Kosher

Is It Worth Filing A Claim For A Minor Dent?

2014-06-09T23:38:00.000-07:00

It is always sensible to weigh whether the damage is worth filing a car insurance claim for or is it smarter to wait for another claim-free year.Many of the minor auto-related issues like scratches, door and bumper dents caused by minor car accidents or unforeseen natural disasters can be fixed without costing you big bucks.Reliance General Insurance brings you a check-list of common car problems and their surprisingly simple solutions.

(pic courtesy: templario-miscenciaymislibros.blogspot.com)

Chip on my Windshield

Chips are one of the most common types of damage on your car. Sooner or later, most windshields get hit by a pebble or stone that might cause a small chip or crack. However minor, it is potentially dangerous if it is in the same line of the driver’s vision, and also results in emphasizing glare on the glass.

Small chips are easy to repair. If you are far away from the city, the first thing to do is to put some clear plastic tape over the crack to keep away dust, mud, and bird droppings as these later interfere with the repair. Then tend to the crack as soon as possible.

A long scratch on my car body

This is by far the most common nuisance faced by everybody, more so if your car is parked outside the building. You can of course choose to ignore the marks, provided you rub your finger gently over the scratch and cannot feel any great depression.

(pic courtesy: yourmoneyrelationship.com)

If only the surface clear coat is blemished, a gentle polish can hide it perfectly. However, for a deep scratch, painting is the only way to make it less noticeable. Of course, you can try out your painting skills with the nearest matching fingernail polish available in your home, or better to take it to the nearest garage.

Dent on my car!!!

For just a mere dent with no serious damage, the best idea and advice is to get it fixed, rather than file a claim. Do remember not to try doing it yourself as it may make it worse! Take your car to the nearest garage and pay out-of-pocket for the removal of the dent.
In most cases, it is advisable to cover the cost out of pocket and not filing a claim for the same, because fixing a dent costs less than your car insurance deductible.

How can I avoid getting dents in my car?

Following some simple rules will help you to avoid dents as much as possible. When parking your car, try to look for an area with little traffic.Be a polite parker when you do need to park next to someone and always keep a safe distance always from the next car.
Try opening your door carefully and giving yourself enough room to do so while parking since you do not want to dent someone else’s car and yours at the same time.

Watch the weather report. If it looks like a storm is brewing, keep your vehicle sheltered. Keeping your vehicle in a garage is always a good idea even during the day if not travelling.

Avoid gravel road and roads covered with rocks as they speak of trouble when it comes to dents on vehicles. Rocks and gravel can chip paint and cause scratches as well.

My Car is dotted with Stubborn Sap

Do not fret if you are unable to wash the stain with normal soap and water. There is a simple yet magical solution to this. Pour a drop of rubbing alcohol directly on the sap spot, rub with your fingertips, and watch the marks disappear. No need to rinse, either. The alcohol will evaporate.

Let go of smaller claims

Never rush to make a claim for every small dent on your car. You are entitled to a no-claim bonus (NCB) for every claim-free year. If you don't make any claim on your car insurance policy for a few years, the NCB can reduce your premium cost by as much as 50%. Many a times, it has been seen that what you spend on repairs in the garage could be less than the amount you stand to lose as no-claim bonus.

Article Source: https://www.reliancegeneral.co.in/insurance/articles/year-2012/December/reduce-car-insurance-premuim-with-no-claim-bonus.aspx

Aurangzeb not just another gangster tale

2013-05-20T03:50:00.000-07:00

Debutant director Atul Sabharwal’s “Aurangzeb” reveals the game of power, corruption and money that revolves around the real-estate industry. On one hand, “Aurangzeb” talks about the materialistic means of life, while on the other it gives an equal weightage to a man’s emotional aspect. “Aurangzeb” is intense & dark; with some unnerving face-offs, yet at times predictable. Every character in the movie has a grey side to itself, it is this aspect of “Aurangzeb” which gives it a realistic appeal. Its good direction and even better on-screen performances might bring some trophies home for the movie.

(pic courtesy: movies.sulekha.com)

Even if you haven’t seen the movie yet, just by looking at its trailors you may understand that the movie is based on Emperor Aurangzeb’s principle of killing one’s own kins to rule the throne.

‘Aurangzeb’, by some critics, is considered as a story of twins Ajay and Vishal (Arjun Kapoor), and some are calling it a story on an underworld connection with the real-estate empire, while for some it’s just another ‘average gangster movie’.

Sorry, I am not a critic. I am just a diminutive movie-goer, who sees what is served, and likes or dislikes it accordingly. And from that perspective, ‘Aurangzeb’ to me is a story of ACP Arya (Prithviraj Sukumaran) who unlike his father (Anupam Kher) finds no harm in having a share of black money under his belt. In other words, he follows the footsteps of his paternal uncle DCP Ravikant (Rishi Kapoor) – a top cop ready to use his power for all means.

‘Aurangzeb’ is Arya’s journey from a corrupt police officer to a man of principles. Arya wants to arrest a dreaded gangster cum real estate developer Yashwardhan Singh (Jackie Shroff), whose major share of empire is run by his second lady Nina (Amrita Singh).

However, due to lack of evidence Yashwardhan continues to reign over the real-estate industry away from police’s grip. Arya along with his uncle DCP Ravikant, plans to re-place Yashwardhan’s son Ajay (Arjun Kapoor) with his forgotten twin brother Vishal and thus gather proof sufficient enough to arrest Yashwardhan. Does Arya succeed in putting Yashwardhan behind bars? What is the power game that brings out the true officer in Arya by end of the movie? You can ask your friend who has just watched the movie, but finding out the same yourself would be more interesting.

‘Aurangzeb’ is definitely not something unique. It might have been made and re-made in different eras under different banners with different cast. Yet, the whole package taken together makes ‘Aurangzeb’ different from the rest. Right at the beginning, the movie introduces its audience with its theme. Its rapid pace does not lead to boredom, yet manages to put across each character in much detail.

Speaking of performances, Rishi Kapoor very convincingly plays a role of retiring officer who is ready to surpass any limits of manipulation to get what he wants. In the shoes of a shrewd officer and a cunning conspirator, he delivers yet another hair-raising performance in ‘Aurangzeb’. Ever since his role of Rauf Lala in ‘Agneepath’, Rishi Kapoor has been setting and breaking his own benchmarks.

After a not so good Bollywood Debut in ‘Aiyaa’, Prithviraj turns out to be the surprise package of ‘Aurangzeb’. He showcased the transition in the mindset of a money-puller cop to a man of principles, with conviction. He has phenomenally pulled off as a focused and intense cop.

Arjun Kapoor, who is now two-films old, seems to have sinked in well in a typical mawali (goon) character. While he plays the role of a gangster with élan, he fails to deliver in scenes which demand emotion.

Sasheh Agha has probably got the looks, but she may need another movie to portray her acting skills. It was nice to see Jackie Shroff and Amrita Singh back on the screen.

Five myths about auto insurance

2013-04-23T02:33:00.005-07:00

There are many factors that play an important role in deciding your auto insurance premium amount. While most of the determinants are commonly considered by different insurance providers, some may differ. However, in the process to understand these factors, you my often come across some common beliefs about auto insurance, which are nothing but myths.

At the time of buying an auto insurance, it is important to know about the things that decide the price of your policy and it is equally important to differentiate between fact and fiction?

(pic courtesy: www.thetaxinfo.com)

Below are some common myths about auto insurance -

Myth – 1: The colour of your vehicle decides the cost of auto insurance policy

One of the most common believes is that colour of your car is one of the deciding factor of your car insurance premium. In addition, the notion that red cars cost more to insure. However, the fact remains that, atleast till now, your insurance premium does not directly depend on colour of your car.

Your auto insurance premium is broadly based on the make, model, body type, engine size, the age of the vehicle, but probably not the colour of your vehicle. Your auto insurance premium may also depend on the age, driving record and credit history of the driver. The other factors that shall act as deciding factors for the price of your policy are the repair cost of your car, its safety record and the anti-theft provisions for it. Almost all insurance providers offer discounts for features that lowers the risk of injuries or theft.

Myth – 2: Your car insurance rate is independent of your credit score

Your credit score gives an idea about your financial stability and management. There might be possibilities that many insurance companies may consider your credit score before offering you a car insurance.

Myth – 3: The minimum amount of liability auto insurance, mandatory by law, is sufficient

Nowadays having auto insurance is compulsory in most of the countries. Thereby, the myth states that having only the minimum amount of auto insurance, as mandated by law, is sufficient.

However, factually, because accidents cost more, you will require more liability insurance than what has been mandated by law. In case of accidents, it has been often observed that many people opt for only minimum required amount of auto liability insurance and end up paying more out of their pocket.

Myth – 4: Someone else driving your car will be covered under his/her auto insurance, in case of an accident

Many believe that your insurance policy will cover only you and your car or a third party. However, there are policies which offer coverage for drivers who are not owners. Therefore, if your policy has such a cover then even if your car is been driven by someone else, in the event of an accident he/she shall get cover under your policy. The losses incurred during this event by your vehicle too shall be covered by your insurance policy. Therefore, do not let anyone drive your car if you are not familiar with his/her driving record.

