Finance Roll

When you are applying for a car loan or any form of loan for that matter it is always advisable to seek some kind of loan advice before committing to any one company. You can seek independent loan advice from a specialist company who deals with this or you can seek advice from a finance company. The best finance companies should be able to offer you some form of guidance, therefore take advantage of any expert advice offered before making your final decision.

What should you look for when applying for a loan?

When you are applying for a loan you should consider the following:

- How much you can afford to spend on repayments
- How long do you want to borrow the money for?
- Interest rates
- Are you in a stable job?
- Your credit rating
- Do you have the funds for a deposit?
- Do you have all the required documents?
- Have you factored insurance in to the cost?

You should make sure you have thought about and prepared for everything in the above list before applying for a loan. Therefore if you have not considered everything on the list above, your car dealer should be able to help you and guide you through the process.

What do you need to apply for a car loan?

If you are planning on applying for a car loan, then you are going to need to tick everything off the following list.

- Good Credit
- No CCJ's
- Full time stable employment
- Full UK driver's license
- Proof of address (last three to six months)
- Bank statements (last three to six months)
- Three to six months' payslips
- Registered on Electoral roll
- Address information for past five years

If you don't have any of the above then it is a good idea to acquire them, for example if you don't have sufficient bank statements you can order them from your bank branch or over the phone. If you are not registered on the electoral roll contact your local council and register as soon as possible. Check with credit reference agencies such as Experian to make sure your credit file does not have any adverse information on it. If you have adverse information on your file that is an obvious error you can contact the credit reference agency to enquire about having it removed. Any adverse credit will lead you to get declined and multiple failed credit applications reduce your credit score. Therefore make sure your credit is in good standing before making any kind of finance application. Remember; make sure you take on board any loan advice from the company before you sign on the dotted line.

Identifying your Goal

Often a project begins with a vague statement that goes something like this, "I'm going to buy and renovate a house for $100k". By itself there is nothing wrong with the statement. However, what is lost in translation is exactly how this will happen. Stating the known and unknown specifics early in a project's life cycle can help an investor avoid creating a money pit that becomes a drain on any resource that comes within view of the mail box. When creating a project plan for the purchase and renovation of a new project, investors should seek to be as specific about their goals as possible. A more concise statement might look something like this:

"My purchase and renovation project is to purchase a single family home with at least 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms in the Parkview elementary school district. With a purchase budget of $90k and a renovation budget of $40k. The expected completion of renovation will be 90 days from the date of closing."

Creating a statement in this manner begins to clearly set expectations and shape the methods by which you will make your decisions. It will also provide the framework for the criteria you set for vendors who will be doing the work. Naturally, tighter timelines make for more expensive projects. While limited budgets reduce product and labor options. All of these factors will play a part in quality and timeliness of transitioning from an account receivable to an account payable.

The Theory of Setting Goals

Goal setting on an investment project is just as unique as the property being renovated and the person renovating it. These projects are like snowflakes, each one is different. With that said, there are a number of items that can be "scripted". Many investors tend to prefer to purchase properties in the same general vicinity. This strategy works well when dealing with the administrative processes of obtaining permits, working with vendors, and providing a close proximity when managing multiple projects. Additionally, building strong relationships with vendors provides a level of consistency with the work you can expect as well as with pricing for labor. Utilizing these two simple strategies can go a long way to mitigating costs and delays in your project.

Let's say you are a little loose with the dice and you are willing to roll them on a good deal. In this case you can expect a number of variables to invade your project like an army of ants to a picnic. But that's not to say you shouldn't pursue these projects. High risk tends to lead to great rewards. However, it is important to be specific with your goals, but flexible with your implementation. You will need to pay close attention to the cause-effect relationship between unknown risks and known variables.

How you react to these unknown variables early in the project will impact your decisions down the road. Simply put, higher risk ventures require stricter project statements, and should be broken into several projects that can be dependent on each other or run concurrently. For instance, one of the projects of your rehab project may entail managing the administrative processes of permitting, variances and zoning. The remaining projects will be dependent on the results of the administrative process. On the other hand, the projects for repaving the driveway and fencing the yard may run concurrently based on approved permits in the administrative project. Essentially, the key is to take smaller bites of the total project with the big picture in mind.

Choosing your Team

One more major, but brief point in the planning process relates to choosing vendors and partners. First I will start with partners. I've heard all kinds of stories about partnerships and renovation projects going to Hades in a hand basket. When working with partners it cannot be stressed enough that the partnership be in lock-step about the direction of the project. Otherwise it is INSTANTLY (yes, INSTANTLY) doomed. Even if the goal setting and planning process takes more time to complete, it is better to arrive at a consensus BEFORE cutting checks than after. And like Bubba from the movie Forrest Gump, "That's all Imma say about that".

Working with vendors is a much more fluid operation. Taking bids is the most "efficient" way to get rolling on your project. But as the saying goes "you get what you pay for" in many cases, so the cheapest isn't always the best. Since you have built your plan around your stated goals, you have the foundation for stating your constraints to the vendor and providing them with the criteria required in order to call the project a success. We will discuss this subject more later, but suffice it to say that choosing your vendors using expectations and timelines is a much better method than price alone. Remember, each day that your project is delayed results in money out of your pocket. A good vendor will recognize this, they will work within the constraints you set, or provide alternate timelines that you can make informed decisions on.

Recognizing Risk and Constraints

Finally, identifying constraints exposes the hurdles, troughs, bushes, barbed wire, and landmines you will have to negotiate to arrive at a successful project. I mention this last instead of first not due to lack of importance, but to spike an exclamation point into the planning process. Vendor availability, material availability, financial liquidity, and time management all play a role in the feasibility of a project. Recognition and adjustment to these variables will have a strong impact on the success of your project and on the costs associated with it. Utilizing the planning processes previously mentioned will help provide the insight needed to expose the constraints that will cost you money later in your project.

The easiest way to identify and quantify constraints is to list out activities that you as the investor have little or no control over when or how it is completed. For example, required inspections, connections to municipal utilities, availability of materials and labor are all examples of risk that lead to constraints. You should seek to plan contingencies and prepare for delays due to timing with these types of events. Recognizing outside influences that can impact your project will help keep things on track.

This article looks at a few common and not so common options that you may have available to you for bad credit car loans. It's much easier than many imagine to get approved if you have a job with sufficient income and meet some basic criteria.

One very smart way to go...

Do you own a home? One of the smartest ways to get a great bad credit car loan is to take out a home equity loan. The interest rates are much lower than most bad credit car loan companies charge and the interest is also, drum roll please... tax deductible as mortgage interest. This is one creative and advantageous way of getting the money you need for a car with a secure financing option.

One not so smart way to go...

Buy here, pay here places (those dealerships that you see with signs offering to finance anyone) are popping up everywhere. These are usually small local dealers that have high mileage used cars. They offer to finance anyone that walks through the doors usually, that has a down payment (to cover the cost or a portion of the car) and a job. This is akin to purchasing a vehicle from a pawn shop due to the high interest rates and the pricing (they're betting that you don't look at an used car pricing guide). If you're in a bankruptcy or just have credit that's "tore up from the floor up" then this is an option for getting back on your feet (or off of them).

One not so common option some have...

Local banks (credit unions included) are an option for some if you have an open account with them that is in good standing. Even after a bankruptcy, if you've kept your payments current with a local lender that has treated you well (and you've reciprocated with timely payments) then it's a good idea to check with them first before going elsewhere. You may be surprised what knowing someone can do, too!

One way many are choosing these days...

Online companies that specialize in bad credit car loans and helping people find lenders based on their credit situation/obstacles are some of the best places to look. There are many websites that offer this service, yet you have to be cautious in this day and time to make sure that you're dealing with a good, solid and legitimate company.

No matter where you live in the world, it is the nature of the economy of the world today that a number of jobs are transitional. The availability of jobs is never fixed because companies have to evolve in order to move forward from year to year. The economies of various countries have to roll with the demand in order to meet it and thus must tailor their products and services offered to that. As a result, some workers will consent to act on a temporary basis.

Temporary employment can lead to a job in all kinds of industries, temporary finance jobs for example. It may be that some employees stay a week to fulfil a specific role whereas others stay on for months and make work towards turning their temporary finance job into a permanent position. Although temping is not a common thing in the workplace, it has a valid function today.

If you are looking for an entry point into the finance industry then a temporary finance job may be the way to go. Various corporations and companies have a large number of employees and do not want the hassle of going through the recruitment process every day to fulfil the job roles needed. Temporary finance jobs fulfil the roles for them. Agencies are employed to recruit people to fulfil the temporary finance job roles and then the company will choose to hire individuals from the temporary contracts that individuals are given. Having a temporary finance job is just like trying out for the role in effect.

People from all walks of life and educational backgrounds are competing to get a foot in the door of the financial industry via a temporary finance job. Even those with college degrees in accounting and finance are looking at it as an entry route into the industry. You can choose a specific sector of the industry and work your way in from there. The levels of pay vary but it will give you relevant experience that may lead to something much bigger in the future.

