How to adapt your home on a budget

For people with mobility and financial problems who have to adapt their home to create a workable environment, life can be very difficult. On a tight budget what can you do if you need your bathroom or kitchen structurally changed?

Get help

Firstly you need to look into any possible help that you may be able to get in the way of grants or interest free loans. Contact your local Housing or Environmental Health departments. They will be able to tell you if it is possible to put in an application. Depending on your circumstances and that does not mean your savings; they may be able to help.

It may take a little time but someone will come round and assess your situation and possible needs. By law they have to give you an answer within a specific time-frame. If you have a citizen’s advice bureau they may also be able to put you in touch with help organisations or trustworthy loan offers.

Never agree to anything until you have had time to consider, read all the paperwork, get more than one person’s advice  and try to meet others who have been through what you are about to do. You may already be a member of local societies dealing with the range of disabilities that you are experiencing. In that case they should be able to help you with advice if not actually getting physically involved. If you are ex-service personnel then people like the Royal British Legion in Britain and similar services in other countries will actively try to support you.

Use professionals

Having got to a point where you are going ahead with adapting say your bathroom and have decided that a walk in bath or shower with its 34 inches of combined safety and comfort will fit well into your tiny room, make sure that you speak to professionals. Many of them operate within a range of budgets and it’s best to have any changes made to a high standard and pay a little more for the reassurance.

Rearrange your home

Could you move your bedroom downstairs, rather than find solutions for getting up there?  Could you re- arrange your kitchen so that most of the essentials are within easy reach of a custom chair? You don’t have to buy expensive units when simple adaptions can be made to existing items.

Sit in each room with a pad and pen and ponder what would be good for you in each. Write your ideas down, put the kettle on and consider if it is possible to do changes within your budget. Start with the most important necessities and then see what room is left in your budget for other changes you’d like to make.

Achieving Goals Through Habits

Image source: topsecretwriters.com

Taking the next step, step 11, is to make SMART goals.

Goals need to be:
Specific: (for example) I'd like to save 20% of my monthly income
Measurable: by saving 20%, I'd have achieved the goal
Achievable: I make sure 20% of income is realistic
Rewarding: it gives a feeling of achievement or self-fulfillment
Trackable: tracking my spending on how I can improve my savings.

Before making SMART goals, more importantly, we need to know how we can make things a habit so any realistic goals made are achievable. James Clear calls it "identity-based habits". We start by planting an identity who we'd like to be, believe it, then truly become the person. For example, I create a new identity that I am a person who lives without debt whilst my current situation is being in debt with five credit cards. I must prove to myself that the new identity is who I am by creating "small wins". A person who lives without debt, surely has a savings account. So, I create a habit that after I receive a paycheck, I separate 2.5% for savings to create small wins. Raise it by 100% to 5% on next month's paycheck and so on. At the same time, I make it a habit to pay down my debt (and stop using the card), starting with the smallest outstanding balance until it is paid off. Shred the credit card. Win.

If you'd like to start with the highest interest and the highest balance, that's also fine. There are two ways to walk up a very steep and tall hill; walk with your head looking up at the highest point of the hill, or you can keep your head down. It is physically and mentally exhausting to look up and constantly saying to yourself that "you're almost there", where in truth you're still quite far. However, if you keep your head down and just keep walking, it might be a little bit easier. Don't focus on how much debt is left to be repaid, just keep focused on paying down the debt. Negotiate with the credit card company on freezing the card and interest because you've made a commitment to pay it off. You can also use services such as those provided by Islamic Debt Solutions.

The key is not in setting the goal, but in creating the healthy habits to actually become the person able to meet the goals made.

When and how should we get Financial Advices?

We are all in need of someone who can cut our bills. For that we have to stop using Independent Financial Adviser. We have to know that from where and how we can get proper advice. If we have shortage of time in researching while searching for financial products which are complex, then the financial advice will seem worthwhile to us. We should take our full time for researching for the best products. Professional help has to be taken each and every time as paying the adviser is worth as it will ensure that we are getting all the things right.

