When it comes to saving money, it often seems as if some can and some can't. What secret do the "can's" know that the rest of the world just can't figure out?
Saving money is a basic part of managing your finances. It is necessary for financial success. It is necessary for many of the things you want to do.
Most people assume that in order to save, you need to have "extra" cash. Let me tell you, there is no thing as extra cash. That's like having extra cake. It is a misconception.
The key is having a spending plan and a saving plan. The spending plan is your budget. It helps you find the money you need for savings. It isn't extra money, it is simply money reassigned. When you set spending goals, you find that it becomes easier to save regularly.
Here is where the secret comes in.
You have to set a few short-term and long-term financial goals. Give yourself a time frame and dollar amount for each goal. The secret to saving money is to save it for something. You have to know what you are working towards. Write it all down and review it regularly.
Set up a separate savings account for your savings. If you are anything like my family, if you keep your savings in your checking, you will spend it. It is just too tempting and too easy to get to. Have your savings in a separate account.
Make yourself a budget that tracks your spending each month. No matter how much money you make, you need a budget. It is easy and simple. And it isn't a way to limit your spending, so don't think of it as a diet. It is simply a way to see where your money is going and how much you have.
Decide on how much of your monthly income you can put towards savings. Many people do this by a percentage. I say simply see how much you have left that you can put back. No matter if it is just $50 a month, start putting something into your savings. Even $50 a month becomes $600 for the year, without counting the interest.
The simplest, and most painless, way to put your money in savings is to have your employer deduct a set amount from your paycheck and deposit into your savings account automatically. If your employer doesn't offer this service, have your bank automatically withdraw the amount to your savings the day you are paid each month.
Out of sight and out of mind truly works.
When you find unexpected money in your life, such as a tax refund or bonus, you should put the majority of it into your savings account. This allows your savings to grow without any real sacrifice on your part.
It really isn't a secret. It's just that so many people don't know how to go about saving money. The secret is to get started today. Work on it for two months. Then it might just start to be a habit.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, people today can expect to live longer in retirement than ever before. Increased life expectancies mean we’ll all probably have to do a better job of planning for our retirement and protecting our estate assets than previous generations. Working out a sound retirement plan now—before you need it—may help achieve retirement and other important financial goals.

Retirement Planning

Creating a retirement plan can help with a comfortable retirement. In drawing up your retirement plan you should take into consideration your:

. Anticipated costs of living during retirement

. Current retirement assets

. Current retirement savings and investments

. Expected rates of investment, and present and potential inflation rates

Once this information is determined, you can calculate any shortfall between projected retirement income and anticipated costs of living during your retirement. It’s important to plan so that you have enough assets to get you through, not merely to, retirement. You might include in your comprehensive retirement plan such elements as:

. 401(k) plans

. Roth or traditional IRAs

. Education savings plans

. Life insurance or annuities

. Tax-advantaged investments

Estate Planning

Most of us already know that our estate includes every asset and debt we have. However, few of us probably also realize that:

. Federal tax rates begin at 45% and rise to 47% for estates valued at $2,000,000 or more for 2006

. Estate taxes are due within nine months of death

To help meet estimated future needs, investors can employ the following strategies:

. Updating current estate plans

. Titling assets to maximize credit available against federal estate taxes

. Purchasing life insurance to cover estate tax and settlement costs

. Establishing certain irrevocable trusts, which may help remove assets from your taxable estate

. Making gifts of $12,000 or less to reduce the value of your estate

In short, talking with a financial and tax advisor regarding the adequacy of current estate and retirement plans is an essential first step for anyone interested in leaving behind a lasting personal and financial legacy.

For More Information

If you’d like to learn more about Retirement and Estate Planning, please call 866-651-8625 These materials are provided free of charge for general informational and educational purposes to our brokerage clients. These materials do not take into account your personal circumstances and we do not represent that this information is complete or applicable to your situation. We may change these materials at any time in the future without notice to you. We are not providing you with investment, tax or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, legal, investment or other advisors to determine whether the analyses in these materials apply to your specific circumstances. Particular legal, accounting and tax restrictions applicable to you, margin requirements and transaction costs may significantly affect the structures discussed, and we do not represent that results indicated will be achieved. We are not offering to buy or sell any financial instrument or inviting you to participate in any trading strategy.

Investments and services are offered through Morgan Stanley DW Inc., member SIPC.

