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Don’t let an accident abroad ruin your finances

Summer is about to begin, and that presents the ideal opportunity to go on holiday abroad. When you do go overseas for a vacation, you’ll want to stay safe, although no amount of caution can prepare you for any accidents that could happen during your stay. If, say, you were to break a leg after falling down the crooked staircase of the hotel you’re staying in or were to be involved in a car crash, that would probably ruin your holiday, and possibly your finances.

If you get injured or become ill abroad, it’s more than likely that it will last when you return home, which could mean that instead of going back to work, you’re having to leave your role, thus depriving you of your main source of income. Being off work for a number of weeks or months could cost you thousands, and you may have given up hope of ever getting that money back. Fortunately, with the help of first4lawyers, you could get the compensation necessary to restore your finances and help with your recovery.

Compensation is usually awarded if the accident was caused by someone else such as an hotelier, airline or travel company, and also encompasses a number of other factors. These include loss of enjoyment, sports accidents such as using faulty ski equipment despite being told prior to use that it was safe and even food poisoning from the hotel restaurant.

The compensation awarded following a successful claim won’t erase bad memories from the holiday from hell, but it can make things a little easier while you try to return to full health. By hiring a solicitor or lawyer with expertise in the field of accidents abroad, you know that they do their best to get you the appropriate level of compensation while navigating the different laws which each country has.

Optimise a Company with VPS and Save Money

When a company or organisation wants a website, it needs to buy server space on which its website is hosted. A Virtual Private Server (VPS, also known as a Virtual Dedicated Server) is a system in which many websites are hosted on one single physical server. However, this is different from shared hosting, which is common in individual sites, where several hundred websites could be hosted on the same server. If you are looking for

The Difference

To understand exactly what happens with a VPS, it is important to understand the other server options available to a company. The first is to have a server of their own, and have to take care of it. The second option is to share a server with some other companies, who also store their data on it. The third option is to have a Virtual Private Server, in which the service provider allocates different sections of the server to different clients, so that each client has his own dedicated part of the server.

The Benefits

A simple analogy helps explain the major benefits of having a VPS server. A dedicated server is similar to having a house of your own; you own it and have complete control over it; but it also means that you have to pay a huge sum for it, if there’s a leak or damage; you’re the one who has to take care of it. Having a shared domain is similar to sharing a dormitory room – you pay less, have the facilities but not the privacy or a dedicated space of your own, since everything is shared. Having a VPS is similar to living in an apartment. You have your own home (at a lesser cost), enjoy your privacy and the conveniences, and can contact the supervisor when you have a problem. If this fits your business then have a search for VPS servers, Daily.co.uk is a good place to start your research.

Financially, that means…

Having a dedicated server can cost a company a lot of money, in terms of investment (while purchasing the server) and maintenance. Maintenance can include everyday maintenance tasks, or one-time maintenance like repairs. Some service providers do offer maintenance and servicing, but it will come at a price. VPS, on the other hand, is available at a fraction of the price of a dedicated server. While there may be few options in a dedicated server, VPS servers come with an abundance of options. They can be upgraded or downgraded at any time, depending on the needs of the business, at a negligible cost.

What You Save

Opting for a VPS can help your company save a considerable amount of money as well as time on installation and maintenance; as well as any upgrades/downgrades that may be needed. The company also will save the money that would have been spent on having a dedicated team to look after the working of the server; or the charges incurred for repairs by the provider; most VPS providers have 24/7 help, which is provided at a negligible rate, or none at all. VPSs can be customised with the features the company needs, at a lower cost than that of a dedicated server. The company can also save a considerable chunk of money by opting for a long-term plan, rather than paying the bills on a monthly basis; most providers offer discounts for six-month and annual plans. Having a VPS can save your business a lot of time, money and effort – all of which can be concentrated on your business tasks for greater productivity and profit.

3 Steps to Managing Your Finances & Aspirations

Being able to effectively managing your finances can make the difference between living a relatively stress free life where you have no major money concerns or having to constantly look over your shoulder and worry if you’ll have enough money left over to pay the bills.

