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running-with-kn1ves · 1 year

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Modern AU! Alcina Dimitrescu X GN! Reader

A/N: thank you my 3 women loving followers for your support, here is a self indulgent dominant lady fic.

Content Warnings: dubcon/noncon, NSFW, GN reader in lingerie/tied up, violence, manipulation, gaslighting, yandere themes, scratching, power imbalance.

Synopsis: Your fiance who is powerful in more ways than one, comes back home to punish you for your recent getaway attempts.

Word count: 2300

Alcina Dimitrescu didn’t have much time in life for simple pleasures.

When it came to her evenings and weekends, she was often still slaving away in her office, making sure each report and data chart was made with precision-- the precision that shaped her company and financial success. Her routine consisted of 7 shots of espresso and yelling at languid underlings who dared to be useless in her presence, which took up a great chunk of her day when she wasn’t staring at monthly stock reports and hundreds of emails.

Alcina had just finished up the last of her work long past office hours, leaving the tall woman with a more than ill-tempered mood. She was never one to be ignorantly carefree or without a dash of skepticism, but today had shown a more than sour side of the CEO.

So when the exhausted woman busted through the door with stray hairs sticking out of her business-casual hairdo, dark circles shadowing underneath her eyes-- she couldn’t help but look to the nearest thing to relieve her tension. Unfortunately, the first thing she set eyes on was the closed bedroom door.

The front door to her penthouse shut with a loud echo, the bedroom door ripping open next in the same pattern. Alcina set down a set of folders and her purse on the bedroom vanity desk, not shedding a glance at your helpless form on the bed.

Her sudden presence was a vast change from the silence you had grown accustomed to, only ever sensing the tick of a clock and the hum of the fridge which nearly drew you to insanity. These past 7 hours bound-- with your hands and feet tied to the edges of the bed-- had made your mind drone. The dark of the blindfold wrapped around your eyes made you rely on your ears, which found it very easy to sense Alcina’s loud entrance.

You immediately tensed, recognizing the specific click, click, click of the black high heels she wore every friday.

“Please--” You begged, rubbing your tied ankles together in an attempt to break free of your restraints. Nothing good could come from her presence back home, and you weren't prepared to take in the consequences she would soon give out.

You had attempted that morning to get to the airport and travel as far as possible from her, having won your autonomy back from the woman after behaving civilly and remaining by her side since the proposal she pushed upon you. But this attempt had destroyed any future advantages, showing you were yet to be trusted by her after she caught you triggering the front door security alarm at dawn, suitcase handle in hand. After binding you to the bed, Alcina made sure you were very aware that further punishments would ensue as soon as she got back from work.

Beforehand, you had remained mostly compliant in your relationship with Alcina. She didn't deprive you of your belongings or most of your freedoms upon her relocation of you to her apartment; she only remained vigilant on denying you the ability to leave home without her, nor to become unfaithful. But this new attempt to flee had shown your true colors of fear, thus stripping you of every perk she let you keep upon your engagement.

You began to feel your sobs crack again in your mouth, but you kept it shut to shove them down. Even as you weakly tussled with the rope around your limbs, Alcina didn’t pay much attention. She was too busy flipping off her high heels and removing her coat blazer to pay much mind to your upset state.

But once your desperate pleas left your mouth once more, your hands shaking as you felt the rope rubbing your raw wrists, Alcina began to grow annoyed.

She gave a light slap to your thigh.

"Stop this instant."

You did as she said with a recoiling leg, flinching at the sudden touch you couldn’t see. The woman grabbed the rope keeping you tied to the footboard, sitting on her knees upon the bed to remove the rope from your bare ankles. Your feet had turned a bruised color from hours of rubbing against the rope; Alcina ran her fingers tenderly across the chafed flesh. You flinched again, this time from the shooting pain.

With the last knot undone, your feet were finally free. Just from a simple maneuver of her hands, the businesswoman put your poor attempts from the past several hours to shame.

“There, better now are we?” You gave a small nod, feeling like a cornered dog waiting for her to strike and you to bite out of fear. Alcina grabbed your shins, pushing them away from your weak, limp legs. “Now, open up for me.”

Her gentle sternness made you almost think you were out of the clear-- that maybe she decided your miserable day in dark isolation was enough of a reprimand. But as she widened your legs and came closer, you doubted yourself.

Hot breath fanned over your inner thighs, soft hands coming to massage your hips.

“No--!” You gasped, trying to shut your legs. You had dealt with this specific punishment before, and were not keen on facing it again.

“You don’t have a choice, dearest--” Her voice was laced with annoyance, hissing her syllables as her strong hands fought against your instinct.

“I don’t think you want to see what happens if you keep disobeying,” Alcina heightened, squeezing your ass with a tight grip of her palm.

You reluctantly opened your legs again, though not nearly as wide as she had previously pushed. The woman forced your slow movements to speed up with a harsh grip, yanking your legs open as you quivered.

“Will you p-please untie my hands now..?” You shakily asked.

You weren’t nearly as meek as the first time Alcina grabbed you in such a manner-- but you couldn’t help to naturally stutter at how the woman roughly handled you.

Alcina hummed, breath fanning over your stomach. She took a moment to answer, dragging her hand up underneath the cute red underwear you had been forced to shamefully wear. You had been dressed in this humiliating lingerie get-up since this morning when she decided to fulfill your punishment, and Alcina couldn’t help but deliciously eye you and the lingerie set, completely decked out with thigh garters and ribbon.

“That’s quite a daring question from someone in your position.” She said bitterly.

You kept your mouth shut after that, firmly pressing your lips together as you anxiously awaited to negotiate more terms of your punishment. But Alcina didn’t seem quite up for talking.

The businesswoman leaned in between your legs, her nose pressed against your underwear as she gave a nuzzle into your crotch. She seemed to be tempting you, waiting for your touchy gasps to arrive; she knew how sensitive you were once she could get you going. You kept your legs firm and steady against the sheets, knees leaning inward as you tried to stay calm.

“Please Alcina-- I’m sorry I just--”

You tried to talk to her, but the woman’s hand suddenly came to meet your clothed sex, rubbing gently as you talked.

“I don’t know what got… got a hold of me,”

You tried to justify your actions of leaving to her, but couldn’t help sense the slow, pulsating sensation of pleasure she was pulling from you. Her chilled hands refused to give you the warmth and enjoyment of an embrace, coldly searching for that rhythm that would turn you to putty. She held your hip with her other hand firmly, gripping so you could feel the nick of her sharp, pedicured nails. Alcina wanted you to feel pain, to feel pleasure you could never replicate alone or with another soul-- and to pull it away to leave you begging.

“I promise it won’t happen again, so please unt--”

“Quiet!” Alcina roughly pulled your body closer to her, your arms straining against the headboard. Her cupped hand came to meet your awakening sex, rubbing full, slow circles as she stared at your wincing face. "You defy me after all I've done for you… the privileges you've been given, the time I've exhausted,"

You whimpered as she began to circle around the wettening spot on your underwear with the pad of her thumb.

"I come home after providing for you, to this. To an ungrateful little tantrum."

Alcina's subtle accent grew the more frustrated she got, her hand removing from your twitching pelvic bone as she grabbed the bottom of your thighs. Her sharp fingernails dragged down the supple flesh, thin lines of peeking red forcing your face into a grimace.

You had been Alcina Dimitrescu's fiancé for some time now, one that she easily managed to keep under her paw with domineering threats and promises of a good, wealthy life. No matter if she enjoyed the taste of your blood a bit more than normal fiancés did, or held more power in the relationship than most, that was all trivial when it came to the meat of your relationship. And yet, you still defied her, still dared to bashfully turn away when she offered you affection, and attempted to “escape” her clutches. She was hurt, more hurt than you would ever know, but she wouldn’t dare show that to you. Not when you had yet to be reprimanded for such unacceptable actions.

No fiancé of hers would act this way, in public or otherwise. She knew how good you could be, how obedient… and she would do what it took to remind you of your place.

"I'll show you what happens if you dare to leave my side.”

