When investing in the Forex market, making a Forex investment can be the best decision and can definitely earn you the best profits. Because there is very little in the way of barring entrance to the Forex market making a Forex investment is an excellent opportunity. Especially for those individuals who have low investments to start with, this can allow them to gain a large return regardless. Of course it also depends on how well they understand the Forex market in order for them to truly benefit from a Forex investment.

In the past Forex investment was limited to only banks and financial institutions due to large transactions and strict financial requirements. Of course now with online trading widely available making a Forex investment is more readily accessible to individuals as well. This means just about anyone can invest in Forex and actually make money from it.

When making a Forex investment you are allowed to do so either directly or through a Forex broker. Banks and financial institutions now are forced to acknowledge that small and individual investors are involved in the Forex market and therefore have been providing online trading packages to them. A lot of these have high leverage available to clients, which when it involves a Forex investment can lend itself to an environment where high gains are made with comparatively small amounts.

This means that someone who chooses to open a mini account in the Forex market has a great leverage ratio of one hundred to one. This means that a one thousand dollar investment can buy or sell a 'lot' of one hundred thousand dollars in foreign currencies. Most mini accounts can be opened with two hundred and fifty dollars as a minimum Forex investment.

Because of this a huge increase has occurred in the amount of trades currently in the Forex market. This also causes a high liquidity with a daily turnover that has been known to reach two trillion dollars. Yet this has also mad Forex trading a bit more transparent. Making a Forex investment can be done in multiple currencies in multiple markets in real time without any barriers or physical boundaries.

What is very important in making a Forex investment is realizing that the there is an instant nature to the trade and huge amounts being traded every single day. This means that each investor must be very familiar with the way the Forex market works. They also need to have a clear understanding of trading strategy in order to gain the best profits. Those who don't understand this can feel that the Forex market is too risky. So when making a Forex investment, make sure you have someone who thoroughly understands the inner workings and who can handle the risky nature of the Forex market, and you will have a better chance of gaining the best profits.

In the world of Forex trade, the concept of automating foreign exchange trading is becoming a new trend that a lot of people are looking into. Exchange-traded futures are the first group to seriously consider automated transactions. Also the Interbank spot FX market has decided to use the automated method as well. Why exactly are these groups looking to it? Let's take a closer look at automatic forex and see if we can figure out why.

1) Real-time Transactions: One of the reasons it has begun to become successful is because transactions can be conducted in real time. With manual systems it is very difficult to achieve this advantage that is offered by automated Forex systems. A lot of trades happen within milliseconds and this can be a huge push for auto transactions versus manual. A few other problems that can be greatly helped or avoided with auto Forex trading include when a trader is away from their desk or if they have had several losses in a row that hinders them from making new trades for a while. Both of these can be greatly helped by using auto trade as opposed to manual.

2) Greater Diversification: Having better options in regards to diversification can be an advantage when it comes to automatic transactions. This means that a single trader can trade in different markets in different time zones at once. This also allows them the option of multiple exchange models. Another great advantage when it comes to this advanced trading system is having models to analyze short-term data. An option that is not available in any other way. This therefore can help give those using this system a bigger advantage over other traders. This means they can then predict in as short a period of times as fifteen minutes to half an hour. This once again helps you out in trading in different markets at different times.

3) Greater Liquidity: Auto foreign exchange can also give traders more liquidity. This was discovered when futures exchanges had a huge rise in trades after they started using the programmed system. With all the advantages to this modern system, are there are any problems we need to look at? In fact there are. One of these problem areas is that some people are worried that the orders will increase too much if everyone adopts this automatic system. This can cause problems with lack of bandwidth or engine capacity trying to process all these trades in real time, though there are already people looking into how to avoid this problem before it happens.

4) Risk management: Another problem area for the auto system is risk management. There is always the consideration of checks having to be made when trades are being made. These checks need to happen in an environment where everything is properly synchronized. This is a technical problem and can be resolved when technology improves. Besides these two problems, there seems to be a lot more advantages, than disadvantages. This makes auto transactions the best option for most if not all Forex traders

Besides traditional methods of learning about the Forex market, there are scores of Foreign exchange books that can assist in learning as well. Professionals and experts write not only by Forex traders but these Forex books also as well. Forex books also are known for the great amount of information they provide on market behavior, trading strategies and trading tools.

Technical analysis is a very important aspect of the Forex market and Forex books on this subject are invaluable. These Forex books have all kinds of information from macroeconomic indicators and how to chart. Sometimes these books will analyze things for you and help you with insights and patterns. These kinds of foreign exchange references will help beginners immensely because they will then be able to better spot patterns in the future.

Factors that can affect currency and its rates are something else that can be found in some materials on forex. The kind of information that can be found regarding this is political turmoil, environmental crises or natural calamities and wars. All of these can affect currencies and economies as well. Someone who uses this type of book will better be able to take into consideration this kind of thing in the future.

There has been an influx of information on forex software lately as well. These are more popular now because the development of software has greatly and significantly increased. Reading these can help with information on the latest regarding computer technology and those who are attracted to the technical aspects will be the most interested.

Books can also be extremely beneficial to hedge managers as well. This is because they tend to diversify their portfolios. By diversifying and using these books to gain information on foreign trade they can greatly increase their profits.

One disadvantage to using these forex information sources is trying to get through it all and find what you need. This requires a lot of patience on your part. Sometimes when professionals and experts tend to write these books they will use mathematical formulas that may be extremely complicated and hard to understand to the average person. Being able to have enough patience to get through all this will be worth it though.

But if you are able to overcome this disadvantage there are several advantages as well. One of these includes case studies that are often provided in forex references. They are known to be easier to follow because they are gleaned from real life. They are usually combined from marketing information as well as academic research.

Of course the best forex books and one that have the most advantage are those written by already successful Forex traders or brokers. A lot of these can give you an insight into their personal strategies for success. Since they have already had success there is a lot to be gained from these.

There are many different ways to go about learning about the Forex market. Among these are online courses or classroom classes. Another way is through Forex references. Which one you choose depends on what aspect you wish to learn about and how much you want to learn about that aspect. In the end foreign exchange books provide some excellent benefits if used properly

If you've been checking out ways to get started in investing, chances are you've heard about the foreign exchange market, or FOREX trading. If you're unfamiliar with this type of trading, it can all seem a bit too hard, but in fact the hardest part is getting started. Keep reading to find out the basics of FOREX trading and what you need to do to get involved.

In the past, foreign exchange was the territory of large players, such as multi-national corporations and national banks. However in the 1980s the rules were changed, giving smaller investors the change to participate using margin accounts. The popularity of FOREX trading has increased mainly because of these margin accounts, as people can participate with much smaller amounts of money. Basically, having a 100:1 margin account means that you can control $100,000 using only $1,000 of your own money.

Having said that, FOREX trading isn't always simple, and it's very important to make sure you educate yourself in order to make good investment decisions. Once you start, the trading process itself is simple, but there are risks involved. Learning about FOREX will help you to be profitable and is a good place for any beginner to start.

You will need to open a brokerage account. Generally, brokers are associated with a large financial institution such as a bank, and so can be considered reputable. They have to be registered as a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM), which is administered by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), to help protect the consumer from abusive trade practices and fraud.

Once you've filled out the necessary forms and provided ID, you can open your FOREX account. Part of the form will be a margin agreement. What this does is give the broker the right to interfere with any trade it feels has become too risky. This is reasonable, as most of the money used for trading will actually belong to the broker, and they need to be able to protect their interests.

Now you have your account, it's time to put some funds in there and begin trading. The size of your account is your choice - some brokers will allow you to have a mini account of $250, while others prefer a minimum of between $1000 and $2500. The broker will also determine how much leverage you're entitled to. So one client may be able to control $100,000 with his $1000, while another may only be able to control $80,000. The higher your level of leverage, the more money you have available for trading.

It's never a good idea to start out by putting all your money into the market in your first trade. It's vital to get some practice first, usually by paper trading. This involves working out transactions and pretending to trade them, without actually putting the money into the market. Paper trading is a great way to learn how the market works, and become familiar with the software tools your FOREX broker will provide to you. Most online brokers will allow you free paper trades for a period of time, so look for the ability to trade a demo account if you're choosing an online broker. If you find that your paper trading results in losses, you may want to learn some more before trading with real money.

Your FOREX broker will have their own software for you to use, but there are some tools that are common to all brokers. These include real time quotes, technical analysis and charges, news feeds and profit and loss analysis, just to name a few. You will want to access this sort of information, so make sure you can get it from your broker's site, or else consider using another broker. From your end, you will need a fairly modern computer, a good, fast Internet connection, and an up to date operating system. You should be able to access your broker account from any computer, which can be handy if you're traveling. Check that the broker can also be contacted by phone for trades, just in case you're without internet access at any stage.

