5 category of shopaholic

Do you like shopping, as a hobby? Be careful you get a shopaholic addiction symptoms that could endanger your personal financial. Before spending too far, look first for these 5 shopaholic symptoms as follows:

1. Not having a plan when shopping.
Indeed, shopping also need a plan. There are several points that must be considered, such as: Where do you want to shop? What item you want to buy? Then, prepare the funds! Write it on a piece of paper or your hand phone. Those who do not have a plan would only buy items based on desirable products. But then they regret having bought these items. Plan your shopping, and shop as planned.

2. Shopping using credit cards and do not have the cash to pay bills.
Do not buy things using credit cards if you do not have the money to pay off when the bill arrives. Credit card is used for an emergency situation such as illness and to avoid the risk of carrying cash money in your wallet. Please remember, do not be tempted to swipe your card whatever the reason.

3. Shopping without money in hand.
This type of shopper will do shopping with the assumption that later he would pay using the yearly bonus, the inheritance, or whatever the money that currently not on hand. This type of shopper will lose the future, because he was taking his future and used today. Do not spend if you do not have the money at this time. Delay until you have it on hand.

4. Sale addict.
Everywhere we go, there's always the word 'SALE', 'Discounts’, '20% up to 70%'. This type will be very easy to be deluded by only a word: "SALE". It will not take long, this type of shopper will immediately step on the gas and shopping. They can stand for long in the shopping mall, a full day just to look around for stuff that he do not know. Psst, buying the ‘SALE product’ will not make you rich.

5. Using the saving money to do shopping.
The money for shopping should have been prepared in monthly expenditure budget or entertainment/leisure budget. It is not recommended to use money from another post/budget, especially insurance money and saving, to pay your shopping. If you do not have any more money to spend, which is not scheduled, try to postpone and schedule it for the next month.

Before shopping for monthly household or another needs, make a list of items to be purchased on a piece of paper and bring some money enough to pay the list. Financial planning is important. If it is not planned or allocated, it means that you do not need to shop.



[image taken from: shereentravelscheap.blogspot.com]

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Cash money vs Credit card, Which one is more efficient?

Bringing enough cash money can indeed prevent us from the desire to shop impulsively. It is also leaving our credit cards at home when not needed. Well, if it's the way we often do, it's time to sort out when to pay in cash or credit card. Paying cash is not always effective and credit card sometimes can give us extra discount.

Choose to pay in cash for:

♣ Food
Credit cards are promising discounts of up to 50 percent in certain restaurants. However, the promos are likely to make us more extravagant about food. Just because we can feel a big discount, we become excessive ordering a lot of menu that is not necessarily to eat up.

♣ Routine needs
For transportation cost, meal, or clothes shopping, it is better to use your own cash. It is because the credit card is not an 'extra money', but it is a debt to be collected one month later.

Choose to pay with credit card for:

♣ Buying the air flight tickets and concert tickets
Rather than having to queue and have a risk of running out of tickets, credit cards provide convenience in 'ticketing'. Not only practical, there is lot of credit cards makes a collaboration or cooperation with airline companies and music promoters to give discounts or promo price, such as buy 1 get 1 free.

♣ Overseas transactions
Both the hotel or tickets for tourist attractions when you travel overseas are having an online transaction prices 30 percent cheaper than if we buy it on the spot. For example, the price of online tickets for Universal Studios is approx USD 50. While when we buy ticket on the spot, probably you would pay up to USD80. Save money, right?

♣ Gadgets and electronics.
When the amount of your savings is not enough to buy a dream tablet PC, your salary is also not so big, installment promotion with 0% of interest can be an easy way to have your dreamed gadget.

♣ Branded goods
Investing for some high-quality products such as handbags and shoes, needs to be done so that we can save money every month just to buy shoes and bags that are easily damaged. Take advantage of credit card's promo and zero-interest loan to purchase these items.





[image taken from: fotolibra.com]

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How to shop smartly in the Supermarket?

There are a lot of housewives who cannot control her desire when she was shopping for daily needs at the supermarket. Even with a prepared shopping list on your hand, but the temptation to buy other items still tease you.

Then, how to shop effectively in the supermarket and does not exceed your budget? The following tips might be helping you to figure it out.

1. Shopping for foods only once a week.
Attach a note on your fridge magnetic, also provide a pen nearby. When you are currently out of stock of food and drinks in the freezer, immediately write down the items on the notes.

This habit has a big impact on your household budget. It is because without a shopping list, you are likely to going back to the nearest supermarket. This method is inefficient, both for your financial and your time.