Alcina’s claw-like nails ripped the pretty lace that was your underwear, cutting the flimsy garment to reveal your bare skin.

You felt the sharp sting of Alcina's hand on your buttocks once more with a jolt, sensing she was getting closer as the bedsheets rustled. You had still been stripped of your sight, adding to your fear and impatience to be released. Tension was building in your lower half with every stroke of the CEO's palm in an attempt to begin your torture. She planned to bring you from orgasm to orgasm, denying breaks or moments to recover in a meticulous attempt to change your most pleasurable moments into ones of suffering and sensitivity. It wasn't the first time she used overstimulation against you, and probably wouldn't be the last. It was by far her favorite method of punishment, despite its necessary patience.

The businesswoman let out a sadistic, low chuckle. It was almost mocking, a small ‘poor dear’ escaping from her lips as she ran her fingers up your navel, tip-toeing like a lover would.

“I want you to apologize.” Alcina demanded, her fingers now caressing your lips, as her knee moved to spread your legs further.

“I’m sorry--”

You were abruptly cut off by the sudden feeling of a large thumb forced past your words, swirling against the stickiness of your tongue.

“Shh.” Alcina tsked. “I don’t want to hear it from your lips.”

You let out a low groan at the sensation of her finger exploring your mouth, touching your teeth with the lightest graze, daring to gently rake her nail over your tongue.

“Show me with your body.”

The businesswoman’s other hand went to your now exposed sex, her closed mouth humming as she looked down at the mess you made. She played with your aroused lower half in a delicate manner, teasing with the heaviest of touches. Even without witnessing your desperately expressive eyes, Alcina enjoyed watching your lips purse around her finger when she made your body writhe. She loved how your chest rose and faltered with eached hitched breath, how your limp hands clenched at the ropes when she sped up her pace.

You were becoming more worked up as she fully began to pleasure you against your desire, creating an intense impact with only her two hands. She felt so relaxed-- able to watch as her adorable spouse-to-be was absolutely bewitched by her every move. you felt her covered breasts brush against your shoulder as she leaned down to press gentle bites against your collarbone.

Alcina pulled her thumb from your mouth, allowing you to follow with a series of hiccups and pleas of pleasure.

“Alcina--” Your cracked voice cried.

Her grip on you suddenly grew tighter as she seemed to remember that this was supposed to be a punishment-- not a reward. No matter how much she wanted to unzip her tight skirt, remove the binds from your bruised wrists, and pull you under her, she knew there was authority to uphold. And though it might not seem so-- but giving out your punishment could be just as fun as indulging herself, if she managed not to exhaust you too much.

Your dry lips felt the touch of a suffocating cloth, ticklish lace scratching your nose as the fabric was pushed into your mouth. Alcina pressed the ripped garment further down your throat, relishing in how your underwear looked almost as good keeping your mouth shut as it did when you wore it correctly.

Tears began to bubble up in your eyes as muffled sobs exited your mouth, Alcina's rub of your arousal spreading to coat your sex in an effort of humiliation. The woman huffed, gripping your jaw with one hand, your dripping sex with the other.

Running her hands down your body she slid to your hips, prying open your legs again once more to bring her mouth to your sweet spot-- one that she’d make sure to overstimulate into oblivion. It was safe to say, your pleasure would be quite short-lived tonight, soon to be replaced by oversensitivity and bittersweet pain.

"Remember, dragostea mea," Alcina whispered, hot breath and toothy canines hitting your thigh.

"I’m only giving you what you deserve."

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mattibee · 2 months

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Idk if you’ll see this since you’re leaving, but have you considered making a Patreon? I would definitely support you on there if you did!

Awh don't worry I'm not leaving that quick 🙏 As angry as I am with this site's management and decisions I would still need time to "pack" everything in a sense, especially since I've been here for so long. (Plus I'm only really considering removing my art blog mattibee-portfolio, this blog here will probably stay until structural collapse or if staff gets mad at me for whatever reason. Theres just too much sentimental value in it for me. 😔💛) As for a Patreon! I did have one a long long time ago and have been thinkin about dustin it off.. been on my executive dysfunction list for a few years at this point orz I do have a ko-fi that can do something similar with monthly support but if more folks are comfy/interested with Patreon then I can see what I can do! 🙏 In fact since we're already here I'll ask!

At this point I think it'd mostly be an archive plus maybe a couple new arts a month if I'm not bogged down by other stuff! Maybe a monthly patron-only vote if I'm feeling ambitious! If you cant support financially but are still interested I could do some public posts as well for yall since patreon does have a follow without paying feature!

#coatlythoughts #ive also wanted to do a sticker club but. baby steps through my struggles ok lmao #anyway thanks anon ur really sweet 🥺🙏

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oddbookreport · 1 year

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Ok this post started as a reply to another post about how numbers were fake and got away from me a bit, strap in.

EDIT: Public Service loan forgiveness is a federal program in the US where if you work in government for 10 years the government will pay off the remainder of your student loans. This is way more important than the rest of this godforsaken screed and I'd appreciate a reblog to get out information on that.

This is a facebook group run by my dad(!) among others with a ton of useful information in case student loans are something you are struggling with and have a public service job or are looking to change careers.

Ok, Autism time.

TLDR: Companies are incentivized to borrow money because they can reliably only pay back a fraction of it while using it to inflate their stock price. You are disincentivized from borrowing money because you will pay back 120-130% of what you borrowed unless (and sometimes even if) you file for bankruptcy. We actually do need a financial sector but it's badly under regulated, and also international finance has no rules and is an imperial power-fest. Also anti-finance is an antisemitic dogwhistle.

Debt is one of the fuckiest things on the planet and I wrote this for my own edification but in case it helps someone make sense of a new concept that'd be pretty cool.

Proof the numbers in the economy are fake:

No debt is repaid in exact numbers. You borrow 10k, and probably you pay back 11-13k over a number of years. The government borrows 1 trillion dollars and pays back 1.1 trillion dollars over a number of years. A company borrows 1 million dollars, they pay back 1.1 million dollars over a number of years. The numbers almost always go up, this is one reason we have inflation. You can pay less than you borrowed, but only under certain conditions. Inflation is one, such that you pay relatively less though absolutely more. Typically the numbers only go down if someone defaults, but that's usually the worst case scenario because it breaks the kind of promise that the whole economy is based on.

If you default, your debt is sold by the bank to someone else. Not for 10k, or whatever is left on the balance, but for probably 1-2k, a fraction of what it's "worth" and then the person who bought it tries to get you to pay the rest of the balance while the bank reports the loss as part of their tax deductible operating expenses.

Then, you're still on the hook for the 11-13k plus whatever fees the debt collector wants to charge. And if you don't pay those, they do it again, selling what they bought for 1-2k for 4-5 hundred, and so on, until you file for chapter 11 bankruptcy and are no longer legally obliged to pay all of the debt. In practice, this means the government negates the lender's right to collect the full balance in exchange for you going on a payment plan based on a new agreement the government brokers between you and the lender.

After this, because you failed to pay back the full balance, you will find it almost impossible to find banks to loan you money, even if in the end you paid way more than the 11-13k you would have paid back if you had made your payments on time.

In general, if you file for bankruptcy, you lose.

This sort of works in reverse with the stock market: You buy stock and the company pays you back with interest because you are loaning them your money. Companies sell stock at an initial price, auctioning it off in lots to find out what people think it's worth, and what it's worth is based on a) its capacity to increase in value and b) the monthly/yearly interest repayment which is based on the IPO price. Higher price means more money raised for the company but only at the IPO rate because once it's on the secondary market the company doesn't actually see any of the money except as good publicity.

The interest payouts are called dividends, although only a few companies actually care about paying them out anymore. Many companies ignore their dividends and instead just try to pump the price of their stock on the secondary market, aka the stock market. The ratio between stock price and dividends gives you an interesting picture of how the company sees its long term strategy: Car companies which don't really grow tend to have low ratios between stock price and dividend. Tech companies, which are looking to blow up and act like they don't know nobody, tend to have very high stock prices and very low dividends.