Recently Forex trading has become one of the most looked after occupations that will allow you to earn a living from home or anywhere else. If you are really considering entering the forex trading world you must, by all means, learn and understand a number of indicators that will lend you a big hand on predicting with a high probability the directions forex markets may take as you analyze the price charts for any currency pair you are trading at the moment. Two of these great indicators are: “Bollinger Bands” and “Fibonacci Retracements”.

“Fibonacci retracement levels” are based on a sequence of numbers discovered by the noted mathematician Leonardo da Pisa in Italy. These numbers describe cycles found throughout nature and when applied to technical analysis can be used to find pullbacks in the currency market.

“Fibonacci retracement levels” are a quite effective way “to see the future” (at least in the world of forex markets), with this I mean that it involves anticipating changes in trends as prices near the levels indicated by the Fibonacci ratios. After a significant price move (either up or down), prices will often retrace a significant portion of the original move. As prices retrace, support and resistance levels often occur at or near the “Fibonacci Retracement levels” (See my other articles on “Fibonacci trading” for more details about this).

The interpretation given to “Bollinger Bands” is that prices tend to stay within the space formed by the tracings of the upper and lower bands. The distinctive characteristic of “Bollinger Bands” is that the spacing between the bands varies based on the volatility of the prices. During periods of high volatility, the bands widen to become more forgiving. During periods of low volatility, the bands narrow to contain currency prices. The common use is that the bands are plotted two standard deviations above and below a simple moving average. They indicate a "sell" when prices are above the moving average and a "buy" when prices are below it. The bands are used by some forex traders in conjunction with other analyses, including RSI, MACD, CCI, and Rate of Change.

The use of checks, credit cards and debit cards has proved a convenient way to purchase. In addition to that if we have our paycheck set up on direct deposit it is possible to live for months without touching cash. One of the problems with cash-less living is that unless we are extremely disciplined we expand the boundaries of our spending. In fact it causes many people to spend well beyond what they can afford.
It has been estimated that we will overspend by 15% or more when we don’t use cash to pay for purchases. Just imagine what you could do with 15% of your annual household income. Wouldn’t it be worth trying something different just to find out if it works?
Only a small percentage of families have a system in place to help control the household finances. One of the best budgeting systems ever perfected is the envelope system for managing money. It’s a very simple and effective way to control spending.
It’s easy to set up the envelope system. It involves setting up a system of envelopes to allocate money for your household expenses. Once your pay check has been deposited you withdrawal cash equal to the amount of what you have planned to spend for that period on each category of expenses. Then when it is time to put gas in the car, go to the store or pay a bill you take the money out of the appropriate envelope to cover that expense.
1. Decide what categories of spending you are going to put on a cash basis. Some people prefer to put all of their expenses on a cash basis. If the bills are being paid on time and there is no financial crisis present then it’s not totally necessary to do it that way. It’s up to you. We normally don’t over spend on fixed expenses like the car payment and house payment. Those types of expenses are controlled by a fixed amount that occurs month after month. So the areas we need to control most are variable expenses like food and entertainment. At the very least the categories I recommend putting on a cash basis are food, clothing, gasoline and spending money. Other good candidates for the envelope system are auto repairs, toiletries, cosmetics, and hair care. Review your individual spending habits to determine what is best for you. One guideline is, if you don’t know how much you are spending in a certain area you should put that item on a cash basis for a while.
2. Get several standard letter size envelopes. On each envelope write the name of one of the expenses you are putting on a cash basis. You create a separate envelope for each expense. For example you might have five different envelopes labeled Food – Gasoline – Water – Electric – Spending Money.
3. Once your envelopes are labeled decide how much you plan to spend on each expense for that period. Then go back through and write those amounts on their corresponding envelopes. If you are not sure how much you usually spend on certain expenses guess at the amount then make adjustments as you become more aware of the amount you’re spending. It may help to carry a small notebook with you for a month or so to record every cent you spend.
4. Now put your envelopes in some type of container. A small shoebox will work. What works best is a coupon size expandable file or coupon organizer that can be purchased for a few dollars at your local discount store or office supply. Label the tabs in your organizer to match the labels on your envelopes then put your envelopes in the file under the corresponding tab.
5. When you get paid supply your envelope system with cash. Add up the amount needed to fund your entire envelope system for that period. Withdraw that amount of cash from your bank account then distribute the money among your envelopes according to the amount written on the front of each envelope. When it comes time to spend for a cash expense get the money from the appropriate envelope to make the purchase or pay the bill.
Using the envelope system helps us take control of our money through increased awareness and built in discipline. When we spend cash we know when we’re getting low. If we leave the plastic at home and take a twenty-dollar bill chances are slim that we will be able to spend more than $20.00. Through awareness and built in reduction of impulse spending we start to realize savings. Real money that we can put in the bank, invest, or use to reduce debt.
Being successful at handling money takes planning. The envelope system is extremely powerful but it is only part of a good financial plan. To effectively manage your personal finances you should also include a monthly budget, spending plan, savings plan and debt reduction plan.

The key to this attractiveness is that personal loans are easy to qualify for and they serve a wide range of purposes. With a personal loan you can go on vacations, pay for college, undertake home improvements, consolidate debt, buy a car and more. However, there are different types of Personal Loans and you need to know each type of loan thoroughly before applying because, as any other important financial decision, it may affect your credit for many years to come.
Unsecured Personal Loans
Unsecured Personal loans do not require the borrower to offer collateral in order to secure the loan. This is the main reason why this kind of loan is commonly requested by tenants and generally non-homeowners. The Interest rate, though, tends to be higher due to the risk involved in the transaction. The lender will cover himself from this risk by charging higher interest rates and requesting higher monthly payments. However, they are still a lot cheaper than getting finance by using your credit cards. Unsecured personal loans are not only easily qualified for but also the loan application process is usually a lot faster. If you don’t need a large amount of money, requesting an unsecured personal loan seems to be the smartest choice, you won’t be risking any asset, you’ll get the money faster and you won’t have to pay so much.
Secured Personal Loans
On the other hand, secured personal loans require collateral in order to be approved. The collateral can be any asset of certain value, most commonly a house, apartment or a vehicle. This kind of loan presents a lower interest rate than unsecured loans due to the lower risk involved for the lender. However, the borrower is under the risk of repossession of the asset he used as collateral. Repossession is a legal action that can be exercised by the lender in order to legally claim his money and recover it by selling the asset that the borrower used as collateral.
Where to look for a lender
The best way to find a personal loan lender is to search online. Online lenders usually offer free no obligation applications and quotes so you’ll be able to compare many offers and choose the one that best suits your needs. And you’ll be doing all this research without having to move from your home. There are even sites offering access to many lenders dealing with personal loans. These sites will save you a lot of time and money as you’ll be able to contact many lenders from the same site and let them compete so you’ll get the best deal available.

Reading lots of books and articles about how to become millionaire, I discover that most of the millionaires are preparing budget to control their cashflow.
Even I know how to prepare a budget for my daily spending and know how budget is so important to control my money, I do not like to prepare budget!
I just do not like to prepare a lot of paper work just for controlling my expenses.
Yes, there are lots of software that I can use to prepare my budget, but to me, it still requires me lots of time and work to prepare budget.
However, if I want to become a millionaire, how should I control my money without prepare budget?
This question comes in my mind quite a period, and finally find out how to control my money.
Answer is simple.
What I do is just ready 100 bucks for one week expenses. In other words, every week I can only spend 100 bucks.
This trick is simple and everyone can apply immediately. In one week, I can spend this 100 bucks to buy everything I like, to eat and use for any expense, as long as I don't over spend this hundred bucks.
After I apply this simple trick, now I don't have to prepare any more paperwork and at the same time, I can control my cashflow without over spending.
But, sometimes I still cannot control my spending for hundred bucks in one week. This is mainly due to some emergency cases.
For this reason, I set up another limit, there is every month when I receive my monthly salary or other incomes, I will transfer part of my money into another saving account.
The main purpose of this saving account is I only can use the money from this account for my monthly spending.
This is my simple way to control my cashflow.
If you like me, who want to control your money but lazy to prepare your own budget, then these two simple tricks could help you control your money without prepare any budget.

