"Fender" Way To Buy Your Car: Your Options If You Can't Afford A Car Outright

We all know that, in the modern world, buying a car is pretty much a necessity for all of us. But going about buying one isn't easy. There are various options to consider, you can buy a car outright, you could lease a car, or you could scour the personal ads in the hope that something fantastic and cheap will arise. It's important for you to understand the best options, and what are these?

Using A Personal Loan

If your credit rating is good, you can get a decent loan from any bank or finance provider. The great thing about this is that you can spread the cost over many years, usually between 1 and 7. When picking a loan, it's always best to make sure that it's not secured against your home or other collateral. The great thing about a personal loan is that it's usually the cheapest alternative. The issue of a personal loan is that it could affect other borrowings, and there could be a wait for the funds to go into your bank account. So if you found a car you need to buy right away, such as an ex-demo model, this could be frustrating. However, some lenders put the funds into your account immediately.

Credit Card

If your credit rating is good enough, and you've got enough of a balance on your card, you can use your credit card to purchase the car. Some of the benefits of doing it this way include extra protection should something go wrong. This is on condition that you meet your monthly car payments. But, as with most credit cards, there will be a charge and can be up to 3%. Some dealers don't accept credit cards at all, which can be very annoying, so it's much better for you to ask at the outset if you have this intention.

Hire Purchase

A considerably popular way right now. Hire purchase is buying the car on finance. The loan is secured against the car itself, you then need to pay a deposit of approximately 10%, and then make monthly payments for the fixed amount. So the benefits in this are that you can shop around and get some really competitive interest rates, the deposit is low, and it can be done really quickly. The other benefit in this is that you are able to pick a higher spec of car, so if you are looking for a car like a Subaru XV or something that packs a bit more punch for your money, then it's more feasible than buying an old banger second hand. When negotiating this, it's better for you to go for a long-term agreements, up to 60 months is doable, but if you need a short-term agreement for personal reasons, this can be more expensive.

Personal Contract Purchase

A PCP is similar to hire purchase, but with the one notable difference that you make lower monthly payments. Beware with this, as the total amount of money you will pay is usually higher than hire purchase. And instead of getting a loan for the cost of the car, you will get a loan for the difference between the cost as it is at the outset and what the determined value will be at the end of the hire agreement. But, at the end of the payments, you can trade in the car, either for a newer model or something completely different, or hand the car back to the dealer. Your other option is to pay a larger final payment, which is known as a balloon payment, and keep the car outright. Beware of this as the general wear and tear of the car can incur extra fees. Also, if you exceed the determined mileage, this could put you out of pocket.

Peer To Peer Loans

This isn't something you hear about much when it comes to buying a new car. But peer-to-peer loans, allows people to borrow from other people, as opposed to banks or financial institutions. While on the surface this sounds ideal, you still need a good credit score to get a decent interest rate. And, much like a personal loan, if you miss any payments, your credit score will be affected. The best approach is to get your credit score as high as possible so you can negotiate the best interest rate for your money. But, it's advisable to do your research with this, and there's lots of information about peer to peer loans online. There are various websites to give you the information you need, such as this one, but it's important to keep your eye on the interest rates. Sometimes a personal loan will be a better option for you.

Cash Or Savings

Some people choose to save outright for the cost of their car, which can take a long time! Paying with cash is the cheapest way to get any car because you don't need to pay interest, or sign up for any financial agreement. If you do choose to go down this route, it's important to remember that you need more than the cost of your car, ideally 10% more. You need to make sure that there's enough left over in case an emergency arises. But if you don't have enough money to pay the car in full, you can still put down a big deposit, which means your monthly repayments will be lower if you choose to go down the higher purchase agreement route. Or, you can combine your savings, with a credit card payment, and then not only have you been able to pay for the car outright, if something goes wrong with the car, the credit card company is also equally liable with the retailer. This is a little bit more peace of mind!

A car is the second biggest purchase you will make in your entire life after a house. And as it's something you rely on as much as your house, you need to make sure that you get the best bang for your buck. Your financial options aren't always obvious, but these are what you can do if you are unable to afford your car outright.