Help from the experts are needed in some areas which are quite common. The first area which includes is the pensions. At the time of retirement we are supposed to get a pension which is the annual payment for the rest of the life. It is a financial transaction which is pretty big. For this, most of us would require an adviser as we have to acquire the best deal after searching in the market. The other financial transaction which is huge is mortgages. We should always remember that we will not be getting an instructor but an adviser. So it is important to know all the basics from before. The products which are complex include life insurance, protection of income, critical sickness, and also there are several exclusions. In some particular events, the adviser is not needed and it can be done cheaply.



Legally the advisors can be categorized into two parts. One is the Independent Financial Advisers which are absolutely unbiased and offer advice on all products found in the market. The other is the Restricted Advisers which can be located in the high street banks. The variety of products is limited to them.

International money transfer in UK is a quick way of transferring remuneration which is personal from the bank accounts in UK to others in abroad. The service of money transfer in UK is very efficient and dedicated and works as a team. Fees for anything are not needed and the exchange rates are competitive. The international money transfer is complete secure and is very fast. The amount from which money can be transferred is £250. The whole process of money transfer is convenient for using. Money can be transferred at any time whether it is day or night it does not matter. We can also save a lot of money through this process of money transfer. We can fix our rate of exchange up to twelve months as the pound will be getting weaker within that time. The options of payment are varied. Online payments can also be done. We are also able to manage our budget through this service as we will also know that how much we are paying every time we are transferring the money. We will have to ensure that we are making usage of the most effective processes for our purposes. We have to choose the best rates of exchange and also the charges of transaction.

Impact of the UK Budgetary Announcement 2013

The announcement of the UK budget will have a lot of impact especially to the both the employers and the contractors.

The budget has greatly considered the working parent. Parents will benefit from the new tax free vouchers that will offer £ 1,200 childcare to parents earning less than £150,000 per year, aimed at encouraging more parents to return to work after maternity or paternity leave. This will come as a boost to employers in the region.

The other set of good news to the contractors is that the 3% increase in fuel tax that was due in September has been scrapped and so has the escalating beer tax which will now be replaced by a cut of 1p per pint. Other alcohol duty rises remain in place though, such as 10 pence extra on a bottle of wine. Gin drinkers are the hardest hit and must pay 39p extra!

A focus on more sober matters, the chancellor steered clear of pension tax. This will come as a huge relief to contractors as pensions seem to have suffered in recent budgets, with annual allowance falling from £ 255,000 to £ 40,000 over the last three years of budget statements, while the lifetime allowance reducing from £ 1.8m to £ 1.25m. This has come in amid speculation that there could have been a further cut to £ 30,000 a year.

The government is also set to cap long term care at £ 72,000. This will put a limit on the proportion of an individual's wealth that can be consumed to pay up for their later years, although this is all in theory. This will provide peace of mind to those who want to plan for their old age and leave savings to their children.

There has also been a major boost to investors as Osborne has scrapped duty on the shares traded in growth markets. This will allow contractors interested in self-investment to access far greater range of options.

It is also a major relief as the tax loop hole that allowed many companies to dodge around £ 100m in national insurance will now be closed. It is important that the government closes this loophole as soon as possible, ensuring that no worker is left unaware that their tax status makes them ineligible for such benefits. Every worker should be secure in the knowledge that the correct tax is being paid by their employer so that they are not exposed to unnecessary risks.

It is also good news to all employers as from April 2014; the government will give businesses and charities an entitlement to a £ 2,000 Employment Allowance per year towards their employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) bill. This will particularly help small businesses who want to hire their first employee or expand their workforce;

The government also intends to promote exports and inward investment by providing support for more than 32,000 SMEs to export in 2012-13 and also provide support to UK exporters to win contracts worth over £ 3.2bn. Also encourage investment across sectors and regions.

The UK government also sets out to make UK the best place for business by improving access to finance and support to new and growing businesses. This will be possible through Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme and expanded Venture Capital Trusts and Enterprise Investment Scheme, funding raised so far through the Business Finance Partnership and the increasing number of banks and building societies signed up to the Funding for Lending Scheme.


The article was written on behalf of a paye umbrella company for contractors who also provide accountancy services to limited companies.

Joining a paid survey site

If you join a paid survey site, it will help you to make extra money from the comforts of your own home. You just have to register your name in a paid survey site for making some extra income. Make a research on legitimate paid survey websites and choose a suitable one for your end. Surveys are often used by the businesses in improving their services. You are given a small fee for providing input to enhance a business service. Let’s have a look at some of the tips for joining a paid survey website:

Make an alternate email account

You have to make an alternate email account for the purpose of taking online researches. It is because you will get a huge amount of emails. You can create a free account in Hotmail before registering your name with a paid survey site.

