Wednesday, March 29, 2006

UK Mortgage Insurance - Need for Mortgage Insurance.

By: Nash
Insurance is a great way to safeguard your self from the uncertainties in life. Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance is designed to protect you from getting into debt or missing the mortgage payments due to unemployment. If you are living in a country like UK mortgage insurance is extremely important to protect your self from getting into ever increasing debt. In case you are not able to make the mortgage payments on account of various reasons like unemployment due to ill health or old age etc, having the Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance or mortgage insurance really helps.

Earlier, the government used to pay the interest on the mortgage if you were unemployed. In the UK mortgage insurance was recommended by the government to the home owners. For millions of people in UK mortgage insurance is now becoming an essential part of their financial planning.

In UK mortgage insurance was brought into the market as a substitute to government help. The intention is to cover the mortgage payments in case of non-ability of the insured to make the monthly mortgage payments. Just like any other policy, the insurer has to pay a monthly premium depending upon the mortgage amount. In case of unemployment, the mortgage insurance company will make the payments on your behalf. There a many mortgage insurance policies available in the market. Many UK mortgage companies provide you with mortgage insurance. If you want to go for a mortgage insurance of your choice, then you can approach another mortgage insurance broker independently.

Choosing the right mortgage insurance.

There are many mortgage insurance policies available in the market. Choose the one that suits your needs and requirements perfectly. A mortgage insurance policy that covers a wide range of circumstances for accepting claims should ideally be picked. The mortgage insurance companies offer all kinds of covers like life insurance, handicap, ailment and severe illness.

The mortgage insurance policy should be carefully scrutinized. Read the fine print and understand the terms and conditions of the policy properly. There can be various conditions and clauses under which the mortgage insurance company is not liable to pay. Majority of the mortgage insurance companies do not pay out in the initial three months. Even afterwards, most of the mortgage insurance companies take around 60 days for a payout. So you will have to make arrangements for the mortgage payment during that period. Some UK mortgage insurance companies take around 90 to 120 days for a payout. Such mortgage insurance companies can be avoided.

The Premium

The premium for a mortgage insurance policy depends on the clauses and conditions it has. In the UK mortgage insurance quotes vary from £2.45 to £9 per £100 of the covered amount. The Association of British Insurers recommends a premium of £4.50 per £100 of the amount covered under the mortgage insurance. There are various deals and offers from the mortgage insurance companies all year around so you should do some research work before choosing a mortgage insurance policy.

Some mortgage companies offer a complimentary mortgage insurance policy along with the mortgage. Many people take the offer as they don’t have to pay any premium during the initial period. Although it might be beneficial to some extent, it should not be the deciding factor for choosing a mortgage insurance policy.

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

Please visit our website: UK Mortgage Insurance
www.uk-insurance-online.com

Buying A Home With Bad Credit - How To Buy With Past Credit Problems

By: Carrie Reeder
Late payments on credit cards, automobile loans, and medical bills can greatly reduce your credit score and give you a bad credit label. Years ago, it was extremely difficult to get approved for a home loan with bad credit. However, many lenders are offering a range of bad credit loans that make homeownership a reality for the millions of people living with poor credit.

Bad credit mortgage loans have several benefits. Many people avoid these loans because of the higher interest rates. Instead of focusing on the negative aspect of bad credit mortgages individuals should reflect on the fact that these mortgages can help improve credit rating. Higher credit scores will qualify you for better mortgage rates in the future.

Although individuals with poor credit have options, it is important to take necessary steps to help improve your credit score before applying for a home loan. Moreover, when the time comes to find a lender, shopping around is essential for locating the lowest rate.

Improving credit score is a long process that requires determination and patience. If you are hoping to buy a home with past credit problems, it’s wise to fix credit issues before applying for a mortgage. Credit has a huge role in the approval process. Lenders prefer good credit applicants. Nonetheless, they are willing to work with those who have a low credit score.

Having good credit opens the door for many financing options. Furthermore, better mortgage rates are offered to those with a high score. There is a difference between having bad credit and terrible credit.

