Property Prices Predicted For Fall In August

Property Prices Predicted For Fall In August House prices are predicted to fall next month as the impact of the Bank of England’s series of interest rate rises begins to be felt. According to Your Move, the effect of five hikes by the Bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) during the past year will see property values decrease in August. The estate agent network predicted that house exchange prices over the course of July will increase by 0.94 per cent to an average of £182,748. However, next month is forecasted to see a fall of 0.34 per cent with the typical home now costing £182,134. Compared to the same period 12 months ago, house prices are forecasted to have increased by 9.46 per cent as of the end of July, compared to an 8.8 per cent rise in the year ending August. Meanwhile, agreed property prices (when an offer to buy a home has been accepted) in July decreased by 0.47 per cent to £182,218 from the £183,080 recorded in June. As a result, the firm claimed that such figures only act as “further reinforcing” for forecasts that August and September will see a curbing in property prices. David Newnes, managing director of Your Move, said: “Successive interest rate rises which might have reined in house price growth have not actually led to a fall in prices but the August prediction shows the first signs that the MPC medicine is starting to bite through on price growth. Significant numbers of borrowers were immune to rate hikes as they had taken the wise precaution of choosing a fixed-rate loan. Now that many borrowers are coming off those cheap fixed-rate deals and having to pay a higher rate of interest, the MPC’s rate rises are starting to have an effect by cooling price rises which is exactly what they wanted to achieve.” He added that as a result of MPC increases, the value of property is set to decrease over the coming weeks, with September predicted to be a “sober” month as prospective buyers look to get larger discounts on the asking price of homes. Meanwhile, Mr Newnes claimed that the forthcoming staggered introduction of home information packs is unlikely to have any major impact in terms of driving house prices down. Consequently, he reported that any further interest rate increases by the Bank would be unnecessary, as the housing sector is predicted to “remain robust” in the medium to long-term. As a result of the announcement from Your Move, potential first-time buyers may find their difficulties in getting on the housing ladder eased. At the beginning of the month a study by Abbey indicated that millions of consumers are spending money meant to be going towards making a property deposit on other items. Some 11.2 million of those putting money aside were said to have “dipped into” such a savings account at least once, with 888,000 Britons doing so every week. Managing director of Abbey for Intermediaries Ricky Okey claimed that the figures “go a long way” into revealing why many people struggle to buy their first home and incur difficulties making homeowner loan repayments. Steve Smith writes for 1 Stop Finance Shop. A one stop shop for all your bad credit loans , debt consolidation loans and loans news . Visit Today

Do You Know How to Ensure You Are Not Owed Unclaimed Money?

Do You Know How to Ensure You Are Not Owed Unclaimed Money? Majority of the Americans have not given a thought to the task of searching for unclaimed money. The majority of the Americans are not aware that millions of individuals in the country are owed lost money. Due to public apathy, the unclaimed cash kitty has grown to over $40 billion. All the individuals in the audience of a show by Oprah Winfrey were given checks for various sums. The money that was distributed was not charity or donations. The money belonged to the audience. The money was unclaimed money owed to the individuals in the audience. Oprah had checked for unclaimed money owed to the individuals and thousands of dollars was found owed to the individuals. Oprah stated on the show that as many as 8 out of 9 families in the US are owed unclaimed money. Property becomes unclaimed when the company or financial institution holding the money is unable to contact its owner for a period in excess of three years. The owner of the money is beyond reach because the contact information of the individual has become outdated or because the individual has changed his or her legal name. All communication to the individual is sent to the old address and the same never reaches the person who is the owner of the money. The government steps in after the period of three years. Once the money becomes unclaimed money, the government requires the companies and institutions to turn over the money to the State. The funds are normally held by the controller s office of each state. Unclaimed funds come into existence from many sources. Most common sources include Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, unclaimed Tax Refunds, Old Pay Checks, Child Support or Alimony Payments, Stocks, Bonds or Dividends, Insurance Payments etc Since it is useless to rely on the government to return the money promptly, the onus is upon you to search for unclaimed cash owed to you. You will have to search by entering your name in an unclaimed money database. The search should help you determine whether you are owed money or not. You can even check the accounts to find out whether any record rings a bell. Once money is found, a claim has to be submitted and the wait for the check begins. Nicole Anderson offers additional information about unclaimed money at cashunclaimed.com If you want to get back your lost money and unclaimed funds without any hassles, just visit cashunclaimed.com to search 120 databases in one go. Conduct a single search and all the money owed to you will be flashed on your screen.

Compound Interest Calculation - The Secret Weapon Upon Which All Fortunes Are Built

I was always taught to listen closely to people who are much smarter than me. So when Albert Einstein, one of the greatest minds to ever walk planet Earth, is quoted as saying, “The most powerful force in the universe is compound interest,” I believe him. So what is compound interest, anyway? Compound interest is defined as “interest calculated on both the principal and the accrued interest.” In other words, compound interest is when money you invest and the interest it has already accumulated continue to earn more interest. This may not sound very powerful, but when you mix in the key ingredient â€" time â€" a simple compound interest calculation becomes the secret weapon upon which all fortunes are built. Let’s take a closer look. The Rule of 72 One simple compound interest calculation that is very useful is called the Rule of 72, which states that 72 divided by the annual rate of return equals the number of years for a given quantity of money to double. For instance, $1,000 invested and earning 9% annually will become $2,000 in eight years because 72 divided by nine equals eight. Using this simple calculation over longer periods of time, you can quickly see the tremendous power of compounding. As an example, let’s say a 23 year old invests $10,000 in a stock market index fund earning 10% per year. Using the Rule of 72, the fund’s value will double approximately every seven years. So if the 23 year old allows the money to continue compounding until he reaches 65, the fund will have doubled in value approximately six times (65 minus 23 equals 42, and 42 divided by seven equals six). Doubling six times, the original $10,000 becomes $640,000! Simply amazing! What Do I Do Now? One simple way to get started is to purchase the Total Stock Market ETF, symbol VTI. To eliminate the trading costs associated with purchasing ETF’s, we recommend opening an account with Zecco, which stands for zero commission costs. In addition to free ETF trades, Zecco has no account minimums or account maintenance fees. To learn more about opening a Zecco brokerage account, visit our Recommended Investment Products page at the Smart Money Advocate website. Compound Interest in Reverse As amazing as compound interest can be when used to multiply our savings, it can be the cause of a financial nightmare if applied to our spending habits. To what am I referring? Credit cards, plain and simple. When you only pay the minimum on your credit cards each month, the balance you owe grows exponentially. Why, you might ask? Because the interest rates that most cards charge are very high, sometimes as high as 20% or more. Using the Rule of 72, the balance owned would double in 3.6 years at a 20% annual interest rate, if no payments are made. As you can see, it would not take very long for the balance owed to get completely out of hand. Summary Compound interest is the mathematical miracle that allows anyone to achieve financial freedom, no matter your nationality, gender, race, IQ, or economic background. A simple compound interest calculation early in your adult life can open your eyes and compel you to take action while its key ingredient â€" time â€" is still on your side. So put compound interest to work for you immediately and allow yourself to become a financial success. Charles Hebert invites you to visit his website, smartmoneyadvocate.com/ , where he shares his views on a wide variety of personal finance topics. Through his website, he aims to improve the financial decision making of the average individual by advocating simple strategies that can be applied by anyone. You can sign up for his free ezine, Personal Finance Savvy, at: smartmoneyadvocate.com/EzineSignup.html .

Choose the Most Beneficial Bank Account Option

Independence is something that we all seek, right from the time when we are children. Of course, at that age, independence is generally associated with things like the freedom to choose our friends and the kinds of games that we play. However, as we become older, we begin to associate independence with other things. It is at this time that independence and money begin to become interlinked. As we start earning our own livelihoods, we come to realize that we need to make our money grow. So we look forward to either investing our money in stocks and shares or depositing it in a bank. There is great joy to be gained in watching the money grow in multiple folds every year. It is for the same reason that we listen to the advice of friends and family members when we have to open an account. Most often, we choose to open an account with a leading bank which offers various services. However, we should remember that these services do not come for free. As a result, we should look out for banks that charge the lowest rates for these services. For instance, a number of banks charge an additional fee if we ask for things like locker facilities or a greater number of check books. However, this may not be the case with all banks. In fact, several banks willingly offer the same services at no extra cost. It is always better to open an account in no more than one or two banks. You might be tempted to go and get a few more bank accounts, but this is not recommended. What happens if you do this is that you lose track of your finances. This takes place especially if you are in the habit of operating all the accounts simultaneously. As a result, the savings in each diminishes at the same time. This is not a healthy way to operate a bank account. These days most bank accounts have the ATM facility; so we can draw cash in case of emergency. Before opening an account with a bank, we must think hard about whether it is going to be useful or not. If we are working on a project and our client has an account with a particular bank, it makes sense to have an account there. This will enable the client to transfer funds to you immediately through that account. If there is no such purpose, you would only be locking up your funds in an account that you will not be operating. Some banks also have the facility of automatically transferring your funds into a fixed deposit if you have not operated the account over a long period of time. This means that you earn more on the money in that account. In such a case, you would have made a good choice. Bank accounts must be monitored on a regularly basis. Some banks charge a fee if the account is not operated every so often. Such minor details which we might oversee will have to be considered while opening an account. Find out about the Best Bank Accounts , an Online Saving Account and before getting one, make sure to Compare Current Accounts .

