Tuesday, June 30, 2009

The Top Wireless Home Security System

By Matt Peters

A wireless home security system is the new and latest thing to have in your home. Quickly taking over the conventional home security system, a wireless home security system takes the whole concept of a safe and secure home to whole different level. The peripherals that can be used in a wireless home security system are advanced and more reliable than their older counterparts.

Wireless Visuals

With wireless home security, you can set up most of your peripherals without the distracting vision of wires and cables running along your floor. A wireless home security system means that you can also set up your cameras in every possible area of the room and not just at the corner of a ceiling. This gives more opportunity for you to hide the camera wherever you want. Of course, the wireless home security system will require that the signal is not lost or blocked or else you will not be able to record anything that the camera "sees".

A wireless home security system will help you operate your monitoring activities in complete stealth. It's definitely a plus if you know exactly where to place the cameras so that they are not revealed to intruders or burglars. Wired security systems will only give away the locations of cameras once the cables are discovered.

Wireless Audible

Some homeowners feel that installing cameras is too intrusive. In this case, they may , instead, choose to have microphones installed in your wireless home security system. Although this is not something as effective as a camera, recordings from a microphone can help in a wireless home security system. For example, you can set up your microphones so that they can trip an alarm when a noise reaches a certain volume level. This is especially useful to use at night to trace unexpected noises around the house. Again, the wireless home security system will give you endless possibilities as to where you can place the microphones.

Invisible Triggers

For basic wireless home security systems, you can put in some alarms and motion detection equipment. This is the easiest, most cost-efficient wireless home security system that you can have set up. All you will need is to have the motion detectors set up so that they will trip an alarm in your house.

It's even more efficient if you have a silent alarm set up that the police will be able to detect; the intruders themselves will not hear the alarm. This is one of the better options from installing a wireless home security system.

A wireless home security system is definitely the best option you have to protect your home, your valuables, and your family. It takes a lot less time to install because of the fact that it is wireless and most of the peripherals will work on batteries so you don't have to hook anything up to your local electricity. This means that it works regardless of whether there is electricity or not, provided that your mother terminal that controls everything also works on its own power source.

This may be the answer to your problems about home security. Consider a wireless home security system to protect you 24/7.

About the Author:

Monday, June 29, 2009

Simple Ways To Improve Your Knowledge On Your Clients

By Jessica Catflap

In the unstable conditions of the economy, our work methods and long term plans are changing. As a marketer you will not be to sit quietly by on the side lines or your services will no longer be required. Customer needs must be truly understood in order to survive.

The ever-changing market place is having an effect on all aspects of the business world to the point that it's hardly worth trying to predict or assume anything because it's just to risky.

It is vital to stay in contact with customers as much as possible, ensuring you are always up to date with their needs so that you can create a unique, tailored business plan.

So how do you find out what your customers want? You simply have to ask. A well structured questionnaire will gather the information that will become the back-bone of your revised plan of action.

Its one thing asking for information, but collating and understanding it is the most clearly the most important part of being able to effectively adapt your plans.

Once the information from your questionnaire is gathered and a solution is made, you can claim to be an expert in that field as you are aware of the general issues and you have a tailored solution.

So you can create a tailored solution to your customers or clients problems simply by requesting that they fill in a survey. This method is very effective and very simple at allowing you to cater to your individual client/customer needs.

About the Author:

Sunday, June 28, 2009

County Officials Put Off Ambulance Collections Decision

By Jonathan Summers

Commissioners on Monday deferred a decision to hire a collection agency because of delinquent ambulance bills obtained in unincorporated regions of Flagler County. Instead, county staff will do more research and the item will be brought back to commissioners for discussion sometime in July.

Commissioner Alan Peterson pronounced during the meeting that he was not ready to sign at the dotted line in the piggyback contract alongside officials in Orange County because he first wanted to have knowledge of how the collection agency does its business.

He wanted to know how frequently the agency calls residents about their delinquent accounts and what times of the day those calls were made. He also wished to know how many written notices would be sent to residents in arrears for their emergency medical care during an ambulance ride.

"My overriding concern on this whole issue is that unlike most bills people incur, this is an involuntary expense," Peterson said. "People don't normally choose to take an ambulance for medical care."

Commissioner Barbara Revels said she also wanted to guarantee that the county wasn't getting into business with a "heavy-handed" collection agency that could result in consumer retaliation, like some that's now being seen around the country.

Under the county's current billing practices, insurance companies are billed for a patient who receives medical care and transport. If the patient is not insured or the insurance does not cover the full balance due, a third-party billing company steps in and attempts to collect the debt through written notices with the help of information verification from Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston's office. The account is kept open and debt collection attempts continue for up to a year, at which time the debt is moved to a "bad debt" list and charged off by commissioners.

The debts are not placed on residents' credit reports and aggressive telephone tactics are not used for collection.

Peterson also said if the board decides to move forward in hiring a collection agency, he'd like to see county officials add a new level of regular review to the accounts on its "bad debt" list before they're turned over for collection.

"There should be a review of each and every account to see if it makes sense to turn it over to the collection agency," Peterson said.

He requested county staff acquire the proposed collection agency's procedures and has asked them to present an outline of the policy they will use for reviewing accounts before they're turned over to the agency sometime before the end of July.

"We haven't had a collection agency up to this point, so I don't think it would hurt to delay the decision two weeks," said County Administrator Craig Coffey.

About the Author:

Saturday, June 27, 2009

The Pitfalls of High Risk Unsecured Personal Loans

By Steven Philips

The following article lists some simple, informative tips that will help you have a better experience with high risk unsecured personal loans.

High risk unsecured loans provide good deals to borrowers to take up for high risk loans and fulfil their needs. High risk loans are often only a short term fix and there may be a payback in the long run. Loans such as these often come with higher payments so in the long run may be harder to pay than the existing debts you had. Associated with a wide range of lending companies, High risk loans take pride in collecting various loan quotes within a few seconds and arrange a favourable deal without any hassle. We accept loan application from all kinds of borrowers provided they meet the criteria like minimum age should be 18 year and income should be at least 1000 per month.

So, if you need solution for availing high-risk loans, High Risk Loans is your ultimate destination. Since these loans are high risk loans for the lender, the lenders charge high interest rate on these loans, so that the risk can be recovered with high interest rate. High risk loans don't imply that it's a risk to you, as it's offered to a bad credit borrower, it poses a risk to a lender. He's unsure of the loan repayment.

Think about what you've read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about high risk personal loans? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?

The loans are not guaranteed but our success rate with individuals that have been termed "high risk loans" is exceptional. We will look for the best solution to your loan situation, so don't be put off applying today. UK high risk loans are different in that they involve higher interest rates. The rates that may be on offer to you may not be as good as someone might get who has near a near perfect credit rating!

A high risk unsecured personal loan leaves no stone unturned to provide you with fast approval. No time is wasted and funds are transferred instantly so that you can make use of them when you actually need it. Guaranteed online personal loans can aid you to solve all of your financial problems by guiding you through cash assistance. As guaranteed high risk personal loans are available within a short term of time, these loans can really be accessible.

You can't predict when knowing something extra about high risk personal loans will come in handy. If you learned anything new about high risk unsecured personal loans in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.

About the Author:

Friday, June 26, 2009

A Basic Introduction To Accounting

By Cathy Howard

Business relies on accounting language. Accounting utilizes several concepts, which rule the language. What follows are a few of the more significant ones:

First, Going Concern Concept. Accounting is of the assumption that any business enterprise will be around for a long period. Because of this transactions are encoded accordingly. This necessitates setting the difference between expenditures that will cause long term benefits, on the one hand, and those that will cause short term ones. Obviously, if the concerned business activity is determined to exist only for a limited time, the accounting record will record this reality.

