Understanding Bonds To Avoid Risk By Bill Dufrane

With a plethora of ways to analyze bonds, it might make your head spin. Even so, evaluating the potential risk before you buy and calculating your potential returns is an essential step in the process of acquiring bonds.

1. Evaluate All Potential Risks

You should pay attention to all the details - interest rates, inflation, how easy it is to sell that particular bond, you name it.

2. Credit Risks

It doesnt matter what kind of bond you choose to invest in, there is always a credit risk. In 1995, U.S. Treasuries, considered the gold standard of bonds were close to default for the first time in history. For corporates and municipals the risks are even greater, running everywhere from the AAAAaa to B and below. These are often called junk bonds.

3. Bond Evaluation Checklist

- What is your earning potential?
- What is the current earnings per share?
- What is a typical divident payment?
- What is the outstanding debt?
- What forseeable technological changes might affect this bond?
- What is the track record of management?

4. Dividends

As debt loads grow, the amount of interest paid increases, reducing the amount for such investments as well as bringing a company closer to default on existing debt, since only so much can be sustained by current revenues.

5. Interest Rates

A large number of bond issues have maturities with 5-30 year periods. Any change in the prevailing interest rates affects unmatured bonds in two ways. A rise in rates depresses the price for those considering selling prior to maturity, since investors can get a better rate with a new instrument. Also, the pressure to sell rises, since the bondholder can himself get a higher rate with a new instrument. The longer he holds the older one, the more opportunity costs he incurs.

7. Dealing With Inflation

Inflation is the enemy of bonds. It will significantly reduce your return on any bond. Even ignoring tax issues, an 8% bond in a 4% inflation environment is worth half its coupon value. Historically, inflation tends to increase more than it decreases. When it does decrease the general economy tends to suffer, worsening returns for all investments. Know the rate of inflation and the market conditions before you invest.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=92565&ca=Finances

How To Save Money On A Holiday By Sue Barnard

In the past we had to rely to a large extent on the services of a travel agent when planning and booking a holiday. This was particularly true if planning a trip abroad. However with internet sites and easy communication via email, it is possible to research and organise your holiday plans online using separate providers for accommodation, travel, insurance and so on. This freedom to shop around takes time but will save you money.

Accommodation

The greatest expense on holiday is likely to be the accommodation and travel. Accommodation at home and abroad can now often be booked direct with the owner. Thanks to the internet, owners do not have to rely on advertising through large companies, so prices are not inflated by agent’s fees. Of course some owners do not want to deal direct with customers and still use agents. You can often find small companies local to your chosen destination. They have fewer overheads so prices are lower and you can also benefit from their detailed knowledge of their properties and the area.

Travel

The increasing number of no frills budget airlines have, of course, made a big difference to many travel plans. Look out for offers online and in the media, particularly for off peak periods. If you are travelling to Europe then you may want to take your own car. Ferry crossings can seem expensive at first sight but remember the price quoted usually includes several passengers and you won’t have to think about a hire car. Short crossings and the Channel Tunnel are cheaper but may involve more driving, depending on your holiday destination.

Travel insurance costs

Never try and save money by ignoring travel insurance completely. This could end up becoming a costly mistake if you have to cancel, need medical attention abroad, or a breakdown service. However, you do not have to use the policy offered by the travel company. Shop around for an independent deal from another source. Online comparison sites make this an easy process. If you are a frequent traveller you can save money by buying an extended travel insurance package. This works like a season ticket so you will be covered however often you travel during the agreed period.

Try to be flexible

If you are flexible with dates and locations it is possible to find very good last minute deals. There are websites which specialise in assisting with this. However, if you have to, or wish to, plan ahead then if at all possible avoid peak holiday periods. This will immediately give you huge savings.

Of course many people are tied to school holidays when prices are inflated but there are still things you can do to cut costs. Try to find accommodation with flexible change over days so that you can choose a ferry or flight mid week rather than the more expensive weekend options. Look out for reduced rates for children and book direct with the owner if possible.