Why You Should Pay Yourself Before You Pay Your Creditors

Got bills? We all do. But, who do you pay first when after you deposit your paycheck? Most people pay their bills first, and play with what little is left. Sometimes, they ll put a small amount into a savings account, which might earn all of 2% interest. Is this you? What if I told you that you should be paying yourself first, and not into a savings account, but a wealth account? Only read the rest of this article if you want to become wealthy. Why? I intentionally became a millionaire before I was 35, and now I teach others how to become millionaires. One of the first things I tell them is to pay themselves first, putting the money into a special account called a wealth account. Investing - in yourself and in building assets - should be your first priority Millionaires make investing a priority. They pay themselves first into this special wealth account. I call the payment you make to your wealth account your Wealth Account Priority Payment (WAPP). As the name implies, this payment is a priority, comparable to your mortgage or rent, bills, or any other priority expenses. Your WAPP should be a specific, set amount, and paid consistently, come rain or shine. Most of my clients make their WAPP monthly. The concept of paying yourself first is often misunderstood. I ve even heard financial advisors confuse this with putting money into savings. I ve seen others tell people not to start a Wealth Account if they are in debt. None of this advice will support and create lasting and ever-growing wealth. If you want to be a millionaire, you have to act like one today. And all millionaires use something similar to the process I call The Wealth Cycleâ„¢. It s a process in which the money you make is invested in a way that makes you more money. (I explain this concept in detail in my book, The Millionaire Maker). The investing aspect of The Wealth Cycle is crucial to its success. Pay yourself before you pay down your debt Now this may sound counterintuitive, but I don t care how much debt you have. You still need to make your Wealth Account a priority. Here s the 10 second lesson from the millionaire maker: You make money, put a portion of that into a wealth account. Your wealth account is used to invest in money-making assets. Then, pay what you can towards repaying the debt. In the mean time, the income from your investments grows, getting you out of debt faster! Once the debt is paid, you still have the income from the investments. What s important is not the amount of your WAPP. The key is a) starting it immediately, and b) getting in the habit of making it. If you are barely making ends meet every month, make your WAPP only $10. Or even 10 cents, if need be. Then as your income increases, raise the amount of your WAPP accordingly. Once you have gathered enough money to pursue a lucrative investment - and believe me, some times all you need is a just few thousand dollars - then you seek out a wealth coach, a mentor, and other specialized professionals who can guide you on choosing the best investment for your needs. And you ll soon see just how quickly you can build wealth when using the Wealth Cycle. Think of it this way: every month you don t make your WAPP compounds into days you re not creating wealth. Which means you ll stay in debt longer. Or simply keep the status quo. Isn t it time you took control of your financial future? Wealth building is possible for anyone who learns and uses the right skills at the right time. Loral Langemeier literally creates millionaires, and she does it using a well-honed and tested system that anyone can learn. Creating sustainable wealth does not need to remain a mystery! Order your copy of The Millionaire Maker today: themillionairemakerbook.com

Guaranteed Unsecured Personals Loans For People With Bad Credit!

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7 Cash Flow Steps to a Healthy Budget

The word budget can strike fear into even the strongest of people. If there is one thing very few people are ready for when they leave the safety of home for the first time it is dealing with money. There are not too many people who even know how to balance their checkbook after they open their first checking account. So creating a budget can be a scary proposition for anyone who isn t good at keeping track of their money. But if we look at a budget in a different light then maybe it will be easier to live with what it is. And all it is is a cash flow plan. All a budget does is track where the money is flowing from and where it is flowing to. Cash flow; it s what makes the world go around. Here are 7 steps you can use to plan your cash flow and before you know it you ll have built a budget. Start with a piece of paper and a pencil; you can save those fancy budgeting software packages for later. 1. Write down your monthly income. If you are a salaried worker this should be easy. If your income is not that steady then add up the past three months worth of income and average it by dividing by three. This will give you a good starting point. 2. Start writing down all your monthly expenses. Mortgage, rent, car payment, credit card payments, utilities, groceries, eating out, entertainment, and anything else you spend money on. For those expenses that fluctuate, such as groceries and gas, use the three month average method to get an accurate amount. 3. Here s the scary part for most people. Subtract the expenses from the income and see what s left. You will either have a positive cash flow or negative cash flow. Unfortunately in this day of increasing debt most people have a negative cash flow. 4. Once you have your monthly cash flow laid out in front of you you can start assigning your money to your expenses. As you make those payments throughout the month write them down to see how your spending lines up with what you have budgeted for that particular item. 5. If you have a negative cash flow then you can start looking at everything you have written down and find areas where your spending may not be in the best interest of you financial goals. As you do this you can free up money for more important financial considerations. 6. The first time you do a cash flow plan it probably won t work out quite right. It normally takes about three months to get everything working right while you figure out where your money has been going every month. Be patient with your budget and before long it will start working and you will regain control of your money. 7. Once you are comfortable with your written budget and you have better control of where your money goes and what it does then consider investing in some budget software such as Quicken. It can make your cash flow plan much easier and with the added features like retirement and tax planning it can give you a solid financial future. By using these 7 cash flow steps you can begin your budget quickly and easily. Only by taking back control of your money can you improve your financial future for you and your family. To learn more about cash flow planning please visit the website Household Budgets by clicking here .

Long-Term Financial Planning For Business Plans

There are various factors that you need to look into in order to do long-term financial planning for business plans. Some of these factors can be discussed as follows. Balance Sheet Balance sheets show the assets and liabilities of a business. This can eventually help you assess the financial health of a business. Budgeting And Business Planning The budgeting and business planning are very important, and you must consider them while making out your long-term financial planning for business plans. You must learn how to include them in the daily running of your business. Financial And Management Accounts Another important factor is financial and management accounts. It is very important for you to learn how to file financial accounts, understand types of management accounting, and use analytical accounting tools. Set Up A Basic Record-Keeping System You must also have a clear understanding regarding what you need to record and for how long, with systematic guidance on setting up your own system. Set Up A Simple Profit And Loss Account For Your Business You must keep and maintain the financial records in order to report your profit or loss. Cashflow Management When you neglect your cashflow, you risk insolvency. There are certain essential rules that you need to follow. You need to learn them. Identify Potential Cashflow Problems In order to do effective long-term financial planning for business plans, you must also learn out how to use cashflow forecasts and business plans to avoid financial problems. Overall, if you keep the above things in mind, you will certainly be able to make proper long-term financial planning for business plans. John Gutenburg has written many more articles about banks and loans .

Interest Rates Curbing House Price Growth

Interest Rates Curbing House Price Growth Property prices grew by their slowest rate for some 18 months, new research indicates. The value of the average house increased by some 0.1 per cent over the course of July to 176,300 pounds - the lowest monthly increase noted since the beginning of 2006. With the latest figures indicating the third consecutive month for a slowing in property price growth, year-on-year inflation was now reported to stand at 5.9 per cent, down from the 6.4 per cent recorded in June and the “recent high” of 6.8 per cent reached in April. Figures from the firm indicated that London, Wales and the south-east of England were the only areas that had seen house prices rise over the course of the month. With London said to have seen property values rise by 0.2 per cent, in comparison to the 1.8 per cent increase noted in March. The capital - which had been declared by Hometrack as the “engine for house price growth” over the last 12 months - was now said to have suffered from the downturn in market conditions witnessed across Britain. Five regions across England were said to have exhibited constant house prices, with the east Midlands and the Yorkshire and Humber area posting decreases of 0.2 and 0.1 per cent respectively. Richard Donnell, director of research for Hometrack, said: “It was inevitable that the steady increase in interest rates which began last year would ultimately impact on levels of housing demand right across the market - a trend that has been exacerbated by the seasonal slowdown in activity over the summer.” Mr Donnell added that slowdown in price rises has been “accelerated” by a recent increase in the availability of housing put up for sale. This surge was attributed to estate agents encouraging would-be vendors to put their homes on the market ahead of what had been the original June 1st deadline for home information packs. However, he noted that overall demand for property is set to “remain weak” over the rest of 2007 as the effects of recent interest rate increases by the Bank of England make their presence felt on the housing sector. Overall, property was reported to witness a further slowdown in growth as it moves more “towards a buyers’ market”. In a study conducted earlier this month, Bradford and Bingley indicated that 46 per cent of prospective first-time buyers are worried that houses are set to become more expensive during forthcoming months. Despite recent interest rates impacting upon consumers’ day-to-day finances, just over a quarter of those surveyed stated that if they do not get on the property ladder now than they may be unable to do so in later life. As a result, director of mortgages Andy Wiggans claimed that such consumers are now willing to take out a secured loan “at almost any cost”. However, with the most recent Bank of England base rate rise forcing borrowers on a typical £120,000 mortgage to find an extra £25 every month to meet monthly repayments, Mr Wiggans warned potential first-time buyers against over-stretching themselves financially, “especially as there may be further rate rises to come”. Tom Dawson is the Editor in Chief for Essentially Home Loans where visitors can apply for cheap loans online We also specialise in debt consolidation loans and secured loans

