Student Loans Research Before You Borrow

It is important for you to know that student loan lenders may vary on different areas like interest rates, offers and terms and conditions. It is best to research some selected lenders and compare what they offer to make sure that you will get the student loan that suits your needs and gives you the financial flexibility.

As you may know, student loans are today\'s largest form of student aid. The student loan debt is even today\'s one of the major problems of most student borrowers.

Take Time To Research Before Your Borrow

Many people find it easy to rush through the student loan process. Before you consider borrowing a student loan for your college, think first how much loan you really need. Just borrow what is enough. There are several options available for student loan borrowers. Note that the lower the interest rate, the less pricey the student loan is.

Student Loans To Consider

Federal Perkins Loans

Federal Subsidized Stafford or Direct Loans

Federal Unsubsidized Stafford or Direct Loans

Alternative or Private Loans

As you may know, most of the students thinking for student loans have access to a special loan source these days. These sources should be considered, like the Air Force Aid Society, have student loans terms that are comparable to the Perkins or Subsidized Stafford or Direct Loans.

Federal PLUS Loans

Private Loans or Alternative Loans

Try to estimate your student loan payments before you borrow. Always note that as a student loan borrower, you are not required to take the full amount of the loan you have been offered.

Don\'t ever forget about student employment as an alternative for borrowing. Apply for the student loan right away. As mentioned, planning and thinking your moves for taking out student loans is very necessary for a successful borrowing.

Questions To Ask Before Your Get A Student Loan

Typically, they offer information about financing your degree, the importance of good credit, managing your student loans while in school, and even repaying your student loans. Be sure the ask questions about these important factors.

Under the accepted standards of borrowing student loans, it is stressed that you can borrow up to the cost of attendance, as determined by your school, less other financial assistance you might be receiving. If you prefer to consider borrowing student loans to finance your education, just expect that some of the lenders these days have borrowing limits placed on student loans. For instance, the federal government places annual and aggregate borrowing restrictions on federal student loans, and the aggregate limit is usually the total amount that every student can borrow in the span of his or her education.

Dean Shainin is a writer specializing in student loans. Get valuable resources, tools, information and more articles on student loans, visit this site: http://school-loans.deans-knowledgebase.com

Get valuable online tips for saving money from his: School Loan website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=DeanShainin

Fixed and Adjustable Rate Mortgages What You Need To Know Before You Make A Final Decision

The dominating and most popular interest rates used when considering a mortgage are fixed rate and adjustable rate mortgages (also known as ARM or variable rate mortgage). Choosing the type of interest rate for you should be used based on personal criteria and what it is you want to achieve with your monthly payments.

Adjustable rate mortgage are loans that a borrower pays an interest rate on the loan amount that changes based on specific indexes that the lender chooses. Lower monthly payments are offered at first then the monthly payment might be higher or lower based on the interest rate of the index at that time. The adjustment period, or the period between the change of interest rate may be decided between you and the lender. However, the adjustable rates often change based on a six month, one year, three year, five year, or even seven year period.

Adjustable rate mortgages are a good choice for those who may be in the following positions. You should choose an adjustable mortgage rate if there are unpredictable interest rates, making a fixed rate difficult to obtain or if you are willing to bear the risk for the possibility of the interest rate increasing and are rewarded by an initially lower rate. The person who chooses this type of rate must realize that interest rates do change often, and if they go up, your payment may be higher than the original rate dictated, and may be lower if the interest rate decreases.

It is important to prepare yourself for these possible changes in the market so a monthly payment that is considerably higher or lower after the adjustment period does not come to a shock, whether positive or negative, to your personal finances.

So how exactly is this adjustable rate mortgage determined? The original interest rate may be chosen based on an index, or a publicly published financial index such as treasure securities or national or regional average costs of funds of savings and loans associates. A margin is then added to the index determining the interest rate. The margin is usually the lenders\' profit above the financial index.

If the original interest rate is offered at an extremely low rate, then the lender may be offering you a discounted rate, which temporarily maintains your monthly payments low for a specific introductory period then changes according to the index rate and adjustment period.

When considering an adjustable rate mortgage, it is important to compare the terms, which may include, the index that is being used to determine the rate, initial change cap, the periodic cap, lifetime cap, what the margin is and if the margin is variable or constant over the life of the loan, and if you have the option to convert your loan to a fixed rate loan at a future time.

Caps are limits that are set on the interest rates of the loan. They are always available to the borrower and are expressed in the following fashion: 2/2/5. The first number is the initial change cap, which is the limit set on the interest rate for the first adjustment period. The second number is the periodic cap, which is the limit set on the interest rate for every subsequent adjustment period. And the third number is the lifetime cap, or the total limit set on the rate for the life of the loan. It is often set at 6% for the first mortgage but may vary depending on the loan. Of course, the lower the numbers the better for the borrower. Always be sure to ask the lender this information so you can make an educated decision on if the specific adjustable loan is going to work for your financial situation.

A fixed rate mortgage is a loan where the interest rate remains the same for the life of the loan. The initial interest rate is often higher than an adjustable rate, but produces stable monthly payments. A fixed rate mortgage is good for those who want to always have the same monthly payment and don\'t want to risk having a higher monthly payment or benefit from a lower monthly payment that an adjustable rate may produce.

When considering a fixed rate loan, it is important to look at the terms which may include interest rates, monthly payments and fees. A fixed rate loan is simpler than an adjustable rate loan, but still you must look at the interest rate, the margin, and any fees or points that you may have to pay the lender in exchange for borrowing the loan amount. Always ask about fees and points because they may not be clearly outlined or expressed when first considering a loan. Or, they may need to be added to the interest rate directly advertised to the borrower. You do not want to agree to a fixed rate loan, and then be surprised by a fee or points that were not added originally, but were disguised in small print.

Recently, a \hybrid\ adjustable rate mortgage has developed. This \hybrid\ rate has an introductory rate for a two year period, or three, five, or seven year period, then becomes a six month adjustable rate mortgage after this time period, rather than every two years. This specific rate is good for those who are planning to move within seven years, or simply want to live in a more expensive home that may beyond his or her abilities to qualify for a fixed rate loan, or live in an area where home values rise quickly.

With both adjustable and fixed rate mortgages, you should compare other terms such as prepayment penalties or due on sale clauses. Prepayment penalties are fees that are paid to the lender for paying the loan before the life of the loan is finished. The lenders are, in essence, earning what they would if you paid the interest for the rest of the life of the loan beyond the date when you paid the loan in full. A due on sale clause simply states that the borrower must pay off the entire loan if he or she sells the mortgaged property. These terms may or may not be part of the mortgage, but it is important to know every aspect of your mortgage, whether or not it is a fixed rate or adjustable rate mortgage. This can save you the costs of choosing a mortgage that is not right for your personal situation.

John R Blakefield is a mortgage and real estate specialist. For more information, articles, news, tools and valuable resources on home mortgages or investment loans, refinancing, debt solutions, visit this site: http://www.scourtheweb.com/morgage/

Secured Loans at a Glimpse

Gone are the days when borrowing money was considered as a taboo or a thing to be ashamed of. Taking up a loan has become the part and parcel of our daily life, largely to keep pace with today\'s highly expensive world. Out of the many loan options Secured Loans is one of the most popular and widely used options. And, the reasons behind it are:

The approval process is simple and fast.

The lenders are more than willing to offer Secured Loans.

The interest rate offered is comparatively lower than unsecured loans.

It helps you to make use of the equity in your property, which would have otherwise remained inactive in your property.

It is often offered with more favourable terms than other types of loans.

It gives you the freedom to use the loan amount as you please.

Secured Loans can be used for reasons which could be any, such as, debt consolidation, home improvements, holidays, buying expensive assets et al.

A Secured Loan is a type of loan which is backed by assets in order to decrease the risk assumed by the lender. A Secured Loan requests a security in the form of any particular asset that\'s worth money against the loan. Generally speaking Secured Loan demands your home as security. In a Secured Loan, when you put your personal property against the loan, you guarantee repayment to the lender.

The interest rates on Secured Loans are lower than the rates on unsecured loans. A Secured Loan will be the best possible solution for you when you are in need of large amount of funds. However like any other type of loan Secured Loans also have its own share of pitfalls. The major one being, if you fail to make the necessary repayments, your assets may be repossessed by the lender. Therefore, it is advisable for you weigh out all the pros and cons before considering a Secured Loan as there are number of long term consequences to defaulting on a loan.

For further Reference visit http://www.shakespearefinance.co.uk

Home Improvement Loans: Change the Way Your House Looks

Time and again, people make changes to their house. Minor changes include house repairs and small renovation jobs such as painting walls, flooring, etc. Some of the major changes include adding new fixtures to kitchen and bathrooms, installing heating and air conditioning systems, creating an additional room, etc.

Some people go for do-it-yourself home repair and renovation, while others take the help of professionals. Do-it-yourself is a cheaper option than taking professional help. But you should go for a do-it-yourself option only when you have some experience in home improvement. Otherwise, you should take the help of professionals.