How about trying something completely different? You may be used to all inclusive hotel holidays but self-catering does not have to be a chore. If you stay in a cottage, gite or apartment you do not have to produce elaborate meals. Take the opportunity to browse at local markets for fresh produce or make the most of the weather and barbecue. Shopping and preparing simple food can easily become part of the fun. Most children love the freedom of camping and many sites now have excellent facilities. Luxury ready erected tents and mobile homes are available and if you book direct with the campsite it will be cheaper than using a large company.

When you are on holiday

So what about once you have arrived at you destination? Although you may wish to have the freedom to travel around, it is worth booking at least some accommodation ahead. It is likely to be cheaper this way and will save you having to accept an overpriced hotel simply because you cannot find anything else when you arrive. Similarly if you know you want to hire a car don’t wait until you arrive at the airport to organise a deal. There are many guide books available which are aimed at particular groups such as students. However, these can be useful information sources for anyone on a budget as they offer advice on good value accommodation, restaurants, and places to visit.

Choose a destination where you know the cost of living is reasonable and check the exchange rate is favourable. Beware of high commission rates and make sure you are not paying more than necessary. Make sure you don’t become a victim of fraud by keeping your credit cards safe. Take necessary telephone contacts with you in case they should get lost or stolen and need to be cancelled.

And finally ….

Whether you take an annual fortnight, opt for a number of short breaks, or you are looking forward to the long haul trip of a lifetime, holiday planning should be fun. The end result will be well worth the time invested in planning.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=93056&ca=Finances

How To Select The Right High Yield Investment By Bill Dufrane

Profit, this is the key to winning the game in the entrepreneurial world. This is also the same key to being successful. Without profits, the business efforts would be rendered futile and meaningless.

Just look at the business endeavors. People invest their time, money and effort to make a company or organization function and run. At the same time, the investments provided must, after some time, give returns to the investor.

Of course, a prudent investor is not just all about having some returns. The goal should be to get high returns or high yields in the investments. In this light, investors should at least double the amount of their money after some period. Thus, if the performance is good enough, the profits can be really high.

As such, there are people who venture into the high yield investment programs. Such programs are known for having high risks. At the same time, the expected profits can also be very high. Just what most of them would say, take the risk to take the reward.

This high yield investment programs have become more known recently because of the online businesses. Today, however, there are many people who are playing this game. Thus, if everybody wants to win, everybody also must be doing everything to do so.

How to Select the Right High Yield Investment

Given the scenario above, it becomes imperative now for a prudent investor to know the ways of getting high yield investments.

The investor must know the right choices to make in the field. He or she must manage the investments well. It is just a matter of knowing the factors that shall affect the investment and make it grow for more profits.

Here are some ways to know how to select the right high yield investment -

1. Research

Before ever venturing into this field, make sure that your entry point, either a company or another investor, make sure that it is reliable and trustworthy.

There are many scams that have fooled people into making them believe that they will make profits with the company. They convince their victims to invest right away their money. In the end, people give up money without getting anything in return because they invested on a non-existing entity.

Big amounts of money are involved in investments. Thus, do not let go of the money easily. Do a research first on a particular program or company. Know the history and performance and then decide.

2. Performance

Study how the investment performs in a particular period. Ideally, this should cover three to five years.

During this time, see how the management or company performs. There are instances when strong trends characterize the market. This is just like good luck, thus, high performance is to be expected.

The more crucial point to look at is how the management will work on other market conditions, especially when the trend in the trade is not that strong.

It is also a good thing to investigate the previous accounts held by a management being considered. Oftentimes, they put their best foot forward when presenting themselves. It is best to see their overall performance as against the good ones only.

3. Conflict of Interest

As much as possible, choose a management who does not get commission for their dealings. This is to avoid a conflict of interest. One cannot expect a manager to work for the interest of their clients if they get commissions too from the other end of the deal.

4. Way of Trading

See how the assets and funds are being traded. Learn about the methods being used. In aiming for high yield investments, this is a crucial aspect. A particular approach can help ensure that you will be able to get the returns, especially in the long term.

5. Drawdown and Profit

It is also good to look at the drawdown and profits of a particular investment. See how it performs in this aspect as the two may balance or offset each other.

For example a profit of 70% definitely sounds good. Of course, if it comes with a 65% drawdown, it would not sound good at all. Compare this to a profit of 35% with a drawdown of only 10%. The latter example is definitely the better deal.