If you have bad credit, getting approved with a comparable rate is doable. However, you must search for a good lender. On the other hand, if you have very bad or terrible credit, it may be more beneficial to delay buying a home and make credit improvements.

Shopping around for the best mortgage rate is critical for homebuyers with bad credit. Too many lenders prey on individuals with a low credit rating because they have fewer options. The key to avoiding a lender’s scam involves shopping around and comparing quotes.

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

Visit www.abcloanguide.com/lessthanperfectcredit.shtml for a list of bad credit mortgage companies. View our recommended lenders for a bad credit home loan.

Sub Prime Mortgage Lenders - How To Get Approved Online

By: Carrie Reeder
Sub prime mortgage lenders process applications online everyday. Processing information over the internet speeds up the process and saves costs on offices and personal. In some cases, you can get a reduction in fees or rates by completing your application online. To get approved on your mortgage, follow these tips.

Sub Prime Mortgage Factors

Sub prime mortgage lenders each have their own criteria for assigning loan scores to lenders. The higher the score you get, the better the rate you qualify for. Credit history is important, but so are cash assets, your income, and down payments.

On average sub prime lenders like to have a down payment of 20% or more. However, they offer a variety of loan terms. You can even get a zero down mortgage, but expect to pay a couple of points higher.

Picking a fixed or adjustable rate will also determine how much you qualify to borrow. In general ARMs have lower monthly payments, so you can borrow more. Sub prime lenders also handle interest only loans and balloon payments.

Online Loan Application Forms

Online loan application forms are straight forward. Over a secure connection you provide your personal information, usually name, address, and social security number. If you have a property in mind to purchase, you will also need to include the property’s address and selling price.

If you requested a loan quote, you may not even have to fill out any additional personal information. Much of your financial information can be found in databases. The financing company will complete your application and ask for your approval before closing.

Finishing Final Paperwork

Mortgages usually take about four weeks to process. The sub prime lender has to verify the property’s value and your credit. An escrow company will also help you handle the exchange of money, primarily the closing costs and points.

As with a regular loan, your paperwork will require your approval and signature. Instead of going to a home office though, you will need a notary. Most companies schedule a notary to come to you at your convenience. After paperwork is received, funds should be processed in three days.

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

Visit www.abcloanguide.com/lessthanperfectcredit.shtml for a list of subprime mortgage lenders. View our recommended subprime mortgage lenders online.

Buying A Home After Foreclosure

By: Carrie Reeder
After a foreclosure, you may be a little hesitant to apply for a new home loan. Moreover, several lenders will question your ability and willingness to repay the mortgage. Although there are many obstacles to getting approved for a mortgage loan after a foreclosure, homeownership is attainable. The key is choosing the right lender and picking the best finance package.

Which Lenders Offer Mortgages after Foreclosure?

Traditional mortgage lenders such as banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions rarely offer loans to those with a past foreclosure. However, some traditional lenders will offer sub prime loans to those with poor credit. Sub prime loans are intended especially for people with a low credit score. If your home was recently foreclosed, you likely have a negative credit rating. In this instance, a sub prime loan is helpful.

Although some traditional lenders offer sub prime loans, there selection is limited. Moreover, these lenders may require a down payment. If you are hoping to get approved with no money down, it may help to apply with a lender that specializes in bad credit mortgage loans.

Finding Sub Prime Mortgage Lenders

The easiest and most effective means of finding a good sub prime lender is through a mortgage broker. Brokers can be found locally or on the internet. Online mortgage brokers allow easy loan comparisons. Making comparisons are necessary for ensuring you get the lowest mortgage rate possible. If comparing quotes without a broker, you will have to contact each individual lender. This can be easily avoided by using a broker.

Benefits of a Mortgage Loan Quote

Neglecting to obtain several mortgage quotes may cost you thousands of dollars throughout the life of the loan. When requesting a mortgage quote after a foreclosure, you must provide the lender with accurate information in order to receive a precise quote.

