Monday, September 25, 2017

Using Social Media To Boost Your Finance Career

social finance
Working in the financial industry is a tough business. The various recent financial crises have led to a cultural shift where people tend to move from firm to firm rather than staying anywhere long term. It’s also meant that the job market is more competitive, meaning you need to stand out to stand the best chance of landing a job. Social media is a fantastic place to network within the finance industry, and using it to your advantage could boost your career. Take a look at the following tips on how to use social media to your professional advantage.

Get yourself a LinkedIn account

LinkedIn is the most popular social media platform for professional networking. Unlike Facebook or Twitter, LinkedIn is a platform that is specifically targeted at businesses and job seekers and can be a great way to find out more about the industry you work in, and help others to find out about you. If you’re unsure about how to use LinkedIn to your advantage, it’s worth reading up on how to make the most of your LinkedIn profile to make sure you get out of it what you can. You could even contribute articles to LinkedIn to help demonstrate your interest and expertise in finance.

Join the conversation on Twitter

While Twitter is a microblogging platform, it is a great place for sharing news and debate and is a popular way to find out about jobs too. Rather than simply using Twitter to talk about what you thought of last night’s Game of Thrones, use it to talk about your professional interests. Follow influencers in your field and connect with them - it’s a great way to get your name out there and to make some contacts. 

Show off your interests and hobbies

Most people will include details of interests and hobbies on their resumes, but how can you demonstrate that? Social media is a great way to indulge in your passions and to share them with others, so sharing details of your different social media profiles could be vital for people wanting to find out more about the real you, rather than what they see on paper. He might be an analyst, but Chris Pivik is also a keen photographer, who shares his hobby through Flickr. Being able to link to your profiles to show off your interests and expertise is a great idea for helping employers to notice you, and could be what you need to get an edge over others.

Write a blog

Blogs are a fantastic way to show off your knowledge and experience, things that are important if you want to land a dream job in finance. Writing a blog about something you know well such as investments, money-saving tips or personal finance shows that you genuinely have an interest in the industry, and could connect you to people in ways you didn’t think possible. Getting started with blogging is simple and doesn’t have to cost you anything so you could get started today and start getting your name out there.

Social media can also help you out if you’re planning to start your own business, especially if you’re finding the job market tough. As well as being a place for networking, social media is an effective marketing tool - one you can use to advantage if you know how to use it right. Take some time to think about your online presence and whether or not you could use it to boost your financial career.

Friday, September 22, 2017

A Guide To Earning More From Your Day Job

earning more
As much as you may love your job, the simple fact remains that you go to work to earn money. If money was of no concern, you would probably walk away from your job without a backward glance, delighting at the opportunity to spend more time with your family. A job can be enjoyable, but at the end of the day, it’s the paycheck you receive that really matters.

There are times in life where you may find yourself receiving that paycheck and realizing that it isn’t enough. It doesn’t cover your expenses adequately; it doesn’t give you enough disposable income to enjoy. This might be a temporary situation or something you have been suffering through for awhile, but the facts are the same: you need to earn more than you are currently.

So what can be done about it? For many people, the answer comes in the form of supplemental income; little top-up jobs you can do in your spare time to ensure your financial coffers are never fully bare. While this step can be successful, wouldn’t it be better to just make more from the job you already do, rather than adding to your workload?

Before you launch yourself into the world of supplemental income, it’s worth examining the points below and seeing if any of them appeal. By increasing the amount you earn from your day job, you can keep your spare time for those precious family moments you’re not going to want to miss out on. 

Option One: Ask For A Raise

Sometimes, the direct route is the most effective: just outright ask your boss for a raise.

Obviously, this tends to require a little more tact than just walking into their office and making a demand. It’s often best if you ask for a raise during a performance appraisal. If you don’t receive regular performance appraisals, then you’re well within your rights to ask for one. Explain that you would like to go over some details and would appreciate it if they could arrange for a one-to-one meeting to discuss your performance. No boss worth their salt is going to turn such a request down. 

Within such an arrangement, the conversation should naturally lead to a point where you can discuss your wage. Point out the rises in the cost of living, explaining that though you love the job and are committed to it, you’re struggling to make ends meet. Be honest; it should lead your boss to be more understanding of your situation, and hopefully you can come to an arrangement that suits you both.

Option Two: Increasing Your Earning Potential Through Education

There may be a time in your career when you have gone as far as you can on your existing qualifications. If you’re not satisfied with the wage that you’re earning, then it can be difficult to know how to move into a better role without furthering your learning. 

The answer is adult education, ideally offering you more experience and qualifications to progress in the same industry you are already working in. Most roles offer an opportunity for progress. Nurses can up their qualifications by undertaking an online RN to BSN degree program that increases the work they will be able to do, and thus the chances for progression. If you work in customer service, you can specialize in conflict resolution. Even if you’re an office admin in an entry-level position, you could always think about undertaking an HR qualification and moving into another field of admin. There is always a way you can progress that is related to the experience that you already have. 

Option Three: Apply For New Jobs

There’s no doubt that undertaking a job hunt can be a worrying time. You’ll have to deal with the requirement to prove yourself all over again. You’ll have to go through an application process, then with the interview and all the stress that can involve. 

However, if you truly want to make more money and there’s no prospect of that in your current role, then applying for new jobs might be your only choice. Bear in mind that any offer of new employment also gives you a stronger negotiating position within your existing job; you can say X company thinks you’re worth X, so is your existing company willing to match that? You just have to be sure that if your current work won’t match another offer, you’re willing to leave. Ultimately, you’ll be best off in a place where they see the worth of your talents anyway-- so you can’t really lose with this strategy. 

Option Four: Change Your Career Goals

If you have reached the top of the tree in your existing industry and your paycheck is going to remain the same for years to come, then it might be best to consider expanding the scope of your career. Rather than remaining in the same industry, you can try to transfer your existing skills into something more lucrative.

