Finance Tips

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year

2008-12-24T00:26:00.000-08:00

Five Tips to Slash Your Home Finance Costs

2008-12-19T01:20:00.000-08:00

It's no wonder that the majority of homeowners dream of one day being able to pay off their home loan and live a life free from the shackles of interest rates, home finance and worries about meeting the monthly mortgage payments because the largest expense the majority of us take on in a lifetime is our mortgage and each month our home finance payments take a substantial chunk out of our take home pay.

Just think what you could do with all the extra money you would have spare if you didn't have to meet your mortgage each month! Interested? Well, here are five steps that you could take today to substantially slash your mortgage repayments and the overall cost of your home loan and even speed up your rate of repayment so that the day when you've paid off your home finance and are free to live the life you want comes that much sooner.

Step One - Demand Better Service!

As a loyal customer of your mortgage lender isn't it about time you were rewarded for your financial commitment, for making your regular payments and for being a good, long term customer?

Well, you can rest assured your mortgage lender will not reward you unless you ask for a better deal on your mortgage!

So get on the phone, call up your lender, ask to speak to someone in customer services or the customer retention department and explain that you're looking around for a better mortgage deal. Ask them for an evaluation of how much you have left to pay so that you can give it to any one of the hundreds of other mortgage lenders out there all willing to give you a better deal.

If you are indeed a valued customer you should receive favourable feedback to your demands and receive details of better offers currently available to you from your current lender.

Remember, if you don't ask you don't get and be adamant about what you want!

Step Two - Shop Around.

If step one doesn't get you the deal you deserve, shop around. There really are well in excess of a hundred lenders out there all seeking new customers who will offer you incentives to take up their mortgage product.

Use the internet to get an idea of rates being offered and special deals available to you. Do remember that lenders will do everything they can to make their deal seem like the most attractive one available and do everything within their power to attract new customers so you need to be shrewd.

Look for any hidden charges or tie in clauses and make sure you evaluate products offered on a like for like basis taking into account all the features of the mortgage offers available.

Step Three - Call in the Cavalry.

Well, not the cavalry exactly but expert assistance in the form of a licensed and regulated fee free independent mortgage broker. In the UK these guys are now regulated by the Financial Services Authority and in the US they should come under the scope of The Responsible Lending Act.

As independent brokers they have access to and understanding of every single mortgage product available and they should be best placed to assist you find a better deal than the one you have now where your repayments will be less, your interest rate will be lower and the amount you repay over the entire duration of your loan is reduced.

Make sure your broker is fee free and remunerated by any company you decide to take a mortgage out with. More importantly than this, make sure they are regulated and licensed correctly and if possible ask for professional references or testimonials.

Step Four - Cut Out All Extras

Mortgage lenders are notorious for selling overpriced add-ons such as life insurance, home insurance, contents insurance, income protection cover...all these insurances have their value of course - but you can bet your bottom dollar that you can every last one of them for a fraction of the price by going directly to an independent insurance house or even seeking the services of an independent financial adviser to find you the best deal available.

You could literally save yourself thousands each year in insurance premiums!

Step Five - Throw Some Money at It

So, you've cut your interest rate down to size, reduced your monthly repayments, maybe received a cash lump sum from a new lender and saved yourself thousands on insurance products - now turn all those savings back into your mortgage and repay early.

Make sure you have it negotiated into your new mortgage contract that you can make early repayment or lump sum annual top ups and get rid of the millstone round your neck, free yourself from your largest financial commitment as soon as possible and save thousands in interest payments and enjoy freedom of life once again!

About the author:

Rhiannon Williamson is a freelance writer whose articles about property investing and emerging real estate markets have appeared in publications around the world. She is currently working on a brand new property investment resource http://www.amberlamb.com/

Written by: Rhiannon Williamson

DON'T LET FINANCES RULE OVER YOUR SELF-ESTEEM

2008-12-08T23:42:00.000-08:00

I know a barber who had the opportunity of buying one of the oldest and best barbershops in his city. He had worked there for a few years, and knew it was a good investment. So, he made arrangements with the owner, and took the plunge.

