Wednesday, March 21, 2018

4 Ways the Elderly Can Plan Their Estate and Write a Will



No matter your age or your health, it is a good idea to plan what will happen to your assets when you pass away. Doing so will make things easier on your family in the event of your death. Here are four ways the elderly can plan their estate and write a will.

Start Early


When it comes to your will and estate planning, it never hurts to start early, but it can be a problem if you start too late. You do not want to leave this world and leave behind no guidance for your family and other beneficiaries regarding what you wanted. 


Start thinking about your estate planning early. You can always alter your will later if you change your mind.

Consider Everyone’s Wishes


When planning what will happen to your estate upon your death, you need to consider who will get your assets and how they will be distributed. This also includes charities as well as certain items you want to go to specific people. 




You should not discount your own wishes, of course. If you want to be cremated, for example, you should make that clear. You should also plan to leave enough to cover funeral costs and a headstone and burial plot if you wish to be buried.

Meet with an Estate Planning Attorney


An estate planning attorney is your best option for crafting a will. Although you can draft your will yourself and it will still hold legal weight, a professional estate planning attorney can ensure your will conveys the exact meaning you intend in addition to holding up in court. 


They will inform you of all relevant inheritance laws and take your desires into account so your wishes will be carried out.

Consider a Living Will and Power of Attorney


A living will takes effect while you are still alive. It outlines what care you do or do not want to receive at the end of life. Power of attorney designates someone close to you whom you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf in the event you are incapacitated. 


In some states, the living will and power of attorney are combined into the same document. You should also consider a living trust, which ensures your beneficiaries won’t have to go through probate court to claim what you left them.

Planning your estate and writing your will are not what you likely want to think about. However, it’s very important so you get the end of life care you desire and your beneficiaries get exactly what you want to give them. You can rest in peace knowing your affairs are in order.


Tuesday, March 20, 2018

A Checklist Before Opting for Breast Augmentation Surgery



Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries performed all over the world. However, it is always advisable for an individual to properly research, ask questions and find out everything there is to know about this procedure before opting to have it done on their body.

There are a few important things which one should know about before opting for breast augmentation NYC. Having an idea about the points mentioned below will make the process easier for the patient too.


Type of Implant you should opt


There are two main types of breast augmentation NYC implants that a patient can choose from; a saline implant and a silicone implant. The saline implant is inserted into the breast pocket and then filled with sterile salt water. 


A silicone implant, on the other hand, is already filled, and is simply inserted and positioned into place into the breast pocket. 





It is important to discuss both these choices during the initial consultancy so that the doctor and the patient can both figure out which one would work best for the patient. 


There are many factors which a doctor will take into account before making this decision, as it might affect the overall health of a patient adversely after getting the implant.


Choose the Right Surgeon


When opting for a breast augmentation procedure, is it not enough to simply have a picture and goal in mind and approach the first plastic surgeon willing to perform the procedure. 


The rate of scarring and healing after the procedure highly depends on the kind of surgeon that one chooses; and the skill, experience and expertise of the surgeon. It is best to spend a lot of time researching on the best plastic surgeons those can perform this procedure, and consulting with them about the plans and techniques involved.

Make the Right Choice


A breast augmentation surgery is not simply as easy as choosing a certain shape and size and getting the procedure done. There are several aspects which have to be taken into account and several important choices have to be made along with the doctor. Some of these include:

  • The desired goal or look after the procedure 
  • The current anatomy of the breast of an individual 
  • The kind of implant, the pocket size and the place of incision to be made 
  • The nipple location 
  • The type of implant being use; saline or silicone
  • The height and location of the implant

Breast Implant Profile


The breast implant profile depends upon the desired result that a patient would like to achieve after the breast augmentation surgery. The round breast implant profile will give a different look to the breast, whereas the teardrop or anatomical breast implant profile would give a more natural look to the breast. 


It is important to look into the options and decide the end result before choosing any of these options. One should be clear about these basic information before undergoing the process.

Breast augmentation NYC is a popular procedure and the demand for this procedure is steadily rising. It is important to keep in mind these points before opting for the breast augmentation surgery.



How to Save Loads of Cash on Plumbing Repair and Maintenance



A good plumbing system can provide you with a lifestyle at home that’s predictable, comfortable and sanitary. A problematic one, on the other hand, is a whole other ballgame. It’s important to keep up with your plumbing system. 

Plumbing repair and upkeep doesn’t have to cost you a lot, either. If you’re looking to save big on plumbing system repair and maintenance work, you can focus on these helpful options right now.

Search for a Qualified Professional Plumber


Working with a questionable plumber is often a big waste of cash. If a plumber isn’t qualified, he may damage your system and trigger additional issues. That’s probably the last thing you need. 