Myth 5 – Private auto insurance policy covers both personal & business use of your car

Your private car insurance will cover you only for your personal usage and not business. If you use your car for business purpose, you will require a passenger carrying vehicle insurance or goods carrying vehicle insurance.

Article Source: http://www.reliancegeneral.co.in/insurance/Car-Info/Five-myths-about-auto-insurance.aspx

Schengen travel insurance, visa – keys to wider horizon

2013-04-19T02:38:00.002-07:00

Today travelling to any part of the world is so feasible, that people can now make their dream vacations come true, like a Europe tour. Europe is considered among world's top preferred destinations, and if you are planning to travel to Europe, you would need a Schengen visa and a travel insurance policy specially designed for Schengen countries. Such a travel insurance policy is known as Schengen travel insurance.

(pic courtesy: sanad.com.sa)

Ever since the existence of 1985 and 1990 Schengen Agreements, today one can travel to may European countries on a single visa and travel insurance. If you have a Schengen visa, then you can travel to Austria, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and The Netherlands in a single trip with one visa. A Schengen visa and a Schengen travel insurance are the keys to a wider horizon. If you have these keys, you can experience your dream vacation, provided you know the ways of applying for a Schegen visa and Schengen travel insurance.

Which category does your Schengen Visa belongs to?

Schengen visa falls under four categories. Thus, before applying for Schengen visa you should be aware of which category of visa you would require. Take a look at the different categories of Schengen visa:

Category A: This is an airport transit visa. This visa serves to individuals who are 'passing through the international transit area of airports during a stop-over or transfer between two sections of an international flight.'

Category B: This too is a transit visa which lasts for only five days. This visa is needed by individuals who need to pass through the Schengen area to travel between two non-Schengen visa countries. Even if you are not planning to stay in the Schengen area, you would still need to have this visa.

(pic courtesy: internationalcitizens.com)

Category C: This visa is for short-term stay. This is the most common visa and is issued for 'reasons other than immigration.' With this visa you can stay in the Schengen visa area for maximum three months in a half year after the first entry. 'You cannot immigrate on this visa but can make several trips or one continuous one.'

Category D: This visa is considered as national visa which is issued by a Schengen country. With this visa, an individual can travel from a non-Schengen visa country to a Schengen area state which issued national visa within five days. It can also be combined with category C. The category D+C is meant for long-term stay in the Schengen countries that issued it. This type of visa is for people who work and live in Schengen countries.

How can you apply for a Schengen visa

Applying for a Schengen visa is very easy provided you have all of the required documentations, including Schengen travel insurance. These days many consulates give you the option of applying for Schengen visa on their online portals. You can also make an online payment towards you Schengen visa.

While applying for the Schengen visa you would be required to submit supporting documents, along with your passport. You can also meet the consulate, of your planned Schengen state, in person with a filled application form and all of the required documents. Irrespective of how have you applied for the visa, all applications are 'usually processed within three to ten working days'.

It is mandatory to have a travel insurance to cover your trip to Schengen area. Once your visa is approved, to complete the procedure of visa, you would need to submit the document of your Schengen travel insurance. A Schengen travel insurance should cover you against any emergencies that arise when you are travelling to a Schengen country.

We take pride in being among the top providers of travel insurance in India. With us you can get Schengen travel insurance policy that meets the requirements set out by the Schengen Visa member states. Click HERE for a quote so that you can apply online today.

Article Source: http://www.reliancegeneral.co.in/insurance/travel-info/Schengen-travel-insurance-visa-keys-to-wider-horizon.aspx

Home Insurance guide for First Time Buyers

2013-04-17T04:43:00.000-07:00

Home Insurance cover is a product , which safeguards a person acts as a savior from an unforeseen problems in our life . For the first timers, finding the best deal in Home Insurance is a difficult task. First time home insurance buyers need to keep in mind that , property insurances are available in a range of numbers as well as capacities . Some may vary from very minor "cited risks" to "open risks" policy package , which cover generally every single thing coming under the ceiling of a residential house and property. With just a basic study in the market of house insurance plans , individuals can get understanding of several complicated claims , contracts , and also clauses coming to their doorways nearly every single day. For the very first time residential home insurance policy searcher , who try to find superior as well as worthy information about house insurance plans , it is very essential for them to get the appropriate source and home insurance company providing good insurance cover.

(pic courtesy: www.casafeathome.org)

Important Elements to Evaluate in the First Home Insurance policy:
Homeowner's insurance plan or Residential home insurance policies at present provides specific section of coverage for items possessed by the home insurer . Very first time homeowner's buyers may even come across home insurance plans which range from exact to extensive categories . Of these , a few might or perhaps might not include elements like natural calamity protection or even personal injury.
The very first time homeowner's insurance buyer's , those are moving into house insurance policy marketplace to discover an ideal as well as reasonably priced plan , must learn the different types of insurance coverage in addition to premium payments provided by these types of insurance policies.
One standard form of home insurance is the protection for standard belongings damage with a digestible reasoning . As a matter of fact , the home of a person is much more precious as compared to the possessions and , therefore the main concern should be the home.

Very first time home insurance buyer's must also keep in mind that , the condition as well as area of a house has an important part , to figure out the insurance premium prices for a house insurance plan . For instance , houses situated in high-crime locations show higher danger for the home insurance offering organizations , thereby , they charge insurance buyers suitably.

It is always beneficial to first time insurance policy consumers to consult with the insurance broker or the service provider regarding any specific insurance for human accidents taking place in their house because of poor construction and weak routine maintenance.

A number of first time potential customers accidentally believe that their home insurance policy will take care of their houses from all-natural disasters as such floods and earthquakes , however this is not a fact in many instances.

Perils caused by this kind of untoward situations are generally topographic features , as well as some areas might have big premiums to protect the home from these kind of all-natural damage.

(pic courtesy: www.a2zwealthplanners.com)

Concluding Points to remember :
Generally there many additional factors which could ascertain the conclusion for first time home insurance buyers . Such elements might be the finances due on property as well as the credit ratings of home insurance buyers.

When selecting the plan , make sure to get quotes from several insurance companies to review all of them . In this case , first time home buyers can take guidance of brokers as well as agents to evaluate estimates.
Therefore , before entering to an agreement on insurance policy on , first time home insurance buyers should verify the period of insurance coverage , things protected , as well as insurance premium amount needed to be paid .

Reliance General Insurance would like every person to have the ability to get the home insurance coverage which they require . Therefore to assist the insurance buyers we have created various online pages to get the quotes for home insurance policy.

Log on to internet to get best automobile insurance quotes

2013-04-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

Of the long list of nearly 20 car companies in India, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai are leading the league. Competition between these two is such that often one can see if Maruti launches a new model for a particular segment of market, sooner or later, Hyundai is seen following the trail; and vice-versa.
In 2012, Maruti Suzuki Swift, Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire, Maruti Alto, Maruti Wagon R, Hyndai i10, Hyundai Eon, Hyundai i20, etc were among the best selling cars in India.

(pic courtesy:goaonwheels.com)

Generally, these cars are owned by middle grade families in India, thus making a large number. These cars are known for best services and pick-ups. So much so that one will often find these brands on highways or even the foothills of the Himalayas. Someone who loves and enjoys driving will always prefer a car which he/she can take for long trips as well. They are very particular about having a good car.

It is indeed important to buy a good car for better mileage, pick-up, etc services; and it is equally important to have a good automobile insurance for the car you buy. Today, with fast paced technology, buying a good automobile insurance policy has become easier and faster through the medium of internet. One can buy his/her automobile insurance online with just a single click of the mouse!

Many insurance companies offer online automobile insurance plans, which are instantly issued through internet. The online medium offers various automobile insurance quotes, hence, gives you an option of choosing the best policy which meets your requirement. Automobile insurance quotes vary from company to company. Similarly, the benefits covered under a car insurance also differ.

Most of the insurance companies will provide you with 'Quick Quote' page on their websites. In this page, you would need to share some specific details such as your name, address, mobile number, email id, city, car model, manufacturing year, registration date, etc. Once you have shared these details, you will get a quote instantly. As stated earlier, this 'auto insurance quote' will be different for different company, thus, you will have to make your choice comparing these quotes and your needs.

An automobile insurance is valid for the period of a year. After this tenuer, you need to renew your motor insurance policy. The same facility is also available over internet. At the time of renewal , if you haven't filed any claim to the insurance company, you can apply for a no-claim bonus and enjoy a reduced rate of the premium in the renewed automobile insurance.

Primary factors that decide your premium are - IDV of the car, cubic capacity, zone of registration and age of your car.

Reliance General Insurance is among the top private players which offers online automobile insurance policy - Reliance Private Car Insurance Policy. Automobile insurance policies can be both comprehensive and third party cover only.

Article Source: http://www.reliancegeneral.co.in/insurance/Car-Info/Log-on-to-internet-to-get-best-automobile-insurance-quotes.aspx

Health insurance policy - A master key to many locks

2013-04-11T05:38:00.000-07:00

There are probably uncountable things which have undergone changes ever since the existence of civilisation. However, amid these developments, one thing that continues to persist is- one's strong willingness to protect his/her family. The well-being of one's family is a matter of concern for every individual, even today. Thereby, as a normal practice, people have started investing in health insurance to insure their family's health.

