prepaid Cards, Taxes, Uncategorized

Repaying Your Student Loans

Posted on September 16, 2012 by Easy Money • 0 Comments

Handling Student Loans: Helpful Tips From Community Choice Financial™ Inc.

With the ever-rising cost of a college education, more and more students are choosing to use student loans in order to pay for tuition, room and board, and textbooks. Student loans can be a blessing to those who have no other way to finance their education — but with the uncertainty of your financial status after graduation, they can quickly become a curse. CommunityChoiceFinancial is here with some helpful information for dealing with trouble when it comes to repaying your student loans.

Credit Score

Repaying Your Student Loans Helps Your Credit

What to do if You Have Trouble Repaying Student Loans

If you should happen to miss a payment, it’s important that you contact your lender as soon as possible to talk about the possible repercussions. It is typical to receive late fees if you miss a payment, but taking care of the problem sooner is always better than later. If you find yourself in a situation where you aren’t able to make your full student loan payments each month, you can contact your lender to ask about the possibility of changing your payment plan. Extending your repayment plan can reduce your monthly payments, but you are likely to end up paying more in the long run.

If you’ve yet to land a job after you graduate and can’t make any payments towards your loan, you may have the option to defer your loan for a period of time. This basically just postpones when your payments start, but generally the loan will still accrue interest during the deferment period. You can contact your lender to find out about the availability of such deferment options. It is important that you take some form of action if you find yourself unable to make your payments, as you could end up paying a large sum in late fees and your loan could eventually go into default. Your credit rating could also suffer, which will make it more difficult to get good rates on future credit-based purchases such as cars and mortgages.

Community Choice Financial™: Your Source for Reliable Financial Information

If you would like more information about handling your student loan debt or are having trouble with any area of your personal finances, contact Community Choice Financial™ today. We take pride in helping people understand their financial situation, and we will work hard to help you in any way that we can.

… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Bad Credit Score, financial education, Giving Back, News, Payday Loans, Prepaid Cards, Repaying atudent Loans, Repaying Education Loans, Stafford Loan, Taxes, Uncategorized

Should I Get A Pre Paid Credit Card Work?

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Easy Money • 0 Comments

The Benefits of Using a Prepaid Credit Card

Pre Paid Credit Card

A Pre- Paid Credit Card Can Help You Control Your Spending


As your source for financial services, Community Choice Financial™ believes that the educated consumer is a better consumer, and we do our best to keep people informed of their financial options.

How Does a Prepaid Credit Card Work?

It can be incredibly difficult to get by in the world today without the convenience of a credit card — but for a variety of reasons, there are still quite a few people who don’t have access to one. Whether you’ve decided against a traditional credit card out of a feeling of financial responsibility or you’ve been denied due to your credit history, at Community Choice Financial™, we want to give you access to the same benefits that cardholders have.

A prepaid card is branded, usually with Visa or Mastercard, sometimes American Express, and is loaded with money to be used where credit cards are accepted. You’ll deposit money onto the card, much like you would a gift card, and then as you use the card, money will be deducted from that balance. It’s as simple as that.

Taking care of a prepaid credit card is a lot more like using a checking account than using a traditional credit card. You won’t have to worry about interest, late payments, or those painful finance charges that can show up on your bill unexpectedly, because what’s in your account is all you can spend.

Now, there are a few fees to be aware of when using a prepaid card. The credit companies need to be able to afford the services they’re providing after all, but they’re usually very minimal and definitely worth the convenience of having access to a credit card.

Prepaid cards are also a great idea for parents to give to their college-aged kids, to give them some financial security while still controlling the purse strings.

Let Community Choice Financial™ Help You Today

We have a network of nearly 500 retail locations in over a dozen states to give consumers like you access to convenient financial services for management of day-to-day needs. We provide services such as short-term loans, prepaid debit cards, money transfers, bill payments, and more. If you have any questions about how we can help you, don’t hesitate to contact us now. Just fill out our convenient form under the “contact” tab on our website, and you’ll be all set to hear from one of our finance experts.

… Continue Reading

Filed Under: Bad Credit Score, Building Your Credit, Credit Card Tips, financial education, Fixing Bad Credit, Giving Back, News, Payday Loans, Pre Paid Credit Card, Prepaid Cards, Taxes, Uncategorized
Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Sitemap
Powered by Launch Digital Marketing - Copyright © 2013 Easy Money™
Customer Notice: Loan services should be used for short-term financial needs only, not as a long-term financial solution. Customers with credit difficulties should seek credit counseling.

A deferred presentment loan is typically for two to four weeks. However, borrowers often use these loans over a period of months, which can be expensive. Deferred presentment loans are not recommended as long-term financial solutions.