If it was up to me, I’d almost never go to the doctor. It’s my wife who pushes that on me.  But my father died of colon cancer when he was 40, which is why they tell me to get colonoscopies every three to five years.

It’s not as bad as it sounds.  But the cost is what was holding me back.  In the good old days of working in a job with medical insurance, you didn’t even think about it. But the plant in Calumet closed down, and my new job in Lombard doesn’t offer that benefit. Same thing goes for my wife.  We looked at the COBRA plan and it was bigger than our rent.  Because we both were out of jobs last year, we have bad credit and no savings.

Because I read something about colon cancer and the importance of early detection (thank you Charlice for putting that on the kitchen table), I went online to find medical information.  The colonoscopy would cost about $3000.   Since I was sitting at the computer, I went to Yahoo and searched for “Chicago” and “Fast Cash.” That’s when I realized our car could be the ticket.  I was surprised to see my Pontiac was good for $4000 at Chicago Title Loans, a little more than I even needed.  I filled out the online application in about 20 minutes. The approval came through in an hour.  The next day I called my doctor and set up an appointment.

They found six polyps but no cancer.  Now I’m looking for a better job with benefits again.  Title car loans in these circumstances were a real stress reliever (especially for my wife).

- Fontayne G.

I recently joined a band that plays some really cool alternative music.  I play the guitar and they fell in love with me the moment I started.  They are not famous or anything but they are well known and respected around Chicago.  They play only the best clubs and bars and the crowd is always phenomenal.  The only problem is, my guitar is really old and beat up.  They said they would love to have me but I would have to buy a new guitar.  My old guitar just wasn’t going to make it in their band.  I don’t have the money for a new guitar but there is no way I’m passing up the chance to be in this band.  They are so good; I think they could make it big someday.  I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if they made the big times and I wasn’t a part of it. 

My girlfriend told me about a car title loan company that would loan me quick cash so I could get a new guitar.  She said Car Title Loans in Chicago would loan me the money if I used my car as collateral.  My car was paid off so I knew I would qualify for the loan.  I applied online and was approved for the loan.  It was an awesome experience.  Now I’m headed over to Guitar Center.  They have a great selection of guitars there.  I know I’ll find one that’ll sound great for the band.        

Josh K. in Chicago

I changed careers about five years ago to real estate, mostly working in the city and western suburbs.  But with the industry tanking in 2008, I wasn’t making very much money the last two quarters of last year and all of this year.

So, it was time to figure out Reese v. 3.0.  I’m not afraid of new things and really am interested in online marketing, but it would of course take some retraining.

And it’s not like I have a lot of money sitting around to fund that.  I got behind on rent (Lakeview is expensive) and my credit cards and thus became part of the legions who are designated under the title of bad credit. I am working temporary jobs just to keep up with monthly bills, but there is no money left for classes.

So I did a very atypical thing for a real estate agent: I looked at the value of my car. It is an asset with value.  And value can be leveraged. So, my need for fast cash translated into a car title loan. I filled out an online application with Chicago Title Loans.  It’s nothing like going to an auto title loans store in Uptown.

I was able to sign up for classes in a day because the fund transferred electronically.   The bank car title loans solution to my cash flow problem was all about working toward becoming the new me that is ready to burst forth and succeed!

- Reese S.

I’m from Iowa, so I think I take a pretty level headed approach to life’s problems, ESPECIALLY since I moved to the Chicago area.  Part of that approach is to think creatively, beyond your preconceived notions. 

I live and worked (past tense) in Lake Forest.  But first I lost my job. Then my Saab Turbo needed a new transmission.  Breathe deep, I said, better times are coming.  And I did find a new job – in Naperville.  Suddenly I was the kind of commuter you read about in the paper, spending hours each day in my car.

Note the job didn’t come for six months, which put a crimp on money overall.  But in Iowa, we suck it up and do what we gotta do.  No different in Chicago (and the North Shore).  

One additional little problem.  Because I was out of work so long I had bad credit and nothing left on the cards.  So much for spotless credit rating management all those years earlier.  Cow pies happen.  

This is where thinking outside the box kicked in. I turned to Chicago Title Loans.  I never before considered those no credit check car title loans, but in this situation it made sense. My four year old car still had a good blue book value, so this is where I could use it to cover the car repairs. 

I also avoided going downtown to some scary storefront operation. I just filled out an online application from my Mac.  You just sign on, answer questions, click and send – done in about 20 minutes. Talk about fast cash – I was able to pay the repair shop the very next day.  Through instant car title loans, you can manage a car problem with a car title – now if only I could find a magic way to take care of traffic on the 294.

When I bought my Toyota Tundra pickup truck in 2005, my wife went through the roof. She thought it was an poor use of money when we should be saving to buy a house.  But even though I didn’t plan it this way, it was actually a good investment.

First understand that we had an illness in the family.  Our insurance didn’t cover much of the expenses at all and it cost a lot out of pocket.  So that left us with some big bills and bad credit.  Our son is ok now, but we’re still paying off debts and still have bad credit.

As for the house idea, if we somehow had been able to buy a house back then, chances are it would be worth a lot less today anyway.

After a series of floods and other disasters in the Chicago area and the midwest, I realized there is work for guys with trucks, hauling debris on jobs where bigger trucks don’t work.  It’s good work, paying almost three times what I make in my regular job.  But to take advantage, I would have to go without pay for as much as two months. I’d be a subcontractor to a subcontractor, depending on everyone else getting paid before me.  

We have rent to cover, plus health insurance, credit cards, truck payments, food and old debt. We need a steady flow of fast cash.

Everyone in our families are strapped in this economy, just like the banks.   The answer was Chicago Title Loans.  Their online application is simple and fast. By the next morning, the money is in your bank account.  They’re the just in time auto title loans company.  My wife agrees with me now: that truck turned out to be a smart investment in the end.