Private Mortgages: An Investment Idea Whose Time Has Come

It seems like the stock market is on steroids, every day comes the announcement of a record close and many are wondering if share prices will ever go done.  In fact, it is has gotten so frothy (a word which is used in Reuter’s 2018 global projection) that even bullish hedge fund investors begrudgingly parking their money in equities.

Even with all the good news, a growing number of market watchers are beginning to voice concern.  Not only are interest rates starting to rise, but bond yields are dangerously close to an inflection point, and the U.S. Dollar appears to be in an inextricable slide.  However, the market keeps going up and for many times are good.

While there is no doubt the stock market is on an unbelievable run, a hallmark of prudent investment is what is known as asset diversification.  This is concept of spreading your investment across several asset classes – think of the adage of not putting all your eggs in one basket.

As such, it makes sense to look at other investment avenues as a hedge against potential risks in other asset classes.  This is not to say that you shouldn’t enjoy the run-up in equity prices, or that you should invest in assets classes that won’t yield a return.  Instead, the concept to guard against risk – this could include investments in real estate, bonds, gold, or even private mortgages.

That’s right, you can invest in private mortgages.  These are not the infamous ‘subprime’ mortgages from the days of the housing bubble, these are mortgages which are usually offered by sellers to help close a real estate transaction.  If you have heard of private mortgages, then read on this is an investment idea whose time has come.

Why Private Mortgages?

Despite the excesses of a decade ago, real estate remains one of the most secure investment classes around.  The reasons are that prices in most areas tend to appreciate over the long-run.  As such, the question for most investors is how they will enter the market – maybe it’s via acquiring properties directly, or buying shares in a REIT, or a mortgage fund, or the mortgages themselves.

In fact, there are plenty of investors who are looking for people who are selling a mortgage note or two. The idea is simple, mortgage holders (usually seller or private lenders) have well-performing mortgages which they are looking to sell at a slight discount of the future receivables and there are buyers who bundle these assets into larger offerings on the public market.

The lure of private mortgages is that they offer a steady revenue stream without the hassles of property ownership.  Another plus is that these notes are tangible securities which are easy enforce and transfer.  This makes private mortgages a sought-after investment class and managed correctly, they can offer significantly higher yields compared to broader debt investment options.

What Are the Advantages?

There are several plusses to private mortgages including no cost to the investor, monthly income, and protection.   In terms of the cost, sure the investor will need to front the capital for the mortgage but the borrower is the one who must pay to register the note against the title.  As such, the capital requirement is limited to the investor’s share of the overall note.

Beyond this, private mortgages private a monthly revenue stream – one which pays much of the return upfront.  This is compared to other investments, even bonds, which may take months or years to mature.  It is this almost instantaneous payback is one reason why some investors chose to park some of the money in private mortgages.

Lastly, the capital is protected.  This is compared to many other investments which are largely at the whims of the market.  In the case of private mortgages, and assuming the lender has performed proper due diligence, the risk of a loss is relatively low. 

Now, this does not mean that some private mortgage lenders have not made bad loans in the past.  But if proper controls are put in place - such as reliance on credit checks and limiting the loan-to-value ratios – then these investments can be relatively safe.

How to Invest in Private Mortgages?

In general, there are three ways to invest in private mortgages.  First, you can invest in a Mortgage Investment Corporation (MIC).  This is like investing in private equity and while the returns are slightly lower than direct investing, so are the risks as part of the MIC’s value proposition is their experience in assessing loan opportunities.

Another way to invest in private mortgages is through what is known as participatory mortgages.  This is when several investors create a pool to help write one or more loans.  This is a great way to share the risk and the reward.

Finally, investors can finance mortgages on a one-on-one basis.  However, this sort of investment is best suited for those with experience in mortgage underwriting to make sure they are properly pricing the loan and by extension maximizing their return.