(pic courtsey: articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com)

With a big change in our lifestyle, having a health insurance has become extremely essential for one and all. But, before you put in your hard earned money in buying a family health insurance policy, invest some time in comparing the policies of each insurance company. A good comparative study is probably the best guide which helps you distinguishing between different insurance policies. It also helps you identify the policy that suits your needs the best way, thus, assists you in getting maximum benefits out of a family health insurance policy.

Some of the benefits of health insurance policy are as follows:

Cashless Hospitalization: More the number of network hospitals, more easier will be your life! Cashless hospitalization is available only in network hospitals. Under this facility you may not do an upfront payment for hospitalization and still avail best possible treatments available in the respective network hospital.

Old age incentives: You may also find incentives for old aged individuals in some specific policies. For instance, no pre-medical test for people up to the age of 55 years (as per the last birthday).

Tax benefit: Today, even the government is encouraging people to take up health insurance policies by offering them exemptions under Section 80D (Income tax act). Such an act not only offers you tax benefits but also safeguards you against unwanted financial burdens.

Buying a health insurance policy is not only an investment but also a step towards a better future. Like life insurance, a good health insurance policy also assures yourself piece of mind. At the same time it also provides an umbrella for your family.

Article source: http://www.reliancegeneral.co.in/insurance/health-info/Health-insurance-policy-A-master-key-to-many-locks.aspx

India is deficient, yet 'Mahaan'!

2012-10-05T05:55:00.000-07:00

Arundhati Konar, YourMoneySite.com

‘India’ might not be among the developed nations, but most of the engineers, doctors, scientists of developed countries are Indians! ‘India’ might not be the world’s richest country, but probably has maximum black money in Swiss Bank. India is definitely culturally rich, but is poor in hygiene awareness. There are more negative aspects that make India stand out in so many ways, yet they say mera bharat mahaan!

What is so great about India? Looking into India’s royal history or its diversity in religion, language, culture, cuisine etc, being an Indian definitely feels proud. However, considering the present India, is there really anything to be proud of?

On one hand, India has failed to maintain many of its preserved assets, while on the other, it has not only succeeded in retaining its ‘deficiencies’, but also excelled in acquiring new ones! For instance, with a population of 1.21 billion, India still maintains its second world rank- first being China. Interestingly, with implementation of one-child policy China’s population growth rate now stands at 0.48% (as of July 26, 2012), while that of India is 1.31%. This means, in a span of a few more years, India may easily surpass China in becoming the world’s largest population.

However, for something like poor health, India need not wait to beat anyone in world ranking. According to a survey by Central Intelligence Agency (US), out of 121 countries, India ranks first in the list of underweight children under the age of five years. And why not, for India spends only 2.4% of its GDP on health. Its health expenditures is among the five least, in world ranking. Countries which are considered to be poorer than India spend much more on health. For instance, Bangladesh’s health expenditure is 3.4% of its GDP, Afghanistan is 7.4% and that of Kenya is 12.2%.

It is equally surprising to see that countries whose doctor density compared to India is less, are way ahead in terms of good health. India’s physician density (i.e. physicians/1000 population) is 0.6, while that of Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Kenya stand at 0.3, 0.21 and 0.14 respectively.

Leading in yet another category, India tops the list of world’s most polluted country. According to a study released during World Economic Forum in Davos, India’s air is most polluted in the entire world, beating countries like China, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh! The main cause is believed to be the rising number of vehicles in the country. Though India still has fewer vehicles per capita when compared to developed nations, its cars are more polluting, being aged.

Yet another benchmark that India has made on the international level is by featuring in the list of world’s top 10 countries in terms of highest reported crime rates! As per a report published by the National Crime Records Bureau, from crime against women to arms trafficking, India’s crime rate has risen dramatically over the years. India’s crime rate rose by nearly 10% between 2010 and 2011. Going by the United Nations Survey report on Crime Trends, India is among the top 10 countries in terms of highest reported crime rates. India has recorded of total 1,764,630 crimes (data as of July 30, 2012).

Population, health, pollution and crime are just a few of the resistances in the country’s growth and development. However, the list of societal deficiencies prevailing in India is a big one! India’s status in terms of corruption, illiteracy, unemployment, hygiene etc. is equally alarming.

It is strange but true, most of the Indians would agree with the negative aspects present in India, but very few will really work towards improvisation. For instance, Indians are very well known to keep public places littered. If you try to check someone with regards to hygiene, you would definitely get a piece of his mind.

However, the same individual will actually make efforts to maintain clean surroundings when in countries like US, UK, etc. One may not be in favour of bribes, however, if caught by a traffic police, his first attempt would be settling the issue by slipping a Rs 100 note in the authority’s pocket.

‘Unity in diversity’ has become just a phrase in India, because when it comes to implementation, Indians seem to have failed drastically. Yes, we are Indians, but when it comes to action, we are just individuals with ‘a lot of work’ or ‘someone else will do it’ attitude. Conclusively, citizens make a country and it is really for each Indian to introspect – Is ‘Mera Bharat Mahaan’?

Source: http://www.yourmoneysite.com/news/2012/oct/india-is-deficient-yet-mahaan.html

Standalone mobile website Vs responsive design

2012-09-27T00:19:00.000-07:00

What is the sole objective of a 20th century modern website? Primarily to generate as much traffic to the site and then to sustain that volume and maximize profits generated out of advertisement revenues. Much of that objective is achieved through slick designing, unique offering of product and services through the site and innovative marketing.

(pic coutesey: business2community.com)

However, with the ever increasing competition, where it is becoming difficult to differentiate the services of one stakeholder from another; the success, popularity and traffic on a website has it's dependency on another dimension- "the amount of time a person spends on site". This means to make your online presence available on every possible media (i.e. PC,MAC,mobile platforms like cell phone ,PDA etc). The best example of which is GOOGLE – a search engine which constantly made its customers hook on through various mediums and in turn hogged the largest share of internet time and access to a vast repository of knowledge of human internet behavior.

This is precisely where a web site designer is faced with the biggest dilemma of building a dedicated website catering to a mobile platform only or to build a more generic, single point access site which is responsive enough to cater to any platform (laptop, tablet, or mobile).

There is a divided opinion that is floating amidst internet aficionados in favor of either of the methodologies .The decision however, is not based out of any single thumb rule but on a lot of interdependent aspects.

The Core Need:

Identifying the core need of a business is the most important factor which in turn directs in embarking upon a definite approach of website design. The process of identification of such needs can be based on following parameters:

a. Purpose:
- Is the site for content publication (blogs, travel guides, Music archives,e-book archives)
- Is the site providing a definite service (hotel booking, travel ticket booking, search engine)
- Is the site for promotion and advertising only giving static information about a certain product, shop, service.

b.Type of content:
Static content like wallpapers, music, e-books, blogs, online publications etc. can be published across platforms by way of a responsive design approach as a dedicated mobile site might not add any specific value to it. However, websites which are popular for delivering a specialized form of service like internet banking ,ticket booking, hotel booking etc. may find increased value addition for their customers through dedicated mobile versions of these sites - if they are able to enrich their user experience by making optimized use of navigation, swipe gestures, GPS and other device specific capabilities.

c. Target market:

Extensive research on the demography of mobile users should give an insight into whether a dedicated mobile based site is essential or a responsive design approach works Hotel chains, restaurants or even small service providers can hog a majority share of the attention by having dedicated mobile sites highlighting their USP's on the go in a fast and efficient manner. Whereas, large organizations- which typically have many content producers, complex editorial systems and produce large, complex sites- may find it prohibitively expensive and unnecessary to have dedicated mobile sites unless they add any extra value.

d. Degree of Penetration:

Many a times, the intention of the business is just to have a wider reach without laying much emphasis on optimization, user experience etc. In such cases, a responsive design approach can accrue some immediate benefits saving the effort of an elaborate analysis that is required for a dedicated mobile site.

User Experience/User Bias:

It can be argued that responsive design approach often may not achieve the best of user experience. Vice-versa, a decision to have a dedicated mobile site should only be embarked upon if it promises a better user experience which is fast, intuitive and yet satiates the user with the information he seeks to get.

It is necessary to understand that mobile is a behavior and not a smaller screen resolution and therefore smart navigation, clear fonts, innovative use of real-estate (viewable screen space),context specific information goes a long way towards enhancing the user experience.

Occasionally, however, users attach a certain sentimental value which we can attribute as "User Bias" towards a certain design/layout/presentation that they would not like to part with. ( The simplistic looking Google search page, that has maintained the same form across most platforms is a typical example where users have strongly associated themselves to that "white page single textbox view").In search scenarios a responsive design might prove beneficial .

It is the same "User Bias" that led to the conceptualization of a separate e-paper web site for the "Times of India" which stands out as a classic example of a responsive design approach which was only triggered because of a strong user bias of having a same user experience akin to reading news out of a news paper.

Resource Optimization:

The design approach and methodology for dedicated mobile demands more optimized use of available resources. While a user may have the best of experience viewing a site with rich controls ,flash based interfaces and high resolution pictures on his laptop and computer , the same experience will not hold true if readily migrated to a mobile device through responsive design and therefore use of key resources like bandwidth, processing power, battery on a mobile platform needs to be optimized for best performance.

Cost:

Any business venture that is set out to make profits cannot undermine the cost aspect that goes into building the website infrastructure.

