Posts Tagged ‘credit crunch’

The credit crunch is starting to bite. These really are unprecedented times in the world of finance. Many household companies have either gone to the wall or have been sold off on the cheap; others have had to be saved by our own Governments with a certain amount of help from us the taxpayers. Stock markets from around the world are falling like a pack of dominoes, the Dow Jones falls and the rest seem to follow. As strange as it may seem this could potentially be a good time to attempt to deal with and to eradicate your debts. How? Well I will be explaining just how in the following article.

Please note that I am in no way a financial adviser and that the above should not be seen as financial advice. As a career I sell cheap holidays and composite doors; I also offer stuttering advice on a part-time basis.

Many financial companies such as the major high street banks are desperate for money and many have held rights issues in an attempt to obtain extra funds. They are no longer pleased to see people failing to make their loan, credit card and mortgage repayments. They want you to pay as they need the money.

If you have become embroiled in debt and are basically in a dire financial state, now is the time to own up to your problems. This can be done via a respected debt management program or people have been known to speak with their creditors themselves.

So what should you say when you contact one of these companies? Just do not tell any lies. Tell them that you are unable to cope with the extent of your debt but that you are determined to deal with the situation. You can request that they freeze the interest and charges on the debt and that they arrange an affordable repayment program. Let them know that you want to start to repay the debt but that the current repayments, plus the interest, plus the charges, are basically strangling you. You would like to pay an amount that is affordable rather than just keep burying your head beneath the sand by paying nothing.

Remembering the fact that these companies need your money will enable you to stick to your guns, the companies may at the outset seem rather unwilling to agree to such a deal but again state that you are just trying to tell the truth and that you are trying to put things right.

With the economic forecast looking as gloomy as it does you’d be forgiven for thinking that new bed purchase you’ve been hankering after is never gonna happen. It is fair to say that people tend to hold back on buying “big ticket” items at these times. However, if you are clever about it you can actually use the situation to your advantage and get some really good deals.

Here are my tips on buying furniture in the credit crunch:

1.    Get it for free. In recent years the concept of recycling and swapping unwanted furniture has really taken off on the internet. Make sure you check out sites like freecycle.org, gumtree.com and craigslist.com and see what’s available in your area. You can’t be too picky but you might find the perfect item at the best possible cost – nothing at all!

2.    Don’t dismiss second hand stores. Now is not the time to be snobbish. You might be pleasantly surprised at the standard of items you can find at a decent second hand store. OK so not all of the stuff you find there will be particularly new, stylish or well kept. But I’ve often come across some really solid pine and painted furniture at my local YMCA store!

3.    Bargain Bargain Bargain. The financial situation means the time is ripe to bargain on the final price, even in the large, established department stores. These big chains are falling overthemselves in desperation for your business. Trust me – sales assistants at these places are prepared to throw in discounts to win your business. If you want to pay a little less for that dining room furniture set, just ask them to knock some money off. You’ll be surprised at just how often they agree.

4.    Go online. The past few years have seen a lot of online furniture suppliers spring up. They can very often save you a lot of money. Often you can find the same pieces on a web-only store as you do in the big showrooms, at a much cheaper price. Don’t take my word for it – just look at the stats. In 2009, online furniture sales increased by 31% when compared to the previous year.

5.    Find a local supplier. You might not have thought so but smaller furniture suppliers can often be cheaper than the big chains. For starters, they tend to be friendlier and more willing to get you a good deal. Also, you often find beautiful handmade furniture made with solid wood rather than the mass produced veneer you get in the big stores. I’m speaking from experience here – I recently came across a gorgeous showroom close to where I live, offering great white bedroom furniture and accessories. I ended up stocking up my entire bedroom from there!

So don’t be too quick to dismiss those big purchases because of the financial crisis. You could end up with a great deal

This credit crunch is starting to bite. Recognised companies are going to the wall unable to continue and compete in the current downturn. Rock solid firms are also folding after being unable to borrow the money that they have become accustomed to lending. Unemployment rates are going through the roof, doom and gloom is starting to set in up and down the country. So when will this credit crunch end?

Before I continue I should really point out that I am by no means a financial expert and that I do not work within that particular business sector. I am personally involved with offering cheap mobile calls; I also work with a company who sell front doors and I help people to overcome stuttering.

I would prefer to not add to the doom and gloom however I happen to think that 2009 is going to be a rather tough year, financially! If you can keep your job then you should feel quite privileged and proud as this should the number one priority at this current time. At the moment there seems to be far too much chatter going on and not enough action – this is something that needs to change and change fast if we are going to emerge from this mess any time soon. In the UK we had a reduction in the rate of VAT tax, what a waste of time that proved to be.

What we need is the government to start underwriting some of the lending. The banks seem unwilling or unable to offer people credit so what is the point in keeping pumping money into them. Small and large businesses, individuals and corporations, should be able to apply to a central government department for their required funding. Yes I understand that this would or could be a burden on the tax payer but this, for me, is the only solution.

As for the question of when things will improve, I actually believe that in the early part of 2010 we will see the start of the recovery. I also feel that the UK government will adopt a similar idea to the one above and that that could be the catalyst for things to improve. Gordon Brown will be desperate to succeed in this massive test and if he is able to he will go down in history. I for one wish him all the best.

When Will This Credit Crisis Ease?

They talk about the green shoots of recovery; well I have not seen any, have you? I personally think that it is a form of increase confidence trick; an attempt to make people believe that the worst of this current recession is over.

They, and when I say they I am talking about the Government and business leaders, are no doubt hoping that this new confidence (false as it undoubtedly is) will spur people on to start spending money again; to start buying houses etc. Until these so called “leaders” realise that this crisis will only start to ease when the banks and building societies start to lend money again, the better. Already we hear stories of the bankers going back to their bonus culture, will they never learn? The bigger question is why are the Government allowing them to make the same mistakes again when we, the taxpayer, are the major shareholder? What our great country needs is a strong hand at the top, a person who can be a “real leader”.

Now I am not some financial whizz kid who thinks he has all of the answers. I am in fact just an average working class guy from the UK who runs a web promotion company and who also has a partnership in a company that offers a professional DVD duplication service. I do however watch and listen in amazement at times when I see what some of the politicians and greedy bankers say – they really are not in the real world – they probably would have absolutely no idea as to the average cost of a pint of milk or loaf of broad – they are complete jokers and a waste of space.

I personally believe that this current credit crisis will last until the end of 2010, at least. I know that this seem rather negative but it is just my opinion on the situation. I may well revise my opinion if we were to change in Government or a new stronger, dynamic leader? Bring in Vince Cable I say as the new Labour leader!