When you go for a professional help, you will need to spend a huge sum of money. Many lenders offer loans for the purpose of home improvement. Home Improvement Loans can help you renovate your house. Loan repayment terms are very easy and are adjusted according to the suitability of different borrowers. Home improvement loans are repaid in the form of equal monthly installments over a period of time. The loan period can be adjusted according to your requirements. If you wish to pay small monthly installments, you may avail a loan with an extended loan period.

Some people carry out home improvement for the purpose of investment. Home improvement increases the resale value of your house. The interest that you pay on a home improvement loan is nullified by the increase in the value of your house. When you go for home improvement for the investment purpose, make sure that the amount you spend on home improvement does not exceed the increase in the value of your house.

You can take out a Home Improvement Loans against your house. Such a loan is known as a homeowner loan. A homeowner loan is a secured loan and carries a low rate of interest. If your house is already mortgaged, you may take out a remortgage to carry out home improvement. If you default in the loan repayment, your house may be repossessed by the lender. To avoid this, you can take out an unsecured loan. The rate of interest on unsecured loans is higher than the rate on secured loans. But your property does not run the risk of repossession in case of an unsecured loan.

About The Author: The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting cheap-home-improvement-loan as a finance specialist.

For more information please visit:http://www.cheap-home-improvement-loan.co.uk

Your Online Loan Guide?

While planning to take a loan one needs to keep these points in
mind. Do a lot of research and contact several lenders including
banks, savings and loans, credit unions, and mortgage companies,
etc before selecting a particular lender. Ask each lender about
the type of loan that would best suit your needs. While making a
decision, compare:

* The annual percentage rate (APR): An APR is the most important
thing to compare different loans. It is determined on the
factors like interest rate, points, fees, and other credit
charges that the borrower is required to pay. The cost of the
loan depends on the APR i.e. the lower the APR, the lower the
cost of loan. Ask if the APR is fixed or adjustable -- that is,
will it change? If so, how often and how much will it change ?

* Points and fees: These charges are not refundable if pay off
the loan early. Points are generally are paid in cash at
closing, but may be financed. If you finance the points, you\'ll
have to pay additional interest, increasing the total cost of
your loan.

* The term of the loan: The duration for which you will make the
payments.

* The monthly payment: It is the amount that you will be paying
every month. Ask whether it will remain same or will change with
time.

* Balloon payments: This is a large payment generally made at
the end of the loan term and if you can\'t make the payment, you
may need another loan.

* Prepayment penalties: It is the extra fees that you may need
to pay in case you pay off the loan early by refinancing or
selling your home. These fees may force you to keep a high-rate
loan by making it too expensive to get out of the loan. If your
loan includes a prepayment penalty, understand the penalty you
would have to pay. Ask the lender if you can get a loan without
a prepayment penalty, and what that loan would cost. Then decide
what\'s right for you.

* Whether the interest rate for the loan will increase if you
default: An increased interest rate provision says that if you
miss a payment or pay late, you may have to pay a higher
interest rate for the rest of the loan term.

Do I Really Need Renters Insurance?

A Renters Insurance Policy is an inexpensive way to protect your personal belongings and your personal liability. Your belongings are protected against fire and theft, and they are covered anywhere in the world.

Say you went out to dinner and left your expensive leather jacket in the car. When you got back from dinner you discovered that someone had broken into your car and stolen your leather jacket. Not to worry. You are covered, minus your deductible. It is advisable to carry a small deductible because the differences in premium for the different deductible options are generally small, and small losses would be covered.

So how much coverage should you purchase? Everybody is different so coverage varies person to person. The big question is how much is all your \stuff\ worth? You don\'t want to overinsure, but you shouldn\'t underinsure either. First look at your big ticket items: your furniture - the bedroom set, the dining room and the living room. Home entertainment may be another expensive item: your tv, your stereo, your vcr, your dvd player. How much did all your dvds cost? Your cds? Your tapes? Your records? (Come on, I still have mine!) Your computer - hardware and software? Cameras? Sports equipment - golf clubs, skis, bicycles, firearms. And don\'t forget your clothes. If your apartment burns down, you will be starting from scratch. Do you have lots of expensive suits, or are you a casual jeans person? Don\'t sell yourself short - a pair of Levis is not cheap! And don\'t forget your underwear. Are your drawers full of Victoria\'s Secret items, or do you just get the department store stuff?

The more documentation you have in the case of a loss the better. The insurance company is not going to nickel and dime you, but they are not going to give you carte blanche either. You really should have some kind of inventory list. Model names and serial numbers are especially helpful. Pictures and video tapes help as well. Tape an entire room focusing on individual items. Duplicate your lists or tapes and store them in a separate location - your safety deposit box, your friend or relative across town. I suggest you look into a replacement cost endorsement. For a modest extra premium, in the case of a loss, your items won\'t be depreciated - they will be replaced at today\'s cost.

Another benefit of having a renters policy is that it may make your car insurance cheaper. Many insurance companies will give you a discount if you have multiple types of insurance policies with them. Many landlords also require their tenants to have a renters liability policy.

In summation, a Renters Insurance Policy provides coverage for your personal belongings anywhere in the world. It gives you personal liability coverage and it may make your other insurance less expensive. Consult your insurance agent about how much coverage you need.

Douglas T. Zinkevicz has had over a decade of experience servicing the auto,home and life insurance needs of his clients. Let him help you with your insurance questions by visiting http://www.insuranceplus.blogspot.com.

Appraisals Plan for It

A critical part of selling a home is the appraisal. Here\'s how to plan for it.



You have a contract to sell your home and now the appraiser is coming. The appraisal needs to come in at a good price in order for your buyer to get his loan. What should you do?



The Appraiser Says



Appraisers typically tell people not to do anything special before they come. They tell the owner they see lots of houses and they can look past a little clutter and dust. \Don\'t be nervous,\ they counsel. Appraisers are sincere people. I\'m sure they mean what they say.



I Say



On the other hand, appraisers are human. They respond to cleanliness and order and to good maintenance the same way buyers do. If you\'ve let your hair down, get your home back into \show\ condition before the appraiser comes.



Everything you know about a tidy approach to your home, well mulched flower beds, door knobs that are attached firmly and work smoothly, lack of finger prints, lack of clutter, and all the rest applies. Take a look at a \Uniform Residential Appraisal Report\ form if you doubt me. The age of the home and the \effective age\ are asked for under the \General Description.\ Don\'t you think how well your home appears to be cared for affects the number that appears under \effective age?\



The Uniform Appraisal Report requires information about materials (and their condition) used for floors, walls, trim and finishing elements, bathroom floors and wainscots, and for interior doors. Appraisers train themselves to notice these details. If yours are dusted, polished, and free of scratches and fingerprints, don\'t you think you might be giving your appraisal a nudge in the right direction?



The Report also asks about kitchen equipment (refrigerator, range and oven, disposal, dishwasher, fan and hood, microwave, and washer and dryer). Do you think it\'d be a good idea to have them clean and purring?



The Report asks about amenities such as fireplaces, patios, decks, porches, fences, pools, and sheds. If an appraiser is going to take special note of such things, shouldn\'t they be swept, cleaned, and have paint in good condition? Also, clean out the gutters if they need it. If it should be raining on the day your appraisal is done, you want your house to handle the rain water well.



Let me share the \comments\ section of an appraisal which got the owners what they wanted. I think it\'ll give you a good feel for what you need to do. \The subject is well maintained and no physical, functional or external inadequacies were noted. Marketability is enhanced by hardwood flooring throughout a majority of the home, an updated kitchen, fresh interior and exterior paint, transom windows, built-ins, a front porch, a rear patio, a large storage shed, 4 fireplaces, etc.\



The appraiser is a human being. Make sure you do everything you can to appeal to them and you\'ll get a good appraisal.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

Raynor James is with the FSBO site - FSBOAmerica.org - homes for sale by owner. View homes for free on our home buying page.

Instant Car Loan Approval

While some car buyers choose to obtain vehicle financing through the dealership, many savvy buyers are taking advantage of online auto loan companies. Online auto loan brokers and lenders are attractive because they offer instant car loan approvals. Moreover, these lenders tend to offer a better financing package. The next time you purchase a car, considering completing an online application. They make the car buying experience quick and easy.

Benefits of Instant Car Loan Approval

Submitting an application for an instant car loan approval is perfect for getting pre-approved for a loan. Most people begin the car buying experience without a pre-approval. Upon choosing a car, they allow the dealership to review their credit and offer a financing package.

Unsuspecting buyers immediately accept the dealership\'s offer - without shopping around. However, savvy car buyers know the importance of multiple offers. Getting an instant car loan approval before going to the dealership is beneficial because you are able to compare the dealership\'s offer with offers received from other financial institutions.

Wait Time for Instant Car Loan Approval

After you submit an application for an online approval, the response time varies. For the most part, you will receive a reply within fifteen minutes - sometimes less. Make sure to include all pertinent information. Online auto loan applications inquire of employment history, income, desired loan amount, etc. Based on the information provided, and your credit score, these auto loan companies will re-submit a quote. You can either accept or reject the quote.

Request Instant Car Quotes from Several Lenders

If possible, request an instant car loan quote through an auto loan broker. Brokers are ideal because they have access to several loan packages and lenders. After completing an application, brokers review your information, and within a few minutes, you will receive an email with offers from various lenders.