It is this that necessitates distinction between expenditure that will render benefit over a long period and that whose benefit will be exhausted quickly, say within the year. Of course, if it is certain that the concerned venture will exist only for a limited time, the accounting record will be kept accordingly.

In proper accounting, these two effects involving the same entry will be encoded.

Third is the Realization Concept. Accounting is a historical record of transaction; it records what has happened. It does not anticipate events though anticipated adverse effect of events that have already occurred are usually recorded. This is of great importance in stopping business firms from their profits by recording sales and income that are likely to accrue.

Unless money has been actually gained either cash has been physically received or a legal obligation to pay an amount certain has been taken by the customer sale cannot be considered as having taken place. No profit or income could likewise be considered as realized.

About the Author:

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Helpful Tips To Find The Right Debt Settlement Company

By Daniel R. Michaelson

Outsourcing, globalization, the housing bust, and rising interest rates have all combined to put a lot of people deeply in debt. Worse yet, many Americans who find themselves in trouble are used to being seen as pillars of their communities - they were doing great in the 90s! - which makes being in debt so much more humiliating, and makes the people who find themselves in that situation all the more desperate.

Very few debt settlement firms are not taking advantage of these individuals who are embarrassed of their credit scores. It's hard to find someone to believe in because everyone knows a reputable firm has two objectives - 1) to help you and 2) to charge you for the work. This is the basis of any company, but some debt settlement firms take it a little too far. In fact, they try to charge a percentage of your total debt while keeping majority of your first payments as deposits to their fees. You may consider this a life-changing event because you're giving your money to a company for nothing. If you'd like to avoid this type of treatment, consider our tips on how to find a legitimate firm to manage your debt settlement needs:

1. Request a free consultation and see what the debt settlement firm does. If they refuse to speak with you, evaluate your financial situation, and then offer an upfront fee - stop talking and hang up. This company is out to make a profit off of your issues and it's not going to help you.

2. Upfront fees for a typical discussion is a red flag of a company's true intentions. Free credit consultation, their procedures, and information on how to manage your debt. Some companies are more than happy to help you rebuild your credit without taking a chunk of your money. Reputable firms are concerned about your well-being, plans, and your ability to repay your debt in a systematic method. Actually, the best companies try to offer you a way to settle your debt without using their services (how many are out there with this kind of heart?).

3.Beware of "too-good-to-be-true" offers: If they claim that they can solve your problems by saving you an outlandish amount of money (like 80% or more) or without hurting your credit, they are lying. Also, debt settlers are not able to prevent you from getting harassing phone calls. Only you can do that, and only once you've made up your mind to not pay the debt. You should also beware of companies that put aside less than 45% of your total debt to be used for settlement, as well as companies that charge 20% or more in fees. Some companies don't even want to tell you about their fees.

4. A company must be TASC compliant in order to manage a consumer credit settlement issue. If a company does not have a TASC compliant disclosure page, they are not the ones for you. Debt settlement firms should remain TASC compliant which states they uphold a strong ethical and professional standard when managing such sensitive accounts. Without these standards, consumers are fragile and vulnerable to disreputable firm scrutiny.

Consider all of these possibilities, problems, and the overall result of a debt settlement firm. Do you want to go through with this without making progress? There are a lot of options available for you if you want to settle your debt in a smart, manageable way. Learn the ropes of credit then tackle it with a strategy based on your ability, financial stability, and passion to correct your credit.

About the Author:

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Tips on Selling Your Own Home

By Selma Avdagic

How can you get a buyer interested in purchasing your house? Impression is the keyword. You just need to get your house ready to sell by doing some preparation. Get inspected by a professional if you want to pay a little effort for maximum results, or if you don't want to spend much money by paying professional you can do by yourself for getting your house ready to sell. Those are the steps for getting your house ready to sell to a buyer.

Ensure that all legal issues are covered before you even think about handing your house over. Does your state law require you to give property disclosures to potential buyers? It may be a good idea to invest in a good lawyer to help you.

A lawyer also comes in handy for helping you draw up the contract. Selling your own home requires a contract that will protect both you and the buyer - think about the buyer's deposit and the local estate laws.

A useful, but normally disregarded, tip in selling your own home is make sure you pick out the best picture to put in the advertisements. Like humans, not all houses are equally photogenic, so pick out the best angle that still represents what your house has to offer.

Something the agents have and you don't is experience, especially in observing buyers. The number of potential buyers coming to your house should not convince you that everyone can afford to buyr a house. If you're selling a house on your own, more buyers will come in hope of a more flexible negotiation - check them all. Find out is they can buy your house immediately, or do they need to sell their own house first.

Cleaning and preparing your house for home showings is only a part of your effort. Some potential buyers love to do drive-bys, and rely on that first impression. Ensure that your lawn and the front part of your house is well maintained. If your curb appeal is low, clients are reluctant to see what's inside.

Get your friends' opinion. Assume that some friends are like a buyer, and get some advice and suggestions to make your house more ready to sell. The most important thing is that your friends feel that your home is like their own home.

About the Author:

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Some Information About Commercial Lenders And Loans

By Wade Henderson

For commercial loans the first step is to decide what commercial lender gives your company the best benefits and the lowest costs in the long run. They will look at your property an on that basis calculate what commercial loan options they have for you.

There are many companies to choose from when seeking a commercial loan and the list seems to grow more and more. Your local bank is no longer the only source of liquidity that your company needs.

In order for you to get a commercial loan you may need also look on the internet. Many companies provide information online. Once you apply and depending on the commercial lender you will get a result within as little as 48 hours. There is some paperwork involved and you will need to provide the value of the property and what kind of property it is.

Some company lenders will ask you for your phone number and they have a specialist call you or visit you to talk about your request. This is specially attractive to business owner who would rather have someone else worry about scheduling and time.

You can also find companies that can provide you with quotes of different commercial lenders in order for you to compare the options, including banks and other financial institution up to 200 companies. They will ask you for information that shows that you are up to date in your tax payments of the year before.

Lenders like Wachovia will facilitate commercial loans that fit the needs of your company. In order for this institution to approve your loan, they will ask to see information on the property, to know what the current value in the market is and whether you have plans for expansion.

This includes the capital that you need in order to satisfy the needs of your business. The borrower is offered commercial lines of credit in the short term when funding is available and reimbursement necessary. They try to work your company's cash flow in order to find the commercial loan that offers you the greatest flexibility and options to the borrowers in the market of mortgage loans.

About the Author:

Monday, June 22, 2009

What Are The Advantages Of Accounting Services?

By Wade Henderson

Paying the price for someone to provide accounting services to your company has many advantages.

The companies that hire accounting services for their business reduce the costs and the transfer the responsibility to another entity. By doing this, they increase the time that managers have in order to improve other areas of business.

If you are a small business owner who is not into all the new sophisticated software for accounting and does not know what software to buy, or how to use then accounting services are an attractive option for you. You will also be saving money and time by not having to keep up to date to the newest technology, or training your staff or employees on how to use the software.

Hiring qualified accountants, and all the paperwork related to human resources can a time consuming process. By hiring accounting services you are relieved of this responsibility and still keeping the benefits.

Outsourcing accounting services can be translated into more cash flow for your company. You will have higher efficiency by having professionals who focus on a specific task, paying only for the specific services your company requires, reducing operating costs and having more capital for investments.

Hiring accounting services may mean eliminating a department in your organization or never creating one. You will be relieved from the burden of supervising the legal requirements in order for your books to meet state and federal regulations. Your taxes will be taken care of.

It allows you to increasing capacity. Outsourcing accounting services will also be ideas for the skills of some people who travel from distant countries while motivating your staff to assume different responsibilities within the organization. Professionals who provide accounting services have access to the different technologies and are skilled individuals who focus only on accounting. By doing this, they can provide better and faster services allowing you to use you time to increase productivity in different areas.