When you come into the supermarket at so many times, you may be tempted by the offer of discounts or other items you do not actually need.

Instead, take time once a week to spend for the needs of food and drink. Make sure to bring along with you the shopping list when you go to the supermarket.

2. No need to use the shopping cart
If you go to the supermarket to buy a bottle of water, no need to use a cart. When you are going to buy some items, more than three items, for example, select the basket instead of trolleys. Your initial plan is just to buy a few things. When you are using a cart or trolley, you tend to be impulsive shoppers to buy goods that are actually not included in your shopping list.

3. Write down the price of 12 products.
Beside the shopping list, you also need a record of the price lists of 12 essential daily needs. Check your refrigerator and your kitchen, what are the 12 essential daily needs. Usually milk and bread are on the list.

Bring this note every time you shop at the supermarket. Then, write down the price of each product, including when the supermarket have a discount program on that such products. Check also the price after discount. You can also compare prices from one supermarket to another supermarket. The price difference can save the family finances, is not it?

4. Make sure the correct price at checkout.
The cashier did not always follow the update price of the product or products on sale. Make sure the price you see on the shelf is same with the price when you checkout at cashier machine. If the price is wrong, you are entitled to complain.

5. Use the discount card as well.
The supermarkets usually offer you a discount card to purchase a particular product. Ensure the discount card function properly and you really get a discount from the discount card.

6. Do not be tempted to the packaging.
For example when you are buying salad, you had better choose a variety of salad ingredients on your own instead of choosing a salad that has been packaged neatly. For example, when you buy a packaged salad, the price is certainly different when you choose the contents one by one then put together in a bowl. You can save money by ignore the convenience.

(image taken from: guardian.co.uk)

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How to Shop Smart for Year-End Discount

Towards the end of the year, usually the shopping centers, especially in big cities, held a big sale massively. The goal is not other than to spend or clearance of goods. In this case, certainly many of us are tempted with large banners containing a massive discount, moreover if the discount reached 70%, or even more.

The strategy carried out by the shopping center was pretty good. Usually they provide a space or advertisement that contains a notice to the public that a shopping center somewhere holding a massive discount, or pursuing a strategy to limit the time of such discounts.

When that happens, it is implied in our minds that we have to go to the shopping center and shop with discounts. The momentum was used as a strategy to make people go and buy such goods.

In fact, not all of those discount-goods are the items that are qualified and we do really want or need. For example, the goods are remaining items of the unsold or not finished, not interesting goods, displayed products, the rejected goods, and so on.

This should be a consideration for us to avoid becoming victim of consumerism. There are a few tips of how to shop smart to respond to discounts offer from a variety of shopping centers. Here are some tips you can consider:

1. Do not shop in rush. First of all, try to spend enough time for year-end discount shopping. If time is limited, it will make you in a hurry and not careful in choosing the goods. As a result, some items you bought might not be qualified.

2. Compare Prices. Try to compare prices of goods at one store and another. The goal is to ascertain whether indeed the goods we buy is really a discount. There are some stores that "cheating". They are raising the price first, after that the discount labeled.

3. Shopping with friends. It is nothing wrong with taking your husband, boyfriend or friend who can remind you not to continue shopping. If you are shopping alone or even together with friends who love to shop, you might be "crazy" shopping the goods with a big discount.

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Be a Smart Shopper

Usually people are shopping something unplanned. Most of us buy an item just for fun, as the gratification of self, buy nice things just because it's interested, but rarely buy things because we really need.

Whatever the reason, when we go shopping, probably we are ruining our financial planning that has been set. Imagine that time needed for a woman to shopping is longer than for sport/fitness exercise.

Let us become a smart shopper and does not ruin the financial plan that has been made. More importantly, when you shop must be in accordance with the need not merely like, discounts or pleasure only.

1. Use the shopping log.

You can create the shopping log by yourself to record all the items that are not important unless you spend on food and medicine. By having shopping log, you can monitor everything that is being spent just to meet your shopping desires.

2. Make a shopping diary.

Insert a small note with a pen that can take wherever you go. Record all matters relating to shopping, whether it's all the stuff you need, feelings of guilt when buying something that is not valuable, also your resentment to the clerk who does not give good service. As you noted in a diary, enter the following five questions that can help deliver real motivation.

What am I doing here?
What triggered me to come here?
What am I feeling?
Do I need this product? What will happen if I do not buy it?
What happens if I buy it?
By answering above questions, you are expected to put the brakes on your spending.

