Consumer Buyer Guide – Consumer tips and resources.

10 Helpful Tips for Driving Abroad

If you are planning on driving abroad, there are certain measures and precautions that you will need to take. Whether you are taking a weekend holiday to another country or travelling across Europe for a month, these tips can be of great help. There are a lot of things that can go wrong when you drive outside of your country, so it is therefore a good idea to be prepared in every possible way.

1. Check Your Insurance

One of the first things that you should do is to make sure that you will still have insurance cover wherever you are going. Most providers will have a list of countries in the EU where cover is offered or not provided. Take a close look at this list in relation to wherever you plan to go.

2. Opt for Breakdown Cover

European breakdown cover is essential if you are planning on going on a long trip across Europe. You can choose to get a single-trip policy, which basically means that you are covered for one or two trips in the span of a year. If you often travel abroad, you should think about getting a multi-trip policy. This sort of cover will guarantee that you can get help if you break down while driving anywhere in Europe. If your battery suddenly dies, you can call to have a mechanic sent out to jumpstart your vehicle at no additional cost. You could already have breakdown cover with your insurance, so check this before leaving on your trip.

3. Choose Your Route

There will almost certainly be numerous routes that you can take to your destination, but you don’t want to choose just any of them. A lot of people are tempted to select the most direct route, but that isn’t always the best. Make sure that you choose a route that is as safe as possible. Consider some of your options before making a decision.

4. Know the Rules of the Road

It’s also a good idea to know what the rules of the road are wherever you will be travelling. This includes knowing what the speed limits are and various regulations that could affect you as a driver. This could save you from getting some very expensive citations.

5. Bring a Map

While it might seem a bit old-fashioned, it is a good idea to bring a map with you when travelling abroad in a vehicle. If something happens to your phone or GPS device, you can rely on the map to help you figure out where to go. Reading a map is very easy and surprisingly convenient.

6. Don’t Drive When You are Very Tired

If you start to become very tired while driving, get some rest before continuing on. Numerous studies have shown that driving while you are extremely tired can be just as dangerous as driving drunk. This will help you minimize the chances of getting into a bad accident.

7. Consider Car Hire

Those who want to travel abroad but have an older car that isn’t in very good condition should think about choosing a car hire service instead. This will provide you with a reliable vehicle to get you to your destination safely. Remember to look for a car that is fuel efficient so you can save yourself some money.

8. Take an Advanced Driving Course

There are advanced driving courses that you can take to teach you skills that will be very useful when driving abroad. If you want to reduce your risk of an accident, this is definitely a good idea. It could also help you save some money on your car insurance.

9. Do a Quick Check of Your Vehicle

Before you hit the road, it is important that you do a quick check to make sure your vehicle is functioning properly. Check to see if your lights and indicators work as they should. This will prevent any potential issues once you are actually driving. You should also make certain that your windshield wipers are working in case you encounter severe weather.

10. Pack an Emergency Kit

You should have a kit somewhere in your car that contains a few key things, such as a flashlight, first aid kit, water, and blanket. These items can be very useful when you are travelling abroad. Make sure that your flashlight works before heading out. If your car happens to break down on the road, all of these items can be incredibly useful.

Final Thoughts

Travelling abroad in Europe can be very fun and exciting, but you have to take a responsible approach. When you remember all of the tips in this article, you can reduce the chances of something really bad happening. And if you do have any issues, these tips will help minimize your stress.

Tips

Tips for Financing Home Improvements

If you want to build an addition to your house or maybe just remodel your kitchen but don’t have the money, there are numerous financing options to explore. Each of these options has something different to offer everyone. It is important to explore these types of loans so you can select the right one. Many people in the UK borrow money for this exact purpose each year, and there are plenty of great choices. When you know what your options are, you can get the money you need with minimal strings attached.

Explore Your Loan Options

The very first thing you need to do is to know what all of your loan options are. There are many different financing choices you will have for getting funds for a home improvement project.

Unsecured Personal Loans

Many banks, credit unions and private lenders give out home improvement loans. These loans are typically unsecured, which means you don’t have to put any collateral up. If you don’t want to risk losing any of your property, this is the best financing option you have. You will most likely have a fixed interest rate, so it will stay the same for the entire duration of the loan. This will make it much easier for you to budget for the loan, because you’ll know exactly how much you will spend.

Secured Loans

If you need to borrow a larger sum of money for home improvements, you might need to take out a secured loan. These loans require you to put up some sort of property as collateral. Whether it is your home or a vehicle, the property must be of at least equal value to the loan amount. If you do not pay back your loan by the due date, the lender will take possession of your property. It’s important that you take the time o think about this before making a decision. One of the best things about these loans is that the interest rates are usually very low.

Remortgaging

Another option you have for financing home improvements is to remortgage. This will involve trading your current mortgage in for a new one. If you get a good enough deal, you could be left with enough additional funds for your home project. Those who have increased their credit score recently should seriously think about this option. This financing option won’t work for everyone, but it’s still worth looking into.

Go to a Private Lender

Those who go to a private lender for a home improvement loan are much more likely to get approved than going to a bank. There are tons of these lenders that are based online, and they can provide you with large sums of money. As long as you can show the lender a stable employment history and proof of adequate income, you should be able to get the funds you need.

One of the reasons that so many people turn to private lenders for home improvement funding is because bad credit usually isn’t a problem. These lenders tend to care more about how much money you make and your employment status. If you have been rejected for a loan by your bank, this is a great alternative to explore.