However, it wasn’t long before he realized he was in serious financial difficulty. Actually, he was in trouble before the purchase of the shop, and the added debt put him in way over his head.

Prior to obtaining the barbershop, this fellow had several bad business ventures. They were all legitimate. Just bad choices! Generally, they all involved selling, in which he was not exactly a shining star. Oh, he did manage to sell a few things such as his house and his car. It was not quite that bad, but almost.

About the same time as the business failures and the purchase of the barbershop, his wife and two daughters were in college. So the debts really began to pile up, as the pressure became intolerable. Also, fatigue set in because of the three jobs he was working so that he could continue to tread water.

The barber/entrepreneur did a couple of things he thought might relieve some immediate pressure. He borrowed on credit cards and from the Internal Revenue Service (by not paying estimated taxes). Eventually everything started to come apart, as the IRS threatened a tax lien.

For lunch one Saturday the barber’s family came to his shop after hours, as they often did. He was so overcome with worry and stress that he verbally threw them out. Then he went home, closed his bedroom door and considered how he might end his life without destroying his family or disappointing his God. As it turned out, only thoughts of God and family keep him from doing the unthinkable.

As you might guess, I know the fellow’s story so well because I’m the fellow. Today, I’m pleased to say that, because I obtained the help I needed emotionally and financially, I’m well on the way to being completely debt free in few years (except for a home mortgage). And, I lead a happier, fuller life than ever. However, I’ve been left with some lessons I’ll never forget.

The first lesson is: “Debt robs a man of his self-respect, and makes him almost despise himself.” (P.T. Barnum). Thus, there’s a need to use credit wisely. Self-esteem is at stake. And, while you might buy things on credit that you can’t afford, because it temporarily lifts your spirits or gives you something to show to others, it’s not worth the shame and loathing when debt becomes overwhelming. Learn to live within your means even if it involves doing without!

The second lesson is how a loss of respect due to financial woes affects one’s attitude toward others. Sherry can always tell when I’m not happy with myself. That’s when I’m unkind to her. I’m the same way with customers. In fact, there’s no telling how much business I ran off while I was drowning financially and emotionally. I could easily have lost both my family and my business.

The third lesson I will pass along is that “…there is more satisfaction in rational saving, than in irrational spending.” (P.T. Barnum). As per the financial advice I received for turning our circumstances around, Sherry and I began a consistent, well-planned investment, retirement program. That, combined with the fact that the barbershop is now paid for, is very satisfying. It’s much more satisfying than new, showy things that we don’t need or can’t afford. I’m no longer interested in a big hat. I want the cattle!

Lesson number four is to learn from others. Experience (the school of hard knocks) is a great teacher, but not the best. That’s because much of its value is lost in the time it takes to learn the lessons. Time-tested principles are the best teachers, and they can be discovered in writings, seminars, counseling and advice from those who have been there.

Yet, it still takes time to learn these things. And, as John Wayne said, “We’re burnin’ daylight.”

BARBER-OSOPHY (www.barber-osophy.com) : Control your money or it will control you.

Copyright 2004, Sumerlin Enterprises.

About the Author

Terry L. Sumerlin, known as the Barber-osopher, is the author of "Barber-osophy," is a columnist for the San Antonio Business Journal and speaks nationally as a humorist/motivational speaker.

Written by: Terry L. Sumerlin

Six Ways Under Your Nose To Finance Your Home Business

2008-12-01T01:18:00.000-08:00

There are lots of ways to get additional capital to expand a home-based business. But before you look outside for financing, leaving the decision about your company’s progress and merits to someone else, consider these six ways under your nose to finance your home-based business:

Personal Savings

Savings are easy to tap and involve no paperwork.

The negatives: if you use the money in your business, it eats into your safety reserve and is no longer there for emergencies. It diverts funds from a very low risk investment to a high one.

Whole-Life Insurance

Whole life policies accumulate tax-deferred cash value that you can tap for your business. But the only way you can tap this cash without paying taxes is to borrow against your policy. As long as you keep your policy intact and pay premiums when due, loans remain tax-free.

