| How to Consolidate Loans Posted: 21 Sep 2017 05:00 PM PDT Loan consolidation can save you money if done right. You consolidate loans by rolling all your little loans into one bigger one. To come out ahead, you need to find a consolidation loan with a low interest rate and a reasonable term. You can consolidate using a personal loan or a balance transfer credit card. If you consolidate student loans, you have other options. EditFinding a Personal Consolidation Loan - Make a list of your debts. You can't choose a good course of action until you know how much you owe. Find all of the debts you want to consolidate and create a list with the following information:
- The amount due.
- Your monthly payment.
- The interest rate on the loan.
- Whether the loan is secured or unsecured. Secured loans are tied to an asset, e.g., your car acts as security for the car loan.
- Check your credit history. Lenders will only make loans if they are confident you can pay them back. Pull a free copy of your credit report and a copy of your credit score. Generally, you'll need a solid credit score (in the mid-600s) to get a personal consolidation loan.[1]
- Your score might be hurt by errors in your credit report. Check it thoroughly and dispute any wrong information. For example, there might be accounts listed that don't belong to you, or accounts might be inaccurately listed as in default.
- If your score is low, wait to consolidate. You can pay down debt and improve your credit score first.
- Research consolidation loans. Many lenders offer these loans. In fact, you probably get offers in the mail. You can ask your bank or credit union for a personal consolidation loan. You might also approach online lenders. Consider the following:
- Don't use a secured loan to consolidate unsecured loans. For example, a lender might say, "Sure, we'll give you a $20,000 consolidation loan, but we want you to put your home up as collateral." If you default on a secured loan, the lender can take the collateral.[2]
- Pay attention to both interest rates and the term (length) of the repayment period. Don't focus only on the monthly payment.
- Research online lenders closely. They should have a physical address listed on their website and use encryption when you submit information. Check with the Better Business Bureau if there have been complaints.[3]
- Assess your priorities. Loan consolidation can save you money in two ways—it might lower your monthly payment or it might lower the total amount you end up paying back. Some loans will do both, but some will do only one or the other.
- For example, you might find a consolidation loan that will cut your monthly payments in half. It does this by stretching out the repayment period to 20 years. You'll end up paying more over the life of the loan.
- In some situations, however, you might be focused only on cutting your monthly payment. For example, you might have lost your job. In this situation, a lower monthly payment will give you some breathing room, and you can refinance the consolidation loan later.
- Apply for the loan. Contact the lender and provide all required paperwork. You'll have to provide a bunch of information, such as personal identification, proof of income, and your employer information.[4]
- Pay off your smaller loans. After you've been approved, the lender will probably send you a check. Don't go shopping! You need to use these funds to pay off your smaller loans. Pay them off in a timely manner and then commit to paying back your consolidation loan.
- Consider other options. Loan consolidation might be unnecessary or not the right choice for you. For example, if you've recently fallen on hard times, you might have other options. Consider the following:
- You can call your creditors and ask that they let you skip a couple payments until you land on your feet. You'll have to have a good reason, such as a job loss or illness. Also the lender wants to be sure your problems are temporary.
- You can visit a credit counselor and set up a debt management plan. The counselor can negotiate with your creditors to reduce your interest rate and waive late fees and penalties. You make one payment to the credit counselor, who distributes your payments to each creditor.[5]
EditUsing a Balance Transfer - Check if you qualify for a balance transfer card. Many credit cards offer a low APR for 12-18 months if you transfer a balance onto them. Generally, you need good credit to qualify—often a credit score over 700. When you transfer, you might pay only a small transfer fee, around 4% of the amount transferred.[6]
- You can find offers for balance transfer cards online. Visit websites such as NerdWallet or Credit.com to compare offers.
- You might already have a balance transfer card. Check your statements.
- Avoid transferring large amounts. You'll only come out ahead if you can pay off your debts before the 0% APR period ends. If you can't, then the interest rate will zoom up, often over 15%, which will cost you a lot of money.
- The interest rate on a personal loan will be lower than 15%, so avoid using a balance transfer unless you can pay everything off early.[7]
- Complete the balance transfer. Transferring is easy. You simply tell the credit card company the account you want transferred and the amount. The amount should show up on your next statement.
- Pay your bills on time. The 0% APR is only good if you make monthly payments in full and on time. If you don't, then you'll lose the introductory rate and probably pay penalties and fees on top of it.[8] Set payment reminders, if necessary. For example, many credit card companies will send a text or an email reminder.
- You'll have an easier time paying your bills if you create a budget and stop spending. Some people see that their monthly payments are low, so they spend even more. Avoid this.[9]
EditConsolidating Student Loans - List your student loans. Gather all of your monthly loan statements and create a list with the following information:
- The lender.
