Money Archives - Page 3 of 10

August 1, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Common Things People Do Not Know About Personal Injury Cases

Personal injury cases are much more complex than what many believe. The common perception is that whenever an injury happens because of the actions of someone else, money is going to be offered. People think that nothing influences the situation but this is not actually the case. In reality, we are faced with something that can easily go into a bad scenario. Joey Langston, personal injury attorney, highlights the fact that when you try to do everything alone, there is a huge possibility that you are going to receive a lot less than what you are truly entitled to.

There are many things that people do not actually know about personal injury cases. Let’s just go through those that are much more common than they should be.

Not All Claims Are Successful

Simply because you were injured by someone does not mean you are going to receive a financial compensation. It is up to you to prove the fault in the case and you have to go through a specific process that is much stricter than anticipated. We are talking about law so there needs to be proof presented if you want to have a successful personal injury claim. This does include reports from the police, doctors and specialists that might argue on your behalf.

Insurance Companies Offer Less

When insurance companies get involved, the personal injury claim process is much more complex than what many think. You want to be sure that you are represented by a personal injury attorney because the companies are going to try to take advantage of you. They know that you do not know the law and you do not actually understand how much money should be offered. During the negotiations, you are going to be pressured into accepting a settlement. That settlement is often a lot lower than what it should actually be. Do not let insurance companies take advantage of your lack of knowledge and have specialists represent you.

Fault Is Determined By Proof

No matter what you think, it is impossible to be successful simply because of the fact that you know someone was responsible. Evidence is necessary. What is not really known about the process is that the proof that is gathered at the scene is not always all that actually exists.

Working with personal injury attorneys guarantees you are going to find all the proof that could prove the exact specifics of the case. They have specialists that can gather information and will talk to all parties involved in order to gather evidence that can be used for your well-being.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is that you need to work with true specialists that can help you during personal injury claims. In many situations, people try to do everything alone. This can be a costly mistake, especially when you have to receive financial compensation and you need treatment at the same time. Be sure that you find a personal injury attorney that is highly experienced and that can help you out at the end of the day.

July 28, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Barry Bulakites on How to Find The Right Accountant

So you have made the decision to get an account for your small business, but how do you go about getting the right fit for your needs? Not all accounts are the same, some will do a better job, others will mesh better with you, and of course, some are more expensive than others. We spoke to financial wizard and high level accountant Barry Bulakites, on what you need to ask yourself ahead of looking for an accountant. As Barry says, only once you understand what you are looking for, can you begin the process of getting the right person for the job.

Is Location Important ?

The first thing to think about is how important it is to you that the accountant lives or works nearby. We live in a world now where our financial reports can be stored and access from a cloud-based system, we can hold meetings through Skype or other video calling options, and we can constantly stay in touch through messenger services and emails. There are some businesses however who may need to see the accountant physically, or some owners who simply prefer this option, consider this first.

What Are You Looking For?

Some accountants can be a Jack of all trades, others may focus on individual aspects of the company accounts, you need to think about what exactly you are looking for in an accountant. For example many people simply want to use an accountant to clean up their books and add al little more organization to proceedings, others may seek out an accountant to offer financial advice on growth and investments, and some will want their money to work harder for them. Once you understand exactly what it is that you are looking for, the process becomes far easier.

Tax

At the very least you need to be looking for an accountant who completely understands the work do taxation. Even if everything is above board with your taxes, it makes sense to have an accountant who, regardless of their speciality, can help you and the company to stay in line with its taxes, and ensure that you are paying the right amount, and saving where possible.

Is Reputation Important?

The strength of an accountant’s reputation will directly relate with the amount that they are charging per hour, and you need to decide whether or not you need the very best, or would you be prepared to take a chance on a rookie. This is not to say that a rookie is unqualified to do the job, it simply means that they can’t call on a long track record of success. Everyone has to start somewhere and there is no issue with looking for someone who is a little less experienced. Alternately if you really want to place your trust and your money in someone, perhaps an experienced accountant may be the better option.

Answer these questions and then go get that accountant for your business.