While building dedicated websites catering to separate platforms surely helps in isolating the solution based on platforms, it definitely pushes the cost upwards as multiple sites needs to be build and maintained. There is also an element of duplication in this methodology where, change in one site might need a change in other also for consistency and integrity. However, having said that, prices are primarily driven by the complexity of the site design and manpower resources available and they vary across developers and agencies.

Summary /conclusion

The dilemma of mobile websites versus responsive design is always going to remain in the minds of designers and needs to be rationally handled keeping in mind the pros and cons of each approach.

In any case the return on investment is going to be the sole important criterion that is eventually going to drive the decision in favor of one of the approaches.

Pratibha Patil falls in gift trap on RTI query

2012-09-27T00:00:00.002-07:00

Arundhati Konar, YourMoneySite.com

Former President Pratibha Devisingh Patil’s tenure at Rashtrapati Bhavan ended in July 2012, but her affairs with controversies seem to continue even now.

A right to information (RTI) inquiry has revealed that Patil, who had received many gifts as President of India, has taken the same to her hometown Amravati. According to reports, RTI activist Subhash Agarwal, in an application to Rashtrapati Bhavan, said that Patil should return all the gifts to government by January 13, 2013.

In a reply to Agarwal’s RTI query, Rashtrapati Bhavan said that Patil received around 155 gifts and relics during her tenure as President, which she has given to the Vidya Bharati Shaikshanik Mandal, Amravati, Maharashtra, for display in its private museum. Interestingly, this museum is controlled by Pratibha Patil’s son Rajendra Singh Shekhawat, also a Congress MLA.

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam had also kept around 36 artifacts for display at the Brahmos Centre in New Delhi. However, Agarwal argued that unlike Vidya Bharati Shaikshanik Mandal, Brahmos Centre is a government body.

He further said that from the RTI response it is evident the President’s Secretariat during Patil’s five-year term did not follow the rules of toshakhana (government treasury) with respect to gifts received by the President. He maintains that Patil should have give in all her artifacts to the toshakhana.

Source: http://www.yourmoneysite.com/news/2012/sep/pratibha-patil-falls-in-gift-trap-on-rti-query.html

India chooses Barfi! over 19 films for Oscar nomination

2012-09-24T06:11:00.002-07:00

Arundhati Konar, YourMoneySite.com

Anurag Basu’s Barfi! has not only spread its sweetness in India, but is now set to go international! After a huge success at the box-office, the team of Barfi! has yet another big reason to celebrate. The Film Federation of India (FFI) has selected Barfi! as India’s official entry for the Academy Awards in best foreign language film category.

(picture courtesy: kreativme.com)

Barfi!, a romantic comedy, was chosen over 19 movies for the honourable Oscar nomination. The movie is a story of a mute-deaf boy – Barfi (Ranbir Kapoor) and his love interests Shruti (Ileana D’Cruz) and Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra).

The movie starts in the present time somewhere in Darjeeling and takes the audience through a flash back, where Barfi encounters love, betrayal, crime, death and life.

There’s no second opinion about Ranbir-Priyanka-Ileana-starrer Barfi! being a good movie. However, it is bit surprising other movies like Kahaani or Pan Singh Tomar, which didn’t have star performers yet were outstanding movies, didn’t make it to the prestigious nomination. Were these or other movies even considered by the selection committee (FFI)?
While everyone is busy talking about the success of Barfi!, there is no mention about the other films over which Barfi! was chosen.

India and the Oscars:
The first ever Academy Awards was presented way back in May 1929. And after a gap of 27 years the category of Best Foreign Language film was introduced in Oscars.

India’s relation with the Academy Awards began in 1957, with its first nomination Mother India. However, the movie lost to Nights of Cabiria.

Since 1957 till date India has sent around 44 films to Oscars (excluding Barfi!), of which only three were nominated in Oscar. These were Mother India, Salaam Bombay and Lagaan. However, till date not a single Indian movie has brought home the Oscars.

Nevertheless, some Indians like Bhanu Athaiya (best costume design for Richard Attenborough's 'Gandhi' in 1982), Satyajit Ray (honorary oscar for lifetime achievement in 1992), AR Rahman (two Oscars for best original score and best original song 'Jai ho' for 'Slumdog Millionaire' in 2009), Gulzar (best original song 'Jai ho' for 'Slumdog Millionaire' in 2009 with Rahman) and Resul Pookutty (best sound mixing for 'Slumdog Millionaire' in 2009) did made India proud by winning individual awards at the prestigious ceremony.

Source: http://www.yourmoneysite.com/news/2012/sep/india-chooses-barfi-over-19-films-for-oscar-nomination.html

Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Barfi! turns sweeter, earns over Rs 60 cr in first week

2012-09-23T23:19:00.001-07:00

Arundhati Konar, YourMoneySite.com

A ‘mute’ Ranbir Kapoor, an ‘autistic’ Priyanka Chopra and a ‘lover-turned-friend’ Ileana D'Cruz, define the sweetness of Anurag Basu’s romantic comedy Barfi!. The film performed explicitly well at the box-office and gathered over Rs 60 crore in its first week.

Anurag Basu’s latest release is a moving tale of being happy no matter what and selfless love. The movie is a story of a deaf-mute boy Barfi (Ranbir Kapoor), his love interest Shruti (Ileana D’Cruz) and his other love interest Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra).

The movie starts at present time somewhere in Darjeeling and takes the audience through a flash back, where Barfi encounters love, betrayal, crime, death and life.

With Barfi!, where Ranbir Kapoor has given yet another outstanding performance, the autistic character of Jhilmil Chatterjee played by Priyanka Chopra was also convincing. Ileana D’Cruz too justifies her character and is the voice of the movie.

Barfi, released on Friday September 14, 2012, saw an overwhelming response from both critics and movie goers. This romantic comedy has not only broken the first week records of the Bollywood’s last release Raaz 3, but has also affected the business of the Bhatt movie.

Anurag Basu’s Barfi!, which was made in a budget of Rs 30 crore, was released on 300 single screens and 1,300 screens in multiplexes. The Ranbir Kapoor-starrer grossed as much as Rs 63.25 crore (net) and surpassed the first week box-office collections of the actor’s last release Rockstar.

However, with Kareena Kapoor’s much awaited Heroine releasing today, one needs to see if Barfi! sustains its hold on the box-office in its second week.

Source: http://www.yourmoneysite.com/news/2012/sep/ranbir-kapoor-starrer-barfi-turns-sweeter-earns-over-rs-60-cr-in-first-week.html

Salman Khan highest tax payer in Bollywood, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan leads among ladies

2012-09-20T00:58:00.001-07:00

Arundhati Konar, YourMoneySite.com

With Dabangg, Ready, Bodyguard and Ek tha Tiger scoring over Rs 100 crore each at the box-office, actor Salman Khan has been among the top tax payers of Bollywood. However, this year around, Khan has surpassed his last year’s earnings by paying 60% more advance tax in the July-September quarter this year.

According to PTI reports, for the quarter ended September 2012, Salman Khan has paid advance tax of Rs 8 crore versus Rs 5 crore, in the same period last year. It is interesting to note that with only one movie to his name – Ek Tha Tiger - so far this year, Khan has become the highest tax payer in Bollywood. Actor Akshay Kumar, who had two consecutive super hits – Housefull 2 and Rowdy Rathore, is second in the list. Kumar paid an advance tax of Rs 7.5 crore compared to Rs 5 crore, same period last year.

On other hand, Bollywood’s Badshah, Shah Rukh Khan, who did not have any releases this year so far, ranked third in the list of highest tax payers in Bollywood. Khan paid an advance tax of Rs 5 crore same as last year. Like Khan, veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan also paid an advance tax of Rs 5 crore against Rs 1.4 crore in 2011.

Among ladies, former Miss World and Bollywood’s new mother Aishwarya Rai Bachchan paid the maximum advance tax of Rs 3 crore versus Rs 1.1 crore in July-September 2011. Second on the list was Katrina Kaif, followed by Kareena Kapoor at the third position, with advance tax of Rs 2.60 crore and Rs 2.20 crore respectively.

Who paid how much in Bollywood?

Name	Advance tax in July-Sept '12 (Rs cr)	Advance tax in July-Sept '11 (Rs cr)
Salman Khan	8.00	5.00
Akshay Kumar	7.50	5.00
Shah Rukh Khan	5.00	5.00
Amitabh Bachchan	5.00	1.40
Aamir Khan	3.25	4.50
Saif Ali Khan	3.00	1.70
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan	3.00	1.10
Katrina Kaif	2.60	1.70
Kareena Kapoor	2.20	1.50

Source: http://www.yourmoneysite.com/news/2012/sep/salman-khan-highest-tax-payer-in-bollywood-aishwarya-rai-bachchan-leads-among-ladies.html

Parliamentary impasse continues; 30 Bills await consideration

2012-09-04T03:07:00.001-07:00

(Arundhati Konar, YourMoneySite.com)

The Indian Parliament got eleven consecutive unproductive days during monsoon session so far, thanks to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s unbending stand over the Coalgate scam. Also, with only three more days left (September 7) for the one-month long monsoon session to end, chances that Parliament will resume its normalcy are bleak.

Interestingly, about 30 Bills were lined up by the UPA government for talks during this monsoon session. And another 15 Bills were supposed to be introduced. However, with BJP MLAs being averse to get into any discussion, it won’t be surprising to see the session end without any outcome.