Creating a Blueprint

Careful planning is the most important aspect of managing your personal finances so it’s essential that you create a blueprint that reflects your lifestyle, values and interests. We all need money for shelter, food and clothing but beyond these three life essentials there is an infinite number of ways in which we can spend money and it’s important that you prioritise where your money is going to be spent. Once you’re in a position to cover the essentials you can then begin to spend your money elsewhere but not before your priorities have been met.

There are three key reasons why this approach is so effective:

• It helps you fully understand what your unique values are, allowing you to plan more effectively.
• It highlights potential areas where your spending is not in line with your priorities, values and interests.
• It acts as a motivator to help you take the necessary measures to succeed and is the first step on the road to creating a sound financial plan.

Identifying Problem Areas

When asked most people with financial worries say that their biggest problem as far as they’re concerned is not having enough money. The difficulty here is that they may struggle to identify the exact reasons for not having enough money. One common problem is a lack of discipline when it comes to spending which comes back to a previous point about setting out financial priorities. Impulsive spending can be classed as any purchase you make that isn’t budgeted for or isn’t something that you needed. One effective way to help you curb impulsive spending is to avoid using credit cards as these can be incredibly damming to those who struggle to manage financial commitments.

Creating Short, Mid & Long Term Goals

Setting out your goals in a realistic timeframe is a proven way to improve your personal finances and working towards the things you value in life. The key here is to find a balance between addressing the most pressing concerns and not overstretching yourself. Of all the aspects of managing your personal finances this is the one that requires the most planning, time and effort. In order to make this a success it’s advisable to breakdown each individual goals into smaller, more manageable stages so you can see exactly how much money is going towards achieving each of your goals.

A Final Thought

As with most things in life balance and moderation are the keys and it is no different when it comes to personal finance. Your aim should be to prioritise your finances in line with your aspirations and create an effective and manageable plan to help you achieve both your personal and financial goals.

Biography

Jay-Jay Stephens writes about a number of areas relating to personal finance including how professional wealth management can help you secure your financial future.

Why A Starter Home Is Obsolete

By Betsy Falwell

The “for sale” sign is firmly planted in our front yard, as is a statue of St. Joseph – the patron saint of house hunters everywhere – who now lies six-inches under our grass, head down, facing the street. The listing is posted online, giving everyone with a computer 16 different images inside our home.

Selling a home is no walk in the park these days. In fact, three months in to the process, I’d tell you that – hands down – it is the most stressful financial situation my husband and I have ever gone through. It’s far more difficult than getting married and setting up our household financially. It’s far more frustrating than adapting our budget to accommodate one, then two children in less than three years. It’s even scarier than when I quit my full-time job to embark on a career as a freelance writer and researcher.

Our house is your stereotypical starter home. While there’s no hard-and-fast definition for what makes a property a starter home, I think you’d agree that ours basically fits the bill:

• 3 bedrooms
• 2.5 baths
• 1800 square feet
• .20 acre lot
• Tract-housing neighborhood – our house has a floor plan similar to roughly 25 percent of our neighbors
• When we moved in, there were no high-end finishes in the house – everything was construction- or builder-grade

When we bought the house in 2006 – before the start of the mortgage meltdown – we paid $146,900. We thought we were getting a great deal. Six years, one addition, a minor kitchen remodel, and $25,000 in improvements later, and we’re looking to sell. We’ve already knocked our asking price down from $163,900 to $159,900, and have had hardly a nibble. In fact, none of the other five houses currently for sale in our starter neighborhood have had much action either.

The reason?

I think the concept of a starter home has become obsolete in today’s real estate market… and here’s why.

Buyers Are Skittish

We’ve all heard the horror stories of homeowners with underwater mortgages, facing foreclosures, and plummeting home values. At the peak of the real estate crisis, some markets were seeing as many as one in three distressed properties, meaning that a full third of homeowners were either facing foreclosure or an underwater loan (that’s when you owe more on the property than it’s actually worth). Fortunately for my husband and I, we’ve never been in trouble like that with our home. But unfortunately for us, all that bad news has scared a lot of potential buyers off.

