Things to Know About Mobile ATM

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ATM

Short for Asynchronous Transfer Mode, a network technology based on transferring data in cells or packets of a fixed size. The cell used with ATM is relatively small compared to units used with older technologies. The small, constant cell size allows ATM equipment to transmit video, audio, and computer data over the same network, and assure that no single type of data hogs the line.
Some people think that ATM holds the answer to the Internet bandwidth problem, but others are skeptical. ATM creates a fixed channel, or route, between two points whenever data transfer begins. This differs from TCP/IP, in which messages are divided into packets and each packet can take a different route from source to destination. This difference makes it easier to track and bill data usage across an ATM network, but it makes it less adaptable to sudden surges in network traffic.
When purchasing ATM service, you generally have a choice of four different types of service:
Many of the shops, malls, gas stations, airports have ATMs which are fixed at a place. There are people who have used mobile ATMs too but not as frequently as the regular ones. Here, we will discuss few things about the mobile ATMs which may change your perspective and idea about it.
People who already own ATMs want to upgrade to mobile ATMs but never would have given a serious thought that may change their mind after they finish reading this. Here are few important things to consider regarding mobile ATM's.
1) Future:
Apart from cities in US, there are remote places where wired connections are not available. At these places wireless is the only option and works very efficiently.To reach to this untapped potential market it is very crucial for the banking sector to survive and grow into the tough competition.
2) Cost:
Before the wireless ATMs came the older one were connected by the landline and the rent had to be paid to the carrier. As there were advancements and now ATMs are operated with the modems which can be carried with them. If we compare the cost of the wired and the wireless. The wireless costs you almost half of the amount, this is for just one machine. If you are having plenty of them calculate the amount that you can save. No installation costs and no extra cost even if you move the machine. You have pay monthly just like your cellphone bill.
3) Installation:
The installation of the machine is too quick compared to the other one. If a bank decides suddenly to come up with a new branch and they want to attract the people they can use this option. For the older one you may have to request for the installation then they will give an appointment, etc. No need for all this. Ideally wireless modem needs 10-15 minutes for the installation as they are already programmed.
4) Flexibility:
Due to the progress in the wireless technology the data transfer has become faster than never before (4G). The towers that have come up for the communication in the cellular sector has been of a great importance. Earlier these mobile ATMs got a interference due cellphones at crowded places like events, exhibitions, etc. But now they can as fast as possible with no faults even at crowded places. You can move it anywhere at anytime.
5) Security Concern:
The connection is secured very well with the SSL(Secured Sockets Layer) which uses the encryptions (protocol) while transferring data from modem to the server. The chance of hacking and breach od security is very less. All modems come with the SSL programming by default.
6) Service:
There are service providers who give 24*7 service (overnight) with almost no failure of the service which we usually know as the uptime, higher the uptime best is the service.
In London 2-3 years back all wired connections were down so people were not not able to use credit card, debit card and not even able to withdraw the money. All this hell broke on Saturday. The mobile ATM solutions you can rely fully with less as much as 0.01% of chance of error.
7) Insurance:
When you hire a mobile ATM machines you don't have to be worried as the machine comes with a full insurance cover by the ATM services provider, you will always be safe.
8) No Hiring Fee:
If you are planning to hire ATM machines for an event you don't have to pay the money as the service provider will make the money as he / she will be charging the people for using the facility. You are playing the role of an organizer to make sure everything goes well at the event. But you have make sure that there will be huge number of people who will use it (minimum number of people say 5000).

NATIONAL CASH SYSTEMS is a leading reputtable company specializing in turn-key ATM solutions. At NATIONAL CASH®, our main focus is on delivering reliable ATM solutions and secure turn-key ATM machines to help businesses succeed in an increasingly complex global marketplace. By serving as a single source for customer payment processing and streamlining these various products and services, NATIONAL CASH® sets new standards in convenience and reliability.

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Rice is a major staple food in Nigeria and in many parts of the world.
Most foreign rice come to Nigeria from india,thailand and brazil and the grains comes in different variation.

Now how do you key into the business?stalliongroup,milia,habiba and mama Gold are some of the rice companies operating in Nigeria,you can visit either of these companies office and make inquiring.

Revealed: Money Making Rituals And Superstition In Nigeria

Early this month, the police in Kogi State arrested a 46 year old man who murdered his 4-month old son for ritual purposes.
According to the report, the man on the fateful day quietly moved the baby around midnight from the mother’s bedside while she was deeply asleep. He killed the child and hurriedly buried him. The ritualist is right now in police custody while investigation continues. On several occasions in the past, the police have often arrested and prosecuted people for ritual killing and related crimes. But this criminal practice continues. Is prosecution really the answer- the only answer-to this savage crime? I do not think so.
In Nigeria, the belief in ritual money is very strong and widespread. The belief is entertained both by the educated and the non educated, by people of all faiths, and by those who indulge in ritual killing and sacrifice of human beings and those who do not. Modern education in science and logic has not succeeded in eradicating the belief. The existence of relevant laws have not stopped people from carrying out money-making rituals. The belief in ritual money, often seen as self evident has driven people across the country to kidnap, murder and mutilate other human beings including their family members. Children have targeted and murdered their parents and grandparents for rituals. Parents, as in this case, have used their children or housemaids for ritual purposes.
What happens is that people who desperately want to get rich consult a local medicine man or witchdoctor. The charlatan then directs the client to procure, among other things, some human body parts; sometimes the head, private organs, the liver or breast, for a ritual sacrifice. Sometimes witchdoctors ask for the human embryo or the body part of a particular family member-one’s father, mother, sister or child- for sacrifice.
When ritualists cannot kill by themselves they commission others to do so on their behalf.
In some situations where those commissioned cannot kill, they go to cemeteries and dig up bodies and use their body parts. In November, more than 100 bodies were desecrated in a cemetery in Porto Novo in the republic of Benin. According to the report, “The grave robbers cut the heads off the bodies and also stole some internal organs”.
The witchdoctors use the body parts to perform some sacrifice or to prepare charms, concoctions or magical substance that will purported make the client rich or make him experience a financial breakthrough. The time has come for Nigerians to take a critical look at money-making rituals and the belief in ritual wealth. The practice of ritual killing and the money-making rituals are based on deep-seated superstitions which the structures and institutions in our society have refused to challenge and debunk. Until these irrational beliefs are dispelled, the savage act of ritual murder will not stop. The prosecution of ritualists will only drive the practice underground as is often the case. Prosecution should go with education and public enlightenment.
There is no evidence that the sacrifice of a human being or the use of charms prepared with human body parts could make anybody rich. I challenge anybody who thinks otherwise to come forward with proof or evidence. I challenge any witch doctor anywhere who thinks he can carry out an effective money-making ritual to come forward. For a long time people have been decieved, misinformed, misled and exploited by these occult doctors. People have been brainwashed with baseless beliefs that lead them to commit atrocities.
How long are we going to keep entertaining the belief in ritual money based on hearsay. Nigerians need to be supplied with proof and hard evidence for ritual wealth. This is because the belief is sending many people to their graves and others to jail. The belief is turning children against their parents and parents against their children. There is an urgent need for proactive measures to combat this cultural scourge. Sadly the bloody act of ritual murder continues. The irrational belief persists. And the bogus claims by witch doctors, most of whom are desperately poor and miserable, that they have the power to make people rich through magic and ritual sacrifice continue to motivate people to commit criminal and atrocious acts. No doubt those who murder, conspire to murder or kidnapp for money rituals or for any prupose at all should be arrested and prosecuted. But more importantly, there is a need to put in place a public education and enlightenment campaign to reorientates the mentality of the people. Ritual murder starts in the mind and any initiative to stop it must involve programs to change the mindset. The belief in ritual money is a deep seated cultural belief and traditional belief particularly when they are rooted in the supernatural die hard. But they die anyway. In this case, there is need to take measures to ensure that the belief in ritual money dies and that the practice of money-making rituals stops.
Nigerians need to be educated to know that ritual money is a hoax. That money-making ritual is a sham. That witch doctors who claim to have powers to perform money- making rituals are charlatans. Nigerians need to understand that no ritual sacrifice of anything or anybody; a human being, an animal or insect; can make anybody rich. No charm prepared with any human or animal body part can give one a financial breakthrough. In fact Nigerians need to be told that charms are practically useless and lack the potency of protecting people or enhancing their fortune as widely believed.
Before any Nigerian contemplates going to a witchdoctor for money rituals, he or she should first ask, why is the witch doctor not rich himself? If he can make me rich why can’t he make himself or his friend or family member rich? If the ritual money is good for me why is it not good for him, for his friends and family members? At home, in market places, in schools, colleges and universities, people need to be told that getting rich or becoming wealthy has nothing to do with ritual sacrifice or the use of charms. That the money ritual narrative of a human head vomiting volumes of cash in the bedrooms of rich people is a myth and has no basis in common sense or in reality. That getting rich is a factor of education, hard work, acquiring skills, discovering and developing one’s talent, excelling in one’s profession and other common sensical and confirmable means of generating income.