Find out a directory

You should also try to find out a directory of online paid research sites. You can go to the Free Paid Survey site for finding a list of websites to join and get paid for taking research work. Go through all the information on the paid survey site associated with joining the site for avoiding scams. Never pay for information on online surveys sites as genuine marketing research companies do not charge any fee.

Sign up with a legitimate website

Finally you have to sign up with a legitimate site matching your profile. You can sign up for free and can start working on online researches. Try to fill out the application with all the necessary information. You will then get an email on the process of activating your account. Opt for your suitable research works for earning points and prizes.

Register your name with Crowdology paid surveys UK and get the opportunity to earn extra money from your home.

The Things We All Need

I need this. Really! Image from green.autoblog.com

If you have kids and gone for a stroll with them at the supermarket, you'd notice how they use the words want and need. I think, in their brains, they know the impact of each word. Saying "I need this" vs "I want this" has its own weight. So, "need" will come up more often than "want". I barely can resist their puppy eyes and mellow voice as they longingly look at the toy that has been strategically placed eye-level with seated shopping carts.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow's hierarchy of needs breaks down needs into three parts; basic needs, psychological needs, and self-fulfillment needs. Basic needs are the foundation of the triangle, consisting of physiological and safety needs. Physiological consists of food and water. Safety needs, like shelter. The psychological needs are love/belonging like friendships and esteem for feelings of accomplishment. The last part is self-actualization, fulfilling one's potential.

Maslow's hierarchy is a perfect formula for marketing purposes. For example; A commercial showing a boy waiting in hunger as he licks his lips while he watches his Mom make a peanut butter sandwich for breakfast. The boy finishes his breakfast then heads off to school for a test, A+! The boy returns home to see his Mom very proud of her son's achievement, giving him a great big hug. Meaning, advertisers/marketers try to make the item attractive physiologically (hunger, then leave for school feeling full from the peanut butter sandwich), a feeling of love, safety (mom's hug), self-esteem, and sense of self-fulfillment. So, within these needs, companies are trying to categorize or push their products as the I-need-to-haves. I need to have all (physiological, safety, love, esteem, self-actualization) that, just from a jar of peanut butter.

Step 10, is all about identifying needs, wants, and prioritizing. What are our financial needs and wants? Using Maslow's hierarchy of needs, we start from the foundation; our basic needs, the need to eat, drink, sleep safely in a home and so on. We should start tackling down things that might harm our basic needs, debt. We should prioritize to repay any debt on time, because it may harm the very foundation and basic needs. A mortgage, car loan, consumer debt. If we don't have a home, save for a down-payment.

The second is psychological, the need for happiness. Plan for a refreshing trip to the beach, watch a good movie, buy a book that you will enjoy reading accompanied with hot cocoa on a rainy day, and things that will give you positive experiences. Also spend on others, giving out to charities so that you will become much happier. Being happier will help you in avoiding foolish money decisions. Those who withhold from giving (productively) are only withholding themselves from happiness.

"Here you are - those invited to spend (what Allah has provided) in the cause of Allah - but among you are those who withhold [out of greed]. And whoever withholds only withholds [benefit] from himself; and Allah is the Free of need, while you are the needy. And if you turn away, He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you." 

Surat Muĥammad 47:38

The final part, self-actualization, is supported by our actions from the foundation. We believe in our abilities and will fulfill our potential to make the right financial decisions and goals.

We will continue next week for step 11 in setting SMART financial goals.

Debt solutions: IVAs vs. DMPs

Photo courtesy of abcdlish (flickr)

If you are struggling with unresolved debt, it may be difficult to envisage a future free from financial strain and overdue payments. Bankruptcy may often be considered the only viable option by those so overwhelmed by debt that it feels impossible to escape, but there are less drastic alternatives available.

For example, an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is a legally binding insolvency agreement made on behalf of the debtor to their creditors to arrange affordable regular repayments. IVAs are obtained through insolvency practitioners, who will make the necessary arrangements with your creditors regarding what you can afford to repay and how long the term of your IVA will last.



