10 Financial Services You May Not Know You Need

When it comes to your finances, it’s safe to say that you usually know what you’re doing. Most of us know how much money we earn, and roughly how much our bills come to each month - even if it’s just because we tend to know what we have left to spend each month. Either way, it’s relatively easy to know where you’re at with your money without being a financial expert.

But if we were to take that idea one step further, and say that you’re generally incredible with your cash and you even have systems in place to make sure you do stay on top of things, you may consider yourself to be a bit of a financial pro. So much so that you don’t really need much help with how you handle things. But if that’s how you think, you’re more than likely wrong. Because most of us may require some kind of financial service without really knowing it.

Sometimes, the financial services we need are things that we could implement now just to make life much easier, and sometimes they’re going to be things for the future. And sometimes, they’re even things that could come in handy, despite never really knowing that we may need them. So, if you want to make your financial life even more efficient, here are the financial services you should consider taking on board.

An Accountant

When it comes to accountants, you’ll often find that people are all for them, or they’d rather do without. Even if you tend to fall in the latter camp, it may do you some good to realize that actually, an accountant is going to make your life much easier. When it comes to filing your tax return, it may take you hours and hours to do each year. Whereas hiring an accountant could be quicker and most-cost effective for you, as you can get on with other things as they do it.

A Financial Advisor

Next up, you may also want to consider taking on some financial advice. Again, this isn’t going to be for everybody, but it could prove invaluable to you. You may think that you know what you’re doing with your money, savings, and investments, but you may not be getting the most out of your money. With a skilled financial advisor, you’ll be able to maximize your savings and ensure that you’re getting the best return.

An Assistant

If you’re self-employed, you may also want to think about taking on an assistant. Because it doesn’t make a lot of sense for you to be spending all of your time working on your financials when you have other work to be doing. So, it will often pay for you to hire an assistant to handle, chase, track, and manage your finances for you, freeing you up to get on with your work.

Specialist Finance

Lots of people will require different kinds of finances in life, you’ve probably had a loan or mortgage in the past. But what about specialist finance? From working with a bail bond company to a business investor, you may not know it now, but they could be essential for your future. Because you may not always have access to the money you need for specific ventures.

Realtor

Then, there’s also a realtor to think about. And before you say that technically they’re not a financial service, they are there to help you sell your house and they want to help you make as much money as possible. There are many benefits of working with a real estate agent, but their expertise is always one of them. Not only will they help to maximize your properties worth, but they can also manage any rental property you own which can make it more efficient for you.

Insurance Broker

Next, there’s also an insurance broker. This is going to be a particular service you should take advantage of if you have lots of different insurance needs. From health to home to business to car, and more, you may find that having an insurance broker to handle the policies for you means that you can get them cheaper overall.

Specialist Dealer

Again, we have another service here that isn’t quite a financial service as such, but it’s there to make you money - so we’re going with it. And it’s the service of a specialist dealer. Should you be interested in collecting things like art or jewelry, you may wish to sell certain pieces at some stage, and this is where the specialist will come in. As they will have the expertise and connections that will allow you to get the most money for your sale.

International Bank Account

From here, it’s the on to the idea of your international financial affairs. Because if you work overseas, or have some international interests, then you may find that you won’t be getting the most out of your money by constantly transferring between currencies. So, you may want to work with an international bank for this exact reason. With an international account, you won’t have to keep losing funds when exchange rates are poor.

Cryptocurrency Advisor

With talk of international transactions, it then leads us nicely to the idea of cryptocurrency - which is taking the world by storm. It’s proving essential for international transfers due to the lack of fees. But, if you want to get involved with cryptocurrency, and you have no idea what you’re doing, or you just don’t have the time, you may want to consider working with a cryptocurrency advisor.

Financial Software

Finally, you may also want to consider taking up the use of financial software. Staying on track with your finances is only easy if you’re organized and you stick at it. But we don’t always have the time to do this ourselves. And while you may not want to hire someone as point three suggested, you may choose to work with a software service instead. This could streamline your financial life and make it so much easier to manage.

5 Tips To Build Affordable And Long-Lasting Property

The Test Of Time

If you build right, you can have property designed which will—properly maintained—last for thousands of years. Today’s market provides greater opportunity for this kind of building than, perhaps, in all American history.

But you can’t just expect anything you put together to stand the test of time—you need to exercise proper craftsmanship. Following are several tips to help you do just that.

1. Source The Latest Equipment

Guided boring machines can do a better job while cutting down the necessary workload. This is one example of a technological upgrade in construction machinery. There are many areas where technology is revitalizing the industry, and you would be well advised to find out where such upgrades can serve your operations.

2. Use The Right Equipment For The Job

You can find quite a few skid steers by My Little Salesman, and even advice pertaining to proper acquisition—according to the site: “For fairly new skid steers, inspecting the condition of the tires, belts, hoses, and looking for leaks, rust and excessive exterior damage should be enough. Older skid steers may need to have the oil and hydraulic fluids tested for impurities or mechanical problems.”

