Three Tips To Getting Discounted Term Assurance
If you want to take out a term assurance policy then you probably already want to make sure that you get it right and that you get it cheap. After all, there is a very real possibility here that you won’t die during the term of your policy so you won’t get any money back. But, on the other hand, you also need to make sure that your family is given the maximum cover protection if you do die. Follow our top three tips and you will be able to get the balance right!
1. Don’t over-insure
We all panic when it comes to taking out life insurance and sometimes this takes the form of over-insuring ourselves just to be on the safe side. To be honest this will give your family a lovely big sum of money to play with if you die. But, it’ll mean higher term assurance policy costs when you are alive – wouldn’t you rather have the money to play with now as well as make sure that they are protected if the worst comes to the worst?! The key thing to do here is to work out exactly what your family would need if you did die – you can always add a bit extra for luck if you’re worried about things changing in the future!
2. Don’t buy in a panic
Many of us end up paying over the odds for term assurance because we panic buy. One day we suddenly realise that we could die and leave our family in financial difficulties so we simply rush out and buy a policy quick. But, if you can spare just a few minutes to search through your options – which is quick and easy to do on the Internet – then you’re bound to find a great low cost quote. And, it’s really easy to organise term assurance online so you won’t lose any time at all. In fact, you’ll usually save time and money!
3. Talk to an expert
Using a broker to help you find and buy term assurance can make the whole process quick, easy and cheap. Brokers already know everything there is to know about term assurance policies so they can help you target the right one instantly. And, they can search for the cheapest deals AND get you discounts into the bargain. So, you’ll save all round!
Bear in mind that term assurance is really important to you and your family and you cannot afford to get it wrong – keep our tips in mind and you’ll get the right term assurance policy in place cheaper than you could ever have imagined.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Disadvantages of a Home Equity Loan
A home equity loan is money that can be borrowed from homeowners using the equity in their home. With this type of loan, a homeowner is able to borrow up to $100,000 against the value of their home. The interest on a home equity loan is tax deductible. There are two types of home equity loans. The first is a fixed rate loan and the other is a line of credit home equity loan.
A fixed rate home equity loan works like other standard loans. The lender provides money to the borrower and the borrower agrees to pay the loan back with interest over a set period of time. The payments and the interest rate will remain the same for the entire length of the loan. If the home is ever sold, the loan must be paid in full. The term of this loan is usually between five and fifteen years.
A line of credit home equity loan works much like a credit card. A credit card is often even given to the borrower with this type of loan. The borrower is once again provided a certain amount of money and they can draw from this balance using the credit card or cheques that the lender provides them. The interest on this type of loan is variable. The monthly payments will differ depending on how much money was borrowed during that month and what the current interest rate is. Like the fixed rate home equity loan, the loan must be paid in full if the home is ever sold and these loans usually range in terms between five and fifteen years.
Home equity loans can be very beneficial to the homeowner that has expenses that need to be paid. They can be used to pay off an existing loan, for college tuition, or to make home improvements. There are however, some pitfalls that must be considered and watched for when deciding on whether a home equity loan is the right choice.
If the home equity loan is not used properly, it can become a very dangerous situation. When individuals use a home equity loan to pay off existing debts and then use the credit that is newly available, this is called reloading. It is a vicious cycle of spending and borrowing. Reloading often leads the homeowner to take out a home equity loan that is more than the value of their house. Low interest rates do not apply to these loans as they are a high risk for the lender and there is no collateral if the loan is not paid off. Any interest applied to the amount of the loan that is worth more than the home is also not tax deductible. A home equity loan doesn’t make good financial sense when the value of the loan is worth more than the home as the borrower is just putting themselves further into debt instead of working to get out of debt.
Homeowner may also take out home equity loans to make home improvements but these renovations need to be carefully considered. If the improvements don’t add to the value of the home, going into debt to make them also does not make good sense. For instance, a pool may often reduce the market value of the home as not all buyers will want a pool. Renovating a kitchen or bathroom however, is usually a good place to add value to a home.
When considering a home equity loan, homeowners need to do a full evaluation of their financial situation to determine if it is the right option for them.
A fixed rate home equity loan works like other standard loans. The lender provides money to the borrower and the borrower agrees to pay the loan back with interest over a set period of time. The payments and the interest rate will remain the same for the entire length of the loan. If the home is ever sold, the loan must be paid in full. The term of this loan is usually between five and fifteen years.
A line of credit home equity loan works much like a credit card. A credit card is often even given to the borrower with this type of loan. The borrower is once again provided a certain amount of money and they can draw from this balance using the credit card or cheques that the lender provides them. The interest on this type of loan is variable. The monthly payments will differ depending on how much money was borrowed during that month and what the current interest rate is. Like the fixed rate home equity loan, the loan must be paid in full if the home is ever sold and these loans usually range in terms between five and fifteen years.
Home equity loans can be very beneficial to the homeowner that has expenses that need to be paid. They can be used to pay off an existing loan, for college tuition, or to make home improvements. There are however, some pitfalls that must be considered and watched for when deciding on whether a home equity loan is the right choice.
If the home equity loan is not used properly, it can become a very dangerous situation. When individuals use a home equity loan to pay off existing debts and then use the credit that is newly available, this is called reloading. It is a vicious cycle of spending and borrowing. Reloading often leads the homeowner to take out a home equity loan that is more than the value of their house. Low interest rates do not apply to these loans as they are a high risk for the lender and there is no collateral if the loan is not paid off. Any interest applied to the amount of the loan that is worth more than the home is also not tax deductible. A home equity loan doesn’t make good financial sense when the value of the loan is worth more than the home as the borrower is just putting themselves further into debt instead of working to get out of debt.
Homeowner may also take out home equity loans to make home improvements but these renovations need to be carefully considered. If the improvements don’t add to the value of the home, going into debt to make them also does not make good sense. For instance, a pool may often reduce the market value of the home as not all buyers will want a pool. Renovating a kitchen or bathroom however, is usually a good place to add value to a home.
When considering a home equity loan, homeowners need to do a full evaluation of their financial situation to determine if it is the right option for them.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Direct Deposit Cash Advances For Recipients Of Veterans Benefits
If you are a recipient of benefits issued by the U.S. Veterans Administration, then a direct deposit cash advance might be a helpful way to obtain when you need it quickly. Cash advances are just that – they are a loan that advance to you part or all of your next recurring benefits payment, which you use as needed and then repay as agreed when your next benefits payment is directly deposited into your bank account. Direct deposit cash advances for recipients of VA benefits are permitted under VA regulations and they are being approved for Vets every day.
Direct deposit cash advances for recipients of VA benefits make sense. Similar in concept to the payday loan in which employees borrow against their next paycheck, veterans have the option of using future regularly-scheduled benefits as evidence of the ability to repay a similarly structured cash advance loan. With payday loans, applicants repay these short-term advances right out of their next paychecks. Paychecks come every week or two, so borrowers repay payday loans on average 10 to 14 days after they have been approved and funded. Veterans benefits are paid monthly, so repayment of direct deposit cash advances is based on the anticipated arrival of the next monthly payment, or up to 30 days in duration.
Cash advances for veterans can vary in value based on the amount of monthly recurring benefits. These benefits are stable, that is, they are scheduled to be paid by from the government for an indeterminate number of future months as long as the recipient remains alive. Payday loans are often capped at $1,000, but direct deposit cash advances for recipients of VA benefits can be up to the full monthly amount that the Vet receives.
A VA cash advance loan is permissible under Federal law and regulation. Veterans are not allowed to sign over future benefits payments to anyone, even family members. VA officials view these transactions as loans which rely on the Vet’s ability to repay but do not assign future benefits as collateral, that is to say, assets that may be seized in the event of loan default. Those in the business of providing cash advances for recipients of veterans benefits assume the risk of an unsecured creditor. There is no underwriting process, applicants need not prove their creditworthiness via a positive credit history report, and future benefits may not be seized.
People who apply for and receive these cash advances are Vets who have an immediate need for cash to pay an emergency bill or avoid financial penalties of some sort before their next payment comes in. Equally important to many VA recipients is the confidentiality of the application process, since it may be accomplished entirely online from any personal computer that has an Internet connection. The application process only takes a few minutes and approval takes about an hour. If approved, the advance is deposited the next business day into the same bank checking account into which the recipient receives their regularly monthly benefit payment. The recipient is free to use these funds in whatever manner the deem appropriate.
Direct deposit cash advances for recipients of VA benefits make sense. Similar in concept to the payday loan in which employees borrow against their next paycheck, veterans have the option of using future regularly-scheduled benefits as evidence of the ability to repay a similarly structured cash advance loan. With payday loans, applicants repay these short-term advances right out of their next paychecks. Paychecks come every week or two, so borrowers repay payday loans on average 10 to 14 days after they have been approved and funded. Veterans benefits are paid monthly, so repayment of direct deposit cash advances is based on the anticipated arrival of the next monthly payment, or up to 30 days in duration.
Cash advances for veterans can vary in value based on the amount of monthly recurring benefits. These benefits are stable, that is, they are scheduled to be paid by from the government for an indeterminate number of future months as long as the recipient remains alive. Payday loans are often capped at $1,000, but direct deposit cash advances for recipients of VA benefits can be up to the full monthly amount that the Vet receives.
A VA cash advance loan is permissible under Federal law and regulation. Veterans are not allowed to sign over future benefits payments to anyone, even family members. VA officials view these transactions as loans which rely on the Vet’s ability to repay but do not assign future benefits as collateral, that is to say, assets that may be seized in the event of loan default. Those in the business of providing cash advances for recipients of veterans benefits assume the risk of an unsecured creditor. There is no underwriting process, applicants need not prove their creditworthiness via a positive credit history report, and future benefits may not be seized.
People who apply for and receive these cash advances are Vets who have an immediate need for cash to pay an emergency bill or avoid financial penalties of some sort before their next payment comes in. Equally important to many VA recipients is the confidentiality of the application process, since it may be accomplished entirely online from any personal computer that has an Internet connection. The application process only takes a few minutes and approval takes about an hour. If approved, the advance is deposited the next business day into the same bank checking account into which the recipient receives their regularly monthly benefit payment. The recipient is free to use these funds in whatever manner the deem appropriate.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Direct Deposit Cash Advances For Recipients Of Social Security
Nearly 20 percent of Social Security recipients depend solely on their payments to meet their monthly needs and more than half rely primarily on them to make ends meet each month. The Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program, administered by the U. S. Social Security Administration, provides to millions of elderly, widowed, and disabled American citizens their only regular source of income. The program, created under the Social Security Act of 1935, is a social insurance safety net funded through a dedicated payroll tax paid equally by employers and employees during their entire working lives.
Social Security paid out almost $500 billion in benefits in 2004. The U.S. Social Security program is the largest and most successful government program in the world, and the most durable.
Since 1975, recipients of Social Security payments have been able to enroll in the Direct Deposit of Federal Recurring Payments Program in which they designate a financial institution to receive an electronic deposit on their behalf rather than a paper check through the mail. They were the first group of recipients of Federal benefits to be able to participate in this program and, from inception, they have accepted it readily as a way to receive their funds quickly, safely, and conveniently. As a bonus to all taxpayers, the Federal government saves $9 million each month because direct deposit is less expensive than the paper check system that preceded it. After 24 years of Direct Deposit Program availability, 80 percent of recipients elected to use it rather than receive checks in the mail. In 2000, Direct Deposit became mandatory for new recipients and checks are now issued only in certain circumstances. The Direct Deposit Program is also available to recipients of Supplemental Security Income payments administered by Social Security and other Federal payments programs such as Veterans Disability, Railroad Retirement, Miner’s Benefits, and military and civilian agency pensions.
A recipient of a Federal program enrolls in Direct Deposit when their eligibility for payments is established by completing a form. In the case of Social Security, this is a Form 1199. With this form, the individual designates their financial institution by name, address, and routing transit number (the financial institution’s ID number within the banking system), and provides their own account number. The designated financial institution may be a commercial bank, mutual savings bank, savings & loan association, industrial bank, or credit union chartered by either the Federal or a state government. The account that is designated as the repository of funds may be either a checking or savings account with the recipient named as either the sole or a joint owner. Some recipients may not have bank accounts. In such circumstances, they may open an Electronic Transfer Account (ETA). This is a Federal government-insured account at a financial institution that is able to receive Direct Deposits payments.
Just as Direct Deposit is a safe, reliable, and secure way to receive recurring benefits payments, it is also the best way to receive cash advances associated with those payment, and for the same reasons. Should you need cash prior to the your next social security payment, a direct deposit cash advance is a loan against your next payment that is deposited to the same bank account in which you receive your Federal payment. You won’t have to worrying about lost, stolen, or misplaced checks or cash. The type of personal loan involved is also called a payday loan, and there are many reputable lenders that offer the direct deposit of loan proceeds via web sites on the Internet. They consider your participation in a Federal recurring payments program as the most important factor in approving your loan application. They do not perform credit checks on applicants. Typically, all a cash advance lender will need to approve the loan is information from a recent Social Security statement that shows what amount you receive each month. Other information about the borrower is also needed as is the relevant information regarding the borrower’s bank.
If you are in need of cash and want to use your Social Security payments as the basis for a small, short-term advance of $1,000, consider seeking out an Internet-based direct deposit loan company. You will find the process easy and fast and you will have your extra money for those unplanned circumstances that arise from time to time.
Social Security paid out almost $500 billion in benefits in 2004. The U.S. Social Security program is the largest and most successful government program in the world, and the most durable.
Since 1975, recipients of Social Security payments have been able to enroll in the Direct Deposit of Federal Recurring Payments Program in which they designate a financial institution to receive an electronic deposit on their behalf rather than a paper check through the mail. They were the first group of recipients of Federal benefits to be able to participate in this program and, from inception, they have accepted it readily as a way to receive their funds quickly, safely, and conveniently. As a bonus to all taxpayers, the Federal government saves $9 million each month because direct deposit is less expensive than the paper check system that preceded it. After 24 years of Direct Deposit Program availability, 80 percent of recipients elected to use it rather than receive checks in the mail. In 2000, Direct Deposit became mandatory for new recipients and checks are now issued only in certain circumstances. The Direct Deposit Program is also available to recipients of Supplemental Security Income payments administered by Social Security and other Federal payments programs such as Veterans Disability, Railroad Retirement, Miner’s Benefits, and military and civilian agency pensions.
A recipient of a Federal program enrolls in Direct Deposit when their eligibility for payments is established by completing a form. In the case of Social Security, this is a Form 1199. With this form, the individual designates their financial institution by name, address, and routing transit number (the financial institution’s ID number within the banking system), and provides their own account number. The designated financial institution may be a commercial bank, mutual savings bank, savings & loan association, industrial bank, or credit union chartered by either the Federal or a state government. The account that is designated as the repository of funds may be either a checking or savings account with the recipient named as either the sole or a joint owner. Some recipients may not have bank accounts. In such circumstances, they may open an Electronic Transfer Account (ETA). This is a Federal government-insured account at a financial institution that is able to receive Direct Deposits payments.
Just as Direct Deposit is a safe, reliable, and secure way to receive recurring benefits payments, it is also the best way to receive cash advances associated with those payment, and for the same reasons. Should you need cash prior to the your next social security payment, a direct deposit cash advance is a loan against your next payment that is deposited to the same bank account in which you receive your Federal payment. You won’t have to worrying about lost, stolen, or misplaced checks or cash. The type of personal loan involved is also called a payday loan, and there are many reputable lenders that offer the direct deposit of loan proceeds via web sites on the Internet. They consider your participation in a Federal recurring payments program as the most important factor in approving your loan application. They do not perform credit checks on applicants. Typically, all a cash advance lender will need to approve the loan is information from a recent Social Security statement that shows what amount you receive each month. Other information about the borrower is also needed as is the relevant information regarding the borrower’s bank.
If you are in need of cash and want to use your Social Security payments as the basis for a small, short-term advance of $1,000, consider seeking out an Internet-based direct deposit loan company. You will find the process easy and fast and you will have your extra money for those unplanned circumstances that arise from time to time.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Direct Deposit Cash Advances For Recipients Of Private Pensions
A direct deposit cash advance is a quick and easy way for retirees who receive private pensions payments to obtain cash that they may need unexpectedly. Retirees are seldom financially secure since so many rely on a fixed level of income. Even budgets based on a relatively high fixed incomes can be upset by unforeseeable emergency expenditures.
One of the biggest advantages of direct deposit cash advances for retirees is that there are no restrictions on the way the borrowed money may be used. With cash in hand, retirees can use it to help cover the part of medical bills and prescription medications not covered by Medicare. Some may need to apply the funds to home or auto repair.