The negatives: you will be converting a low risk investment into a high one; if you decide to terminate your policy or if you default on repaying your loan, taxes will be due on all cash value accumulated under the policy; if you die before your loan is repaid, any distributions to your beneficiaries will be reduced by the amount of your outstanding loan.

A Loan from Your 401-K Plan

You can borrow up to $ 50,000 of the money you have saved under many 401-K plans. There are no credit checks. Interest is usually a percentage point or two above the prime rate and the interest that you pay back to the plan will be tax-deferred to the plan. Most loans are repayable out of salary deductions over five years.

The negatives: you will have less money invested toward retirement; the dollars used to repay the loan will be after-tax dollars withheld from your paycheck; if you fail to repay the loan, the IRS considers your failure a premature distribution -- you will be charged taxes on the borrowed amount plus you may be assessed a 10% early-withdrawal penalty.

A Home-Equity Loan

These loans do require that you apply and be reasonably credit worthy. You generally can borrow up to 80% or 90% of the equity value of your home. Interest on these loans is generally tax-deductible.

The negatives: you will reduce the equity value of your home by the loan amount; you will be diverting funds from a relatively safe investment to a high risk one; if you default, you put your house at risk of foreclosure. Think very carefully before using this form of financing.

Personal Credit Lines and Credit Cards

They are convenient, versatile forms of financing. You can borrow and re-borrow up to the line limit as needed.

The negatives: you will pay relatively high interest rates-- rates range from 12% to over 18%; the minimum monthly payment on many of these arrangements will repay the outstanding balance within 42 months; it is easy to dig yourself deep into debt using credit lines and credit card debt; high outstanding balances against your line can negatively impact your personal credit rating.

A Margin Loan

You can use margin loans for purposes other than buying additional securities.

Any margin loan will be secured by your equity shares. Rates are often below prime, applying is relatively easy, and these loans have very flexible repayment terms.

Loans are initially limited to 50% of the purchase price of your equity securities. Loan repayments are triggered when the value of your stock falls below the margin limit.

The negatives: Because borrowings are predicated on volatile stock values, a margin loan can be a risky proposition; if you default in repaying, the brokerage firm can sell your securities to satisfy the loan; an untimely sell-off can have a devastating effect on your portfolio and negative tax consequences.

The only safe way to consider a margin loan to finance your home-based business is to limit advances to a relative low ratio of your stock portfolio value – say, 25% or less.

Most of these financing methods are under your control and don’t require business plans or company financials to qualify. Although each of these methods has risks and disadvantages, so do most external methods of financing. Before proceeding with one of these financing methods, carefully consider the potential benefits, risks and consequences. Whatever you decide, it helps to know the options right under your nose.

About The Author

George Parker is a Director and Executive Vice President of Leasing Technologies International, Inc. (“LTI”). He is responsible for overseeing the company's marketing and financing efforts. One of the co-founders of LTI, Mr. Parker has been involved in secured lending and equipment financing for over twenty years. Mr. Parker is an industry leader, frequent panelist and author of several articles pertaining to equipment financing.

Headquartered in Wilton, CT, LTI is a leasing firm specializing nationally in direct equipment financing and vendor leasing programs for emerging growth and later-stage, venture capital backed companies. More information about LTI is available at http://www.ltileasing.com.

gpmail129-groups@yahoo.com

Written by: George A. Parker

Stress Management Tip - Take Control of your Finances

2008-11-25T23:20:00.000-08:00

Financial worries can add to the stress levels of individuals. For many families it can become one of the biggest sources of disagreements and tension. The most common financial concern is that the money coming in never ever seems to match the money going out. The most obvious way to address this is by taking control of your finances. This is easier said than done.

An important thing to remember about financial concerns is that it should be resolved before it becomes severe. The longer you procrastinate over resolving the issue, the worse it becomes, and the more stressed you become. Another important element is acknowledging that controlling your finances is more than simply just getting control of your money. It involves changing your habits both in your thinking and spending, as well as your short and long term financial goals.

