Author: Chillmaadi Admin

Cutting back on your household budget can be difficult, especially if you have debt or there are a lot of people living in your household. Also, with food and energy prices on the rise, it can be hard knowing where to cut corners and most importantly where you can make the best savings. However, if you follow these five tips, you can be on your way to finding a bit of extra cash in your pocket each month.

Keep on top of your energy bills
Use a price comparison site such as uSwitch which shows you a comprehensive list of all of the current energy tariffs on the market at the moment and suggests the right deal for you. This is one of the easiest ways to save money because you don’t have to do anything other than supply a meter reading. Of course, another way to save on energy costs is to reduce your energy consumption as much as possible. Unplug appliances you aren’t using, use ceiling fans for cooling, and use a programmable thermostat.

Use cashback sites
The two most popular cash back websites Quidco and Top Cashback offer users a percentage of what they spend back, which they can then withdraw and use however they wish. If you’re considering changing energy suppliers, entering a phone contract or anything else that requires a significant spend and a big commitment some companies offer a nice sum in cash back to buy with them. Be aware, though, it takes a while for the sites to pay out and it may be months before you even get a reasonable amount of cash back that you can withdraw to your account. Every little bit helps though!

Assess your debt
Having a huge credit card bill can be challenging to manage, but there are alternatives if you can’t pay it off all in one go. Doing a balance transfer to another credit card with a 0% interest rate won’t make your debt go away, but it will stop it from getting more significant.

Always Shop Around For Insurance
It pays to shop around and get quotes when renewing your home or auto insurance. A few minutes of your time can result in saving a substantial amount. Don’t cut corners by doing away with insurance altogether either. Even if you rent your property, you should invest in home contents insurance to make sure your belongings are protected.

Do Your Grocery Shopping online
If you really can’t control yourself and have to go for all those buy one get one free deal that the supermarkets advertise at the end of every aisle, ordering your groceries online lets you monitor exactly how much money you’re spending, and you’re less likely to impulse buy. Not only this, you’ll save money by not using the gas in your car to drive to the supermarket.

A budget vacation may not always go as per your plan; the chances are that you may go over budget and end up in debt.  Scanning the world-wide-web, you may come across numerous articles and blog posts to help you trim your vacation expenses during the planning and execution phase. In this article, we look at how expenses can be cut down ‘before-the-trip-begins’! Remember to follow them next time you’re out for some fun time:

1. Book your tickets with a travel-friendly credit card

Some credit cards are designed to facilitate travelers by giving away thousands of flyer miles in return for booking tickets using those cards. You may not get immediate discounts, but you do save hundreds of dollars in future travel tickets. As always, make sure you pay off your credit card bill before the month ends to avoid interest charges.

2. Book early and carefully

You’ve probably heard this one, millions of times – airline tickets bought early (and off-peak) are less expensive compared to those purchased at the last moment (and during peak seasons). The same rule applies to traveling at night and during weekdays because they are considered off-peak times.

Similarly, trips to famous tourist destinations cost more but are not necessarily better (more scenic or fun) than trips to less popular spots. Sometimes a weekend camping trip to a nearby woodland can be as entertaining as anything else.

Let’s not forget boarding and lodging. A five-star experience may sound fancy, but it damages your wallet pretty nicely. Look around for Bed & Breakfast arrangements, inns, reasonably-priced motels or two or three-star hotels that offer you better value for money.

3. Plan your itinerary before boarding the plane

Once you know where you’ll be heading, surf the web for a few days and decide which activities will keep you busy during your vacation.

• Which museums, parks, galleries, beaches interest you?
• What are the directions and distances?
• What features is the city/town known for?
• Where is the best street food served?
• Where are the cleanest toilets? (This one is pretty high up on my list).

Planning enables you to draw the maximum mileage from your short visit, so you don’t waste precious time thinking of what to explore/visit.

4. Invite others to join your vacation

Traveling alone may sound adventurous, but if you take along a friend or relative, you can split a few costs and enjoy their company too. For instance, if you lease a car to travel to another city, the fuel bill can be divvied up along with the bill for any hotel room you rent for the night.

