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Are Savings plan for Children Worth the Investment?

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Every parent dreams of providing the best future for their child. This task has become quite intimidating due to the rise in inflation and a lifestyle change. Most essential items associated with your daily life have continued to evolve more expensively over the years, like fuel cost, food, clothing, pulses, and vegetables.

The rise of inflation will make it hard for our children to manage their basic needs effortlessly. However, you can secure their future by smarty investing your money as saving for child plan.

Investing in a savings plan will make a massive difference in your child’s life. You can beat the rising cost of inflation with the right investment planning. Right from standard education to marriage, your savings can help your child achieve their dreams. The importance of savings in your children’s life is enormous. The money you save gives them protection against unforeseen demands and enables them to live an adult lifestyle hassle-free.

Saving for child is like building financial protection that will provide a long term, risk-averse solution to meet the inflated future cost of education, marriage, and other goals without damaging the overall financial position you aim to achieve.

Are you still confused about whether you should start saving for child or not? If yes, then read the reasons for investing in saving plans that we have mentioned below.

Reasons For Using a Saving Plan to Secure your Child’s Future

Cushion Against Fund Flow Disruptions

Before saving for child, it is advisable to create a cushion of protection for yourself to navigate any unexpected financial requirements. In case of your demise or a drop in income, your child’s future is protected by such a saving plan. He can pursue his studies without facing any financial difficulties. Depending on your financial budget and lifestyle, choose the saving plan.

  • Inculcating the habit of savings

Another significant reason to start saving for child at an early stage is that it inculcates a habit of savings. Savings is an art that requires commitment and discipline. Committing to the child plan motivates you to get into the habits of regular savings.

3. Focused on a single purpose

There are plenty of investment plans out there in the market. Child plans are specially designed to cater to the future needs of the children. These plans ensure the growth of the funds and cover the general and educational needs of your child. You can also customize these plans as per your child’s needs.

4. Easy Planning For a Well-Diversified Portfolio

Saving for child eases the stress of planning for the child’s future. So, if you want to make your life or your child’s life comfortable, then start saving for him.

5. Tax Benefits of Child Plans

Child plans offer tax concession and benefit both- the invested funds and tax benefits received, to reduce the financial stress that comes from investing in them.

The Right Time To Start Saving For Your Child

Time is your greatest ally, the earlier you invest, the sooner the returns you get on the invested money. Even if you save a small amount, it will accumulate into a large sum over time. The return you get can either be utilized or reinvested into other plans. So, saving for child is the wisest thing you can do for your child.

The Frugal February Challenge

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If you’re in need of a way to jump start your financial savings plan, the frugal February challenge may be just the ticket. Although the origins are a bit unknown, frugal February has been steadily gaining notoriety over the last few years. As it’s the shortest month, with expensive holidays in the recent past, the frugal February challenge is meant to be a month spent not spending. Focusing on ways to recoup money, kickstart savings and become financially resourceful for the entire month. There aren’t specific tasks you need to follow, so here are a few ideas to make your frugal February a savings success.

Track Expenses

Tracking expenses is a somewhat straightforward process that any financial planner Orlando will recommend. If you haven’t tracked your spending before, use February to keep a close eye on where you’re spending your money and be sure to monitor both your credit and cash expenditures. Many people don’t realize just how much money they spend on things like groceries, or restaurants. Take this time to analyze how you spend your money and continue to monitor your habits in the months to follow as well.

Audit Bills

What are your monthly bills and can they be lowered? Yes you need insurance, but when was the last time you checked your rate and coverage? Shop around and see if you can lower your bill, or find another company with a lower price. This also goes for entertainment. These days we all have multiple entertainment packages, during frugal February is the best time to look at what services you actually use, what services are worth spending money on and what you can cancel to save some dough.

Reduce Energy

Cutting back on your energy usage is good for the environment and better for your wallet and reducing electric and gas costs can be easily accomplished. By making sure lights are off in the rooms that aren’t being used, you can really reduce your electric bill. If you’re able to change your bulbs to efficient LEDs, you’ll find even more savings. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that by lowering your thermostat by 1 degree, you save 1% on your energy bill. Imagine the savings if you lower it 3 or 4 degrees.

