4 Ways You Can Retire Wealthy

When a person is in their twenties, they rarely start to consider retirement as a priority that needs to be taken care of. Many of us will see a million dollars or more pass through our hands, but very few of us will actually accumulate a million dollars towards our retirement. Why? Because many of us suffer poor planning and little foresight. There are many methods to set aside extra money for those later years, but it’s hard to know where to start without expert advice and great financial habits. If retirement is something that you want to live well, here are four ways for you to get on your way to enjoying your golden years.

Save Early and Often

It stands to reason that the more you put away towards retirement, the better your nest egg will be. It’s true that many young people simply don’t think about their life after they leave the workforce, but by saving early you effectively create the most effective retirement plan there is; preparedness. Something will always come up, in any stage of your life, to challenge your savings, but with diligence and dedication you will see your retirement savings growing exponentially. Remember that there are tax breaks offered to those who submit money on a yearly basis to their RRSP funds, and that some employers will match your contribution to a predetermined sum.

Invest Wisely

Make a point to either employ a stock broker you can trust, or to learn the market yourself and put money into low cost, high return investments. Careful of high interest mutual funds, and always advocate for yourself when it comes to investing. Investing your hard earned money is a dangerous game for those who aren’t sure what they’re doing, which is why a professional may be a the best option to help you select your investments wisely.

Borrow Well

Heavy debt can effectively cancel out any savings that you have in the bank, so be sure that when you borrow you do so wisely. Not only will smart financial decisions keep your retirement fund growing, but they will protect your credit score which you desperately need to build equity and make big ticket purchases. If your credit score is ruined by the time you hit retirement, you’ll be in for a rough ride after your working days are through.

Be Consistent

Nothing can throw a stick in the spokes of your retirement savings so fast as a job loss, career chance or time off for illness of injury. While it’s obviously best to avoid any of these things, it’s also sometimes unavoidable to experience a gap in your retirement savings. Always ensure that you have a cushion of cash in another savings account so that you never have to dip into your retirement funds.

This guest post is from Allison with CreditReport.org.

Photo By 401(K) 2012 on Flickr License By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Read More

How to Cut your Business Electricity Costs

I won’t waste your time. You want to cut your business electricity costs. I’m going to tell you how.
Read on and don’t bother thanking me. You’ve got an office to run and a world to take over.

Office Lights
A lot of offices keep their lights on, all day, whether it’s summer, winter, night or day. This is a terrible waste and an easy way to cut down on your energy costs. So, don’t do it.

First things first, turn the lights off a night. When I walk past a ground floor office, lit like a shop window I do not stop and think ‘ooh, how pretty’ or ‘that company must be doing extremely well if they can keep their space lit all night. I must buy their product.’ No. I keep on walking imagining the huge amounts of money they’re throwing down the toilet every night, or how easily I could smash a window and grab that iMac.

If you absolutely must keep lights on overnight – so your security can see any smash-and-grab chancers like me coming – then make sure they’re dim.
For day-time stuff, try not having any lights on at all. If you see your staff falling asleep in a dark corner, then you’d better turn them on, but make sure they’re energy-saving. Spirals are cool and they can save the planet, too.
One last thing, please don’t expect your staff to remember to turn lights off. They’re too busy thinking how to steal your pencils and loo-roll. Invest in timed light switches and you’ll reap the benefit. You’ll also get the added bonus of hilarity, when your staff sit there in darkness, rather than stand up and activate them again. Priceless.

Computers
Unfortunately, it’s hard to find computers with timed power switches. You can try to ask your staff to turn them off, but don’t be surprised when they forget, deny they even use that computer, or go full hog and turn off the fridge, as well, resulting in a sticky swamp of a kitchen.
You can’t whip them when they forget and you’re far too busy to do it yourself, so get someone who leaves late (a cleaner, or your security) to turn everything off as part of their duties.
In case you’re confused, when I say turn something off, I mean turn them off, completely. Setting it to ‘sleep’ is not good enough, neither simply shutting down the monitor (you’re not fooling anyone, Sandra).
Meters and Companies
This is so obvious, I feel like I’m wasting everyone’s time – which I hate – but for completion’s sake, check your meter readings regularly and compare supplier’s prices. There’s no point paying for energy you’re not using and if someone else can give it to you cheaper than say hello to your new best friend.
This will be tedious, so give it to the temp or intern you can never remember the name of. They’ll love the responsibility and it’s a genuinely useful task. Then get them to make you a cup of tea and shout at them when they get it wrong.

Derek Blythe works for www.businesselectricityprices.org.uk the UK's #1 in finding cheap business electricity prices. He’s been known to buy the odd round in the pub, but but likes to play aggressive in the office.

Photo By fsse8info on Flickr License By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Read More

Tips for Great Holiday Money Deals

When planning for your overseas holiday, it is worth your while to shop around for your holiday money as it could end up saving you a reasonable chunk of money. Usually, good holiday money deals means spending less money on commission and charges, and enjoying a good exchange rate. To make your holiday money comparisons easier, we’ve compiled a few tips that will make your hard earned money go further.

Buying Cash

There are various means of buying holiday cash. A convenient way is to order holiday money online and then pick it up from the airport. This is far easier and less expensive than exchanging money at an airport’s bureau de change. According to the Post Office, around £21 million is wasted on buying currency at the last minute at airports, as they generally have higher holiday money rates as well as commission charges, especially for lower value transactions.

Watch Out for Additional Charges

Just because a holiday money deal doesn’t charge commission, it does not mean that it is the best deal, as it’s likely that fees are already included in the rate. Flat fees and minimum charges are often expensive, especially if you are purchasing small amounts. However, if you are purchasing a large amount of holiday money, it can be good value for money. Handling fees are another additional charge that may be added to your holiday money. Also, when buying cash, check whether your debit card charges an exchange fee. If so, rather withdraw the cash for your holiday money purchase. Check at your bank or building society for holiday money benefits for account holders.
Money Holiday Services

Travellers’ Cheque

Traveller’s cheques have long been a preferred method for holiday money. Their main benefit is that they are far safer compared to carrying cash. If they are lost or stolen, you can get a refund. The downside to this type of holiday money is that the exchange rates are usually quite high with added fees. For example, Travelmoneymax revealed that for £100 one could only purchase €102 of holiday money from Lloyds TSB travellers’ cheque. Furthermore, when you cash in your cheques at your holiday destination, you are likely to face additional fees.
Pre Paid Cards
There are simple, safe and effective, and are increasingly popular options for holiday money. Money can be loaded onto the prepaid card, which can then be drawn from the ATMs at your holiday destination. Stolen or lost cards can also be reported, cancelled and then replaced, making it a safe holiday money option.

Penny Munroe is an avid writer in finance related news and tips. Articles include forex broker tips to the latest in economic news.

Photo By krejcirikmira on Flickr License By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Read More

6 Frugal Date Ideas This Summer For A Better Savings Account

The Fab Four mentioned money can't buy love; so, why spend moolah while making amore?   This summer, rather than drain the savings account, keep it intact, finding other ways to court your main squeeze.
Love is in the air; so are plenty of dollar-thin-date opportunities.  Check these 6 frugal-date ideas.