There are several ways to find a temporary finance job. Obviously you could check jobs websites and adverts in the local papers. However, joining an agency may actually work out to be your best option when it comes to applying for a temporary finance job. The industry tends to go through specialist agencies in order to find potential long-term candidates. You can often search an agency's website for a temporary finance job if they assign you a password. There is bound to be something on there for you.

It can be extremely difficult to get into the financial industry [http://www.temporaryjobshelp.com/Temporary_Job_Placement_Agency/] today with competition for highflying jobs and careers being as ruthless as it is at the moment. It can be very difficult to get a foot I the door to begin with. A temporary finance job can get that entry for you. The rest is then up to you. If you make the most of your opportunity then who knows where it may lead

It seems that no one in the Berkeley City administration recognizes the massive failings inherent in the Berkeley FIRST solar plan. However well intentioned the plan was to begin with, the solar industry has been changing too rapidly for anyone to have seen the present coming, and B FIRST arrived DOA.

Clearly, for the past years, solar did not pencil out for any user with a bill under $45 dollars a month. Even when switching to Time of Use billing, the federal tax credit of $2,000 on residential systems kept solar out of reach for conservative power users. But almost to the day that Berkeley rolled out the program, the fed signed the new tax credit, and lifted the residential cap. As of January 1st, residential solar installations will be eligible for a 30% tax credit, a difference of up to $10,000 dollars.

What the B FIRST program officials (and surely anyone who actually takes the bait) don't seem to be aware of, is that the federal government will only allow application of the tax credit to one's actual cost basis in the system. Specifically, to avoid "double dipping," systems purchased with municipal bond funding are ineligible for the tax credit.

So, when purchasing one kilowatt of solar for $10,000 (with $1,900 rebated from PG&E), the B FIRST customer will string $8,100 on a 20 loan, at higher than market rates, with no prepayment option, which hits their tax bill every six months. Anyone else will purchase the same $10,000 worth for $8,100, then receive 30% of that ($2,430) in tax credits. If they're smart, they'll pay down their loan to $5,670. On a 4 kW system, that's $32,300 vs. $22,680.

With the loan fixed on their property tax bill, B FIRST customers will NEVER be able to sell their homes, as any intelligent buyer will run the numbers and see that they'll be buried in taxes. Those wishing to simply get the free ride from the city will pay 50% more for it. That is, if they can get it.

The primary problem with the B FIRST program is that the bond finance doesn't get processed until after PG&E has signed off on the system, and can't be assigned to the contractor. This means that the monies don't come through for at least a month after the project is completed, and the client will have to be trusted to fork them over. The solar installer, who typically contracts for 70% of the project costs up front just to pay for the panels, will need to hold the bag on 20-40-60 thousand dollars for two months after the contract signing.

Ain't gonna happen babe.

Either the installer pool for Berkeley will be limited to megacorporatesolar.com, who can afford to wait two months for their dough, or B FIRST clients will need to finance the system themselves, then pay that finance off with the more expensive B FIRST program. I think the intellectual curve of Berkeley citizenry will preclude that.

The great benefit of the B FIRST program is that it kept everyone in Berkeley waiting all year, so that they can now take advantage of the increased federal tax credit. Outside of that, it's Wake up and smell the Peets, Berkeley!

Jambalaya, Cajun hospitality and great music! This is what will greet every student group upon arrival in New Orleans or N'awlins (as the locals lovingly refer to their city). Being ranked #1 in ten categories in Travel & Leisure Magazine's 2009 "America's Favorite Cities" survey, the people of New Orleans really mean what they say..."Les Bon Temps Rouler!" (Let the Good Times Roll!). Perfectly melding French, African, Spanish, and American cultures, the result is a fun city brimming with educational museums, exciting attractions, Cajun/Creole food, incredible music, unique historical sites and, of course, Mardi Gras.

Food

The food, no matter where you go within the city, will certainly stir your taste buds. From scrumptious shrimp and oyster Po-Boy sandwiches, Jambalaya and Crab Chowder, to melt-in-your-mouth Cajun pulled pork, Muffuletta sandwiches, and seafood Gumbo, the Cajun/Creole flavors will surely please your palate. Make sure you don't forget dessert either! The delectable flavors of New Orleans desserts will meet and exceed your sugar cravings. Try a local favorite, Mississippi Mud Pie, a gooey chocolate filling on top of a crumbly chocolate crust served with vanilla ice cream; or try what New Orleans is famous for, Bananas Foster, created at Brennan's Restaurant. Bread Pudding is another favorite and comes in many different flavors including white chocolate, dark chocolate, banana rum sauce and more.

Favorite restaurants include Café du Monde, a New Orleans signature French café. Make sure to stop by the original location at 800 Decatur Street and watch as fresh beignets and French doughnuts are made. The only thing better than watching them being made though is eating them! Another restaurant, touted as the "Total Cajun Experience" is Michaul's Cajun Restaurant, featuring mouthwatering Cajun/Creole food and live Cajun music performed nightly. For a more formal setting, your group will enjoy Copeland's of New Orleans, where one will experience southern cuisine with an eclectic Cajun flair. In addition, student group favorites include Bubba Gump Shrimp, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, Hard Rock Café, the Steamboat Natchez Dinner Cruise and the Creole Queen Dinner Jazz Cruise.

Attractions/Museums

The French Quarter's most notable streets, Bourbon and Royal, offer student groups a unique architectural view of 18th century New Orleans. Extending 13 blocks from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue, Bourbon Street is mainly known for its party atmosphere and site of the Mardi Gras Parade. With many unique shops, restaurants and clubs, Bourbon Street is a "can't miss" part of your tour. On Royal Street, iron-laced balconies and outdoor patios adorn the street giving student groups a sense of 18th century architectural design, where more shops and restaurants are located.

One of New Orleans' most famous landmarks in the French Quarter isJackson Square. Called "Place d' Armes" until the early 19th century, it was renamed for the Battle of New Orleans hero Andrew Jackson. Jackson Square is surrounded by historic buildings like the St. Louis Cathedral, many Louisiana State Museums and the Upper Pontalba Apartments, the oldest apartment buildings in the country. Your student group can have their picture taken in front of the bronze statue of Andrew Jackson and his horse. Or, to get a great picture of the entire square, take your group to Washington Artillery Park, which overlooks the entire square.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis King of France (the St. Louis Cathedral) is the oldest t Catholic cathedral in continual use in the country. The original structure, built in the early 18th century, was unfortunately destroyed in a fire in 1788. Rebuilt in 1794 and again in the 19th century, the church is now one of the most popular landmarks in New Orleans. Your student group can attend a Mass, explore the church or enjoy free classical concerts that occur frequently in the cathedral.

A visit to New Orleans would not be complete without a visit to Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World, where your group can peek behind the curtain and see Mardi Gras in the making. From concept to completion, the artists of Mardi Gras create and build the parade floats for the annual Mardi Gras celebration in both New Orleans and Universal Studios Florida®. This is truly a world of wonder, creativity and pageantry.

New Orleans offers over 40 museums including historical, art, Mardi Gras, family/children's, nature and religious museums. Some of the more popular museums include:

Old U.S. Mint Museum - Built in 1835, the Old U.S. Mint is the only building in America to have served both as a United States and a Confederate Mint. President Andrew Jackson advocated the Mint's establishment in order to help finance development of the nation's western frontier.

Louisiana's Civil War Museum - Louisiana's Civil War Museum is one of the largest repositories of Confederacy-related artifacts and memorabilia in the United States, in addition to being the oldest continuously operating museum in Louisiana.

The National World War II Museum - This museum is a must-see for history lovers and patriots. Designated by the U.S. Congress as the country's official World War II Museum, powerful images and extraordinary artifacts bring to life the American Spirit of courage, teamwork and sacrifice of the young men and women who won the war and changed the world.

New Orleans Museum of Art - The neo-classical, Beaux Arts-style New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) houses a $200 million collection spanning 4,000 years of art history in 46 galleries.

Ogden Museum of Southern Art - This museum is home to the most comprehensive collection of southern art in the world. Showcasing art encompassing 15 southern states and the District of Columbia, the museum celebrates the art, history and culture of the American south. Named an affiliate of The Smithsonian Institution in 2001, it was the first museum in Louisiana to receive this prestigious designation.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas - Located next to the Mississippi River, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas houses 15,000 sea life creatures, representing nearly 600 species.

Audubon Insectarium - If it walks, crawls or flies, your group will have a good chance to see it on display at the Audubon Insectarium.

Audubon Zoo - The Audubon Zoo is a living outdoor/indoor museum filled with some of the rarest and most beautiful creatures of nature. The Audubon Zoo has 58 acres of animals in their natural habitats. The Zoo consistently ranks among the country's best.

Known as a popular destination for ghost hunters, New Orleans is also famous for its ghost tours, where many above-ground tombs abound. Due to the area's high water table, settlers were unable to bury their loved-one's caskets, so most of the tombs in the city are located above ground. There are many ghost tours you and your student group can tour. Explore one of the 40 cemeteries including the St. Louis Cemetery. Many famous New Orleanians reside in the St. Louis Cemetery including sugar-industry pioneer Etienne Bore, Homer Plessy (of Civil Rights case Plessy v. Ferguson) and Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. A ghost tour of St. Louis Cemetery will provide your group with a hauntingly good time.