10 Things Your Boss Never Wants to Hear

By Brooke Howell, Monster Contributing Writer

One of the best ways to ensure your day-to-day work life is pleasant and your career remains on an upward trajectory is to get -- and stay -- on your boss' good side. It sounds like a simple thing to do, but you'd be surprised at the number of employees who can't seem to get it right.

The problem often is that they're unwittingly saying and doing things that communicate to the boss that they're incompetent, uncooperative or immature -- qualities no boss likes in an employee.

Don't want to be that employee? Then steer clear of saying these things that are sure to put any boss in a bad mood.

1. "It's not my fault." Even if it's not, saying so just makes you sound like a 6 year old. Adults take responsibility, and then take action to make things right. Bosses want employees that are always part of the solution -- especially after they've been part of the problem.
    
2. "It's not my job." Your responsibilities aren't limited to those specifically stated in your job description. If the boss is asking you about something that needs to be done then it's your job. When you say otherwise to his face you sound childish, disrespectful and uncooperative.
    
3. "There must have been some miscommunication." "Because all businesses are so competitive these days, bosses cannot afford to have employees costing the company a big client or critical contract because of their poor communications," says Anita Bruzzese author of "45 Things You Do That Drive Your Boss Crazy -- And How to Avoid Them." Different bosses have different informational needs, so find out what your bosses are and then be sure to meet them. "Being a good communicator is critical for the success of a company, a boss -- and an employee's career."
    
4. "I'm so hung-over." This isn't something to brag about and admitting to heavy drinking on a work night shows the boss you aren't taking your job as seriously as you could. It also makes her wonder if you're prone to making bad decisions in other aspects of your life and work.
    
5. "I can't stand Steve." This doesn't just apply to Steve, but to all of your coworkers. "Bosses get really annoyed when they have to take time from important tasks to break up spats between co-workers and they don't want to get human resources involved when two workers can't solve their differences in a professional way," says Bruzzese. "They want workers to be respectful of one another and act like adults, period."
    
6. "I'm too sick to work." This is fine if it's true, especially if you can't do your job from home and are contagious, but if it's a lie and your boss finds out you could be in big trouble. The chances of getting caught have increased greatly with the proliferation of social media. It only takes one stray Facebook update, Foursquare check-in or Twitter tweet to show the boss -- or a big-mouthed co-worker -- what you're really up to.
    
7. Too much or too little. "Employees may have never bothered to ask how or when the boss wants to be communicated with, so they may sit on critical information the boss needs or bug him or her endlessly with trivial stuff," says Bruzzese.
    
8. Whines and gripes. "Since the Great Recession, employees have been asked to do more with less and many have fallen into the habit of chronic whining about their situation," says Bruzzese. With everyone in the same boat and companies still at risk, that complaining really stands out to bosses who are also plenty tired themselves. You want to spend your time coming up with solutions to problems, she says. "Remember, there are still about three people for every job opening -- the boss may not have any trouble filling your shoes."
    
9. "I need a raise."  It's not your boss' responsibility to fulfil your need to pay your credit card bills, go on vacation or eat out more. She should pay you fairly for the work you're doing, though. If you think you deserve a raise, approach her with concrete evidence that you've earned a salary increase and make it a two-way conversation -- not a confrontational demand.
    
10. "I'll quit if ..." Never threaten to quit unless you're prepared to follow through if the boss calls your bluff. If he does and you don't, you'll definitely lose his respect -- and possibly your job

 

5 Ways Money Makes You Happy

Your paycheck has more power than meets the eye. While it can help us to afford life’s necessities, it’s also a key source of happiness. In fact, studies show that how much you earn, how you earn it and how you spend your hard-earned dollars can make you happy.

Earn “Enough”

Let’s start with the size of your paycheck. Think if you made more money you’d be happier? Researchers at Princeton University say the magic number is actually $75,000 a year. The study concluded that people at that income level make enough for life’s necessities with a little extra left over. This results in high levels of emotional well-being. But making more than $75k doesn’t necessarily mean more happiness. They found this holds true even in expensive cities like New York or London.

Hit the Gym

Does your paycheck fall short? You can always ask for a raise. As one study proves, a way to get closer to a promotion is by staying fit. Therefore, investing in either a gym membership, home exercise gear or a fitness app may pay off.

A recent study from Cleveland State University reports exercising three times a week can lead to 6% higher pay for men and 10% higher pay for women, on average. It turns out improved physical health improves mental health, along with increased energy and lower stress levels — all leading to more productivity and, ultimately, more money.
Save money along the way by working out with a friend. Many personal trainers offer special group rates of up to 40% off when you bring along a buddy.

Invest in a Passion

Another way to hit that $75,000 marker could be by becoming your own boss. A recent Gallup poll found even stressed-out entrepreneurs are happier than 9-to-5 corporate employees. Seventy-one percent of entrepreneurs say they learn or do something interesting at work, compared to 66% of traditional workers. But you don’t have to quit your job in order to become an entrepreneur. Many workers have managed to make more money by simply pursuing a passion on the side from the comfort of their homes.
Invest in Leisure

Next, get more satisfaction out of your spending by investing in leisure activities, such as a trip to Italy, concert tickets or a massage.

In a 2011 paper published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology, 57% reported the greatest happiness from spending money on experiences, compared with just 34% who derived happiness from buying material things. Why? We create lasting memories with friends and family when we invest in activities, but our excitement over a new car or that designer dress wears off quickly. Bottom line: A cruise may do more to make you happy than a flat screen.

Offer Assistance

Finally, the easiest way money can make you happy is to be generous. Researchers from Harvard Business School and the University of British Columbia surveyed more than 600 volunteers and found that spending as little as $5 a day on someone else makes people happier than spending that money on themselves. Whether it’s making a small donation to a charity online, or buying a latte for a friend, the emotional boost will feel priceless.

