When it comes to making money, there are lots of different options that you could think about choosing to top up your own funds. Depending on your experience and the amount of investment that you have to put upfront, you may even want to dabble in a property deal or two. If you’ve got an eye for making money, then there’s no reason why you couldn’t make money in the property industry. But you have to smart with how you do it. Property is expensive; it comes with costly outlays and ongoing maintenance. So, to make money, you have to get a few things right. If you’re still interested, read on to find out exactly what can help you to do this.

Bide Your Time

The first thing you have to do is take your time. It’s easy to want to rush. Especially when you’ve decided that you do want to invest in property. But if you’re actually going to make this work, and make enough money, you have to be able to buy at the right price. Because if you a property that’s too high in price, you’re cutting into your profit margins. You need to be able to buy as cheaply as possible, to then improve and sell or rent at the right price. And to do that, you may have to be patient.

Make Connections

You may also find that you can get everything done at a cheaper price by making the right connections. If you’re planning on owning a lot of properties over time, you may benefit from finding the right people to help you on all of them. Then, you could try and bag yourself mates rates on all of the trade work that needs doing. This can allow you to create a good working relationship and keep your costs down over time.

Shop Around

But getting the property ready is often only half of the battle. Because you have more costs to consider when you’re putting the finishing touches on the place. For this, you might want to think about cheap home decor ideas that you can use and shop around to make that happen. You may prefer one site, but you’re going to find that you can save a lot of money if you’re able to compare prices across the board.

Step Back

When everything is ready to go, you should then think about stepping back. It is an additional cost, but working with a property management company can often be the best solution. They will be able to handle the hassle and deal with queries, so that you’re able to free up more time to keep building up your property portfolio.

Stay On Top

But remember, to make as much money as possible, your properties have to keep their value. And this is going to mean staying on top of them. Ensure that you’re constantly updating where need be to keep everything modern. That way, you’ll always be able to get the maximum rent and ensure that you make enough money if you decide to sell.

Planning for your retirement is not just about counting your expenses and making sure they fall under your budget. It’s also about getting yourself and your family the security they need. After all, the legacy you leave behind will be bestowed upon your children and every parent wants to make sure that their children live comfortably when they are gone.

Freedom insurance is like an umbrella that you take out with you on a particularly sunny day or rainy evening. It protects from unexpected adversities and gets you home safely without getting affected by unfavourable circumstances. Getting the right insurance policy is the key to your sound financial life. Since there are so many different types of insurance policies available in the market, we have come up with five important ones that will provide you coverage for when you need it the most. Following are those policies explained:

1. Medicare

Let’s talk about the Medicare, Australia’s leading health care system. Under Medicare, Australians are provided with health insurance of various kinds. The programs offered under Medicare include Australian Organ Donor Register, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and Australian Childhood Immunisation Register. It covers health care costs of seniors, job seekers, families, carers, students and trainees, people with disability, parents, people from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds and indigenous Australians. With Medicare, you won’t have to worry about paying extra for emergency care, prescription drugs and hospitalisation after your retirement.

2. Disability Insurance

Council for Disability Awareness reported in its “Disability Statistics” that 1 in every 4 adults of age 20 will become disabled before retirement – an alarming fact that shows how important insurance is. As long as you are working, you will need this insurance. It works as a safety net you can fall back on if you get a disability and cannot work for some time. After the age of 65, you won’t need this insurance anymore.

3. Funeral Insurance

For some reason people don’t think about the cost of a funeral until it’s too late. For some it may leave a burden on the family the leave behind, for others  they don’t believe they can afford anything lavish. Funeral insurance is a way to ensure that your loved ones are looked after and you have peace of mind that all arrangements will be taken care of.

4. Life Insurance

If you are financially independent and have no one to take care of, then you can skip this insurance policy. However, if you work a gruelling job and have children, then keep on reading. Life insurance is one of the most important types of insurance policies because it’s the only thing that will keep your family going after you retire. If life insurance seems to be out of your pocket, then you can go for term life insurance that will provide you and your family safety for a certain period, that is, until your kids become independent.

5. Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance comes to your rescue if you lose your job and become unemployed. It assists you with daily living and healthcare costs. 

One might say to evaluate your needs before purchasing any insurance policy, but these five are a must-have right from a young age. The older you get, the more expensive it will be to insure yourself. The insurance coverage might seem miniscule at the moment, but as you reach your retirement stage, you will applaud yourself on your proactive planning, while sipping a margarita in your home.

Becoming a real estate landlord isn’t as difficult as you might be lead to believe. Essentially it's just like any other business in the world, that works around gaps in the market along with supply and demand. More and more people want to live and work in the major cities around the world, but even with cheaper building costs, government and local authorities just can’t build quick enough and not always up to the standard that many people are looking for. The opportunities are therefore endless for the savvy cultivator who wants to build or buy to let properties that would give many young professionals the chance to follow their dreams in the urban sprawl of hustle and bustle. The most popular properties will always have obscene price tags attached, so something more affordable yet high in the standard is going to be like a moth to a flame.

Suburban bungalow 

What everyone pictures when they think of suburban life is the white picket fence, the dog and the large family of three or more kids. Bungalow homes surrounding and even on the outskirts of cities have made it attractive to appreciate your own space. Many of these properties take less than half the time to build than traditional homes with two floors and cost just as less. Look for buy-to-let properties that are close access to the metro network near to a highway system for transport purposes. Young professionals especially millennials will pay a little extra to get a property that suits their needs. Make sure the interior design is either chic or post-modern in style. There may also be the possibility of a small front and back garden as the land on which it is built, is often for smaller traditional homes.