Of special note, a Cajun Pride Swamp Boat Tour is always a highlight for student groups. Experiencing the famous Manchac swamp is a highlight of student group itineraries. The tour takes your group back to the early days of Louisiana swamp and bayou explorations. Your group will see swamp creatures like alligators, snakes, many types of birds as well as the Cajun town of Frenier. This unique journey is one that your student group will always remember.

Music

New Orleans is known by many as the birthplace of Jazz and is an ideal destination to enrich your student performance groups' appreciation for jazz as well as many other types of music. It seems that when you walk through the streets of New Orleans, you constantly hear music. There are many musicians who perform throughout the French Quarter as well as other areas including parks, etc. For example, New Orleans Jazz Historical Park gives groups a chance to learn about the rich music history of New Orleans jazz. There are many free concerts and music workshops offered throughout the year, of which your performance ensembles can be a part of.

The Jazz and Heritage Foundation and French Quarter Festivals, Inc. host many free concerts and festivals throughout the year including Satchmo SummerFest, which celebrates the life of New Orleans-born trumpeter Louis Armstrong, the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest, the Congo Square Rhythms Festival, the French Quarter Festival and the Treme Creole Gumbo Festival, among many others.

From April through June, Lafayette Square hosts free concerts from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Many bands perform many different types of music during the 12-week festival period.

If you are a middle school or high school band, orchestra or choir, performance opportunities are numerous throughout New Orleans. Performance sites include Jackson Square, Riverwalk Marketplace, the Creole Queen Dinner Jazz Cruise, the Steamboat Natchez as well as many local cathedrals. Workshops can also be pre-arranged at Loyola University for band, choral and orchestra ensembles.

On a More Serious Note...

Understanding what New Orleans has been through from the tragic events of Hurricane Katrina can be an important part of your student group travel tour. A visit to the 8th or 9th ward will reveal the ongoing rebuilding efforts and will give your students a chance to volunteer, thus embracing the theme of service. There are many opportunities for student groups to assist in these efforts including volunteering at Second Harvest Food Bank, helping to rebuild schools or paint homes, plus more.

Overall, New Orleans is a fun city with an energy that continually buzzes. New Orleans should be at the top of the list when educators are selecting destinations for their student group trip. With the many exciting attractions, historical museums, delectable food, incredible music opportunities, and rebirth projects, New Orleans will entertain your student group like no other city. The magic in New Orleans runs deep. When you leave, the fun and excitement goes with you.

When asked about home business opportunities I always state that the best way to make money, is to rent money and always
make sure that the money you are renting is someone else's! This statement seems ridiculously simple because it is just that
simple.

If you look at it seriously, the individuals that make the most money are NOT the real estate investors (although traditionally they
make more money than most), stock market aficionados, or people that hold certificates of deposits with their banks, but it is
the bankers or money lenders themselves that fund these real estate investors or hold the money for the cd holders. I mean
think abut it, what are they doing? Hey are turning around and lending your money out and making MORE
money off of YOUR money!

Let's look at the big picture for a moment and see where you can place your money: Once we see how to rent the money,
then I will show you how to rent money that's not even yours!

Regular Bank Account 2% interest annually

CD Account 4% interest annually

Stock Market 10% interest annually (If you have a fantastic year)

Real Estate 15-30% interest annually typical

Selling Money 100-600% interest annually

I don't know about you, but 100-600% annually is the type of return that I would like to see on my money. I want to stop here
for a moment and tell you that I am not going to propose that you open a paycheck advance operation or that you open a chain
of pawn shops (although there is some extreme money to be made in these venues). There is a certain way that you want to
go about renting your funds and this will make all the difference in the world when it comes to success and failure.

When first starting out in the money rental business, you will want to take it slow and work only in the areas where your money
is most secure. I have found that real estate is the best avenue for this. What should typically be done is to attend as many
local investor meetings as possible and simply let the word get around that you will lend money for small rehab projects or for
down payment financing. Add to this a few well placed ads in your local weekend thrifty nickel newspaper and you will be ready
to rock and roll. You should never have to advertise again as your name will become one with those individuals looking for quick
cash. When doing these types of deals, you always want to make sure that your investment is secured by the real estate or at
least some form of collateral (in case the person defaults). Most of the time, you can see getting 10-25% for the use of your money
for a two weeks to a month (sometimes a great deal more).

The big question comes in when you say, "Great...I love this concept, but I don't have any money to rent out". I hear this all of the
time and that's where the creativity comes in. The best way to have the money to make you the money is through unsecured lines
of business credit. Whether you have a business or not, whether you have great credit or not, there are ways that you can establish
yourself as a business and obtain lines of credit in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Imagine making 100% return annually on
$500,000 in credit lines? Hmm, let's see...That means that you would be making $500,000 annually using other people's money.
Forget about what you pay for interest, there are ways around that too!

Each and every day I make money showing others people how to make big money with other peoples money
(whew, that was a mouthful). There is no reason why you cannot do the same. It takes creativity, desire and
above all, it takes the know how. Why not give it a shot?

Once you have decided to start a home-based business and know what you are going to offer, you must ask yourself, "Do I have the start-up money to begin and maintain my business until it is profitable?"

According to statistics, it takes on average, 3 to 5 years for a business to be profitable, if you even succeed in making it that far. Also, since this is an average, it could take more or less time to reach this point. Therefore, you must do your due diligence and thoroughly consider what funds you need to start and maintain your business from month to month and what money you are going to need to live on and pay household expenses.

Many people think if they start a business, the people will come. In reality, it rarely happens in this manner. I suggest the best course of action is to start your business part-time while working in your present job so you have the security of a regular paycheck. Once you have built your profits to a sustained level, then and only then, consider leaving your 9 to 5 for your home office.

If you don't have this luxury, you must, even more so, analyze your finances carefully to understand how much of an operating budget you can afford. You must also, in either case, fully research your chosen business to see how feasible it is for profit and growth. Yes, it is great to have a business that you are passionate about but if it is not a sound, profit-making endeavor, you will just be throwing your money out the window. This research will also give you a better idea of what kind of expenses you will have to help you in your financial planning.

If your final calculations do not jive with what you can afford, I suggest you may need to rethink starting your business or consider taking out one of many available home based business loans or grants. Home business financing could be your answer to filling the gap between what you have and need until your profits roll in. Consider talking to your bank or other financial institution or contact the Small Business Administration for more information on what is available in start-up business financing.

It is always best to work with the resources you have available rather than adding to your expenses before even starting your business. However, it is nice to know you have options to help you achieve your dreams.

As we matured into adulthood, the whole process of growing up and making a life of our own entailed a great deal of new responsibility. Let's face it, nobody wants to deal with the chores of daily living, among the most dreaded and overlooked being management of one's finances. We all love money, that's what we all work so hard for, to earn money and save and spend it as we see fit. Unfortunately, earning money also entails keeping track of your expenditures in order to be fully aware of how much money you have to spend, and how much you've socked away for the future or a "rainy day."

Bounced checks can have an adverse effect on your credit score, depending on the reporting policies of the financial institution involved. I think that we can all agree that spending a little time with your calculator and checkbook beats the daylights out of dealing with bounced checks, the not so insignificant fees associated with them and the deleterious effect on your credit rating. You're in our program to get your credit under control and eventually rebuild your credit Balancing your checkbook is fairly easy, especially if you take a few simple steps to streamline the process. Every time you earn money and deposit it in your checking account, write it down in your checkbook ledger. Or if it makes it easier, buy a separate ledger and use that (they're often larger than the one you get with your checkbook). Also take an envelope and set it aside for receipts you get when you use your bank debit card to withdraw funds (or make a purchase) so you can calculate your account balance as accurately as possible.

The same goes for other spending you do. Make a point of writing everything down. If you forget even a single item, it can result in undue time and effort trying to reconstruct these expenses from memory or to purchase the information from your bank. In fact, you might do well to make a habit of saving every receipt, maybe in a shoebox or something like that, so that you always know that between your ledger and your receipts you have everything you need - even if you forgot to record something. But this must become habit or you'll only end up frustrating yourself even more.

At the end of every month, add all your deposits together and record that number in writing. Then you add up all your expenses. Subtract the expenses from the deposits and add that to your beginning balance (or last month's balance). Check your statement to see what fees your bank charged and deduct that and Voila! You have an accurate account balance! Check your figures against your current statement and you might even want to take advantage of your bank's telephone based customer service to confirm your numbers.

If you find no discrepancies, everything is really pretty close if not perfect and you're done - until the following month rolls around. Then spend a few minutes to do it again; you'll be very glad you did... this is time well spent and you will reap the rewards of developing discipline in your financial management methods and philosophy. No surprises in the mail (returned checks), no bounce fees (to your bank and the merchant), and most importantly--no damage to your credit rating.

We cannot emphasize the importance of developing these kinds of good financial management habits.

Before you can improve your bad car credit rating, you must first understand what a credit rating is. This is sometimes called a credit score. A credit rating is a measurement finance companies use to determine your credit worthiness. They access some of this information from Credit Reference Agencies. The rest of the information is gained from the details you completed on your application form.

There are 3 major credit reference agencies used by finance companies in the UK. These are Experian, Equifax and Call Credit. Each time somebody completes a finance application this information is recorded and stored. Providing a finance company agrees to share the payment record information of its customers it can access any information the credit reference agency may hold about you.