How to Maximise and Retain Rental Income On Residential Properties By Terry Lucking

Investment landlords have a very simple requirement, they want tenants to pay the rent and look after their property. However many things can affect this simple requirement which can result in less of the rent getting to or remaining in the landlord's bank account.
Maximising rental return is not about increasing the rent every year. Sometimes it is prudent to leave the rent unchanged even if the local market has increased.
For example, if you have tenants with no pets; tenants that don't smoke in the property; tenants with no children and tenants that are clearly looking after the property then there is a value to keeping them as tenants for as long as possible.
Increasing the rent may result in notice to quit from the tenants. Replacing them with tenants with children and pets will mean more wear and tear to the property. In this I don't mean damage just routine wear and tear and the cost to a landlord can be a lot higher than the total value of the rent increase. Landlords need to understand the value of a good tenant. Over the years I have seen landlords hold rent for years and occasionally some to reduce rents to retain good tenants.
How often can I increase the rent?
You can increase the rent at the end of the initial term (often 6 months - sometimes longer) and then not more than once every 12 months unless previously agreed in writing with the tenants. A tenant has a right to challenge an increase you are applying for. You should use a Section 13 (2) prescribed notice to apply for an increased rent (if you search for this online you will find this document).
How much should I increase the rent to?
When considering rent increases I always keep the new proposed rent lower than I would confidently be able to achieve on the open market if I had to re-let. If your tenant carries out some research they will see you are being fair and hopefully support your request. I suggest phoning or visiting your tenants to talk about the changes in the local market and discussing your thoughts about a new higher rent. Remember if they decide to move on rather than pay the rent you may experience a void between tenancies which would most likely eat away at any benefit you've gained.
Letting quickly and minimising voids
Another critical point that many landlords over look is to get the property let quickly. Things that can put off viewers include such points as: poor broadband connection; high energy costs; external presentation; ease of garden management; condition of the gutters soffits and fascias; condition of the window frames and the internal decorative condition. In my experience even a property with an old kitchen and bathroom can look attractive if clean, well decorated and cared for.
Treat your tenant like a customer and deal with maintenance issues promptly. If you live locally visit the tenant by arrangement and prove to them you are interested in them and your property.
Tenants change of circumstances
Do you have rent default protection should the tenant's circumstances change?
Buildings insurance doesn't cover for this. Some policies cover for lost rent if the property becomes inhabitable for a time during works but not a change to the tenants circumstances causing them to go into rent arrears.
Good local lettings agent will be able to provide appropriate insurance cover.
Free Advice
A great source of free, specialist, local advice is a qualified lettings agent. They will know the rental values of a property in their areas and how fast a particular property might let and what could be done to increase rental value and the speed of letting. Check that you chose a qualified agent who typically will be a member of ARLA, Safe agent, NALS and the Property Ombudsman schemes. These independent bodies ensure the lettings agent operates their business professionally and ethically.

Terry Lucking is Managing Director of Belvoir Property Lettings the leading property lettings agents in Cambridge offering a range of houses to let in Cambridge. In addition to lettings he offers comprehensive

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Real Estate Investing - Strategies to Become a Successful Investor and Create Wealth By Ajibola Osho

Real estate investing is one the pillars of wealth creation in the world today. The last time I looked at the Forbes list of 400 richest Americans, I could still count over 31 tycoons listed as billionaires.
In the same vein, you have individuals in your city and state who have made their fortune and hold their wealth in property investments.
Why you need to invest
In his essay "Theory of Human Motivation" first published in 1943, Abraham Maslow, father of behavioural psychology observed, that people are motivated to fulfill three basic needs. The three basic human needs are food, shelter and clothing. And many people will try to fulfill these three needs, before any other need.
When you invest in real estate, you add value to your customers in one of the important area of human needs-shelter. You are investing in an evergreen industry.This is why, I believe you should include property investing as part of your wealth-building portfolio.
However before you go out and buy your first property you need to have the right plan of action to succeed. The first thing you have to be aware of is that...
Goals are important.
Your need to know, what you want to accomplish:

• Are you looking at wealth accumulation within a short time frame (3-7 years)?
• Are you investing for the Long term (retirement)?
• Do you want be a Full time investor and derive all your income from your real estate investment?

When you ask yourself these critical questions, you are able to focus and achieve your dreams.
You need to develop critical success traits.
It is important you develop or become aware of the traits, you need to win as a real estate investor. Five main traits are important for success:

• Competency in your niche, this means you know about the basics, at the minimum and then become excellent in the niche you decide to invest.
• Control over your emotions. This is important if you are going to stay in the investing arena for the long haul because there will always be difficulties in the real estate market. The difference between a novice and a professional is the ability to ride the eye of the tiger without getting into the belly of the tiger. Being a real estate investor takes guts and you need to have them if you want to become wealthy
• Comprehension. This means know your market cold. You understand who your customers are, what they are looking for, why they want to deal with you. If you lack these key trait-insight into your market-you are doomed to fail.
• Consistency. This means you have focus and discipline to, take action daily, weekly until you accomplish your goals.
• Integrity. You stay true to your principles, because integrity is important in real estate. This means you are trustworthy, to your bankers, investors and tenants.

Strategy vs. tactics
The strategy (what to do) is more important than the tactics (how to do) of real estate investing. Let me explain.
If for instance, you wanted to gain wealth in a very short term then to buy and hold real estate, which is a long-term strategy-will not be the right strategy to achieve your goals. Flipping and wholesaling properties- buying undervalued properties and selling at a higher price to gain profit-may be the best strategy.
Knowing enough vs. Knowing it all
I think it's important to have an understanding of real estate investing, however you don't need to know all about real estate investing to start.
You need to one thing that I think is important for an investor... You need know enough about the basics-how to analyse properties, how to get financing, and how to assemble you real estate team together. That is it.
If you wanted to make a full time career as a real estate investor, then you would have to know more. You would have to specialize in a niche.
I am not going to spend many hours learning about short sales, wholesaling and foreclosing investing especially if I am not going be a full time investor. It would be counterproductive for me, when I should spend my time doing what I am best at doing.
Let's recap, to succeed investing in real estate...

• You need to understand why you are investing in real estate.
• You need to develop critical traits for success as a real estate investor.
• You need to choose the right tactics to match your investing objectives.
• You need to know enough about what you want achieve

This is how I have applied myself to real estate investing. Moreover, it has helped me transform my losses to wins and I enjoy the cash flow from my properties,with the knowing I will become financially free.

Ajibola Osho, has a passion for helping investors achieve their wealth building goals so they can live a wealthier, happier lives, they always dreamed of. Do you want to be financially free and start living the life you always wanted? Sign up now to my free newsletter.Plus receive a copy of my special report of investing mindset guide

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How Do You Regain Control Over Your Investments When Everything Seems to Be Working Against You? By Adri Mitra

How do you regain control over your investments when everything seems to be working against you?
At very first, do consider managing your cash resources with the greater flexibility and superior control offered by separately managed accounts? With separately managed accounts, you control your investment exposures to ensure that they remain suitable for your objectives, which is vital in uncertain market conditions. Structured specifically to fit your liquidity needs, investment guidelines and risk appetite, separately managed accounts can help you to:
(i) Preserve capital (An investment strategy where the primary goal is to preserve capital and prevent loss in a portfolio. Preservation of capital is a priority for retirees and those approaching retirement, since they may be relying on their investments to generate income to cover their living expenses, and have limited time to recoup losses if markets experience a downdraft. This strategy would necessitate investment in the safest short-term instruments, such as Treasury bills and certificates of deposit).
(ii) Optimize liquidity management (It means 'The amount of cash a company or individual has on hand or can generate quickly reveals how healthy the company or individual is financially. High levels of available cash indicate that the business or individual can pay off debt easily when due dates occur. The types of assets a company or individual has and the marketability of those assets are where a discussion of financial liquidity begins').
(iii) Gain daily portfolio transparency (Portfolio Transparency means 'The increasing complexity of property portfolios with a mix of direct and indirect investments or with a range of investment goals and organized in a variety of legal entities makes having an overview of the whole portfolio a key to success'.
When dealing with large amounts of data, even minimal errors made in processing or transmitting information can have considerable effects on the way in which the value, financial health, and profitability of a portfolio are displayed due to the high number of transactions involved. As well as decreasing the risk of error, data warehousing uses data analysis to offer potential for lasting optimizations of processes and results.
This transparency allows us to make long-term improvements to communication and cooperation, leading to increases in liquidity).
There are a lots of financial consultants or professional financial agency are there to offers cash management solutions customized for your needs, supported by ongoing research and analysis and timely, in-depth reporting that can provide vital support to your treasury operations. Support includes or solution provides are:
(i)Strategic Liquidity Modeling. To assure an absolute focus on changing liquidity needs to clients' or yours portfolios are modeled and then continually reviewed to ensure that liquidity needs are up-to-date, allowing the portfolio structure to be current while minimizing cash drag.
(ii)Trading Compliance. Multitude trade compliance process helps ensure compliance with investment guidelines. The credit research team updates and adds to proprietary buy list and continually monitors credits held in client portfolios. Annual audit evaluates trade compliance with clients' or yours investment guidelines, best execution, as well as credit approval and monitoring process are very fruitful.
(iii)Proprietary Research and Reporting. Professional service providers or concerned online portal provides immediate access to your holdings with breakdowns by asset class, issuer and ratings. You may get following services also:
- Proprietary research on each security in your portfolio.
- Access to monthly and quarterly accounting reports, such as cash reconciliation reports, month-end statements, Notes to Financial and general ledger reports with customized charts of accounts, as well tailor-made pricing support and custom accounting reports to meet your specific needs along-with audit support (if needed).
- Exclusive access from library of research focused entirely on short-term cash management topics.
While the world's financial markets continue to churn, Separate Account Management may offer you increased control and peace of mind in knowing that your portfolio was built to suit your risk tolerance, return expectations and specific operating liquidity needs.

