Category Archives for Uncategorized

Trying to Beat ‘The House’

The following post is by Jade Anderson. Enjoy! 

‘The House’ sounds a bit like something out of Downton Abbey or Pride and Prejudice, where everyone looks beautiful, plays with an unfair advantage, and always come out on top.

The House is the business behind the gambling games such as poker, roulette, blackjack, and any number of other activities designed to keep you guessing and keep you playing. The house is used to convince gamblers and players that they have a chance to make a lot of money by putting down their own hard cash first.

Sometimes they do, there are stories which talk about players who strike gold and usually these are invented as a means of encouraging others to part with their hard earned cash. There are some players who really do beat ‘the house’ but this is usually long after they have invested a huge amount of time, energy and money into the game and by this time, they probably haven’t made a huge profit out of it.

Who Beats ‘The House’ ?

More often than not, The House wins. The gambler loses every penny they bet with, and comes away with less than they had to start with. Take slot machines, for example; with these games, the idea is that you feel you are betting a small amount each time. And you are, but it soon adds up! Combine that with the fact that winning that big score on one of these machines can be as high as one in 34 million, and you can see that The House definitely has the advantage.

Statistics aren’t pretty for beating the house in other games either. Statistics for roulette, for blackjack, and for poker all conclude that you have as much as a 70 per cent chance of losing when playing against the house.

How Do I Beat it?

There have been those who had tried to beat The House by coming up with ingenious systems based on complicated maths, card counting, and even using good luck charms or special routines. The problem with all of these, however, is that if they work at all, they only work for a little while. There is always the chance of losing everything, and ending up with less money than you had at the beginning.

Free Play

There is, however, one fool proof way to beat The House. It might sound too simple. It might sound impossible. But it is neither – and it really works! The best and most reliable way to beat the house, to not lose any money at all (and potentially walk away with winnings), is to play for free…

These days there’s not a lot you can get for nothing, but it is entirely possible to play a real, engaging and fun game of poker for no outlay whatsoever! So if anything suggest you can’t possibly beat The House, just tell them, you could always play for free! Free play is the best way to improve your skills and chances of success!

Five Kinds of Forex Brokers

The following is a guest post. Enjoy! 

When entering the Forex trading field, it is important to learn about the different types of Forex brokers, in order to make knowledgeable choices in your trading and investments. Some Forex brokers are legitimate and regulated by official regulation bodies, while others aren’t regulated and are actually illegal.

Even though different Forex brokers can offer similar services, it is recommended to understand their working methods and policies, because they can differentiate and the trade will be affected as a result. For example, different Forex brokers have different access levels to the market; some are more connected than others.

Here are five types of Forex Brokers:

1. Institutional brokers – direct access to the interbank market; there are approximately 200 such banks. It is irrelevant for most traders because it’s unavailable for individual traders. Since only banks have this direct access, if a broker claims to have such access, it is highly recommended to ask for hard evidence.
2. Institutional market maker brokers – suitable for novice traders. Compared to retail brokers, they have more direct access to the Forex market, but they require larger trades to grant this access.
3. Retail market maker brokers – the most popular type of broker, and the best option for beginning Forex traders. Even though it’s the same type of broker, the services, methods, and policies vary depending on the broker.
4. Bucket shop broker – isn’t connected to the market, and makes his profit by betting against traders. This type of broker isn’t regulated and therefore isn’t recommended in order to make legitimate trades.
5. Bookmaker broker – illegal in the US as well as in other countries. The method of this type of broker is taking spreads to make a profit, unlike the bucket shop broker’s method of betting against the traders.

New Year’s Resolution: Develop a Savings Plan

The following is a guest post. Enjoy! 

