Simply Business has created one of the most useful guides to increasing productivity that I have seen to date. With several pages offering guides to all different aspects of productivity, there is something for everyone in this comprehensive guide. From Inbox Zero to running shorter meetings, these techniques will help save both you and your company money.
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When times get tough, most people respond by looking for subtle ways they can cut down on monthly expenses – not eating out so often, avoiding unnecessary purchases, and keeping their entertainment budget as low as possible. While these changes can help to put a little more money in the pocket, there are other areas where a much bigger difference can be made, but they require good negotiation skills to get the best savings. Many of these areas are big-ticket expenses and taking the time to negotiate can return sizable discounts.
For most people, the single biggest expense they have on a regular basis is rent payment. Contrary to popular belief, rent is negotiable, especially when a person is dealing with a single owner instead of a real estate management firm. At the same time, even these firms have some room to negotiate a better price for good tenants. The right thing for a person to do is practice a bit of due diligence before approaching the decision-maker. By researching the going rates for similar apartments and houses in the same area, a person can come up with a fair market value for their rental. If the person has a perfect track record of paying on time and not causing any difficulty, then they can approach the agent or owner and explain that they will only be able to continue renting if the price is a certain amount. For a good renter, owners will often bend over backwards, including dropping the price, just to avoid several months of a vacant property with no income whatsoever.
In the past few years, competition between cable companies has soared. In addition, the former are in the unenviable position of having to compete with online streaming options that can often give home consumers the same programs at a discounted price. To negotiate a better deal, a person can call the cable company and explain that they are thinking about leaving because another company is offering a better price or they will be using the Internet for their entertainment needs. When faced with the possibility that they may lose a customer, the cable company will frequently be willing to drop their price or offer extras on top of your package.
Whenever a person decides to negotiate to get a better price on any item or service, the most important thing to remember is that the person needs to avoid bluffing. If the landlord or rental owner won’t budge from their original price, a person that has stated they can’t afford the place must be prepared to move out. The same is true with cable companies, although it is a much easier change. If the cable company stays at the higher price, the person can switch to a competitor or simply disconnect the service completely.
Many people can’t stand the idea of haggling for a better price, but there are times when researching and negotiating will definitely be worth the emotional strain of the situation. Rent and cable are just two examples where a quick phone call or meeting could save a considerable amount of money.
The team at IronFX have dedicated their lives to all things finance, but it’s forex trading that really gets them going!
The first thing to think about with your insurance is dividing it up into necessary policies, good to have policies and disposable policies.
There are some policies that you need to have, primarily car insurance. You can’t drive legally without it. Insurance on things like your home and possessions are not a legal requirement but they are generally good to have. Then you might have some disposable policies, like having a separate policy for your mobile phone or laptop when this could be covered by contents insurance. So auditing your policies and getting rid of unnecessary cover is the first step to saving money.
The workings of people in actuary jobs who calculate insurance, risk and things like that are a bit of a mystery to ordinary people, and things like life insurance values are based on a range of factors beyond our control (For information and vacancies visit Staractuarial.com/vacancies. However there are things you can do to try and save money. For home and contents insurance, firstly calculate accurately the costs of your possessions. If you just estimate you could end up paying too much. Then search for a range of policies and compare prices to see if it is cheaper to get one policy for both or to separate home and contents.
You should also realise that insurance is a long term strategy. So while you’re focused on saving money now you also need to think about the long term implications and savings. For example, you can save money now by increasing the excess on car or home insurance, but if you did make a claim it would cost you more. Conversely, you can spend money now on security for your home, or taking a Pass Plus course for driving, and this will most likely reduce your premiums. Any spending or cost cutting you do is a potential risk which should be assess carefully.
Of course, shopping around and comparing prices is essential. Unfortunately there are some things you can’t do a lot about. For example where you live and your age impacts your policy. Also, did you know that your job affects your policy too? For example jobs for which you have to drive frequently or are likely to drive under pressure, such as recruitment type vacancies and other sales jobs are considered by actuaries and insurers to be higher risk.
