Make Your Cell Truly Smart with These Apps

Smartphones have made life so much easier for us. This small and compact gadget has opened us to a world of experiences. Gone are the days when you would be amazed at discovering that your phone came with an inbuilt torch! A smartphone has tons of cool features!

Today, the expectations from smartphones have increased manifold. We do not want them to be just phones; we want them to manage our busy lives. Until now, these gadgets have impressed us greatly!

The average smartphone user depends on it to listen to music, order food, shop, book a cab, and even invest in mutual funds online! We have access to a wide variety of mobile apps that offer different services depending on our requirements. We are all familiar with popular apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Twitter.

Here are five lesser-known but highly useful apps that will make your phone even smarter!

1. CamScanner

No need to invest in a bulky scanner when you can simply download CamScanner.It is a document scanning and sharing app that lets you scan and store documents easily. The app even lets you crop unwanted edges and enhance the color and text quality of the document. The app is very easy to use – scanning a document requires you to click a picture of it on your phone. The scanned file can be stored as a JPEG or PDF file and shared as an attachment or a web link. CamScanner is truly a revolution in the office management and data sharing space.

2. Runtastic Running and Fitness Tracker

A fit body is not just a dream, but can be a beautiful reality, when you have Runtastic on your phone. Runtastic is a fitness-tracking app that allows you to set running goals and track your progress. You can save your workouts, get analyses, onlinecoaching, and compare your performance with friends! Not only can you track your running routes via GPS tracking, but you can also get a report on the distance covered, timetaken, speed maintained, and calories burnt during the workout. The Runtastic Running and Fitness Tracker app is quickly rising through the ranks among fitness apps available and is a highly recommended addition to your app collection.

3. Scootsy

A few years ago, most restaurants required a minimum bill amount if you wanted food delivered to your doorstep. Ordering food was a genuine hassle earlier, but today it is an extremely easy process. Scootsy, the premium delivery app is here to save the day for you! Scootsy lets you order food, books, toys, gifts, and more right to your doorstep. The app allows you to track your order and set a delivery time. The best feature of Scootsy is that there is no minimum order amount. If you lead a busy life and want to have your food, books, and gifts delivered on time,Scootsy is a must-have on your smartphone.

4. Angel Wealth – Mutual Fund Investment and Advice

We are starting to recognize the importance of investing money and are willing to invest but often make bad decisions because of poor advice. If you are looking for a reliable money management app, your search has ended. The Angel Wealth Mutual Fund Investment and Advice is a one-stop money management app that lets you manage your money smartly. You can track your income and expenses, evaluate and analyze different investment options, invest in mutual funds online, and manage your portfolio using a single app. If you are a first-time investor, you can start investing in mutual funds by opening an account in less than five minutes! Angel Wealth uses a proprietary ARQ investment engine that gives you customized investment recommendations after processing over a billion data points. The ARQ engine uses advanced algorithms, cognitive technology, and market insights to create tailor-made recommendations designed to maximize the value of your portfolio. The Angel Wealth Mutual Fund Investment and Advice appis rapidly gaining popularity as the money management appamong investors because of the sophisticated technology it uses.

5. Ridlr

If you have ever used public transport, you would know the pain of standing in never-ending queues to buy tickets. It is frustrating and a massive waste of time! Ridlr is an app that lets you skip the queue! This is the go-to app when it comes to intra-city commuting. You can buy bus and metro tickets, renew monthly passes using the app, and pay online through this app. It also shows timetables for the metro, local trains, publicbus service, and more. The app serves a number of cities like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai,Bengaluru, and others, and is expanding its presence rapidly. For every public transport user, Ridlr is necessary!

So,do not wait anymore,and unlock the true potential of your smartphone with these handy apps!

How To Ensure a Profitable Buy-to-Let

With the rental market stronger than ever before there has never been a better time for property owners and landlords to reap the benefits of this booming market. If you’re considering investing in a property to rent out then here are our simple tips to ensure you are investing wisely and profitably.

Understand the World of Buy to Let

If you are new to the world of buying-to-let then you are going to need to get your head around the market first. It’s all very easy to be attracted to the benefits of this kind of investment but we must also be equally aware of the risks.

There is always the possibility that any buy-to-let investment will decrease in value as local markets fluctuate, stabilize and of course then sometimes dramatically drop. So you need to do a lot of research into the area you are considering to see how stable and developing the market it there.

