Online Savings Account

Higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts.

Member FDIC

Showing posts with label Personal Finance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Personal Finance. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Paying Bill Online

Online bill paying makes your life easier. You don’t have to write checks, get them into the mail, or work as hard to track your transactions. If you’re interested in online bill paying, find out what it takes to get started and where to do it.

How it Works

Online bill paying can happen in a few ways. Payment may be made electronically, or somebody (such as your bank) may print a check and mail it to your payee. Either way, online bill paying happens when you get the process started online and somebody else handles the logistics for you.

Use Your Bank

For most, online bill paying is easiest to do at your bank. You probably already have a checking account with free online bill pay, so use it. You’ll enter information about your bills, and login to your account each month to pay them. You may also authorize the bank to pay bills automatically.
Your bank may pay your biller electronically, or they may actually print and mail a check for you. Either way, you don’t have to write a check and get it to the mailbox. The transaction usually shows up with your payee’s name, so it’s easy to track your spending.

Use Your Biller

You can also use online bill paying options at each of your service providers (often called “ACH debit”). After you provide bank information they pull money from your account each month as your bill comes due. While this requires less work on your part each month, you don’t control when money comes out or exactly how much they take.

Other Services and Software

Some companies offer online bill paying as part of a software product or for free. Financial management programs such as Quicken and MS Money may allow you to pay bills from the same program you use to monitor your finances. You should expect to pay for this form of online bill paying - usually a modest monthly fee.
Read rest of entry

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Ten Things You Must Know Before Buying or Leasing Your Next Car

The basic concept of leasing is explained succinctly by leaseguide.com: "When you buy, you pay for the entire cost of a vehicle, regardless of how many miles you drive it...When you lease, you pay for only a portion of the vehicle's cost, which is the part that you "use up" during the time you're driving it." In other words, you're paying primarily for the depreciation on the car. At the end of the lease, you either turn the car back over to the leasing company or purchase it for a pre-determined amount.

One method is not always better than the other. It depends not only on the terms, but on your own preferences and personal habits. If having a new vehicle every two or three years is important to you, leasing may make sense. If you can't afford the car payment without a sizeable down payment but you don't have a sizeable down payment, leasing may make sense. If lower long-term costs are important to you, buying may make sense.

Here are the ten things you must know to decide whether it'll cost you less to lease your next car or buy it.

1. The biggest mistake you can make is to judge the lease solely by the amount of the monthly payment, which can be manipulated to make even the worst deal look good. Understand how a lease works and what to watch for to protect yourself before you head to the dealer's.

2. Short-term costs of leasing are always lower than short-term costs of buying. The long-term costs of leasing are always higher than the long-term costs of buying, assuming that you keep the car you purchase outright for a number of years after your loan is paid off.

3. If you lease for the length of the manufacturer's warranty, you'll never have to pay for major repairs.

4. You can lease without a down payment, although making one will lower your payments.

5. Terminating a lease before it's up can be extremely costly.

6. Since you don't own a leased car, you can't change it, paint it, or add equipment to it.

7. Sign only closed-end leases, which means that if at the end of the lease, the car is worth less than the leasing company estimated when you signed your lease, they, not you, absorb this cost. Read the fine print of the proposed lease and make sure you understand all the terms.

8. Putting more miles on the car than the lease allows can cost you big money, since you'll pay so much per mile for every mile driven over the allowance.

9. Negotiate the lowest capitalized cost or lease price of the vehicle you'll be leasing because your payments are based on this cost. A good lease will offer you a price below the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail price.

10. The best cars to lease are those with the best book value after the term of the lease. Since they depreciate less, you pay less. You can look up lease ratings to see which cars retain their value better and will therefore give you the best lease deal. Stay away from cars which depreciate quickly unless you're willing to pay more and can afford to do so.

For $20 you can purchase a lease kit online that will not only tell you the lease rating of many cars but will help you analyze a proposed lease to see if it makes sense for you. The program can be used any time you're considering a lease, and could save you a lot of money.

Car Lease Example
You lease a $25,000 vehicle for two years. At the end of the two years, the vehicle's value is estimated to be $15,000. Your payments over the life of the lease will total $10,000 (the difference between the $25,000 purchase price and the $15,000 value at the end of the lease), plus finance charges to compensate the leasing company for the money they have invested in the car, plus fees.
Read rest of entry

Friday, July 03, 2009

How To Get a Pay Raise

Do you feel underpaid? Are you thinking about asking your boss for a raise? To increase your chances of success, it's important to know what your job is really worth and how to effectively approach your boss about a salary increase.

Many employees make the mistake of asking for a raise because they need more money, can't pay their bills, etc. Your personal budgeting and financial problems are not your company's problem.

Need has nothing to do with it, so it's best not to talk about need when asking for a raise. Base your request on your evaluation of your skills, productivity, job tasks, your contribution to the company, and the going rate, both inside and outside the company, for what you do. Look at the entire situation from your company's perspective, and base your approach on THEIR needs, and on what YOU can do for THEM.

The first step is to evaluate your skills and your job description, both your formal written job description, if there is one, and the tasks you do that may not be part of your formal job description.

Gather copies of your last few performance evaluations, if your company does written reviews. Concentrate on showing/reminding your boss of your tangible contributions to the company. Make a list of your accomplishments, and if possible, the dollar value of each to the company. For example: "I saved the company $20,000 this year by researching and negotiating contracts with new vendors."

Next, research salaries in your area for similar jobs. About's Job Search Guide, Alison Doyle, has links to compensation surveys that can help you get an idea of what your job typically pays, but remember that salaries will vary from one region to another, so you should be sure to find some local information as well.

When comparing and analyzing salaries, it's important to consider the financial value of your benefits and perks. If your company pays for all or part of your health insurance, this is as good as money in your pocket. The same is true of a 401(k) match, tuition assistance (if you're taking college courses), etc.
Read rest of entry

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Additional Income

Why do you need additional income? As I have said before (and I often re-examine), that one of the key financial welfare in the family actually is not in how much you earn, but how you manage your income is. Whatever the size of the earnings in your family, if you can not manage it well, then welfare will not be able to achieve.