July 26, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Patrick Dwyer Financial Advisor on 2018 Miami Football

Miami continues to be a fun, sophisticated city — boasting the sort of infrastructure, commerce, and amenities you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the nation, except unless we’re talking New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles.

Patrick Dwyer Financial Advisor sees the long-term potential of both Miami football and the city of Miami itself. As the sun continues to shine on Miami’s athletic teams as well as its real estate, so will it continue to shine on Miami’s citizens who are focused on building their wealth and value.

oday, however, we’re here to talk about one of the most storied college football programs in the country (and in NCAA history, for that matter) — The Miami Hurricanes, a team focused on continuing to build their value and prowess in the NCAA.

Ranked 4th on the all-time list according to Associated Press National Poll Championships, “The U” is tied with both USC and Ohio State — all of which nipping at the heels of other storied names like Alabama, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma.

Miami football in particular distinguishes itself by holding numerous NFL Draft records — most notably holding the record for most first-round selections in a single draft, as well as holding the record for most consecutive drafts with one or more first-round selections. Beyond this, there are 2 Hurricanes who have won the holy grail of personal achievements in NCAA football — the Heisman Trophy (one in 1986 – Vinny Testaverde at quarterback, and one in 1992 – Gino Torretta at quarterback). Also, 9 Miami players currently grace the College Football Hall of Fame.

Miami is also known for generating great linebackers, names like Jonathan Vilma, DJ Williams, and Ray Lewis — just to name a few, many of which serve as mentors for Miami’s current and incoming players.

The Hurricane linebacker legacy spans decades, reaching all the way back to the 70s, culminating in The Bermuda Triangle (Michael Barrow, Darrin Smith and Jessie Armstead), capturing multiple national titles before heading off to NFL stardom.

What Miami should be very excited about for the coming season is this year’s possibilities for their secondary.

Many are fixated on what many consider will be the strength of this team: defense. Miami knocking at the door of all the elite defensive units in the country with a cornerback group that brings a unique blend of talent to the table.

Miami’s secondary is both made up of veteran experience as well as youthful optimism, highlighted by All-ACC cornerback Michael Jackson. This exciting senior has a legitimate claim to distinguishing himself as the best cornerback — not only in the the state of Florida, but also the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Only time will tell as the season commences and runs its course. One thing is for sure: the future is bright on all counts in Miami.

July 8, 2018 by Greg Underwood

7 Tricks for Quickly Paying off Your Debt This 2018

Debt is a horrible thing that anyone can easily fall into. If you don’t quickly get it under control, you could find yourself dealing with a lifelong problem that you never actually escape. Regardless how bad your debt situation currently is, you can take advantage of the following tricks to significantly put a dent in your debt and pay it off sooner.

Create a budget and prioritise spending

By creating a budget for the month, you can prioritise your spending and minimise your expenses. By cutting your monthly expenses, you will have more money that you can put into gradually repaying your debt. You can use mobile apps such as B to effectively monitor your monthly income and expenses. Simply put, no more unnecessary spending.

Pay off worst debts first

The worst debts aren’t necessarily the biggest ones. In fact, the worst debts and the ones you should try to get rid of first are the ones with the highest interest rates. The sooner you can get rid of your high interest rate debts, the sooner you can stop falling into worst debt.

Pay more than the minimum balance

Debt repayment arrangements often offer the option of you paying a minimum balance per month. Paying only the minimum will slow down your debt recovery process. To get out of debt as fast as you can, pay as much as you can afford when due.

Ignore your credit card

Even if your credit card comes with low interest rates, just put it aside until you are done with settling your debts. This is because each time you use your credit you are only accumulating more debt. So don’t take your credit cards with you when you go shopping, and if you want to be drastic, destroy your credit cards. You can start using credit cards again when you are in the green and have your finances under control.

Put work bonuses or other cash windfalls toward debt.

If you suddenly receive a cash windfall or get a bonus at work, be wise with it and spend it on something like settling your debt. Don’t take the cheque out to celebrate or splurge because there’s nothing to actually celebrate till you are out of debt. Sudden financial windfalls can help you put a serious dent in your debt and move closer towards being clear

Delete credit card information from online stores.

