Sunday, November 5, 2017

What is the Current Exchange Rate Outlook between the Euro and the Dollar?



The macroeconomic developments of the year 2017 have been deeply influential in relation to the United States dollar and the euro. As the most active foreign exchange currency pair, EUR/USD has become a yardstick of the global economy due to the quantitative easing programs respectively enacted by Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank; to this effect, the ECB’s late October decision to extend its QE program has pretty much defined the outlook of both currencies for the rest of the year.

A Weaker Euro


The euro had been holding steady over the summer and even as the weather turned cooler; however, it started losing ground in mid-October as many analysts believed that the ECB directors would vote to keep QE in place. 


The European economies are in the clear with regard to the debt crisis; however, full economic growth has not been reached and there are questions related to ongoing issues in the United Kingdom and Spain. As a result, EUR/USD lost about 1.44 percent.

A Stronger Dollar


The greenback finished October at higher levels than expected thanks to positive reports related to the American economy. Wall Street has performed very strongly in 2017, and the economic recovery over the last few years has continued at a gradual pace. 



Economic growth in the third quarter stood at three percent, half a percentage point better than expected.


The Brexit Factor


The United Kingdom has made little progress in the Brexit talks to exit the European Union. If British leaders start softening their Brexit stance for the purpose of taking advantage of the single market, both the euro and the pound sterling will likely post gains. 


At any rate, the Brexit negotiations will probably continue well into 2018, and there will be room for the pound and euro to gain value on positive news.

Converting Dollar Reserves


Governments, banks and even individuals around the world have been increasing their dollar reserves in 2017, and they have been doing so in anticipation of the current situation. 


Some companies, like Continental Currency Exchange, know that analysts believe that USD reserves may be paired down from now until late December. Institutions and individuals are taking advantage of favorable currency exchange rates. 

As long as investors continue to react positively to earnings reports issued by companies listed on the S&P 500, Wall Street will keep its bullish run, particularly if employment numbers are positive, and this means a stronger dollar.

In the end, the USD will likely hold an economic advantage over the euro in the months to come; however, this outlook could be slightly reversed if dollar reserves around the world are converted into profits.




Saturday, November 4, 2017

Do's And Don'ts Of Using A Home Loan EMI Calculator



EMI calculators no doubt are a great tool to help you plan the finance before you dive into loans. It helps you to forecast and plan about how much you are going to borrow and how you will manage the EMIs. 

Most of the times, using EMI calculators can be a bit confusing. Thus, there are certain steps that you must keep in mind when using a Housing Loan EMI calculator.

EMI Calculator


Loans in today’s time have become one of the important factors in buying a property or a finished house. And as per the current market status, there are a variety of options which you can choose from. 

However, a properly selected loan plan will help you avail a Home Loan in a hassle-free manner. It is essential that you select the right loan product as it can help you save much money in the long run.

In the terms of a loan, savings are a result of interest that you save on the EMIs. An EMI is an amount which you are required to pay every month once you have availed the loan. 




It depends on three variables – the amount that you borrow, the tenor of which you have borrowed and the rate of interest which is being provided by the lender. 

Most of the people used to calculate the EMIs manually, however, with recent technological transformations, you can use Home Loan EMI calculator and get the results within a second. 

If you have not used a Home Loan calculator before, here are a few do’s and don’ts that you must follow:

Do’s:


Principle amount: When deciding a principal amount, it is vital that you are realistic about the choice. 


In reality, you will never get the entire loan amount. Thus, be prepared for the adjustments. Moreover, when deciding upon a principal amount, it is necessary that you are sure with the budget. 

Having a rough estimate of the construction cost and additional cost will help you plan more realistically.

Interest rate: When using a Home Loan calculator, know that the Home Loan interest rates of every financial institution differs. 


Most of the institutions determine interest based upon the amount that you are looking to borrow. When it comes to interest rate, credit score plays a vital role. 

Most of the banks have a tentative bracket on their website, make sure you are well-versed with the interest rate that you preferred lender is offering.

Loan Tenor: A loan tenor varies from bank to bank. Some are open to providing a Home Loan of 20 years whereas others can provide a Home Loan of up to 30 years.


Don’ts:


Sticking to a single calculation: While using an EMI calculator, it is important that you check all the websites and do not just try a single loan calculator.

Do not bank completely on it: Housing Loan calculator is a great way to calculate an EMI. However, you must not rely on it entirely.

Not trying different calculations: When using a Home Loan EMI calculator, make sure that you do not just try one option and rely on it completely. Keep trying different combinations and try coming out with the best one!

Home Loan calculators help an individual to gain a fair knowledge about the overall loan process. It helps you to determine the loan amount along with the EMI calculations.