Let’s face it; none of us enjoy having to get up off the couch when we’re at home to answer the door to a salesperson. It bothers us, takes us away from family-time and, more annoyingly, interrupts our night. They may only be doing their job, but the majority of people are either too polite to turn them away or too shy to tell them they’re not interested. It does pose a problem, and with these people being highly trained in persuasive sales techniques, you need to have your wits about you to avoid falling victim to paying more for something you buy, or buying something you don’t need at all with money you desperately do!
Limited offer
This is one of the tactics which works best for salespeople as they can use it at will and at every opportunity. If you’ve already agreed to listen to what they’re selling and you’re inhaling the sales-pitch, then chances are they’ve already started giving you the information about the product and how this ‘special’ price is only available for a limited time. This could make you feel pressured into buying on the spot, when in reality you have absolutely no idea if the offer is for a limited time or not. Don’t feel pressurised by this tactic, as it can feel like you’ll be an idiot if you don’t buy – when, in reality, it’s probably the opposite.
Price-hike
Is the salesperson coming across as remarkably genuine and honest? No surprise there; after all, it is their job to persuade you to buy! They love to make you feel like you’re buying a product that has seen a massive price-hike and you just so happen to be buying at the perfect time. If the salesperson claims the product has been drastically reduced in price from its original RRP, you need to consider whether the RRP was stupidly priced to begin with – as it could just be a ploy to make the discount seem considerably higher than it is.
Personal testimonials
It’s always great to have someone else’s opinion on anything you buy, but do you really want the salesperson’s opinion? After all, it’s going to be as biased as biased can be. Chances are they‘ll even claim they bought one themselves – which is very unlikely unless it’s the best product ever – so don’t be taken in by the personal testimonial and use your noggin. It’s a good tactic of convincing someone the product is worthy of a purchase, but just remember that it is their job to sell. They won’t say a bad word about it!
Fake reviews
So you’re happy with the product but fancy searching for some independent and unbiased reviews online? Sure, but just search with caution, as during the last few years we’ve seen quite a lot of fake reviews on review sites. Basically the company will put on several reviews from their biased opinion to try and give the product a far more gleaming report than what it could be in reality. The product could well be a good one, just make sure you use sites you trust.
Pop-ups
Sales tactics aren’t just in practice with your typical salesperson at the door. The age of the internet has seen companies take to e-commerce, and with that comes a large amount of advertising and sales tactics. If you’re browsing online and you receive a ridiculous amount of pop-ups, chances are you’re going to get quite annoyed. Sure, most browsers have pop-up blockers, but for some reason there are companies who think we enjoy having to click ‘X’ on every pop-up they’ve placed on our screen.
So there you have it: some of the most common sales tactics in the real world and on the web. Their products may well be good, but make sure you use your common sense and don’t for one minute be convinced by their sales rubbish. This guide to keeping your wits was produced by Ladbrokes Bingo, who are hoping you’ll keep them with you, always.
Travel is tricky. It’s usually a ton of fun and sometimes it’s unavoidable. But if you’re not careful, it can cost you a bundle. The good news is that you can find a huge variety of discount travel sites that cover every imaginable aspect of your trip.
Airfare
You’ve probably already heard of Hotwire, Expedia and Orbitz, popular websites that can help you save money on plane tickets. Other online tools for bargain hunters are worth a try, too.
Use Google Flight Search to figure out the cheapest dates to fly. Select your departure city and your destination, and this cool tool will show you different airfare prices for different days on the calendar.
Travel Zoo has built a big fan base fast because it uses a team of researchers to find amazing deals on flights. Sign up for alerts on places you plan to visit to have Travel Zoo email you when it finds prices you’ll like.
Hotels
Discount travel site Kayak scours the Web for the best hotel deals and serves them up to you in a jiffy. It can save you time as well as money. Another valuable resource is Hotels.com, which boasts an enormous database with more than 145,000 properties worldwide.
Hipmunk is making some waves with its simple interface and its color-coded maps that make it easy for budget travelers to find rooms based on price. Hipmunk also displays listings from Airbnb, a website that allows you to rent private rooms in people’s homes.
Cruises
Cruises are usually one of the cheapest ways to travel, but you shoudn’t go through the actual cruise lines websites to find the best prices. If you’re looking for discount cruises, check out the Cruise Now website that features discounts on all the popular destinations and cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean cruise deals. It has an extensive video library that includes more than a dozen 30-second travel tips. The coolest feature is probably the SEASaver Notifications, which will send you deal by email or text message.
