Posts tagged: financial planning

COVID-19: Money-saving tips during coronavirus pandemic

save your moneyIt is guaranteed corona has affected your life in so many ways – your job, your social relationships, your shopping habits, your psychological state… none of those remained unchanged and you had to adjust them to the pandemic. In the end, you ask yourself ”Will it EVER end?”.

Spending more money and buying more products than you need may get you thinking ”How can I save some money?”. Here are some money-saving tips that will hopefully help you increase the amount in your wallet.

Track your money!

Start a budget – there are some very useful apps that can do the job for you. The thing is, everybody is stressed about the financial aspects of this period of life.

So, make yourself safe! Start an emergency fund that will prepare you for the unexpected events, for example, some medical injuries or job loss.

Open a saving account – that way your money will be physically far away from you! Use all the help you might need when dealing with Bank Accounts.

Being stressed or bored is a fertile ground for maximizing your retail expenses. So, in the future always have some plans (watch a movie, cook a meal,…) to decrease your boredom and release the stress.

Give up things that you don’t use!

We all have some material things we are very attached to, but you have to be reasonable.

Try to list the things you don’t use, such as streaming TV subscriptions, or you might not be able to use at this time, such as gym membership.

Giving up some things might help you save some money.

Be aware of the small things!

Trifles such as turning your light off when you leave the room or unplugging your charger when you are not using it can make a small but needed difference.

Become aware of the things you do on your phone – avoid commercials and sponsorships that can easily arouse your desire to spend some money on the fun stuff.

Think ahead!

For example, prepare your meal plan. Think about what you want to eat for an upcoming couple of days.

That way you can save in two ways: first, you will know exactly what to buy with no ”I might need this tonight” while walking through the store. And second, by preparing a meal at home, you can stop yourself from going to restaurants on your lunch break or for dinner.

Thinking ahead may be a crucial factor for your money savings!
If you want to take it to the next level, now is the time – grow your own food! Parsley, chives and mint are a good start.

Use what can be used!

Your market in which you go to almost every day has a coupon system or digital coupons system for sure – download their apps or start collecting them.

Use your rights as a customer. In no time you could save some big amounts of money!

Be ready to compromise!

Although your hair might not look as perfect as you wish, or your nails might not be polished with that perfect shade, it will still be pretty!

Cancel your beauty appointments and have some fun with homemade beauty.

Regardless of the issue you may be facing, Optimal Solicitors’ Manchester Office will jump to the rescue with their no win no fee policy!

Online Business Loans: What They Are & When To Get One

loan for your businessbudgetingLiving in the twenty-first century, it is obvious that the internet has changed our lives and the world around us drastically. The way we manage and handle businesses as well. The internet allows us to be able to work remotely, market and communicate with our new customers, receive and send payments and it also allows us to communicate with our colleagues and coworkers. It has also changed the world around them business owners and how they see it. One of the main benefits for them is the introduction of online business loan. Thanks to it, there is no need for a business owner to rush to the local bank branch and wait in lines to receive a loan. Due to the internet, this all procedure and cut down to short and only specific and important things are required in the process. If you don’t know about online business loan then there is nothing to worry about, this article has got you covered. This article will guide you to let you know what are online business loan and where one can get it.interest rates,

What is online business loan?

As the word itself suggests, online business loan is a loan that you can apply while sitting in your home via the internet and receive it too without much hectic process as compared to going to the local bank. The process is not that hard and one can easily do it by visiting the lender’s website and putting your necessary information through a form that will surely be secured. Moreover, your documentation will also be required which will be submitted via secure web portals. Some web applications also give a chance to the lender to view your bank statements without any problem linked via a bank account. It has been seen that mostly, the whole procedure can be completed online without any hectic procedure but some lender may also verify via a phone call or they can even request some information.

When to get online business loan?

Many people wonder and get confused about when to get the online business loan. It’s the answer is very simple and clear which is, when you are starting a business. Many people when starting a business are short of money, which is quite acceptable and is of no big surprise. Even if they have some cash, they still require money to keep their business running as there are luckily only a few businesses that make a profit as soon as they are launched. Most of the businesses are in a loss in the starting which is totally okay. On the other hand, they need the capital to hire and pay salaries to their employees, get more machinery and expand their services as well as products. Some other aspects which are not taken into account are paying taxes, creating a safety net and covering construction costs as well. This is the perfect time for opting for online business loan as it helps the businessman in their respective field. For these type of situations, online business loan comes to the rescue and plays its part. Due to online business loan many businessman can continue their journey being relieved for a short span of time.

