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What Covid-19 Taught Me About Financial Freedom

Chonce — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 09:00:42 GMT

What Covid-19 Taught Me About Financial Freedom is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

We’re now in the 6th month of the Covid-19 pandemic and I know a lot of people are focusing on prioritizing their health and finances more than ever. We’ve all had to endure so many changes over these past few months and also reassess important factors like personal finance. For me, I’ve realized that traditional financial education and rules of thumb are no longer going to cut it. In my opinion, we all need a larger emergency, less consumerism, and a positive perspective on financial freedom.

Why Financial Freedom Right Now?

Financial freedom has always been my ultimate goal for wanting to pay off debt and get better at my finances. However, after the onset of Covid-19, I’d developed a new understanding of this concept and a new appreciation for it overall. I know plenty of people who have criticized the FIRE movement (financial independence retire early) in the past and some had valid points.

Still, after watching businesses close down, unemployment numbers reach new heights, and an increasing number of people worry about how they are going to pay their bills, my mind was made up. I’m going to start pursuing the FI part of FIRE and with more intensity than ever before. Financial independence is the status of having enough income and assets to cover your living expenses without having to earn an active income (ie. work a job).

To be clear, I’m not focusing on reaching financial independence out of fear or worry or wanting to actually retire early, but out of a true appreciation of the benefits, FI can provide and how it aligns with my values.

Here’s how I came to this decision and what Covid-19 taught me about financial freedom.

Breaking Down Consumerism Habits is Crucial

According to psychologists, consumerism is materialistic values that stem from insecurities that are linked to lower life satisfaction. It’s also commonly compared to keeping up with the Joneses. On the surface, it may seem fun to buy your kids the latest gadgets, go out to eat every night, and make other lavish purchases.

But deep down, we know that material things don’t lead to happiness. So why do we keep buying them? Once our state governor announced a shutdown due to Covid-19, it meant we couldn’t go out to the store for non-essential items. And do you know what happened? We survived. We were blessed enough to remain healthy but we also realized we could get along fine without buying a ton of stuff.

My family and I bonded more together at home and learned how to work with what we have. Consumerism can often lead to a lot of pain and suffering due to debt and other financial issues. Plus, it can even make you feel worse if you’re relying on things to fill a void. To top it off, maintaining bad consumerism habits can make it harder to reach financial independence. If I can remain just as happy while buying fewer things AND get closer to financial independence, that’s the path I want to take.

Having Options Often Comes From Money

Back in March, my husband lost his main job but still had a side job delivering pizzas on weekends. We sat down to look at our budget and see how the loss of income would affect us. During this time, Coronavirus cases were rising steadily in our area and we questioned if my husband should even go to his pizza delivery job.

After assessing our budget, cash flow and savings, we decided to let him take a few shifts off. This allowed us to see how his company would handle keeping workers safe and also allow more time for valuable information about the virus to get out. I realized how blessed and thankful we were to have this option but it was not a result of pure luck.

Over the years, my husband and I had worked hard to pay down debt, save money and diversify our income. These were initially important financial moves to make in order to pursue financial independence. I realized that people who were financially independent didn’t have to ask themselves whether going to work during Covid-19 was necessary. It wasn’t a decision that dictated whether they’d be able to eat or pay bills that month. That’s what I wanted for myself and my family.

FI gives you options. During uncertain times, having options can make a world of a difference.

Asset Diversification is Always Key

To me, becoming financially independent is not about throwing all my eggs into one basket. No one knows what the future will hold and diversifying assets is key if you want to survive the next recession or major life change. When the stock market dropped, I thought about all the people who had put all their money into stocks. It must have been a nervewracking time for them.

When several states began shutting down, I thought about all the people who wouldn’t be able to pay rent. This also made me think about all the real estate investors who depended on that rent check to meet their own basic needs.

This reminded me that as I pursue FI, it’s best to diversify my assets as much as I can and have several savings buckets. If the stock market dips or another investment fails, it won’t be as damaging had I put all my eggs into one basket.

Starting Today is the Second Best Time

Of course, starting last year, 5 years ago, or whenever you hard about financial independence was probably the best time to start. The second best time to start is now. I used to think I couldn’t actively pursue FI because I didn’t earn enough or due to being self-employed and having a fluctuating income. The thing is, you never know what you’re capable of until you give it a try.

A specific plan and determination can go a long way. Fidelity has a FIREStarter calculator you can use to estimate how much you’d need to save and how long it might take you to become financially independent. I encourage you to check it out, dream a little about what’s possible, then put a plan in place and take action.

What Covid-19 Taught Me About Financial Freedom is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

Why I Love Quickbooks for Small Business Accounting

Shanah Bell — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 09:00:33 GMT

Why I Love Quickbooks for Small Business Accounting is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

When it comes to running your small business, there are so many different things you have to be on top of all the time. Finances and accounting are some of the main things. After all, if you don’t bill clients and get paid for your goods and services, then you aren’t really running a business. At least, not a profitable one. And when it comes to choosing exactly how to run your finances, you have quite a few different options. As someone who has been running businesses for most of my adult life, I have found Quickbooks to be the best, and most comprehensive option for small business accounting.

Setting Up Quickbooks

Whether you choose to use Quickbooks desktop or online version is completely up to you. Each version is slightly different with the setup and how they operate. I, personally, have always preferred the desktop version to the online version. My CPA does also because it is much more in-depth with what it can do than the online version. But, if you haven’t tried either yet, and don’t need to run more intricate reports, then the online version is a great choice.

Either way, you will still have to set up the same items after you get the Quickbooks program. If you purchase the desktop version, you will need to install it first, which can take a bit of time. There is only a one-time fee for the desktop version, which is another one of the reasons why I prefer it. If you choose to purchase the online version, then you will need to create your account and connect your billing information. You can choose the plan you want to go with, but all of their plans are billed monthly.

Once you decide on the version you want and get ready, you will need to set up the following information:

Company name
Tax ID
Accrual or Cash Basis (Most small businesses are cash basis)
Fiscal year beginning date
Bank account information
Credit card information
Employee information
Customer information for each customer you currently have
Vendor information for all current vendors
Customer invoice layout
Billing item codes (making sure they have the correct tax mapping codes)
Expense item codes (making sure they have the correct tax mapping codes)

Once you have all of this information in your new Quickbooks system, then you are ready to go!

Expenses & Income

While the set up takes the longest, once you are set up, the accounting part is pretty streamlined. Especially if you have connected your bank accounts and have chosen the ability to send invoices directly through Quickbooks. This is my favorite part of having Quickbooks as my accounting option for small businesses.

Expenses

Entering new bills from vendors is a quick and simple process once you have set up the vendor. And even if you haven’t fully set a vendor up, you can create a new bill with their name and Quickbooks will ask you if you want to quickly add them. This means you just click a button and they are added to your vendor list. You can go back at any time and edit a vendor to add more information as you get it.

Once you have bills entered, you just have to choose when and how you are planning to pay them with the pay bills option. As soon as you complete that transaction and choose which account it is being paid from, it will be reflected on your banking ledger.

If you have a vendor that requires a PO, this can be done directly from the Vendor Center prior to creating the bill. Once the PO is approved by your vendor, then you can create a bill from the existing PO. Which means you don’t have to enter the information twice. This is a really nice feature in case your vendor only approves certain line items from the PO and not all of it.

Income

Entering customer estimates and invoices is a similar process. Depending upon how you choose to handle your accounting, it can potentially be one more step than entering a bill. A lot of small business owners choose to create estimates to send to their clients for approval before work begins. But not all of us need that extra step and can just go straight to creating an invoice. Once the invoice is created and dated, you can send it directly from Quickbooks (if that is an option you have chosen). Or you can save it as a PDF to your computer and send it via email or print it out.

Once a customer invoice has been paid, just receive the payment in Quickbooks and it will automatically go directly into your banking ledger.

Ultimately, both of these processes are extremely easy to use and make the accounting so much simpler!

Running Reports

While not everyone feels the need to run reports, this is a very handy feature to have on hand. This is especially true when you are filing estimated or annual taxes. Using Quickbooks to run these reports takes so much less time than trying to add up all of the income and expenses by hand. And you will also have a report to keep with your filings in case of an audit.

Running reports doesn’t only help with taxes, but with plenty of other financial metrics for business also. It also helps with:

Keeping tabs on your overall profit and loss
How much you have spent with one vendor
If you just want to know how one client is performing from year to year
How much a job cost you to perform
How much you actually made on each particular job after the expenses
Costs that are still unbilled from a job
Employee earnings for the year
Mileage
Inventory
Budgets

Really, the possibilities are almost endless with the types of reports you can run within the Quickbooks platform. And this has been one of my favorite features of all!

Quickbooks for small business is one of the best accounting options out there!
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Quickbooks for Small Business Summary

Overall, Quickbooks can be a very simple and highly intuitive accounting solution for most small business owners. You can easily input your income and expenses and connect with your bank accounts for quick reconciliation. Running reports for your CPA or to file taxes is extraordinarily easy. And even though the set up takes the most amount of time to get through, it is a very straight-forward process.

If you haven’t considered using Quickbooks for your small business accounting yet, then this is something you should certainly check out. It will definitely help reduce how much time you have to spend on accounting so that you can focus on the more exciting aspects of your small business.

Have you tried Quickbooks for your small business accounting yet? If so, what are your thoughts on this accounting option?

Why I Love Quickbooks for Small Business Accounting is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

7 Cheap Field Trips to Take Your Kids on This Fall

Chonce — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 09:00:54 GMT

7 Cheap Field Trips to Take Your Kids on This Fall is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

I knew that this school year would be pretty hard for most kids who have to stay at home and learn all day. One thing I decided to do with my son is taking him on a cheap field trip for fresh air and a change of scenery.

Schools will likely not be doing too many field trips this year due to social distancing but kids can really look forward to this experience. We’re homeschooling and even though I have to work most days, I also still wanted to put some fun and simple field trips on the calendar. Even if your kids are doing e-learning or going to school a few days a week, planning a local field trip for the family can be something they can look forward to and a great opportunity for hands-on learning.

Here are 7 cheap field trips to take your kids on this fall.

1. Science Museum

The science museum is a great field trip idea for kids. There is always something new to learn and something to do. Most museums have interactive exhibits or play videos to teach you more about certain topics. I love science museums especially because science can’t always be learned by reading a textbook.

Generally, museums can be pretty pricey if you don’t have a group rate so try to go on free admission days. If your local science museum does charge a fee for entry, see if they have any free days and add them to your calendar.

I actually did this with my son last month and we saved around $60 by visiting on a free admission day. We did have to wear masks due to Covid-19 but the facility was so big so it was easy to social distance. Plus, the museum gave us a free disposable stylus so we could use that to touch certain buttons and gadgets in the museum instead of our bare hands.

Here are 7 cheap field trips to take your kids on this fall.
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2. Zoo

Zoos are a fun place for people of all ages. If the weather might start getting cold in your area in the upcoming weeks, now is the perfect time to plan a trip to the zoo. Just like with museums, you can see if there’s a free day at the zoo to save money.

Some zoos are entirely free all the time. If you live close enough, plan a day trip to a free zoo. A few years back, we drove to St. Louis Missouri which is home to one of the best free zoos in the country. The zoo itself is great and there is tons to see.

Instead of making it a casual trip to the zoo, see how you can make it educational or focus on one section of the zoo to learn more about specific animals or species.

3. Local Farm or Farmer’s Market

Get some shopping done and learn about produce and other goods by planning a field trip to the farmer’s market. This is a cheap field trip for the whole family since you only have to pay for what you buy. You can explore all the different products that are being sold and strike up a conversation with the vendors to learn how they grew or prepared what they’re selling.

The farmer’s market isn’t just limited to food so you may find some other interesting items as well. Right now, my son and I are learning about plants and gardening. If you have any farms in your area, call ahead and see if you can plan a visit. It’s best not to just show up randomly. You may want to check out a farm that is selling something. That way, you can do a little exploring or get a tour but also support the farm by purchasing their goods.

4. State Park

State parks are free to visit and you may have one near you. Before the weather changes, plan a cheap field trip to a state park to do some hiking and exploring. You can do a nature walk or check out any activities that are going on at the visitor’s center.

Due to all that’s going on right now, a lot of group events may be canceled. However, you can still do a guided tour or make up your own crafts for fun.

5. Visit an Arboretum

An arboretum is an outdoor botanical garden that often consists solely of trees. In order words, it’s a giant outdoor tree museum. This is a fun place for kids to run around and spread out but also learn about the different types of trees that exists.

If you don’t live near an arboretum, take your kids out on a nature walk or to a forest preserve. Look at all the different trees and fall foliage while making note of anything that stands out along the way.