Thinking Ahead Can Save You Time And Money

Early in December, I logged onto my business checking account to verify my current balance, before paying some bills. The low balance surprised me, so I began to review the recent transactions â€" and to my surprise, found four cash withdrawals from an ATM in St. Petersburg Russia! Perpetrators had made a duplicate of my checkcard and used it (with my pin, presumably) to withdraw hundreds of dollars. Bank of America returned the funds into my account that evening, pending its investigation, so I was able to pay my bills. But, if I had not checked my account, it could have been emptied (and I may have bounced checks) without my knowledge. Are You Liable for Fraudulent Transactions? You may be aware that under Federal law, you are only liable for the first $50 of fraudulent credit card transactions. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express have adopted zero liability company policies, reducing that liability to $0 in most circumstances. However, this protection does not necessarily apply to checkcard, or ATM card, transactions. Checkcards, usually linked to a checking or savings account, may be used as a credit card, usually under Visa or MasterCard, or as a PIN-based Debit or ATM card. The credit card transactions are governed by the $50-limit credit card rule. Debit and ATM transactions, however, are governed by another set of liability rules. What Are Your Rights Regarding CheckCard or ATM Card Fraud? If you report a debit or ATM card missing before any fraudulent transactions occur, then you are not responsible for any future fraudulent transactions. If the unauthorized transactions occur before you realize your card is missing (or if you still have your card), then the amount for which you are responsible depends upon how quickly you report the fraudulent transactions and/or missing card: Report loss of card within two business days from when you realize the card is missing = $50 limit Report within 60 days after your statement is mailed to you = up to $500 Report after 60 days = unlimited loss (all the money in your account, as well as your maximum line of credit for overdrafts) There are exceptions to these limits, such as for extended travel or illness. Also, many banks and credit unions have reduced these limits under their terms of service contracts, or ignore the limits in particular circumstances. What Can You Do To Limit Debit / ATM / Check Card Fraud? Do not write down your PIN or security codes Be wary of email phishing (impersonating bank websites) Shred mail Monitor your main accounts regularly during the month Close old, rarely used accounts (but be aware of possible effects on credit rating) Monitor credit reports annually (at least) Maintain list of credit and check card numbers, expiration dates, and telephone numbers of issuers in safe location Review account statements, including accounts you rarely use In case of loss, report immediately Elizabeth Potts Weinstein, JD , a licensed attorney and Registered Investment Advisor, is the founder of Potts Weinstein Financial Consulting, a financial and estate planning firm, headquartered in San Jose, California. The firm specializes in providing fee-only, hourly financial planning, estate planning, and investment advice for people from all walks of life and income brackets. Visit pottsweinstein.com for more information or to subscribe to her monthly ezine Prosper! .

Independent Living Post-Retirement

Most of us dream of retirement. It really would be wonderful to have a house by the seashore and be able to watch as the sun sets. It would be fantastic to be able to spend all your time with your grandchildren just when they are the most adorable. Best of all, there would not be any of the pressures that had worried us for most of our adult lives. However, do not start believing in the illusion of your own making that retirement is the beginning of a life that is free from tension. That belief would really be far from the truth. Instead, your monetary problems simply multiply several times once you turn sixty and finally reach retirement age. What may have seemed like a good pension plan when you were forty may not seem to be as attractive twenty years later. It is for such reasons that various finance companies have developed a variety of pension plans. Invest in any one plan while you are still young, and you will end up paying premiums that are relatively low. Moreover, if you do a sufficient amount of planning, and take into account factors such as inflation and medical bills, you should be left with a great pension. With that you should be able to lead quite a good life once retirement comes around. If it so happens that you have already retired and you seem to be stuck with a small pension, do not get your blood pressure up. There are other methods that can help you make the most of your finances. In fact, just the other day, I found an interesting article about a type of mortgage that was specifically for senior citizens who owned property. They could mortgage their house to a bank or financial institution and meet their expenses the money that accrued from it. In the meantime, the original owners were allowed to continue living in the same house. Married folk could choose to borrow jointly. The bank would regain its investment by selling the house when the owner died. Any amount over and above the loan amount would go to the heirs of the borrowers. Reverse mortgages do make for a great deal for retired persons. They no longer need to feel dependent on their family and friends for their daily needs. The ability to hold on to one s self-esteem after retiring is a great boon. It is a good thing that in today s world the years after retirement can be made stress-free. Learn about remortgages , refinance loans and get attractive home equity loan offers .

Graduates Face Debt Sentence

Graduates Face Debt Sentence Young people are delaying buying a home and starting a family as they face an increasing “debt sentence” after leaving university, it has been suggested. According to a study carried out by uSwitch, those graduating from higher education this year will owe a total of 3.2 billion pounds via student borrowing, more than twice the 1.2 billion pounds run up in 1997. Despite 49,300 (17 per cent) of students will be 11,000 pounds in the red, findings from the price comparison website showed that 14,500 (five per cent) around debts of more than 20,000 pounds, with some respondents having more than 30,000 pounds to pay back. Overall, it was predicted that it takes the typical graduate 11 years to pay off their debts. As a result, an estimated 35 per cent of recent graduates are set to put off raising a family, getting married or making their first steps on the property ladder by an average of six years because of the financial pressures placed on them by student debts. Mike Naylor, personal finance expert for the price comparison website, said: “The cost of attending university has risen over time, partly due to increased tuition fees and, to a lesser extent, due to increased housing costs. As a result, more money than ever is being borrowed by students to fund their way through university, with some students starting work with debts of up to 30,000 pounds. “It is inevitable that this will have a knock-on effect on their lives and future life events will have to be put on ice until the money is available. Since 1997, three million graduates have delayed getting married, having kids or buying a house by at least six years due to the crippling effects of student debt.” According to uSwitch, pressure on graduates’ finances is being “compounded” by surging house prices. Over the last ten years property values were reported to have risen by 203 per cent to 179,322 pounds. Meanwhile, with student debts increasing by 167 per cent and graduate starting salaries showing a rise of 51 per cent, the price comparison website reported that consumers are not only being “lumbered with excessive levels of debt, but they are also being priced out of the housing market” as an increasing number struggle to make secured loans repayments. Findings from the firm also revealed that 26 per cent of recent graduates are delaying getting married for an average of six years due to the strain of student debt, with 53 per cent put off from getting on the property ladder. Meanwhile, just under a quarter (23 per cent) of those who have left university recently are said to still be living at home with their parents. In addition, the study showed that about 270,873 respondents would be open to the concept of bankruptcy as a way of relieving the pressures of loans and credit cards. Earlier this month, a study by FandC Investments showed that parents are underestimating the monetary strains that going to university can place on both their children and themselves. According to the financial services provider, just under half of mums and dads surveyed do not know how much tuition fees will cost. Meanwhile, 70 per cent of respondents are not setting any money aside to help put their offspring through higher education, in spite of the average graduate being said to leave with debts of 13,252 pounds. Abbi Rouse writes for All About Loans where visitors can apply for UK loans and also focuses on personal finance for UK residents. Visit Today: allaboutloans.co.uk