Modular mobile homes

Mass produced homes are fine for some, but young families want something that is almost a third or a quarter of the price, while also providing more than just the basics. Mobile homes fit this category like a glove, as they are one floor, but can be multiple bedrooms, bathrooms and have all the usual rooms like living room, lounge, kitchen and study. The choice is up to the customer but the frequency of the normal room number in traditional homes is transferable to this property type. These homes cost five figures, so you could, in fact, build multiple properties in varying styles, and rent them out to those interested. Getting a big return on your investment, this kind of property can also be transported to new locations, giving you an added option to use backdrops and landscapes as part of the asking price. Thus, you can move the home to a suburban location, or perhaps the even the countryside near a small town, adding to the options available to your customers. 

It's very rare to find such optimizable properties that give customers and investors many different options to upgrade and modulate while also remaining affordable. The city is a great place to work, not great to live in for some, so properties for in and around concrete jungles are very attractive. 

From technology to marketing solutions, every day you spend money on different areas of your business. Having to spend money is part of running a business, that’s a fact that most business owners are aware of. However, the question that you should be asking yourself is which investments will actually pay off, and for this reason, are worth making? 

Having a better understanding of the investments that you need to make to give your business the best chance of success is vital. That’s why taking the time to understand what investments will allow you to boost your business’s success is so important. 

To give you the insight that you need to make the right choice when it comes to investments, below is a guide to some of the investments that increase business success rates. 

Publicity 

Regardless of how incredible a business is, if it is not well known in the area that it operates in, its chances of success are low. That’s why investing in things that will aid publicity for your business, such as a well-designed website and blog, is worth doing. Often, the companies that detail personal accounts of how their business runs tend to do better than businesses that share purely informative articles. Blog posts can not only boost awareness around your brand, but they can also make your company and your team more approachable, helping to boost your customer base. 

Outsourcing 

Often, it can pay to outsource tasks that don’t need to be done in-house to someone who is more qualified to deal with them. The thing to consider when it comes to outsourcing is that if completing these simple tasks means that you are losing precious time concentrating on other tasks, then outsourcing is worth the cost. From outsourcing your accounting and marketing to your business app needs to specialists like NFC Direct, choosing to off-hand certain tasks could just be the best business decision you ever make. It might be an investment, but if it boosts your chances of success, it is worth it. 

Technology 

Technology is changing all the time, which can make it expensive to keep your business up to date. As a business owner, naturally you want your business to do that very best that it can, which is why being clued up when it comes to new technology is so important. While you don’t want to invest in every last piece of tech that is on offer, what you do want to do is make conscious choices, investing in new pieces of technology that will be useful to yourself and your team. 

Training 

If there is one thing that you should invest in to help boost your business’s success rates, it is training for yourself and your team. The business industry is changing all the time, which is why ensuring that your team are up to date when it comes to all of the newest systems and practices that are in place is so important. 

Choosing what to invest in as a business owner isn’t always an easy task, but if you are smart about it, you can ensure that you select all the best investments to make that will help to increase your business’s chances of success.

When it comes to business, investment and generally making money- property is a safe bet. It appreciates in value each year and is always in high demand, plus there are a few ways you can make money from it. As well as flipping houses (buying cheaply, renovating and selling for a profit) becoming a landlord can be very lucrative. If you build up your own little empire of properties, you have lots of tenants rent hitting your bank account each month with very little effort from you. In fact, if you pay an agency to manage your properties for you there’s not much you need to do at all. But what are the best ways to become a landlord?

Finding the Perfect Property

The best properties for landlords are often in busy towns and cities, where they’re always in high demand. If you can find somewhere with great transport links, near a particular workplace like a hospital or by a university, you will be able to charge even more since many people will be seeking accommodation near these places. If you have experience in property development, how about finding a plot of land and having a number of flats or houses built? That way all of your rental properties are in one place, and it could actually be cheaper than renovating. You do need to make sure you have the right permissions if you are thinking of submitting a planning application you need to read this. However many local councils are keen for developers to build and improve areas of wasteland so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. 

Finding The Right Tenants

If you get the right tenants in, your life as a landlord is so much easier. People who respect the property, don’t cause issue in the area (such as loud music, barking dogs or antisocial behaviour) and pay their rent on time will mean you don’t need to get involved at any point. You could use a third party tenant referencing agency, or you could conduct your own checks. You will need to make sure that the tenants are who they say they are, that they can afford the rent and ideally get a positive reference from a previous landlord.

Working With an Agency

If you have a number of properties or work another job and don’t have time for daily management, speak to an estate agent to manage your properties. These will deal with tenants queries and questions, conduct viewings, chase up rent and make sure the property is left clean and tidy at the end of the tenancy. It saves you having to chase up and run around sorting different things, and leaves you to earn your money passively.

Being a property landlord could allow you to earn easy money. Owning property is always a smart move, and you always have the option to sell homes on if you ever need to raise money quickly. Otherwise, once the rent from tenants has covered the cost of the property you’re making a significant amount of money each month without having to do a whole lot.