Another benefit of direct deposit cash advances for retirees is the ease of the online application process. In about 30 minutes, an individual can complete the application process. This consists of providing basic details such as your name, the cash advance amount you’re interested in obtaining, and information about your bank account and your private pension. Once the information is verified, approval can be forthcoming.
As the name implies, direct deposit cash advances are deposited directly into your bank account the next business day following loan approval. Since the funds are directly deposited into your designated checking account at your bank, the recipient is not required to devote precious time waiting in line at a bank branch to deposit a check. And because the funds are directly deposited, there is no hold period on the funds as there might be when depositing a check drawn on a different bank than that of the borrower. This means that on the day that your loan is posted to your bank account, the money is yours to spend as you need.
A repayment schedule will be created as part of the application process based on the date that you are scheduled to receive your next recurring pension payment. This is within 30 days of the date of the submission of the loan application. Remember, this is a cash advance meant to be only a short-term loan so money is to be repaid quickly. Repayment is just as easy as the loan initiation process. When your next private pension payment is deposited into your bank account, the amount of cash advanced will be automatically debited from your account to repay the loan. From there, the funds will make their way back into the account of the cash advance company and your repayment obligation will be fulfilled. Loans may usually be extended for no more than two or three pay periods based on state law and the policies of the lender, but, since the fees for such extensions would become substantial, these limits cannot be exceeded by borrowers.
As you can see, direct deposit cash advances for recipients of recurring pension payments are superior to the alternative means of obtaining short-term cash. This is a ready source of funds available in a reliable, secure, and confidential manner from any location with a personal computer that has a connection to the Internet.
One of the biggest advantages of direct deposit cash advances for retirees is that there are no restrictions on the way the borrowed money may be used. With cash in hand, retirees can use it to help cover the part of medical bills and prescription medications not covered by Medicare. Some may need to apply the funds to home or auto repair.
Another benefit of direct deposit cash advances for retirees is the ease of the online application process. In about 30 minutes, an individual can complete the application process. This consists of providing basic details such as your name, the cash advance amount you’re interested in obtaining, and information about your bank account and your private pension. Once the information is verified, approval can be forthcoming.
As the name implies, direct deposit cash advances are deposited directly into your bank account the next business day following loan approval. Since the funds are directly deposited into your designated checking account at your bank, the recipient is not required to devote precious time waiting in line at a bank branch to deposit a check. And because the funds are directly deposited, there is no hold period on the funds as there might be when depositing a check drawn on a different bank than that of the borrower. This means that on the day that your loan is posted to your bank account, the money is yours to spend as you need.
A repayment schedule will be created as part of the application process based on the date that you are scheduled to receive your next recurring pension payment. This is within 30 days of the date of the submission of the loan application. Remember, this is a cash advance meant to be only a short-term loan so money is to be repaid quickly. Repayment is just as easy as the loan initiation process. When your next private pension payment is deposited into your bank account, the amount of cash advanced will be automatically debited from your account to repay the loan. From there, the funds will make their way back into the account of the cash advance company and your repayment obligation will be fulfilled. Loans may usually be extended for no more than two or three pay periods based on state law and the policies of the lender, but, since the fees for such extensions would become substantial, these limits cannot be exceeded by borrowers.
As you can see, direct deposit cash advances for recipients of recurring pension payments are superior to the alternative means of obtaining short-term cash. This is a ready source of funds available in a reliable, secure, and confidential manner from any location with a personal computer that has a connection to the Internet.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Different Types of Rewards Credit Cards
In today’s world of the often and ever-buying consumer, it has become de rigueur for credit card companies, airlines, gasoline/oil companies and a host of other businesses eager to garner a share of the wildly spending and charging public’s money, to offer some kind of bonus or reward for using them and their services. Who can blame them? In a time when spending has become a national pastime, there are deals to be made and companies offering some pretty good benefits for signing up with them.
To further convince us that we need these cards are the attractive bonuses these companies are willing to issue. These days the offering companies know that the rewards they offer is what creates consumer loyalty. To help illustrate this point, let’s look at a few of the many reward programs out there to entice the consumer to choose their card. The choices of reward credit cards we’ll look at are, frequent flyer credit cards, cash back credit cards and gas credit cards.
Frequent flyer cards, also known as travel cards, offer great bonuses for people who actually are “frequent flyers”. This group of select travelers should consider signing up with the airline that they travel with the most often. Most airlines today proffer such cards, both the large and small carriers. The biggest plus this kind of card offers is that the miles you earn by using your card can be incorporated into the miles you earn when you fly. There is a drawback to having and using an airline card and that is an annual fee. Though fees have decreased in the past few years, many cards still charge consumers anywhere from $25 to $125. It’s wise to remember that it usually takes roughly 25,000 miles to cash in on one free ticket. That might not end up to be such a bargain if it takes three years for you to accumulate enough points on a card that still charges an annual fee.
There are also some bank cards that will give a customer a mile towards travel for every dollar they charge. They usually also have a broad selection of airlines that will honor these points. Because this type of card generally does not charge an annual fee, it is an attractive option for the larger group of travelers known as the “less-frequent” flyers. This type of card also targets flyers who are dissatisfied with the limitations that airlines will put on available flying dates. One drawback of using this type of card is the inability to add the miles you receive by using this card with any other frequent flyer points you may have. Some newer card offers are changing this by giving a point for each dollar spent and also a point for a certain number of documented miles logged flying.
Cash back cards are becoming an increasingly popular choice with reward-seeking credit card users. Many people like that there are no limits on cash back cards as to what can be chosen as a reward, as is the case with merchandise cards. Cash spends anywhere and that is always an attractive benefit for consumers. Some cash-back cards will offer a flat rate and that type is often the choice for people who don’t charge large amounts. This is in contrast to cash-back cards that will offer “tiered” rebates, i.e., ones that will offer increasing cash-back options for consumers charging higher amounts.
There are also cards which offer greater cash back if the card is used at specific retailers and a lesser amount on all other purchases. In order to receive this lesser amount of cash back, these larger spenders will get a portion of the percentage at various levels of spending. For instance, if the cash-back offer is for 1%, in order to get this, the consumer must reach an annual spending goal. On their way to meeting this goal, they will receive .25% for the first quarter of the total met, 50% when half is reached and so on.
The gas rebate credit card is another popular choice of today’s consumer. These credit card offers are marketed in generous-sounding advertising terms, but the wise consumer will read all of the fine print before signing up to be sure that the card offers them exactly what they’re looking for. Some companies will begin with a great rebate of 10%, but further reading will explain that amount is good for only the first 60 days. After that, the rebate drops to 5%. This might not be too bad if you are always buying your gas from one company only, but this is not always the practical case. To counteract this, some cards will start out offering a 5% cash back option on any gas company brand, but will also give the spender a cash rebate on other purchases at select grocery stores or drug stores with a 1% rebate for items purchased elsewhere. There are some controls that should make a potential gas credit card holder wary before deciding to sign up. A few of these are:
Terms and conditions of these cards can change at any time, with very little notice to the card holder.
Not all gas stations will qualify for the full rebate. These mainly will be gas stations associated with business such as wholesale clubs or reduced-price gas stations connected with other retail companies.
Some gas card policies do not automatically issue your rebate without a specific request from the consumer. Other issuers will have an expiration date for rebate claims.
Whatever rewards credit card a consumer chooses to have, it is always wise to read the small print before committing. When someone goes into these agreements aware of all terms and conditions, they can offer compensation for using something that is a mainstay of our modern spending culture-our credit cards.
To further convince us that we need these cards are the attractive bonuses these companies are willing to issue. These days the offering companies know that the rewards they offer is what creates consumer loyalty. To help illustrate this point, let’s look at a few of the many reward programs out there to entice the consumer to choose their card. The choices of reward credit cards we’ll look at are, frequent flyer credit cards, cash back credit cards and gas credit cards.
Frequent flyer cards, also known as travel cards, offer great bonuses for people who actually are “frequent flyers”. This group of select travelers should consider signing up with the airline that they travel with the most often. Most airlines today proffer such cards, both the large and small carriers. The biggest plus this kind of card offers is that the miles you earn by using your card can be incorporated into the miles you earn when you fly. There is a drawback to having and using an airline card and that is an annual fee. Though fees have decreased in the past few years, many cards still charge consumers anywhere from $25 to $125. It’s wise to remember that it usually takes roughly 25,000 miles to cash in on one free ticket. That might not end up to be such a bargain if it takes three years for you to accumulate enough points on a card that still charges an annual fee.
There are also some bank cards that will give a customer a mile towards travel for every dollar they charge. They usually also have a broad selection of airlines that will honor these points. Because this type of card generally does not charge an annual fee, it is an attractive option for the larger group of travelers known as the “less-frequent” flyers. This type of card also targets flyers who are dissatisfied with the limitations that airlines will put on available flying dates. One drawback of using this type of card is the inability to add the miles you receive by using this card with any other frequent flyer points you may have. Some newer card offers are changing this by giving a point for each dollar spent and also a point for a certain number of documented miles logged flying.
Cash back cards are becoming an increasingly popular choice with reward-seeking credit card users. Many people like that there are no limits on cash back cards as to what can be chosen as a reward, as is the case with merchandise cards. Cash spends anywhere and that is always an attractive benefit for consumers. Some cash-back cards will offer a flat rate and that type is often the choice for people who don’t charge large amounts. This is in contrast to cash-back cards that will offer “tiered” rebates, i.e., ones that will offer increasing cash-back options for consumers charging higher amounts.
There are also cards which offer greater cash back if the card is used at specific retailers and a lesser amount on all other purchases. In order to receive this lesser amount of cash back, these larger spenders will get a portion of the percentage at various levels of spending. For instance, if the cash-back offer is for 1%, in order to get this, the consumer must reach an annual spending goal. On their way to meeting this goal, they will receive .25% for the first quarter of the total met, 50% when half is reached and so on.
The gas rebate credit card is another popular choice of today’s consumer. These credit card offers are marketed in generous-sounding advertising terms, but the wise consumer will read all of the fine print before signing up to be sure that the card offers them exactly what they’re looking for. Some companies will begin with a great rebate of 10%, but further reading will explain that amount is good for only the first 60 days. After that, the rebate drops to 5%. This might not be too bad if you are always buying your gas from one company only, but this is not always the practical case. To counteract this, some cards will start out offering a 5% cash back option on any gas company brand, but will also give the spender a cash rebate on other purchases at select grocery stores or drug stores with a 1% rebate for items purchased elsewhere. There are some controls that should make a potential gas credit card holder wary before deciding to sign up. A few of these are:
Terms and conditions of these cards can change at any time, with very little notice to the card holder.
Not all gas stations will qualify for the full rebate. These mainly will be gas stations associated with business such as wholesale clubs or reduced-price gas stations connected with other retail companies.
Some gas card policies do not automatically issue your rebate without a specific request from the consumer. Other issuers will have an expiration date for rebate claims.
Whatever rewards credit card a consumer chooses to have, it is always wise to read the small print before committing. When someone goes into these agreements aware of all terms and conditions, they can offer compensation for using something that is a mainstay of our modern spending culture-our credit cards.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Different Types of Lenders
According to Carrier Reeder, debt adviser: The most important type of loan is home loan and as in other cases the choice of lenders are immense. She analyses the various types of loans available and the options offered by them. The various types of lenders are a. Mortgage Banker, b. Mortgage broker c. Credit Unions, d. Savings and Loans and e. Government Loans.
According to Reeder, in case of Mortgage Banker one person is responsible for the borrower from beginning to end, who guides through the various process of loan facilities, the various offers, choosing the loans which best suits one, the time period etc he also follows on the repayment factors, interest involved and till the end when the loan is all paid up. A Mortgage Broker on the other hand is engaged when there is not a good credit history for a borrower, he acts as a mediator between the bank and the borrower and gets the entire process done. A Credit Union is present in many of the associations or groups, in case the borrower belongs to such association then he/she can check out the various loan facilities offered by them. The best bet for a borrower is the local savings and loans groups. Government does not themselves offer loans but back some of the loans already in offering.
According to Kevin Stith, a debt adviser, financial institutions, banks and private lenders offer loans or mortgages. The reason to approach a private lender is when the borrower has a bad credit rating. The private lenders ask for security for the loans advanced by them. The security is usually in the form of property or house. The private lender here takes a risk by lending loan to someone who has a bad credit rating, hence to reduce his risk he asks for a higher fees and property as security.
The difference between applying for a loan online and through a broker is that the rates of interest are fixed in case of a online loan facility and in case of a broker the rate of interest can be negotiated and various facilities which suit the borrower can be offered by the broker. It is said that in case of a mortgage broker, if a business deal is fixed and the lender seems to gain advantage then he may offer may facilities to the borrower. Also according to Stith the market is full of borrowers and hence shopping around for one who offers better deal is definitely advantageous to the borrower.
According to Reeder, in case of Mortgage Banker one person is responsible for the borrower from beginning to end, who guides through the various process of loan facilities, the various offers, choosing the loans which best suits one, the time period etc he also follows on the repayment factors, interest involved and till the end when the loan is all paid up. A Mortgage Broker on the other hand is engaged when there is not a good credit history for a borrower, he acts as a mediator between the bank and the borrower and gets the entire process done. A Credit Union is present in many of the associations or groups, in case the borrower belongs to such association then he/she can check out the various loan facilities offered by them. The best bet for a borrower is the local savings and loans groups. Government does not themselves offer loans but back some of the loans already in offering.
According to Kevin Stith, a debt adviser, financial institutions, banks and private lenders offer loans or mortgages. The reason to approach a private lender is when the borrower has a bad credit rating. The private lenders ask for security for the loans advanced by them. The security is usually in the form of property or house. The private lender here takes a risk by lending loan to someone who has a bad credit rating, hence to reduce his risk he asks for a higher fees and property as security.
The difference between applying for a loan online and through a broker is that the rates of interest are fixed in case of a online loan facility and in case of a broker the rate of interest can be negotiated and various facilities which suit the borrower can be offered by the broker. It is said that in case of a mortgage broker, if a business deal is fixed and the lender seems to gain advantage then he may offer may facilities to the borrower. Also according to Stith the market is full of borrowers and hence shopping around for one who offers better deal is definitely advantageous to the borrower.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Develop a Savings Plan
There are so many things that we teach our children that keep them on the right path throughout life. How to save money is one of the most important lessons that parents teach their children. Teach your children about finances by opening an account and setting money aside. They'll learn about patience, interest and saving.
It's easy to forget, or ignore, the need to save. We all too often are saying that there isn't enough money to put into savings and we'll do it later. But if there isn't enough money to put into savings, is there enough money if there is an emergency. By having a savings plan, you can keep an emergency from destroying your finances.
Savings can be anything from a simple savings account to bonds and retirement plans. You may be saving for emergencies, college, a new home or for retirement. Or even for all of the above! No matter what your goal is, there is a savings plan that will fit your needs. Not all types of savings are going to work for you. You have to find the plan that fits your own personal financial needs.
What makes saving money just a wonderful experience is interest. You aren't just saving your money, your actually letting it grow. Your money is making more money. How does this work?
When you put money in a savings account, certificate of deposit (CD) or money market account, you are basically lending the money to the bank. The bank will use your money to make loans to other customers. They are borrowing money from you and paying you interest, while someone pays them interest on the money they have borrowed from the bank.
Banks charge higher interest rates on loans so that they can pay your interest, plus make their own profits.
Interest can seem like a complicated math problem, but it isn't hard to understand. Most banks will talk about both "rate" and "yield."
For example, a $10,000 CD with a 5% annual interest rate (APR) will also have an annual percentage yield number (APY) that is a higher number. The difference between the APR and the APY depends on how frequently the interest is paid, and in what form.
If the interest is paid annually at a rate of 5%, the $10,000 investment with earn $500. Simply multiply the investment amount by the APR to determine the interest paid. When the interest is paid annually, the rate and yield are the same.
The yield goes up as interest is paid more frequently. The interest begins to earn interest along with the original investment. When the 5% CD is paid twice a year, in six months the interest payment is $250. We figure this by multiplying the original investment by the interest rate for half a year, or 2.5%. The $250 in interest will earn $6.25 in interest over the next six months, adding $256.25 at the next six month mark. Compound interest is starting to take over.
In the first scenario, the CD earned $500 in interest in one year. The rate and yield is at 5%. The second CD earned $506.25. The rate is still at 5%, but the yield has increased to 5.06%. It may not seem like a lot, but over time it keeps building up. When shopping around for savings plans, look at both rates and yields.
