In today's world, it is important to educate yourself on financial and investment issues. Life is becoming increasingly unstable in this globalizing world, jobs are no longer safe and stable and governments are increasingly unable to control the large corporations who provide employment, so with the wealth that you do accumulate, it is vital to invest wisely to build for the future.
There are some great products specifically designed to educate you on financial issues. There are some very well-known companies who have websites marketing information, courses, products and services on investment philosophies, mind-sets, strategies and techniques. These educational products are available in every sphere of investment from information on how rich people actually get rich, business investment, real estate, stockmarket investment, currency trading, share, CFD and futures investing, and so on.
Any information you want and need is available on the internet somewhere. In addition, some sites bring a range of such products and services together in one place, for example a website, in order to provide a one-stop shop on financial and investment education. These sites are highly valuable resources often providing free resources in addition to products and services for purchase. A person looking for education on investment and finance can either look in a wide range of sites for all the information needed, but it makes more sense to visit a one-stop shop.
It is time for everyone to learn more about money management and how your lives can be enhanced by taking the time to become educated on your financial future.
What the Fed Cut Means to You
Are you lost in a sea of questions and confusion when you hear about rate cuts? The average person usually shruggs their shoulders, because one overpowering questions is ruling their minds, "How does that effect me?" Today, amid plummeting global markets getting skiddish about a possible US recession, the Federal Reserve came in with a 3/4% interest rate cut. As of this morning, the market was dropping at an alarming rate, and within a few hours of the cut, the market had returned by about 75%. So, basically, who cares if you cannot break it down for me. The cut is designed to stimulate the economy and bring good things for the average citizen:
1. Re-adjusting mortgage rates will still adjust, but at a lower rate, making monthly payments possible and/or less painful.
2. Interest on existing and new home equity loans (HELOC's) will be lower.
3. Credit card rates will be lowered saving the average family $30 a month on payments.
4. Auto loan rates will be lowered.
5. No change will be made regarding jumbo loan rate (loans greater than $417,000)
It often takes consumers 1-3 billing cycles to be affected by the changes, but if you are looking for a new loan or to refinance, the savings will be immediate. This can often mean the difference between foreclosing and keeping your home. The only thing better than a rate cut is coupling it with a tradelines or seasoned primary account purchase. If you are in danger of foreclosing on your home, refinancing after the rate cuts may benefit you by putting you in a more comfortable loan and a monthly payment you can afford.
Ted Stearns, owner of TradeLine Solutions, a San Diego based credit aide company, is not a newcomer to the world of finance. His experience began as an options and futures broker with Currency Trading International about 12 years ago. Since then he has been a financial advisor who hosted a live radio show on AM 1000 KCEO for four years, educating callers and listeners on stocks, bonds and various investments. Over the last five years he has delved into the nationwide mortgage business informing both clients and lenders alike in the arena of purchasing and refinancing.
1. Re-adjusting mortgage rates will still adjust, but at a lower rate, making monthly payments possible and/or less painful.
2. Interest on existing and new home equity loans (HELOC's) will be lower.
3. Credit card rates will be lowered saving the average family $30 a month on payments.
4. Auto loan rates will be lowered.
5. No change will be made regarding jumbo loan rate (loans greater than $417,000)
It often takes consumers 1-3 billing cycles to be affected by the changes, but if you are looking for a new loan or to refinance, the savings will be immediate. This can often mean the difference between foreclosing and keeping your home. The only thing better than a rate cut is coupling it with a tradelines or seasoned primary account purchase. If you are in danger of foreclosing on your home, refinancing after the rate cuts may benefit you by putting you in a more comfortable loan and a monthly payment you can afford.
Ted Stearns, owner of TradeLine Solutions, a San Diego based credit aide company, is not a newcomer to the world of finance. His experience began as an options and futures broker with Currency Trading International about 12 years ago. Since then he has been a financial advisor who hosted a live radio show on AM 1000 KCEO for four years, educating callers and listeners on stocks, bonds and various investments. Over the last five years he has delved into the nationwide mortgage business informing both clients and lenders alike in the arena of purchasing and refinancing.
Government Grants for Homes
The federal government gives away billions of dollars every year for housing grants based on need and availability. There are over one hundred different government grant programs available through over 40 separate federal agencies. That does not include state and local government grant programs.
Unlike like loans these grants are money that you do not have to pay back. Besides the federal government there are also grant funds for homes available at the state and local level, including private endowments and non-profit support groups.
Some of these programs require "sweat equity" where a family and friends put time in working on their new home or one for another family in the program. This enables families that otherwise would not have the money for a down payment to earn their way to their first home. These usually include low or no interest home loans.
Funding is also available for areas that are in need of housing development such as rural or urban blight. Many of these grants can help developers and new home owners receive funds to construct in areas that they would not normally receive adequate money to build or restore homes.
Besides grants to assist in purchasing a home there are grants for remodeling and renovation. Several government and private programs will help pay for improvements to homes that also reduce heating and cooling cost year round and save many homeowners additional money.
