Comments on: Kiva – Microloans for Entrepreneurs http://cashmoneylife.com/kiva-microloans-for-entrepreneurs/ Money Management, Small Business, Career Wed, 23 May 2012 21:16:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Mrs. Micah http://cashmoneylife.com/kiva-microloans-for-entrepreneurs/#comment-14053 Mrs. Micah Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:29:39 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=899#comment-14053 I find Kiva a pretty exciting opportunity to give. It's great to give people a hand up and use the same money over and over for it. That's even more exciting than a one-time gift. I've heard people call it investing, but I don't think that's quite accurate. There aren't guarantees in either, but with Kiva you're guaranteed <em>not</em> to get a return of more than your investment. I find Kiva a pretty exciting opportunity to give. It’s great to give people a hand up and use the same money over and over for it. That’s even more exciting than a one-time gift.

I’ve heard people call it investing, but I don’t think that’s quite accurate. There aren’t guarantees in either, but with Kiva you’re guaranteed not to get a return of more than your investment.

]]> By: Ryan http://cashmoneylife.com/kiva-microloans-for-entrepreneurs/#comment-13977 Ryan Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:57:30 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=899#comment-13977 <strong>Kate:</strong> I too, like the ability to choose where your loans go. It makes you feel like you have a tangible affect on someone's life. To be able to do that from so far away for such a little cost is an amazing feeling. Thanks or sharing! <strong>John:</strong> I hadn't heard of TrickleUp before, so I'll be sure to check that out. Thanks for sharing! Kate: I too, like the ability to choose where your loans go. It makes you feel like you have a tangible affect on someone’s life. To be able to do that from so far away for such a little cost is an amazing feeling. Thanks or sharing!

John: I hadn’t heard of TrickleUp before, so I’ll be sure to check that out. Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: MoneyMateKate http://cashmoneylife.com/kiva-microloans-for-entrepreneurs/#comment-13960 MoneyMateKate Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:44:39 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=899#comment-13960 I've been lending through Kiva for about 10 months now, and I *love* the ability to make such a personal choice (unlike most other microlending organizations, where you can barely pick the country - forget the individual borrower). Kiva used to fund their own expenses with the interest on partially repaid loans, by not giving you back your $25 chunk until the entire loan was repaid in full. I thought this was brilliant! However, they now credit you the bits and pieces of repayments, so you can relend the money faster (I think a lot of people were avoiding longer loan terms because of this). I've made about 15 loans so far, and only half of one went into some form of default - in Ecuador, where there was some kind of weather problem that killed crops and such. When Kenya went nuts after their election earlier this year, I believe they had loan repayment issues too - but most of the chatter on kivafriends.org and in the comment sections under the individual loans showed that lenders were more concerned about the safety of their borrower than their money. Others comment how it opens their eyes and minds to world events by having a connection to someone in Peru, Mali, Cambodia, etc. I've mentioned Kiva in my other, non-PF blog, www.cheapcharity.blogspot.com, in case you're curious about who I invested in and why. I’ve been lending through Kiva for about 10 months now, and I *love* the ability to make such a personal choice (unlike most other microlending organizations, where you can barely pick the country – forget the individual borrower).

Kiva used to fund their own expenses with the interest on partially repaid loans, by not giving you back your $25 chunk until the entire loan was repaid in full. I thought this was brilliant! However, they now credit you the bits and pieces of repayments, so you can relend the money faster (I think a lot of people were avoiding longer loan terms because of this).

I’ve made about 15 loans so far, and only half of one went into some form of default – in Ecuador, where there was some kind of weather problem that killed crops and such. When Kenya went nuts after their election earlier this year, I believe they had loan repayment issues too – but most of the chatter on kivafriends.org and in the comment sections under the individual loans showed that lenders were more concerned about the safety of their borrower than their money. Others comment how it opens their eyes and minds to world events by having a connection to someone in Peru, Mali, Cambodia, etc. I’ve mentioned Kiva in my other, non-PF blog, http://www.cheapcharity.blogspot.com, in case you’re curious about who I invested in and why.

]]> By: John Hunter http://cashmoneylife.com/kiva-microloans-for-entrepreneurs/#comment-13961 John Hunter Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:15:42 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=899#comment-13961 Kiva is great. The chance to provide opportunities that can change others lives just by loaning a few dollars is great. Another great micro-ledning charity I support is <a href="http://trickleup.org/" rel="nofollow">Trickle Up</a>. Kiva is great. The chance to provide opportunities that can change others lives just by loaning a few dollars is great. Another great micro-ledning charity I support is Trickle Up.

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