Daily deal sites, like Groupon and LivingSocial, showcase special pricing on cruises occasionally, too, but you won’t have as much control over your travel dates or destination.
Rental Cars
AutoSlash can help you reduce rates on your rental car by finding coupons and discount codes. It also will rebook you if the price happens to drop, which will save you the trouble of trying to track rental rates yourself.
CarRentals.com boasts a huge selection of agencies to choose from and a simple booking process. It even offers an iPhone app for an easy way to book a car rental on the go.
Rental Car Magic’s experts hunt down deals that match your criteria and email them to you. It doesn’t get much more convenient than that.
About the Author
Leo Dirr is a frugal freelance writer covering topics ranging from real estate to lifestyle and everything in between.
A currency converter can be invaluable when planning a trip to a foreign country, as well as if you are a trader in the foreign exchange markets. In these situations, you need to have the most accurate exchange rate for the currencies you’re working with. This is extremely important because even slight misinformation can lead to financial losses.
The most popular way to achieve this is by using a currency converter service. Because some services don’t display the accuracy and dependability expected of them, traders will often use multiple sources to ensure that their exchange rates are exact when they send money to another country.
Try to picture what it would be like for a foreign exchange trader who makes a trade by using inaccurate exchange rates obtained from a second-rate currency converter service. The ability to make money in the foreign exchange markets depends heavily upon having the most accurate and up-to-date exchange rates. Any discrepancy in this information can thwart even the most carefully formulated strategies for making a profit.
When dealing with the foreign exchange of money, having the correct information is the best tool against failure that there is. Your ability to make money relies heavily upon accurate currency conversion rates. For this reason, almost all traders on the foreign exchange try to stay on top of current money conversion rates by using a currency converter service. The best ones provide real-time information or information gained directly from Interbank rates. Some traders even prefer to use multiple services or sources before going through with a trade.
It is true when people say that currency conversion rates are often unpredictable and that a currency’s value relative to other forms of currency is constantly changing. When traders make transactions for large sums of money, even the smallest flaw in the conversion rates can cause significant losses.
Any traders who may be encouraging their brokers to buy certain currencies in the hopes of making a profit is advised to use a conversion service that updates with live information numerous times each day. Traders who don’t will fall far short of the profits that they expected and could, in fact, lose money. This makes a money calculator another one of the most essential tools in the arsenal of any foreign exchange trader.
Money calculators typically have information for between 80 and 85 types of currency from around the world. All the user must do is enter the desired amount in the selected currency format. The calculator then asks the user to pick what currency to make the conversion in and displays a table of choices. Software that performs these tasks can be downloaded for free from many places online. In order to get the most benefit from them, ensure that you’re receiving data in real-time.
It is easy to find a reliable currency converter service that can change dollars to yen, euros, pesos, pounds or other foreign currencies. Many popular internet sources also provide the latest news on exchange rates.
Investing for the future is a large part of the American Dream. Savvy use of our hard earned cash gives us the power and freedom to use that money in the ways we see fit. When you consider the sobering fact that you could be retired for as long as 30 years, it puts the need for robust investments into crystal clear perspective.
Here’s a look at some excellent investments that could dramatically change your financial picture, and pay big dividends in the future.
Invest in your Debt
You may not consider this a sexy investment, but getting rid of your debt will actually free up a big portion of your money, particularly if you have a mortgage, a couple of car payments, and a few high-interest credit cards.
Did you know that you can pay off your mortgage in half the time in one very simple and affordable step? Each month, when you write that mortgage check, write a second check for the principle-only portion of the following month’s payment.
Remember, the lion’s share of your mortgage in the first ten years is primarily payments against the interest. If you have a $300,000 mortgage at five percent interest, your monthly payment for 30 years will be fixed at around $1,610. Your very first payment will apply $1,250 to the interest and $360 to the principle. Your next month’s principle payment will be $362. By adding in this amount with your first month’s mortgage payment, you’ve actually paid two months and saved $1,248 in interest.