3. Do Your Homework

Some building materials will be better for some jobs than others. Unless your job is to build prefabricated units, you want to look into more heavy-duty materials. There’s a reason the ancients favored stone, and working with stone: this material lasts longer than wood, plastic, or even synthetic materials in wide use today.

That’s not to say a traditional home built from wood can’t last for a long time, but it will require more concerted maintenance—replacement of walls, floors, roofs, etc. With a stone solution, you’ll get more mileage for less maintenance. So look at whatever building assignment your company is engaged with, and determine which building options will last the longest. This may cost more initially, but in the long-run it will cost lest.

4. Sustainable Energy Options

Solar panels have a shelf-life of about ten years, but a solar energy system increases property value, initiates tax breaks, and reduces utility expense. A 3.1 kWh solar energy system will cost approximately $5k to purchase and install—perhaps less if your construction agency has the right contacts. This figure includes cables, batteries, power inverters, etc.

Sustainable options provide off-grid capability, which is valuable to homeowners today, and additionally a resource conserving agent. Providing built-in grid independence makes a lot of sense, look into secondary and tertiary energy options as well. Wind energy and water energy (if running water is on the property) will cost about the same and provide electric redundancy to counter multiple emergency situations.

5. Where You Build

Build on the beach and the tide will erode your foundations. Build on solid rock and the property may survive an earthquake with essentially no damage. You don’t always have your best choice when it comes to property location, but if you can offer any advice in this regard to clients, you should help them to choose the best location.

Sometimes the best locations are actually cheaper than prime locations in a “downtown” environment. Again, research the issue as best you can beforehand, and bring that data to the table before clients/building agencies/housing development projects start making concrete plans.

Better, More Affordable Property Expands Business

When that which you’ve built saves clients money and stands the test of time, you’re going to get more clients. But this can take time. Plan on slow growth, and give every job your absolute best. Do that and you’ll see more structurally integral properties which save their owners money. You get out what you put in.

The Ultimate Moving Abroad Checklist

You have decided to study abroad. While it is common to feel excited about all of the new experiences and memories you will have, it is also not uncommon to feel a bit nervous.

Let’s face it, whether you are a seasoned traveler or a newbie, you are bound to feel some anxiety.

Which is why we created the ultimate moving abroad checklist to help you plan for your big move and lessen those nerves. Read on to learn some things you need to plan for and pack!

1. It’s All About Your Passport

Yes, you probably know you should (and have to) bring your passport with you. Think of as the ultimate driver’s license when traveling to another country. It lets authorities where you are from and who you are.

What you may not know though is that it is important to photocopy your passport. The U.S. Department of State recommends that you make 2 copies of your passport (this goes for all other important documents you plan on bringing). Give one copy to a friend or relative that is at home, and keep the other copy separate from your passport.

Store it where you are staying but, like your passport, make sure it is out of sight so it doesn’t attract opportunists.

At the same time, make sure you keep your passport on you, and that you don’t put it in easily accessible areas—such as the back pocket of your pants or an outside pocket on your backpack. That way, it is harder for pick pocketers to get ahold of.

2. Pack a Money Belt

Money belts are a great defense about pickpocketing. In a nutshell, you wear a money belt underneath your garments.

Items to put in your money belt include: money (especially large amounts), important documents, anything else that would be stressful and a hassle to replace if stolen.

Wear your money belt especially if you know you are traveling to a heavily pickpocket-friendly area, and if you are attending a big tourist destination or crowded area.

3. Pack 7-10 Days’ Worth of Clothes

Especially if this is your first time abroad, you may be stressing out on how big of a suitcase you will need to pack all of your clothes. What may be surprising is that you don’t need to buy a suitcase that’s the size of your closet.

You actually only need to pack 7-10 days’ worth of clothes because you will be doing laundry once or twice a week. Make sure though that you check the climate where you will be going to college abroad to so you know what clothing you want to pack more of.

For instance, if you are traveling to Seville in July, know that it can reach temperatures as high as the 40s C° (or 100s F°) so you’d want to pack more light and breathable clothing.

4. Register with Your Embassy

If you are an American, you’ll want to enroll in the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). If you are not American, you will want to enroll at your country’s embassy.

The reason being is that your country knows where you are and can send you via email or phone travel alerts and warnings.

5. Exchange Your Money

Exchange some of your money when you are still at home. You want to do this because airport ATMs will have high exchange rates—especially if you are using an ATM that is not contracted with your bank.

That and, depending on the country you are visiting, thieves and pick pocketers target ATM users at the airport. It is not worth the extra hassle.

Final Thoughts

Studying abroad is an exciting experience. It can be stressful preparing for it but is an experience you will be looking back on fondly. Happy Travels! Any more tips? Leave a comment.

3 Tips To Get Through Tax Return Season

Filing your tax return is boring, thankless task that takes up valuable time. However, it does not need to be so painful. Here are some helpful tips for getting your tax return done.