Borrowers mostly get denied from getting loans due to their bad credit status. Lenders generally avoid lending their money to the person who is not sincere in paying his debts in the past or due to any other reason which made him a bad credit holder. A no credit check secured personal loan can cater to the needs of such people through apt financing.
No credit check secured personal loans are loans which are secured by the property of the borrower as collateral and does not need and credit check of the borrower. The collateral is mostly your home, or real estate, or any other asset with some considerable value to offer to the lender. The presence of collateral allows the lender to provide you with easy terms and conditions. No credit check secured personal loans get you amounts ranging between ₤5000 to ₤75000. This amount can further go up depending upon the circumstances and the collateral offered by borrower.
Secured personal loans can be further divided into following categories:
•Debt consolidation loans
•Business loans
•Holiday loans
•Car loans
•Home improvement loans
•Wedding or education loans
There is no restriction on the usage of a no credit check secured personal loan. These loans fit in any of your financial requirement. No credit check secured personal loan easily considers defaulters, CCJ's and IVA's, arrears, late payments or non payments, bankruptcy, poor credit holders etc for the loan. This makes a no credit check secured personal loan, a popular form of raising capital as most of the people these days are facing the trouble of bad credit.
A no credit check secured personal loan also help the borrowers in recovering from their bad credit. When they make the repayments of the easy loan installments for a no credit secured personal loan on time, this gives their credit score an upward rise.
Logging on the websites of loan lenders will help you get the best deal in a no credit check secured personal loan. You can easily get free loan quotes along with comparison tools to compare these quotes. You can also take the help of debt and repayment calculators, repayment tables, budget planners and other such tools. Finally, you can apply for a no credit check secured personal loan with the help of an online application form.
In conclusion we can say that a no credit secured personal loan supports you when all other alternatives deny you due to your credit score.

It doesn't seem that long ago that the idea of banking via your own computer at home was the stuff of science fiction. And yet technology has changed at such a rapid pace that now it's more than possible - it's a great way to make life easier for yourself. There are times, certainly, when you will have to go to your local bank branch for something - I haven't worked out how to deposit cash into my bank account via my computer yet, although there's a CD drive that opens and shuts! Seriously, though, most transactions can be completed easily and quickly online, and you can't get anything more convenient than that. Sitting in the queue at the drive-through bank can be a thing of the past for most of us. The first step is to talk to your bank about their online facilities. You will need to complete an application, but this usually doesn't require much effort. Now that you have access to your account 24 hours a day, consider the possibilities. For starters, why not get your pay deposited directly into your account? You can check online to make sure it's there. You also minimize the risk of something happening to your paycheck before you can bank it. It also eliminates waiting for your paycheck to clear, which is a hassle. Have you ever taken money out at the ATM, assuming that a certain payment has already cleared your account, only to find out later that the payment bounced or your account is now overdrawn? That's easily solved with online banking. Login, check your account, and you'll know exactly what has gone through your account in the last few days. It's also much simpler to pay your bills online. No more mucking about with postage stamps or worrying that the snail mail might be a bit late delivering your payment. Online, you can enter the reference code for the company you need to pay, enter the amount, press enter and it's done! I've been using online banking for many years now, and I just don't know how I'd survive without it. When I moved house once I was without a phone line for nearly 3 weeks, and had to keep visiting my sister so that I could access my online banking! It makes life so much simpler if you can have instant access to your account at any time you choose, and know exactly what's come in and out of your account. Visit your bank and sign up today - once you have, you'll wonder how you ever managed without online banking!

Individual retirement account commonly known as IRA refers to an account meant and used by a person for depositing his savings through regular deposits say yearly during his working life so a good balance could be achieved to sustain life after retirement. It is used as a tax saving tool too.
Planning for financial matters ask for timely decision making and when related with after retirement, more caution is required because better choice now will lead to best life afterwards. Individual retirement account is one such option which you can rely upon to have secure future.
Being statuary regulated, individual retirement account is a little complex issue but if you read all the related terms and qualifications thoroughly then little chances of being caught up in a fix will be there and further guidance from any financial advisor would drive things more smoothly.
There are various points that should be considered while zeroing in on retirement individual account. Important aspects are - your present salary level i.e. if you can open an IRA account or not, the type of account you will be selecting, maximum tax benefits you can achieve and the maximum contribution you can make in a single year in account etc.
There are several types of individual retirement account as Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Sep IRA, Simple IRA etc. These have different provisions with regards to contributions like before tax or after tax, investment of amount, withdrawal of money, tax to be imposed and many others.
Individual retirement account can be a good way to save significant amount of tax because yearly contributions to this account are exempted from tax and is taxable only when amount is withdrawn at end i.e. when you are retired and as at that point you would be having low income so will be taxed at lower rate.
You can have your own portfolio as how to invest amount of individual retirement account and also can borrow money against this account though you must meet all the statutory compliances. In case of bankruptcy, IRA has similar protection as like of other retirement plans.
Amendments are being carried out periodically in related acts, to make individual retirement account more easy and accessible and it’s due to this effort that at present time IRA is out of popular and trusted ways of savings.
Good search work can ensure you best returns out of your IRA account and this particular option is suitable to almost all the categories of employees though there do exist a ceiling on maximum amount you could deposit in this account in one financial year but still its always worth your trust.
Retirement if planned well before time could be most enjoyable part of life and have the first step towards this, in way of individual retirement account

For many of us, the topic of money is a powerful trigger of positive and negative emotions that can get in the way of making optimal personal finance and wealth-creation decisions. The confusion and stress can even block us from seeing our real financial needs and goals. Further, many of us are stuck with a lot of misconceptions from society, the financial planning industry, the education system and our families about successfully creating wealth.
We are all uniquely wired to make financial decisions. Life is not linear. How we each get to our goals will vary because our financial personalities are unique. What works for someone else might not be right for you.
Your attitude to money and wealth creation, and ultimately a quality life, will depend on your relationship with yourself and others. It is a lot more than just your risk tolerance or how you do a budget. The starting point to discovering your money and wealth attitudes is to understand the core of who you are, and then the environment, values and education that have shaped your financial personality.
I’ve heard people say, “Oh, I don’t care about money.” What they usually mean is that they don’t care much about personal possessions. They think that caring about money is greedy, materialistic. Nevertheless, in all likelihood they do care about security, education, health care, retirement, free time – all of which are tied to money.
Similarly, whenever a person seeks financial advice or asks a financial question, there is generally a life question triggering it, e.g. “What return will I get on that investment?” is asked when the real question is, “Can I afford to send the kids to private school?”. Or someone might ask, “How much money is enough?” when the deeper question is “How much can I afford to give to philanthropic or charitable causes?”
In effect, the financial personality is always in operation, continuously processing life and financial issues on an integrated basis. Further, a primary driver of a person’s financial personality is that person’s natural “hard-wired” behavioral style as it deeply impacts every aspect of how he or she processes life. Of course, there are other external factors (such as market risks) that also need to be addressed in the financial planning process, but the most powerful influences are related to human behavior in some way, including our relationships with family members, business associates and our advisors. How often does poor communication get in the way of relationships and hence sound financial decisions?
Differences between family members are more behavioral and not always about money, as such, although the emotional forces that are triggered by money will expose the differences. For couples and families, understanding and having buy-in to the source of similarities and differences is significant, and this means that understanding the behavioral styles of each family member is important. Why not have a family meeting or family retreat to address these differences? Otherwise the risk is that each person will work around the other, resulting in financial decisions that are not aligned.
So the approach that I recommend involves addressing personal understanding before starting on the money issues. Getting this right will pay off in the long-term. Understanding yourself will have positive benefits for all aspects of your life, including helping you better understand the life and financial motivations of others.
It is my hope that people will ultimately learn to stop viewing financial decisions as an isolated “money” matter and recognize financial decisions as life decisions, for which one needs alignment to a life purpose. To make those decisions you must firstly understand how you have been naturally “hard-wired” from birth to around 3 years old. This will start you off on the right path to enable you to develop much greater personal insight and to truly integrate your financial decisions with your life journey for an overall quality life.
Hugh Massie is the president and founder of Financial DNA Resources, Inc. which developed Financial DNA®, a behavioral based discovery process.
Hugh is also the author of a book: “Financial DNA®: Discover Your Financial Personality for a Quality Life”.

A flexible spending account, also known as FSA, allows employees to put aside a certain amount of their pretax salary for medical out-of-pocket expenses. Since the contribution amount is from the pretax dollars, federal and social security taxes will be lower on the resultant salary once the contribution is taken out. Many employees use flexible spending accounts to cover for things like doctor visits for which they are responsible to pay.
Many of us use flexible spending accounts mainly because we want to set aside some money for some predictable medical expenses which may insured at a reduced reimbursement by our health insurance companies. But many of us are not aware that we can also use flexible spending accounts for medical expenses which are not covered by the health insurance companies. For example, if your doctor has told you to get a hot water bottle for your back, you can use the money in your FSA account to pay for the bottle.
IRS provides guidelines on what constitutes to be an eligible medical expense for a flexible spending account, but some of the descriptions are broad and can lead to different interpretations. As a result, employers often impose stricter precise limits than the IRS so that the chance for different interpretations is reduced. So, it is always a good idea to consult your employer in case of any doubt.
There are some ‘non-conventional’ medical expenses which are FSA-eligible for instance, fertility enhancement, birth control pills, condoms and abortions. FSA can also be used for drug addiction treatments and weight-loss programs that are used to treat diseases such as obesity.
For disabled people, FSA can be used for a wheelchair, a guide dog and even Braille books.
What is not covered by FSA? Gym membership fees are not covered. Dancing lessons, yoga classes or swimming lessons are, again, not eligible expenses. Cosmetic surgery such as teeth whitening is not covered as well

