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by on August 6, 2018 Leave a Comment

Are You Financially Prepared to Own a Home?

So you think you’re ready to purchase your first home? Lots of people reach a point where they want to be homeowners, but many end up failing at it because they simply weren’t prepared. You see, there’s a lot that goes into owning a house that you may not have been aware of. Beyond making payments to the mortgage company, you’ll also be responsible for a lot of other expenses. If you haven’t effectively planned for those expenses, your dream home can quickly become the start of your financial demise.

own a homeImage source: Pixabay

How does one know when they’re financially prepared to purchase a property? Start by learning what it costs to own a home (beyond the basics) and compare it to your budget. If the costs are greater than your income, you’re better off waiting. If, however, your income exceeds your household expenses, then you’re ready to embark on the process of buying your new house.

Below is a look at some of the common expenses you’ll need to determine the true cost of homeownership:

Insurance

When you make a purchase as large as a house you have to protect it at all costs. Part of doing this means securing a property insurance policy. Depending on where you live, the company you choose, and how much insurance you’d like, it could add up to several thousand dollars a year. Fortunately, most homeowners insurance companies offer the option to pay the insurance in monthly installments for easier budgeting.

Taxes

Property taxes are mandated by most states. If you own a real estate property, you’ll be required to pay several thousand dollars per year in taxes. This bill is generally required on a bi-annual or annual basis.

Emergencies

You can talk to any homeowner and they’ll tell you that household emergencies always tend to pop up. If it’s not one thing that needs to be fixed, it’s another. Plumbing leaks, electrical problems, HVAC malfunctions, and more could set you back several hundred dollars if not more. It is best to create emergency savings to cover these costs, but if you’re really in a bind there are also opportunities like Maxlend fast cash personal loans to tide you over. You can apply online and receive as much as $1250 to handle your emergency and then repay the loan within the required time frame.

Maintenance and Repairs

Not every household problem will be an emergency, but if you want your house to remain intact, safe, and comfortable, you’ll need to budget for routine maintenance and periodic repairs. Some service providers you may need to call on include the plumber, electrician, HVAC technician, home appliance repairman, landscaper, pest control, and more. Many contractors offer annual service contracts to help you save a bit of money.

Utilities

You can’t very well live safely in a home without clean water, gas, and electricity so don’t forget to factor these into your household costs.

Solutions to Help Cover the Cost of Homeownership

Quite a bit of things you’ll need to afford huh? Fortunately, there are solutions to make owning a home a lot more affordable:

Buy within your means – You should never spend more on a home than you have. In fact, experts say that housing should only account for approximately 30% of your income. Anything beyond that is beyond your means.

Create a budget – Budgeting can help you get a real understanding as to what’s going on with your finances. It can help you to reduce spending, cut down on debt, increase your savings, and more importantly, stretch your income further so you have the money you need to afford the above-mentioned expenses.

Build emergency savings – Whether you can afford to buy a home right now or not, you need a nest egg to fall back on. A rainy day account or emergency savings provide you with the cushion you need. How much you save is up to you, but having at least 3 to 6 months worth of monthly expenses in an account can really come in handy.

Borrow as needed – Sometimes, there are things going on in your house that you simply can’t afford to deal with on your own. In those instances, borrowing from a trusted lender is your best bet.

A lot of money goes into owning a home. Likely more than you imagined. Before you decide to buy your first home, be sure that you’re financially prepared. If it turns out you have to wait, it’s a lot better than investing in something you can’t afford and ruining your finances in the process. Start working to boost your savings, build your credit, and increasing your income so that in a few years you’ll be ready to buy the home you want.

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by on July 25, 2018 Leave a Comment

An Introduction to Car Loans and What You Should Avoid

car loans
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Today’s consumers have the benefit of belonging to a generation where car buying is easier than ever before. Technology has made it possible to view, research, and purchase all types of vehicles and for most consumers, the car shopping and buying process has, in many ways, been simplified significantly.

Car loans from Latitude and other financial institutions make it easy for consumers to not only select and research a vehicle but they also have streamlined the car buying process. Even with the ease with which cars can be purchased, there are still an abundance of potential pitfalls when purchasing a car. However, consumers can avoid many of these common mistakes with a little preparation and planning.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common mistakes many consumers make when getting a car loan and what you can do to avoid them.

Not Taking Financial Inventory

More than creating a budget, car buyers should first take inventory of their overall financial standing. Some of the factors that should be taken into consideration include existing loans, disposable income and savings. More importantly, car buyers should make sure they know their credit rating before heading into the financing office. Taking inventory of your financial position before going into the dealership or financing office can give you more leverage in seeking out a loan that best fits your budget and requirements.

Not Shopping Around

Typically, when purchasing a vehicle, the first instinct is to head to the closest dealership in search of the perfect vehicle without ever having considered alternative financing. Many times car buyers find themselves entering into loan contracts that do not provide them with the best possible conditions for the sake of convenience. Before even choosing a car, consider shopping around for financing deals from other institutions to ensure you get the best arrangement possible.

Most banks and financial institutions offer competitive car loans. In addition to conventional banks, credit unions and online financing companies also provide consumers with competitive interest rates. By shopping around, consumers can be sure of for securing the right loan.

Not Getting Pre-Approved

One of the best parts of financing today is that financial institutions have helped consumers in doing much of the footwork in terms of finding an appropriate loan. The pre-approval process involves the consumer providing lenders with all of the relevant information through the application process. The lender collects all of the consumer’s information in terms of employment history, income and wage, savings, and credit history.

