Month: January 2011

How to be a financially sound smart Single parent?

Posted by admin – January 28, 2011


Responsibility would be too small a word to describe the efforts taken by a single parent who takes care of his/her kid(s). As cribbing would not help even a bit to dilute the difficulties and challenges faced being a single parent, a small happy smile from the kid would change the whole scene from dark nights to rainbow mornings. While children do their share of smiling and sharing our tears, we have a bigger part to shoulder.

Let’s look at some ways to be smart parents for our sweet kids.

  • What you are doing: Monitor your spending and try to cut down costs by spending less and try to make extra bucks.
    • What you should do: Look at long term needs, like the kids next year requirements and start small savings from this year onwards.
  • What you are doing: Try to work part time and make more money so that

    • …

More→

5 Best Investment Options to consider with your Small Savings

Posted by admin – January 25, 2011


Saving money could be a mountain climbing experience for some, but after reaching the pinnacle of savings, there awaits another trail of challenge. How to put the money to best use or how to double the money safely? Well, investment is a very obvious option to go for. But the bolder question is about investing in the right channel. Even if there is a molecule sized mistake, the whole investment experience might bomb, shelling out nothing.
Here are some investment ideas to give a thought to:

•    Stock markets- A very challenging investment option, suitable for those who are good with research and market knowledge. Intuitions don’t help much in this sector, but smart move at the right time definitely does. To reap the best out of stock market, all that one has to do is keep an eye on the seasonal profit making companies and invest them …

More→

What to do with Faulty Goods? – A consumer guide

Posted by admin – January 21, 2011


The joy of shopping is completely lost when you find a faulty stuff in your hands after you return home from shopping or when you open a parcel received from an online purchase. Don’t panic. There are good amount of consumer protection to fix this challenge.

What you can do when you end up with a faulty item at hand?

•    Reach out to the retailer immediately and ask for a replacement. According to Consumer Law UK, you have the “right to reject” faulty goods”*

•    But the above right is applicable only within a “reasonable time.” In most cases ”reasonable time” means 30 days unless the stuff is a perishable good or something that both parties cannot use after a certain period.

•    Though you have the right to reject, the first resort in this situation should be for a “replacement” than a “refund”

•    If the 30 day …

More→

Women have lesser Debt than men- A look into their handbags

Posted by admin – January 19, 2011


As reported by cleardebt.co.uk, Britain’s working women have lesser debt than men. If one reason could be nature’s blessing for female frugality, the other reason that cannot be overlooked is the prudent way of women making their choices meticulously.

It has been a celebrated stereotype that women are shopaholics and men are not.

So, why is the debt level high among men if they don’t spend as much?

Are women really smarter than men in terms of money management?

A closer look to reality will throw some eye opening facts about the spending habits of both sexes:

FACTS:

• Women make their shopping choices randomly when compared to men but pay off their debts more efficiently than their counterparts.

• Men are good with selective shopping but don’t mind splurging money on things that they choose to buy.

• Women are good in comparing prices before they shop and have …

More→

How to retire gracefully? – Important facts to remember about retirement plans

Posted by admin – January 18, 2011


Retirement looks too far away to some of us right now that we don’t even give it a penny of thought. But when the silver grey hair starts glowing and your kith and kin get blinded by the bright streak of old age wisdom they will leave you in solitude. That’s when the “cash need” will knock your door with a big bang.

Writing poems and short stories about the seventh stage and the pain of old age solitude, waiting for the government to bring old age welfare programs, reality TV shows to cover your sad story, all this will not help. Retirement will happen anyways, but retiring gracefully will happen only when you do some preparation.

So what to do to retire gracefully and live in peace and dignity? Plan ahead.
If you are in your late 30’s and early 40’s, ask yourself the following questions and check if …

More→

Denis- Debt’s best buddy

Posted by admin – January 17, 2011


Denis is a DJ in a pub and earns a little (sometimes more) depending on the clubbing season. He just moved into his new studio apartment. Not a fancy one but good enough to stuff his CD collections, magazines and his geeky gadgets. Denis got his studio apartment with a home loan and in addition to that Denis has four payday loan lenders to punch on his bank account every month, leaving almost nothing for him in the middle of the month.

The fact that he will not burn a tiny energy molecule of his to do anything apart from his music mixing job makes it practically impossible for him to come out of his debt for the next 2 years.

Given the scene, any financial advisor would suggest Denis to cut his unwanted music expenses which currently leave a huge dent in his budget every month.

The blemish …

More→

Top things to remember about filing Tax – returns

Posted by admin – January 12, 2011


It’s the bright and tall month of January. Being the first month of the calendar year, Jan is full of energy and lots of questions too. Getting Tax-relief might definitely be on the top list if you are one of those last minute thinkers.

Advices and suggestions might be flying everywhere from work place to grocery store. Before you think of taking self prescribed tax filing advice, make a quick check on the following:

• If you need serious help with Tax filing, do not fall prey to hoax companies offering advice for cheap charges. They may become UFOs after April 15th.

• Check if you have a licensed tax preparer for filing your tax returns, as unlicensed tax preparers might actually end up doubling your trouble if they make minute errors which might be treated as delinquent in the legal eyes.

• Do not forget to include a financial …

Most popular online scams

Posted by admin – January 6, 2011


Those were the days when an email meant as serious as a postal mail. But today, even a genuine mail sometimes looks like a scam mail, as most subject lines in these mails are too good to believe. These subject lines are often about some stranger leaving their wealth in your name [now, why would anyone do that?!!], or that you won a lottery worth a billion or that you are invited to partner for a new online business worth more than a million.

The interesting part is that, some mails are so professionally written that a few people end up sending their bank detail to the thief themselves and later repent for their greed and ignorance. Some of the most popular online scams of the past decade are:

• Phishing emails – The noblest of all online scams, phishing emails are otherwise called the white collar theft which acquires …

More→