Frugal February is a challenge meant to motivate you to tighten up and better understand your spending habits. It will enable you to save, strategize, and create positive financial headway early the year.

Could Mortgage Rates Be Headed Up? Jacques Poujade Shares His Insights

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Jacques Poujade is one of the top real estate investors and advisors of the time. With over 30 years of experience under his belt, Poujade is managing partner at LendsPlus, a real estate financing firm that helps homeowners make their property investment dreams come true.

There is no doubt that 2020 was an unusual year in the real estate world. That being said, we caught up with Poujade to get his insights on the current of the real estate market and where we might be headed in 2021

How did COVID-19 alter the course of the real estate market?

The global pandemic definitely changed how people lived. Overall, everyone is spending a lot more time at home due to remote work and lockdown restrictions. That being said, I still saw a big shift in the real estate market.

More people moved out of metropolitan areas and to more unique, exotic locations they couldn’t experience before because they were anchored to their office’s location.

Why is property investing a safe choice for investors even in uncertain times?

If you’re unsure about whether property investing is a good idea, remember that it is a lot more stable than the stock market. People will always need a place to live, even in the midst of a global pandemic.

You also have a lot more control with an investment property – you put in the work from renovations to marketing. In essence, what you give is what you get.

Will mortgage rates be on the rise in 2021?

With the pandemic, we saw mortgage rates hit a record low for the first time in a long time. This has been a blessing and a curse – it has allowed a lot of people to invest in properties they were never able to afford before.

Though the economy is expected to improve in 2021, we will probably see mortgage rates continue to stay on the lower side throughout the course of the next year.

Should people purchase a home in 2021?

Despite the low mortgage rates, home prices are still inflated. That means that the inventory on the market is limited and sellers are charging whatever they want.

However, if things really do improve in the next year, I think that 2021 will be a better time to make the purchase you’ve been planning for.

What is one trend you know will carry on into 2021?

I think so. The house flipping trend will carry into the new year. COVID-19 has forced people to get creative with making an income, and house flipping is a great way to do so.

I’m seeing a lot of millennials jumping on this real estate trend. Their creative spirit and work-from-home lifestyles allow them to pursue home-flipping as a side gig. This is also a more stable investment, especially if you’re young and don’t have a lot of money.

Related Reading:
Jacques Poujade: Millennial Real Estate Trends to Watch
The Best Way for Millennials to Start Investing in Real Estate in 2020

 

4 Reasons Divorce Is Becoming More Common Than Ever

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Unfortunately, as much as people might get married hoping that it will last forever, statistics show that it is less likely than it ever has been before to remain together forever. People married between the ages of 20 and 25 have a 60% chance of getting divorced, particularly during the time COVID19.

However, age doesn’t seem to have much to do with it as the divorce rate has doubled over the last 20 years for people over 50 years old. The fact of the matter is that people are more willing to walk away than they once were in the past. Here are some of the reasons why.

 

Abuse

 

A lot of people would like to be able to stay together forever; however, they are in a toxic situation that is often abusive. Abuse doesn’t always have to mean physical harm. In some cases, abuse can be emotional or psychological. People who feel that they are a victim of abuse may not leave initially; however, after a while, they realize their situation won’t get any better.

It often starts small and starts to snowball over the years. When the victim starts to feel like there’s no way out, eventually, they seek to end the relationship. Today’s society, unlike a few decades ago, has many more resources available for victims of abuse. People feel like it’s more realistic to walk away in today’s modern society.

 

Married For The Wrong Reasons

 

Because of impulsive marriages in places like Las Vegas, a lot of people find themselves in a relationship that doesn’t make sense. People who rush into marriage are much more likely to end in divorce. Whereas people who take their time and slowly cultivate the relationship are much more likely to find themselves with someone who will stand the test of time.

 

Financial Stress

 

The economy is shakier than ever for a variety of reasons. Although couples try their best not to let stresses like money affect their love, it often ends up getting the best of them. Financial struggles can make even the calmest of people turn incredibly anxious. Couples who allow the stress of their finances to dictate their lives may find themselves unable to rekindle the relationship.