- The amount you owe.
- Your monthly payment.
- The length of the repayment period.
- Whether the loan is federal or private.
- Identify your goals. People consolidate their student loans for different reasons, and the reason matters for purposes of how you consolidate. Consider the following:
- You want to consolidate because you are overwhelmed with paperwork. In this situation, you can consolidate some loans through the Department of Education. You won't lower your interest rate at all. Instead, the new consolidated loan will be a weighted average of the interest rates on all of your loans.[10]
- You want a lower interest rate. You'll need to pursue consolidation with a private lender. A lower interest rate will decrease the amount you pay each month. It will also reduce the amount you pay back over the life of the loan (unless the term of the loan is longer).
- You want a lower monthly payment. Generally, you should consolidate with private lenders. However, if you consolidate with the Department of Education, you can seek income-driven repayment plans or extend the repayment period, both of which will lower your monthly payment.
- Find private lenders. Some of the more popular lenders include SoFi, CommonBond, and Citizens Bank.[11] Typically, you'll need a credit score in the mid-600s, so pull your credit score.[12]
- Check the interest rates offered by each lender. Fixed rates range between 2-9%. Variable rates might be initially lower, but they can zoom up in the future.
- Ask questions. There are many people who can help you decide which consolidation path is right for you. Talk to your current lender and discuss your options. Consider asking the following questions:
- "Are all of my loans eligible for consolidation?" Most federal loans can be consolidated with the Department of Education. However, private lenders set their own rules.
- "If I consolidate my loans with the Department of Education, do I lose anything?" For example, you might lose any credit you have earned if your loans are currently on an income-driven repayment plan.[13]
- "Can I consolidate if my loans are currently in default?"
- Apply. Gather your student loan information. If you are applying for a private loan, you'll need information about your financial history: job history, current income, educational background, etc.[14]
- To consolidate with the Department of Education, go to www.studentloans.gov and use your Federal Student Aid ID to log in. You'll pick which loans to consolidate and choose a servicer. You'll also pick a repayment plan, which can run from 10-30 years, but income-driven plans are available also.
- To apply with a private lender, you should submit information about your financial background and your student loans. They will make a decision based on this information and your credit history.[15]
- Consider other options. Your financial difficulties might be temporary. If so, consider different options that will give you some breathing room. There's no reason to consolidate if you don't need to.
- You might seek deferment or forbearance, which will allow you to suspend payments on federal loans for a period of time. Contact your lender.
- You might also qualify for income-driven repayment plans on federal loans. Although you can choose these plans after you consolidate, you can also choose them without consolidating. On these plans, you might only pay 1-2% of your disposable income. As your income increases, you can pay more.
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| How to Feed Lovebirds Posted: 21 Sep 2017 09:00 AM PDT Lovebirds make great pets, as they are small, active, and have fun personalities. Feeding lovebirds properly will ensure they do well and thrive. Start by choosing feed that is suitable and healthy for lovebirds. You can then establish a feeding schedule to ensure the lovebirds get enough food and nutrients on a regular basis. Baby lovebirds do well if they are hand-fed, though this can be a time-consuming method. EditSelecting the Feed - Look for pellet food made for lovebirds. Pellet food is the ideal food for lovebirds, as it is formulated to give your birds the nutrients they need. Pick pellet food based on the age of your lovebirds. Make sure the pellet food contains natural ingredients and no additives or preservatives.[1]
- Baby lovebirds will have different pellet food than mature lovebirds. Mature lovebirds are 10 months or older.
- Look for pellet food made for lovebirds at your local pet store or online.
- Give the lovebirds fresh vegetables. Lovebirds also do well with supplemental foods in their diet like green lettuce (not iceberg lettuce), spinach, carrots, green peas, endive, tomatoes, parsley, dandelion, radish, cucumber, watercress, broccoli, sprouts, and kale.[2]
- They also do well with wheatgrass, as it is high in chlorophyll.
- Do not give lovebirds avocados, as they are considered toxic to birds.
- Feed the lovebirds fresh fruit. Lovebirds do well with fresh fruits like pears, bananas, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, apples, oranges, tangerines, kiwi, figs, melon, pitted cherries, and rose hips.[3]
- You can give the lovebirds dried fruits as long as they do not contain sulfites.
- Pick a high quality seed mix to give the bird as a treat. Look for a seed mix that has a wide variety of seeds like millet, canary grass seed, hulled oats, niger seed, flax seed, sunflower seeds, safflower, and rape seeds. The seed mix may also contain soybeans, rye, canary seed, whole brown rice, fennel seed, poppy seed, and sesame seed.[4]
- Because they don't have much nutritional value for lovebirds, seeds should only be given in very small quantities as treat. Seeds should never be your bird's sole food source.