The amount of personal information these agencies hold is vast. Such things as electoral roll information, county court judgements, bankruptcy, IVAs, defaults, late payments, missed payments, arrangements, voluntary terminations and even the number of credit searches you have had in any given period. In fact any dealing you have ever had with a finance company is recorded.

The next step is to find out what information these credit reference agencies hold about you. They all offer a 30 day free trial offer which allows you to download your credit report as long as you have a credit card in your name. If you do not have a credit card you will have to pay a small fee to get your credit report.

Once you have your credit report you are well on the way to improve your bad car credit rating. The first place to start is making sure you are listed on the electoral roll. If you are not, download a form from http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or any other site which allows you to download a form.

If you have had a bankruptcy order registered against you at the end of your bankruptcy period, make sure you apply for a Certificate of Satisfaction. You can obtain one from http://www.insolvencyhelpline.co.uk. This is very important because some car finance providers may ask you to prove you have been discharged from your bankruptcy.

If you have any county court judgements or defaults try to satisfy them. If you cannot pay them off in full make arrangements to pay them off. Some car finance companies look more favourably on people who are making an effort to repay their bad credit.

If you know you have a bad car credit rating, do not walk into a dealership and pretend you have a good credit rating. All that happens is you will have numerous credit searches recorded against you in a few days which will have a negative impact on your credit rating. The best advice is to find a reputable bad credit car finance expert who has the full range of products to offer you and is able to arrange your car finance in a professional manner. Allowing you to choose the car you want to buy, at a payment you can afford but in the strictest confidence.

By now, most people have GREEN on their radar. From political campaigns to the daily news, we're hearing more and more every day about why it's important to start preserving as opposed to consuming.

Of course, we can't stop consumption. This isn't the idea. We all need things. We need food, clothing, shelter and we need to enhance our lives with beauty and our personal sense of style. What we can do is make smarter choices. We can re-use things. We can do-it-yourself ... make your own products as opposed to buying chemically enhanced products. We can use or support clean energy to reduce gas costs (Yes, this really DOES make a difference).

But what are the first steps?

For many of us, we want to make the switch, but knowing how to start is the hard part. We like our lives the way they are, and struggle with the idea of change. We don't want a drastically different lifestyle.

The good news is that as going green becomes more popular (and necessary), there are more options that in fact enhance our lives rather than disrupting them. Going green is a gradual, progressive process. There are actions that we can easily take today, and then there are concepts that take a little more work - ideals that we can strive for.

Top 5 things you can do today:

1) Unplug it!

Did you know that "phantom energy" is a major consumer of expensive (for you and the country), non-necessary energy? And that you are most-likely consuming phantom energy right now, as you read this?

Picture your house or apartment before you go to bed at night. You're relaxed, and it's dark outside. Are the lights on? Probably not. But is your cell phone plugged in, even though it's fully charged? Is there a power tool or toaster plugged in that you're not using?

These devices that are plugged in are vampires, consuming energy even when they are turned off.

The biggest energy wasters in homes are cell-phone chargers, digital camera chargers, major appliances and power tool chargers. These devises absorb power whenever they're plugged into an outlet, whether or not the device is charged or connected.

This wasted energy (aka "phantom energy") is a significant percentage of home electricity use (about 5%). If you multiply this across all American households, it adds up to about 65 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. What does that number mean? This phantom energy costs consumers more than $5.8 billion each year. What does that mean for you? It could be costing you hundreds a year - not to mention the effect on the planet.

2) Organic vs. Local food

Most of us have access to organic food in our grocery stores. In some places, it's more accessible than others.The movement to make organic food economical is still in progress. But more and more chain stores are stocking organic food, with affordable prices.

Next time you go grocery shopping, look for the food isle in the grocery store. You might be surprised to find that organic is not always more expensive. Many chain grocery stores are stocking generic organic products.

But perhaps just as importantly is buying local. Do you see that produce stand on your way home from work? Fresh blueberries and zucchini? Has it occurred to you that there aren't any expensive fuel costs in getting that food from its origin to your kitchen, and that most likely local farms don't need to use the harmful pesticides that commercial farmers need to keep produce "Fresh" ? The best option is organic AND local. But if you can't find organic, choose LOCAL. Most likely, they use safer farming practices than commercial farms. Stop at the next produce stand you might otherwise pass by.

3) Smart lighting!

Do you cringe when you see your monthly energy bill, all the while knowing you could do something to reduce your payment not to mention your impact on the planet? But you don't know exactly how. What can you do?

Well, you can buy energy-efficient light bulbs. Not only are they cheaper than their conventional alternatives (check them out at Costco!) but will last 10 times as longer. They will initially cost more but you will save money and not have to buy light bulbs for months longer than their counterparts. Your cost savings? HUGE. Your effect on the planet if enough of us make this choice? PRICELESS.

4) Re-use!

There are so many objects that can be reinvented. Your imagination is the limit. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

* Re-use baby food jars as votive candle holders for a country living look. Remove the labels, of course.

* Re-use egg cartons as seed planters

* Re-use wine bottles as flower vases

* Re-use wine bottles as rolling pins

* Re-use coffee grounds as plant fertilizer

These ideas can spark many more. Use your imagination!

5) Recycle!

Do you recycle? If not, maybe it's because the process seems confusing and time consuming. What do you recycle and what do you throw away? In our busy society, we simply don't have time to separate all our waste - especially when the benefits are often vague and unknown. Did you know that recently, many of the biggest cities in the U.S. have taken this into consideration? They have actually made it much easier on us.

Yeah! Really! In Portland, OR, for instance, all residents are given a huge, closed recycling dumpster that is bigger than their garbage bin.To top it off, residents can combine most everything - except for glass and motor oil - into ONE BIN. We can throw our paper and cottage cheese containers and pop cans into one huge dumpster - no separating. Just put your glass on the side. That's it. Easy right? RIGHT. The Powers-That-Be are starting to recognize that we need a solution to our consumption and waste problem. If you're not recycling, the next time you get your garbage bill, go to their website and check for information on larger bins. If they're not offering them already, believe me, you're not the first person to ask. BE VOCAL.

Do you want more money? Of course you do. Almost everyone could use more money. But how do you get it? You can ask for a raise at work, or you can get a second or third job. Or maybe you can go back to school to learn a skill that will make you more marketable. All of these things are will most likely work but they take time. One thing many people overlook in their quest for greater income is working with what they already have.

I know that doesn't sound like a way to make more money, but the simple fact is that most people are wasteful. They fritter away a lot of the money they make. Have you ever noticed how after a raise at work, you still don't seem to be doing any better? How could this be? It is because you are spending it.

If you could find away to keep more of the money you already have then you will not only have more money now. But when you do make more money, it will have a much greater impact.

Make a Budget.

Yep I said the B-word. It is surprising to me how many people don't have a budget. They may say things like, that is not in my budget, but what they really mean is I don't have enough in the bank for that. I am not going to go into how to make a budget here, but if you don't know how you can read my article on it.

The reason for making a budget is simple. If you don't know what you spend your money on, how can you know where you can cut back. Once you have a an accurate accounting of where you are spending your money, you may find that you are spending it on things you don't really need.

Change your Coffee

A lot of people drink coffee in the morning and throughout the day. And while it doesn't seem to be a big expenditure at $2.00 a cup it can add up quick. Imagine you drink 2 cups of coffee a day. That amounts to about $20 a week or about $80 per month. If you bought a bag a coffee it should last you about 2 weeks depending on how much you drink. A bag of coffee, depending on you brand will cost you about $8. So that is $16 per month. Let's say another $8 per month for milk and sugar ( if you like that). If you bring a reusable cup, most places will refill it for $.99 so that is $10 per week or $40 per month.

By drinking you coffee at home in the morning and using the refill option, you would end up spending about $64 a month for your coffee vs $80. $16 a month is not a huge savings But it is equivalent to a reasonably priced meal at restaurant, or about 4-5 gallons of gas for your car. If you usually get lattes or other things that cost more, then your savings will be more.

Pack a partial lunch.

Let's say you eat lunch out 5 days a week. at about $7.00 a meal, we are talking about $35 dollars a week or $140 per month. If you pack a partial lunch like let's say a drink, some fruit, and some chips then you could eat out but get away with spending let's say $3.00 a day. By bringing your own drink and side dish which should only cost you about $15 a week or $60 per month and spending $3 a meal, $9.00 a week, or $36 month you end up spending $96 a month on your lunches vs $140 a month you save $44 a month. Again not enough to quit you job over but it is equal to about 11-13 gallons of gas which equals a full tank for a lot of people.

Switch to Compact Fluorescents

Check the light bulbs around you house. Do you have incandescent or compact fluorescent? Compact fluorescents use only 25% of the energy of an equivalent incandescent. So that means If you have a 75 watt bulb on for 4 hours a day you have paid for 300 watts of energy whereas if you had a compact fluorescent installed you would have only paid for 75 watts of energy. Your potential savings will depend on how much you pay for electricity and how many light you leave on and for how long.

Turn down the water heater.