Property investment has paid off handsomely for many and it continues to be a powerful way to make a lot of money. However there are also some big loss stories too, so going into this kind of investment needs to be done with eyes wide open. Crunch the numbers and see what you can afford and the things that you will need to budget in and see how far your savings will stretch with this type of investment.

Research and ask other people who have done the same thing so that you can go through the potential advantages and disadvantage associated with buy to let investments. From there you can really consider whether it is the right sort of investment strategy for you or whether you're saving would be better suited elsewhere.

Professional Help

Seeking professional help is the best way you can make sure your investment is going to be a profitable one. Companies like Vystal Wealth will help coordinate all the important elements of your property purchase to make sure your investment is high yielding and that you will get a good return on your investment. Essentially, looking for expert advice will ensure you can be confident that you are putting your money in the right place and that you understand what the process requires of you and how best to go about your investment.

Location, Location, Location

Pricing, number of bedrooms and garden size aside, location remains top of the list when looking at investing in property. Your investment can have all the garden space in the world but if it’s not in an area that anyone wants to rent you are not going to be able to rent it. So look thoroughly into the areas you are considering and figure out what they have to offer. If it is a family home, look into local schools. If you're looking for a modern flat for young professionals look into public transport links or popular locations for convenient commutes to inner cities. Put yourself into the shoes of your target tenant and think about what will be important to them and what they’ll be looking for.

Share The Wealth: Helping Less Financially Savvy Loved Ones

When you have got your financial affairs in order, it can feel like you’ve taken a life test and passed with a grade A. While everyone else is flummoxed by changing economic times and the need to secure their future, you have no such concerns. You can relax, enjoy life, save what you can, and anticipate a future that is financially secure. Does that make you a little bit smug? Perhaps! But it takes a lot of hard work to get to the point where you can feel smug - so allow yourself a touch of indulgence!

Then, the smugness begins to dissipate as you realize that people you care about - your friends and family - don’t have the same financial security that you do. You know you could help, but is there any way to do it without stepping on toes? 

1. Emphasize You’re Self-Taught and That You Found It Hard

Don’t go bulldozing into a conversation touting your own financial nous as if you woke up one morning and had everything sorted.

Begin a conversation (or wait for a natural opening, such as them lamenting their financial state) by mentioning you too had felt the same. You felt the fear, the concern, the worry, but you managed to battle through it.

Don’t say: “I got myself sorted so why don’t you let me help you too?”

Do say: “If you ever need any advice, I’d be more than happy to help you out.”

2. Insist They Get What They Are Owed 

Some people have a tendency not to chase what they are owed as they somehow think it is rude, money-grabbing, or just an uncouth way to behave. Of course, this is nonsense: if you are entitled to something, then you should have it, especially if not doing so has an impact on your financial viability. 

This can be an entry point for allowing you to help with their finances. If they have been short changed, hurt in an accident they have not claimed compensation for, or are just not receiving the right benefits from the government - step in and offer to help. Or you can be more subtle: talk about consumer rights, mention how useful a personal injury lawyer can be to ensuring someone doesn’t have the same accident they suffered, or just briefly mentioned government benefits you think they might be entitled to.

If they express any signs of feeling uncomfortable, then back off. Don’t be insistent. Just make it clear you know what you’re talking about and they are more than welcome to tap into your font of knowledge whenever they want. 

3. Ask For Their Help

Sometimes, the best way to get someone to investigate their finances is to approach them with a problem you have. If you suspect they don’t have a good deal on their credit card, you could start a conversation worrying about that exact thing yourself. This is just an example; the principle applies to any financial matter.

In helping you chew over your “problem”, it might give them pause and make them check things out for their own financial status. The best thing about this is there’s almost no way they will know you manipulated the conversation, so it’s perfect if you find interceding necessary but awkward.

In Sickness And In Wealth: Financial Planning After Your Wedding Day

The day you get married or enter a civil partnership is one of the best days of your life. But you know that it has been a long road to your special day, and I’m not just talking about the in-laws! The cost of the day itself is enough to bankrupt most people, and after the blissful day and relaxing honeymoon comes real life again. You are together, either in name or on paper, and so the vows to share the burden is all too real now, and this includes debt. There are things that, as a partnership, that you need to discuss regarding your finances.