If you are looking for a great opportunity to start being more financially aware, the New Years is a great time to do so. Although in truth, it is always a good time to start saving and panning, often times people enjoy the idea of starting fresh when the year is new. However, if your New Year’s resolution is to start saving more money, you need to assure that you have an actual plan in place. Having a plan will allow you to keep on pace, while hitting milestones along the way. And if you keep on that pace for the entire year, you’ll be able to look back when the year is over and be proud of the financial savings that you made. Here are some ways that you can develop a savings plan for your New Year’s resolution, in order to have more money when the year is up.

Budget

The first thing that you can do to better prepare yourself for setting aside a savings plan, is to set up a budget. Setting up a budget in the middle of the year can seem intimidating, so at the beginning of the year, you have no reason to not set one up. For your budget, factor in all of your monthly expenses that you can’t avoid. This includes living costs, transportation and food. Then take a look at all of your extra costs, such as cable, clothes, going out with friends, or anything else that could be cut back on to save more money. Once you have everything laid out for what you spend monthly, subtract that from what you make from your job on a monthly basis. You can then adjust how much you spend, and where you spend it, accordingly to how much you want to save.

Have a Set Number

You should have a set financial number as a goal that you’d like to save by the end of the year. You can then break that down to a monthly goal, and then even as far as a daily goal. In doing this, you can have a better idea of how much money you can spend and save on a daily basis. Also with this, you can get an idea of how you may need to make up for days that you spend too much, by spending less on other days. It doesn’t hurt to overestimate this goal either, as you can then prepare for financial issues that may come your way. After all, things happen and you sometimes have no choice but to pay for them.

Avoid Pressure to Spend

If you get a tax return during tax season, it can be a great financial gain. However, don’t feel pressured to go out and spend that money. Instead, consider how you can put it aside so that it can add to your savings. This is the same if you get a raise at work or a bonus. You should consider the fact that if you can make it by on a certain amount each month, there is no need to change that number just because you get a break. Instead, consider how that money could be better added to your savings goals.

Stay Away From Credit Card Debt

One way that people try and save cash, is by taking out credit cards and using the money that is allocated on there. This can be a bit tricky, as you see your bank account start to rise and don’t comprehend the amount of money that you are actually racking up on your credit cards. Instead, try and stay away from spending tons on your credit cards. Instead, use them only when necessarily and try your hardest to pay them off as quickly as possible. Some credit cards can be beneficial, especially if they offer cash back rewards, it can add to even more savings, but if you don’t pay them off then you are looking at some serious interest rates that could cut into your financial plans.

Saving money can be hard and a challenge for some people. After all, if it was easy, then everyone would be doing it and they’d have a better idea of financial management. However, by simply planning out one year in advance, you can make some serious improvements in your own financial standing. And the best part is that after you make these changes for one year, you’ll be surprised to find out how quickly the habits become normal and become a part of your yearly routine. But in order to get on the right path, you have to get started now. Consider the tips listed here for better financial management and to develop a savings plan for the future.

Utilize January To Get Your Financial House In Order

January is a good time to recover from the hectic holiday season and get yourself on track for the financial year ahead of you.

Below are 3 good steps to take to help you get your financial house in order for the New Year:

1.      Organize Your Financial Filing System

If you’re like a lot of folks, the months of November and December always seem like one big blur. Everyone hurries to get all their projects and school exams completed before the Thanksgiving break. Then, after Thanksgiving rolls through, it seems like you’re half way to Christmas, which brings a whole new level of busyness in and of itself!

Essentially, what all of this hustle and bustle often results in is an Inbox full of receipts, financial statements, doctor visit bills, utility receipts, etc that need to be filed in your financial filing system.

Well, January is a perfect time to clear off that desk and get this stuff put away where it needs to be! Not only will this step improve your sanity, but it can ensure you know where all your records are in preparation for producing that data for tax return season.

2.      Implement an Effective Strategy for Credit Card Debt Payoff

Another good action item to embark upon in January is implementing an effective strategy for paying off any high interest credit card debt. For example, if you have a manageable level of debt that can be paid off within 6-12 months, it might make sense for you to look for a new 0% balance transfer offer credit card.