Get Your Information Ready

If you want to increase your chances of getting the funds you need from a lender, you need to be prepared. You should be able to clearly and concisely articulate what you plan on using the money for. It’s a good idea to have all the details of your home improvement project worked out before you even apply for a loan. You also need to have proof of income in the form of bank statements or pay stubs. Pretty much every lender will require you to turn over this information, you should get it all organized ahead of time.

Compare Loans

The only way that you will be able to get the best possible deal on a home improvement loan is to compare offers from different lenders. Find out how much interest you can expect to pay with each lender before making up your mind on a certain one. The more research you do into these options, the less you will end up paying on your loan overall. Make sure that you take full advantage of the internet when doing this research.

Apply Online

Don’t waste your time going down to a bank to apply for a home improvement loan. It will take you forever to get the money you need if you are even approved in the first place. There are lots of private lenders that have websites where you can fill out a quick application within minutes. As long as you have all the necessary information prepared, this won’t take long at all. These days most people are applying for loans online because it is so fast and convenient.

Make Sure You Can Afford the Loan

You should never take out any loan if you aren’t confident that you’ll be able to pay it back. Only you know whether or not you are really in a position to borrow a large sum of money. If you have any reservations, take a close look at your finances before applying. By doing this you can potentially save yourself a huge negative mark on your credit later on.

Final Thoughts

Almost anyone who needs funds for a home improvement project can get it one way or another. You will need to closely examine the choices you have so you can select the best one for your financial situation. Make sure that you know exactly how much you will need for your project, because you don’t want to borrow any more than necessary. If you get approved for a loan, take the time to look over the contract carefully before you sign it. You don’t want to get a loan only to discover that there are hidden fees or other things you didn’t know about.

Bank Loans

Steps to Take When You Get Turned Down for a Bank Loan

Nobody ever wants to get turned down for a bank loan, but it does happen from time to time. If your application gets rejected, it is important that you know which steps to follow. There are plenty of ways that you can still borrow the money you need without having to go through traditional financial institutions. Banks tend to have higher standards than other lenders, so you will need to keep this in mind. Just because you have been rejected by your bank for a loan doesn’t mean you have no more options left.

Discover the Reason for Your Rejection

The very first thing that you need to do when your loan application gets rejected is to find out the specific reason. A lot of banks will tell you exactly why your loan application was turned down. Once you have this information you will have somewhere to go when it comes to improving your chances of approval in the future.

If the problem is your credit score, you can work on increasing it as much as possible. There are lots of different ways to improve your credit. If your rejection letter doesn’t specify the reason for the decision, contact your bank personally to ask them.

View Your Credit Report

Those who have had bad credit cited as a reason for rejection should take a close look at their credit report. This report will show you all of the outstanding debts you have and your entire credit history. Take as much time as you need to look through the report so that you can spot any items that shouldn’t exist.

If you happen to see anything on your credit report that shouldn’t be there, you could end up with a slightly higher score. The more you know about your credit, the more realistic you can be when applying for a loan. Everyone should check their credit report and score a minimum of once each year.

Take the Necessary Steps to Work on Your Shortcomings

If your credit isn’t quite good enough, you should do what you can to raise your score. One of the other most common reasons that people get turned down for loans is inadequate income. Those who don’t currently make enough to pay back the loan they need should find ways to increase their income, even if it is just temporarily.

Taking on a second part-time job for a while can potentially boost your chances of getting approved for your loan. The more money you are making, the more confident lenders will be in giving you a loan. The lender needs to know that you make enough money to cover the full amount of your loan by the agreed upon due date.

You can also try making a down payment on your loan to put the lender’s mind at ease. While this isn’t standard practice, it can be a good way for those with income or credit problems to get approval for a loan.

Start Looking into Private Lenders

When people get rejected by their banks for loans due to bad credit, they often turn to private lenders such as Omacl.co.uk for help. There are many of these lenders online, and a lot of them will overlook your low credit score. Despite what many people believe, there are a lot of very trustworthy private lenders to choose from. As long as you take the necessary time to do your research, you should be able to get what you need without any problems.

Apply Online

These days most people who submit loan applications are going online because of how quick and easy it is. You will be able to apply for the loan you need without even leaving your home. It doesn’t take very long time to fill out one of these applications, but you shouldn’t rush through them. Make sure that you take the time to submit detailed and accurate personal information with each application to increase your chances of getting approved. It’s also a good idea to apply early on in the week, as it will make getting a quick response more likely. Most people who submit online applications hear back from the lender within 24 hours.

Learn the Requirements

Each type of loan has different requirements that you will need to meet, and it’s important that you know what they are. By getting this information you will be able to save yourself quite a bit of time and effort. The last thing you want to do is to keep filling out applications when you have no chance of getting approved. Some of the basic requirements for getting a loan in the UK is being over the age of 18, having legal citizenship, and an active checking account.

Compare Loan Deals

It’s never a good idea to rush into getting any sort of loan before you take the time to see what your options are. Make sure that you compare each loan deal so that you get the best overall deal. If you don’t want to end up spending more money on interest than necessary, it will be important to compare loan deals from various lenders. You should be able to get quotes for interest rates from different lenders online pretty easily. This information can be extremely valuable when attempting to save all the money you can on your next loan.

Don’t get Discouraged

You should never get discouraged when trying to get a loan. The fact is that you could have to face quite a bit of rejection before finally getting approved. It’s important to avoid any lender that guarantees approval for all applicants, because it’s more than likely a scam. Not everyone can get approved from every lender, so keep this in mind when going forward. Choose the lenders you apply with carefully so that you don’t end up submitting too many applications in a short period of time. You could damage your credit by sending in a lot of these applications.