5. Pack a light suitcase

Airlines often charge a hefty amount for excess baggage (any weight that goes beyond the standard 20 kg limit). You don’t need to carry much when traveling – a few clothes that meet the weather requirements, personal hygiene products (most hotels provide these), any gifts you’re taking for your family and friends, and that’s 80% of the list. Besides saving money, traveling light is just more comfortable, and it leaves enough room in your suitcase to accommodate any holiday shopping you do.

Be sure to measure your luggage before you leave your home to avoid extra charges.

Perhaps you’re considering buying an investment property in South Florida through a unit trust or company structure, or you could simply be wanting to buy land with a view so you can build a house. Either way, you’ve thought about investing into a property and in an ever changing buying and investment market there is always more to learn. If you happen to be looking at buying an asset such as an investment property for extra passive income or a potential tax benefit then you are on your way to a good start by doing research on investment properties first. It doesn’t make a difference on whether you are a brand new to properties investment or if you already own significant real estate and have a portfolio, the more you know about investing, the smarter you are about buying.

What makes property investments so special is that they are highly leveraged, by using leverage with not many funds available you can potentially magnify your return greatly.

The ‘right’ investment loan depends on an individuals financial goals. There are several different borrowing options and strategies available for an investment property loans provider in South Florida.

The issue with assessing a range of possibilities and opportunities is simply dealing with the large number of different outcomes. Understanding your own needs before starting your venture and working with a good finance broker can come in handy. Although each project has unique financial needs, it’s not hard to understand the simple fact that some products on the market have better features or a bigger variety of features than others. Some loans you’ll find will offer large amounts of perks and benefits, if the loan is cheap; banks are making their money through those perks. On the other hand, some loans are cheaper than others and don’t offer the amount of perks. If you have the time to combine these two ideas and look at all of the loans with the most features that have a good price range you should head over to https://www.investmentproperty.loans/.

One of the biggest challenge families face today are the conciliation of their job with their family obligations. We are not in the 50′s or 60′s anymore where the man provided the income for the entire family while the woman stayed at home to raise children and work on the household tasks. The economic factors has changed a lot since then and one income is not enough for the majority of American families. In today’s families, the mom and the dad have to go to work to support the cost of living, and it becomes a real race for the parents to manage the family tasks from the moment you put a foot out of the bed till you go back to sleep in the evening. Children to feed, dress, drive to school or daycare center, go to work, comeback on time before 5:00 PM (because most daycare centers closes), eat dinner, help children to do their school homework, bath time, put them to sleep, then maybe get a rest if there are no more household tasks to do. You see the big picture? In these different economic times we have no choice but to have two or multiple incomes to secure the future of the family.

New moms… get back to work

The point we want to emphasize in this article is the painful moment where the new mom has to go back to work. You went through pregnancy, gave birth to your baby and pass the last 6 to 12 months with your baby but now you have to put him in a daycare center so you can go back to work to bring back that second income. How do you feel about that? Many of you are probably happy to take back your respective career, and that’s very good. But I know that millions of moms would like to stay home with their little darling. Well, have you ever consider working from home?

Two Types of income exist: linear income and residual income

Linear income means trading your time for money. You work on a time basis. If you stop working, you stop being paid. Residual income or recurring income means being paid forever for a work you have done once. No matter what can of income you want, it is possible for moms to stay home and find a work that best suit your needs.

What kind of jobs can you do? Here is a list of simple ideas you could start with. We will not go deeper into everyone of them as we just want to give you a place to start. You can do your own research easily and gather the information on the one you prefer.

Internet Business – Most people will use the internet to create their home jobs. Earning residual income from affiliate programs is one of the most popular. Companies pay you for referring their products and services. If you google affiliate programs, you will find tons of information about the subject and how to start a home business on the internet.

Start a Childcare Referral Services – Thousands of parents need trustable childcare services. Many of them don’t know where to look or don’t have the time to search for the best one for their children. That’s where you could step in.

