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by on June 20, 2018 Leave a Comment

How Can You Turn Your iPad Into a Credit Card Reader?

In what experts sometimes refer to as the “Uber economy,” your business does not have to be anchored to a physical location or even a website. Today, many businesses are “on-the-go” with an entirely mobile product and service providers that travel to the customer. This modern twist on a very ancient commerce model reemerged with the advent of mobile payment technologies. With systems like Revel POS and others, mobile businesses can use an iPad tablet device to process all forms of payment from virtually anywhere.

Mobile Payment Solutions

Businesses of all types have the option of streamlining payment options. Cloud-based point-of-sale software designed with built-in flexibility makes creating customized solutions for any business model possible. With an iPad, an app-based software solution such as Revel POS or Clover POS Systems and a few pieces of external equipment, business owners can simplify the payment process for their customers. The additional hardware you need will depend on your type of business and your customers’ preferences, but you might consider adding some or all of the following:

•Mobile Card Reader – Required to accept all payment types. Be sure your customers can use their EMV chip-enabled credit and debit cards. Some models can even capture customer signatures.
•Cash Drawer – The ability to receive and organize cash is still essential in managing your business.
•Bar Code Reader – Scanning USP codes as opposed to keying in individual SKU numbers speeds up the checkout process significantly.
•Receipt Printer – Some customers prefer a paper copy of their receipt, but many like you to email them their receipt. A printer and POS system enables you to do either.

Flexible Choices, Expert Guidance

Setting up a secure, convenient and fully mobile payment for your business is easier than ever, but you will face many crucial decisions in the process. Merchant Account Solutions provides a professional consultation for any size or type of business on the full range of payment systems and packages that it sells. Use the contact page to get in touch with a payment system expert today.

Image courtesy of merchantaccountsolutions.com

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by on June 20, 2018 Leave a Comment

Top Tips on Saving to Scale up On Your Next House


The prices of property in the UK have skyrocketed over the years, and this has made it even harder for people to upgrade their houses. Buying a bigger and better house will obviously cost you a lot of money, so you should prepare to save up some money and alter your lifestyle. Here are some tips to help you realize your goal:

1. Use the Help to Buy ISA Offer

Saving up for your deposit can be tough. You can easily get demotivated on the way, and that is why you should take all the help you can get. The government, through the Help to Buy ISA offer, will give you 25p for every £1 you save. You will have to open an ISA account in order to access this offer. There is, however, a monthly limit of £200. This means you can access an extra £50 every month from the government.

2. Consider Cheaper Living Options

Living with people may not be the most comfortable experience, but it can help you lower the cost of living. If you have an extra room in your house, you can find a friend or family member to occupy it. That way, you will be able to split bills in the house, including the cost of food.

3. Carpool to Work

If you live near one of your co-workers, you can save a good amount of money by choosing to carpool. This will help you save some money on gas and parking. You can even go a step further and sell your own vehicle. Insurance costs a lot of money, and selling your car can help get rid of this expense. It would even be better for you to use public transportation and car-sharing services such as Uber.

4. Make a Long-term Investment with a Robo Advisor

Robo advisors can help you passively invest your money while keeping your financial management costs very low. For example, the well-known Moneyfarm charges its clients about £16 per month. These services are affordable because of the low overheads. Robo advisors are particularly important to people who have busy schedules and lack sufficient knowledge in finance and investment. The robots will work with little human intervention to invest your money in a diverse portfolio.

It is important to invest your money for the long-term since it will otherwise lose value. Interest rates offered by banks are barely enough to cover for inflation. A good investment will help grow your money significantly and buy a house even faster.

Conclusion

Most people cannot directly pay the deposit on a new home. In order to upgrade to a better house, you may have to save and invest some money. To increase your savings, you can reduce your luxuries by, for example, selling your car. You can even find a friend to live with you. You should also make a long-term investment with robo-advisors as this will allow you to grow your money passively.

Image courtesy of Nattanan @Pixabay

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by on June 8, 2018 Leave a Comment

A Brighter Future- 5 Smart Tips for Achieving Financial Health

Photo by Rawpixel on Unsplash

Feel the gap widening? You’re not alone. The chasm between rich and poor is getting greater. For lower-income families, growing inequality can be crippling to bear. However, there is still plenty of hope. With smart planning, fiscal discipline and a bit of ingenuity, struggling households can fight their way out of trouble and achieve a more stable economic existence. Here are five tips for securing a brighter financial future:

1. No Way to Payday Lenders:

Payday lenders are bad news. They prey upon those who are in difficult economic circumstances and only make things worse. Avoid the promises of a quick fix that may leave you struggling to recover indefinitely. If you do find yourself in desperate need of short-term cash, there is a growing number of not-for-profit lenders actively working to help lower-income families achieve a brighter financial future through small fast loans. Their motives aren’t hazy. These not-for-profit lenders want to help people attain financial security and a less stressful financial future by providing tools and services that will set them up for long-term stability.

2. A Little Can Go a Long Way:

Being on a lower income isn’t easy, and it can often feel like money is continually draining out of your bank account, leaving you with no savings. But, a little can go a long way. At the end of each week, set aside a small sum to transfer to your savings account. $5. $10. It doesn’t matter, as long as it’s something. At the end of each month, you will see the savings starting to build, slowly but surely. Saving is a skill that, once acquired, becomes a habit. Start working on that habit today and you will thank yourself in years to come.

3. Cut Out the Fat:

Much of our spending is based on habit. Make a thorough assessment of all your expenditures, and you will be surprised at how many regular items can be comfortably eliminated, freeing up cash for more pressing concerns or savings. Eliminate unhealthy items like cigarettes and alcohol. Make your own coffee in the morning and pack a lunch to work instead of forking out every day. Small measures such as these can add up to big money over the course of a year.

