As wise parents, we try to teach our children about the most important things in life. We make sure our children know to stay away from strangers, to treat others as they would like to be treated and the importance of education. Why not start teaching our children about finance and how to manage money? This article discusses children and finance and how to teach your kids about finance.
Give Your Kids a ‘Job’ -
Most children do household chores when they reach a certain age. Why not turn this into an important lesson in finance? Aside from their usual chores, you could give them an optional job or two each week that they can earn money from. You might offer them a few dollars to rake the yard or sort the laundry - anything that will actually be helping and that they can earn money from. Of course, if your children don’t do the job, they don’t earn the money! This is a great way to teach your children that money doesn’t come without hard work and time!
Start a Savings Account for Your Child -
Another thing you can do (which would work in combination with giving your kids a job) is start a savings account for your child. Explain to them how the bank keeps their money and even gives them a little extra each month for saving it. You can have them put their allowance money in their savings account and show them their statements each month so they can see their money adding up. This will help your child learn the importance of saving - and if you want, you can let them think about something really great they want to purchase once they’ve saved so much money. This will show them that by saving their money, they can get things they really want!
Older Children -
If your children are older, there are several things you can do in order to show them about finance. For instance, you could have them get a real part time job so they learn what it’s like to work for money and what goes into earning a paycheck. If they drive, they can help pay insurance on the car or give you a percentage of their paycheck for gas money. Of course, if they don’t pay for the insurance or gas money - they don’t drive. This may seem cruel but when your child gets a real job, if they don’t pay their bills, they won’t enjoy the benefits of the services. If they don’t work, they won’t receive a paycheck. These methods will properly prepare your child for the real world and a working environment.
These are some really great ways to teach your children about finance so that they will understand the value of money and how hard it is to earn. This is a valuable lesson that you can give to your child and you can use the tips and suggestions in this article to do it. Good luck!
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Posted by barbara on Monday, January 26th, 2009
Household insurance is the cover that protects your home in the event of accidents, disasters or thefts. There are different types of insurance for home owners; they are:
Building insurance and Content insurance.
Building insurance protects the your home (the physical structure and fixtures of your home) in event of any damage to it while Content insurance provides protection for the movable things in your home (an example of which is jewelry, paintings and furniture).
you can buy these covers together or singly. It is best for you to shop around extensively to find out whether it is cheaper for you to buy the two covers together from the same provider or singly and from different providers.
what is a content insurance policy?
This is the policy that provides coverage for the valuables and movable property in your home. The policy would ensure either total replacement or repair of every article that is included in the cover.
what is a building insurance policy?
This is the policy that provides protection for the homeowner in the event of damage to the physical structure of the home. These structures include the fittings an fixtures in the house.
Home insurance is very essential for every home owner because it saves you a lot of emotional and financial stress in event of damage or loss of property. Imagine a situation where your home was razed by a fire disaster and there is no insurance cover; the stress of rebuilding afresh would be enormous.
Having established the importance of home insurance, what is the best means of getting the best deals?
The best, easiest and quickest way to buy home insurance is to shop extensively online. This brings you in contact with experts who would help you with quotations and estimation of the correct amount of cover to buy.
Here are a few tips on how to lower your premiums:-
1. If you are willing to pay a higher amount for the excess than is stated in the terms and conditions of your cover, you may then be able to negotiate a lower premium.
2. The security of your home also determines your negotiating power. If your home has a fence around it, high quality doors and window locks that are difficult to pick and alarm system, you would be able to get lower premiums because you are considered a low risk client.
3. Make sure you take inventory of the things you want to insure. This would help you to buy the appropriate amount of cover that you need.
4. Review the content of your cover on a yearly basis to avoid continued coverage of irrelevant items. It would also pay to check out other insurers to find out whether there has been a better offer since the last time you bought your household cover.
Finally, if you want to have a special cover for valuable items in your home, ensure that you state what they are and also the value. In most cases, because these items are over a certain amount, you would have to buy a separate cover for them and thus pay a higher premium.
No matter how you try to lower your rates, if you do not compare enough quotes, you would still be missing out on very great deals. These quotes are free and there is no obligation attached to it.
Get your free quotes and enjoy the best of rates.
You can start with these favorites of mine.
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Chimerenka Odimba is the publisher Several finance based sites.
Posted by barbara on Sunday, January 25th, 2009
We get a lot of questions regarding the commercial loan business. Many are from our peers that want our opinions on the commercial loan business.