How often do you use straight hot water for from the tap? If you are like most people, I think you would answer almost never. Maybe in the kitchen when cooking or washing dishes. If you never use the hot water straight from the tap why are you heating it up so high? you can go to your water heater and turn it down to the level that is comfortable for you to use. This way you save money by not heating water up higher than you need and from not having to use extra cold water to get the temp down to something you can use. The key to remember in this area is anywhere you feel heat coming off the pipes, means you are losing energy and money.

Quit Smoking

Smoking is expensive. One of the quickest ways to save money if you smoke is to quit. If you smoke a half pack a day that is about 3 packs a week or 12 packs a month. At about $5.00 per pack that that is $60 per month in cigarettes. If you quit smoking not only will you save $60 per month, but your health will be better.

If you can't or don't want to quit you could consider rolling your own. You can get enough loose tobacco, papers and filters to roll 300-400 cigarettes for about $30. So by just changing the kind of cigarettes you smoke you can save about $30 per month.

Shop the Dollar Store

Another smart way to save money is hit the dollar store. Almost every community has a dollar store near by. The unfortunate thing is many people don't ever go in them. But just consider. If you can get the same brand of toothpaste for $1.00 that you would normally spend $2.50 for, why are you spending the extra money? I get my disposable razors, Palmolive dish-washing soap, Colgate whitening toothpaste and a variety of other items that I would usually spend $3.00 to $5.00 a piece for.

Watch movies at home

If you can wait a little bit to see the latest movie you can save a lot of money. Most movies cost $8.00 to $9.00 for one adult ticket. For the same price, you can sign up for NetFlix or Blockbuster and watch all the movies you want for $9.00 per month.

Turn off Cable.

With the average cable bill in the $40 range, if you have an internet connected television you can save by signing up for NetFlix and Hulu Plus and get everything you get on cable for about $20 per month. If your bill is higher you save even more.

Keep a Price Book.

Everyone knows someone who just seems to instinctively recognize a good deal. But for most of us it is hard to remember all the different prices at different stores. You can keep a log of prices on items you want at the different stores that way when you see the brand new item on sale for $8.95 at store X you will know whether it is a good deal or not.

Another thing you can do if you have a smartphone is download one of the many shopping apps they have. I uses Shop Savy on my Android Phone. In the store I simply scan the barcode on the product and it checks the web and other nearby stores for the prices. I think the app cost me about $2.00, but using it for one purchase during Christmas enabled me to save $35 on a gift I was going to buy.

Plan your vacations ahead of time.

If you would like to go on vacation summer plan it now. This will enable you to take advantage of early booking discounts and if your vacation time is somewhat flexible, you may be able to save significant money by going during a week that is less expensive.

Shop in a hurry.

First make a list before you shop and then do your shopping when you are pressed for time. If you follow these steps you will find that you end up picking up less impulsive purchases then when you don't have a list and have lots of time to browse the aisles.

Use Rewards Cards.

It seems that every store has a rewards card now. Some are very good, some not so much. I shop at certain stores based on the rewards I can get. For example. I can save about $.50 if I buy my coffee at Target. But if I pay the extra at my local grocery store. They have a rewards program that gives me money back every quarter. Since I shop there a lot anyways, it makes more sense for me to pay the extra money since I am going to be getting some of it back.

Always be sure to read the terms and conditions. Rite-Aid for example has a pretty good program so I signed up and starting buying things there instead of other places. Only to find out that the points reset to zero at the end of the year. I signed up in November so all the purchases I made don't count for me now. I could have bought some of those things at the grocery store that would give me money back.

These are just a few simple ways to save money that you can implement without altering you lifestyle. The great thing about getting in the saving mindset is you start finding more and more ways to save. For me it is a thrill to get something for cheaper than what I normally would have paid for it.

Most owners and entrepreneurs who have been in business for any length of time understand the power of financial leverage. This is especially important for manufacturing companies, which usually require a significant investment in equipment, raw materials and inventory before they can begin generating revenue.

The key to success for most manufacturers is to spend as little out-of-pocket money as possible on these expenses, thus preserving cash flow for the actual operations of the business. When used properly, financial leverage helps manufacturers do just this.

Two particular kinds of leverage can be especially beneficial for manufacturers: factoring and leasing. When used together, factoring and leasing provide a powerful one-two commercial financing punch.

Built on Cash Flow

"All businesses are built on cash flow and leverage, especially manufacturers," says Andrew Kaplan, the president of United Financial Group in Maitland, Fla., which specializes in equipment leasing. "It doesn't make sense for them to use all their cash to pay upfront for something that's going to generate income when they can lease it instead. Also, if they spend all their cash on equipment, there's nothing left over for materials, inventory, payroll, overhead, etc."

With leasing, you make a small down payment and then make monthly payments on the equipment, usually for five years or less. When the lease term is up, you can own the equipment by making a minimal buyout payment (often just one dollar). Also, because a lease is expensed, rather than capitalized, there are tax benefits to leasing compared to buying equipment.

"Leasing helps companies preserve cash and manage it more effectively," adds Steve Fix, a principal with LeaseSource, Inc., in Atlanta, Ga. "We've done equipment leasing for Fortune 500 companies that could write a check for a hundred grand without blinking an eye, but recognize the cash flow benefits leasing provides."

Going Hand in Hand

Like leasing, factoring can be an important cash flow management tool. In the same way that it's usually not smart to lay out cash to buy equipment, it often doesn't make sense to carry your accounts receivable, especially for slow-paying customers that may not pay for 60 to 90 days or longer.

By factoring accounts receivable, businesses accelerate their cash receipts drastically while also outsourcing credit and collections, thus freeing up owners to spend more time concentrating on core competencies. "Factoring and leasing go hand-in-hand," notes Fix.

For a manufacturing company, it might look something like this:

XYZ Manufacturing Co. needs to buy a new CNC machining center in order to take advantage of a new government contract. The cost of the machine is $100,000. While the company does have the cash to purchase this equipment outright, it could lease it instead-say, with a down payment of $5,000, and pay off the balance over the next five years.

At the same time, the company will need to purchase a large amount of raw inventory, prepare their shop for the new machine, and hire another employee to begin the new contract. Like many companies in similar situations, XYZ is "cash poor" but "work wealthy".

In addition, XYZ has outstanding accounts receivable totaling $75,000 from customers that typically pay in 60 to 90 days. By selling these invoices to a factoring company, it would receive up to 90 percent of the outstanding accounts receivable (or more than $67,000) within a matter of days to begin fulfilling its new government contract.

In this example, using factoring and leasing together could help XYZ Manufacturing turn a profitable new opportunity into reality quicker and more precisely than any conventional financing a bank could provide.

"When properly maintained, equipment will still be making money for a business for many years after it has been paid for," says Kaplan. "Every manufacturing business will eventually reach a threshold where it can't grow any more due to a lack of capacity. Factoring and leasing can help companies expand beyond this threshold."

Trucking is a good example of an industry that commonly uses factoring and leasing together, with powerful results. Trucks are usually leased, requiring a small down payment in order to conserve cash, and invoices are usually factored, which accelerates collections and provides the cash needed to keep trucks rolling.

Automatic Cash Flow

The bottom line is that it can be much easier to manage a business financially by using factoring and leasing together, because all you have to do is concentrate on your margin. Your cost to lease and operate a machine is fixed each month, along with your factoring cost, so it's easy to set prices that ensure the level of profitability you desire.

Meanwhile, you've created a scenario in which the business is virtually cash-flowing itself, and you can keep growing as fast as you can sell products. Need to buy a new machine? No problem, lease it. Need to collect receivables faster in order to keep the machine running? No problem, factor them.

In today's fast-paced business environment, where things change on a dime and opportunities often arise with little or no warning, companies must be nimble and flexible. Using factoring and leasing together can provide the powerful one-two commercial financing punch you need to succeed.

Payday loans should be used as a short term loan, that you can use to help you through difficult times when you are short of money. Before taking out a payday loan, you need to know the costs of doing so, this will stop you losing a lot of money in interest rates. In this article, you can have a quick overview of just how a payday loans works. Additional facts and information about the correct use of them and safe business deals will also be tackled in this article.

Definition Of Payday Loans

Payday loans are loans that are normally applied for by people who are in need of some quick cash. Payday loans are there for when you are temporarily short of money and need some for an emergency. The normal time frame for a payday loan is about a couple of weeks. This only applies if you ask to borrow a small amount, like a couple of hundred dollars.

When you apply for a payday loan, you will usually have to write a cheque out for the amount to be borrowed, which also include a fee and interest. This will then have to be left with the lender.

But what will happen you you do not repay your loan on time? Well you can have the loan extended or rolled over, if you wish not to you do not have to repay it all at once. But it should be noted, that if you do not repay it all at once, you will find that your fees keep on accumulating at an alarming rate.

Payday Loans Costs

In general payday loans are quite an expensive way to borrow money. People who do take this route to borrow money pay a annual percentage rate or APR that amounts to an overwhelming percentage. As an example, if you have borrowed $200 to be paid back in two weeks, you can pay a fee of $40 and if you do not repay the borrowed amount and the fees in that time, you may find it very disturbing that you will have pay a ever increasing interest rate. This kind of percentage can be quite alarming, especially for those who are only able to make repayments of a set amount that there budget will allow.