Wealth Consciousness

Wealth is a term that is often times associated with money. We must first start by understanding that wealth is much more than just money. It s an internal perspective on the value of any given thing, including ourselves. The term wealth consciousness is often times used when talking about money and one s ability to relate to and obtain money and financial well being. I want to expand on this definition and perspective of wealth and help you develop a real understanding of what true wealth is. First of all, wealth consciousness pertains to the internal value you hold within yourself. Everything that is valuable to you is nothing but a reflection of your internal value. To a rich person, they have chosen to expand and develop their internal value when it comes to their understanding and relationship to money and their financial abilities. For someone who is a good cook, they have chosen to expand on their internal value and wealth consciousness when it comes to food and delivering a good experience to people s eating experience. Wealth is anything that we hold as valuable. Where someone may have a perspective as money being wealth to them, others may have love and relationships as a definition of wealth. It s important to understand what we hold as valuable and believe to be a positive part of our experience and what we would label as wealth. To some knowledge is wealth, and others hands on ability is wealth. None of these are right or wrong, but a reflection of internal value. We choose from moment to moment where we direct our consciousness and how we decide to expand our wealth consciousness. Some people believe that going to college is the best way of expanding their internal value and their wealth consciousness while others believe that a trade school is the best bet. Still others believe that starting a business is how they can best expand their wealth consciousness. All of these are a reflection of internal wealth and value. The same is true for anything else that we choose to put our time and energy into. We can always evaluate someone s internal wealth consciousness and their internal value system based on what they focus on and devote their time and energy toward. It s important to evaluate your internal value and wealth consciousness and decide to expand it in areas that will serve you and what you wish to attract. If you want love in your life and currently do not have it, then you must work on your internal value of love and your wealth consciousness of love. The same is true for everything and anything else. It is this value within each of us that flows and gets exchanged all the time. Let s use this article for example. I am giving knowledge and understanding, which is the value that I am bringing to the table. Webmaster s will use the value I have in order to provide the value of useful knowledge to their list and their newsletter subscribers. In exchange for that knowledge, you have given the value of your name and email address and the right for those webmasters to contact you. In return, I wish to get the value myself of people who will visit my website and learn more from me. When you purchase a book online, you are looking for the value of useful and valuable information that will help you expand on your understanding and your ability to get the results that you want in your life. In return, you are willing to give up the value of money in order to get that value for yourself. We are always exchanging certain internal value and wealth consciousness in return for things that we perceive as being more valuable. You will never give your money up for a book you don t believe will give you more value in return than you are giving out. We can see this all the time when someone will drive extra miles to buy something at a store they can get just down the road only to save a few dollars. We must always start with our internal wealth consciousness in any area we wish to expand on. If money is something you wish to have more of, you must do the work and take the time to learn, grow, and expand on your financial wealth consciousness. If you wish for love, then you must invest in that wealth consciousness. Work on your internal value and wealth consciousness in the area of those things you want to attract, and you will attract them without fail. Dwayne Gilbert is the founder of wealthylifesecrets.com and the Wealthy Life Secrets Program. He has been helping people to Unleash Their Potential for over 10 years. He has helped people from all walks of life to get on a better path and to create the life of their dreams. To learn more about the law of attraction and how to create the life of your dreams, visit wealthylifesecrets.com

Financial Independence Through Simple Financial Planning

Through proper financial planning, financial independence can be achieved. We discuss simple financial principles on how this can be achieved. As long as you work the principles, there is no reason not to succeed. Is financial planning really important? For the average person, it is often thought of as a nightmare. In reality, it may not be so harsh. The process can surprisingly be quite a low-stress one. In one sentence, financial planning is really just a six-step process you need to go through to achieve your financial goals. Here is a brief outline of the process: 1. Establishing and defining the relationship with the client 2. Gathering client data for evaluation 3. Analyzing and evaluating the client’s financial status 4. Developing and presenting financial planning recommendation(s) 5. Implementing the financial planning recommendations 6. Monitoring of the plan It is important to note that the CFP (Certified Financial Planner) Board has developed and officially announced practice standards for practitioners to abide when performing this six-step process. Therefore, any competent certified financial planner should have to abide by these practice standards. These standards are much too detailed to be discussed here. However, anyone who is interested in knowing more can just type the key-phrase â€" “certified financial planner” â€" into any search engine e.g. Google, Yahoo for more information. At the heart of this process - prioritize meaningful personal and reasonable financial goals. Therefore it is a multi-faceted activity that requires trade-offs between one s goals and objectives. This process helps to make one s financial situation as clear as possible. At the core of all this, it is financial planning that will make your financial goals come true. It is definitely an important aspect of anyone s financial future, and is both a process and an attitude. Essentially, it is mostly about habits. Financial planning is about developing a personal road map to achieve one s financial independence. It is about getting the most out of one s money to provide for one s family and to achieve one s financial goals. With proper planning, your road to financial independence can be a reality. It can certainly be a dream come true. Checking out for tips and resources on simple financial planning ? Do check out our site on personal financial planning and get a free ebook when you subscribe to our free monthly newsletter.

Online Personal Loans For Your Convenience

It is the invincible nature of technology that has resulted in the online revolution. As the name suggests, an online personal loan is one that is meant to meet your urgent needs. The entire procedure, starting from the allotment of loans to repayments, everything is executed online. It has simplified the procedure of executing monetary transactions. Moreover, it has also made it convenient for those who have imperfect credit, to get a loan. There are several websites that help to identify lenders, willing to grant loans to people with bad credit records. There are a number of personal loans available online. Benefits of online personal loans: Owing to the several benefits, online personal loans have become the first choice of many. Its main advantages are as follows: - Convenience: Convenience is the main factor that contributes to the popularity of online personal loans. It enables a person to browse through several lending companies online. It provides you with distinct options to choose, from the best available financial institution. - Avoid awkward situations: The online method of obtaining personal loans prevents you from answering awkward questions put forth by the financial advisor of the bank. Online, when a person does not wish to continue with the inquiry concerning the bank loan, he simply turns to another website. Interest rates repayments for online personal loans: The interest rate for personal online loans depends on several factors, such as credit assessment, size of the loan and the repayment stretch. You could repay the loan in five years, in monthly installments. It saves you from the trouble of having to go to the lender for repayment, personally. Eligibility for obtaining online personal loans: The eligibility criteria for online personal loans are as follows: - You should be above eighteen years of age. - You should be a resident of the United States of America. - You must have a good credit history. Process: The market is full of lenders and several financial institutions that offer loans online. Owing to the cutthroat competition, almost all the financial companies have turned to the Internet. In order to obtain an online personal loan, you should conduct a research for the best deal. You need to browse through the different websites to collect information and strengthen your choice of a banking institution. To avail of an online personal loan, the borrower needs to connect and choose a company, from the many that are online. Most of these companies advertise their loan interest rates. You need to fill the online form, to settle the deal with the financing institution. In the midst of technology, you need to remember to log out properly from the website, or else you might end up revealing confidential information to the next person who logs in. However, it’s safe to share your personal information with online lenders, as they are encrypted to block the accessibility by anyone else. Online personal loans provide convenience and a hassle free method to avoid financial issues. It pays though to research for relevant information, to ensure that you close a safe deal. Joseph Kenny writes for the UK Loans Store, specialising in secured home loans and offers more information on home loans , secured loans and other loan topics available on site. Visit Today: ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk

Consumers Look To Internet For Financial Guidance

People are increasingly using the internet to help them make financial decisions, new research indicates. According to a study conducted by Birmingham Midshires, some 94 per cent of Britons are going online to get advice on a wide variety of areas, instead of seeking out a traditional face-to-face appointment. Research from the firm indicated that just under half (43 per cent) of people looking for online advice will research into savings accounts. In comparison, some 23 per cent will seek out guidance on mortgages. The study also showed that 21 and 20 per cent of people will spend at least three hours looking for advice on savings and mortgages respectively. Out of all those seeking monetary guidance, the majority (55 per cent) will go to a price comparison website, while 46 per cent visit an independent financial adviser. Meanwhile, a third of respondents claim they would ask a friend for advice on topics such as personal loans, debt and budgeting. In addition some 21 per cent of consumers will ask a work colleague for financial help - the same proportion of which will also turn to their fathers. Commenting on the study, Tim Hague, managing director of mortgages for Birmingham Midshires, said: The internet has empowered consumers to do their own homework before they commit to a financial product. While websites such as price comparison sites are valuable to help consumers through the financial products maze, financial decisions should never be taken lightly. Where mortgages are concerned, we recommend that people seek the advice of a regulated intermediary to ensure they get the deal that is right for them. However, he claimed that although it is great that people can access information on subjects ranging from secured loans to mortgages at their fingertips , consumers should remember that such advice should not be treated as generic and that guidance needs to be adjusted to fit with their individual circumstances. Research from the firm also revealed that just under half (46 per cent) of all respondents feel confident that they will be able to access all the monetary guidance they need - whether it covers secured loans, pensions, mortgages or current accounts - online. Meanwhile, a further 50 per cent of respondents will initially use the internet to research financial options before seeking out a second opinion from an offline source. And as a result of using both the internet and various offline resources, consumers may find themselves in a more capable position to search out competitive forms of borrowing such as a cheap loan. In October, research conducted by uSwitch revealed that some 32 loans lenders have risen the interest rates on their personal loans, following the Bank of England s decision to increase the base rate in July. However, the price comparison website suggested that applying for a personal loan online could be advisable as such loans attract a typical interest rate that is one percentage point below those taken out over the phone or face-to-face. Mike Naylor, personal finance expert for uSwitch, also urged borrowers to take the time to ensure that they get the loan which is right for them. Steve Smith writes for 1 Stop Finance Shop. A one stop shop for all your loan requirements, from payday loans , to secured personal homeowner loans , and UK tenant loans .

Do You Respect Yourself Financially?