Warren Buffet was on the radio this morning. He stated “when the markets greedy, be fearful. When the markets fearful, you be greedy.” I think we can all apply that perspective on our positions in the commercial loan business. In a few years, the credit crisis will have settled. The commercial loan business will be different, but it will still be viable.
There will be more government regulation for sure and probably more intense review of the credit rating agencies out there, like moody’s etc. Perhaps there will be a new type of loan structure replacing the current CMBS platform, but the players that pulled out will be kicking themselves as they see their competition making serous money and they will still be learning the “ropes” of their new chosen field. The survivors will make big headway in market share.
We believe that the problems can and will be fix. This is just another recession in a long list of them. We go through this every 10 to 15 years. Now is the time to adapt and refine your skills - not the time to pull out. We tend to think a lot about what is still funding. What lenders and banks are still looking at deals? Never mind what the borrower wants or thinks he should get. It’s more an attitude of take it or leave it.
The commercial loan business is still moving forward, with a limp for sure, but it’s still moving forward. For example we are still closing loans. Both owner occ and investment. This is the time people build substantial wealth as they pick up bargain opportunities or take chunks of market share that just wouldn’t be possible during normal times.
Jeff Rauth is President of Commercial Finance Advisors, Inc out of Birmingham, Michigan a national commercial mortgage brokerage firm. 248 885-8797. He also has a STORE for commercial loan brokers. Contracts, spreadsheets, books, etc. Products starting at $5. Check it out commercial real estate loans or commercial loan business
Posted by barbara on Saturday, January 24th, 2009
Making money fast is the goal of most people. Making money alone is not enough and what is required is velocity. Making $40,000 dollars in a whole year is common and not very exciting, but making $40,000 per week, now we have an income worth getting excited about.
Can you imagine running your own business with an income of $40,000 per week? Do you think you would be proud of yourself, at least as far as financial goals are concerned, you have done very well. Although it is not very common, it can be done and there are individuals out there, that started with nothing and built up an income similar to this very quickly.
Without thinking about it too much I can tell you an income like this can be achieved with leverage of some form. The three main forms of leverage are time leverage, money leverage and people leverage.. Using just one can help you achieve such a goal, but utilizing 2 or even all three of them, you are much more likely to achieve it.
Just remember with leverage, it is a tool and like any tool it magnifies results. If your results are good it will make a lot more of them more quickly, but if your results are bad, in other words, you are losing money, you will actually lose it a hell of a lot quicker. Leverage is a tool like a scalpel. In a surgeons hands, a scalpel can save a life, in a madman’s hands it can destroy a life.
Using leverage however, once you get to a point where you are profitable and know what you are doing, you can use one of the types of leverage to magnify and increase the velocity of what is already happening which is making money.
If you need money now, like I mean in the next hour, try what I did. I am making more money now than in my old business and you can too, read about Martin Thomas in the link below. When I joined I was skeptical for just ten seconds before I realized what this was. I literally could not wipe the smile off my face. You are about to discover something different.
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Posted by barbara on Friday, January 23rd, 2009
Let me tell you something. Most of the population of the world is worried about one thing - money. More correctly, they are worried about LACK of money.
Here is a simple formula:
Earn $100 and spend $101 and you are in trouble.
Earn $100 and spend $99 and you are not in trouble.
That $2 makes a world of difference.
The problem with most people is that they do not earn enough money to fund their lifestyle. That is a lifestyle fuelled by slick marketing campaigns that implore you to have now and pay later. The trouble comes when the credit period runs out and the mounting debt must be paid.
So many people waste money on take-away food, alcohol, cigarettes, snazzy-looking motor vehicles, the latest cell phones, (dare I say it? yes I will) drugs and sex. These are all the things that will make you poor and keep you poor. Indulging in any of these will almost certainly confine you to a life of lack. This is the miserable life of the poor money manager.
The wise money managers invest. They invest in property, property trusts, blue chip shares, quality assets, businesses and desirable collectable items. They always have money because their assets create money for them.
In summary, if you are forever exchanging your time for money you will never be wealthy. If you leverage your time and allow assets to create money you will become wealthy. Change your mindset and you will change your outcomes.
This article comes with reprint rights providing no changes are made and the resource box below accompanies it.
To learn how to be a wise money manager click here. To find inspiration click here.
Posted by barbara on Wednesday, January 21st, 2009
Some of your taxes go to pay for government grants, and you are entitled to claim some of this free money for yourself. Federal government grants are loans without the loan agreement. In other words, it is money that you get to spend and never have to pay back.
