2012,Dec
W

Investing Virtual Money With Stock Market Games

in Finance , by Bonnie

There is a thrill in gambling. The excitement of beating the odds and receiving a payoff. However, traditional gambling in casinos offers only a short term benefit. A similar rush can be attained over a much longer term by investing in the stock market. Not everyone has large sums of disposable income to risk their own hand at trading in the stock market. This is where investing virtual money in stock market games can be useful.

Stock trends can be watched and taken advantage of. Shares can be purchased and sold at the investor’s discretion. The movements of the real stock market are reflected in the better online games as well. The companies with shares that can be bought and sold on the stock market can be traded in the virtual game as well. The advantage of the games is that, should the price of shares drop suddenly, no real money is lost. All funds used for trades are virtual dollars. This means savings are intact and homes aren’t at risk. The thrill of long term gains as stocks increase in value is very real.Online stock market games do more than allow people to virtually invest more funds than they may have on hand. They can also be a method for practicing investing techniques without risking any savings. This can give a potential investor an edge when choosing what stocks to purchase and when. A savvy virtual investor can also track the prime times to sell the stocks they have.

The exchange of virtual stocks can also be used as a teaching tool. Students can learn about the value of a dollar and what the stock market is by investing their own virtual dollars. A young person that knows how to invest before earning their first paycheck may end up with a better portfolio by the time they are ready to retire. They might also be able to help their parents become better investors by putting into use the skills practiced in the trading game.

 
2011,Nov
Roth-ira-rules-2010

Top Reasons To Open A Roth IRA Today

in Finance, Retirement , by Bonnie

What are the top reasons to open a Roth IRA today?

  • The number one reason is that the money is taxed going into the Roth IRA account, not when it comes out. Paying the taxes before retirement means more money for retirement.
  • The Roth is more flexible than a regular 401-k savings account. You choose what you want to invest in for yourself. These investments can range from stocks, bonds, mutual bonds, index annuities, or even real estate. You decide, not the CEO of your company.
  • Earnings on your investments can be tax deferred or tax free upon withdrawal if certain conditions are met. Earnings in a traditional retirement are tax deferred until withdrawn and certain early withdrawal penalties may apply if you are under the age of 59.5 years.
  • A single person can withdraw up to $10,000 to buy a home after saving for five years. If married the amount of the withdrawal can be up to $20,000. There are no penalties for early withdrawals of this type.
  • There are no penalties for withdrawing from your Roth account as long as you do not withdraw any earnings you have received on your investment. A regular 401-k or company saving plan can charge penalties, fees or interest on money withdrawn. These withdrawals can be a big help for paying for life’s unexpected events. This withdrawal can also be used for your child’s education.
  • Starting today allows you to save more for the future. The earlier you start to save the more you will earn on your investment. The earlier you start to save the more you can deposit into the account.
  • The IRA account can be used as collateral if you wish to open a business, or to help fund someone else’s new business. This means using the business as an investment for the account.
  • A Roth account can be left to your spouse or children if something happens to you. The inheritors do not have to pay income tax on the money withdrawn from a Roth account.

As you can see there are many top reasons to start a Roth IRA so contact a financial adviser so that they an explain how to open IRA today. Planning for your retirement has never been easier. Just decide how much you want to save and where you want to invest the funds in your account.

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2011,Oct
coupon

Tips for Saving Money Through Couponing

in Tips , by Bonnie

Using coupons can shave dollars off your grocery and household expenses. The trick to using coupons is to pair them with sales to get the best prices. Coupons are more popular than ever and can be found in many places.

  • Where To Find Coupons

The Sunday paper normally has two or three coupon inserts every week but coupons can also be found in magazines and the internet. Many companies will email coupons on a regular basis when you sign up on their website. There are also internet forums on couponing which give invaluable tips. Coupon clipping services are also available and will mail you coupons for a small handling fee.

  • Know The Coupon Policies

Every store has their own policy when it comes to coupons. Some stores limit the number of like coupons, (for example: only being able to use 4 coupons on 4 tubes of toothpaste of the same brand), some stores let you stack their store coupons with manufacturer’s coupons for even bigger savings. There are drugstores that give you coupons when you buy certain products and these coupons can be used on your next purchase at that store.

  • Using Coupons Wisely

Check your area and see if any local stores will double coupons. This is a great way to save money. If the store has cookie mix on sale for a dollar and you have a coupon for .40, when it is doubled, the cookie mix will only cost .20 plus tax.

Check the Sunday ads to match your coupons with the sales. Manufacturers often issue coupons to match the store sales. Make a list of items and coupons before you go shopping. Sales often run in cycles about every three months so try to have a stockpile that will last you until the next sale. Once you begin couponing, you start to see the cycles and have a better idea of when products go on sale.