Once the lender reviews your information, they will remit a rough quote. Loan quotes consists of estimated mortgage rate, loan terms, monthly payments, etc. Quotes are no-obligation. Thus, you have the right to refuse or accept a lender’s offer. Lender comparisons can aid a person with choosing the right lender, and help bad credit applicants avoid deceitful lenders.

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

Visit www.abcloanguide.com for a list of bad credit mortgage lenders. View our recommended lenders to help you buy a home after a foreclosure.

Home Equity Loans – The Pitfalls Of Releasing The Equity In Your Home

By: Joseph Kenny
House prices have been rising fast all over the UK over the last couple of years. Many people are experiencing a significant increase in their overall wealth as a result. In the United States, this has been termed the ‘wealth effect’ with an increase in the value of people’s homes being recognised as creating the confidence among consumers to borrow and spend more money and thus fuel the economy. The very same trends can be witnessed in the UK where people are using the equity in their homes to pay for more and more luxuries.

Basic Concept of Home Equity

The way this works is quite simple. Supposing you take out a one hundred per cent mortgage and buy a home for one hundred thousand pounds. Since you borrowed one hundred thousand, and spent one hundred thousand, you will have a net equity of zero, since your assets (the house) are equal to your debts (the mortgage). However, with increasing house prices, it is common for such a house to be worth say one hundred and fifty thousand pounds after a few years. This will now leave you with a positive equity of fifty thousand pounds, since you still only owe the bank one hundred thousand, or in fact probably less by now. You have increased your wealth by fifty thousand pounds without actually doing anything.

Unlocking the Equity

This extra wealth does not have to stay locked up in your house. What you can do is go to a bank, and ask them to lend you fifty thousand and secure it over the extra value in your home. If you do this, you will not have higher mortgage payments as the amount you owe the bank is higher, but you will also have fifty thousand pounds to spend as you wish.

Re-Invest In The Home?

You do not have to spend it all at once, but many people pay for home improvements or extensions with the money. This is generally a good idea, as since the debt is long term, you should spend it on something that will benefit you in the long term, and probably further increase the value of your home. Other people may spend the money on cars, shopping sprees and holidays, which may not be such a wise decision as you will be repaying the mortgage over the next twenty five years, but will have spend all of the money within a couple of months.

While the choice of how to spend the money rests with individuals, the fact of the matter is that more and more people are taking advantage of the equity in their home in this way.

Dangers of Home Equity Loans

Everything is rosy in the garden at the moment, but what would happen if you unlocked your equity, had the time of your life travelling around the world only to come back home to find that you have lost your job? In the example above you would not only be one hundred thousand pounds in debt, there would be another fifty thousand – the equity that you have just spent. This will result in increased mortgage payments that you will struggle to pay without any income.

The Housing Market Collapse

However, the most disturbing factor involved would be a change in the direction of the housing market. You may believe that your home is safe and can’t lose value in an economy that never stops growing, but it can. During the Eighties in the UK we witnessed just that. In the first few years a fantastic boom were everyone seemed to have money, times were good, then suddenly the interest rates begun to rise in an attempt by the Bank of England to curb spending. Mortgage repayments for almost every household in the UK also increased and people started to downsize their homes in an attempt to decrease their monthly payments. The housing market became static and prices fell, pushing peoples mortgages into negative equity.

Precautions in Home Equity Loans

What this article hopes to impose on you is that you should never rely on any outside factors for your home. As any Las Vegas gambler will tell you, never ‘gamble’ with a with things that you can’t afford to lose. If you are considering a home equity loan then you should use the money carefully, the optimum use (and most common) is to re-invest in your home, increasing its’ value.

You may freely reprint this article as long as the author bio and live links are left intact.

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

Joseph Kenny writes for the UK Loan Store, visit them here, www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk and more information on home loans available on site.

Mortgage Choices That You Have

By: Maksim Fisher
When selecting a mortgage, there are many things to think about and wonder about. For anyone that is looking for a way to secure the best loan for their next or first home, they should weigh all of their options, carefully deciding what the right way to go is. With so many different types of mortgages out there, though, this can be relatively difficult for you to do. Take a moment, then, to find the best way to get your mortgage to fit within your life.