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Spending, Saving and Investing: Staying Focused in the New Year By Jeff Stoffer

We've managed to avoid the latest scary financial threat - the fiscal cliff. Largely out of our control, the outcome could have pushed the economy back into recession. Uncertainty over such events can keep us from making important decisions about our own long-term financial goals, such as preparing for retirement.
Planning for our future can seem abstract at best. Yet at some point, we will all stop working. We need to set aside the distractions and rely instead upon some solid ideas to keep us pointed in a positive direction. Three key areas to focus on are how we spend, save and invest.
Since this is a new year, we all get to start fresh. I will review each of these factors and encourage you to choose something you would like to work on in the year ahead. Taking small steps today will make a big difference in our future financial wellbeing.
Spending
This is a complicated subject worthy of an entire article. Much of our spending seems to happen automatically. The task here is to keep track of our spending while taking a close look at our priorities and values. Are we spending on what we think matters most? The only way to know is to track our spending. I might say that I value saving for retirement but when I look at my actual spending, I see that I spend far more on my car, my wardrobe or dining out than I put towards retirement each month. By tracking spending we can make better decisions because we've identified what really matters.
Saving
It remains an absolute truth in the world of personal finance that we should save. No, rather we must save if we hope not to rely solely on Social Security as our 'retirement plan.' Performing the first step, tracking spending, and then spending in line with our priorities, enables us to find ways to save. Identifying what matters makes it easier for us to find trade-offs. If you could save $50 for retirement by dining out one less time each month, you might make that choice.
Investing
Investing makes me think back to my first savings account at a bank. I was about seven or eight years old and was earning 7% on my money. I remember thinking for every $100 I saved I could get $7... without working for it (mowing lawns and pulling weeds were my primary sources of income.) Then the next year I'd earn interest on $107. As a youngster, I intuitively understood the power of compound interest.
Today savers would kill for a safe 7% return. Investing demands extra effort. Nowadays we are forced to assume much greater risk to achieve modest returns. We must carefully consider diversification, while taking only the risks we need and can afford to take.
Taking small steps in the three key areas of financial planning - spending, saving and investing - can make a difference in your future. Some of you might still be working on the first two. We don't have to let headlines and other fears and uncertainties keep us from our tasks. Working on those things we can control will keep us focused on our goals: conscious spending in line with our values, making savings a priority, then investing, educating ourselves on wise options to earn returns on our precious savings. Let these be the beacons that guide you. When it gets too complicated, seek the help of a professional.

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The Chessboard and the Rules That May Not Be Broken

Alas, our own model is somewhat different to Huxley's, even though he was writing over a hundred years ago, and we are here and now, with our 'knowledge' of how the world is - we think!
We have scientific researchers to do our exploring for us, scientific evidence to inform and advise us and yet we still insist on a model or metaphor, that ignores what we have found and what we know about the world and everything in it, including ourselves.
What we seem clearly not to have, is the ability to control ourselves, the ability to curtail our activities so that the world that supports us, continues healthily to do so.
Why do we lack this ability? If we have the knowledge that what we are doing is harming our world, biting the hand that feeds us, if you like, why are we continuing down the road that is so clearly marked TO RUIN?
Many of us citizens are already doing 'our bit' for the planet; we are trying to recycle wherever we can; trying to cut our carbon footprint; trying to be more aware of the effects of consuming more and more, and yet the Earth is in dire peril from us and what we are doing.
Is it simply that it is too late for anything to really be done? Or is it that although we think we are acting, we are, in fact, only scratching at the surface of what needs to be done.
Just as one man working for himself can make little impact on the financial world, as opposed to one man with an army of workers toiling for him, who is able to amass a vast fortune very quickly, so it is with our efforts to help our planet.
Acting as individuals, we do have an impact, but it is in acting together that our impact would make a significant difference. Our world is being mined for its mineral wealth, not by one man working with pick and shovel, but with the vast machinery corporate wealth brings to any task it undertakes.
Our world is not being mined by men as men, but by men as armies of men, using vast arrays of machinery, the quicker and more completely to empty the world of its wealth - or if not to exactly empty it, then to redistribute it into the hands of the corporations that are doing the damage. Let us be clear though, these corporate giants are doing it in our name - in the names of shareholders - people like us - not us - not us in number, you notice, but far fewer - taking much, much more than one of them can need or handle in any meaningful way.
If we landed from another planet and had to comment upon what we saw on this planet, if we had to give the purpose of these corporate giants mining the Earth for what is down there, and then changing it into a currency only they could use, we would have to say that the real function of such a corporation is to take what it can from this planet before it folds in upon itself and implodes and disappears from the universe.
Perhaps it is time to rethink our metaphor, our model, of our struggle for existence on this Earth, moving from one in which we imagine we are in complete control of the chessboard of Huxley's comprehension, to one in which we are, as he says, merely a sort of blind player, totally at the mercy of a fair and just Nature that will make no allowances for our ignorance.

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More Strategies For Household Savings