3. Use the internet wisely

If you are an internet user in making purchases, use the internet wisely. Internet shopping is also easier to suck up your money faster. Only by using a finger, all the desired goods can be bought. Before deciding to buy, learn all the information and online banking tips.

4. Shop like a man

According to some studies, most men shop more effectively than women. The man only buys what they need even if they pass a lot of stores, their eyes fixed only on the goods they need. Moreover, sometimes they are more aggressive so that they can get a cheap price.

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How to shopping that fit our needs?

The money that we earned from working activities is used for shopping at last. But, if one misuse his money, it can be very frustrating.

We really do have to carefully use the money, either to buy goods or pay for services. Everyone should be able to measure their own needs. Measuring expenditure needs to be conducted so that we do not get stuck at a mere shopping desires and passions. So, shop for something that is becoming your truly needs.

Therefore, before utilizing the money, we must determine what our needs at that time. We also have compiled a list of needs according to priorities.

After compiling a list of needs, we must draw up a flow tracking money or cash flow records. This method aims to measure our financial capabilities before spending it.

Well, after that we must ensure that the goods actually our needs, or just sheer desire.

How to measure it? If the goods or assets that we purchase can produce more assets, it means that assets are needed.

Generally, we are shopping goods because of stimulants such as cheap prices or there is a promotion program. If we do need the item and there are sufficient funds, please just bought it. But, if only the pursuit of cheap, meanwhile in our home, we already has a lot of similar items, do not ever buy it.

Do not ever hesitate to compare prices from one store to another store. With the same benefits value, but with lower costs, it means we are saving money. We can divide shopping needs into two categories.

First, the daily needs shopping, such as shopping for food. Second, larger needs that the frequency of purchase is rare, but it has big value.

Before shopping for everyday needs, we must adapt to the needs of all family members. Do not shops for everyday needs exceed the consumption because some products can be damaged if stored too long.

We must also take into account the lifetime of a product before buying new car or electronic goods. So it's not right if we buy electronic goods simply because there is a discount program or because the goods were the latest models.

Shopping for clothes is actually just need to do three to six months, so do not buy clothes once a month. In fact, many of us are buying new clothes every month. As long as it is suitable to be used and not out of style, we do not need to buy new clothes.

Thus, let us properly do shopping things that only really needed. And we could save more money and managing our personal financial planning better.

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Smart Shopping Tips

Shopping for monthly needs is usually spent quite a lot of your money. But we have to buy those goods for our daily needs. Below are tips for smart shopping.

1. Create the list.

List of shopping is often considered trivial and ultimately ignored. In fact, it's critically important to do before you go shopping. Compiling a list of items to be purchased, you learn discipline and obedience to the plan that you have compiled by your own. Please believe that, in place of your shopping will be a lot of stuff that makes you interested to buy it. So, get used to focus! That is what the list of expenditures made.

2. Catalogs and Newspapers.

If you carefully read the newspapers, you will see that on certain days a number of supermarkets will advertise their flagship products that are coming down in price. Usually the price is valid for weekends or from Friday-Sunday, guaranteed competitive pricing. Every supermarket routinely issued catalog prices, which are usually valid for one month. Well, from now on, do not be lazy to read newspapers or flyers. Who knows this day you're lucky to get a discount for goods that you want to buy.

3. Midnight Sale.

Midnight Sale usually exists every Saturday at 22:00 - 24:00 pm. This event provides discounts for items specified. Sometimes even up to slam the price.

4. 'Cheapest' sign.

Want cheap prices; look for items with the symbol 'cheapest' or 'price promotions'. Although the difference may be thin, at least the price is more skewed. If you consider the low price definitely bad quality, it's not necessarily like that. Sometimes cheaper prices are because the item is a new product; the product issued by the supermarket itself or the product is still in the stage of promotion.

5. Buy 2 Get 1 Free.

Sometimes at certain moments, the supermarkets offer to buy one get one free for the same product. Or a buy of two and get one free again. Well, take advantage of this offer is a smart shopping tips!. It’s true that you will spend extra money because of buying two instead of one. But remember that you get free product that you can use as stock. So you do not need to spend money to buy the same goods at next month.

6. Buying Wholesale.

Buying goods with a retail price is usually more expensive than if you buy in bulk or wholesale. Indeed, sometimes the difference is not too much. However, if you calculate the monthly budget, it is not so bad! For certain items such as soap, toothpaste, paper towels, should be purchased in bulk. Generally these goods would be cheaper if purchased in large quantities at once. After all, you can hold these stuffs for a long period of time.