  • Track Your Savings

To get an idea of how much money you are saving with coupons, keep your receipts for a month and total up the dollar amount of coupons you have used during the month. You might be pleasantly surprised by the amount!

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2011,Sep
time-management

Time Management – TIps to Manage Your Time

in Tips , by Bonnie

If a day of work leaves you with nothing but a completely updated social media presence, then it may help to improve your time management and prioritizing skills. Better use of time will transform your productivity.

While there are many approaches to improving time management, using a schedule is one of the most effective. Schedules allow you to visualize quickly what needs to be done, and remind you to stay focused on the most important tasks.

Ideally you’ll set aside time at the beginning of each day to schedule. A custom calendar, electronic planner or paper planner all work well for keeping schedules. Often writing an intial task list out on paper works best even if you later transfer it to an electronic calendar or planner.

First, put time-sensitive items on the schedule. This includes items like meetings, lunches, and car pool appointments. Then make a list of all the tasks that you would like to accomplish in the day. At this point, be generous and optimistic. List everything that you think you need to do or would like to do.

The next task is prioritizing. Look at your list and carefully determine which tasks must be completed today, regardless of what else you do. Mark these tasks with a “1″ or an “A” to show their top priority. Then indicate on your list the order in which you will work on those tasks. After marking the top group, move to the second most important group, and continue down the list. An easier way to do this is to find yourself a reliable work schedule maker. These will help you keep track of all of the things you need to do in either a simple app or webpage.

There will often be tasks that must be started today, but can’t be finished without jeopardizing the completion of other priorities. For those tasks, set a limit on the amount of time you will spend working on them before moving on. At the bottom of the list put things that would be nice to get to, but could be done at another time.

If it is important to you to take time to exercise, meditate, read or spend time with a family member, be sure to put that item as an “A” or “1″ priority, and schedule it into your calendar first so that the things that are most important to you are the things you spend your time on.

Using a schedule and a prioritized task list will help keep you focused on what is most important, help you manage your time and add to your daily productivity.

Another way to manager your time is to find a personal assistant. Having an assistant is a great way to help you organized your day and free up small tasks. a quick search for example “personal assistants san francisco” can find you a great assistant or you find an agency that will provide you with a professional assistant.

Overall when you manage your time you will be more productive and feel less stressed throughout your day.

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2011,Aug
irs_e_file_66630

Filing IRS Tax Extension Form Online – E-File Your Tax Return Extension

in Finance , by Bonnie

Many people joke that there’s only two things constant in life: death and taxes. However, they miss the part about tax extensions. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, requires all taxpayers to pay taxes by the April 15 deadline. However, an individual who owes money may not have the money to pay his taxes at the due date. Fortunately, for anyone who can’t make pay, the IRS does offer the opportunity to pay taxes later.

Paying Taxes Later
The IRS tax extension allows a taxpayer extra time to file and pay taxes without receiving a penalty for filing late. For example, the extension allows a taxpayer to file October 15 instead of April 15. However, to receive an extension an individual must file the tax extension form 4868 by the tax filing deadline.

Filing out the Form
A taxpayer can request an extension in two ways: through the mail or E-File. The process is the same for both. However, the stress-free option may be to e file tax extension. Before mailing the form, a person must print and complete the form– then hope it’s received before April 15. The IRS receives an electronically submit extension faster.

Don’t Wait Until October
Although preparing an electronic extension does give a person approximately 6 months to pay taxes, he shouldn’t wait until September or October to prepare. Once he receives an extension, he must start gathering the money and required documents. From April to October the IRS charges a failure to pay penalty of .5 percent every month. After the 6 month extension ends, the penalty jumps to approximately 5 percent each month.

Last Word about Filing an Extension
Anyone interested in paying taxes later than April 15 should submit the extension form online prior to the tax deadline. All the taxpayer has to do is estimate the taxes owed and include a nominal portion with the extension request. Many tax preparation companies offer to file the extension for free, but an individual doesn’t have to consult a tax professional before filing.

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2011,Jul
413

Cash Back Credit Cards – Obtaining the Most Beneficial Terms

in Finance, Tips , by Bonnie

Having a credit card can make things like online shopping and buying plane tickets convenient. They are also useful in emergencies and many credit card shoppers are enticed by rewards cards. There are rewards cards that offer everything from exotic vacations, to vehicle maintenance, but the most popular type of rewards card is the cash back credit card. When choosing a cash back rewards card, it is important to study the options and choose the one that would be most beneficial to your individual spending habits.

There are a few things that matter to all potential credit card customers. These are terms such as: interest rate, annual fees, and the percentage of cash back that is offered. Usually the cash back is a percentage based on purchases, but many cards have tiered rates depending on the type of purchase. For instance, some cards will offer 1% on all purchases and 3% on travel. Certain cards will offer a larger percentage on gas purchases and less on other purchases. The best way to decide which card is the best for you is to do the math, after all, math doesn’t lie.

