Are Short Term Loans Right For You?

During the present economic condition, it becomes often very difficult to meet up all your needs with the regular income. After all, you have to pay off all those medical bills, utility bills and education bills. Moreover, emergencies are always there and you have to arrange the money somehow. In situations like these, applying for traditional credits from banks or other financial organizations, doesn’t seem to be very feasible as the process is a bit time consuming and involves lots of formalities as well. 


As an alternative to these types of conventional loans, short term credits or cash advance loans happen to be popular options. Since you don’t need to provide a huge number of documents and the process, too, is completed within a short period of time, these financial alternatives seem to be popular way outs among people. Moreover, you can get approved for these credits even if your financial history is not-so-fair and if you have a bad credit score. However, while applying for such types of loans, you need to keep certain factors in mind –

· Do you really need the money? – The fact that there are plenty of financial alternatives available in the market and you can easily get approved for them nowhere means that you can apply for one every now and then. In fact, taking too much loans and then being unable to repay them within the given time will affect your credit status and gradually will lead you to a poor credit score. Hence, make sure you need the money desperately and then, apply for these loans. For example, if you want to go on a vacation, but can’t plan it due to lack of money, don’t apply for a short term loan. Remember, these credits should be applied for only for unexpected expenses that you have to pay off.

· Try to cut down the borrowing as much as possible – Make it a point to borrow as less as possible amount of money. This is important because these types of credits always involve high rates of interest and the more amounts you borrow, the greater amount of money you would have to pay to the lender.

· Shop around a bit before taking the loan from someone – These types of credits are available both online as well as with unconventional sources like personal lenders. You can even ask friends, family or someone from your acquaintances if they can lend you the money for a short period of time, probably till when you receive your next paycheck. While shopping online, check out the different sites – compare the rates of interest and other charges like application fees or processing fees. Check out if the lenders ask for an early repayment charges. Considering all these factors, choose the deal that suits your need best.

· Go through the Terms of Service carefully – Well, this is quite an obvious task before signing any kind of deal. But being in a hurry, you may miss out something very crucial. Make sure you understand all the terms and clauses perfectly before signing the agreement.

Author’s Bio – Sam Payn is a well known blogger who has been associated with guest blogging for a number of years. He specializes in writing on topics related to finance, loan, insurance etc.

Deterring Burglars on a Budget: Inexpensive Security Ideas for the Home

A Honeywell home alarm system control panel. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Approximately 73.9 percent of all burglaries target residential properties. More than two million burglaries took place in 2010 alone. Protecting your home doesn't have to put a dent in your budget when you're smart about using affordable solutions.

Secure the Windows and Doors

This may seem obvious, but the FBI reports that nearly a third of all burglaries in 2010 were unlawful entries without force. Unsecured doors and windows are like a welcoming invitation for intruders. Upgrading or installing locks on windows and doors is affordable and extremely effective. Place a wooden stick in the track of sliding doors so they can't open. Drill a hole in your window frame where the top and bottom portions overlap and insert a long nail as a backup if the window lock fails. Make sure everyone in the family uses the locks regularly.

Tidy Up Your Landscaping

Trees and shrubbery offer excellent hiding places for burglars. Take a close look at your landscaping. Could someone hide in the bushes beneath a window while prying it open? Do overgrown tree branches offer lots of dark shady areas around the lawn at night? Make some alterations so your landscaping is sparser, making it more difficult for criminals to hide.

Brighten Things Up

Proper lighting deters criminals both inside and outside the house. Motion-activated lights around the garage and doors are an excellent way to turn burglars back. The lights alert you to movement outside the home while illuminating the burglar's activities. When you're away, set timers on lights inside the house so it always appears as though someone is home.

Consider an Affordable Alarm System

Not all alarm systems are expensive. There are many affordable options that will give you protection and peace of mind on a budget. Browse a site like TopHomeAlarms.com for an idea of what your options are. The mere presence of an alarm system deters burglars, so don't think that only the pricey options are worth your money.

