by Jeffrey Taylor

I recently read a newspaper article that car loans are stretching to 7 years and longer. Why is this? Because most car shoppers want to get into the car they want and have a monthly payment in their budget. The dealer knows you are a payment buyer and will do anything to sell you that car.

By Rachel Lane

If you think Harry Potter was going to be the most imaginative marketing plot this Christmas, think again. Each Christmas as consumers look at their finances and investigate the different sources of funding to cover their Christmas shopping, loan companies and credit card providers polish up their marketing tactics and customer service skills.

If you need money to pay bills or make home improvements, and think the answer is in refinancing, a second mortgage, or a home equity loan, consider your options carefully. If you can't make the required payments, you could lose your home as well as the equity you've built up. That's why it's important not to let anyone talk you into using your home to borrow money you may not be able to afford to pay back. Not all loans or lenders are created equal. Some unscrupulous lenders target older or low-income homeowners and those with credit problems. These lenders may offer loans based on the equity in your home, not on your ability to repay the loan. High interest rates and credit costs can make it very expensive to borrow money, even if you use your home as collateral.