There is a huge difference between companies who claim that they can remove accurate information from your credit report immediately and those who say that they can help you remove inaccurate information from your credit history right away and can teach you to clear your credit report with patience and a bit of sacrifice.

Be careful with Illegitimate Credit Repair Services

Paying for these companies advice will in the best scenario imply that you will loose a considerably amount of money and get nothing in return. In the worst scenario, however, you may end up being prosecuted due to committing fraud to lenders or the government just by following their advice. Presenting a false identity is a crime, lying in application forms is a crime and trying to deceive lenders or government agencies in any way is also a crime, thus, beware.

Is it Possible to Dispute Information Legally?

The answer is YES, however, you can only dispute inaccurate information successfully without risking prosecution for making false claims. In order to dispute information on your credit report, you need to tell the credit agency in writing what specific details you believe to be false or inaccurate, you’ll also need to attach any documentation (copies, never the original documents) you have as proof of your claims.

You need to include your contact information too along with a copy of the credit report where you found the negative information you believe to be false or inaccurate. Don’t forget to request the information to be corrected or removed. Otherwise, they might do nothing about it. Always keep copies of al the documentation sent and the receipts as you may need to use them in court if they don’t comply.

What if I’m Right and the Information was Inaccurate or False

Credit Agencies have 30 days to review all these information, forward it to the institutions that reported the negative information, make a proper investigation and reach a well informed and formal conclusion. If the information was false or inaccurate, the credit agency will inform the other credit agencies in the market so they can correct their credit reports too.

The credit agency is also obliged to give you a written explanation of everything that was done along with a copy of your credit report if anything was changed. You are also entitled to receive the details and contact information of the bank, lending institution or whoever provided the negative information. If you were declined by a lender or credit card provider or where affected in any way by this information, you can take legal action against this institution first and eventually, against the credit report agency too.

A type of trading available in the Forex market is called Forex day trading. This financial trading option can be something that can definitely make trading work better for you. One of the biggest benefits of trading day currencies is that it is available twenty-four hours a day. This of course can give traders the obvious benefit of trading at any hour that they choose. With foreign exchange day trade there is no rush or panic, and decisions can be more carefully considered and executed.

Something else that is beneficial when it comes to day trading is that a lender can start a lot smaller if they choose. Starting smaller can also let them concentrate on a few major currencies rather than on tens of thousands. Foreign exchange day trading allows for more focus and a better ability to spread an investment. These benefits are not available with a traditional stock market approach. Something else that is great when it comes to Forex day transactions is that spreads can be narrower if the trader wishes. This allows the trader to regulate more easily the day spends. Of course this also leads to more liquidity.

Some other benefits that come with Forex day trade include there being no restrictions when selling currencies short. This allows for a trader to continue making money at a steady rate, whether markets are rising or falling. Also because of certain times when trading volumes are high, having day trading as an available tool can help a trader avoid these times if they choose, yet still make high enough profits. Foreign exchange day trading allows the trader to avoid times when the British, European, and United States markets are all open at the same time and activity is overwhelming, yet still make profits if they so choose.

Day trade also allows the Forex trader to take full advantage of some of the general benefits offered in the Forex market. These include twenty-four hour online currency trading, one hundred to one leverage, commission free trading and regulated FCM status. Having some of these advantages can definitely improve one's chance of making large profits in the Forex market.

As you can see being able to use Forex day transactions in your trading activities could be a decision that could make you millions of dollars if used properly. Trading day currencies is a great option for those who like to make their own hours, yet still want to benefit fully from the Forex market in general.

Many seniors own life insurance policies that they no longer need or want, or that they can no longer afford. Often, they allow their policies to lapse or cash them into the insurance company for the surrender value. What many seniors don’t realize is that their unwanted life insurance may be worth much more if sold to an investor in a life settlement. A Life Settlement is the sale of a life insurance policy by the policyowner, before the policy matures. Such a sale, at a price discounted from the face amount of the policy, but in excess of the cash surrender value, provides the seller an immediate cash settlement.

Life Settlement History

Life Settlement industry evolved out of Viatical Settlements.

In the mid-80’s AIDS became an epidemic, A number of AIDS patients were told that they only had a limited time to live. Many of these patients owned life insurance policies. They knew that when they died, their family would receive the death benefit but they needed money today to pay medical bills or enjoy the rest of their lives. In stepped Viatical Settlement companies. These companies purchased policies on terminal patients and sold them as retail investments to individual investors. The AIDS patients got money they needed today and the investors got the promise that when the patient died they would get the death benefit.