We're all in the same boat nowadays. An ever worsening national economy has seen prices for most everything rise seemingly by the day. It's not just gas - though the global oil shortage has much to do with associated cost hikes. Even food manufacturers and distributors are suffering through tough times and must raise prices. Fact is, we are experiencing an inflationary period similar to the Carter years, and most American heads of household (weaned through the unprecedented expansions of the 80s and 90s) don't know how to handle the current financial paradigm. We've become so accustomed to consumer debt and carefree purchases that we no longer even understand the notion of spending discipline.
Nevertheless, as unemployment continues to rise and property values continue to fall, most families now recognize that something has to be done to halt the endless reliance upon credit cards. The quickly growing mountain of personal debt amongst our citizenry, after all, has much to do with the problems facing our national economy, and most economists agree that things shall not get better any time soon. It's time to tighten our belts and face the music.
There's a number of obvious solutions to household budgeting that shouldn't need to be explained. Take account of family spending habits and cut back where needed. Clip coupons and shop, whenever possible, at bulk markets that offer bargain pricing - though not before making sure you aren't buying more than your family can use. Trade down your vehicle for something with better gas mileage. Avoid expensive vacations. Do not presume things will improve.
For this article, we asked a variety of different consumers across the nation for their own saving strategies midst these trying times. Most, once again, were rather obvious (the Sports Utility Vehicle would be a poor idea; purchasing necessary household goods at a fraction of cost from estate sales would be an excellent one) or too personal to the specific consumer (a wood stove for those three weeks of relative frost may make sense for Sacramento but would not well serve our readers up north), but a number of their suggestions were actually quite helpful. In the following piece, we have compiled the most helpful tips so that all may benefit from practical solutions to our spiraling economic crunch.
Insure Savings!
To be sure, especially with so many Americans foregoing necessary check-ups and doctor visits because their employment (and government) do not sponsor preventative treatments, we don't suggest that anyone avoid paying for health insurance. For many American families, that should - reasonably! - be one of their largest monthly expenses. At the same point, the costs of many other insurance plans may be overly protective or, in many cases, not needed at all. Life insurance for bachelors might have made sense your grandfather's era, when one needed something to borrow against later in life, but, this age of instant credit availability, there are better investments. Similarly, too many vehicle or home owners are tricked into absurd premiums to off-set negligible deductibles. Think of it this way - how often do you crash your car? Wouldn't saving a hundred dollars a month within a creditable program clearly make more sense than paying an extra hundred dollars a month just to avoid another thousand dollars should the worst happen?
Phoenix, Arizona's Mr. Jean Papillcoch told us: "An old buddy sold me on this car insurance package. Seemed great at the time - collision, theft, even took care of me personally if I was in an accident. And, you know, you get used to just paying the bills, but I haven't driven that car in over a year. Just money down the drain. The wife finally saw the paperwork, showed me what I was actually paying for, and ... I don't even have a boat."
Drink Responsibly!
The problem with many household budgets is that they do not take into full account what family members actually spend their money on. That daily can of Diet Coke after the gym (more about that later) and morning cup of Machiatto would actually be greater than most families' electric bills once added up. Alcohol, as well, has it's own diminishing effects upon personal economy, but most oenophiles insist the distinction between a well researched four dollar bottle of wine and the average supermarket find for twenty dollars would barely be noticed. Simply by carrying thermoses or using the office blend, buying generic sodas from bulk discount stores, and choosing taste over label provenance, consumers can easily save thousands of dollars each year!
Mrs. Lisa Munnepenne of Fairbanks, Alaska reports: "It felt weird, the first time, just walking by the Starbucks on the way to work. I mean, I could feel the people behind the counter staring at me. It wasn't like they waved or anything, but I did feel like I was snubbing them or something. And, Monday morning, the coffee at work tasted just exactly as bad as I thought it would. But, you know what, by Friday, I couldn't even tell the difference! I didn't notice at all. Actually ... actually, it was exactly like my first week at work."
Eat In!
There's so many excuses. The kids want pizza. We have so few hours alone. I'll make lunch tomorrow. Much the same as with beverage choices, convenience and brand labels control consumer shopping patterns to a ridiculous and inevitably debt aggravating degree. Office workers and young professionals spend too much of their income upon dining out. They might blame a lack of time or wherewithal, but all it takes is a change of habit. Most people actually find that they enjoy their time in the kitchen, and the eventual meals prepared are not only more healthy but, since they're precisely to the tastes of the chef, genuinely more rewarding. And, regardless of the protestations of fast foodies, home cooked meals are always more affordable.
Mr. Raj Meekaaf; Kalamazoo, Michigan: "There was this café right next to our building, had the best breakfasts, and, even when times got tight, I wouldn't give it up. Some mornings, that was the only reason I got out of bed. That's what I thought, seriously. After the firm went under, I had to start cooking for myself. Turns out - food isn't nearly as important as you might think."
Invest In Savi
This is a tricky aspect to treat in limited space. We, obviously, would not advise against well thought out investment strategies - though most employees of larger firms should take advantage of 401k plans should their company promise to match funds. At the same point, too many consumers gamble their money away with representatives of internet speculators that, in all likelihood, have neither the training nor experience to accurately vouchsafe their client's funds. Even for those web sites that do maintain an attractive rate of return, most of them simply refer business to one of the larger mutual funds accounts - while collecting an extraordinary percentage for transactions that can literally be done by anyone within twenty seconds. Over the course of a lifetime's investment, these transaction costs can climb to tens of thousands!
Ms. Jessie Williams; Lake Osakus, Minnesota: "I run a home business, and the business has done pretty well in the last few years. Seemed time that I should start thinking about investments, and - I don't know anything about that. And, also, I live in a rural area, there was nobody in my town that I could talk with, so I started up with one of the on-line firms you see on the TV commercials. After a few months, I started to get the hang of it, and I thought to myself - 'why am I paying three percent of every trade just so these jokers can push a few buttons?' No complaints with the service, they treat you like a princess, but is that me?"
Drugs Are Drugs!
Generic brands have always been a source of comedy - well, for as long as there has been advertising; wasn't that long ago that every commodity would've been considered generic. Still, for folks that watch the commercials, bargain priced staples or supplements of even necessary medications are something for the poor folks. Understandable that a century of advertisement has prized brand loyalty for consumers, but, once something - especially medication - has been approved for sale by the Federal Drug Administration, there is no reason Americans should doubt quality. Many pharmacies and hospitals benefit from the largesse of medical sales reps and have good reason to promote one brand above another despite demonstrably equivalent results and a sharp reduction of price.
Mr. Bryan Shadd; Fargo, North Dakota: "My doctor had recommended this pharmacist. You have to follow your doctor, am I right? Took me two years to finally wise up and listen to my friend about his friend and this cheaper way of going about things. Same drugs. Absolutely the same. Maybe they come from Canada or wherever. Should I care where they come from? Should I care who's selling? They're half the price, that's what matters."
Give It A Day!
Habitual spendthrifts should not carry around credit cards. Before deciding anything of permanence (romantic issues, perhaps, aside), consumers should always take advantage of the "rain check" option offered by most stores or realtors or dealerships. A waiting period is simply necessary for a concerted effort toward efficient and reasonable household finances. If, after two days, you still want to make the purchase, the truck or television or suit will almost always still be available. Honestly, for families concerned about maintaining a budget, anything over seventy five dollars should enforce a twenty hour minimum for studied consultation. You'll find that, often as not, the product in question does not really seem that important after all.
Ms. Sally Falk; Chicago, Illinois: "I used to be an impulse shopper. I mean, IM-PULSE! Whatever I saw, I just had to have. Right! Then! And, just waiting out two days, like they said, I found ... ehh. I mean, it was like I just totally changed minds."
Keep On The Grass!
This will be of less service to our more urban readers, but one of the first suggestions from financial analysts in suburban communities is simply for homeowners to mow their own lawn. On average, property-owners spend over five hundred dollars a year just on lawn maintenance! In the nicer residential communities, even though the homeowners themselves may be crippled by financial burdens, topiary costs can reach five figures. In part, this is meant as an object lesson by debt professionals: you reap what you sow and you should bear the brunt of your vanity.
Mr. Jon Hansom; Corvallis Oregon: "We've a pretty big spread in the back, and, this fellow comes around, has his own mower, I figure, sure, it's worth a few bucks to help a guy out and save the sweat off my back. Then, before you know it, I'm paying him to mend the fence, bury the chickens - we have a few chickens - and his girlfriend's babysitting the kids while we go out to eat. End of the month, turns out we owe them more than we owe the electric company. I'm worried my wife's gonna think I've gone crazy."
Call It Quits!
Do you even know anyone under forty who maintains a traditional telephone service nowadays? With the sudden ubiquity of cellular service and seeming necessity for digital internet, a generation might not even recognize the entire concept. At the same point, the average monthly stipend for cell phone nears eighty dollars a month - or, to put it more plainly, nearly four percent of the average American's gross monthly income. They are, to be sure, helpful conveniences and some people (largely, cell-tower repairmen and that Verizon guy) genuinely require them for their work. For most of us, though, the money could be better spent. If the mobile is honestly integral to your work, then there is no reason to maintain long distance service at home.
Tim MacMurray; London, Ontario: "I just realized after a certain point ... I mean, if I'm already out, why do I need to talk to someone else? It's just dumb jokes or 'hey, call me back'. I can't talk to anybody when I'm at work. Why do I need a cell phone? What's wrong with land line?"
Lights Out!
This, perhaps, is the least needed lesson. Most every commercial these days advertises the need of light bulb efficiency, sweaters in place of sweltering winter heating, any small change needed to forestall global warming. Still, a regrettable number of our countrymen refuse to acknowledge both the coming energy crisis and their own culpability - not to mention their own sweeping debt loads. Just making sure that all unnecessary appliances have been turned off and that (though it may take an uncomfortable hour to warm up afterwards) the heat has been turned down those long weekends out of town would save the average American an estimated three thousand dollars a year. And, y'know, help save the planet for their grandchildren.
Mr. Jack Trevors; New York City, New York: "Took a while to sink in. I'm the kinda guy that used to leave the TV blaring, lights on, whatever, when I left the house. Then, bills start running tight, you start thinking about where the money's going, where your priorities are at, and you end up making a change. That last summer - seemed like we didn't use electricity almost at all."
Friends Don't Let Friends Spend!
One of the more unfortunate consequences of budget maintenance may be (temporarily, we would hope) distancing yourself from acquaintances with either more money or less regard to their emerging debts. Many analysts proficient in personal economics would counsel the newly thrifty to spend their time and money with only those friends engaged in similar cost cutting measures. Seems a bit harsh, we know, but those worthy of lifelong allegiance should understand that you are attempting to plan for a brighter future.
Mrs. Pauline Merriam, Au Claire Wisconsin: "Awful hard time, about two years back, we'd just left California and had to depend on some old friends that were themselves barely scraping by in Chicago. Once we explained that we just didn't have any money ... there were looks, of course ... why, the people we were staying with didn't ask for anything at all whenever the check came around. And we're friends to this day! Just goes to show."
Don't Mail It in!
To be sure, anyone that's worried about even the annual postage costs for their various debts and utility payments likely has greater issues than we could possibly aid through glancing at this article. However, there are other issues at play advising the advantages of electronic payments well beyond the cost of stamps. For one part, individuals can request a small percentage of their checking balances to automatically be moved to their investment accounts every month - thereby tricking capricious spenders towards helpless savings. For another, the definitive separation between business and checking accounts dramatically aids tax accountants when preparing deductions and defending against potential Internal Revenue Service audits.
Beyond which, most every creditor and utility now actively assists electronic transfers and virtually every utility will literally reward consumers for automatic payments (often, banks will as well) set up through their personal or business accounts. They won't be large rewards, five dollars a month at most for the gas bill, but that could equal a free month of gas for consumers willing to spend the extra ten minutes setting up such a plan. Beyond even that, automatic payments stop the risk of late fees from forgotten bills or mistakenly posted items. This day and age, there's really no reason anything besides mash notes and a grandparent's birthday card need be sent by the US Postal Service.
Mr. Marc Duper; Danbury, Connecticut: "Honestly? I have not mailed a check to anyone in over ten years."
Find Your Own Fun!
From premium cable services to movies every Friday, Americans somehow believe they are entitled to historically unprecedented entertainment upon whim. This should not be thought of as a utility. Humans need shelter, food, water, (for some cultures) clothing, and little else to survive. Western civilization has taught the importance of education and hard work for satisfied lives. Avoidance of pressures through the exploits of better looking others rarely enables self growth. Even gym memberships, where personal trainers are highly paid to force their clients toward labor, would seem ridiculous to past generations. Leave the HBO and family fun nights aside. Use the library. Start running in the park. Start managing and settling your debts. It will be a long life, and a better one can start right now.
Larry Brattner; Colorado Springs, Colorado: "There was a period, right after college, where I think I went to the theater every night. Didn't really help anything. Liked some of the movies. Most of them were crap. In no way did it help me save money or pay down any of my debts. Do I miss those days? Not. At. All."