An Individual Voluntary Arrangement is not to be confused with a Debt Management Plan (DMP). Although the two are similar in that they offer an alternative solution to bankruptcy, a DMP is an informal agreement that is more flexible to an IVA in that repayments can be negotiated and there isn’t a minimum amount of debt required to set up a DMP.

Your situation will depend on what solution is best for you; this can range from how much you can afford to pay to how much you owe. If you are considering taking action against your outstanding debts, it is important to consult a professional debt solution service first to explore all avenues available to you.

What are the key differences between an IVA and a DMP?

• You can administrate a DMP yourself free of charge, you can’t with an IVA

As an IVA is a legal form of insolvency, it needs to be processed by an Insolvency Practitioner which will incur administration fee, and also further handling fees whenever a payment is made. A DMP can be set up by the debtor discussing the repayment plan directly with their creditor, or via a debt charity which is usually free of charge.

• An IVA can write off some of your debt, but a DMP cannot

As an IVA is a legal form of insolvency, an arrangement is made to make regular and affordable payments towards clearing debt over a set period of time (usually 5 years). If at the end of this period there is still debt outstanding, it will be written off. As a DMP is set up for the debtor to repay all, not some, of their debt, there is a no set time period. If reasons occur that delay repayment, the agreement will be extended until all debt is cleared.

• An IVA will protect you from creditors, a DMP may not

Once an IVA has been administered, your creditors should no longer contact you regarding the amount owed. However creditors can continue to chase you for extra payments and continue with debt recovery proceedings if you are part of a DMP.

• An IVA will freeze charges and interest, but a DMP may not

When you enter into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement, all charges and interest from creditors will be frozen to allow you to pay back the amount owed without adding to it. A Debt Management Plan will not necessarily do the same, as creditors are not obligated to agree to freeze these charges. This therefore means that as your DMP starts, you may notice that your monthly payments are higher than usual due to interest being charged, but this will reduce as your creditors see that you are making regular payments.

• Repayments for an IVA are not very flexible, whereas they can be for a DMP

An Insolvency Practitioner will be issued to you when you apply for an IVA to calculate what you can afford to pay a month. These payments aren’t that flexible, but can sometimes be paid within a 15% margin of the fixed amount. As a DMP has no set time period, payments have more scope to vary as the repayment term can be extended until the debts are cleared. However, you will need to inform your creditors of any changes to your repayment plan, and they are not obligated to accept them.

Rosie Percy writes for a diverse range of topics and industries including education, health and finance. Rosie has written for the Guardian and other lifestyle blogs, and now lives and works in Brighton.

Information on Arranging Quick Financial Assistance with Car Title Owns Online

Auto title loan is the simplest way to get quick money. It comes in handy when you need urgent funds to pay any of your pending bills. It is similar to pawning your jewelry, in order to get money on credit for emergencies.

In such credits, your lender will keep a spare key and the pink slip of your vehicle till you pay off of the outstanding balance completely. However, if you do not make payments on time, then there are chances that the loaner takes your vehicle in return. Online car title loans provide more benefit, as you can compare quotes of various financers in no time.



How does it work?

When you are in need of urgent cash, you could keep your car papers with the lending company as collateral for the money given to you on credit till your pay off the balance in full. Your financer will lend you funds depending on the market value of the car. Initially, the amount you pay per month to the loaner will be high and gradually, as and when you make a payment, it keeps reducing. In case of non-payment, the interest will get doubled and you will be charged with late fees, which could increase your outstanding balance.

What are the conditions to have a loan?

• You must be above 18 years of age
• You should have steady source of income
• Your vehicle should be insured
• Driver license is essential
• Social security card needs to be valid
• Document of you truck, van, RVs, SUV and boats could be used to procure title loans

The benefits when compared to other loans:

• Quick money in the shortest possible time, once the application along with the documents is submitted.
• Your poor credit history does not hinder your loan application
• No other paper works are required to be verified like in the other cases

Normally, they pay one fourth of the market rate on any vehicle model. The only condition is that it should be in a good condition and should not be more than ten years old. Before finalizing the deal, your lender will verify the value of your secured assets and stability of your income. After approval, your money will be transferred in your bank account. You can drive the vehicle as usual, while paying the minimum due each month to your bank.