The Life Settlement Market

In the 90’s the Life Settlement market was born as companies and investors turned towards buying unwanted life insurance policies from seniors. According to Sanford Bernstein, the industry grew from $0 in the mid 1990’s to approximately $13 billion in 2005. Bernstein estimates the life settlement market will reach $160 billion over the next several years. The penetration rate is expected to exceed 20% as awareness and the size of the market is increased over the next 20 years.

Life Settlement Case Studies

Below are some real life case studies that illustrate ways that others have used life settlements to increase their net worth:

Case 1: Settlement Frees up $966,000 in Cash for Annuity purchase

This case involved an 82 year old female who owned several policies totaling $4.6 million. She no longer wanted to pay premiums for the insurance and was going to accept the cash surrender value of $236,548. Her intent was to use the policies’ cash value to help fund the cost of an assisted living facility.

Her advisor recommended a life settlement for each policy, and she agreed. Ultimately she received a settlement of $966,000 – more than 400% greater than the cash surrender value – and used those funds to purchase an annuity. The annuity payments now help cover the costs of the assisted living facility.

Case 2: Settlement Proceeds Stabilizes Trust

This case involved an 81 year old female, owner of a $5 million life insurance policy with a surrender value of $196,866. Since the insured had lost interest in maintaining the policy and no longer wished to make gifts to the trust for premium payments, the cash surrender value was rapidly depleting as premiums were being deducted from the cash value. Working with her financial advisor they conducted a review to determine whether the policy should be surrendered or whether a Life Settlement would be more advantageous. The advisor provided an offer of $556,000 – over three times the cash surrender value.

Case 3: Settlement Allows Policyowner To Purchase Paid-Up Policy

A 78 year old male decided to allow his $1,250,000 policy to lapse. He had significant medical expenses and could no longer justify the $39,536 annual premium. After reviewing the available options with his advisor they decided to pursue a Life Settlement. He was able to secure an offer of $490,000. The policyowner and advisor decided to use some of the proceeds to purchase a paid-up $500,000 policy and the remainder helped to ease the burden of the policyowner’s medical costs.

Case 4: Policyowner Makes $797,000

• A 74 year old in good health purchased a $10mm Life Insurance Policy. He paid-$536k for two years of premiums. After the policy is two years old, he sold the policy for $1,333,333 in the secondary market representing a $797,000 profit on his investment.

If you are 70 and over, and have an insurance policy that you were going to get rid of anyway, you owe it to yourself to explore whether a life settlement might be a better option.

In the Forex market the value of two separate currencies and how they relate to one another is what is known as the Forex exchange rate. Usually the Forex rate is how much of one currency is needed to buy a unit of another. Knowing the basics regarding the Forex exchange can help you get started in understanding it even better.

Just to give you an example of how the Foreign exchange rate can work and to help you better understands it we can compare the United States dollar with the Japanese yen. Let's say that on a certain day the US dollar is able to buy one hundred and ten Japanese yens, this would indicate that the exchange rate for that day is 1:110 or a one to one hundred and ten ratio. This ratio in the exchange rate is also known as pairing. When you take it vice versa you can use it to indicate how many US dollars a single unit of Japanese yen can buy. Another term that is used in the Foreign exchange rate is 'cross rates'. This term however is only used when it does not involve US dollars; it is only used when relating two foreign currencies.

A few other terms used in the Forex exchange are pips or basis points, which are actually two terms used for the same thing. These terms are used to indicate Forex rates that are calculated up to four decimal points and whether or not these are negative or positive movements. An example of this would be if you were to exchange euros with yen at a value of 135.1030, but then the euro rate goes up to 135.1035, it is called a five-pip improvement.

In using the Forex exchange rate you are required to use two currencies and this means they are quoted as 'two tier' rates. Also in the Forex market its price basis is called a bid/ask. Using the previous ratio between the yen and the US dollar in the Forex market, if this trade is made it is called a ten pip 'spread' and is secured. This term means it indicates the difference between the buying and actual selling price. A lot of things can change the spread and affect it. These things include market conditions and traders' instincts about the strength of certain currencies, which can fluctuate greatly from day to day. One thing you should remember however when it comes to the Forex is that only Forex traders who are licensed can access official quoted rates. This means therefore that smaller investors may not receive their currency at a very good rate, because they usually receive them from commercial banks.