Start a Home Laundry Business – Take a look at your colleagues, neighbors, friends. How many of them are running after the clock. Maybe you could start a home laundry business and find many potential customers that need to unload their household tasks. You could easily earn a 100 dollars a day in short period of time.

Earn a Living With Your Writing – If you like to write, you could easily earn some good income writing for others. Many people need content for their websites but don’t have the time to write, so they outsource their works to others. A site like elance.com, gather the two parties. As a writer, you can find or submit to people who are looking for you.

Whether you are a small business or a big business, the importance of having business insurance is just as important as any other aspect of your company you are in. There are all types of business insurance policies available that any business should consider adding to their portfolio. Not only can these types of business insurance protect you and your company from unforeseen problems, but can also help offset any costs associated with problems that may occur.

Finding the best business insurance quotes depends on the insurance you are shopping for and how much coverage you will need for that particular policy. Many businesses need some kind of Worker’s Compensation insurance. Other businesses might need quotes for Business Auto insurance policies. Business Property insurance could be advisable for any business where people could get injured on the grounds where they are located. There is also Employment Practices insurance, Commercial General Liability insurance, as well as business insurance for Bonds. There are many things to consider for any business when deciding if one or all of these insurances can be beneficial to them.

This insurance is meant to help owners be able to keep the business intact even after the occurrence of an unfortunate event. There is nothing more frustrating, especially to a small business owner, than having to close up shop because of losing a battle in the court room. To know more about Insurance and its benefits you can read more here.

Small business owners beware

As a small business owner you don’t want to work hard for your business to get where you can be happy with it only to lose it because of some unfortunate event that you could have had protection against. Business insurance can help protect you and your business from financial ruin, as well as make you feel comfortable about not losing everything you worked so hard to build.

There are three types of insurance recommended for small business owners.

1. Workers compensation is now required by law for any business employing more than one person. It is also highly recommended that small business owners retain some form of
2. Liability and
3. Property insurance

While bigger companies may be able to handle some kind of lawsuit, getting sued as a small business could put an end to the business as a whole. Deciding against these types of insurance, especially in a society where people are more eager to sue than ever, could have dire consequences should a lawsuit come out unfavorable for the small business owner. In addition to workmen’s compensation, most businesses should consider some kind of liability and property insurance to protect themselves and their property.

Small business property insurance that can be purchased covers you in case of fire or other catastrophic occurrence. You will also be covered for any expenses to move an object to protect it from further damage. There are three ways to determine what amount the property insurance will cover. It can be based on an agreed upon amount, the replacement value, or the property’s actual cash value. The agreed upon amount usually applies to unique property such as artwork. The replacement value is determined by the cost of replacing an item, with no depreciation being allowed on the property. The actual cash value is the replacement cost minus the depreciation.

According to the Hartford’s “Business Owner’s Handbook” there are over 15 things any small business should have insurance for. Among these are your buildings and structures, leased equipment, inventory, and furniture. The rest are pretty much made up of everything that is used in a business. Don’t forget whatever you use to help your business needs to be insured or you could run the risk of having to start your business all over again. There are more affordable plans becoming available all the time, so check out some free quotes while you are here. It might just be worth your time.

Take an account of all the things you use in your business, and then come to a value on each. Depending on the amount you come out with you need to be sure there will be enough insurance coverage to replace those items if needed. Business owners who rent should be aware that their equipment by not be covered, no matter how good their landlord’s insurance may be. Make sure you don’t lose your livelihood because you thought someone else had it covered. Get a free business quote now and see what could be the best decision you’ve made.

Small Business Coverage Can Be Found

There are companies that actually specialize in small business coverage, and you can find them here at (GGGGGG). Some policies you will find can cover you if you also own the building or if the building you are in is destroyed. You can even be insured for damaged landscaping or any signs that you use for your business. Always keep these things at the forefront of any discussions about business insurance because many are not standard, so be sure to know exactly what your covered for so there will be no surprises. You don’t want to lose your tools in a storm and then be told they weren’t part of the policy. Be sure you cover what you need, because there will be insurance that could be worth the investment down the road.