Let’s get down to business to saving for retirement. I will skip over the importance of the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) because, in my opinion, there are some considerations you need to think about before putting money into the TSP.
An IRA is simply a shelter for money to go into that has tax advantages. The limit is $4000 for 2006. Once you put in your money into an IRA you can then buy/invest in whatever you want; i.e. stocks, bonds, or art, if you want to. There are officially 11 types of IRA’s; however, there are two common ones that most brokers offer. The Traditional IRA and the Roth IRA.
Traditional IRA – A traditional IRA is where you put your money into an IRA and it subtracts from your taxable income for that year. So if my taxable income was $24k last year and I invested my $4k limit into a traditional IRA; it would subtract my taxable income to $20k. Then every year I put my money into it, it would grow tax free until I turn 59 ½. Once I turn 59 ½ I can start to take money out of it and I will be taxed as income. The traditional IRA is not very common for a lot of people. Most people, who have to worry about retirement, don’t make enough money to warrant the benefit of a traditional IRA.
Roth IRA – A Roth IRA has the same maximum $4k; except, it doesn’t subtract from your taxable income. When I turn 59 ½ there are no taxes taken out when I start to use my money.
An IRA allows your money to grow tax free until you retire. You can’t take out your money once you put it in or else you will get penalized; however, there are exceptions to this rule. Read this article from Motley Fool to explain these exceptions

We could all become financially successful if we simply changed the way we think. I don't think it is a stretch at all to say that thinking has changed drastically over the past thirty years. Credit cards are now prevalent, commercialism has even spread to the schools and advertisments bombard us at every corner.
It used to be that the main stream financial thought was to save up and then purchase. A few people had charge accounts with local department stores and such, but these were paid in full each month, or the person didn't dare show their face in the store until it was paid.
Nowadays, most of us simply buy now and worry about the payments later. This has led to massive credit card debt, rising bankruptcy numbers and even more credit companies popping up every day.
What we need is a change of thinking. And I believe that this is happening in many places. Especially among the young professional people. Here are a few changes that are being made:
1. Getting out of debt.
Instead of bragging about the big ticket items just purchased, many people are starting to brag about paying off the car loan, paying off the mortgage, being debt free, having no credit card debt, and so on. The bragging point comes in that so many people's lives are simply falling apart due to their spending and charging. A financially-free lifestyle is becoming the "in" thing among many crowds of people. Especially those that are young and investment savvy.
2. Saving for retirement.
Many young couples are seeing the increased seniors in the workplace and saying "not for me." They are investing in 401(k)s and other retirement accounts. Yet, not enough are really saving for retirement. The number saving may increase as they begin to see their parents struggle with too little in the retirement funds. And the added incentive of an early retirement is exciting to many young people.
3. Investments for the future.
Many younger people understand how interest works. All it takes is one bad go round with credit cards to really experience compounding interest. Many are taking this formally negative force and making it positive through investments. Savings, stocks, CDs and other investments are becoming increasingly popular as people change their thinking about investments. They aren't simply for the rich and upper class anymore. They are also for the up and coming generation.
You could sum it up as the new way of thinking should be: charge little, save more and invest for the future. Financial decisions cannot be made lightly. You must think before you accept the ideas that are around you. When everyone suggests you can simply charge it, you know better. You know that in charging it, you will have to work for many more years before you can retire. You know that while they may be working, you can be playing -- all because you changed your way of thinking about money now.

Being frugal simply becomes a way of life. When you have the desire, the knowledge and the attitude, you are motivated to be frugal in your living. Consider it a challenge to cut costs but maintian your quality of living. You simply have to look at things in the right way.
Being frugal doesn't always mean taking the long way to what you want or working extra hard for something. While grinding your own whole wheat flour saves you a lot of money, not everyone has the time for that. Instead, look at the ways you can be frugal in your life, not someone elses.
You can be frugal and buy convenience foods, like frozen lasagna and pre-cut veggies. While it is cheaper to make them from scratch, they are still cheaper than eating out. And if you are trying to cut your eating-out bill, you are doing a frugal thing by eating in. It is your own version of fast food.
The idea behind frugal living isn't to do without. It is living without the things you don't need. It is getting rid of the clutter. It is using your money on things that really matter to you and your family. It empowers you to really appreciate the little things.
But if you look at it as a sacrifice, it probably won't work for you. And you can't go out and copy someone else's frugal lifestyle and expect it to work. All the fun is in looking at where you can find the things to cut out yourself. Being frugal is a challenge. A fun and rewarding one.
Take the time to look around your home and see what you can do more frugally. Can you use dishtowels instead of paper towels? Can you use a closeline instead of a dryer? Can you only vaccuum twice a week instead of four times? Can you make some things yourself?
There are some unexpected things that come along with the frugal lifestyle. There is the sense of accomplishment. There is pride. There is learning that you can do a lot more than you thought you could. There is learning to manage your finances wisely. And by doing so, there are savings for retirement, college tuitions and vacations.
Frugal living is rewarding. Start out with the right attitude and goals and you will find that it is a challenge that is easily met.

When you are trying to change your life, tasks can overwhelm you. Change often feels like such a large task. Especially when it comes to money.
Where do you start? The numbers seem to swim. You have no answers. Where will you find them?
Making promises and huge resolutions are easy. You will change your financial situation for you and your family. You can plan and say it all you want.
But the getting there is the actual hard part. Take a breath and dive right in.
If you do it in little steps, it won't be hard at all.
The idea is that you have to break things down. Take it one step at a time. Create goals, a list, a plan. Changing your finances comes step by step. You can't simply make it all happen overnight. You have to give it time and go step by step.
Saving is step by step as well. Dollar by dollar and sometimes penny by penny. It is hard to see that you are making progress. But given lots of little steps and plenty of time, you will see how it all adds up.
The problem is that you have to stay focused and motivated. Simply focus on each smaller step. With each one that is accomplished, you will feel the drive to move onto the next step. Set overall goals that will give you time limits.
I suggest that you never sit down and look at your finances for more than one hour at a time. You will just get overwhelmed and stressed. Some people get on a roll. Work until you are able to take a break and give it a day.
Don't work on your finances before you go to bed. You don't want to be thinking and planning into the night. You want to sleep well. Put your ideas and goals and numbers on paper and leave them there. You are working on it when you are supposed to.
Make yourself goals. Keep them simple enough to be daily goals. You could have the following on your list:
Call credit card #1 for lower interest rate. Close unusued credit card account #1. Check credit report. Advertise motorcycle for sale.You should also make a list of all your debts, the payment amounts, balances and interest rates. List from highest interest to lowest interest rate. Start at the top and start paying them off. Items that you will sell to pay off their note, such as the motorcycle above should simply be paid off when they are sold. Any excess money should go to the debt on the top of the list -- unless it will completely pay off a debt somewhere on the list. In which case, you should just go ahead and get rid of that.
Keeping it step by step and little by little will help you from becoming overwhelmed. Remember, it can't be all completed today, so don't drive yourself crazy trying. All it takes is one hour a night. Financial freedom comes with time and dedication.

Being frugal and happy isn't something society usually puts together. Frugality seems to bring up images of great sacrifice. We think of the miser who lived in poverty only for others to find millions saved after the miser passes away. What was the use?
Frugal living isn't necessarily what you may think it is. Frugal people live very happy lives. They find happiness in meeting goals, reducing their financial burdens and living stress free.
How happy can you be when you are drowing in debt and struggling to make ends meet? You aren't living frugally, but you aren't happy either.
The frugal person often sees each step towards being debt-free or early retirement as a great success. They don't focus on that sweater they didn't buy or that new car they aren't driving. They focus on having spending money left over at the end of the month. They focus on the things that really matter.
Frugality is also a great challenge. You get to be very creative with your money and the way you live. Many people love moving from one thing to another, looking at the way to cut costs for each category. For example, you've cut your utilties, now what about your groceries or gasoline consumption?
The goal is what keeps the frugal person going. The daily victories and challenges keep them interested. The penny saved keeps them adding it all up. And the debt free life keeps them stress free.
Imagine a life where you have no debts to pay. All you have are your living expenses. Think about having two thousand extra dollars a month. Dollars that aren't already spent before you make them. Think about retiring early to do something you enjoy instead of something you have to do. Think about following your dreams. Think about having money left over each month.