However, if you should not need to add income in your family? Not as well. Earnings are a large family does not guarantee that you can achieve financial prosperity, but of a large family can help you reach your welfare. So once again, earning the big does not guarantee, but only help. Therefore, it would be better if you can increase your revenue sources.

There are several ways to increase revenue in your family:

1. Working as employee
2. Working with its expertise on
3. Running Side Business
4. Investing

Working for Employees

you can get additional income by working in a company. You can work as a secretary, employees of the bookkeeping, administration, or anything that. It is important, you get your salary. So if at this point you do not work and only your husband's work (as employees are also for example), then with now you also work as employees, then there will be two salary in your family.

Or, if for example at the moment you have to work as an employee, you may also be able to be employees in other places. So you get two salaries. A friend I work in a company from 9 am until 5 pm. Night while she also worked in a restaurant from 6 pm until 10 pm. He was getting two a month in salary.

What is the advantages and less to work as employees? Clear that, as employees are working well, because you come to live, work, and at the end of the month to get the salary. You only need to obey the rules work hours only.

Less, of course, that if you do not work, you will not get a salary. It's simple. That is why many people are aged 50 - 60 years old but still working as employees for fear of not getting the salary if he does not work.

Working with Self Relying Expertise

If you have any special skills, you can work and get a royalty from it. For example, if you can sing, you can sing at parties and get honor. Maybe you can teach? If you can teach, teach, and you can get the honor.

Working with their own must be working as employees. As your employees get a salary, whereas here you do not get salaries, but get the honor. Example those who work with the expertise and rely on the honor gain is generally the artist, architect or doctor, and that opened their own practices earn from the patient or client.

If you noticed, in fact almost every person has special skills or expertise that can be sold. The problem here is if you dare to make the expertise or skills that you have to be sold to the public?

Advantages working with on their own expertise are that you will get the revenue that is consistent with your skills. This means you will be more motivated to learn skills so that you will get paid more. If you do not work (absent), you will not get paid.

Running Side Business

Why do not you try to run a side business? You can open a shop or stall. You can open a service bureau to sell all kinds of services. May also a sewing business. Why do not you try it?

It is important here, the business side is a later time you can submit to management the child that you trust, so you do not need to continue to engage in a lifetime for you. Store for example. You may be able to open a store that sells goods daily needs. After a few months, you can submit a management right to the fruit your child (which you pay of course), so that you can be comfortable watching TV in the house but can still get the advantage of the store each month. This is the advantages of running your own business.

You may think that to be successful in business need capital money that is big enough. But you can not believe the success of a business often does not depend on the amount of your capital. Please look around you, there are many people who succeed in business with a capital of only a few. The most important thing here is the idea.

There are some businesses that require initial capital big enough, but also many businesses that do not require initial capital that is too large. The most important thing here is how you can "outsmart" the amount of money you have now that can be enough to run a business idea in your head. With running a business, you will automatically train to be more independent and to survive. That is to become one of the advantages of running your own business.


Investing

you has excess money? Why not just invest it? If you have a US$ 1,000 may be that you invest them. You will be able to interest and additional interest that you earn.

You do not have the goods that you use? Furniture, for example? Why do not you sell them and invest the money to buy gold, for example. After two-three years, that only the price of gold is rising. Nah, the difference between the price increases is additional revenue for you.

For you who are still single (do not have insurance) and living at home, why do not you just mortgage your home? Thus, you will get additional revenue from the rental income the house every month or every year. Or if your house is rather big, why do not you rent one of them two rooms? You will infusion of additional money, eh?

The Will is Important

Search for Additional Revenue actually not difficult. Important that you have the willpower. If you do not have the will to want to get additional revenue, so any way indicated to you that it is difficult you receive.

So, all started from the will. If you do not have the will, yes, you still like the situation now. But if you really want, you have 4 options to get additional revenue, such as the above. Please select which.
Read rest of entry

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Cheap Shopping

Choosing the right place can be the first step is for the thrifty shopping. But are not the only factors that can affect or not sparing our shopping. Sometimes choosing the right time for shopping can also be a determining factor.

Okay, now we discuss how the selection of one at the place and time shopping can participate in determining how sparingly you shop.

Place

I asked if the place where the most sparingly to spend, I would say, shopping in the manufacturer directly. But unfortunately, not possible to spend almost directly to the manufacturer and get the "factory price" for the factory because it is certainly not efficient to serve customers in every factory.

If so, find a place as close as possible to the manufacturer or the manufacturer. Usually, the more closely with the producers will be more affordable. Near here of course is not to close the distance, but close to the distribution channels. In the sense that the price in a store or wholesale agents certainly cheaper than the price in a store, and prices in shops are also usually cheaper in price from the retailer.

But this formula does not always work. Because sometimes there is also a shopping center which can be goods directly from the manufacturer but can be more expensive than a store that must be purchased through an agent. This depends on the efficiency in the store. The more efficient a store, the less he is also taking a hit. Examples are shops in the traditional market that sometimes can be cheaper than the wholesale shops. Moreover, if the bid smart, lucky can be half the price of the offered.

One place that can be cheaper than the other area is the shopping center into sales of particular products. For example, the market for the Tanah Abang textile and garment products, and Glodok area for electronic goods. While the mobile phone to get the price of italics, we can come to the center Roxi as mobile phone sales. Sales center can offer this price because it can be said most of the merchants gathered there. Because many traders, they would not want may set the price that can compete with other traders.

Time


Although it can have a place to scrimp for spending, not a guarantee that we can really cut corners with our shopping bags. Because even though the place shopping already offers the cheap price, but if we are easily tempted to spend beyond necessity, then we are already spending can not be spelled out more sparingly.

Because sometimes, not only determine where the sparing no expense or us. In addition to the factors, time factors also play a role in that effort savings. If shopping at the right time, we may be of high quality goods with prices italics. But if shopping at the time that is not appropriate can be obtained not sparing even the spendthrift occur.

To determine the time is right to spend certain goods, sometimes we have to know the season. Simple example is when you want to buy fruits, increase the price of this product, or down in line with the season. If you want to buy fruits for the home, choose the fruit-fruit is in season. Usually, shopping centers or stores offer special prices for the current season fruit.