There are also many low interest and no interest home loans available for families, individuals and groups from various other programs through federal state and local government. Many other private programs are available to assist with first time home buyers through banks, charities and non-profit groups.
Unlike like loans these grants are money that you do not have to pay back. Besides the federal government there are also grant funds for homes available at the state and local level, including private endowments and non-profit support groups.
Some of these programs require "sweat equity" where a family and friends put time in working on their new home or one for another family in the program. This enables families that otherwise would not have the money for a down payment to earn their way to their first home. These usually include low or no interest home loans.
Funding is also available for areas that are in need of housing development such as rural or urban blight. Many of these grants can help developers and new home owners receive funds to construct in areas that they would not normally receive adequate money to build or restore homes.
Besides grants to assist in purchasing a home there are grants for remodeling and renovation. Several government and private programs will help pay for improvements to homes that also reduce heating and cooling cost year round and save many homeowners additional money.
There are also many low interest and no interest home loans available for families, individuals and groups from various other programs through federal state and local government. Many other private programs are available to assist with first time home buyers through banks, charities and non-profit groups.
Tips On Managing Your Debt
We live in a world where debt is not only acceptable, it is the norm. Almost everyone you meet has debt of some kind. So, in a society that views debt as a way of life, how can we control our debt instead of allowing it to control us? Here are some things to help you with debt prevention and management.
The first thing to do when considering your debt is to make a budget. It is important to have a plan for your money so that you will know exactly where all of your funds are going. Many people believe that a budget will be constricting and not allow them any freedom. Really the opposite is true. A budget allows you the freedom of having peace of mind knowing that all of your bills are paid and the money has been allocated ahead of time for these expenses.
Knowing where to start when making your budget can be overwhelming. The best place to begin is to make a list of all of your income. Once you have listed your income, make a list of all of your bills. Be sure to include things like cable, internet, cell phone, electricity, water, credit cards, loan payments, and any others that you might have on a monthly basis. Things like trash that are normally billed on a quarterly basis should also be included by dividing the normal bill by 3 to get the monthly total. Once you have listed all of your bills, consider living expenses. Things like gas, groceries, laundry, personal care, entertainment, and spending money should all be budgeted into your plan.
It is also important to have a savings plan. This is key to help you prevent yourself from getting into debt. Set aside a certain amount each month into a savings account. It can just be for general savings, or you could set a goal to save up for a big purchase. Saving with a goal in mind motivates many people to stick to their savings plan. They know that at the end they will be able to purchase the desired object without going into debt.
If you already have debt, it can be advantageous to take some steps to help manage it. If you have a high amount of credit card debt, it can be wise to consolidate it into one loan. If you are a homeowner, using the equity you have accumulated in your home is often the wisest way to restructure your debt load. You can roll all of your debt into one loan and make one payment that has tax advantages. It is wise to talk to your financial institution about all of the options they have for you.
Another way to manage existing debt is to consolidate your debt into one payment using an unsecured loan. Although the rates will be higher than a secured loan, often it will be lower than your credit card rates and the payment will be lower as well. This will allow you to pay off your debt in a specified time period while paying less interest over the long run.
There are many practical ways to manage the debt you already have while preventing yourself from getting in any deeper. Make a logical, practical budget and consolidate your existing debt in order.
The first thing to do when considering your debt is to make a budget. It is important to have a plan for your money so that you will know exactly where all of your funds are going. Many people believe that a budget will be constricting and not allow them any freedom. Really the opposite is true. A budget allows you the freedom of having peace of mind knowing that all of your bills are paid and the money has been allocated ahead of time for these expenses.
Knowing where to start when making your budget can be overwhelming. The best place to begin is to make a list of all of your income. Once you have listed your income, make a list of all of your bills. Be sure to include things like cable, internet, cell phone, electricity, water, credit cards, loan payments, and any others that you might have on a monthly basis. Things like trash that are normally billed on a quarterly basis should also be included by dividing the normal bill by 3 to get the monthly total. Once you have listed all of your bills, consider living expenses. Things like gas, groceries, laundry, personal care, entertainment, and spending money should all be budgeted into your plan.
It is also important to have a savings plan. This is key to help you prevent yourself from getting into debt. Set aside a certain amount each month into a savings account. It can just be for general savings, or you could set a goal to save up for a big purchase. Saving with a goal in mind motivates many people to stick to their savings plan. They know that at the end they will be able to purchase the desired object without going into debt.
If you already have debt, it can be advantageous to take some steps to help manage it. If you have a high amount of credit card debt, it can be wise to consolidate it into one loan. If you are a homeowner, using the equity you have accumulated in your home is often the wisest way to restructure your debt load. You can roll all of your debt into one loan and make one payment that has tax advantages. It is wise to talk to your financial institution about all of the options they have for you.
Another way to manage existing debt is to consolidate your debt into one payment using an unsecured loan. Although the rates will be higher than a secured loan, often it will be lower than your credit card rates and the payment will be lower as well. This will allow you to pay off your debt in a specified time period while paying less interest over the long run.