1)  Picnic
You could show (and shed) off your savings account, bringing a date to the city's newest café.  Meh, plenty of people will be doing such.  How many lovers are opting for more intimacy, more creativity, and less money?  You, for one.  Rather than a high-priced dining occasion, opt for a low-key picnic.
It's about detail, not dollars.  Think of your companion's favorite snacks and entrees.  What you don't spend in dollars one can accumulate in picnic detail and 'brownie' points.
2)  Stroll
"I really want to get to know you."  That is such a sweet sentiment!  What better way can you get to know one another than through a long, whimsical (and free) stroll?  Consider the layout of your geographic area.  Where are the botanical gardens, the neon night-life lights, the beautiful views off in the distance?  Find and leverage them for a stroll with your sweetie.
Place the emphasis on spending quality time while secretly maintaining the savings account.  Do you want to make an added impression?  Remember to drape your jacket over puddles (Has anyone actually ever done that?)
3)  Museum
Give occasion to flex your brain brawn.  Survey museums in the area; do some preliminary research.  Find times of interesting exhibits; and tell your honey how you've been anxiously awaiting to take them.  Museum entry is often a minimal charge; yet, one can spend hours perusing museum halls.
Companions find a big savings account attractive as well as a diverse mind; going to the museum facilitates both.
4)  Board Games
We were all little kids once.  Little kids are competitive by nature; they like to win.  Winning is always fun; often, the pursuit in trying to do so is also enjoyable.  Does your companion have a competitive spirit?  Are they a self-proclaimed wordsmith?  Challenge them to a game of Scrabble?  Are they good with money?  Can they beat you in Monopoly?
While free of charge, board games are not void of fun and child-like excitement.  Couples often gather together for board games.  Grab a pal and his gal; don't be stingy with saving; help a friend save too!
5)  Cooking at Home
Do you really want to WOW your companion?  Create something for them.  No, not a horribly-rhymed love letter! (Remember the not-so-desired reception your love poem got from your fifth-grade crush?)  Make them dinner.  It costs a lot less than eating out; but the sentiment means so much more.
Better yet, find what meals your companion really enjoys ahead of time.  They'll appreciate you making dinner and being perceptive regarding their likes.
6)  Exercise
'Dates' usually connote some sort of activity connected to draining the savings account.  This does not have to be so; but countering lost savings necessitates alternative thinking.  Tell your date rather than spending hours being pampered, you're going to make them sweat…
That's right.  Opt for a jog, bike ride, hike, or excursion to the gym.  Rather than spend dollars on your companion, spend time burning calories.  Keep the heart rate racing;  but keep your savings in place.

About Author | Amie is a passionate savings expert, she enjoys to make the most of her high interest savings accounts and visits sites like http://www.fairinvestment.co.uk/savings_accounts.aspx.  She enjoys comparing a range of savings accounts such as fixed rate bonds and investment plans.   Follow her on Twitter @amielaroux

Photo By Mukumbura from Flickr License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Read More

Can I Spread Bet on Major Companies Stocks?

The reason why spread betting has become so popular in recent years is the ability for traders to place bets on a whole range of different markets using just one platform. These markets range from stocks, currencies, commodities, bonds and indices. Many spread betting brokers also provide multiple other special markets. Traditional stock traders have made a simple transition to spread betting, not only because it is a simple way to make money from share price movements, but also because it requires less capital to make money from these movements.

The World is Your Oyster

If you are looking to place bets on major companies stocks, this is possible on all trading platforms and with all major brokers. These typically range from the largest companies from the UK and US, with many spread betting platforms offering the possibility to place bets on large companies from other European and Asian stock markets. These markets are derivative markets, meaning that you will never actually own any of the stocks that you place bets on, they follow the actual price movements of the underlying asset and provide the same charting possibilities as regular stock investing.

Spread Bet With Limited Funds

One of the major advantages of trading stocks using spread betting is that it does not require a large amount of capital in order to make significant profits. Unlike traditional stock trading, spread bets are placed on a per point basis, meaning that a trader can place a stop loss of just a few points and invest very little in each bet. Traditional stock trading requires stock to be purchased at the actual share price; this requires a large investment in order to make rapid profits from expensive stocks such as Google. Betting per point allows even small movements in the value of a stock to be highly profitable whilst requiring a far lower investment.

Spread betting platforms use highly advanced charting software in order to analyse the potential for good trades. These charts use exactly the same analytical studies that professional stock traders use to spot investment opportunities. The benefits of spread trading major company stocks are enhanced by the fact that, in the UK, earnings on stock spread betting are tax-free. Earnings on traditional stock investing are taxable in the UK so the benefits on profits made through spread trading can be seen as instantly more attractive than conventional stock trading.

Tristan from http://www.spread.co.uk is interested in how spread bets can be made on the largest stocks with limited budgets, giving you the chance to make money when the big companies do.

Photo By Iman Mosaad and Lars Plougmann on Flickr License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Read More

Debt Management Advice & Tips for Students

For many students, money management is a challenge. Faced with the temptation of alcohol, clothing, food, late night partying and spring break trips, many students still find it difficult to stick to a budget. To stay on track financially, track costs, and reduce your expenses wherever possible you need to be fully aware of where your money goes and how you can manage the inevitable debt that will be accrued.  Here is some advice and handy hints designed to help students make sure that they can manage their college and university debts a lot better.
Be Aware of the Fees
Although it may be tempting to skip a re-payment or write a check you know will bounce if funds are low, do not forget the associated costs may put you deeper in the hole. Many banks, a bounced check or overdraft could end up costing you $25 to $35 and costs will continue to accrue for each additional withdrawal. Closely monitor your bank account and also pay attention to payment deadlines.
Try Not to Use Credit Cards
The major credit card providers love to target students during their college days as they know that they operate on a small budget. During a four-year academic course you can accumulate a lot of debt and if you are only able to pay the minimum payment the interest can add up fast. Avoid ending your college course with a large credit card debt and try to avoid major credit cards entirely. With the temptation of spring break trips and other last-minute spending, debt can be built easily and quickly become debilitating.
Perhaps Sell Your Car
On many campuses, a car can add additional charges for parking, gas and maintenance fees. If you live on campus or nearby, then store or sell your car at home with your parents. This will help you to save money on gas and insurance and you might even cut back on expensive road trips if you can only rely on public transportation to get you and your friends there.
Benefit Services
Most universities and colleges provide services for students from everything from health care to travel. Identify your high-cost areas and search for any assistance and support options that are on campus. You may find that you can get cheaper gym membership on campus or could learn that your university has partnerships with local businesses for price reductions on activities and services.
Make a Personal Budget
When you live on a fixed income or a scholarship then it is important to keep track of your out-going costs. At the beginning of each semester or term, make a budget that takes into account the money you take in and your expenses.  Do not forget to consider the cost of travel, food and books for classes. When you are aware of your financial situation, it is easier to stay on track and manage your student debts and finances a lot better.

Guest Post Author Details: Thanks to the Wall Street Subscriptions website for this guest post.  If you are student studying financial and business disciplines then you should consider a student discount offer on the Barron’s Magazine.  It contains up to date news and interviews with people working in finance and also lists valuable internship opportunities with large companies.  Please click here to find out more.

Photo By Images_of_Money on Flickr License By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Read More

4 Tips for Business Success in Hard Times

In today’s poor economy, many people have found that the business world isn’t exactly what they had pictured when they started out. Long hours, low pay, marketing mistakes, unsatisfied customers… not the glamorous picture that may you may have romanticized in your business plan. If you’ve found yourself in a business bind because of this harsh economy, here are some tips that can get your head back above water.