Here are some of the mortgage options that you have and you should carefully consider before purchasing your home.

New Timers: If this is your first home loan, you have the advantage in many ways. First of all, you may qualify for a government backed loan. The FHA loan is a commonly used loan that allows for the lenders to offer better interest rates and lower fees. It can help any new homeowner to actually secure the home that they want even when their credit is not that great. This federal government will help to back these loans for you, giving you more of an option in funding it. Also, there are many benefits offered to first time home buyers throughout the states from various cities. Find out if your city offers any benefits to moving here.

The Down Payment: When it comes to having a down payment or not, many of those that bought homes twenty or more years ago, did so with large down payments. Today, many people are buying them without any. Which is the right way to go? If you do not have the funds set aside for a down payment on your home, you should still consider purchasing one. If you do have the funds to put down on a home, do it. This can greatly reduce the amount of money that will need to be financed which means less interest payments on it as well. Carefully consider the amortization schedules that you can get before signing a mortgage to determine if it is a better choice all around.

VA Loans: If you have served in the armed forces of the US, you may qualify for a VA loan. These will allow an individual to secure a loan with federally backed funds. It can help to lower the cost of the home’s interest rate too. If you are applying for a mortgage with a home lender, make sure to tell them of this status as it can greatly help you.

With so many options, it pays to do your homework. The good news is that there are tools called loan calculators that you can use to help you to see what your monthly payment will be as well as how much your home will end up costing you with various options like these. Use them and see what the best solution for your needs is. This can be done easily and within seconds right on the web. Also, always ask your mortgage lender to inform you of any and all options that you may qualify for with your home loan.

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

Maksim Fisher is a freelance writer, specialising in finance subjects such as loans, banking, mortgage, etc. He recommends use of a mortgage calculator for calculations at www.mortgagecalculatorplus.com.

Secured vs. Unsecured Loans

By: Alan Luong
Essentially, there are two types of loans: secured loans and unsecured loans. Secured loans are loans in which you pledge some sort of collateral. The bank may repossess the collateral if you do not repay the loan according to the terms you agreed to when you took out the loan.

Unsecured loans are not backed by any collateral. You borrow money on the strength of your good credit and ability to repay alone.

Revolving vs. Installment Loans

Revolving and installment describe the amount of time you have to pay back a loan. With a revolving loan, you have access to a continuous source of credit, up to your credit limit. You repay only the amount of the credit you use, plus interest on the unpaid amount. You may re-borrow the principal you've repaid. So the loan could remain "open" for years.

With an installment loan, you pay an agreed amount, which includes principal and interest, every month. Each payment reduces the balance of the loan until it is paid off. There is a fixed ending date, known as the term of the loan.

Fixed vs. Adjustable Interest Rate Loans

Fixed interest is just that. You and the bank agree to a certain interest rate and it remains constant throughout the term of the loan. Fixed interest rates give you the stability of always knowing what your payment will be, so you can budget accordingly.

Adjustable or variable rate interest fluctuates. Usually it is pegged to the Prime Rate - the interest the U.S. Treasury charges to its best borrowers. When the Prime Rate is high, such as during a period of inflation, you pay more. When the Prime Rate is low, such as when the government is trying to stimulate the economy during a recession, you save on interest. If you need to borrow during a period of high interest, your payments will drop once the Prime Rate drops.

Types Of Loans

Auto Loans: A secured loan in which the collateral is the vehicle you purchase.

Credit Cards: An unsecured loan which allows you a line of credit against which you may borrow by presenting a plastic card to the merchant from whom you are purchasing the item. You may make more than one purchase, up to your credit limit.

Personal Loans: Secured or unsecured loans made for a fixed purpose.

Mortgages: A secured loan in which the collateral is the real estate you buy.

Home Equity Loan: A secured loan for a fixed amount in which the collateral is your home. In some cases, the interest on this loan may be tax deductible. See your accountant.