7. Compare the weight and price.

If you want to get a cheaper price, never get lazy to see a product from the side of its weight or unit. Usually for one type of product will available in various brands. By comparing the weight and brand, you can find out which one is cheaper. So from there, you can save quite a lot.

8. Fruit in cheap prices.
If you want to save on the purchase of fruit, buy fruit in the ripe conditions that have been peeled. It is mean that will not survive for longer periods of time. Usually supermarkets will give substantial discounts. But it must be remembered, the fruit is to be consumed immediately. This could also apply to goods such as cake and cooked foods.

May all above smart shopping tips could save some of your money. So you could use the saved-money for investment of your financial planning.

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Buying a house – Tips before decide to purchase

Buying a home is probably one of the most important financial decisions of our lives. In many cases, will be the largest personal purchase of a lifetime. Moreover, there is no denying that this is one of the most significant personal investments for our long-term financial planning.

We believe it is extremely important that, when evaluating the possibility of purchasing a home, the individual or family has to invest a significant amount of time to prevent such a purchase does not end up becoming the main cause of a future collapse in the stability of their finances.

First things first

Anyone who is considering for purchasing a home should start with these questions: Am I able to pay the cost of a home? Do I really have the financial capacity to assume the commitment that represents a loan?

To begin to answer these questions, we can begin to assess our status. Do I have a steady job now? If I have, what are the prospects in the medium term for the company I work? (Or my company if I have a business).

After confirming that we have a source of continuing job prospects over the medium term, we must assess whether the revenues that we produce in this work are sufficient to adequately cover the monthly mortgage payments. It is worth noting that, generally when we went from being tenants (paying rent) to purchase a home through a mortgage, we may have to assume a higher monthly fee to rent that we paid (even assuming that we are purchasing a home with similar characteristics). Only cases where we have sufficient resources to make a substantial initial payment (of at least 50% of home value), we can expect the loan installment will equal the income we were paying previously.

If this is the case, it is likely to be able to home-ownership. Otherwise, we must assess whether the monthly fee to which we are engaging not represent a heavy burden for our personal finances.

Overall, the monthly expenditure of an average family housing (either rental or loan fee) should not exceed 25%-30% of their monthly income.

Another measurement parameter probably said that the total amount of funding must not exceed two times of the amount of your annual income.

On the other hand, it is important to note that it is always recommended to pay an initial payment of at least 20% of home value.

Other important aspects

Other points to consider of validating that we are able to purchase a home would be:
• Do I have substantial debts to pay at high interest rates and generate a charge on my monthly income?
• After taking the payment of the amount of mortgage loan, will my monthly income saving me continually?
• Do I have a good credit record with financial institutions?
• Do I have all my other expenses under control?

Even if you have a source of stable employment and generating enough income to cover monthly payments on a mortgage loan, prior to purchasing a home, we must ensure that all aspects of our personal financial planning are under control.

We must never forget that the commitment to hire a home can be repaid in a relatively easy, but the cancellation of a mortgage loan requires a much longer process that would involve, at best, selling the property, obtaining and negotiating with a buyer, paying the outstanding balance with the bank and assuming all costs arising from this process.

It is always advisable to take into account all the above factors before deciding to purchase a home. And if you honestly mean unprepared, the recommendation is to be patient. The best option in these cases is to develop a plan that allows you to gradually improve your financial position so that can become homeowners in the medium term without compromising stability.

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How to Use Credit Card Wisely ? ; 10 Tips

A credit card may give some benefits to our personal financial planning, such as being able to have emergency money, or not having to carry large sums of cash when we pay a lot of money.

Below are lists of 10 tips for a good use of your credit card to avoid problems with your card. That if the credit card itself is not a problem, problems can arise by misuse the card.

Before hiring

1. Compare between the different cards. Not all cost or offers are the same. Choose the one that suits your ability to pay and try to have only the necessary.

2. Find out about interest rates, fees, total annual costs (TAC), a backup in case of theft or loss, related insurance, benefits and responsibilities.

3. Before signing, read your contract. Clarify any questions with the adviser. Remember that the bank must give you a brochure along with your contract to the delivery of the plastic.

If you already have

4. Use it to ease your payments or to cover emergencies or unexpected events. The credit card is a great help, if you use it within your budget and approved credit line.

5. Do not consider extra money to spend above your means. If you start to use it to your daily intake, you can collect a debt that later will be difficult to pay.

6. Covers your payments on time. Every time you not paying on time, your debt will increases and can result a negative record on your credit history. To reduce your balances.

7. Pay above the minimum monthly payment specified in the statement to reduce the amount and term of your debt, and maintain control.