For the past two weeks, BJP has been acting as a roadblock in Parliament’s functioning. The party has been adamant on its demand for the Prime Minister’s resignation in Coalgate scam issue.

In the latest development, BJP has agreed to let the Parliament resume, provided all coal block allocations are scrapped and a fresh investigation is ordered over the government auditor's report charging indiscretion in the coal block allocations.

"While there have been demands for the resignation of the Prime Minister and a high-level inquiry, now the common minimum denominator is cancellation of the coal block allocations as Samajwadi Party, the Left parties and everybody is demanding it," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told PTI.

However, the government has declined to terminate all coal blocks allocations. Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said, "if the BJP takes the CAG reports that seriously, it should first ask for the resignation of the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and cancel coal blocks allocations there. They must also take action against the Chief Ministers of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.”

Call it an irony, while political parties are busy protesting against the losses caused due to coal block allocations, they have ignored the losses incurred due to adjournment of Parliamentary sessions for the last two weeks. This has cost the country nearly Rs 11 crore, i.e. Rs 2 crore per day!

Source: http://www.yourmoneysite.com/news/2012/sep/parliamentary-impasse-continues-30-bills-await-consideration.html

Parliament paralysed for third consecutive day; BJP continues to demand PM’s resignation

2012-08-23T02:52:00.000-07:00

Arundhati Konar, YourMoneySite.com

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was all set to make a rebuttal of the charges related to allocation of coal blocks, once again witnessed a rebound from opposition today, resulting in the adjournment of Parliament for the third consecutive day.

Followed by a raucous call from Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in regards to Coalgate scam of Rs 1.86 lakh crore, the Lok Sabha was today adjourned till 2 p.m. However, it is interesting to note that while political parties are busy protesting against the losses caused due to coal block allocations, they have ignored the losses incurred due to adjournment of Parliamentary sessions for the last two days. This has cost the country Rs 2 crore, i.e. Rs 25 lakh per hour.

According to reports, while Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was intending to turn the tables on opposition by speaking on the charges against him and his party, BJP insisted that it won’t allow Parliament to resume till Singh accepts the charges and quits as India’s chief. In his speech in Lok Sabha today, Singh was to explain how the estimated loss of Rs 1.85 lakh crore by the CAG in the coal blocks allocation 'was ‘misleading’.

Manmohan Singh was likely to point out that state governments of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand (under the rule of the BJP and its allies), in addition to West Bengal (during the Left Front rule) “had given in writing that there should not be an auction of the coal blocks.”

Source: http://www.yourmoneysite.com/news/2012/aug/parliament-paralysed-for-third-consecutive-day-bjp-continues-to-demand-pms-resignation.html

Salman Khan's ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ headed to be biggest Bollywood hit ever!

2012-08-21T04:54:00.004-07:00

Arundhati Konar, YourMoneySite.com

Salman Khan alias Bollywood’s ‘style bhai’ continues to reign the hearts of movie goers! With his latest release ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ performing supremely well at the box office, the actor has not only strengthened his presence in the Rs 100-crore club, but has also made many new records.

Yas Raj Films’ (YRF) Ek Tha Tiger, released on August 15, made a new record of fastest Rs 100-crore grosser! Yes, Salman Khan’s latest release, made with a budget of Rs 75 crore, has punched the benchmark figure in just five days! This is for the fourth consecutive time that a Salman Khan-starrer movie has grossed the three-digit number. In addition, with the movie hitting that big number, YRF banner has finally made its debut in the elite club.

Also, Ek Tha Tiger has outnumbered all the box-office records till date and has been marked as the biggest Bollywood opener ever with Rs 32.92 crore through ticket sales.

Salman Khan Katrina Kaif-starrer Ek Tha Tiger was released across 3,300 screens in India and 550 overseas. In comparison to its response from the domestic market, this romantic action thriller has performed equally well in the international market, with total box-office collection of around Rs 23 crore from the opening weekend. Reports suggest that 60% of the tickets were booked in advance for the movie’s opening weekend.

Also, with no big releases in the weekend ahead, Ek Tha Tiger is expected to earn more business though ticket sales. And if the movie's box-office collections continues to be constant, then its earnings may hit another benchmark of Rs 200 crore!

However, where ever since its release the movie is seen breaking all box-office records, one needs to see if Ek Tha Tiger can surpass the all time box-office record of Aamir Khan’s 3 idiots - the lone grosser of Rs 200 crore.

The movie:

Like Wanted, Dabanng and Bodyguard; Ek Tha Tiger too is a typical Salman Khan movie, yet with a logical script. The movie is about a mission of a top notch Indian spy with research and analysis wing (RAW)- played by Khan and ofcourse his love interest- played by Katrina Kaif.

The movie brings out a crackling on-screen chemistry between the lead pairs. In addition, for the first time Ek Tha Tiger’s leading lady Katrina Kaif is seen performing great action scenes herself.

Last but not the least, the credit for Ek Tha Tiger's extraordinary success also goes to its director Kabir Khan. Because it is for him that the movie could be considered as a ‘cogent’ Salman Khan film.

With all well choreographed actions sequences, new foreign locales, good music and a decent storyline, this Salman Khan & Katrina Kaif-starrer is a good masala entertainer. The movie is definitely a must watch for a hardcore Salman Khan fan. And even for an average cine-goer, Ek Tha Tiger is a decent catch.

Source: http://www.yourmoneysite.com/news/2012/aug/salman-khans-ek-tha-tiger-marks-biggest-bollywood-opening-to-hit-rs-200-cr.html

‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ multiplies gains to nearly five times production cost

2012-08-15T19:08:00.002-07:00

Arundhati Konar, YourMoneySite

‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, considered as a new wave of cinema in Bollywood, has brought double joy for its cast and crew. The sequel to the movie, released on Wednesday, August 8, might have not garnered as much as its prequel, yet is an out-an-out box-office hit.

Gangs of Wasseypur (GoW), made in a budget of Rs 18.40 crore (i.e. part 1 & 2 made in Rs 9.20 crore each), is one such movie which earned good response from both- critics as well as audiences. Where the movie’s first part, released on July 22, grossed Rs 27.62 crore; i.e. triple its production cost , on the other hand, its sequel, added more cream to the cake by earning Rs 16.50 crore in just six days.

In addition, with a long weekend ahead, Gangs of Wasseypur – 2 may see minting more money. Before hitting the theatres, GoW was first screened at the Cannes film festival, early this year. While the movie released in theatres was screened in two parts, the one showed during Cannes was the original five-hour long version.

Gangs of Wasseypur, co-written and produced by Anurag Kashyap, revolves around politics, crime and vengeance. The movie has a huge star cast consisting of ace actors like Manoj Bajpai, Piyush Mishra, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Richa Chadda among many others.

Source: http://www.yourmoneysite.com/news/2012/aug/gangs-of-wasseypur-multiplies-gains-to-nearly-five-times-production-cost.html

Mumbai to get its most expensive skywalk, but when?

2012-08-13T03:50:00.001-07:00

Arundhati Konar, YourMoneySite.com

Remember the Mumbai skywalk at Nana Chowk, which was scheduled for completion by 2009? Well, it’s past three years since the target date and the work is still in progress. Reports suggest that this 510-metre long skywalk at Grant Road will be city’s most expensive and cost as much as Rs 50 crore!

Whether or not this skywalk be of any help to the people of the city, but with the project stepping into its fourth year, it has for sure become a headache for the residents staying nearby. At a time when the country is dwelling with economic problems specially inflation, questions are being raised on the worth of the never-ending construction of this skywalk.

The price of the project which was initially quoted at Rs 38.96 crore rose by 30% to Rs 50.48 crore, thanks to the delay in its construction.

According to reports, the skywalk will be as long as 510 metre and wide as 4 metre. So far, only 248 metre of work has been completed.

Of this whopping amount, cost for provisions for skywalk’s beautification will be Rs 10.8 crore. Reports say that the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Ltd (MSRDC) will be using LED lights and stress bars (specially imported from the United Kingdom) worth Rs 3.8 crore and Rs 7-8 crore respectively for the skywalk. However, authorities seem to have chosen to remain silent on ‘who would bear the cost of the charges for electricity guzzled by the LED lights’. Rather, the officials are glad enough to maintain that ‘they were merely constructing the iconic structure for the MSRDC.’

Sources: http://www.yourmoneysite.com/news/2012/jun/mumbai-to-get-its-most-expensive-skywalk-but-when.html

Sunny Leone-starrer Jism 2’s box-office success reveals society’s duplicity?

2012-08-10T01:39:00.001-07:00

You like it, yet you won’t accept. You will do it, yet you won’t confess. We call this double standard or hypocrisy! The best and the recent example of this can be the latest Bollywood release 'Jism 2'.

Even before the movie could have gone on the floor for shooting, its makers Mahesh Bhatt, Pooja Bhatt, and of course the leading lady- Indo Canadian porn star Sunny Leone, were criticised to the core. While the makers of the movie were criticized for introducing a hard core porn star in commercial cinema...Leon was ridiculed and called unabashed, disrespectful and even shameless.

(pic courtesy: santabanta.com)

The movie’s first look – a poster of a lady covered only in a wet, thin translucent white sheet, became a controversy. Political parties demanded the posters to be pulled down. Reason, it was too explicit and against Indian culture and societal norms. (However, some politician didn't think on the same lines before watching porn during a Parliamentary session!)