One last thing concerning the Forex exchange rate is that it is independently determined. This is why it thrives so well, because solely buyers and sellers and their supply and demand of certain currencies determine it. In the end individual governments and banks cannot decide the values.

I sat down a few months ago, and asked myself what sacrifices I could make that would allow me to increase my advertising budget for my internet network marketing business.

The First Sacrifice:

I was a 1 1/2 pack a day smoker. I had tried to quit many times in the past, but was unsuccessful. It is a hard addiction to get rid of.

But this time it was much easier, because I found something that motivates me more than anything in the world, and that is money. I quit smoking for the love of money.

This would save me over $160 a month. To reward my self I use that extra money to help me make more money, by using it to increase my advertising budget.

The Second Sacrifice:

The second thing I sacrificed was dining out so much. My wife and I used to only dine out. Dining out was our third largest expense each month.

We decided this was not healthy nor financially wise to do so. We both made the decision to decrease the amount of money we spent on dining out so much for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Just my lunches alone on a $6.00 a day average, adds up to $180 a month. My Wife’s were much higher, because she had to provide for her, my daughter, and her younger brother.

She now enjoys taking that money she saves from not eating out so much and spending it on my daughter and herself.

So.... Just by finding small sacrifices, you to could increase your advertising budget by hundreds.

Something that can help a Forex trader better predict price movements are what is called Forex forecasting. When you have such a high paced and chaotic environment has the Forex market, a tool such as Forex forecasting can be a great benefit. Forex forecasting uses both types of analysis, technical and fundamental. Although when they combine both types, this is when Forex forecasting gets its best results.

The reason that Forex forecasting uses fundamental analysis is because this type better predicts future price movements. When using this type of analysis it is very important to look at economic, political, environmental and other relevant external factors that have a direct or indirect effect on supply and demand. Someone who analyzes using this type of analysis has to be someone who is very skilled. This is because in the Forex market, when using this type of analysis for Forex forecasting they have to be able to predict fairly accurately what the price of currency should be based on external factors, not the actual current price.

On the other hand Forex forecasting involving technical analysis has a bit of advantage in basing its predictions on past market fluctuations. This makes it more based on factual information, rather than hypothetical like fundamental analysis is. Another advantage of this type of analysis is that they can look at several different markets and indicators at the same time. When using Forex forecasting with technical analysis you must remember three things. These three things are that there are no surprises when using this type of analysis. Also when using this type of analysis the specific patterns are followed, which the market is based on, it is easier to predict a repeat of these patterns and successfully use this to your advantage. Lastly these patterns are a direct reflection of human psychology.

Details involved in technical analysis involves five different and distinct theories in order to be used in Forex forecasting. These theories include indicators such as oscillators (i.e. Relative Strength Index theory), the number theory including Fibonacci numbers and Gann numbers, waves such as the Elliott wave theory, gaps such as high-low and open-closing theory and trends such as following the moving average theory.

Regardless of all the theories that can be used in forecasting or which method is used, a lot of data and research goes into it. The use of new software and the readily available historical information can definitely make Forex forecasting a lot easier now then it used to be

There are many reasons why you can suddenly find yourself in financial difficulties and unable to repay your student debt. You can even foresee these difficulties before the loan payment is due and it is smart to avoid problems by facing the situation with enough time ahead. That way you’ll be able to reschedule the payments or find another solution.

Reasons why repaying may turn into a heavy burden

Though most of student loans come with a six month grace period since graduation, after this period, students have to start repaying the loan. However, sometimes it isn’t easy to find a job right after graduation and even if you are lucky enough to get a job, chances are you’ll get only a part time job or an underpaid one.

This is why it is important to work at least part time during college, getting into the market can be a bit difficult but if you were already working when you graduate, you’ll have half of the problem solved and you’d have plenty of experience and more chances of getting another job.

Possible Solutions

However, you have difficulties repaying your debt and you need a solution, you can’t go back in time and change your decisions so you need to think ahead. If you can’t get a full time job, take one or multiple part-time jobs, you can also work as freelance. The idea is to generate some sort of income; in fact your income should be as steady as possible.