Points to be considered while selecting the best loan company:

• Surf through the internet and check various lender websites. Thoroughly read their terms and conditions and find out if their meet your requirements
• You have to have a valid driver’s license and an address proof
• Ask question, any that you might have to clear all your doubts
• Fill in the online form with accurate details to get your loan approved instantly. It is suggested that you go through the fine prints before submitting the form.
• Find out if there are any hidden charges, so that you are not overburdened or disappointed later
• Approach the business bureaus to check the creditability of the loaner
• Find out what the payment pattern is and how do they accept payment, is it monthly, weekly, half yearly or annually.
• Try to analyze and understand the requirements, rules and the documentation required in detail.

This is the one source that will give you access to funds in times of emergencies. Many people have benefited using this credit option, regardless of their poor credit scores. You too can take advantage of this option when you are in desperate need of cash. All you need to do is contact a car title loan office in Atlanta, GA or in your city and initiate the procedure. You can do it online in a matter of minutes.

Samuels Martin has been writing a lot of guest posts on topics related to finance. He has also written on how you can easily procure title loans in order to cope up with immediate pressing expenses.

Budgeting Your Debts Away

As consumers, we are often driven to create debts for ourselves. We have a built in desire for a house which, more often than not requires a mortgage. The same for cars which require loans and other great items that we simply can't pay for right now. When we go to the store, we are often asked if we would like to save 10% on our purchase today by signing up for a store credit card. Our answers, “Well, of course I would!” The simple fact is, our country and economy is based on debt. But, what if we really want to live debt free? Is it even possible? Well, I believe it is and I'll explain how I believe it can be done below!



The Budgeting Debts Away Concept

More often than not, consumers live just within their means. Therefore, the pay check to pay check lifestyle has become a reality for many! But, I believe that it doesn't take a pay raise to change the pay check to pay check habit. If you think about how much money you take in and, how much money you spend each month, you've probably come to the conclusion that it's not possible. But, I'm going to challenge you to think again!

This time, let’s really calculate this out. First, add up all sources of income that you have. This could be salary, side job, alimony and any other source of income that you receive consistently. Now, make a list of all payments you are required to make every month. This should include rent/mortgage, auto loans, credit card payments, utility bills, medical bills and any other bill you get every month. Add up all of the payments required and subtract the total payments from your total income.

Now, we have to think about food. From what's left, subtract the amount of money you spend every month on food. This does not include going out to eat. This amount should only include how much money you spend at the grocery store. Once you've got a new total, subtract the amount of money that you spend on gas for your car every month.

Your Total Is Monthly Leverage

The total that you come up with at this point is leverage that you can use toward your debts. But, how can you take advantage of this leverage and, get the most bangs for your buck? The best way to do this is to come up with a plan that pays off your highest interest rate first. No matter if you have only $50.00 at a high rate or if you have thousands at high rates, paying off the highest interest rate debt that you have first will save you the most money. With that said, to really use the extra funds you have to their fullest potential, you are going to have to do a bit of work. It's time to really start understanding your debts.

To understand your debts, it's best to make a debt portfolio. This is very simple. All it is, is a simple list. Make a list of all your debts in order from the account that charges you the highest rate the the one that charges you the lowest. Make sure to include all information that you can about your debts. Of course, the most important information to include is the lender, interest rate and balance. However, it's also important to include things like account numbers, pay to addresses and available credit.

Once you've created this list, you know that the lender at the top of the list is your target. This is the lender that gets the most out of you. Therefore, you are going to fight back by paying that debt off early and cutting off those high interest payments. Here's how it's done

There Is A Snowballs Chance In Debt!

As a matter of fact, one of the best ways to target the highest interest rate debt and get out of all of your debts quickly is by using the debt snowball! This concept is based on the fact that as you pay off debts, more and more liquid assets become available to you. Assets that can be used to pay off other debts. Under this idea, the total that you spend in payments for debts today is the total amount of money that you should pay until all of your debts are completely paid off. When using the debt snowball concept, you will pay minimum payments to all of your debts. Well, with the exception of one of them! The debt that charges you the highest interest rate should receive all extra funds you are willing to use to pay off your debts. By doing so, you will pay off your highest interest rate faster. That leverage we talked about earlier can be used for this!