If you want to avoid the dangers of unqualified plumbers, you need to take your company search seriously. Look for businesses that have licensed technicians, strong reviews and exemplary track records in general. Don’t rush the search process in any way. Ask people you trust for plumbing company recommendations, too.

Look for Plumbing Discounts and Deals


Plumbing companies often offer exciting discounts and deals. They frequently offer these to new customers as well. If you want access to plumbing services that won’t cost a fortune, keep your eyes open for any coupons that may be available to you at the moment. 


Check websites for plumbing businesses, too. Company websites often are equipped with coupon codes.

Request Professional Plumbing Maintenance Service


Plumbing repair service can often be pretty expensive. If you want to reduce your plumbing repair expenses, you should try to take care of issues before they get out of hand. You can do that by requesting professional plumbing maintenance service. 


Licensed plumbers can recognize plumbing issues prior to their worsening and becoming more and more complex. Remember, fixing minor plumbing concerns never costs as much as repairing larger ones.

Acquire Some Basic Plumbing Skills


Plumbing troubles don’t always call for a professional touch. If you have a seemingly minor plumbing system issue, you may be able to take care of it on your own. You should think about learning a few basic plumbing skills when you have some free time. 


If you have a toilet that’s running nonstop, you may be able to fix it independently. Straightforward ball cock replacement can in many cases work well.

Do you want to avoid steep plumbing repair and maintenance expenses? Try these options out today. A reliable plumbing system can be accessible to you.


Calculating the HST New Rental Property Rebate



HST New Residential Rental Property Rebate
The government of Canada had introduced the HST New Residential Rental Property Rebate for certain Canadian landowners. The rebate reimburses some expenses incurred by individuals who purchase a newly constructed or recently renovated property.

In this post, you will learn how the HST rental rebate is calculated. However, before you learn how it's calculated, you must first know the eligibility requirements of HST rental rebate for landowners.


What are the Eligibly Requirements of HST Rental Rebate?


HST New Residential Rental Property Rebate is not for everyone. If you are a landowner, you need to meet the following requirements to claim the HST rental rebate in Canada.

  • Purchased a new property or one that has been significantly renovated 
  • Built a new property or significantly renovated a property
  • Made additions to multiple-unit residential rental complex
  • Fair market value of the asset must be less than $450,000* 

*In case of land in a trailer park, the fair market value should not exceed $112,500)

Apart from landowners, builders who had to pay HST for selling a residential unit and leased the land to an individual can claim the rental housing rebate. In addition, persons who have to account for HST due to exempt lease of land that is used for residential rental purposes can claim the rental rebate.


How the HST Rental Rebate is Calculated?


Calculating the HST rental rebate is not that difficult. Generally, the rebate is on 36 percent of the HST payable to the government and 75 percent of HST payable to the provinces. The maximum amount for federal portion of the rebate amount is $6,300, while the maximum for the provincial portion is $24,000.





Let's suppose that you own a property valued at $350,000. In this case, the HST rebate will be calculated as follows.

Step 1:

HST payable to the federal government — 5 percent x $350,000 = $17,500

Step 2:


Rebate on federal portion of HST — 36 percent x $17,500 = $6,300 (maximum rebate amount $6,300)

Step 3:

HST payable to the provincial government — 8 percent x $350,000 = $28,000

Step 4:


Rebate on provincial portion of HST — 75 percent x $28,000 = $21,000 (maximum rebate amount $24,000)

Step 5:

Total Rebate — $6,300 + $21,000 = $27,300

So, if you have bought or renovated a property valued at $350,000, you can avail a total of $27,300 credit relief under the HST New Residential Rental Property Rebate.

A lot of people are confused about the calculation of HST rental rebate. At Rebate4U, we help landowners determine the rebate on new and renovated properties. We offer customized services based on exact needs of the landowner. For more information on how we can help you claim HST rental rebate in Canada, you can call us at 1-800-610-4510.


Sunday, March 18, 2018

Preparing to Buy a Home: 5 Ways it Will Impact Your Finances



Buy a Home
Preparing to buy a property has huge financial implications. It’s not like buying a gaming console or a flatscreen television wherein you can just shake off the expense or return it if you’re unsatisfied with the purchase. 

Buying a home means committing years’ worth of your income and savings into the property. It entails making payments month after month and possibly not being able to afford any other big ticket purchase for some time. 

Here are five ways to prepare for a home purchase.

Hone in on a Location


Choose a location that best aligns with your needs, lifestyle, and circumstances. If you are buying a home for a growing family, for instance, you’ll want to pick a location that has access to a pediatric center, hospital, school, and other essential services. 

You’ll also want to vet the neighborhood for its safety. A low crime rate and low instance of natural disasters are ideal to avoid the expenses of repairing and replacing personal belongings in the event of a break-in or fire. 