If you can do this each month you will literally pay your mortgage in full in just 15 years, and will have saved well over $100,000 in interest. This is a very savvy investment and in just 15 years will free up more than $1,600 each month, and that’s money you can reinvest elsewhere, and your home will be all yours!
Invest in Yourself
Along the same lines as investing in your debt and clearing out all those unnecessary interest payments, investing in yourself is one of the single best investments you’ll ever make.
If you do not have a high school diploma, don’t have a trust fund, and aren’t a genius with lots of patents, you can expect to live in poverty throughout your working years, and living on a skimpy, fixed income in your senior years.
Getting a college degree will not only give you more opportunities for employment and investment, it can also triple your annual income compared to someone without a high school diploma. If for no other reason than to earn more money, investing in a college education will almost certainly improve your lot in life and give you more discretionary income, which means you can find other investment opportunities in an employer-matched 401(k) or monthly bond investments.
Add an advanced degree in a specialized field and you can essentially write your own roadmap. Advanced college degrees in law, medicine, business management, computer sciences, engineering, and economics can have you on a fast track to financial success, untold investment opportunities, and access to similarly situated colleagues, which could result in unexpected dividends.
Education is the key to everything great you want to accomplish in your lifetime. Investing in yourself is easily the smartest investment on this list.
Land
Land will always be one of the best investments you can ever make, and the reasons for this are logical and simple. For starters, there’s a finite amount of it on the planet, and when it’s all been used for some purpose or another it will all be gone. In principle it’s the same as purchasing an Imperial Fabergé egg. There were only 50 ever made, and of them only 42 exist. Their rarity is the key to their extraordinary value.
Any piece of land, eventually, will be worth more than the original price because someone will want it for any of a thousand different reasons; a freeway here, a shopping mall there, a single-family housing development elsewhere. If you own it then those who want it will have to come to you with an offer. This puts you in the driver’s seat and in total control of your investment.
Farmland is a particularly good investment for a variety of reasons. Food prices continue to increase, as does the population of the world. Agricultural farming is the truest form of supply and demand economics. A farmland investment could create excellent monthly rental income, or huge capital appreciation if it can be held onto long enough.
U.S. Bond Market
The U.S. bond market outperformed some of the most reliable investments, including gold, in 2011, and the forecast for 2012 is more of the same. In 2011, the U.S. bond market returned an average of 13.7 percent on investments, which means it out-paced the stock market. The best performing bonds, the 30-year Treasury bond, returned 35 percent.
Bonds are very easy to purchase, including through your bank, broker, or dealer, and can be purchased any time you desire. Many people purchase one or more each month, repeating the monthly ritual for years. When the bonds mature, in five-, seven-, 10-, or even 30-years, they can be cashed out or re-invested.
U.S. Treasury bonds come in many different forms, amounts, and durations and a plan to purchase them should be formulated with your banker or other investment professional. They can be an excellent source of future income and should be seriously considered, particularly in this economy.
Classic Cars
You may be surprised to learn that investing in classic cars is an investment strategy that can return an excellent return on your income. One of the primary reasons for this is a true classic car tends to gain in value year in and year out. Another reason is there’s never a shortage of buyers and ways to sell your car, should you choose to do so at some future point.
One particularly strategy, if followed, can increase the likelihood of a sound investment. Invest in a car that is already a classic. This may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people pass on a legit classic because they’re certain the car they really like will eventually become a classic.
There’s no guarantee any car will become a classic until it becomes one. If you like Ford Mustangs, then choosing a 1969 Boss 302 makes much more sense than purchasing a 1999 Mustang convertible in the hopes that one day it will become classic.
When it comes to investing in classic cars, speculating that such and such vehicle will eventually be worth a bundle can cost you your entire nest egg. Do your homework and choose a bona fide classic and stick with it. You’ll be happy you did.
With any investment of your own money, consult a certified financial planner or equivalent to guide and direct your investments, to suggest strategies, and to help stay on top of your ever-changing situation and life goals.
Taggart writes for CableTV.com, check them out for XFINITY Internet Deals. In his free time he writes about his three main passions: business, technology, and finance. You can follow him on Twitter: @CableTVcom.
