What Lance Advisors Recommends to Avoid Over-Leveraging Your Personal Finances

Over-leveraging your finances is one of the worst financial mistakes that can ever happen to you. When facing this situation, you will neither be able to pay your debts nor the interest rates that go with them. The lenders will not want to give you any loans because your credit score will be severely damaged. Nobody wants to get into such a situation, but the truth is that it happens frequently. If you look at information from Lance Advisors, you will notice that it is all caused by poor planning and a lack of financial discipline. So, how do you avoid over-leveraging your finances? Here are a few tips.

Check the way you use your credit cards

Credit cards are good, but if you do not check the way you use them, they will land you in deep financial problems. Although the convenience of paying for goods and services using your cards is always appreciated, it does not mean that you have to pay for things that you do not need. Some experts will ask you to leave your cards behind if you know that you cannot control the way you use them. When you use this approach, even when you come across those great shoes that you hardly need, your urge to buy them will be suppressed by the fact that you do not have your cards with you.

Pay off your student loans

People often procrastinate when it comes to paying student loans. They know that they have to pay them, but they keep pushing it forward until they are too late with the payments. This situation will affect your finances, and it could lead to over-leveraging of your finances. The best way to avoid this trend is by starting a payment program immediately after you get out of college. Make sure that you are regularly paying even when you have not found that dream job yet. When you do, you will be through with the payments faster, and you will be free from that burden.

Consolidate your loans and pay them

If you have too many loans, it could be the reason you are not doing well financially. Loans will drain you, especially when you can no longer comfortably pay. The interest rates will accrue, and things will go from bad to worse. According to Lance Advisors, such a situation can be corrected when you consolidate these loans. Get them under one lender and embark on a payment schedule that you can comfortably manage. With time, the debt will reduce, and your credit score will improve, meaning that your finances will be back on the right track again.

Borrow only when you have to

Are you the kind of person that borrows money even when they do not have to? Borrowing just because you know that the lenders will give you the money is not a good idea. If you take huge loans to party with your friends or to take trips that are unnecessary, you will find yourself unable to access money when you badly need it. Be careful with the kinds of debts that you accumulate. Even when you are broke; it does not mean that you have to take on a loan. There are other ways through which you can get the little amounts of money that you need to use until when you will get your next paycheck. Financial experts have always observed that people who borrow unnecessarily find themselves with debts that they can hardly pay.

Learn how to find the best deals

You need to know how to find items at better prices. Do not just buy from the first store that you come across. You may be surprised to find out that the supplier that you always trust has been charging you almost double what other people are paying elsewhere. For example, when you want to buy new clothes and shoes, take time to compare prices across various suppliers. You may also want to check if online suppliers have better offers. When you do this, you will end up saving a lot of money from your shopping, and you can use it to pay for other essential bills.

Developing a saving culture is another practical way to avoid over-leveraging your finances. Lance Advisors say that saving should be a habit that you start with your first job. If you are waiting to land a big job before you start saving, you will soon notice that age is catching up with you while you have not saved a cent. You do not have to set aside vast amounts of money every month. The secret of saving is to be consent. As long as you are putting away some amount after every paycheck, you soon will have a respectable nest-egg. Avoiding over-leveraging your finances is a matter of changing how you handle your money.

Specialties Construction Companies Should Consider

The construction industry has been in existence for a very long time, and like other industries, it is also revolutionizing with a change in time, technology and globalization. The industry involves the construction of residential, industrial and commercial buildings as well as engineering projects such construction of bridges, roads and utility systems. Apart from new construction projects the industry also involves remodeling, maintenance, renovation and additions to the old projects. For a construction project to be fully complete, several specialties in the industry must be involved to complete different phases of the project. These specialties are trained in their different areas of work, and every construction company needs to consider working closely with them. Some of them are unskilled laborers who do jobs that do not require extensive education or training. 

1. Project Managers

A project manager is a person who oversees the entire construction project and ensures everything goes as planned. As a construction employer, you will need a construction manager because they help in coordination and linkage between you and the architects or any other construction worker. Sometimes you may not be available to supervise day-to-day work, and your project manager will help in that and also provide a report on the progress. They will also update you on the materials consumed already and need for purchase of new ones. 