Instant car loan approvals are quick and convenient. Using an auto loan broker saves time and money. The broker does all the legwork. Your responsibility entails reviewing offers and choosing the best loan package. Because some loan companies charge an application fee, you also save money by using a broker.

Here are our recommended Auto Finance Companies online.

Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.

A Guide To Free Debt Consolidation

Debt consolidation is becoming an increasingly popular debt management tool used to help people get a handle on their debts. The principle of debt consolidation is simple: take out one low cost debt consolidation loan to pay-off all of your creditors, leaving you to handle just one loan repayment amount per month at a manageable rate to suit your finances.

Free debt consolidation advice is available from a variety of sources, including the Internet. Finding free debt consolidation advice specific to your circumstances though is not always easy, with some free debt consolidation sources giving apparently contradictory advice on debt consolidation matters. But, regardless of the approach you take to debt consolidation there are some basic rules that we should all follow to insure that the debt consolidation product we end up with is right for our situation.

Free debt consolidation advice

Free consolidation tip #1

Add up your debt: Before jumping headlong into a debt consolidation program you\'ll first need to work out what the total sum of your debt amounts too. Check the outstanding balances of all your credit cards, store cards, finance agreements and even your bank overdraft. For the purpose of debt consolidation do not include your mortgage.

Free consolidation tip #2

APR: Find out the APR that you are currently paying on your various debts. This will give you an idea of the amount of interest that you are paying on each part of your debt. If you add the APRs together and divide by the number of different credit cards, store cards etc. on which you have an outstanding debt then you will come up with the average APR that you are being charged. Don\'t be surprised if this is 15% or more.

Free consolidation tip #3

Work out your income vs. expenditure: Make a personal income vs. expenditure budget. This should include a column showing all money coming into your household on a monthly basis and another column showing all expenses that are going out each month. You\'ll need to factor in new purchases on credit cards, store cards, as well as all of your direct debits and monthly, quarterly and annual bills. Ignore current interest paid out on outstanding debt balances.

Free consolidation tip #4

Analyse expenses: Consider each of your expenses in turn, and ask yourself if you can reduce the cost of this expense. For instance, by changing your gas

About The Author
Gary Tallon is a finance writer of over 10 years experience, writing in various fields including life insurance and personal loans.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=GaryTallon

Donald Trump's Words of Wisdom

Last month, my wife and I attended the Real Estate Wealth Expo hosted by the Learning Annex. One of the keynote speakers was The Donald himself.

While many of you have seen at least one episode of \The Apprentice\, imagine being able to sit down with him for an hour and have him personally give you advice on success, business, and life. Well, that\'s exactly what he did for over 61,000 people.

Here\'s what he had to say:

• 1. Need to love what you do or else you will not be successful
• 2. Never give up
• 3. Stay focused
• 4. Be paranoid
• 5. Know when momentum is slowing down
• 6. Go against the tide only if you have the talent
• 7. Have to be really careful about people b/c you never really know a person that well
• 8. Some people are lucky; others are not (but you can help create \luck\)
• 9. Get even! If someone screws you, go back and get even.
• 10. Have a prenup or else business will be seriously at risk
• 11. Power of positive thinking

While some of this is common sense, some are also slanted based on Trump\'s own personal and business experience. Thank goodness Trump didn\'t copyright this material or else I wouldn\'t be able to help you save the admission fee and share this info!

An Evaluation of the Devaluation

A Minister of Finance is morally right to lie about a forthcoming devaluation and a woman has the right to lie about her age. This is the common wisdom.

Rumours about a devaluation of the Macedonian Denar versus the major currencies were in the air during the last few weeks. Still, no government official had to lie. The market just did not believe it. The unofficial exchange rate stayed put at 27 MKD to the Deutschmark even as the devaluation was taking place.

This is strange. Devaluation rumours are usually reflected in the street exchange rates. The MKD has held its turf against other currencies in the last three years. A devaluation seemed like a reasonable proposition - or was it?

Why do governments devalue?

They do it mainly to improve the balance of trade. A devaluation means that more local currency is needed to purchase imports and exporters get more local currency when they convert the export proceeds (the foreign exchange that they get for their exports). In other words: imports become more expensive - and exporters earn more money. This is supposed to discourage imports - and to encourage exports and, in turn, to reduce trade deficits.

At least, this is the older, conventional thinking. A devaluation is supposed to improve the competitiveness of exporters in their foreign markets. They can even afford to reduce their prices in their export markets and to finance this reduction from the windfall profits that they get from the devaluation. In professional jargon we say that a devaluation \improves the terms of trade\.

But before we examine the question whether all this is true in the case of Macedonia - let us study a numerical example.

Let us assume that we have a national economy with for types of products:

Imported, Exported, Locally Produced Import Substitutes, Locally consumed Exportable Products. In an economy in equilibrium all four will be identically priced, let us say at 2700 Denars (= 100 DEM) each.

When the exchange rate is 27 MKD/DM, the total consumption of these products will not be influenced by their price. Rather, considerations of quality, availability, customer service, market positioning, status symbols and so on will influence the consumption decision.

But this will all change when the exchange rate is 31 MKD/DM following a devaluation.

The Imported product will now be sold locally at 3100. The Importer will have to pay more MKD to get the same amount of DM that he needs to pay the foreign manufacturer of the product that he is importing.

The Exported products will now fetch the exporter the same amount of income in foreign exchange. Yet, when converted to MKD - he will receive 400 MKD more than before the devaluation. He could use this money to increase his profits - or to reduce the price of his product in the foreign markets and sell more (which will also increase his profits).

The Locally Produced Import Substitutes will benefit: they will still be priced at 2700 - while the competition (Imports) will have to increase the price to 3100 not to lose money!

The local consumption of products which can, in principle, be exported - will go down. The exporter will prefer to export them and get more MKD for his foreign exchange earnings.

These are the subtle mechanisms by which exports go up and imports go down following a devaluation.

In Macedonia, the situation is less clear. There is a great component of imported raw materials in the exported industrial products. The price of this component will increase. The price of capital assets (machinery, technology, intellectual property, software) will also increase and make it more difficult for local businesses to invest in their future. Still, it is safe to say that the overall effect of the devaluation will favour exporters and exports and reduce imports marginally.

Unfortunately, most of the imports are indispensable at any price (inelastic demand curve): raw materials, capital assets, credits, even cars. People buy cars not only to drive them - but also in order to preserve the value of their money. Cars in Macedonia are a commodity and a store of value and these functions are difficult to substitute.

But this is all in an idealized country which really exists nowhere. In reality, devaluation tends to increase inflation (=the general price level) and thus have an adverse macro-economic effect. Six mechanisms operate immediately following a devaluation:

• The price of imported products goes up.

• The price of goods and services, denominated in foreign exchange goes up. An example: prices of apartments and residential and commercial rentals is fixed in DEM. These prices increase (in terms of MKD) by the percentage of devaluation - immediately! The same goes for consumer goods, big (cars) and small (electronics).

• Exporters get more MKD for their foreign exchange (and this has an inflationary effect).

• People can convert money that they saved in foreign exchange - and get more MKD for it. A DEVALUATION IS A PRIZE GIVEN TO SPECULATORS AND TO BLACK MARKET OPERATORS.

• Thus, the cost of living increases. People put pressure on their employees to increase their salaries. Unfortunately, there is yet no example in history in which governments and employers were completely successful in fending off such pressures. Usually, they give in, wholly or partially.

Certain countries tried to contain such wage pressures and the wage driven inflation which is a result of wage increases.

The government, employee trade unions and representatives of employers\' unions - sign \economic pacts or package deals\.

The government undertakes not to raise fees for public services, the employers agree not to fire people or not to reduce wages and employee trade unions agree not to demand wage hikes and not to strike.

Such economic pacts have been very successful in stabilizing inflation in many countries, from Israel to Argentina.

Still, some of the devaluation inevitably seeps into the wages. The government can effectively control only such employees as are in its direct employment. It cannot dictate to the private sector.

• Inflation gradually erodes the competitive advantage awarded to the exporters by the devaluation which preceded it. So devaluations have a tendency to create a cancerous chain reaction: devaluation-inflation followed by more devaluation and yet by more inflation.

Arguably, the worst effect of a devaluation is the psychological one.

Macedonia has succeeded where many other countries failed: it created an atmosphere of macro-economic stability. It is a fact that the differential between the official and non-official exchange rates was very small (about 3.5%). This was a sign of trust in the macro-economic management. This devaluation had the effects of drugs: it could prove stimulating to the economic body in the short term - but it might be harmful to it in the longer term.

These risks are worth taking under two conditions:

• That the devaluation is part of a comprehensive economic program intended to stimulate the economy and mainly the export sector.

• That the devaluation is part of a long term macro-monetary plan with clear, OPENLY DECLARED, goals. In other words: the government and the Central Bank should have designed a multi-year plan, stating clearly their inflation objectives and by how much they are going to devalue the currency (MKD) over and above the inflation target. This is much preferable to \shock therapy\: keeping the devaluation secret until the last minute and then declaring it overnight, taking everyone by surprise. The instinctive reaction is: \But if the government announces its intentions in advance - people and speculators will rush to take advantage of these plans. For instance, they will buy foreign exchange and put pressure on the government to devalue by dilapidating its foreign currency reserves\.