Conclusion

Knowing how to select the right high yield investment as given by the points above can definitely help you in your endeavors. These can definitely increase the likelihood of getting big profits and being a success.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=92778&ca=Finances

A Students Guide To Federal Grants By Linda Emerson

Paying for university or college is one of the most valuable investments you can make in your life. As you know, however, it is also one of the biggest investments too. For this reason, good financial planning well in advance of attending the university of your choice is essential. You will want to create a budget and consider everything - not just tuition but also reasonable living costs. Unfortunately, sometimes budgeting simply isn't enough - and that's where federal grants come into play.

1. Grant Or Scholarship - What's The Difference?

The main difference between a grant and a scholarship is that a scholarship has far more restrictions placed upon it than a grant. Both grants and scholarships are non-repayable, that is, unlike a loan you don't have to pay them back when you are done your schooling. Furthermore, scholarships are for specific academic or athletic categories, whereas grants are awarded primarily on financial need only.

2. Raising Your Chances

There are a few things you can do to raise your chances of being elidgeable for financial assistance. The first and most important thing you can do is get good grades in school - good grades not only might qualify you for a scholarship, but they also make your chances a lot better of being accepted to the university of your choice.

3. Grants To The Rescue

Of course, what if youre not as smart as those students? What will you do to get into college by not spending a lot of money? The government can provide you money for college students who are in need of financial aid. This is called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. This is a form of grant that will determine how much your familys financial strength is. You can fill out a FAFSA form in your school or via the internet in the FAFSA website at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Not only students who have financial difficulty should do this but everyone should do it. This will substantially decrease the amount you will spend to pay for college and can lessen the burden for your parents.

4. Have The Following Information Ready

- Social Security Number
- Latest W-2 forms and other records of money earned.
- Federal Income Tax Return of your parents.
- Permanent Residence Card if a non US citizen.
- Drivers license

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=92545&ca=Finances

A Beginners Guide To Payday Loans By Andy M

Payday loans seem to be a possible solution to meet your emergency money requirements. Payday loans are the short term unsecured loans for minimal amounts. Payday loans can be used to serve any purposes such as paying medical bills, automobile repair, and repayment of any other loans or to avoid the bouncing of any other check. The emergence of multiple online payday loan companies has made the payday loan a more easy option for the people as the processing formalities have become easy. Moreover the payday loans do not involve the hassles of credit checking

Payday loans are structured to satisfy the small money needs of an employed person in between his paydays. And as the name of the loan signifies, you have to repay the amount on the payday. The payday loans processing prerequisites are nominal and there is no need to submit any collateral security, as the loan is an unsecured one. The employment details will be sufficient for a payday loan approval. However, the attributes of payday loan such as loan amount, period of tenure and APR will differ according to the lenders. Now many lenders are available in the market and the lenders are forced to provide the most attractive rates to withstand the competition.

The basic criteria to qualify for a payday loan is this much - the applicant have to be a US citizen, age above 18 years, an employment with income not less than $1000, and a checking account. You have to submit the application with the details of your employment and a post dated check for the amount. If the provided information are correct and found that the person is eligible they will approve the payday loan in no time. The payday loan amount can vary from a few dollars to a maximum of $1000. Some lenders will increase the loan amount through a systematic process. First they will provide the payday loan for minimum amount and if the loan is cleared on time, next time an increased amount will be provided.

The payday loan process is simple and the loan amount will be credited in your checking account within a few hours from the loan approval. The post dated check amount will be inclusive of the loan amount and the additional charges of the payday loan. The lender will hold the check till the payday and he will en-cash the check on the day. Usually, the maximum period of a payday loan is 14 days and rarely 30 days. The lenders have also introduced ‘roll on’ system to increase the payment schedule. If you have any difficulty in the repayment of the due date, using the system the loan can be extended by paying the renewal amount.

However many risks are also associated with the payday loans. The annual percentage rate of about 390 to 780% APR is far high than any other traditional loans. And, if you opt for roll loan the ultimate amount will be far above the original amount. Anyhow, Truth in Lending Act insist that the total cost for the loan including finance charges, APR and all additional amounts, has to be disclosed to the client in writing at the beginning of the payday loan deal.