There are many practical ways to manage the debt you already have while preventing yourself from getting in any deeper. Make a logical, practical budget and consolidate your existing debt in order.
5 Areas You Can Look Into To Help You Lower Your Utility Bills Against Cost Of Living Raises
1. Kill Vampire Appliances
Turn off all electrical appliances and power mains when not in use or they could be "electricity vampires". Appliances continue to consume small amount of energy even when they are "turned off". It is estimated that standby power ranges from 10 and 15 watts, and sometimes more.
Alone, the standby power wasted by a single appliance may seem small, but an average home easily has more than half a dozen of such "vampires". Although figures vary, studies in the United States, France, Australia and Japan have estimated that standby power can form as much as 7 to 13 percent of total household consumption! Given the recent increased tariffs on electricity, isn't it sensible to turn off unused appliances and power mains?
2. Time Your Cooling
During summer, many household will turn on the air conditioners to cool down the houses. Well, a good suggestion is to use its timer function and set it to turn off after a few hours - you'll be asleep anyway. The fewer hours you use, the greater the energy savings. Don't know how to work the timer? Read the manual, or enlist the help of a techie friend. To ensure you'll sleep in comfort, set the temperature no lower than 25 degree Celsius, but use a fan for additional cooling.
3. Watt Savings
Another energy saver is to swap incandescent light bulbs to energy saving compact fluorescent light bulbs which use 70% to 80% less energy. While they are more expensive, they can outlast regular ligh bulbs. Because they burn brighter, you only need a lower wattage, thus saving energy. For example if you replace 10 of your 60-watt light bulbs at home with 10 15-watt compact fluorescent light bulb, you can save an estimated $280 a year.
Other bright ideas. Arrange lighting around you the house to maximise efficiency and use light reflectors in your lighting fixtures to make the most of the light. Also consider using dimmers to control the amount of lighting required. Compact fluorescent bulbs also run coolers so it won't heat up your home too much and resulting in using more energy to cool it.
4. Wash Wisely
There are lots of small things you can do, such as turning off the water when soaping in the shower or keeping bath-time down to 5 minutes. You can also use a thimble in your shower head to cut water use down from 9 litres to 7.5 litres in a minute. When using the washing machine, ensure that it's a full load or set the water level to match the amount of laundry. You may also want to pre-soak heavily soiled garments before washing them. You can also save the water from the final rinse cycle to mop the floor.
5. Cook Smart
It's often cheaper to eat at home, but cooking too can suck up a lot of wasted energy in gas and electricity. Make sure that you choose the right sized refrigerator for your family size, and where possible, buy an energy efficient brand. Also make sure that the gasket is tight to prevent warmer air from seeping into the fridge.
When cooking, plan well so that the stove is not turned on when it's not being used. And to make the best of the heat from the stove, use sturdy flat-bottomed pans that have high conductivity. It's also a good idea to keep your stovetop clean as blackened ranges absorb heat and reduce the efficiency of your burner. When making soups and stews, use a pressure cooker as they require less energy for heating.
Hope those few tips can help you shave some money off your monthly utility bills. In the process, you can also helping to conserve the environment and doing your part of in the fight against global warming.
Turn off all electrical appliances and power mains when not in use or they could be "electricity vampires". Appliances continue to consume small amount of energy even when they are "turned off". It is estimated that standby power ranges from 10 and 15 watts, and sometimes more.
Alone, the standby power wasted by a single appliance may seem small, but an average home easily has more than half a dozen of such "vampires". Although figures vary, studies in the United States, France, Australia and Japan have estimated that standby power can form as much as 7 to 13 percent of total household consumption! Given the recent increased tariffs on electricity, isn't it sensible to turn off unused appliances and power mains?
2. Time Your Cooling
During summer, many household will turn on the air conditioners to cool down the houses. Well, a good suggestion is to use its timer function and set it to turn off after a few hours - you'll be asleep anyway. The fewer hours you use, the greater the energy savings. Don't know how to work the timer? Read the manual, or enlist the help of a techie friend. To ensure you'll sleep in comfort, set the temperature no lower than 25 degree Celsius, but use a fan for additional cooling.
3. Watt Savings
Another energy saver is to swap incandescent light bulbs to energy saving compact fluorescent light bulbs which use 70% to 80% less energy. While they are more expensive, they can outlast regular ligh bulbs. Because they burn brighter, you only need a lower wattage, thus saving energy. For example if you replace 10 of your 60-watt light bulbs at home with 10 15-watt compact fluorescent light bulb, you can save an estimated $280 a year.
Other bright ideas. Arrange lighting around you the house to maximise efficiency and use light reflectors in your lighting fixtures to make the most of the light. Also consider using dimmers to control the amount of lighting required. Compact fluorescent bulbs also run coolers so it won't heat up your home too much and resulting in using more energy to cool it.