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Ways to Spend Less and Save More By Cheryl Jones

Are you looking to improve your financial future? You can start with cutting expenses. There are ways to spend less of that hard-earned money. It takes some thought and discipline, but it can be done. Think. A low wage part-time job gives you maybe $500 extra a month. What if you could achieve the same result without working an extra job, but just by cutting expenses?
One way to stop spending extra money is by eating out less. You can easily spend $5-$7 a meal, or $1.50 or so on a snack. What if you eat out twice a day? That can easily come to $300 a month. Eating out is a lot more expensive than cooking at home or buying in bulk, and taking a snack with you. Just by cutting out eating out at lunch, and bringing your own, you could easily save $30 or more a week. That small change would result in over $100 a month saved. Start planning how to eat out less and eat more at home.
Making a grocery shopping list is a good way to save money. Instead of wandering aisles and picking up whatever attracts you, follow the list. Plan your meals. This includes leftovers you an take to lunch. Base your list on the meals planned. If you are careful, that one onion you buy can be used in several different dishes. By knowing your recipes and buying according to recipes, you don't need extra ingredients "just in case". Before going shopping, go through the store ads and see what is on sale that you need. Then for even more savings, use coupons. Sometimes these can be printed off the internet. Sometimes stores have services that you can sign up for where they will send coupons to your email box.
You cell phone or home phone is another place you can save money. Over times, plans change; phone companies come out with new plans. It might be time to see if you have the best plan for your form of phone usage. Are there features you don't use? Are you paying for too many minutes? Cell phone representatives often are graded according to their customer service, so they should be happy to go over your plan to make you a satisfied customer and hopefully you will do them the favor of giving them a good review in return.
Your cable bill is another place you can save money. Can you bundle your cable with your phone and save money? Are there features or channels you don't use, need, or could live without, and which by dropping you would save money? The cable company might have some ideas of how you can save money. Talk to them.
Walk or ride a bike when you can. This is particularly possible in smaller towns, where you might not live that far from a small store or business. Why not walk to get that haircut on Saturday instead of driving the car? Another way to save money is to carpool.
Save money on banking fees. Don't spend money paying for ATM transactions. Sure, it is convenient to pull that cash out of the machine, but you are probably paying for the privilege to do it. Only use an ATM where your bank won't charge you, or get cash bank when you buy something at a store to get those few extra bucks in pocket. You should not have to pay fees to get those dollars from your bank account into your wallet.
Do you use prescription medicines? Call around to your local pharmacies and compare the costs of the medications you use. You may be able to save money by switching pharmacies.
As you can see, there are ways to save money each month. If you will make the effort to make these changes, you may find that you have given yourself a raise simply by being more careful about how you spend your money. Take that extra money you save each month. You now have something extra with which to build a financial future.

Cheryl Jones is a purveyor of useful information, products and work-at-home models that work. She has found solutions to problems for which the average person is seeking for answers.

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4 Investing Principles of the Rich

Compound Interest
Although most people understand what compound interest is, they fail to grasp it fully. The rich understand this principle and seek to let it work for them as many times as possible and at higher returns than regular people (i.e. stocks, bonds and savings). To illustrate, if you invested $100 and made a 5% return on it, you would have $105 in one year. In 10 years however, you would have $162.89 and not $150 which would be simple interest ($5 per year). In compounding you earn interest on the interest. So in year 2, you earn 5% on the $105 not the $100. When you increase the investment amount and return, this formula produces astonishing results. This is the main secret of the rich. This and the fact that they invest in things you've never heard of that produce 15-20% returns.
Leverage
Rich people know how to use leverage better than anyone else. They can borrow tons of money at a lower rate than they're making money on it to help them accumulate money faster. The power of leverage is one that is not understood by most people even though we use it commonly. Lots of people use leverage to buy a car or a home when they take out a loan. The difference is that these things are for personal use. The rich use leverage to buy investments that yield high returns or kick back cash flow to them in excess of the loan payment.
Velocity
Velocity of money refers to how fast you turn your money over. For most people this is annually or worse. In our compound interest example above we made 5% or $5 in one year. That may or may not be very fast velocity depending on the comparison. A wealthy person most likely makes 12% on their money several times in one year. This is faster velocity but others still could be faster. Let's say this wealthy person made 12% on his $100 3 times in one year which equals $140.49. That means average Joe has $105 and Rich Guy has $140.49. Not only is the return he made almost 3 times more but he did that 3 times in one year.
Tax Avoidance
The rich know how not to pay taxes better than anyone. They invest in programs that decrease their gross income, hire professionals to make sure they make lots of money in ways that decrease their tax base and do just about anything possible to decrease their overall tax rate. You see, they understand that if you can keep 20-30% more of your money, it makes a huge difference. This is why the antics in Washington make me laugh. You can raise the top tax bracket to 90% but if you still have deductions on certain things, the rich will still only pay 15% of their income in tax like Buffet. Most people are nowhere near as good at avoidance as the rich are.

