Articles Index - page 3
Co-Signing - How to Find a Co-Signer
Co-signing happens when somebody promises to back up a loan for somebody else. If you apply for a loan and you don’t qualify, you may need a co-signer. This person’s strong credit or higher income may help you qualify for the loan you want. This page discusses co-signing from a borrower’s perspective.
Co-Signing - Before You Co-Sign a Loan
Co-signing happens when somebody promises to back up a loan for somebody else. Somebody may ask you if you’ll co-sign a loan for them. They’re asking you to become legally liable to pay off a debt if they are unable to pay it off themselves. This page discusses co-signing from a co-signer’s perspective.
Loan Deferments
When you are unable to repay a loan, you may go into deferment. Different loans have different requirements, so you’ll want to investigate your loan before attempting a student loan deferment. This page summarizes the concept of deferment so you can better understand whether or not you’re eligible – and if it’s a good idea.
In School Deferment
In school deferment allows you to temporarily suspend payments on your student loans while you are in school. Your “in school” status is triggered by enrolling at least half time in an eligible institution. To begin an in school deferment, you must submit a request through your lender.
Unemployment Deferment
Unemployment deferment allows you to temporarily suspend payments on your student loans while you are unemployed. “Unemployment” is triggered by working less than 30 hours per week. To begin an unemployment deferment, you must submit a request through your lender.
How Amortization Works
Amortization is the elimination of a debt over time. With an amortization schedule, you can see how payments are applied to principal and interest. This page explains amortization, and then you can generate an amortization schedule with our free online calculator.
What Can I Use My Loan Money For?
A lot of borrowers ask what they can use loan proceeds for. When taking on a loan, some people get more money than they actually need. More brazen borrowers take a loan out without any desire to use the loan for its intended purpose. Some people want to invest the money and earn more than the interest rate they’re paying for the loan (earning a ‘spread’).
Simple Interest and Simple Interest Calculations
Simple interest is the most basic type of interest. In order to understand how various types of transactions work, it helps to have a complete understanding of how interest works. We'll cover the basic idea, the simple interest calculation, and the limitations of simple interest.