The envelope system of budgeting

Often, when you cash a check through a bank, your money is given to you in a cash envelope. People used to spend the money in this envelope wisely, knowing that there was no more money until the next payday. They physically could look and see how much they had left everytime they shopped or thought about shopping.

So rarely do we sit and look at our checking register before we whip out a plastic card or a pen. The envelope system of budgeting works for many people. It uses the tried and true method of physically seeing your dollars to determine your spending.

First, you sit down and budget out your spending. You can use one of two methods:

In method one, you label an envelope for each expense. Be sure to break down your yearly bills, such as property taxes or insurance premiums, into monthly allotments. Each envelope will have an amount on it that you will place in it each month. You can substitute envelopes for several coupon organizers. Designate one for bills, one for debts and one for monthly spending. This method works well for those with few bills.

Method two takes into account that many payments come directly from your checking. On paper, you will account for each bill that you pay during the month. This is your bill paying guideline. Simply keep a notebook with a page for each month with each bill listed. Mark them off as you pay them. You can total each month's bills in advance to help determine how much you have to go in the envelopes.

It is often wise to go ahead and have your savings automatically deducted from your account each month. Never seeing the money in an envelope reduces the desire to pinch some of it.

Take the left over money each month and allot it to the envelopes for your monthly spending. The envelope categories may include groceries, clothing, eating out, gasoline, car maintenance and so on.

If you allot $100 a month to clothing, put $100 in cash in the clothing envelope. You can only spend what is in your envelope for clothing on clothing. If you don't spend anything on clothing one month, then you will have $200 in the envelope the next month. Once you've spent all of the money in the envelope, you are done with that category for the month.

The cash you have is all you can spend. Don't write a check, don't use a debit card and never use your credit card to buy extras.

It could take a few weeks to get the process down, but stick with it. You will get the hang of it. Most people find that the envelope method allows them the spending freedom they desire from a budget. They know how much they can go spend, without worrying about what has already been spent for the month.

If you are paid bi-weekly, simply adjust the method to work around your pay periods.

I like to treat myself for sticking with the method by taking all of the cash out of the grocery, eating out and entertainment envelopes and putting it in a special savings envelope before refilling it each month. This is my blow money. I use it to save for things I see that I want. This envelope has no rules or restrictions, but can be used for anything. I've found that over time, it is easier to save for large items -- I don't just blow it on a bunch of little things.

Las vegas how to have non gambling related fun

Last month, my wife, Anne Doe, took me to Las Vegas because she had to go for a business convention. Needless to say, she writes for an guide to casinos and I hate gambling. But then, she likes it and this supports us too, so I went along without any hassle. At first I was depressed, but then as I asked around and looked around, I ended up having more fun in Las Vegas than I would have thought. And no. I did not enter a single casino while I was there.

Entertainment:

One of the greatest things about Las Vegas, Reno and Atlantic City (but especially Las Vegas) is the number of shows that are available. You can get to watch top class comedians like Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Ray Romano, Tim Allen and even the likes of Bill Cosby and Chris Rock. If you are into music you can watch female singers like Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Beyonc?, male performers like Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Snoopy Dog and bands like Oasis and Bon Jovi. I could go on and on but the list is endless. If you are into magic you can watch magicians like David Copperfield do their thing meters from you. Whatever you like, you can find it here from Western music to oldies to Jazz, Rock, Heavy Mettle to Trance. All you have to do is look at the itenary offered during your visit.

Food:

Chinese to Japanese to Korean to Jewish and even Vegetarian and proper meat eating establishments await your every delight in Vegas. Do not opt for the cheap and oily fried dishes served for free while you play. Stop a while and take in the delightful scenery and smells of East Asian or European dishes. What is wondrous is that you get to see man's ability to mix. A real melting pot if I may say so myself.

But is that all what casino cities like Las Vegas are about? Do you have to remain in the city to really and truly enjoy your stay?

No.

Here are some of the better attractions you must see on your visit to Vegas:

Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon:

Book yourself a seat on any of the many sightseeing tours available and go and watch the architectural marvel that is Hoover Dam built over the Grand canyon which is also a grand sight to see by itself. Black Canyon is another must see as is Lake Mead which is so beautiful just because it is a body of water all surrounded by desert-like nature.

Colorado River:

While looking at the Dam and Canyon is from above, to see the true beauty of the river, you have to go down. The Colorado river is excellent for river-rafting and water sports, but you do not have to take part if it is not your thing. Instead just sit back and enjoy another of nature's marvels.

Bonnie Springs:

Who can not resist going to one of the old towns like those in the Western gun slinging movies? Your destination needs to be Old Nevada. There you can delight in an old western town right in the middle of Red Rock Canyon. They host western shootouts too so come prepared, partner!

Conclusion:

I could go on and on about other attractions like the theme park in Circus Circus, the Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary, the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve and Mt. Charleston but I think you get the picture. In Las Vegas and hate gambling? Do not despair. Just go out and have some clean un-gambling fun.