The market can indeed make you a lot of money, especially if you find that you have much skill and talent for trading. It can, however, be a tricky place, where you suddenly find that the next smart move may not come too easily. 

You can, however, reduce a lot of your fears if you manage to incorporate a smart and developed trading platform into your efforts, one like Weiss Finance. Having the most sophisticated tools at your disposal during troubling times will certainly take a big load off. 

Planning Ahead 

The best way to avoid trouble is to preemptively work towards making sure it never happens, and if it does, that you are well prepared in advance. Investors are famous for suddenly deciding that a new course of action would suit their needs best halfway through a solid plan. 

While you may feel like these sudden impulsive exits are healthy for your portfolio, you may end up being forced into the typical investing error of having to buy high and sell low. 

One of the best things that you can do in order to be completely mindful and prepared for anything is to keep a journal. Whether you have a pen and moleskin journal, or would rather punch information into a Word document, keeping track of things is essential.

For example, you really do want to keep track of the stock in your portfolio, and each item needs to be expanded upon. You need to write down what it is about the stock that keeps you invested and committed. 

You should not just be focusing on pros, however, you need to find out its negative issues that could possibly push you towards breaking up with this investment. 

Why are you Buying?

There are obviously some broad factors regarding a company and its stock that brought you in, but what are the more finer details that keep you attracted? What is it about this company in particular that impresses you so, and what do you expect from them in the future?

There are plenty of metrics and milestones that a favourable company may possess, but which of these winning elements really speak to you and are in line with your strategies as an investor?

You also need to take note of the events within a business’ proceedings that led to failure and events like retrenchments and the like. You should not allow yourself to ever be dragged into anything that could be potentially costly to your own portfolio. 

When Selling is a Good Idea

It is important to be dedicated to your investments, and you should only ever jump ships if you feel like the need has arisen. There are, however, often many good reasons why you should end your relationship with a certain company. 

With regards to your journal in this stage, you will want to create a prenup that delineates exactly what would push you towards the selling of your stock. This is not things as potentially non-hindering as stock price movements (especially when occurring in the short term).

The real issues are things like large scale debilitations that hamper the growth, development, and progression of a business. As an example, we could look at a company that has just lost one of its biggest clients.

The CEO has now been sacked due to his failure to handle the situation properly, and his successor will now be redirecting company policy towards new horizons. There is also a new competitor that has arisen, one that can indeed pose a large threat. 

All of these factors that have been strung together spell out a story that will most likely lead you to make many losses if you decide to stay on board with a radically different platform, one which your assets and investments are not designed for. 

Your investment thesis will now not be in an atmosphere where it can appropriately coordinate productive acumen. Rather, you may find yourself pitted against an alien system that does not accommodate to you and your counterpart’s desires and needs. 

You will then obviously want to start looking elsewhere for greener pastures. 

When it comes to money, you may often find that it runs your life. Not only are we always trying to make sure that we have enough of it to pay bills and generally keep our day to day life running too, but we often focus on how much we make and how we’re going to make more. But, this kind of thinking can often limit you. Because more often than not, you’re looking at ways to get more out of your pay packet. But that’s not the only way that you can make more money. Because you can actually get your money to work harder for you itself. Let’s take a look at how you can do that.

Start Something On The Side

Instead of staring at your pay cheque every month and wishing it was more, why don’t you work on making some extra money? Although you may not be ready for a promotion just you, you could definitely think about starting something on the side to get you that extra cash. Whether it’s something small and simple that earns you a bit more, or something that you put your all in to so that it will pay off one day, now’s the time to make it happen.

Maximize Your Savings

Next, you’re going to want to look at your savings account. Whether you’ve started saving yet or you’re just about to, you should always make sure that the money you have in the bank is earning you as much as possible. Whether you choose to tie some money up in the short term, look into tax-free savings options, or chase after the biggest interest rate you can find, it’s essential to make your savings work for you.

Get The Right Advice

Another thing that you should think about doing, is speaking to the right financial professionals. Because you might not know the best ways to get the most out the money you have, but someone such as Partridge Muir & Warren sure does. When you work with wealth managers and financial planners, you’ll know that they’re going to maximize the money you have to ensure it continues to grow.

Invest Wisely

Or maybe you’re looking at investing your money in other ways. Because working with traditional financial products isn’t the only option that you have. You may find that investing in the housing market works well for you, as an example. However, which avenue you do choose to take, you do need to ensure that you make the right decisions and invest wisely, so that you can make more with your money, not less.

Think First

And finally, another way that you can really ensure that you’re making you money work harder for you is to hold on to it for that little bit longer. It’s easy to think about spending money easily and freely, but when you’re giving it away, it’s not working for you at all. But, when you’re putting your money to good use, really thinking about each purchase, and ensuring that it’s spent well, then your money will always work harder for you.

If you’ve read Michael Lewis’ The Big Short (or seen the excellent movie) you’ll know that only a handful of people saw the housing market crash of 2007-2008 coming and made a tidy profit while the rest of the country (and, let’s face it, the world) floundered. Many experts currently insist that the housing market has stabilized and that property is still as sound an investment as you can get. That said, these vague assurances don’t cut the mustard for investors who’ve been stung in the last financial crash. Many are wondering how they can insulate themselves from further economic fallout should the market prove less stable than we’ve all hoped. After all, nobody saw the last collapse coming either…

While there’s no foolproof way of guaranteeing profit on a real estate investment (if there were everyone would be doing it), there are ways in which you can help to ensure your profits should you need to sell or protect your investment if you’ve got your sights set on longer term rentals.