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Christian Money Matters - Managing and Making Money From Home By Andy Sharp

Managing Money, and Making Money From Home
I am starting a new Sunday School class session this quarter taught by Aaron Cruse and Chris Von Cannon about managing money. Therefore, I am going to writing several articles related to what I learn concerning money matters. These articles will not only be about managing money, but also legitimate ways to make money from home that I have either researched and found to work, or things that I am actively doing to earn money from home, or I have done in the past and had success with.
There are no two ways about it, in today's economy a person, especially a Christian, need to think outside of the box now, in order to make ends meet. I have been in the home-based business arena for over three decades and have no "J.O.B." outside of working for myself. Some of the insights I can share that are not scams, but honest legitimate work-from-home ways to earn extra money. They actually work, and you actually make money.
Providing For One's Family Is Not a Laughing Matter
I have been laughed at many times in my life for some of the things I've done to earn money, but when it comes to providing for my family, I have never really seen it as a laughing matter. Sometimes just an extra little bit of cash per week could represent a tuition bill for your child to have a godly, private education at a good Christian school or academy, while to others it can simply mean eating, and having your utilities not being disconnected.
I'll highlight in different articles in the future, which are real life things that I have either done, or am doing to earn money from home. I enjoy not having a job, and to be honest, I really have a tough time working for others, because of all the "politics" that are involved with corporate America; perhaps I'll go into that a little more in another article. Suffice it to say, I am "mentally unemployable," however.
The Fiscal and Economical Difference Between Making It or Filing Bankruptcy
I understand as a Christian that filing bankruptcy is not the thing to do. This section of this article is not meant to discuss that point. As I have listened to different financial speakers and business leaders speak on the topic of making money, or what happens to married couples when it comes to money, and there's been one thing that has stuck with me for years. In fact you could have pushed me over with a feather when I originally heard it, because it really was a mind-blowing statistic that I had trouble believing. However, I later verified it as fact.
It was several years ago now that I heard this story; in fact, it was the very first year in history that bankruptcies being filed went over one million in the United States. What a shame! When you read a little further you'll understand why that number is such an astonishing shame.
The speaker was telling us (the audience) that it was the first time in our nation's history that bankruptcies were going to be over one million, in one year's time (amazing I thought) but what he said next blew my mind! He said that half of them, which is 500,000... FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND... bankruptcies could have been completely avoided with an additional $250... TWO HUNDRED FIFTY... dollars in monthly income!! That was a shocking revelation that has stuck with me to this day.
Creative Ways To Earn Money, When You Think Outside The Box
I know when people see a section with a title like the one above they start RUNNING the other way. However, I'm not talking about weird or stupid things to earn money. I'm referring to things that are everyday, normal things for a person to do who has a creative imagination and a little gumption.
Here's a perfect example... I was visiting my brother and sister-in-law in Ohio for Christmas in 2012. While we were there we got a beautiful blanket of 3-5 inches of snow. It really was quite a sight to a resident of North Carolina for the last 12 years. Well, it's sorta funny really... one of my nephews is quite entrepreneurial, while the other is not. So the entrepreneurial one said to his mom, "Mom, is it okay if I go and see if I can shovel some driveways, and earn some extra money for myself?" Pleased to see her son being such a go-getter,, she said, "Sure, just bundle up and stay warm." So out he goes, cell phone in pocket, and shovel in tow. The next thing I know, he's thrilled, and can hardly speak into the phone, as he has secured his first snow shoveling job within mere minutes. As the day finished, my nephew had earned $54 in total just having a creative imagination and a go-getter spirit.
Get a "Real Job!"

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Online Mobile Recharge Is Quick and Convenient

Online mobile recharge is one of the services offered by leading banks in India. In recent times, mostly all of us possess a mobile phone. And why not, a powerful device that instantly gets us connected to our loved ones anytime of the day or night, mobile phones let us access dozens of applications via the internet as well as enables them to buzz on the social networking circuit too often.
In contrast, the era of fixed landline phones seems to be ending soon as they have now been replaced with the technology-infused mobile phones that merely have any kind of regulations. Unlike a home phone, you can easily carry your handset anywhere and everywhere you move. Besides, the greatest advantage of all is that you are no longer bound to the regulations of landline phones, unless of course you are yet continuing to take the service from the local service provider.
Evading the concept of paying rentals and bills each month based on the usage in case of home phones, mobile phone connections are available as prepaid and billing or post-paid.
Either way, users only have to pay for the services they have used or subscribed as to. While in the case of prepaid mobile recharge, you need to refill the desired amount, post-paid connection allows you to use the phone as you would like and make payments at a certain date of the month. When it comes to paying a due bill of a mobile phone connection, or the latest trend of mobile recharge or refill, users have great options at their disposal.
As one of the faces of consumerism, most people are diligently making use of the brilliant option available in the form of online mobile recharge wherein the desired amount you would like to refill to your mobile phone is automatically debited from the banking institution you have chosen the facility for. The procedure also follows internet or mobile banking through which the user can use the facility at the comfort of their home or office.
Bringing a sense of ease, online mobile recharge lets the customer enjoy the following advantages:-
Instant Recharge:
Internet mobile recharge enables consumers to refill their mobile phone in no time and as effortlessly. As the facility is offered by select banks, the entire process becomes even simpler and convenient to use. Besides, the online recharge status sent to the customers by their respective banks allows them to view the details through emails or SMS.
Online Recharge, Anywhere and Anytime
As customers are not bound to make use of the service at a certain time of the day, they can easily enjoy the benefits of online mobile recharge regardless of the time or place the customers feel the need of refilling their mobile phones.
Several Options Available
Online mobile phone recharge brings in numerous options and hence when you are following the procedure over the internet, you can choose among various payment alternatives such as net banking and paying through credit card or debit card.
Service Available 24x7:
Online mobile recharge service is available round the clock and on the fingertips. Whether it is day or night, the service would be made available ceaselessly and everywhere for you to get connected instantly.
Thus, as online mobile recharge brings in multiple sets of advantages, more and more users are opting for the facility from their respective banks.

With the advancements in the internet world, it is pretty easy for us to sit back at home and purchase products online or recharge your mobile. Internet banking is one of the solutions that has helped us a lot in making all such online transactions.