With this information, the lender determines not only the risk but hey can also pre-approve you for a loan amount and interest rate. This is beneficial as the consumer goes into the car shopping experience knowing exactly how much he/she can spend. Furthermore, the amount of time devoted to buying a car is drastically reduced in that consumers do not have to fill out applications at the dealership, wasting time that could be spent doing something more constructive.

Not Making A Down Payment

The great thing for those buying a new car is that it is possible to finance the entire cost of the vehicle. The only caveat is that unless your credit is in good shape the interest rate on the loan will be slightly higher, and consumers with poor credit are at the mercy of financing companies that might hike the rate up in response to hedging the risk. However, one way to guarantee lowering the interest rate on your loan is to make a sizable down payment. As with other loans, when paying a down payment on the loan, you not only reduce your interest rate but you also reduce the amount of money you pay over the term of the loan.

Avoiding Mistakes Through Preparation

While the car buying process has changed significantly in recent years, consumers can gain an advantage by preparing themselves before ever visiting the dealership. By taking the right steps, you can make the entire process much easier, while reducing the amount of money spent throughout the loan term. Ultimately, by tackling these few tasks, you will end up with a positive car buying experience instead of one filled with potential problems.

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by on July 20, 2018 Leave a Comment

Earth Science Dissertation Writing: 9 Sources of Information You Can Turn To

Amongst a great variety of academic papers, a dissertation definitely steps out of the crowd. It is probably the toughest challenge for any student. The academic demands are strict and challenging. Of course, this is quite fair. A dissertation gives doctor’s degrees or professional qualifications. Consequently, its requirements should be of the highest standards.

Image by Christin Hume @ Unsplash

Another critical aspect of the dissertation writing is its discipline. One of the most challenging directions is Earth Science. Many candidates struggle when it is needed to compose their dissertations in this area. It’s necessary to understand what Earth Science is. This is the study of our planet and space, which surrounds it. It includes all locations, mineral resources and energies that exist on the Earth and near it.

There are four major Sciences:

  • Geology
  • Meteorology
  • Oceanography
  • Astronomy

This brief list gives a pretty clear understanding of the specification of this academic discipline. It really studies everything that exists in the world. Many aspects are very complicated. Accordingly, great and numerous sufferings of students are not surprising at all. There are many things to consider and many of them are specific and complex.

Of course, this is not a losing battle. The mission is quite manageable. It goes beyond all doubts that every student has to know how to compose a dissertation, which rules to follow and which mistakes to avoid. In the meanwhile, one should know where to get the required information.

Information rules the world and gives you great power. Every academic paper is supposed to be supported with approved official materials and examples. Therefore, we have prepared a special list of dependable and trustworthy informative resources, which cover different aspects of Earth Science. Please, make allowances for the following helpful websites:

1. https://geology.com. This website contains different articles and researches concerning various mineral resources of the planet. Thus, you may access data to energy, plate tectonics, oils, gas, meteorites, gold, different geology tools, general and specific geology branches. In addition, this site is used as teacher resource too.

2. http://geologydegree.org/sites-that-rock/. If a geology resource can be called a library, this one should be called the biggest. This is a virtual library of 105 websites, which are related to geology and Earth Sciences in different ways. Of course, it would take too long to enumerate the specifications of each resource. However, it is possible to generalize. A researcher may count on different researches about volcanoes, hydrology, weather, land and ocean masses, and biological activity. This provides heaps of information for scientific projects.

3. https://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/SciRefGuides/weather.html. This website can be used by scholars who are busy with meteorology. There are multiple subdivisions. For instance, floods, droughts, global warming, atmosphere etc. Every sub-division contains great amounts of diverse literature. Just select the needed sphere of interests and learn the needed evidence.

4. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/meteorology/. This website is well-known to all advanced Internet users. National Geographic (briefly NG) seems to know everything about flora and fauna. Meteorology is no exception. This is a trustworthy education resource with all kind of official data. Use different books, mapping, programs, references etc.

5. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/oceanography/. This is another resource of NG. However, this one is devoted to the studies associated with oceanology. Every student may find different approved and helpful facts, use vocabulary, learn what different terms mean, try programs and mapping. In addition, there is an active blog, which is led by experts in this direction. This resource is actively used by teachers and professors as well.

6. https://www.omicsonline.org/oceanography.php. One more website devoted to oceanology and its main issues. This resource exists in a form of an online journal. There are many certificated, experienced and approved authors. The staff actively studies different aspects of Oceanology. You will receive an access to numerous articles dedicated to whatever themes are required. Surf through the website and learn the interface. The menu will offer you lots of options. Select the needed one and use information for your scientific researches.

7. http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/the-10-best-space-and-astronomy-sites.html. In the occasion, you deal with astronomy you should make allowances for this site. This is a great support to any research. It may be freely called the gold mine of astronomy. It contains the links and brief descriptions of top 10 astronomy informative resources. Every resource was closely studied and has deserved its place in the list. Don’t pass up this chance and turn it to your advantage.

8. http://www.polaris.iastate.edu/AstroWebSites.html. Academic studies require some updated facts. The best way to obtain them is to read recent researches in news and articles. If you use this website, you will definitely find some interesting facts, studies, and observations about astrology.

9. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED014426. You should take into your consideration another website. It is rather a general one. It unites all four major Sciences. The website covers information on various matters, which are suitable for all branches of the educational hierarchy. Visit it and review all sections. Each has something helpful to inform. Use the approved data in your projects and impress your professors with trusted and effective facts.

These were 9 great informative resources, which are related to Earth Sciences. Every site is helpful in its own specific manner even https://www.mastersthesiswriting.com dissertation writing company which can assist you online. Make sure you know what you are looking for and find it on

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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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