Buyers Have Had To Wait

My husband and I have friends who were planning to buy their first home just as the market started to crash. Instead of sinking their hard-earned cash into an investment that couldn’t promise any immediate returns, they decided to continue renting until they felt more comfortable buying. Nearly four years later, they finally decided the market had recovered sufficiently to guarantee their investment wouldn’t be for naught, while also ensuring they’d get a great deal on their first place.

When the market tanked, they didn’t have enough money saved up to put a 20 percent down payment on even a modest starter home. But four years of saving gave them a fund of nearly $80,000 to draw from. They used a mortgage calculator to see exactly what they could afford. Because of that hefty down payment, they quickly realized they’d be able to bypass a starter home completely. Instead, they were able to compare home loans and lock in a low rate on a $350,000 home. With 4,000 square feet on a full acre, it’s hardly a starter home; in fact, they plan to live there until they die.

Buyers Want It All

When my husband and I bought our first place, we weren’t looking for all the bells and whistles. In our minds, we knew this house – our starter home – would be where we’d rest our heads for about five to seven years before moving on… and up. At the time, we were both entry-level professionals without children, so our needs were fairly modest. We wanted a master suite, a second bedroom for our parents to stay in whenever they visited from out of town, and a third room – be it a bedroom, bonus room, or den – to serve as a home office. We got everything we wished for, and considered ourselves lucky.

Fast-forward six years, and our tastes – and needs – have changed. We’ve added two kids to the mix, a boy and a girl, both of whom need their own bedroom. There went our guest room and our home office. We also added a dog, who doesn’t have nearly enough room to roam outside on our tiny lot. To make matters even more pressing, I’ve expanded my freelance career, meaning it’s imperative I have a dedicated home office to do my work. All in all, our once-perfect starter home is now about three rooms – and half an acre – too small.

Partly because they’ve had to wait – and partly because they’re realizing the headaches associated with buying and selling real estate – many first-time homebuyers out there today aren’t looking for the modest trappings of our house. They want it all. If you’ve ever watched an episode of HGTV’s “House Hunters,” you know what I’m talking about. Today’s first-time buyers are savvy and demanding. They want granite countertops in the kitchen and baths, dual sinks in the master bathroom, hardwood floors throughout, and custom lighting where it counts. Another key difference? Because they’re planning to pay for a bigger home, they want something that’s move-in ready; they don’t want to pay for the house, and then find themselves paying thousands of dollars a few months down the road to fix it up.

Buyers’ Needs Have Changed

Today’s first-time buyers aren’t the 20-something newlyweds my husband and I were. Because many of them have waited out the housing crisis – and saved up big bucks for a down payment in the process – they’re older; many of them have not one but several children already. That means a three bedroom house simply isn’t going to cut it.

In my area, we have a builder who is currently constructing his version of the modern starter home. Unlike our house, it isn’t a 3 bedroom 2.5 bath model. Rather, it accommodates to the needs of a growing family. With five bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and 2800 square feet, it wouldn’t have qualified as a starter home back in 2006.

Buyers Want Prime Location

I have to admit, my husband and I overlooked a key rule of real estate when we bought this house: location, location, location. Sure, we checked all the boxes and made sure it was convenient to our jobs, local shopping, and entertainment. What we failed to examine was the school district. The fact was, we didn’t plan to raise school-age children in this house, so it never even dawned on us.

Because today’s first-time buyers are often house shopping with their children in tow, access to reputable school districts is a must. They’re not singles or newlyweds who are eager to be close to chic boutiques and high-end restaurants; rather, they want to be near family-friendly parks and great schools.

What I Want As A Second-Time Buyer

With my husband and I looking to move out of our starter home, we’re finding ourselves competing with many of these first-time homebuyers for properties that, years ago, were typically second homes. While the market in our area has been pretty flat for traditional starter homes – which run about $120,000 to $170,000 in our region – the sales of slightly more expensive homes (up to $250,000) has been hot. Already, my husband and I have watched as every home we’ve toured and liked has been snatched up by another buyer. Our Realtor informed us that in just about all of those cases, we were beat out by a first-time buyer.

Feature Phone Vs Smartphone: Which Is Best For Gadget Lovers?