Clear your credit card information from online stores. Stored credit card information can be used to charge you for services you don’t necessarily need. Instead, shop with a debit card.

Sell unwanted gifts and household items.

If you have gifts or other items that you don’t actually need or can do without, sell them off to raise extra cash that you can put towards settling your debt. You can sell your items conveniently via eBay or Craigslist. Remember that the faster you clear your debts, the better.

So that’s our list of tricks to help you settle your debts faster this year. But bear in mind that even if you apply these tricks diligently but fail to change your spending habits and how you view money, it won’t make much of a difference. You need to make changes by learning how to cut back on expenses without necessarily compromising the quality of lifestyle you prefer.

July 7, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Simple Tips for Investing While You are Still in College

It’s never too early to start investing, even if you are still in college. Unlike a professional investor, you may not have near unlimited amounts of capital, however, you can start investing with just a dollar using a few different methods. To become more financially literate in the field of investing, take up an economics or finance class, where knowledge is always a key to becoming a successful investor.

Open a Savings Account

The easiest way to invest as an undergraduate is to head to the nearest bank and open a savings account. The risk you take on would be extremely minimal. Put any supplemental income you earn in your savings account and watch your money grow quite literally. The interest rate is not as high as in the stock market, but your money would be better off than spent on new clothes or stored away in a drawer.

Understand the Risk Associated with Cheap Stocks

Some college students are only too eager to “play the stock market.” Students with limited amounts of capital are highly likely to invest in penny stocks, which are securities with little to no oversight that cost less than $5. Though these stocks seem so cheap to buy, you are taking on more risk than you should. Before buying any stock, particularly penny-grade stocks, it’s advised that you understand the type of risk you are undertaking. This type of trading is highly vulnerable to scams, particularly pump-and-dump schemes. College undergrads should invest in blue-chip stocks that are financially transparent to actually expect returns. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with low-end stocks, buying these without realizing the risk is a surefire way to lose all your money.

Think about Repaying Your Student Loans

Paying down debt is also a form of investment. It is, perhaps, one of the most important forms of investment for regular income earners. Unless your parents are wealthy, you will probably end up tens of thousands of dollars in student debt when you leave campus as a graduate. The student debt trap affects millions of graduates. However, you don’t have to fall into the same debtor crisis like so many others. If you earn income right now by working on-campus or at an internship, save that money for repaying your student loans. The grace period will eventually end, at which point you will have to own the debt. Think about how it might affect your future ability to take on other essential forms of debt such as a mortgage, therefore, make repaying student loans a priority to protect your post-graduate financial status.

Open a Retirement Account

If you are a young college student looking forward to a satisfying career, you may wonder why you should start investing towards retirement right now. Would your future employer take care of all that with a 401(k)? Yes and no. You can formally start investing in your golden years by matching your employer’s contributions toward a 401(k), however, until you are employed full-time, invest on your own towards retirement. You could do so in a savings account that you can later combine with an IRA or a 401(k). The reason to start this early is simple: the compounding factor. If you invest towards your retirement now, your contributions would mature impressively in the next 40 to 60 years. The longer the investments have to compound, the more money you will have to spend in your senior years. That’s why you should open a retirement account right now, even if you are not formally employed.

July 2, 2018 by Greg Underwood

SEO Tips For Companies Of All Sizes

Source

Whether you’re the social media and marketing manager for a massive international corporation or you’re a one man show in a brand new startup business in your own kitchen or garage, one thing is for certain: you can’t underestimate the value of having good SEO on your websites, product pages, about pages and more. SEO (search engine optimisation) can sound daunting and time consuming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some great tips to make SEO not just work well for you but also help it maximise your reach and views by potential customers, which will in turn help your business grow.

Do Your Research

Knowing the kind of businesses or individuals you’re up against will help you tackle your SEO like a pro. Have a look online at businesses similar to yours and what keywords they use sprinkled throughout their website and content in order to identify what works and what doesn’t. Also knowing other pieces of information about the competition can set you up for a successful business – how long they have been running, their products compared to yours, what their pricing is like, even things like their suppliers if any.