4. Wash Wisely
There are lots of small things you can do, such as turning off the water when soaping in the shower or keeping bath-time down to 5 minutes. You can also use a thimble in your shower head to cut water use down from 9 litres to 7.5 litres in a minute. When using the washing machine, ensure that it's a full load or set the water level to match the amount of laundry. You may also want to pre-soak heavily soiled garments before washing them. You can also save the water from the final rinse cycle to mop the floor.
5. Cook Smart
It's often cheaper to eat at home, but cooking too can suck up a lot of wasted energy in gas and electricity. Make sure that you choose the right sized refrigerator for your family size, and where possible, buy an energy efficient brand. Also make sure that the gasket is tight to prevent warmer air from seeping into the fridge.
When cooking, plan well so that the stove is not turned on when it's not being used. And to make the best of the heat from the stove, use sturdy flat-bottomed pans that have high conductivity. It's also a good idea to keep your stovetop clean as blackened ranges absorb heat and reduce the efficiency of your burner. When making soups and stews, use a pressure cooker as they require less energy for heating.
Hope those few tips can help you shave some money off your monthly utility bills. In the process, you can also helping to conserve the environment and doing your part of in the fight against global warming.
Getting Your Monthly Bills Down
Paying your bills is never fun, they always seem to high. Well they don't only seem to high, they are to high! There are many ways to get your monthly expenses down. Here are some good tips that can save you at least 20% on your bills.
• The research and technology of the present makes it possible to have a more powerful shower while using less water. Showering 5 minutes less is always a good idea.
• Compare the different phone companies. There are sites online where you can even compare them without doing the research yourself.
• It can be a lot cheaper to get your internet, phone and tv in one package from a provider. They often offer packages and that can save you a bunch of money each month.
• Instead of a normal heater you can use a heater without a tank. These heaters warm your water when you need it instead of storing the hot water. This saves you a lot of money because you are not using hot water 24/7 so why have it hot 24/7.
• Leave the room, lights off. You can be amazed how much money this can save you on a yearly basis. It doesn't take a lot of effort and can still save you money. Also buy florescent light bulbs instead of the conventional incandescent bulbs. They use about 25% less electricity!
• Buy an LCD monitor for your computer. It doesn't only look better J It also uses 25% less electricity than an old CRT monitor.
• Turn of your computer when you don't use it. I know that it is very easy to have it on all the time, because it takes time to boot up. But you have to make a choice do I want to wait 2 minutes when I want to use it or do I want to use 300 watt when I am not using it. There is a road in between . Your PC has a sleep mode, you can set it to go to sleep after being idle for 10 minutes, or just put it in sleep mode when you finish using it.
• Switch to satellite tv on your pc. There are some great software providers out there and you only have to pay a onetime fee to receive it. The quality is very good and you will have 3000 channels to choose from. You will not have to pay any monthly bills to watch tv programs. If you have a laptop you can now watch tv wherever you want, as long as there is an internet connection.
Put these tips into action and I guarantee you, that you will save a surprising amount of money on your monthly bills.
• The research and technology of the present makes it possible to have a more powerful shower while using less water. Showering 5 minutes less is always a good idea.
• Compare the different phone companies. There are sites online where you can even compare them without doing the research yourself.
• It can be a lot cheaper to get your internet, phone and tv in one package from a provider. They often offer packages and that can save you a bunch of money each month.
• Instead of a normal heater you can use a heater without a tank. These heaters warm your water when you need it instead of storing the hot water. This saves you a lot of money because you are not using hot water 24/7 so why have it hot 24/7.
• Leave the room, lights off. You can be amazed how much money this can save you on a yearly basis. It doesn't take a lot of effort and can still save you money. Also buy florescent light bulbs instead of the conventional incandescent bulbs. They use about 25% less electricity!
• Buy an LCD monitor for your computer. It doesn't only look better J It also uses 25% less electricity than an old CRT monitor.
• Turn of your computer when you don't use it. I know that it is very easy to have it on all the time, because it takes time to boot up. But you have to make a choice do I want to wait 2 minutes when I want to use it or do I want to use 300 watt when I am not using it. There is a road in between . Your PC has a sleep mode, you can set it to go to sleep after being idle for 10 minutes, or just put it in sleep mode when you finish using it.
• Switch to satellite tv on your pc. There are some great software providers out there and you only have to pay a onetime fee to receive it. The quality is very good and you will have 3000 channels to choose from. You will not have to pay any monthly bills to watch tv programs. If you have a laptop you can now watch tv wherever you want, as long as there is an internet connection.
Put these tips into action and I guarantee you, that you will save a surprising amount of money on your monthly bills.
Protecting Your Valuable Data
How to protect your valuable data, you will know after you read below:
Set up your computer in a safe environment. Your computer should be in a dry, cool, controlled environment that is clean and dust-free. Placing your computer in a low-traffic area will protect your system and storage media from harmful jarring or bumping.
Backup your data regularly. Creating regular backups is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from losing data. Back up data at least once a week with reliable tapes or other storage devices, always verifying that the correct data is backed up.