If you love technology, and literally can’t leave home without a few prize gadgets filling your pockets then you are probably also pretty enamoured with your smart phone; and why wouldn’t you be? It no doubt contains your whole life; contacts, email accounts, social networking essentials and doubtless dozens of addictive games to play.

In short, smart phones are a gadget lover’s dream (particularly the iPhone let’s face it).

But I think that we as users have left out an important alternative that in many ways serves the true gadget lover even better; Feature Phones.

What Is It?

A feature phone is like a smart phone, but erm, less smart. It doesn’t do as much because it doesn’t run on a proper operating system (such as Android or iOS) and instead runs on bespoke software designed for that specific phone.

These phones are more capable than just a ‘regular phone’, but less so than a true smart phone – they generally don’t have access to all of the Apps you would get for your iPhone for instance. But Let’s look at how they actually compare.

Calls and Messaging

Well obviously any feature phone does this just as well as your iPhone – this is at the end of the day what a phone is for, and it’s probably the function you use the most. Any good feature phone will display text messages as conversations if that’s what you like, and call quality is no worse.

Email

Well now this depends on the phone, but certainly there are feature phones available that handle email almost as well as a true smart phone, and for the majority of users that is all you need – you receive your emails when they come in, you can reply and you can delete ones you don’t want. Do you honestly need full folder support?

Apps

Ok, so this is where a smartphone shines, but good feature phones do come loaded with most of the functions you might need, and often there are a limited number of addons available from the manufacturer. I’ll admit that if you are a heavy app user then this could be a deal breaker, but stick with me.

Battery

This is where feature phones shine – because they do less, they don’t need as much processing power. They are built in a bespoke way so the functions they have, they do very well and very fast; but the lower processing power means that they use much less energy.

You see, your iPhone, with its powerful CPU is eating up loads of power even when it’s in your pocket doing not a lot. This is why smart phones generally just about make it from morning till bed time between recharges.

With careful use your feature phone might well last 5 days or more, and even with heavy use you can probably get 3 days out of it.

Remember, your smart phone is only smart when it’s got charge, and as soon as you go somewhere overnight and forget that charger you will find yourself without a phone the next day.

Price

Here’s another biggy. Feature phones are much much much cheaper – which means that you don’t have to spend extra money on phone insurance, you don’t have to worry so much about it getting stolen and you can spend your money on some other awesome gadgets (you might want to get some cheap gadget insurance for those ones though).

What It Comes Down To:

Ok, so there’s no getting around the fact that an iPhone does stuff a feature phone can’t; But how much do you really use those features? Are they really worth the extra cost and the inability to go more than 15 hours between charges?

One great alternative is to get a feature phone and an iPod, you get the best of both worlds; great battery life on both devices, all the Apps you could dream of on your iPod and the total price of both is probably less than half what you’d spend on a true smart phone.

Ok, so it does mean you have to carry 2 gadgets and not just one, but what’s a bit of pocket space really matter? Besides, if you really love gadgets, now you have twice as many to play with!

Finding Out More On Prepaid Credit Cards

Typically with a credit card we are expected to fill out an application and, as is often the case, we can sometimes find we do not fulfil the requirements. This can be a hassle in the modern world when cards are being used more and more for a variety of transactions. This is where prepaid credit cards come in handy as they bypass the usual requirements letting you make the transactions you need to.

With a card of this type all you need to do is put the money on it, as and when you have it. Most places are now accepting of them and you can only spend the money you have. This can be a great way to keep a track of your finances.

All you have to do is place the amount of money that you want to put on it. This can be done through a number of different methods such as at the bank or online. There may be a fee for this so it is best to check with the card provider beforehand.

They are open too many different people looking for a place to store their finances. It could be for younger users searching for a first time account, or just those who are looking to get their credit rating back in order. Anybody can use one because there are no credit checks applied.

Even if you have a credit card already, these can be a great way of keeping your finances straightforward and stress free. You could be looking to build your credit history up or you might just want to pay for services online. There are many reasons why these cards are a viable alternative.

You will have many options open to you so you will need to carefully examine all the different services offering this card. It’s best to check what their fees are going to be though as you want to be paying as little as possible. Make sure that the card is available to your age-group though, because they can sometimes stipulate nobody under eighteen.

