Choosing the Right Mobile Phone Package for You

Walking into a mobile phone retailer can be quite intimidating, especially when you’re suddenly surrounded by young people from the store trying to get you to buy what they claim to be “the best overall package”, even when you’re only going in to make an inquiry.

Sometimes you just want a standard mobile phone that you can use to make emergency calls and let your family know you've arrived at a destination safe and sound. On other occasions you might be looking for something a bit more modern, and you can’t get much more up to the minute than a smartphone. Everyone seems to have one these days, either texting, calling, emailing, playing games and browsing the Internet. But are they for you? 

Choosing a phone should involve choosing one that is right for you in every sense. If you’re unlikely to use all of the features incorporated into a smartphone, then a more traditional mobile option would be best, for instance. Similarly, having decided that you do want a smartphone, you’ll need to think about payment options as there are plenty of pay monthly, and no annual contract smartphones on the market. 

There are four things that you should consider before signing any agreement for a mobile phone, and doing your research beforehand can help you to narrow down your search.

Talking and Texting 

Your first consideration should be about how much time you plan to spend using your phone as, well, a phone. If you’re the kind of person who won’t be doing much text messaging, you don’t need to have 1,000 messages incorporated into your call plan. Similarly if you’re going to be using your phone for work, you might need plenty of minutes to stay in touch with the office. 

Business

That point leads me on nicely to business customers. A lot of networks have specialized packages tailor made for business users with web access and plenty of call time, giving you everything you need to do your job on the move for less in comparison to a standard call plan with business features “bolted on.” 

Technology 

Choosing a phone is like choosing any gadget, you want the one that’s filled with all of the technology that you need in your life. However, you don’t want to be paying extra for features that you’re never going to need. You can save a great deal of money by cutting the unnecessary factors out of your phone and going for a simpler option if that suits you. 

For example, if you feel as though you’re never going to get on with a touch screen keypad, you’re best off looking for a phone that comes with a more traditional QWERTY keyboard. Similarly if you’re not looking to use your phone to play music, look for one that doesn't have a built-in MP3 player or iPod that you’re paying for. 

Network 

Finally, you need to choose the network that best covers your area. While your friends and family might recommend one particular provider, they might have poor network coverage in your area. For that reason you can find out in-store how to get the best network for your call package, saving you the hassle of having to return your phone or buy out your contract to switch to a better provider.

Aussies Working Harder Than Ever Before

The Treasurer has announced that the government will finally be moving away from its commitment to budget surplus for this financial year, as company tax revenues have not met expectations and the strength of the local currency has made economic conditions more difficult to navigate through. Treasurer Wayne Swan said that deficit was now likely for the financial year ending June 2013, after months of opposition criticism and questioning about where the government intended to get the funds from. This announcement came after the Finance Department said that tax receipts for the year were nearly $4 billion below what had been predicted, at $17 billion. This sentiment goes against the promise that was delivered in 2010 when Swan earmarked Australia to be the first developed economy to see a return to surplus by 2012/2013. Many Australian banks lower rates and offering attractive promotions to clients to attract local investment. 

And as officials lament the departure of surplus and an economy that is being tried and tested through adverse conditions, workers are trying to correct their own financial situations by putting more hours in at the office, but in many cases are not being remunerated for their efforts.

Despite trying economic conditions, local workers are putting their heads down and getting more hours in at the office. This is according to census data that demonstrates how Australian workers are injecting an average of 52 extra days of overtime into the work schedule every year. According to the Australian Financial Review and 2011 census data many people are now putting an extra 10 weeks a year into their work but they are not all necessarily being compensated for it.

There are now 6.3 million full-time employees in the country earning salaries. Out of that figure 26% or 1.7 million people say they worked at least 49 hours in the week leading up to last year’s census. And it is employees, not company owners who are most likely to be putting that overtime into their working day.

If you were wondering which professionals are working hardest, surgeons top the list as putting the most hours in, followed by legislators and crop and livestock farmers who are mostly self-employed. The legal profession followers with more than 50% of people employed in the industry working more hours than average in a day. As far as industry is concerned faring and mining saw the biggest time investment but the figures did not take into account traveling or commuting to mine sites.

The statistics are enlightening considering the public’s love affair with credit and increasing household debt came to an end and was replaced with more conservative spending behaviour, longer working hours and a focus on saving in conditions that are becoming more difficult for the average household to survive.

In other news that will see more financial restrictions for some people, the 1st of January 2014 will see the introduction of FATCA or the Foreign Account Tax Compliant Act which will put foreigners under pressure to declare their earnings. The act has been drafted to address tax evasion by US residents living in other countries. This act will regulate offshore assets by forcing people to disclose any foreign financial transactions that affect their investments.

FATCA works on an opt-in basis wherein foreign financial institutions (FFIs) can collaborate with the IRS. FFIs need to agree to a reporting system, hold back on obligations to US account bearers and comply with due diligence requirements. It has been put down as optional but it is in FFIs’ best interests to sign an agreement if they want to escape the 30% withholding tax which includes income, dividends and interest payments if they do not sign the agreement.