Crucially, companies tend to see the stock price as a reflection of the company's health, or "consumer confidence" or something, and a lot of executive pay is tied to it because most of them get paid in stock.

But the number doesn't mean anything concrete (to the company) after the IPO.

The upshot of all this is that while you are expected to borrow and pay your balance back with interest, companies are rewarded for borrowing and then artificially increasing the size of their own debt (stock price) because that's how the people making the decisions get paid.

Crucially, and this is also the assumption when an individual takes on debt, the debt is supposed to enable the debtor to make more money than they would have without it. However, unlike the kind of debt most individuals take out, the debt from issuing stock doesn't (usually) pay off the principle. This is why companies can (sometimes) get away with taking on debt without actually paying it off. You could in principle do this too if you registered as an LLC and issued stock for yourself, but this would be weird and paying strangers dividends might be a big financial burden. Or it might work out, go wild. I'd say the odds of this working are fairly comparable to minting yourself as an NFT and trying to sell it, albeit without needing to use the blockchain. Please ask a lawyer first though.

Also, companies can take on way more debt with way less risk because it is significantly less punishing for a company to file for bankruptcy than a person. The LLC in LLC is short for Limited Liability Corporation. If a company files for bankruptcy, it usually gets to keep most of its assets, because the government in general wants it to keep producing whatever it was producing and its debts are restructured accordingly. Sometimes, however, the assets are sold and the creditors just lose out on any debt over and above the selling price of the assets. Companies can try to shed debts by selling their assets for cheap to a new company, filing for bankruptcy, and then leaving creditors with the losses. This is fraud, but sometimes they get away with it and the "limited liability" part means that even if it is fraud it is legally difficult to go after the people responsible. LLCs are why if your company goes bust, you as an employee cannot be sued, which is generally a good thing. However, the structure of LLCs make it very easy for a company to take on more and riskier debt while you, as an individual are expected to pay off everything you borrow.

In general, if a company files for bankruptcy, the creditors lose.

The Government, apart from regulations, mostly cares about finance for two reasons: Economic stability and Retirement savings.

All this shit is made up. It's a game with very complicated rules, but there's no natural reason for it to work in the particular way that it does. In fact, there are countries like Turkey where it works completely differently, mostly because of religious laws about interest collection. Both Christianity and Islam have complicated histories with finance, but I digress. The point it that finance is almost entirely held up by agreements between extremely fickle parties. Like, there are contracts, agreements, balance sheets, and so on but none of this is pegged to any real asset. (This is a good thing, people who tell you that we should go back to the gold standard are morons) What that means is that the government can decide at any time to forgive people's debts. They can just void the contracts, who's going to stop them? (Be careful if you have a banking system powerful enough to go toe to toe with the government. JP Morgan and a bunch of other wall street people actually tried to overthrow the US Government in 1933.) They need to be careful about this because being able to borrow money when you need it is a net positive, and doing it too often disincentivizes people from lending money making borrowing more expensive. But overwhelmingly, rather than forgiving small dollar loans to people, the government forgives giant loans to companies.

This is partially because the stability of the system, ie creditors getting paid in order to keep a steady supply of creditors, matters more than the fate of any particular player within it, and partially because big fish can manipulate the system to insulate themselves from consequence.

For example, in 2008, tons of first time homeowners had gotten "subprime mortgages," meaning they had borrowed more money than they could afford to repay in order to buy a first home. Increased buying meant prices went up, borrowers were unable to afford the increased property taxes from their suddenly valuable homes, and then were forced to sell, producing even more subprime borrowers. These debts were defaulted on, sold, and then bundled into packages where debt buyers could not see the insolvency of the loans. Then, the bubble burst. People suddenly realized that they had taken out a million dollar mortgage, which they could not afford the monthly payments on, on a house that would only sell for 400k. And they were on the hook for the entire million plus interest.

At this point, the government had a choice: they had to do something about the fact that millions of people had borrowed more money than they could afford. They could have bought the debt, and helped the homeowners pay in a situation similar to a chapter 11 bankruptcy where some assets are protected in order to prevent massive foreclosures, or they could have done what they did which was buy out the debt buyers and help the creditors recoup their losses. Instead of virtually slashing housing prices by forgiving mortgage debt in order to help people stay housed, they assumed the debts of the people who had bought subprime mortgage bundles, mostly banks, while refusing to go after the architects of the scheme who had issued the bad mortgages and sold them under false pretenses.

The biggest reason why this stuff really matters is that at least how the US does things right now, almost all retirement securities are tied to stock price. That's your 401ks, your Roth IRAs, etc. With the exception of Social Security and Medicare, almost all the income seniors have is based on the performance of the stock market. This isn't the worst idea, as compared to previous systems like large savings banks or just having parents cared for by their kids this is A) somewhat resistant to inflation and B) does not shackle predominantly young women to permanent unpaid elder care as was the case under past more patriarchal systems. It's good that in general inflation can't wipe out the savings of someone who saved 100,000 1970 dollars only to have that barely cover a week of cancer treatment. Finance makes that happen.

Also, people want to do things that cost more money than they have, like buy houses, start businesses, and go to college. Businesses also want to do things that cost more money than they have, like build factories, conduct research and development, and offer benefits to employees. Finance makes that happen.

We would still need finance even if (like under communism) the government paid for these things, and whether finance should be entirely public (communism) entirely private (anarcho-capitalism) or semi-private (status quo) is a really complicated question. Finance is not this intrinsically evil thing.

Also because of the aforementioned history of Christians making collecting interest illegal most demonization of finance is directly connected to the Jews, who under medieval law were forced into being bankers in order to avoid forcing Christians from committing the sin of usury (interest collection). Much history of antisemitism in Europe is directly connected to these sorts of laws. The stereotype of the greedy jew, for example, comes from the fact that when medieval governments wanted to raise money, such as for a crusade, they would increase taxes but only on the jews. This forced the jews who were legally forbidden from doing any other job to increase interest rates in order to stay financially solvent, demanding higher rates on borrowing and lower interest on savings. This effectively raised taxes on everyone, but looked like the lord was being generous while the jew was being greedy. Anyone who talks about the intrinsic evils of global finance, whether they know it or not, is parroting Nazi talking points. Bear in mind that the Nazis did the same shit as the medieval lords: by raising taxes on Jews and only Jews, as well as seizing the assets of Jewish refugees, expropriating Jewish owned businesses, and using the Jews as slave labor they funded significant social welfare programs and their invasions of neighboring European countries without significantly increasing taxes on anyone but the Jews, at least until ~1940.

But there are still perverse incentives.

Whenever finance (making money by moving money around) overshadows production (making shit people actually need) bad things happen. Enron was a prime example of this: it was a "holding company" (they owned property that other people used for production without being directly involved in that production) that used an asset shell game to boost their stock price to hundreds of times their dividend, then sold out leaving investors with worthless stock they had bought for thousands of dollars.

Crashes can usually be predicted in advance: the problem is that the government is usually lax with enforcing financial crime. Journalists and economists saw 2008, Enron, the Dot Com bubble, the Asian Financial Crisis, and many other financial disasters coming. Karl Marx argued that Capitalism exists in a permanent cycle of boom and bust as a result of its systematic incentives. There is a history of financial crisis going back to the story of Joseph in Genesis. However, even when governments can see it coming, financial prophylaxis, such as regulation, is usually seen as too expensive even when it is cheaper to prevent a disaster than to clean up after one. Worse, the fact that the bankers almost never get prosecuted means that financial mismanagement and crime continue to exacerbate what might be a natural tendency of markets to rise and fall. This is direct consequence of the structure of LLCs. The higher the highs, the lower the lows, but if you're trying to jump out of the market at the top and then buy up everyone else's assets for pennies at the bottom, you want the cycles to be as extreme as possible. That's the position major companies find themselves in, and it's basically only good for them.