Different case with buying clothes. To buy clothes, even the things that happen. Do not follow the seasons. Discount apparel when the season is already over. This may be seen clearly in the country with 4 seasons. There, warm clothing sale out if the winter has passed. And winter clothes discount any large-scale melt the snow already.

How about in Indonesia? Despite not too extreme that, but principally the same. May not be the season in terms of affecting the weather but in the sense of season mode. There are certain policies of the clothing store for discount because certain types of clothing have started behind the fashion. In fact, for some people fashion is number three when buying clothes. Number one is price, and quality is the number both of them.

There is one habit of traders that is unique that we can take advantage of the goods to get the good with the cheap price. Namely to provide habits and goods that can bargain. Usually traders give special discounts to their customers in the morning as the attractor. And sometimes they also give special discounts to buyers who spend the last item in the day. But remember, this is only valid for products that quickly broken and sold daily, such as food, vegetables and the wet cake.

If you have a good time for shopping of course also have a bad time for shopping. For example, when hungry, avoid shopping when hungry. Because hunger will add shopping, shopping, especially food products. Avoid shopping when the bored or sad. Because if you are bored or sad, and make shopping as a way out, you'll usually more eye wash and window shopping. And this can encourage the need to spend outside.

Similarly if the atmosphere is not as heat or cold. Because the condition does not fit the body can not make you cool shopping and want to go home soon. Finally you are in a hurry and lazy to bid to select a cheaper price. The transaction is completed quickly and returns home immediately. Consequently, the issue price of any escape from the attention.
Read rest of entry

Friday, May 29, 2009

Love and Money

The only male female relationship in this time have a lot of shifting values. How should we not want to face the fact that the materialistic world and each person become more individualist? Our first parents era, each pair has to understand the natural course that is male breadwinner and the wife at home. Cultural life in accordance with the simple description is the ability to live happy, so that for each married couple who will not each too much of how the financial future. This is boosted with the cultural taboo to discuss the various practices of money before marriage. Money is still just something that is considered the symbol of evil and greed. That is when we discuss fear about money. So that intimacy does not wonder if the relationship between men and women can be changed 180 degrees after the marriage, because so many surprises that are not imagine before. One is the habit of using money previously not known.

So before you both decide to proceed to stage your wedding for a marriage, there are a few things about money that you need to know as a pair.

"If we love one another we will not quarrel for the money"

Based on the experience of verbal consultation with the client's husband and wife pair, I can infer. Money may only have a relationship with love, but that is very in touch with you the many squabbling. No matter the size of the love you never the husband or wife. If both of you can not bridge the difference of views about money, and forcing them to take financial decisions that can not accommodate the feelings of one another, will have problems in your relationship. Love was not able to overcome everything, because if the case is not the marriage ended with divorce. Love that brings you to create levels of intimacy and marriage for several years thereafter. However, wedding need more than love. So let's think a moment and understand some of the following facts:

* How you spend your money is not related to how you love one another
You both are raised differently, so that money is also way to treat the different
* What is money for you is not always the same with your partner
How you shop may also differ from one another

The facts that this is happening in most pairs and make a difference on the money from both of you. So that is very reasonable if contend because the money is not because they do not love, but because of differences in line.

"If we do not discuss the issue of money, everything will work well"

Many candidates think that the pair did not discuss the problem with the money then they will not have any financial problems. In fact many people avoid the financial problems with it; hope will be completed by itself. People even prefer to discuss only silent because of fear of a quarrel about money. But what may look for a way out of a problem if we do not even want to discuss. Therefore if you are not immediately familiarize myself to start talking about money problems so you can both go bankrupt. The destiny indeed comes from God, but He did not send it directly to your account.

So where we start? It's easy. Like almost all aspects of life, the place we start managing our finances well is from the house. The meaning is you and your partner should begin talking about money together. For many couples who are still reluctant to discuss this matter. Only a few of us in the big two where parents can discuss the problem with free money to one another - with the children on the table. Consequently, many of us do not know how to manage family finances, do not even know how talk start - even with a pair of his life alone!

Talk about the Money Is Not Forbidden

The fact that we are not raised in the environment in which to discuss the taboo about money is indeed a tragedy. Consequently, many problems of marriage are also triggered because many couples are reluctant to discuss and tend to hide financial problems. Finally, many couples who can not cooperate in overcoming financial problems. If it is not forced to follow the will pair a more dominant, so they can be run separately. In fact, if each pair would work together, they even get the results several times better than if done alone. So do not hesitate, any financial purpose, any financial issues, working with partner providing the encouragement and the spirit of the idea that there is no effort to make the utmost achievement of financial goals become much easier.
Read rest of entry

Friday, May 22, 2009

Planning Income and Expense Every Month

There are several things to help your finance every month :

1. Plan your income and expense every month
2. Do the plan strictly
3. Have reserves fund
4. Take some insurances

This article will discuss point 1 and 2.

1. Plan your income and expense every month

Starting right now, plan when you will get your salary, how much its amount, and when you will spend your money, what the posts and how much the amount of expenses. The plan called Budget.

In example, you will receive this much on your salary on 27th, then from that amount you will use this much for this expense, that amount for that expense, and so on. So, if you make a budget first, you will detect on the first place whether there will be deficit or not in the middle of the month. If yes, you can revise the budget to avoid deficit.

Composing budget is very easy. If you have already known the amount of average income and expense every month, you could also predict how much income and expense for the next coming months.


Budget function

Many people feels uncomfortable to draw up and have budget. They think budget is the same with restrain their shopping desire.

NO. The function of a budget is to inform if your expense surpass your income or not. If yes, you ocan revise the budget so deficit can be avoided.

But, if you do not have budget, you will be difficult to know if your family expense has surpassed the income. So, if there is deficit at the end of the month, you just realize it at that time, after all has happened.


IMPORTANT

Include saving in your budget. Usually people save their money later, after their money was spent. So, sometimes they cannot save their money because all of their money was spent for shopping.

Thereby, it would be better if saving is not included later but earlier. Therefore, when you draw up a budget, insert saving as one of the posts that you must do earlier, at least after you repay your loan.


2. Do the plan strictly.

A plan is useless if it is not done. In here, plan of income and expense as much as Rp250,000, if you strictly obey and want to do according the budget, at the end of the month the discrepancy between income and expense of your family will be certainly figured out, namely Rp250,000.