6. Outdoor History Museum

An outdoor history museum is another cheap field trip idea that kids will enjoy. Right now, we’re learning about the New England colonies and American revolutionary war. I found a colonial-themed history museum nearby that’s only $5 per person.

It’s basically like stepping into the past and getting more hands-on experience about what life was like hundreds of years ago. We have another outdoor history museum that’s has a similar set up and all the workers dress and take on the character of someone who lives in the 1800s.

7. Nearby Landmark

If you’re short on ideas, another great place for a cheap field trip is a nearby landmark. If you don’t have any in your town, see if there are nearby historical cities you can visit. Most landmarks are free to visit or may even be as simple as a statue on the sidewalk.

Explain to your kids why the landmark is important and create a fun craft or activity they can do. If you’re visiting a historical area with lots of landmarks, create a scavenger hunt game to make it more interesting. Pack a lunch and have a picnic in a nearby park to make a day out of it.

Summary

Get out and enjoy the fall weather while you can with these easy and cheap field trip ideas to enjoy with kids. Field trips make learning fun and they don’t have to be extravagant or cost a lot. Given that this school year is a little different, this still doesn’t mean you have to count out educational experiences like field trips.

7 Cheap Field Trips to Take Your Kids on This Fall is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

3 Delicious Fall Treats to Make With Your Kids on a Budget

Shanah Bell — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 09:00:25 GMT

3 Delicious Fall Treats to Make With Your Kids on a Budget is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

I can’t believe the fall is here already! Where did this year go, anyway? As crazy as this year has been, I have actually been looking forward to this season with my kids. Fall is my favorite time of year. And not just because of the holidays right around the corner. I love the leaves changing and the weather finally starting to cool down, especially here in the South. With the changing season, comes some of my favorite fall treats to make with the kids. As with everything we make together, we do it on a budget also. So we can eat some delicious fall treats and not kill our wallet either.

1. Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

If your kids are anything like mine, they love to have some warm fall drinks during this time of year. In fact, every time we do a movie night (or day) they request these. As an adult, I add coffee to mine because I prefer it that way. But they don’t need all that caffeine, so making theirs without the coffee works just fine. And it costs less too!

You don’t need a lot of ingredients for this recipe, but you can add more if you want to get fancier with it. All you need is:

6 oz Water = FREE
6 tsp Sipping Chocolate = $.32
1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice = $.51
1/4 C Coconut Milk = $.35
Dollop of Whipped Cream = $.12

TOTAL = $1.30 per cup

This recipe is extremely quick and easy to make, which makes my life so much easier. All you have to do is boil water in a tea kettle. While the water is boiling, add the sipping chocolate to each cup along with the pumpkin pie spice. After the water reaches a boil, pour into each cup, stirring the entire time to break up any clumps. Add coconut milk and continue stirring.

If you want to get really fancy, you can top with whipped cream and a dash of pumpkin pie spice. So much better for you and much more cost effective than getting one of these fancy drinks out somewhere. Which is why this one tops our list of delicious fall treats on a budget!

2. Peanut Butter Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies are something I have been making since I was young. When I was diagnosed with Celiac at the age of 6, my mother had to try and figure out some cookie options for me. This was in a time where gluten-free wasn’t a widely known term. So, she found an old flourless peanut butter cookie recipe and tweaked it. I have changed it a little bit over the years as I have found a better consistency. This recipe is not only gluten-free, but delicious, really easy to make, and very budget-friendly.

All you need for this recipe is:

16 oz Organic Peanut Butter – $2.12
1 C Cane Sugar – $.96
2 Egg Whites – $.40
2 oz Dark Chocolate Chips – $.26

TOTAL = $3.74 (24 cookies) or $.16 per cookie

These are extremely easy to make. All you have to do is throw everything in a bowl (except the chocolate chips) and mix on medium until batter is consistent. It will be thick because you need to hand roll each ball and drop it onto a cookie sheet. Next, have one of your children come behind you and create a cross fork pattern on top of each cookie to smash them down.

The next step is my kids’ favorite part of making this recipe. They get to decorate the top of each cookie in whatever design they want with the chocolate chips. This gets to be really fun because you never know what your kids will come up with next.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Let them cool for a few minutes before trying one. They are so delicious when they come out of the oven, that I have a hard time stopping myself from eating more than one!

3. Pumpkin Avocado Chocolate Pudding

Pumpkin Avocado Chocolate Pudding is a new fall favorite of mine. Not only is it easy to make, but it is packed with powerhouse nutrients also. Things such as:

Antioxidants
Fiber
Magnesium
Omega 3
Protein
Vitamin A
Vitamin C

Because of the short ingredient list, you can get away with spending very little on this delicious dessert. And if you reduce the chocolate and sweetener in this fall treat, it could even be a breakfast food. Either way, the only ingredients you need for this recipe are:

2 Ripe Avocados – $2.68
1/2 C Pumpkin Puree – $.59
1/2 C Cocoa Powder – $1.77
1/2 C Coconut Milk – $.70
8 Dates (softened) – $1.83
2 t Pumpkin Pie Spice (or any other spices you prefer) – $1.03

TOTAL = $8.60 (4 servings) or $2.15 per serving

If this recipe isn’t sweet enough for you, then you could add some natural sweetener such as maple syrup or agave. But, I find it to be sweet enough as it is with the dates and the pumpkin. Plus, we usually use vanilla coconut milk which is a bit sweeter naturally, so that is another option.

All you have to do is throw everything in a Vitamix or blender and blend until the mixture is smooth. Then portion out into individual containers and refrigerate for at least an hour to set. If you want to get really festive, you could top it with dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds. This is becoming one of my all time favorite delicious fall treats!

These are some budget-friendly delicious fall treats to make with your kids this year!
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Delicious Fall Treats Summary

Overall, there are so many delicious ways you can celebrate fall on a budget with your kids. But, we love to make fall treats to celebrate since we reserve these for only that season usually. Our favorite fall treats to make are:

Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate
Peanut Butter Cookies
Pumpkin Avocado Chocolate Pudding

Of course, the possibilities could potentially be endless with pumpkin options during this season. So, get creative with your delicious fall treats. And make sure to have a lot of family fun together while you are creating.

What are some of your favorite delicious fall treats to make with your kids on a budget?

3 Delicious Fall Treats to Make With Your Kids on a Budget is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

5 Smart Ways to Invest Your Money in Your 30s

Chonce — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 09:00:28 GMT

5 Smart Ways to Invest Your Money in Your 30s is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

While your 20s can be a great time to make mistakes, learn, and grow, your 30s should be one of the best times to invest your money (if you haven’t already started in your 20s). Your 30’s should be a time you start choosing smart ways to invest your money. Investing in your 30s (and even earlier) is wise because you’ll still have 30+ years to save before you reach the traditional retirement age of 65.

Still, as most 30-sometimes hold off on major life milestones like buying a home, getting married, and having children, this can make it a challenging time to squeeze out extra money to save.

Investing something is always better than nothing and there are plenty of easy options for you to consider. Below are 5 smart ways to invest your money in your 30s.

1. Pay Off High-Interest Debt

If you have high-interest debt while you’re in your 30s, prioritize paying it off. With the average American household carrying $7,000 to $9,000+ of debt, paying off some of your balances could add a lot more back to your budget.

My go-to debt repayment strategy is to take a numbers-based approach and tackle the balance with the highest interest rate. That way, I’ll save more money over time. This is money that can be saved and invested in the market.

Consider your comfort level regarding your debt and current budget. Is money already pretty tight right now and would you rather have fewer bills? Develop a plan to aggressively pay down your debt so you can free up more money and invest in your future.

I’m not recommending you spend 7 years aggressively paying down debt and knock out your mortgage – unless this is a goal that you’re passionate about. But if you want to invest you need money to do so. With debt standing in the way, this can be challenging.

2. Max Out Your IRA or 401(k)

First off, if you haven’t opened a 401(k) or an IRA, go do that this week. A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement plan with tons of tax benefits. Some employers even offer to match your contributions up to a certain amount so it’s basically free money.

If you don’t have access to a 401(k), open an IRA which is an individual retirement account. You can do this on your own through an online brokerage or robo-advisor. You don’t even need to have a financial planner so there’s really nothing holding you back from investing in retirement through these vehicles.

Of course, the earlier you start, the more time you’ll allow for compound interest to take effect. Once you get into your 30s, challenge yourself to max out these accounts to beef them up at a faster rate. The annual contribution limit for an IRA right now is $6,000 which is much lower than the $19,000 you can put into a 401(k) but it’s still a great option.

Adjust your lifestyle and make automatic contributions that you increase each year until you can contribute the maximum amount.

3. Open a Tax-Advantaged Brokerage Account

As you get older and your career evolves, you may start to become more and more interested in tax savings strategies. Tax-advantaged investments can help shield your taxable income while also growing your nest egg.

Consider getting an HSA which is a Health Savings Account. You must have a high-deductible health plan through your employer, but your contributions are tax-deductible and your assets grow tax-free. Plus, you can withdraw funds tax-free so long as they are for qualified medical expenses or to reimburse what you paid for a qualified medical expense.

If you’re self-employed or have a side business, consider opening a SEP IRA which allows contributions to be deducted from your taxable income.

Explore other investment options that will also help you save on taxes and grow your money.

4. Consider Real Estate Investing

Some people prefer real estate investing because owning actual property is tangible. However, you don’t have to flip hours or become a landlord to invest in real estate.

Consider real estate crowdfunding through a site like Fundrise. With Fundrise, you’ll invest your money with a pool of other real estate investors in order to own a portion of a property. You can invest in residential and commercial properties. It’s also recommended that you keep your money invested for at least 5 years to see the best potential growth.

5. Smart Ways to Invest in Yourself

Don’t waste too much time wondering where to invest your money or what cryptocurrency is trending for the moment. Investing is often a long-term process and you should be realistic about seeing results over time.

One of the absolute best ways to invest your money in your 30s is to invest in yourself. Thinking of advancing your career, invest in the education and resources you’ll need to make that happen. Going back to school for a certification or license can earn you a significant pay raise.

If you want to turn a passion project into a hobby or business, invest in yourself and the products you’ll need to make that happen. Take good care of your mental and physical health so you can continue to work over the next few decades if needed.

Summary

Your 30s is a great time to prioritize smart ways to invest in the future, but don’t forget to enjoy the present and live your life today as well. Prioritize minimizing debt and being intentional with spending so you can live on less than you make. When you’re spending less than you earn, it makes it easy to invest in some of the options mentioned above.

5 Smart Ways to Invest Your Money in Your 30s is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

Acorns Review: Why It’s one of my Favorite Investment Strategies

Shanah Bell — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 09:00:48 GMT

Acorns Review: Why It’s one of my Favorite Investment Strategies is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

I am always on the hunt for new financial tools that can help us reach our goals. One of these goals includes retiring early. Or, at least, we are certainly trying to get to that point. We already have two different investment accounts we are using to help us retire early. But, I am always looking for new ways to diversify our portfolio. So, when I recently heard about an investing app called Acorns, my interest was peaked.

Acorns Initial Set-Up

When you first sign up for Acorns, you have to choose your initial monthly plan. I chose to go with the lowest plan, which is only $1 per month. The Lite plan only offers a taxable investment account. Which was fine for us because we already have some Roth IRA accounts that we max out.

The next plan up is the Personal $3 per month account. This one adds a checking account and an IRA option. And the last plan on the tier is the Family plan at $5 per month. This one adds the option to open investment accounts for your kids as well as everything offered on the other two plans.

But, since this was just another investment option for us and we already have all of the other types of accounts, the cheapest option is what we went with.

Once you set up your account, you can choose how much you would like to contribute and how often. We aren’t investing a ton into this account since it is just for diversification purposes. Plus, we wanted to see how it performed first before we bumped up any contributions.

What is Rounding-Up?

After the initial set up, you will be informed of their rounding-up technique. You have the option to attach a checking account and credit card to this feature. And this is exactly what we did. We just wish we would have been able to attach more than one of each the the account. But that might be a possibility on the higher tiered accounts.

Either way, once you have external accounts connected to your Acorns account, they will begin the rounding-up process. Every time you make a purchase, Acorns will round the purchase up to the next whole dollar. Once you reach $5 in round-up money, that will be transferred from your initial funding account into your Acorns investment account.

But, you have the opportunity to increase your round-up’s even higher, if you choose to. You can add a multiplier of 2x, 3x or 10x what each round-up is. We chose to add the 3x multiplier to our account. This means that each time we make a purchase and a round-up happens, Acorns multiplies that number by 3. And that is the amount that will be taken out of our initial funding account to be put into the Acorns account.