Get a Dog – Or Simulate One

A dog is a major deterrent for burglars. If you're a fan of these furry friends, by all means add a canine companion to your family for added protection. If you're not ready to bring a pet into the family, you can make burglars think you have an animal instead. Motion-activated alarms are available that play the sound of a dog barking when someone is outside the door. A "Beware of Dog" sign and some proper accessories, like dog toys, in the yard will enforce the illusion.

Get to Know Your Neighbors

If your neighbors are familiar with you and your family, they'll recognize when something isn't right and an intruder is lurking around the house. Neighbors are also able to make it look like you're home when you're out of town by picking up mail or leaving some of their trash on your curb as well as their own. Leave spare keys with people you trust and never place them in false rocks or hideaway flower pots.

Don't leave your security to chance. Take these low-cost measures to protect your home now.

Gambling : One of the 50 Pluses Favorite Retirement Activities

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) the average age of a Las Vegas visitor is 51 years old. I have traveled and vacationed there many times over the years and I can confirm this statistic. 

I might even say that the age stated is on the low side. I can see how the 50 plus age group enjoys their trips to the casino. Gambling may be their favorite recreational activity and maybe even the most favorite activity next to travel. 

Gambling at casinos is a more popular leisure activity than it has ever been - which is primarily due to the rise in online casino sites, which have enabled people to play games like poker, roulette and online slots from home – or any other location, thanks to mobile casino apps. 

This has made playing casino games far more appealing for people, but also means that the need for people to be aware of responsible gambling is greater than it has ever been before. 

At the heart of gambling responsibly is working out a financial budget, based on what you bring in each month, so that you know what percentage of your income you can afford to spend on gambling per month. 

You should budget based on what you can afford to lose, rather than what you hope to win, as this way any winnings are a happy bonus – rather than something you are dependent upon to prevent yourself getting into financial trouble. Once you know what you can realistically spend, put that money in an account separate from your main one, to ensure that you do not have the temptation to exceed it. 

It is also very important to limit yourself in terms of time spent gambling, because otherwise this can easily cross the line from being a fun leisure activity to an out-of-control addiction. Again having a limited budget will help you to maintain the time limits you impose per week, and you will find yourself sticking to those limits to ensure that your allotted gambling budget lasts throughout the month. 

Limiting the time you are allowed to spend gambling per week will also reduce the risks of falling into common traps like trying to win back money you have lost by continuing to gamble and bet more. This generally leads to even greater losses, and is not a responsible way to gamble.

Satellite Communications and Social Media

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Over the last year data traffic from mobile devices has increased 2.4 times. Industry leaders had forecasted an increase of only 125%. This has been the  global trend over the past 5 years. In 2012, monthly mobile internet data was at 624 petabytes. In the year 2000, the entire Internet has a total capacity of only 75 petabytes.

With the rising need to move more and more data, finding resources to do the job has become an ever growing problem. Data centers are not only getting ready for an ever growing amount data but to make it worse the growth of social media, YouTube, and online games is just adding to the problem. Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr has made a great impact on the webs need for more capacity.

Satellite Communications from SATCOM Systems  have become more available in the last few years and are helping to carry the additional traffic. Because of the billions of dollars spent by both private and public sectors it is now available to be used for data traffic. Today, much of Internet traffic is being carried by wireless providers. People use their cell phones to surf the net and use social media and the trend is rising. 

The benefits of a partnership between cellular network operators and satellite operators can only benefit the end user by providing better and more reliable service. The combination of satellite and cellular allows service coverage of more areas which wasn't possible before with just landlines. 

Remote areas that are not close enough to the standard phone company lines will be able to pick up their internet through compact and efficient satellite dishes. 

Peer-To-Peer Lending an Alternative to Big Banking

One of the newest trends happening online is Peer-to-Peer services. This business model of connecting people to people to provide a service is growing more every day. Some examples of peer-to-peer businesses are Airbnb (lodging), Kickstarter (project funding), and TaskRabbit (to-do lists). These companies are growing because they provide services at a personal level. The business model of dealing with large, impersonal companies is no longer your only option. Whether you're choosing a place to vacation, fund your start-up, or borrow money.