By transferring accounting services to another person or company, you make them accountable of the whole process. You also will make better use of your property and your office space. You can also choose to improve your relationship with your customer, focus on providing better services, and accelerating projects so that they get their products quicker.

About the Author:

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Get Paid To Take Surveys? Is it Possible?

By Steve Halladay

Targeted market research is an essential strategy in any business plan, as companies strive to meet the demands of their customers. For many large, consumer based companies, customer surveys provide an accurate account, relating to customers opinions and current demands. While many of us have at some point, completed surveys, is it actually possible to earn money from doing so?

Recently, numerous online opportunities have arisen, advertising cash rewards, in return for completing such surveys. The logic behind this is that companies are willing to pay people, in exchange for their opinions regarding specific products or services.

The big question we always get is a good one - Is it a scam or can you actually make money at it?

We were skeptical at first, but it actually is possible to make some good money if you go about it the right way. There are people who are making real money each day just for giving their opinions. Let's look at how to get started.

Your first task will be to source a reputable Online Survey Network in order to gain access to these surveys. Here you will be presented with two options:

Option #1 - Free networks

While these networks allow you to sign up for free, they are not really the best choice for those wanting to earn money. Members on these networks will receive email notifications relating to available survey opportunities, rewarding participants with entry in various online competitions instead of cash payments.

Usually the companies that use these networks are very small companies that don't have big enough budgets to pay people for their opinions. Some people will find it fun at first and like the chance of winning a prize, however you won't make an income worth talking about. The draws or sweepstakes have awful odds.

Option #2 - Paid membership networks

This second option is the option of choice by those who intend earning real money or at the very least, an additional second income.

Typically, these membership based networks charge in the vicinity of $40 for membership. Upon successful registration, members are granted access to extensive lists of opportunities concerning paid surveys.

These networks work with larger companies that are able to offer cash for your opinion as they have good-sized marketing budgets. They are willing to pay money to get your opinion which will help them in their business decisions.

These networks constantly update their listings and are in constant touch with companies in order to provide you with plenty of paid survey opportunities. You decide how much time you want to put into it - obviously the more time you put in the more money you will make.

Before actually signing up and handing over your money, look for signs which indicate the network you have chosen is reputable. Such signs could for example include a free trial period, or a money back guarantee. After all, if a network is confident in their service, they can be sure you will find the opportunities you're searching for.

If you're really serious about making some extra cash or even a second income, paid surveys is genuine money making opportunity. If you're still not convinced, or if you still have questions, please feel free to get in touch. All the very best of luck!

About the Author:

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Is an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) Right for you?

By Kevin Pierce

As of a few years ago, the ARM was the best way to buy a home. If you do not have the money to buy your dream home, then you can choose a mortgage with an adjustable rate over a fixed one. In an adjustable rate mortgage, the rate of interest changes every year depending on the market condition. As for a fixed rate of mortgage, the rate of interest is not dependant on the market scenario and remains the same over the term of the loan.

There have been extended time periods where the adjustable rate mortgage was the best mortgage option. Borrowers had their home mortgage payments reduced year after year. In the long run, mortgage rates are cyclical. When the condition of the world financial markets change, adjustable rate mortgages can skyrocket.

The exact rate of interest for an Adjustable Rate Mortgage is determined by the index to which your mortgage is attached and the frequency at which your mortgage is allowed to adjust. These terms are defined in your mortgage note, a document you sign prior to the close of escrow. Your index is influenced by a number of factors like inflation, world market conditions and many other complex factors.

Keeping these various factors in mind, the rate of adjustable mortgage is determined. This pre-determined rate of interest is applicable for the rest of the fiscal year, though it can be revised at any time. Depending on the credit cycle, it is seen that the interest rate for adjustable mortgages diminishes or rises with every passing year.

The pitfall is that this rate can increase substantially, and people may find it more and more difficult to make their payments and retain their property. For example, if the interest rate goes up by 1%, people, who earlier had to pay about $500 towards an adjustable rate mortgage payment, may have to shell out as much as $ 570-600 for the same home (depending on the mortgage details).

Any sudden increase in ARM payments will make it more and more difficult for people to keep their property, especially if their income is either constant or going down due to the changes in the economy.

If there are good economic conditions and the credit cycle favors, you may benefit from a reduction in interest rates on your ARM. If you are unsure of how interest rates will behave, the only thing that you can do is opt for a fixed rate of mortgage. On fixed rate mortgages, the rate of interest is fixed at the time of taking the mortgage, and hence, is not dependant on market conditions beyond your control.

About the Author:

Friday, June 19, 2009

Important Factors For Venture Capitalists

By Wade Henderson

Venture capitalists unlike banks are looking to provide funding to small businesses that look promising. Their main goal is to be able to resell their stocks after 5 or 7 years assuming the business has become successful. Bankers would request collateral from new entrepreneurs. Venture capitalists on the other hand, focus rather on the people who will manage the project.

Venture capitalists analyze projects meticulously before choosing those they are interested in. At the end, they choose to finance on average 5 to 10 out of a hundred projects.

We show you here a few of the elements that venture capitalist consider before choosing projects. These results come from a survey performed on 70 venture capitalists.

The product and the market are highly considered by venture capitalists. They seek to understand whether the market is ready for the product and whether it has tendencies for development.

Strategic and competitive. Criterion relating to the concepts of strategy and competitive dynamics, including the nature and level of competition, power suppliers and distributors, the ability to block the penetration of new entrants

The management and the leadership abilities of the people in charge of the project or business is one of the most important factors for venture capitalists.

Other important factors are also competences in marketing, administration, organizational structure, sales, and production of the business.

Naturally, the project has to be financially appealing, stable and promising for venture capitalists to be interested.

Venture capitalists also study the conditions under which the funding will be granted. The relationship with the organization needs to be effective, harmonious and convenient for both parts. Investors have to manage their portfolio carefully in order to meet the agreements with the contacts.

These elements are fundamental during the qualifying process that venture capitalists and angel investors undergo in order to prioritize which projects they will provide funding to.

Venture capitalists are looking for their mainly on whether the leader and the team have the leadership qualities and management skills to complete the project. It is these qualities that will affect the rest of the project.

About the Author:

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Eligibility Criteria For International Travel Health Insurance Plan

By Ray Sondeo

For people planning any travel, especially outside the home country, it is an absolute must to be covered by an international insurance package for a safe and secure trip. Any travel involves risks like stolen baggage, health complications and emergency scenarios demanding immediate evacuation. An international insurance policy is the answer to all these possible nightmares during a trip.

Once you opt for an health insurance for international travel policy with worldwide coverage, you are protected not only in your home country but also during your travel abroad across many countries in the world. However, in the case of international insurance, you may have a predetermined waiting period to avail of certain benefits like maternity and preventive care.

In order to get the best out of your international insurance package, you need to comply with some minimum eligibility requirements irrespective of your age, status and nationality. These requirements would be mentioned by your insurance provider in advance.

Many international insurance policies have restrictions on the amount of time spent in the United States by US citizens. Some policies require that if you are a US citizen, you must reside abroad or leave the United States on the effective date and live outside the US for about 6 months. For non-US citizens, most plans are less restrictive and do not require the 6 month stay outside the US.

You can apply for insurance when you are as young as 14 days or even at the age of 74 years. But when you cross 74 years, you would be covered under the same policy if you have been covered continuously by the insurance provider in the past. Most of the providers do not allow you to apply for a new policy.

You can cover your entire family under a single international health insurance policy plan. It works out beneficial for you if you cover your spouse and kids under the same plan as some of the international health insurance providers offer free coverage for the children if both the parents opt for the same insurance plan.