Records

You should be keeping records of everything. You need to know the exact amount of income you have had over the year as well as any business expenses. These can be stored in a spreadsheet for ease of access and backed up to prevent data loss. If you keep these records up to date throughout the year, then when it comes down to file your tax return you are prepared and know exactly what your finances have been throughout the year. You can use something like Google Sheets to automatically tall various columns and sums together so that you have even less work to do. If you look on the Internet or through Microsoft Office, then you will be able to find templates for tracking and monitoring all your incomings and outgoings. This will be helpful in your daily life and not just when filing your tax forms.

Use Automatic Generation

There are a lot of free online calculator services available on the internet which can automatically do parts of your tax return for you. If you have employees, then one example is getting your W2 forms automatically completed. This needs to be sent to your employees each year, and it breaks down their annual wages and tax payments. If you have other people’s tax to worry about, then something like this can save you a lot of time. Plenty of these kinds of sites make the W2 form 2017 printable, so you do not need to worry about making it fit to a certain page size. There are other sites that can automatically tally up your income similar to what is done through a spreadsheet as mentioned above, but they can go into more detail and provide the exact information that you need. Doing a bit of research could end up saving you a lot of time.

Start Early

There is nothing worse than having a deadline loom over you and for you to not have enough time to complete your forms. If you start early, then you will not get into a situation where you need to rush through them in the last few days. This will help to prevent any mistakes and errors when submitting your tax return and it will make the entire process far less stressful. If you start early, then you can set aside an hour a week to work through it and by the time the deadline comes around you will have finished ages ago. Taking this approach is especially effective if you often struggle with understanding and remember what needs to be done when filing your tax. This is because it allows time to seek advice and work your way through all of the requirements. Starting early can save you a headache and make the entire process far less annoying.

Bringing Your Work Home

For a lot of people working in the modern world, the call to work from home can be heard very loudly. A lot of people love the idea of using their home as their office or workplace, with the commute and time saving benefits being enough on their own to persuade some. Unfortunately, though, a lot of homes aren’t really suitable to be a work environment, and this can put a spanner in the works. To help you out, this post will be going through some of the steps that you need to take to make your home into an office, right from the very start.

Most people will ignore the need to have a separate work and living space. But, it’s important to have this parts of your life disconnected in some way. The best way to do this is by moving somewhere just a little bit bigger to make sure that you have the space to cater to your needs.. Having an additional room to use as an office will give your work and home life the separation they need. A lot of people struggle to find homes for sale which meet their needs entirely. So, to help you out, it could be worth looking for an estate agent with the skills to make your life easier.

Once you have a good idea of which places you like the most, it’s time to start thinking about what each of them offer. As you’re working from home, you’ll probably need a good internet connection. So, you should do some research to make sure that you will be able to get one. Next, you need to consider the facilities around you. If you like to go to the gym everyday, you’ll need one close by. Or, if you have kids, you’ll want to be near enough to schools for it to be easy to pick them up. There are loads of aspects to your home that need to be considered. But, the most important is making sure that your business can be run from it.

Moving in will be the hardest part of this journey. Along with moving your regular furniture and possessions, you’ll also have to move in some office gear. To do this, it’s best to try and enlist the help of some friends. This will usually be almost free. And, it will ensure that only people you trust have access to your items. Unfortunately, this might not always work, though. So, in this case, you could find a company to help you, instead. Most cities have professional moving companies. So, you shouldn’t have much trouble finding one.

Hopefully, this will give you the help that you need when you’re figuring out how to fit an office into your home. It’s worth putting this effort in especially if you’re working for yourself. It will make a big difference in your work while also making you more comfortable in the process.

Freedom Debt Relief Could Help Play an Important Role in Financing Your Startup

If you are hoping to create a successful startup organizations, then finding a way to properly manage your organization’s finances are an absolute must. In the competitive world of business, finding a reasonable source of financing can feel as if it is nearly impossible. By keeping these simple tips in mind, you can be poised to receive the funding you need.

Begin by managing your personal financial situation.

Until you are able to formally make your company into a corporation, your personal financial situation can directly affect your likelihood of getting financed. If potential investors see that you have not been able to properly manage your own financial situation, they will assume you will also not be able to manage your business.

Organizations such as Freedom Debt Relief could help you put past debts behind you and prepare yourself for future success. Freedom Debt Relief utilizes an individualized approach to financial management that could help you reorient yourself towards the future. Once you have found a way to manage your personal debts, you can turn all of your attention towards your startup.

Create a very specific mission statement.

Many startup organizations have big dreams. But while it is great to dream, the dream will mean nothing unless you can create a tangible path to get you from here to there.

Mission statements that are vague or unattainable will not do your organization very much good. Things such as “we want to be the best”, or “we want to change the industry” do little more than repeat the obvious.