The companies are not hard to find, and instead of chasing them have them chasing you.

Do I Need Liability Insurance?

Don’t lose everything because your business is being sued. You can protect your assets with liability insurance. Sometimes people sue businesses without even having a case. This insurance will cover your legal fees to defend yourself and your company against any fraudulent accusations. There are certain things liability insurance won’t normally cover, such as sexual harassment or wrongful termination cases, but this insurance can be purchased to include these options as well.

Specialized Liability Policies

1. Business Identity Theft
2. Employment Practices insurance
3. Professional Liability, can include Errors and Omissions insurance
4. Director’s and Officers Liability insurance

What you pay at the register seems to increase every time your visit the supermarket. Organize your supermarket shop around what you need, what’s on sale and where’s best to go.

• If you’re only doing a little shop, pick a small supermarket. You may pay a fraction more, but if you’re only after a few bits you’ll be less tempted to buy extras you don’t really need at a small basic supermarket.
• If you’re buying in bulk, go large. If you’ve a tribe to feed, you’re having a party or you’re a pro at freezer meals, buy what you can in bulk from the supermarkets when it’s on sale.
• Watch out for sell-by dates. Late in the day, produce that’s about to go past its sell-by date (not the use-by date) gets marked down. Have a look in the bakery section and you could save yourself a good few dollars, but remember it’s only a bargain if you can use the food up straight away!
• Always make a list. Buy what you need to make the meals you’ve planned and to restock your cupboards, not just at whim. Plan a few days ahead and pop back in for extras rather than buy food you end up throwing away.
• Shop around. You can save a lot at bargain basement supermarkets, even if you buy certain items elsewhere. It’s a jungle out there, so the golden rule is try everything once. Decide where you’d rather spend your hard-earned cash on quality items and where you can get hold of the same quality for less.
• Don’t be fooled by swish packaging and ignore your own prejudices. The supermarket’s own brand products can also be just as good as the pricey big brands and save you dollars, so road test them. Try out the different supermarket brands as well: once you’ve got the packaging off, it may be you can’t tell the difference between the glossy premium brand and the smiley budget brand…and you don’t need a degree in marketing to figure out which one the supermarket wants you to buy!
• Items like flour, rice, pasta, noodles, tomato sauce, milk, cream, paper towel are all great examples of home brand items that you don’t know the difference with. In fact, if you read the labels on some of them, they are probably made in the same factory.
• Compare the price per 100g only. The supermarkets are starting to show this on the price tickets. It’s the best measure for price comparison. Don’t forget – just cause the small box is on special, doesn’t mean the big box isn’t cheaper at the regular price.
• Don’t be a slave to supermarket gimmicks. There’s a reason why the chocolate and magazines are placed by the register, the children’s sweets are placed at their eye (and hand) level, and you have to spend hours cruising the aisles to find the few little bits you popped in for (you never find the bread, milk and eggs together in the first aisle). Another trick: take a closer look and you’ll see that the most expensive products are tactically placed on the middle shelf, at your eye level. Look up and down for the lower prices.
• Special offers, reductions, and other promotions can be false economics. Especially if the supermarket puts the price up just before reducing it, to con you into thinking you’re saving more. If the reduced item is on your shopping list, it’s in the bag. If not, look at the price per kilo, check how much you’re actually saving and only buy it if you’re sure you’ll actually use it.
• Shop on a full stomach. The smell of fresh bread from the bakery or the BBQ chicken’s from the deli is wafted over to entice you as soon as you walk in. If you’re full, you’re more likely to stick to what you need rather than filling your trolley with pricey, processed cakes, biscuits and chocolate.
• If you only need a few things, don’t get a trolley; get a basket. You are more likely to grab extra things you don’t need if you have a trolley.
• Get a loyalty card. Don’t tie yourself down to one supermarket just because you can earn points there, but by all means get loyalty cards for all the supermarkets you shop in and save up your points to use at Christmas or earn yourself gifts.