Newborns are typically covered from birth for illnesses provided the mother of the baby is covered by the insurance policy and qualifies for pregnancy coverage under the plan. Newborns are required to be included under their parents plan within 31 days of the date of birth.

Both individuals and families can enroll for the International Health Insurance. In case of family coverage, incentives are offered by the insurance providers. But to avail some benefits like preventive care and also maternity coverage, you may require waiting for 12 months.

About the Author:

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Forex Accounts Explained

By Ahmad Hassam

Good money management is the essential key that many currency traders miss. Many traders ignore adapting good money management rules at their own peril. As a consequence, they get their account blown in a few weeks of trading. You need to become a disciplined trader. Trading discipline means developing a trading system based on money management rules that limit your risk and avoid making trading decisions based on emotions. In the end, every trader has to develop his/her own insights and systems.

Without sufficient capital in your account, you wont be able to make meaningful capital gains. One of the worst blunders that forex traders can make is to trade without sufficient capital. Low capital increases your chances of getting blown out too soon. This does not mean that you should have a lot of capital before you start trading. You need to have sufficient capital in your account in order to take advantage of the movements in the currency markets. Low capital will never give you that opportunity.

A trader with limited capital is always a worried traders always looking to minimize losses beyond the point of realistic trading. The minimum amount required to open a standard account with most forex brokers is $2000. You can start with $2000 but it is recommended by most of the professional traders that you should start with $5000-$10,000 to get good results.

A standard account or a regular account (often also called 100k account), lets you trade a $100,000 standard lot with a $1000 deposit. This $1000 is kept as the margin by the broker. This is a 1% margin. Your account should have more than $1000 if you want to trade a $100k lot.

You can change the margin account to whatever you feel comfortable with. When you open an account with the broker, you must determine what the default margin is. If you start at 2% margin, then it will cost you $2000 to trade one standard lot.

You can get a leverage of up to 200% in most of the standard accounts. Using 200% leverage means trading $200,000 with a $1000 deposit. Too much leverage is dangerous. Dont use more than 4% leverage while trading in the beginning.

I am not saying that leverage is bad. You need to know it is a double edged sword that can cut both ways. It can increase your ROI but at the same time it can wipe you out in case of a slight market move going against you. Its just that you need to understand and learn how to use leverage. You can only do so with practice and with practice and more experience; you can increase the level of leverage in your trading.

Mini accounts are great for newbies. You can open a mini account with a deposit of only $300. The mini account was developed to accommodate investors who were looking for diversification out of their stocks portfolios. This small dollar requirement allows many investors to participate in the forex markets who were previously unable to do so. Recently micro accounts have also been introduced.

One lot on a mini account means $10,000. On a mini account, you have a different lot size as compared to the standard account. You only need $50 to control a mini lot of $10,000. This is a leverage of 200%. Pip size on a mini account is also small as compared to the standard account. A pip size on the mini account is equal to $1 instead of $10 as on a standard lot.

If you lose 100 pips on a mini account, it means losing only $100. Losing 100 pips equal $1000 on a standard lot. A mini account reduces your risk by 10%. But it also reduces the profit that you can make by 10%. Start with at least $500 on a mini account. A mini account is a great way for new traders to practice forex trading. First develop the feel of how the forex markets work. Once you become an expert, trade on a standard account. Standard lot gives you the opportunity to make good ROI.

About the Author:

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Trading In The Buff - Is It A Scam

By Mike Reed

There is a new course called Trading In The Buff. It was developed by a man named John Templeton. The concept behind the course is to the educate people on how to trade the forex market just by using price action concepts. This is done by getting rid of all the indicators that most people are used to using on their charts.

The course focuses on using price action to spot trends, counter trends, support & resistance, which can be used to predict solid entry positions and the ability to forecast future price movements. The course really focuses on original material, which is a bidg departure from most of the stuff that you get online. Unfortunately with much of the stuff being sold about forex trading, there does tend be some overlapping. As a matter of fact, sometimes it's just blatantly the same material over and over again.

Thank goodness, this is not the case for the Trading In The Buff Course. I can safely say that the material was both new and innovative. It was very obvious that the creator worked diligently on the course to make sure that his customers were getting something real original. The in-depth analysis also proves that Templeton wants to make sure that his customers understand all the nuances of the course.

The entire course is presented in an orderly, step by step manner. After all the chapters in the book are read, there is a corresponding video which you watch that delves deeper into the concepts of the respective chapter. It' also very unique in that you also get to learn about the fundamentals. I think the problem with some price action methods, its that many traders can't really explain to others why exactly it works. To give you an example, look at trading candlestick patterns. In this case, you are really just memorizing. You memorize patterns like dojis, but you don't really understand the underlying reason of why it works.

Trading In The Buff actually explains the underlying reasons why the material works. For example, it explains in pure simple terms why there is are certain areas where you will find key support and resistance, as well as how a trend, (and even more importantly a counter-trend) can be spotted.

Another thing I like about the course is how simple it is. I find that many forex trading methods are almost purposely complicated. For example, take a look at Eliot Waves. On the other hand, though there are many trading methods that are so simple, it's almost insulting, like moving average crossovers. Trading In The Buff fall somewhere right in the middle. It's simple, but it also provide a lot of depth, which is a lot more than I can say for most courses.

They also have excellent customer service. I had a problem grasping one of the concepts of the course and I emailed support about it, and as a surprise to me, I got a reply within the hour with a very well detailed answer to my question. What was even more impressive was that it came from John Templeton, himself. He actually answers his own emails. It's nice to see that, nowadays.

And lastly it just works. Let's face it. That's what it all comes down to, doesn't it? Being a person who has traded indicators for most of his life, I never really gave much thought to what can be found simply by looking at the price. Except for recognizing generic patterns like head and shoulder, double tops and double bottoms, etc.. But I was really stunned as to all the valuable information that was available to me just by looking at a simple bar chart. Now I can't even look at a chart and not notice it. My eyes automatically can scan the price movement and find great entries and exits.

About the Author:

Monday, June 15, 2009

Trade Forex Intraday With The 5EMAs Forex Trading System

By Ryan Lee Daniels

Do you have a forex day trading system that works? Have you tried many intraday trading systems only to find out they do not work? How about getting a complete set of trading rules and start making money instead?

A popular and often touted way of forex trading is day trading. However, when you are trading on the smaller time frames intraday, it can be very taxing on your mind and on your heart.

Did you know that without a complete set of trading rules as a benchmark for the trading performance, it can be very traumatizing and upsetting when you do not even understand why you are losing money? And this is without going in-depth into other concepts and principles like money management and position sizing.

When you are trading multiple currencies, it can become confusing without some automated help. Trying to analyze 10 currencies on multiple time frames all at the same time can cause you to become dizzy, especially when you want to get in before the market moves away from your entry point. This is why with forex mechanical system trading help, you will perform much better as a trader.

So how do you become a successful forex day trader with so many challenges to overcome?

How? You need a tested and proven forex day trading system. And this system has to be complete. It has to come with robust rules to identify entries, where to place your stop losses, and how to manage your trade until it is completely closed out. And to top it off, wouldn't you think having automated alerts prompting you of potentially profitable trades be a plus?

You get two types of trading set-ups with the 5 EMAs forex trading system: Trades that go with the trend, and trades that come from price breakouts. With these trade set-ups, you also get the rules for managing it all the way to completion.

Together with the manual, you get a set of automated alerts that inform you when a potential trade comes up. When you get an alert, the next thing you need to do is visually confirm the trade before you place your order.

A simple, yet powerful forex trading system. To discover more about this forex intraday trading system, read my review on the 5EMAs Forex Trading System.

About the Author:

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Debt Consolidation Help Is On The Way!