Pitfalls Of Payday Loans

One of the main pitfalls of payday loans is that when you take one out it does not really solve your problems. They can make the problem even worse, this is because of the high interest rate you will be charged. Regardless of what your problem is, the loan company will not really care as long as you make your repayments. Because of the high interest rate you are charged on what you have borrowed, instead of helping you it can very often pull you down.

Although, in an emergency or a time of crisis, payday loans can be very useful. You need to consider all the risks before applying for one. At certain times payday loans do make a lot of sense, especially if you are in desperate need of some quick cash. This would only apply to short term payday loans. There is a total difference with long term payday loans.

Problems will arise, if the cheques you have written out to the loan company bounce. This will appear on your credit file and report. The result? You will find that very few banks are willing to deal with you.

Payday Loan Alternatives

There are plenty of alternatives to payday loans. These are a few:

o Having your own emergency cash or savings fund, but this one is often easier said than done.

o Open a credit card for emergency purposes, again this can be dangerous, as a lot of people will just end up using        the card anyway.

o Get a part time job (but this may take some time and will not be very helpful when a on the spot emergency arises)

o Consider a peer lending service for a better and more honest deal.

To sum up, payday loans are ideal in times of crisis or an emergency, but must only be looked at as a short term solution to get you out of trouble!

Financing your business with a 401k or IRA is a delicate matter, but the reward can easily supersede the risk. If you have the confidence in yourself to make money for your own retirement rather than relying on the stock market, then this is a fantastic option for you.

The procedure for financing your business with retirement savings is a relatively simple procedure, but still requires the services of a number of key professionals.

First, a C corporation needs to be setup, but no stock issued. The reason for a C corporation is because as a non-"natural" entity that your savings account represents, makes it ineligible for certain other types of corporations. A C Corporation also allows for the business not to be tied to your personal income and other assets.

Next, the corporation adopts a profit-sharing retirement plan (401k) that allows 100 percent of the plan assets ascribable to retirement rollovers to be invested in employer stock (which is a bit of an irony since the Enron days). Your previous 401k from a different employer can then be rolled over to the new corporation's 401k plan. The money can come from multiple people or sources, a particular benefit if you and a spouse or business partners are going in on the business; this helps in limiting your risk and can give the business more capital. Though from personal experiences, I wouldn't recommend going in with partners unless you are exceedingly confident in the partnership; you are allowing these people to have some control in the company after all, which represents your retirement money. A spouse, on the other hand, tends to be a great partner, because you theoretically have a shared financial destiny.

Once setup, the company issues all of its shares and transfers it to the profit-sharing plan and receives the cash from the plan. The retirement plan has all the shares in the corporation and the corporation has all the cash. This then allows for the investment into whatever your dream business is.

While this is a simple description of how you can accomplish the business of your dreams using the retirement funds method, you'll really need the help of a CPA and/or a tax attorney to help with all the details. Be sure that these people are very familiar with the Employee Retirement Security Act (ERISA) which is comprised of the laws in regards to employee benefit plans.

Just checking out the newspaper today and reading for fun, my horoscope which read: Usually in order to let something grow, you have to let it go.

It went on to state that this is very true of a relationship now days. Especially when you do everything as a couple together and are staying mired in the minutiae of life certainly can have a stifling effect on that relationship and that you need to indeed give it some space.

Minutiae, from the word minutia...just rolls off the tongue doesn't it.

Talk about being giddy. I don't know if it's from the word minutia, or from my long standing relationship with my spousal unit.

Both can make the hairs stand up on the back of my neck when those exact little things do crop up in a conversation in your married life.

The small, the tiny, the things that most of us do not want to discuss or deal with is what makes minutiae happen when it comes to marriage and especially in marriage and finances.

Just when you think you have a handle on stuff, lo and behold there's a big puddle of minutia just waiting for my big fat feet to step into. Of course it has to take turns with me getting my feet out of my mouth a lot of the time!

But...I digress....

Oh yeah. Minutia...the little things that may or may not mean a lot to your relationship.

However in marriage, finances are never small and dull items. In fact it is very much one of those things that can divide and conquer in a relationship. So watch yourself. Be ever mindful of the things that aren't often said as much as the ones that are barked in anger.

Words can and do hurt when you least expect it.

So, letting things grow in your relationship takes a minutia of toil and trouble and if you do it with double double the effort (double double toil and trouble...yep the witches brew...), you could end up with some very exciting bubbles in your marriage. Like a positive cash flow when your business takes off and you realize that this is going to be the best thing to happen to you since you got married.

You don't spend a lot of time (I hope) living your life by your horoscope when you could actually be out there living you life.

Horoscopes are fun and I do get a chuckle from them from time to time like the one that started this blog post...minutia or minutiae...muh-new-shuh.

It's a little thing I know, but hey...married life is no small feat! Get moving. You have things to do, places to go and people to see. That's my horoscope for you.

When artists get working, it's not all creativity. Any creative professional will tell you that there is a lot of business that goes along with the fun and freedom that come from creating new works of art. Even hobbyists who make art on weekends without any desire to turn their craft into a business understand that being practical is an often overlooked part of the art game. The first practical decision any artist has to make relates to the kind of material that will be used. There are factors such as cost and weight to consider. There are also questions of quantity to consider as well. In this article, you will get some tips about how to choose canvas roll sizes.

First, look at the size of the project you are working on. This is going to help you to think clearly about the amount of materials you will need to purchase. Next, look at the amount of canvas you will be using for your project. Just because you have a huge project with many different parts doesn't mean that each part will require a lot of canvas. Just because a project is small, however, doesn't mean that it won't require a large amount of canvas. In the end, before choosing canvas roll sizes, look at the amount you will need for your project.

Don't forget to purchase a little extra canvas. This is important for flexibility. Even professional artists who work every day of the week sometimes make mistakes. They need to have extra materials sitting around in case a particular technique does not work out correctly. Having a little extra canvas is also good for experimenting before you commit yourself to a certain technique, colour, or style. If the plan for your project changes, a little extra canvas can take some of the stress off. You will have more room to work with. Take your artistic process into consideration when choosing canvas roll sizes.

Finally, don't forget to look at your finances. No artist wants to consider cost, especially when they get rolling on a project. It seems like it would be so much easier to just concentrate on the look and style of your work. The truth is that money restricts what you can do. Make sure you buy only what you can afford. If you don't have enough money to buy the canvas roll sizes you need, you might want to consider testing a less expensive material or weave. Don't sacrifice quality, however, because a strong, attractive canvas can be an important detail of your work.

There is a law all smart people break.

Parkinson's law.

Parkinson's law states that "work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion." It was first coined by C. Northcote Parkinson in the book Parkinson's Law: The Pursuit of Progress.

A common derivation of that is "expenses rise to meet your level of income." Has that happened to you? It happened to me in 1991 and I'm particularly aware that it could happen to me again in 2005.

In 1991 I took my BS in finance and started a carpet cleaning business...like most finance majors, of course! I learned the business for a couple months and was earning a whopping $200-$300 per week working for someone else.

When I left that company and went out on my own, the ad I used FLOODED me with business. I had 15 calls by 10:30AM the day the small ad first ran. The answering service told me every "little old lady in Saratoga was calling".

So almost immediately I went from making $200-$300 a week to making upwards of $1000 per week.
WOW...23 years old and making that much money WORKING FOR MYSELF was great fun...had a great boss!

I don't remember what I spent all the money on other than one of those nationwide pagers but my spending
rose dramatically. But guess what? At $7.95 per room for carpet cleaning it doesn't take a math major to
figure out I was working very hard to earn $1000 a week. So, of course I got tired and lazy and slowed down.
My income level dropped to some level probably near $500 per week but my lifestyle didn't and you can figure
out the rest.

If, while earning $1000 per week I was living like I made $400-$500 per week I would have been sitting pretty...
or whatever the male equivalent of sitting pretty is! :>)

Recently in a workshop I had a woman relate her story. Her husband had been out of work because of injury for
about a year. They had been living on only her income for that time. Before his injury they had been living on two
incomes and usually had just enough money to meet all their expenses.

The injury had her worried. How could they do it on one income?

Somehow, THEY MADE IT. All the bills were paid on time. They didn't take any drastic measures like canceling
the cable or pulling apart the 2-ply toilet tissue to get 2 rolls out of every one.

This gal was amazed and tremendously EXCITED because her husband was going back to work soon and she
was going to be able to put a large chunk of one entire income toward eliminating all their debt using my program.

(Do you have it yet?) Two thousand dollars a month put under your mattress or towards paying off a debt is
$24,000 per year or $120,000 after 5 years.

This family was forced to break Parkinson's law and you see how it dramatically improved their lives. The silver
lining in the cloud.

Don't be forced to break the law...do it voluntarily starting today. If you are a two-income household pretend
that one of the incomes is now gone. If you are a one-income household advertise for a wealthy widow or
widower and then pretend that your income was slashed in half.

Keep track of every penny you spend...write it down...put it in your Quicken, Microsoft Money or any spreadsheet
program...just get it on paper so you can see it.

Be brutal about it and I'll bet you can live on half of what you now make. Take the "missing" half and pile it on
your debt. (you know which debt don't you?)

