Credit Education and Kids: Easy as 1, 2, 3!

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These days, parents want to give their kids the best chance at success, whether that means tutors, private school, or life coaches. Often times, however, parents don’t give their children and teenagers a comprehensive financial education or the tools and experience they will need before leaving home, and schools are sadly falling short as well in teaching basic personal finance and how credit works.

With all of this in mind, we wanted to give a few simple ways to prepare older children and teenagers for the real world and give them a head-start in building their credit score.

  1. Merit-Based Allowance – When we say “merit-based allowance,” we don’t mean that parents should pay their children for A’s and B’s on their report cards or for good behavior. Paying for grades will train children to value the grade and not value what they are actually learning, and it could encourage children to cheat. Allowances should be based on chores and responsibilities around the home, tasks that go above and beyond. This is also an opportunity to teach negotiation skills. Sit down with your child and discuss potential chores around the house (sweeping, raking leaves, washing dishes), and you can discuss with your child how much they can earn for each task. Through merit-based allowance, your child will learn to value money and understand the time and effort it takes to earn it.
  2. Credit Card – Teenagers can get a head-start building their credit score by becoming an authorized user on a parent’s credit card. As an authorized user, they can make purchases on credit card, and the account will be listed on their credit report. As long as the teenager and parent are responsible with their spending and make payments on time, the teenager can have an established credit history long before they have to apply for a credit card, auto loan, or personal loan.
  3. Secured Credit Card – If a parent feels uneasy about making their teenager an authorized user on their credit card, they can also help their teenager apply for a secured credit card through their bank. A secured credit card will only help their credit if the card will be reporting to the credit bureaus, so ask your bank before applying. Getting a secured credit card is also a great lesson in responsibility because it requires a money deposit, so your teenager can save up the money for the deposit.

Parents, we want to hear from you! What other tips do you recommend for teaching financial responsibility to your kids? Are you helping your kids and teenagers establish their credit? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

Do you have poor credit or no credit? Obtaining an auto loan can be tough, but it is achievable. Contact a sales person at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge and find a time to come in so we can work with you to find the proper loan. We’ll get you driving away in the new or pre-owned vehicle best suited for your lifestyle. Be sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to us on YouTube to see our monthly specials.

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Improve Your Auto Loan Terms in 4 Easy Steps

Shopping around for an auto loan can be a trying experience, especially with a low credit score. It can seem impossible to find the car you want at rates and terms you can afford. Most people don’t know that they can improve their chances of getting a better rate, though, by following these 4 simple steps.

  1. Be Honest with Yourself: Take a look over your personal finances and ask yourself how much you can really afford to spend. Do you really need a new car, or are you better able to afford a good used car? If your finances are tight already, then a reliable vehicle that generally doesn’t need a lot of repairs is a smarter choice than something flashier (and pricier).
  2. Research Before Going Into a Dealership: When you go into a dealership, that dealership assumes that you are ready to test drive and buy. If you want to research model reviews, it is better to do so before going in. Otherwise, you could end up buying a car you didn’t really want or hem and haw over the pros and cons of a model and waste the salesperson’s time. It is always good to go into a sale certain that this is the car you want, but keep in mind that the dealership’s sales staff make money on commissions. Be considerate of that, and if you aren’t ready to buy, walk away and let that salesperson help another customer.
  3. Bring a Down Payment: Fox Business recommends having a 20 percent down payment for a new car and 10 percent for a used car. By having that down payment, it increases the chances of getting a better interest rate and lower monthly payments.
  4. Shoot For a Shorter Loan Length: The value of a car, especially a new car, depreciates fairly quickly, so it is better to go with a shorter loan length. Even if it means higher monthly payments, you will probably end up with a higher interest rate if you get a longer loan.

Are you shopping for an auto loan but running into problems because of your credit? Give Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge a chance to help you. You can see our online new and pre-owned inventory here, and be sure to like Bayside on Facebook and follow Bayside on Twitter to get the latest news from the auto industry.

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Lenders, Chrysler Give Poor Credit Consumers Another Chance

The average American consumer’s credit might not be stellar right now, but lenders are overlooking that and offering better rates on auto loans.

According to a report from Experian Automotive, it is a great time to get an auto loan, especially for consumers with poor credit. Banks and lending institutions have loosened restrictions on auto loans, and in return, they have seen fewer consumers defaulting on their auto loans.

Interestingly enough, Chrysler has been cited as a car company that wants to help consumers with low credit score or no credit at all to get a vehicle. Edmonds.com’s Michelle Krebs mentioned the Chrysler family, specifically Dodge, as willing to work with poor credit consumers, stating, “We’ve noticed that people…for example, the Dodge brand selling to that group – has been part of Chrysler’s history they’ve gone after that buyer so that is helping to boost their sales.”

Perhaps it is because of Chrysler’s recent history that they are willing to give American car buyers another chance. Chrysler has gone through tough times, but they are having an incredible year from getting ranked as a top 10 car brand to having one of the year’s most anticipated car launches with the Dodge Dart and winning award for the Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300. Maybe by giving more car shoppers the chance to get into a car, they can give back a little bit to the people who stuck by them and believed in Chrysler.

At Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, you can get into a new or used vehicle today! Good credit, bad credit, we love to say yes! Click here to browse Bayside’s online inventory and stop by Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge at 21219 Northern Blvd. in Bayside, New York. Also, keep up with the latest news and deals from Bayside by liking Bayside on Facebook, following Bayside on Twitter, and subscribing to Bayside on YouTube!

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