And The Snowball Debt Rolls

Once you've paid off your first debt, use the extra money that has now been freed up to pay off your next highest interest rate balance. Now, you have even more money available to send so, you will be able to get this one paid off even faster than the last. Continue the process until all of your debts are paid off and, save tons of money and time when repaying your debts!

About The Author: This article was written by Joshua Rodriguez, proud owner and founder of CNA Finance and avid personal finance journalist. Join the conversation about this article on Google+!

Contactless Payments Coming to London Buses

Transport for London has introduced contactless payments as a new way for travellers in the capital to pay for bus fares. The technology has been installed in the city's fleet of more than 8,500 buses, and it is hoped that the new method of payment will make transactions quicker and easier [1].

The New Technology



Contactless payments use a technology called NFC (Near Field Communication) to complete small value transactions. NFC readers are low-power transmitters that create a small electromagnetic field. When an NFC enabled chip is passed in front of this field, the reader is able to power the antenna inside the chip and transfer data to and from it. Bank cards which support contactless payment can use NFC to make quick, small payments which do not require Chip and PIN. When completing a transaction, customers simply lay their bank card flat on the NFC reader and, within seconds, the display will show that the amount has been deducted from the card. If the customer does not have enough money on their card, a red light will flash and they will have to find an alternative way to pay.

Easy and Convenient

The new contactless payment option will benefit casual and regular bus travellers, as well as bus drivers. The amount of time it takes to complete a transaction will be significantly reduced if more passengers use the new technology, and drivers won't have to spend as much time handling cash. Visitors and tourists to the capital can be intimidated by the busy transport network and the many different travel card and payment options available, so the convenience of being able to pay for a fare with a quick swipe of a card will come as a relief to many. For regular commuters, contactless payment can be a handy alternative if they don't have time to top-up their Oyster card or if they have forgotten it. Also, the cost of a single journey fare ticket is reduced from £2.40 to £1.40 if contactless payment is used instead of cash [2].

A Secure Way to Pay

Transport for London tested the new technology extensively before the roll out, and they are assuring passengers that it is completely safe and secure. Contactless payments use the same protection and safety measures as other card transactions, and in the unlikely circumstance that something does go wrong, customers will be able to seek compensation from both their bank and Transport for London.

Plans are under way for contactless payments to be integrated in the tube, tram and London overground networks. It is anticipated that Transport for London will save millions every year on reduced cash collection costs with the new technology, and customers will greatly benefit from the convenience of the new payment option.

Sources:
[1] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-20715092
[2] http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/26416.aspx

This post has been supplied on behalf of payment processing provider, First Data Merchant Solutions.

Because You're Worth It

Image source www.jokeroo.com

I am thankful that the process of marriage doesn't require an assessment of my net worth. What a horrifying experience that would make for me to be dissected financially. Especially since I was pretty much worthless and my then-future-wife-to-be was a doctor, I can safely say that I made a pretty good deal (ha!). Cutting through the chase, net worth is assets minus liabilities.

The current median (the middle value, not average) net worth is $57,000 (2010 dollars) according to a research by NYU professor Edward N. Wolff or $66,740 according to the Census Bureau in 2012. What we can assume from the number is many households in the USA are able to accumulate wealth, $66,740 to be exact. In order to accumulate wealth, our assets need to be greater than our liability.

Besides net worth, we are talking about the balance sheet. The personal balance sheet is a snapshot of your financial position at a certain point in time that consists of assets, liabilities, and net worth. Assets are what you own, liabilities are debts you owe, and net worth is how much is left if all assets are sold and debts repaid. If you are facing bankruptcy and all your assets are liquidated to repay debts, it is a rough estimate of how much you can get for all assets (though in liquidation, sometimes that number is further below).

In step 4, we have established that the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of our finances should be ourselves. A captain of the ship must know where the ship is currently positioned, before sailing the ship toward the final destination. Step 8 is to identify our starting point, knowing our net worth. First we need to gather all information regarding assets and liabilities. Second, the job of a CFO is to increase net worth.The only way we can increase our net worth is by increasing our assets and decreasing our liabilities. You can visit FinancialLiteracyMonth.com for a quick calculation of your net worth. You can also download a file I downloaded from Microsoft templates and plan to continually expand on, here for Libre, or Excel. You can download and install Libre for free if you don't have Excel.