 

Long Life Expectancies

 

The fact of the matter is that people are living longer than they ever did before. It’s no surprise that after a while people may get more sick of each other. Once upon a time people didn’t live past 40 years old. However, now that people are living well into their 90’s and sometimes well over 100, they may not necessarily feel like staying with the same person the entire time. Logically, longer lives mean more divorces.

 

 

 

Tips For Improving Performance Management With Remote Employees

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If you’re working from home, you’re not alone. In fact, more employees are working remotely now more than ever. Because of the benefits to both employers and employees, the number of employees working from home is likely to increase.

For example, employees save time and money when they don’t have to commute; they don’t spend as much on business wardrobes or eating at restaurants; and they have much more flexibility overall than if they had to travel to an office.

Many employees appreciate the greater sense of autonomy, the ability to control their work environment, and the opportunity to spend more time with their families. Remote employees also save their employers money. Smaller office spaces usually cost less than larger ones and overhead is generally lower as the number of remote employees increases.

While nearly all employees are happy to give up their commutes, there are tradeoffs to working remotely. It can be isolating for people — especially those who identify as extroverts. It can also be difficult to draw boundaries between work and home life. Many people are easily distracted while working at home — whether by family or chores around the house — and may find it harder to collaborate with or stay connected with co-workers.

Another issue that affects employers and employees is how to manage the performance of remote staff. When employees work on-site, it’s easier to keep tabs on what types of work they are performing, offer feedback, and stay connected. Managing the performance of remote employees may take extra effort, but it can be done efficiently and fairly.

For example, remote employees should be given specific work requirements so they know what is expected of them. That may include their daily schedule and hours (and whether or not those hours are flexible), and allotted time for lunch. Regular check-ins between managers and employees can help team members stay on track and allow managers to better assess the type of work employees are performing and the quality of that work.

Managers should also be proactive in giving feedback, recognizing that remote employees rely on it to judge their performance and progress. Regular communication can also help alleviate employees’ feelings of isolation and reduce work-related stress.

For more information about managing remote employees, check out the infographic below.

Performance Management for Remote Employees from Advanced Resources

 

Author Bio: Sara Drake is Director of Marketing for Advanced Resources, a talent solutions organization headquartered in Chicago. Drake, who has 15 years of experience in the industry, focuses on talent solutions through staffing, consulting and workforce solutions.

 

The Best Way To Transport Your Car For Less

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Given the current state that we are in now, many people have turned to online shopping to practice social distancing and minimize contact.  From food to furniture, everything can be purchased online.  If you are thinking of purchasing a vehicle online, well it is not something undoable in this age of Covid-19.  It is entirely possible to complete the process of purchasing a car without having to leave your home.  The good thing about buying a car online is that it saves you the time and stress of haggling with a dealer.

Below are some steps you will have to take to buy a car online:

  • What kind of car are you interested in?  What are the features do you want and most importantly, what is your budget?  Once you have decided on the car model, do research online to find out more about the car that best suits your needs.
  • You can search for the car from your local dealer’s website or on websites like Cars.com. As soon as you have found the exact car that you want to buy, you have to contact the dealer to make sure that the car is in stock or contact the owner of the car to begin the purchase process.

Once the deal is closed, it is time to ship the car back to you.  Some dealerships are able to deliver the car to your home.  Or if you are buying a car from another seller who is out of the state and you are unable to collect it yourself, don’t worry because there are a number of transport companies that can deliver it to you at a reasonable rate.

There are dozens of auto shipping companies out there and it can be difficult to find the good ones. This is where Shiply, an online shipment marketplace can help to find an affordable and reliable car shipping service.  You just have to fill out a simple form with the details like make, model and size of the vehicle as well as the pickup and delivery locations. The car shipping companies will then send you quotes straight to your inbox, giving you the chance to easily assess your options and compare quotes for moving your car.  Can’t get any easier than that eh?

The cost of shipping a vehicle will depend on the following:

  • Distance: It is cheaper to deliver between two major cities compared to shipping between smaller cities or towns because there are more carriers covering these routes. Another thing that affects the price of auto transport is the distance of the drop-off location.
  • Size of Vehicle: Bigger cars cost more to transport compared to smaller cars because they take up more space in the carrier.  Heavier cars also add more cargo weight and more fuel is required to transport them.
  • Season:  Weather can impact the price of the shipment as well as the delivery timeline.
  • Duration:  The faster you want your car to be transported, the more expensive it can get.