And for one more extra bonus, you can choose how much you want Acorns to invest from any whole dollar purchases. We chose the highest amount which is an extra $1. But since we have the 3x multiplier on, it means we are actually investing an extra $3 per purchase on any whole dollar purchase made.

How Acorns Invests?

When you choose the regular taxable investment account, there are only a few options for how your money is invested. You can choose between 5 different portfolio options:

Conservative – 20% each of 5 different Government and/or Corporate Bond ETF’s
Moderately Conservative – 4% Med Company Stocks; 24% Large Company Stocks; 12% International Company Stocks; 18% Short Term USD Bond; 42% US Aggregate Bond
Moderate – 2% Small Company Stocks; 5% Medium Company Stocks; 35% Large Company Stocks; 18% International Company Stocks; 12% Short Term USD Bond; 28% US Aggregate Bond
Moderately Aggressive – 38% Large Company Stocks; 10% each of Treasury Bonds and Corporate Bonds; 4% Vanguard Emerging Market ETF; 8% Vanguard REIT ETF; 14% Vanguard Small Cap ETF; 16% Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF
Aggressive – 5% Small Company Stocks; 10% Medium Company Stocks; 55% Large Company Stocks; 30% International Company Stocks

Each of these options will be based on your risk tolerance and your time horizon. You don’t get to choose the individual funds that are in each option though. These are already pre-chosen for you. Which can make things a bit easier, if you prefer more of a hands off investing option.

Acorns will suggest which investment option is the best for you based on what information you filled out in your profile. But, ultimately, you get to decide which one suits you best. And if you decide that you want to change to a different portfolio option, it is extremely easy to do so with the click of a button.

If you haven't tried Acorns for investing yet, you have got to check this out!
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Acorns Summary

Overall, we have had a good experience with Acorns so far. The platform is extremely easy to set up and use. Plus, they have a lot of smaller articles to help guide you along your way with investing. Even though we can’t pick and choose our individual investments, we have been happy with the performance so far.

And, Acorns has made it super easy to help diversify our retirement portfolio without much work from us. We love the round-up feature because I don’t have to think about it. Money just automatically gets transferred in whenever we make purchases.

Acorns is great if you are just getting started with investing and have a difficult time remembering to fund your account. Or if you don’t want to be that involved with your investment account. You want to just set it and forget it. But, if you prefer a more hands on approach, there are plenty of other options that will suit you better.

No matter which investment platform or app you go with, make sure it is a good fit for you first. Because if the investment strategy you are using doesn’t work for your life, then you won’t use it to maximum effectiveness. Which, ultimately, defeats the purpose.

Have you tried Acorns as an investment strategy yet? What are your thoughts on the platform and performance?

Acorns Review: Why It’s one of my Favorite Investment Strategies is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

How to Budget For Home Improvement Projects

Chonce — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 09:00:10 GMT

How to Budget For Home Improvement Projects is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

By the time we were 6 months into owning our first home, I honestly thought I’d be perfectly fine if I never set foot into another Home Depot store again. Becoming a homeowner has always been a big dream of mine, and home improvement projects always looked so cool on HGTV.

In real life, this isn’t the case. Home improvement projects can be so tedious and also expensive. When we first moved, I budgeted for home repairs and improvements so we had some money to work with. We replaced the flooring, got rid of some trees, added a backsplash to the kitchen, and purchased a lot of furniture.

As the story goes for most homeowners, there are always more projects to do. So how do you budget for home improvement projects to make your space more inviting but also add value to your property? Here are some tips that can help.

Don’t Be Afraid to Get Quotes

I’ll let you in on a secret. About 80% of the projects we’ve done for our home probably wouldn’t have gotten completed has I not requested a quote. I honestly didn’t think we could afford to do certain things around the house. Like most people, there are so many other costs that I have to keep up with – not to mention the mortgage payment.

But here’s the thing. If you tell yourself that you can’t afford a home improvement project right off the bat, you’ll ruin any chances you may have had to get it done. Instead, you can take the initiative to get a realistic quote. Most contractors or stores will give you free quotes.

Getting a quote should be your first step so you can get a realistic idea of how much your home improvement project will actually cost. That way, you don’t psyche yourself out.

One of my next home projects may be replacing our bathtub. It sounds expensive, so my initial thought was just to remove the idea from my head since we wouldn’t be able to afford it. Or would we? It turns out after going to the store and gathering quotes, this project may be more affordable than I thought.

Create a Budget Category

Create a specific expense category to budget for home repairs so you can have some money to work with for repairs and upgrades. Gathering quotes will help you narrow down an ideal amount to set aside each month in a savings account.

A general rule of thumb is to budget 1% to 3% of your home’s value on annual repairs and upgrades. However, only you know which specific home improvement projects you want to work on so keep this in mind when creating a realistic budget category.

Automate your savings so you’re transferring a fixed amount of money each month to build your budget for home improvement projects.

Cut an Existing Expense Category

Most of my trips got canceled this year due to Covid-19. As a result, I’ve been able to complete almost every home improvement project we’ve had. Now, I’m not telling you to give up travel completely so you can work on your home.

I definitely want to do some traveling next year but it’s important to see how you can lower other expenses. Get clear on your values and find out where you can lower your spending or stop spending money completely on things that don’t bring you joy or contribute to your goals.

Both travel and improving my home bring me joy but I could only safely do one over the other this year. Other times, we do things like dine out less or workout at home to save money that can be redirected toward home improvements.

Start Small

You don’t have to save up thousands of dollars before starting a home project. It may be easier to budget for home improvement projects if you start small like with a painting project.

Painting an interior room won’t cost much and you can probably even cash flow the costs if you have any wiggle room in your budget that month.

Start by tackling some of the smaller things that may have been bothering you around the house whether it’s changing doorknobs, installing a new smoke detector, or replacing the garage door opener.

Tips to help you budget for future home improvement projects.
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Lower Your Mortgage

This involves doing some thinking outside of the box but it could be a great way to free up more money. See if you could get a roommate or rent out a room on Airbnb. This is commonly known as house-hacking. There are also sites that may let you rent out your garage or shed for storage space, or you could consider refinancing your mortgage to save money.

If you’ve reached 20% equity in your home, request to drop PMI if you haven’t already. When you lower your mortgage payment, the difference can go directly toward home improvement projects.

Be Intentional

If you’re going to budget for home improvement projects on a consistent basis, be intentional and prioritize this goal. See if you can earn some extra money to soften the blow of an expensive project or do research to see what you can DIY.

If you come across any windfalls, consider putting that money directly toward your home improvement budget. What I’ve found that works best is that we do something to improve our home each month. I’m interested in projects and upgrades that will increase the value of our house since I don’t plan on living here forever.

Sometimes we do smaller projects when our budget is smaller and during higher income months, we take on bigger projects. When we can DIY or get a discount, we do that. At the end of the day, consistency is the key.

How to Budget For Home Improvement Projects is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

How Teaching Teenagers About Freelancing and Fiverr Can Jump-start their Career

Shanah Bell — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 09:00:11 GMT

How Teaching Teenagers About Freelancing and Fiverr Can Jump-start their Career is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

When it comes to teaching our teenagers about life, there are a lot of ways we can go about it. But, ultimately, our job as parents is to help prepare them for the big, bad world. A huge part of that is by helping them figure out what it is they want to do for their career path. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of us that still haven’t figure it out. But, we can give them a lot of tools to help them figure out their own path, so they have a great start. One of the best ways I have found to do this is by teaching teenagers about freelancing.

Delve Into Their Passions

As parents, we have watched our children grow into awesome young adults. Which means that we have seen the progression of their passions develop throughout the years. This puts us in the best position to help our teenagers figure out their true passions. What will really make them happy, and thrive in life. Hopefully!

And this is the best place to start helping them figure out what career path may be a good fit for them. Freelancing may not be the best fit for all kids, but it can fit a lot of different personalities.

A good way to narrow down their options for freelancing is to hone in on their likes and strengths. Another good idea is to keep their energy level and goals for their life in mind. This means you get to have a really in-depth conversation, or two, with your teenager to tease all of this information from them. Which is a great time for bonding, as those moments seem to come less and less often as they hit the teenage years.

Freelancing Options

The options for freelancing are almost endless, in today’s day and age especially. I have been freelancing for most of my adult life and have done a plethora of things under that umbrella. So, my kids have seen how easy it can be to diversify your skillset and income with freelancing.

Ultimately, some of the most common freelancing options are:

Artist
Beta Tester
Editor
Gig Economy Worker (pet sitter, driver, food delivery, grocery runs, etc)
Graphic Artist
Illustrator
Marketing
Musician
Photographer
Sales
SEO
Social Media
VA (Virtual Assistant)
Video Producer
Video Game Designer
Voice Actor
Writer

This list may seem a bit daunting, but the range is extremely vast when it comes to skill sets. This is a good thing for any teenager that isn’t sure what they want to do yet.

Our Teenagers Freelancing Experience

I can tell you that one of our teenagers began freelancing when he was 14 in the sales arena. He started buying products for much cheaper than he could sell them for. He then sold them for market value, or a little less and still made a good profit. Our other teenager has attempted to follow suit, but he just isn’t as good at finding deals. All that means is that this is not a skill he has developed yet. But that doesn’t mean he couldn’t do it in the future, if he decided to really put in some effort.

The same teenager who was selling things, has also dipped his toes into creating video game servers for a small fee. And the most recent addition to his repertoire is getting paid to create logos for companies. I bought him this really awesome illustrating tablet that came with the good software he needed and he was on this way.

He hasn’t made a ton of money illustrating yet, but he is still learning new skills with the software everyday. And, so far, he has made enough to cover the cost of the purchase. So, I’ll take it!

How Can Fiverr Help?

Teaching teenagers about freelancing is just the first step. Once your teenager has narrowed down the areas they may be interested in, then they have to figure out where to offer their services. And this is where a site like Fiverr comes into play.

Fiverr is one of the best platforms for freelancers to get started with their career. Your teenager probably won’t make a lot of money to begin with, but everyone has to start somewhere. Most services start at the $5 mark, but your teenager can add extra services or perks to each service to increase the amount of money they can make. In fact, there are quite a few people I know who make a more than full time salary just doing freelance work for Fiverr.

Plus, if they start launching their career path when they are teenagers, then they could really be making some decent money by the time they hit adulthood. Which gives you plenty of time, as their parent, to teach them how to handle that money properly. This way they hopefully won’t find themselves in debt and can learn about investing in their future. Bonus!

If you want to help jump-start your teenager's career path, teaching them about freelancing is a great opportunity!
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Teaching Teenagers About Freelancing Summary

Ultimately, teaching teenagers about freelancing now is a fantastic way to jump-start their careers. And it’s never too early to begin teaching them once they hit the teenage years. Most teenagers I know want to make some of their own money so they can buy the things they want.

The best way to help them do this is first to take a deep dive with them about what their passions are. Next, have an in-depth conversation with them about what their life goals are for themselves. Once you have that information locked in, then it is time to take a look at all of the different freelancing options out there. There might be more than one your teenager is interested in trying. And this is a great time for them to get that opportunity.

Once they have narrowed down the freelancing options they would like to try, begin helping them work on those skills. And after that, they can begin to offer their services on sites like Fiverr to get some initial gigs. This will help them build up their client base and reviews, so they can slowly build their freelancing business.

After that, your teenager will be well on their way to their career path. And maybe even financial independence, if you’re lucky and they actually listen to your advice.

What are some ways you have found to teach your teenagers about freelancing to help jump-start their career path?

How Teaching Teenagers About Freelancing and Fiverr Can Jump-start their Career is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

How to Build a CD Ladder (And Why You Should Consider It)

Chonce — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 09:00:25 GMT

How to Build a CD Ladder (And Why You Should Consider It) is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

There are so many different ways to save and grow your money. One strategy to build a CD ladder. A CD is just one option that’s pretty popular. A CD or Certificate of Deposit is a type of savings product that usually has a higher interest rate than a traditional savings account.

When you deposit your money into a CD, it’s ‘locked’ in that account for a set period of time often referred to as maturity date. If you withdraw the money before the CD has matured, you will likely pay a penalty fee.

CDs are FDIC-insured and often a solid option if you’re looking to grow your money for a few months or years and not get tempted to touch it. Here’s what it is and why it might work for your financial goals.

What is a CD Ladder?

Normally, when you put all your money into a CD, it becomes inaccessible for several months or years. With a CD ladder, you’d essentially be opening up several CDs and stacking the maturity date. This way, your money is still growing but it’s not tied up long-term.