Payday loans can serve as the best source of money for the immediate requirement. But the practice of taking payday loans essentially has to be intelligently planned or else it may lead to unforeseen difficulties.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=93126&ca=Finances

How To Calculate How Much Money You Will Make On A Bond By Bill Dufrane

If youre going to play the market, youre likely in it to win. You expect a modest return on your investment, or at least to make your money back. Your choice of investment matters a lot, so it really helps if you can calculate how much money you can expect to make. The most general meaning of yield is the amount of money returned (usually annually) in the form of dividends.

Within finance, a bond is a debt security, in which the issuer owes the holders a debt and is obliged to repay the principal and interest (the coupon). Other stipulations may also be attached to the bond issue, such as the obligation for the issuer to provide certain information to the bond holder, or limitations on the behavior of the issuer. Bonds are generally issued for a fixed term (the maturity) longer than one year.

A bond is just a loan, but in the form of a security, although terminology used is rather different. The issuer is equivalent to the borrower, the bond holder to the lender, and the coupon to the interest. Bonds enable the issuer to finance long-term investments with external funds.

1. Current Yeild

If you are looking to estimate the amount of money you stand to gain, the procedure is really quite simple. Divide the annual interest amount paid by the current market price. CY = IAP*100. (The 100 turns the fraction into a percentage.) For example, a $1000 face-value (par) bond with a coupon (interest rate) of 7% that matures in 10 years may sell currently at a discount for $950.

2. Holding Your Bond To Maturity

You will gain the most money in dividends if you hold your bond to maturity. Would you rather have $1000 today or $1000 a year from now, even assuming youre assured of getting paid in a year? Having $1000 sooner rather than later means earning interest on that $1000 for an additional year!

3. Years To Maturity

YTM is the best number to use when comparing bonds with different rates and maturity dates. With a little practice, the process becomes familiar and loses the aura of numerology. Profits go to the fearless. Here's the formula...

c(1 + YTM)-1 + c(1 + YTM)-2 +. .. + c(1 + YTM)-YUM + B(1 + YTM)-YUM = P

c = annual coupon payment (in dollars, not a percentage)
YUM = number of years until maturity
B = par value (original issue price)
P = purchase price

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=92777&ca=Finances

How To Calculate How Much Money You Will Make On A Bond By Bill Dufrane

If youre going to play the market, youre likely in it to win. You expect a modest return on your investment, or at least to make your money back. Your choice of investment matters a lot, so it really helps if you can calculate how much money you can expect to make. The most general meaning of yield is the amount of money returned (usually annually) in the form of dividends.

Within finance, a bond is a debt security, in which the issuer owes the holders a debt and is obliged to repay the principal and interest (the coupon). Other stipulations may also be attached to the bond issue, such as the obligation for the issuer to provide certain information to the bond holder, or limitations on the behavior of the issuer. Bonds are generally issued for a fixed term (the maturity) longer than one year.

A bond is just a loan, but in the form of a security, although terminology used is rather different. The issuer is equivalent to the borrower, the bond holder to the lender, and the coupon to the interest. Bonds enable the issuer to finance long-term investments with external funds.

1. Current Yeild

If you are looking to estimate the amount of money you stand to gain, the procedure is really quite simple. Divide the annual interest amount paid by the current market price. CY = IAP*100. (The 100 turns the fraction into a percentage.) For example, a $1000 face-value (par) bond with a coupon (interest rate) of 7% that matures in 10 years may sell currently at a discount for $950.

2. Holding Your Bond To Maturity

You will gain the most money in dividends if you hold your bond to maturity. Would you rather have $1000 today or $1000 a year from now, even assuming youre assured of getting paid in a year? Having $1000 sooner rather than later means earning interest on that $1000 for an additional year!