Home Equity Credit Line: A secured, revolving line of credit in which the collateral is your home. In some cases, the interest on this loan or a portion of it may be tax deductible. Consult a tax professional or your accountant.

Home Improvement Loan: A secured loan for a lump sum fixed amount in which the collateral is your home. The money may only be spent on home improvements. The interest on this loan may be tax deductible. Consult a tax professional or your accountant. (In some areas of the country, a home improvement loan "secured by the equity in your home" may not be available. In these areas, an unsecured home improvement loan would be available.)

Student Loan (Stafford Loan) A loan for college expenses underwritten by the U.S. Government. The loan is granted to the student. Payment is deferred while the student is still in school.

Personal Line of Credit: Unsecured loans allowing you access to funds up to a fixed credit limit.

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

Alan is the site owner of www.dezeinfo.com, which is a loan site that provides you information on payday loan such as how to get started, where to apply, and how to avoid online loan scam.

8 Danger Signals to foretell you are on the debt road

By: Sebastian Schneider
Debt consolidation is a major concern throughout the world. There are many things that one needs to watch for to avoid this malady and this stands true for all types of people. The article will try to highlight a few danger signals which can foretell that you are on the debt road - so you can recognize them and straighten things out.

Danger signal 1
Your credit card expenses increase while your income is the same or decreasing. When this happens stop using your cards and manage on whatever cash you have available. Stop when the cash is finished unless there is a great emergency – do not take out the cards. Diminishing income will suffer greatly if the bills of the credit card are added to it; get away from card shopping till your income stabilizes.

Danger signal 2
You are unable to pay more than your minimum balance on the card debts; this is when it should be obvious that cash problem has started; this is the time when you should leave the credit cards and try to pay off all your outstanding by wise financial management.

Danger signal 3
You find yourself borrowing on one card to pay on another. This is the message that you are entering unmanageable debt – so take charge and control all unnecessary expenses right away. Try to pay off the debt of one card and use only one card – that also only in acute emergency.

Danger signal 4
You observe that you have more than 5-6 credit cards. Ideally, you should not have or use more than two credit cards. There are many who advocate the use of only one card while – if you have more – you can keep the rest locked for any emergency. When you have too many operational cards, you can very easily over spend and find yourself in a financial mess.

Danger signal 5
You are finding that you are using your credit more and more for emergency payments – and the emergency payments include grocery bills. The moment you include in the emergency payment list ordinary purchases, you should understand that something is seriously.

Danger signal 6
Your credit card payments keep you working overtime – if you observe that you do not have sufficient funds to cover your credit card payments – that means you are extending your income to your credit card limits – this is a definitely a danger signal.

Danger signal 7
You are at limit of all your credit cards. When you find yourself to have topped the limits of your credit cards –this obviously shows you that your income is not sufficient to take care of your expenses – and or you are spending too much.

Danger signal 8
You are gambling and paying the debts with the credit cards. Never ever pay your gambling debts with the credit cards because this will really create an egg-and-chicken vicious circle from where you will never get out.

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

© 2006 by Sebastian Schneider. To get to know more about anything related to debts and loans, visit Credit Card Debt Consolidation to read informative and instructive articles.

What Is True Wealth?

By: Chris Cooper
What is true wealth? What should you expect if you reach the end of the gold paved road to financial freedom? If you have a million dollars, will you be satisfied? What about 10 million? Is true wealth a numbers game or do other factors enter into the equation?

Ebenizer Scrooge of Dicken’s The Christmas Carol was very wealthy for his time, but before meeting the three ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, he lived a miserable life, too cheap to even heat his own apartment.

Meanwhile his clerk, with his many children, was portrayed as happy and loving - a great father. Of course this is fiction, but is there any truth to the story? Many people will work incessantly trying to accumulate more and more wealth, but a trite joke is that their last words are never: “I wished I spent more time at work.”

For some people the only answer to the question; “What is true wealth?", is money pure and simple - the more money the better. Others would be content to say that true wealth is having the peace of mind of being free of debt. Another will say he is truly wealthy if he can lead the lifestyle he chooses regardless of cost. Others might say true wealth is being healthy and surrounded by loving family and caring friends. There are probably as many answers to this question as they are people to answer it.