By Brenda Lengel

If you find yourself surrounded by debt, do not delay in seeking debt consolidation help. The more you delay, the deeper in debt you may become, and your credit score will also take a beating. Debt consolidation is the solution to bring you peace of mind, eliminate debt, and restore your credit rating.

Debt consolidation will help you afford to pay back your creditors. With debt consolidation, your debts are combined into one account. The debt consolidation counselor arranges lower interest rates from each of your creditors and pays each one of the creditors when you pay the debt consolidation company each month. Your credit card bills are simplified into one payment, at an affordable interest rate, so that you can more easily make that payment each month. As you pay each month, you will see your credit card balances rapidly decline due to the lower interest rate.

There are many places to locate debt consolidation help. When you fill out an online form or call a debt consolidation counselor, they will help you determine your debt and your ability to repay the debt each month. With this information in hand, they will them direct you to the best debt consolidation method for your individual situation.

Debt consolidation counseling is available to help you see how much you spend each month and on what items the money is being spent. You can then determine if there are items that you can eliminate from your monthly expenditures. A debt consolidation loan can help you pay off your outstanding debts at a much lower interest rate than the credit card companies are charging you. Each month, as you pay your loan payment, you will be gettting closer and closer to living debt free.

Debt consolidation does not have to involve a new loan. Many times your debts can be consolidated into one account with the debt consolidation company. You will pay one payment to the debt consolidation company each month and they will pay your creditors. This will be easier for you to afford as the debt consolidation company will have worked out lower interest rates and fees for you so that the balances can be paid off more rapidly and so that your monthly payments are more affordable.

If your debt burden is extremely high, it may be advisable to consider debt settlement. The debt counselor will discuss your financial situation with your creditors and get them to agree upon a settlement amount to pay off your account. The monthly payments that you make to the debt consolidation company go to pay off each of your settled accounts until they are all paid in full.

Take time to consider the debt consolidation method that you choose. Debt consolidation is very helpful, but you want to understand what you are doing before agreeing to it. Amending your spending habits is also important, because you do not want to create new debts while you are clearing old ones.

For a free debt consolidation quote, please click on the link Debt Consolidation.

About the Author:

Saturday, June 13, 2009

How One Couple Rebounded After a Layoff

By Chuck R Stewart

The year 2009 will forever be known as the time our nation entered into a recession. The poor economy and the effects of that downward spiral have touched the wealthiest CEO's of Fortune 500 companies all the way down to the cashier at the local Wal-Mart. Americans are losing their jobs at a horrible rate and no one is really sure when it will improve. Large automakers like General Motors and Chrysler have had to let thousands and thousands of employees go because they have lost so much money. For the first time they are facing the thought of completely going under as a company.

The one area of business that appears to be growing, however, are some smaller businesses that have recently began. They are doing away with the middle man in several instances and the owners are maintaining a direct relationship with their customers. DPO's are becoming more widely used than IPO's today as well. A DPO is a direct offering to private placement companies rather than an IPO that is the Initial Public Offering and are a lot more challenging for small companies to obtain.

This article will give you ways on starting your new smaller business started and what to think about before you make your final decision to do so. With a large amount of Americans out of work, they are now starting to think of how they can makemoney by owning their own business. Often the best ideas come from people that noticed a need for a particular thing in their communities as a general consumer.

One great example is of a couple in Denver. They both were downsized and had three small children living in one of the fastest growing suburbs in the country. Just about every home in their community over almost 100,000 people had one or more children. One thing the wife had grown frustrated with was the chore of taking her small children to get their haircuts every month. She did not wish to spend $35 at a nice salon thatdiscouraged small children if they got loud and she got frustrated having to try to keep her kids busy at the less expensive places that often had waiting for over an hour. She felt the real need as a mother to create a children's hair salon in that community. She had salon working experience or anything like it but felt the need for just that in her town. So, she opened Jack and Jill's and as soon as it opened, it was a great success. They have now opened another one in Denver due to their popularity and figuring out a need for a business in a community.

Hopefully, you can have similar result with starting your small business as well. Just find a need in the right location and then do a lot of research|research, research, research in how to get it going. The online resources is a great resource in discovering some of this information.

About the Author:

Friday, June 12, 2009

What Options Do I Have For Driving Lessons?

By Nathan Lewit

Something that we all get excited about sooner or later is when we learn to drive. Remember when you were approaching the driving age and the excitement that you felt? There are many ways that a person can learn how to do this. Here we look into the most popular ways that people tend to lean towards when thinking of driving lessons.

Many people think that getting private lessons from a teacher is the best way to go. There are many places that offer this option which means that you have a teacher in the car at the same time as you. This trained teacher will help you in the ways that they feel that you need the help while you are actually driving it. This can be a bonus for the person that is very nervous and is having a lot of difficulties learning the skill.

Schools have been offering driver's education programs throughout the years and have been high on the list for popularity as an option. Kids like that they can still be with their friends while learning something of such importance. Parents like that the cost of the classroom and the in car portions of the course are all included in one price.

The price of this is usually fairly reasonable with all that it includes another thing that parents like.

Either of these options are good choices. Keep a few things in mind though when making a decision though as taking driving lessons is a very important thing. Look into the qualifications of the person or course that you are opting to take.

Prices can be different depending on where you live, the number of lessons, and a variety of other factors as well. Being smart when making your decision is very important.

Learning to drive at home with the help of a family member or friend that has driven for a while is another choice that a person has. This is by far the most economical one as it will only cost the person gas for the car they use. Family members or friends can be a great choice but they also can be a hindrance as well. Be careful with who you choose to teach you as you want to be comfortable that they will not yell at you all the time.

Once again we are going to suggest that a person look around the internet. There are a lot of places that offer practice tests and have videos that can help the person that is learning to drive. Along with this there are many, many articles that are out there that can offer very useful information about driving and other related areas. Examining what is out there can be the smartest thing that you can do when thinking of driving lessons. It can save you a lot of money as well as being unhappy down the road.

About the Author:

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Reading Foreign Exchange Quotes

By Bart Icles

The foreign exchange market can overwhelm a lot of people. Having a good grasp of foreign exchange trading can help you a lot in starting your foreign exchange venture. After having substantial knowledge of the basics of the foreign exchange market, you can start working on learning how to buy and sell currencies.

Learning how to read foreign exchange quotes in spot markets is a basic step in foreign exchange trading. A currency is quoted in relation to another currency, wherein the value of one currency is shown through the value of another. A foreign exchange quote typically looks like this: USD/EUR = 0.7076. This reads that one US dollar is equivalent to 0.7076 Euros. The currency on the left side of the slash is the base currency and the one on the right is the quote or counter currency. When taken together, this is what foreign exchange market players refer to as a currency pair.

Normally, currencies are traded in the foreign exchange market with the US dollar as the base currency. When a quote does not indicate the US dollar as one of its components, it is called a cross currency. An example of a cross currency pair is EUR/JPY, wherein the quote will indicate how much Japanese yen does one Euro cost. Cross currencies can open new opportunities in the foreign exchange market. However, you should take note that cross currencies are not as actively traded than pairs that include the US dollar.

Currencies can be quoted in two ways: directly and indirectly. Direct currency quotes are simply currency pairs wherein the domestic currency is the base currency. In contrast, indirect currency quotes are those where the domestic currency is the quoted or counter currency. For example, you are looking at the Euro as the domestic currency and the US dollar as the foreign currency. The direct currency quote for this pair should read EUR/USD, and its indirect currency quote is USD/EUR.

You should also be familiar with the bidding and asking prices in the foreign exchange market. Currency pairs are traded with bid and ask prices, wherein the bid price is they buying price and the ask price is the selling price in relation to the base currency. In buying a currency pair, the ask price is the amount of quoted currency that need to be paid to buy one unit of the base currency. The bid price on the other hand is the amount of quoted currency that can be bought with one unit of the base currency.