Track and Control

If you aren’t already diligent when it comes to tracking your business spending, start today. Many failed business owners contribute a large part of their failure to a disconnect in money matters. If money hasn’t ever been your strong suit, hire someone who can help you get a handle on your spending and keep track of your books. You need to have a good idea of your profitability, as well as what your overhead ratio looks like. A business can’t succeed without an excellent handle on money.

Borrow Smart

More and more often, businesses are leaning towards self-propelled borrowing instead of taking out massive loans from banks right away. If you’re already in the debt trap, talk to a professional about how you can work yourself out of debt and back into the black. Debt can stifle your success before you even realize what’s happening, and that’s why many business owners today prefer to work with a business credit card over bank loans. This is an easy way to build your business credit without biting off more than you can chew.

Think Outside the Box

Some of the most successful businesses have spawned from people who were brave enough to try out atypical solutions to typical business problems. Have you been too locked into solutions that are well known? Maybe you could consider getting rid of your physical office and having your employees work remote; telecommunications has never been a more viable method of business communication. Cut out costs in places that others may not have considered, and you may find that your money troubles work themselves out in a hurry.

Utilize the Internet

Most small business owners already realize how incredible an asset the internet is when it comes to awareness and advertising. If you’re not already online with your marketing strategy, talk to a social media consultant about the best method for you to appeal to potential clients in the internet. Online marketing is effective because it can have a big impact without a big price tag, a perfect solution for a struggling business.

This guest post is from Allison with BusinessCreditCards.com.

Photo By 401(K) 2012 License By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Read More

Tips to Reduce Holiday Spending Stress

As the world economy continues to evolve, some countries struggle mightily with inflation, unemployment and negative trade agreements. National credit ratings have been downgraded around the world, and only a few countries have maintained their pre-crash levels. Unfortunately, each nation's citizens – consumers – stagger under the weight of the financial continuing financial crunch: Unemployment vacillates, wages freeze or fall and spending plateaus. Considering an estimated 32 percent of US consumers pay major monthly bills with credit cards and not from savings, how might this available-money squeeze impact holiday spending?

Merchant Sales Timing
The winter holiday season is traditionally the most important to retailers in most parts of the world: Sales may slow during other seasons, but the merchants need the winter holiday proceeds to maintain the financial health of the stores during those slow-down times.
Consumer sales during the winter holiday seasons of past years have lessened for many years, and most of those sales are made via credit card purchases, whether through an online retail outlet or a brick-and-mortar store.
To compensate for a projected less-than-stellar holiday sales season, more retailers are breaking out the holiday decorations early: Roughly 8 percent of major retailers nationally have tinsel and garlands already hung. No longer is the US holiday of Thanksgiving, the fourth Thursday of November each year, the starting point for the winter holiday shopping.

Consumer Purchasing
Lower wages or income, stressed employment situations and rising costs of health benefit, fuel, grocery and utility payments stretch a great many household budgets to the breaking point. Because non-living expenses, such as student loans, car loans, entertainment expenses and even car insurance, for example, are lower priorities on expense lists than rent, mortgage loans, groceries or other miscellaneous expenses, those items are usually pegged for payment via credit cards.
Consumers have spent less for holiday gifts during the last four years, and merchants are nearly desperate for ways to improve projected profits. With personal expenses loaded onto credit card payments, and merchants rely so heavily on that mode of payment, how might the demand support the supply?

Budgetary Restraint
A two-edged sword, as employers have reduced expenses by releasing workers or sending manufacturing overseas. Stores are relying more toward online retail websites, reducing brick-and-mortar expenses. Sales start earlier and extend longer than historical guidelines.
Consumers have also created budgets and try hard to maintain them to accommodate reduced income. However, true savings isn't simply meeting a budget. Budgets monitor spending -- not savings.
As employers have reduced expenses, so must consumers, and much of that expense reduction comes from reduced credit card debt.
First, devise a comprehensive budget that is honest, realistic and adjustable. Identify where you can shave even pennies reliably. Then cut the maximum allowed on everything possible by 5 to 10 percent. Then reevaluate your budget.

A budget is intended to keep your spending consistent. Living below your budget limits is the key to sound financial management: Pay off interest-bearing loans and revolving credit lines. Cut the number of cards you actively use. Use alternate energy sources. Buy more generic foods, or buy in bulk instead of the per-serving items.
Use cash for purchases instead of credit cards. Debit cards are also better than credit card purchases.
If you have credit cards with balances, above all, pay at least the minimum due each month: Don't risk a declination of your credit rating, for it's far harder to repair that than it is to buy a cheaper fuel or food for a few months, for example.
Start now – before you start the bulk of your holiday shopping – and enjoy a smoother, less stressful spending spree later.

By Jaye Ryan, a freelance author who likes writing  about budget and money management tips for Octopus Loans.

Photo By krejcirikmira on Flickr License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Read More

Credit Cards or Short Term Loans. Which Do You Preffer?

When in need of funds, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Two of the most common services people use when in need of money are credit cards and short term loans, each of them with their own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some facts that may help you choose the method best suited for your needs when in need of cash.

Credit Cards - Is one card enough?

First I would like to apologize for my prejudice but I fully support companies that run their prospective employees credit histories before interviewing them. Barring few exceptions such as certain communities that do not apply for the credit card in the first place, research supports that most individuals with bad credit are irresponsible with corporate money as well.
Most of us would have got our first credit card at our college campus or from the local bank where we receive our paycheck.

The interesting thing when using credit cards is that they create this greedy behavior that makes you think you need to have many store credit cards rather than just sticking to one credit card that offers the maximum credit line. During my research I observed that if one is patient and does not accept every credit card offer that comes in the mail then invariably the local bank where you deposit your paycheck would eventually offer you a balanced credit line that will never go in default and work as a real companion. Multiple credit card ownership sends a signal to different credit card companies to restrain from giving out their best credit rates and maximum credit line as your loyalty can rightfully switch each month.

For some reason all of us feel that we must carry at least one credit card from each major brand such as American Express, Discover, Visa, Master Card etc. My research shows this is not true and in my travels to dozens of countries I felt that most of the respectable merchants accept all variations and brands of credit cards.

Therefore multiple credit card brands are a merchant centric problem and as a credit card user you essentially should be comfortable with any single major brand. As a thumb rule the overall credit card line of credit normally offered is anything between one year’ salary to a maximum of two years’ salary for individuals with high credit score. Usually it is prudent not to accept a credit card with a lower interest rate but instead take the offer to your local bank and ask them to reduce your rate of interest on existing credit card.

Short Term Loans -

Payday Loans are like tug of war. On one end you find most of the payday lenders who know that the money they lend will not come back easily while on the other end we find the borrower who resorts to short term loans when all other options are closed.
Research shows that as high as 60% payday borrowers have to be dragged to legal courts. This happens because payday loan providers have managed to offer their services to the most risky and most poorly served strata of population. Invariably the law sides with the borrowers and in most cases the lender is barely able to recover only his principal sum. Still this tug of war continues between the lenders and borrowers.

From a payday lender’s viewpoint the money they loan to each borrower is so small that in spite of very high interest rates the actual factual amount collected is miniscule and therefore it becomes a viable business only if the number of borrowers is very large.

From a borrowers viewpoint the money borrowed is so small that she/he is able to pay it off in a single transaction thereby getting a sense of relief that she/he is not been chased by one more loan collection shark.
In spite of this tug of war there are huge defaulters and the cost of collection for such small amounts from borrowers with negative net worth is prohibitively high.
Both credit cards and payday loans have both several disadvantages and several advantages and what it comes down to eventually is the situation of the borrower and prefferences.