Buying Gold Online: 5 Practical Tips to Avoid Scams

Gold is considered as one of the most reliable and stable investments when compared to other investments. Therefore, many investors prefer to invest their hard earned money in gold bars or coins. Modern advancements in technology have made it easier for investors to buy and sell gold. They can get in touch with online retailers to purchase precious metals.

However, online trading means that scam artists are more likely to try taking hold of your investment. You must be extremely careful when buying gold online in Australia in order to preserve your investment. Please check https://www.goldbullionaustralia.com.au/ for additional information. Here are some useful tips that’ll help you keep scammers away:

1. Research the Dealer

Not everyone who claims to be a gold dealer can be trusted. You should carry out some research on your own to know your dealer. Always go for a dealer with good reputation. Check their professional website to know how many years of experience they possess. A reliable dealer is always willing to communicate with you via email or phone call to answer your concerns.

Social media can also help you determine the credibility of a gold dealer. If the dealer has a professional account on a social website, you can look for customer reviews. If they have a history of many satisfied clients, there is no harm in doing business with them.

1. Hold the Deal

Don’t be in a hurry to make a decision when it comes to buying or selling gold. Take your time. If you find it difficult to choose the right deal, you can ask the gold salesperson. Well-reputed gold dealers won’t hesitate to answer your queries. On the other hand, scammers try to convince buyers into carrying out a deal without any delay.

2. Research the Coins before Purchasing

If you want to buy gold coins, you should ask online dealers to provide relevant information. Legitimate gold sellers know the value of coins and often prepare material to guide customers about the history and value of the coins. If the gold coins are rare, you should look for their current market value and why they’re so special for coin collectors.

3. Ask Their Buy-Back Policy

At some point in life, you may want to sell off your gold. It’s best to ask the dealer about their buy-back policy beforehand. It’ll ensure you won’t face any problems down the road. Gold dealers know the actual worth of your investment and won’t hesitate in buying back gold they have sold you. However, if they seem to be reluctant in informing you about their buy-back policy, chances are you may be dealing with a scammer.

4. Get Gold in Hand

Never make full payment before you receive gold in hand. Scammers tend to make false promises that you’ll receive gold only after clearing the payment. However, you need to play your cards right to stay safe.

All in all, investing in gold can benefit you in the long run. However, if you aren’t careful in choosing an online gold dealer, you may end up losing your savings to a scammer.

Make Your Cell Truly Smart with These Apps

Smartphones have made life so much easier for us. This small and compact gadget has opened us to a world of experiences. Gone are the days when you would be amazed at discovering that your phone came with an inbuilt torch! A smartphone has tons of cool features!

Today, the expectations from smartphones have increased manifold. We do not want them to be just phones; we want them to manage our busy lives. Until now, these gadgets have impressed us greatly!

The average smartphone user depends on it to listen to music, order food, shop, book a cab, and even invest in mutual funds online! We have access to a wide variety of mobile apps that offer different services depending on our requirements. We are all familiar with popular apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Twitter.

Here are five lesser-known but highly useful apps that will make your phone even smarter!

1. CamScanner

No need to invest in a bulky scanner when you can simply download CamScanner.It is a document scanning and sharing app that lets you scan and store documents easily. The app even lets you crop unwanted edges and enhance the color and text quality of the document. The app is very easy to use – scanning a document requires you to click a picture of it on your phone. The scanned file can be stored as a JPEG or PDF file and shared as an attachment or a web link. CamScanner is truly a revolution in the office management and data sharing space.

2. Runtastic Running and Fitness Tracker

A fit body is not just a dream, but can be a beautiful reality, when you have Runtastic on your phone. Runtastic is a fitness-tracking app that allows you to set running goals and track your progress. You can save your workouts, get analyses, onlinecoaching, and compare your performance with friends! Not only can you track your running routes via GPS tracking, but you can also get a report on the distance covered, timetaken, speed maintained, and calories burnt during the workout. The Runtastic Running and Fitness Tracker app is quickly rising through the ranks among fitness apps available and is a highly recommended addition to your app collection.