I'm not enough of an expert to have specific policy recommendations, except that in the 90s Bill Clinton overturned a law which separated savings banks from investment banks. Savings banks rely on high interest rates, both on loans they issue such as for mortgages, cars, and so on, and on the personal savings you receive from depositing money in them. Once upon a time (the 90s) you could put your money in a normal bank and get 5-6% interest in a savings account. This no longer happens. Investment banks make their money by taking your money, putting it on the stock market, and collecting the difference. Investment banks are more profitable (mostly for the bank) but more risky (mostly for you), like having someone start a casino with your money. House advantage is there, but they can still lose. Before the 90s, it was illegal for your bank to gamble with your savings on the stock market. Now it is not, and this law is something I think we should bring back.

When it comes to governments and the international system things are weirder.

It's really hard to make a government keep a promise, so they get to flaunt these rules. Also, as a rule, Governments only care about their citizens (sometimes defined very narrowly as non-immigrant, non-prisoner, white, etc) and not anybody else. Anything they do on behalf of any other group is only because it also benefits their citizens for some reason. The only real way to make a government keep a promise is by lawsuit, which they can ignore if they don't like, or war, which most people can't really do for fun. This is why The US Debt strategy for its entire history going back to Alexander Hamilton is to run up the credit card like it's Christmas. The plan as far as the USA is concerned is to borrow money and only pay off the interest rather than the principle. The only way someone is going to get the USA to pay off the principle is by beating them in a war. However, those interest payments are the most reliable debt interest payments in the world, unless the republicans in the house are real fucking numbskulls come June. I'm not exactly smart enough to understand the nuance of why all the other countries on earth let us do this but I think it has something to do with beating everyone on the planet in a war in the last century. However, the US always pays its debts in full, even if as a result of inflation what they're paying back is only part of what it was worth when they borrowed it. This is normal, though whether or not it's ethical depends on your views on american empire.

What's important about this is that things like the US debt clock are shameless right wing propaganda. Someone somewhere will tell you that the government has borrowed like three hundred thousand dollars on your behalf and that they expect you to pay it back. This is then used to argue against government spending. I won't get into fiscal policy but this is a lie, and it's better to keep borrowing and paying off debt than to try to achieve fiscal or financial independence internationally.

International finance is also directly used as an oppressive tool for reproducing capitalism in developing countries. The last thing I'll say on the subject is this: countries with less economic power than the G7 are subject to bullying by larger economies. Every country in the world borrows money, and this is generally a good thing. However, Unicef, the World Bank, and other international institutions set terms on the loans that they offer to countries that were robbed under colonialism and refuse to lend money to them unless they comply with various international standards. This sometimes includes things like requiring girls to be able to go to school, and sometimes requires forcing governments to pay license fees for US patents on things like insulin and oh boy if your prescription drug costs are high in the US just imagine how much money you have to pay for drugs with US patents on them after converting non-US money to dollars. Whether or not you agree with these sorts of policy requirements, they are neo-colonialism and do contribute to American domination over these countries. Just because we're loan sharking them for insulin money instead of invading their country for oil doesn't mean that isn't what it is. Intellectual property is one of the most contentious parts of these sorts of fights, where a country would be happy to void a US patent on behalf of its citizens but it can't without losing access to international loans.

There are lots of problems with finance and it's dialed into the entire modern political system so it's extra fucky to understand in greater detail than this, and while it is strictly speaking politically neutral, the more power you have the more you can manipulate it. There unfortunately aren't great tools the average person has to do about the state of the world financially, but I think it's helpful to know and I hope you enjoyed reading this. Maybe you smack a fascist with something from this if they start talking about how globalists run the banks.

#I was inspired by that BDG video about Healthcare #I swear I'm not an econ bro tho #Also this is what I did instead of writing grad school papers #God international relations is fucking depressing it's like a train wreck that started under the fucking mesopotamians and has not stopped #But actually don't worry about the debt though #unless it's your debt in which case vote democrat if you want to see more student loan forgiveness #How the fuck did I black out and write 3500 words about this #That's 10 fucking pages #This is half a journal article

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prep4tomoro · 1 year

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Debt: GET OUT NOW!

Survival means more than shelter and food. It means not having to keep looking over your shoulder for the creditors. Debt can be the single most debilitating "disease" we can have in our lives. When we have debt, we are, truly, a slave to the lender. It affects our relationships, our jobs, our joy (even though we feel that getting more stuff will make us happy). Getting out of debt frees us from the bondage it has on us. If that debt is affecting the joy of life, freedom is possible. If you have gotten into the habit of immediate gratification, spending more than you make, it won't be easy. But the habit that you made, you can break and create new and better ones. Start now! NOTE: From an off-the-grid-living perspective, we can't truly live off-the-grid, in peace, with creditors trying to hunt us down. When we say "get out of debt now", that doesn't mean you can just pay off all your bills and live free. It means "start, now, on the process of becoming debt-free". Be encouraged that you can do it and there are rewards. Generally, there are two schools of thought on debt reduction: (1) Some advisors recommend that you focus on the highest-interest debt and pay that off first. It makes the most fiscal sense, but it doesn't work for some people because the size of the loan is so discouragingly large. (2) That's why a second group of financial advisors recommends that you pay off the smallest loan first even if it's not set at the highest interest rate. They believe that, like dieting, even a small success delivers a significant amount of satisfaction. So paying off one loan will provide the incentive and motivation to pay off more and serve as a reminder that becoming debt free is possible. Only you know your personal motivation style, so choose the plan that works best for you. As mentioned previously, chances are that debt happened because of some bad spending habits; habits that have caused to take the wrong path. Now, purposefully focus on replacing bad habits with saving, reduction in spending and eliminating current debts. Changing financial direction is a four-step process:

1 - spend less than you earn

2 - avoid more debt

3 - build liquidity (Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving - Warren Buffet)

4 - set long-term goals to focus on hitting a target

To omit even one of these steps is to miss the mark. SUGGESTIONS FOR PERSONAL DEBT REDUCTION:

Reduce recurring monthly expenses (a little inconvenience will result in big rewards)

Eliminate or reduce addictions such as smoking, alcohol, drugs (put a $ amount to realize what you are paying)

Create a Budget: Getting out of debt requires a plan. Creating a budget is your roadmap to a debt free life.

Snowball Debt Payoffs: Pay off debt in order of smallest to largest, gaining momentum (and encouragement) as you knock out each balance. When the smallest debt is paid in full, roll the money you were paying on that debt into the next smallest balance.

Reduce or Eliminate Gift Giving: Whether it's the economy, a desire to be more careful with your money, you're burnt out on getting and giving gifts that just clutter up your house and theirs, or a combination of everything above, it may be time to reconsider gift giving traditions. Consider that most people have the bad habit for immediate gratification and little tolerance to wait so they will, usually, get what they need or want on their own.

Don't Waste Money on a Vehicle: It's a box on wheels expense with no investment value.

Don't buy your wants; buy only what you need. Learn to Live on Less (Live Below Your Means): Is it really necessary to go to the 7-11 or Starbucks for coffee or have a 70" screen television?

Reconsider Quality: Depending on what is being purchased and its purpose and necessary longevity, does it really need to be 'high quality'?

Make, Grow and Reuse Your Own Stuff: Improve personal skills and reduce dependency on others which usually costs more money, may not be the best quality or just be a pain. Learn to become more self-sufficient and rely less on others and commercial products.

Suggested Resources: Six keys to financial success https://compass1.org/resources/debt Advice on Getting Out Of Debt How To Approach Your Student Loan Repayment 4 Unique Ways to Pay Off College Debt SEE ALSO: Retirement Planning Starts at Age Zero Job Loss - Plan B - Don't wait for it to happen Bartering & Finances Minimalist Living NOTE: No kind of financial advice is being offered here. This information is being presented for informational purposes only and should NOT be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific plan, product, or course of action. It is presented to help make better financial decisions with the participation of a licensed professional, if desired. These techniques have worked for many others and is presented in the spirit of education and sharing. You are solely responsible for your own actions on how you use this information. [Reference Link 1] [Reference Link 2]

[14-Point Emergency Preps Checklist] [11-Cs Basic Emergency Kit] [Learn to be More Self-Sufficient] [The Ultimate Preparation] [5six7 Menu]

#debt #finances #prepper #survival #shtf #money #prepare4tomorrow #prepping #debt - get out now #get out of debt #get out of debt NOW

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promyracondo · 2 years

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When Choosing an Apartment Unit 7 Things to Take Into Consideration

Living in a condo allows you to enjoy a number of things, such as comfort, practical pricing, and accessibility to services like swimming health clubs, pools, and also clubs. These perks should make you select a condo over other kinds of houses.