Friday, November 3, 2017

3 Easy Ways to Reduce Maintenance Costs in Your Home



Maintenance is a necessary part of being a homeowner. It’s one of those expenses that adds up during the year, especially if your house is older. 

There are, however, ways to keep these costs down. With a little dedication and a few smart moves, you can bring down the costs of home upkeep. 

Below are three of the easiest ways to reduce maintenance costs in your home.

Be Proactive


If you really want to avoid some of the biggest maintenance costs for your home, you’ll need to be willing to spend a little money. 

The best way to avoid big problems is to catch them before they happen—and in this case, that’s going to mean preventative maintenance. 




Make sure that you have all of your home’s major systems checked out at least twice a year and that you schedule maintenance as soon as you notice even a minor problem. It might cost you a little now, but it will save you thousands in the long run.

Look at Newer Products


Some of the more common maintenance nightmares for homeowners come from older products. While there’s something nice about not having to shell out for a new system, the truth is that the maintenance on older systems can cost much more over the long run. 

his can even extend to areas like your flooring, in which the upkeep costs of the older floors far outstrips the cost of replacing them with newer vinyl flooring through a company like JDC Flooring

You should always check to see if there are newer, more efficient products to replace the failing systems of your home.

Work with Professionals


There’s a reason why some people spend years learning the ins and outs of home systems. While you might be handy with a wrench, you probably don’t have the training or experience to deal with major upkeep issues in your home. 

Unless you are incredibly skilled at DIY projects, trying to do complicated upkeep is actually more expensive when you do it on your own. Try to take stock of your own skills and decide if doing it yourself will really save you time or money. In many cases, you will be better off making a phone call.

There are ways for you to avoid some of your more outrageous home upkeep costs. Be willing to work with professionals, to take care of things early, and to replace older systems. 

If you can manage those three simple steps, you’ll save quite a bit on home maintenance.


Thursday, November 2, 2017

The Green and Clean Home: How to Save Money on Your Monthly Energy Bills



If you’re like most consumers, you are diligent about saving money whenever you can, whether it’s by using mobile apps or coupons to get the best deals on products or services you buy or by following a strict household budget. 

While it’s virtually impossible to eliminate all monthly energy bills, here are a few tips to help you save some money on them.

Ask Energy Suppliers If They Offer a “Budget” Payment Plan


One of the fastest ways to put a “cap” on your monthly energy bills is by enrolling in your Energy Suppliers Budget Payment Plan. 


Instead of charging customers in full for their usage every month, the energy supplier averages your use and “budgets” payments across multiple months for a predictable price.

Turn down Your Thermometer


While you always want to make sure that you and your family are comfortable, dropping the temperature of your home by just a degree or two significantly impacts your monthly energy bill. 




If you wear a sweatshirt or cover up with a blanket, you’ll still be just as warm.

Winterize or Update Windows


Did you know that the average home can lose as much as 30% of treated (heated or cooled) air? As you can imagine, this is a devastating blow to your pocketbook and the efficiency of your home. 


If possible, consider upgrading your window system to prevent air leaks. If you’re unable to buy new windows, winterizing them is an affordable way to block leaks and prevent drafts.

Replace Old Light Bulbs


Over the years there have been significant improvements made in the lighting industry. Old incandescent light bulbs fell out in favor due to their inefficiency. 


Lighting solutions and bulbs from companies like LED Lighting Wholesale Inc. are energy efficient and flexible to meet the needs of consumers in the United States.

Smart Thermometer


Smart thermometers are a breakthrough that empowers people with remote technology so that they can control the climate (and many other aspects) of their home using an app or their Smartphone. 


If no one is home during the day, you can adjust the temperature accordingly, so you pay less when no one is home.

Take Advantage of Your Fireplace


Using your fireplace is a great way to save money on your energy bills each month. It might require a little extra work by purchasing for finding and splitting your own firewood, but it is worth it if you can heat your home without having to use your furnace. 


This helps you cut down on your gas and electric bills each month as you will be heating your home naturally.


Go Solar


Solar energy is on the rise. You may have even driven around your neighborhood and have noticed some of your neighbors have solar panels sitting on their roof. 


With harnessing the power of the sun can also go solar with your home and consequently save money each month. 

This way you are not having to pay out all of your money to you electric and gas companies. Instead, by going solar you can power your own home (for the most part) without those other companies.

The chances are good that your monthly energy bills account for a significant portion of your household spending. 


The more money you can save each month, the more your bank account will thank you. It also opens up other opportunities to spend your money elsewhere. 

By implementing some of the suggestions mentioned above, you’re doing what you can do to control your monthly energy usage and controlling your budget.



Join 1000's of People Following 50 Plus Finance
Real Time Web Analytics