Or, if you are having trouble meeting your monthly payments, it is good to stay in communication with the credit card company to let them know your situation vs. just staying quiet and then surprising them with a default later on.

3.      Develop a Strategy for Investing Your Money

A last step to take during the first month of each New Year is to plan out your investment strategy for the year. For example, think about what tax bracket you will be in for the coming year. Once you have an estimation, you can then deploy a strategy for where to invest your money in tax-free (Roth IRA, Roth 401k), taxable (regular accounts), or tax-deferred (Traditional 401k, IRA) accounts. This will enable you to effectively manage your tax bracket both in the present day and also when you are in retirement.

When is it Good to Consider Selling Your Structured Settlements?

The following is a guest post. Enjoy!

Before we go into the selling, let us first get a brief idea about structured settlements. Monetary reimbursements are quite common nowadays in the event of winning a legal case (accidental, occupational or personal) or in any other situation where the plaintiff can be entitled to compensation. Often the plaintiff’s legal counsel or the insurance company that is paying the compensation will recommend the amount to be paid in regular installments throughout a long span of time instead of a large lump sum amount straightaway. This is quite a good strategy as it provides for a regular income source. This modulated and periodic payment of money, either monthly or annually, over a span of around 10 to 20 years, or even in some cases, the rest of the beneficiary’s life, is called structured settlement.

Selling Structured Settlements

Though structured settlements are a good, dependable source of income, there might come up other situations which demand a large sum of money. It could be pending medical bills, hefty bank loans with the interest building up every day or any other kind of emergency. In times like this you can consider your structured settlement as a kind of financial asset. You can find enough buyers in the market to sell it off for a lump sum amount of cash. These buying companies will pay you a large amount of cash in exchange for the regular modulated income of the structured settlement, usually at some discount.

This discount is the percentage by which the amount they are paying you will be less than the total amount of the remaining settlements.

Why to sell?

• Suppose you have been engaged in a legal battle for years. After fighting for a long time, you do win it and the court gives you compensation in the form of structured settlements. But the legal bills have piled up high, there is already a mortgage on your house and all your savings are depleted. At this time, it would be greatly useful to have a lump sum amount of money in your hands so that you can get rid of all the bills and pay off all the loans and start afresh. You can get that by selling your settlement incomes. You will get YOUR money, IMMEDIATELY.
• In case of an elderly plaintiff, it is often a more profitable option to sell off your settlement, as, even with the discount, it is possible that you would get more money straightaway, than with all the settlements that you would receive for your remaining life.
• With the rate of the money going down due to inflation, it is better to sell off your settlement, as whatever monthly amount you are receiving at the moment, might not be worth as much after some years go by.

There are probably more reasons to sell off your settlements, but you should be the best judge of that. Get good legal advice and wisely choose the correct option, be it to sell or not to sell.

What Constitutes a Millionaire in Today’s World?

The following is a guest post. Enjoy!

Things have changed so much on the financial landscape in recent years that even having a million pounds in the UK doesn’t really qualify you to be a true “millionaire,” at least in the historically-typified sense.

A million pound fortune used to be the benchmark of life-changing wealth not so long ago, but now, you might even be classified an impoverished millionaire, if that was remotely possible, unless you had at least £3 Million stuffed away in cash and assets.

In just a single decade, the value of money in real-terms has eroded so that the £1 Million stash you had in 2003 would now have to be £1.3 Million to keep pace with your wealthy counterparts. At least if you are a mere middle-class property owner in London, you might yet get the chance to join the exclusive club when you sell up, as there is an estimated £5.5 Trillion of cash tied up in property assets.

Being a millionaire used to mean you could probably afford to buy a house anywhere in the world if you wanted but in some parts of London that sum of money might not even buy you the parking rights to a home that is definitely off-limits for poorer millionaires.

The 2013 Sunday Times Rich List now has 88 billionaires, compared to 77 the previous year, so spare a thought for the mere millionaires who have to contend with someone looking down on them despite their supposedly wealthy lifestyle.