If so, why didn\'t it happen in Israel, Argentina, Chile and tens of other countries? In all these countries, the government announced inflation and devaluation targets well in advance. Surprisingly, it had the following effects:

• The business sector was able to plan its operations years in advance, to price its products properly, to protect itself by buying financial hedge contracts. Suddenly, the business environment became safe and predictable. This had an extremely favourable micro-economic effect.

• The currency stabilized and displayed qualities normally associated with \hard currencies\. For instance, the New Israeli Shekel, which no one wanted to touch and which was immediately converted to US dollars (to protect the value) - became a national hit. It appreciated by 50% (!) against the dollar, people sold their dollars and bought Shekels - and all this with an inflation of 18% per year! It became a truly convertible currency - because people could predict its value over time.

• The consistency, endurance and resilience of the governments in implementing their macro-economoic agendas - made the populace regain their trust. Citizens began to believe their governments again. The openness of the government, the transparency of its operations and the fact that it kept its word - meant a lot in restoring the right, trusting relationship which should prevail between subjects and their administration.

That strict measures are taken to prevent the metamorphosis of the devaluation into inflation. The usual measures include a freeze on all wages, a reduction of the budget deficit, even temporary anti-import protective barriers to defend the local industries and to reduce inflationary pressures.

Granted, the government of Macedonia and its Central Bank are not entirely autonomous in setting the economic priorities and in deciding which measures to adopt and to what extent. They have to attune themselves to \advice\ (not to say dictates or conditions) given by the likes of the IMF. If they fail to do so, the IMF and the World Bank will cut Macedonia off the bloodlines of international credits. The situation is, at times, very close to coercion.

Still, Macedonia could use successful examples in other countries to argue its case. It could have made this devaluation a turning point for the economy. It could have reached a nationwide consensus to work towards a better economic future within a national \Economic Agenda\. It is still not to late to do so. A devaluation should be an essential part of any economic program. It could still be the cornerstone in an export driven, employment oriented, economy stimulating edifice.

About The Author

Sam Vaknin is the author of \Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited\ and \After the Rain - How the West Lost the East\. He is a columnist in \Central Europe Review\, United Press International (UPI) and ebookweb.org and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory, Suite101 and searcheurope.com. Until recently, he served as the Economic Advisor to the Government of Macedonia.

His web site: http://samvak.tripod.com

How To Be A Winner

Everyone who invests in the stock market wants to be a winner. Each person\'s definition of a winner will be somewhat different, but there is hardly one who isn\'t looking for that stock that will double in price within one year.

Can it be done? Yes, but when you look at the odds you may want to find a better or maybe slower and safer way. The chance of finding that mother load is 1 in 200, about percent. Of the 11,000 listed securities you have a choice of 55. Even the pros don\'t like those odds. What makes you think you are better?

We have been in a great bull market from 1982 to 2000. Then the bubble burst. Yet the investing public continues to believe that we are going to see double digit returns every year. According to the Financial Research Corporation\'s study the mutual fund pros return was only 10.92% and the average investor had gains of about 8.7%. The great Warren Buffett says the bull is over and that we will be looking at a 5% return not the 12% to 15% that has occurred in the recent past.

As I mentioned in my recent column the returns for the past 126 years has only averaged 7% with 2/3 of the return coming from dividends which are about nonexistent today. Instead of looking for the rainbow with the pot of gold at the end my suggestion is to limit your losses and let your winners run. You have heard that clich before, but have you every understood what it means in the stock market? The floor traders and hedge fund managers do not look for home runs. They look for slow and steady and never allow any major losses. The key to long term investment success is to limit your losing positions and never give back profits you have earned.

If tech investors in 1999 had followed this principle they would have kept about 80% of their profits. Wall Street says you should Buy and Hold and they have told this lie so often that it has become conventional wisdom. It is absolute stupidity. A simple trailing stop-loss order would have protected the investor\'s capital. Almost no broker and certainly no brokerage house recommends loss limit orders. No one is taught the basic winning concept of the market - an exit strategy. Until that is learned you are doomed to give back your winnings and take losses when a stock doesn\'t go up and heads down.

Most investors have no plan as to how much money they would like to accumulate nor how to intelligently go about it. They don\'t know where they are going and they don\'t want o be late.

When you have decided how much you need to save the next important step is not what to buy, but how to exit in the event what you do buy happens to go down instead of up.

Al Thomas\' book, \If It Doesn\'t Go Up, Don\'t BuyIt!\ has helped thousands of people make moneyand keep their profits with his simple 2-stepmethod. Read the first chapter athttp://www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he\'s the man that Wall Streetdoes not want you to know.

Copyright 2005

The Origins of Check Writing

People haven't always written checks to buy goods and services. But you know that right? So how did people transfer money from one place to another in times of old?

In ancient times the most popular form of money exchange was the trade. However, some point along the long line of history people started realizing they had a surplus of goods that was best stored somewhere other than their home.

During the sixteenth century Amsterdam became a key global trading and shipping outlet. Within this area, many people started amassing cash. Rather than stashing this cash at home, some people had the brilliant idea of depositing their money with safe keepers or cashiers for a fee.

Keeping their money in a central location allowed tradespeople to start writing notes to pay off debts owed to other people. Thus emerged the idea of writing checks.

Where Did The Word Check Come From?

The word check did not emerge until later in the 1800s. At this point in time cashiers started placing numbers on each of the notes depositors wrote so they could better track notes coming into and out of the station. Eventually a system was born and the idea of writing checks and storing money in a ank caught on en' masse.

Checking Today

Today checking is as commonplace as going out to eat. Most people have at least one checking account, and many have more than one. It is not uncommon for business owners to work with several bankers and checking accounts.

Check writing is no longer a primitive process that involves handwriting notes on random pieces of paper. Checking and check writing is almost a rite of passage. It suggests that you have money (in theory anyway) or a means to make your way in the world.

Types of Checks Available Today

Now that you are familiar with the origins of check writing, you probably came here in search of some quality information about checks and checking. Today you have more choices than ever for checking. You can pay bills on traditional and boring bank checks, or you can buy checks that match your personality.

The possibilities are endless in checking today. You can buy pastel checks, checkered checks, animal checks, cartoon checks and more. Foil embossing and intricate designs are another popular choice among consumers, and provide the added advantage of extra security.

Some people are gung ho about top stub checks whereas others prefer side tear checks. You may find yourself shopping for cheap checks, whether cheap personal checks or business checks. Still others need something to match software programs and produce large quantities of checks that tie into their financials. That's where Deluxe checks and other specialized checks come in handy.

Specialized Check Writing

If you own your own business you probably need checks that are compatible with your software programs. Among the more common in this category include:

• Deluxe Checks
• Quickbooks Checks
• Quicken Checks

Deluxe checks is actually the name of a company that prints checks. These checks are popular all over the globe. They provide added security features such as micro printing a security screen to prevent copying and even chemically sensitive paper. This paper appears altered if someone tries to alter the original check.

Quickbooks checks and Quicken checks are equally useful for business owners looking for checks that streamline with their accounting software. These specialized checks make processing payroll a cinch. Most come in top stub styles compatible with most computer programs though you can also buy side tear versions to keep with you while on the go.

Of the two, Quickbooks checks are the most popular, providing personalization choices and matching check envelopes and stationery. However, Quicken checks are just as useful for individuals owning this software program.

No matter what your personality, business or personal pleasure, fortunately you have a wealth of choices when it comes to check writing. Be sure you explore all your choices, before buying. Even better, try out a few different styles to see which match your personal preferences. We've come a long way from ancient Rome, where merchants and customers probably longed for the personalized check conveniences available today.

About The Author:
Antigone Arthur is a successful freelance writer with 10 years of professional experience providing consumers with informative articles on such topics as cheap checks, top stub checks, and ordering personal checks online.

Tax Lien Investing Secrets of the Wealthy

Most people have not heard of tax lien investing. Yet there are
millions of people across the country earning safe, secure, and
most importantly, high percentage interest returns by investing
in tax lien certificates. To put it simply, investing in tax
liens is an easy, high profit way to invest in real estate,
without needing large sums of money to do it.

So what are tax lien certificates?

Each year property taxes are due on all properties. The local
government uses the money from property taxes to pay for various
things in the community. If an owner doesn't pay their property
taxes, the government still needs that money to be able to run
their county effectively! So what's a government to do? They
levy a tax lien against that property and auction it off at a
tax lien sale. An investor, YOU, will purchase that tax lien
with the understanding that you will earn a certain percentage
interest rate. When the owner of the property finally pays off
their taxes(plus penalty fees), the county then cuts a check to
the investor for the principle amount invested, plus any
interest or penalty fees accrued. The county makes out because
they get the money they need to run things, the home owner or
business makes out because they are given more time to pay off
their taxes, and the investor makes out because they just earned
a lot of money without really doing much at all!

Why should I invest in tax lien certificates?

Safety

Tax liens are sanctioned and run by the government. Your
investment is protected by state law and secured by actual real
estate! What other kind of investment option provides that kind
of backing? Take a look at it from the other end. People do NOT
want to lose their homes. So odds are they'll pay off their
taxes, thus paying you off. And if they don't...you just may end
up with a free property.