It's easy to forget, or ignore, the need to save. We all too often are saying that there isn't enough money to put into savings and we'll do it later. But if there isn't enough money to put into savings, is there enough money if there is an emergency. By having a savings plan, you can keep an emergency from destroying your finances.
Savings can be anything from a simple savings account to bonds and retirement plans. You may be saving for emergencies, college, a new home or for retirement. Or even for all of the above! No matter what your goal is, there is a savings plan that will fit your needs. Not all types of savings are going to work for you. You have to find the plan that fits your own personal financial needs.
What makes saving money just a wonderful experience is interest. You aren't just saving your money, your actually letting it grow. Your money is making more money. How does this work?
When you put money in a savings account, certificate of deposit (CD) or money market account, you are basically lending the money to the bank. The bank will use your money to make loans to other customers. They are borrowing money from you and paying you interest, while someone pays them interest on the money they have borrowed from the bank.
Banks charge higher interest rates on loans so that they can pay your interest, plus make their own profits.
Interest can seem like a complicated math problem, but it isn't hard to understand. Most banks will talk about both "rate" and "yield."
For example, a $10,000 CD with a 5% annual interest rate (APR) will also have an annual percentage yield number (APY) that is a higher number. The difference between the APR and the APY depends on how frequently the interest is paid, and in what form.
If the interest is paid annually at a rate of 5%, the $10,000 investment with earn $500. Simply multiply the investment amount by the APR to determine the interest paid. When the interest is paid annually, the rate and yield are the same.
The yield goes up as interest is paid more frequently. The interest begins to earn interest along with the original investment. When the 5% CD is paid twice a year, in six months the interest payment is $250. We figure this by multiplying the original investment by the interest rate for half a year, or 2.5%. The $250 in interest will earn $6.25 in interest over the next six months, adding $256.25 at the next six month mark. Compound interest is starting to take over.
In the first scenario, the CD earned $500 in interest in one year. The rate and yield is at 5%. The second CD earned $506.25. The rate is still at 5%, but the yield has increased to 5.06%. It may not seem like a lot, but over time it keeps building up. When shopping around for savings plans, look at both rates and yields.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Develop a Savings Plan
There are so many things that we teach our children that keep them on the right path throughout life. How to save money is one of the most important lessons that parents teach their children. Teach your children about finances by opening an account and setting money aside. They'll learn about patience, interest and saving.
It's easy to forget, or ignore, the need to save. We all too often are saying that there isn't enough money to put into savings and we'll do it later. But if there isn't enough money to put into savings, is there enough money if there is an emergency. By having a savings plan, you can keep an emergency from destroying your finances.
Savings can be anything from a simple savings account to bonds and retirement plans. You may be saving for emergencies, college, a new home or for retirement. Or even for all of the above! No matter what your goal is, there is a savings plan that will fit your needs. Not all types of savings are going to work for you. You have to find the plan that fits your own personal financial needs.
What makes saving money just a wonderful experience is interest. You aren't just saving your money, your actually letting it grow. Your money is making more money. How does this work?
When you put money in a savings account, certificate of deposit (CD) or money market account, you are basically lending the money to the bank. The bank will use your money to make loans to other customers. They are borrowing money from you and paying you interest, while someone pays them interest on the money they have borrowed from the bank.
Banks charge higher interest rates on loans so that they can pay your interest, plus make their own profits.
Interest can seem like a complicated math problem, but it isn't hard to understand. Most banks will talk about both "rate" and "yield."
For example, a $10,000 CD with a 5% annual interest rate (APR) will also have an annual percentage yield number (APY) that is a higher number. The difference between the APR and the APY depends on how frequently the interest is paid, and in what form.
If the interest is paid annually at a rate of 5%, the $10,000 investment with earn $500. Simply multiply the investment amount by the APR to determine the interest paid. When the interest is paid annually, the rate and yield are the same.
The yield goes up as interest is paid more frequently. The interest begins to earn interest along with the original investment. When the 5% CD is paid twice a year, in six months the interest payment is $250. We figure this by multiplying the original investment by the interest rate for half a year, or 2.5%. The $250 in interest will earn $6.25 in interest over the next six months, adding $256.25 at the next six month mark. Compound interest is starting to take over.
In the first scenario, the CD earned $500 in interest in one year. The rate and yield is at 5%. The second CD earned $506.25. The rate is still at 5%, but the yield has increased to 5.06%. It may not seem like a lot, but over time it keeps building up. When shopping around for savings plans, look at both rates and yields.
It's easy to forget, or ignore, the need to save. We all too often are saying that there isn't enough money to put into savings and we'll do it later. But if there isn't enough money to put into savings, is there enough money if there is an emergency. By having a savings plan, you can keep an emergency from destroying your finances.
Savings can be anything from a simple savings account to bonds and retirement plans. You may be saving for emergencies, college, a new home or for retirement. Or even for all of the above! No matter what your goal is, there is a savings plan that will fit your needs. Not all types of savings are going to work for you. You have to find the plan that fits your own personal financial needs.
What makes saving money just a wonderful experience is interest. You aren't just saving your money, your actually letting it grow. Your money is making more money. How does this work?
When you put money in a savings account, certificate of deposit (CD) or money market account, you are basically lending the money to the bank. The bank will use your money to make loans to other customers. They are borrowing money from you and paying you interest, while someone pays them interest on the money they have borrowed from the bank.
Banks charge higher interest rates on loans so that they can pay your interest, plus make their own profits.
Interest can seem like a complicated math problem, but it isn't hard to understand. Most banks will talk about both "rate" and "yield."
For example, a $10,000 CD with a 5% annual interest rate (APR) will also have an annual percentage yield number (APY) that is a higher number. The difference between the APR and the APY depends on how frequently the interest is paid, and in what form.
If the interest is paid annually at a rate of 5%, the $10,000 investment with earn $500. Simply multiply the investment amount by the APR to determine the interest paid. When the interest is paid annually, the rate and yield are the same.
The yield goes up as interest is paid more frequently. The interest begins to earn interest along with the original investment. When the 5% CD is paid twice a year, in six months the interest payment is $250. We figure this by multiplying the original investment by the interest rate for half a year, or 2.5%. The $250 in interest will earn $6.25 in interest over the next six months, adding $256.25 at the next six month mark. Compound interest is starting to take over.
In the first scenario, the CD earned $500 in interest in one year. The rate and yield is at 5%. The second CD earned $506.25. The rate is still at 5%, but the yield has increased to 5.06%. It may not seem like a lot, but over time it keeps building up. When shopping around for savings plans, look at both rates and yields.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Detect Bogus Credit Card Offers
Almost all the activities carried out every day facilitate the use of credit cards. Due to the prevalent use of credit cards, the buying capacity has increased; since people have the breathing period to repay the credit availed of. The buying decisions do not wait until the salary is received. This has made the usage of credit cards in all walks of life right from dining, to stay in a hotel, purchase of an air ticket, grocery purchase, petrol refilling etc.
Getting the right credit card from a reputed company extending genuine offers has become a concern nowadays due to fraudulent practices carried out while selling credit cards over the internet. Care needs to be taken in order to avoid to falling prey to the fake companies offering bogus offers to the customers.
A few useful tips to find out bogus credit card offers:
Normally a credit card issuer won’t ask for hundreds of dollars for a processing and application fee. Only nominal amount will be charged. Also they do not ask for money upfront.
The annual fee is printed on the first credit card statement. So only when you are sure, fee payment should be made.
Person having bad credit problems are targeted by the bogus credit card offers. This is not the case with reputed banks or card issuers, since the repaying capacity is what a genuine person will look for. If an offer says that they even provide credit cards to bad credit people, then one should be cautious enough to reject the offer.
If a person receives mails from unsolicited sources offering a credit card, beware of the mail and mark them as spam at once.
Do not rely on other companies or brokers to get a credit card, as it is of no help. Applying for the same with a reputed company directly will educate more on the details regarding fees charged, penalty details, by going through the policies, terms and conditions of the company on your own.
It is advised to go for counseling with the consumer credit counseling service in case of credit related issues than falling prey to the company which claims that by collecting a fee from you, it will facilitate you to correct the bad credit. When you can correct it yourself for free why pay others?
A gold or silver card offered by a company might end up only to be used for overpriced products or from the very own company’s catalogue. So one should be careful to study the status of the company and its credit cards, in detail.
It is better to buy from known sources and reputed companies, than going for offers lent by unknown companies.
Getting the right credit card from a reputed company extending genuine offers has become a concern nowadays due to fraudulent practices carried out while selling credit cards over the internet. Care needs to be taken in order to avoid to falling prey to the fake companies offering bogus offers to the customers.
A few useful tips to find out bogus credit card offers:
Normally a credit card issuer won’t ask for hundreds of dollars for a processing and application fee. Only nominal amount will be charged. Also they do not ask for money upfront.
The annual fee is printed on the first credit card statement. So only when you are sure, fee payment should be made.
Person having bad credit problems are targeted by the bogus credit card offers. This is not the case with reputed banks or card issuers, since the repaying capacity is what a genuine person will look for. If an offer says that they even provide credit cards to bad credit people, then one should be cautious enough to reject the offer.
If a person receives mails from unsolicited sources offering a credit card, beware of the mail and mark them as spam at once.
Do not rely on other companies or brokers to get a credit card, as it is of no help. Applying for the same with a reputed company directly will educate more on the details regarding fees charged, penalty details, by going through the policies, terms and conditions of the company on your own.
It is advised to go for counseling with the consumer credit counseling service in case of credit related issues than falling prey to the company which claims that by collecting a fee from you, it will facilitate you to correct the bad credit. When you can correct it yourself for free why pay others?
A gold or silver card offered by a company might end up only to be used for overpriced products or from the very own company’s catalogue. So one should be careful to study the status of the company and its credit cards, in detail.
It is better to buy from known sources and reputed companies, than going for offers lent by unknown companies.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Debt And Debtor's Disease. Do You Have It?
Debtor's disease is a silent killer. Killer of respect, marriages, self control, and families. There isn't a part of your life that it won't touch and destroy with it's deadly power. Some of you won't even know you have it for many, many years. It's a sneaky affliction; creeping into your life and slowly but surely taking control of every part of your existence.
Seems a bit of a dramatic description, doesn't it? But, the sad part is, it's all true. Even though we often hate to admit it, debt will control our lives totally. Even when we first realize it, we won't do anything about it. We will deny it, continue to feed it, and give it all it needs to thrive within our lives. Oh, you'll have help, no doubt about that. There are many ways we fuel the fever. Falling into the credit card trap is just the beginning. Self justification is your worst enemy. Why, the human mind is masterful at justifying just about any action, or purchase, given the right circumstances.
The first step is recognizing the disease. Diagnoses of debtor's disease is much harder than you might expect. Oh, the symptoms are very clear for sure. But, since most of us hate to admit our own vulnerabilities and defeat, they can be nearly invisible to the victim. I experienced nearly all of the symptoms below before I finally excepted the fact that I did indeed have the affliction. It is quite a humiliating experience to realize that so many obvious warning signs were present and you continued down the wrong path.
They say hindsight is 20/20; Meaning that the past is clearer when we look back. And, when things go wrong, we like to hope that we would have done things differently if we knew what we know now. Well, I'm hoping I can prevent you from some of that humiliation and financial disaster. You can stop it from growing to destructive levels if you can identify the warnings early on. Identify problems early and fix them. Make no mistake, if the following scenarios apply to your situation, you are headed for financial trouble.
SYMPTOMS
Requesting credit increases lately?
Requesting credit increases for no specific major purchase, but because your cards are maxed out, is a sure sign that your spending is out of control. You may be living way beyond your income.
Do you apply for new credit cards because your current credit balances are maxed out?
This is just another way to get additional credit especially, when you can't seem to get any more credit increases from your existing creditors.
Are you rescheduling monthly bill payments due to lack of funds?
If you find it increasingly difficult to pay bills on time and according to a consistent schedule, you're probably starting to get into trouble. You should not have to put off paying essential bills.
Are you using credit to meet your living expenses?
Credit is not intended to help you live above your income. You should be able to meet all of your essential living expenses with your income. If you have income left for non-essential expenses, great. If not, don't turn to credit to live above your income. It will most certainly result in financial disaster.
Paying essential monthly bills, such as the electric or phone, with credit cards is a serious symptom. Once you turn to credit to pay your monthly bills, you're in serious trouble. Sooner or later the credit cards will be maxed out, you will be refused additional credit increases, and you won't be able to pay those bills.
Do your credit card payments equal more than 10 -15% of your monthly income?
Your income to credit ratio is an important part of your credit management picture. The higher your balances, without an increase in income, the lower your credit score. This is true even if you have no derogatory items on your credit history, and are consistently maintaining good payment records.
In most cases, creditors will identify debtor's disease long before the victim realizes his affliction. They will begin to arm themselves against the consequences of the infection when this occurs. Your interest rates and penalties (i.e. late fees, over limit fees) may increase as companies anticipate default. Even they can see you're headed for trouble.
THE CURE
If you answered yes to any or all of the above, you have fallen victim to debtor's disease. Don't let it take control of your life! Fix the problems now. You'll have less stress and be a lot happier. I can say that with confidence. It is such a relief to be able to see an end to the struggle.
You will feel as though a great burden has been taken from you when your finances are under control. And, even though you may experience some difficult periods when you may get discouraged, you'll find those times much less stressful that periods when you worried about how your bills would get paid. Take some serious money management steps to begin your treatment. It's never too late to take control of your finances and make a commitment to debt free living.
Identify overspending and eliminate it.
Identify where your money goes. Track spending for specified period of time. Eliminate unnecessary expenses. Reduce those you feel you need to keep.
Develop a plan to become debt free.
Create a plan to get rid of debt. Use a self help plan or a professional. Whether you choose a counselor, debt consolidation or settlement, or a self help plan, lower debt consistently to manage and eliminate debt. A plan that calls for a consistent monthly commitment until debt is paid will be easier to budget.
Create a Household budget
Creating a household budget will be essential to your success. It is necessary to bring your living expenses within your income. This is the concept of living within your means. You can create this yourself as well or seek professional help in setting up or maintaining your budget. Your situation and your level of self discipline will determine what will be most successful for you. Find a plan that works for your situation and will be the easiest for you to stick to!
Implement lifestyle changes that will help you free up money to help pay down debt. Consistently apply these extra funds to debt payments to get out of debt faster. The sooner you are free from debt, the sooner you can start investing that money in yourself. Save money everyday on everything you buy and do.
Once you rid yourself of debt, commit to debt free living.
Remember, you now know how you made the mistakes, you know how to identify the symptoms, and you have the knowledge and power to implement the cure. You should now be immune to debtor's disease. Now, you can vaccinate your children, friends, and family with the knowledge to prevent them from falling prey to this life draining affliction. Give them your hind sight and help them build happy, secure, and independent futures for themselves and their families.
Seems a bit of a dramatic description, doesn't it? But, the sad part is, it's all true. Even though we often hate to admit it, debt will control our lives totally. Even when we first realize it, we won't do anything about it. We will deny it, continue to feed it, and give it all it needs to thrive within our lives. Oh, you'll have help, no doubt about that. There are many ways we fuel the fever. Falling into the credit card trap is just the beginning. Self justification is your worst enemy. Why, the human mind is masterful at justifying just about any action, or purchase, given the right circumstances.
The first step is recognizing the disease. Diagnoses of debtor's disease is much harder than you might expect. Oh, the symptoms are very clear for sure. But, since most of us hate to admit our own vulnerabilities and defeat, they can be nearly invisible to the victim. I experienced nearly all of the symptoms below before I finally excepted the fact that I did indeed have the affliction. It is quite a humiliating experience to realize that so many obvious warning signs were present and you continued down the wrong path.
They say hindsight is 20/20; Meaning that the past is clearer when we look back. And, when things go wrong, we like to hope that we would have done things differently if we knew what we know now. Well, I'm hoping I can prevent you from some of that humiliation and financial disaster. You can stop it from growing to destructive levels if you can identify the warnings early on. Identify problems early and fix them. Make no mistake, if the following scenarios apply to your situation, you are headed for financial trouble.
SYMPTOMS
Requesting credit increases lately?
Requesting credit increases for no specific major purchase, but because your cards are maxed out, is a sure sign that your spending is out of control. You may be living way beyond your income.
Do you apply for new credit cards because your current credit balances are maxed out?
This is just another way to get additional credit especially, when you can't seem to get any more credit increases from your existing creditors.
Are you rescheduling monthly bill payments due to lack of funds?
If you find it increasingly difficult to pay bills on time and according to a consistent schedule, you're probably starting to get into trouble. You should not have to put off paying essential bills.