Use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). In the event of a surge of electricity or lightning strike, an uninterruptible power supply protects your computer from being fried. In addition, a UPS has a battery backup that keeps your computer running for a short time in the event of a power outage, giving you time to save your work and avoid potential data loss. If UPS is not an available or economical solution, a surge protector is also a good investment.
Run a virus scan regularly and update it four times a year. Computer viruses are one of the worst enemies to your computer. Good anti-virus software tests your system for sequences of code unique to each known computer virus and eliminates the infecting invader.
Be aware of strange noises. If you hear a strange noise or grinding sound, turn off your computer immediately and call an expert. Further operation may damage your hard drive beyond repair.
If you do experience a data loss, Data Recovery Wizard can help. Even the best maintenance program cannot always prevent system crashes or data loss. Data Recovery Wizard offers a wide array of data recovery solutions.
Set up your computer in a safe environment. Your computer should be in a dry, cool, controlled environment that is clean and dust-free. Placing your computer in a low-traffic area will protect your system and storage media from harmful jarring or bumping.
Backup your data regularly. Creating regular backups is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from losing data. Back up data at least once a week with reliable tapes or other storage devices, always verifying that the correct data is backed up.
Use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). In the event of a surge of electricity or lightning strike, an uninterruptible power supply protects your computer from being fried. In addition, a UPS has a battery backup that keeps your computer running for a short time in the event of a power outage, giving you time to save your work and avoid potential data loss. If UPS is not an available or economical solution, a surge protector is also a good investment.
Run a virus scan regularly and update it four times a year. Computer viruses are one of the worst enemies to your computer. Good anti-virus software tests your system for sequences of code unique to each known computer virus and eliminates the infecting invader.
Be aware of strange noises. If you hear a strange noise or grinding sound, turn off your computer immediately and call an expert. Further operation may damage your hard drive beyond repair.
If you do experience a data loss, Data Recovery Wizard can help. Even the best maintenance program cannot always prevent system crashes or data loss. Data Recovery Wizard offers a wide array of data recovery solutions.
Data Recovery Software
It can happen in a variety of ways. Your data can be lost for many different reasons. Virus or malware attacks can lead to lost files and information for unlucky computer users. Power spikes are also capable of leading to data loss, especially for computer systems without surge protectors or voltage regulators. And of course, all of us are possible victims of accidental file deletions or disk reformatting. Fortunately, even in these seemingly disastrous cases, there is still hope.
Due precisely to these untoward incidents, data recovery software have been developed extensively. Recovery software may be designed for many different specific cases, but they all aim to help mitigate the effects of the mistakes or accidents that lead to data loss.
The worst case scenario would be that the entire hard drive getting damaged or corrupted. In this case, hard drive recovery software would be invaluable. The software should be downloaded onto another storage device and not the crashed or damaged disk; putting new data onto the damaged disk might lead to overwriting and data loss. The hard drive recovery software may then be executed from this second storage device and used to scan the damaged hard drive.
This scan will analyze the crashed disk and determine what data, if any, is recoverable. It should be noted that depending on how exactly the hard disk was damaged, not all of the data on it may be recoverable. Different software may be tried, but there is no guarantee that any of them will be able to fully recover the lost data. After this scan, it is then a simple matter to confirm and have the hard drive recovery software recover the data that it can.
Different operating systems (such as Windows, Mac, Linux, and so on) may use different formatting systems for their hard drives. There exist different hard drive recovery programs that are designed for almost all operating systems and corresponding formatting systems. Some of these are available for free, while some would require purchase.
Another scenario would be that only a specific file or group of files is damaged. This may occur when a power surge or other event causes an unexpected shutdown. Open files with unsaved changes may unluckily be damaged by this shutdown.
Depending on what file needs to be recovered, there are different data recovery software options. There are those that are designed to recover Microsoft Office documents and files, for example, and these would be useful for those who use MS Word, Excel, and so on. Users of Microsoft Outlook who accidentally lose email messages will also find some recovery software specializing in email recovery due to client failure. There are also database recovery software programs for those who lose information from MS Access files, Palm Pilot databases, or SQL databases.
Data loss is no longer an irreversible process, thanks to today's software. Depending on the particular file or files that need to be recovered, and the circumstances of their loss, there are corresponding programs available for download or purchase.
Due precisely to these untoward incidents, data recovery software have been developed extensively. Recovery software may be designed for many different specific cases, but they all aim to help mitigate the effects of the mistakes or accidents that lead to data loss.
The worst case scenario would be that the entire hard drive getting damaged or corrupted. In this case, hard drive recovery software would be invaluable. The software should be downloaded onto another storage device and not the crashed or damaged disk; putting new data onto the damaged disk might lead to overwriting and data loss. The hard drive recovery software may then be executed from this second storage device and used to scan the damaged hard drive.
This scan will analyze the crashed disk and determine what data, if any, is recoverable. It should be noted that depending on how exactly the hard disk was damaged, not all of the data on it may be recoverable. Different software may be tried, but there is no guarantee that any of them will be able to fully recover the lost data. After this scan, it is then a simple matter to confirm and have the hard drive recovery software recover the data that it can.