Making the perfect judgment in mortgage refinancing

If there's one reality that should be accepted by mortgage borrower that is the fact that mortgage interest rates nowadays are soaring unrelentingly. Consequently, the used to be lustrous Adjustable Rate Mortgages was already outshined by the conventional fixed interest loans for mortgage.

In the event that you decide to take mortgage refinancing and have a foreseeable mortgage payment you would need to work out your budget. Probably you may take the 30 year fixed interest rate mortgage loan, but it should be paired up with enough knowledge regarding mortgage refinancing so that you won't end up outspending.

Be informed

Knowledge is the key for you to be able to direct everything to a path that is lucrative for you. Yes it popular and for some it is the best option to take, but are you guaranteed that it would function in the same way with you? The first step for you to take to be able to calculate the risk of what you are settling in, is to investigate the existing market and some accessible services which you can take advantage of.

The benefits

If you are a homeowner with an untarnished credit, then you might just be looking at a blessing thrown from heaven because you can experience having lower rates than what the others with bad credit has to endure. Not to mention the fact that you get high appreciation for your property.

Refinancing may also be beneficial for you, as soon as you reach the moment known as the reassessment phase, wherein the payment, terms and the interest rates would most likely be altered at that point. The hybrid loans which are especially offered by mortgage refinancing gives you a fixed rate while choosing from an adjustable rate of the so called balloon payment which is characterized by balanced due.

This option may actually give you either gains or costs, but for you to be able to weigh which is the best option then you must learn to conduct a basic comparison. Simply evaluate the costs the loan where you are in as of the moment and a potential loan which you are taking into consideration for future action.

Due to the fact that you can only estimate how much you are going to pay subject to you capacity to pay, you can only predict the length of time when you would be able to handle a new mortgage. If you were able to sum up all the costs and it is lower than what you currently then you must refinance.

How much to borrow

Though it is the discretion of the lending agency to provide you with the amount of refinancing loan which you have applied for, but there are times when they would just give you less.

They are most likely to consider your capacity to pay them back, your credit history, previous monetary responsibility and the appraisal of your home. In reality, the advantages offered by refinancing were really amazing, but for you to be able to maximize it you must also gauge the perfect timing when to settle for it.

Games which are the easiest to play

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Here is a guide to the best online games. Find yourself winning, or at least not necessary losing in the long run. The best casino games are games that have a low house edge or games where by practicing your skill you can have an advantage over the casino. Those with the lowest house edge are blackjack and video poker. By improving the skill with which you play poker and blackjack, you gain an advantage over the other player or over the casino.

House Edge:
First, here is an explanation about the term house edge. The house edge is the way the casinos create an artificial advantage over the player to ensure their profits. The advantage is created by not paying the true odds. The house edge is the gap between the true odds and the odds the casino actually pays out for a winning.

Here is an example for clarification. The true odds in an American roulette game are 37:1. However, if you place a one dollar bet, you would be paid 35 dollars instead of 37 dollars, which are the true odds. The two dollars gap between the true odds and the actual payout is the casino house edge. You can calculate American roulette house edge by dividing 2 dollars by 38. The result is 5.26 percent.

Poker:
This is an exceptional casino game. It is the only casino game where you play against the other players instead of competing against the casino. There is not a house edge in poker. Instead, most casinos ensure their profits by collecting a rake, which is a certain percentage of the pot used to cover expenses. Other casinos charge each player by the hour.

Poker is the best casino game to play if you are a skilled player. A skilled player with experience, excellent knowledge in certain game rules, smart strategy and an ability to read facial expressions would have an advantage over the less skilled poker players, especially those who rely on their good fortune.

Blackjack:
This is the only casino game where the advantage can be shifted from the player to the dealer. When you are playing blackjack and using an optimal strategy, the house edge can be lower than 0.5 percent. You can increase your odds of winning and lower the house edge by learning the strategy based on the mathematics of the game.

Another way to lower the casino advantage in blackjack is by card counting. A skilled card counter can adjust his bets and his strategy according to the proportion between high cards and low cards. Mastering card counting requires skill and practice. In addition, since casinos are not especially welcoming card counters to their blackjack tables, you should also practice your hiding skills.

Video Poker:
The resemblance between video poker and slot machine sometimes causes confusion. Nevertheless, contrasting to slot machine, video poker is a game of skill. Playing video poker using an optimal strategy can lower its house edge to less than half percent. As opposed to slot machines, in video poker machine the pay table on the front of the machine enables you to determine the expected return of the game.

For example:
1) In a 9/6 Jacks or Better video poker machine, the expected return percentage can be as high as 99.5 percent.
2) In a 8/5 Jacks or Better machine the return percentage can be 97.3 percent and 95 percent in a 6/5 Jacks or Better video poker machine.
3) In a full paying Deuces Wild machine, the expected return percentage can be 100.17 percent.

Home loans overview

Home is the biggest dream of everyone’s life. In today’s market with ever-increasing prices of land and property, buying a home requires meticulous planning.