Break Parkinson's law and you'll never be sorry!

If you haven't had proper training as a real estate investor, you have probably fallen victim to the same perpetrated myths as every other individual who purchases a home and calls himself an investor. A buyer's market rolls around, and you automatically assume you'll have to wait until the seller's market returns to make any money. What you probably don't realize without the prior education is that you can easily make money and still sell your property for a profit, even in a buyer's market.

It's a matter of preparation and creativity that builds profit during a buyer's market. While you may want to invest during this time because you can pick and choose your investments with so many options available. However, to do so, you have to have income from other investment ventures, meaning you have to continue selling. With proper training and the right tactics, this can really be a cinch. Here are some pointers to make buyers come to you even in a seller's market, creating opportunities to work less and make more.

Prepare the home for the market. Make sure the landscaping has been done to present a proper front, and maintain the exterior of the home. On the inside, make sure there is no accrual of dust, dirt, and insects. The clean exterior will attract more buyers, and a clean interior will drive home the interest.

Stage the house. Don't leave an empty shell. While a nice house can sell itself under normal circumstances, you need something warmer and more inviting during a seller's market to sell your property. Staging a home is an easy, inexpensive way to make a potential buyer more comfortable in the atmosphere and more likely to choose your home over another that contains no furnishings or dressings.

Advertise properly. While technology and the internet have made it easy to list real estate for sale online, you need to pack a greater punch to get buyers to take notice of your property during a buyer's market.

Make it easy to buy. If you cater only to the same individuals as the bank, you're selling yourself short and only reaching about a third of the population. By offering seller financing and lease purchase options for your real estate, you are easily reaching the other two thirds of sellers who have money and no credit or vice versa that cannot qualify for a bank loan. Working with what potential buyers do have available to make the purchase of your property will also place you ahead of the competition in a buyer's market.

None of these strategies costs a lot of money, and none of them take much time or effort. However, in a buyer's market, it's essential to have the proper training as a real estate investor to understand the steps to take to continue earning revenue and building your fortune. These tips are just a starting point that can help guide you on your journey in learning to be a true real estate investor.

It's a well known and much debated economic principle that "the rich get richer". When it comes to finances, the rule tends to be that those who already have a certain level of financial liquidity tend to find it tons easier to make even more money. Given that financial institutions and investment houses everywhere are happy to have people with gobs of cash store it on their premises in return for some level of interest compensation, it's easy to see why all of this is sort of, well...true.

As the saying goes, "It takes money to make money". Or at least it's a whole lot easier when that's the case.

And guess what? The exact same principle holds true when it comes to dating and attraction. People who already have lots of MOTOS (Members Of The Opposite Sex) in their lives keep on attracting more.

Now obviously, there's no "First Bank Of Wildly Successful Dating" to invest in. So figuring out why the "rich get richer" in our field of interest is going to take a different train of thought. Here are the Big Three reasons why I think things are the way they are:

1) Confidence Attracts

Once a person has seen some success in attracting MOTOS, then he or she rapidly becomes very comfortable in the notion that he or she TRULY IS attractive. This kind of swagger naturally manufactures that elusive brand of confidence that men and women alike think is irresistible. I mean, once you have actually succeeded at something, there's no use in continuing to doubt your capabilities, right?

2) Options Attract

Every good sales professional knows that people buy on the approval of others. If everyone else seems to be snapping up a commodity of some sort, then it must be good stuff (at least theoretically). If MOTOS are attracted to you, then other MOTOS will see that as a green light to join the crowd.

3) The Less Significant The Risk, The More Risk We Can Tolerate

The financial analogies just keep on rolling, don't they? Well, they keep on making perfect sense in context so why not? Savvy investors have an eagle eye for high returns with minimal risk. In the dating world, if a man or woman already has, say, six or seven MOTOS on his or her "radar screen", he or she may not even care to add any more...unless of course someone comes along who raises the bar. Considering that in such a case one's entire social life does not hang in the proverbial balance if a prospective date happens to prove uninterested (or uninteresting), a person with a lot of dates already is relatively unaffected socially OR emotionally should an approach not pan out. After all, there's already enough "social proof" to go around already when one's Black Book has lots of entries.

Somebody said, "Yeah, yeah McKay. So how do I get there?"

Just like creating wealth out of poverty in the financial world is NOT easy, there is no "magic potion" for wealth creation in the dating world either. But I do have a fascinating concept for you, that if put into practice just might get you on the road to Wild Success.

Back when I was a sales manager for an IT company, I offered my teams something I called "Millionaire Training". Essentially, the trick to BECOMING a millionaire on paper is to become one IN YOUR MIND first. And how exactly do millionaires carry themselves? Well, first of all money is no option. "Financial freedom" means not worrying about making ends meet. A true millionaire is not focused on money. He or she is FREE from that. So a MILLIONAIRE sales person isn't concerned about commission checks. He or she is focused on the customer, doing the job because he or she WANTS to be there. Second, millionaires have NOTHING TO PROVE. Having already achieved great success, they have no need to flaunt their "money" to people. Finally, millionaires understand their fortune and are GRACIOUS to those who are not exactly millionaires themselves just yet.

Most who are TRULY successful financially are particularly charismatic people. After all, the traits outlined in the previous paragraph are INTENSELY attractive. And every single one of these traits translates EXACTLY into how a man or woman who creates WILD ATTRACTION conducts him or herself.

Think about it.

"Dating Millionaires" are not focused on "getting someone"-especially sexually. They lead satisfied lives, and focus on masculinity or femininity instead of a biological sex act. Similarly, they are never NEEDY or CLINGY. Why? They've been FED. They aren't hungry. Finally, people who "get richer" in the dating world are never rude or pushy with anyone. Knowing their intrinsic worth, they conduct themselves with a regal dignity and afford others the same respect.

Does your frame of mind line up with that of a "Dating Millionaire"? If not, what would happen in your life if you visualized belief in your ability to get there? How would your approach to life change?

"Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains." Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712 - 1778) The Social Contract, French political philosopher.

There is no true freedom without financial freedom. There is no financial freedom without financial literacy, financial understanding. We need to be financial literate to be able to gain and keep wealth. Mike Murdock, author, minister, public speaker says, "People who have what you don't have, they know what you don't know."

Little do we understand that we are a slave to the one we are indebted to, be it mortgage, car loan or personal loan... and as long as our main source of income is active income, we are in essence bound (enslaved) to the one we serve (where we exchange our time (and skills) for income).

Financial illiteracy has led many to ruin their business, company and or personal life. Many financial decisions are taken based on assumptions on one's understanding on what income (active and passive income) and expenditure, asset and liability, good and bad debts, opportunity cost and cost of opportunity are and the impact they have in one's personal finance.

Financial illiteracy is the number one reason why most people would skip paying their loan and not be too concerned about it. We lack the understanding of how taking a loan, using credit card, moving too frequently, electoral roll affects the rate that we are charged when we take loan, credit card, mortgage. Financial illiterate person would skip a loan payment of £5, not knowing that eventually this will cost him dearly on other future financial deals.

What we need to understand is we live in a highly organized world, every person has a record (held somewhere electronically) of who he or she is, the financial decisions that one (including those that one is financially tied to) has taken in the past and the consequences thereof. This is what is known as credit record, credit score or credit worthiness.

Unfortunately, most of us do not know how we contribute either positively or negatively towards our credit record and how it affects us daily. This is due to lack of financial understanding otherwise known as financial literacy. We certainly know how to count numbers, but do we really know what counts?

A cash out option is available when there is existing equity in the home. This is important because the lender is able to justify the practice of offering increased funds to the homeowner due to the value of the property. This is because the lender feels as though the security of having the home for collateral does not put them at a high risk for the homeowner defaulting on the loan.

Homeowners who wish to take advantage of a cash out re-finance offered by a lender should inquire as to whether or not the lender offers this type of re-financing. This is important because not all lenders offer this option. It should actually be one of the first questions the homeowner asks when inquiring about re-financing programs. Doing so will save homeowners, who are seeking a cash out re-finance, a great deal of time.

How Can the Cash be Used?

For many homeowners the most appealing aspect of cash out re-financing is that the additional funds can be used for any purpose desired by the homeowner. The homeowner does not even have to offer the lender an explanation of how the additional funds will be used. This is important because once the lender writes the check for the additional funds, he has no concern for how the money is used. This is because the amount of the additional funds is rolled into the re-financed mortgage. The lender simply focuses on the homeowners ability to repay the mortgage and is not concerned with how the homeowner uses the funds which are released in the cash out.

While the purpose of a cash out re-finance does not have to be disclosed to the lender, the homeowner would be wise to use these funds in a judicious manner. This is because the homeowner will be responsible for repaying these funds to the lender. Some of the popular uses for funds collected from cash out re-financing include:

* Undertaking home improvement projects

* Purchasing items for the home

* Taking a dream vacation

* Putting money in a child's tuition fund or

* Purchasing a vehicle

* Starting a small business

All of the reasons listed above are excellent uses of a cash out re-finance option. Homeowners who are considering this type of a re-financing option should also consider whether or not the deductions are tax deductible. Using the cash out option to make home improvements is just one example of a situation where the funds can be tax deductible. Homeowners should consult their tax attorney on the matter to determine whether or not they are able to deduct the interest from the repayment of their re-financing loan.