Should You Invest In Money Back Plans or Endowment Policies?

get your moneyChoosing a life insurance plan is always a difficult task as there are a plethora of insurance products available. Apart from various other life insurance products, two traditional life insurance plans in which many of us get confused is money back plan and endowment plan. People could not find out whether they should go for the best endowment policy or opt for a money back plan. Well to overcome this confusion we are here discussing the basic difference between these two plans:

Money Back Plan and Endowment Plan – An Overview

Both money back and endowment plans are there in the market for quite a long time, but people are not sure which to select as most of them could not find out the basic difference between the two.

Even though both the plans are life insurance cum savings plans, but there is a slight difference between both of these. This slight difference lies in their survival benefits. The survival benefit that endowment plan pays upon maturity of the policy includes the sum assured as well as a bonus. On the other hand, the money back policy pays out the survival benefit usually as a fixed percentage of the sum assured at regular time intervals during the tenure of the policy. However, in case of money back policy the remaining sum assured with bonuses are paid to the insured upon maturity of the policy. In case of demise of the policyholder, both money back and endowment plans pay the sum assured to the nominee of the policy.

In this way, both these plans are savings plans, but the money back plans are there to fulfill the short term goals of the policyholder as they payout at regular intervals.While endowment plans provide a huge sum assured upon maturity of the policy.

Let us look at the fundamental difference between these two through the following table:

Factor to Consider Money Back Plans Endowment Plans
Benefits The insured gets a % of sum assured at a specific time interval and the remaining sum assured is given with bonuses at the maturity of the policy if the insured survives the plan term. The specified sum assured as well as all the applicable bonuses are given at the time of policy’s maturity if the policyholder survives the policy term.
Death Benefit Both the plans pay the sum assured as well as applicable bonuses on the death of the policyholder if he/she dies during the policy term.

Basically, money back plan pays out regular income after a regular interval and most of the times it is 5 years. Generally, for a policy of 20 years, the survival benefit that a policyholder gets becomes 120% of the total sum assured.

Policy Year’s End Survival Benefit As % of Basic Sum Assured of the Plan
5 years 20%
10 years 20%
15 years 20%
20 years 60% + Vested Bonus
Total Benefit = 120%

Which policy is better?

If the aim a person behind purchasing a policy is to fulfill his/her short term goals and get some money after a regular interval, the money back plans are best for them. There are much money back plans available online and one can purchase the best money back policy according to his/her requirements.

However, if one’s aim of the investment is to accumulate large corpus and get it at the time of maturity of the policy, then selecting an endowment plan is recommended. In this way, it is entirely choice of a policyholder to decide which plan is best suited for him/her. There are many endowment plans also available and to select the best one must know his/her requirements first.

One should always remember that it is the personal expectation and requirements of an individual that should be kept in mind before selecting a plan as investment and life cover.

Summing It Up!

Before selecting any of the plans out of these two policies, it is suggested to check an individual’s objective of investment and his/her expectations from it. One way to do this is to compare different policies on the bases of its inclusions, benefits, and rider benefits provided in it. See an individual’s expectation with that plan. If both match then finalizing that plan can be taken into consideration. One can compare different policies of money back plans and endowment plan online with the help of a good insurance web aggregator. Last but not least, both these plans are good investment plans and it is just the requirement of an individual from the policy. So, do not hesitate, just understand the inclusions of your plan and enjoy the benefits.

Best Loans for Building Credit History

good credit historyIndividuals who have poor credit or little to no credit history typically struggle with low self-esteem as they may find it difficult to qualify for credit or a loan. Naturally, they often wonder how they can start to repair or build their credit. If you fall under one of those categories, you are not alone. A credit builder loan can help as it is tailored to specifically improve or build credit. Over time, it allows you to develop a good credit score, which can help you to qualify for a credit card or loan with better rates.

What are the Requirements for a Credit Builder Loan?

You generally don’t need good credit to qualify for installment loans to build credit history. However, you must prove that you have sufficient income to make payments back toward the loan. The amount that you ultimately receive on the loan is stored in a bank account as you pay it back. When you pay back the credit builder loan, your timely payments are reported to the three major credit bureaus, TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. Your payments will help to improve your credit score and credit reputation over time, which can also improve your social reputation and self-esteem. The loans are commonly referred to as “fresh start loans” and are usually acquired through small financial institutions like community banks and credit unions.