8. You can consolidate your debts on the card that offers the lowest interest rate. If you have payment problems, leave it to use.

9. Cancel the debts before the due date (which is specified in the statement). And thus will avoid us of being charged for more interest or surcharge for not paying on time.

Recommendations

10. Always check your statement. Keep your receipts. So it is advisable to get into the habit of always thoroughly review the statements of your credit cards. Ensuring that the beginning balance matches the closing balance of previous statement and that the expenses reported are actually the costs that we performed. In case of errors or abuse must immediately notify the financial institution. Lost or stolen, report it immediately.

Finally, we must always protect our personal information and prevent theft or cloned our card.

To do this, we should avoid providing information on our credit card by phone or, if shopping online, keep them in objectionable sites or that we do not generate sufficient confidence.

Put your comments below for any opinion. Happy investing :)

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Avoiding Impulse Spending

An impulse spending or impulse buy is an unplanned or otherwise spontaneous purchase. One who tends to make such purchases is referred to as an impulse purchaser or impulse buyer. This is one of marketing tricks that usually do by the seller or any shop. The seller usually place their products at specific spot that will make you move to buy the product displayed. These products are usually not a primary need such as candy, chocolates, high-tech gadget, or even clothes or shoes, etc.

To find out if you are impulse buyer or spender, try to answer these questions truthfully:

1. Does your spouse or partner complain that you spend too much money?

2. Are you surprised each month when your credit card bill arrives at how much more you charged than you thought you had?

3. Do you have more shoes and clothes in your closet than you could ever possibly wear?

4. Do you own every new gadget before it has time to collect dust on a retailer’s shelf?

5. Do you buy things you didn’t know you wanted until you saw them on display in a store?

If you answered “yes” to any two of the above questions, you are an impulse spender and indulge yourself in retail therapy.

This is not a good thing for your earning management. It will prevent you from saving for the important things like a house, a new car, a vacation or retirement. You must set some financial goals and resist spending money on items that really don’t matter in the long run.

Impulse spending will not only put a strain on your finances but your relationships, as well. Earning tips to overcome the problem, the first thing to do is learn to separate your needs from your wants.

Advertisers blitz us hawking their products at us 24/7. The trick is to give yourself a cooling-off period before you buy anything that you have not planned for.

When you go shopping, make a list and take only enough cash to pay for what you have planned to buy. Leave your credit cards at home.

If you see something you think you really need, give yourself two weeks to decide if it is really something you need or something you can easily do without. By following this simple solution, you will mend your financial treatment and your relationships.

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Buying new vs. used cars.

Having a car, for some people is a primary need that have to fulfill. Some considered it to cost-saving of transportation than using a public transportation. Especially if the travel activity frequently. While for the rest of the transportation budget can be use for investment or saving.

New vs used. Which car is right for you? Consider the following.

Owning a brand new car is exciting. But financially speaking, it makes more sense to buy a used car. As soon as you drive a new car off the lot, it loses a great portion of its value. This is because your car is no longer “new”.

New cars lose about 40% of their value within 3 years, then depreciation starts to slow down. Why not buy a used car and allow someone else to take that depreciation hit?

The previous owner will have absorbed the steepest part of the depreciation cycle. At that point the costs of owning and operating the car will be reduced. The money you save on depreciation will surely go a long way.

Another benefit of buying used is lower cost. By buying used you pay less. You will also save on financing costs, insurance premiums, registration and licensing fees. You don’t have to worry about paying sales tax.

A used car is usually less reliable. You don’t know exactly what you’re getting into and how the previous owner treated the car. However, every situation is different and some used models may actually be far more reliable than some new ones.

As with everything else there are a few downsides to buying a used car. There are greater chances for costly unwarranted repairs. You may very soon have to do major maintenance on your car, including replacing tires, battery, brakes, muffler, and perhaps even the transmission.

If you can pay cash, go the new car way. Enjoy the feeling of knowing you're the original owner of a new car in mint condition. Nothing can replace that feeling.

Otherwise do not hang your hat higher than you can reach. Practice financial prudence. Save your money and comfort yourself knowing that one day you will be able to afford that dream car. One day when money is no object.

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Credit card anyone?

The emergence of electronic age made almost everything possible to people. Determining and curing terminal diseases made convenient, reaching uncharted territories became a possibility, and most of all; everyday life of people is made easy by the technology. We now have more convenient stores, easier means of transportation and a variety of gadgets that makes work and pleasure almost effortless.