If, for example, you have been working in admin and order processing, then the organizational skills you will have picked up might help you with a move into logistics. There are plenty of other skills that are transferable, potentially bringing you into a marketplace where the pay rate is higher. You will need to write an outstanding cover letter when you apply for roles in your new chosen field, outlining how your existing skills will transfer into a new environment. Most companies will appreciate your willingness to develop, and thus should be amenable to offering you a role that can capitalize on the skills you have already, while allowing you to learn more as you work with them. Entering a new sector can be a scary time, but if it’s going to increase your earning power, it’s definitely a risk worth taking.

In Conclusion

If the money you are currently earning is not sufficient, then you don’t just have to accept it and try to make do. There are options that can increase your earning potential, so don’t be afraid to take the leap into making the money you are truly worth.

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Is It Time To Change Career? Probably

for money earning
We’ve all felt career apathy from time to time. You reach a point at which you’re no longer sure if you hate your job or you’re just exhausted. The two things can often be linked but it’s important that you know for sure before you go ahead and quit your job. Sometimes, it can just be a rough patch. If you’re starting to pull your hair out as you ask yourself whether it’s time to change career then the answer is probably “yes”. Nonetheless, here are some potential issues which often point to the need for a new career. You might want to see if any of them apply.

You don’t like the way the office works.

This point could be interpreted in many different ways, of course. The point is that many professionals go into an industry because they love the subject matter and they want to put their technical skills to good use but they end up falling out of love with it because of the nature of their work environment, other employees, and the boss. It’s important to make the distinction between whether your career is wrong for you or you’re simply working at the wrong company. If you decide that you just don’t approve of the way things are run at your company then this may be a sign that you still love your career but need a new employer.

Make sure that you take any necessary action if you’re leaving your job because of a specific incident. Incompetent colleagues need to be mentioned to the boss, but an incompetent boss is a trickier subject to broach. Perhaps you’ve seen fraudulent activity take place or you’ve been the victim in an unsafe workplace and the boss is turning a blind eye to it. You might want to look into a personal injury attorney to result in compensation if you have been hurt through someone else’s negligence whilst on the job. Even if you’re leaving your job to start a new one (whether that’s in the same line of work or not), you shouldn’t keep quiet if you think your old workplace has serious issues that could affect current or future employees.

The salary isn’t enough.

This is perhaps an even more serious reason to change career than the previous one. If you think that you’re not being paid enough for what you’re doing then, yet again, it may not be a sign that you should quit the industry in which you’re working altogether but it’s certainly a sign that you can’t carry on in your current job role unless something changes. Before you make any drastic decisions, however, you should try to resolve the situation with your employer. You might be surprised to find that you’re not met with resistance and your situation was simply overlooked. Perhaps you’ll be able to negotiate and get the salary you’re actually owed by the company.

It’s important to understand that we’re not just talking about feeling as if it’d be “nice” to earn more money. We’re talking about noticing that your wages need to increase in line with current inflation and it’s yet to happen. We’re talking about that bonus you were promised but were never paid. You need to attempt to get what you’re owed but, even then, it might be time to look into a different employer if you’re tired of going through the headache of trying to get the money you deserve for the work you do.

You have bigger and better talents.

A final reason as to why you might feel ready to change career is that you feel have you bigger and better talents that could be used for bigger and better things. You might feel as if you’re not using your creative mind in your current job role, for example. And as nice as a salary may be or as comfortable as a certain industry may be, none of that means anything if you’re feeling individually unfulfilled in your current job role. Ask yourself whether the thought of a promotion to a better position within the company (or any company in your industry) would be something to which you could aspire. If the answer is no then this line of career, in general, is probably wrong for you.

Start doing some research. You’ve likely built up talents through working at one or many firms over the years so that time hasn’t been wasted. Maybe your calling is to use those and other talents to build your own business. Perhaps you’d feel more fulfilled in selling your skill set to potential clients because there are certainly companies out there willing to pay freelancers with a professional talent. You just need to go searching for your new calling.

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Bringing In Some Financial Balance: It's Not All That Hard!

money returns
One of life’s biggest stressors is money. There’s two camps when it comes to money: you have the camp who enjoy life to the fullest and don’t worry about the future and you have the camp that save every penny that they can to make sure the future is preserved. The thing is, money is still a stress for both camps! Those who haven’t thought too much about the future have the niggling thought that they aren’t prepared for retirement and all that comes with it. Those who are vigilant with their savings have the niggling stress that they don’t live enough for today. Finding a balance among all that financial stress doesn’t always seem like it’s easy, but it can be.

Making decisions about your finances doesn’t have to be an obligation. Sure, money pays the bills and companies like creditrepair.co are there to help when debts get too much and you need to give yourself some credit-worthiness again. But you can plan your finances without compromising your lifestyle and lead a life that is far more enjoyable. You could start by making finances more manageable and that includes planning ahead. Planning in blocks of five years at a time instead of looking toward retirement at all times could be easier than trying to push yourself for the rest of your life. You can prepare for more than one goal at a time without getting stressed out, and here’s how:

1. Prepare For Emergencies. Each month on your payday, set up an automatic transfer from your main account to your savings account. Doing this means you will never see the money before it leaves your balance, so you’re saving money without thinking about it. Having three to six months of savings is the recommended amount by any financial institution, but you don’t have to stress about that. As long as you have something backed up and set up for continuous savings, you’ll be fine!

2. Retirement Savings. Okay, so you may not want to look ahead but the years are short and they sure speed by! Maximise your retirement plan and see how your company 401(K) works. Your employer should offer you a price match option where they put in as much as you do, meaning you can de-stress a little about your later life savings.

3. Where There’s A Will. Get your estate and will details up to date and set in stone. This isn’t always financially set but it does mean you are covered should something happen to you. Make sure you have both a medical and a financial power of attorney listed and you can see why a will is so important by reading this article.

Your finances can be balanced. All of the above can be planned around your regular outgoings and your disposable income so that you can lead a life of financial balance and not be worried about the future ahead. There’s no need to penny-pinch when you have the finances aside to manage just fine!