We never thought about it as treasure hunting, but as kids we searched the bushes and alleys for empty bottles that were returnable for a deposit. Looking back on it, I realize that this is the essence of treasure hunting. We were never sure what we would find, but always hopeful that peaking into the next bush would reveal our "treasure." We were excited by our finds, of course, and eager to cash them in so we could buy candy at the nearest store.
Interestingly, this is actually a fairly profitable treasure hunting activity for some adults now. Since the various deposit laws have gone into effect in many states, almost all cans and bottles are worth ten cents each. When I lived in Traverse City, Michigan, there was an old man who rode his bicycle around and collected empty bottles and cans from bushes, garbage cans, and anywhere he found them. I caught him on a park bench one day and asked him how much he made doing this. "It pays all of my rent," he told me. Rent wasn't cheap in Traverse City.
Other "returnable hunters" have told me that they can make $100 in a couple hours at outdoor rock concerts. Collecting a thousand sticky cans and bottles doesn't sound like a great job, but it works for them. Some other forms of treasure hunting follow.
Treasure Hunting - The Unusual Ways
Searching for gray water dumps. If you see a depression behind an old building, with bushes growing around the edges, it may have been a "gray water" dump. Before sewer systems were common, this is where the drains from sinks and showers emptied. Small rings, coins, gems and other old treasures are regularly dug out of these by treasure hunters. Just watch out for the razors.
Looking inside walls. One couple found that there can be treasure in the walls of old houses. They bought a home that had belonged to a movie theater owner in the twenties. When they decided to remodel, they opened up a wall and discovered that the walls had been insulated with classic and rare movie posters. It was a fire hazard, but one that turned out to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to collectors. makes you want to poke around in the walls of an old building or two, doesn't it?
Harvesting gold from moss. A man found piles of dry moss in an old barn on a property he had bought. He learned that the moss was collected and sold to garden-supply stores. He burned it to dispose of it, and found with globs of gold in the ashes. The moss was from a gold-bearing stream, where he now regularly harvests more. Gold flecks get trapped in the moss.
Collecting electrical insulators. Old glass electrical insulators can still be found on telegraph poles laying in the weeds along many train tracks. I've found and sold a few. The thousands still out there are getting shot at and destroyed by kids and hunters, so don't feel bad about taking them.
Searching lake bottoms. Drought lowers the water in ponds, and sometimes reservoirs are emptied. When either of these happens, things appear that have been out of sight for years - sometimes valuable things. Treasure hunting in these cases may just mean walking around at the right time.
Straining through the dust. Some car-wash owners have been finding treasure in their garbage. They search the big vacuum tanks when they empty them (what did you vacuum up under that car seat?). Both money and jewelry are common finds. Treasure hunting takes many forms.

There are number of theories to any one of these questions, but let us deal with reality and facts. The distribution of wealth comes from the primary belief that wealth, money, is something that can be attained, sustained, and retained. This belief is passed from one generation to the next and continues, which would explain how the wealthy stay wealthy. In contrast, the lack of this belief system is demonstrated among the groups that are maxed out in credit card debt, living paycheck to paycheck, or living at poverty levels. The wealthy ensure their legacy of wealth will be continued for generations to come by educating their family on the importance of having money and respecting their wealth with prudence. They also believe in higher education and prepare for this expense early.
There is an ever growing disparity among the “haves” and the “have-nots” in our society; albeit, some groups have shown significant growth in wealth the past twenty years. Not only is education about money and all its intricate components important, but also establishing a consciousness about being wealthy and creating a wealth legacy.
Creating a wealth consciousness can begin to cure the generational disease of being in a state of poverty. Poor is a disease of the mind and it demonstrates itself through behavioral acts such as over-spending, devaluing education, and settling for mediocrity.
The value of money is created by the perception you personally place on it. Money survives on the energy put into it– you either love it or hate it – your behavior and attitude about money is the tell all. Your focus should be to attain lifelong, generational wealth. Building wealth on the principles of simplicity and benevolence is what secures you, your family, and the welfare of humankind.
Money doesn’t grow on trees, but it does grow. And like the constant gardener, tilling and fertilizing the soil of their most precious blooms, money must be feed with the energy of love and care. It is you, the force behind the desire that creates the wealth. Wealth consciousness is simply the belief that you deserve all that money can provide for you and your family.
We all deserve prosperity, abundance, and wealth. These are three distinct definitions which can only be defined by you. You are the energy behind money. You have the power to decide to have a relationship with it or not. Cultivate a strong relationship and it will provide you with everything you desire for you and your family for generations to come.

1- Paying For College
Many Boomer's have High School Juniors in the house and if you are one of them this article can give you some suggestions on how to fund your child's college education.
If you have Kids already in college some of the scholarship info may be helpful.
If you don't have anyone in college you can skip this article without missing a thing.
As I've said before to many clients(and heard from plenty of parents who disagreed) if you have less than 20 years till your retirement age and have less than $200,000 saved in your pension fund you have no business funding your child's college education in total. Period!
Do you really want to spend your retirement working to pay off your Child's college bills while failing to take care of what's coming at you?
Remember, your child will have over 40 years to pay off those bills and save for their own retirement.
You, on the other hand, will have less than 20 years to pay college bills and save for your own retirement. You simply can't do both.
That said, let's get started on how your child can pay for her own college and keep her loans low.
The main thing you need to realize is that tuition for colleges range from unbelievable to very affordable.
George Washington University is one of the highest private colleges in the U.S. with annual tuition of $32,000 per year (housing not included).
One of the most reasonable colleges is San Diego University with annual tuition of only $2936 per year. This applies for resident students but residency is very easy to establish.
My point is that you need to check into colleges and tuition before deciding where to send your child.
Private colleges are good but very expensive. The total cost can be as much as some houses are selling today.
Your student can get the same education at a highly rated public college for a fraction of the cost.
And your student can make just as many important contacts affecting their futures at a public college as at Harvard (though Harvard grads will argue that point).
Helping your student make the best decision can be a tough assignment.
A former college roommates is now Dean of Students at a very well known college and I spent time pumping him for info on what colleges look for in giving out scholarships.
Here's what he said - it makes for very interesting reading.
First, grades and scholastic scores are important but they are only one of many things most colleges look at. They also look at what a student does outside of school.
Your child gets huge marks if they spend some time volunteering in your community. They also get major points if they have a parttime job.
This shows the college your child's dedication to something larger than themselves and the drive to pay for part of their own education.
If your child is active in her school it shows a desire to share her time and talents with her classmates.
Generally, these activities are other than sports related. Sports scholarships are something different.
If your child participates in any or all of the above and still maintains a high GPA, it shows any college that she has the talent and ability needed to succeed in school.
Second, decide on a college she will be attending early in her junior year of high school. You want to do this for several reasons.
1- You want to visit the college with your daughter to make sure it has the curricula she needs.
2- It will give her an opportunity to visit with an advisor (pre-appointment strongly suggested).
3- You will be able to spend time with the Financial Aids Department (very important).
According to my former roommate, students who visit a college before they can actually apply can make a huge impression for forward planning and organization.
Staying in touch with the people she meets means that she will be remembered when she finally does apply (especially in the Financial Aids office).
In your community, your child needs to research all the sources that give scholarships to graduating seniors and then start applying early in her senior year.
Fraternal organizations like the Lions, Rotary, Elks and Eagles all give annual scholarships ranging from $100 to $1000/year for 4 years.
Some organizations like your local Chamber of Commerce or FFA give scholarships to qualifying students.
And don't forget the church you attend regularily. If your child has been an active member she could qualify for any scholarships they may give.
Finally, if your child intends to go to a private college, contact their Alumni Association to find out what kind of aid is available to qualifying students who are going to have trouble paying for college.
Don't forget the Federally Guaranteed Student Loans either. These are great loans that will tailor a repayment schedule to your child once they graduate.
One final tip that is used by very savvy students. After your child gets to college have your child visit her Financial Aids Counselor before the end of the 1st semester.
Reason? Many scholarships go unclaimed because students figure they may not qualify for them so they don't apply.
If there are unclaimed scholarships the counselor can point them out to your student and tell her how she can qualify.
Remember, the worst thing they can say is no - but if your student doesn't even try these things, they can never say yes, either!
Just make sure she starts applying early in her Senior year and for as many scholarships as she can.
The final prize always goes to the most creative, the earliest and the most persistant.

If you are anything like the average person, thinking about budgeting is enough to warrant a serious headache. After all, everyone wants to enjoy their hard earned money, and "budget", well that is like a four letter word to many people. However, believe it or not, budgeting will actually help you to enjoy your life even more.
How can planning a budget help you fully enjoy your life? Well, with a budget, you are better able to plug up that drain that seems to suck away all your money every pay period. You are better able to identify where your money is actually going, rather than playing the guessing game. And for most folks, time is a precious commodity, better spent elsewhere in more enjoyable activities.
In order to figure out where you are wasting money, you have to take a look at your spending patterns. And a budget can help you in this area, because you are allotting a certain amount of money for each monthly expenditure.
To start your budget, you will need to make a list of all your monthly expenditures and the amount that you spend on each item. You may be surprised to realize how much money you actually should have left after paying all your monthly bills. Now, it is time to figure out where all that extra cash is actually going.
You can start the whole process by keeping track of every expense that you incur (even if it is a candy bar or cup of coffee) for about two weeks. You may be shocked at how much money you are actually wasting each day. If you are planning to continue your current lifestyle after this little exercise, then these things should be included in your budget.
However, the whole point of this is to help you learn to be a better steward of your money. And after looking at the whole picture, you may realize that you actually waste more money than you thought and that your money could be better enjoyed elsewhere. Time to exercise a little self-control...
So how can you enjoy life a little more on your current salary? Here a few ideas:
1. When grocery shopping, buy only the items that you planned for, and never go when you are starving.
2. Do you REALLY have to have that outfit just because it is on sale? You can curb credit card expenses by buying only when you have planned it or it is necessary.
3. Always compare prices before you make a purchase, especially a major purchase. Sometimes you can save hundreds this way.
4. Try taking your lunch to work rather than eating out. You will probably find that you will save tons this way, and your waistline will thank you.
Surely you can think of other little things that are sucking you dry and killing the joy in your life. By exercising just a little restraint, you will have the money you need when you want to go on that vacation or buy that something that you have really been looking forward to.
When you start to think of the whole budgeting process as an exercise in reclaiming the happiness in your life, then you will see that it is not such a bad thing. Think of it as a way to take that exotic vacation or buy that new furniture, and you might just find yourself saying, "Hey, it works for me..." when you think about your budget.