4. Avoid the Credit Card Trap:

The lure of the credit card can be hard to resist. It tempts you with its convenience and shiny ‘benefits’, such as frequent flyer points or gift vouchers as a ‘reward’ for spending a certain amount in a month. However, these “rewards” can quickly morph into punishment. For less affluent families, saying no to the lure of the credit card is a big step in taking back financial control and avoiding the trap of credit card debt. After all, they’re just pieces of shiny plastic.

5. Catch Sneaky Costs:

Bills can have sneaky costs in them that hope not to be discovered, like an extra charge on a heating bill or internet plan. it’s crucial to be aware of these hidden charges and catch them in the act. If you see an item on a bill that doesn’t look right, speak up. Don’t automatically pay it. Contact your provider and ask what the charge is for. Don’t let sneaky costs build up and impact your financial future.

Times are tough for many families all over the country. By taking control of your finances, you can ensure that you and your family are set up for a better future.

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by on June 8, 2018 Leave a Comment

Financial Follies – 5 Economic Pitfalls for Families and How to Avoid Them

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In an ideal world, putting away a little bit of money from each paycheck and watching your savings grow would be enough to guarantee financial stability for your future. Unfortunately, today’s harsh economic climate means that this is far from reality – with the cost of living rising each year significantly, today’s young professionals are at an enormous disadvantage when it comes to personal finance compared to their forebears.

To enjoy financial freedom later in life, it’s vital to have a sound understanding of how to effectively manage your money. Here, we outline 5 common mistakes that many young couples and families make with their finances, and what you can do to avoid them.

Overreliance on Credit Cards

A credit card can feel like a blessing if you need a quick solution for unexpected costs. However, while you may have paid off your immediate expenses, the staggering interest rates and hidden fees may plunge you further into debt. If you’re in urgent need of money, a growing number of microfinance lenders are offering small, fast loans online with lower interest rates. This allows you to pay off your emergency expenses without putting yourself at increased financial risk.

Not Having a Backup Fund

Many young professionals are guilty of believing that having a reliable source of income guarantees their financial security. When considering your future, it’s always best to plan ahead, and envisage what you would do in an unforeseen situation that may threaten your financial stability. In case you become injured, unwell or lose your job unexpectedly, it’s a good idea to have a safety net upon which to fall. This may mean obtaining insurance or starting an emergency savings account with at least three months’ income set aside.

 

Frivolous Spending

When you start earning enough to have discretionary income, it’s easy to order takeout every night and not check your bank balance as much as you should. While it’s important to treat yourself occasionally, living beyond your means adds up faster than you think. You can take control of this by reducing how much money you spend on non-essential items. This can be as simple as limiting takeaway coffee to once a week, which can save you as much as $1,000 a year.

Not Considering Retirement

Even though you may have just entered the workforce as a young professional, it’s never too early to start thinking about your retirement fund. In fact, the earlier you start investing in your fund, the more time you’ll have to make the most of compound interest. It’s all too common for people to reach retirement age only to realize that they have nowhere near enough on which to survive. Through adequate planning, you can spend your retirement years stress-free.

Failing to Plan

One of the biggest mistakes any young professional can make is being complacent about their income. While you may have enough to survive on comfortably now, it’s crucial to think about how your current financial decisions may impact you in the future. Paving the way to security requires planning, and a great way of achieving this is by setting goals. Whether they’re short-term or long-term, having targets to work towards can help you keep your spending in check and give you a sense of direction for the future.

When it comes to ensuring your financial stability, every bit you do makes a difference. Taking control of your finances now brings you one step closer to living your best life in the future.

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by on May 28, 2018 Leave a Comment

EaseUS Easy to Use Mac Data Recovery Software

In a world where most things are run by tech, one wrong click can cause you a lot of headache. We’re not talking about accidentally sharing embarrassing posts on social media here. You can lose a lot of hard work due to accidental deletion of files or unexpected formatting. This is why tools like Mac Data Recovery Software are essential to your system. Data recovery software can help you retrieve important files and data that may be lost due to various reasons.

mac data recovery

Project files that you’ve been working on for months or an important e-mail from a valued client can be lost due to a system crash or virus attack. Without a Data Recovery Software you have no other choice but to start from scratch. But worry no more because software for data recovery is readily available online. All you have to do is find the best one for you. The better news is that there are free versions available too. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac can help you recover lost files without any charge at all. Here are some reasons why this software is worth considering.

EaseUS is fast and easy to use

It only takes three steps to find your lost files and that is to locate, scan, and recover. You can use a Quick Scan and a Deep Scan mode to locate your files. The quick scan automatically scans and detects deleted or lost data on Mac upon launching the program. After the quick scan, a deep scan will conduct an in-depth search for hidden or inaccessible files and formatted files.

EaseUS is handy for recovery and repair tasks

This software is fully compatible with MacOS. It automatically scans storage devices connected to your Mac and search for lost files. You may also use it for repair of different types of files with more than 200 formats supported. This is a great feature for people who use videos, audios, photos, and documents in various formats.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac comes in three editions to fit your needs

The Free Edition allows you to recover up to 2GB of data from your Mac based devices. However, the Pro version and with Bootable Media versions lets you recover as many data as you want. These two versions also feature a free lifetime upgrade and a free lifetime technical support when you purchase the software.

Don’t underestimate the value of data stored in your devices. Aside from work or business related files, your photos and videos store memories that can never be recreated once you lose it. If you don’t want to spend extra for additional software, then there are free versions of data recovery software that you can use.

Image courtesy of Negative Space @ Pexels

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