Money for a Car: A Guide to Auto Financing
Nobody wants to be the dumb buyer in a car buying deal. You have to be smart or you end up losing more money than you ought to. It is a very common scheme among car buyers to first get money in order to buy a new car.The term is called “auto financing” and it simply means how you pay for a vehicle. You can finance a car by taking out an auto loan to own a car, in which case, you have two options: You either use the money from the loan to buy the car, or use it for lease.If this isn’t your first time buying a car, you might already know that the salesman or your car dealer will be checking your credit report before starting with the negotiations. But this is not the only way you can go to get that new car of yours. The seller will try to sweeten the deal and offer you special car finance situations in exchange for throwing yourself totally at his mercy. That is not a path you have to choose.The key is preparation. Knowing what auto financing options you have before you get to the dealership will mean that you can take charge of your credit and take charge of your car loan.Just remember, when you negotiate with the salesman for the most favorable auto loan, nothing is permanent until you have it in writing. So haggle and then haggle some more. Once negotiations seem to be over, that’s when the sales contract is prepared.Inflated Interest RatesTo have the deal agreed upon by you and the salesman be put in writing in a binding contract is top on the list of the things you must do involving auto financing. Often involved at this part of the procedure is to determine monthly auto loan payments based on an interest rate. Now, as you well know, the interest rate varies from car buyer to car buyer. Your credit is only one of the factors and if the interest rate a car buyer qualifies for is inflated, then the dealership can make extra profit off your loan. That’s just one of the pitfalls in auto financing.Independent Auto FinancingWhen you have the approved auto financing option on hand, you can then proceed with the deal as a “cash buyer” so to speak as you already have the cash in hand from the loan and you are just buying the car from the dealer with that money. Car salesmen prefer customers to be “monthly payment” buyers as this makes it easier for them to obscure the total cost of the vehicle, to the detriment of your savings. So wizen up and take that independent auto financing option available.Set a Price RangeHaving a budget is the sensible thing to do. If you set a sensible price range for yourself, then you have less reason to go beyond that range and succumb to the temptation of overspending. If you’re really firm on that budget, no amount of sales talk can sway you. One good tip is to ensure that your monthly car payments and related expenses do not exceed about 20% of your monthly net income.Discounted Financing vs. RebateHere’s the dilemma to car buying: Many dealers offer an option between discounted financing or a rebate, but not both. Discounted financing means that you get zero-percent financing while rebate means that you get a certain amount of cash some time after purchase. The common error many car buyers make is that the zero-percent loan will deliver the most savings. But will it really?Get the Cash RebateIn most cases, it’s better to get the cash rebate and apply it against the purchase price of the vehicle. If you already have a pre-approved car loan, then that’s even better because you have positively no need of extra financing from your dealer. Just use your car loan to finance the car and let the rebate handle some of the charges.You will have to choose how long you want your lease to be and how much you’re willing to pay upfront. The obvious choice, of course, would be to pay as little as possible, but be sure to weigh other options as well. After that, the car is yours for the period stipulated in the lease contract.There are several other different plans those car buyers like you can adopt in order to make the most out of your money and reduce costs at the dealership. Understanding the credit process is just one way of being a smart buyer.For more information on auto financing and car loans, visit http://www.financeguide101.com/finance-reports/money-for-a-car-a-guide-to-auto-financing.html
How To Lower Your Property Taxes
Understand Your Local Tax SystemDifferent local governments use different methods to determine home values and assess the related taxes. Call your local tax assessor’s office and ask how they determine home values. Typically, local governments calculate your property taxes based upon the value of your home. How the value of your home is determined has a huge impact on the amount you pay. If local laws or home values change, you might be able to reduce your tax liability.Review Tax Property CardRequest to view your property tax cards from your local assessor’s office. The card provides you with information your local government gathers about your property. It includes information about the lot size, house size, room measurements, and the type of fixtures located within the home. It can even include information on special features, or notations about any improvements that have been made to your house.Think Twice About RemodelingIf you plan to make any structural improvements to your home, it will increase your property tax bill. These include decks, pools, storage sheds, or any other permanent fixture that will increase the value of your house. Keep this in mind when you are calculating the total cost of the project. You can call your local tax departments for assistance.Limit Curb AppealTax assessors use a very strict set of guidelines when evaluating a house. However, the assessment does contain a certain amount of subjectivity. For example, more physically attractive homes will receiver higher assessments. In addition, property is always being compared to other houses in the area. Try not to make too many cosmetic improvements to your house before an assessment. Also, avoid any physical improvements to your house such as new counter tops or stainless steel appliances until after your home has been assessed.Walk with the AssessorMost people will allow the tax assessor to wander around their homes unguided during their evaluation. This can be a huge mistake as some assessors will only see the good things in a house and might overlook areas where the home is lacking. To make sure this does not happen, walk through your home with the assessor and point out both good and bad points. This ensures you get the fairest possible value of your home.File an AppealIf you think the value of your property is incorrect, then file an appeal to your local taxing authority. Within a few of weeks you should receive a notice acknowledging your appeal. Note that it can take months to get your appeal heard. Before the day of your hearing, it is a good idea to attend a local a hearing to get accustomed to the proceedings.Move to a Lesser Taxed AreaEvery local government has different property tax rates. Just by moving a few miles you may be able to greatly reduce your property taxes. However, before making any rash decisions, always perform ample research on the local tax rates.