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Use Your Assets To Your Financial Advantage

more money
Are you struggling with money? If so, you might want to think about using the assets you already own to improve your financial situation. There are many ways to use your property to boost your finances, and we’re going to look at a few of the possibilities. This could be exactly what you need to get cash in your hand or perhaps just make sure you can afford an important purchase. So, let’s look at the different ways you can make your assets work for you. 

As Collateral

Let’s say that you need money fast. Perhaps, you are looking to make an expensive purchase, or maybe you are going to get your business off the ground after all these years. That’s great but to do this, you’re going to need to borrow money. Borrowing money can be a long drawn out process, and at the end of your application, you could still be refused the loan that you desire. One of the ways around this issue is to use the assets you already own as collateral. Essentially, if you are unable to pay back the loan the lender will take that possession off you as payment. You can look at a company like Title Loans Online because they offer this type of option. In this case, you put your car title up as the collateral, and if you don’t pay back the loan, you lose the car. That might sound risky at first, but if you know you are in a position to pay back the money, it can just ensure you get the cash...fast. Of course, this isn’t the only way to use assets like your car to your advantage.

Renting It Out

You might want to consider renting out your car to get the money you need. There are plenty of businesses only that specialize in helping consumers rent out their car in exchange for the money they need. Renting out your car can be risky, but you will be able to control the type of person that you loan it to. You also can set up legal protection to ensure that if they break or damage the car, you are completely covered. Renting out your car can’t really be considered a second income. But it can make paying your bills a lot easier and ensure that things don’t start to eat away at your finances. 

What about renting a room in your home? This is easier if you own your property. However, it is possible to take this tactic if you ask permission from your landlord when you are renting as well. When you decide to rent a room in your home, make sure you are aware of both your rights and responsibilities as a landlord. For instance, you will be expected to provide a safe and clean environment for someone to live in. There are ways around being accountable for injuries that tenants may sustain on your property so you should speak to a lawyer about this. 

With this type of setup, you can easily add a few hundred to your income at least. That could be more than enough to allow you to live a better quality of life. Or, just get you a little money back into your savings. You just need to be aware of the risks that you can take on when you choose to rent out your property. 

Pawning Property

Alternatively, you might want to look into pawning your property. This could be a smart step to take if you have ended up in a difficult financial situation. You can pawn property like your TV, jewelry, and anything of value in your home. The pawn shop will keep this stock until you are able to buy it back or someone else buys it. It can be a very quick way to get money back in your hand when you need it. 

Renovations And Remodels

Of course, if you are in a healthy financial position, you might want to think about using your property to boost your finances. You can do this with remodels and renovations on your home. With this type of investment, it’s possible to add thousands onto the value of your property by spending hundreds.

As you can see then, there are a variety of ways to use your property to make money. It is one of the best and brightest ways to ensure that you don’t end up or stay in financial difficulty. You can guarantee that you’ll always have something to fall back on.

Monday, September 18, 2017

Supplemental Income: 4 Sources To Consider

another income
A supplemental income is a necessity for the majority of working people. It’s not an income that’s designed to replace the money you earn through your day job; it’s a top-up, a little bit extra, which can help to plug holes in your budget as well or give you a little extra fun spending money. 

A supplemental income should be relatively easy to attain; there’s no point effectively needing to take on a second job for this purpose, it should be simpler than that. You need methods that don’t take much time or investment, but which can reward you with a financial cash boost when required. 

Below are four different forms of supplemental income that you should consider. They’re not going to make you rich, but they could improve your life immeasurably.

#1 - Survey Sites 

Survey sites are relatively simple. You sign up to a site, fill in a demographic profile, and then you answer questions from brands regarding your preferences. You will be rewarded with cash -- or points you can then convert into cash -- for your time. It’s not going to make you a fortune, but it can be a nice little side earner.

Top Tip: Always cash money out from survey sites as soon as you are able to. Sites can fold at any time and you don’t want them to do so when you have a high balance pending.

#2 - Sweepstakes

Sweepstakes are simple; you enter a competition, then you sit back and hope that you will win the grand prize. This prize might be money or goods; it depends on the sweepstakes that you enter. It’s easy to do and can be lucrative if you enter enough, so it’s worth giving this cash-generating method a go. 

Top Tip: Have a read through the article Publishers Clearing House Review – Is it a Scam or Legit?; this will give you an idea of how a sweepstakes company should operate and whether it’s worth entering a draw with a company you find online.

#3 - Delivering Leaflets

Local businesses are the best source for leafleting. Contact businesses near you and ask if they are intending to distribute flyers at any point; this could be takeout menus, promotional ads, or just company announcements. It’s rarely regular work but it can be a nice side gig if you show you are reliable.

Top Tip: You will usually find it easier to walk or jog between streets rather than climbing in and out of a car, plus you’ll save money on gas -- ensuring a better profit from your efforts.

#4 - Selling To Friends and Family

There are a number of companies that operate on a direct-selling basis, where you host parties or sell to friends and family in a casual way. The great thing about direct selling is that there’s no cold calling; you use your existing contacts and see if the products you’re selling could be beneficial to them. You will get commission on any sales you make. 

Top Tip: There are many direct selling opportunities you could consider. Before you agree to work with a company, think about who among your social circle you think you could sell the company’s items to -- you need to be sure of a consumer base from the moment you sign up.

With any combination of the above, you should find plenty of ways to add a little extra to your income, and improve your life one step at a time.

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Effectively Covering the Costs of Education Following Graduation

education cost
Participating in higher education isn’t only great for your general knowledge in your chosen area of interest and your wider world experience, but it’s brilliant for your resume too. Think about it. While many students pursue higher education through a sheer passion for the subject at hand, the majority of individuals will also intend to gain access to more high-level entry positions and graduate level jobs upon graduation. A degree is a financial investment. However, wherever there’s money involved in anything, there’s someone out there aiming to make a profit. While a degree level of education can see you earn a much larger income, it doesn’t come cheap in the first place. Many colleges demand upfront payment and tuitions fees are constantly increasing. This means that even individuals whose parents have saved for years to help out with the costs still have to take out student loans. These are expensive and have varying interest rates so you may find that down the line you end up paying off more interest than is desirable and you are only chipping away at your loan at an extremely slow rate. Here are a few ways that you can cover the costs of your education more effectively once you graduate.