 

 

How to Make the Perfect Holiday Photo Cards

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The holiday season is finally here, which means it is time to start preparing to send the holiday cards. However, with all the holiday photo card templates available, making up your mind on which to send is a daunting adventure. On the other hand, the holiday stationery allows you to exercise your creative mind to develop a photo card that will be unique and exceptional. This is a great time to showcase the family’s joy while everyone is dressed in their favorite holiday wear.

Have a List of Recipients

The first step towards making the perfect card is to create a list of everyone you wish to send the cards. The list you make will guide you as to how many cards you need to create. The list also guarantees that you will not have anyone left out when you start sending the cards. It will be easy for you to keep close ties with your friends and family throughout the holiday session. With the list, it will also be possible for you to arrange your time appropriately. You will not have to keep going back through creating cards while in the middle of mailing them to respective people.

Have a Holiday Theme

Making a holiday card is a fun time you have to put your creative mind into action. Come up with a holiday theme that is personalized and unique. In your card, you can go for any theme based on what entices you the most. For instance, you may want to make cards with your pets or close friends, you can decide on a color scheme, and you can get as creative or simple as you’d like.

Use a Quality Photo

Holidays are about happy moments, and the best way to show family happiness is by using high-quality family photos on the card. You can arrange to get a professional photographer to take a family picture or do it yourself at home. The secret to a quality photo is to ensure you have great lighting and a crisp focus. Using the best photo quality will guarantee that your card is exceptional. Even if you compromise on other things, your photo should be exceptionally outstanding.

Remember the Fonts and Colors

Fonts and colors are the most challenging step of designing a holiday card. It is often tempting to use all the available options to make your card special. However, that is usually not the best choice; you can still get a perfect card using simple colors and fonts. When choosing the color, ensure to use colors that will synchronize with your photo and theme without complicating the design. Lastly, it is essential to select an appropriate size for your cards.

It will be easy for you to decide the type of materials, including photos, to use when you have a holiday card size in mind. Visit Mixbook to select a card that will best convey your message to your loved ones.

3 Features Of Your Home That May Decrease Its Value

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While most people aim to buy their house for the cheapest possible price, everyone also seeks to sell their home quickly and for the biggest possible profit. However, the things that may have allowed you to get your home for a smaller purchasing price will also be what could give you some trouble when you try to sell that same home for top dollar in the future.

To help you make the right changes to your home before you put it on the market, here are three features you may have in your home that could decrease its value.

Your Unique Touches

Once you move into your new home, it’s natural to want to add some finishing touches that will really showcase your personality. However, while the things you did to your home may help you feel more comfortable there, these unique touches could be a big turn off for future buyers.

Knowing this, Amanda Prischak, a contributor to the Family Handyman, recommends that you try to get rid of anything that has too much of your unique personality before you attempt to sell your home. This means choosing more neutral wallpaper or paint colors as well as replacing any fixtures that may not appeal to a mass audience.

A Lack Of Curb Appeal

It’s not just what’s going on inside of your home that can cause the value of your property to decrease.

According to Jessika Toothman, a contributor to How Stuff Works, the curb appeal of your home and property can also cause the value of your home to fall short of what it otherwise could. Things like having an unkempt yard or a poorly painted house can tank your home’s value, even if everything else might be in good condition. Additionally, if the homes around you are lacking in curb appeal, this could affect the value of your home as well, so take this in consideration when you initially purchase your home.

Your Swimming Pool Or Water Features

While many people might think that having a swimming pool or a beautiful water feature on their property would automatically be a boost in the value of their home, this isn’t always the case. In fact, in some instances, this could actually hurt the value of your home rather than helping it.

The reasoning behind this, according to Katie Avis-Riordan, a contributor to HouseBeautiful.com, is because having these features means that you have to pay to maintain them, which isn’t something every homeowner will want. Along with this, the potential hazard that a water feature or pool could bring to homeowners with kids may also cause them to devalue these things.

If you’re wanting to get your home in the best possible condition before you put it on the market, consider making some of the changes mentioned above to reduce your chances of devaluing your home.