Instead, come up with a mission statement that is specific, measurable, and reasonable. The clearer your mission can be, the clearer the path to success will be. With a quality mission statement, it will be much easier to organize and plan your organization over time.

Have a business plan that addresses both short-term and long-term needs.

One of the things that can make financing a startup organization so difficult is that you need to simultaneously be looking one step in front of you and ten steps ahead. Startup organizations that focus only on the present or only on the future are much less likely to actually make it.

In the short-term, your primary goal should be finding enough sources of financing to cover your fixed costs and operating expenses. You are also going to want to be thinking about how you will pay off any debts that are associated with the business. In this case, Freedom Debt Relief is a great resource that could potentially help you.

In the long-term your primary goal should be finding a way to create a sustainable profit. Most start-up organizations don’t make a real profit for several years down the line. Succeeding in this competitive industry is going to require a great deal of patience, hard work, and foresight.

Take efforts to minimize the risk of investing in your company.

Ultimately, each of your potential investors is going to make their final decision by considering the risks and rewards of investing in your organization. If your organization is one that appears to be unusually risky, then potential investors are going to require a greater reward.

As a startup organization, there are some kinds of risks you simply cannot avoid. But there are others that you can be actively working to eliminate. Utilizing Freedom Debt Relief to potentially decrease the perceived riskiness of investing in your organization could be a great way to attract more investors over time.

Though financing a startup is undeniably difficult, and you are going to have to get used to living in the world of rejection, taking these simple steps can make success much more attainable.

Making The Best Of A Bad Situation

When it comes to money, it’s either going to be a good or a bad situation. Everyone will have gone through both sides of the situation at some point in their life. But what do we do when things go bad? We either have an absolute mental breakdown, or try and get through it as best as we can. This happens all the time, but none more so than with money. If you feel as though you’re someone going through a bad stage at the minute, just relax and take a read of these tips, they should help you get through any bad stage with money.

Ask For Help

This is usually people's last resort. They’ll try every type of loan, credit card, online advice, and before you know it they’re worse off than they were in the beginning. Don’t let this be you. Unless you’re in a good place with money, you shouldn’t really be using a credit card or loan. Credit cards are only useful for building up your credit score. The best thing you can do is ask family or friends for some short term help if you need to lend some money. They’ll have no interest rate, and you can come to an agreement of when to pay the money back so things are a little more relaxed. Whatever you do though, don’t borrow more than you can pay back just because it’s family. Be respectful and always pay what you owe back on time.

Prepare

Preparation is key if you want to get through a bad situation. As you get a little older things start to crop up that create bad situations. Health issues, pension cuts, whatever it may be it’ll cause you stress that you don’t need. As we become senior we’ll obviously understand that we won’t be round for much longer, the best thing you can do to protect you or your family is life insurance. It’s preparation like this that helps keep everyone from getting into a bad situation. This post discusses the different types of life insurance you can purchase. But whilst we’re talking about preparation, we also need to talk about other life events. Birthday’s, Christmas etc. they all require a lot of money, especially if you have children. This is where the dreaded credit card can get you into trouble unless you’ve prepared. Work out how much you’d like to spend on each event and make it strict. Then divide the money but between the amount of months until said event, and begin to save. It’ll help you out so much in the long run.

Don’t Stress

Money is one of the leading causes of stress and anxiety for people all over the world, but this only makes things worse. There are so many people out there that can help you get out of the situation you’re in, so don’t bottle it up and stress yourself more, talk to financial advisors, or even friends and family and get the situation resolved.

Millennials Preparing for Retirement? Why It Can and Should Be Done

Millennials are in good stead when it comes to saving and planning for their retirement, no matter what anybody or anything may claim. What’s more, they are in such good stead for a number of reasons. To see some of these reasons as well as some Millennial retirement saving tips, make sure to read on.

Millennials have knowledge of the modern world built in and on tap

In order to do something well, especially in regards to finance, you've got to have an understanding of the most up-to-date practices. You've got to have an understanding of how things work and the impact they make. Fortunately, as would be expected, Millennials have knowledge of the modern day in these ways like no other generation, simply because it is their day. This means they have (or should have) knowledge, even if it is just a working knowledge, of the latest financial matters. For instance, Millennials are the generation most likely to know what Bitcoins are, how much they are worth and what they can be used for. And, they can use this knowledge and implement it when it comes to their retirement saving endeavours and specifically their individual retirement accounts (IRAs). They can do this by first checking out this Bitcoin IRA’s review on Huffington Post, then taking the leap and acquiring a Bitcoin (which, at the moment, will cost $8099.99), setting up an IRA and then putting their cryptocurrency into it. 

But, it is a Millennial’s knowledge of Bitcoin in the first place that would set them up for such a venture, or the fact that they can look up information in regards to them, or any other financial matter for that matter, with ease.

Millennials have time on their side

Yep, time is well and truly on the side of the Millennials in regards to a whole host of things, not just retirement planning. In regards to this specifically, however, if they were to take retirement planning seriously now then they would be able to tap into the fact that their money is not only going to grow with interest like no other past generation, but that it has plenty of time to do so, too.