Are you using credit to meet your living expenses?
Credit is not intended to help you live above your income. You should be able to meet all of your essential living expenses with your income. If you have income left for non-essential expenses, great. If not, don't turn to credit to live above your income. It will most certainly result in financial disaster.
Paying essential monthly bills, such as the electric or phone, with credit cards is a serious symptom. Once you turn to credit to pay your monthly bills, you're in serious trouble. Sooner or later the credit cards will be maxed out, you will be refused additional credit increases, and you won't be able to pay those bills.
Do your credit card payments equal more than 10 -15% of your monthly income?
Your income to credit ratio is an important part of your credit management picture. The higher your balances, without an increase in income, the lower your credit score. This is true even if you have no derogatory items on your credit history, and are consistently maintaining good payment records.
In most cases, creditors will identify debtor's disease long before the victim realizes his affliction. They will begin to arm themselves against the consequences of the infection when this occurs. Your interest rates and penalties (i.e. late fees, over limit fees) may increase as companies anticipate default. Even they can see you're headed for trouble.
THE CURE
If you answered yes to any or all of the above, you have fallen victim to debtor's disease. Don't let it take control of your life! Fix the problems now. You'll have less stress and be a lot happier. I can say that with confidence. It is such a relief to be able to see an end to the struggle.
You will feel as though a great burden has been taken from you when your finances are under control. And, even though you may experience some difficult periods when you may get discouraged, you'll find those times much less stressful that periods when you worried about how your bills would get paid. Take some serious money management steps to begin your treatment. It's never too late to take control of your finances and make a commitment to debt free living.
Identify overspending and eliminate it.
Identify where your money goes. Track spending for specified period of time. Eliminate unnecessary expenses. Reduce those you feel you need to keep.
Develop a plan to become debt free.
Create a plan to get rid of debt. Use a self help plan or a professional. Whether you choose a counselor, debt consolidation or settlement, or a self help plan, lower debt consistently to manage and eliminate debt. A plan that calls for a consistent monthly commitment until debt is paid will be easier to budget.
Create a Household budget
Creating a household budget will be essential to your success. It is necessary to bring your living expenses within your income. This is the concept of living within your means. You can create this yourself as well or seek professional help in setting up or maintaining your budget. Your situation and your level of self discipline will determine what will be most successful for you. Find a plan that works for your situation and will be the easiest for you to stick to!
Implement lifestyle changes that will help you free up money to help pay down debt. Consistently apply these extra funds to debt payments to get out of debt faster. The sooner you are free from debt, the sooner you can start investing that money in yourself. Save money everyday on everything you buy and do.
Once you rid yourself of debt, commit to debt free living.
Remember, you now know how you made the mistakes, you know how to identify the symptoms, and you have the knowledge and power to implement the cure. You should now be immune to debtor's disease. Now, you can vaccinate your children, friends, and family with the knowledge to prevent them from falling prey to this life draining affliction. Give them your hind sight and help them build happy, secure, and independent futures for themselves and their families.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Dealing With Rising Costs
Sadly, we don’t live in a world where one can realistically be expected to save their money. It just doesn’t happen anymore! A few decades ago that could have happened but not any more. It used to be that your income was far greater than your expenses and you could put quite a bit away. But now our income is often outstripped by our expenses! Our income has not kept up with rising prices and rising taxes.
So we’re forced to make due with our current income. Sure we can try to increase that income over time, through pay raises or moonlighting or getting a better job, but the reality for many of us is that we have to figure out a different way. One of those ways is to intelligently use loans to help you with your finances.
Perhaps it means getting a payday loan to bridge us to the next paycheck. Or maybe other times it means using our credit cards to consolidate our monthly expenditures and paying it back once at the end of the month. And still other times it means getting a loan to help us buy the things we need.
There are two types of loans. An unsecured loan is money that a lending agency gives to you based on their assessment of your risk. Your credit rating is one of the ways they make that decision. And since they lose their money if you default on your payment, the risk is higher so the interest rate is higher.
However, if you need to borrow more money or you want a loan at a more attractive interest rate, or you want some flexibility with the repayment terms, then borrowing against your assets is the way to go.
Some examples of assets, or equity, that you just might be able to use include your house your car, your stock certificates, or some other kind of valuable possession. Borrowing against these assets assures the lending institute that they can recoup their losses if you fail to make your payments since there is an alternate form of payment.
Lending agencies like this because it minimizes the risk they take. And you’ll love it because it increases the amount of money you can potentially borrow, it lowers the interest rate you’ll have to pay, and it lengthens the amount of time you’re expected to pay the loan back! What could be better than that?
Some excellent uses for secured loans include such things as debt consolidation or house improvement loans. In both cases, you’ll find that a secured loan gives you a good amount of money at an attractive rate so you can reduce your debt payments or increase the value of your house affordably!
We live in a world that expects us to borrow now and then. Don’t you think that a secured loan is the way to go the next time you need to borrow?
So we’re forced to make due with our current income. Sure we can try to increase that income over time, through pay raises or moonlighting or getting a better job, but the reality for many of us is that we have to figure out a different way. One of those ways is to intelligently use loans to help you with your finances.
Perhaps it means getting a payday loan to bridge us to the next paycheck. Or maybe other times it means using our credit cards to consolidate our monthly expenditures and paying it back once at the end of the month. And still other times it means getting a loan to help us buy the things we need.
There are two types of loans. An unsecured loan is money that a lending agency gives to you based on their assessment of your risk. Your credit rating is one of the ways they make that decision. And since they lose their money if you default on your payment, the risk is higher so the interest rate is higher.
However, if you need to borrow more money or you want a loan at a more attractive interest rate, or you want some flexibility with the repayment terms, then borrowing against your assets is the way to go.
Some examples of assets, or equity, that you just might be able to use include your house your car, your stock certificates, or some other kind of valuable possession. Borrowing against these assets assures the lending institute that they can recoup their losses if you fail to make your payments since there is an alternate form of payment.
Lending agencies like this because it minimizes the risk they take. And you’ll love it because it increases the amount of money you can potentially borrow, it lowers the interest rate you’ll have to pay, and it lengthens the amount of time you’re expected to pay the loan back! What could be better than that?
Some excellent uses for secured loans include such things as debt consolidation or house improvement loans. In both cases, you’ll find that a secured loan gives you a good amount of money at an attractive rate so you can reduce your debt payments or increase the value of your house affordably!
We live in a world that expects us to borrow now and then. Don’t you think that a secured loan is the way to go the next time you need to borrow?
Monday, January 17, 2011
Deal Or No Deal: The Banker’s Secret
“Deal or No Deal” a popular game show on NBC has captured audiences with its large prize amounts, and unorthodox game show structure. Game show fans have become accustomed to trivia, dating and stunt –based games. “Deal or No Deal” presents a new format for game shows, but what is the secret behind the banker’s offers?
I love watching this show because the whole concept of the banker’s offers tempting the players to abandon the game and walk away with some amount of dollars really appeals to me. I play the game in my head, telling the players which offers they should accept, and which they should walk away from. There is an easy way to figure out which offers are good (and which are bad) through a simple financial principle.
Expected value is the principle, and it is one of the basic principles of finance. It allows you to assign a value to something now, knowing that the future is uncertain.
Deal or No Deal: How to decide
The real point of the game is to approximate, at any given point, what the expected value of the suitcase in your hand is.
Step 1: What is the potential gain? At any point in the game, you can determine the potential gain. The highest values left on the board are the maximum amount you can gain from playing. At the start, this would be the $100,000 through $1 million prizes. As the game progresses, and cases are eliminated, the potential gain adjusts downward.
Step 2: What is the probability of that gain? There are 26 spots on the game board. The probability of you having the highest-value case in your possession is simply the number of “high-value prizes” (greater than $100,000) left on the board divided by the number of cases remaining.
For example: you’re playing the game, and there are 9 cases left (plus the one in your hand). The board has the $100,000, $400,000 and $750,000 prizes left, with 7 other smaller prizes also available. The probability that you have the case with one of these three prizes is 10%.
0.10 * $100,000 = $10,000
0.10 * $400,000 = $40,000
0.10 * $750,000 = $75,000
Summing these values, the approximate expected value of your case is $125,000. If the banker offers you anything less, you should say, “No deal!”
So how does the show keep from losing money on every player? The banker almost never offers anything over the expected value when there are still large amounts on the board. Players compare a paltry $150,000 to the possible million-dollar prize and they can’t resist.
So now you know how to play. And how to ‘beat the banker!’
I love watching this show because the whole concept of the banker’s offers tempting the players to abandon the game and walk away with some amount of dollars really appeals to me. I play the game in my head, telling the players which offers they should accept, and which they should walk away from. There is an easy way to figure out which offers are good (and which are bad) through a simple financial principle.
Expected value is the principle, and it is one of the basic principles of finance. It allows you to assign a value to something now, knowing that the future is uncertain.
Deal or No Deal: How to decide
The real point of the game is to approximate, at any given point, what the expected value of the suitcase in your hand is.
Step 1: What is the potential gain? At any point in the game, you can determine the potential gain. The highest values left on the board are the maximum amount you can gain from playing. At the start, this would be the $100,000 through $1 million prizes. As the game progresses, and cases are eliminated, the potential gain adjusts downward.
Step 2: What is the probability of that gain? There are 26 spots on the game board. The probability of you having the highest-value case in your possession is simply the number of “high-value prizes” (greater than $100,000) left on the board divided by the number of cases remaining.
For example: you’re playing the game, and there are 9 cases left (plus the one in your hand). The board has the $100,000, $400,000 and $750,000 prizes left, with 7 other smaller prizes also available. The probability that you have the case with one of these three prizes is 10%.
0.10 * $100,000 = $10,000
0.10 * $400,000 = $40,000
0.10 * $750,000 = $75,000
Summing these values, the approximate expected value of your case is $125,000. If the banker offers you anything less, you should say, “No deal!”
So how does the show keep from losing money on every player? The banker almost never offers anything over the expected value when there are still large amounts on the board. Players compare a paltry $150,000 to the possible million-dollar prize and they can’t resist.
So now you know how to play. And how to ‘beat the banker!’
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Debit Report - What Is It And How Does It Effect You?
Few consumers are aware that there are companies tracking all of their personal financial transactions – bankruptcies, credit cards, installment loans, mortgages and judgments. On the other hand, unless you were raised in a cave you've heard of a credit report and most likely understand that it's a record of all of your purchases. Credit reports are primarily assembled by three credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian) which is then available upon request from most lenders, mortgage brokers or credit bureaus.
Credit reports tell these businesses, in summarized form, how an individual has handled credit in the past and is the primary tool being used to decide whether or not they are worthy of being granted more credit in the form of a loan or additional credit cards. However, what people don't realize is that there is a company that keeps track of the banking transactions of American consumers but unlike credit reports, that information is available only to banks in the form of a debit report. You may not have heard of a debit report, but it can affect you in ways you may not even realize and it can prevent you from opening a bank account.
Debit reports are compiled and maintained by a company called ChexSystems, which also maintains a database of banking transactions by consumers and creates a debit score based on whether or not an individual has ever had an account forcibly closed, their history of deposits, withdrawals and overdrafts. In a nutshell, you probably don't have an entry in the ChexSystems database unless you have a history of writing bad checks, consistently overdrawing your account or you've had a bank account closed. Of course, mistakes are sometimes made that results in individuals having incorrect entries input into the database that they have no way of finding out about until their request to open a checking account is denied by their bank. Most banks currently use this system and while some provide a little latitude, most will refuse to do business with anyone who has a negative entry in the "debit report" database.
The system was originally designed to simply keep track of people who were writing bad checks, but over the past 30 years it's evolved into something much more complex. Consumers are entitled to receive a copy of their report from ChexSystems, but few people request one; most likely because they have never heard of the company or the report. Because it's nearly impossible to operate in today's society without a bank account it doesn't hurt to at least be aware of this system. The last time we checked, ChexSystems didn't have a website but they can be reached by phone at 800-428-9623.
On a positive note, there are numerous third party websites devoted to helping people who have had problems establishing bank accounts due to problems with their debit report. Simply do a search for "ChexSystems" using your favorite search engine.
This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.
Credit reports tell these businesses, in summarized form, how an individual has handled credit in the past and is the primary tool being used to decide whether or not they are worthy of being granted more credit in the form of a loan or additional credit cards. However, what people don't realize is that there is a company that keeps track of the banking transactions of American consumers but unlike credit reports, that information is available only to banks in the form of a debit report. You may not have heard of a debit report, but it can affect you in ways you may not even realize and it can prevent you from opening a bank account.
Debit reports are compiled and maintained by a company called ChexSystems, which also maintains a database of banking transactions by consumers and creates a debit score based on whether or not an individual has ever had an account forcibly closed, their history of deposits, withdrawals and overdrafts. In a nutshell, you probably don't have an entry in the ChexSystems database unless you have a history of writing bad checks, consistently overdrawing your account or you've had a bank account closed. Of course, mistakes are sometimes made that results in individuals having incorrect entries input into the database that they have no way of finding out about until their request to open a checking account is denied by their bank. Most banks currently use this system and while some provide a little latitude, most will refuse to do business with anyone who has a negative entry in the "debit report" database.
The system was originally designed to simply keep track of people who were writing bad checks, but over the past 30 years it's evolved into something much more complex. Consumers are entitled to receive a copy of their report from ChexSystems, but few people request one; most likely because they have never heard of the company or the report. Because it's nearly impossible to operate in today's society without a bank account it doesn't hurt to at least be aware of this system. The last time we checked, ChexSystems didn't have a website but they can be reached by phone at 800-428-9623.
On a positive note, there are numerous third party websites devoted to helping people who have had problems establishing bank accounts due to problems with their debit report. Simply do a search for "ChexSystems" using your favorite search engine.
This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Day Trading Your Way To Success
If you are interested in day trading you first need to know what it is all about and to understand the basics of day trading. For starters, a day trader is a person who is very active in the stock market and makes several trades a day in an attempt to make quick gains by buying and selling stocks in a short time span.
As the market is never the same day to day, no one particular day trading strategy will work each time. To be successful, you first need to understand how the market works and get a feel for the market.
This includes recognizing the stocks' basic trend, the long and short setups, when to enter a trade, and where to place stops. Another very important basic is how to protect your profits and minimize losses.
Once you have learned the basics and are ready to try your first day trade, here are some tips and guidelines you should keep in mind that is essential to your success as a day trader.
Being a day trader requires a lot of time and practice before you get used to the everyday volatility in the market. Do not expect to become an expert day trader overnight. No matter how many books you have read or day traders you have watched, that will not make you an immediate expert.
There are day trading websites that simulate trading. Practice with their trading platform first before trying out the real thing. It could save you a lot of money and you will learn the ropes faster this way.
If you are ready for real live trading, do not be scared by the thought of losing money. There are ways to minimize your loss such as with stop orders.
If you lose money, do not worry, as some loss is to be expected. Just remember, with increased experience and sensitivity to the market, you will start turning a profit soon.
If you profit large sums of money, stop trading. Do not gamble it away by trying to gain even larger profits. You can always trade another day.
Sometimes the market will not perform as you expected. When you encounter this situation, it is best that you do not trade at all.
Once you gain more experience in day trading, you may be able to predict the direction of a stock price. However, try not to pick top stocks or bottom stocks. This is one of the most common mistakes of a beginner.
If you cannot predict where the market is heading, it is best if you stand aside and wait, or you can always go home and trade again another day.
It is a good idea to record all of your day trading results. This way you can learn what works and what does not, and be more effective in trading.
Observe good traders. Look at how and when they sell or buy. Generally, good day traders often buy on bad news and sell on good news.
Beginners often get emotional in their trades. Avoid this at all cost, stay emotionally detached and professional.
Learn to trust your instincts. Relying too much on analysis may mean letting a few good trades slip away from you.
As you gain experience, you will see that different day trading strategies are required on different days and required on different stocks. Be flexible.
Bad day traders often focus on too many stocks that are not manageable and often lose track on where each stock is heading. It is wise to limit your stocks in manageable numbers.
With patience and practice, you can be successful in day trading, and as your experience grows so do your profits. Everyday you can learn new day trading strategies in the market, which you can use to your advantage.
As the market is never the same day to day, no one particular day trading strategy will work each time. To be successful, you first need to understand how the market works and get a feel for the market.
This includes recognizing the stocks' basic trend, the long and short setups, when to enter a trade, and where to place stops. Another very important basic is how to protect your profits and minimize losses.
Once you have learned the basics and are ready to try your first day trade, here are some tips and guidelines you should keep in mind that is essential to your success as a day trader.