For example, let’s say you have $5,000 and you open 5 CDs then deposit $1,000 each. Your CD ladder may look something like this:

$1,000 – 12 month CD

$1,000 – 24 month CD

$1,000 – 3-year CD

$1,000 – 4-year CD

$1,000 – 5 year CD

With this type of arrangement, you’d be freeing up some money each year while still earning interest on the older CDs. Also, keep in mind that the longer you store money in a CD, you’ll often lock in a higher interest rate.

While traditional banks may offer a low 0.01% APY on savings accounts, they may offer anywhere from 0.80% on a 12-month CD to 2.50% on a 5-year CD. It really just depends on what rates are like at the time.

Other Benefits of Building a CD Ladder

With a CD ladder, you don’t have to worry about putting all your eggs into one basket. Instead, you can spread your savings across multiple CDs.

CD rates are fixed so you don’t have to worry about losing money or seeing your rate go up and down. I’m all for investing in the stock market but I’m still open to less risky options grow my money as well. It’s all about balance.

You can also just keep reinvesting money into new CDs each year as the ones in your ladder system mature. I’ll explain more on this in just a bit.

While you likely won't be able to retire based on a CD ladder, it's something to consider!
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How to Start a CD Ladder

If you want to put money into a CD, the best option is to consider breaking up your money and laddering it with these steps.

Determine How Much You Want to Start With

Remember, CDs have a guaranteed rate of return so it all comes down to how much you want to set aside. Some banks have a minimum deposit requirement while others don’t. In general, you can expect a minimum deposit requirement of around $500.

It’s best to start with $1,000 to $3,000 so you can build a ladder with multiple different CDs. Make sure you’re taking a realistic approach and are comfortable with having your money locked away in a CD. Realize that you won’t be able to just transfer those funds over in the event of an emergency. If you do make an early withdrawal from a CD, you’ll likely pay a penalty that could easily cancel out any interest that was earned.

Check Interest Rates

CD interest rates vary so keep an eye out for changes in the market. You may even want to search ‘best CD rates’ on Google and I’m sure there are plenty of sites that have update industry rates and the best offers each month.

Earlier this year, the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates so CD rates are not super great right now. Still, you can definitely earn more than you would by keeping your money in a traditional savings account. Plus, you won’t have easy access to spend it ahead of time.

Determine How Many CDs You Want and When They Should Mature

Now it’s time to consider how you want to ladder everything. Ally actually has a CD ladder calculator that can help you determine how to divvy things up. Or, I’m. sure you can just compare the options for the bank of your choice.

Most people consider putting lower amounts in a short-term CD and saving higher amounts for the longer-term CDs. Here’s an example with a $6,000 deposit.

$500 – 12-month CD

$500 – 24-month CD

$1,0o0 – 3-year CD

$2,000 – 4-year CD

$2,000 – 5-year CD

Consider Reinvesting Once CDs Mature

Keep your CD ladder going by opening another CD once your first CD matures. After it matures, you’ll wind up with more money than you put in thanks to interest growth. Get more compound growth by opening a new CD and starting the process all over again.

If you need the money for anything, you can also consider taking a break when one CD matures and continuing the ladder the following year. It’s really up to you.

Summary

Creating a CD ladder can be an ideal way to diversify your savings and avoid the temptation of spending the money. Rates are fixed and with a laddering approach, you can stagger CD maturity rates so you’ll have access to cash each year if you ever need it.

While you likely won’t be able to retire based on a CD ladder, it’s something to consider trying so you’re not putting all your eggs into one basket.

How to Build a CD Ladder (And Why You Should Consider It) is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

6 Financial Moves to Make During COVID-19 for Overall Financial Health

Shanah Bell — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 09:00:53 GMT

6 Financial Moves to Make During COVID-19 for Overall Financial Health is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

Everything going on this year has created a different perspective for most of us. Not just with our jobs, travel and kids’ schools either. It has had a direct impact on our finances. In a big way! And because of this huge shift in our world, it would be extremely beneficial to take a good look at our finances. Ultimately, it is possible to use the COVID-19 pandemic to increase our long term financial health. So, here are 6 financial moves you can make during the pandemic to get you there.

1. Revisit Your Budget

Revisiting your budget is the first financial move you should take to potentially improve your financial health. In fact, it is extremely beneficial to talk about your budget regularly anyway. But, even more so during a crisis like this.

When you revisit your budget, it is a good idea to hone in on how much your basic cost of living has changed to. As well as how much more you are spending on groceries than you may have been previously. Due to everything that is going on, your basic numbers are bound to have shifted. I know that ours have, in quite a few categories.

And because of that, there are categories that we aren’t spending as much money in now. If that money doesn’t need to be spent, that can be used to increase our savings.

2. Increase Savings

If you find yourself in this position after revisiting your budget, then increasing your savings is the next best financial move to make. After all, most of us don’t have a fully-funded emergency fund. Even though now is the time to make sure we do because of all the uncertainly.

The best place to start is to figure out all of your monthly expenses and multiply by 6. While the numbers vary, 6 months is the number that a lot of people tout. We have found that number is the minimum we are comfortable with. However, we prefer to keep our emergency fund at a higher level, whenever possible.

No matter where you are at with your emergency fund though, it’s never too late to start. And if you have any extra money in your budget, this is the first place you should put it. Just be sure to discuss the level you are both comfortable with first. This way you will know when to move on to the next step towards overall financial health.

3. Pay Down Debt

Paying down debt can be extremely daunting. It is not only highly important to your overall financial health, but debt can directly affect your mental health also. Since we already have so many things going on that can affect our mental health right now, getting rid of debt can only help our state of mind.

Once you have an emergency fund you are comfortable with, then tackling your debt should be the next natural step in your plan. There are many different ways you can choose to attack your debt. But two of the most common are the debt snowball and the debt avalanche methods.

When we tackled our debt, we chose to follow the debt snowball method because it was the method most comfortable for us. But, each of us is different. So no matter which method you choose to pay off your debt, just make sure it is a method that works for you. Because if the method doesn’t feel comfortable to you, then your chance of slipping and not getting the debt paid off get higher.

4. Invest in Retirement Accounts

If you are in a place where you have a fully-funded emergency fund and have paid off your debt, then congratulations! You are in a much better position than most of America. And this means that any extra money you have after revisiting your budget can potentially go towards investing in your retirement accounts.

Even if you don’t have a retirement account set up yet, now is a great time to start putting money in. The market has been doing some crazy things due to COVID-19. But, whenever the market is down is a good time to put money into it. Especially if you have a longer time horizon for your money to grow.

So, if you have a 401k with your employer and haven’t been maxing it out, you should certainly take this step first. After that, I would consider investing in a Roth IRA with your after-tax money. This way you won’t have to pay taxes on any of your contributions when you withdraw them in retirement. After that, consider maxing out your HSA, if you have one. And last, but certainly not least, open an investment account to trade on the stock market with your after-tax money.

No matter which type of account you choose to invest in, the plan is to help boost your retirement. Which is a much better use of your money than so many other options out there.

5. Refinance Your House

One of the biggest pieces of financial news out there today is about refinancing your home. Mortgage rates have been at all-time lows. Some under 3%! This is absolute insanity. And could potentially save you thousands on interest over the life of your loan.

So, if you haven’t refinanced lately, it might be a good time to take a look at rates and different lenders. Different lenders can offer a variety of perks, so it is best to check around before landing on one particular lender. In fact, there are a few lenders out there that are touting no closing costs on mortgage refinances right now. If you can find one of those, I would highly consider refinancing. Especially if the rates are this low. Your future financial self will thank you!

6. Apply for a HELOC

If you have already refinanced, or don’t need to, then there may be another option for you to consider. Applying for a HELOC is a slightly easier process than refinancing a mortgage. And, you don’t have to pay interest on any money you aren’t using in the HELOC currently. This is one of the reasons why I love having a HELOC!

While the interest rate on HELOC’s are higher than traditional mortgages are, there are so many things you can do with them. My favorite thing to use them for is home renovations to help increase the value of my home. Plus it makes spending so much time in my home that much more enjoyable for me and my family.

Another great thing you could do with a HELOC is to purchase rental properties. We have done this and plan to use the properties to help fund our retirement since they will be paid off well before we plan to retire.

No matter what you choose to do with a HELOC, make sure that it will help benefit your future self financially. Because then it will be well worth it!

These are some awesome financial moves you can make now to help your overall financial health!
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Great Financial Moves to Make During COVID-19 Summary

Overall, there are some really great financial moves you can make now to help boost your overall future financial health. But, 6 of our favorite financial moves to make during COVID-19 are:

Revisit your budget
Bulk up your savings
Pay off your debt
Invest in retirement accounts
Refinance your house
Apply for a HELOC

If you follow these steps, you can help to solidify the security of your financial future. And during this time of unrest and uncertainty, something like this can help bring you piece of mind. Which is something all of us could use a little more of right now.

What financial moves are you planning to make now to help your overall future financial health?

6 Financial Moves to Make During COVID-19 for Overall Financial Health is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

Frugal Fall Activities (Social Distanced) Bucket List

Chonce — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 09:00:21 GMT

Frugal Fall Activities (Social Distanced) Bucket List is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

It seems like social distancing will still be a trend this fall. While prioritizing health and safety are most important, many people are also realizing the significance of getting outside, investing in fun and entertainment, and nurturing ones’ mental health. We put together a list of frugal fall activities to add to your bucket list.

The good news is that you can do all of this without breaking the bank and while also following guidelines set in your community.

If you’re looking for fall fun ideas we got you covered.

Go on a Fall Foliage Tour

Once the fall leaves settle in it really sets the tone for the season. Fall foliage is something people often take for granted to the busyness of life but if you stop to look, it’s a beautiful sight. Take the family for a drive one afternoon and keep your eyes peeled for all the different-colored leaves you see. You may even want to take your bikes on a trail for more exercise and the opportunity for a closer look.

Consider going to a wooded area where you can see multiple trees or maybe even an arboretum. An arboretum is basically and outdoor free museum and botanical collection so there’s often lots to see.

Pick Out Pumpkins

I imagine most pumpkins farms will still be open during the fall season – even if only with limited capacities. This means you can still visit with family or friends and shop for pumpkins. This is one of my favorite frugal fall activities since you can do so many things with pumpkins (which I’ll share with the ideas below).

Pumpkins are often priced by weight so if you’re an on budget, go for the smaller ones. Also, consider checking out coupon sites like Groupon or visit the farm’s website in advance (if they have one) to see if there are any coupons or special offers to take advantage of.

Make Pumpkin Puree and Fall Treats

Each year, I usually buy at least one pumpkin that I can puree. Pumpkin puree is so easy to make and it’s versatile too. You can use it for pies, pancakes, muffins, tarts, etc.

If you have kids, get them involved with the pumpkin pureeing process and be sure to toast the seeds for an evening snack.

Get creative and try out tasty fall recipes and pumpkin-flavored treats. You can even freeze some puree for up to 6 months. If you find that you have too much, bake some treats for friends and neighbors. One year, I pureed a huge pumpkin and had so much that I gave some to a friend who recently had a baby. The puree also doubles as baby food

Here's a list of frugal fall activities to add to your bucket list.
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Have a Geocaching Outing

Geocaching is a fun and frugal hobby that will get you outdoors and exploring your surroundings. Geocaching is the art of exploring and looking for hidden treasures that have been hidden by other people. You can use the website Geocaching.com or download the app to look for some of those hidden items that may be near you. Caches can be anything and some come with clues that lead to an even bigger prize.

This is a great (and free) activity to do with kids or even by yourself. You can even hide some things along the way for other geocachers to find.

Go Camping

I love fall camping. In the Midwest, it gets chilly during the fall season but there’s still plenty of sun during the day. Camping is a perfect activity for social distancing since you’ll have your own designated spot on the campground. You can also bring all your own supplies and food for cooking.

If you have access to an RV, this could be an even easier way to social distance. We are actually thinking of renting an RV and going on a mini-road trip this fall. You can check out sites like RV Share to find affordable RV rentals. If you’re traveling with a friend or relative, you can always split the cost of the RV rental to save even more money.

Have a Bonfire and Play Cards

This could be a great fall date night idea that won’t cost much at all. If you have a fire pit, grab some sticks laying around the yard or trim some trees that are overgrown (it’s probably been on your to-do list for a while now anyway).

Grab some blankets and stuff to make s’ mores (or perhaps some wine) and relax by the fire. You can bring out some playing cards or another card game that you both enjoy

Organize a Paint and Wine Night

If you’re looking for even more frugal fall activities for adults, this idea is definitely worth a try. If you’ve ever been to a paint and wine night, you know how fun it can be. Consider hosting your own this fall and inviting some other friends.

