5 Great Clubs You Can Join To Liven Up Your Retirement

Work is a funny thing. We spend all of our lives wishing we could get out of it, but when we do, we're not quite sure what to do with ourselves. After 50 or 60 years of dreading Mondays, we're left stressing out over what to do now that we're no longer seeking employment. But, life is not over – not by a long shot. In fact, people call these the golden years for good reason; you can finally spend time enjoying yourself. The key to enjoying your retirement is to fill your day with fun activities and good friends. You can find both in spades at the right club.

So, without further ado, here are five great clubs you can join to liven up your retirement.

5. Lions Club

If the idea of helping others in your free time sounds good to you, you might benefit from a Lions Club membership. The Lions Club offers the framework for volunteers around the globe to help support their local community.

4. Beer of the Month Clubs

beers (Photo credit: uberculture)

Are you more than just a casual beer fan? If so, a beer of the month club might be a club for you to join. Especially during the fall football season, few things are as satisfying as a cold beer and the big game in your favorite chair. This club will take the guesswork out of trying new beers that might not fit your palette. True professionals hand select each beer with loving care. Some great clubs require minimal effort and yield maximum reward.

3. Book Clubs

Book clubs are perfect clubs for retirees for many reasons. First, they offer the opportunity for socialization. Second, they give you something to do when you're not socializing. Relaxing with a great book is an excellent way to pass the time and keep your mind nimble.

2. Potluck Clubs

Retirees who love to cook, and those who love to eat, can benefit from joining a potluck club. You don't have to be the best cook around; you just have to know how to follow a recipe and enjoy the company of like-minded retirees. If there isn't a potluck club already going strong in your area, feel free to start one.

1. Country Clubs

This is one club that usually comes with a membership fee, but the fee may be well worthwhile if you enjoy golf, tennis or socializing with an elite group of your neighbors. Great clubs aren't necessarily expensive. The best club is one that suits your lifestyle and contains friends with whom you can share a good laugh. When choosing a country club, ask for a day pass, so you can mingle with the folks who spend time there.

What to Look for in a Savings Account

More than a quarter of Americans do not have any money in savings, according to research released in June 2013 by Bankrate.com. And nearing retirement is a big incentive to consider your long-term financial stability. 

If you haven't started saving already, now is the time to open a savings account.

To assist you in the decision-making process of choosing where to open your savings account, here is a guide that emphasizes the importance of low fees, limited restrictions, bank insurance, high-yield interest and other factors. 

· Watch for Fees

Beware of hidden fees. Saving accounts may have fine print that lists costs that will take from the money you are trying to save with maintenance fees, activity fees, monthly fees, withdrawal fees and others. Make sure to ask questions -- like whether there is a minimum balance requirement or if it costs to transfer to the account when your checking is through a different bank -- before handing over your money.

A good bank will allow you to put money aside without hassling you with excessive charges.

· Check for Accessibility

Although this account should not have withdrawals taken at the frequency of a checking account, strict restrictions (which may include fees) on the number of withdrawals is not a good sign. Look for an account that will allow you access to your funds in case of an emergency. You will be saved from turning to credit or taking on extra debt. 

· Earn that Interest

Forbes.com recommends finding online savings accounts with interest rates around 0.87 percent or traditional banks with around 0.74 percent. But beware of introductory interest rates that shrink after the first few months.

If you are able to add money to your account on a monthly basis, your bank may offer special rewards like higher interest rates.

· Look into Online Banking

An ad for a promotional savings account in your mail or a solicitation from your bank teller may not give you access to the best savings account available. Shop around, and compare offers from online banks.

Online banks offer special incentives as they try to convert customers used to working with traditional banks. These banks cost less to operate, allowing the banks to offer higher rates of return on savings accounts.

· Research Credibility

The banking industry is not immune to economic fluctuations, and if a bank suffers major losses, your money may be at stake. Before you commit to either an online or traditional bank, do some research into a bank's credibility.

Check to find your bank's Tier 1 capital ratio, which is a measure of strength based on equity and risk. Experts recommend avoiding banks with a Tier 1 ratio of less than 10 percent.

Makes sure your money is insured. FDIC insurance protects up to $250,000 per depositor. If a bank you are looking at does not have this protection, take your business elsewhere.

· Move to the Next Level of Savings

As you learn to put aside a portion of your income for savings, you can move to the next step: opening a savings account that is an investment product. Divide up excess funds into accounts with greater interest rewards and tax benefits.

Financial products to help protect your retirement years include IRAs, 401(k)s and annuities. Once you've saved up a lump sum, an annuity can give you access to regular payments to supplement Social Security payments that might otherwise be your only income during retirement.

Saving money in an envelope at home or letting a balance grow in your checking account may seem like enough to tide you over for the next few years, but truly preparing for the future will require putting in more effort, starting with getting a balance in the right savings account.