What this means is that any Millennials out there wondering if they should start saving for retirement now should stop wondering, and start doing. Specifically, they should begin contributing to a Roth retirement fund as soon as they can. This is a type of fund that is paid into and contributed to by both he or she who sets up the fund, and any employers they have or will have in the future. And what the proprietor of the fund should do in order to really make the most of it is ensure that they match or beat whatever their employer(s) contribute to it, whenever they do in fact contribute to it. This will see the money, that is tax-free to withdraw upon retirement, grow immeasurably.

Millennials are in a better position than pretty much all in regards to retirement saving. So, if you are a Millennials, don't let this position go to waste! Get yourself retirement ready, and do it soon!

Doomsayer Or Life Saver? The Value Of Considering The Worst Case Scenario

Thinking about illness, disability, and even death isn't something that most of us enjoy, especially when it relates to ourselves and our nearest and dearest. In fact, if we become too preoccupied with this we can easily be accused of being morbid, pessimistic, or a doomsayer. However, there is value in running the worst case seniors through your mind, as it can help to ensure that you and your family are financially protected if the worst does happen. Read on for more information.

Illness

We all get sick from time to time, whether it's the flu or a horrid cold. However, some folks suffer from medical conditions that are a little more serious than that, ones that can be painful, problematic, and even life-threatening. Of course, being sick in such a serious way is often a strain on your finances as you have to pay for treatments to improve your condition or minimize its effect on your day to day life. 

To prepare for this is pretty vital that you have private medical insurance available both for you and for your entire family. Yes, this is often very expensive, but it is still cheaper than medical bills that can run into hundreds of thousands if the worst does occur.

Remember too that as the different hospitals are allowed to charge whatever they like for treatments, not having medical insurance can put you in the vulnerable position of not being able to pay the bills. Even if you have some savings tucked away for a rainy day. Something that you don't want when it comes to yours or a loved one's health. 

Disability

For some folks, an illness may lead to disability, and them not being able to earn a wage from work. For others, it may be a condition that they have been born with. Although, whatever the reasons being without an income can make life extremely difficult. 

To assist with this, the Government have put in place a service known as social security disability (SSD), designed to financially assist those that cannot work to support themselves. Unfortunately, the system is under so much stain at the moment that less than half of all applicants are granted official aid on their first request. Something that makes it vital that you also take out private insurance against disability as well. This process like any insurance purchase can be complicated, and you can check out this post on disability insurance coverage options for some help in choosing the right policy. Remember picking the right policy is vital as it could mean the difference between being able to provide for your family or struggling financially. 

Death

Death, the only certainty in life, apart from taxes that is! It's not something we want to waste too much of our time thinking about. However, when we have debts and responsibility to our families to worry about members, it's vital that we risk being called doomsayers and ensure that we are covered financially for this eventuality.

The way to do this is of course by getting life insurance. Doing so can protect your assets and make sure that your family are able to continue to live in their home and be provided for, even if you're not there to be the main breadwinner. Something that makes life insurance a real lifesaver, even if you have to get a little morbid to consider it.

Don't Let Healthcare Haunt Your Finances

It’s sad to live somewhere that makes healthcare one of the most expensive parts of your life. So many other countries have affordable healthcare options for everyone, meaning they worry less when a problem happens. Here, if we get a serious illness or injury, it costs thousands of dollars to pay for the treatment. There are even some tragic stories of people fighting cancer and being forced to admit defeat because they can’t afford the medical treatment.

The reality is, for the majority of the population, healthcare haunts our finances. As a consequence, we need to do everything in our power to make any healthcare costs as cheap as possible. What options do you have? There are some, and I’ll talk you through them in the points below. 

Purchase An Affordable Insurance Plan

Health insurance is pretty much essential for people nowadays. You need to have some type of insurance plan if you want to avoid paying through the nose for medical bills. With insurance, certain treatments might be covered, meaning you won’t have to pay for them. The amount you pay for your insurance can often be a lot cheaper than the treatments you have to pay for, which is why it makes sense to take out a plan. Different people are best suited to different health insurance plans, so there isn’t a one solution fits all option here. You need to do the research and find the right one for you.

Always Think About What Caused Your Health Problem

There are plenty of health problems that just happen over time because of the way your body is, or they’re down to genetics. Then, you have problems that might have been caused by other circumstances. Great examples that come to mind include breaking your bones and getting severely injured because you were involved in an accident of some kind, or ending up with health issues thanks to exposure to things like asbestos. In both scenarios, you end up in hospital, with high medical bills, thanks to circumstances out of your control. You don’t have to be a personal injury lawyer to know you’re entitled to compensation if you get hurt in accidents that weren’t your fault. Likewise, if you’ve been exposed to dangerous things at work - like asbestos - you could sue your company. My point is, by looking at what caused your problem, you might find that you’ve got a chance to earn compensation to help cover the medical bills and save money. 