3. Years To Maturity

YTM is the best number to use when comparing bonds with different rates and maturity dates. With a little practice, the process becomes familiar and loses the aura of numerology. Profits go to the fearless. Here's the formula...

c(1 + YTM)-1 + c(1 + YTM)-2 +. .. + c(1 + YTM)-YUM + B(1 + YTM)-YUM = P

c = annual coupon payment (in dollars, not a percentage)
YUM = number of years until maturity
B = par value (original issue price)
P = purchase price

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=92777&ca=Finances

Using Home Equity Loans To Make Home Improvements By Rebecca Welch

Home improvement loans can provide money for a complete home remodel or specific home improvements. These upgrades can transform your house into a home and increase your property value. Another benefit is that the money is tax deductible. As long as you carefully evaluate your fincancial situation, you may use a home equity loan to make home improvements.

Home improvement loans are not the same as construction loans. Construction loans provide financing for building and completion of a new structure. A home improvement loan is essentially a home equity loan placed on your existing home that you currently occupy. The lender generally pays you in one lump-sum at closing. This is also sometimes called a second mortgage loan.

Home equity loans are great if you only want to borrow small amounts of money for home improvements and pay off the loan in a short amount of time. A home equity line of credit can create flexibility and convenience by giving you the ability to withdraw money in varying amounts as necessary. However, home equity credit lines generally use adjustable interest rates and this carries the potential risk of increasing over the life of the home equity loan.

Lenders rarely place restrictions on home improvement projects as long as they are conform to your local building requirements. Depending on the size of the home improvement project scope of the job, you may do the home improvement work yourself or hire a general contractor. Be certain you read the fine print on your home equity loan for home improvements because some lenders may require you to hire a contractor for the project which can significantly increase the cost of your home improvement project.

Terms for home equity loans can range from 5 to 25 or even 30 years. Some lenders offer fixed rate as well as balloon rate options. The minimum amount you may borrow for a home equity loan is generally about $10,000. You can most often times borrow up to 100% or, in some cases, even as much as 125% of the value of your home. However, most lenders will limit a home equity loan for home improvements to a maximum of $1,000,000.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=93635&ca=Finances

Using Home Equity Loans To Make Home Improvements By Rebecca Welch

Home improvement loans can provide money for a complete home remodel or specific home improvements. These upgrades can transform your house into a home and increase your property value. Another benefit is that the money is tax deductible. As long as you carefully evaluate your fincancial situation, you may use a home equity loan to make home improvements.

Home improvement loans are not the same as construction loans. Construction loans provide financing for building and completion of a new structure. A home improvement loan is essentially a home equity loan placed on your existing home that you currently occupy. The lender generally pays you in one lump-sum at closing. This is also sometimes called a second mortgage loan.

Home equity loans are great if you only want to borrow small amounts of money for home improvements and pay off the loan in a short amount of time. A home equity line of credit can create flexibility and convenience by giving you the ability to withdraw money in varying amounts as necessary. However, home equity credit lines generally use adjustable interest rates and this carries the potential risk of increasing over the life of the home equity loan.

Lenders rarely place restrictions on home improvement projects as long as they are conform to your local building requirements. Depending on the size of the home improvement project scope of the job, you may do the home improvement work yourself or hire a general contractor. Be certain you read the fine print on your home equity loan for home improvements because some lenders may require you to hire a contractor for the project which can significantly increase the cost of your home improvement project.

Terms for home equity loans can range from 5 to 25 or even 30 years. Some lenders offer fixed rate as well as balloon rate options. The minimum amount you may borrow for a home equity loan is generally about $10,000. You can most often times borrow up to 100% or, in some cases, even as much as 125% of the value of your home. However, most lenders will limit a home equity loan for home improvements to a maximum of $1,000,000.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=93635&ca=Finances

7 Reasons To Start Trading On The Forex Currency Market By Richard Babbot

If you have time or money, there are lots of ways to earn additional income like from active involvement in multi-level marketing, website development, property investment, residential construction security, etc. Trading in Forex (foreign exchange) is also another way of making that extra income.

In the Forex currency market, you have the flexibility of trading from any location (home, hotel, etc.) and at any time as long as you have a laptop and internet connection for your portable computer.

There are no specific requirements or experience necessary in this particular online income generating trading business. Just by attending a Forex training course should be adequate enough for you commence trading in Forex. Why trade in Forex?