Minimal Competition

The great thing about tax lien investing is that, for the most
part, it's a completly unknown investing option. Most people
think that stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs, money markets, and
traditional real estate investing are the only ways to invest
their money. So what you have is a very small number of people
in the know making tons of money in an extremely low risk form
of investing.

High Return on Investment

Your return on investment will vary largely depending on what
state and county you are in. But to give you a rough idea,
interest rates will vary from about 5% to 25%. Now, given how
safe and easy this is, these kind of interest rates alone would
be worth the investment. But there's more. In most cases you
won't have to wait a whole year to earn your 15% interest. If
the property owner pays off their taxes in one month, you'll
still earn that same 15% interest, but you'll get it one months
time. Freeing up your money to invest again. Lets say you take
that money, and each month invest in a tax lien certificate and
get paid off right away. That's 15% interest, 12 times, giving
you a final return of 180% over the period of the whole year.
Because interest rates are always calculated over the period of
one year, this is what's called your effective return on
investment. This is why investors love tax lien investing. In a
state like Texas your effective return on investment can be up
to 300%!

Examining the alternatives

Here are some alternative investing options that the majority of
americans invest in. Included with them is an average interest
rate and the degree of safety of the investment.

Savings account - 1% - safe

Money market - 1-2% - safe

CDs - 1-4% - safe(interest rate depends on length of CD

Stock market - average growth 11% - unsafe, percentages vary
wildly from year to year

Tax lien certificates - 5%-300% - Safe. Government run. Enforced
by state law. Fixed interest rates.

The ultimate win/win situation

So what happens if the owner doesn't pay off their taxes? Well
in many states you would initiate a foreclosure on the property.
The property gets auctioned off at a tax deed sale, and as the tax lien certificate holder,
you get paid off first. But in other states the property is
signed over to you free and clear! That's right, your small
investment geared to earn 15% just earned you a free house with
which you can do as you please. Live in it, rent it out, sell
it, whatever you want.

Conclusion

So why should you invest in tax lien certificates? Because it
simply doesn't make sense not to. If you'd like to learn more
about the ins and outs of tax lien certificates or specifically
about tax lien auctions, more detailed information is
available.

Debt Settlements

First and foremost, it should be understood what debt settlement means. It is basically a process to settle your debts with creditors. The process usually involves a third party who mediates between you and the creditor to decide upon a feasible debt settlement plan in which you have to pay a reduced debt. Depending upon the expertise of the third party and the understanding reached between you and the creditor, the debt may be reduced by as much as 25 to 50% of the original amount.

Yet, before opting for a debt settlement plan, you need to weigh your options carefully. Go in for this plan only if you are sure that you have no other option to pay your debt otherwise. Also, consider filing for bankruptcy or trying to sort out the matters yourself. Once you have decided that debt settlement is your best possible option, you need to understand how the settlement plan works.

As state above, a third party or a settlement agency mediates between you and your creditors. This agency then collects a certain decided upon amount from you on a monthly basis and puts it into an escrow account where the money accumulates over a period of time. After a decent amount is reached, the agency then contacts the creditor, negotiates the debt and begins to pay off. The cycle is repeated till the debt is paid off.

The negotiating agency, apart from charging fees for the services rendered, may also charge a monthly maintenance fee. Before zeroing on the agency, make sure that the fee is not higher than what they have decided to charge every month. This is because while accumulating money to pay off your debts, you are also accumulating late fees and interest charges as well.

Settlements provides detailed information about settlements, debt settlements, injury settlements and more. Settlements is affiliated with Personal Injury Settlements.

Rapid Refunds

Those are the words that every taxpayer would love to hear, yes,
you\'re receiving an income tax refund. For many individual
taxpayers those refunds can be obtained through Earned Income
credit, a real refund of overpayment of tax, or through an
overpayment from previous years. Once you determine you\'re
receiving a refund, there are several options for actually
putting that money in the taxpayer\'s hands. Standard paper
filing, electronic filing with direct deposit, rapid refunds,
and refund anticipation loans are the options we have the choice
of exercising, and for many refund anticipating individuals, the
rapid refund or the refund anticipation loan is the refund of
choice.

Since the advent of the computer age, and the great invention of
the internet, the Internal Revenue Service has been fairly quick
to react to the benefit of electronic filing. The returns are
filed much faster, refunds are made faster, and money due the
IRS can be obtained faster. Let\'s take a minute to look at the
different refund options, and what each offers the individual
taxpayer.

The standard paper filing, although many are more familiar with
this method of filing, is slowing reaching obsolescence. There
will soon come a time that the old system of paper filing will
be entirely eliminated and replaced by the electronic filing
methods. If you are still one of the dying numbers of Americans
who files a paper return, you should anticipate receiving a
refund in about 6 weeks; today, thanks to the great use of the
internet, 6 weeks to receive a refund, seems like an extremely
long time.

The rapid refund, that is quickly replacing the standard paper
filing, is an electronic method used for filing your tax return,
and allowing you to receive your refund in about 10-14 days.
Much faster than the six weeks it used to take. There are
usually no excess fees attached to this type of filing, and
returns may be filed for free through many local, public access
facilities.

The refund anticipation loan, however, is a little different.
These must be administered by a tax professional through an
established alliance with a financial and lending institution.
There are several excellent choices available, and many
qualified tax professionals to complete your tax return, you
will however be required to pay a loan fee or a small interest
fee for the opportunity to obtain an anticipation loan. There
are several restrictions placed on receiving a refund
anticipation loan, and some of the restrictions may affect many
people.

For example, if you owe back taxes, back child support, or liens
and judgments, you can\'t qualify for the refund anticipation
loan. Most often, the individuals who apply for and use the
refund anticipation loan are recipients of earned income credit,
and their refunds are usually well into the thousands of
dollars. The refund anticipation loan can be processed in as
little as 3 hours, and back in the hand of the tax payer by late
afternoon; this is provided everything works exactly as planned.
The higher interest rates charged by the bank product providers,
and the higher processing fees charged by the tax preparers,
equate to less money for the tax payer, but many of these
individuals don\'t even blink when told how much it will be to
process their return, they just want the refund immediately.
This is just one more example of the instant gratification upon
which our society chooses to operate.

Even for individuals filing with the electronic returns, and
choosing to have their funds direct deposited, the turn around
time is usually no more than 10 to 15 days. You would think that
a turn around of less than 2 weeks would be quick enough for
many taxpayers, but typically, the bigger the refund, the faster
the necessary return.

It would seem to me, that this is just another way for the
system to profit from the poor; as it is usually the poor that
qualify for the earned income credit refunds, and these can be
extremely large, especially for families with 2 or 3 dependents.

Buying Investment Property Wisely

Finding the right investment property is as important as any type of business endeavor. There are many types of property investments, calling for diverse strategies and styles. You don\'t necessarily have to be a property developer in order to buy investment properties - in fact, just owning residential real estate property means that you\'ve invested in real estate.

Although there are a large number of home owners, very few of them consider themselves \property investors\ since real estate investment is perceived as entirely different from owning residential real estate property. They think of real estate investment as an endeavor that aims solely to generate income or capital appreciation.

As with any investment endeavor, investing in real estate entails risk. Many people have made unwise investments, losing all of their assets through bad real estate deals, so it\'s really not surprising to see private individuals having second thoughts about investing in real estates. However, don\'t forget that not all real estate investments end up in total loss - there are also those who have made thousands of property investments and gained a great deal of profit.

In order to prevent losing in real estate, first do thorough research to know whether you are investing wisely. There are many professional organizations, as well as some expert individuals, in real estate that may be able to help you choose the right investment property based on your own goals and objectives.

Remember that buying property is an important investment, so closely inspect the property before buying it. You need to take into account the market value of the property as well as the state of the property itself.

You may also wish to contact commercial realtors to find out just how much properties cost in your chosen location. This way you\'re provided with an idea of just how much your chosen property should cost before you meet the owner and proceed with making an offer on the property.

Investing real estate property is very much different from bank and building society investments. Real estate investment gives a double return in terms of income - you\'ll receive both rental income and an increase in capital growth. It\'s also important to note that commercial real estate properties often cost more than the average family dwelling.

For a great number of real estate professionals, selling investment properties is not an option because it entails risk. In order to sell a property at a maximum value, it\'s important to make sure that the property is in top condition. It\'s especially important with rental properties to inspect the property thoroughly before becoming that building\'s landlord, otherwise the cost of repairs and renovations could be expensive. Remember that your purpose in investing in real estate properties is to gain profit, not to spend a lot in order to lose a lot.

Stu Pearson has an interest in Business & Technology related topics. To access more information on investment property or on investment property loan, please click on the links.

