Compounding Interest Rates – When Your Interest Begins Earning Interest
Anyone who has ever had a loan has probably heard of compounding interest rates. This is when the interest is added to the principle sum of the loan and, thus, begins earning interest itself. Of course, compounding interest rates is not just for loans. It can also be on your savings accounts and other things that earn you money instead of taking money away. That being said, it is important to realize how it can add up if it is being added to a loan or some other debt that you have because it can quickly escalate into a major problem if you do not take care of that debt as quickly as possible.
Compounding interest rates cause the balance of your loan or other debt to grow at a very quick pace. For that very reason, if you let the balance sit for too long, only paying the minimum amount due, your balance will continue to get larger because of the compounding interest rates. What starts out as a $10,000 loan can quickly become double that amount or larger if you are not careful to pay more than the minimum amount due. This is why you should always pay attention to the interest when getting a loan or a credit account. Calculate what you can afford to pay every month and do not go into debt any more than what you can afford.
Of course, compounding interest rates can also work in your favor. As previously mentioned, they can also be applied to your bank accounts or other investments. Of course, with a bank account, you would have to leave the money virtually untouched to see the full impact of compounding interest on the initial sum you place into the account. The longer you leave the money in the account and untouched, the more money you will have as each year passes. By the time a decade has passed, you will find a nice sum in the account, ready for withdrawal or you can leave it in the account to grow even more.
As long as you understand compounding interest rates, you are in a good position for when it comes time to get a loan or start a savings account as a form of an investment. Once you get how interest rates work, you are in a much better position to control your debt and your finances. Most of the people who get into trouble with things like credit cards and the reason for their escalating problems is that they do not understand interest rates. So, educate yourself and you will be in a better financial position.