2. Architects and Quantitative Surveyors

Every construction project will need an architect to help in designing the building and handling all technical aspects of the project. A quantitative surveyor, on the other hand, will analyze the design and the construction plan and then provide a report highlighting the projected budget for the entire project. You will, therefore, need these specialties for your dock construction project because apart from estimating and monitoring the costs involved, they will also identify the dock accessories you will need for its completion. These two will work closely with the project manager to ensure everything goes as planned. 

3. Plumbers

Plumbers are responsible for installing and maintaining water pipes and appliances. They will also decide on how the pipes should run in the building, and this means they need to be involved in the planning and designing of the construction project. They also work closely with electricians and electrical engineers to ensure that cold and hot water supplies are properly fitted. Every appliance that uses water in the house will have to be worked on by your plumber, and this includes bathtubs, dishwashers, sinks, water heaters, toilets and the drainage system. 

4. Electricians

No construction project will be complete without electricians because they help in designing the construction project in a way that it will allow safe installation of electricity. If you do not involve an electrician at the beginning of your project, you might end up restarting it to allow safe installation of the electrical components. When hiring electrician contractors, it is good you make sure you get the most qualified and experienced because electricity installation is a job that can be dangerous if not carried out diligently. They will also be involved in testing and maintenance of power, lighting and air conditioning. 

5. Carpenters

Every construction project needs some carpenters because wood is one of the main components used in construction. For instance, if you are working on a dock construction project, some of your dock accessories will be wood and therefore will need a carpenter as one of the specialties who will bring it into completion. Most carpenters also work as wood machinists and therefore will help in cutting and shaping timber for different uses in the project. Every construction company will need qualified carpenters to help in different wood works for their projects. 

6. Glaziers

Most modern buildings are built with glasses as one of the main components, and therefore you will need qualified glaziers whose roles include cutting and installation of glasses. Your project could be a residential home, a commercial building or construction of skyscrapers and all will need qualified glaziers to work on the glasses. This job can be risky and costly and therefore should not be handled by anyone who isn’t a trained professional. 

7. Construction Laborers

These people may have received short-term training or no training at all, but they handle very important roles in every construction site. They are the people who perform different physical jobs that other trained specialties may not be able to perform. While these laborers are not paid as much per hour, many consider working on an overtime basis to earn more. As an employer, you should not ignore these people because a lot may go wrong in the construction site without their help. 

The construction industry is very wide, and due to the many activities involved, different specialties are required to work on different sub-projects of the main construction project. The list contains the main construction specialties that every company in the industry should consider.

Preview Into David Buck’s Inspirery Interview

david buck

Apple farmer, David Buck was recently interviewed about his expertise in urban and therapeutic horticulture. After several years as an orchard owner, he felt his skills would be better used as a consultant.

Since then, David has worked with cities both local and out of state to help bring more knowledge to urban horticulture.

You can read more about David Buck and see his full interview on Inspirery by visiting: http://inspirery.com/david-buck/

Ismail Sirdah Discusses Freelance Work In Pittsburgh, PA

Ismail SirdahIn business, the real mark of success is being able to stay ahead of the current trends.  Ismail Sirdah has been doing that for years now, and with his new successful studio is setting trends again with his innovative use of traditional technique and modern technology.  Ismail Sirdah understands that when customers come through his doors they are looking to forever preserve a memory, not just get a pretty picture.

Since receiving his first SLR camera as a young man Ismail Sirdah has been obsessed with capturing all of the life around him.  “It’s not just about him. In my work, I try to capture the essence… the feeling of what’s going on in that particular moment,” says Sirdah. As a photography assistant, he drove himself to learn all he could from his mentor and showed an innate gift for developing techniques and blending them with the technology of the day that has created a unique style.

To read more about Ismail Sirdah visit here: https://patch.com/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/top-5-niches-pittsburgh-writers-according-ismail-sirdah

What to Look For in a Business Loan Lender?

Shopping for a business loan isn’t like shopping for a tote bag or new clothes on a Saturday afternoon at the local mall. Even the most minute details on your business loan contract can make or break the financial foundation of your enterprise. You’ll want to make sure you find a fair and reliable lender who can offer terms that benefit your business in the long term and, at the same time, satisfy its current financial needs. Here are six things to look for in a business loan lender:
Sean Seshadri
Loan Amount 

Figure out exactly how much money you’ll need to borrow from your prospective lender. Furthermore, determine if the loan is a one-time necessity or a regular thing. Some lenders may be more suited for ongoing financing as opposed to a one-time loan. Ideally, you’ll want to open and manage all your business loans with a single lender. Getting your funding from different sources means managing more paperwork and dealing with different organizations and their policies.