The Economic Importance Of The Home Based Business Industry
DEFINING THE HOME BASED BUSINESSThe home based business can be defined as a business whose primary office is in the owner’s home. The business can be any size or any type, as long as the office itself is located in a home.In the USA, there are about 6.6 million home based businesses that generate at least 50% of the owner’s household income.(a)”If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with success unimagined in common hours.” – ThoreauESTIMATES OF THE TOTAL SIZE OF HOME BASED BUSINESS”One study has estimated that the total number of people who run or are employed by home based businesses in South East England is in excess of 250,000 people, equivalent to 7% of the working population of the region.(c)”While the average home entrepreneur business has two employees (including the owner), 39% have between two and five employees, and 10% have more than five. Using these average employment numbers, Emergent Research estimates that home entrepreneur businesses currently employ roughly 13.2 million Americans, including the owner.(a)”To put these figures in perspective, let’s compare them to U.S. employment generated by two important industrial segments: venture-backed firms and the oil and gas industry. Analysis by the National Venture Capital Association shows that companies that received venture capital backing including such corporate giants as Intel, Microsoft, and Apple – employed 10.4 million in 2006.”(a)THE IMPACT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERNET ON THE ECONOMY AND HOME BASED BUSINESSThe development of the internet has been and will be the big driving force in the development of the internet related home based business. Let us have a closer look at these developments. The following information is extracts from the McKinsey report.(b)
Two billion people are connected to the internet. This number is increasing by about 200 million per annum.
Almost $8 trillion exchange hands each year through e-commerce.
About one-third of small and medium-sized businesses extensively use web technologies.
The web has made possible new waves of business models and entrepreneurship. It has transformed industries.
The internet accounts for 3.4% of the GDP of the 13 countries that was part of the study. These countries represent 70% of the world GDP. The total contribution of the internet to the world economy is $1 672 billion or 2.9% of the total GDP.
The internet accounts for 6% of the GDP of countries like Sweden and the UK.
Over the past 5 years, the internet has contributed 21% of the GDP growth of the 13 countries that were studied. These countries represent 70% of the total GDP of the world.
This is a reflection of the small and medium-sized enterprises receiving a performance boost through the internet. These companies with a strong web presence grew more than twice as quickly than those with a minimal or no web presence.
The internet has become a very significant factor in the world economy and the growth of the economy. More specifically in jobs and wealth creation.
Online marketing represents 15% of total marketing worldwide.
The search requests by individuals on hard-to-find items or information was a total of 1 trillion requests during 2009.
In the USA, web surfers made purchases worth $250 billion in 2009; in the UK, it was $63 billion or 2.9% of the GDP. The average online shopper in the USA has spent $1 773 during the year. In the UK, $2 535 was spent on average.
The study concludes that the influence of the internet on the economic growth in the world, on job creation and generating wealth, is becoming more important and stronger.
For individual companies the internet lowers costs and increases revenue, productivity and profits. The internet helps these companies to accelerate growth in the export markets and to have access to new markets.
The introduction of broadband stimulates the development of the internet in those countries where it is being introduced. The internet stimulates growth in GDP, in job creation, wealth, and increases productivity.
In France, the internet has created a total of 700 000 jobs during the past 15 years.
The research of McKinsey indicates the growth in people connected to the internet, the importance of doing business via the internet, and the big influence that these new technologies have on the GDP of the world economies.THE INFLUENCE THESE DEVELOPMENTS HAVE ON MY HOME BASED BUSINESSAccurate research information is not available about the expected growth in the online home based business industry. I want to make some estimates based on the information discussed above:
The annual growth in people connecting to the internet is growing with about 10%.
The ability of the internet to:
Create new jobs. Give people an extra income stream. Have their own home based business and being self-employed. These changes create many new business opportunity.
The new technologies related to the internet will create new business models that will stimulate opportunities.
More and more trading and marketing is being done via the internet due to the development of new systems and technologies.
The improved communication systems and technology makes it cheaper, less risky, and more attractive to start a home based business.
The influence of the development of the internet on the growth in the GDP of the countries in the McKinsey study has been higher during the last five years than during the previous fifteen years. The trend is upwards. Many of the conclusions in this study indicate that the influence on economic growth in the future will be higher than in the past. Some developed countries like the UK have a more people using the internet than others, for example the USA. That indicates growth in many of the developed countries.
Due to the development and introduction of broadband in the less developed countries of the world, new trading and business opportunities will become available.