Whichever method you decide to choose when in need of cash, you should always remember to never borrow more than you need, pay extra attention to the interest rate and if possible try not to borrow at all. Think budgeting.

My name is Chris Smith, I work in finance and one of my goals is to help people in need of money make educated choices when their hard earned money is concerned.

Photo By 401(K) 2012 on Flickr License By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Read More

Online Tools to Help you Understand your Spending

Understanding your finances can be daunting, especially for those of us who were never the best maths students. Debt most commonly occurs when people are spending more than they are earning, but when you don’t understand your spending habits, it becomes difficult to prevent the accumulation of debt. A number of online tools are now available, which may assist you in better understanding your finances. When browsing the internet, you will find that your options are limitless, with online tools for finance calculators, graphs and charts, budget trackers, projected expenditure and savings goals. If you’re concerned that your spending has become out of control, check out the latest and greatest tools for tracking your money.

Knowing how much you spend

The first step in understanding your spending is to determine how much you spend on regular expenses. Reoccurring costs may include payments for credit cards, fuel, groceries, gym membership and various household bills, just to name a few. Online budgeting tools are a great way to really understand how much you are spending, without including any unnecessary items. Debt solutions companies often provide the best budgeting assistance, outlining the expenses that most people incur, to be sure that you don’t miss any costs, no matter how small they may be. Once you have determined your regular spending habits, you can then further develop your understanding of your financial situation.

Understanding your Finances

While many people understand that they aren’t maintaining a healthy financial situation, they often struggle to see why. If you’re anything like me, you can sit and talk to a bank employee for hours and still have no idea what they’re talking about. A number of online tools provide easy to read formatting, allowing you to see your money in a straightforward way. Graphs and charts can often make it easier for us to see where we are spending money and, more importantly, where we could be saving.

What if my spending has gone too far?

If you’re past the point of understanding your spending and first need assistance in regaining control of your finances, you may need to talk to a debt solutions specialist. Once you have taken the necessary steps to begin minimising your debt, you will then be able to begin to understand how your spending habits are affecting your finances. A debt consolidation company can provide you with a range of options for solving your money problems. If your spending has led to numerous credit card bills, for instance, it may be suggested that you apply for a debt consolidation loan, in order to receive a lower interest rate to repay your bills faster.
Online tools allow you the luxury of understanding your finances, in your own time. Online, you can spend as much time as you need, finding the right learning format for you. Once you begin to understand your spending, you will be able to better control the incomings and outgoings of your money, allowing you to have more financial freedom.

Tara Blair writes for many leading business, finance and news sites.  She recommends using online tools to help manage your spending habits but if you have large amounts of debt it would be worth seeking professional advice from a reputable debt consolidation company.

Photo By philcampbell on Flickr License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Read More

Living Frugally - Save Food Money and Pay Off Your Debts

So you’ve decided to live a frugal life but cost cutting and penny pinching has got you nervous? Does being frugal mean that you will be destined to a life of boredom, always dreaming of having things you want but can’t afford? Heck no, it means you are going to stop wasting money on all the stuff that you don’t need and start saving for things that you truly desire. A trip around the world? A fat bank account? A college education for the kids? Whatever you really want in this life you can start achieving it by living frugally. Let’s look at some of the ways you can get there.

Get Out of Debt

One of the first things that should be evaluated is the debt situation. Start by looking at how much debt you have. Spend some time looking at your financial situation and create a budget. You have to know how much money is coming in and then where it’s going. Understand that until you have paid down your debt you shouldn’t be saving for some extravagant items or trips. Paying off your debt first is the smartest way to living a frugal life. It isn’t an easy thing to do and takes lots of self control because it can take a long time, but being debt free is one of the best feelings after being chained down by debt.

Freeing Up Money

Getting extra money on a fixed income is not an easy task. It means making changes and cutting back on things you may be very happy with, like cable TV. Cutting spending is the fastest way to free up money so let’s go through some less painful ways to cut back

Saving Food Money

First, everybody needs to eat food so there will be no getting around spending money there, but let’s look at how the money is spent. Try switching to store brands over name brand items. Doing so will save an average of 30% on your grocery bill. And speaking of groceries, do you shop with a list? Impulse buying is a fast way to waste cash at the store. Make a list of what you need and stick to it.

Next, when you leave the house plan on only spending cash and ditch the cards. Credit cards are a quick way to overspend. Try making a budget and actually putting the cash into envelopes labeled for each item on the list. If you need $300 / month for food then add $300 to the envelope and use it.

While you shop make use of the coupons out there for saving money. There is a coupon craze right now with TV shows dedicated to scoring the best deals and saving huge amounts of money. You may not go as far as some of the people o TV saving 99% on a $500 dollar bill, but clipping coupons can easily save the average couponer %25 percent on the bill.
Some stores double the coupons to save even more. Doubling coupons is when a store will take your coupon and match the value of it. For example if a store doubles a coupon on a $1 coupon then the value of the coupon will then be worth $2. If the price of an item is near the $2 mark you can practically get the item for free. Sweet!

Not all stores will double coupons and those that do may not double them every day so check online before you head out to make sure your store is participating. When you have the opportunity to use coupons take advantage of it and stock up on the items you need.
Saving money on what you eat is a great place to start but it is just that a starting point. There are so many more ways to save money on food we’ve only scratched the surface. Save money with coupons never stop looking for ways to cuts costs and save more money.

Mikkie Mills is a freelance writer for DropDownDeals.com.  Save money with Dropdowndeals.com using best buy coupons and much more.

Photo By 401(K) 2012 on Flickr License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Read More

Save Lives and Your Business - Adopt Some Top Quality Fire Security!

As an owner of a couple of businesses, I have learnt a lot over the years. I have learnt that there are so many risks when starting any new business, and of course whether or not it will be successful is the number one worry for most new owners. However, there are some things that are far more important than just simply the bottom line.

We have new and added responsibilities, such as taking due and proper care of the health and safety of any employees we have. Surely that is more important than money? If you do not agree you really should not be running a business.

If the business is not performing well, we can always try different things and work hard at rectifying it. However if the business burns to the ground, killing a member of your staff in the process, it is the end of your business for good and you will have to live with the guilt for the rest of your life. On top of that you will most likely be in extremely hot water for not having an adequate fire security system, and will most likely serve some time in prison.

Why Take The Risk?
For the sake of a little bit of expenditure, you are giving your staff and your business as a whole a much better chance of surviving any fire that might take place. It has to be a no brainer surely? The first thing I do whenever I am setting up a business is to know how to protect it, not just from fire but from floods, crime and anything else that could do it harm.

I make sure I have adequate fire extinguishers, a good fire drill, break boxes, fire exits and blankets. I have them all checked on regular intervals throughout the year and ensure that my staff are always fully aware of the plan of action if a fire were to break out.

The true sign of a good business is one that takes the right precautions to ensure the safety of its workforce at all times, if we can get that right, the success will surely follow. Yet, if a business cuts corners on costs, especially at the expense of the health and safety of its staff, it is a disaster waiting to happen. A disaster that could deservedly leave you locked up for a very long time.

I personally source my fire security products from a UK based firm, which offers everything a business could need for its fire security. Take a look at www.cheapextinguishers.co.uk/ to find out more.

Photo By Podknox on Flickr License By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Read More

How to Design a Roller Banner That Will Attract Attention

Roller banners are a great tool for attracting and holding the attention of customers. They will draw passing traffic towards your business by effectively letting people know who you are and what you do.