Quick Capital Versus Long-Term Partner 

According to Sean Seshadri, you should look at potential lenders not merely as a temporary source of capital, but as a long-term resource for your enterprise. Work with a lender who truly understands your needs and objectives and is invested in helping you grow over time. Don’t just look for someone who is trying to sell you on their financial products and do not care about your business’s success. A solid track record and relationship with your lender can yield better interest rates, financing options, and terms and conditions.

Application Process 

Any good lender will have a straightforward loan application process that helps speed things up. How much documentation are you required to provide? How long does the bank usually take to give you a response regarding your application? Can you apply for a business loan online? Nowadays, it’s common for banks to offer the option to apply for loans online. It speeds up the process and lets you avoid the hassles of “red tape”.

Clear, Written Proposal 

The best business loan lenders will draft a written proposal that goes over all terms and conditions, rates, and any applicable fees. In response to your application, a lender will typically respond with a clear, written proposal within a week.

Loan Limitations 

Generally, you’d want your loan do not have any restrictions in terms of how you can use it. However, in some cases, a lender may restrict the use of capital, depending on the borrower’s creditworthiness and circumstances. As long as its purpose is business-related, you should have complete authority over how you use the money.

Approval Rate 

The approval rate for your loan varies depending on where you are applying. Traditional banks usually have lower approval rates and more stringent loan requirements as opposed to online-based lenders. Look for a lender with a high approval rate. Avoid going to lenders who are notoriously strict with their loan applications as this can negatively impact your credit score, which makes it even more difficult to find fair loan rates.

Final Thoughts 

Looking for the right business loan lender, according to Sean Seshadri, is one of the most commonly neglected tasks of aspiring entrepreneurs. As a result, they become inundated with unnecessary fees, unreasonable terms, and financially debilitating interest rates.

5 Women-led Tech Businesses You Need To Know About

There is a massive lack for women in the tech industry, although there are a few tech companies that are led by women executives. To paint the picture, only 14.2% of executives of S&P 500 companies are women. In 2013, 26% of people in the mathematics and computer occupations were women. Chrissy Weems agrees with the fact that the cultural trend that makes women less likely to take the top executive decision in business starts in childhood, with both girls and boys less likely to support the student council’s run by girls.

The good news is that there are women who have overcome such hurdles and they are running successful tech companies. These founders are also looking at ways they can help women to become tech executives. Let us look at some of the top tech women and the companies they run.

JeKuDo Privacy Company – Elissa Shevinsky co-Founder, CEO

JeKuDo is a tech company that provides secure messaging services which works in the same fashion as Slack. Elissa is also a co-organizer of SecretCon which is a web security conference. She is also the editor of the book Lean Out.

For Elissa, she had a tough time in her journey in the tech space. For instance, it was hard for her to find collaborators when she became CEO of the company. She advises women to level up as soon as they can. According to Elissa, women need to become experts in their areas of expertise and make themselves noticed.

Women at this level need to look for mentors they can trust. Chrissy Weems and Elissa look forward to more women becoming investors and entrepreneurs so that they can make their way to the boardroom.

Full Circle Insights – Bonnie Crater, CEO

Full Circle Insights provides marketing campaign metrics. Bonnie Carter is now used to board meetings where more than 90% of the attendees are men. Bonnie knows that the gender composition of the leadership also reflects on the teams. At Full Circle, 46% of the employees are women.

To help women to get into tech companies, Bonnie advocates the Rooney Rule variation which is working for the NFL. At the NFL senior operation roles attracts interviews for minority candidates. For tech companies, it can be advantageous to have at least one woman candidate to be interviewed for the position.

Built.io – Neha Sampat, CEO

Built.io is a software company that provides a content management system, mobile application development, and an API platform to businesses and content individuals. Although Neha has received a lot of tech analysis more than her male counterparts, this has helped her to be more visible and hire a diverse team.

Neha believes that to level the playing ground for both men and women, more funding should go to women entrepreneurs, leadership training for girls, and educating people on gender bias.

