March
8
2010
Sometimes when you want to act with honor, integrity and trust, you end up getting burned. My husband’s company does general contracting work and he often will start the work without a big down payment, using money out of his pocket to buy supplies and get the project going.
So what happens when the customer decides he or she doesn’t have money to pay for work already done and supplies already purchased?
That’s when you need to seek professional help.
You can try to find Collection Attorneys to help guide you through this process.
Sometimes what you can do on your own and your attempts to collect the money just don’t work despite your best efforts. Debt Collection Attorneys have expertise in helping you get that money back.
When you are a small business owner and someone owes you a debt that can spiral into a dangerous situation. I may receive a few dollars here and there from this blog, but what really pays the mortage and puts the food on the table is my husband’s income. Even being out a few hundred dollars, not to mention a few thousand can potentially send us into bankruptcy.
The first step we take when faced with Commercial Debt Collection is to contact the experts who can guide us through the process and help us get the money that we have earned.
February
22
2010
I have been obssessed with saving money lately and it seems like every time I turn around I find more reason to consider buying gold coins a sound investment strategy.
With the economy so jittery lately, it has struck fear in me about some of my other investments. My IRA lost thousands of dollars in one year. Very depressing. That is why I like to take a look at how to buy gold coins.
Gold has been a sound investment for as long as anyone can remember. It is one of the earliest, if not the earliest forms of wealth and its value has never changed. While I was looking at investing this way, I came across St. Gaudens gold coin, which definitely appeals to my artistic side, as well.
I also really like the idea of using gold as an investment portion of my IRA account. Why not invest in IRA gold? From what I have heard, gold usually performs well even when the rest of your portfolio is tanking.
Lately, for me, I want sound, secure investments that aren’t going to lose me money and I think gold may be one way to do it.
February
10
2010
I didn’t realize the true value of gold until a few months ago when we were having trouble making our mortgage payment. I ended up selling a few jewelry pieces that I had inherited from an elderly cousin.
Now that I am doing better financially, I am looking for ways to invest any extra money. But I want to put it in a safe place where I know I will get my money’s worth someday down the road. That is why I am looking at how to buy gold online as an investment option.
I have found Goldline International, Inc., a great source of information on how to go about doing that. I like the fact that they give investors the option of keeping the gold themselves or storing it with an “independent, internationally recognized storage depository.”
February
7
2010
Tax credits for homebuyers has not only been extended, but expanded to people who have already purchased and are living in a home. A government stimulus for the real estate industry will not only benefit homebuyers but will also help the economy, according to a video about the Housing Stimulus extension found on Coldwell Banker’s website.
The government extended the tax credit to April 30, 2010. Under the tax credit, first time homebuyers can receive up to $8,000 tax credit when they buy a home. In addition, “move up buyers” — people who have lived in their current home for at least 5 years, can receive up to $6,500 in tax credits from buying a different home.
The video, narrated by Jim Gillespie, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker, explains how this Housing Stimulus not only helps the average citizen, but is vital to the recovery of the economy.
Anyone who is interested in the tax credit must have a signed contract to purchase a new home dated before the April 30th deadline.
The income limits to qualify are $125,000 for a single person and $225,000 for a married couple. There is an additional $20,000 phaseout. For more information on this extension of tax credits for homebuyers, visit the Coldwell Banker website and view the video and other information.
January
28
2010
Last year, I discovered Dave Ramsey and his total money makeover plan. It was revolutionary for someone like me, who has almost always lived hand-to-mouth, to realize I could do his first step, which was to save $1,000 in a Savings Account as an emergency fund.
I didn’t realize it was something I could accomplish. That is because every penny that comes in to my house is accounted for — bills, food, etc. There is no discretionary income to fund a Savings Account. I lived a bare bones existence. I didn’t have cable, call waiting, new vehicles — basically I didn’t have any way to reduce my expenses because they already were as slashed as possible.
An emergency fund seemed impossible until I read other ways people had established theirs. The goal is to the get teh $1,000 saved as quickly as possible. Here is where the magic was — if you are really serious about getting that money, you can do it by selling some of your belongings. We live as minimalists, so I didn’t think we had anything to sell.
