Amelia and I never belonged together.  She is Manolo Blahnik and I am hiking boots.  After four years of marriage, she ran up so much in credit card debt I knew I had bad credit.  Which made moving on a little harder.

We talked about a separation and agreed I would move out. But when I started looking at apartments (I found one in Austin, not far from my job near Camp Mabry), I realized I had a new problem. The leasing company told me I needed two month’s rent for the security deposit.  

I was pretty sure I could afford the $875 each month, but I couldn’t swing another $1750. Christina blew our whole financial situation.  The credit cards were at their limits – we couldn’t make the monthly charges. I had bad credit, which made moving out all the harder.

So I did what any self-respecting guy about to cut free would do.  I went on the Internet.

I checked for words like “magic money,” “money you didn’t know you had”, “fast cash” and then thought of “car title loan.” I came across Car Title Loans in Austin.  My Ford Explorer is paid for, so I qualified for that.  I took out just enough for the security deposit and some basic furniture.  

I filled out the online application – was so happy to avoid that car title place on Executive Center Drive.  I had the money in 24 hours, signed the lease the next day, and moved on with my life three weeks later.  Hope never to see shoes that expensive cluttering my closet ever again.

- Justin B.

I just saved about $550 and will save thousands more over time as a result of a car title loan.  And, it’s good for the environment.

Here’s how I did it.  The water heater in my house is going to konk out very soon. I was thinking about the “on demand” water heaters because they reduce by a third your energy costs and cut water consumption by around six gallons a day because you run the water less.  With the way energy costs are going long term, and possibly a water shortage too with climate change, that’s the technology I want.

Add to that, there is also going to be a $300 tax credit for buying one in 2009.  Now, a store near the Highland Mall is selling them at a 25% discount if you order yours before 2009.  You just pay a $300 down payment now, then get the full discount on delivery in 2009. The total cost for the heater with installation will be $1250, but savings and tax credits brings it to $700.  

One little problem.  I’m not working since April, my bills are not all paid, my credit is bad, and I can’t get a home equity loan.  So where is the fast cash for grabbing a good deal like this?  

Mr. Internet always has the answers. I did a search for “car loans” and “fast cash” and found Car Title Loans in Austin, where I could get up to a $3000 loan against my 2002 Corolla.  It has an online application, a real relief because I could avoid those storefront car title places like you see on Manchaca Road.  The online application was a breeze and I got my approval in an hour (there is no credit check, which really speeds things up). I was able to make the $300 down payment the next day.

I only borrowed $500 because I think I can save the rest with odd jobs between now and January – but if I need more I can go back and get it.  Who knew automobile title loans could help stop climate change?

              - Heath J.

My car takes me many places.  But I didn’t know it could get me to Peace and Tranquility – without using a drop of gas.

Colon cancer runs strong in our family.  Three aunts, two cousins and my sister. We try to get colonoscopies once every three or four years.  When it happened to my sister, she was already in Stage 4.  The spent about $100,000 on treatments before she passed. Her husband had to declare bankruptcy as she was dying in order to keep up her treatments.  It was awful.

Both health and personal finances benefit from early detection. But I have no health insurance because I’m a working artist.  A colonoscopy would cost me close to $2600, which is beyond my current means.  And I have bad credit.  When I need fast cash I try to sell some art.  But right now those opportunities are not there.  I hate to admit this but even three weekly yoga classes couldn’t allay my fears as I went too long without the colonoscopy.

So I meditated through Google.  There I found Car Title Loans in Austin.  There I learned my 2002 pickup is worth a $3500 loan. Perfect.So I filled out the online application.  That took about twenty minutes.  In an hour they sent an email saying the loan was approved.  The money was in my my bank account the following day.  

I showed some polyps, but they were removed and the biopsy indicated no malignancy. ….  It’s an amazing sense of peace whe you’ve escaped something you’ve feared for years.

- Petra R.

When we moved to our new (old) house, I liked everything but the kitchen. It was so bad that we tried not to eat there.  So we were going out to Applebee’s and McDonald’s three or four nights a week.  But hey, the name of our town is Jollyville.  We always have fun.

Even with the economic downturn.  Even since I went six months between jobs and our credit has gone to hell.  But every time I opened the door on that ancient harvest gold refrigerator, I lost my appetite.  

At the very least I wished for a new refrigerator because it would be more energy efficient, by up to a 40 percent savings. But the refrigerator I wanted was about $1000.  Add a stove, microwave and dishwasher and you’re up past $3000, maybe $4000.  But with bad credit, buying anything like that didn’t seem possible.

It got even more frustrating when I found out that some developers near Cedar Park were selling off new appliances from unsold townhomes. They wanted half price, less if you could bargain with them.  Brand new, never used, $400 on the very exact same model refrigerator I was looking at for $1000. The stove and dishwasher, everything in stainless steel, also about half price.  Total cost would be $1500.  

How would I take advantage of this unbelievable deal? I needed fast cash because you had to pick it up the following day.  

I own my truck, no more payments, so I went to Car Title Loans in Austin. They offered me $5,000 in a title loan.  All I needed was the $1500, so I filled out the online application.  The cash went electronically into my checking account the next morning.  The application takes 15 minutes, and you get approved in one hour.

The next day I had my new kitchen. We ENJOY eating in it, and we’re saving money on electricity.  My friends laughed at me for using a loans on car title in this situation. Until they realized it saved me more than $1500. I recommend it to anyone in a situation where you can buy big things at fire sale prices.

- Jeb K.

Never underestimate the cajones of big business today.  Half the jobs in our company were eliminated when they were sent to India.  The best part was where we were given the opportunity to EARN an extra month’s severance package if we would train our replacements in Hyderabad.  

Oh boy, that was fun.  And during that time my wife and I talked to the kids about moving there (India), just to see how they would react (now they never complain about Austin anymore).

But money is money and there’s not exactly enough as it is.  My wife’s job in Cedar Park is too small to cover all the bills that come with two kids, two vehicles and a big fat mortgage.

After a few months, we fell behind in our bills.  Which gave us bad credit.  Which means no loans from anyone.  Or, almost anyone as I learned.

Retraining was my ticket to a good job again.  But with bad credit, how could I afford classes?

I needed fast cash.  Solution: a car title loan.  I never before considered this type of financing, but I got over that quick enough.  So I filled out an online application with Car Title Loans in Austin.  It didn’t involve going to a storefront operation near the university, or a bank or credit card company that would turn me down anyway. By the next morning I had my tuition money.  

I think they call this alternative financing for big businesses.  I call it a Godsend.  A loan with car title is sometimes the most forward-looking move you can make. 

- Jeremy H.

Welcome to Car Title Loans in Austin!