Your Mobile eCommerce Kit

The following is a guest post. Enjoy! 

While a good chunk of eCommerce happens online, you can’t ignore the opportunities that conventions, fairs, farmers markets and festivals can offer your business. While you may only get to one or two of these a year, it’s still important to present a professional and organized appearance so you can turn the impulse shoppers you meet on the road into regular customers at your online shop. It doesn’t matter if you are vending at a major convention or setting up a table at a local church craft show, there are few things you need to have to make sure you are successful.

Display Must-Haves

A large part of marketing at events comes from how you set up your display. You don’t always know what you’ll have available at a given site. You might be provided with a table and wall space, or you might just have a designated section of grass. Do your best to find out beforehand, but always bring a few essentials with you. While you can expand on this depending on the type of products you sell, the absolute minimum you must have are a solid colored tablecloth, blanket or length of fabric, a basket, string and tacks, and a folding table. You will eventually want to invest in a professional banner or sign that can easily be set up.

Payment Options

The vast majority of customers, even at events that are traditionally cash-only, prefer to use credit or debit cards. Some venues require all vendors to provide electronic sales option. For example, the Portland Farmers Market requires all vendors to accept not only debit and credit cards, but also EBT payments for programs like the Farm Direct Nutrition Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Even it isn’t required by the venue, it’s a good idea to have a mobile credit card reader and a credit card receipt printer with you. This way you will be sell to more customers, and assure them of the professionalism of your business.

The Back-up Plan

No matter how well you plan ahead, you cannot rely on having Internet access or functional devices. Even if the WiFi signal or your cell service is good, the website you are relying on to process transactions may go down or become impossibly slow. Similarly, you may run out of power halfway through the day and be unable to recharge your device. Or, worse, it might be damaged, stolen or misplaced. You should always bring along what you need to complete any transactions manually. This means having a ledger to record transactions, a receipt pad and plenty of pens. Fortunately, most of these items can be stored in the bottom of your cash box against the eventual need.

Taking your online business out of your house is a great way to drum up new business. By participating in local fairs and events, you can connect your small business with the community at large. By presenting a professional and competent appearance at these events, you can strengthen your businesses presence and reputation.

Are Banning Referral Fees Is Effective?

The following is a guest post. Enjoy! 

As of April 2013, referral fees in the personal injury sector have become illegal. Previously, when a personal injury occurred, the claimant would find legal help through a third party or middleman. This would usually be a claims management company or insurer. They would then receive a generous payment for their pains.

The government decided to outlaw these fees because they feel they push up costs and encourage a compensation culture in the UK. Between 2012 and 2013, 477,000 whiplash claims were made. In fact, compared with the EU, the UK makes 30% more whiplash claims. Are British necks softer? No. It’s thought that ‘ambulance chasing’ in this country had increased the amount of spurious claims, and this was fueled by referral fees.

The government hoped this would also pan out to halt pest texts and cold callers. But with the industry priced at £600m, nobody wants to put them out of business altogether.

On the flipside, these referral companies have actually increased the access to justice for many. And ‘no win, no fee’ solicitors have little incentive to take on weak or spurious cases.

How Effective Will The Ban Be On Reducing Personal Injury Claims?

It’s likely that there will be little to no effect. All this has done is forced referral fees to go underground. Referral fees actually have no fixed definition, so it’s entirely possible to outsource ‘marketing’ to another company and pay them in kind. Alternative business structures will appear left, right, and center.

How You Can Make A Personal Injury Claim

If you have suffered a personal injury, don’t let the government stop you from accessing the justice you deserve.

Start by amassing the evidence for your case. This could mean gathering photographs or taking down the details of witnesses. Make sure that you get the proof you need to pursue your case. This will also mean going straight to your doctor, even if you think the injuries are minor, and receiving a diagnosis.