Stayful- Cherryl Rosner, Co-Founder, CEO

Stayful is a website that helps travelers to book, and negotiate hotel rooms process. Cherryl started this business after she experienced frustrations in the hotel industry and after working at Hotels.com. She has been an advocate for women for a long time.

Cherryl has made it this far thanks to the support of advisors and investors. For women to succeed., Cherryl advocates for mentors to help women who have the potential to go for leadership positions.

Skimlinks- Alicia Navarro, Co-Founder, CEO

Alicia started coding when she was nine years old. She studied computer science and worked as a product manager, business consultant, and analyst before starting Skimlinks. Skimlinks is a company that allows publishers to track purchases and clicks that results from website links.

Alicia notes that as much as women need to be involved in the technical space as programmers or coders, women need to also look at other roles like managerial positions.

4 Ways To Maximize Your Investment Buyins

sean-seshadri

Buy-ins are a popular strategy in the investment world. Managers can purchase shares of a different company, depending on its performance in the stock market. Buy-ins would sometimes have a mixed reputation–it means that the seller was not able to deliver the securities promptly, or worse, they might not be able to have securities at all. As a result, an investor would have to re-purchase the investment in the hopes that a particular client will pay back the shares.

What is the difference between a forced buy-in and a traditional buy-in?

The main difference between regular buy-ins and forced buy-ins is that forced buy-ins are shared which are purchased again to settle for a short position. The forced buy-ins happen within a short seller’s portfolio as the primary lender of the share decides to take them back. This can also occur when an investor or a broker cannot borrow shares anymore due to the short position. In this situation, the owner of the account may not be given prior notice about the forced buy-in.

What are the possible benefits of buy-ins?

There are many advantages of buy-ins or buy-outs in the market. Firstly, the removal of investment can save an investor from inflation or other longevity problems. There will also be the removal of other extra expenses and fees that may be needed. For investors, it may also be beneficial as it is a strategy that will open opportunities to match or investment benefits, which can help avoid the future volatility of investments.

What are ways to maximize investment buy-ins?

According to Sean Seshadri, there are several strategies to help maximize buy-ins as an investor.

Start buy-ins when a stock goes on sale.

There will be moments where a company offers a sale on their shares. Even if it is a well-performing company, this opportunity occurs once in a while. It is best to purchase investments at a sale price to see more profit as the shares increase in value towards the future. An example of this is seen in the 2008-2009 economic crisis, where many investors felt pessimistic about taking buy-ins. This could have been an opportunity to purchase stocks, as it would have exponentially grown in value towards the upcoming years.

Have buy-ins when a share is undervalued.

According to Sean Seshadri, this is where the investment strategy is most needed. People have to rely on mentors or do the research themselves about an actual value of a share. For example, there may be a startup company that has good potential but is currently undervalued. Investors can do their research about this company and look for trends that indicate that this startup with grows. As they decide to invest in this company, the right decision will leave them no regrets about the buy-in.

Start buy-ins when an investment hits your ideal price.

As an investor, it is also vital to have fundamental criteria for your buying price. It is not wise to keep on purchasing stocks and joining the bandwagon if it’s not financially realistic for you. Buy-ins within your price range should be considered, but those that seem to be above and beyond should be waited out. Time will tell if a potential buy-in will have a sale, and this is where you can intercede and make a decision.

Maximize your buy-ins after understanding the trends.

Investment involves extensive research–this means that you need to find articles about the news that revolve a particular investment, see what financial experts are saying, and analyze the trends that could affect your share purchase. It may seem too simple to rely on common knowledge about good investments, but it also takes an excellent investor to do proper research and take wise risks to make good dividends.

As you unveil more principles in investment, you can begin to understand how the system works and eventually master the system through your knowledge, skills, and the help of investment strategists.

4 Ways To Minimize Costs By Organizing Your Data

Managing your data is an often overlooked key to success in business.

As a business grows, it is not just the revenues that an entrepreneur should be keeping on track. There should also be an emphasis on watching over a company’s data accumulation over the years. Different types of important data include annual reports, financial records, employee information, and even client transactions. This information is needed to track your business growth and to exhibit compliance during tax season, or other requirements imposed by authorities.