Financial management and control revolves around one very basic concept: Spend Less, Save More. Start spending less by setting up a family budget, that is, agree on a figure that you will not spend over for a specific period say per week or month. To track how you are going, keep a record of all your expenditure items. As a receipt comes in log it. You may even decide to categorize it so you know where it came from, for example, Groceries, Insurance and Rates, Dining and Entertainment, etc. The use of a spreadsheet package such MS Excel is a very useful tool that can help maintain a list of items you have spent as well as compute on the fly your current expenditure total for the month. By keeping track of what you are spending money on, you will be able to assess areas that need improvement and examine ways to save money on the items purchased.

A financial budget is just the first step to controlling your finances. Other things to consider include changing your lifestyle. For example you may reduce the times you go out to dinner, save on petrol by car pooling or take cheaper vacations. Also stop purchasing big ticket items that are rarely used, such as things for hobbies that you have not taken up or expensive toys that are never used. It is important to review your lifestyle to assess whether it is within your earning potential.

Set short and long term goals that work towards decreasing your debt. Put aside a specific amount each month towards reducing your loans, not just paying the minimum amount each month but adding enough to make a significant debt reduction over a year.

Finally it actually helps if you look at a bad financial situation as a war. It is you and your family against the debt. You must work together as a team, communicating, planning and analysing your ongoing financial situation. In severe cases, it might be helpful to engage the services of a financial consultant. What ever you do and however you tackle the problem, the most important thing to remember is to work together.

About the Author

David Tomaselli is the creator of the Wholistic Development Exchange, a web site where you can access frequently updated Stress Management Tips, Free E-Books and Products.

Written by: David Tomaselli

How to Finance a Business

2008-11-24T00:12:00.000-08:00

How to finance a business is one of the main concerns that every new business person has to resolve. There are two main ways of financing a business, equity financing and debt financing.

The majority of start-up or small businesses use limited equity financing. As with debt financing, additional equity often comes from non-professional investors such as friends, relatives or colleagues.

However, the most common source of professional equity funding comes from venture capitalists. These are institutional risk takers and may be groups of wealthy individuals or major financial institutions. Most specialise in one or a few closely related industries.

Venture capitalists are often seen as deep-pocketed financial benefactors looking for start-ups in which to invest their money, but they most often prefer three-to-five-year old companies with the potential to become major regional or national concerns which will return higher-than-average profits. Venture capitalists may scrutinise thousands of potential investments each year but only invest in a few.

Different venture capitalists have different approaches to management of the business in which they invest. They generally prefer to influence a business passively, but will react when a business does not perform as expected and may insist on changes in management or strategy. Relinquishing some of the decision-making and some of the potential for profits are the main disadvantages of equity financing.

Banks are one of the most common sources of debt financing. There are many other sources for debt financing including: savings, loans and commercial finance companies. It is also possible to ask for funding from family members, friends or colleagues, especially when the capital requirement is small.

Traditionally, banks have been the major source of small business funding. Their principal role has been as a short-term lender offering demand loans, seasonal lines of credit, and single-purpose loans for machinery and equipment. Banks generally have been reluctant to offer long-term loans to small firms.

In addition to equity considerations, lenders commonly require the borrower's personal guarantees in case of default. This ensures that the borrower has a sufficient personal interest at stake to give paramount attention to the business. For most borrowers this is a necessary evil.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact:

About the Author

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

Written by: John Mussi

Handle Your Personal Finance Easily

2008-11-21T02:32:00.000-08:00

All too often people make the mistake of thinking that they are capable of handling their own finances without any worries at all. However, in most cases people learn rather quickly they cannot handle their own finances without help or assistance from anyone else. However, with some simple tips and advice people can now be assured that they can handle their personal finances quite easily.

College students are usually the worst people at managing their money and they need the most assistance. Some college students are away from home for the first time and they are eager to start spending their money on the various things that they want. Here are some tips that can help these people handle their money better and make it last longer. When you are in college it is very important to make your money stretch as far as it can.

There are some simple rules to personal finance that are intended to help and if used correctly they will lead you on your way to financial comfort and freedom.

