Everyone bikes in Portland, so with high gas prices and my 38 inch waist, I decided 2008 was the year to get on the bandwagon…er uh, bike.  I mapped a route from where I live in Quatama and my job near the airport and figured out it would be about 12 miles round trip every day. 

But bikes don’t come cheap these days.  I had my eyes on a $1200 Cannondale. But because I had declared bankruptcy in 2006 I had bad credit, no credit cards and no spare cash.  So I couldn’t afford to make an investment that would ultimately save me gas money and perhaps medical costs.

So like with all other problems in life, I went on the Internet. I Googled “fast cash” and “bankruptcy loans” and “car title loan companies.”  That’s how I found Car Title Loans in Hillsboro.  I completed the online application in like 12 minutes, and discovered even my 2002 Chevy Trailblazer was worth a $1500 loan.  I bought a bike the next day and began my bike commute the day after that. Now, four months later, I have a 33 inch waist and I’ve saved more than $500 in gas.

Just because someone is bankrupt or with bad credit doesn’t mean you can’t buy smart products that help you save in the long run. 

– Haddad A.