You could live in a big house on the hill, have two Mercedes in the garage and a million in the bank and not enjoy life as much as the guy who works in the gas station and lives in a two room furnished apartment.

True wealth is what one perceives it to be. And if it were not so, we wouldn’t have policemen, firemen and soldiers who risk their lives protecting us rather than trying to work on Wall Street, making big bucks.

We wouldn’t have doctors who travel to third world countries, just trying to make some difference, rather than to stay at home with a thriving practice and a comfortable life.

We wouldn’t have all the volunteers this country has, who are ready and willing to help the sick, infirm or destitute – or who suddenly turn up at disaster scenes willing to do anything to help.

This country wouldn’t have the millions of people who donate billions of dollars annually to the charities of their choice. So even thought we concentrate on financial matters, it’s good to step back and realize there is more to true wealth than money. I believe that having enough wealth to live a comfortable life makes lots of other things possible. I also believe that being in debt is merely transferring your wealth to your creditors. While it may make them, or their shareholders rich, it really contributes little to your true wealth.

So my answer will be adopted from Mr. Spock’s famous Vulcan greeting: “Live Debt Free and Prosper.”

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

Chris Cooper, a retired attorney, and his wife Aileen, who has an MBA in Finance, provide personal financial planning advice at Credit Yourself Your Financial Planning Guide

Where Did My Paycheck Go?

By: Chris Bednarz
The typical scenario is that you get your paycheck. After you recover from the shock at how little is left after taxes, you proceed to divvy it up among all your outstanding bills, intending to put whatever is left over into your savings.
But there never seems to be anything left over and your savings don’t grow.

A better plan would be to pay yourself first. Don’t let the money get into your hands. You might find that you actually begin to grow your savings much quicker this way. If you work for an employer with a 401K plan, the first thing you should do is to fund it to the max. If you can’t afford that, at least put enough in to get the full matching contribution form your employer.

This investment is made before taxes. Your investment is larger and with the employers contribution grows quickly. Next, have a brokerage or mutual fund company debit your banking account monthly. This money should first go into an IRA – if you have five years or more to go to retirement, make it a Roth IRA.

Next, have a few dollars more be debited to go into a no-load, low cost mutual fund. The younger you are, the more aggressive your choice of fund can be. After that is done, then figure out how to pay your bills and living expenses. If money is tight, cut back on your living expenses and use the extra money to pay down your debt.

Start with the lowest balance first. Once that debt is paid, take the amount of money you were paying on that debt and add it to the payment on the next lowest balance debt. Continue doing this and you can be totally debt free within 5 to 7 years.

Another version of this method is paying the highest interest rate debt first. The principal is the same, you just see more progress with the first method, although it could be more costly based on how your debt is distributed.

(If you don’t believe me, get the premier version of Microsoft Money or Quicken and use the “Debt Reduction” module. You will be shocked at how much money you will save and how fast you can eliminate debt this way.)

The idea is to scrimp at the expense of your current lifestyle, while leaving your savings to grow and you debt to shrink. I know many of the people reading this will scream that this is an impossible plan. But it is quite doable with a little will power and the ability to delay gratification for a while.
The problem is that if you don’t do this, your future might turn out to be very bleak.

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

Chris Cooper, a retired attorney, and his wife Aileen, who has a MBA in Finance, provide financial planning advice at Credit Yourself

Fantasy Income

By: Paul Babs
As Einstein said, everything in life is relative, and one’s income is no exception. While the vast majority of the world lives with an income that is below poverty level (eating only one small meal a day), there are others who make up the jet set and fly first class across the planet to share dinner with a friend. Who is happiest? Hard to say, for income ultimately has little to do with happiness. It’s all relative.

The income of many corporate executives boggles the mind. Newspapers refer to these salaries as ‘breathtaking,” “mind-numbing,” “eye-popping,” and “scandalous.” While it takes courage and dedication to be the top person in today’s major corporations, shareholders still have a hard time grasping that the CEO is worth $10 million a year before benefits. No one really knows if these corporate officers are really happy or not.

