As more people are leaving their very insecure permanent jobs and going down the self-employed route, there doesn’t seem to be many financial preparations for the future anymore. And it’s hardly surprising, given the current nature of unpredictability in the market. People are setting up their own businesses, and approximately 9 out of 10 small businesses are failing because people are ill-equipped, or the financial strain is way too much for them to bear. Living a lifestyle of self-employment can be all about living day to day while working all the hours under the sun. While this isn’t the most fruitful way to live your life, how can you make the most of a delicate financial situation while working for yourself?

Assess The Real Amounts Of Outgoings

Living in a hand to mouth way means that you seldom stop and take notice of how much you’re spending. If you get a big contract, you may feel that you are in the money and spend quite lavishly, which leaves you out of pocket when you’re left wanting for work. The best way to tackle this is to establish a base level of spending and stick to that, though it’s worth doing this when you’re in a good working contract and not when you’re struggling. Look at your outgoings and cut back on what isn’t essential. Have you been to the gym in the last 6 months? No? Get rid of it. Getting a selection of credit cards is handy when you’re self-employed is handy for expenses, but not for buying everyday items. The best way to avoid temptation is to lock them away and avoid remembering the PIN number. If you have pressing payments when you’re in the middle of a contract, you could use a credit card to make the payment and then use your earnings to pay off the card. With costs like insurance, you can pay insurance premium by credit card which helps to spread out the debt over a longer period of time. It all depends on the rate of the credit card you have. It is always ideal to have a 0% card for business expenses. So if you needed to travel to another country, the card could pay for the travel insurance.

Look At What You Can Claim Back

One thing that newly self-employed people forget about is what they can claim as expenses. Depending on where you live it varies, but if you operate out of your home, you can make the most of cutting back on your energy bills if you use one of your rooms as an office. So if you have a phone set up, the internet, and of course, all your electricity usage for your business coming out of this one room, you could try and claim some money back on your bills. The rules differ, but you can always speak to an accountant to get the bearings on this situation. Self-employment is a feast or a famine, but saving money is possible in light of circumstances. Just do your research, and make the most of what you are entitled to.

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There always comes a time when all of us could do with a little extra cash. The unexpected payout can sometimes be launched on us as a result of something beyond our control – a sudden illness or a car crash, for example. Or, it could be the case that you have something to pay off (like a vacation) and it has just dawned on you that you may not have the money together in time. Whichever situation is relevant to you, there’s no denying that having a large bill weighing on your shoulders can be extremely stressful. Your focus should, therefore, be on being as thrifty as possible to get the money together in time – but what do you do when time itself is against you? Here are a few ways you can save and make money quickly so you can afford that big payout with no questions asked.

Cut out everything you don’t need

The impending payment you need to make may be necessary to your life, or something that you can’t possible wriggle your way out of. However, if you sit back and take a good look at your finances, you may find that you notice certain things that maybe aren’t quite as necessary to your life. For example, could you still be paying a subscription fee for a magazine you don’t even read anymore? Or, perhaps you are wasting lots of money each month by overusing the heating in your home – don’t simply turn it on every morning just due to a force of habit! Cancel everything that isn’t integral to your everyday life, and isn’t something your family relies on too much. These little savings might not seem like a lot initially, but they can certainly go a long way.

See what you might be owed

You might not realize it, but you could have money hidden away in places you weren’t aware of. Read this Fairfield Funding structured settlement review for more information on structured settlements. You may be receiving your settlement in monthly payments at present, but if you urgently need money for something specific, you can apply to have the cash presented to you in a lump sum instead. Equally, if you have been particularly frugal with your household bills lately, you could be in credit with your energy companies, in which case they will owe you money.

Sell, sell, sell

Most of us have a whole hoard of clothes and items taking up space in our homes. Back in the day, we relied on garage sales and car boots to get rid of the things we no longer needed. But thanks to the internet, it has now never been easier to quickly sell your unwanted possessions online for a decent price. Teach yourself the basics of websites like eBay, Gumtree, and Shpock. Providing you can take a few good pictures of your items, and you have the time to post them quickly to your buyers, you can make a lot of easy money just by using websites like these.