Do You Respect Yourself Financially? There is always much talk about what the secrets for achieving financial dreams, whatever they be, are. It may seem like a mystery as to why some people seem to be able to make a lot of money, keep it and then go onto make more. The truth is these people follow some basic laws concerning money management. These laws are not difficult to understand, however they do require discipline. Money management and financial knowledge is important. I am sure that there are some people who are reading this who feel ashamed about how they handle their money. The trouble with this is that shame or guilt about finances only creates a state of poor thinking and this type of thinking attracts more financial trouble. To turn this around you need to focus your energy and attention on new behaviors that will establish you to think wealthy thoughts. When you feel good about how you handle money, you can learn to trust yourself. To improve your financial health you need to start out slowly and methodically in order to develop the good habits of fiscal management. Start by asking yourself this question: What s the one thing you need to do in order to improve your financial well-being.? Usually you will know immediately what it is because it is baggage that you carry around with you daily, baggage that weighs you down. Then again it may be that really have no idea. If this is the case it would be very useful to contact a financial planner. Experts with knowledge on specific tax laws and investment opportunities can assess your situation and advise or make suggestions about where you need to begin. Don’t underestimate the help they could provide you. Once you have an answer, do something about it this week. The secret is in the doing. So, just how committed are you to paying careful attention to how you spend and invest, which is the key to making and supporting wealth? Do you want to develop high financial self-esteem when handling your money? Do you want to develop good money habits and maintain the discipline to live within your means? If so, you stand to benefit by increasing your level of financial self-respect and confidence. Lat, but not least, your pockets could end up being a lot, lot fuller. Kim Knight, The Coach Yourself to Greatness Coach, has helped a number of clients target their goals. The Personal Life Coach is not only a sought-after trusted and inspirational coach. She has also written EBooks for all those who want to help themselves or support others. There are many successful clients whose friends and family are amazed at finding out that someone else coached them on their overall transformation. For more information, visit Kim s site at kimknightcoaching.com and sign up for up for her FREE Coaching Tips at coachtogreatness.com

A Good Budget Prevents Bad Credit

Bad credit often catches people by surprise. Uncontrolled, it can be like a virus to your finances. A good, strict budget is the best way to keep bad credit at bay. A household budget is basically a blueprint for financial security. Of course, the most effective budgets are written down â€" and even better â€" displayed prominently within a home. The monthly budget tacked on a refrigerator door or bathroom mirror is a good idea. That way it is a constant reminder of the importance of managing your money. Saving Money Beats Obtaining Debt The budget, done weekly or monthly, should first address the basics - food, shelter, transportation. Extra money should be put into a savings account. Saving money is a better way to deal with unexpected expenses such as car repairs and home repairs than credit cards. Many people get into bad credit because they fail to prepare for short-term or long-term expenses, and then they re forced to acquire high-interest debt. For example, saving years ahead for college allows people to sidestep burdensome student loan debt. Tips For Budgeting And Living Debt Free Oftentimes, people find it hard to discover savings opportunities in their monthly income. Professional credit counseling is good about pointing people in a right direction financially. There are various ways to spend less: Dine out less. The cost of food, drinks and tips can add up quickly. Limit costly recreation and cultural activities such as professional sporting events or concerts. We all enjoy rooting for our favorite team or seeing our favorite band in person. However, sports tickets and concert tickets are becoming more expensive. You can cut back and find more inexpensive leisure activities, like free concerts or free theaters. Use coupons to save money. Coupons are not only for grocery items, but many phone books contain coupons for various services. One thing to remember is that a budget is useless if it isn t followed. The costs of basic goods such as food and gas seem to increase every day. While a 10-cent increase on a single item may not merit much notice, increasing costs on several items chip away at your paycheck. People turn to credit cards to make up the difference. A strict budget helps you control your money. Author Bio: Brian Williams has 11 years of experience writing and editing at daily newspapers in Texas. Williams, a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, covered public education, city government and business issues. Learn more about bad credit and credit debt from Brian through Credit Solutions .

Let The Teens Manage Their Money

One of the reasons why teens love to work is that they want to have their own income. Teens want to have discretionary funds they can use without their parents poking at them and auditing all their cents. If the parents would let their teenagers manage their own money, they should be ready to give them advises on money management such as budgeting and fund management. In this way, they can be sure that their teens will not just squander their money on less important things. The following may help the teens manage their money: Teach the teens to save Encourage the teens to open a savings account to deposit their earnings. Even just a few dollars a week will be good enough. If their parents are giving them allowances, they can talk to them and ask them to set aside some dollars in the bank. When the time comes that they need to withdraw, they will be amazed to see how much money they have saved. Teens must spend wisely The biggest nightmare among the teens is to wake up with nothing to spend, yet the next allowance is still a few days away. They will be forced to borrow and this will only add more problems. Spending wisely is a must especially to those with tight budget. If the school is just a walking distance, they should be happy to take a walk and enjoy that needed exercise. Need to go dating? Why not ask their crushes to have a chat with them in the park, this way they don t need to spend much. A can of soda could do the trick. Introduce the teens to fund management There are many plans of fund management that are available to teens. With a few dollars, the teens can have the opportunity to increase their money under the watchful eyes of money experts. This will also add pride to the teens for having invested money like what the grownups did. In addition, requiring them to pay taxes out of their investment will make the teens contributors to the national coffers. Get a checking account Getting a checking account will teach the teens some financial responsibility. Just imagine the teens issuing some checks for their purchases and or services they acquired. Knowing that a bouncing check would have legal repercussions, the teens will be extra careful in handling their finances. Let them get credit cards The feel in getting credit cards nowadays is greatly different as compared many years ago. Before, a person is jubilant when his application is approved because it proves that he is credit worthy. Today, credit card offers are numerous that it will make the eyes bulge. The teens must be extra cautious on the type of cards they will apply. The benefits are vaguely explained in the ads or in the emails when credit card companies promote these cards. Most often, actual charges and interest rates are hidden, only to make the teens sorry for just freely making purchases. Credit cards are there to allow the teens to purchase, but they have to purchase only those things that are needed. They must avoid being compulsive buyers. Parents have a lot to explain to their teens about money management. No matter what the teens want, the parents are in the best position to tell what is best for their teenagers. Just remember that the parents could contribute much to the success or failure of their teens. Let the teens manage their money and make them real money managers. FLORENCIO JR. L. SEVILLA is a freelance writer. He presently resides at Calaran, Calamba, Misamis Occidental. He publishes the following websites: About Teens at elsaguirigay.googlepages.com About Marriage at makemarriagelast.googlepages.com

Consumers Not Spending On Major Purchases

Consumers could be using cheap loans to consolidate their existing debts rather than to fund big purchases, based on the findings of research carried out by GfK NOP on behalf of the European commission. According to the market research company, its consumer confidence survey of 2,000 individuals aged 16 and above revealed that the climate for major purchases lessened in the month of October, based on the latest index score. GfK NOP uses a number of indices to score different areas of consumer confidence, with the major purchases measure down two points to minus five. This represents an 11-point fall from the same period last year and is the lowest the index has been for almost 12 years, suggesting less people are willing to make a major purchase through savings or an easy loan. The overall consumer confidence index fell in October to a score of minus eight, with the drop in the major purchases index contributing to this. However, GfK NOP also suggested that the run-up to Christmas could be influencing consumer confidence, a time when some may look to a cheap loan to help them cover the cost of the festive season. This month, the index score slipped down another point. The measure for major purchases is now at its lowest level since December 1995, which we suspect to be a knock on effect of Christmas just being round the corner, on top of a reluctance to spend large amounts of money at a time when higher interest rates are beginning to take effect, said Rachael Joy from the consumer confidence team at GfK NOP. Ms Joy went on to discuss people s feelings for their personal economic situation over the next year as well as respondents thoughts on the general economic situation over the next 12 months. These areas, the research showed, were positive ones for the respondents, with rises noted in both areas. This could mean that people will feel more able financially to take on a cheap loan to fund a major purchase, knowing they will have the money in place to repay the debt. People s forecast for their personal and general economic situation over the next 12 months has seen small increases, indicating a more positive outlook for the future, Ms Joy added. The forecast from people for the next 12 months for the general economy looks a lot more positive than the confidence following the last 12 months, according to the GfK NOP research. The index for general economic confidence over the last 12 months fell one point in October, to stand at an overall score of minus 30. According to comments this week from John Charcol, this improved confidence for the year ahead could be borne out with an interest rate cut. Katie Tucker from the firm said that base rate rises in the last 18 months have had the desired effect of slowing the housing market, meaning a cut in the Bank of England s interest rate could be seen in the early part of 2008. In August, research from ICM commissioned by Intelligent Finance revealed that Britons were worried about rises in the base rate of interest. Some 41 per cent said they were worried or very worried by the thought of a rate change. Steve Smith writes for 1 stop finance shop where visitors can apply for UK debt consolidation loans and also focuses on cheap personal loans and bad credit secured loans for UK residents.