Thereby, it would be easier to make another plan froward, because you have already known that every end of the month you surely have discrepancy of Rp250,000, which can be used for another purpose.

However, sometimes people, although have already made up a simple budget, is still unable to meet their budget. If he, i.e. allocated Rp500,000 per month for shopping, the figure could expand to Rp750,000.

This can be prevented with a harder system, namely 'envelope system'. If you have already drawn up a budget, you should allocate the amount right away according to each post. Each post is represented by one envelope. If the money in the envelope is empty, you don't have to try opening the other envelopes, because you have already known that budget for the related post has touched its limit. Envelope system is a little complicated, but perhaps it is the sacrifice that you should doso that you will not experience deficit. The most important, your expense now is more controllable.
Read rest of entry

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Convert Your Hobbies to Cash

Time has not cleave the company's salary and work, because the risk is still high that cause you to lose the job. Why not try to get additional revenue from the hobby. Rather than continue as one of the higher-waste, let us strive to become our hobby money machine.

Madness people will focus on a hobby; it can be easily met in our daily life. For example, someone who likes hunting antiques can spend more time, energy and even money to hundreds or millions of dollar for the other people as useless. Compare with the whim of the hobby with a bird or fish turtledove?

May feel is not reasonable for other people. Hobbies may be spelled out as a fulfillment of spiritual needs to escape from the saturation and exhaustion due to daily routines in the search for sustenance. Because that is, in effect in a matter of hobby that is fun unlimited. When hobby to a business in the region, although the calculation of profit-loss, business feasibility, opportunities and so forth but also be a consideration the more dominant. The phrase often heard, I hit a problem or an important hobby!

Nice Working with Exercise
But that is why the business activities of the hobby that often works well. Where one of the keys to start a successful business is happy to work with, as if we are to do the hobby-up time and do not forget to have tired. That there is truth in both begin to develop business and do something with the foundation of love, not that we work for the best results and full sincerity

No wonder if many people start a business because it is a hobby or avocation. Shade earning big job to do with the desire to be liked that a lot of people. For the people that usually do the best for the activities of interest, so do not wonder if the result maximum. Hobby that is done with the goal of early release stress, and even cash bonuses that would be great fun.

First Step Change Become Hobbies Business
One thing that many in the business is making the first step. However, still only the first step to do so. Is not the big things that started from a small, and a thousand steps, may not occur without the first step. What should be done so that our hobby can make money, here is how:

1. Take more time for your hobby, and produce the works with better quality and more quantity. "Practice makes perfect" with the practice continues then we will produce a better paper. Works to improve the quality of the selling value, especially when many people have the same hobby, of course you must have a product value of more than similar products. Most do not work you can compete in the market. The problem is when the hobby is usually done to spare if eventually become routine, then they tend to be lazy to do it.

It is natural indeed occur, but that is the consequence of changes hobby into a business. So that you do not languish in the process of this change, then do it slowly or gradually, do not impose themselves to spend far more time, but only a little more from time to time. For example, if you make works once, then do not force themselves to make the results of the paper once a week. Increase productivity to be twice a month, and if it is comfortable with the rhythm of the new, do not hesitate to increase the productivity at higher again.

2. To hold your knowledge, can be through courses, seminars, or training related to your hobby. Usually in the course you will get such a certificate can later increase customer trust and prestige, so power increased selling your work .. Than through the course there are many cheap way to increase your knowledge, with through books, magazines, internet and other media information.

3. Learn directly from people who are experts or have successfully run the hobby. Getting a mentor or interact with people who have same hobby can also be the best way how to produce works of the best and competitive in terms of price also quality. For the most important from a hobby is a business so that if people want to buy the works that you produce, and how many people would pay for it. From those who have been successful in the hobby so that your business can find information on how to run the business successfully. Moreover interact with them, work skills, and you always measured by a competent person field.

In addition, in environments that has the same interest will also increase the motivation in your business. If there are any associations in your hobby, try to join and actively. Some associations have a community for those who like the same hobby. There are many benefits that you can follow with the association, among others: the latest developments and get information about the hobby that you may be used in the search for opportunities increase the opportunity to get customers, get a free promotion for your business, and expand the network.

4. Offer your work from one store to another store, from one person to another person. Of course, you are expected not easily broken spirit, if you offer a product in decline. and also, do not be ashamed. Known from experience, people nearby may be early consumers. In this way, can also help overcome the capital's financial difficulties, because they can be asked to pay upfront, before the goods are made or delivered

In the end all the options back to each of us, because not all people have a hobby are lucky, or have a hobby that can potentially make money. Many of the delayed opening of the still confused determine which areas of business interest. But it does not mean if it does not have any hobbies, and then open the possibility of a closed business, as many other sources of business ideas you can do.

The key is whatever you choose, love it! By doing work that beloved, as you have a hobby of the withdrawal. Instead many people who also have a hobby, but not interested to change it into a business that produces money. Easy-easy this time any posts add your insight to the opportunities and potential business from hobby.
Read rest of entry

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Secret Financial Management

This time I didnt get some idea to write, so I take an article from Safir Senduk, thanks to him. Let's read his article.

A huge earning is usually considered for measuring the wealth of someone. However, why do so many people with huge income frequently end up running out of money in the middle or at the end of the month? What is the problem?

If you have a job now, do you remember the first one you ever had? Usually, the first experience on work is the most unforgettable experience.

Let's take an example. Anto was still living with his family until he got a job at the age of 23, as a clerk in a trading company. At that time, he had just graduated. Although he had to go through a probationary period, Anto was so excited when he knew that he would get his first salary. His salary was Rp 600,000, which he would receive on the 27th.

We can guess what he would want to do: he wanted to treat his family. He wanted to express his gratitude for getting a salary for the first time in his life, and he also wanted to show them that he was independent now.

Let's see: he received the salary on the 27th. On the 29th he took his family out for a meal in an all-you-can-eat restaurant, so each of them could satisfy their appetite. The pre-tax cost for one person was Rp 22,000, and after tax was Rp 24,200 per person. All of his family members were 7, consisting of his father, mother, one big brother and 3 annoying younger brothers. All was 6, plus Anto made it 7. It means that he had to pay the dinner bill of Rp 169,400. Which means, only 2 days after he received his salary, he had already spent 28% out of his salary for that month. So, he had only Rp 430,600 left for the rest of the month.