Flipping a property? Beware of capital gains tax

The practice of flipping properties is becoming more and more commonplace with investors hoping to make relatively quick and easy money by buying property, making a few minor renovations and selling it at a profit. While this approach may work for some, it’s worth noting that state and federal capital gains taxes can take a serious chunk out of your deposit. If you need to sell quickly because you predict the market will take a turn for the worse this could adversely affect your plans. You can insulate yourself from this by re-investing in another like-kind property, perhaps a more stable area, with a 1031 exchange. This allows you to sidestep your tax liability on the property sold. If this isn’t for you, you may want to consider incorporating, turning your investment into a business and thereby reducing your personal liability. Corporations tend to pay less tax than private citizens when it comes to real estate transactions.

Go long on long term net leases

Flipping properties is all well and good, but seasoned property developers are all about the long game. Building a portfolio of properties and making passive income from them is not only a sensible and sustainable strategy but it’s also more likely to insulate investors from the whims of the market. Investment grade net lease real estate describes long term leases to tenants with good quality credit scores who are virtually guaranteed not to default on their rental payments and since the rental contracts are long term and the rental figure is established contractually, your risks are reduced and your rental income is protected over a period of 12 months or more. 

And finally, a little common sense

 A little common sense goes a long way. For example you can help yourself by resisting the urge to spend more than you can afford and (if you can) spread your risk by diversifying your portfolio by buying properties of different types in different areas. 

In the US, the average traditional funeral will cost between $7,000 to $10,000. This covers the cost of the plot, the service, and all of the paperwork which comes along with it. Most people want the best for themselves when they pass. So, it makes sense that it’s common for people to spend a lot of this finally purchase, and it isn’t a big problem. Of course, though, most people aren’t around to foot the bill when it comes to their own funeral. Instead, the family members surrounding them will have to cover it, and this can be a challenge. To solve this issue, this post will be helping you to find a good option to cover the costs of your funeral.

What Makes A Funeral So Expensive?

One of the most expensive aspects of a funeral is the legal proceedings which have to come along with it. Unfortunately, it isn’t a simple matter of burying someone and being done with it. A lawyer will have to be involved, and their fees won’t be cheap, especially if you don’t have anything in place already. Even splitting a will can be a costly event, but there’s no way to avoid it.

Along with the price you have to pay for legal help, the land, coffin, and other resources will all cost a pretty penny. Of course, though, there’s no way to avoid them. The service itself will have to be decorated, and food needs to be prepared, with all none of it being cheap, and most people will want to treat their guests as well as possible.

Finally, as the last fee to be paid, the funeral service and wake will also set you back, as you’ll have to pay for everyone’s time. The person conducting the service, the people behind the food, and everyone else will need to be paid for. Time isn’t cheap, and this is one of the most expensive parts of the whole affair.

Solving This Issue

Most people hate the idea of inflicting their family with this sort of pressure when they pass. Instead, you will probably prefer the idea of people having their lives made easier, being giving the chance to mourn you properly. Thankfully, there are several ways you can achieve an aim like this. Options like The Co-operative funeralcare take all of the stress away from your loved ones. Covering all of the costs, organizational tasks, and other little jobs which come with a funeral. Along with this, a lot of people will want to leave a good legacy for their family to enjoy. Life insurance is the best product for this, as it will guarantee a cash payout when you pass. Ideally, you have to start saving early with a scheme like this, though.

Hopefully, this post will give you a good idea of the different work you can do to avoid the costs of your funeral falling to those you love. It may feel morbid to consider this part of life before it comes. The difference you can make for your family is astronomical, though.

If you have a full-time job that you’re happy with, then quitting it cold turkey to start something new won’t be the dream for you. However, being able to make some more money alongside your job, and even being able to work part-time in your current role, may be the dream instead. So here are some investments that you could be making to make your financial future more secure, as well as allowing you to stop living from paycheck to paycheck. Have you considered any of them before?

Property Investment

When you’re a landlord, you will get some money in each month to hopefully, more than cover the costs of a mortgage on the property. So that is being paid for you and generating a little extra on the side. Plus, it means that you have a property in your name. If it means that in a couple of years time you need to sell it, then you can keep the value that has been added to the home in that time. You do need to check that all of the calculations do add up, though. So look for some housing investment hotspots  to find the best location, as well as working out what kind of mortgage you would be able to afford. If it all adds up to give you some money leftover at the end of the month, then it is something that can be easily done alongside another job.

Using Your Home

You can use property in another way to make money, rather in investing in other properties. So if you own your home, there are options for you. Sites like Airbnb can let you rent out rooms in your home. So if you have a spare room or travel quite frequently, this can be another way to get an income without having to do a lot. The same goes for hosting exchange students. It can be pretty easy money for nothing. You can also use your front yard space or the space on any vehicles you have, to rent out for advertising space. Small ad boards can be put up in your yard for passers by. It isn’t going to be big bucks, but some cash for doing very little can always be helpful.