The Censor Board of Film Certification (CBFC) refused to certify the film (Jism 2), till the racy scenes in question were edited. (As if this is the first movie ever with intimate scenes for Indian audiences.)

The movie has been in trouble ever since it was spoken about. And today, when Jism 2 is a-week old at the box-office, its makers have all the reasons to smile. The movie, which lacks a good screenplay and is slow paced, is already a hit at the box-office. Jism 2, which was alleged for ‘illegally promoting a porn star’, has brought laurels to Sunny Leon! The movie, which was considered to be unfit for the ‘Indian society’ has garnered nearly Rs 28 crore in just 7 days! Interestingly, a movie with such intense scenes is not a new thing for Indian cine lovers.

Last year too, we had The Dirty Picture, which gave Vidya Balan a new avataar- that of being sensuous and sexy. As a matter of fact, way back in 1993, director Ketan Mehta’s movie Maya Memsaab had made headlines for explicit love making scene between Deepa Sahi and Shah Rukh Khan. While Maya Memsaab marked a new era of film making in Indian cinema, The Dirty Picture fetched Vidya Balan a National Award. And the irony, The Dirty Picture had to face many hurdles before it could be aired on television’s prime time slot.

Definitely, Balan is a much high profile actor than Leone, and me comparing the two might be an objectionable deed for many. However, with no intention of being discourteous to either of the two ladies, what I would like to highlight in either case is that both the movies created brouhaha. Yet, both the movies turned out to be box-office hits!

This makes me wonder, if we are willing to step out of our homes to theaters to experience this kind of cinema, then who is creating the hullabaloo in the name of society? Movies are just a small aspect. Look beyond entertainment industry, be it politics, corporate, education or even general issues, there is always one person with money and/or man power representing the people of India. But is he really our envoy?

Are we uncomfortable making our own norms and standing for the same? Or are we scared of expressing ourselves against the societal norms? May be yes! May be it’s the fear of standing against power that we refuse to come out of our shells. But which way is this attitude leading us to?

Marrying within the Budget

2012-08-06T07:10:00.002-07:00

Arundhati Singh, Dalal Street Investment Journal

Martin Luther had once said, “There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.”

Maybe this is why we want it to be the most memorable moment of our lives. Maybe that’s the reason why people want to celebrate it the best way. Moreover, the Indian wedding has always been quite an elaborate event, which requires meticulous planning and huge amount of funds and in order to make it memorable, most of us often end up spending more.

Therefore, creating a suitable budget for your wedding is as important as deciding on the date. Your planning for ‘the day’ should start much in advance to avoid getting carried away. Planning and sticking to a budget not only facilitates in making you conversant with everything related with the marriage expenses, but will also make you regimented to organise your dream wedding without compromising on your financial future. Now, let’s see how to go about planning that dream wedding.

Early Start

In India, even today most of the weddings are financed by parents of bride and groom. In order to make their children’s wedding grand and memorable, parents don’t hesitate to spend their lifetime savings.

(pic courtesy: fbcutepic.com)

Many parents also start investing and accumulating wealth for their children’s wedding early.

Also, one of the major expenses in Indian weddings is that of jewellery. Hence, we often come across people investing in gold.

Shivprasad Hiremath, who is getting married on 28th November 2010, says: “We have spent less on jewellery as investment in gold had already been made years back.”

Planning Budget

Apart from the investments made in advance, what is the most important part of the entire planning exercise is deciding on the right budget. You need to sit down with your partner and family to decide on how much you want to spend and, most importantly, can afford to spend on your wedding.

While planning on the budget it is important to keep in mind, that your wedding is a beginning of a new life, so you definitely need to keep aside savings for your future.

“This might sound like a war planning, but meticulous planning is very necessary to figure out what is necessary and what is lavish. That helps you stick to your budget. But always remember, it’s not always the cost that matters because it’s one of those once-in-a-life moments that you would cherish forever,” says Shivprasad.

Explaining how he planned for his marriage, Himanish Goswami, says “Secondary research and also lot of planning went into the marriage as we had about three months in hand. Did a bit of market research and discussed with the key stakeholders, and yes, got the priorities laid out first (logistics, etc.)”

Affordability
You need to set your budget before you can narrow down on the expenditures. Once the budget is set, prioritize on what amount of money goes where. Weddings are elaborate affairs that involve multiple parties, high-end attires and good food. Speak to your friends about their weddings. Ask them about the expenses and what, according to them, could have been avoided or been better?

(pic courtesy: webvivah.com)

Shivprasad says, “My family members had done most of the groundwork, which includes getting various quotes from marriage halls, banquet halls, decorators, caterers, photographer and videographer, etc. That made it easy for us to sit together and list out some of the best options according to cost as well as convenience.”

Gargee Wathodkar, who is getting married early next year, says, “While planning for the wedding expenses, preference was given to the necessary expenses, after that the expenses are arranged according to our post-marriage needs and requirements.”

It is important not to plan for an extravagant wedding just to show off. “I think there is no point in spending lakhs on decoration. I don’t personally believe in showing off. We are not getting married to show off our wealth and money to our relatives or guests. In fact, the more we save, the more money we will have to begin our married life. So why waste money on decoration that would last just for a few hours?” says Snehal Naik, fiancée of Shivprasad.

Source of Finance
Once the estimate cost is set, you need to check all your sources of income and whether you need to opt for financing your wedding. If your parents are financing the big day of your life, make sure that they have some saving left for themselves. This is necessary because many parents don’t think twice before spending their lifetime’s earning to make their children’s dream wedding come true. See whether you need to contribute and how much, and if you need to contribute, then decide on the source of income and saving.

Shivprasad has taken a loan against a fixed deposit to finance his wedding.

Timeliness

Time is the major factor in wedding. Remember, your wedding is not the only one in your town. So you need to be fast in making the basic arrangements that of booking venue for the wedding day. Getting late in doing so may cost you bombshell and may also add to your stress level.

Short-listing
It won’t be wrong if an Indian wedding is said to be equivalent to a festive season. Like Diwali, Navratri, etc. weddings in India bring in shopping season. So, after taking care of the venue and menu, and the estimated costs, its time to checklist other expenses like attire, wedding rings and jewellery, invitation cards, etc.

Walk down the street before getting into a store for your final shopping. You may get better or same quality stuff for half the price. In case you are aware of your wedding date well in advance, wait for the festive season, you might get best of deals at best of rates. Shopping during discount season will any day help you not only cut down your costs, but also add some more to your post marriage saving accounts.

Wedding Planner
Wedding planners are professionals who help you arrange your marriage at your budget. There is a myth that only business tycoons and upper middle class families opt for wedding planners or event organizers for the wedding arrangements.

The fact is even with a fixed amount of Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 as service charge your wedding events will be taken care of. All you need to do is stay in touch with your wedding planner and your finances and the rest is taken care of. Wedding planners are highly recommended especially for out of town weddings.

Wedding Insurance
Very few people know about the concept of wedding insurance, and even if they know they really don’t feel the need of taking one. But just in case something goes wrong during your wedding - may be burglary, fire, etc. - then wedding insurance is a big help. It is always wise to be ready for the worst times than be ignorant.

ICICI Lombard and Bajaj Allianz offer wedding insurance. In case of Bajaj Allianz, premium policies range from Rs 3,770 to Rs 14,276 for a sum insured of Rs 20-70 lakh. The policy covers six options that add up to the total policy amount.

For example, the minimum insured amount for cancellation, damage and personal accident each is Rs 2 lakh and above, while the public liability cover is of Rs 10 lakh or more. Which means if you plan to modify your cover by insuring the ceremony only against event cancellation and fire, your premium will reduce as compared to a wide-ranging cover including all six emergencies.

ICICI Lombard’s wedding policy, which comes under their event insurance package, also includes three options: cancellation of the event, material damage and public liability. The premium charged is 0.75-1 per cent of the policy amount.

Some PSU insurers have event insurance policies that also cover weddings. In case of Oriental Insurance, the premiums are anywhere in the range of 1-2 per cent of the sum insured. If you opt for wedding insurance, keep a record of all the bills and expenses of wedding, which your insurer would ask for in case of any mishap.

Prepare For Contingencies
These can never be planned, but that does not mean these will never occur. When you are planning for your wedding you should be ready for shelling some extra pennies for such situations. Hence, it’s always advisable not to blow away all the money you had kept aside for the wedding.

Even if you don’t get into any such situation, the money saved will come in handy.

The Honeymoon
Along with your dream wedding, comes your dream honeymoon. The cost of honeymoon needs to be included in the wedding budget. The cost will depend on the place you wish to go to and the number of days you wish to spend there.

Things To Do And Avoid
People do get tempted to spend more than what they had planned for. Resist the temptation. Financial planning does not help if not followed religiously. Say a no-no to using credit cards for bits and pieces of expenses, as it is difficult to keep a track of the overheads during the hassle of wedding.

Wedding should be a happy and family affair than a status symbol. Before shelling out money, think twice or thrice whether it is really required. Maintain a checklist of all the activities and expenses. This will keep you informed about your budget range. Many times due to the hassles and rush of the event, we lose the track and keep spending which results in our exceeding the budget.