Once you have your card you will be able to make your hassle free transactions straight away. You should also see savings as you only spend the money you have on there, which keeps you debt free. This makes prepaid credit cards the simpler alternative for you and your savings.

Money saving tips – the benefits of utilising cloud technology in a business

The term cloud technology appeared only a few years ago, but it seems to have grown in popularity to the extent that everyone is talking about it for one reason or another. The main advantages that cloud technology has brought about are related to increased efficiency and significant savings over traditional IT solutions. This article has been written for those who might still be unconvinced, as it will examine the main financial benefits that cloud technology can bring to a business. For more information check here for a low down on the nuts and bolts of cloud technology.

1- Pay as you go computing solutions

If your business is considering making the move to cloud computing, it is important to keep in mind that not all providers are equal. It is recommendable to choose a provider that offers pay as you go IT solutions. What this means is that you get to pay only for what you use, and that you can modify your contract with the provider to fit your computing needs.

Another characteristic feature of cloud solutions is scalability. This means that you can access more computing power as and when you need it, so in fact, cloud computing is an on-demand IT solution. The best part is that you can also “scale down” your servers during quiet periods, so your business will not be wasting money and/or resources unnecessarily.

2- Cloud types

Despite the popularity of the term cloud computing, not many people are familiar with the different types of clouds available. Businesses can save some money by choosing to migrate their software to a public cloud. Public clouds tend to offer industry-specific software packages that can be used by several organisations at any given time. Because there is no need for the cloud owners to create a specific software package for every company, prices are very affordable and often designed following a pay as you go model.

Public clouds offer additional ways of saving money. For example, there are significant savings associated to public cloud services, since they do not require businesses to invest in equipment at all. In addition, there is no need for a company using public cloud services to buy, maintain or repair servers. In other words, there are no capital expenses associated with public cloud computing.

3- Cloud computing and efficiency

Few business people would disagree with the statement that time is money. Think of all the time that is routinely wasted when software upgrades need to be carried out on every single computer in the office. Cloud computing developers took that into account too when designing the infrastructure of their computing models, so by switching to cloud computing, you will be saving time, maximising your overall organisational efficiency, and thus saving costs.

4- Choosing the right storage area network device

Migrating to the cloud offers financial benefits if you know which storage area network device is best. These are clusters of storage devices connected between them via an optical network. These devices do not depend on a physical machine in cloud environments, so your applications and critical data are available 100% of the time, increasing your company’s efficiency and overall performance.

Maximise Your Earnings and Career – CV Polishing Tips

The first step when applying for a job in finance is to create a killer CV. Many people, especially those that have applied for countless jobs, fail to provide their CV polishing efforts with the time required to win over a potential new employer. However, it is essential to keep in mind that a CV is a personal marketing document that will determine whether or not an individual is promoted during the recruitment process. Adopting these five CV polishing tips can aid a job seeker in moving themselves a step closer to the finance job that they so desperately desire.

1. Changing Perspective

When updating their CV, a job hunter should ensure that they are in the right frame of mind. CV honing should not be seen as a chore. Instead, it should be viewed as an opportunity for an individual to sell themselves.

2. Performing A Personal Audit

A CV should list a job seeker’s assets in terms of their skills, experience, personal attributes and knowledge. When reviewing a personal audit, it is essential for an individual to ensure that they have detailed their career as a whole and not just their current job. They should have considered areas outside of their work that they have excelled in and should seek to have fully recognised all of their achievements.

3. Summarising the CV

All CVs should contain a summary profile which is a short yet snappy pitch designed to attract the attention of an employer. The summary profile should be the first section on an individual’s CV and should be written to be as powerful as possible. The summary should ideally be written once an individual has comprised the main body of their CV. The summary should include the number of years’ experience an individual has obtained and specific knowledge and skills that have been acquired.

4. Focusing On Achievements

Employers will wish to know about a job seeker’s achievements and results. If these have been listed on a CV in great detail, they should be refined so that they are in bullet point form. A long list of achievements should be replaced with two to three key specific achievements, such as “increased mortgage sales by 25%” or “increased client satisfaction score from 95% to 99%”.