These roller banners are also very easy to use, because they can be rolled up into a portable base which is made of lightweight aluminium. The base can be placed on almost any surface including grass, concrete or indoor flooring. They are a great way to advertise your business or make an announcement about a new service.

When you are designing a custom roller banner stand for business, be sure to put a lot of thought into the design. You want the stand to be as effective and eye-catching as possible so here are some tips for designing the ideal roller banner:

Grab Their Interest
Most people will only glance past your banner for a split second, so what could be the most interesting and captivating thing that you can grab their attention with. It could be a photograph, a graphic or a short phrase. Make this the visual focus of your banner with the pertinent information underneath it. Once you have gotten their attention they will read to the bottom to learn more.

Less is More
A banner which is too crowded with information and text will be overwhelming to the viewer and they will likely get bored before reading it all. It is better to design a banner which has only the most important information on it so that customers can read it quickly. If they are curious for more information, you can then hand them a brochure or pamphlet which has all of the details. Think of the banner as the trailer for a film which only shows the most interesting parts and the brochure as the feature film.

Colours and Graphics
The human eye is attracted to bold and vibrant colours, so make sure you use some eye catching shades in your roller banner. Also, visual images are a lot more interesting than a banner with only text. Do you have some powerful photos or graphics which represent your company?
Also, make sure that the font is large and clear enough to read and that it contrasts well with the background. Light fonts should be used on dark backgrounds and vice versa.
With these tips, you are sure to design a roller banner which will catch the attention of anyone walking by.

Do you need some help designing roller banners for your business? Here are some clever design tips!

Photo By Christmas w/a K License By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Read More

How to Market Your Online Business Successfully

Understanding how to market your online business is more than just owning a website. To grab your portion of a niche market and produce a decent volume of constant sales will require careful planning and perseverance. While selling online is not always easy, using proven steps can give you a significant advantage over your competition.

Your Visitor's Online Experience
Learning how to market your online business will help you understand how to maximize your website visitor's experience and convince a certain portion of them to make a purchase. As a company, you can do this by identifying the purpose of your business, listing specifically what distinguishes you from your competition. Your website will need to be designed properly to allow search engines to quickly identify what products or services you provide or sell.

Competitive Tools
Successful online businesses continually keep their site up to date as a way to attract repeat customers and visitors. They stay competitively priced and use tools that build trust with their customers. Their website design easily displays and describes their products and services as a way to assist their visitors and search engines quickly find information. Successful businesses commit the time and effort required to optimize their site to stay ahead of the pack.

Identify Your Purpose
Identifying your company, and its purpose on the Internet, might not be as easy to answer as you think. While your goal may be to generate as much profit as possible, the purpose of your company might be to help customers find solutions to their problems through the products you sell or the services you provide. The next step would be "how can the company develop this purpose?" Once you have a direction in mind, you can easily identify your target potential customers and create a path using marketing strategies to find them.

Different from Your Competition
Creating a unique brand for your company is a race to the top of your competition. Being enthusiastic and enjoying what you do will help create a lively sales pitch and vivacious content on your online website. Offering your customers better value than your competitors with better products, or more products will help boost sales. Providing superior service and quality goods will set you apart from your competition.

Creating Compelling Content
Using the same old sales pitch is generally nothing more than trivial hyperbole that can easily put your online customer to sleep, or worse, get them looking elsewhere. Stale content will only drive you out of business. Clear, concise facts about the products and services you sell, along with easy-to-understand reasons why each visitor needs to purchase from your online company will help you sell more product than using worn-out cliches and phrases. Be sure to use a spell-checker when creating compelling content, with no punctuation or grammar mistakes.

Managing Your Product Category
Indexing your site and designing it properly will help in your search engine rankings and assist customers who are quickly seeking the products and services you provide. For search engine optimization, research specific key phrases that have relevance to your niche market. By clearly stating detailed information on the products and services you provide will lift the confusion from your customers and provide the information search engines require to help you promote your business.

Your Commitment
The spectators in the stands never reach the goal at game time. That job is up to the committed team players. Your online business requires commitment from you to learn everything you can on how to market your online business successfully. With the right tools and perseverance, you can achieve the goal of building a profitable business.

Kasper Rugholm has a Master’s Degree in Business Management and Economics and is an eager writer of articles about online business touching on topics about market positioning strategy, how to market your online business and much more at http://www.startitupnow.com.

Photo By The-Lane-Team License By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/deed.en

Read More

3 great apps for iOS, Android and PC/Mac to help you manage your money

Many people don’t manage their finances because, simply put, it’s a massive hassle. The idea of sitting at your kitchen table, pouring over bank statements and bills whilst using a pencil and paper to do your sums sounds like most people’s version of hell. Let me tell you it is hell – as it is complicated. This is because it is easy to make mistakes and it often is not worth the time that you spent on it. Yet so many people are convinced that this traditional way of sorting out your personal finances is the only way, so they don’t even try. This usually ends up with spending beyond their means and getting into debt. This disheartens them and makes them less likely to look for alternative options, creating a vicious circle.
So what do you do?

Most people nowadays have a smart phone, tablet or computer that they use for things like online banking. Little do they know that there are ways that they can use these tools to help them budget, saving them time and most importantly saving them money. There are plenty of budgeting apps out there so here are 3 apps (1 for iOS, Android and PC/Mac) that have proven themselves to be the best of the best in personal finance apps.

1. iOS - Spending Log
Spending Log is a great iOS App that lets you keep track of everything your spend. By allowing you to input your income and then track every single purchase you make, you can see exactly what items you tend to overspend on. This App is great because it helps you to realize exactly where your money is going and help you cut down on items that you didn’t even realize you were overspending on. With handy things like an alert system for when you are nearing your overdraft limit, Spending Log is exactly the app you need to help you save money.

2. Android - EasyMoney
At $9.99 EasyMoney might be a bit ironically pricey for an Android budgeting app, but it’s more than worth it because of the multi-purpose intuitive application that it provides. Easy Money isn’t just a budgeting app - it allows you to keep track of multiple accounts (not just bank accounts but credit cards, store cards and more), work in multiple currencies and generally provide every service imaginable when it comes to personal finance.

3. PC/Mac - Mint.com
Mint.com may only be currently available in the US and Canada, but when it rolls out to other countries it is certain to take personal finance software by storm. Mint is web-based and is available not only from your PC/Mac but also only pretty much every other tablet or smartphone device. Mint.com is free, fast and reliable - you can count on it to keep your information safe and even better to keep you in the black. With graph representations of your budget, custom reminders and the ability to track pretty much every financial transaction you make? It’s the app to beat in the personal finance world.


The article was made available to you by Poundaccess, that can help you also in case you need short-term cash loans today.

Photo By Detlef La Grand on Flickr License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Read More

Guide to Facing your Forex Trading Fears

We often talk about market knowledge and the amount of research that you should undertake before you embark on the exciting journey that is forex trading. This however is not going to get you those large profits that everyone visualizes in large gold dollar signs. Speculation is risk-free when removed from the real situation. Playing the “I would never have done that” game is a whole lot easier than sitting in front of your computer screen watching large sums of your own money fluctuating in the forex trading market, susceptible to powers beyond your control throughout the exchange. Here are a few tips and things to consider when facing up to your fear of diving in headfirst.

The Thrill

When playing with large amounts of currency, which is often necessary in forex trading if you want to win big, the practice will evoke a whole range of emotions, from excitement to fear. This fear factor is not easy to get over. Possibly the height of this anxiety comes after a first real loss or the misfortune of sitting too long and missing out on a great trading opportunity. The trading system is relentless, but channelling your emotions into a good space can definitely pay dividends. Let them get the best of you and it could be a bitter pill to swallow.

