How to Manage Money When You Start Earning

Finance Money

money
money
Photo by CC user 401 (K) 2012 on Flickr.

When I first started working full time I was still living with my parents, I had bought a cheap car a couple of months beforehand and I had absolutely no responsibilities other than my road tax and my car insurance. Looking back, I now realize that this was a perfect opportunity for me to sensibly manage my money so that I could have a bright future.

Unfortunately at that time, I was 21 years old and pretty much blew my paycheck each month on partying and general recklessness, if only I had known then what I know now. If you are entering the world of work and want to avoid making the mistakes that I did then here are some things that I wish I’d done at that tender age.

Save Save Save

There is a huge temptation to spend all of your salary each month and not make any plans for the future, after all, you are young and probably think that things will stay the same for ever, they won’t. The far better option is to be smart and start saving some of your money as early as possible. Look to save a quarter of your monthly income, you will thank yourself for the decision to do this when the time comes along to buy a house. I have quite a hefty mortgage and had I saved better then I could’ve got a much better deal on my borrowing.

Consult Someone

People seem to have this notion that great financial advisors like Keith Springer are solely for the rich and famous in this World, that is not correct. In fact using financial advisors should be encouraged from an early age when we are less financially literate. They can offer you great advice on what to do with your money both now and going forward and they can even help you to find great bank accounts and help you make savings plans. You don’t need to meet with one on a weekly basis, just go and see one, lay out your financial situation to them and see what advice they can offer you when it comes to being smart with your money.

Monthly Budget

Remember that you are in it for the long-haul when you approach your finances, of course you could die tomorrow but let’s assume that you aren’t going to and work out how best to set yourself up for the future. A solid monthly budget can help you to stay within your financial goals, budget for everything even if it is alcohol and party money or gadget-buying money, the point of the budget is to control your spends. If you sit at the beginning of each month, take a look at your salary, remove the amount that you wish to save and any other costs which you cannot avoid paying (car insurance etc.) you will be left with your spends for the month, try and split this up into weeks until you get paid again and stick to your plan. Doing this early on will really help you out in the future when you start paying bills.

Continue Reading

It Can Be Quite Hard to Find a Reliable Numismatic Dealer

Business Careers Money

numismatic-dealer

One of the world’s oldest hobbies is collecting coins. If you are interested in becoming a numismatic collector, then it is vital that you find reliable rare coin dealers as well. These can help you not just in terms of finding coins, but in confirming their authenticity as well.

Creating a Coin Collection

Finding a rare coin is perhaps the most exciting bit about collecting them at all. Unfortunately, cunning people are aware of this, and they will try to sell you counterfeits instead. This is why a good dealer should have an excellent reputation, not just in terms of what they sell, but in terms of how they authenticate as well.

A numismatic collection is both exciting and frustrating, particularly if you are hoping to complete a set. This can take years to do. A good coin collector should be able to find any missing pieces of you are still looking for. In fact, without a good coin dealer, you are likely to struggle to ever finish a collection.

Coin collectors may also need a dealer to sell coins every once in a while. This could be because they need a bit of money for themselves, because they have doubles, or because they want to use the money from less rare coins to purchase a rarer one. Again, you need a dealer for this.

The good news is that you can find these dealers online. They have lots of resources for you and they should, if they are truly good dealers, be as excited about coin collections as what you are. They should also be a wealth of knowledge, explaining to you why coins like Buffalo Nickels are so rare. They can also tell you how to look after your coins and how to store them.

So how do you recognize a good dealer?

The Hallmarks of a Good Coin Dealer

  1. They have a lot of experience. You need to make sure that they actually studied the subject themselves. Make sure they have been in business for a while, therefore, and that they have helped others just like you.
  2. They have excellent assets. Every once in a while, the market is flooded with counterfeit coins. You should check for a dealer that has ridden out these types of storms in the past. Sometimes, counterfeits are really hard to spot, so the least you should look for is a certificate of authenticity a well.
  3. They have a fantastic reputation. If you go to a dealer’s web page, they should have a number of reviews from other clients, but also from their peers. However, there is always a risk that these reviews are not genuine, so make sure they are also listed on independent sites.

A coin collection is an investment that can pay you well, and you need to be careful with what you invest in. Do some research into the world of coin collections before choosing a dealer to work with. And remember that you do not have to stick to a single dealer either.