5. Acquiring Feedback

Once an individual has refined their CV, they should ask trusted friends and relatives to review their finished document. Ideally, they should enlist the opinion of those who already work in the sector you wish to apply. If you are searching for a public sector housing job for example, someone who works for a housing association would be ideal. It is essential for all feedback to be taken into consideration. Any further changes made should enhance the document yet retain the key facts.

For job hunters, the key to making their CV stand out is to ensure that it is tailored to the position that they are applying for. Different job roles will need different CVs to match the strengths and experience required to fulfil each of these jobs.

SMEs: The Benefits of Downloadable Templates & Forms

It is always wise to explore ways to save money and be more efficient when owning and operating a business but during times of austerity when so many businesses are winding up or being bankrupt is even more important. This is especially true for small to medium enterprises in the UK because they simply need to work harder and longer to compete with mega corporations in their field. SMEs may not have the operating budget which are corporations have other benefits to downloadable templates and forms which can be cost-effective and time-saving.

Why Downloadable Templates and Forms Are Cost-Effective

When it is possible to download almost any type of spreadsheet in template form, there is no reason to hire extra personnel to calculate such things as expense claims forms and mileage logs either with flat rate VAT or regular VAT. Not only is it possible to save on manpower but when these forms are downloadable from the Internet then there is no need to pay a set up fee to have them customized for your business. Most often they are in Excel format which is easily modified and filled in even by novice users.

Time-Saving Features of Fillable Forms

It goes without saying that when a form can simply be filled in there is minimal time and effort expended. This frees up workers to do other tasks and expedites whatever job they are doing. This is especially important when it comes time to fill out tax forms for HMRC because they are easily located online and many times can be filled in from the computer and then just printed. Some can be digitally transmitted and others may need to be posted as a hardcopy but being able to access them online is certainly time-saving.

In the end, saving time means saving money so these two benefits are inextricably bound together. Any time a business is able to save time of course it will also mean saving money because that cuts down on payroll. Using fillable forms and templates is one great way to accomplish both in one go.

Bio: Nixon Williams is a team of experienced and dedicated contractor accountants offering services to businesses of all sizes throughout the UK. Click here to find out more.

3 Sure-fire Ways SMEs Can Save Money

In today’s economy it is so vitally important for businesses to find ways to cut costs and save on operating expenses wherever possible. This is especially essential to the longevity of small to medium size enterprises when competing in a world of mega-corporations with unlimited budgets. Here are 3 sure-fire ways SMEs can save money!

#1 Technology – Technology is a wonderful thing. Not only can SME’s do their part to save the ecology but they can ensure the continued existence of their business at the same time. Investing in a laptops and iPads not only saves paper but also the cost of operating computer systems. Also, VoIP phone lines are much more cost effective than hard wired lines and with VoIP it isn’t necessary to pay for a slew of mobile phones either. Then there are digital signature capture modules that link to servers as proof of delivery – cost effect and ‘green’ as well!

#2 Office Space – It isn’t always necessary for SMEs to have private offices so many businesses have taken to sharing office space. Not only does this help with the cost of renting space, but Internet can be shared, phone lines, receptionists and even security which is a wonderful way to cut down on a large portion of operating costs. If you have a business with extra office space available, try renting some out! It’s a great way to bring in a bit of extra money.

#3 Tax Allowances – Many companies wait almost until it is time to file a self assessment before investigating what kinds of allowances may be covered and as a result may not have the supporting documentation necessary to declare all the allowances which could reduce the amount of taxes owed. A good accountancy will be able to help you organize throughout the year so that everything is in hand when it comes time to report. How does this save money? The savvy business owner will be on guard throughout the year to keep track of anything which qualifies for an allowance (write-off) and to avoid those products and services which aren’t recognised by HMRC.

Even when the economy recovers to where it was before the current debt crisis, a smart business owner will look to cut costs as much as possible. In troubled economic times this keeps a business afloat but during a ‘normal’ economy, cutting costs increases profits and that’s what being in business is all about.

Bio: These tips are offered by Liptrott and Woosey, a team of young and enthusiastic Manchester accountants with a totally fresh approach to accounting.