You should always put money away for an emergency. The recommended amount of time that you should save money is anywhere between six months to a year. This should be put into an account in which you cannot withdraw money for a specified amount of time or for a specific reason. By having the money in such an account you know it will be there any time you need it.

You should always pay off credit cards that have the highest interest rates first. While doing this you can continue to make the minimum payment on the card that has lower interest rate while paying a little more each month on the higher card.

If you are not sure where you are spending all of your money then it might be a good idea to start keeping a diary of some sort where you record your spending each day. You should record everything that you spend than at the end of the week or month you can sit and determine where you spend the most money and if there are any areas that you can cut out.

While you are trying to save money people sometimes make the mistake of thinking that charging things to a credit card will help them save. This is completely wrong. If you want to save money then you need to stop charging and pay cash whenever you can. The cash may be gone but you don't have to worry about making continuous monthly payments.

Avoid pressure to spend money. IF you do not want to spend the money then don't. That is the simplest of all rules. Do not let others pressure you into spending money unnecessarily.

About the author:

James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest. Read more at www.1st-for-perso nal-finance.info

Written by: James Hunt

Finance is for Everyone

2008-11-19T00:02:00.000-08:00

Money makes the world go round, as they say, and while the whole world is full of those crisp or wilted paper bills it seems that they like to slip right through our hands so quickly.

People who know how to make a dollar or two with ease enter the world of finance, which is the business of managing your money and your other assets. If you've got a bank account, finance is involved.

If you're considering an investment to support your future, you're thinking in terms of finance. Maybe it's on our minds 24/7. After all, we need money to survive, and most of our lives is spent on making it. Not just stockbrokers or bankers or investors, the so-called money-jugglers of society.

The thing is, finance is really for everyone. If you've got money, then you have to involve your brain in the act of finance or money-managing to get the most bang for your buck. Otherwise, you will splurge and you will wonder where in the world the money went.

The best time to start learning about finance is the time you start to receive money. Think about it. When you received a check in the mail from your grandma as your birthday present, weren't you already thinking of what you were going to spend it all on?

That is the essence of finance, although that very act may have been insensible and financially disagreeable; hey, you were just a kid, after all.

Maybe you were a smart kid, one who knew how money goes. Maybe you've stashed it in your secret hiding place. Maybe you started to go into business by selling lemonade (although maybe you drank more than half of it too). Maybe you gave some away to your favorite charity. Yup, that was finance too. We all know better now, don't we?

It hasn't changed much; we go out to make money, we spend some, we save some, until we have enough to make a couple of major purchases such as homes or vacations. Only we know a bit more. And we've understood more of the finance jargon that sometimes rolls on the tongue.

Investments. Assets. Loans. Benefits. Mortgage. Insurance. Knowlege is power, as they say, and knowledge on how to finance will lead you to finance greater amounts of money in the future. So study up. Take finance management classes. Follow the stock market. Listen in on discussions.

Finance also includes self-discipline. Sometimes you have to keep yourself from small pleasures in order to attain the bigger more important things. Finance means that you need to set your priorities straight. Sacrifice may seem like a lot at the moment but the end will justify the means.

Finance is planning ahead. For your future. For your future's future. For your financial safety and stability. Because it is a very difficult thing to get by in this world without the proper resources. It is preparation for the unknown. Managing your finances mean decreasing the number of worry lines on your face.

So if you've got money, if you're planning to make money, or if you're thinking about money, well then, you're thinking about finance. Just keep in mind not just to think about finance, but to think about it wisely, too.

About the author:

James Monahan is the owner and Senior Editor of FinanceWebs.com and writes expert articles about finances.

Written by: James Monahan

Finance Tips

2008-11-18T09:42:00.000-08:00

Here are some useful finance tips to get you started on the right path to your finance success. Knowing how to secure your financial well-being is one of the most important things you'll ever need in life. You don't have to be a genius to do it. You just need to know a few basics, form a plan, and be ready to stick to it. No matter how much or little money you have, the important thing is to educate yourself about your opportunities.

There is no guarantee that you'll make money from investments you make. But if you get the facts about saving and investing and follow through with an intelligent plan, you should be able to gain financial security over the years and enjoy the benefits of managing your money.