Firstly, talk about them. Preferably you should do this before you get married, but if you haven’t, then it might be beneficial to lay out some ground rules. For example, purchases over a certain amount could be discussed. You may have a dynamic where one of you is good with money and the other one not so much. And arguments over money are all too common. Knowing how much debt you have combined is a good starting point, so you can then factor in how to handle money on both sides of the partnership.

Secondly, establish goals. Discussing your goals in terms of things like, when you want to retire, by which point you’d like to get out of debt, and similar long-term ideas. If you are planning on having children, are you going to be a one-income family so one person can stay at home and look after the kids? If so, you need to stick to a budget, and this can’t be done unless you stick to certain spending habits and link them up to your goals.

Thirdly, discuss your bank accounts. There are good and bad points to opening a joint bank account, namely that trust is improved in your marriage, and it can simplify your finances as you can see all of your outgoings in one place. But there are also pluses to keeping your own individual accounts, especially if you need to take out individual life insurance policies, or have spending habits individual to you. If you choose to have a joint life-insurance policy, there are many comprehensive policies that cover married couples, and also those in civil partnerships, which you can get information on at www.insurancehero.org.uk/types/lgbt-life-insurance-for-gay-people.html. But if you opt to have individual bank accounts, it may make things easier if divorce is on the cards, which, statistically, there is a chance of.

Fourthly, build an emergency fund. An important aspect of any marriage is creating a fund, in case problems relating to health should arise, or someone loses their job, or there is a part of the house that is in dire need of repair. You should aim to save around 6 months worth of your household expenses. That way, if something does crop up, you have a very big buffer to help you out of a tight spot for quite a long period of time.

The Tricks You're Not (But Should Be) Using To Grow Your Wealth

You might think that you have to be rich to start building wealth seriously. Some people are just lucky to have enough money to reach investment options. Then they can start using them to generate even more cash. The wheel keeps on spinning and your situation doesn’t change. The fact is that most people have the power to grow their wealth without realizing it. We’ll look at a few ways below.

Pay yourself first

It’s the golden rule of wealth building, but not everyone has heard of it. You might think ‘but I spend most of my money for myself’. That’s not paying yourself first. It’s about contributing towards financial growth before any money starts going out. Not after you’ve paid rent, bought groceries and treated yourself. Make a budget to see how much you can afford to pay yourself first. Pay it out as soon as you get a paycheck, so it’s not lingering in your bank account, liable to be spent.

Do a credit cleanup

Over a lifetime, bad credit is going to cause you a lot of financial headaches. Yet there are a few tips to cleaning up your record you might not have considered. You already know it’s important to pay loans on time. But did you know that it damages your credit to keep open credit cards that you’re not using? Or that paying loans off early can also negatively affect your score? Even being on the electoral role can improve your credit score.

Use your assets

If you own a home or a car, you have some serious money making potential there already. For instance, with your home, consider renting out space for storage. Whether it’s in the loft or the driveway, there are a lot of people willing to pay for usable space. This option is, however, better for those who have already paid off their mortgage. In some cases, it can even be tax free income.

Go overseas

Savings and fixed income investments are safe ways to grow your wealth slowly. But what if you could take the security of those investments but benefit from a lot more growth? There are many wealth management products available in overseas banks. For instance, you can get the same fixed income investment deal. But because of globalization and rise of overseas economies far faster than established ones, you end up with a lot more interest.

Start a side business

Starting a business is perhaps one of the most reliable ways to have a crack at taking control of your own finances. But you don’t have to quit your day job and put all your effort towards a risky new venture. Instead, consider the many side businesses you can easily run from your own home in your space time. Get used to how to run a business while still relying on your primary income. That experience can greatly benefit you when you decide to really take off on your own.

Building wealth requires nothing but discipline and a little ingenuity. There are methods everyone can use, no matter their situation, to earn more. Hopefully, the tips above help you find yours.

Money Woes? Get Street Smart About Managing Your Wealth

It’s always rather nice to have something that could be accurately called “wealth.” But are you actually managing your personal wealth effectively? So long as your net position is in the black, you’ve got assets to play with. But knowing how to navigate all its possible uses can be difficult.

Here we’re going to investigate some sound wealth management principles. Here’s how to get street smart about managing your wealth.