Being a day trader requires a lot of time and practice before you get used to the everyday volatility in the market. Do not expect to become an expert day trader overnight. No matter how many books you have read or day traders you have watched, that will not make you an immediate expert.
There are day trading websites that simulate trading. Practice with their trading platform first before trying out the real thing. It could save you a lot of money and you will learn the ropes faster this way.
If you are ready for real live trading, do not be scared by the thought of losing money. There are ways to minimize your loss such as with stop orders.
If you lose money, do not worry, as some loss is to be expected. Just remember, with increased experience and sensitivity to the market, you will start turning a profit soon.
If you profit large sums of money, stop trading. Do not gamble it away by trying to gain even larger profits. You can always trade another day.
Sometimes the market will not perform as you expected. When you encounter this situation, it is best that you do not trade at all.
Once you gain more experience in day trading, you may be able to predict the direction of a stock price. However, try not to pick top stocks or bottom stocks. This is one of the most common mistakes of a beginner.
If you cannot predict where the market is heading, it is best if you stand aside and wait, or you can always go home and trade again another day.
It is a good idea to record all of your day trading results. This way you can learn what works and what does not, and be more effective in trading.
Observe good traders. Look at how and when they sell or buy. Generally, good day traders often buy on bad news and sell on good news.
Beginners often get emotional in their trades. Avoid this at all cost, stay emotionally detached and professional.
Learn to trust your instincts. Relying too much on analysis may mean letting a few good trades slip away from you.
As you gain experience, you will see that different day trading strategies are required on different days and required on different stocks. Be flexible.
Bad day traders often focus on too many stocks that are not manageable and often lose track on where each stock is heading. It is wise to limit your stocks in manageable numbers.
With patience and practice, you can be successful in day trading, and as your experience grows so do your profits. Everyday you can learn new day trading strategies in the market, which you can use to your advantage.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Day Trading Forum Basics
If you are interested to be at a day trading firm, you can jump into a day trading forum and have it as your training ground. Day trading can be a very confusing field and will require you to have a lot of knowledge. If you have a little knowledge about day trading, your knowledge might not be very fitting compared to the knowledge of the experts.
If you want to learn them, you need to learn and research about the important facts and strategies that cannot be learned from books but from personal experiences. Your guide in learning day trading firm is the day trading forum. It is where you can place and state all your queries.
You can ask anything you want to know in the day trading forum that you can find online. the day trading forum will be beneficial to you because even if you do not have the prior skills, you can become a member and ask anything that you want without hesitation. Besides, you don’t get to talk to a certain member personally so it is acceptable if you ask even the simplest thing about day trading.
Your message will be read by many people and you can have the chance to get heard easily. When the day trading forum members read your message, they will contribute anything they have in mind. Their answers and comments will be helpful to you as you are learning the process. You will also notice that the members have already a professional language that you might not understand.
If some things are still not clear to you, you can ask all over again. You can ask multiple questions for as long as you want and don’t worry because you will not get banned or deleted from the database. The more questions you make, the livelier the discussion gets. You can feel free to use the day trading forum to ask questions provided that the questions that you are going to ask have relevance to the subject.
You can also express your opinion and interact with their opinions. If you have relevant information that you want to share, there are no restrictions. The day trading forum visits the sites regularly so it is important to remember that you should keep relevant discussions in the topic.
The capability to act together with the other professional day traders in a day trading firm is important especially for beginners. In a day trading forum, a beginner can absorb the strategies and tips that a professional gives. This will help them to be acquainted with it easily so that they can decide the best day trading firm that they want to choose. Choosing a day trading firm may be a very risky task. A day trading forum will help you to come up with strong decisions that are acceptable.
To learn more about the day trading forum or discussion, all you have to do is to register so that you can be a member. You just have to simply fill out a form and after a few minutes, you are ready to make your own post with your own opinion. Always remember that interacting with the best day traders is the solution to be like them and talk like them.
If you want to learn them, you need to learn and research about the important facts and strategies that cannot be learned from books but from personal experiences. Your guide in learning day trading firm is the day trading forum. It is where you can place and state all your queries.
You can ask anything you want to know in the day trading forum that you can find online. the day trading forum will be beneficial to you because even if you do not have the prior skills, you can become a member and ask anything that you want without hesitation. Besides, you don’t get to talk to a certain member personally so it is acceptable if you ask even the simplest thing about day trading.
Your message will be read by many people and you can have the chance to get heard easily. When the day trading forum members read your message, they will contribute anything they have in mind. Their answers and comments will be helpful to you as you are learning the process. You will also notice that the members have already a professional language that you might not understand.
If some things are still not clear to you, you can ask all over again. You can ask multiple questions for as long as you want and don’t worry because you will not get banned or deleted from the database. The more questions you make, the livelier the discussion gets. You can feel free to use the day trading forum to ask questions provided that the questions that you are going to ask have relevance to the subject.
You can also express your opinion and interact with their opinions. If you have relevant information that you want to share, there are no restrictions. The day trading forum visits the sites regularly so it is important to remember that you should keep relevant discussions in the topic.
The capability to act together with the other professional day traders in a day trading firm is important especially for beginners. In a day trading forum, a beginner can absorb the strategies and tips that a professional gives. This will help them to be acquainted with it easily so that they can decide the best day trading firm that they want to choose. Choosing a day trading firm may be a very risky task. A day trading forum will help you to come up with strong decisions that are acceptable.
To learn more about the day trading forum or discussion, all you have to do is to register so that you can be a member. You just have to simply fill out a form and after a few minutes, you are ready to make your own post with your own opinion. Always remember that interacting with the best day traders is the solution to be like them and talk like them.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Day Trading: Great Fun - If You Are Ahead…
Imagine with me the dream, you have just woken up at 8:00 to the whistling of song birds in the trees outside your South Carolina beach home and you are beginning to smell the gourmet coffee that brews when you wake up. You look outside to see another beautiful day ahead and instead of being depressed because you will have to waste it inside an office with fluorescent lights blaring down on you inside your cubicle you are welcoming it with the enthusiasm of a little child on the first day of summer break. You see you are a day trading guru, who from the privacy of your own home and with the convenience of a high speed internet hook up, and are therefore free to do as you please.
This is true because you actually enjoy the thrill of the market and the challenge of fast paced decisions and strategies that go with the life of trading stocks on a daily basis. You are in this not for the retirement that is slowly and steadily becoming enough to support you in your “golden years,” you are in this for your income. In order to survive you have to buy low and sell high enough today to turn a profit and get a paycheck. This is the challenge, the fun of day trading.
So you grab a cup of coffee and head over to your desk and computer to get a brief look at the events on the market this morning. You see that things are well according to the buy plan that you made the night before and that you don’t have to make any changes. You then grab the paper on the front walk (the Wall Street Journal of course) and amble out onto your back deck sipping on the dark Sumatra. This is just the morning of your typical work day of day trading and you are loving every minute of it.
Later that day you go and play a round of golf with your day trading buddies and discuss the events of the morning on the market. You get together with these guys, kind of like a focus group, to bounce strategies off one another and to give and receive advice. You return home for the afternoon and get a bite to eat and a shower before settling down in front of your computer for research and planning for the next days buying and selling. But first you have to make the sales from the buys you made yesterday AM and you are pleased to see that you have returned a little bit higher than average profit – $1500.
This is true because you actually enjoy the thrill of the market and the challenge of fast paced decisions and strategies that go with the life of trading stocks on a daily basis. You are in this not for the retirement that is slowly and steadily becoming enough to support you in your “golden years,” you are in this for your income. In order to survive you have to buy low and sell high enough today to turn a profit and get a paycheck. This is the challenge, the fun of day trading.
So you grab a cup of coffee and head over to your desk and computer to get a brief look at the events on the market this morning. You see that things are well according to the buy plan that you made the night before and that you don’t have to make any changes. You then grab the paper on the front walk (the Wall Street Journal of course) and amble out onto your back deck sipping on the dark Sumatra. This is just the morning of your typical work day of day trading and you are loving every minute of it.
Later that day you go and play a round of golf with your day trading buddies and discuss the events of the morning on the market. You get together with these guys, kind of like a focus group, to bounce strategies off one another and to give and receive advice. You return home for the afternoon and get a bite to eat and a shower before settling down in front of your computer for research and planning for the next days buying and selling. But first you have to make the sales from the buys you made yesterday AM and you are pleased to see that you have returned a little bit higher than average profit – $1500.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Data Recovery What No Business Can Do Without
There are very few businesses operating today that don’t depend in some way upon the computers they use. From libraries to hospitals, supermarkets to law offices, almost every type of work place imaginable uses computers to store information and to support a variety of programs that allow its day-to-day operations run smoothly. While the importance of these computers means that most of these businesses perform back-ups on a regular basis, there will always be unfortunate circumstances that will lead to data being lost. This is why data recovery is one of the most important services of which a business is ever likely to avail.
While computers are possibly one of the safest and most reliable ways of storing information, they remain vulnerable to incursion from a variety of sources. From power outages to computer viruses, there will always be unexpected attacks unleashed upon computers and the very important data that is stored within. Most IT departments understand the risks involved in our reliance upon computers and perform periodic back-ups to ensure that in the event of some unexpected violation, only minimal amounts of data are lost. And while this is approach is an important one, there are situations when even this minimal data is too much to lose.
Data recovery thus plays an integral role in any business. Whether this is necessary to perform on a single computer or an entire network, specialists are available to recover the data that we might think has gone forever. With a combination of special software and expert knowledge, data recovery professionals can help retrieve information that has been lost in a number of ways. Whether deleted accidentally by a computer user, fallen prey to a virus or power outage, or lost because of a malfunction in the computer’s hard drive, data recovery allows this information to be wholly or partly regained.
Regular back-ups will remain the watchword of computer use, and while these are essential in any business, they sometimes are insufficient in the face of unpredictable circumstances. Data recovery is the perfect addition to any business’s IT services, so whether your own staff deals with this issue or you outsource it to an expert, be sure to keep that number on your speed dial. You never know when you might need their services.
While computers are possibly one of the safest and most reliable ways of storing information, they remain vulnerable to incursion from a variety of sources. From power outages to computer viruses, there will always be unexpected attacks unleashed upon computers and the very important data that is stored within. Most IT departments understand the risks involved in our reliance upon computers and perform periodic back-ups to ensure that in the event of some unexpected violation, only minimal amounts of data are lost. And while this is approach is an important one, there are situations when even this minimal data is too much to lose.
Data recovery thus plays an integral role in any business. Whether this is necessary to perform on a single computer or an entire network, specialists are available to recover the data that we might think has gone forever. With a combination of special software and expert knowledge, data recovery professionals can help retrieve information that has been lost in a number of ways. Whether deleted accidentally by a computer user, fallen prey to a virus or power outage, or lost because of a malfunction in the computer’s hard drive, data recovery allows this information to be wholly or partly regained.
Regular back-ups will remain the watchword of computer use, and while these are essential in any business, they sometimes are insufficient in the face of unpredictable circumstances. Data recovery is the perfect addition to any business’s IT services, so whether your own staff deals with this issue or you outsource it to an expert, be sure to keep that number on your speed dial. You never know when you might need their services.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Currency - Do you know what the biggest is?
Some people say that money makes the world go round. Whether you believe that or not, there’s no doubt that it’s important and useful to have some knowledge of the world’s currencies.
In the same way that English has become the international languages, US dollars have become the international currency, although there is no official global currency. The world’s economy – its production, its debt – is all measured and compared in dollars by businesses and world leaders. Global commodities such as oil and gold are valued in dollars on the markets.
In recent years, though, another currency has come to rival the dollar in importance. It is the euro, the new currency created by the European Union countries to act as a common currency within Europe. Although some countries, notably Britain and Sweden, have not yet joined the single currency, it seems likely that all members of the EU (and future members) will join within the next decade or so.
Beyond these two big currencies, though, there are plenty of others. 175 currencies are officially recognised by the United Nations – some large and established, some obscure and little-used. In the modern world, though, it is easy to convert whatever currency you use to almost any other by using a currency exchange, such as at a bank or a bureau de change. Although you may need to give them notice to get hold of more unusual currencies, almost all of the currencies of the world should be available to you on the currency markets, although they can be expensive.
How much of one currency you can get for another is measured on the markets using an exchange rate. Much like the stock market, exchange rates fluctuate depending on the amount of a currency that is being sold or bought at any one time. This means that some times are better than others for currency transactions, and it also means that it’s all too easy to find that a currency you’re holding has become worth much less than you expected. When in doubt, the best thing to do is probably to convert money back into your native currency and then put it into an inflation-beating savings account, as this will tend to defeat the fluctuations of the currency markets.
In the same way that English has become the international languages, US dollars have become the international currency, although there is no official global currency. The world’s economy – its production, its debt – is all measured and compared in dollars by businesses and world leaders. Global commodities such as oil and gold are valued in dollars on the markets.
In recent years, though, another currency has come to rival the dollar in importance. It is the euro, the new currency created by the European Union countries to act as a common currency within Europe. Although some countries, notably Britain and Sweden, have not yet joined the single currency, it seems likely that all members of the EU (and future members) will join within the next decade or so.
Beyond these two big currencies, though, there are plenty of others. 175 currencies are officially recognised by the United Nations – some large and established, some obscure and little-used. In the modern world, though, it is easy to convert whatever currency you use to almost any other by using a currency exchange, such as at a bank or a bureau de change. Although you may need to give them notice to get hold of more unusual currencies, almost all of the currencies of the world should be available to you on the currency markets, although they can be expensive.
How much of one currency you can get for another is measured on the markets using an exchange rate. Much like the stock market, exchange rates fluctuate depending on the amount of a currency that is being sold or bought at any one time. This means that some times are better than others for currency transactions, and it also means that it’s all too easy to find that a currency you’re holding has become worth much less than you expected. When in doubt, the best thing to do is probably to convert money back into your native currency and then put it into an inflation-beating savings account, as this will tend to defeat the fluctuations of the currency markets.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Currency - Do you know what the biggest is?
Some people say that money makes the world go round. Whether you believe that or not, there’s no doubt that it’s important and useful to have some knowledge of the world’s currencies.
In the same way that English has become the international languages, US dollars have become the international currency, although there is no official global currency. The world’s economy – its production, its debt – is all measured and compared in dollars by businesses and world leaders. Global commodities such as oil and gold are valued in dollars on the markets.
In recent years, though, another currency has come to rival the dollar in importance. It is the euro, the new currency created by the European Union countries to act as a common currency within Europe. Although some countries, notably Britain and Sweden, have not yet joined the single currency, it seems likely that all members of the EU (and future members) will join within the next decade or so.
Beyond these two big currencies, though, there are plenty of others. 175 currencies are officially recognised by the United Nations – some large and established, some obscure and little-used. In the modern world, though, it is easy to convert whatever currency you use to almost any other by using a currency exchange, such as at a bank or a bureau de change. Although you may need to give them notice to get hold of more unusual currencies, almost all of the currencies of the world should be available to you on the currency markets, although they can be expensive.
How much of one currency you can get for another is measured on the markets using an exchange rate. Much like the stock market, exchange rates fluctuate depending on the amount of a currency that is being sold or bought at any one time. This means that some times are better than others for currency transactions, and it also means that it’s all too easy to find that a currency you’re holding has become worth much less than you expected. When in doubt, the best thing to do is probably to convert money back into your native currency and then put it into an inflation-beating savings account, as this will tend to defeat the fluctuations of the currency markets.
In the same way that English has become the international languages, US dollars have become the international currency, although there is no official global currency. The world’s economy – its production, its debt – is all measured and compared in dollars by businesses and world leaders. Global commodities such as oil and gold are valued in dollars on the markets.
In recent years, though, another currency has come to rival the dollar in importance. It is the euro, the new currency created by the European Union countries to act as a common currency within Europe. Although some countries, notably Britain and Sweden, have not yet joined the single currency, it seems likely that all members of the EU (and future members) will join within the next decade or so.
Beyond these two big currencies, though, there are plenty of others. 175 currencies are officially recognised by the United Nations – some large and established, some obscure and little-used. In the modern world, though, it is easy to convert whatever currency you use to almost any other by using a currency exchange, such as at a bank or a bureau de change. Although you may need to give them notice to get hold of more unusual currencies, almost all of the currencies of the world should be available to you on the currency markets, although they can be expensive.