Comparison-Making In The New Millennium

It is human nature to keep on comparing one thing with another. After all, everything is relative. As the old adage goes, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. But how would one decide what is beautiful without first having laid eyes upon that which is not? We are constantly making comparisons - taller, fatter, prettier, smarter, are all words that we have learned in our early days in school. The superlative is what we are constantly looking out for. Every one of us wants the best. We want to be the best. We want to have the best. And that is the attitude that we take with us every time we go shopping. Whenever we go grocery shopping, we pick out fruits and vegetables that appear fresh. We assume that this means that they will taste delicious. We hope to get greater quantities for lesser amounts of money. After all, even in our search for the best we want to get value for our money. Similarly, when we go shopping for clothes, most of us like to stick to brands and stores that have given us good quality in the past. We look for durability and style in every piece of clothing that we pick out. If we are paying good money for something, we would like it to last for a long time, and look good. We are searching for the best among a million things that are only run of the mill. Of course, shopping is not merely limited to clothes and groceries. There are many other things that we shop for. What about the house that you bought last year? Did you not scout around for the ideal house that would look good, be spacious, have a great view, and be easily accessible? Then, after having found the perfect house, did you not scour financial companies for great loans and mortgages to help you fund your house-buying expenses? Making comparisons is essential if you want to find the best deals. For instance, you might look around extensively before you decide on the laptop that you should be buying. But what about the credit card that you will be paying for it with? Does it offer you the best facilities? If your answer is “no”, maybe it is time for you to scour the markets and compare credit cards before choosing the best for yourself. By the same token, you should compare loans, compare mortgages, compare basically everything. There is no way out of this. If you want to have the best of everything, you will have to throw away the chaff. Seeking credit? Remember to compare! Compare credit cards , compare loans , and compare mortgages .

The Biggest Money Myth

Wealth is thoughts, not things. -Robert G. Allen *** “Money is not important.” It’s one of the biggest myths known to man. And it is one of the core reasons why the majority of the people are not wealthy… why the majority of people not attaining financial freedom. Tell this myth to the family who’s starving right now or to the family who needs money for some serious medical help for a member of their family. They will tell you how important money is. We have conditioned from day one to believe that money is not important. Wanting money is wrong and un-ethical. And yet, the entire world is running after money. Money is purely a way to appraise the amount of value you create for others. If you have a lot of money, it means you have created a lot of value for other people. If you don’t have the amount of money you would like to have, that simply means that you just haven’t yet found a way to generate the amount of value for others that you are capable of, or the value that you would like to. Lack of money also leads to many social problems. If we look at the countries, cities and particular places that are very poor, we’ll find usually more crime, more people taking advantage of weak, more diseases, more suffering, more deaths and no education at all. Of course, money is not the only important thing in life, but without it you just can’t survive. That is the basic fact. Money is pretty darned important especially in this pure materialistic age. To support your self and your family, to buy food, water, shelter, clothing, to pay medical bills, to socialize… you need money. With money only you could be able to support and help people around you, even your loved ones. All we know that these are all most important things. Also, if you feel that it’s more important to contribute to others or to serve a social cause than to be rich, well guess what, again you need to earn money, grow rich and attain financial freedom. If you earn more money you can contribute more, serve more. Then how come this myth created… money is not important? Simply ridiculous. Don’t you think so? Mann lives in Hyderabad, the fifth largest city in India. Writing and Filmmaking are his passions. Online money-making is his hobby. He loves the creative outlet and freedom his hobbies and passions offer. He likes to live life on his own terms and run his own race. Here s how he makes money and makes movies: growrichsmart.com

UK Interest Rate History

Predicting the future is always a difficult task, particularly when it comes to economics. UK interest rates are a source of concern for many of us - does the past give us any hints as to the future? Interest rates are one of the major factors that influence the economy. In the case of most of us, it is often their impact on the housing market that causes the most interest. The fifth consecutive rise in the Bank of England s base rate left interest rates standing at 5.75% by the summer of 2007. With signs of the housing market slowing, many home owners were expectant of a drop in interest rates. Many saw interest rates as being relatively high and this was certainly the case when compared to a short period in the months before 2007. Less than a year earlier interest rates had stood at just 4.5%. But were interest rates really all that high? Historical evidence suggests that we d rarely had it so good. Back in 1989, with the housing market in trouble, the interest rate stood at a seemingly incredible 15%, with mortgage rates often being above that level. In that context, the interest rates of 2007 seem pretty low. Big drops in the base rate weren t seen until 1992 and 1993. At the beginning of 1992 the UK base rate stood at some 10.5%. By the end of 1993 it had fallen to 5.5%. That dramatic drop was seen in some exceptional circumstance but it should stand as a warning to many home owners. Interest rates can move quickly, leading to significant changes in our mortgage repayments. Interest rates now stand at their highest level in six years and yet we have seen that they are still relatively low by historic levels. We re not talking about ancient history here either - we re looking at levels within our lifetimes for most of us. The future of interest rates will be interesting to watch but it s importance that we don t base our financial decisions on assumptions about the future direction of rates. History tells us that interest rates can vary rapidly. Keith Barrett has written for Finance Facts about uk interest rate predictions and other personal finance issues. This article may be used by any website publisher, though this resource box must always be included in full.

Refurnish Your Home With A Personal Loan!

Most people resort to credit cards to finance such projects; yet, a personal loan can be a lot cheaper and can help you not to exceed yourself in your expenses. Moreover, there are always delivery charges and if the piece of furniture is big enough not to fit through the door, you’ll need some guys to introduce it through windows or dismantle it and put it together again. All of this costs a lot of money and you need to add it to the overall costs of the refurnish project. Why Personal Loans? There are many reasons why a personal loan is the best choice for you. For starters, since personal loans come in fixed amounts, this will force you to budget your finance needs and know beforehand how much money it will cost you to refurnish your home. Thus, you’ll avoid going on board a project that you are not sure how much it will cost. Secondly, the interest rate charged for personal loans is a lot higher that the rate charged for credit card financing. Even unsecured personal loans carry lower rates than credit cards. If you are lucky enough to have equity on your home, you can request a home equity loan and you’ll be able to get finance at a much lower rate. Finally, fixed payments will help you budget your debt repayment and thus divide among the months a project that might be quite expensive. With credit cards, when you make big purchases, the minimum balance payment tends to escalate to high amounts that may not be easily afforded. Different Types of Loans Personal loans come in many forms. There are secured and unsecured personal loans, fixed rate and variable rate personal loans, personal loans for people with bad credit , pre-approved personal loans, pre-qualified personal loans, etc. All share the same concept: They are loans meant for personal purposes that may carry high amounts but never as high as home loans. The presence or absence of collateral determines whether a personal loan is secured or unsecured. Collateral is a security (an asset) that guarantees repayment of the loan thus reducing the risk involved in the financial transaction for the lender. That’s the reason why secured personal loans carry such low interest rates compared with unsecured personal loans. As regards the interest rate, a fixed rate remains the same over the whole life of the loan. This implies that the monthly payments of the loan will also remain the same which makes them an excellent tool for those not familiar with the lending market and not familiar with budgeting variable rate debts. Variable rate personal loans change the interest rate every three months. The interest rate can rise, lower or stay the same according to market conditions. Thus, the monthly payments will vary consequently. However, at the same time, variable interest rates are initially lower than fixed rates (mainly because the risk for the lender is also reduced by the possibility to alter the interest rate). --- Jessica Peterson writes finance articles for Yourloanservices.com where she shares her knowledge about how to get money for a starting-up business, consolidating any kind of debt, repairing a home even with a bad credit history and more.

I Won the Lottery

Welcome to Fantasy Island. A fantasy filled with such vivid details that I have to share them with you. I know that you have your own lottery fantasies but bear with me, while I reveal mine. Let me set the scene. I am at home on a late work-week day. I have put my son to sleep and going through my nightly “get-ready-for-work” routine. I check my wallet to see, if I have enough cash for the next day and I notice that I have a lottery ticket from last week that I never checked. I decide to check it, while I am checking my email. I bring up the Maryland lottery website and navigate my way to the Mega Millions winning numbers section. I start checking the numbers. One..Two…Three…Four…Five…Six. I have hit the jackpot! Thump. This is the sound of me fainting. After I wake up, I wonder, if it was all a dream. To my delight, I realize that I am a multi-millionaire. Here is my plan. I go to sleep without uttering a word to my husband. No, this is not for the reason that you think - I want to surprise him. The next morning, I phone the office and ask for the day off. I get dressed, as if I am going to work, kiss my husband and son. I am off. Rather than going to work, I head in the direction of the Maryland Lottery redemption office in Baltimore. I make the long hour and a half drive with a big smile on my face. When I get to the lottery office, I inquire about where to redeem my ticket and I am led in the right direction. The redemption officer verifies that I have indeed won $10 million dollars. He tells me when my check will be deposited into my account and asks me, if I want my name to be released as a lottery winner. “Nope.” I state flatly and dash to my car. On my way home, I stop and get a bottle of champagne, Krug 1988, a very good year. Nothing but the best. When I get home, I take a long leisurely bath, sip my champagne and read a tantalizing issue of Travel and Leisure magazine. After my bath, I call the local luxury car dealership and order my husband a Ferrari F430 Spider. Nice â€" eh? I present this to him as a surprise when he gets home from work. I also order first class tickets to Hawaii for a one month stay. Of course, we book only the best hotels. Next, comes the one month holiday to Bora Bora and Fiji. After all, we need relaxing vacations to determine how to share our new found wealth with our family and friends. I will not elaborate on the sharing part because this is a fantasy not math class. By the way, did I mention that I get a matching Ferrari F430 Spider for myself too? Ah…what a life. Alas, reality rears its ugly head and I realize that I have to go back to work on Monday. Until all our fantasies come true, I wish you good health and peace. Keep your debts low, learn ways to make extra money and save money . I look forward to getting my check in the mail, when you win the lottery. I have no doubt you will let me know. The author is the owner of the information-rich website poorcreditgenie.com . The website offers free advice on how to rebuild credit and manage debt. The site also features numerous articles and news stories on credit report, credit cards and bankruptcy.