Two other terms that you also need to be familiar with are spreads and pips. Spreads refer to the difference between the bid price and the ask price. A pip is the smallest movement that a currency price can make. In a currency pair that reads USD/EUR = 0.7076/03, the spread is 0.0003 or 3 pips. A change of three pips would result to 0.7079 from 0.7076.

About the Author:

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

How to Sell Gold

By Bob Timmons

The supply of gold or recycled gold varies with economic conditions. In tough times the supply of scrap gold increases. Gold prices vary from day to day, depending on the spot price of gold.

You can sell unwanted gold over the internet or through the mail. If you choose to sell locally, check out pawn shops and jewelry shops that offer to buy gold.

Companies that take scrap gold typically pay 10 to 20 % less than the current spot price of gold. They must process the gold, incurring costs to do so. When turning in your unwanted gold, it pays to shop around. Some cash for gold companies offer substantially less than other ones, Take care to choose properly.

Dental fillings, rings, earrings are all accepted as recycled gold. Even gold teeth can get sold! Chains are also a good source of quality gold.

The highest price you will get for scrap gold if it is 24 karat gold. 24 karat gold is 99.999 % fine. (pure gold is impossible due to slight impurities within the process). 18 karat gold is actually only 3/4 gold. So that when you are getting a quote for gold, the amount of gold within the object will determine price. 12 karat gold is only half pure gold!

The final price of your gold can be affected if it is mixed with other metals. Silver, platinum and palladium are sometimes included in gold fillings. If you are lucky enough to have platinum in your mix, you can receive a higher price!

Getting a quote is easy from a local dealer. If there are none available, you can send your gold by mail. A safe process requiring signatures. Once you receive a price for your gold, you can accept it or have the company return your gold. You are not forced to sell. A check will then be sent to you.

You have to be careful when dealing with some companies. There are some firms that vastly under price the gold you are selling. This leads to many consumer complaints. Check out the BBB to see if the company you are considering doing business with is reputable. A few minutes on-line can prevent being ripped off!

Going straight to a refiner is sometimes the best way to get the highest price for your gold. Check local listings for more info.

About the Author:

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Things to Consider When Buying a Condo

By Chuck R Stewart

For individuals and even couples who are just in their early stages of their independent lives, price issue may not be the primary concern when considering a real estate property. For the newbie couples, downsizing may even be the primary concern when choosing among the available Northern Kentucky homes in the market. This segment of home owners put convenience in the top of their needs as far as their real property home is concerned. As in most cases where both of them are busy in their respective jobs, the traditional family home will not work as it would not be perfect with their lifestyles.

The Northern Kentucky condos can be the more practical option. This practical choice for newly starting couples allows them to own their first real property and acquire over time their equity from this purchase. The Northern Kentucky condos are more cost effective than a comparable single detached family home. However, if the couple chooses to go for the classier Northern Kentucky condos, there will always be the right one that will fit their budget. In buying condos, one should note that the amenities and the area are the determining factors in their prices. One can also have the opportunity to select the best condo based on location. Developers have several condo projects that are located within the city, in the beach fronts and upscale neighborhoods. This selection of areas will meet whatever reasons you may have in buying a condo.

Another great feature of residential condos is the reliable and sufficient security. These modern residential edifices, particularly the luxurious types, are located in secure, gated and exclusive development sites. This is an important element for aged residents and those who are all by themselves.

The nature of ownership of a condo is something ultimately unique. Condo owners can call their own the spaces within the confines of the four corners of the condo shell or unit. The halls, walkways, parking area, recreation rooms and gyms are classified as areas to be used by all. These areas are considered collective properties owned by all the condo residents and the maintenance and upkeep is associated with all owners.

There are now numerous varieties of Northern Kentucky condos. You can have a cluster of condo units that are positioned near your condo unit either on the side, below or on top of each unit. There are also newer condo complexes where the units are constructed following a town homes design. These condo complexes are either single level or multi-level condo projects where one can possibly share one or more common walls with other condo residents.

There are related and added costs that should be considered in the big picture when you are assessing the prospects of owning a condo home. Condo residents are expected to pay monthly dues for the required maintenance and upkeep of the condo complex. On top of the overhead expenses in the management of the entire complex, condo residents must provide consolidated funds for the repair and upgrade of the entire complex.

If you are looking for a residential property with the perks of modern amenities, then the condo option is the right choice for you as an individual or as newbie couple.

About the Author:

Monday, June 8, 2009

How To Write A More Effective Demand Letter

By David P. Montana

If your business is responsible for its own in house debt collections, you already understand the need to send out demand letters to late-paying customers from time to time.

Most businesses prefer to use the "gentle" approach by sending a friendly reminder. The hope is that the customer may have simply forgotten about owing the bill, and that this reminder will help them to remember.

While these can have varying degrees of success, they can still be improved upon by learning a few tips to help you write a more effective demand letter. This will encourage your customers to pay you sooner, rather than later.

1. Careful Professional Wording

Your demand letter should never contain any kind of threatening language or terms that can imply threats. People can become very defensive if they feel they are being attacked, whether its rightful or not. This defensiveness can often become retaliation and prompt them to become even more stubborn about not paying your unpaid bills.

Your collection letters should be worded professionally, with communication that is non-personal, emotional, stay on the point, and communicate clearly that the letter is a reminder of an unpaid debt. This usually proves to be enough of an encouragement to get the customer to pay the bill.

2. Be Accurate

Demand letters should clearly state the exact amount that is late and past due, as well as when payment was due. It can be good to also remind them of the products or services originally purchased. These letters should be succinct and brief.

3. Payment Settlements/Arrangements

If some customers are avoiding all contact, you might want to offer a payment arrangement. They might be ashamed of admitting financial difficulties, and a payment plan with smaller payments over time might be more financially manageable for your customer.

Smaller amounts of money tend to become less overwhelming to a customer suffering from financial distress and they may become more cooperative because of this.

4. Penalty Fees

Some business owners may find that mentioning the prospect of adding a penalty fee on top of any seriously delinquent accounts can become effective. Throughout your demand letter, point out that if an account remains unpaid for a further 14 or 28 days, then the account may incur a penalty fee. Many people will suddenly find enough money to pay their debt rather than face an extra cost on top of the amount they already owe.

These suggestions can increase the cash flow to your business, by receiving smaller payments over a period of time. They will also encourage your late-paying customers to pay their past due accounts.

If you're handling your own debt collections and writing your own demand letters, you cannot imply that a debt collection agency is involved in the collecting.

You also have to exercise care that none of your wording implies any kind of threat. You also cannot use any kind of deception in your letters. For example, you cannot insinuate or threaten legal action if you are not working with an attorney. You also can't imply that you're working with any government agency to recover your debt. Neither can you threaten to garnish a customer's wages.

Its also a violation of federal statutes to try to make your demand letter look like its been written and sent by a state or federal agency or from a court.

Use a professional tone in your writing, using your own regular business stationary. Generally, you should send two demand letters, spaced about 30 days apart. If these aren't proving to be successful, perhaps it may be time to think of alternative debt collection methods, including hiring outside collection agencies to help you with your collections.

About the Author:

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Dealing With Debt Effectively

By Chris Blanchet

The problem of debts and managing personal finance is faced by many people. This is one of the most serious stresses people face and as such it needs to be resolved effectively. In order to succeed at dealing with debt, you need to determine the best ways to reduce debt and handle your personal finances. If you do not manage your credit properly, debt collectors may harass you and turn your life into a living hell.

The best way to get started with dealing with debt is to calculate your total debt levels. You can do this by organizing unpaid bills and debt from the lowest amount due to the largest. Next, decide the amount that you can repay every month. To come up with this number, you will need to complete a fairly elaborate budget. For a more complete plan, prioritize your debt based on the interest rates your creditors charge - with higher-rate debt being a higher priority than lower-rate debt.