Consolidate Your Loans

You may have taken out loans for different aspects of the student experience. Most people will take out one loan for tuition fees and another for living costs during their years of study. A good idea is to consolidate these loans. This means that you will only have to make repayments to one debtor. This means that you are less likely to miss repayment dates, which means you will amass fewer late payment fees or fines. You may also be able to find a lender who will offer a lower interest rate, meaning that you will pay less overall. For more information on this smart financial move, take a look at https://consolidatestudent.loan/.

Try to Find a Job as Soon as Possible

Now, it’s unlikely that you’ll walk into the job of your dreams immediately after graduation. But it’s important that you’re not too picky and try to find some sort of job in the relevant field as soon as possible. Remember that you can quickly move your way up the ladder in companies and many managers or business owners will initially place you in a low, starter position in order to check that you are competent before moving you into a role with more responsibility. Finding a job early on also exemplifies dedication and builds on your personal experience in professional roles, making your resume all the more impressive once job openings that you really desire come up. Even if you don’t land the job you apply to, interview experience will help to build your confidence and make you feel more comfortable once more impressive job opportunities open up. This will all allow you to start earning money sooner, which means you’ll clear your overall debt in much less time.

These are just a few starter steps to take once completing your degree and collecting your certificate. But they will get you heading in the right direction which is always extremely positive.

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Where Will Your Next Investment Take You? Exploring Your Options

investment options
If you’re looking to grow your money, you may be on the hunt for new investment opportunities. Investments always carry a risk, but they can pay off handsomely if you make the right calls. Here are some options worth exploring if you’re interested in expanding your investment portfolio. 

Real estate

Buying real estate is one of the most common ways to make money if you’re an investor. There are all kinds of ways you can generate an income through buying property, including buying to let or renovating and selling for a higher price. The key to getting it right with property is choosing the right apartment or house and understanding the market. You’ll need to consider location and get an in-depth insight into the local market. How much are properties like the one you plan to buy selling for and how long does the average home take to sell? Visit the area, meet with agents and have a look at the facts and figures. Work out how much you could afford to spend on the project and get some valuations for when work is completed. This will enable you to see what kinds of margins you’re working with and help you set a budget for any renovations. If you plan to rent, look at other properties in the area, ask agents to give a projected rental value and make sure there’s a demand for rental homes in the neighborhood. 

Business

Investing in business usually takes two forms. You could either invest in your own business and launch a new company, or you could put money into a different venture or lend financial support to an individual. If you are toying with the idea of setting up your own business, get an idea of the total cost of the venture before you go any further. If you need a subsidy to get off the ground, you could consider taking out a small business loan or looking for external investment. You can find out more about these loans here. If you’re looking to invest in other companies or you’re searching for the next big thing, pay close attention to business plans, keep an eye out for emerging trends and look for individuals that are driven and passionate. 

Stocks and shares

If you’re new to the stock market, it can seem like a very daunting place. Investing in shares can be incredibly lucrative, especially in the long-term, but it can be difficult to spot the best opportunities. If this is a route that interests you, do some reading on the stock market, look at trends and seek advice from somebody in the know. It’s worth seeing a financial adviser before you part with any money.

Are you looking for your next investment opportunity? If so, it’s worth taking a bit of time to explore your options and work out what kind of investment would suit you best. Seek professional advice, research thoroughly, set a budget and consider both your short-term and long-term goals.

Thursday, September 14, 2017

How To Avoid Common Financial Pitfalls For New Businesses

business hurdles
Setting up a business is no easy feat, and many new businesses will fall at the first hurdle. New business owners can struggle with several areas of running a business, with finance being one of the most significant. Being able to confidently run a business requires some financial knowledge to help keep your business afloat. Here are some of the most common financial pitfalls for new businesses, and what you can do to avoid them.

Meet with a financial advisor 

Gathering the finances to get your business off the ground is a vital first step for launching your business, but what you do with the money could make the difference between success and failure. While you may wonder if small businesses really need financial advisors, it’s something that can’t hurt to make sure you’ve covered all eventualities. Many small business owners fail to plan for their own financial futures, and meeting with an advisor is something that can help you get the most out of your business both in the short, and long-term.

Study supply chain management

An effective supply chain strategy is what will help your business to maximize its profits and grow. A mismanaged supply chain could spell disaster for your business, leading to issues with delivery and shipping that could damage your profits. Learning about the supply chain can be done through several means, but if you’re serious about running a successful business - then an online masters in supply chain management could be the right path for you. Supply chain management will teach you about analyzing your finances and will help you to make better strategic decisions as your business grows.

Practice effective cash flow

Cash flow is important for any business to be able to manage its finances effectively. As a business owner, it will be up to you to understand your business’ cash flow and to put measures in place to avoid your business being without money. Making sure you have reserves to pay the bills while you’re waiting to be paid will stop your business from going under and give you some extra security when times are tough. Don’t ignore your business’ cash flow situation - plan for it to avoid being caught out.

Not investing your profits wisely

When your business starts to turn a profit, it can be tempting to pour it all into things that aren’t necessary or make bad financial choices. By investing your profits wisely, such as through making business improvements and hiring more staff, you can ensure that the money doesn’t go to waste and will continue to help it grow. It’s also worth keeping some money set aside for a rainy day, should you encounter issues or periods that see your profits reduced.

New businesses can face a variety of problems that can cause them to fail before they’ve even taken off. By effectively managing your business’ finances you can help avoid many common pitfalls faced by new businesses. Take charge of your business’ finances to help ensure its success.