Target The Right Audience

If you provide a local service such as hauling, snow removal, plumbing or the like it makes no sense to use keywords or target audiences who live outside of your immediate area. This is why researching similar businesses will help give you an idea of what works well and what doesn’t. If you’re still confused, you can hire a professional SEO team such as Click Consult to do all the legwork for you and make sure your site is as SEO strong as possible to create the highest conversions from visitors to customers.

Become (Or Hire) A Content Master

Having killer content is one of the best ways to make sure your SEO is top notch. How does this help? Having lengthy, meaningful content helps attract readers and potential customers and can help you rank higher in search engines. Simply copying and pasting huge swathes of content from other places online is not only rude and boring for readers, but it will hurt your SEO rankings and make you rank lower in search results and no one really wants that right when you’re trying to boost your ranking! If you and your colleagues struggle to create awesome content, consider hiring someone purely for this role. Many small businesses hire out freelancers – people who work on a case by case basis to provide content specific to you and your needs. You can hire a whole host of great freelance writers from the likes of ELance, People per Hour or Fiverr.

So if you’ve been looking for easy ways to begin getting higher rankings on search engines, consider some of the tips above. There are a number of other great ways to boost your SEO as well and there’s no one right or wrong way to do so, but just remember there are a couple of rules to follow.

June 26, 2018 by Greg Underwood

5 Ways to Save Tax under Section 80C

Filing income taxes can pose a problem for people who do not understand exemptions. First time employees may find the income tax rules pretty complex. However, if the income tax filing exercise is once undertaken then the format becomes clearer and changes in rates and slabs just fall into place. Income tax filers should not definitely miss out on the exemptions under section 80 C.

Under section 80 C Income tax payers (individuals and HUF) can claim a tax exemption up to Rs 1.5 lakh and an additional Rs 50 K exemption under section 80 CCD (1 B) is available for tax payers who invest in government notified pension plans which include the National Pension Scheme and Atal Pension Yojna at present.

It is recommended that maximum exemption should be availed against those items which have direct bearing on the income tax payer benefit and this could differ. For example a person who wants to purchase a home would most benefit from exemption on home loan principal amount whereas a person who wants to build a retirement corpus would most benefit from investing in long term savings scheme and pension plans. An individual may have more than one tax saving preferences. For a complete list of exempted items under section 80 C tax payers can refer IT department website. Let us see the five major exemptions which tax payers can avail from section C of the IT Act.

Exemption on Home Loan (Principal Amount)

Having one’s own home is perhaps the foremost among other aspirations in an individual’s life time. Individuals can claim exemption on the principal component of home loan under section 80 C of the Income Tax act. This exemption can only be claimed for a house or flat for which the completion of construction certificate has been issued. Any repayment of principal amount before completion of construction is not eligible for exemption. Also it is important to note here that tax payer needs to hold the house property atleast for five years after gaining possession as otherwise the claimed deductions on principal payment will be reversed.

Exemption on Life Insurance Premium

Taking a life insurance plan is the best way to secure the lives of family members even if one is not there for them. Income tax act section 80 C allows exemption on taxes for premiums paid for life insurance policy. Income tax payers can claim deduction on life insurance premium paid during the financial year for self, spouse and children but not for parents or in laws. HUF can claim tax exemption on life insurance premium paid during FY for all the covered members. All life insurance schemes authorized by IRDA are eligible for tax exemptions under section 80 C including LIC and life insurance plans by other insurers.

Exemption on PF and PPF

The portion of salary deducted for PF as well as the employer’s contribution to PF is exempt from taxation under section 80 C. However if employer contribution is over 12 % then the over portion is taxable at source by employer and if interest on PF is over 9.5 % then the over portion is taxable while filing of IT returns by employee.

Individuals who do not have PF account may choose to put some money into PPF account which offers the same tax benefits as the PF account.

Exemption on Tuition Fees of Children

IT act section 80 C also provides exemptions for tuition fees paid by parents for their children’s school education during the financial year. Only tuition fees paid in Indian schools, colleges, institutions and universities are eligible for exemption under section 80 C.