1 Step Back, 2 Steps Forward

Although an essential part of forex trading is entering the market at the right time, you may be sitting online one evening in despair if you haven’t exited at a good time as well. On a lot of occasions you will find yourself having to absorb a small loss before things turn bad. If you find yourself accepting this loss just before there is a large rise in the market it could put a huge dampener on your forex trading venture.

Befriend the Trend

Many people are under the impression that forex trading involves sitting online throwing a few pounds into the ring, grabbing some dollars and selling them back when things have moved up a bit. This theory omits many key points. To be a successful trader it’s non-negotiable that you need to befriend the trend. Learn a much as possible beforehand and more haste, less speed.
Forex trading is such an appealing practice because it involves plenty of excitement and feeling of accomplishment when you are rewarded with success. If you are intimidated then seek help initially by consulting a professional trader. Once the first hurdle has been jumped, the thrill should keep you going.

Dave Peterson has always been interested in the stock market. After playing his hand at forex trading a while back, he's become quite the expert and now advises where possible.

Photo By n8k99 on Flickr License By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Read More

How to Stop a Negative Review Before It Starts

For small, local businesses, positive online reviews can significantly increase patronage. It’s also relatively easy to connect with your customers in a positive way and encourage them to go online and write a review. On the other hand, negative reviews can be devastating. Even just on negative review can turn customers away before you even get a chance to prove yourself and earn their business.
It’s your job as a business owner to stop negative reviews from being posted. You can’t do this by hitting a “delete review” button, and once someone is set on writing a negative review there’s little you can do but try to do damage control once it’s published. The key is to stop a negative review before it even starts, and here are some tips to help you do just that.
Focus on Customer Service

This should be obvious, but the quality of your customer service is paramount. Do whatever you can to improve customer service at your establishment. Make sure that all employees are trained on the proper ways to handle customer grievances. Stress how important it is that a customer never leave angry. If your employees are unable to remedy a situation, you should be called in to help. Always be polite and respectful, even to the rudest of customers. Unless they’re being abusive, remember that they’re “always right.” Helpful information, a concession, or an apology on your part can stop a bad review in its tracks. Make it clear to your employees that you won’t tolerate poor customer service.
Encourage Feedback

When customers leave bad reviews, it’s usually because they just want to be heard, and an online review is a way for them to vent their frustrations. Prevent negative reviews by giving customers as many opportunities as possible to give their feedback to your directly. Hand out comment cards with the bill at your restaurant, for example. Send out emails requesting feedback after purchases, or when someone unsubscribes from your email list or makes a return. On your website, consider a form for people to send anonymous feedback. If an upset customer can tell you about their bad experience directly, it will hopefully stop them from posting the same thing online in a public forum, too.
Right Your Wrongs

If a customer has a legitimate complaint about something your business has done to wrong them, you need to make things right. If you find out that a customer is upset and they’ve already left your store or made a purchase, reach out to them. The extra effort you put forth will impress people, and it may even get them to change their mind about your business. Exceptional customer service can make any business more likable. If you don’t make the effort to right a wrong (even just a perceived wrong), you might be paying for it later when the customer decides to post a bad review as a form of vindication.
If you’re a small business owner, what do you do to stop negative reviews?

This and many other educational articles helping web professionals understand the challenges of the web and how to promote business concepts online have been prepared for you by Lisa Hann thanks to SEOMap - the keyword strategy experts.

Photo By Ben+Sam on Flickr License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Read More

The Integration of Technology into Office Furniture

Staying ahead in business often means staying ahead in technology. In today’s business world, the latest technology trends are not just affecting your digital equipment. Office furniture manufacturers are making strides in technology as well. The most important strides are those that integrate digital office equipment into mobile office furniture solutions fitting in with today’s changing work environment. Furniture manufacturers are doing a great job of staying up with the times, even with the challenge of integrating fast-changing equipment technology into more long-term furniture solutions.
Dealing with Change
For many companies, gone are the days when each person had their own desk, with a desktop computer that they would use day after day. Today’s corporations are much more mobile. Employees and executives take their mobile computing systems with them and may be in different workstations on different days. Companies frequently reconfigure office settings, and many have gone to modular type furniture solutions which can be disassembled and moved about in record time. As office furniture companies have adapted to this change, some winning solutions have been developed.
Integrated Power Solutions
According to the Holland Sentinel (1), companies such as Haworth and Sparkeology (a division of Worden Co.) are focusing on bringing power solutions into existing furniture design, rather coming up with revolutionary design changes. These companies, as well as Steelchase and other major manufacturers, are recognizing the need to have access to power, company data networks, and iPod docks easily accessible in lounge chairs, modular desks, and other office furniture.
While early solutions focused on proprietary cables and connections, current furniture trends are much more universal, allowing companies to plug different components into each other, utilizing existing equipment rather than requiring a complete makeover.
Office Furniture Trends
Office furniture is not just about technology; there are a number of other criteria ranking on businesses’ furniture requirements. The offices of today often require at least several of the following aspects:

• Ergonomics and Sustainability – two key factors in office furniture choices are the need to be easy on users as well as easy on the environment. Furniture that auto adjusts to individual users is becoming more popular, while furniture solutions that can be recycled and are made from recycled products are on the top of the radar for many companies.
• Collaborative Ease - as work styles have evolved into a more team-oriented workforce, office solutions have also evolved. Many companies now offer pod-type workstations that allow co-workers their own space with easy access to their teammates. After all, face to face collaboration still has advantages over virtual, screen-time meetings.
• Free-Address Solutions – having workstations that can be used by multiple users has become more of a priority. Being able to plug mobile computing solutions into the network rather than logging onto a stationary computer has become the norm. When certain staff is out of office, someone else can plug into their station and continue seamless productivity.  Cubicles are now designed with a variety of technological features integrated into their frameworks, avoiding the complications of a lot of manual connections.

Making Adaptations
Under the current economic conditions, many companies are tightening their belts when it comes to new purchases and expenses. And, since many “dot.com” businesses have bottomed out lots of used modular furniture is available on the market. The result? Companies such as Pan-Way, Siemon Company, and Chatsworth Products are creating adaptable data channeling solutions that can be installed in used modular furniture (2). This has terrific advantages for companies that need to upgrade their data and power availability, but do not want to purchase a completely new line of office furniture.

1. hollandsentinel.com/news/x2067831958/New-furniture-offerings-help-manage-electric-devices-keep-costs-down
2. cablinginstall.com/index/display/article-display.articles.cabling-installation-maintenance.volume-13.issue-6.contents.technology.integrating-technology-into-in-furniture-cabling-systems.html

David Ching works with a Milpitas, CA office furniture company that ships nationwide from two locations in the USA.   Whether your needs are new or refurbished pieces for your office, EQA Office Furniture has everything from lobby furnishings to cubicles with integrated technology built in.

Read More

Guidelines Related to the Operations of a Business Entity

This article focuses on the operations of a business entity from the perspective of following these specific steps when it comes to the management of funds, including private equity funds, within that business.
Financial matters of a firm provide a base for sound business decisions. Every business has to have funds present in case of acquisition or other requirements. This requirement is catered by establishing investments in a variety of different schemes. Certain stages and processes of handling and managing funds are to be noted. To raise funds is not as simple as pie and you need to focus on some of the factors that contribute to the proper management of these funds.
Below, you will find a list of the different steps that you need to focus on while considering just how you are going to manage the funds that are accumulated by your business.