Five years ago the peer-to-peer way to borrow money online was started by Internet Company "Lending Club". Lending Club offered an alternative to large commercial banks that scaled back their lending during the financial crisis. They offer to be the middle man between borrowers who couldn't borrow and lenders who were looking to get a higher return on their cash. Lending Club provided the structures to make this happen and they have been successful ever since.

The Internet has made it possible for peer-to-peer businesses to offer their services around the world. UK peer to peer lending company Folk2Folk has a different twist on peer-to-peer lending. They are looking for individuals who are able to lend £25,000 or more. They offer secured loans on non-residential property to individuals and businesses. Folk2Folk does the banks one better by processing a secured loan in seven to ten days. This tops the time that regular banking takes, which is usually is months, to fund a loan. 

We are seeing the future with the growth of Peer-to-peer services. Even Internet giant Google sees the potential of this type of lending. Recently, Google invested $125M in Lending Club in the U.S. while in the U.K. Zopa announced that they are putting in new safeguards to protect lenders funds and Funding Circle starting to do secured loans. With Google's investment, we are seeing peer-to-peer lending services becoming mainstream. 

How to Start Your Business Safely

Starting a business can be a daunting prospect, especially if you are leaving the security of a salary and regular hours to do it. There are some things to consider long before you get close to starting up your company, and neglecting them can result in negative consequences for your fledgling business.

Create a Business Plan

Draw up a business plan, taking careful account of all expenses and working out a best case, worst case and average scenario. Note down the accurate costs of each product, including a good hourly rate for your labour if applicable, and work out how much you need to sell them for to make an acceptable profit. Not only does this let you know if your business idea is feasible, it will let you know how long you should remain in paid employment saving up to get the start-up costs together. If you are confident you can apply for a small business loan from your bank, make an appointment sooner, rather than later.

Seek Professional Help

Consulting professionals is always advisable before starting any business venture. Any slips or mistakes on your behalf are not easily forgiven by regulatory authorities so make sure you are getting it right, from the very beginning! Bank managers are a mine of useful information when setting up a company, and, as it is the interests of the bank for your business to succeed, they will be more than happy to pass along useful hints and tips.

Have a Good Accountant

Sit down with an accountant before you start trading, or very shortly thereafter. It may be annoying to pay a hefty accountancy fee, but you will leave the meeting with peace of mind, and a clear understanding of your business obligations; and that is well worth the cost.

Do Your Research

Do plenty of research into your chosen market, and begin to accumulate customers before the business starts up. If you can begin official trading with a few loyal customers ready and willing to spread the word on your behalf your company will be off to a good start. Make sure that there is a ready market for your product and that you will be able to sustain sales over time. Remember, there is a limit to the amount of goodies a family member or friend will buy before they say enough is enough!

Follow Laws and Regulations

Make sure that you are legally compliant in every aspect of the business at all times. Skipping a regulation because it is too hard to enforce, or because you do not think that it is sensible, may land you in legal trouble, which can lead to financial trouble if a large fine is imposed… The rules and regulations may seem petty or be inconvenient, but they have been implemented for a reason and should be obeyed.

Have Adequate Insurance

Another area where many small businesses go astray is in the matter of insurance. If you have employees, you are legally obliged to hold employee liability insurance, to cover them in the instance of injury, illness or even death occurring at the work place. If you have a shop front, or office into which the public may venture, then public liability insurance is a must. This covers you in the event that an accident happens, resulting in a member of the public being hurt or killed.

Professional indemnity cover is there to protect professionals, such as lawyers and doctors, from dissatisfied customers unhappy with a treatment or result. If the company has a fleet of vehicles, or even just one delivery vehicle, then fleet insurance is needed to cover accidental loss or damage to the goods.

It may seem to be unnecessary and annoying to have to spend precious funding on insurances that will hopefully never be claimed upon, but it is better to accept that they are a necessity and pay up. Your business is highly unlikely to survive in the event that one of these calamities was to happen and you found yourself liable for all costs. So, look around today for reliable insurance providers, like AXA business insurance, and find the best insurance option for your company.

Running a business is an exciting, hair-raising career that is sure to change the way you think, act and even spend your money. Make sure that you take all the steps required to keep your small business safe and secure, so it can grow into a large, well-known brand!