What type of business insurance is best for you? Do you even know what type of business insurance is available? If you own a company or are thinking about starting one, you will need to look into the different types of business insurance policies that are available. You may be thinking that you do not have the time to look into business insurance, but the fact of the matter is that you have to make time. If you do not you may end up getting your company into hot water. There are many different details that will determine the type of business insurance that you purchase.

First off, you will need to take your budget into consideration. Every company would love to have the best type of business insurance, but sometimes this is not possible. You may need to work within your budget to find a company that suits your needs. There is nothing wrong with buying a “lesser’ business insurance policy as long as you are getting the coverage that you need, and that you know exactly what you are getting.

Another thing to look at when determining what type of business insurance to buy is the structure of your company. The fact of the matter is that some businesses need a higher level of insurance because there is a much better chance that they are going to need to make a claim at some point in time. If you are not sure of your risk factor, an agent should be able to sit down with you to determine this.

Overall, the type of business insurance that you buy has a lot to do with your company’s situation. Since every company is different, each one will need a different type of business insurance. If you think that you know what type of business insurance you need to ahead and make a purchase today. But if you need some help you will be much better off speaking with an agent. This way you will get what you want, and not have to worry about getting stuck in a bad position.

Most WAHMs operate from their home.  One of your biggest tax deductions may be your home office, so it’s important to learn what expenses you can deduct.

If your home office qualifies, you may be able to deduct part of your housing expenses on your tax return. Your home office qualifies if it is your principal place of business, and you use it regularly and exclusively for business.

To pass the ‘place of business’ test, your home office must be the principal place you conduct your business, or a place where you regularly meet clients or customers, or it must be a separate structure not attached to your home.  If you store inventory for your home-based business, that may also qualify you for the home office deduction.

Regular and exclusive use means that you spend at least 10-12 hours per week conducting business in your home office, and that you don’t use this room for other purposes. For example, if you use part of the room as a laundry room or children’s play room, you may not qualify for the home office deduction (unless you segregate the separate areas and the ‘business area’ is used only for business purposes).

Expenses that can be deducted include mortgage interest, real estate taxes, utilities, insurance, repairs, security, and depreciation. Only the business use percentage of these expenses can be deducted. The business use percentage is calculated by dividing the square footage of the office space by the square footage of the home, or by dividing the number of rooms you use for business by the number of rooms in your home.

Direct expenses, such as repairs made solely to the room used for your home office, or telephone lines installed just for business use, can be deducted in full. Indirect expenses, such as mortgage interest and real estate taxes should be allocated between the home office deduction and your itemized deductions to get the greatest tax benefit.

Caution: Your business must earn a profit to take the home office deduction. If your home office expenses are larger than your business profits, you must carry the excess expenses forward to future years.

I started investing in stocks almost two years back. I wanted to learn the basics of investing (Though I must say I am still learning). But those days were the initial days of fear and small investments from the money I saved which my parents sent for my college studies.

Once I got a suggestion from my friend to buy shares of a Bank ( A nationalized bank in India). He told that the share price is expected to go up in the next three months. Acting on his suggestion I bought the 50 shares @ Rs 32/- per share.

Soon after that my eyes started going to the bottom of any news channel watching the fast moving ticker. I started observing the price movement after every 15 minutes on the college television.

The other effect was that the share price caught a downward trend the day I bought them and after three months it was Rs. 7 less i.e. almost 10% down. Then I stopped bothering about it until today (two years after I bought the shares) when I spoke to my friend.

I told him,” Bank share is still going down! And it’s almost two years now”, “ Its your mistake that you listened to my suggestion”, was his reply and i was shocked. I learnt two big lessons from the whole episode.

• Neither you should suggest nor you should take advice from someone other than you.
• Set upon a loss target that will stop you tracking the stock price every now and then.

You can always get advice with professional money managers instead of going to a friend, who knows nothing or knows something you know too, about investing. If taking tension solves problem then take it, otherwise plan, and follow the plan.