I have watched several documentaries on Kartrina and the existing devastation of the New Orleans area. It seems the major corporate entities such as the Superdome in New Orleans and the Gambling Casinos in Mississippi have been restored quickly and are functioning.
The areas other than the corporate wealthy areas are still blighted, full of piles of trash, and vacant. Insurers are finding excuses for not paying to rebuild houses and the government keeps saying it plans to fund the rebuilding of the gulf coast homes, but have not.
If I am not mistaken, didn't all of those homeowners and most of the apartment dwellers work and pay state and federal taxes? Doesn't that mean they deserve to have some of that tax money available to fix some of that devastation? Does this mean that when there are natural disasters in other parts of the country people will NOT be treated as tax paying citizens of their own country, but instead like refugees with no rights?
Seeing all of those documentaries on the anniversary gave little hope to the future of natural disaster plans in this country. A documentary by Discovery Times interviewed many of the professionals who were present during and after the floods, who contradicted many of the negative media reports that were put on the air about Katrina victims. Were these false reports put on the air to brainwash us against the Katrina victims?
In my opinion all of this demonstrates that although we pay large amounts of state and federal taxes, the government may not be there for you if a natural disaster happens, therefore you MUST get all of your ducks in order now. Save money, keep a credit card with no balance, have an evacuation plan, have provisions, and leave when you are told. That was difficult for the poorest people who did not have money saved or credit cards, but they can try by contacting family members out of town or finding an inexpensive hotel on higher ground outside town or asking their church for help.
Write your congressman and senator for more clear cut evacuation bills so everyone can be helped when a disaster strikes.

Emergencies never knock on the doors before coming. So, anybody can have a financial emergency without warning. The trouble could be great for you if you have a bad credit score, so obtaining a loan can become very difficult. For this purpose, there are facilities like bad credit cash advance services.
These services provide you with money almost instantly, within minutes or at times hours of applying for the loan. The best part of these cash advances is that no one is going to ask you what you need the money for. A bad credit cash advance without taking your credit score into account will furnish your required money to you in a short while.
The upper limit of bad credit cash advances is usually $1500. These loans need you to provide a confirmation of your employment, your previously salary stub, and the details of your checking account. These loans are provided by private lenders as well as banks and also are available online, so you can get money without too much of an effort right into your account with the help of a few clicks.
These bad credit cash advances should be kept as an emergency source of money only. This is because the fee that is charged is usually 15% to 30% for every $100, although competition in the market within the firms offering this cash advance has trimmed the rates to 12% in some cases.
Bad credit cash advances do sound very attractive, but they should not be abuse; otherwise, you are sure to land up in knee-deep debt very soon. It should not be made a habit to borrow against every future salary check. Also, the amount that is borrowed should be the bare minimum that is required and not any extra money.
You will obviously not like to pay interest on money that had been lying idly in your account. All bad credit cash advances should be sought for the least payable period possible, and you should ask the lender if you could repay the money earlier than the due date.
The payment for bad credit cash advances should be done in full on the day that the payment has been set for. The payment should not be rolled over to a further day with a payment of little more fees.
As the founding director of Outsourcing Haven, Mandeep Raj Mishra has effectively completed a number of SEO projects in various industries. He has been involved in the area of SEO for a couple of years and has also written a number of articles, reviews and critical analysis related to Internet Marketing and Search Engine Optimization.

There are many ideas floating around out there about money. So many of them are off base by just enough to cost you money. Here are a few of the most common money myths that aren't always correct.
1. The savings account myth.
Having a savings account doesn't really mean that you are saving money. It is a great place to have your emergency money, and it is earning you a slight amount of interest. However, if you have high debts with large interest rates, you are losing money by putting it in a low-interest savings account. You should be paying off your debts first. Plus, if the account is earning very little, inflation could actually be higher than the interest you are earning. In the long run, the investment really isn't working for you, it is costing you.
2. The big sale myth.
I know plenty of wives that use this one. If you buy something on sale, you must be saving money. Not really. The item must have been something that you would have purchased had it not been on sale. You can't purchase something just because it is on sale and save money. You had already decided not to purchase it at full price. This truth has a few exceptions. If you put the difference in a savings account, you are motiviating your savings through a sale purchase.
3. The refinance myth.
You do not save money by refinancing your house every time. Most people will refinance for a lower interest rate, but a 30-year term again. If you had already paid five years toward your mortgage, you are basically extending your mortgage to a 35 year mortgage. You are likely to pay more over the long run than you will save in interest rate.
4. The credit card myth.
Zero percent interest credit cards are a great hook for consumers. If you have a credit card with 0% interest you can save money if you already have the money you would have purchased the items with in an interest bearing account. If you don't, you aren't saving anything. If you don't have the money to pay off the card when the introductory interest term is over, you are spending money to spend money.
And the only way you save with a cash back credit card is if you pay the balance off in full each month and there is no yearly fee for the card. If you carry a balance, your interest will be higher than the cash back.
5. The more money myth.
Making more money will not mean you save more money. It only means that you will have more money to spend. Most people spend more as they make more. They don't really ever save.

Budgets aren't as bad as you think. Most people view them as the diet of the financial world. And in many ways, they are. Few people find the budget that works for them, so like the diet, they never are able to slim it down. Budgeting does mean that you will have to do some cutting back, but the benefits totally outweigh the sacrifices.
A budget is simply a plan that will help you spend less money than you make. There isn't anything painful about that. It is simply common sense.
If you are spending more than you make, you can reduce your spending, earn more money or fall into debt until you have to file bankruptcy, which isn't a wise option at all.
You can't follow a cookie-cutter budget that is intended to reduce your spending. Your budget must be designed to fit your spending. Many people don't take the time to find out where their money is actually being spent each month.
Take the time to writ
Budgets aren't as bad as you think. Most people view them as the diet of the financial world. And in many ways, they are. Few people find the budget that works for them, so like the diet, they never are able to slim it down. Budgeting does mean that you will have to do some cutting back, but the benefits totally outweigh the sacrifices.
A budget is simply a plan that will help you spend less money than you make. There isn't anything painful about that. It is simply common sense.
If you are spending more than you make, you can reduce your spending, earn more money or fall into debt until you have to file bankruptcy, which isn't a wise option at all.
You can't follow a cookie-cutter budget that is intended to reduce your spending. Your budget must be designed to fit your spending. Many people don't take the time to find out where their money is actually being spent each month.
Take the time to write down where your money is going. It will let you see where you can cut back and where you can't. You will be able to adjust your budget based on your spending habits.
Start by gathering all of your spending information. One of the easiest ways to do this is to simply collect all your receipts for an entire month. If you don't already have them, you need to start saving them in a big envelope.
Once you know where your money is being spent, you will be able to start controlling it. You are ready to make some decisions. You can now see if there are expenses you don't need to have. You can now see where you can reduce your spending.
If you find that you simply have nothing you can cut out, you will have to figure out a way to make more money. Many people never consider this option. It is a great way to make your money work for you. You can ask for a pay increase or take on a part-time job. Deliver pizzas for a month or two to pay off a debt in order to decrease your monthly spending. Little goals and using your money wisely will help you find a way to increase your income and decrease your expenses.
I know it isn't easy to change. But if you simply take the time and take small steps, before you know it your money will look completely different.
e down where your money is going. It will let you see where you can cut back and where you can't. You will be able to adjust your budget based on your spending habits.
Start by gathering all of your spending information. One of the easiest ways to do this is to simply collect all your receipts for an entire month. If you don't already have them, you need to start saving them in a big envelope.
Once you know where your money is being spent, you will be able to start controlling it. You are ready to make some decisions. You can now see if there are expenses you don't need to have. You can now see where you can reduce your spending.
If you find that you simply have nothing you can cut out, you will have to figure out a way to make more money. Many people never consider this option. It is a great way to make your money work for you. You can ask for a pay increase or take on a part-time job. Deliver pizzas for a month or two to pay off a debt in order to decrease your monthly spending. Little goals and using your money wisely will help you find a way to increase your income and decrease your expenses.
I know it isn't easy to change. But if you simply take the time and take small steps, before you know it your money will look completely different.

