Everyone could use some extra cash these days. Have you ever thought about ways to make money at home online? We're not talking garage sale or lemonade stand here. There are definitely some tried and true ways to make money at home online. This is ideal for single mothers, students, or anyone who would like an extra layer of padding in their pockets. Using the computer, huh? Hour long surveys about things you'll never use are...more
What's the cost to put together a strategic corporate meeting or retreat? Regardless of the specificshotel expenses, payroll, lost opportunities, lost management time planning the agenda, the cost of guest speakers, food, and suppliesyou expect the returns to far outweigh the $3000 or $150,000 bill.Unfortunately, too many meetings never hit their mark. You start with specific goals and an agenda. You sit everyone down and start covering your...more
So you've set some goals, you're feeling ambitious, and you've promised yourself that you're going to follow through. You're determined to make this year better than the last. And hopefully, it works out that way. But you've seen the reality, too. In spite of a sensible plan and good intentions, most people find themselves off course by March. Imagine if you could uncover the cause, stay the course, and get what you really want. The answer lies in having a solid starting point a strategic plan that really works.Every year, we meet thousand of decision makers around the country in our consulting and speaking work. Like you, they're smart, ambitious, and they're doing a decent job. But, they're also often frustrated that they aren't doing better. When we break down the element for them, we find that few if any of them have a good strategic plan they can work from. In fact, most of them don't even know how to create one.The following is a mini lesson in strategic planning. We don't have a lot of space, but here are some important things to know when creating a basic plan.1. Know the difference between a strategy and a tactic. Strategy is the plan that defines where you're going....more
If you are a mortgage broker or loan officer who has purchased mortgage leads from mortgage lead companies in the past, you are probably familiar with the pain of not getting your money's worth from the mortgage leads you have bought.If you are still on the market for a mortgage lead company, here are a few tips on how to spot a good one.For...more
Home equity loans are often touted as being the solution to so many things - giving you access to money for home repairs or improvements, a way to consolidate debt, finance a sudden family emergency, or even as a way to start an investment portfolio. There's a lot to think about, though, before you go and sign up for the first home equity loan you...more
Fact: You are going to pay for a place to live. Period.There is no free lunch and paying for a roof over your head is going to be part of your budget for a very long time. Given your needs (either just you, a partner or a larger family), there is a certain amount of space you need. For a family of 4, that means 3 bedrooms for at least 18 years and likely closer to 30. You are either going to spend that paying to live in someone else's home or your own.Fact: Rent and mortgages are closer in monthly payments than you think.Average 3BR rents in my metro area (Minneapolis) are $900-1000/month with many closer to $1200. That's for a rented condominium, not a house. In my metro area, there are currently over 250 condos and townhomes (equals owning the same thing you rent) under $1000 a month in payments. There are another 853 single family homes (an upgrade from apartments) under that same threshold.Fact: The value of your home comes not from paying it off, but from compounded appreciation. Example:$215,000 financed for 30 years at 6% and 6% average appreciation (a historically reasonable number). Over the course of the 30 years, you will make payments totalling $464,054. At the end of...more
Useful Ideas If You Are Looking For A Loan The tips below are sound advice when looking to secure a loan for, say, the purchase of a car. If you already have a loan and are wanting to replace the car and take out a new one remember that the previous...more
Do you want a mortgage loan for your new home? Trying to qualify for a new mortgage can be very tough, especially if you aren’t aware of the effect your credit report score has on your ability to get approved for loans. One of the first things...more
Are problems with credit keeping you down? Do you have troubles in getting car loans? Do you feel you must drive a 10-year-old beater around for the rest of your life due to a past problem with credit? What can you do to mitigate the problem and help...more
Practicing money management with caution in our daily lives can be rewarding.Just as we have good living habits enriching our health, good financial habits can enrich us with wealth. When it comes to good living, most of us are aware of the habits we...more
There are those who like to invest in stocks and shares with the belief that they are fuelling the economy or the industry they trust in. They ‘buy and hold’ shares for longer periods hoping to be rewarded with bigger fortune. This may...more
Here's Some Great Blogging Resources - http://superblogpack.bonza.bizBlogs were originally only meant to be 'Web Logs', or personal journals for members of on-line communities to stay in touch, sort of like 'underground news media'. But, it didn't...more