There are thousands of different grants and billions of dollars set aside that the government must give away every year. And qualifying has nothing to do with your personal information. It doesn’t matter if you have good debt or bad debt, they just want to give the money away to people that will use it appropriately.
Only one stipulation is usually tied to these free money grants. That is to use the money in the matter that it was intended for. As an example, if you receive a $200,000 grant to restore your home, you can’t use the money to pay off your debt. If you receive $50,000 to pay off your debt, you can’t use it to start a day care business.
But what you can do is apply for as many of these federal government grants and receive free money as many times as you like. It doesn’t matter if you have already received a grant or not. All that matters is you apply.
Unfortunately, most people are either aware of these free grants or do not know how to go through the process of applying for them. That’s because the government does not advertise these programs in any way. You have to do the legwork and find these programs on your own.
Since so few people take advantage of them, the government is face with giving the money to just about anyone that applies. They have to give the money away, and if they don’t get enough applications, they are left with fewer people to select from to give the money away. That means there’s a good chance that you can apply for free money, get accepted, and receive a check in the mail shortly thereafter.
All you need to do is access a database of these federal government grants. From there you can submit an application online or through the mail. Get started with claiming your free money. Access the database by clicking here.
Posted by barbara on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009
When it comes time to purchase a new car, it is important to remember that you have options - no matter what kind of car you are looking to purchase. Through auto finance opportunities, you can not only buy more car for your dollar, but you can also buy a car that works for you and your budget.
Auto financing can come in many ways. It can include loans from institutions, such as banks, and it can include more creative auto financing options as well. Here are 3 easy ways that you can get auto financing that will actually work with your budget:
Buy Together
If you have the option, finance your next car with your partner. Financing together may not only help to decrease the interest rate on your loan, but it can go a long way to making banks and other lending institutions more comfortable giving you a sizeable loan amount. Make sure that your partner has good credit, though. Having a partner with bad credit may actually bring your interest rate up. Also, make sure that your partner is willing to help you make the loan payments so that you are not stuck with having to pay them on your own unexpectedly.
Speak with the Dealership
Car dealerships are prepared to help you with auto finance - whether you are purchasing a new or a used car. Many dealerships require a large down payment - usually about ten to twenty five percent of the total cost of the car - before they agree to make the loan to you. Also, talk with the dealership about different payment schedules, such as a one year loan, two year, or even six year loan. You may want to get the loan paid off more quickly than six years though!
Buy on Credit
You may not get the advice to buy a car with a credit card too often, but consider this: if you have a credit card that offers miles back or other rewards, then you may just come out ahead…as long as you have a comfortable amount of money available to pay the credit card off. Some credit cards come with interest rates as low as zero percent for a year, which means that you could buy your car on credit, pay it off, and never once have to pay interest. Always analyze your budget against the interest rate and rewards on your credit card first.
Auto finance can be tricky, but with the right research and help, anyone can finance a car in a jiffy. Just remember to value your budget so that you do not purchase a car that you are unable to afford. Budgeting is the first step to sound auto finance.
All Makes and Models. Get approved regardless of past credit issues. Visit us today at http://www.pickardlaneleasing.ca/ The application is Quick and Easy.
Posted by barbara on Monday, January 19th, 2009
Life grows not only with expectations but alluring dreams and demands. So, nothing could be as ecstatic as having a dream-come-true. In this world of luxury what one hardly misses to dream of is a sweet, sleek limousine. No doubt, the auto world has put a huge range of scintillating cars in front of those who are eagerly awaiting the exciting first drive. But when it comes to make the dream come true, the matter of main concern is how much to afford and how to manage the tones of expenses which come with a new car. And car loans are there to get jitters off. So, there are a few things which must be considered before purchasing a car.
Assessment of affordability: It is true that haste makes waste. So taking affordability in mind, it should leisurely be decided whether to buy a new car or a used one. While calculating the affording capacity, the most important thing is the monthly income and expenses of the person who want to buy a car. Apart from that car payment, insurance, gas, and maintenance also add considerably to the expenses. It is said that a car payment should wisely be managed it must not be more than 20 percent of the total income. So loan term should be scheduled a bit longer to avoid unnecessary burden.
Where to get a car loan from: After considering all ifs and buts that comes in the wake of deciding how much for a car, a relatively larger issue is where to get loan from. There are several options yet a little pondering is required. First of all if it is a credit union or bank, it would be the best. By the way now finance could be made by auto dealer also, but the interest could lay a bit heavier on the pocket. And if it is from some relative or a friend, no issue but the payment must be on monthly basis.