There is a trend that more people who want to work from home, as indicated by the following quote: “Nevertheless, home based business owners are much more satisfied with their quality of life than other small business owners. However, the majority of home based business owners do not appear to have made a financial trade-off in order to secure this quality of life.”(c)These new technological developments, the changes in the economic environment and changes in the social needs of people will result in a higher growth rate in internet related businesses, as well as in online home based businesses, than the 10% annual increase in people becoming connected to the internet during the next few years. If one takes into consideration that the average growth in the GDP of the world is expected to be much less than 10% per annum during this period, then there has to be good business opportunities here.This expected growth in GDP due to internet related business activities creates many online business opportunities for the online home based business owner.A fast changing economic, business, and technological environment needs quick and big action. The opportunity of today might have disappeared tomorrow. This is the environment in which to dream-it-plan-it-do-it big. Our team wants to support like-minded people who want to join us on this journey. Take action. Do not postpone in this business environment.”Screw it, let’s do it!” – Richard BransonReferences:(a) Small Business Success Index Research Note Home Entrepreneurs: A Vital Economic Force.Small Business Success Index Research; Homepreneurs: A Vital Economic Force.(b) McKinsey Global Institute: Internet Matters: The net’s sweeping impact on growth, jobs and prosperity”(c) Home-based business: Challenging their Cinderella status.http://ser.e-contentmanagement.com/archives/vol/17/issue/2/article/4065/home-based-business
5 Empowering Tracks From Female Icons To Make You Feel Inspired
Sometimes we all need a little lift. Whether you’ve had a recent knock to your confidence, have been going through stress in your personal or professional life, or have always struggled with your self-esteem, music is an essential tool for lifting your spirits and making you feel better about yourself.
According to a study by Heriot-Watt University, the type of music you listen to not only influences your mood, but also your personality, with indie and rock/heavy metal fans reporting the lowest levels of self-esteem, while fans of jazz, blues, opera, classical, pop, rap and soul all reported high levels of self-confidence.
So if you’re having a ‘down day’, why not boost your spirits by listening to some powerful, uplifting tracks? Here are five perfect confidence boosters.
Britney Spears – Toxic
Britney’s own struggles with her mental health and conservatorship have made her an inspiration for many people across the world.
This classic song is timelessly sensual, and the heavy beats throughout make it impossible not to dance to. A welcome blast of nostalgia, this tune has filled dance floors across the globe with fans old and new.
The video features Britney as a female spy playing the sexy flight attendant, seducing her passenger before she makes her escape on a motorbike and breaks into a high-security facility guarded by a laser security system.
This track and video is a guaranteed way to feel invincible, and deserves a place on your playlist no matter your mood.
Kelis – Milkshake
A cheesy classic that is guaranteed to make you feel all warm and gooey inside, Kelis pumps up the heat in this 00’s RnB track. Underpinned by intricate drum beats and electric elements, Kelis’ self-confidence is infectious, and it’s hard not to find yourself smiling at the lyrics.
This track is a great way to get into a flirtatious mindset, making it a great choice before going on a date or heading out for the evening.
And if you’re staying in? It’s a great mood lift. But beware! You may find yourself craving a sweet treat.
Eve (ft. Gwen Stefani) – Let Me Blow Your Mind
This RnB classic will capture your attention with its assertive rhythm and powerful vocals from 00’s icons Eve and Gwen Stefani. Featuring a laid-back – yet self-assured – beat, and catchy guitar riff, this is a great track for driving, and its empowering feel is sure to help you feel motivated.
Got a job interview lined up, or thinking of asking for a raise? This anthemic number is a quick way to feel positive and more assertive.
The video features Eve and Gwen Stefani crashing an exclusive event on quad bikes, causing a stir among the privileged attendants, and shoving the performer off stage to perform their own music, before finally being arrested and taken to the station in a police van.
This ‘baddie’ track helps you to tap into the hidden ‘bold’ side of your personality, and lifts your mood while keeping you feeling calm and cool.
Fergie – MILF$
If you have kids, it can be difficult to feel sexy. When you’re running around cleaning the house, changing nappies, or up to your elbows in dishwater, you can easily forget your sensual side – leaving you feeling frumpy and lacking in confidence and motivation.
Thankfully, Fergie’s comeback track is a quick remedy to your low mood and lethargy.
Featuring attractive mothers dressed in curve-hugging latex and silky lingerie going about their daily life in a dreamy, colourful suburbia, this track is a quick way to transform your self-esteem and transport you to a world where you are not just a mother, but a goddess too.
Why not shake off the day and tap into your feminine energy with Fergie, your sexiest PJs, and a bottle of your favourite wine?
Marina And The Diamonds – How To Be A Heartbreaker
Low confidence after a breakup? You’re not alone. Having your heart broken can leave you feeling depressed, undesirable, and unmotivated. So flip the tables on your ex and become a heartbreaker with Marina’s catchy club classic.
This empowering dance track will make you want to move your body and get in touch with your bad girl side, with its heavy beat and pounding rhythms.
Plus, if your libido has suffered as a result of your low mood, take a sneaky peek at the video – it will get your blood pumping with its steamy shower shots and smoking hot male models.