However, the mismanagement of data can lead to a myriad of problems. These problems, though not obvious at the initial stages, may often cause bigger mishaps in the long run:

  • Miscalculation for financial decisions – companies rely on data when making decisions on how to allocate funds. Mismanaged information can lead to the wrong type of spending for some companies.
  • Inefficiencies for data retrieval – the constant inefficient processes to retrieve data may cost time, energy, and money for your business. When information is difficult to retrieve, you would often need a team of experts to constantly do the same process over and over again.
  • Inability to track progress – businesses need data to track growth, discover patterns of development, and gain insight into consumer response. The lack of proper information management can lead to a loss of insight regarding important business metrics.

By organizing data within your business, you can prevent overspending your long-term and short-term budget. In this post, we will be looking into the ways data organization can help you reduce business costs.

4 Ways To Minimize Costs By Organizing Your Data

 

  1. Data organization can lead to easier retrieval

A lot of companies suffer from problems in retrieving large amounts of data to compare with more recent sets. This is proven to be a time-consuming process that would need spreadsheet inputs, data visualization, charting, mapping and other processes to make the data presentable in needed reports. With companies such as Profisee, these tasks can be easily eliminated–saving you time and money to outsource the people who will do all the work for you. Profisee has a system that allows easier retrieval of data while keeping all inputs organized.

  1. Having data management can help you make comprehensive reports

Another difficulty that companies face in data management is the automation of reports. They would often hire data analysts to make visual reports regarding the information retrieved. Due to the long and tedious process, this can also lead to human error and inefficiencies. When a data management software is implemented, you can skip this step entirely and make reports as quickly as you need them, based on the variables inputted into the system. This is very useful for instances that you need to have quick visuals pulled up during meetings, which helps your stakeholders understand the concepts that you might want to explain clearly.

  1. Data organization can give you accurate measures to make critical business decisions

Having an accurate set of data is also important in making big business decisions. These include setting growth goals, watching over financial strategies, and making sure that the company is having positive revenue growth throughout each term. This is difficult to track if you don’t have an automated system which allows you to see results and insights in real time. Having a data management software will give you this kind of convenience as well. By tracking the trends you see in your business chronologically, you can see patterns in growth and customer behavior that you can take advantage of.

  1. Data organization can give you efficient access for all your departments

You might be managing a large corporation with several departments needing a piece of information or report. In this scenario, traditional measures would be sending this information through e-mail, personal copies, or other less-efficient means. With data organization, your company department employees can access the data whenever they want and wherever they want. Additionally, they can also input pertinent information into the system which allows seamless collaboration for interdependent teams.

Organizing data is not a simple feat. Conventional means would require a full team to handle all your growing data needs. However, with technology, data management can become much simpler and can help you reduce the overhead costs.

 

How to Get Design Feedback That Will Actually Improve Your Website

Mark Alvarado
When you create a design and request for feedback, you tend to receive vague answers. “Oh, it looks good.” “That’s fantastic…you are really good,” or “ This is great.”

These are generic answers that don’t answer the questions that you have. Getting feedback from participants can be a tough experience, and in some instances, you will have a rewarding experience, as long as you ask the right question.

As a graphic designer, Mark Alvarado knows how valuable feedback is to a designer and he would like to show you how to acquire the feedback you desire.

The importance of Feedback

Like any work done, getting feedback will let you know where you can make changes and what to improve on; it is also a great way of boosting your esteem.

Receiving positive feedback lets you know that you are doing the right thing, and if people you admire point out the right things you are doing with your design, you will feel like you’ve grown a head taller.

Responses from various people will help you create better masterpieces in website design. You will not only create work that is pleasing to you but that which will please people with different tastes.

It is crucial to draw your inspiration from different people if you are in the design business. You have to ensure that the work you create will appeal to different tastes and it will also convey the message that you as the designer want to show to your audience.

Feedback Tips

Getting feedback as a designer is difficult, but there are a few tips that Mark Alvarado knows that will help you get the right answers.

One, make the environment in which the people you are requesting the feedback from comfortable and avoid feeling the pressure of receiving positive feedback.

When people are comfortable, they will be honest with you. They will give you pointers, and even tell you what they liked or disliked about the design if it is challenging to use; you will get the answers you were seeking.

Two, inform them beforehand that you’ll be asking for their feedback. This will give them time to look at your work. This is important if you don’t want to receive superficial answers.

Three, give them a prototype of your design for them to use. When they are using your design, allow them to talk to you through each step. As they use it, you will get to see the challenges they are facing.