The reason that many budgets and other financial changes do not work is that they aren't thought through completely. Many people try to implement a cookie-cutter budget that neither fits their life or their money. Some simply try to keep it short and easy, ignoring what is really going on. Too many look for the easy way out, such as consolidation or blissful ignorance.
When you are looking at changing your finances, there are a few things you should consider:
What has been your record of succesful financial changes? What motivates you to make your changes permanent? What is your desire to change, on a scale from one to ten?If you have never successfully changed your financial situation, perhaps you aren't taking it to a small enough level. Smaller changes are easier to make. It is easier to call and get your interest rate lowered on a card than it is to pay the debt off completely. It is a small step to getting the debt paid off completely. It is an action that you can take.
Many people strive to change their finances for long-term planning goals, such as retirement and college educations for the children. Building a long-term financial future will take time and planning. You are the only one who will do it for you and your family. But it seems like such a big thing to say: I am going to start saving for retirement.
You won't ever do it if you don't know the little steps to getting there.
You can break it into little steps. First, see if your employer has a 401(k) plan you can contribute to. This is the easiest investment option you will find. The money simply comes out of your paycheck. You never see it, never miss it. And many employers will match up to a certain point. This is basically like free money from the boss. You have to take advantage of it.
Then start looking for ways to start building up your money. Invest in a savings account until you have enough saved up for a CD. Then let the CD build until you have enough to purchase some mutual funds. Get the knowledge you need to know to save your money.

After fifty years of working, chances are we crave the day when we can retire. We no longer have to wake up at 5 a.m., sit in rush hour traffic, or stress over unrealistic deadlines. These very factors are just the reason why we count down the days to relaxation. While most of us fantasize, the majority of the baby boomers don’t realize that financial planning doesn’t stop at 65. Retirement planning is crucial, regardless of what stage you are in.
It has always been a common myth that people do not have to save for their retirement until they have sent their children to college and have time to rest. This could not be further from the truth, as it is important to always plan ahead, even if it means starting in your 20’s. Unfortunately, we never know what is going to be around the corner. Due to health problems or other issues, we may have to retire sooner than we think. Thus we must save steadily incase a financial burden is forced upon us.
The first thing you need to do is think of financial planning. Retirement planning is not easy, but it is possible if you create a budget for your living expenses. After all, the more money you save each month, the more luxury you will be able to have once you stop working! You must stay informed and know every alternative that can be offered to you. Most companies offer retirement packages or a certain percentage of salary to go straight into a retirement fund. This is a wonderful opportunity if you can do it, because it helps you build upon your retirement planning package.
If you are doing it on your own, you must make sure that you create realistic goals for yourself. For instance, if your two children are going off to college in a year, and you want to save 50% of your paycheck for retirement, chances are this is not going to happen. You have to make a list of your top priorities and put money aside for each one. Although your children’s college education may require more money for four years, you can assume that you’ll be able to spend the rest of your salary on retirement planning once they have graduated.
Another alternative is life insurance settlements. Many people end up wanting to get rid of these policies due to an illness or a financial burden. Through life settlements, one can actually sell their insurance plan to a third party. By doing this, the person acquires a large amount of money, and they are no longer connected to their life insurance. If you are in need of extra money, many people feel that life insurance settlements are beneficial.
When we start to get older, we automatically get worried about our futures. With no steady income after the age of 65 or 70, it does look frightening. However, as long as you make sure you keep up with your retirement planning, there should be no need for stressing. There are hundreds of alternatives to make money, including life insurance settlements and just simply evenly distributing your salary. It is crucial to set goals and be sure to stay organized. The last thing you want to do is not keep track of your money. If you don’t, in 20 years from now, you sure will be kicking yourself.

As a mother with three kids and a very hardworking, hungry husband, I have discovered that absolutely nothing is cheap. I have also discovered that it is the small, daily changes we have managed to make that have had the most profound impact on our budget.
Here are 16 of the simple, everyday changes that have worked for us.
1. Use a coupon, absolutely whenever possible. I was really surprised by how many money-saving opportunities are out there when I knew where to look.
For local purchases, get an “Entertainment Book” each year and you will save on those inevitable everyday expenses ranging from dining out to groceries to oil changes. Visit the website to find the savings specific to your zip code. http://www.entertainment.com
For online purchases, stick to the reputable retailers. You certainly will not save any money if you are the victim of fraud or if you are simply unable to return an item. And before you start shopping, always look for a coupon code that will allow you to save on your purchase. In the past, many online retailers sent out promotional codes as a series of letters or numbers that could be entered at checkout. Now, many retailers use a button or text link that automatically activates your coupon when you click through, so it is often a good idea to find the coupon first, before you start to shop.
2. Shop around. The internet is an amazing tool for researching products and retailers, as well as for comparison shopping. We make nearly all of our large purchases online (with a coupon code, of course). It is also important to know where to shop. For holiday gifts, plan ahead and check out the big online discount stores. Overstock.com and Smartbargains.com offer significantly reduced prices on trusted brands. And you can get great shipping prices, too, even on large gifts. Overstock.com, for example, generally charges a flat $2.50 for shipping per order, not per item. I once had an enormous game table shipped to me for $2.50. Overstock often offers coupons for free shipping, too, so be on the lookout for those.
3. Keep a running list of gift ideas for your loved ones. I have found that when I am confident that a gift is perfect for the recipient, I am much less likely to overspend. But that kind of inspiration rarely hits me during the mid-December holiday rush, so I need to keep a list going the whole year through.
4. Budget. Of course, it is important to know what you are really spending. For years, the budget I had in mind was really more of a “wishful thinking” budget. But this quickly led to debt. It pays to get realistic. Whether you use a computer program or a simple ledger book, make sure you know where your money is really going.
5. Save for the future. Take 10 percent of your income and put it in savings, right off the bat. Now you know what you need to cut back on (or how much more you need to earn) to shore up the deficit.
6. Plan ahead. You will want to make sure you have money in the bank for emergencies. Experts say you should have three to six months of living expenses set aside, for those just-in-case times. It sounds like a lot, but start socking away money each month, and it will add up fast.
7. Get organized. When your home is organized, you will be less likely to spend money on items that are already hiding in the nether reaches of your closet and drawers. The same goes for your refrigerator and kitchen cupboards. Purge and organize before you shop.
8. Simplify. There is a certain romance to the “simplify your life” movement. And having too much stuff really does weigh us down. Take a look at everything in your home. If it does not add joy, beauty, meaning, or usefulness to your life, give it away. And when you are tempted to buy something new, it must pass the same test.
On a quarterly basis, go through your house and ask yourself these same things again. Go through your closet, attic, garage, and basement and purge those items that do not add genuine joy, beauty, meaning or usefulness to your everyday life.
9. Reduce, reuse and recycle. A simple lifestyle, for me, is about reducing my urge to over-consume. It is about being kind to the environment. It is about spending less money on material things, so that I have more time and money to spend on memories with my family. Make changes that will help the environment and your pocketbook at the same time. Install water saving kits on your toilet. Write on the back sides of paper. Use reusable containers in your lunches. All these little things really do add up, and it is important to show our children how we can all be part of the solution.
10. Shop without your kids. I know that if I get a shopping cart at WalMart and I do not have a list, I will spend $100. If the kids are with me, I will spend even more. This is another reason it makes sense to do your shopping online. You are less likely to purchase the incidentals.
11. Make sure that your credit card is paying you back via an incentive program. I found a credit card that allows me to earn points on my daily purchases toward our annual vacation trip, including airline miles and hotel accommodations. Since most of my expenses each month are incurred at the grocery store, I found a card that rewards specifically for these types of purchases. Of course, you will need to make sure that you are paying off your balance each and every month. Paying a high interest rate on your credit card will quickly negate any savings you accrue on your incentive plan. Here is a good resource to find the rewards credit card that makes the most sense for you: http://www.creditcards.com/reward.php
12. Lower your interest rates. If you are carrying a balance on a credit card, give the credit card company a call to see if they will give you a lower rate. Sometimes, it is just that easy.
13. Shop around for insurance. The money you pay for auto insurance can vary greatly. Do some research to find out if you are getting the best rate.
14. Be wary of the influence of TV commercials and print ads, especially on your children. We hear fewer cries of “I want that!” when we keep our kids programming to those channels that do not rely on advertising dollars, such as PBS and Noggin.
15. Play “Time Warp.” This is a technique I first learned from “My Monastery is a Minivan,” by Denise Roy, and I use it quite a lot. It goes like this: When you are tempted to make a purchase, mentally fast-forward through the life of the item. For example, in her book, Roy thinks she needs new candleholders. She imagines spending time at the mall to find them, soon having to clean them, and then, years down the road, packing them in the giveaway box. She shirks the purchase and soon rediscovers the heirloom candleholders that are packed away right in her own home.
I like to play this "fast forward" technique in reverse, too, asking: What new clothes did I buy last season? (Sometimes, I can not remember). Where are those "I have to have it" items now?
16. Keep your mind on abundance. When you are thinking about money, it is really important to get out of the poverty mindset. Too often, when we are focused on saving money, we are living from a perspective that focuses on lack and scarcity, which tends to bring about more of the same. It has been really helpful for me to make a conscious effort to see the world as infinitely abundant and to rest in the notion that my needs will be taken care of. This is generally a simple matter of thinking more about what I *do* have than what I do not have.
All my days of penny-pinching have certainly proven to me that it truly does not take money to make us happy. Many of my fondest memories have occurred in the smallest homes. My child’s favorite playthings tend to be the inexpensive items that were never designed to be toys at all. And it is the simple, everyday pleasures that are the sweetest, when enjoyed together.