When it comes to finances, technology—through efficient banking system and services—has given people better alternatives and options how to manage their finances. Among the so many financial treatment schemes that emerged, one alternative stands out among the rest—the credit card.

Credit card, especially to working people and those who live very busy lives, has become an ultimate financial “savior.” More than just being a status symbol or an add-on to expensive purses and wallets, credit card has revolutionized the way people spend their money.

But, more than the glamor and the convenience credit card brings, there is much more to this card than most people could ever imagine.

Credit Card 101
Before indulging much into the never-ending list of the advantages and disadvantages of having a credit card, it is very important for people to first have a brief realization of what credit card really is in order for them to maximize its potentials.

In layman’s terms, credit card is a card that allows a person to make purchases up to the limit set by the card issuer. One must then pay off the balance in installments with interest payments. Usually, credit card payment per month ranges from the minimum amount set by the bank to entire outstanding balance. And since it is a form of business, the longer the credit card holder wait to pay off his or her entire amount, the more interest pile up.

Since having a credit card is a responsibility, only those people who are of legal age and have the capability to pay off the amount they are going to spend through their credit card, is allowed to have one. Actually, most of the adults in the U.S. use credit card because this is very convenient compared to carrying cash or checks every time they have to purchase something.

It is also equally important to be familiar with the different types of credit cards before you begin to build up credit card balances and to avoid having a nightmare of debt. Since credit cards are indispensable to most consumers, it is a must that they understand the types of card that include charge cards, bankcards, retail cards, gold cards and secured cards. All of these types come in one of two interest rate options—the fixed and variable. Actually, it doesn’t really matter if you decide to have a fixed-rate credit card because the interest rate remains the same. Compared to variable rate cards where rate may be subject to change depends upon the credit card issuer’s discretion, fixed-rate carry higher interest rates.

Basically, credit card grantors issue three types of accounts with basic account agreements like the “revolving agreement” a.k.a. Typical Credit Card Account which allows the payer to pay in full monthly or prefer to have partial payments based on outstanding balance. While the Charge Agreement requires the payer to pay the full balance monthly so they won’t have to pay the interest charges, the Installment Agreement, on the other hand, asks the payer to sign a contract to repay a fixed amount of credit in equal payments in definite period of time. Another category of credit card accounts includes the individual and joint accounts where the former asks the individual alone to repay the debt while the latter requires the partners responsible to pay.

The common types of credit cards available through banks and other financial institutions also include Standard Credit Cards like Balance Transfer Credit Cards and Low Interest Credit Cards; Credit Cards with Rewards Programs like Airline Miles Credit Cards, Cash Back Credit Cards and Rewards Credit Cards; Credit Cards for Bad Credit like Secured Credit Cards and Prepaid Debit Cards; and Specialty Credit Cards like Business Credit Cards and Student Credit Cards.

Now that you have an idea how many types of credit card there is, it is now time to review your goals before applying for one. Some of the things you should consider is how will you spend with the credit card monthly, if you plan to carry a balance at the end of the month, how much are you willing to pay in annual fees, if you have a strong credit history and is does your credit in need of rehabilitation. Once you have an idea of what you are looking for choose the right credit card for you by researching the information you need that will fit your basic needs. You may also review the credit cards you’ve research and compare them.

Shopping for a credit card?
Regardless of the type of credit card you choose, be sure to discuss your specific financial needs with your financial advisor or accountant before applying for any credit card. It is a must that you understand the benefits of having a credit card like safety, valuable consumer protections under the law, and the accessibility and availability of services. The most popular credit cards include Chase Manhattan Bank, Citibank, Bank of America, BankOne, American Express, Discover® Card, First Premier Bank, Advanta, HSBC Bank, and MasterCard Credit Cards.

Although having a credit card is synonymous to invincibility, this may also trigger a person’s thirst for material things and may lead into the temptation of buying something they don’t really need. A credit card bearer should always have in min that having a credit card is a big responsibility. If they don’t use it carefully, these may owe more than they can repay. It can also damage their credit report, and create credit problems that are quite difficult to repair.

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3 Tips in Avoiding Shopping Hobbies

One of the most often problems appear in financial planning is about the excessive spending habits. This can happen on everyone, both men and women. Although it is occurs more often in women. So this is often disrupting family budget plan that was made before.

So we call this as a "hobby", because of this activity makes happy shopping. Usually, this is done without the planning or impulsive, the desire to buy something arises only because is being discounted price, or the interesting packaging.

That is why it is often the regret appearing later when it is rational to think again. Why spend money to buy this or that which is not also much useful in the house? Or just realize what happen after seeing conscious clothes that have not been used in the cupboards, the books that are still wrapped in plastic bookcase or kitchen equipment that is still wrapped in cardboard and used only once!