Granted this will require some planning, but you can certainly pull it off. First, decide where you’d like to host. You may have space indoors or maybe you prefer to go in the yard so you can social distance better. Tell everyone to BYOB or serve a non-alcoholic beverage and some snacks. Perhaps some of the fall treats you made??

Then, tell everyone to pitch in for materials like paint, paper and canvases. If that sounds like too much, just tell everyone to bring a pumpkin to paint and whatever supplies they have instead. If you’re going to create an actual painting, you need an instructor. Go to YouTube and choose a nice fall foliage painting tutorial. This one is a great option for beginners. This playlist is another great option too.

Summary

There are still many frugal fall activities to consider even if you will be social distancing. Where I live, fall is one of the best times to enjoy outdoor activities before it gets super cold. Just focus on being flexible and creative.

Frugal Fall Activities (Social Distanced) Bucket List is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

How to Balance Working From Home With Kids

Chonce — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 09:00:08 GMT

How to Balance Working From Home With Kids is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

Ever since the Coronavirus was declared a global pandemic, life as we know it has been getting more and more hectic for families. One of the biggest changes has been the enforcement of social distancing guidelines along with school closings and work cancelations. If you’re lucky, your reality likely involves working from home with kids around the house.

I love having my son at home but I still have to work and run my business. On top of that, I also started homeschooling him this year. A lot of other parents in our school district will be balancing e-learning with working remotely.

These past few months have been a major learning experience for me, but here’s how I balance working from home with kids.

Get on a Schedule…and Stick to It

It’s going to be so much harder to balance working from home with kids if you don’t commit to getting on a schedule. Your schedule doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s routine. Set your calendar up the way you want to.

What’s important is that you set a time for you and your kids to wake up, a time for activities, and schedule breaks and downtime. I like to get up around 6:30 am if possible. This allows me to start my day before my son gets up. I either exercise or get right to work so I can finish a task before 8 am.

Around 8 am, my son wakes up, eats breakfast, and gets dressed. We usually start school around 9 am and aim to finish by 12pm. I figure if I work from 7 to 9 in the morning. Then pick back up and work from 12:30 to 3 or 4 pm, that’s at least 5.5 hours per workday which is better than nothing.

It’s crucial that you layout when you’ll do what, so you can be productive each day. Consider using a planner or getting a whiteboard dry-erase calendar that you can place in a prominent area so everyone can see the schedule. If you and your kids know that nap time is from 1 pm to 3 pm each day, you can likely book important meetings or use that time-block to work without interruptions.

Identify What Your Child Can Do Independently

Sometimes we don’t give kids enough credit. They become more and more independent each year and can follow instructions and pick up routines well. During the school shut down back in the spring, I’d often sit down with him to go over the tasks his teacher assigned for the day. Then, he’s work on most of his assignments and turn them in on his own. I was still available for questions but I tried to answer them in bulk and batch his work.

In 4th grade, they were already using Chromebooks and he knows how to read and use the computer program for lessons. This meant I could take time to balance my work while he was completing tasks for some of his easier subjects. In the morning, my son can practically make his own breakfast whether it’s putting a waffle in the toaster or warming up a breakfast sandwich.

If your kids are younger, there are still some things they can likely do on their own such as feeding themselves once a meal is prepared or getting themselves dressed in the morning. Get organized and pick out your kids’ clothes for the entire week. Make a list of the tasks they can do then batch them together so you can focus on your work in the meantime.

Be Upfront With Your Boss, Coworkers and Clients

Everyone knows that most parents are having to balance working from home with kids. People are willing and able to accommodate you if you’re upfront and honest about your situation. The other day, I was doing a Facetime call with my foster caseworker. She needed to see an updated tour of our home and during the conversation, I watched as two young kids bounced on her lap. One was crying while the other one kept saying hi and waving to me.

Of course, I waved back and smiled – I totally get it. Most people feel the same way. I don’t think anyone is expecting parents to abandon their kids at home just to work, but compromises and arrangements can be made. If you know that morning meetings will be a disaster because you have to feed your kids breakfast at 8:30 am, be honest with the people you work with and schedule calls during nap time.

I recently told clients that I won’t be doing calls or answering too many emails between 9 am and 12 pm since I’m homeschooling my son. People won’t know what your reality is and how to work with you if you don’t tell them.

Short Breaks Are Your Friend

Doing the balancing act all day can be exhausting. While it’s great to have a productive routine, be sure to schedule in breaks and downtime. Even a 15-minute walk around the neighborhood could do everyone some good. Taking 30 minutes to run errands and get everyone some fresh air can be helpful as well.

Also, consider putting kids to bed an hour early so you can have some time to relax in the evenings. Use this time to catch up on work before bed, or watch Netflix – your choice!

Here's how we balance working from home with kids.
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Consider Hiring Help

One of my friends recently hired a babysitter to watch for 7-month old for a few hours 2-3 days per week and I don’t blame her. It’s hard to balance working from home with kids. Sometimes, you may need to consider hiring a babysitter or nanny for a few hours per week. Another option may be to alternate work schedules with your partner or ask family members to help babysit.

I realize not everyone has those options so consider using a site like Care.com or SitterCity.com to find a qualified and reliable caregiver for your kids. Yes, this will cost some extra money, but consider working it into your budget. If you’re still working, it may be worth the cost to hire a little help. Plus, you’ll likely pay hundreds (or even thousands) less than you would with full-time daycare.

Summary

Balancing working from home with kids is not a walk in the park. However, it’s a reality that many of us face each day. You have to be organized and stick to a routine. Realize you may not work Monday through Friday from 9 to 5 each day. You may work evenings or early mornings. A babysitter or nanny may have to come a few days per week.

Give yourself some grace and communicate effectively with your boss and coworkers. Schedule out time blocks where you can work on certain things while limiting distractions. Over time, you can tweak and improve your process for even better results.

How to Balance Working From Home With Kids is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

Some of the Best Budget-Friendly Cell Phones

Shanah Bell — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 09:00:45 GMT

Some of the Best Budget-Friendly Cell Phones is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

When it comes time to start looking for a cell phone, price can be the biggest factor. A lot of phone companies offer financing, which makes more expensive cell phones seem like a good deal. However, since most cell phones barely last a year now before they become outdated, this can be a big problem.

So, it’s really not a good deal if you are financing it for 24 months and you need to get a new phone after 12 months. Seems crazy, right? And this is where finding the best cell phones for the price comes in. There are plenty of awesome cell phone choices in the $200-$400 range.

Moto G7

There are two different options within the Moto G7 category you could choose from. There is the Moto G7 Power or the Moto G7 Play. They both run between $200 – $250, which is pretty low pricing for a cell phone these days.

They are very similar to each other, in that they have the following perks:

Android 9 Pie OS
Fingerprint scanner
Front and rear cameras
Headphone jack
Large LCD display
Snapdragon 632 CPU
USB-C port for charging

But the Moto G7 Power has a longer battery life (5000mAh) and more power for smoother performance. Whereas, the Moto G7 Play has all of the same perks as the Moto G7 Power, but has much less storage space and a lower battery life. Therefore, it is ultimately up to you and your budget as to whether the extra storage space and battery life are worth the extra $50 or not.

Google Pixel 3a

When it comes to Google, they have been working tirelessly recently to rival the big boys in the cell phone market. And, they seem to be doing a pretty good job at it. In fact, the phone I currently have is a Google Pixel 3a. And I bought the same phone for my daughter too. We both love them and they were super cheap. Right now they seem to be going for anywhere between $300 – $350, but we got ours as a Black Friday deal and saved $100. So, if you are thinking about getting one, and can wait, then it might be worth it.

Overall, these phones have good storage and battery life and some pretty good perks, that include:

Android 9 Pie OS
Decent 64 GB storage
Fast 15 minute charging
Fingerprint sensor
Front and rear cameras
Google Assistant
Long battery life
Night sight

So, if you haven’t test driven a Google Pixel yet, this is a great one to give a try.

iPhone SE

When it comes to Apple phones, they are always more expensive than Android counterparts. And even though the iPhone SE is the most budget-friendly iPhone out there, it isn’t any different in this case. In fact, the iPhone SE comes in around $350 – $400, depending upon where you get it. Of course, if you have an old iPhone to trade in, that can help mitigate the costs a bit.

But, if you are an avid Apple user, then this phone is the way to go if you want to stick within a smaller budget. While the iPhone SE may not be the newest and shiniest thing from Apple, it still offers some great perks, such as:

4.7″ HD display
Fingerprint sensor
Front and rear cameras
iOS 11
Long battery life
Very powerful
Water-resistant

Another great thing about this phone is that it comes ready to install the iOS 12 update. So, if you really prefer the Apple platforms, then this is a great option to check out.

Samsung Galaxy

Samsung Galaxy’s are another phone that I have had a few of and really liked. When it comes to Android phones, they typically seem to be the rival of Apple phones. They are known for their longevity (more so than a lot of other brands) and cutting edge technology. So if you are an Android user and want a phone with a lot of bells and whistles, good battery life and power, then the Samsung Galaxy A51 is the way to go. Plus, it comes in around $250, so the price couldn’t be any better.

While it may not be the newest Samsung Galaxy on the market, this phone still comes with a lot of great perks:

Aluminum and glass frame
Android 9 Pie OS
Exynos 9611 CPU
Fingerprint sensor
Front and Rear Quad cameras
Large 6.5″ LCD screen
Optical sensor

Ultimately, this phone is high power, has a long battery life and comes with a ton of bells and whistles. So, what’s not to love about it, especially for that price?

Nokia 7.1

I used to be a huge fan of the Nokia phones, way back in the day. But, truth be told, it has been a little while since I have owned one. They seemed to have fallen off the mainstream market for awhile. But, they are back now! In fact, the Nokia 7.1 phone is a great option if you are only wanting to spend around $200 for a new phone.

And while they may have been the lower man on the totem pole in the cell phone game for a while, they are coming back with a punch. As proof, the Nokia 7.1 phone offers the following standard options:

Android 9 Pie OS
Aluminum and glass design, instead of plastic
Decent storage space
Expandable storage
Fingerprint sensor
Front and rear cameras
Good 4GB RAM
Large 5.8″ LCD screen
Snapdragon 636 CPU
USB-C port for charging

Ultimately, for a phone that only runs around $200, these are all pretty good perks.

These are some awesome cell phones for the price!
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Best Cell Phones for the Price Summary

Overall, there are quite a few cell phone options out there for those of us that are more budget minded. What this means for you is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a decent cell phone. In fact, you probably shouldn’t because it ends up being a waste of money. With how fast cell phones are becoming obsolete these days, it just doesn’t make financial sense. So, whether you are an Android or an Apple user, there are some much better cell phones for the price. Now, you just have to decide which option suits you best.

What are some of the best cell phones you have found for the price?

Some of the Best Budget-Friendly Cell Phones is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

How to Diversify Your Portfolio on a Shoestring Budget

EverythingFinance — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 13:24:20 GMT

How to Diversify Your Portfolio on a Shoestring Budget is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

The only way to achieve financial well-being is through careful money-management. I say this as someone who didn’t always prioritize investing, saving, and portfolio diversification. Over the years, we have seen financial markets expand and contract accordingly. Fortunately, investors with enough wherewithal have generated tremendous returns from Wall Street since 2009/10. Over the past 6 years, the Wall Street Bulls have been charging and many financial portfolios have benefited accordingly.

There is just one problem: I came into the market a little too late. Facebook, Google, Twitter, Tesla, Microsoft, and other big-name tech companies were already flying sky-high when I bought into the markets. Nonetheless, I’m confident that growth will continue and my portfolio will look a lot healthier than it currently does. I’ve learned from experience that the best financial portfolios are those which mitigate market risks over time. In other words, dollar/cost averaging is the best form of investment in the financial markets.

Don’t be scared to invest

Rather than taking a lump sum every couple of months and plowing it into mutual funds, individual stocks, ETFs or 401(k) investments, break that figure up into manageable portions and invest monthly. That way you get a rather even spread when purchasing equities. Consider that Apple Inc. (AAPL) is already up 39% for 2017 (1 June 2017), Facebook is up 33.52% for the year to date, and Google is up 26.40% for the year to date. Had I invested in Google three years ago, my returns would be 77.08%, Facebook returns would be 137.98%, and Apple returns would be 70.08%. These are huge increases to your portfolio, and they are entirely possible if you start investing early in your career.

If you’re wondering what I’ve been doing with my money in all that time – I had it sitting in zero-interest-bearing bank accounts. And guess what? The banks were charging me to keep my money in their vaults. Many folks who are sitting on the fence about investing in the financial markets cite the volatility of markets as their reason for not getting involved. They are scared that if markets crash their entire nest egg could be wiped out. Is this possible? Yes, it is.