The Top 3 Airline Miles Credit Cards of 2013

English: American Airlines Boeing 757 on final approach at St Maarten Juliana International Airport (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It seems like, as you get older, each year goes by more quickly than the year before. For me, this has had the consequence of encouraging me to make - and hold myself to - New Year’s resolutions each year. One of my New Year’s resolutions for 2013 is to travel more. Since my goal is to travel more without breaking the bank, I thought I’d apply for a good airline miles credit card in order to rack up some miles to aid my travel expenses. Through researching these cards, I found the following cards to be the best airline miles credit cards currently available. 

Here are my picks for the top three airline miles credit cards on the market: 

1. Capital One Venture Rewards – The Capital One Venture Rewards credit card is my pick for the best airline miles card on the market. With the Capital One Venture Rewards card, cardholders earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on any purchase. In addition cardholders receive 10,000 bonus miles when they spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months that they have the card. This is the equivalent of $100 towards travel expenses just by spending $1,000. The miles can be redeemed for any sort of travel expense or any airline, they don’t expire, and the $59 annual fee is waived in the first year. 

2. The Platinum Card from American Express – The American Express Platinum card also makes my list of the best travel rewards credit cards. With The Platinum Card from American Express, cardholders can earn 25,000 Membership Rewards points when they spend $2,000 in the first 3 months of owning the card. The Platinum Card from American Express also offers access to over 600 airport lounges around the globe, advance ticket sales to concerts and shows, and 24/7 Platinum Concierge service. The Platinum Card gives customers 1 Membership Rewards point for each dollar they spend. If the card didn’t carry a $450 annual fee, it would be #1 on this list. 

3. Citi Platinum Select AAdvantage Visa Signature – With the Citi Platinum Select card, cardholders earn 30,000 American Airline AAdvantage bonus miles after they spend $1,000 using the card in the first 3 months that they have the card. In addition, the card grants cardholders a free checked bag on each American Airlines flight, Priority Boarding, 25% off select in-flight purchases, and a $100 American Airlines Flight Discount each year, as well as double miles on all eligible American Airlines purchases. If you don’t mind flying American Airlines, the Citi Platinum Select card could be the right choice for you. 

This article was written by Logan Abbott. Logan is the editor of the credit cards section of MyRatePlan.com.

Life Cover for the Over 50s, There's No Better Time

Life Cover is the best way to ensure that your family is looked after should you pass away unexpectedly or prematurely. There are different types of cover and your circumstances, including age will have a bearing on the type most suitable for you. Shop around and get the best deal available.
If you don't have life insurance or life cover, you could be leaving your family open to so much more than mental grief should you pass away unexpectedly. Even though we all know that people die unexpectedly every day, so many of us manage to deny that it could happen to us.

Unexpected costs

If the worst does happen, there are so many costs to be met. At a time when a family least needs to worry about money, without life cover, simply meeting the cost of the funeral can be a struggle for some families. If you haven't got life cover, it is not too late. Most companies offer great deals on over 50life cover plans meaning that, at the very least, you can ensure that funeral expenses are covered.

There was a time when most people had paid off their mortgage by the age of 50 but these days it is not unusual to still be paying off this loan well into your 50s and 60s. This is yet another reason why you should have life cover. Could your partner afford the monthly mortgage payments alone? Over 50 life cover plans are available that will take care of the mortgage should the unexpected happen.

Most plans for the over 50s tend to be whole life cover, rather than for a fixed term, a lump sum being paid to a named beneficiary on the event of the policy holders death. Increasing policies are also popular with this age group, where the amount of cover, as well as the premium will increase incrementally over the life of the policy. As we get older, the risk of dying or developing a life threatening disease increases, a policy which grows to cover these risks is therefore a good idea.

You may be thinking that life cover for the over 50s group will be too expensive but this is far from true. There are some great deals available for the over 50s, many even guarantee to accept you and in many cases, you won't need to undergo a medical, another thing that puts many off.

Get a quote

Getting a quote could not be easier, you can get a quote quickly and simply online, just by answering a few questions. This is by far the easiest method and some sites will even allow you to compare quotes and cover, making your choice easier to make. If online forms aren't your thing, then you can get a quote on the phone or even request a paper application form.

It might very well be the case that you have gotten away without life cover until now and you may be tempted to carry on hoping for the best. Whilst no one likes to think about their own mortality or enjoys contemplating dying in an accident, these things do happen and you can't do anything about it after the fact. Taking some steps to prepare for an event which we all hope will be a long time off, is just good sense.

AUTHOR BIO

Shannen is a finance expert and advisor. She also writes regular advice columns for a range of finance magazines and websites where questions on life cover frequently arise, particularly over 50 life cover plans.