How much of one currency you can get for another is measured on the markets using an exchange rate. Much like the stock market, exchange rates fluctuate depending on the amount of a currency that is being sold or bought at any one time. This means that some times are better than others for currency transactions, and it also means that it’s all too easy to find that a currency you’re holding has become worth much less than you expected. When in doubt, the best thing to do is probably to convert money back into your native currency and then put it into an inflation-beating savings account, as this will tend to defeat the fluctuations of the currency markets.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Croisière Pour Lune de Miel
Les bateaux de croisière sont de plus en plus spacieux, afin de vous offrir le meilleur en matière de détente et relaxation et vous proposent de découvrir de plus en plus de destinations de rêves, de l'Alaska aux Caraïbes en passant par l'Europe.
Les croisières vous offrent un confort digne d'un cinq étoiles, son lot d'aventures, ainsi que l'opportunité de connaître de nouvelles personnes et de vous faire de nouveaux amis.
Mais pour la réussite de votre lune de miel, la croisière doit comprendre à son bord:
1) Du Champagne et des fraises dès votre montée à bord
2) Des canapés et autres attentions dans votre cabine un soir de votre choix
3) Une soirée "Lune de Miel" spécialement destinée à votre attention
4) Mettre à votre disposition des photographes
Pour cela, choisissez bien votre bateau. Celui-ci doit vous offrir les salles et le confort minimal suivant:
1) Des Restaurants devant vous fournir des repas de haute qualité,
2) Des Pubs, vous proposant les meilleures bières irlandaises ainsi que du champagne, doivent être disponible aux quatre coins du bateau et près des salles de SPA et solarium,
3) Au minimum un Centre de conférence,
4) Des activités sportives comme un Centre de Fitness, parours de golf, terrains de basket ball et volley ball, mur d'escalade, piste de jogging, patinoire, jeu de palets et bien d'autres encore;
5) Des activités sportives et éducatives pour les enfants telles le Club enfants pour les enfants de 3 à 17 ans comprenant une discothèque, des jeux vidéo et même un espace où leur est servi un repas;
6) Des Salons de beauté, un Complexe thermal complet incluant Sauna, Spa et Solarium;
7) Pour vos loisirs: Piscines, Jacuzzis, Casino pour pouvoir vous divertir dans une ambiance Las Vegas à l'aide de ses machines à sous, Discothèque, Salle de spectacles, Salle de cartes, Café internet, un théâtre.
8) Mais aussi des services du quotidiens tels: Galerie Marchande (avec bijouterie, magasin de souvenirs, de photos), Bibliothèque, Centre médical, Blanchisserie, et enfin une Chapelle nuptiale.
Les bateaux recommandés pour ce genre de séjour dépendent énormément de vos goûts et du choix de votre destination, à savoir si vous rechercher une évasion romantique au travers des forets tropicales et des plages ensoleillées ou culturelle pour visiter des monuments historiques et découvrir des mentalités étrangères. Pour cela, les listes ne seraient être complètes.
Les deux bateaux de croisières les plus connus sont les suivants:
1) Jewel of the Seas:
Mis en service en mai 2004, le Jewel of the Seas est caractérisés par l'allure innovante des super-yachts. Il possède un design avancé avec ses grandes surfaces vitrées dans les espaces publics et des ascenseurs de verre donnant sur l'océan.
2) Explorer of the Seas:
En route vers les Antilles. Ce paquebot est le plus grand au monde. Vous y trouverez plus d'activités et d'expériences que vous ne pouvez imaginer. Découvrez des aspects novateurs tels que le mur d'escalade vous permettant de vous élever au dessus de l'océan, la patinoire où vous pourrez déguster un chocolat chaud. Le soir, les boutiques, les cafés et autres animations du Royal Promenade s'ouvrent à vous. Cette esplanade, où il fait bon se promener, s'étale sur une longueur équivalente à deux terrains de football et fait 4 ponts de hauteur.
Les croisières vous offrent un confort digne d'un cinq étoiles, son lot d'aventures, ainsi que l'opportunité de connaître de nouvelles personnes et de vous faire de nouveaux amis.
Mais pour la réussite de votre lune de miel, la croisière doit comprendre à son bord:
1) Du Champagne et des fraises dès votre montée à bord
2) Des canapés et autres attentions dans votre cabine un soir de votre choix
3) Une soirée "Lune de Miel" spécialement destinée à votre attention
4) Mettre à votre disposition des photographes
Pour cela, choisissez bien votre bateau. Celui-ci doit vous offrir les salles et le confort minimal suivant:
1) Des Restaurants devant vous fournir des repas de haute qualité,
2) Des Pubs, vous proposant les meilleures bières irlandaises ainsi que du champagne, doivent être disponible aux quatre coins du bateau et près des salles de SPA et solarium,
3) Au minimum un Centre de conférence,
4) Des activités sportives comme un Centre de Fitness, parours de golf, terrains de basket ball et volley ball, mur d'escalade, piste de jogging, patinoire, jeu de palets et bien d'autres encore;
5) Des activités sportives et éducatives pour les enfants telles le Club enfants pour les enfants de 3 à 17 ans comprenant une discothèque, des jeux vidéo et même un espace où leur est servi un repas;
6) Des Salons de beauté, un Complexe thermal complet incluant Sauna, Spa et Solarium;
7) Pour vos loisirs: Piscines, Jacuzzis, Casino pour pouvoir vous divertir dans une ambiance Las Vegas à l'aide de ses machines à sous, Discothèque, Salle de spectacles, Salle de cartes, Café internet, un théâtre.
8) Mais aussi des services du quotidiens tels: Galerie Marchande (avec bijouterie, magasin de souvenirs, de photos), Bibliothèque, Centre médical, Blanchisserie, et enfin une Chapelle nuptiale.
Les bateaux recommandés pour ce genre de séjour dépendent énormément de vos goûts et du choix de votre destination, à savoir si vous rechercher une évasion romantique au travers des forets tropicales et des plages ensoleillées ou culturelle pour visiter des monuments historiques et découvrir des mentalités étrangères. Pour cela, les listes ne seraient être complètes.
Les deux bateaux de croisières les plus connus sont les suivants:
1) Jewel of the Seas:
Mis en service en mai 2004, le Jewel of the Seas est caractérisés par l'allure innovante des super-yachts. Il possède un design avancé avec ses grandes surfaces vitrées dans les espaces publics et des ascenseurs de verre donnant sur l'océan.
2) Explorer of the Seas:
En route vers les Antilles. Ce paquebot est le plus grand au monde. Vous y trouverez plus d'activités et d'expériences que vous ne pouvez imaginer. Découvrez des aspects novateurs tels que le mur d'escalade vous permettant de vous élever au dessus de l'océan, la patinoire où vous pourrez déguster un chocolat chaud. Le soir, les boutiques, les cafés et autres animations du Royal Promenade s'ouvrent à vous. Cette esplanade, où il fait bon se promener, s'étale sur une longueur équivalente à deux terrains de football et fait 4 ponts de hauteur.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Critical Information You Need to Protect Your Retirement
Copyright 2006 Equitrend, Inc.
America is heading for a train wreck.
Everyone knows it's coming, but no one is doing anything about it. As an individual, you can wait and hope the inevitable doesn't happen, or you can prepare yourself and your finances now so you and your family can avoid and even profit from the disaster that's rapidly approaching.
The train wreck I'm talking about is the approaching retirement of the Baby Boom generation coupled with the failure of the country's pension system, a negative savings rate and the looming bankruptcy of Social Security and Medicare. Here are the chilling facts:
--For the past two years, the savings rate in the United States has been negative. That means that people are spending more than they're saving.
--The private pension system in America is as dead as the dinosaurs. Economists predict that companies will continue using the bankruptcy courts to dump their pensions on the government and the American taxpayer and that Corporate America will continue transferring more and more of the retirement burden onto the individual.
--Social Security is forecast to be under funded in future years by $10.4 Trillion. According to the Congressional Budget office, "Social Security will require continual and substantial injections of funds from the rest of the budget." By 2050, Social Security and Medicare spending alone will be larger than today's entire federal budget.
--People will live longer, and it will be commonplace for the average retiree to spend twenty or more years in retirement. With an average Consumer Price Increase of just 3%, the cost of everything you buy today will double in 25 years. Put another way, the purchasing power of your retirement savings will dwindle by 50%. How to get off the train before the crash.
Concerning retirement, you will have to take care of yourself.
Here is what you must do, starting today, to ensure that you¡¦ll have the kind of retirement you¡¦ve always wanted and make sure that you don't outlive your assets:
1. Max out your 401K.
This is your key to your long term success and survival. You're contributing pre-tax dollars so you're immediately making a 25-35% return on your money through tax savings alone. Also, make certain to take advantage of any matching contributions your employer might make to your plan. If you're over 55, take advantage of the "catch up provisions," recently enacted by Congress that allow you to contribute even more.
2. After funding your 401K, max out your IRA. Depending on your tax bracket and your choice of IRAS, your contributions could be pre-tax or after tax money, but any IRA will maximize the power of compound growth.
3. After IRAs, consider variable annuities as an avenue to sock away after tax dollars that can then earn tax deferred profits.
4. If you're concerned that you won't have sufficient assets to fully fund a comfortable retirement, start a part time business capitalizing on what you've learned during your career or turn a hobby into a business that you can continue after retiring from your regular job. The longer you can grow your nest egg without drawing on it, the faster it will grow and the more money you'll have available in the outer years.
5. Find a reliable way to grow your nest egg at the fastest possible rate. Einstein called the growth of compounded interest the seventh wonder of the world. If you're 9 years from retirement and have a $100,000 nest egg, 8% will give you $200,000 at retirement. In comparison, compounding your money at 25% per year will grow your $100,000 investment to $745,000. Due the effects of compounding your gains, your original $100,000 investment will experience a 645% increase in just 9 years.
Conclusion:
Very few Americans will be adequately prepared for retirement.
However, this doesn¡¦t have to be the story for you and your family if you take action today.
America is heading for a train wreck.
Everyone knows it's coming, but no one is doing anything about it. As an individual, you can wait and hope the inevitable doesn't happen, or you can prepare yourself and your finances now so you and your family can avoid and even profit from the disaster that's rapidly approaching.
The train wreck I'm talking about is the approaching retirement of the Baby Boom generation coupled with the failure of the country's pension system, a negative savings rate and the looming bankruptcy of Social Security and Medicare. Here are the chilling facts:
--For the past two years, the savings rate in the United States has been negative. That means that people are spending more than they're saving.
--The private pension system in America is as dead as the dinosaurs. Economists predict that companies will continue using the bankruptcy courts to dump their pensions on the government and the American taxpayer and that Corporate America will continue transferring more and more of the retirement burden onto the individual.
--Social Security is forecast to be under funded in future years by $10.4 Trillion. According to the Congressional Budget office, "Social Security will require continual and substantial injections of funds from the rest of the budget." By 2050, Social Security and Medicare spending alone will be larger than today's entire federal budget.
--People will live longer, and it will be commonplace for the average retiree to spend twenty or more years in retirement. With an average Consumer Price Increase of just 3%, the cost of everything you buy today will double in 25 years. Put another way, the purchasing power of your retirement savings will dwindle by 50%. How to get off the train before the crash.
Concerning retirement, you will have to take care of yourself.
Here is what you must do, starting today, to ensure that you¡¦ll have the kind of retirement you¡¦ve always wanted and make sure that you don't outlive your assets:
1. Max out your 401K.
This is your key to your long term success and survival. You're contributing pre-tax dollars so you're immediately making a 25-35% return on your money through tax savings alone. Also, make certain to take advantage of any matching contributions your employer might make to your plan. If you're over 55, take advantage of the "catch up provisions," recently enacted by Congress that allow you to contribute even more.
2. After funding your 401K, max out your IRA. Depending on your tax bracket and your choice of IRAS, your contributions could be pre-tax or after tax money, but any IRA will maximize the power of compound growth.
3. After IRAs, consider variable annuities as an avenue to sock away after tax dollars that can then earn tax deferred profits.
4. If you're concerned that you won't have sufficient assets to fully fund a comfortable retirement, start a part time business capitalizing on what you've learned during your career or turn a hobby into a business that you can continue after retiring from your regular job. The longer you can grow your nest egg without drawing on it, the faster it will grow and the more money you'll have available in the outer years.
5. Find a reliable way to grow your nest egg at the fastest possible rate. Einstein called the growth of compounded interest the seventh wonder of the world. If you're 9 years from retirement and have a $100,000 nest egg, 8% will give you $200,000 at retirement. In comparison, compounding your money at 25% per year will grow your $100,000 investment to $745,000. Due the effects of compounding your gains, your original $100,000 investment will experience a 645% increase in just 9 years.
Conclusion:
Very few Americans will be adequately prepared for retirement.
However, this doesn¡¦t have to be the story for you and your family if you take action today.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Creative Financing Options
With today's rising prices it's all most people can do to stay afloat financially. So how does a young couple save enough money to break into the housing market? Sometimes you have to think outside of the box and come up with creative financing options. One such example is Lease-to-Own, or Rent-to-Own house purchases.
Basically, in this scenario, the landlord and the tenant come up with an agreement to purchase the house within a designated period of time (usually 3 years or less), for a specific price. An option fee of 1 to 5% of the price is credited to the purchase price and a premium is added to the rent payment to accumulate a deposit. If the buyer backs out of the purchase agreement they lose both the option fee and the rent premium.
Typical Rent-to-Own Contract Features
The rent and home price are usually established and documented based on market value plus any negotiation between the buyer and seller.
A rent-to-own contract will have an option period where the borrower can build equity while living in the home. Once the option period expires, the borrower is counting on successfully qualifying for a mortgage to purchase the home. It is imperative that the borrower has a good idea of their ability to assume a mortgage; speak to a lender before entering on a rent-to-own agreement to have your financial situation examined. You may only have to improve your credit rating, and this can be accomplished by making timely minimum payments any loans or credit cards each month.
Often a lender will want to see that an amount above the market rent price has been set aside. This ensures that the seller is not providing the borrower with a kickback by artificially inflating the selling price. Usually the bank will also request an appraisal for this reason.
If at the end of the option period, the buyer discovers problems with the home, it may be cheaper to walk away from the deal than purchase a house which may develop into a money pit.
The selling price of the home is agreed upon at the beginning of the option period. This means that after a 3 year option period if houses prices drop the borrower may request a down payment based on the new value. For instance, a 5% down payment on a $225,000 home would be $11,250. If the home drops 3% in value, or to $218,250, the 5% down payment from this would be $10,912 – bringing the maximum loan amount to 207,338. You need $225,000, now you have to make up the difference.
However, the price may indeed go up 3% in price and the seller is out the amount of the increase. It is for this reason that some contracts are drawn up with no final price quoted, just specifying the house will be sold at fair market value at the end of the option period.
There are shady sellers out there who will create a contract with an easy escape clause, such as the right to evict a tenant with only 3 days notice. It is in the buyer's best interests to have their contract reviewed by a lawyer before entering into a binding agreement. Also, pay your rent on time and do not give the seller any opportunity to renege on the agreement.
Basically, in this scenario, the landlord and the tenant come up with an agreement to purchase the house within a designated period of time (usually 3 years or less), for a specific price. An option fee of 1 to 5% of the price is credited to the purchase price and a premium is added to the rent payment to accumulate a deposit. If the buyer backs out of the purchase agreement they lose both the option fee and the rent premium.
Typical Rent-to-Own Contract Features
The rent and home price are usually established and documented based on market value plus any negotiation between the buyer and seller.
A rent-to-own contract will have an option period where the borrower can build equity while living in the home. Once the option period expires, the borrower is counting on successfully qualifying for a mortgage to purchase the home. It is imperative that the borrower has a good idea of their ability to assume a mortgage; speak to a lender before entering on a rent-to-own agreement to have your financial situation examined. You may only have to improve your credit rating, and this can be accomplished by making timely minimum payments any loans or credit cards each month.
Often a lender will want to see that an amount above the market rent price has been set aside. This ensures that the seller is not providing the borrower with a kickback by artificially inflating the selling price. Usually the bank will also request an appraisal for this reason.
If at the end of the option period, the buyer discovers problems with the home, it may be cheaper to walk away from the deal than purchase a house which may develop into a money pit.
The selling price of the home is agreed upon at the beginning of the option period. This means that after a 3 year option period if houses prices drop the borrower may request a down payment based on the new value. For instance, a 5% down payment on a $225,000 home would be $11,250. If the home drops 3% in value, or to $218,250, the 5% down payment from this would be $10,912 – bringing the maximum loan amount to 207,338. You need $225,000, now you have to make up the difference.
However, the price may indeed go up 3% in price and the seller is out the amount of the increase. It is for this reason that some contracts are drawn up with no final price quoted, just specifying the house will be sold at fair market value at the end of the option period.