China’s Social Credit System can serve as a guideline for improving a person’s social reputation and standing in comparison with an American consumer’s good credit history. The country has instituted a law that places restrictions on both people and businesses with low credit ratings and creditworthiness. This is essentially similar to restrictions that American consumers face when they have poor or no credit history as they are limited in terms of qualifying for credit and loans.

How to Secure a Credit Builder Loan

There are specific steps you can take toward securing a loan to build credit. They include the following:

• Find a credit builder loan: Search for loans that include payment levels that are comfortable for you to afford. It’s wise to avoid spreading your budget too thin with higher payments as you can end up having trouble paying back the loan. The best thing to do is opt for lower payments and terms lasting no longer than 24 months.

• Apply for a loan: If you are approved after applying for a loan, the money is placed into a savings account from which you have no access until after you have fully repaid the loan. Essentially, this is in place to protect the lender.

• Make timely payments: It’s important to make timely payments toward the loan. In return, the lender sends positive reports to the credit bureaus. Avoid making payments over 30 days late as that can have a negative impact on your credit score.

• Monitor your credit score: You can regularly monitor your credit score through personal finance websites or services.

• Collect loan proceeds, plus interest: At the end of the loan’s term, you will receive the funds and will see an improved credit score.

Finding Credit Builder Loans

It can be challenging to find credit builder loans. You can search online for institutions in your state that offer them and search for online lenders as well. Generally, credit unions usually have the best interest rates due to their membership requirements.

You can also find a loan through a Community Development Financial Institution, which helps individuals with lower incomes. Lending Circles is a program that is operated by a nonprofit that can also offer credit builder loans.

Avoiding the ATM Pitfalls: 7 Credit Card Tips for Traveling Abroad

card using tipsHere are some pointers on how to use your credit card wisely abroad and suggestions for using a travel card plus other savvy tips that should ensure you get the benefits of using your plastic on foreign soil without costing more than it should.

Before you go

It should be remembered that some credit cards are more attractive than others when it comes to overseas use and it would be a smart move to check out which of the cards in your wallet are international-friendly.

Using your credit card abroad will often incur a transaction fee and a withdrawal fee at the ATM, but you will find that some card companies either don’t charge any extra fees or offer much lower transaction charges than some of their rivals.

Shop around and check to see which is the best card to have with you abroad.

ATM agony

Drawing cash out of an ATM is quick and easy but it can be one of the most expensive ways of using your credit card, especially abroad.

The card company will likely charge you a cash advance fee and interest on the amount you take out and there may well be a foreign transaction fee on top of that too.

Try to plan your trip so that you don’t have to use an ATM unless your card provider is one that doesn’t apply punitive charges and interest.

Keep it local

Another potential sting in the tail is when the merchant offers to convert the transaction into your local currency rather than theirs.

This is invariably a bad idea as the conversion rate is not normally as good as the “mid-market rate” that card providers use when they make the conversion on your statement.

Tell your credit card company

Having chosen the card or cards that you are going to use abroad it makes good sense to tell them of your travel plans in advance.

If your card starts being used abroad and you haven’t told them beforehand they might assume that the transactions are fraudulent, which could mean they decline a purchase or block the card altogether.

Save the hassle by notifying the card provider so that they won’t flag foreign purchases as suspicious.

A bit of peace of mind

It is worth pointing out that there are definite benefits to using a credit card abroad too, and one of those plus points is the fact that you should get payment protection.

If you buy something that is faulty and it is not feasible to get a refund from the retailer your card company should offer payment protection and cover any potential loss you might otherwise have suffered if you paid for something in cash.

Find a secure connection

If you are using a banking app or accessing your account over the internet while abroad make sure that you find a secure connection rather than rely on somewhere more vulnerable like an Internet cafe.

You don’t want to find that your personal details have been compromised.

Lost or stolen

If your credit card is lost or stolen don’t waste any time telling your credit card company.

Any delay could give someone the chance to wreak havoc with your card if it’s fallen into the wrong hands.

Even though it might be a pain to interrupt your holiday to call your bank it could save a lot more hassle later on.

Avoid the classic credit card pitfalls and if you choose your card provider wisely it should make using it abroad a breeze.