But we did. By selling items we had, such as an old beat-up dresser in the basement, a rusty old antique clawfoot bathtub in the garage and used pink girls’ ballet slippers, we funded the Savings Account in less than a month. I am still amazed. All I have to say is that if we can get money for a savings account, so can you.
January
21
2010
One of the small pleasures I especially enjoy during these cold, dreary winter months is putting the kids to bed and curling up in front of the TV.
It is too cold outside to do much else besides snuggle under a blanket with your sweetie and the remote (and maybe a glass of Pinot Grigio).
This fall I decided to splurge and bring some quality TV viewing into my living room. I began by searching online for DIRECT TV Deals in St. Paul, Minnesota and found several options to fit my needs on DirectSatTV.com.
I was surprised to find several specials, including one offer that showed DIRECTV Deals for as low as $1 a day. I spend more than that on coffee each day.
It also offered three free months of Showtime. I am a huge film buff. I would watch movies all day long if I could. During the summer I am usually busy and my movie watching drops off dramatically. However, during the winter, I could easily watch two movies a night, and have been known to do so.
I am very happy to have discovered DIRECTTV Deals only the click of a mouse away. It really helped me to figure out just what I wanted from direct tv and compare several options to tailor one that was just right for me.
January
9
2010
Are you a small business owner struggling to stay alive in this faltering economy? Once upon a time it used to be easy to obtain financing — whether you were an individual or a business.
Now it is next to impossible. But there are some options, including exploring Merchant Cash Finder.
One option is to look at alternative financing for businesses.
You can look at companies that are working with other businesses in the Business Cash Advance industry to help you obtain these loans.
If you are exploring a means to get a Merchant Cash Advance, be sure to review all offers before deciding. Many offer different terms and costs, so it is worth a little research.
December
30
2009
At some point in time, either for ourselves or for our parents, we may need to investigate Housing For Seniors. Sometimes our homes get too big or our needs become more complicated and overwhelming and it just makes sense to turn to others for help.
Even if we don’t end up using it, there are many different options for assisted living for seniors. Sometimes people have misconceptions about senior assisted living, thinking the only option is a nursing home when there are truly so many more options to choose from.
Assisted living facilities can offer everything from studio apartments to private bedrooms with private baths to shared bedrooms. It all depends on what fits your need. In some instances, there are specific facilities that specialize in Assisted Living for people with Alzheimer’s.
Other organizations provide in-home nursing care so you or you family member can stay home and receive the care needed. Skilled Nursing is a way families can get help with everything from diabetes to arthritis to dementia.
The facts are that we are all getting older and even if we take great care of ourselves there may be a point where we, or a loved one, needs some additional care and help. There are numerous options for just about every scenario you can imagine, if you just take the time to do a little research.
December
30
2009
I just learned about a new company that is working to revolutionize the way businesses advertise. DGDM is a company focused on building innovative products geared on improving the consumer marketplace.
The flagship company is called YuDeal.com, which specializes in real time advertising, social networking and analytics. A way to offer immediate coupons and discounts for services and goods. The business is working to revolutionize advertising in much the same way the search engine Google did for internet ads.
For instance, an example DGDM gives shows how a restaurant owner who needs to fill tables for that night immediately alerts people to a 20 percent discount if they dine in the restaurant in the next two hours.
December
29
2009
In Europe, generally speaking, people don’t spend money they don’t have. This is the smart way to live. Somehow, Americans have been caught up in the culture that bigger is better and that more is best.
We have come to believe that it is OK to spend money we don’t have. But nine times out of ten, we later regret it.
If you want to stay on budget, but have all the benefits of using a credit card, there really is no better way to go than to buy a reloadable, Prepaid Debit Card. You can use this card in stores, online — anywhere that a Mastercard is accepted.
This is a great idea for a gift for a grandchild who may shop at stores you’ve never even heard of. It is also a smart idea for college students living away from home who need money for living expenses, but may not have the maturity necessary yet to limit spending.
It is also a way to stick to a weekly budget. Because it is a reloadable, Prepaid Mastercard you can load it every week with your budgeted amount for expenses and then when it runs out, wait until the next week to put more money on it.
It is a little like the cash in an envelope budgeting system, where you withdraw a weekly amount of cash to spend, but this is a safer method. Rather than carrying around cash, you have a Prepaid Debit Card that helps you keep track of your spending in an easy, convenient way.