3. Scootsy

A few years ago, most restaurants required a minimum bill amount if you wanted food delivered to your doorstep. Ordering food was a genuine hassle earlier, but today it is an extremely easy process. Scootsy, the premium delivery app is here to save the day for you! Scootsy lets you order food, books, toys, gifts, and more right to your doorstep. The app allows you to track your order and set a delivery time. The best feature of Scootsy is that there is no minimum order amount. If you lead a busy life and want to have your food, books, and gifts delivered on time,Scootsy is a must-have on your smartphone.

4. Angel Wealth – Mutual Fund Investment and Advice

We are starting to recognize the importance of investing money and are willing to invest but often make bad decisions because of poor advice. If you are looking for a reliable money management app, your search has ended. The Angel Wealth Mutual Fund Investment and Advice is a one-stop money management app that lets you manage your money smartly. You can track your income and expenses, evaluate and analyze different investment options, invest in mutual funds online, and manage your portfolio using a single app. If you are a first-time investor, you can start investing in mutual funds by opening an account in less than five minutes! Angel Wealth uses a proprietary ARQ investment engine that gives you customized investment recommendations after processing over a billion data points. The ARQ engine uses advanced algorithms, cognitive technology, and market insights to create tailor-made recommendations designed to maximize the value of your portfolio. The Angel Wealth Mutual Fund Investment and Advice appis rapidly gaining popularity as the money management appamong investors because of the sophisticated technology it uses.

5. Ridlr

If you have ever used public transport, you would know the pain of standing in never-ending queues to buy tickets. It is frustrating and a massive waste of time! Ridlr is an app that lets you skip the queue! This is the go-to app when it comes to intra-city commuting. You can buy bus and metro tickets, renew monthly passes using the app, and pay online through this app. It also shows timetables for the metro, local trains, publicbus service, and more. The app serves a number of cities like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai,Bengaluru, and others, and is expanding its presence rapidly. For every public transport user, Ridlr is necessary!

So,do not wait anymore,and unlock the true potential of your smartphone with these handy apps!

Finances Behind Solar Power

Installing a solar power system for a homeowner is a commendable goal. It is cost effective, benefits the environment, and is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. For homeowners, financing a solar system is normally the biggest battle. The finances can often be overwhelming at first glance, especially when the final cost is revealed. We are used to seeing smaller, portable solar panels for much less. However, the financial stress can be subdued with further research. There are ways to lease solar use, or take out a loan to pay for solar power installation. There are also mortgaging options available for solar power. Here’s a little bit more information on financing solar power:

Leasing for Solar Power- Paying for solar power can often be the most overwhelming, complicated part of putting in a solar system. A single system usually costs between $15,000 to $30,000. Most people don’t have this kind of money just lying around to be put into use. Taking out a lease, like for most other big investments, sounds stressful. However, it’s not as scary and confusing as it sounds. With leasing solar power, a company will agree to pay for the initial panels and upkeep of them. The job of the leaser is to pay smaller amounts to the solar power leasing company. This takes some financial pressure off of the homeowner if the financing behind installing a solar system is the biggest concern. Some well known solar power leasing companies are Sunrun, sPower, Sungevity, and SunEdison.

Loans for Solar Power- Another option to finance solar power is through taking out a loan. With loans, the complete cost of the solar power system has to be paid immediately to whatever manufacturer or company a homeowner is receiving the entire solar system through. So, for example, if you are receiving the solar system through Sunrun, you may be paying your loan back to a federal government program. One example of a federal government program that assists with solar power loans is PACE. PACE stands for Property Assessed Clean Energy Programs, and runs through a certain area (city or town) loaning the amount of money the solar system costs to the homeowner. In return, the homeowner pays the system back through higher property taxes. This way, the city or town is assisting in environmentally progressive programs, while a homeowner reaps the benefits through needed financing.