All of these things can contribute to the selling price of your potential home and what you can afford.

Get Pre-Approved


Your home buying plans can be cut short if you don’t get pre-approved by your lender. It’s best to do this task before you start attending open houses, consulting realtors, and meeting with home sellers. 





Keep in mind that there is a huge difference between someone getting pre-qualified and someone getting pre-approved. The latter is more important as it signifies that the lender has checked your financial information and is prepared to lend you money.

Be Wary of Sleeper Costs


This pertains to unpopular home-related expenses, like property taxes and utilities. You should know all of the fees ahead of time before you close on your new home. 

If you need to refinance your home loan, you will need to find a loan office in your area. You can use companies like Homemortgage.com to help you find the best loan officer to meet your financial needs.

Avoid Crossing Neighbors’ Borders


A border dispute isn’t the best way to meet your new neighbors. But a lot of new home buyers in the market forget to factor this in when doing visual inspections of the property and/or reviewing the contract. 

Know exactly where your property lines start and where it ends. This can save you a lot of trouble down the line should you decide you want to make any additions to your home or property.


Don’t Attempt to Time the Market


Avoid obsessing about when exactly you should buy a property. While it’s prudent to try and save a few thousand dollars on your purchase by timing it right, the housing market is simply too unpredictable to time. 

If you can find a property at a reasonable price point and has the qualities you need and want, take a leap of faith and make an offer ASAP.

Buying a home can be daunting due to the financial impact it has on your life. There is a lot that goes into it that you may not be aware of if you have not bought a home before in your life. 

It is important that you do your homework so that way you understand what the costs will be. It will also help you prepare and budget for your new home. It should also show you what homes you can and can’t afford after you get pre-approved for your home loan. Use the five tips above to make it as smooth as possible.


Friday, March 16, 2018

Put to an End: Smooth Ways to Get Out of Your Debt



One stressful experience we might face in our lives is a never-ending debt. Regardless of the circumstances, when you applied for a loan, you are obliged to pay it back no matter the circumstances such as getting into an accident, losing a job, or even if you have an increase in expenses because of your growing family.


Usually, debt can be an unforeseen consequence of overspending on holidays or spending beyond your means. Some people are trying to get out of debt, but challenges strike them hard enough, and some might give up.

But that's not necessary to be the case. Many people get out of debt each day, and not just that, they are even getting out of their obligation in a short time. So prepare yourself for the right path towards financial freedom and follow these simple ways to eliminate your debt.


Track Down your Debt


This method should be your first move, but don't let its simplicity get the best of you. Have a piece of paper, a spreadsheet, or run the Notepad on your PC. Proceed to the website of each financial organization to which you owe the debt. 





Next, list down all the balances with their respective annual percentage rate precisely as they appear. It's beneficial to know how much is your minimum payments are for each account.

After tracing down all of your debts, you will have a fair idea of how much is the amount you owed.


Stop that Overspending Habit





Coming to times with poor spending habits is unfortunate. But, you have been spending a lot of money, and you might have a valid reason for spending it. However, if your overspending habits are putting your financial future in jeopardy, you must prepare to get rid of them. Quit spending too much money, instead, create a budget and commence an emergency fund.

Begin controlling your spending habits by tracing all your expenses for the last two months. Then, place your expenses into sections and total up each category. Through this way, it lets you know exactly where your cash is going.


Pay above the Minimum Requirement


When it's pay time, always make sure that you are paying more than your minimum installments on your line of credit, overdraft, or credit cards. When you are only paying your minimum credit card installments every month, it can take a long time to pay off your balance.

Hence, if you want to clear your balance quickly, consider paying as much extra you can afford. Even an extra 5% of your monthly payment will be a big help.
Consider the Snowball Effect

If you are in the desire to pay more than the required minimum monthly payments on your line of credit, overdraft and other debts, think about using the debt snowball approach to speed up the process even more and create momentum.

As a first step, you will want to track all of the debts you owe from the smallest to the largest amount. Place all of your extra funds in the lowest balance, while making the least payments on all your larger amounts on loans.

When the smallest balance is already paid off, start throwing that excess money toward the next lowest debt until you can pay that one off, and continue the same process to your next debt.


No More Debt




You should not use your credit cards if you want to get rid of your debt. Making more debt while you are trying to pay off your current loan will only harm your progress. You're likely taking one step forward and two steps backward.

It is not required to close your accounts on credit cards unless you can't resist the temptation of using them.


Takeaway


Many people are telling that they want to pay down their loan or debt and finally get rid of it, but they are not sure of the best way to apply or how to get started. Indeed, getting rid of debt is a headache for most of us.

But through proper steps and self-discipline, you can pay off your debts in time. Also, you can ask assistance from companies like Ashe Morgan and other financial institutions to help you with other ways of getting out of debt.


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