And Live Happily Ever After

(pic courtesy: craftingcreatures.wordpress.com)

If you are determined to plan and be prepared, you can definitely organise your dream wedding and also save a lot for your future. You would definitely not apply for any job without preparation. Similarly, you need to do your homework before stepping into a new life. Once you are married, you may want to look for an apartment, maybe a car, etc. “Keep it short and simple. You can spend lakhs on your wedding but end up feeling tired and drained out at the end of all the celebration. The simpler it is, the less stressful it is. And yes, plan in advance, as a wedding planned well in advance is really soft on your body, soul, and the pocket. Most importantly, save as much as you can,” advises Snehal.

A well-planned and equally well-executed wedding will not only keep you make your dream come true but will also keep you financially secured during married life.

After all, love stories should always end on blissful note, where you will live happily ever after with your prince or princess.

Source: Dalal Street Investment Joural, Dated Nov 2010.

Bollywood memorabilia on sale; Aamir Khan buys items worth Rs 2.38 lakh

2012-08-01T23:53:00.000-07:00

Arundhati Konar, YourMoneySite.com

Money might not get you everything, but it can definitely bring you the owning power, even if it is memories. According to reports, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan went on to spend as much as Rs 88,000 for yesteryear legendry star Shammi Kapoor’s Jacket.

(picture courtesy: buzzintown.com)

As a part of the current 12th Osian’s-Cinefan Film Festival in Delhi, an auction of Bollywood items was held on Tuesday. In what can be called as an exceptional Bollywood memorabilia, the auction had a jacket and a scarf that Shammi Kapoor sported in Junglee, a sweater that he wore in Andaz and his pictures.

Reports suggest Bollywood’s ‘Mr. Perfectionist’ Aamir Khan bought the famous Junglee jacket and five other items for Rs 2.38 lakh.

Other Bollywood memorabilia, items like rights of Kishore Kumar's last recorded film song, hand-painted movie posters of Amitabh Bachchan and late Rajesh Khanna, 45 signed black & white photographic stills of Dev Anand, posters of Pather Panchali designed by Satyajit Ray, Farooque Sheikh’s turquoise silver ring that he adorned in Umrao Jaan, attires of Amjad Khan and Sanjeev Kumar from Shatranj Ke Khiladi and Lagaan cricket bat were among the highlights of the auction.

A paint brush autographed by MF Husain, in addition with some of his sketches for film Gaj Gamini, photographic stills from Aan, Mother India, Dil Diya Dard Liya, Leader, Humraaz, Zanjeer and Aan Milo Sajna and Balraj Sahani's photographs from Garam Hawa were also under the hammer during the auction.

The Osian’s-Cinefan Film Festival auction was an out-and-out success having made sales of Rs 69.55 lakh and with 86% items sold.

The price of memories:

- Kishore Kumar’s last recorded song (three days before his death in 1987) was bought by Gurgaon-based Kingdom of Dreams for Rs 15.6 lakh

- Dev Anand’s 45 signed black & white photographic stills was sold for Rs 4.2 lakh

- Balraj Sahani's photograph from Garam Hawa went for Rs 1 lakh

- Lagaan cricket bat was bought for Rs 1.56 lakh

Source: http://www.yourmoneysite.com/news/2012/aug/aamir-khan-buys-items-worth-rs-238-lakh-in-bollywood-memorabilia-sale.html

Top 10 tourist destinations in Asia none in India

2012-08-01T00:57:00.015-07:00

Arundhati Konar, YourMoneySite.com

Max Muller, a German philologist and orientalist once said, "If we were to look over the whole world to find out the country most richly endowed with all the wealth, power and beauty which nature can bestow- in some parts a veritable paradise on Earth- I should point to India. If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choices gifts- I should point to India."

And for India, its tourism is the third largest foreign exchange earner, accounting for almost 2.5% of the GDP. However, where does it stand among the other tourist attracting countries? The blatant question here is, "what do global statistics on Indian tourism really say?"

(picture courtesy: india-tourism.info)

Listed below are some eye openers. As per the data complied by the United Nations World Tourism organisation (UNWTO), out of a global total of 940 million tourists, the top ten international tourism destinations in 2010 were as below:

Rank

Country

International tourist arrivals (mn)

France

76.80

United States

59.75

China

55.67

Spain

52.68

Italy

43.63

United Kingdom

28.13

Turkey

27.00

Germany

26.88

Malaysia

24.58

Mexico

22.40

In addition, out of the total of almost 204 million tourists to Asia and the Pacific in 2010, the top ten destinations were: China followed by Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Macau, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Australia.

Yes, India does not feature in the top 10 popular destinations in the world or even Asia Pacific!

Despite the abundant natural beauty and vast history, what stops the country to make it among the top tourist destinations? Here's a SWOT analysis.

Strengths & Opportunities: All-in-one: Apart from the much talked about rich culture and arts of the country, India stands strong and probably surpasses many countries in terms of locales within its territory. It is probably among the few nations which experiences all seasons around a year.

(picture courtesy: toursinajmer.com)

India evidently offers multiple choices when it comes to destinations - be it mountains, valleys, beaches, forests, rivers or deserts - name it and you will find it right here! India also provides with one of the greatest adventure tourism assets in the world, in form of Himalayas and its mighty rivers.

Preference services: In order to encourage international tourism, the government has rationalised tax rates in the hospitality sector ( as per foreign trade policy announced in 2006). A similar measure has been taken in the aviation sector as well. India now has low cost airlines, like Jet Airways and Air Sahara flying overseas.

The government of India has also taken care of hassle-free immigration services for the tourists and has passed tourist friendly visa regime. The government has considered strategies for the fast issuance of visas and permits, including electronic visa approaches, and improved processing of arrivals by customs and immigration officials.

Medical Tourism: India, known as the fastest growing economy, stands at par with the developed economies when it comes to medical technology. But when it comes to the fees charged for the same facilities, India surpasses the first world countries on back of affordability. For example, heart surgery in India will cost around $6,000, whereas the same in US will be around $ 30,000. Similarly, the expense for bone marrow transplant in India stands around $26,000 which in US is for $250,000.

Apart from the technologically advanced science and machineries, India is also known for alternative options of medicines. From core of its age old scripts, India has uplifted ayurveda and yoga to an international level. Over the years, the ayurvedic therapies and the magic of yogasana has been one of the main attractions for tourists in India.

Weaknesses & Threats: Lack of marketing: Though the government of India has taken initiatives to incorporate campaigns like Incredible India and Athiti Devo Bhav, the presentation of both lacks the welcoming aspect for tourists. Incredible India as a campaign vey well portrays the art, culture and historic values of the country, but at the same time, it fails to talk about the present India. Tourism is not always about exploring the arts and culture of a country, but also about relaxation, adventure, fun, which sadly the campaign fails to portray.

Lack of genuine information on tourist destinations: Also more access to authentic information on tourist destinations, monuments, directions, etc may make a tourist's visit to the country a more pleasant experience.

Hygiene: On visiting countries like US, United Kingdom, the first thing that an Indian will take notice of is perfect cleanliness. This is because India lacks the hygiene aspect on many accounts. Unlike other measures, cleanliness is one facet that depends more on the civilians than the government of the country.

Security: Amid the rising concerns on terrorism across the globe, India is perhaps one of the most threatened. Bomb blasts, terror attacks on prime cities of the country raise questions on the security of tourists. To add to this, thefts, rapes, cheaters also act as setbacks for the international tourists in the country.

Population: India ranks second in world's population chart. And with higher population India keeps adding to poverty, pollution, frauds, crime rates, etc. On an obvious note, such factors are not welcoming for an outsider, thus hurting the percentage of international tourists visiting the country.

Conclusion: Indian government's tourism policy attempts to position tourism as a major engine of economic growth. The policy paper takes into consideration seven key areas that will drive the country to tourism development. These are: Swagat (welcome), Soochana (information), Suvidha (facilitation), Suraksha (safety), Sahyog (cooperation), Samrachana (infrastructure development) and Safai (cleanliness). While we have seen the central government making procedural changes to make land available for construction of hotels, on some aspects more homework is still required.

Seven tips for a pocket-happy vacation!

2012-07-28T08:37:00.002-07:00

Arundhati Konar, YourMoneySite.com

The scorching hot summer is back! And with most of the schools closing for holidays, it is time for families to plan out a vacation.

However, planning a family holiday is not an easy task. In addition, at a time when the cost of living has risen so much, some might even wonder if it is worth taking a trip at all! Nevertheless, proper research and right planning can not only give you a memorable time with your family, but save vacation expenses by 20% to 40%!

Here are a few ideas that could help you cut down on unnecessary travel expenses -

1) Fix a Budget: First things first! Plan out a preliminary budget for all possible expenses like air/train travel, hotel, transportation, meals and entertainment. This will give, if not exact, at least an approximate amount of your expenses. It is always wise to stay below the planned budget, as you are always left with something in hand for emergency.

2) Get expert help: Try to plan your trips through affiliated travel agencies. Travel agencies have a long list of affordable packages for your dream destinations. Planning your trip through such agencies also cuts down on your headache of booking flights, hotels, domestic travel, etc. If you get a good bargain, then the major part of your trip is taken care by the travel agencies at just a one-time cost! This means, during your trip all you need to take care of is your shopping and choice of locales.