Mortgage for Solar Power- One way to finance solar power is through a mortgage. Most solar power based mortgages best work when intertwined in the beginning process of mortgaging a home. Home mortgaging programs, like Fannie Mae, will analyze the energy efficiency a home you are thinking of buying has initially. It will then decipher what modifications will in the end benefit the home. Once these modifications are decided, the mortgages amount is agreed upon. So, if a potential homeowner is planning on mortgaging $300,000 for a $350,000 home, and paying $50,000 out of pocket, the numbers will shift. Instead of mortgaging $300,000, a buyer can mortgage $335,000 through a solar power mortgaging company. The extra $35,000 of the mortgage will go towards making the home more energy efficient and environmentally conscious. Some of these modifications may come in the form of installing a full solar power system and replacing other electronic products with more green options. Energy efficient mortgaging not only helps the environment, but, ultimately, will be a prime investment for the homeowner.

Financing behind solar power systems may seem complicated and simply money consuming. However, there are reliable companies giving options to lease, loan, or mortgage solar power systems. They will give a current or potential homeowner the opportunity to invest in solar power, positively affecting the energy efficiency of the home and the quality of the environment.

How Has SEBI Made Mutual Fund Investment Easier and How Will it Affect You?

Indian investors have started opening up to the idea of investing in mutual funds (MFs), thanks to the investor awareness campaign undertaken by the industry. You can conveniently buy funds online and track the performance of the scheme you select.

The problem, however, arises when you have to choose amongst the various investment schemes. At present, there are almost 2,000 schemes to choose from, which make it much harder for you to choose a suitable option. Looking at this huge number itself would discourage you if you were a novice investor. In order to address this issue, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) came out with a circular on 6th October 2017 defining the various categories under which MF schemes must be classified. At present, this categorization is only applicable to open-ended schemes.

This initiative aims to reduce confusion among MF investors and encourage them to buy mutual funds as investments.

Categorization of mutual fund schemes

As per the circular, asset management companies (AMCs) will have to classify their offerings into the following five categories:

• Equity Schemes

• Debt Schemes

• Hybrid Schemes

• Solution-Oriented Schemes

• Other schemes

The AMCs will be allowed to operate only one fund in each of the aforementioned five categories. These categories have further been divided into sub-categories, which will refine the scope of various mutual fund investment schemes as follows:

1. Equity schemes (10 sub-categories)

Large-cap, sectoral or thematic, multi-cap, Equity-Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS), small-cap, focused, dividend yield, large and midcap, contra, and value

2. Debt schemes (16 sub-categories)

Overnight, corporate bond, dynamic bond, credit risk fund, gilt, gilt fund with 10-year constant duration,banking and PSU, floater, ultra-short duration, low duration, money market, liquid, short duration, medium duration, medium to long duration, and long duration

3. Hybrid Schemes (6 sub-categories)

Balanced hybrid, conservative hybrid, aggressive hybrid, arbitrage, equity savings, dynamic asset allocation/balanced advantage, and multi-asset allocation

4. Solution oriented schemes (2 sub-categories)

Children benefit and goal of retirement.

5. Other schemes (2 sub-categories)

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Index funds, and Fund of Funds (FOF)

You may buy mutual funds from 36 sub-categories as defined by the SEBI circular.

How does this help you?

SEBI’s move to consolidate the number of schemes in the market will make it easy for you to compare schemes with similar features. After comparing the schemes, you may choose to buy mutual funds online. This initiative will help you cut through the complex clutter of schemes and make the investment process faster and smoother than before.

Fewer schemes will also mean that fund managers will be able to focus more effectively on operating a smaller number of funds. Imagine that there are 50 mutual fund schemes in the market managed by five fund managers, i.e. an average of ten schemes managed by each fund manager. If the number of schemes was reduced to 30, the average number of funds per manager would go down to six. This means a sharper focus on schemes and more efficient management of your mutual fund investments.

After the classification of the schemes, you will still be able to choose from a large number of options to invest.Depending on your risk appetite and investment objective from the sub-categories specified under each main category, you may choose to buy mutual funds online. For example, the equity schemes category is divided into 10 sub-categories as discussed above. This categorization means that you have the choice to decide exactly where your monies are invested.