It is important to note here that section 80 C exempts only the tuition fees component of your child’s school or college fees. Admission, transport, annual and other fees are not eligible. For claiming exemption on tuition fees procure fees payment receipt from school accounts section and ensure that the fees payment breakup is clearly mentioned. It is better to get a receipt for the whole year. While filing IT returns for the FY upload the receipt online or attach it with your IT filing form if you are filing your returns physically. In the ITR form, claim deduction under applicable column.

Exemption on Savings and Investment Schemes

Section 80 C also provides for tax exemptions for money invested in various savings and investment schemes. These include the pension schemes, senior citizen savings scheme, Sukannya Samriddhi scheme for the girl child, ELSS or equity linked savings schemes, Five year term deposits or fixed deposits in banks and post offices, National Savings Scheme, Tax saving mutual fund schemes, ULIP or unit linked plans and other notified government schemes. It is important to note here that notified government schemes eligible for exemption may change and tax payers need to keep themselves updated on the yearly changes announced by the government in tax regimen as a part of the budget.

June 21, 2018 by Greg Underwood

5 Ways to Make Money from Your Spare Room

Whether the kids have flown the nest, haven’t been born yet or you don’t plan on having any; chances are you have a spare room in your home. For many, when this room is not in use you may feel that it’s a little bit of a waste and that there is a great big dollar potential hiding within its depths. And if you are willing to invest a little time (and potentially money) into this space then you would be absolutely right, it has plenty of potential to make you money in the long term.

So, what are some easy ways to start making money from your spare room – no matter its size, previous use or whatever other excuses you might be using to hold yourself back from making the plunge.

1 – Home Office

Do you feel like you could make a success of your very own home business? If so, it makes complete sense to make your spare room a home office in which to base all of your business activities. Stick a desk, chair and some sort of computer device in there and you should immediately have the perfect setup for your very own little business. The same goes for a crafts table, easel, or whatever else your business may need other than a computer.

Not everyone is able or willing to set up a home business, but for those who are it can be the perfect way to ensure complete flexibility of work and your spare room could be a great source of money for you as a result.

2 – Rent it Out

Rental space, no matter the size, has some serious earning potential depending on your attitude towards it. In fact, websites such as Airbnb work on the principle that their users are property owners who wish to rent out their spaces on a casual basis. Such an arrangement isn’t a big commitment, you can take down your listing whenever you feel like not seeing someone in your spare room for a while (or that you have made enough money from it for now).

This also works for both a permanent housemate and an occasional traveller, depending on your needs or preference.

3 – A Child’s Room

A spare room for a child or even a simple playroom could actually potentially earn you a lot of money. You could offer your services to family and friends, as childcare at a much-reduced rate to other providers in the area. Or you could choose to offer your services in the fostering Manchester area – at £495 per child every month (with a slightly reduced rate for every child after), your fostering allowance would be more than enough to make the endeavour worth it.

And if you don’t want to look after children on a permanent basis? Then you could offer yourself up as a relief or emergency foster carer, meaning you would only have to welcome a child into your home on a case by case basis and not for extended periods of time.

4 – Store Stuff

And no, not just your stuff. Unless you want to really go the extra mile and try to make your spare room a contender for a hoarder programme. Even if you only charge a smaller than average market fee for the use of your space, over time this could easily mount up. And, more importantly, you would not have to do anything more than simply allowing that stuff to sit there in your spare room. A simple, but effective, way to make money!

There are plenty of websites where you can meet people needing additional storage space in your area.

5 – Exchange Students

Students from other countries are a great way to either make a little extra money or find some extra help around your house for a very reasonable sum. Lots of companies that arrange these exchanges pay the host family, especially as you will be providing lodging, food and even entertainment for this student.

If you would prefer an older student – who would need less supervision and entertainment – then you could also rent out the room to a foreign exchange student in a university programme. Older, more responsible and guaranteed to want to go home for the holidays each term to give you a regular reprieve.

Overall, your spare room could be hiding a wealth of money-making opportunities depending on what your interests are. From passive income to more hands-on methods, it all depends on how much time and even money you want to invest in the process. For those with a vision for their spare room, it could be a great money-making venture to start today!

