http://www.paydaypolice.com/n8.html Instant payday loans aren't the only solution to your financial problem. Payday Police have provided alternatives to taking out an instant payday loan and risking financial security. en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EDT Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 Payday Police Alternatives Searching for an instant payday loan may not be the best solution to your money problem. Believe it or not, a payday cash loan can put you further into debt. The FTC and Payday Police urge people to consider these alternatives before taking out a payday loan : Try to shop around for credit. Compare the APRs, finance charges and fees. Ask you employer for a pay advance Consider a small loan from you credit union or bank Ask a family or friend Ask creditor for more time to pay the bills Suggested Ways To Avoid Payday Loans Create an Emergency Account Creating an emergency savings fund is critical to securing your financial future. You should not have to take an instant payday loan out every month to meet your financial obligations. What's mandatory is that you consistently put money away and only use it for true emergencies. Experts recommend treating your savings as another monthly bill you are obligated to pay. Once the savings is started, many people consider limiting their access to prevent any attempts to spend the money. Keeping cash in an available account requires great discipline. However, it is an effective way to eliminate the need to take out an instant payday loan . When you understand how your money is being spent it is easier to budget. Eventually you will not need to apply for a quick payday loan. Payday Police Money Management Helpful Hints Taking out an instant payday loan can be easily avoided with self- management and discipline. There are ways to prevent yourself from coming up short at the end of each month. Unfortunately, many people have trouble controlling their spending habits or simply don't know how to correctly allocate their funds. To have stronger financial security, the Payday Police Department suggest people: Save pocket change and rebates Only use credit for true emergencies Pay bills based on your budget. If there is extra money, pay more than you owe Keep track of your budget Find creative ways to keep yourself motivated Do You Still Want A Loan... Read This! Payday Police wants to give you the tools to investigate instant payday loan services and choose the appropriate program for your needs. Understanding what is expected of you and what you are borrowing is essential in preventing debt. Review the terms below to familiarize yourself with the payday loan industry. Annual Percentage Rate (APR)- annual rate charged to the borrower as a fee for lending money, usually expressed as a percentage. (ie. APR of 6.5% = $65 per $1000 borrowed) Assets- items you actually own Default- failure to meet a financial obligation. Interest- amount charged to the finance company to borrow money Principal- amount borrowed Taken together, these ingredients will cook up a potentially lethal, fast payday loan, so know your loan, know your dealer and be sure that if you are going to use payday advances, at least use them in the safest way possible - the right way! Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EDT