School teachers have dreams of sharing and shaping the future of the young generations. They put in as many hours as the CEO’s, and in today’s world struggle along with kids against drug and alcohol use, the violence and abnormal sex presented by TV, disintegrated family lives, a multitude of languages, and poverty life-styles. The daunting challenge of a teacher’s work environment would destroy anyone not truly dedicated to teaching. Income counts to a teacher, but it does not control the final choice to teach. Almost every-body agrees that teachers are way underpaid. Their satisfaction comes from nurturing the future the best they can under the circumstances, not from their income. Doctors and dentists have the amazing distinction of not blinking an eye at charging a poor person an entire year’s income for healing or ‘fixing’ them. True, the doctors do have medical school bills and technical equipment to pay for. However, the poor person can experience more pain from the dentist describing the new yacht he bought then he does from having his tooth drilled. When they go home at night, who is happiest? There’s no way to tell. Money doesn’t buy happiness, it’s only a tool.

Although the grass on the other side of the fence always looks greener, following one’s own dreams of creativity and service, and loving your fellow humans just the way they are, remains the most exciting, happiest way to live one’s life. Making decisions based on income alone leads down a pathway of defeat. Loving the income you have right now magnetically can attract more, and the loving adds the happiness.

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

Paul Babs is the owner of Sheaves Vitamin which deals with all income matters.

The Benefits Of Saving For Your Child's School Finance

By: Codi Morieta
Defining your savings goals is the first thing to do before you invest, especially when that investment will have an impact on your child’s future.
It is after-all your child’s future that you are investing in--and school finance cannot be avoided, as babies will grow into adults who need to be given the best opportunities we can offer as parents.

The best advice that any parent can get is to start saving early. College tuition fees can cause a strain on your family's budget and lifestyle. You need to have a goal to keep you motivated to save. And what better motivation is there than knowing that the money you save will finance your child's education.

Normally the best stage to start saving for your child’s finance towards college tuition is at birth. If, however, you have not started, then the time to start saving is now. It is never too late to start saving.

The sooner you start saving, the more time there’ll be for compound interest to build up into a nice college fund for your child. Remember that each child should get his or her school finance savings fund.

You also need to decide the amount you intend to save by the time that your child reaches college age. There are many options available for you to choose from when it dollar amount. This means that you calculate the projected cost of public college tuition by the time your child is ready for college.

The other commonly used method, which many parents prefer, involves devoting a fixed percentage of income to their child's future college costs. The idea is this: whatever you do, you have to have a defined goal. You should save as much as you can, whether it be a large amount, like several hundred dollars a month or a more modest amount, such as $25 to $50 each month.

A college education is an investment in the future of your child. If you truly want to see your child succeed, as all parents do, what could possibly be a better investment?

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

You can find out more on to acquire the mindset and behavior of the rich, copy exactly what they are doing to achieve financial success, and stay wealthy all your life on the website at www.smart-ways-to-make-money.com

Personal Finance Is Your Responsibility

By: Codi Morieta
Whether or not you choose to ignore it, you cannot deny the truth embedded in this statement: Your personal finance is and always will be your responsibility.

When it comes to finance, many people put an impractical blind eye to the fact that finances need to be managed. Personal finance is an ever-growing popular term for adults and teenagers alike, regardless of whether you are earning the money or not. After-all bills have to be paid, family members have to be fed and your lifestyle has to be maintained.

The biggest and most neglected step for many families is teaching their teens how to manage their money. Teenage finance is about educating teens on the value of money. Teach them how to save by showing them how to use their primitive form of book-keeping. This can often be incorporated through the child's upbringing via
piggy-banks, savings accounts, and little chores in exchange for money.

Teenage finance is an important part of your personal finance because, too. When your children learn to save and use money wisely, you are subsequently saved from bailing them out of financial troubles in the future.

Personal Ethics and finance go hand-in-hand; if you have a good relationship with yourself, you will be able to save money. You won’t feel the urge to do things that go against your ethics like sign-up for a credit card using someone else’s name.

