Peer out of your office door, what's your secretary doing right now? If you answered surfing the internet, taking a nap, or reading a magazine, it's time to rethink where your money is going. In an ideal situation, a secretary would be paid for the work they accomplish and not for watching the clock. If is my theory that small businesses can save money by hiring a secretary part time to manage office business and utilizing an answering service...more
So the time has come for you to purchase a home and take on home ownership.Home ownership will be perhaps the largest responsibility you ever take on in your life. But it will most likely be the most rewarding thing you ever take on in your life as well.But before you go out and buy that rake, snow shovel, and lawn mower to keep up with all of your towns ordinances, you will first need to obtain a mortgage to purchase the home.Although obtaining...more
The DebtIn America, it is not only accepted that the majority of us are knee-deep in credit card debt, it is normal. Two generations ago it was just flat out wrong - a sin, to have any kind of debt at all. Today it is quite a different story and credit card debt is a mega, multi-billion dollar a year industry. The major credit card companies are eating it up like hotcakes and our credit reports are taking a lot of the heat. More than 75% of all college students are in credit card debt within their first year of school. From Sears to Visa to Diner's Club, people are adding to the debt stock pile that the distributors thrive off of. There are tens of thousands of websites that support and offer more to this enormous problem and it has got to stop! We have to draw the line individually, because there are no boundaries on the excessive spending in America.What's Really HappeningIt's even stated in the Bible - "The borrower is slave to the lender." In any case, where you have taken out credit on something; be it a car, mortgage, student loan, credit card, etc..., you are borrowing money. Not only that, but you are borrowing more money than you need. The average APR (annual percentage...more
A fundamental challenge of small business can be summarized as "too many tasks, too few people."Unlike large enterprises which can have whole teams devoted to limited tasks - think "Task force for the unification of stapler specifications and procedures" - small businesses can have one person covering anything and everything.The time to address...more
Are you wanting to apply for a new credit card but feeling hesitant to perform the credit card application online? If so, you need not be concerned. Advances in the technology of secure e-commerce have made online credit card applications literally safer than filling out a paper application and mailing it through the US Postal Service. Here's why....more
Even with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in your credit report you can still qualify for a sub-prime mortgage. Once approved, you can then use your mortgage to improve your credit history, qualifying you for lower interest rates in the future.The Effects of a BankruptcyA bankruptcy will affect your credit score based on how long ago it was. So a bankruptcy discharged less than a year ago will qualify you for a D loan. These types of loans usually require 30% down and a high interest rate.By waiting a year after a bankruptcy, you can qualify for a B or C loan with their lower rates and down payment requirements. If you wait two years, you can qualify for a FHA home loan. In four years, you can qualify for a conventional loan.Besides your bankruptcy record, financing companies will want to see a steady payment history. This includes your credit and rent payments. Cash reserves for six to twelve months will also offset your credit risk.Search For LendersNot all sub-prime lenders evaluate borrowers the same way. So you may qualify for a B loan with one lender and a C lender with another. To find who will offer you the best financing, you will need to request quotes from several lenders.You can...more
In 1996, in the movie Jerry McGuire, actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. made famous the phrase "Show Me the Money!" Ten years later, a variation of that command, now "Show Me the Data!" rings in conference rooms throughout the country. Managers far and wide, at...more
Things can change fast!Tactics will probably no longer dominate the public relations plan. Instead, when needed, they'll hopefully assume their properly limited role as the primary means for moving a publicity message from one point to another.But in...more
Sorry to remind all you died in the wool smokers but November was Lung Cancer Awareness month. But no don't click away - spare a few moments of your time, please .. If hard words on packets wash over you, let me put the financial case to you for...more
How many times have you needed to call for a service such as carpet cleaning? Mechanic service? How about a more serious issue such as a flood service? Did you find that looking through the phone book just doesn't give enough info and searching...more
Preparing a business plan is the most important part of starting a business. So much rests on the business plan, from financing to suppliers. A business plan shows that you are prepared, educated, and dedicated to your business. A good business plan...more
Online credit reports are an easy way to learn what potential lenders will see about us, before we apply for a loan or credit. All too often, our early mismanagement of credit, like during our irresponsible youth, winds up hurting us for years. We...more