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Is Your Career Looking After Your Bank Balance?

money at bank
Clearly, if you want to have a healthy bank balance you need to make sure you are getting the money in somehow. But this is not always easy to do, even if you have a full time job which appears to pay the bills. After all, once the bills are paid, what do you have left? If you are starting to think you could do with a little more in the way of funds, then it might be that your career is not quite giving you everything you need. In that case, you have a number of options available to you. Let’s take a look at some of the things you can do to help your bank balance along with the aid of your career options.

Getting What You Are Owed

First of all, you should look into your current situation with your employer and see if you are actually getting everything that you deserve. There is plenty that you are likely to be entitled to, and it is always worth making sure that you are actually getting it. This could mean a bonus that you are owed due to a high performance. It might be that your wages need to raise with inflation and it hasn’t happened yet. Or it might be specific to a situation. Perhaps you have suffered an injury and you can seek compensation through Strickland, Agner & Associates. Whatever the case, it is all about making sure you are receiving everything that is genuinely yours. This is a strong starting position regardless, so is an unavoidable step.

Thinking About A Change

It might be possible that you simply need to change up your career in order to suddenly receive a true bounty in your bank balance. But knowing where to find such work can indeed be very difficult to do. If you are thinking about changing careers, you want to make sure that you don’t just go for the money alone. It is just as important that you are able to enjoy the work, at the same time as getting paid well for it too. Both are important, so you should do whatever you can to try and find that healthy balance between the two. That way, it is much more likely that you will be happy with the overall situation.

Other Sources

Even with the ideal job for you, you might at times struggle financially. If you do start to struggle, you might want to think about what you can do to get money from other sources. You might be surprised at how easy this can actually be, especially if you are keen to put a little effort into it at the start. It has never been easier to create money out of seemingly nothing, and it is something that is worth looking into if you find yourself starting to struggle - or hopefully even before that. Do it right, and you might find that you can finally get that balance between money and life just right.

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Investing In Real Estate: What Are Your Options?

estate business
When you’re looking at growing the money that you have, or you want to start making a substantial income from something that you have an interest in, you should always turn to real estate. Although you may not have any experience within the property industry right now, when you’re looking to make an investment that can really pay off, it’s always an avenue worth exploring. Because not only is there a potential to make a lot of money in the process, you’ve also got a wealth of options available to you to do it. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can invest in property.

Flipping Houses

When you’re new to the industry, you don’t have to worry about not having enough skills or knowledge to make money. Because you can learn. And one of the best ways to do that is by starting off slowly, and picking things up as you go along. This is definitely something you can do when you start flipping houses. By renovating your own property and selling it, or buying a fixer-upper as your first project, you’ll soon learn what to do and what not to do when it comes to making money in real estate.

Renting Apartments

Another option you have, if you’re not interested in fixing up houses, or you’ve started out with that, and you’re looking to move on to something else, is to rent out apartments. You should definitely look into opportunities such as the turnkey real estate at https://highreturnrealestate.com/turn-key-rental-properties-investment that could be a great investment. When you’re choosing to go to down the rental route, whether it’s apartments or other forms of property, there’s a potential to make a lot of money for years to come.

Going Commercial

If you’re looking for a more adventurous avenue to explore, then you’re going to want to think about moving over to the commercial side of things. Although investing in commercial property may seem similar to residential investments, it can differ. But you can pick learn about commercial investing at http://www.moneyobserver.com/how-to-invest/how-to-invest-commercial-property-beginners-guide to see if it’s right for you.

Developing Yourself

From here, you’ve then also got the option to go into development yourself. Investing in property and starting your own property development company may sound like two very different ventures, but one can quickly lead on to another. And if you’re interested in making a lot of money in property, leading big developments could be a great goal for your future.

Setting Up A Firm

Another kind of investment to consider if that of investing in the property industry itself. If you start to learn about real estate along with way, and want to invest in something that you can enjoy, creating your own company could be a great option for you. Even if you do have some real estate experience in the past, it’s a win-win kind of option that will allow you to invest in the property industry and see a great return.

Friday, September 8, 2017

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Short-Term Business Loans

business need loans
Small business owners will know that there are times when cash reserves dry up. This may be prompted by a need for unexpected repairs to equipment, an unanticipated re-supply of stock, a brief period of lower demand for goods or services, a temporary revenue shortfall, or simply a month or two when the numbers don’t quite add up as you would like. It happens to most small businesses at some point, so there’s no need to be unduly concerned. To help you over a financial hurdle, you may benefit from taking out a short-term business loan. This is a type of business capital loan that provides your small business with an injection of working capital. You will receive a lump sum that must be paid back over a set time, usually a shorter window than other loans. When you take out a short-term business loan, there may be lender fees added, and the interest rate is also likely to be higher than loans paid back over a longer period.

In this article, we’ll talk you through the advantages and potential disadvantages of this solution.

Advantages of short-term business loans

Quick and convenient access to working capital
The most compelling advantage of using a short-term business loan is that it gives you fast access to the cash you need to keep all aspects of your company operational. You will not be required to make cutbacks to staff hours, miss payments to suppliers, or hike up your prices. Instead, you can inject sufficient money into your business to ensure that there is no disruption to trading.

Appropriate for a variety of business purposes
A short-term business loan is not limited to one specific purpose. Once you have agreed terms with a lender, you are free to direct it as you see fit. Whether you need to make up a shortfall in wages, pay a bill, or purchase new stock, it’s entirely up to you.

Limited paperwork
With a short-term business loan, you will not be required to endure the rigmarole of multiple pages of associated paperwork. An increasing number of loans can be secured online; eliminating the need to utilise precious paper supplies. If you are considering a short-term loan, LendGenius can help. Apply online here.

Set payment structure
There are no surprises with a short-term loan. The payment structure is created and agreed before any money changes hands. You will not be hit with unexpected fees, as long as you keep to the payment schedule.

Bad credit is not a limiting factor
If you have an unfavourable credit rating, this is usually not a problem when applying for a short-term business loan. Most lenders will not penalise you.