Continue Reading

Thinking of filing for bankruptcy? Here’s what you need to know…

Money

Thinking of filing for bankruptcy? There may be another way (or not)
Photo by CC user geralt on Pixabay

In debt up to your eyeballs? If you can’t even come up with enough money to cover your monthly minimums, you might have to file for bankruptcy through a firm like Olympia Law PC.

However, the process of defaulting on your financial obligations is no simple matter. Below, we’ll discuss what you need to know before filing for bankruptcy.

You may not even need to file for bankruptcy

Virtually all people that consider filing for bankruptcy are in a mental space of overwhelm when it comes to dealing with their debts.

They think that their income will never be sufficient enough to repay the loans they hold, so they think that waving the white flag is the only option available to them.

However, by doing things like changing your mindset and negotiating a lower interest rate from your creditors, a situation that might have seemed unmanageable at first glance can become resolvable over a period of time.

Given the destructive effects that bankruptcy can have on your credit rating, opting for a protracted repayment plan (even if it takes years) is the preferable option.

Can I file for bankruptcy?

Even if you have a desire to file for bankruptcy, there might be legal roadblocks that may prevent you from doing that.

The most basic test that you must pass to file for bankruptcy is that you must owe more than $1,000, and lack the ability to make payments on that debt when it is due (i.e. you are insolvent).

However, it gets more complicated than that, as there are certain types of debt that cannot be discharged in bankruptcy.

If you owe alimony, child support, student loans (if you are less than seven years removed from graduation), legal fines, or if your debt came about due to illegal activity, you will not be able to make these obligations go away by filing for bankruptcy.

Additionally, secured loans such as mortgages and car loans may not be able to be discharged, although you might be able to renegotiate payment terms with your creditors to better fit your financial situation.
If you hold unsecured debt through credit cards, pay day loans, etc though, you may be able to get these debts dismissed or restructured through bankruptcy proceedings.

If you do, pick a trustee dedicated to your cause

Your creditors will do everything they can to limit the damage caused by your default, so it is important that you have competent representation throughout the entire bankruptcy process.

They are responsible for drawing up the paperwork, negotiating an amenable settlement with the parties to which you owe money, and to provide you with expert advice on how you should manage your finances going forward into the future.

By choosing one who executes their duties professionally, this stressful process can proceed smoother and with better outcomes for you and your family.

You have duties during this process: fulfill them

Declaring bankruptcy isn’t as simple as hiring a trustee and calling it a day. You have important duties to carry out before the process can proceed to its conclusion.

Generally, you must provide them with proof of your monthly income each month, attend credit counseling sessions, and pay any surplus income to your trustee during the time you are in bankruptcy, among other responsibilities.

Know that you’ll have a long road back to respectability after discharge

Even after you’ve eliminated your debts, your life won’t be easy after emerging from bankruptcy. The fact that you opted to default on what you owed will act as an anchor on your credit score for as long as seven years, plunging it anywhere between 160 to 220 points from wherever it was before you declared insolvency.

Continue Reading

Things to Consider as You Plan for Retirement

Money

There are many Things to Consider as You Plan for Retirement
Photo by CC user 120360673@N04 on Flickr

Like getting an education, beginning a career and starting a family, retirement is an important stage of life and one that should be planned for in order to get the best results. It is always a good idea to get professional advice from an expert like Keith Springer, but there are some general things that you should keep in mind as you think ahead to retirement.

You Are Never Too Young to Start Planning

From the perspective of your twenties or thirties, it may be hard to imagine that there will ever be a time when you are not working – it can be difficult to think past 40, let alone to imagine yourself at 60 or beyond. Perspectives and circumstances change, of course, but you are never too young to imagine the kind of life you want to have in your senior years and to begin thinking about how to make it happen. Are you interested in early retirement? Do you want to live on a tropical island? Do you expect to have a family to take into account of in your planning? The best part about thinking seriously about retirement when you are young is that you will benefit from the incredible power of compound interest to maximize your wealth with relatively small investments.