Background Check Yourself?

Background Check Yourself? Most background check services search public records that may include such information as your phone number, address and criminal background. However, they can also process the information they receive from public record and build associations or perhaps even false information. For example, some ‘people searches’ look for aliases that may lead some to think that you are someone else. If you have ever received a bill addressed to someone else, with a similar name, a collection agency may have ran a search and sent the bill to possible aliases in an attempt to locate a debtor. So why background check yourself? Two reasons: one, to verify if information is correct and two, to see if someone else is using your identity. Verifying Information Who might check your background? Employers If you submit an application or a resume to a company, they can run a background check to verify your resume information such as past employment, professional licenses or degrees. It is a good idea to check your personal information before someone else does to find out if everything that comes back is accurate. For example, if your degree does not show up you can obtain the information directly from the school to give to the employer. Loan Processors When you apply for a line of credit, you can assume a credit check will be conducted. Unfortunately, often credit reports come back with inaccurate information. Make sure to keep your own records, if you pay off a bill keep receipts and payment in full letters from creditors. They can also run asset checks to look for things such as home value. Collection Agencies This is a common tool used by collection agencies when they are looking for a debtor. Sometimes they may get false information, or they may think you are someone else. Keep all of your own records to prove to agencies that you do not owe the debt. If you run a search on yourself, you may find other names that come up with your name, as aliases or as associations. These other people may be the ones that actually owe the debt. For example, if John M. Smith owes a debt and your name is J. Mark Smith, collection agencies may send you a bill, thinking that or hoping that you might be the debtor. Identity Someone may be using your personal information for credit applications or for other uses. Also, unintentional misuse may occur, for example if someone enters a SSN incorrectly. Credit Monitors or Credit Watchers This type of service offered by many background search services, helps you monitor your credit. You can use a credit monitor service to watch your credit over a period of time to look for inaccuracies, credit score changes or to see if some is trying to use your information. For example, you can run a search using your SSN to find out if any other names are associated with your number. So what do you do if reported information is incorrect? Unfortunately, changing inaccurate information can be a confusing, complicated process. Nevertheless, there are a few ways to change report information: State, County, National Information: You have to contact appropriate public agencies to correct public record. These types of records include criminal, court, tax, liens, judgments, small claims, driving and bankruptcy records, as well as birth/death and marriage/divorce records. Public record also manages information regarding property including real estate and motorized vehicles. Credit Reporting Agencies: The three main credit reporting agencies include Experian, TransUnion and TRW. Current law provides that you can receive a free copy of your credit report once every twelve months, see annualcreditreport.com. To change information on your report begin by writing a letter to all reporting agencies disputing the claim, include copies of supporting documents if you can, wait for them to analyze and investigate your claim and make appropriate changes. If changes are made you can request another free report to verify. To Block Searches: Some background search services enable you to opt-out of their search program. They report that they cannot block you from every search option but from most. Most search services require that you send them your social security number, full name with middle initial, aliases, current and former addresses as well as birth date. Keep in mind, that for complete protection you will have to make this request with every reporting service separately. To find out how the Freedom of Information Act governs federal agencies see the US Department of Justice, Freedom of Information Act page at usdoj.gov/04foia. This act does not control records held by Congress, the courts, or by state or local government agencies. You will need to contact your state or local agencies to discover their guidelines in regards to the release of public information. For local information, see the Washburn School of Law webpage at washlaw.edu/uslaw/states/allstates. This site offers links to all 50 states and links to other legal pages of interest. If you are curious to see what is being reported about you, visit US Search.com and run a ‘personal records profile’ that will report information regarding your address up to 10 years back, aliases, associations (roommates, relatives and neighbors), bankruptcies and liens, small claim records as well as property and home ownership data including value. Generally, all of your public information is available to anyone that asks for it, but it is up to you to make sure that the data is accurate. Pamela Stevens Pamela Stevens writes for TopTenREVIEWS.com , an online review service that publishes unbasied software, online service and hardware reviews. TopTenReviews also publishes movie reviews and entertainment pages. Please see toptenreviews.com for reviews and articles on a wide variety of topics.

Non ChexSystems Banks And How To Find Them

Millions of Americans are on a list that they definitely do not want to be on. It s the list created and maintained by ChexSystems identifying people who have had banking problems in the past. It s also the list that prevents millions of us from getting a new bank account each year. If you are on the list, you know how severely it can affect your life. It is difficult and expensive to live in modern society without a bank account -- simple tasks such as cashing a check, paying a bill, or getting cash are made much more difficult. Check cashing fees and money orders can take a big chunk out of each paycheck. If you are on the list, it is important for you to know what ChexSystems is (and what they are not). ChexSystems is not a bank -- they are a database company that acts as a consumer reporting agency (CRA), collecting data about banking customers. In particular, ChexSystems maintains a nationwide database of banking customers who have been reported for writing bad checks, defrauding banks, having unpaid bank debts, or having too many “non-sufficient funds” (NSF) items. ChexSystems tries to keep a low public profile (and they ve done a pretty good job of it). ChexSystems does not have a company Web site, and it is relatively difficult to find information about them. If you are on ChexSystems list, you have three options. First, you can decide to live without a bank account, and pay the extra expenses and deal with the inconvenience of using Check Cashing stores, Money Orders, and using cash for most transactions. Second, you can try to get off the ChexSystems list (which is not impossible, but can be confusing and difficult for most people). Finally, you can search around for a bank that doesn t use ChexSystems and that will allow you to open an account even though you are on the ChexSystems list. Luckily, a number of Federally Insured Banks and credit unions do not use ChexSystems. Unfortunately, finding one can be like finding a needle in a haystack. A number of Web sites and classified ads claim to have a list of non-ChexSystems banks. Unfortunately, most of these lists are out of date and inaccurate. Even worse, many of these lists cost money (with no refunds available!). Kurt Lehman is a financial services expert and writes about ChexSystems banks and problems as well as payday loan debt .

Debt Negotiation - Do It Yourself Tips!

Following are some tips that can help you understand more the art of negotiation and will aid you in the process of reaching a deal with a third party whether the issue is financial related or not. Win-Win Situations The first thing you need to know about negotiations is that you should always aim to obtain a win-win situation where both parties feel as they have obtained something from the negotiations. If you expect a negotiation to result in a winner and a loser, then the negotiations will end up being too hard. Therefore, the first tip is: Aim to a win-win situation where both you and the third party obtain something. Flexible Expectations With the first tip as a lei motive, you should try to focus on what you expect to obtain from negotiations but with a great deal of flexibility on mind too. For instance, if you want to obtain A, B, and C being A the main thing you want, you need to consider a scenario where you get A and B and the other party keeps C or you get A and C and the other party keeps B. Or maybe you need to add D to the negotiations knowing that they will be interested in it when it doesn t mean that much to you. The second tip would be then: Define your main interest and be flexible with your alternative ones. Know Yourself and Know The Other Party Analyze your virtues and your weaknesses as well as your interlocutor s. This will help you to protect yourself from the other party s negotiation techniques as well as exploiting their weaknesses on your benefit. In any case, you need to understand the need of subtleness. If you are taking advantage of a weakness it is important that the affected party doesn t realize that because otherwise that would negatively dispose them against you. Patience, Patience, Patience Yes, you may be eager to close on a deal but that won t necessarily happen right away and probably it is best that it doesn t. When you first sit down with the other party a negotiation process has started. Such processes have different parts and though all of them can be resolved within a day, it is advisable to held at least two reunions in order to obtain better terms for both parties. How? Easy, the first reunion should be focused on building a bond, giving good impressions showing yourself as cooperative people and stating your requirements and needs clearly. As long as the other party does the same, the negotiations are on the right road. The time between reunions should be used to come up with solutions that provide both parties with at least part of the things they want. The second reunion should be used to exchange proposals and discuss them. If no solution is obtained, a third or even forth meeting can be held, each time with more information about the needs and desires of each party and new proposals. Doors Ought to Remain Open Even if you don t find a solution, it is a good idea to end conversations with a good impression. Don t get mad or transmit disappointment. Just express that in the event of new circumstances you may meet again to further discuss the situation. You never know what may happen to you or to the other party or up to what extend external circumstances may change providing your with a solution to whatever problem that got negotiations stuck. Mary Wise, a professional consultant at Badcreditloanservices.com with twenty years in the financial field, prevents consumers from falling into the hands of fraudulent lenders. In her website you can consult Mary and, also, you will find more useful tips and interesting financial articles on this and many other related topics.