3) Getting tickets at the most economical price: Think before you swipe your card for airfares, because internet fares may not always be the most economical option. They are likely to be very limiting. A few cancellations or changes can ruin your plans of saving that extra cash.

Do not restrict your time and dates for departure and return flights. The more flexible you are in your flight timings, the more you can save. For instance, a flight taking two hours to a destination may charge you more than the one taking three hours for the same distance. Also, peak hour or weekend flights may be more expensive. You may choose to fly early morning or late at night to get better prices.

It is always advisable to double-check all trip details, like dates, times, services, etc., before booking tickets. Avoid making ticket changes because you lose to the government (tax) even on the refundable amount.

4) Ground Transportation: One of the major expenses during an outstation trip includes ground transportation. To cut down on this part of your expense, you can opt of a rental car together with other passengers, or can take a multi-passenger shuttle or taxi. These types of transportation might be cheaper and faster.

If you have your itinerary in place, you can plan to visit the locales close to each other in the same outing. Options like bus, locals and metros also prove to be cheaper and faster in terms of ground travelling.

5) Hotel Booking: Before you book for hotels, look for online discounts and offers. Be flexible with your hotel preferences. When you can do with mid-range hotel, would it be wise spending on first-tier hotels when you plan to use it only for retiring after a long day of sight-seeing?

While booking for hotels, try to bargain. It is not uncommon to find lower rate in case of less occupancy.

Save money while travelling too:

- The option of dining at the hotel you have checked-in, is always available. However, there is no harm in trying to check out other options as well. You may have many food chains and restaurants close to your hotel with meals usually better and less expensive than room service. Do not forget to get hold of a local newspaper for any ongoing promotions at nearby restaurants.

- Every time you swipe your card or pay by cash, always cross check your bills (hotel, restaurant, transportation etc.). You can always dispute items you never called for. Even if you have already paid for the item, you can always ask to make the corrections.

Of the wide range of holiday spots available, all you need is to choose one for your family. And with the vacation season on cards, you will get bagful of offers from travel clubs and agencies. Pick the one that suits your pocket the best and pack your bags. Have a happy vacation!

Source: http://www.yourmoneysite.com/news/2012/apr/seven-tips-for-a-pocket-happy-vacation.html

Online pornography business, third only to Google and Facebook!

2012-07-25T22:33:00.000-07:00

Arundhati Konar, YourMoneySite.com

The primary motivation for all things in life is Sex! These pearls of wisdom come from Sigmund Freud, the Father of Psychology himself. In fact, it is interesting to see how big a role sex plays in the economies of the modern world.

When the subject is sex, it automatically arouses interest, irrespective of the person’s age, status or position. And therefore, that’s where the scope to make maximum money arises. Interestingly, in a country like India, where sex debates are still out of comfort zone, people are earning crores of rupees by selling it in name of entertainment! So much that a well-known director, Mahesh Bhatt, who has been cashing in on this human instinct, is ready to launch an Indo-Canadian porn star Sunny Leone in his next venture.

Bollywood is well aware of the fact that ‘Sex Sells!’ However, the Indian film industry is just a tiny part in the business world of adult entertainment. What really mints money riding on sex is the internet, which brings significant business to the online porn industry. How big is the online porn market? Much bigger than you may have thought!

According to a research conducted by Onlineschools.org in June 2011, the quantity of internet users accessing pornography materials online is a whopping 43%. And 35% of the total internet users are reported to download pornographic content. The numbers that are discussed ahead might be shocking, but it only proves that online pornography is a money-spinning business!

According to research, the porn industry’s worldwide revenue is estimated to be nearly $97 billion! Of this, 28% comes from China, 27% from South Korea, 21% from Japan and 14% is earned from United States. It is also learnt that in US alone, around $13.6 billion is spent on porn, which is apparently the same amount that the US government spends on its foreign aid.

All over the world, $1,84,500 in spent on porn every minute and 28,258 people view porn every second!

News reports say the largest porn site gets over four billion page views and 350 million unique visits per month! According to the ExtremeTech website, only Google and Facebook surpass this figure in size.

However, what is more alarming is the exposure of online porn to children. Research suggests that the largest consumers of pornography are boys aged 12 to 17 years old. In fact, ‘Sex’ and ‘Porn’ are among the top 5 search terms for kids under 18 years of age. Only 3% of adult websites require age verification. Also, there are 116,000 searches for ‘child pornography’ every day!

If online porn is such a thriving business, then it must be a well paying profession? Certainly! Also, this is one profession, where a woman earns more than a man! The annual salary of a porn actress is reported to be anywhere from $100,000 to $250,000, while the average male porn star can mint around $40,000 annually. Ron Jeremy holds the record for most appearances in adult films.

Take a look at some other research:

- One out of three online pornographic audiences is female
- The average time for watching internet porn is 15 minutes per session
- 10% of porn users admit to being addicted to pornography
- 20% of men admit to watching porn online at work
- There are over 800 million rentals of adult videos across the United States
- It has been frequently known for heterosexual males to perform gay porn for the money; hence the term ‘Gay for Pay’

At the end, it is mainly all about minting money on the basic human instinct. Morally good or bad, one has to admit that the tentacles of the online pornography business now have a far reach; so much that it sometimes turns out to be dangerous for the society! Extremism in anything always harms! How? It is for all of us to realise.

Source: http://www.yourmoneysite.com/news/2012/apr/online-pornography-business-third-only-to-google-and-facebook.html

Education Loan: Borrowing to learn

2012-07-25T03:54:00.005-07:00

Arundhati Singh, Dalal Street Investment Journal

John Lubbock, explaining the importance of education, had once said, “The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn.” The masses today appear to have realized the importance of education which has led to a significant change in the attitude and willingness to pursue education.

But education today costs money, and higher education costs lot of money. The masses have overcome the mental barrier, but the financial barrier is the most formidable challenge which need to be overcome. There was a time when many people had to drop out of college because of challenges they had to face in order to pay the fees for the course of their choice. But times have changed and with the times, different education loan schemes have been made available to enable deserving students to go for higher studies, thereby opening up myriad opportunities for the ambitious lot.

In fact, banks and financial institutions today lure students with many a lucrative schemes offering loans. But which one will suit you the best and which one you should avail needs to be looked at. So let’s see what do the banks and financial institutions have in store for the students

Loans for studying in India and abroad
For studying in India, most of the Indian banks provide a maximum loan of Rs 7 lakh, but some banks also offer loan upto Rs 10 lakh. However, the cost of education varies from institute to the other and also from one nation to another. The courses which might cost you Rs 4 lakh in India may cost Rs 10 lakh or more in USA or UK. Therefore, banks also offer higher loan amount for studying abroad. While some banks maintain a slab of Rs 15 lakh as the upper limit for the loan, some banks also offer loan upto Rs 20 lakh for studying outside India.

Loan Repayment terms
When it comes to repaying loans, banks make it very easy for the borrower by providing comfortable rate of interests. Some banks provide fixed rate of interest, others provide

floating rate of interest, with the latter changing from time to time. Mostly banks allow repaying the loan after completion of courses, as it will be easier to make the payment once you get into a job. Malay Milind, who took a loan of Rs 4 lakh from Allahabad Bank in May 2009, was charged a fixed annual interest of 13 per cent. “I am supposed to repay my loan over a period of 5 to 7 years with provision of grace period of one year after completion of my studies,” says Malay.

Banks often give an option to repay the interest amount on the loan and deferring the payment of the actual loan amount at a reduced interest rate, as in the case of Komal Mehta who took a loan of Rs 3.5 lakh from State Bank of Saurashtra to pursue her MBA in 2005. “I was paying interest on loan during my course at a rate of 10 per cent. When I started paying off my loan, the interest rate was 9 per cent” says Mehta.

Loan eligibility criteria
Each bank may have its own set of eligibility criteria for education loans. Some of the banks may also have bias towards reputed institutes for granting of education loans to students. Hence, the bigger the reputation of the college or educational institution, the higher the possibility of getting a loan and higher the eligibility in terms of loan amount, and vice versa. Shweta Gandhi (name changed on request) says, “I did not have to scout for an education loan for pursuing my MBA in XLRI as SBI had a tie-up with the institute offering easy education loan without any guarantor, just a proof of admission to the college sufficed for my eligibility to the loan.” Gandhi got the loan at a floating rate of interest and the initial interest rate was just 7.5 per cent.

Students from other premier educational institutions such as the IIMs, IITs and some of the prestigious B-schools in India and abroad stand a better chance to get a good deal from banks and financial institutions. Hence, it is important to look at the reputation and credentials of the educational institutions before applying for a loan

Things to remember
Take a loan from a bank located at your place of study than one located where you reside, unless it concerns overseas studies. This is because you will have better access to funds if you take a loan from the place of your study.

Make sure the repayment period starts only after six to twelve months after you begin your working life.

Banks are more likely to give loans for courses where employment prospects are more (as per bank’s own evaluation). Management students are among the top choices for most of the banks. Technology students from the country’s premier institutions can also get student loans from banks and medical and engineering college students.

Choose the best option
With competition brewing up among the banks to rake in more business, there is no dearth of options to finance your studies. But your job is only half done until you have also charted out a robust plan to repay your debts arising out of your education loan.

Source: Dalal Street Investment Journal, Dated May 10-23, 2010