Wednesday, March 6, 2013

13 Money Saving Tips for 2013 - Infographic

Wouldn't we all like to save a few hundred dollars every month. It seems when you get down to it the money we waste on our daily lives can really add up over a years time. An adjustment in our lives with a little bit here and a little bit there can keep a substantial amount of money in your pocket. 

The infographic below shows that just by making a few adjustments to our daily lives it is possible to save that $100 and more every month.


money saving tips web optimized 13 Money Saving Tips for 2013 Infographic
An infographic from the team at Quicken Loans.




Save Money on Auto Insurance

A car crash on Jagtvej in Copenhagen, Denmark.
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When it comes to finding ways to tighten up on the budget in tough times, many people, including me, look right past the most obvious solutions. 
Car insurance is one of the largest ongoing liabilities that any household incurs. Of course you cannot go without auto insurance, especially if there are kids in the house. The only alternative is to find the most cost effective solution on the market. 

Once you get tired of searching around the market for the best deals like I did, you can go to ifaauto.com for the best long term deals. I was so sick out trading out company for company every six months just to take advantage of some introductory offer so that I could save money. When it came to ifaauto.com cheap auto insurance, they had the best deals on their regular plans, not just their introductory plans.

Not only does this company have a cost effective plan for everyone, but they also have first rate service for the cost. You should not give up any kind of safety just to keep car insurance that does not actually help you. With ifaauto.com, you get the best of both worlds without having to spend your entire workday searching. True story: I almost got fired because I was searching for car insurance on the company dime because the best deals were simply too hard to find. Fortunately, I was able to tell you about ifaauto.com so that you do not have to go through the same thing.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Seniors Take Care Of Debts With Life Settlements



Seniors that are looking for ways to become financially free in 2013 have been given the option to erase outstanding debts by using Life Settlements. Without financial debt, seniors can enjoy the more interesting things in life. 

It’s finding ways to achieve a debt-free life that can be tough, especially considering the situations facing retired seniors. These settlements provide a way to eliminate debt, buy a vacation property or help someone else out, by providing a way to secure funds quickly.

Retired seniors often have limited income to spend on luxuries. Many times, the monthly bills can exceed a fixed income household’s budget. Needing help paying off medical bills is common in 2013 for seniors with limited incomes. 

Those not able to keep up with the growing cost of hospital and doctors’ visits are now using settlement alternatives to pay off healthcare providers. Many are selling off their life insurance policies because the premiums have become too expensive to afford.




Some seniors have figured out a way to create dividends above cash value from investments they have already made in life insurance. Some financial advisors are showing retirees how to use their current life insurance policies to make their debts disappear. 

By selling their life insurance policies, policyholders can receive lump-sum payouts of up to 60 percent of the policy value. These payouts are being used to create a new and more enjoyable financial situation. 

These types of financial strategies are easier to execute than obtaining the traditional loans that some might choose. These types of financial strategies are easier to execute than obtaining the traditional loans that some might choose. Other non-traditional options are title loans, which could also be helpful.

Seniors who may have felt as if they had lost control of their finances have found another alternative to debt-free living. They have gained a secure financial foothold on their future and possibly contributed to the futures of others. 

Being able to help their children, revive a business that needs a boost or move into the lakefront cabin, can be made easy when considering cash settlements against their life insurance policy. Anyone considering this type of settlement should consult with an advisor for details.

The Retirement Plan, Plus 3 Personal Investment Suggestions

What people want is a question that troubled many wise men, from early philosophers to modern psychologists. Be it eternal glory or living a happy life along with a happy family, be it fortune or health, the truth is people just want to feel an overall satisfactions with their lives. And while as adults people fight and work hard for their goals, after a certain age they get tired and just need to relax and feel at peace. 

A Retirement Paradise: Florida


It is said that within the USA, 1000 people age 50 and more retire every year to warmer locations such as Florida. Florida’s real estate market saw a first growth back in 2010, when an increase in home sales took place in the 4th quarter, according to University of Florida News. The truth is that this piece of heaven in particular offers their residents a full life at a relatively fair price. The reasons to why people move here are quite well known: the climate, the entertainment facilities, the tourist attractions and the residential compounds which offer their inhabitants a lot of health and relaxation opportunities.

Here are three suggestions on what a solid retirement plan should consist of in case one decides to retreat from the madding crowd. 

#1. Knowing What You Are Getting Yourself Into


As far as personal investment goes, it may sound easy, but before packing your bags and leaving a place, you should definitely take into account that you need a real estate agent or a reliable housing company to ease your way through state laws and paperwork. These are time-consuming activities and at your age, you strive to make the best of your time, so it is better to leave them to professionals. They can also offer you the best deals on the market, plus make sure what you get represent what you paid for. You worked your entire life and you deserve the best for a peaceful retirement. 

#2: Knowing Who You Are Dealing With


There are a lot of companies online that will show you spectacular photos and breathtaking descriptions. When choosing your real estate company, make sure they provide full services including house selection, negotiation and goods inspection. The goods inspection must be done in a detail-oriented manner, from roof to floor. To ease the process of home design and household appliances needed for daily activities and chores, it is highly recommended to buy a house that already has everything you need. Make sure to check for appliance ratings with your real estate agent and make sure they are worth the extra money. Also seek guidance in terms of purchase of extra goods, necessary paperwork, financial and legal consultations and many more. 

#3: Dealing with Additional Taxes


Regardless of what you are paying for - house or apartment - in Florida and the amount - from US $100.000 or US $500.000 – consider the fact that there are always extra costs. These include your property annual taxes, ranging around $3000/year, however expect more depending on the residential area you want to move into. Some residential areas are susceptible to a residential community tax that ensures clean streets and carefully groomed fences. This adds up to local golf club member’s fee, home insurance, repairs fund and other taxes.