Take Care Of Your Health

Finally, this seems like a silly point, but it’s definitely something that can save money. If you take care of your health, you will avoid being subjected to a lot of different health problems. Eating a healthy diet and being active prevents so many problems such as heart disease, obesity, and lots more. This makes you less likely to end up in hospital needing specialist treatment for certain health issues. It’s a clever way of tackling some health problems that can easily be prevented.

As you can see, there are ways you can try and cut down on your medical expenses throughout life. Otherwise, healthcare will haunt your finances forever, and cost a lot of money in your lifetime.

Never Underestimate The Costs Of Selling Your Home

So, you think you’ve got a good chunk of equity in your home, especially after you’ve renovated and remodeled it to within an inch of its life and you’ve kept hold of it for a good few years. Your hopeful that this capital that you have invested in your humble abode will fund your next leap up the property ladder. However, what you haven’t thought through are the financial implications that moving house will have and this can eat into your equity. What can you do to keep the costs of your house sale down to a bare minimum?

Home Loans

When you apply for a home loan for your new house purchase, it pays to try and put down as much of a deposit as you can manage. The lower the percentage of the home value you are borrowing from a lender, the more favorable your interest rate will be. As you shop around for mortgages, try to source one without extortionately high arrangement fees. Some even throw in a free survey. However, don’t get hoodwinked by the gimmicks. You’re still better off with a small initial financial outlay and a great interest rate for the term of your loan.

Where To List Your House

Selling your home and choosing a realtor can be a bit of a minefield. Do your research and consider a more novel way in which to sell your home by inviting realtors to bid for your custom. Agents in your locality can tempt you with offers including returning a chunk of their commission to you once your house sale has been completed. They are still working for a good chunk of commission so will endeavor to sell your home, but you’llalso be lining your pocket to keep down costs. Any money you save on commission can go into savings, renovation costs or top up your home loan deposit.

Investigate a Broker

A good broker can be worth his or her weight in gold. If you are finding it particularly tricky to fund your next home purchase even after realizing the proceeds from your house sale because you’re stretching yourself financially, a broker may be able to find an elusive deal. While they will take a cut for their services, it could be the difference between you making do with an average home or being able to settle into your dream pad.

Where You Shouldn’t Scrimp

Selling your home is still a legal process where all the i’s need dotting and the t’s need crossing. Don’t attempt to cut corners and be tempted to hire the services of a less than reputable property lawyer. Yes, they may be cheap, but there is always a reason for this. Secure the services of a professional based on the first-hand experiences of family and friends. It pays to spend money on the important aspects of your house sale to ensure that nothing comes back to bite you in the near future.

Selling your home can be stressful. However, if you follow these tips, you can save as many of your hard earned pennies as possible without scrimping on your next dream home.

Choosing the Right Medicare Health Plan

Medicare health insurance may or may not be the only type of health coverage you invest in, but it is often wise to make it at least a part of your overall health-protection plan. And today, you can consolidate your coverage with a Medicare Part C Plan, that integrates private and government based insurance, instead of only having the A & B “original” Medicare as an option.

To be an informed health care shopper in today’s marketplace, you should at least be aware of the basics on what different Medicare plans have to offer. Here is some help to get you started in choosing the plan that is best for you.

What Does Medicare A Cover?

The “original” version of Medicare includes just A & B. Part A is your hospital insurance coverage. It will only cover those medical services considered “medically necessary” to treat a specific disease/condition you are suffering from; but neither is it limited to hospitalizations only, as the term “hospital insurance” might seem to imply.

Beyond hospital expenses, Part A can also cover home health & hospice services, nursing home care, and skilled nursing facility expenses. But again, covered care must be a medical necessity to qualify, and that’s where you’ll need to dig deeper into the details of Medicare’s many rules as you continue your research.

What Does Medicare B Cover?

Part B is Medicare’s “medical insurance.” This covers the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions, when medically necessary. It includes reasonable preventative care as well as treatments.

Here are some examples of what Part B will help you with: ambulatory care and transport, certain pieces of medical equipment like oxygen tanks and blood-sugar monitors for diabetics, doctor’s visits, mental health services, and to a rather limited degree, prescription drugs.

And What About Medicare Part C?

It’s true you can actually add prescription drug coverage to your Medicare via Part D, but one of the best ways to cover your pills and drugs is through Part C. Part C will give you all that Parts A & B will, only more.

The beauty of Medicare Part C plans is that they allow your private insurer to manage and distribute to you your Medicare benefits, which creates competition (always good for getting a better deal as a consumer!)

Plus, you bring all your health insurance elements (hospital, medical, and drugs) under a single comprehensive plan, which can still be customized to your exact needs and budget. You may be able, for example, to create a plan that cover Limitless Pill Alternatives or all of the prescription drugs you currently take or foresee you may need down the road. The possibilities are “multitudinous” if not quite “endless.”