Hobby Business From Home

If you have any other qualifications or hobbies that can generate some money, then that could be your source of additional income. If you’re qualified in fitness, for example, you could train clients via Skype when not in your full-time job. If you have a craft hobby, then during seasonal times, you could sell what you online or at craft fairs at the weekend. If you have a skill, then it is pretty likely that there will be someone who wants to pay for it. So think about what you can offer to others. You never know, it could always become an additional business or even something that you could eventually do that generates a lot of income.

When it comes to looking after your family, one of the most central aspects of that is also looking after their finances. Money is always going to be important in order for them to thrive, so it pays to think ahead as fr as possible and do whatever you can to keep them safe and sound financially. As it happens, there is plenty that you might want to think about in order to make sure that you are doing this as best as you can. In this post, we are going to look at some of the most sensible things you can possibly do in order to ensure that your family has the strongest possible financial future. Don’t overlook any of these.

Investments In Their Name

Having some kind of investment is a good idea for anyone, and it is likely to make a huge difference to your family's future too. No investment is a sure thing, but it doesn’t need to be a sure thing in order to be a sensible idea. Even if you only have a small amount spare to invest, you should do so. It doesn’t matter what amount you start with - the important thing is that you do start. Do that, and you can be sure of having greater and greater investments as time goes on - and then when the time comes, you will have much more to hand over to your children, and it will be safer than merely giving them cash too. Srt investing as soon as you can - you and your family will be glad that you did.

What About Life Insurance?

This next one is something that people commonly feel is up for debate. You might well ask the question: is life insurance a life or death matter? The truth is that having life insurance is always going to be a great way of giving you and your family a little more in the way of peace of mind. If you are keen to make the future as bright as possible for your children, then life insurance is the way to do so. But make sure that you shop around - don’t just go into the first policy you see. You need to be certain that you are getting exactly what you want from your life insurance, and that you can expect the payout to make it all worthwhile. Getting life insurance will surely make you feel much safer on behalf of your remaining surviving family, so it is definitely worthwhile.

The Most Important Gift Of All

There is one thing that is always going to have more value than anything else here, and that is teaching your children about money. If you are able to encourage them to live in a way which ensures their own safety in the future, then you have given them much more than by simply leaving them with cash to work with. This is something that takes many years to get right, but it is also incredibly valuable, so make sure that you spend some time teaching your kids the value of money - what to do and what not to do - before it’s too late.

Once you retire, that’s it. You’ll have left work and will no longer have a steady and reliable income to rely on every month. That is, of course, unless you return to work once you are past retirement age - but who wants to do that?! 

So, it’s imperative that you start saving for retirement right now, no matter how young you might be. That’s the best way to ensure that you will have as much in your retirement as possible. 

Unfortunately, the future isn’t always plain sailing, and you never know when you might run into problems during retirement. There are various reasons why you might need to take more out of your retirement pot than expected, from expensive medical bills to emergency home repairs. Hopefully, if you use all of the following tips, you will be able to squeeze as much as possible from your retirement fund and won’t have any problem affording the unexpected.

Consider Downsizing

Once you retire, you probably won’t need such a large house anymore, especially if your children have all grown up and flown the nest. So, it’s worth downsizing. You might even like the idea of relocating to a retirement community so that you are closer to others who are in the same phase of life as you. Once you sell your home, you can add the funds to your retirement pot so that you have a little more to live on each month.

Be Realistic About Making Cuts

Once you do leave work, you will need to start making some cuts to your expenses. You will no longer be able to make any frivolous purchases, as these will be eating into your retirement pot. So, it’s a good idea to take a look at your budget to see how you are currently spending your money. Can you stop some expenses and regular purchases? If so, your retirement savings will certainly go a lot further!

Hide Some Extra Savings Away

If possible, you should try and make two saving pots. One that you will regularly use once you retire, and one with some extra savings that you should try and hardly touch. That way, you will have some savings behind you even through your retirement. You can use these savings whenever you need any emergency money or for those times you just want to treat yourself and your family!

Find Life Insurance

Your life insurance coverage won’t benefit you directly, but it will help your spouse if you are to die before them. When you do die, the insurance will pay out to your spouse or another named next of kin. This will give them some support once they are no longer receiving your pension package. Of course, it’s worth bearing in mind that some pensions continue paying out to spouses after the individual’s death.

As you can see, getting as much out of your retirement fund as possible isn’t completely impossible - and all of these tips can help you do just that!

Owning real estate is a considerable investment. But, often it’s money just sat there. You live in your home, it’s worth a lot of money, yet when you need cash, there’s no flow coming from your biggest asset. The cost of living is rising all of the time; food costs increase, fuel costs more and utilities are expensive, and unfortunately, many of us are looking for some extra cash. So, why not find ways to make money from your home?

Get a Lodger

If you’ve got a spare room, a lodger is an excellent way of making a regular income without really having to do a lot. Many young people struggle to afford rent on their own and certainly couldn’t afford a large apartment. So, renting a room in a family house is a great option. Look online to get started. 

Rent Out a Parking Space

This one is especially useful if you live in a city center where parking spaces are both expensive and hard to find. If you’ve got a drive or even garage that you don’t use, rent them to someone as a parking space. 

Rent Out Space

If you don’t like the idea of someone living in your spare room, how about renting it out as storage space? Many people living in smaller homes struggle for storage, and private storage firms can be very expensive long-term. Offer an affordable alternative.