Thus, what do we have to do to avoid the above circumstances? How to avoid all that things? How to avoid that ‘hobby’? Below are three steps found base on experience which are useful for you in managing your shopping activity.

1. Separate Needs and Desires
It is not difficult to distinguish the objects which the needs and desires. However, a more common is the desire to patch on the needs, so we consider that all the needs. Buy new shoes may be a need when old shoes become obsolete. But, buying a particular brand shoes not need but has become the desire.

2. Cash is the limit
Why can we have a habit of excessive spending? There are two causes. First is because we have a desire that is difficult to control when seeing certain goods. And second, because we have the opportunity to meet these desires. Namely we have the money or the debt means to buy much.
Thus, if we are still difficult to limiting the desire, try to limiting the opportunity. Control the cash money taken, get used to only bring a debit card when shopping, and use the credit cards for emergencies only.

3. Change it become productive expenditure
At a certain level, the satisfaction obtained when excessive spending is not because having the goods, but satisfaction because it can buy things. The satisfaction not occurs when using the goods, but when purchased it. To keep fulfilling the desire to buy, but not being consumptive, try to switch the purchase into something more productive or durable. Rather than buying clothes that the price are clearly going down, better shopping for gold jewelry which is price could rise even stable. Rather than buy house equipment that is also very rarely used, it is better to buy mutual funds, deposits, shares or a clear benefit for the investment.

Shopping is not always bad. But the point is how to make that activity becomes more useful and productive, especially for your investment goals. Thus, it still could become your hobby in a better way, when implementing those tips above. Happy shopping for your investing goal.

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Tips to Buy A Used House

Property is one of investment tool you can use to. It is one of the best ways to invest. Especially to them who have more money available to invest, buy a house is alternative investment you should try. It doesn’t have to a new one, but let us start with the cheaper one, buying a used house.

Buying used house clearly requires smart strategy also. If you decide to invest on this, here are some tips before you decide the house to buy. Do not miss the following tips.

1. Check the condition of the building
First and most important is to check the condition of the house. It is better you invite a partner or an architect or a person who truly understand the problem to check the house worth in detail. Some important points that need to be examined:

- Physical condition

Is there a wall or a cracked tile, water used in the wall that indicates there is leakage, or signs of termite attack is seen from the small bumps around the house.

- Power distribution and power cable
Check that the meter seal is still working well or not. If that is broken, not closed the possibility any time you are fined by the electricity company quite a lot.
- Air Circulation
Note that every room has air circulation, including light intensity. All you need to check the condition of ventilation and windows whether runs good.
Less lighting room will be easy to be moist, and cause mildew and odor that is not good. Even for some people, this make shortness of breath. Of course it's not comfortable.
- Source of water
Note carefully that the water pipe line installed. Check whether the function well. Also important, check the gas lines and also lines of the disposal activities of the household. This is to maintain sanitation (health) your home environment.
- Examine the age of the building
Carefully at the last renovation. If possible, have a blueprint to facilitate home management of space and furniture placement.

2. Check the status of ownership
Note the correct name and information listed on the certificate of ownership, and relationship with the seller. Find out why the owner sold the house and how many legal heirs on the house. Check whether the area of the same as that listed on the letter.

3. Price survey
Search the data as much as possible for the market price of your home appraiser. Consider also the rest of the investment at any time if you intend to sell the house back. Final evaluation, check if still need doing repairs at the house, or is that house accumulate the ideal standard for you and whole family member. Even if still need necessary repairs, ensure that it does not exceed your initial budget.

4. Environment around the residence
This one is also important, but sometimes missed. Give attention for the conditions in the vicinity of a residence. Check how the security level, population characteristics, and neighborhood relationships. Environment influence the psychological development of a person, so this is very important.

By implementing these tips, hopefully you could find your dream house. Whether for your daily living use or even for your investment for future. Because of property investment is one of recommended way of invest usually suggest by experts for them who have more ability in investing. If you need more consideration and reasonable explanation of why have to property investment, you could find out on the books or any links on this website. May wealthiness always be with us.

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Proper Expenses

How much is the fair and ideal expenditure for each month? For this matter actually there is no exact description to say because there are so many factors have to consider. For example, the size of the standard cost of living in the city where you live, comfort and accessible rate of transportation facility in each city, the standard of living with a family that other families may be different in each, the number of repayments of debt you have, and so forth.