Remember to spend on yourself first by increasing your assets so that you increase your net worth. Why? Because you're worth it.

So fear Allah as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend; it is better for your selves. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful.

64. Surat At-Taghābun (The Mutual Disillusion;16) 

Passion OR Occupation?

Every single day. Every single hour. Every single minute. I keep on thinking about this question. Pondering. Reflecting. Deciding. Why do we have to work? Why do we have to exert strenuous efforts for us to live? Passion or occupation?

It seems I am complaining. Why not live comfortably without external interventions? Why do we have to have what we don't even need? Why is this emotion dragging us to something vain? To something unworthy? Temporary.

Do we have to do this for a long time? Is there a better way? If you are given a chance to work 200% of your time, skills & talent NOW, and do nothing for the rest of your life onward, would you?

If you know how to do this, why are you not doing it? What hinders you from fulfilling what you like to do? Do you even know what you want?

Is it really what you want? That if you get it and die the next day you're still okay? Would you do everything, anything to get it? Even if your career, reputation, family or friends is/are at stake? How badly do you want it? Is it your obsession? Is it the only way?

If there's another option would you grab the second one and leave it? What is your reason of wanting it? Is it morally good? Is it normal? Are you feeling good right now? Are you inspired? Or drowsy? Sleepy?

If there's no other time to act but now, would you? If someone tells you to invest P10,000 and your life is secured forever, would you give your money? If money is not a necessity, would you still DO what you are doing RIGHT NOW?

Simple but powerful questions for deeper inner assessment. Whenever I feel down, I use this self-provoking questions over and over again. This way, I could be able to see myself entirely and reach to a better decision. How about you, have you tried this one already? 

6 Keys To A Great Car Title Loan

In the modern American society, cars have ceased being a luxury and have become essential in the day-to-day life. It is always a delight to hold the keys to a brand new car of your own. Many people desire to own a car but the main challenge is paying for the car. Since many do not have the cash to buy their own vehicles, the only option is to take an auto loan to be able to pay for the car. However, at times, you face certain emergencies that require a huge sum of money and you are forced to take a car title loan.



Here are six keys to help you obtain a good title loan:

Key 1: managing your credit

Before you apply for a car title loan, you need to ensure your credit score is solid. This means you have to manage your credit wisely. All US citizens are entitled to one free credit report annually. Use this resource to review your credit before you apply for the loan. If there are any bad habits or errors, you need to fix them before going to the credit company since they may affect the interest rate of your loan.

Key 2: be aware of your spending limit

Diligent consumers should know how much they should spend. Sadly, though, many consumers are not diligent budgeters. It is vital to track your budget and determine how much your payments will be. To achieve this, you can use various tools such as Microsoft Money to track your budget and car payment calculator to find out the payments you are supposed to make.

Key 3: take into consideration the big picture

The terms of your specific car title loan will dictate how much payments you make now as well as the overall cost of your car title loan. It is vital to keep in mind that an initial lower cost does not automatically mean your title loan cost will be lower in the end. For instance, many consumers choose an option where they have to pay low down payment since it is easy to manage at the present. However, this choice may increase the total cost of your loan.The trick is to figure out how your loan will look like exactly each month before taking the deal.

Key 4: do not forget insurance

Before applying for a car title loan, it is best to buy an insurance policy. The two best options would a life insurance policy or disability insurance. When you walk in a lender's office, one of the first things he or she will want to know is whether you have an insurance policy. All lenders are concerned about what will happen to their money in case something happens to you and you are not able to pay. If you do not have insurance, you will pay higher interest rates than someone who does.

Key 5: escape prepayment penalties

In life, things do not always remain the same and flexibility is essential. Your title loan should give you a measure of flexibility. It is advisable to find a lender who will allow you to pay off your loan completely without any penalties. Make certain you read the fine print of the contract before you sign it.

Key 6: shop around

You do not have to get an auto loan with the first lender you come across. Doing so could prevent you from obtaining the interests rates for your loans. Shop around for other dealers and see what they are offering. In addition, do not limit yourself to one option but aim to explore other types of lenders.

