Are you getting the best rate of return on investment? Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine annually discusses ways to boost your investment yield in its latest issue. I have to say that I am always pretty disappointed with their recommendations. I love the magazine, but I didn’t really care for a list of mutual funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). But, I wanted concrete ideas on how to earn a 10% annual rate of return on my investments. US Treasuries are earning less than 1% and money market funds are not fairing much better. Certificates of deposit are barely scraping by at 2% or so even for the longest maturities. But, are these levels going to last? The stock market has … Read more
Whether you’re a domestic or commercial customer, keeping an eye on your energy gas tariffs is imperative if you want to pay the least you can for your energy use. Comparing suppliers is often much easier than you may expect, whether you’re comparing for home or business gas. In fact, while many people may think that switching business gas would be an arduous task that requires a lot of hoops to be jumped through, it’s actually much easier than that.
If you have been doing your research and you have found that the supplier you currently receive your energy from isn’t the best deal for you circumstances, taking the first step and purchasing a new deal online is all you need to do. You will have a 9-day cooling-off period anyway, should you change your mind, but if you decide to continue, the switching process couldn’t be simpler.
This is a guest post by David Silverstone who writes about personal finance, credit cards, and debit cards on the website, Credit Card Insider, which is a credit resource, providing plain-language guidance from industry leaders.
Credit card debt is huge in the U.S. Last year, the average American household’s credit card debt was equal to $15,799. American consumers know that they need to eliminate this debt, but they also know that they will have large purchases to make in the future.
These larger purchases may be necessities, such as refrigerators, new cars and houses, but it can also be a pleasurable expense, such as a fabulous dream vacation. The new trend is to save for these purchases so that consumers do not have to use their credit cards, and some people are choosing to embark on this adventure by engaging in reverse budgeting using prepaid debit cards.
What Is Reverse Budgeting?
Reverse budgeting is way in which people save for their purchases without having to resort to burdening themselves with more debt. First, consumers decide how they would like to use the money they are going to save. Then, they will calculate how much money they will need to pay for their dreams. The next step is to determine how much money they can set aside per month to save for their goals.
Reverse budgeting has been growing in popularity, and the reason may be because so many Americans already owe so much money to their creditors. One way that people have begun to save for future purchases is to obtain prepaid debit cards.
How Do Prepaid Debit Cards Work?
Prepaid debit cards are an extremely convenient way to make purchases, and they prevent people from spending more money than they have. Furthermore, it’s really easy for consumers to add funds to their prepaid debit cards and even adding money to the best prepaid credit cards and increase their prepaid spending limits every month.
After they have succeeded in saving the amount of money they needed for their goals, they can use their cards to pay for the item online or inside the store. They can also use them to pay several different bills online.
Advantages of Prepaid Debit Cards
Prepaid debit cards do have their advantages and disadvantages. Consumers like credit cards because they eliminate the need to carry a large sum of cash. Those who would like to keep from adding to their credit card debts cannot resort to using credit cards, but if they have a prepaid debit card, they can travel all over the country or even outside of U.S. borders and have a safe method of payment that is widely accepted.
The amount of money that is on the prepaid card is all that consumers can spend. If they were to try to purchase something outside of their budgets, the card would be denied.
Have you heard about socially conscious investing? Socially conscious investing basically means that you or the mutual funds that you use will not invest in companies that do not promote the social good.
Socially conscious investing takes entire industries like alcohol, gambling, gun manufacturers, potential environmental polluters and the like out of the investing mix of potential companies in the possibilities for your investments.
Several mutual funds have gravitated to this investing style as a way to market and differentiate themselves from the masses of funds that comprise the investing universe.
Socially responsible investing (SRI) mutual funds and socially conscious investing look to limit or restrict their investments in companies that promote what the general public would consider vices.
They shy away from investing in companies that are seen as environmental polluters, makers addictive substances like alcohol or tobacco, and other companies. Many of these mutual funds have also removed themselves from investing in companies that have been seen as having bad corporate governance policies and practices. They have also shunned companies with suspected human rights violations.
Socially Conscious Investing Mutual Funds Have Gained In Popularity
Socially conscious investments and socially conscious investing mutual funds have exploded in popularity in recent years. The number of socially conscious investing mutual funds or socially responsible mutual funds in the United States has grown to over 250 with assets of more than $300 billion as of 2010, this is up 30 fold since their inception in 1995.
According to InvestmentNews.com and Morningstar.com, socially conscious investing mutual funds have had over $3 billion in net inflows into these types of funds in the past three years ending in 2012.
Understanding the full coverage and limitation of your homeowner’s insurance policy is key in avoiding the possible denial of a claim you might file later. If you’re getting ready to file a claim and don’t want it returned with a big red “DENIED” stamped on the front, then it’s important to go through your contract with a fine tooth comb and ensure that your claim isn’t going to fall into the following denial cases. 1. Your Claim Could Be Marked “Negligent” Let’s say that your home has had a bit of a termite problem that you’ve been meaning to take care of, but unfortunately, the latest monster hurricane decided to take out your roof before you got the chance. When … Read more
You need to have disability insurance to provide you with income protection in the event you are hurt and cannot work. It is not a matter of if you will get hurt but when.
Over 30% of all workers will be injured during their working lifetime and not be able to work. This could be devastating to your finances of course if you are not prepared. But, there are ways to reduce the cost of disability insurance for you and your family.
Save On The Cost Of Disability Insurance
How will you pay your monthly expenses if not only do not earn an income but simply cannot physically do any work to earn additional income. How will you family survive?
That is why having disability insurance is so important. You are statistically four times more likely to be disabled and not be able to work than to die in your 30s.
Whether you’re a domestic or commercial customer, keeping an eye on your energy gas tariffs is imperative if you want to pay the least you can for your energy use. Comparing suppliers is often much easier than you may expect, whether you’re comparing for home or business gas. In fact, while many people may think that switching business gas would be an arduous task that requires a lot of hoops to be jumped through, it’s actually much easier than that.
Credit card debt is huge in the U.S. Last year, the average American household’s credit card debt was equal to $15,799. American consumers know that they need to eliminate this debt, but they also know that they will have large purchases to make in the future.
Have you heard about socially conscious investing? Socially conscious investing basically means that you or the mutual funds that you use will not invest in companies that do not promote the social good.
You need to have disability