3 Steps To Increasing Your Income

Most accountants, financial planners and wealth-building experts agree that there are really only three ways to increase your income. You can either:

1.Increase your revenue (make more money)

or

2.Decrease your expenses (spend less money)

or

3.Do both 1 and 2

However, what is not so obvious are the words that should always follow these income-increasing statements. Accountants, financial planners and wealth-building experts are often so close to these principles that they assume we all know them to be true. They also tend to believe that everyone has the necessary discipline and patience to automatically make them happen. Here are the reality-based revised versions of the statements that, although might not be as easy to relate to, really make more sense and, if you follow them to the letter, will help keep you on track. If you want to increase your income you must either:

1.Increase your revenue (and at the same time keep your expenses the same or less than before)

or

2.Decrease your expenses (and at the same time maintain or increase your revenue)

or

3.Do both 1 and 2

One version of Parkinson's Law is that expenses rise to meet income. Put another way: The more you make, the more you spend. If you truly want to increase your income, it is important to maintain the same, or even a scaled-down, style of living for a period of time.

For example, if you make $45,000.00 per year and receive an annual raise of 10%, you gain an additional $4500.00 per year ($375.00 per month) for a new total of $49,500.00. It is awfully tempting to spend this extra $4500.00, rather than invest or save it. In addition, it is easy to talk yourself into upgrading your lifestyle by trading up for a more expensive car, taking an unplanned vacation, or some other deserved reward. After all, you just increased your income by $375.00 per month. Right? Wrong - if you spend it!

If you spend the extra money, you have not really increased your income at all. In fact, if you spend it and then take added taxes and other liabilities into account, you may actually have less income than you had before the raise! Weird, huh?

The point here is that it's not just about making more money. It's about what you do with the extra money that determines whether or not you have truly increased your income. The reverse is also true. Let's say that instead of the 10% raise, you get no raise at all. But, you decide to aise your income by cutting expenses. If you find a way to cut your expenses by 10%, you actually are gaining over $375.00 per month. If you are able to cut your expenses by $4500.00 per year, in reality, you just increased your annual income by 10%. Weird again, but true.

Your desire, ability and willingness to both cut expenses and increase revenue will determine how fast and how much your income will jump. It's a powerful combination, and this is the secret that most wealthy people use all the time.

Dr. Dan Strakal has been an expert on the changing workplace, job transition, and career development for nearly 20 years. He acts as a trusted client advisor and consultant within the corporate sector, government agencies, civic organizations, small businesses, and educational institutions. He also provides business, executive and career consulting, coaching and workshops for individual clients and is the coauthor of and contributor to two books, Better Job Search in 3 Easy Steps and Better Job Skills in 3 Easy Steps. Dan is often called upon by the national and international media as an expert and has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Self Magazine, SmartMoney.com, Computerworld, Diversity Inc. Magazine, Chief Information Officer (Australia's Magazine for Information Executives), the Radio America Program: News You Can Use, KBS Radio Canada and many other media outlets. He is on the Board of Directors of the Career Planning and Adult Development Network and is a Platinum Member of the Career Masters Institute. More info at http://www.capable-consulting.com

Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad IRS?

Who\'s afraid of the IRS?

Let\'s face it: We All Are!

And with good reason . . . IRS horror stories abound, and we all know someone who\'s been through an IRS audit and lived to tell about it.

So the purpose of this article is to help calm those fears. Maybe I can\'t remove them completely, but I do hope you find some comfort in what I\'m about to tell you.

Do you have any idea how many tax returns are audited every year? Here are the numbers, as provided by the IRS:

INDIVIDUALS -- without Schedule C
Gross Income:
< 25,000 ................ 0.63%
25,000-49,999 ........... 0.23
50,000-99,999 ........... 0.27
> 100,000 ............... 0.74

INDIVIDUALS -- with Schedule C
Sales:
< 25,000 ................ 2.63%
25,000-99,999 ........... 1.13
> 100,000 ............... 1.36

C CORPORATIONS
Assets:
< 250,000 ............... 0.22%
250,000 - 1M ............ 0.73
1M - 5M ................. 2.06

S CORPORATIONS .......... 0.42%

PARTNERSHIPS/LLCs ....... 0.27%

Let\'s take a close look at these numbers, shall we?

Notice that in virtually every category, the audit rate is less than 1.0%. The only exceptions are large C Corporations with assets over $1 million, and Sole Proprietors (Schedule C filers) with sales greater than $100,000 or less than $25,000.

Think about this for a moment -- your chances of getting audited are probably less than 1 in a 100.

Do you like those odds? I sure hope so.

The IRS doesn\'t have the resources to conduct widescale audits. That\'s just the way it is.

Now, how should this good news about IRS audit rates effect you? I can think of at least three ways:

1. When it comes to your attitude toward the IRS, cheer up and take heart. The likelihood of an audit is slim. I meet people everyday who appear to be well-adjusted and successful, but just bring up those dreaded letters, \IRS\, and they turn into a paranoid basket-case.

There\'s no need for such irrational fear. You\'ve seen the numbers. Let the facts control your emotions, not myths and misconceptions.

2. Keep these audit rates in mind when deciding what deductions to take. I am not recommending that you cheat on your tax returns, but I am suggesting that you consider being more aggressive. If the item in question is not fraud, and if you have at least an arguable position, these low audit rates lend merit to the old saying \when in (reasonable) doubt, deduct it\.

3. The low audit rates should NOT give you reason to become sloppy in your recordkeeping. Please do not take the attitude, \Well, since there is such a small chance of being audited, why keep records at all? Who needs all this paperwork?\

Who needs to keep accurate records of income and expense, even if the odds of an audit are low?

YOU DO!

If you are serious about being successful in business, you will want to know how the business is doing, right?

And if you think that your checking account balance is an accurate indication of the success or failure of your business, you are mistaken.

Successful business owners keep their finger on the pulse of their business every week. They know how much is coming in (and why), and they know how much is going out (and where).

Successful business owners maintain accurate financial records so they can make sound business decisions to increase sales, minimize expenses, and multiply profits.

If your attitude is anything less than that, your business is doomed to fail.

While the chances of being audited are low, so are the chances of being successful without good records.

NOTE: The above statistics are taken from an Excel spreadsheet freely available at the IRS website. This spreadsheet shows audit rates for all types of returns for years 1996 through 2002. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/rtctab6a.xls

Wayne M. Davies is author of 3 tax-slashing eBooks for small business owners and the self-employed. For a free copy of Wayne\'s 25-page report, \How To Instantly Double Your Deductions\ visit http://www.YouSaveOnTaxes.com

LittleKnown Tax Deductions from a Voluntary Employee Benefit Association

Lance Wallach is a pension expert who has written and spoken extensively on the benefits of a VEBA. I recently had the opportunity to be on a conference call with him and Tim Metz, CPA. Mr. Wallach explained the benefits of a VEBA under IRC 419(e). There are huge advantages with this type of plan as compared with a 401(K). There are no contribution limits on a VEBA, you can set variable vesting times, withdrawals at any time are tax-free as long as the money is spent on the employee\'s health and welfare, and post-retirement medical expenses can also be funded.

Mr. Wallach\'s company sets up and administers the VEBA plans with the help of CPAs and attorneys licensed in the state where the business is located. The typical set-up fee is between $6,500 and $10,000, all of which is tax deductible. The set-up fee depends upon how much tax planning the business wants. For example, the VEBA can be used to fund a buy-sell agreement, or the VEBA beneficiary can be a life estate set up to avoid probate.

There may be tremendous benefits to profitable businesses with two or more key employees to use a VEBA to fund a buy-sell agreement, and the funds contributed for the buy-sell agreement are deductible going in and tax-free coming out. The VEBA also offers almost unlimited opportunities to fund employees\' health and welfare benefits which are also deductible going in and tax-free coming out. I can provide you with more information about VEBAs or you can visit Mr. Wallach\'s website and read the numerous publications he has written on the subject.

About the author

Jo Ann Joy is the CEO and owner of Indigo Business Solutions, a legal and business consulting firm. Indigo Business Solutions is a \one stop shop\ for small businesses, because we offer both legal and business services. We can provide the professional services that a business requires, and they won\'t have to be \referred out\ and pay another professional.

Jo Ann has a law degree, an MBA, and a degree in Economics, but she is not a traditional attorney. Rather, she is a strategic business attorney who works closely with clients to greatly improve their performance and chance of success. Her background includes commercial, corporate, contract and real estate law, and she has experience in accounting, financial planning, mortgages, marketing, product development, banking, and business planning and strategies. She ran a successful business for 10 years, and she has written and given presentations on many different legal and business subjects.

If you want to achieve more with your business or you want free copies of my articles, please contact me.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=JoAnnJoy

Personal Loans: quench your personal desires

Personal loans are the most common form of credit taken by
borrowers all across the world. The reason behind their
popularity is that they give the borrower the liberty to use
them in any way they desire.

So, you can use a personal loan to sponsor your child\'s
education or buy your favourite car or do away with your debts
or even throw a lavish wedding party. Basically, personal loans
can offer a viable solution to all your financial needs. So, you
assume they might be easy to avail also. Not quite! .

Personal loans are lent by all kinds of banks, lending
institutions, building societies etc. But the process of
determining whether you are an eligible borrower or not is a
complicated one. The first step is to see whether you have
applied for a secured personal loan or an unsecured personal
loan. The major difference between the two is that a secured
personal loan necessitates collateral while an unsecured one
does not necessitate collateral. .