Top Ten Tips for Getting Yourself Out of Debt

Unchecked debt can snowball, and before you know it, it can feel like there’s no way out. Here are a few tips to get you started on regaining control of your finances:

1. Get motivated.

Setting yourself an end goal and reminding yourself of it every day can help and give you that extra push. Promise yourself a reward each time you reach a milestone, such as paying off credit card debt or sticking below your budget. If you feel negative all the time it can feel like a losing battle and you’ll fail before you even start.



2. Work out how much you actually owe.

It’s a common mistake to think that you only owe what you borrowed. That $1,000 on your credit card can soon double if left to accumulate interest. Make sure that interest rates for each creditor are accounted for: it will probably shock you into taking action.

3. Understand your debts.

As well as thinking about the interest rates and factoring these in to your budget, you need to understand all of the terms and conditions on any contracts and credit agreements that you have. All of your creditors may have different rates and rules so this can sometimes be quite complicated. A loan to consolidate debt can reduce your monthly payments and give you fewer creditors to worry about.

4. Know your options.

The best option for you can take some research but there are many ways to get out of debt, including consolidation loans, a moratorium, a debt agreement or bankruptcy.

5. Negotiate with your creditors.
If you don’t ask, you don’t get - so try asking for a lower interest rate or negotiating lower, more manageable repayments. Often, some smaller level of repayment is better than no repayment at all, and many creditors favour this option. If they say no, re-evaluate - there’s nothing lost.

6. Prioritise your debts.

Pay off the most important debts with the highest levels of interest or for the greatest amounts before focusing on smaller loans and lower rates.

7. Set a realistic budget.

Log every penny you spend and it will help you realise where you are spending unnecessary cash. However, make sure that you budget for emergencies and don’t leave yourself short each month or it will drive you back to the money lenders.

8. Use cash instead of credit cards.

Go to the ATM once a week, only take the cash you have budgeted for and leave your bank cards at home. Physically seeing the cash fly out of your wallet will make you realise how much you’re spending and what you’re spending it on. It will also give you a good idea of where you can make cuts. Credit cards aren’t money - if you don’t have the cash in your wallet, you can’t afford it.

9. Take action against those unnecessary expenditures.

Your log of expenses and those disappearing dollars will soon make you rethink that fancy restaurant reservation. A little expense here and there will soon add up – know when to say no.

10. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

If you give yourself an unrealistic budget and change your lifestyle completely, the chances of you succeeding are pretty slim. Make sure you have room for a treat every now and then to keep you motivated: depriving yourself of everything you love is a recipe for disaster - especially when combined with the existing stress of debt.

5 things you can do with £10,000

What could you do if you got your hands on £10,000? What if a bank decided that you were worthy of that kind of credit? Can you think of something that you might do with that amount of cash? Most people can come up with a few things they might do if such an amount of money fell into their laps. This is an illustration is just how important a bank loan can be. It can give you the power to make big changes in your life. Here are five things you could do with £10,000.

1. Pay off your high-interest debts

If you were able to get £10,000 at a low interest rate, you might be able to pay off those other debts that sit with a higher interest rate. You might think that taking out a loan to pay off other loans is a silly practice. It makes plenty of sense, though, if you are using a low-interest loan to pay off high-interest loans. This is one of the ways that you can improve your life.

2. Renovate your home
Do you see an opportunity to renovate your home in order to add significant value? If you had £10,000, you could go through with that additional bathroom or that kitchen renovation. This could turn your home into a potential money-maker if you decide to put it on the market.

3. Start a business

Are you the kind of person who has great ideas and great drive? If so, you might be able to start a business with that £10,000. If someone nicely dropped that kind of cash into your lap, you would be able to make some hires and buy a business space. It could help you launch the business that could eventually take your finances to the next level.

4. Buy inventory

What if you're already a business owner? Could you use £10,000? An existing business owner could also benefit, and the extra money could serve as an infusion into the company. If you have the sort of business where you need inventory, you could do some serious buying with that extra money. It could give you the ability to position your business for a nice run.

5. Get a start on university

Whether for you or your child, you could use £10,000 to get a start on university. Depending upon the school, it might pay for a year or it might pay for more. The money could give you the ability to get the sort of education that will put you ahead. If you are a parent, it could allow you to pay for your child's first few semesters away at school.