With the global financial crisis still biting, everyone should be looking for ways not only to save but also to protect the money you save. Mortgages, pensions, bank savings or trust funds should all be reviewed to ensure ripples in the market don’t negatively affect your assets.
Check your permanent health insurance
If you work for a large company you may have valuable benefits such as permanent health insurance as part of your employment contract. It’s worthwhile ensuring that you are not paying for expensive permanent health insurance if your employer provides this for free. It’s important to note that your employer benefits cease when you leave a company.
Use your pension allowances
Make the most of employers who match some or all of your pension contributions into a company scheme. This is effectively free money for your future which cab provide a tax free lump sum and or income at retirement.
Check your mortgage protection
Check to ensure that your mortgage protection is aligned with your mortgage debt; many mortgage brokers arrange level term cover so that you receive a flat lump sum if you or your partner die during the mortgage. It’s much cheaper to have decreasing cover that falls in line with your mortgage debt.
Check the return on investment in your cash accounts
Review where you put your cash funds. Many current accounts pay rates below inflation in order to keep the value of the money from being eroded by inflation look to utilising your tax free cash ISA allowance for any funds in old accounts and look for a bank or building society that offers a consistently good rate.
Consolidate multiple pensions
If you have built up lots of small pensions, either by opting out or through work, look to see if these can be consolidated. You will need expert help as some older pension funds have valuable guarantees.
Make sure funds are not underperforming
Watch where you money is invested. A recent survey showed that more than £9 billion is invested in funds that have underperformed their own benchmarks by more than 10%. If you have savings that are invested and you are unsure as to how they are being managed, seek professional advice.
Get tax free lump sums
If you have expensive credit card debts or loans and you are over 55, consider releasing the tax free cash from any pensions to pay off these liabilities again expert advice is required.
It seems that over the past few years banks have become the enemy of the ordinary person. Banks being bailed out by taxes, customers being ripped off by PPI, bankers awarding themselves massive bonuses….it makes it hard to trust these financial institutions or to think that they can do good things with your money.
If you have debts, it can seem even worse. Trying to pay everything off and keep on top of payments, while watching credit cards accrue interest and still being able to afford to live is daunting and depressing.
After going back to education, I found myself in this situation. An overdraft, two loans and a credit card meant that I had a fairly large amount of debt all spread out over different creditors. Here are some tips and options for people who find themselves in a similar situation.
When a consumer has stopped paying their debts, regardless of the reason, the creditor will usually refer the debtor’s account to a collections agency. These professional debt collectors typically make money by taking a percentage of the debt that they collect for their clients. So, as you might imagine, they have an incentive to successfully collect debts by any means necessary.
In the last few decades, this led to debt collectors adopting common practices that were considered abusive, unfair, and downright cruel. Some of these tactics caused emotional distress, harmed interpersonal relationships, led to some people being intimidated into paying debts they didn’t owe, and occasionally escalated into physical violence.
In response, Congress passed, and President Carter signed, the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) in 1978. This law, designed to protect consumers from some of the worst abuses of the debt collection industry, while still making it reasonably easy for collectors to collect valid debts, prohibits certain conduct by debt collectors, and imposes certain obligations on them.
Generally, the FDCPA only applies to third-party debt collectors (people who the original creditor hires to collect debts on their behalf). It does not generally apply to original creditors. Most federal courts have interpreted the law to apply to debt buyers, as well, even though they’re technically collecting their own debts. Some states, such asCalifornia, have laws similar to the FDCPA, which
This article will discuss some of the rules that are imposed on debt collectors, and what redress consumers have if any of these rules are violated. The FDCPA is a large and fairly complicated law, so this article will only cover some of its most important features. It should not be construed as a comprehensive guide to all of the law’s provisions. With that said, here are some of them:
Required Conduct
Prohibited Conduct
If any of these rules (an others, not mentioned) are violated by the debt collector, they may face statutory damages of up to $1,000 per violation.
If you believe that any of these rules have been violated by a debt collector who has contacted you, you should speak with a consumer protection attorney immediately.
John Richards is a writer for LegalMatch.com and the LegalMatch.com Law Blog. The above should not be construed as legal advice. The only person qualified to give you legal advice for your particular situation is an attorney licensed to practice law in your jurisdiction.
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The Road to a 7 Figure Income