Debts that need to be paid immediately should always take priority. If they remain unpaid, the creditors have the ability to take severe action against you, which is something you do not want. Past due rent and mortgage payments are examples of ultra-high priority debts. If you are seriously past due and cannot repay any debt without risk, consider delaying payments until a full budget has been completed, which we discuss next.

Once you have taken care of the immediate, high priority debt, the urgency level will drop. The next step in dealing with debt and managing your personal finances will be to review and refine your budget. By completing a budget that measures your monthly expenses, you will know what is left as "extra" which you can use to repay debt on a more consistent basis. Another big advantage with a budget is that it allows you highlight ares where spending can be curtailed even further, allowing you to save even more money every month.

In the event that you are seriously past due, you will want to connect with your creditors. Now that you have completed a full budget, you know better how much you can afford to repay each month. This will allow you have a meaningful negotiation with your creditors. Dealing with debt this way means revealing as much as possible to your creditors about your financial situation. If you are not comfortable discussing these details over the phone, you can write a letter.

Now that lenders are taking a bit of heat about responsible lending practices, nearly all of them offer third-party services to people who are having a tough time dealing with debt. These no-cost services will offer tips and knowledge about how to remedy your debt situation and regain control of your personal finances. If you are having problems surviving from month to month or if you are stressed to the max about whether you can overcome your debt, you should consider taking advantage of such programs.

Since every situation is unique, it becomes difficult to give general recommendations about dealing with debt and handling personal finances. However, the above guidelines certainly provide a basic overview. To take your personal finances to the next level, you should visit sites like Help Fix My Finances.com to work through your own, unique financial plan.

About the Author:

Saturday, June 6, 2009

IRS Eases Investment Rules for 529 College Savings Plans

By Doeren Mayhew

Saving for college is always hard and is even more so during the current economic downturn. One of the most popular college savings plans is the "529 plans." Recently, the IRS announced that participants in 529 plans will be able to change their investments more often in 2009 than in past years. The IRS will now allow a change in investment strategy twice in 2009. This is good news for 529 plan participants, especially those that may have otherwise been locked into a mix of investments that has turned out to be more speculative than initially contemplated.

Tax-Free Distribution A 529 plan is qualified tuition program. By contributing to a 529 plan, taxpayers contribute to an account established for paying a student's educational expenses. Eligible educational expenses may include the costs of tuition, books, and fees at eligible institutions, such as colleges, vocational schools, and other ostsecondary institutions.

Contributions to 529 plans are not tax-deductible. However, earnings are tax-free, and distributions used to pay the beneficiary's qualified education xpenses are tax-free.

A 529 plan should not be confused with a Coverdell Educational Savings Account (Coverdell ESA). The latter is also a savings account for education expenses that offers tax-free distributions. Funds saved in a Coverdell ESA can be used for elementary and secondary school expenses as well as college costs.

Investment Decision For the most part, participants in 529 plans must select only from among broadbased investment strategies designed exclusively by the program. The IRS has also traditionally permitted a change in investment strategy only once a year.

Because of the economic slowdown and the turmoil in the financial markets, the IRS will allow investments in a 529 plan to be changed during 2009 on a more frequent basis. A 529 plan won't violate the investment restriction if it permits a change in the investment strategy twice in calendar year 2009, as well as upon a change in the designated beneficiary of the account.

About the Author:

Friday, June 5, 2009

Bad Credit Credit Card - What You Can Qualify For

By Laura Stenson

Many of us have experienced difficult financial times, and some of us are currently dealing with rough times. These monetary setbacks can result in undesirable credit scores and can make it nearly impossible to secure credit from any lender.

Thankfully, there is a way out of this dilemma. You can start by building positive marks on your report, that will help your score. The difficult part is finding a lender that will give you the chance to do this.

Typically a card has a limit, and you are able to purchase goods and services up to that limit. You are required to make a minimum monthly payment set by the lender, and there is usually interest charged for any unpaid balance every month.

However you may only be able to qualify for a secured or a prepaid offer. Below you will find brief descriptions of how these work.

Additionally you may qualify for an unsecured offer. However this will have a high interest rate and many fees.

Pre Paid

With a prepaid card, you first make a deposit into your account and then can use it to make purchases. Your purchases are deducted from the money you have in the account.

You can add money at any time, and many will allow you to deposit your paycheck or government check directly.

There are no interest fees, but there may be an initial activation, monthly, or transaction fees. Some will report to the three bureaus, which can help build positive marks.

Secured

These require you to make an initial deposit into your account to cover all or a percentage of your limit. This decreases the lender's liability and supplies you with purchasing power.

If circumstances prevent you from making an on-time payment, the lender is able to take the payment from your initial deposit. Many do not require a credit check, so you don't need to be as concerned about your past mistakes.

Some have annual fees and higher than average interest rates. Your activity will be reported to the three bureaus.

Unsecured

These do not require a deposit and are structured to give you a second chance. The limit is typically around $250 - $300, but you will be given the chance to increase this once you have proven you are responsible.

These usually come with an annual fee and high interest rates around 20%. Your activity will be reported to the bureaus.

About the Author:

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Property Tax Relief: Really? Find out the Truth about Lower Property Taxes

By Valerie Faltas

Prop 8 Decline in Value is a supplement or exemption to Prop 13 which still applies today to all property owners in California. Prop 13 was enacted in 1978 to control the amount of property taxes paid by taxpayers. Prop 8 Reduction is an exemption to Prop 13 which states that your assessed value should not be higher than market value for any given year. So, when the market is decreasing like it is today and has dipped below your current assessed value, you are entitled to some relief.

This appears to be great news however, it is only a TEMPORARY solution. The Prop 8 Exemption is generally something you have to file for. The way The Prop 8 Exemption works is like this, your valuation date for the current fiscal year is January 1st. So, the comparable sales for your home for Prop 8 purposes, need to have closed within the first three months of the year; from January 1 to March 31 for that given year based on the language of the law. For example to get a The Prop 8 Exemption reduction for 2009, the comparable sales must have closed between January 1st, 2009 and March 31, 2009 based on the law. Basically in order to get a reduction in value there has to be closed sales of similar properties within the first quarter of the designated year that are lower than your assessed value.

The problem here has several reasons: one of the worst is that the first three months of the year is the slowest time for comparable sales because those tranactions started during the holiday season which is the slowest time for real estate. Real estate sales take 30-60 days to close, so most of the sales that close within the first quarter of the year opened escrow during the holiday season. The sales to choose from are more sparse than later on. When the market movement really starts to show during the second and third quarters of the year you are out of luck because those sales are outside the perimeters for a Prop 8 Decline in Value reduction.

This is not a great solution because it is only a SHORT TERM reduction in value, so when the real estate market goes back up, and it always does, your base value goes back to what it would have been had you never gotten the break. Numerous property tax specialists appear in declining markets offering to save you on property taxes. They send direct mail that look official and from the Assessor which they are not and unfortunately , homeowners pay hard earned money to have their property taxes "reduced" only to have their tax bills revert back once the market recovers. Truthfully you never pay the Assessor for any service or review of your value - you pay for that with your property taxes already! Generally, the form you will out with the Assessor is simpler than the form these companies send you in the mail!

Let me illustrate the way Prop 8 Exemption works on an average residence in California. I purchased a home in 2005, at the hight of the market, for $500,000, at a 2% trend my current assessed value for 2008 is $530,604. My market value as of the beginning of 2008 is around $430,000 and since I am a knowledgeable homeowner I apply for a Prop 8 Reduction to get a break. So, for 2008 I have a break, Im paying on a value that is $100,000 below my trended base value and saving near $1,250! The real estate market goes down and based on the Assessors review, the Prop 8 Reduction value is given for 2009 also. So for 2009 I am paying based on the $430,000 which is even better this year since my trended base in 2009 would have been $541,216 and so I am saving near $1,390! Fantastic!