"No problem", thought Anto. "It's my own family that I treated, not other people. Besides, it's not every day I do that. Once a month is enough." Days went by. One week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks. "Hmm…that stuff in the mall looks pretty good. There is a very interesting looking shirt. Okay, it costs Rp 28,000. There's also this nice pair of trousers to wear for work. Very cheap, costs only Rp 65,000. It won't hurt to look stylish at the office". He then started buying things. "Okay", Anto thought, "one shirt and a pair of pants for this month. The rest of my salary would be used for transportation and food until the end of the month" .

What happened? On the 24th of the next month, just three days before his second-month payday, he had only Rp 50,000 left.

Anto started thinking. Okay...., such was because he spent most of his money to treat his family. Also this was his first time working. Within the coming months, his finance would be better.

The second month, he got his salary again. Still in the same amount. No raise yet. The difference was no more treating the family. Days and weeks went by. A few days before his third salary, he only had Rp 75,000 left.

Three months passed by, he was finally accepted as permanent employee. He got a Rp 150,000 raise to Rp 750,000. "Not bad", Anto thought. This meant that I would be able to "breath" and save a little. But strangely, a few days before even one month period ended, his still had only little money left. The sixth month, the seventh month, the eight month, although he got a raise, but he still ran out of money and could not put any into savings.

As a matter of fact, Anto is not the only one, whose income is under Rp 1m, with this problem. Even people with millions per month income still have trouble saving money.

What is really happening? Many people think that by getting a raise, they will not run out of money in the middle of the month and they can save for sure. Every month they hope that they will get a raise the next months. But after they really get a raise, they still run out of money.

It is clear that the solution here lies not on how big your income is. The amount of your income does not guarantee that you will not run out of money in the middle of the month. The size of your income does not guarantee that you will be able to save. The key here is not how much money you make, but how you manage your income so that it can be stretched in a one-month period.

There is no fixed way on the right method to manage your finance. However, based from experiences, there are several things that can help you manage your finance well each month:

1. Plan your income and outcome every month.
2. Carry out the plan strictly.
3. Have reserved fund.
4. Join insurance plan.
Read rest of entry

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Reduce Cost Marriage

Marriage is a moment that will live as long as someone still alive. How not, marriage brings together two people into one family. Marriage also connects between the two families at a big brother.

But it does not mean all financial resources of the spent only for a wedding only. Because many of the others after that priority should be. Like to buy their own homes and vehicles, and fund children's education course later. That need to be feared by someone who is not ready to marry cost for the event, but after that the cost of living to be independent.

To be able to get a beautiful wedding moments, not to be done with ease. The trick is to anticipate some of the factors greatly determine the size of the fee is required.

At home or rent a building?


If it does not want to be bothered, it would be better if the wedding held in the building only. But of course there will be consequences in terms of cost. Namely the existence of expenditure items to pay for the rental building. So be it the price to rent a building can be a primary consideration in selecting the building that will be used. Do not leave your wedding budget take to rent out the building, because there are many other expenses that are not less magnitude.

But do not felt with the ad cost to rent a cheap building, first check what facilities are included in the price. What is included and the other seats. And if there is additional licensing, electricity and so forth. And remember, the cost will be issued not only to rent a building only but also to supporting facilities such as catering, decor, documentation and so forth. You would not want to be asked to use the catering or decorations from the partnership building. Of course the price will be more expensive compared to prices outside, so the manager can install building standard price is relatively cheap to rent but the building determine the price that is quite expensive for the catering. So to compare which one is cheaper; count the cost of rental, catering, decorations and other additional costs as well.

In addition, also look at building's capacity of course you do not want your guests milling because gedungnya too small. Select the building that could accommodate the invitation of the planned, but do not also select the building that is too large. In addition to cost more expensive, the program seemed to be quiet because the room looks empty. Not only the size the room to be seen, also look capacity where possible parked area not to the surrounding environment. Survey and immediately see how much about seating capacity, people standing.

With a limited budget, will be more economical to the wedding events in the house alone. Indeed, it you will be more difficult, but can also be sizable large. Instead of determining the place could be at home or in the building is the first factor that determines the large or not cost is required. Especially if you have a large family can be happy to help, why not ask for help only to them. I believe they will not object to. Even their happiness will be also able to participate in your wedding.

Number of Invitation


In addition to the building, the two factors most important to determine the size of the cost is the number of wedding guests was invited. Not only the cost of printing invitations is calculated, the number of invited guests who will also affect the capacity building should be rented, the number of meals ordered etc. It may not hold a small party while you only invite so many people. And also become redundant when the big event only to a few people was invited.

Wedding program not only the pair, but also events for the second family. Do not forget to calculate the amount to be invited by the groom, bride, both families.Make sure you have a prior estimate of the number of invitations to print invitations and book building. It's better if the name list has been prepared.

Wedding Organizer


Sometimes to set up its own technical weddings will spend more time and attention. In fact, many other things that needs to be prepared the day H. And of course will be making more if the committee has never been a wedding before.

If you want practical, you can use the service wedding organizer. Not only events in the building only, wedding organizer can also help you prepare for the weddings held in the house.

Indeed, there will be additional terms of the cost, but if the work they can do much to help you, why it's not out more money for something that is valuable. And not possible if the total cost must be paid for it can be savings. Because they are more experienced, so they may already have a subscription that can provide discounts or have a concept of decorating a good but not expensive.

More practical system with the package

Some of you may be planning a wedding with a budget limitation. That is, you do not want a headache, dizziness calculate the cost per item must be removed, such as invitations, decorations, buildings, catering, and so forth.

Same as when ordering food at fast food restaurants, choose the menu of a headache; just select the package that already exists. Which provides the package system is usually in addition to wedding organizer and the hotel also manages the building. The price also varies, from 5 million to the simple to the hundreds of millions of rupee also there.

You can select the packages that have been fixed price. Or can also package per person. For packages that have fixed price, you can choose according to budget limitations, but of course must be willing to restrict the invitations in accordance with the packet. While for the package per person, you can better determine how flexible the guests will be invited. While for the package per person, you can better determine how flexible the guests will be invited.