Disadvantages of short-term business loans

Relatively high APR
As the payment period is relatively short, and loans are unsecured, you may encounter a high APR. This must be factored in when budgeting the repayment of a short-term loan.

Payments can be difficult if revenue fluctuates
The circumstances that created a need for a short-term business loan may also affect your ability to pay it off in the future. Consider whether any revenue fluctuations are to be expected over the course of a payment plan.

Loan amounts are capped
If you have a need for a significant capital outlay, a short-term loan may not be right for you. In this instance, it is worth discussing your situation with another lender.

Thursday, September 7, 2017

7 Ways You Can Fund Your Creativity

cash funding
There’s often nothing worse than having a dream or idea but not having the funds to make it a reality. It’s part of the jobs for those who are creative in a professional setting, but for the rest of the world there’s always a roadblock when it comes to finances. Taking the initiative to turn your hobby into a paid job is a big step, especially when creative works aren’t often taken seriously. Getting the funding together to make your creative dream a reality can change your life, but how can you go about this?

When you think about something you’ve dreamed about doing, it’s important to realise that you have a much better chance of making that dream a reality if you tell people about it rather than just keep it in your head! Vocalise what you want to the right channels, garner support on social media platforms and start investing in yourself. This can come in the form of educational classes to further your knowledge and even teaching yourself how to hone your craft using YouTube tutorials set up by others. Make it known what you’re going to do, why you’re going to do it and how you plan to get there. Once people know you are serious about what you want, you’re far more likely to find people with open arms and ready to welcome you into your new adventure.

It’s never impossible to get the funding you need to take on the world with your creativity. Bringing your creativity to life can take time and patience along with cash and if you take that dream and make it your focus, it can happen. Getting around the financial side of it is the big hurdle, but when you spend your life dreaming up creative solutions, you can easily get around that one. Creative people tend to be passionate and open-minded about their futures and how they live their lives, so if you are looking for ways to fund your future we’ve got some excellent ideas below for you.

Your Day Job

You likely are working a 9-5 job in an environment that is less than fruitful for you. Most creatives dream up how they would work for themselves, maximising their education and Master of Arts degree that they spent a lot of time and money on. However, don’t look at your current, less-than-creative day job as a bad thing. Your job is going to be the first place you turn to fund your creative business idea, as you can use a lot of your own savings to build your creative empire. The money you make on a regular basis can help you go one of two ways: you can save up to fund your dream with the right equipment, or you can self-fund your hobby on the side. You may well be perfectly happy in your day job and want to keep your hobby as it is, a hobby. But making money for someone else is often the main reason people look to work for themselves. Artists, bloggers and those in jobs that require imagination are often, by personality, not functional in an environment of rules and regulations. This is the main reason working for yourself can be so appealing! Don’t knock the day job though – if it could be your key to financial freedom with your own hobby that you enjoy so much earning you cash, then why wouldn’t you keep it?

Become Semi-Professional

You’ve probably seen and heard of Etsy all over social media, especially Facebook. Etsy is a platform for people of all types of background to open a shop selling their creations and get recognised for the things that they make. Keeping your day job doesn’t have to be a barrier to becoming a professional in your creativity, so why not start making things on the side and selling them? Setting yourself up as a business online with a good reach using social media as your tool, you can build yourself up slowly to a full-time business. The money you make from gigs on the side could all go into a pot to start you on your way to buying better equipment as you need it to manage working your hobby full time.

Teach Your Skill

Getting creative is so much more than just taking what you do – whether you draw, write or play an instrument – and using it yourself. Teaching what you can do to others is a wonderful money-spinner and a great way to add to your ever-expanding knowledge. People are always going to be interested in what you do and how you do it. Your style of writing, drawing or music could be of great interest to someone else and the easiest way to impart a little wisdom is to start a blog or vlog and write a few tutorials on how you do what you do. You can then set yourself up to have a paid blog and you can read here about how to do that. Photographers among you are as creative as an artist with a brush and your skills will be sought after for events and such like. Advertising yourself and your abilities on social media and other free platforms is a great way to market yourself and what you can do.

Go Fund You

Finding finance to start a business is complex. You have the traditional routes with the banks and other funding business angels, but you can also crowd fund. Websites like GoFundMe and Kickstarter can help you on your way to fund your creative dreams. Those websites are a fantastic way to get people interested in supporting you and also help you on your way to financial and creative freedom. Obviously, these won’t work for everyone, but they are a great option if you want to see how far you can impact the public around you.

Grants? What Grants?

You may not be fully aware of it, but there are plenty of business grants and scholarships out there for those who seek them out. Small cash injections in the form of grants are there but you need to take the initiative to go and look for them. You could be missing out on grants that you don’t have to repay by not searching for them. The downside for grants is that they can be fairly strict on their requirements, and if you don’t meet very specific criteria you could find your application rejected. However, this shouldn’t put you off applying. Just because you may get told no doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try again and again. Entering contests for small and large prizes for work is worth looking at, as well. You could go quite far simply by ensuring that you keep an eye out on local council and newspaper pages for your field.

Fund With Credit

We should start here by saying that if you are in financially dire straits, you should probably avoid taking out personal credit to pay for a start-up. However, almost every business venture starts with finance on credit. Business credit and loans are available to those who set themselves up as a business with a solid business plan presented to the bank. Mixing personal credit with business credit is often not a good idea, as you can suffer financially for it. A small business loan or credit card, as well as services such as peer-to-peer lending are all a good way to fund what you need, from equipment to office space. Credit cards are the more convenient option, as they can be gained fairly quickly with ready money to spend. Before taking out any kind of credit, always ensure you can afford the repayments!

Say Yes!

Finances aside, making your dream a reality means to say yes at every given opportunity. If you are offered the chance to exchange skills with another in your field, say yes. Promoting your business within their business blog, while offering to promote what they do isn’t giving the competition a leg up. It’s collaborating with someone like-minded who can offer you extra followers and a way to cement yourself in your field. Saying yes to small jobs on the side of your regular day job, as well as doing something charity based are fantastic promotional tools. The key is to get your business name out there and recognised, and if that means being featured on a local business competitor website, you’ve got to take the chances and go for it!