What to Do Next

So you decide you want Medicare coverage or you want to switch over to a Part C plan from your current Medicare? Now what? It’s time to dig down into the details by talking with a Medicare health insurance expert. 

They can help you see the benefits of a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) more clearly and help you optimally customize your plan. Ask any Medicare-related question you like, and your agent will be able to get you the answer and help you make a truly informed decision.

What You Can Buy with Frequent Flyers Points

Have a lot of frequent flyer points but don’t know what to do with them? If the answer is yes, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will discuss the things that you can buy with frequent flyer points.

Booking a Flight

One of the most obvious ways in which you can use your miles is by booking a flight. It is recommended that you use these points for an expensive long distance flight, instead of a quick local flight that you can otherwise afford to pay for. It is recommended that you book it as early as possible, in order to get the best value for your points. If you aren’t sure how the point system works, it is recommended that you check out Pointsbank to increase your knowledge.

Use Them to Get an Upgrade

Another great way in which you can utilise your points is by using it to get an upgrade to business or first class. However, before you take any decision, it is recommended that you study airline alliances, so that you can make an informed decision. 

Add a Destination

You can enjoy a free stopover and visit that one city or country that you always wanted to go to. Most airlines allow you to do this, but again, it is a good idea to do your homework first. 

Use It as a Gift 

You can use these points to gift someone a free trip. Such gifts are always special, as it gives a new graduate the chance to explore the world, or newlyweds the chance to add a new destination to their honeymoon itinerary. You can also send other presents like flowers, by purchasing it from the airline’s website in lieu of your points. This is not recommended but it’s still an option you can consider.

Shop with Miles

A lot of people don’t believe in using your miles for merchandise, but there is no harm in checking it out. This is suitable for people who can’t take a trip and are getting near to the expiry date of the points. It’s better to buy something than waste your points.

Donate Your Miles to Charity

If you won’t be using your points, you can donate them to charity or welfare services such as Make-a-Wish - they help sick kids to travel to a place of their choice. 

Use as Employee Perks 

Another option is to use these miles as employee perks or rewards. 

What Not to Do with Your Frequent Flyer Points

Here is what you shouldn’t do with your frequent flyer points:

• Using them for auctions.

• Using these miles for hotel stays. 

• Using them for club lounge access.

• Using it for cheap flights. 

• Letting them expire.

• Waste them on fuel surcharges. 

So, there you have it. These are some of the things that you can buy with your frequent flyer points.

Loan Options For Alternative Situations

Money is what makes the world go round, and learning how to use it and navigate with it can take a lot of practice. When it comes to getting a loan, either for work or your home buying prospects, there’s a lot of variance out there. Looking for this variance, and the kind of options you might be entitled to depending on your situation can be tiring, and very, very confusing. So here’s a quick rundown of some of these alternative loans outside of usual bad credit or unsecured types. 

Usual Personal Loans

A lot of different terms are thrown around when it comes to personal loans, so you need to know the trends. On the nose, a personal loan simply means that the lender of the money does not dictate to you how you can use the money, and it’s completely up to you what you get up to with it. However, that doesn’t mean you should go all out with it, so still be careful with what it is you choose to invest in or purchase.

A personal loan can cover medical expenses, home renovations and repairs, vehicle maintenance when those costs rack up, vacations, and to cover the costs of moving house, just to name a few. This isn’t a comprehensive list, and each option you can use a personal loan for is going to have its own stipulations, so make sure you read up before you take out.

Payday Loans

These are short term loans that have incredibly high interest rates, and that makes them incredibly dangerous. You won’t get very much money out of a payday loan, and they have to be paid back in full when you receive your next wage, unless you’ve negotiated otherwise. 

When it comes to using a payday loan, you have to be sure you can pay it back and still have a little money left over for both yourself and other expenses. Use these wisely, and don’t trick yourself into thinking it’ll be alright to take out an extension; this just makes it more expensive in the long run. 

For Those on Military Service

As a US army veteran, you’re entitled to a few more army benefits than the average person. Of course you’re going to have to fulfil a certain criteria, but if you’re coming out of active service and looking to settle down with your family, you’re practically guaranteed to get a va loan. 

If you don’t need a loan outright that helps you to get on your feet in civilian life, there’s also the va home loans refinance options, which gets you lower mortgage payments per month and reduces interest rates all round. When you know it's there, every little helps can count!

Make sure you know about all the alternatives that are out there for someone like you, no matter your situation. If you need some funding, use loans as a last resort if you can, but also don’t be afraid to take one out!

Don't Get Ripped Off When You Start Your Business

Starting a business is hard work. It will swallow up all of your time and cost you a few hours you didn’t know you had. This means you’re tired but excited. And you’re vulnerable to get ripped off. Making bad decisions at this early point could lead to disaster and failure before you ever get going. Here are just a few ways you can lose your cash and reap nothing from your new company:

Going in too big too soon

Sure, we all want to make a great impression. But if you’re not comfortable with being the little guy, all shiny and new, you might be about to make a big mistake. Pretending to be bigger than you are could be expensive. You might choose to take on formal premises before you’ve seen your first sale. Perhaps you’re registering as a formal company structure before you have the cash available to pay your accountant each year?