Cut on your expenses till you solve this problem. There are some fields that can be especially useful to concentrate your efforts on them: Accommodation (You can share an apartment, move to a cheaper flat or a cheaper neighborhood, etc). Transportation is another area where you can save money (with the current prices of gas, it is best if you can use public transportation). You can even sell your car if you have one and you’ll have some savings too.

If you still can’t meet your monthly payments, you should try to ask your lender for another grace period, this time it may cost you money to postpone payment to a later day but it may be worth it. If the lender is willing to give you some time, your loan will be rescheduled and you can use the time you just gained to try to get a job and generate income so you can afford the payments.

If all the above fails, then your only option will be to refinance your loan. A refinance student loan can stretch your repayment schedule so as to reduce your monthly payments to an affordable state. This will ease your situation and give a break to your income/spending ratio.

Using a bank can really save you money, but there are also ways in which you lose a lot of money. If you are not proactive in recognising potential dangers and mistakes, then you could be caught out. Here are some of the most common personal banking mistakes and how to avoid them.

Not reviewing your statements

Many people get their statement each month, open it and then throw it away. If you don't look at your statements properly then you will not see mistakes on your account that could be costing you a lot of money. If there is a payment that you did not make then you could be charged a fee, and there is also a chance that you card has been copied. Checking your statements against all your purchases each month is imperative.

Paying too much

Many people are too lazy to shop around or to question the fees that they pay each month on their accounts. If you look at the fees you pay you might find that you are paying far too much. If this is the case then it is time to shop around for a better deal, because you could save yourself a lot of money each year just by not paying expensive banking fees.

Leaving paper around

When you look at your bank statement or open bank related information, make sure that you don't leave it lying around. If you carelessly discard information relating to your account then you are an easy target for identity thieves and fraudsters. Make sure that you keep all bank related information in a safe place, and shred any documents that you are going to throw away.

Using ATMs without care

When using an ATM, make sure that you take precautions. Do not write down your PIN number anywhere near your card, and make sure that you shield your number when you type it in. Being aware of people around you when using an ATM can stop most potential crime.

Banking online in public

Although you might need to check your account urgently, checking your online account and carrying out transactions on a wireless network is not totally secure. There is a chance that someone could access your details, or that the transaction will be lost. Use your online banking at home if at all possible.

Not establishing a relationship

If you want to get the best deals from your bank, then you need to establish a relationship with them. If you have a local branch, then arrange a meeting with the bank manager so that you know who they are. Although you might never need their help, if there are any problems or you need extra funds then knowing your bank manager can really help.

Only borrowing from your bank

If you have been loyal to one bank for a while, then perhaps it is time to rethink that loyalty. Although you might think your bank offers the best deal, whenever you want to purchase a new financial product you should shop around. There are many other places, particularly online, that can offer you great deals on borrowing money from credit cards or loans. If you are careful with your banking information and shop around for the best deals, then you can avoid most of these common personal banking mistakes.

So you’ve accepted a lucrative position at another company within your industry. Perhaps you’re in the middle of a career change. Maybe you’re uprooting and heading to greener pastures somewhere else. Whatever the reason, you’re changing jobs. Out with the old, in with the new.

Amidst the hassles of moving, finding the kids a new school, and settling in to your new position and community, it’s easy to lose sight of the finish line—retirement. Your 401(k) is probably your most important investment in regards to retirement savings. Don’t let it get lost in the shuffle when a change in your professional life comes along.

When switching jobs, there are three things you can do with your existing 401(k): leave it where it is, roll it over into an account with your new employer, or move the money into an IRA. Cashing out the plan is not an option. We repeat: DO NOT CASH OUT YOUR 401(K)! It’ll badly set back your retirement savings plan. You’ll be hit with income taxes plus a penalty of 10 percent if you’re under age 59½. What’s more, you’ll miss out on tax-deferred savings.

Leave It Where It Is

There’s nothing wrong with keeping the cash where it is if you’re happy with the plan at your old job. If you’re confident you can keep track of it, if you’ve got a nice chunk of change in there, or if the plan your new employer is offering is less than appetizing - leave it be. Just make sure you tell your old HR department about your plan to leave it behind. If there is less than $5,000 in the account, they have the right to dump you.