The real estate market turns around, and the market values are rising and for 2010 my market value is higher than $500,000, so the Assessor's Office changes my Prop 8 Exemption value to $500,000 which is below my 2010 trended base value of $552,040. Definitly, not as nice as having $430,000 as my value. Yet, I am still saving money and this year my Prop 8 Exemption value is $52,000 lower than my trended base value I am saving $650 a year in property taxes. Its now 2011 the real estate market is rising again and now my market value is near $600,000 and the assessor restores my value to the trended base, which now is $563,080. So, I'm paying $7,038 in taxes. If I still had that $430,000 property tax base

There is a way in California to PERMANENTLY reduce your property tax base in today's declining market, utilizing Current Property Tax Law and essentially bypassing the Prop 8 Exemption and all of its limitations. Additionally, find out how to avoid reassessments when you have inherited property and also how to utilize all the exemptions allowed by Current Property Tax Law.

About the Author: Valerie Faltas, Property Tax Expert has been involved in all facets of real estate for over ten years including assessments, appraisals, estates and trusts, investing and much more. She is a Certified Property Tax Appraiser, Licensed Residential Appraiser and a member of the International Association of Assessment Officers. As a real estate investor and advisor she is well versed in all aspects of real estate. To contact Valerie Faltas go to her website: www.propertytaxlittleblackbook.com

About the Author:

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

What is Discount Factoring?

By Wade Henderson

Buried under piles of accounts receivable, employers are desperate to pursue their debtors seeking a way to obtain liquidity. But unsafe for some and uncertain for others, Discount Factoring or Invoice Discounting will give your company a cash injection and it could become an alternative that would help heal the depressed financial statements and provide greater liquidity and dynamism to businesses.

Discount Factoring has almost doubled worldwide in the last ten years, and indeed, many banks have entire factoring departments. According to experts in the field of Discount Factoring, one of the greatest benefits that arise from this activity is specialization. Factoring companies specialize in the process of the collection of accounts receivable. Discount Factoring allows companies that contract their services to invest time to their own businesses rather than go running after their debtors, with all costs involved.

Also known as Factoring, Discount Factoring is a financing mechanism in which in the short term a company or individual entrepreneur sells its accounts receivable to an existing factoring company. The company, in exchange for a commission and the presentation of certain documents, provides cash within a time period that can vary between 48 and 72 hours.

There are many advantages to Discount Factoring. First of all, it injects cash to your company right away. This cash can help you withstand all the costs related to seasonal sales. Second of all, it helps you face your liabilities and improve your relationship with the suppliers by buying in greater quantities and paying on time. Thirdly, Discount Factoring rationalizes the risk of losses due to unpaid accounts receivable and reducing the costs related to the collection process. Lastly, it adds more formality to the collection process.

Discount Factoring helps you to

The reasons why you should turn to Discount Factoring are:

Better cash flow and less likelihood of acquiring new liabilities

Better prices and discounts from supplies when paying on time

Higher speed in asset and capital rotation

More flexibility in funding for your customers and higher stability in your sales.

Ameliorate your productivity by reducing operative costs.

About the Author:

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Vehicle Insurance Quote - Online Quotes For Car Insurance

By Matt Hellstrom

Are you shopping for vehicle insurance? Is it because you're getting a new car? Is it you are getting your first car? Or are you shopping because you want a cheaper rate? If so, you may want to take a look at getting a vehicle insurance quote online before you sign on the dotted line.

Shopping online for a vehicle insurance quote offers several advantages that merit consideration. You can obtain quotes on specific or multiple models, change values such as deductibles, number of drivers or any other factor to get applicable rates instantly. Having this information available gives you a better basis to make a decision.

Even if you are not particularly interested in the actuarial computing that takes place behind the scenes, knowing what the actual process for underwriting your unique needs puts you in the driver's seat, so to speak. You can easily view rates based on information you input yourself, as opposed to what a sales agent decides for you.

The technology offered by a rate comparison site is priceless. You can literally do your research as to what kind of vehicle insurance quote to expect before you decide to buy any particular car. It's a known fact that certain makes and models simply cost more to insure, now you can see for yourself if that's the case for the car you pick. This alone can save you hundreds of dollars a year on insurance if you buy the right car for your needs and insurance profile.

With American car manufacturers undergoing economic turmoil, we need to be aware of changes in the industry. What we knew before about buying cars may no longer apply in the future as dealerships feel the pinch and need to move accumulated inventory. Arming yourself with the best vehicle insurance quote for your desired car or cars gives you better control over the buying process.

Factors such as your age, gender, area of residency and driving record all impact how much you will pay for insurance coverage. Considerations such as the car make and model, safety rating, overall repair history and even equipment options can also dramatically change the numbers. While you can't do much about your personal factors, you can easily access information regarding rates for different cars and obtain a personalized vehicle insurance quote online.

Most people are aware that car theft is a problem for some car models or in certain areas. Of course, the insurance companies know this as well and will charge a higher premium as a result, regardless of your personal history. If you are just shopping for a car, you can avoid the cars that are favored by car thieves by first getting a vehicle insurance quote for each of the car models you are interested in and comparing the rates. Availing yourself of this information can literally save you hundreds in premium costs on an annual basis.

About the Author:

Monday, June 1, 2009

Surgery of the Knee: Cartilage Restoration - Osteochondral Allograft, Microfracture, OATS, and ACI

By Dr. Stefan Tarlow

Treatments of biologic origin are best when treating knee disease or injury. This type of treatment can restore the knee to a near-normal state. Reconstruction of the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), meniscal repair, and anatomic knee fracture repair are three kinds of biological surgical repairs that have good success with knee injuries.

A symptomatic full-thickness chondral lesion of the knee presents a problematic management issue for patients and orthopedists.

Injury that leads to articular cartilage cell death is well treated by restoration of the surface cells of the joint. The shiny white surface that composes all the joints in the body is the articular cartilage or surface cell layer of the joint.

This kind of tissue damage can be treated in four ways: Osteochondral Allograft, Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI), Osteoarticular transfer system (OATS), and Microfracture.

Click here for more on Arthroscopy of the Knee.

In a young patient, a small lesion can be treated with Microfracture surgery. In this method, a pick-like tool is used to enter the marrow of the knee under the chondral defect. Multiple entries stimulate the bone marrow, which, in turn creates repair tissue. This tissue fills the chondral defect with fibrous cartilage tissue.

The patient will use crutches for about 6 to 8 weeks. He or she must forgo sports for half a year to a year. It may take as much as 18 months for complete relief of pain to be achieved.

There is a procedure that can restore the knee surface to almost normal condition. This is called autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI). This procedure is used in the case of large knee defects.

Articular cartilage cells can be harvested from the healthy part of the injured knee for utilization in ACI. There are very specific criteria that must be met for this surgery to be used.

The patient must have a full-thickness, weight-bearing, symptomatic chondral injury to the femoral articular surface. Additionally, the patient must be physiologically young. Furthermore, the patient must agree to an 18 month rehabilitation process.

There is no guarantee of successful surgery to the tibia and patella. In fact, insurance companies will often refuse to pay for this type of surgery. It is important to note that ACI is not a workable procedure for the treatment of osteoarthritis. In this condition, two reciprocal joint surfaces experience damage. X-rays will reveal narrowing of the joint space. Additionally, bone spurs will be in evidence. 3T MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) may be used to assess for ACI. By using this procedure, the proper treatment can be determined.

Click here for more on Dr. Stefan Tarlow, an expert Phoenix surgeon of the knee.

About the Author: