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Monday, December 8, 2008

Fight The Recession - Make Your Business Grow And Prosper

By Christina Helwig

All over the world people are turning into little birds. They are hiding in their nests and waiting for "spring." They are passing up opportunities in order to conserve what little they have "left" because they do not want to have nothing at all when the economy turns around. This is absolutely the wrong thing to be doing right now. While of course people should be shoring up their finances; they should not be ducking their heads in the sand and hiding money in their mattresses.

The first thing you should do is form a clear and concise plan of what your goals and objectives are for the next three years. Your plan should include a very precise snapshot of where you are financially right NOW! If you have not been keeping careful track on your monthly expenses and income you have some work to do. You cannot change anything until you first know where you are. Once you have that baseline you can decide where you would like to be in three years. Start off with thinking of the amount of income you would like to have and the different things you would like to have in your life: a new car, home, toys, charitable giving, money for your child's school etc. Once you have thought about these things then figure out how much each of these things will cost you. With your current financial snapshot and your "dream" list completed you then are in a position to figure out how much you need to earn to accomplish those goals in three years. The more income you want, the higher level of service or "effort" will be required on your part.

You will want to build into your financial plan both a way to reduce your financial obligations and a way to build up your wealth. Take your current income and divide it in a way you feel comfortable to accomplish these goals. Make sure to include a reoccurring monthly amount for starting a business or an investment account. If you solely focus on eliminating debt you will force yourself into not being able to act on opportunities until you have all your debt paid off. This cycle gets you no where. You will have no savings and never be able to act on your goals and dreams. We all know the debt cycle. Somehow just when you are almost finished paying everything off... boom the car breaks down or someone needs braces. By having a monthly wealth building account you have money set aside to invest and grow a business.

While your wealth building account grows you want to keep an eye out for bargains and potential ways to either grow your business or start a new business. An example right now would be consultants for people looking for jobs. As the job market shrinks more and more people need help to differentiate themselves from other job seekers. There are countless ways an entrepreneur could help people get and find jobs. You should also be on the lookout for innovative ways to improve things you use all the time. New and improved products always have a place in the market. Also start to pay careful attention to the way millionaires and more importantly billionaires are behaving in the market place. If you watch closely, they will give very big clues on stable companies and markets that it is wise to think about investing in. Many people make massive fortunes in troubled economic times. Its all a function of the way you think and how well you prepare yourself to meet challenges head on.

One of the most important things you can do to improve your earning capacity is to increase your knowledge and more importantly your self-confidence. Simply reading a book a week or watching a motivational video can help give you the confidence to take action on your goals and dreams. Nothing happens while you are sitting around complaining about the economy. The prizes in this new era will go to the people who are not afraid to invest in themselves and take action even when others are hiding from the world.

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Recessions Are For Sissies - Make Your Business Grow Now

By Christina Helwig

All over the world people are turning into little squirrels. They are gathering up their nuts and seeds and stuffing them away for "spring." They are passing up opportunities to conserve what little they have left because they do not want to be left with nothing at all when this economy turns around. This is absolutely the wrong thing to be doing right now. While of course people should be shoring up their financial situation, they should not be ducking their heads in the sand and hiding money in the mattress.

The first thing you should do is form a clear and concise plan of what your goals and objectives are for the next three years. Your plan should include a very precise snapshot of where you are financially right NOW! If you have not been keeping careful track on your monthly expenses and income you have some work to do. You cannot change anything until you first know where you are. Once you have that baseline you can decide where you would like to be in three years. Start off with thinking of the amount of income you would like to have and the different things you would like to have in your life: a new car, home, toys, charitable giving, money for your child's school etc. Once you have thought about these things then figure out how much each of these things will cost you. With your current financial snapshot and your "dream" list completed you then are in a position to figure out how much you need to earn to accomplish those goals in three years. The more income you want, the higher level of service or "effort" will be required on your part.

You will want to build into your financial plan both a way to reduce your financial obligations and a way to build up your wealth. Take your current income and divide it in a way you feel comfortable to accomplish these goals. Make sure to include a reoccurring monthly amount for starting a business or an investment account. If you solely focus on eliminating debt you will force yourself into not being able to act on opportunities until you have all your debt paid off. This cycle gets you no where. You will have no savings and never be able to act on your goals and dreams. We all know the debt cycle. Somehow just when you are almost finished paying everything off... boom the car breaks down or someone needs braces. By having a monthly wealth building account you have money set aside to invest and grow a business.

While your wealth building account grows you want to keep an eye out for bargains and potential ways to either grow your business or start a new business. An example right now would be consultants for people looking for jobs. As the job market shrinks more and more people need help to differentiate themselves from other job seekers. There are countless ways an entrepreneur could help people get and find jobs. You should also be on the lookout for innovative ways to improve things you use all the time. New and improved products always have a place in the market. Also start to pay careful attention to the way millionaires and more importantly billionaires are behaving in the market place. If you watch closely, they will give very big clues on stable companies and markets that it is wise to think about investing in. Many people make massive fortunes in troubled economic times. Its all a function of the way you think and how well you prepare yourself to meet challenges head on.

One of the most important things you can do to improve your earning capacity is to increase your knowledge and more importantly your self-confidence. Simply reading a book a week or watching a motivational video can help give you the confidence to take action on your goals and dreams. Nothing happens while you are sitting around complaining about the economy. The prizes in this new era will go to the people who are not afraid to invest in themselves and take action even when others are hiding from the world.

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Ignore The Recession and Fight Back With Business Growth

By Christina Helwig

All over the world people are turning into little squirrels. They are gathering up their nuts and seeds and stuffing them away for "spring." They are passing up opportunities to conserve what little they have left because they do not want to be left with nothing at all when this economy turns around. This is absolutely the wrong thing to be doing right now. While of course people should be shoring up their financial situation, they should not be ducking their heads in the sand and hiding money in the mattress.

The first thing you should do is form a clear and concise plan of what your goals and objectives are for the next three years. Your plan should include a very precise snapshot of where you are financially right NOW! If you have not been keeping careful track on your monthly expenses and income you have some work to do. You cannot change anything until you first know where you are. Once you have that baseline you can decide where you would like to be in three years. Start off with thinking of the amount of income you would like to have and the different things you would like to have in your life: a new car, home, toys, charitable giving, money for your child's school etc. Once you have thought about these things then figure out how much each of these things will cost you. With your current financial snapshot and your "dream" list completed you then are in a position to figure out how much you need to earn to accomplish those goals in three years. The more income you want, the higher level of service or "effort" will be required on your part.

You will want to build into your plan both a way to reduce your debt and a way to build up your wealth. Take your current income and apportion it in a way you feel comfortable to accomplish these goals. Make sure to include a reoccurring monthly amount for starting a business or investment account. If you solely focus on eliminating debt you will freeze yourself into not being able to act on business opportunities until you have all your debt paid off. This cycle gets you no where. You will have no savings and never be able to act on your goals and dreams. We all know the debt cycle. Somehow just when you are almost finished paying everything off... boom the car breaks down or someone needs braces. By having a monthly wealth building account you have money set aside to invest and grow a business.

While your wealth building account grows you want to keep an eye out for bargains and potential ways to either grow your business or start a new business. An example right now would be consultants for people looking for jobs. As the job market shrinks more and more people need help to differentiate themselves from other job seekers. There are countless ways an entrepreneur could help people get and find jobs. You should also be on the lookout for innovative ways to improve things you use all the time. New and improved products always have a place in the market. Also start to pay careful attention to the way millionaires and more importantly billionaires are behaving in the market place. If you watch closely, they will give very big clues on stable companies and markets that it is wise to think about investing in. Many people make massive fortunes in troubled economic times. Its all a function of the way you think and how well you prepare yourself to meet challenges head on.

One of the most important things you can do to improve your earning capacity is to increase your knowledge and more importantly your self-confidence. Simply reading a book a week or watching a motivational video can help give you the confidence to take action on your goals and dreams. Nothing happens while you are sitting around complaining about the economy. The prizes in this new era will go to the people who are not afraid to invest in themselves and take action even when others are hiding from the world.

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Understanding the Terms Of Credit Card

By Mike Carbeck

If you're looking to get a credit card, be sure to go over the terms with a fine-toothed comb. If you don't understand the financial details of the credit card offer, you are risking your credit rating, and are also in danger of falling into debt .You need to compare the companies and the credit card offers to find the one that will work best for your situation. Since you'll be paying the credit card company a lot in interest and other charges, pick the one that gives you the most for your money.

Many people fall into debt because they charge too many luxuries onto their credit card, over spending their limits and becoming unable to pay the bill in full each month. If you do not pay the full balance when it's due, then you'll end up paying interest on the amount you've charged. If you don't understand how credit cards work and how all of the interest adds up, you're in danger of falling deeper and deeper into debt.

On the other hand, it's important to build credit so that you can secure a loan later on. If you do not have a credit history, lenders will look at you as a high-risk applicant. If you have no credit history, consider applying for your first credit card, as long as you understand the financial risk involved. Be sure to pay it off every month, and don't overuse it.

However, do not apply for a credit card if you're trying to eliminate debt. Using a credit card while you're in debt is a bad idea, as it will likely only lower your credit rating, making it even harder to climb your way out of debt. Especially if you already have a lot of debt, you'll only be able to get a high-risk credit card. These come with higher interest rates, fees, and annual charges. Some even charge an upfront deposit, because your debts provide them no guarantee that you will pay your bill on time. Plus, the credit limit will be very low to start, sometimes even as low as $250.00. Charging items to a high-risk credit card is no way to get yourself out of debt; you will only end up adding to it.

If you have no credit, it is worthwhile to consider getting a credit card. However, it is not true that you must establish credit. You can use cash to pay for items, rent, or other necessities. But you should have some credit if you want to apply for a loan later on. If you have no credit and apply for a card in order to build credit, be sure that you do not fall into debt using the card. While they come in handy when used with self-control, you can let your debt get out of hand easily by overusing your credit card.

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Beginner's Guide To Reducing Credit Card Debt

By Jenni Snook

Nowadays, most of us possess at least 1 credit card. On average, an American family owes money to more than 10 different lenders, and almost half of this is on credit cards. Owning a credit card has become much easier than in previous years. There have been both good and bad consequences of this. Credit cards have allowed to get what we desire at a much quicker pace, however we are ending up paying more for it in the long term.

If you think that slicing up your plastic is an option, then this article will help you save money. It's incredible how with some planning, you can end up paying much lower monthly bills.

Charging interest is the main way credit companies make their living. This is the way your payment is used. Firstly, a portion goes to clearing the balance. Secondly, whatever is left over goes to paying the interest.Nowadays, some credit companies have begun charging ridiculously high rates of interest. Store cards are culprits in this practice, often charging between 30 and 40 percent interest. People who find themselves in such a situation has little options. It's recommended that you get yourself a credit card from a large provider such as Mastercard and Visa. Depending on which bank you do it through, their interest rates will vary.

Nevertheless, the rate charged by these companies are much lower compared to those of store cards. In addition, you are generally allowed higher limits with major credit cards. Therefore, it's very possible to replace all your store with 1 major credit card and in the process save a whole heap of money.

If you've already got a heap of major credit cards, then here are some money saving tips for you. There are so many credit card companies that they now have to compete for business. This leads to certain opportunities being created. It's recommendable that you firstly phone your credit card company and ask for a lower rate of interest. You should be surprised if they give you a lower rate especially if you've been paying your bills on time.

If you're not able to get a lower rate of interest this way, then it is advisable that you shop around for a better deal. It then becomes as simple as obtaining a lower interest rate card and transferring the old balance over. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the amount of money you can save by reducing your interest rate by 2 or 3 percent.

Over time, credit cards can end up costing a lot of money. However, by following the money saving tips in this article, you can reduce your payments significantly and keep more money for yourself.

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Saving on American Auto Insurance Rates

By Thomas Kielez

The cost of American auto insurance policies varies not only from insurance company to insurance company but also from policy to policy within the same company, so it pays to do a little research and to understand the how the insurance industry works before buying auto insurance. You can get a lot of answers to your questions by contacting insurance companies directly by phone or online. You can also get information about different American auto insurance providers from your State Insurance Department.

In the United States, as in other countries, auto insurance is designed to protect drivers from loss and financial liability in case of an accident or theft of a vehicle. One of the first considerations when comparing auto insurance providers is the company's financial stability. There are several ratings companies that provide information on the financial strength of insurance companies, including companies such as A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. Consumer magazines that are focused on cars and trucks may also have information about insurance provider assets and financial strength.

Insurance companies in America may market their policies directly to the customer online or over the phone. Some even have branches scattered throughout the United States with employees or agents that represent them exclusively. There are also independent agents that act as brokers for several insurance companies and can give you comparison information for each provider.

When comparing different companies, the price is only one factor to be considered. You will want to work with a company that provides good service, has a good record of satisfying claims. One of the best ways to find responsive companies is to ask for recommendations from your friends and associates, as well as checking with your state insurance department. You will want to find out what their experience has been with different companies and whether they have complaints about specific insurance companies.

There are several ways to reduce the cost of American auto insurance. One of the most common ways is by accepting higher deductibles. Deductibles are the amount of money you have to pay out of your own pocket before the insurance policy kicks in. Compare the cost of the policy with different deductibles to see how much you can save. If you end up choosing a high deductible make sure you set aside enough money to cover it if you are in an accident.

Another way to save on car insurance is by dropping collision and comprehensive coverage on older vehicles that are paid off. A good rule of thumb is that if the vehicle is worth less than 10 times the premium you should consider dropping full coverage and switch to a more limited policy.

If you already have some other type of insurance you may want to check with that provider to find out if you can get any kind of discount for also getting your auto insurance through them. This may not always be the best deal but it is something you should check out.

In addition to the vehicle and your driving record, insurance companies may also consider your credit history when setting your premiums. If you have a poor credit history you will usually end up paying more for your insurance. You can improve your scores by paying off any overdue accounts, making all payments on time and correcting any mistakes on your record that may be lowering your credit scores.

Some employers and associations may have access to group insurance programs that may provide a savings for you. Check with any groups you are a member of to see if they have a program available.