Accumulation of Funds

In case of a firm’s capital appraisal, accumulation is among the most vital steps in this process. The partners are the ones that will coordinate this accumulation in case of private entities, including such funds as endowment, pension, institutional and a long list of similar funds that were created solely for the accumulation of these funds. It is among the most vital steps in case of a firm’s capital appraisal. One of the types of funds mentioned earlier was the private equity fund.

Searching for the Acquisition & Overall Growth

When the process of accumulation has been finally completed, the next step in the process would be to search for the acquisition. Meeting with companies is arranged, and portfolio is put in front of them. If a direct link between both the parties is not established, then professional services of investment banking entity are required.
Corporate growth of firm is the way to go. Growth strategy has to be perfect to engage and attract companies to invest in the business. Many firms do not bother about this aspect, but there should be no stone left unturned when it comes to a sound growth strategy of the business.

Disinvestment & Capital Gains

The next step to watch out for is disinvestment. When the firm is left with no cash reserves, it opts to disinvest to carry out the financial matters. Disinvestment is made by means of either buying back of shares or buy out. Disinvestment is often rated as a negative act to do, but to support the firm on the whole; this kind of decision proves to be helpful in the long run. Furthermore, if the firm maintains a private equity fund, disinvestment would also be needed for maintaining such funds.
A firm supports the cash flow not only by the direct input of cash generated by acquisition, but also capital gains on realization of portfolio are accounted for as well. It is advocated by many professionals and managers of large business entities that capital gains are a great source of generating cash for the firm. Management of the firm has to make key decisions regarding investment and disinvestment, and many other core issues related to funds such as a private equity funds are to be dealt with.

Dispersal

It is illogical to think that partners would not demand or expect return on the investment made by them. Transferring the gains to the capital accounts of partners is a noticeable aspect. Again, management has to make decision about the dispersal of amounts.
The partners and management team of any firm are the ones that have to take all of these serious issues into consideration when they are analyzing their revenue, expenses and on-hand funds each year. By continuously focusing on such things, their business will profit greatly and will be able to experience the benefits that come as a result of sound planning and superior entity control.

Dealmarket is one of the leading private equity marketplaces online with a wide variety of private equity funds and deals to be sought from both investors and entrepreneurs.

Photo By osde8info on Flickr License By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Read More

Insight about Funds Maintained by Business Entities

This article provides a detailed explanation of several key aspects about funds that are established and maintained by a variety of different business entities, including structure, duration and hurdle rate.
An investment structure for investing in various equities is referred to as an equity fund. Most of the time, the term of the fund is 10 years. These kinds of funds are attributed to a limited partnership in which its partners guarantee the firm a certain capital to be invested by them. These partners would and should expect a return on their investment and the capital is normally distributed over the term of the fund (making it an ‘equity fund’).

The Management & General Structure

Various equity funds are managed and raised by professionals employed by the entity. These professionals are responsible for decisions regarding equity funds. A single entity can have more than one equity funds, and in general, every entity does manage more than one such fund. New funds are raised every 4-5 years.
Equity and all the related funds are structured as limited liability partnerships. Such funds are governed by the general rules applicable to the limited liability partnerships. General partners are vested with the responsibility of raising capital by coming into contract with the potential investors, endowment and insurance plans and many more. The legal position of individual investors is that of limited partners of the entity. Many rules are regulations should be taken care of while dealing with the fund. If you are interested in knowing some of the important factors, concerning and relating to such funds, then refer below for details.

Duration, Management Remuneration & Hurdle Rate

Duration of the limited liability partnership in connection to an equity fund is an important topic to know about. Such partnership usually comes with a term of 10 years. Some variation can be expected, but the generally accepted term is 10 years. Concerned authorities can grant certain extensions, but you need to write a written application for an extension in time duration. Same is the case when you consider certain types of equity funds, such as a private equity fund.
Professionals who manage the equity funds are entitled to remuneration. Generally, most common and accepted remuneration is 2% of the capital invested. This may not be considered as a rule of thumb, as certain legislations provide for other rules to account for the management remuneration.
It is the minimum rate of return of investment that must be achieved before managers get entitled to their remuneration. Therefore, a specific hurdle rate has to be achieved by managers in order for them to receive their remuneration. It is the normal course of proceedings of the market that are referred to while determining a particular hurdle rate. The rate set should be neither too high, nor too low, and it should meet the general criteria set by the authorities for the determination of hurdle rate. Hurdle rate is very important figure in connection to certain types of funds maintained by a business entity.

Legal Title Change & Transfers

A fund is not allowed to be transferred or traded in any manner, whatsoever. However, transfer of funds to one investor to another is allowed under the eye of law. Permission has to be sought from the relevant and concerned authorities in case of transfer of general funds and private equity funds from one investor to another.
These are just some of the requirements and guidelines that a business entity must adhere to when considering the establishment and maintenance of various funds for their business.

Dealmarket are a global leader in the private equity marketplace looking to establish connections between entrepreneurs and investors for private equity funding.

Photo By betsyweber on Flickr License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Read More

How A Document Managed Office System Can Help

One of the big challenges of running an office is trying to keep up with all of the documents that seem to make their way there. In traditional office environments, there are a lot of papers lying around and stuck in filing cabinets. In the new office environment, companies are using document management systems to be able to keep up with their documents. Here are a few of the benefits of using a document management system for your office.

• More Secure
• Easy to Find
• Saves Paper
• Back Up
• Easy Communication

More Secure
One of the big benefits of using a document management system is that it is much more secure. In a traditional environment, you will see papers lying out on desks, and anyone could just come in and read whatever is on them. When you instead put your documents into a document management system, everything will be stored securely on a server. This makes it impossible for anyone to just walk in and get access to the documents.

Easy to Find
Another big advantage of using a document management system is that it makes documents a lot easier to find. Instead of having to dig through a filing cabinet or sort through a pile of papers on your desk, you can easily pull up the document on your computer. This can save the average employee hours every week instead of forcing them to dig through papers repeatedly.

Saves Paper
In some cases, using a document management system can also save paper. This has the capability to help the environment, and to save the company money on office supplies. When someone needs a copy of a document with the old system, they would have to find it and then run a copy. With a document management system, anyone can simply pull up the document that they need to use on their computer screen. This reduces the number of documents that are printed out.

Back Up
When using a document management system, all of the documents can easily be backed up. This means that a fire or a flood would not completely devastate your record-keeping system. With a traditional document system, any disasters such as these could completely destroy all the records permanently. With a document management system, you can have all of the records backed up on a remote server so that they can be accessed no matter what happens.

Easy Communication
With this type of system in place, it is easier to get documents where they need to go. In some office environments, employees have to route documents to the proper channels, which takes time. With a document management system, everyone needs a document can get it directly from their own computers.

While investing in a document management system will take a little bit of extra capital, it is usually well worth the investment. If you are looking for a way to gain a competitive advantage, this could be it.

Will writes for Concorde Corp a leader in the consumer electronics and managed services industry, Concorde specialises in IT management amongst other practical IT based solutions.

Photo By Martin Cathrae on Flickr License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Read More

Starting Your Counseling Practice: Five Critical Factors

After passing the licensing exam, the next commitment is either a counseling agency job or building your own private practice. While working for an agency is great experience, a private practice can be much more rewarding personally and financially. This article will discuss five crucial elements that a counselor must successfully navigate to successfully build a private practice.