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How Banks Create Money Out of Nothing By Timur Karipov

One of the biggest misconceptions that people have about the way banks create money is that the central bank simply prints more of it in the form of paper bills and coins. In actuality, the amount of currency circulating in the financial system amounts to just a fraction of the amount of money recorded by banks in their books. The rest is created by banks, essentially out of nothing. How do the banks do this? Here is a brief overview.
Before we take a look at this process, let us examine more closely the fundamental concept of money itself. What is money? Money is simply a theoretical concept that represents value, with paper money and coins serving as the material personification of this concept. We know that if banks or stores refuse to accept our money, then it is no more than worthless pieces of paper and bits of metal.
Depositors place their money in the bank. These deposits are recorded concurrently in the assets column as Cash in Hand and the liabilities column as Customer s Deposits (since the banks need to return the money to the depositor when he withdraws it). For the sake of clarity, let s say the total amount of deposits in the bank is $100,000.
The bank sets aside 10% of deposits in a Federal Reserve account. This amount is intended to meet their client s withdrawal requirements, since it is estimated that, under regular conditions, depositors will not take out more than 10% of their money. The remaining 90% is now open for lending to borrowers. Let s say that you borrow $10,000 from the bank. Once the loan is approved, the proceeds are deposited into your account. You can now spend the money. However, since the bank knows that you are unlikely to take out more than 10%, it can relend the $9,000 from your account as long as it keeps $1,000 in reserve. Thus, the bank has now generated new money without fresh deposits actually being made, purely through accounting. The amount of debt actually exceeds the amounts deposited in the banks, meaning the majority of money in the financial system is now actually debts.
It should be noted that as long as the bank keeps that 10% of deposit reserves, it can keep lending money even if the amount already exceeds the total deposits it has.
The problem with this system is that in order for it to keep working, people have to keep borrowing money. If a person stops borrowing money, another one must start to borrow in order to keep the money supply high. If the levels of debt go down, so does the money supply, which would risk triggering a recession. Thus, people have to take on growing levels of debt in order to keep the economy running. You can learn more about this problem by reading free online books on this topic.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7475097

My Husband Is a Financial Liability

Being financially compatible is something that many couples don't consider before they get married. I didn't give much thought to the financial aspect of our relationship when I agreed to marry my husband. We lived paycheck to paycheck, why should I expect more? As time goes on, I realize that my husband is one of my biggest financial liabilities. These are the reasons I believe he may be the biggest liability, and why this affects us as a couple, not just him as an individual.

His spending habits
While I now have his spending under control, it was a rough time getting it there. My husband is impulsive and will buy something he thinks we "may" need in the future if the price appeals to him. He would have spent hundreds of dollars a day if he had access to it. He once came home with all different size batteries. It wouldn't have been a problem if we needed them, but we didn't. Two years later 70% of them are still sitting in a drawer. We now have a system that allows him $20 at a time, with the exception of gas days. When he is broke, there is a re-evaluation on how fast and where the money went.
His credit score
When it comes down to buying anything or getting a loan, both of our credit scores are looked at. We come from very different financial pasts, and my score is nearly double what his is today. This poses a problem for us as a couple, especially with getting a mortgage. I have to do what I can to protect my score and work on his. This is an incredible liability for our family. Getting a mortgage on my own may be our only option.
Lack of motivation
My husband has the potential to earn more money in his field, but his lack of motivation is keeping him from going after it. Of course, it takes money to make money in this world. There are certifications he needs to pass in order to get a raise, and he has yet to take them. Spending the $240 to take the tests would be worth it, especially because it would be up to a $3 an hour raise. It would pay for itself in just two short weeks. With his desire to do better, our financial situation will stay stagnant.

First Person: Smart Financial Moves I Made in My 30s

I made a lot of bad financial moves in my 20s, as most people do: credit cards, spending, and no eye for investing a penny. However, I grew up and started taking positive steps in my 30s. There were three specific moves I made, goals I reached, that have completely made a difference in my future.
Clearing Debt
The first and best thing I did in my 30s was to completely obliterate my debt. I was in the red for $48,000 by age 29½ . I owed $37,000 in student loans and had $11,000 in credit card debt. This was all by age 30, and on my 30 ^th birthday (a depressing event in itself), I took a hard look at my situation. I resolved not to be one many Americans hopelessly mired in debt for life. I started making double and triple student loan payments, and paid extra on every credit card, every month. I stopped spending like a drunken sailor, and got my debt under control. By age 35 by credit card balances were 0, and by age 37, my student loans were finally paid off.
Ever since then, I have lived a 100% debt-free life. I don't pay interest or fees to anyone! This is the most important step anyone can take to secure his future. I use credit cards to pay for airline tickets and larger purchases, but I always pay them off within two months.
Savings
I finally opened a savings account and an IRA. This was done with very small balances, just $500 in each. The amount wasn't important. The accounts just needed to be "open" and ready for deposits. Some years I barely swept another $200 into each account, but during one good year I put an extra few thousand in each. The key is to get your savings/IRA, etc. opened and ready for regular deposits. Every little bit helps, even $100 a year. The sooner, the better.
Housing
A final step I'm most proud of: I discovered that renting is cheaper than buying. I passed up the chance to buy a house and enter into an endless whirlpool of debt. By renting, I don't pay property taxes, I don't pay for repairs, and I don't have a debt load hanging over my head. Best of all: I have the freedom to move as I wish. Now that houses are well below market value, I could consider buying one in later years for pennies on the dollar. I will probably buy a condo after I retire, but only if I can pay in cash. I'm committed to a debt free life. I love it. Renting is total freedom.
Now that I am in my mid 40s, I am in a much better financial position because of the smart choices I made in my 30s. I have a savings account, an IRA, and no debt at all. It's never too late to wake up and smell the coffee.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/first-person-smart-financial-moves-made-30s-235900467--finance.html

10 practical moves to avoid problem debt in 2013

To avoid your own "fiscal cliff" in 2013, I suggest you stop arguing with yourself and take 10 -- and by that, I mean 10 positive steps for a better, more prosperous new year.

Tip 1: Develop a spending plan

If you don't have a plan for your money, you will end up following someone else's plan. That's no fun! A plan puts you in control of how much you spend and on what. Trust me, plan for spending, and you will have a much richer financial life.

Tip 2: Save for emergencies

 

If you don't have savings, you will fail. End of story. Life can't be totally predicted, so to avoid being in a hole every time a surprise happens, you must have savings. Your goal is to save six to 12 months' worth of living expenses. Not what you earn each month, but what you spend each month. They should be different, and what you earn should be more.

Tip 3: Study up before taking on student loan debt

Starting a working career with six figures of student loan debt drastically reduces your spending options once you graduate -- that is, if you graduate and if you get a job. Be smart. Limit your student debt to what your take-home pay in your chosen career can afford. Crunch the numbers before you sign on the dotted line. Remember, it is a bill you will have to pay no matter what. If you don't have a career field in mind, don't take on any debt until you do.

Tip 4: Don't try to borrow your way out of debt

 

Consolidating debts into one lower payment sounds like a perfect financial move. It may not be, however. The main reason is because many people continue to add to their debt burden after the consolidation and end up with more debt than they can manage. Restructure your spending instead of your debt, and make a concerted effort to pay down what you owe as quickly as possible.

Tip 5: Never co-sign on a loan -- never, ever

You have ample opportunity to mess up your finances. Never share that opportunity with someone else. There is a reason why a professional lender won't approve this loan. So, why should you? Lend your support and encouragement, but not access to your credit.

Tip 6: Payday loans: No, no and no

 

You need money that you don't have, so you borrow what you need for a very large fee and a promise to pay when you are next paid. The problem, and it's a big one, is you won't have the extra money to pay back the loan when you get paid next time, either. This begins a vicious cycle of ever-increasing fees. Do without, pay something late, borrow from a friend, work part time, but don't take out a payday loan.

Tip 7: Avoid an upside-down car loan

If you need to sell your car, you need to make enough from the sale to pay off your car loan. Because vehicles depreciate so much, a large down payment will give you the freedom to sell when you want or need to sell.

Tip 8: Pay off no-interest offers as soon as you can

Having 48 months to pay means having 48 chances to let a mistake happen. One late payment, and the retroactive interest payment will make your head spin!

Tip 9: Never turn your back on a debt

 

Tip 9: Never turn your back on a debt

As much as we would like to believe an ignored problem will go away, it doesn't. Ignoring a debt means high interest rates, large fees, a summons to appear in court, years of bad credit and a possible wage garnishment. Look that debt in the eye, and get help if you don't know what to do now, not later.

Tip 10: File bankruptcy only as a last resort

Bankruptcy is a viable choice only after all other reasonable options have been exhausted. It may not get rid of all your debts, but it will ruin your credit and job prospects, and you'll have to wait from three to seven years before you are eligible to file again. Think of bankruptcy like a financial nuclear weapon. You may be worse off from the fallout than you were before.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-practical-moves-avoid-problem-080054368.html