I don't think anyone enjoys paying bills, myself included. I just get so bored looking through all the bills in order to write check after check for each one. I think this task is wasting my time so I usually let the bills form a heap on my desk, which isn't exactly an efficient way to handle my finances.
Recently, I was pleasantly surprised when I heard somewhere that there is a new online service available for people like me who get bored writing check after check. While I was checking something on the internet, I noticed that many creditors were offering a pay bill online feature. I was extremely delighted to learn that someone has discovered a solution for my problem. I just wanted to get rid of the everyday process of paying bills.
The first advantage of the pay bills online that I can think of is that you will be always sure that you are not late with your payment. Moreover, you will be sure that you have forgotten none of your bills. It often happens to me to forget paying my bills not because I don’t have the money, but I just have overlooked the deadline. I have so much daily tasks that paying bills is just on of these that I often miss to accomplish.
The pay bill online option allows you to make yourself an account where you can check from your home computer whether you have a payment due. If I found that, I have a payment due, I just select the bill, and with the pay bill online feature within a few minutes, my bill is paid.
The pay bill online feature allows you to check whenever you want whether you have not overpaid a bill. When I receive my bills with the regular mail, I have noticed that it is sometimes crossed with past mail. If I do not check the date, I will pay a past bill because I am used to write checks according to the total sum on the bill. I have found that I have written payments for bills that I had already paid once. This will be impossible with pay bill online option. It is nice to have a credit on your account. This does not happen to me because my husband and I live from paycheck to paycheck many months. In such cases, every penny is important.
We also have found out that the pay bills online feature keeps information about what bills have been sent and what bills have not. This means that with the pay bill online it is impossible that I will pay a bill without knowing that my husband had already paid the same bill. Such misunderstanding happened to us last year. I sent a payment check for our car insurance. Unfortunately, I didn’t know that my husband had already sent the same payment in the mail. Our car insurance was paid as well for the next quarter of the year and this is not bad but we had spent money that could have been applied elsewhere. The pay bill online service prevents this from happening.
With the pay bill online feature, you can always have the most up to date information about your account. This pay bill online option helps me very much to keep track of my payments. With the pay bill online service, I’m always sure that I’m not late with any payment. . I spend a lot of time online. It just takes me a few minutes to select the pay bill online feature. After I get my payments settled, I am ready to move on to other things.

If you had invested $300 a month in S&P 500 index for past 30 years, the net value of your total investment will make you a millionaire today. The S&P 500 index represents over 70% of the value of the U.S. equity market. The annualized return of S&P 500 index is about 11.16% in past 30 years. If the investment period was only 20 years (not 30 years), your net worth is about one third of a million.
For young couples, by the time they have graduated college, found an apartment, and paid their cell phone bills, chances are they have dug an even deeper hole in debt land, not to mention the huge student loans. However, the time is on their side and the power of compound interest will turn many of them into millionaires if they understand the simple wealth building strategy and start early.
Far too often couples feel that they will start saving, only after they generate a large amount of revenue. But they really need to start saving right away. Wealth building is not an overnight process. If you are having difficulties putting money aside because of children or college loans, it is still possible to even save extra change. By emptying your pockets every night and creating a change jar, you would be surprised how quickly it adds up. Also, if you could even take $20 every other week out of your paycheck, it is still better than having nothing at all.
Other important factors in wealth building include finding the right mortgage. By selecting a mortgage that allows adjustable rates, you could be saving money in the long run. Additional options include seeking out real estate investing seminars. Regardless of how much you know, real estate investing seminars are great to consider when wealth building. It is essential to look at the big picture instead of tomorrow or next week. Another crucial thing you can do is be creative. Find extra ways to make money on the side, even try a creative new hobby. By working together as a team on a side project, chances are you could make extra cash to store for wealth building.
If you are unsure of where to start and feel like you just aren’t cut out for wealth building, there are programs that will instruct you further. Wealth building seminars teach consumers how to save their money, live on a budget, and use other alternatives. There are hundreds of unique ways to do this, but only wealth building seminars will show you the ins and outs. For many, this is extremely helpful because they are often in over their heads. Wealth building programs are far from effortless, but it does point you in the right direction.
Regardless of what type of financial situation you are in, wealth building is a great tool. For young couples, wealth building strategies are even more crucial. By saving money when you are young, you will have more revenue in the future. This could mean better education for your children, a fancier retirement package, or anything you’d like. While wealth building does teach you how to save and think, you need to take the extra initiative. Without a strict budget and determination, wealth building seminars will only be another dollar out of your pocket.

A cash advance can meet your emergency cash needs within hours of your seeking it. The upper limit of cash advance is usually $1500. For securing this cash, all you need is a confirmation regarding your employment, a previous salary stub, and a checking account. Once you file your application, especially if it is online, then it is processed in no time and you can get the money in a matter of minutes or, at the most, a couple of hours.
The cash advance needs to be repaid on the borrower’s date of payment. Cash advances have become a way of life with people in America because the low-wage working sector has become a common factor and is also growing at a rapid rate. Purchasing something today and making its payment tomorrow seems to have become the norm with the present generation.
This has resulted in a growing abuse of facilities like cash advances, which do not allow people to emerge from their debt life long. Many of these people borrow against every paycheck. Emergency services are meant to bail you out of crises that emerge unforeseen like medical emergencies. The use of these services should be made in the desired circumstances only, and the amount borrowed should be only that which is needed. No extra money should be borrowed.
For people with bad credit histories, a cash advance is a boon. This is because no credit checks are done on the borrowers and no questions are asked in concern of why the amount is being borrowed. This, however, doesn’t mean that for every need you go rushing to seek a cash advance. This is because this form of a loan is more expensive as compared to other forms of credit.
The interest or the fee that is charged for, say, a hundred dollars, is 15-30%. Cash advances are popular not just with the people seeking them but also with the lending organizations, because they can earn a quick buck there. What also needs to be kept in mind is that cash advances should be repaid on the due dates rather than being rolled over for a new term because the fee charged is more and might increase the interest amount to more than the actual loan amount.
The method of repayment is usually issuing a post-dated check to the lender, which will be charged to your account on the date of repayment.

Those guides and books have nothing of value, all the information they contain is superfluous or can be found anywhere on the net. Most of them lack the only thing that could have some use: copies of the forms you need to fill in order to apply for a government grant and detailed explanations on how to fill them.
And even those who include forms and models of letters have little value since all that can be easily obtained at each government agency that provides access to funds in the form of government loans and grants. And of course, you can get all that for free.
Government Grants
There are many government agencies providing funding for different purposes to individuals and organization that meet certain requirements. However, qualifying for such money grants is not an easy task and a guide or book won’t help you either. In order to successfully apply for a government grant there are many things you need to know.
First of all, you should see whether the purpose that the money you need would have fits into any of the grants’ categories. There are grants for first time home buyers, college students, physically challenged people, starting businesses, non-profit organizations, etc. As you can see, if you want the money to buy yourself a new state of the art high tech TV, you are out of luck.
You also need to make clear how much money you’ll need because generally grants offer a limited amount of funding. The idea is to provide assistance to the underprivileged and not to finance those who can get finance by other means like private loans or government loans.
Thus, by keeping grants to small amounts, the government can help as much people as possible. When it comes to business grants there is more flexibility but they won’t finance huge ventures either. For larger amounts, the only option is private finance.
How to Get Them
As stated above, there is no need to pay for expensive books or guides, most government agencies have online sites whit contact information. There are also private sites explaining everything about government grants with information and examples of forms and letters so you won’t have problems applying for government grants and you won’t need to spend hours figuring out the explanations that appear on government sites with all the technical terms and so.
Thus, search the net for government grants and you’ll find many online sites that will help you understand grants and will explain you how to apply and get approved. However, you need to be careful too, because there are many sites which are nothing but scams and will want to take your money and provide nothing in return, just like the guides and books.