Personal finance involves taking a few steps toward safe-guarding your money. Your money spent should not exceed your money received. In order to prevent this from happening, you should make a crude balance sheet and use it to record all of your transactions.

Each month write down how much was received and how much was spent. Make a list of all the things the money was spent on, so you can keep track of your money.

You will be amazed at how much we spend on things that are not necessities.
Make a list and stick to it. Always try to get the best deal for your money and remember that cheaper does not necessarily mean lower quality. After-all it is your money; managing your personal finances should be seen as a mandatory part of making money work for you.

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

You can find out more on to acquire the mindset and behavior of the rich, copy exactly what they are doing to achieve financial success, and stay wealthy all your life on Rene Graeber´s website at www.smart-ways-to-make-money.com

How A Millionaire Manages One Dollar

By: Francis Kier
If you don’t know how manage a million dollars, I guarantee that the money will quickly disappear if I wrote you a giant check right now. Precisely like 90% of lottery winners that go bust within five years, they didn’t have the basic discipline or the formula to handle the money that would have created a financial foundation that would last for generations. Learn how to manage a single dollar so that you can move up to the financial big-leagues on your own.

Give a millionaire a dollar and they will do something predictable: They will display the discipline not to spend it. That dollar will be deposited into a savings account where it earns interest income. A millionaire does not spend earned income! They only spend the income from their investments. A millionaire cycles money from a job, overtime pay, bonus, etc., into investment accounts. When you start out, you probably don’t have any investments so how are you going to pay your bills? Reject the saying: “Try to save some money after you pay the bills each month.” This rarely happens and may be too little to add up to much. That saying is psychologically backwards. The new saying that I you want to begin with is: “Don’t invest all of your earned income each month, pay a few bills with it.” Do you see the millionaire difference?

Let’s talk about financial building blocks. Give a millionaire a dollar and they will split it up into the distinct building blocks of a solid financial foundation. Ten-cents of that dollar will be allocated to a permanent investment account that is never spent. This account builds your wealth. As I have said before: “Wealth can only be created and maintained by the amount of money that you receive and do not spend.” Well, this is that account, and you need to increase it by a piece of every dollar that you receive. Another ten-cents will be allocated to a savings account. This is a delayed-spending account for expensive purchases such as vacation, home repairs, or cars.

Millionaires save money to buy something before they purchase it, not afterward on credit where you have to pay interest. The next ten-cents is allocated to wealth education. The economy is always changing and you are ultimately responsible for directing all of your money. The only way to do this wisely is to add to your investment knowledge. Get investing ideas by paying for advisors, books, courses, newsletters, magazines, and newspapers. The three-dimes that were just allocated for different purposes is the wealth formula of millionaires; this is how wealth can be built to last for generations. It is only after these three buckets get their share of the dollar that part of it is allocated for taxes on that dollar. Notice that a millionaire pays the taxman after the important building blocks get their share.

There is no such thing as “income before taxes”. There is a tax liability on all income from whatever source. So a millionaire will have a tax strategy in place to receive that dollar before it is ever deposited at the bank. Millionaires don’t overpay their taxes, they manage tax liabilities because they are your single largest expense (Add up how much you paid for income tax to the IRS, state, city, and property taxes – it is probably a much bigger number than you expect). Some ways to minimize your taxes include setting up a part-time business to create legitimate deductions, buying investments that offer depreciation like real estate and oil, and finding the best CPA to give you advice.

The managing-a-dollar formula that the millionaires follow is: minimize the tax liabilities, allocate parts of it to build your financial foundation, decrease the percentage of earned-income that you spend until it is zero, and forge the discipline to consistently follow this routine. Now, at what age do you wish that you had learned this material? At what age do you think you should start exposing your children to these ideas? The correct answer is: as early as possible (and when they start getting an allowance at the very latest).

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

Francis Kier has an MBA in finance and shares his two decades of experience with investing and personal finance. More of his articles are available at investing.real-solution-center.com.