No one is born knowing how to save or to invest. Every successful investor starts with the basics. A few people may stumble into financial security - a wealthy relative may die, or a business may take off. For most people however, the only way to attain financial security is to save and invest over a long period of time. Time after time, people of even modest means who begin the journey reach financial security and all that it promises: buying a home, educational opportunities for their children, and a comfortable retirement. If they can do it, so can you.

Your "savings" are usually put into the safest places or products that allow you access to your money at any time such as a savings accounts. But there's a price to pay for security and ready availability. Your money earns less interest as it works for you.

Most smart investors put enough money in a savings product to cover an emergency, like sudden unemployment. Some make sure they have up to six months of their income in savings so that they know it will absolutely be there for them when they need it.

But how "safe" is a savings account if you leave all your money there for a long time, and the interest it earns doesn't keep up with inflation? Let's say you save a pound when it can buy a loaf of bread. But years later when you withdraw that pound plus the interest you earned, it might only be able to buy half a loaf. That is why many people put some of their money in savings, but look to investing so they can earn more over long periods of time, say three years or longer.

You may prefer to invest your money in order to achieve a higher return compared to savings but you should be aware that when you "invest," you have a greater chance of losing your money than when you "save." You could lose your "principal," which is the amount you've invested. That's true even if you purchase your investments through a bank. But when you invest, you also have the opportunity to earn more money than when you save.

All investments involve taking on risk. It's important that you go into any investment in stocks, bonds or mutual funds with a full understanding that you could lose some or all of your money in any one investment.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact:

About the Author

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

Written by: John Mussi

Basic Tips on Personal Finance

2008-11-18T00:53:00.000-08:00

Do you ever wonder where your money goes every month? Does it sometimes seem as though you cannot afford to do things because your financial obligations are holding you back? If you find that you are asking yourself these sorts of questions, perhaps you should take a look at your financial situation and assess whether you are practicing good personal finance management or not. Good personal finance management spends within their income, plan for the future and solve financial problems as they arise. Poor personal finance management pay more, do without and fall behind. If you find yourself in the second category, you can do something about it. You can learn to take charge of your finances by planning your personal finances.

Planning your personal finances doesn't always come naturally, and even if you're just beginning to take your financial matters seriously, then you likely need a few personal finance tips.

Evaluate your current financial situation. One of the most important goals for most people is financial independence. Collect accurate information about your personal financial situation. Calculate your net worth which includes the real estate, saving and retirement accounts, and all other assets. This will help you decide how much money you can set aside for meeting future needs and goals.

A basic personal finance tip is to make a budget. A personal finance budget is information made up of your income and expenses and the more accurate this information is, the more likely you are be able to meet your goals and realize your dreams. A personal finance budget should be made for at most one year at a time and include a list of your monthly expenses.

All expenses must be included. To be sure of that go through all your paid bills, check register and credit card receipts to find expenditures that recur every month and expenditures that happen less frequently. Personal finance budgeting requires some small sacrifices. To be able to make good personal financial decisions and set priorities, you must know where your money is actually going. Start your budget and accomplish your goals.

Get an electronic bill pay. This is a very convenient way to pay your bills. You pay them electronically, by direct withdrawal from your bank account. The transaction is processed immediately. You can even link your bill pay service to your personal finance budget, so that your expenditures are automatically entered in the appropriate category. Personal financial management can be really easy.

Make an investment and finance plan. Now that the fundamental state of your personal financial security has been established, the time has come for the more prosperous part of your personal financial life. You need to make a personal finance plan of what you really want in life that money can buy. Your personal financial plan can be as simple or as detailed as you want it to be. Find out how to finally start to implement this plan and get the money to finance it. This is the long term part of your financial. This journey is the most interesting and exciting part of personal financing you can have toward financial freedom.

You can prepare for a secure personal financial future by following these simple tips. When you take control with your money, you don't have to worry about debt taking control of you.

About the author:

Oyvind Hennum runs the site http://www.financial-freedom-made-simple.com/

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