Based on your spending habits and some basic math, you can easily decide which card will save you the most money. Just keep in mind that most cash back rewards will be eaten up by interest charged on your purchases. So, if saving money with your rewards card is your goal, then pay off your balance every month. Also, choose a card that doesn’t charge interest, until after the first 30 days of a purchase.

Once you have found a card with the lowest APR, and no annual fee, and you have a conservative spending plan. You can focus on which rewards card will suit you best. Decide what you spend the most on and get a card that offers the largest percentage on that purchase. Often times, business credit cards can be used to leverage the most cash back rewards, because large purchases on gas or supplies are often required for businesses. If the large purchases are paid off each month, then using the card can actually save 2 or 3 percent, or whatever the cash back rate is.

Regular consumers can also take advantage of rewards savings, by getting the largest cash back percentage and then paying most expenses with the rewards card. Just make sure to pay it off monthly to avoid interest charges. Cash back credit cards can be a great way to save a little on purchases and expenses, as long as smart planning and discipline are part of the spending plan.

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2011,Jun
cheap stocks

Are Cheap Stocks a Good Investment?

in Finance , by Bonnie

Financial crisis is what motivates most of us to invest on cheaper stocks. The important question is, if it is a good investment. We tend to eye on the cheaper brand with good quality as compared to an expensive brand with the same matching qualities as the cheaper brand. Bargain sale easily catches our attention. This goes well in trying to find cheaper stocks to invest in that would substantially generate a good income. It is a basic or a fundamental step to learn the ins and outs of an appropriate investment scheme to fully commit yourself to the business venture you are to embark on. The success of your investment starts from learning the basic trade of dealing with cheap stocks by observing the market ardently.

Penny stocks can be an alternative in choosing for a cheap stock. It covers a minimum of $5 and lowers so you can easily avail of it. New companies that are starting issues penny stocks to give a boost to their capital in generating their product. In other words, your dollar that you invested in their company will help in running the business smoothly. This will help in manufacturing the products that they sell or help in establishing the service that they render. Such an activity is normal for new companies that are simply beginning. They open floating stocks to the public in order to get enough support for their business to thrive and flourish. It is therefore eminent for you to choose wisely on which company will most likely to succeed and grow.

Choosing the company that will be an asset for your financial growth seems to be a very impossible task. Few tricks of the trade would suggest that you have a peak at the stock market for a visual interpretation of how the company is actually fairing in the trade. A good percentile increase would mean a good investment prospect for your stock venture. Information from an insider or from a personnel or employee of the company is also an asset for decision making in cheap stock investment.

Penny stock or cheap investments may be a small amount for some but everything must start somewhere to lead on to the next. As everybody knows that each one of us crawled before we learned to walk and run. Cheap stocks are good investments if you place your heart and mind into it.

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2011,May
sales

After-Christmas Sales Mean Great Deals

in Tips , by Bonnie

Great sales do not only happen before Christmas Day. In fact, there are plenty of after-Christmas sales to take advantage of. Shoppers should definitely check out the after-Christmas sales and see what items they can find.

Here are just a few items you should look for when you check out the after-Christmas sales.

Christmas Gifts
Those who like to shop early should start during the sales after Christmas. Many gifts that were not sold during the Christmas sale will be marked down after the holidays have ended. If you see anything that would fit a loved one, pick it up and store it away until next Christmas. What a great way to get a head start and budget! You can also use the gifts for birthdays, Valentine’s Day and other gift-giving occasions.  One of the hottest gift trends right now are green gifts.  Green gifts are eco friendly gifts and will be selling like crazy during this holiday season.  With the “go green” movement gaining popularity, make sure to get the environmentally conscious person in your family a green gift for the holidays.

Items For Yourself
Checking out the sales is a great way to treat yourself to something nice! This can range from electronics to bath and body sets. If there was something you wanted for Christmas and did not get, see if you can find it during one of the sales. Buy yourself something nice without spending too much.

Holiday Decorations
The end of the holiday season means sales on Christmas decorations retailers want to get rid of. While you are checking for gifts during the sales, look through the decorations as well. You can easily replace a decoration or buy something new for the next season.

Apparel For Winter
When the Christmas season ends, retailers start to think about the next season. This means the winter apparel will start to go on sale. There will still be many cold days before the spring season begins, so take full advantage of this sale. Stock up on apparel for this winter and the next winter season.

Christmas Cards
Mailing out a dozen Christmas cards can become a little pricey. You are paying for the cards and stamps. While you are out shopping after Christmas, see if there are any Christmas cards on sale. Pick up a box and store it away until the next Christmas season. Next year, you will only have to pay for the stamps to mail out the cards.

If you want to take advantage of these sales, be sure to go shopping the week right after Christmas. The sales will not last forever and you don’t want to miss out on some great deals!

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