You Are Never Too Old to Start Planning

Maybe you never quite got around to really thinking about retirement until it was looming on the horizon. Or, maybe you were thinking about it but didn´t feel like you had any extra financial resources to sock away for retirement – between career and family obligations the budget was stretched tight already. Chances are though, as you enter your 50s, the heavy expenses that come with raising a family are mostly behind you, and have probably come close to your highest earning years. Don’t give into the “it’s too late to start saving now” mindset. Yes, it is better to start earlier, but it is definitely better to start late than never. And, there is a certain advantage in starting later – the questions that were open-ended when you were young are now mostly answered and you have a clear focus that can motivate you to save in a purposeful way.

Inflation Makes Savings Not Worth Saving

It is true that some of the safest investments (bank accounts, some bonds or T-bills) may be hard-pressed to keep up with inflation. However, the younger you start to make these sorts of investments, the longer you can “lock in” your money and the higher the rates you can expect. Riskier investments have the potential to bring higher payouts, but of course, the older you are, the less likely you are to want to take risks with your savings. But a carefully selected and diverse portfolio can go some way towards minimizing risk while maximizing returns. And some investments are more resilient against inflation than others – real estate, for example, is generally seen as a way to hedge against inflation. The bottom line is that fears about inflation should not be reason that you don’t save.

No matter how old you are, the time is right to think seriously about the life you want to have in your retirement and to begin planning today.

Continue Reading

Top Tips to Make Your Money Go Further

Finance

Money rules all, and it always will, the main concern in almost everyone’s lives is having enough money, enough money to survive, enough money to buy what they want or enough money to achieve their dreams. Whatever your reason for being concerned with the size of your income or bank account I’m sure that you will echo these sentiments. So, how do we go about solving the issue of money worries, well, there are two approaches that you can take, making more of it and working hard to spend less of it, both of which can give you a more positive view of your finances and ultimately a happier life. Here are some tips for you as to how you can achieve this.

Couponing

Gone are the days where people would rake through magazines searching for a 50 cents-off promotion in the back pages or walking into the grocery store armed to the teeth with glossy pieces of paper to save them cash. These days the online world of couponing is a craze that is engaging everyone with internet access and it is a brilliant way for you to save money. The emergence of voucher and coupon websites has not only encouraged businesses to make more money by offering great deals for their prospective customers but has saved the general public tens of millions of dollars in purchases that they have made simply by downloading a coupon for free online, get involved and save some money.

Use Your Cash

There are several ways of using your money to make even more money, firstly you should be looking into what kind of account your bank offers you, if you have an APY of anything less than 0.2% the you should be looking to put your money elsewhere to let it grow. If you have large savings then consider investments into businesses, stocks or property to hopefully take some big profits from your investments. Money does breed money and the same goes for things like online gambling, if you take the risk then the rewards could be huge, you can start off risk-free as well with a bonus for online casino games that means that you won’t even be gambling with your own cash to start with, what better way to learn the trade than by using someone else’s money!

Sharing Economy

The values of a sharing economy can work wonders in your life and for your finances, the essence of this economic system is that people live within their means and open up opportunities for others to share parts of their lives. Whether this means that you decide to use a car pool to get to work or rent out your spare room, the idea of collaborative consumption is the perfect way to save more money in your life and something that you should be looking at trying out to aid your financial situation. By spending less and sharing more you can give your monthly finances a boost and give yourself the opportunity to meet more people and create a more sociable World, the perfect combination.

Continue Reading

Why You Should Get a Line of Credit

Money

Bad budgeting isn’t the only reason why someone might need financial aid. If you’re self-employed or rely on government assistance, then you’re all too susceptible to the vagaries of your monthly income. When unforeseen expenses come a long, you may find yourself underprepared and overwhelmed by your sudden financial obligations. When your savings account isn’t as padded as you’d like, a line of a credit can be a financially responsible way to cover your needs.

6848823919_724f516a05_b

A line of credit can act as a safety net in your time of need. While they are not recommended to purchase something as large as a car or a home, they can help you with those small unavoidable items or services that your monthly income can’t cover. Typically larger than small dollar loans, they have a higher limit that allows you to pay for more expensive charges.

Its repayment is dependent on how much you use against the total. Interest is calculated according to the portion of the funds that you use rather than the total amount available. Only a minimum payment is required once you start to use your advance. This particular feature makes it an ideal alternative if you wish to keep your credit, untouched, until an emergency requires it, or if you plan on using it to pay off several smaller expenses over a longer period of time than a short-term loan can provide.