Benefits of Having Car Hire Excess Protection

English: Rental hire car park, Aberdeen Airport (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

While driving a hired car, you should have car hire excess insurance. If any accident occurs or the car gets damaged or people get injured due to your fault you have to pay a large amount of money. Sometimes you have to pay even if there was not any fault of yours. Car excess protection can help you in these cases. While driving a rental car, you will get protection in any case of accident if you have car hire excess insurance. 

Excess insurance covers you for the expenses occurred due to damages in a car after an accident and it confirms that you don’t have to pay to settle things. When going for such policies it is very important that you must know how much protection you will get while paying for car excess protection insurance. All insurance policies are not the same, some policies would not give you cover against some common damages. For example, some companies do not provide cover against damages to windscreens or tires. So it is very important to know what you will be getting before investing on any type of car hire excess insurance.

Buying car hire excess insurance provides mental peace to the buyers. You will not be responsible for any kind of accident or any damages and you will get protection for any kind of damages to the car. Car excess protection will cover you even in cases of vandalism, theft of the car, or if the car catches fire.

When hiring cars, you will be offered by the company to purchase car hire excess insurance. The cost of those insurance is very low and they don’t protect all types of damages which the car could sustain. Many people are unaware of the fact that far better alternatives are there and they are easily available. It is just you need to research a bit so as to get the best policy for your hired car. It is always a great idea to invest some time on net and search online so as to get good information on the all available options. You can compare the policies and then decide which one to go with as per your need and budget.

Online car hire excess insurance is also beneficial if more than one person is going to drive the hired vehicle. Sometimes few insurance policies charges extra for second driver. But if you decide to purchase your excess insurance online, they might give you cover for any driver and no extra cost might be charged for that.

If you are opting for daily car hire excess insurance, you must check the rental period before purchasing. If you are hiring a vehicle for a longer period of time, it is better to purchase an annual car hire excess insurance which gives some additional facilities.

While hiring a car, it is good to have a car excess protection. Sometimes an accident can cost much more than the premium of insurance thus it would not be a wise idea to ignore excess insurance. If you are going for car hire excess insurance, you will have mental peace while hiring a car when you are out of station. It will help you to save money if you face any kind of accident while driving a rental car.

Author Bio:

This is a great and an informative post by Titli.

Why Home Based Entrepreneurs Prefer Virtual Office

Corporate downsizing is still a major issue all around the world and the Internet has made telecommuting a more promising option for employment. More entrepreneurs are making the decision to run their own business from home. Working from home has many benefits; giving you more time with your family as well as a more stress-free lifestyle. Working from home is the right decision for many people and below, we will discuss how working from home can benefit you. 

Cost Benefit 

One benefit from working from home is cost. When you work in an office, you have to dress a certain way, lunch away from home and commute, all of which cost money. By working from home, you eliminate this cost. You also have a tax advantage. Working from home gives you the ability to deduct part of your home operating expense as well as depreciation expenses as part of your business expense. This varies depending on where you live but can include the mortgage, property taxes, utilities, insurance and other expenses. 

Less Stress/Personal Freedom 

A major draw to working from home is less stress and personal freedom. With a work at home position, you have the ability to obtain a stress free lifestyle. You have no pushing deadlines or certain time you must begin work. You can start at your leisure which means no mornings run around your home acting crazy before heading to work! You also have more personal freedom. You have the ability to dress how you want, work how you want, etc. If you need an off day, you take one! You are your own boss so you can make your own decisions! 

Flexibility 

You also have more flexibility in your life. When you work a nine to five job, you have to schedule your life around your work. When you work from home, you have the flexibility to schedule your work around your life. No more missed kid functions or birthday parties. You have the ability to set your own schedule as you see fit, which allows you to be flexible with every day activities such as doctor visits and dance recitals or big events such as vacation or weddings. 

Relaxed Environment 

Working from home also provides you with a relaxed environment. You do not have to work alongside anyone so there is no competition or spitefulness which can take place in the office. There is only happiness! You do not have a boss breathing down your neck, watching your every move. You can act how you want and do things when you want. This freedom allows you to be more relaxed and feel better physically and mentally.

 

Creative Outlet 

Once you have created your own home based business, you will realize that you have a creative outlet. You will be able to take the hobbies that you love and enjoy them. Take what you know and what you are passionate about and use it to make money to support yourself and your family. 

Professional Growth 

As your own boss, you will be taking on more positions, such as the marketing manager, sales, strategist and more. These roles will prepare you for higher positions, which allow you professional growth. You will quickly see that you have gained knowledge in many aspects of business which can help you gain a new position or expand your business in the future. 
As you can see, working from home definitely has its perks. Take a look at your current position and you may see that working from home is an option. Research the possibilities and take a leap of faith to try working from home on your own! 
The above mentioned important factors that make the home based entrepreneurs , choose virtual office. Visit the site Servcorp Virtual Office for additional information on virtual office.