Need it? Want it? Five Tips to Help You Be Honest with Yourself

April 10, 2011 – 5:32 am

There is a fine line between what you need and what you want sometimes. Do you need cable service? Or can you get by with a less expensive option? Is it necessary to purchase a laptop when you do most of your work on your desktop that is in great shape? Separating what is a need from what is a want can be painful, but it can help you stay on budget so that you can afford the things that are really important to you in the long run.

Maintain a Cooling Off Period

With so many advertisements constantly bombarding us all day, every day, it is easy to think of new things that we want. Once we fixate on an item, our brains begin to work out exactly why that item is something we really need. This is a dangerous time for your bank account. One way to really determine whether an item is something you need rather than just something you want, give yourself a specific cooling off period before you make a big purchase. Take three days to think about how you will feel when that money is gone from your account.

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Tags: Want, Want Five

Dealing with unemployment, debt, and depression

April 9, 2011 – 3:44 pm

Losing your job can feel like your whole world is falling apart.  A job can be so much more than just a J-O-B, it can define you as a person.  When it is pulled out from underneath you with no warning, then your mind set can really be affected. Depression can rear its ugly head during times of high stress and pressure when your personal finances are falling apart.

If you are the main bread winner and you have the responsibility to support your family, loosing a job can soon turn to depression out of feelings of despair and disappointment. Credit card debt, mortgages, and personal loans are all commitments that need to be paid.  What happens when you simply don’t have the cash flow?  

Keeping a positive mindset is paramount in times of unemployment.  You need to look at this as a temporary situation and your new job is to look for a new one.  Don’t sit on the couch and dwell on the situation, this doesn’t help anyone.  If you just lost your job, and you worked 40 hours per week, then you need to be actively looking for your new opportunity with this time. This is not a

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When Good Markets Go Bad

April 8, 2011 – 4:53 am

The markets have nearly rebounded to the historic highs reached in 2000, but investors have not forgotten the emotional confusion of the tech bubble burst and its aftermath. History tells us the markets will cycle down once more eventually; we just don’t know exactly when. When that downturn comes, a financial plan, an investment strategy (how you get to the big picture) and a trusted financial professional can make the difference between staying the course and bailing out too soon.

Not surprisingly, researchers have found that the human brain wants to be happy and will in fact bend our perceptions of reality to that end. Faced with evidence that we have made a mistake in judgment, our brain denies, rationalizes, blames and defends, because admitting mistakes ruins our self esteem and makes us unhappy.

Faced with investment decisions, our brain seeks for ways to support its chase for happiness. Read full article…

Tags: Markets, Markets Bad

Options for Personal Loans for Bad Credit

April 4, 2011 – 1:50 pm

Personal loans for bad credit are available for seeking to obtain financial assistance for short term help or purchases. The applicable available interest rates are based on previous payment history, active judgments, and income. Damaged credit can be caused by unforeseen financial obstacles, unemployment or poor financial decision. Correcting poor credit mistakes often requires assistance from knowledgeable credit repair representatives, legal bankruptcy agents or a debt consolidation specialist. Due to the nature of bad credit, obtaining personal loans may result in high interest rates, escalating monthly payment charges or decline. Obtaining a manageable loan my require review of finances with a bank, considering a short term loan from an independent broker or seeking a private lender.

Bank Issued Personal Loans for Bad Credit

Major bank institutes offer the best options for personal loans for bad credit.

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Tags: Bad Credit, Credit, Personal Loans

What To Do About Debt If Unemployed

April 4, 2011 – 3:20 am

What To Do About Debt If Unemployed

Being in debt is bad at the best of times, but its even worse when youre unemployed as well.  No need to worry though, its not impossible to lower your debt when youre out of work.

Here are a few pointers to help you with a difficult financial situation:

5. Get A Job As Soon As Possible

Its extremely obvious but you need to get a job as fast as possible. You need a job for two reasons, firstly to reduce your current debt and secondly to make sure you dont get into further debt.  Dont be put off by jobs that you consider to be beneath you. When youre in debt and unemployed, you need to take any job that comes your way.

Visit your local job centre two or three times a week at least. Constantly sendyou’re your resume, the worst thing you can do is stop looking and become stagnate.

4. Get Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment benefits can greatly reduce the strain that debt and joblessness has on you.   

3. Priori

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Tags: Debt If, Debt If Unemployed, If Unemployed, Unemployed