Following through on your creative dreams can be costly, we don’t dispute that. But finding the way to finance your creative hobby can be hard. It’s better to be aware of the services available to you and the routes you can get support and funding than just be oblivious to how you can get started making your hobby your income. There is no need to wait around when there is so much advice out there!

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Financially Recovering From An Accident And Medical Bills

treatment costs
When you have an accident that derails your living standard, makes everyday life painful, you can start to feel under the blues. Your finances will also take a hit, so even after you’ve healed, your bank account will still be recovering. We’ve all felt this annoying sense of burden, which when you’re physically injured, there are long-lasting effects that won’t go away. Your medical bills will skyrocket, and your insurance premiums may increase also. Although it’s perfectly reasonable for hospitals to charge your insurance if you have it, this burden will be placed on you by the insurance if you cannot prove it wasn’t your fault. It can become very complex and prepare to pay the medical bills is one thing, but paying for them when you don’t have the money and it's not your fault is infuriating. There are a few things you can do to react to a financial situation after an accident.

Have evidence for your insurer

Insurance companies may or may not pay for your medical bills depending on your plan. Cheaper plans require you not to be the cause of your own accident that physically harms you. Therefore this means you need to show evidence to your insurer that the reason you’ve ended up needing them to pay for your medical bills is not of your own making. Whether you’re in a car crash, or you simply slipped and fell on a wet floor in a store, you have to take evidence from the scene. This might be something as simple as taking pictures of the crash, or the fact that there was no warning sign at the area of the wet floor. Talk to witnesses and see if you can get their contact details, as the insurance company may want to phone them up to corroborate your story.

Recovering from the bills

Recovering from a large hit to your bank account from medical bills is going to be tough. If you have ended up in debt, your first reaction might be to get out loans to help you through this rocky period; you could opt for debt consolidation if you feel that you need extra help. This type of loan will make all your debts form into one giant charge, and the interest rate will then be centralized. The payments will be smaller, which will help you manage the monthly finances but the loan will make the payments back to zero a little longer. Medical bills can also have an impact on your credit rating, which can lead to loan companies denying you and banks charging you a higher interest rate for loans. On repair.credit, you can study how to recover from financial losses due to medical bills and make sure your reputation is salvaged. By sending a letter to the credit bureaus, you can also report an error in the medical bills that will, in turn, fix any unwarranted credit score dive.

Recovering from an accident is mentally challenging. Even more so when your finances are in trouble. If the accident was not your fault, you should not be liable to pay for medical bills. Collect as much evidence of this as you can, and work to keep your credit score healthy by not succumbing to the medical bills.

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Options For Optimizing Your Profit In Property

property profits
Trying to make money in life can be draining. Although we know there’s a range of different ways that we can try to boost our income alongside holding down a standard 9-5, it’s not always that easy to get started. And this can definitely be the case when it comes to making money with property. Investing in property is definitely something we all want to do, but there’s just something intimidating about getting started. Whether it’s the worry of the money needed to start out, or the fear of failing, it’s one of those things that we shy away from. But if you really want to make profit from property, here are some options to make it work for you.

Start Small

Your first option is often what helps a lot of people to start out in property, and that’s to start with buying one house first. This can even be a property that you live in yourself. But the idea is to buy something for a low cost, or something that needs a lot of work, and then fix it up so that you can make a healthy profit from it. And because this is going to be your first profit, you definitely want to make it count. But don’t be too ambitious. It’s better to start off small, have some success, and go from there, rather than bite off more than you can chew and fail.

Finance For Bigger

When you start to find your feet within property, you will get to the point where you want to go for something bigger and better. After flipping a few houses and apartments, you may find that you’re ready to go in for something on a much larger scale, and for this, you’re going to need finance. But speaking to a specialist such as Enness Development is all it takes to find out if your plans are feasible. With the right finance, you should then be able to move on up with your development ideas.

Go Commercial

You’ve also got the option to try out commercial property investment. It’s often not all that different from investing in houses and apartments. You can often renovate business spaces, or invest in places to rent out to ensure that you get a sustainable income over a set number of years.

Sit On Your Stack

Another option for you is going to be to sit on the investments that you have. Although when you first get started, and you’re eager to turn a profit, you flip your investments quickly, in time you may choose to sit on them instead. This way, you can wait for the market conditions to reach their peak and look to maximize your profit.

Rent Away

On the flip side, you’ve also got the option to rent out some of the properties that you invest in. Although this is a common occurrence in commercial investments, you may be looking to sell straight away with the residential properties that you invest in. But you can make money on rental properties that will warrant them worth hanging onto for that little bit longer.

Monday, September 4, 2017

Flipping Out: Can You Really Make A Profit From Property?

property earnings
It's pretty widely known that property is perhaps one of the best investments out there. It's a great way to make a significant profit while also keeping potential risks to a minimum. However, when people think about making a profit from their property, they usually think about renting it out to tenants. This is a great option for many homeowners since it offers a pretty consistent income, but it also involves continuous maintenance and a great deal of responsibility. However, there is another way that you can potentially make a tidy profit from properties, and that's improving them and selling them on. The great thing about this is that you can generate large profits much more quickly than you would if you were renting. But that doesn't mean that there aren't a lot of challenges in your way. If you really want to earn a decent profit from your properties, here are a few things that you need to do.

Get some help

Turning a property into a profit can be a real challenge and going about it all wrong can put you in some serious financial hot water if you're not careful. Because of that, it's a good idea to make sure that you have some expert help in order to keep you on the right track. There are plenty of companies out there who can teach you flipping houses 101 and help you maximise your profits. While it can often be tempting to go it alone, you'll soon come to realize just how many complexities there are in earning a profit on your property and you'll be incredibly grateful for the support.