Why Choose Condominium Living Over an Apartment Or Condo or a Home?

While most individuals would like to own a residence, residing in a Myra apartment offers helpful things as well. Some advantages to condominium living can even much exceed possessing a single-family residence. It all relies on the living scenario that functions best for you.

Residing in apartment devices has gotten remarkable popularity in this generation, as well as it has a lot to do with usefulness. As trendy as apartment living is, there are likewise lots of useful reasons that condos serve as a much better space than apartments or solitary residences.

Cash is most definitely among them. Off, apartment costs have a tendency to climb at a slower price than single-family dwellings. Therefore, Myra apartment systems produce a much more economical as well as useful option if you're price-conscious. And also in contrast to renting an apartment, you can capitalize on tax reductions by owning a condo.

It's additionally not simply money. Condos can afford you an appealing lifestyle. It contributes for life-work-play balance. Plus, staying in a condo frees you up from worrying about keeping a yard, yard, or garage as you would if you had a residence of your own.

Since you've obtained a perspective on why people choose staying in a condominium, let's wage this guide to selecting the best condominium unit.

1. Live within your methods

Top on the list is your budget plan. You require to establish a budget plan to identify your options and also assist you find a suit for your financial scenario. Establishing your spending plan can save you from the risk of overspending.

Prior to getting a condo Unit you have to think about just how the preliminary deposit and also amortization will influence your funds. Even if you're preparing to get a financing from financial institutions, you need to remember that they will perform an assessment of your capability to pay. Your monthly earnings and also credit rating standing will certainly be scrutinized.

It's also wise to expect the expense of living in your brand-new place. Check out the price of property taxes, condo fees, maintenance charges, insurance policy, and various other household costs. Think ahead of the living costs you will sustain. You don't want to be careless with budgeting and also threat economic shortage.

2. Location as well as access are vital

When it pertains to purchasing homes in general, access as well as location are amongst one of the most crucial elements, beside spending plan. Ease of access to your workplace and also other important centers should belong to your standards in selecting the location of your Myra system. Ideally, you desire your residence to be as close as possible to your family members, buddies, as well as company or job.

Thinking of your way of living and also choices, you might additionally desire to think about the location's possibility for future advancements and also urbanization tasks.

3. Watch out for a false sense of security

When it comes to choosing a Myra condominium Unit your own safety and also safety and security are also vital issues. You may have to chat to your actual estate agent to get an awareness of the security system within the structure if you're not really acquainted with the community.

Select a condominium with sufficient safety measures for you and your valued belongings. Speak it out with the building administrator if you really feel like you have to put additional locks or some other safety and security device for your system.

4. Learn from the best real estate professionals

If you're new to the endeavor of searching for the appropriate Myra condo Unit the support of realtors can be of terrific assistance. Certified realty agents are capable of finding a residential or commercial property that suits your needs. They have great market understandings, economic knowledge, and familiarity with various locations.

In addition, they can assist you in helping with the procedures relating to the necessary records as well as have the ability to recommend home mortgage with reduced interest rates. Think about them as your overview and confidant. Availing the services of a realtor can be a smart choice if you want to speed up your search for a Myra apartment.

5. Know your neighbors

Another deciding factor when choosing a condominium is the area. Because you'll be connecting with other apartment proprietors, you might also learn more about the type of individuals staying in the community. This feeling of area can be useful in creating relationships and relationships.

6. Discover unique functions

Condo programmers plan difficult to distinguish themselves from various other players on the market. They complete in developing as well as upgrading condo attributes, including the clubhouse, beautiful garden, swimming pool, gym, motion picture room, collection, kids's play area, classy entrance hall, modern terrace, and more. It would certainly be sensible for you to profit from this by comparing them to locate the best option that line up with your choices.

7. Testimonial organization costs and also laws

Besides home mortgage, you'll require to pay some association costs for the upkeep of the property and its functions. Ascertain that you evaluate such charges and also their incorporations. It would certainly likewise be best to know area regulations and policies in advance to assist you decide if they're sensible or reasonable; otherwise, you may intend to look elsewhere.

Last Thoughts

Staying in a condo is a functional way of life option, yet the process of discovering an excellent property is very little of a walk in the park. You have to think about several points, so it helps to consider the benefits and drawbacks of your leading options. Being meticulous, arranged, and future-oriented in this venture can lead you to an effective find.

#Myra condo #Myra #Apartment #Condominium

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sureloanforyou7 · 1 month

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Your Ultimate Guide to Refinance Mortgage Explained Simply

Embarking on the journey of refinancing your mortgage might feel like navigating through a labyrinth, but it doesn't have to be bewildering. Welcome to "Your Ultimate Guide to Refinance Mortgage Explained Simply," where we demystify the process, breaking it down into easy-to-understand segments. Whether you're looking to lower your monthly payments, adjust your loan term, or tap into your home equity, this guide is crafted to enlighten and empower you.

With straightforward language and practical steps, we aim to equip you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions about refinancing your mortgage. Let's dive in and explore how you can optimize your mortgage, making it work better for your current financial situation.

What is a Refinance Mortgage?

Imagine you took a loan to buy your dream home, and that loan came with its own set of rules, including how much interest you pay. A few years down the line, you realize that the rules of the game have changed—interest rates are lower, your credit score is better, or maybe you just need a little more cash in your pocket. That's where a refinance mortgage steps in. It’s essentially paying off your old mortgage and replacing it with a new one, with different terms that better suit your current situation.

Why Refinance Your Mortgage?

People choose to refinance their mortgages for a plethora of reasons. Here are a few:

Lower Interest Rates: This is a biggie. If interest rates have dropped since you got your original mortgage, refinancing can save you a lot of money over time.

Change Your Loan Term: Maybe you want to pay off your mortgage faster, or perhaps you need to lower your monthly payments by extending your loan term.

Switch From an Adjustable to a Fixed-Rate Loan: If you initially opted for an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) and the honeymoon phase is over (the rates have begun to rise), switching to a fixed-rate mortgage through refinancing can bring peace of mind.

Cash-Out: Some people have enough equity in their home that they can refinance for more than they owe and pocket the difference.

How Does Refinancing Work?

Refinancing might sound complicated, but it's pretty straightforward. Here's a simplified step-by-step:

Determine Your Goal: Figure out why you want to refinance. Lower rates? Change in loan term? Cash-out? This will guide your process.

Check Your Credit Score and Home Equity: Lenders will look at these to determine your new loan's terms. The better your credit score and the more equity you have, the better the terms you can get.

Shop Around: Don't settle for the first offer. Look at different lenders to find the best rates and terms.

Apply: Once you've chosen a lender, fill out an application. You'll need to provide financial information, so have your documents ready.

Go Through Underwriting: The lender will review your application, run a credit check, and appraise your home to make sure everything checks out.

Close on Your New Loan: If all goes well, you'll close on your new loan. This may involve some fees, but if you've played your cards right, the savings should outweigh these costs.

When Should You Refinance?

Timing is everything. Here are a few pointers to help you decide when to take the plunge:

Interest Rates Have Dropped: This is the most common reason to refinance. Even a small rate decrease can save you a lot of money.

Your Credit Score Has Improved: If your credit score has gone up since you got your original mortgage, you might qualify for better terms now.

You've Built Up Equity: The more equity you have, the better the terms you can get, and you might be able to eliminate private mortgage insurance (PMI) if you had it.

You're Planning to Stay Put: Refinancing can come with costs, so it usually makes sense if you're planning to stay in your home long enough to recoup those expenses through your savings.