Buy to Let

Becoming a landlord and letting out a home can be a great money spinner and appeals to many. It’s a significant investment in the short-term but can quickly repay itself in rent. Learn more before you get started, but you may be surprised by how easy it can be. If you can afford the initial investment, then it can be well worthwhile.

Create a B&B

Instead of getting a lodger, why not turn your spare room into a B&B? This is a great way to make money, lets you meet interesting new people and can be good fun. Many people go on to quit their jobs because they love running a B&B that much. Give the room a good makeover and make sure you’ve got a suitable space for breakfast. The rest of the home remains private.

Hold a Yard Sale

Your possessions can make money too. Have a good de-clutter and sell everything you don’t want. This can earn you some extra cash and leave your home feeling much tidier and fresher. 

Become a Film Set

Filmmakers and photographers are always on the lookout for natural sets for their work. You can make a lot of money by offering your home out in this way. There’s a growing trend towards moving away from sets and out onto location so you could get a lot of work. Film companies will pay if they need any changes made and for any repairs needed afterward. This is an especially good earner if your home is in a popular area or in some way unique. 

There are many ways to make money from your home and your possessions. Think about what’s best for you and your family and get started. You could be sitting on a goldmine.

Money management can be very stressful but only if you over-complicate it. Having a well-organized system for keeping an eye on your expenditures and income is the best way to ensure you can live within your means and not end up in any dangerous financial situations. Of course, unexpected costs and bills can arise but if you’re smart about the way in which you manage and save your money then you should have a nice safety net in place for even the most unpredictable emergency.

Perhaps this sounds great to you in theory but you’re not sure how to put good money management strategies into practice. Perhaps you’re already in a tough financial situation and you don’t know how to pull yourself out of that downward spiral. You shouldn’t panic because anybody can recover from even the worst hit to their finances. Here are some money management techniques that will help you to make looking after your accounts far simpler.

Start budgeting

It’s an obvious piece of advice that the majority of us forget to follow. It sounds like it’d be time-consuming and exhausting to do but if you create a strong monthly budgetary plan today then you’re set for life. You might have to make tiny changes to it now and then when circumstances change in your lifestyle but the point is that making a budget doesn’t have to be as complicated or exhausting as you might imagine. Start by noting down the costs of all your monthly necessities; rent, petrol, food, and other bills. Then make a note of your monthly earnings. The money left over is your disposable income but anybody who manages their money smartly knows that this doesn’t have to equate to “spending money”.

The key thing is that you have some sort of budgetary plan in place. You could head over to https://www.doughroller.net/budgeting/is-the-50-20-30-budget-a-good-rule-of-thumb/ to get inspiration from the 50/20/30 rule; 50% of your income goes towards necessities, 20% goes towards savings, and 30% goes towards luxuries. Of course, what you have to understand is that everybody’s financial situation is different; depending on your work, home life, and fees or bills that you have to pay, you might have to develop a different budget to suit your needs and spending ability. As we’ve explained before, you need to sort out your debts before anything else, so ‘luxury spending’ is something that you should put on hold if you owe money; otherwise, you’ll keep putting off debt repayments and continue to owe more and more money.

Build up an emergency fund

It’s so important to focus on savings in life. You don’t have to save all of your disposable income, of course, but you should put aside a good portion of it on a regular basis, as mentioned above. It isn’t enough to just put a little bit of change in a jar now and then; that’s a good idea but it isn’t going to provide a sizeable savings fund for you and your family. Make sure you put aside a portion of your earnings into a savings account every month (or even every week) so as to ensure you keep on top of building up your safety net for a rainy day.

Reduce expenses

As mentioned earlier, you can save a lot of money in life simply by practicing restraint towards all the luxuries you want to buy. That doesn’t mean you should never treat yourself to anything again but you should try the 30-day rule. If you see something expensive in a shop and find yourself drooling over it, leave it for 30 days. If you still want it after that time has passed then you can buy it; if you’ve forgotten all about that item then you probably never wanted it. Again, as mentioned when we discussed budgeting, just make sure you always live within your means. Keep track of how much disposable income you have available each month.

Of course, reducing your expenses can extend towards necessities as well as luxuries. Start looking towards the money you spend at home as well as away from home when you want to reduce your monthly expenses. For example, as suggested over at http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/money/advice, you can save a lot of money on your energy bills every day by simply taking a few seconds out of your day to turn off appliances at the power source. It wastes a small amount of electricity on a constant basis (which adds up to a lot of money every year) if you leave things turned on at the wall when they’re still plugged in (even if you turn your TV off on the device, energy is still running to it from the wall).  Small changes such as limiting showering time and insulating your house better to trap heat are also ways to reduce your utility bills. Think about the amount of water and electricity you waste on a daily basis if you want to start reducing your expenses.

The main problem with living in a household with an entire family is that it’s almost impossible to keep the place maintained. It’s hard enough to keep a home maintained with one or two adults living in it but when you introduce children to the living situation then it becomes even harder. You can try your best to plan ahead and buy a home with an extra bedroom in case you have more children in the future but you have to remember that your existing kids are going to keep getting bigger and clumsier as they get older.

It’s only a matter of time before the household becomes cramped and starts to fall apart at the seams. Of course, you don’t have to simply “make do” with what you’ve got. There are always ways to give your family a more spacious household and they don’t have to be quite as costly as you might imagine. Here are some solutions for the cramped family home that won’t bust your bank account.