Know your properties

One of the first things that any property connoisseur comes to learn incredibly quickly is that not all properties are created equal. The truth is that many properties simply aren't suitable for being bought and sold on at a profit. This could be because there's simply too much work that needs doing to it to make it financially worthwhile, or it could be that there's not much you can do to raise the value, and the market is stagnating. Over time you'll develop your skills and learn how to spot the perfect property, but in the meantime, there are plenty of resources out there for you to use.

Keep an eye on the market

Of course, it's not just a matter of the properties themselves; you need to be aware of the movements of the housing market as a whole. This means being switched onto a lot of general economics as well. There's nothing worse than buying a property at what you think is a steal only for house prices to drop sharply just as you're getting ready to sell it on. You can't always predict what the market is doing but being as informed as possible is the best way to avoid any nasty surprises.

It's important to remember that flipping houses, as with any form of investment, does come with its own share of risks that you need to be aware of. However, as long as you're careful and make sure that you're taking all of the necessary precautions, you'll be earning a tidy profit in no time!

Sunday, September 3, 2017

How Do Car Insurance Companies Come Up With Their Quotes?

car coverage
You go onto a car insurance website, you put all of your details in, and it comes back with a price. Most of us just find the cheapest one and pay it, but we rarely stop to question how that price is actually calculated. Knowing how the price is worked out in the first place can help you to make changes that will reduce the cost of your car insurance. So, how exactly do they work out that price?

Age

Your age is one of the biggest factors that affect the price. Younger drivers between the age of 17 and 25 are going to be subject to far higher prices than people over 25. Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can really do about it. It’s a common misconception that as soon as you hit 25, your prices will plummet immediately. In a lot of cases, they do drop drastically but that’s not always the way so don’t be counting on that. 

Your Job

You wouldn’t think it would make that much difference to your personal insurance but your job description dictates how much time you spend on the road so the insurance companies will take it into account. If you’ve got a higher paying job then you’ll probably get a higher quote. If you can rephrase it so it sounds less senior than it is, you could cut your costs. It’s also a good idea to use sites like cheapautoinsurance.co to check lots of different providers because different companies will charge their own prices for certain job descriptions. Try different job descriptions with different companies to find the cheapest deal possible. 

Your Car

Obviously, your car is going to be one of the biggest factors in the price of your insurance. The cash value of the car is the first thing that they look at. The more expensive the car was to buy, the more expensive it will be to insure. If the car is rare it’ll be more difficult to get parts to repair it which will jack up the costs of insurance as well. The power of the car is something you need to consider carefully as well. The more powerful the engine, the more likely you are to get into an expensive accident so that’ll increase your price as well. The popularity of the car isn’t something that people always think about but it makes a big difference. If your car is very popular, the insurance company will be more worried about the risk of theft so they’ll charge you more money.

Where You Live

The location of your house is also a big indicator of how likely you are to claim on the insurance. In a built up area, you’re more likely to get into an accident. Equally, if you live in an area that has a high level of crime, your insurance bill is going to be massive. The price can change drastically in the space of a few streets so even if you live on a relatively safe road, you might still be paying over the odds if you live near a dangerous area. 

Now that you know exactly how insurers come up with their prices, you can take steps to reduce them.

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Freedom Financial Helps You Protect Yourself During the Equifax Hack

enjoy with your finances
If you've spent any time online in the past week, you've probably already heard about the Equifax security breach that took place the week of September 8th. Equifax, a credit risk assessment company with access to the personal data of over 800 million consumers, experienced a cybercrime identity theft attack; this security breach gave criminals access to the full name, social security number, birth date, addresses, and in some cases drivers licenses, of an estimated 143 million Americans. There is a high likelihood that your credit information has been compromised- Freedom Financial is here with the steps you need to take to ensure that your sensitive information isn't used by criminals.

Check your credit

You may not know that the actual cyber attack on Equifax offices actually took place in early May- Equifax employees did not become aware of the issue until late July. This means that there's already a good chance that someone has been using your credit without your knowledge. Freedom Financial urges you to check your credit report as soon as possible, and to dispute any frequent items you see. The early you dispute these claims, the easier they will be to get resolved.

Freeze your credit.

After you check your credit and dispute any charges or items that you believe are fraudulent, Freedom Financial also advises you to freeze your credit account. Freezing your credit will give you a special PIN unique to you that anyone who attempts to open an account with your information will need. If you don't plan on opening any new accounts or making any major purchases in the near future, freezing your credit is a great way to ensure that your information is not remotely hackable.

Set up a 90 day fraud alert

A fraud alert is a temporary hold on your account that will require any company attempting to open an account in your name to first verify your identity. You can set a fraud alert on your account by calling one of the major credit monitoring agencies like TransUnion or Equifax and requesting a 90 day fraud alert be set on your account. Setting up a fraud alert might seem like a hassle, but it's another preventative measure that you can take to make sure your personal identity isn't being used for nefarious purposes.

Watch your taxes

Freedom Financial anticipates that a number of identity thieves may try to use consumers personal info to file a tax return this year in order to claim a refund that isn't theirs. If you get a notice after filing your taxes that says that your taxes have already been filed, this is a pretty good indicator that a thief has used your information, and you should report it immediately.

In order to protect yourself, try your hardest to file your taxes as early as possible this year to avoid the situation.

Consider Enrolling in TrustedID

TrustedID is a credit monitoring program by Equifax that “includes 3-Bureau credit monitoring of Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit reports; copies of Equifax credit reports; the ability to lock and unlock Equifax credit reports; identity theft insurance; and Internet scanning for Social Security numbers.” In light of the hack, Equifax is opting to provide a year of free access to TrustedID to everyone.

Keep in mind that Equifax faced a bit of backlash when it introduced the free year of access because a clause on the sign-up seemingly required you to waive your right to sue the company for the hack. However, Freedom Financial has found that following complaints, the company added an opt-out feature which allows you to retain your right to sue the company by sending a letter. This is something to keep in mind should you be considering legal options.

If you've been affected by the hack, don't panic- take action to protect your credit today.