Find a personal injury law firm – which specializes in your type of injury – that you like, and gives you a good quote. They should be able to kick off the proceedings for you, while you convalesce at home. Sometimes, you can secure compensation, without having to go to court; in fact, the majority of cases are settled this way.

However, before you can pursue your case any further, you will have to get reasonably well. Focus on your health, follow all of your doctor’s instructions, and relax. You may have to take time off work, so remember to take note of how much wages you lose through this. It may be possible to recover this sum, on top of personal injury compensation.

The government can hope to reduce personal injury figures, but if accidents happen, people are likely to lose out financially. And not everyone can afford that.

The Negative Effects of Money Laundering

The following is a guest post. Enjoy! 

Money laundering is the process of disguising the source of money that has been obtained unlawfully and it has significant negative effects on people and the economy. Research has shown that several hundred billion pounds of illegal money is laundered every year and the impact this has on countries across the world can be very serious.

Socio-Cultural Effects

The current success of people who engage in money laundering gives the impression that crime can actually pay, which only serves to encourage more criminal activity such as fraud, selling drugs and corporate embezzlement. Embezzlement can lead to the loss of jobs and pensions when a company collapses, which in turn impacts on people’s health and the welfare system.

As drug-related crime increases, the police force and other emergency services find their resources being stretched to breaking point, which puts pressure on the tax system and the burden all too often falls on the shoulders of everyday working people.

There can also be a loss of morale and desire to engage in competitive trading amongst legitimate business owners who are unable to make the same amount of money that criminals can.

Additionally, further tension around the subject exists in the business community as a result of legitimate and law-abiding business owners finding themselves the subject of anti-money-laundering investigations. Those concerned about any current or potential investigation should speak with money laundering criminal lawyer.

Economic Effects

Developing countries are often cited as victims of money laundering organisations based in the developed world. This is due to the fact that many of these countries have governments that are in the early stages of establishing practices and regulations for newly privatized financial sectors. This leaves them vulnerable and at risk of unknowingly attracting and assisting criminals who deposit money into national financial institutions.

When rumors start to make local customers question the integrity of their bank and the safety of their savings, they often withdraw their money and this can cause banks to collapse and create instability in the market.

Influxes of laundered money into sections of the economy that are specifically targeted by criminals can create a false demand. This leads to an adjustment in economic policy, which can have devastating effects on the economy of a county when the laundered money is withdrawn from the market due to police pressure and criminal investigations deterring the practice.

Laundering money can also remove competition from the market as this money is usually untaxed, so businesses that act as a legitimate front for those who are laundering money can afford to sell their goods much more cheaply than their law-abiding competitors. Primarily, their concern is moving large amounts of illicit money through a business such as a laundry-mat or car wash, so they are not usually concerned with making the business successful.

Research has shown clear links between money laundering, drug-trafficking and terrorism, so tackling this problem may have a beneficial impact in terms of reducing levels of crime and violence.

Starting The Holidays With $500 Thanksgiving Football Kickoff Promotion

The following is a guest post. Enjoy! 

One of the busiest weeks is right around the corner, and also functions as the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season.  The kickoff includes one of the biggest days in North American football, followed by one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Thanksgiving is one of the most celebratory holidays for families across the US, who get together to share stories, eat turkey, and of course watch football.  The viewing audience of turkey day football games is among the highest in the NFL, often rivaling the viewership of playoff games or even the Superbowl.

Following a day of enjoying hard-hitting tackles and a delicious turkey dinner, the next part of the holiday focuses on Black Friday – itself among the largest holiday sales days in the entire year.  Retailers slash their prices on outgoing products in what is considered the first of many shopping days ahead of the holiday season at the end of December.

Black Friday is a great opportunity to find discounts on popular holiday gifts, but it can also prove very expensive.  Many people will charge hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars to their credit cards without thinking twice, beginning a large holiday shopping balance that could take months to pay off in full.

But the day can prove to be a little more affordable for families who know their football.