Moving on

Before we get started, there’s always the possibility that your home is beyond repair. You need to make this assessment based on space more than anything else. If there’s no potential to make your home bigger for the whole family even if you had a big clear-out (perhaps there’s going to be a new addition to the family and you don’t have any spare rooms) then moving home might be the best solution to your situation.

Moving doesn’t have to be costly either; it’s all about making sure you use the earnings from the sale of your current property to fund your move to a better one. You might want to click here for a quick solution way to sell your home at a good value. This doesn’t have to be an arduous and drawn-out process and it could end up being far more cost-effective than making huge changes to your existing house just to accommodate your growing family. Of course, there are other costs to consider such as removal teams and maintenance costs but you can take that into consideration with regards to the asking price of your future home.

DIY repairs

If you think your home has the capacity to house your entire family comfortably if you make some changes then it’s time to assess the place. Think back to the way your household looked when you first moved in. You were most likely impressed by the state of it back then (you must have been if you were willing to move into the property). The point is that there’s always the potential to restore your home back to its original appearance and to make some improvements if anything. You just need to put your DIY hat on and inspect each room of the house to figure out which things need fixing.

Things such as faded carpets can really ruin the interior of your home but they’re easy and very economical to fix with patching. You don’t always have to re-carpet the room if there are only small frays or stains. With regards to other common problems such as a dingy bathroom or a dilapidated kitchen, small repairs can make all the difference. Re-tiling bathroom walls is possible if you watch a few YouTube tutorials, and you’d be surprised by the difference it can make to repaint your kitchen cabinets. Start lifting the aesthetic of your house.

Spaciousness

The most important focus of this article is space. You feel cramped in your family home and you want to improve that. Of course, your house might already be more spacious than you realize; it’s all about achieving that aesthetic and appearance of space so that everybody feels more comfortable. Changing aspects of interior design, such as putting up more mirrors, can really make rooms feel bigger. Decluttering the house and having a yard sale for all the things you no longer need can obviously make the house more spacious on a practical level too. You should be striving for minimalism.

To ‘adult’ is to do everything expected of you as an adult. It is to do things like both earn and save your money. Is to do things such as put down money on a mortgage. It is do things such as contribute to a retirement pension or fund. But just because you have to do these things to properly ‘adult’, it doesn't mean you can’t seek help when it comes to doing them. No, you don’t have to ‘adult’ alone, and you can find those that are willing to help you do it below.

Get help with debt

Debt is something that many adults out there are stricken with or are struck with at some point. But just because debt can strike easily, it doesn’t mean it can't be overcome just was easily. And the first thing to do to overcome debt with ease is to ask for help in regards to it; and the first service that you should ask for help is a debt consolidation agency — the best of which can be found here: debtconsolidationprograms.co. What such an agency would do is consolidate your debts in a way that makes them all payable in one lump sum, rather that at different times. What this can help you do as you ‘adult’ your way through life is give you the time needed to sort your finances out and give you some breathing space in regards to the paying of different debts.

It is estimated that eighty percent of people are in debt today — that’s huge amount. And to stop yourself from being added to this huge amount, make sure you do all you can to stay debt free. And the best way to do this is to seek help in regards to it.

Image source

Get professional financial advice

Getting yourself a professional financial advisor is one of the best thing you can to do successfully circumvent the world of finance as you ‘adult’ your way through it. They offer support and advice on a number of different things. They can help de-jargon economic trends as well as what you are, and what you are not, meant to be regulatory charged for. They help to teach you of all the risks attached to any deals you enter it. They can help you in successfully saving and planning for your retirement. And they can point you in the right direction in regards to what you should be paying into, what you have to be paying into, and what you should avoid paying into. 

Unfortunately to be an adult you must enter the world of finance — that is unavoidable. What you can do to ease these pressures, however, is get yourself a professional financial advisor. 

Image source

‘Adulting’ is a tough job, but it’s a job we must do — whether we want to or not. So, just get on with it make your years of adulthood the best and most fruitful of your life. By doing so, your retired self will thank you greatly!

Did you know that an estimated eighty percent of people in the country today are in debt? Over seventy percent will die in it with amounts owed exceeding sixty thousand. You can read more about that on marketwatch.com. Those are some crazy statistics, and it means that the advice we’re going to offer shouldn’t fall on deaf ears. Instead, you should use it to your advantage, ensuring that if you are in debt, you can handle the situation effectively. We think that the situations that you're in can be summed up with three distinct categories.

Green

People in the amber group are overspending and living past their means. They are probably borrowing more than they should be to pay for luxuries but are definitely not in a dire situation. Instead, the issue is just building without them really realizing. Right now, they can still complete a course correction with minimum effort. If you’re in this situation, all you need to do is pay off any debt that you already owe and then make sure you’re living on a budget. That way, you’ll be able to make sure you can avoid borrowing too much in the future which is exactly what you want. 

The green group are in debt, but they typically have good enough jobs that they can manage it easily enough. However, they are certainly not in a position to handle an issue like a redundancy, and that can plunge them into amber alert. 

Amber

If you’re in Amber, the debt has already built to a level that you can handle. This might be due to the fact that you have lost your job or you are living on a lower income. Single parents often find themselves in amber because providing for kids is far more difficult without the benefits of an extra paycheck. Amber actually happens to the best of us, and we don’t always see it coming. When you’re in this position, your best option is to look for a debt relief program. Various companies and organizations offer debt relief, and you can compare options on debtreliefprogram.co. There you’ll also find helpful advice and handy tips to avoid debt. This is going to help you manage your debt and get out. You’ve got a long road ahead, but you will survive and bounce back. It just takes a little hard work. 