Recall the crash that wiped trillions of dollars off Chinese bourses when the Shanghai composite index and the Shenzhen composite index crashed? This took place in 2015/2016 when the stock market bubble in China burst. At that point, Chinese GDP was way above 7%, but it tapered off to 6.7%. Commodities demand plunged and global bourses recoiled. However, China’s stock markets have recuperated and the world’s #2 economy is back on track with strong gains. This is the nature of financial markets. Remember, what goes up must come down, and vice versa. Even in a bearish market climate, there are viable investment opportunities that are significantly better than money in a bank account.

Protect your investments by diversifying your portfolio

Hedging is one such practice that protects the value of your investments when components of the financial markets sour. Gold is regarded as one of the best hedges against equities weakness. When geopolitical uncertainty mounts, investors withdraw from equities markets and emerging markets and sink their money into gold. Much the same is true with the Japanese Yen, oil, and Treasuries.

A nifty trick that I learned from a leading Lionexo options trading broker was the following: Split your investments into a balanced mix of domestic stocks, foreign stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs and currency holdings. You can even go a step further, and diversify with contrarian trading options in the form of CFDs and other derivative trades. Many of us expect quick returns on investments. This is hardly ever the case.

Important Considerations when Investing

Unless you are speculating on futures markets, with leverage, margin, and higher risk, you are invariably going to have to wait for your underlying assets to appreciate over time. Cash in the bank is at best a cushion against stock market volatility. It will not do well in an era of hyperinflation and low interest rates. Nonetheless, a balanced portfolio remains the ideal option when it comes to planning for your retirement. The age-old aphorism: Never put all your eggs in one basket holds true in every way. A deliberate mix of asset classes (indices, currencies, commodities, treasuries, and stocks) is your best bet in today’s times.

How to Diversify Your Portfolio on a Shoestring Budget is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

5 Easy Ways to Save $100 This Month

Chonce — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 09:00:12 GMT

5 Easy Ways to Save $100 This Month is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

Who couldn’t use an extra $100? With so much uncertainty during these times and in the future, I know more people are looking to save what they can. Traditional personal finance advice does not always apply when we’re being faced with a global pandemic. We want to focus on how you can save $100 this month.

Saving 15% or even 10% of your income may be more difficult if your hours were cut at work or you’re facing other financial hardships. Instead of setting intimidating savings goals, I’d recommend starting simple with an attainable goal such as saving $100 per month.

Yes, this is a small drop in the bucket, but $100 may cover an unexpected expense or help you stay afloat if you have to miss a day of work due to an emergency. Better set, saving $100 can motivate you to develop a solid savings habit and stash even more money away. Plus it’s simple to do. Here are 5 easy ways to save $100 this month.

1. Stash Spare Cash in a Jar

I do this all the time and am always amazed at how much I’m able to save without even noticing. I bet most people are familiar with the idea of a coin jar. You toss all your spare change in there and once it’s full, you cash it in. A time-honored method to painless saving and a great way to keep all your coins in one place.

However, to really ramp up the savings without even noticing a pinch on your wallet, throw your $1 bills in along with the spare change. That’s right. Make it a coin and cash jar! Anytime you find yourself in possession of a $1 bill, tell yourself you can’t spend it. Put it in the jar and you’ll double the rate at which you’re saving.

In my experience, I saved $200 in about three months doing this. We use cash envelopes for some of our budget categories and my husband delivers pizzas on the weekend so we always have spare change to add. There’s just plenty of change always laying around the house and it really adds up.

Here are 5 easy ways to save $100 this month.
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2. Take It Off the Top

Think it’s impossible to save $100 this month? Take $100 and transfer it to savings as soon as you get paid. Budget and live your life like you normally would for the remainder of the month. Odds are, you’ll survive and live to fight another day.

Sometimes a limited mindset can prevent you from saving even the tiniest amount of money. If you choose to pay yourself first – whether it’s $500, $100, or $5, you’ll see that this strategy really works.

You’ll learn how to move funds around if you feel you’re falling short in one area.

For example, say you start carpooling to work, which saves you gas money. Skip meals out for a week and you’ll come pretty close to that $100 right there.

3. Sell Some Stuff

How much stuff do you have just lying around your home that you know you’ll never use? Start listing items online for sale and see how much you can earn. Use sites like OfferUp, Craigslist, and the Facebook Marketplace to get started.

You can sell everything from clothes and toys to furniture, wall hangings, tools, and exercise equipment. Be sure to take clear and well-lit images and be honest about the condition of the item. Some electronics sell well regardless of what condition they’re in.

Another thing you may want to consider doing is flipping some items that you can sell for extra cash. A few months ago, I found a desk sitting on the curb near a friend’s home. I thought it would be a nice desk for my son so I packed it up in the car and took it home. I sanded the desk down and used $4 sample size paint from Lowes to repaint it in a nice aqua color.

The desk turned out great and if I could have definitely sold it on the Facebook marketplace for $75+ or more if we weren’t going to use it.

4. Go Vegetarian for a Month

I know this may be easier said than done if you consider yourself a carnivore, but it’s still worth considering. If you already don’t eat meat with all your meals, consider going vegetarian for 30 days and you’ll likely save $100 or more during that month.

Focus on buying in-season produce and frozen veggies to keep your budget low. If you’re still eating dairy, you can buy eggs and eat cereal and milk in the morning. Also, don’t forget about beans and lentils or protein as well as avocados and raw nuts for healthy fats.

The cost of food is going up and it’s likely due to the rising cost of meat. If you give yourself a break from meat for a month, you’re bound to add much more money to savings.

5. Replace Two Restaurant Dinners With a Slow Cooker Meal

Dining out is one of my favorite things to do, but it’s expensive. I do enjoy supporting local businesses seeing as how they need it more than ever now. However, I also understand that we don’t need to dine out all the time to do this.

If you are ordering restaurant meals, lattes, fast food, etc. Realize that it all adds up each month. In fact, track what you’re spending on food outside of your home each month. The average family of 4 or 5 might spend $40 – $50 on a restaurant meal even if it’s carry out.

To easily save $100 this month, swap out two or more restaurant meals with a meal prepared in your slow cooker. There are plenty of delicious slow cooker recipes to choose from and you’ll spend way less. Perhaps you’ll even have leftovers.

Saving $100 per month may seem like a challenge especially if finances are tight, but try to focus on at least one or more of these options. Trust me, it does get easier once you commit to saving some money rather than convincing yourself that you can’t afford to save at all.

What are your favorite ways to save money easily? How have you saved $100 or more per month?

5 Easy Ways to Save $100 This Month is a post originally published on: Everything Finance - Everything Finance - Its all about Money!

Ontega review: a legit forex broker in Africa

tusharm — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 14:04:42 GMT

The world economy is undergoing constant changes, ups and downs in prices, indices and other factors on a daily basis as a result of uncertainty and changes in the fiscal policies of countries, among others. These Forex market repercussions can cause many companies to continue to grow or simply go bankrupt.

To be able to understand how these situations happen is something that many scholars of the economy interpret and sometimes visualise it much earlier as if it were a prediction.

To be able to anticipate those events has its benefits, because buying down and selling more expensive leaves a lot of money to be gained.

In simple terms, this type of business is carried out by brokers in Forex, also called intermediaries, who support investors with their platforms and provide the basis for investment in the markets, which generates millions and millions of profits every day.

The Importance of choosing a legit Forex Broker.

In the complex world of Forex, the choice of a good broker is one of the determining factors for the success of our trading or investments.

In my opinion, when investing or speculating we must always study very carefully all the factors that may affect the success of our operations, any small detail that may seem irrelevant in principle can determine to a great extent the success of our operations.

The figure of the Forex broker in our investments is very important because the broker is the entity that acts as an interlocutor between us and the market.

If I—for example—want to buy an asset in a financial market (CFDs, futures, etc) the broker will be the entity in charge of looking for a seller who wants to sell the asset we want to buy.

That our interlocutor with the market is an ally and not an enemy will make a big difference because at key moments this difference will determine the success of an operation.

When it comes to Forex trading, you would like to always choose the best broker. It is the first step in your trading career, so you must take your time before you choose the broker you are going to use.

Ontega Forex Broker, A Good Choice?

In this opportunity, I will talk about a broker with very special characteristics, that have made it very popular in recent times, and is called Ontega, and it has become a giant in Africa.

Before I begin to explain what this broker is, I would like to point out that this broker has very good comments globally.

Now, let’s go with the review:

Ontega is a broker whose origin indicates that it is in Cyprus, specifically in the city of Nicosia, is regulated, and has a form to be contacted and a direct mail from the company.

Ontega is a legit broker who has very good comments since the philosophy of Ontega is to support and give all the facilities to people who want to know this type of business and as I will tell you later has very interesting differentiating advantages.

One of the main features of this broker is that you can start trading with Ontega with only $5, which really helps people who want to get started.

Most people prefer to test the quality of the service or they have a certain fear or insecurity to start operating in the markets, which is understandable, but once they learn how it works, they lose their fear, and with it they can increase their investment and consequently their profits will multiply.

Once you can invest more, you can participate in accounts with higher deposit value but with more advantages and benefits. Ontega provides many incentives, such as bonds, so that in addition to their potential profit, extra money is added to their returns.

Ontega Broker’s Learning Center.

Ontega has a very innovative learning system, because it does not have the traditional system of having video tutorials, texts, seminars, which is what other brokers usually offer.

Ontega is different in that it offers the possibility to learn in a very optimal way but—at the same time—it is practiced in a real operating environment.

For many people who are just starting out, this is a great help, as it has shown that this way of learning is much faster and more practical.

In addition, its learning system is quite motivating because it has certifications that can be obtained by achieving certain stages of training and that people can add to their curricular experience.

Along with this, all the progress made in its operation in general will be rewarded.

Ontega Forex Platform

Ontega has a platform that is very easy to operate, but it also has the convenience of being able to use just a web browser to connect to the platform.

But not enough with the above, if we cannot connect from a browser, it is much simpler; you can simply connect from your own cell phone or from a tablet.

The platform has a very friendly design and an enviable simplicity compared to other platforms of other brokers. It was designed to be fast in its operation, effective and above all that can be learned very quickly in using it.

With all these very innovative advantages that Ontega has, you will be able to realise that Ontega provides all the facilities to operate with them and also makes a great effort so that the investor can grow and advance on his way to success.

Undoubtedly, Ontega is a client-side broker who offers the best and proves to be a reliable and legit broker.

Is Ontega A Legit Broker?

It is clear that Ontega is a reliable, safe and legit broker, but, above all, it has characteristics and advantages that make it stand out from other brokers.

There are now many investors who are doing very well with Ontega, and with very positive feedback on this broker, it is a growing community of successful investors.

Ontega is no scam; it’s a broker who can trade with complete confidence but will also have a real ally that will allow you to make real profits.

Ontega is a legit broker you should try and it will most likely continue to work with them, as they have many satisfied investors.

Who is the best at predicting the UK economy?

tusharm — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 16:49:52 GMT

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a city or non-city forecaster for predicting the UK’s economic outlook, according to a study carried out by ETX Capital using Government statistics.

From 2015 to 2017, 20 leading economic organisations (an equal split of city non-city forecasters) have delivered annual predictions for the UK’s economy, and now we know who is the most accurate with their estimations.

The Official National Statistics data for GDP Growth Rate, CPI Inflation and the Sterling Index finds that Morgan Stanley, Capital Economics, Commerzbank, Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), Oxford Economics and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) have the most accurate predictions each year.

We take a look at these key performers to take a look at how close they were at predicting each years’ economic outlooks.

City forecasters

There’s no surprise that Morgan Stanley, one of the world’s leading global finance services, Capital Economics, a top independent macroeconomic researcher, and Commerzbank, a global bank and financial services company, have been the top three city economic forecasters over the past three years.

Morgan Stanley was particularly accurate in predicting the CPI Inflation and GDP Growth Rate in 2016 with an average of just 0.15% off the actual figures, while the industry average was 0.47%. The closet of all forecasters, Commerzbank had an average of just 0.33% off the actual CPI and GDP figures over the three years – vastly better than the industry average of 0.61%, while Capital Economics was an average of just 0.1% off the official figures for CPI and GDP in 2017.

The above table shows how close the three leading economic forecasters were to predicting the average GDP Growth and CPI Inflation rate figures between 2015 and 2017. For instance, Capital Economics was just 0.1% off the actual figures, compared to 0.4% for the other forecasters.