The Business Plan

Although the idea of a business plan sounds more like sitting through graduate school than serving your future clientele, it is a prerequisite toward channeling your best creative efforts toward helping those clients. The business plan will assist you in maintaining an operational and financial balance. This plan is in writing and sets out your goals and how you plan to meet them. It should be understandable and articulate how the finances will assist you in meeting both you, and your client’s objectives. Consider it a much more creative version of your academic plan except that you are in charge and can make adjustments as needed.

The Marketing Plan

A marketing plan operates on the same principles as your business plan except that the focus is strictly on selling your services. Unfortunately simply hanging out a shingle is not going to be enough to build your practice. The American Counseling Association has many resources for its members that provide successful professional and ethical approaches. Many of these strategies revolve around offering free seminars and classes as a way to introduce your business to those in need.

Researching Licensing Requirements

You also need to find out what the licensing needs are for your business in the city and county where you intend to practice, and file the appropriate paperwork. Purchasing liability insurance is another business matter that must be taken care of. Consult your insurance agent and the American Counseling Association to assess your needs.

Selecting Your Online Space

A professional online presence is fast becoming one of the more crucial aspects that spell success or failure for a private practice. This section was titled in a way that highlighted the importance of your website as compared with your office space. After all, your client will most likely enter your online space before they decide to enter your physical space. This expense will be a vital part of your business and marketing plans. You may need professional assistance to develop a website that both draws newcomers, as well as positively reinforces those you may have met at a seminar or through a referral.

Renting Office Space

Like all of your decisions, the office space is based on your clientele and your finances. You can go high-end or low-end, or you can do something creative. Ask around about office parks in your area that cater to one person businesses. Find out if there is a counselor in town who leases spaces to other counselors and shares facilities. Another option is to lease an office space from a doctor or another health care provider within their facility. This strategy may also build your business by providing an immediate identity within a medical environment.
Starting a private practice is like starting a business. The crucial issues above provide a guideline but only you can do the additional research and make it happen. Private practice income can be significantly more than an agency job but the upfront investments in time and money must be made to ensure success.

Angela Hartley is a freelance consultant and writes on behalf of Alpha Tree Marketing. A firm dedicated to helping your small business plant, grow and profit from your online presence.

Photo By CollegeDegrees360 on Flickr License By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Read More

Should You Invest In Gold Or Gold Mine Stocks

Investing your money in gold is a much better decision than choosing to invest in many other investment such as mutual funds. The reason behind this is that investing in gold poses much less risks than other investment methods do. Investing in gold is a long term plan and can offer you a steady return on your original investment.

But after deciding to invest in gold many people run into what is one of the most common dilemmas that there is when it comes to gold investment. This dilemma is what is best to invest your money in – gold or gold mine stocks?
The purpose of this article is to really get to the core of this question and to determine which is the best thing to invest in.

One of the main reasons that people invest is gold is that they want to hedge against the inflation rate. The price of gold has almost always been much higher than the inflation rate, so has been a good a good investment for a number of years. It continues to be a good investment as the value of gold keeps increasing and increasing and shows signs that it will not slow for a long period of time.

However although the value of gold is often high, it can become subject to large crashes that may rapidly dwindle the return that you get on your original investment. As gold is a long term investment you always have to bear in mind that in the years to come the price of gold may plummet. This is very difficult to predict as markets change on a daily basis making it impossible to work out how they are going to be in the years to come.
Yet owning physical gold is often seen as a better investment than gold mines stocks as it protects you against a lot of risks that come with gold investment.

The value of gold mine stocks depends on the current price of gold. For example if gold is worth $1600 dollars per troy ounce and the production cost to make the gold is $800 then the gold mine is going to make $800 dollars. This would mean that your stocks and shares are going to be a worthwhile investment. But the risk comes if the price of gold dips. This is because the production cost is going to be more than the value of the gold, which means that gold market stocks will be running in the red.

Therefore actually owning physical gold is seen to be much better as you already own it so don't have to worry about production costs affecting its value. It is also good to own physical gold as if you ever need to withdraw you investment you can, but if you have invested in gold mine stocks you can't as you don't actually own any gold.

Due to all the reasons discussed, investing in physical gold is a much more safer option. It can also be more fun as you can invest in gold items such as gold coins or you could just stick with gold bullion. Gold market stocks on the other hand rely on too many factors, so If you are considering investing you need to make sure that you research it extremely well.

This is a guest post by Daniel Roberts. Occasional guest blogger on online shopping and full time blogger on investing in precious metals.  Daniel currently represents Regal Assets the best gold coin delears online.

Photo By digitalmoneyworld License By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Read More

Sports and Branding

Sports sponsorships happen when companies decide, often after careful brand research,to support to an athlete, a league or a single event. Some companies sponsor by offering products, but most pay for the rights to display their name prominently throughout the event. Sponsorship is big business, and sometimes it’s the determining factor in whether an event happens. In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of corporate sponsorship of sports.
The benefits:

• Name recognition. Whether it’s Nike and Serena Williams inking a contract, or Proctor & Gamble sponsoring the 2012 Olympic Games, sponsoring sports helps increase brand recognition. P&G will get years’ worth of publicity from this sponsorship, as its logo will be displayed at a variety of events.
• Finance: At the end of the day, it all boils down to money. The US NFL has the largest sponsorship package in sports- it made $870 million two years ago. Not every league needs that kind of cash; local sponsorships provide teams with the facilities and equipment they need.

Companies can also benefit from sponsoring events and athletes; in some cases, athletes hand over awards to be displayed at the sponsor's headquarters. Some charity events are sponsored as a way for companies to get a big tax deduction.
While sponsorships are great for professional athletes and companies looking to build their brand, they can be a drawback for amateurs. They can inhibit college sports eligibility; while in the US, the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) allows athletes to receive some non-monetary items, anything that could be construed as a performance payment could make the athelete forever ineligible to participate. Here are some of the other potential ‘conditions’ of sports sponsorship:

• Relinquishment of control: As part of the compensation package, sponsors may have requests that result in the beneficiary losing some control. It could be as simple as requiring a sports team to place a logo on their uniforms, or it could be as far-reaching as an agreement that would prevent a team from gaining more sponsors.
• Unintentional endorsement: Just because a company sponsors a team or an event, does not mean that the team or event committee is endorsing the product or brand. While this is largely irrelevant to teams, it can be an issue for athletes who are becoming prominent and therefore being associated with a brand name. Involuntary endorsements can lead to moral conflicts, and they can be especially problematic if the sponsor or team/athlete becomes embroiled in a scandal.
• Higher pressure: When an athlete or team earns a valuable sponsorship, they will likely be under higher pressure to succeed. Most companies are willing to get behind winning teams, but they will withdraw their sponsorship if the team begins to perform poorly.
• Decreased credibility: Some established sports are full of sponsorship deals, but newer athletes and sports can face criticism for earning company sponsorship; it’s seen as being a sellout. Agreements call for athletes and teams to do things that may be difficult to align with the way they were perceived before the deal was signed.

Sponsorships allow companies to build brand recognition and to break into new markets. Having operating costs and other expenses paid is a definite upside for teams and athletes, but sponsorship also has some disadvantages. Contracts can be complex and restrictive, and before a team or a brand gets involved, they should do their brand researchand be aware of both the benefits and the risks.

Written by James Harper on behalf of Hall and Partners: experts in brand research. Read more about branding here.

Photo By hairyeggg on Flickr License By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

Read More