Different operating systems (such as Windows, Mac, Linux, and so on) may use different formatting systems for their hard drives. There exist different hard drive recovery programs that are designed for almost all operating systems and corresponding formatting systems. Some of these are available for free, while some would require purchase.
Another scenario would be that only a specific file or group of files is damaged. This may occur when a power surge or other event causes an unexpected shutdown. Open files with unsaved changes may unluckily be damaged by this shutdown.
Depending on what file needs to be recovered, there are different data recovery software options. There are those that are designed to recover Microsoft Office documents and files, for example, and these would be useful for those who use MS Word, Excel, and so on. Users of Microsoft Outlook who accidentally lose email messages will also find some recovery software specializing in email recovery due to client failure. There are also database recovery software programs for those who lose information from MS Access files, Palm Pilot databases, or SQL databases.
Data loss is no longer an irreversible process, thanks to today's software. Depending on the particular file or files that need to be recovered, and the circumstances of their loss, there are corresponding programs available for download or purchase.
Your Financial Independence Roadmap
Last time I introduced you to the three laws to successful wealth creation that will enable you to build a solid foundation to ensure you provide a very sustainable income in retirement. As I pointed out, many people forego the planning required to prepare for retirement until it is too late. However, this needn't be the case. Even if you are about to retire or you have already retired you can still apply these principles to get your investments working for you.
In this article I want to address the first of these laws in more detail to show you how you can stop losing and start making money from your investments. If you remember, the first of the three laws to wealth creation was to 'spend less than you earn'.
Throughout my career many people have asked me to show them how they can create wealth. In most cases they expect that I will give them the 'holy grail' of investing, the one thing that will make them millions. Instead, I ask them a simple question - 'Do you have a budget?' You know, that great wealth creation vehicle that many suggest you should have to help you become financially independent. If you are like most people, you probably think a budget will restrict your spending, hamper your lifestyle and generally make you miserable. However, none of this is true - a budget is simply a financial plan to succeed.
A budget lists your income and expenses, and lays the foundation as to how you either invest or spend your money. It allows you to have more freedom, more security and more wealth. Quite simply, it provides you with the flexibility to plan for the future, but more importantly take control of your life today and put you on the right path for your future.
It is usually this first rule that creates considerable angst amongst people. This is because most people do not have a budget. However, without a budget, how do you know how much you are actually spending, or more importantly how much you can save?
Usually it is not until people receive their group certificate at the end of the financial year that you hear the outcry 'I got paid that much, what did I do with it all?' Only when spending habits are quantified do we know how much we can save. I have never met anyone that could not save at least 10% of their income after completing a budget. Most people could in fact save 20% to 30% of their income and still maintain a good lifestyle.
If you begin to budget you will realise how much money is wasted through uncontrolled spending.
Budgeting is like your roadmap to financial independence - it provides you with a plan of attack that allows you to create your preferred reality. The bottom line is a budget will allow you to allocate your income appropriately so that you stop losing and start making money. My advice to you is set some time aside to create a budget to quantify your spending so that you can begin to invest your income wisely.
In this article I want to address the first of these laws in more detail to show you how you can stop losing and start making money from your investments. If you remember, the first of the three laws to wealth creation was to 'spend less than you earn'.
Throughout my career many people have asked me to show them how they can create wealth. In most cases they expect that I will give them the 'holy grail' of investing, the one thing that will make them millions. Instead, I ask them a simple question - 'Do you have a budget?' You know, that great wealth creation vehicle that many suggest you should have to help you become financially independent. If you are like most people, you probably think a budget will restrict your spending, hamper your lifestyle and generally make you miserable. However, none of this is true - a budget is simply a financial plan to succeed.
A budget lists your income and expenses, and lays the foundation as to how you either invest or spend your money. It allows you to have more freedom, more security and more wealth. Quite simply, it provides you with the flexibility to plan for the future, but more importantly take control of your life today and put you on the right path for your future.
It is usually this first rule that creates considerable angst amongst people. This is because most people do not have a budget. However, without a budget, how do you know how much you are actually spending, or more importantly how much you can save?
Usually it is not until people receive their group certificate at the end of the financial year that you hear the outcry 'I got paid that much, what did I do with it all?' Only when spending habits are quantified do we know how much we can save. I have never met anyone that could not save at least 10% of their income after completing a budget. Most people could in fact save 20% to 30% of their income and still maintain a good lifestyle.
If you begin to budget you will realise how much money is wasted through uncontrolled spending.
Budgeting is like your roadmap to financial independence - it provides you with a plan of attack that allows you to create your preferred reality. The bottom line is a budget will allow you to allocate your income appropriately so that you stop losing and start making money. My advice to you is set some time aside to create a budget to quantify your spending so that you can begin to invest your income wisely.
20 Ways to Save on Your Utility Bills
Utility bills can consume a very large portion of your paycheck. Wouldn't it be nice if you could pay 25-50% less on these bills? There's a number of ways you can. Don't worry you won't find any low flow toilets on this list!