Below are 7 reasons why people should trade in Forex:

1. Forex trading offers monetary leverage. Meaning that you can trade with a low capital outlay to control a large currency position. You can trade a standard of $100,000 currency lot by investing with a small capital of only $1000. However, some Forex brokerage firms permit even less that that by giving you up to 200 times the leverage. That is, with only $100 capital outlay you can control a 200,000 unit currency position.

2. Online Forex trading has low transaction charges even though if you have a mini account or trade in small volumes.

3. Forex market transparency is an advantage since there are no hidden figures. You get what you see and thus there is no unexpected surprise. Therefore, it enables you to manage your risk and you can execute your order within seconds if you want to stop further losses in a particular trade.

4. You can trade by buying or selling in the Forex market in either direction, i.e. when it is going up or down.

5. Flexible time is one of the advantages in Forex trading. The Forex market never shuts as it is an incessant electronic currency exchange taking place globally. Since it is worldwide, involving in diversity of currencies of various nations that float their currencies in the world Forex market, it operates 24 hours daily, allowing you to enter or exit a trade whenever you like. In this regards, you can trade whenever you have the free time and as long as there is an internet available anywhere.

6. As you accumulate your personal experience you can earn you extra income by profiting from this sort of online trading in foreign currency. If you trade smartly with the use of technical analyzing tools, you can profit from a trade by predicting the outcome of a trade based on observing the changing trend of a currency which normally repeatedly shows up in predictable cycles.

7. There is unlimited earning potential when you participate in Forex trading for it has a daily trading volume in excess of 1.5 trillion. That makes it the largest financial market worldwide when compared with the equity and futures markets of 50 billion and 30 billion respectively.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=93598&ca=Finances

Got To Get Away: Stretch Your Vacation Dollars By Joseph Kenny

With the dollar receiving an old fashioned beating from the euro right now, vacations to popular European destinations like England, France and Spain have become quite pricey. Not to fret though, with a little planning, you can still enjoy your European vacation without breaking the bank.

Not flying across the pond for some R&R? You can still save cash by traveling smart, regardless of your vacation destination. Read on, oh wandering soul.

Prevent your wallet from getting euro-trashed

If you’re heading to Europe, prepare yourself financially. While Paris and London are must-sees for the vacationing Yankee, they can put a hurting on your billfold. Vacations in Western Europe today cost 35 to 40 percent more than they did as little as two years ago. Why? It’s all about the exchange rate. The euro rules the day over our weakened dollar, meaning you’ll have to pick and choose your spots when it comes to traveling abroad.

Before you book, research your options. Purchasing a vacation package (airfare & hotel) through an online travel broker like expedia.com or travelocity.com could save you big bucks. If you’re planning on staying long-term in one place, look into renting a house or apartment. It’s cheaper than a hotel room, sleeps more, is roomier, and you’ll be able to cook your own food instead of eating out every day. Also, many vacation packages will allow you to “lock in” a rate well before your travel dates. If the dollar continues to fall against the euro after you book, you’ll save big and look like a genius. If the dollar rallies, however, you lose.

Remember, Europe is more than just England and France. Consider visiting some of the Eastern Block countries like Hungary, Poland or Lithuania—you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Gone are the Cold War misconceptions of these countries. Instead, travelers will encounter friendly natives, stunning views, and vibrant nightlife. What’s more, these countries have yet to adopt the euro, meaning your dollar will go a lot farther.

But if it’s Western Europe or bust for you, you can still ease the pain that the mighty euro brings. Book your trip early to ensure you get the flights and hotels you want. If you want to see a lot of Europe, consider a cruise. If you’re on a budget, consider a short three or four day stopover and tackle only the sights you absolutely have to see. Finally, when traveling about the European countryside, always set a daily limit on your spending.

Destination: anywhere? Money saving travel tips.

Regardless of where you vacation, following a few simple rules will minimize the impact on your bottom line while maximizing your fun. Always remember to:

1. Shop around. Just like anything else, deals are to be had if you know where to look. Check online resources for the best deals.

2. Only use a travel agent for big trips to far away places. You can handle the details of a weekend getaway.

3. Travel in the off season. Find out when your desired destination’s peak tourist season is, and don’t go then. Off season prices are much more acceptable.

4. Flexibility is key. Changing your travel itinerary by just a day or two can save you big.

5. For cruises, book early to take advantage of big savings. If using an agent, get one who’s a cruise expert. She can save you money and probably secure a few perks along the way.