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Any person, who has ever undergone a major surgery or was forced to spend several nights in a hospital bed, will likely remember the mountain of paperwork they had to fill out, in order to ensure their insurance coverage would be effective at the time of the procedure. At the same time, health insurance policies can be very complicated, and it is not uncommon for many individuals to be confused by their insurance provider’s explanation of benefits. Oftentimes, it is not until several weeks – or even months – later, when all medical bills are forwarded to the patient, that paperwork errors are finally discovered. Unfortunately, it usually also becomes more challenging to correct these errors after the bills have already been processed by your insurance provider. However, you may still be able to fix any discrepancies, as long as you keep a good record of all the procedures, tests and other medical services that were provided. In addition, there are several great tools that can make the process of managing all of your medical bills a lot easier and far less time-consuming.

• Managing your Medical Bills: Errors, Clerical Mistakes and other Discrepancies

According to the Medical Billing Advocates of America, as many as 80% of all medical bills contain errors and mistakes that ultimately lead to higher bills, as well as higher insurance premiums. The mistakes can range from double-billing for individual procedures, charging for exams with contrast when none was used, and even decimal point mistakes that convert a minor $100.00 dollar charge to a major $1000.0 expense. Furthermore, these mistakes will very rarely occur to the advantage of the patient, and hospital accounting staff members seems to be far more diligent when it comes to catching errors that go against their employer’s best interest. Consequently, checking the bills for clerical errors is the first, and the most important step of managing your medical bills.

• Claims, Billing Statements, and Explanation of Benefits: What is the Difference?

Currently, when any medical service is provided to a patient that has health insurance, the billing is usually forwarded directly to the insurance provider that settles the claim, and the patient may – or may not – receive a billing summary from the insurer. However, the summary will only serve as the explanation of covered benefits, and will not be the bill itself. For example, if your insurance decides not to cover certain procedures, they may notify you about it, but you will not be liable for any remaining balance until you receive another bill directly from the medical provider. However, it is still important to check the bill received by your insurance company for any errors, and you should request a statement listing all of the services provided on the specific date in question. You should then compare this list against the report you receive from your insurer, checking for any discrepancies in terms of care received or dollar amounts charged. It is also important to keep these statements together with your personal medical record, in case you need to dispute any claims several months after the medical services have been rendered.

• Taking Advantage of Online Services Provided by your Health Insurance Company

Many health insurance providers in the United States including all the major providers, now offer online services to their clients that allow them to check the status of their claims from their home computers. In most cases, you will first need to make an online account using the insurance information from your card. Once that is all done, you will be able to access the list of currently pending claims, as well as those that have already been settled with the medical provider. However, you must realize that it can often take several weeks for the provider to notify your insurance about any services you have received, and the claim information will not be immediately available.

• Other Management Tools Available Online

In addition to the services provided directly by your medical insurance company, there are several apps that can help you manage your medical bills. One of the more popular ones is Simplee – a free online service that can act as a database of medical records, claims and other insurance information. The service is also able to automatically spot errors such as duplicate entries, or eligibility issues, as well as predict your insurance coverage for specific treatments. Although the service was introduced only two years ago, it has rapidly grown in popularity, and – especially considering its automatic error detection – its number of users is only expected to further increase in the future.

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Being energy efficient is not only an environmentally conscious decision, it’s an economical one as well. With the cost of living continually on the rise and energy costs projected to increase throughout the years to come, watching home energy consumption is quickly becoming a high priority. If you are looking for ways to cut down on your next bill, check out these 5 top tips to save money on home energy costs.

Helpful Habits

The first step to making a significant saving on your energy bill is to change the way you use power in your home. Make it a strict household policy to turn off any lights that aren’t needed, switch off appliances after use and to check all power points are off before leaving the house. With a bit of planning, you can make a difference to your energy costs simply by being more conscientious.

Solar Savings

When it comes to cutting home energy costs, solar power is undoubtedly one of the best long term investments you can make. Thanks to recent Government rebates, many homes are now equipped with the latest in solar technology, and the results are impressive. Harnessing the natural energy of the sun slices your power bill while making a significant positive environmental change.