Typically, each family have certain needs that differ. There may be families who use 50 percent of income to meet the needs of every month's life, but there is also a family that can only be leaving not more than 5 percent of income to invest. In other words, almost all the income out to meet the cost of living. So how much is the proper one?

The important thing is have to make sure that the monthly expenditure accordance with the basic needs of your household. Thus, how to determine reasonable amount of monthly expenses? The idea is to make shopping budget. With this way, we can control or have a clear direction of every expenses. Try to plan for the entire family need for each month, and remember plan just for the basic needs that already agreed before among member of family.

And now how about the saving and investment? Let us make definition first of this statement so as we could get clear knowledge and understanding. Savings are funds that are ready to cash out at any time if we need it, for example savings account on bank. While for the investment could mean funds that are developed to get larger amount in the future, and usually with a certain risk.

Every family or personal need to have a bank saving account as a reserve fund purpose in case of something unpredictable happen and need cash money urgently. It does not need large amount, but also not too small. For an ordinary employee, most financial planner will suggest to have saving account 3-6 times of routine monthly expenses. Each month have to save money in accordance to meet this 3-6 times of routine monthly expenses amount. Why have to be 3-6 months prepared? Because when someone get loss of his occupation, usually it takes 3-6 months to hired a new job. So this saving account means to fulfill your daily life until you got a new job.

If this amount is already enough, the monthly surplus funds can be transferred to the investment products. The allocations can be to various products.The tips is do not choose just one, but it needs to be combined according to your needs and your financial situation. And also adjust to the purpose. For example, education costs for children, retirement preparation, as a business capital, and so forth.

There are many investment tools and products to choose, such as mutual funds, deposit, gold bar, government obligation, and so forth. You could find references of these products and learn by buying books or learning from experts. The easiest way is try to ask your local bank where you place your saving account. Nowadays many investment company cooperate with banks to sell and promote their investment products and services.

Hope this will useful for your financial life.

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Shopping Tips in Relevance of Income

Currently, there are lot of facilities and for everyone to wreak their desire in shopping and debiting. And also credit cards offering with an easy to obtain. For those who can not brake spending habits, it is better to hold a debit card than a credit card. With a note, take a debit card from a shopping account or debit account with the lowest balance of your financial.

There are a few suggestions that can be a guide in managing your money so you are expected to be free from debt.

1. Distinction Needs vs Wants

Needs are limited. Meanwhile, the desire is not limited. The desire to encourage us to go in debt twist. Therefore have to pay first what your life needs now and the future. That way you know how much money should be spent . Purchase items that are needed than desired

2. Do not discount tempted

Many people are happy with the purchase discount (impulse buying) because it can save the dollar. In fact the only savings from the discount shopping goods when we buy goods from the beginning that we really need.

3. 'Pay yourself first'

Metaphor that is often used in a variety of family finance book on how to use personal income. First, eliminate your 10% of the salary to pay for your hard work during the month. And then the rest is allocated to pay for the regular monthly needs. Manage your earnings.

4. Create a spending plan

A spending plan is to allocate funds received for the various needs of families in a particular month. Expenditure of financial planning should consider both the income received each month, the amount of debt that will mature, for long-term savings, such as pension funds and the allocation of funds for emergencies.

For all of those tips above, it could be summarize that the most important is the commitment and maintain of financial discipline.

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Shopping Account, Family's Financial Solution

Regardless of which have become habit will be difficult to stopped. Likewise with your shopping hobby. Moreover, if the source of the funds take a share of the household budget, such as children school fees or other savings. As one solution, it is recommended to have a shopping account. Shopping account is a saving account specifically for the shop. Separate income in posts that surely spend each month such as the school budget, and other kitchen needs. Then separate again for the rest of it, whether 30 percent or 40 percent for shopping purpose. That shopping account used to shop.

In addition, financial problems are often triggered to become husband and wife quarreling. That is why honesty and openness is the key to manage the financial. Both the husband or wife must know each other need and expenses. Maybe husband will also get a headache if spending money reported is never enough. Maybe wife also giving reasons that prices continue to increase so the shopping budgeted is never enough. If you don't searching solution for the main problem plainly, the problem will never be finished. So it is very recommended that every family have a written financial reports, especially for families who do not skilled in financial managing.

It is better to make a list of family income and expenditure in detail. Expenditure or any income, even it is small amount, should be written. So it will help to find out what kind of expenditure have biggest portion, whether in children education, or the cost of kitchen needs. Personal expenditure should also be separated each between husband or wife private needs. So, the solution can be made to solve your family financial problem wisely

More about → Shopping Account, Family's Financial Solution