#1 Change your light bulbs - Compact florescent bulbs use about 25% the electricity of standard incandescent bulbs and will last for years. They do not work with dimmer switches, but you can swap out the majority of your light bulbs and save a significant amount on lighting.
#2 Check your insulation - Go in your attic. Does your insulation cover all the 2x4s? If not you don't have enough. Having a well insulated house will save you a significant amount on your heating and cooling bills and is well worth the cost. It's also the kind of project the average home owner can do by themselves.
#3 Add caulk and weather stripping - Is your house drafty? Look at your doors, does light shine in? Feel around the edge of your windows, do you feel a cold or hot breeze? You need to add caulk and weather stripping. It'll save you money and help get rid of those annoying hot and cold spots in your house.
#4 Fix leaking faucets - I'm sure you've heard even a small drip in your sink can fill a swimming pool in a year. It can also empty your bank account. Fixing this problem is usually as simple as replacing a 50 cent washer.
#5 Use fans - By having a slight breeze you can usually turn your AC up a degree or two and still be just as comfortable. It's a whole lot cheaper to run the fan than to run the AC, so use them.
#6 Turn the computer off - That 300 watt power supply in your computer is still drawing power when you're not using it. Turn your computer off when you're done with it. If that's too much of a hassle, adjust the screen saver settings to put your computer in sleep mode when it's idle. This is a low power mode that will allow you to quickly resume your work where you left off when you're ready to use the computer again.
#7 Switch to LED Christmas lights - You wouldn't think you're Christmas lights draw that much power, but when you get enough of those little lights, it really adds up fast. 25 watts per 50 bulb stand is standard and when you hook up 10 of those strands you're looking at 250 watts, probably running 24/7. Christmas lights that use LED bulbs use 80%-90% less electricity and still look just as bright. Also, turn your lights off when you go to bed.
#8 Get an LCD computer monitor - Are you still using an old style CRT display for your computer? Switch to LCD, they consume as little as 25% of the power of a CRT monitor of the same size. You were looking for a good excuse to switch anyways.
#9 Switch to tankless water heater - It amazes me how few people even know about the existence of tankless water heaters. These water heaters do not store hot water, but rather heat it instantly whenever it is needed. The consume a mind-boggling amount of energy when in use, but it ends up being much cheaper to consume a lot of power during the time you need hot water than a little keeping it hot 24/7.
#10 Change your filters - So you change the filter on your AC/Heating unit every spring and fall like you're suppose to? Wrong! Most filters are only rated for 30 days. Filters are cheap, so change them frequently. The efficiency gained in heating/cooling your house will make well worth it.
#11 Install a programmable thermostat - These are fairly cheap and easy to install. Why pay to cool your house while you're gone to work? Do you really need it to be the same temperature while you sleep as when you're awake? Programming it will allow you to make these energy savings adjustments automatically every day.
#12 Take (short) showers instead of baths - Try this one day. Pull the plug on your tub and take a shower like you normally do. When you're all done, look at the water level. It's probably about a quarter of the way full. This is how much water, and energy heating that water you save by taking a shower instead of a bath. If you can shorten your shower, even better.
#13 Ditch the phone company - Remember those "We don't care, we're the phone company" adds from Saturday Night Live in the 70's? Not so anymore. They now have competition from the cable company, cell phone providers and internet phone companies. Shop around and you can probably find a better deal. If you use cell phones all the time, you may even be able to shut off your home phone.
#14 Cancel extra TV channels - Do you pay $50-150 a month for 500 channels but end up just watching the networks? Cancel the extra channels and save some cash. If there's one show you just HAVE to have on one of these other stations, considering paying to download that one show from iTunes or elsewhere instead.
#15 Have AC Maintenance - If your AC is struggling to keep up in the summer, it might be a good idea to have some routine maintenance done. Low Freon levels can significantly impair the efficiency of your AC unit. So can grass clippings and other debris.
#16 Clean that lent trap - Be sure to empty the lent trap on your dryer after every load. If you are doing so and your clothes are still damp, there's probably lent that has built up in the exhaust hose and it may be time to replace or clean it.
#17 Have a free energy audit - Many power companies provide energy audits free of charge. They can help you find inefficiencies you may not be able to find on your own, and will sometimes even provide you with free compact florescent bulbs. Contact your power company to see if they offer this service.
#18 Get some shade - Blocking out direct sunlight can significantly lower your cooling bills. Plant some trees that will help shade your house and close the blinds on hot days.
#19 Water in the early morning - If you water your grass on a regular basis do it in the early morning hours. By doing so you reduce the amount of water that evaporates which means much more gets to the grass. It's not recommended to water in the late evening because having damp grass overnight provides a good environment for parasites that can harm your grass.
#20 Change your shower heads - You can switch to a low flow head without having to settle for a wimpy shower. Newer shower heads available can generate just as high of pressure but use less water. They do this by quickly pulsating between on and off to deliver rapid high pressure bursts. These heads are only about $20, have multiple settings you'll love and can save a lot of water.