The categorization of MF schemes does not mean that existing schemes would be discontinued. AMCs will amalgamate various schemes to adhere to the revised norms. This may mean that if the new scheme does not match your risk profile and investment strategy, you may have to shift your mutual fund investments. Depending on the type of scheme, you may be liable to certain taxes. Another effective manner of knowing which schemes are suitable according to your risk appetite and financial capacity is by downloading the Angel Wealth mobile app. The technology-driven ARQ investment engine will help you in determining the accurate scheme to invest in, that too without any human bias.

SEBI has endeavored to reorganize the structure of the classification of MF schemes, while at the same time, offer a healthy variety of schemes to investors. In the circular, SEBI also listed out scheme characteristics that fund managers would need to adhere to.

For example, in case of large-cap equity mutual fund schemes, a minimum of 80% of the total assets must be invested in equity securities of large market capitalization companies. Similarly, for large and mid cap funds, at least 35% of the assets need to be invested in equity securities of large market capitalization companies and at least 35% of the assets in equity securities of mid-cap companies. These characteristics have been designed to ensure that fund managers stick to the objective of the primary asset class, as suggested by the name of the scheme.

While SEBI’s circular created some concerns among mutual fund operators, this move has been welcomed by industry professionals as it would streamline the currently crowded MF market and boost investor confidence in these investment products.

401(K) Problems With IRAs And How To Fix Them

An IRA: the savior for men and women looking to retire. With a healthy retirement fund, you can live out your golden years in peace without financial worry. What’s that? The average IRA or 401(k) has big problems? The majority people don’t know this because their nest egg is a sure thing. Sadly, current retirement plans are subject to changing conditions such as inflation. As it steadily increases, the amount you have in an IRA drops. It’s pretty scary when you think about it, which is why action is vital.

To make sure your retirement is smooth sailing, here are the main issues and what to do next.

Poor ROI

ROI stands for return on investment, and 401(k)s are by no means lucrative. The average yield is less than 3.5% and that won’t get you anywhere near the mark to retire comfortably. There are plenty of options, but Bitcoin seems to be the most popular at the moment. Due to its potential for growth, a self directed IRA with Bitcoin is an excellent way to increase a nest egg.

As long as the cryptocurrency is encrypted, the risk is minimal. Another option is to get involved in government schemes which get employers to match or double your contributions.

Unorganized Record Keeping

The effort to provide a detailed account of your retirement assets is shocking. Because it’s still a manual activity, it can take forever. And, the information might not be correct when it does arrive. Then, there is the fact that you need a comprehensive and up to date list to plan effectively. The only way to organize a 401(k) is to be proactive with the records. Rather than trust s record keeper, you should make a personal spreadsheet and update it on a regular basis.

Changing Managers

Employers often set up plans to help employees with long-term investment plans. What they omit to tell you is that the people managing your retirement fund are no longer with the company. As a result, there will be a complete mismatch of direction. When two different people have separate ideas, the 401(k) is bound to suffer. Experts suggest investing in index funds as opposed to anything else to help limit the damage. MoneyCoach founder, Patrick Traverse, says that index funds can mean “tens of thousands of dollars at retirement.” It’s only a one percent saving yet it makes all the difference.

Dollar-Cost Averaging

Although a prudent way to make money, dollar-cost averaging makes zero sense when the market is negative. Lots of 401(k)s revolve around this method, and yours may be no different. Don’t worry if it’s the case because it is a straightforward thing to resolve. The key is to find a conservative option within your plan. After you have the right one, start directing the savings into it and play the waiting game. When the investment is ripe, take a chunk of cash and put it into a less conservative asset.

The most important point to remember is not to think your retirement plan is infallible. It isn’t and it needs constant tweaking and maintenance as a result.

Plan Your Budget And Stick To It!

One of your resolutions this year may have been to budget more carefully and to live a more frugal lifestyle. There are many ways to plan a budget, the hard part is sticking to it! Follow this guide for tips that will enable you to stay on track.

Analyse your finances

Before you can plan a budget you need to know exactly where your money goes each month. Make a list of all your essential expenditures. Essential expenditures cannot be changed as they are necessary to daily living.