Regardless of how it functions, a line of credit must be reasonable for your current financial situation. There is no such thing as free money, so you will have to repay all of the funds that you’re given. It’s imperative to determine if you can reasonably repay your line of credit before you sign any contract. Before you even apply, learn about its fees, minimum payment schedules, and all related costs.

These will differ from state to state, as each local government is responsible for setting out the legal limitations of lines of credit. Speak to a loan expert at MoneyKey if you live in these three states: Kansas, Maryland, or Missouri. As a state licensed lender, they offer products in accordance with local laws. Check out the personal line of credit loan from MoneyKey to learn about their rates and terms. With this information in mind, you can decide if you can budget for its minimum payments.

As a flexible alternative to short-term loans, a personal line of credit could be exactly what you need to cover surprising and stressful expenses. Take the time to find out if it fits your financial situation. If you can afford to take on its minimum payments, it’s a practical solution to your money problems.

Continue Reading

How to Avoid Startup Failure

Business

Despite the growing popularity of startups, small companies and independent businesses fail each and every year. While some companies fail due to product errors, a dip in the market, or, unfortunately, a particularly bad idea, many companies actually have the skills, product (or service), and passion to build a financially stable company.

town-sign-96612_960_720

However, there are key mistakes many startup owners make, unknowingly sealing their business’s fate. Before quitting your current job and opening the doors to your new business, make sure you have researched the venture adequately, and know to avoid these specific mistakes:

Hiring In-House for All Positions

Small businesses should avoid hiring in-house employees for all positions. When building a business, the beginning financial stages tend to fluctuate dramatically, and hiring too many employees on can lead to an unstable financial structure. Moreover, in today’s economic business age, many businesses are downsizing marginally, using third party companies to outsource certain business tasks to, such as accounting, payroll, and other human resource positions.

Companies like National PEO work to provide small and large companies alike the ability to delegate tasks and work more efficiently by outsourcing. This is a smart business practice, as you are not only confident in the ability of the company, rather than relying on an employee, it also saves you a great deal of money.

Being Unprepared

Starting your own business will turn your life upside-down temporarily. First-time business owners are often not prepared for the upset running a company brings to their accustomed lifestyle, as they find themselves working more hours for less pay. This unexpected change can leave business owners feeling drained and overwhelmed, thus it is important to ensure that if you are going to start a business, you are prepared for the changes.

Thinking Your Product Is Your Business

Many people have a brilliant idea for a product or service, but they have absolutely no idea how to run a business. More often than not, they attempt to build their business around the product, but, unfortunately, that often leads to quick success but longterm failure.

While a product does solve a problem, providing customers with an answer to a need, it is not a stable foundation for a business, as it does not bring customers back to a business. There needs to be something deeper within the business than a product.

Ignoring the Market Research

Many people who believe they have a great idea often ignore the market research, especially if the research is telling them they need to change their business plan. Most first-time entrepreneurs are guilty of holding onto their idea and being resistant to change, as they are adamant that their idea will work.

There is nothing wrong with hanging onto an idea that you believe in, as it is critical to be passionate about your business if you want to be successful; however, when the market and experts are educating you on tweaking your idea, it is a wise idea to heed their advice. The results are usually astounding, as their expertise can provide you with the link you were missing before.

Expecting Overnight Success

Unfortunately, all businesses take a great deal of time to pick up momentum. Many new owners underestimate the amount of time it will actually take to sell a product, find clients, or, generally speaking, turn a profit. It can be easy to attribute the competition you are facing to getting lucky or having overnight success, but building a solid business takes time and dedication. Most overnight success stories are filled with financial woes, sleepless nights, and plenty of almost-failures, but they managed to overcome the problems and build a stable business. Thus, when starting a company, do not be surprised at the amount of time it takes for you to grow. Keep your head down, work hard, and visualize the future success.

Believing Money Solves All Problems

Many business owners are guilty of thinking that if they could just turn a profit, find financing, or make another sale, all their problems would be solved. While all of those thoughts might be helpful to the business, it will not solve all of the businesses problems. Throwing money at problems will never solve them, thus you need to fix the holes in your business model first.

These tips can help you avoid devastating mistakes that could lead to ultimate failure.

Continue Reading