June 20, 2018 by Greg Underwood

WHY SHOULD YOU BUY A USED CAR INSTEAD OF A NEW ONE?

When it comes to purchasing a car, the right thing to do is to get a new one. Some people even consider buying a new car just for that fresh scent that comes from a new vehicle. Often buying a new car makes assume that they will have fewer problems with it; however, this may not exactly be the case as older cars are often less problematic than many people assume.

There are several reasons why purchasing a used car should be considered and preferred rather than spending money on a new car, and here we list you just some of the reasons why you should weight out your options.

The Need to Save Money

One of the first things to be noticed when purchasing cars is the value that would be derived from purchasing a vehicle at a newer agency, or from someone else. When properly weighed, it would appear that for someone who wants to purchase a car on a budget or who wants to spend less while getting optimum value for the money spent, purchasing a used car is the best options. Old doesn’t necessarily mean used. Some used cars are just brand new, but maybe they weren’t what the person expected out of it, and they will be forced to sell it at a lower cost given that it is not brand new. With depreciation, as long as a car has been driven; no matter the duration, it loses the financial worth of a brand new car. This doesn’t mean that the car becomes valueless, the price just reduces, and this ensures that value for money is obtained.

The Reliability of the Car

There are certain reasons why a used car might be even more reliable than a new car. For starters, used cars are reliable because of the durability of the modern cars being produced. These cars are built to last a long time and getting a used one would not turn a product into a bad condition. After considering the original durability of the car to be purchased, it is advisable to get a used vehicle which has been previously owned by only one person. This ensures that the depreciation is negligible.

A Possibility of Getting a “Better” Car

Another reason for purchasing a used car is that due to cheaper rates caused by depreciation, it is possible to purchase a “better” car at a lower price than other cars. This means that it is possible to get a good used Mercedes Benz for sale for the price of a brand new Hyundai.

After considering these reasons, one thing that comes to mind is where one can get trusted deals for used cars. This is where Sandown-Group.co.uk comes to the rescue. With amazing deals on used cars, one can guarantee they will get the value for their money. All the necessary information about the great deals on used cars which this company offers can be found at the Sandown-Group web page.

Getting a used car from trusted car dealerships is a decision which is cost effective and provides optimum value for the money spent. It is a smart, regret-free decision.

June 19, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Great Ways To Make Money Online

Source

Have you been wondering how you might be able to afford that next amazing getaway to a far flung and tropical locale? Or maybe you have been thinking about ways to make some money online or off in order to afford that great new toy or even put some extra money toward your car payments. Check out some of these great suggestions for some truly unique ways to make a bit of extra money on the side for whatever you want to put it toward.

Freelancing

If you have any kind of marketable skill such as graphic design, writing, website coding, coding of any kind or artistic skills like photography, freelancing can be your best friend when it comes to making money online to put towards any kind of item, trip or more. Freelancing can be easily done through third party websites such as Elance, Fiverr, Upwork, People Per Hour amongst others. These days freelancing is gaining ground in terms of being a legitimate job, what with job security amongst big corporations beginning to become more and more unstable. For more information and to get started, consider visiting one of the aforementioned sites to get in on this great option for making money.

Online Games

When it comes to working and playing online nothing beats making money by having fun while you’re doing what you normally would. With online games you can make a killing through placing bets, playing slots and more. You can check out the party casino review online before signing up to play some unique and fun games in your downtime. After all, what better way to spend a couple of free minutes than playing games online and making money while you’re at it?

Sell Online

If you have an attic or basement full of old things you never use, why not consider selling some things online? With some selling websites such as eBay or even others these days it is entirely possible to sell old CDs, DVDs, books and clothes online for a decent profit. Electronics like mobile phones, TVs and more can fetch a great price as well. Check it out – you might be surprised at the gold mine you have hiding above your head!

There you have a couple of great options if you’re looking for fab ways to make money online to save up for any number of events, trips or even just to replace an old furniture set. How will you make money this month online? The world is your oyster!