Insurances need to be accounted for too, such as those relating to health and personal injury. Personal injury lawsuits are complex and it is good to get advice from experts, knowledgeable on the Personal Injury Lawsuit Timeline. House insurance, contents insurance and vehicle insurance are also essential expenditures to factor in.

A large part of your budget will be spent on housing costs such as mortgages, rent and household bills. You may have loans and credit cards which need to be paid monthly. Other essential expenditure is food, fuel, travel and childcare.

Add all your payments together and see what money is left over.

The next stage of analysing your finances is to add up all the money you have spent on non essential items such as eating out, leisure activities and clothes that you really didn’t need. This process can be very enlightening and will show you exactly where savings can be made. Take this sum of money from the sum you had left over after paying essential outgoings, is there any money left?

Plan

The key to sticking to a budget is to not deny yourself any form of pleasure, otherwise you will likely go off track after a very short time. The best way of sticking to a budget is to plan for non essential expenditure. For example if you have a big birthday celebration coming up, plan it into your budget. A small amount of money saved here and there won’t be noticed as much as blowing your budget in one go.

If you enjoy eating out regularly, try and cut this in half, instead of eating out every week, eat out every two weeks instead.

Stay on track

It’s tempting to bury our heads in the sand when it comes to budgeting, but it’s really important to track how you are doing on a monthly basis. If you don’t, six months could have passed by before you notice that you are right back where you started! Make it part of your monthly routine to assess your spending, just before your salary gets paid into your account. You will then be able to put into savings, any of your remaining balance.

Successful budgeting is achieved by careful monitoring of your spending habits, making savings where possible. Minor changes in your spending habits can have a major impact on the health of your bank balance. Research supermarket prices and switch to make savings, eat seasonally and cook from scratch. You will be healthier too!

Make Easy Money In 2018

Did you struggle to make ends meet in 2017? Is your job not giving you all the money you need to earn to be on top of your finances? Is that promotion you were promised well overdue? If you feel like you are worth more than you are currently getting and would like to see your bank account in a healthier state, this is possible if you make some adjustments to your life.

Things like not spending unnecessary money, putting in place a tight budget and going for cheaper alternatives whenever you have to buy stuff will see you become a wealthier person. On top of this, there are other things you can do to earn money quickly in 2018. Read the below tips to become a little bit richer this year.

Invest in shares

You have probably heard of people around you who have made money by the simple fact of investing in stocks. This sounds like playing the lotto and being the lucky winner, doesn’t it? Something that you know happens to one in a million. Not quite. Investing in stocks has long been a proven way of earning some easy cash if you are able to know which stocks to invest in. Companies offer shares to raise money from investors. These might need some cash to expand into foreign markets or hire new staff, and that is why they put stocks in place so that individuals like you can buy an often small share of the company, but one that can give you substantial returns. Look into TRTC Stock to see what opportunities lie for you in the stock market.

Sell your pictures online

Do you have a decent phone that takes even more decent photos? If so, this is your chance to prove to the world that you are an excellent photographer and that you can make some cash through selling your best shots online. While photography might be a challenging career to pursue if this is going to be your sole source of income, selling pictures on the internet is still a great way of making some extra money fast. Have you recently been to a blog and saw mediocre photos that you think you could take better? If this is the case, get out there and explore your surroundings. Platforms like Shutterstock will accept your images for a cut and make them available on the world wide web for people to purchase and use.

Rent a room in your house

If you are a property owner, there is so much you can do with the spare space you might have. Gone are the days when renting was something that would take several viewings and had to be done in a semi-permanent way, with six months being the minimum contract length. These days, if you own a place, you can easily rent a room or bedroom for a reasonable price for whichever period of time you wish to commit to. All you have to do is go online and create a profile on platforms like Airbnb, take some excellent pictures of your house and upload these together with a good description. You will see tourists and those interested in short-term rentals email you in vast numbers if your offering is good enough. Consider doing some research on the prices that are being quoted in your same area in order to outdo the competition.