10 Ways to Keep Your Holiday Spending in Check

The holidays always create a frenzy of shoppers buying presents at a feverish pace. But once the gifts have been unwrapped and life returns to normal, the credit card bills start to stream in and the post-holiday hangover feeling plagues those shoppers that spent more than they could afford. Everyone vows that this year they are going to shop early and stay within their budget; but to avoid the post-holiday hangover they need more than just good intentions. They have to make a plan for holiday spending and stick to it. Here are 10 tips to keep holiday spending in line: 1. Eliminate impulse spending. NOW is the time to set a cap on how much you can afford to spend on your holiday shopping. Create a spending plan for each person on your list, set limits on the dollar amount per gift and list some gift options. It s very important that you stick with this plan to avoid impulse spending. 2. Draw names. Suggest drawing names within a large group of family or friends so you only have to buy one gift. Others in the group may be thrilled that you brought it up first. 3. Get creative. If you have a bunch of members from one family on your list, opt to buy one gift that the entire family can use rather than a gift for each member of the family. A board game or a restaurant gift certificate will cost much less than a number of individual gifts. 4. Think before you buy. Spend some time coming up with a gift that will truly be appreciated. Don t fall into the trap of thinking that the more you spend on a gift, the more the recipient will enjoy it. It really is the thought that counts. 5. Create gifts rather than buy them. Couples with children appreciate babysitting certificates or errand-running vouchers. Grandparents may enjoy a trip with you to a local attraction, a certificate for car washing done by hand, house cleaning or even gardening. Give a friend on your list a home-cooked meal delivered to the door. A gift of your time can be much more valuable to the recipient than any gift you can buy from a store. 6. Use catalogs. Catalogs are a great source of information when deciding what gifts to buy and a convenient way to comparison shop. They also allow you to avoid the temptation of impulse purchases because when you re shopping from home it s easier to take your time and really think about what you re buying. Be sure to factor in any shipping costs and to order early enough to receive the gift in time for the holidays. 7. Plan a fact-finding trip before you buy. Plan a trip to the mall solely to compare prices and to find options for gifts. Don t bring cash, credit cards or a checkbook on this outing. Wait a few days to go back and buy the gifts once you ve decided where the best values are. 8. Enlist the help of a friend. Take a thrifty friend shopping with you and ask him/her to help you stick to your spending plan. Your friend can act as a voice of reason when you re surrounded by temptation. 9. Trim your cards and postage costs. Cut your holiday card list to only those friends and family that you won t get to see over the holidays. 10. Use your medical reimbursement account as a holiday savings account. Plan ahead for next year! Pay cash for your prescriptions and doctor visit co-pays throughout the year and don t submit the medical reimbursement paperwork until October or November. This way, when you get your reimbursement check you can spend it on holiday gifts because you ve already paid the medical bills. Be careful, though, and don t save more in your medical reimbursement account than you ll need for medical expenses during the year - if your actual medical expenses are less than the amount you estimated, you ll lose the extra! Tom Fragala is the Founder and CEO of Truston , which provides online identity theft protection. The seed for the idea behind Truston was planted in 2002, when Tom experienced identity theft first hand. Thieves broke into his previous company s offices and stole a number of laptops, bags and identities, including his own. What inspired Tom most, however, was his work after this as a volunteer helping victims of ID theft. He became frustrated by vast size of the problem and lack of tools available to help people. The alternatives were either ineffective, expensive or required handing over sensitive information-a further ID theft risk. So, Tom decided to build something better. The result is myTruston. Since 2004, Tom has been a volunteer victim counselor with the ID Theft Resource Center, a non-profit group. He also served as a volunteer for the Santa Barbara DA, helping victims of fraud. Tom started the first identity theft blog, ScamSafe.com, in February 2004. He has donated over 1,000 hours of pro bono victim aid since 2004.

Personal Finance, Corporate

Finance basically revises and deals with various methods by the means of which businesses, companies, and individuals hoist, distribute, and utilize financial supplies over a stipulated time, along with considering the threats involved in their assignments. Hence, the expression of finance may engross any of the below mentioned stuffs: • The execution and outlining of the assignment s threats. • The art of executing funds. • The administration and execution of the resources. • The revision of funds and other capitals. In consideration of the expression to finance , it signifies to offer finances for commerce or for an individual s huge purchases such as house, car, etc. The commotions of finance are the submission that individuals and firms utilize for executing their funds, specifically the variations amidst earnings and expense along with the threats of their assets. Alternative Revisions: For the earning that surpasses its expense list may provide or spend the surplus income. Simultaneously, an individual whose earnings are less than the expenses may hoist assets by purchasing or lending the equity claims, reducing its expenditures, or boosting its earning. Now, the lender can find a borrower, a monetary mediator, as such a bank or can purchase notes or shares from the share market. Further, the lender acquires interest rates, and the borrower shells out a bigger interest rate than the lender acquires, and the monetary mediator concise the variation. Banks amass the commotions of several lenders and borrowers, and it also welcomes the deposits from various lenders, on which it shells out the interest rate. Further, the bank lends these deposits to the borrowers, and by this method bank permits the authority for both the lenders as well as the borrowers of distinctive horizons, to synchronize their financial commotions. Hence, banks are described as compensators of money streams in space. For example, if an individual buys one share of ABC Inc, and the firm posses 100 shares in stock, then the individual becomes 1/100 possessor of that firm. Obviously, in favor of the stock, the firm acquires cash, which it utilizes to enlarge its commercialization in a procedure called as Equity Financing . Utility: Finance is utilized by almost every individual (personal finance), commerce (corporate finance), by government bodies (public finance) and by a huge range of institutions engrossing school, colleges, and all the non-profit institutions. Usually, the objectives of each of the above mentioned commotional bodies are attained by the utilization of proper financial implementations, along with systematic contemplation of their organizational backdrop. Hence, finance is one of the most crucial phases of business administration. A fresh business venture is bound to fail, if appropriate financial concepts are not utilized. Administration of funds is the most necessary stuff for ensuring a safe financial future for both the firms as well for the individuals. My name is Tom Husnik I m 52 years young I live in Minnesota my web site is at. bestfixitfinancial.com

How Genuine Are Online Savings?

How Genuine Are Online Savings? When buying goods online are we buying genuine bargains or being suckered in by a marketers ploy? Buying online is a big saver over traditional shops as retailers save on overheads of stores and staff and can bring to the consumer brand goods at dramatic savings. Larger online suppliers with massive buying power can often beat the small firm on price as well as delivery and service making the end buyer well pleased. Buying brand name products for sure offers massive discounts but buyers need to be sure they deal with established and reputable suppliers - a 75% saving means nothing if the goods never arrive. Presenting discounts can be offered in several ways and not all are as genuine as they may seem 20% off today only (tomorrow it may be 30% off!!) 50% off (for all orders over 100 USD - in very small print) Buy 1 get 1 free ( is 50% off but sounds a better deal ) Buy 2 get 1 free (33% discount but FREE is a strong attraction) Offer closes xxxxx (only to be replaced by another deal, or a later date) Massive clearout sale ( prices are not reduced much, or are end of line, damaged, returns etc) Buying by auction has many attractions too where second hand goods are resold on a bidding system when the highest bid wins. Since goods are often being sold by private advertisers quality and delivery must be suspect unless the seller has a high feedback rating which takes time to build. Many online retailers use a DROP SHIP method of supply, in that they carry no stock themselves but pass on orders to the actual supplier and stock holder who ships the goods direct to the buyer. Any complaint may be hard to pin down and the buck may be passed from seller to supplier - read the terms of business for all suppliers whom you have never dealt with before. In recent times the ultimate in online savings are to offer goods using a swap or trade system especially for used items. Under this system you swap YOUR surplus item with another of the sites members who wants what you have and they in turn have what you WANT. Until the site has a large stock of offers matching needs with wants may be a problem. An alternative proving popular is trading for points - you set your item for a number of points and earn a credit for a trade with another of the sites members. Then later you can SPEND your points on buying something you want - bonus points can also be earned by referring members to the system or you can buy points. All it costs buyers is postage so the buyer gets goods as such for free. Sellers need to take the plunge with offering goods as such for free until they build up a credit points balance they can then spend. In the end saving is no saving at all you are usually SPENDING MONEY in one way or another - even a 85% costs you 15% - so make sure you buy only what you need, rather than just because it was cheap, and on an unrepeatable deal . Maurice Clarke is founding owner of internet-online-privacy.com a free and independent source of information about all aspects of online fraud and personal privacy issues. The site contains articles and web links highlighting the leading privacy issues and suggested preventions and solutions for both personal and business web surfers.