Tips Reduce Cost of Marriage:

1. Destination weddings in the building is to get a room big enough to accommodate all the guests and does not prepare them occupied. There is no need of building a highly strategic location so that guests easily reach them, because the guests are already intend to come wherever located. To save the cost of the building, its location may not need at edge of the main road, which is searchable and easy access to good roads. No building is also seen as luxury will be decorated later also. It is important to accommodate all guests who attend. Even if can, select the building that is not commercial, in the sense not rented specifically for a particular event. You may never attend a wedding in the mosque, the building of sports, or may be in the hall of her home environment. I think not apply commercial rates to the event. Even if have to pay the rent, you are not required to choose the decorations and catering manager of the partnership more expensive fare.
2. In the home can more beautiful wedding event that either should not be in a luxury, their own home can become a place beautiful event. Remember, the first factor that affects large or small the cost is the place. Wedding at home can save a lot of expenditure items such as rent for the place and catering. Even in the home can more beautiful, live how we organize it. If a page area, you can install a closed tent that can accommodate many guests. Indeed be more expensive than regular tents that are open, of course, but still cheaper than renting the building.
3. Wisely choose invitation second factor that determines the large or small wedding cost is the number of invitations. If you are limited by quota and the number of invitations, choose well who will be invited. Start from the nearest, then the remote. Can be close in meaning and close relationship in the sense of place. If you hold the akad nikah and reception are separated, this can be tactic many invited guests. Invite relatives, neighbors and friends in the surrounding environment for the akad nikah ceremony was held in the house. Meanwhile, the rest who do not live close to the house can be invited to attend the wedding party in the building.
4. Varity serves food No need to book many more-food, which is varied. Rather than put too much food in the main buffet table. Will better place to make a lot of food small separate dishes with different. In addition to the queue, the invitation will not feel the food runs out because many variation dishes.
5. Although discount can still choose your package price, no hesitate to ask for discounts. Or when ordering catering, although the price is clearly listed in the brochure, does not mean can not discount. Negotiations with the manager only to be the catering discount. And note with some good credibility of the manager, because you can not exactly determine whether the portion of the food in accordance with the order.
Read rest of entry

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Extra Saving for Woman

Who says women do not need saving? Now women are not pitching his life to the men. Indeed has become the duty of men to provide support to women, it is a condition that we ideally like. If women have not married, the parents who are responsible for her.If he is married, the husband who took over the duties. And if it is in conditions where there is no immediate family who can bear her, then the state that should be responsible for it.

But unfortunately, ideal conditions are likely still in the framework of the theory, not yet fully practice. Efforts to realize the things we strived to be as much as possible, but the fact also can not be denied that there are still many women who are forced to bear alone the burden of his life. Not even a few of them bear the burden family.

If we see such as the fact that, where women must bear the burden of his life alone, she would need more savings for men. There are more age women, health care costs higher, and salaries are lower.

Statistics show that the average age of women is longer than men. If it be, man's oldest record also held by more femininity. This means that more women have a period of a longer retirement than men. If a man and woman together in the retirement age and the same with the standard cost of living the same, then the earlier women need more retirement funds than men.

In addition to a longer age, the statistics also demonstrate that women have condition more vulnerable to illness. This was the value of differences in health insurance premiums between a woman and for men. Try to compare your health insurance premium table, the premium for women than the more expensive insurance premiums for men. This became one of the evidence that indicates that the cost of health women greater than men.

Another One reason is because women usually get a smaller salary than men for the same position. This is already commonplace in any country. Man salaries are relatively high compared with the salaries of women. This is certainly reasonable because only men get the benefit of families in which the salary is take home for the entire family. While women do not get where her salary family allowance is additional to the family and family support is not considered the others.

From these three things, at least, we can value that women need that extra saving than men.

Behind all the more reason why women need to save, it is also offset by the fact that women have more reason to be more easily and more often in the lay.

First, women usually can be more organized and careful in financial problems if compared with men. Indeed, this assumption is only general and not necessarily applies to every woman. But the evidence we can easily see on the job in the newspaper. If that opportunity to the financial position or accountant, most of the job over to prioritize women's, or even only accept women only.

Because women are considered more organized and careful in managing the finances, she can also be considered to be easier to save in. Most people fail to save because usually not be able to manage financially on a regular basis. There is no planning and careful in not shopping. Isn’t planning a long-term, create a monthly budget may not be alone.

In addition, the salary taken home by a woman will usually be no more than intact males. Not only because of clever but because it is managed only for the additional family.Usually this is felt, if he is still single or have not waffle. Although already married, sometimes still occur as well. This is usually we know the "money husband wife money, money is the wife of his wife." If it would have been so much easier for the wife to be able to save with than her husband.

Moreover, the case is heritage. Even though women get only half as compared with men, but the inheritance is only half the portion for himself only. There is no obligation for them to give to the husband or to her children. Different case with men, even though times can be 2-fold from the women, but has order to support his wife and children. Of course, the larger portion for themselves than two portions for the busy.
Read rest of entry

Saturday, May 09, 2009

Buy Your Dream

Do you see someone who appears normal work-usual course, but have what he wants? While you have the dream house is still in pretty illusion. Or cars that you want to buy still out of reach.

Instead, what you see someone who huge incomes but the salary always exhausted. He may be a manager at a large company or a director of the company, but his life just so-so, if it does not want to say so.

Things like that can happen. Yes, I understand that probably most of you think that high income you have now will ensure your prosperity. But no one know how many people who have high earnings are still not able to save and improve lives can not. Instead, many are also ordinary people who are career and have limited income, but can meet the needs of his life. You know what distinguishes them? Just one. Do your financial planning.

Mother's father, in financial planning, especially in relation to the family finances, plainly there are only two important things you should know. What is? First is how to make money and the second, How to manage earnings.

1. How Do I Keep Up My Income
Sometimes I hate to see many people who ask me, "How to manage your salary enough to pay me to have three children with debt repayments and this is? Because I seem too extravagant ..." After I see, the problem turns out he was not located in the expenditure is too large, but because income is too small. He does not feel it necessary to seek other sources of revenue, and even only sit against the revenue gained.