For instance, if they can’t tell what they are supposed to do at a certain page, or they can’t find what they are looking for, you will be able to see some of the challenges with your design.

If you schedule a short feedback session with your audience, you will receive valuable feedback that will help you tweak your designs even better.

Four, tell them what you want from them. This way, you will provide them with a guideline, and they will know what to look out for. If you provide them with specific questions, you will be able to get the answers you want; avoid open-ended or vague questions.

Five, be attentive. You will get more when you listen and watch what your participants are doing. Listen to what they are saying, and what they are not saying.

There might be times they don’t know how to articulate something, but if you are keen, you will pick it up, and address the issue.

High pitched voice, if they start to say something then backtrack, or open their mouths to speak but decide to remain silent, pick on these cues and ask them to speak their minds.

What to do with the Feedback

Once you have received the feedback you requested, make sure you go through it all and take the negative with the positive. You might notice that some of what has been pointed is already common knowledge to you, but you needed a fresh set of eyes to confirm it.

To get the best feedback, ensure you create an environment in which the participant is okay with being honest. Be clear that they can speak freely, and take the criticism with poise and ask for them to elaborate on their points.

In summary, apply what you have learned and create a design better than the first one. When you are done working on the final design, show them again and see if there has been any improvement.

How To Obtain A Loan With Bad Credit

The first line of defense for those who are suffering from bad credit and feel overwhelmed by their current interest rates is bad credit loans. These loans allow applicants to consolidate their various debts into a single loan with a lower interest rate, therefore streamlining the repayment process and reducing monthly payments.

When you have bad credit loans or no credit, it is tough for you to get additional loans because you are considered a high-risk client who might not repay the loan. The way the financial industry works, especially when it comes to the loaning business, you have to raise your credit score to be in the group of people who have met the lending guidelines that banks follow.

If by any chance banks have declined your request for a loan, or you do not want to get yourself loans that have very steep premiums, we are going to look at five different ways that you can still get a loan with a bad credit score.

Apply for a loan in credit unions

An alternative lending institution that you can use is credit unions. Credit unions are similar to banks, but the only difference is that they are owned by members who have a particular goal. Credit unions work to provide members with benefits such as having lower rates.

Visit a credit union near you and discuss with them how you can get a personal loan. You can visit several credit unions to check the one which has the lowest interest rates before you settle on one.

Use a home-equity line of credit

It is possible to get tax-deductible low-interest line of credit if you have a lot of equity in your property. It is not a great idea to tap into the home equity if you are not able to repay the debt. But if you are working a stable job and you are disciplined on paying the equity line, then it is a cheaper alternative even if you have a bad credit score.

Go for a peer to peer loan

P2P lending has been active in the last decade. This type of loaning system has nowadays gone online where you can borrow money from individuals instead of borrowing from a lending institution. P2P lending is a hot market because it does not have a lengthy process, and it is advantageous on both sides of the rope. The borrower gets low interest and the investor earns higher returns.

The process for P2P loans is generally as follows; borrowers post a loan-listing which includes the reason why the loan is required and the amount needed. The loan listing is reviewed and investors select the ones that meet their criteria. The applicants are then verified. Although the credit score is a factor, an individual lender can be lenient or empathetic enough to the reason you need the loan.

Take a loan from your friends or family

If you find it hard to get a loan from your peers, then you can try your friends and family. The tricky part with this type of loans is the lack of seriousness when borrowing from them. It is important to make a clear documented legal record of the loan so that the friendship is not compromised.

If you want to avoid complications, sign a proper agreement that has the terms of payment, interest rates, and the collateral that is in place of the loan in case you are not able to repay the loan. Seek the counsel of a lawyer when going for this type of loans.

Ideally, the last resort should be the family loan, but in this respect, ensure that you have do not jeopardize the relationship you have with your family because of money.

Use a co-signer

If you are not lucky enough to get a loan from a friend or family member, get someone who can co-sign with you on a loan. If you have the ability to repay bad credit loans, it is possible for someone who really knows you to take a chance of supporting you by co-signing. The only thing that should be in your mind is that in case you default, the creditor will demand full repayment from the co-signer.

You don’t want to make your co-signer suffer for your loans because you have not been able to repay. All the payment details will be recorded on the credit reports of the co-signer alongside yours.

In summary, in case none of these options pans out, you can work on raising your credit score for you to get a loan on in the traditional way.