Costs of Refinancing

Yes, refinancing can save you money, but it's not free. You might run into several costs, including application fees, appraisal fees, and closing costs. Sometimes, these can be rolled into your new loan, but they will ultimately affect the loan's total cost. It's important to crunch the numbers and make sure refinancing makes financial sense for you.

Conclusion

Refinancing your mortgage can be a powerful tool for managing your finances, whether you're looking to lower your monthly payments, change your loan term, or cash out some of your home equity. However, it's not a decision to be taken lightly. It requires careful consideration of your current financial situation, your future goals, and the costs involved.

If you're considering taking this step and are looking for expert advice and competitive rates, Sure Loan is here to help. Our team of professionals is committed to finding the best refinancing solution for your needs, making the process as smooth and straightforward as possible.

Ready to explore your refinancing options? Contact us today at Sure Loan to get started on your journey to a more favourable mortgage. Your ultimate guide to Refinance Mortgage has led you here; now let us take you the rest of the way.

#refinance mortgage #refinance mortgage vaughan

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justinforprez · 4 months

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Battletech (PC game)

I really want to enjoy this game.

I have never finished it and let me tell you why.

I just started a new campaign.

The first big mission rewards you with 1.15mil and I had 1.3mil in the bank.

I now have 500k. i had to wait 5 months to repair everything and heal everyone before i can do another mission

Oh and they increase your monthly costs by 50% after the first mission. Oh yeah they TELL YOU that they are going to remove your interest payment to the bank but what they actually meant is that you will have to pay more. this makes sense for gameplay reasons but having that penalty is not fun.

Basically save up as much money as you can before you do the first main story mission because you're about to get financially raped.

Now the second main story mission won't become available until you have done at least one contract mission

The thing is... don't do it

EVER

the difficulty of the game triples after you complete that mission and you probably got your shit pushed in like I did

So just do contract missions until you have 10000 mechs and 4 trillion dollars in reserve and 1000 crewman

Thats not fun by the way

But seriously my longest playthrough i like 500 days in and people online do not recommend doing the second mission until day 600.

Thats bad fucking game design. They don't tell you that you need to grind out contracts. They act like you will at first but you are supposed to be free from that thanks to your helping royalty and the banks. THEM HAVING UNLIMITED MONEY IS A PLOT POINT.

Oh it costs 5mil for a whole mech. Who cares? they can afford it. but no I have to wait 120-240 days to build 1 mech (damage repair and salvage luck). But like you should not proceed until you have replaced the small mech and the blackjack with 50-60 ton mechs which should take 240-480 days.

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daniele51anabel · 5 months

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Recognizing The Financial Aspects Of Retired Life Communities

Composed By-Ashley Steele The expense of living at retirement home can differ significantly, making it vital to ask all of the appropriate concerns and budget plan carefully. With the help of this overview, you can make an educated choice that suits your requirements and finances.

Research and estimate the costs related to your picked housing alternative. This consists of rental fee or home loan repayments, real estate tax, house owners association fees, and other real estate expenses.

Expenses

Whether you're planning to move to a retirement community today or are just thinking about the possibilities in your future, it is essential to comprehend the economic elements of elderly living. This way, you can create a spending plan and be prepared to deal with potential changes in your scenario. Residing in a retirement home supplies lots of advantages. For something, you won't have to worry about mowing the yard or raking fallen leaves in the summer season. You won't need to shovel your driveway in the winter months or find someone to fix the damaged heating system. And also, you'll have a great deal of social activities to choose from, enabling you to make new buddies and seek rate of interests that may be tough to do while living alone. Nevertheless, moving to a retirement home is not economical. There are charges connected with home, consisting of an one-time entryway fee and month-to-month upkeep or service charges. Some CCRCs use a complete contract that calls for a bigger initial payment and a higher monthly fee, while others operate on a rental version without ahead of time prices.

Charges

A lot of retirement communities need brand-new citizens to pay an one-time entryway cost. Depending upon the neighborhood, this fee can vary from $30k to $1 million or more. Likewise called a buy-in or refundable cost, it is developed to cover the price of future care and typically prepays for part of your remain in a nursing home, helped living, memory assistance, or proficient nursing center. Some CCRCs offer a "Lifecare" contract (Type A) while others operate a fee-for-service design (Kind C). Type A communities normally have a higher entrance charge, however guarantee accessibility to the whole continuum of health care solutions at a foreseeable rate and without extra expenses. On the other hand, Kind C neighborhoods have reduced upfront charges but add improved degrees of care to monthly service fees at market prices. In either case, running long-lasting projections can aid you contrast the costs of different areas and establish which is right for your circumstance.

Local Life

A retirement community is a home-like environment that gives a variety of features to its homeowners. These services include safety, upkeep and eating choices that permit senior citizens to appreciate their way of life without fretting about the problem of yard maintenance or tackling their to-do list. Some neighborhoods offer onsite healthcare solutions that are developed into their monthly service charge, allowing seniors to lock in low prices for future health care needs. visit the next website page of areas are called Continuing Care Retired Life Communities (CCRC) or Fee-for-Service CCRCs. These areas likewise provide a sense of community and a social ambience that can boost a senior's lifestyle. For instance, retirement home usually take on outdoor landscape design tasks as well as interior upkeep to aid free up elders' time and stop them from taking the chance of injury doing challenging or harmful tasks in your home. This permits them to spend their time doing points they appreciate or going to friends and family.

Maintenance

Retirement communities are normally extra expensive than staying in a home however get rid of the demand for property owner's insurance coverage, property taxes and maintenance. Instead, a month-to-month service fee covers these expenditures in addition to a meal plan, transport, access to shared neighborhood spaces, trade courses and various other solutions. Another benefit of moving right into a retirement home is that maintenance tasks like landscaping, mowing the lawn and fixing appliances are dealt with by employee. This can free up time for older grownups to focus on tasks that intrigue them and protect against injury because of physically demanding tasks. Additionally, several retirement communities use on-site or close-by medical care facilities, which permits locals to easily obtain clinical aid if required. https://www.forbes.com/health/healthy-aging/how-much-do-walk-in-tubs-cost/ helps reduce anxiety and improves total health and wellness results. It is additionally valuable for member of the family that could fret about their liked ones being alone in case of an emergency.

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usedcarmania · 5 months

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Should I Lease or Buy A Car? Pros And Cons Weighed Up

Should you lease or buy a new car? Typically, the choice comes down to priorities. For some drivers, it’s purely a matter of dollars and cents: Which is the less expensive option right now? For others, it’s about the benefits of ownership.

Before choosing the road you go down, it’s important to understand the key distinctions between leasing a car and buying one.

Lease or Buy a Car: What’s the Difference?

When you lease a vehicle, you pay to drive it for a certain length of time. The average lease is 24 or 36 months, although you can find even longer leases.1 Restrictions apply to how many miles you can drive and modifications that you may wish to make to it. Various fees will apply.

Once your lease period ends, you have the option to return the vehicle to the dealer or purchase it at a predetermined amount, as defined in the lease contract.

When you buy a car, you immediately take title to it. You own it outright if you pay for it with cash or after a loan is paid off if you finance your purchase. You maintain control over all aspects of the vehicle and ultimately can keep it, trade it in, sell it, or give it away.

Pros and Cons of Leasing

Lease payments are generally lower than the monthly loan payments for a new vehicle. They depend on these factors:

Sale price: This is negotiated with the dealer, just like with a vehicle purchase.

Length of the lease: This is the number of months that you agree to lease the car.

Expected mileage: The lease sets the maximum number of miles that you can drive the car each year. Most leases come with the choice of a 12,000- or 15,000-mile annual allotment.2 The monthly payment will increase slightly if you go for the higher yearly mileage. If you exceed the mileage limit in the contract, then you will be expected to pay the dealer for every extra mile at the end of the lease.1

Residual value: This is the vehicle’s value at the end of the lease, with its depreciation figured in. If you decide to purchase the vehicle once the lease expires, this is the amount that you will pay.