No matter the household choice, remember that “Location, location, location” is the first rule in real estate and that planning your budget accordingly is of high priority. Homes set in residential areas with a beach view or facing the sport courts are more expensive, but they seem to be worth it, in terms of transportation and comfort. After all, we all seek our piece of heaven where we can retire to some day.

Author Bio:

Roxana Scott is an Occupational Health Psychologist interested in healthy life decisions. As a Life Coach, she encountered many employees close to retirement age, so she decided to write an article on what a retirement plan should look and feel like. You can follow Roxana on Google + (https://plus.google.com/100992360586064517629/)



Understanding Small Business Loans

English: Austell, GA, October 26, 2009 -- Aust...
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
If you are thinking of getting a small business loan, you must know what you are getting into and be prepared. Financial institutions are becoming more timid to loan money in this market so your plan must be concrete. Look extensively into your business and see what the top priorities are and what needs to be done in order to make it more successful. Think big picture and make sure you understand the difference between needs and wants for your company. 

Some things to consider are:

  1. How much do I need? Be wary not to take too much or too little. 
  2. What exactly will this loan be used for? The more detailed the better. 
  3. How much you can afford to pay on the loan each month? Be realistic. 
  4. What assets can you use as collateral? 

Make a plan


Use the questions above to help you decide what you really want out of a loan. A small business loan is usually a big commitment and with any big investments like that you want to make sure you go into it knowing exactly what the money will be used for, how it will improve your business, and have confidence that you will be able to pay it back entirely. 

Asset assistance


Financial institutions are not known for handouts. They want to protect their investments and this can make getting a small or a large business loan difficult to attain. When you go into a loan you want to put your best out there and show them you are responsible and able to meet your burden of the loan. Handshakes and verbal promises are long gone, but assets speak volumes. If you are certain that this loan will further grow your capitol game it may be necessary to use assets to back up the loan. Assets can be anything from:

  • Equity on your home 
  • Real estate property 
  • Inventory or equipment 
  • College funds/IRA’s 
  • And more 

If your assets are low, you can also consider having a cosigner for the small business loan. 

Use it right


Once a business loan is secured it is up to you to make sure the funds you receive go to precisely the areas you want it to and that it is making a difference. If you begin and realize that this isn’t what you were expecting that sit down and draft another plan until you reach the scenario that will best suit your business needs and long term goals.

Often times a financial advisor can help you do this and make sure you get the most of of the loan. If you didn’t qualify for as much as you were hoping, a strategic planner will work with the numbers to ensure that your business will not only make enough for you to get by, but for the company to thrive. Ultimately that is any business owners' goal, to grow and grow. 

Small business, big results


If you are reading this, chances are you are a small business owner. The best advice to anyone in your situation is to plan, plan, plan! The more you take a step back and plan for your company the better the outcome will be. You need to continually re-evaluate what is best and when the time is right to go for a loan to help build it even more. Click Here to find out more about Business Loans.


Getting Legal Assistance for Driving Offences: The Costs and Benefits

Court Guard and Immigration Police
 (Photo credit: peretzp)
If you have been charged by the police for allegedly breaking the law behind the wheel, you will have every right to dispute any fine or punishment which is dealt out. To do this properly, you will need to enlist the assistance of a qualified lawyer who knows traffic offences like the back of their hand. Of course, the penalties will have to be high enough for the legal fees to be worthwhile. If you have been charged with a ludicrous amount, here are a few ways in which you can save money and benefit by actually hiring an experienced solicitor. 

Initial Advice Free of Charge


The best legal firms will offer their first consultation for free anyway, meaning that you really have no excuse not to find out what they can do for you. If there is a good chance of you disputing any traffic offence you have been charged with, your chosen solicitors will give you the lowdown. They should also let you know whether it is worth it to fight that specific monetary penalty given the legal fees as well as the time and effort involved. 

Reports and Studies for Support


Another benefit of hiring a lawyer to assist here is that they can supply you with a whole range of research which can strengthen your case. Instead of going to court on your own, you can bring along a legal advisor who has done the appropriate studies, including the following: 

  • Reconstruction reports that go over the events that took place 
  • Road sign placement tests which examine whether this was to blame 
  • Alcohol/drug analysis that determines whether the tests were done properly 

As you can see, the best lawyers will tackle this issue from several angles. By taking the time to hire some truly experienced driving offence solicitors, you can back yourself up well during the trial, giving yourself a better chance of actually winning your case. All of this added information would be impossible for you to compile and collect on your own. 

Financial Matters


Of course, there is always the cost to think about when hiring a lawyer specialising in traffic offences. Fortunately, this is not something that you will need to worry about too much. This is because the top legal firms will let you know exactly what the charges are from the beginning. Some will even offer additional assistance such as “no win no fees” policies. Alternatively, they will seek out compensation from the courts if you are finally acquitted in the end. 


Thus, the monetary aspect will be handled properly at each stage of fighting your case. After the free initial consultation, you will know exactly how much your legal fees will cost and can then budget accordingly. Of course, the total amount will have to be less than the fine you have been charged with. It should also be low enough so that the time and effort spent in court will be worthwhile once the case is finally wrapped up. \

More Pros than Cons


As you can see, there is plenty of reason to hire a solicitor to contest your driving offenses as long as you plan properly beforehand. By taking your time out to find a lawyer who really knows this topic and who will not charge you a fortune, you can then gain a host of legal benefits as a result. Whether you have been charged with drunk driving or speeding, the right advice and assistance can help get you through these legal hurdles and hopefully win your case without having to spend a fortune in fees to accomplish this. 

About the Author
Cunninghams Solicitors Ltd are driving offence solicitors, offering range of services for defence work for appearances at police stations and magistrates courts.



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