Energy Efficient Fittings

There are a range of small changes you can make to your home to ensure the best energy efficiency. Try equipping all of your light fittings with specially designed energy saving bulbs for brighter illumination and over half the usage of traditional bulbs. Another great way to cut energy costs is to install timer plugs which only switch on when you need them to. Simply program the set times into the switch, and it will only use energy during these specific times.

Smart Appliances

When it comes time to replace your old appliances, make sure you look for new models which display high energy efficiency ratings. Everything from your washing machine and dryer to fridge and dishwasher can all make a significant difference when they are designed to use energy sparingly and effectively. You’d be surprised just how much of a saving smart appliances can make to your long term energy costs.

Getting Out of Trouble

Sometimes despite all of your best efforts, you might find yourself hit with an exorbitant energy bill that is just too much to pay. Your first step should be to consult your energy provider to try and work through a payment plan that will allow you to make regular repayments until the amount is paid in full. However if this approach is not successful, or if you have already fallen behind in your payments, it’s time to enlist professional help.

Fox Symes debt solutions are one of the leading providers of advice and support to Australians that are struggling with debt. They will not only help you to get back on track, but they can also negotiate with your creditors on your behalf. Don’t let the stress of an unpaid energy bill turn into a seriously damaging debt problem.

With these top tips, you can be well on your way to cutting your energy costs and living a more economical and environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Sharon has recently been looking for ways to get her finances under control by saving energy around the home. She also enlisted the help of Fox Symes debt solutions in order to get on top of her finances and recommends that other people looking to save money to do the same. 

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No matter the reason that a person obtains a payday loan, it is always important to make sure that any borrowed funds can be paid back by their due date. This helps to ensure that a person does not become trapped in the unfortunate payday cycle that many consumers find their selves stuck in.

Overview of Payday Loans
Everyone knows that life is unpredictable. From unforeseen medical bills to unexpected automobile expenses, it never fails that something always happens; this is what makes payday loans so advantageous. When it comes to payday loans and cash advances, there is no denying that they have their advantages and drawbacks. By knowing the ins-and-outs of payday loans, consumers can become better aware of their cash options which proves beneficial when hard times strike.

What is a Payday Loan?
When a person obtains a cash loan from a business instead of a bank, this is known as a payday loan. This type of loan is generally referred to as a payday loan because the borrower is usually required to pay back the borrowed funds from the next paycheck that he or she receives. People who provide payday loans will many times take postdated checks as a form of collateral. One of the most negative aspects of these types of loans is that they come accompanied with large fees. In fact, some of the loans have interest rates as high as 400%.

Paying Back a Payday Loan
Many times, people go about getting payday loans with good intentions; however, when it comes to paying them back, along with paying their monthly bills, the payback becomes too financially burdensome. This often causes borrowers to become dependant on payday businesses; so dependant that borrowers often take out loans from several payday lenders so that they can pay off ones they have already borrowed from. Needless to say, borrowing from payday lenders often becomes a vicious cycle that borrowers find their selves stuck in.

Alternatives to Payday Loans
For most consumers, it is best to avoid payday loans unless they become an absolute necessity. There are other ways to go about obtaining cash advances including borrowing money from a bank, and banks tend to accompany their loans with lower interest rates than payday lenders. If a person has already found him or herself trapped in the vicious cycle of taking out payday loans, it is best to stop immediately, and try to pay back the borrowed funds as quickly as possible.

Benefits of Payday Loans
On the other hand, for people who know that they have the ability to pay back the funds borrowed from a payday loan, this type of cash advance is one with many benefits. For starters, it provides a great way to access cash in a small amount of time. In fact, many payday lenders can provide cash to a borrower within 24 hours of the borrower’s payday application being approved. By being able to access cash in such a short amount of time, borrowers do not have to fret about their bills being overdue. This also helps borrowers from enduring late fees on their bills.

Acacia Black knows how sometimes life gets in the way, and you dont have enough money to get you till the next paycheque. She had a family to take care of, and that is why she trusted Zaplo for her payday advance. They offer a variety of affordable, and reasonable payday loans. Visit their website to learn more.

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