In most of the cases buying your dream house will require some kind of financial help. Banks come as a rescue at this point. Keeping in mind the increasing trend of buying houses, Banks have made home loans really consumer friendly.

Market is flooded with lot of lucrative deals but of course with hidden costs. Always consult a professional before applying for home loans so as to help decipher these costs and help you get the best deal in terms of PMI, flexi interest rates and bank services.

Home loans are something that involves lot of money and thus its PMI is extended over long period of time. One has to take care while choosing a bank with repute to finance home projects. It has been widely experienced that a customer is troubled few years later and then his options are limited, but gets exploited. Always go through the deal carefully and see for any sort of loopholes.

The golden rule is to be prepared to enjoy the loan and not crib over buying of home.

The first thing towards preparation of Home loan is to calculate your true borrowing capacity.

Let us have a look at the various types of Home Loans presently floating in the market-

1. Capital repayment home loans

2. Endowment home loans,

3. Pension linked home loans

4. Interest-only home loans

5. Reverse home loan

Apart from availing loan for buying a new house, these days you can also avail home loan for renovation, extension etc. Right choice of financial institution can save a lot of worry and money. Factors on which loan depends are-

1. Your financial position - basically it refers to your budget and affordability.

2. Equity you share in finished property

3. Time frame

4. Whether you are selling a property to buy this one or are it a fresh first buy.

Analyze the complete situation in totality; weighing the options provided and risks involved. Only then will you get the optimum benefit of the loan.

Most important factor in deciding home loan is interest rate. You can choose among various options of interest rates, namely-

1. Fixed-rate loan

2. Adjustable-rate loan

3. Loans for first-time homebuyers

You can choose the first option of fixed interest rate loan if you are a salaried income earner. This stable interest rate will help you plan your monthly budget conveniently and save you from unnecessary concern over fluctuating interest rates.

Adjustable interest rate is beneficial for those who are taking loan from investment point of view. Here initial interest rate is low. Interest rate will change based on market conditions.

The idea behind loan for first time buyers is to give them hassles free loaning system.

There is no dearth of options to avail loan but one needs a lot of research to avoid any kind of hassles at a later stage.

Business banking getting the right account for your business

While many people turn to their usual bank when opening a business account, it’s advisable to shop around. There can be some advantages to using the same bank for personal and business accounts – your manager may be more supportive if you are known to the bank and have a sound financial track record. However, each bank offers different services and has different bank charges.

Many banks are currently offering free business banking for a set period – six months or a year – as an incentive. There are also a variety of support packages, such as free business software and dedicated advisers to help with your business plan. Choose a bank that will give the best all round deal for your particular business – you may also want to consider corporate ethos and ethical banking when deciding which bank to take your business to.

Choosing Your Accounts

Depending on your business type and size, you may need different accounts. If you are likely to be making frequent transactions, for example, you may be better off with an account that charges a fixed monthly fee, rather than a fee per transaction. If you need to process debit and credit card payments, you will need a merchant account.

For overseas trading, you may want a foreign currency account. As with personal accounts, it may be worthwhile to hold more than one type of account – for example, a current account for day-to-day banking and a deposit account for investing profits. There’s nothing to stop you having different accounts with different banks – although you might get a better deal if you hold all your accounts with one.

Opening Your Account

You will need to set up a meeting with a business advisor to open an account. In order to prevent money laundering, you will need to provide certain information at this point – including proof of identity such as driving license or passport, plus proof of your address and signature. The advisor will want to see a business plan and details of your financial planning. There are many schemes that offer help with putting together a business plan. Make sure you have as detailed a plan as possible when presenting it to your advisor – this will help him or her to offer the best services for your needs.

You will also need an account opening mandate – the bank will provide this.

For limited companies you will need a certificate of incorporation.

Finding offshore services

Many who are concerned about the safety of their assets have turned to offshore services as a way of helping them. If you are one of the many who worry that your assets could be sued by some frivolous lawsuit and you’ll end up losing everything, then the consideration of these offshore-services is something that you must look further into. The good news is that there is a wealth of information to be had that can help ease your fears considerably.

There are various types of offshore services that can provide you with the safety and secrecy that you may need. For example, one of the most common problems with keeping money in United States banks and financial institutions is the simple fact that they are easy to fall victim to possession should someone win a lawsuit against the individual. But, with offshore services, there are a number of remote ways to keep those assets safe from this type of action.

In order to find the right opportunities for your specific needs, simply invest some time in finding the opportunities available to you through the web. Not only can you find the information that you are looking for about offshore services, but you can find the companies and financial institutions that can help you secure them right here as well. The combination of these things will help you find trust and safety in your asset protection systems once again.

Whether you are looking for offshore banking or offshore financial institutions, you can easily locate them on the web. You can find companies that can help with investment protection or other services as well. In fact, you can also locate companies that have the ability to provide you with offshore software needs too. Offshore services can also be investigated on the web as well to find out how secure they are and how trustworthy they are as well. Offshore services like these offer you safety.