Spending money before you’ve made money could be harmful to your financial health. Start as you mean to go on. Test the waters with an honest approach. You might be charging less, but you have fewer overheads at this early stage. And no, you don’t have a business if you don’t have a customer. Avoid the financial woes of legal obligations when you don’t yet need to get that involved.

Hiring staff is an enormous responsibility. These people depend on you to be able to put bread on their tables. Don’t go giving false impressions that jobs are secure and financially covered for a year if they’re not. Be honest and tell them if it’s commission only. Let them make an informed decision. They might walk away, or they might work their backsides off to help you take your company to success.

Tech troubles

Lots of companies have tech teething troubles in the beginning. You’re not sure how much you should spend up front to give a good impression but protect each transaction. You can’t afford to let fraud cost you. You might need to invest in state of the art identity verification services if your business requires it. Smaller value goods and services should also be protected. Use reputable paying services, and take secure website options if payments come in this way.

As for maintaining your website, you don’t have to spend a fortune here. A good hosting service should offer near 100% uptime. And first year hosting is often offered at a hugely discounted rate. If you’re not really sure what you’re doing, then choose a WordPress option. This is as simple to figure out as it gets. Pick a template, add the plugins you need for marketing and shopping cart facilities. Then start posting your content and pages. You can invest in a professional upgrade later when the money starts coming in.

Secure data is essential. After all, you’re handling customers’ personal details like their name, address, phone numbers and credit card details. If you prefer to store this offsite in the cloud, make sure you have a high-security service provider. This might cost a little more, but you will be offered certificates to post on your website that will enhance customer confidence. Essential for the sale!

Other Essential Services

If you’re not sticking it out as a home business right now, make sure you’re not ripped off by service providers in your new offices. Cleaning services, telephone and internet providers, and even security services are essential. The trouble is, you might be paying for more than you need at a price higher than is necessary. Always shop around, and don’t be afraid to negotiate. Energy bills, waste services, and window cleaning will all be added to your basic rent. Can you afford to do this right now?

As soon as you’re in formal business premises, the overheads for your company will shoot up. You need to decide where your money is best spent, and what you can live without for a while. The higher the overheads, the higher the price you need to charge your customers or clients. Are you at that place yet, or do you need more proven experience and client history?

It’s not easy to stay on top of the cost of running your business. This is why so many entrepreneurs get the clients before formalizing their business structure. If you’re working with business clients, you might be credit checked, and a formally registered company might be essential. Of course, virtual offices and assistants might be able to help you here. Where do you need to spend to stay safe and viable when you start up?

All-In-One Finances For The Busy & Bored

For a very long time, money has sat at the very heart of human society. Driving people to do great things, enabling businesses to create their goods, and even putting people into space, this resource is incredibly important. Of course, though, this doesn’t make it any easier to manage. Most people struggle with this part of their life the most, and it can feel very overwhelming when you’re in trouble. So, to help you to avoid this situation, this post will be exploring the idea of putting everything in one place and someone else’s hands.

The Improvements You’ll See

To begin, it’s a good idea to think about the sort of improvements you could get from this sort of action. Not a lot of people realize how much of a difference their money management can make in their life. Below, you will find examples of some of the biggest benefits.

Time: Keeping your finances in order can eat up loads of your precious spare time. This leads a lot of people into ignoring their money, leaving it to be solved another day. By putting your money into someone else’s hands, you will remove both of these problems, while also improving other areas.

Stress: Most people’s biggest financial concern is uncertainty. If you don’t understand money fully, it can be hard to keep it safe and secure, and a lot of people will find this incredibly stressful. To avoid this sort of problem, giving someone else the power will take loads off your mind.

Success: Of course, more than anything else, having a professional in charge will also improve your chances of success in the world of money. Your decisions will be made by someone in the know, reducing the risk that the wrong ones will be made, while also keeping you up to date with everything important.

Avoiding Issues: When people are left in charge of their own finances, there are loads of little things which can go wrong. By having someone else in control, overspending, borrowing, and investing mistakes will be a thing of the past. You won’t even have to do any learning.

Achieving The Dream

Getting this sort of relief in your life is just a matter of doing some research. Companies like efpgeelong.com.au can handle almost every aspect of your money, from your very first home to the pension you survive on when you’re older. Along with this, support from your bank can be very helpful, as it will usually be free. Of course, though, you’ll need to do plenty of research before you can choose the option you go for, using blogs and forums to give you a hand.

Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start taking more of your financial work out of your hands. A lot of people ignore this sort of support, choosing to handle everything on their own. Of course, though, it doesn’t have to be this way. Instead, you just need to find the right tools to help you out, along with putting your trust in someone else.