Roll It Over

Most financial professionals agree it’s a good idea to have all of your 401(k) dollars under one roof. It’ll work harder for you as one asset and you can dip into it (as a loan) if a financial emergency arises. If you do decide to rollover, make sure to jump through all of the (relatively minor) hoops and fill out the appropriate paperwork with both your old company and your new employer.

Drop It Into An IRA

If your new gig doesn’t offer a 401(k) program, or if you dig the investment freedom that comes with an IRA, go this route. You’ll have much more of a choice when it comes to investing your retirement dollars, as thousands of mutual funds will be at your behest instead of a dozen or so 401(k) options. Be cautious when going this road, though. 401(k)s are generally a smidgen more protected from those evil creditors than are IRAs. It’s a minor detail now, but if you ever declare bankruptcy or get sued, it could become a much bigger issue.

Whichever route you choose, know the rules. Way back when, details were cloudy on the IRS-friendly way to transfer funds from one 401(k) to another account. Investors had to put 401(k) funds into a “conduit” IRA if they believed they would move the funds into another 401(k) account in the future. The money couldn’t be mixed with other retirement savings and new contributions were also verboten. Sound confusing? It was.

But no longer. Mix all you want. You can transfer an old 401(k) account into an IRA while still making payments, move it from a new IRA into a Roth IRA, or shift the funds directly into a new 401(k) account. The choice is yours.

However, make certain to complete a “trustee-to-trustee transfer” when you relocate your funds. This basically means you’re directing your new employer to schedule the details of the transaction with your old company. This way, you can avoid your old job writing you a check for your existing 401(k) balance, wherein you have 60 days to drop it into a new account. This is not a headache you want. When you go this direction, your previous company will hold back 20 percent of your money for income tax purposes.

The next time you file your taxes, you’ll get the money back, but meanwhile you’ll have to make up the difference yourself within the 60 days. No thanks. Even more frightening: if you don’t roll over the entire balance within 60 days, the taxman cometh. The IRS sees that deficit as a taxable withdrawal and enforces regular income taxes along with a 10 percent penalty.

Even if you think you don’t need to or you know for sure your credit report reflects your real credit situation, it is always a good idea to request a copy of your credit report at least once a year (you can get a copy for free) in order to see where you stand and to plan ahead your actions to improve your credit situation.

What to Look For

The most common inaccuracies are: pending payments that have already been made, outstanding loans that have already been canceled and open accounts that have already been closed. Also, it is not uncommon to find loans wrongly informed. For instance, you may have requested a $10.000 loan and they might have informed a $100.000 loan.

Even though these are the most common mistakes, you should do a thorough examination and make sure there are absolutely no mistakes or inconsistencies on your credit history. A minimum discrepancy could motivate a decline in a loan or credit card application.

Fixing Credit Report Inaccuracies

When you discover an inaccuracy, the first thing you need to do is to make sure it actually is an inaccuracy. You may think that you didn’t miss a payment but you actually did. Or you may think you didn’t pay late but you just didn’t notice it. Get hold of any documentation in your possession that shows proof of the inaccuracy and make several copies.

The next step is to write a letter to the credit report agency telling them that you’ve found what you believe to be a mistake on their behalf and that you wished for it to be corrected. Tell them which negative information is inaccurate and ask them to remove it or correct it. Enclose to the letter all the copies (never the original) of the documents proving your claims.

The Credit Agency will check this info and if your claim is true, they’ll correct the information and send a new copy of your credit report to you. They’ll also send a written explanation of their investigation even if they conclude that there was no mistake on their side. You can always resort to legal means if you believe them to be wrong and they refuse to exclude the negative information.

Eliminating Accurate Negative Information

Only time can aid you in eliminating negative information from your credit report. Some stains on your credit history will remain for as long as 10 years (bankruptcy), others may only remain for a couple of years. What really helps improving your credit score and history is to maintain an impeccable credit behavior. Paying always on time, never missing a payment, reducing your debt exposure, paying your credit card balances in full whenever possible and at least the minimum payments the rest of the time are the best way to fix your credit. Then, it is all just a matter of time.

There are many reasons why you can suddenly find yourself in financial difficulties and unable to repay your student debt. You can even foresee these difficulties before the loan payment is due and it is smart to avoid problems by facing the situation with enough time ahead. That way you’ll be able to reschedule the payments or find another solution.

Reasons why repaying may turn into a heavy burden

Though most of student loans come with a six month grace period since graduation, after this period, students have to start repaying the loan. However, sometimes it isn’t easy to find a job right after graduation and even if you are lucky enough to get a job, chances are you’ll get only a part time job or an underpaid one.