Options to take a car loan: The way a car is chosen, in the same way a loan option should be picked. Tax-deductible mortgages, cash-out first mortgage refinancing, home equity loans, auto loans and the like are many options to choose from. At this point, what benefits the clients/customers is their good credit.
Thus a most awaited dream can come to the door-step, offering an excitingly alluring invitation for a long ecstatic drive.
MotorCarLoans offers a free to use and independent service for car loan and car finance. We also provide car insurance as well as other car-related products such as Breakdown Cover, Car Warranty, as well as useful Articles and Guides.
Posted by barbara on Sunday, January 18th, 2009
Insurance, funds, investments, business, retirement with so many financial goals to meet, making the right decisions can be quite a difficult task.
This is where financial advisers and financial planners come in.
Financial advisor and financial planners are professionals that can help you deal with various financial issues. These experts can help you maintain and achieve your goals through proper money management, asset allocation, investment planning, and many more.
These two experts however, have different functions.
A financial planner helps address certain issues through proper financial planning. This practice usually deals with matters such as cash flow management, investment planning, retirement, tax planning, education planning, and investment planning among many others.
Usually, planners help determine a person’s financial goals by evaluating several factors. These include resources and current lifestyle. A tailored strategy would then be developed to realistically achieve financial stability.
A financial advisor on the other hand, is professional that provides sound investment advice as well as other financial services to businesses and individuals. He or she commonly deals with securities such as mutual funds, bonds, futures, and stocks to increase the client’s assets.
This type of service is ideal for individuals or companies who want to minimize financial risk and ultimately maximize their money and assets.
Apart from providing financial directions, both advisers and planners ultimate goal is to help their clients to understand how one financial decision and easily affect other aspects of finance. Thus, they are here to support and gear their clients towards financial success.
http://www.moneymanager.com/ MoneyManager.Com - FINANCIAL ADVISORS AND MONEY MANAGERS
Posted by barbara on Saturday, January 17th, 2009
I used to have a lot of bad habits, and then I looked at my wallet. The amount of money that I had been spending on vices and compulsive purchases astounded me, and it was enough to convince me to kick bad habits and start money-saving ones. Now I’m a new man: a non-smoker, a frugal consumer, and a shopper who cannot not research for online deals and discounts.
What are bad habits that one might want to kick to live frugally? What are some of the little ways to save money? Here are a few of my personal examples. Some of them might seem obvious, but everyone needs a bit of reminding now and then.
Stop smoking. I used to smoke a pack of cigarettes a day. Needless to say, that set me back more than a hundred dollars a month. It was difficult to quit cold turkey, of course, and I thought that my lungs will burn with longing, so what I did was look up websites that offered advice and support through chat rooms and community forums.
Don’t shop when hungry. Any hungry shopper faces a great temptation. The lure of the here and now, the prospect of immediately gratifying one’s self, is too much sometimes. I can relate. Before I used to go grocery shopping in the morning, before lunch, and I would be picking out all kinds of canned goods and potato chips from the shelves. Now I go to the grocery after I have eaten, so I wouldn’t think too much of looking for food and spending without a sense of proportion.
Cook at home. I used to eat so frequently at restaurants that I remember having spent about a thousand dollars a month on meals. That’s why evenings tired me; the dinners out also made me gain weight and lose a lot of potential savings. Now, I simply cook at home. I’ve bought a couple of recipe books so I can cook fine meals at home. I also eat leftovers and sometimes even bring my lunch to work.
Research first before finalizing travel plans. There are a lot of online deals being offered by travel companies and agencies. I used to ignore these and traveled rather capriciously - whether the trip was for business or for leisure. Now, I actively search out deals and check the Internet before deciding on anything: I check bookings, cancellations in travel clubs I’ve joined, special package offers, and budget airline tickets. I also usually stay at cheap hotels that have loyalty programs for frequent guests.
Avoid too much loyalty and shop around. I used to be so intent on getting the best and most popular brands - be it for fashion, for cars, for cellphones and for computers. Now, I first study what online deals there are available. Can I get something cheaper but just as practical? Am I paying a premium for the name of the manufacturer? Shopping around may take some time, but it also saves a little money.
David Stack is a computer programmer and web developer, and a weekend writer. He has been operating Coupon Saver for over a year now. Get more gift coupon codes, free shipping and promos by visiting Promotional Codes.
Posted by barbara on Thursday, January 15th, 2009