Other discounts you may be able to find include: discounts to drivers that have not had any recent accidents or moving violations, participants in defensive driving courses, good student discounts for driving age children or children who are away from home at college without a car.

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How does a Collection Agency get paid

By JR Rooney

One of the key benefits to working with most collection agencies is that you only pay when they successfully collect on a past-due account. This means if the agency can't collect money on your behalf, you don't owe anything.

However, this isn't always the case. If you have several small debts of just a few hundred dollars each, the collection agency might require a fixed fee to handle those accounts to make it worth their while.

A Collection agency can earn its fee by taking a small portion of the money they successfully collect on. The percentage can range from 10% to 50% with the average being between 25% and 40%.

The fee is typically based on age and dollar amount. The older the debt the more difficult it is to collect and the agent will require a much higher fee to go after that kind of account. Also, make sure you factor in how difficult it will be to collect. Certain debts are riskier to collect therefore require percentage kept to be greater.

You may also be responsible for several other charges related to their collection efforts including fee-based background checks, travel, filing fees, and long-distance phone calls.

Before a collection agency will work a single claim, they will write up an account release form that details the terms of your working arrangement including their responsibilities, the fees, any additional expenses, and customer service policies.

As with any contract make sure you read it over carefully for any fine print or contract language that seems confusing. If you notice discrepancies in the contract, make sure the agency fixes the problems immediately before asking you to sign it.

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The main reason for the rise in short sale real estate

By Rem

The term 'real estate short sale' is being bandied about more and more as of late. Anyone who has read newspapers or watched TV has probably come across some sort of stories about the declining real estate market leading banks to consider real estate short sales as an alternative to foreclosure. Real estate prices have dropped dramatically, and the sell time has risen as well. Detroit is one such example of this. Declining real estate markets are the primary reason for the rise in short sale real estate opportunities.

Banks undergo a real estate short sale when they let a property be sold for an amount of money that is less than what it is worth. The following two conditions must be met in order for the bank to approve such a deal. Foremost, you will need to have a market value that is in such bad shape that the sale price of the property cannot cover the balance on the mortgage. The second condition is kind of obvious, but it dictates that the owners will be unable to continue making mortgage payments on the property.

As an example, suppose a property was purchased five years ago for 217,000 dollars with an adjustable rate mortgage. Let's say that two years after purchasing the property the owners took out an additional 10,000 dollars second mortgage, which means that today the owners owe 227,000 dollars on the property. Also, we have to remember that in five years, the amount of time that the mortgages have been paid off is negligible.

In a five year time span, the amount the mortgages would have been paid is negligible. Let's also believe that the property is in a part of the country where the market values have fallen to 215,000 dollars for similar properties, and that the adjustable mortgage interest rate has risen from seven to eleven percent. Additionally, we end up with a real estate short sale situation once one of the owners has lost their job.

The bank may decide to save expenses and time delays that a foreclosure would cost by simply allowing a short sale. The reason is that it is far better to have a definite amount of money know and the property off the bank's books than waiting on an unknown amount of money at some unknown point in the future. If the lenders and owners do not agree on the terms of the sale, complications can result, but in general, that is how the real estate short sale works.

A real estate short sale is not a very pleasant experience, but it certainly isn't the worst experience they could have. If nothing else, it certainly beats being forced to accept a foreclosure on your credit report. These short sales can give the smart real estate investor a great buying opportunity.

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Best Debt Consolidation Company

By William Blake

Finding the best debt consolidation company for you will require some digging. There are a variety of companies out there with a variety of plans to suit the needs of many people. They vary in the payment schedules and interest rates they offer. Finding the one that suits your needs is possible, but it will require you to do your homework.

Debt Consolidation Company

A debt consolidation company is a company that will help you get on your way to being debt free. These kinds of companies do not necessarily give out loans, but they may just give out advice and help people get themselves on the right track to being debt free. They will give you consoling and help you make good choices when it comes to your credit.

How Do These Companies Help With Debt?

If you are drowning in debt, debt consolidation companies will act as a life preserver and can save you from continuing to make bad financial decisions and sinking even further. If you have high interest debt they can help get these reduced which is a big step to recovering because you apply less money to interest and more to principle balances. They explain how you can better budget your money so you can make timely payments on your bills and avoid late fees that can accumulate and put you further in debt.

Comparison Shopping

There is a wide variety of help available to you and you can review all your options on line. You can use the internet to research different companies and the plans that they offer and then determine which is best for your personal needs. These companies help you improve and control your spending habits and also teach you how to save money. Some companies work only via the internet and some may have offices near you. It depends on which approach you prefer. The options are practically endless and the choice is yours.

Get Control

Once you have the tools to get your debt under control, you will know how to lower your debt and pay it down and also how to keep it off. Once you have the know how, you will feel more confident and secure with your financial situation now and in the future.

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