Rent charge: This fee is shown as a dollar figure rather than a percentage, but it is the equivalent of an interest charge.

Taxes and fees: These are added to the lease and affect the monthly cost.

Some dealers or the manufacturers that they represent require a down payment for a lease. The more you put down, the lower your lease payment will be.

Looking for an affordable car for sale? Check out the used cars in Strand.

Keep in mind that it may not make sense to put too much cash down on a vehicle that you’ll ultimately be handing back to the dealer. If you’re quite sure that you’re going to buy it when the lease expires, the down payment will reduce the cost of purchase.

Pros

Lower Monthly Costs

A lease can slightly ease the financial burden of monthly costs. Leasing usually involves a smaller down payment compared to buying. Due to this, some people opt for a more luxurious car than they otherwise could afford.3

New Car Every Few Years

For many people, there’s nothing like the feeling of a brand-new ride. When a lease is up, you can return it and get your next new car. By leasing, you also get the latest advances in car technology every few years.

Worry-Free Maintenance

Many new cars offer a warranty that lasts at least three years. So when you take out a three-year lease, most of the repairs may be covered. Leasing arrangements can potentially eliminate some significant, unforeseen expenses.4

No Resale Worries

You simply return the car (unless you choose to buy it). The only thing you have to worry about is paying any end-of-lease fees, including those for abnormal wear or additional mileage on the vehicle.4

Potential for Tax Deductions

If you use your car for business purposes, a lease may afford you more tax deductions than a loan. That’s because the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows you to deduct both the depreciation and the financing costs that are part of each monthly payment. If you’re leasing a luxury automobile, the amount that you can write off may be limited.5

Cons

No Ownership

The mileage restrictions of a lease can impede how much and how far you wish to drive. Moreover, drivers who would like to make modifications to their vehicles should understand that fees may apply. For example, there may be additional costs at the end of the lease due to the need to reverse any changes that they make.

Lack of Control

You can’t sell the car or trade it in to reduce the cost of your next vehicle. Plus, since you’ll start a new lease when one expires, you’ll always have monthly payments and an ongoing lack of control over certain aspects of a vehicle.

Fees and Other Costs

Fees in your lease contract apply to excess mileage, modifications to the car, and excess wear and tear. There’s also an early termination fee if you decide to end the contract early and an acquisition fee (also called a lease initiation fee).

Once the contract ends, you may have to pay a fee to cover what the dealer pays to clean and sell the car. Finally, unless the lease includes gap insurance, you may also owe costs related to accidents you may have had that your insurance doesn’t cover.4

Ultimately, it’s more expensive to lease cars for the long term instead of buying one and using it for years.6

Pros and Cons of Buying

When you buy a car, you can keep it for as long as you choose to. Usually, you’ll make a higher down payment and slightly higher monthly loan payments (if you finance your purchase) compared to lease payments for the same car.

However, there are ways to reduce these amounts—consider buying a less expensive new car, a certified pre-owned car, or a used car.

Perhaps you’ve saved and invested money with a car purchase in mind. If you can afford to pay the entire cost of the car in cash, all the better as far as the ultimate cost.

Monthly car loan payments are calculated based on the sale price, the interest rate, and the number of months it will take to repay the loan.

Pros

No Restrictions

Unlike leasing, you’re not obligated for fees related to mileage and wear and tear on the car. Since you own it, you pay for service and repairs on your own timeline.

Total Control

You also have complete control over how you improve your car or, for instance, modify its appearance. If you financed its purchase, once that loan is paid off, you can keep it until it dies, trade it in, sell it outright, or give it to a family member. You get to decide.

Potential for Tax Deductions

If you use your car for business as well as personal reasons, the IRS allows you to deduct costs and depreciation related to that business use. You must keep careful records to support your filing, so be sure that you fully understand what’s involved.7

Long-Term Cost

It’s cheaper overall to buy a car and hold onto it for as long as possible.6

Cons

Rapid Depreciation

New cars can lose 15%–25% of their value in the first five years of ownership.8 If you consider your car an investment, then this is a disadvantage. However, if you are the type who buys and keeps a car for years, then it shouldn’t matter.

Driving Costs

According to a 2022 study by AAA, the cost to drive a new car for about 24,000 km came to R201,500. Costs included fuel, insurance, and maintenance.9

Leasing vs. Buying Summary

What are the advantages of leasing?

Leasing allows a person to get a new car every few years. It can keep their payments relatively stable when leasing the same make and model of car over various leases. Leasing also frees the lessee from having to dispose of the car at the end of the lease term.

What are the disadvantages of leasing?

The main disadvantage of leasing a car is that you never own it. You don’t build equity in the vehicle as you make lease payments. Lease terms can be anywhere from two to five years. A lease can be ended early, though early termination typically involves a cancellation fee.

What’s the difference between buying and leasing a car?

When you buy a car, you either pay cash or finance the purchase with a car loan. You take the title to the vehicle. If you finance the car, you build equity in the car over time.

When you lease a car, you make lease payments that allow you to drive the car but never take title to the vehicle or build equity. When the lease term is up, you return the car to the dealer.

The Bottom Line

Deciding between leasing and buying a car will come down to your lifestyle, driving needs, and financial situation.

Leasing can be attractive if you’re looking for lower monthly costs, want a new car with new car technology every few years, and don’t want to worry about certain tasks, such as selling your car. Leasing can also put you into a luxury model that otherwise might be out of reach.

Buying a car means you’ll either own it outright if you paid cash or build equity in it as you pay off a car loan. You’ll have total control over your expenses and can service or repair it according to your needs. You’ll have the freedom to drive as much as you like, modify your car, and dispose of it on your terms.

In the long run, buying has proven to be a better financial decision.

Info from https://www.investopedia.com/articles

#used cars #used car buying #buying a used car

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fincrif · 5 months

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How to Budget With a New Personal Loan

Many financial objectives, like paying off a large expense gradually or combining other high-interest loans, can be effectively accomplished with a personal loan. Nonetheless, if you don't take deliberate care of your loan, it can easily become a burden that causes credit harm and financial difficulties.

Including debt payback in your budget, making timely payments, and paying off your personal loan in full as soon as you can are the keys to effective loan management. The following four actions can help you budget while taking out a new personal loan.

1. Choose Your Funding Location

The initial step is to choose a storage location for the borrowed funds. You just need to pay back your lenders if the money is being used for debt consolidation; you won't need to worry about where to keep the money. But, you'll have to choose between keeping the money in your savings account and checking account if you took out a loan to pay for the purchase.

To prevent inadvertently combining and withdrawing from the funds, you may decide to maintain your money in a savings account that is distinct from your regular spending account. But, it can make sense to hold the money in checking, where you can access it without incurring transfer costs, if you plan to spend it immediately or on a number of different transactions.

2. Make a Fresh Budget

Make a spending plan that will allow for successful payback. There are various budgeting techniques that might assist you in managing your finances and clearing debt. You can revise your budget to incorporate loan payments as a necessary item if you already have one that works for you.

3. Arrange for Automatic Payments

It's critical to pay your bills on time each month to keep your credit score intact and prevent penalties. Automating your monthly payments is the simplest approach to make sure you're always on time. Setting up autopay can help you pay your bills on time and save a little amount of interest, which varies from lender to lender and bank to bank (NBFCs) and can be as little as 0.25%.

4. Try to Make Additional Payments

Even if a personal loan's interest rate is typically not as high as that of a credit card, for example, those costs can nevertheless mount up. Over time, you'll save more money the quicker you pay down your balance.

However, you should find out if there are any prepayment penalties assessed by your lender. Compare the expenses you will have to pay back your loan early with the money you will save on interest. Despite incurring fees, you may discover that, overall, the interest you pay on the loan will be lower than it would have been otherwise.

You may be able to accelerate the payback of your loan by setting up an automatic payment increase. If your lender permits it, you may also attempt establishing biweekly payments as an alternative to monthly ones. Finally, consider applying any lump sum payments you get or additional cash left over at the end of the month to your debt. A little additional payment now can have a significant impact later on.