This is why it is important to work at least part time during college, getting into the market can be a bit difficult but if you were already working when you graduate, you’ll have half of the problem solved and you’d have plenty of experience and more chances of getting another job.

Possible Solutions

However, you have difficulties repaying your debt and you need a solution, you can’t go back in time and change your decisions so you need to think ahead. If you can’t get a full time job, take one or multiple part-time jobs, you can also work as freelance. The idea is to generate some sort of income; in fact your income should be as steady as possible.

Cut on your expenses till you solve this problem. There are some fields that can be especially useful to concentrate your efforts on them: Accommodation (You can share an apartment, move to a cheaper flat or a cheaper neighborhood, etc). Transportation is another area where you can save money (with the current prices of gas, it is best if you can use public transportation). You can even sell your car if you have one and you’ll have some savings too.

If you still can’t meet your monthly payments, you should try to ask your lender for another grace period, this time it may cost you money to postpone payment to a later day but it may be worth it. If the lender is willing to give you some time, your loan will be rescheduled and you can use the time you just gained to try to get a job and generate income so you can afford the payments.

There’s an ongoing debate among financial experts about the determinants of portfolio returns. Some maintain that asset allocation accounts for up to 90 percent of long-term gains. Others are convinced that low costs are the magic bullet. Probably the best course of action is to keep your eye on both.

What this means is that investors with a high, or even moderate, tolerance for risk might consider allocating a tiny portion of their portfolio to commodities, including foreign exchange, commonly called forex.

Indeed, lackluster returns in the fixed income and equity markets over the past few years have sent investors in search of alternative investments like real estate and commodities. So not surprisingly, experts in foreign exchange trading have stepped up the marketing of their wares to savvy and neophyte investors alike.

Among these experts are forex black box traders. These professionals have a proven track record of success in trading foreign exchange. Their services are especially attractive to people with little knowledge of the vast and idiosyncratic foreign exchange market – those who are comfortable relying on forex trading experts to lead the way.

The black box approach refers to a computerized system that automatically executes trades based on an algorithm or strategy. A forex black box trader develops a proprietary model through historical analysis of trading patterns. The trader then applies the model in real time to a computer program that generates buys and sells 24/7 in the global foreign exchange markets – hopefully at a profit but, of course, there’s no guarantee.

There are three types of black box trading models: fully disclosed, gray and undisclosed. A fully-disclosed model reveals all about the technical indicators that trigger trades and the relationships among various indicators – so investors know exactly what prompted a trade.

The gray box approach discloses only some of the indicators that spark trades. And with undisclosed black box trading, nothing about the model’s logic is known – so either the investor has a lot of confidence in it or so little money at risk that this leap of faith won’t keep him or her awake at night.

It may seem counterintuitive, but there are good reasons for forex black box traders to operate on an undisclosed basis. To do otherwise could invite other traders to replicate the strategy. So for the average investor, the most relevant consideration is the profitability of a particular black box model.

Proponents of black box trading think that this quantitative approach is the only way to make money over the long term – and that taking emotion out of the equation in this way is key. In a volatile market, even seasoned forex traders react emotionally and sometimes change course. Black box trading is probably a good solution for investors who can let go and let the model’s discipline prevail.

Besides removing the human emotional component, there are other practical reasons for developing computer models to capture profits in foreign exchange trading. For one, it’s a 24/7 market – and the computer never sleeps. So whenever the optimal conditions specified in the model present themselves, you’re virtually guaranteed an execution.

And, unlike the equities markets, the forex market is very fragmented. There are scores of banks that make markets in currencies. Combine this with the explosion in available trading data (quotes, bids and offers) and the need to make split-second decisions – and it becomes clear why working with a forex black box expert is a practical way to participate in this market.

If you’re considering forex black box trading, be sure to use a trading system that features a demo account you can easily download and use without providing a lot of personal information. This will give you a chance to trade on a trial basis before you allocate a larger sum to the foreign exchange portion of your portfolio. Also, make sure the system has a track record of profitability.

Be wary of systems that require significant up-front fees to get started. This could be a red flag that the system is locking in its returns right away – but you may end up struggling to turn a profit. Most reputable systems offer a money-back guarantee if you’re dissatisfied