 

3 Tips For Caring For Your Skin As An Adult Male

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While most women eventually have some kind of skin care routine that they stick with throughout life, many men don’t fall into a good system with their skin care, either as teens or as adults. However, with a little effort and some knowledge, men can easily come up with a regimen that can help them to have softer, healthier skin within putting in too much time or money.

To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for caring for your skin as an adult man.

Wash Your Face At Night

Taking the time to wash your face twice a day isn’t something that many men are willing to do. But luckily, this isn’t really required for many men to do in order to have a healthy skin care routine.

According to Cynthia Cobb, a contributor to Healthline.com, it’s not vital for men to wash their faces every morning. Rather, it’s best for men to wash their faces at night. This allows for everything that comes onto your skin during the day to be washed off before you sleep on your pillow each night. And by just using a gentle cleanser each night before you go to sleep, you will have cleaner, clearer skin that you currently have.

Don’t Worry Too Much About Exfoliating

For women, one of the mainstays of skin care is to exfoliate. But for men, exfoliating their faces isn’t something that they should be particularly worried about.

The reasoning for this, according to Garrett Munce, a contributor to Esquire.com, is because many men shave their faces every day. When you shave your face, you automatically exfoliate without actually having to use an exfoliating product. But because you can count shaving as exfoliating, you’ll want to be sure that you’re using quality shaving and skin care products so that your skin doesn’t get too rubbed and scrubbed each day that you shave, as this can cause irritation.

Pick The Right Moisturizer

Due to what your skin goes through on a regular basis, whether you’re actively adhering to a skin care routine or not, it’s important that you’re giving your skin the best chance of protecting itself by properly moisturizing it.

According to Sarah DiGiulio, a contributor to Men’s Journal, it’s best to apply moisturizer right after you’ve shaved your face while you still have some moisture on the skin. This will allow the most moisture to be sealed into your skin. Even if you have a beard or scruff, it’s still important that you apply moisturizer after cleansing your skin so that you can avoid dry skin and dandruff in your facial hair.

If you’ve yet to have a consistent skin care routine in your adult years, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you find something that will work for you.

 

3 Reasons People Look Older Than They Are

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Aging is one of those things that is inevitable, even with the help of surgery. There’s no stopping time, no matter how much we might like to think we can. The fact is that one day we are all going to have to retire one day and accept our older age.

Some people, however, may look considerably older than they actually are. So, what is the difference between those of us who look much older than our age and those of us who look much younger? The secret lies in a few things that you may not have even considered.

Take a look at some of the most common reasons why people look much older than they actually are.

They Eat Poorly

Unfortunately, the rumors are true. You most certainly are what you eat, as the saying goes. So it goes without saying that if you’re eating things which are high in preservatives, chemicals, or anything that is not derived from a natural source, it’s going to show itself in your physique.

The more chemicals that you allow into your body, the more that they’ll start to affect you negatively. You may notice more wrinkles in your skin or your metabolism lagging.

One of the biggest giveaways of age is how good of shape someone is in. If you hope to keep a healthy and strong physique, you’ll need to eat a diet that is lean and full of plenty of nutrients.

They Don’t Wear Sunscreen

The sun has plenty of benefits for our bodies. However, it isn’t doing us any favors in terms of aging. It’s important that you protect yourself from the suns harmful rays. People who fail to apply sunblock over the years will notice that their skin degrades at a much faster rate than those who do.

Some people who have leathery skin never bothered to protect themselves from the sun. If you do only one thing in your life to fight aging, wearing sunblock is the best defense.

Experts recommend applying at least 30 SPF every day, even in cloudy conditions. Since the sun can still get through clouds, you may not think you’re being harmed by the sun, but you are.

They Don’t Sleep Enough

Sleep is incredibly underrated for many busy professionals. Unfortunately, people who don’t get enough sleep will start to age much faster. When you sleep, your body is able to rejuvenate itself. A lack of rejuvenation will lead to a degrading body.

A lack of sleep over time will most notably lead to a rugged complexion and dark circles under your eyes. It’s important that you try to get at least 8 hours of sleep at night.

In addition to length of sleep, quality of sleep is also important. Make sure that you’re in a dark and quiet environment that promotes a deep sleep, which is the most kind of rejuvenating rest there is.