Budget Before You Borrow

Your best option is to rebuild your budget in order to handle debt payments if you have previously applied for and been granted a personal loan. However, if you haven't applied for a loan yet, now is an excellent time to figure out how much you can afford to borrow before applying.

Consider how much you would actually need to borrow in order to get your desired outcome, taking into account the purpose for the funds. Look through prequalified offers to discover what rates and loan amounts you might be eligible for based on your credit history. You can also assess whether making monthly payments would be within your means.

#bank #finance #loan apps #personal loan online

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funcoolchickie · 6 months

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It's about damn time!! Landlords don't *need* to charge exorbitant security deposits of first month's, last month's, plus 1-3 extra month's rent!! This has been a long-time major housing issue. Years ago that was exactly why we were homeless for 3 years - living on Social Security Disability I could afford the monthly rent but not the thousands of dollars in security deposit!! We were only able to get into a permanent home because of then-President Obama's temporary program that provided exactly that - the desperately needed security deposits for homeless people to get into permanent housing. God bless the man. People should not be made financially bankrupt just to *get into* basic housing!!

From article:

"California renters will no longer be asked for a security deposit larger than one month’s rent after a new bill goes into effect.

Assembly Bill 12 will go into effect July 1, 2024, and it will stop landlords from charging two or three times the monthly rent as a deposit. According to San Francisco Assemblyman Matt Haney who is behind the bill, it is a broader effort to make housing more affordable.

'Particularly, with our housing crisis being as bad as it is, it really doesn’t make sense if a renter is capable of paying the rent on the lease,' said Singh. 'But because they don’t have three months’ worth or two three months’ worth of rent saved up, they can’t access that housing.'"

Source: https://www.kget.com/news/local-news/i-nearly-emptied-my-bank-account-new-california-law-places-a-limit-on-security-deposits-in-an-effort-to-make-housing-more-affordable

#Security deposits #Making housing affordable #Landlords don't need to charge exorbitant security deposits #Housing #California #AB12 #July 2024

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thelistingteammiami · 6 months

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Invest in Yourself by Owning a Home

Are you wondering if it makes sense to buy a home right now? While today’s mortgage rates might seem a bit intimidating, here are two compelling reasons why it still may be a good time to become a homeowner.

Home Values Appreciate over Time

There’s been a lot of confusion around what’s happened with home prices over the past two years. While they did dip ever so slightly in late 2022, this year they’ve been appreciating at a more normal pace, which is good news for the housing market. And while looking at price movement over just a year or two can make you worry prices are usually this unpredictable, history shows in the long run, home values rise (see graph below):

Using data from the Federal Reserve for the past 60 years, you can see the overall trend is home prices have climbed quite steadily. Sure, there was an exception around the housing crash of 2008 that caused prices to break the usual trend for a time, but overall, home values have been consistently on the rise.

Increasing home values is one great reason why buying may make more sense than renting. As prices rise, and as you pay down your mortgage, you build equity. Over time, that growing equity gives your net worth a boost.

Rent Keeps Going Up Through the Years

Another reason you may want to consider buying a home instead of renting is the never-ending rent hike. If you've ever felt the pinch of rent increasing year after year, you're not alone. That’s because, rents have climbed steadily over the past six decades (see graph below):

By buying a home, you can lock in your monthly housing costs and bid farewell to those pesky rent hikes. That stability is a game-changer.

In the end, it all boils down to this: your housing payments are an investment, and you've got a choice to make. Do you want to invest in yourself or your landlord?

By becoming a homeowner, you're investing in your own future. When you rent, that’s money you never get back.

When you factor in home values consistently rising, plus the opportunity to get relief from never-ending rent hikes, homeownership can be a path to financial security. As Dr. Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist and VP of Research at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), states:

“If a homebuyer is financially stable, able to manage monthly mortgage costs and can handle the associated household maintenance expenses, then it makes sense to purchase a home.”

Bottom Line

When it comes down to it, buying a home offers more benefits than renting, even when mortgage rates are high. If you want to avoid increasing rents and take advantage of long-term home price appreciation, let’s connect to go over your options.

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cardwellthaxton · 7 months

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6 Things You Can Do To Stop Foreclosure of Your New Jersey House

By Cardwell Thaxton

For homeowners who want to stop foreclosure in New Jersey, the future can look pretty grim. In our latest post, we offer 6 ways homeowners can stop foreclosure of their homes in the New Jersey area.

Has it become difficult to pay your mortgage each month? Are the bills piling up, with no end in sight? At some point, before the bank comes in and takes your home, you need to find a way out. Keep reading to learn more about what you can do and how The Cardwell Thaxton Group can help you stop the foreclosure of your house in New Jersey.

Sell Immediately

In order to stop foreclosure of your house in New Jersey, a direct and fast sale is often the best way to go. The Cardwell Thaxton Group is a professional buyer in New Jersey that will help you sell your house fast, stopping the banks and avoiding the destruction of your credit. Not all buyers are the same – The Cardwell Thaxton Group is dedicated to helping homeowners in difficult situations, providing fair solutions that make sense for all parties involved. While you may not receive the retail price, you will be able to sell in just a few days saving you thousands on commissions, repairs, and holding costs. Giving up your home can feel difficult, but it is better to sell by choice than to have the bank come in and forcefully take over the property.

Borrow Money

For some homeowners, borrowing money from a family member can be a quick solution to stop the bank. However, this isn’t a long-term solution to your financial struggles. If the mortgage has become difficult to pay now, it’s likely that it will be difficult to pay going forward. Getting into a pattern of continuously borrowing money will only get you into more debt, but this time it will be with multiple creditors. Borrowing money from loved ones can also strain your relationships with the people that you care about, making your difficult situation feel that much worse.

Ask For Forgiveness

One option when you are struggling to make your mortgage payments is to reach out to your lender and explain the situation. In some cases, you will be able to defer a payment or work out a payment plan to make up what you owe. That said, you will still have to find a way to pay your debts. Deferring the problem will only push things back, it won’t magically get you caught up or erase the debt you are in. Asking for forgiveness is a one-time thing, to help deal with an unexpected situation… not something to bail you out long term. Loan forgiveness is also known as loan forbearance and is used after an illness, a loss, or anther one-off circumstance.

Refinance

Refinancing your property can help you to achieve a lower monthly payment, but there is a cost. If you choose to refinance with a hard money loan, your interest rates can be through the roof. While this may help you to save your house from the bank, it will ultimately cost you more money in the long run. You can also work with your current lender to refinance your current loan; however, you need to prove you will not have trouble with your payments going forward.

Rent The Property To Someone Else

If you aren’t able to pay the mortgage yourself, maybe someone else can. Of course, This means that you will need to quickly find somewhere else to live at a price you can more easily afford. You’ll first need to find high-quality tenants who you can count on to pay the rent each month. If your situation allows, you could also choose to rent out a bedroom in your home for some extra cash, while you continue to live in the home as well. Just make sure boundaries are set on both sides so that everyone is comfortable with the living arrangements. Having the wrong people move in can cause you to default on your mortgage, anyway, ending up with the same result of losing your New Jersey house to foreclosure.

Declare Bankruptcy

Nobody is thrilled about having to declare bankruptcy, but it orders to fight off foreclosure, it may be the answer you have been waiting for. Declaring bankruptcy will restructure your debt and create a payment plan to get you back on track. While this won’t look good when applying for loans in the future, it can be a way for you to keep your current home, stopping the banks in their tracks.

At The Cardwell Thaxton Group, we want to help you stop the foreclosure of your New Jersey property. Our team can help you review your options and make you a no-obligation offer to help you sell quickly. Let our team help you quickly and efficiently handle any difficult property or situation you are dealing with.

If you are having trouble paying the mortgage, we can help you stop foreclosure of your New Jersey house! Send us a message or call The Cardwell Thaxton Group today! (908) 456-1593.

The Cardwell Thaxton Group Cardwell Thaxton, New Jersey 📲(908) 456-1593 📧[email protected] https://www.sellmyhousefastnewjersey.org/

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