Non-city forecasters

It wasn’t just the city forecasters making accurate predictions for the economic outlook between 2015 and 2017. Three non-city organisations’ economists were particularly precise in predicting the years’ CPI and GDP figures. They were the leading economics consultancies, the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), the Oxford University-run organisation, Oxford Economics, and the multinational professional service firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC).

With all three of these non-city forecasters averaging just under 0.5% off the actual CPI and GDP figures between 2015-17, there’s no doubt these companies excel in forecasting the UK’s economic future.

In 2015, CEBR was an average of just 0.45% off the GDP Growth and CPI Inflation actual figures – this figure was half that of the industry average of 0.9% – while PWC outperformed the rest of the industry in 2016, and Oxford Economics was the top performer in 2017 with just 0.1% off the CPI Inflation and GDP actual figures.

The above table shows how close the three leading economic forecasters were to predicting the average GDP Growth and CPI Inflation rate figures between 2015 and 2017. Oxford Economics being just 0.1% off the actual figures was the top performer.

Introduction To Forex Trading

tusharm — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 13:09:32 GMT

Today I want to discuss trading and a revolutionary method to mastering forex. As foreign exchange market go Forex is by far the largest in terms of voluminous trading for those less aware of how it works or new to the market. I want to give you some tips to master the market.

First of all, for those who don’t know I will briefly describe what Forex is. Forex is a foreign exchange market which is a globalized market for the trading of currencies. This includes elements of buying, selling and exchanging currencies at current or pre decided prices. The main participants in this market are large banks. Forex is a vital part of global investing and global trade. It is a vital and useful tool used to assist in imports and exports, which are needed to gain access to resources and manufacture additional demand for goods and services.

Many would argue there is not one way to master Forex. Strategy and planning are vital to mastering Forex, and these strategies take time and dedication to mastering. One important thing to remember when mastering Forex is not to overwhelm yourself. For example when trying to master playing guitar, you would not pick it up for the first time and try and learn stairway to heaven and Johan Bach all at once.

Mastering Forex like any art takes determination and patience. But you don’t have to go it alone. There are many market providers, such as CMC markets, that can help you.

The first thing you need to do is train your brain. Mastering one Forex setup will give you the best mindset to help you learn more. Don’t try and learn three set up at once! There is no absolute quick-fix to mastering any art and this holds true with Forex, but with this guides, we will set you on the right track.

The self-control and restraint that you hone from of learning to own just one single trading strategy at a time will assist you with many other areas of trading such as remaining calm under pressure and keeping a strong head.

The second important thing is to forget what you already know. To truly master Forex, you need no pre-conceptions and you need to fully immerse yourself in learning with a clear head.

Number three is know the niche! It is a physical impossibility to know everything. Therefore learn your specialization, focus on your setup and learn it inside and out. Once you are confident you know absolutely all you need to know about your setup, you can proceed. But remember a new poker player should not put thousands in one debt against a poker all-star. Start with a demo Forex account and after you are absolutely certain you have this mastered you can proceed to live trading.

Again once you are certain you have mastered this set up, and make profit the majority of the time then you can consider mastering another set up using this same method.

One thing many new forex users struggle with is learning to spot market trends and current event. If you’re not patient enough to spend a significant amount of time learning these skills, you can learn slowly and in the meantime purchase a bot that recognizes strengths and advises when to invest. Imagine this was a guy who tells you when is the best time to put some money into a slot machine to get the highest chance of great yields. You will want a bot that is regularly renewed to ensure the latest information and best trading strategies.

It is also important to remember there is no guarantee you will make profit. Using this kind of market, or betting on the stock exchange is gambling. A good gambler who knows what they are doing can make big bucks, but if you are looking to cut your teeth with only little knowledge, then your risk factor increases significantly.
You should not expect to master Forex in a day. This process can take years and indeed it may be two years before you start to see significant profit, so be sure to keep a cool head, remain determined and don’t expect to get out what you won’t put in! But if you can follow this guide, you are sure to be reaping the benefits of your efforts in no time.

The Certain Uncertainties of Brexit in the Financial Markets

tusharm — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 12:58:01 GMT

It’s strange, but Brexit has happened. The world woke up this morning to the news that Britain has voted to exit the European Union. And without going back and forth, this means only one thing for the financial markets globally: UNCERTAINTY.

The reasons for that are simple. In the 59 years the EU has been in existence, nothing like this has ever happened. So there’s no historical yardstick of how this would pan out over the short term, long-short term and the actual long term.

Second, the result of the vote itself is suggestive of a country with its people having widely different opinions. That only 51.9% of the 79% Brits that turned out to vote wanted to exit the EU, while 48.1% wanted to remain says it all. That was a narrow win for the ‘leavers.’ And truth is the 48.1% on the losing side won’t take it lightly with the government going forward.

Both of these points, at the minimum gives credence to the ideology that we face uncertainties. That uncertainty extends into the markets for sure. Therefore, here are some market trends that you can expect.

(Short term) Stock Market Volatility

During the UK trading hours, the FTSE dropped by as low as 8.7%, although it gained to close at a 1.9% loss. This, definitely, wasn’t what was expected, considering that strengthening the UK economy was top of the reasons for EU exit. But that’s just the theory. Most of the time, market reality turns out differently just as the FTSE showed on Friday. Since that were the case in the UK, you should expect that stock market around the globe would be volatile as well, since the UK economy is one of the biggest in the world.

And it’s already happening. The Dow Jones average fell by about 500 point after the US market opened. “The yield on the U.S. 10-year bond hit its lowest since 2012,” according to Reuters. In fact, Reuters claims that the outcome of Brexit has brought the largest shock to global financial markets since 2008 – the time of the last global financial crisis.

The volatility in the stock market would pretty much remain for at least a couple of weeks. Things might get smoother when there is a clear sign that the move would be beneficial over the long haul.

Currency Movements

Obviously, the pound sterling would be more unstable than most currencies – assuming the nations that own other currencies are not facing bigger uncertainties. For instance, the pound dropped by 7.5 against the dollar following the announcement of the Brexit vote. The pound fell to its lowest point since 1985. This is evident in real life by the admission by various forex companies, like Currencies Direct LTD UK that they have seen a lot of activities due to the Brexit.

The reason is that fears about the future of the UK economy triggered financial system participants to seek refuge in safe-haven assets. Currencies of countries that have huge association with the UK, euro in particular, would also be volatile.

Increased Demand for Gold

Those who know about gold probably already know that the price of gold thrives at the mention of uncertainties in the equity and fiat currency markets. The reason is that money managers around the world would want to preserve their assets by investing in safe-haven assets – a class to which gold belongs.

Here’s proof. CNBC reported that gold prices moved up sharply in the Asian markets following Brexit results. It also says gold gained by as much as 8.2%, breaching its two-year high in the process. That’s because investors are demanding more gold to preserve their wealth

Lastly, there’ll be a lot of

Varying Financial Advice on How to Play the Brexit

Of course, Brexit opens up a number of profit-making opportunities. For instance, as seen with the weakening of the pound against the dollar and the increase in demand of gold, the forex market and gold market present attractive opportunities. So you can expect to receive scads of advice per day on how to play Brexit. Some of them would work, some wouldn’t.

But I believe that the best way to play Brexit is to stick to your investing discipline. That’s what would pay off over the long haul. That is why I steered clear of issuing any advice below each expectations above.

Learning to Trade CFDs: Techniques for the Novice CFD Trader

tusharm — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 08:59:22 GMT

Contract for Difference (CFDs) are complex financial instruments that should be approached with a great deal of care. If you are new to financial trading in general, it is best to be familiar with simpler instruments such as stocks and bonds before getting into CFDs. Nonetheless, anyone new to CFD trading should keep the following tips in mind in order to minimize your risk-not only the risk that comes with trading in general but the added risk that comes with lack of experience.

Trade with small amounts
When you are just starting out, you don’t want to trade with all you have. Rather, start with what you can comfortably afford to lose, because as a new trader you will inevitably make mistakes. In CFD trading, losses can exceed the amount you initially deposit so make sure you take calculated risks.

Make informed trading decisions
When observing the depreciation and appreciation of a contract price, avoid simply executing a trade out of impulse. Whatever you do, it must be based on information you have gathered and carefully analysed. Trading on impulse usually ends in losses and it does not help your portfolio in the long run.

Take a course
It is also a great idea to take part in the online, or physical trading courses provided by your broker. In addition to helping you learn fundamental and advanced techniques and strategies, some providers such as CMC Markets also do hands on sessions with their market analysts.

Know when to enter and exit the market
After having done your research, you should be comfortable with the price at which you are entering. You should also be clear about when you plan to sell. This is where discipline comes in. Regardless of where the market goes, you should be able to stand your ground and trade when the time is right. Most novice traders bail out at the first sign of trouble, but an experienced trader always has confidence in their trading decisions.

Make use of stop losses
Stop losses are effective but little used trading tools that are available to any investor. Stop losses also ensure that you exit at acceptable prices, rather than hold on to false hope that the price will rise again. Once again, discipline is important. You should cut your losses as quickly as possible and preserve your capital.

Make use of Charts
Charts are a sophisticated way to observe market trends. The Simple Moving Average based on 100 days of trading is a good way to guess where the market will be going. However you should not rely solely on this to make trading decisions. In addition to the charts, you should also have data on other aspects of the market.

Buy into strong sectors
When selecting a CFD, do thorough research on the sector to which the underlying instrument represents. If mining is showing strong growth then you should purchase a CFD that mirrors the mining sector. If you are confident in the performance of the sector then delay cashing in so that you can maximise your profits. As with losses, discipline is crucial with gains. You don’t want to trade too soon or you might miss out on potentially larger profits. Knowledge of the market and confidence in your judgement helps you to stick to your plan.

Investment Agency Rating Pushes Polish Zloty Up

tusharm — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:47:00 GMT

The Polish currency advanced today in

foreign-exchange markets as Pimco speculates that 2010 will allow several emerging markets to outperform other investments, favoring the zloty in this Friday’s trading session.

The zloty benefited from statements coming from the largest bond fund in the world, Pacific Investment Management Co., which predicted better returns in 2010 for zloty-priced assets, as well as investments in Mexico and South Korea, helping their currencies to rally as well.

EUR/PLN declined in the week comparison despite 4 days of consecutive gains before this Friday when it closed at 4.0688.

If you want to comment on the Polish zloty’s recent action or have any questions regarding this currency, please, feel free to reply below.

Canadian Dollar Near 2-Month High on Oil

tusharm — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:46:00 GMT

The Canadian dollar returned to gain today as its chief export, the crude oil, rallied as demand for energy increases, favoring currencies with a similar profile in

foreign-exchange markets as the Australian dollar, which is a main commodity supplier for China.

The loonie, as the Canadian dollar is often referred, had the fourth day of advances in this week as the crude oil returned to trade high in commodity markets closing future contracts near $ 83 a barrel, helping the Canadian dollar to rally specially versus its U.S. counterpart as frustrating employment data declined attractiveness for the greenback during most of today’s session in North America. Commodity’s strength are pushing a new rally for the loonie which may eventually climb towards parity with the U.S. dollar, as long as this market scenario remains the same.

The Canadian dollar has being one of the most attractive currencies in the beginning of 2010 as its correlation to commodities and equities markets has been fueled the loonie’s rally since last December. The loonie may touch parity with the U.S. dollar in the following weeks if the Bank of Canada doesn’t intervene on its rally with statements or actual measures.

USD/CAD closed today at 1.0293 from a previous intraday rate of 1.0348. CAD/JPY remained neutral after high volatility at 89.94.

If you want to comment on the Canadian dollar’s recent action or have any questions regarding this currency, please, feel free to reply below.

Unexpectedly Negative Payrolls Force Greenback Down

tusharm — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:25:00 GMT

An employment report waited during all the week and released today frustrated analysts bringing weaker-than-expected figures for the U.S. economy, pulling the dollar down versus most of the 16 main traded currencies.

After the non-farm payrolls report indicated that employers cut more jobs than forecasts suggested, the demand for dollar-priced and high-yielding currencies declined significantly in foreign-exchange markets as traders become more risk averse interpreting the pessimist data indicated in the U.S. employment figures. The euro gained sharply versus the dollar following the negative employment report, but declined in the hours following the publication. Speculations regarding eventual Federal Reserve rate hikes were significantly impacted after payrolls’ numbers were published, affecting the mid-term outlook for the greenback.

Analysts received the non-farm payrolls report with surprise, as speculations regarding its result brought the dollar’s attractiveness up during the past days and after the actual figures came out today, the dollar’s sentiment has certainly suffered. If negative news continue to be published, odds that the Fed will raise rates will decline, consequently bringing down the U.S. currency rates.