Start Retirement Planning Early

All the best financial advisors agree that people should start planning for retirement sooner rather than later. There’s an enormous difference in the amount of money you can build up if you start saving in your twenties, rather than your forties. Over a period of forty years, compound interest quickly adds up to some dizzying numbers. Say, for instance, you put away $1,000 at age 25. Most retirement savings earn around 4 percent per year, on average. So how much money do you think you’d be left with by the time you reached 65? It turns out that that humble $1,000 will grow to more than $4,800 after 40 years. Now imagine just how much money you could save if you saving $1,000 every year of your life. By the time you came to retire, you’d have a handsome sum to live on.

The bottom line? By starting retirement savings early, you can build a savings pot that will allow you to do the things you dream about.

Make Your Goals Achievable

Your goals inform the way you manage your money. For instance, if you want to live the high-life, then there’s no point just putting a few extra dollars into your 401 k. You need to take big risks if you want to get big rewards. For instance, one of your wealth management goals might be to set up your own company. This is a route to getting a big payoff. But it’s also a risky venture that may leave you broke.

If your ambitions are more modest, like owning a home, shift your financial plan accordingly. Don’t bother playing around with high-risk shares on the stock exchange. Invest through tried and tested means in companies that are sure to provide a return.

Play The Long Game

There are, in general, two distinct types of investors. There are those who play the long game, and there are those who want to make a quick buck. If you want to manage and build your wealth, it should come as no surprise that you should play the long game.

Just look at the returns that gold bugs saw back in the 2000s. Gold was down at a mere $300 an ounce around the year 2000. From 2000 to 2011, the price of gold shot up to more than $1,800. During that entire time, those who bought gold were told that it was a bear market, or that gold was in a bubble. And yet they continued to hold onto it nonetheless. The people who played the long game and ignored the vicissitudes of the market did better than those who didn’t. There’s an important lesson in that.

5 Common Investing Myths: Busted

Many people find the overload of information around wealth creation so overwhelming, that they delay taking control of their finances. This is a shame because with investing the earlier you get started, the better. Busted below are five common investing myths.

You Need Lots of Money

The goal of sound investing is for your money to make more money. Most people have heard the expression make your money work harder. That’s the strategy around which most financial advisorslike My Wealth Solutions operate, and it doesn’t take a lot of money to get started. If you earn a regular income it’s time to start thinking about how you can make that income work harder for you.

You Need Financial Expertise.

Not everyone is a financial expert and you don’t need to be. What you do need, far more than an intimate understanding of financial products and services, is clarity about the one thing upon which you – and only you – are an expert: yourself. Spend some time working out what kind of life you’d like to live now, and in the future. Once you know what yourfinancial and lifestyle goals are, you can work collaboratively with a qualified planner on creating a path to get you there.

Investing Takes Up Lots of Time.

With everything going on these days, you probably don’t have much time to formulate the fastest and most effective path towards personal wealth creation. That’s where a financial planner can help. It’s their job to put your money to work for you and assist you to achieve your financial goals. Once your plan is in place, all you have to do is follow it, and check in with your planner now and then. Make sure you find a consultant who understands you and your lifestyle; be honest about how you want to live now, and into the future. Thinking about what you really want for yourself in the future does take time – but it is time well spent.

Investing Is Risky.

It’s true - there is no such thing as risk-free investment. It’s also true that, with inflation rising annually, cash buys less every year so by not investing, you are actually losing money – and what could be riskier than that? Having no financial plan also carries inherent risks of its own. For example, how would you cope with a sudden drop in income? Would you be able to cover costs in the case of injury to yourself or your family? These all too common scenarios could see you trapped ina debt cycle as you struggle to keep up with basic living expenses, never mind lofty financial goals. Investments create optionsso when emergencies do strike, you have more choice about how to handle them.

Investing Creates Tax Problems

It certainly does appear that any attempt to improve yourself financiallycreates a tax bill. Logic tells you that more money coming in is a good thing, and there are strategies for managing tax liabilities. A good financial consultant can offer guidance along these lines. After all, the goal of investingis to increase your income for your own benefit, not anyone else’s.

The bottom line is that wealth creation isn’t as daunting as it seems. Investing some of your hard-earned money now so you don’t have to work so hard later makes sense. With a regular income in place, all you need is a clear understanding of how you see your future lifestyle. Clarity yields better dividends than confusion– and you don’t need an expert to tell you that.

Worried about any other investing myths? Share your concerns in the comments box below.