Stocks or Annuities or Both?

Jamie
In order to determine whether you should invest in stocks, annuities, or both, it is important to understand each component and how they compliment each other in an investment portfolio. With today’s stock market at an all-time low, some experts would recommend that this is a good opportunity to invest in stocks.  The “buy low, sell high” adage may yield positive results if you are willing to invest in the long term. Conversely, some would also argue that annuities are a safer bet in today’s economy.  An annuity is an investment that yields a guaranteed payout.  There are two types...

Weekly Round Up – August 16, 2013

Jamie
 A Few Good Reads Here are a few of my favorite reads from the past week.  1. Which Debt Should I Pay Off First?  You’ve just come into a little bit of money and you have decided that you want to pay off one or more    of your debts. The problem is this…you’re not sure which one to pay off first. Conventional wisdom tells you that you should choose the debt with the highest interest rate because it’s the most expensive to service. Open this article (more…)

Why You Should Watch Your Bills

Kody
It seems some companies will go to great lengths to find ways to generate additional income.  Some may use ethical means, such as diversifying products and/or services or slightly raising prices with fair warning to customers.  Then, there are those who resort to sneaky, unethical tactics to boost income quickly.  Although I will not name the corporations involved, I will provide you with real-life examples of some billing “scams” by well-known companies – two of which you probably either use or, at the very least, see their commercials on television everyday. My opinion is that when most people get a...

Sticky Blog Posts: 8 Tips for an Effective Post

Jamie
From the beginning of my blogging career one thing I believed which I was right about was creating a sticky blog, but still I really didn’t know the exact meaning of stickiness, like most people today I believed that a blog can be called as sticky based upon its design, but I recently found out what really a sticky blog is, its the readability and usability of a blog. Certain aspects of a blog such as bounce rate, page-view’s and avg time which are crucial for making money depend upon the stickiness of your blog. As I mentioned above, stickiness...

Think Global, Act Local To Succeed

Jamie
Doing business in the UK compared to the USA – just how easy is it? The United States is not only the world’s largest national economy but it stands out as a country that celebrates anyone who has a go at becoming an entrepreneur; echoing the pioneering attitudes of its first settlers. It can be hard to get your head around living and working in America but, for those businesses that succeed, the opportunities are as vast as the continent itself. To give you an idea, 10 of the States are larger than Britain and each of the 50 States...

Do I Need Credit Counseling?

Jamie
Often that is one of the worst questions that you can ask yourself, but be advised you are not alone.  In fact some people have made careers out of helping others in credit card debt and credit card default. When someone’s finances and debts get out of control, some outside assistance may be needed to get them back on track. Some people turn to bankruptcy to deal with their financial issues, but the damage done to your credit score can take almost a decade to repair. This is why there are so many credit counseling services out there willing to...

The importance of email marketing for your small business

Kody
As a small business owner, I’m always looking for ideas on how to improve my service and save money. It wasn’t until I received an email from a company promoting a service that would buy back my old video games that I asked myself why I wasn’t using this marketing method. Needless to say, I used this service to sell video games, which prompted me to look into how I could use email marketing on my own terms to grow my business. More than anything, I wanted to know–if that service could hook me as a customer with a simple...

Debt Relief Options: The Series

Jamie
Misery Loves Company  If you are finding it difficult to pay your bills these day, know that you are not alone. If you are worried about your home being foreclosed or your automobile being repossessed, millions of your fellow Americans are in the same boat. Most people face financial troubles at some point in their lives. The reason can range from losing your job, a serious illness in the family or simply reckless spending. Although owing a lot of money can seem overwhelming, there are steps you can take for debt relief. If you take proper action right now, your financial picture...

Tips to Deal With Creditor Phone Harassment

Jamie
If your creditor has sold your debt to a 3rd party debt collector, you are undoubtedly going to be contacted by phone. Debt collectors can be ruthless in their efforts to secure the money owed to them, continuously calling and using various threats to do so. Some debtors opt to ignore these harassing phone calls, but that is almost never the best course of action to take, even if the calls are aggressive and uncomfortable. What is the best way to deal with phone harassment about my debts? Determine if the Debt is Yours The first thing you have to...

Weekly Round Up – August 2 , 2013

Jamie
  A Few Good Reads Here are a few of my favorite reads from the past week.    1. Debt ceiling drama returns:  Warnings from the White House, Wall Street and the world economic community be damned:      Debt ceiling drama is back. The rapidly approaching fight over lifting the nation’s borrowing limit won’t only pit                  Republicans against President Barack Obama but also pit Republicans against Republicans.    Open this article (more…)

Bill Harassment, What are your rights?

Jamie
I thought I would write a little bit about getting behind on credit card payments or other bills that you owe. There will probably be a mini series on dealing with creditors and what you should do if they come knocking.  There is no promotional material within these posts, it is just something that many of us deal with on a daily basis and can cause undue stress on relationships.  Thankfully my wife and I have not had to endure any of these tactics by creditors, but others are not so lucky. If you get too far behind on some...

More Homeowners are Turning to Equity Release

Kody
There has been an increase in the number of people taking out equity release loans against their property. There have been more than half a billion pounds unlocked in equity release products in the first six months of 2013. This is a rise of 12% compared to 2012. Equity release is eligible for those aged 55 years or over, and is a way for homeowners to release cash against the value of their property. Equity release can provide you with a single substantial payment, a regular income, or both, without the need to move. In order to be eligible for...

How to recognize the tell-tale signs of debt, and how to get out of it

Jamie
With so many different ways to borrow money, from credit cards to loans, it is very easy to land yourself in debt without even realising it. Reckless spending, living beyond your means or failing to read the small print isn’t wise, so it’s essential to avoid debt that will be difficult to clear. If you have credit cards, loans or any other form of borrowing, you should be keeping a close eye on your finances. If you’re in debt, you need to know that you’re in debt and by how much. So many people with debt problems run away from...