6. When renting a car, only get the smallest possible one you can handle. It’s cheaper and so is the gas. At the counter, ask for a free upgrade; it doesn’t hurt to try. Always refuel your rental before you return it to avoid getting gouged by the return lot. Never rent a car at the airport, rates are better elsewhere. Finally, if you can understand the city’s public transportation, use it instead of renting a car.

7. When on the road, carry a cooler full of drinks and snacks. By stopping at a grocery store and loading up on supplies (e.g., aspirin, water, sunscreen, film) before you wander the countryside, you’ll avoid being taken to the cleaners by roadside tourist traps.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=94187&ca=Finances

Who Does Not Want To Make Money Quick? By Scott Michaels

Everyone wants to make money quick. I’m not sure what happened, but in this age of high speed internet access and instant online everything, everyone is looking for a way to make money quick as well. And why not? Who wouldn’t want to make money fast anyway? So long as no one gets hurt, there’s nothing wrong with making a fast buck.

Just make sure that when you’re looking for a way to make money quick you don’t become the target for someone else trying to make money quick. The almost universal desire to make money fast has created a huge market to be easily exploited by anyone with a little creative savvy. I see so many make money quick schemes exploding across the internet, it kind of scares me a little. I have to wonder at their popularity; is that a sign of their desperation, or is it a measure of their success? Picturing thousands of people across the world giving out their credit card numbers and falling prey to these little gimmicks makes me kind of sad.

Some of my favorite make money quick schemes pop up on the television at strange hours of the night. These are nothing short of hilarious. My favorite is that guy who’s selling ‘The Greatest Vitamin in the World’. That guy is the funniest guy I’ve ever seen, and represents everything you want to avoid when trying to make money quick.

A good general rule to keep in mind when perusing through different ‘make money quick’ ideas you see online or on TV; if it sounds too good to be true, it is. You can’t make money quick without knowing how to do something well, taking some risks, and yes, doing some work. Any make money quick offer you see that doesn’t require any work, skill, or risk on your part is more than likely a scam, and should be approached with a high degree of criticism.

I’m not going to suggest any ways to make money quick, because if I knew any I’d be out there doing it right now instead of writing this. My idea of a way to make money quick is to go to medical school, so what the heck do I know about fast money. 11 years of education, training, and a lifetime of debt isn’t really a good way to make money quick, but then again 11 years is just a blink of an eye with respect to the age of the universe.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=93875&ca=Finances

Three Easy Ways To Pay Your Way Through College By Garrick Banks

Education today is more expensive than it has ever been. In order to even be able to consider taking some post-secondary education you need to have the financial backing to do so. In fact, many students plan on working part or even full time while they go to school, but this can quickly lead to disaster because the student will be so busy that they will suffer burnout and be unable to juggle their responsibilities.

1. Money From Parents

The oldest, tried and tested method of paying your way through college is by getting money from mom and dad. Of course, nowadays this is more and more uncommon. Some parents invest in educational plans to surpass the heavy burden they might encounter later on.

2. Passport To Education

As a special incentive for having a B or better grade point average (typically, 75 percent or better overall GPA) you may be rewarded by your highschool by a grant that does not have to be repayed. The good news is, it's free money but the bad news is that it is usually for very small amounts of money, $300 or so - barely enough to cover one class and the cost of one textbook. Still, something is better than nothing and you can't argue with things that are free.

3. Scholarship Grants

Scholarship grants are a great way to finance your way through your post secondary education as they can pay for up to the complete amount that you require to go to school. The downside is that you will have to adhere to strict rules or else you might lose the scholarship entirely. College scholarships may be in a form of academic scholarship, athletic scholarships and other forms. There are also college scholarships that are funded by the government.

4. Ask Your Academic Advisor

Both your highschool academic advisor and the advisors at the post secondary school you plan on attended should be consulted. They are often a wealth of information and will be able to provide more information concicely about the subject that you are interested in than you would otherwise be able to achieve by yourself, given the same amount of time. Plus, theyre always free to consult and a simple consultation might save you lots of trouble in the long run.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=93574&ca=Finances