There are shady sellers out there who will create a contract with an easy escape clause, such as the right to evict a tenant with only 3 days notice. It is in the buyer's best interests to have their contract reviewed by a lawyer before entering into a binding agreement. Also, pay your rent on time and do not give the seller any opportunity to renege on the agreement.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Creating Savings From What You Already Have
Most people, even those without debt, have a hard time saving money.
The plain truth is that most people will spend all of their money every month. They grow to become used to this spending level. It is very, very difficult not to do this.
Financial advisors say it over and over again -- you have to pay yourself first. It is the truth. Those of you with 401(k)s don't miss that money being automatically taken out of your paycheck. You never see it, so you don't miss it. That is the idea of paying yourself first. If possible, have your employer deposit a portion of your paycheck each month into your savings account. Or perhaps your bank will automatically withdraw that amount from your checking to your savings each month. You never see the money and you don't have to make any effort to save. It is perfect.
If you pay yourself first, you won't have a chance to spend the money. When you sit down to write bills out, don't pay the mortgage first. Pay your savings and then pay your bills. See, most people pay their mortgage, cars and other loans first. Then they pay the electric and water. Then they pay what they can on their credit cards. Whatever is left over is spent on living, gas and food.
Then there is nothing left to save. If you wait to pay your savings last, you probably won't pay it. You must pay yourself first. Write a check to your savings first, then pay the bills.
We lose a lot of money in just pennies each month. One of the best ways that my husband and I save money is to never spend our change. In fact, every night we dump out our wallets. Anything less than a ten goes in the money jar. It is surprising how in just a month, that money really accumulates. We've used the money like a small emergency fund. We grocery shop on it when money is tight or we treat ourselves to a nice evening out. It is an easy way to save.
Another version of this is to put the change you get back from any drive-in in an envelope in your glove box. Do this whether the change is one dollar or ten dollars. When you clean out your vehicle, you will be surprised at how much has accumulated. In fact, it could buy you a tank of gas every once in a while.
When you spend, you can save money as well. Purchase items that grow in value. Extra money lying around? Invest it in the stock market. Invest it in paying off your mortgage early. Use it in ways that make you money. Pay off your debts and invest the rest.
When you save money, the key is to really save it. If you buy something on sale, what happens to the money you saved? You probably spent it on something else. Nothing really went into savings. From now on, when you save $15 on groceries, put that $15 in your savings account. When you don't buy a new sweater because you know you need to save, put the cost of that sweater into your savings.
Saving money isn't that hard. It is simply a habit that has to be learned. Experts say it takes two weeks to make an action a habit. So start today, in two weeks it will be easy.
The plain truth is that most people will spend all of their money every month. They grow to become used to this spending level. It is very, very difficult not to do this.
Financial advisors say it over and over again -- you have to pay yourself first. It is the truth. Those of you with 401(k)s don't miss that money being automatically taken out of your paycheck. You never see it, so you don't miss it. That is the idea of paying yourself first. If possible, have your employer deposit a portion of your paycheck each month into your savings account. Or perhaps your bank will automatically withdraw that amount from your checking to your savings each month. You never see the money and you don't have to make any effort to save. It is perfect.
If you pay yourself first, you won't have a chance to spend the money. When you sit down to write bills out, don't pay the mortgage first. Pay your savings and then pay your bills. See, most people pay their mortgage, cars and other loans first. Then they pay the electric and water. Then they pay what they can on their credit cards. Whatever is left over is spent on living, gas and food.
Then there is nothing left to save. If you wait to pay your savings last, you probably won't pay it. You must pay yourself first. Write a check to your savings first, then pay the bills.
We lose a lot of money in just pennies each month. One of the best ways that my husband and I save money is to never spend our change. In fact, every night we dump out our wallets. Anything less than a ten goes in the money jar. It is surprising how in just a month, that money really accumulates. We've used the money like a small emergency fund. We grocery shop on it when money is tight or we treat ourselves to a nice evening out. It is an easy way to save.
Another version of this is to put the change you get back from any drive-in in an envelope in your glove box. Do this whether the change is one dollar or ten dollars. When you clean out your vehicle, you will be surprised at how much has accumulated. In fact, it could buy you a tank of gas every once in a while.
When you spend, you can save money as well. Purchase items that grow in value. Extra money lying around? Invest it in the stock market. Invest it in paying off your mortgage early. Use it in ways that make you money. Pay off your debts and invest the rest.
When you save money, the key is to really save it. If you buy something on sale, what happens to the money you saved? You probably spent it on something else. Nothing really went into savings. From now on, when you save $15 on groceries, put that $15 in your savings account. When you don't buy a new sweater because you know you need to save, put the cost of that sweater into your savings.
Saving money isn't that hard. It is simply a habit that has to be learned. Experts say it takes two weeks to make an action a habit. So start today, in two weeks it will be easy.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Craps Tournaments: Winning Tips and Guidance
Craps tournaments popularity is increasing lately. If you are a novice craps player who is still intimidated by the great selection of bets or you find the fuss around the craps tables too loud, you might not be able to enjoy playing craps tournaments. If you are an enthusiastic craps shooter, taking part in a craps tournament is a great way to enjoy a more intensive craps playing experience, meet other craps fans and, of course, a chance to win bigger cash prizes as well as the desired title.
Many casinos hold different types of craps tournaments to suit the different levels of skills and budgets of the players. Here you can find tips on the different types of casino craps tournaments including tips on how to choose the most suitable and enjoyable craps tournament as possible. In addition, you can find here tips on how to win in craps tournament.
Choosing a Craps Tournament
Cost: The cost of playing in a craps tournament can range from a free entry and a low buy in to an expensive entry fee with a high buy in. The prizes, needless to say, are corresponding; the higher the entry fee the larger the grand prize. The free tournaments are usually held on a weekly basis for promotional purposes while the high stack tourneys are pre scheduled, last for more than one day and their expensive entry fees include a cocktail party, free accommodation and other freebies.
Competition: Evaluating the level of the competition you are going to face in advance can be tough. However, the number of entrants allowed to take part in the tournament can give you a basic indication on the level of the competition.
Rules: Casinos often set different rules in craps tournaments. For example, some casinos require players to place a pass or dont pass bet each play on top of any other bets or limit the proposition bet to 25 dollars.
Winning a Craps Tournament
The main difference between playing a traditional craps game and a craps tournament is that with the latter you suddenly find yourself surrounded by competitors. While in a regular craps game you are used to compete against the house, in a craps tournament you are playing against the other entrants and especially against those who have managed to accumulate the biggest amount of chips. Therefore, playing craps tournaments requires amending of you strategy. Primarily, you can no longer ignore your opponents; you must keep an eye on their moves!
Tips
Always pay attention to your opponent’s chips; bear in mind that they might have been hiding chips to confuse the other players.
Pay attention especially to your closest opponents; watch their moves and conclude your future bets so you will stay far behind.
Start by playing conservatively; place small bets on pass and come bets.
When an opportunity comes up, for example after making two consecutive points change your pattern and make dont pass bet.
If during the final rolls you are still not leading, it is time to play aggressively; place large even bet your entire bankroll on one number and then hope for the best.
Have fun.
Many casinos hold different types of craps tournaments to suit the different levels of skills and budgets of the players. Here you can find tips on the different types of casino craps tournaments including tips on how to choose the most suitable and enjoyable craps tournament as possible. In addition, you can find here tips on how to win in craps tournament.
Choosing a Craps Tournament
Cost: The cost of playing in a craps tournament can range from a free entry and a low buy in to an expensive entry fee with a high buy in. The prizes, needless to say, are corresponding; the higher the entry fee the larger the grand prize. The free tournaments are usually held on a weekly basis for promotional purposes while the high stack tourneys are pre scheduled, last for more than one day and their expensive entry fees include a cocktail party, free accommodation and other freebies.
Competition: Evaluating the level of the competition you are going to face in advance can be tough. However, the number of entrants allowed to take part in the tournament can give you a basic indication on the level of the competition.
Rules: Casinos often set different rules in craps tournaments. For example, some casinos require players to place a pass or dont pass bet each play on top of any other bets or limit the proposition bet to 25 dollars.
Winning a Craps Tournament
The main difference between playing a traditional craps game and a craps tournament is that with the latter you suddenly find yourself surrounded by competitors. While in a regular craps game you are used to compete against the house, in a craps tournament you are playing against the other entrants and especially against those who have managed to accumulate the biggest amount of chips. Therefore, playing craps tournaments requires amending of you strategy. Primarily, you can no longer ignore your opponents; you must keep an eye on their moves!
Tips
Always pay attention to your opponent’s chips; bear in mind that they might have been hiding chips to confuse the other players.
Pay attention especially to your closest opponents; watch their moves and conclude your future bets so you will stay far behind.
Start by playing conservatively; place small bets on pass and come bets.
When an opportunity comes up, for example after making two consecutive points change your pattern and make dont pass bet.
If during the final rolls you are still not leading, it is time to play aggressively; place large even bet your entire bankroll on one number and then hope for the best.
Have fun.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Craps: Books for Beginners and Advanced Players
Although craps is not a very complicated game, many people find themselves confused by its strange terminology and large numbers of betting options. This article focuses on the most recommended craps books available in the market including beginners books, strategy books for the advanced player and books that introduce the concept of dice control.
1) Craps for the Clueless: A Beginners Guide to Playing and Winning by John Patrick
As its name indicates, it provides basic information on playing craps. The book is written in simple language that makes the terminology easy to understand even if you have never seen a craps table before. In addition to the object of the game, Craps for the Clueless, reveals the winning secrets of professional gamblers.
John Patrick is a professional gambler, an author of many gaming guidebooks and the former host of the TV show "So You Wanna be a Gambler", which was aired on national cable network for over a decade. According to Patrick, a successful gambling is a result of four essentials, he calls "The Big Four", which are a proper use of the bankroll, knowledge of the game, money management and discipline.
2) Beat the Craps Out of the Casinos: How to Play Craps and Win by Frank Scoblete
This book supplies useful information for the newbie as well as for the experienced player. The book explains how the game can be beaten including explanations on which bets can lower the house edge and which bets should by avoided by the smart player.
Frank Scoblete is one of the top selling gambling authors in the US and the director of Golden Touch, which offers seminars on craps and blackjack. Other recommended books by Scoblete are "The Captains Craps Revolution", "Forever Craps" and "Get the Edge at Craps".
3) Craps: Take the Money and Run by Henry J. Tamburin
Take the Money and Run focuses on how to make fast profits from playing at casinos. In addition to introduction on the mechanics of the game and recommendations on best bets, the book offers the Increased Odds craps betting system and the Take the Money and Run discipline, which both promise to maximize the profits. The book also provides a special chapter on using the pass line bet for maximizing your profits. Take the Money and Run has special chapters on tournaments and new variations.
Dr. Henry J. Tamburin has been playing for over 25 years, and his betting system and discipline are based on his winning experiences.
4) Dice Control for Casino Craps by Yuri Kononenko.
This guide book offers an easy to understand introduction to the concept of dice control from the mathematical and mechanical points of view.
Other recommended books that teach how to gain advantage over the house by using dice control are Frank Scoblete's "Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution" and "Craps Underground: The Inside Story of How Dice Controllers are Winning Millions from the Casinos", which offers a fascinating inside look on the game system.
Conclusion:
Unlike poker or blackjack, this game is not very popular, but in that lies the biggest opportunity. The casinos focus on getting a profit from the popular games. Take advantage of this, and make your profit at this game instead.
1) Craps for the Clueless: A Beginners Guide to Playing and Winning by John Patrick
As its name indicates, it provides basic information on playing craps. The book is written in simple language that makes the terminology easy to understand even if you have never seen a craps table before. In addition to the object of the game, Craps for the Clueless, reveals the winning secrets of professional gamblers.
John Patrick is a professional gambler, an author of many gaming guidebooks and the former host of the TV show "So You Wanna be a Gambler", which was aired on national cable network for over a decade. According to Patrick, a successful gambling is a result of four essentials, he calls "The Big Four", which are a proper use of the bankroll, knowledge of the game, money management and discipline.
2) Beat the Craps Out of the Casinos: How to Play Craps and Win by Frank Scoblete
This book supplies useful information for the newbie as well as for the experienced player. The book explains how the game can be beaten including explanations on which bets can lower the house edge and which bets should by avoided by the smart player.
Frank Scoblete is one of the top selling gambling authors in the US and the director of Golden Touch, which offers seminars on craps and blackjack. Other recommended books by Scoblete are "The Captains Craps Revolution", "Forever Craps" and "Get the Edge at Craps".
3) Craps: Take the Money and Run by Henry J. Tamburin
Take the Money and Run focuses on how to make fast profits from playing at casinos. In addition to introduction on the mechanics of the game and recommendations on best bets, the book offers the Increased Odds craps betting system and the Take the Money and Run discipline, which both promise to maximize the profits. The book also provides a special chapter on using the pass line bet for maximizing your profits. Take the Money and Run has special chapters on tournaments and new variations.
Dr. Henry J. Tamburin has been playing for over 25 years, and his betting system and discipline are based on his winning experiences.
4) Dice Control for Casino Craps by Yuri Kononenko.
This guide book offers an easy to understand introduction to the concept of dice control from the mathematical and mechanical points of view.
Other recommended books that teach how to gain advantage over the house by using dice control are Frank Scoblete's "Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution" and "Craps Underground: The Inside Story of How Dice Controllers are Winning Millions from the Casinos", which offers a fascinating inside look on the game system.
Conclusion:
Unlike poker or blackjack, this game is not very popular, but in that lies the biggest opportunity. The casinos focus on getting a profit from the popular games. Take advantage of this, and make your profit at this game instead.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Counting Cards: How to Escape Detection
It is not a secret for anyone that casinos do not like blackjack counters and frequently ask them to leave or to play another game. Here, we will describe how casino management detects counters and how to act when caught. We also describe the countermeasures that casinos use against skilled players but most of all we show you how to count cards while not getting caught.
Do Casinos Object?
Most casinos have strict policies that ban any player from counting cards when playing blackjack, but some like those in New Jersey do not pay any attention to such players.
How Do You Know Whether A Casino Minds?
You do not. But you had better act as if they all do and thus save yourself the embarressment of being shoved out if they do mind and if they catch you red-handed.
How to Count Without Getting Detected?
Always keep in mind that since card counting is something that one does silently, the only method to detect it is through observing you and the manner you play. Thus, look out for the following:
1) Do not stare at the cards of other players. Glance once, count, and then move on.
2) Do not stare at the cards that have been discarded. Look quickly and then slowly move away by shifting your gaze nonchalantly from player to player.
3) Change your pattern of betting occassionaly.
4) Change the amount of betting money each round.
5) Even though you know it, loose a round or two. Do not bet big on those rounds. But likewise do not bet too small too. If the casino notices that you are always winning big and losing small, they might get suspicious.
6) Buy chips of different colours and then mix them around while playing to confuse the dealer.
7) Talk to the other players while playing, but this is especially difficult so practice this at home before trying it at a casino.
8) Pick your seat carefully: either the first chair or the third one so that you won't have to twist your head around as the cards are dealt.
9) Dress casually because smart and elegant clothes cause the dealers to think you are intelligent and they might watch you more closely.
10) Order an alcoholic drink and pretend to sip it because they are looking for those non-drinkers who are staying sober to count the cards.
The common denominator of all these is that you must never forget that the casino si watching you and how you play. Act accordingly!
Supposing that the Casino Catches On, What Should you Do?
Stay calm if the casino catches you counting cards and abide by their wishes quietely. Do not make a fuss. If they ask you to leave, do so. The faster you leave, the easier it will be for you to return later. Remember that if you make a fuss, they will all remember you, so desist from any unfriendly behaviour. Note that after shifts change, the new personnel won't know you so all you have to do is wait for that and then you can start playing again. You could also just enter the next casino and start earning money there instead of risking casino personnel from recognizing you.
Do Casinos Object?
Most casinos have strict policies that ban any player from counting cards when playing blackjack, but some like those in New Jersey do not pay any attention to such players.
How Do You Know Whether A Casino Minds?
You do not. But you had better act as if they all do and thus save yourself the embarressment of being shoved out if they do mind and if they catch you red-handed.
How to Count Without Getting Detected?
Always keep in mind that since card counting is something that one does silently, the only method to detect it is through observing you and the manner you play. Thus, look out for the following:
1) Do not stare at the cards of other players. Glance once, count, and then move on.
2) Do not stare at the cards that have been discarded. Look quickly and then slowly move away by shifting your gaze nonchalantly from player to player.