In case you have applied for a secured personal loan, your
property is valued and the equity in your home is calculated.
Equity, of course is the value of your home after deducting any
outstanding debts from it. The equity in your home will decide
the loan amount that you can borrow. On the other hand, in case
of unsecured personal loans a thorough background check of your
income and credit rating will be carried out. Generally,
unsecured loans are more expensive than secured
loans, yet a stable income and an exemplary credit
rating can fetch you a low rate of interest even on an
unsecured personal loan. .

You can usually borrow up to 15000 as a personal loan
and the loan period varies anywhere between 6 months and 10
years. But as a general rule shorter is the loan period the
better it is. This is because if your repayment period is long,
you have to pay interests for a long period of time making the
loan on the whole a lot more expensive. .

You can even pay off your loan earlier than the agreed period,
but you may have to pay a penalty for doing so. While choosing a
personal loan make sure you shop around and compare several
offers before arriving at a particular decision.

Small Business Tax Deductions

Small business tax deductions are implemented by the government to encourage entrepreneurship and investment. A business owner can save large amounts of money through these small business tax deductions. Special small business tax deductions are granted for home based business establishments.

Small business tax deductions are usually implemented on the expenses involved in the business. These expenses include office stationeries, advertisements, postage charges, shipping fees, telephone bills, and Internet charges. The receipts of each purchase should be produced while filing for the taxes. In case a business owner joins any franchise, expenses such as franchise fees and kits can be claimed as deduction. Even the gift items and freebies given to the customers are accounted as business expenses and thus attract small business tax deductions. Business owners usually have to face the problem of bounced checks received from customers. These checks along with the bank fees can be utilized for claiming tax deductions. The rules governing small business tax deductions have special provisions for business owners who have purchased computers. The business owner can claim for tax deduction in an amount equivalent to the cost of the computers. Additionally, he/she can claim depreciation for 3 years following the purchase of the computers.

The tax deductions largely depend on the type of business and the expenses that are involved. A business owner should ideally consult a professional tax advisor before filing for taxes. Taking the business structure into consideration, the tax advisor would be able to give the best suggestions regarding small business tax deductions. He/she can also help the owner adjust the income so as to attract the maximum deductions. Small business tax deductions thus help in avoid paying high taxes, which in turn helps in the growth of the business.

Tax Deductions provides detailed information on Tax Deductions, Federal Tax Deductions, Small Business Tax Deductions, 401K Tax Deductions and more. Tax Deductions is affiliated with Government Tax Liens .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=SteveValentino

Refinance Your Second Mortgage Loan With Bad Credit

If your existing second mortgage loan has a high interest rate, you may be thinking about refinancing. You are not alone. Millions of Americans have high interest second mortgage loans from purchasing their homes at 100% financing - even with bad credit.

Like most Americans, when we purchased our home, four years ago, we took out a first mortgage loan for 80% of the home value and then a second mortgage loan for 20% of the home value. The first loan was at 7%, while the second loan came with a whopping interest rate of 10%. Since we knew, we could refinance the second mortgage, we charged forward. Six months later, our home value was up 10%, giving us enough equity to refinance the second mortgage into the first mortgage. We ended up with one mortgage, at a much lower interest rate.

If you are struggling with bad credit, you can still refinance your second mortgage into your first mortgage to reduce your monthly mortgage payments. Here are some tips for a successful second mortgage refinance:

Review your second mortgage loan contract to ensure that there is no prepayment penalty associated with loan. If there is a prepayment penalty clause, contact your lender to discuss your options.

Shop around for the best loan terms. Don\'t rush into a loan with the first lender, who knocks on your door. Your loan is a package that comprises of interest rates, fees, points, prepayment penalty clauses, balloon payment clauses, etc. Make sure you understand your loan terms.

Know and understand your fees. Your refinance fees may include an application fee, points, appraisal fees, etc. If you are dealing with a reputable lender most of these fees will be minimal.

For more information about bad credit second mortgage refinance loans, visit http://www.kstreetloans.com

Sharon Listner writes about family and finance with a special focus on \less-than-perfect\ credit financial products.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=SharonListner

Choosing The Right Credit Card

They come day after day after day. Sometimes two, three, or four at a time. Credit card offers. The credit card industry is highly competitive and banks and other financial institutions are constantly sending out mass mailings in an attempt to lure potential customers to switch credit card providers.



And while it is generally not advisable to regularly open new credit accounts, there are times when doing so can be advantageous. But how do you compare all of the credit card offers to know that you are choosing the right credit card? There are a few things that you should compare and consider before making your choice.



The interest rate. Obviously the higher the interest rate, the more you will pay in interest charges. So the lower the rate the better. Many cards now offer zero-percent introductory rates for periods of up to a year. Transferring a balance to a card like this can be an effective way to pay down your debt quickly. But you have to read the fine print.



Credit card companies usually apply your payment to the debt with the highest interest rate first. So if your interest rate on purchases is 12 percent, your payment will be applied to that balance until it is paid off and then you will begin paying off the zero-percent portion. Because of this policy, many people realize little savings in transferring their balance to a zero-percent card. In order to take full advantage of the policy, you should not make any purchases on the zero-percent card. This will ensure that the balance will be reduced as much as possible before the introductory offer ends.



Reward programs are great ways to gain prizes or cash back by making purchases. Some cards will actually give you a small percentage (about one or two percent) of your purchases back as cash. Others let you earn points that can be redeemed for all sorts of merchandise, airline tickets, or gift certificates. Reward programs are a great bonus, as long as you are not paying extra for it. A higher interest rate will quickly eliminate any savings you receive through the reward program.



Annual Fees or Service Charges. I have never used a credit card that charges any kind of annual fee. It just makes no sense to me. There are so many credit card companies out there competing for my business, why should I have to pay for the privilege of using a particular card. Even if the card offers frequent-flyer miles or cash back, the annual fee will reduce or even eliminate the benefit gained. Shop around and you can find a card just as good with no annual fee.



Keep these 3 things in mind when you are comparing the credit offer and you can be confident that you are choosing the right credit card.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com

Mike Collins is the owner of www.saving-money-and-living-debt-free.com, a friendly guide to saving money, making extra money, and getting out of debt.

The Pro's and Con's of a Home Equity Loan

Interested in borrowing from your home equity? Since the cash can be used for anything--home improvements, vacation, shopping spree, medical bills--it\'s a choice many folks turn to when they need money fast. But is it really a good idea? That depends. There are some pros and cons to a Home Equity Loan, and it\'s important to weigh both sides before making a decision.

PROS

Tax deductible interest: In most cases (it varies from state to state) the interest you pay on a Home Equity Loan is tax deductible at the end of the year. This added perk can help lower your tax bill, and it\'s one of the reasons many people refer to a Home Equity Loan as a \good\ loan.

Low interest rate: In general, Home Equity Loans have relatively low interest rates compared to other types of loans, such as auto loans or personal loans. In fact, the rates are usually about half of what you\'d expect to pay for a personal loan from a bank.

Easy to get approval: Even if your credit is not-so-great, chances are it\'ll be easy for you to get approved for this loan. That\'s because Home Equity Loans borrow from an asset you already own--the equity in your home.

CONS

Not always available: You must own your own home to qualify for this loan. Moreover, you must also have equity in your home, meaning your house must be valued at more than you currently owe on it.

The house is collateral: Your house is the collateral for the loan. So if there comes a time when you can\'t make your monthly payments, the lender can take your home away from you.

There may be better deals: Be sure to shop around before getting a Home Equity Loan. Special deals may mean a lower cost for you, such as offers from car financiers for zero percent financing.

Although a Home Equity Loan is a fairly inexpensive loan with tax perks, they\'re not right for everyone. Before making the decision to borrow against your home equity, be sure to carefully consider the pros and the cons.

View our recommended home equity loan companies online.

Also, check out our recommended 100% mortgage refinance lenders online, or view our recommended fast payday loan lenders online.

Homeland Security Industry Growth through Consolidation

Homeland Security Industry Growth through Consolidation

Homeland Security Firms Evolve and Expand Product Portfolios

By: Ann-Marie Fleming February 2006

In early February, President Bush presented his fiscal year 2007
budget request for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The request for $42.7 billion indicates a 6 percent increase in
funding from the 2006 budget.

Elaborating on the priorities of the FY 2007 budget request,
Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff explained in a
recent press conference, \The budget focuses on strengthening
our initiatives in protecting our borders, increasing our
preparedness, expanding our intelligence gathering and sharing,
and improving maritime and transportation security.\

This bodes well for companies operating in this arena, in
particular those with technology surrounding surveillance,
detection and identification products to assist in meeting the
needs of border, port and transportation security and overall
homeland security readiness.