- Make sure the seed mix contains a small amount of milo, as this ingredient is often used as a filler.
- Only use fresh seed mix. If the seed mix smells dusty or old, do not give it to your lovebirds.
- Offer the lovebirds small nuts. Lovebirds also enjoy shelled and unshelled peanuts, Brazil nuts, acorns, horse chestnuts, and hazelnuts. You can give the lovebirds nuts as a small treat or as a supplement to their regular diet.[5]
- Do not give the lovebirds food high in fat, sugar, or preservatives. Lovebirds should not be given fast food or foods high in artificial sugar like candy, ice cream, or sweets. Do not give lovebirds french fries, chips, or deep fried foods.[6]
- You should also avoid giving lovebirds any foods that contain preservatives or additives.
- Do not give lovebirds alcohol or coffee.
EditEstablishing a Feeding Schedule - Give the lovebirds 1 tablespoon (14 ml) of pellet food a day. Measure out 1 tablespoon of pellet food per bird. 70% of their diet should come from pellet food, while the other 30% should come from fruits and veggies.[7]
- Try to feed the lovebirds at the same time each day. This will ensure they know when they are going to be fed.
- Have separate food bowls for each bird. If you have more than one lovebird in a cage, provide one food bowl per bird. This will ensure there is no pecking or fighting over food at mealtime. It will also help you monitor the eating habits of each bird by checking their individual food bowls.[8]
- Wash fruits and vegetables before giving them to the lovebirds. Use clean running water to wash all fruits and vegetables. Then, cut them into small pieces and put them in a bowl that is separate from their food bowl. You do not need to peel the fruits or vegetables, as most lovebirds can digest the skin.[9]
- Try to give the lovebirds a variety of different fruits and vegetables. Switch up the types of fruits and vegetables you give to the lovebirds.
- Give them to the lovebirds as small snacks once or twice a day.
- Provide clean water for the lovebirds. Lovebirds need lots of fresh water. Change their water daily and refill the water bowl as needed. Make sure their water bowl is full before bed so they have access to fresh water at night.[10]
- Always use water bowls that are shallow so your birds are not at risk of drowning.
EditHand-Feeding Baby Lovebirds - Hand-feed baby lovebirds until they are 10 months old. Newborn or baby lovebirds do well with being hand-fed. This can be a time consuming process but it is ideal if you are raising a baby bird from infancy and want it to do well.[11]
- Often, hand-fed lovebirds grow much stronger and happier than baby lovebirds that are fed from a bowl.
- Get a syringe and baby bird food. Look for a small syringe with a small opening. You can find them at local pet stores or online. You will also need baby bird food, which often comes in a powder. [12]
- You will need to mix the powder into boiling water to make the formula for feeding. Follow the instructions on the package for the ratio of water to powder.
- Feed the lovebirds slowly. Hold the baby lovebird in one hand with your fingers wrapped lightly around its chest. Fill the syringe with the formula to 6-8ml. Put a small amount on your palm to make sure the formula is not too hot, just warm to the touch. Gently tilt the baby's head upwards. Place the syringe into the baby's beak and start feeding it.[13]
- Let the baby bird consume the formula slowly and at its own speed. Do not try to force the baby to eat from the syringe.
- Check the baby's crop for a bulge. The crop is a upper section of the baby bird's stomach that inflates as it eats. Once it is bulging, you can stop feeding the bird.
- Feed the bird the formula every three to four hours. Always feed it until its crop is bulging, never any more than that.
- Clean the lovebird's beak after feeding. Use a clean towel to gently wipe off the lovebird's beak once it is done eating. Most lovebirds will go to sleep after eating.[14]
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| How to Interpret Autistic Body Language Posted: 21 Sep 2017 01:00 AM PDT "Autistic body language" is somewhat of a misnomer—every autistic person is unique, so it is difficult to make generalizations about autistic people as a whole. This article discusses common patterns and misconceptions. When applying this information, be sure to consider your autistic loved one as an individual, and remember that each step won't apply to each person. EditAvoiding Misconceptions - Remember that different is not deficient. Autistic people communicate differently, but that does not make their communication inferior. Every person (including non-autistic people) has unique mannerisms, and there is no right or wrong in personal expression.
- Don't come with expectations about how they should act. You may have a fairly narrow view of what each specific behavior means. (For example, if you assume that lack of eye contact means inattention, you may think an autistic person is ignoring you when they're actually paying close attention.) Work on being open-minded and getting to know the individual.