3) Change your pattern of betting occassionaly.
4) Change the amount of betting money each round.
5) Even though you know it, loose a round or two. Do not bet big on those rounds. But likewise do not bet too small too. If the casino notices that you are always winning big and losing small, they might get suspicious.
6) Buy chips of different colours and then mix them around while playing to confuse the dealer.
7) Talk to the other players while playing, but this is especially difficult so practice this at home before trying it at a casino.
8) Pick your seat carefully: either the first chair or the third one so that you won't have to twist your head around as the cards are dealt.
9) Dress casually because smart and elegant clothes cause the dealers to think you are intelligent and they might watch you more closely.
10) Order an alcoholic drink and pretend to sip it because they are looking for those non-drinkers who are staying sober to count the cards.
The common denominator of all these is that you must never forget that the casino si watching you and how you play. Act accordingly!
Supposing that the Casino Catches On, What Should you Do?
Stay calm if the casino catches you counting cards and abide by their wishes quietely. Do not make a fuss. If they ask you to leave, do so. The faster you leave, the easier it will be for you to return later. Remember that if you make a fuss, they will all remember you, so desist from any unfriendly behaviour. Note that after shifts change, the new personnel won't know you so all you have to do is wait for that and then you can start playing again. You could also just enter the next casino and start earning money there instead of risking casino personnel from recognizing you.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Could Your Income Survive A Hurricane?
As you know, Hurricane Katrina has caused destruction and devastation across several states. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced and are unable to work since the storm. Businesses have been closed for weeks. The economical impact is unimaginable. No one knows what the effects will be — weeks, months, even years from now.
How would weeks, or months, of lost income affect your family? This event is another solid reminder of how important it is to develop passive income — the kind of income where you keep making money whether you are working or not. If and when events happen to keep you from work – whether they are wonderful interruptions, such as the birth of a new baby, or tragic events like a hurricane, you’ll continue to have money coming in.
There are several ways to set up passive income streams.
Start a website (or several websites)
Set up your own money-maker. Whether your interest is in selling a product, providing information, or a service, every business needs an online presence. If you’re uncomfortable with technology, there are site builders available that will walk you through every step of the way. Or, if you want to avoid maintaining a website, many people are making decent money from blogs.
Join Affiliate Programs
Research and join any of the wonderful affiliate programs selling anything from books to bras. If you’re unfamiliar with affiliate programs, it’s really quite a simple concept. Thousands of companies will pay you to refer customers to them. Whether your interest is sports or doilies, you can make money by linking to products from your website or blog.
Make your own info products and get affiliates to sell for you
Create an electronic product (write an ebook, design software, or record an audio product). Once you’ve created your product, recruit affiliates to sell for you!
And, of course, Direct Sales
If you are in a Direct Sales business, build your customer base and your team and you’ll have residual income, too. Build your team both wide and deep for the most security.
Once you know which path you’re going to follow, then it’s critical that you automate your Business. Set up an autoresponder, so your messages are being sent whether you are home or not. You can automate e-courses and newsletters - all running at the same time, automatically.
Your autoresponder can be your best customer service rep. Make sure your autoresponder sends clients a thank you email as soon as they place an order – and another email a week after placing their order – just to check in. You’ll be providing excellent customer service, and your customer won’t know that their thoughtful customer service response is really an automated reply.
Are you making money when you are not working? Is your income protected, for the times when “life happens”? If not, my challenge to you is to do one thing to get on the road to making passive income today!
How would weeks, or months, of lost income affect your family? This event is another solid reminder of how important it is to develop passive income — the kind of income where you keep making money whether you are working or not. If and when events happen to keep you from work – whether they are wonderful interruptions, such as the birth of a new baby, or tragic events like a hurricane, you’ll continue to have money coming in.
There are several ways to set up passive income streams.
Start a website (or several websites)
Set up your own money-maker. Whether your interest is in selling a product, providing information, or a service, every business needs an online presence. If you’re uncomfortable with technology, there are site builders available that will walk you through every step of the way. Or, if you want to avoid maintaining a website, many people are making decent money from blogs.
Join Affiliate Programs
Research and join any of the wonderful affiliate programs selling anything from books to bras. If you’re unfamiliar with affiliate programs, it’s really quite a simple concept. Thousands of companies will pay you to refer customers to them. Whether your interest is sports or doilies, you can make money by linking to products from your website or blog.
Make your own info products and get affiliates to sell for you
Create an electronic product (write an ebook, design software, or record an audio product). Once you’ve created your product, recruit affiliates to sell for you!
And, of course, Direct Sales
If you are in a Direct Sales business, build your customer base and your team and you’ll have residual income, too. Build your team both wide and deep for the most security.
Once you know which path you’re going to follow, then it’s critical that you automate your Business. Set up an autoresponder, so your messages are being sent whether you are home or not. You can automate e-courses and newsletters - all running at the same time, automatically.
Your autoresponder can be your best customer service rep. Make sure your autoresponder sends clients a thank you email as soon as they place an order – and another email a week after placing their order – just to check in. You’ll be providing excellent customer service, and your customer won’t know that their thoughtful customer service response is really an automated reply.
Are you making money when you are not working? Is your income protected, for the times when “life happens”? If not, my challenge to you is to do one thing to get on the road to making passive income today!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Could ViRexx Medical’s ‘Linked Recognition’ Research Lead to a Cancer Vaccine?
A SCIENTIST’S 20-YEAR UNFINISHED JOURNEY TO TREAT HBV MAY OPEN THE DOOR TO A NEW CLASS OF FLEXIBLE VACCINES
While preparing a lecture in biochemistry and virology for his graduate students at the University of Alberta in the early 1980s, Dr. Lorne Tyrrell ran across a study just published in the medical journal, Cell. The research by William Mason and Jesse Summers, entitled “Replication of Hepatitis B,” discussed their study of the hepatitis B virus in infected duck liver.
After studying their duck model theory, Tyrrell speculated if the hepatitis B virus (HBV) might be susceptible to antiviral agents, and consulted with a colleague, who specialized in nucleoside chemistry. Both medical professors became excited about the possibility of inhibiting the HBV virus with nucleoside analogues. Thus began the infectious disease specialist’s first leg of a journey, which led to the use of lamivudine as a therapy for chronic HBV infections.
More than 350 million people across the world, especially in Asia, now had new hope, some for their lifelong infections contracted vertically at birth from their mothers. In 2003, the Center for Disease Control estimated 73,000 Americans were infected with HBV, and about 5,000 die each year from sickness caused by HBV. It is reportedly 100 times more contagious than the AIDS virus. Many in North America, who had been infected with the virus from sexual transmission or intravenous drug use, were offered a potentially life-saving therapy.
Licensed in 1998, lamivudine is now used in 120 countries as a standard therapy for chronic HBV carriers. The compound is also used in combination with other drugs, such as protease inhibitors, for HIV therapy. Development rights were licensed to Glaxo Wellcome in 1990, which is now sold under the brand name Epivir®. For his pioneering efforts in developing the antiviral agent, Dr. Tyrrell was awarded the gold medal by the Canadian Liver Foundation and the Canadian Association for the Study of Liver in 2000. In 2005, he won the prestigious EnCana Principal Award for his development of the first effective oral medication for Hepatitis B.
HIS UNANSWERED QUESTIONS LAUNCHED A NEW HBV INVESTIGATION
Despite the awards and recognition, questions remained for Dr. Tyrrell about the shortcomings of lamivudine. He was troubled that some viruses would develop resistance to the compound. “I was disappointed the sustained viral response was not complete,” Tyrrell told us. In April 2003, the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy published a study in Japan showing, “long-term (lamivudine) therapy is associated with increased emergence of lamivudine-resistant strains of HBV.” Researchers concluded in this study, “The therapeutic challenge to effectively treat chronic HBV infection continues.”
Having screened lamivudine for use in Hepatitis B at Glaxo’s research lab at the University of Alberta, Dr. Tyrrell was able to observe the immune response of various HBV patients. “What really got me interested in doing more work in this area was that we noticed patients, who have an immune response to the virus and take lamivudine, will have a better sustained response rate,” Tyrrell explained. “A patient with elevated liver transaminases taking lamivudine had a higher probability of a sustained viral response,” Tyrrell said with excitement in his voice. “In a patient with normal liver enzymes, who gets lamivudine, the virus will go down, but as soon as you stop the therapy, the virus comes right back up.” He told us the sustained viral response is only about two to three percent. Only about 30 percent remain free of the virus, about one year after patients have stopped taking lamivudine.
“How do you break tolerance?” Tyrrell asked himself, hoping to develop a way to stimulate an immune response. All of the patients, he had observed, seemed to be tolerant of the hepatitis B virus. He pondered the dilemma, “Was there some way to break tolerance to hepatitis B by stimulating the immune response?” Tyrrell studied what others were attempting and wasn’t satisfied with the approaches others were taking to stimulate immune response. His ViRexx Medical research team brainstormed about different ways to target the antigen into the dendritic cells.
“That’s where we came in with the Chimigen™ technology,” Tyrrell said. “The dendritic cells have receptors on their surface that will bind the Fc portion of an antibody.” He pointed out a key feature of the Chimigen™ platform, “We used the Fc portion of a murine (mouse) antibody to hook onto our hepatitis B antigens. This would direct the viral antigens into dendritic cells in vivo.” Because the dendritic cells are the sentries of the immune system, they guard what comes in. Recognizing a ‘foreign situation’ in the murine antibody, it treats the whole molecule including the virus antigen as foreign.
LINK RECOGNITION MAY HOLD THE KEY
Dr. Rajan George, ViRexx Medical’s vice president of research and development, told us, “The dendritic cells chop up this protein into small pieces called peptides, also known as epitopes. The dendritic cells have a system where they put the T-cell epitope on another protein, MHC Class I, and bring it to the surface of the dendritic cell. They are presented as a complex on the surface of the dendritic cell to attract the T-cells.” When the T-cells arrive to inspect the foreign entity, the cytotoxic T-cells are activated. Then, they begin attacking and killing the virus-infected cells.
Research at Tokyo’s Cancer Institute Hospital, published in 1987 in Nippon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi, suggested a feasibility of linked recognition of a virus antigen as a helper in tumor immunity with a target antigen. In the case of ViRexx Medical, Tyrrell’s team has created a new molecule, called “chimigen.” The term is shorthand for a chimeric antigen, meaning it is an antigen created from two different sources, part virus and part murine monoclonal antibody.
Dr. Tyrrell’s work at ViRexx Medical with Dr. George suggested the linked-recognition theory might be the key to breaking tolerance. Dr. George emphasized, “The new ‘chimigen’ stimulates an immune response to the antigen as well as the viral antigen. This is very important because the virus antigen was previously being ignored.” That brings us back to why lamivudine had limited success. The immune systems of some HBV carriers failed to recognize the viral infection as a threat to the body. Tyrell’s ViRexx Medical research team hopes the body’s immune system sees the threat, thus stimulating the immune system, and breaking tolerance. It appears Dr. Tyrell may soon find out whether or not the questions he asked will bring the answers he hoped for.
END OF PART ONE
While preparing a lecture in biochemistry and virology for his graduate students at the University of Alberta in the early 1980s, Dr. Lorne Tyrrell ran across a study just published in the medical journal, Cell. The research by William Mason and Jesse Summers, entitled “Replication of Hepatitis B,” discussed their study of the hepatitis B virus in infected duck liver.
After studying their duck model theory, Tyrrell speculated if the hepatitis B virus (HBV) might be susceptible to antiviral agents, and consulted with a colleague, who specialized in nucleoside chemistry. Both medical professors became excited about the possibility of inhibiting the HBV virus with nucleoside analogues. Thus began the infectious disease specialist’s first leg of a journey, which led to the use of lamivudine as a therapy for chronic HBV infections.
More than 350 million people across the world, especially in Asia, now had new hope, some for their lifelong infections contracted vertically at birth from their mothers. In 2003, the Center for Disease Control estimated 73,000 Americans were infected with HBV, and about 5,000 die each year from sickness caused by HBV. It is reportedly 100 times more contagious than the AIDS virus. Many in North America, who had been infected with the virus from sexual transmission or intravenous drug use, were offered a potentially life-saving therapy.
Licensed in 1998, lamivudine is now used in 120 countries as a standard therapy for chronic HBV carriers. The compound is also used in combination with other drugs, such as protease inhibitors, for HIV therapy. Development rights were licensed to Glaxo Wellcome in 1990, which is now sold under the brand name Epivir®. For his pioneering efforts in developing the antiviral agent, Dr. Tyrrell was awarded the gold medal by the Canadian Liver Foundation and the Canadian Association for the Study of Liver in 2000. In 2005, he won the prestigious EnCana Principal Award for his development of the first effective oral medication for Hepatitis B.
HIS UNANSWERED QUESTIONS LAUNCHED A NEW HBV INVESTIGATION
Despite the awards and recognition, questions remained for Dr. Tyrrell about the shortcomings of lamivudine. He was troubled that some viruses would develop resistance to the compound. “I was disappointed the sustained viral response was not complete,” Tyrrell told us. In April 2003, the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy published a study in Japan showing, “long-term (lamivudine) therapy is associated with increased emergence of lamivudine-resistant strains of HBV.” Researchers concluded in this study, “The therapeutic challenge to effectively treat chronic HBV infection continues.”
Having screened lamivudine for use in Hepatitis B at Glaxo’s research lab at the University of Alberta, Dr. Tyrrell was able to observe the immune response of various HBV patients. “What really got me interested in doing more work in this area was that we noticed patients, who have an immune response to the virus and take lamivudine, will have a better sustained response rate,” Tyrrell explained. “A patient with elevated liver transaminases taking lamivudine had a higher probability of a sustained viral response,” Tyrrell said with excitement in his voice. “In a patient with normal liver enzymes, who gets lamivudine, the virus will go down, but as soon as you stop the therapy, the virus comes right back up.” He told us the sustained viral response is only about two to three percent. Only about 30 percent remain free of the virus, about one year after patients have stopped taking lamivudine.
“How do you break tolerance?” Tyrrell asked himself, hoping to develop a way to stimulate an immune response. All of the patients, he had observed, seemed to be tolerant of the hepatitis B virus. He pondered the dilemma, “Was there some way to break tolerance to hepatitis B by stimulating the immune response?” Tyrrell studied what others were attempting and wasn’t satisfied with the approaches others were taking to stimulate immune response. His ViRexx Medical research team brainstormed about different ways to target the antigen into the dendritic cells.
“That’s where we came in with the Chimigen™ technology,” Tyrrell said. “The dendritic cells have receptors on their surface that will bind the Fc portion of an antibody.” He pointed out a key feature of the Chimigen™ platform, “We used the Fc portion of a murine (mouse) antibody to hook onto our hepatitis B antigens. This would direct the viral antigens into dendritic cells in vivo.” Because the dendritic cells are the sentries of the immune system, they guard what comes in. Recognizing a ‘foreign situation’ in the murine antibody, it treats the whole molecule including the virus antigen as foreign.
LINK RECOGNITION MAY HOLD THE KEY
Dr. Rajan George, ViRexx Medical’s vice president of research and development, told us, “The dendritic cells chop up this protein into small pieces called peptides, also known as epitopes. The dendritic cells have a system where they put the T-cell epitope on another protein, MHC Class I, and bring it to the surface of the dendritic cell. They are presented as a complex on the surface of the dendritic cell to attract the T-cells.” When the T-cells arrive to inspect the foreign entity, the cytotoxic T-cells are activated. Then, they begin attacking and killing the virus-infected cells.
Research at Tokyo’s Cancer Institute Hospital, published in 1987 in Nippon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi, suggested a feasibility of linked recognition of a virus antigen as a helper in tumor immunity with a target antigen. In the case of ViRexx Medical, Tyrrell’s team has created a new molecule, called “chimigen.” The term is shorthand for a chimeric antigen, meaning it is an antigen created from two different sources, part virus and part murine monoclonal antibody.
Dr. Tyrrell’s work at ViRexx Medical with Dr. George suggested the linked-recognition theory might be the key to breaking tolerance. Dr. George emphasized, “The new ‘chimigen’ stimulates an immune response to the antigen as well as the viral antigen. This is very important because the virus antigen was previously being ignored.” That brings us back to why lamivudine had limited success. The immune systems of some HBV carriers failed to recognize the viral infection as a threat to the body. Tyrell’s ViRexx Medical research team hopes the body’s immune system sees the threat, thus stimulating the immune system, and breaking tolerance. It appears Dr. Tyrell may soon find out whether or not the questions he asked will bring the answers he hoped for.
END OF PART ONE
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