Alanna Ritchie is a content writer for Debt.org, where she writes about personal finance and little smart ways to spend (and save) money. Alanna has an English degree from Rollins College.

Financial Future: How does filing bankruptcy affect future finances?

Depending on your situation, filing bankruptcy can either have a negative or a positive effect on future finances. Filing bankruptcy will no doubt show up on your credit report. This will cause many lenders to not lend money for a home, car, or to get a personal loan. Many creditors will ask if you have ever filed bankruptcy in the past. The answer to this question could mean the difference between getting a loan in the future or not. Of course, not all lenders will turn you down if you’ve had a bankruptcy in the past. It will depend on other things like how much money you put down and what the need is.

Negative

Business owners may be negatively affected by a bankruptcy because it can cause lenders not to give you a loan for business needs. This means if you are trying to start a business or restart one or get money for a business need, it may be difficult to get a loan from a lender with a bankruptcy on your credit report. However if you fail to file for bankruptcy, your future financial situation could be much worse.

Positive

Bankruptcy allows you to get your financial house in order if you are surrounded by debt and have no way to pay your debts. Instead of staying in the same situation and having your debts continue to mount. Bankruptcy will help you straighten your finances out and provide a new start. Bankruptcies don’t last forever. They don’t show up on your credit report forever. They drop off just like any other negative mark on your credit report. A chapter 7 bankruptcy will last for seven years on your credit report and a chapter 13 will last for 13 years on your credit report. Which one you choose depends on your individual situation.

Things to Consider

Many people think it’s the worse option available and try to do everything to avoid it. However, bankruptcy can actually be the best thing to do. It can be a lifesaver. And it can help turn your dire financial situation around. Bankruptcy acts as a shield between you and your debts.

For many people, it allows them a chance to start over again with their finances and gets things organized. You credit score will definitely be affected by a bankruptcy. It will lower it but it may not lower it as much as having a pile of unpaid or bad debt on your credit.

The Truth about Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy can be a bad thing to many people. Most people feel as if they have failed if they file bankruptcy. But bankruptcy does not mean you are a failure. Things happen unexpectedly that we are not able to control, such as job loss, income decreasing, health issues, and other personal issues that interrupt our normal lives and can cause serious consequences.

Good Bankruptcy Attorneys can help greatly in the process of filing for bankruptcy. Experienced attorneys can recommend a credit counseling or debt consolidation that’s better than filing bankruptcy or help you file a claim.

About the AuthorAshley Parker has written hundreds of articles on a variety of topics for more than seven years. Topics that she writes on include alternative energy, healthy living, home design, career advancement, travel, SEO marketing and website content.

Close That Sale: Second-Hand Purchase Checklist

English: Couple on a motorcycle in Rajasthan, India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Most of us start a sale these days with lots of browsing online and, thankfully, we’re actually going into sales a lot more clued up than we ever have in the past. However, closing a second-hand sale isn’t an easy thing to do, and from introducing yourself to taking a test drive to handing over the cash, there are plenty of areas where a sale could go wrong. 
So to ensure that you end up making not just the right purchase, but the right purchase at the right price, here’s our step-by-step guide to closing a second-hand sale. 

1. Good Introductions

In most cases you’ll end up making an introduction online or over the phone but it doesn’t ever hurt to make a good first impression when meeting in person. Turn up on time, give forewarning and make it clear you’re interested in coming to a mutually good deal, not just getting as a low a price as possible. You don’t need to be overly outgoing, but don’t give your seller any reason not to give you the sale. 

2. Start with the Paperwork

Most of us are edging to get a look at our prospective new bike when we’re closing a deal, but it’s actually much better to start with a paperwork. You should be checking the logbook, the service history and whether it has any motorcycle insurance, MOT or tax left on it. Check that everything is present and correct first, but also make sure it adds up - do the addresses match, does the frame number match? If not, always ask why not - there could be a simple explanation. If there isn’t, the bike could be stolen. 

3. Visual Inspection

After checking the books have a quick look around the bike to check for condition. Of course you’ll want to be checking for scratches, dents and marks but also look for things like mismatched screws, uneven tyres and rust. Check, also, if your seller has fitted any aftermarket alarms and the condition of the locks; these are all points for negotiation after the test ride. 

4. Get Hands-On

Before taking the bike for a test ride just spend a moment getting hands on. Is it the right size for you, are the handlebars comfortable or are you struggling to reach. Your new bike will feel different to bikes you’ve had before, but it shouldn’t feel uncomfortable. Also check the suspension has a slow, smooth spring to it and that the bike starts up easily. Once it’s going, check to make sure the owner doesn’t thrash a cold engine (because they will always do this if they do it when selling!) and that the dials all read appropriately. 

