Archive for April, 2010

Donate and Charity

No Comments
Posted 25 Apr 2010 — by admin
Category Personal Finance

To those who have been given much, much is also expected. Haven’t we heard that time and again? We have because we all have a responsibility to help those who cannot help themselves. One way to do our share is through charity. Actually, not everybody can give money, if you are one of them, what you can do is to click some websites to be able to donate.

You do not have to spend at all. All you need to do is to click. You can also volunteer. Charity donations do not revolve only on money. Services are also needed for it to become a success. So volunteer your time and services because with them every minute counts. These charitable institutions have available tasks and roles that you can take to be able to give.

But if you have money that you can give, you can give to any charitable institution. There are a lot of them that needs your help. Be careful though with their advertising. Some are really good and will turn heart into butter. Thus, you have to do your search and see what it stands for. However, it does not mean that when you give you do not gain anything in return. In fact, you will gain much because there are charity donations that you can do that are eligible for tax deductions. You need to consult with a financial expert, a tax professional, about your intent to give to a certain charity. He will be able to tell you specific details such as requirements that you may not be aware of. Thus, it is best if you find out your tax benefits before making any donation.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

10 Tips When Considering a Payday Loan

No Comments
Posted 11 Apr 2010 — by admin
Category Loan

There comes a time in everyone’s life when you just don’t have enough money to cover your expenses between paydays.  Whether it’s due to an emergency car repair, an injury not covered by health insurance or some other emergency it happens to more people than you think and you’re not alone.  Most everyone has run out of money before they’ve run out a month and sometimes a payday loan is the right solution for your situation.

Below are 10 tips you need to consider before applying for a payday loan.

1. In order to qualify for a payday loan you need to be at least 18 years old and have a job on a full-time basis.

2. You need to be receiving a steady income on weekly, bi weekly or monthly basis.

3. You need to have a checking or savings account.

4. When you apply for a payday loan online or in person you will need to have proof of these items to convince the lender you are a trustworthy risk and you will be able to pay back your payday loan.

5. When choosing a payday loan company be sure it is registered and in good standing with the Better Business Bureau with no outstanding or unresolved complaints.

6. You need to understand the terms of the payday loan you are applying for.

7. When selecting a payday loan company online their website needs to clearly state the fees involved and the interest rate being charged.

8. You need to know the penalties if you do not pay the loan back on time.

9. You need to read and understand the fine print of your payday loan.

10. If you can not easy find the above information on the lenders website then don’t use them.

There are plenty of payday loan companies online that are completely legitimate but you need to protect yourself by reading the fine print.  One rule of thumb I use is if a company is advertising on the internet they are most likely trustworthy because it cost money to advertise and the company would have to be profitable to pay for the advertising.  Most customers will not deal with a non-reputable company very long and they eventually will be out of business with no profits to spend on advertising.

As you consider the above tips keep in mind you need to be able to repay your payday loan and still cover next weeks bills.  Payday loans at times make perfect sense and you need to use them wisely to help your short term cash flow problems.

Tags: , , ,

10 Career Change Myths

No Comments
Posted 09 Apr 2010 — by admin
Category Career

Career Myth #1: You can’t make a living doing something you really, truly love

This is the grand-daddy of career myths, the belief that you can’t have a “practical” career doing something that you were passionate about. It has to be one or the other.

This myth is rooted in fear. Fear that we have to sacrifice our happiness to make a living. Don’t buy the myth that you can’t earn a living by doing what you love.

When I first started coaching, I heard from plenty of people that it would be very difficult to make a living doing this work. I just decided to find coaches who were successful, and to learn from them (simple, eh?).

If you find yourself buying into this myth, consider this question – As you look back on your life, what will you regret more? Following your passion or following your fears?

Career Myth #2: It’s a tough job market/economy

Even when the newspapers and other news sources say that unemployment numbers remain steady, that job growth is at a standstill, or that we’re experiencing slow economic recovery, not to mention downsizing and outsourcing, don’t believe it.

It’s a myth because it doesn’t reflect the whole story, the fact that that it’s a different job market today. It’s a changing economy. How we transition from job-to-job is different. Hiring practices have shifted. So the job market has changed, but that doesn’t necessarily make it tougher. What makes it tougher is that we’ve been slower to change. We’ve held on to old practices and old behaviors. That’s not to say that old ways still don’t work, but they’re just not as effective.

So I challenge you to just believe that it’s a perfect job market for you to find work. I’ve had my college students try this, just for a week, and, more times than not, several of them find job leads or make important connections during the week.

Career Myth #3: Changing careers is risky

What’s riskier than leaving what you know to pursue the unknown? Changing careers means leaving behind a piece of your identity – your “I’m a lawyer” response to the “what-do-you-do?” question. It might mean admitting to yourself that you made a mistake with an initial career choice. Or it might mean acknowledging that you’re unsure of what’s next. And smart people always know what’s next, right?

Nope. Successful career changers often don’t have a plan. In Working Identity: How Successful Career Changers Turn Fantasy into Reality by Herminia Ibarra, she provided evidence that waiting until you have a plan is actually riskier than just doing and experimenting.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, is riskier than not changing careers if you’re longing to do so. Here’s why: The longing won’t go away. It will always be there, under the surface, waiting for you to do something about it.

Career Myth #4: Always have a back-up plan

Read More

Tags: , ,
← Previous Entries