Cash Out Re-Financing Example

The process of a cash out refinancing option is fairly easy to illustrate with a simple example. Consider a homeowner who purchases a $150,000 with a 7% interest. Now consider the homeowner has already repaid $50000 of the loan and would like to borrow an additional $20,000 to make a rather large purchase or invest in a small business. With this additional funding available the homeowners have the opportunity to use the equity in their home to make their dreams come true. In the example above the homeowner may refinance for a total of $120,000 at a lower interest rate such as 6.25%. This process allow the homeowner to take advantage of the existing equity in their home and also allows the homeowner to qualify for a substantial loan at a rate typically reserved for re-financing or home loans.

The language of finance and banking is almost certainly a universal one, and when enrolling on for an MSc Banking Degree you will encounter incredibly diverse characters and multi-national personalities all with the same ambitions.

The never-ending nature of finance means that there is a continuous demand for post-graduate executives with both theoretical and practical experience of business.

MSc Banking Degrees are largely designed to equip students for a wide range of careers in banks, investment banks, securities firms, portfolio managers, finance departments of industrial and service companies, consultants, central banks, auditors and multinational financial organisations.

With a high number of nationalities represented amongst Banking Degrees the international learning experience adds depth to the student experience as well as worldwide networking opportunities after graduation.

The real-world nature of banking and finance is mirrored in the teaching of MSc Banking Degrees. Interactive lectures and seminars from lecturers with vast industry experience provide the backbone of such courses, with team assignments and workshops providing an insight into the workings of a professional environment.

Tuition fees and living costs must come into consideration when enrolling for an MSc Banking Degree. It must be said, a masters course is a considerable financial outlay and students must be wholly dedicated to their profession in order to get the greatest value out of their degree.

Financial degrees in some of London's most exclusive Business Universities are very competitive in terms of applications despite the fact that admissions are encouraged on a rolling basis. Interested parties should seriously consider applying early in the academic year in readiness for enrollment in the following 12 months.

When money troubles start piling up, you could find that you get a big case of money-based insomnia. It isn't fun. You can be so worried that your money problems follow you through your entire day. You are constantly trying to figure something out. And it is wearing you out.

Believe me on this -- worry never ever solved a money issue. It can actually make you desperate. When you are desperate, you become a target for many schemes and you make bad decisions. I've heard plenty of people say that they don't want to go to jail because they can't pay their bills. This won't happen. It can't happen. It will never happen. Not being able to pay your bills is a bad situation, not a crime.

So you aren't going to starve, go to jail or find yourself out on the streets. So stop worrying about it. And start taking action. You need to set up a certain time every day to specifically work on your situation. This is the time in which you focus on your finances. Grab your calculator, notepad and bills. Sit and start planning.

To start with, an hour is long enough. If you are on a roll, go ahead and work until you reach a stopping point. The key is to not wear yourself out or get frustrated. Start with assessing where your finances are right now. We'll assume that your goal is to pay off debt and free up more monthly spending money.

Make a list of all of your bills. Include your housing, autos, utilities, debts and other expenses. This is how much you have to spend each month. Subtract this from your income and the remainder is what you have to live on -- groceries, gas and other things. Chances are, there is no extra to live on. So start eliminating things from your list of bills. Cancel your satellite television, water softener rental and everything but your utilities, phone, housing and auto.

Now look at your debts. List them in order of highest interest to lowest interest. Write down the interest rate, monthly payment and outstanding balance. Don't skimp on anything -- list it down to the penny. This list will let you see how you are progressing. Every month, you can update it with your balances. You can see them decrease and be eliminated.

Start making a list of actions that you can do to help your situation. The list could look like this:

-Cancel satellite television.
-Put the extra money to paying off credit card #1.
-Sell motorcycle.
-Pay off loan on car.

At the end of each "money session," you should tell yourself okay, that's enough for today. I'll think about it tomorrow. And leave it there. Everyday you can take several steps to completing your list and eliminating your problem. Tell yourself that you have done all you can right now.

Remember, constant worry won't do you any good. Take action and you will find that you can find a way out. And sleep at night.

It started on the fringes with the failure of smaller sub-prime lenders but the problem is now spreading to mainstream banking. Following the recent news of major US investment bank Bear Stern's dramatic emergency rescue, the growing transatlantic credit crisis is threatening to spiral out of control and cause significant disruption to the UK economy.

This latest development should serve as a big wake-up call to many UK consumers, who need to seriously assess how the credit squeeze will affect their personal finances. Confidence in the UK economy had already taken a knock following the near-demise of the Northern Rock, and the latest news out of America can only shake that further.

Now would be an ideal time for many people - especially those with a high proportion of debt - to take stock and honestly assess their financial situation. As the cost of credit could spiral at worst, or will be more difficult to obtain at best, it is particularly important that those already heavily indebted resist the temptation to take on any extra debt.

For many they need to force a radical change to their 'buy now, pay later' mentality if they are to avoid serious financial difficulty in the future. It is also a good time for those worried about the future to review their credit report and take control.

If you are worried about the future you may wish to get a copy of your credit report. Being in possession of your credit report allows you to see what information lenders have recorded against you and how much credit you have outstanding.

You can also check that all information held on your credit record is accurate, including electoral roll information and details displayed in the legal judgements section. Also, if you are no longer financially associated with a person or persons listed in the financial associations section, then notify the credit reference agency as soon as possible.

Everyone can now get a credit report online - some agencies even provide them free of charge - so it's certainly a lot more convenient, not to mention cheaper, than the alternative way of obtaining a credit report: sending £2 in the post and waiting for the report to come back.

If you need to improve your credit rating, then close credit card accounts that you do not use; they will all be listed on your credit report. Lenders tot up the potential amount of credit available to an applicant when they make a risk assessment and ultimately a decision on whether to lend to that individual. So, the more open and unused credit cards that you have, the more potential debt you can also incur.

Unfortunately, there is no crystal ball allowing us to tell the global financial future, but by taking control of your own finances now and cutting out any unnecessary expenditure, at least you can potentially safeguard yourself against your own financial hell.

Introduction: Every business needs money to run. The nature of expenses incurred by the business, decides the type of financing required by it. As an example, payroll expenditure, common to all businesses, is a recurring expenditure, required fortnightly, or monthly, to remunerate the workforce. On the other hand, funds to buy an office building for the business, is required, once in probably several decades. Whereas the former is a short term expenditure requiring short term financing, the latter is a long term one, requiring correspondingly long term financing.
 
There are various sources of finance available to a firm, depending on its needs, as also its eligibility to source such finance. Banks and Financial Institutions are, of course, the major and most widely accessed source of funds.
 
But there are situations, when a firm is either not in a position to access Bank funds on account of various constraints, or it is in such a strong financial position, as to raise funds on more favorable terms by taking the unconventional route of issuing Commercial Paper.
 
Commercial Paper (CP): Commercial Paper is an unsecured, short-term, debt instrument, in the form of a usance promissory note, issued at a discount to face value, to meet short term financing requirements.

Rules regarding the issue and conduct of the Commercial Paper business differ from country to country. However, some of the common features of the CP are that it is unsecured. It is a short-term debt instrument, not over one year in maturity. It is issued at a discount on its face value, i.e., its maturity value is equal to its face value. Higher the creditworthiness of the issuer, lower the discount allowed.

It is meant to raise funds to meet the short term expenses of the firm, like those related to payroll, inventories and the like. It is not meant to be invested in long term asset like land, buildings, plant and machinery etc. However, some firms do use the funds from CP for long term requirements, which is called "bridge-financing", as a stop gap arrangement to long term financing.
 
Who can issue: From the definition of Commercial Paper, as given above, it may be inferred that only highly rated companies and financial institutions can issue CP, as it is unsecured. The investors can only depend upon the creditworthiness of the issuer, and have no other support, like collateral, to fall back on, in case of the issuer's default.
 
Normally, two types of firms may issue CP. One, a firm that does not find the traditional financing methods convenient and or economical. Second, a firm, which, by virtue of its financial standing, and rating, is able to command the most favorable terms for its borrowings. Such firms, instead of approaching financiers, issue their own debt instruments, in the form of CP, as and when required.
 
However, it is also observed that firms, not enjoying the best ratings are also in the fray with this product (CP), with the help of a tie-up with their better rated peers.
 
Benefits of CP to the issuer:

• In many countries, rules regarding the issue and conduct of the Commercial Paper business are quite liberal, and do not attract the normally comprehensive set of regulations, applicable to other debt instruments, like bonds.
• The cost of funds obtained through the CP route is generally less than that from the Banking sector.
• The issuers, being top rated, and with good standing, do not have to provide any collateral to the investors.
• The issuers have the freedom to fix the discount on the face value of the CP, depending on their creditworthiness.
• Issuers can avoid brokers and dealers, by going directly to the investors, and saving on administrative and other costs.
• Issuers have the option to "roll over" their debt, i.e. issue fresh CP to pay off the maturing one.

Summary: To sum up, Commercial Paper is a niche financing option, available to financially sound firms, that has more advantages than disadvantages for the issuing firms.