5. The Test Ride

Licensing and insurance can be tricky when doing test rides so you may have to ride on the back or take the bike to an off-road area where you can give it a full test. If you have comprehensive insurance you should be able to take the bike out, but you will need to check the details. When you’re finally on the bike, do a few smooth gear changes, check the acceleration and, most importantly, check the steering alignment: it could indicate a head-bearing problem or even a buckled frame. 

6. Settling Up

So you’ve decided the bike works for you but, in most cases, they’ll be a few small issues. These are grounds for haggling, but stay clear of market-stall bartering, most sellers find it irritating. State that because of x fault or y problem you’re only willing to pay a certain amount and go from there. If this price isn’t right, leave your name and number and, hopefully, you’ll get a call-back...!
For motorbike insurance visit aquote bike.

Quick Insight into Top 4 Benefits of Online Share Trading

Investing in the share market is a great way to raise capital, given that you do the needed research and make the investment strategically. With the advent of Internet, today people can now easily access the markets and related information online, which were earlier only available through a broker. With such convenience, online share trading has slowly started replacing offline share trading due to its innumerable benefits. 

Online trading has given the modern traders of today the convenience, but this, in no way, means that they are investing in a smarter way. An increasing number of individuals opt to trade online as against offline trading today. People who learn to trade forex online today would never want to go back to the conventional method of offline trading. Let’s take a look at what has been attracting the investors towards this online trading strategy by understanding its benefits. 

Convenience

The first and foremost advantage of online share trading that has been appealing to investors is convenience. Traders can manage their investments online during any time of the day or night, which is extremely convenient to them. Such trading also lets the traders watch out their investments throughout and gain access to info that were earlier accessible only by brokers. Thus, online trading saves money and time by trading according to your convenience. You can trade from the flexibility of your home, office or internet café.

Apart from a computer and Internet access, the only other important thing that you need for online trading is a bank account for all your money transactions from time to time. Once you have the needed money in your account, you have the freedom to purchase your favorite stocks. Your share trading account and bank account will be linked to each other to enable you in purchasing shares online.

Diversity

The next benefit is the diversity of investments and assortments available. Few of the most popular online brokerages are AmeriTrade, Fidelity, and Scottrade. You will gain access to various markets like foreign bonds, and stocks based on the brokerage, which will open up your chances of making more money in the longer run.

Instant Access to Stock Markets

A trader gains instant access to his online share trading account and details pertaining to the stock market with just few mouse clicks. Further, he or she can avoid making decisions in haste since the investor can stay updated concurrently with the recent stock details and latest news about the firm in which they have invested or about any other potential firm they would want to invest in.

No Limit on Trading Hours

One more benefit of online selling and buying is that you can place your orders even during non-market hours. On the contrary, in offline trading buying and selling shares need to be done only during market working hours. The fact that there is no restriction with respect to market hours is an added advantage in online trading.

With these many advantages of online share trading at the fingertip of every online trader, there is no reason as to why any investor would want to ignore the convenience of online trading. So, become a smart trader, and leverage the power of Forex trading today.

Author Bio
Alisa Martin is an online share and stock market trader. She has been using this convenience ever since online trading was introduced in the market, and happens to be one of the veteran traders.

Don't Get Caught Out by These 3 Hidden Funeral Costs

A funeral is one of the single most expensive purchases you will ever make. It may seem like a fairly straightforward event, but there are so many small elements involved in the funeral process that grieving loved ones are often shocked by the final price tag. Knowing some of these hidden costs in advance can help you avoid being taken advantage of at a vulnerable time. 

Acknowledgement Packages

An acknowledgement package is a broad term used by funeral homes to cover small items like guest register books, funeral pamphlets and candles. Some funeral homes include this in a package price, but some do not. If you're aren't covered by a funeral plan, you can expect to pay a lot for these extras. 

This can be avoided by seeking out a package with these items included, or simply having family and friends assist you in creating or obtaining these items on your own. 

Caskets

It's all too easy to make an emotional decision when it comes to a casket out of a sense of duty to the deceased, and funeral home staff may try to take advantage of this by showing you expensive casket options first and banking on the fact that you will choose one impulsively. 

If lower-priced casket models aren't on display in a funeral showroom, insist on seeing them or asking for a catalog or price list with different options. Additionally, there is a host of online casket retailers with competitive prices, and they will be happy to ship a casket to your chosen funeral home. 

Cemetery Services

Many people don’t realize that they will have to pay for the labor performed at graveside services. This includes setting up chairs and awnings and lowering the casket into the grave. Opening and closing the grave can also be very expensive. 

One way to reduce the cost of the labor is by avoiding Saturday services. Labor costs tend to be more reasonable on weekdays than on weekends. Also, keeping the length of the graveside service to a minimum means that you will not be paying for multiple employees to wait at length in order to close the grave. 

Do not give in to pressure from funeral home staff when it comes to making these important choices. Have someone go to the funeral home with you to provide a voice of reason if need be, and always ask for a detailed list of what services you're paying for.