Defense sector correspondent James H. Smith in his weekly
column, \The Defense Market Report\(exclusive HDS feature),
explains, M&A activity continued to be the strategic weapon of
choice for companies wanting to move decisively into desirable
market niches. Top acquirers used M&A activity to drive their
top lines far past the levels achievable through organic growth
alone. With an estimated US$38 billion in worldwide M&A activity
in the aerospace and defense sectors, 2005 was a very good year.
And the current year also looks promising.\

As the homeland security industry continues to establish itself
as a long term market, many anticipate M&A activity to become
more prevalent. Scott Sacknoff, manager of the SPADE Defense
Index (AMEX: DXS) describes, \The homeland security market is
ripe for consolidation. With so many companies offering single
solutions and products, we can expect a number of acquisitions
in the homeland security market in the coming years as firms
seek to offer a portfolio of security options under one roof.\

Building product portfolios has become a necessary strategy for
many firms working to address the growing needs within the
homeland security arena. Dore Perler, CEO of Sense Holdings, Inc
(OTCBB: SEHO) explains, \Today\'s terrorist activities are a
global religious and political phenomenon encompassing a broad
spectrum of national security threats. These threats range from
a lone aggressor covertly gaining access to a national
infrastructure asset, all the way to a organized large-scale
conspiracy by a number of well-financed suicidal fanatics. The
ubiquitous utilization of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED)
introduces a particularly difficult challenge to security forces
throughout the world. The only effective way to simultaneously
confront all of these security threats is by the intelligent
application of high technology.\

\Sense believes that the solution to this problem requires the
mass-deployment of security systems integrating Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID), Biometric Identification and Micro
Electromechanical Sensors (MEMS). These Sensors, or electronic
noses, are designed to detect infinite amounts of explosives,
chemical warfare agents (CWA), biological warfare agents (BWA)
and last, but not least, narcotics. Sense is dynamically
involved and committed to the development, integration and
deployment of all of these technologies,\ concludes Perler.

Sniffex, Inc. (OTC.PK: SNFX), a developer of a lightweight
handheld distance weapon and explosives detection device
explains their strategy for being able to expand their
offerings, \As the expenditures for homeland defense continue to
grow, the customers that we sell to through our worldwide
Representative network are asking for more and more products to
sell to their existing customer base. There is a huge demand
around the world for products and services that can be used as a
tool in fighting terror and crime. We believe that if one or our
Representatives is selling Sniffex, they should be selling every
other great tool in the arsenal of products and services for
fighting crime.\

Technest Holdings, Inc (OTCBB: TCNH) has been focused on
diversifying their product base for many years to be able to
target a variety of the nation\'s security needs. As Robert
Tarini, CEO of Technest describes, \Although significant
progress has been made against terrorism in the foreign arenas
of Iraq and Afghanistan by our combat troops, many security
problems remain unresolved domestically here in the US, in our
cities, federal infrastructures and borders. Many of these
security problems will be solved by innovative technologies that
can be delivered by fast and nimble companies with the ability
to address multiple problems through a portfolio of solutions
such as Technest Holdings.\

As the definition of homeland security has shifted to the
concept of global security, the diversity and complexity of
security and defense needs continues to grow. As a result,
companies have had to evolve and expand with many firms
understanding the strength of being able to solve multiple needs
through further R&D of existing products and by adding new
technology to their portfolios through partnerships, mergers and
acquisitions.

Ann-Marie Fleming Ann-Marie Fleming completed her MBA in the
United States, where she attended Webster University. She also
holds an Honors B.A from the University of Toronto. She has over
fifteen years of experience within the financial industry to
include retail banking and brokerage, investment banking, and
mortgage brokerage within the United States and Canada, with a
firm background in corporate research. Disclaimer:
www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp,
www.HomelandDefenseStocks.com/Companies/HomelandDefense/Disclaime
r.asp

I am Uninsured Thanks Doc

Sally and Dave have been married for 11 years and have two wonderful children. Dave works the executive shift of 11-hour days while Sally takes care of the house, kids, and everything else that keeps the family in one piece. They have the cars paid for and have made a very large dent in the mortgage. All is looking great for this all American family. Health insurance has never been a concern because Dave has always had a job with great benefits, mainly paid by his employer.

After 10 years of hard work and following in the footsteps of his father, Dave was quite proud of his achievements until the day he found a note on his desk from his boss. After a brief meeting, Dave is now offered a short severance package and sent out the door with a form for a COBRA extension of his health insurance benefits.

For those like Dave not familiar with a COBRA extension, now Dave gets to pay the total amount billed for his health insurance with no premium being paid by his former employer. This extension of health insurance benefits will last for 18 months unless Dave and Sally can secure a cheaper health insurance premium. With the monthly family health insurance premium now costing close to one thousand dollars for his family, Dave decides to look for an individual health insurance policy.

Dave calls several health insurance agents and also checks the internet for an online health insurance quote for his family. Eureka, Dave is all excited because an agent has offered him a policy that has similar benefits to his current policy for half the cost. Dave no longer needed maternity coverage in his new health insurance policy. Removing this benefit is another way to create a premium savings on any health insurance policy.

An appointment is scheduled and Dave and Sally sit down with the health insurance agent and complete the application for what would be their new coverage. Once completed, the agent takes the application and submits it to the insurance company just as he has done for the other 425 insurance clients he has. Dave and Sally were told that the information they entered into their health insurance application all looked great. The agent told them that he saw no reason that they would have any kind of a problem securing this new affordable coverage.

Two weeks have gone by since the friendly health insurance agent has taken their application away in his unstylish sub compact car. Dave decides to call for a status report. The phone rings three, four, five times, then the voice of the agent answers by stating the name of his agency. Dave asks for an update. The agent seems taken back for a bit then begins to speak between two coughs and an eternal clearing of the throat. The agent tells Dave that he and the two kids will be eligible for coverage but Sally has been declined. Dave in disbelief asks what the mistake could be. The agent stated that there was no mistake. The insurance company had requested medical records from Sally\'s doctor and found something in the records that has prompted them to decline Sally\'s application. The agent tells Dave that they could appeal the decision but this would be a very long process and the chances of getting the decision reversed were very slim.

How did this happen? To answer this we will have to go back eighteen months to an appointment that seemed perfectly innocent at the time.

The kids had been dropped off at school and now Sally was off to her friendly family doctor that she has only had for one year. After reading two magazines from front to back, the nurse finally calls her name to come back to the exam room. Hello, the doctor says in his usual, I really do not care tone. From time to time she may actually see the doctors eyes. The rest of the time, the friendly doctor is ready with pen in hand anxiously awaiting the next opportunity to mark some new findings in Sally\'s records to be filed. The doctor begins by asking if Sally has been feeling well. Sally replies that she has been having some pretty intense chest pains and she suspects it must be from the busy schedule she leads. The doctor asked if there is a history of heart or coronary problems in Sally\'s family. She said almost her entire family has suffered from some type of coronary problem at some time in their lives. The doctor with pen still sizzling on the paper, calls for a bio-imaging scan. After the scan shows minimal plaque build up in Sally\'s arteries, she is relieved and forgets the visit all together. The good doctor made elaborate notes detailing the severe chest pain Sally experienced and the prevalence of coronary problems in her family. He also noted some slight abnormalities in her heart rate.

Eighteen months to the day from this seemingly routine checkup, Sally is now refused health insurance. This is a problem that many Americans face every day. We are taught to share every thing with our doctors. The doctors are taught to document everything. Health insurance underwriters are trained to look for any reason to decline a policy before they will accept the risk. No wonder America has so many uninsured individuals trying to find a health insurance solution.

Article Source:

Kelly Mastin is a frequent contributor of insurance related articles. This article is free to re-print as long as nothing is changed, all links remained intact, the bio remains in full and the rel=\nofollow\ tag is not added to any of the links.

http://directpolicy.com http://quotes4us.com

Why UK Personal Loans Should Be Part of Your Portfolio

Your life\'s financial decisions need to be made wisely. Over time, you\'ll need to assemble a financial portfolio that provides you with income opportunities (such as investments), insurance for peace-of-mind, estate and tax planning contingencies, and retirement income strategies. As part of your financial portfolio, a UK personal loan may be the best option for you. Many people are deciding to acquire a UK personal loan to add to their financial portfolio.

Why do people add UK personal loans to their financial portfolio? There are several reasons why you might do so. One reason is to get control of debts that have gotten out of hand. If your spending has increased beyond your income, you may be racking up debts faster than you can pay them off. Getting a UK personal loan is way to consolidate your debts into one monthly amount that you can handle.

Another reason that people are turning to UK personal loans is for leverage. Perhaps they are looking to put an addition on their house but do not have the cash to readily do it. A loan can fill the gap and provide the funds necessary to put the addition on the house. That\'s leverage for two reasons: your home will suddenly become so much more useful to you, but also, when it comes time to sell, you will have increased the value of your home and enhanced how sellable it is to potential buyers.

A third reason that people are turning to UK personal loans is to get the nice things they deserve. Perhaps there is a car you\'ve always wanted, or you\'d like to fill your house with nice things. It would be great if your job provided you with the financial means to get them, but for many people, that\'s not the case. Instead, you may have to turn to loans in order to get the items you want. It\'s still an investment, though. It\'s an investment in the enjoyment of your life!

While getting a UK personal loan is simple, and there are many providers out there can get you a loan, it should not be approached lightly. Just as you probably consider very seriously all of the other factors in your financial portfolio you should also consider your UK personal loan with equal seriousness. After all, it\'s a financial tool just like your investment and insurance strategies. Is a UK personal loan the right financial strategy for you?

Mark Lambie is the founder of Loan Source, a website for UK residents seeking secured loans. Visit our website today for a free Secured Loan quote and find out how much we can save you.