Mother's father, the first thing you should know about financial planning to learn how to earn money. So you need not continue to blame the size of the expenditure as a cause of your financial problems you. This is often because the cause of the emergence of financial problems is not on the amount of your expenses, but in your earnings is too small.

I am sure, some among you who may have also said that the revenue obtained is not important. More important is how to manage earnings. Is correct, but if you earn too little income I do not blame anyone. Maybe it's time you started already find another source of income. Maybe by opening your own business, or sell the sewing skills you have. It is important; maintain your knowledge about how to obtain revenue. Thus, you do not continue to blame you a big expenses, even though you do not actually spend a large-very large.

2. How to Manage Your Income

After earning, the second thing you should do is to learn how to manage earnings. This is important because I often see many people who have a large income, but incomes did not feel like just because it always runs out. It is very important for you to know how to manage the revenue that you get. Do not until you get the money - the big or small - just so exhausted to pay for expenses that are not necessary.

Then, what you can do in learning how to manage the revenue that you get? Clearly, you will need to make priorities of expenditure that you consider most important to the expenditure that is not too important. Do not forget to go before the needs of the desire, and also warning items of expenditure which has the potential to be great, if not guarded well. Hopefully in ways like that, you can be more successful in managing your finances. And you can realize your dreams.
Read rest of entry

Friday, May 08, 2009

Facing Price Increase

Prices raise. That all people already know. Fuel rate increase, tariff phone - he said - will also rise. Basic Electricity tariffs will also go up. Price goods - be - will also rise. Each time the rate of fuel, telephone and electricity increase, the price of goods needs households are more likely to increase as well. Goods needs of households that can be goods household care, self care, and food materials.

For many families in Indonesia, the price increase is now going to make many families bear a very heavy burden. This is because the price increase is not always followed by the increase in revenue. If you have a family income of US$ 1,500 a month and can spend US$ 1,000 a month to pay for the cost of living, then with the price increase only 10%, the cost of living increases to US$ 1,100 a month. This means that, if the family was leaving the difference to US$ 500 (US$ 1,500 minus US$ 1,000), then going after the price increase, the amount of money that can be the difference down to saving is US$ 400 (US$ 1,500 minus US$ 1,100).

Now you can be what will happen if prices continue to rise without accompanied with the increase in revenue. Writing this time I will discuss about how to anticipate the increase in the price-increase.


Increase THE INCOME

Face only, price increase is inevitable, sooner or later. In the long term, how to overcome just one: the inclusion in the family. In the example above you already see that if the price increase and continue to occur in the family income does not increase, the difference in time your income and expenditure will become increasingly small. And not impossible, you finally have a deficit!

Try to imagine if the income in the family - for example - is US$ 1,500 per month, while from year to year, your cost of living continues to rise: First of US$ 1,000 and US$ 1,100 per month, and US$ 1,300 and US$ 1,500 per month, and US$ 2,000 and so on.

From which you will take the lack of difference? From your savings, right? How to when you will take these savings? Old-time savings will be exhausted if you continue to take. So in the long term, why do not you try to increase income in your family?

Yes, yes, you might be thinking: "Ah ... easy. The company where my husband is always work every year. So surely next year we in the family income will increase."

Or if you are looking for work and sustenance for the family, you will think: "Ah ... my company is always raising my salary each year. So what a fuss of the increase in revenue? My salary will be increase...

I do not overtly encourage you to continue to hope that your company or your husband's company will continue to raise the salary for this they provide. There are many large companies that did not even raise the salaries of their employees for several years. And that, probably not, can occur in your company.

I do not make you fear and invite you to think negative and pessimistic about the company where you or your husband's work. I only invite you to continue to try, but also want to anticipate the situation the worst though. So, if at this point you or your husband works on other people, why you do not have to open their own business or work with relies on your expertise? Thus, income in the family can be added.

Alternatively, you can also invest the money savings you have at this time to a variety of alternative investment products on the market. It is time to put your attention on the large amount of money that you have with how to invest wisely and try to benefit from it, and not simply because invest that money is nothing. Thus, the expected long-term investment you can give results that do not lose what you already get from your job every day.


Manage FAMILY EXPENDITURES

As an alternative to the short term; you can set the expenses in your family. There is no one set of expenditure according to priorities. This means you can segment expenses according to your family needs. Then, buy the goods that are needed first, wherever possible and delay the purchase of goods that are luxurious.

Below are some tips that may be useful in managing the family spending the price of goods increase, as happened this time:


1. Try to buy goods in wholesale for the price.

One of the places that sell goods in wholesale is the market center. Do not forget that the goods sold in market are generally sold at a cheaper price than if you buy it in retail stores. In addition market center, then the other places you can go is a shop that can bargain the price. When you purchase household needs at the store or place that can bargain, try to buy at grocery to get a cheaper price.

2. Make the price as one of the main factors in choosing where to shop, what more goods shopping needs of households every day.

This is because the goods of domestic requirement are the need to be purchased regularly and repeatedly. So when you buy them in a costly, the price difference will be felt, than when you buy in places cheaper. One can not double anything.

3. Buy goods that are needed first.

Distinguish between wants and needs. Try to buy goods that are needed first by your family. Then after that - if needed - to buy goods that are desired. This is because - regardless of whether purchased in advance or behind, yet you still must still buy goods that are required. So, why not prioritize your money to goods that are needed? If you precede the desired purchase, and when the turn came to purchase goods that are needed, you feared the money has been exhausted.

4. Do not buy goods just because the ad.

Try to buy goods not only because it talked into the ad, but because you are looking for items and the need. Ad created for you to buy, not to simply give you the information.
Read rest of entry

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Discount Offer; Go or Not?

What makes people interested to come to a discount? In fact, there is solitary pleasure when people come to the location of the discount. Before economy crisis, many people who deliberately go to another country only to come to the location of the discount. Our neighboring countries, Singapore, for example, often make The Great Singapore Sale. Similarly, many people who live in Bandung or Surabaya, which is specific only to come to Jakarta because the sale is heard. Then, why do people want to buy goods in the event a discount? Simple, to get the goods with a value, but with a cheaper price than value.