- Welcome difference, and don't be afraid of body language you don't understand. This may be new to you, and that's okay. Weird faces and flapping arms may seem unpredictable to you, but that does not mean the autistic person is dangerous, or that they're going to hurt you. Take a deep breath and relax.
- Look for context. Because body language is complicated, and autistic people are diverse, there is no easy list or flowchart of body language logic. Look for contextual clues (environment, what is said, facial expressions) and use your judgment.
- When in doubt, ask. It's okay to ask for clarifications about someone else's feelings, and it's certainly better than getting frustrated or confused. (Autistic people can understand the feeling of needing clarifications about feelings. As long as you're polite and respectful, it's perfectly okay.)
- "I noticed you've been fidgeting a lot while we're talking. Is something up, or is this a normal part of listening for you?"
- "I noticed that you haven't been looking at me while we're talking. Is this a part of your listening body language?"
EditUnderstanding Autistic Differences These are general tips to help you understand your loved one better. An individual autistic person's body language may match many of these steps, but not necessarily all of them. - Recognize that stimming can have many meanings. If an autistic person stims around you, it often means that they trust you to let them be themselves. It also has meaning depending on the situation. It may be an expression of emotion, a way to reduce stress or overload, a focusing aid, or something else.[1][2][3] Here are ways to get hints.
- Facial expressions—Stimming while smiling usually means something different from stimming while frowning.
- Words and sounds—What they say, or the sounds they make (crying, giggling, etc.) can give clues towards their feelings.
- Context—A woman who waves her arms when shown a puppy is probably excited, while if she is waving her arms and whining while working on a difficult project, she may be frustrated or in need of a break.
- Sometimes stimming has no emotional meaning, similar to how standing up and stretching is not an indicator of your mood.
- Recognize that looking elsewhere is often part of autistic listening body language. Eye contact can be distracting or painful for autistic people,[4][5] so they may look at your shirt, your hands, the space next to you, their hands, et cetera.[6] Their eyes may be unfocused during this time. This is usually because their brain is focusing on your words.
- If you think they may be zoning out, try saying their name, verbally getting their attention, or gently waving your hand in front of their eyes (if nothing else works).
- Interpret a blank expression as a thoughtful one, not as an empty one. Many autistic people relax their facial features when their mind is busy. This may include a faraway gaze, a slightly open mouth, and a general lack of expression.
- Some autistic people assume this expression by default when they are focusing on listening to someone.
- If an autistic person is staring into space by themselves, assume they are deep in thought. They can still hear you (but get their attention first if you want them to listen).
- Expect stimming as part of regular body language. Stimming can help with self-calming, focus, and feeling good in general. If an autistic person is stimming while talking to you, assume that it enhances rather than detracts from their focus.
- Don't automatically interpret wild, random facial expressions as anger or frustration. Some autistic people will make odd faces. Usually this means that they are comfortable enough around you not to censor themselves, which is a very good sign! Here are some potential meanings...
- Happiness—Their unique way of smiling and having fun.
- Stimming—They need to get their facial muscles moving, similar to how you might play with a zipper or toss around a baseball if you haven't had enough activity.
- Being silly—They want to make you smile.
- Natural expression—Some disabled people's normal expressions look different from non-disabled people's expressions.
- Frustration or pain—Look for contextual clues to see if this matches.
- Be aware of any movement disabilities. Movements that seem jerky, clumsy, forceful, or "angry" may not mean anger—it may be dyspraxia, cerebral palsy, sensory processing disorder, or other disabilities that can affect ease of movement. If they often move this way, attribute it to their natural physical challenges, and be wary of misreading them as upset when they're just trying to do something.[7]
- Look out for agitation. Autistic people are at high risk for anxiety, and may experience sensory issues that cause discomfort or pain. Unusually agitated movements (including stims) paired with a blank or upset facial expression may mean that the autistic person needs a break.
- This can be useful for meltdown and shutdown prevention.
- Understand that it's okay not to understand. Autistic people can do all sorts of different things, from calling "Beep! Beep! Beep!" in tandem with the microwave timer to smiling and going limp when hugged. Don't worry about it. Recognize the value in their differences, and appreciate them for who they are.
- The autistic community has plenty of resources and personal essays that may be useful to you.
- Some people's facial expressions don't show how they are feeling inside. For example, a child who never smiles still feels happiness; it just isn't as clear on their face.[8]
- Never use coercion, plans, or physical force to make an autistic person conform to social norms. If they want to try to fit in, that is their choice, and they have the right to make that decision.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations This article was started by an autistic woman.
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