The problem here is that most people in amber don’t recognize or don’t want to admit that they have a problem. Avoiding the issue is the worst thing you can do in this situation. 

Red

If you’ve reached red, you might not be able to recover from your debt, even with assistance. It’s at this point, you need to think about selling your assets to pay off what you can and then filing for bankruptcy. With legal help, you can avoid debt destroying your life, although it will seem like it at the time. Don’t worry, you can get through this, and the hardest part about reaching red is that it puts you back to square one. However, if you think positively this can be seen as a fantastic opportunity to start again and do things right. That way, you can join the twenty percent of people who aren’t kept up at night thinking about money.

Probably the worst nightmare of a small business is getting a negative review of the business or some infuriating complaint on the social media where all other social networking friends will be able to see the message. Although such fears can be overrated, but 70% of the consumers are of the opinion that they rely on online reviews more whenever they find both negative and positive ones. So, you can well understand that the requirement to handle your online reputation is necessary.

But what are the ways in which you can handle your online reputation? Should you just adopt a reputation management strategy which can help you deal with your online reputation? What does such a strategy entail? Let’s take a look at the few steps to take.

Keep a close watch on what people online are saying about you

With such large numbers of blogs, social networking sites and review sites out there, you might feel it’s impossible to track your online reputation. There are several tools which help you in tracking several websites, including blogs and social networking sites and monitor each and every mention of your business. You get alerts of both positive and negative reviews regarding your business. This way you will know what is being said about you. 

Negative reviews and comments should be responded instantly

Rather than ignoring a customer, you should always respond to the customers as this is good for shaping a good reputation for your business. According to a survey, 35% of people who were responded by the company after they left a negative review later on wrote a positive review, 36% deleted whatever they wrote in the negative review and 20% later on became loyal and reliable customers of the business. So, it clearly implies that unsatisfied customers are just waiting to be heard. Of course, you might want some training when it comes to shaping your reputation and knowing how to respond to negative reviews, which is where a reputation management agency would be able to help you. 

Stop being defensive when you reply back to negative comments

While it is vital that you respond to criticism and other negative comments immediately, that doesn’t mean that you will post anything that comes to your mind. When someone speaks ill about your business, it’s natural that you might feel infuriated but don’t let the world see your anger. You shouldn’t be dealing with anger online. Instead, you may begin to apologize and later on take the issue offline.

Sent positive vibes and getting proactive

It is vital for you to be proactive instead of being reactive, especially as long as your business’ image is concerned. Take a strict charge of your online presence. Make sure you design a good quality business website. You can make use of Lighthouse 360 which automatically requests for reviews once some specific job is completed. These will play a role in formulating a positive impact for your business. 

Therefore, if you’re someone who is all set to start off your business online, make sure you opt for the best reputation management strategy which entails all the above mentioned steps. Keep your customers happy to keep moving forward.

Getting a mortgage can be difficult. Banks are much less willing to lend large sums of money than they used to be and want more reassurances when they do. Customers now have to prove not only their income but also their expenditure and the source of that income. Those who flit from job to job, never staying too long in the same place struggle to be awarded a mortgage, as banks don’t trust their income to be consistent. And for those who are self-employed, it can be even harder. Especially if they are also a first-time buyer. If you are in this situation and worried about applying for a mortgage, here is what you need to do.

Save 

One thing that will help you to get a mortgage when you are self-employed is having a significant deposit saved. This way, you’ll be asking for much less, and you’ll be able to prove that you are good with money and able to save substantial amounts. 

Pay Off Debts

Saving is great. But if you’ve got debts it’s a little counterproductive. If you are in a position to save money, make sure that you use it to pay off your debts, before starting to build a deposit. 

This way there is less going against you when you prepare your application.

However, if you have got small debts, such as credit cards or loans, don’t feel like a mortgage is out of reach. As long as you’re not missing payments and have a good credit score, it’s still worth applying.

Find the Right Property

Look at homes for sale to find one that you love. But, make sure you stick to a budget and are sensible in your choice. 

Keep Records

When you are self-employed, banks want to see evidence of everything. It’s easy to lie about your income or expenditure, so banks are perhaps slightly miss-trustful of those that declare their own income. Keep all of your invoices and receipts and use spreadsheets to track everything. You could even hire an accountant to make sure it’s all correct and give the bank some reassurance. Keep everything organized and take all of your records to any meetings about a mortgage.

You also need to be careful with your tax deductions. To pay less tax, it’s tempting to put anything you can on your deductions. But, this could make it seem like you earn less than you actually do when it comes to applying for a mortgage. Instead, find ways to maximize your income. 

Wait

Most banks will want at least two years financial records for a self-employed person. This could be more, depending on your business and income. So, wait. If you are having trouble, spend another year working hard and keeping invoices before trying again.

Buy with Someone

Another option is buying with someone else. If you are married and your partner works, you could even consider taking out a mortgage solely in their name.

Buying a house when you are self-employed is by no means impossible. You’ll just need to take your time, be careful and make the right decisions and you’ll soon be living in the home of your dreams.