Sellers often hold events with a variety of discount theme: Wash Warehouse, Discount Start Year, End Year Discount, Discount Independence Day, Ramadan Discounts, Lebaran Discount, and Christmas Discounts. Outside the country with four seasons, a theme often used is the summer sale, sale winter, autumn sale, and the spring sale. Also often used the theme Closing Down Sale, Mid Year Sale, Christmas Sale, and others.

Event discount (sale) is one of the campaign strategy used by traders. An event can usually discount sales up very quickly.

Below are tips for those who want to buy goods using the discount program.

Do not come to the location where the event open a discount when not in mood. People come to events when the discounts are often not hungry mood and purchase of goods which actually is not needed, because only the price factor, not because of the need.

Provide a special time when the event comes to discount. Do not be a push by the time the rash. If you hurry, you usually will not be careful in overseeing the quality of goods purchased. Often happens, many people go home and realize that the new goods that just bought is not suitable, such as clothes that are too small in size, or quality of the clothes are bad.

Before buying the goods in the discount program, ask yourself whether you really need an item? Do not buy goods you do not need, just because the cheaper price. Discount is the discount, but the trade transaction should occur because of the demand of goods by you as a buyer, not because the price is cheap.

For one type of goods, that can be used to compare the price with other places that sell the same goods. Compare, and buy the cheapest. That is important to provide a special time when the event comes to a discount. Do not buy goods at the sale location when you actually do not know how normal price, both in the store or shop in the other.

If you can, make a relationship with the shop owners. Indicate that you are a loyal customer in the store. If you do not have to buy goods there, show that you always come to the store. The fact, if you must leave the place to do comparison, you can hold goods that you want to buy it so that people not be taken. Another advantage, when there is no discount event, you can request a special discount to the store owners, and usually he would be reluctant to reject you because you are a loyal customer.

Examine the quality of goods. Make a difference between value and price. Value of goods is how much the quality of the goods you receive. While, the price is how much you pay. Compare the price you pay for the value you get. If the price you pay equal or less than the value of the goods you receive, then buy the goods. Do not buy goods if the value was less than the amount of the price you pay. Once again, the precise quality of the goods, and make sure the values you will enjoy from the purchase of these goods
Read rest of entry

Monday, April 27, 2009

Needs Vs Desire

Be careful if you can not distinguish between needs and desires. Because if you can not distinguish which is the entrance as the demand and which are actually entered as the desire, you can-can be a wasteful person.

And this can be a spendthrift mother in your financial problems. With lavish living, long run deficit can occur. Your income is not more able to finance the expenditure, which continues to expand because of the nature wasteful. And if the deficit is, often find a way out of the debt that is short. Debt, especially the flowers, can make you bankrupt. And the wall is the end of your financial fate.

Because can not distinguish between needs and desires, then the ringannya you can not remove the money to buy a few things. But that money may be more useful if it were used for the other.

Can not distinguish between wants and needs can also make you can not determine whether the priority in their spending. In fact, you could be sacrificing a need to get what you want.

What is the difference between needs and desires?

In fact there is no limit to determine the exact differences between the needs or desires. But as a guide, seroang friends gave me the following definitions:

Needs are things that are required so that people can achieve prosperity, so that when there is a need not fulfilled then the people will not feel safe or less safe. Can be said that the requirement is a matter that must, because without it our lives to be prosperous, or at least not less prosperous.

While the desire is something extra on the expected demand can be met so that these people feel more satisfied. However, if the desire is not fulfilled then welfare is not reduced.

That if we see in terms of satisfaction or welfare of someone. But the welfare and satisfaction is also very relative for each person. While I think that alone to distinguish between needs and desires, should be seen in terms of its function. Saying something as if the desire is already up to its main function.

A simple example, needs to eat is not terelakan. Not only human, every living creature that needs food. Eating akan provide energy and health for people, the food is nutritious food that needs all of us.

Food has the function as the main source of energy for the body. Meanwhile, provide a sense of good is a function of additional food. So tasty food is the desire, not need. But it does not mean can not eat food that tasty-tasty. But first we need to consider whether the expenditure for food was tasty akan compromising the needs of the other or not.

Other examples. Dressed is the need to protect us from the weather. Clothing also serves to keep the genitals musti our guard. For some people it may be required to dress for a certain type of kepantasannya, such as a jacket or tie. But do need to wear clothing that is expensive and bermerk? I think bermerk clothes and not the more expensive needs, but desire only.

Also needs home, where we live and shelter. So that the home can work well, also headed home with a variety of household equipment such as televisions, refrigerators, and other furniture. Every instrument and furniture that has a function of each. During that used in accordance with its function, it is needed. But if used to "show off", just show the neighbors that we are able to buy such as they. I think it needs no more, it's only desire. And desires such as this should not dituruti.

Standard needs and desires for each person can be so different. Of course, very dependent of environmental conditions, daily activities, work demands / profession, and so forth.

For some people, the car is already needed. To be able to support the many activities outside the home and often traveling, the car is a means of transportation that needs to be. If the car is for transport, where we bring akan pergi.

But often we have the desire to increase the range of aksesories car, not to increase the comfort or security drive, but simply enhance appearance only. I think it needs is not, it just wants it. And this desire can be delayed if all the other needs are met well.

Moreover, have some type of car, but we can only use one. I think it's clear desires, is not needed.

If we are able to distinguish where the needs and desires which we can determine the priorities, which take precedence, and which can be delayed.

No one really we meet our desire for one-time meal in a restaurant to celebrate something, or install a car accessory to be more secure and comfortable. But remember, do not give up until it iu that we need other, more important.

Although you may now feel able to satisfy all your desires, but we must remain prudent, do not forget to akan needs in the future. We must prepare for pension funds so that we can enjoy the peaceful old days, we must also prepare for the funding of education our children, and that all the needs of the future is to be prepared now.

Should remember is, do not satisfy the desire to ignore the needs. And do not forget that until the needs of all musti not come now, because there still needs to be fulfilled in the future. Meanwhile, the human desire will never be a limit, now or later.

So, make what you desire to meet current needs, but the expense of you and your family in the future.
Read rest of entry
 

Exchange Links

The Finance Tips

Good To Be True

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Banner Links

Finance Tips Copyright © 2009 - 2010 Black Nero is Designed by Ipietoon Sponsored by Online Business Journal

Powered by eRDent Dental Forum