#1 Change your light bulbs - Compact florescent bulbs use about 25% the electricity of standard incandescent bulbs and will last for years. They do not work with dimmer switches, but you can swap out the majority of your light bulbs and save a significant amount on lighting.
#2 Check your insulation - Go in your attic. Does your insulation cover all the 2x4s? If not you don't have enough. Having a well insulated house will save you a significant amount on your heating and cooling bills and is well worth the cost. It's also the kind of project the average home owner can do by themselves.
#3 Add caulk and weather stripping - Is your house drafty? Look at your doors, does light shine in? Feel around the edge of your windows, do you feel a cold or hot breeze? You need to add caulk and weather stripping. It'll save you money and help get rid of those annoying hot and cold spots in your house.
#4 Fix leaking faucets - I'm sure you've heard even a small drip in your sink can fill a swimming pool in a year. It can also empty your bank account. Fixing this problem is usually as simple as replacing a 50 cent washer.
#5 Use fans - By having a slight breeze you can usually turn your AC up a degree or two and still be just as comfortable. It's a whole lot cheaper to run the fan than to run the AC, so use them.
#6 Turn the computer off - That 300 watt power supply in your computer is still drawing power when you're not using it. Turn your computer off when you're done with it. If that's too much of a hassle, adjust the screen saver settings to put your computer in sleep mode when it's idle. This is a low power mode that will allow you to quickly resume your work where you left off when you're ready to use the computer again.
#7 Switch to LED Christmas lights - You wouldn't think you're Christmas lights draw that much power, but when you get enough of those little lights, it really adds up fast. 25 watts per 50 bulb stand is standard and when you hook up 10 of those strands you're looking at 250 watts, probably running 24/7. Christmas lights that use LED bulbs use 80%-90% less electricity and still look just as bright. Also, turn your lights off when you go to bed.
#8 Get an LCD computer monitor - Are you still using an old style CRT display for your computer? Switch to LCD, they consume as little as 25% of the power of a CRT monitor of the same size. You were looking for a good excuse to switch anyways.
#9 Switch to tankless water heater - It amazes me how few people even know about the existence of tankless water heaters. These water heaters do not store hot water, but rather heat it instantly whenever it is needed. The consume a mind-boggling amount of energy when in use, but it ends up being much cheaper to consume a lot of power during the time you need hot water than a little keeping it hot 24/7.
#10 Change your filters - So you change the filter on your AC/Heating unit every spring and fall like you're suppose to? Wrong! Most filters are only rated for 30 days. Filters are cheap, so change them frequently. The efficiency gained in heating/cooling your house will make well worth it.
#11 Install a programmable thermostat - These are fairly cheap and easy to install. Why pay to cool your house while you're gone to work? Do you really need it to be the same temperature while you sleep as when you're awake? Programming it will allow you to make these energy savings adjustments automatically every day.
#12 Take (short) showers instead of baths - Try this one day. Pull the plug on your tub and take a shower like you normally do. When you're all done, look at the water level. It's probably about a quarter of the way full. This is how much water, and energy heating that water you save by taking a shower instead of a bath. If you can shorten your shower, even better.
#13 Ditch the phone company - Remember those "We don't care, we're the phone company" adds from Saturday Night Live in the 70's? Not so anymore. They now have competition from the cable company, cell phone providers and internet phone companies. Shop around and you can probably find a better deal. If you use cell phones all the time, you may even be able to shut off your home phone.
#14 Cancel extra TV channels - Do you pay $50-150 a month for 500 channels but end up just watching the networks? Cancel the extra channels and save some cash. If there's one show you just HAVE to have on one of these other stations, considering paying to download that one show from iTunes or elsewhere instead.
#15 Have AC Maintenance - If your AC is struggling to keep up in the summer, it might be a good idea to have some routine maintenance done. Low Freon levels can significantly impair the efficiency of your AC unit. So can grass clippings and other debris.
#16 Clean that lent trap - Be sure to empty the lent trap on your dryer after every load. If you are doing so and your clothes are still damp, there's probably lent that has built up in the exhaust hose and it may be time to replace or clean it.
#17 Have a free energy audit - Many power companies provide energy audits free of charge. They can help you find inefficiencies you may not be able to find on your own, and will sometimes even provide you with free compact florescent bulbs. Contact your power company to see if they offer this service.
#18 Get some shade - Blocking out direct sunlight can significantly lower your cooling bills. Plant some trees that will help shade your house and close the blinds on hot days.
#19 Water in the early morning - If you water your grass on a regular basis do it in the early morning hours. By doing so you reduce the amount of water that evaporates which means much more gets to the grass. It's not recommended to water in the late evening because having damp grass overnight provides a good environment for parasites that can harm your grass.
#20 Change your shower heads - You can switch to a low flow head without having to settle for a wimpy shower. Newer shower heads available can generate just as high of pressure but use less water. They do this by quickly pulsating between on and off to deliver rapid high pressure bursts. These heads are only about $20, have multiple settings you'll love and can save a lot of water.
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