USD/JPY traded at 92.81 as of 16:11 GMT from a previous rate of 93.41 twelve hours earlier. EUR/USD climbed to 1.4338 from 1.4311 in the intraday comparison.

If you want to comment on the U.S. dollar’s recent action or have any questions regarding this currency, please, feel free to reply below.

Norwegian Krone Falls From 16-Month High

tusharm — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:24:00 GMT

The krone fell today from the highest rate since September 2008 as the nation’s government finally expressed concern regarding the currency’s strength, halting a rally versus the euro that started in the end of 2009.

Norway’s Industry Minister Trond Giske affirmed today that the krone may become too strong, fueling speculations that the government may intervene if the currency continues to extend its gains, mostly fueled by renewed demand for crude oil, one of the country’s chief exports.

EUR/NOK closed today at 8.1805 from an opening rate of 8.1622.

If you want to comment on the Norwegian krone’s recent action or have any questions regarding this currency, please, feel free to reply below.

Unchanged Rates and Bond Purchases Maintain Pound Down

tusharm — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:22:00 GMT

The British currency continued to suffer from its central bank monetary policies as interest rates remained unchanged in the country, suggesting that the recession will remain a reality in England for an extended period.

A concerning budget deficit combined with weak economic data has been affecting the pound’s outlook as the Bank of England insists on its asset-purchase program which hasn’t been effective so far, as well as in all-time record low interest rates which decrease the appeal for the sterling in foreign-exchange markets.

GBP/USD bottomed at 1.5923 as of 22:21 GMT from a previous rate of 1.6036.

If you want to comment on the Great Britain pound’s recent action or have any questions regarding this currency, please, feel free to reply below.

Canadian Dollar Finally Retreats After 5 Day Rally

tusharm — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:41:00 GMT

The Canadian currency declined today versus most of the 16 main traded currencies after stocks and commodities had their rallies halted as risk appetite eased among traders globally, forcing commodity linked currencies down.

The Canadian dollar together with its Australian counterpart, both considered commodity linked currencies, lost versus the U.S. dollar as this week’s crude oil rally was halted today as risk appetite declined after several days pushing commodities rates and equities up globally. In the intraday comparison one of the few currencies that didn’t manage to pare the loonie’s gains was the Japanese yen, as a shift in the nation’s finance minister position has turned traders to become slightly skeptical towards the Japanese currency outlook. The greenback gained considerably versus the loonie as an employment report to be published tomorrow is likely to add evidences of the U.S. economic recovery expected for 2010.

The loonie suffered today mostly from a corrective movement as traders took profit following 5 consecutive sessions of gains in foreign-exchange markets. Even if today’s performance was negative, the outlook for the Canadian dollar remains among the best in currency markets, as the crude oil tends to climb up on higher demand and Canada’s main trading partner, the U.S., is accelerating its economic growth pace.

USD/CAD traded at 1.0346 as of 19:15 GMT from yesterday’s rate of 1.0290. AUD/CAD remained rather neutral as they are both currencies from commodity producers, trading at 0.9491.

If you want to comment on the Canadian dollar’s recent action or have any questions regarding this currency, please, feel free to reply below.

Employment Data Pushes U.S. Dollar Up

tusharm — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:39:00 GMT

A report published today indicating fewer-than-expected new jobless claims applications last week allowed the dollar to gain versus the euro and several other currencies as improving employment data is a key-evidence indicating the U.S. economic recovery expected for 2010.

A positive sentiment towards the U.S. employment conditions provided support for the greenback to touch the highest level in four months versus the yen as traders expect a payrolls report tomorrow to show a decrease in job losses, after today’s weekly jobless claims report also came with positive figures. The greenback also pared losses versus commodity linked currencies like the Aussie and the Canadian dollar, which posted several days of advance as the crude oil rates rose on expectations demand will rise in 2010, favoring also riskier assets during this week so far.

Analysts consider the employment data as extremely relevant for indicating the U.S. economic health, as even if other data may indicate a recovery, normally bad employment figures evidence problems in a country’s economic outlook. Tomorrow payrolls report will be essential to determine the dollar’s trends in the short term.

EUR/USD declined to 1.4317 as of 18:16 GMT from a previous intraday rate of 1.4397. AUD/USD traded at 0.9177 after trading as high as 0.9253.

If you want to comment on the U.S. dollar’s recent action or have any questions regarding this currency, please, feel free to reply below.

Aussie Hits Record High on Commodities

tusharm — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:16:00 GMT

The Australian currency touched the highest level in 2 years versus the euro as commodities rates are fueling the Aussie’s rally, which also gained considerably versus the greenback during today’s session.

The Aussie advanced sharply versus the euro, yen and its U.S. counterpart as estimates that a global economic recovery will continue raise rates for the nation’s commodities, helping the Australian dollar to outperform most of the 16 main traded currencies as it happened in 2009.

EUR/AUD bottomed at 1.5660 as of 21:33 GMT from a previous reading of 1.5761 yesterday.

If you want to comment on the Australian dollar’s recent action or have any questions regarding this currency, please, feel free to reply below.

Dollar Drops on Fed Quantitative Easing Discussions

tusharm — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:34:00 GMT

After December’s Fed meeting minutes went public today, the U.S. dollar declined versus multiple currencies, as policy makers discussed extending economic stimulus to revive the economy if necessary, impacting negatively the greenback’s outlook.

The content of a Federal Reserve meeting held in December and published surprised traders and analysts as extending asset purchase programs were among the topics, according to policy makers, if the economy weakens. The U.S. dollar declined versus the euro and most of the main traded currencies as much of its strength has been backed by speculations suggesting the opposite, lifting stimulus and raising interest rates and the economy surges.

EUR/USD traded at 1.4412 as of 21:06 GMT from as long as 1.4280 earlier today.

If you want to comment on the U.S. dollar’s recent action or have any questions regarding this currency, please, feel free to reply below.

Metals Fuel Canada’s Dollar Advance

tusharm — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:24:00 GMT

The Canadian dollar continued to advance today versus its U.S. counterpart as demand for commodities are still on the rise, favoring the loonie which is one of the currencies with the highest correlation with commodities charts, specially the crude oil, one of Canada’s chief exports.

The year of 2010 started with a very positive scenario for the Canadian currency which gained today before an employment report to be released this week, which, according to forecasts will bring optimistic figures, boosting the loonie’s appeal even higher as the crude oil is also providing support for the currency to remain bullish in foreign-exchange markets. The greenback lost versus its Canadian counterpart as an employment report frustrated U.S. investors, causing an exodus of capital from dollar-priced assets to higher-yielding currencies, once again, favoring the loonie.

Fundamental factors are backing the loonie as the Canadian economy recovers, but also, commodities and equities are pushing Canada’s currency up, making it to be the best bet in foreign-exchange markets in the beginning of 2010. The current rates for the loonie may cause the Bank of Canada to intervene on its rates, being that the biggest threat currently to stop the loonie’s rally.

USD/CAD traded at 1.0331 as of 17:45 GMT from a previous rate of 1.0394 yesterday. CAD/JPY rose to 89.57 from 88.06.

If you want to comment on the Canadian dollar’s recent action or have any questions regarding this currency, please, feel free to reply below.

Finance Minister Resignation Forces Yen Down

tusharm — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:07:00 GMT

The yen declined today versus virtually all of the 16 main traded currencies as investors opted for higher-yielding currencies betting on the global economic recovery for 2010, abandoning yen priced assets after Japan’s Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii resigned today.

The yen posted the sharpest losses today versus commodities linked currencies like the Australian dollar, as demand for metallic commodities has been rising since the beginning of the week. The Japanese currency, known for its safer profile, has been less attractive in the beginning of 2010 as most traders expect an economic recovery in a worldwide scale, which is fueling rallies in both equities and commodities markets, consequently bringing investors to currencies linked to these fluctuations, as the Canadian dollar, which also gained significantly versus the yen and continues to advance versus its U.S. counterpart.

Even if the Japan’s finance minister resignation occurred due to health reasons, a shift on this position combined with a strong risk appetite sentiment made the yen to rank as the less attractive investment in currency markets today, and it may extend its losses further as long as optimism remains strong.

AUD/JPY traded at 84.66 as of 14:54 GMT from a previous rate of 83.59 yesterday. CAD/JPY traded at 89.25 from 88.18.

If you want to comment on the Japanese yen’s recent action or have any questions regarding this currency, please, feel free to reply below.

Mexican Peso Extends Rally on U.S.

tusharm — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:59:00 GMT

The Mexican peso is benefiting from the U.S. economic outlook for 2010, as Mexico has the U.S. as the main destination for its exports, both raw and manufactured, and an accelerated growth of its neighbor is helping Mexico’s currency to gain in foreign-exchange markets.

The peso continued to profit today from a better confidence towards its main trading partner, the U.S., as well as for increased crude oil rates, since the Latin American nation is one of the main oil suppliers for the U.S. together with Canada, helping the peso and the loonie to trade high in the beginning of 2010.

USD/MXN traded at 12.8190 as of 20:13 GMT from an opening rate of 12.8750.

If you want to comment on the Mexican peso’s recent action or have any questions regarding this currency, please, feel free to reply below.

Romanian Leu Hits 6-Month High as Political Crisis Eases

tusharm — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:58:00 GMT

The Romanian leu rallied today versus the euro and the U.S. dollar as interest rates were unexpectedly cut in the country after a political crisis that delayed an IMF bailout finally ended, adding confidence that stability in the parliament will lead the nation towards a faster recovery.

After interest rates were cut today to 7.5 percent at the lowest level in a year, the leu rose versus most of the main currencies, as a political crisis ended regarding disputes that affected the process of obtaining and using a $30 billion bailout provided by the International Monetary Fund to the Eastern European nation. The optimism regarding better economic days for Romania with political stabilization helped the leu to rally today.

EUR/RON closed at 4.1838 from an opening rate of 4.2137. USD/RON ended the day at 2.9033 from 2.9139.

If you want to comment on the Romanian leu’s recent action or have any questions regarding this currency, please, feel free to reply below.

Pound Declines Before Policy Makers Meeting

tusharm — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:55:00 GMT

The pound lost versus several key-currencies today and specially versus its regional rival, the euro, as traders speculate that U.K.’s financial authorities will insist in quantitative easing measures to stimulate the British economy, affecting the sterling outlook in currency markets.

The British currency posted a declining session versus most of the 16 main traded currencies two days before a Bank of England policy makers meeting, where, according to analysts, the current asset purchasing program will not be suspended, declining even further attractiveness for the pound, as the recession in the U.K. remains rather significant and measures are necessary to attempt starting a faster economic acceleration in the country. Even if the real estate market is providing positive data in the U.K. since November, the sentiment regarding the economic future in the nation is rather misty, stopping the pound to advance in foreign-exchange markets.

U.K.’s central bank strategy is following a different, and dovish, path than most of the wealthy nation’s policy makers. While interest rate hikes talks are a global trend, in the U.K., quantitative easing extensions are still possible, and this has a intense impact in the pound’s rates.

EUR/GBP traded at 0.8979 as of 19:10 GMT from a previous reading of 0.8945 yesterday. GBP/USD traded at 1.5983 from 1.6090.

If you want to comment on the Great Britain pound’s recent action or have any questions regarding this currency, please, feel free to reply below.

Yen Gains on U.S. Weak Apartment Report

tusharm — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:28:00 GMT

The yen managed to accretion against a lot of of the 16 capital traded currencies today afterwards a abrogating U.S. apartment address brought accident abhorrence up a part of investors, which autonomous for the assurance provided by the Japanese currency.

The Japanese bill acquired the a lot of in four weeks against the greenback as a awaiting home sales address balked forecasts and adumbrated a account bead of 16 percent, crumbling accident appetence and benign the Japanese currency, even if the absolute abstracts are still absolute in the anniversary comparison. The alone bill that administer to accommodate the yen’s beforehand was its adjoining South Korean won, as the arising bazaar bill is rated a part of the best bets for 2010 according to analysts. Speculations that Japanese investors would be repatriating assets today aswell helped the nation’s bill to column a baroque achievement today.

U.S. apartment abstracts afflicted both the greenback and accident affect in trading markets, which is acceptable for the yen, according to traders. Bets that the Federal Reserve will accession absorption ante aswell declined, acceptance the yen to become added adorable a part of the 6 capital traded currencies in the abbreviate term.

USD/JPY alone to 91.45 as of 17:00 GMT from a antecedent amount of 92.60 in the intraday chart. EUR/JPY affected 131.71 from 133.61.

If you wish to animadversion on the Japanese yen’s contempo activity or accept any questions apropos this currency, please, feel chargeless to acknowledgment below.